TX STAAR TB

GRADE 4

Reading

Administered April 2014

RELEASED

written permission from the Texas Education Agency.

Page 3

READING

Read the selection and choose the best answer to each question.

Then fill in the answer on your answer document.

Marvin Redpost and his friends are still excited that the president of the

United States visited their third-grade class. Marvin cannot wait to get

home and tell his parents about his day. Since his parents do not get

home from work until after five o’clock, Marvin decides to go to a

friend’s house instead of going home. He later realizes that he was

supposed to go shoe shopping with his mother earlier that afternoon.

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Page 4

Marvin Redpost: Class President from being

displayed in this format. Please refer to Marvin

Redpost: Class President by Louis Sachar,

accessible at your local library.

GO ON

Page 5

Marvin Redpost: Class President from being

displayed in this format. Please refer to Marvin

Redpost: Class President by Louis Sachar,

accessible at your local library.

GO ON

Page 6

Marvin Redpost: Class President from being

displayed in this format. Please refer to Marvin

Redpost: Class President by Louis Sachar,

accessible at your local library.

GO ON

Page 7

Marvin Redpost: Class President from being

displayed in this format. Please refer to Marvin

Redpost: Class President by Louis Sachar,

accessible at your local library.

1 Read the dictionary entry for the word raise.

raise \

rāz\ verb

1. to lift upward

2. to awaken

3. to collect

4. to bring to notice

Which meaning best matches the way the word raised is used in paragraph 8?

A Meaning 1

B Meaning 2

C Meaning 3

D Meaning 4

2 Read this sentence.

Marvin’s parents looked at Marvin, first on TV, then on the stairs.

What are Marvin’s parents most likely thinking at this point in the story?

F They hope that Marvin will become a leader someday.

G They realize that Marvin had wanted to tell them something important.

H They wish that Marvin had asked the president a better question.

J They wonder why Marvin didn’t tell them about meeting the president.

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Page 8

3 Why does Marvin hope that his parents are listening to what the president is

saying?

A He wants his parents to support his goal to become president.

B He wants his parents to realize that they should forgive him.

C He believes that his parents might learn something about the president.

D He thinks that the president might mention his parents on the news.

4 Which sentence from the story shows that Marvin does not want to create more

problems for his mother?

F “I can wear my old shoes,” Marvin offered.

G “It’s not regular television,” Marvin tried to explain.

H Marvin didn’t know what to do.

J He slowly started up the stairs.

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5 The conversation between Marvin and his parents in paragraphs 6 through 12

shows that Marvin is —

A prevented from explaining that he is going to be on television

B concerned about being punished for a long time

C bragging about his experience with the president

D patient when it comes to waiting for his turn to speak

6 In paragraph 2, the word rearranging means —

F using one’s organizing skills

G organizing something in advance

H changing the organization of something

J planning something that should be organized

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7 What effect does Marvin’s visit to his friend’s house have on the story?

A It helps his parents understand what activities he values most.

B It keeps him from telling his parents about his experiences at school.

C It provides an opportunity for him to practice being a good citizen.

D It gives his family enough time to complete an important task.

8 The problem in the story is solved when Marvin’s parents —

F hear him walking up the stairs to his room

G make plans to take him to the store the next day

H decide to punish him for a week rather than a month

J see him with the president on the news

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Page 11

Read the selection and choose the best answer to each question.

Then fill in the answer on your answer document.

Frog Songs

1 Rik-rrork. That’s the sound made by a group of frogs singing

at night. You might have heard these noises and thought they

were just the musical sounds of nature. You probably didn’t

realize that you were listening to frogs communicating with one

another. These familiar sounds that fill the night are not random

but are actually meaningful to frogs.

Being Heard but Not Seen

2 Frogs are good at being heard but not seen, and that’s

important for their survival. These animals have several

characteristics that protect them from predators. One

characteristic is their size. Most frogs are small, which helps them

hide easily. Some are no larger than a child’s thumb. Many frogs

have coloring that allows them to hide in their environment,

making it difficult for predators to find them. Pacific tree frogs, for

example, are exactly the same color as the bark on the trees in

their habitat. In addition, most frogs are active at night. They

search for food in the dark, so it is difficult for most animals to

see them.

