Idioms
Maria studied all night for her math test. The next morning, she said she was running on empty.
What does the idiom running on empty mean?
A) She forgot to bring her pencil.
B) She was very tired because she didn’t get enough sleep.
C) She ran out of gas in her car.
D) She was excited to take the test.
B) She was very tired because she didn’t get enough sleep.
Eli’s soccer team was losing at halftime. Instead of feeling sad, Eli told his teammates, “We can still win if we work together!” The team came back onto the field with smiles and energy.
Question:
What does this passage show about Eli?
A) He gives up when things get hard.
B) He is a good leader who stays positive.
C) He only plays when his team is winning.
D) He doesn’t care about the game.
B) He is a good leader who stays positive.
Liam loved to ride his skateboard after school. One afternoon, he tried a new trick and fell hard on the sidewalk. His knee hurt, and he wanted to quit. The next day, his best friend, Zoe, reminded him how much he loved skateboarding and helped him practice safely in the park. After a few tries, Liam landed the trick perfectly. He realized that falling was just part of learning something new.
Question:
What lesson does Liam learn in the passage?
A) It’s better to stop trying after you fail.
B) Friends can help you learn and not give up.
C) Skateboarding is too dangerous to practice.
D) Tricks are only fun when you win a contest.
B) Friends can help you learn and not give up.
Maya opened the mysterious package she had received in the mail. Inside was a shiny medal with her name engraved on it. She was so astonished that she dropped the envelope on the floor and stared at the medal for several minutes.
Question:
Which word means the same as “astonished” in the passage?
A) Confused
B) Surprised
C) Bored
D) Angry
B) Surprised
Narrator: It was recess time at school.
Liam (sighs and slouches in his chair): I guess no one wants to play with me today.
Sophie (entering and smiling): Hi, Liam! Want to play tag?
Liam (sits up quickly, smiling): Really? Yes!
Question:
What do the stage directions “sighs and slouches in his chair” reveal about Liam?
A) He is tired from running.
B) He feels sad and discouraged.
C) He is excited to play.
D) He is angry at Sophie.
B) He feels sad and discouraged.
When Jake saw his broken bike, he said, “Well, that’s the last straw!”
What does the idiom the last straw mean?
A) The final problem that makes someone lose their patience
B) He needed to buy more straws for his drink
C) He found the last piece of hay in the barn
D) He was happy to fix his bike
A) The final problem that makes someone lose their patience
Every Saturday morning, Clara walked the dogs at the animal shelter. At first, she only planned to help for one weekend to earn community service hours. But after meeting the shy puppy named Max, Clara began to look forward to every visit. She brought treats, brushed the dogs, and even helped clean their cages without being asked. When the shelter director told her Max had been adopted, Clara felt proud and a little sad at the same time. The next weekend, she showed up early, ready to help again.
Question:
What can the reader infer about how Clara’s feelings toward volunteering changed?
A) She stopped helping because she was too busy.
B) She only cared about finishing her service hours.
C) She discovered that helping animals made her feel happy and fulfilled.
D) She decided to work at a different shelter instead.
C) She discovered that helping animals made her feel happy and fulfilled.
Every morning, Leo helped his grandmother water the flowers in her garden. At first, he only did it because she asked, but soon he began to enjoy seeing the bright colors and smelling the sweet scents. One day, a neighbor complimented the garden, and Leo felt proud. He realized that helping others could also make him happy.
Question:
What is the theme of the passage?
A) Helping others can bring joy and pride.
B) Gardens are difficult to take care of.
C) Compliments from neighbors are not important.
D) Watering flowers is boring.
A) Helping others can bring joy and pride.
Liam was very brave when he climbed to the top of the tall rock wall. His little sister watched nervously from below, wishing she could be as confident as him.
Question:
Which word means the opposite of “brave”?
A) Strong
B) Excited
C) Happy
D) Afraid
D) Afraid
JACK: I can’t believe we made it to the top of the hill!
LUCY: Me neither! It was so hard, but we did it together.
Question:
What are the words that characters say aloud to each other called?
A) The setting
B) The cast of characters
C) The dialogue
D) The stage directions
C) The dialogue
When Ella told her friend to break a leg before the school play, what did she mean?
A) She hoped her friend wouldn’t get hurt.
B) She wanted her friend to try acting in a scary scene.
C) She was wishing her friend good luck.
D) She wanted her friend to sit down and rest.
C) She was wishing her friend good luck.
Jordan had been looking forward to the school science fair for weeks. He and his best friend, Leo, had built a volcano that actually erupted with bubbles and steam. The night before the fair, Jordan accidentally knocked the project off the table, breaking the volcano in half. He wanted to tell Leo but was afraid Leo would be mad. The next morning, Jordan took a deep breath and explained what happened. To his surprise, Leo smiled and said, “We can fix it together before the judges come!”
Question:
What is the main conflict in this story, and how is it resolved?
A) Jordan and Leo argue about whose project it is; they decide to make new ones.
B) Jordan breaks the volcano and must choose whether to be honest; the conflict is resolved when he tells the truth and Leo forgives him.
C) The volcano doesn’t erupt correctly; the teacher helps them fix it.
D) Jordan forgets about the science fair; his friend reminds him.
B) Jordan breaks the volcano and must choose whether to be honest; the conflict is resolved when he tells the truth and Leo forgives him.
Emma loved to ride her bike around the neighborhood. One day, she saw a younger child struggling to balance on a small bike. Instead of racing ahead, Emma stopped and offered to help. She patiently showed the child how to pedal and keep balance. By the end of the afternoon, the child was riding confidently, and Emma felt proud of helping.
Question:
What lesson can be learned from this passage?
