Name_______________________ Date______________________ Period_______

Unit Two Study Guide

Jacob the Great

Jacob hated finishing things almost as much as he loved starting them. As a result, he had gotten into a million hobbies
and activities, but he never stuck with any of them long enough to get any good.

He begged his mother for months for a guitar so that he could play Black Eyed Peas songs to Angie, a girl he liked, but
after he finally got one for Christmas, he found out that guitars don’t play themselves. He took a few lessons, but
strumming the strings hurt his fingers and he didn’t like holding the pick, so now the five-hundred dollar guitar lives
under his bed.

After reading an ad in the back of one of his comic books, Jacob decided that he wanted a Wonder-Sweeper 5000 metal
detector, so that he could find buried pirate treasure. So he mowed lawns all summer and didn’t spend his money on ice-
cream like his younger brother, Alex. He saved it all in a shoe box in his closet. Then he shoveled driveways all winter,
and he didn’t spend his money on candy and chips like his classmates. By the time spring came he had saved $200, and
he purchased the Wonder-Sweeper 5000 metal detector. He beeped it around the park for a while, be he soon found out
that no pirates had ever set sail in his neighborhood, and if they had they didn’t leave any treasure. Even though he found
a key ring, forty-seven cents, and all the bottle caps he could throw, he buried the metal detector in his closest.

Given Jacob’s history with hobbies, it was no surprise that Jacob’s father was reluctant to buy him a magician’s kit for his
birthday. “Geez, Jacob… You sure you wouldn’t rather I got you more guitar lessons?” He suggested. Jacob was
insistent. “Dad, you’ve got to get me the magician’s kit. This time I’ll stick with it for real. I promise! Come on, Dad,”
Jacob begged. Jacob’s father sighed and then replied, “Oh, I don’t know, Jacob. Things are awfully tight right now.” But
Jacob’s father was reminded of his own youth long ago, when he quit football and started karate practice before hardly
getting his equipment dirty. So when Jacob’s birthday came around, Jacob was both surprised and pleased to find the
magician’s kit that he had desired so badly with a big bright bow on it.

Jacob opened up the box and unwrapped the many parts in the kit. As he did so, he imagined sawing his pet cat in half
and putting it back together to the amazement of his friends and family. He took the many fake coins, trick cards, and
rope pieces of varying length on the kitchen table and imagined pulling rabbits out of his hat and turning them into
pigeons with a mysterious puff of smoke. As Jacob continued pulling plastic thumbs, foam balls, and giant playing cards
out of the magic kit, a commercial on the TV caught his attention. “Hey kids! Have you ever wanted to go to space?
Experience what it’s like to be an astronaut? Do you want to explore the universe? Well, now you can.” As the
commercial continued playing, Jacob walked away from the magic kit on the kitchen table and stared at the TV screen
longingly. “For only $195 you can go to space camp and live life like an astronaut for a whole weekend. Enroll now for
a once in a life time experience.” Jacob’s cry rang throughout the house as he yelled, “MOM!” He now knew what his
true purpose in life was.
Comprehension and Inferential Questions
Directions: After reading the story, choose the best answer for each question. Circle one answer.

1. According to the text, why does Jacob stop playing 8. Why does Jacob’s father buy Jacob the magician’s
the guitar? kit?
a. It hurt his fingers. a. Jacob mowed the lawn.
b. He’d rather play drums. b. Jacob reminded his father of himself.
c. It was too easy. c. Jacob bought ice cream for his brother.
d. He failed math. d. Jacob found his father’s key ring.

2. To whom did Jacob want to play Black Eyed Peas 9. Which word is closest in meaning to the italicized
songs? word in the following sentence from paragraph four: “It
a. Alex was no surprise that Jacob’s father was reluctant to buy
b. Angie him a magician’s kit for his birthday”?
c. Mom a. Happy
d. Dad b. Willing
c. Proud
3. According to the passage, why does Jacob decide that d. Hesitant
he wants a metal detector?
a. He sees a man at the park with one. 10. What distracts Jacob from the magician’s kit?
b. His father had one as a child.
c. He saw a TV commercial for one. a. A TV commercial
d. He read an ad for one in a comic book. b. His father
c. The kitchen table
4. How does Jacob get the items that he wants in the d. A comic book
story?
11. Based on the end of the story, Jacob is most likely to
a. He asks his mom. go on and do which of the following?
b. He asks his dad.
c. He shovels driveways and mows lawns. a. Become a great magician
d. He does all of these things to get what he wants. b. Learn to play guitar well
c. Detect an incredible hidden treasure
5. When did Jacob buy the metal detector? d. Raise money to go to space camp

