Readiness Checkpoint: English 10 Semester B

Which excerpt from the text most clearly establishes the connection between the pet food regulation industry and the accuracy of information on pet food nutrition labels?

"These officials run tests on food to make sure it meets its Guaranteed Analysis, the label on food that lists its ingredients and the proportion of each. However, the quality of regulation and enforcement varies from state to state, according to Born Free."

Which statement best describes how the author introduces and develops the main idea that pet owners must educate themselves to provide the best nutrition possible for their pets?

Throughout the text, the author examines a different aspect of the pet food industry to reinforce the idea that some food may not be as healthy as it appears to be.

A theme of this story is "overconfidence leads to carelessness. "Which excerpt from the text most effectively demonstrates how Giselle's thoughts and actions develop this theme?

"It had been almost four weeks since she'd ridden Dark Star, and Giselle was adamant that her broken arm would not inhibit her riding."

Which line from the text most strongly supports the idea that Giselle is firmly dedicated to fulfill her desire to interact with horses?

"Not content with just books, pictures, and posters, Giselle would often climb the hill behind her home to watch Dark Star, the Fletchers' horse, cantering in the corral."

How does the author create mystery in this story?

By mentioning Giselle's cast at several points in the story but never directly explaining how she broke her arm, the author adds interest for readers as they try to infer what might have happened.

How do Giselle's actions in Paragraph 2 shape the theme, "where there is a will, there is a way"?

By showing that Giselle does not easily give up on her desires

Read the passage. The Pet Food Industry You have just adopted a pet, and you're at a pet supply store. You are overwhelmed by the never-ending sea of colorful pet food packages. Some bags claim that they're organic or natural, but what does that mean? And then there are the stacks of canned food, boasting loudly of their superior contents. What's the difference among these foods? Does it matter what you feed your dog or cat? Yes, it does matter. And the text on the package does not always tell the whole story. According to the American Pet Products Association (APPA), 68 percent of U.S. households own a pet. The APPA also estimates that U.S. pet owners will spend $25 million on pet food in 2016. But the contents, quality, and cost of foods vary dramatically. A food's national popularity does not necessarily equate to a healthy choice, especially when advertising plays such a heavy role in sales. To select the best nutritional match for your pet, it is important to understand what you're buying. History of Commercial Pet Food The first food prepared commercially for pets were biscuits made by James Spratt, an American, while he was living in England in 1860. The biscuits became popular with English country gentlemen for their sporting dogs. The company that took over Spratt's formula began production in the United States in 1890. After World War I, the first canned dog food, made from horse meat, was introduced. Canned cat food and dry meat-meal dog food were introduced in the 1930s, and dry food came along in the 1950s. Pet Food Regulations As the pet food industry grew, government officials regulated food-processing methods used by American pet food manufacturers. However, according to Born Free USA, a national animal advocacy group, the pet food industry isn't as regulated as it claims. Laws exist but aren't necessarily enforced, and the Food and Drug Administration has minimal control over pet foods shipped across state lines. Feed control officials in each state have more power. These officials run tests on food to make sure it meets its Guaranteed Analysis, the label on food that lists its ingredients and the proportion of each ingredient. However, the quality of regulation and enforcement varies from state to state, according to Born Free USA. Deciphering Pet Food Ingredients The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) has model regulations for pet foods and a checklist for labels. The guidelines require that ingredients be listed in descending order according to each item's weight, though the terms may not be as self-explanatory as they appear to consumers. If "meat" is listed, it refers only to the meat of cows, pigs, goats, and sheep and includes specified muscle tissue. The guaranteed analysis is a general guide to the composition of the food—and crude protein, fat, fiber, and total moisture are required to be listed. By-products in pet foods are parts of animals not used in human foods and can include the head, feet, and bones. Wet pet foods commonly include meat or poultry by-products. However, brands of pet foods labeled super-premium, natural, or organic don't use by-products. According to the AAFCO, organic refers to the processing of a product, not necessarily the quality of the product. The term meal is used in many of the ingredients of dry pet foods, such as meat meals, poultry meals, and meat-and-bone meals. Meal is not fresh but has been rendered. Rendering is the process of boiling the raw materials of carcasses for several hours. It separates fat, removes water, and kills bacteria, but it can also destroy natural enzymes and proteins. How Pet Foods Are Prepared Commercially prepared pet food goes through a process. Dry food is made with a machine called an extruder. Food materials are blended with a recipe that provides the nutrient content of each ingredient. For the extruder to work properly, a consistent amount of starch and low moisture is needed. Ingredients such as rendered meat-and-bone meal, poultry by-product meal, grains, and flours are used. The dough is then fed through the extruder and subjected to steam and high pressure. As it is pushed through nozzles, it is cut with sharp knives. When the food puffs into its final shape, it is left to dry and then sprayed with fats, digests, and other compounds to make it more appetizing to the animal. This same process is also used on semimoist pet foods and many pet treats. The ingredients in wet or canned foods are ground and mixed with chemicals to improve taste, stability, or appearance. Such additives do not provide any nutritional value. Any chunks in the food are formed through an extruder. The food is then cooked, canned, and sealed—and then pressure cooked and commercially sterilized. Pet Food Choices Most dog owners feed their dogs dry and canned dog food. Wet canned food generally provides more protein and more moisture than dry foods and is often higher quality. But many pet owners prefer to cook food for their pets, and some choose to feed their pets raw food. According to the Whole Dog Journal, if you decide to cook for your pets, no single type of food should ever make up more than half the pet's diet. However, meat should be half of the diet. Some pet owners prefer to feed their dogs a raw food diet, which is uncooked food. Proponents of a raw food diet believe it gives dogs healthier coats, increases their energy level, improves their disposition, and controls their weight. There are those who feel that the benefits of a raw food diet are not proven. Uncooked meat can contain bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella that can be harmful to dogs; raw food can also inflame the gastrointestinal tract and cause diarrhea. Uncooked bones can obstruct airways or perforate intestines. If you're unsure what to feed your pet, ask for recommendations from your veterinarian, who is familiar with your pet's health and knows if your pet has any specific dietary needs. Which answer best reflects the figurative meaning of the term "never-ending sea" in Paragraph 1?

