Unfamiliar Words
One meaning of column is “a supporting pillar.” Which sentence uses
column in this way?
A. The columns of data in the spreadsheet were hard to organize without a filter.
B. The newspaper features a weekly column about local events.
C. The massive stone columns held up the grand entrance of the temple.
C. The massive stone columns held up the grand entrance of the temple.
Which sentence uses correct subject-verb agreement?
Answer: C — The plural subject "dogs" agrees with the plural verb "run."
Sofia loved gardening, but her garden had never attracted many butterflies. She decided to research what butterflies needed to thrive. She learned that butterflies needed flowers that bloomed at different times of year and plants where caterpillars could eat. Sofia spent the spring planting milkweed, zinnias, and coneflowers. She also left a shallow dish of water with pebbles for the butterflies to drink from. By summer, her garden was alive with color. Monarchs, swallowtails, and painted ladies danced among the flowers. Sofia kept a journal and sketched each type of butterfly she saw. She even counted over 200 butterflies in one week! Sofia realized that learning and planning had turned her simple garden into a beautiful butterfly sanctuary.
Why did Sofia plant milkweed in her garden?
Text 1: How Honeybees Communicate
Honeybees are amazing insects that live together in large groups called colonies. Each colony can have up to 60,000 bees! One of the most interesting things about honeybees is how they communicate with each other. When a bee finds a good source of flowers with lots of pollen and nectar, it returns to the hive and performs a special dance. This dance is called the "waggle dance." The bee moves in a figure-eight pattern while wiggling its body. The direction the bee dances tells other bees which direction to fly to find the flowers. The speed of the dance tells them how far away the flowers are. If the flowers are close by, the bee dances slowly. If the flowers are far away, the bee dances quickly. Other bees watch this dance and understand the message. Then they fly off to find the flowers! Scientists have studied this dance for many years and are amazed by how well it works. This form of communication helps the entire colony find food and survive.
1. What is the main idea of this text?
Demi had never met Uncle Jack before, though she'd heard stories about his adventures around the world. When he finally arrived at their house, he carried a mysterious wooden box that smelled of exotic spices. Demi's heart hammered with excitement and nervousness as he smiled down at her. "This is for you," he said mysteriously. Demi squeezed her eyes shut, overwhelmed by the moment, trying to calm herself before she opened it to discover a beautiful collection of treasures from distant lands.
Question: What do the phrases “Demi’s heart hammered” and “squeezed her eyes shut” suggest about Demi?
Demi is experiencing strong emotions—anticipation, nervousness, excitement, or joy—based on the physical descriptions provided.
The soothing sound of the ocean’s waves calms me as I roam the beach each morning looking for interesting seashells.
Which word in the sentence helps clarify the meaning of the word soothing?
calms
Which sentence uses the correct pronoun case?
Answer: B — "I" is the correct pronoun case when used as part of a compound subject.
Passage 2: The Butterfly Garden
Sofia loved gardening, but her garden had never attracted many butterflies. She decided to research what butterflies needed to thrive. She learned that butterflies needed flowers that bloomed at different times of year and plants where caterpillars could eat. Sofia spent the spring planting milkweed, zinnias, and coneflowers. She also left a shallow dish of water with pebbles for the butterflies to drink from. By summer, her garden was alive with color. Monarchs, swallowtails, and painted ladies danced among the flowers. Sofia kept a journal and sketched each type of butterfly she saw. She even counted over 200 butterflies in one week! Sofia realized that learning and planning had turned her simple garden into a beautiful butterfly sanctuary.
What can you infer about Sofia based on this passage?
Text 2: The Water Cycle
Water is essential for all life on Earth. It moves around our planet in a continuous process called the water cycle. The water cycle has four main stages: evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection.
During evaporation, the sun heats water in oceans, lakes, and rivers, turning it into water vapor (a gas). This invisible vapor rises into the atmosphere. As the water vapor rises higher into the sky, the air gets colder. During condensation, the water vapor cools down and turns back into tiny water droplets. These droplets form clouds.
When the water droplets in clouds get heavy enough, precipitation occurs. This means the water falls back to Earth as rain, snow, sleet, or hail, depending on the temperature. Finally, during collection, the water that falls gathers in oceans, lakes, rivers, and underground. From there, the cycle begins again.
The water cycle is important because it distributes fresh water across the planet. Without the water cycle, plants and animals would not have the water they need to survive.
5. What happens during the condensation stage of the water cycle?
Read the paragraph.
Felix, a white-and-yellow tabby cat, is very timid during the day. He quietly pads through the house, searching for a comfortable place to lounge in the sunshine. He can stay securely curled up all day if he is undisturbed. When it becomes dark, though, Felix changes into another type of cat! He suddenly becomes courageous, and he prowls through the house, enjoying a game of chase with his ball of yarn.
Which word from the paragraph is an antonym of the word timid?
courageous
One meaning of vault is “to leap over.” Which sentence uses vault in this way?