A. in the fall 12. Which happened first in the text?

b. In the summer
c. In the spring a. Jacob asked his dad for the magician’s kit.
D. in the winter b. Jacob got a guitar for Christmas.
c. Jacob mowed lawns.
6. True or False: The metal detector was a good d. Jacob shoveled driveways.
investment for Jacob.
13. Which happened last in the text?
a. True
b. False a. Jacob saved up $200.
b. Jacob found forty-seven cents in the park.
7. Why doesn’t Jacob’s father want to get him the c. Jacob took guitar lessons.
magician’s kit for his birthday? d. Jacob was influenced by a comic book.

a. Jacob failed math class.

b. Jacob quits too many expensive activities.
c. Jacob has been mean to his younger brother.
d. Jacob went to the park without permission.
Literary Elements Questions
Directions: After reading the story, choose the best answer for each question.

14. Which character trait best describes Jacob in regards to his hobbies?
a. Dedicated
b. Impulsive
c. Committed
d. Devoted

15. What was the author’s purpose in writing this text?

a. Inform
b. Persuade
c. Entertain
d. Confuse

16. In what genre is this story?

a. Fiction
b. Nonfiction
c. Folklore
d. Poetry

17. In which pattern is the text organized?

a. Problem and Solution
b. Chronological
c. Sequence
d. Cause and Effect

18. Which poetic technique is used in the following line: “He beeped it around the park for a while”?
a. Onomatopoeia
b. Simile
c. Personification
d. Hyperbole

19. Which technique is used in the following line: “He had gotten into a million hobbies and activities”
a. Onomatopoeia
b. Simile
c. Personification
d. Hyperbole

20. Which technique is used in the following line: “The five-hundred dollar guitar lives under his bed.”
a. Onomatopoeia
b. Simile
c. Personification
d. Hyperbole
 Nonfiction Reading Test:
Trampolines
Directions: Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow. Refer to the text to check your answers
when appropriate.

1 What's more fun than standing still? Jumping up and down on a springy piece of fabric! This activity is known as
trampolining and it's sweeping the nation.
2 The idea of trampolining is ancient. Eskimos have been tossing each other in the air using walrus skin for
thousands of years. Firemen began using a life net to catch people jumping from buildings in 1887. And in the early
1900s, circus performers began bouncing off of netting to amuse audiences. These weren't the same as today's
trampolines, but they show that the idea has been bouncing around for a long time.
3 A tumbler named George Nissan and his coach Larry Griswold made the first modern trampoline in 1936. They
got the idea by watching trapeze artists bouncing off of a tight net at the circus. The two men experimented with different
fabrics and designs. They found a winner when they stretched a piece of canvas across a steel frame and held it in place
with springs. They named their device after the Spanish word trampolín, which means diving board.
4 At first Nissan and Griswold used their device to train tumblers. The piece of training equipment was a lot of fun.
They realized that everyone could enjoy their trampoline, not just tumblers. The men wanted to share their idea with the
whole world. In 1942 they began making trampolines to sell to the public.
5 Trampolines may be fun, but they can also be dangerous. Experts estimate that more than 100,000 people hurt
themselves while using one each year. Clubs and gyms use large safety nets and rubber padding to make it safer. Most
trampoline injuries happen at home. Since trampolines are more affordable than ever, injuries are even more common.
6 These injuries happen for many reasons. People may bounce too high and land off of the trampoline or onto the
springs. From the peak of the bounce, this can be a fall of 13 feet or more. Ouch. Injuries also happen when many people
are jumping at the same time. Jumpers may collide and cause one another to land in strange ways. Lots of people have
broken bones in this way. Perhaps the worst injuries happen when untrained people try to do flips. Landing on your neck
or head can paralyze or even kill you.
7 But don't let all that bad news keep you down. There are many things that you can do to practice safe
trampolining. You can cover the springs with special pads so that people's limbs are less likely to get stuck in them. You
can surround your trampoline with a net so that people don't fall off of it. You can limit bouncers to one at a time. This
will prevent collision injuries. Perhaps most importantly, you should never flip on a trampoline without professional
guidance. You are much less likely to get hurt on a trampoline if you do these things.
8 Trampolines have been around for a while now. They have brought a lot of joy too many people. There is no
feeling quite like soaring up in the air and then free-falling. Trampolines can also be a good source of exercise and
activity. They can help people improve their balance and aerial moves. But they can also be deadly. Be sure that you are
practicing safety while having a good time. Happy bouncing!
21. Which of the following is not a main idea in this text?
a. Trampoline-like activities have been around for a long
time.
b. Trampolining can be dangerous if practiced unsafely.
c. Trampolining is a great way to reduce stress and
anxiety.
d. Modern trampolines were invented by Nissan and Griswold.
22. Which statement would the author most likely disagree
with?
a. The basic idea of a trampoline has been around for a
long time.
b. Nissan and Griswold owe much of their success to
circus performers.
c. Most club and gym trampolines are safer than most
home trampolines.
d. Trampolines are dangerous and not much can be done to
make them safer.
23. Which best describes the main idea in the second
paragraph?
a. It explains how Eskimo have used walrus skins like
trampolines for a long time.
b. It describes activities similar to trampolining that came
first.
c. It compares and contrasts how different groups have
used trampolines.
d. It discusses how trampolining is ancient.
24. Which of the following events happened first?
a. Firemen begin using life nets to catch people jumping
from buildings.
B Nissan and Griswold begin selling trampolines to the
public.
c. Circus performers begin using netting to perform tricks.
d. Nissan and Griswold invent the modern trampoline.
25. Which is not cited as a cause of trampoline related
injuries?
a. Colliding with other bouncers
b. Bouncing into low hanging objects
c. Jumping off of the trampoline
d. Landing a flip incorrectly
26. Which best explains why trampoline injuries are more
likely to happen at home?
a. Home trampolines get rained on and become very
slippery.
b. Home trampolines are cheaply made and fall apart
during use.
c. Home trampolines often lack proper safety equipment.
d. Most people are on their best behavior when they leave
the home.
27. How does the purpose of the text switch after the
fourth paragraph?
a. It goes from describing the uses of a trampoline to the
dangers.
b. It shifts from explaining the history of the trampoline to
health benefits.
c. It moves from Nissan and Griswold's life story to how
trampolines are used today.
d. It changes from discussing the origins of the trampoline
to the risks.
28. Which statement would the author most likely agree
with?
a. Trampolines are extremely dangerous and should be
banned.
b. Nissan and Griswold stole the idea for the trampoline
from the eskimos.
c. You should take turns when jumping on a trampoline
with friends.
d. You'll never learn to flip if you don't start practicing by
yourself.
29. Which best expresses the author's purpose in writing
the seventh paragraph?
a. He is persuading readers to stay off of trampolines.
b. He is telling readers how to prevent trampoline injuries.
c. He is describing what a modern trampoline looks like.
d. He is informing readers about the risks of trampolining.
Irony

