Book 1

5
Grade
Reading
Quick Checks
e n c h m a r k
d u c a t i o n
o m p a n y
Grade
Grade
Reading Quick Checks

Table of Contents
Introduction........................................................ ii
Informational Text Quick Checks A & B
Reading Quick Checks Resource Map...................... iv
Quote Accurately to Explain Text............................ 36

Quote Accurately to Support Inferences.................. 38
Literature Quick Checks A & B
Determine Two or More Main Ideas in a Text............ 40
Support Explanations with Accurate Quotations....... 2
Explain How Key Details Support

the Main Ideas of a Text........................................ 42
Support Inferences with Accurate Quotations.......... 4

Determine Theme................................................ 6
Summarize Text................................................... 8
Describe Characters, Setting, and Events................ 10
Compare and Contrast Characters.......................... 12
Compare and Contrast Settings............................. 14
Compare and Contrast Events................................ 16
Determine the Meanings of Words and Phrases........ 18
Determine the Meanings of Similes......................... 20
Summarize.......................................................... 44
Explain the Relationship Between
Two Aspects of a Historical Text............................. 46
Two Aspects of a Scientific Text............................. 48
Two Aspects of a Technical Text............................. 50
Determine the Meaning of General
Academic Vocabulary............................................ 52
Determine the Meanings of Metaphors.................... 22
Determine the Meaning of Social Studies

Vocabulary.......................................................... 54
Analyze Story Structure........................................ 24
Determine the Meaning of Science Vocabulary......... 56
Describe How Point of View Influences

Descriptions of Events.......................................... 26
Describe Chronological Text Structure.................... 58
Analyze How Visual Elements Contribute

to Meaning.......................................................... 28
Describe Cause-and-Effect Text Structure............... 62
Analyze How Multimedia Elements Contribute

to Meaning.......................................................... 30
Compare and Contrast the Overall Structure

of Two or More Texts............................................ 66
Compare and Contrast Stories............................... 32
Compare and Contrast Two Accounts

of the Same Event................................................ 70
Describe Comparison Text Structure....................... 60

Describe Problem-and-Solution Text Structure......... 64
Analyze Multiple Accounts of the Same Event.......... 74

Draw on Information from Multiple Print Sources..... 78
Draw on Information from Multiple Digital Sources... 82
Draw on Information from Multiple Print and
Digital Sources.................................................... 84
Explain How an Author Uses Reasons to
Support Points..................................................... 86
Explain How an Author Uses Evidence to
Support Points..................................................... 88
Integrate Information from Several Texts
on a Topic........................................................... 90
Literature Answer Key.......................................... .93
Informational Text Answer Key.............................. 101
Introduction
Program Overview
The Benchmark Advance program has ten units per grade
in Grades K6. Each three-week unit focuses on a Unit
Concept, such as Technology and Society or Point of View,
a grade-appropriate topic, and an Essential Question. Each
unit provides reading selections related to the topic and
Essential Question. Instruction in each unit focuses on reading
comprehension and building language, word study, and writing.
The Reading Quick Checks assessments are based on the
reading skills taught in the Benchmark Advance program.
There are two assessments for each skill. Skills in this
book follow the same sequence as the Benchmark Advance
Intervention Reading lessons in each grade and are organized
in two sections: Literature and Informational Text. The
Resource Map on pages ivv aligns the skills being assessed to
the Benchmark Advance Intervention Reading lessons.
Administering the Quick Check Assessments
Each assessment focuses on a single skill and is intended for
individual administration, although these assessments may
also be used with small or large groups. We recommend that
you make a copy of the Quick Check for each student you plan
to assess. Have the student write his or her name and the date
at the top of the page. If needed, read or review the directions
at the top of the page with the student. Then have the student
complete the activity by writing or marking answers on the
page itself, on the back of the page, or on a separate sheet of
paper. The way students respond to questions varies, based on
the types of questions and the page format.
Every assessment may be used more than once, if needed. If a
student does not do well on an assessment the first time, you
may want to assess the student again with the same activity.
Or you may use the two assessments per skill in different
combinations. For example, you may administer the two skill
Quick Checks as a pretest and posttest, at the beginning and
end of the quarter; or as an initial test and follow-up retest to
see how much progress the student has made.
ii
Grade 5 Benchmark Advance Reading Quick Checks Benchmark Education Company, LLC
The two assessments for each skill use different reading

passages and may use different item formats to assess
the same skill. This approach provides variety and more
reliable assessment. In most cases, Quick Check B may
be slightly more difficult than Quick Check A. Some
reading passages appear more than once. Each time a
reading passage appears, it is used to assess a different
reading skill.
Quick Check to Reading Intervention
To score each Quick Check, refer to the Answer Key in the
back of the book. Every question is worth 1 point unless
otherwise indicated in the Answer Key. In questions with
more than one expected response, each correct answer
is worth 1 point. (For example, a question that asks
students to underline two detail sentences in the passage
is worth 2 points.) Each assessment has a score box on
the page; it indicates the total number of points possible
for the particular Quick Check. You may use the score box
to record the results of the assessment.
The score on each Quick Check may
be used for record keeping or grading,
but the final score on each page is less
important than how the student responds
along the way. Ultimately, these Quick
Checks are formative assessments to
help you monitor students progress and
adapt instruction to individual needs. When assessments
indicate that intervention is called for, use the Resource
Map on pages ivv to identify the appropriate Benchmark
Advance Intervention Reading lesson.
If the student scores
Then
between 80% and 100%
Move on to the next Quick Check or

skill.
between 66% and 80%
Consider administering the Quick

Check again. Continue monitoring the
student during future Quick Checks.
below 66%
Use additional resources shown in the

Resource Map to provide the student
with opportunities to remediate skills.
iii
Grade 5
Reading Quick Checks Resource Map
iv
Literature Quick Checks A & B
Benchmark Advance Intervention

Reading Lessons
Page
Support Explanations with Accurate

Quotations
Quote Accurately to Explain

What the Text Says
10
Support Inferences with Accurate

Quotations
Quote Accurately to Draw Inferences

from Text
12
Determine Theme
Determine Theme
14
Summarize Text
Summarize Text
16
Describe Characters, Setting, and

Events
Describe Characters and Setting
18
Compare and Contrast Characters
20
Compare and Contrast Settings
22
Compare and Contrast Events
24
Determine the Meanings of Words and

Phrases
Determine the Meanings of Words and

Phrases
26
Determine the Meanings of Similes
28
Determine the Meanings of Metaphors
30
Analyze Story Structure
Explain How Parts of a Text Fit Together

to Create Overall Structure
32

Descriptions of Events

Descriptions of Events
34
Analyze How Visual Elements

Contribute to Meaning
Analyze How Visual Elements

36
Analyze How Multimedia Elements

Analyze How Multimedia Elements

38
Compare and Contrast Stories
Compare and Contrast Story Elements

and Themes
40
Informational Text Quick Checks A & B
Benchmark Advance Intervention

Reading Lessons
Page
Quote Accurately to Explain Text
42
Quote Accurately to Support Inferences
Quote Accurately to Draw Inferences

from Text
44
Determine Two or More Main Ideas

in a Text
Determine Two or More Main Ideas

in a Text
46
Explain How Key Details Support

the Main Ideas of a Text
Explain How Key Details Support the

Main Ideas of a Text
48
Summarize
Summarize Text
50

Two Aspects of a Historical Text
Explain Two Aspects of a Historical Text
52

Two Aspects of a Scientific Text
Explain Two Aspects of a Scientific Text
54

Two Aspects of a Technical Text
Explain Two Aspects of a Technical Text
56

Academic Vocabulary

Academic Vocabulary
58

Vocabulary

Vocabulary
60
Determine the Meaning of Science

Vocabulary
Determine the Meaning of Science

Vocabulary
62
Describe Chronological Text Structure
64
Describe Comparison Text Structure
66
Describe Cause-and-Effect Text Structure
68
Describe Problem-and-Solution
Text Structure
Describe Problem-and-Solution
Text Structure
70
Compare and Contrast the Overall

Structure of Two or More Texts
Compare and Contrast the Overall

Structure of Two or More Texts
72
Compare and Contrast Two Accounts

of the Same Event
Identify Similarities and Differences

Between Two Accounts of an Event
74
Analyze Multiple Accounts of the Same Event
Analyze Multiple Accounts of an Event
76
Draw on Information from Multiple

Print Sources

Print Sources
78

Digital Sources

Digital Sources
80

Print and Digital Sources
Draw on Information from Multiple Print

and Digital Sources
82
Explain How an Author Uses Reasons

to Support Points
Explain How an Author Uses Reasons

to Support Points
84
Explain How an Author Uses Evidence

to Support Points
Explain How an Author Uses Evidence

to Support Points
86
Integrate Information from Several Texts

on a Topic
Integrate Information from Two Texts

on a Topic
88
Support Explanations with Accurate Quotations
Literature
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Directions: Read the passage and answer the questions.
Write your answers on separate paper or on the back of this page.
At the Icehotel
1Grady didn't think anything could top the hotel's lobby, where
an icy chandelier hung from the ceilinguntil he saw his room.

Giant dragon eggs carved out of ice circled the bed, which was
made from a huge ice slab. Grady sat on the bed, smoothing
his hand over the soft, reindeer-skin-covered mattress.
2This is amazing, he said to his parents. Grady and his
family lived in southern California, so he had never experienced

a real winter. He had complained about this so much that
his parents planned a family trip to Icehotel. It is located in
Swedish Lapland more than 100 miles above the Arctic Circle.
This 65-room hotel takes two months to rebuild each year. It
opens in December, and by April it is gone as the ice melts
and flows back into the Torne River.
3It's only about 23 degrees in here. Are you going to be
warm enough tonight? asked Mom.

4Grady nodded. He was wearing a down jacket, a sweater,
and three more layers under that.

5What's wrong, then? asked Dad, noticing his worried look.
6Umm . . . I don't see a bathroom, said Grady.
7His parents laughed, noting that the bathrooms were in the
heated building next door. Grady breathed a sigh of relief. He

was looking forward to sleeping on an ice bed under a furry
blanket. But using a bathroom made entirely of ice? Well, that
he could do without.
Comprehension Questions
1.
Why did Grady and his family go to the Icehotel? Underline

two sentences that explain.
2.
Write three details that show how cold it is in Grady's

hotel room.
3.
Underline one sentence that explains why Icehotel has

to be rebuilt each year.
___/6
Support Explanations with Accurate Quotations
Literature
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Pick Your Poison

1The game was called Animal Smack Down. Garrett was
confident that he was going to win.

2Mr. Charnov had invented this science contest. Each student
in the class had to present an animal with a unique way of

protecting itself. Garrett was sure he had found the animal
with the most unusual defense mechanism of all.
3As Garrett slid into his seat, Rachel gave him a smug look
and whispered, Game on. He experienced a moment of

doubt. If anyone could beat him at science research, it was
Rachel. Still, she was probably just trying to throw him off his
game.
4The bell rang, and students began delivering their reports.
Rachel had picked the sea cucumber, which let out sticky
poison to ward off attackers. It could also push its internal
organs out of its skin to fool predators into thinking it was
already dead.
5Next, Garrett reported on the Texas horned lizard. He
described in detail how, when threatened, this lizard shot a

stream of blood out of its eyeballs.
6When everyone finished, Mr. Charnov passed out secret
ballots. Then he tallied the votes by graphing the results on

the board. Of course, Garrett was disappointed he didn't win.
But even he had voted for Julios animal, the Iberian newt.
This creature actually poked its rib bones out through its skin.
And it coated the pointy ends with poison slime.
1.
What was Garretts attitude in the first part of the story?

Underline two sentences that show how he felt.
2.
What was Rachel's animal, and how did it defend itself?
3.
Circle one sentence that shows how Garrett felt after hearing
the contest results.
___/4
Support Inferences with Accurate Quotations
Literature
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Garden Surprise
1Tuesday was my first day as Mrs. Collier's junior gardener. I
didn't know it yet, but I was in for a surprise.

2Mrs. Collier, who lives next door, hurt her hip a few months
ago. When Mom and I visited her, she told us that her doctor
had warned her to avoid bending and kneeling.
3I don't want to neglect all my plants, Mrs. Collier sighed.
Roxanne, perhaps you could come over a few mornings a

week this summer and give me a hand?
4I knew that lending a hand was the right thing to do. Then
Mrs. Collier added that she would pay me $30 a week. That
was even better.
5So Mrs. Collier put me to work in the front yard, where she
guided me from a lawn chair. Although the flower beds were

in full bloom, they were choked with weeds. I started pinching
and pulling weeds, throwing them in a pile, and then watering.
I was glad I'd worn jeans to protect my knees and a baseball
cap to shade my eyes.
6Gardening seemed a lot easier than babysitting, though I
was pretty hungry when I got home for lunch. I fell asleep
early, and woke up the next morning to a shock. My back was
as stiff as a board. When I tried stretching, I realized that
every muscle in my body was aching.
7I guess gardening isn't easier than babysitting, although it's
a lot quieter. Mom says I'll get used to it. I hope so, because
today I'm working in Mrs. Collier's vegetable garden.
1.
How does Mrs. Collier feel about not being able to work in the garden?
2.
Underline the sentence that shows how she feels.
3.
How did Roxanne feel about working for Mrs. Collier at first?
4.
Circle two sentences that support the answer to question 3.
___/5
Support Inferences with Accurate Quotations
Literature
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Crocker
1Bridget placed her cereal bowl in the sink. Then she
swerved to avoid her little brother Eric and tripped over his
backpack, but landed on her feet.
2Is that Crocker barking? asked Mom, flicking toast crumbs
off her blazer. Crocker almost never barks. She picked up

her briefcase and said goodbye as she headed off to work.
3Bridget, why don't you check on Crocker, said Dad.
He sounds like he's in the garage.

4Bridget found Crocker pacing around the car, whining,
and she wondered what was wrong. Usually, when everyone

headed out in the mornings, Crocker settled himself in the
window seat for a long nap. Now, as Eric and Dad entered
the garage, he barked, pawing at the front of the car.
5Eric dropped to his stomach and began slithering under the
car, just as Dad nabbed him. Try to stay clean for school,
please, and put Crocker in the house. We're going to be late.
6But, Dad, said Eric, I heard something under there.
Maybe that's why Crocker is acting weird.

7Sighing, Dad crouched and peered under the car. For a few
breaths, everyone was silent. Then Dad stood up, holding a

tiny stray kitten. It must have crawled up into the engine to
stay warm.
8Crocker stood on his hind legs to nuzzle the kitten. The
kitten mewed, and Dad sighed. We're going to be late.
1.
According to the story, what is Crocker usually like?
2.
Underline two sentences that support the answer to question 1.
3.
What kind of person is Eric?
4.
Circle one sentence that supports the answer to question 3.
___/5
Determine Theme
Literature
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Baucis and Philemon

1One day long ago, Jupiter, the king of the gods, decided to
test his people and see how hospitable they were. So he and
Mercury dressed as poor peasants and wandered through the
land. They knocked on door after door seeking shelter and
food but were rudely turned away every time.
2After many weeks, the gods were angry and disgusted. But
they knocked on one last door, and an old woman named

Baucis greeted them. Come in, she said immediately. This is
my husband Philemon, she said, gesturing to an old man who
hobbled forward to take their coats.
3We are very poor, said Baucis with a sad smile, but we
are happy to share what little we have. Please, sit down and
rest while I prepare some lunch.
4Baucis and Philemon stoked the fire to warm their home and
set the table with bits of bread, cheese, and olives. They also
offered their guests shelter for the night.
5At that point, Jupiter and Mercury revealed themselves. No
one else has been so gracious or generous, said Jupiter, and

they will all be punished. But we would like to reward you for
your kindness and hospitality. What can we do for you?
6Please, said Philemon, we have been together for so long,
and we are growing old. Please let us die at the same time
and stay together always.
7Jupiter granted their wish. When the time came, he turned
the old folks into trees, one oak and one linden, growing from
the same trunk so they would never be apart.
1.
What is the theme of this story? Write your answer.
2.
Underline the sentence that expresses the theme.
3.
Write three details from the story that help explain the theme.
___/5
Determine Theme
Literature
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Directions: Read the poem and answer the questions.
Last Year's Pup

Last year we got a poodle pup
who whined and made a mess.
She never slept till sunup.
Did we train her? More or less.
Sometimes she made us frantic,
how she'd find new things to chew,
but we came to love her antics
and then suddenly, she grew.
10
15
20
Our dog, once wild and crazy,

had settled down, gone calm.
I'd call, she'd come straight to me,
put her paw right in my palm.
We loved our poodle grownup
who'd grown so smart and tall.
But if asked, I'd have to own up,
Why couldn't she stay small?
And now that I remember,
seems like nothing stays the same.
It's Mayand then December
then spring comes around again.
Or that toy I wanted badly
on the day that I turned seven?
I'd give it upand gladly
now I've almost turned eleven.
1.
What is the theme of this poem? Write your answer.
2.
Underline the lines in the poem that express the theme.
3.
Write three details the speaker uses to explain the theme.
___/5
Summarize Text
Literature
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Cupcakes
1Dale's soccer team was planning to hold a bake sale on
Sunday. Dale had signed up to bring cupcakes, but his mom

was busy, and his big sister Julie had a lot of homework. So
he would bake them himselfhow hard could it be?
2Let's get busy, Dale, said Julie from behind her laptop.
3You don't need to be here, you know.
4I wish I didn't, but Mom told me to supervise.
5Whatever, said Dale, double-checking the directions on the
box of cake mix. It says to preheat the oven to 350 degrees,

but how do I do that?
6Rolling her eyes, Julie rose from the table and showed him
how to set the temperature. Dale dumped the mix in a bowl,

measured in salt, water, and oil, and cracked in an egg. Then
he mixed everything.
7When the batter was velvety smooth, he began spooning
it into the cupcake pan. Some dripped on the counter, so he

wiped it with a finger and sucked it clean.
8Ewww! he exclaimed, dropping the spoon.
9What is it? Emerging from her computer, Julie tasted the
batter. How much salt did you put in?

10A cup, Dale said, checking the box. Oh, it was supposed
to be a cup of water and a teaspoon of salt. Groaning, he

leaned over the counter and put his head in his hands.
11Not to worry, said Julie. We've got another box, and this
time we'll do it together.
1.
Write one sentence that explains what this story is mainly about.
2.
Underline three important details in the story.
3.
In 35 sentences, write a summary of the story.
___/6
Summarize Text
Literature
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Camping News
1Jonas was so excited, he'd been up since dawn. Everything
was packed for an overnight camping trip with his school's

nature club. Dad was driving him, Lance, and Deval to school,
where they would board the bus for the Evergreen Nature
Preserve.
2When his friends arrived at his hosue, the three of them
waited for Dad outside with all their gear. Lance had brought
his four-person tent, and they all had sleeping bags, canteens,
and backpacks stuffed with clothes.
3Finally, Dad emerged from the house. Um, guys, I'm afraid
I have some bad news. Your club advisor just called to say
the trip's canceled.
4All three boys gaped at him in shock, and then started
clamoring for an explanation. Apparently, small wildfires were

burning in the south end of the preserve. When the winds
shifted the night before, smoke blew toward the campgrounds,
To keep people safe, the park had been closed.
5Lance groaned, and Deval shook his head. But we've got all
our camping stuff ready, said Jonas.

