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The Camping Trip | Lucas stared at the TV screen. He was playing his favorite video game. He steered a race car with his controls. The car zoomed along a mountain road. It was very hot outside. But the air conditioner in Lucas’s room kept it nice and cool.
The microwave oven in the kitchen beeped. Lucas paused his game. He ran and got a ... | 260 | 2 | null | The passage begins | A. at the campsite.
B. in the car.
C. at Lucas's house.
D. none of the above. | C | The passage ends | A. in the car.
B. in a mythical land.
C. in the woods.
D. in a tent. | C | Mr. Torres seems to | A. be a good father.
B. love adventure.
C. enjoy nature.
D. all of the above. | D | This passage is | A. science fiction.
B. realistic fiction.
C. historical fiction.
D. a tall tale. | B | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
A Day to Celebrate Earth | Each year, Earth Day is celebrated in April. On Earth Day, millions of people will think of ways to stop pollution. They will talk about recycling and planting trees. People will look for ways to save energy and water.
People have been celebrating Earth Day since 1970. Earth Day was started by a man named Gaylord Nelso... | 610 | 2 | Science: Earth & Space Science | Someone would read this passage to | A. learn about the Earth.
B. learn about trees.
C. learn about the life of Gaylord Nelson.
D. get information on how to best take care of the earth. | D | The author mentions Gaylord Nelson in this passage, because | A. Nelson started Earth Day.
B. Nelson started Arbor Day.
C. Nelson was a senator.
D. Nelson was from Wisconsin. | A | In the sentence, “If you see litter, pick it up and put it in trash cans or recycling bins,” the word litter can be replaced with the word or words | A. milk cartons
B. paper.
C. trash.
D. trees. | C | The author includes the part called, “Save a Tree, Plant a Tree,” | A. to encourage people to save paper.
B. to encourage people to plant trees.
C. to teach people about Arbor Day.
D. all of the above. | D | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Buying a New Car | “Our car is falling apart,” Aaron Roberts heard his dad say. “We need a new car.”
“I know,” Aaron’s mom agreed. “Do we have enough money to pay for one?”
“I am not sure,” said Mr. Roberts. “I will stop at the bank tomorrow to see what we can do.”
“Dad, why are you going to the bank?” Aaron asked.
“Well,” Mr. Roberts s... | 560 | 2 | Social Studies: School & Family Life | What does the Roberts family need to buy? | A. a new house
B. new clothes
C. a new car | C | Mr. Roberts lists things that the family needs to pay for, aside from the car. What are these three things? | A. food, water, and toys
B. food, clothing, and their home
C. clothing, toys, and their TV | B | Read these sentences from the text. “'Well,' Mr. Roberts said, 'we need a new car, but it costs a lot. Our family has to pay for food, clothing, and our home. That makes it hard to save enough for a new car.'” What conclusion can you draw based on this evidence? | A. It costs a lot to pay for food, clothing, and a home.
B. Food, clothing, and a home are less important than new cars.
C. A new car costs more than a new home. | A | Based on the information in this story, what do banks help people with? | A. finding new houses
B. choosing new cars
C. keeping track of money | C | What is the main idea of this story? | A. A family discusses how they can pay for a new car.
B. A family goes to a car salesperson to buy a new car.
C. A family decides the kind of new car they want. | A | Read these sentences from the text. "Banks sometimes give people loans to help them buy expensive things such as a car or a house. Then you pay the bank back a little at a time." Based on these sentences, what does the word “loan” mean? | A. money that people can borrow
B. money that people can keep without paying back
C. an expensive thing like a car or house | A | Read these sentences from the text. “But we will have to repay the loan by sending the bank extra money every month. There will be fewer dollars for other things.” How can these sentences best be combined? | A. But we will have to repay the loan by sending the bank extra money every month, but there will be fewer dollars for other things.
B. But we will have to repay the loan by sending the bank extra money every month, so there will be fewer dollars for other things.
C. But we will have to repay the loan by sending the ba... | B |
Learning New Things | "But I don't want to go there!" insisted Billy. He kicked at the ground with his foot, twisted his body around, and looked up at his mother with tears in his eyes. Billy was angry. His mother was a nurse, and she had a new job at a senior center. "Old-folks home," Billy called it. "Senior Center," his mother corrected.... | 520 | 2 | null | Where does Billy go after school? | A. a senior center
B. a friend’s house
C. a movie theater | A | When in the story does Billy have fun at the senior center? | A. in the beginning of the story
B. in the beginning and middle of the story
C. at the end of the story | C | Billy does not want to go to the senior center. What information from the story supports this statement? | A. “Billy didn’t like the seniors. He didn’t like the senior center. He thought it was boring.”
B. “The next day after school Billy went to the senior center. He said hello to Curtis and went to the nurse’s station.”
C. “Billy sat down in the hallway and tried to remember the way back. He didn’t want to ask directions.... | A | What is Billy’s opinion of the seniors at the end of the story? | A. He thinks they are mean.
B. He thinks they are interesting.
C. He thinks they are boring. | B | What is the main idea of this story? | A. Something that seems good can turn out to be bad.
B. Something that seems bad can turn out to be good.
C. Something that seems bad can turn out to be even worse. | B | Read these sentences from the passage: “‘It’s important to be creative,’ said Harold. ‘ It keeps you young .’” What does Harold mean when he says, “It keeps you young”? | A. He means that being creative makes people feel young.
B. He means that being creative makes people feel old.
C. He means that only young people can be creative. | A | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. Billy does not like the seniors at the beginning of the story, _______ he likes them by the end. | A. because
B. so
C. but | C |
Earth Rocks! | Earth is made of rocks. They can be small enough to fit in your hand or as big as a house. Rocks have different colors and textures. You know a rock when you see one—but can you identify the three basic groups of rocks?
Earth is a giant rock-making machine. Rocks form, break apart, and then form again. Read about the t... | 750 | 2 | Science: Earth & Space Science | How many groups of rocks does the passage name? | A. one
B. three
C. two | B | What does the author describe in the passage? | A. why there are only three different rock groups
B. which group of rocks is the most common on Earth
C. how different groups of rocks are made | C | Metamorphic rocks are rocks that were previously a different type of rock. What evidence from the passage supports this conclusion? | A. Metamorphic rocks start as igneous or sedimentary rocks.
B. A metamorphosis is a kind of change that something undergoes.
C. Examples of metamorphic rocks are slate and marble. | A | Read the following sentences: “Sedimentary rocks begin as sediment at the bot tom of rivers, lakes, and oceans. Sediment is made of small pieces of sand, clay, and shells. The weight of water presses down on the sediment until it becomes hard.” Based on this information, what can you conclude about sedimentary rocks? | A. Some sedimentary rocks have shells in them.
B. All sedimentary rocks are found far from water.
C. Sedimentary rocks are harder than igneous rocks. | A | What is this passage mostly about? | A. sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks
B. rocks that are created from lava or magma
C. rocks that are created from sediment | A | Read the following sentences: “When magma cools and hardens, igneous rock forms. Igneous rock also forms when lava cools. Lava is magma that erupts from a volcano.” As used in this sentence, what does the word “erupts” mean? | A. slowly drips
B. comes out
C. buries something | B | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. Metamorphic rocks form ___________ heat and heavy pressure cause igneous or sedimentary rocks to undergo metamorphosis. | A. but
B. because
C. so | B |
Presidents' Day Is Here! | George Washington was our first president. He was born in Virginia on February 22, 1732. He was president from 1789 to 1797.
Abraham Lincoln was our 16th president. He was born in Kentucky on February 12, 1809. He was president from 1861 to 1865. | 440 | 2 | Social Studies: Civics & Government, U.S. History | When is Presidents’ Day? | A. the second Monday of February
B. the first Monday of February
C. the third Monday of February | C | The passage lists facts about which two presidents? | A. George Washington and Barack Obama
B. Abraham Lincoln and Barack Obama
C. George Washington and Abraham Lincoln | C | George Washington never lived in the White House because the White House wasn’t finished until 1800. Abraham Lincoln was president from 1861 to 1865. What can be concluded about whether Abraham Lincoln lived in the White House based on this information? | A. Abraham Lincoln lived in the White House for only a few months.
B. Abraham Lincoln probably did not live in the White House.
C. Abraham Lincoln most likely lived in the White House. | C | What is “Presidents’ Day is Here!” mostly about? | A. George Washington’s childhood
B. Abraham Lincoln’s presidency
C. facts about two U.S. presidents | C | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Making Piano Fun | “Come on, Angie. It’s time to go.”
“I’m not going,” said Angela.
“Please,” said her father. “We’re going to be late.”
“Good. I hope we are late. I hope we’re a million years late, and by the time we get to the music school, piano doesn’t even exist anymore. The people of the future will be smart. They’ll understand tha... | 560 | 2 | Arts: Music & Performing Arts | What does Angela play? | A. Angela plays the guitar.
B. Angela plays the drums.
C. Angela plays the piano. | C | What event in the story helps to change the way Angela feels about playing the piano? | A. Angela’s dad drives her to the music school.
B. Angela tip-toes down a corridor at the music school.
C. Angela hears a song by Fats Waller. | C | Read this sentence: “‘I hate the piano,’ said Angela.” What information from the story supports this statement? | A. Mr. Poliakoff says that fear is the enemy of success.
B. Angela does not want to go to piano class.
C. Angela hears a song by Fats Waller. | B | What is an effect that hearing the Fats Waller song has on Angela? | A. The song makes Angela less afraid of playing the piano.
B. The song makes Angela less excited about playing the piano.
C. The song makes Angela less interested in playing the piano. | A | What is the main idea of this story? | A. A father takes his daughter to her piano class.
B. A girl who hates playing the piano realizes that it can be fun.
C. A piano teacher who smells like cabbage thinks that fear is the enemy of success. | B | Read these sentences from the story: “Angela put her fingers on the keys and prepared to play. Her fingers weren’t afraid any more .” What does the author mean by writing that Angela’s “fingers weren’t afraid any more”? | A. Angela will never stop hating the piano.
B. Angela will never be good at playing the piano.
C. Angela is no longer afraid to play the piano. | C | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. Angela is not afraid to play the piano _______ she hears a song by Fats Waller. | A. after
B. before
C. then | A |
Is It Time For a New Toothbrush? | A new toothbrush can mean a healthier you.
Did you know that old toothbrushes can be harmful? Germs can build up on old toothbrushes. If you have been sick, germs can hide in your toothbrush and be passed back to you. Dentists say you should get a new toothbrush every three months. They also say a new toothbrush will h... | 580 | 2 | Social Studies: Sports, Health & Safety | The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes the sentence. You should replace your toothbrush every three months _______ germs can build up on it over time. | A. because
B. but
C. so | A | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Happy New Year! | A big party is held in New York. Millions of people watch the party on television. People count down the final seconds of the old year. At midnight, a bright crystal ball drops. People cheer for the start of the new year.
Many people go to parties on the beach. People wear white clothes. They watch a fireworks show. So... | 460 | 2 | null | The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes the sentence. Many people in Spain eat exactly 12 grapes to celebrate the new year _______ there are 12 months in a year. | A. so
B. but
C. because | C | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Telephones Now and Then | Telephones help people speak to one another when they are apart. For more than a hundred years, nearly every telephone was a landline. A landline telephone is one that needs to be connected by a wire to a network of other telephones. Because of the wires, people could not take those telephones with them when they left... | 720 | 2 | Science: Technology & Engineering | What is a landline telephone? | A. a telephone that needs to be connected by a wire to a network of other telephones
B. a telephone that can be carried around in your pocket and used anywhere
C. a telephone that can be found in a public place | A | The article describes an example of a landline. What is one example of a landline? | A. a cell phone
B. a pay phone
C. a smart phone | B | Pay phones are probably not used as much today as they were in the past. What piece of evidence supports this conclusion? | A. People could not take landlines with them when they left their homes.
B. Pay phones are landlines that can be found in public places.
C. Many people today carry cell phones, which can be used almost anywhere. | C | What might be a reason that cell phones were invented? | A. People wanted to be able to speak to one another when they were apart.
B. People wanted to be able to make calls from their homes or offices.
C. People wanted to be able to make calls away from home without finding a pay phone. | C | What is the main idea of this article? | A. Cell phones are much less useful than landlines and pay phones.
B. Telephones have been used for many years, and they have changed a lot over time.
C. Telephones are used to keep people apart as much as possible. | B | Read these sentences from the text. "What if you had to make a call while you were away from home? You had to find a pay phone. Pay phones are landlines found in public places." Why does the author ask a question at the beginning of this paragraph? | A. to hint to the reader that the author will answer that question
B. to show that the author does not know the answer to that question
C. to tell readers to give their own answer to that question | A | Choose the answer that best completes this sentence. Landline telephones were used for many years ______ people began using cell phones. | A. before
B. after
C. while | A |
Macy the Elephant | Macy and her parents are elephants that live in the jungle. They roam around the plants and trees all day, every day, looking for food. Macy’s favorite food is bananas. She is always looking for banana plants. When she finds one, she uses her trunk to pick a lot of bananas.
Usually, it gets really hot in the jungle. On... | 790 | 2 | Science: Life Science | What kind of animal is Macy? | A. an orangutan
B. a parrot
C. an elephant | C | What main problem do Macy and her parents face? | A. They are too tired and must find a place to rest.
B. They are too hot and must find a way to cool down.
C. They are too hungry and must find something to eat. | B | Mud baths are good for elephants. What evidence from the passage best supports this conclusion? | A. Mud cools their skin and protects them from bug bites.
B. Other elephants join Macy and her parents to take a mud bath.
C. After splashing in the water, Macy covers her skin in mud. | A | Read these sentences from the text. Macy spots a loris sleeping on the tree that sits right next to the parrots. Macy gets excited—she never sees loris because they are only awake at night. Based on this information, what conclusion can you make about Macy? | A. Macy is not interested in the loris.
B. Macy is not usually awake at night.
C. Macy is often awake at night. | B | What is this text mostly about? | A. how a family of elephants cools down
B. how Macy the elephant picks bananas
C. why the loris is only awake at night | A | Read these sentences from the text. Macy sees a group of orangutans lazily lying on the branches of a big tree. They don’t even move as the elephants walk past, too hot to do anything. As used in the sentence, what does the word “lazily” mean? | A. done quickly and energetically
B. done with purpose and determination
C. done with little or no effort | C | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. ________ Macy and her parents cool off, they go to look for food. | A. So
B. After
C. Yet | B |
What Is the United Nations? | The United Nations (U.N.) is an organization that works to solve problems around the world. More than 190 countries belong to the U.N.
The United Nations was created to try to prevent wars. The U.N. sometimes sends special soldiers, called peacekeepers, to countries that are having problems. The peacekeepers work to ke... | 780 | 2 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture | According to the article, what does the United Nations do? | A. The U.N. runs the government of New York City.
B. The U.N. fights wars in parts of the world that are having problems.
C. The U.N. works to solve problems around the world. | C | What does the article explain? | A. The article explains why the U.N. headquarters is in New York City.
B. The article explains what the secretary-general of the U.N. does.
C. The article explains why some countries go to war with each other. | B | The U.N. tries to make the world a safer, more peaceful place. What evidence from the article supports this statement? | A. "The U.N. sometimes sends special soldiers, called peacekeepers, to countries that are having problems. The peacekeepers work to keep things calm while the countries work out their differences."
B. "The leader of the United Nations is the secretary-general. Members of the U.N. elect the secretary-general. The secret... | A | Based on the information in the article, what is a problem in the world that the U.N. is trying to solve? | A. unfair treatment of women
B. hunger
C. theft | B | What is the main idea of this article? | A. The U.N. is an organization that works to make the world a safer place by solving problems.
B. The U.N. helps people who live in places that do not have enough food or clean water.
C. The flags that stand outside the U.N. headquarters represent the goal of the U.N. | A | Read this paragraph from the article. "The United Nations (U.N.) is an organization that works to solve problems around the world. More than 190 countries belong to the U.N." Why does the author use parentheses here? | A. to suggest that more countries are likely to join the U.N. in the future
B. to give readers more information about the kinds of problems that the U.N. solves
C. to tell readers that "U.N." is an abbreviation for "United Nations" | C | Choose the answer that best completes this sentence. The U.N. wants to prevent wars, _______ it sends peacekeepers to countries that are having problems. | A. so
B. because
C. but | A |
Time To Fly! | The orange-and-black butterflies are on the move.
It's time for monarch butterflies to take a trip. Each fall, they migrate south for the winter. The word migrate means "to move from one place to another." Many monarchs leave Canada and the United States to travel to Mexico. Others go to California, Texas, or Florida.
... | 710 | 2 | Science: Life Science | The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes the sentence. Without milkweed, monarch butterflies would disappear _______ they use only this type of plant to lay their eggs. | A. but
B. because
C. so | B | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
The Time Machine | “So you’re telling me this is a time machine?” Eric asked. “Yes,” his Uncle Joseph replied. “I’ve been working on it for years here in my lab.” Eric looked around the lab. A bank of computers lined one of the walls. Metal shelves held bottles and jars filled with strange liquids. There was a big metal table in the mi... | 420 | 2 | null | This passage is an example of | A. historical fiction.
B. science fiction.
C. a poem.
D. a fairy tale. | B | Which of the following does not describe Uncle Joseph’s lab? | A. There are many computers.
B. There are jars of strange liquids.
C. There are wires and tiny machines parts on a table.
D. There are tall, green plants all around. | D | At the end of the passage, the characters are | A. in Uncle Joseph's lab.
B. near a volcano.
C. in the sea.
D. in outer space. | B | This passage takes place | A. in the past.
B. both in the present and the past.
C. both in the future and the past.
D. in the present. | C | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Princess Lily | Princess Lily lived with her mother and father in a big castle. Life in the castle was very quiet. Lily liked to go outside whenever she could. She liked to ride the horses in the stable. She liked to dig for worms and fish in the stream.
On other days Princess Lily liked to line up pumpkins on the fence. She’d throw a... | 520 | 2 | null | The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes the sentence. Lily’s parents don’t like their daughter digging for worms and riding horses, ______ they think a princess should not do such things. | A. because
B. but
C. so | A | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
The Wishing Tree | Deep in the woods is a secret tree. Only one boy knows about it. It’s a wishing tree.
One day, the boy followed his dog into the woods. They stopped at the tree.
“I wish I could climb this tree!” the boy said.
POOF! His wish was granted. He was in the tree!
The leaves began to giggle.
“Hello!” they said. “Pleased to ... | 270 | 2 | null | What does Noah find in the woods? | A. a wishing tree
B. his dog, Peanuts
C. Mitch the bully | A | Mitch throws peanuts at Noah. How does Noah deal with this problem? | A. Noah runs away from Mitch.
B. Noah tells him to go away.
C. Noah tells his dog to attack Mitch. | B | Noah thinks that the wishing tree made him brave. What evidence from the story supports this conclusion? | A. “Being brave came from inside.”
B. “POOF! His wish was granted. He was in the tree!”
C. “‘Yay! He left!’ Noah said. ‘Thank you, wishing tree!’” | C | When Noah asks for money, the wishing tree says it can only give good things that will make you a better person. Based on this information, what does the wishing tree think about money? | A. Having money will not make you a better person.
