Context Clues
4 By 1953, Big Tex could speak. Words that had been prerecorded played over speakers while the giant cowboy’s mouth moved. As the words played, his mouth moved like a puppet—open, closed, open, closed.
In paragraph 4, what does prerecorded mean?
F Recorded in part
G Recorded next
H Recorded without
J Recorded before
J Recorded before
2 How did the animal shelter know that Scrub belonged to Noble? How did the workers there know how to contact her? All this information was available because of the microchip that had been placed under Scrub’s skin many years earlier. A microchip is a computer chip about the size of a grain of rice that is used to keep track of pets. The chip is placed under an animal’s skin with a needle, usually between the pet’s shoulder blades. Once the chip is in place, the pet does not feel it anymore. Microchips have helped thousands of owners get their lost pets back.
The purpose of the questions in paragraph 2 is to —
F interest readers in learning how microchips help reunite owners with lost pets
G tell readers about the services available at the animal shelter
H give readers details about what is happening in the photograph of Scrub
J share with readers how it feels to lose a pet
F interest readers in learning how microchips help reunite owners with lost pets
Read this sentence from paragraph 2.
Once the chip is in place, the pet does not feel it anymore.
This sentence helps the reader infer —
A. where microchips are located
B. that microchips do not bother pets
C. how microchips are inserted
D. that microchips are helpful for pets
B. that microchips do not bother pets
(6) In 2011, Mo wanted to buy a bow tie with exciting colors or patterns. (7) He didn’t see any that he liked. (8) He talked with his grandmother. (9) She had been sewing for more than 50 years and had some old, unused fabrics. (10) She taught Mo, who was only nine years old at the time, how to make a bow tie on her sewing machine.
Which is the best way to combine sentences 7 and 8?
A. He didn’t see any that he liked because he talked with his grandmother.
B, He didn’t see any that he liked, even though he talked with his grandmother.
C. He didn’t see any that he liked, so he talked with his grandmother.
D. He didn’t see any that he liked when he talked with his grandmother.
C. He didn’t see any that he liked, so he talked with his grandmother.
(1) Imagine waking up among the treetops of a forest. (2) Your bed is over 70 feet off the ground. (3) Leaves brush against your windows and the chirps of birds echo through your room.
What change should be made in sentence 3?
A Change Leaves to Leafes
B Change brush to brushes
C Insert a comma after windows
D Change through to threw
C Insert a comma after windows
1 After working for several years, Bessie Coleman boarded a ship to France. In a field not far from Paris, she approached a hangar where a man was writing in a book. She said, “I came for flying lessons.”
What does the word boarded mean in paragraph 1?
What does the word boarded mean in paragraph 1?
A. Went onto
B. Thought about
C. Watched closely
D. Tried to stop
A Went onto B Thought about C Watched closely D Tried to stop
A. Went onto
1 As cars travel on the long road up the hill, their drivers shut off the headlights. Passengers jump out, chattering excitedly. They walk slowly to join the crowd on the hill. All around, the land is quiet and dark. No streetlights or house lights glow. Everyone gazes up at the night sky. This is a star party.
What is the most likely reason the author begins the selection with the ideas in paragraph 1?
A To describe an activity that the reader may not have experienced
B To suggest that a star party is similar to a party the reader may have attended
C To identify the types of objects the reader would see in the night sky
D To inform the reader of the items needed for a successful experience
A To describe an activity that the reader may not have experienced
1 In the early 1900s, New York store-owners Morris Michtom and his wife Rose invented a new toy that would change the toy industry forever. They made a stuffed toy bear out of cloth to honor the president of the United States, Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt. They wanted to call it Teddy’s Bear. The bear was stuffed with sawdust and had buttons sewed on for the eyes. The Michtoms sent one of the bears to President Roosevelt and asked if they could use the name Teddy for the toy. The president agreed to the request. The Michtoms put a toy bear in the store window with a sign that said Teddy’s Bear.
What does paragraph 1 help the reader understand about the first teddy bear?
F How big the first teddy bear was
G How the first teddy bear got its name
H How much the first teddy bear cost
J How long it took to sew the first teddy bear
G How the first teddy bear got its name
(30) Mo’s mother is very proud of her son. (31) She encourages them to do what they love. (32) “You don’t have to wait until you’re older,” she says. (33) “If you have a dream and you have a passion, we say go for it.” (34) Mo certainly did!
Which change can Darla make to improve the clarity of sentence 31?
