Common Core: 7th Grade English Language Arts : Reading to Compare and Contrast Texts
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Common Core: 7th Grade English Language Arts
All Common Core: 7th Grade English Language Arts Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #221 : Common Core: 7th Grade English Language Arts
Passage 1:
Graffiti - the public drawings and paintings that often cover surfaces of walls and other public structures - are often written off as an act of vandalism. However, the time has finally come when we begin to recognize graffiti for the art form it truly is.
Artists such as Banksy have shown us that graffiti can be a way to showcase not only one’s talent in the visual arts but also one’s political and social causes and stances. Some cities have even come to embrace graffiti to such an extent that they have commissioned works of art from these artists on the facades of public buildings.
Although graffiti began as an act of anarchy and rebellion, its contributions to society and the communities impacted by the art have seen positive responses that far outweigh the negatives. Graffiti is no longer a costly nuisance that should be immediately covered or removed, it has instead flourished to become an entirely new and unique art form with talent and renown that will eventually come to match the household names “Picasso” and “Michaelangelo” in stature.
Passage 2:
Though some might idolize graffiti as an act of admirable rebellion, this “art” causes nothing but negative impacts on its community. Those who would vandalize their streets and neighborhoods are no friend to the community. Instead, these criminals deface properties, decrease home values, and leave the community looking less pristine and cared for.
Such vandals also disregard the work put in by maintenance workers cleaning up after their messes and government officials attempting to create a better community for their citizens. While the work created by graffiti “artists” can sometimes be visually impressive, this does not outweigh the fact that what they have created is not art, but a crime against the community.
Popular graffiti “artists” auctioning work off for thousands of dollars apiece only perpetuate this trend. It is high time we put a stop to these criminal activities rather than glorifying them and allow true artists who follow city policies and stick to canvas or sculpture their due respect.
Who would be most likely to agree with the following statement?
The history of graffiti is rooted in anarchy and rebellion.
The authors of both passages would agree with this statement.
The author of Passage 2 would agree with this statement, but the author of Passage 1 would disagree.
The author of Passage 1 would agree with this statement, but the author of Passage 2 would disagree.
The authors of both passages would disagree with this statement.
The authors of both passages would agree with this statement.
Both passages cite the origins of graffiti as “rebellious” or “an act of anarchy and rebellion.” So, while the authors disagree about the merits of graffiti, they seem to agree on its origins.
Example Question #222 : Common Core: 7th Grade English Language Arts
Passage 1:
Graffiti - the public drawings and paintings that often cover surfaces of walls and other public structures - are often written off as an act of vandalism. However, the time has finally come when we begin to recognize graffiti for the art form it truly is.
Artists such as Banksy have shown us that graffiti can be a way to showcase not only one’s talent in the visual arts but also one’s political and social causes and stances. Some cities have even come to embrace graffiti to such an extent that they have commissioned works of art from these artists on the facades of public buildings.
Although graffiti began as an act of anarchy and rebellion, its contributions to society and the communities impacted by the art have seen positive responses that far outweigh the negatives. Graffiti is no longer a costly nuisance that should be immediately covered or removed, it has instead flourished to become an entirely new and unique art form with talent and renown that will eventually come to match the household names “Picasso” and “Michaelangelo” in stature.
Passage 2:
Though some might idolize graffiti as an act of admirable rebellion, this “art” causes nothing but negative impacts on its community. Those who would vandalize their streets and neighborhoods are no friend to the community. Instead, these criminals deface properties, decrease home values, and leave the community looking less pristine and cared for.
Such vandals also disregard the work put in by maintenance workers cleaning up after their messes and government officials attempting to create a better community for their citizens. While the work created by graffiti “artists” can sometimes be visually impressive, this does not outweigh the fact that what they have created is not art, but a crime against the community.
Popular graffiti “artists” auctioning work off for thousands of dollars apiece only perpetuate this trend. It is high time we put a stop to these criminal activities rather than glorifying them and allow true artists who follow city policies and stick to canvas or sculpture their due respect.
If the following evidence were provided, which argument would it most support?
A well-known local graffiti artist has partnered with the local art museum to host a “beautify the city” project teaching children street art and the importance of service to the community.
This evidence would support the argument made in Passage 2 but refute the argument made in Passage 1.
This evidence would support the arguments made by both passages.
This evidence would support the argument made in Passage 1 but refute the argument made in Passage 2.
This evidence would refute the arguments made by both passages.
This evidence would support the argument made in Passage 1 but refute the argument made in Passage 2.
The evidence presented shows an example of a graffiti artist making a positive contribution to society and the artist’s community. This supports the argument made by Passage 1, which makes the claim that graffiti’s “contributions to society and the communities impacted by the art have seen positive responses that far outweigh the negatives.” The author of Passage 2, on the other hand, states that graffiti “causes nothing but negative impacts on its community.” This statement is clearly weakened by the evidence provided. So, “this evidence would support the argument made in Passage 1 but refute the argument made in Passage 2.”
Example Question #223 : Common Core: 7th Grade English Language Arts
Passage 1:
Graffiti - the public drawings and paintings that often cover surfaces of walls and other public structures - are often written off as an act of vandalism. However, the time has finally come when we begin to recognize graffiti for the art form it truly is.
Artists such as Banksy have shown us that graffiti can be a way to showcase not only one’s talent in the visual arts but also one’s political and social causes and stances. Some cities have even come to embrace graffiti to such an extent that they have commissioned works of art from these artists on the facades of public buildings.
Although graffiti began as an act of anarchy and rebellion, its contributions to society and the communities impacted by the art have seen positive responses that far outweigh the negatives. Graffiti is no longer a costly nuisance that should be immediately covered or removed, it has instead flourished to become an entirely new and unique art form with talent and renown that will eventually come to match the household names “Picasso” and “Michaelangelo” in stature.
Passage 2:
Though some might idolize graffiti as an act of admirable rebellion, this “art” causes nothing but negative impacts on its community. Those who would vandalize their streets and neighborhoods are no friend to the community. Instead, these criminals deface properties, decrease home values, and leave the community looking less pristine and cared for.
Such vandals also disregard the work put in by maintenance workers cleaning up after their messes and government officials attempting to create a better community for their citizens. While the work created by graffiti “artists” can sometimes be visually impressive, this does not outweigh the fact that what they have created is not art, but a crime against the community.
Popular graffiti “artists” auctioning work off for thousands of dollars apiece only perpetuate this trend. It is high time we put a stop to these criminal activities rather than glorifying them and allow true artists who follow city policies and stick to canvas or sculpture their due respect.
Which of the following is a term the authors of both passages might use to describe graffiti?
Beneficial
Praiseworthy
Criminal
Impactful
Impactful
While the authors of the passages disagree about the nature of the impact graffiti has on its community, both authors cite impacts of the art form on the community. The author of Passage 1 expresses that the contributions of graffiti on society and the community have been primarily positive, while the author of Passage 2 claims that graffiti “causes nothing but negative impacts on its community.” The common theme between these opinions is the impact - both authors note that graffiti is impactful on its community, it’s the nature of this impact that the authors dispute.
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All Common Core: 7th Grade English Language Arts Resources