B. Having money will make you a better person.
C. Money is good for some people. | A | What is the main message of the story? | A. Bravery comes from the inside.
B. Money will make you a bad person.
C. You should always make wishes on trees. | A | Read the following sentences: “Some wishing tree that was! No money! No dragons! What a waste !” What does Noah mean by the phrase, “what a waste”? | A. Noah does not think the wishing tree grants good wishes.
B. Noah thinks that you shouldn’t waste money or dragons.
C. Noah thinks that money and dragons are not good wishes. | A | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. Noah believed that the wishing tree made him brave, _____ the tree did not really grant him that wish. Noah stood up to the bully all on his own. | A. but
B. so
C. and | A |
Get Ready for Winter | Dormice are getting ready for a long winter sleep. They eat a lot of food. The food helps them survive, or live, through the winter.
The dormouse can sleep for six months during the winter. That long sleep is called hibernation (high-ber-NAY-shun). During hibernation, an animal’s body temperature drops, and its heart r... | 530 | 2 | Science: Life Science | The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes the sentence. Dormice eat a lot of food before winter, _______ they can hibernate for up to six months. | A. but
B. because
C. so | C | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Flip It | “You’re like the kitten in the litter that wakes up before all the others.” Dad opened one eye and looked at me. I leaned in and licked his nose. “Argh! I thought you were going to give me a kiss on the cheek!” he said.
I wiggled under the sheets. “No, Dad! I’m a kitten, remember? You just said.”
“That isn’t quite wh... | 600 | 2 | null | What do Jack and his dad make for breakfast? | A. eggs
B. pancakes
C. bacon | B | What is Jack’s main fear in the story? | A. turning into a kitten while playing
B. making pancakes that his dad won’t like
C. being burned while making pancakes | C | Read the following sentences: “Help Dad cook? Use the stove? I had gotten burned on the stove before, yanking the handle on a pan of bacon and splashing some grease onto my fingers. Suddenly I couldn’t move.” Based on this evidence, what conclusion can you make? | A. Jack wants to help his dad cook.
B. Jack is scared to use the stove.
C. Jack wants to cook more bacon. | B | How does Jack most likely feel about cooking with the stove by the end of the story? | A. Jack doesn’t feel scared.
B. Jack still feels a bit scared.
C. Jack is excited. | C | What is this story mostly about? | A. A boy flips a pancake even though he is afraid.
B. A boy gets burned while cooking pancakes.
C. A boy and his dad cook bacon and eggs. | A | Read the following sentences: “ My stomach felt like it was full of little birds flapping around , and I remembered for a second the blister I got from the bacon grease burn. And then, with one hand, I gripped the handle of the skillet.” When Jack says that his stomach “felt like it was full of little birds flapping ar... | A. Jack means that he has real birds in him.
B. Jack means that he feels nervous.
C. Jack means that he is bored. | B | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. Jack is scared to touch the pan and flip the pancake, ____ he does it anyway. | A. so
B. but
C. after | B |
Comparing Solids | Solids are a kind of matter. They are things that have their own shape. They do not flow like liquids do. You can see and touch solids. You can describe a solid by its properties. Some of those properties are color, shape, size, and texture.
Bowling balls and tennis balls are both solids. Each has its own shape. You ca... | 510 | 2 | Science: Physical Science | What are solids? | A. things that have their own shape
B. things that you can see, but can’t touch
C. things that flow like liquids do | A | What two examples of solids does the author compare and contrast? | A. a tennis ball and a bowling ball
B. a baseball and a basketball
C. a yellow ball and a green ball | A | Read these sentences from the text. "Solids are a kind of matter. They are things that have their own shape. They do not flow like liquids do. You can see and touch solids. You can describe a solid by its properties. Some of those properties are color, shape, size, and texture. "Bowling balls and tennis balls are both ... | A. They have the same color, shape, and size.
B. They cannot be described by their properties.
C. They do not flow like liquids do. | C | Which property of bowling balls and tennis balls would help you most in telling them apart? | A. shape
B. kind of matter
C. size | C | What is the main idea of this article? | A. Bowling balls and tennis balls are both round, but have different sizes.
B. Bowling balls and tennis balls are both solids, but they are different in many ways.
C. Solids are different from liquids because they have their own shape. | B | Read these sentences from the text. "You can describe a solid by its properties. Some of those properties are color, shape, size, and texture." Based on these sentences, what are “properties?” | A. important characteristics of a thing
B. the ways in which something is used
C. the places where something can be found | A | Choose the answer that best completes this sentence. Tennis balls and bowling balls are both round, ____ bowling balls are much bigger. | A. so
B. because
C. but | C |
A Time of Dust Storms | A long time ago, wind and dust caused big problems in the United States. Giant clouds of dust harmed people, animals, and crops in the central part of the country. The area became known as the Dust Bowl.
The problem started when farmers planted more crops than they could sell. The next year, those farmers decided to le... | 600 | 2 | Social Studies: U.S. History | What caused big problems a long time ago in the United States? | A. masks and goggles
B. wet sheets
C. wind and dust | C | What was one effect that dust had on people, animals, and crops in the United States? | A. Dust made it easier for people, animals, and crops to stay warm.
B. Dust helped people, animals, and crops live longer.
C. Dust harmed people, animals, and crops. | C | Read this paragraph from the article. "Then came a drought (DROWT). A drought is a long period without rain. Land became very dry. Grass and crops barely grew. Very little was left to hold the soil in place." What can be concluded from this paragraph about grass, crops, and soil? | A. Grass and crops help hold soil in place.
B. Grass and crops grow best in dry soil.
C. Grass holds soil in place better than crops do. | A | Read these sentences from the article. "The next year, those farmers decided to leave some land empty. The farmers let their cattle graze there, and the cattle ate the grass. Soon, nothing grew on that land." What would probably have happened if there had still been grass growing on that land when the strong winds star... | A. More soil would have blown into the air.
B. Less soil would have blown into the air.
C. The rains would have returned sooner. | B | What is the main idea of this article? | A. There was a time when part of the United States was harmed by a lot of wind and dust.
B. Once people in the United States hung wet sheets over their windows to keep dust out of their homes.
C. A drought is a long period of time without any rain. | A | Read these sentences from the article. "The next year, those farmers decided to leave some land empty. The farmers let their cattle graze there, and the cattle ate the grass. Soon, nothing grew on that land." Based on these sentences, what does the word “graze” mean? | A. to drink lots of water
B. to run around a field
C. to feed on grass | C | Choose the answer that best completes this sentence. People hung wet sheets over their windows ________ they did not want dust to get into their homes. | A. so
B. because
C. but | B |
Heading West: Learn About a Pioneer's Life | Long ago, people traveled west across the United States to settle in places unfamiliar to them. Those people were called pioneers. Most pioneers moved west to start a new life. Read on to learn more about life as a pioneer.
Many pioneers built log cabins. Log cabins are houses made from logs and mud. Pioneers stacked l... | 700 | 2 | Social Studies: U.S. History | The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes the sentence. Early pioneers couldn’t buy food at a grocery store, _______ they picked berries, planted crops, and hunted. | A. so
B. but
C. because | A | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Smile! Show Off Those Pearly Whites | Like people, animals have different teeth with special jobs. Some animals have sharp teeth, some have curved teeth, and some have round teeth. Open wide, and look inside to learn about different ways teeth are helpful.
Teeth are important for many reasons. They help animals chew food. Many animals need their teeth for ... | 710 | 2 | Social Studies: Sports, Health & Safety | The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes the sentence. A beaver’s front teeth never stop growing, ________ gnawing on wood helps keep its teeth trimmed. | A. but
B. because
C. so | A | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
African American Leaders | Martin Luther King Jr. was an African American leader who lived from 1929 to 1968. He worked to help people be treated fairly and equally. We remember him with a national holiday. Read on to learn about other African Americans who have made a difference in the history of the United States.
Who are some African American... | 870 | 2 | Social Studies: U.S. History | The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes the sentence. Condoleezza Rice served as the U.S. Secretary of State, _______ she helped the President work with the governments of other countries. | A. because
B. so
C. but | B | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
The Rocky Mountains | The Rocky Mountains are a large group of mountains on the North American continent. The Rockies are found in the western region of North America. They stretch from Canada in the north to the United States in the south. The southern part of the Rockies ends in the state of New Mexico. The Rocky Mountains also go through... | 750 | 2 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture, Sports, Health & Safety | Where can the Rocky Mountains be found? | A. in the eastern part of Canada
B. only in the southern part of the U.S.
C. in the western region of North America | C | What does the first paragraph of the article list? | A. different types of weather in the Rocky Mountains
B. different states the Rocky Mountains go through
C. different mountains in North America | B | Mount Elbert is the highest peak in the Rockies. In the winter, heavy snow falls in the higher parts of the Rockies. Based on this, what can you conclude about the weather on Mount Elbert in the winter? | A. It is probably drier than in other parts of the Rockies.
B. It is probably less cold than in other parts of the Rockies.
C. It is probably snowier than in other parts of the Rockies. | C | Who would most likely enjoy a visit to the Rocky Mountains? | A. someone who likes doing things outdoors
B. someone who does not like wild animals
C. someone who is afraid of heights | A | What is this article mostly about? | A. why people should visit the Rocky Mountains
B. what mountains in North America are like
C. what the Rocky Mountains are like | C | Read these sentences from the text. "The Rockies are the longest mountain range in North America. They have many high peaks. The highest is Mount Elbert in Colorado. It is nearly three miles high. Mount Elbert’s peak is fourteen thousand feet above sea level." Based on these sentences, what does “peak” most likely mean... | A. the width of a mountain
B. the top of a mountain
C. the bottom of a mountain | B | Choose the answer that best completes this sentence. The Rocky Mountains have many high peaks, ____ Mount Elbert is the highest. | A. so
B. because
C. but | C |
Barn Sour | Jenny sat on her horse, Jake. They were near their house on the farm. Jenny looked at the paths ahead. One way went toward the pond. One way went back to the farm.
Jenny wanted to go to the pond. There, she could watch the ducks or read a book.
But Jake didn’t want to watch the ducks. Jake couldn’t read books. Jake jus... | 240 | 2 | null | Who is Jake? | A. Jenny’s horse
B. Jenny’s dad
C. Jenny’s dog | A | An important part of the story is when Jake stops on the path. Why does Jenny pull on Jake’s rope after he stops? | A. Jenny wants him to go to the barn.
B. Jenny wants him to lower his head.
C. Jenny wants him to go to the pond. | C | Jake wants to go back to the farm. What evidence from the story supports this conclusion? | A. “Jake’s big brown head came up. He stopped and looked at her.”
B. “Jake just wanted to go home. He walked toward the farm.”
C. “Jake’s head came down toward Jenny. But his feet did not move.” | B | Why doesn’t Jake want to go to the pond? | A. Jake is tired.
B. Jake hates ducks.
C. Jake is cold. | A | What is this story mostly about? | A. Jake and Jenny want to go back to the barn.
B. Jake and Jenny want to go to the pond.
C. Jake and Jenny want to go to different places. | C | Read the following sentences: “‘Jake is a sweet horse, but he’ll be sour now until he gets home.’ Bill smiled.” As used in this passage, what does “sweet” mean in this sentence? | A. sugary
B. nice
C. mean | B | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. Jenny pulls on Jake, ____ Jake gets mad. | A. so
B. but
C. like | A |
Focus On Scientists | Science is the study of different things in the world. Scientists observe, study, and test ideas to discover things that help people. Look inside to discover some facts about scientists.
An inventor creates things that help make people’s lives easier. Benjamin Franklin was an inventor. He invented a new kind of stove, ... | 710 | 2 | Science: Earth & Space Science, Technology & Engineering, Physical Science, Life Science | The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes the sentence. Dr. Jane Goodall studies chimpanzees, ______ she is an example of a primatologist. | A. because
B. but
C. so | C | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
A Clean Park | Tyler ran into the kitchen. “Mom, I’m going to the park!” he said.“Wear your helmet!” his mom called back. The park was just down the street. Tyler grabbed his bike and rode there. It was pretty much his favorite place to go. The park looked pretty crowded. Some kids were playing. But other kids held garbage bags. T... | 220 | 2 | null | The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes the sentence. Tyler changes his mind about helping Lauren _______ he realizes how gross the park is. | A. because
B. so
C. but | A | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
How Countries Solve Problems | Jamal and his mom were watching TV. The news came on. The reporter described a problem between two countries. The countries’ leaders disagreed about who could have fishing boats in one part of the ocean.
“How will they figure this out, Mom?” Jamal asked. “Are they going to have a war?”
“I hope not,” Jamal’s mom respon... | 540 | 2 | Social Studies: Civics & Government | Jamal and his mom were watching the news. What did the news reporter describe? | A. a problem between two countries
B. the job of the United Nations
C. a new way to go fishing in the ocean | A | Jamal’s mom gives two examples of peaceful ways for countries to do what? | A. work out their problems
B. get ready to go to war
C. borrow money from each other | A | “There are peaceful ways countries can work out problems. One way is to have a third country that both countries trust help them come to a fair solution.” What conclusion can you draw from this evidence? | A. The only way to help two fighting countries come to a fair solution is to bring in a third country to help work out their problems.
B. It is probably important for the two fighting countries to trust the third country that helps them come to a solution.
C. Most fighting countries are able to come to a fair solution ... | B | Based on the information in the text, what are two things that the United Nations most likely works toward? | A. money and fighting
B. power and prizes
C. peace and fairness | C | What is the theme of this story? | A. Fighting is always the easiest way to end an argument.
B. Talking and fighting are both good ways to solve problems.
C. Talking is a better way to settle arguments than fighting. | C | Read these sentences from the text. “Another way is to have the countries take their argument to the United Nations. The U.N. was created to help solve these kinds of problems. Countries can present their case. The U.N. hears both sides and decides how to settle the dispute.” What does “present their case” most nearly ... | A. show off their riches
B. give their gifts
C. tell their side of the story | C | Read these sentences from the text. “There are peaceful ways countries can work out problems. One way is to have a third country that both countries trust help them come to a fair solution.” Which of these has the same meaning as the second sentence from the text? | A. For example, a third country that both countries trust can help them come to a fair solution.
B. One way is to have a third country that neither countries trust help them come to a fair solution.
C. The best way is to have a third country that both countries trust help them come to a fair solution. | A |
The Island of Hope and Tears | Many people have moved to America over the centuries. Some people have ancestors who moved to America long ago. Others have relatives who moved to America more recently.
Maybe someone related to you moved to America long ago. That person might have arrived at Ellis Island. It is an island in New York City’s harbor. Lon... | 670 | 2 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture, U.S. History | Who had to come through Ellis Island before getting to the United States? | A. business people
B. immigrants
C. New Yorkers | B | What does the author describe in the last paragraph of the article? | A. things that immigrants used to see at the immigration museum on Ellis Island
B. the way that immigrants lived when they first came to the United States
C. things that you can see or do at the immigration museum on Ellis Island today | C | Some immigrants were upset when they were not allowed to enter the United States. What evidence in the article supports this statement? | A. "Many people who entered the United States through Ellis Island nicknamed it 'The Island of Hope.'"
B. "Some people were turned away. They gave Ellis Island another, sadder nickname: 'The Island of Tears.'"
C. "From 1892 to 1924, more than twelve million immigrants came through Ellis Island." | B | What is one reason why some people probably called Ellis Island “The Island of Hope?” | A. because they hoped they could live on Ellis Island for a long time
B. because they hoped they would be allowed to enter the United States
C. because they hoped they would find a way back to their home countries | B | What is the main idea of this article? | A. Ellis Island has a museum that tells people today about immigration.
B. Ellis Island was once the first stop for immigrants coming to the United States.
C. You can use a computer to see if anyone in your family came through Ellis Island. | B | Read these sentences from the first part of the article. "Maybe someone related to you moved to America long ago. That person might have arrived at Ellis Island. It is an island in New York City’s harbor. Long ago, Ellis Island was the first stop in the United States for many newcomers." Why might the author have menti... | A. to find out how your family came to America
B. to give you an idea for an important research project
C. to get you interested in learning about how people came to America | C | Choose the answer that best completes this sentence. Many immigrants came through Ellis Island, _____ not everyone was allowed into the United States. | A. so
B. because
C. but | C |
Arctic Life | Welcome to the Arctic! That is the cold, windy area around the North Pole. It includes the Arctic Ocean and the land near it. Snow and ice cover the ground for much of the year.
The Arctic is a habitat, or place in nature where many animals live. The walrus, polar bear, and snowy owl are a few of those animals. They ha... | 720 | 2 | Science: Life Science | What is the Arctic? | A. a cold and windy area
B. a hot and damp area
C. a cool and dry area | A | What does this text list? | A. different plants that grow in the Arctic
B. different animals that live in the Arctic
C. different types of weather in the Arctic | B | Fat is a good way for animals to stay warm in cold weather. What information from the text supports this idea? | A. Polar bears and walruses both have layers of fat to keep them warm.
B. Owls have a thick layer of fat under their feathers.
C. Owls and polar bears wear coats made out of fat. | A | What is one thing that all of these animals have in common? | A. They all have a layer of fat that keep them warm.
B. They all eat fish that they catch in the ocean.
C. Their bodies all keep them warm in the cold weather. | C | What is this text mostly about? | A. different animals that live in the desert
B. different animals that can survive in the Arctic weather
C. different plants that animals eat in the Arctic | B | null | null | null | null | null | null |
We're Going to a Powwow! | The sound of drums fills the air. People start to sing and dance. A powwow has begun. In the past, a powwow was a religious ceremony. Today, a powwow is a festival. It celebrates Native American life. Many different Native American tribes have powwows.
At powwows, Native Americans sing songs in their tribe’s language. ... | 510 | 2 | null | Choose the word that best completes the sentences below. Some of the songs are old. Other songs are _________. | A. hot
B. new
C. gifts | B | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Great Americans | Oprah Winfrey had her own television talk show and magazine. She uses much of the money she earns to help others. Winfrey had a charity called the Angel Network. People donated, or gave, money to the charity. The money was used to help people throughout the world. She now is building her own television network, OWN.
Ro... | 560 | 2 | Social Studies: U.S. History | Who is Nikki Giovanni? | A. a writer
B. a tap dancer
C. an astronaut | A | What does the author describe at the end of the passage? | A. how Rosa Parks made history
B. Savion Glover’s tap dancing career
C. how Robert L. Curbeam Jr. became an astronaut | A | Oprah Winfrey cares about helping others. What evidence from the passage supports this conclusion? | A. Oprah Winfrey uses much of the money she earns to help others.
B. Oprah Winfrey is building her own television network, OWN.
C. Oprah Winfrey had her own television talk show and magazine. | A | Why are all of these people included in the passage? | A. because they are important
B. because they are scientists
C. because they changed laws | A | What is this passage mostly about? | A. famous African Americans
B. the life of Rosa Parks
C. The Tap Dance Kid | A | Read the following sentences: “ At the age of 10, he starred in The Tap Dance Kid. The show was on a Broadway stage in New York City.” What does the word “starred” most nearly mean? | A. jumped
B. performed
C. noted | B | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. Savion Glover is a talented tap dancer, _________ he has won many awards. | A. also
B. but
C. so | C |
It's Chinese New Year | Chinese New Year happens sometime between January 21 and February 20. The Chinese New Year celebration lasts 15 days.
