Leo knew that if he went inside, he’d surely be grounded for bullying and

teasing his little brother. Instead, he decided to escape to the park and play soccer for a while until his mom cooled down.

When he got to the park, Leo didn’t see any of his friends but saw some

older boys playing soccer. He summoned the courage to ask if he could join their game. “We don’t have room for little wimps,” shouted one of the older boys. “Run

home, little baby, so your mommy can change your diaper.”

Leo was embarrassed and walked away feeling very upset. He realized that

it wasn’t fun being bullied.

Which detail from the story is most important to the theme “Treat others the way

you want to be treated”?

Dear Jason,

I was so sorry to hear that your

grandfather passed away. I know how close the

two of you were. I am sure you miss him a lot.

Call me if you want to talk.

-Carter

Which word best describes the tone of this note?

Every time the telephone had rung that day, Kyle’s

heart started pounding, and this time was no different. His

mom picked up the phone. “Hello?” After a moment, she

said, “Yes, this is she.” Kyle watched his mom closely, trying to read her face. They were expecting her biopsy results from the doctor who specialized in skin

cancer. On Monday, his mom had had a mole removed, so that it could

be tested. Suddenly, his mom’s face relaxed and a broad smile appeared. She

let out a deep breath and said, “Oh, that’s great news!”

Kyle didn’t need to hear the rest of the conversation. His mom was

going to be all right after all!

Which of the following words reflects the mood of this passage?

Benji, Jonah, and their friends huddled near the entrance of

the Great Corn Maze as dusk fell, and the sky began to darken.

“Are you sure we shouldn’t wait until tomorrow when we would

have more light?” Benji asked nervously.

“No way! We got this!” shouted Jonah.

The boys had no idea what adventures awaited in the darkening

maze that night, but it was sure to be a challenge and a lot of fun!

Whose point of view is the story told from?

Fran and Emma were standing together at the bus stop when Lilly

approached them. “Guys, I just got the most amazing pair of sunglasses yesterday,” Lilly announced, snapping a selfie. “Do you want to see how good they look with my — What’s wrong?” Lilly questioned as the other girls turned away from her. The pair of girls didn’t turn to acknowledge Lilly. They didn’t want to hear about her new sunglasses or anything else she planned to show them. “Fine!” Lilly scoffed. “I’ll just share them with all my true friends on

social media.”

What observation about the story is most helpful in determining its theme?

I looked at the piles and piles of toys, dirty clothes, old

homework assignments, and a few empty chip bags that covered the

carpet of my room. My mom said I had to clean it up before I went

outside to join the epic game of kickball going on. This was going to be a herculean job; a hard job; a really, really, difficult job.

What does the word herculean mean in this story?

Trevor could not believe his luck! At a community festival,

Fredrick Owens was right there. He was known as titan in the world of

basketball, a legend. Everyone knew him and loved him. Trevor admired

his athletic ability, especially his amazing ability to dunk the ball in any

circumstance. Trevor nervously walked toward Fredrick to ask for a

photograph.

What does the word titan mean in this story?

Sarah, Samuel, and Stacy Sanderson were triplets. Sarah was tall

and slim with red hair, a long nose, and piercing blue eyes. Samuel was the same height as Sarah, with black hair, a small nose, and wide green eyes. He was often described as scrawny, which he resented. Stacy was taller than both of her siblings, with a slender frame, long black hair, and blue eyes. Strangers were always surprised to hear that they were all the same age.

What physical trait did all three triplets have in common?

Felicia and her family visited two different places that week. First,

they joined the tour group viewing a waterfall. They had to hike two miles straight up to get there. The water was crystal clear and icy cold. Felicia was the only one courageous enough to swim in it. The next day, they drove two hours to an overlook on the top of a mountain. Felicia brought her binoculars so she could see every detail of the landscape below. She saw farmhouses, trees, and even a hawk circling overhead.

What is similar about both locations described in the passage?

Paragraph 1: Red and gold leaves blew past as I rode my

bicycle to the local school. I shivered in my thin jacket, wishing I had

remembered to bring a scarf. I glimpsed a bright orange pumpkin on my neighbor’s yard as I sped by.

Paragraph 2: I squinted up at the bright morning sun as I

pedaled faster, my legs burning and sweat dripping down my forehead. Just two more weeks until our family trip to the beach. I couldn’t wait! I stopped briefly to take off my light jacket. The material was thin, but I was still overheated.

What is different about the settings described in each paragraph?

Emmy sat stunned as the dentist suggested she get braces today

and was even more taken back when her mom agreed with him. Emmy thought her teeth looked fine. To make matters worse, the first day of school was tomorrow! There was no way she could start the school year with a mouth full of metal. She wouldn't have time to get used to them or warn people before they saw her. Everyone would make fun of her! How would she eat lunch? She could only imagine the bits of leftover sandwich that would be stuck in those tiny crevices. This was an absolute disaster!

Why is Emmy concerned about getting braces?