Benchmark Cycle 4 Review

Central Idea

Author's Purpose in Informational Text

Context Clues

Context Clues 2

Central Idea 2

100

White-sided dolphins are fun to watch. They can jump high over the water. They can tumble in the air. They are very quick learners. They can learn new tricks easily. You can see them do tricks at places like Sea World. They are often the stars of the show. They like to show off for people.

What is the central idea of this passage?

A. White-sided dolphins show off for people.

B. White-sided dolphins learn tricks quickly.

C. White-sided dolphins are fun to watch.

D. White-sided dolphins can jump into the air.

C.White- sided dolphins are fun to watch.

100

You can make a boring breakfast yummy with granola! Just follow these steps. First, pour a cup of yogurt into a cereal bowl. Then, put granola on top. Add some berries and bananas. Get an adult to help you cut the fruit. You have a healthy breakfast that tastes good in about five minutes!

What is the author's purpose in writing this passage?

A. to teach the reader how to make a healthy breakfast

B. to persuade the reader to eat yogurt more often

C. to inform the reader how granola is made at home

D. to entertain the reader with a story about breakfast

A. to teach the reader how to make a healthy breakfast

100

Badlands National Park

1 Badlands National Park in South Dakota is full of hills and rock formations. These even include ones shaped like towers. Buttes are also found in the Badlands. Buttes are steep hills that have flat tops. These features were formed millions of years ago when this area was covered by water. The water retreated and left behind rock. The rock was worn away by rain and wind over millions of years. This created the landmarks we enjoy today.

2 Visitors to the Badlands can also see animals like bison and prairie dogs. Prairie dogs make their homes in the grasslands and dwell underneath the ground. Prairie dogs create tunnels underground called dog towns. They use their sharp claws to dig the tunnels. Bison are big animals that eat the grass of the grasslands. These giant animals are found throughout the Badlands.

In paragraph 2, which word helps the reader know the meaning of the word dwell?

home

100

Ruth felt gloomy because of the rain outside. She wanted to go outside and play with her friends, but she could not. Playing inside by herself was boring. She did not have anything to do.

The word gloomy means to be

A. sad.

B. tired.

C. excited.

D. happy.

A. sad.

100

Mountain gorillas live in Africa. They like to live in groups. A male is the head of a group. He is called the silverback. He is very important. He makes sure everyone is safe. If an animal puts his group in danger, he will charge at it. He takes care of his gorillas.

The silverback is important to the group of mountain gorillas. What detail from the passage best supports this idea?

A. He finds food for the baby gorillas.

B. He likes to live with other gorillas.

C. He lives in the African mountains.

D. He makes sure everyone is safe.

200

Lizards

Lizards are a type of animal. Some live outdoors, some live in zoos, and some are kept as pets. To keep a lizard as a pet, you must know what it eats. Most lizards eat insects, like grasshoppers, crickets, and flies. They snap them up with their tongues, which are long and sticky. Some lizards are hunters. They eat birds and other reptiles. Others lizards do not eat meat. They like fruit, flowers, and leaves.

Which of these is a central idea in the selection?

A. Lizards have tongues that are long and sticky.

B. Most lizards like to eat grasshoppers and flies.

C. Different lizards will eat different types of food.

D. People can go to the zoo to see lizards up close.

C. Different lizards will eat different types of food.

200

People have played baseball for a long time. The game we know now was made in the 1840s. Alexander Cartwright made a lot of the rules used now. He also made up the field size. Games were only played during the day until the 1930s. That is because the fields did not have lights. The first night game was played on May 24, 1935. Now most games take place at night.

The author's purpose for this passage is to

A. persuade the reader that the best sport is baseball.

B. entertain the reader with a story about a game.

C. inform the reader about the history of baseball.

D. teach the reader how to start a baseball game.

C. inform the reader about the history of baseball.

200

Recycling

Recycling is a great way to help the Earth. Recycling is the process of taking things that would have been thrown away and converting them into something new. Recycling is helpful and saves the Earth by keeping it clean and healthy.

Recycling is good in many ways. For example, recycling lowers the amount of trash that is sent to landfills. It also lowers the amount of dirty air, saves energy, and creates jobs. Recycling even saves trees, water, and minerals.

Many people organize things that are made of plastic, paper, and aluminum by placing them into different bins. These sorted things are brought to a recycling center where they are either melted or broken down. Then, they are made into something new. Wow! There are so many neat things about recycling. It sure is a great way to keep the Earth clean and healthy.

