Word Study
Which word from the last sentence in the passage best helps the reader to figure out what "peal" means?
Paul Revere was involved with the Revolutionary War. He is the one who famously warned the colonists, "The British are coming!" Colonists are a group of people that settle in an area.
Revere came from a family of silversmiths. They used silver to fashion pots, forks, spoons, and other useful things. Paul worked as an apprentice to his father, who taught him everything he could. Paul later became a silversmith. He also learned to work with copper. About 500 of the pieces he made are still in existence. Revere also made many of the church bells whose peal can still be heard in New England today.
A) Many
B) Still
C) Bells
D) Church
C) Bells
Alexa had always needed glasses, for as long as she could remember. She was nine years old, and that was probably about long she’d been wearing glasses. Looking back, Alexa couldn’t even remember when she got them. Who knows, maybe she was born wearing them. Alexa couldn’t see things from far away, but she also struggled with reading. Her vision was very poor. Sometimes, while she was doing her work in class, her glasses would slide down to the tip of her nose. Once, they even fell off her face and landed on the floor. “Alexa, what are you doing?” her teacher, Mrs. Niles, asked when she saw Alexa crawling on the floor with her hands stretched out.
Who is the narrator of this story?
A The reader
B Alexa
C Mrs. Niles
D An outside observer
D An outside observer
Many people, including students and some parents, believe that requiring students to wear a uniform is unfair. It prevents students from exploring their freedom of expression, say some people. That right is protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. "I think students should choose their own outfits, rather than being told what to wear,” fifth grader Kylan Patterson from Dallas, Texas, told ABC News. His classmate Harvey Miller agrees. Some parents are also worried about the expense. Dallas would offer uniforms at a price between $16 and $26. "What's the school district going to do for people who can't afford them? How is it okay for the district to enforce a rule that requires something without providing parents with the means to comply with that rule?" asked one Dallas mother at a recent school board meeting.
Why are some students opposed to wearing school uniforms?
A) Purchasing required school uniforms costs too much money.
B) Most students do not like to be told what to do.
C) Some students believe they should be able to express themselves through which outfit they choose.
D) Having school uniform distracts students from their schoolwork.
C) Some students believe they should be able to express themselves through which outfit they choose.
Read the summary of the story:
"In the story, Maya forgets her lines during the school play. Even though she is embarrassed, she takes a deep breath and finishes her performance. After the play, her classmates cheer for her courage."
What is the theme of this story?
A) Always memorize your lines
B) Never be afraid of the stage
C) It’s okay to make mistakes—just keep going
D) Plays are difficult to perform
C) It’s okay to make mistakes—just keep going
In 2012, a group of scientists were exploring a rainforest in South America when, all of the sudden, they heard a familiar noise. It was the sound of frogs! When they shined their flashlights in the direction of the noise and found a tiny frog, the frog had large eyes and bright-green colored skin. However, it had one very interesting feature. The skin on its belly was so clear that the scientists could see its organs! Because it had transparent skin, the scientists knew it was a type of glass frog. They had never observed a frog like this in their previous research. “It was amazing,” said Charles Austin, one of the researchers who discovered the frog. “We had a feeling this was a species new to science.”
The author’s purpose in writing the paragraph above is to--
A) explain why glass frogs have certain features.
B) describe how scientists discovered a new species of frog.
C) convince readers to help protect the glass frog’s environment.
D) entertain the reader with fun facts about glass frogs.
B) describe how scientists discovered a new species of frog.
A Camping Adventure
(1) Sylvia and Brianna were excited for their camping trip! After arriving at the park, they put on their backpacks and hiked to a remote part of the park, far away from other campers and the ranger station. There, they pitched their tent for the night.
(2) When the tent was up, Sylvia built a campfire to cook supper. Brianna dug around in her backpack to find her blanket and sweater because the temperature was dropping precipitously. It had been in the 60’s when they arrived, but it was already down in the 40’s and dropping fast! As they went about their activities, they heard a sudden racket coming from the trees behind their tent.
A) As they went about their activities, they heard a sudden racket coming from the trees behind their tent.
B) "What are those crashing sounds in the bushes?" Sylvia asked tremulously
C) "What are those crashing sounds in the bushes?" Sylvia asked tremulously
D) "What are those crashing sounds in the bushes?" Sylvia asked tremulously
D) "What are those crashing sounds in the bushes?" Sylvia asked tremulously
Sometimes context clues are found in the sentences around a word, rather than in the same sentence as the word. In Paragraph 2 of the passage, the best context clue comes in the sentence right after the word precipitously is used: "It had been in the 60's when they arrived, but it was already down in the 40's and dropping fast!" What do you think the word "precipitously" means based on this context clue?