6Yes, said Dad, and it would be a shame to let all that
packing go to waste. You know, our backyard is pretty big,

and there's a spot that would be perfect for that tent.
7The boys gaped at him again. You mean, we could camp
out here?
8Let's go inside and call your parents, boys, said Dad. And
I'll break the news to Mom.
1.
Write one sentence that explains what this story is mainly about.
2.
Underline three important details in the story.
3.
In 35 sentences, write a summary of the story.
___/6
Describe Characters, Setting, and Events
Literature
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Final Approach
1From the spaceship, Epsilon 9 looked like a large, orange-red
sphere. Jenna watched from a viewing deck, relieved that the

long voyage would soon be over.
2Look right there, said Jennas older brother Adrian, pointing
out two small arcs of light on the planet's surface. Those

must be the domes.
3Teams of engineers, scientists, and robots had arrived
decades ago to prepare the planet for settlers. During that

time, they had established two settlement sites protected by
massive domes. But it would be centuries before oxygenemitting plants and other methods could transform the planet
into one with an atmosphere similar to that on Earth.
4Jenna, who had been born on the spaceship, knew shed
never live in the open air outside the domes. But maybe her
grandchildren would.
5As the ship moved closer, Jenna could see weird rock
formations, jagged canyons, and towering cliffs.

6We're actually going to be there soon, she whispered.
7Suddenly, Jenna felt the ship shudder. A huge jolt shook the
floor, tumbling people into one another. Red lights flashed.

8This cant be good, said Adrian, catching Jenna's arm before
she could fall.

9Attention, settlers, the captain's voice boomed from the
loudspeakers. Strap yourselves in. We have a problem.
10
1.
Who are the main characters in this story?
2.
Write one sentence that describes the setting in this story.
3.
Underline two sentences that provide important details about the setting.
4.
What happens at the end of the story?
___/5
Describe Characters, Setting, and Events
Literature
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

The Peaceful Dragon

1Look at this, Dahlia, Ani said, unrolling a scroll in front of
the dragon's face. Beware the dragonprotect your livestock,

families, homes! Reward offered for the dragons head. It's signed
by Lord Volio himself.
2Hmmph! Dahlia snorted, emitting a curl of steam from her
nostrils. That scheming lord is trying to blame me for his

thievery. Well, he'll not get away with it! Let's go, Ani. It's time
we put a stop to this!
3As they flew off, Ani worried that landing in the village might
not be such a good idea. Everyone was convinced that Dahlia

was a vicious beast. Now crowds swarmed toward the square,
shouting and shaking their fists in the air as Dahlia dropped
abruptly from the sky. Most people shrank away in fear. Ani
spotted Lord Volio in the back, cringing behind his knights.
4Villagers, shouted Dahlia. For decades, Lord Volio's men have
been stealing your livestock and your land, and to turn attention
away from his own deeds, he has cast the blame on me.
5But I have evidence, said one villager, stepping forward
hesitantly. After my cattle pen was robbed, you left behind this
tooth. He held up a fang the size of his head.
6Poppycock, that tiny thing isnt my toothhere are my teeth.
Dahlia opened her jaws, making it clear that all her teeth were
at least man-sized.
7Now the angry villagers turned to confront Lord Volio, who was
trying to slip away.
1.
Describe the three main characters in this story.
2.
Describe the setting of the story.
3.
Underline one sentence that states the main problem in the story.
4.
How is the problem in the story solved at the end?
___/4
11
Literature
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Water World
1The village huts on wooden stilts were surrounded by water in
all directions, but Sean was still thirsty. After all, you couldn't
drink seawater. Frustrated, Sean paddled his kayak over to his
uncles hut.
2 Im looking for your dad, he told his cousin Naomi as he
tied up his boat.

3Well, hes off on a job, said Naomi. Hes working as a
carpenter at one of those big inland houses in exchange for

drinking water. It's a big jobyou should see if you can sign on.
4Good idea, but why don't you come with me? said Sean.
5Naomi shook her head, and then turned her attention back to
what she had been doing. She was always tinkering with
something. The only time Naomi ever ventured away from her
hut was when she wanted to find more parts for her tinkering.
6Sean crouched down to see what she was doing, but it just
looked like a mess to him.

7In case you're wondering, Im rigging up a portable system for
filtering salt out of seawater, Naomi explained.

8You cant do that, said Sean, though part of his brain told
him that if she could set up a two-way radio and make a solar
cooker, maybe she could do this. Then it dawned on him.
9If you figure this out, Naomi, we could be rich, and maybe
live in one of those inland homes.

10When Naomi told him she just wanted to help provide people
with fresh water, Sean could only shake his head.
12
1.
Underline two sentences that describe what Naomi is like.
2.
Underline one sentence that describes what Sean is like.
3.
What is one way Sean and Naomi are alike?
4.
In what way are Sean and Naomi different?
___/5
Literature
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Cupcakes
1Dales soccer team was planning to hold a bake sale on
Sunday. Dale had signed up to bring cupcakes, but his mom

was busy, and his big sister Julie had a lot of homework. So
he would bake them himselfhow hard could it be?
2Lets get busy, Dale, said Julie from behind her laptop.
3You dont need to be here, you know.
4I wish I didnt, but Mom told me to supervise.
5Whatever, said Dale, double-checking the directions on
the box of cake mix. It says to preheat the oven to 350

degrees, but how do I do that?
6Rolling her eyes, Julie rose from the table and showed
him how to set the temperature. Dale dumped the mix in a

bowl, measured in salt, water, and oil, and cracked in an egg.
Then he mixed everything.
7When the batter was velvety smooth, he began spooning
it into the cupcake pan. Some dripped on the counter, so he

wiped it with a finger and sucked it clean.
8Ewww! he exclaimed, dropping the spoon.
9What is it? Emerging from her computer, Julie tasted the
batter. How much salt did you put in?

10A cup, Dale said, checking the box. Oh, it was supposed
to be a cup of water and a teaspoon of salt. Groaning, he

leaned over the counter and put his head in his hands.
11Not to worry, said Julie. Weve got another box, and
this time well do it together.
1.
Underline one sentence that shows what Dale is like.
2.
Underline two sentences that show what Julie is like.
3.
What is one way Dale and Julie are alike?
4.
In what way are Dale and Julie different?
___/5
13
Literature
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Space to Grow
1Leon was convinced he was experiencing some kind of time
warp. The last ten minutes of school always seemed to last

forever. He shifted in an attempt to get more comfortable,
but his plastic chair offered no relief. Leon allowed himself to
glance at the clock one more time. Two more minutes until
the day was over!
2It's not that Leon didn't like school, because he did. He
was a very good student. But a day in school just had too
much stuff in ittoo many people in the halls, too many
voices speaking at the same time at lunch, too many ideas
moving through his mind. There was just not enough space
for Leon to sit quietly and think. He stared at the many
bright charts and posters covering the walls. Leon noted that
the colors of one chart had faded over the year. He looked
up and squinted at the cold, white fluorescent lighting. I bet
everything fades under these lights, he thought. Just then,
the bell rang and Leon made straight for the roof.
3As soon as Leon stepped through the door to the rooftop
garden, he felt the sunlight warm his face, and the chaos of
the day vanished. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply.
He smiled as the earthy scent of rich soil and geraniums
filled his mind. He opened his eyes and took in the vibrant
reds, deep greens, and delicate purples of the plants growing
all around him. The only sound to be heard was Mr. Lennox
humming as he watered the pea plants.
4For Leon, the classroom might be too busy and noisy, but
the roof garden was a wonderful place to be.
14
1.
What are the two settings in this passage?
2.
In what way are the two settings alike?
3.
Describe two ways the settings are different.
___/5
Literature
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

A Glimpse of the Past

1The wooden box in the dusty attic would have stayed hidden
for much longer had Jillian not been hunting for items for the
family's yard sale. The moment she saw the box, however,
Jillian couldn't help but think of a long-forgotten family fortune.
With her heart racing and hands shaking, Jillian braved the
cobweb-filled corner and retrieved the box.
2What she found inside was no hidden treasure, just a stack
of old photographs. Crestfallen, Jillian took the box to her

father. Maybe the box was worth selling anyway.
3Jillian couldn't understand her father's excitement when he
looked in the box. These pictures were taken during the

drought of 1932! he said. These are treasures that need to
be kept safe in an album. Look! This one shows our street.
There were only a few houses back then.
4And he was right. Jillian didn't recognize her own
neighborhood. The pictures showed barren fields that stretched

as far as the eye could see. The ground was parched and
lifeless. A few leafless trees rose up from the ground like
skeletons. In one picture, a skinny cow stood on dirt that
was so dry it looked like the scales of a great lizard. Another
picture showed two children playing in a sandy front yard, just
in front of . . . Jillian's house!
5Jillian looked around in disbelief. Today, her front yard was
a thick green lawn with thriving flower beds and shrubs. A

paved street ran through her neighborhood, lined with houses
and lawns just like Jillian's. Majestic trees grew on both sides
of the street. As Jillian looked around, she felt a connection to
her neighborhood's history that she had never felt before.
1.
Describe the two settings in this passage.
2.
Explain two ways the settings are alike.
3.
Explain two ways the settings are different.
___/6
15
Literature
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

A Little Adventure
1As Ian looked out the window, the enormous dock was
shrinking quickly in the distance. The huge ferry headed out to

sea toward Beacons Isle. He leaned his head against the window
and watched the ocean swirling below.
2As the big ferry cruised along, Ian took off his heavy coat. He
settled into the cushioned seat and sipped the hot chocolate his
mother had bought at the ferrys snack bar. This would be his
sixth trip helping her record the island's harbor seal population.
He enjoyed these trips and was proud to help his mother with
her work. He was thinking of becoming a marine biologist himself.
3Hours later, after a long day walking the beaches, Ian couldnt
wait to rest on the ferry ride home. But when his mother walked
away from the ticket booth, she was laughing. They had missed
the return ferry, she explained. But she had found them a ride
back anywaysomething a little more adventurous.
4A strange mix of anxiety and excitement fluttered in Ian's chest
as he boarded the old fishing boat. He and his mother just fit on
the one available bench. They were surrounded by fishing nets,
winches, and all sorts of equipment. Ian could feel his stomach
rise and fall as the boat chugged out to sea. The water behind
them was churning away in two white-capped ridges. Occasionally,
ocean water sprayed Ian's face. He pulled his hood over his
head. Then he closed his eyes and hoped the boats dipping and
rising would stop. But that only made his stomach feel worse.
Maybe I wont be a marine biologist after all, Ian thought as
both the boat and his stomach lurched up and down.
16
1.
What are Ian and his mother doing at the beginning of the story?
2.
Describe two ways the boat rides are similar.
3.
Describe two ways the boat rides are different.
4.
Which trip across the water did Ian prefer?

Explain how you know.
___/6
Literature
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

An Unexpected Moment
1Alissa was looking up as she walked through the city,
fascinated
sky. Then
on inside
slipped in
by the skyscrapers reaching toward the darkening

her parents suddenly stopped. Something was going
a circle of people . . . a street performance! Alissa
front of her father to get a better look.
2Cardboard covered the concrete where a woman was spinning
wildly on her back, her legs rising straight upward in rhythm

with the music from a large radio nearby. A man pedaled a
unicycle while juggling three flaming torches. He circled the
dancer while the crowd cheered and clapped to the beat.
3After about ten minutes, the show ended. The man nimbly
hopped off his unicycle, the dancer jumped to her feet, and
together they bowed and thanked the crowd for watching. As
people walked away, they dropped money in a bowl on the
ground near the radio, so Alissa put in a dollar of her own.
4Five minutes later, Alissa was seated in the theater. She
loved the red velvet seats and drapery that hung from the
walls. Hundreds of people hushed simultaneously as the golden
chandeliers dimmed. Soft music floated up from the pit in front
of the stage. Alissa craned her neck to catch a glimpse of the
orchestra playing there.
5For the next two hours, graceful ballerinas waltzed, spun,
and leapt across the stage. It was a winter scene, and the
audience let out a quiet Oohh! as fake snow began to fall.
When the lights rose, Alissa felt like she had been dreaming.
A dozen ballerinas lined up on stage and bowed as the
audience applauded. A few people even tossed red roses at
the dancers feet.
1.
Describe the two main events that take place in this story.
2.
Explain two ways these events are similar.
3.
Explain two ways the events are different.
___/6
17
Determine the Meanings of Words and Phrases
Literature
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question.
Pick Your Poison

1The game was called Animal Smack Down. Garrett was
confident that he was going to win.

2Mr. Charnov had invented this science contest. Each student
in the class had to present an animal with a unique way of

protecting itself. Garrett was sure he had found the animal
with the most unusual defense mechanism of all.
3As Garrett slid into his seat, Rachel gave him a smug look
and whispered, Game on. He experienced a moment of

doubt. If anyone could beat him at science research, it was
Rachel. Still, she was probably just trying to throw him off his
game.
4The bell rang, and students began delivering their reports.
Rachel had picked the sea cucumber, which let out sticky
poison to ward off attackers. It could also push its internal
organs out of its skin to fool predators into thinking it was
already dead.
5Next, Garrett reported on the Texas horned lizard. He
described in detail how, when threatened, this lizard shot a

stream of blood out of its eyeballs.
6When everyone finished, Mr. Charnov passed out secret
ballots. Then he tallied the votes by graphing the results on

the board. Of course, Garrett was disappointed he didn't win.
But even he had voted for Julios animal, the Iberian newt.
This creature actually poked its rib bones out through its skin.
And it coated the pointy ends with poison slime.
Comprehension Question
Write the meaning of each of the four underlined words in

the passage and, for each word, circle a phrase that helped
you find the meaning.
___/8
18
Determine the Meanings of Words and Phrases
Literature
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

The Peaceful Dragon

the dragons face. Beware the dragonprotect your livestock,

families, homes! Reward offered for the dragons head. Its
signed by Lord Volio himself.

thievery. Well, hell not get away with it! Lets go, Ani. Its
time we put a stop to this!
3As they flew off, Ani worried that landing in the village might
not be such a good idea. Everyone was convinced that Dahlia

was a vicious beast. Now crowds swarmed toward the square,
shouting and shaking their fists in the air as Dahlia dropped
abruptly from the sky. Most people shrank away in fear. Ani
spotted Lord Volio in the back, cringing behind his knights.
4Villagers, shouted Dahlia. For decades, Lord Volios men
have been stealing your livestock and your land, and to turn
attention away from his own deeds, he has cast the blame on
me.
hesitantly. After my cattle pen was robbed, you left behind this
tooth. He held up a fang the size of his head.
6Poppycock, that tiny thing isnt my toothhere are my
teeth. Dahlia opened her jaws, making it clear that all her
teeth were at least man-sized.
7Now the angry villagers turned to confront Lord Volio, who
was trying to slip away.

the passage and, for each word, circle a phrase that helped
you find the meaning.
___/8
19
Literature
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Showdown
1Two men stood at the front of the room like students
waiting outside the principals office. They both tried to look

innocent, but one of them was lying.
2On the night in question, two months ago, someone had
stolen a statue from in front of the library. The statue

represented a superhero who became world famous in the
movies. The actor who played him was born in our town. We
townspeople were as proud of that actor as a father looking
down at his newborn son. But now the statue was gone, and
two men had each been accused of carrying out the theft.
3As a private investigator, its my job to figure out who is
telling the truth and who is not. I hunt down witnesses, gather
clues, and chase down suspicions as I try to separate the lies
from whats real. Some people get nervous when I start asking
questions, and they sing like canaries. Other people like to
act tough and pretend theyre not afraid. I treat them all the
same way. I keep digging for clues like a pirate looking for
buried treasure. Ill leave no stone unturned to find the truth,
no matter where it is hidden.
4When I met Josie Lawton, I knew she would be my star
witness. She was working late at the library that night, and
she saw the whole thing. When she told her story, the real
thief would be revealed.
Find four examples of similes in this passage.

Underline each simile. Then write the meaning of each simile.
___/8
20
Literature
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Fenns Song
1You're on in two minutes, Fenn. Are you ready?
2Mr. Quintons question seemed simple enough, but Fenn
could not answer. Her heart was pounding like a drum, and
everything around her seemed to be covered in haze. She knew
that hundreds of people were sitting in the audience on the
other side of the curtain, waiting for her to appear. But she
was suddenly trapped in a bubble, unable to break out.
3The past week had been like a wild roller-coaster ride.
One day she was trying to practice her song and could not
remember the words; she could not hit the right notes and felt
too clumsy to walk onto the stage. The next day, her voice hit
every note perfectly, and rehearsal made her feel like she was
on top of the world.
4Take a deep breath, said Mr. Quinton gently. You know you
can do this. Youve practiced, youre ready, and youre going to

nail it.
5Somehow, Mr. Quintons voice pierced the noise around her
like an announcement over the loudspeaker. He was right. She

had practiced, she was ready, and she knew that if she could
just take that first step, she would make it the rest of the
way.
6Fenn closed her eyes and took a deep breath; then she
opened her eyes and began walking. The moment her hand
touched the microphone, the storm that had been raging inside
of her died. She felt ready, almost like she had been born for
this one moment. And she nailed it after all.
Find four examples of similes in this passage.

