After completing the Diagnostic Placement Test, you may want to collect more information about some children by administering the CORE Phonics Survey* pages 62–70 to individuals.. Direct
Questions 1–10 Read each sentence Choose the word that best fits in the blank.
1 Franny got very upset, but Jade stayed _.
2 Most of the farmers here grow corn, soybeans, and _.
3 We stood on the _ and waved as Casey sailed across the lake.
4 Did you _ your new sweater today?
5 Members of the band ran onto the _ and began to play a song.
6 Beekeepers have to be very _ when they work with bees.
7 Grandpa said he would be _ to have us visit him.
8 A word that has three syllables is _.
9 Jack opened the back of the TV cabinet and _ the VCR.
10 Two fishing boats were tied up at the _.
Questions 11–25 Choose the word that best fits in each sentence.
11 Cal gave me his computer but did not _ that it was broken.
12 My favorite flavors are lemon and _.
13 The birds in the rain forest are very _.
14 Mom put the plants on the _ so they would get some sun.
15 Theo has _ every morning for breakfast.
16 Mrs Palmer does not _ to be at the meeting.
17 Every year the ducks _ south before winter comes.
18 Mr Johnson painted a _ of the mayor.
19 Last Saturday, Josh got stung by a _.
20 Grandpa plans to _ at the age of 70.
21 The flashlight doesn’t work because the _ is dead.
22 This ring is the most _ thing I own.
23 Bloodhounds have a _ sense of smell.
24 Police _ the robber for several miles before they caught him.
25 What _ should I use to find the area of a circle?
Questions 26–50 Read each passage and answer the questions Choose the best answer to each question.
How Coyote Won His Dinner
Coyote, known as a clever thief, lived in the woods near Mr Hank's ranch and would raid the property at least three times a week, stealing chickens or eggs, or sometimes both Although Mr Hank knew what was happening, he could never catch the elusive thief.
One summer morning Mr Hank called out to Coyote who was hiding in the woods “Coyote, how are you able to steal from me so often without getting caught?”
Coyote replied, “Oh, Mr Hank, it’s just so easy for me Why, it’s so easy that
I could steal your clothes right out of your room tonight, even with you guarding them!”
“Ha, that’s impossible,” Mr Hank laughed “You may be clever, but there is no way you could do that!” Realizing it could be his chance to end Coyote’s stealing, Mr Hank added, “Coyote, I’ll make a deal with you: if you can steal my clothes tonight, I’ll give you three chickens a week for the rest of your life If I catch you, you must promise never to steal from me again.” Coyote thought quietly for a minute Then he answered, “Okay, Mr Hank, you’ve got yourself a deal.”
That night at bedtime, Mr Hank told his wife Sarah about the bargain he had struck with Coyote He then placed his clothes on a small table in the bedroom, sat on one side of the table in his nightshirt, while Mrs Hank sat on the other, and they waited.
Before long, through the open bedroom window, Mr Hank heard his horses running around like something was chasing them He looked at Sarah and
Comprehension sighed “You’ll have to watch these clothes for a few minutes,” he said, “while I go check on the animals.”
Coyote had just been out with the horses and had started a stampede to grab Mr Hank’s attention When he saw Mr Hank leave the house, Coyote called into the bedroom window, telling Sarah to hand him the clothes and warning that a clever thief might steal them while he was away.
Mrs Hank thought it was her husband calling to her, so she handed the clothes out the window Coyote grabbed them, and that is how the clever
Coyote earned his dinner for the rest of his life.
26 Where does this story take place?
27 What was Mr Hank’s problem at the beginning of the story?
❍ A Coyote was stealing from him.
❍ B His horses often ran away.
❍ C Coyote had taken all of his clothes.
❍ D He did not get along with his wife Sarah.
28 In this story, Mr Hank made a bargain with Coyote A bargain is a .
29 Mr Hank’s horses were running around because _.
❍ A the barn was on fire
30 What happened while Mr Hank was checking on the horses?
❍ F He fell asleep in the barn.
❍ G Coyote stole a chicken and two eggs.
❍ H Coyote promised never to steal again.
❍ J Mrs Hank gave his clothes to Coyote.
31 How did Mr Hank probably feel when he got back to the house?
32 If Mr Hank keeps his promise to Coyote, he will _.
❍ F let the horses go free
❍ H give Coyote three chickens a week
❍ J hide in the woods until he catches Coyote
Peanuts are widely enjoyed, especially in peanut butter and jelly sandwiches They grow only in specific regions of the world, so suitable climates are essential for peanut crops The United States is one of the key places where peanuts thrive, making it a major producer of this popular ingredient.