Based on clues in the passage, what does the word process most likely mean?

A. school

B. center

C. game

D. job

200

Jackie plunged into the lake. She made a big splash and swam around with her friends.

To plunge means to

A. walk.

B. run.

C. drown.

D. dive.

200

Maxwell and Brent worked hard to make some money. They wanted to buy their mom a present for her birthday. To make money, the boys helped their Aunt Jenny in her garden. They walked their neighbor's dog a few times. Maxwell and Brent even sold lemonade after school. Finally, they saved enough money. They were so proud to walk into the store with their money. The boys saw a beautiful ring. Maxwell and Brent smiled at each other and bought the ring. Maxwell and Brent ran home as fast as they could. They could not wait to give it to their mom. They knew she was going to love it.

What is the central idea of this story?

A. Maxwell and Brent like to do chores for extra money.

B. Maxwell and Brent want to buy their mom lemonade.

C. Maxwell and Brent work very hard selling lemonade.

D. Maxwell and Brent earn money to buy a present.

300

Raccoons

Raccoons are wild animals. Many people think raccoons are only found out in the country. This is not true. Raccoons can be found almost anywhere. They live in fallen logs and inside trees. They will find a way to crawl inside of a house. They are even found in busy cities. Raccoons will happily live any place where they can find food and stay safe.

Which of these is a central idea in the selection?

A. Raccoons can be found living in logs.

B. Raccoons enjoy living in the country.

C. Raccoons live in many different places.

D. Raccoons live inside people's houses.

C. Raccoons live in many different places.

300

Most people have heard or read "Little Red Riding Hood." The story of Little Red Riding Hood is silly. Parents would not let a little girl walk alone in the woods. Also, the wolf could have just gotten the girl in the woods. And anyone would know the difference between a wolf and an old lady. Last of all, a wolf cannot talk or wear clothes. "Little Red Riding Hood" does not make sense.

The purpose of this passage is to

A. amuse readers with a story about a talking wolf.

B. give the author's opinion about a story.

C. state facts about what happens when people get old.

D. teach people to be safe when walking in the woods.

B. give the author's opinion about a story.

300

Flamingos

1 Flamingos are beautiful pink birds that live in South America, Africa, and Asia. They have long legs and necks. Their necks are shaped like the letter S. The long necks of flamingos have the benefit of helping them catch their food. They eat water animals like shrimp and snails. When flamingos spy these animals, they use their long necks to dip down and catch their prey. They use their beaks like shovels.
2 Their long necks are not the only characteristic that are useful to flamingos. Their webbed feet give flamingos the rare ability to "run on water." Not many animals are able to do this. The pink-colored feathers are what flamingos are most famous for. The pink coloring comes from the food they eat. Flamingos are another of the Earth's unusual animals!

In paragraph 2, what does the word characteristic mean?

A. what an animal eats

B. how you feel about something

C. where something lives

D. what something is like

300

Eric chuckled as he thought of his plan. He loved playing jokes on people. April Fool's Day was the best day of the year to Eric. He laughed again. He would really get his dad this year!

What does the word chuckled mean?

A. laughed

B. cried

C. yelled

D. tripped

A. laughed

300

Which sentence best supports the idea that the boys are excited to give their mom the ring?

A. "Maxwell and Brent smiled at each other and bought the ring."

B. "They walked their neighbor's dog a few times."

C. "Maxwell and Brent ran home as fast as they could."

D. "They were so proud to walk into the store with their money."

C. "Maxwell and Brent ran home as fast as they could."

400

Tulips

Tulips are a kind of flower. They come in many beautiful colors. You can find them in red, white, orange, or pink. They even come in purple. Sometimes, the petals are more than one color. You might find tulips with red petals and a yellow center. Tulips can make any garden bright and fun.

Which of these is a central idea in the selection?

A. Tulips have purple petals.

B. Tulips come in many colors.

C. Tulips are red and yellow.

D. Tulips are a type of flower.

B. Tulips come in many colors.

400

To build a bird house, you will need several things. You will need wood and a hand saw. You will need sandpaper and glue for the joints. You will also need a paintbrush and paint.

Why did the author most likely write this paragraph?

A. to inform about different types of bird houses

B. to explain what is needed to build a bird house

C. to entertain the reader with a story on birds

D. to persuade the reader to build a bird house

B. to explain what is needed to build a bird house

400

Squirrels like to nibble on yummy snacks.

