The Basics
Passage:
Maya gripped her violin as she stepped onto the stage. The bright lights made it hard to see the crowd, but she knew her parents were out there watching. For weeks, she had practiced the same song, sometimes so tired she wanted to quit. Now, her fingers shook as she raised the bow. The first few notes squeaked, but she kept playing. As the melody grew stronger, she forgot her fear and focused on the music. When she finished, the audience clapped loudly. Maya smiled, realizing that sticking with something hard could lead to success after all.
Question:
What is the theme of this passage?
A. It is best to give up when something feels too difficult.
B. Hard work and persistence can lead to success.
C. Success only comes to those with natural talent.
D. Facing fear means performing perfectly.
B. Hard work and persistence can lead to success.
Passage:
Olivia sat at the piano, her hands hovering above the keys. Her teacher had just announced a surprise recital for the end of the week. Olivia’s heart sank. She loved playing but hated performing in front of people. Each wrong note echoed in her mind like a thunderclap. “I can’t do it,” she whispered to herself. But later that night, she caught her little brother humming one of her songs. “You’re really good at that,” he said. That small comment gave Olivia courage she hadn’t felt before.
Question:
What inference can you make about Olivia?
A. She gains confidence when others appreciate her talent.
B. She only practices when her teacher forces her to.
C. She enjoys attention from large audiences.
D. She decides to stop taking piano lessons.
A. She gains confidence when others appreciate her talent.
Passage:
Carlos had always admired his older brother Mateo, who could fix almost anything. When the family’s drone broke, Carlos offered to repair it by himself. “Be careful,” Mateo warned. “The wiring’s tricky.” Hours later, the drone still wouldn’t start. Carlos sighed in frustration but refused to quit. He reread the manual, adjusted a few wires, and pressed the power button again. This time, the drone lifted into the air. Mateo smiled proudly. “See? Patience pays off,” he said. Carlos grinned, realizing his brother was right.
Question:
What is the theme of this passage?
A. Rushing through a task leads to better results.
B. Patience and persistence can lead to success.
C. Working alone is better than asking for help.
D. Family competition causes problems.
B. Patience and persistence can lead to success.
Passage:
Mira’s heart pounded as she looked at the clock. Five minutes left in the robotics competition, and their robot’s arm had stopped moving. Her teammates stared at her, waiting for a fix. “Give me the screwdriver,” she said quickly. Sparks flew as she adjusted the wires. The screen blinked—then the arm lifted and placed the final block just as the buzzer sounded. The crowd erupted in cheers. Mira smiled through tears as her team hugged her. After weeks of frustration, their hard work had paid off.
Question:
How does Mira respond to the climax of the story?
A. She panics and gives up when the robot fails.
B. She refuses to finish because time runs out.
C. She calmly fixes the problem and saves the team’s success.
D. She blames her teammates for the mistake.
She calmly fixes the problem and saves the team’s success.
Passage:
Elliot stood at the starting line, staring at the hurdles ahead. Two months ago, he had tripped during the first race of the season and swore he’d never run again. But Coach believed in him and asked him to give it one more try. The whistle blew, and Elliot took off. When he reached the first hurdle, his legs shook—but he jumped anyway. He stumbled once, caught his balance, and kept going. He didn’t win the race, but as he crossed the finish line, he grinned. He had beaten his fear, and that felt like victory.
Question:
Which statement best expresses the theme of this passage?
A. Confidence only comes from winning.
B. Facing fears is a victory in itself.
C. Competition helps people avoid failure.
D. It’s best not to try again after a mistake.
B. Facing fears is a victory in itself.
Passage:
When Leo opened his backpack, he groaned. His math homework was covered in orange juice from his spilled lunch. “This is a disaster,” he muttered. His friend Tanya tried to help by fanning the papers, but the pages were stuck together. “Don’t panic,” she said. Leo sighed, feeling defeated. “It’s useless,” he said. “I’ll just have to redo it all.” But as he pulled out a clean sheet of paper, he realized maybe it wasn’t as bad as it seemed.
Question:
Based on the passage, what is the meaning of defeated as it is used in paragraph 5?