A tree frog sitting on a person’s finger

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Page 12

Small but Loud

3 The characteristics that make frogs so difficult to see,

however, also make it hard for them to find one another. That’s

why having a big voice is helpful. Frogs croak to tell other frogs

where they are. Their voices can be so loud that even a tiny frog

can be heard as much as a quarter of a mile away. But when frogs

feel the footsteps of a larger animal, they become silent. So

predators don’t know that the frogs are nearby.

4 Many of the world’s frogs live in rain forests. These regions are

filled with many different animals calling to their own species in

their own ways. These calls can sometimes make rain forests very

loud places. Frogs need to call loudly enough to be heard through

the noise in order to find other frogs.

Singing with Purpose

5 Peter Narins is a scientist who studies how frogs call to one

another. He makes recordings of frog calls and plays them back to

other frogs to see whether they will answer. He has learned that

frogs use their calls to help them tell friend from enemy. One way

they do this is to sing the same notes at the same volume each

time they call. When Narins plays back calls at a louder volume

than a real frog’s call, frogs do not call back.

6 In addition, Narins has found that frogs of the same species

always sing the same patterns. When Narins made recordings and

mixed up the patterns, the frogs didn’t call back. These patterns

are like a code that is distinct

from other animals’ calls and

difficult for others to copy.

7 Narins also observed that timing plays a role in frog calls.

Many frogs call only at a certain time of night. For example, the

coquí, a small frog that lives in Puerto Rico, calls only from sunset

to midnight. It waits for other frogs to finish their calls before it

begins making its “co-qui” sound.

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Page 13

A coquí sits on a leaf.

More Work to Do

8 Scientists want to better understand the purpose of frog calls.

Studies continue to explore the details of frogs’ unique

communication. It appears that frogs are able to stay connected

with others of their species. Being heard but not seen is one way

frogs remain safe. The idea that these creatures have found a way

to survive in a dangerous world is simply amazing.

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Page 14

9 In which part of the selection can the reader find information about the patterns

of frog songs?

A Being Heard but Not Seen

B Small but Loud

C Singing with Purpose

D More Work to Do

10 What does Narins’s study of frog calls suggest about frogs?

F They sing differently when people are nearby.

G They are aware of the particular sounds their species makes.

H They often repeat songs they hear from other animals.

J They sing louder during the day than at night.

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11 Which idea from the selection does the first photograph support?

A Frogs need human protection in nature.

B Frogs croak to interact with one another.

C Frogs can hide easily because of their size.

D Frogs search for food during the night.

12 The purpose of this selection is mainly to —

F explain how frogs use their calls to keep themselves safe

G offer the reasons why people have trouble identifying frog calls

H describe several ways that scientists study frog calls

J list the reasons that frog calls differ between species

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13 Read the diagram below.

Cause:

Frogs feel the footsteps of a

larger animal approaching.

Effect:

Which of the following belongs in the empty box?

A The frogs alert other frogs by making a loud sound.

B The frogs croak to distract their enemies.

C The frogs quickly search for a hiding place.

D The frogs stop making sounds.

14 Which words from paragraph 6 help the reader know the meaning of distinct?

F difficult for others to copy

G made recordings

H mixed up the patterns

J didn’t call back

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15 Which of the following is the best summary of the section “Singing with

Purpose”?

A Peter Narins is a scientist who studies frogs and frog calls. By observing many

frogs in nature, Narins has learned some interesting things about a species of

frog in Puerto Rico.

B The scientist Peter Narins studies frog calls. He records the calls, plays them

back to other frogs, and observes the frogs’ responses. Narins has discovered

different meanings in the frog calls.

C Scientists study all kinds of things, including frog calls. One scientist who

studies frog calls is Peter Narins. He is interested in learning about how frogs

use their calls.

