5th Grade Proficient Reading Practice Test 8

Name:

Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.

Literal Reading Comprehension—Reading for Detail--RIT 211 - 220
1. Read the passage.
Plants need nutrients to make their food and get energy. Some plants that grow in poor soil get the nutrients they need by “eating” animals. A sweet-smelling liquid attracts insects to a pitcher plant. Once an insect enters the tube-shaped leaf of the plant, hairs that point downward stop it from leaving. The insect falls into the pool of liquid inside the leaf. The liquid dissolves the insect, and the plant uses the nutrients.Copyright Info: Harcourt, Inc. 2002. School Permissions and Copyrights, Harcourt, Inc., 6277 Sea Harbor Drive, Orlando, Florida 32887-6777.
Why do plants eat animals or insects?

a.	they are natural predators	c.	they need them to produce a sweet liquid that provides nutrients
b.	they do not eat animals or insects	d.	they need the nutrients

Read the passage.

Copyright Info: Hakim, Joy. “Ruler of the President’s Navy”, Oxford University Press, Oxford, New York, 1999.
What was laid across the Mississippi to keep the Yankee ships out?

a.	a chain of old boat	c.	planks of wood
b.	a chain of cannon balls	d.	tall mounds of mud

Read the paragraph.
Throughout history, people have struggled for their freedom—freedom to worship in their own way, to work for a fair wage, to vote for their leaders, to get a good education, to name but a few. But rights and freedoms have always come with certain restrictions and responsibilities. The challenge for every nation is to find a balance between the two.Copyright Info: Not enough information given. “Historical Documents” The Struggle for
Freedom, Page 865. (Teacher Author: Weston).
According to the paragraph, which is true?

a.	It is a challenge for nations to treat their citizens kindly.	c.	Earning basic rights and freedoms has been obtained through struggle and balance.
b.	America was the first nation to fight for freedom.	d.	People were allowed to vote in 1850.

Read the paragraph.

Copyright Info: Not enough information given. “Paragraphs” page 107. (Teacher Author: Weston).
Which answer contains two details presented in the paragraph?

a.	Braille is a system of indented marks read by the seeing public.	c.	Braille creates letters with cells, but does not create numbers.
b.	Braille, developed in 1800, is a series of consistent dots.	d.	Braille is a system of communication that has opened a new world for the blind.

Read the paragraph
Trees can be classified in several ways based on their function or use. They are used most commonly for lumber or building products. Pine and oak are among the most popular for this purpose. Trees, especially pine and other fast-growing trees, are also used for erosion control and wind barriers. They are planted in rows on the tops and sides of steep hills. Besides these uses, trees are considered extremely valuable for landscaping purposes where they provide
shade, color, and screening for homes and businesses. Among the most popular are evergreens, maples, honey locusts, and birch. Obviously, trees have many other uses as well— just ask a bird...or a kid.Copyright Info: Not enough information given. “Thinking” Classifying, page 552. (Teacher
Author: Weston)
Based on the information above, trees:

a.	are used primarily for lumber and landscaping	c.	provide shade, especially oaks
b.	don’t have many uses except to birds and kids	d.	enrich the soil by planting them in your yard

Literal Reading Comprehension—Sequencing--RIT 211 - 220
Read the Passage.
After Joel finished his run, he went and recorded his time on his log. It was his best time he had recorded since his last run in October. Since then, he wondered if he was not in as good of shape because his times seemed to be longer. After today, he would have to pay close attention to what he was doing differently to make sure he was running as fast as he could.
How would you paraphrase Joel’s events?

a.	Today’s run was as fast as October.	c.	Joel’s running times have not changed.
b.	Joel has not improved his times since October.	d.	Joel has no idea how to get a better time.

Read the Passage.
Utzel loved to sleep and each night he went to bed with the chickens. In the morning he would complain that he was tired from so much sleeping and so he went to sleep again. When he was not sleeping, he lay on his broken-down cot, yawning and complaining. He would say to his daughter, “Other people are lucky. They have money without working. I am cursed.”Copyright Info: Not enough information. Utzel and His Daughter, Poverty, By Isaac Bashevis
Singer, page 149. (Teacher authors: Phillips, Blackman, Felts).
Utzel loved to sleep. What does he do after he complains each morning?

a.	He lays on his cot all day long.	c.	He complains he is tired.
b.	He goes to bed with the roosters.	d.	He eats breakfast.

Read the Passage.

What happened on Tuesday?

a.	I wanted a pop.	c.	The repairman fixed the pop machine.
b.	The chip machine broke.	d.	The pop machine broke.

Read the passage.
The alarm clock rang. Lali opened her eyes, stretched out her arm, and pushed in the small knob that shut off the noise. She lay back staring at the ceiling. Off in a corner the paint was peeling and a large crack made that section buckle. Every day she cleaned the small chips of paint that fell on the dresser top and floor. She looked over at Rudi’s side of the bed. He was gone. Each morning he awoke at five thirty and, except for Sunday, reset the alarm at seven thirty for Lali. On Sunday the store was closed, but Rudi got up at five-thirty anyway; he had been doing this for sixteen years. Since he always awoke before the alarm went off, Lali wondered why he bothered to set the clock, and had asked him about it.
What does Lali do right after she wakes up?
Copyright Info: Not enough information. Stories of Newcomers, Lali, page 183. (Teacher
authors: Phillips, Blackman, Felts).

a.	She looks over at Rudi’s side of the bed.	c.	She cleans up the paint chips.
b.	She looks at the ceiling.	d.	She resets the alarm.

10.

Read the note.

What did Kim do after the movie?

a.	ate pizza	c.	got some ice cream
b.	went to the mall	d.	went bowling

11.

