Prose Level 2
Score range 226 to 275
Tasks at this level tend to require the reader to locate one or more pieces of information in the text, but several distractors may be present, or low-level inferences may be required. Tasks at this level also begin to ask readers to integrate two or more pieces of information, or to compare and contrast information.
Like the tasks at Level 1, most of the tasks at Level 2 ask the reader to locate information. However, more varied demands are placed on the reader in terms of the number of responses the question requires, or in terms of distracting information that may be present.
A mid-range task based on an article about the impatiens plant asks the reader
to identify “what
the smooth leaf and stem suggest about the plant.”
The second paragraph of the
article is labeled“Appearance” and contains a sentence that states, “...stems are
branched and very juicy, which means, because of the tropical origin, that the
plant is sensitive to cold.”
In Canada, 25.6% of adults are performing at Level 2.
Like many other cultured plants, impatiens plants have a long history behind them. One of the older varieties was sure to be found on grandmother’s windowsill. Nowadays, the hybrids are used in many ways in the house and garden.
Origin: the ancestors of the impatiens, Impatiens sultani and
Impatiens holstii, are probably still to be found in the mountain forests of tropical
East Africa and on the islands off the coast, mainly Zanzibar. The cultivated
European plant received the name Impatiens walleriana.
Appearance: It is a herbaceous bushy plant with a height of 30 to
40 cm. The thick, fleshy stems are branched and very juicy, which means, because of the topical
origin, that the plant is sensitive to cold. The light green or white speckled leaves are pointed,
elliptical, and slightly indented on the edges. The smooth leaf surfaces and the stems indicate a
great need of water.
Bloom: The flowers, which come in all shades of red, appear plentifully all year long, except for
the darkest months. They grow from “suckers” (in the stem’s “armpit”.)
Assortment: Some are compact and low-growing types, about 20 to 25 cm. high, suitable for
growing in pots. A variety of hybrids can be grown in pots, window boxes, or flower beds,
Older varieties with taller stems add dramatic colour to flower beds.
General care: In summer, a place in the shade without direct
sunlight is best; in fall and spring, half-shade is best. When placed in a bright spot during winter,
the plant requires temperatures of at least 20°C; in a darker spot, a temperature of 15°C will do.
When the plant is exposed to temperatures of 12 - 14°it loses its leaves and won’t bloom anymore.
In wet ground, the stems will rot.
Watering: The warmer and lighter the plant’s location, the more
water it needs. Always use water without a lot of minerals. It is not known for sure whether or not the
plant needs humid air. In any case, do not spray water directly onto the leaves, which causes
stains.
Feeding: Feed weekly during the
growing period from March to
September.
Repotting: If necessary, repot in the spring or in the summer in
light soil with humus (prepacked potting soil.) It is better to throw the old plants away and start
cultivating new ones.
Propagating: Slip or use seeds. Seeds will germinate in ten days.
Diseases: In summer, too much sun makes the plant woody. If the air is too dry, small white flies or
aphids may appear