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Bramalea Secondary School

Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test

E AO Q

GGuuiiddeedd LLiitteerraaccyy TTeesstt February 2010

Last Name: ____________________ First Name: ____________________ Student Number: _________________________________ Home Form Teacher: _________________________________

Look for me – I’m here to help you succeed!

Did you? • Eat a nutritious breakfast? • Bring a blue pen or a black pen or a

pencil? • Bring a highlighter?

Remember:

NEVER LEAVE A BLANK - ALWAYS PROVIDE AN ANSWER, EVEN IF YOU HAVE

TO GUESS!

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Literacy Test Instructions Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test

Read carefully before writing the test:

• Check the pages of this Test Booklet to see that they are in order. If they are not, report the

problem to the teacher in charge. • Read all instructions before responding to the questions. Multiple-Choice • Choose the best or most correct answer for each question. • You must record your multiple-choice answers on the Student Answer Sheet. Multiple-choice

answers recorded in the Test Booklet will not be scored. To indicate your answer, use blue or black ink to fill in the circle completely. Like this: Not like this: • If you fill in more than one circle for a question, put an X through the incorrect answer and fill in

the circle for the correct answer, as shown below.

In this example, C would be considered your final answer. B D Written Answers • For all questions that ask for a written answer, write legibly and in complete sentences on the

lined space provided in the Test Booklet. • In your written answers, pay attention to clarity, organization, spelling, grammar and

punctuation. • The line space provided for your written work indicates the approximate length of the writing

expected. • There is space in the Test Booklet for rough notes. Nothing you write in these spaces will be

scored.

You are now ready to start Test Booklet: Science

Allotted time: 72 minutes.

Remember to record all your multiple-choice answers on the Student Answer Sheet.

Take a minute to read these very important instructions

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Section A Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test Read the selection below and answer the questions that follow it.

City honours four men Jeffrey King was driving home when he spotted a Toronto Police cruiser rolling onto the country's busiest highway, its driver slumped behind the wheel and covered in blood.

Without pausing, he flagged down cab driver Mohammad Nematian Zaroor and dialed 911 to report that an officer had apparently been shot while driving on Highway 401.

He and three other motorists were credited with saving the life of Constable Patrick Ferdinand, who had been shot in the face.

Mr. King was joined at city hall by Mr. Zaroor and Fraser Hambly, who used their vehicles to corner the police cruiser and steer it away from traffic, and Stephen Cooper, who narrowly missed more gunfire as he followed the suspects' van.

All four were presented with certificates praising their courage. The men shrugged off the hero label. Mr. Hambly said that the

consequences of not lending a hand were more terrifying than putting himself in danger. "I did what had to be done," said Mr. King. "When you see someone who's hurt and needs help, you come to their aid. That's what being human is all about."

Constable Ferdinand was unable to attend the ceremony. The nine-year police veteran underwent facial surgery to repair the bullet's damage and will have more surgery before he can resume working.

1 2 3

4 5

6

.

Think about it! Can you predict what the article is about from reading the headline and scanning the picture?

Highlight or underline the main idea of each paragraph while you read.

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Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test Section A Multiple-Choice (Record the best or most correct answer on the Student Answer Sheet) Written Answers (Answer in full and correctly written sentences.) 3. What problem did Jeffrey King spot while driving home? 4. "The men shrugged off the hero label." (paragraph 5) What does this sentence tell you about four men? 5. "Mr. Hambly said that the consequences of not lending a hand were more terrifying than

putting himself in danger." (paragraph 5) What is one possible consequence of not lending a hand in the situation described?

6. Does the photograph capture the excitement of the events described in this news report?

Why or why not?

Why is Stephen Cooper considered one of the heroes? A He called 911. B He followed the van. C He stopped a passing taxicab. D He spotted the wounded officer.

The first four paragraphs of this news report describe F the award ceremony. G the importance of calling 911. H what happened to the police officer. J the events for which the four men

honoured.

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A “Right There” Question Go Find It!!!

An “On Your Own” Question. Re-read the paragraph. Do the other sentences help you? Write your opinion.

