"Charlie Noble and Mate"

Which choice provides a summary of the passage?

• A sea captain named Charlie enjoyed sailing with his dog Mate. Because he taught his dog how to respond to commands that were words used for sailing, Charlie was the only person Mate understood. Mate did not understand when other people spoke to him.

• Charlie was a sea captain who lived near the ocean with his dog Mate. The two spent time sailing on their sailboat and also walking through town. Mate went to town one day to get help for Charlie who was on the sailboat, but the townsfolk could not get to the captain.

• Charlie was a sea captain who lived near the coast with his dog Mate. The two enjoyed walking along the beach, and they also liked sailing together. Sometimes Charlie got hurt on the sailboat, so Mate was trained to get help by barking.

• A sea captain named Charlie spent time sailing with his dog Mate. Charlie got hurt on the sailboat one day, so Mate swam to shore to get help. When no one was able to help, Mate swam back to the boat and woke up Charlie by splashing him with water.

Read the sentence from paragraph 5.

It seemed as if they were speaking to him in a foreign tongue, using words that were indeed strange to him.

What does the author mean by the sentence?

• Mate did not care to learn the language that the townsfolk spoke.

• Mate listened closely and tried to understand what the townsfolk said.

• Mate thought it was amusing that the townsfolk spoke another language.

• Mate did not understand what the townsfolk were saying to him.

Which quotation from the passage supports the inference that Charlie and Mate enjoyed spending time together?

• “Charlie’s companion was a black Labrador retriever named Mate. Dogs learn obedience commands from the language of their owners.” (paragraph 4)

• “When Charlie and Mate walked the streets of Bald Head or strolled along the sands of Singing Beach, they swayed from side to side as if they were on a pitching deck in a choppy sea.” (paragraph 5)

• “Sailing in each other’s company provided a perfect afternoon for Charlie and Mate, but they did not go too far from shore in the small boat.” (paragraph 6)

• “Mate whimpered once again and licked Charlie’s face. The dazed old man sat up slowly, rubbing the side of his sore head.” (paragraph 13)

What does the author mean by the phrase “if a fogbank rolled in” in paragraph 6?

• Fog may sometimes appear suddenly.

• Fog may sometimes be difficult to see.

• Fog may cause the sailboat to turn around.

• Fog may cause the sailboat to stop moving.

Which phrase from paragraphs 7-8 helps the reader understand the meaning of the word unconscious?

• “…the sail swung wildly…”

• “…frantically licked his master’s face…”

• “…the old seaman did not move.”

• “…into the cold water…”

Part A

How did Mate respond differently to Jake than to the other townsfolk?

• Mate recognized Jake from the ship, but he did not recognize the townsfolk.

• Mate wagged his tail at Jake happily, but he did not pay attention to the townsfolk.

• Mate showed Jake that he needed help, but he did not try to get the townsfolk to help.

• Mate knew what Jake was saying, but he did not know what the townsfolk said.

Part B

Which quotation from the passage best supports the answer to Part A?

• “A young sailor in the crowd named Jake, a former shipmate of Charlie, recognized Mate and remembered that the old man’s dog responded to ‘sailor talk.’” (paragraph 11)

• “Jake bellowed in a deep voice, ‘Heave to!’ followed by ‘Pipe down!’ Mate stopped running in circles, then rapidly wagged his tail. The dog seemed to understand.” (paragraph 11)

• “There the would-be rescuers saw the sailboat adrift offshore, but there were no rescue boats on the strand. Jake turned toward Mate and yelled, ‘On board!’ once again.” (paragraph 12)

• “Jake and the other folks onshore gave a cheer and turned back toward Bald Head.” (paragraph 14)

Which choice tells how paragraphs 7-8 contribute to the overall structure of the passage?

• They introduce the conflict that the main characters face.

• They explain how one character solves the problem.

• They describe how the main characters meet one another.

• They provide important background information about a character.

What does the author mean by the phrase “the vessel came to life” in paragraph 13?

• The sailboat tipped over.

• The sailboat looked bigger.

• The sailboat made noises.

• The sailboat started moving.

What can the reader infer about Mate based on his actions in the passage?

• Mate was protective of Charlie.

• Mate enjoyed swimming with Charlie.

• Mate was curious about the people in town.

• Mate liked being on the sailboat more than being on land.