Everett Public Schools
Assessment of Student Learning
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Benchmark Reading Assessment
Grade 10
Grading Period 4
“Tourists are Modern-day Miners in Georgia’s Dahlonega”
“King Midas and the Golden Touch”
“Ozymandias”
Student:
Date:
Teacher:
Period:
2
Map of the United States showing the approximate location of Dahlonega,
Georgia and San Francisco, California.
Informational Passage
Directions: Read the following selection and then answer the questions.
Tourists are Modern-day Miners in Georgia’s Dahlonega
by Jay Clarke
Sunday, May 4, 2003 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
1
Dahlonega, Georgia
. America’s first gold rush took place here, not in California. Two decades
before the Forty-Niners embarked on their massive migration to San Francisco and Sutter’s Creek,
the precious metal was discovered in northern Georgia.
2 It happened less than two hours from present-day Atlanta. The year was 1828, and the discovery set
off a rush just as frantic as the one in California a generation later.
3 Prospectors poured into the region by the thousands, and a federal mint established here in 1835
produced more than $6 million in gold coins before it was closed by the onset of the Civil War.
4 Commercial gold mining ended here in the 1920s, but the legacy of Dahlonega’s golden years lives
on. There’s still “gold in them thar hills,” a famous phrase first uttered by a 19
th
– century Georgia
politician trying to discourage miners from going to California. But now the gold is luring tourists,
not fortune hunters.
San Francisco,
California
Dahlonega,
Georgia
3
Children panning for gold at
Consolidated Gold Mine in
Dahlonega, Georgia
5 You’ll run across tourists in the Gold Museum peering at nuggets and coins made of local gold or
gazing at the gold-leafed steeple of Price Memorial Hall, a city landmark. You find them poking
around the shops and boutiques in the historic downtown area, checking out local arts and crafts at
the Folkways Center, and perhaps taking in the Mountain Music and Medicine Show. And almost
certainly you’ll see them panning for gold.
Tourists Only
6 “It’s our first time,” said Tony Farren as he swirled ore in a
miner’s pan alongside his wife, Liz, and children Laura, 7,
and Daniel, 5. “I think it’s great.”
7 The Naples, Florida, family was gold-digging at the
Consolidated Gold Mine, once the biggest in Dahlonega
but now open only to tourists. For a fee of $10 for adults,
$6 for children, the mine lets visitors pan for gold and tour
its underground tunnels. One can also pan for gold at the
Crisson Gold Mine and watch Georgia’s only working
stamp mill crush gold-bearing quartz.
8 Dahlonega’s Gold Museum, situated in the former
courthouse, is a busy tourist haunt. Within the 1836
structure is a fascinating record of the city’s heyday---
samples of gold and other minerals, the tools and
machinery of gold mining, and a 23-minute film that tells
the story of the city and Georgia gold. The bricks used to
build the courthouse are made from local clay that contains
gold.
9 The museum stands in the center of the downtown Public Square, which is listed on the National
Register of Historic Places and ringed by a variety of tourist-oriented shops. Just off the square is
the Folkways Center of the Georgia Mountains, which showcases (and offers for sale) arts and crafts
of the regions---carvings, paintings, pottery and quilts and ink drawings. “Mostly we show the work
of local artists within 50 miles,” said the center’s Alice McDonald.
10 In the complex, local personalities stage the Dahlonega Mountain Music and Medicine Show, a
series of live radio broadcast performances on the first Saturday of every month. Similar to National
Public Radio’s “A Prairie Home Companion,” the show features traditional mountain music and lore
as well as comedy skits.
11 Dahlonega is a touristy place, but it has a homespun touch. Stay at the antebellum Worley
Homestead Inn and host Frances Mauldin will spin tales about the original owner, Captain Bill
Worley. Dine at the famed Smith House and you’ll be served family-style Southern specialties such
as fried chicken, baked ham, okra, collard greens and corn bread. Drop in at the General Store
downtown and browse through antiques and one-of-a-kind crafts.
4
12 But Dahlonega isn’t just about gold and history. Within a few miles, visitors can go canoeing,
tubing, horseback riding, or hike on the Appalachian Trail, which begins at nearby Springer
Mountain.
Other attractions nearby
13 Babyland General Hospital, the birthplace of Cabbage Patch dolls, is in Cleveland, Georgia, 20
minutes away. You can even experience a touch of Australia at the Kangaroo Conservation Center,
which has the largest kangaroo collection outside of that country. The center is a half-hour drive
from town.
14 Several pretty waterfalls lie close to Dahlonega. Cane Creek Falls is especially scenic, splashing
into a shallow pool bordered by a beach.
15 Especially festive times to visit Dahlonega are during its annual events. From April though October
a dozen special fetes draw thousands to the city. Biggest of them is Gold Rush Days, staged the
third weekend in October, when fall colors are at their peak.
