Reading 4

Christmas is my favorite holiday. My grandmother makes ham, salad, and cupcakes on Christmas. I also get a present at Christmas! Last year I got a new set of paintbrushes. This year I hope to get new pencils and a drawing pad. I always have fun at Christmas. Halloween is another good holiday. My grandmother makes candy corn and cupcakes on Halloween. People wear costumes during Halloween. Last year I wore a skeleton costume. This year I am going to wear a zombie costume. July 4 is a good holiday. July 4 is the birthday of the United States of America. My grandmother makes hot dogs and salad on July 4. I don’t have to go to school on July 4. But I don’t get any presents either. If I got presents on July 4 it would be my favorite holiday.

When does the author’s grandmother make cupcakes?

I. Christmas

II. Halloween

III. July 4

• I only

• I and II only

• I, II, and III

Answer explanation

In paragraph 1, the author says "My grandmother makes ham, salad, and cupcakes on Christmas." This means option (I) is true. In paragraph 2, the author says "My grandmother makes candy corn and cupcakes on Halloween." This means option (II) is true. In paragraph 3 the author says "My grandmother makes hot dogs and salad on July 4." This means option (III) is not true. Choice (B) is correct.

Christmas is my favorite holiday. My grandmother makes ham, salad, and cupcakes on Christmas. I also get a present at Christmas! Last year I got a new set of paintbrushes. This year I hope to get new pencils and a drawing pad. I always have fun at Christmas. Halloween is another good holiday. My grandmother makes candy corn and cupcakes on Halloween. People wear costumes during Halloween. Last year I wore a skeleton costume. This year I am going to wear a zombie costume. July 4 is a good holiday. July 4 is the birthday of the United States of America. My grandmother makes hot dogs and salad on July 4. I don’t have to go to school on July 4. But I don’t get any presents either. If I got presents on July 4 it would be my favorite holiday.

Which holiday does the author like most?

• Christmas

• Halloween

• Easter

Answer explanation

In paragraph 1, the author writes, “Christmas is my favorite holiday.” Choice (A) is correct.

Christmas is my favorite holiday. My grandmother makes ham, salad, and cupcakes on Christmas. I also get a present at Christmas! Last year I got a new set of paintbrushes. This year I hope to get new pencils and a drawing pad. I always have fun at Christmas. Halloween is another good holiday. My grandmother makes candy corn and cupcakes on Halloween. People wear costumes during Halloween. Last year I wore a skeleton costume. This year I am going to wear a zombie costume. July 4 is a good holiday. July 4 is the birthday of the United States of America. My grandmother makes hot dogs and salad on July 4. I don’t have to go to school on July 4. But I don’t get any presents either. If I got presents on July 4 it would be my favorite holiday.

Based on the things the author gets for Christmas, we can understand that he likes ..........

• sports

• art

• music

Answer explanation

In paragraph 1 the author says, "Last year I got a new set of paint brushes. This year I hope to get new pencils and a drawing pad." Paint brushes, pencils, and a drawing pad are all used to make art. This means that the author must like art. Choice (B) is correct.

Christmas is my favorite holiday. My grandmother makes ham, salad, and cupcakes on Christmas. I also get a present at Christmas! Last year I got a new set of paintbrushes. This year I hope to get new pencils and a drawing pad. I always have fun at Christmas. Halloween is another good holiday. My grandmother makes candy corn and cupcakes on Halloween. People wear costumes during Halloween. Last year I wore a skeleton costume. This year I am going to wear a zombie costume. July 4 is a good holiday. July 4 is the birthday of the United States of America. My grandmother makes hot dogs and salad on July 4. I don’t have to go to school on July 4. But I don’t get any presents either. If I got presents on July 4 it would be my favorite holiday.

What is the author’s favorite thing about holidays?

• not going to school

• eating candy

• getting presents

Answer explanation

In paragraph 1, the author says that Christmas is his or her favorite holiday. This is because the author gets "a present on Christmas!" In paragraph 3, the author says "If I got presents on July 4 it would be my favorite holiday." This lets us know that the author's favorite thing about the holidays is getting presents. Choice (C) is correct.

Christmas is my favorite holiday. My grandmother makes ham, salad, and cupcakes on Christmas. I also get a present at Christmas! Last year I got a new set of paintbrushes. This year I hope to get new pencils and a drawing pad. I always have fun at Christmas. Halloween is another good holiday. My grandmother makes candy corn and cupcakes on Halloween. People wear costumes during Halloween. Last year I wore a skeleton costume. This year I am going to wear a zombie costume. July 4 is a good holiday. July 4 is the birthday of the United States of America. My grandmother makes hot dogs and salad on July 4. I don’t have to go to school on July 4. But I don’t get any presents either. If I got presents on July 4 it would be my favorite holiday.

What costume did the author wear for Halloween last year?

• a skeleton costume

• a zombie costume

• a pumpkin costume

Answer explanation

In paragraph 1 the author says "Last year I wore a skeleton costume." Choice (A) is correct.

