Benchmark Test

Read these sentences from a story. Then, answer the questions that follow.

(1) In the ballroom, the orchestra began to play. (2) Jorge listened, tapping a foot to the rhythm. (3) Across the table Anna smiled, tapping a foot as well. (4) Jorge rose from his chair at the table and smiled back at Anna. (5) "Shall we?" he said, motioning toward the dance floor. (6) The tablecloth hung low between them, and as Jorge moved forward, he stepped on it. (7) Then, his legs in a tangle, he fell flat on his face.

Read the selection from a short story. Then, answer the questions that follow.

(1) Jean, a high school student, was such a good swimmer that she was able to get a summer job as a lifeguard at the local pool. (2) She had no idea that the experience would test her skill and quick thinking more than anything had before. (3) One Thursday afternoon, Dean and Frank Rinaldo showed up at the pool. (4) Noisy and reckless, the two teenage brothers quickly drove the other swimmers away. (5) They paid no attention when Jean told them to behave. (6) Jean was just about to phone her supervisor when she saw the brothers crash into each other and begin to sink. (7) No one was there to help as Jean dove into the pool and struggled to pull them out. (8) They were very heavy, but she finally managed to drag out first Dean and then Frank. (9) Dean was conscious but in pain. (10) Frank was unconscious, and Jean had to give him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. (11) When he finally began breathing, Jean raced to her cell phone and called an ambulance. (12) After the brothers recovered, they apologized to Jean and never misbehaved at the pool again.

Which statement is true about common and proper nouns?

A. A proper noun is usually more specific than a common noun. B. A proper noun is more polite than a common noun. C. A common noun usually begins with a capital letter. D. A proper noun usually does not begin with a capital letter.

Which of the following is an important piece of background knowledge that can help support your prediction of what would happen next?

A. Buses may run late in bad weather. B. Textbooks can be heavy. C. Station wagons were popular family cars in the 1970s. D. High speed and icy road conditions often contribute to accidents.

Which of these sentences uses correct capitalization?

A. Carmine saw the United Nations and a museum when he visited New York City. B. Carmine saw the United Nations and a Museum when he visited New York City. C. Carmine saw the united Nations and a museum when he visited New York city. D. Carmine saw the United Nations and a museum when he visited new york city.

What main effect does making predictions have on most readers?

A. It removes all the suspense from the plot of a story. B. It reduces the reader's interest in the story. C. It makes the story seem more realistic and believable. D. It helps keep the reader actively engaged in the story.

Which detail in the selection should make you reconsider your first prediction and expect a different outcome?

A. Jorge taps his foot to the music. B. Anna taps her foot to the music. C. Jorge motions toward the dance floor. D. Jorge steps on the tablecloth.

From the details in the first five sentences of the selection, which of these predictions seems most likely to happen?

A. Jorge will refuse to ask Anna to dance with him. B. Anna will refuse to dance with Jorge when he asks. C. Jorge and Anna are going to get up and dance. D. Jorge is going to trip and fall on his face.

What is the best procedure for making predictions as you read a story?

A. Make a prediction as you read, and then modify your prediction as you encounter further details. B. Make a prediction as you read, and then skim the rest of the story to see if you are right. C. Never change a prediction you make, no matter what new details the story provides. D. Read the story out of order so that you know everything that will happen before it happens.

What is the best prediction of what will happen next?

A. The anti-lock brakes on the station wagon will prevent it from skidding on the curve. B. The driver of the station wagon will lose control on the icy curve. C. The driver of the station wagon will be able to maintain control around the curve because he is going at high speed. D. The driver of the station wagon will

What does it mean when a story has a chronological narrative structure?

A. The narrator presents events that happened long ago. B. The narrator presents events in the order in which they happened in time. C. The narrator jumps around in time in order to provide additional plot information. D. The narrator introduces a character who goes on to tell a story within the story.

Which of these sentences uses possessive nouns correctly?

A. The two brothers' invention was a children's game; each player's marker was an animal. B. The two brother's invention was a childrens' game; each player's marker was an animal. C. The two brother's invention was a children's game; each players' marker was an animal. D. The two brothers' invention was a childrens' game; each players' marker was an animal.

Which of these sentences uses plural nouns correctly? .

A. The wifes used knifes to cut bunchies of berrys from the leafs. B. The wives used knives to cut bunches of berries from the leaves. C. The wives used knives to cut bunchies of berries from the leavs. D. The wifes used knifes to cut bunches of berryes from the leaves

Which of these spelling rules is accurate?

A. To form the plural of any noun that ends in y, change the y to an i and add es. B. To form the plural of any noun that ends in y, just add s. C. To form the plural of a noun that ends in a vowel + y, change the y to an i and add es. D. To form the plural of a noun that ends in a consonant + y, change the y to an i and add es.

What do you call a noun that names something that can be perceived by one or more of the five senses?

A. a common noun B. a proper noun C. a concrete noun D. an abstract noun

In which pair of words are both plural nouns spelled correctly?

A. armies and loaves B. lifes and feet C. papers and countrys D. churchs and foots

The words telescope and microscope share the root -scope-. Using this knowledge, choose the answer that best states the meaning of -scope-.

A. build B. look at C. move D. give

Which word in this sentence is an abstract noun? The child showed great kindness to the stray puppy that she found on the street.

A. child B. kindness C. puppy D. street

The word root -limin- means "threshold"—the entrance or beginning point of something. Using this knowledge, choose the answer that best defines the word preliminary.

A. coming before the main action B. coming last in a sequence C. happening in the middle of an event D. coming after the most important event

What is the term for the part of a story that provides background information about main characters and their situation?

A. exposition B. conflict C. falling action D. resolution

In which part of the plot are problems worked out so that the conflict is settled?

A. exposition B. rising action C. foreshadowing D. resolution

The words judicial and prejudice share the root -jud-, shortened from judex. Using this knowledge, choose the answer that best defines the meaning of -jud-.

A. ignore B. silly C. polite D. judge

The word root -trib- means "pay" or "give." Using this knowledge, choose the answer that best defines the word retribution.

A. publicity B. a test C. repayment D. guilt

Which sentence in the story is an example of foreshadowing?

A. sentence 1 B. sentence 2 C. sentence 3 D. sentence 12

Which sentence in the story is part of the exposition?

A. sentence 1 B. sentence 5 C. sentence 7 D. sentence 12

Where does the climax of the story take place?

A. sentence 3 B. sentences 4-5 C. sentences 6-11 D. sentence 12

What does foreshadowing usually help create?

A. suspense B. flashbacks C. exposition D. motivation

In addition to the story details what are the two main things you should consider in order to make accurate predictions as you read the story?

A. the author's background and other works B. the length and genre of the story C. the historical period and cultural context of the story D. your background knowledge and personal experience

Which of these choices is the best definition of the climax of a story?

A. the point at which the conflict is introduced B. the point at which new complications to the conflict are introduced C. the point of highest tension or suspense D. the point at which all the loose ends of a plot are tied together

How many proper nouns are there in this sentence? Sally and her brother visited the D-Day Museum in New Orleans.

A. two B. three C. four D. six

Read these sentences from a story. Then, answer the questions that follow.

In the early morning, Cara walked to the bus stop on Round Lake Road. Her breath came out in white puffs in the frigid air. Suddenly, as she rounded the curve before the bus stop, she lost her balance on the slick pavement and dropped all of her textbooks. "I hate this freezing rain!" she muttered, as she gingerly got up and picked up her books. Just then, an ancient 1970s station wagon approached the curve at high speed.