TEKS Update Student Practice Books for Reading Sample Pages ...

New!
TEKS Update
Student Practice Books for Reading
Sample Pages, Grades 3–8
This document contains sample pages taken from the TEKS Update series
published by ECS Learning Systems, Inc.
The document contains eight sample passages (or paired passages)—one
for each grade level from Grades 3–8. The sample passages and questions
represent the content of the TEKS Update Student Practice Books.
Lori Mammen
Editorial Director
ecslearningsystems.com
Copyright infringement is a violation of Federal Law.
STAAR
Ready!
©2010 by ECS Learning Systems, Inc., Bulverde, Texas. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
translated, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any way or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording,
or otherwise) without prior written permission from ECS Learning Systems, Inc.
Reproduction of any part of this publication for an entire school or for a school system, by for-profit institutions and tutoring centers,
or for commercial sale is strictly prohibited.
Printed in the United States of America.
STAAR MASTER is a Trademark of ECS Learning Systems, Inc.
STAAR is a Trademark of Texas Education Agency. STAAR MASTER and ECS Learning Systems, Inc. are not affiliated with or
sponsored by the Texas Education Agency or the State of Texas.

2
New! TEKS UPDATE
Student Practice Books
for Reading
52–60
PAGES
Grades 3–8
TEKS UPDATE
Student Practice Book
Reading, Grade 3
New for STAAR readiness!
All new passages! Up-to-date, new items written to the latest reading TEKS!
�e TEKS Update Student Practice Books focus on the new 2010-2011 TEKS for specific
grade levels.
Highlights:
• New standards-based practice items aligned to new TEKS
• All new passages written for a variety of genres
• Fictional literary texts (stories, poems, dramas), nonfiction literary texts
(biographies and autobiographies), and informational texts (persuasive, procedural,
and expository passages)
• Fresh topics of interest to students
• Appropriate readability for each grade level
• Labeled, objective-based questions with varying levels of depth/complexity
• Repeated practice in different contexts
• Authentic passage layout with engaging text elements
• Overall difficulty increased through passage length and more rigorous items
Use the new TEKS Update to get a head start on the 2011–2012 state test!
Great for remediation and RTI!
For new TEKS Grades 3–8 Curriculum Standards, see
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/staar/?LangType=1033
TAKS MASTER ®
Student Practice Books
Reading • Mathematics •
Writing • Science • Social Studies
Prepare students for the 2010–2011 TAKS test!
This updated series covers all of the tested
objectives based on the current TEKS.
ecslearningsystems.com
Lori Mammen
Editorial Director
Visit ecslearningsystems.com
for many online specials!
ISBN: 978-1-60539-286-8
Copyright infringement is a violation of Federal Law.
©2010 by ECS Learning Systems, Inc., Bulverde, Texas. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
translated, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any way or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording,
or otherwise) without prior written permission from ECS Learning Systems, Inc.
Reproduction of any part of this publication for an entire school or for a school system, by for-profit institutions and tutoring centers,
or for commercial sale is strictly prohibited.
Printed in the United States of America.
TEKS UPDATE
Student Practice Book
Reading, Grade 4
Lori Mammen
Editorial Director
Visit ecslearningsystems.com
for many online specials!
ISBN: 978-1-60539-287-5
Copyright infringement is a violation of Federal Law.
©2010 by ECS Learning Systems, Inc., Bulverde, Texas. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
translated, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any way or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording,
or otherwise) without prior written permission from ECS Learning Systems, Inc.
Reproduction of any part of this publication for an entire school or for a school system, by for-profit institutions and tutoring centers,
or for commercial sale is strictly prohibited.
Printed in the United States of America.
TEKS UPDATE
Ideal
for RTI
TEKS Update Student Practice Books for Reading—Sample Pages, Grades 3–8 ©ECS Learning Systems, Inc.
Student Practice Book
Reading, Grade 5
Lori Mammen
Editorial Director
Visit ecslearningsystems.com
for many online specials!
ISBN: 978-1-60539-288-2
Copyright infringement is a violation of Federal Law.
©2010 by ECS Learning Systems, Inc., Bulverde, Texas. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
translated, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any way or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording,
or otherwise) without prior written permission from ECS Learning Systems, Inc.
Reproduction of any part of this publication for an entire school or for a school system, by for-profit institutions and tutoring centers,
or for commercial sale is strictly prohibited.
Printed in the United States of America.
TEKS UPDATE
Get a head start
on the 2011–2012
state test!
Student Practice Book
Reading, Grade 6
Lori Mammen
Editorial Director
Visit ecslearningsystems.com
for many online specials!
ISBN: 978-1-60539-289-9
Copyright infringement is a violation of Federal Law.
©2010 by ECS Learning Systems, Inc., Bulverde, Texas. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
translated, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any way or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording,
or otherwise) without prior written permission from ECS Learning Systems, Inc.
Reproduction of any part of this publication for an entire school or for a school system, by for-profit institutions and tutoring centers,
or for commercial sale is strictly prohibited.
Printed in the United States of America.
TEKS UPDATE
Student Practice Book
Reading, Grade 7
Lori Mammen
Editorial Director
Visit ecslearningsystems.com
for many online specials!
ISBN: 978-1-60539-290-5
Copyright infringement is a violation of Federal Law.
©2010 by ECS Learning Systems, Inc., Bulverde, Texas. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
translated, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any way or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording,
or otherwise) without prior written permission from ECS Learning Systems, Inc.
Reproduction of any part of this publication for an entire school or for a school system, by for-profit institutions and tutoring centers,
or for commercial sale is strictly prohibited.
Printed in the United States of America.
ecslearningsystems.com
ISBN: 978-1-60539-291-2
Copyright infringement is a violation of Federal Law.
TEKS UPDATE
Student Practice Book
Reading, Grade 8
Lori Mammen
Editorial Director
Visit ecslearningsystems.com
for many online specials!
©2010 by ECS Learning Systems, Inc., Bulverde, Texas. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
translated, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any way or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording,
or otherwise) without prior written permission from ECS Learning Systems, Inc.
Reproduction of any part of this publication for an entire school or for a school system, by for-profit institutions and tutoring centers,
or for commercial sale is strictly prohibited.
Printed in the United States of America.

New! TEKS UPDATE
Student Practice Books for Reading
Table of Contents
TEKS UPDATE Reading Grade 3 Sample Pages ............................................................4–6
TEKS UPDATE Reading Grade 4 Sample Pages ..........................................................7–10
TEKS UPDATE Reading Grade 5 Sample Pages ........................................................11–13
TEKS UPDATE Reading Grade 6 Sample Pages ........................................................14–21
TEKS UPDATE Reading Grade 7 Sample Pages ........................................................22–25
TEKS UPDATE Reading Grade 8 Sample Pages ........................................................26–28
©ECS Learning Systems, Inc. TEKS Update Student Practice Books for Reading—Sample Pages, Grades 3–8
3

4
TEKS UPDA UPDATE—Reading, TE—R TE—Re eading, Gr GGrade
ra ade 3
Reaching each eaching for for the the SSky
S Sky
As a little girl, M MMae
ae JJemison
emison spent hours
staring up at the night sky sky. y. . S
She he wanted to
trav travel el into outer space. S SShe
he believ
believed ed that
one day she would go ther there. e. H
However, owever,
,
J JJemison
emison couldn
couldn’t ’ t rreach
each each her her goals goals b
b
by y wishing
on a star star. . S
She he wor worked ked har hard d and believ
believed ed in
herself. . H
Her Her
har hard d wor work k and faith took her
to to the the stars.
stars.
Early Early Years ears ea
Born in Alabama on O OOctober
ctober 17, 1956,
JJemison
emison lo loved ved
science fr from om a v vvery
ery
yyoung
oung
Mp
age. On O n her first day of of school, school, l, she she surprised
surprised sed
her her teacher teacher by b by
saying she wanted ted to be a
a
scientist. scientist. IIn
In
those days, not many any girls girl girls
wanted wanted to to be be scientists. scientists. But B But
Jemison
miso son was
was
�e �e �rst �r rst African-American woman man n in iin
different. differ ent. SShe
She
wanted to learn
all al all she could
space, Dr. Mae ae C. JJemison
emison
about the world.
BBig
ig g DDreams
eams
OOne
ne p.
of JJemison’s
emison n’
s fav favorite orite things
to do
when she
e was yyoung
oung was was to
to
go to
the libr library. brary.
. S
She he lo loved v ed to r rread
ead
books
abo about bout outer space. SShe
he also
watched hed SStar
tar Tr Trek rek
ek on on television.
television.
mgo
mto
mound
mtar mS mwatch
mn
ms
Star ar T TTr
Trek rek
sho showed wed
people fr from om
aar
around ound the world all wor
working king
together to learn about the
univ universe. erse.
The characters on the
sho show w made J
Jemison emison believ believe e that
she could be an astr
astronaut, onaut, too
too. .
SS mm
mp mp mp mp mp mp mp mpl mp mp mp mp mp mp mm
mmpp
ppl
ppl
le lleee
STS
�e �e seven en cr crew members m of the space spac pac ce shuttle
Endeavor Endeav ndeavor
before
the h SS SS-47 ST STS-47 S-47 47 mi mission
mprp D
© ECS Learning S SSystems, ystems, IInc.
nc.
37
TEKS Update Student Practice Books for Reading—Sample Pages, Grades 3–8 ©ECS Learning Systems, Inc.
prp D
TThis
his page mmay
ay no not t be be repro reproduced.