People say good-bye to the old year and welcome the new year.
A Time for Color: Many people wear red and gold. Those colors are thought to bring happiness and wealth. Family and friends give children sm... | 710 | 2 | null | When does Chinese New Year happen? | A. sometime between January 1 and February 20
B. sometime between January 21 and February 20
C. sometime between January 1 and January 21
D. January 21 | B | What is the main idea of this text? | A. During Chinese New Year, people eat dishes that have special meanings.
B. The Chinese lion dance is believed to bring people good luck.
C. There are different ways people celebrate Chinese New Year.
D. The Chinese people use an animal to name each year. | C | What do many people wear during Chinese New Year? | A. blue and gold
B. red and silver
C. blue and silver
D. red and gold | D | What is one characteristic people born in the year of the pig are believed to have? | A. They are energetic.
B. They are creative.
C. They are lazy.
D. They are honest. | D | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Clara and Phillip the Turtle | It’s a hot summer’s day, and Clara is outside on her back porch drinking lemonade. Her mom is in the backyard cutting the grass with a lawn mower. The lawn mower is loud, and Clara wishes her mom would play with her instead. But her mom says because it’s been sunny and then rainy and then sunny again, the grass has had... | 760 | 2 | null | What does Clara take care of? | A. a bird
B. a snake
C. a turtle | C | A problem in this story is that Phillip’s leg is broken. What is the solution? | A. Clara’s mom cuts the grass with a lawn mower.
B. Clara sits on her back porch and drinks lemonade.
C. Clara takes care of Phillip until his leg is healed. | C | Clara takes good care of Phillip the turtle. What information from the story supports this statement? | A. The vet says that Phillip needs plants to eat and water to drink, plus a place to live.
B. Clara brings Phillip fruit and leaves to eat, and keeps his water bowl clean.
C. Clara wishes her mom would play with her instead of cutting the grass. | B | How was Phillip’s leg probably broken? | A. It was caught on a piece of glass in the backyard.
B. It was run over by the lawn mower.
C. It was hit by a car driving down the street. | B | What is a theme of this story? | A. A mistake can be fixed.
B. Pets are a lot of trouble.
C. Children should spend a lot of time outdoors. | A | Read this sentence from the passage: “Clara’s mom has a turtle in her hand! ” Why does the author use an exclamation point after the word “hand”? | A. to show that Clara does not know what is happening
B. to show that what is happening is exciting
C. to show that Clara’s mom is asking a question | B | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. Phillip’s leg is healed _______ Clara takes care of him. | A. after
B. before
C. so | A |
The Perfect Sandcastle | Renee was making sandcastles on the beach with her friends, Divya and Morris. It was fun to shape the wet sand with their hands, like dough. It was sunny outside but not too bright. The ocean waves lapping at Renee’s feet felt nice.
As they played, Renee noticed something: none of their sandcastles looked like castles.... | 520 | 2 | Science: Technology & Engineering | What are Renee, Divya, and Morris making on the beach? | A. mud pies
B. deep holes
C. sandcastles | C | One problem in this passage is that the sandcastles Renee and her friends make do not look like castles. How do they solve this problem? | A. They build a new sandcastle, first drawing it in the sand.
B. They ask Divya’s dad to help them build a new sandcastle because he is an architect.
C. They all build sandcastles that look like upside-down ice cream cones. | A | The sandcastle built after making a drawing looks more like a real castle than the sandcastles built before making a drawing. What can be concluded from this information? | A. Making a drawing before building a sandcastle results in a sandcastle that looks like a wooden block.
B. Making a drawing before building a sandcastle results in a sandcastle that looks like a big snowman.
C. Making a drawing before building a sandcastle results in a sandcastle that looks more like a real castle. | C | Why does Morris kick down everyone’s sandcastles? | A. He is mad because their sandcastles are bigger than his.
B. He has an idea for making a new sandcastle.
C. He is tired of making sandcastles and wants to do something else. | B | What is a theme of the story? | A. People do a better job at something when they work alone than when they work in a group.
B. If people are unhappy, they should keep doing what they are doing.
C. Doing something in a new way can make a big difference. | C | Read these sentences: “Renee’s sandcastles looked like upside-down ice cream cones. Divya’s castles looked like wooden blocks, with little dents where she had shaped the blocks with her fingers. And Morris made castles that looked like a lot of snowmen huddled together. ‘Divya, Morris,’ Renee said. ‘None of our castles... | A. Renee means that none of their sandcastles look like real castles.
B. Renee means that they will never be able to build a castle with towers.
C. Renee means that Divya is better at making sandcastles than Morris is. | A | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. Renee, Divya, and Morris build a sandcastle that looks more like a real castle _______ making a drawing in the sand. | A. after
B. before
C. because | A |
Celebrations Around the World | Countries around the world take part in different celebrations throughout the year. The world map shows some of those countries.
The Festival of the Sun in Peru takes place in June. That is the time of year when the Sun is farthest away from Peru and daylight is shortest. The festival honors the Sun.
The Rose Harvest F... | 820 | 2 | null | What does the Festival of the Sun in Peru honor? | A. Peru
B. roses
C. the Sun | C | The Rose Harvest Festival in Bulgaria and the Yam Harvest in Ghana and Nigeria both celebrate something that grows in those countries. According to the text, what is one difference between what they celebrate? | A. The Rose Harvest Festival celebrates an animal and the Yam Harvest celebrates trees.
B. The Rose Harvest Festival celebrates a flower and the Yam Harvest celebrates a vegetable.
C. The Rose Harvest Festival celebrates a color and the Yam Harvest celebrates a fruit. | B | Read the following sentences from the text. “In July, people in some places in Australia celebrate the history of Aborigines (a-buh-RIH-juh-neez). Aborigines are the Native people of Australia. As part of the week-long celebration, people wear traditional costumes, paint their faces, and perform dances….The Dragon Boat... | A. Celebrations often include traditions, like traditional clothing or symbols.
B. Celebrations always include boats of different sizes that people can race.
C. Celebrations can never include dancing because they are serious events. | A | According to the text, how might people in the United States come together to celebrate Independence Day? | A. They might march in parades and watch fireworks together.
B. They might wear traditional costumes and carry yams together.
C. They might perform a dance called “shake a leg” together. | A | What is the main idea of this text? | A. People in the United states celebrate Independence Day on July 4 each year.
B. Places around the world have different celebrations throughout the year.
C. Roses are a type of flower that can be used to make perfume and chocolate. | B | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Mommy Bird Feeds Her Chicks | A bunch of chicks hatch to a mommy bird. She knows her young ones are hungry and that they will need to eat. She knows she has to go and get food for them.
The mommy bird is big and tall, and she is a capable hunter, especially at catching fish. She is a great blue heron with sharp eyes and fast bill movement.
The nest... | 640 | 2 | Science: Life Science | What is hatched to the mommy bird? | A. a bunch of chicks
B. a bunch of fish
C. one chick | A | What main problem does the mommy bird face? | A. She has lost her chicks.
B. She needs to feed her chicks.
C. she cannot fly | B | The mommy bird uses her bill to get food. What evidence from the text supports this conclusion? | A. "The mommy bird takes off to the bay to find food."
B. "She stands still in the water and watches. Sometimes she walks very slowly."
C. ". . . she uses her bill to quickly snatch up the fish and swallow it whole." | C | Read these sentences from the text. The bay is close to the nest, so the mommy bird arrives there quickly. She lands and then starts to wait. She stands still in the water and watches. Sometimes she walks very slowly. She waits for fish to swim close. When one fish does, she uses her bill to quickly snatch up the fish ... | A. She is patient.
B. She is tired.
C. She is scared. | A | What is the main idea of this text? | A. A mommy bird makes a nest in a tall oak tree, where a bunch of chicks hatch.
B. A mommy bird flies through the air on a sunny day, and she loves the feeling of flying.
C. A mommy bird helps her chicks survive by finding food and bringing it back for them. | C | Read these sentences from the text. [The mommy bird] waits for fish to swim close. When one fish does, she uses her bill to quickly snatch up the fish and swallow it whole. Now she has food and can feed her babies. Based on these sentences, what does "swallow" mean? | A. throw
B. take in
C. hide | B | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. The mommy bird knows that her chicks are hungry, ____ she has to go and get food for them. | A. so
B. but
C. also | A |
Super Survival Skills | A porcupine fish is one type of sea creature that lives in the oceans. When the porcupine fish is in danger, it swallows water and swells like a balloon. It then becomes too large and prickly for an enemy to eat. How do other sea creatures protect themselves?
Oceans are home to some of the most colorful animals in the ... | 740 | 2 | Science: Life Science | How does living in sea anemones protect clown fish? | A. Clown fish are the same colors as sea anemones.
B. Predators stay away from sea anemones because they are poisonous.
C. Sea anemones attack other fish.
D. Clown fish have poison on their scales that come from the sea anemone. | B | _______________ stay together in groups for protection. | A. Jelly fish
B. Seahorses
C. Angelfish
D. All of the above | C | Tentacles are | A. types of poison on jelly fish.
B. poisonous stripes on clown fish.
C. long arms on jellyfish and sea anemones.
D. the arms of a starfish. | C | Why does mimicking another animal protect the mimic octopus? | A. The mimic octopus looks like a more dangerous animal and scares predators away.
B. Predators are scared of animals that change and will leave them alone.
C. The mimic octopus changes to look like the predator to confuse it.
D. The mimic octopus changes so quickly that the predator cannot see it. | A | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Welcome Aboard! | Ahoy, mates! Welcome aboard the Santa Maria. Put on your sea legs and join Christopher Columbus and his crew on their journey across the Atlantic Ocean.
Christopher Columbus and his crew started their trip in Spain. They had three ships: The Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. Columbus and his crew were looking for a... | 560 | 2 | Social Studies: World History | Which happened first? | A. The sailors thought they were lost.
B. The crew started their trip in Spain.
C. They were running out of food.
D. A crew member spotted land. | B | Which happened last? | A. They were running out of food.
B. The crew started their trip in Spain.
C. The sailors thought they were lost.
D. A crew member spotted land. | D | Columbus was looking for a shortcut to | A. Florida.
B. Asia.
C. Spain.
D. the United States. | B | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Money Matters | People use money every day. Have you ever wondered where all of that money has been or where it might go? Read below to find out!
Money comes in the form of bills and coins. Here is the path a U.S. dollar bill may take from start to finish.
Bills are printed at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. People check the bil... | 660 | 2 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture | Where would you most likely find this text? | A. a science magazine.
B. a social studies textbook.
C. a newspaper’s section about art.
D. a magazine about music. | B | This article was written to | A. inform people about how money is made.
B. inform people where money has been and where it goes.
C. persuade readers that money is an important part of society.
D. help people learn how to save and spend money wisely. | B | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Fun in the Sun | Grab your beach towel, sunglasses, and sunscreen! Summer is just around the corner. It starts on June 21. For most kids, that means more time to play outside and have fun.
Experts say that more injuries occur during the summer months. Follow these tips to make sure you stay safe while enjoying the season.
Many kids wil... | 650 | 2 | Social Studies: Sports, Health & Safety | The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes the sentence. Wearing sunscreen is important _______ sunlight can damage your skin and eyes. | A. but
B. because
C. so | B | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
The Buzz About Honey | Honeybees are really busy. Using flowers, bees begin to make honey. They visit between 50 and 100 flowers in one trip from the beehive. Follow the buzz to the beehive, and discover how honey is made.
Follow the steps honey takes from a flower to a grocery store shelf.
1. Collect the Nectar
Honeybees need flowers to mak... | 680 | 2 | Science: Life Science | First the bees collect __________ and then they go to the hive. | A. nectar
B. pollen
C. beeswax
D. honeycomb | A | In a lifetime of work, a honeybee collects | A. enough honey to equal the size of a head of a pin.
B. a pound of honey.
C. honey from 2 million flowers.
D. enough honey to equal the size of a pea. | D | Before the bees fan the honey, they put the nectar in ___________. | A. their bellies.
B. jars.
C. the flower.
D. the honeycomb. | D | The beekeeper collects the honey from the hive and then the honey goes to ______________. | A. a restaurant.
B. the flower.
C. the grocery store.
D. the beeswax. | C | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
A Trip to the Immigration Museum | Sara was learning about American history. Today, her class visited the Ellis Island Immigration Museum.
“This museum is in the building where immigrants to the United States arrived a hundred years ago,” Sara’s teacher explained. “You will learn how people came to America back then. Please think about how different thi... | 690 | 2 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture, U.S. History | What did Sara and her class learn about on their class visit? | A. how people came to America a hundred years ago
B. how to drive a ferryboat on a river
C. how to interview someone about history | A | Where does this story mostly take place? | A. at the Ellis Island Immigration Museum
B. on a ferryboat near Ellis Island
C. at the Statue of Liberty | A | Read these sentences from the text. "'This is where immigrants had to check their baggage,' a guide said. 'They had come on long trips aboard very crowded ships. They knew they might never be able to return to their old countries.'" Based on this evidence, what conclusion can you draw about where these immigrants came ... | A. They came from nearby towns and villages.
B. They came from faraway countries.
C. They came from different parts of the U.S. | B | Immigrants to the United States wanted very much to become Americans. What evidence from the text supports this statement? | A. They arrived at the building that was turned into the Ellis Island Immigration Museum.
B. They came to the U.S. knowing that they might never be able to return to their old countries.
C. They came to the U.S. wearing old-time dresses, boots, and clothing from their countries. | B | What is the main idea of this story? | A. Sara visited a museum and learned about immigrants who came to the United States a hundred years ago.
B. Sara interviewed her parents to learn more about how they came to the United States.
C. Sara saw old trunks, suitcases, and baskets at the immigration museum she went to with her class. | A | Read these sentences from the text. “'This museum is in the building where immigrants to the United States arrived a hundred years ago,' Sara’s teacher explained. 'You will learn how people came to America back then.'” In these sentences, what does the phrase “immigrants to the United States” mean? | A. people who traveled the world
B. people who left America to live somewhere else
C. people who came to live in America | C | Sara wanted to know more about how her parents immigrated to the United States, ____ she decided to interview them. | A. because
B. but
C. so | C |
Moka the Little Golden Dog | Moka is a little golden dog that speaks English. No one seems to know but me. My job is to feed Moka and take her for walks when her family goes away on vacation. I’ve asked them about Moka before. I’ve said, “Are you aware, Mr. and Mrs. Quimpy, that your little golden dog speaks English?”
Mr. and Mrs. Quimpy laugh and... | 710 | 2 | null | Who is Moka? | A. a little golden dog
B. the narrator of the story
C. the Quimpys’ granddaughter | A | How does Moka change in the story? | A. At first she can speak English, but then she speaks Spanish.
B. At first she only says “forevermore,” but then she only says “nevermore.”
C. At first she only says one word at a time, but then she says a sentence. | C | Mr. and Mrs. Quimpy do not believe that their dog can speak English. What evidence from the story best supports this conclusion? | A. Mr. and Mrs. Quimpy tell the narrator not to feed Moka too much.
B. When the narrator tells them that Moka can speak, they laugh.
C. Samantha asks the narrator if she knows that Moka can speak. | B | How do many of Moka’s answers affect the narrator and Samantha? | A. Many of Moka’s answers confuse the narrator and Samantha.
B. Many of Moka’s answers discourage the narrator and Samantha and make them feel bad.
C. Many of Moka’s answers motivate the narrator and Samantha and make them feel good. | C | What is this story mostly about? | A. a dog that speaks English
B. a dog that only says one word
C. a girl who takes care of a dog | A | Read the following sentences: “Moka is a little golden dog that speaks English. No one seems to know but me. My job is to feed Moka and take her for walks when her family goes away on vacation. I’ve asked them about Moka before. I’ve said, ‘Are you aware , Mr. and Mrs. Quimpy, that your little golden dog speaks English... | A. to be interested in something
B. to know about something
C. to be happy about something | B | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. Moka only says “forevermore” to the narrator, ____ she only says “nevermore” to Samantha. | A. so
B. but
C. such as | B |
Objects in Space | So much traffic is zipping around Earth’s orbit. An orbit is the path of one space object around another. Scientists have to keep an eye on all that traffic to make sure it flows smoothly.
People have sent hundreds of satellites into Earth’s orbit. A satellite is an object that orbits a planet. Some travel as close as ... | 630 | 2 | Science: Technology & Engineering | The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes the sentence. Some satellites are within 100 miles of Earth, _______ others are thousands of miles away. | A. but
B. so
C. because | A | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
A Gold Sheep | Jared and his family are going to the petting zoo. Jared is nervous. What if one of the animals bites him?
“The animals won’t bite as long as you are nice to them,” Mom says.
“I’m always nice to animals,” says Jared.
When they get to the zoo, he sees all kinds of animals. There are chickens and lambs. There is a goat a... | 410 | 2 | null | Where do Jared and his family go in the story? | A. the shopping mall
B. the petting zoo
C. the aquarium | B | What problem does Gael, the gold sheep, face? | A. He thinks the other sheep won’t accept his gold face.
B. When he cries, gold flowers grow from where his tears fall.
C. He does not get enough food because no one feeds gold sheep. | A | Gael is a magical sheep. What evidence from the text supports this conclusion? | A. Conrad, the leader, thinks the gold flowers are delicious.
B. When Gael cries, gold flowers grow from where his tears fall.
C. Gael lives in shame, and he cannot show his true self to the other sheep. | B | Read these sentences from the text. “Secretly gold? We would never accept that! That sheep would be different. It would be an outcast!” Conrad says, laughing. Gael, the gold sheep, is standing alone on the other side of the petting zoo. He hears every word Conrad says. He begins to cry gold tears. Based on this informa... | A. proud that he is gold and different from the others
B. hungry for more animal pellets from Jared
C. sad that the sheep would not accept him | C | What is the main message of this story? | A. Being different can also be beautiful.
B. Trips to the petting zoo can teach you things.
C. Gold sheep are better than white or gray sheep. | A | Read these sentences from the text. “Look!” says Jared, pointing. “There is your gold sheep. He is making gold flowers grow!” “Ohhh!” all the other sheep gasp. “They are beautiful.” As used in the sentence, what does the word “gasp” mean? | A. run away in fear from something
B. make a noise from being surprised
C. make a noise in disgust | B | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. Gael thinks the other sheep would reject him if they knew his true color, ____ he hides his true form from others. | A. but
B. like
C. so | C |
Weathering and Erosion | Nature is always changing. Those changes are called natural events. Some natural events happen quickly. Think of a fire that starts when lightning strikes a tree. Other events occur slowly, such as when rocks are worn down over hundreds of years. This happens because of weathering and erosion.
Weathering is what happen... | 620 | 2 | Science: Earth & Space Science | What is erosion? | A. the process of moving water, moving ice, or wind carrying away a part of a rock
B. the process of a part of a rock loosened usually by nature
C. a natural event that happens quickly, such as lightning striking a tree | A | Weathering and erosion are effects. What can cause weathering and erosion? | A. lightning, fire, or a tree
B. moving water, moving ice, or wind
C. pieces of rock, sand, or dirt | B | Weathering and erosion wear down rocks over a long time. What evidence in the text supports this statement? | A. "Moving water can cause weathering and erosion. . . . The water can chip off small pieces of rock and carry them away."
