Text Questions
Volleyball is a team sport that encourages sharing the ball for success. Each side has six players on the court at one time. There cannot be more than three hits, or ball touches, per side. Players can pass by putting their arms together and bumping the ball off the insides of their forearms. This is called a “bump.” They can also “set” or “spike” the ball. A “set” is made with a light flick with the fingertips, at the level of the forehead. The player cannot hold the ball in this set position, only fling it in the air for another player to “spike” it. A “spike” is a hard, overhand hit that flies quickly onto the court on the other side of the net. Teams strive to have three players touch the ball before sending it over the net with the hope to score. The first player bumps the ball to the setter, who is near the net. The setter then sets the ball to the hitter, who spikes the ball over the net.
Which sentence best states the main idea?
A Volleyball is a challenging sport that requires years of practice.
B Volleyball is a team sport in which players work together.
C Volleyball includes a team of six players on the court at one time.
D Volleyball includes many types of hits that are difficult to perform
B Volleyball is a team sport in which players work together.
Read the sentence from the text: Chemical pesticides often kill beneficial insects—insects that prey on the harmful insects.
The word beneficial is based on the Greek root bene, meaning “good.” What does this information suggest about the “beneficial insects” described in the sentence?
A They are not affected by chemical pesticides.
B They help the crops by eating harmful insects.
C They eat weeds that harm the crops.
D They remove rocks and other objects in soil.
B They help the crops by eating harmful insects.
The new house is yellow and looks like it has just been dropped out of the sky onto the grassless, dusty land. Nobody is outside, but that’s no surprise considering the heat. Maybe we will see our new neighbors this evening. Dad’s boss gets out of his SUV and fiddles with the rickety chicken-wire gate.
what does the phrase “looks like it has just been dropped out of the sky onto the grassless, dusty land” suggest about the house?
M. The house looks broken.
P. There is nothing growing around the house.
R. There is a crater around the house.
S. The house looks brand-new
P. There is nothing growing around the house.
Which piece of evidence best supports the author's point of view that exercise improves mood?
A. "Some people like to sleep."
B. "A study found that students who exercised reported feeling less stressed and happier after workouts."
C. "Exercise requires special clothes."
D. "Many animals run in fields in order to stay fit for life in the wild."
B. "A study found that students who exercised reported feeling less stressed and happier after workouts."
Think of a time you faced a challenge at school (like a hard project, a disagreement with a friend, or a nervous moment). Write a short story that shows what happened, how you felt, and how you solved the problem. Use sensory details and a clear sequence of events.
Which kind of writing would this be?
Narrative
Which of the following sentences best illustrates the author’s opinion of Smith? Choose two answers.
M. “Smith’s raw talent and her years of training and hard work have secured her title as the Empress of Blues” (paragraph 9).
P. “She lost her parents at a very young age and was raised by her older sister” (paragraph 2).
R. “We will never know how many more landmark songs Smith might have recorded had she lived longer” (paragraph 9).
S. “Bessie Smith was one of the most powerful blues singers of the 1920s and 1930s” (paragraph 1).
T. “Her first record was immediately famous; ‘Downhearted Blues’ sold nearly 800,000 copies” (paragraph 3).
M. “Smith’s raw talent and her years of training and hard work have secured her title as the Empress of Blues” (paragraph 9).
S. “Bessie Smith was one of the most powerful blues singers of the 1920s and 1930s” (paragraph 1).
Read the sentence from the text: Scientists are then able to use this data to generate a high-resolution 3-D map.
The Greek root gen means “birth, production.” What does the word generate mean in the text?
A calculate
B locate
C create
D translate
C create
"Maya's backpack was a brick on her shoulders." What does "brick" mean here?
A. Her backpack was heavy.
B. Her backpack was made of clay.
C. Her backpack was full of bricks.
D. Her backpack was colored like a brick.
A. Her backpack was heavy.
If an author writes a story from the narrator's perspective using "I" and shares personal feelings, which point of view is used?
A. Third-person
B. First-person
C. Second-person
D. Fourth-person
B. First-person
Explain why community helpers (such as firefighters, nurses, or librarians) are important. Choose one community helper, describe their jobs and responsibilities, and explain how their work helps people. Use facts and examples to support your explanation.
What kind of writing prompt is this?
Informational
Bessie Smith was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1894. She lost her parents at a very young age and was raised by her older sister. At first Smith began performing on the street while her brother worked as a musician for a traveling group. He later helped her get a job as a dancer for the group. During this time she developed her blues singing.
How did Smith’s brother have an impact on her performing career?
A. He helped raise her after their parents died.
B. He got her a job with his music group.
C. He taught her to perform on the street.
D. He taught her to sing a new blues style.
B. He got her a job with his music group.
Black bears became endangered in Tennessee after decades of overhunting. Today, black bears have returned to the state because of the establishment of national parks and stricter hunting laws. Black bear populations have also bounced back in large part due to their adaptability around people.
Use your knowledge of the root word “danger” and the prefix “en-” to choose the term that best defines the word endangered.