Peanuts probably originated in the region that is today Brazil and Peru Archaeologists in those countries have found pictures of peanuts depicted on bowls dating back to about 1,500 B.C., showing that peanut cultivation and use began there long before it spread to other regions.
Peanuts have grown in the southern United States for more than 300 years, thriving in the South’s warm weather, sandy soil, and regular rainfall Peanut vines bear small yellow flowers, and when the flowers drop, pegs root into the earth to form the nuts that grow underground Originally cultivated as animal feed—especially for pigs—it was scarce food for people during the Civil War, leading to peanuts becoming a human staple in the South Rich in protein, peanuts fuel the body, and soldiers even called them goobers or goober peas, sometimes singing songs about eating them.
Peanuts had become a favorite food in the South by the end of the war, and traveling circuses began selling bags of them, spreading their popularity beyond the region; they later became a popular snack at baseball games as well In the 1920s and 1930s, Dr George Washington Carver experimented with more than 300 uses for peanuts, including shaving cream, face powder, and grease, though most people ultimately prefer to eat peanuts.
33 Peanuts are good to eat mainly because _.
❍ A they don’t cost very much
❍ B it’s easy to make a peanut butter sandwich
❍ C they have a lot of protein
34 What is the main idea of this passage?
❍ F Peanuts are an ancient food.
❍ G Peanuts are eaten at entertainment events.
❍ H Peanut blossoms drop “pegs” into the soil.
❍ J Peanuts are a useful crop in many ways.
35 The passage says, “The United States is one place where peanuts thrive.”
36 People in the South began eating peanuts because _.
❍ F food was scarce during the Civil War
❍ G farm animals seemed to like them
❍ H they were called “goobers” or “goober peas”
❍ J there were songs written about them
37 How did peanuts become popular outside the South?
❍ A Soldiers sang songs about them.
❍ B Dr Carver traveled all over the United States.
❍ C They were sold at circuses that traveled far and wide.
❍ D People found many uses for peanuts.
38 According to the passage, peanuts became a popular snack sold at _.
Reth loved studying ants, often spending hours watching slender lines of tiny ants march back and forth He carried a notebook, a pencil, and a magnifying glass so he could observe the ants up close and keep detailed notes on their movements.
Reth found the magnifying glass to be a powerful tool for studying ants, letting him see the ants’ antennae wave as they marched He didn’t keep the lens on the insects for long, because the sun could focus through it and burn them After a quick look through the glass, he scribbled notes, recording what the ants looked like and what they did.
When Reth had enough notes, he went home and looked in his encyclopedia.
Reth's study of ants covers everything from army ants to fire ants, and he cross-checks his notes with the descriptions in his field guide Living in a suburb, he mostly encounters common garden ants, with occasional sightings of carpenter ants He dreams of traveling to the jungle someday to see giant Amazon ants, farmer ants, and more army ants in their natural habitat One afternoon, Reth met a boy named Henry near an anthill, where Henry was poking at the ants with a long stick.
“Why are you doing that?” Reth asked.
“I like to watch them scurry around,” Henry replied.
“If you disturb the ants,” Reth said, “they won’t be able to get the food they need to their nest.”
Reth explained to Henry that ants collect food for their young and for the queen, who cannot leave the nest, and he invited Henry to look through his magnifying glass to see the ants up close Then he handed Henry his notes to read, deepening his understanding of ant behavior and the roles within the colony.
“Ants are like little people!” Henry exclaimed Reth took Henry to his house and showed him the encyclopedia.
“These army ants sound really cool,” Henry said He and Reth talked about going to the jungle to see different kinds of ants From that day on, Reth and
39 Which word best describes Reth?
40 Where does most of this story take place?
41 Which is the best summary of the story?
❍ A Two boys enjoy watching ants march around.
❍ B One boy enjoys studying ants and helps a friend understand them better.
❍ C Two boys plan to go to the jungle to study ants.
❍ D Aboy watches farmer ants and army ants through a magnifying glass.
42 Henry says, “I like to watch them scurry around.” The word scurry means _.
43 How did Henry change from the beginning to the end of the story?
❍ A He thought ants were interesting at first, and then he thought they were like silly people.