Underline each simile. Then write the meaning of each simile.
___/8
21
Literature
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Sweet Revenge
1For the past few hours, Vicki's house has been a whirlwind
of activity. But now, the preparations are complete and the

party can begin. In just a minute, Isaac will be coming up
the front walk. His knock on the door will be the starting
gun.
2Everyone likes Isaac, and he seems to get along with
everyone. But Isaac's main talent is practical jokes. You never

know when one may be sprung on you. But no matter how
startled or upset you may be, you can never stay angry at
Isaac for very long. Isaac is a carnival funhouse, filled with
all sorts of scary and startling surprises but always amusing
in the end.
3Now Isaac is knocking on the door, and the time for
revenge has finally arrived. Everyone waits quietly, and no

one moves to answer the door. Isaac believes he has been
invited to a surprise party for someone else, but we all know
differentlyit is a surprise party for him.
4Isaac tries ringing the doorbell next, and that's the bugle
call. Isaac hears his name spoken from somewhere in the

front yard. Confused, he turns around, and that's when the
first water balloon hits him. Splash! Then another balloon
hits the mark, and another, and before he knows what is
happening, Isaac is soaking wet. He stands for a moment,
trying to recover, and then he bursts out laughing. Oh, you
guys got me good this time! he shouts.
Find four examples of metaphors in this passage. Underline

each metaphor. Then write the meaning of each metaphor.
___/8
22
Literature
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Black Belt
1With one powerful movement, Nigel's bare foot became a
sword as it split the wooden board in two. He turned, faced

his sensei, and bowed in respect. He then turned to face the
audience and bowed again. Nigel knew he should not smile,
for this was a serious moment. He'd trained hard and was
only halfway through testing for his black belt in karate. But,
despite his best efforts, a smile broke through.
2Nigel never dreamed he would reach this point. When he
was
not
sea
and
younger, he was one of the smallest kids in his class and

very good at sports. He had struggled to stay afloat in a
of doubt. But his parents never stopped encouraging him,
he joined one team after another, hoping to fit in.
3Then one day, a lightbulb went on. He found himself
standing in front of a dojo, or studio, watching little boys

practicing their front kicks. I can do that, he thought to
himself, and the idea took hold.
4All of the students at the dojo started with a white, loose-
fitting outfit called a gi, and a white belt. Within a few

months, however, Nigel surpassed some of the bigger kids in
his forms. He was the first to earn his yellow belt, and the
first to earn an orange one. Nigel's confidence began to grow.
5Now, Nigel was about to turn in his brown belt for a black
one. He had climbed the mountain and finally reached the top.
Find four examples of metaphors in this passage. Underline

each metaphor. Then write the meaning of each metaphor.
___/8
23
Literature
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Crocker
1Bridget placed her cereal bowl in the sink. Then she swerved
to avoid her little brother Eric and tripped over his backpack,
but landed on her feet.
2Is that Crocker barking? asked Mom, flicking toast crumbs
off her blazer. Crocker almost never barks. She picked up her
briefcase and said goodbye as she headed off to work.
3Bridget, why don't you check on Crocker, said Dad. He
sounds like he's in the garage.

4Bridget found Crocker pacing around the car, whining, and
she wondered what was wrong. Usually, when everyone headed

out in the mornings, Crocker settled himself in the window
seat for a long nap. Now, as Eric and Dad entered the garage,
he barked, pawing at the front of the car.
5Eric dropped to his stomach and began slithering under the
car, just as Dad nabbed him. Try to stay clean for school,
please, and put Crocker in the house. We're going to be late.
6But, Dad, said Eric, I heard something under there. Maybe
that's why Crocker is acting weird.

7Sighing, Dad crouched and peered under the car. For a few
breaths, everyone was silent. Then Dad stood up, holding a

tiny stray kitten. It must have crawled up into the engine to
stay warm.
8Crocker stood on his hind legs to nuzzle the kitten. The
kitten mewed, and Dad sighed, We're going to be late.
24
1.
What event introduces the conflict in this story?
2.
Describe two things that happen as part of the rising action of

the story.
3.
What is the climax of the story?
4.
How is the story resolved in the end?
___/5
Literature
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Baucis and Philemon

1One day long ago, Jupiter, the king of the gods, decided to
test his people and see how hospitable they were. So he and
Mercury dressed as poor peasants and wandered through the
land. They knocked on door after door seeking shelter and food
but were rudely turned away every time.
2After many weeks, the gods were angry and disgusted. But
they knocked on one last door, and an old woman named

Baucis greeted them. Come in, she said immediately. This is
my husband Philemon, she said, gesturing to an old man who
hobbled forward to take their coats.
3We are very poor, said Baucis with a sad smile, but we are
happy to share what little we have. Please, sit down and rest
while I prepare some lunch.
4Baucis and Philemon stoked the fire to warm their home and
set the table with bits of bread, cheese, and olives. They also
offered their guests shelter for the night.
5At that point, Jupiter and Mercury revealed themselves. No
one else has been so gracious or generous, said Jupiter, and

they will all be punished. But we would like to reward you for
your kindness and hospitality. What can we do for you?
6We have been together for so long, and we are growing old,
said Philemon. Please let us die at the same time and stay
together always.
7Jupiter granted their wish. When the time came, he turned the
old folks into trees, one oak and one linden, growing from the
same trunk so they would never be apart.
1.
Describe the exposition, or introduction, to this story.
2.
What is the conflict in the story?
3.
Describe the rising action in the story.
4.
What is the climax of the story?
___/4
25
Describe How Point of View Influences Descriptions of Events
Literature
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Final Approach

2Look right there, said Jennas older brother Adrian, pointing
out two small arcs of light on the planets surface. Those

must be the domes.

4Jenna, who had been born on the spaceship, knew shed
5As the ship moved closer, Jenna could see weird rock
formations, jagged canyons, and towering cliffs.

6Were actually going to be there soon, she whispered.
floor, tumbling people into one another. Red lights flashed.

8This cant be good, said Adrian, catching Jennas arm
before she could fall.

9Attention, settlers, the captains voice boomed from the
loudspeakers. Strap yourselves in. We have a problem.
26
1.
From whose point of view is this story told?
2.
How does the narrative point of view affect the description of

events in this story?
3.
Underline three sentences the author uses to reveal

a main character's thoughts or feelings.
___/5
Literature
Describe How Point of View Influences Descriptions of Events
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Garden Surprise
1Tuesday was my first day as Mrs. Colliers junior gardener.
I didnt know it yet, but I was in for a surprise.

2Mrs. Collier, who lives next door, hurt her hip a few months
ago. When Mom and I visited her, she told us that her
doctor had warned her to avoid bending and kneeling.
3I dont want to neglect all my plants, Mrs. Collier sighed.
Roxanne, perhaps you could come over a few mornings a

week this summer and give me a hand?
4I knew that lending a hand was the right thing to do.
Then Mrs. Collier added that she would pay me $30 a week.
That was even better.
5So Mrs. Collier put me to work in the front yard, where
she guided me from a lawn chair. Although the flower beds

were in full bloom, they were choked with weeds. I started
pinching and pulling weeds, throwing them in a pile, and
then watering. I was glad Id worn jeans to protect my knees
and a baseball cap to shade my eyes.
6Gardening seemed a lot easier than babysitting, though I
was pretty hungry when I got home for lunch. I fell asleep
early, and woke up the next morning to a shock. My back
was as stiff as a board. When I tried stretching, I realized
that every muscle in my body was aching.
7I guess gardening isnt easier than babysitting, although
its a lot quieter. Mom says Ill get used to it. I hope so,
because today Im working in Mrs. Colliers vegetable garden.
1.
From whose point of view is this story told?
2.
How does the narrative point of view affect the description of

events in this story?
3.
Underline three sentences the author uses to reveal

a character's thoughts or feelings.
___/5
27
Analyze How Visual Elements Contribute to Meaning
Literature
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Kiva Dreams
1Serena climbed over the rocks following the directions
on the map. There was one place in the Pueblo compound

that she and her mother particularly wanted to see. Serena
walked along a stone wall and then stopped where an
opening appeared. She looked down at the map and then
at the round space in front of her. This was it: the Great
Kiva. There was a stone structure in the center that Serena
imagined was a fire pit, and two built-in benches. Long ago,
people sat on these benches during religious ceremonies.
2What kinds of ceremonies happened here? Serena asked.
3A man would dress as a certain kachina and dance for
a specific purpose, her mother explained. In different

ceremonies, the men might dance for rain, or protection, or
to communicate with their ancestors.
4What is a kachina? Serena asked.
5Serena's mother did her best to explain, but Serena
couldn't picture a kachina until they were back at the gift

shop. Several different kachinas were on sale, like one doll
whose face was completely encircled with black and white
feathers. Serena could almost hear the musical chanting as
men danced around a fire inside the kiva.
28
1.
Describe two things you can tell from the picture of the kiva
that you cannot tell from the text.
2.
How did the picture of the kachina doll help you understand
the last scene of the story?
___/3
Analyze How Visual Elements Contribute to Meaning
Literature
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Chichen Itza
1Enrique wasn't all that excited when his mother said they
were going to Cancun during the school vacation, and to a

place called Chichen Itza.
2Whatever, thought Enrique. He had heard of Cancun but
didnt know much about it. He was sure it would be boring.

3A few weeks later, Enrique, his mother, and his younger
sister arrived in Cancun, which was crowded with high-rise

hotels and thousands of tourists. The next morning, they
took a tour bus to Chichen Itzaand Enrique forgot all
about the hotels. Chichen Itza was an ancient Mayan city,
and many of the city's original structures were still standing.
4The central attraction was the Temple of Kukulkan, also
known as The Castle. It had 365 steps, counting the

platform at the topone for each day of the year. The
whole building was a calendar!
5Enrique was fascinated by everything he saw that first day.
Can we come back tomorrow? he asked.
Chichen Itza
1.
How does the map contribute to the story?
2.
Describe two things you can tell from the picture of the temple
that you cannot tell from the text.
3.
How does the picture of the temple contribute to the story?
___/4
29
Analyze How Multimedia Elements Contribute to Meaning
Literature
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

The Surgeons Dilemma

1The Battle of Antietam Creek raged on. Smoke and noise
filled the air, and soldiers from both sides and pack animals
raced about in confusion. A mile from the fighting, in the
Union medical tent, the atmosphere was almost as intense.
Dozens of wounded men waited for medical attention. Some
cried out in pain.
2Doctor Riker had been working for hours. He and his
nurses had to decide which soldiers needed help the most.

3Their rank isnt important, and it doesnt even matter
which side they are on, he stated. Our job here is to save
lives, and this Confederate soldier urgently needs attention.
4One Union officer, however, had other ideas.
30
1.
What are two ways that the multimedia elements help you
understand and enjoy the story?
2.
Circle the physical gesture the character is making in the last panel
that shows that he is speaking in anger.
3.
The speech bubbles show you which words the characters say.
How do they show which words are spoken more loudly
than the others?
___/4
Analyze How Multimedia Elements Contribute to Meaning
Literature
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

The Bubonic Plague

1The plague, or the black death, finally reached
our town this summer. It was so awful. Friends and

neighbors started dying gruesome and painful deaths all
around us. Then the king quarantined our townno one
was allowed in or out.
2One old woman
started saying that we

could catch the plague
in the fields, and soon
everyone was scared
to go there. But our
food supplies were
running out, and it
was almost harvest
time! My brave mother
argued with the
superstitious townsfolk.
1.
What are two ways that the multimedia elements help you
understand and enjoy the story?
2.
In the second panel, what visual detail supports the idea that
the towns food supply is in danger?
3.
In the last panel, how do the images help you understand that
the mother is trying to convince the others to change their
minds about something?
___/4
31
Literature
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Directions: Read the passages and answer the questions.
The Peaceful Dragon

the dragons face. Beware the dragonprotect your livestock,

families, homes! Reward offered for the dragons head. Its
signed by Lord Volio himself.

thievery. Well, hell not get away with it! Lets go, Ani. Its
time we put a stop to this!
3As they flew off, Ani worried that landing in the village
might not be such a good idea. Everyone was convinced that

Dahlia was a vicious beast. Now crowds swarmed toward the
square, shouting and shaking their fists in the air as Dahlia
dropped abruptly from the sky. Most people shrank away in
fear. Ani spotted Lord Volio in the back, cringing behind his
knights.
4Villagers, shouted Dahlia. For decades, Lord Volios men
have been stealing your livestock and your land, and to turn
attention away from his own deeds, he has cast the blame on
me.
hesitantly. After my cattle pen was robbed, you left behind

this tooth. He held up a fang the size of his head.
6Poppycock, that tiny thing isnt my toothhere are my
teeth. Dahlia opened her jaws, making it clear that all her
teeth were at least man-sized.
7Now the angry villagers turned to confront Lord Volio, who
was trying to slip away.
32
Literature
A
B
Water World
1The village huts on wooden stilts were surrounded by water in
all directions, but Sean was still thirsty. After all, you couldnt
drink seawater. Frustrated, Sean paddled his kayak over to his
uncles hut.
2 Im looking for your dad, he told his cousin Naomi as he
tied up his boat.

3Well, hes off on a job, said Naomi. Hes working as a
carpenter at one of those big inland houses in exchange for

drinking water. Its a big jobyou should see if you can sign on.
4Good idea, but why dont you come with me? said Sean.
5Naomi shook her head, and then turned her attention back
to what she had been doing. She was always tinkering with
something. The only time Naomi ever ventured away from her
hut was when she wanted to find more parts for her tinkering.
6Sean crouched down to see what she was doing, but it just
looked like a mess to him.

7In case youre wondering, Im rigging up a portable system for
filtering salt out of seawater, Naomi explained.

8You cant do that, said Sean, though part of his brain told
him that if she could set up a two-way radio and make a solar
cooker, maybe she could do this. Then it dawned on him.
9If you figure this out, Naomi, we could be rich, and maybe
live in one of those inland homes.

10When Naomi told him she just wanted to help provide people
1.
How are the settings of these two stories similar?
2.
How are the settings different?
3.
In what way are Dahlia and Naomi alike?
4.
What is the main theme of A Peaceful Dragon?
5.
How is the theme of Water World similar to the theme

of A Peaceful Dragon, and how is it different?
___/5
33
A
B
Literature
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Final Approach

2Look right there, said Jenna's older brother Adrian, pointing
out two small arcs of light on the planet's surface. Those

must be the domes.

4Jenna, who had been born on the spaceship, knew she'd
5As the ship moved closer, Epsilon 9 filled the viewing
window. Jenna could see weird rock formations, jagged

canyons, and towering cliffs.
6We're actually going to be there soon, she whispered.
floor, tumbling people into one another. Red lights flashed, and
an alarm blared.
8This can't be good, said Adrian, catching Jenna's arm
before she could fall.

9Attention, settlers, the captain's voice boomed from the
loudspeakers. Please strap yourselves in. We have a problem.
34
Literature
A Wise Idea
1The ship was not supposed to land on this green and blue
planet. Someone had made a giant mistake.

2Several officers gathered in the central control room to
determine what had gone wrong and who was at fault for this
disaster. A collective feeling of fear had descended upon the
entire ship, and this fear was intensifying rapidly. Where was
the orange horizon of their beloved planet, Atrunsi? What were
these tall, green organisms they could see from the ship's
portholes? Were there creatures here that would harm them?
3Just then the Commander entered the room and barked,
How did we end up on this planet, andmore importantly

how do we plan to get home?
4After a moment of stunned silence, one of the smaller
engineers stepped forward, cleared her throat, and answered.

We are still investigating the error, Commander, but I have a
suggestion. This planet is apparently called Earth, and there is
much to learn from its biodiversity and its technology. Since
we are already here, why not stay for a short time, learn
what we can, and then make our way back home?
5The Commander stared at the engineer for a moment, and
the room seemed to hold its breath.

6That is a wise suggestion, the Commander stated. Every
great discovery ever made began with a step into the

unknown. You are in charge of the exploratory party. You have
three sun phases to complete your exploration while the rest
of us determine how to get this ship off the ground and back
on the right course.
1.
How are the settings of these two stories similar?
2.
How are the settings different?
3.
Describe two main differences in the plots of these stories.
4.
What is the main theme of Final Approach?
5.
How is the theme of Final Approach similar to the theme of

A Wise Idea, and how is it different?
___/6
35
Informational Text
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Why Is Washington, D.C., Our Capital?

1In 1789, the United States had just become a country. It had
only thirteen states, and the capital was New York City. American
leaders were working hard to establish a new government. But
different parts of the country had different needs and ideas.
2One big problem that leaders had to solve was the enormous
debt left over from the Revolutionary War. Most of the states
had borrowed money to pay for the costs of the war. They had
obtained loans from foreign countries and from wealthy individuals.
The states had promised to repay the money after the war.
3When the federal government was established, Alexander
Hamilton became the first Secretary of the Treasury. He wanted

the federal government to assume responsibility for paying all of
the states' loans. The government would have to collect new taxes
to raise the money.
4Northern states strongly favored this plan. They wouldn't have
to pay off their debts alone. Southern states strongly opposed

it. They had already paid off most of their debts. New taxes
collected from them would be used to pay off the debts of
Northern states, and they felt that this would be unfair.
5Southern states agreed to Hamilton's plan only when he
promised that the nation's new capital would be located in the

South. The capital city would not be part of a state. It would
be built in a new area between Virginia and Maryland called the
District of Columbia. The city would be called Washington.
36
1.
What major problem did the new U.S. government face in 1789?
2.
How did Alexander Hamilton want to solve this problem?
3.
Underline two sentences that explain why Southern states

were opposed to Hamilton's plan.
4.
How did Hamilton persuade the Southern states to accept

his plan?
___/5
Informational Text
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Methuselah
1The oldest living tree in the world is more than 4,840 years
old. This particular tree, named Methuselah, is a bristlecone pine

in California's Great Basin National Park. To protect the tree from
people who might damage it or cut it down, park rangers won't
reveal the tree's location.
2Rare bristlecones are found in only six western states. They
are also known as foxtail pines for their branches, which

resemble a fox's bushy tail. These pines can grow 40 to 60 feet
tall. Many are shorter because they grow in dry, windy places
high in the mountains. In fact, the harsher the environment, the
longer these trees live. When sheltered in a valley with moderate
temperatures and more rain, they may live for only 600 years.
The oldest bristlecones grow 10,000 feet above sea level.
3Methuselah was discovered in 1953 by Dr. Edmund Schulman,
who calculated the age of the tree. Today, scientists study

bristlecone pines to see what the environment was like long
ago. By comparing the tree's growth rings, they can see how
conditions changed through the centuries.
4Several characteristics contribute to the long life span of
bristlecones. For example, the tree's wood is filled with resin,

an oily substance that prevents the tree from drying out. The
resin also protects the tree from insects and disease. In addition,
these pines hold on to their needles for thirty to forty years,
much longer than other conifers. As a result, the trees can save
energy that would be needed to make new needles.
1.
Circle the sentence that explains why scientists study bristlecone pines.
2.
Why won't park rangers tell people where Methuselah is located?
3.
In what kind of environment do bristlecone pine trees grow best?
4.
Underline two sentences that explain why bristlecone pines live

longer than other trees.
___/5
37
Informational Text
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Missouri's Caves
1In some parts of Missouri, there are thousands of caves
along the Mississippi River. One reason Missouri has so many

caves is the type of limestone rock that lies beneath the soil.
Limestone is easily dissolved by acids. Rain falls and collects
in pools, and then it combines with carbon dioxide given off
by dead plants to form a weak acid. When the acid comes
in contact with the limestone, the rock slowly dissolves. Over
many years, the acidic water eats through the weakest layers
of rock to form passages and caves. Some caves in Missouri
are a mile long and more than 200 feet deep.
2Not all of the caves are empty and dry. Many caves contain
water and are known as springs. In some, the passages are

large enough for people to canoe or wade through. Others are
totally filled with water. Only underwater divers can explore
their depths.
3Many unique fish and other animals live in the caves. These
creatures have very small eyes or no eyes at all. They don't

need eyes because the caves are always dark. These animals
have never been exposed to sunshine.
1.
Underline two sentences in the passage that explain

why Missouri has so many caves.
2.
Describe two things you can infer about the springs

in Missouri.
3.
What is unusual about some of the creatures that live in

the caves?
4.
Which sentence in the passage supports the inference that

the creatures living in these caves have never been outside?
Circle the sentence.
___/6
38
Informational Text
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Faces on Our Money

1Since the time of ancient Rome, many governments
have put pictures of people's faces on their money. Julius

Caesar appeared on Roman coins, for example, and Emperor
Napoleon appeared on French coins and bills. We have
followed this custom in the United States. Ben Franklin
appears on the $100 bill, for example, and Abraham Lincoln
appears on the $5 bill.
2The faces of living people are never used on American
currency though. This restriction began with George

Washington. He refused to have his image put on the new
American dollar coin. Images of Liberty were used instead.
3Paper $1 bills first came into use in 1862. In 1869,
Washington appeared on this bill. He has remained there

ever since even though the design of the bill has changed
many times.
4The U.S. Treasury recently proclaimed that a new $10 bill
will be issued in 2020. It will feature a woman's face along

with the person currently on the bill, Alexander Hamilton.
She will be the first woman to appear on a U.S. paper bill
since Martha Washington briefly appeared on a $1 note in
the 1890s.
1.
What can you infer about the kinds of people who appear
on U.S. money?
2.
Which sentence in the passage supports the idea that

other countries have put people's faces on their money?
Circle the sentence.
3.
How can you tell from the passage that today's $1 bill does not
look the same as the first $1 bill made in 1862? Give a reason.
4.
You can infer that no images of women appeared on U.S. money

during the 1900s. Underline the sentence in the passage that
supports this inference.
___/4
39
Determine Two or More Main Ideas in a Text
Informational Text
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

How Much Food Do We Really Need?

