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4th Grade Reading Basic Practice Test 3



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

 1. 

Interpretive Reading Comprehension—Main Idea--171 – 180
Read the story and answer the question.
Jenny wanted a pet for her birthday. Her mom and dad took her to the pet store. First, Jenny looked at the birds. Then, she looked at the kittens. Finally, she looked at the puppies. A brown puppy jumped up and licked her face. Jenny wanted to take him home.
What is the main idea of the story?
a.
pet stores
c.
choosing a pet
b.
birds
d.
pet food
 

 2. 

Read the story and answer the question.
You can do many things at the beach. When the tide is out, you can fill your pail full of sea water. You can build sand castles in the sand on the beach. You can jump in the waves and swim.
What is this story mostly about?
a.
There are many things to do at the beach.
c.
You can build sand castles.
b.
You can jump in the waves and swim.
d.
When the tide is out, you can fill your pail.
 

 3. 

Read the sentences in the story below.
a. Some children like cheese pizza.
b. Others like pepperoni pizza.
c. Kathy likes sausage pizza.
d. Many children like to eat pizza.

Which sentence is the main idea of this story?
a.
sentence a
c.
sentence c
b.
sentence b
d.
sentence d
 

 4. 

Read the story and answer the question.
Wendy has a lot of pets. She has two striped kittens, one hamster and three black dogs. Every day, she takes care of them. She feeds them and gives them a lot of love.
What is the best title for this story?
a.
Hamsters
c.
Wendy’s Pets
b.
Pet Food
d.
Horses
 

 5. 

Read the story and answer the question.
My family went to the circus. We saw the funny clowns. We watched the lion act. We ate a lot of treats and popcorn.
This story is about __________.
a.
eating treats and popcorn
c.
clowns
b.
going to the circus
d.
lions
 

 6. 

Interpretive Reading Comprehension—Prediction--171 – 180
Read the passage and fill in the blank with the best answer.
Oceanville was a small town on the Pacific Coast. One day the radio broadcast an urgent storm warning. The people ____________.
What is the main idea of the story?
a.
changed the radio station
c.
prepared for the storm
b.
went to the grocery store
d.
went out on a sail boat
 

 7. 

Interpretive Reading Comprehension—Application Transfer--181 – 190
Read the passage and answer the question.
Frogs are facing hard times these days. Part of their problem is that they have to live in and around water. Their skin needs to stay moist and so do their eggs and young. But, homes, farms, roads, and malls everywhere are replacing wet areas. Or they’re being polluted. This may explain whey there are fewer frogs than there once were. Make the land around your home or school frog friendly. One way is to build a frog pond where frogs, toads, and salamanders can come to live, find food, or breed.
Copyright Info: Ranger Rick, “Join the Frog Force”. Volume 3.3, Number 3. March 1999.
What can you do to help frogs?
a.
Keep them away from other animals.
c.
Find more water.
b.
Build a frog pond.
d.
Take a frog home for a pet.
 

 8. 

Interpretive Reading Comprehension—Cause and Effect--181 – 190
Read the story and answer the question.
After reviewing Chapter 3 in Science, Amy’s teacher handed the students a study guide for the next day’s test. When Amy got home from school, she ate a snack and called her friend on the phone. After talking to her friend, Amy watched T.V. At dinner that evening, Amy’s mom asked if she had homework. Amy told her mother that she had to study for a test. After dinner, Amy played outside and then came in the house and went to bed.
Why did Amy fail the test the next day?
a.
She was hungry.
c.
She forgot her study guide.
b.
Her teacher didn’t give her a study guide.
d.
She never studied.
 

 9. 

Interpretive Reading Comprehension—Drawing Conclusions--181 – 190
Read the passage and answer the question.
As the sun slowly came up over the mountains, Jill climbed out of her tent. Still yawning, she gathered some wood and matches to start a fire. The morning was chilly and dew had formed on the leaves and grass all around. The gentle sound of the river was soothing and peaceful. Jill was excited to start her day.
What is Jill most likely doing in this story?
a.
She is getting ready for school.
c.
She is having a sleep over.
b.
She is camping.
d.
She is at the beach.
 

 10. 

Interpretive Reading Comprehension—Main Idea--181 – 190
Read the poem and answer the question.
“Hurray for Poetry” By: Patricia Hubbell
Dance a Poem!
March a Poem!
Leap a Poem!
Yes!
Eat a Poem!
Sip a Poem!
Slurp a Poem!
Yes!
Love a Poem!
Live a Poem!
Be a Poem!
Yes!
What is the main idea of this poem?
a.
get involved in poetry
c.
you can eat poems
b.
you can dance to poems
d.
you can only write about poetry
 

 11. 

Read the passage, then answer the question.
Thursday, I went Trick-or-Treating. I love to get a whole sack full of candy. It’s fun to see all of the different costumes. Halloween is my favorite holiday. It is so much fun to dress up and then meet my friends.
What is the main idea of this passage?
a.
Halloween is my favorite holiday.
c.
It’s fun to see the different costumes.
b.
I love to get a whole sack full of candy.
d.
Dressing up and meeting my friends is fun.
 

 12. 

Read the story and answer the question.
Robbie and his best friend, John, like to solve mysteries. One day, they went to the library to get some books to read. In the library, there was a marble statue of a lady. On her left hand, there was a large, beautiful diamond ring. Everyone thought the ring was cool. On their way back out of the library, Robbie and John noticed the ring was missing.
Which title best fits this story?
a.
Polly’s Great Escape
c.
A Trip to the Library
b.
The Case of the Missing Diamond Ring
d.
A Day with John and Robbie
 

 13. 