F Change them to young people
G Change what to things
H Change they to you
J No revision is needed in this sentence.
F Change them to young people
(4) Many people love tree houses. (5) Some people like them so much that we created tree house hotels for guests. (6) These unusual places are made to help visitors connect with nature.
What change, if any, needs to be made in sentence 5?
F Change like to likes
G Change we to they
H Change created to creating
J No change needs to be made.
G Change we to they
16 “Parents make the waffles,” Jessica told them. “All you have to do is dress up your waffle fancy with whipped cream and sprinkles and stuff. Then Mr. Todd gives out ribbons before they get eaten.”
Which word is an antonym of fancy in paragraph 16?
F. Sour
G. Plain
H. Small
J. Quick
G. Plain
11 Finally, it was time to solo. As she sat in the open cockpit, she was afraid, but she let fear be a companion. The wind whistled over her head and carried away the sound of her laughter.
12 Courage was like a muscle that got stronger as she used it. Bessie enjoyed perfecting her skills while traveling around Europe. After a year of flying, she returned home with a license. She could fly anywhere on Earth. But could she make a living as a pilot?
The author includes paragraphs 11 and 12 most likely to show that Bessie —
F was not sure where she wanted to fly
G was not very serious about her flying lessons
H did not think she was ready to fly without her instructor
J did not let her fear keep her from flying
J did not let her fear keep her from flying
1 Which of Mrs. Snavin’s actions helps the reader visualize why Jake is embarrassed?
A. Mrs. Snavin was my third-grade teacher, and she acted like computers were scary, especially the new ones.
B. She was confused about a program we were supposed to use for a math project.
C. Then she shook her head and let out this big sigh.
D. She said it so loud that every kid in the classroom stopped and turned to look at us, just in time to see Mrs. Snavin pat me on the top of my head like I was a nice little poodle or something.
D. She said it so loud that every kid in the classroom stopped and turned to look at us, just in time to see Mrs. Snavin pat me on the top of my head like I was a nice little poodle or something.
(26) Visitors were able to build a LEGO brick model and add the LEGO brick model they built to any state on the map.
What is the most effective revision to make in sentence 26?
A Visitors were able to build a LEGO brick model and add it to any state on the map.
B Visitors were able to build a LEGO brick model to any state on the map they could add what they built.
C Visitors were able to build a LEGO brick model, then they were able to add that LEGO model to any state on the map.
D Visitors were able to build a LEGO brick model, then visitors could add the LEGO brick model to any state on the map.
A Visitors were able to build a LEGO brick model and add it to any state on the map.
(7) Surprisingly, these tree house hotels can be found in many environments. (8) Tropical rain forests, thickly wilderness areas, or trees along an island shore are just a few places they are located. (9) Each tree house hotel fits right in with the natural surroundings of the environment.
What change should be made in sentence 8?
A Change rain forests to rain forest’s
B Change thickly to thick
C Delete the comma after areas
D Insert a comma after shore
B Change thickly to thick
Of course, being eight years old has its own demands. Having a successful, thriving business doesn’t get Taylor out of going to school or doing homework. She also likes to participate in other activities. As a result, Taylor must carefully manage her time. For example, instead of going to play at a friend’s house or watching TV after school, Taylor might have to bake a batch of cupcakes for a customer. Because she has dance lessons on some days, she needs to get her baking done on time so she isn’t late for class.
The word thriving in paragraph 7 tells the reader that Taylor’s business is —
F. doing well
G. raising prices
H. losing customers
J. moving to a new city
F. doing well
5 At the time, Bridwell probably had no idea that his Clifford would become the most loved big red dog of all time! Since the book was first released in 1963, Bridwell has created more than 80 books about Emily Elizabeth and the big red dog. More than a hundred million copies of Clifford books have been printed all over the world and in 13 languages. In some countries Clifford’s name isn’t even Clifford. For example, in France he is called Ketchup.
6 The big red dog has appeared in more than just books. In the late 1990s a giant-size Clifford balloon was in a famous parade in New York City. In 2000, Clifford the Big Red Dog became a popular cartoon television show. In 2004, Bridwell’s famous dog came to the big screen in Clifford’s Really Big Movie. Clifford’s image can also be seen on everything from puzzles to backpacks and clothes.
