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Wondering About Watermelons
Matthew Hardy
1Jamaal stared at the pink watermelon slice on his plate. "Where do watermelons come from?" he asked. His older brother Devon smiled, took a bite of his watermelon, and spit out a black seed. He held it up in the air. "They come from these."
2Jamaal's eyes opened wide. "A watermelon comes from that tiny thing?" he asked.
3"Yes. This is a watermelon seed," Devon explained. "You can plant it and grow a whole watermelon from it. It's just like all other fruits and vegetables that get planted in the ground." Jamaal stared in wonder as Devon explained that the watermelon they were eating came from a local farm. He said that the farmer planted the seed in the ground. A plant grew from the seed. The farmer watered and cared for the plant. Over a few months, the plant grew delicious watermelons.
4"Wow. I wish I could meet a farmer," Jamaal sighed.
5Devon smiled widely. "I know how you could," he said. He told Jamaal that he had visited a local farm during his last class trip. The farmer told the students they were welcome to come back at any time. "What do you think?" he asked Jamaal with a smile. Jamaal whooped loudly and raced up the steps. He changed into his oldest shoes and jeans. He and Devon got into the car.
6After driving past many dirt roads, they pulled into a long driveway. The farmer, Mr. Kirk, waved in greeting from his front porch. Devon and Jamaal got out of the car and started walking up the driveway. Jamaal stared in wonder. The land all around him was filled with plants, grass, and farm animals. A few chickens even walked by!
7Jamaal handed the farmer the black seed from Devon's watermelon. "My brother says you can turn this into a watermelon. Can you show me how?" he asked.
8The farmer chuckled at Jamaal. He told him that it would take him a couple of months to grow a watermelon. He said it takes time to grow fruit, but in the end it's worth it.
9Devon asked Mr. Kirk what he did with his crops after he picked them. "I sell them to local grocery stores and farmer's markets. I have probably sold food to the store where you shop. I also enjoy some of the food myself," said Mr. Kirk. He then asked Jamaal and Devon if they wanted to help him pick some of the ripe strawberries.
10Jamaal and Devon followed the farmer through his fields. They passed row after row of vegetables and fruits, including corn, potatoes, blueberries, and cucumbers. They finally came to the strawberry patch. Jamaal and Devon took their time to pick the largest, reddest berries. They each filled a basket. Jamaal looked at each berry carefully before picking it. He knew that he had to take his time to find the best ones. When he was finished, he had the best batch of strawberries he had ever seen.
Question
Which detail supports Devon's claim that he and his brother could go to the farm?
Responses
A The farmer watered and cared for the plant.The farmer watered and cared for the plant.
B He said that the farmer planted the seed in the ground.He said that the farmer planted the seed in the ground.
C Jamaal and Devon followed the farmer through his fields.Jamaal and Devon followed the farmer through his fields.
D The farmer told the students they were welcome to come back at any time.The farmer told the students they were welcome to come back at any time.
D The farmer told the students they were welcome to come back at any time.
A Journal of Dreams
Angela Harmon
1Beatrice flipped through her binder of newspaper articles that she had written over the past few years. Although the articles were just rewritten from the headlines she read in the paper or from newspaper clippings her parents had saved, she knew that one day she would become a newspaper reporter and cover news stories herself. One of the articles rehashed a story her parents had clipped from the newspaper years earlier. The article was about an African-American woman who refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man.
2Beatrice examined her work:
3Act of Defiance Lands Woman in Jail
4Rosa Parks, an African-American woman, was arrested on December 1, 1955, after refusing to give up her seat on a bus and move to the designated section of the bus in Montgomery, Alabama. This was not the first incident involving African Americans fighting for equal rights. More and more African Americans were fighting back against the laws that segregated whites and blacks.
5Newspapers had been covering incidents such as these for many years now and Beatrice was enthralled by reading about how the country was evolving. She felt a sense of empowerment after perusing these articles. She wanted to write as eloquently as the journalists at the newspaper, and she wanted to inspire others through her own writing. Furthermore, she wanted to make a difference in the civil rights movement—just as Rosa Parks and others did.
