Context Clues
"These men had tried to balance the glider by shifting their weight and putting the same amount of weight on each side."
What is the meaning of “shifting their weight”?
A. sitting very still
B. standing up straight
C. moving their bodies around
D. jumping up and down
C. moving their bodies around
Surface plants are very important in a pond because they provide shade and shelter or a type of home for pond animals.
What does shelter mean as it is used in the sentence?
A. air
B. covering
C. darkness
D. food
B. covering
“It is very uncomfortable; I am afraid I shall be called. I have tried in vain to get a license upon credit at the post office,” said Pickles. “The place is full of policemen. I met one as I was coming home.”
How did Pickles feel when he could not “get a license upon credit” ?
A scared
B lonely
C friendly
D thankful
A scared
Long ago, a great chief of our people looked out the window of his house. He thought everything was beautiful: the flowers, the blue sky, the rushing water from the waterfall. Yet, he was a little disappointed by what he saw too. All of the flowers were the same color: white.
Why does the chief feel disappointed?
A. The grandfather is old
B. The child is curious.
C. The flowers are white.
D. The birds are small.
C. The flowers are white.
Other plants grow on the surface of the water. They are called surface plants. Surface means on the top of the water. These plants are different from plants that grow on the shore. Shore plants, like most plants that grow on land, have roots that go into the soil, or ground. Surface plants are different. These plants just float on the top of the water. Surface plants are very important in a pond because they provide shade and shelter or a type of home for pond animals. Water lilies, duckweed, and water lettuce are kinds of surface plants.
Which sentence BEST tells the main idea of the paragraph above?
A. Surface plants grow on top of the water of a pond.
B. Duckweed roots grow down into the soil of a pond.
C. Water lettuce is a plant that lives on top of the pond.
D. Surface plants are a lot like the shore plants of a pond.
A. Surface plants grow on top of the water of a pond.
"He soon discovered that he was the “boss” of the ranch and used his power to a deadly advantage. As soon as the tabby cats began breakfast, he would leap suddenly from behind the old woodbox and, with an ear-splitting bark, rush at the cats. A flash of tails and the cats had disappeared and the raccoon would greedily eat up their abandoned milk."
What does the author mean by “an ear-splitting bark” in the paragraph?
A the sound that her dog made when chasing her raccoon with tree bark
B. the way her cats would scratch her raccoon’s ears when he scared them
C. the loud noise her raccoon would make when trying to get the cats’ milk
D the way her raccoon would split apart the bark on the trees as he climbed
C. the loud noise her raccoon would make when trying to get the cats’ milk
Read this sentence.
Although they could be built quickly, motte and bailey castles could be easily attacked and conquered.
What does the word conquered mean as used in this sentence?
A. argued
B. deserted
C. destroyed
D. surprised
C. destroyed
"Kerry stood on the boat with her parents, her heart fluttering with joy. They were going on a whale watch, and she couldn’t wait."
How did Kerry feel about going on a whale watch?
A. afraid
B. excited
C. surprised
D. upset
B. excited
"First, both people and plants need food. Food helps living things grow. People eat many different types of food so they can stay alive. Plants also need to have food in order to stay alive. The only difference is the types of foods that are eaten. Some people eat meat. Other people eat plants, or things that come from plants, like bread. Plants get their food from things in the earth and from the sun. No matter where the food comes from, both people and plants need food to stay alive."
Based on the paragraph, how are people and plants similar?
A. both eat things that come from plants
B. both need food to survive
C. both get their food from the earth
D. both help things grow
B. both need food to survive
How are these sentences similar?
“People need to be protected from weather that is too hot or too cold.”
“Plants need to be protected from the weather, too.”
A. They explain several things that are hurtful to both people and plants.
B. They tell something similar that could harm both people and plants.
C. They explain that temperature is bad for both people and plants.
D. They tell what is most dangerous to both people and plants.
B. They tell something similar that could harm both people and plants.
Someone laughed. Twenty-five was called from the other side of the circle . . . fifty . . . seventy-five. Tommy was desperate. He simply could not give up that warm, soft bundle he had held in his arms. He was not a brave boy, but he so wanted that puppy. He didn’t have any more money, but his wish to own the puppy gave him courage.
Which words from the paragraph help a reader understand the meaning of desperate?
A. "Someone laughed."
B "…from the other side of the circle…"
C. "He simply could not give up…"
D. "…gave him courage."
C. "He simply could not give up…"
What does the word are runners mean as it is used in the sentence below?
"Some plants multiply by sending out runners, stems that grow on or below the surface of the ground, from which new leaves and stems and roots will grow."