A. confused
B. tired
C. hopeless
D. annoyed
C. hopeless
Passage:
When the rain started, Jonah’s soccer team rushed to pack up their equipment. But Jonah stayed behind, searching the muddy field for something. “What are you doing?” Coach called. “The ball’s gone!” Jonah shouted. “It rolled into the creek.” Without hesitation, Coach helped him grab a branch to fish it out. The team cheered as Jonah pulled the soggy ball to safety. “Now that’s dedication,” Coach said with a grin.
Question:
How does Jonah’s action affect the outcome of the story?
A. His determination helps save the soccer ball and impresses his coach.
B. His carelessness causes the team to lose their ball.
C. His distraction makes the team late for practice.
D. His bravery puts him in danger during the storm.
A. His determination helps save the soccer ball and impresses his coach.
Passage:
The auditorium buzzed with noise as the school play began. Behind the curtain, Theo checked his costume for the tenth time. He wasn’t the lead, but he still wanted to do his best. When he stepped onstage, he froze for a moment under the bright lights. Then he remembered his classmates counting on him and began his lines with energy. After the final bow, the crowd erupted into applause. Theo’s teacher whispered, “I knew you could do it.” He felt a wave of relief—he had proved something to himself.
Question:
What inference can you make about Theo?
A. He is nervous about performing but gains confidence through experience.
B. He enjoys being the center of attention in front of a crowd.
C. He dislikes working on plays with his classmates.
D. He forgets his lines and ruins the performance.
A. He is nervous about performing but gains confidence through experience.
Passage:
Every afternoon, Jordan helped his grandmother water her garden. “These flowers need care, not speed,” she often reminded him. But Jordan liked to finish chores fast, so he rushed through. One day, he forgot to turn off the hose, and by morning the garden was flooded. Grandma didn’t scold him—she handed him a towel and said, “Let’s clean up together.” As they worked, Jordan realized that patience wasn’t about being slow—it was about doing something with care.
Question:
Which statement best expresses the theme of the passage?
A. Responsibility means finishing a job as quickly as possible.
B. True learning happens through mistakes and understanding.
C. Success is only possible when someone else helps you.
D. Gardens are hard to take care of without special tools.
B. True learning happens through mistakes and understanding.
Passage:
Lena used to roll her eyes whenever her dad reminded her to recycle. “One bottle won’t change the world,” she’d argue. But after joining her school’s eco-club, she helped clean a beach covered in trash. The sight shocked her—plastic tangled in seaweed, bottles buried in sand. That evening, she told her dad about it. “Maybe one bottle does matter,” she said quietly, placing a water bottle in the recycling bin. Her dad smiled. “Looks like you’re changing the world already.”
Question:
What do Lena’s actions at the end of the passage reveal about her character?
A. She realizes that small actions can make a difference.
B. She decides that recycling is a waste of time.
C. She becomes angry at others who don’t recycle.
D. She forgets about her experience at the beach.
A. She realizes that small actions can make a difference.
Passage:
The sun sank low behind the mountains, painting the snow a soft orange. Tasha’s breath formed clouds in the freezing air as she waited for her turn to ski down the hill. Her heart raced—not just from the cold, but from excitement. She had never skied alone before. The crisp wind whipped her scarf, and her instructor’s voice echoed from below, “You can do it, Tasha!” She gripped her poles tighter. When she finally pushed off, fear melted into thrill as she glided down, faster than she thought she could go.
Question:
How does the setting affect the plot of this story?
A. The cold, snowy mountain challenges Tasha to face her fear.
B. The setting shows why Tasha enjoys staying indoors.
C. The mountain helps Tasha remember her family’s vacation.
D. The warm weather gives Tasha confidence to succeed.
A. The cold, snowy mountain challenges Tasha to face her fear.
Passage:
The courtroom was silent as the judge entered. Eli felt the weight of everyone’s eyes on him. He had spent days preparing his speech for the debate tournament, but now the words wouldn’t come. His palms were sweaty, and his throat felt parched. He took a sip of water and finally spoke. As his voice grew stronger, the nervousness faded, replaced by steady determination.
Question:
What is the meaning of parched as it is used in paragraph 3?
A. tired
B. dry
C. nervous
D. angry
B. dry
Passage:
“Why can’t I come with you?” Maya asked, folding her arms.
Her older sister, Janelle, shook her head. “Because it’s a college tour, not a vacation.”
“That’s not fair,” Maya argued. “You got to go to my school play!”
Janelle sighed. “This is different. I’ll be busy.”