6She flipped the page to read another one of her articles:
7Sit-In at Lunch Counter Sparks Controversy
8Four African-American students were refused service when they sat at the whites only lunch counter in Woolworth's in Greensborough, North Carolina on February 1, 1960. The students—who refused to leave the counter despite threats and warnings—remained at the store until it closed. Over the next few days, more people joined the peaceful sit-in at Woolworth's.
9The day after Beatrice reviewed her articles, her sixth-grade class went to listen to a civil rights speaker. As Beatrice listened to the speaker, she feverishly wrote down as much of the speech as she could, so she could write a news article about it later.
10When Beatrice got home, she reviewed her notes:
11My name is Mr. Wallace and I am an involved in the civil rights movement. When I was younger, I protested the way some whites treated blacks. I failed to understand why my rights were less important because of the color of my skin. Despite the powerful negative influences around me, my family and friends helped me realize I could do anything.
12I attended many protests and marches to support equal rights for all citizens. I attended a march in Washington, DC, led by Martin Luther King Jr. Afterward, King gave a speech. I was moved by what he said. He wanted what all people—white or black—wanted: to be treated fairly and equally, and, students, I believe that one day all citizens will gain that right.
13After rereading the speech, Beatrice felt more deeply than ever that she wanted to be a journalist and have a positive impact on her society. She knew that her journey would be difficult, but it would also be worthwhile.
Question
How do the article excerpts help you understand the passage better?
Responses
A The article excerpts refute information presented in the passage.The article excerpts refute information presented in the passage.
B The article excerpts compare and contrast ideas from the passage.The article excerpts compare and contrast ideas from the passage.
C The article excerpts expand on information presented in the passage.The article excerpts expand on information presented in the passage.
D The article excerpts analyze the subject's opinions from the passage.
C The article excerpts expand on information presented in the passage.
A Day at the Beach
Rob Baur
1Because Lola's family invited Emma to join them on their annual trip to the ocean, Lola and Emma—who were best friends—were thrilled about their upcoming vacation at the beach. On the day of the trip, Lola, her family, and Emma packed the car and drove toward the shore. The drive was long, and they didn't reach the beach until it was already dark. It was difficult to see, and Lola's father passed the hotel and had to turn around. Finally, Lola's family reached their destination. Exhausted from their trip, they all went to sleep as soon as they arrived.
2The next day, Lola and Emma—who were accompanied by Lola's parents and her young brothers—gathered their towels, sunscreen, and umbrellas and walked to the beach. After arriving, Lola and Emma put up their umbrellas and rolled out their towels.
3After all the clouds parted and the sun rose high in the sky, Lola and Emma waded in the water to cool themselves. After a few minutes, the girls decided to go back to their towels. Lola turned and started to walk toward her towel; however, when she reached the dry sand, she jumped back with a yelp. The sand was extremely hot, and it burned her feet. Because the girls had not brought their sandals with them to the water, they sprinted back to their towels and winced with each step.
4Back at their towels, Lola and Emma noticed that Jake and Matt, Lola's brothers, were busy building a sandcastle. The castle had elaborate designs carved on its tops and sides. Lola and Emma were impressed with boys' building skills. Just then, Jake and Matt noticed the tide coming in, and they moaned grimly. The castle would collapse if the water touched it.
5Although Jake and Matt panicked at the thought of losing their creation, Lola and Emma quickly devised a plan to save the castle. Right before summer break, the girls learned about irrigation and drainage in their science class, and they knew they could use that information to stop the water from collapsing the castle.
6With Jake and Matt's help, the girls dug a deep moat around the castle's exterior. Then they dug two long canals leading toward the rising tide and two short canals leading away from the surf and into deep reservoirs. Just as they completed their drainage system, the waves rushed into the lower canals. Much to the boys' relief, the canals easily led the water around the castle and into the two reservoirs. Lola and Emma were relieved that they helped Jake and Matt, and they were pleased that they not only remembered, but also used information they learned in school.
Question
Why did Lola's father pass the hotel?
Responses
A He was thinking about Jake and Matt's sandcastle.He was thinking about Jake and Matt's sandcastle.
B It was difficult for him to see because it was dark.It was difficult for him to see because it was dark.
