READTHEORY.

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Amazing Resources
Earth is full of amazing resources. These resources occur
naturally and are a part of the anatomy of the planet. Some
of these resources are easy to see, and some of them are
hidden deep within the ground. A handful of our natural
resources will most likely always be available; others could
disappear forever once they are all used up.

Soil is a naturally occurring part of the Earth. It is made of a

mixture of many smaller ingredients like rock, minerals,
clay, sand, and crumbled leaves and twigs. Soil also
contains decomposed plant and animal matter. Though to
many it may seem like plain old dirt, soil is one of the most
complex and active ecosystems on Earth. It is teeming with
tiny living organisms. Millions of microscopic bacteria in the
soil help break down dead plants and animals into simpler substances that enrich the earth. Healthy
soil means healthy fruits and vegetables are grown and consumed by humans. Soil is a vital
component to the cycle of life. The best part about soil is that it’s a renewable resource: we can use
it over and over again.

Fossil fuels are a resource found deep inside the Earth. These were formed hundreds of millions of
years ago from dead plant and animal remains that were buried under many layers of sand and
mud. Coal, oil, and natural gas are considered to be fossil fuels. When burned, fossil fuels give off
energy that can light and heat our homes. They can also generate enough energy to power huge
machines. Unlike soil, fossil fuels are a non-renewable resource. Once they have been used up,
they cannot be replaced or remade. Because of this, it is important to conserve energy and consider
other renewable resources that can supply energy such as the sun, wind, and ocean tides.

It is remarkable that our Earth supplies us with such valuable resources that make life possible. Soil
and fossil fuels both make significant contributions to our lives. Although some resources could last
forever and others are finite, it is essential that we are thoughtful about the use and conservation of
these riches from the Earth.

1) Which statement from paragraph 1 best captures the author's message in this passage?

A. “Earth is full of amazing resources.”

B. “These resources occur naturally and are a part of the anatomy of the planet.”
C. “Some of these resources are easy to see, and some of them are hidden deep within the
ground.”
D. “A handful of our natural resources will most likely always be available; others could disappear
forever once they are all used up.”

2) According to the passage, soil is made up of

I. rock
II. sand
III. crumbled twigs

A. I only
B. I and II only
C. II and III only
D. I, II, and III

3) Based on its use in paragraph 2, it can be understood that the word teeming belongs to which of
the following word groups?

A. joining, partnering, cooperating

B. swarming, crawling, abounding
C. tipping, overflowing, pouring
D. falling, dropping, tumbling

4) Which of the following describes the difference between renewable and non-renewable
resources?

A. Renewable resources are hidden deep inside the Earth; non-renewable resources are easy to
see.
B. Renewable resources are new and easy to use; non-renewable resources are old and
complicated.
C. Renewable resources come from the Earth; non-renewable resources are man-made.
D. Renewable resources can be used and then formed again; non-renewable resources cannot
be replaced once they are used up.

5) According to the passage, coal, oil, and natural gas are all considered to be

A. renewable resources
B. types of soil
C. fossil fuels
D. human made

6) As used in the final paragraph, the word finite most nearly means

A. limited
B. final
C. important
D. forever

7) It seems obvious that it is important to conserve non-renewable resources. After all, once we run
out of things like oil or coal, there is no way to make any more. But do you think that it is important
to conserve renewable resources as well? Why or why not? Explain your reasoning.
 Answers and Explanations

1) D
Core Standard: Key Ideas and Details

In this passage, the author writes about two different types of resources. This focus is established in
the first paragraph. Paragraphs 2 and 3 make up the majority of the passage. Paragraph 2 focuses
on renewable resources, like soil, that “we can use…over and over again.” Paragraph 3 focuses on
fossil fuels that are non-renewable resources. As the author puts it, “once they have been used up,
they cannot be replaced or remade.” Since most of the passage focuses on natural resources that
will most likely always be available and others that could disappear because they cannot be
replaced, we can tell that the statement “A handful of our natural resources will most likely always be
available; others could disappear forever once they are all used up” best captures the author’s
message in this passage. This means (D) is correct.

Using the above information, we can tell that the author mostly focuses on renewable and
non-renewable resources. The statement “Earth is full of amazing resources” generally mentions
resources, but we can tell that it is not specific enough to best capture the author’s message in this
passage. Besides the fact that it does not break down the two types of resources, this statement
does not provide any information about the differences between these two types of resources. This
lets us know that (A) is incorrect.

Using the above information, we can tell that the author mostly focuses on renewable and
non-renewable resources. The statement “These resources occur naturally and are a part of the
anatomy of the planet” mentions only one of the types of resources the author discusses. This lets
us know that this statement does not best capture the author’s message about renewable and
non-renewable resources, so (B) is incorrect.

Using the above information, we can tell that the author mostly focuses on renewable and
non-renewable resources. The statement “Some of these resources are easy to see, and some of
them are hidden deep within the ground” focuses on where the resources are found. The author
focuses on specific examples of two types of resources, elaborating mostly on soil and fossil fuels.
This lets us know that this statement does not best capture the author’s message about renewable
and non-renewable resources. Therefore (C) is incorrect.

2) D
Core Standard: Key Ideas and Details

In paragraph 2, the author writes, “[Soil] is made of a mixture of many smaller ingredients like rock,
minerals, clay, sand, and crumbled leaves and twigs.” Since the author mentions that soil is made up
of rock, this supports option (I).

