FCW Aero - CDA 9

CDA for Grade 9 English NAME:____________________________________

ASSESSMENT DIRECTIONS

The questions which follow the news article below give you an opportunity to show how effectively you can read and
comprehend a passage.

Time: You have 80 minutes to read the passage and answer the multiple choice questions.

As you read the passage below, consider how the author uses:
● Evidence, such as facts or examples, to support claims
● Reasoning to develop ideas and to connect claims and evidence
● Stylistic or persuasive elements, such as word choice or appeals to emotion, to add power to the ideas
expressed

We're Outta Here or We Earthlings Don't Survive, Predicts Stephen Hawking

By Washington Post, adapted by Newsela staff 23 November, 2016

1. Humanity is now facing multiple threats, according to scientist Stephen Hawking. They range from the rise of
all-powerful computers, to the ravages of global warming, to the threat of nuclear terrorism. Even if humanity somehow
survives into the next century, it does not mean we will be home free, Hawking says.

2. The renowned theoretical physicist has gone as far as providing humanity with a deadline for finding another planet to
colonize: We have 1,000 years.

3. Remaining on Earth any longer than that would be too dangerous, Hawking believes. It would place humanity at great
risk of encountering another mass extinction, such as the one that wiped out the dinosaurs millions of years ago.

​Space Travel Essential To Save Mankind

4. "We must ... continue to go into space for the future of humanity," the 74-year-old Cambridge professor said during a
speech Tuesday at Oxford University in Great Britain.

5. "I don't think we will survive another 1,000 years without escaping beyond our fragile planet," he added.

6. During his hour-long speech, Hawking told the audience that Earth's catastrophic end may be hastened by humankind.
Humans will continue to devour the planet's resources at unsustainable rates, he said, and soon there may not be enough
water, fertile land or fuel.

7. The challenges ahead are immense, Hawking said. Nonetheless, he added, it is a "glorious time to be alive and doing
research into theoretical physics."

8. "Our picture of the universe has changed a great deal in the last 50 years, and I am happy if I have made a small
contribution," he said.

9. While speaking to audience members before the talk, Hawking also said that leaving the planet behind is our best hope
for survival.

​He Says We're Doomed Staying On Earth

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10. The key first step, he noted, is to survive the dangerous century ahead, during which there will be many serious threats
to Earth's survival. Even if we successfully overcome those threats, Hawking believes humans will eventually be doomed if
they remain on Earth.

11. "Although the chance of a disaster to planet Earth in a given year may be quite low, it adds up over time and becomes a
near certainty in the next thousand or ten thousand years," he said. "By that time we should have spread out into space, and
to other stars, so a disaster on Earth would not mean the end of the human race."

12. Since 2009, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has been hunting for Earth-like planets with
the potential for human colonization.

13. Researchers have discovered more than 4,600 "candidate" planets and another 2,300 or so confirmed planets, according
to the agency.

​Intensify Search For Planets Like Earth

14. The first Earth-like planet was not discovered until 1995. According to NASA, such planets, which orbit other stars
like our sun and which could have water, "belonged within the realm of science fiction just 21 years ago. Today, and
thousands of discoveries later, astronomers are on the cusp of finding something people have dreamt about for thousands of
years."

15. Before we have a chance to relocate, Hawking said, we will first need to solve the potential threats created by
technology.

16. While Hawking thinks technology may enable mankind's survival, he also believes it poses an enormous danger.

​Cautioning Us About Artificial Intelligence

17. "I think the development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race," Hawking told an
interviewer in 2014. Artificial intelligence, or A.I., involves the use of computers to perform tasks normally performed by
humans, from talking to decision-making.

18. Despite its current usefulness, he cautioned, further developing A.I. could prove a fatal mistake.

19. "Once humans develop artificial intelligence, it will take off on its own and redesign itself at an ever-increasing rate,"
Hawking warned in recent months. "Humans, who are limited by slow biological evolution, couldn't compete and would be
superseded."

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Reading Informational Text

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which statement best states the central idea of the text?