B. "Moving ice can cause weathering and erosion. . . . During warmer weather, a bit of ice melts."
C. "Wind also causes weathering and erosion. . . . Over a long period of time, the wind wears down... | C | Read this paragraph from the article. "Wind also causes weathering and erosion. Wind can blow sand and dirt. It can carry the dirt far away. In some places, strong wind will push sand against rocks. Over a long period of time, the wind wears down those rocks." What can you infer from this paragraph about the strength o... | A. The stronger the wind blows, the faster it wears down rocks.
B. The stronger the wind blows, the more slowly it wears down rocks.
C. A wind's strength has no effect on how fast it wears down rocks. | A | What is the main idea of this text? | A. Solid sheets of ice can cause weathering and erosion as they move slowly down a mountain.
B. Weathering and erosion are natural events that slowly wear down rocks.
C. Waves can chip off pieces of rock and turn them into sand. | B | Read this paragraph from the article. "Moving water can cause weathering and erosion. Have you ever seen waves crash against rocks on the shore? The water can chip off small pieces of rock and carry them away. As more waves hit the rocks, more pieces are chipped off and carried away. Because of this, the rocks get smal... | A. to suggest that readers visit a beach in order to better understand weathering and erosion
B. to help readers who have never been to a beach imagine what a beach looks like
C. to help readers see how moving water can cause weathering and erosion | C | A sheet of ice on a mountain can cause weathering and erosion _______ it moves down the mountain. | A. when
B. before
C. after | A |
A Lion in the Bedroom | When James woke up, he found a lion sleeping on the floor next to his bed. Because he was five years old, he thought this was awesome.
“Hello, lion!” he yelled.
The lion, a female with a patchy coat, opened one eye and stared at him lazily. Then she turned over and fell back asleep.
James considered petting the lion o... | 570 | 2 | null | What does James find in his bedroom? | A. a tiger
B. a lion
C. Trixie, his old cat | B | How do James’s parents change in the story? | A. At first they don’t believe there is a lion in their house. Then they become scared that there might be a lion in their house.
B. At first they are scared that there might be a lion in their house. Then they don’t believe there is a lion in their house.
C. At first they don’t want James to have a lion, and then they... | A | When James tells his parents that he has a lion, they do not believe him. Which details from the passage support this conclusion? | A. James’s father grabs a mop and goes to look in James’s room.
B. James’s mother wants to call the police or animal control.
C. James’s mother says, “That’s nice,” and his father makes jokes. | C | Read the following sentences: “‘James,’ he said. ‘I need you to be completely, 100% honest with me. No make-believe, no story-time? Can you do that?’ “James nodded. ‘Sure I can.’ He noticed a droplet of sweat dripping down his father’s forehead. “‘OK, great,’ said his father, in a strange, small voice. ‘James. Is ther... | A. annoyed
B. frightened
C. happy | B | What is this passage mostly about? | A. James finds a lion in his bedroom and tells his parents.
B. James misses his cat Trixie, so his parents buy him a lion named Trixie II.
C. James is scared of the lion in his bedroom, and his father hits it with a broom. | A | Read the following sentences: “‘It’s not sarcasm,’ his father said. ‘I’m being funn—’ James’s father didn’t get to finish his sentence. It was interrupted by an ear-splitting roar, coming from James’s bedroom.” In this sentence, what does “interrupted” most nearly mean? | A. became louder
B. kept going
C. stopped | C | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. James tells his parents that there is a lion in his bedroom, _______ they do not believe him. | A. but
B. so
C. because | A |
The Cutest Animal Finalists | Weekly Reader asked its readers to vote for the cutest animal in a recent contest. The company received nearly 20,000 votes! These are the six animals that the readers thought were the cutest.
Polar bears are animals that live near the North Pole. The ground there is mostly ice. The fur on polar bears looks white. Pola... | 660 | 2 | Science: Life Science | “These six animals are the cutest animals in the world,” is | A. a fact.
B. an opinion. | B | Which of the following is an opinion? | A. Koalas are small animals that live in Australia.
B. Dolphins live in most oceans .
C. The cubs look like cute teddy bears.
D. Penguins are black with white bellies. | C | All of the animals in the article are similar because: | A. They all like to eat fish.
B. None of the animals know how to run.
C. All of the animals are thought to be one of the cutest animals in the world.
D. All of the animals like to laugh. | C | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Ilsa and the International Camp | Ilsa was excited to meet her camp counselor Itzel when she arrived for her first day at The International Camp in Forest Hills, Queens, in New York City. Itzel asked the campers to sit in a circle, introduce themselves, and share which countries their families were from.
Ilsa smiled. She liked that her new camp friends... | 690 | 2 | Science: Earth & Space Science | Where are the families of people at The International Camp from? | A. Argentina ONLY
B. France ONLY
C. many different countries | C | What is compared and contrasted in the passage? | A. New York City and Chicago
B. international camps and sports camps
C. weather in different parts of the world | C | The climate of Ghana is warm all year. The climate of New York City is sometimes cold. What can be concluded from this information? | A. All parts of the world have the same climate.
B. Different parts of the world can have different climates.
C. The climate of New York City and the climate of England are alike. | B | Why might Ilsa like to eat ice cream in the summer? | A. Ilsa likes eating something cold when the weather is hot.
B. Ilsa likes eating something warm when the weather is hot.
C. Ilsa likes eating something hot when the weather is cold. | A | What is a main idea of the story? | A. eating stew in Senegal
B. visiting Argentina in the summer
C. weather around the world | C | Read these sentences: “Ilsa was excited to meet her camp counselor Itzel when she arrived for her first day at The International Camp in Forest Hills, Queens, in New York City. Itzel asked the campers to sit in a circle, introduce themselves, and share which countries their families were from.” What does the word inter... | A. having to do with more than one country
B. having to do with being outdoors
C. having to do with playing baseball or soccer | A | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. Ilsa’s parents are from England, _______ Yassine’s parents are from Morocco. | A. because
B. but
C. so | B |
Web Weavers | A spider squeezes liquid from its body. The liquid hardens into a strong silk thread. It can be thin or thick. It can also be smooth or sticky.
All spiders spin silk. Some spiders hang from their silk. Some use their silk to protect their eggs. Many spiders use their silk to build webs. Learn about three kinds of web b... | 480 | 2 | Science: Life Science | The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes the sentence. An orb weaver spider knows when an insect flies into its web ________ it feels the web move. | A. so
B. but
C. because | C | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
The Three Branches of Government | The United States Constitution was written over two hundred years ago. It explains how the United States government should work. The people who wrote the Constitution did not want one person or group to have too much power. That was why they divided the government into three parts, known as branches.
The branches are t... | 740 | 2 | Social Studies: Civics & Government, U.S. History | What are the three branches of the U.S. government? | A. Congress, the Supreme Court, and the Senate
B. the president, the House of Representatives, and the Senate
C. legislative, executive, and judicial | C | This article describes the three branches of government and their responsibilities. Which branch does it describe first? | A. the executive branch
B. the judicial branch
C. the legislative branch | C | Read these sentences from the text. "The people who wrote the Constitution did not want one person or group to have too much power. That was why they divided the government into three parts, known as branches." What can you conclude based on this evidence? | A. The three branches of the government do not have the same amount of power.
B. The people who wrote the Constitution wanted every American to help make laws.
C. The people who wrote the Constitution did not want to have just one branch of government. | C | Which is an example of how one branch of government can be affected by the other branches? | A. The executive branch includes the president, the vice president, and the Cabinet.
B. Justices on the Supreme Court are appointed by the president and approved by the Senate.
C. Voters in each state elect their representation in the House and their senators to go to Congress. | B | What is the main idea of this article? | A. The U.S. Constitution is the law of the land, and it lays out rules for the government and rights for the American people.
B. The judicial branch decides on the meanings of the laws and whether laws break the rules of the U.S. Constitution.
C. The U.S. Constitution says that the country must have a Congress, a Supre... | A | Read these sentences from the text. "The United States Constitution was written over two hundred years ago. It explains how the United States government should work. The people who wrote the Constitution did not want one person or group to have too much power. That was why they divided the government into three parts, ... | A. to give the reader background information about why there are three branches of government
B. to explain to the reader why the U.S. Constitution is the most important piece of writing in history
C. to help the reader learn more about the history of the United States | A | Choose the answer that best completes this sentence. The legislative branch of government has the power to make laws, ______ the executive branch carries those laws out. | A. so
B. because
C. but | C |
Atka and the Wolves of South Salem | Alawa and Zephyr are two-year-old Canadian Rocky Mountain wolves. They live in a large pen at the Wolf Conservation Center in South Salem, New York. The pen has trees, two dens, rocks to climb, and a pond. The wolves run by the fence and then stop to look around. They pant in the July sun. “Wolves like the winter,” say... | 630 | 2 | Science: Life Science | What is Atka? | A. a wolf
B. a dog
C. a coyote | A | The author contrasts wolves with dogs. What is one way that wolves and dogs are different? | A. Wolves are domesticated, but dogs are not.
B. Dogs live in packs, but wolves live alone.
C. Wolves howl to communicate with one another, but dogs bark. | C | The three socialized ambassador wolves have no fear of people. Which evidence from the text supports this statement? | A. The three wolves are not domesticated.
B. The three wolves help with educational events.
C. The three wolves live at the Wolf Conservation Center. | B | Which type of wolf from the Wolf Conservation Center would most likely be released into the wild? | A. a socialized wolf
B. a wolf that has not been visited by people
C. a “teacher wolf” | B | What is the passage mostly about? | A. wolves and the Wolf Conservation Center
B. how wolves communicate
C. the domestication of dogs | A | Read the following sentences: “They put catnip, blackberries and oranges, into boxes. Alex left the boxes in the wolf pen for the wolves to examine .” What does the word examine mean in the sentence? | A. to throw away the boxes
B. to avoid the boxes
C. to look at the boxes carefully | C | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. Wolves only eat once or twice-a-week, ______ they eat a lot when they do eat. | A. second
B. first
C. but | C |
The Volcano That Keeps Erupting | A volcano on the island of Hawaii has been erupting since 1983. The volcano’s name is Kilauea (kee-lah-WAY-ah). It has released tons of hot, melted rock called lava.
Volcanoes are openings on the surface of our planet that can send lava, gas, and steam into the air. You may have seen volcanoes that look like mountains ... | 790 | 2 | Science: Earth & Space Science | What is Kilauea? | A. a volcano on the island of Hawaii that has been erupting since 1983
B. a community on the island of Hawaii that has been destroyed by lava
C. an ocean where most of the world's volcanoes and the island of Hawaii are found | A | The destruction of Royal Gardens was an effect. What was the cause? | A. a forest preserve
B. lava flow
C. the Pacific Ocean | B | "Lava from Kilauea has done a lot of damage." What evidence in the article supports this statement? | A. In 1990, lava from Kilauea destroyed over a hundred homes.
B. Since 1983, Kilauea has released tons of hot, melted rock in Hawaii.
C. Kilauea is an opening on the surface of the earth that can send lava, gas, and steam into the air. | A | Living near a volcano can be dangerous. What evidence from the text supports this conclusion? | A. Volcanoes can send lava, gas, and steam into the air.
B. Lava from Kilauea destroyed over a hundred homes.
C. Most volcanoes are in an area called the "Ring of Fire." | B | What is the main idea of this article? | A. Scientists are using computers to map the path of lava from Kilauea.
B. Kilauea is a volcano in Hawaii that has done a lot of damage since 1983.
C. The "Ring of Fire" is what scientists call an area in the Pacific Ocean where most of the world's volcanoes are found. | B | Read this paragraph from the article. "Scientists say Kilauea’s lava threatens more homes and a forest preserve. The scientists are using computers to map the lava’s path. They hope to predict what Kilauea will do in the future." What does it mean that lava "threatens more homes"? | A. Lava is making loud noises that sound like threats around more homes.
B. Lava is destroying more homes today than it used to.
C. More homes are in danger of being destroyed by lava. | C | Choose the answer that best completes this sentence. Scientists are mapping the path of lava from Kilauea _______ they want to predict what Kilauea will do in the future. | A. so
B. because
C. but | B |
Holidays! | Christmas is a Christian holiday. Families decorate evergreen trees with lights and ornaments. Some people also string light on the outside of their homes. On Christmas, people sing and give one another gifts.
Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday. It lasts for eight days. Every night, one candle is lit in a holder called a men... | 570 | 2 | null | The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes the sentence. Many students are helping others for the holidays, ______ they are showing their holiday spirit. | A. because
B. but
C. so | A | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Mommy's Gonna Love It | Stacey’s mother worked at home. She spent all day at the computer. Sometimes she typed. Sometimes she clicked. Sometimes she looked at videos. She was a writer, so being at the computer was her job. The computer was her most important tool. It worked very well. There was only one problem.
It was boring.
The computer wa... | 500 | 2 | null | What does Stacey decide to make beautiful? | A. Mommy’s computer
B. Mommy’s room
C. Mommy’s writing | A | When decorating the computer, what does Stacey do first? | A. put glitter on the computer
B. color the computer purple
C. put stickers on the computer | B | Stacey thinks she is helping her mother by making her computer look beautiful. What sentence from the story best supports this conclusion? | A. “‘This looks almost perfect,’ said Stacey. ‘But what’s missing?’”
B. “Stacey’s mother never complained about this. But Stacey could tell it bothered her.”
C. “And so, one day while her mother was taking a bath, Stacey decided to help.” | C | Based on the story, how does Stacey’s mother feel about what Stacey has done to her computer? | A. She is angry.
B. She is thankful.
C. She is confused. | A | What is this story mostly about? | A. how a girl tries to help her mother
B. how a mother uses a computer for work
C. how a girl is different from her mother | A | Read the following sentences: “She was a writer, so being at the computer was her job. The computer was her most important tool . It worked very well.” As used in the passage, what does the word “tool” most nearly mean? | A. an object used to make things beautiful
B. an object used to do work
C. an object that stops you from finishing something | B | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. Stacey wanted to make Mommy’s computer beautiful, _____ Mommy did not like how Stacey changed her computer. | A. so
B. after
C. but | C |
Family Stories | Yesterday, my second-grade class read Grandpa’s Tractor. It is a children’s book by Michael Garland. In the book, a boy named Timmy spends the day with his grandfather, Grandpa Joe. The story takes place in the present and the past.
Timmy and his grandfather visit an old farm where Grandpa Joe grew up. Timmy sees the o... | 600 | 2 | Social Studies: School & Family Life | What does Timmy do in the book Grandpa's Tractor? | A. Timmy calls his grandpa Cesar on the phone.
B. Timmy spends the day with his grandfather.
C. Timmy picks vegetables on a farm in Mexico. | B | One of the settings of Grandpa's Tractor is the present. What is another setting of Grandpa's Tractor? | A. Mexico
B. the past
C. the future | B | Read this sentence from the story. "Grandpa Cesar's life as a boy was different from Grandpa Joe's." What evidence in the story supports this idea? | A. Grandpa Joe grew up on a farm, and Grandpa Cesar grew up in a small village.
B. Grandpa Joe tells Timmy about his memories of growing up, and Grandpa Cesar shares his memories of growing up.
C. Grandpa Joe grew up on a farm, and Grandpa Cesar's parents picked vegetables on a farm. | A | What effect does the book Grandpa's Tractor seem to have on the second-grader who reads it? | A. It makes the second-grader wonder what riding a tractor would be like.
B. It makes the second-grader wonder what the life of his or her own grandpa was like.
C. It makes the second-grader wonder what living in Mexico would be like. | B | What is the theme of this story? | A. learning about the past
B. learning about the future
C. learning about the present | A | Read this paragraph from the story. "Timmy and his grandfather visit an old farm where Grandpa Joe grew up. Timmy sees the old farmhouse, barn, and tractor. For Grandpa Joe, seeing the tractor brings back special memories. He tells Timmy all about his life on the farm." What does the author mean by writing, "seeing the... | A. Grandpa Joe can only drive the tractor backward, not forward.
B. Grandpa Joe can still remember how to drive the tractor.
C. The tractor makes Grandpa Joe think of special memories. | C | Choose the answer that best completes this sentence. Grandpa Cesar grew up in Mexico, _______ his family later moved to the United States. | A. so
B. because
C. but | C |
Terrific Teeth | Open wide! Check out your teeth. You may have some missing. Many kids lose their baby teeth between ages 6 and 12. Adult teeth take their place.
Teeth are very important. Your teeth help you bite and chew your food. They help you speak. Teeth also give you a beautiful smile. In fact, it would be hard to say the word sm... | 490 | 2 | Social Studies: Sports, Health & Safety | The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes the sentence. Brushing is good for your teeth _______ it removes plaque. | A. but
B. because
C. so | B | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Pluto: The Planet That Wasn't | Poor Pluto!
It’s bad enough to be the runt of the group, but to be told after 75 years that you’re not even a member of the club - what an insult!
Pluto was first discovered in 1930. Until 2006, students were taught that it was the ninth and smallest planet in the solar system. Smaller than Earth’s moon, it is not even... | 900 | 3 | Science: Earth & Space Science | Pluto used to be considered a planet. Today, what is it considered to be? | A. It is considered to be a dwarf planet.
B. It is considered to be a star.
C. It is considered to be a comet.
D. It is considered to be an asteroid. | A | How does the text describe Pluto? | A. Pluto is made up entirely of ice, and it is bigger than Venus.
B. Pluto is made up entirely of rock and ice, and it is bigger than Earth's moon.
C. Pluto is made up entirely of gas, and it is bigger than Earth's moon.
D. Pluto is made up entirely of rock and ice, and it is smaller than Earth's moon. | D | Read these sentences from the text. After Eris was discovered, scientists had to make a decision. Either Eris was the 10th planet in the solar system or it was not a planet at all! And if Eris weren’t a planet, could Pluto be considered one? Scientists made new rules for what is counted as a planet, and decided that ne... | A. The discovery of Eris made scientists rethink the rules for what is counted as a star.
B. The discovery of Eris made scientists rethink the rules for what is counted as a dwarf planet.
C. The discovery of Eris made scientists rethink the rules for what is counted as a planet.
D. The discovery of Eris made scientists... | C | After Eris was discovered, scientists had to decide whether to count it as a planet. Why did this make them question whether Pluto should still be counted as a planet? | A. because Pluto and Eris are both space objects
B. because Pluto and Eris were discovered at the same time
C. because Pluto and Eris are very different
D. because Pluto and Eris are very similar | D | What is the main idea of this text? | A. Pluto was no longer considered a planet after the discovery of Eris made scientists come up with new rules for what is counted as a planet.
B. Pluto is so far away from Earth that the NASA New Horizons spacecraft took almost 10 years to get very close to it.
C. Eris is about the same size as Pluto, and like Pluto, i... | A | Read these sentences from the text. A new category was created: dwarf planet. The official list of planets in the solar system went from nine to eight, and Pluto and Eris became members of the dwarf planet club. So long for Planet Pluto—but at least it no longer has to be the littlest guy in the club. In fact, Pluto is... | A. Even though Pluto is no longer counted as a planet, it is in a new group called dwarf planets.