A) Helping others can make both you and them feel proud.
B) Riding a bike is only fun when you race.
C) Children should figure things out on their own.
D) Patience is not important when teaching.
A) Helping others can make both you and them feel proud.
Leo was nervous as he stepped onto the stage for the school play. The gigantic curtain rose slowly, revealing the audience staring at him. Despite his timid nature, he took a deep breath and began his lines confidently.
Which word means the same as “timid” in the passage?
A) Brave
B) Shy
C) Loud
D) Excited
B) Shy
Narrator: The classroom was quiet as the students worked on their art project.
Emma (frowns and bites her pencil): I can’t get this drawing to look right.
Lucas (leans over and points at her paper): Try adding more color here.
Emma (smiles and nods): Thanks, Lucas!
Question:
What do the stage directions “frowns and bites her pencil” reveal about Emma?
A) She is feeling frustrated and unsure of herself.
B) She is happy with her drawing.
C) She wants to play instead of working.
D) She is showing Lucas how to draw.
A) She is feeling frustrated and unsure of herself.
Lila went the extra mile to help her classmates finish their science project.
What does this idiom reveal about Lila’s actions?
A) She walked a long distance.
B) She worked harder and did more than was expected.
C) She didn’t want to help her classmates.
D) She forgot to do her part.
B) She worked harder and did more than was expected.
Ben woke up early on Saturday to help his dad wash the car. They filled a bucket with soapy water and took turns rinsing and scrubbing. When they were done, the car shone brightly in the sun. Ben laughed as his dad sprayed him with the hose, and they both ended up soaked but smiling.
Question:
What did Ben and his dad do together on Saturday morning?
A) They washed the car.
B) They went grocery shopping.
C) They fixed a flat tire.
D) They painted the garage.
A) They washed the car.
Javier had never been very good at drawing. When his teacher announced a class art contest, he felt nervous. He spent many afternoons practicing and trying new techniques. At first, his drawings didn’t look very good, but he didn’t give up. On the day of the contest, he didn’t win first place—but his teacher praised his effort, saying she was proud of how much he had improved. Javier realized that trying your best mattered more than winning.
Question:
What lesson can be learned from this passage?
A) Winning is the most important part of a contest.
B) Practice and effort are more important than immediate success.
C) You should only try things you are already good at.
D) Teachers only care about grades.
B) Practice and effort are more important than immediate success.
Lila worked hard on her science project and made sure every detail was perfect. Her teacher praised her for being careful, saying she had done an excellent job and paid attention to everything.
Question:
What does the word “careful” mean in the passage?
A) Paying close attention and being cautious
B) Forgetting important steps
C) Rushing through work
D) Not following directions
A) Paying close attention and being cautious
MAYA: I can’t believe you remembered my birthday! That means so much to me.
JORDAN: Of course! You’re my best friend, and I didn’t want you to feel left out.
Question:
What does the dialogue reveal about Maya and Jordan?
A) Maya and Jordan are learning a new game.
B) Maya and Jordan are best friends who care about each other.
C) Maya and Jordan are arguing about a mistake.
D) Maya and Jordan don’t get along.
B) Maya and Jordan are best friends who care about each other.
When Marcus realized he had blamed his friend for something he didn’t do, he decided to bury the hatchet and apologize.
What does this idiom reveal about Marcus’s actions?
A) He wanted to hide something in the ground.
B) He chose to forgive and make peace instead of staying angry.
C) He was still upset but pretended not to be.
D) He started a new argument to feel better.
B) He chose to forgive and make peace instead of staying angry.
When the final bell rang, Nora slowly packed her backpack. She glanced at her report card on the desk and sighed. Math had always been tough for her, and the low grade made her feel disappointed. On her way out, her teacher, Mrs. Grant, smiled and said, “Remember, Nora, progress matters more than perfection. You’ve improved so much this term.” Nora nodded, feeling a little better as she tucked the report card into her bag.
Question:
What can the reader tell about Nora at the end of the passage?
A) She decides she doesn’t care about school anymore.
B) She feels encouraged to keep trying, even though math is hard.
C) She plans to hide her report card from her parents.
D) She thinks her teacher is being unfair.
B) She feels encouraged to keep trying, even though math is hard.
Carlos loved playing video games, but he often forgot to do his homework. One day, his teacher reminded the class that turning in assignments on time was important. Carlos realized that no matter how much he loved games, he needed to complete his schoolwork first. From then on, he made a schedule that let him finish homework before playing, and his grades improved.
Question:
What lesson can be learned from this passage?
A) Video games are better than school.
B) Homework is not necessary if you study sometimes.
C) Playing games is more important than responsibilities.
D) It’s important to prioritize responsibilities before fun activities.
D) It’s important to prioritize responsibilities before fun activities.
Sam forgot his umbrella on a rainy day. By the time he got home, his clothes were completely wet. He looked at his backpack and realized it was useless for keeping his things dry in the rain.
Question:
What does the word “useless” mean in the passage?
A) Very helpful
B) Broken
C) Fun to use
D) Not helpful or serves no purpose
D) Not helpful or serves no purpose
NINA: I finished the science experiment early, but I noticed that your mixture isn’t bubbling like mine. Do you want me to show you what I did?
ALEX: Really? That would help a lot. Thanks for offering!
Question:
What does the dialogue reveal about Nina and Alex?
A) Nina is helpful and observant, and Alex is willing to accept help.
B) Nina is bossy, and Alex doesn’t want to try.
C) Nina is uninterested in schoolwork, and Alex is frustrated.
D) Nina and Alex are competing to see who is better.
A) Nina is helpful and observant, and Alex is willing to accept help.