5
Benchmark Reading Assessment
Grade 10 – Grading Period 4
“Tourists are Modern-day Miners in Georgia’s Dahlonega”
Fill in the bubble next to the letter of the best answer.
1. What is the main idea of the section entitled “Tourists Only”? [IC11]
2. Which sentence best summarizes Dahlonega between the years of 1828 and 1920? [IC12]
3. Based on the selection, what inference can the reader make about why people visit Dahlonega now?
[IC13]
4. What is the meaning of the word
fetes
as it is used in paragraph 15 of the selection?
[IC14]
{
A.
Dahlonega is located east of San Francisco.
{
B.
Dahlonega has a surprisingly similar history to California.
{
C.
Dahlonega has a variety of events and historic locations to enjoy.
{
D.
Dahlonega is within driving distance of natural recreation areas.
{
A.
Dahlonega was growing very quickly.
{
B.
Dahlonega had a baby boom during this time.
{
C.
Dahlonega was having a decrease in population.
{
D.
Dahlonega began several new tourist attractions.
{
A.
Dahlonega has excellent shopping.
{
B.
Dahlonega is a sportsman’s paradise.
{
C.
Dahlonega has many unique activities.
{
D.
Dahlonega has a gorgeous mountain setting.
{
A.
Meals
{
B.
Celebrations
{
C.
Tricks
{
D.
Performances
6
5. What is the purpose of the map? [IA15]
6. Which sentence tells how California and Georgia are similar? [IA16]
7. Which sentence best explains why the federal mint in Dahlonega closed? [IA17]
8. Which sentence from the selection is an opinion? [IT18]
{
A.
To show the location of the U.S. in the world
{
B.
To show the size of Dahlonega relative to the U.S.
{
C.
To show the location of Hawaii and Alaska
{
D.
To show the distance between Dahlonega and San Francisco
{
A.
They both have mining as a major state industry.
{
B.
They are both on the west coast of the U.S.
{
C.
They both had major gold discoveries.
{
D.
They were both at the center of the Civil War.
{
A.
The Civil War began.
{
B.
The mine ran out of gold.
{
C.
The politicians decided to relocate the mint.
{
D.
The U.S. government opened a new mint in Atlanta.
{
A.
“Dahlonega is a touristy place, but it has a homespun touch.”
{
B.
“The Naples, Florida family was gold-digging at the Consolidated Mine.”
{
C.
“The Kangaroo Conservation Center has the largest kangaroo collection outside of
Australia.”
{
D.
“Prospectors poured into the region by the thousands . . .”
7
9. Based on the information in the selection, what is the most important concept the author presents?
[IT19]
10. Based on the information in the selection, what conclusion can the reader draw about the people of
Dahlonega? [IT20]
{
A.
History influences the way people view current economic conditions.
{
B.
When resources are diminished, people find new ways to make use of what
remains.
{
C.
Anticipating changes allows people to be more successful in their lives.
{
D.
With aspirations to become wealthy, people are motivated to relocate to new
places.
{
A.
They are greedy.
{
B.
They are resourceful.
{
C.
They are conceited.
{
D.
They are intellectual.
8
Literary Passage
Directions: Read the following selection and then answer the questions.
King Midas and the Golden Touch
A Greek Myth
1 Many years ago in the land of Lydia, there was a beautiful garden.
Roses of every shade grew there, and on warm summer nights the air
was heavy with their fragrance. The garden belonged to a palace, and
the palace was the home of a king whose name was Midas. He was
rather greedy, but on the whole no better and no worse than other men.
Midas had a loving wife and a daughter he adored, but he was still
discontented. He wanted to be the most powerful king in the world; he
wanted everyone to envy him.
2 One day as he was walking though the palace garden, he was startled to see a pair of legs sticking
out from beneath his favorite rose bush. The strange thing about these legs was that they had hooves
instead of feet. The king stared at the hooves for a moment and then called for the gardener’s boy.
3 “What do you make of that?” he asked. The boy parted the branches of the rosebush and peered
through.
4 “It’s a satyr, Your Majesty,” he reported, trying not to laugh. “I think it’s Silenus.”
5 The satyrs were strange, mischievous creatures—half man, half beast—who roamed the world in
search of adventure. Midas was angry that somebody should be sleeping in his garden.
6 The boy ran off to fetch the gardener, and between them they dragged Silenus from under the
rosebush and pulled him to his feet. Silenus grinned foolishly. He was holding an empty wine jar.
7 “You are trespassing in my garden,” Midas told him severely. “What have you to say for yourself?”
The old satyr shrugged.
8 “I got lost, so I sat down for a drink,” he told the king, looking quite unrepentant.