1People often say, I'm starving, to indicate they are very
hungry. But they aren't actually in desperate need of food.

Experts believe an average person could survive for two
months or more without eating anything. That's because we
already have a lot of energy stored in our bodies. After not
eating for a long period, the body begins to consume stored
body fat.
2Drinking water is much more necessary for survival than
eating food. People can survive for only a few days without
water. Drinking water helps the body survive without food.
3But surviving and being healthy are two different things.
You can survive for a long time without food, but you won't
feel good. Without eating, you can't complete normal activities
either. You need a certain amount of calories to stay healthy
and physically active. The foods that give you these calories
also need to have minimum amounts of fat, protein, and other
nutrients.
4One way to consider how much food you need to survive is
to imagine living on Mars for one year. You could make space
food that includes all the essential nutrients. It might look
like dry dog food. You would need about 450 pounds of food,
eating a little over a pound of it each day. If you divided it
into three meals, each meal would weigh about the same as
an apple. This may not sound like much, but it would keep
you alive and healthyas long as you drank enough water, too!
40
1.
Write a sentence that states the main idea of the first two
paragraphs.
2.
Underline the sentence that states the main idea of paragraph 3.
3.
Write one sentence that states the main idea of paragraph 4.
4.
Write a sentence to state the main idea of this passage as a

whole.
___/4
Informational Text
Determine Two or More Main Ideas in a Text
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

How Animals Survive in the Desert

1People going into the dry desert need to take special
precautions to protect themselves from dehydration and

overheating. But a wide variety of animals live in the desert
all the time. How do they do it?
2Most deserts are very hot during the day and much
cooler at night. Like people, animals that live in the desert

must maintain a fairly constant body temperature. To meet
this requirement, animals have adapted to desert life in
various ways.
3Some animals, such as the desert fox and the kangaroo
rat, live in cool underground burrows or dens. They avoid the

hot sun by coming out only at night or in cooler times of
the day. When the sun begins to set, these nocturnal animals
become active. When the sun comes up the next day, they
go back underground.
4Some desert creatures have developed ways to find
moisture. The gila woodpecker, for example, has a beak long

enough to tap into a cactus and withdraw the liquid stored
inside the plant.
5Other desert animals have special ways to cool their bodies
by releasing body heat into the air. One example is the

jackrabbit, which has extra-long ears. These ears have many
blood vessels, which help the ears expel heat. Some animals
have also developed light-colored fur, which reflects heat from
the sun. Darker fur would absorb more of the sun's heat.
1.
Underline the sentence that states the main idea of paragraph 2.
2.
Write a sentence that states the main idea of paragraph 3.
3.
Circle the sentence that states the main idea of paragraph 5.
4.
Write a sentence that states the main idea of this passage

as a whole.
___/4
41
Explain How Key Details Support the Main Ideas of Texts
Informational Text
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Scottish-American Games
1In recent years, some unique games from Scotland have
become popular in America. Some of these games began as

military training exercises. Others represent ways to pass Scottish
culture from older generations to younger ones.
2Today, these games are called Scottish Heavy Events and
have formal rules. People who have connections to Scotland hold

celebrations and competitions regularly.
3Some of the events aren't like any other games in America.
For example, in one game that probably came from farm

workers, contestants use a pitchfork to lift a sheaf of straw in
a burlap bag. Then they try to throw it as high as possible over
a bar. In another event, strong men try to lift and throw a large
pole, called a caber, end-over-end in a straight line.
4Other games are more similar to American track-and-field
events. One is like the American shot put but uses a real stone
that varies in weight. Another involves a heavy weight with a
handle. Contestants spin in circles before attempting to throw the
hammer as far as possible.
5Contestants in these games wear traditional Scottish kilts, which
are similar to skirts. The kilt provides a strong connection to

Scottish culture of the past. As in most sports, people try hard
to win these Scottish games. But the real goal is to share the
fun with others and celebrate traditions from the past.
1.
Circle the sentence that states the main idea of the passage.
2.
Underline two sentences that support the main idea from question 1.
3.
Write two details that support the idea that some Scottish events are
like American track-and-field events.
4.
Write one detail supporting the idea that Scottish games are closely
tied to cultural traditions in Scotland.
___/6
42
Informational Text
Explain How Key Details Support the Main Ideas of Texts
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Chinese New Year Celebrations

1For the people of Chinaand for many Chinese Americans,
tooNew Year's is the most important holiday of the year.

The Chinese New Year coincides with the end of winter, based
on the Chinese calendar. The date changes each year but
always falls between January 21 and February 20 (on the
U.S. calendar). It is the beginning of the Spring Festival, a
weeklong holiday.
2All over China, people return to their family homes for the
celebration. Families first hold a Reunion Dinner, an important

family meal. In the past, married couples always went to
the husband's family home, but that tradition has begun to
change. Family members give one another special cards and
gifts for the New Year, and children often receive money. New
Year's wishes always include a wish for good luck in the year
to come.
3Surprisingly, people are expected to have bad luck every
twelfth year, based on the year of their birth. The Chinese

calendar is based on a twelve-year cycle, and each year in the
cycle is named for an animal, such as the Monkey or Rabbit.
A child born in 2012 was born in the Year of the Dragon.
The next Year of the Dragon would come along in 2024. To
ward off bad luck in that year, a person might wear some red
clothing given to him or her by an older family member. In
traditional Chinese beliefs, red is a lucky color.
1.
Circle the sentence that states the main idea of the passage.
2.
Underline two sentences that support the idea that New Year's is
the most important holiday in China.
3.
Write one detail from the passage showing that New Year's
celebrations are changing in China.
4.
Write two details supporting the idea that some Chinese

traditions are intended to bring good luck.
___/6
43
Summarize
Informational Text
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Connecting East and West

1When a railroad line connecting the East and West Coasts
of the United States was finished in 1869, people celebrated

across the country. The news traveled quickly because a new
telegraph line was completed at the same time. People in
Chicago suddenly decided to have a parade, and there was a
lot of noise in other places, too. Towns rang church bells and
sounded fire alarms. Ceremonial cannons were fired and train
whistles blew.
2There was a big ceremony in Utah, too. That was the place
where the eastern and western railroad lines finally met. To

make the last connection, officials used a special golden spike
from California and a silver spike from Nevada.
3Why were people so excited and happy that the railroad line
was complete? Traveling by train would save a lot of time.

When gold was discovered in California in 1849, many people
in the East wanted to get there as fast as they could. But
they had only two choices: traveling by ship or by wagon
train. Either way could take four months or more!
4People traveling on the new railroad line could make the
entire journey in less than a week. The same was true for
food and other supplies that people needed to live in the
West. Supplies could travel quickly and predictably, so more
people could move west to live. In a way, connecting the
railroad lines was like increasing the size of the United States.
There was more room for people to live comfortably.
1.
Underline the most important detail in each paragraph.
2.
Write a one-paragraph summary of the passage as a whole.

___/6
44
Summarize
Informational Text
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

The North and the South

1In 1861, the Civil War broke out in the United States. The
Union Army of the North battled the Confederate Army of the

South. Both sides fought bravely, but the North had several
military advantages from the very start.
2Throughout the early 1800s, the North had changed from an
economy based on farming to one that relied on industries.

Like England and other newly industrialized countries, the
North built miles of railroads. It could quickly ship materials
from one place to another. It also concentrated on producing
iron and steel. Nearly all the clothing and shoes in the United
States were produced in the North as well. These resources
were great advantages in building and supplying an army.
3The South had plenty of good soldiers to fight in its army.
But it wasn't prepared to produce the supplies this army

needed. For example, when the war began, there was not
one factory in the South that could manufacture rifles. While
the North was becoming industrial, the South stayed mainly
agricultural. Its main crop was cotton.
4Why did the North and South develop in such different
ways? One reason was the difference in the land itself. The
rocky and hilly land in the northern states had many fastmoving rivers. People used the rivers to turn waterwheels that
generated power for industrial machines. Most of the South
had flat, rich farmland but not much water flow. It was best
suited to farming.
1.
Underline the most important detail in each paragraph.
2.
Write a one-paragraph summary of the passage as a whole.

___/6
45
Explain the Relationship Between Two Aspects of a Historical Text
Informational Text
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

The French and Indian War

1In 1754, both France and Great Britain wanted to control
North America. So they fought each other. The United States

was not yet a country. But many American colonists took part
in the war, including a young George Washington.
2In the early years of the war, Britain attacked French forts
in the Ohio Valley but lost most of the battles. The British
did not know the land as well as the French did. Also, many
Native American groups in the area supported the French.
Then, in 1757, the British sent a new general named William
Pitt. Under his leadership, the tide of the war turned. In 1758,
Pitt captured the strategically important Fort Duquesne from the
French. He renamed it Fort Pitt. Years later, that site became
the city of Pittsburgh.
3Next, the British won several battles in New York. Then, in
1759, they marched into Canada and took control of its biggest
city, Quebec. The French and their Native allies surrendered.
4Britain had won the war, but other battles were about to
begin. Britain spent millions of dollars to pay for this war,

and now the British had to pay their debts. They decided to
force the American colonists to pay higher taxes. The colonists
resented this action and thought the taxes were unfair. Over
the next decade, the situation got much worse. The Americans
decided to form their own country. That's when the American
Revolution began.
46
1.
What was the main cause of the French and Indian War?
Circle the sentence that explains.
2.
Why did the British lose most of the battles in the early
years? Underline two sentences that explain.
3.
What events led to the founding of Pittsburgh?
4.
How did the end of the French and Indian War affect
American colonists?
___/5
Informational Text
Explain the Relationship Between Two Aspects of a Historical Text
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

The Civilian Conservation Corps

1In 1932, the U.S. economy was at its worst point in the
nation's history. When the Great Depression began, millions of

people lost their jobs, their homes, and all the money they
had saved. People who wanted to work couldn't find jobs. Long
lines formed in cities across the country at soup kitchens
that offered free food. Many businesses and factories closed.
2When President Franklin Roosevelt took office in 1932, he
took many quick and dramatic steps to help the country

recover. The Civilian Conservation Corps, or CCC, was one of
his most successful ideas. It offered jobs to young men who
couldn't find work.
3From 1933 to 1942, more than 3,000,000 men worked on
public service projects for the CCC. They created more than
800 new parks and improved hundreds of state parks. They
planted an estimated 3 billion trees. They constructed buildings,
bridges, and roadways in many remote areas.
4The organization functioned a little bit like an army. Men
went away to camps where they lived and worked for six
months at a time. Most of the money they earned had to be
sent home to their families.
5The CCC helped solve many problems at once. Young men
with no jobs went to work. The projects they worked on were

things that needed to be done for the good of the land and
the American people. Workers' paychecks helped families take
care of themselves. Businesses reopened and began to grow.
1.
Why was the CCC created? Circle the sentence that explains.
2.
What did CCC workers do? Underline three sentences that explain.
3.
How did the CCC help the United States recover from hard times?
4.
How did the CCC help American families?

___/6
47
Explain the Relationship Between Two Aspects

of a Scientific Text
Informational Text
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Trusting Weather Predictions

1Imagine that you want to make plans for a Saturday ten days
away. You can join a friend at an outdoor amusement park, or

you can visit your grandparents, who live in another state. But
you must decide today.
2If the weather is bad that day, the trip to the park will be
canceled. If you're visiting your grandparents and its a beautiful

day, you might wish you were at the park. So you decide to
check a weather website. The ten-day forecast predicts nice
weather. But can you trust the forecast?
3The National Weather Service (NWS) is part of the U.S.
government. Its mission is to provide weather data, forecasts,

and warnings to help protect the people of the United States
and enhance the economy. The NWS has about 5,000 employees
and more than 150 offices around the country. Each year, the
NWS issues about 1.5 million forecasts and 50,000 warnings.
4Even so, many people complain that weather forecasters aren't
right very often. Recent studies indicate that next-day forecasts

have improved quite a lot. But longer-term predictions are
still questionable. Weather conditions and weather patterns can
change without warning. Five-day forecasts are less accurate
than next-day forecasts, and ten-day forecasts have even more
errors. So you'll have to make a decision about next Saturday
without knowing for sure what the weather will be.
48
1.
According to this passage, why might you want to know the

weather ten days ahead of time? Underline two sentences
that explain.
2.
Why is it hard to forecast weather five or ten days in advance?

3.
How does the National Weather Service help people in the

United States?
4.
Which kinds of weather forecasts tend to be the most

accurate?
___/5

of a Scientific Text
Informational Text
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Acid Rain
1Scientists noticed problems in the forests in the eastern United
States in the 1960s. Many trees in the mountains were dying.

The fish in some remote lakes were dying, too.
2At the same time, puzzling things were happening in some
cities. Statues made of bronze and marble were beginning to

wear away. The paint on cars showed spots and other damage.
Some stone buildings were getting so dirty they had to be
cleaned regularly.
3When scientists looked at the problems together, they came up
with a single cause: acid rain. For many years, power plants
had emitted smoke into the air that contained large amounts
of a chemical called sulfur. The sulfur in the air combined with
moisture to make sulfuric acid. In industry, sulfuric acid is used
for cleaning metals and removing rust. But the acid rain that
fell on forests, lakes, and cities had very harmful effects.
4The U.S. government worked to stop this damage. In 1970,
Congress passed a law called the Clean Air Act. It forced

companies to reduce the amount of sulfur in the smoke they
released into the air. The law was strengthened in 1990.
5Today, damage to the environment has been greatly reduced.
Many of the forests and lakes have recovered from earlier

damage. Some people point to clean air laws as a great
success. But other types of acid rain appear to be causing
problems today. New laws may be needed to fix these problems.
1.
What problems did acid rain cause in the forests and lakes
in the 1960s? Underline two sentences that explain.
2.
What problems did acid rain cause in cities in the 1960s?

Circle two sentences that describe problems.
3.
What caused the acid rain?
4.
How did the government reduce the problems caused by

acid rain?
___/6
49

of a Technical Text
Informational Text
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Taking Care of a Bike

1Riding a bicycle is a good way to travel from one place
to another. It's a great way to exercise and enjoy time with

friends, too. But it's important to keep your bike in good
shape so you can stay safe and avoid accidents. There are
almost 10,000 people seriously injured each year when they
fall riding a bike. Some of these injuries can be avoided by
taking good care of a bike. Bikes also last longer if they're
taken care of properly. Here are some parts of a bike that
need regular attention.
2Tires help keep you balanced on top of a bike and
prevent you from falling. You should inspect your tires

before every ride to see that they are pumped up to the
right pressure. Check your tire treads, too. If they are worn
out and smooth, they can cause you to skid when you put
on the brakes.
3Check your brakes before every ride to see that they are
working properly. If your brakes use hand levers, check

them to see that the cables are working smoothly and that
the brake pads hit the rims and not the tires.
4A properly working chain helps you control your speed.
Check your chain to see that it has the right tension so it

won't loosen or fall off. This is important for bikes with one
speed or many speeds. Remember, it's the chain that drives
the bike!
50
1.
What are some benefits of riding a bike?

Underline two sentences that explain.
2.
Why is it important to keep your bike tires in good shape?

Give two reasons.
3.
What should you look for when checking your brakes?

4.
Why is it important to check the chain on your bike?
___/6

of a Technical Text
Informational Text
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

How GPS Works

1Many people today use GPS, or Global Positioning Systems,
on their phones or in their cars to find their locations and

get from one place to another. In order to work, GPS needs
to be able to figure out exactly where you are located. It
relies on satellites for this information.
2GPS satellites were first used in 1957 for military
submarines. The United States began with six satellites. Now,

the system has thirty-one satellites traveling around Earth
in different orbits. The system is designed so that there will
always be three satellites covering every point on Earth.
3GPS depends on radio signals and accurate clocks. The
satellites send out regular signals that travel very fast. These
signals include information about the positions of the satellites
and the exact time. If you are in a car using GPS, your
system hears those signals. It can calculate how far away
a satellite is by how long it took the message to reach you.
This is measured precisely in millionths of seconds!
4The system uses the three signals and a simple math
process to determine your location. You can try the process

on a playground with a piece of chalk. Mark one spot as
your location. Then mark three new spots on different sides
of your location that are 3, 5, and 7 feet away. Use each of
the three spots as the center of a circle that passes through
your location. Your location will be the only spot where all
three circles cross. If you've got a working GPS system, you'll
never be truly lost.
1.
Where are the GPS satellites in the U.S. system?

2.
What do GPS satellites do? Underline two sentences that explain.
3.
How do people use GPS in their daily lives?
4.
Describe how to use chalk circles to explain how GPS works.
___/5
51
Determine the Meaning of General Academic Vocabulary
Informational Text
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Why Is Washington, D.C., Our Capital?