D The scientist Peter Narins decided to study the sounds frogs make. He learned

that frog calls are difficult for frogs’ enemies to copy. Some of these calls

occur at the same time every night.

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Page 18

16 Read the diagram.

Ways That Frogs

Are Protected

They hide

in their

surroundings.

They are small.

Which of these best completes the diagram?

F They are most active at night.

G They sing loud songs along with other animals.

H They return to the same place each day to sleep.

J They repeat the noises of other animals.

17 Having a loud call benefits frogs by —

A allowing them to signal other animals when danger is near

B helping them locate other frogs that are far away

C allowing them to tell other frogs where to find food

D helping them scare away their enemies

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Page 19

Read the selection and choose the best answer to each question.

Then fill in the answer on your answer document.

Cousin on the Court

CHARACTERS

CARTER: A nine-year-old boy

MARCUS and RUBEN: Boys on Carter’s basketball team

SAM: Carter’s cousin

SCENE 1

1 [The curtain opens. Carter, Marcus, and Ruben are sitting on the

bench at an empty park basketball court, rolling a basketball back

and forth.]

2 RUBEN: I can’t believe David is going to miss our basketball

tournament.

3 MARCUS: Why did his family have to go on vacation now? The

tournament is this Saturday! It’s too late to find anyone good to

fill his spot.

4 RUBEN: I don’t know anyone. Mike is no good at basketball. Abe

is good, but he sprained his ankle playing soccer.

5 CARTER: I know someone who might be able to help us. My

cousin is coming to town tomorrow to visit for two weeks. Sam is

awesome at basketball.

6 RUBEN: That’s a great idea!

7 MARCUS: A great idea? If we want to win the tournament, we

can’t fill the spot with just anybody. How do we know your cousin

is any good?

8 CARTER: Let’s hold a tryout. I’ll bring Sam here tomorrow, and

you can see for yourself.

9 MARCUS: I guess we can try it, but this kid had better be good.

10 CARTER: Great! I’ll see you guys tomorrow.

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11 [Ruben and Marcus wave good-bye. Close curtain.]

SCENE 2

12 [The curtain opens. Carter and Sam are playing basketball at the

park basketball court. Sam is wearing a baseball cap.]

13 [Ruben and Marcus walk onstage as Sam makes a basket.]

14 RUBEN: [To Marcus.] Carter was right. Sam is good.

15 MARCUS: We’ll see.

16 [As Marcus and Ruben approach, Sam pulls off the cap. Long hair

falls to Sam’s shoulders. Marcus and Ruben stare.]

17 MARCUS: [To Carter.] I thought you said you were bringing your

cousin Sam to practice!

18 SAM: [To Marcus.] Nice to meet you too. Marky, is it? I’m Carter’s

cousin Sam. Sam’s short for Samantha.

19 MARCUS: I’m Marcus, not Marky. Only my grandma calls me that.

This isn’t going to work. [Marcus glares at Sam.] No way am I

playing in the tournament with a girl.

20 RUBEN: Come on, Marcus! What choice do we have? Besides,

she’s good!

21 CARTER: At least give her a chance.

22 [Marcus shakes his head no.]

23 SAM: If you don’t think I’m competent to play on your team, give

me a chance to prove my ability.

24 MARCUS: How?

25 SAM: I challenge you to a game. The first person to make seven

points wins. If I win, I play in the tournament. If you win, I don’t.

Sound fair?

26 [Marcus snorts.]

27 MARCUS: This’ll be easy.

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28 SAM: Yeah, I think so, too.

29 [Sam grins at Marcus, who frowns in return.]

30 MARCUS: You’re on. Let’s flip a coin to see who gets the ball first.

31 [Carter digs in his pocket and pulls out a quarter.]

32 CARTER: Sam, call the toss.

33 [Carter tosses the quarter in the air.]

34 SAM: Heads!

35 [Carter, Marcus, Ruben, and Sam all gather around the coin on

the ground.]

36 SAM: I go first!

37 [Sam takes the ball to the half-court line as Marcus prepares to

defend the basket.]

