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DA Mysterious New World
DA Mysterious New World
DA Mysterious New World

1  A theme throughout this story is —
A   memories of the past
B   curiosity about the unknown
C   fear of the future
D   the beauty of outer space

2  Why does the author describe Earth as “a sapphire gleaming on a velvet carpet”?
F   To show how far the space station is from Earth
G   To explain why Kalmara’s parents have been in space so long
H   To describe why humans need special equipment to live in space
J   To show how beautiful the Earth looks to Kalmara

3  Kalmara’s questions about the wind help the reader understand —
A   why Kalmara doesn’t want to live in Texas
B   how Kalmara feels at the end of the story
C   why Kalmara’s mother doesn’t want to talk about Earth
D   how the wind on Saturn is different from the wind on Earth

4  Why is Kalmara’s mother looking forward to eating a fresh apple?
F   Apples are the only fruit available.
G   She hasn’t had fresh fruit in a long time.
H   Apples were the only fruit grown on the ship.
J   She is hungry after the long trip.

5  Kalmara feels left out of conversations her parents have about Earth because —
A   she doesn’t want to leave her home on the space station
B   she has spent her whole life living in space
C   she is tired of listening to her parents complain about space
D   she thinks the stories that they tell her are probably not true

6  Why does Kalmara find it hard to fall asleep?
F   The spaceship is making too much noise.
G   She is homesick for the space station.
H   Her parents have made her angry.
J   She can’t stop thinking about the next day.

7  Why is Kalmara so fascinated by wind?
A   She has watched videos of it blowing down buildings.
B   She has studied about it at school.
C   She has heard fairy tales about what wind feels like.
D   She has never felt wind before.

8  Read the dictionary entry below for the word galley.
galley definitions
Which definition represents the meaning of galley in paragraph 18?
F   Definition 1
G   Definition 2
H   Definition 3
J   Definition 4

9  In paragraphs 21 through 23, the author creates a mood of —
A   fear
B   relief
C   anticipation
D   pride

10  Which sentence from the story supports the idea that there are probably other teenagers on the space station?
F   What I had seen only in photographs and videos, they had experienced firsthand.
G   In school my friends and I had studied about Texas and many other places.
H   Usually I felt left out of these conversations, but now I listened closely.
J   It was the only home I had ever known.

11  Why doesn’t Kalmara complain about space food as her father does?
A   She doesn’t like to eat eggs anyway.
B   She knows she will soon eat fresh food.
C   She doesn’t feel very hungry that day.
D   She has never eaten anything but space food.

12  What does the word disembark mean in paragraph 17?
F   To be together again
G   To get off a ship or vessel
H   To correct a problem
J   To not feel sick

13  Look at this diagram of information from the story.
story diagram
Which idea belongs in the empty box at the top?
A   Things Kalmara sees from the space shuttle
B   What Kalmara will miss about the space station
C   What Kalmara’s parents miss about Earth
D   Things Kalmara wants to experience on Earth

DAngel Falls
DAngel Falls
DAngel Falls

14  Why does the author compare Canaima National Park to the state of Maryland?
F   To give readers a better idea of the size of the reserve
G   To show readers where the national park is located
H   To give readers an example of another famous waterfall park
J   To explain to readers how much the park resembles areas in the United States

15  In paragraph 3, the narrator almost expects to see a dinosaur run out of the thick forest because —
A   the narrator has been warned that dangerous animals had been spotted nearby
B   Ramón has mentioned that several species once lived near Angel Falls
C   the jungle looks like Earth probably did millions of years ago
D   the narrator can hear the sounds of some large animals below the trees

16  In paragraph 15, which words does the author use to create a mood of amazement?
F   the mist and the roar
G   settling into a wide, deep pool
H   tried to grasp the tremendous size and power
J   the rocky face of the mountain

17  Some people believe that Auyán-tepuí is haunted because —
A   it has violent storms and strange cloud formations
B   it is surrounded by a thick jungle of vegetation
C   it remained hidden from the outside world until 1935
D   it is impossible to see the bottom of Angel Falls

18  Which sentence from the selection supports the idea that the area around Angel Falls makes the Pemón nervous?
F   Flying over the thick vegetation, I felt as if we were entering a jungle that time had overlooked.
G   As the distant rumble of the falls became a dull roar, our guides nosed the boats onto the muddy bank.
H   The air grew heavy, and our guides fell quiet and watchful, speaking only in hushed, solemn tones.
J   When the river narrowed, the guides stopped the engines and began to paddle through the still, tea-colored water.