A. There is simply not enough science to suggest humans must leave earth
B. There are many different reasons why humans must leave Earth in order to survive
C. Earth is not a great planet, therefore, humans need to find a different one
D. Humans will be extinct in the near future

2. Which statement best supports the answer to the previous question?

A. "I don't think we will survive another 1,000 years without escaping beyond our fragile planet." (p5)
B. “Humans will continue to devour the planet's resources at unsustainable rates, he said, and soon there
may not be enough water, fertile land or fuel.” (p6)
C. “Despite its current usefulness, he cautioned, further developing A.I. could prove a fatal mistake.” (p18)
D. “They [threats to Earth] range from the rise of all-powerful computers, to the ravages of global
warming, to the threat of nuclear terrorism.” (p1)

3. Which statement best describes the structure of the article’s argument?

A. Author provides a thesis statement and then uses body paragraphs to explain the reasons behind each
part of thesis
B. Author provides one side of the argument, then the counterargument (opposite side), and finally agrees
with the counterargument
C. Author provides one side of the argument, then the counterargument (opposite side), and finally
explains how the counterargument is wrong
D. Author does not present an argument - he presents two sides and lets the reader choose

4. What is the connotation of the word “​fragile”​ in paragraph 5?

A. Positive
B. Negative
C. Neutral

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5. Why does the author include the final section “Cautioning Us About Artificial Intelligence” at the end of the
piece?
A. To suggest that Artificial Intelligence might help us find a new planet
B. To provide a final, realistic piece of evidence for why humans must leave earth
C. To caution us that technology may endanger its creator, the human race
D. To provide a counter-argument against leaving Earth

6. Read the following sentence from the final paragraph. “‘Once humans develop artificial intelligence, it will
take off on its own and redesign itself at an ever-increasing rate,’ Hawking ​warned​ in recent months.” Why
does the author choose the word warned in this sentence?
A. To demonstrate Hawking’s expertise in the subject
B. To add a sense of urgency to Hawking’s statement
C. To illustrate how extreme Hawking’s beliefs are
D. To reveal Hawking’s self-doubt

7. Which of the following companies would the author agree would be most important to saving our species:
A. Miracle Grow - grow grass anywhere, even Mars!
B. SpaceX - developing the rockets and energy sources needed to reach the stars
C. I-Robot AI - one stop shopping for all your robot needs

8. What statement best supports the author’s point of view/purpose?

A. The first Earth-like planet was not discovered until 1995.
B. "Once humans develop artificial intelligence, it will take off on its own and redesign itself at an
ever-increasing rate," Hawking warned in recent months.
C. Humans will continue to devour the planet's resources at unsustainable rates, he said, and soon there
may not be enough water, fertile land or fuel.
D. While Hawking thinks technology may enable mankind's survival, he also believes it poses an enormous
danger.

9. The central idea of the article is developed by:

A. Highlighting how Hawking's ideas are different than those of other scientists
B. Illustrating how Hawking is working with NASA to discover Earth-like planets
C. Comparing Hawking's research to that of other leaders in his field
D. Explaining the reasoning behind Hawking's dire predictions for Earth

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10. Which paragraph in the section "Cautioning Us About Artificial Intelligence" BEST reflects the idea that
humans may hasten their own doom by using artificial intelligence?
A. "I think the development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race," Hawking
told an interviewer in 2014. Artificial intelligence, or A.I., involves the use of computers to perform
tasks normally performed by humans, from talking to decision-making.
B. Despite its current usefulness, he cautioned, further developing A.I. could prove a fatal mistake.
C. "Once humans develop artificial intelligence, it will take off on its own and redesign itself at an
ever-increasing rate," Hawking warned in recent months. "Humans, who are limited by slow biological
evolution, couldn't compete and would be superseded."

11. Which word best describes the author’s tone in this article?
A. Philosophical
B. Humorous
C. Optimistic
D. Concerned

12. Which of these best describes Hawking’s strategy for the human race’s survival?
A. Focus on solving global warming
B. Promote biological evolution for food and energy
C. Scientific development of Artificial Intelligence
D. Find another planet for human colonization

13. Which of these ​best​ describes the main purpose of the final paragraph of the article?
A. To describe the many problems of humanity’s future
B. To appeal to the reader’s emotions
C. To appeal to the reader’s ethics
D. To summarize the drawbacks of Artificial Intelligence

14. Read the sentence from the section "Space Travel Essential To Save Mankind."
“Humans will continue to devour the planet's resources at unsustainable rates, he said, and soon there may not
be enough water, fertile land or fuel.”

The author uses the phrase "unsustainable rates" to indicate:

A. That humans are using up the Earth's resources too quickly
B. That the Earth is not creating new resources for people to use
C. That humans are using resources they do not need
D. That the Earth's resources were not meant to be used by humans

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Directions: Use the chart below to answer questions 15 and 16.

15. What do you think the main purpose of the chart above is?
A. To show readers that we had a low ecological footprint in 1960
B. To show readers that we can reduce carbon emissions by 30% by the year 2030
C. To tell us what Earth Overshoot Day is
D. To show readers that if we don’t reduce carbon emissions, we will be using the resources of 2 planet earths by
the year 2030

16. During which 10-year period did our ecological footprint increase the most?
A. 1960-1970
B. 1980-1990
C. 1990-2000
D. 2010-2020

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