Wonders 3rd Grade Unit 1 Assessment Part 2

Ruth Asawa

Ruth Asawa loved to draw when she was a child. Most children like using paper and pencils to draw. She did not. Instead she drew in the dirt. As a child, Ruth lived in Norwalk, California. This is a city near Los Angeles. Later, she lived in San Francisco. Ruth became an artist when she grew up. She wanted to make beautiful artwork using everyday things that last.

Making a Map

One day Ruth had an idea. She wanted to make an unusual map of her city. She believed that many hands could make something beautiful and useful for the city. So she asked all of her friends to help her.

First, Ruth drew a map on paper. Then, her friends began working together to help Ruth with the map. Ruth mixed flour, salt, and water into a thick paste. Her friends used the thick paste to make small people and buildings. Then they added these figures to the map. The people and buildings stood straight up on the map.

One of Ruth’s friends wanted to make a copy of her school. She used the thick paste to build it. Another friend found a pointed stick. Together they made the walls out of the paste. They used the walls to build the school. They used the pointed stick to carve little bricks into the paste walls. After they finished, they carefully placed the school on the map. It fit well with all the other small buildings. The map is like much of Ruth’s artwork. It is made from simple things. However, it has a great effect on those who see it.

Open to the Public

Ruth Asawa wanted to make the map of the city last for a long time. She wanted all people to have the chance to look at the art and enjoy seeing it. She made a metal copy of the map two years later. She did not think that the paste was a bad idea. She just knew that a metal map would last much longer. Now Ruth’s map is outdoors for visitors who come to the city to see.

Ruth always knew she wanted to make art that people could touch and admire from every side. She even made art using wire. She bent the wire into strange shapes. Now her wire art is shown in many art museums and city parks. It is yet another creation by Ruth that is “open to the public.”

The following question has two parts.

First, answer part A. Then, answer part B. Part A: Which sentence best states the main idea of the passage?

• Ruth thinks it is best to work with many different people.

• Ruth is an artist who makes beautiful projects from simple materials.

• Ruth teaches people how to use supplies to make a map of the area.

• Ruth decides to make a map of her town that will be around for a while.

Part B: Which sentence from the passage best supports the answer in Part A?

• “She wanted to make beautiful artwork using everyday things that last.”

• “Then, her friends began working together to help Ruth with the map.”

• “Her friends used the thick paste to make small people and buildings.”

• “Ruth Asawa wanted to make the map of the city last for a long time.”

The following question has two parts. First, answer part A. Then, answer part B.

Part A: Why did Ruth ask other people to help her make a map of the city?

• She wished to show people how to make art

• She thought the project was too big for one person.

• She knew that her friends liked to help her make art.

• She thought the project would be better with the help of others.

Part B: Which sentence from the passage best supports the answer in Part A?

• “She believed that many hands could make something beautiful and useful for the city.”

• “One of Ruth’s friends wanted to make a copy of her school.”

• “They used the pointed stick to carve little bricks into the paste walls.”

• “Together they made the walls out of the paste.”

In your own words, explain the steps Ruth took to create her simple map. Use details from the passage in your answer.

Choose the section of the passage in which the detail below appears:

Ruth made a metal copy of her map so it would last longer.

• Making A Map

• Open to the Public

Choose the section of the passage in which the detail below appears:

Ruth made a piece of art that could be put outside for other people to see.

• Making a Map

• Open to the Public

Choose the section of the passage in which the detail appears:

Ruth’s friends made small buildings for the map.

• Making a Map

• Open to the Public

Choose the section of the passage in which the detail below appears.

Ruth had an idea for making a map with her friends.

• Making a Map

• Open to the Public

Read the sentence from the passage.

Ruth always knew she wanted to make art that people could touch and admire from every side.

Which two words mean nearly the same as admire?

• respect

• approve

• confuse

• surprise

• deliver