TThis
his page page page mmay
may
not not
be be reproduced.
reproduced.
38
Mission M ission specialists Dr. D Dr.
N. Jan
Davis Davis
avis and and DDr.
Dr.
MMae
ae
C. Jemison J emison pose for a picture pictur picture
e in in the the space space shuttle
shuttle
Endeavor EEndeav
ndeav d or
TEKS UPDATE—Reading, UPDATE—Re ea ading, Gr GGrade
ra ade 3
Jemison
emison didn didn’t didn’
t spend all of her
time time rreading
reading
and watching
TV. . S
She he
was full ull of of energy energy. energy y. . S
She he wwent
ent to
dance dance school school and and acted acted in in school
school
plays. She S
he was par part t of her school
school’s ’ s
student government. go government.
SShe
he won
many science fairs. In I In
n n fact, fact, J
Jemison J Jemison
emison
did so well w well
in sch school chool that sh she he w wwent
ent
to college lege wh when hen she she was was on only ly
sixteen years y years
ea old.
PPeace
eace Corps
After college, J JJemison
emison wwent
ent t to medical
school and nd became became a a doctor doctor. doctorr
. I IIn
n 1981, she
trav traveled eled to Asia to help sick sic sick people pe people eople living ther there. e.
S SShe
he also joined joined the the P
P PPeace
ea eace ea ace Corp Corps ps and trav traveled eled
ar around ound the world helping h helping sick
k people.
SSpace
pace Vo Voyage oyage
JJemison
emison son li liked helping people, peop people, ple, but she still
dr dreamed eamed d about a about space trav travel. el. SShe
he competed with
mor more e tha th than an 2,000 SS
people to become ecome par part
meled
of the
countr country’s ry’
s astr astronaut onaut training pr program. rat
IIn
n 1987,
7, �e �e �e space shuttle Endeavor Endeav ndeav or on a
J JJemison
emiso i n jjoined joined i d the h pr program a and d mo moved v d to
launch aunch pad at NASA NASA’s A’ ’s s K
Kennedy ennedy
Texas exas to t to learn ho how w to become
an astr astronaut. aut. SSpace
pace Center Center in in FFlorida
Florida
OOn
n SSeptember
ep pt tember 12, 1992, JJemison
aogram.
aonau
aed
ison blast blasted asted into
histor history, y, , b becoming becoming the the first first Afr African-American
rican-A -American
woman in n space. s space. SShe
trav traveled eled into int into nto space on the space spa space shuttle
Endeav Endeavor. ndeavor.
When n she was was She
Sem
Sogram
Seled
a a y
young
ou oung g gi girl girl, many people told JJemison
emison to r rreach
each for the he sky sky. y. .
SShe
he did something ev even en better—she r rreached
eached for the sky and touched it.
a and
t t e
SS
SS
SS
Sa Sa SSam
Sam Sam SS SS
SS
SSa
Sa Sa Sa Saam
aam
aam
am amp aa
aa
mm
mm
mmp
mmp
mp mp mmp mp mp mm
mmp
mmpp
le le le lee
ee
ee
38 © ECS Learning S SSystems,
ystems, IInc.
nc.
©ECS Learning Systems, Inc. TEKS Update Student Practice Books for Reading—Sample Pages, Grades 3–8
5

6
TEKS UPDA UPDATE—Reading, TE—R TE—Re eading, Gr GGrade
ra ade 3
Objective O bj j jectiv
iv e 4 (P (Prefixes/Suffixes)
re e fi fiiixes/Suff
/S ff fi iixe
s)
1. Read ead the the sentence sentence fr from fr om the
the 3.
Which section tells ho ho how w MMae
Mae
passage.
passage.
enter entered ed astr astronaut onaut training?
training?
On
n her her first first day day of of school, school, she
she
0
A
BBig
ig DDreams
reams
surprised surprised her her teacher teacher bby
b y saying
saying 0
B
Early
Years ears
she she wanted wanted to to be be a a scientist.
scientist.
0
C
PPeace
eace Corps
IIn
In
n which which wor
word word
d do do the the letters
letters ist
ist 0
D
D Space
Voyage Voo
yyage g
mean mean the the same same as as in in the the wor
word word
scientist?
scientist?
Objective Objjective
10
(Se (Sensory n nso
s ry y Lan Language) guagee)
)
0
A
Bicyclist Bicycclist
4. Which hich hi wor word
in the passage age
0
B
Fist
sounds unds like like a a rrocket
rocket
that
went
0
C
Mistake
into o space?
0
D
D Sister S ister
0 A
BBlasted
lasted
0 B
MMoved
0 C
RReached
Reached
2. 2. Read ead the sentence from fr
om the hee
0 D
TTrav
Traveledl)
passage.
After college, Jemison J Jemison
on went wen
nt to
Objective Obbjjec
9
(Biography/Autobiography)
aph graph a y)
medical dical school and
d became becam me a
doctor.
5. “Reaching pgr
praph
peached
ped
for the Sky” is part
of a biography. It is part of a
The letters med come from a
biography because it tells—
word meaning to—
0 A how to become an
0 A heal
astronaut
0 B learn mpe
mpD
miv
mpt
mprav
0 B why people become
0 C pass
scientists
0 D succeed
0 C events from Mae Jemison’s
life
0 D why Mae Jemison liked
science
o /Aut
A
o
mm
m y/Aut graph aph
medical dical school an and nd became becam me a
doctor
.
“R Reaching eaching plv
for th the S Sky”
” is par
t
a biograph phy.
I
t is part
t of a
The letters
rs med come from m a biography bio y because b it tells tells—
wor d meaning m to—
A hhow
to become an
0 A heal
astronaut
0 B learn mof
mB
mA
m0
me
mography
0 B why people become
0 C pass
scientists
0 D succeed
0 C events
from
Mae
J emison emison’
s
life
0 D why Mae
J emison liked
science
Objective Objjective
4 (P (Prefixes/Suffixes)
re efix
ixes/Sufffix
ixes)
© © ECS ECS Learning Learning SSystems,
Systems,
IInc.
nc.
m y.
Objective O bj j jectiv
iv e 13
13 (Usin (Using
Te TText
exx
t Fe FFeatures)
eatures)
s)
e t
eled
biogr
5.
SS S m
piopogr
p(Bp9
SS SS
SS SS SS
SS
Sam SS SS
SS
Saa
amp amm
mm
mp mp mp mp mp mp mm
mp mple mmp
mp mp mp mmp
mp mp pp
pp
pp
pl pl pl pl pl pl ppl
pl pl pl lle
lle
le le llee
ee
ee
e
TEKS Update Student Practice Books for Reading—Sample Pages, Grades 3–8 ©ECS Learning Systems, Inc.
39
TThis
his page mmay
ay no not t be be repro reproduced.

TEKS UPDATE—Reading, UPDATE—R TE—Re eading, Grade Gr Gra
ade 4
�������������������������
�������������������������
�������������������������
�������������������������
http://centralelementaryschool.org/studentblogs
http://centralelementaryscho
scho ol.org/studentblogs
�������������������
��������������
�����������������
���� ��� ���������������
�������� � � ������
By A. Dias
Do
you
want to be cool
and look
cool
when you yo
o u ride your
bike?
Then
hen wear a bike helmet! helm
et! Injuries I nju njuries
are NOT cool.
You Yo Y o ou
can prevent pprevent
many
any bike injuries
by wearing a helmet. helm helmet
t. In
fact, research resear esearch
shows sho that
a bike helmet helm
et can prevent 85% of
all ll head injuries
s to bikers.
Riding
a bicycle
may
not no not
seem em dangerous.
Yet more m more
than 700
bike riders are killed in the United Uni nited States States
m
every ever
every
year. yeaar.
And
75% of
these deaths are from fro
m head ad d injuries.
lom
It
is true
that many m bike riders
who have accidents do o not no t die from
their injuries. inju Yet they may
suffer
fer changes in their thei eir personality perso pers sonality
or
develop
learning ning disabilities as
s
a a resu result result
oof
f brain injury. inj injury.
Why y risk death oor
serious seriou
brain b brain injury
when en
plws
you
u don’t don’
t have ve to?
toa
Just
wear we ar a bike helmet! helm
Bike helmets he helmets
com
don’t don’
t need d to cost a lot to work well, w either either. ther.
In
a
U.S. . lab
ab test, test, mmany
many
affordable afforda
ble helmets helm pro proved to
be ju just ust
as effective
as helmets hhelm
he h ets that cost
a lot
more. m more.
The T main m requirement requ m me
ent for for
a good
bicycle bi icyy
cle
S
helmet
is that it fits well and
mries.
mpet
mhe
mt
mst
met!
mhey
mt
mirem
mved
mrk
ms
mst
will not no come co m e off o off
unless
you
take ta ake e it off. o
cySoS
coS
ff. Bike helmets helm today even look
cool. cool
. They T
hey come
in many
bright b rig i ght ht colors, collors,
such su ch h as as pink
pink i k and d green, and d can include inclu
inclu de awesome aweso awesome
graphics. g rap phics. Many
bike helmets
have a smooth sm m o ooth
shell that makes m makes
any
rider rid de er look
like a serious serio athlete. ath Plus,
, today’s to t day’
s bike helmets helm helmets
are
aday
amain
amets
ath
lightweight. lig gh htweight. They TSs
are vented vente ed so they th they keep your you
r head cool, co cool,
too.
Be e a
cool cyclist. clist. Wear W a helmet hhelmet
when yyou
ou
ride ride yyour
your
bike!
Sl
Shey
Sch
Sear
mr
daets
e
SS S
Y
wo
b
even
lete. a am am a mpanypp
whe
SS SS SS SS
Sa SSa
SSam
SS SS
SSa
SSa
Sa Sa Sa SSa
uaam
am am aam
aam
aa
am am amp aa
aaa
mm
mm
mmp
mmp
mp mm
mp mp mm
mmp
mpfl mple mm
mm
mp mp mmp
mp mp mmp
mp m pp
pp
pp
pp
pp
ppl
pl pl pl pl pl p poll
lle
ll
lle
le lle
llee
© ECS Learning Systems, S Systems, Inc.
43
©ECS Learning Systems, Inc. TEKS Update Student Practice Books for Reading—Sample Pages, Grades 3–8
TThis
his page mmay
ay no not t be be repro reproduced.
7

