New Beginnings

Read the excerpt from "Black Day, 1935." Then Pop turned to Hans. "The good news is: I stopped at the Grange this morning and put in your tree order. It looks like this farm is not going down without a fight." Hans grinned, standing up a little straighter. He couldn't help himself, and crossed the kitchen floor to give his dad a bear hug the way he did when he was little. "No, Pop, it's not," was all that he could say as his tears tracked through the dust. Hans responds to his father's news with A) humor. B) sadness. C) frustration. D) joy.

D) joy.

Read the excerpt from "Tough Break." Fabio slumped in his chair when he heard the verdict. "You have a broken leg," the doctor said, looking at the boy who was known for fast dives on his trampoline. Which phrase best helps the reader determine a tone of despair? A) Fabio slumped in his chair B) he heard the verdict C) the doctor said, looking at the boy D) for fast dives on his trampoline

A) Fabio slumped in his chair

Read the excerpt from "Black Day, 1935." "You've got willpower beyond your years," Ma said with a smile. Then the smile vanished when another blast shook the house. "I'd better pull that sheet aside and set a lamp in the front window. Your dad may need something to show him the way." They knew that the light would probably not even reach to the edge of the porch, but somehow it made them both feel better. Which statement best describes and explains the characters' actions? A) Hans and his mother put a lamp in front of the window to make themselves feel better. B) Hans and his mother are shaken by another blast of the blizzard that hits their house. C) Hans and his mother know that his father is trying to find his way home in the blizzard. D) Hans and his mother are trapped inside the house during the blizzard without his father.

A) Hans and his mother put a lamp in front of the window to make themselves feel better.

Read the excerpt from "Light Bulb Moment." "Yeah, I thought that listening to lectures during sleep would be a great way to study while giving students the added bonus of more free time. As you can see, I am now failing three classes AND I am grounded," Jake said, shaking his head. He looked at the floor and muttered, "I am finished with science, Stan. I'm glad we're heading to junior high next year, so I can start something new. Maybe I could be something new, too, like an artist." According to this excerpt, what causes Jake to give up on science? A) He feels like he failed in several areas of his life. B) He would much rather be an artist than a scientist. C) He wants to make a new start once he gets to junior high school. D) He does not really enjoy science or scientific experiments.

A) He feels like he failed in several areas of his life.

Read the excerpt from "Light Bulb Moment." Jake's eyes grew as big as saucers as the auditorium burst into applause. Stan slapped him on the back and said, "Are you still thinking of ditching it all for art?" Jake simply broke into a wide grin and left his seat to take the stage. Based on this excerpt, what inference can be made? A) Jake will regain interest in doing science experiments. B) Jake will become a very successful artist. C) Jake still does not want to be a scientist anymore. D) Jake does not want accept the Edison Award.

A) Jake will regain interest in doing science experiments.

Read the excerpt from "Light Bulb Moment." Jake rolled his eyes and pointed to his T-shirt displaying the chemical structure of sugar. Jake Barley loved science, and he wasn't afraid to show it. "Do you mean to tell me that after six years of best friendship, you haven't caught on that science fair weekend is basically my favorite holiday? I hope that you're a lot quicker in your classes, or I may have to move on to junior high without you." After reading this excerpt, readers can best visualize Jake as someone who is A) enthusiastic and determined. B) shy and insecure. C) successful at all new things. D) destined to fail.

A) enthusiastic and determined.

Read the excerpt from "Light Bulb Moment." To make matters worse, Mrs. Allen, his English teacher, had confused her blue water bottle with the one that Jake was using to hold his raw seawater sample. She took a huge gulp of it and then started sputtering in frightfully poor grammar that shocked everyone. She insisted that she had swallowed a large chunk of seaweed. Jake did not tell her that he actually had no idea what was in his raw water sample. He had scooped it out of the bay very quickly that morning for fair demonstration purposes. In other words, it was quite possible that Mrs. Allen had swallowed a fish. Which best describes the tone of this excerpt? A) humorous B) formal C) caring D) wise

A) humorous

Read the excerpt from "Light Bulb Moment." Jake trudged up his driveway. It wasn't just the seawater and backpack studies that had failed. Every science fair project he'd ever done had flopped. His first-grade attempt to crack the canine communication code yielded nothing but bigger tail wags in the presence of cheddar cheese. So, Jake's dreams of creating translation posters for veterinarians were dashed. In second grade his efforts to transform his school into an environmentally friendly building had only served to get him into big trouble when he planted lettuce in all of the teachers' coffee mugs. Then in third grade he tried to solve the energy crisis by using hamster wheels to generate electricity. He figured that he needed about 20,000 hamsters to power a small family home. Well, his mom put an end to that bit of research quicker than he could say, "rodent power." "This year is going to be different," Jake said to himself. The description of Jake in this excerpt shows Jake has which character trait? A) persistence B) weakness C) honor D) truthfulness

A) persistence

Read the excerpt from "Black Day, 1935." Hans looked up from his work in the hen yard and saw the dark line on the horizon. He dropped the bucket he'd been holding and bolted for the house. "Black blizzard!" he shouted as he banged open the side door. The author helps readers understand Hans's feelings about the black blizzard by revealing his A) words and actions. B) actions and thoughts. C) thoughts and words. D) feelings and actions.