1In 1789, the United States had just become a country.
It had only thirteen states, and the capital was New York
City. American leaders were working hard to establish a new
government. But different parts of the country had different
needs and ideas.
2One big problem that leaders had to solve was the enormous
debt left over from the Revolutionary War. Most of the states
had borrowed money to pay for the costs of the war. They
had obtained loans from foreign countries and from wealthy
individuals. The states had promised to repay the money after
the war.
3When the federal government was established, Alexander
Hamilton became the first Secretary of the Treasury. He wanted

the federal government to assume responsibility for paying all
of the states loans. The government would have to collect new
taxes to raise the money.
4Northern states strongly favored this plan. They wouldnt
have to pay off their debts alone. Southern states strongly

opposed it. They had already paid off most of their debts. New
taxes collected from them would be used to pay off the debts
of Northern states, and they felt that this would be unfair.
5Southern states agreed to Hamiltons plan only when he
promised that the nations new capital would be located in the

South. The capital city would not be part of a state. It would
be built in a new area between Virginia and Maryland called
the District of Columbia. The city would be called Washington.
Write the meaning of each of the four underlined words in the

passage. For each word, circle a phrase that helped you find
the meaning.
___/8
52
Informational Text
Determine the Meaning of General Academic Vocabulary
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

How Much Food Do We Really Need?

1People often say, Im starving, to indicate they are very
hungry. But they arent actually in desperate need of food.

Experts believe an average person could survive for two
months or more without eating anything. Thats because we
already have a lot of energy stored in our bodies. After not
eating for a long period, the body begins to consume stored
body fat.
2Drinking water is much more necessary for survival than
eating food. People can survive for only a few days without
water. Drinking water helps the body survive without food.
3But surviving and being healthy are two different things.
You can survive for a long time without food, but you
won't feel good. Without eating, you can't complete normal
activities either. You need a certain amount of calories to
stay healthy and physically active. The foods that give you
these calories also need to have minimum amounts of fat,
protein, and other nutrients.
4One way to consider how much food you need to survive
is to imagine living on Mars for one year. You could make

space food that includes all the essential nutrients. It might
look like dry dog food. You would need about 450 pounds
of food, eating a little over a pound of it each day. If you
divided it into three meals, each meal would weigh about
the same as an apple. This may not sound like much, but
it would keep you alive and healthyas long as you drank
enough water, too!

the passage. For each word, circle a phrase that helped you
find the meaning.
___/8
53
Determine the Meaning of Social Studies Vocabulary
Informational Text
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Faces on Our Money

1Since the time of ancient Rome, many governments
have put pictures of people's faces on their money. Julius

Caesar appeared on Roman coins, for example, and Emperor
Napoleon appeared on French coins and bills. We have
followed this custom in the United States. Ben Franklin
appears on the $100 bill, for example, and Abraham Lincoln
appears on the $5 bill.
currency, though. This restriction began with George


ever since, even though the design of the bill has changed
many times.
4The U.S. Treasury recently proclaimed that a new $10 bill
will be issued in 2020. It will feature a woman's face along

with the person currently on the bill, Alexander Hamilton.
She will be the first woman to appear on a U.S. paper bill
since Martha Washington briefly appeared on a $1 note in
the 1890s.
Write the meaning of each of the four underlined words in the

passage. For each word, circle a phrase that helped you find
the meaning.
___/8
54
Determine the Meaning of Social Studies Vocabulary
Informational Text
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

The North and the South

1In 1861, the Civil War broke out in the United States. The
Union Army of the North battled the Confederate Army of the

South. Both sides fought bravely, but the North had several
military advantages from the very start.
2Throughout the early 1800s, the North had changed from an
economy based on farming to one that relied on industries.

Like England and other newly industrialized countries, the
North built miles of railroads. It could quickly ship materials
from one place to another. It also concentrated on producing
iron and steel. Nearly all the clothing and shoes in the United
States were produced in the North as well. These resources
were great advantages in building and supplying an army.
3The South had plenty of good soldiers to fight in its army.
But it wasnt prepared to produce the supplies this army

needed. For example, when the war began, there was not
one factory in the South that could manufacture rifles. While
the North was becoming industrial, the South stayed mainly
agricultural. Its main crop was cotton.
4Why did the North and South develop in such different
ways? One reason was the difference in the land itself. The
rocky and hilly land in the northern states had many fastmoving rivers. People used the rivers to turn waterwheels that
generated power for industrial machines. Most of the South
had flat, rich farmland but not much water flow. It was best
suited to farming.

find the meaning.
___/8
55
Determine the Meaning of Science Vocabulary
Informational Text
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Methuselah
1The oldest living tree in the world is more than 4,840
years old. This particular tree, named Methuselah, is a

bristlecone pine in Californias Great Basin National Park.
To protect the tree from people who might damage it or
cut it down, park rangers wont reveal the trees location.
2Rare bristlecones are found in only six western states.
They are also known as foxtail pines for their branches,

which resemble a foxs bushy tail. These pines can grow 40
to 60 feet tall. Many are shorter because they grow in dry,
windy places high in the mountains. In fact, the harsher the
environment, the longer these trees live. When sheltered in
a valley with moderate temperatures and more rain, they
may live for only 600 years. The oldest bristlecones grow
10,000 feet above sea level.
3Methuselah was discovered in 1953 by Dr. Edmund
Schulman, who calculated the age of the tree. Today,

scientists study bristlecone pines to see what the
environment was like long ago. By comparing the trees
growth rings, they can see how conditions changed through
the centuries.
4Several characteristics contribute to the long life span
of bristlecones. For example, the trees wood is filled with

resin, an oily substance that prevents the tree from drying
out. The resin also protects the tree from insects and
disease. In addition, these pines hold on to their needles for
thirty to forty years, much longer than other conifers. As a
result, the trees can save energy that would be needed to
make new needles.

find the meaning.
56
___/8
Informational Text
Determine the Meaning of Science Vocabulary
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

How Animals Survive in the Desert

1People going into the dry desert need to take special
precautions to protect themselves from dehydration and

overheating. But a wide variety of animals live in the
desert all the time. How do they do it?
2Most deserts are very hot during the day and much
cooler at night. Like people, animals that live in the desert

must maintain a fairly constant body temperature. To meet
this requirement, animals have adapted to desert life in
various ways.
3Some animals, such as the desert fox and the kangaroo
rat, live in cool underground burrows or dens. They avoid the

hot sun by coming out only at night or in cooler times of
the day. When the sun begins to set, these nocturnal animals
become active. When the sun comes up the next day, they
go back underground.
4Some desert creatures have developed ways to find
moisture. The gila woodpecker, for example, has a beak long

enough to tap into a cactus and withdraw the liquid stored
inside the plant.
5Other desert animals have special ways to cool their bodies
by releasing body heat into the air. One example is the

jackrabbit, which has extra-long ears. These ears have many
blood vessels, which help the ears expel heat. Some animals
have also developed light-colored fur, which reflects heat from
the sun. Darker fur would absorb more of the sun's heat.

find the meaning.
___/8
57
Informational Text
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

A Useful Invention
1For hundreds of years, every shoe, jacket, and pair of pants
was fastened with buttons or laces. There was no such thing

as a zipper. Elias Howe, inventor of the sewing machine, took
out a patent in 1851 for a device he called an automatic
continuous clothing closure. But it was not very automatic
because each clasp had to be fastened individually by hand.
2Forty years later, an inventor named Whitcomb Judson
invented a sliding fastener he called a clasp locker for shoes.

It included a slider that closed the space between clasps and
attachments. It could be opened and closed with one hand,
but it was not easy to produce and did not catch on. In
1893, Judson took out a second patent that used hooks and
eyes. However, it had an unfortunate tendency to spring open.
3In 1913, an employee of Judson's named Gideon Sundback
improved on the closure. His design used oval scoops instead

of hooks. The scoops came together with a slider in one
smooth movement. But not many clothing designers were
interested in it.
4A few years later, World War I changed all that. Military
designers used zippers in flying suits and money belts. This

helped show how tough zippers were. In the 1920s, the B. F.
Goodrich Company used zippers in galoshes. Goodrich called
the galoshes zippers because of the sound the slider made.
The name stuck to the fastener instead of the shoe.
58
1.
What was the first step in developing the zipper? Circle the
sentence that describes the event.
2.
When did Whitcomb Judson invent a clasp locker?
3.
What happened next after Judson's invention? Underline the

sentence that tells what happened.
4.
What happened last in the development of zippers?
___/4
Informational Text
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Sonia Sotomayor
1As the child of Puerto Rican parents growing up in the Bronx,
Sonia Sotomayor decided early on that she wanted to be a

judge. She had many obstacles to overcome. Her father died
when she was just nine. Her mother, Celina, then had to work
even harder to raise the family.
2Celina's strong belief in the value of higher education led
her to invest in an expensive set of encyclopedias for Sonia

and her brother. Celina also started speaking English at home
so her children would be as fluent in English as they were in
Spanish. It worked.
3With her intelligence and much hard work, Sonia graduated
first in her high school class and got into Princeton University.
However, when she received a poor grade on her first college
paper, Sonia knew she had to improve her English. She found
the help she needed and graduated with high honors. Then she
went on to Yale Law School.
4In 1980, Sotomayor was hired as a prosecutor of criminal
cases in New York City. Eventually, she moved into private

practice. But she also volunteered for the Puerto Rican Legal
Defense and Education Fund and other community agencies.
5In 1992, President George H. W. Bush chose Sotomayor to be
a federal judge. Six years later, President Clinton appointed her

to a higher court. Then, in 2009, Sonia Sotomayor became the
first Latina Supreme Court Justice in U.S. history.
1.
What happened in Sonia's family when she was nine years old?
Circle the sentence that tells us.
2.
What did Sotomayor do just after high school?
3.
Where did Sotomayor work after graduating from law school?
4.
What happened after President Bush chose Sotomayor to be a

judge? Underline two sentences that tell what happened.
___/5
59
Informational Text
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Birds and Fish

1Birds and fish don't appear to have much in common. Birds
breathe air, as people do, while fish get oxygen from water.
Birds raise their young, but fish do not. Birds have feathers;
fish have scales.
2Despite all these differences, however, birds and fish do
share some common characteristics. Both birds and fish are

vertebrates, meaning that they have backbones. They have
tails, eyes, and mouths. Skeletally, the similarities end there.
Most fish do not have anything like limbs or wings, but they
do use fins to propel themselves. Mostly, however, fins help
fish stay upright and steer, and they swim by moving their
muscular bodies in specialized ways. Birds and fish both lay
eggs, too, although the eggs are rather different.
3Strangely enough, some birds spend quite a bit of time
under water, as fish do. Diving ducks such as mergansers go

for long underwater dives, using their wings to swim as they
pursue small fish. Loons dive and swim underwater, too, as
they hunt for fish to eat. The osprey, or fish hawk, is another
example. When an osprey spots a fish, it dives and plunges
its whole body underwater, grabbing the fish with its strong
talons. When it surfaces, it shakes off excess water so it can
fly again. Then it carries the fish back to its nest.
60
1.
Find three ways in which birds and fish are different.

Underline the sentences that describe the differences.
2.
Find two ways that all birds and fish are alike.
Circle the sentences.
3.
How are mergansers and loons similar to fish?
___/6
Informational Text
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Two Cities
1New York City and San Francisco are two very different
cities, but the two cities do share some similarities.

2New York was first called New Amsterdam, a settlement
begun in 1624. That year, thirty Dutch families settled on

the lower end of Manhattan Island to trade in furs. New
Amsterdam grew steadily, becoming home to almost 9,000
people by 1664. That year the Dutch handed over New
Amsterdam to the British, who renamed it New York.
3In 1776, a century and a half after New Amsterdam began,
Spanish explorers marched north from San Diego, California.

California was part of Mexico at the time. The explorers chose
a site where they would build a church called the Mission San
Francisco de Ass. Over the next fifty years, Americans settled
nearby and began farming.
4In 1846, U.S. Navy Captain James Montgomery claimed
San Francisco for the United States. Two years later gold was
found nearby, and the Gold Rush was on. In one year, San
Francisco's population surged to 25,000 as people came from
all over the world to try their luck in the gold fields.
5San Francisco will always be different from New York
City. But both cities serve as important ports. Both played

important roles in the growth of the United States, and both
are important financial centers today.
1.
How was New York originally founded? Underline the sentence

that tells.
2.
Circle the sentence that tells how San Francisco was originally founded.
3.
Name two major differences in the way New York and

San Francisco grew.
4.
In what ways are New York and San Francisco similar?

Double-underline two sentences that compare the two cities.
___/6
61
Informational Text
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Death Valley
1A place in California called Death Valley is famous for its
extreme weather. At its center, the valley is almost 300 feet

below sea level. The hottest temperature anywhere on Earth
was recorded there in 1913. It was 134 degrees Fahrenheit.
Death Valley is also the driest place in the United States, with
less than 2 1/2 inches of rain per year. In some years, no
rain falls at all.
2Why is Death Valley so hot and so dry? The main reason
is that Death Valley is surrounded by steep mountain ranges.

Moist air usually moves from the Pacific Ocean to the east.
When it hits a mountain, the air cools as it rises. Cooler air
cannot hold as much water, so it rains on the side of the
mountains closest to the ocean. There are four mountain
ranges between Death Valley and the Pacific Ocean. Each one
collects rain as the air moves east. By the time the air gets
to Death Valley, there isn't enough water left for rain.
3The steep mountains surrounding Death Valley also keep
it very hot in the summer. Hot air from the low valley floor
naturally rises. But the mountains around it are so steep
that the air can't rise far enough to cool off. Instead, it gets
trapped and heated again by the sun. This pattern is repeated
over and over. Death Valley averages 140 days each year
when the temperature is 100 degrees or higher.
62
1.
Why is Death Valley famous for its extreme weather?

Give two reasons.
2.
What is the main cause of extreme weather in Death Valley?

3.
Describe two effects of having mountain ranges near

Death Valley.
___/5
Informational Text
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Not Enough Blue Sky Days

1In December 2015, the city government of Beijing, China,
announced a red alert for air pollution. This means that the
air is extremely polluted and very unhealthy. The World Health
Organization recommends an air pollution reading of 25 for
safe breathing. The readings around Beijing that month were
above 250. Many schools and businesses closed because of the
dangerous air.
2Other areas in northern China have suffered from air
pollution, too. Some people there say it is a rare day when

the sky is blue. Instead, it is usually gray and hazy from air
pollution.
3Why is air pollution so bad around China's largest city?
Scientists point to two factors. One is a rapid increase in the

number of cars and trucks. The Chinese economy has been
improving in recent years. Many more people can afford to own
cars. But all cars and trucks cause air pollution, even modern,
more efficient ones. Between 2004 and 2010, the number of
cars in Beijing increased from about 2 million to 5 million.
4The other major cause of air pollution around Beijing is
burning coal. For years, most power plants there have burned
coal to produce electricity. Many people heat their homes during
the winter by burning coal, too. Unless coal smoke is specially
treated, it adds many pollutants to the air. China is starting to
take some steps toward reducing the pollution released by cars
and burning coal. But right now, blue sky days around Beijing
are few and far between.
1.
Why did Beijing issue a red alert in December 2015?
2.
What was one effect of the red alert?
3.
Find the major causes of air pollution around Beijing.

4.
Describe two general effects of air pollution in China.
___/6
63
Describe Problem-and-Solution Text Structure
Informational Text
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

The Civilian Conservation Corps

1In 1932, the U.S. economy was at its worst point in the
nations history. When the Great Depression began, millions of

people lost their jobs, their homes, and all the money they
had saved. People who wanted to work couldnt find jobs. Long
lines formed in cities across the country at soup kitchens
that offered free food. Many businesses and factories closed.
2When President Franklin Roosevelt took office in 1932, he
took many quick and dramatic steps to help the country

recover. The Civilian Conservation Corps, or CCC, was one of
his most successful ideas. It offered jobs to young men who
couldnt find work.
3From 1933 to 1942, more than 3,000,000 men worked on
public service projects for the CCC. They created more than
800 new parks and improved hundreds of state parks. They
planted an estimated 3 billion trees. They constructed buildings,
bridges, and roadways in many remote areas.
4The organization functioned a little bit like an army. Men
went away to camps where they lived and worked for six
months at a time. Most of the money they earned had to be
sent home to their families.
5The CCC helped solve many problems at once. Young men
with no jobs went to work. The projects they worked on were

things that needed to be done for the good of the land and
the American people. Workers paychecks helped families take
care of themselves. Businesses reopened and began to grow.
64
1.
What major problem did Americans face in 1932?

2.
What did President Roosevelt do to help solve these problems?
3.
What were the results of Roosevelt's efforts? Circle three

sentences that describe the results.
___/6
Describe Problem-and-Solution Text Structure
Informational Text
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Heating Our Homes

1In the 1970s, the costs of heating oil and electricity
skyrocketed in the United States. These higher prices caused

some serious problems. During the winters, many people could
not afford to heat their homes. They did not have enough
money to buy the heating oil or electricity they needed.
2The rising energy costs also revealed another problem.
Many older homes in places like New England were not very
efficient. Too much heat leaked out of the house through the
windows and through poorly insulated walls and attics. People
were wasting a lot of the energy they spent so much money
to buy. They were also hurting the environment by burning
more and more fuel.
3The U.S. government stepped in to help solve these
problems. In many places, the government offered financial

assistance to people who needed help buying heating oil for
their homes. The government also began passing laws that
required more energy-efficient building materials. Factories
began making better windows, for example. New windows had
double panes of glass to keep heat in and cold out.
4 Some government laws encouraged energy producers to
help their customers use less energy. Oil companies, for

example, began working with consumers to help them use
less oil. Many companies offered free professional inspections
of people's homes. Then they recommended the best ways to
make homes more energy efficient. These programs were good
for people and good for the environment.
1.
What is the main problem described in paragraph 1?

2.
What is the main problem described in paragraph 2?
3.
What did the government do to help solve these problems?

Underline three sentences that explain.
___/5
65

of Two or More Texts
Informational Text
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Passage 1:
Lacrosse
1Lacrosse is a team sport that was played by Native
American groups as early as the 1700s. But the Native

American version of lacrosse was rather different from
today's game.
2For Native Americans, lacrosse was played on a flat area
between two villages. One goal was placed in each village,

so the goals could be hundreds of yards or even miles
apart. A single game might have as many as 1,000 players,
and play lasted from sunup to sundown. The game was also
brutally rough, since one of its purposes was to prepare
young men for battle.
3The game of lacrosse played all over the United States
today is played on a field 110 yards long. Each team

has ten players on the field, and a game lasts up to 60
minutes. As in the Native American version, every player
carries a stick with netting on the end, and the aim is to
shoot a ball into the goal.
66

Informational Text
A
B
Passage 2:
The Olympic Games

1The first Olympic Games were held almost 3,000 years ago
in Greece, and they continued for about 600 years. After

Greece was conquered by Rome, the Olympics disappeared
until the late 1800s. A Frenchman organized the first
international summer Olympics in 1896. These games were
held in Athens, Greece. Athletes from fourteen nations took
part. The games have been held every four years since,
except during World War I and World War II.
2Women's events were added to the Olympics in 1900, and
the Winter Olympics began in 1924. Today, the games draw

athletes from more than 200 countries.
1.
What is the overall structure of Passage 1?
2.
3.
In what ways are Passage 1 and Passage 2 similar?
4.
How are these two passages different in structure?