8
TThis
his page page page mmay
may
not not
be be reproduced.
reproduced.
���� ���� ���� ��������
��������� �� ��
���������������������
��������������
�����������������������
TEKS UPDATE—Reading, UPDATE—Re ea ading, GGrade
Gr ra ade 4
�����������������������������������
���������������������������������������������������������
���������������������������������������
����������
�������������
��������������
�������������
����������������������������������
Search GGO
O
������������������������������������������������ ���������������
��������������������������������������������������������������
Sa Sa Saaa Sa
44 © ECS Learning Systems, S Systems,
Inc.
TEKS Update Student Practice Books for Reading—Sample Pages, Grades 3–8 ©ECS Learning Systems, Inc.

TEKS UPDATE—Reading, UPDATE—R
TE—Re eading, Grade Gr Gra
ade 4
Objective O bj j ject
iv ive
12
(Author’s (Aut
h
or’s
’ s Purpose) P
urp pose)
)
1. What What information information suppor supports suppor ts the
the
claim claim that that helmets helmets ar are ar e beneficial
beneficial
to to cy cyclists?
A Costs Costs of of helmets
helmets
B DDesigns
Designs
of helmets
C Results RRe
RRe
esults of brain injuries
D Research RRe
esearch
on injury
prevention prev
ention
Objective Objjective
11
11 (M (Main ain Ide Idea/Supporting a/Supporting
De Details) t ails)
2.
When choosing a helmet, cy cyclists clists
should be most concerned
about—
A
color
B
fit
C
price
D
shape
Objective Objjective
11 (Text (Te ex xt
Organization)
Organ
ganization)
3. Compared Compar Compared
to expensive expe pensive
helmets,
affordable affor affordable
helm helmets mets are—
A equally qually y safe
ssafe
B less ess safe
safe s
C safer sa safer
D somewhat so omewhat
safe
© ECS Learning Systems, S Systems,
Inc.
m o
Objective O bj j ject
iv ive
2
2 (Roots/Affixes)
(Ro (Roots/Aff
/Aff fi fiiixe
s)
4. Which word wor word
from from
om the passage has
a a root r oot meaning “to “ to let air out”? out
”?
A Effective E Effective
B Lightweight Lightw Lightweight
C Smooth S Smooth
D Vented VVented
VVented
ented
Objective Objjective
12 (Author’s (Auth
o r r’s
s Purpose) Pur
rpo pose
e) )
5. What hat i is the purpose purpose of this this is
passage? sage? s
A To TTo
o sell sell helmets helmets to to cy cyclists cy
B To TTo
T o r rrecommend
r ecommend certain cer certain
helmets
C To T TTo
o suppor support suppor lab testing of
helmets hhelmets
D To T TTo
o encourage encourage cy cyclists cyyclists
to
wear helmets helmetslclis
lests
lDe
Objective Obbjje
11 1 (Main Idea/Supporting Ide ing
Details)
6. What do all items in the Web site’s
pain
p(Mp11
bulleted
plclists
plt
list promote about Happy
Heads helmets?
A Design choices
B Desirable features mpe
mpiv
mt
mpc
mpw
mpear
C Price
D Safety
r a/Suppo
To r
of
o
w
ng
tails)
hat do all items s in the WWeb
eb site
’ s
leted list prr
omote about abou Happy
H helme mets?
D ign choices
D Desirable
features
mbul
m6.
mD
mB
mD
mA
mea
mWh
mesig
mads
C P
rice
D
S
afety
tain helmets
SS SS SS SS SS SS SS
Sa SSam
SS Saamp
ammp
mp mp mp mp mp mple mm
mp mm mp mmp
mp mpp
pp pp
pp
ppl
ppl
pp
le le le le le le le le le le lle
ll
le le ee
ee
ee
ee
S t
©ECS Learning Systems, Inc. TEKS Update Student Practice Books for Reading—Sample Pages, Grades 3–8
45
TThis
his page mmay
ay no not t be be repro reproduced.
9

10
TThis
his page page page mmay
may
not not
be be reproduced.
reproduced.
46
Objective O bj j ject
iv ive
11
11 (T (Text (Teex
xt
OOrganization)
Org
gan izat io ion
)
7.
Both “B “Be e A Cool CCyclist”
yclist
” and
“H “Happy appy H HHeads
eads HHeadgear”
eadgear”
include—
A
facts about head injuries
B
appeals to looking stylish
C
special special offers offers on on shipping
shipping
D
rresearch-based
e esearch-based
rrecommendations
ecomme
n ndations
Objective O bj j ject
iv ive
2
2
(C (Context ontex
xt
C CClues)
lue s)
TEKS UPDATE—Reading, UPDATE—Re
ea ading, GGrade
Gr ra ade 4
8. Which word wor word
from
the Web eb site
site
means “shielded “ shielded from fr om injury injur injury
or
harm harm”?
A Affor Affordable
B Equipped E Equipped
C Limited
D Protected P Protected
SSam
SSaamp
ammp
mple mmple
le le
© © ECS ECS Learning Learning SSystems,
Systems,
IInc.
nc.
TEKS Update Student Practice Books for Reading—Sample Pages, Grades 3–8 ©ECS Learning Systems, Inc.

TThis
his page page page mmay
may
not not
be be reproduced.
reproduced.
�����������
�����������
�����������
Kidz Spor Sports Spor
po ts is pr promoting omoting classes es for for yyouth
yyouth
outh based based on on the the popularity popularity of of the the sport spor sport spor
in each country countr ry y belo below.
.
�����������
��������������������
�����
Soccer—Soccer is a fun sport played all over the globe. Come make
friends and learn the basic skills of the most popular sport ever! You can
run and kick while working as a team. Soccer builds critical thinking
skills, too. It’s a game you can play your whole life, so join today. You will
feel like one of the greatest soccer players in the world. What are you
waiting for? Step onto the field! Get to the peak of your potential. We have
instruction for every level—no experience is required. Receive instruction.
Begin. Fees are paid monthly, and early enrollment begins June 1st.
Remember: sportsmanship, competition, teamwork!
�����������
��������������������
�����
TEKS UPDATE—Reading, UPDATE—Re ea ading, Gr Grade Gra
ade 5
SSa
Sammp Sa Sammmmm
mp mp mmmp mp mp mp mmmppp
ee
Baseball—You love to watch it, now get in the game! It’s the world’s
hottest sport, and you could be batting and swinging like a pro in no time.
Our coaches will teach you how to make that PING! with every hit. Do the
drills; learn the skills. Our coaches will take your game to a new level.
Teams are forming now, so call to register. Remember: power, speed,
agility!
44 © ECS Learning Systems, S Systems,
Inc.
©ECS Learning Systems, Inc. TEKS Update Student Practice Books for Reading—Sample Pages, Grades 3–8
11

