But the wind beat it against the mast until it was torn into shreds. The wind pushed the sea into great mountains of water; it tore the oars from the men's hands and flung them into the sea; and finally, it snapped the mast, then ripped the rudder away from the boat.

What does the author’s use of strong words help the reader imagine?

• A calm weather

• an angry, active storm

• a dying storm

• A strong wind

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.5

CCSS.RI.5.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

Which sentence uses the most precise words to help the reader imagine the sky?

• There was sky, plenty of sky, all the sky you could want.

• Day after day it hung like a swath of blue silk, and at night like a black velvet cloak studded with cold jewels.

• t gave little warmth

• And barely any rain

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.5

CCSS.RI.5.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

But no sooner had he said this than the wind began to roar like a dragon. The sail filled with air and yanked the boat on its side until Denzo released the line. Freed, the sail whipped about, flapping like a wounded bird. Toraemon grabbed the oars and pulled, while Jusuke tried to lower the sail.

Which words best help to create a fast pace in the excerpt?

• “dragon,” “boat,” and “oars”

• “sooner,” “filled,” and “released”

• “yanked,” “whipped,” and “grabbed”

• “wounded,” “pulled,” and “lower

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.10

CCSS.RI.7.10

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RL.6.10

CCSS.RL.7.10

Which sentence from Heart of a Samurai uses pacing to build excitement?

• The cold had penetrated their bones and the fishermen huddled together, prepared to die

• Their hearts beat a little faster. An island could mean freshwater.

• With no sails, no rudder, no oars, they were at Kuroshio's mercy, steadily dragged toward the vast unknown.

• For a long time, no one spoke. They waited for Denzo, the eldest and the leader, to speak first.

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

But no sooner had he said this than the wind began to roar like a dragon. The sail filled with air and yanked the boat on its side until Denzo released the line. Freed, the sail whipped about, flapping like a wounded bird. Toraemon grabbed the oars and pulled, while Jusuke tried to lower the sail.

How does the author make this part of the story exciting?

• She develops a slow pace.

• She develops Denzo’s character.

• She uses strong action words

• She uses strong action words.

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

Which sentence from Heart of a Samurai uses pacing to build excitement?

• This idea heartened them; they lay down to sleep a little less burdened.

• That was back when there had been water. And birds.

• He stared at them for a long time thinking that they reminded him of something.

• He leaped up onto a rock and swung his stick over his head. “Agreed?”

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.5

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

[Manjiro] took one last glance behind them and noticed something strange. Dark streaks ran like ribbons through the water.

Which best states the author’s purpose for using the word “strange”?

• to describe the story’s setting

• to develop Manjiro’s character

• to create a feeling of suspense

• to quicken the pace of the story

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.6

CCSS.RI.6.9

CCSS.RI.7.9

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RL.6.6

"There were two graves, right, Denzo-san?" Manjiro said.

Denzo nodded.

"My question is Where is the third person?"

Everyone stared at Manjiro.

"Who made the graves?"

Which best explains how this excerpt creates suspense

• it develops the plot using dialogue instead of description.

• it includes a question that the reader will want to know the answer to

• it explains that the fishermen have found two graves on the island

• it shows that Manjiro is a character who asks a lot of questions.

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

Everybody knew about the foreign devils—the barbarians. Did they really exist, Manjiro wondered, or were they just the inventions of adults to get children to behave? Even he had told his younger sisters, "Go to sleep—or the barbarians will come and get you!"

Which best states why the excerpt makes the reader want to keep reading?

• to find out about other types of stories adults invent for children

• to find out how many sisters Manjiro left behind in Japan

• to find out if the barbarians really exist and show up in the story

• to find why adult invent story to scare children

Tags

CCSS.RI.2.1

CCSS.RI.3.1

CCSS.RL.1.1

CCSS.RL.2.1

CCSS.RL.3.1

The shape of the island—a tall, flat-topped mountain—became distinct. And yet not at all distinct. Its outline was blurred, as if the skin of the land quivered!

As they drifted closer, it appeared as if pieces of the island broke off and floated up into the air. Or black specks floated down and joined the land.

Which best states why the excerpt makes the reader want to keep reading?

• to find out why the island has a flat top

• to find out what is happening on the island

• to find out the shape of the island

• to find out who is looking at the island

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3