Finding Story Details
"The Elephant Who Saw the World," Mary started speaking. It was Friday, and the students had to share their creative writing stories of the week.
Mary loved writing, and this part of the week, when they were able to make up stories for creative writing, was her favorite part. She enjoyed it so much that she became really good at it. When she was home on the weekends and she didn't have much homework, she would sit in her room for hours and create stories to share with her friends and family. Her parents always supported her and were her biggest fans.
However, there was one part about every Friday at school that Mary did not enjoy, and that was when she had to share her story in front of the class. The teacher made all of the children share on Friday afternoons, and this made Mary very nervous. She was shy, and although she knew her teacher was right, she didn't like it.
After sitting and listening to the other children share, Mary finally heard her name called. She knew it was her turn to share. She got out of her seat slowly, walked to the front of the room and began.
A. The Elephant Who Liked Candy
B. The Elephant Who Saw the World
C. The Elephant Who Wanted to See the World
D. The Girl Who Hated Writing
B. The Elephant Who Saw the World
Nearly two thousand five hundred years ago, there lived a king called Alexander the Great. He was the son of Philip II of Macedonia. When Prince Alexander was a boy, a magnificent horse that was for sale was brought to the court of his father. The animal was to be sold for thirteen talents. Talents are ancient coins. Many were eager to buy the horse, but no one could get close enough to saddle the restless animal. He was wild and impossible to ride.
Alexander pleaded with his father to let him try. Realizing that the horse was terrified of its own shadow, he turned the horse towards the sun so that its shadow fell behind it. This calmed the horse, and the prince proudly rode away. Observing this, his father said, “My son, look for a
kingdom worthy of your greatness. Macedonia is too small for you.”
That is exactly what Alexander tried to do when he grew up. He fought many battles and always rode Bucephalus (that was the horse’s name.) Friendship and trust grew between the man and his horse. When Bucephalus died of wounds received in battle, Alexander was heartbroken and deeply mourned the loss of his horse.
When did this story take place?
A. two thousand five hundred years ago
B. two hundred and fifty years ago
C. twenty five hundred years ago
D. it is happening now
A. two thousand five hundred years ago
Tommy was walking to his friend’s house when he saw a man walking toward him. The man said hi to Tommy. Tommy stopped and said hello to the man, although he didn’t know him. The man asked Tommy if he would come with him to his car and show him how to use his cell phone. Tommy didn’t think he should do this, because he didn’t know the man. He told the man that he didn’t have time, but the man insisted. When Tommy tried to walk away, the man grabbed his arm and started pulling him toward his car. Tommy yelled as loudly as he could. A policeman came and made the man get away from Tommy. Tommy then ran to his friend’s house and told him what had happened. When his friend’s mother went outside to try and find the man, she saw the policeman arresting him. Tommy was glad he had listened to his mother about strangers.
What is the theme of the above passage?
A. Practice makes perfect.
B. Beware of strangers.
C. Love your neighbor.
D. Hard work can bring a great reward.
B. Beware of strangers
Identify the simile used in the below sentence.
"Her eyes twinkled like diamonds as she looked lovingly at her new kitten."
A. her eyes twinkled
B. as she looked lovingly
C. at her new kitten
D. twinkled like diamonds
D. twinkled like diamonds
I was so scared when I first learned that I would be having my tooth pulled. I didn’t sleep at all the night before the procedure. I was terrified that it would hurt more than I could tolerate. I was shaking when I sat in the dentist's chair. He promised me that it would not hurt, but I certainly had my doubts. The dentist gave me some medicine. When I awoke, my tooth was gone, and I didn’t remember a thing.
Which point of view is used in the above passage?
A. First person
B. Second person
C. Third person
D. Fourth person
A. First person
"The Elephant Who Saw the World," Mary started speaking. It was Friday, and the students had to share their creative writing stories of the week.
Mary loved writing, and this part of the week, when they were able to make up stories for creative writing, was her favorite part. She enjoyed it so much that she became really good at it. When she was home on the weekends and she didn't have much homework, she would sit in her room for hours and create stories to share with her friends and family. Her parents always supported her and were her biggest fans.
However, there was one part about every Friday at school that Mary did not enjoy, and that was when she had to share her story in front of the class. The teacher made all of the children share on Friday afternoons, and this made Mary very nervous. She was shy, and although she knew her teacher was right, she didn't like it.
After sitting and listening to the other children share, Mary finally heard her name called. She knew it was her turn to share. She got out of her seat slowly, walked to the front of the room and began.
What was Mary's least favorite part of Fridays at school?
