NWEA MAP Test Prep Reading passage with Tier 2 and Tier 3 vocabulary words, comprehension questions, and a glossary that can help students prepare for the NWEA MAP reading test at the 230 RIT level:
History Article Day One:The Evolution of Girl Scouts
For over 100 years, the Girl Scouts organization has provided enriching opportunities for girls to develop leadership, confidence, and practical life skills. Originally founded in 1912 in the United States, Girl Scouts has expanded worldwide while adapting its programs to changing social norms and youth needs.
Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low established the first Girl Scout troop in Savannah, Georgia in 1912. Low drew inspiration from the Boy Scouts, but sought to provide girls their own empowering organization. The early Girl Scouts focused on outdoor activities, handcrafts, and domestic training suited for the early 20th century America. Girls could earn a wide array of badges through pursuing practical skills. Troops quickly spread nationwide under Low’s direction.
In the 1920s, the organization expanded its focus to include career preparation such as business courses. By the 1930s, there were Girl Scout troops throughout the country and even in Alaska and Hawaii. In 1937, the first national Girl Scout camp opened in New York. International expansion began through affiliation with scouting groups in other countries.
During World War II, Girl Scouts played an important role on the home front. They planted victory gardens, collected scrap metal and rubber, and sponsored blood drives. After the war ended, membership surged as the baby boom began. Troops focused on traditional female roles, teaching housekeeping, childcare, and feminine behavioral etiquette.
As the feminist movement grew in the 1960s and 1970s, the Girl Scouts updated their image and programs. They adopted a more inclusive approach to attract girls from diverse economic and racial backgrounds. The modern merit badges encouraged girls to pursue science, sports, and outdoor skills along with traditional domestic hobbies. Girls were now prepared for wider college and career opportunities opening up for women.
In the 21st century, Girl Scouts continues to evolve globally, though some core elements remain the same. Girl Scout troops now exist in 92 countries with over 10 million members. The organization focuses on building leadership skills and self-esteem. Scouts can earn badges through STEM programs, community service projects, outdoor adventures and entrepreneurial ventures. Gender equality, diversity, and environmental stewardship are emphasized. What began over a century ago as a small American girls’ troop has grown into a worldwide movement for empowering young women.
Comprehension Questions:
1. What was the original focus of Girl Scout programs in the early 20th century?
For over 100 years, the Girl Scouts organization has provided enriching opportunities for girls to develop leadership, confidence, and practical life skills. Originally founded in 1912 in the United States, Girl Scouts has expanded worldwide while adapting its programs to changing social norms and youth needs.
Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low established the first Girl Scout troop in Savannah, Georgia in 1912. Low drew inspiration from the Boy Scouts, but sought to provide girls their own empowering organization. The early Girl Scouts focused on outdoor activities, handcrafts, and domestic training suited for the early 20th century America. Girls could earn a wide array of badges through pursuing practical skills. Troops quickly spread nationwide under Low’s direction.
In the 1920s, the organization expanded its focus to include career preparation such as business courses. By the 1930s, there were Girl Scout troops throughout the country and even in Alaska and Hawaii. In 1937, the first national Girl Scout camp opened in New York. International expansion began through affiliation with scouting groups in other countries.
During World War II, Girl Scouts played an important role on the home front. They planted victory gardens, collected scrap metal and rubber, and sponsored blood drives. After the war ended, membership surged as the baby boom began. Troops focused on traditional female roles, teaching housekeeping, childcare, and feminine behavioral etiquette.
As the feminist movement grew in the 1960s and 1970s, the Girl Scouts updated their image and programs. They adopted a more inclusive approach to attract girls from diverse economic and racial backgrounds. The modern merit badges encouraged girls to pursue science, sports, and outdoor skills along with traditional domestic hobbies. Girls were now prepared for wider college and career opportunities opening up for women.
In the 21st century, Girl Scouts continues to evolve globally, though some core elements remain the same. Girl Scout troops now exist in 92 countries with over 10 million members. The organization focuses on building leadership skills and self-esteem. Scouts can earn badges through STEM programs, community service projects, outdoor adventures and entrepreneurial ventures. Gender equality, diversity, and environmental stewardship are emphasized. What began over a century ago as a small American girls’ troop has grown into a worldwide movement for empowering young women.
