Dictionary Definitions
Summarizing
Text & Graphic Features
Author's Purpose
Inferences
100

What does the word cheerful mean in the sentence below?

Lily was so cheerful when she saw the balloons and cake at her birthday party. She smiled and laughed as she hugged her friends.

A. sad
B. happy
C. angry
D. sleepy

B. happy

100

The Lost Puppy
Samantha was walking home from school when she saw a small puppy sitting by the sidewalk. It looked lost and scared. Samantha knelt down and called to the puppy gently. The puppy wagged its tail and came over to her. Samantha decided to take the puppy home and put up some signs to help find its owner.

What is the best summary of the story?
A. Samantha found a puppy and decided to keep it.
B. Samantha saw a lost puppy and decided to help it find its owner.
C. Samantha took the puppy home and kept it as her pet.
D. Samantha ignored the puppy and went home.

B. Samantha saw a lost puppy and decided to help it find its owner.

100

The Water Cycle
The water cycle is the process by which water moves around Earth. It includes several stages: evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. First, water evaporates from oceans and lakes into the air. Then, it condenses to form clouds. Finally, the water falls back to Earth as rain or snow. This cycle is continuous and essential to life on Earth.

What graphic feature would most likely help you understand the water cycle better?
A. A picture of the Earth
B. A map of the oceans
C. A diagram showing evaporation, condensation, and precipitation
D. A list of types of water

C. A diagram showing evaporation, condensation, and precipitation

100

The wind howled through the trees, shaking the branches back and forth. Dark clouds gathered overhead as the storm approached.

What is the author's purpose in this passage?
A. To inform readers about weather patterns
B. To entertain readers with a description of a storm
C. To persuade readers to stay indoors during a storm
D. To explain how to prepare for a storm

B. To entertain readers with a description of a storm

100

Lena hurried through the halls, clutching her library books tightly to her chest. She was late for class, but she didn’t mind. The book she had just checked out was a new mystery novel, and she couldn’t wait to start reading it.

What can you infer about Lena?
A. Lena is excited to read the new mystery novel.
B. Lena is rushing because she doesn’t like school.
C. Lena feels nervous about being late.
D. Lena is carrying her books because she needs to return them.

A. Lena is excited to read the new mystery novel.

200

What does the word enormous mean in the sentence below?

The elephant at the zoo was enormous! It was much bigger than all the other animals.

A. tiny
B. gentle
C. very big
D. very fast

C. very big

200

The Busy Market
Every Saturday, Sarah and her mother went to the local farmer's market. There were many booths with fresh fruits, vegetables, and homemade goods. Sarah enjoyed helping her mother pick out the best apples and talking to the friendly vendors. Afterward, they sat together and shared some homemade pies.

Which of the following is the best summary of the story?
A. Sarah and her mother went to the market and bought pies.
B. Sarah enjoyed spending time with her mother at the busy market.
C. Sarah and her mother went to the market and bought apples.
D. Sarah went to the market with her friends to eat pies.

B. Sarah enjoyed spending time with her mother at the busy market.

200

Healthy Eating
Eating healthy is important for staying strong and feeling good. A balanced diet includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, proteins, and dairy. It’s also important to drink plenty of water and get regular exercise. Try to eat a variety of foods each day to get all the nutrients your body needs.

Which text feature helps readers understand the importance of different food groups?
A. A caption under the picture of the food pyramid
B. A chart listing nutrients in each food group
C. A timeline of when to eat each food group
D. A heading that says "Healthy Eating"

 B. A chart listing nutrients in each food group

200

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. It is home to thousands of species of fish, coral, and other sea life. Sadly, it is in danger due to pollution and climate change.

What is the author's purpose in this passage?
A. To entertain by telling a story about the reef
B. To persuade readers to protect the environment
C. To inform readers about the animals in the reef
D. To describe the Great Barrier Reef’s weather

B. To persuade readers to protect the environment

200

It was a cold winter evening. Max put on his warm coat, scarf, and gloves before stepping outside to play in the snow. He smiled as he tossed a snowball into the air.

What can you infer about Max?
A. Max is trying to stay warm because he doesn’t like snow.
B. Max enjoys playing in the snow on cold winter evenings.
C. Max prefers staying indoors on cold days.
D. Max is unhappy about having to wear a coat and gloves.

B. Max enjoys playing in the snow on cold winter evenings.

300

What does the word glanced mean in the paragraph below?

David glanced at the clock and realized he only had five minutes left to finish his test. He quickly picked up his pencil and started writing faster.

A. stared for a long time
B. looked quickly
C. ignored
D. walked away

B. looked quickly

300

The School Play
Maya had been practicing for weeks for the school play. She was nervous because it was her first time performing in front of a big audience. On the night of the play, Maya forgot her lines, but she quickly remembered them and finished her part. The audience clapped and cheered, and Maya felt proud of herself for overcoming her fear.

What is the best summary of the story?
A. Maya performed in the school play and made a mistake, but she still felt proud.
B. Maya was excited for the school play and never made a mistake.
C. Maya was nervous about the play and forgot everything.
D. Maya performed perfectly in the school play and received an award.

A. Maya performed in the school play and made a mistake, but she still felt proud.

300

Wildlife Conservation
Conservation efforts are essential for protecting endangered species. Wildlife reserves and national parks provide safe habitats for animals. Many organizations work together to restore natural habitats and ensure that animals can thrive.
What is the purpose of the chart shown with this article about wildlife conservation?
A. To show how many animals live in wildlife reserves
B. To compare the population of endangered species over time
C. To list the animals most at risk of extinction
D. To explain the process of wildlife rehabilitation

B. To compare the population of endangered species over time

300

If you're looking for a great place to visit on your next vacation, you should consider the Rocky Mountains. The fresh air, beautiful scenery, and opportunities for hiking and wildlife watching make it the perfect getaway.