Read the note and answer the question.
Dear Judy,
Thank you for helping me with my bike. You are a very good friend. I enjoy playing with you, because you are always nice to me. I am lucky to have you for a friend.
From Katy
What is the main idea of the note?
a.
Judy fixed Katy’s bike
c.
Judy is a good friend to Katy
b.
Katy is glad her bike is fixed
d.
Katy likes to write notes
 

 14. 

Read the passages and answer the question.
Owls have different nesting habits. Some build nests in tree hallows, other in old
buildings, and some on the ground. Most build their nests in trees because their colors make them hard to see. Olivia Owl couldn’t decide where to build her nest. Her mother had built her nest in a tree, but Olivia wanted more protection for her babies. She looked and looked until finally, she found the perfect spot. It was an old barn.
What is the main idea of these two passages?
a.
Owls blend in to their surroundings.
c.
Owls lay eggs.
b.
Owls are awake at night.
d.
Owls build their nests in many different places.
 

 15. 

Read the passage and answer the question.
Saturn is a large planet. The only planet bigger than Saturn is Jupiter. Saturn is called a gas giant because of its size. It is also known for having rings. Saturn is the second largest planet in our solar system.
What is the main idea of this passage?
a.
Jupiter is a large planet.
c.
Jupiter is a gas giant.
b.
Saturn is known for having rings.
d.
Saturn is a large planet.
 

 16. 

Interpretive Reading Comprehension—Prediction--181 – 190
Read the story and answer the question.
The Smith family all loaded up early Saturday morning to take their family vacation to the beach. They started off at 6:00 in the morning, since they had a long, ten-hour drive ahead of them. They sang songs and played games together to pass the time before lunch. At lunchtime, they stopped at a nice park by the highway to eat their picnic lunches. It was nice to take a break from riding in the car. After lunch, they all got back in the car to finish the long drive to the beach. Once they got a few miles from the park, they suddenly heard a loud noise and the car started to wobble back and forth.
What probably happened next?
a.
They pulled off to the side of the road to check the tires.
c.
They ate dinner at the park.
b.
They kept driving, hoping everything was all right.
d.
They arrived at the beach.
 

 17. 

Read the story and answer the question.
Lynn was a very determined girl, and she loved the idea of growing her own herb garden. She bought the seeds and supplies to start an herb garden in small pots, and then she planned to plant them in the ground after they got bigger. Her mother helped her set out all of the supplies and read the directions to get started. First, Lynn put potting soil in each of the six planting pots. Next, she planted the seeds in each of the pots and watered them. After one week of setting the pots in the kitchen window to get sunlight and watering them, Lynn could start to see some of the herbs growing out of the soil. She could wait to tell her friends about her new herb garden. She ran to the phone to call her best friend, Sally, and tell her all about it. Suddenly, Lynn heard a loud crash and her little brother came running out of the kitchen will soil all over his head!
What most likely happened?
a.
Lynn’s brother was playing outside with the dog.
c.
Lynn’s mother moved the plants to the living room.
b.
Lynn heard a noise from across the street.
d.
Lynn’s brother broke the pots.
 

 18. 

Interpretive Reading Comprehension—Summarize--181 – 190
Read the passage and answer the question.
Thomas and John were playing behind John’s house after school. They were exploring and trying to find a good place to build a secret fort. As they walked passed a small cliff, Thomas saw an opening to a cave. They slowly walked inside to explore and decide whether this would be a good place for their fort. After careful inspections, they decided it was perfect. There was just enough room for everything they wanted to do, and no one would ever discover their secret fort. They ran back to John’s house to get their fort supplies.
Which is the best summary of this passage?
a.
Thomas and John found a cave for their fort.
c.
Thomas and John were exploring outside.
b.
John was afraid of the cave entrance.
d.
Thomas found a cave opening.
 

 19. 

Literal Reading Comprehension—Cause and Effect--RIT 171 - 180
Read the passage and answer the question.
He spread out his hood more than ever, and Rikki saw the spectacle mark on the back of it that looks exactly like the eye part of a hook-and-eye fastening. He was afraid for the minute; but it is impossible for a mongoose to stay frightened for any length of time, and though Rikki had never met a live cobra before, his mother had fed him on dead ones, and he knew that all a grown mongoose’s business in life was to fight and eat snakes. Nag knew that too, and at the bottom of his cold heart he was afraid.
Copyright Info:
Rikki-tikki-tavi; Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1991; ISBN 0-13-691734-8.
Why was Nag concerned?
a.
He knew mongoose ate cobras.
c.
Rikki saw the mark on his head.
b.
Rikki had disappeared into the grass.
d.
He knew Rikki had never met a cobra.
 

 20. 

Read the passage and answer the question.
Little Jon looked out of the window, and let his mind rove over the greening valley in the distance. Suddenly he began to hum a little song about valleys. The humming changed to singing words. He wondered where he had heard it.
Little Jon began to sing because:
Copywright Info
: Not enough information. What Counts? McGraw-Hill,1985 (Teacher
authors: Phillips, Blackman, Felts).
a.
He looked out the window
c.
He saw the green grass
b.
He was singing with friends
d.
He didn’t know the words
 



 
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