Middle School
Read the passages to answer the questions and give your best answers.Questions:Which sentence BEST explains why the author of "The Hardy Live Oak" says that the live oak trees are "a treasure in hot places with harsh sunny weather"?A.They provide shade in the summer heat.B.They also provide food for many animals.C.Live oak trees just blend into the landscape.D.Each live oak tree can produce thousands of acorns.Which of these is a main idea developed in BOTH passages?A.Insect pests can cause terrible damage to full-grown oak trees.B.The features of oak trees benefit the places where they grow.C.Oak trees provide a very important food source for animals.D.The height of an oak tree is its most important feature.First Passage: The Northern Red OakThe northern red oak is a grand-looking tree. It can grow as high as 75 feet tall. The fall season brings shorter days and cooler temperatures. Fall also brings changes to the leaves of the northern red oak. Leaves turn from green to shades of yellow, orange, and red, which is an amazing sight. It makes the northern red oak an eye-catching stand out among other trees in the oak family.In summer, the gray rough branches of the northern red oak grow long and wide. This is the season when branches can become overly long and heavy. The weight of the branches' leaves adds even more pounds. If the growth of the tree is not managed, the entire appearance of the tree can be changed. Early trimming helps groom the tree and keeps it from looking like a rounded triangle by summer's end.Both the size and the shape of the northern red oak's leaves are especially interesting. It is easy to find leaves that are larger than a man's hand. They often have 8 or more pointed fingers. That makes northern red oak leaves look like large, flattened evergreen trees.Residents in the Midwest especially enjoy the beauty of their northern red oaks in October. A common sight is to see people walking or relaxing under them. They gaze up, watching the colored leaves dance in the cool fall breeze, knowing that winter will soon come to take the leaves away.Second Passage: The Hardy Live OakThe live oak tree is one of the toughest trees found in the United States. It is not a tall tree. It grows only 30 to 40 feet high. But its branches are broad and strong. The branches make up for the tree's rather short height. How? The branches stretch out from the trunk like thick arms on a giant. The leaves on the branches are simple. They are oval in shape. They glisten in the sun. Most importantly, live oak leaves are always there. Live oaks stay green all year round.The live oak is also a fast growing tree. It is often planted in the lawns of new houses. This lets people living in the house have shade in just a few years. However, the owner of the tree needs to keep the lower branches trimmed. If the lower branches are not trimmed, over time the lower tree limbs will grow downward toward the ground. These branches will seem to almost slither like a snake. In time, they will be only inches above the ground. They will also spread out over the lawn for up to 25 feet from the trunk of the tree.The live oak tree is popular for a very important reason. It can live in very hot weather. Strong sunlight does not kill it. People in the southern United States see so many live oaks that they no longer really notice them. Live oak trees just blend into the landscape. Yet, live oaks contribute to the landscape in many ways. They provide shade in the summer heat. They also provide food for many animals. Each live oak tree can produce thousands of acorns. Squirrels are just one type of animal that scurries to feast on the little brown nuts. Live oaks are certainly a treasure in hot places with harsh sunny weather.
