Reading Benchmark

It was raining outside. Sue got out of bed and got dressed for school. Then, she ate breakfast and grabbed her backpack. Before Sue left the house, she probably ___________________.

• Got her sunglasses.

• Made a sandwich.

• Picked up her umbrella.

My family went to the circus. We saw the funny clowns. We watched the lion act. We ate a lot of treats and popcorn. This story is about __________.

• eating treats and popcorn

• clowns

• going to the circus

Mary was standing on the sidewalk. Then, she saw a butterfly. She got a net. She chased the butterfly.

• Mary will try to catch a spider.

• Mary will run and play.

• Mary will try to catch the butterfly in her net.

My family went to the circus. We saw the funny clowns. We watched the lion act. We ate a lot of treats and popcorn.  This story is about __________.

• eating treats and popcorn
• clowns
• going to the circus
• lions

Jenny visited her grandmother in the hospital.  She saw how kind and helpful the nurses were to her grandmother.  Now she wants to be a nurse when she grows up.  She wants to help sick people get well. 
What is the main idea?

• Jenny got sick.
• Jenny wants to be a nurse.
• Her grandmother was in the hospital.
• Jenny was glad the nurses were being kind to her grandmother.

Carson's older sister, Madison, is a very good student. She isn't satisfied to just get by in school. She is involved in extra activities at school, including the school's music program and the math club. She also always tries to answer the teacher's questions in class.
What is the main idea of the paragraph?

• Famous female journalists in Madison was born before Carson.
• Madison likes music. and math.
• How women were treated in the Madison is a very good student.
• Madison likes to show off.

Mary has a new pet.  Her pet is a baby kitten.  It is soft and cuddly.  The kitten likes to sleep a lot.  Mary put a soft blanket in a box for its bed.  Mary plays with her kitten when it is awake.  She never forgets to feed her kitten.
What is the main idea?

• The kitten sleeps a lot.
• Mary plays with her kitten
• Mary’s new pet is a kitten.
• Mary want a new pet.

It was backward day at school.  The students had to do things backward.  Some of them wore their T-shirts backward.  They took a test before they studied the lesson.  Dessert was served first instead of last.  They tried to walk home backward, but they bumped into each other and fell down. 
What is the main idea?

• Dessert is supposed to come last.
• The students had a backward day.
• It is hard to do things backward.
• Students failed their tests.

There are many fun things to do at the beach.  Swimming is one thing that can be done at the beach.  Snorkeling is another thing that can be enjoyed.  Playing beach volleyball can be a lot of fun.  It is also fun to look for shells.  Some people simply like to sunbathe.
What is the main idea?

• There are many fun things to do at the beach.
• It is also fun to look for shells.
• Some people simply like to sunbathe.
• Going to the beach to swim can be fun.

Spots is a large grey and white cat. Spot lives in a barn in a farm. Spot likes living in a barn. It was warm in the winter and cool in the summer. There were many mice for Spot to chase. Best of all, Spot had a soft space to sleep in the corner of the barn. What is the main idea?

• The barn is dirty

• Spots was grey and white.

• The barn was a good place for Spot to live.

• Spot eats mice.