I grew up in the big city, which is always loud and busy. It was impossible to make friends there because everyone was rude. Sometimes that made me mad. Then, one day my mother told me and my sister that my grandmother was very sick, and she said we we’re moving out to the country to help her out. The country was way different than the city. You could see the stars at night, and there wasn’t another house for miles. The crickets sang a tune at night that was one of the most pleasant noises I’d heard in my entire life.
Whose perspective is this short story being told from?
A Third person narrator
B First person narrator
C Second person narrator
D An outside observer
B First person narrator
Diana laid in bed staring up at the ceiling, tryin to fall asleep. “Are you still awake?” her sister Stephanie asked from the bottom bunk. “Yeah. I can’t sleep,” Diana said, sounding frustrated. She wished she could just make a decision. The way she saw it, their choices ranged from bad to worse. “Diana, what’s the worst thing that could happen?” Stephanie asked. She was curious to find out why her sister was so nervous. “The worst thing? Mom could get mad and ground us for life?” “Maybe we should cancel it,” Stephanie said. “I can’t do that. A bunch of Mom’s friends are coming tomorrow. Plus the bakery has a strict policy about canceling cake orders. I’ll lose my money if we cancel now.” The next evening, Diana felt nervous. Twenty people were crammed into their small apartment. She had turned on the fan.
What is Emily worried might happen when her mom learns they threw a surprise party?
A) They could lose the money that they paid for the cake.
B) Her mom might get mad and ground them for a long time.
C) Not all of the guests will show up because the apartment is too small.
D) Her mom will cancel the party and tell everyone to leave.
B) Her mom might get mad and ground them for a long time.
Which of the following would most likely be considered realistic fiction?
A) A boy discovers he can fly after finding a magic stone
B) A girl moves to a new school and learns to make friends
C) A robot travels through time to fix the future
D) A prince rides a dragon to rescue a queen
B) A girl moves to a new school and learns to make friends
Alzheimer’s Disease is an illness that people receive as they age. It leads to individuals losing memories they once possessed. The Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center (ADEAR) says that with Alzheimer's, the forgetting is about things that are part of everyday life. You might not notice the symptoms of AD at first. The early symptoms usually develop slowly. Only later, when a person starts saying and doing things that seem very different from before, are the symptoms noticeable. A person can forget how to get dressed, or they might not remember how to get home from the grocery store that is visited once a week. Sadly, a person may not recognize loved ones at all. This is why Alzheimer's has also been called the “mind-robbing” disease.
Why did the author include the information in the paragraph above?
F) To explain how so many people get the disease
G) To educate the reader about Alzheimer’s Disease and it’s symptoms.
H) To tell the reader about the ADEAR organization and the work they are doing.
G) To educate the reader about Alzheimer’s Disease and it’s symptoms.
(3) "What are those crashing sounds in the bushes?" Sylvia asked tremulously. "You don’t think . . . it could be . . . a bear . . . do you?" Her voice was shaking, but her body was petrified with fear. She felt like she was frozen in place.
(4) A moment later, a trio of raccoons meandered across their campsite, right in front of Sylvia! The three furry creatures were in no hurry to leave. They wandered around aimlessly before finally making their way back into the woods.
As it is used in Paragraph 4, what is the meaning of meandered?
A) moved in a loud way
B) moved in an unhurried, aimless way
C) ran very safely and orderly
D) moved in big leaps and bounds
B) moved in an unhurried, aimless way
Toward the end of Spring Break, my mom decided to surprise our family with a “vacation.” I say “vacation” because what she suggested as a relaxing getaway was actually a horrible idea for someone wanting relaxation. If you wanted to take some time off, wouldn’t you pick a peaceful spa or a luxurious beach? But when my mom gets tired of working, she likes to go on hikes. Not that I don’t like doing things in the great outdoors: earlier this year I raised a butterfly, and I love planting flowers. But what I want to do when I’m tired is sit by a pool. Hiking is hard! I’d more likely take a vacation from hiking than I would go hiking on vacation. But there Mom was, standing in the kitchen with a map in one hand and a tent pole in the other. She was poking me with the pole as I tried to eat my toast.
By the end of this passage, the reader can tell that the narrator--
A) does not like spending time with his mother.
B) is looking forward to hiking with his mother.
C) does not know how to build a tent.
D) does not want to go hiking during his Spring Break.
D) does not want to go hiking during his Spring Break.