___/4
67
A
B

Informational Text
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Passage 1:
Improving Cars Brakes

1If you are driving a car and want to stop, you press on the
brake. Years ago, pressing hard on the brake often caused the
wheels to lock. Then the car could skid out of control. A lot of
car accidents happened when a driver jammed on the brakes
and skidded off the road.
2Engineers worked hard to fix the problem. Over many years,
they developed antilock brakes. These brakes helped prevent

cars from skidding. Early Antilock Brake Systems (ABS) worked
on two wheels but not four. Later systems worked better
because they controlled all four wheels. Today, every car built
in the United States must have antilock brakes.
68

Informational Text
Passage 2:
Cars, Roads, and Suburbs

1In 1913, the number of cars in the United States totaled
just over 1 million. By 1933, there were more than 20 million.

This rapid increase in the number of automobiles had a
number of effects on life in the United States.
2First, the government built roads for cars to drive on. The
number of miles of paved roads doubled between 1914 and

1926. By the 1930s, 90 percent of Americans lived close to
a road. These roads helped farmers and businesses transport
products to markets faster and more cheaply.
3Second, automobiles and roads changed people's ways of
life. People could live farther from where they worked, so

they started moving out of the cities. The areas around cities
became suburbs, and people began commuting to and from
their jobs every day.
1.
2.
3.
In what ways are Passage 1 and Passage 2 similar?
4.
How are these two passages different in structure?

___/4
69
Compare and Contrast Two Accounts of the Same Event
Informational Text
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Passage 1:
From the Springfield Daily Newspaper

Sports Section
1Friday night, the hometown Lions took on the Wildcats of
Newbury. The two football teams were evenly matched, but

the Lions won on a spectacular final play. Lions quarterback
Jeff Washington threw a long pass that was batted in the air
twice before Henry Wilson came down with it for the winning
touchdown. The Lions won their fourth straight game, 21-14.
2The Wildcats were favored in the game but committed too
many mistakes. The Lions blocked a punt in the fourth quarter

that set up the final touchdown. Lions coach Mark Underwood
seemed just as excited as his players. We were the better
team, he said afterward. The kids really wanted it, and they
played hard. We can beat just about any team when we play
like we did tonight.
70
Informational Text
A
B
Passage 2:
From the Journal of Alexa D.,

Freshman at Newbury High
1I can't believe we lost the game Friday night! The players
were so frustrated. Our team was favored to win from the

very start, since we have a much better team. But somehow
the Lions pulled off a victory. I thought we played well enough
to win. But we let the other team block a punt late in the
game, and that made the difference.
2Oh, well, you can't win every game. But you can be sure
that we will beat the Lions next time!
1.
In what way are Passage 1 and Passage 2 similar?
2.
Who wrote Passage 1, and from what point of view?
3.
How does the writer's point of view in Passage 2 differ

from the point of view of Passage 1?
4.
Describe two main differences in these accounts of the

same event.
___/5
71
A
B
Informational Text
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Passage 1:
From the Beacon Newspaper

Local News Section
1For the tenth year in a row, a local group served a
special Thanksgiving meal to Beacon residents last week. For

about two hours, tables were filled at the high school gym.
Volunteers served food prepared by experienced chefs in the
kitchen. Dishes included traditional turkey and stuffing as well
as things like vegetable casserole and lasagna.
2The director of Food for All, Monica Jensen, proudly pointed
out the festive decorations and the huge table of desserts.

It's a great time of year to celebrate connections among
the people in our community. This year, it looks like we'll
serve nearly a thousand people. Food for All is a nonprofit
organization Jensen started after owning a restaurant for many
years. I saw some new people this year, she said, but many
of the same people work with me every year, and I love
seeing the folks who return every year for dinner.
72
Informational Text
Passage 2:
From the Journal of Jordan M.,

Seventh Grader
1My dad made me go with him the night before Thanksgiving
to help cook a huge meal. It was a lot more work than I

thought it would be, and I was tired when we got home. But
helping serve the meal the next day made it worthwhile. It
seemed like everyone was smilingthe people eating and the
workers, too.
2I was surprised at how many people we served and the
mixture of people. Some seemed like they knew everyone in

the room, but some others seemed new to the town. In the
end, everything worked out well.
1.
Name two ways Passage 1 and Passage 2 are similar.
2.
Who wrote Passage 1, and from what point of view?
3.
How is the writer's point of view in Passage 2 different from

the point of view of Passage 1?
4.
How are these two accounts different in the way they describe
the Thanksgiving meal?
___/5
73
Informational Text
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Passage 1:
From the Wayland Elementary School

Website
1Field Day was another rousing success and a fitting end to
a great school year. All the classes worked together to provide

lots of fun and friendly competition. It seemed that about
half of the school fell down laughing when Principal Hastings
danced around after winning the bag race.
2We want to thank all the parent volunteers who helped out
this year. The new face-painting booth was a great hit. We

hope it's back again next year.
3Above all, we hope everyone has a safe and happy summer.
That way, we'll all be ready when we start next fall!
74
Informational Text
A
B
Passage 2:
An E-Mail from Mrs. Stevenson,

the Parent of a Wayland Elementary Student
1I had a great time helping out at the school's Field Day.
The kids and the teachers all seemed to have a great time.
It also made me appreciate a little more what teachers do
every day. I was surrounded by more than a hundred kids, all
of them filled with energy and excitement. Helping them learn
and directing that energy in a positive way is a special skill.
Thanks to all of you.
Passage 3:
From the Journal of Max S.,

a Wayland Elementary Fifth Grader
1I really liked Field Day this year, but it was a little sad, too.
I know a lot of the teachers at Wayland Elementary, but I

wont see them next year when I go to middle school. Maybe
I can come back and visit one day. Our new principal was
really funny when she danced after winning the bag race. I
hope the principal at the middle school is as nice as she is.
1.
Name two things that all of these passages have in common.
2.
How is the point of view in Passages 2 and 3 different from the

point of view in Passage 1?
3.
How is the description of the event in Passage 3 different from

the accounts given in Passages 1 and 2?
4.
What is the intended audience for each passage?

___/5
75
A
B
Informational Text
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Passage 1:
Report by Officer Wilson

1When I got to the scene of the accident, Mr. Evanss car
was located in the middle of a large flower bed at 368

Cleveland St. The owner of the flower bed, Mrs. Green, was
very upset. She said she had planted these flowers more than
twenty years ago and now they were ruined.
2Mr. Evans said that a dog ran out from between two cars
on the left side of the street. He said he swerved to miss the

dog and veered into the flower bed. There was only one other
witness, Jamie Harris, twelve. She was fairly far away, near
the corner of Cleveland and Summer St. She didn't know if
there was a dog or not. She did hear Mr. Evans slam on the
brakes.
76
Informational Text
Passage 2:
Statement by Driver, Mr. Evans

1I was driving down Cleveland Street to get back to work
after lunch. Suddenly, a dog ran out from between two cars
on the left. I swerved to avoid the dog and ended up in a
beautiful flower garden. It was a big dog, maybe a black
Labrador. The dog ran off and disappeared around the corner. I
offered to help Mrs. Green plant new flowers, but she was too
upset right then to talk about it.
Passage 3:
Statement by Witness, Jamie Harris

1I was just coming out of my house at 302 Cleveland St.
when I heard tires screeching. When I looked that way, I

saw a car go right into the flower bed. I think I heard a
dog bark, but I didnt see a dog. I went down to see what
happened and talked to the police officer, who was very nice.
Maybe Ill help Mrs. Green plant new flowers. I always enjoy
her garden in the summer.
1.
Name two things that all three passages have in common.
2.
Describe the writer's point of view in each of these three

passages.
3.
Describe one difference between Officer Wilsons account

(Passage 1) and the statements in Passages 2 and 3.
___/4
77
Draw on Information from Multiple Print Sources
Informational Text
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Passage 1:
A Baseball Pitcher from Japan

1In September 1964, a twenty-year-old baseball pitcher
appeared in his first major league game. Two things made

his one inning on the mound remarkable. First, he had only
pitched in the lowest levels of the minor leagues before
that. Few players made such a big jump to get into the
major leagues. Second, Masanori Murakami was born in
Japan. He was the first Japanese baseball player to play in
the majors.
2Murakami said he was actually more nervous when he
pitched a big game in Japan than in his first big league

appearance in the United States. But it was still a bit
nerve-racking. In minor league games, about 400 people
watched. In New York that day, there were 40,000 fans.
3He played only a part of one more season in the United
States because of contract problems. But he treasured his

place in U.S. baseball history.
78
Informational Text
A
B
Passage 2:
Foreign-Born Baseball Players

1Each year in the spring, major league baseball teams
announce the players who will start the season for them. In
2015, more than a quarter of those major league players
were born outside the United States. They represented
seventeen different countries.
2Although it is a small country, the Dominican Republic had
the most players in the major leagues. Other than countries

in North and South America and the Caribbean Islands,
Japan had the most players. Nine Japanese players were
in the major leagues. There have been a total of fifty-four
Japanese players since 1964.
1.
Who was the first Japanese baseball player to play in the

major leagues?
2.
How long did that player play in the major leagues?
3.
Which countries are represented by players in the major leagues?
4.
Which country sent the most players to the major leagues in 2015?
___/4
79
A
B
Informational Text
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Passage 1:
The Size of Early Computers

1Searching for ways to solve math problems faster led people
to develop computers. The first computers were similar to

counting devices that have been used for more than 2,000
years. They used electricity to move counters that stood for
numbers. But the computers themselves were huge. One had a
shaft 50 feet long to move the counters.
2Even when early computers began to use memory devices,
they still took up a lot of space. In 1951, the U.S. government

began to use a computer to help keep track of the population
in the United States. It weighed 29,000 pounds.
80
Informational Text
Passage 2:
The Power of Modern Computers

1One of Americas great scientific accomplishments was
sending men to the moon and back in 1969. Scientists

designed and used advanced computer systems at space
flight headquarters. The spacecraft itself had a computer that
weighed about 70 pounds. These computers worked together to
guide the mission to a successful moon landing and return.
2Today, cell phones and other devices fit in your pocket.
They are much faster and more powerful than the 1969 space
computers. For example, cell phones that allow you to play
video games are more powerful than the space computer that
cost $3.5 million in 1969. They are about 26,000 times faster
than the space computers. They store more than 150 times as
much information, too.
1.
Underline one sentence in each passage that describes the size

of earlier computers.
2.
Circle a sentence in Passage 2 that shows the cost of early computers.
3.
How have computers changed since they were invented?

Write your answer using information from both passages.
___/4
81
Draw on Information from Multiple Digital Sources
Informational Text
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Dust Bowl Photos

1During the 1930s, a combination of bad weather and
bad farming methods created conditions that were known

as the Dust Bowl. Across the Great Plains of the United
States, dry soil was blown up into the air in massive dust
storms. Farmers couldn't plant crops, and many decided
to move their families west to try to start over. The U.S.
government hired photographers to take pictures during this
period. They wanted to document those hard times.
Dust Bowl History
Son of a Dust Bowl farmer
82
Traveling families make

a camp by the roadside.
1.
How are the subjects of these photos related?
2.
Based on these photos, describe the land during this period.
3.
How does the text in Dust Bowl Photos help you understand
the images?
4.
Which of the two pictures would you click on to find out more
about the families who moved to the west looking for work?
___/4
Draw on Information from Multiple Digital Sources
Informational Text
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

World War I Posters

1World War I began in Europe in 1914, but the United
States did not formally enter the war until 1917.

The U.S. Army and Navy were small at the time.
The government used posters like the ones below to
encourage people to join the military.
World War I Recruitment Posters
Doctors and nurses

were in great demand
during the war.
The young U.S. Navy

needed to recruit
sailors quickly.
The government
wanted young men
to enlist, or join, the
armed forces.
1.
What is the main message in all three of these posters?
2.
What is the main difference in these three posters?
3.
How did the text help you understand and appreciate the posters?
4.
Which image would you click on to learn more about women

in the armed forces?
___/4
83
Draw on Information from Multiple Print and Digital Sources
Informational Text
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Shenandoah National Park

1The National Park System was established in 1916. A lot of
work needed to be done before people could enjoy the new

parks. In some cases, the parks had no roads for visitors.
Conditions for workers in the parks were very harsh.
2One of the earliest national parks in the eastern United
States was Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, begun in

1926. Under a special program, the government paid workers
to build Skyline Drive in the park during the 1930s. It extends
along the peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It continues to
be one of the most popular roads in the National Park System.
3Today, Shenandoah National Park welcomes volunteers to
help maintain and improve the park. To keep the area as

natural as possible, some plants not native to the area need
to be removed. That's just one of many jobs that volunteers
do to keep Shenandoah
National Park a beautiful
Working for the Park!
natural area. Each year,
more than 1,000,000
people from all over the
world enjoy its many
wonders.
A Workers Camp in
Shenandoah National
Park, 1933
84
Volunteers Working in
Shenandoah National
Park, 2011
1.
Underline the sentence in the text that is illustrated by the

photo of the workers' camp.
2.
Circle the sentence in the text that explains why volunteers in

the photo are removing plants in 2011.
3.
What are two differences in the treatment of workers at the

park in 1933 and 2011?
___/4
Informational Text
Draw on Information from Multiple Print and Digital Sources
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Cuba
1Cuba is an island country in the Caribbean Sea. It lies about
90 miles south of Florida. Over the past 150 years, Cuba has
played an important part in U.S. history more than once.
2For more than two centuries, Cuba belonged to Spain. In the
1890s, the United States wanted to buy Cuba from Spain, but
Spain refused. So the United States sent a warship to Cuba
in 1898 to show its power and try to make Spain change its
mind. That warship was the USS Maine. It sailed into Havana
Harbor in February and dropped anchor. Soon afterward, the
Maine exploded and sank into the sea.
3No one ever knew for sure what
happened. Some people wondered if

Americans blew up their own ship in
order to start a war. Others accused
Spain of attacking the ship. Either way,
Americans got upset and declared war.
The war did not last long, and the
United States eventually took control
of Cuba.
Front page of The World

newspaper, 1898
1.
Why did the United States send a warship to Cuba in 1898?
2.
Circle the sentence in the passage that is illustrated by the image.
3.
According to the newspaper headline, what happened to the Maine?
4.
Give two reasons why some Americans wanted a war with

Spain in 1898.
___/5
85
Explain How an Author Uses Reasons to Support Points
Informational Text
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Abraham Lincoln and The Gettysburg Address

1President Abraham Lincoln was invited to make a short
speech at the dedication of a new cemetery at Gettysburg

in 1863. It was the site of an important Civil War battle,
and the ceremony would be solemn. Thousands of soldiers
had died there.
2Lincoln was not supposed to be the most important
speaker that day. Edward Everett was a popular orator from

Massachusetts. He had sometimes spoken to audiences of
thousands who cheered and clapped for hours as he spoke. It
was natural that he was invited to be the key speaker.
3Everett worked on his speech for several months. He and
others thought his speech would be so good that schoolchildren

would memorize parts of it. He spoke for about two hours
before Lincoln took the stage. People interrupted Everett with
applause many times.
4Lincoln's speech lasted only a few minutes. In it, he made
one statement that turned out to be inaccurate: The world

will little note, nor long remember what we say here. . . .
5Lincoln's Gettysburg Address was one of the most
important speeches in American history. It is often reprinted in

textbooks. Many generations of Americans have been required
to memorize every word in school. The speech was only 270
words long, but those words changed the world.
1.
Underline two sentences that support the writer's point that Edward
Everett was supposed to be the key speaker at the ceremony.
2.
Circle two sentences in the passage that support the writer's claim that
Lincoln made an inaccurate statement in his speech.
3.
What reason does the author give to support the idea that
the ceremony at Gettysburg would be solemn?
___/5
86
Informational Text
Explain How an Author Uses Reasons to Support Points
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

The Roaring Twenties

1People often refer to the 1920s as the Roaring Twenties.
But why did they choose that name? At the time, many parts
of American life were changing fast and in surprising ways.
People felt that life was roaring along.
2On the international stage, World War I had just ended in
1918. The war years were hard on everyone, and the United
States had helped win the war. American soldiers came home.
For the first time, the United States was a world power. Its
economy boomed.
3 On the home front, American companies grew stronger. For
some people, this meant having much more money to spend.

As the economy grew, many people made large fortunes. And,
after so many years of war, people wanted to have fun.
4American culture changed quickly, too. Men and women spent
more time going out for dinner, movies, and entertainment.

