Download Democracy Now and Then

UNIT 2 WEEK 2
Read the article “Democracy Now and Then” before answering Numbers 1
through 5.
Democracy Now and Then
We talk about democracy often, but how many of us understand what it really is,
or where and when it started? The idea goes back to around 500 B.C. and the
Greek city-states, so it is not a new concept. The word democracy comes from the
Greek words demos, meaning “common people,” and kratos, meaning “rule.”
At about the same time, democracy also appeared in the ancient city of Rome.
The Romans developed a form of government called a republic, in which citizens
chose their leaders by voting. The chosen leaders made and enforced laws that
were meant to represent the wishes of the people. This Roman government is
very similar to the form of democracy we have in the United States today.
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Government
The structure of the ancient Roman government had a lot in common with the
present-day U.S. government. Similar to the different branches of the present-day
U.S. government, the Roman government included three ruling bodies: the
Senate, the magistrates, and the assemblies.
The Senate, which was the most powerful part of the Roman government, ran the
army and controlled the money. The Senate also had the power to make emergency
proposals, including naming a new ruler for Rome. Unlike members of the U.S.
Senate, who are elected, Roman senators were appointed. Also, instead of serving
limited terms, Roman senators served for life.
Ancient Roman citizens elected the magistrates, the second body of their
government. The most important magistrates were the two consuls, the highest
positions in the Roman government. In many ways, the consuls were similar to the
U.S. President. These powerful officials were elected every year and had many
responsibilities, including leading the military during wars. The consuls also
chose the members of the Senate.
The assemblies were the third part of the ancient Roman government. The
assemblies voted on laws, elected magistrates, and declared wars. Like the U.S.
House of Representatives, the assemblies spoke for the citizens, and assembly
members represented the people.
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UNIT 2 WEEK 2
Checks and Balances
This Roman government, like the U.S. government, had a system of checks and
balances. In this system, each branch has the power to check, or stop, the other
parts. The system maintains a balance of power among the branches.
In ancient Rome, the assemblies had the power to elect officials called Tribunes.
The Tribunes, in turn, could stop Senate actions by using their veto power. Veto is
a Latin word that means “I forbid.” By vetoing a proposed law, the Tribunes
rejected it.
In the United States, the president can veto laws that Congress makes. Congress,
however, can revisit a presidential veto, and if two-thirds of the Senate and the
House of Representatives vote against it, the veto is overturned. This balances the
president’s veto power.
Citizens
Citizens of ancient Rome were divided into two groups. One group was the
patricians, the most privileged, powerful people, and the other was the plebeians,
which included most farmers, merchants, and soldiers. Although they were
citizens, women did not have voting rights.
Unlike the Romans, U.S. citizens are not divided into different groups. Today,
all adult citizens can vote, but this was not always the case. For example, women
did not have the right to vote in the U.S. until the 1920s. Still,
women participated in politics in ancient Rome and in the early
United States.
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Grade 6
Weekly Assessment • Unit 2, Week 2
Name:
Date:
Now answer Numbers 1 through 5. Base your answers on “Democracy
Now and Then.”
1
Read the sentence from the article.
The Senate also had the power to make emergency proposals, including
naming a new ruler for Rome.
The prefix pro- means “in front.” In proposal, the root poser means “put” or
“place.” What does a person do if he or she makes a proposal?
A introduces a new idea
B
disagrees with an idea
C draws attention to something
D rearranges the order of something
2
This question has two parts. First, answer part A. Then, answer part B.
Part A: How does the author show how checks and balances work?
A by describing the sequence of events that leads to a veto in the
United States
B
by explaining how the veto solves problems in the United States
government
C by explaining what caused Roman Tribunes to veto laws proposed
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by the Senate
D by comparing the veto power of Roman Tribunes and the
United States president
Part B: Which sentence from the article best supports your answer in Part A?
A “The assemblies voted on laws, elected magistrates, and declared wars.”
B
“This Roman government, like the U.S. government, had a system of
checks and balances.”
C “In this system, each branch has the power to check, or stop, the
other parts.”
D
“In ancient Rome, the assemblies had the power to elect officials
called Tribunes.”
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Name:
3
Date:
This question has two parts. First, answer part A. Then, answer part B.
Part A: Read the sentence from the article.
By vetoing a proposed law, the Tribunes rejected it.
The Latin prefix re- means “again” or “back.” In rejected, the prefix means
“back,” and the root ject means “throw.” What does the word rejected mean?
A finished
B
returned
C sent through
D stopped again
Part B: Which word uses the prefix re- in the same way it is used in rejected ?
A rebuild
B
recall
C rehang
D
restart
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Grade 6
Weekly Assessment • Unit 2, Week 2
Name:
4
Date:
The author organizes the section titled “Citizens” by contrasting citizens
in ancient Rome and the United States. Sort the descriptions in the box into
the two different categories in the chart. Write all descriptions in the box for
full credit.
Citizens of
Ancient Rome
Both
Citizens of the
United States
Descriptions:
split into two groups
not divided or separated
political role for women
no voting rights for some citizens
voting rights for women
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5
Why does the author compare ancient Rome to the U.S. government? Select
two choices.
