5th IAR Mixed Skills

A Slinky is a toy that consists of a pre-compressed helical spring. It was invented by Richard James in the early 1940s. It can perform a number of tricks, including travelling down a flight of steps end-over-end as it stretches and re-forms itself with the aid of gravity and its own momentum, or appearing to levitate for a period of time after it has been dropped. These interesting characteristics have contributed not only to its success as a toy in its home country of the United States, but also in other countries as well. 

What is the central idea/message of this text?

• A.  The slinky was invented in the 1940s.

• B.  The slinky is a versatile toy with worldwide popularity. 

• C.  The slinky is able to go down stairs and reform itself. 

• The slinky is popular in the United States and other countries.

Angie slipped the candy bar into her pocket, and attempted to sneak out of the candy store.  She was stopped before she even got outside.  The owner called the police.  Although no charges were filed against her, the experience was terrifying.  She felt horrible about her behavior, and never stole anything again. 

• A.  Stealing

• B.  A girl tried to steal a candy bar. 

• C.  Crime doesn’t pay.

• D.  Candy is very tempting. 

(1) The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution granted American women the right to vote on August 18, 1920. (2) This right was known as women’s suffrage. (3) It ended almost a century of fighting and protest. (4) In 1848, the movement for women’s rights launched on a national level with the Seneca Falls Convention organized by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott. (5)Following the convention, the demand for the vote became a centerpiece of the women’s rights movement.

Which sentence BEST supports  the central message, which is that women’s suffrage was a difficult battle to win?

• Sentence 1

• Sentence 2

• Sentence 3

• Sentence 4

• Sentence 5

Bonsai (Bon-sigh) is a Japanese art form using cultivation techniques to produce small trees in containers that mimic the shape and scale of full size trees.  This Japanese tradition dates back over a thousand years. The purposes of bonsai is primarily enjoyment for the viewer, and the pleasant exercise of effort and ingenuity/cleverness for the grower. By contrast with other plant cultivation practices, bonsai are not intended for production of food or for medicine. Instead, bonsai practice focuses on long-term cultivation and shaping of one or more small trees growing in a container.

What is the central idea for this text?

• A.  People have been growing bonsai trees for thousands of years.

• C.  Bonsai are grown for the fruit that they produce.

• D.  People need to study for many years to learn the bonsai technique.

All summer, Jess pushes himself to be the fastest boy in the fifth grade, running mile after hilly mile on the family farm. When the year's first schoolyard race is run, his victory is stolen by a new girl who doesn't even know enough to stay off the boys' side of the playground. But instead of becoming rivals, they become friends. Jess guides Leslie, the city girl, through life in the country, and she draws him into the imaginary world of Terabithia. Here, Leslie and Jess are safe from bullies and ridicule. Which BEST summarizes Leslie’s personality? 

• A.  She is a country girl at heart, and loves to read.

• B.  She likes to ridicule people, but is also a good friend. 

• C.  She is very athletic, and has a great imagination. 

• D.  She hates bullies, but wants to teach them how to be nice.

Twenty years ago, replacing typewriters with computers was thought of as a sagacious idea because computers made typing, editing, and proofreading much easier.

What does “sagacious” mean?

• A.  Ridiculous

• B.  Weak

• C.  Wise

• D.  Controversial

Robert was concerned when the other team won the coin toss.  The situation escalated when they scored three runs in the first inning. 

What does  the word “escalated” mean?

• A. Got better

• B. Concluded

• C.  Became worse 

• D.  Began 

Jenna was a half-hour late for the movie.  Her mother didn’t believe her feeble excuse about washing her hair. What does the word “feeble” mean?

• A. Late

• B. Weak 

• C. Annoying

• D.  Quiet

What is a synonym for “identify”?

• A.  Endanger

• B.  Detect

• C.  Taunt

• D.  Deprive

Which point of view is this?

The door slammed shut.  I wonder what Angela is going to do next?  She is so hard to understand these days.

• 1st Person

• 2nd Person

• 3rd person