Suffixes & Roots
Lily’s kindness was shown when she helped her friend pick up all the dropped books.
Think about the suffix -ness. What is the meaning of kindness in this sentence?
A. the state of being unkind
B. a kind act done by someone
C. the state of being kind
D. a person who is not kind
C. the state of being kind
Title: A Helping Hand
(1) Maya was just about to settle down with her favorite book when she heard a knock at the door. She opened it to find her neighbor, Mrs. Patel, standing there with a worried look on her face.
(2) "Maya, I’m so sorry to bother you, but my grandson left his soccer cleats at my house, and his game starts in 30 minutes. I can’t drive to the field because my car won’t start," Mrs. Patel explained.
(3) Maya glanced at the clock. She had been looking forward to a quiet afternoon, but she couldn’t ignore Mrs. Patel’s plea. "Don’t worry, Mrs. Patel. I’ll take them to him," Maya offered with a smile.
(4) Mrs. Patel’s face lit up. "Oh, thank you so much, Maya! I’ll grab the cleats for you."
(5) Ten minutes later, Maya was biking across town. The soccer field was farther than she expected, and her legs started to ache as she pedaled harder. Still, she knew how much her own games had meant to her when she was younger, and she didn’t want Mrs. Patel’s grandson to miss out.
(6) When Maya finally arrived, she spotted Mrs. Patel’s grandson on the sidelines, looking anxious. She waved the cleats in the air and called out to him. His face immediately brightened as he ran over to grab them.
(7) "Thank you so much! I was sure I’d have to sit out," he said gratefully.
(8) Maya felt a warm sense of pride as she watched him lace up his shoes and join his team on the field. As she headed back home, the ache in her legs didn’t feel so bad anymore.
(9) Later that evening, Maya thought about how much Mrs. Patel had appreciated her help. She realized that even small actions, like delivering a pair of soccer cleats, could make a big difference in someone’s day.
What theme matches this story?
A. You should help others in need.
B. Growth can come from failure.
C. You shouldn’t judge others.
D. Friendship can come from unexpected places.
A. You should help others in need.
Magic Clay
Ethan lives in Pottery Town, a part of the city, where his family makes pottery. One morning, Ethan helps his mother prepare clay by kneading and pounding it until it’s soft and smooth. “It’s ready, Dad,” Ethan says, handing the clay to his father. Dad shapes tiny lamps on the potter’s wheel, setting each one aside to dry. Ethan watches closely, admiring his father’s skill.
When the trays are full, Dad smiles at Ethan. “Your turn,” he says. Ethan takes his seat at the wheel, his heart racing. His first lamp collapses, but Dad places his hands over Ethan’s and guides him. With practice, Ethan shapes his own neat, tiny lamps. He beams with pride as his first tray of lamps is complete.
That evening, Ethan tells his father, “I’ll always make time for pottery, just like you.” As Ethan holds a lump of clay, he whispers, “Clay. Magic clay.”
Label the events in the order in which they happen in the story. The first event will be labeled 1, and the last event will be labeled 4.
___ Ethan tells his father he will always make time for pottery.
___ Ethan works at the potter’s wheel and carefully makes a full tray of lamps.
___ Ethan helps his mother prepare the clay by pounding and kneading it.
___ Ethan watches his father shape tiny lamps on the potter’s wheel.
1. Ethan helps his mother prepare the clay by pounding and kneading it.
2. Ethan watches his father shape tiny lamps on the potter’s wheel.
3. Ethan works at the potter’s wheel and carefully makes a full tray of lamps.
4. Ethan tells his father he will always make time for pottery.
Weekend Fun
(1) My family loves to spend weekends together. (2) On Saturdays, we try to do something enjoyable as a group. (3) Sometimes we bake cookies, and other times we play outdoor games or visit a museum.
(4) Last Saturday we make a puzzle. (5) My sister chose a 500-piece puzzle with a picture of a beach. (6) My dad and uncle loves puzzles, so they helped us complete it. (7) By the end of the day, the whole picture was finished!