Maya turned away, feeling hurt. Later that evening, Janelle peeked into her room. “I’ll take a picture of the theater for you,” she said softly. Maya smiled a little. Maybe her sister did care after all.
Question:
How does the dialogue affect the story’s conflict?
A. It creates an external conflict between the sisters that is later softened by kindness.
B. It creates tension between the sisters that is never resolved.
C. It reveals that Maya and Janelle compete to get attention from their parents.
D. It develops an internal conflict for Janelle about whether she should quit school.
A. It creates an external conflict between the sisters that is later softened by kindness.
Passage:
“I don’t think I can do this,” Nina said, staring at the blank art canvas.
Her teacher knelt beside her. “Do what?”
“Paint something good enough to show.”
The teacher smiled. “Art isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being brave enough to start.”
Nina hesitated, then dipped her brush into bright blue paint. By the end of class, her painting wasn’t perfect, but it was hers. When the teacher asked to hang it in the hallway, Nina felt a burst of pride she hadn’t expected.
Question:
How does the teacher’s dialogue affect Nina in the story?
A. It discourages her from showing her work to others.
B. It causes her to compare her art to others.
C. It motivates her to begin painting despite her fears.
D. It convinces her to stop painting altogether.
C. It motivates her to begin painting despite her fears.
Passage:
The first time Dev spoke in front of the class, his voice was barely a whisper. The words tangled together like threads in a knot. A few kids giggled, and his face burned. But each week, he practiced. By the last speech of the semester, his voice filled the room. “Confidence,” he thought, “is like a muscle—it grows when you use it.”
Question:
What does the figurative language in the last line suggest about confidence?
A. It is something that fades quickly after success.
B. It improves through effort and practice.
C. It can only be gained by winning competitions.
D. It depends on what others think of you.
B. It improves through effort and practice.
Passage:
When the city’s lights went out, every building went dark except the library. People hurried inside, looking for warmth and answers. The librarian smiled and handed out candles to the visitors. “Books can light your way too,” she said, pointing toward a shelf filled with stories. As children gathered around to read by candlelight, laughter replaced fear. The library became a place of comfort during the storm.
Question:
What is the author’s purpose for writing this passage?
A. To show that stories can bring people hope during dark times.
B. To explain how electricity works in big cities.
C. To entertain readers with a mystery about a power outage.
D. To describe how librarians keep books safe in emergencies.
A. To show that stories can bring people hope during dark times.
Passage:
In the year 2135, people didn’t drive cars anymore—they flew hoverpods. Sasha loved zipping through the clouds on her way to school. Today, however, the air was thick with fog, and she could barely see ahead. When she tried to land, her pod wobbled and hit a fence. “Oh no!” she groaned. The fog lifted slowly, revealing her neighbor waving from below. “You okay?” he called. “Barely!” she shouted back, laughing nervously.
Question:
How does the futuristic setting affect Sasha’s experience in the story?
A. It creates new challenges for her to overcome while learning to fly.
B. It shows that technology has made mistakes impossible.
C. It makes her life easier by removing all possible dangers.
D. It prevents her from ever interacting with other people.
A. It creates new challenges for her to overcome while learning to fly.
Passage:
The waves crashed against the shore as Liam stared out at the ocean. The wind whipped his hair into his eyes, but he didn’t move. This was where he and his dad used to fish every summer before his dad moved away. He remembered their last trip—the laughter, the salty air, the big fish that got away. Now he was here alone, holding the same old fishing rod. “You’d tell me not to give up,” he whispered. He cast the line into the sea and waited, feeling closer to his dad with each passing wave.
Question:
How does the setting influence Liam’s motivation in the story?
A. The ocean inspires him to forget about fishing altogether.
B. The beach setting makes him want to move somewhere far away.
C. The familiar beach reminds him of his father and encourages him to keep a family tradition.
D. The setting shows that he dislikes being outdoors alone.
C. The familiar beach reminds him of his father and encourages him to keep a family tradition.
Passage:
The rain beat against the window as Arjun packed his suitcase. His new school was two hours away, and he wasn’t sure he wanted to leave. His mom hugged him tightly. “You’ll do great,” she said. Arjun forced a smile but didn’t answer. On the car ride, he watched familiar streets fade into the distance. When they arrived, he took a deep breath and stepped out into the drizzle, clutching his backpack. “Here goes,” he whispered.
