Author's Purpose
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.
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.”
In the paragraph above, the word transparent means:
A) fragile
B) green
C) slippery
D) clear
D) clear
"We need limits," said one parent in Dallas, Texas. He believes some books do not belong in school libraries. Many people say that books which have violence or bad words shouldn't be in schools. Some parents want the Hunger Games books removed because they include violence and adult themes. Some people say that parents know what is best for their kids and that they should have the right to decide which books should or should not be allowed in school libraries. Books should meet certain requirements before they are put in schools. If a book is not good for all kids, it should not be in a school library. Most parents don't have time to find out everything their kids are reading. They should be able to trust schools to do that for them.
What is the main idea of the selection above?
F) Parents trust schools to use books that are good for kids.
G) Books available in school libraries should contain material that is kid-friendly.
H) Hunger Games books should be removed from schools because they contain violence.
J) Parents should be able to decide which books are available in school libraries.
G) Books available in school libraries should contain material that is kid-friendly.
Mariah was too old to play hide-and-seek. But her mother had asked her to babysit her cousins while she was grocery shopping. They were just six. So Mariah did what she could to keep them entertained. But she didn’t hide how she felt about it. “Okay. I have to play with you two. Let’s get it over with,” she said. They rolled their eyes at her. They weren’t happy about the plan either. Every time they visited, the kids were sent to play with her. Today, the game was hide-and-seek. She was “it,” of course. She always picked the best part for herself first. They hid and she found them. The game was boring all of them. Then Mark and Abigail had an idea. “When she hides, let’s not find her. Let’s see how long it takes for her to see that we’re not playing.”
After reading the selection above, the reader can conclude that--
F) Mark and Abigail really like to play hide-and-seek.
G) Mariah is does not enjoy having to babysit her cousins.
H) Mariah and her cousins are about the same age.
J) Mariah’s mother asks Mariah to babysit her cousins often.
G) Mariah is does not enjoy having to babysit her cousins.
What is my favorite color?
Pink
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.
Before crawling into bed with her favorite book, Angela went online using her computer and internet and learned that in addition to worms, blue jays eat berries and fruits such as grapes, cherries, and tomatoes. The next day, during breakfast, Angela mimicked a mama bird by chirping as she dropped worms and fruit into the chick’s mouth. Angela’s mom complimented her on how talented she was at making bird noises. When breakfast was finally over, the family voted and decided to name the bird.
In the paragraph above, the word mimicked means —
F) fed
G) imitated
H) touched
J) pretended
G) imitated
Do you remember what happened on your favorite program yesterday? What about the day before? If so, you may need a break from TV! Kids are watching more TV than they watched before, researchers say. A study from 2009 found that children spend more than 28 hours per week in front of a TV. That includes time spent playing video games. Kids ages 6 to 11 in the United States watch more than three hours of TV each day. Ten years ago, children watched only about two hours and 40 minutes of TV each day. That means kids today watch almost five hours more TV each week. Why the increase? Experts say more TV programs today are interesting to children. “There is more ... than ever before,” April McDonald told WB News. She helped research the study. Many people want to reduce TV time for kids, especially because research shows that children who watch television for more than three hours per day perform more poorly in school.
Which detail from the selection above explains why kids might watch TV more now than ever before?
A) That means kids today watch almost five hours more TV each week.
B) Kids are watching more TV than they watched before, researchers say.
C) Ten years ago, children watched only about two hours and 40 minutes of TV each day.
D) Experts say more TV programs today are aimed at kids and their interests.
D) Experts say more TV programs today are aimed at kids and their interests.
Do you know where the hamburger originated? In 2007, a heated argument began among three states over the history of the hamburger. In Texas, lawmaker Betty Brown proposed a bill declaring that Athens, Texas was home of the hamburger. Then Wisconsin jumped in. State Representative Tom Wilson argued that Seymour, Wisconsin, was the place where the famous sandwich was vert cooked up. The owners of Louis' Lunch in New Haven, Connecticut, joined the debate as well. Established in 1895, the restaurant maintained its claim as the burger birthplace. “It's a well-known and established fact that New Haven is the home of the hamburger,” said New Haven Mayor John DeStefano Jr.
After reading the selection above, the reader can conclude that--
F) the hamburger originated in New Haven, Connecticut.
G) the hamburger was first created in Texas
H) Tom Wilson created the first hamburger in Wisconsin.
J) It is unclear where the hamburger was first invented.
J) It is unclear where the hamburger was first invented.
What is my favorite drink?
