Reading MCA-Modified Grade 5 Item Sampler - Minnesota ...

State of Minnesota© Copyright Minnesota Department of EducationRoseville, MN 55113-4266

Reading TestGeneral Directions• This test contains four segments.• You may take notes and highlight in this test book oruse scratch paper.• All answers must be marked in this test book.• Read each story, article, or poem, and answer thequestions.• For each question, choose the answer you think isbest.• This test has multiple-choice questions. Answer eachquestion by circling your answer. The sample showshow to do this.Sample Question Answered in Test Book:In the article, what does the word sprout mean?A. To digB. To weedC. To grow3Go on to the next page.

• When you nish a segment of the test, stop and checkyour answers. Then use the sticker given to you toseal it. Once you seal a segment, you cannot go backto it. Each segment must be sealed before you moveon to the next segment.4STOP

Put stickerhere1Segment 1You will be told when to begin this segment.5

1Go on to the next page.6

Reading Test — Segment 11The ChoiceThis is a story about a girl who loves to play basketball.Read the story and answer questions 1–9. The questionsappear in boxes inserted in the story and at the endof the story. Some questions may ask you about certainparagraphs. The paragraphs are numbered on theleft side.ITEM SAMPLER MAYBE DUPLICATED.7Go on to the next page.

1The Choiceby Holly Beech1 “Julie Jones scores two points for the Panthers!”2 The announcer’s voice is nearly drowned out by thecheers of the audience. Julie flashes a smile at herfans as she jogs down the basketball court.3 Once again, jealousy rises up inside me. Every game,I sit on the bench, wishing with all my heart that Icould be the star of the team. But every game is thesame—I sit on the bench and wish that I could beJulie Jones.4 The buzzer sounds. Although my team has wonanother game, I feel no joy. I don’t care so muchabout winning anymore; I just want to play.5 And what makes it worse are the low comments thatJulie makes at me. I see her walking toward me, andI prepare myself for another rude remark.6 “Good job, Katie,” she says sarcastically. “You’regetting good at warming up the bench.”ITEM SAMPLER MAYBE DUPLICATED.Go on to the next page.8

11. In paragraph 5, what does low mean?A. QuietB. CruelC. Strange7 Furious words almost slip from my mouth, but I holdmy anger inside and simply say, “Good game, Julie.”For a second, she looks confused, but then she pushesher way past me and strolls off.8 Tonight is the most important game of the season—the championship. My stomach is filled withbutterflies. Two girls on my team are injured,preventing them from playing. Maybe tonight,I think, I will get to play.ITEM SAMPLER MAYBE DUPLICATED.9Go on to the next page.

12. In paragraph 7, why does Julie look confused?A. Katie gives Julie a compliment.B. Julie is unable to hear the announcer.C. Katie asks Julie to leave the court.3. Why is Katie hopeful in paragraph 8?A. Katie wants her team to win.B. Katie plans to score the first points.C. Katie believes she has a chance to play.4. In paragraph 8, what does “My stomachis filled with butterflies” tell the readerabout Katie?A. She is ill.B. She is nervous.C. She is angry.9 It’s a close game. With two minutes left, the score is50–50. When one of my teammates twists her ankle,Coach yells, “Katie, you’re in!” She notices the shockon my face. “Go on! You can do it!”10 I jump off the bench, my palms sweaty, and run ontothe court. The other team scores, making it 50–52.With only ten seconds left, I know we must score.ITEM SAMPLER MAYBE DUPLICATED.Go on to the next page.10

11 The ball is passed to me. In this second, I must decidebetween shooting the ball with two girls guardingme, or passing it to Julie, who is wide open.112 If I shoot, I might score the winning points and getthe praise I’ve been craving all season. But Juliehas a better shot than I do—and a better chanceof scoring.5. What does craving mean in paragraph 12?A. AvoidingB. NeedingC. Wanting13 I make my decision.14 The ball swishes through the net. The Panthers jumpup and down as the crowd roars.15 “Julie Jones scores the winning three-pointer!” boomsthe announcer.16 My teammates lift Julie onto their shoulders. Screamsof delight flood our side of the gym. But for somereason, I am no longer jealous. I’m satisfied that I wasable to help the team.ITEM SAMPLER MAYBE DUPLICATED.11Go on to the next page.

16. In paragraph 16, why does the authorinclude “Screams of delight flood our side ofthe gym”?A. To describe the emotions of the fansB. To explain the location of the fansC. To show the appearance of the fans17 Coach walks up to me and says, “Nice pass, Katie.You did the right thing. I’m glad to have an unselfishplayer like you on my team. You’re going to playagain next season, right?”18 I smile and reply, “You bet!”7. At the end of the story, what choice doesKatie make?A. She chooses between shooting a basketand passing the ball to a teammate.B. She chooses between shooting atwo-point basket or a three-point basket.C. She chooses between playing again nextyear and giving up basketball.ITEM SAMPLER MAYBE DUPLICATED.Go on to the next page.12

Use the whole story to answer questions 8–9.18. What does Katie usually do duringbasketball games?A. She sits on the bench.B. She smiles at the fans.C. She shoots many baskets.9. Which is the main theme of this story?A. To gain a friend one must first act asa friend.B. Hard work can overcome natural abilities.C. Success for a group is more importantthan individual attention.ITEM SAMPLER MAYBE DUPLICATED.13Go on to the next page.

