CARS SERIES

COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF READING STRATEGIES

USES READING STRATEGIES TO INCREASE COMPREHENSION IDENTIFIES LEVEL OF MASTERY FOR 12 READING STRATEGIES PROVIDES PRACTICE WITH SELF-ASSESSMENT AND GOAL-SETTING

FOR

THE

STUDENT

Comprehensive Assessment of Reading Strategies (CARS Series) is a reading series that gives you practice with 12 reading strategies. In Comprehensive Assessment of Reading Strategies, Book F, you will complete ten reading lessons. Each lesson has a passage and questions about the passage. Each passage is a different writing form. Some of the writing forms are a fable, an article, a book review, and a letter. After you read each passage, you will answer 12 questions. Each question helps you practice a particular reading strategy. After you have finished the first five lessons, you will complete a self-assessment. This self-assessment will help you determine how well you are doing and what goals you need to set to improve your reading skills. After you finish the last five lessons, you will complete another self-assessment. This self-assessment will help you determine how well you met your goals. Comprehensive Assessment of Reading Strategies, Book F will help you become a better reader. You will understand what important information to look for as you read. This will help you get the most from your reading. Acknowledgments Product Development Developer and Writer: Deborah Adcock Contributing Writers: Christopher Forest and Patricia Delanie Design and Production Designer: Susan Hawk Cover Design: Christine Gilbert Illustration Credits Pages 2, 5, 11, 17: Susan Hawk Pages 8, 20, 29: Jim Roldan Photo Credit Page 5: Tiger Woods illustration adapted from photo supplied by Sports Illustrated magazine. Books in the Reading Program Comprehensive Assessment of Reading Strategies (CARS Series) Strategies to Achieve Reading Success (STARS Series) Extensions in Reading Series Comprehensive Assessment of Reading Strategies II (CARS Series II) 1
Comprehensive Assessment of Reading Strategies (CARS Series) Book FCURRICULUM ASSOCIATES, Inc.www.curriculumassociates.com800-225-0248

LESSON 5
Read this letter to the editor that appeared in a local newspaper. Then answer questions about the letter. Choose the best answer for Numbers 1 through 12.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

In order to save money, the superintendent of schools has proposed closing the Fenton Elementary School. Dr. Samuel Bakers plan, however, bears further scrutiny. First, the population in the Fenton School neighborhood is growing rapidly. Recent projections show that in just six years, there could be triple the number of students in the neighborhood. At present, the school population stands at 321 students. Why close a school in a neighborhood that is growing so quickly? Remember what happened when the Parker School was closed ten years ago? Taxpayers are still paying for the new school that had to be constructed five years later in that southside neighborhood. Second, the projected savings to the city with the closing of the school, I feel, is misleading. The director of buildings estimates that two million dollars will be saved annually. How absurd! A large part of the schools budget goes toward teacher salaries. The students at Fenton School will still require teachers. Few students will find openings in existing classrooms at other schools. Therefore, the salaries for at least 13 classroom teachers and seven support teachers will still need to be paid. The costs of busing, supplies, textbooks, and other services will also be required. The calculated savings is, in my point of view, completely off the mark. Third, there will soon be a need to expand existing schools if the Fenton School is closed. This will have to be done to make room for the current students and the growing student population. The two-million-dollar savings will be further used up by these construction costs. Taxpayers will be paying more in the long term. Dr. Baker and his advisors certainly are not thinking ahead. All citizens should consider the consequences of Dr. Bakers proposal. They should also insist that this issue be looked at again from a more informed position. Anita Russo President, Fenton School PTO

14
Comprehensive Assessment of Reading Strategies (CARS Series) Book FCURRICULUM ASSOCIATES, Inc.www.curriculumassociates.com800-225-0248

Finding Main Idea 1. Which of these best expresses the main idea of the letter? School closings often result in enormous savings to a city. A superintendent of schools is not qualified to make a school-closing proposal. School closings always result in costs to the taxpayer. A school closing plan may not be as prudent as some people believe.