(8) Next Saturday we plans to visit the zoo. (9) Mom thinks we should start early in the morning, but my brother has another idea. (10) He wants to go in the afternoon so we can see the animals when they are most active. (11) Maybe we can find a time that works for everyone.
What change should be made in sentence 3?
A. Change bake to bakes.
B. Change bake to baked.
C. Change bake to baking.
D. No change is needed.
D. No change is needed.
Maya was running faster than she ever had before. She could feel her legs moving quickly, and her heart was beating faster as she raced toward the finish line.
What does the -er at the end of faster tell about Maya’s running?
A. Maya is running slower than she was before.
B. Maya is running at the same speed as before.
C. Maya is running quicker than she was before.
D. Maya is running the quickest she has ever run.
C. Maya is running quicker than she was before.
Title: The Missing Lunchbox
(1) Sophie was excited for lunch. Her mom had packed her favorite sandwich and a chocolate chip cookie. But when she reached into her cubby, her lunchbox was gone!
(2) Sophie looked everywhere but couldn’t find it. She felt tears coming to her eyes. Just then, Leo walked over. "What’s wrong, Sophie?" he asked.
(3) "My lunchbox is missing," Sophie said sadly.
(4) Leo thought for a moment. "Here, you can have my apple and half of my sandwich," he said, handing them to Sophie.
(5) Sophie’s face brightened. "Thank you, Leo! You didn’t have to do that."
(6) "It’s okay," said Leo. "I can share with you until you find your lunchbox."
(7) Later that day, Sophie found her lunchbox in the art room. She couldn’t wait to tell her mom about Leo’s kindness.
What theme matches this story?
A. Always keep track of your belongings.
B. Sharing makes the world a better place.
C. Don’t take things that aren’t yours.
D. Working together solves problems.
B. Sharing makes the world a better place.
Magic Clay
Ethan lives in Pottery Town, a part of the city, where his family makes pottery. One morning, Ethan helps his mother prepare clay by pounding and kneading it. “My turn, Mom,” he says, eager to jump in. After working hard, he hands the soft clay to his father, who shapes tiny lamps on the potter’s wheel. The lamps will be used for the Festival of Lights.
When six trays are ready, Dad lets Ethan try the potter’s wheel. His first attempt fails, but Dad places firm hands over Ethan’s to guide him. With practice, Ethan carefully creates a full tray of lamps.
After school, Ethan proudly tells Dad, “I did my homework, and just like you, I’ll always keep time for my pottery.” As Ethan holds the clay, he whispers, “Clay. Magic clay.”
Why is pottery an important part of Ethan’s life?
A. Ethan practices pottery after school every day.
B. Pottery is a tradition in Pottery Town.
C. The clay Ethan uses feels like magic to him.
D. Ethan says he will always make time for pottery.
D. Ethan says he will always make time for pottery.
Weekend Fun
(1) My family loves to spend weekends together. (2) On Saturdays, we try to do something enjoyable as a group. (3) Sometimes we bake cookies, and other times we play outdoor games or visit a museum.
(4) Last Saturday we make a puzzle. (5) My sister chose a 500-piece puzzle with a picture of a beach. (6) My dad and uncle loves puzzles, so they helped us complete it. (7) By the end of the day, the whole picture was finished!
(8) Next Saturday we plans to visit the zoo. (9) Mom thinks we should start early in the morning, but my brother has another idea. (10) He wants to go in the afternoon so we can see the animals when they are most active. (11) Maybe we can find a time that works for everyone.
What is the correct way to write sentence 4?
A. Last Saturday we makes a puzzle.
B. Last Saturday we made a puzzle.
C. Last Saturday we will make a puzzle.
D. Last Saturday we have made a puzzle
B. Last Saturday we made a puzzle.
Sam walked slowly up the mountain, feeling each step carefully. As he reached the top, he noticed that the air was thinner and colder than it had been earlier.
What does the -er at the end of colder tell about the air?