Read the Passage.
To find out what the symbols used on a map mean, you must look at the map key. The map key explains what each symbol stands for. It is important to check the map key on each map you use. A symbol that stands for one thing on one map may stand for a completely different thing on another map.Copyright Info: Not enough information. Reviewing Geography Skills, Independent Practice
Book, page 11. (Teacher author: Bev Holtom).
What information is given before the map key on each map you use?

a.	It explains the map key.	c.	It asks you to look at two maps.
b.	It defines a symbol.	d.	It asks what the color green stands for.

12.

Read the non-fiction passage.
One difference between insects and all other animals is the number of legs they have. Only insects have six legs in the entire animal kingdom. Adult insects have four wings and two antennae on their heads.
If this is true, you can conclude that:

a.	Spiders have wings; therefore, they are insects.	c.	Insects are only found in North America
b.	All animals are insects.	d.	A grasshopper is an insect.

13.

Literary Response and Analysis—Literary--RIT 201 – 210
Read the passage.
Billy has all the weapons and versatility to become a Grand Slam Champion. He can out-slug his opponents from the baseline or suffocate them at the net. But, the deciding factor could be his deceptively powerful serve!
You can tell the competitive nature of the above passage from the writer’s use of:

a.	word choice	c.	exaggeration
b.	humor	d.	seriousness

14.

Read the passage.
The ball flew into the air with the force of a lightening bolt. The crowd sat riveted by the tension in the air. If the home team caught the ball and returned it, they would have a chance at winning the championship game! You could almost hear the hopefulness as the ball began to descend to the icy field in slow motion. What did the future hold for the Bobcats—glorious victory or unbearable defeat?
The passage is made more vivid by the author’s use of:

a.	humor	c.	comparison
b.	descriptors	d.	syntax

15.

Read the passage.
It is always possible to find fish and shellfish along the waters edge in the early morning, and we walked with heightened awareness to find our quota for the morning, so we could return to more important things, like playing in the trees and building our fort. Ron walked behind me, and he was very distracted, “What do you think will happen to the dolphins if they forget to come up for air?” he asked as he meandered along in my footprints, not really helping with the task at hand. “They don’t forget, now get back to work and help me,” I said in an irritated tone. Ron was only six years old, so I could hardly blame him for his distraction, but I really was getting tired of being the older sister in charge all the time. “Anna, he said, are you mad at me?” This made me feel guilty for snapping at him, and I replied, “No I am not upset with you, I just want to get back to the camp and help father and Tina with the rest of the daily chores, so I have some time for myself later.” Just then I saw Brandon walking toward us with a basket full of shellfish.
Who is telling this story?

a.	Anna	c.	Narrator
b.	Ron	d.	father

16.

Read the passage.
Why did I raise my hand? He asked himself, but in his heart, he knew exactly why he had bolted his hand in the air so fast. He longed for the spotlight and the attention. What would I do in the talent show, John thought. I could sing, but Jake was a much better singer. I could play the piano, but Carla would surely play her masterpiece and amaze everyone. I have no idea what I am even thinking!
What can you infer about John?

a.	He is not a very good singer.	c.	He needs to think before raising his hand so quickly.
b.	He is not a very good piano player.	d.	He doesn’t have very much self-confidence.

17.

Read the list.
Setting
Characters
Problem
Plot
Resolution
What literary device do these elements describe?

a.	story descriptions	c.	genres
b.	story structure	d.	fiction

18.

Select the best option.
What is the purpose of using dialogue in a story?

a.	to make a story longer	c.	to demonstrate how to properly punctuation dialogue
b.	to add vivid details and descriptions	d.	to bring characters to life and communicate emotions

19.

Read the passage.
Rangers in Yellowstone National Park might be getting more protection this winter from snowmobile noise and pollution. Respirators were handed out last winter to some rangers who experienced headaches, sore throats, burning eyes and other symptoms from exposure to snowmobile exhaust. “Safety is a top priority,” park spokesperson said. “Everyone’s pitching in to find something better.”Copyright Info: Poster Register Newspaper, November 8, 2002. Page C4.
Which of the following best describes the above passage?

a.	Newspaper Writing	c.	personal note
b.	short story	d.	Newspaper Ad

20.

Read the passage.
It was the middle of World War II, and we all sat around the fire in fear for what would come next. Our uncle, Sam, had been fighting in the war, and we knew exactly what it meant when the officers came knocking at the door. We had experienced this before with our father. War was a truly awful thing.
Select the appropriate genre for this passage.

a.	fiction	c.	historical fiction
b.	non fiction	d.	fable

21.

Read the passage.
Abraham Lincoln wasn’t the sort of man who could lose himself in a crowd. After all, he stood six feet four inches tall, and to top it off, he wore a high silk hat. His height was mostly in his long, bony legs. When he sat in a chair, he seemed no taller than anyone else. It was only when he stood up that he towered above other men. At first glance most people thought he was homely. Lincoln thought so too, referring once to his, “poor, lean, lank face.” As a young man he was sensitive about his gawky looks, but in time, he learned to laugh at himself. When a
rival called him “two-faced” during a political debate, Lincoln replied: “I leave it to my audience. If I had another face, do you think I’d wear this one?” According to those who knew him, Lincoln was a man of many faces. In repose he often seemed sad and gloomy. But when he began to speak, his expression changed.
Copyright Info: Freedman, Russell. “The Mysterious Mr. Lincoln,” Elements of Literature, Introductory Course. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1997.
Select the appropriate genre for this passage.

a.	non fiction	c.	personal note
b.	fiction	d.	journal