New types of music became popular, and young people
invented new ways to dance to it. Both men and women
adopted bold new fashions and lifestyles. Automobiles were
produced at a record rate, and many more people could afford
to buy them.
5All of these changes made the 1920s a memorable decade.
It was a time when everything seemed to be changing at

once.
1.
Circle the writers main point about the 1920s in the first paragraph.
2.
Underline two sentences in paragraph 2 that support the writer's

main point.
3.
How did a growing economy help bring about change in the 1920s?
4.
Underline two sentences in paragraph 4 that support the idea

that women's lives were changing in the 1920s.
___/6
87
Explain How an Author Uses Evidence to Support Points
Informational Text
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

Faces on Our Money

1Since the time of ancient Rome, many governments have
put pictures of people's faces on their money. Julius Caesar

appeared on Roman coins, for example, and Emperor Napoleon
appeared on French coins and bills. We have followed this
custom in the United States. Ben Franklin appears on the
$100 bill, for example, and Abraham Lincoln appears on the
$5 bill.
currency though. This restriction began with George


ever since even though the design of the bill has changed
many times.
4The U.S. Treasury recently proclaimed that a new $10
bill will be issued in 2020. It will feature a woman's face

along with the person currently on the bill, Alexander
Hamilton. She will be the first woman to appear on a U.S.
paper bill since Martha Washington briefly appeared on a $1
note in the 1890s.
88
1.
The passage says that many governments have put pictures of

people's faces on their money. Underline two sentences in the
passage that give evidence to support this statement.
2.
What evidence does the writer present in paragraph 2 to

support the idea that living people are never pictured on
American money?
3.
According to the passage, who will appear on the new $10 bill?
4.
What evidence in the passage shows that a woman's picture

once appeared on an American $1 bill? Circle the sentence.
___/5
Informational Text
Explain How an Author Uses Evidence to Support Points
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

The Pyramids of Egypt

1For a long time, people have marveled at the Great
Pyramids in Egypt. They were built thousands of years ago

when people had few tools. They are gigantic structures in
the middle of the desert. They are made of huge stones
not found anywhere nearby. But why were they built? Some
people guessed that they were built for religious reasons. But
in recent years, scientists have decided that the pyramids
were built as tombs for Egypt's great rulers.
2One reason for this belief is that the inner walls of the
pyramids contain messages. Scientists can now translate the

ancient Egyptian picture language written there. The Egyptian
people at the time believed that their rulers could move on
to a different life after they died. The messages on the inside
of the pyramids explained what needed to be done so that a
great ruler's soul could live on.
3Many things associated with burials have been discovered
inside the pyramids, too. Even though many of the pyramids

had been entered and robbed years before, much fine jewelry
remained. Jewelry has long been associated with tombs in
other areas of Egypt. Scientists have also found parts of
mummies buried there.
4There are many other smaller pyramids found in nearby
areas of Africa. These were all used as tombs. So it seems

clear that the Great Pyramids were built as tombs for the
rulers of ancient Egypt.
1.
Circle the writer's main point about the Great Pyramids in the
first paragraph.
2.
What evidence did scientists find using Egyptian picture language?
3.
Describe two kinds of evidence found inside the pyramids

that support the scientists' theory.
4.
How did other pyramids in Africa help influence scientists?
___/5
89
Integrate Information from Several Texts on a Topic
Informational Text
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

The U.S. Against Illegal Logging

1The U.S. government passed a new law in 2008. It prevents
companies from buying illegally produced wood. To import rare
wood, American companies must find out where it was cut
down. They also must be sure that local laws were followed.
2Guitars, mandolins, and other wooden musical instruments
use a very small percentage of the wood imported into the
United States each year. But creating these special instruments
involved using rare types of wood. Much of this wood comes
from trees cut down illegally.
3In 2012, the U.S. government seized wood from a guitar
manufacturer. The wood had been logged illegally in India.
Today, instrument makers are more careful buying imported
wood. One company bought a sawmill in Africa so that it could
be sure the wood was produced legally. Another company has
been experimenting with new types of wood for instruments.
Struggling to Protect Endangered Forests

1Special furniture and flooring are made from trees found in
rainforests. Logging these trees often hurts the environment.
So countries have passed laws that help protect endangered
forest areas. But destructive logging continues. U.S. companies
and others are still willing to pay high prices for rare woods.
Until recently, there were no laws to prevent companies from
buying rare wood, even if loggers broke laws in producing it.
90
1.
Using information from both passages, name four things

that are made with rare woods.
2.
Why did some countries pass laws to prevent the logging of rare trees?
3.
What was the purpose of the U.S. law passed in 2008?
4.
Underline two sentences describing things that companies

are doing to reduce the use of illegal rare woods.
___/8
Integrate Information from Several Texts on a Topic
Informational Text
Name ________________________________ Date ___________________

U.S. Constitution,
Fifteenth Amendment (1870)
The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied
or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race,
color, or previous condition of servitude.
Women and The Right to Vote

1U.S. voting laws have continued to change since the country
began. In early years, women could not vote. Women fought
for voting rights for many decades. Finally, in 1920, the
Nineteenth Amendment changed that.
2In the first presidential election after the amendment passed,
10 million more people were eligible to vote. This was the
largest increase in eligible voters in history. People running for
office started to think about what women voters wanted.
Women and Voting

1Today, women represent the largest and most powerful group
of voters in presidential elections. About 51 percent of all
Americans are women, and many of them vote. For example,
in the 2012 presidential election, about 64 percent of eligible
women voted compared to about 60 percent of men. Women
cast about 10 million more votes than men in that election.
1.
How did the Fifteenth Amendment change who could vote?
2.
Who gained the right to vote 50 years after the Fifteenth Amendment?
3.
Circle a sentence in the second passage that explains why the

Nineteenth Amendment was so important.
4.
How do women voters affect presidential elections today?

___/5
91
Literature
Support Explanations with Accurate Quotations A (page 2)
1. (two points) Grady and his family lived in southern California,
so he had never experienced a real winter.
He had complained about this so much that his parents planned
a family trip to Icehotel.
2. (three points) Sample answers:

huge ice slab

Giant dragon eggs carved out of ice

23 degrees in here
3. It opens in December, and by April it is gone as the ice melts
and flows back into the Torne River.
Answer Key
Grade 5 Answer Key
Support Explanations with Accurate Quotations B (page 3)

1. (two points) Garrett was confident that he was going to win.
Garrett was sure he had found the animal with the most
unusual defense mechanism of all.
2. Sea cucumber; it lets out sticky poison.
3. Of course, Garrett was disappointed he didnt win.
Support Inferences with Accurate Quotations A (page 4)
1. Mrs. Collier is worried about the plants in her garden.
2. I dont want to neglect all my plants, Mrs. Collier sighed.
3. Roxanne felt good about working for Mrs. Collier and knew it was
the right thing to do. She was also glad to make some money.
4. (two points) I knew that lending a hand was the right thing
to do.

That was even better.
Support Inferences with Accurate Quotations B (page 5)
1. Crocker is usually calm and quiet.
2. (two points) Crocker almost never barks.
Usually, when everyone headed out in the mornings, Crocker
settled himself in the window seat for a long nap.
3. Eric is sensitive and observant, and understands there is a
reason why Crocker is barking. He also wants to help.
4. But, Dad, said Eric, I heard something under there. Maybe
thats why Crocker is acting weird.
93
Answer Key
Determine Theme A (page 6)

1. Sample answers: Be kind and generous to strangers. Kindness
will be rewarded.
2. But we would like to reward you for your kindness and
hospitality.
3. (three points) We are very poor, said Baucis with a sad smile,
but we are happy to share what little we have.
They also offered their guests shelter for the night.
No one else has been so gracious or generous, said Jupiter,
and they will all be punished.
Determine Theme B (page 7)
1. Sample answers: Life is always changing. Nothing stays the
same.
2. And now that I remember, / seems like nothing stays the
same.
3. (three points) The puppy changed when it grew up into a dog.

The seasons keep changing.

The speaker has outgrown a favorite toy.
Summarize Text A (page 8)
1. When Dale tries to make cupcakes, he does it wrong and his
sister has to help him.
2. (three points) So he would bake them himselfhow hard could
it be?
Oh, it was supposed to be a cup of water and a teaspoon of
salt.
Not to worry, said Julie. Weve got another box, and this time
well do it together.
3. (2 points for an accurate summary of 35 sentences; 1 point for
a partial summary)
Dale offers to bring cupcakes to his soccer teams bake sale, but
his mother and sister are too busy to bake them. Dale decides to
make them himself, but he puts in too much salt and ruins the
batter. His sister offers to help Dale make another batch.
94
Answer Key
Summarize Text B (page 9)

1. When Jonass camping trip is canceled, Dad suggests camping in
their backyard.

Jonas was so excited, hed been up since dawn.
Finally, Dad emerged from the house. Um, guys, Im afraid I
have some bad news.
The boys gaped at him again. You mean, we could camp out
here?
a partial summary)
Jonas and his two friends are all packed for their nature clubs
camping trip, but Dad announces some bad news. Due to
wildfires, the nature preserve has been closed, and their trip has
been canceled. Seeing the boys disappointment, Dad invites the
three of them to camp overnight in his familys backyard.
Describe Characters, Setting, and Events A (page 10)
1. Jenna and Adrian
2. The setting is a spaceship approaching a planet named
Epsilon 9.
3. (two points) Sample answers:
From the spaceship, Epsilon 9 looked like a large, orange-red
sphere.
Jenna watched from a viewing deck, relieved that the long
voyage would soon be over.
Jenna could see weird rock formations, jagged canyons, and
towering cliffs.
4. An unknown problem occurs during the approach, and everyone
has to strap in for a rough ride or crash landing.
Describe Characters, Setting, and Events B (page 11)
1. Ani, the dragons friend and rider; Dahlia, the dragon; Lord
Volio, the villain
2. long ago, in a village; in a fantasy world
3. For decades, Lord Volios men have been stealing your livestock
and your land, and to turn attention away from his own deeds,
he has cast the blame on me.
4. The villagers realize that Dahlia is telling the truth, and they go
to confront Lord Volio.
95
Answer Key
Compare and Contrast Characters A (page 12)

1. (two points) She was always tinkering with something.
When Naomi told him she just wanted to help provide people
2. If you figure this out, Naomi, we could be rich, and maybe live
in one of those inland homes.
3. Both Sean and Naomi want to get fresh water.
4. Sean doesnt try to solve the problem; he thinks first about
himself. Naomi tries to find a solution to the problem; she thinks
about others.
Compare and Contrast Characters B (page 13)
1. So he would bake them himselfhow hard could it be?
2. (two points) Rolling her eyes, Julie rose from the table and
showed him how to set the temperature.
Not to worry, said Julie. Weve got another box, and this time
well do it together.
3. Dale and Julie are both in their kitchen working on their projects.
Also, both try to help others.
4. Julie doesnt want to supervise Dale, but she knows how to
bake. Dale wants to do things himself, but he is not very good at
it.
Compare and Contrast Settings A (page 14)
1. (two points) Inside Leons school during the school day; in the
rooftop garden on top of the school after Leons school day is
over.
2. Both settings are at Leons school and during the day.
3. (two points) In the school, the setting is loud, crowded, and
filled with artificial light; the rooftop garden is peaceful, quiet,
and sunny.
Compare and Contrast Settings B (page 15)
1. (two points) Jillians neighborhood in 1932; Jillians
neighborhood in the present day.
2. (two points) Both settings are the same location and both
include Jillians house.
3. (two points) Each setting is at a different time in history. In 1932
there was a drought and there were few houses, but the setting
in the present day is green and full of trees and new houses.
96
Answer Key
Compare and Contrast Events A (page 16)

1. Ian and his mother are on a ferry going to Beacons Isle.
2. (two points) The ferry and the fishing boat take Ian and his
mother across the same body of water. Ian watches the water on
both rides.
3. (two points) Ian sits inside the ferry where he is warm and dry,
but on the fishing boat he has to sit outside where he gets cold
and wet. There is food on the ferry but not on the fishing boat.
4. Ian preferred the ferry ride out to the island. It was a smooth
ride, and he enjoyed a hot chocolate. The fishing boat was
uncomfortable, and it made him feel sick.
Compare and Contrast Events B (page 17)
1. (two points) Alissa sees street performers and then a
performance in a theater.
2. (two points) The performances happen in the same city, on the
same night. The performances both involve performers dancing
to music. Also, people applaud at each performance.
3. (two points) The street performance has a juggler on a unicycle,
there is no stage, and the music comes from a radio. The theater
performance features ballerinas, it is on a stage, and the music
is live.
Determine the Meanings of Words and Phrases A (page 18)
(eight points, two points each)
unique: one of a kind / most unusual defense mechanism
mechanism: system or process / way of protecting itself
internal: located inside / push . . . organs out of its skin
tallied: counted up / graphing the results
Determine the Meanings of Words and Phrases B (page 19)
scheming: sneaky; underhanded; dishonest / trying to blame me
for his thievery
abruptly: suddenly / dropped
cringing: stooping in fear / behind his knights
confront: challenge by coming face to face with / turned to; who
was trying to slip away
97
Answer Key
Determine the Meanings of Similes A (page 20)

like students waiting outside the principals office: looking guilty or
nervous, waiting to be punished
as proud of that actor as a father looking down at his newborn son:
as proud as can be
sing like canaries: confess and tell the whole story
like a pirate looking for buried treasure: persistent and determined;
not giving up
Determine the Meanings of Similes B (page 21)
pounding like a drum: Fenns heart is beating fast because she is
nervous.
like a wild roller-coaster ride: The past week had a lot of ups and
downs; there were really good moments and really bad moments.
like she was on top of the world: Fenn felt like she was the best, like
she had conquered and won.
like she had been born for this one moment: Fenn feels confident,
ready to perform.
Determine the Meanings of Metaphors A (page 22)
a whirlwind of activity: a lot of things going on
the starting gun: the signal its time to start
a carnival funhouse: filled with surprises but entertaining
the bugle call: the signal to act
Determine the Meanings of Metaphors B (page 23)
a sword: something able to cut or break through
a sea of doubt: lack of belief in himself; lack of confidence
a lightbulb went on: He came up with a great idea.
climbed the mountain and finally reached the top: worked hard and
finally achieved his goal
Analyze Story Structure A (page 24)
1. Mom asks if Crocker is barking.
2. (two points) Bridget checks on Crocker. Eric slides under the car.
3. Dad finds a kitten under the car.
4. Crocker and the family rescue the kitten.
98
Answer Key
Analyze Story Structure B (page 25)

1. Jupiter decides to test his people and see how hospitable they
are, so he and Mercury dress as poor peasants and wander
through the land.
2. People everywhere turn them away and are rude and
inhospitable.
3. Jupiter and Mercury go to the home of Baucis and Philemon, and
they are welcomed there.
4. Jupiter and Mercury reveal themselves as gods and grant Baucis
and Philemon a wish.
5. Baucis and Philemon are granted their wish, and they are turned
into trees growing together.
Describe How Point of View Influences Descriptions of
Events A (page 26)
1. Third person, from Jennas point of view
2. The events are described as they happen to Jenna, telling what
she sees and hears.
Jenna watched from a viewing deck, relieved that the long
voyage would soon be over.

Were actually going to be there soon, she whispered.
This cant be good, said Adrian, catching Jennas arm before
she could fall.
Describe How Point of View Influences Descriptions of
Events B (page 27)
1. First person, from Roxannes point of view
2. The reader sees events through Roxannes eyes and knows what
she is thinking.

I knew that lending a hand was the right thing to do.
I was glad Id worn jeans to protect my knees and a baseball
cap to shade my eyes.
When I tried stretching, I realized that every muscle in my body
was aching.
99
Answer Key
Analyze How Visual Elements Contribute to Meaning A

(page 28)
Sample answers:
1. (two points) Sample answer: It is sunken in the ground, and the
two rows of seating.
2. The doll looks very serious and magical. Seeing the picture makes
it easy to understand how moved Serena was and how she could
imagine hearing the men chanting.
Analyze How Visual Elements Contribute to Meaning B
(page 29)
Sample answers:
1. The map shows that Chichen Itza is on the Yucatan Peninsula in
Mexico. It is near the Caribbean Sea.
2. (two points) It looks like a pyramid. There is an entrance at the
top. There are steps on all four sides.
3. The picture helps the reader understand why Enrique is fascinated
by the temple. It makes Chichen Itza seem fascinating.
Analyze How Multimedia Elements Contribute to Meaning A
(page 30)
I can see how people dressed in the time of the Civil War.
I can see how the men looked while they argued. This makes
the story more dramatic.
2. Students should circle the pointing finger.
3. The words that the characters stress and say louder are in
larger type.
Analyze How Multimedia Elements Contribute to Meaning B
(page 31)
I can see how people dressed in medieval times and also how
terrible it must have been to live in a time of plague. The dead
bodies in the first panel are frightening. The second and third
panels really give me a sense on the mother trying to win over all
the other townsfolk.
2. The food baskets all look nearly empty.
3. I see the mother has her arms spread as she talks. This gesture
shows that she is appealing to the others and trying to convince
them. The men look upset and angry, as if they disagree with
what she is saying.
100
Answer Key
Compare and Contrast Stories A (page 32)

1. Both of these stories take place in a fantasy world, in a village.
2. In Water World, the village is in the sea. In The Peaceful
Dragon, the village is in a farming area.
3. Both Dahlia and Naomi look for a solution to their problem.
4. Sample answers:
It is best to face a problem head on.
It is better to confront lies than to hide from them.
Dont believe everything you hear.
5. Both Water World and A Peaceful Dragon suggest that it is
good to face problems and try to solve them. Water World also
suggests that we should try to work together and help others,
not just worry about ourselves.
Compare and Contrast Stories B (page 34)
1. Both take place on spaceships, or in space, in an imaginary
future world.
2. In Final Approach, the spaceship is approaching the planet
Epsilon 9 but has not landed. In A Wise Idea, the spaceship
has landed on Earth.
3. (two points) In Final Approach, the characters want to land and
settle on Epsilon 9 but run into a problem. In A Wise Idea, the
characters successfully land on Earth, but they dont want to be
there.
4. We must overcome difficult challenges to reach our goals.
5. In both stories, people on a spaceship must overcome difficult
challenges. In A Wise Idea, the characters try to make the best
of a difficult situation while facing an obstacle.
Informational Text
Quote Accurately to Explain Text A (page 36)
1. The government had enormous debt from the Revolutionary War.
2. Hamilton wanted the federal government to assume
responsibility for all of the debt.
3. (two points) They had already paid off most of their debts.
New taxes collected from them would be used to pay off the
debts of Northern states, and they felt that this would be unfair.
4. He promised that the new capital would be in the South.
101
Answer Key
Quote Accurately to Explain Text B (page 37)

1. Today, scientists study bristlecone pines to see what the
environment was like long ago.
2. The rangers want to protect the tree from people who might
damage it or cut it down.
3. Bristlecone pine trees grow best in harsh environments at high
elevations.
4. (two points) For example, the trees wood is filled with resin, an
oily substance that prevents the tree from drying out.
As a result, the trees can save energy that would be needed
to make new needles.

Quote Accurately to Support Inferences A (page 38)
1. (two points) One reason Missouri has so many caves is the type
of limestone rock that lies beneath the soil.
Over many years, the acidic water eats through the weakest
layers of rock to form passages and caves.
2. (two points) There are fish living in the springs, and some of the
springs are long and deep.
3. Some of the creatures have very small eyes or no eyes at all.
4. These animals have never been exposed to sunshine.
Quote Accurately to Support Inferences B (page 39)
1. All of the people were important leaders, and all of them are dead.
2. Julius Caesar appeared on Roman coins, for example, and
Emperor Napoleon appeared on French coins and bills.
3. Paper $1 bills were first used in 1862, but George Washington did
not appear on them until 1869. In addition, the design of the bill
has changed many times.
4. She will be the first woman to appear on a U.S. paper bill since
Martha Washington briefly appeared on a $1 note in the 1890s.
Determine Two or More Main Ideas in a Text A (page 40)
1. A person can survive for a long time without food but only a few
days without water.
2. But surviving and being healthy are two different things.
3. To have a better idea of how much food you need to survive for
a year, you can imagine being on Mars with about 450 pounds of
food.
4. We can survive on small amounts of food and water, but we need
certain kinds of food and adequate amounts of food and water to
be active and healthy.
102
Answer Key
Determine Two or More Main Ideas in a Text B (page 41)

1. Like people, animals that live in the desert must maintain a
fairly constant body temperature.
2. Some animals have adapted by living underground during the
day and then coming out at night.
3. Other desert animals have special ways to cool their bodies by
releasing body heat into the air.
4. Animals that live in the desert have adapted in a variety of ways
to survive.
Explain How Key Details Support the Main Ideas of a Text A
(page 42)
1. In recent years, some unique games from Scotland have
become popular in America.
2. (two points) Today, these games are called Scottish Heavy
Events and have formal rules. / People who have connections
to Scotland hold celebrations and competitions regularly.
3. (two points) Some of the Scottish events are like American
track-and-field eventsone is like the shot put, and another
involves throwing something called a hammer.
4. Contestants wear traditional Scottish kilts.
Explain How Key Details Support the Main Ideas of a Text B

(page 43)
1. For the people of Chinaand for many Chinese Americans,
tooNew Years is the most important holiday of the year.
2. (two points) It is the beginning of the Spring Festival, a
weeklong holiday. / All over China, people return to their
family homes for the celebration.
3. The tradition of going to the husbands family home is changing.
4. (two points) Chinese New Years wishes include a wish for good
luck, and red is sometimes worn because it is considered a lucky
color.
103
Answer Key
Summarize A (page 44)

1. Paragraph 1: When a railroad line connecting the East and
West Coasts of the United States was finished in 1869, people
celebrated across the country.
Paragraph 2: That was the place where the eastern and western
railroad lines finally met.