Countless Choices.

How do the section headings help refine the claim that pet food labels do not always tell the whole story?

Each heading presents an aspect of the pet food manufacturing and marketing process and explains how it affects the accuracy of information provided on pet food packaging.

Read this excerpt from the passage. "Hello, Giselle. I'm surprised to see you. How's your arm?" "Better." Giselle raised her casted arm, covered with her little brothers' drawings. "I have a smaller cast, now." "Maybe you shouldn't ride Dark Star until your arm is completely healed." The girl glanced toward her small ranch house at the base of the sloping hillside, then back at the man. "I'll be okay. The snow's melted, and there's no ice." Which inference does this excerpt best support?

Giselle broke her arm riding the horse in the snow.

Which event works to develop the theme, "where there is a will, there is a way"?

Giselle chooses to ride Dark Star despite her broken arm.

Read this sentence from the passage that describes the scene in which Giselle rides Dark Star for the first time in several weeks. The saddle hugged her like an old friend. What is the figurative meaning of this sentence?

Giselle feels like she is reconnecting with a beloved part of her life.

How does the imagery in the last paragraph affect the mood of this story?

It changes the mood from excitement to panic.

How does the author's decision to end the story affect the reader's experience?

It creates a sense of mystery by ending the story at a pivotal moment, leaving Giselle's fate unknown.

How does Paragraph 5 refine the claim that "the text on the package does not always tell the whole story" about pet food?

It defines the real meaning of terms that may appear on pet food labels without a full explanation for the consumer.

What is the effect of this scene from the passage on readers' experience? The man shook his head and laughed. "I can never seem to say no to you, Giselle. Go ahead and spend some time together, but be careful. I trust you know what you are doing." Of course I do! What on earth could go wrong? Giselle thought. Soon enough, she'd have a clear answer to that question.

It develops tension by suggesting that Giselle's decision to sneak in a ride on Dark Star could have serious consequences.