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Section B Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test Writing a Series of Paragraphs

STATE IT! Introduction Paragraph

What is your opinion? (Fill in the blank) I believe that famous people _____________ good role models for young people. (are OR are not)

PROVE IT! Body

Paragraph(s)

Why do you believe this? (use your opinion ALONG with examples to support your points.) Point #1 Proof #1 Point #2 Proof #2 Point #3 Proof #3

LEAVE IT! Conclusion Paragraph

Wrap it up! (Re-state your point of view and summarize your major points) - -

Task: Write a series of paragraphs (a minimum of three) expressing an opinion on the topic below. Develop your main idea with supporting details (proofs, facts, examples, etc.).

Purpose and Audience: an adult who is interested in your opinion Topic: Are today's famous people good role models for young people? Length: The lined space provided for your written work indicates the approximate length of writing expected.

1

Take a stance!

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Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test Section B

Continue writing your opinion piece on the next page.

Introduction Body Conclusion Remember: State It! Prove It! Leave It!

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Section B Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test

End of Section B. Continue to Section C.

Have you clearly expressed your opinion with relevant supporting details?

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Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test Section C

Read the selection below and answer the questions that follow it.

Welcome to

ONTARIO PARKS

Park Rental Available

CanoeBoat

Boat and Motor

PaddleboatKayak

BicycleTent

BBQ (single)

BBQ (group)

Trailer StorageCross-Country SkisEquipped Cam

psiteO

utfitters

Northw

estern

Aaron ●Blue Lake ● ● ● ● ●Caliper Lake ●Lake of the Woods ● ●Neys ● ● ●Ojibway ● ● ●Quetico ●Rainbow Falls ● ● ●Rushing River ● ● ●Sioux Narrows ●Sleeping Giant ● ● ●Wabakimi ●Woodland Caribou ●Esker Lakes ● ● ● ●Greenwater ●Ivanhoe Lake ● ●Kettle Lake ● ● ●Lake Superior ●Missinaibi ● ●Nagagamisis ●Obatanga ● ● ●Pancake Bay ●Wakami Lake ● ● ●White Lake ● ● ● ●

Northw

esternN

ortheastern

Services and facilities for all ages! You don't have to be a camper to enjoy Ontario's provincial parks. But if you do want to stay a while, you can choose from a range of camping experiences, from rugged wilderness camping to full-facility recreational vehicle camping. For the more adventurous, we have a total of 4300 backcountry campsites tucked away in 14 provincial parks. Many of these parks have long-distance hiking trails. Still others offer infinite opportunities for canoe trips, from one-day outings to month-long tours.

Come visit us in all seasons… Think about making an Ontario provincial park part of your vacation plans. We're nearby and natural! Ontario Parks' full-service campgrounds and other park accommodations are usually open from the second weekend in May until the end of October. Some parks, particularly those in the north, open in mid-June and close after the Labour Day weekend. Eleven parks operate year-round and offer winter camping, day-use activities and other services.

Then go read the questions!

YOU ARE READING GRAPHIC

TEXT! A

highlighter will be very

helpful!!

Skim and Scan the chart, subtitles and italicized words.

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Section C Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test

Park Rental Available

CanoeBoat

Boat and Motor

PaddleboatKayak

BicycleTent

BBQ (single)

BBQ (group)

Trailer StorageCross-Country SkisEquipped Cam

psiteO

utfitters

Near N

orth

Arrowhead ● ●Driftwood ● ● ●Fairbank ● ●Finlayson Point ●Halfway Lake ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●Killarney ●Killbear ●Massasauga, The ●Mikisew ●Mississagi ●Oastler Lake ●Restoule ●Samuel de Champlain ● ● ● ● ●Six Mile Lake ●Windy Lake ● ●Algonquin ● ● ● ● ● ●Balsam Lake ● ● ● ● ●Bass Lake ● ● ● ●Darlington ● ● ● ●Emily ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●Sibbald Point ● ●Bon Echo ● ●Bonnechere ● ●Charleston Lake ●Ferris ● ●Fitzroy ● ● ● ● ●Frontenac ● ● ●Lake St. Peter ● ●Murphys Point ● ● ●Presqu'ile ● ● ●Sandbanks ● ● ● ●Sharbot Lake ● ● ●Silent Lake ● ● ● ●Silver Lake ● ●Voyageur ● ● ● ● ● ●Bronte Creek ● ● ● ● ● ●Earl Rowe ● ● ● ●MacGregor Point ● ● ●Pinery, The ● ● ● ● ●Rock Point ● ● ● ●Wasaga Beach ●Wheatley ● ● ●

Southwestern

Near N

orthA

lgoma/C

entralSoutheastern

Pay particular attention to the sub-sections of this chart to generate meaning

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Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test Section C

Multiple-Choice (Record the best or most correct answer on the Student Answer Sheet)

What is one item a camper is not able to rent at Blue Lake Provincial Park (Northwestern)?