38 MARCUS: Yes—let’s see.

39 SAM: Just try to score one point, at least.

40 [Sam dribbles to the three-point line and makes the shot. She

hands Marcus the ball with a smile.]

41 RUBEN: Three to nothing, Marcus!

42 MARCUS: I know! I know!

43 [Sam grins and steals the ball as Marcus dribbles. She steps

behind the three-point line and makes another shot.]

44 CARTER: And that’s six.

45 RUBEN: Marcus, are you going to score at all?

46 MARCUS: Watch this!

47 [Marcus dribbles the ball between his legs and quickly approaches

the basket. He jumps up to put the ball in the basket, but Sam

smacks it out of his hands.]

48 MARCUS: What? Foul!

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49 CARTER: That was no foul, Marcus. She never touched you! I saw

it.

50 MARCUS: Fine! Let’s play.

51 [Marcus frowns as Sam approaches with the ball. As she makes a

motion to his right, Marcus sticks out his leg. Sam passes the ball

between his legs, grabs it, and makes a basket.]

52 RUBEN: That’s the game!

53 [Marcus lowers his head and sulks.]

54 CARTER: I told you she was good.

55 MARCUS: I can’t believe Sam won.

56 [Sam gives him the ball.]

57 SAM: Why? Because I’m a girl?

58 MARCUS: Yes. I mean, no. I mean . . . Well, O.K., you’re on the

team.

59 SAM: Oh, I don’t think so.

60 MARCUS: What do you mean?

61 SAM: Well, you wouldn’t appreciate my talents. Since I’m a girl

and all.

62 CARTER: [To Sam.] Well, thanks for trying out.

63 SAM: [To Carter.] See you at the house. [She picks up her

baseball cap and walks off.]

64 RUBEN: Good job, Marcus. Now what do we do?

65 MARCUS: Hey, Carter, does she have a sister in town?

66 [The curtain closes.]

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18 Which of the following best explains why Sam refuses to play in the tournament?

F SAM: Yeah, I think so, too.

G SAM: Why? Because I’m a girl?

H SAM: Oh, I don’t think so.

J SAM: Well, you wouldn’t appreciate my talents. Since I’m a girl and all.

19 What does the word competent mean in paragraph 23?

A Having the necessary skills

B Describing something in a believable way

C Showing the proper respect

D Trying to make improvements

20 How does Ruben contribute to the plot of the play?

F He supports Carter’s decision to invite Sam to play with the team.

G He thinks of a friend who could play with the team.

H He keeps score when Marcus shoots baskets against Sam.

J He asks Marcus to think of a way to solve their problem.

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21 Which line from the play supports the idea that Marcus has changed the way he

feels about having a female player on the team?

A MARCUS: I guess we can try it, but this kid had better be good.

B MARCUS: Fine! Let’s play.

C MARCUS: I can’t believe Sam won.

D MARCUS: Hey, Carter, does she have a sister in town?

22 The playwright creates a surprise by —

F giving Carter’s cousin a name that can be used for a boy

G revealing that David can’t play in the tournament

H allowing Sam to make up the rules of the challenge

J having Carter’s cousin come to visit for two weeks

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23 Sam’s dialogue with Marcus in Scene 2 suggests that she —

A tries to avoid playing basketball against boys

B believes that other basketball players are accepting of her

C knows that she is a skilled basketball player

D lacks the patience to teach basketball to others

24 Which of the following is the best summary of the play?

F Marcus and his teammates need to find someone to replace a player who is

going away on vacation. The boys bring up the names of two friends, but

one is injured, and the other is not a good basketball player. Finally Carter

suggests asking his cousin Sam to play on the team in a tournament.

G A basketball team needs to find a new player in time for a tournament on

Saturday. Carter suggests using his cousin, and Marcus agrees to the idea of

having a tryout. Marcus objects when he sees that Sam is a girl, but then she

proves that she is a better player than he expected.

H A basketball team needs a new player and decides to let Carter’s cousin Sam

try out. Carter and Sam are already at the court when Marcus and Ruben

arrive. Ruben watches Sam make a basket and agrees that she is a good

player.