19  This selection is mainly about —
A   the thick vegetation that grows in the area near Angel Falls
B   the Pemón’s feelings about the Mountain of Evil
C   the narrator’s trip to see the highest waterfall in the world
D   the naming of Angel Falls by Jimmy Angel

20  From the narrator’s reaction to Angel Falls, the reader can conclude that —
F   the narrator begins to appreciate the wonder the Pemón feel toward the falls
G   the narrator understands why it took so long for the falls to be discovered
H   the narrator wants to explore the unknown parts of Auyán-tepuí
J   the narrator is anxious to return home, even though he appreciates the falls

21  The reader can conclude the Pemón guides are —
A   familiar with the river’s rough waters
B   not used to navigating through the rain
C   afraid of the noises they hear in the jungle
D   not used to showing tourists through this remote area

22  Which of the following best describes the overall organization of this selection?
F   The author compares Angel Falls to the other great waterfalls of the world.
G   The author describes a trip to Angel Falls from the beginning to the end.
H   The author relates an opinion and provides details to support it.
J   The author explains the events that led to the formation of Angel Falls.

DFlorence Nightingale
DFlorence Nightingale

DHelp on Horseback
DHelp on Horseback


Use “Florence Nightingale: The Lady of the Lamp” to answer questions 23–27.

23  In paragraph 4, what does the word vocation mean?
A   Type of medicine
B   Occupation or calling
C   Place of learning
D   A new vaccine

24  Why does the author include additional information about Nightingale at the end of the article?
F   To show readers that Nightingale was an important person
G   To explain to readers why the people of Britain were so grateful
H   To inform readers that Nightingale continued to work for better health care
J   To let readers know that the soldiers of Britain were never neglected again

25  Which sentence from the article supports the idea that Nightingale’s actions changed how people thought of nurses?
A   Outraged citizens demanded action.
B   Not all her changes pleased her employers, but Nightingale persisted.
C   Grateful citizens in London eagerly awaited her return.
D   However, she also saw the poverty, sickness, and hardship of Europe’s common citizens.

26  Read this chart of information from this article.
information chart
Which idea belongs in the empty circle?
F   Improvements Nightingale made at a London hospital
G   Improvements the British secretary of war wanted made
H   Reasons Nightingale decided to become a nurse
J   Problems the soldiers faced in the Turkish hospital

27  By using the word swarming in paragraph 7, the author helps the reader understand that the insects and rats were —
A   small
B   annoying
C   scary
D   abundant


Use “Help on Horseback: Mary Breckinridge and the Frontier Nursing Service” to answer questions 28–33.

28  Why does the author start this article by telling about a man who injured his leg?
F   To warn readers how easily wounds can become infected
G   To explain why the main character washed the man’s leg
H   To prove that Breckinridge was smarter than most doctors
J   To capture the reader’s attention and introduce the main character

29  Why did Breckinridge choose to start the Frontier Nursing Service in Leslie County, Kentucky?
A   She knew the area badly needed health care.
B   A good hospital was located in a nearby town.
C   There were no nursing schools in Kentucky.
D   She wanted to expand the county’s small clinic.

30  How does the author organize paragraphs 3 through 6?
F   The author compares health care in Leslie County before and after Breckinridge started the Frontier Nursing Service.
G   The author relates some important events in Breckinridge’s career in the order in which they occurred.
H   The author explains the problems faced by the people of Leslie County and the solutions that Breckinridge put in place.
J   The author describes the various duties performed by Breckinridge and the other nurses of the Frontier Nursing Service.

31  What is paragraph 3 mainly about?
A   The time Breckinridge spent living in the palace of Czar Nicholas II
B   The cause of the death of Breckinridge’s children
C   The death of Breckinridge’s husband two years after their marriage
D   The happy childhood and tragic early adult years of Breckinridge

32  In paragraphs 1 and 2, the author’s tone is —
F   urgent
G   fearful
H   relaxed
J   hopeless

33  Why did Breckinridge hope to save the man’s leg?
A   The man wouldn’t be able to work with only one leg.
B   She knew the horse doctor wasn’t coming.
C   The man was a good friend of hers.
D   She didn’t think he would survive an operation.