Dr. Pepper
Have you ever been driving down to Houston and noticed a huge white statue? It’s Big Sam--the statue of Sam Houston. The statue, which stands at 67 feet tall, is located in Huntsville, Texas. The monument is the second tallest statue in the United States. The Statue of Liberty is the tallest. However, the state of Sam Houston is the tallest statue in the world honoring an American. David Adickes is the artist who created the statue. His goal was to make the statue extraordinarily large so that people would be inspired to have big dreams. The statue was built on top of a 10-foot granite base and contained several layers of concrete over a steel frame. The entire statue was covered with white fiberglass. Today, Sam Houston stands watch over the state he fought hard to represent.
The author was most likely wrote this selection in order to--
A) persuade readers to visit the statue of Sam Houston.
B) entertain readers with a story about David Adickes.
C) provide information about the statue of Sam Houston.
D) describe the process that was used when designing the statue.
C) provide information about the statue of Sam Houston.
It did not stop. Cold white confetti came down on the city of Montreal morning, noon, and night, and already Susannah was wondering when the party would end. The other kids in her class loved the snow. They loved that sometimes, when the winds picked up and the roads turned icy, school was cancelled. They liked to build towering forts and snowmen, whose noses were the carrot sticks they found packed in their lunchboxes. Susannah despised the snow. More than that, she hated everything about wintertime. Her family had taken a trip to Florida two winters ago, and she wished that they could live there all year round.
In the paragraph above, the word despised means —
F) disgusted
G) disliked
H) enjoyed
J) played in
G) disliked
There are several ways to recycle around your house. If your city has neighborhood pickup, you can simply leave recyclable materials outside in a marked recycling bin. The items are collected and taken to a nearby recycling center. Another option is to take recyclable items to a refund station, but these exist only in certain states. For example, you can take many types of cans to can-return machines at grocery stores and supermarkets. Individuals insert used cans and receive a small amount of money for each one. It is easy to separate recyclable items from trash. Paper, plastic bottles, and aluminum cans can usually be recycled. To make it easy, keep separate recycling bins in various places in your home.
What is the main idea of the selection above?
A) Only some states have programs where you recieve money for recycled items.
B) There are several simple ways to recycle used materials around the house.
C) Paper, plastic bottles and aluminum cans are all items which can be recycled.
D) Using separate recycling bins at home is a great way to sort trash from recyclables.
B) There are several simple ways to recycle used materials around the house.
Samuel could see his cousin standing by the front gate waiting for him. He waved and Samuel sprinted across the street and squeezed through the door to give him a huge hug. “Man! You’re going to be as tall as me pretty soon!” his cousin said as he playfully rubbed Samuel’s head. “Come on, cousin. Everyone is waiting for us in the backyard. They’re not going to believe how big you’ve gotten!”
The conversation between Samuel and his cousin in the paragraph above shows that --
A) Samuel and his cousin don’t really get along with one another.
B) Samuel visits his cousin once every year.
C) Samuel had not seen his cousin in a long time.
D) Samuel’s cousin is much older than he is.
C) Samuel had not seen his cousin in a long time.
What was my dream job as a kid?
Teacher
The armadillo is a strange animal. It looks strange, and it acts strange. And in a strange way, it has become very important in the battle against one of mankind’s strangest and most terrible diseases. The armadillo was given its name by the early Spanish explorers in Central America. Since it is native only to the Americas, the Spanish had never seen one before. They must have stared at the first one in great surprise. El armadillo they called it, meaning “the little armored one.” And it does look somewhat like a soldier’s helmet with feet. Or maybe an iron football. But that’s only the body. At one end, there is a long, round, pointed tail. At the other end is a head almost at long and as pointed as the tail.
The author was most likely wrote this selection in order to--
A) describe how armadillos look and how they received their name
B) explain how armadillos are being used to fight against deadly diseases.
C) entertain the reader with information Spanish explorers in Central America.
D) educate the reader on the armadillo’s habitat and diet.
A) describe how armadillos look and how they received their name
My parents have been asleep for hours when I open the creaky attic door and climb the steps into the darkness. The flashlight beam sweeps ahead of me, illuminating trunks and piles of junk and who knows what else. I creep across the dusty floor, moving slowly and making sure not a single part of the attic escapes my flashlight’s glare. I ignore my sweaty palms, pounding heart, and the sickening sensation in my stomach that I am making a very bad mistake. This isn’t about facing my fears, I tell myself. It’s about getting some sleep. If I can’t sleep, I can’t study. If I can’t study, I’ll flunk out of school and have to join the circus. And the fact is I don’t like the circus one bit.