J Marcus agrees to play a basketball game against Carter’s cousin Sam. If

Sam wins the game, she will get to play with the team in the upcoming

tournament. Sam gets the ball first and scores an easy three-point shot, but

Marcus can’t score at all.

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Page 26

25 What lesson does Marcus learn in the play?

A Winning is not as important as friendship.

B Working together helps team members improve.

C Problems can be solved with hard work.

D People should not be quick to judge others.

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Page 27

Read the next two selections. Then choose the best answer to

each question.

1 In the summer of 2006, Gabriel Whaley, a high school

student, wanted to do something to help people in his hometown

of Midland, North Carolina. Whaley knew that the local food

banks, places that collect food for the hungry, could not feed all

the families in need of help in his community. As a soccer lover, he

also knew that the cost of soccer camps prevented some children

from attending them. Whaley found a way to help solve both

problems.

2 Whaley established a program called Kicking4Hunger. He

organized his own soccer camp for children and asked them to

bring canned goods to pay for the training. This allowed many

children to participate. And the children who attended the camp

helped hungry people in the community by supporting the food

banks with their canned goods. Whaley’s project was a success!

During the three-day camp, more than 70 children were able to

play soccer. Better still, about 1,500 pounds of food was collected

and donated to the food banks.

3 Kicking4Hunger continues to offer soccer training to children

in exchange for food donations. The soccer camps are usually held

for three or four days in the summer and are open to children five

to 14 years of age. Because all skill levels are welcome, the

coaches focus on teaching soccer basics such as passing and

shooting. The coaches also teach children about staying healthy

by exercising and eating the right foods. During the school year

Kicking4Hunger offers clinics that are usually held for one to three

days. Children attending these clinics can practice their soccer

skills.

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Page 28

4 Since Whaley started the program, Kicking4Hunger has

collected more than

16,000 pounds of food

and taught soccer skills to

more than 1,000 children.

Now a busy college

student, Whaley still

serves as president of the

organization and helps

make important decisions

about it. Kicking4Hunger

has set a goal of bringing

soccer camps to other

states by 2014 and to

other countries by 2016.

Thanks to his efforts

Whaley was named

People magazine’s

Readers’ Choice Hero of

the Year for 2011. The

prize money he received

from the award will be

used to help support Kicking4Hunger’s increasing number of

progr

ams.

5 Whaley thinks that one of the reasons his camps are

successful is the effort of the volunteers. Many of the coaches are

teenagers who want to help others. The coaches try to teach

children that it is more important to enjoy playing soccer than to

win games. The children who attend the camps have fun and also

feel good about helping hungry families. Kicking4Hunger is proof

that the efforts of one person can lead to differences in the lives of

many.

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Page 29

Photo by Eric McNatt

Caring for Kids Is in the Bag

1 When Annie Wignall was 11 years old, she learned about a

family that had to leave their home quickly. The children in the

family didn’t have time to pack. Wignall thought about how

difficult it would be to leave her favorite toys and books behind.

So she came up with a way to help other children in such a

situation.

2 Wignall talked to her parents about her idea and then got to

work. She went to businesses in her town and asked people to

donate toys, games, toothbrushes, soap, and shampoo. She and

other volunteers placed these items in bags to give to children

who needed them. Annie named her project Care Bags.

3 How does this project help others? First, people who work

with children let Annie’s group know about children who have lost

their homes or experienced other difficulties. Then Wignall’s

friends and other volunteers fill bags to fit the needs of those

children. They have bags that are appropriate for children of

different ages. After the bags are filled, they are sent to the

children who need them.

4 One goal of the project is to encourage people to help others.

People can help by donating new toys and other items. Volunteers

who sew make the bags that hold the donated items and also

make other things that are included in the bags, such as blankets

and bibs.

5 The project has become more successful over the years. Now

an elementary school teacher, Wignall is also the president and

director of the Care Bags Foundation. The project has gone from

helping people in Wignall’s hometown to helping thousands of

children all over the world. So far, almost 20,000 bags have been

delivered to places in the United States and other countries.