❍ B He had only seen ants in the encyclopedia, and then he finally saw them in his yard.
❍ C He loved watching ants at first, but then he became bored and decided to do something else.
❍ D He didn’t appreciate ants at first, but he learned about them and became more interested.
44 Why was Reth a little disappointed that he lived in the suburbs?
❍ F There were too many insects to study.
❍ G He saw only busy farmer ants.
❍ H His neighbors wanted to get rid of the ants.
❍ J He saw only common kinds of ants.
Grace Murray Hopper (1906–1992) may be unfamiliar to many, but her work touches your daily life She was a pioneer in the world of computers, venturing into uncharted territory much like the pioneers who traveled west into unknown lands, opening up a world no one had seen before.
Grace was a curious child who loved math, problem-solving, and gadgets At seven years old, she took apart a clock to see how it worked, and when she couldn’t put it back together, she moved on to another clock Before long, she had dismantled seven clocks in total, much to her mother’s surprise.
At the start of World War II, Grace Hopper was a college math teacher who chose to join the Navy She was 34 years old and technically too small to meet the Navy’s size requirements, but she remained determined and persuaded the Navy to accept her anyway Because of her math skills, she was put to work on the first large-scale digital computer ever built—the Mark I This computer was a departure from today’s machines, being 51 feet long and eight feet high.
Questions 1–10 Read each sentence Choose the word that best fits in the blank.
1 Blue jays like to _ on the railing of the deck.
2 The bus _ at 7:00 P M and makes two stops on the way.
3 In the wilderness, you should never hike _.
4 Aword that has three syllables is _.
5 The trees change color in _.
6 The roof on our house was only _ finished when the rain began.
7 Halfway through dinner, someone _ on the door.
8 The weather report says there is a _ chance of snow today.
9 This year our vegetable garden has been very _.
10 Drake went to the store and _ three new video games.
Questions 11–25 Choose the word that best fits in each sentence.
11 Adele is too _ to brag about the medals she won.
12 Near the White House, a _ stopped to take pictures of the president.
13 Leon made the salad dressing with oil and _.
14 Every year, Mr Dixon plants ten new apple trees in his _.
15 Mr Kramer decided that we need to _ the play once more.
16 In Canada, the _ of Quebec lies to the east of Ontario.
18 Dr Dean put him on a strict diet and makes him do _ exercise every morning.
19 The _ dove into the water and caught a fish.
20 The architect drew up plans for the house, and now the owner has to _ them.
21 Hilda _ over the party for days, but everyone had a good time.
22 The old polar bear was too _ to climb onto the iceberg.
23 Mom placed the photos on the _ over the fireplace.
24 In many countries, it is _ to bring a gift when you visit someone’s home.
25 Both the Aztec and the Maya _ many different gods.
Questions 26–50 Read each passage and answer the questions Choose the best answer to each question.
It hadn't been a very good week for Sam: on Tuesday his father lost his job, and on Wednesday his mother announced a rent increase for their apartment By Friday, Sam opened his email to find an invitation from Rosa to her birthday party, a small glimmer of normalcy amid the week's challenges.
Typically, an invitation to Rosa’s party would be welcome news Sam knew Rosa from the Adventure Club, whose members enjoyed excursions to places like the Museum of Natural History.
Sam wanted to bring a gift to Rosa’s party but didn’t have any money left, so he set aside his concerns about the present and focused on finishing his school report at the library On his way out, a downstairs book sale drew him in, where two books—the Puerto Rican cookbook and a book about women explorers—caught his eye because he thought Rosa would love them He worried it might be tacky to give her used books, but Rosa supported recycling, so he decided a used gift would be better than nothing With his last dollar, Sam bought the books and went home feeling a little better about giving Rosa an eco-friendly, thoughtful present.
The party on Saturday was a lot of fun Everyone told stories about the funny
Comprehension thanked everyone for the thoughtful gifts she’d received She paused as she opened Sam’s present, leaving him to wonder whether she liked the books inside, though she said nothing The moment passed, and soon the party was over.
When Sam got home, he opened his e-mail to find this note from Rosa:
Your gift today was the nicest of all, and you somehow knew I would love a book about women explorers and a cookbook of Puerto Rican foods This reading will inspire me to pursue my dream of becoming an adventurer, and it’s a book I can share with my grandmother, who is getting older and wants to make sure her granddaughter knows how to cook the wonderful foods of Puerto Rico Thank you so much for this thoughtful gift You are a good friend Love, Rosa.