B. Even though Pluto is no longer counted as a planet, it is one of the bigger dwarf planets.
C. Even though Pluto is no longer counted as a planet, it is still part of the ring of objects that circle the outer edge of the... | B | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence. After scientists made new rules for what is counted as a planet, Pluto was no longer considered a planet. _________, the official list of planets in the solar system went from nine to eight. | A. Therefore
B. Although
C. On the other hand
D. Especially | A |
China's Lion Dance | If you have ever seen a celebration of the Chinese New Year, you may have seen a large, colorful creature dancing to the sounds of drums, cymbals, and gongs. Of course, this is not a real beast. It’s actually skilled dancers in costume, performing a lion dance. When these dancers come together, they form the colorful d... | 860 | 3 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture | When is the Chinese lion dance often performed? | A. on the eve of the Chinese New Year
B. on the eve of Christmas
C. on the Fourth of July
D. on the first day of the month | A | This text describes the legend of how lion dance began. In this story, how did the people in the Chinese village solve the problem of the nien the second time it came to their village? | A. They found another large animal to chase the nien away.
B. They gave the nien what it wanted.
C. They dressed up as a fake lion and chased the nien away.
D. They hid from the nien in their houses. | C | People most likely need to practice the lion dance before performing it. What evidence from the text supports this conclusion? | A. Two dancers perform a lion dance together as different body parts of the same lion.
B. The lion dance costume is made out of materials like bamboo, papier-mâché, and cloth.
C. In a southern lion dance, the dancers base their performance on a lion’s behavior.
D. The lion dance is a traditional part of Chinese culture... | A | Based on the text, what is a main contrast between the southern and northern lion dances? | A. the way each dance looks
B. the costumes worn for each dance
C. the events for which each dance is performed
D. the amount of skill each dance requires | A | What is the main idea of this text? | A. Northern and southern Chinese lion dances have some things in common, but are also very different styles of dance.
B. The lion dance is a traditional Chinese dance that is thought to bring good luck and that is performed for the Chinese New Year and other special events.
C. Hundreds of years ago in China, a monster ... | B | Read these sentences from the text. "While there are many different tales of how lion dance began, one legend traces it back to a village in China hundreds of years ago. The legend says that the people of the village were attacked by a monster called a nien." What does the word “legend” mean in these sentences? | A. an old person
B. an old story
C. a monster
D. a lullaby | B | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence. In a southern lion dance, the dancers base their performance on a lion’s behavior. ______, their lion may scratch or shake its body. | A. Because
B. Instead
C. However
D. For example | D |
Musical Instruments: String Instruments | String instruments make music with their strings. Most string instruments are often played with a bow. A bow is a piece of wood with horsehair stretched from end to end. When a musician draws the bow across the strings, the instrument’s strings vibrate and produce sound. The sound echoes inside the hollow body of the i... | 730 | 3 | Arts: Music & Performing Arts | According to the text, what happens when a musician draws the bow across the strings of a string instrumet? | A. The strings play the melody of a song.
B. The strings vibrate and produce sound.
C. The strings stretch horsehair from end to end.
D. The strings usually play the harmony. | B | What does the author compare and contrast in the text? | A. the sizes and sounds of the four string instruments
B. the strings and bows of the four string instruments
C. the types of wood used to make string instruments
D. the types of songs played by each string instrument | A | Read this paragraph from the text. String instruments make music with their strings. Most string instruments are often played with a bow. A bow is a piece of wood with horsehair stretched from end to end. When a musician draws the bow across the strings, the instrument’s strings vibrate and produce sound. The sound ech... | A. The bow of string instruments is the most important part.
B. String instruments are very difficult to play correctly.
C. All of the parts of the instrument are important for creating sound.
D. A lot of wood is needed to make string instruments. | C | Based on the text, how would an instrument smaller than the violin probably compare to other string instruments? | A. It probably would be played in a different way than other string instruments.
B. It probably would not have the same shape as a violin.
C. It probably would create an even lower sound than a bass.
D. It probably would have an even higher sound than the violin. | D | What is the main idea of the text? | A. There are four different instruments that make up the string section in an orchestra.
B. The most important string instrument in an orchestra is the double bass.
C. The string section is the smallest section in an orchestra because it only has four instruments.
D. The most popular string instrument is the violin bec... | A | Why did the author include the picture of a double bass, cello, viola, and violin? | A. so that the reader could practice drawing string instruments
B. to show the reader what a bow of a string instrument looks like
C. to show the reader how string instruments are shaped
D. to help the reader learn how to play string instruments | C | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence. A musician makes sound on a string instrument ______vibrating its strings. | A. though
B. by
C. so
D. because | B |
Happy Trails | The morning she left for Camp Kanawa, Maria awoke with a lump in her throat and an ache in her stomach. She had gone on plenty of sleepovers. She’d even spent a whole weekend at Aunt Jolie and Uncle Ed’s. So why was she so nervous?
No breakfast today, she thought, imagining the ache turning into nausea and a horrible r... | 680 | 3 | null | At the beginning of the story, where is Maria about to go? | A. a sleepover
B. Camp Kanawa
C. Aunt Jolie and Uncle Ed’s
D. school | B | How do Maria’s feelings about camp change in the story? | A. At first Maria is nervous, but then she is excited.
B. At first Maria is excited, but then she is nervous.
C. At first Maria is excited, but then she is bored.
D. At first Maria is nervous, but then she is sad. | A | Maria is anxious and nervous about going to camp. What evidence from the story best supports this statement? | A. Maria decides to eat French toast for breakfast before going to camp.
B. Maria’s parents give her advice about making friends at camp.
C. Maria and her mom joke with her dad about being hip and cool.
D. The morning she leaves for camp, Maria wakes up with a stomach ache. | D | Read the following sentences: “ Just be yourself. Just be yourself. Maria repeated the words like a mantra as she sat with her new cabin mates in a circle on the grass.” Based on this information, what conclusion can you make? | A. Maria is confident that she will make friends.
B. Maria is not sure if she will like her cabin mates.
C. Maria is nervous about making friends.
D. Maria has already made some new friends. | C | What is this story mostly about? | A. Maria goes to camp for the first time.
B. Maria really loves to eat French toast.
C. Maria discovers her love for dragonflies.
D. Maria jokes with her parents over breakfast. | A | Read the following sentences: She walked briskly to the stove, placed two pieces of French toast on a plate and tapped a canister above them, powdered sugar snowing down . “Just like you like it: super fluffy, slightly crispy...” “…and lightly dusted,” said Maria, already in position, armed with knife, fork, napkin and... | A. The powdered sugar was cold like falling snow.
B. The powdered sugar was wet like falling snow.
C. The powdered sugar smelled like falling snow.
D. The powdered sugar looked like snow as it fell. | D | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. __________, Maria is nervous about camp, but soon after she arrives, she becomes excited instead. | A. Finally
B. Initially
C. Especially
D. Although | B |
Important People | The janitor is the person who helps keep the school clean. Every morning students come from all over and walk into the school building. A building can get dirty, especially when a lot of people go into it. The janitor sweeps and mops the floors so that the dirt brought in gets cleaned up.
The teacher is the person who ... | 690 | 3 | Social Studies: School & Family Life, Civics & Government | Who are some of the people described in the passage? | A. lawyers, doctors, and bankers
B. singers, actors, and dancers
C. janitors, teachers, and principals | C | What does the passage list? | A. This passage lists some of the different jobs people have.
B. This passage lists the mayors of America’s five largest cities.
C. This passage lists all the Presidents of the United States. | A | A janitor helps keep a school clean. A teacher helps students learn at school. A principal is in charge of all the teachers at a school. What can be concluded from this information? | A. Principals often work with janitors but do not often work with teachers.
B. Many janitors want to become teachers, and many teachers want to become principals.
C. People can work in the same place and do different things. | C | Which job mentioned in the article is not a job that involves leadership? | A. janitor
B. principal
C. mayor | A | What is this passage mainly about? | A. the responsibilities of janitors and governors
B. different people and their jobs
C. how a janitor keeps a school clean | B | Read the following sentences: “The city or town has a leader, too. The leader is usually called the mayor. The mayor is in charge of running the government of the city of town.” What does the word “leader” mean above? | A. someone who helps children learn
B. someone who has power over other people
C. someone who does not get along with other people | B | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. The principal makes sure learning is happening in the school, _______, the principal is in charge of the teachers. | A. but
B. before
C. so | C |
Crossing the Finish Line | Running a marathon is not easy. It takes hard work, practice, and patience. After all, to run a marathon, you have to run 26.2 miles by foot! Think about it this way: 26.2 miles is the same as running the length of a football field more than 460 times. It takes most people four or five hours to finish. In 2013, the wor... | 800 | 3 | Social Studies: Sports, Health & Safety | What did Lea Tambellini train for when she was 22? | A. her first marathon
B. her first relay race
C. her first swim meet
D. her first baseball season | A | What does this text describe? | A. This text describes the fight between the Greeks and the Persians on the battlefield of Marathon.
B. This text describes how the marathon known as "The Flying Pig" got its name.
C. This text describes marathons and the experience of someone who runs them.
D. This text describes what Lea Tambellini's dad felt like wh... | C | Running a marathon takes hard work, practice, and patience. What evidence in the text supports this statement? | A. Runners train for months to get ready for a marathon.
B. Lea Tambellini had run more than five marathons by the time she was 30 years old.
C. There is a marathon in Ohio called "The Flying Pig."
D. The word "marathon" comes from a Greek legend. | A | How did Lea's feelings about running a marathon change? | A. At first she felt excited, but later she felt nervous.
B. At first she felt bored, but later she felt scared.
C. At first she felt scared, but later she felt bored.
D. At first she felt nervous, but later she felt excited. | D | What is the main idea of this text? | A. It takes most people four or five hours to run a marathon.
B. Running a marathon is hard work, but Lea Tambellini enjoys it.
C. The hardest part of Lea Tambellini's first marathon was running past a cookie factory.
D. Lea Tambellini loves running with a group of friends and working toward a goal with them. | B | Read these sentences from the text. To prepare for one of the marathons, Lea ran four to five times every week. On weekdays, she completed shorter runs, five or six miles at most. But on the weekends she ran long distances–13 miles, 15 miles, and 20 miles! Why might the author have included an exclamation point here? | A. to help readers imagine what running 20 miles would be like
B. to show amazement at how far Lea was running on the weekends
C. to suggest that Lea should not have run so many miles on the weekends
D. to support the statement that running a marathon is not easy | B | Read these sentences from the text. Running a marathon is not easy. It takes hard work, practice, and patience. What does the pronoun "it" refer to here? | A. patience
B. practice
C. hard work
D. running a marathon | D |
Learning on the Soccer Field | Gustavo’s favorite sport is soccer. When he was only four years old, his older brother taught him how to kick the ball. At first Gustavo was never able to make the ball go where he wanted it to go. Now Gustavo is eight years old, and he has had a lot of practice. Gustavo’s brother likes to kick the ball with his right ... | 760 | 3 | Social Studies: Sports, Health & Safety | What sport do Gustavo and Felipe play? | A. baseball
B. basketball
C. soccer
D. tennis | C | In this story, an effect is that Felipe gets better at soccer. What is the cause? | A. Felipe gets laughed at the first time he tries to play soccer.
B. Felipe practices kicking the soccer ball.
C. Felipe kicks the soccer ball with the wrong part of his foot.
D. Gustavo gives Felipe a big high-five. | B | Gustavo is good at soccer. What evidence from the story supports this conclusion? | A. After a week of practice, Felipe scores his first goal and Gustavo gives him a big high-five.
B. During a soccer game, Gustavo steals the ball from the other team and kicks it into the goal.
C. When Gustavo’s older brother taught him how to kick a soccer ball, Gustavo was never able to make it go where he wanted.
D.... | B | How do Felipe’s feelings about playing soccer change in the story? | A. He goes from feeling nervous to feeling excited.
B. He goes from feeling excited to feeling nervous.
C. He goes from feeling kind to feeling angry.
D. He goes from feeling angry to feeling kind. | A | What is a theme of this story? | A. Living somewhere with warm weather is a lot of fun.
B. Playing sports causes children to be mean to each other.
C. People should choose their friends carefully.
D. People can get better at something through practice. | D | Read the following sentences: “Gustavo’s brother likes to kick the ball with his right foot. But Gustavo doesn’t. Instead, he likes to kick it with his left foot so that it makes a loud sound - thwack! ” Why does the author write thwack! in the sentence above? | A. to give readers an idea of what the loud sound was
B. to show readers why Gustavo likes soccer so much
C. to make readers feel sorry for Gustavo
D. to help readers understand what going to school in Brazil is like | A | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. Felipe is nervous about playing soccer at first, _______ he looks forward to playing every day by the end of the story. | A. as a result
B. yet
C. like
D. so | B |
Snooze Alarm | Your alarm goes off. The room is still dark. You squint at the alarm clock. It's not even 6 a.m.! Still, you have to get up for school.
You brush your teeth and stumble into your clothes. You know that by 10 a.m. you will be struggling to stay awake in class.
"No one should have to get up this early for school," you sa... | 620 | 3 | Social Studies: School & Family Life | According to the text, what would some adults like to see happen in middle schools and high schools so that teens can get extra sleep? | A. They would like the schools to start at 6 a.m.
B. They would like the schools to open later in the morning.
C. They would like to see test scores and grades rise.
D. They would like to cut short outside activities. | B | What is one argument against school starting later that is presented in the text? | A. One argument against school starting later is that sports and activities might be cut short if school starts later.
B. One argument against school starting later is that teenagers do not need as much sleep as people think.
C. One argument against school starting later is that test scores and grades would be lower if... | A | Read these sentences from the text. Opening school later is not a good idea. Schools that start later would have to stay open later. That would mean that students would have to give up other important things. [. . .] Many parents need their teens to get home early. Many teens work or have to watch younger siblings in t... | A. If school hours were changed, it is unlikely that it would impact the lives of students or their families.
B. If school hours were changed, all students will receive higher grades because they will no longer have to focus on work or siblings.
C. If school hours were changed, the lives of students and their families ... | C | What might be a good solution to the problem mentioned in the text that sports schedules might be shortened because of a lack of daylight hours if schools start later? | A. One good solution would be to cancel the sports activities.
B. One good solution would be to install lights on sports fields so practice could run later.
C. One good solution would be for teens to get more sleep so they have energy to play sports.
D. One good solution would be for parents to wake their teens up earl... | B | What is the main idea of the text? | A. There are reasons both for and against making school start times later.
B. There are more reasons for changing school start time than not.
C. There is significant evidence to suggest that schools should start earlier.
D. The only way to help students get more sleep is to change school start times. | A | Read this sentence from the text. You brush your teeth and stumble into your clothes. As used in this sentence, what does the word "stumble" mean? | A. wake up fully
B. move smoothly
C. move awkwardly
D. run quickly | C | Choose the word that best completes the sentence. Some people think that middle and high schools should not open later _________ teenagers would then not be able to work after school. | A. unless
B. so
C. because
D. until | C |
Saving Big Cats | Some big cats are in big trouble. They are endangered, or at risk of dying out. The main threats to these animals are habitat loss and illegal hunting. Can endangered big cats be saved? Wildlife experts hope so. They are trying to protect the cats by teaching the public about the problem and making laws to keep the ani... | 720 | 3 | Science: Life Science | The following big cats do not live in Africa: | A. jaguars, snow leopards, and cheetahs.
B. snow leopards, cheetahs, and jaguars.
C. Sumatran tigers, snow leopards, and jaguars.
D. cheetahs, Sumatran tigers, and snow leopards. | C | The following big cats can live in a cold climate: | A. Sumatran tigers.
B. snow leopards.
C. cheetahs.
D. jaguars. | B | The following big cats are endangered: | A. lions, long-haired cats, and house cats
B. bobcats, cubs, and black cats
C. jaguars, Sumatran tigers, and cheetahs
D. lions, short-haired cats, and cougars | C | Raising cheetah cubs in zoos helps the species because | A. taking cheetahs out of their natural habitat is good for them.
B. it prevents them from being killed in the wild.
C. more people will want to hunt them.
D. raising cubs in zoos teaches them to fight if they are attacked. | B | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Every Hour Counts | Do you ever stay up late to play video games or watch TV? If so, you may want to think twice the next time. Experts say even one extra hour of sleep a night counts. A recent study showed that extra sleep can help kids perform better in school.
For two nights, a group of kids who took part in the study went to bed at th... | 760 | 3 | Social Studies: Sports, Health & Safety | Kids who get an extra hour of sleep have better memory skills, while kids who get less sleep | A. are better readers in all their classes.
B. come late to school constantly.
C. are grumpy during the day at school.
D. may have a hard time paying attention in school. | D | __________ is a result of losing an hour of sleep while _________ is a result of sleeping an extra hour. | A. Doing well in math / doing well in reading
B. Better memory / a poor test score
C. A poor test score / an improved test score
D. Gaining weight / losing weight | C | The following sentence is an opinion: | A. it is hard to get extra sleep.
B. studies show that extra sleep helps students.
C. students that get extra sleep do better on tests.
D. extra sleep increases attention span. | A | Kids who sleep better might go to bed the same time each night, while kids who have sleeping problems might | A. eat a small meal before bedtime.
B. relax before bedtime.
C. drink soda in the evening.
D. exercise in the morning. | C | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
'My Life Hasn't Changed' | On a cold morning in Austria, 16-year-old skier Ann Thompson was about to make her last practice run before lunch.
At the time, Thompson was one of the United States' top junior skiers. She hoped to win an Olympic gold medal in skiing.
As she prepared for that practice run, she couldn't know that it would be the last o... | 610 | 3 | Social Studies: Sports, Health & Safety | According to the text, what sport did Ann Thompson play as a wheelchair athlete just over a year after her accident? | A. skiing
B. track and field
C. basketball
D. training | B | What problem and solution are described in this text? | A. The problem was the ski accident that left Ann Thompson unable to walk, and the solution was becoming a wheelchair athlete.
B. The problem was that Ann Thompson’s spinal cord was severed, and the solution was to put it back together.
C. The problem was that there were no opportunities for wheelchair athletes, and th... | A | Injuring your spinal cord is very serious. Which evidence from the text support this conclusion? | A. “The spinal cord is made of tissue that carries signals to and from the brain. They tell body parts when and how to move.”
B. “She knew that training for track and field took too much time to allow her to work.”
C. “So she tried out for the U.S. Paralympic women's basketball team instead, and she made it.”
D. “Thomp... | A | Based on the text, what can you conclude about Ann Thompson? | A. She is going to become a trainer some day.
B. She continues to wish that she could ski.
C. She is a strong person who tries very hard.
D. She likes basketball more than track and field. | C | What is the main idea of the text? | A. At the age of 16 years old, Ann Thompson fell and severed her spinal cord, which left her unable to walk and ski.
B. In the years 1988, 1992, and 1996, Ann Thompson joined the U.S. Paralympic team, where she competed in track-and-field events.
