Troxell Pride Reading Practice

When the day of the competition finally arrived, Brittany was plagued with nerves. Her parents were in the stands, and Coach Jen was in the front row beside other coaches. Brittany practiced her moves and, although she had memorized the routine, she felt clumsy and insecure. Brittany stood with a solemn expression, concerned that this was about to be a disaster.

In the passage above, what does solemn mean?

• Serious

• Confused

• Excited

• Annoyed

“You’ve got this, Brit; and no matter what happens, I’ll be cheering you on.”

How does this sentence support a primary theme of the story?

• By showing that good relationships can withstand minor disagreements

• By suggesting that participating in athletic competitions can be stressful

• By revealing that achieving a goal often requires eliminating distractions

• By explaining that it is important to be honest with others

After a few moments, the judges announced the beginning of the event and called Brittany’s name first. Brittany approached the edge of the mat with her head held high. She saw Alix, giving two thumbs up, and Brittany envisioned the judges giving her the same gesture after her routine. She felt a weight lift from her shoulders, now buoyed by a dose of support from her friend.

In paragraph 15, the author’s choice of language creates a mood of —

• fondness

• admiration

• hopefulness

• amusement

For years I never noticed. Then, one morning, the saws awakened me. That evening the tree was gone, cut up and carted off in trucks. The gap it left created a silence, an emptiness, along the street: the presence of the absence of the tree.

How does the author’s use of language in lines 14 through 16 contribute to the mood of the poem “The Tree”?

• By explaining that the speaker is surprised by feelings of disappointment

• By suggesting that the speaker is uncertain about what will happen next

• By showing that the speaker is experiencing a sense of abandonment

• By highlighting how the speaker is frustrated with the current situation

Walking for exercise is increasing in popularity with the arrival of new technologies too. Fitness trackers and step counters on smartphones and wristbands are becoming commonplace. People can set goals on these trackers to help themselves reach the numbers of steps they hope to walk each day. It is clear that people everywhere are embracing this great activity.

Which phrase in paragraph 8 helps the reader understand the meaning of commonplace?

• can set goals

• increasing in popularity

• arrival of new technologies

• help themselves reach

When people think of exercise, they probably envision someone muscular lifting hundreds of pounds on a barbell or swift and strong sprinters speeding along a racetrack.

Which key idea is suggested by this sentence?

• People avoid exercise because they think it is beyond their capabilities.

• Anyone can take part in exercise with the right amount of training.

• Proper equipment is often needed for certain exercise programs.

• Most exercise routines require an advanced level of skill.

El Silbo has a history that reaches back for many generations. No one is certain of its origin. Some speculate that it began as a northern African language. Historians do know that the whistled language was used by the original inhabitants of the island. When the Spanish explorers arrived during the 1500s and 1600s, they adopted the language and el Silbo was widely spoken for centuries after.

Which phrase from paragraph 2 helps the reader understand the meaning of speculate?

• El Silbo has a history

• for many generations

• No one is certain

• the original inhabitants

Before long only a few people could still whistle this unique language. To preserve the language, the government took action and required that el Silbo be taught in the schools.

Which central idea do these sentences help the reader understand?

• A language can disappear over time if people no longer use it.

• A language can help connect people in different places with different ways of life.

• People can understand a language without needing to speak it.

• People can adapt a language to their changing needs.

To preserve the language, the government took action and required that el Silbo be taught in the schools.

In the above passage, what is the meaning of preserve?

• To keep the language alive in the future.

• To record the language in history.

• To make a fun activity for students.