The Baxter house is located at the end of the street. This house sits farther back from the curb than the other houses. It is almost difficult to see from the road without peering behind the deformed oak tree that has obscured it for years. Even so, the Baxter house stands out from the other houses on the street. It is tall and white. However, this white is no longer pristinely white, but a dingy grayish cream color. Long vines hang from the tattered roof.
The Baxter house is two stories tall and has a large yard in the back that has never been mowed. The other houses on the street are a mere one story and have been painted a variety of colors. The newer, single story properties all appear to have been built around the same time; the yards mostly being of the same size, and the houses appearing to be clones of one another. Aside from the Baxter house at the end, this street is a perfect slice of middle class life. The inhabitants of the other houses wonder who lives in the ancient, dilapidated house at the end of the street.
Questions
1) Based on its use in the passage, which of the following statements accurately describes something that has been obscured?
A. The tall, thick pine trees in Chloe’s yard provide shade for her house.
B. A sun visor is one of Ken’s favorite hats, because it helps protect his face
from harsh rays.
C. After it stopped raining, the sun was barely visible through the gray clouds.
D. Because of his favorite, bright red sweatshirt, Anthony is always easy to
spot.
2) What makes the other houses on the street stand out visually from the Baxter house?
A. The other houses have larger families living in them.
B. The other houses on the street are a mere one story.
C. The Baxter house is at the end of the street.
D. The Baxter house is almost difficult to see from the road.
3) In the middle of the passage, the author writes,
“[the Baxter] house is tall and white. However, this white is no longer pristinely white, but a dingy grayish cream color. Long vines hang from the tattered roof. The Baxter house is two stories tall and has a large yard in the back that has never been mowed.”
Using this information, it can be concluded that the owner
A. does not, or cannot, take care of the house
B. plans on buying a new house soon
C. thinks the other people in the neighborhood do not like him or his house
D. cannot afford to care for his or her property
4) Which characteristic makes it clear that the “newer, single story properties all appear to have been built around the same time”?
A. They have all been painted the same color.
B. They are all situated next to each other on the street.
C. There are no other oak trees on this street.
D. The yards are mostly the same size.
5) Based on its use in the passage, it can be understood that dilapidated belongs to which of the following word groups?
A. rickety, neglected, run-down
B. ancient, old, primitive
C. dejected, crushed, melancholy
D. discarded, abandoned, discharged
6) If this paragraph appeared in a story, it would help develop
A. character
B. setting
C. plot
D. conflict
7) The inhabitants of the other houses
A. wonder why the owner does not take care of his or her house
B. wonder who lives in the ancient, dilapidated house at the end of the street
C. wish their houses were more uniquely designed
D. wish they had larger yards
8) This passage is best described as
A. argumentative
B. descriptive
C. informative
D. persuasive