30. Tim Kylie is one of the world's top chefs. He is best known for his signature dish, triple-dipped chip steak. This
masterpiece contains over a pound of beef braised in duck fat. Another of Chef Kylie's more celebrated dishes is the
Hamslaughter Supreme. This dish features ham stuffed sausage links presented in a basket made of braided bacon. While
carnivores around the world roar for Chef Kylie's creations, it is unlikely that Chef Kylie will dine with them. As a
longtime vegan, Chef Kylie would never dream of devouring one of his own dishes.

What type of irony is described in the passage above?

a. Situational b. dramatic c. verbal

31. Lawrence was sweeping up the trimmings at the barbershop when he saw the circus posters. He knew right away that
he would be taking his little cousins. They loved animals and Lawrence was looking forward to seeing the smiles on their
faces. He saved until he had the 45 dollars to get the tickets. Soon they walked into that big circus tent. This was the first
time that Lawrence realized that he and his cousins would be thirsty and hungry. As they sat in their seats, the drink
vendor walked by selling beverages. Desperately thirsty, Lawrence asked how much a lemonade would cost. The drink
vendor said, "Eleven dollars each." Lawrence replied, "Oh, that's it? Just eleven dollars? What a great deal for one cup
of lemonade." The drink vendor walked away.

What type of irony is described in the passage above?

a. Situational b. dramatic c. verbal

32. Mr. Bath is the president of Make-A-Bath Industries, a small company that employs fifteen workers, including Tom
Miller, father of six. Ever since the economy went down the tubes, Make-A-Bath hasn’t been selling bath tubs like they
once did, and now Mr. Bath has to fire three workers, one of whom will be Tom Miller. But Mr. Bath has never fired
anyone before, so he has been delaying giving Tom and the other employees the bad news. But Christmas is approaching.
Tom wants to buy nice gifts for his six children, but he doesn’t have any money. So Tom charges a whole bunch of nice
gifts on his credit card, figuring that he can pay it back with money from his checks that he will be getting from his job all
year. Tom and his family don’t have a lot of extra money to spend, so he likes to get his kids nice Christmas presents.
Tom is looking forward to one of the best Christmases ever.

What type of irony is described in the passage above?

a. Situational b. dramatic c. verbal
Digital Media
33. How is the illustration in this advertisement intended to affect the reader's impression of the product?
a. The woman's face shows that the product works.
b. The men are glad they are at dinner with the woman.
c. The woman shown is smiling because she is enjoying dinner.
d. All three people in the illustration are talking about the product.