Which answer best captures how the imagery affects the mood in this excerpt? That evening, Giselle heard thunder drumming in the distance and looked out her window to see black clouds inking over the dusky light. A storm was gathering strength.

It mirrors Giselle's feelings of fear and concern for Dark Star.

Read this paragraph from the story. "Looks like rain's comin'," Mr. Fletcher said, gazing up at the dark clouds moving across the sky. "Giselle, I know you're an excellent rider, but between the serious weather coming in and the fact you have a cast on your arm, I have to tell you I think this ride is a bad idea." The man intentionally made eye contact with Giselle, trying to impress upon her his concern. Giselle was torn. While she respected Mr. Fletcher and the opportunity he had given her to care for and to ride Dark Star, she knew what she was doing. The fall a few weeks ago had nothing to do with her riding skills or Dark Star's ability. It was just bad luck! He's totally overreacting, Giselle told herself, but I'll play along. I've waited long enough to get back in the saddle, and Dark Star and I deserve an adventure. We'll be back before anyone notices we have even left the corral. What is the effect of the author's choice to include Giselle's inner dialogue?

It reveals Giselle's reasoning behind her decision to deceive Mr. Fletcher.

What is the effect of Giselle's interaction with Mr. Fletcher as she prepares to take Dark Star for a ride?

It reveals that Giselle is a complex character with both a responsible side and a deceitful side.

Read the passage. The Pet Food Industry You have just adopted a pet, and you're at a pet supply store. You are overwhelmed by the never-ending sea of colorful pet food packages. Some bags claim that they're organic or natural, but what does that mean? And then there are the stacks of canned food, boasting loudly of their superior contents. What's the difference among these foods? Does it matter what you feed your dog or cat? Yes, it does matter. And the text on the package does not always tell the whole story. According to the American Pet Products Association (APPA), 68 percent of U.S. households own a pet. The APPA also estimates that U.S. pet owners will spend $25 million on pet food in 2016. But the contents, quality, and cost of foods vary dramatically. A food's national popularity does not necessarily equate to a healthy choice, especially when advertising plays such a heavy role in sales. To select the best nutritional match for your pet, it is important to understand what you're buying. History of Commercial Pet Food The first food prepared commercially for pets were biscuits made by James Spratt, an American, while he was living in England in 1860. The biscuits became popular with English country gentlemen for their sporting dogs. The company that took over Spratt's formula began production in the United States in 1890. After World War I, the first canned dog food, made from horse meat, was introduced. Canned cat food and dry meat-meal dog food were introduced in the 1930s, and dry food came along in the 1950s. Pet Food Regulations As the pet food industry grew, government officials regulated food-processing methods used by American pet food manufacturers. However, according to Born Free USA, a national animal advocacy group, the pet food industry isn't as regulated as it claims. Laws exist but aren't necessarily enforced, and the Food and Drug Administration has minimal control over pet foods shipped across state lines. Feed control officials in each state have more power. These officials run tests on food to make sure it meets its Guaranteed Analysis, the label on food that lists its ingredients and the proportion of each ingredient. However, the quality of regulation and enforcement varies from state to state, according to Born Free USA. Deciphering Pet Food Ingredients The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) has model regulations for pet foods and a checklist for labels. The guidelines require that ingredients be listed in descending order according to each item's weight, though the terms may not be as self-explanatory as they appear to consumers. If "meat" is listed, it refers only to the meat of cows, pigs, goats, and sheep and includes specified muscle tissue. The guaranteed analysis is a general guide to the composition of the food—and crude protein, fat, fiber, and total moisture are required to be listed. By-products in pet foods are parts of animals not used in human foods and can include the head, feet, and bones. Wet pet foods commonly include meat or poultry by-products. However, brands of pet foods labeled super-premium, natural, or organic don't use by-products. According to the AAFCO, organic refers to the processing of a product, not necessarily the quality of the product. The term meal is used in many of the ingredients of dry pet foods, such as meat meals, poultry meals, and meat-and-bone meals. Meal is not fresh but has been rendered. Rendering is the process of boiling the raw materials of carcasses for several hours. It separates fat, removes water, and kills bacteria, but it can also destroy natural enzymes and proteins. How Pet Foods Are Prepared Commercially prepared pet food goes through a process. Dry food is made with a machine called an extruder. Food materials are blended with a recipe that provides the nutrient content of each ingredient. For the extruder to work properly, a consistent amount of starch and low moisture is needed. Ingredients such as rendered meat-and-bone meal, poultry by-product meal, grains, and flours are used. The dough is then fed through the extruder and subjected to steam and high pressure. As it is pushed through nozzles, it is cut with sharp knives. When the food puffs into its final shape, it is left to dry and then sprayed with fats, digests, and other compounds to make it more appetizing to the animal. This same process is also used on semimoist pet foods and many pet treats. The ingredients in wet or canned foods are ground and mixed with chemicals to improve taste, stability, or appearance. Such additives do not provide any nutritional value. Any chunks in the food are formed through an extruder. The food is then cooked, canned, and sealed—and then pressure cooked and commercially sterilized. Pet Food Choices Most dog owners feed their dogs dry and canned dog food. Wet canned food generally provides more protein and more moisture than dry foods and is often higher quality. But many pet owners prefer to cook food for their pets, and some choose to feed their pets raw food. According to the Whole Dog Journal, if you decide to cook for your pets, no single type of food should ever make up more than half the pet's diet. However, meat should be half of the diet. Some pet owners prefer to feed their dogs a raw food diet, which is uncooked food. Proponents of a raw food diet believe it gives dogs healthier coats, increases their energy level, improves their disposition, and controls their weight. There are those who feel that the benefits of a raw food diet are not proven. Uncooked meat can contain bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella that can be harmful to dogs; raw food can also inflame the gastrointestinal tract and cause diarrhea. Uncooked bones can obstruct airways or perforate intestines. If you're unsure what to feed your pet, ask for recommendations from your veterinarian, who is familiar with your pet's health and knows if your pet has any specific dietary needs. Read this excerpt from Paragraph 1. Some bags claim that they're organic or natural, but what does that mean? And then there are the stacks of canned food, boasting loudly of their superior contents. What's the difference among these foods? Does it matter what you feed your dog or cat? Yes, it does matter. And the text on the package does not always tell the whole story. What is the effect of the word choice on the introduction of this passage?