Comprehension Questions:
1. What was the original focus of Girl Scout programs in the early 20th century?
a) Science, technology, and math
b) Outdoor adventures and crafts
c) Entrepreneurship and business skills
d) Social justice advocacy
2. How did the Girl Scouts contribute to World War II?
a) Facilitating pen pal programs with soldiers
b) Recruiting women to join the workforce
c) Undertaking projects to aid the war effort
d) Caring for returning wounded veterans
3. What change occurred in Girl Scout programs in the 1960s and 1970s?
a) Expanding to include underserved communities
b) Shifting focus to academics and careers
c) Increasing emphasis on domestic skills
d) Prioritizing outdoor wilderness skills
4. What core element of Girl Scouts has remained consistent over time?
a) Focus on female empowerment and leadership
b) Badge programs based on homemaking skills
c) Presence of troops nationwide and globally
d) Requiring membership fees and uniforms
5. How does the passage structure help organize key turning points in Girl Scout history?
a) Lists of chronological events
b) Comparisons between time periods
c) Paragraphs arranged by time period
d) Profiles of influential Girl Scout founders
Glossary:
Merit badge - An embroidered patch earned for mastering skills in scouting.
Feminist movement - Efforts beginning in the 1960s advocating for women’s equality.
STEM - Acronym meaning science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Domestic training - Teaching homemaking skills like cooking and sewing.
c) Undertaking projects to aid the war effort
d) Caring for returning wounded veterans
3. What change occurred in Girl Scout programs in the 1960s and 1970s?
a) Expanding to include underserved communities
b) Shifting focus to academics and careers
c) Increasing emphasis on domestic skills
d) Prioritizing outdoor wilderness skills
4. What core element of Girl Scouts has remained consistent over time?
a) Focus on female empowerment and leadership
b) Badge programs based on homemaking skills
c) Presence of troops nationwide and globally
d) Requiring membership fees and uniforms
5. How does the passage structure help organize key turning points in Girl Scout history?
a) Lists of chronological events
b) Comparisons between time periods
c) Paragraphs arranged by time period
d) Profiles of influential Girl Scout founders
Glossary:
Merit badge - An embroidered patch earned for mastering skills in scouting.
Feminist movement - Efforts beginning in the 1960s advocating for women’s equality.
STEM - Acronym meaning science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Domestic training - Teaching homemaking skills like cooking and sewing.
Here is a passage on the history, purpose, and modern-day mission of the Peace Corps:
History Article Day Two: The Peace Corps: Promoting Peace Through Service
The Peace Corps is an American volunteer program that sends workers abroad to tackle challenges like poverty, education, and health while promoting cultural exchange. Since its inception in 1961, over 240,000 volunteers have served in 141 countries worldwide. Though the world has changed, the Peace Corps remains committed to humanitarian service.
The Peace Corps traces its roots back to a 1960 campaign speech by Senator John F. Kennedy. He proposed a program where Americans could volunteer to serve impoverished communities abroad. This reflected Cold War aims to win hearts and minds worldwide, but also an altruistic vision of service. President Kennedy signed an executive order establishing the Peace Corps shortly after taking office in 1961.
Early Peace Corps volunteers were mainly university-educated Americans focused on teaching English, agriculture, and skilled trades. Host countries received teachers, agricultural specialists, mechanics, engineers, and construction volunteers. Nations had to request Peace Corps aid which aligned with development needs. This approach allowed the Peace Corps to provide targeted assistance. The first volunteers arrived in Ghana and Tanzania in 1961.
As the Peace Corps grew, it expanded its scope while maintaining foundational goals. By 1966, over 15,000 volunteers were serving in 55 nations, with more diversity in age and professional background. New initiatives like the famous "In, Up and Out" policy aimed to partner with local leaders to ensure sustainable solutions. The number of volunteers peaked in the 1960s and 1970s at over 15,000 annually.
While volunteer numbers dropped in the 1980s and 1990s, the Peace Corps refocused its strategy. Projects increasingly centered on education, youth outreach, and community health. More host nations were located in Central Asia and the Pacific. Programs emphasized skills transfer to empower communities long-term. Today, over 7,000 volunteers serve annually on sustainable, capacity-building projects.
