Inside Reading Unit 8 Test

Name: _____________________________________ Date: ________________________

Read this passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

When Is Copying Okay?

Copying someone means you like their work. Some see copying as a form of flattery. This may
be true, but copying someone’s work can also be illegal and is not allowed in schools. You may
have read about this issue in the news. A young author’s best-selling book is found to have
whole passages that match someone else’s work. This was the case with Helene Hegemann, a
young German artist, whose new book was nominated for a prize. Initially, she was praised.
Then it was discovered she had copied text. She’d made very few changes to the original work.
The young author defended herself, though. She said that she was part of a new generation and
culture. She explained that young people sample music. They mix music and art. They create
something new with the pieces. But in Hegemann’s case, a blogger found evidence that it wasn’t
just a couple of phrases here and there. It was a whole page of text that was taken from another
story that was not as well known. Using someone's words without credit is a type of stealing
called plagiarism. Hegemann may have created something new, but she never gave credit to the
original author.

So in book publishing and in school, copying is not okay. However, the rules aren’t as strict in
other areas. For example, consider food items. Perhaps you’ve seen the addition of rice pudding
to restaurant menus as a dessert, or maybe it’s been a different flavor combination that keeps
showing up at different ice cream shops. There are no laws that say you can’t copy food items. A
Wall Street Journal article on the topic of copying points out that some chefs may be angered
that their dishes are being copied and they aren’t being credited. However, Thomas Keller, a
famous chef from the restaurant French Laundry, thinks that copying can create better dishes. He
thinks that a dish can be made better when someone else tries out new things with it.

Reading Comprehension

Mark each statement as T (True) or F (False) according to the Reading.

1. ___ Helene Hegemann was praised for copying someone else’s work.

2. ___ Helene Hegemann only copied a couple phrases from another work.

3. ___ It is not okay to copy another’s work in book publishing and in school settings.

4. ___ Copying food items is okay.

5. ___ Thomas Keller is angered when other chefs copy his dishes.

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 Reading Skill: Using a Dictionary

The following sentences are from the Reading. Read the sentence and then answer the
question that follows.

6. Some see copying as a form of flattery. The Oxford American Dictionary for learners of
English defines flattery as “praise that is not sincere, especially in order to obtain something
from someone.” Which statement below is an example of flattery?

a. That is a beautiful new coat, and it looks really nice on you. May I borrow it
tomorrow?
b. I don’t think that hat looks good on you.
c. Could I borrow your pen?

7. This may be true, but copying someone’s work can also be illegal. The Oxford American
Dictionary for learners of English defines illegal as “not allowed by the law.” Which action
below is an example of something that is illegal?

a. driving
b. stealing
c. writing

8. Hegemann may have created something new, but she never gave credit to the original
author. Which definition of credit is being used in this sentence?

a. a payment that someone has a right to for a particular reason

b. the amount of money that you have in your bank account
c. praise because you are responsible for something good that has happened

9. However, the rules aren’t as strict in other areas. The definition for strict in this sentence
is “that must be obeyed or followed exactly.” For example, rules can be strict. What other
things might be described as strict?

a. streets
b. laws
c. money

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Vocabulary: Word Families

Choose the word form that correctly completes each sentence.

10. My manager was happy that I took the ___________ to solve the problem on my own.

a. initials
b. initiative
c. initial

11. One of the happiest moments of my life was when I saw the clothes I had designed on
__________ in a store’s window.

a. display
b. displayed
c. displaying

12. I don’t enjoy playing on the soccer team, but it’s a ______________ I made, so I need to
keep it.

a. committing
b. committed
c. commitment

13. Garbage is _____________ every Tuesday morning.

a. collected
b. collects
c. collection

Vocabulary: Multiple Choice

Select the word that completes each sentence below.

14. Under no _____________ would I steal. It’s against the law, and I think it’s wrong.

a. issues
b. collections
c. circumstances

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 15. The police officer began to question her. A sales clerk said he saw her ____________
from the store.

a. removing
b. stealing
c. securing

16. The woman asked the sales clerk to provide _____________. She told the police officer
she did not take anything.

a. evidence
b. circumstance
c. issue

17. The parent ___________ the crying child from the movie theater.

a. removed
b. issued
c. secured

18. We wrapped our newborn baby tightly in a blanket. The nurse said it would help him feel
_________.

a. initiative
b. secure
c. removed

19. My friend called to see if I could meet her for lunch. She said there was a big
_____________ at work and she wanted to talk to me about it.

a. collection
b. evidence
c. issue

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 Writing Prompt

20. In most circumstances, it is not okay to copy. Give some examples of situations when
copying another’s work is a bad idea. Then think about situations when copying is okay. Give an
example of a situation when it is okay. Write at least six to eight sentences.

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