Teacher discretion.
Which sentence has an inappropriate shift in verb tense?
Answer: A — The sentence shifts from past tense ("walked") to present tense ("talks"), which is inconsistent.
Passage 1: The Lost Hiker
Marcus had been hiking in the woods all morning with his dog, Scout. They were having fun exploring the trails until Marcus realized he didn't recognize any of the landmarks around him. His heart began to race. Scout whimpered softly, as if sensing something was wrong. Marcus decided the best thing to do was to stay calm and think clearly. He remembered his father telling him to follow a stream downhill if he ever got lost. Marcus spotted a small stream nearby and decided to follow it. After walking for an hour, he heard the sound of cars on a distant road. Soon, Marcus and Scout emerged from the trees near a busy highway. A kind woman saw them and helped Marcus call his parents. By evening, Marcus was home safe, and Scout was sleeping peacefully on the porch.
3. What is the main idea of this passage?
Text 3: The Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China is one of the most impressive structures ever built by humans. It stretches over 13,000 miles across northern China. Construction of the wall began over 2,000 years ago and continued for many centuries. Different rulers added to the wall at different times, which is why the wall has different styles and materials in different sections.
The wall was built for several important reasons. The main purpose was to protect China from invasions by enemies from the north. The wall also served as a way to control trade. Soldiers stationed along the wall could monitor goods and people moving between China and other countries. Additionally, the wall helped organize and unite different regions of China.
Building the Great Wall was an enormous task. Workers, including soldiers and peasants, faced harsh weather conditions and dangerous terrain. Thousands of workers died during its construction. The wall was built using materials like stone, brick, and earth, depending on the region.
Today, the Great Wall of China is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most visited tourist attractions in the world. It represents the strength and determination of the Chinese people throughout history.
8. Which detail from the text supports the idea that building the Great Wall was difficult?
Directions: Fill in the blanks to select the words or phrases that create a cheerful mood in the paragraph.
It was a _____ Saturday morning, and the sun shone _______ through the windows. Emma skipped outside, feeling excited about the day ahead. Birds sang in the trees as a ______ breeze drifted by. Everything around her felt joyful, and she couldn’t wait to begin her adventure.
1. __________ (adjective) (bright, sunny, warm)
2. __________ (adverb) (brightly, warmly)
3. __________ (adjective) (gentle, soft, warm)
The abandoned house looked desolate with broken windows and overgrown weeds.
What does desolate most likely mean?
a. bright and cheerful
b. empty and lonely
c. small and cozy
d. old and valuable
b. empty and lonely
Which sentence uses the perfect verb tense correctly?
Answer: B — "Had started" (past perfect) correctly shows that the action was completed before another past action.
Passage 5: The Friendship Bracelet
Aisha and her best friend Zoe had been friends since first grade. They did everything together—they sat next to each other in class, played at recess, and walked home together. One day, Zoe told Aisha that her family was moving to another state. Aisha felt sad, but she didn't want to cry in front of Zoe. That evening, Aisha had an idea. She spent hours making a colorful friendship bracelet out of beads and string. Each bead represented a memory they shared—the blue bead was for the time they built a fort, the yellow bead was for the day they won the spelling bee together, and the purple bead was for Zoe's birthday party. The next day, Aisha gave Zoe the bracelet. Zoe's eyes filled with tears. "I'll wear this every day," Zoe promised. Even though they would live far apart, Aisha and Zoe knew their friendship would never fade. They promised to video chat every week and visit each other during summer vacation.
What does this passage suggest about Aisha and Zoe's friendship?
Text 2: The Water Cycle
Water is essential for all life on Earth. It moves around our planet in a continuous process called the water cycle. The water cycle has four main stages: evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection.
During evaporation, the sun heats water in oceans, lakes, and rivers, turning it into water vapor (a gas). This invisible vapor rises into the atmosphere. As the water vapor rises higher into the sky, the air gets colder. During condensation, the water vapor cools down and turns back into tiny water droplets. These droplets form clouds.
When the water droplets in clouds get heavy enough, precipitation occurs. This means the water falls back to Earth as rain, snow, sleet, or hail, depending on the temperature. Finally, during collection, the water that falls gathers in oceans, lakes, rivers, and underground. From there, the cycle begins again.
The water cycle is important because it distributes fresh water across the planet. Without the water cycle, plants and animals would not have the water they need to survive.
Which of these best describes the text structure of this passage?
Read the Passage
The Power of Small Choices
Jordan used to throw away his plastic water bottles every day at lunch. One afternoon, his teacher showed the class a video about how plastic waste harms oceans and wildlife. Jordan was surprised to learn how long plastic can last in the environment.
The next day, he brought a reusable water bottle to school. At first, it didn’t seem like a big change. But soon, his friends noticed and started bringing their own reusable bottles too. Within a few weeks, the trash can in the cafeteria had far fewer plastic bottles.
