Word Meaning
Snails
I think snails are very interesting. Have you ever seen a snail walk? The velocity, or speed, at which they move is extremely slow. I wonder what the duration of time would be for a snail to cross a street? Some snails carry gigantic shells on their backs. The shells are so big that it makes them look like they might tip over. I would like to study snails further to acquire more knowledge about them.
What is the meaning of the word duration in the passage?
A) length
B) clock
C) roads
D) speed
A) length
In which sentence are the homophones ball and bawl used correctly?
A) The bawl went over the fence and I began to ball.
B) Michael began to bawl when his brother took his glow-in-the dark ball.
C) While getting ready for the bawl, Sarah broke her shoe and began to ball.
D) The golf bawl just missed the hole; I was so sad that I sank to the ground and began to ball.
B) Michael began to bawl when his brother took his glow-in-the dark ball.
The odor coming from your shoes is quite awful. Which word below is a synonym for odor?
A) spiders
B) smoke
C) smell
D) sweet
C) smell
Which word belongs in this list?
cried, yelled, shouted
A) said
B) screamed
C) talked
D) told
B) screamed
The large crane walked gently through the water. Visitors to the zoo stood at the edge of the exhibit wall to watch this captive bird.
What is the meaning of the word crane as it is used in the paragraph?
A) a large lifting machine
B) a tall bird related to herons
C) a reptile that lives in water
D) to bend towards something of interest
B) a tall bird related to herons
Snails
I think snails are very interesting. Have you ever seen a snail walk? The velocity, or speed, at which they move is extremely slow. I wonder what the duration of time would be for a snail to cross a street? Some snails carry gigantic shells on their backs. The shells are so big that it makes them look like they might tip over. I would like to study snails further to acquire more knowledge about them.
What word in the passage helps you figure out the meaning of velocity?
A) slow
B) speed
C) extremely
D) snail
B) speed
In which sentence is the underlined homophone used correctly?
A) As I walked buy the donut shop, I could smell the freshly baked treats.
B) The little girl waved by to her teacher as the school bus pulled away.
C) We stopped bye the grocery store on our way home from the football game.
D) Kenny has really been working hard, hoping that his mother will buy him a new video game.
D) Kenny has really been working hard, hoping that his mother will buy him a new video game.
Static Electricity
Trey Loker
Have you ever gone to grab an object but got a surprising shock instead? Most likely the cause of this was static electricity, which is basically a transfer of electrons from one object to another. When you rub your hand on carpet it collects extra negatively charged electrons. Later, when you touch something with positively charged protons, the imbalance results as the zap of static electricity.
The first sentences uses the word "shock" to describe contact with an electrical current. Which of these following words from the prompt can BEST pair with "shock" as a synonym?
A) Charged
B) Electrons
C) Static
D) Zap
D) Zap
Which word belongs in this list?
warm, hot, boiling
A) cool
B) cold
C) fire
D) heated
D) heated
The space ship made a good maneuver to dodge the asteroid that was coming towards it.
Use the clues from the sentence above to find the meaning of "maneuver".
A) to do something well
B) a movement
C) a star
D) an alien
B) a movement
Read the sentence shown.
Jan's puppy is adorable, but sometimes he _______.
Choose the word that BEST completes this sentence.
A) misbehaves
B) misfortune
C) misprints
D) misspeaks
A) misbehaves
Choose the correct homophones to complete these sentences:
I ______ that you and your classmates went to the zoo. Did you really see _____ monkeys on your visit?
A) herd; eight
B) heard; eight
C) herd; ate
D) heard; ate
B) heard; eight
Static Electricity
Have you ever gone to grab an object but got a surprising shock instead? Most likely the cause of this was static electricity, which is basically a transfer of electrons from one object to another. When you rub your hand on carpet it collects extra negatively charged electrons. Later, when you touch something with positively charged protons, the imbalance results as the zap of static electricity.
This prompt uses antonyms. What pair can be described as antonyms?
A) Electrons and Protons
B) Static and Electricity
C) Protons and Electricity
D) Electricity and Electrons
A) Electrons and Protons
Layla wants to tell her mother that her sister is sick. What can Layla say that would BEST convince her mother that her sister is really sick?
A) "Mom, she threw up. She may be sick."
B) "Mom, she threw up. She must be sick."
C) "Mom, she threw up. She might be sick."
D) "Mom, she threw up. She could be sick."
B) "Mom, she threw up. She must be sick."
The Rodriguez family lost their precious puppy. They spent over an hour walking around the neighborhood. There was no trace of her anywhere! Refusing to give up, the mom decided to stay and monitor the street area while the rest of the family took a break inside the house.
