Henrietta Lacks Grammar Practice

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Date:

📚 Part 1: Grammar Identification

I can identify nouns, verbs, and proper nouns in sentences from "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks."

1. In the sentence "Henrietta Lacks visited Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore," identify the proper nouns:

Henrietta Lacks

visited

Johns Hopkins Hospital

Baltimore

2. Which verb tense is used in "Scientists have been studying HeLa cells for decades"?

Present perfect continuous

Past perfect

Simple present

Future perfect

3. Choose the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement:

The HeLa cells was growing rapidly.

The HeLa cells were growing rapidly.

The HeLa cells is growing rapidly.

The HeLa cells has been growing rapidly.

4. Identify the complete subject in: "Rebecca Skloot's extensive research revealed important ethical questions."

Complete subject: _________________________________

5. Circle all the common nouns in this sentence: "The researcher examined the tissue samples under a microscope."

researcher • examined • tissue • samples • microscope • under

6. What is the past tense of these verbs from the text?

grow: _____________ take: _____________ begin: _____________

7. Identify the abstract nouns in: "Henrietta's family struggled with poverty and lack of education."

✏️ Part 2: Sentence Structure & Vocabulary

I can analyze sentence structure and use context clues to determine vocabulary meaning.

8. Rewrite this simple sentence as a complex sentence using a subordinating conjunction:

Original: "Henrietta's cells were taken without her consent. This raised ethical concerns."

9. Using context clues, what does "immortal" mean in the phrase "immortal cell line"?

10. Identify the type of sentence structure:

"Although Henrietta died in 1951, her cells continue to live and reproduce in laboratories worldwide."

Simple sentence

Compound sentence

Complex sentence

Compound-complex sentence

11. Combine these two simple sentences into a compound sentence using a coordinating conjunction:

"HeLa cells grow quickly. They are valuable for medical research."

12. Identify the dependent clause in this sentence:

"When doctors discovered Henrietta's cancer, they removed tissue samples for testing."

13. What type of phrase is underlined: "The cells from Henrietta's tumor multiplying rapidly amazed scientists."

Prepositional phrase

Participial phrase

Infinitive phrase

Gerund phrase

🎯 Part 3: Advanced Grammar & Verb Forms

I can identify and use various verb forms and advanced grammar concepts.

14. Choose the correct verb form to complete the sentence:

"If Henrietta _______ alive today, she would be amazed by her cells' impact."

was

were

had been

15. Identify the gerund in this sentence: "Studying HeLa cells has led to numerous medical breakthroughs."

16. Convert this active voice sentence to passive voice:

Active: "Scientists use HeLa cells in cancer research."

Passive: _________________________________________________

17. Which sentence uses the subjunctive mood correctly?

I wish Henrietta was informed about her cells.

I wish Henrietta were informed about her cells.

I wish Henrietta is informed about her cells.

I wish Henrietta will be informed about her cells.

🎯 Part 4: Argumentative Techniques

I can identify and analyze argumentative techniques used in persuasive writing.

18. Which argumentative technique is demonstrated in this statement: "According to Dr. Smith, a leading bioethicist at Harvard Medical School, informed consent is essential in medical research"?

Appeal to emotion (pathos)

Appeal to authority (ethos)

Appeal to logic (logos)

Counterargument

19. Identify the rhetorical appeal in: "Imagine how you would feel if your family's cells were used without permission for decades."

Ethos (credibility)

Pathos (emotion)

Logos (logic)

Repetition

20. Write a claim statement about medical ethics using evidence from the Henrietta Lacks story:

21. Identify the logical fallacy in this statement: "Everyone knows that medical research is always beneficial, so questioning the use of HeLa cells is pointless."

Ad hominem

False dichotomy

Bandwagon appeal

Hasty generalization

22. Extension Activity: Create a compound-complex sentence that includes both a claim and counterclaim about the use of HeLa cells in medical research:

23. Write a counterargument to this claim: "Medical researchers should have unlimited access to biological samples for the greater good."

Success Criteria:

• I can correctly identify parts of speech in context
• I can demonstrate understanding of verb tenses and subject-verb agreement
• I can analyze and create various sentence structures
• I can recognize argumentative techniques in persuasive writing
• I can identify and use advanced grammar concepts like subjunctive mood and passive voice

Differentiation Support: Use text-to-speech for questions 1-15. Visual learners may highlight key words. Advanced learners complete all extension activities and questions 16-23.

Henrietta Lacks Grammar Practice

Henrietta Lacks Grammar Practice

📚 Part 1: Grammar Identification

✏️ Part 2: Sentence Structure & Vocabulary

🎯 Part 3: Advanced Grammar & Verb Forms

🎯 Part 4: Argumentative Techniques

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