Name: ___________________ Section: __________ radio, and the idea of a human traveling into outer space is just

February 14, 2019 plain crazy!

1. What is the prefix in the word foresaw?

Uncle Wilbur A. fore
My uncle Wilbur used to spend hours every day B. saw
checking on the lightning rods that stood guard on the C. for
roof of his house. We get a lot of storms here in our D. aw
state. Sometimes we see wind up to sixty miles per hour
and baseball-size hail. Lightning, Uncle Wilbur would 2. Which phrase is an example of personification?
say, is a living thing, and like a cat, it will strike A. lightning rods standing guard
anything that moves. You’d better not tempt it, he B. dismissed the automobile as a passing fancy
C. string power lines up to the house
always told us. He advised my cousins and me to always
D. idea of a human traveling into outer space
be mindful of the nearest sheltering tree. He said we
should be prepared to drop to the ground like a hot 3. How would Uncle Wilbur feel about cellular phones?
potato at the first sound of thunder. Knowing that A. fearful
lightning is attracted to the tallest thing around, Uncle B. distrustful
Wilbur worried constantly about my cousin Jared, who, C. welcoming
at sixteen, was 6’2” and still growing. D. indifferent
Uncle Wilbur has always been a smart man. We
all listened as he dismissed the automobile as a passing 4. Compared to Uncle Wilbur, how does the narrator feel
fancy. Every year it seemed more and more Model Ts toward modern advancements?
A. resisting
came rolling into town, but Uncle
B. accepting
Wilbur insisted that nothing could replace the reliability C. uncertain
of a good old-fashioned mule when it came to D. exhilarated
transportation, work, or even entertainment. Yes, Uncle
Wilbur’s Mule Olympics, complete with 5. Which reason explains why the author wrote about Uncle
obstacle courses and a long jump, was known far and Wilbur?
wide. Sadly, the Mule Olympics did not survive into the A. to explain him
next decade because the mules got too old and lost B. to pacify him
interest. Nonetheless, my uncle Wilbur continued to C. to remember him
predict future trends and warn us of impending tragedy. D. to persuade him
To this day, he reminds us that he foresaw the stock
6. Which pair of words best describe how the narrator most
market crash of 1929, and that’s why he kept his money likely feels about Uncle Wilbur?
wrapped in a handkerchief under his mattress. When the A. annoyed and frustrated
government started collecting income B. respectful and amused
taxes a few years back, Uncle Wilbur reluctantly shared C. sad and indifferent
his wealth with Uncle Sam, insisting that the money was D. envious and distrustful
just a temporary loan.
Uncle Wilbur did not take kindly to the power company 7. What BEST describes the passage?
man who came knocking one day in 1936. This was the A. a character sketch
year the government launched a campaign to bring B. a factual research
C. a persuasive essay
electricity to rural areas like ours.
D. a news article
Most people, like Uncle Wilbur, were a little wary of
having electricity in their homes. Many of us had
The Happiness Effect
Happiness may be the primary goal of human existence.
running water, and we just weren’t sure that the two Philosophers have wrestled with the concept of happiness.
mixed. Nevertheless, Uncle Wilbur was Legislators create laws to support citizens’ rights to pursue
downright floored when the man said he wanted to string happiness. Television, radio, and print advertisers assure
power lines up to the house. Nearly losing his temper, consumers that various products will guarantee happiness.
Uncle Wilbur exclaimed, “Here I am doing everything in Interestingly, people have a tendency to believe they are
my power to keep from getting happier than their neighbors, and they are optimistic about
struck by lightning, and you want to bring it right to my their happiness in the future. Most people assume that they
doorstep?” He sent the man on his way with a “No, will be happier a decade from now than they are today.
thank you,” and a “Good day, sir,” but in the months that Clearly, everyone from writers and philosophers to legislators
and the average person on the street thinks a great deal about
followed, we all eventually relented
happiness. What makes happiness so important to human
and let in the light. I must admit, playing checkers in the existence?
dark is a talent you can easily lose without daily Why Be Happy?
practice. Not only does happiness feel good, but it appears to provide a
Many things have changed since those times. variety of psychological and physical benefits. Happiness
Uncle Wilbur still lives in mortal fear of a lightning plays a significant role in enhancing good health,
strike, but because he doesn’t get out much anymore, strengthening the immune system,
most of his lightning rods have rusted through promoting longevity, improving productivity and
and fallen to the ground. Uncle Wilbur lives mostly on performance, and increasing resilience. Happy people work
Social Security, which he proudly proclaims as his hard, play hard, have an active social life (and a social
conscience), experience good health, and live longer. A happy
victory (see, he says, the government did eventually give
person lives an average of nine years longer than a miserable
his money back). He probably spends one.
