TAKS February 2006 Grade 3 Reading Online Test

DIRECTIONS
Read each selection. Then read each question that follows that selection. Decide which is the best answer to each question. Mark the space for the answer you have chosen.

2Tarantulas that usually live on the ground should not be kept in tall cages because —

Abugs are found only on the ground

Bthey don’t do well in closed spaces

Cthey like the warmth of the ground

Dfalling from a high place can kill them

3Paragraphs 1 and 2 are mostly about —

Ahow Elizabeth became interested in spiders

Ba spider that crawled near Elizabeth

Cwhy Elizabeth asked questions about spiders

Dthe tarantula that Elizabeth wanted

4Before Elizabeth got a tarantula, she had to —

Awrite articles about tarantulas

Btell her friends about tarantulas

Cteach her parents about tarantulas

Dgive presentations about tarantulas

6From the article, the reader can tell that tarantulas —

Aare not as dangerous as most people believe

Bcan eat any kind of food

Ccan kill people with their bite

Dlive only in very tall trees

7What is the author’s purpose for writing this article?

ATo tell the reader about a girl who hatched spider eggs

BTo give information about how tarantulas live in cages

CTo show what to do if bitten by a tarantula

DTo tell about a girl who became an expert on tarantulas

8Elizabeth took the egg sac from Fluffy’s cage because she —

Adid not want Spot to be able to hurt the eggs

Bwanted to hatch some baby spiders to have as new pets

Cdid not want Fluffy to eat the eggs that were alive

Dwanted to see what would happen if she took care of the egg sac

9Why was Elizabeth invited to appear on television shows?

ATo tell what she had learned about her tarantulas

BTo explain how she named her spiders

CTo read the article she had written about spiders

DTo describe speaking to the American Tarantula Society

11Elizabeth’s parents did not like the idea of Elizabeth having a pet tarantula because they —

Adid not want any pets in their house

Bthought it would not be safe to have a pet tarantula

Cdid not think she was old enough to have a pet

Dthought her friends might be afraid of the tarantula

12From the article, the reader can tell that Elizabeth —

Aknows more about tarantulas than most children her age

Bwas scared when she appeared on television the first time

Cis an excellent speaker in front of large crowds

Dwants to write a book about tarantulas

13How do Angelina’s feelings about her new home change by the end of this story?

AShe wants to move back to Puebla.

BShe doesn’t like Cinco de Mayo parades anymore.

CShe thinks Cinco de Mayo isn’t fun.

DShe feels better about living in Texas.

14In Puebla, why did Angelina and her parents hurry to the parade each year?

APapá had business there.

BThey wanted to visit the food booths early in the day.

CAngelina wanted to help get the parade ready.

DThey wanted a good spot where they could watch the parade.

15What is paragraph 2 mainly about?

AWhat Cinco de Mayo is like in Puebla

BThe beautiful flags on the parade route

CThe business that Papá has downtown

DThe foods people eat for Cinco de Mayo

16Papá tells Angelina that he has business downtown because he —

Adoesn’t want to take her to the parade

Bwants Angelina to be surprised by the parade

Cdoesn’t want Angelina to worry about him

Dwants to take Angelina downtown for lunch

17Use the chart below to answer the question that follows.

Which of the following belongs on the empty lines?

AShe sees her favorite food mole at a festival.

BShe wishes her father would buy the family hamburgers.

CShe learns Texas also has a Cinco de Mayo celebration.

DShe wants to go to Mexico for Cinco de Mayo.

18When Angelina’s family arrives downtown, why are the streets so crowded?

APeople are gathering to watch the parade.

BPeople are busy hanging flags around the square.

CMany people have business downtown.

DMany people have moved to Angelina’s new town.

19Which sentence from this story shows that Mamá knows that Papá is taking the family to see the parade?

ASometimes she thought she would never get used to it.

BEach year her family would wake up early and hurry to the parade.

CAngelina thought she saw him wink at Mamá.

D“He probably thinks I’m too young to understand,” she thought.

20Why does Angelina sigh when she looks at the calendar?

AShe doesn’t want to help Papá.

BShe has to get up early in the morning.

CShe thinks she is missing a fun holiday.

DShe doesn’t want to go downtown.

21What happens right after Angelina and her parents arrive downtown?

AThey watch the fireworks.

BPapá meets with some businesspeople.

CHer family gets into the car to leave.

DAngelina sees people lining up for a parade.

22What is Angelina’s problem in this story?

APapá won’t let her go to the parade.

BShe has forgotten about Cinco de Mayo.

CShe misses her home in Puebla.

DPapá has to work on a holiday.

24How does Mr. Maxwell most likely feel at the end of the story?

AHopeful that Sammy will write more letters to the principal

BAngry at Sammy for staring out the window

CDisappointed that Sammy did not complete his homework

DProud of the good letter that Sammy has written

25The author wrote this story most likely to —

Adescribe how Mr. Maxwell teaches science units in class

Bexplain how to write a perfect letter to the principal

Ctell about a boy who wants to make science class more interesting

Dshow how often a boy gets in trouble at school

26The reader can tell that Mrs. García —

Aspends a lot of time in her office at school

Bdoesn’t allow animals in school

Cis afraid of hermit crabs

Dagrees to let the class have a hermit crab

28Which of the following is the best summary of the story?

AMr. Maxwell says that if Sammy wants a hermit crab as a class pet, he must write the principal a letter and ask for her permission. Sammy spends an hour working on his letter.

BSammy has trouble paying attention in science class. He asks his teacher if his class can get a hermit crab. Mr. Maxwell tells Sammy to write a letter to the principal asking for permission. When Mrs. García agrees, Sammy hurries to tell Mr. Maxwell.

CMr. Maxwell is upset with Sammy because he is not paying attention. He tells Sammy to write a letter to the school principal. Mr. Maxwell is pleased with Sammy’s letter.

DWhile Sammy’s class is reading, he stares at a bird outside the window. Then Sammy gets in trouble for not paying attention. Sammy asks if the class can have a hermit crab.

29Sammy tries to make his letter perfect because he —

Ais writing it to the school principal

Bwants his classmates to stop laughing at him

Cdoesn’t want to write another letter for extra homework

Dwants to send it to his cousin

30Sammy wants the class to have a hermit crab for the ocean unit so that —

Ahe can write a letter to the principal

Blearning about science will be more interesting

Cthe students can learn how to clean its tank

Dthe class won’t have to read from the science book

32Sammy’s letter is mostly about —

Aasking permission to get a hermit crab

Bwhy Mr. Maxwell is a good teacher

Ca cousin who has a hermit crab as a pet

Dhow the class has trouble paying attention in science

33In this story, Sammy’s main problem is that he —

Ais angry because he has to do extra homework

Bhas a hard time paying attention during science class

Cbecomes upset when his classmates laugh at him

Dhas trouble writing the perfect letter to the principal

36When Sammy returns from music class, he —

Ashows Mr. Maxwell the letter to the principal

Bwalks down the hallway to the principal’s office

Cfinds a note on his desk from Mrs. García

Dleaves his letter with the school secretary

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