The week turned out to be a good one after all.
26 What was the main problem in this story?
❍ F Rosa had not invited Sam to her birthday party.
❍ G Sam’s mother was out of work.
❍ H Rosa’s grandmother was getting older.
❍ J Sam didn’t think he had enough money to buy Rosa a gift.
27 Which word best describes Sam?
28 The story says, “Ordinarily, an invitation to a party at Rosa’s would have been good news.” The word ordinarily means _.
29 Why was Rosa so pleased with the cookbook?
❍ A She was not a very good cook, but she wanted to get better.
❍ B She wanted to please her grandmother by learning to cook Puerto
❍ C She had never tasted Puerto Rican foods before.
❍ D Her dream was to become a great chef.
30 After reading the thank-you note from Rosa, Sam will most likely _.
❍ F go back to the library to buy Rosa more books
❍ G ask Rosa to lend him the cookbook
❍ H write back to Rosa that he is glad she likes the books
31 Which saying best expresses a theme of this story?
❍ A Apenny saved is a penny earned.
❍ B If at first you don’t succeed, try again.
❍ C It’s the thought that counts.
❍ D Arolling stone gathers no moss.
Long ago, in the days before lions were known in Europe, the bear was considered
“the king of beasts.” Many knights put pictures of bears on their shields They hoped the bears would make them look big and strong to the enemy.
People continue to admire bears for their size and strength, especially in North America, where the black bear and the brown bear are the two most common species Some brown bears are known by other names, such as the Kodiak bear or the grizzly bear Both black bears and brown bears can vary in color from light brown to dark brown to almost black While they share many traits, they differ in important ways: black bears are smaller and more adept at climbing trees, whereas brown bears have a shoulder hump and a curved snout, with the black bear’s snout being straighter.
Bears are large mammals in the Ursidae family Like humans, they walk flat-footed on the soles of their feet—a plantigrade gait that sets them apart from most other mammals, which normally walk on their toes.
When the weather gets cold, bears curl up in a cave or other cozy spot and sleep for the winter Baby bears are born in early spring.
Bears are omnivores with a diverse diet that includes plants and meat, such as nuts, berries, roots, fish, squirrels, and other small animals, and they also have a fondness for honey Their thick coats help protect them from bee stings as they forage for these foods.
Bears are typically solitary animals, with mothers and cubs as the notable exception when they stay close to their young They don’t form social groups and, for the most part, are peaceful, usually choosing to walk away rather than engage in a fight However, a bear can attack if it feels scared, threatened, or angry, so for safety reasons it’s important to keep a safe distance from these powerful animals, often referred to as the king of beasts.
32 Which sentence states a main idea of this passage?
❍ F Bears were known in Europe long ago.
❍ G Bears are admired for their size and strength.
❍ H Both brown bears and black bears vary in color.
❍ J Brown bears include Kodiak and grizzly bears.
33 Why was the bear considered “the king of beasts” in Europe?
❍ A It was the largest animal.
❍ B It was bigger than most lions.
❍ C It carried knights into battle.
❍ D It walked like a person with feet flat.
34 The passage says there are “two main species of bears” in North America.
35 How are brown bears different from black bears?
❍ A They are smaller and have straight snouts.
❍ B They do not have shoulder humps.
❍ C They are larger and have curved snouts.
❍ D They are better at climbing trees.
36 In what way are bears different from most other mammals?
❍ F They eat berries and nuts.
❍ G They have babies in the spring.
❍ J They eat both plants and animals.
37 Which is the best reason for people to avoid bears?
❍ A Bears will attack if they feel scared or angry.
❍ B Bears live in groups and like to fight.
❍ C Bears eat honey, which attracts bees.
Marly's class was studying China when their teacher, Miss Singh, told the students that kites were invented in China more than 2,000 years ago "To this day," she said, "most Chinese people have a passion for kites On sunny, windy days, people of all ages go to the park to fly them."
Miss Singh explained that Chinese kites are bright and often beautifully adorned, frequently shaped like dragons, butterflies, or other creatures She announced an unusual homework assignment: each student should craft a kite and bring it to class She noted that in Chinese culture kites symbolize something meaningful, and she encouraged every student to design a kite that represents something important to them.
Marly did not like the assignment and grumbled that she didn’t know how to make a kite as she walked home She decided to ask her dad for help, explaining to Papa that the kite had to mean something to her With her father’s support, she turned the craft into a personal, meaningful project rather than just another chore.