Jordan realized that even small choices can make a big difference. What started as one simple decision helped create a positive change in his school.
Writing Prompt
Write an essay explaining how Jordan’s small choice led to a bigger impact.
What type of writing are you going to create? How many paragraphs? BONUS if you can set the paragraphs up. (What will each contain?)
Informative (explanatory) 5 paragraphs
Intro
Body Paragraph 1: Fact #1 of how his choice led to a big impact
Body Paragraph 2: Fact #2 of how his choice led to a big impact
Body Paragraph 3: Fact #3 of how his choice led to a big impact
Conclusion
1 When early explorers ventured into South America, they discovered that the people used an important apparatus. 2 It was a woven bed called a hammock that could hang between trees or poles. 3 Tropical climates are home to many dangerous insects. 4 The hammock was a simple invention that elevated people off the ground, keeping them safe from the crawling creatures. 5 The explorers saw the value in using a hammock. 6 In time, they adopted the hammock for themselves and introduced it to other countries.
Which sentences in the paragraph best help the reader understand what the word apparatus means? Choose two answers.
The word “apparatus” means a tool, device, or piece of equipment used for a specific purpose.
The two sentences that best help you figure that out are:
Sentence 2 – It explains what the apparatus actually is (a woven bed called a hammock).
Sentence 4 – It explains what the apparatus does (keeps people off the ground and safe from insects).
Which sentence uses correlative conjunctions correctly and maintains proper pronoun agreement?
Answer: C — When using "either/or" with a plural subject ("twins"), use the plural verb "are" and the plural pronoun "their." The plural subject closest to the verb determines the agreement.
Passage 3: The Mystery of the Missing Cookies
Twelve-year-old Jake woke up excited. Today was the day of the school bake sale, and his grandmother had promised to bring her famous chocolate chip cookies. When Jake arrived home from school, he rushed to the kitchen. To his horror, the cookie jar was empty! Jake's little sister, Emma, was sitting at the kitchen table with chocolate on her face. "Emma, where are the cookies?" Jake asked. Emma looked down at her feet. "I only ate three," she whispered. Jake sighed. He knew his sister didn't mean to cause trouble. Instead of being angry, Jake decided to help. He and Emma spent the afternoon baking a new batch of cookies together. When they pulled the cookies from the oven, Emma hugged her brother. "You're the best," she said. Jake smiled. The bake sale would go on, and he and Emma had made a memory together.
Question: What answer best describes how Jake felt when he discovered the cookies were missing?
Part A:
Part B: Which sentence from the passage best supports your answer to Part A?
Part A: A) Jake felt disappointed but decided to help Emma bake new cookies instead of staying angry (This captures both Jake's initial disappointment and his mature choice to respond with kindness)
Part B: B) "Instead of being angry, Jake decided to help. He and Emma spent the afternoon baking a new batch of cookies together." (This sentence directly explains Jake's decision and shows his character through his actions)
Text 5: How Solar Panels Work
Solar panels are devices that capture energy from the sun and convert it into electricity. They are becoming increasingly popular as people look for clean, renewable sources of energy. Understanding how solar panels work can help us appreciate this amazing technology.
Solar panels are made up of many small units called photovoltaic cells, or PV cells. Each cell contains a special material called silicon. When sunlight hits the silicon in a PV cell, it causes electrons (tiny particles) to move. This movement of electrons creates an electric current. The electric current flows out of the solar panel and into an inverter, a device that converts the direct current (DC) electricity into alternating current (AC) electricity. AC electricity is the type of electricity that powers our homes and businesses.
One solar panel can produce enough electricity to power several light bulbs. However, most homes use multiple solar panels connected together to produce enough electricity to meet their energy needs. On sunny days, solar panels can produce more electricity than a home uses. The extra electricity can be stored in a battery or sent back to the power grid.
Solar energy has many advantages. It is clean and does not produce harmful gases like coal or oil. It is also renewable, meaning the sun will continue to shine for billions of years. Additionally, once solar panels are installed, they require very little maintenance. The main disadvantage is that solar panels don't work well on cloudy days or at night, and they can be expensive to install initially.
13. What is the main idea of this text?
Read the paragraph.
When my teacher, Mr. Albright, told me that our class was going to visit the U.S. Space and Rocket center in Huntsville, Alabama, I was over the moon. I had dreamed of visiting this museum all year after learning about space exploration in school. Last Friday morning, we met our tour guide, Ms. Randall. She introduced herself and broke the ice by having each of us share our favorite space fact. After visiting several exhibits and the planetarium, I was hungry. Mr. Albright said, “Hang in there, Toby. It’s almost time for lunch.”
From the perspective of Toby, write a story of the rest of your day.
What writing form will you construct? How many paragraphs? BONUS if you can set it up (what will each contain?).
Narrative. 3 paragraphs.
Beginning (setting, character, problem)
Middle (Toby facing a problem, reaching a climax)
End (resolution, problem solved)