A. dangerous to people
B. in danger of dying out
C. all gone
D. badly injured
B. in danger of dying out
“Well,” Ray said. “I’d better show you the way back to Gatlinburg. The only problem is your shoes. The saying goes, ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do.’” Ray pulled a knife and some string out of his sack. He cut some thin branches off the trees and cut them some more, tying them into two triangles. Then he wove fir fronds and twigs through them and tied them to William’s feet. Ray stood back and said, “Try that.”
What is the meaning of the saying "When in Rome, do as the Romans do"?
M. Try to visit Rome.
P. Make sure you act like the ancient romans did.
R. Behave as the locals do.
S. Find a map that was made in Rome
R. Behave as the locals do.
An author writes, "Unfortunately, many playgrounds are unsafe." What is the author's point of view?
A. Playgrounds are perfect.
B. The author is concerned that playgrounds are dangerous.
C. Playgrounds should be closed forever.
D. The author loves all playgrounds
B. The author is concerned that playgrounds are dangerous.
Explain how to take care of a classroom pet (real or imaginary). Describe the steps needed for feeding, cleaning, and keeping the pet healthy. Use clear sequence words and include at least two specific details or tips.
What type of prompt?
Informational
Smith’s work as a singer was not always widely accepted. Although her voice was strong, it was also rough. Many people were unfamiliar with this style. She also spoke bluntly about social issues such as racism, poverty, and women’s rights. She encouraged working-class women to fight for their rights. Smith’s successful career and her outspokenness inspired many African American female singers to follow in her footsteps.
Which one of these is a result of Smith’s rough voice and style of singing?
M. She shifted to a modern instrumental style.
P. She had no gravestone marker when she died.
R. Other African American female singers followed her lead.
S. She was not always a popular singer at the time.
S. She was not always a popular singer at the time.
Read the sentence from the text. Recently, this technology has led to some groundbreaking discoveries in the field of archaeology.
The Greek root arch means “primitive, ancient.” What does the word archaeology mean?
A the study of old technology
B the study of rainforests
C the study of ancient cultures
D the study of primitive animals
C the study of ancient cultures
Read the sentence from the text. The family hugged and cheered as they began planning the trip west, although Althea had mixed feelings about moving because she had to say goodbye to her friends.
What does the the idiom “had mixed feelings” show about Althea?
A She wants to both go and stay.
B She wants her friends to miss her.
C She does not want to leave Tennessee.
D She is very excited to move to Kansas
A She wants to both go and stay.
Which sentence is evidence that an author believes homework is beneficial to learning?
A. "Two surveys showed students who did nightly homework scored higher on tests."
B. "Homework is sometimes boring."
C. "Homework takes time away from games."
D. "Students can spend a lot of time doing homework instead."
A. "Two surveys showed students who did nightly homework scored higher on tests."
Your school is deciding whether to start a longer recess or shorter lunch periods. Write an essay stating which choice you would pick. Give at least two reasons with supporting details or examples to persuade the reader.
What style of prompt is this?
Opinion
Since the 1960s, movies have gotten bigger, more full of stars, and more expensive to make. They can be watched on television sets and computers, tablets, and phones. The film industry has changed in many ways, but one thing remains the same. Since the very first days of the moving picture, audiences have been entranced by the ability to watch dramatic stories on the screen. With sound or without, in color or black and white, movies have created joy and amazement in viewers for more than a hundred years.
What is the most likely reason the author included the information in this paragraph of the text?
A to show that movies have changed but have always brought enjoyment
B to show how important it is to support the film industry
C to show that movies are more important now than in the past
D to show how similar modern movies are to movies in the past
A to show that movies have changed but have always brought enjoyment
The United States Army used 13 million sandbags to construct the barriers needed to stop flooding in the St. Louis, Missouri, area.
The Latin root struct means “to build.” What does the word construct mean in this sentence?
A break
B imagine
C create
D plan
C create
The date was July 1, 1924. Plumes of dust and smoke engulfed the outside of Rainbow Mine in Pleasant County, Indiana. Roberta handed a tin cup of water to one of the injured coal miners. She had been passing out water and bandages all afternoon and felt ready to drop. All thirty-five men were safe, though. They had arisen from the mine after the slate fell, caving in one of the tunnels.
Why does the author include the idiom “ready to drop”?
A to show where Roberta puts the water
B to show what Roberta wants to do
C to show how tired Roberta feels
D to show why Roberta keeps going
C to show how tired Roberta feels
Vehicles cause air pollution because they run on a fossil fuel. When this fuel is burned in the process of running a car, pollutants are released into the air. As long ago as the early 1900s, some experts said that burning gasoline in automobiles could damage the environment. Studies show that we are now paying the price with our quality of air today. Those experts were right!
How does the information in this paragraph support the author’s point of view?
A by describing how fossil fuels are made inside the earth
B by providing examples of types of pollution from the 1900s
C by explaining that cars pollute the air because they run on a fossil fuel
D by giving evidence that hybrids help reduce pollution
C by explaining that cars pollute the air because they run on a fossil fuel
Choose the sentence that corrects the error in capitalization and punctuation:
A. My friend and i went to the Park on Saturday.
B. My Friend and I went to the park on Saturday.
C. My friend and I went to the park on Saturday.
D. my Friend and i went to the park on saturday.
C. My friend and I went to the park on Saturday.