A. The air is warmer than it was earlier.
B. The air is cooler than it was earlier.
C. The air is the coolest it has been.
D. The air is just as warm as it was before.
B. The air is cooler than it was earlier.
The Broken Kite
(1) Emma loved flying her kite on breezy afternoons. One day, as she was running across the park, a strong gust of wind snapped the string, and her kite got stuck in a tall tree.
(2) Emma tugged on the string, but it was no use. She sat on the grass, staring up at her kite.
(3) "Need some help?" a boy asked. It was James, her classmate.
(4) "I can’t reach my kite," Emma said.
(5) James nodded. "I have a long stick in my backpack. Let me try."
(6) Together, they worked carefully, and after a few tries, the kite floated back down into Emma’s hands.
(7) "Thank you, James!" Emma said, smiling.
(8) "No problem," James replied. "I’m glad I could help."
(9) As Emma ran off to fly her kite again, she thought about how much James’s kindness had meant to her.
What theme matches this story?
A. Always try your best, even when things are hard.
B. Being kind can make a big difference.
C. Don’t give up when something goes wrong.
D. Use teamwork to solve big problems.
B. Being kind can make a big difference.
Magic Clay
Ethan lives in Pottery Town, a part of the city, where his family makes pottery. One morning, Ethan helps his mother prepare clay by kneading and pounding it until it’s soft and smooth. “It’s ready, Dad,” Ethan says, handing the clay to his father. Dad shapes tiny lamps on the potter’s wheel, setting each one aside to dry. Ethan watches closely, admiring his father’s skill.
When the trays are full, Dad smiles at Ethan. “Your turn,” he says. Ethan takes his seat at the wheel, his heart racing. His first lamp collapses, but Dad places his hands over Ethan’s and guides him. With practice, Ethan shapes his own neat, tiny lamps. He beams with pride as his first tray of lamps is complete.
That evening, Ethan tells his father, “I’ll always make time for pottery, just like you.” As he holds a lump of clay, Ethan whispers, “Clay. Magic clay.”
Which of the following events builds off the paragraph where Ethan is watching his father making clay lamps?
A. Ethan begins to make his own clay lamps.
B. Ethan hurries to school.
C. Ethan's mother, Mom, makes pottery from the clay.
D. Ethan is covered with the fine powder to make "a second skin."
A. Ethan begins to make his own clay lamps.
Weekend Fun
(1) My family loves to spend weekends together. (2) On Saturdays, we try to do something enjoyable as a group. (3) Sometimes we bake cookies, and other times we play outdoor games or visit a museum.
(4) Last Saturday we make a puzzle. (5) My sister chose a 500-piece puzzle with a picture of a beach. (6) My dad and uncle loves puzzles, so they helped us complete it. (7) By the end of the day, the whole picture was finished!
(8) Next Saturday we plans to visit the zoo. (9) Mom thinks we should start early in the morning, but my brother has another idea. (10) He wants to go in the afternoon so we can see the animals when they are most active. (11) Maybe we can find a time that works for everyone.
Annika wants to use the correct verb in sentence 6. Select the word or words that should replace "loves" in this sentence:
"My dad and uncle __________ puzzles, so they helped us complete it."
A. love
B. is loving
C. will love
D. are loving
A. love
Read the sentence below.
Jake tries to keep his excitement under control so he does not make another mistake.
Think about the suffix -ment. What is the meaning of excitement in this sentence?
A. an event that is exciting
B. a story that is not exciting
C. the state of being excited
D. a person who cannot be excited
C. the state of being excited
The Forgotten Homework
(1) Liam sat at his desk, staring at the blank piece of paper. He had forgotten to do his homework, and now it was due in just five minutes.
(2) "What’s wrong, Liam?" asked Mia, who sat next to him.
(3) "I forgot to do my math homework," Liam whispered. "I don’t know what to do."
(4) Mia thought for a moment, then smiled. "Here, let me show you how to solve the first problem. It’ll help you understand the rest."
(5) Together, they worked through the first two problems before the teacher called for the homework.
(6) "Thanks, Mia," Liam said as he handed in his paper. "You really saved me!"
(7) "Anytime," Mia replied. "I know you’d do the same for me."
