Vocabulary
Read the sentence from paragraph 1.
As he sat on the grass and looked across the river, a dark hole in the bank opposite, just above the water's edge caught his eye and dreamily he fell to considering what a nice, snug dwelling-place it would make for an animal with few wants and fond of a bijou riverside residence, above flood level and remote from noise and dust.
What does remote mean as it is used in the sentence?
A. bothered
B. delayed
C. isolated
D. reserved
What is a theme of the passage?
A Working hard can produce success.
B Being careful can prevent future problems.
C Taking chances can lead to new adventures.
D Forgiving others can be the beginning of friendship.
Based on the information in paragraph 8, what inference can be drawn about water movement in cities?
A. Natural waterways have disappeared.
B. Natural waterways are overloaded with rainwater.
C. There are fewer natural waterways now than in the past.
D. Flooding is caused when manmade waterways overflow.
Read the sentence from paragraph 3.
Streams, stream banks, and the low lands around them provide important habitat for animals and plants that share the urban/suburban landscape with us.
What does habitat mean as it is used in the sentence?
A area
B environment
C shelter
D territory
Which detail best supports the idea that many freedmen became sharecroppers and were taken advantage of by landowners?
A. "The government of the United States tried to help freedmen find success in their new lives and set up new programs to achieve this goal." (Paragraph 3)
B. "This meant that sometimes former slaves would end up working for the same familes who had enslaved them." (Paragraph 4)
C."These suggestions included giving sharecroppers the holidays off and requiring landowners to give "good and kind treatment" to sharecroppers." (Paragraph 5)
D. "Landowners sometimes sold sharecroppers seeds, shelter, and food for outrageous prices, slowly putting the borrowers into debt." (Paragraph 6)
Read the sentence from paragraph 12.
Then he held up his fore-paw as the Mole stepped gingerly down.
What does gingerly mean as it used in the sentence?
A. angrily
B. carefully
C. clumsily
D. quickly
Which sentence states a central idea of paragraphs 1 and 2?
A Streams are vital resources for people.
B Streams are only found outside of cities.
C Streams are different in various landscapes.
D Streams are normal parts of natural settings.
Which quotation supports the idea that the Mole and the Rat are unfamiliar with each other?
A. “Then the two animals stood and regarded each other cautiously.” (paragraph 6)
B. “‘Hullo, Mole!’ said the Water Rat. ‘Hullo, Rat!’ said the Mole.” (paragraphs 7–8)
C. “‘Oh, it’s all very well to talk,’ said the Mole rather pettishly, . . .” (paragraph 10)
D. “The Rat sculled smartly across and made fast.” (paragraph 12)
How do paragraphs 4 and 5 support the central idea that streams are important to urban and rural settings?
A They discuss the importance of both types of streams.
B They elaborate on how streams provide resources to plants.
C They detail similarities and differences of both types of streams.
D They explain why natural streams are better than urban streams.
How does the author use the illustration to show the ideas presented in paragraphs 9–10?
A. by showing how a stream looks in each setting
B. by showing where the water goes in each setting
C. by showing the effects of infiltration in urban streams
D. by showing how wider channels exist in rural streams
How does the use of the words “bright,” “twinkle,” and “like a tiny star” impact the tone of the passage?
A. The words develop a positive outlook.
B. The words create an unwelcoming setting.
C. The words establish an element of surprise.
D. The words describe a conflict in the passage.
What central idea does the author convey during the boat ride?
A. The Rat becomes a role model for the Mole.
B. The Mole feels adventurous about his new encounter.
C. The Rat and the Mole share new excitement together.
D. The Mole and the Rat develop an unexpected friendship.
Which quotation shows the reader that the Mole has respect for the Rat?
A. “The Rat said nothing, but stooped and unfastened a rope and hauled on it; then lightly stepped into a little boat. . . .” (paragraph 11)
B. “. . . and the Mole to his surprise and rapture found himself actually seated in the stern of a real boat.” (paragraph 12)
C. “‘Do you know, I’ve never been in a boat before in all my life.’” (paragraph 13)
D. “‘Is it so nice as all that?’ asked the Mole shyly, though he was quite prepared to believe it as he leant back in his seat and surveyed the cushions, the oars, the rowlocks, . . .” (paragraph 15)
How does the author introduce the idea of urban streams?
A. by pointing out that urban settings also have streams
B. by preparing readers to think only about rural streams
C. by getting readers to focus on the characteristics of all streams
D. by presenting readers with the transition from rural to urban streams
What is a central idea of the passage?
A. Streams in the city contain more water than streams in the forest.
B. Groundwater flows slowly underground and empties into stream channels.
C. Rainfall in suburban areas lands on hard surfaces, so it cannot infiltrate the soil.
D. City streams are different from streams that are found in the forest and other natural areas.
How does the use of the words "bright," "twinkle," and "like a tiny" impact the tone of the passage?
A. The words develop a positive outlook.
B. The words create an unwelcoming setting.
C. The words establish an element of surprise.
D. The words describe a conflict in the passag
Why does the author choose to call the individuals who worked on the Underground Railroad "conductors"?
A. They were responsible for driving the trains that took slaves from slavery in the South to freedom in the North.
B. Even though it was not an actual railroad, the "conductors" were individuals responsible for helping slaves travel from the South to the North.
C. They conducted trains and boats that took fugitive slaves back to their masters in the South.
D. They carried pistols on their hips that were known by people in the North as "conductors."
What is the author’s purpose in the passage?
A. to describe to readers the creation of urban and rural streams
B. to explain to readers the flooding of streams in rural and urban areas
C. to persuade readers that urban and rural streams are important to cities
D. to inform readers about the differences between rural and urban streams
Read the sentence from paragraph 5.
Instead it hits impervious surfaces like hard pavement and rooftops and has no chance to infiltrate the soil. What is the meaning of impervious as it is used in the sentence?
A. affected
B. cracked
C. exposed
D. resistant
What does the photograph portray that helps the reader understand the passage?
A. where the Rat lives
B. the river filling with rainwater
C. plants growing beside the river
D. the Mole swimming in the river
What is the author’s purpose for using the phrase “Often they lie low” in paragraph 2?
A. to provide an example of an urban stream
B. to show that urban streams are often polluted
C. to show that urban streams are not easily seen
D. to contrast an urban stream with a rural stream
What is the central idea of the passage? (From Slaves to Sharecroppers)
A. While slavery ended, freedmen were only allowed to work on plantations as sharecroppers.
B. Former slaves were able to successfully integrate into society by becoming sharecroppers for their former masters.
C. After slavery ended, many freedmen became sharecroppers and were taken advantage of by landowners.
D. Sharecropping was a successful means of providing for former slaves who didn't have the education or skills for other work.
How does the section "Legal Freedom" contribute to the development of ideas in the text (Paragraphs 2-3)?
A. It emphasized the success of the Emancipation Proclamation.
B. It shows how long it took for slaves to be truly freed.
C. It reveals how difficult ti was to transition slaves to freedmen.
D. It shows how white people rebelled against the abolition of slavery.
Read the sentence from paragraph 7.
If all this extra water is diverted directly into a stream channel, several important changes will occur.
What is the meaning of diverted as it is used in the sentence?
A. pushed
B. redirected
C. sped forward
D. brought together
Which paragraphs does the photograph help the reader understand?
A. paragraphs 1–4
B. paragraphs 5–8
C. paragraphs 9–10
D. paragraphs 15–16