A a tent

B a kayak

C a canoe

D a bicycle

What is the best meaning of the phrase "tucked away"? (paragraph 4)

A nearby and natural

B hidden in the wilderness

C rugged and open for winter camping

D a long distance from the park entrance

Which of the following is possible?

F renting camping equipment at Killarney Provincial Park (Near North)

G renting bikes and skis at Bronte Creek Provincial Park (Southwestern) H holding a whole-school barbecue at Aaron Provincial Park (Northwestern)

J using electricity in a motorhome at Lake St. Peter Provincial Park (Southwestern)

Written answers 4. This selection promotes Ontario Parks as year-round places to vacation. Copy one expression from a subtitle that supports this idea. ________________________________________________________________ 5. Explain how the chart indicates the region in which you would find Killbear Provincial Park. _________________________________________________________________

1

2

3

Copy – Find and re-write word for word from the text. Explain - Give a reason as part of your answer, try using the word “because”. Describe – Tell about a person, place, thing or idea in your answer. Try to paint a picture. Identify – Name a cause, result or fact. Define – Tell the meaning of a word or phrase.

Go back to the table and highlight rows and columns to find the right answer.

Know your terms:

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Section C Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test

6. In which region can you find two parks where you are able to rent a tent and a boat

and motor? ______________________________________________ 7. Explain which of the following parks – Quetico, Emily or Voyageur – would most

likely offer a "rugged wilderness camping experience."

Go back to the table and highlight rows and columns to find the right answer.

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Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test Section D

Multiple-Choice (Record the best or most correct answer on the Student Answer Sheet)

Choose the option that best combines all the information in the boldfaced sentences. The concert was on Saturday. My favourite band, Cutting Edge, played at the concert. It was a rock concert.

A The rock concert was on Saturday

B Cutting Edge is my favourite band because it plays rock music. C Cutting Edge, my favourite band, played at the rock concert on Saturday. D Saturday's concert was a rock concert and it included the rock band Cutting Edge, since it is my favourite band.

Choose the correct option to fill in the blank. Long Point, _____________ the Graveyard of Lake Erie, has had numerous shipwrecks.

F often called G often is called H often has been called J which had often been called

Choose the sentence that does not belong in the paragraph. (1) Many people are afraid of spiders. (2) They think spiders can give them a poisonous bite. (3) Spider are not really insects, because insects have eight legs. (4) Some spiders do have a poison that can kill flies and other insects. (5) However, this poison is not harmful to humans.

A Sentence 2

B Sentence 3

C Sentence 4

D Sentence 5

1

2

a. Try to answer the question before you look at the choices

b. Read all the answers before you choose

c. Eliminate (cross-out) wrong answers

d. Don’t leave any blanks e. Guess if you are stuck f. Put your answers in the

student answer booklet

Try these multiple choice strategies:

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Section E Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test

Writing a News Report

Task: Write a news report based on the headline and picture below. • You will have to make up the facts and information by answering some or all of the following questions: Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? • You must relate your newspaper report to both the headline and the picture.

Purpose and Audience: to report on an event for the readers of a newspaper Length: The lined space provided for your written work indicates the approximate length of the writing expected.

1

Student Leaders Welcome Grade Nine Students

Use your imagination to create the details of the report!

- Who is involved? - What is happening? - Where is it taking place? - When did it occur? - Why is it happening?

You are not a TV News Reporter! Put yourself into the situation

BUT Poke Out Your I's (do not use first person narration)

Example: Χ In the gym, I watched…

In the gym, students were watching

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Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test Section E

Student Leaders Welcome Grade Nine Students

Don’t Forget:

Use your imagination