Modern Peace Corps goals include promoting mutual cultural understanding and friendship. Volunteers immerse themselves in host communities, exchanging traditions and perspectives. Local language training is provided to facilitate grassroots collaboration. The Peace Corps also prioritizes youth programs to expand future opportunities. Education initiatives build literacy and teach digital skills to prepare students for the workforce.
Health programs are another central focus. Volunteers work on projects ranging from HIV/AIDS education to maternal health, clean water access, and proper nutrition. The Peace Corps leverages its grassroots experiences to provide vital health services to vulnerable populations. Finally, the organization provides emergency relief when disasters strike, delivering urgently needed aid.
Over 50 years, the Peace Corps has adapted to changing global contexts while remaining true to its mission of service. Tens of thousands of volunteers have served as teachers, advocates, partners, and friends to developing communities worldwide. Through grassroots collaboration, the Peace Corps strives to build connections and brighter futures on a global scale.
Comprehension Questions:
1. What was the original purpose of the Peace Corps as proposed by President Kennedy?
a) To provide emergency relief services
b) To build cultural and linguistic connections
c) To offer volunteer skills to impoverished communities
d) To promote agricultural education and knowledge
2. How did the Peace Corps adapt its approach over time?
a) Shifting focus to sustainable community development
b) Expanding to recruit younger volunteers
c) Increasing emphasis on emergency disaster relief
d) Partnering with American universities and students
3. What are examples of modern Peace Corps education initiatives?
a) Building schools and training teachers
b) Providing digital skills and literacy training
c) Implementing English language and reading programs
d) All of the above
4. How does the Peace Corps aim to facilitate cultural exchange?
a) Recruiting multicultural American volunteers
b) Prioritizing emergency aid distribution
c) Immersing volunteers within local communities
d) Restricting nations eligible to receive aid
5. Which passage section provides evidence of the Peace Corps' evolving approach?
a) Introduction describing the founding principles
b) Overview of expanding service in the 1960s
c) Examples of adaptable programming over time
d) Summary of continued commitment to service
Glossary:
Humanitarian - Promoting human welfare and social reform.
Grassroots - Locally organized and driven, originating from the community.
Mutual understanding - A relationship of shared empathy and perspectives between parties.
Capacity-building - Increasing communities' skills and resources to achieve objectives.
Here is a passage on the history and mission of the Explorer Scouts and Sea Scouts:
History Article Day Three: Exploring New Horizons: The Explorer Scouts and Sea Scouts
The Explorer Scouts and Sea Scouts are programs of the Boy Scouts of America that provide challenging opportunities for teenage youth and young adults to build leadership, teamwork, and practical skills. With an emphasis on high adventure, career exploration, and service, these dynamic programs allow older scouts to take their experience to the next level.
The Explorer Scouts were established in 1935 as a branch of the Boy Scouts for participants aged 14-20, providing advanced activities too rigorous for regular scouting. Early Explorer posts focused on outdoor adventures like hiking, camping, caving, and mountain climbing. Advanced nature studies and wilderness survival skills were emphasized.
In the 1950s, Explorers expanded their programming to include vocational education and career training. Posts explored aviation, military skills, firefighting, law enforcement, and healthcare fields. This allowed teens to gain hands-on career experience through their scouting activities. Exploring opened up opportunities beyond traditional scouting pastimes.
Sea Scouts originated in 1912 as the senior maritime program of the Boy Scouts of America. Ship crews known as “ships” learned seamanship, navigation, boat maintenance and water rescue skills. Sea Scouts participated in sailing competitions and river excursions. Over time, Sea Scouting expanded to include motorboating in addition to sailboating.
The Sea Scouts and Explorer Scouts merged administratively in 1998, but both retained their distinctive identities and activities. The newly unified organization refocused on providing leadership, civic engagement, character building, and mentorship for older youth. Shared values of inclusion and service guided the programs.
Modern Explorer Scouts continue to offer career education opportunities through immersive career-specific posts. Current posts include fields like aviation, health, law, firefighting, and engineering. Posts partner with workplaces, universities, and professionals to provide direct career mentoring and training. This allows Explorers to experience potential careers firsthand.
Sea Scouts pursue adventures on the water by practicing navigation, seamanship, boat maintenance, and maritime skills. They may sail on lakes, rivers, bays, or oceans depending on their location. Sea Scouts participate in boat competitions testing their boating knowledge. Some posts offer scuba diving adventures as well. Community service is a key element.