“What do you think of when you see a kite?” Papa asked.
As Marly thought for a moment, her mind filled with images of things that flew, such as planes and birds “Eagles,” she said.
Papa nodded and agreed that an eagle design would make an excellent kite.
“They are proud and fierce,” he said.
Together, Marly and Papa built a diamond-shaped kite by joining two balsa wood rods into a crossframe, cut a square from an old white bedsheet, and painted a bold golden eagle on the fabric They stretched the sheet over the cross to form the kite’s sail, then finished by attaching a long tail to the bottom for stability and flair.
Marly and Papa took the kite to the park to test it, and it flew perfectly When Marly jerked the string, the kite swooped, causing an eagle to dive toward the earth and then rise again.
“Wow,” Marly cried, “This kite really flies!”
“Yes, it does,” Papa said proudly “I think your teacher will like your kite.”
38 Where is Marly at the beginning of this story?
39 How did Marly solve her problem?
❍ A She cut a square out of an old bed sheet.
❍ B She painted an eagle on her kite.
❍ C She asked her teacher for a different assignment.
❍ D She asked her dad to help her build a kite.
40 Miss Singh said, “Each of you should make a kite that signifies something important to you.” The word signifies means _.
41 What happened after Marly and Papa finished making the kite?
❍ A They tested it in the park.
❍ B They painted an eagle on it.
❍ C They tied a long tail to the bottom of it.
❍ D They learned about the Chinese passion for kites.
42 At the end of the story, how did Marly feel about the homework assignment?
43 Which detail shows how Marly felt about her kite?
❍ B She said, “Wow, this kite really flies!”
❍ C She jerked the string and made the kite swoop.
❍ D She said, “I don’t know how to make a kite.”
44 Which is the best summary of this story?
❍ F Marly had to make a kite for school She did not like the assignment at first, but she and her dad made a great kite.
❍ G Everyone in China has a passion for kites On windy days, people of all ages go to the park to fly their kites.
❍ H Marly and her dad used two pieces of balsa wood to make the kite.
They stretched an old sheet over the wood and tied on a tail.
❍ J In China, people make colorful kites Each kite suggests something about the person who made it.
Galileo Galilei was born in 1564 in Pisa, Italy, into a family where his father taught music and his mother cared for Galileo and his three siblings Although the family was not wealthy, Galileo’s parents funded his education and sent him to school, laying the foundation for his later scientific achievements.
Questions 1–10 Read each sentence Choose the word that best fits in the blank.
2 Ms Collins picked up a piece of _ and drew a circle.
3 The new state flag has eight stars and one white _.
4 Aword that has three syllables is _.
5 Rico should have gotten the third out, but he _ the ball.
6 When Samantha checked the table, she realized that it was not _.
7 Manny heard some _ noises coming from that empty house.
8 Ascientist came to test the _ of the water.
9 Uncle Jack thinks that we _ to go fishing tomorrow.
10 Coach Martin stood on the _ and called to her players on the field.
Questions 11–25 Choose the word that best fits in each sentence.
11 People in the audience began to _ before the song was over.
12 Mrs Monet wore an _ gown to the ball.
13 Arope bridge was the only way to get across the _.
14 The grand prize winner at the dog show was a white _.
15 Neil used a stick to _ his name in the sand.
16 Instead of walking down the stairs, Marcy slid down the _.
17 In April, rainy weather is _ in New England.
18 Anna found a _ of twenty-dollar bills on the ground.
19 Grandma was _ by the amount of food that was wasted.
20 The _ cleans all the classrooms every afternoon.
21 Minnie has brown hair and _ eyes.
22 Harrison worked on the code for hours but could not _ the message.
23 These chestnut trees are beautiful, but my favorite is that old _.
24 The thief will _ his time until he has a chance to steal the jewels.
25 In England, many great works of _ art were destroyed during the 1600’s.
Questions 26–50 Read the passages and answer the questions Choose the best answer to each question.
After moving to Kensington in August, Nicos felt miserable, missing the constant excitement of New York City where he had spent his entire life He knew every kid in his building and in his neighborhood, and he and his friends were always playing street hockey, soccer, or doing a million other activities.
Kensington was a culture shock for Nicos when his father's company opened a new plant there and transferred him to ensure the machines ran smoothly He immediately noticed Kensington's quietness—a stark contrast to New York's perpetual noise.