In the paragraph above, the word illuminating means —
F) finding the location
G) shining light on
H) searching for
J) gloomy
G) shining light on
Have you ever been driving down to Houston and noticed a huge white statue? It’s Big Sam--the statue of Sam Houston. The statue, which stands at 67 feet tall, is located in Huntsville, Texas. The monument is the second tallest statue in the United States. The Statue of Liberty is the tallest. However, the state of Sam Houston is the tallest statue in the world honoring an American. David Adickes is the artist who created the statue. His goal was to make the statue extraordinarily large so that people would be inspired to have big dreams. The statue was built on top of a 10-foot base which contains several layers of concrete over a steel frame. The entire statue is covered with white fiberglass. Today, Sam Houston stands watch over the state he fought hard to represent.
What is the paragraph above mostly about?
A) How David Adickes built the statue of Sam Houston
B) Why Sam Houston is an important historical figure in the state of Texas.
C) Information about the statue of Sam Houston.
D) Information about the Statue of Liberty.
C) Information about the statue of Sam Houston.
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.
Mrs. Niles’ reaction when she sees Alexa crawling on the ground shows that--
A) Alexa is often out of her seat crawling on the ground.
B) Mrs. Niles does not understand why Alexa is crawling on the ground.
C) Mrs. Niles wants help Alexa find her glasses.
D) Alexa dropped her glasses on the floor and now she is trying to find them.
B) Mrs. Niles does not understand why Alexa is crawling on the ground.
What is my favorite subject?
Math
When Gustave Eiffel and his team were designing the Eiffel tower, they were convinced that their design would work, but not everyone agreed. Some critics thought that a tower that tall would not handle the wind very well. One famous mathematics professor claimed that high wind speeds would cause even a shorter tower to collapse. Other people had a different concern. After construction began, a group of three hundred artists, writers, and architects tried to have the project stopped. They thought the tower would look ridiculous and would harm the Paris Skyline the same way that a huge black smokestack would.
The author was most likely wrote this selection in order to--
A) show readers that there was disagreement about whether or not to build the Eiffel tower.
B) explain to readers why the Eiffel tower could not be built in the the city of Paris.
C) describe the process that Gustave Eiffel went through while designing the Eiffel tower.
D) persuade the reader to visit the Eiffel tower in Paris, France.
A) show readers that there was disagreement about whether or not to build the Eiffel tower.
Part of bigger water supply systems, water mains are underground pipes that help bring water into peoples’ homes, offices, restaurants, and anywhere there is a sink. Temperature changes can cause most water main breaks—even a ten-degree change can make water mains more likely to break. When temperatures fall below freezing or when the temperature becomes very hot, the ground around water mains shifts. This puts stress on water mains. When a water main breaks, it can shut off the water supply people use in their houses and businesses. Many people were stuck standing on the sidewalk in the very early hours of the morning, while others who lived in the neighborhood didn’t even know about the incident until they saw it on the news.
In the paragraph above, the word incident means —
F) accident
G) event
H) break
J) freeze
G) event
Toward the end of summer break, my mom decided to surprise the family with a “vacation.” I say “vacation,” because what she suggested as a relaxing getaway was actually a terrible idea for someone wanting rest and relaxation. If you wanted to take some time off and rejuvenate, wouldn’t you pick a nice hotel 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.
Which detail from the passage above supports the idea that the narrator does not want to hike?
A) I’d more likely take a vacation from hiking than I would go hiking on vacation.
B) But when my mom gets tired of working, she likes to go on hikes.
C) Earlier this year, I raised a butterfly, and I love planting flowers.
D) Toward the end of summer break, my mom decided to surprise the family with a “vacation.”
A) I’d more likely take a vacation from hiking than I would go hiking on vacation.
I hear sounds coming from up above my head. I try to sleep, but the tighter I close my eyes, the louder the noises seem to get. It sounds like someone dragging a rake across a chalkboard. Or…no, it’s more like a bunch of marbles falling onto a linoleum floor. No, not that either. Tonight the sound could be two dozen maracas, rolling back and forth on a lazily tossing boat. Whatever it is, it’s scaring me to death. My name is Drew, and I sleep in the bedroom just underneath the attic. At least, I’m supposed to sleep there. Ever since the noise started, I can barely catch four winks, much less 40 of them. It’s not the sound that bothers me so much as the pictures it puts in my head. Stuff like a rake on a chalkboard. Who could sleep while that’s running through their brain?
Which sentence from the selection shows that the main character is having trouble falling asleep?
F) Whatever it is, it’s scaring me to death.
G) I hear sounds coming from up above my head.
H) It’s not the sound that bothers me so much as the pictures it puts in my head.
J) At least, I’m supposed to sleep there. Ever since the noise started, I can barely catch four winks, much less 40 of them.
J) At least, I’m supposed to sleep there. Ever since the noise started, I can barely catch four winks, much less 40 of them.
How many sports have I played since I was a kid?
A) 6
B) 4
C) 3
D) 5
A) 6
Softball, Track, Cheer, Gymnastics, Soccer, Dance