Common Core: 7th Grade English Language Arts : Reading to Determine Author's Point of View
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 #11 : Craft And Structure
Passage 1:
The penny has long outlived its usefulness in the monetary system and should be removed from use. Pennies cost more to produce than the value they represent. In fact, it costs taxpayers nearly two cents to produce and distribute every one cent penny.
Additionally, the penny does not represent the real level of purchasing power. Go to the corner store today and ask for the “penny candy,” and you might be routed to a row of treats, but you’re unlikely to find anything for purchase for under a quarter.
On top of the cost and lack of benefit, pennies are also heavy for their value, so much so that many don’t even care to keep the pennies they receive in change. 11% of people report that they would rather throw a penny away than carry it around with them, and over $62 million dollars in coins are thrown out annually - most of them pennies.
Whether it’s at the grocery register or at the bank, everyone who handles pennies agrees that they are excessively time-consuming to process. Even most charities would rather do without the pennies they receive! It’s time we let go of this costly antiquity and get rid of the penny once and for all!
Passage 2:
The penny is a sacred historic symbol in America and should be respected for its historical value. Over half of Americans are in favor of keeping the penny, and many fear the trend that eliminating low-value currency sets. “Rounding tax,” or the inclination for businesses to round prices up to the nearest unit of change available, could have an impact on consumers, and as inflation continues, the nickel, the dime, and even the quarter could follow!
Not only does the penny help keep costs low, but it would also be costly to take out of commission effectively. The penny is also a powerful historical tribute to Abraham Lincoln, who has appeared on the penny’s face since 1909.
The penny represents far more than its one-cent value and eliminating it would take a toll on the history it represents and the majority of citizens who seek to keep it in commission.
Which of the following statements would the author of Passage 1 be most likely to agree with?
Pennies have never been a useful currency
Most candy today costs at least 25 cents
All change should be abolished
The penny does not carry any historical significance
The penny does not carry any historical significance
While the author of Passage 1 is in favor of removing the penny from use, we cannot use this information to conclude that the author thinks pennies have never been useful or held any historical significance, or that all change should be abolished. However, given the excerpt “go to the corner store today and ask for the “penny candy,” and you might be routed to a row of treats, but you’re unlikely to find anything for purchase for under a quarter,” we can see that the author would agree that most candy costs at least a quarter - or 25 cents.
Example Question #12 : Craft And Structure
Passage 1:
The penny has long outlived its usefulness in the monetary system and should be removed from use. Pennies cost more to produce than the value they represent. In fact, it costs taxpayers nearly two cents to produce and distribute every one cent penny.
Additionally, the penny does not represent the real level of purchasing power. Go to the corner store today and ask for the “penny candy,” and you might be routed to a row of treats, but you’re unlikely to find anything for purchase for under a quarter.
On top of the cost and lack of benefit, pennies are also heavy for their value, so much so that many don’t even care to keep the pennies they receive in change. 11% of people report that they would rather throw a penny away than carry it around with them, and over $62 million dollars in coins are thrown out annually - most of them pennies.
Whether it’s at the grocery register or at the bank, everyone who handles pennies agrees that they are excessively time-consuming to process. Even most charities would rather do without the pennies they receive! It’s time we let go of this costly antiquity and get rid of the penny once and for all!
Passage 2:
The penny is a sacred historic symbol in America and should be respected for its historical value. Over half of Americans are in favor of keeping the penny, and many fear the trend that eliminating low-value currency sets. “Rounding tax,” or the inclination for businesses to round prices up to the nearest unit of change available, could have an impact on consumers, and as inflation continues, the nickel, the dime, and even the quarter could follow!
Not only does the penny help keep costs low, but it would also be costly to take out of commission effectively. The penny is also a powerful historical tribute to Abraham Lincoln, who has appeared on the penny’s face since 1909.
The penny represents far more than its one-cent value and eliminating it would take a toll on the history it represents and the majority of citizens who seek to keep it in commission.
According to the author of Passage 2, Abraham Lincoln
Was only honored by having his face featured on the penny
Has appeared on the penny’s face since the penny’s creation
Would be forgotten if the penny were eliminated
Was chosen to be featured on the penny as a sign of honor
Was chosen to be featured on the penny as a sign of honor
In Passage 2, we are told that “the penny is also a powerful historical tribute to Abraham Lincoln, who has appeared on the penny’s face since 1909.” While we do not know that this is when the penny was first created, nor do we know that Lincoln has no other means of tribute and would otherwise be forgotten (the Lincoln memorial and the five-dollar bill would beg to differ!), we do know that he was chosen to be featured as a sign of honor, otherwise known as a tribute.
Example Question #13 : Craft And Structure
What personal opinion does the author interject into the story that alludes to his or her point of view?
Other mill workers took note of the Lowell strikes and were successful in getting better pay, shorter hours, and safer working conditions.
No specific changes can be directly credited to the Lowell workers, but their legacy is unquestionable.
There was even a journal, The Lowell Offering, which contained poems and other material written by the workers, and which became known beyond New England.
The Offering, meant as a pleasant creative outlet, gave the women a voice that could be heard elsewhere in the country, and even in Europe.
Nearly all the workers of the Lowell textile mills of Massachusetts were unmarried daughters from farm families. Some of the workers were as young as 10. Many people in the 1820s were upset by the idea of working females. The company provided well-kept dormitories for the women to live in. The meals were decent and church attendance was mandatory. Compared to other factories of the time, the Lowell mills were clean and safe. There was even a journal, The Lowell Offering, which contained poems and other material written by the workers, and which became known beyond New England. Ironically, it was at the Lowell mills that dissatisfaction with working conditions brought about the first organization of working women.
