The Letter

What is the theme of this passage?

• Long journeys may involve much misfortune.

• Do not always believe everything you read.

• Young people should be protected from danger.

• Sometimes you have to take risks to achieve a goal.

Who is the narrator of this passage?

• John Sparks, the son of Ma and Pa Sparks.

• Pa Sparks, the father of John, Matt, and David.

• Bo Brown, the Sparks family neighbor.

• someone who is not involved in the passage.

How would this story had been different if Travis, Pa's brother, had narrated this story from his point of view. Choose the TWO best answers.

• The reader would understand more about Pa Sparks's thoughts and feelings and less about the other characters' thoughts and feelings.

• The reader would know and understand more about Travis's thoughts and feelings and less about the other characters' thoughts and feelings.

• The author would use words such as "I" and "me" to indicate Pa was speaking.

• The author would use words such as "I" and "me" to indicate Travis was speaking.

• The reader would know the thoughts and feelings of all characters in the story.

Read the following sentence from the passage.

Some had died while crossing raging rivers that swept people away like leaves.

What does the phrase "swept people away like leaves" most likely mean?

• The people crossed rivers clogged with fallen leaves.

• The people floated on the surface of the water.

• The people saw leaves piled on the riverbanks in the fall.

• The people were powerless against the current in the rivers.

Read the following sentence from the passage.

Their wagon train had experienced its share of misfortune, including many people who had become ill or injured.  

Using what you know about prefixes and base words, what is the meaning of the word "misfortune" as it is used in this sentence?

• bad luck

• too much luck

• without money

• extra money

Which sentence BEST explains the similarities or differences in Ma and Pa Sparks' reactions to the idea of moving to Oregon Country?

• Both Ma and Pa Sparks thought that the trip to Oregon Country would take too long.

• Ma Sparks thought it would be hard to grow crops in Oregon Country, but Pa Sparks was concerned about selling their farm equipment. 

• Both Ma and Pa Sparks thought it would be better to wait until their sons were older to travel to Oregon Country.

• Ma Sparks thought it was too risky, but Pa Sparks was excited for the chance to improve the family's life.

Based on the passage, readers can conclude that the author thinks reading and math skills will be more useful to students throughout their lives than knowing how to play sports. Read the following excerpt from the passage. Then click on the TWO statements that best support this conclusion.

• I believe in the value of physical education.

• Physical activity is important for a healthy lifestyle.

• However, when schools are forced to choose what they will teach, they must remain focused on the basic subjects.

• A student can get through life without knowing how to play baseball.

• We all must be able to read and do math in order to function in society.

Read the following sentences from the passage.

No matter what happens with the budget, schools must remain focused on the main purpose of educating students. We cannot compromise on the basics.

What is the meaning of the word "compromise" as it is used above?

• to make a decision that could change the quality of something

• to argue about something that neither side really cares about

• to build something new and better than the original

• to forget why something was once important

Study the dictionary entry below.

 massive (MA-siv) n. 1. being extensive and severe. 2. impressively large. 3. that which has mass and occupies space. 4. imposing in excellence or grandeur.

Now read the following sentence.

Deep in the ocean, a shark glides forward, opening its massive jaw. Which definition of "massive" is used in this sentence?

• definition 1

• definition 2

• definition 3

• definition 4

Read the following sentence.

Lilah was happy that her dad was able to get tickets to the basketball game, but meeting her favorite player after the game was the icing on the cake.

What is the meaning of the idiom "the icing on the cake" as it is used in this sentence?

• Lilah ate cake at the basketball game.

• Meeting her favorite player made a good situation even better for Lilah.

• Going to the basketball game turned into a bad experience for Lilah.

• Lilah's favorite team won the basketball game.