A. writing stories
B. having her stories corrected by the teacher
C. reading her stories in front of the class
D. going to school
C. reading her stories in front of the class
Mary walked quietly through the house so that she would not wake her parents. Before entering the kitchen, she stood and listened, making sure nobody had gotten up because they heard her. She slowly opened the cabinet door, trying to make sure that it didn’t squeak. As Mary reached into the cabinet, something warm and furry touched her hand. Mary ran from the kitchen screaming loudly. Her father ran in to see what had happened. He started laughing when he saw their cat Purr Purr sitting quietly in the kitchen cabinet wagging her tail.
What is the setting of the above passage?
A. The kitchen cabinet
B. The kitchen
C. The bedroom
D. The hallway
B. The kitchen
Mary had practiced her recital piece for an hour. She still couldn’t get it right. She threw her music to the floor and stormed from the room. She told her mother that she was just going to quit piano because she would never learn to play her recital piece. Her mother told her to give it time. She explained that it took more than one practice session to learn a piano piece. She told her that if she would practice her piece every day, eventually she would learn it. Mary wasn’t sure she agreed, but for the next week she practiced every day. To her surprise one day, she realized that she had played her piece perfectly. Her mom had been right after all.
What is the theme of the above passage?
A. We create our own happiness.
B. Knowledge is powerful.
C. Practice makes perfect.
D. Enjoy life while you can.
C. Practice makes perfect.
"Her eyes twinkled like diamonds as she looked lovingly at her new kitten."
What is compared in the above line?
A. her eyes are compared to a kitten
B. her kitten is compared to a diamond
C. her eyes are compared to a diamond
D. her love for diamond
C. her eyes are compared to a diamond
You are not the kind of guy who would be at a place like this at this time of the morning. But here you are, and you cannot say that the terrain is entirely unfamiliar, although the details are fuzzy. —Opening lines of Jay McInerney’s Bright Lights, Big City (1984)
Which point of view is used in the above excerpt?
A. First person
B. Second person
C. Third person
D. Fourth person
B. Second person
"The Elephant Who Saw the World," Mary started speaking. It was Friday, and the students had to share their creative writing stories of the week.
Mary loved writing, and this part of the week, when they were able to make up stories for creative writing, was her favorite part. She enjoyed it so much that she became really good at it. When she was home on the weekends and she didn't have much homework, she would sit in her room for hours and create stories to share with her friends and family. Her parents always supported her and were her biggest fans.
However, there was one part about every Friday at school that Mary did not enjoy, and that was when she had to share her story in front of the class. The teacher made all of the children share on Friday afternoons, and this made Mary very nervous. She was shy, and although she knew her teacher was right, she didn't like it.
After sitting and listening to the other children share, Mary finally heard her name called. She knew it was her turn to share. She got out of her seat slowly, walked to the front of the room and began.
Why was Mary reading her story in front of the class?
A. It was something she loved to do.
B. Her classmates asked her to read her story.
C. Every Friday, the children had to share their creative writing stories.
D. Her parents wanted her to practice.
C. Every Friday, the children had to share their creative writing stories.
Nearly two thousand five hundred years ago, there lived a king called Alexander the Great. He was the son of Philip II of Macedonia.
When Alexander was a boy, a magnificent horse for sale was brought to the court of his father. The animal was to be sold for thirteen talents. Talents are ancient coins. Many were eager to buy the horse, but none could get close enough to saddle the restless animal. He was wild, and it was impossible to ride him.
Alexander pleaded with his father to let him try. Realizing that the horse was terrified of its own shadow, he turned the horse towards the sun so that its shadow fell behind it. This calmed the horse, and the prince proudly rode away. Observing this, his father said, “My son, look for a kingdom worthy of your greatness. Macedonia is too small for you.”
That is exactly what Alexander tried to do when he grew up. He fought many battles and always rode Bucephalus. (That was the horse’s name.) Friendship and trust grew between man and horse. When Bucephalus died of wounds received in battle, Alexander was heartbroken and deeply mourned the loss of his horse. He wished that he had died along with it.
What did Alexander the Great do when he grew up?
A. He stayed in Macedonia.
B. He fought many battles.
C. He became a horse tamer.
D. None of the above
B. He fought many battles.
Fred had never been to the dentist. All of his life he had heard horror stories about the buzzing drills, the huge needles, and the scary tools that the dentist used to torture his patients. Since none of his teeth were hurting, Fred just couldn’t understand why his mom was insisting on taking him to the dentist. She told him that it was important to visit the dentist each year to have his teeth checked and cleaned. This seemed silly to Fred because he cleaned his teeth everyday by brushing and flossing them, but nothing would change his mother’s mind. He found it hard to believe that she would think it was a good idea to take him somewhere to be tortured. However, he had no choice but to go.