C. Ann Thompson could no longer be a skier because of an accident, but sh... | C | Read these sentences from the text. As she sped down the hill on her skis, Thompson had a terrible accident . She fell and severed her spinal cord. Based on the sentences, what does the word "accident" mean? | A. fun event that happens with planning
B. fun event that happens by chance
C. harmful event that happens with planning
D. harmful event that happens by chance | D | Choose the word that best completes the sentence. Ann Thompson’s spinal cord was severed in an accident, ______ she could no longer walk. | A. although
B. but
C. because
D. so | D |
The Treasure Hunt | Jordan loves to use clues to solve riddles. That’s why she loves treasure hunts. She always dreams about being a pirate who is searching for a big treasure chest. She climbs trees and digs holes in her backyard, pretending that she is on a treasure hunt.
Jordan’s birthday is soon. Her friends Cameron and Annie decide t... | 740 | 3 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture | What do Annie and Cameron do for Jordan’s birthday? | A. buy her a puppy
B. throw a surprise party
C. take her to a pirate theme park
D. create a treasure hunt | D | What is the first step Annie and Cameron take to plan Jordan’s treasure hunt? | A. hide the clues
B. bury the treasure
C. draw a map
D. buy the candy | C | There are lots of places to hide clues in Cameron’s backyard. What evidence supports this conclusion? | A. Cameron and Annie ask their parents for help.
B. Cameron and Annie hide ten different clues.
C. Cameron and Annie make a map of the backyard.
D. Cameron and Annie mark where the clues are hidden on the map. | B | How does Jordan feel about the scavenger hunt her friends prepare? | A. happy and excited
B. bored and uninterested
C. sad and disappointed
D. nervous and doubtful | A | What is this passage mostly about? | A. pirates and treasure
B. mapping a backyard
C. planning a treasure hunt
D. birthday parties | C | Read the following sentences: “After they cut the cake, Cameron and Annie tell Jordan that they have a surprise for her. They give her the first clue. ‘This is so exciting! Thank you so much, guys!’ Jordan exclaims .” What does “exclaim” mean? | A. breathe
B. mumble
C. whisper
D. shout | D | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. ________ they bury the treasure, Annie and Cameron hide all of the clues. | A. Finally
B. Before
C. Although
D. First | B |
I Want a Phone! | “I want a phone!” said Myrna.
“I bet you do,” said her dad.
“No, but, Dad. You don’t understand. I really, really, really want a phone.”
“And I really, really, really want a boat. It’s not going to happen.”
Myrna and her dad were stuck in traffic. To her, it seemed like they were always stuck in traffic. When he took ... | 510 | 3 | null | What does Myrna want? | A. a car
B. a boat
C. a phone
D. a kitten | C | Whom does Myrna have a conflict with in this story? | A. her dad
B. her mom
C. a person driving in front of her and her dad
D. a person driving behind her and her dad | A | The author describes Myrna as "angry." What evidence in the story supports this description? | A. Myrna tells her dad that if she had a phone, she could call Mom.
B. Myrna tells her dad that she wants a phone.
C. Myrna asks her dad, "What if I was stuck in a cave?"
D. Myrna slams her hand down on the glove compartment as hard as she can. | D | Read these sentences from the text. She was bored, because traffic was boring. And when she was bored, she wanted things. Right now, she wanted a phone. She wasn’t sure if her dad understood that. She would have to tell him again. 'I. Want. A. Phone.' 'N. O.' 'What if I was stuck in a cave?' 'What?' asked her dad, tryi... | A. because he thinks her question is silly
B. because he is bored by the traffic
C. because he thinks it is funny when Myrna is bored
D. because he thinks phones are silly | A | What is a theme of this story? | A. Being right is almost as good as getting your way.
B. If you do not give up, you will someday get what you want.
C. If you use your imagination, you will never be bored.
D. Being kind is more important than being right. | A | Read these sentences from the text. No, but I mean…' Myrna spluttered. When she was very angry, she spluttered. It was embarrassing. Based on these sentences, what does the word "spluttered" probably mean? | A. had trouble speaking clearly
B. fell asleep
C. started to smile
D. slowly counted to twenty | A | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence. Myrna slams her hand down on the glove compartment _______ her dad laughs. | A. before
B. after
C. then
D. so | B |
Game On | Whap! Fourteen-year-old Steven Shin from Cleveland, Ohio, hits a tennis ball over the net. He has been playing in tennis tournaments since the age of 8. This July [2005], he plans to compete for a medal in the International Children's Games, also known as the Children's Olympics.
"Whenever you watch the real Olympics o... | 950 | 3 | Social Studies: Sports, Health & Safety | The author probably feels that Steven Shin | A. is a good example of a child athlete.
B. is better at playing tennis than the author.
C. may have a difficult time traveling.
D. is not going to win an Olympic medal. | A | The author seems to | A. be participating in the swimming competition.
B. support the Children's Olympics.
C. be against the Children's Olympics.
D. be participating in the tennis competition. | B | According to this passage, when watching the Olympics, | A. we do not know whom the author will root for.
B. the author will root for teams from the United States.
C. the author will root for teams from Germany.
D. the author will root for teams from England. | A | _______________ have had at least 9 events. | A. Modern Olympics
B. Neither
C. Both
D. The first Olympics | A | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Amy's Halloween Secret | It was almost October 31, and Amy was excited. Halloween was her favorite day of the year. She found it more fun than Christmas, because she got so many more presents, in the form of candy. And she also found it more fun than her birthday, because on Halloween, everyone dressed up and had a party, not just Amy!
Amy was... | 630 | 3 | null | Which holiday is Amy excited to celebrate? | A. Halloween
B. Christmas
C. Thanksgiving
D. her birthday | A | What is a main setting in this story? | A. Amy’s mom’s university
B. Amy’s school in Brooklyn
C. St. Louis, Missouri
D. the Old Stone House | D | Read these sentences from the text. "Amy was a little nervous, so she held onto her mother's hand as they walked up to the door. They knocked. No response. Amy tried again, this time more loudly. She thought she heard voices inside. Children's voices? "Amy tried pushing the door open and was startled when it moved! Why... | A. annoyed and angry
B. cheerful and excited
C. angry and upset
D. curious and scared | D | Why do Amy and her mother explore the Old Stone House? | A. to prove that they are not scared of old buildings
B. to see whether anyone is there to give Amy Halloween candy
C. to search for the little ghost girl
D. to try and learn about the history of the Old Stone House | B | What is a main idea of this text? | A. A girl dressed up as Tigger for Halloween.
B. A girl stores all her Halloween candy in her costume.
C. A girl doesn't want to explore her new neighborhood on Halloween.
D. A girl decides to explore her new neighborhood on Halloween. | D | Read these sentences from the text. "Right as Amy was shutting the door, she swore she saw a little girl, very pale, run past her in the living room. 'Come back soon!' the girl whispered to Amy, which gave Amy the chills. "'What's wrong?' her mother asked her." What might the author have meant by the phrase “gave Amy t... | A. made Amy feel excited
B. made Amy feel scared
C. gave Amy a gift
D. made Amy feel hot | B | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence. Amy held onto her mother’s hand as they walked up to the door of the Old Stone House _____ she was a little nervous. | A. but
B. then
C. so
D. because | D |
Moose on the Move | It's a bird! It's a plane! Wait…it's a moose! Wildlife workers moved 24 moose from Utah to their new home in Colorado in 2007. The moose traveled part of the way hanging from helicopters. The helicopters safely transported, or moved, the animals to trucks for a six-hour drive.
More than 90 moose were brought to Grand M... | 870 | 3 | Science: Life Science | What kind of animal did wildlife workers move from Utah to Colorado in 2007? | A. cows
B. moose
C. deer
D. snakes | B | Roger Shenkel thought there should be more moose in Grand Mesa, Colorado. What did the Colorado Division of Wildlife do after Shenkel told them his idea? | A. They hired Shenkel and made him the head of the division, and then let him figure out the moose moving.
B. They decided to send all the moose in Colorado to live in Utah because the Colorado habitat wasn't good for them.
C. They learned that the habitat in Grand Mesa was good for bighorn sheep, so they sent all thei... | D | Look at the image under "Animal Swap." What do you know about the trade between Colorado and Utah from this information? | A. The trade was good for both states.
B. The trade was only good for Utah.
C. The trade was only good for Colorado.
D. The trade was bad for both states. | A | Read this sentence from the text. "Wildlife officials help solve the problem [of overpopulation] by moving animals to areas where they can find enough food." What do you know about the moose that were moved to Colorado from this information? | A. There was probably enough food for the moose in Colorado.
B. There was probably too much food for the moose to eat in Utah.
C. There was probably not enough food for the moose in Colorado.
D. Utah and Colorado probably had the same amount of food for the moose. | A | What is the main idea of this text? | A. Utah and Colorado are two states in the western United States that have many different animals living them, including different types of sheep, moose, and other animals.
B. Utah and Colorado traded bighorn sheep and moose so that each state would have the right amount of bighorn sheep and moose and the animals would... | B | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Bread Baking Now and Then | Did you know that bread is one of the earliest human inventions? Bread is a food made of flour and water. Other ingredients and shape can vary. Scientists have learned that humans have been eating bread in some form or another for 30,000 years.
Ancient Egyptians ate a lot of bread. In fact, because they had no potatoes... | 870 | 3 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture, World History | What have people been doing for 30,000 years? | A. growing wheat
B. planting crops
C. eating bread
D. using yeast | C | The sequence of bread-baking by the ancient Egyptians is described in the passage. When ancient Egyptians first baked bread, what happened before the flour was mixed with water? | A. A little bit of old dough was mixed in with the new dough.
B. The grain was ground by hand on a millstone.
C. The dough was placed in a pot and baked in a clay oven.
D. Home bakers baked the bread they would need for the day. | B | Bread was the most important source of carbohydrates for ancient Egyptians because they did not have rice or potatoes. What conclusion does this evidence support? | A. Ancient Egyptians did not borrow foods from other cultures.
B. Ancient Egyptians had access to an endless variety of foods.
C. Ancient Egyptians did not know how to grow rice and potatoes.
D. Ancient Egyptians had limited dietary resources. | D | What kind of climate did ancient Egypt have? | A. dry
B. tropical
C. wet
D. cold | A | What is this passage mostly about? | A. why ancient Egyptians used emmer wheat
B. different types of flatbreads
C. the development of bread baking
D. wheat production in the United States | C | Read the following sentences: “Egypt gets little rain. Ancient Egyptian farmers relied on the annual flooding of the Nile River to irrigate their fields.” What does the word “irrigate” mean? | A. dry something out
B. supply with water
C. plant seeds in earth
D. make rows in the ground | B | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. Most breads today are made from four main ingredients, _______, flour, water, salt, and yeast. | A. thus
B. also
C. ultimately
D. namely | D |
Should Dogs Work? | Many pet dogs spend their days sleeping around the house. They play catch with their owners. They have all their meals delivered straight to their bowls. Pet dogs give their owners love and friendship. In return, the dogs live carefree lives.
Some dogs don't have it so easy. They are put to work, but these dogs are not... | 560 | 3 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture, Sports, Health & Safety | What animal is this text about? | A. cats
B. lions
C. fish
D. dogs | D | What are the contrasting points of view that the author includes in this text? | A. for and against dogs working
B. for and against a form of government
C. for and against legal gambling
D. for and against credit cards | A | What piece of evidence supports the idea that dogs should work? | A. Service dogs are put under too much stress.
B. Service dogs have to work hard.
C. Service dogs are workers and pets.
D. Service dogs are given love and praise for their work. | D | Why does the author include stories about police dogs in the section, "No! Dogs Should Not Work"? | A. to show examples of dogs who love their jobs
B. to show that dogs are always happy and safe while working
C. to show that cats are better workers than dogs
D. to show the ways that working can be dangerous for dogs | D | What is this passage mostly about? | A. the different types of work that service dogs perform
B. arguments related to putting dogs to work
C. the need for guide dogs and police dogs
D. the use of dogs as pets throughout history | B | null | null | null | null | null | null |
The Big Hike | Tamara opened her eyes and jumped out of bed. Most days she hated getting up early. But today was different. Today Tamara was wide awake and excited. Today her family was going on a hike. This was Tamara’s first hike. She pulled on her new shoes and tied the laces. Tamara’s mother had bought the new shoes just for the ... | 460 | 3 | null | In the story, Tamara goes on her first what? | A. bike ride
B. school trip
C. hike
D. camping trip | C | While Tamara is hiking up the trail, she looks around at all of the different plants. What motivates this action? | A. Tamara wants to keep her mind off of how tired she feels.
B. Tamara wants to study the plants for a test at school.
C. Tamara wants to try to find a rabbit in the plants and bushes.
D. Tamara wants to keep her mind off of how scared she is. | A | Tamara is able to experience new things on the hike. What information from the passage best supports this conclusion? | A. Tamara’s mother talks about the other times the family has gone hiking.
B. Tamara hikes on a trail that is far away from the city where she lives.
C. Tamara and her family end up at a pool at the bottom of a waterfall.
D. Tamara sees trees with long draping leaves she has never seen before. | D | Read the following sentences: “If her brother said she could do it, Tamara knew she could. James never lied.” Based on this information, how does Tamara feel about her brother? | A. Tamara dislikes her brother.
B. Tamara trusts her brother.
C. Tamara thinks her brother is cool.
D. Tamara doesn’t trust her brother. | B | What is this story mostly about? | A. Tamara sees a rabbit on the trail.
B. Tamara has a picnic with her family.
C. Tamara goes on her first hike.
D. Tamara sees a waterfall and a pool. | C | Read the following sentences: “She saw a small and furry rabbit by the side of the trail. Tamara gasped with surprise, and the rabbit ran away at the sound.” As used in this sentence, what does the word “gasped” most nearly mean? | A. took in and let out a long breath to show boredom
B. said something quietly so that only one person would hear
C. said something very loudly because of anger
D. breathed in suddenly and loudly because of surprise or shock | D | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. Tamara gets tired after hiking for an hour, _____ she keeps hiking anyway. | A. but
B. so
C. after
D. like | A |
The Hunt | Beeeep beeeep beeeep. Aidan’s alarm clock rang out with a deafening screech. It was 9 a.m. and much too early for Aidan to be awake on a Saturday. As he lazily sat up and reached for the clock to turn it off, he realized what day it was. His birthday! He rubbed his eyes and stumbled out of bed. The smell of blueberry p... | 730 | 3 | null | What does Aidan realize when he wakes up? | A. It’s Christmas.
B. It’s his birthday.
C. It’s Halloween.
D. It’s the first day of school. | B | After breakfast, Aidan rushes to get dressed. What motivates Aidan’s actions? | A. Aidan wants to get his surprise.
B. Aidan wants to go outside to play.
C. Aidan wants to eat his pancakes.
D. Aidan wants to see his sister. | A | In the story, Aidan turns 13. What evidence from the passage best supports this conclusion? | A. Aidan’s mom makes him blueberry pancakes.
B. Aidan’s father surprises him with a scavenger hunt.
C. Aidan finds three clues on the scavenger hunt.
D. Aidan’s mom puts 13 candles in his pancakes. | D | What do all three clues have in common? | A. trees
B. wizards
C. books
D. poetry | C | What is this story mostly about? | A. Aidan goes on a scavenger hunt.
B. Aidan eats blueberry pancakes.
C. Aidan learns about Pablo Neruda.
D. Aidan has a birthday party. | A | Read the following sentences: “Before his parents could say anything else, he quickly made a wish and blew out all the candles—he didn’t want the wax to melt into his delicious breakfast. ‘Thank you!’ he said with his mouth full. His mom and dad laughed as they watched him scarf down the heap of pancakes.” As used in t... | A. look at closely
B. yell loudly
C. demand
D. eat greedily | D | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. Aidan’s birthday is on Saturday, _____ his party is planned for Sunday. | A. so
B. but
C. first
D. like | B |
U.S. Presidents: Andrew Jackson | Andrew Jackson was the seventh president of the United States. He was also the first president to be born in a log cabin. He grew up on the frontier of the Carolinas. His parents were a poor farm couple from northern Ireland. Jackson’s father died before he was born. His mother died when Jackson was 14 years old, leavi... | 720 | 3-4 | Social Studies: U.S. History | According to the text, what was one of Andrew Jackson's promises to represent? | A. a lawyer and landowner
B. “Old Hickory”
C. a general in the War of 1812
D. America's “common man” | D | What does the author describe in the text? | A. information people have learned about Andrew Jackson over the years
B. all the promises that Andrew Jackson made leading up to the election of 1828
C. reasons why Andrew Jackson was harsh toward enslaved people
D. the lives of all the people on U.S. paper money | A | Andrew Jackson was popular in the United States. What evidence from the text supports this conclusion? | A. “Jackson stayed active in the military until he reached the age of 54.”
B. “Leading up to the election of 1828, one of Jackson’s promises was to represent America’s 'common man.'”
C. “When Jackson was president, he was liked by many U.S. citizens.”
D. “Over the years, more and more people have taken a closer look at... | C | Read these sentences from the text. Leading up to the election of 1828, one of Jackson’s promises was to represent America’s “common man.” His promises appealed to many, and he was elected president. He was a founder of the Democratic Party, and he also supported efforts to give American workers more rights. [. . .] In... | A. President Jackson greatly helped everyone living in the United States.
B. President Jackson greatly helped many people, but he also caused many people to suffer.
C. President Jackson caused everyone living in the United States to suffer greatly.
D. President Jackson greatly helped enslaved people and Native peoples ... | B | What is the main idea of the text? | A. Many people liked Andrew Jackson, but a lot of people's feelings toward him changed when they learned about his harsh treatment toward Native peoples and enslaved people.
B. Andrew Jackson and his brother were captured and put into a British military prison during the Revolutionary War, but only Jackson survived the... | A | Read these sentences from the text. In May 1830, [Andrew Jackson] signed into law the Indian Removal Act, which the United States government believed gave them authority to remove Native peoples from land within what the U.S. government considered existing state borders. This land was then taken over by the U.S. govern... | A. weakness
B. happiness
C. power
D. fear | C | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence. People have taken a closer look at Andrew Jackson's life, _________ they have learned about how Jackson had treated a lot of people harshly. | A. but
B. so
C. because
D. after | B |
The Story of the Three Little Pigs | Once upon a time there was an old pig with three little pigs, and, as she had not enough to keep them, she sent them out to seek their fortunes.
The first that went off met a man with a bundle of straw, and said to him, "Please, man, give me that straw to build me a house," which the man did, and the little pig built a... | 950 | 3 | null | What is the first thing the wolf says to each little pig in the story? | A. "Please, man, give me that straw to build me a house."
B. "Little pig, little pig, let me come in!"
C. "No, no, by the hair on my chinny-chin-chin!"
D. "Then I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I'll blow your house in!" | B | During which part of the story did the old pig send out her three little pigs to seek their fortunes? | A. after the wolf dies
B. the middle of the story
C. the beginning of the story
D. the end of the story | C | The third pig was sneaky. What evidence from the text supports this conclusion? | A. “So the little pig put on the cover again in an instant, boiled up the wolf, and ate him for supper, and lived happy forever afterwards.”
B. “Well, the little pig bustled up the next morning at four o'clock, and went off for the pears, hoping to get back before the wolf came.”