A Athletes the compete in races
B stems that grow on or below the ground
C. shoots that spread out from the top plants that grow only in the fall
D a type of long rug
B stems that grow on or below the ground
Read the excerpt from the story
“I didn’t do it, I promise!” said Maggie, sobbing. It didn’t look good that she was the one holding the golf club, and I was standing on the other side of the driveway.
“Well, then, what did happen?” said Mrs. Rudolph. “Why is the window broken?”
“W-w-we were j-just p-p-practicing!” Maggie could hardly speak, she was crying so hard.
What word describes how Maggie felt about the broken car window?
A. angry
B. calm
C. unconcerned
D. upset
D. upset
"Whether they grow on the shore or on the surface, plants help keep the pond healthy. All plants produce oxygen. Fish need oxygen in the water to live, so they could not live in a pond without plants. Plants also provide food for animals, as well as a safe place to hide."
According to “Life in the Pond,” why are plants important to a pond?
A. They make ponds more beautiful.
B. They are a home for useful insects.
C. They can be used as nests for eggs.
D. They help other kinds of pond life to live.
D. They help other kinds of pond life to live.
In the sentence below, what was meant by the phrase, “hold back tears”?
“It wasn’t her fault,” I said, trying to hold back tears.
A. The narrator was trying to step back.
B. The narrator wanted to run away.
C. The narrator wished it was her fault.
D. The narrator was trying not to cry.
D. The narrator was trying not to cry.
After three quarters of an hour they reached the height where the hut of the old man stood on a prominent rock, exposed to every wind, but bathed in the full sunlight.
Which word is the OPPOSITE of exposed?
A. bared
B. opened
C. revealed
D. protected
D. protected
What is the meaning of appearance in the sentence below?
“The buildings in the downtown area are very old and give the city’s appearance some character.”
A beginning
B delight
C opening
D look
D look
Which detail supports the idea that Phil is careful with his money?
A. “ ‘Please, Mr. Sparling. Believe me, I do appreciate your kindness, but I couldn’t take the check.’ ”
B. “ ‘Because I haven’t earned it.’ ”
C. “ ‘I have not spent more than half of what I earned last summer.’ ”
D. “ ‘I should not like to have you misunderstand me.’ ”
C. “ ‘I have not spent more than half of what I earned last summer.’ ”
My name is Albert. I live in Plymouth, Massachusetts. My sisters, brothers, and I wake up at 5:30 every morning. Before going to school, we do a lot of work. We must feed the chickens, milk the cows, and gather vegetables such as crisp turnips, carrots, and peas. Sometimes we sweep the floor or get eggs from the chickens. After that, we eat breakfast and begin our long walk to school.
According to the text, why does Albert, his brothers, and sisters wake up at 5:30 every morning?
A. to do work on the farm.
B. to play marbles or stick and ball.
C. to make it to the bus stop.
D. to read.
A. to do work on the farm.
“If you are going up to the uncle, as we are, you can carry the pack until we get there,” said Deta. They still had to climb a steep ascent that lay behind Peter’s hut.
Based on these sentences, where does the uncle live?
A. In a valley
B. On a mountain
C. In the woods
D. Near a river
B. On a mountain
Fasten the larger end of the cone tightly to one end of the cardboard roll using tape.
Which sentence has the SAME meaning of the word tightly?
A. Close the jar tightly, so the water will not leak.
B. The rope was stretched so tightly; it would snap if I let it go.
C. I packed my sleeping bag tightly, so it would fit into the sack.
D. Grandma said “sleep tightly, darling” and tucked me into bed.
A. Close the jar tightly, so the water will not leak.
"Since childhood, he had heard of the grueling climb to the top of the world’s tallest mountain."
What is the meaning of grueling as used in the sentence above?
A. difficult
B. cold
C. easy
D. exciting
A. difficult
In a small voice, Tommy called out, “Ten Cents.”
The words small voice tell the reader that Tommy PROBABLY felt
A. curious
B. excited
C. lonely
D. nervous
D. nervous
"Mr. Raccoon is a most remarkable feeder. Anything from a live rabbit steak to green corn and raspberries appeals to his taste. They especially like sweets, candy, molasses, sugar, and even butter tempts them."
According to the paragraph, what made the feeding habits of the raccoon remarkable?
A The raccoon was a very picky eater.
B. The raccoon ate anything that looked interesting.
C. The raccoon used his hands very cleverly when opening jars.
D The raccoon showed his power by eating other animals’ food.
B. The raccoon ate anything that looked interesting.
What is the relationship between the sentences below
“People can get water by drinking it.”
“Plants get their water from the ground.”
A. They provide a problem with the way people and plants get water.
B. They give an example of where people and plants get water.
C. They contrast the way people and plants get water.
D. They explain when people and plants get water.
C. They contrast the way people and plants get water.