During this test, you will be reading 2 selections and answering questions about them. You may look back at the selections as often as needed.

Transcription

1 DIRECTIONS (To be read aloud by teacher): During this test, you will be reading 2 selections and answering questions about them. You may look back at the selections as often as needed. You may underline, highlight, or write notes on this test to help you. Mark all of your answers by filling in the correct circle on your answer document. Be sure to only mark inside the circles. If you want to change your answer, erase completely before marking a new choice. Only use pencil on your answer sheet. The purpose of this test is to help me learn what you can do on your own; therefore, I cannot respond to any questions or assist you with reading this test. You may not use any resource materials (such as dictionaries, grammar books, or spelling books). Use your reading strategies and persevere so that you can show your best work. Name

2 DIRECTIONS: Read the following selection and answer the questions that follow. An excerpt from Tuck Everlasting By Natalie Babbitt The sky was a ragged blaze of red and pink and orange, and its double trembled on the surface of the pond like color spilled from a paint box. The sun was dropping fast now, a soft red sliding egg yolk, and already to the east there was a darkening to purple. Winnie, newly brave with her thoughts of being rescued, climbed boldly into the rowboat. The hard heels of her buttoned boots made a hollow banging sound against its wet boards, loud in the warm and breathless quiet. Across the pond a bullfrog spoke a deep note of warning. Tuck climbed in, too, pushing off, and, settling the oars into their locks, dipped them into the silty bottom in one strong pull. The rowboat slipped from the bank then, silently, and glided out, tall water grasses whispering away from its sides, releasing it. Here and there the still surface of the water dimpled, and bright rings spread noiselessly and vanished. Feeding time, said Tuck softly. And Winnie, looking down, saw hosts of tiny insects skittering and skating on the surface. Best time of all for fishing, he said, when they come up to feed. He dragged on the oars. The rowboat slowed and began to drift gently toward the farthest end of the pond. It was so quiet that Winnie almost jumped when the bullfrog spoke again. And then, from the tall pines and birches that ringed the pond, a wood thrush caroled. The silver notes were pure and clear and lovely. Know what that is, all around us, Winnie? said Tuck, his voice low. Life. Moving, growing, changing, never the same two minutes together. This water, you look out at it every morning, and it looks the same, but it ain t. All night long it s been moving, coming in through the stream back there to the west, slipping out through the stream down east here, always quiet, always new, moving on. You can t hardly see the current, can you? And sometimes the wind makes it look like it s going the other way. But it s always there, the water s always moving on, and someday, after a long while, it comes to the ocean. 1

3 DIRECTIONS: Using the selection, Tuck Everlasting, choose the best answer for questions 1-6. You may look back as often as needed. 1. Read this sentence from the selection. Here and there the still surface of the water dimpled, and bright rings spread noiselessly and vanished. What can you infer about the setting? A. Rugged B. Loud C. Dangerous D. Peaceful 2. What is the theme of this selection? A. Get up early to fish. B. Life is always changing. C. Nature is quiet and peaceful. D. Be brave by the water. 2

4 3. What phrase best describes Tuck in this selection? A. Impatient and angry B. Loud and obnoxious C. Nervous and worried D. Calm and wise 4. Read this sentence from the selection. The sun was dropping fast now, a soft red sliding egg yolk, and already to the east there was a darkening to purple. What does this sentence tell about the time of day? A. It is evening. B. It is nighttime. C. It is morning. D. It is midday. 5. Why does the author choose to include the last paragraph? A. To show how Tuck feels about life. B. To explain that Tuck has a problem. C. To compare Winnie s and Tuck s feelings. D. To suggest how Tuck feels about Winnie. 3

5 6. What story element is the narrator mostly describing in this selection? A. Problem B. Events C. Setting D. Characters 4

6 DIRECTIONS: Read the following selection and answer the questions that follow. Seeing Eye to Eye From National Geographic Explorer, September 2009 By Leslie Hall A hungry falcon soars high above Earth. Its sharp eyes scan the ground. Suddenly, it spies something moving in the grass. The falcon dives toward it. Far below, a gray field mouse scurries through the grass. Its dark, beady eyes search constantly for danger. With eyes on either side of its head, the mouse can see almost everything around it. Will the mouse see the falcon in time to escape? Or, will the speedy falcon catch the prey it spied from far above? Whatever happens, one thing is clear: Without eyes, neither animal has a good chance. Why? Eyes help many animals make sense of the world around them - and survive. Eyes can guide the falcon to dinner or help the mouse see a perfect place to hide. Animal eyes come in many different shapes, sizes, colors, and even numbers. Yet they do the same job. They all catch light. With help from the brain, eyes turn light into sight. Eyes work in the same way for people. Look at this page. You may think you see words and pictures. Believe it or not, you don t. All you see is light bouncing off the page. How is this possible? The secret is in the rules of light. Light Rules It can come from a natural source, like the sun, or artificial sources, like a lamp or a flashlight. Light is the fastest known thing. It travels in waves and in nearly straight lines. In air, it can speed 299,700 kilometers (186,200 miles) per second. It can race from the sun to Earth in just over eight minutes! Light 5