Throughout its early history, the United States relied on children to work in many different settings, including farms, mines and factories. There was a time when most employers hired kids because they were inexpensive and easy to manage. In the 1800s, kids as young as six years old worked in textile mills for 12 hours each day. By the end of the century, almost 2 million kids performed dangerous tasks in the workplace. The long working hours weren’t the only issue. The work conditions were often poor and the young children were paid very little for their efforts. Any child who misbehaved while at work was punished and sent to a “whipping room.” Workers hardly had any time for breaks and most had to eat their lunch while continuing their workplace duties.
Why was hiring young children prefered over hiring adults in the workplace?
A) They were smaller so they could fit into tight spaces.
B) Young children have a lot of energy and can work for longer periods of time without getting tired.
C) Hiring children was cheap and kids were easy to manage.
D) Many adults already had jobs.
C) Hiring children was cheap and kids were easy to manage.
In a story, a character works hard all summer mowing lawns and saving money to buy a bike. When the bike is stolen, he decides not to give up and starts saving again.
What theme is shown in this story?
A) Money is hard to save
B) Hard work and determination pay off
C) Bicycles are expensive
D) Sharing is important
B) Hard work and determination pay off
Head lice can happen to anyone. It is not a sign of poor hygiene. Head lice are tiny insects that live in human hair. They hatch from small eggs, called nits, which are attached to the base of a person’s hair. The nit is small and white and attaches about ¼ inch from the scalp on the hair. The eggs hatch in seven to ten days, with new louse reaching adulthood in about two weeks. The female louse can live 20 to 30 days and lay 6 to 10 eggs per day.
Prevention is the key word in the control of head lice in school, and the schools need parents’ help. They ask that parents check their child’s head over the ears and at the base of the neck each week. Parents and children should watch for nonstop itching, because it is a good sign that something is wrong. Head lice are transmitted in a number of ways, not only by physical contact. Parents should teach their children not to borrow combs, brushes, ribbons or head covers. If spending the night away from home, kids should take their own sleeping bag and pillow.
The author’s purpose in writing the second paragraph in the selection above is to--
A) explain to the reader how to get rid of head lice if a child has them.
B) inform the reader about head lice and how they spread within human hair.
C) provide the reader with ways to prevent the spreading of head lice.
D) describe to the reader how head lice can impact a child’s health.
C) provide the reader with ways to prevent the spreading of head lice.
"The sun was relentless, beating down on the hikers as they trudged up the dusty trail."
What does the word relentless most likely mean in this sentence?
A) Kind and gentle
B) Never giving up
C) Cold and stormy
D) Quiet and peaceful
B) Never giving up
“Hurry or we’ll miss the bus to the library, Eric!” called Mrs. Lopez. The Lopez family had moved to Dallas from Costa Rica last month and Eric was going to get his library card today. On the bus, Eric’s grandmother became aware of something unusual. She saw Eric was very quiet and looked rather sad. “Is something wrong, honey?” she asked. Eric frowned. He then took out a tissue to blow his nose. “My speaking of English is not good. What if the library lady is not able to understand what I am saying?” he said. “Your English gets better and better every day. I’m positive that the librarian will understand you,” Mrs. Lopez said confidently. “I am sure that you will be able to take some books home today.”
Mrs. Lopez’s comments to Eric shows that she is--
Determined
Supportive
Worried
Curious
Supportive
Sometimes, it is hard for kids in our class to relate to what they read. That is why I have started a magazine only for kids. I call it “Kids Today.” The magazine will be written and run by kids. It will talk about topics that are important and interesting to us. First, I am looking for ids my aage who want to write the magazine. I have decided to arrange the writing by subject: school, news, sports, music, and movies. Second, I need kids to edit the articles. This magazine is such a good way to reach out to our classmates and talk about what interests us and is important to us. Come join Kids Today and help make it a success!
“Kids Today” is a magazine organization that was started because--
A) Normal magazines are oftentimes too boring for kids to read.
B) Other magazines have information that is too challenging for kids to understand.
C) The creator wanted to start his own company.
D) Many other magazines do not relate to kids or have information that is important to them.
D) Many other magazines do not relate to kids or have information that is important to them.
Which statement best compares poetry and fiction?