What theme matches this story?
A. Helping others can build strong friendships.
B. Always be prepared for class.
C. Mistakes help us learn.
D. Working together makes hard tasks easier.
A. Helping others can build strong friendships.
Maya loved spending weekends with her grandfather in his woodshop. Today, they were making a birdhouse. Maya grabbed a hammer and pounded nails into the wooden planks. Thump, boom, whump! The sounds echoed through the workshop as Maya worked hard to secure each piece in place.
“Good job,” her grandfather said, smiling. “Now we’ll attach the roof.”
As the hammering continued, Maya grinned. She loved the rhythm of the work and the satisfying noises that came with building something by hand.
Why does the author use the words “Thump, boom, whump!”?
A. to show that Maya is building something difficult
B. to show that the wood is coming together perfectly
C. to tell what it sounds like when Maya works
D. to tell that Maya is excited to build the birdhouse
C. to tell what it sounds like when Maya works.
Weekend Fun
(1) My family loves to spend weekends together. (2) On Saturdays, we try to do something enjoyable as a group. (3) Sometimes we bake cookies, and other times we play outdoor games or visit a museum.
(4) Last Saturday we make a puzzle. (5) My sister chose a 500-piece puzzle with a picture of a beach. (6) My dad and uncle loves puzzles, so they helped us complete it. (7) By the end of the day, the whole picture was finished!
(8) Next Saturday we go to the zoo. (9) Mom thinks we should start early in the morning, but my brother has another idea. (10) He wants to go in the afternoon so we can see the animals when they are most active. (11) Maybe we can find a time that works for everyone.
What change should be made in sentence 8?
A. Change we go to will go.
B. Change go to gone.
C. Change go to goes.
D. No change is needed.
A. Change we go to we will go.
Mark placed his strong hands over Adam's to steady him as he shaped the clay, guiding him to use a gentler touch.
What does the -er at the end of gentler tell about Adam's touch?
A. His touch is less gentle than it was before.
B. His touch is more gentle than it was before.
C. His touch is the most gentle.
D. His touch is the least gentle it has been.
B. His touch is more gentle than it was before.
Derek’s mother and father were billionaires. Derek always got everything that he wanted. When Derek was three, his parents paid the cast of Sesame Street to come to his birthday party. In fifth grade, when Derek wanted to win the Science Fair, his parents paid a tutor to create an award-winning project. In tenth grade, when Derek wanted to be the best soccer player, his parents paid for David Beckham to privately train him. By the time Derek was an adult, he was bored and struggled to find anything meaningful to do. None of the things that he could buy with his money made him happy anymore.
What is the theme of this passage?
A. Derek is unhappy because he always got everything he ever wanted as a child.
B. Money can’t buy happiness.
C. You should save your money to buy things later in life.
B. Money can’t buy happiness.
A Helping Hand
Jerrod sat at his desk, working on a superhero story for a writing contest. Suddenly, his mom called out, “Jerrod, can you help Mr. Williams?”
Sighing, Jerrod went outside. Mr. Williams’s dog, Rocco, had escaped again and was digging up their yard. “Rocco must’ve found a way under the fence,” Jerrod said.
Sure enough, Jerrod found a hole near the corner of the fence. He helped Mr. Williams fill it in, even though it meant taking a break from his story. “We’ll need to build a stronger fence this weekend,” Jerrod offered.
Later, back in his room, Jerrod realized something: heroes don’t just save the world; they also help their neighbors. Inspired, he finished his story about a superhero who found strength in small, kind deeds.
Jerrod and Mr. Williams live next to each other. Why is this important to the story?
A. It gives Jerrod ideas for his superhero story.
B. It gives Jerrod a chance to help someone he knows.
C. It causes Jerrod to stop writing.
D. It explains why Rocco keeps escaping.
B. It gives Jerrod a chance to help someone he knows.
The students ___________ their art projects every Wednesday after school.
Which word correctly completes the sentence above?
A. will enjoy
B. enjoying
C. enjoy
D. is enjoying
C. enjoy