9 “Disgraceful,” said Midas. “I shall send word to your master at once.” Silenus began to look
worried, for his master was the god Dionysus, who was not only powerful but also quick-tempered.
10 “I beg you not to do that,” he cried. “He will be angry with me. Suppose I make a bargain with
you? If you will overlook my foolishness, I will entertain you with strange and wonderful tales,
better than any you have heard before.”
9
11 Midas agreed and the satyr stayed on in the palace, delighting the king with wonderful accounts of
his adventures. At the end of the week, Midas sent the satyr back to Dionysus. The god was very
fond of Silenus, despite his many faults, and was pleased to see him safe and sound. He wanted to
thank Midas for taking care of the old satyr and offered the king any gift he cared to name.
12 Any gift he cared to name! What a marvelous opportunity! He pondered for a whole day and a
night and then asked Dionysus if he could make a wish. The god agreed and Midas asked for the
power to turn whatever he touched into gold. The god granted his wish, and Midas was jubilant.
13 “Imagine a king with a golden touch!” he cried. “I shall be the
wealthiest and most powerful king in the world.”
14 The king began to experiment with his new gift. He hurried into the
garden and touched one of the flowers. At once, the whole bush turned
to gold. He went from bush to bush, touching all the blooms, until the
entire garden had turned to gold. Then he looked around him.
Suddenly, Midas felt doubtful. Gone were the colors and the glorious
perfume. The garden was still and lifeless.
15 Inside the palace, the king called for a goblet of wine. As soon as it
touched his lips the wine turned to gold and he could not drink.
16 A terrible thought occurred to him.
17 “What will happen when I eat?” he wondered. With trembling fingers he reached out to take an
apple for a bowl of fruit. As soon as he touched it, the apple turned to gold.
18 “What have I done?” he whispered. “If I cannot eat or drink I shall die!” He knew that he had made
a terrible mistake and decided to beg Dionysus to take back his gift. “I will go to him at once,” he
cried, but his decision came too late. At that very moment his daughter ran into the room.
19 “Stay away from me!” Midas shouted, but she took no notice. She threw her arms around him—and
was turned to gold. His daughter was now a gleaming but lifeless statue. The king stared at her in
horror.
20 “What have I done to you?” he cried, kneeling beside her. His grief was so great that nobody could
console him. He hurried to the palace of Dionysus and threw himself at the god’s feet.
21 “Forgive my stupid greed!” he begged. “Tell me what I must do to save my child. I will do
anything you say.”
22 Dionysus told him to find the river Pactolus and wash himself in its waters. Midas set off at once.
He went alone and walked for many miles over rough and stony ground.
10
23 When he reached the river he found it flowing deep and strong. Midas waded straight in. He was
instantly swept away by the current. When at last he managed to reach the shore, he wondered if the
curse had indeed been washed from him. Looking back, he saw that the river now gleamed and
sparkled in the sun. On the riverbed tiny nuggets of gold lay among the pebbles. Dionysus had
spoken truthfully, and the terrible power had left him. Joyfully, Midas made his way home.
24 As he approached the palace, Midas’s daughter ran to greet him. He lifted her into his arms and
carried her into the garden. Midas was overjoyed to hear her laughter once again, and he sighed
happily as he breathed in the fragrance of the flowers.
25 “I have learned my lesson,” he said softly, “and I am content.”
11
Benchmark Reading Assessment
Grade 10 – Grading Period 4
“King Midas and the Golden Touch”
Fill in the bubble next to the letter of the best answer.
11. What is the theme of the story? [LC01]
12. Which sentence best summarizes this story? [LC02]
13. Based on the information in the story, what inference can the reader make about Silenus?
[LC03]
14. Which word could the author have used in paragraph 1 instead of
discontented
? [LC04]
{
A.
Kindness will bring you a valuable gift.
{
B.
Love and contentment are better than gold.
{
C.
Gratitude is better than a good deed.
{
D.
Courage is more valuable than gold.
{
A.
Midas wanted everyone to envy him.
{
B.
The gods repaid Midas’ kindness with a curse.
{
C.
Midas realized the unpleasant consequences of his wish.
{
D.
Mythical creatures carried out the wishes of the gods.
{
A.
He was an old horse.
{
B.
He became lost and stopped to get help.
{
C.
He knew Midas was a gifted storyteller and needed an audience.
{
D.
He had been in trouble before and knew what his master would do.
{
A.
Unhappy
{
B.
Satisfied
{
C.
Relaxed
{
D.
Angry
12
15. According to the story, which word best describes the Silenus? [LA05]
16. Which sentence tells how Midas and Silenus are similar? [LA06]
17. According to the story, what happened when Midas turned the roses to gold? [LA07]
18. Which opinion can be supported with information from the story? [LT08]
{
A.