A) words and actions.

Which sentence from "Tough Break" best reveals Fabio's feelings through indirect characterization? A) "You have a broken leg," the doctor said, looking at the boy who was known for fast dives on his trampoline. B) So, Fabio sat alone in the band room and wailed out the Rocket's fight song in a minor key on his lonely saxophone. C) Over the next three weeks, Fabio noticed the other band members getting a little giddy; they seemed so jazzed for the parade. D) Everyone cheered and applauded as Fabio climbed aboard and laid his instrument on his left shoulder.

B) So, Fabio sat alone in the band room and wailed out the Rocket's fight song in a minor key on his lonely saxophone.

Ava-Kate is reading the paragraph from "Tough Break." When Fabio's crutches thumped into band practice after school on Monday, the fallen look on Miss Hunter's face made it clear. Somehow, the band would have to go through with a jazz performance without a saxophone player. While Fabio managed to play all the numbers during the band warm up, there was no way he could do marching formation. So the walking members of the band plodded out to the parking lot where they marched up and down while Fabio watched bitterly from the window of the band room. Ava-Kate is not sure that she understands the last two sentences. Ava-Kate should A) read the next paragraph. B) reread the whole paragraph. C) predict what comes next. D) read the story from the beginning.

B) reread the whole paragraph.

Darren is reading the excerpt from "Black Day, 1935." They sat with the howling wind for hours. Then just as quickly as it blew in, the darkness was gone and sunlight poured through the hanging sheets. For a moment all was silent, and then the front door burst open, scattering the newspaper that had sealed it. Darren is not sure he understands what he is reading. What will most help Darren understand the excerpt? A) Darren can look online at pictures of dust storms. B) Darren can read an encyclopedia article about dust storms. C) Darren can reread the excerpt and create a mental picture of the events in the excerpt. D) Darren can keep reading the story and hope he understands this excerpt at a later time.

C) Darren can reread the excerpt and create a mental picture of the events in the excerpt.

How does Fabio's relationship with Yusef and Andrew develop the theme of friendship in the story "Tough Break"? A) Fabio's relationship with Yusef and Andrew shows that few friends really care if someone is in despair. B) Fabio's relationship with Yusef and Andrew shows that most friends are concerned with their own problems. C) Fabio's relationship with Yusef and Andrew shows that good friends always have secrets. D) Fabio's relationship with Yusef and Andrew shows that true friends will help in times of need.

D) Fabio's relationship with Yusef and Andrew shows that true friends will help in times of need.

Read the excerpt from "Black Day, 1935." Then Pop turned to Hans. "The good news is: I stopped at the Grange this morning and put in your tree order. It looks like this farm is not going down without a fight." Hans grinned, standing up a little straighter. He couldn't help himself and crossed the kitchen floor to give his dad a bear hug the way he did when he was little. "No, Pop, it's not," was all that he could say as his tears tracked through the dust. How does the excerpt develop the theme of perseverance in the story? A) The author uses the purchase of the trees to show that the family is determined to give up the farm. B) The author uses the purchase of the trees to show that the family is determined to join the friends who have already left. C) The author uses the purchase of the farm to show that the family is determined to wait until the dust storm passes. D) The author uses the purchase of the trees to show that this family is determined to save the farm.

D) The author uses the purchase of the trees to show that this family is determined to save the farm.

Read the excerpt from "Tough Break." Angered just a moment ago, Fabio now smiled. He was going to be in the parade. Not only that, but the chariot had orange and yellow streamers. It turned out that Miss Hunter had rearranged the marching formation. The band was now going to make the shape of a giant rocket, and he was the flame! Everyone cheered and applauded as Fabio climbed aboard and laid his instrument on his left shoulder. He looked over at Miss Hunter's beaming smile and wiped his eyes. Fabio's attitude has changed because A) he no longer cares about being in the parade with everyone else. B) he will be able to walk in the parade because his leg has healed. C) he can participate in the parade even though he will not play his saxophone. D) he is going to participate in the parade with the chariot his friends made.

D) he is going to participate in the parade with the chariot his friends made.