Question:
What inference can you make about Arjun based on the passage?
A. He wishes he could stay home forever and refuses to go.
B. He feels angry that his mother made him move.
C. He is nervous about starting over in a new place but determined to try.
D. He is excited to leave his family behind for a new adventure.
C. He is nervous about starting over in a new place but determined to try.
Passage:
Naomi had dreamed of being the school newspaper editor since fifth grade. When she finally got the job, she was thrilled—until her first big article was rejected. Her teacher said it needed more facts and less opinion. Naomi wanted to quit, but instead she stayed late to rewrite it. The next morning, her revised article made the front page. Her teacher left a note on her desk: “Strong work takes strong effort.” Naomi smiled, realizing she had learned more than just journalism.
Question:
What inference can you make about the theme of this passage?
A. Achievement often requires learning from failure.
B. Success happens easily when you have talent.
C. Working alone is the best way to avoid mistakes.
D. Teachers always know more than students.
A. Achievement often requires learning from failure.
Passage:
As the referee blew the whistle, Ben’s stomach twisted into knots. This was the final kick that would decide the championship. He took a deep breath, stepped forward, and kicked the ball straight toward the goal. It bounced off the post and rolled back toward him. “No!” he shouted. But then his teammate raced in and sent it flying into the net. The crowd erupted in cheers. Ben laughed, his earlier dread turning into joy.
Question:
Which word best describes the meaning of dread as used in paragraph 2?
A. excitement
B. relief
C. nervous fear
D. exhaustion
C. nervous fear
Passage:
After Emma’s art show, her best friend Zoe walked up with a huge grin. “You’re amazing!” Zoe said. Emma blushed. “Thanks, but my painting didn’t win anything.” Zoe shook her head. “That doesn’t matter. You made something beautiful.” Emma looked back at her painting, noticing the colors differently this time. Maybe Zoe was right—maybe success wasn’t about prizes at all.
Question:
How does Zoe’s dialogue affect Emma in the story?
A. It helps Emma realize her artwork has value even without winning.
B. It makes Emma more embarrassed about losing.
C. It causes Emma to give up on future contests.
D. It creates a conflict between Emma and her best friend.
A. It helps Emma realize her artwork has value even without winning.
Passage:
Long ago, a farmer noticed that his fields produced less food each year. One evening, he followed the sound of rustling and discovered rabbits eating his crops. Instead of trapping them, he decided to plant an extra patch of carrots away from the main field. The rabbits ate the new patch and left the rest alone. From then on, both the farmer and the rabbits had enough to eat. Neighbors laughed at first but later copied his idea when they saw it worked.
Question:
What is the author’s purpose for writing this passage?
A. To entertain readers with a fable that teaches a lesson about sharing.
B. To inform readers about farming problems caused by wild animals.
C. To persuade readers to grow food for animals near their homes.
D. To describe how farmers protect crops from bad weather.
A. To entertain readers with a fable that teaches a lesson about sharing.
Passage:
As the storm raged outside, Leo’s candle flickered like a tiny warrior refusing to give up. Shadows danced across the walls, and thunder growled in the distance. He sat quietly, reading by the trembling light. Each flash of lightning made the words on the page glow, as if the story itself wanted to be seen. When the storm finally passed, Leo smiled—his book had outlasted the darkness.
Question:
What effect does the author’s use of figurative language have on the tone of the passage?
A. It builds a suspenseful tone that suggests danger is near.
B. It adds a humorous tone to a story about bad weather.
C. It creates a hopeful tone that shows courage during difficulty.
D. It creates a gloomy tone that emphasizes fear of storms.
C. It creates a hopeful tone that shows courage during difficulty.
Passage:
During the blackout, the town’s park was darker than anyone had ever seen. Families gathered, lighting lanterns one by one. The glow spread slowly across the grass, small circles of light overlapping until the whole park shimmered. “It’s beautiful,” said a little girl, holding her lantern high. Her mother nodded. “One light might be small,” she said, “but together they can brighten anything.”
Question:
What is the author’s purpose for including the lanterns in this passage?
A. To symbolize how unity and kindness can overcome darkness.
B. To describe a festival that celebrates electricity returning.
C. To explain how light travels through the night sky.
D. To entertain readers with a humorous story about a blackout.
A. To symbolize how unity and kindness can overcome darkness.