12
TEKS UPDA UPDATE—Reading, TE—R TE—Re eading, Gr GGrade
ra ade 5
�����������
��������������������
Basketball—Basketball rules! Take a back seat, soccer and baseball;
basketball got the most votes from kids as their favorite sport. Join
thousands of kids dribbling and dunking. You can play indoors or out,
just pull on your basketball shoes. A lot of running and jumping will help
you reach your hoop dreams. It’s fast; it’s fun. And working as a team
toward a goal is a life skill. How about a little game of basketball? The fall
league happens soon, so register now. Remember: up with self-esteem
and work ethic!
Objective
2
(Sayin (S (Sayings) ings)
dS
�������������
Objective 11 (Connections ( (Connections
Between/Among Between/Amo
/Amo ng
Texts) Te exts)
me
miv
mt
mc
me
mj
mb
mbj
1. Read Re ead e d the
SS
rS
sentences from
th the he Italy Italym2.
2. The Th purpose of each ad is to
ad. add.
persuade kids to—
What Wha W at ar are e you
waiting for? Step
A join a certain cer
tain sport
onto on nto o the field! Get G to the peak p of
B buy equipment for sports spor sports
your o r potential. potential.Set
ampersuade
C learn to play several sev eral different differ different
If
you
ou u want to reach r the peak pe eak of
sports
your
r potential, pote tential, you yySeach
ou must— —
D exercise exer
cise fairness fairness when when playing
playing
A make friends
sports
B
practice practice har hard har d
C win every ev every
game
D be the best on the team
© © ECS ECS Learning Learning SSystems,
Systems,
IInc.
nc.
SS
Sam Sam SS
SS
Sa Sa Sa SSa
Saam
aam
am amp aa
aa Sammp mpl mmpp
pl pl le le leeee
S mO
TEKS Update Student Practice Books for Reading—Sample Pages, Grades 3–8 ©ECS Learning Systems, Inc.
45
TThis
his page mmay
ay no not t be be repro reproduced.

TThis
his page page page mmay
may
not not
be be reproduced.
reproduced.
46
Objective O bj j ject
iv ive
12
(Exaggerated/Misleading (Ex (Exaggera
ate
d/M isle adin ading
Statements)
St Stat
at ement
s)
3. Which statement from fr from
om the ads is
an exaggeration?
A You YYou
ou can run r
un and kick while
working wor king as a [soccer] team.
B Remember: RRe
emember: spor sportsmanship, tsmanship tsmanship,
competition, competition, teamwor teamwork! teamwor teamwork!
C The The fall fall [basketball] [basketball] league
league
happens happens soon, soon, so so rregister
r egister no now.
.
D [B [Baseball
is] the world world’s ’ s hottest
hottest
spor sport,
and yyou
ou could be batting
and and swinging swinging like like like a a a pr pro pro
o in in no no
time.
Objective Objjective
12 (Author’s
s Viewpoint/Position)
Vie iewpoint/P
/Positio
n n)
4. Soccer S occer would be a good choice oice for
for
an an inexperienced athlete since nce the
the he
soccer program pr program
offers—
A monthly fees
B early enrollment enr enrollment
C different differ different
skill levels le levels
D opportunities oppor opportuniti
ties to make friends fr riends
Objective O bj j ject
iv ive
2
2 (Antonyms/Synonyms)
(An (Antony
ms/Sy ms/Synony
ms)
TEKS UPDATE—Reading, UPDATE—Re
ea ading, Gr GGrade
ra ade 5
5. Read Re ea ead the sentences from from
om the
Japan
apan ad.
Teams ea eams are ar
e forming now,
, so
so call to
register. register
egister . Remember Remember, Remember,
power, power
er , speed,
agility!
Which word wor d is an antonym of
agility?
A Clumsiness Clumsin ness
B Grace G Grac
ace
C Strength S Str
t ength
D Willingness W WWillingness
illingness
l oncepts
Objective Objjective
11 1 11 (Organizational (Orrgan
ganizational
Pattern) Patt
rrnn
6. Which Wh hich of the follo following concepts
is emphasized em mphasized
in the ad for forr
baseball? base
A Competition
B Self-esteem
C Speed peedpk
dpS
pS
pS
plwing
D Teamwork Teamwor
mpB
mpC
mpA
mpCompetition
mpeball?
mT
mS
mTeamwor
mp e
pl)
SS SS SS Sam SSaamp
ammp
mp mp mmp mple mm
mp mp mmp
mpp
pp
pl ll
le le lle
le le le le ll
lle
le le le ll
le ll
le l
S S
© ECS Learning Systems, S Systems,
Inc.
©ECS Learning Systems, Inc. TEKS Update Student Practice Books for Reading—Sample Pages, Grades 3–8
13

14
TEKS UPDA UPDATE—Reading, TE—R TE—Re eading, Gr GGrade
ra ade 6
R Read ead the stor
story ry y and drama, and answ an answer nswwer
er the the questions questions that that follo
follo follow. w. .
�� �������������� ����
���� �����
���
“Kristin, stop kicking my my leg!” D DDavid
avid gr growled. owled.
IIt
t was four o
o’clock ’clock on
Wednesday
ednesday ednesda
afternoon, and D DDavid
avid and his sister Kristin w wwere
ere
e doing home
homework work
k at the kitchen table.
Kristin Kristin ey
ey eyed ed ed ed him him him and and and continued continued continued swinging swinging swinging her her her foot foot foot beneath beneath beneath the the the table.
table.
table.
Their Their dad dad walked
walked
thr through ough the door on his way to the r rrefrigerator.
efrigerator .
“H “Hey ey kids, kids,” ” he said, looking thoughtfully o
over ver
DDavid’s
avid’
s s shoulder
r at his math hom homework. meworr
“S “So, o, DDavid,
avid, ar are e yyou
ou just about finished with y yyour
our science fair pr
project?” roject?”
oj
DDavid
avid wav waved ed his hand casually casually. y. “S “Sure,
DDad,”
ad, ” he said. “I
“It’s t t’
s coming along fine. fine.” ”
DDavid’s
avid avid’
s dad looked doubtful. “O
“Okay, kay, , son. I’ I’m m looking for
forward ward
to seeing what yyou’ve
u eeve’eo
come up with, although I don don’t ’ t see why y yyou
ou won won’t ’ t tell me what the pr project oject is. is.” ”
“I “It’s t’
s the th the element of surprise, surprise,” ” D
David avid pr proclaimed, oclaim med, waving
g his hands dramatically dramatically, y, “…that
ek
makes my pr project oject so aw awesome! esome! DDon’t
on on’
t worr worry y D
Dad. ad. YYou
You’ll ou’
ll see
e it this FFriday
at the scien science nce fair fair.”
DDavid
avid bent back o oover
ver
his home homework wor work
with h r rrenewed
enewed
enthusi enthusiasm. asm. WWith
ith one ey eyebrow raised, rraised,
DDavid’s
avid’
s dad nodded and left the r rroom.
oom. .
As soon on as their dad was gone, , Kristin, K Kristin, who had been been stifling tifling giggles during lek.
lebr
l”
the
ex exchange, change, , let loose with a peal of
laughter llaughter.
aughter.
“I’ “I’ve v e figur figured ed yyou
ou out, smar sm smart t gu guy,” uy y, , ” she snicker snickered. ed. “And “ And y yyou
ou hav haven’t en’
t ev even en star started arted
ted y
your our
science fair project!”
plriday
pl,
David shrugged. “Maybe I haven’t started, per se, but I’ve got quite a few ideas churning
up here.” He tapped his forehead solemnly. He closed his math book, collected his
homework, and headed up to his room.
“You can’t rush genius,” he added as he left the kitchen. Kristin just shook her head.
Once in his room, David let out a prolonged sigh.
He actually had no clue what his project was going to be. He had tried a thousand times to
think of something original, but the ideas just weren’t flowing. As he drifted
off to sleep that night, he felt slightly panicked. Oh, well. I’m sure everything will come
together, he reassured himself.
The next day after school, David and his friend Mike were having a snack in the kitchen
when David saw the note. It read:
.
“…that
m
Hm
science fair pr
oject!”
David
avid shr
ugged d. “Maybe
I hav ven’
t star se but I’ e got quite e a fe few
ideas churning
up here.
” H
e tapp pped his forehead
s y. H closed his m book ok, collected his
homewor
wor k, and headed up to his r
oom.
“ You ou u ccan
ccan
’ t rush
genius,
Onc
ce in his room,
David
let ou ut a prm.
mper
mted,
sigh.
He
actu ual lly y had no clue what his pr pproject
oject was going ggoing g to t to be. H
e had tried a thousand times to
think o f s something original, but th he ideas just w weeren’
t flowing.
wing. As he drifted
off to sl lee ep that night, he felt sligh htly panicked d. Oh,
well.
ell. I
’ m sur re e ev
erything ything will come
com
together r,
h he reassur
f. aolonged
ame
amv
aj
The n next ne n day after school, Dav
vid and his friend Mike
ike w
ere
e having a snack in the kitchen
when David
vid d s saw the note. I It
read:
o
ow
y
v
w
math
m,
solemnlym SS SS SS SS
Sa Sam Sa Sam Sam Sam Sam SS SS
SS
SS
Sa SS
Sa Sa Sa Sa Sa
.aa
aam
am amp aa
mm
mm
mmp
mp mp mm
mmp
mp mp mp mple mm
mm
mm
mm
mmp mmp
mp mmp
pp
pp
pp
pp
pl pl plle le le lle
le lle
ll
le lee
ee
ee
and SS SS SS a pa pplle
lle
le
Sed himself
������������������������
�������������������
�������������������������
����
© ECS Learning S SSystems, ystems, IInc.
nc.
51
TEKS Update Student Practice Books for Reading—Sample Pages, Grades 3–8 ©ECS Learning Systems, Inc.
TThis
his page mmay
ay no not t be be repro reproduced.

