PARCC Advanced Reading Practice Questions Story 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: 20. What happened first?
- Sailors took tortoises aboard ships. (Correct answer)
- The tortoise meat was used for soups and stews.
- Tortoises were put onto their backs.
- Settlers brought other animals to the islands.
- Pigs had been all the sailors had to eat.
Correct answer: Sailors took tortoises aboard ships.
The passage (implied) describing the decline of tortoise populations would establish the chronological order of events. Historically, the first major human impact on tortoise populations in places like the Galápagos was when sailors began taking them aboard ships as a source of fresh meat for long voyages. This action initiated the chain of events leading to their decline.
Question 2: 21. What happened soon after people brought animals to the islands?
- Tortoise eggs were kept in safe containers.
- Scientists took away as many animals as they could.
- The animals ate the tortoises' food and eggs. (Correct answer)
- The tortoises fought with the other animals.
- The tortoises continued to wander freely.
Correct answer: The animals ate the tortoises' food and eggs.
The passage (implied) explains that the introduction of non-native animals by settlers had a devastating impact on tortoise populations. These introduced animals, such as rats, pigs, and goats, competed with tortoises for food resources and, critically, preyed upon their vulnerable eggs and young. This direct competition and predation led to a rapid decline in tortoise numbers.
Question 3: 22. When did people start to do something to save the tortoises?
- In the 1500s
- In the 1950s (Correct answer)
- In the early 1900s
- In the 1960s
- In the 1400s
Correct answer: In the 1950s
The passage (implied) would detail the timeline of conservation efforts for tortoises. Organized efforts to save the tortoises, particularly in the Galápagos, began in the mid-20th century. The 1950s marked the start of significant scientific and conservation initiatives to protect these endangered species.
Question 4: 23. What happens right after the tortoise eggs hatch?
- The scientists take the tortoises back to their islands.
- The scientists get rid of cats, dogs, and other animals.
- The sailors use the tortoises for food.
- The scientists raise the tortoises in special pens. (Correct answer)
- The scientists encourage the villagers to help.
Correct answer: The scientists raise the tortoises in special pens.
As part of modern tortoise conservation programs, eggs are often collected and incubated in protected environments. The passage (implied) would describe that immediately after the tortoise eggs hatch, the vulnerable hatchlings are raised in special, controlled pens by scientists. This 'head-starting' program protects them from predators and ensures they grow large enough to survive before being released into the wild.
Question 5: 24. What happened last?
- The tortoises began to disappear.
- The number of tortoises began to grow. (Correct answer)
- Scientists took away other animals.
- Tortoises were taken back to their home islands.
- The number of tortoises began to decrease.
Correct answer: The number of tortoises began to grow.
This question asks for the final outcome of the conservation efforts described in the passage. The narrative (implied) would conclude with the positive result of these interventions. After scientists removed invasive species and implemented breeding programs, the number of tortoises began to grow, indicating a successful recovery effort as the last event.
PARCC Advanced Reading Practice Questions Story 4
20.
What happened first?