PARCC Advanced Reading Practice Questions

1. What happened first?

A. The Muir family moved to the United States.

B. Muir Woods was created.

C. John Muir learned to climb rocky cliffs.

D. John Muir walked to the Gulf of Mexico.

E. John Muir visited along the east coast.

Correct! Wrong!

1. C: The passage indicates that Muir liked to climb rocky cliffs as a child, and that when he was 11 years old, his family moved to the United States (A). Muir Woods was established (B) in 1908; Muir, born in 1838, was 11 years old in 1849, and was a rock-climbing child earlier. Muir walked to the Gulf of Mexico (D) in 1867-1868. The passage never suggests that Muir visited along the east coast (E) at all.

2. When did Muir invent a unique form of alarm clock?

A. While the family still lived in Scotland.

B. After he sailed to San Francisco.

C. After he traveled in Yosemite.

D. While the Muir family lived in Wisconsin.

E. After he took the long walk.

Correct! Wrong!

2. D: Muir invented his unique alarm clock in his youth, between 1849 and 1867, while he lived with his family in Wisconsin; not while they still lived in Scotland (A) until he was 11 years old; not after he sailed to San Francisco (B) in 1868, at the age of 30 years; not after he traveled in Yosemite (C), also in 1868; and not after he took the long walk in 1867-1868.

3. What did John Muir do soon after he arrived in San Francisco?

A. He ran outside during an earthquake.

B. He put forth a theory about how Yosemite was formed.

C. He headed inland for the Sierra Nevadas.

D. He began to write articles about the Sierra Nevadas.

E. He wrote short stories for the local newspaper.

Correct! Wrong!

3. C: Soon after arriving in San Francisco, Muir headed inland for the Sierra Nevadas. The passage never reads that he ran outside during an earthquake (A). He proposed his theory about Yosemite's formation (B) during the late 1860s, after exploring Yosemite. After proposing his theory, Muir began writing articles, not about the Sierra Nevadas (D) overall, but specifically about the Yosemite Valley. The passage never indicates that he wrote short stories for the local newspaper (E).

4. When did John Muir meet Theodore Roosevelt?

A. Between 1901 and 1906

B. Between 1838 and 1868

C. Between 1906 and 1914

D. Between 1868 and 1901

E. Between 1906 and 1907

Correct! Wrong!

4. A: The passage indicates that TR became President in 1901; after Muir took him through Yosemite, Roosevelt established Yosemite National Park in 1906. Therefore, they met between these years. 1838-1868 (B) is the first 30 years of Muir's life, from birth to going to San Francisco. 1906-1914 (C) would be after TR established Yosemite National Park through Muir's influence. 1868-1901 (D) is the period from Muir's arrival in San Francisco until Roosevelt's election. 1906-1907 (E) is also too late.

5. What happened last?

A. John Muir died.

B. John Muir Trail was dedicated.

C. Muir's glacial theory was proven.

D. The Sierra Club was formed.

E. John's family visited him.

Correct! Wrong!

5. B: John Muir Trail was dedicated in 1938 (first paragraph, last two sentences). John Muir died (A) in 1914 (last paragraph). Muir's glacial theory was proven (C) in 1930 (fifth paragraph). The Sierra Club was formed (D) in 1892 (first sentence).