7 doesn t always travel so fast. For example, water or glass can slow light down, but just a bit. Light may seem to break all driving speed laws. Yet there are certain rules it always follows. Light reflects, or bounces off objects. It also refracts, or bends. And it can be absorbed, or soaked up, by objects. These rules of light affect what, and how, we see. Light! Eyes! Imagine this scene: You re at your desk happily reading a magazine. Light from your desk lamp scatters in all directions. Light hits the page. Some bounces off the page, or reflects. It changes direction. It s a little like how sound bounces off a wall. Now some of this reflected light is traveling right toward your face. Don t duck! For you to see the magazine, some of this light has to enter your eyes. Objects become visible when light bounces off them. Your eyes are light catchers. Yet it takes more than catching light to see an image. Your eyes also have to bend light. Here s how. First, light hits your cornea. That s the clear covering on the front of your eyeball. The cornea refracts, or bends, light. And Action! Is your cornea super strong? No! Think about how light travels more slowly through water. The same thing happens in your cornea. As light passes through the cornea, it slows down. That makes the light change direction, or bend. Next, light enters your pupil, the dark center part of your eye. It passes through your lens. The lens bends light, too. What s the big deal about bending light? That s how your eyes focus, or aim the light to make a clear image. The image appears on your retina at the back of your eyeball. It s like a movie. Playing Today at a Theater in Your Eye: Your Magazine! There s only one problem. The image is upside down. Luckily, your brain flips the image right side up. That s pretty smart! 6

8 DIRECTIONS: Using the selection, Seeing Eye to Eye, choose the best answer for questions You may look back as often as needed. 7. Which statement helps the reader infer that light travels faster than sound? A. Light and sound are energy. B. Light scatters in all directions. C. Light breaks driving speed laws. D. Light is the fastest known thing. 8. What is the main idea of this selection? A. Light helps your eyes to see things. B. Falcons eyesight allows them to see prey from a distance. C. Light can travel at 186,200 miles per second. D. The cornea of the eye bends light waves and slows it down. 9. What is the relationship between light and how we see? A. Light travels too fast for a person to see. B. Objects can be seen when light bounces off them. C. Light comes from natural or artificial sources. D. The brain can turn images in a book right side up again. 7

9 10. Read this sentence from the selection. Light reflects, or bounces off objects. It also refracts, or bends. And it can be absorbed, or soaked up, by objects. What does the word refracts mean in this sentence? A. Bounce B. Bend C. Absorb D. Reflect 8

10 DIRECTIONS: Using Seeing Eye to Eye and the following Excerpt, choose the best answer for questions You may look back as often as needed. Excerpt The brain and the eyes work together so that people and animals can see. No one can see in pitch black darkness, but some people may still be able to see fairly well under dim lights. The pupil is very important to the structure of the eye. It allows light to enter the retina so that we can regulate brightness and be able to see. The pupil dilates (responds) according to the amount of light it receives when we see. If there is a great amount of light, our pupils will look as tiny as a point, but under darkness, it gets wider. 11. How are the Excerpt and the And Action! part of Seeing Eye to Eye organized similarly? A. They tell a sequence. B. They tell a problem. C. They tell a comparison. D. They tell a description. 12. What new information does the author of this Excerpt add to the topic? A. People use eyes to see. B. The brain helps people see. C. People can see in low light. D. The pupil is a part of the eye. 9

11 13. Your teacher asks you to research the following question: How are the speed of light and speed of sound different? Which of the following would best focus your Internet search? A. Speed of light B. Speed of sound C. Speed of light versus speed of sound D. How light and sound work in our world 10

12 DIRECTIONS: Read the question below and write your answer in complete sentences on the lines provided. This question is worth 2 points. 14. In the selection, Seeing Eye to Eye, what evidence does the author give to show that light moves in many ways? Quote accurately from the text using at least two details. Item Points Possible Points Earned First detail about how light moves 1 point Second detail about how light moves 1 point Total 2 points 11

13 DIRECTIONS: Read the instructions below and write your answer in complete sentences on the lines provided. This question is worth 3 points. 15. In both Tuck Everlasting and the beginning of Seeing Eye to Eye, the authors give information about nature. Tell one similarity and one difference between the two selections using evidence and quoting accurately from each text. Item Points Possible Points Earned Topic sentence 1 point Similarity with evidence 1 point Difference with evidence 1 point Total 3 points 12