Open Up - Grade 4 - ELA - Module 2 - Mid Unit 1 Assessment

Part A: How does the box turtle use its shell to protect itself? (RI.4.1)

• It uses the lower section of its shell to close the opening in its shell.
• It pulls its head into the shell and folds its legs in front to form a shield.
• It seals the shell’s opening with a hard plate on the end of the foot.
• It rolls up into an armor-plated ball.

Tags

RI.4.10

Part B: Which detail from the text supports the answer in Part A? (RI.4.1)

• “Box turtles have hinged plastrons …”
• “A turtle can stay inside its shell for hours, waiting for a predator to give up.”
• “… pulls its head and its muscular foot inside the shell.”
• “… have shells made of eight plates.”

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RI.4.10

According to the text, why is it important that animals like turtles, tortoises, snails, and clams have shells? (RI.4.1)

• They spend much or all of their lives in water.
• The shell is basically a sturdy box made of bone and includes the animal’s spine and ribs.
• They can burrow to hide from predators or roll up into a ball.
• The animals can tuck their soft bodies into their shells faster than they can move away from the predator.

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RI.4.1

Part A: Read the sentence from Paragraph 1 of “Shells.”A sturdy shell is the primary defense for a variety of very slow-moving animals, such as turtles, tortoises, snails, and clams.What is the meaning of the word “variety” as it is used in the sentence? (RI.4.4; L.4.4a)

• similar
• species
• assortment
• few

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L.4.4.a

RI.4.4

Part B: Which detail from the text helps the reader understand the meaning of “variety”? (RI.4.4; L.4.4a)

• “… such as turtles, tortoises, snails, and clams.”
• “These bones include the turtle’s spine and ribs.”
• “Some turtles have just a few scutes embedded in a thick skin on the carapace.”
• “Many bivalves burrow deeply in sand or mud to stay hidden from predators, such as seabirds.”

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L.4.4.a

RI.4.4

Part A: What is the meaning of the word “tough” as it is used in Paragraph 4 of “Shells”? (RI.4.4; L.4.4c)

• tough: able to put up with trouble or hardship
• tough: difficult to do or understand
• tough: not easily influenced
• tough: hard to break; strong; lasting a long time

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L.4.4.c

RI.4.4

Part B: Which detail from the text helps the reader understand the meaning of “tough”? (RI.4.4; L.4.4c)

• “Both have shells made of two parts: an upper section called the carapace and a lower section called the plastron.”
• “… the same substance that forms hooves and fingernails.”
• “Some turtles have just a few scutes embedded in a thick skin on the carapace.”
• “It hangs on tightly enough to prevent being washed away by waves.”

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L.4.4.c

RI.4.4

What is the main idea of the text, “Shells”? (RI.4.2) What’s the most important thing the author wants us to know from reading this text? Some slow-moving animals use their shells to protect themselves.

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RI.4.2

Cite two details (evidence) from the text that support the main idea. (RI.4.2)

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RI.4.2

According to the text, shells protect some animals for all of the following reasons except (underline): (RI.4.2)

• Many turtles can pull their heads, tails, and legs partly or fully into their shells.
• Limpets seal the shell’s opening with a hard plate at the end of their foot and use the foot like a suction cup to help grip rocks firmly.
• Some mollusks can partly or fully close their shell around their body.
• Sea turtles have lightweight shells so they can swim away from predators quickly.

Tags

RI.4.2