On the way to the dentist, Fred’s imagination went wild. He pictured walking into a room with a huge chair that the dentist would strap him to. He could just see the dentist pulling out a huge drill and drilling his tooth while his mother and several others held him in the chair. By the time he got to the dentist’s office, he was shaking all over.
Surprisingly, the office was nothing like he expected. The dentist was friendly, and the chair was comfortable. It didn’t have any straps. He looked around the room and didn’t see any huge drills or torture devices. He was relieved when all the dentist did was look in his mouth, show him how to properly brush and floss his teeth, and give him a balloon. His mom made another appointment to have his teeth cleaned in six months. Maybe this wouldn’t be as bad as he had thought it would be.
What is the theme of the above passage?
A. Dentists are good people so don’t worry about visiting them.
B. Moms usually know best, so trust them.
C. Things are usually not as bad as you think they will be.
D. Imagination is good, but it can make things seem scary sometimes.
C. Things are usually not as bad as you think they will be.
Identify the sentence that contains a metaphor.
A. She is as sweet as sugar.
B. She is as blind as a bat.
C. The sound of the chirping birds is music to my ears.
D. Billy is as stubborn as a mule.
C. The sound of the chirping birds is music to my ears.
Monica walked quietly through the house so that she would not wake her parents. Before entering the kitchen, she stood and listened, making sure nobody had gotten up because they heard her. She slowly opened the cabinet door, trying to make sure that it didn’t squeak. As Monica reached into the cabinet, something warm and furry touched her hand. Monica ran from the kitchen screaming loudly. Her father ran in to see what had happened. He started laughing when he saw their cat Purr Purr sitting quietly in the kitchen cabinet wagging her tail.
Which point of view does the above passage use?
A. First person
B. Second person
C. Third person
D. Fourth person
C. Third person
Read the passage and answer the question.
“The Elephant Who Saw the World,” Mary started speaking. It was Friday, and the students had to share their creative writing stories of the week.
Mary loved writing, and this part of the week, when they were able to make up stories for creative writing, was her favorite part. She enjoyed it so much that she became really good at it. When she was home on the weekends and she didn’t have much homework, she would sit in her room for hours and create stories to share with her friends and family. Her parents always supported her and were her biggest fans.
However, there was one part about every Friday at school that Mary did not enjoy, and that was when she had to share her story in front of the class. The teacher made all of the children share on Friday afternoons, and this made Mary very nervous. She was shy, and although she knew her teacher was right, she didn’t like it.
After sitting and listening to the other children share, Mary finally heard her name called. She knew it was her turn to share. She got out of her seat slowly, walked to the front of the room and began.
What did Mary do on the weekends when she didn't have much homework?
A. Watch TV
B. Play video games
C. Read books
D. Write stories
D. Write stories
Timothy is a student at our school. He's a really nice guy, and everyone likes him. He's always friendly and respectful to everyone he meets. Timothy is the kind of friend you can count on to keep your secrets safe and to help you out when you need it.
Even though Timothy is busy with school, he's always willing to lend a hand. He enjoys being part of the school choir and playing basketball during recess. He's also a great helper in class, especially during group projects or when someone needs extra assistance.
Timothy knows that being an honest student means working hard and doing your best. He's not afraid of challenges and always tries his hardest in everything he does. Even though some things might be difficult, Timothy never gives up. He's determined to succeed and always encourages others to do their best too.
According to the above passage, which set of adjectives would you choose to describe Timothy?
A. sad and depressed
B. trustworthy and thoughtless
C. responsible and ambitious
D. arrogant and unfriendly
C. responsible and ambitious
Robin wished that her parents hadn’t decided to go to the beach for their vacation. She was afraid of the ocean. She knew they would want her to wade in the water and even swim in the ocean like she did in their swimming pool, but she was afraid of the waves. She feared that they would knock her down.
When Robin and her family arrived at the beach, Robin sat on a towel and began playing in the sand. Her dad begged her to wade in the water with him. She refused. She was so scared of the waves. Her dad and brother went into the water without her. She noticed that when a wave would splash them, they did not fall down. She began to notice young children laughing as the waves washed against them. Robin slowly walked to the water’s edge. She walked out a few feet. When the first wave started toward her, she closed her eyes. When it hit her, nothing happened. The water actually felt good. Her dad looked around and saw her in the water and smiled.
What lesson did Robin learn during her trip to the beach?
A. Waves are dangerous.
B. The beach is more fun than the ocean.
C. Beach vacations are no fun.
D. Have the courage to face your fears.
D. Have the courage to face your fears.
"I'm surprised Olive gets anything done. She is such a couch potato."
What does the metaphor signify?
