WorksheetsThe Letter
Total questions: 18
Worksheet time: 47mins
What is the theme of this passage?
Long journeys may involve much misfortune.
Do not always believe everything you read.
Young people should be protected from danger.
Sometimes you have to take risks to achieve a goal.
Who is the narrator of this passage?
John Sparks, the son of Ma and Pa Sparks.
Pa Sparks, the father of John, Matt, and David.
Bo Brown, the Sparks family neighbor.
someone who is not involved in the passage.
How would this story had been different if Travis, Pa's brother, had narrated this story from his point of view. Choose the TWO best answers.
The reader would understand more about Pa Sparks's thoughts and feelings and less about the other characters' thoughts and feelings.
The reader would know and understand more about Travis's thoughts and feelings and less about the other characters' thoughts and feelings.
The author would use words such as "I" and "me" to indicate Pa was speaking.
The author would use words such as "I" and "me" to indicate Travis was speaking.
The reader would know the thoughts and feelings of all characters in the story.
Read the following sentence from the passage.
Some had died while crossing raging rivers that swept people away like leaves.
What does the phrase "swept people away like leaves" most likely mean?
The people crossed rivers clogged with fallen leaves.
The people floated on the surface of the water.
The people saw leaves piled on the riverbanks in the fall.
The people were powerless against the current in the rivers.
Read the following sentence from the passage.
Their wagon train had experienced its share of misfortune, including many people who had become ill or injured.
Using what you know about prefixes and base words, what is the meaning of the word "misfortune" as it is used in this sentence?
bad luck
too much luck
without money
extra money
Which sentence BEST explains the similarities or differences in Ma and Pa Sparks' reactions to the idea of moving to Oregon Country?
Both Ma and Pa Sparks thought that the trip to Oregon Country would take too long.
Ma Sparks thought it would be hard to grow crops in Oregon Country, but Pa Sparks was concerned about selling their farm equipment.
Both Ma and Pa Sparks thought it would be better to wait until their sons were older to travel to Oregon Country.
Ma Sparks thought it was too risky, but Pa Sparks was excited for the chance to improve the family's life.
Based on the passage, readers can conclude that the author thinks reading and math skills will be more useful to students throughout their lives than knowing how to play sports. Read the following excerpt from the passage. Then click on the TWO statements that best support this conclusion.
I believe in the value of physical education.
Physical activity is important for a healthy lifestyle.
However, when schools are forced to choose what they will teach, they must remain focused on the basic subjects.
A student can get through life without knowing how to play baseball.
We all must be able to read and do math in order to function in society.
Read the following sentences from the passage.
No matter what happens with the budget, schools must remain focused on the main purpose of educating students. We cannot compromise on the basics.
What is the meaning of the word "compromise" as it is used above?
to make a decision that could change the quality of something
to argue about something that neither side really cares about
to build something new and better than the original
to forget why something was once important
Study the dictionary entry below.
massive (MA-siv) n. 1. being extensive and severe. 2. impressively large. 3. that which has mass and occupies space. 4. imposing in excellence or grandeur.
Now read the following sentence.
Deep in the ocean, a shark glides forward, opening its massive jaw. Which definition of "massive" is used in this sentence?
definition 1
definition 2
definition 3
definition 4
Read the following sentence.
Lilah was happy that her dad was able to get tickets to the basketball game, but meeting her favorite player after the game was the icing on the cake.
What is the meaning of the idiom "the icing on the cake" as it is used in this sentence?
Lilah ate cake at the basketball game.
Meeting her favorite player made a good situation even better for Lilah.
Going to the basketball game turned into a bad experience for Lilah.
Lilah's favorite team won the basketball game.
The following excerpt contains an interjection.
Ugh! I can’t believe you! I told you to keep that a secret.
Which of the following statements tells the purpose of the interjection?
It supports the idea that secrets are fun.
It helps the reader understand the importance of having friends.
It helps the reader understand that the speaker is upset about the secret being told.
It supports the idea that it is rude to keep secrets.
Read the following sentences.
Isabella doesn't care for Brussels sprouts. Janeeka doesn't care for Brussels sprouts.
Choose the BEST way to combine these sentences using correlative conjunctions.
Isabella doesn't care for Brussels sprouts and Janeeka doesn't care for Brussels sprouts.
Neither Isabella nor Janeeka care for Brussels sprouts.
Isabella and also Janeeka don't care for Brussels sprouts.
Either Isabella or Janeeka care for Brussels sprouts.
Imagine you are writing a report about dogs and would like to include the title of a magazine article that you are using as a source. Which is the correct way to write this title in your report?
Caring for Your Dog
Caring for Your Dog
"Caring for Your Dog"
Imagine you are leading a small group discussion about this passage. Which TWO questions would be the best to ask to ensure that all the group members understood the passage?
How does the Sparks's neighbor, Bo Brown, feel about the risks involved with traveling on the Oregon Trail?
If the passage continued, what would most likely happen in the future?
How did Travis's family survive during the attacks by the Sioux and the Cheyenne?
Why was Bo Brown traveling by horse rather than in a prairie schooner?
Why was Ma so concerned about the safety of her boys?
Imagine you are giving a presentation about this passage. You make the claim that Travis's family shouldn't have taken the risk to travel along the Oregon Trail because it was too dangerous. Select the TWO pieces of evidence from the passage that best support your claim.
Pa looked at the envelope, worn and tired from having passed through so many hands.
The letter told about the six-month 2,000-mile journey that Travis's family had made along the Oregon Trail.
Some had died while crossing raging rivers that swept people away like leaves.
A few others were killed in attacks by the Sioux and the Cheyenne.
Ma exclaimed, "I most certainly will not subject my boys to such dangers!
Imagine you are having a discussion about this passage with your friend, Tyler. Tyler said, "The decision to eliminate physical education is disappointing, but it is necessary in order to make sure students succeed in the areas of reading and math." Which question would be the BEST question to ask to connect to Tyler's statement?
Which subject is more important, reading or math?
What skills are taught in physical education?
Has the school board considered making cuts in other non-academic areas?
How many physical education teachers are there in the school district?
Imagine you are writing a response letter from Pa to Travis. Read the following excerpt from the rough draft of the letter.
Dear Travis, (1) I was so relieved to receive your letter and to know that you and your family had arrived safely in Oregon Country. (2) It sounds as though a man could make a wonderful life for himself and his family there. (3) I would love to sell everything here in Missouri and join you in this new land. (4) Across, I have a problem. (5) Ma Sparks is not at all in agreement with this plan. (6) She is worried that it is too dangerous.
Choose TWO transition words below that would be a more appropriate fit at the beginning of sentence 4.
Above
However
Between
Unfortunately
Soon
Which research question below is the most open-ended and would likely lead to additional information about what travel was like along the Oregon Trail?
How long is the Oregon Trail?
What difficulties did travelers face while on the Oregon Trail?
Which states did the Oregon Trail pass through?
Why did people travel along the Oregon Trail?