What is the BEST definition of the word trace as it's used in the paragraph?
A) A very small clue left behind
B) To discover remains of a past historical event
C) A mark made by an instrument that records information
D) To outline another image with a pencil, pen, or marker
A) A very small clue left behind
Crows are omnivores, which means they eat anything, including human food scraps, seeds, eggs, and grains. They are also active hunters and prey on mice, frogs, and other small animals. In fall and winter, crows depend more on nuts and acorns, and they will sometimes visit bird feeders.
In this article, what does the root word omni- in the word omnivore mean?
A) all
B) none
C) part
D) some
A) all
Read the passage below, choose the word that correctly completes both sentences.
Mrs. Smith asked the children to sit _____________ on the floor during their reading lesson.
Tommy felt ____________ after his team lost the championship game last Saturday.
A) down
B) excited
C) straight
D) unhappy
A) down
Joshua and Doo
Sometimes Joshua and Dong Soo had difficulty understanding each other. Some days at school Dong Soo ate a lunch that, to Joshua, didn’t look edible—or maybe it looked just barely safe to eat. Joshua was sure he would never eat it. Dong Soo explained that, because he was Korean, he ate foods that other kids at school might not. Sometimes Joshua played unkind pranks on his older brother. Dong Soo was horrified at what he saw at his friend’s thoughtless actions.
In the passage, what does thoughtless mean?
A) The boy's actions were full of thought.
B) The boy's actions were without thought.
C) The boy's actions showed little thought.
D) The boy's actions were the result of thinking.
B) The boy's actions were without thought.
Which sentence describes the strongest feeling that Dominic does not trust his neighbor?
A) Dominic suspects that the neighbor took his new football.
B) Dominic wonders if the neighbor took his new football.
C) Dominic hopes that the neighbor found his new football.
D) Dominic thinks that the neighbor found his new football.
A) Dominic suspects that the neighbor took his new football.
The Rodriguez family lost their precious puppy. They spent over an hour walking around the neighborhood. There was no trace of her anywhere! Refusing to give up, the mom decided to stay and monitor the street area while the rest of the family took a break inside the house.
Which word could BEST replace the word monitor in this paragraph and maintain the meaning of the sentence?
A) advise
B) observe
C) screen
D) spy
B) observe
Read the paragraph shown.
When Danielle came home from school, she asked her dad to autograph her report card. Danielle’s dad took one look at the report card, smiled, and gladly handed the autographed report card to Danielle.
Based on your knowledge of the root word graph, what is the meaning of the word autograph?
A) a magnified word
B) a word printed boldly
C) a word hand written in ink
D) a person’s written signature
D) a person’s written signature
Read the following sentence.
In winter the locust tree looks so ____________ without leaves.
Choose the correct homophone to complete this sentence.
A) bair
B) bare
C) bear
D) beer
B) bare
Joshua and Doo
Sometimes Joshua and Dong Soo had difficulty understanding each other. Some days at school Dong Soo ate a lunch that, to Joshua, didn’t look edible—or maybe it looked just barely safe to eat. Joshua was sure he would never eat it. Dong Soo explained that, because he was Korean, he ate foods that other kids at school might not. Sometimes Joshua played unkind pranks on his older brother. Dong Soo was horrified at what he saw at his friend’s thoughtless actions.
In the passage, how is the word, kind changed by adding the prefix, un?
A) The prefix un adds a past tense to the word kind.
B) The prefix un does not change the meaning of the word kind.
C) The prefix un tells the reader that Joshua is not kind.
D) The prefix un, tells the reader that Joshua is ready to be kind again.
C) The prefix un tells the reader that Joshua is not kind.
Read the following story.
"Stop studying! Come outside and play with us!" Sergei pleaded. He was in the bedroom of his best friend and kept looking out the window towards the group of boys gathered in the yard.
"I know you need another person to play, but I need to pass tomorrow's test," Sam replied. It hurt saying it. Sam never wanted to let his best friend down.
Sergei turned towards the door. "What makes you think studying is going to make a difference?"
What can Sam say back to Sergei that most strongly expresses his belief in passing his test?
A) "Since I studied, I know I will pass the test tomorrow!"
B) "Since I studied, I think I will pass the test tomorrow!"
C) "Since I studied, I believe I will pass the test tomorrow!"
D) "Since I studied, I wonder if I will pass the test tomorrow!"
A) "Since I studied, I know I will pass the test tomorrow!"
Welding is an activity that needs to be done safely. Welders need to protect themselves from welding sparks, heated metal particles that fly off the welding surface.
What does the word particles mean as used in the passage?
A) round spots
B) hot matter
C) tiny pieces
D) melted matter
C) tiny pieces