Recognizing Cause and Effect 4. According to the letter, which of these would be a result of the school closing? Hundreds of families would leave the Fenton School neighborhood. Present classrooms would quickly become overcrowded. School populations would decrease dramatically. Existing schools would need to be expanded.

Recalling Facts and Details 2. Who is the writer of the letter? a distressed city official an angry taxpayer from the Parker School neighborhood a concerned member of a school organization a worried member of the superintendents staff

Comparing and Contrasting 5. In the letter, the current school-closing issue is compared to a steady rise in taxes due to building expenses. a school closing that occurred ten years ago. the construction of a new school five years ago. a poor decision recently made in another city.

Understanding Sequence 3. Which of these happened first? Anita Russo wrote a letter to the editor to protest the closing of the Fenton Elementary School. The Parker School was closed. A new school was constructed in a southside neighborhood. Dr. Baker made a proposal to close the Fenton Elementary School.

Making Predictions 6. Predict what will probably occur if enough citizens oppose Dr. Bakers plan. Dr. Baker will feel obligated to enact his current plan. The director of buildings will replace the superintendent. Dr. Baker will develop a new plan, but will not share it with the public. Dr. Baker will be forced to review the plan with a new set of advisors.

15
Comprehensive Assessment of Reading Strategies (CARS Series) Book FCURRICULUM ASSOCIATES, Inc.www.curriculumassociates.com800-225-0248

Finding Word Meaning in Context 7. In the letter, the word absurd means ridiculous. conceited. practical. brazen.

Identifying Authors Purpose 10. What is the authors purpose in the last paragraph? to describe what occurs each time a school is closed to explain the advantages of a school plan proposed by Dr. Baker to inform citizens how they can save over two million dollars annually from the school budget to convince others that Dr. Bakers plan needs further inquiry

Drawing Conclusions and Making Inferences 8. You can conclude that Dr. Baker developed the school-closing plan without the counsel of others. Anita Russo has several children who currently attend the Fenton School. the school population in the Fenton School neighborhood could rise to over 900 students in six years time. the superintendent of schools is inexperienced in matters of the school budget.

Interpreting Figurative Language 11. What does the phrase off the mark mean? far from being accurate impossible to establish without much consideration aware of the facts

Distinguishing Between Fact and Opinion 9. Which of these is an opinion expressed in the letter? Parker School was closed ten years ago. The projected savings to the city with the closing of the school is misleading. The population in the Fenton School neighborhood is growing rapidly. The superintendent of schools has proposed closing the Fenton Elementary School.

Summarizing 12. Which of these best summarizes the letter? A school-closing plan could result in significant cost savings. Construction of new schools is often necessary when other schools are closed. A school-closing plan may not save as much money as is being suggested. School budgets can always be readjusted to save costs in other ways.
You have now completed Lessons 15. Go to page 33. Complete Self-assessment 1.

16
Comprehensive Assessment of Reading Strategies (CARS Series) Book FCURRICULUM ASSOCIATES, Inc.www.curriculumassociates.com800-225-0248

10021.1

CARS SERIES

12 Reading Strategies Practiced in Book F

Finding Main Idea Recalling Facts and Details Understanding Sequence Recognizing Cause and Effect Comparing and Contrasting Making Predictions Finding Word Meaning in Context Drawing Conclusions and Making Inferences Distinguishing Between Fact and Opinion Identifying Authors Purpose Interpreting Figurative Language Summarizing

Reorder No. CA1002110-Pack CURRICULUM ASSOCIATES, Inc. North Billerica, MA 01862 Phone: 800 225-0248 (U.S. & Canada) Fax: 800 366-1158 (U.S. & Canada) E-mail: cainfo@CAinc.com Web: www.CAinc.com FREE product training: www.CAtraining.com