TThis
his page page page mmay
may
not not
be be reproduced.
reproduced.
TEKS UPDATE—Reading, UPDATE—Re ea ading, Gr GGrade
ra ade 6
“G “Great,” reat,
eat, ” DDavid
avid mutter muttered. ed. HHe
e looked at M
Mike, ike, who shr shrugged ugged good-natur good-naturedly. edly. . “I’
“I’ll ll help help,” , ”
MMike
ike offer
offered. ed.
“ “Thanks, Thanks, man.
man.” ” DDavid
avid smiled. M
Mike ike was a good friend, and he could use the help help. . Who
kne knew w what was in this fridge?
II’ve
’ ve
been pr
promising romising omising D
Dad ad II’d
’d d d clean cle clean it for at least six months months, , he
thought guiltily guiltily. uiltily y. . I can can’t ’t t r rreally
really eally blame blame him him for for putting putting his his foot foot do
do down. wn.
“Hey,
, hav have e yyou
ou alr already eady finished y yyour
our pr project oject for the science fair?” D
David avid asked e
M
Mike. ike.
HHe
e was sor sort t of hoping MMike
ike was in the same pr predicament edicament he was.
MMike
ike looked pr proud. oud. “ “Yeah. Yeah. eah. I m made a model of S SSamuel
amuel M
Morse’s orse’
s telegraph transmi transmitter. itter
IIt
t can can send send rreal
real
messages!”
“S “Sounds ounds rreally
really
cool,” cool, ” David
rremarked
emar
ked thoughtfully thoughtfully. y. . “H
“How o
w long did it take yyou
ou to build?”
“I “It t wasn wasn’t wasn’
t too bad,” bad, ” Mike Mike
ike said, said, using using his his fingers fingers to to count, count, t, in in days, days, D DDavid
David
assumed assumed, d, ho how
long long the the pr
project project
oject had taken. “O
“Only nly about four four months, months, , on and and off
off
off.” f. . ”
DDavid,
avid, looking star
startled, tled, nodded.
Uh-oh Uh-oh, h-oh,
he
e thought.
BBig
ig g uh-oh uh-oh. . e.
The bo
boys ys rreturned
eturned to the task at hand,
, and D DDavid
avid opene opened ed the fridge warily warily. y. H
He e began b
rremoving
emoving
ving items one b
by y one, looking ng at e expiration dates and
d sor
sorting ting the items into “keep “keep” keep”
and aand
“ “toss” toss”
” piles. M
Mike ike grabbed the garbage bag age can for the “ “toss” toss”
item items. ms.
“ “Whoa, Whoa, a, dude, watch out!” M
MMike
ik ke yyelled
elled as DDavid
avid lifted o out the next item. “ “What Wha What hat is that?”
DDavid
avid was s equally mystified. . A
fuzzy zzy mountain sat on the plate plate befor
befor
before e them. An An alie alien? DDavid
avid
grabbed grabbed a a for
for fork k and poked
d it it. i it. H HHe
e w was genuinely intrigued. intrigued intrigued.
SSuddenly,
uddenly nly, , it dawne dawned ned on him. A
At t the center of the fuzz h he pl.
spied somet something ething that looked
suspiciously sly like the th the he half of a hot dog he he’d put in the fridge months befor
before e and forgotten
about.
“S “So?” o?” MMike
M Mike
pr pressed. essed. “ “What What IS t this thing?”
“A A st study tud dy on S all.S
long-term mold gr
growth, ro
of course,” m’
m’d
m” DDavid
avid vid rreplied
eplied confidently confidently. y. . H
He e grinned at
MMike,
ike, w who
o suddenly blinked in understanding.
nderstanding.
“O “Oh, h, h man, mman,”
” MMike
ike cr crowed. o “Genius!”
Wait ait t ‘til ‘ ‘til ‘ t til D DDad
ad gets a load of this this, David avid thought thou thought with satisfaction. E EEverything verything
ything was coming
together
r after a after all. amd
aavid
D ought a aa
o
began le l
SS SS SS SS SS SS
Sa SSam SS SS SS
SS
Sa Sa Sa SSa
Saam
am aam
am am amp mm
mm
mmp
mp mp mmp
mp mple mm
mm
mmp
mm
mp mmp
mp mm
mpp
pl pl pp
pp
pp
ppl
pl pl ll
lle
lle
le ll
ll
le ll
ee
ee
we
of course,
“G
aenaw
Sawth,
Sed.
S,
Sanius!”
52 © ECS Learning S SSystems,
ystems, IInc.
nc.
©ECS Learning Systems, Inc. TEKS Update Student Practice Books for Reading—Sample Pages, Grades 3–8
15

16
TEKS UPDA UPDATE—Reading, TE—R TE—Re eading, Gr GGrade
ra ade 6
������������������������
���� ������������������������
��������������������
��������������������
��������������������
Characters
Characters
DDAVID
AV VI
D
KRISTIN: KRIST
I IN:
David’s David’
s older sister
DAD:
Kristin K
ristin and David’s David’
s father
MIKE:
: David’s D
avid’
s friend
SCIENCE S CIENC
C E FFAIR
AIR
JJUDGE
UDGE
#1
SCIENCE SCIENC
C E FFAIR
AIR
JJUDGE
UDGE
#2
Scene One:
ne: Kitchen.
DAVID VID and
KRISTIN
are e doing hom homewor homework meworr
rk k at the table.
DAD
enters.
DAD: H
How ow
is yyour
our science fair pr
project oject coming along, DDavid?
avid?
DAVID: VID VID: EExcellent,
Excellent,
DDad.
ad. RReally
eally good.
DAD: What What pr project
did yyou
ou decide on?
DAVID: VID VID: I IIt’s…it’s
t’
s…it’
s kind of a surprise.
(DAD raises raises
an ey
eyebrow.) ebro ow.
. )
DAD: Well, I’ I’m I’ m looking for forward orwar
d to seeing it at the fair on n F
Friday. riday.
That That’s ’ s FFriday,
riday, day
as as in in two two days days fr from fr
om now, no w ww,
w,
r rremember?
r emem mber?
py.
(DAD
exits.
KRIST KRISTIN STIN giggles. giggles.) )
KRISTIN: IN: SSo
S So
it it’s ’ s a “surprise,” “ surprise, ” hu huh? uh?
DAVID:
VID ID D: Well…it’ll Well…it ell…it’
ll be a surprise e to me. mp,
KRIST KRISTIN: TI IN: YYou
You ou hav haven’t haven’
ev even starat started, t ted, hav have e y yyou?
ou?
aen
SS SS SSa
Sa SS
SSa
Sa SS
Sam SSa
Saam
am am aa
am aam
amp aaa mm
mm
mmp
mple mm
mm
mp
pp
le le lee
ee
© ECS Learning S SSystems,
ystems, IInc.
nc.
53
TEKS Update Student Practice Books for Reading—Sample Pages, Grades 3–8 ©ECS Learning Systems, Inc.
TThis
his page mmay
ay no not t be be repro reproduced.

TThis
his page page page mmay
may
not not
be be reproduced.
reproduced.
DAVID: VID: Shhh, S
hhh, Kristin. Dad’ll Dad’
ll hear you! y you!
I just can’t can’
t think of anything to do. do do.
KRISTIN: Why don’t don’
t you y ou make one of those volcanoes v volcanoes
olcanoes again?
TEKS UPDATE—Reading, UPDATE—Re ea ading, Gr GGrade
ra ade 6
DAVID: VID: Todd TTodd
odd Parsick P Parsick
arsick beat me to it. He’s H
e’
s building building one one that
that spews
three
different differ ent colors of
lava.
How
w can can I I compete compete with with that?
that?
KRISTIN: Well, ell, you’d y you’d
d better better think think fast—it’s fast—it ’ s a big part par t of your y your
grade, you y ou know. kno knoww.
w.
(KRISTIN exits.) exits. )
DAVID: VID: Y Yeah, eah, thanks for reminding r eminding me.
Scene Scene Two: wo o: Kitchen, the next day. day
y. . DAVID DA DAVID VID and MIKE enter. .
MIKE: I’ I’m m almost almost done done with with my my science science fair fair pr project. pr project.
oj I ended end ded up building a telegraph ph
transmitter transmitter like Samuel S Samuel
Morse M orse made. What did
you
do?
DAVID: DAVID: VID: Nothing N
othing yet.
(He ( He e picks up p a note not note ote from fr
om the kitchen counter.) ccounter
r. . ) “David, “D please clean c lean out ouut
the refrigerator
efrigerator this afternoon.
Thanks, ank nks, Dad.” D Dad.
” OOh,
h, great.
(MIKE sits down do
wn at the kitchen n table. tabl t le. DAVID DAAVID
VID opens the refriger refrigerator r ator and begins to empty mp it.
MIKE samples mples the various v
arious foods food as
DAVID DDA
AVID VID unloads them onto to the table.) table. )
MIKE:
Why Why don don’t don’
t you
u build a robot? robbot?
DAVID: VID: In I
In
one e day? d Right.
MIKE: OOr
O r some kind of spaceship. spaceship p.
That would be cool. Or…whoa, Or…
r…whoa, …whoa, what IS that, dude? ddude?
(DAVID
VID D pulls p pulls a fuzzy green gr reen een and purple pu purple mound out of the he refrigerator. rrefriger
refr frigerator ator. . The mound is as big as the
plate it it’s ’ s sitting si itting on. The boys bo oys stare star
star e at at t it it in in wonder.) wonder
wonder )
ays
aThat
ays
a) . r.
and begins to empty it.
mefri
mpator
mprator
piger
pavid,
urple
re t
SS Sa Sa Sa a
SS SS SS SS SS
SSa
SSa
Sa Sa Sa Sa Sam SS
Sa Sa SSaam
aam
am am amp amm
mm
mp mp mm
mm
mp mple mm
mmmp
mp mp mm
pl pp
pp
pp
pl pl pl le le lle
le lee
ee
e
54 © ECS Learning S SSystems,
ystems, IInc.
nc.
©ECS Learning Systems, Inc. TEKS Update Student Practice Books for Reading—Sample Pages, Grades 3–8
17