Nicos dreaded the start of school because he hadn’t met any other kids yet He rode his bike to the town park, hoping to find friends, and he was pleased to see kids his age there, though they seemed to ignore him at first Then he noticed a few of them glancing in his direction and whispering to one another, and “Uh-oh,” he thought.
“they probably don’t like outsiders.”
Nicos stood tensely as a tall, skinny kid with carrot-colored hair broke away from the group and approached him The boy stopped a few feet away, and for a moment Nicos didn’t know what to do, until the other boy flashed a grin and said, “Hey.”
“What’s your name?” asked the boy
“Nicos What’s yours?” asked Nicos
“I’m Tim Nicos is an unusual name Where’s it from?” Tim asked.
Tim’s eyes widened “Cool, are you from Greece?” he asked
“Well, my family is, but I’m from New York City,” said Nicos.
“New York City!” exclaimed Tim “That’s awesome!” He motioned to the group and shouted, “Hey, this guy’s from New York City!”
An excited murmur rippled through the crowd The other kids headed toward Tim and Nicos “This is Nicos,” said Tim.
The other kids—Kevin, Michelle, Lee, Martin, Chad, Cory, and Keith—introduced themselves and clustered around him, firing off rapid-fire questions about New York: Is the city totally crazy? Isn’t it way too crowded? What’s the subway like? Have you seen the Statue of Liberty? Are there fun things to do beyond museums, or is it mostly museums and stuff?
“Hey, we’re going to a pool party at Nicole’s house this afternoon,” said Lee “You want to come with us?”
Nicos grinned “Sure!” he said Chad lived near him, so he and Chad rushed home together on their bikes to get their swim trunks and towels
Nicos had a great time that afternoon Everyone was so friendly!
Nicos spent the last two weeks of summer hanging out with Tim and the other kids, turning late-summer moments into friendships and easing into Kensington’s social scene When school started, he was relieved to see that his fears wouldn’t materialize and that the new school year would bring him a sense of belonging Even though Kensington is a close-knit community where almost everyone knows almost everyone else, there’s still room for a newcomer to fit in, connect, and find his place.
26 Why did Nicos’s family move out of New York?
❍ F They wanted to be closer to his grandmother.
❍ G The city was too dangerous.
❍ H His dad got a job transfer.
❍ J The city was too noisy.
27 How is New York different from Kensington?
❍ A The people are friendlier in New York.
❍ B There’s nothing to do in Kensington.
28 How did Nicos feel when he saw the kids in the park looking at him?
29 Why did the other kids ask so many questions when they first met Nicos?
❍ A They did not trust him.
❍ B They were curious about New York.
❍ C They did not want to talk about Kensington.
❍ D They wanted to make sure he was telling the truth.
30 In the story, Nicos was “glad to see that his fears weren’t going to materialize.”
31 What will most likely happen the longer Nicos lives in Kensington?
❍ A He’ll learn that it’s a good place to live.
❍ B He’ll become more homesick for New York.
❍ C He’ll get picked on for being an outsider.
❍ D He’ll become a better swimmer.
32 Which sentence expresses a theme of this story?
❍ F The city is better than the country.
❍ G Being new doesn’t mean people won’t like you.
❍ H The park is a good place to make friends.
❍ J Kids from the country are boring.
Granville T Woods was a pioneering African-American inventor and self-taught engineer who invented many kinds of machines and faced prejudice throughout his life, including a court case against the famous inventor Thomas Edison Born in 1856 in Ohio before the Civil War, Woods was not a slave, yet unfair laws in Ohio made it hard for African Americans to get work, and he could not check out library books, though white friends helped him He left school at age ten but continued learning engineering, later working for the railroad and for steel mills.
While working for the railroad, Woods realized that the railroad needed a better way to communicate with the train engineers He invented the Synchronous Multiplex
Railway telegraph technology combined the telephone and the telegraph to inform engineers of the distance to trains ahead or behind them, helping prevent mishaps Soon afterward, Thomas Edison sued Woods, claiming he was the inventor of the railway telegraph In those days, many African Americans would not stand up to someone as famous and powerful as Edison, but Woods did He fought the case and surprised the world by winning.
Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, bought the railway telegraph from Woods, and the money Bell paid enabled Woods to quit his job and devote himself to full-time invention Edison later challenged him with other inventions, but Woods won again Ultimately, Edison offered Woods a job, but Woods declined and started his own company.
