Read the textbook passage below and then answer the questions that follow by choosing the letter of each correct response.

Question

Gangs
They may wear special colors, be involved in violent initiations, band together to violently protect their turf from other gangs, and terrorize neighborhoods. Gangs are a major source of violence both in and out of school. In 1999, 26,000 gangs with a membership of about 840,500 members existed.
The composition of gangs fluctuates1 substantially over the years. In the early twentieth century,
youth gangs were predominantly Irish, Jewish, and Italian, but today they are more likely to be African American and Latino. In one major study, 31 percent of adolescents claiming to be gang members were African American; 25 percent, Latino; 25 percent, Caucasian; 5 percent, Asian American; and 15 percent, “others.” Most gang members are male.
Historically, gangs took root in urban areas, especially where poverty flourished.2 Today,
although urban youth gangs are still prominent3, gang activity has grown in rural counties, small cities and towns, and the suburbs. The average age of a youth gang member is about 17 to 18 years. The typical age range is from 12 to 24 years.
Youth gangs are responsible for a great deal of the crime and violence in the community. They
commit violent offenses at a rate several times higher than do nongang adolescents. Years ago, gangs considered schools as neutral territory, but recently gang activity in schools has increased. Schools with gang activity report more violence, gun possession, and drug sales, and their students are much more likely to report fear of being a crime victim. Some gang violence is related to drug sales, but gangs also use violence to settle disputes,4 define their turf and protect their honor. Of the nearly 1,000 homicides in Chicago between 1987 and 1994 committed by gangs, three-quarters were between gangs, 11 percent were within a gang, and 14 percent involved nongang victims. Gang members use violence to demonstrate their toughness and gain status. The willingness to use violence is a key characteristic distinguishing youth gangs from other adolescent peer groups. Many gang members have access to guns, which is why gang violence has turned deadly.
Adolescents offer many reasons for joining gangs. Some gangs provide a family-like relationship
that appeals to adolescents who are isolated, drifting between a native and adopted culture, and feeling somewhat alienated5 from both. Gang membership enhances prestige6 and status, provides a social agenda and excitement, and offers a chance to make money through illegal activities. Social, economic, and cultural forces may push people to join gangs. Some individuals even join to gain protection from the violence perpetrated7 by other gangs. These teens feel marginalized8; they feel they do not belong in school or in their communities, and they may have family problems. They find their sense of identity in gang membership.
Long-term studies find that the most important community risk factor for gang membership is
growing up in neighborhoods with low social integration and attachment. Family characteristics include poverty, parental absence, low parental attachment to the adolescent, and little parental supervision. Three school-related characteristics are very significant: Low expectations for success in school by both parents and adolescents, low student commitment to school, and low attachment to teachers. Peers naturally have a substantial impact, and associating with delinquent1 friends and unsupervised hanging around are a potent combination leading to gang membership. Individual risk factors include low self-esteem, numerous negative life events, depressive symptoms, easy access to drugs, and favorable views of drug use. The greater the number of risk factors operating, the greater the chances a person will join a gang.
A number of programs attempt to reduce gang violence. Some involve the use of outreach
workers and other professionals to provide services and opportunities for community-based activities. Outreach workers encourage youth to attend schools, obtain job training, seek regular employment, and use social services.
Preventing adolescents from joining gangs is a cost-effective long-term strategy. The Gang Resistance Education and Training (GREAT) Program, which is directed at third and fourth graders and seventh and eighth graders, has obtained positive results. The middle school program consists of eight lessons promoting cultural sensitivity, improving conflict resolution, meeting basic needs without joining a gang, and establishing short- and long-term goals. In a summer program, the youth participate in numerous recreational and community projects, including food programs and painting over graffiti. Students completing the program report lower levels of gang affiliation2 and delinquency, including drug use, minor offenses, and both property crimes and crimes against persons. Other effective programs, such as the Comprehensive Community Wide Gang Prevention, Intervention and Suppression program, mobilize3 the community and outreach workers to provide social outlets, better monitoring of gang activities, and social interventions.
Progress has been made in identifying the major risk factors involved in joining gangs, although
reducing these factors is not easy. Some successful programs combine social intervention, rehabilitation, and suppression, but few have been rigorously4 evaluated. Combating gang violence and delinquency, which have a tremendous effect on everyone within the community, requires the cooperation of police, social workers, and members of the community.

5. What pattern organizes the details in paragraph 5?
a. time order
b. cause/effect
c. series
d. definition

6. What is the topic of paragraph 4?
a. gang crime and violence in communities
b. statistics on gang members in schools
c. gangs and drugs
d. gang-related homicides

7. What is the topic sentence of paragraph 5?
a. the first sentence
b. the second sentence
c. the last sentence
d. the first and last sentences

8. What is the implied main idea of paragraph 6?
a. The neighborhood is the most important risk factor for gang membership.
b. There are a number of risk factors for gang membership.
c. Most gang members have not done well in school.
d. Gangs are a big problem in certain urban communities.

Answer 1

5. c. series
6. a. gang crime and violence in communities
7. a. the first sentence
8. a. The neighborhood is the most important risk factor for gang membership.