18
TEKS UPDA UPDATE—Reading, TE—R TE—Re eading, Gr GGrade
ra ade 6
DAVID: VID: I I hav have e no idea. IIt
t looks like an alien. O
Or…wait, r…wait, I kno know! w! I put half a hot dog in the
rrefrigerator
efrigerator about six months ago and forgot about it. I IIt
t t must must be be underneath underneath all all this this gr
gr green een
and purple e stuff
stuff. f. .
MIKE: I’ I’ve v ve
nev never er seen anything like that befor
before! e! HHey…are
ey…are
e y
you ou thinking what I’ I’m m thinking?
DAVID: VID: (
(grins (g ( (grins) grins) g ) MMike,
ike, meet my science fair pr
project—a oject—a mold experiment!
e
Scene Three: e ee: School School auditorium, auditorium, the the next next day day. day y. . Tables ables ar
are re e full of f science fair ir pr
projects. ojects. DAVID’s DA AVID’ VVIDD’
s
colorful ful fuz fuzzball zzball sits in fr front r ont of a disp display play rreading
reading eading “Long-T “Long-Term “Long-T Ter erm
MMold
MMold
old G
Gr Growth.” Gro
rowth.
” DAVID, DA AVID, VID,
JUDGE JUDGE #1, JUDGE #2, and DAD
DAD stand beside it.
JUDGE JUDGE #1: #1: Fascinating. F Fascinating.
Who Who would would hav have
believ believed ed a student nt could cultur culture e a spectac spectacular cular
fungus like this? this?
JUDGE #2:
#2: When did yyou
ou begin to gr grow ow
it?
DAVID: VID: Last L Last N NNovember.
ovember.
JUDGE #1:
This yyear
ear wwe’re
e’
re
awar awarding ding ing g a special priz
prize e to the student who planned the e far farthest th thest
in adv advance ance for the fair
fair. . I’ I’m m sur sure e the e other pr projects ojects her here e didn didn’t n take six months like yyours
o ou urs did!
JUDGE #2: #2: Congratulations
Congratulations. ns. ( (To ( TTo
o D DAD)
YYou
You ou must be v vvery
y proud oud of yyour
our son.
DAD: OOh,
h, I am. H HHe
e can ca can be vvery
ery
in ingenious. ngenious. DDo
o you
hav have e an anything nything to say say, y y, D
DDavid?
DAVID: VID: J
Just…hot ust…ho hot dog!
mper
mpt
mpavid?
mp,
SS SS
SS SS SS SSam
SSa Saa amp mm
mm
mm
mp mp mm
mp mp mmp
mp mple mm
mp mp mp mm
mpp
p’p pl le le le le le lee
ee
ee
ee
ee
e
© ECS Learning S SSystems, ystems, IInc.
nc.
55
TEKS Update Student Practice Books for Reading—Sample Pages, Grades 3–8 ©ECS Learning Systems, Inc.
p pr
TThis
his page mmay
ay no not t be be repro reproduced.

TThis
his page page page mmay
may
not not
be be reproduced.
reproduced.
56
Objective Objjective
2
(C (Context ontex
xt
CClues)
lues)
Objective Objjective
2
(F (Fo (Foreign oreign
Wo Words/Phrases)
ords/P
ds/Phrase
ases)
Objective O bj j ject
iv ive
6
6
(P (Plot (Plo
lo t De Development) velop
lopment)
)
TEKS UPDATE—Reading, UPDATE—Re
ea ading, Gr GGrade
ra ade 6
UUse
se “D “David’s avid
’s s G
Genius” enius”
to answer answ wer er
questions 1–4.
3.
Why do David D David
and Mike
ike clean out
the refrigerator? r refrigerator?
AA David D David
promised
omised his dad months months
1.
RRead
ead the sentence fr from om the stor story. y. .
ago that he would.
B DDavid
David
is trying tr ying to take his mind
As As soon soon as as their their dad dad was was gone,
gone,
off his unfinished project. pr oject.
Kristin, Kristin, Kristin, who who who had had had been been been stifling stifling stifling giggles
giggles
giggles
during the ex exchange, change, let loose with a
peal of laughter laughter. .
C DDavid
David
thinks the chor chore e might m might
give giv give
him an n idea i idea for his s scien science ience
project. pr project.
The wor word d stifling means—
D David D David
vid hopes to distract his h dad
from fr rom
o asking about the science
ience
A
bringing in
project. pr project.
B
building up
C
holding back
Objective O bj j e c t tiv
iv e 6 (Point (P o in t o oof
f View) VVie
VVie
ie w)
D letting out
4. Wh Who ho is the narrator in this stor sstory?
y?
A
David D David
B
Kristin
2.
DDavid
avid tells Kristin, “M “Maybe aybe I hav haven’t hav ha en’
t ls
ly
star started, ted, per se se, , but I’ I’ve ve
got qui quite ite a fe feww
C David and Kristin Kristin’s ’ dad
ideas…. ideas….” ideas…. ” The phrase per se sse
means— me eans—
D Someone S omeone outside the stor
stor story
A
as as such; such; exactly
exactly
B
to o an an extent; extent; par partly par p tly pD
C
right right no now; no w; currently
D
just ust about; abo about; bout; appr approximately
approximatelympD
mpD
mpC
mpavid
mpKristin
K
pS
S mm
SS SS Sam SSaam
aa
amp amm
mmm
mp mm
mp mple mmpp
pp
pp
ppl
pl ppl
le ll
ll
ll
ll
ll
le le le ll
ll
ll
lle
ll
ee
ee
ee
ee
© ECS Learning Systems, S Systems,
Inc.
©ECS Learning Systems, Inc. TEKS Update Student Practice Books for Reading—Sample Pages, Grades 3–8
19

20
TThis
his page page page mmay
may
not not
be be reproduced.
reproduced.
58
Use U se both “David’s “D “David’
s GGenius”
enius”
and
“The “ The Science Fair F Fair
PProject”
roject”
to answ answer nsw wer er
questions 9 and 10.
Objective Objjective
5 (Se (Setting/Characters/Plot)
tting/Charac
acters/P
s/Plot)
)
9. How Ho
w do Kristin’s Kristin Kristin’
s actions in the th the story
differ from fr om her actions in the drama?
A
Kristin Kristin attends attends the the science science fair fair in
in
the the stor story story
y but but not not in in the the drama.
drama.
B
Kristin Kristin is is not not helpful helpful in in the the stor
story story
but but giv gives
David David
avid a a suggestion suggestion in
in
the the drama.
drama.
C
Kristin Kristin helps helps DDavid
David
avid clean clean out out the
the
rrefrigerator
efrigerator in in the the stor story story
y but but not not in
in
the drama.
D Kristin Kristin tells tells their their dad dad about
about
David’s D David’
s problem problem
oblem in in the the stor story story
but
not in the drama.
TEKS UPDATE—Reading, UPDATE—Re
ea ading, GGrade
Gr ra ade 6
Objective O bj j jectiv
iv e 5
5
(Se (Setting/Characters/Plot)
tt
in g/C h haraacters
s/P lo lot)
)
10. What is one difference differ difference
ence in plot
between betw between
the story
y and the drama?
A David D David
avid attends the science fair in
the drama but not in in the story. stor
y. .
B David D David
cleans out the refrigerator r efrigerator
in the drama but not in the story. stor story.
.
C Mike M Mike
built a telegraph g p transmitter ansmitter
in the drama ma but not in the t the he story. stor story.
D David’s D David’
s dad d leaves
a note e for
David D David
id in the drama but not n not in
the he story. stor story.
.
e.
SS
SSam
SSaamp
ammp
mple mmple
le lee
ee
ee
ee
e
© © ECS ECS Learning Learning SSystems,
Systems,
IInc.
nc.
TEKS Update Student Practice Books for Reading—Sample Pages, Grades 3–8 ©ECS Learning Systems, Inc.

