PRE TEST MODULE 1

Read this sentence.

“Please do me the courtesy of removing your bicycle,” said a deep voice.

What is the meaning of courtesy as it is used above?

• kindness

• correction

• advantage

• intelligence

Tags

CCSS.L.5.4A

CCSS.RL.5.4

Read the following

11. “I’ll provide my life story some other time,” said the maple. “We don’t have time for my autobiography.” Think about the Greek prefix auto- and the Greek root bio.

What is the meaning of autobiography above?

• someone’s reason for doing something

• examples of someone’s own beliefs

• a long book about a person’s life

• a person’s own life story

Tags

CCSS.L.5.4B

Read the selection and answer each question.

Meeting the Green Neighbors

1 “Please do me the courtesy of removing your bicycle,” said a deep voice. Mira looked around but saw no one. She was unlocking her bicycle from a pine tree in the park and getting ready to head home. She always left her bicycle there, and no one had ever complained.

2 “The bicycle scratches my bark,” the voice said. “My bark?” thought Mira.

3 “I don’t think that little bike marks your bark,” said another higher and sharper voice on Mira’s left. “You’ve been there for two hundred years; you can handle a little girl’s bicycle. And as you know, we have more important concerns.”

4 “Is someone in the tree?” asked Mira, peering up through the pine’s branches.

5 Just then, Mira’s mother arrived at the park with her own bicycle and asked who she was speaking to.

6 “The tree, I think,” Mira said hesitantly, turning to where a tall maple tree with reddish leaves stood.

7 Mira’s mother smiled; she was used to her daughter’s wild imagination.

8 “We always speak, but you don’t listen,” moaned the pine. Mira’s mother gasped, the wind blew, and it sounded as if the pine and the maple sighed together.

9 Mira and her mother looked from the pine to the maple and back, as if this would help make sense of things.

10 “Why are you talking to us?” Mira’s mother asked the maple, trying to appear braver than she felt.

11 “I’ll provide my life story some other time,” said the maple. “We don’t have time for my autobiography. We have an important problem we need to solve. You know, of course, about the new car parts store.”

12 Mira and her mother looked at each other and slowly shook their heads. Again, the pine and the maple sighed, and this time the tall native grasses joined in.

13 The maple tree extended a branch toward the street corner, where there were a construction truck and other earth-moving equipment that Mira and her mother had not noticed.

14 The maple continued, saying, “Tomorrow, that construction truck will come to life and destroy all of us: the park, the grass, the pond, and yes, the trees. We’re speaking to you because we’ve seen you here, almost every weekend, and we know this park is almost as important to you as it is to us. We need your help.”

15 The shy weeping willow tree that shaded the corner found his voice. “If you don’t mind,” he said in a sad whisper, “please, could you be our voice and talk to the people in the mayor’s office?”

16 Mira looked at her mother, who nodded her head. “Yes—I know just who to speak with.”

17 Mira and her mother pedaled off with new purpose. At City Hall, they were quickly shown to the office of the mayor’s assistant—Mira’s aunt. She listened carefully, asked a few questions, and then smiled warmly and walked them toward the door. “It will take time, and we may not succeed,” she said, “but I know that the mayor will at least listen.”

18 In the morning, Mira and her mother pedaled back to the park. “Good morning!” Mira said to the trees. She expected to hear a grand hello, but today the trees were silent, and the grass blew in the wind without a sound. However, where the construction truck once stood, an ice cream truck had appeared, and the air was filled with the laughs and calls of the children who stood by it.

19 “Why did the trees stop talking, Mom?” Mira asked.

20 “Well, perhaps for now they have said all that they needed to say,” said her mother. “Now, we must listen to them with our eyes.” They stood together for a moment and watched the tree branches and grasses waving happily in the light breeze and warm sunshine. Mira knew she would always listen more closely to the green neighbors in the world around them.

Which sentence from the story shows that Mira and her mother’s meeting with the mayor’s assistant was successful?

• However, where the construction truck once stood, an ice cream truck had appeared, and the air was filled with the laughs and calls of the children who stood by it.

• “Why did the trees stop talking, Mom?” Mira asked.

• “Well, perhaps for now they have said all that they needed to say,” said her mother.

• Mira knew she would always listen more closely to the green neighbors in the world around them.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.1

Read the selection and answer the question that follows.

Meeting the Green Neighbors

1 “Please do me the courtesy of removing your bicycle,” said a deep voice. Mira looked around but saw no one. She was unlocking her bicycle from a pine tree in the park and getting ready to head home. She always left her bicycle there, and no one had ever complained.

2 “The bicycle scratches my bark,” the voice said. “My bark?” thought Mira.

3 “I don’t think that little bike marks your bark,” said another higher and sharper voice on Mira’s left. “You’ve been there for two hundred years; you can handle a little girl’s bicycle. And as you know, we have more important concerns.”

4 “Is someone in the tree?” asked Mira, peering up through the pine’s branches.

5 Just then, Mira’s mother arrived at the park with her own bicycle and asked who she was speaking to.

6 “The tree, I think,” Mira said hesitantly, turning to where a tall maple tree with reddish leaves stood.

7 Mira’s mother smiled; she was used to her daughter’s wild imagination.

8 “We always speak, but you don’t listen,” moaned the pine. Mira’s mother gasped, the wind blew, and it sounded as if the pine and the maple sighed together.

9 Mira and her mother looked from the pine to the maple and back, as if this would help make sense of things.

10 “Why are you talking to us?” Mira’s mother asked the maple, trying to appear braver than she felt.