The author included paragraphs 5 and 6 mainly to show —
A what plans Bridwell has for Clifford in the future
B that Bridwell found success in television and film
C how Clifford has remained popular over the years
D why Clifford is loved by many children everywhere
C how Clifford has remained popular over the years
4 After the bake sale everyone expected Taylor to buy the doll she wanted. She certainly had made enough money for it. Imagine everyone’s surprise when Taylor decided to purchase business cards instead. The business cards said “Taylor the Chef” and had her father’s phone number on them. She began passing them out. This way, future customers could contact her. To her father’s amazement, people started phoning him to order Taylor’s cupcakes.
The reader can conclude from paragraph 4 that Taylor —
F realized the doll she wanted would cost too much money
G discovered she needed to find another location for a bake sale
H became more interested in baking than in having a doll
J wanted her family to bake the cupcakes for her business
H became more interested in baking than in having a doll
(11) When Mo sewed his first tie, it didn’t turn out so well. (12) He says it looked like a tie that a clown would wear. (13) He kept trying to make better ones, though, and pretty soon, everyone started to tell him how great his bow ties looked. (14) He gave some away as gifts, and more and more people learned about them. (15) Mo was selling his ties as part of his new company, Mo’s Bows.
Which transition is best to add to the beginning of sentence 15?
F However
G Therefore
H After all
J Soon
J Soon
(10) Part of the fun of visiting a tree house hotel is arriving there. (11) A guest cannot just drive to the base of most tree house hotels and climb up. (12) A journey through nature is usually needed. (13) For example, a person in a rain forest will likely need to walks up wobbly narrow bridges and use ropes for support. (14) But the trip is worth it. (15) A person can see the jungle from a totally different view. (16) Spending the night in the rain forest is a rare and wonderful experience.
What change should be made in sentence 13?
F Change need to needs
G Change walks to walk
H Change use to using
J No change is needed.
G Change walks to walk
9 Mrs. Reno smiled. “I was going to ask for a volunteer to feed Ripley at recess, but since you’re a lizard lover, how would you like the job?”
10 She probably thought I was speechless with joy.
11 Before recess, Mrs. Reno gave me instructions. “You can hold Ripley, but don’t keep him away from his heat lamp too long.”
In paragraph 10, the word speechless means that Amy —
F. is not able to speak
G. does not like to speak
H. has too many things to say
J. repeats things when speaking
F. is not able to speak
1 Have you ever hiccuped in a quiet room full of people? Or have you ever hiccuped so hard that you had to stop what you were doing? If you have ever made the familiar “hic” sound of hiccups, you are not alone. Hiccups are a problem that almost everyone has experienced.
The author begins the selection with the ideas in paragraph 1 most likely to —
A. interest the reader in a subject that many people have experienced
B. suggest what it feels like to have the hiccups
C. explain to the reader why people have trouble recognizing hiccups
D. identify the most common time to get hiccups
A. interest the reader in a subject that many people have experienced
Which sentence best shows that the makers of the new Big Tex hoped to keep a problem from happening again?
A Overall, the new Big Tex would be more lifelike. (paragraph 7)
B In fact, they used a secret code for Big Tex in emails and on the phone. (paragraph 8)
C The workers were careful to use materials that would not burn easily. (paragraph 9)
D His steel-frame body was taken to a clothing factory. (paragraph 10)
C The workers were careful to use materials that would not burn easily. (paragraph 9)
(1) I think LEGO bricks are the best toys ever. (2) I just had one of the best experiences of my life.
Xavier would like to replace sentence 2 with a sentence that will improve the focus of his paper. Which sentence should he use?
A. LEGO bricks are a great toy because building with them teaches children important skills.
B. Playing with LEGO bricks is a hobby families can really enjoy together.
C. I was surprised that I had never heard of the LEGO KidsFest.
D. Last week I had a great day with my family and learned about one of my favorite toys at LEGO KidsFest.
D. Last week I had a great day with my family and learned about one of my favorite toys at LEGO KidsFest.
(22) The Frio River Treetop is closer to home it is located near Leakey, Texas. (23) Two tree houses are built into an old cypress tree. (24) They are 40 feet above the Frio River, and together they can hold up to 20 people. (25) The nearby area has swimming, fishing, canoeing, and hiking. (26) This makes it a greatest spot for someone who is looking for a more active setting.
What is the correct way to write sentence 22?
F The Frio River Treetop is closer. To home, it is located near Leakey, Texas.
G The Frio River Treetop is closer to home. It is located near Leakey, Texas.
H The Frio River Treetop is closer to home as a result it is located, near Leakey, Texas.
J No change is needed.
G The Frio River Treetop is closer to home. It is located near Leakey, Texas.