C. “Then he could not tell what to do.”... | B | What word best describes the wolf in the story? | A. genius
B. happy
C. lazy
D. determined | D | What is this text mostly about? | A. the foods that pigs and wolves like to eat
B. a wolf that is able to eat two of three pigs
C. the importance of solid building materials
D. a clever pig that is able to trick a wolf | D | Read this sentence from the text. “Down at Merry-Garden,” replied the wolf, “and if you will not deceive me, I will come for you at five o'clock to-morrow, and we will go together and get some pears.” What does the word “deceive” mean as used in this sentence? | A. wait for
B. disrupt
C. disturb
D. trick | D | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence. The pig rolled down the hill and scared the wolf, _______ the wolf ran home. | A. because
B. instead
C. so
D. but | C |
Playing With Your Health | Many young people like to play games. While playing games, some pretend to fight aliens or evil creatures. Some pretend to be pro athletes.
For years, young people played outdoors with their friends. They used their imagination. Their streets became faraway planets. Their backyards became big-league stadiums.
Today, th... | 610 | 3 | Social Studies: Sports, Health & Safety | According to the passage, how do video games prevent young people from being active? | A. by letting them pretend
B. by keeping them indoors in front of a screen
C. by creating another fun hobby for them to enjoy
D. by taking up time that should be spent reading | B | How does the author organize the evidence for and against playing video games? | A. The author organizes all the evidence for and against playing video games in groups under appropriate headings.
B. The author lists the evidence in order of importance, with no regard for whether the evidence is for or against playing video games.
C. The author describes the evidence in chronological order, with his... | A | A person who believes that video games are bad for people’s health may also agree that | A. making friends is easier if you play video games
B. making friends is harder if you are inside all day
C. many people make friends with the imaginary characters in video games
D. most people actually do not even need friends to stay happy | B | The author suggests that young people use their imaginations when they | A. play outdoors by themselves
B. read and play outdoors
C. play video games in which they pretend to be somebody else
D. play too many video games | B | Read the sentences: “There is nothing wrong with playing some video games while relaxing. People should play video games to help them unwind .” In this sentence the word unwind most nearly means | A. untangle
B. enjoy
C. entertain
D. relax | D | What is this passage mostly about? | A. the new popularity of video games
B. the drawbacks of video games
C. the positive and negative effects of video games
D. how video games can improve your health | C | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. Young people used to play outside with their friends for fun, _________ now they like to play video games inside. | A. but
B. also
C. finally
D. so | A |
History of Halloween | Makayla gently placed her black witch’s hat on top of her black curls as she looked at herself in the mirror. Her mom had painted her skin green and outlined her eyes in purple paint. She wore tall, black boots underneath a long, purple dress. It was October 31, and she was ready for trick-or-treating on Halloween nigh... | 920 | 3-4 | Social Studies: World History | At the beginning of the passage, what is Makayla getting ready to do? | A. open Christmas presents
B. go trick-or-treating on Halloween
C. go on an Easter egg hunt
D. eat Thanksgiving dinner | B | Throughout the story, Makayla remembers information Mrs. Narula taught in class. What does this information describe? | A. the history of Halloween
B. the history of Ireland and Scotland
C. the way different holidays are researched
D. the importance of wearing costumes | A | Halloween traditions have changed over time. What evidence from the passage supports this conclusion? | A. Trick-or-treating began before Irish immigrants came to America.
B. People dressed up as angels or saints during All Saints’ Day.
C. Samhain celebrated the end of summer and beginning of winter.
D. Playing pranks was not always a part of Halloween celebrations. | D | Based on the passage, what conclusion can you make about how Halloween has changed? | A. Halloween has become a more serious holiday.
B. Halloween is now more focused on preparing for winter.
C. Halloween has become a more lighthearted holiday.
D. Halloween is now more focused on bonfire rituals. | C | What is this passage mostly about? | A. the history of Halloween
B. the ancient people who celebrated Samhain
C. research at the American Folklife Center
D. how the tradition of trick-or-treating began | A | Read the following sentences: “Makayla remembered her class earlier that day, when her teacher talked about the origins of Halloween. Mrs. Narula told Makayla and her classmates that the holiday started with an ancient festival called Samhain, 2,000 years ago in Ireland.” As used in this sentence, what does the word “o... | A. the celebration
B. the length
C. the end
D. the start | D | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. _________ the celebration of Halloween has changed over time, it has also kept some traditions from ancient festivals. | A. Meanwhile
B. Although
C. Therefore
D. For instance | B |
Discoveries in the Wild | Talk about hide-and-seek! Scientists in Asia recently discovered more than 350 plant and animal species. The species were found in the Himalayas (hi-muh-LAY-uhss). Those are mountains in southern Asia.
One of the species has researchers hopping for joy. It is a “flying” frog. The bright green animal was found in India.... | 630 | 3 | Science: Life Science | What is special about the monkey that was discovered in the Himalayas? | A. It is less than 3 feet tall and weighs 25 pounds.
B. It can float through the air.
C. It is the first new type of monkey to be found in over 100 years.
D. It changes color depending on the weather. | C | Which of the following does the author describe last in the text? | A. The author describes the plans to keep searching for more new species.
B. The author describes the dangers to the new species’ habitats.
C. The author describes where the new species were found.
D. The author describes three different new species that were found. | D | Read these sentences from the text. The researchers uncovered flowers and a snake. They also found a monkey. It is the first new type of monkey to be discovered in more than 100 years. Based on this information, what conclusion can you draw about the living things scientists found? | A. The only animals that scientists found were snakes and monkeys.
B. There are only a few different types of monkeys in the world.
C. The scientists discovered many different kinds of living things.
D. The scientists had to dig into the ground to find the animals. | C | What can be inferred from the text? | A. The blue diamond impatiens only changes color when the weather in the Himalayas gets colder.
B. There are probably species in the Himalayas that scientists will not find.
C. The world’s smallest deer is an excellent mountain climber.
D. It is extremely cold in the Himalayas because they are mountains. | B | What is this text mostly about? | A. the orange-spotted snakehead and its life in the Himalayas
B. how experts plan to search the Himalayas for more species
C. the discovery of new species in the Himalayas
D. what it is like to go hiking in the Himalayas | C | Read these sentences from the text. Another discovery is the leaf deer. It is the world’s smallest deer. It’s only about 25 to 30 inches tall. Researchers found the animal in the nearby country of Myanmar. In these sentences, what does the word "researchers" mean? | A. mountains
B. scientists
C. loggers
D. doctors | B | Choose the word that best completes the sentence. Loggers are cutting down trees in the Himalayas ______ many species are losing their habitat. | A. because
B. although
C. but
D. so | D |
Conquering Fears and Phobias | Darla jumped when the "ghost" popped out of the bushes. "I can't believe I'm scared!" she thought, heart pounding. "It's Halloween! That's just someone dressed up like a ghost!"
Everyone gets scared sometimes. It's a normal reaction. You need that reaction to survive. When faced with a threat, it's useful to be afraid ... | 630 | 3 | Social Studies: Sports, Health & Safety | What is a phobia? | A. a fear that is outgrown over time
B. an extreme fear that makes a person feel out of control
C. a fear of the dark or of spiders
D. a type of fear that involves dogs or airplanes | B | One problem mentioned in the passage is that some people cannot get over their phobias on their own. What is a solution to this problem? | A. People can try to turn their phobia into a social anxiety or panic disorder.
B. People can try new activities or situations that help them forget about their phobia.
C. People can get help from a psychologist or psychiatrist to overcome a phobia.
D. People can learn the names of their phobias. | C | Fear is not always a bad thing. What evidence from the text supports this conclusion? | A. Different people are afraid of different things over time.
B. Some people have a fear of dentists, so they avoid going to see dentists.
C. Sometimes fear becomes extreme and unreasonable. This is known as a phobia.
D. Fear can be a normal reaction that helps us avoid harm and survive. | D | How can the treatment options for people with phobias be described? | A. Most treatment options get rid of pain and sickness but not the phobia.
B. Most treatment options involve getting used to friendly dogs.
C. There are many different treatment options for people with phobias, and treatments are often effective.
D. Some treatment options are helpful, but others can actually make phobi... | C | What is the main idea of this passage? | A. Fears are most common during Halloween, but they can also occur at other times.
B. Fears can sometimes be extreme, but they can also be treated and overcome.
C. Everyone gets scared, so it shouldn't be embarrassing.
D. Phobias can be about many things and have severe effects on people’s health. | B | Read these sentences from the text. "Doctors believe that most of these phobias, like Greg’s, are learned. But in some cases, a phobia follows an unrelated trauma, such as a death in the family." As used in the passage, what does the word "trauma" mean? | A. a meeting
B. a failure
C. a difficult event
D. an accident | C | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence. Some phobias have weird names, _______ arachnophobia (fear of spiders) or brontophobia (fear of thunderstorms). | A. however
B. otherwise
C. finally
D. such as | D |
Extreme Animals! | Some animals can do things extremely well. A cheetah runs fast. It is the fastest land animal. It can run up to 70 miles per hour. That is as fast as the speed of a train! Keep reading to learn about some extreme features of other animals.
The lion is one of the loudest animals. Its roar kicks up dust, and the ground s... | 780 | 3 | Science: Life Science | A cheetah can run up to | A. 40 miles per hour.
B. 50 miles per hour.
C. 70 miles per hour.
D. 100 miles per hour. | C | The animal with the loudest roar is the | A. elephant.
B. lion.
C. gecko.
D. tiger. | B | The gecko is known as the | A. silliest reptile.
B. saddest reptile.
C. smelliest reptile.
D. stickiest reptile. | D | It is an opinion that | A. the nose of the proboscis monkey is strange looking.
B. ants are strong.
C. an ostrich is taller than a human.
D. a water strider can walk on water. | A | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Dinosaur Chomper | What did it take to terrify a dinosaur? How about a crocodile the size of a school bus! Scientists say such a crocodile lived in Africa about 110 million years ago. They nicknamed the giant beast "SuperCroc." Its proper name is Sarcosuchus (pronounced SARK-oh-SOOK-us) imperator, meaning "flesh crocodile emperor."
Scien... | 830 | 3 | Science: Earth & Space Science | The author starts this passage by stating that “dinosaurs ruled the earth.” That means | A. because of their intelligence, dinosaurs were in charge.
B. dinosaurs used to frighten people, and therefore dominated the planet.
C. because of their size and strength, dinosaurs were the dominant species.
D. all of the above. | C | Scientists named the crocodile fossils they found Sarcosuchus imperator, which means “flesh crocodile emperor.” They named it this because | A. it would eat dinosaurs.
B. it looked like a dinosaur.
C. it was the king of the crocodiles.
D. it was the color of a dinosaur. | A | The crocodile was found _________ of Niamey, the capital of Niger. | A. southwest
B. northeast
C. northwest
D. southeast | B | The scientist Sereno stated that when the SuperCroc was an adult, “it was really a monster.” Sereno meant that SuperCroc was | A. as small as a frog.
B. as large as an elephant.
C. as gentle as a butterfly.
D. as fierce as a tiger. | D | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
U.S. Presidents: John Adams | John Adams led America during its difficult early years. He was George Washington’s vice president. He then followed Washington and became the second president of the United States. Adams was the first president to have a son who also served as president.
The four years Adams served as president were very turbulent. Th... | 740 | 3-4 | Social Studies: U.S. History | According to the text, who was John Adams vice president for? | A. George Washington
B. Adams's son
C. Thomas Jefferson
D. Abigail Adams | A | Which happened first in Adams’ life? | A. He became George Washington’s Vice President.
B. He spoke out against Britain’s Stamp Act.
C. He lost the title of President to Thomas Jefferson.
D. He was elected President. | B | Read these sentences from the text. French and British warships began attacking American ships and seizing them. Adams knew America was a young and vulnerable nation. Although other political leaders wanted to declare war, Adams did all he could to maintain peace. He launched several warships to prevent more attacks. H... | A. After Adams negotiated with the French, there were no longer any problems between the French and America.
B. Adams never listened to the concerns of other political leaders when he made decisions.
C. Adams was not concerned that French and British warships were attacking American ships.
D. Adams believed it was more... | D | Based on the text, which sentence best describes John Adams? | A. Adams was only involved in the revolution because he was a lawyer.
B. Adams did not want to be president until he was vice president.
C. Adams worked hard for what he believed in.
D. Adams was not respected by many of his colleagues. | C | What is the main idea of the text? | A. John Adams was an important leader in early American history because he wasn't afraid to go against popular opinion to do what he thought was best for the country.
B. John Adams served as the second president of the United States of America after he was vice president for George Washington.
C. John Adams was a lawye... | A | Read these sentences from the text. The four years Adams served as president were very turbulent . The French Revolution was going on in Europe. This struggle, and other European wars following it, caused many problems for Adams. As used in these sentences, what does the word “turbulent” mean? | A. peaceful
B. unstable
C. fun
D. full of thunderstorms | B | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence. ________ avoiding war cost him a second term as president, Adams believed it was one of the most important things he did. | A. During
B. Although
C. Because
D. Maybe | B |
A Little about Ants | There are lots of different kinds of ants: carpenter ants, leaf-cutter ants, sweet ants, fire ants, and many more. They are different colors, too. They can be red, or brown, or black. Some are very, very small, and some are rather big. Whatever their differences, though, all ants are social creatures. They live in larg... | 800 | 3 | Science: Life Science | According to the text, what are social creatures that live in large groups called colonies? | A. ants
B. flies
C. grasshoppers
D. beetles | A | What does the author describe in the first paragraph? | A. the importance of ants to their ecosystem
B. the ways in which ants keep soil healthy
C. the food that ants bring to their nests
D. the jobs done by ants in a colony | D | Ants are busy insects. What evidence in the text supports this conclusion? | A. Ants move quickly from one place to another.
B. Male ants' only job is to mate with the queen.
C. Some ants are very, very small, and some are rather big.
D. Ants can be red, or brown, or black. | A | Read these sentences from the text. “Ants may seem to be just running around, but they are actually important parts of their ecosystem, their world under our feet. “One thing ants do to help their ecosystem is to keep soil healthy. By constantly digging through the soil, they create spaces in it.” Based on this informa... | A. The ecosystem of an ant is in the ocean.
B. The ecosystem of an ant is in the air.
C. The ecosystem of an ant is in the soil.
D. The ecosystem of an ant is in the desert. | C | What is a main idea of this text? | A. Ants can be red, brown, or black.
B. Ants are important parts of their ecosystem.
C. Soil needs space inside it for air and water.
D. Sometimes two ants help each other carry the same crumb. | B | Read these sentences from the text. “Whatever their differences, though, all ants are social creatures. They live in large groups called colonies. Some ant colonies are big and have millions of ants.” What does the author probably mean by writing that ants are "social" creatures? | A. Ants are creatures that help their ecosystem.
B. Ants are creatures that like to spend time with their friends and family.
C. Ants are creatures that work hard and carry things.
D. Ants are creatures that live together in groups. | D | Read this sentence from the text. “There are lots of different kinds of ants: carpenter ants, leaf-cutter ants, sweet ants, fire ants, and many more.” How could this sentence be rewritten without changing its meaning? | A. There are lots of different kinds of ants, including carpenter ants, leaf-cutter ants, sweet ants, fire ants, and many more.
B. There are lots of different kinds of ants, instead carpenter ants, leaf-cutter ants, sweet ants, fire ants, and many more.
C. There are lots of different kinds of ants, finally carpenter an... | A |
Watching the Weather | Do you know what the weather will be tomorrow? A weather report can tell you. But what will the weather be like in ten years? Or 20 years? Or 100 years?
No one knows for sure. But some scientists say that our long-range weather outlook isn't good.
Those scientists say the summers will be hotter. They say that warmer, w... | 660 | 3 | Science: Earth & Space Science | According to the text, what is one negative effect of droughts? | A. floods
B. wildfires
C. storms
D. pollution | B | In the text, the author describes the problem of global warming. What solution does the author propose for this problem? | A. The author proposes cutting back on air pollution.
B. The author proposes melting the glaciers.
C. The author proposes moving out of some coastal areas.
D. The author proposes cooling off the Earth. | A | Humans can take action to slow global warming. What evidence from the text supports this conclusion? | A. “Scientists say that cutting down on air pollution will slow global warming. One way to lower air pollution is to drive less.”
B. “Some weather changes are due to global warming. Global warming happens when gases in the air trap the sun's energy.”
C. “A glacier is a huge mass of ice that slowly moves. Experts say so... | A | What does the text suggest? | A. The droughts in the Midwest will not be difficult for people.
B. People will drive their cars more in the future and cause more air pollution.
C. Scientists can definitely know what the weather will be like in 10 years.
D. There will be big problems in the future if global warming is not stopped. | D | What would be another good title for this text? | A. How to Predict the Weather
B. The Weather and You
C. Weather Problems in the Future
D. Whether the Weather is Warm or Hot | C | Read these sentences from the text. Those scientists say the summers will be hotter. They say that warmer, wetter winters are on the way. Severe droughts, floods, wildfires, and storms are also possible. What's the cause of all those wacky weather changes? What does the word "wacky" mean? | A. hot
B. crazy
C. rainy
D. melting | B | Choose the word that best completes the sentence. Many weather changes are happening _______ humans have caused global warming. | A. and
B. although
C. however
D. because | D |
Fixing My Sister's Bike | I love to fix things. I’m only eight years old, but I can figure lots of stuff out by myself. I want to be a scientist when I grow up.
Last week, the red, shiny reflector came off my sister’s bicycle seat. My sister Ariel said she wanted to take it to the bicycle repair shop to be fixed.
“No way!” I stopped her. “I kn... | 500 | 3 | Science: Technology & Engineering | What keeps falling off Ariel’s bicycle? | A. the front wheel
B. the back wheel
C. the reflector
D. the seat | C | The narrator is the person who is telling the story. In this story, the narrator is Ariel’s sibling. How does the narrator finally solve the problem of the reflector falling off Ariel’s bike? | A. by taking Ariel’s bike to a repair shop
B. by tying the reflector on with some rope from a closet
C. by asking her dad to fix the reflector by himself
D. by gluing the reflector on with help from her dad | D | Rope does not keep the reflector on the bike as well as glue does. What evidence from the passage supports this statement? | A. The main character’s father helps her glue the reflector onto the bike after the reflector falls off a second time.
B. After the reflector is tied onto the bike with rope, it stays on when Ariel rides down the sidewalk.
C. After the reflector is tied onto the bike with rope, it stays on when Ariel rides over a bump.... | D | Why does Ariel give the narrator a hug at the end of the story? | A. Ariel is upset about how long it has taken to fix the bike.
B. Ariel is happy that her sister has fixed the bike.
C. Ariel is excited to take her bike to a repair shop.
D. Ariel is confused because she does not understand how her sister fixed the bike. | B | What is this story mainly about? | A. two sisters who do not get along until their dad makes them be nice to each other
B. a bike that is unsafe to ride because it is falling apart
C. a problem with a bike and what the main character does to solve it
D. a girl whose bike breaks and what happens when she takes it to a repair shop | C | Read the following sentence: “Last week, the red, shiny reflector came off my sister’s bicycle seat.” What does the word reflector mean? | A. a wheel that turns very slowly
B. something that shines when light hits it
C. a type of metal that is worth a lot of money
D. a safety pad that someone riding a bicycle wears | B | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. The narrator tries fixing the reflector with glue _______ rope does not work. | A. after
B. although
C. before
D. so | A |
Junk Food Ad Attack! | You turn on the TV and see your favorite cartoon character. But wait a minute—that’s not a show; it is a commercial for junk food!