11 “I’ll provide my life story some other time,” said the maple. “We don’t have time for my autobiography. We have an important problem we need to solve. You know, of course, about the new car parts store.”

12 Mira and her mother looked at each other and slowly shook their heads. Again, the pine and the maple sighed, and this time the tall native grasses joined in.

13 The maple tree extended a branch toward the street corner, where there were a construction truck and other earth-moving equipment that Mira and her mother had not noticed.

14 The maple continued, saying, “Tomorrow, that construction truck will come to life and destroy all of us: the park, the grass, the pond, and yes, the trees. We’re speaking to you because we’ve seen you here, almost every weekend, and we know this park is almost as important to you as it is to us. We need your help.”

15 The shy weeping willow tree that shaded the corner found his voice. “If you don’t mind,” he said in a sad whisper, “please, could you be our voice and talk to the people in the mayor’s office?”

16 Mira looked at her mother, who nodded her head. “Yes—I know just who to speak with.”

17 Mira and her mother pedaled off with new purpose. At City Hall, they were quickly shown to the office of the mayor’s assistant—Mira’s aunt. She listened carefully, asked a few questions, and then smiled warmly and walked them toward the door. “It will take time, and we may not succeed,” she said, “but I know that the mayor will at least listen.”

18 In the morning, Mira and her mother pedaled back to the park. “Good morning!” Mira said to the trees. She expected to hear a grand hello, but today the trees were silent, and the grass blew in the wind without a sound. However, where the construction truck once stood, an ice cream truck had appeared, and the air was filled with the laughs and calls of the children who stood by it.

19 “Why did the trees stop talking, Mom?” Mira asked.

20 “Well, perhaps for now they have said all that they needed to say,” said her mother. “Now, we must listen to them with our eyes.” They stood together for a moment and watched the tree branches and grasses waving happily in the light breeze and warm sunshine. Mira knew she would always listen more closely to the green neighbors in the world around them.

Why does the author most likely use personification in the story?

• to explain why Mira and her mother can talk to trees

• to show that humans and nature have a lot in common

• to prove to Mira’s mother that Mira could speak to the trees

• to draw the human characters’ attention to the needs of nature

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.4

How do Mira and her mother change in the story?

• They learn a new language.

• They spend more time outside.

• They pay more attention to their surroundings

• They become worried about meeting their neighbors.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.W.5.9B

What is the author’s message in the story?

• Trees shouldn’t be cut down to make room for buildings.

• Even though they are silent, trees shouldn’t be ignored.

• People can hear trees speaking if they listen hard enough.

• Working together is the best way for people to help trees.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.2

Read the selection and answer the question below

In the Curl

by Ricky Grigg

1 Surfing, for me, is pure joy! I can clearly remember catching my first wave, even though it was over 50 years ago. I was 10 years old and had been out swimming at Malibu in California, when an older teenage surfer paddled by. Since he saw me there floating around in the water, he said, “Hey kid, want to catch a wave with me?” Quickly, although not without some doubt, I said, “Sure . . .” He pulled me up on the front of his oversized board, and the next thing I knew he was paddling for what looked like a monster wave. I felt like paddling backward in order to escape.

2 But before I knew what was happening, we were in the curl of the wave, sliding down this beautiful wall of slippery water. I was terrified, but Buzzy, as I later learned was the surfer’s name, was already lifting me to my feet. Suddenly, we were flying. Although I was standing on the board, I felt like an airborne fish—a wild creature totally connected to a natural force. I remember the magnificent speed and the strong wind blowing in my face. I felt completely free! Slowly, as I began to relax, I was filled with a feeling of escape and pure joy. This was really fun, and the wave just kept on going. After 100 yards or so, I was a changed human, feeling as natural as nature herself.

3 That wave, on that day, altered my life forever. I knew then that I had to be a surfer. Chemicals (endorphins) had been released in my brain like sparks in a swirling fireworks display. Today, at age 68, I still surf almost every day. I live on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, where I came after college to enjoy some of the biggest waves in the world. I teach oceanography (about waves and the ocean) at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. I have been fortunate to be able to learn about something I love so much—the ocean and waves—and then to be able to teach others about it. My job and joy are in some sense one.

4 I guess that you might call surfing an extreme sport, but for me the real danger in surfing is that it is just too much fun. Sure, not everyone takes to a wave as easily as I did, and it is important to be a strong swimmer before you attempt surfing. Try starting with the small waves and moving up to the bigger ones. And I wouldn’t advise getting your first lesson, as I did, from an unknown surfer!

5 My life has been directed by the power of the waves. And I’m glad that it has been. But, if you think that you too might like to become a surfer, let me offer some advice: Think twice before you catch your first wave. It could change your life forever!

What is the author’s main purpose?

• to suggest an interesting career to others

• to give important advice to future surfers

• to explain the result of a personal experience

• to provide basic information about oceanography

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

What does the article’s point of view allow the reader to know that otherwise would be hidden?

• the author’s dialogue

• the author’s thoughts

• the teenage surfer’s actions

• the teenage surfer’s feelings

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.6

Based on the passage, match the given cause to its effect.

Cause: Buzzy asks the author to catch a wave with him

• The author learns how to surf.

• The author surfs some of the biggest waves in the world.

Tags

CCSS.L.5.4A

CCSS.RI.5.3

Which statement from the article best represents the main theme?

A B C D

• I was 10 years old and had been out swimming at Malibu in California, when an older teenage surfer paddled by.

• Slowly, as I began to relax, I was filled with a feeling of escape and pure joy.

• Today, at age 68, I still surf almost every day.

• My job and joy are in some sense one.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.2