It suggests a skeptical tone by questioning the reliability of information provided to consumers by pet food companies.

Read these sentences from the excerpt. You have just adopted a pet, and you're at a pet supply store. You are overwhelmed by the never-ending sea of colorful pet food packages. How does the rhetorical strategy used in this excerpt advance the author's viewpoint that pet owners must be proactive when selecting food for their pets?

It uses direct address to emphasize to readers that they are personally responsible for ensuring that their pets receive the appropriate nutrition.

Why does the author include this scene in the story? The man shook his head and laughed. "I can never seem to say no to you, Giselle. Go ahead and spend some time together, but be careful. I trust you know what you are doing." Of course I do! What on earth could go wrong? Giselle thought. Soon enough, she'd have a clear answer to that question.

It uses foreshadowing to create tension by implying Giselle may have made a poor decision.

What is the effect of the use figurative language in this excerpt from the passage? That had been two years before, when she was 13, and soon Giselle had reached an agreement with the Fletchers about the equine's care—a daily ritual that for Giselle became as easy as breathing the country air.

The author uses a simile to explain how natural it is for Giselle to care for the horse.

Read the passage. The Pet Food Industry Some bags claim that they're organic or natural, but what does that mean? And then there are the stacks of canned food, boasting loudly of their superior contents. What's the difference among these foods? Does it matter what you feed your dog or cat? Yes, it does matter. And the text on the package does not always tell the whole story. What is the effect of the word choice in this excerpt?

The author uses exaggeration and personification to introduce the viewpoint that many pet food manufacturers are more interested in sales than providing factual information to consumers.

Which statement most effectively explains the meaning of this sentence from the passage? The open field behind their home was a blank page begging to be filled.

The empty space is the ideal spot to build a stable for horses.