Beginning of Year CKLA Assessment: Comprehension

Explain why the axe slipped and flew out of the Woodman’s hands into the pool.

. Despair means the feeling of having lost hope that something will improve. Why was the Woodman in despair?

• He didn’t finish cutting down the tree he had started cutting down

• He didn’t want to tell Mercury what had happened.

• He wanted the golden axe.

• He didn’t know how he would get his axe back.

How did the Woodman show honesty, or the quality of being fair and truthful? Find two examples in the text and write them down.

What good fortune did the other Woodmen in the village hope to easily win?

• getting a golden axe and a silver axe in addition to their own

• losing their own axes in the pool in the forest

• returning the next day to find their hidden axes

• showing honesty to Mercury when he asked what the trouble was

What could the Woodman have done that didn’t show honesty?

Knowing what Banneker accomplished in his life, what does the word outstanding mean in the following sentence from paragraph 5?

Benjamin Banneker’s abilities were outstanding.

• unpaid

• excellent

• poor

• average

Answer the question and use text evidence to support your answer.

Why did Benjamin Banneker build a large clock with the same working parts as a pocket watch?

Answer the question and use text evidence to support your answer.

Why did Benjamin Banneker build an irrigation system?

In paragraph 6, the author notes the following:

Jefferson reacted favorably to the almanac and responded to Banneker’s comments politely.

Using evidence from the text, explain why Jefferson might have reacted favorably to the almanac and why he might have responded to Banneker’s comments politely

In paragraph 5, the author states that Thomas Jefferson was aware of Banneker’s talents and requested that Banneker be made part of a group that was planning the design for the nation’s capital. Using information from the text, explain why Thomas Jefferson might have requested that Banneker be part of an important group planning the design of the nation’s capital.