Paragraph 3: Either way could take four months or more!
Paragraph 4: In a way, connecting the railroad lines was like
increasing the size of the United States.
a partial summary)
The railroad connecting the East and West Coasts of the United
States had a huge impact on the lives of the early settlers.
Traveling by train was easier and faster than traveling by ship
or wagon train. Food and supplies could also be shipped from
coast to coast faster than before. The railroad gave people
more choices of where they could settle by making more of the
country accessible.
Summarize B (page 45)
1. Paragraph 1: Both sides fought bravely, but the North had
several military advantages from the very start.
Paragraph 2: Throughout the early 1800s, the North had
changed from an economy based on farming to one that relied
on industries.
Paragraph 3: But it wasnt prepared to produce the supplies this
army needed.
Paragraph 4: One reason was the difference in the land itself.
a partial summary)
During the Civil War, the North had several military advantages
over the South. The North had factories that produced important
materials, such as iron and steel. These factories were able to
provide an army with the necessary equipment. The South was
at a disadvantage because the people were mostly farmers. They
had plenty of farming equipment and grew a lot of cotton, but
they were not able to produce enough supplies for their army.
104
Answer Key
Explain the Relationship Between Two Aspects of a Historical

Text A (page 46)
1. In 1754, both France and Great Britain wanted to control North
America.
2. (two points) The British did not know the land as well as the
French did.
Also, many Native American groups in the area supported the
French.
3. A British general named William Pitt captured Fort Duquesne and
renamed it Fort Pitt. The name was later changed to Pittsburgh
when the site became a city.
4. The British had a huge debt and decided to make the American
colonists pay for it through taxes. This angered the colonists and
eventually led to the American Revolution.
Explain the Relationship Between Two Aspects of a Historical
Text B (page 47)
1. It offered jobs to young men who couldnt find work.
2. (three points) They created more than 800 new parks and
improved hundreds of state parks.

They planted an estimated 3 billion trees.
They constructed buildings, bridges, and roadways in many
remote areas.
3. The CCC provided jobs and income to many people, which
helped businesses reopen and grow.
4. The CCC provided workers with income that helped support the
workers families.
Explain the Relationship Between Two Aspects of a Scientific

Text A (page 48)
1. (two points) If the weather is bad that day, the trip to the park
will be canceled.
If youre visiting your grandparents and its a beautiful day, you
might wish you were at the park.
2. Weather conditions and weather patterns can change without
warning.
3. The National Weather Service helps provide weather data,
forecasts, and warnings to people and businesses.
4. Next-day forecasts tend to be the most accurate.
105
Answer Key
Explain the Relationship Between Two Aspects of a Scientific

Text B (page 49)
1. (two points) Many trees in the mountains were dying.
The fish in some remote lakes were dying, too.
2. (two points) Statues made of bronze and marble were
beginning to wear away.
The paint on cars showed spots and other damage.
3. Power plants and factories produced smoke containing sulfur,
which mixed with water in the air.
4. Congress enacted the Clean Air Act, which reduced the amount
of sulfur in factory smoke.
Explain the Relationship Between Two Aspects of a Technical
Text A (page 50)
1. (two points) Riding a bicycle is a good way to travel from one
place to another.
Its a great way to exercise and enjoy time with friends, too.
2. (two points) It is important that bike tires are inflated properly
to keep the rider balanced. They should also have good treads to
prevent skidding.
3. If your brakes use hand levers, check them to see that the
cables are working smoothly and that the brake pads hit the
rims and not the tires.
4. It is important to check the chain to make sure it has the right
tension so it wont loosen or fall off.
Explain the Relationship Between Two Aspects of a Technical
Text B (page 51)
1. Now, the system has thirty-one satellites traveling around Earth
in different orbits.
2. (two points) The satellites send out regular signals that travel
very fast. / These signals include information about the
positions of the satellites and the exact time.
3. People use GPS to help them navigate when traveling.
4. You can create a model showing how GPS works by using chalk
circles, one centered on your location and the other three on
different sides of you, centered 3, 5, and 7 feet away from the
original spot.
106
Answer Key
Determine the Meaning of General Academic Vocabulary A

(page 52)
(eight points, two points each) establish: create; start / new
government
obtained: acquired; gotten / borrowed money
assume: take on / for paying all
opposed: argued against; disagreed with / favored (antonym)
Determine the Meaning of General Academic Vocabulary B
(page 53)
(eight points, two points each) average: normal / we
consume: use up / After not eating, stored
minimum: at least; the least amount needed / certain amount of
calories
essential: necessary; important / need to survive
Determine the Meaning of Social Studies Vocabulary A

(page 54)
(eight points, two points each) custom: tradition / We have
followed
currency: money / coins and bills
restriction: limitation / refused to have
proclaimed: announced / will be issued
Determine the Meaning of Social Studies Vocabulary B
(page 55)
(eight points, two points each) advantages: favorable factors;
benefits / Both sides fought bravely, but the North
industries: businesses that make products / iron and steel;
clothing and shoes
manufacture: make, build / produce the supplies
agricultural: related to farming / main crop was cotton
Determine the Meaning of Science Vocabulary A (page 56)
(eight points, two points each) resemble: look like / a foxs busy
tail
moderate: in the middle, not extreme / sheltered in a valley
calculated: determined by using math / age of the tree
conifers: trees that have needle-like leaves/ their needles, new
needles
107
Answer Key
Determine the Meaning of Science Vocabulary B (page 57)

(eight points, two points each) dehydration: loss of water / dry
maintain: keep; continue to have / fairly constant
nocturnal: active at night / When the sun begins to set
expel: get rid of / releasing body heat into the air
Describe Chronological Text Structure A (page 58)
1. Elias Howe, inventor of the sewing machine, took out a patent
in 1851 for a device he called an automatic continuous clothing
closure.
2. around 1891
3. In 1913, an employee of Judsons named Gideon Sundback
improved on the closure.
4. B. F. Goodrich put these fasteners in galoshes and called the
galoshes zippers.
Describe Chronological Text Structure B (page 59)
1. Her father died when she was just nine.
2. She went to Princeton University.
3. She worked as a prosecutor in New York City.
4. (two points) Six years later, President Clinton appointed her to
a higher court.
Then, in 2009, Sonia Sotomayor became the first Latina
Supreme Court Justice in U.S. history.
Describe Comparison Text Structure A (page 60)
1. (three points) Birds breathe air, as people do, while fish get
oxygen from water.

Birds raise their young, but fish do not.

Birds have feathers; fish have scales.
2. (two points) Both birds and fish are vertebrates, meaning that
they have backbones.

They have tails, eyes, and mouths.
3. They swim, dive, and spend quite a bit of time under water.
108
Answer Key
Describe Comparison Text Structure B (page 61)

1. That year, thirty Dutch families settled on the lower end of
Manhattan Island to trade in furs.
2. The explorers chose a site where they would build a church
called the Mission San Francisco de Asis.
3. (two points) Sample answers: New York was settled by fur
traders, but San Francisco was settled by farmers. New York was
settled much earlier than San Francisco.
4. (two points) But both cities serve as important ports.
Both played important roles in the growth of the United States,
and both are important financial centers today.
Describe Cause-and-Effect Text Structure A (page 62)
1. The hottest temperature on Earth was recorded there, and it is
also the driest place in the United States.
2. The main reason is that Death Valley is surrounded by steep
mountain ranges.
3. (two points) The mountain ranges prevent moist air from
reaching Death Valley, and they also trap the hot air in the valley.
Describe Cause-and-Effect Text Structure B (page 63)

1. The air was extremely polluted and unhealthy.
2. Many schools and businesses closed.
3. (two points) One is a rapid increase in the number of cars and
trucks.
The other major cause of air pollution around Beijing is burning
coal.
4. (two points) Because of air pollution, the sky is usually gray and
hazy, and the air is often unhealthy to breathe.
Describe Problem-and-Solution Text Structure A (page 64)
1. (two points) When the Great Depression began, millions of
people lost their jobs, their homes, and all the money they had
saved.

People who wanted to work couldnt find jobs.
2. President Roosevelt created the Civilian Conservation Corps.
3. (three points) The projects they worked on were things that
needed to be done for the good of the land and the American
people. Workers paychecks helped families take care of
themselves. Businesses reopened and began to grow.
109
Answer Key
Describe Problem-and-Solution Text Structure B (page 65)

1. In the 1970s, the costs of heating oil and electricity skyrocketed in the
United States.
2. Many older homes were not efficient, so people were wasting fuel and
money.
3. (three points) In many places, the government offered financial
assistance to people who needed help buying heating oil for their
homes.
The government also began passing laws that required more energyefficient building materials.
Some government laws encouraged energy producers to help their
customers use less energy.
Compare and Contrast the Overall Structure of Two or More Texts A
(page 66)
1. Passage 1 compares lacrosse as it was played in the past by Native
Americans to how it is played today.
2. Passage 2 describes the history of the Olympics in chronological order.
3. Both passages describe how a sporting event began and how it has
changed.
4. Passage 1 is a comparison of the past form of a game with todays
version of the game, while Passage 2 provides a chronological summary
of the history of the Olympic Games.
Compare and Contrast the Overall Structure of Two or More Texts B
(page 68)
1. Passage 1 explains a problem with cars and how it was solved.
2. Passage 2 explains the effects of an increase in the number of cars.
3. Both passages describe changes related to cars and explain how these
changes came about.
4. Passage 1 uses a problem-solution structure; Passage 2 explains causes
and effects.
Compare and Contrast Two Accounts of the Same Event A (page 70)
1. The passages describe the same football game.
2. A journalist wrote Passage 1 from a third person point of view.
3. Passage 2 is written in first person by a student who was at the game.
4. (two points) Sample answers: Passage 1 says the teams were evenly
matched, but Passage 2 says the Wildcats were much better. Passage 1
gives factual details about the game; Passage 2 expresses opinions and
feelings about the game.
110
Answer Key
Compare and Contrast Two Accounts of the Same Event B

(page 72)
1. (two points) The passages are discussing the same Thanksgiving
meal. Both passages mention the large number of people who
attended the meal.
2. A journalist wrote Passage 1 in the third person point of view.
3. Passage 2 is written in the first person by someone who helped
prepare and serve the meal.
4. Passage 1 describes the event and how it helps the community.
Passage 2 describes preparing for and serving the meal, and it
shows the writers feelings about the event.
Analyze Multiple Accounts of the Same Event A (page 74)
1. (two points) All the passages are about Field Day at the same
school, and they all talk about how much fun the event was.
2. Passages 2 and 3 are written in the first person, but Passage 1 is
written from a third person point of view.
3. Passage 3 focuses on Maxs thoughts and feelings, and he notes
that the day was a little sad. Passages 1 and 2 are focused more
on thanking everyone who helped make the event a success.
4. Passages 1 and 2 are written for the Wayland Elementary School
community and parents. Passage 3 is written by Max for himself.
Analyze Multiple Accounts of the Same Event B (page 76)

1. (two points) All three passages are about the same car accident,
and all three describe the loss of a beautiful garden.
2. All three passages are written in the first person, but the writers
have different points of view: a police officer who arrived after
the accident; the driver who is explaining the accident; and a
witness who saw the accident.
3. Sample answer: Passage 1 relies on what Officer Wilson was told
by Mrs. Green, Mr. Evans, and Jamie Harris; Passages 2 and 3
are based on firsthand observation of the accident.
Draw on Information from Multiple Print Sources A (page 78)
1. Masanori Murakami
2. parts of two seasons
3. countries in North and South America, the Caribbean Islands,
Japan
4. the Dominican Republic
111
Answer Key
Draw on Information from Multiple Print Sources B (page 80)

1. (two points) But the computers themselves were huge. / The
spacecraft itself had a computer that weighed about 70 pounds.
2. For example, cell phones that allow you to play video games are
more powerful than the space computer that cost $3.5 million in
1969.
3. Computers today are smaller, less expensive, and more powerful than
those from not long ago.
Draw on Information from Multiple Digital Sources A (page 82)
1. Both show scenes from the Dust Bowl and include children.
2. very dry and dusty
3. The text in Dust Bowl Photos explained that the U.S. government
hired photographers to record events during the Dust Bowl era.
4. the photo showing the family in the roadside camp
Draw on Information from Multiple Digital Sources B (page 83)
1. All three posters say that the country needs your help to fight
the war.
2. Two are recruiting men to fight, and the other is recruiting women
for nursing.
3. The text of World War I Posters explains that the U.S. Navy
and Army were still young and small at the time. The posters were
important because they encouraged people to enlist so that the
armed forces could grow.
4. the image of the poster recruiting nurses to the armed forces
Digital Sources A (page 84)
1. Conditions for workers in the parks were very harsh.
2. To keep the area as natural as possible, some plants not native
to the area need to be removed.
3. (two points) Conditions for workers were harsh in 1933, but
workers were paid. Today, the conditions are better, but the workers
are volunteers.
112
Answer Key

Digital Sources B (page 85)
1. The U.S. sent a warship to show its power so that Spain might
change its mind and sell Cuba to the U.S.
2. Soon afterward, the Maine exploded and sank into the sea.
3. A bomb or torpedo caused the Maine to explode.
4. (two points) The U.S wanted to take control of Cuba, and
Americans wanted to take revenge on Spain/Cuba for attacking
the Maine.
Explain How an Author Uses Reasons to Support Points A
(page 86)
1. (two points) Edward Everett was a popular orator from
Massachusetts./ He had sometimes spoken to audiences of
thousands who cheered and clapped for hours as he spoke.
2. (two points) It is often reprinted in textbooks./Many
generations of Americans have been required to....
3. It was the site of an important Civil War battle where thousands
of soldiers had died.
Explain How an Author Uses Reasons to Support Points B
(page 87)
1. At the time, many parts of American life were changing fast and
in surprising ways.
2. (two points) For the first time, the United States was a world
power./ Its economy boomed.
3. People had more money to spend, and people could afford to go
out for dinner, movies, and entertainment.
4. (two points) Men and women spent more time going out for
dinner, movies, and entertainment./ Both men and women
adopted bold new fashions and lifestyles.
Explain How an Author Uses Evidence to Support Points A
(page 88)
1. (two points) Julius Caesar appeared on Roman coins, for
example..../ Ben Franklin appears on the $100 bill, for example,
and Abraham Lincoln appears on the $5 bill.
2. George Washington refused to have his image on the dollar bill;
images of Liberty were used instead.
3. a woman and Alexander Hamilton
4. She will be the first woman to appear on a U.S. paper bill since
Martha Washington briefly appeared on a $1 note in the 1890s.
113
Answer Key
Explain How an Author Uses Evidence to Support Points B

(page 89)
1. But in recent years, scientists have decided that the pyramids were
built as tombs for Egypts great rulers.
2. They found directions for what needed to be done so a great rulers
soul could move on to the next world.
3. (two points) jewelry and parts of mummies
4. Smaller pyramids in Africa are also tombs.
Integrate Information from Several Texts on a Topic A (page 90)
1. (four points) furniture, flooring, guitars, mandolins
2. to protect the environment, or endangered forest areas
3. to prevent companies from buying illegally produced wood and to
ensure that local laws are followed
4. (two points) One company bought a sawmill in Africa so that it
could be sure the wood was produced legally. / Another company
has been experimenting with new types of wood for instruments.
Integrate Information from Several Texts on a Topic B (page 91)
1. The Fifteenth Amendment said that people of any race or color could
vote.
2. women
3. In the first presidential election after the amendment passed,
10 million more people were eligible to vote.
4. (two points) Today, women represent the largest and most powerful
group of voters in presidential elections. / Women cast about
10 million more votes than men in that election.
114
115
116

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5

Reading Quick Checks

Informational Text Quick Checks A & B

Reading Quick Checks Resource Map...................... iv

Quote Accurately to Explain Text............................ 36

Literature Quick Checks A & B

Determine Two or More Main Ideas in a Text............ 40

Support Explanations with Accurate Quotations....... 2

Explain How Key Details Support

Support Inferences with Accurate Quotations.......... 4

Determine the Meanings of Metaphors.................... 22

Determine the Meaning of Social Studies

Analyze Story Structure........................................ 24

Determine the Meaning of Science Vocabulary......... 56

Describe How Point of View Influences

Describe Chronological Text Structure.................... 58

Analyze How Visual Elements Contribute

Describe Cause-and-Effect Text Structure............... 62

Analyze How Multimedia Elements Contribute

Compare and Contrast the Overall Structure

Compare and Contrast Stories............................... 32

Compare and Contrast Two Accounts

Describe Comparison Text Structure....................... 60

Analyze Multiple Accounts of the Same Event.......... 74

The two assessments for each skill use different reading

between 80% and 100%

Move on to the next Quick Check or

between 66% and 80%

Consider administering the Quick

Use additional resources shown in the

Reading Quick Checks Resource Map

Literature Quick Checks A & B

Benchmark Advance Intervention

Support Explanations with Accurate

Quote Accurately to Explain

Support Inferences with Accurate

Quote Accurately to Draw Inferences

Describe Characters, Setting, and

Describe Characters and Setting

Compare and Contrast Characters

Compare and Contrast Characters

Compare and Contrast Settings

Compare and Contrast Settings

Compare and Contrast Events

Compare and Contrast Events

Determine the Meanings of Words and

Determine the Meanings of Words and

Determine the Meanings of Similes

Determine the Meanings of Similes

Determine the Meanings of Metaphors

Determine the Meanings of Metaphors

Analyze Story Structure

Explain How Parts of a Text Fit Together

Describe How Point of View Influences

Describe How Point of View Influences

Analyze How Visual Elements

Analyze How Visual Elements

Analyze How Multimedia Elements

Analyze How Multimedia Elements

Compare and Contrast Stories

Compare and Contrast Story Elements

Informational Text Quick Checks A & B

Benchmark Advance Intervention

Name ______________ Date _

Name ______________ Date _

Name ______________ Date _