Over the course of his life, Woods had more than 60 inventions, which included the third-rail subway system that is still used today He died in 1910.
33 Which sentence states a main idea of this passage?
❍ A The railroad needed a better way to communicate with engineers.
❍ B Granville Woods overcame many obstacles to become a successful
34 What happened soon after Woods invented the railway telegraph?
❍ G Thomas Edison took him to court.
❍ H Woods got a job working for the railroad.
❍ J Alexander Graham Bell hired him.
35 From this passage, you can conclude that _.
❍ A Woods was more educated than Thomas Edison
❍ B Woods thought he was smarter than anyone else
❍ C Thomas Edison actually admired Woods’ inventions
❍ D Alexander Graham Bell didn’t like Thomas Edison
36 The passage says that Woods’telegraph was used in “preventing mishaps.” What are mishaps?
37 What did Woods do after winning the second case against Edison?
❍ A He began working for Edison.
❍ B He sold the telegraph to Bell.
❍ C He got a job with the railroad.
❍ D He started his own company.
38 What did Woods prove by winning the case against Edison?
❍ F His invention was more important than Edison’s.
❍ G He was smarter than Thomas Edison.
❍ H By standing up for himself, he can achieve justice.
❍ J Alexander Bell was a better inventor than Edison.
How Hummingbirds Learned to Fly
Long ago in the countryside, many kinds of birds could fly—the blackbirds, bluebirds, robins, cardinals, starlings, sparrows, and more—while butterflies fluttered through the air, sipping nectar from brightly colored flowers But only one creature could not fly: the hummingbird, whose tiny wings couldn't lift his body into the sky He longed to drink the sweet nectar like the butterflies, yet he remained grounded, sipping from wildflowers in the grass.
Every day Hummingbird flapped his little wings as hard as he could, but his feet never left the ground The other birds laughed and jeered at him.
“You’ll never soar across the sky, little bird,” said Blackbird.
“You may have pretty feathers, but you sure don’t have much use for those wings,” said Sparrow.
“Mmm, this nectar sure is tasty,” giggled Butterfly.
Despite the taunts, the hummingbird did not lose heart, and those jeers only hardened his determination In secret, he beat his wings with all his might, pushing forward with tireless perseverance even when it seemed he was getting nowhere.
On a bright summer day, the flowers were in bloom and birds and butterflies danced around as they invited Hummingbird to taste the sweet nectar He flapped his tiny wings with all his might, determined to rise despite the teasing of the other birds They laughed, but he kept pushing, beating the air so hard that his wings seemed to vanish into brilliant splashes of color, and slowly he lifted off the ground.
“I’m flying, I’m flying!” he cried, as the other birds stared in astonishment They had never seen wings beat so fast—the hummingbird’s wings beating fifty-five times a second He moved from flower to flower with more ease than even the most skilled butterfly, and the nectar he tasted was more wonderful than he could imagine.
39 What was Hummingbird’s main problem?
❍ B The other birds did not like him.
❍ C He did not like nectar.
❍ D The flowers were too close to the ground.
40 The story says, “They flitted through the air.” The word flitted means .
41 How did Hummingbird feel at the beginning of the story?
42 How are hummingbirds like butterflies?
❍ J Neither of them can fly.
43 What is the theme of this story?
❍ A Making fun of others doesn’t pay off.
❍ B Some creatures are smarter than you think.
❍ C You can achieve your goals if you keep trying.
❍ D Hummingbirds fly faster than any other bird.
44 What can you tell about hummingbirds from this passage?
❍ F They beat their wings faster than other birds.
❍ G They don’t like other birds.
Global warming is one of the most serious problems we face today, driven by heat-trapping greenhouse gases that blanket the atmosphere and alter the Earth’s climate These gases have always existed, helping keep the planet from becoming too cold, but human activities are increasing their concentration The burning of fossil fuels such as gasoline and oil releases more greenhouse gases, while factories and mining add to air pollution Cutting down forests reduces the number of trees that cleanse the air, further contributing to global warming.
Although scientists cannot predict every outcome, global warming—now often described as climate change—is already driving noticeable changes Sea levels have risen about 4 to 10 inches in the last century Polar ice at the North and South Poles is melting as temperatures climb These shifts are altering precipitation patterns, making some regions wetter and others drier, and deserts are likely to grow In addition, storms are becoming stronger and more damaging.