Vocabulary in Context
Although Maya was nervous about performing, she tried to maintain a calm expression so her teammates would not worry.
What does maintain most likely mean?
A. create for the first time
B. keep something at the same level or condition
C. change something completely
D. hide something from others
B. keep something at the same level or condition
Which sentence uses achieve correctly?
A. The bird achieved south for the winter.
B. After months of practice, Jordan achieved her goal of making the team.
C. The teacher achieved the students to clean up.
D. The dog achieved quickly through the gate.
B. After months of practice, Jordan achieved her goal of making the team.
Marcus looked at the unfinished project on his desk. He had already erased three pages. Instead of throwing the paper away, he sharpened his pencil and began again.
What does Marcus's behavior MOST strongly suggest?
A. He dislikes writing.
B. He is determined to improve his work.
C. He wants someone else to finish his work.
D. He does not understand the assignment.
B. He is determined to improve his work.
Chimpanzees live in social groups and communicate using sounds, gestures, and facial expressions. They also work together to find food and protect one another.
Which is the BEST main idea?
A. Chimpanzees eat many different foods.
B. Chimpanzees have complex social behaviors and communication.
C. Chimpanzees are the smartest animals.
D. Chimpanzees live only in large groups.
B. Chimpanzees have complex social behaviors and communication.
Read:
The crowd erupted when the player scored the final basket.
What does erupted most likely mean?
A. became completely silent
B. reacted suddenly and energetically
C. slowly left the building
D. became confused
B. reacted suddenly and energetically
The runner began slowly, but his velocity increased as he approached the finish line.
What does velocity most likely mean?
A. the distance traveled
B. the direction of movement only
C. the speed and direction of movement
D. the amount of energy used
C. the speed and direction of movement
Which sentence gives the BEST context clue for humid?
A. The air was humid, so our clothes quickly became damp and sticky.
B. The air was humid, so we wore heavy winter coats.
C. The air was humid, so we could see the stars clearly.
D. The air was humid, so the ground became completely frozen.
A. The air was humid, so our clothes quickly became damp and sticky.
Elena's friends encouraged her to join them at the competition. She wanted to go, but she kept looking at the clock.
"I promised my little brother I'd help him with his project," she finally said.
What is MOST likely motivating Elena?
A. fear of the competition
B. desire to impress her friends
C. responsibility toward her brother
D. dislike of spending time with friends
C. responsibility toward her brother
Some animals migrate when seasons change. They may travel to find food, warmer temperatures, or places where they can raise their young.
Which detail BEST supports the idea that migration helps animals survive?
A. Animals travel long distances.
B. Seasons change throughout the year.
C. Animals travel to find food and safer conditions.
D. Some animals have young.
C. Animals travel to find food and safer conditions.
Read:
The wind whispered through the trees while the moon watched from above.
Identify TWO examples of figurative language.
The scientist carefully observed the chimpanzee's behavior. When another chimpanzee approached its food, it became aggressive and began making loud sounds.
What does behavior mean in this context?
A. physical appearance
B. actions and reactions
C. intelligence
D. habitat
B. actions and reactions
A student writes:
"The athlete maintained the record by breaking it."
What is WRONG with the student's use of maintain?
Maintain means to keep something at the same level or condition. Breaking a record means changing/improving it, not maintaining it.
At the beginning of the story, Jamal refuses to ask his classmates for help because he believes they will think he is incapable. Later, after struggling with a difficult assignment, he finally asks for help.
What does this change MOST likely reveal about Jamal?
A. He has become less confident.
B. He is beginning to understand that asking for help is not weakness.
C. He no longer cares about his assignment.
D. He wants his classmates to complete his work.
B. He is beginning to understand that asking for help is not weakness.
Scientists studying moles noticed that the animals rarely come above ground. Their broad front paws have strong claws that allow them to push through soil and create tunnels.
What can the reader INFER from this information?
A. Moles cannot survive above ground.
B. Moles' physical features help them survive underground.
C. Moles use their paws mainly to protect themselves from predators.
D. Moles prefer living in water.
B. Moles' physical features help them survive underground.
Read:
The hallway was a river of students rushing toward the cafeteria.
