Milestones Test Prep #1 Buried Treasure

What is the main idea of the story?

• Cleaning is an important activity.

• Maps are useful and fun to draw.

• Brothers and sisters are often different.

• Fun can be found in unexpected places.

Answer explanation

The correct answer is choice (D) Fun can be found in unexpected places. The children initially didn’t expect to have fun cleaning the attic, but then they discovered the treasure map. Later, Michael learned that helping his sister, even though he thought it was pointless, turned out to be fun. Choice (A) is incorrect because cleaning is not the main focus of the story; finding the treasure is. Choice (B) is incorrect because the children don’t actually draw a map; they simply follow it. Choice (C) is incorrect because nothing in the story supports this generalized conclusion about brothers and sisters.

Which of these sentences from the story BEST supports the ideas that Michael cares about his sister?

• Their mother wanted them to clean the room. He stared at the dusty boxes piled against the wall

• Michael took the faded paper from her hands and studied the scribbled pictures.

• Michael opened his mouth to agree, but the words caught in his throat. His sister looked like a balloon after it had lost its air.

• Soon Michael discovered a tin box in a hollow spot at the base of the rock. Anna worked the cover loose, and together, they stared at an old wooden yo-yo.

Answer explanation

The correct answer is choice (C) Michael opened his mouth to agree, but the words caught in his throat. His sister looked like a balloon after it had lost its air. At this point in the story, Michael realizes that being kind to his sister is better than making her feel even more foolish for thinking the map would still lead to treasure after all these years. Choice (A) is incorrect because it does not show any interaction between Michael and Anna. Choice (B) is incorrect because it does not reveal that Michael is caring nor is he reacting in any way to Anna. Choice (D) is incorrect because it only describes Michael and Anna working together to open the box.

Which BEST describes why Anna is unable to find the treasure before Michael helps her?

• She is looking at the wrong side of the map.

• The map is old and shows a tree that is no longer there.

• She does not have the map with her while she is looking

• The map is confusing and shows rocks shaped like animals.

Answer explanation

The correct answer is choice (B) The map is old and shows a tree that is no longer there. Because the map shows features that have changed over time, Anna can’t rely on them to find the treasure. Choice (A) is incorrect because turning the map on the right side by itself doesn’t solve the problem. Choice (C) is incorrect because Anna does carry the map with her throughout the story. Choice (D) is incorrect because the rock shaped like a bird actually helps Anna and Michael find the treasure; it does not confuse them.

In what ways are Anna and Michael different? How do their differences affect their search for the treasure? Use details from the story in your answer.

Which of these BEST explains the meaning of the phrase like a flash of lightning as it is used in the sentence?

Anna kept dashing past him like a flash of lightning.

• Anna was very fast

• Anna was in danger.

• Anna was very bright.

• Anna was hard to see.

Answer explanation

The correct answer is choice (A) Anna was very fast. The phrase “like a flash of lighting” is figurative language describing her speed. Choice (B) is incorrect because Anna is not actually in danger in the story. Choices (C) and (D) are incorrect because they are literal interpretations that do not reflect her speed.

What is the meaning of studied as it is used in the sentence?

Michael took the faded paper from her hands and studied the scribbled pictures.

• learned

• planned

• observed

• remembered

Answer explanation

The correct answer is choice (C) observed. Michael is looking at the map and thinking about what he sees. Choices (A) and (B) are incorrect because Michael hasn’t learned anything about the map yet or made plans based on it; he has only just started looking at it. Choice (D) is incorrect because this is only the first time he has gotten a good look at the map, so he couldn’t have remembered anything about it yet.

What does the prefix un- mean in unusual?

Finally, they spotted an unusual rock shaped like a bird.

• not

• very

• under

• before

Answer explanation

The correct answer is choice (A) not. The word “unusual” refers to something that is not typically expected or something that stands out. In this case, the rock shaped like a bird is “unusual” or “not normal” because most rocks don’t have recognizable or memorable shapes. Choice (B) is incorrect because it would suggest that the rock is “very usual,” which it isn’t because it’s shaped like a bird. Choice (C) is incorrect because the rock is not underneath of anything. Choice (D) is incorrect because the rock does not come before anything

Which sentence BEST describes the change in Michael’s attitude toward the treasure map?

• Michael thinks the treasure map is a fake until he sees the treasure marked with an X.

• . Michael thinks the treasure map is silly until he and his sister find a treasure in their yard.

• Michael thinks the treasure map is dangerous until he sees that it includes a picture of his house.

• Michael thinks the treasure map is drawn incorrectly until his sister finds a tree stump in their yard.

Which pair of sentences from the story BEST supports the answer to Part A?

• “It is a waste of time,” Michael said. Soon Michael discovered a tin box in a hollow spot at the base of the rock.

• “You will not find that treasure anymore,” he said. “It is on the wrong side of the house, and it is only a few years old.”

• “Some little kid drew this years ago.” “The tree on the map must have been cut down.”

• “How is the treasure hunting?” Michael teased. Michael laughed at her enthusiasm.

Write a conclusion to the story in which Anna and Michael go back to the attic to see what else they can find. Be sure to include what they say to each other and descriptions of how the attic looks.