TThis
his page page page mmay
may
not not
be be reproduced.
reproduced.
58
Use
se both both “D “David’s “David’
s GGenius”
enius”
and
“The “ The Science Fair F Fair
PProject”
roject”
to answ answer nsw wer er
questions 9 and 10.
Objective Objjective
5 (Setting/Characters/Plot)
(Setting/Charac
acters/P
s/Plot)
)
9. How
w do do Kristin Kristin’s Kristin’
s actions in th the stor story y
differ differ fr from fr om her actions in the drama?
A
Kristin Kristin attends attends the the science science fair fair in
in
the the stor story story
y but but not not in in the the drama.
drama.
B
Kristin Kristin is is not not helpful helpful in in the the stor
story story
but but giv gives
David David
avid a a suggestion suggestion in
in
the the drama.
drama.
C
Kristin Kristin helps helps DDavid
David
avid clean clean out out the
the
rrefrigerator
efrigerator in in the the stor story story
y but but not not in
in
the drama.
D Kristin Kristin tells tells their their dad dad about
about
David’s D David’
s problem problem
oblem in in the the stor story story
but
not in the drama.
TEKS UPDATE—Reading, UPDATE—Re
ea ading, Gr GGrade
ra ade 6
Objective O bj j jectiv
iv e 5
5
5 (Se (Setting/Characters/Plot)
(Settin
in g/C
h
ara acters
s/P s/Plo
lo t) )
10. What is one difference differ difference
ence in plot
between betw between
the story
y and the drama?
A David D David
avid attends the science fair in
the drama but not in the story. stor stor
y. .
B David D David
cleans out the refrigerator r efrigerator
in the drama but not in the story. stor story.
.
C Mike M Mike
built a telegraph g p transmitter ansmitter
in in the drama ma but but not not in in t the
the he stor story. story.
D DDavid’s
David’
s dad d leaves
a note
e for
David DD
avid id in the drama but n not in
the he stor story.
.
e.
SS
Sam SSaamp
ammmp
mple mmple
le lee
ee
ee
ee
e
© ECS Learning Systems, S Systems,
Inc.
©ECS Learning Systems, Inc. TEKS Update Student Practice Books for Reading—Sample Pages, Grades 3–8
21

22
TThis
his page page page mmay
may
not not
be be reproduced.
reproduced.
36
Fizz Fact ry
TEKS UPDATE—Reading, UPDATE—Re
ea ading, GGrade
Gr ra ade 7
Whoev Whoever er er thought thought a a seemingly seemingly innocent innocent combination combination of of candy candy plus plus soda soda would would equal equal a
a
fantastic fountain of FIZZ!
The rreaction
eaction witnessed after combining M
Mentos® entos® candies with
soda baffles ev even en some scientists.
MMost
ost ost seem seem to to think think that that the the water water molecules molecules surr
surr surrounding ounding ng the soda
soda’s ’ s carbon dio dioxide xide gas
ar are e disturbed when the candies ar are e dr
dropped opped in.
TTiny
iny pits on the sur surface face face of of each each piece piece of
of
candy pr provide o
vide per perfect fect places for ne new w carbon dio dioxide xide bubbles to form.
The he candies candies qu quickly qquickly
q
sink sink to to the the bottom bottom of of the the bottle, bottle, adding adding to to the the r
rreaction
eaction bby
y pushing the
he liquid abo above v e the them hem up
and out of the bottle.
Why not tr
try y it yyourself?
ourself? GGather
ather the materials belo below, w, , fol follo
follow w the dir directions, ections, and form y yyour
our
oown
wn opinion—that is, if y
your our brain isn isn’t ’ t too soggy after being ing in soda-blasted!
Materials M aterials
roll r oll of Mentos® M Mentos®
candy
2-liter bottle of diet soda
index card car card
sheet of paper
ca
tape
Directions
ection ections
1. Find F in nd n a large, outdoor location ion that that is is grassy grassy and and open. open. en en. RRemember,
R Remember,
, things things will
wil will
probably pr p o obably
S
get messy!
2. Unwrap U Un
nwrap p the entir entire roll
of candy. caae y.
3. Using UUsing
Us
sing yyour
your
piece of paper, paper create eate a long g tube t big enough for the candy candy to slide
through. thr t rough.
TTape
the the side side of of the th he tube so i it r
remains emains rrolled.
olled.
aeate
4. Position P o osition the diet soda bottl bottle e so it
t rremains
emains upright. upright. OOpen
Open
the bottle.
5. Holding Holdin
olding ding the the tube tube with with one
one hand, ha hand, cover co
ver
er the bottom opening with the index card. car
d.
6. Slip S lip ip the the candy candy andy Sape
STape
into into into the the the tube
tu tube so the pieces are ar are
resting r esting in a column.
7.
Flip F
lip lip the the tube tube into into the the opening opening of of the the soda soda bottle, bottle, and and watch watch liquid liquid fountain fountain into
into
the air!
andyy.
, cr
S a a a
SS SS
SSa
Sa Sam Sam Sa Samp SS
SS
SS
SS
Sa SS
Sa SSa
Saa
amp aa
aa mmp
mp mp mp mp mp mp mp mp mp mp mp mp mp mp mp mp mp mp mpl mpl mp mp mp mp mpll mp mp mp mp mp mp mp mp mp mpp
pl ple le le lllee
ee
ee
ee
eee
ee
© © ECS ECS Learning Learning SSystems,
Systems,
IInc.
nc.
TEKS Update Student Practice Books for Reading—Sample Pages, Grades 3–8 ©ECS Learning Systems, Inc.

TEKS UPDATE—Reading, UPDATE—R
TE—Re eading, Grade Gr Gra
ade 7
Lava FFounta Founta nt n
n
���� ����
�� ����������
��������
���� �����������
�������
����� �����
������������������
������������
���������
���������������
����������
� �������
������������������
��������
������������ �
�������������
�����
���������� �
������� ��� ������
����������
���������� �����
���������
���������
��������
��������
����� �����
����
�����
l�����
l����l�����
����
����������������
����� ���������
����������
����� ����� ��� ������� ����� �����
��������������
�������
� �pl�
������������
�� �������
� ���� �����
�������������� ��
����� �����
�����������
���������� � �
mp���
mp�����
mp�
m����������
m�������
m���
m�
mp��������
������� ��������� ��
�������� ����������� ���
��������
��������
����� �����
�����������������
�����������������
��������������
�����������������
�����������������
���������������
�����������������
������������
�����������������
�������������
�������������
������
��������� ���������
������ ������ ������
����������
��������
� ��
���� ���� ������ ��
������� ������� �������
����������
�� �� ������ ��
� ����
��������
��������� ������ �
���������
�������� ��
���
SS Sa Sa Sa Sa Sam SSa Sa Sa Sa Sa Saa Sa Saaaa aaam
am am am am am am am am am am am am am am am am ammmmm aam aaaaaa mmmmp mppppppppppppppppppp mp mpl mple mp mp mp mp mp mp mp mp
pl pl pl pl pl pl pl le le le le llee
ee
ee
ee
ee
S m���
aaaaaaaam� �
�����������
�����������
�����������
�������������
����������
�������������
© ECS Learning Systems, S Systems, Inc.
37
©ECS Learning Systems, Inc. TEKS Update Student Practice Books for Reading—Sample Pages, Grades 3–8
TThis
his page mmay
ay no not t be be repro reproduced.
23

