Read the passages and then answer the questions below.
Should English Be the Official Language of the U.S.?
YES
English should be the official language of the United States. All government papers should be written in one language. That language should be English. This would make it easier for everyone. Also, most people in the country want English to be the only language.

Our country has already decided that a person must know English to become a citizen. Speaking English is something all citizens can share. People would come together more if everyone spoke the same language.

Making English the official language would also help people be successful. They would do better in school. If students do well in school, they can be successful in jobs, too.
NO
English should not be the official language. Most people in our country speak English, but many other languages are spoken here. We should respect people who speak other languages. We should respect that people have different ways of living.

Also, making English the only language could harm some people. For example, the government sometimes needs to warn people. They need to know if a certain food is not safe. They need to know if a bad storm is coming. People should be warned in their own language. All people would then understand the danger. Everyone in the country would feel safe.

It is good for Americans to know different languages. That way, they can talk to people from other countries. This would help bring more peace throughout the world.

Multiple-Choice Questions (1 point each)
1. What is this passage mainly about?
A. How English makes people have more success in school
B. Whether English should be the official language of the U.S.
C. Why it is good for Americans to know different languages
D. Why it is difficult for some Americans to learn English
2. The author of the "NO" section says that the government should warn people about:
A. unsafe jobs.
B. poor schools.
C. difficult languages.
D. dangerous storms.
3. What is the main purpose of the passage?
A. To explain how to get a law changed
B. To give facts about the English language
C. To compare two ways of thinking about one subject
D. To tell interesting stories about different languages
4. The author of the "YES" section believes everyone in the U.S. should speak English because:
A. people would understand each other better.
B. English is easier to learn than other languages.
C. everyone in the country would feel safer.
D. there would be fewer people in government.
5. Which of these does the author of the "NO" section believe?
A. Most people in the world want to learn English.
B. Americans should talk to people from other countries.
C. The world would be peaceful if everyone knew English.
D. The government should make everyone learn two languages.
Short Answer Questions (3 points each)
1. The writer of the "YES" section says "English should be the official language of the United States." Give one detail from the passage that explains why the writer thinks this way.










2. The writer of the "NO" section says that "making English the only language could harm some people." Give one example from the passage that explains how people could be harmed.










3. Read this sentence from the "NO" section.
It is good for Americans to know different languages.
Explain why the author thinks knowing different languages is good. Use a detail from the passage in your answer.










4. Do you think English should be the official language of the United States? Answer this question with a "Yes" or "No." Then write one sentence to explain why you think this way. Use a detail from the passage in your explanation.










5. In two or three sentences, compare the main idea in the "YES" section with the main idea in the "NO" section, drawing out their differences.