Use “Florence Nightingale: The Lady of the Lamp” and “Help on Horseback: Mary Breckinridge and the Frontier Nursing Service” to answer questions 34 and 35.

34  The main purpose of these articles is to —
F   persuade readers to consider a career in nursing
G   explain to readers why nurses are so important during times of war
H   show readers how nursing has changed over the years
J   give readers information about two women who made a difference

35  One similarity between Nightingale and Breckinridge was that both —
A   became nurses over the objections of their families
B   experienced personal tragedy that led them to become nurses
C   started programs to help mothers and children
D   were pioneers in the field of medicine

DFair is Fair
DFair is Fair
DFair is Fair

36  How does Héctor solve the main problem in this story?
F   He decides to help his father by delivering his father’s notes.
G   He decides to give up soccer to concentrate on school.
H   He persuades his father to help him clean the garage.
J   He promises his teacher that he will never forget his book again.

37  Why does Mrs. Domínguez call Dr. Santos?
A   To tell him that Héctor has a test the next week
B   To tell him that she won’t be in class that day
C   To tell him about a problem she is having with Héctor
D   To tell him about the notes that he has forgotten

38  Why is Héctor in such a hurry to get the notes to his father?
F   His father will need the notes for his class.
G   He doesn’t want his father to be fired.
H   He thinks he might still be able to make it to soccer practice.
J   He doesn’t want his father to be angry at him for being late.

39  In paragraph 10, what does the word feasible mean?
A   Believable
B   Incredible
C   Available
D   Possible

40  Why does Héctor have trouble remembering his math book?
F   His father often forgets to remind him to bring his book to school.
G   He is busy trying to help his father get the notes he needs to teach his class.
H   His mind is on other things that are more important to him.
J   He is worried about how long it will take for him to clean the garage.

41  Héctor thinks that his Saturday is ruined because he has to —
A   spend two hours at soccer practice
B   ride a bus to the college to take his father his notes
C   study all day for the test he has to take
D   spend most of the day cleaning his family’s garage

42  What can the reader conclude about Héctor?
F   He has ridden the bus to the college in the past.
G   He enjoys taking the bus.
H   He has a test in Mrs. Domínguez’s class next week.
J   He goes to soccer practice only on Saturdays.

43  Which of these is the best summary of this story?
A   When Héctor gets in trouble at school, his father tells him to clean the family’s garage. Héctor knows it will take most of the day. He wishes it were a school day so he wouldn’t have to do the work.
B   Dr. Santos gets upset at his son Héctor for not taking his math book to class. Later Héctor notices that his father has forgotten some important notes. Although he is a little upset with his father, he decides to take the notes to him.
C   Dr. Santos teaches chemistry at a nearby community college. One day he forgets the notes he needs for a class review. His son Héctor knows that Dr. Santos won’t have time to drive back for the notes.
D   Héctor takes a bus to the college where his father teaches. When he gets there, he can’t remember what room his father’s class is in. Then he hears his father’s voice coming from a nearby room on the second floor.

44  Which sentence from this story supports the idea that Héctor dreads cleaning the garage?
F   “Well, after practice today I want you to clean the garage.”
G   “I guess you’ll have some help in that garage today.”
H   He had been expecting the call all morning.
J   This morning, however, he almost wished he were going to school, too.

45  Why does Héctor decide to take the notes to his father instead of going to soccer practice?
A   He thinks his father doesn’t want him to play soccer anymore.
B   He knows that his father needs the notes for an important review.
C   He thinks it’s a good excuse to get out of cleaning the garage.
D   He sees that he doesn’t have enough time to make it to practice.

46  Why are paragraphs 9 and 10 important to this story?
F   They introduce the main problem.
G   They establish the setting.
H   They introduce the characters.
J   They explain the solution.

47  Look at the diagram of information from the story.
galley definitions
What belongs in the empty box?
A   Dr. Santos is upset with Héctor.
B   Héctor misses his soccer practice.
C   Dr. Santos forgets his notes for his class.
D   Héctor rushes to catch the bus.

48  Why doesn’t Héctor eat much of his breakfast?
F   He doesn’t really like posole very much.
G   He is afraid he will miss the bus.
H   He is upset that he has to clean the garage.
J   He knows his teacher is going to call his father.


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