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1 Why did Vinnie become frustrated as she began her work? A She was having a difficult time getting her sculpture the way she wanted it. B She didn’t think Lincoln was happy with her work. C She was too nervous to do her work. D She didn’t feel comfortable working with Lincoln.
2 According to the story, why did Clark Mills ask Vinnie to be his student helper? F He had seen her sculpture of the president. G He needed help on a sculpture of the president. H He had heard that Vinnie was a famous sculptor. J He saw that Vinnie had natural artistic ability.
3 Which words from the story help the reader know what the word reclining means in paragraph 3? A long legs B leaned back C rested his chin D sat as still
4 Based on information in the story, the reader can conclude that Lincoln — F never got to see his statue in the Rotunda G was upset that the sculpture took so long to finish H never liked the sculpture Vinnie made J was sad that Vinnie wasn’t coming to see him anymore
5 Why was Lincoln unhappy when he looked out the window of his office? A He was bored and wished Vinnie would hurry. B He was remembering his son, who had recently died. C He didn’t like the way his sculpture was turning out. D He wanted to be outside instead of posing for the sculpture.
6 What is the most likely reason why the author wrote this story? F To persuade the reader to go to the U.S. Capitol and see Vinnie’s sculpture G To tell a story about how a sculptor created a piece of history H To share information about Lincoln J To show how to become a famous sculptor
7 Which sentence from the story tells the reader that Vinnie was a talented sculptor? A The sculptures also captured their expressions and moods. B As she worked, Vinnie thought of the contrast between Lincoln and herself. C Vinnie had been working at an art studio in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. D "How is my favorite sculptor doing today?"
8 Why was Vinnie sad when her sculpture was finished? F She wasn’t sure whether she would have another sculpting job. G She knew she would not be able to visit Lincoln anymore. H She wasn’t happy with the way the sculpture looked. J She knew Lincoln didn’t like her work.
9 What does the word melancholy mean in paragraph 11? A Frightened B Angered C Saddened D Concerned
10 What is paragraph 5 mainly about? F Why Vinnie and Lincoln became friends G How Vinnie came to sculpt Lincoln H How Vinnie and Lincoln were different J Why Vinnie dreamed of sculpting Lincoln’s likeness
11 The reader can conclude that Lincoln — A valued his relaxation time B collected many of Vinnie’s sculptures C liked having people in his office D knew Vinnie’s family well
12 Based on information about Vinnie, which of the following represents something she probably would not have done? F Continue to create sculptures G Become an art teacher H Sculpt other presidents J Ask for her sculpture back
13 Why did scientists need to study penguins in the Antarctic before building the Penguin Encounter? A The scientists were afraid the penguins’ homes would be destroyed before the Penguin Encounter was finished. B The scientists wanted to make the Penguin Encounter as much like the penguins’ natural home as they could. C The scientists wanted to see how the penguins reacted to global warming before taking them to sunny California. D The scientists knew it would take many years to capture several hundred penguins for the Penguin Encounter.
14 A common idea throughout this article is the importance of — F learning more about the emperor penguin G finding a way to stop global warming H visiting the emperor penguins at Sea World J working as a team in the Antarctic
15 Scientists think one reason they are able to get close to penguins is that the penguins — A are used to scientists after 25 years B have poor vision C are too busy playing to notice them D have been treated well
16 In paragraph 2, what does the word drastic mean? F Extreme G Important H Exact J Uncomfortable
17 What can the reader tell about emperor penguins from this article? A It is difficult for them to survive in warm temperatures. B They aren’t very good swimmers. C It is possible they will attack scientists who get too close to them. D They can be kept at the Penguin Encounter only for a short time.
18 Which sentence from this article shows that the penguins are happy in their new home? F Sometimes they would waddle close to Todd and his team. G It was easy to get close to the penguins, but it wasn’t easy to study them in the Antarctic. H It took no time at all before they were sliding headfirst across the ice into the pools of water. J The penguins’ new home is now open to the public.
19 Look at the diagram of information from this article. Which detail belongs on the blank line? A Specially built by scientists B Located near the South Pole C Where scientists study penguins D Includes special lights on timers
20 Which sentence from this article shows that scientists think penguins might be harmed by global warming? F This would cause the number of emperor penguins to greatly decrease. G The temperature rarely rises above zero degrees—perfect weather for penguins but not for scientists. H First it had to be cold—very cold—just like the Antarctic. J The room was filled with thousands of pounds of ice.
21 Why do penguins have little to fear on the ice? A Their enemies usually hunt in the water. B It is easy to see their enemies on the white ice. C They can easily slide to safety on the smooth ice. D It is too cold for other animals to survive on the ice.
22 Which sentence from the story best shows that putting out the barn fire was difficult? F In all those years he had never failed to respond to a call to fight a fire. G He and the others held tight to the hose. H One smoke-blackened hour blurred into the next until finally the last little flame was beaten out. J All her earlier exhaustion had dropped away as she stood in the circle of brave firefighters.