C He was distracted because the car was uncomfortable.He was distracted because the car was uncomfortable.
D The sun was bright, making it difficult for him to see.The sun was bright, making it difficult for him to see.
B It was difficult for him to see because it was dark.
New Kid on the Block
Mary McCormick
1When I heard that a boy was moving into the neighborhood, I started asking questions immediately. The new family, I was told, had immigrated to the United States from China. I could not wait to instruct the new kid all about America, but I didn’t expect him to teach me all about his native country China.
2As I watched the new kid and his family transport their luggage into the old Finnegan residence, I was mesmerized by the many remarkable boxes. Every family that moved in had the customary zillion cartons with them, but these boxes were covered in weird writing, like stick pictures.
3Mom made me give the family time to settle before I went over to introduce myself. The boy’s mother answered the door. She was just finishing a call on a cell phone, and I was surprised to hear that she spoke English quite fluently.
4“Hello, I’m your neighbor Jadyn,” I said.
5The sociable woman introduced me to her son He-Ping and her husband Mr. Wei. She asked me questions about my mother, and I knew that they would get along. Like my mother, Mrs. Wei was an athlete who loved hiking, and all the opened boxes of books suggested that she liked reading too.
6After our hellos, I asked He-Ping if he was interested in taking a walk around the new neighborhood. He smiled and said he wouldn’t miss it for the world. I was happy to see that he wasn’t a hermit - he liked getting out of his house. I took He-Ping to the river and showed him the salamanders relaxing on the banks. He-Ping smiled at the sight of the little creatures. Then he told me that in China, some of the salamanders were huge.
7 “The giant salamander is over 3-feet long,” he explained. I stared at the salamander sitting in the palm of my hand, and I could not imagine what it might be like to run into a giant version.
8 When I showed He-Ping the shortcut to his house, he said that living in the States would be an adjustment for him because he had resided in a Chinese city his whole life. I asked how he had learned to communicate so well in English, and he explained that his parents made sure he had a vigorous education, especially in different languages. They wanted He-Ping to travel internationally and appreciate the world. He-Ping seemed very mature compared to the kids who lived in our neighborhood. I was in awe of his courteous demeanor, and I let him know how courageous I thought he was.
9 He-Ping said that friendly people like me made being independent easy. I dropped He-Ping off at his house and walked back to my own home. As, I made the small trip, I predicted that He-Ping and I were going to be good friends.
Question
How is the relationship between the narrator, Jadyn, and his new neighbor, He-Ping, LIKELY to develop?
Responses
A The two boys will likely never speak to each other again.The two boys will likely never speak to each other again.
B The two will probably become acquaintances and speak to each other in passing.The two will probably become acquaintances and speak to each other in passing.
C Jadyn and He-Ping's relationship is likely to turn into an angry and bitter one.Jadyn and He-Ping's relationship is likely to turn into an angry and bitter one.
D Jadyn and He-Ping are likely to teach each other about their respective cultures.
D Jadyn and He-Ping are likely to teach each other about their respective cultures.
1 Austin reached into his backpack to make sure that it was there. He wasn’t sure he needed his inhaler, but he was checking just in case. His chest was tight as he once again attempted a deep breath. He completely filled his lungs and exhaled smoothly. He repeated this rhythm several times, surprised at the ease at which it came. But he’d keep the inhaler in his pocket. It had been a long time since he’d had a real asthma attack, since Little League, in fact. But it was never too far from his mind, especially when he played baseball.
2 Austin loved baseball, like fish love water, but he felt his asthma had probably kept him from reaching his full athletic potential. He knew today’s practice would be tough, for tomorrow was a big game. He was right. It was rough, and Austin and several others weren’t at the top of their game today. Coach Tanner firmly patted Austin’s shoulder as they headed for the dugout. “You’ve got to stop using it as a crutch, and let it go son.” Coach said in a firm, low voice.
Question
Based on the passage, which statement is fact rather than fiction?
Responses
A Austin has asthma.Austin has asthma.
B Austin lost his inhaler.Austin lost his inhaler.
C Coach Tanner has asthma.Coach Tanner has asthma.
D Several players have asthma.Several players have asthma.