Q2 Benchmark Review Reading Comprehension 10

“The Birds and the Crawfish”

(a Tuskegee folktale)

Before the beginning, there were only water creatures and birds. No people, animals, or land could be seen.

The birds came together to decide if they wanted land. Some of the birds wanted only water. Others wanted only land. They turned to the chief, Eagle, to decide. Eagle chose to have water and land, and asked who would go search for dirt to make land.

Dove volunteered, and flew away. For four days he searched for dirt. Finally, he returned. He was not able to find any.

Crawfish swam by to see what was going on. The birds asked him if he knew where there was dirt, so they could make land. Crawfish said he would help and dove underwater, where he stayed for four days. When he came back, he held dirt in his claws.

Crawfish rolled the dirt into a ball and gave it to Eagle. Eagle held the dirt ball carefully in his claws and flew away. After four days he returned and asked the birds to follow him. All of the birds flew after Eagle and saw the island he had made out of dirt.

They watched the island grow larger. The water continued to sink as the earth grew larger. More islands appeared. They grew together, creating larger islands in the water. It was decided that water and land together would be one Earth.

from "The Birds and the Crawfish"

What was the birds' first problem?

A.They could not come to an agreement about the earth.

B.Without any land, there was nowhere for them to nest.

C.Without any water, there was nothing for them to drink.

D.They could not come to an agreement about their chief.

• They could not come to an agreement about the earth.

• Without any land, there was nowhere for them to nest.

• Without any water, there was nothing for them to drink.

• They could not come to an agreement about their chief.

Tags

CCSS.RL.1.10

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RL.K.5

"The Journey"

I noticed that this morning was just a little colder than the one before. The warm days of summer had faded as the year moved into fall. Other signs all around told me it was time to go. The leaves on the trees were changing colors. Food was getting harder to find. The young were all old enough to make the long journey ahead of us. By instinct, we had started gathering, readying ourselves. I had made this southward trip for fifteen years now. That made me one of the older geese in the flock. I would be looked to as a leader this year. Finally, when the time seemed right, I gave a loud honk and the flock slowly rose into the air. We formed a long V-formation and turned south. Our long journey to our winter home had begun.

When does this story take place?

• near the end of summer

• at the beginning of fall

• near the end of fall

• in the middle of winter

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

"Doctor Goldsmith"

by James Baldwin

There was once a kind man whose name was Oliver Goldsmith. He wrote many delightful books, some of which you will read when you are older.

He had a gentle heart. He was always ready to help others and to share with them anything that he had. He gave away so much to the poor that he was always poor himself.

He was sometimes called Doctor Goldsmith; for he had studied to be a physician.

One day a poor woman asked Doctor Goldsmith to go and see her husband, who was sick and could not eat.

Goldsmith did so. He found that the family was in great need. The man had not had work for a long time. He was not sick, but in distress; and, as for eating, there was no food in the house.

"Call at my room this evening," said Goldsmith to the woman, "and I will give you some medicine for your husband."

In the evening the woman called. Goldsmith gave her a little paper box that was very heavy.

"Here is the medicine," he said. "Use it faithfully, and I think it will do your husband a great deal of good. But don't open the box until you reach home."

"What are the directions for taking it?" asked the woman.

"You will find them inside of the box," he answered.

When the woman reached her home, she sat down by her husband's side, and they opened the box. What do you think they found in it?

It was full of pieces of money. And on the top were the directions:—

"TO BE TAKEN AS OFTEN AS NEEDED."

Goldsmith had given them all the ready money that he had.

What is the main problem in this story?

A.A man is sick and cannot eat.

B.A man doesn't like Doctor Goldsmith.

C.A woman can't find a job.

D.A woman can't find a doctor.

• A man is sick and cannot eat.

• A man doesn't like Doctor Goldsmith.

• A woman can't find a job.

• A woman can't find a doctor.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.10

CCSS.RL.4.6

CCSS.RL.5.10

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RL.6.10

"The Journey"

I noticed that this morning was just a little colder than the one before. The warm days of summer had faded as the year moved into fall. Other signs all around told me it was time to go. The leaves on the trees were changing colors. Food was getting harder to find. The young were all old enough to make the long journey ahead of us. By instinct, we had started gathering, readying ourselves. I had made this southward trip for fifteen years now. That made me one of the older geese in the flock. I would be looked to as a leader this year. Finally, when the time seemed right, I gave a loud honk and the flock slowly rose into the air. We formed a long V-formation and turned south. Our long journey to our winter home had begun.

How was the main problem of this story solved?

• The geese began to fly south to warmer weather.

• The geese gathered together for warmth.

• The geese moved inside to get close to a fire.

• The geese found a home further west.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.10

CCSS.RL.4.10

CCSS.RL.4.6

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RL.6.10

“The Earth and the Suns”

(a folktale from China)

Long ago, ten suns brought light and heat to the earth. Each morning one sun would rise, climb into a dragon-pulled chariot, and ride across the sky to the Valley of Light in the East. The suns took turns each day, and this created the ancient ten-day week.

The suns, though, grew tired of working alone, week after week. One day, they arose early, and all ten of them rode across the sky together in their ten chariots pulled by ten dragons.

The earth burned and cracked. Its rivers ran dry. Its animals and people grew weak from too much heat. The people pled with their emperor to stop the suns. The suns only laughed. They were enjoying their time together, but each day, the people and animals suffered more. The emperor finally asked the suns' father, Di Jun, to make them stop. The suns did not listen, though, even to their father. To save the world, Di Jun sent for an archer, Yi, and gave him a magic bow and nine magic arrows.

Yi flew to the highest mountain he could find. Using the magic arrows in his quiver, he shot at nine of the suns. Each magic arrow found its target and turned the suns into birds.

The next day, the only remaining sun awoke. He climbed into his chariot, and as he rode across the sky, his tears of loneliness for his companions filled the rivers and allowed the plants to grow. In this way, the earth and its people recovered, and so we are here today. This sun still makes his journey across the sky, creating light and warmth.

What is the main conflict in this folktale?

A.Di Jun will not help the people.

B.A dragon is threatening earth.

C.The suns will not rise.

D.The earth is growing too hot.

• Di Jun will not help the people.

• A dragon is threatening earth.

• The suns will not rise.

• The earth is growing too hot.

Tags

CCSS.RL.1.10

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RL.K.5