1Short Paragraph Vocabulary QuestionsQuestions 10 –11 each follow a short paragraph. Readeach paragraph and answer the questions.Elena’s grandparents had rows and rows of apple trees.They hired workers to help them take care of the orchard.In the fall, Elena’s grandfather drove a cart pulled byhorses, and people jumped off to pick the apples theyliked best.10. What is an orchard?A. A place to liveB. A place to ride horsesC. A place where fruit trees growITEM SAMPLER MAYBE DUPLICATED.Go on to the next page.14

In the 1860 election, the voters of Minnesota gaveAbraham Lincoln almost twice as many votes asStephen A. Douglas, one of the opposing presidentialcandidates. Minnesota voters helped Lincoln beatDouglas in the election.111. What does opposing mean?A. CompetingB. AdmiringC. WinningITEM SAMPLER MAYBE DUPLICATED.15Go on to the next page.

Put stickerhereThis is the end of Segment 1.Check your work. Then seal this segment.16STOP

Put stickerhereSegment 2You will be told when to begin this segment.17

2Go on to the next page.18

Reading Test — Segment 2For the Love of Animals2In the following article, Jack Hanna tells how he beganworking with animals.Read the article and answer questions 12–17. Thequestions appear in boxes inserted in the article and atthe end of the article. Some questions may ask you aboutcertain paragraphs. The paragraphs are numbered on theleft side.ITEM SAMPLER MAYBE DUPLICATED.19Go on to the next page.

For the Love of Animalsby Jack Hanna21 When I was 12, my family lived on a farm. I lovedworking with farm animals. Our veterinarian was aman named Dr. Warren Roberts. He ran the KnoxvilleAnimal Clinic in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee.“Can I come clean cages at your clinic?” I asked him.Dr. Roberts said that I could. I’m sure he thought I’dquit in a day or so, but I didn’t.12. In paragraph 1, which words help the readerunderstand the meaning of veterinarian?A. “Animal Clinic”B. “downtown Knoxville”C. “lived on a farm”2 I’ll never forget going to the clinic. I worked thereevery single day for four summers. I worked eight toten hours a day. I was involved in all kinds of animalcare. I cleaned cages. I groomed animals. I watchedanimals being operated on. When things were slow,I’d polish doorknobs or sweep the parking lot. I nevermissed a day of work. I was paid $10 a week, but itwould have made no difference if I hadn’t been paid.I did it for the love of working with animals.ITEM SAMPLER MAYBE DUPLICATED.Go on to the next page.20

13. Which word or phrase describes Jack Hanna asa boy?A. HardworkingB. Well-groomedC. Careless3 Dr. Roberts was also the veterinarian for the KnoxvilleZoo. He let me come along with him to care for theanimals there, too. I saw the birth of animals and thedeath of animals. I was bitten by animals. Anythingyou can imagine, I was exposed to! It was anexperience of a lifetime. It was also a major turningpoint in my life. I owe Dr. Roberts a lot. He gave methat first chance to get really involved with animals.24 I was very lucky. I took a chance, asked a question,and was given a great opportunity. Then I workedhard. Because of these things, I discovered what Iwanted to do with my life: be a zookeeper and workwith animals!14. What did Jack Hanna choose to become?A. A doctorB. A farmerC. A zookeeperITEM SAMPLER MAYBE DUPLICATED.21Go on to the next page.

Use the whole passage to answer questions 15–17.15. “For the Love of Animals” is an example ofA. a person writing about another person.B. a story with animals as characters.C. a person writing about his own life.216. What did Jack Hanna’s experience withDr. Roberts help him do?A. Meet new peopleB. Choose a careerC. Buy a pet17. Why did Jack Hanna write this article?A. To inform readers about his childhoodB. To entertain readers with a funny storyC. To persuade others to help animalsITEM SAMPLER MAYBE DUPLICATED.Go on to the next page.22

2Go on to the next page.23Go on to the next page.

Put stickerhereThis is the end of Segment 2.Check your work. Then seal this segment.24STOP

ACKNOWLEDGMENTSReproduction of these passages was granted bypermission from the following:“The Choice” by Holly Beech. Copyright © 2005 byHighlights for Children, Inc., Columbus Ohio. Allrights reserved.“For the Love of Animals” by Jack Hanna.Copyright © 2005 Highlights for Children, Inc.,Columbus, Ohio.25

ITEM SAMPLERS ARE NOT SECURE TEST MATERIALS.THIS ITEM SAMPLER TEST BOOK MAY BE COPIEDOR DUPLICATED.Grade 5MCA-ModifiedReading Item Sampler24pt