A) Poetry always tells a true story, while fiction does not
B) Fiction includes rhyming words and stanzas
C) Poetry often uses rhythm and imagery, while fiction tells a story with characters and plot
D) Fiction is shorter than poetry
C) Poetry often uses rhythm and imagery, while fiction tells a story with characters and plot
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, American students are performing more poorly than other countries in math, reading and science. Many people believe that an extended school day can help close the gap. For many students going back to school this year, the school day will be nearly 45 minutes longer than it was the previous year. It’s part of a nation-wide trend to increase the amount of time students spend in the classroom. In 2012, nearly 100 elementary schools in Virginia extended their school day by one hour. As a result, many of these schools noticed an increase in students’ reading test scores. In some schools, the extended day allows students more time for special activities like art, music and P.E. Other schools have decided to use the extra time for lunch and recess!
The author’s purpose in writing the paragraph above is to--
A) explain what changes schools are able to make after lengthening their
B) describe how students feel about longer school days
C) inform readers that an extended school day may be beneficial for schools
D) explain the negative results of extending the school day
C) inform readers that an extended school day may be beneficial for schools
Read the paragraph below:
"Even though Marcus had never seen a platypus before, he could infer from the article that it was a unique animal. The article described its bill like a duck's, its feet like a beaver’s, and the fact that it lays eggs even though it's a mammal."
Which clue helps the reader understand what the word infer means?
A) “Marcus had never seen a platypus before”
B) “It was a unique animal”
C) “From the article”
D) “The article described…”
D) “The article described…”
Adriana fell onto the bed exhausted. Her first day in the new neighborhood had been stressful. There was the work of unpacking all her stuff. There were the stares from the neighbors. Now she just needed to get some sleep, but the next day was going to be even worse. It was the first day of school! She turned out the light, punched the pillow a handful of times, and looked up at the ceiling. She stared. “Oh, no--not again,” she thought to herself. When her clock showed midnight, she turned over on her back. The next time she looked, it was 1 a.m., then 2 a.m. “Perfect. I'll definitely make an impression on the kids in the cafeteria tomorrow, especially if I fall asleep face down in my soup! I'll bet they haven't seen that before.”
Adriana is most likely worried about --
A) falling asleep face down in her soup.
B) making friends in her new neighborhood and school.
C) getting enough sleep.
D) whether or not she will finish unpacking before it’s time to go to bed.
B) making friends in her new neighborhood and school.
Have you ever seen a baseball field with a hill in the middle of it? In Nashville, Tennessee, there was once a baseball stadium known as Sulphur Dell. It was one of the most unusual ballparks in the history of baseball. In most ballparks, the right field fence is about 330 feet from home plate. In Sulphur Dell, it was only 262 feet—which made it very easy to hit home runs, if you hit the ball to just the right spot. That's pretty strange, but not half as weird as the hill in the outfield. It sloped up in front of the right field fence, until it got to about 22 feet high!
After reading the paragraph above, readers can conclude that--
A) it is not difficult to hit a homerun at most baseball stadiums.
B) it is unusual to have a hill in the middle of a baseball field.
C) Sulphur Dell is an unusual name to have for a baseball stadium.
D) it is not easy to hit a homerun at Sulphur Dell.
B) it is unusual to have a hill in the middle of a baseball field.
Read the dialogue from a story:
"I know you're scared," said Tom. "But we have to try. If we don’t speak up, nobody will know the truth."
What theme is suggested by this conversation?
A) Telling the truth can take courage
B) Friends should always agree
C) Secrets are fun to keep
D) Always do what your friend says
A) Telling the truth can take courage
Can you imagine a week without watching SpongeBob SquarePants, Stranger Things or your favorite TV show? The TV-Turnoff Network wants you to do just that—and imagine what you can do instead of watching TV. As a result, the theme of TV-Turnoff Week is "Imagine." The event takes place from April 24 to April 30. The organization would like to raise awareness about the negative effects of watching too much TV. On average, each person in the United States watches at least four hours of television per day, according to RealVision and the TV-Turnoff Network. In fact, kids spend more time in front of the television (1,023 hours per year) than in school (900 hours per year)! Experts say that too much TV time is bad for children. Kids don’t perform as well in school and don’t exercise enough. Robert Kesten, executive director of the TV-Turnoff Network, hopes that kids will turn off the TV and participate in other interests. "We think kids will be surprised with the new discoveries they will make if they choose to shut off the TV for a week." Kesten told ABN News.
The author’s purpose in writing the paragraph above is to--
A) explain why the TV-Turnoff Network is trying to decrease the time kids spend watching TV.
B) have the reader think about what life would be like without watching television.
C) to persuade the reader to participate in TV-turnoff Week.
D) entertain the reader with interesting information about television.
A) explain why the TV-Turnoff Network is trying to decrease the time kids spend watching TV.