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Vocab
Vocab
Comprehension
Comprehension
Grammar
100

Answer Numbers 1 through 10 on your Answer Sheet. Choose the best answer for each question.

What does the word seep mean in the sentence below?

The water will seep through the rocks to create a natural spring.

  1. dry
  2. flow
  3. stir
  4. throb

2. flow

100

What does the word brief mean in the sentence below?

She said her visit would be brief, but I wished she would stay forever.

  1. short
  2. instant
  3. drawn out
  4. immediate

1. short

100

Which sentence from the passage uses adjectives to create the feeling that danger surrounds Francis, Lottie, and Billy?

  1. “Unlike Francis and Jason Grimes, the one armed mountain man.” 
  2. “It was a decent plan—it was their only plan—and it seemed to be working.”
  3. “The Comancheros were an outlaw band, ruthless, terrifying, inhumanely tough.”
  4. “Francis knew that brushing out the tracks would only work in the pitch dark of night.”

3.

  • “The Comancheros were an outlaw band, ruthless, terrifying,
    inhumanely tough.”
100

Read this text from the passage.


There hadn't been a breath of wind to blow the dust over the brush marks he'd left . . .

What kind of language is the phrase breath of wind as used in the text above?


  1. adage
  2. alliteration
  3. personification
  4. simile
  • personification
100

Which word best completes the sentence below?

This is the first time Tommy ______ grown green beans in his garden.


  1. has
  2. have
  3. is
  4. was

1. has

200

What does the word evident mean in the sentence below?

The solution to the mystery was evident.

  1. barely known
  2. easily understood
  3. quickly dismissed
  4. slowly recognized

2.easily understood

200

What does the word hasten mean in the sentence below?

Due to the predicted storm, the Sawyers will hasten their efforts to finish painting the house.


  1. excite
  2. inspire
  3. motivate
  4. quicken

4. quicken

200

“If we don't keep moving they'll be on us like dogs, won't they, Francis?”

What is the meaning of the phrase they'll be on us like dogs as used in the sentence above?


  1. They will insult us terribly.
  2. They will make a loud noise.
  3. They will attack us immediately.
  4. They will make us a part of their pack.

3. They will attack us immediately.

200

After Francis tells Lottie to dig, Lottie

  1. sees a mirage.
  2. digs and finds water.
  3. digs and finds nothing.
  4. sees the dust from the Comancheros.

2.

  • digs and finds water.
200

Which word best completes the sentence below?

Yesterday, Manny and Sheryl ______ ten newspapers left over.

  1. had
  2. has
  3. was
  4. were

1. had

300

What does the word salvation mean in the sentence below?

The cat's salvation was assured when the firefighter pulled him from the tree.

  1. the state of taking a nap
  2. the state of playing a game
  3. the state of being saved from harm
  4. the state of being taken on a journey

3.

  • the state of being saved from harm
300

What does the word impoliteness mean in the sentence below?

Mr. Radnor warned, “I will not accept any impoliteness; you must treat everyone in this room with courtesy and consideration.”

  1. anger
  2. disagreement
  3. disrespect
  4. excuse

3.

  • disrespect
300

Read this sentence from the passage.

Lottie would explain every little detail of every little part of every little thing she was talking about so that not a single aspect of it was missed, and she sometimes drove Francis over the edge.

What is the meaning of the phrase drove Francis over the edge as used in the sentence above?


  1. put Francis in danger
  2. took Francis to a cliff
  3. asked Francis for help
  4. irritated Francis greatly

4. irritated Francis greatly 

300

What do Francis and the children do after the bolt of lightning hits close to them?

  1. They wake Billy up.
  2. They drink lots of water.
  3. They take cover under a ledge.
  4. They run for the shelter of the trees.

3. They take cover under a ledge.

300

Which word best completes the sentence below?

There ______ a crack in the vase.


  1. am
  2. are
  3. is
  4. were

3. is

400

What does the word undoubtedly mean in the sentence below?

The boy undoubtedly could run very fast.


  1. certainly
  2. desperately
  3. hardly
  4. probably

1.

  • certainly
400

What does the word stalked mean in the sentence below?

The cat stalked the mouse so well that the mouse was completely unaware of the cat's presence.

  1. attacked
  2. followed
  3. noticed
  4. strolled

2.

  • followed
400

Then Francis picked Billy up and carried him piggyback, mile after mile, then yard after yard, and finally, step after step.

What is the effect of the author's shift in nouns from mile to yard to step in the sentence above?


  1. It helps the reader understand how old Billy is.
  2. It signals that the author is about to flash back in time.
  3. It shows that the task of carrying Billy is getting harder.
  4. It provides an accurate measure of the distance Francis travels.

3.

  • It shows that the task of carrying Billy is getting harder.
400

Which sentence from the passage uses verbs to create a feeling of swift action?

  1. “He had never seen such rain.” 
  2. “The streambed filled in the heavy downpour.” 
  3. “He pushed against Billy, who slammed into Lottie.” 
  4. “He straightened slowly, working the pain out of his legs.”

3.

  • “He pushed against Billy, who slammed into Lottie.”
400

Which word best completes the sentence below?

There ______ twelve months in the year.


  1. are
  2. has
  3. have
  4. is

1. are

500

What does the word pace mean in the sentence below?

The elephant's pace can be very fast if it is frightened.


  1. life
  2. mood
  3. sleep
  4. walk

4. walk

500

What does the word dismantle mean in the sentence below?

In order to dismantle the tent, Sara had to find all the bags that held the parts.

  1. ruin
  2. break
  3. destroy
  4. take apart

4. take apart

500

Billy falls sound asleep

  1. during the storm.
  2. while Francis carries him.
  3. before Francis carries him.
  4. after Francis puts him down.

2.

  • while Francis carries him.
500

Francis is relieved after the heavy rainfall because

  1. they are all safe.
  2. their footprints are gone.
  3. Lottie and Billy are safe.
  4. the Comancheros are lost.

2.

  • their footprints are gone.
500

Which word best completes the sentence below?

Wendy ______ fun at the art museum.


  1. are
  2. had
  3. have
  4. were

2. had