Christmas is my favorite holiday. My grandmother makes ham, salad, and cupcakes on Christmas. I also get a present at Christmas! Last year I got a new set of paintbrushes. This year I hope to get new pencils and a drawing pad. I always have fun at Christmas. Halloween is another good holiday. My grandmother makes candy corn and cupcakes on Halloween. People wear costumes during Halloween. Last year I wore a skeleton costume. This year I am going to wear a zombie costume. July 4 is a good holiday. July 4 is the birthday of the United States of America. My grandmother makes hot dogs and salad on July 4. I don’t have to go to school on July 4. But I don’t get any presents either. If I got presents on July 4 it would be my favorite holiday.

Based on what you know about the author, what costume will he probably wear next year?

• a pumpkin costume

• a flower costume

• a ghost costume

Answer explanation

In paragraph 1 the author says "Last year I wore a skeleton costume. This year I am going to wear a zombie costume." Using this information, we can understand that the author likes dark and scary costumes. A ghost costume is dark and scary. Therefore the author will probably wear a ghost costume next year. Choice (C) is correct. Neither a pumpkin costume nor a flower costume are dark and scary. This means (A) and (B) are incorrect.

Christmas is my favorite holiday. My grandmother makes ham, salad, and cupcakes on Christmas. I also get a present at Christmas! Last year I got a new set of paintbrushes. This year I hope to get new pencils and a drawing pad. I always have fun at Christmas. Halloween is another good holiday. My grandmother makes candy corn and cupcakes on Halloween. People wear costumes during Halloween. Last year I wore a skeleton costume. This year I am going to wear a zombie costume. July 4 is a good holiday. July 4 is the birthday of the United States of America. My grandmother makes hot dogs and salad on July 4. I don’t have to go to school on July 4. But I don’t get any presents either. If I got presents on July 4 it would be my favorite holiday.

This story is mainly about ................

• why the author likes some holidays

• how someone can get out of school

• which foods are the best to eat on different holidays

Answer explanation

The author writes about three different holidays: Christmas, July 4, and Easter. The author explains what happens these holidays, and what he likes about each one. Choice (A) is correct. In paragraph 3 the author says, "I don’t have to go to school on July 4." However, this is only a detail of the passage. It is not what the passage is mainly about. Therefore (B) is incorrect. In paragraphs 1, 2, and 3 the author tells about the food he eats on each holiday. However, these are only details of the passage. They are not what the passage is mainly about. Therefore (C) is incorrect.

Christmas is my favorite holiday. My grandmother makes ham, salad, and cupcakes on Christmas. I also get a present at Christmas! Last year I got a new set of paintbrushes. This year I hope to get new pencils and a drawing pad. I always have fun at Christmas. Halloween is another good holiday. My grandmother makes candy corn and cupcakes on Halloween. People wear costumes during Halloween. Last year I wore a skeleton costume. This year I am going to wear a zombie costume. July 4 is a good holiday. July 4 is the birthday of the United States of America. My grandmother makes hot dogs and salad on July 4. I don’t have to go to school on July 4. But I don’t get any presents either. If I got presents on July 4 it would be my favorite holiday.

What is the best title for this passage?

• The Holidays I Like

• Why Christmas is Best

• Hot Dogs and Salad

Answer explanation

A good title describes the main idea of the passage. In paragraph 1 the author talks about why he likes Christmas. In paragraph 2 the author talks about why he likes Halloween. In paragraph 3 the author talks about why he likes July 4. The main idea of this passage is the holidays the author likes. Choice (A) is correct. In paragraph 1 the author says, "Christmas is my favorite holiday." However, why Christmas is best is only one part of this passage. It is not the main idea. Choice (B) is incorrect. In paragraph 3 the author says, "My grandmother makes hot dogs and salad on July 4." However, hot dogs and salad is only a detail of this passage. It is not the main idea. Choice (C) is incorrect

On Monday, Robert works at the bank. He plants three bushes. He plants eight yellow flowers. He plants three trees. On Tuesday, Robert works at the school. He plants five red flowers. He digs a hole with a shovel. On Wednesday, Robert works at the hospital. He plants twelve bushes. On Thursday, Robert works at the school. He plants two trees. He plants sixteen white flowers. He digs four holes with a shovel. On Friday, Robert works at the grocery store. He plants two bushes. He plants one tree.

Where does Robert work on Wednesday?

• at the hospital

• at the school

• at the grocery store

Answer explanation

In paragraph 3, the author writes, “On Wednesday, Robert works at the hospital.” Choice (A) is correct.

On Monday, Robert works at the bank. He plants three bushes. He plants eight yellow flowers. He plants three trees. On Tuesday, Robert works at the school. He plants five red flowers. He digs a hole with a shovel. On Wednesday, Robert works at the hospital. He plants twelve bushes. On Thursday, Robert works at the school. He plants two trees. He plants sixteen white flowers. He digs four holes with a shovel. On Friday, Robert works at the grocery store. He plants two bushes. He plants one tree.

What does Robert do on Tuesday?

• He plants twelve purple bushes.

• He plants five red flowers and digs a hole with a shovel.

• He plants two trees, plants sixteen white flowers, and digs four holes with a shovel.

Answer explanation

In paragraph 2, the author writes, “On Tuesday, Robert works at the school. He plants five red flowers. He digs a hole using a shovel.” Choice (B) is correct.