more time reminiscing about the past than he does
making future predictions, but Uncle Wilbur will be the
first to tell you that television will never be as popular as
The Opposite of Happiness C. to point out that having a social conscience can
4 When studying happiness, it makes sense that its promote longevity
opposite condition would also be a topic of examination. D. to emphasize the importance of social conscience as a part
Scientists have observed that there are two unfortunate of an active social life
life events that induce profound
9. What change occurs as a result of adding the prefix un- to
unhappiness, perhaps over the course of many years: the fortunate in paragraph 4?
loss of a spouse and the loss of a job. A. the word becomes more intense
What Causes Happiness? B. the word becomes less intense
However, good news abounds in the study of happiness. C. the word takes on the opposite meaning
Fortunately, humans experience happiness from a wide D. the word takes on a different part of speech
range of stimuli, from traveling to an exotic destination
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to redecorating one’s home or from 10. Which statement summarizes the heading What Causes
winning a game of soccer to eating a delicious meal. Simply Happiness?
watching a favorite television show or laughing at a funny A. A wide social network is the key to happiness.
joke can boost a depressed mood. While the happiness B. Laughing at funny jokes helps to lift a gloomy mood.
produced by such experiences tends to be short lived, certain C. Scientists conclude that good news leads to long-lasting
conditions do promote a more long-lasting and durable state of happiness.
happiness as a lifestyle: a wide social network, believing in a D. Both short- and long-term happiness are caused by a
meaningful reason for one’s existence, and establishing goals variety of experiences.
and working to achieve them.
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Surprisingly, income is not a primary factor in determining a 11. In the section With a Little Help from My Friends, why
person’s level of happiness once the basic needs of food, does the author use the phrase “misery
clothing, and shelter have been met. More important is one’s may love company”?
social network. Being A. to convince people that pets are better company than a
socially active may be more effective in increasing one’s loving partner
immunity to illness than a vaccine. Misery may love company, B. to encourage people to find mates for their friends who are
but so does happiness, and having close friends and family is unhappy
vital to one’s overall level of happiness. (If friends and family C. to point out that people will be happier with positive
are crucial, so is a loving partner. Research suggests that being relationships
married increases one’s potential for happiness.) Even sharing D. to recommend that people try to influence negative people
one’s home with an animal companion can make a person in a positive way
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happier.
Why Am I Here? 12. What is one assumption the author makes about attaining
Scientists report that believing in some kind of meaning for happiness?
one’s life is necessary to living a happy life. This may be a A. Some people find comfort in mundane routines.
religion, a code of ethics, a particular value system, a B. A person needs a social network to attain happiness.
philosophy, or any other reason C. Reading and writing about your problems will produce
for being that lifts people out of the mundane routine of daily happiness.
existence and gives their life meaning beyond a weekly D. Convincing negative people to become positive is a life
paycheck. goal.
The Habit of Happiness
Happiness is not an innate characteristic but may actually be 13. In the section The Habit of Happiness, what does the
developed as a habit. Scientists suggest that incorporating new word innate mean?
habits and practices can go a long way in increasing one’s A. natural and existing
state of happiness.While people generally do not transform B. incomplete and building
their basic temperaments, people can learn to become happier C. absent and unfamiliar
by D. learned and habitual
participating in a variety of activities, including socializing,
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gratitude journal (writing a daily list of three to five things for 14. Which statement is an opinion?
which one is grateful), A. Happiness is not a physical characteristic.
involving oneself in pleasurable activities, such as sports, B. Legislators create laws to support happiness.
hobbies, or the arts, focusing on positive outcomes, and C. Happiness may be the primary goal of human existence.
performing acts of kindness for others. Apparently, doing D. Advertisers use happiness to promote their products.
something to make someone elsehappy will make you happy,
too.

Reasons to Smile
Smiling…
is contagious.
relieves stress.
improves your mood.
helps you stay positive.
lowers your blood pressure.
attracts other people to you.
makes you appear confident.
boosts your immune system.

8. In the section Why Be Happy?, why does the author

include parentheses around “and a social
conscience”?
A. to point out that social conscience leads to good health
B. to emphasize the importance of playing and working hard