ELA Review: 2nd Quarter

Many people like to grow flowers and vegetables in their own gardens. They may also want to help the planet by saving, or conserving, water. How can people both enjoy their gardens and lower their water use? One way is to water plants close to their roots, where water is needed. Another way is to recycle water used indoors. For example, people can water plants with leftover water from cooking. Yet another way is to choose plants that don't need much water to grow. These are just some of the many ways that the home gardener can conserve water.

What is the main, or central, idea of the passage?

• Growing flowers and vegetables is a good way to help the planet.

• There are some plants that don't need much water to grow.

• People can do many things to use less water in their gardens.

In 1977, Sally Ride was a college student at Stanford University. She learned that NASA was inviting women to become astronauts. It was the first time that women were allowed in the space program. Ride had a great interest in exploring space and worked hard to make her dream come true. She beat out thousands of other women to win a spot in the astronaut training program. After completing the difficult training, she became an astronaut. At first she worked on the ground supporting two space shuttle flights. Later she joined the crew of the space shuttle Challenger. She was the youngest crew member and the only female. Finally, in 1983, Sally Ride became the first American woman to fly into space.

What is the main, or central, idea of the passage?

• Sally Ride worked tirelessly to achieve her goal of space flight.

• Sally Ride was a crew member on the Challenger space shuttle.

• Before 1977, women were not allowed in the space program.

A princess named Psyche was amazingly beautiful. This angered Venus, the goddess of love, who wanted to be the most admired. Venus told her son Cupid to cast a spell that would harm Psyche, but Cupid fell in love with her.

On the advice of the god Apollo, Psyche's parents sent her away to live on top of a mountain. Cupid went to visit her secretly every night. He told her, "You must never try to see my face."

Cupid was so kind that Psyche fell in love with him. She couldn't help wondering what he looked like, though, so one night she lit a lamp to see him. Angry that she didn't trust him, he left her.

Psyche wandered the earth looking for Cupid. She asked Venus for help, but Venus gave her some impossible jobs to do. First, Psyche had to sort an enormous pile of different kinds of grains. Next, she had to gather wool from a flock of fierce sheep. With the help of other gods, she did these jobs.

Then, Venus sent her on an errand to the land of the dead, and Psyche nearly died. Finally, Cupid forgave her and rescued her.

What is the theme or lesson of the myth?

• Finding love takes time.

• Love is worth working hard for.

• If you break someone's trust, you will never be forgiven.

Hansel and Gretel lived with their father and stepmother. Because the family had little to eat, their cruel stepmother decided to lead the children into the forest and leave them there.

Hansel and Gretel wandered, hungry and tired, until they came to a house made of gingerbread and candy. The children began eating pieces of the house. Suddenly, an old woman came out. She said, "Come inside and you will have all the sweets you like."

But the next day, the woman locked Hansel up, and she made Gretel do all her work. "When Hansel is nice and fat, I will eat him for supper!" said the old woman, who was really a witch. Every day she asked to feel Hansel's finger to see if he was fat yet. But clever Hansel held out a bone, so the witch, who couldn't see well, thought he was still thin.

Time passed, and the witch decided to eat Hansel anyway. She told Gretel to start the fire in the oven, but Gretel had an idea. "I can't see if the fire is going," Gretel said. When the witch looked in, Gretel pushed her into the oven and locked the door. Then she and Hansel escaped.

What is the theme or lesson of the fairy tale?

• Clever thinking can get you out of trouble.

• It is important to learn from your mistakes.

• Eating too many sweets is bad for you.

Walter walked slowly around the store, pausing to look at the glass figures on the table. He was admiring a small bird when he noticed the "Do Not Touch" sign. The shelves above him had several pottery bowls of all different sizes and colors. But next to the bowls was a "Keep Hands Off" sign.

Based on the text, which sentence is most likely to be true?

• Everything in the store is delicate.

• Walter works in the store.

• Walter is shopping for a gift.

Kendrick put on his hockey uniform, preparing for the first practice of the season. He undid the laces on his skates and struggled to get into them. "Mom," Kendrick called, "time to go shopping!"

Based on the text, which sentence is most likely to be true?

• Kendrick needs a different type of skate.

• Kendrick needs a new uniform.

• Kendrick doesn't want to play hockey.

• Kendrick outgrew his skates.

Everyone was sure that the woman in the corner was a famous author. Only Nora, though, was willing to approach the woman and ask her name.

Based on these sentences, what is Nora probably like?

• daring

• organized

• selfish

• timid

Nina had spent the morning pacing the room, stopping only occasionally to chew at a fingernail. When the doorbell rang, she nearly jumped out of her seat.

Based on these sentences, how is Nina probably feeling?

• relieved

• grateful

• anxious

• angry