23 What does the word optimistic mean in paragraph 4? A Thoughtful B Hopeful C Needy D Talkative
24 Why does the author compare the fire to a hungry monster? F To show how hungry Rosie and her father are G To show that the fire is as harmless as a make-believe monster H To explain why the firefighters are shouting J To emphasize the danger of the fire
25 Why does Rosie gasp while at the fire? A She is tired of breathing the thick black smoke. B She is afraid her father will be hurt. C She is afraid the barn wall is going to fall on her. D She is worried that the firefighters won’t be able to control the fire.
26 Why is paragraph 4 important to this story? F It tells the reader why Rosie’s mother is worried. G It describes how Rosie’s father feels about not having a job. H It explains the difficulty Rosie’s family is experiencing. J It shows the reader how Rosie feels about her father not working.
27 Which of these shows that Rosie’s father is a dedicated firefighter? A He went to the fire instead of looking for a job. B He makes Rosie go with him to Mr. Becket’s farm. C He enjoys eating and visiting with the other firefighters after a fire. D He has responded to every call to fight a fire that he has ever received.
28 Why does Rosie go to the fire with her father? F He wants to take her out for dinner afterward. G She asks whether she can go with him. H He wants her to learn how to fight a fire. J Her father doesn’t want to leave her home alone.
29 Which is the best summary of the story? A Rosie comes home from school. She sees that her father hasn’t found a job yet. She becomes upset and goes to her room instead of helping with dinner. After the fire she eats sandwiches at the Hemingways’. B Rosie’s father is a volunteer firefighter. He gets a call to go fight a fire at Mr. Becket’s farm. Rosie has to go with him. It takes the firefighters several hours to put out the fire. C Rosie is worried because her father has lost his job. When he must go fight a fire with the volunteer fire department, she is reminded that he is a hard worker and has helped many people. She starts to feel more hopeful. D Rosie’s father lost his job when the shop he worked for closed down. Since then he has been looking for a new job, but he hasn’t had any luck. Because Rosie’s mother is now working two jobs, her father must take Rosie with him to help fight the fire.
30 After the fire, why does Rosie decide to close her diary without writing in it? F She can’t remember what she wanted to write because several hours have passed. G She is afraid that her thoughts won’t be private if she writes them down. H She no longer feels the way she did when she started writing. J She is too tired from staying up late to watch her father fight the fire.
31 Which words from paragraph 11 help the reader know what the word extinguish means? A blurred into the next B flame was beaten out C keep it on the flames D shot out from the barn
32 What is Carl’s problem just after he gets the part of Sir Trawood? F He must choose between playing basketball or being in the play. G He really wanted the part of one of the queen’s guards. H He must spend the weekend memorizing his new lines. J He has to decide whether to be in the play without Neil.
33 The reader can tell that Sir Trawood is — A one of the guards in the queen’s service B a character without a speaking part C one of the main characters in the play D not as important as the messenger
34 Which of these is the best summary of this story? F Carl doesn’t like standing in front of people. He wishes he hadn’t let his friend persuade him to try out for a part in the play. He thinks he isn’t good enough to get even a small part. G G Carl spends the weekend memorizing his lines for a play. His mother helps him practice for the tryout. He hopes to get a part as a guard. He wonders how his friend Neil can try out without practicing at all. H Carl tries out for a part in a play after his friend Neil talks him into it. He is nervous at first but then forgets about the people watching. The next day he is surprised to find out he has been given the role of Sir Trawood instead of Neil. J Carl’s mother helps him memorize his lines for a play that he wants to try out for. They spend the weekend practicing. Carl notices that his teacher and his mother sound alike when they read the lines of the queen.
35 In paragraph 13, the word rejected means — A turned down B forgot about C worried over D laughed about
36 Which words in paragraph 2 help the reader know what improvise means? F memorize his lines G trying to stall H make up his own words J started to speak
37 The reader can conclude that Neil — A had basketball practice and couldn’t memorize his lines B tries out for a main part in the play C decides to play the part of the messenger D no longer wants to be a basketball player when he grows up
38 What are paragraphs 1 through 3 mainly about? F The script of the play G Neil’s tryout for the play H The Knights of the Royal Order J Neil’s favorite actor
39 Look at this diagram of information from both stories. Which of these belongs on the blank line? A Imitates an actor’s voice B Tries out for the part of Sir Trawood C Doesn’t want to try out for the play D Is offered a part in the play
40 One idea found in both of these stories is that people can be — F angry about the way people treat others G pleased with what is given to them H relieved about not getting something J surprised by what happens
41 One difference between Carl and Neil is that — A Carl is more popular than Neil B Neil expects to earn a part in the play C Carl is more confident than Neil D Neil must struggle to do most things
42 Both of these stories describe — F how the characters’ parents helped them memorize their lines G why Carl hates standing up in front of people H the boys’ thoughts at the tryouts for the play J what Neil imagines for himself in the future
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