In paragraph 2, the author writes, “[Soil] is made of a mixture of many smaller ingredients like rock,
minerals, clay, sand, and crumbled leaves and twigs.” Since the author mentions that soil is made up
of sand, this supports option (II).
In paragraph 2, the author writes, ““[Soil] is made of a mixture of many smaller ingredients like rock,
minerals, clay, sand, and crumbled leaves and twigs.” Since the author mentions that soil is made up
of crumbled twigs, this supports option (III).

Therefore (D) is correct.

3) B
Core Standard: Craft and Structure

teeming (adjective): swarming or filled with.

In paragraph 2, the author writes, “It is teeming with tiny living organisms.” We can use context
clues—hints from known words or phrases around the unknown word or phrase—to help us figure
out what teeming most nearly means. Previously the author mentions that soil is an “active
ecosystem,” and after the selection above, the author writes, “Millions of microscopic bacteria in the
soil help break down dead plants and animals into simpler substances that enrich the earth.” If
millions of active bacteria are in the soil breaking down dead plant and animal matter, we can tell
that the soil must be swarming or filled with tiny living organisms. This lets us know that teeming
means something like swarming. Swarming, crawling, and abounding all relate to swarming or being
filled with. This lets us know that the word teeming belongs to the word group containing swarming,
crawling, and packed. Therefore (B) is correct.

The passage does not provide evidence to support choices (A), (C), or (D). Therefore they are
incorrect.

4) D
Core Standard: Integration of Knowledge

In paragraph 2, the author writes, “The best part about soil is that it’s a renewable resource: we can
use it over and over again.” The colon links these two phrases so that we can tell that a renewable
resource can be used over and over again. In paragraph 3, the author writes, “Unlike soil, fossil fuels
are a non-renewable resource. Once they have been used up, they cannot be replaced or remade.”
In the second sentence, the word they is a pronoun that the author has substituted for the term
non-renewable resources. This lets us know that the difference between renewable and
non-renewable resources is that renewable resources can be used and then formed again;
non-renewable resources cannot be replaced once they are used up. This means (D) is correct.

In paragraph 2, the author writes, “The best part about soil is that it’s a renewable resource.” Since
soil is a renewable resource, and we know that it is not hidden deep inside the Earth, we can tell that
the statement "Renewable resources are hidden deep inside the Earth; non-renewable resources
are easy to see" does not accurately explain renewable resources. This lets us know that this
statement does not describe the difference between renewable and non-renewable resources.
Therefore (A) is incorrect.

In paragraph 2, the author writes, “The best part about soil is that it’s a renewable resource.” Since
soil is a renewable resource, and it is not new, we can tell that the statement "Renewable resources
are new and easy to use; non-renewable resources are old and complicated" does not accurately
explain renewable resources. This lets us know that this statement does not best describe the
difference between renewable and non-renewable resources. Therefore (B) is incorrect.

In paragraph 3, the author writes, “fossil fuels are a non-renewable resource.” Earlier, the author
writes, “Fossil fuels are a resource found deep inside the Earth.” This lets us know that
non-renewable resources are not man-made, so the statement "Renewable resources come from
the Earth; non-renewable resources are man-made" does not accurately explain non-renewable
resources. Therefore, this statement does not best describe the difference between renewable and
non-renewable resources, and (C) is incorrect.

5) C
Core Standard: Key Ideas and Details

To answer this detail question correctly, we need to find where the author discusses coal, oil, and
natural gas in the passage. A good way to do this is to scan the passage for these words, since the
sentence where these words are found will likely tell us the information we are looking for. A
sentence in paragraph 3 reads "Coal, oil, and natural gas are considered to be fossil fuels.” This lets
us know that the details we are looking for can likely be found in paragraph 3.

In paragraph 3, the author writes, “Coal, oil, and natural gas are considered to be fossil fuels.” This
lets us know that coal, oil, and natural gas are all considered to be fossil fuels, and (C) is correct.

The passage does not provide information to support choices (A), (B), or (D). Therefore they are
incorrect.

6) A
Core Standard: Craft and Structure

finite (adjective): having limits or bounds; eventually coming to an end.

In paragraph 4, the author writes, “Although some resources could last forever and others are finite,
it is essential that we are thoughtful about the use and conservation of these riches from the Earth.”
We can use context clues—hints from known words or phrases around the unknown word or
phrase—to help us figure out what finite most nearly means. We can tell that the first part of this
quotation sets up opposites: “…some resources could last forever and others are finite….” This lets
us know that finite must mean the opposite of lasting forever. Using this information, we can tell that
finite must mean something like having limits or bounds, or eventually coming to an end. Therefore,
based on its use in the final paragraph, finite most nearly means limited, and (A) is correct.

Using the above information, we can tell that we are looking for the definition that most nearly means
having limits or bounds, or eventually coming to an end. Final expresses an actual end point, but it
does describe something that has limits or bounds. Because it is a specific point, we can tell that
finite does not most nearly mean final, and (B) is incorrect.
Using the above information, we can tell that we are looking for the definition that most nearly means
having limits or bounds, or eventually coming to an end. Important relates to how valuable
something is to an individual, so it does not most nearly mean having limits or bounds. This lets us
know that finite does not most nearly mean important, and (C) is incorrect.

Using the above information, we can tell that we are looking for the definition that most nearly means
having limits or bounds, or eventually coming to an end. Forever means lasting indefinitely, which is
the opposite of having limits or bounds. This lets us know that finite does not most nearly mean
forever, so (D) is incorrect.