The Explorer Scouts and Sea Scouts enable older youth to challenge themselves through advanced adventures, vocational activities, and community leadership. These dynamic programs allow teenage scouts to take their experience to the next level on the path to adult responsibility. The skills and values gained create capable, ethical, engaged citizens.
Comprehension Questions:
1. When were the first Explorer Scout posts established?
a) 1912
b) 1935
c) 1950s
d) 1998
2. What new focus was added for Explorer Scouts in the 1950s?
a) Career education
b) Civic engagement
c) High adventure activities
d) Inclusion and diversity
3. What activities do modern Sea Scouts pursue?
a) Vocational job training
b) Seamanship and boating skills
c) Healthcare career exploration
d) Mountain climbing and caving
4. How do Explorer Scouts gain career experience?
a) Through workplace job shadows
b) By attending career seminars
c) Through immersive career posts
d) From vocational school coursework
5. Which sentence summarizes the shared mission of the two programs?
a) Building leadership through challenging adventures
b) Providing career mentoring to youth
c) Teaching teamwork and practical skills
d) All of the above
Glossary:
Seamanship - Skills in navigating and handling boats or ships.
Civic engagement - Involvement in community service and leadership.
Post - A local Explorer Scout unit focused on a career or adventure.
Vocational - Relating to career training and skills education.
Here is a reading passage on the history and mission of firefighters, fire stations, and fire trucks:
History Article Day Four: Heroes of the Flames: The History of Firefighters
Firefighters dedicate their lives to protecting their communities from the devastating effects of fire. The history of firefighting reflects human ingenuity in building tools to prevent and extinguish fires. Though fire-related dangers persist, firefighters continue their mission of saving lives and property.
Fires have threatened human civilization since ancient times. Early firefighting simply involved buckets of water and improvised brigades. Ancient Rome organized the first public firefighters into groups called vigiles. They patrolled the streets for fires and responded in bucket brigades.
In the 1700s, the first organized volunteer fire departments emerged in the United States. Firefighters relied on crude hand-pumped fire engines and basic leather hoses. Fires spread rapidly in densely built colonial towns and cities. Great fires ravaged American port cities like Boston and New York throughout the 18th and 19th centuries.
Technological advancements in the late 19th century improved firefighting tools. Steam fire engines provided more powerful water jets. Fire departments employed taller ladders, safer uniforms, and telegraph alarms to react faster. Despite these advancements, large destructive fires continued due to widespread wood construction and open flames used for lighting.
In the early 20th century, motorized fire engines replaced horse-drawn engines, allowing faster response times. A national standard thread for fire hoses was adopted, enabling connections between equipment from different manufacturers. Fire stations evolved to house specialized vehicles, hoses, equipment and full-time firefighters.
A new era began after World War II with the widespread use of fire sprinkler systems in buildings. Synthetic materials replaced wood construction in homes and furniture, reducing flammability. Fire departments professionalized with improved training, protective equipment like breathing masks, and adoption of national safety protocols.
Today’s fire stations contain advanced trucks equipped for a wide range of firefighting and rescue duties. Specialized vehicles include ladder trucks with aerial ladders, tanker trucks that transport water, and ambulances for medical response. Modern equipment such as hydraulic rescue tools has greatly improved safety. Though fire risk has decreased thanks to modern codes and technology, highly trained firefighters remain essential as first responders.
Throughout history, courageous firefighters have risked their lives to protect others from fire. While fire trucks and equipment have greatly modernized, the admirable service of firefighters remains unchanged. Their duties include not just fighting active fires, but also emergency response, fire prevention, and community education - all in service of public safety.
Comprehension Questions:
1. Who were the earliest known public firefighters?
a) Vigiles in ancient Rome
b) Colonial American volunteers
c) Fire patrols in ancient Egypt
d) Indigenous tribes in America
2. What advancement revolutionized firefighting in the early 20th century?
a) Telephone and telegraph systems
b) Motorized fire engines
c) Use of synthetic materials
d) Establishment of training standards
3. What change occurred after World War II?
a) Adoption of national safety protocols
b) Return to volunteer departments
c) Increased use of hand pumped engines
d) Decrease in fire department funding
4. What is NOT considered a modern firefighter duty?
a) Emergency medical response
b) Fire investigation
c) Forcible entry into buildings
d) Community fire education
5. Which sentence describes the central theme of the passage?
a) Firefighters play an important community role.
b) Fire trucks have modernized over time.
c) Today's equipment is highly advanced.
d) Fire risk has decreased over time.