A. Olive is lazy.
B. Olive loves potatoes.
C. Olive is energetic.
D. Olive loves to sleep on the couch.
A. Olive is lazy.
When I was little my mom gave me a diary. She told me that it was something really personal and special since we can use it to write down all our thoughts and ideas.
Some famous people have kept diaries and when they died, their diary was published into a book. Someone now famous who kept a diary of her thoughts was Anne Frank. Anne Frank lived during the time of World War II in the Netherlands; however, she was originally from Germany. During the time of the second World War, a political group called the Nazis were in power in Germany and they did not like Jews. Anne and her family were Jewish, which is why they left Germany for the Netherlands when Anne was very young.
While they were in the Netherlands, they were in hiding from the Nazis. Anne's family had to hide in someone's attic for two years and one month so they could stay safe. She kept a diary and wrote down all her thoughts about what was happening to her and her family.
Which point of view is used in the above passage?
A. first person
B. second person
C. third person
D. fourth person
A. first person
Read the poem and answer the question.
I found a shell, a curly one;
Lying on the sand.
I picked it up and took it home,
Held tightly in my hand.
Mommy looked at it and then,
She held it to my ear,
And from the shell there came a song
Soft and sweet and clear.
I was surprised, I listened hard,
And it was really true:
If you can find a nice big shell,
You’ll hear the singing too.
--Unknown
What did mommy do with the shell?
A. She broke it.
B. She held it to the narrator's ear.
C. She held it to her ear.
D. She threw it out.
B. She held it to the narrator's ear.
Adam lives with his dad and his older brother Stanley. Adam and Stanley share a room. Most of the time Adam enjoys sharing a room with his brother, but there are times that he wishes he had his own room. Being brothers, they have a lot in common; however, they are different in many ways.
Adam likes to spend time with his friends. If he is not with them, he is texting them or playing games with them online. Adam is always busy. He cannot stand to sit around and do nothing. In fact, the only time he is still is when he is sleeping. Adam plays football, basketball, soccer, and baseball. He loves to be involved in school activities or at the town’s youth volunteering center. He spends a lot of his time encouraging people to recycle. Although he loves spending time with his friends, he is willing to give up time with them to help others.
Stanley, on the other hand, loves to stay at home. He enjoys activities that can be done alone such as reading, drawing, and spending time with his dogs. Most days after school he can be found at home enjoying one of his favorite activities. He thinks recycling is important and makes sure his family does it. Although he likes being alone, he enjoys volunteering at the youth center with his brother. He thinks it is important to make a difference in the lives of others, which is the reason that he thinks he would like to be a doctor. Adam and Stanley have some differences, but they do join together to make an impact in their community.
According to the passage above, what do Adam and Stanley enjoy doing together?
A. Playing football
B. Drawing cartoons
C. Playing video games
D. Volunteering at the youth center
D. Volunteering at the youth center
Polly’s little brother begged her to read him a story. She told him to go away, that she didn’t have time to bother with him. But, a few minutes later, he came back and asked her again. This time she yelled at him to go away and she heard him crying as he ran down the hallway. Later, when she went to the family room, her mother told her that she had hurt her brother’s feelings. Polly looked over at him and told him that she was sorry. Although she apologized, her little brother’s feelings were still hurt; he felt like Polly didn’t like to spend time with him. Polly’s mom told her that sometimes words were not enough. So, when Polly got his favorite book and asked him to read with her, her little brother smiled and ran to sit by Polly. He hugged her and told her that she was the best big sister a brother could have.
What can you learn from the above passage?
A. Knowledge is power.
B. Never give up.
C. Face your fears.
D. Actions speak louder than words.
D. Actions speak louder than words.
"On Black Friday, shopping centers around the country are like a three-ring circus."
What does the simile signify in the above line?
A. The mall was busy.
B. The mall was empty.
C. The mall was closed.
D. None of the above
A. The mall was busy.
"The Elephant that Saw the World . . " Mary started speaking. It was Friday, and the students had to share their creative writing stories of the week.
Mary loved writing, and this was her favorite part of the week, when they were able to make up stories for creative writing. She enjoyed it so much that she became really good at it. Even at home on the weekends when she didn't have much homework, she would sit in her room for hours and create stories to share with her friends and family. Her parents always supported her and were her biggest fans.
However, there was one part about every Friday at school that Mary did not enjoy, and that was when she had to share her story in front of the class. The teacher made all of the children share on Friday afternoons, and this made Mary very nervous. She was shy, and although she knew her teacher was right, she didn't like it.
Sitting and listening to the other children, Mary heard her name called. It was her turn to share. She got out of her seat slowly, walked to the front of the room and began.
Which point of view is used in the above passage?
A. first person
B. second person
C. third person
D. fourth person
C. third person