NAME_________________________________ DATE___________________

Unit 10 COMPLETION INSTRUCTIONS: Complete the paragraph with the past tense form of the verb in parentheses. Remember that verb forms should be consistent in a paragraph. Bird Dog When I (1)_____ (be) around eight years old, I (2)_____ (have) an incredibly frightening and disturbing experience. Our family had two pets Misty, a big black-and-white dog, and Fluffy, a tiny blue bird. One day when I came home from school, I went to Fluffy's cage to get her, but she (3)_____ (be/ negative) there. I (4)_____ (walk) into the kitchen, where I (5)_____ (see) a very upsetting sight. In the middle of the kitchen was our dog, Misty, sitting there---just sitting there quietly---with a six-inch blue tail feather sticking out of her mouth. She wasn't chewing, she (6)_____ (be) biting; she was just sitting there with my little bird completely inside her mouth. I screamed, and my father (7)_____ (run) into the kitchen, where he saw this very strange situation. Without hesitation, he (8)_____ (open) the dog's mouth with his two hands, took out the bird, and put it on the kitchen floor. The dog walked away, and the bird just (9)_____ (sit) there, stunned. Remarkably, my little bird (10)_____ (survive) that horrible experience without a scratch on her body, and I was very, very thankful.

INSTRUCTIONS: Choose the sentence that gives the best background information for a narrative paragraph. 11. Choose the best answer. a. I never spoke with my son about reckless driving because I was sure he would always pay attention when he was behind the wheel. b. Reckless driving is a serious problem among teenagers today. 12. Choose the best answer. a. The first time I went fishing in Montana, I fell in love. b. Fishing is popular in many parts of the country. 13. Choose the best answer. a. California may soon have to import water. b. Growing up in California, I never thought about where our water came from. 14. Choose the best answer. a. Drew thought he was the world's best skateboarder, until the day he met Felipe. b. Skateboarding is an exciting sport, but it can be very dangerous. 15. Choose the best answer. a. We left for Brazil on Sunday, May 11, 2009. b. My life completely changed on Sunday, May 11, 2009.

INSTRUCTIONS: Read this narrative paragraph and analyze its features. A Long Way Home Everybody knows that being in a foreign country presents many challenges. However, most people probably don't know how quickly those challenges begin. A few years ago, I took a trip to France. At that time, I spoke almost no French, so my goal was to learn the language while I was in the country. I promised myself that, no matter what, I would speak only French. Five minutes after I got off the plane (it was around 1:00 in the afternoon), I knew I had to make a hotel reservation, so I looked for a payphone. However, once I found the payphone, I realized I needed a telephone card to pay for the call. Because my French was so bad, I was very, very nervous about speaking to the person at the airport newsstand. I stood outside and practiced asking, "Do you have a phone card?" in French. I went inside and pretended I was reading a magazine, trying to find the courage to speak. When I finally spoke---and this was hours later, I got a phone card and start making calls. Of course, speaking on the phone was very difficult, but I tried my best. Some people didn't understand me, and I didn't understand most of them. In my confusion, I actually called a woman "Sir." She hung up on me. Needless to say, at 7:00 that night when I finally got to my hotel, I was exhausted but extremely proud of my personal victory.

16. What is the topic sentence of this paragraph? a. Everybody knows that being in a foreign country presents many challenges. b. I promised myself that, no matter what, I would speak only French. 17. What background information is given in the topic sentence? a. The story is about a challenge the writer had in a foreign country. b. The story takes place in an airport. 18. What is the beginning of the main action or problem in the story? a. A few years ago, I took a trip to France. b. I promised myself that, no matter what, I would speak only French. 19. What is the middle of the story? What is the main action or problem? a. I went inside and pretended I was reading a magazine, trying to find the courage to speak. b. Five minutes after I got off the plane (it was around 1:00 in the afternoon), I knew I had to make a hotel reservation, so I looked for a payphone. 20. What happens at the end of the story? What is the final action or result? a. A woman hung up the phone because the speaker called her "Sir." b. The speaker was extremely tired, but was proud of his success in speaking French. 21. What is the writer's purpose for writing this story? a. To discuss issues that can arise in foreign countries and to explain how he overcame the obstacle. b. To talk about vacationing in France.