Glossary:
Brigade - A group organized to respond to an emergency.
Hydraulic rescue tools - Powered devices like the “Jaws of Life” used to pry open crashed vehicles.
Sprinkler system - Networks of water pipes and nozzles installed in buildings to automatically suppress fires.
Synthetic materials - Substances made from chemical compounds rather than natural sources.
Vigiles - Cohorts of Roman firefighters and night watchmen.
Here is a reading passage on the history of recreational camping and the equipment used:
History Article Day Five: Gear Up: The History of Recreational Camping
Escaping into nature offers adventure, serenity, and simpler living. The desire to camp under the stars by a warm campfire echoes deep in our DNA. Primitive humans relied on outdoor skills to survive, which evolved into recreational camping traditions. Advancements in portable gear make camping an easily accessible passion today.
Archaeological evidence indicates prehistoric peoples set up temporary base camps while hunting game and foraging. Native American tribes camped while migrating with the buffalo herds. European explorers, traders, and pioneers camped out of necessity on their journeys. But recreational camping for leisure was uncommon until the late 1800s.
The Industrial Revolution shifted society from rural to urban life. Wealthy urbanites yearned for opportunities to reconnect with nature. In the United States, national parks provided camping destinations. The creation of the Adirondack lean-to shelter popularized recreational wilderness camping starting in the 1880s. Outdoor guidebooks promoted the benefits of camping for health, virility and character building.
Gear innovations in the early 20th century enabled recreational camping to thrive. The first dome tents using metal poles were patented in 1900, replacing heavier canvas tents. Outdoor outfitters offered convenient packages of tents, bedrolls, camp stoves and cooking kits. Durable but portable external frame backpacks emerged in the 1920s.
The automobile afforded easier access to campsites, transforming car camping into a favorite family pastime by the 1950s. Small trailer campers could turn overnight sites into temporary homes. Low-cost surplus military tents and backpacks from WWII made camping affordable. National parks expanded campground infrastructure to accommodate American families camping en masse.
The lightweight backpacking revolution took off in the 1960s. Advances like ripstop nylon tents, compact stoves, freeze-dried food, and foam sleeping pads enabled backpackers to travel deep into the backcountry. Specialty outdoor retail stores catered to the new lightweight ethic. Individual freedom on the trail reflected cultural trends of the time.
Modern camping gear leverages high-tech materials to minimize weight while maximizing performance. Dome tents use flexible fiberglass poles and waterproof silnylon fabric. Ultralight inflatable sleeping pads provide comfort and insulation. Cook kits carry compactly while delivering gourmet taste. GPS devices and portable power sources extend capabilities.
While gear improves continually, timeless motivations draw people to camping. Escaping urban bustle, embracing simplicity, gaining confidence in nature, bonding around a campfire, and feeling our humanity remain central to the camping experience. Roughing it in relative comfort nurtures our ancestral connections.
Comprehension Questions:
1. When did recreational camping for leisure become popular?
a) Ancient times
b) The 1800s
c) After World War I
d) After World War II
2. What innovation made camping more accessible in the early 1900s?
a) GPS devices
b) High-tech fabrics
c) Portable camping gear
d) Reliable freeze-dried food
3. How did the automobile transform camping in the 1950s?
a) Enabled car camping trips
b) Improved accessibility to sites
c) Resulted in campground infrastructure
d) All of the above
4. What motivated the lightweight backpacking trend starting in the 1960s?
a) Lower cost surplus gear
b) Desire for mobility and freedom
c) Reduced impact on the land
d) Convenience of freeze-dried food
5. What remains most central to camping's appeal over time?
a) Escaping urban life and connecting with nature
b) Testing outdoor survival skills
c) Social bonding around a campfire
d) Using the latest innovative gear
Glossary:
External frame backpack - Rugged backpack with an exposed frame providing support.
Lean-to shelter - A basic wilderness shelter with a slanted wall and roof.
Ripstop nylon - Tough synthetic fabric woven to prevent tearing.
Ultralight - Extremely minimalist gear aimed at reducing weight.
Virility - Traditionally masculine traits like strength and courage.
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