The work was difficult. When wages were cut, the workers organized the Factory Girls Association. 15,000 women decided to “turn out,” or walk off the job. The Offering, meant as a pleasant creative outlet, gave the women a voice that could be heard elsewhere in the country, and even in Europe. However, the ability of women to demand changes was limited. The women could not go for long without wages with which to support themselves and families. This same limitation hampered the effectiveness of the Lowell Female Labor Reform Association (LFLRA), organized in 1844.
No specific changes can be directly credited to the Lowell workers, but their legacy is unquestionable. The LFLRA’s founder, Sarah Bagley, became a national figure, speaking before the Massachusetts House of Representatives. When the New England Labor Reform League was formed, three of the eight board members were women. Other mill workers took note of the Lowell strikes and were successful in getting better pay, shorter hours, and safer working conditions. Even some existing child labor laws can be traced back to efforts first set in motion by the Lowell mills women.
No specific changes can be directly credited to the Lowell workers, but their legacy is unquestionable.
The author inserts his or her own opinion but states that the LFLRA’s legacy is unquestionable. This gives insight into how the author is feeling about the reform movement and how important they are. The other sentences were facts rather than opinions.
Example Question #14 : Craft And Structure
What is the author’s point of view about Marian Anderson?
Marian was not only a wonderful singer but an activist who inspired thousands of people to speak out and act against racism.
Marian tried her best as a singer but was not quite good enough for the DAR to allow her to perform, so she decided to become an activist instead.
Marian was a mediocre singer but a fantastic activist who helped begin a Civil Rights movement.
Marian was a great singer but failed to act when she had the chance to make a difference in peoples’ lives.
Marian Anderson was a world-class singer. By the year 1939, Marian had sung for people around the world, including kings and presidents. Her dream was to sing at Constitution Hall but in her mind, she viewed it as something that would never happen. The owners, the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), would not allow her to sing because she was African-American.
Marian was used to dealing with people who only saw her for her skin color. When she was younger she applied to become a student at a music school. She was denied entrance because of her race. In the early 1900s when Marian was beginning her singing career segregation was still keeping African-American people from achieving their goals and dreams.
Marian performed in 1925 in a voice contest in New York and won. She was able to sing with the New York Philharmonic! She thought doors were going to start opening for her in the United States but instead, people foolishly turned her away. Marian traveled to Europe in 1928 and she became quite popular.
In 1939, she returned to the United States but she was still subject to the cruelty and unfairness of racism and segregation. When Marian attempted to sing at Constitution Hall the DAR had many excuses for why she couldn’t perform. They tried telling her the dates weren’t available or they weren’t booking. Eventually, they told Marian the truth, she couldn’t perform because they only allowed white musicians.
This rejection inspired thousands of people to rally together against the horrible segregation laws that prevented so many from hearing Marian’s beautiful voice. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt resigned from the DAR and publicly shamed them for their treatment of African-America performers. Mrs. Roosevelt and her staff arranged a concert at the Lincoln Memorial for Marian. Seventy-five thousand people attended and stood against discrimination.
After the DAR incident, Marian took a stand and refused to sing for segregated crowds. She finally achieved her dream of singing at Constitution Hall when the DAR reversed its policy on allowing African-American performers. In 1964 Marian retired from performing and The Civil Rights Act was signed. She along with other brave activists took a stand and created lasting change against racism and segregation in the United States.
Marian was not only a wonderful singer but an activist who inspired thousands of people to speak out and act against racism.
The author describes Marian as “a world-class singer” and states that “She along with other brave activists took a stand and created lasting change against racism and segregation in the United States.” This leads readers to the understanding that he views her positively and is complimentary of her.
Example Question #15 : Craft And Structure
How would the author of the passage be most likely to characterize the role of King Fredrick of Prussia in the context of the passage?
An integral part of the history behind the term “man’s best friend”.
An example of the typical dynamic between man and dog at the time.
The first documented instance of companionship between man and dog.
Detrimental to man’s relationship with the dog.
When you hear the phrase “man’s best friend,” you probably think of one animal, and one animal alone: the dog. But why is that? How did dogs come to earn the name “man’s best friend,” and why has the name stuck around since?
Many historians trace the relationship between man and dog back more than 30,000 years, to when wolves used to scavenge alongside humans. Other historians cite the point when dogs and people began living together, around 15,000 years ago, as the start to this friendship.
Literature from long ago also references the friendship between man and dog, most famously in Homer’s The Odyssey. However, it wasn’t until the 1700s when King Fredrick of Prussia coined the term that dogs were formally given the position “best friend to man.” Frederick referred to his friendship with his dogs in a way that was unusual at the time. While pet dogs were common for those of his rank and stature, they were normally used for hunting and protecting, and it would be considered strange to speak of them as “friends.” Fredrick, however, was so fond of his dogs that he had portraits of them painted, spoke often of their loyalty, and even requested that he be buried next to them when he was laid to rest.
It is this strange but enduring relationship with “man’s best friend” that has stood the test of time. Today, dogs are often thought of for their loyalty and companionship. Studies even suggest that a canine companion can increase one’s lifespan, lower cardiovascular disease, and improve mental health. Even if you don’t share Frederick’s opinion that companionship with a dog is the only way to be truly “free of cares,” there’s no arguing that dogs have earned the title “man’s best friend” over the thousands of years they have stood by man’s side.
An integral part of the history behind the term “man’s best friend”.
The author of the passage uses the history of King Fredrick of Prussia to show the first recorded instance where a dog was referred to as “best friend” to man. - Be careful! That’s different from saying “the first documented instance of companionship between man and dog” We see several earlier instances of companionship between man and dog that build the foundation for the interactions we see today. However, the author would certainly consider King Fredrick of Prussia’s role as “a core element” of that history.
Certified Tutor
Certified Tutor
All Common Core: 7th Grade English Language Arts Resources