Angry
{
B.
Dedicated
{
C.
Impish
{
D.
Quick-tempered
{
A.
They both like to eat and drink good wine.
{
B.
They both have families who care about them.
{
C.
They both got into trouble with the god, Dionysus.
{
D.
They both suffered consequences from their foolish choices.
{
A.
He was overjoyed about his newfound power.
{
B.
He began to feel doubt about the wisdom of his choice.
{
C.
He became the wealthiest and most powerful king in the world.
{
D.
He discovered he preferred the shining gold to the roses’ colors.
{
A.
Be careful what you wish for.
{
B.
Great minds think alike, but fools seldom differ.
{
C.
Chance favors the prepared mind.
{
D.
Health is better than wealth.
13
19. What is wrong with Midas’ reasoning in the story? [LT09]
20. Based on the information in the story, which generalization can the reader make about learning life
lessons? [LT10]
{
A.
Power and riches are wanted by everyone.
{
B.
Greed blinds him to the possible consequences of his actions.
{
C.
He ignored the fact that gold roses cannot grow and reproduce.
{
D.
He does not take into account the mischievous nature of the gods.
{
A.
Honoring those who possess authority and power is a necessary skill.
{
B.
Prioritizing the essential aspects of life is important to being happy.
{
C.
Developing allegiance with others is a true accomplishment.
{
D.
Accepting the truth about yourself can be rewarding.
14
Literary Passage: Poem
Directions: Read the following selection and then answer the questions.
Ozymandias
by Percy Bysshe Shelley
1 I met a traveler from an antique land
2 Who said: Two vast sand trunkless legs of stone
3 Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand,
4 Half sunk, a shattered
visage
* lies, whose frown,
5 And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
6 Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
7 Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
8 The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed:
9 And on the pedestal these words appear:
10 "My name is Ozymandias, king of kings.
11 Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
12 Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
13 Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
14 The lone and level sand stretch far away.
*
Visage
: face
15
Benchmark Reading Assessment
Grade 10 – Grading Period 4
“Ozymandias”
Fill in the bubble next to the letter of the best answer.
21. What is the theme of the poem? [LC01]
22. Which sentence best summarizes this poem? [LC02]
23. What does the author mean when he says, “The lone and level sand stretch far away” in line 14 of
the poem? [LC03]
24. According to the poem, which word best describes Ozymandias? [LA05]
{
A.
Destruction allows civilizations to rebuild.
{
B.
Sculpture will not survive the years.
{
C.
Human pride turns to dust over the years.
{
D.
Loneliness can be found in sandy deserts of the world.
{
A.
Roman ruins are described to the reader.
{
B.
The narrator feels fear of the great king, Ozymandias.
{
C.
Ozymandias has had a great statue made to honor himself.
{
D.
A traveler tells about seeing the ruin of a statue of an ancient king.
{
A.
Desert life is harsh and cruel, even to kings.
{
B.
The traveler had to hike long distances to view the ruins.
{
C.
The desert stretches over vast areas of once inhabited lands.
{
D.
Ozymandias’ greatness has been reduced to sand in the desert.
{
A.
Superior
{
B.
Demolished
{
C.
Visionary
{
D.
Emotional
16
25. Which sentence tells how Midas and Ozymandias are similar? [LA06]
26. According to the poem, what happened to the great works of Ozymandias? [LA07]
27. What is most likely the author’s purpose for writing this poem? [LT08]
28. What is wrong with Ozymandias’ reasoning in the poem? [LT09]
{
A.
They both tried to increase their wealth.
{
B.
They both want other kings to envy them.
{
C.
They both made statues in their own honor.
{
D.
They both asked the gods to help them with a problem.
{
A.
They are mocked by the traveler.
{
B.
They are a tourist destination in the desert.
{
C.
They have become the site of an archaeological dig.
{
D.
They were destroyed by time and half covered by the desert.
{
A.
To show that arrogance is foolish.
{
B.
To record the story of a great ruler.
{
C.
To explain why the ruins are in the desert.
{
D.
To persuade others to learn about the kings of the past.
{
A.
He does not understand modern travelers.
{
B.
He thinks the desert will not damage his statue.
{
C.
He is confident the gods will protect him and his power.
{
D.
He believes his magnificence and great works will endure forever.
17
29. Which word or phrase could the author have used in line 6 of the poem instead of
passions
? [LC04]
30. Based on the information in the poem, what generalization can the reader make about monuments
erected during a person’s lifetime? [LT10]
{
A.
Ancient scripts
{
B.
Love letters
{
C.
Strong feelings
{
D.
Personal beauty
{
A.
They are eventually reclaimed by nature.
{
B.
They only last if they are engraved in stone.
{
C.
They live on through the written work of historians.
{
D.
They are there for future generations to see and appreciate.