What does the metaphor suggest about the students?
They are moving in a large, continuous, crowded flow, like a river.
The team had trained for months, but after losing the championship game, the players felt defeated. Still, their coach told them that one loss did not erase all the progress they had made.
Which word from your vocabulary list is closest in meaning to the idea of progress?
A. growth
B. escape
C. display
D. reply
A. growth
Which pair of words has the most similar relationship to:
escape : captivity
A. achieve : goal
B. migrate : season
C. receive : gift
D. maintain : condition
A. achieve : goal
Nia stood outside the audition room. She could hear other students singing inside. Her hand reached for the doorknob, but she pulled it back.
"Maybe next year," she whispered.
Which inference is BEST supported by the passage?
A. Nia does not enjoy singing.
B. Nia is confident in her abilities.
C. Nia's fear is preventing her from taking a risk.
D. Nia has already auditioned.
C. Nia's fear is preventing her from taking a risk.
An author is writing an article about how animals adapt to their environments. The author includes information about moles, birds, and chimpanzees.
Why would the author MOST likely include examples of several different animals?
A. To prove that all animals behave exactly the same
B. To show that different animals have different adaptations that help them survive
C. To entertain readers with interesting animal facts
D. To explain why animals are better than humans
B. To show that different animals have different adaptations that help them survive
Read:
Although Tiana wanted to quit the team after making several mistakes, she stayed. Each afternoon, she practiced the same skill until she could perform it successfully.
Which theme is BEST supported?
A. Natural talent is more important than practice.
B. Mistakes should always be avoided.
C. Persistence can lead to improvement.
D. People should quit when something becomes difficult.
C. Persistence can lead to improvement.
The birds did not migrate immediately. They remained in the area as long as food was available. Once temperatures dropped and food became scarce, they began their journey south.
What does migrate most likely mean?
A. to search for food within one area
B. to move from one region to another, often seasonally
C. to protect a particular habitat
D. to change one's behavior because of danger
B. to move from one region to another, often seasonally
The actor stepped onto the stage wearing an elaborate costume. The audience immediately noticed the bright colors, enormous hat, and sparkling shoes. His unusual appearance drew everyone's attention.
Which meaning of display would BEST fit if the author wrote:
"The actor proudly displayed his costume."
A. hid
B. showed
C. repaired
D. removed
B. showed
At first, Carlos believed that being a good leader meant always having the answer. When his team struggled with a project, he tried to solve every problem himself. Eventually, he realized that his teammates had ideas that he had not considered. From then on, Carlos began asking for their opinions before making decisions.
Which theme is BEST supported?
A. Leaders should always make decisions alone.
B. People become successful when they avoid mistakes.
C. Good leaders recognize the value of other people's ideas.
D. Working with others makes tasks more difficult.
C. Good leaders recognize the value of other people's ideas.
Read:
When temperatures fall, some birds migrate to warmer regions. This movement requires energy, but remaining in an area without enough food could be even more dangerous. Once spring arrives and food becomes easier to find, many birds return.
Which statement BEST explains the relationship between migration and survival?
A. Migration is a behavior that can help birds find resources they need to survive.
B. Birds migrate because they dislike cold weather.
C. Migration always requires less energy than staying in one place.
D. Birds only migrate when they want to find warmer temperatures.
A. Migration is a behavior that can help birds find resources they need to survive.
Read:
When Marcus first joined the group, he rarely shared his ideas. He worried that his classmates would disagree with him. During the final project, Marcus noticed a problem with the group's plan. This time, instead of staying quiet, he explained his concern and suggested a solution. His classmates listened and changed the plan.
Question:
Which statement BEST explains how Marcus has changed?
A. He has become more willing to speak up and advocate for his ideas.
B. He has become less interested in working with others.
C. He has learned that his classmates always agree with him.
D. He has stopped worrying about making mistakes completely.
A. He has become more willing to speak up and advocate for his ideas.