What is the author’s purpose in this passage?
A. To entertain readers with a funny story about hiking
B. To persuade readers to visit the Rocky Mountains
C. To inform readers about the geography of the Rocky Mountains
D. To describe the wildlife of the Rocky Mountains

B. To persuade readers to visit the Rocky Mountains

300

The kitchen smelled delicious as Maria pulled the chocolate cake out of the oven. She carefully set it on the counter and smiled as the smell filled the house. "Mom will be so proud," she thought.

What can you infer about Maria?
A. Maria is proud of the cake she baked and is excited to show it to her mom.
B. Maria is upset because her mom won’t like the cake.
C. Maria doesn’t know how to bake a cake and is worried it will burn.
D. Maria is frustrated because the cake didn’t turn out as she expected.

A. Maria is proud of the cake she baked and is excited to show it to her mom.

400

What does the word abandoned mean in the paragraph below?

The old house at the end of the street looked abandoned. Its windows were broken, the yard was overgrown, and no one had lived there for many years.

A. neat and clean
B. lived in
C. left behind
D. well cared for

C. left behind

400

The Heroic Rescue
Liam and his friends were hiking in the mountains when they heard a cry for help. They quickly ran toward the sound and found a man who had fallen and was stuck. The group worked together to pull him to safety. Afterward, they contacted the authorities to make sure the man received medical care. Liam was proud of how his friends worked together to help someone in need.

Which of the following best summarizes the passage?
A. Liam and his friends went hiking and had fun, but no one needed help.
B. Liam and his friends helped rescue an injured man and made sure he got help.
C. Liam and his friends saved a man who was injured but didn't call for help.
D. Liam and his friends did not want to help the injured man but did so reluctantly.

B. Liam and his friends helped rescue an injured man and made sure he got help.

400

The Solar System
The Solar System consists of the Sun and eight planets. These planets orbit the Sun in elliptical paths. Each planet has its own characteristics. For example, Earth has life, while Venus is the hottest planet. The planets closest to the Sun are rocky, and those farther away are gas giants.

Which graphic feature would be most helpful in understanding the relative sizes of the planets in the Solar System?
A. A pie chart showing the planets' distances from the Sun
B. A bar graph comparing the temperature of each planet
C. A diagram that shows the planets in order from the Sun
D. A table listing the composition of each planet

C. A diagram that shows the planets in order from the Sun

400

The life cycle of a butterfly is fascinating. It begins as an egg, then hatches into a caterpillar. After several weeks of eating and growing, the caterpillar forms a chrysalis. Inside the chrysalis, the caterpillar transforms into a butterfly, which eventually breaks free to start the cycle over again.

What is the author’s purpose in this passage?
A. To entertain by telling a story about butterflies
B. To persuade readers to learn about butterflies
C. To inform readers about the life cycle of a butterfly
D. To explain how to care for a butterfly

C. To inform readers about the life cycle of a butterfly

400

The team had just lost their big game, and everyone was sitting in the locker room quietly. Ethan slumped in his seat, staring at his shoes. His teammates were talking quietly, but he didn’t join in.

What can you infer about Ethan?
A. Ethan is angry because he doesn’t like playing sports.
B. Ethan feels disappointed and upset about losing the game.
C. Ethan is excited to talk about the next game.
D. Ethan is planning to quit the team after the game.

B. Ethan feels disappointed and upset about losing the game.

500

What does the word fatigue mean in the paragraph below?

After hiking for miles up the steep mountain, Maria felt extreme fatigue. Her legs ached, and she could barely take another step.

A. excitement
B. hunger
C. extreme tiredness
D. happiness

C. extreme tiredness

500

The Mysterious Stranger
One evening, as Jake walked home from school, he noticed a strange man standing at the edge of the woods. The man smiled and waved, but Jake felt uneasy. He quickly crossed the street and continued on his way home. The next day, Jake told his parents, and they advised him to be cautious of strangers. Jake learned an important lesson about safety.

What is the best summary of the story?
A. Jake met a friendly stranger and learned that not all strangers are bad.
B. Jake was cautious of a stranger he saw near the woods and learned to be safe.
C. Jake ignored the stranger and didn’t think about safety.
D. Jake ran home without telling anyone about the strange man.

B. Jake was cautious of a stranger he saw near the woods and learned to be safe.

500

Early Civilizations
The ancient Egyptians are known for their impressive pyramids and the development of a complex society. Their contributions to science, medicine, and writing are still studied today. The Egyptians also created one of the first systems of government and religion.
The passage is accompanied by a map showing the locations of ancient civilizations along the Nile River. What does this map most likely help the reader understand?
A. The extent of Egypt’s empire during ancient times
B. The locations of ancient civilizations that influenced Egypt
C. How the ancient Egyptians traveled to other lands
D. How Egypt’s geography helped support its civilization

D. How Egypt’s geography helped support its civilization

500

Did you know that recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to power a TV for three hours? Recycling helps reduce waste, conserve resources, and protect the environment. By recycling more, we can make a big difference for our planet.

What is the author’s purpose in this passage?
A. To entertain readers with fun facts about recycling
B. To persuade readers to recycle more
C. To inform readers about the process of recycling
D. To describe how recycling affects the economy

B. To persuade readers to recycle more

500

Lily opened her birthday present and gasped when she saw the beautiful necklace. She hugged her mom tightly and said, "This is the best present ever! Thank you so much!"

What can you infer about Lily?
A. Lily doesn't like the necklace because it is too fancy.
B. Lily is very happy with the birthday present her mom gave her.
C. Lily is upset that she didn’t get the present she wanted.
D. Lily is confused about the necklace and doesn’t know what it is.

B. Lily is very happy with the birthday present her mom gave her.