Using the photo as a clue, what does nibble mean?

A. stand

B. bite

C. look

D. keep

B. bite

400

Whitney was really thrilled. She loved playing softball. Now, her team was in the championship game! She was so excited to play in the big game. She got to the park early to practice catching and throwing with her best friend.

When a person is thrilled, that means he or she is

A. angry.

B. tired.

C. excited.

D. upset.

C. excited.

400

Maxwell and Brent work hard to make some money. Which sentence best supports this idea?

A. "They could not wait to give it to their mom."

B. "Maxwell and Brent smiled at each other and bought the ring."

C. "Maxwell and Brent even sold lemonade after school."

D. "They were so proud to walk into the store with their money."

C. "Maxwell and Brent even sold lemonade after school."

500

Greece by Tirzah Tyler

(1) Greece is one of the oldest countries in the world. This country has several islands. The capital of Greece is Athens.(2) Democracy first began in Greece. Democracy is a form of government. It started in 507 B.C. with the help of a man named Cleisthenes. In the democracy, Greeks were able to choose their leader by voting. These leaders made rules. This form of government is still used today.(3) Greek food is special. Spinach pie is called spanakopita. Greek sandwiches served in pita bread are called gyros. People in other parts of the world also eat Greek food.

The central idea of the third paragraph is that

A. Greek spinach pie is called spanakopita.

B. pita bread sandwiches are called gyros.

C. Greece has its own special kind of food.

D. people in other countries eat Greek food.

C. Greece has its own special kind of food.

500

The Crocodile

The African crocodile, or the Nile crocodile, looks much the same as it did millions of years ago. However, it is smaller in size now. These crocodiles are much like the dinosaurs who lived on the earth millions of years ago. That is why scientists often study these crocodiles. They want to find out what animals were like 70 million years ago.
The crocodile is one of the strongest of all animals. Its jaw is strong enough to break anything. Most African crocodiles live near slow-moving rivers. They spend most of their day on the riverbanks without moving. They warm themselves in the sun's heat. In the evening, they move down into the cool, brown waters.
Small crocodiles eat fish. Big crocodiles can eat larger animals. The big crocodiles often lie in wait, looking like a floating log in the water. When a larger animal comes to the river to drink, the crocodile grabs the animal by its strong jaws and pulls it into the water. Crocodiles also often attack birds that fly close to the river in search of fish.

How does the structure of the passage help the reader understand the author's purpose?

A. by comparing all types of crocodiles

B. by telling about the crocodile's strong jaw

C. by having each part tell facts about crocodiles

D. by showing how crocodiles are different from birds

C. by having each part tell facts about crocodiles

500

Flamingos

Flamingos are beautiful pink birds that live in South America, Africa, and Asia. They have long legs and necks. Their necks are shaped like the letter S. The long necks of flamingos have the benefit of helping them catch their food. They eat water animals like shrimp and snails. When flamingos spy these animals, they use their long necks to dip down and catch their prey. They use their beaks like shovels.
Their long necks are not the only characteristic that are useful to flamingos. Their webbed feet give flamingos the rare ability to "run on water." Not many animals are able to do this. The pink-colored feathers are what flamingos are most famous for. The pink coloring comes from the food they eat. Flamingos are another of the Earth's unusual animals!

What does the word benefit mean?

A. hunt

B. produce

C. aid

D. hurt

C. aid

500

Madeline is a very slender woman. Her clothes are very small. She enjoys running and eating healthy food.

To be slender means to be

A. sad.

B. skinny.

C. big.

D. large.

B. skinny.

500

Once there was a girl named Terri. Terri was eight years old. She lived on a farm. She owned a pretty horse named Glory. Terri loved riding Glory more than anything. Glory spent her time playing in her corral. Terri forgot to close the gate once. Glory got out. Terri and her family looked everywhere for Glory. Terri found Glory with a thorn in her foot. She called the animal doctor to help Glory. The doctor made Glory better. Terri started making sure the gate was closed.

What is the central idea of this story?

A. Terri's horse, Glory, got out of her corral and got lost.

B. Terri had to get up early since she lived on a farm.

C. Terri was an eight-year-old girl who lived on a farm.

D. Terri's horse, Glory, enjoyed playing in her corral.

A. Terri's horse, Glory, got out of her corral and got lost.