A to help the reader understand the structure of the Roman government
B
to help the reader understand how citizens are different around
the world
C to show the reader that the U.S. government is based on one that came
before it
D
to show the reader that the Roman government was exactly like the
U.S. government
E
to help the reader understand why Romans chose to have a certain
type of government
F
to show the reader that the U.S. government is constantly changing
to protect its citizens
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UNIT 2 WEEK 2
Read the article “A Team at Work” before answering Numbers 6 through 10.
A Team at Work
The actors take their bows, the curtain falls, and the applause dies away. Although
the play is over, for the past few hours, the audience has been transported to
another place and time. Bringing a play to life on stage is hard work, and everyone
involved in the play has an important task to complete.
The main responsibility of all actors is to breathe life into the words and actions in
the script. Before actors can do this, they have to learn their parts. Even the best
actors can find it difficult to memorize pages of lines in a short time. Some actors
practice their lines with a helper. Some actors will not let others be around them
while they are in the process of learning their lines. Others memorize every single
word in the script, and still others record their lines and replay them on
headphones. Whatever methods the actors use, they make sure that the job gets
done. No actor wants to forget lines while onstage.
The actors—and there are usually only a handful in any play—perform their job on
the stage and in front of the audience, but there are many other people who work
on a production, too. These other people carry out their jobs behind the scenes,
where the audience does not see them.
The set and costume designers are important members of the production team.
They work together to ensure that the people and objects on the stage represent the
appropriate time and place. The set designer needs to design scenery and choose
props that the audience will associate with the setting. Similarly, the costume
designer has to put together costumes that match the time period of the play.
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Grade 6
Weekly Assessment • Unit 2, Week 2
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The director of a production is like the captain on a team. He or she has the vision
of how the play should look and sound, and how it should make the audience
feel. The director makes decisions about every single detail of the production. He
or she chooses the actors and runs the rehearsals. The director also oversees the
work of all the members of the production team.
UNIT 2 WEEK 2
The production team also includes lighting and sound designers. The director
entrusts the lighting and sound designers with creating each mood the director
wants, from joyful to gloomy. For a play that takes place on a stormy evening, the
director might want lights that flash like lightning. A special sound effect, such as
the rumble of a storm, might also be necessary. The sound designers must choose
their special effects carefully. They need to include moderate sounds that fit in with
the overall mood of the play. Sound effects that are too extreme might hamper the
audience’s enjoyment of the production.
All of these people are important to any production. Still, they are only a few of the
many talents that are needed to put on a play. There are stage managers, wardrobe
managers, prop masters, and makeup and hair designers. A stage crew is needed to
put up and take down the set and rebuild anything as needed. The list can go on
and on.
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The next time you see a play, study the program. For every actor you see on stage,
you may see the names of two, three, or more people behind the scenes. These
people all work hard to create the magic of the theater and prolong the delightful
experience for the audience.
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79
Name:
Date:
Now answer Numbers 6 through 10. Base your answers on “A Team at Work.”
6
Why does the author mention the problem actors can have memorizing their
lines? Select two choices.
A to show readers that actors have the most important job in
a production
B
to help readers understand that actors work closely with the director
C to show readers that actors need help from the production team
7
D
to help readers understand that actors have a difficult job
E
to help readers understand that actors enjoy their jobs
F
to show readers how actors prepare for their jobs
Read the sentence from the article.
Others memorize every single word in the script, and still others record
their lines and replay them on headphones.
Underline the word in the sentence that has the prefix meaning “again.”
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Grade 6
Weekly Assessment • Unit 2, Week 2
Name:
8
Date:
This question has two parts. First, answer part A. Then, answer part B.
Part A: How does the author organize the third paragraph?
A by contrasting actors with the people who work off stage
B
by telling how actors solve the problem of learning their lines
C by describing a sequence of events that happens when a play
is performed
D by explaining what causes people to think actors have the most
important jobs
Part B: Which phrase from the text best shows how the paragraph
is organized?
A “there are usually only a handful in any play”
B
“perform their job on the stage”
C “in front of the audience”
D
9
“other people carry out their jobs behind the scenes”
Read the sentence from the article.
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The director entrusts the lighting and sound designers with creating each
mood the director wants, from joyful to gloomy.
The prefix en- can mean “in” or “into.” What does the director do when she
entrusts her team?
A She expects the team to trust her.
B
She does not trust the team.
C She puts trust in the team.
D She trusts the team again.
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Name:
10
Date:
This question has two parts. First, answer part A. Then, answer part B.
Part A: How is the job of the director different from the jobs of the cast and
production team?
A The director usually works alone.
B
The director works behind the scenes.
C The director often disagrees with the actors.
D
The director is in charge of the entire production.
Part B: Which sentence from the article best supports your answer in part A?
A “The director makes decisions about every single detail of
the production.”
B
“He or she chooses the actors and runs the rehearsals.”
C “For every actor you see on stage, you may see the names of two,
three, or more people behind the scenes.”
D
“These people all work hard to create the magic of the theater and
prolong the delightful experience for the audience.”
Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education
STOP
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Grade 6
Weekly Assessment • Unit 2, Week 2
Name:
Date:
Now answer Number 11. Base your answer on “Democracy Now and Then” and
“A Team at Work.”
Explain how the idea of teamwork is presented in “Democracy Now and Then”
and “A Team at Work.” What problems did teamwork help to solve in each
selection? Support your answer with details from both texts.
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