That’s wrong, says the Institute of Medicine, which advises the nation on health issues. The group says that kid-friendly characters should promote only foods that are good for you.
The gro... | 880 | 3 | Social Studies: Sports, Health & Safety | What are cartoon characters being used to sell, according to this text? | A. cars
B. toys
C. clothes
D. junk food | D | The author describes how popular cartoon characters are used to advertise for junk food. What problem is caused by these advertisements? | A. TV ads have a strong influence on kids’ diets, so kids are eating more unhealthy food.
B. Kids aren’t responding to the ads, so junk food companies are having to make less food.
C. These TV ads are being used to in schools to pressure kids into eating unhealthy foods.
D. Kids are watching more TV because they’re so ... | A | Read the following sentences from the text. “Junk foods such as candy bars, sugared cereals, and potato chips are high in calories and low in nutrition. A calorie is a measure of the amount of energy a food can provide. The body needs food as fuel. Everyone needs to eat calories to survive. However, kids should be eati... | A. If someone only ate junk food, they would be getting enough nutrients.
B. If someone only ate junk food, they would have a healthy diet.
C. If someone only ate junk foods, they wouldn’t be getting enough nutrients.
D. If someone only ate junk food, they wouldn’t be getting enough calories. | C | What is one thing that can be caused by an unhealthy diet with many calories and no nutrients? | A. problems in relationships
B. health problems caused by obesity
C. a change in personality
D. different favorite cartoons | B | What is the main idea of this text? | A. One type of food that everyone should be eating daily is a variety of fruits and vegetables in a rainbow of colors.
B. Junk food, like candy bars, has a lot of calories but no nutrients, even though nutrients are important to eat.
C. Some advertisements for junk food use popular cartoon characters, while others use ... | D | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Should Students Pay to Play? | Public schools are supposed to be free. But many of them no longer are. More and more schools are charging for activities and supplies.
Many schools now charge a pay-to-play fee. A pay-to-play fee bills parents for their children's after-school sports activities. The fee helps to pay for equipment and coaching. It also... | 660 | 3 | Social Studies: School & Family Life | According to the text, what does a pay-to-play fee do? | A. holds more fund-raisers to raise money
B. helps schools get extra money from their states
C. pays for the cost of education in schools
D. bills parents for their children's after-school sports activities | D | What is one argument presented in the text that supports students paying to play? | A. Fees are not necessary because schools have more money than they used to.
B. Fees should be for classes as well as sports.
C. Fees make students value playing more.
D. Fees will help students become more healthy. | C | Read these sentences from the text. State and local taxes used to cover students' activities and supplies. But the cost of education has gone up. At many schools, tax money can no longer pay for everything. Many schools are in a tough spot. They want to provide students with the same activities they offered in the past... | A. Schools have to make tough decisions about how to spend funds.
B. All schools are unable to afford to pay for all the activities and supplies needed.
C. The amount of tax money schools receive has gone down over time.
D. The only way to fund activities and supplies more is to increase taxes. | A | What does the text suggest about schools charging students? | A. Most schools charge students for classes and books.
B. Some schools do not charge their students to play sports.
C. All schools are in favor of charging their students to play sports.
D. Some schools do not want to charge students for classes and books. | B | What is the main idea of the text? | A. Schools are having trouble funding their sports programs, and there is a debate over whether students should pay to play.
B. The only way for schools to continue funding sports programs is if students pay for equipment, coaches, and buses.
C. Many schools are considering having richer students pay for sports, while ... | A | Read this sentence from the text. A lack of money has forced some schools to charge students and parents for courses and books. As used in this sentence, what does the word "lack" mean? | A. not going anywhere
B. not wanting to
C. not enough of
D. not needing any | C | Choose the word that best completes the sentence. Many schools would rather not charge students for after-school sports and activities, _________ the schools cannot afford to offer these activities for free. | A. but
B. so
C. because
D. also | A |
No Horsing Around | Shannon Uske (YOO-skee) wanted to race horses since she was a very young girl.
"When I started to crawl, I'd get on my German shepherd and ride around," she said. "My mom would yell at me to get off the dog, and I'd go, 'He's my horsy! '"
By 2004, Shannon was living her dream. She had become a jockey. A jockey's job is... | 630 | 3 | Social Studies: Sports, Health & Safety | Who is Allen Jerkins? | A. Allen Jerkins is Shannon Uske’s father.
B. Allen Jerkins is a famous jockey.
C. Allen Jerkins is a famous horse trainer.
D. Allen Jerkins owns a horse named Lilah. | C | Which of the following does the author describe first in the text? | A. Shannon Uske’s leg braces and why she wore them as a child
B. Shannon Uske’s love of horses as a young girl
C. Shannon Uske’s decision to train with Allen Jerkins
D. Shannon Uske’s first win as a professional jockey | B | It was very surprising when Shannon won her first race as a jockey. What evidence from the text supports this conclusion? | A. “Few jockeys win on their very first try. ‘It's like a rookie baseball player hitting a home run in his first at-bat,’ one person said.”
B. “In 2002, Shannon got a job at a racetrack in New York. She was an exercise rider. There she met Allen Jerkens, a famous horse trainer.”
C. “Now in her twenties, Shannon is stil... | A | What does the text suggest? | A. Shannon Uske will probably never win another race.
B. It is very common for a young jockey to win their first professional race.
C. Shannon Uske’s family is supportive of her and her goals.
D. Shannon Uske will move to another state very soon. | C | What does this text primarily deal with? | A. the story of jockey Shannon Uske, who moved to Florida to live with her grandmother
B. the story of jockey Shannon Uske, who was born with damaged hips
C. the story of jockey Shannon Uske, who won the first race she rode in as a pro
D. the story of jockey Shannon Uske, who got a job at a racetrack in New York | C | Read these sentences from the text. Shannon was born with damaged hips. As a child, she wore leg braces. In these sentences, what does the word "damaged" most nearly mean? | A. injured
B. strong
C. scratched
D. shrunken | A | Choose the word that best completes the sentence. __________it was Shannon’s first time winning a race, the other jockeys dumped water on Shannon’s head to celebrate. | A. Finally
B. After
C. Because
D. Although | C |
Oral Histories | Everyone has stories to tell. When we share our stories with others, we give them a peek into how we have become who we are.
Coralie Carlson was a journalist. For her job, she researched important things that were happening and wrote about them, so everyone could know about what was going on in the world. One of the re... | 900 | 3 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture | What is an oral history? | A. an organization that operates recording studios where people can bring someone they know
B. an audio or video device used to record someone speaking
C. a group of people who do a variety of jobs, such as farming, welding, and sanitation work
D. information a person shares about his or her experiences by speaking | D | What does the passage describe? | A. The passage describes farming, welding, and sanitation work.
B. The passage describes different ways that people celebrate Thanksgiving.
C. The passage describes oral histories and their importance.
D. The passage describes Washington, D.C. and the Chicago History Museum. | C | Oral histories can help people avoid repeating past mistakes. Oral histories can help people become more connected and remind them of their “shared humanity”. Oral histories can help historians of the future learn about the experiences of today. What conclusion can you make from these statements? | A. People who lived long ago are smarter than people today.
B. Oral histories are important for a variety of reasons.
C. Few people have any interest in collecting oral histories.
D. Recording an interview is a difficult and lengthy task. | B | Why might an oral historian record the stories of the people he or she interviews word-for-word instead of rewriting their stories? | A. to keep the stories as authentic and true to life as possible
B. to keep the stories as short, clear, and organized as possible
C. to make it more likely that the stories will get into traditional history books
D. to make sure that no one will disagree with the stories | A | What is this passage mostly about? | A. the job of a journalist
B. StoryCorps interviews
C. video cameras
D. oral histories | D | Read the following sentences: “Anyone can interview another person about his or her experiences. When a person does this and records the answers, it's called collecting an oral history. An oral history can be recorded with an audio recorder, a video camera, or by writing down what a person says.” What does the word ora... | A. spoken
B. written
C. musical
D. online | A | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. Oral histories often record stories from everyday people, _______ farmers and family members. | A. like
B. in conclusion
C. even though
D. later on | A |
It's All in the Mind | A psychic is a person who claims to have great mental powers. Some psychics say they can read minds. Some say they can read the future. Others say they can speak with the dead.
In the old days, people found psychics at carnivals and fairs. They told people their fortunes--for a price, of course.
Today, psychics are on ... | 660 | 3 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture | In the past, where did people usually find psychics? | A. People found psychics in some states.
B. People found psychics at carnivals.
C. People found psychics at arcades.
D. People found psychics on television. | B | What is one argument presented in the text in favor of the idea that psychics are con artists? | A. Psychics provide more fun than playing video games at an arcade.
B. Psychics are entertainers, not true fortune tellers.
C. Many people are fooled by psychics and lose a lot of money.
D. Everyone knows that it is impossible to tell the future. | C | Today, you can probably talk to a psychic no matter where you are. What evidence from the text supports this conclusion? | A. “In the old days, people found psychics at carnivals and fairs.”
B. “Psychics are entertainers, just like dancers and singers.”
C. “Some of those people spend a lot of money on psychics.”
D. “Today, psychics are on television and the Internet.” | D | What can be inferred from the text? | A. Most psychics are just entertainers, not actual fortune tellers.
B. Some psychics make a lot of money giving people advice.
C. No one ever really believes what a psychic tells them.
D. All psychics are able to tell the future accurately. | B | What would be another good title for this text? | A. Are Psychics Entertainers or Con Artists?
B. Do Psychics Have Great Mental Powers?
C. Can Psychics Really Tell the Future?
D. Why Are There Psychics at Carnivals and Fairs? | A | Read these sentences from the text. Some of those people spend a lot of money on psychics. Often they can’t afford it. In this sentence, what does the word "afford" most nearly mean? | A. receive
B. tell the future
C. understand
D. pay for | D | Choose the word that best completes the sentence. Some people believe that psychics cheat their customers _________ the psychics take the customers’ money to do things that are not actually possible, like see the future. | A. although
B. after
C. since
D. but | C |
Fit for Life | Do you know what diet means? Your "diet" is the foods that you eat to stay healthy.
A healthful diet includes fruits and vegetables. Those foods are great sources of nutrients, such as proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Nutrients are substances that all living things need.
Your stomach is growling, and you feel tired. A... | 690 | 3 | Social Studies: Sports, Health & Safety | What is a diet? | A. the foods you eat to stay healthy
B. the water you drink to avoid cramps
C. the breakfast that you should eat every day
D. the best way to play sports | A | What does the author list in the section “Hungry and Tired?” | A. different foods to eat for dinner
B. reasons why fish is good for you
C. tips to improve your diet
D. different types of proteins | C | A healthy diet will include lots of vitamins. What evidence from the text supports this idea? | A. “Vitamins are substances that the body needs to stay healthy. Vitamins are found in most foods.”
B. “Eat When You Need To -- You should try to eat when you are hungry or need a quick energy boost.”
C. “A snack could give you an energy boost. But do you know what kind of snack is good for you?”
D. “Nutrients are subs... | A | How would the author probably describe the six groups of nutrients listed in the text? | A. They are all important for you to have in your diet.
B. Some are more important than others, like water.
C. Proteins are more important than any of the other nutrients.
D. None of them are very important to have in your diet. | A | What is the main idea of this text? | A. Eating when you’re hungry or need an energy boost is a good way to keep your body feeling active.
B. Water is the most important nutrient that your body needs, so food doesn’t matter.
C. Your diet does not make much of a difference in the way that your body feels, but it’s fun to think about what foods taste best.
D... | D | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Looking for a Bear | “I want to see the bears!”
“I don’t care. I want to see the whales first.”
“But bears are so much better.”
“Yeah, if you’re seven. I’m ten now. I like whales.”
“So what? I want to see the bears.”
“I don’t care! Coming to the museum was my idea, and we’re seeing the whales first.”
“Bears!”
“Whales!”
“Bears!”
“Whales!”
“... | 570 | 3 | Science: Life Science | What does Sarah want to see? | A. ocean life
B. whales
C. bears
D. African mammals | C | What is the main conflict in the story? | A. Sarah wants to see the bears, but Graham wants to see the whales.
B. Sarah wants to see the whales, but Graham wants to see the bears.
C. Sarah does not want to be at the Museum of Natural History.
D. Sarah has been at the Museum of Natural History for too long. | A | Read the following sentences about Sarah: “She read about the museum online, about all the dioramas that were built in the 1940s. They were a very old‐fashioned kind of exhibit, but they looked beautiful in the pictures. It was as close as she could get to a real bear, and she had stayed up all the night before thinkin... | A. Sarah had never been to a museum before visiting the Museum of Natural History.
B. Sarah became interested in bears when she started preparing for her trip to the Museum of Natural History.
C. Sarah probably wants to work at a museum when she grows up.
D. Sarah’s trip to the museum meant a lot to her. | D | Read the following sentences: “She stomped away, her arms swinging at her side, looking desperately for something in the Ocean Life exhibit that wasn’t ugly, boring or stinky.” How is Sarah feeling at this point in the story? | A. sad
B. angry
C. tired
D. excited | B | What is this story mostly about? | A. Sarah’s relationship with her brother
B. Sarah’s knowledge about bears
C. Sarah’s trip at the Museum of Natural History
D. dioramas at the Museum of Natural History | C | Read the following sentences: “Grizzly bears weigh 850 pounds. How much do whales weigh?” “Uh…I don’t know. A whole lot.” Sarah scoffed . Graham didn’t even know anything about whales. As used in the passage, what does “scoffed” most nearly mean? | A. made fun of
B. knew a lot
C. shouted
D. mumbled | A | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. __________ Sarah is dragged to the Ocean Life exhibit, she gets to see a bear. | A. As a result
B. Above all
C. Previously
D. Even though | D |
Lessons from Fishing | Morgan has always loved fishing. He is about to graduate from high school and has been fishing his entire life. His entire family loves to go fishing—even his grandmother! Morgan started learning how to fish before he could even walk.
“My dad would have to hold the pole,” he said, “and I’d reel.”
By the time Morgan was... | 780 | 3 | Social Studies: Sports, Health & Safety | When did Morgan start learning to fish? | A. when he was two years old
B. before he could walk
C. when he was 10 years old
D. when he was about to graduate from high school | B | In the passage, the author compares which two events? | A. a fishing trip when Morgan caught a fish AND a fishing trip when he caught a fish and then lost it
B. a fishing trip with his father AND a fishing trip with his grandfather
C. a fishing trip when Morgan fell off the boat AND a fishing trip when Morgan went swimming
D. a fishing trip with a big, strong fish AND a fis... | A | In the passage, the author says that Morgan “goes fishing a lot” and that he “has gotten even better at it than his father and his grandfather.” Based on this evidence, what can be concluded about the sport of fishing? | A. Fishing can be learned in less than a week.
B. Being good at fishing takes a lot of practice.
C. Only teenagers are good at fishing.
D. Fishing is best taught by family members. | B | Read the following sentences from the passage: “The fish kept trying and trying to get away, but Morgan held on tight. He struggled with the fish for 45 minutes before he finally caught it!” Based on this evidence, how can Morgan best be described? | A. determined
B. lazy
C. angry
D. uncertain | A | What is the main theme of the story? | A. Learning how to fish is a good way to learn how to swim.
B. Fishing makes you strong if you hold onto the pole.
C. Fishing is a good family activity.
D. Fishing is like life, with some days that are a success and other days that are not. | D | Read the following sentences: “When Morgan went to pull the fish out of the water, it escaped with the stringer and started swimming away! He immediately jumped in after it, right into the cold water! Of course, he couldn’t outswim the fish, so it got away.” What does the word “outswim” mean? | A. to get out of the water
B. to swim faster than
C. to swim slower than
D. to swim past the boat | B | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. Morgan jumped in the water _______ it was cold. | A. after
B. because
C. when
D. even though | D |
Boys Choir of Harlem: Singing for America | Anthony Ajaero goes to school so he can become a lawyer someday. But he also goes to school to sing. Anthony and his choir mates have helped many people overcome feelings of grief and loss.
At the Choir Academy of Harlem, in New York City, students learn about math, grammar, history, and music. The school has separate ... | 710 | 3 | Social Studies: School & Family Life | Anthony seems like | A. a hard worker.
B. a good musician.
C. a nice person.
D. all of the above. | D | To be able to go the Choir Academy of Harlem, Anthony has to | A. like biology.
B. be disciplined.
C. be very wealthy.
D. be athletic. | B | This passage is | A. fiction.
B. an interview.
C. a poem.
D. a list. | B | Which of the following shows that Anthony is caring? | A. He works very hard.
B. He has traveled to Japan.
C. He sings in a choir.
D. He enjoys performing for the families of victims. | D | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Taking Out the Trash Talk? | Should insulting other players be part of the game or out of bounds?
Michael Jordan thrilled basketball fans when he said that he was coming out of retirement. He made his return when he joined the Washington Wizards in October 2003.
Many people say Michael Jordan was the greatest basketball player ever to play the gam... | 640 | 3 | Social Studies: Sports, Health & Safety | According to the passage, why do some players talk trash? | A. Some players talk trash to be bad sports.
B. Some players talk trash to help win games.
C. Some players talk trash to get into fights.
D. Some players talk trash to come out of retirement. | B | What is one argument against trash talk that is presented in the text? | A. One argument against trash talk is that it is intense.
B. One argument against trash talk is that it is funny.
C. One argument against trash talk is that it is part of basketball.
D. One argument against trash talk is that it is poor sportsmanship. | D | Read these sentences from the text. Talking trash is a way to get an edge on another player. "If I can get someone to lose concentration, even if it's only for one play, I've done my job," said Fred Smoot. Smoot plays football for the Washington Redskins. He is one of the biggest fans of trash talk. What conclusion can... | A. Athletes may use trash talk to make the players on the other team play better.
B. Athletes may use trash talk to distract the other players.
C. Athletes may use trash talk to hurt the feelings of the other players.
D. Athletes may use trash talk to make jokes during the game. | B | It can be inferred from the passage that | A. most players do not want to learn how to talk trash
B. all players use trash talk when they play
C. some players are not bothered by trash talk
D. only a few players are as good at trash talk as Michael Jordan | C | What would be another good title for this text? | A. Trash Talk: Michael Jordan’s Specialty
B. Trash Talk: Bad for the Team
C. Trash Talk: Part of the Game
D. Trash Talk: Yes or No? | D | Read these sentences from the text. Trash talk has been going on for as long as sports have been around. It's part of every game. It shouldn't be banned . What does the word "banned" most likely mean in this sentence? | A. allowed
B. encouraged
C. repeated
D. stopped | D | Choose the word that best completes the sentence. Some people like trash talk __________ they think it is a fun part of the game. | A. however
B. but
C. because
D. though | C |
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