Reading Standards for Informational Text > Foundational American Literature (CCSS.RI.8.3) Practice Test

After a record-breaking heatwave, the city council funded a 'Cool Streets' project to plant thousands of street trees in neighborhoods with little shade. City engineers explain that wide canopies block sunlight from heating asphalt and sidewalks. Cooler pavement warms the surrounding air less, so residents run their air conditioners less often during peak afternoon hours. Over the next two summers, the utility recorded a measurable drop in electricity demand on the hottest days in the shaded neighborhoods.

In building a tutoring app, team lead Maya insisted on releasing features to small groups of students first. Each two-week pilot generated error reports and user comments that the team prioritized before moving on. By the time the full version launched to all schools, the most disruptive bugs had been fixed, and teachers reported that the app crashed rarely.