24
TThis
his page page page mmay
may
not not
be be reproduced.
reproduced.
38
Use se “F “Fizz
izz F
Factory” actor y y”
to answ answer wer er
questions 1–3.
Objective Objjective
2 (Roots/Affixes)
(Roots/Afffi
ixes)
1.
RRead
ead the the sentence sentence fr from
“Fizz
FFactory.”
actor actory.
. ”
The The The candies candies candies quickly quickly quickly sink sink sink to to to the
the
the
bottom bottom of the bottle, adding to the
rreaction
eaction eaction b
by y pushing the liquid abo above ve
them them up up and and out out of of the the bottle.
bottle.
The suffix -
-ly ly in the wor word d quickly
means—
A
quality or state
B
B in in a a cer certain cer tain way
way
C action or process pr process
D the result r result
of an act
Objective Objjective
8 (Aut (Author’s hor’s
s Use
oof
f Lan Language) guage) )
2.
The The phrase phrase “ “fountain “ fountain of fizz fizz” fi ”
is an example of—
A alliteration alliteration
B onomatopoeia
nomatopo poeia
C personification
ersonifi nification
D simile mile mil
SS
SS
S
bjjective
12 2 (Multi-Dimension
l taa caras iatau s)
3. Why Wh hy y is an index card car needed
for
the e experiment?
e
A To T TTo o soak up soda leaks
an
B To T To o count the candies on
C To TTo
o cover co ov the tube tube’s s opening openin ng
D To TTo
o help the the Ser
Sd
S’
S’
tube tube remain r
r emain rolled
olled
Objective O 12 (Multi-Dimensional Instructions)
Objective Objjective
2
(Dic (Dictionary/Glossary)
tionary/
/Glossary)
)
TEKS UPDA UPDATE—Reading, TE—Re ea ading, GGr
Grade ra ade 7
Use
se “Lava “Lav
a Fountain” Foountain”
” to answer answ answwer
er
questions 4–6.
4.
Read R ead the sentences fr from om “Lava “Lav “Lava
FFountain.”
ountain. ”
Nah, N ah, I’m I’ m making a chemical e
volcano. v
olcano olcano.
IIt’s
t’
s gonna gonna rrocket
rocket
et an impr impressive essi ivv
e
er eruption. uption.
Which hich wword
wor word
from
a thesaurus thesauru
us entr entry
would uld ld best replace r replace
eruption
as it is
used used d in in the the sentence? sentence?
A Discharge D Discharge
B
rp
Explosion E Explosion
l i
C Flare F Flare
ey
D Rush R Rush
Objective Obbjjectiv
12 (Graphical ical
CComponents)
omponents)
5. What does the bo boy y in in the the e ca car cartoon toon
do after a after the girl flips th the tube?
A HHe
p12
paph
pr
praph
e runs.
B
HHe
stands b back.
C HHe
com comes mes outside.
D H HHe
e o opens the soda bottle.
mpWh
mp1
mpe
mphat
mp(G
mA
mD
mH
mC
mH
mH
me
me
muns.
Objective bjje
c t tiive
12
(G (Graphical raph aphical
CComponents)
omponents)
6.
Which Which emotion emotion best best describes describes the
the
boy’s boy
y ’ s expression
in the cartoon’s car toon toon’
s last
frame?
A Amused
B IIrritated
Irritated
C RRegretful
Regretful
D Thoughtful
vSS
SS SS
Sa Sa SSa
Sa SS
SSam
SS
SS
SSa
SSa
Sa SS
Saa
aioam amp aa
mm
mmp
mp mp mp mp mp mp mp mmp
mp mp mple mp mp mp mp
pp
pp
pl ppl
ppl
pp
ll
le le llee
ee
ee
ee
ee
ee
O
SS Ina
© © ECS ECS Learning Learning SSystems,
Systems,
IInc.
nc.
TEKS Update Student Practice Books for Reading—Sample Pages, Grades 3–8 ©ECS Learning Systems, Inc.

TEKS UPDATE—Reading, UPDATE—R
TE—Re eading, Gr Grade Gra
ade 7
Use se both both “F “Fizz
FFactory”
actor ryy
” and “Lav
“Lava a
Fountain” Fountain
n” ” to to answ answer answ wer er questions 7–10.
77–10.
Objective Objjective
10 (Connections
Across Acro
oss
Texts) Te ex xts)
7. Both Both “F “Fizz
FFactory”
actory”
” and “Lav
“Lava a
Fountain” Fountain
ountain ” suggest that the rreader—
eader—
A
ex exercise
cise car
care e and caution
B wwear
wear
the corr correct ect clothing
C invite invite friends friends to to help help and and obser
observe observe
D hav have
a science text av available ailable
nearb nearby
Objective Objjective
10
(Evaluation (Evaluat
aluation
of
Summary)
)
8. “Fizz
izz FFactory”
Factory”
and “Lav “Lava a FFountain”
ountain ountain”
are
e mostly mostly about—
about—
A playing playing a a prank
prank
B learning learning a a ne new
skill
C tr trying trying
an experiment
D having aving fun fun with with a a frie friend iend
© ECS Learning Systems, S Systems,
Inc.
Objective O bj j jectiv
iv e 12
(Multi-Dimensional (M
ulti-
Dime
nsio
sio nal
al Instructions)
In
str
uc uctio
io ns)
s)
9. In
n both both “F “Fizz
FFactory”
actory
” and “Lav “Lava a
Fountain,” Fountain,
ountain, ” which step activ activates ates the
eruption?
uption?
A FFlipping
Flipping
the paper tube
B OOpening
Opening
the soda bottle
C AAdding
A dding the candy to the paper
tube
D Placing P Placing
the e index i index car card d oover
v ver
th the
soda bottle bot ottle
Objective Objjective
10 (Connections
Across Acrro
oss
Texts) TTe
eex
x
10.
Fountain
untain”
but not in “F
A Cleaning C Cleaning up the soda sodaet
10. Which hich idea idea is is suggested suggested in in “Lav
“Lava “Lav
Fountain” but not in “Fizz izz Factory”? F ”?
ey
eactor
B Eating E Eating pieces of candy
C Opening O Opening
the soda bottle
D Constructing
a paper tub tube be
F
C les)
S m le
SS SS SS SSam
SSaamp
amm
mp mple mmppl
pl ple pp
pp
pp
ppl
pl ple
le lle
leae le le llee
ee
ee
ee
ee
ee
ee
ee
ee
©ECS Learning Systems, Inc. TEKS Update Student Practice Books for Reading—Sample Pages, Grades 3–8
39
TThis
his page mmay
ay no not t be be repro reproduced.
25

26
TEKS UPDATE—Reading, Grade 8
������������������������
Standing in the grocery aisle, perusing pickles,
Zesty dills and garlic dills,
Sour pickles, sweet bread & butter pickles,
So many pickles, I muse, scanning the shelves.
Where are the sharp pickles, you know, the fiery
Give-me-some-bread-my-mouth’s-on-fire hot ones?
Most people think that you drink water to cool the burn:
Not so.
It’s bread that you eat
To tame the heat.
My grandmother made pickles like nobody’s business.
“Split the peppers,” she’d say, confiding her secrets.
Those pickle-making marathons,
That’s what united women.
We’d go to the farmer’s market and select just the tiny ones,
Uniform size.
“We’re not making cucumbers, here,” she’d inform me.
I would nod and make a mental note, taking it all in.
We’d buy fragrant fresh dill and hot yellow peppers and mysterious spices,
A colorful late summer’s bounty.
Then, in her sweltering kitchen we’d sterilize the jars
And pack pickles and peppers, dill and spices and brine,
Filling the jars, just so.
When we were finished they were pretty,
Like terrariums without fish.
And then we’d wait till the first hot chili night of winter
And we’d pop a jar, bread at-the-ready.
Some years were disappointing with soggy pickles,
Some years were disappointing with salty pickles,
But some years we beamed with perfect pickles.
In this place, my search will not yield what I seek.
I choose a jar of plain dills to go with the first chili of the season.
I want my grandmother’s pickles.
© ECS Learning Systems, Inc. 19
TEKS Update Student Practice Books for Reading—Sample Pages, Grades 3–8 ©ECS Learning Systems, Inc.
This page may not be reproduced.

This page may not be reproduced.
20
Objective 2 (Context Clues)
1. Read the stanza from the poem.
Standing in the grocery aisle,
perusing pickles,
Zesty dills and garlic dills,
Sour pickles, sweet bread & butter
pickles,
So many pickles, I muse, scanning
the shelves.
In this stanza, the word perusing
means—
A buying
B choosing
C studying
D tasting
Objective 3 (Influence of Setting)
2. What was the importance of picklemaking
marathons?
A To bring women together
B To help the family business
C To yield food that lasts all
summer
D To encourage people to use
local produce
Objective 2 (Roots/Affixes)
3. Read the lines from the poem.
We’d go to the farmer’s market and
select just the tiny ones,
Uniform size.
What do the letters uni in the word
uniform mean?
A Not
B One
C Small
D Under
Objective 8 (Similes/Metaphors)
TEKS UPDATE—Reading, Grade 8
4. The poet compares the pickle jars
to terrariums to tell—
A how to pack the pickle jars
B how to sterilize the pickle jars
C what the pickle jars looked like
D what other uses the jars could
have
© ECS Learning Systems, Inc.
©ECS Learning Systems, Inc. TEKS Update Student Practice Books for Reading—Sample Pages, Grades 3–8
27

28
TEKS UPDATE—Reading, Grade 8
Objective 4 (Poetic Forms)
5. How does the reader know this
is a narrative poem?
A It has a plot.
B It rhymes in places.
C It focuses on a family relationship.
D It contains stanzas of different
lengths.
Objective 6 (Point of View)
6. The reader knows that the poem is
told in first person point of view
because the poet—
A takes part in the poem’s story
B exists only outside the poem’s
story
C knows the feelings of each
character
D describes her grandmother’s
thoughts
© ECS Learning Systems, Inc.
Objective 6 (Theme/Conflict Resolution)
7. Which line best shows that the poet
is dissatisfied at the end of the poem?
A I want my grandmother’s pickles.
B But some years we beamed with
perfect pickles.
C Some years were disappointing
with soggy pickles,
D I choose a jar of plain dills to go
with the first chili of the season.
TEKS Update Student Practice Books for Reading—Sample Pages, Grades 3–8 ©ECS Learning Systems, Inc.
21
This page may not be reproduced.