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6 The foundation even has starter kits so that others can begin

projects where they live. Thanks to these kits, about 70 other

Care Bags programs have been started. One of these programs is

managed by people in Africa who once received bags from

Wignall! So the next time you have an idea for helping others,

remember Care Bags, a project that shows how a good idea can

make a big difference.

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Page 31

Use “Fighting Hunger with a Kick” (pp. 28–29) to

answer questions 26–29. Then fill in the answers on your

answer document.

26 The attendance at Whaley’s first soccer camp suggests that members of the

community were —

F unfamiliar with the game of soccer

G willing to support his effort to help others

H more interested in helping food banks than in playing soccer

J eager for him to become president of the organization

27 According to the article, what is one way Whaley achieves his goal of providing

soccer instruction to children?

A He asks newspaper reporters to inform others about soccer camps.

B He asks local food banks to provide locations for soccer camps.

C He trains schoolteachers to become qualified coaches.

D He depends on teenagers to volunteer as coaches.

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Page 32

28 Which sentence from the article shows that developing soccer skills isn’t the only

focus of Kicking4Hunger camps?

F During the three-day camp, more than 70 children were able to play soccer.

G The coaches also teach children about staying healthy by exercising and

eating the right foods.

H During the school year Kicking4Hunger offers clinics that are usually held for

one to three days.

J Kicking4Hunger has set a goal of bringing soccer camps to other states by

2014 and to other countries by 2016.

29 What was one benefit of Whaley winning the Readers’ Choice Hero of the Year

award?

A He was able to focus on a new career.

B He was able to choose an experienced president for his organization.

C He received advice about how to be an effective soccer coach.

D He was able to use the prize money to help his organization.

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Page 33

Use “Caring for Kids Is in the Bag” (pp. 30–31) to

answer questions 30–34. Then fill in the answers on your

answer document.

30 Which words from paragraph 3 best help the reader understand what appropriate

means?

F people who work with children

G volunteers fill bags

H fit the needs of

J experienced other difficulties

31 Paragraph 4 is important to the selection because it provides information about

how the Care Bags project —

A shares information with its volunteers

B relies on people to support its goals

C identifies which toys children prefer

D estimates how many bags will be needed

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32 Which sentence from the selection shows that Wignall’s project has expanded

over the years?

F She and other volunteers placed these items in bags to give to children who

needed them.

G After the bags are filled, they are sent to the children who need them.

H Volunteers who sew make the bags that hold the donated items and also

make other things that are included in the bags, such as blankets and bibs.

J Thanks to these kits, about 70 other Care Bags programs have been started.

33 Read the following sentence from paragraph 6.

One of these programs is managed by people in Africa who

once received bags from Wignall!

The author includes this sentence most likely to —

A illustrate how many Care Bags programs there are in the world

B show that Wignall’s project has had a positive effect on others

C demonstrate why more volunteers for Care Bags programs are needed

D show how long it can take for Wignall’s bags to reach people in need

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34 Which of these is the best summary of the selection?

F After talking to her parents, Annie Wignall started a project called Care Bags.

People who work with children contact Wignall’s group about children who

need help. Volunteers for the project then fill bags with toys and other items.

G Annie Wignall wanted to find a way to help other children. After talking to her

parents, she decided to gather items that children needed and put them in

bags for delivery. Many people volunteered to help Annie with her project,

which became known as Care Bags.

H After hearing about a family that had to leave their home suddenly and left

some things behind, Annie Wignall decided to create the Care Bags project.

The project provides bags containing toys and other items to children who

need them. Project volunteers have helped thousands of children all over the

world.

J Annie Wignall gathered some items in a bag for children in need and decided

to start the Care Bags project. The project has now helped children all over

the world by putting together many more similar bags. Wignall still directs the

project’s activities.

Use “Fighting Hunger with a Kick” and “Caring for Kids Is

in the Bag” to answer questions 35–38. Then fill in the

answers on your answer document.

35 The authors of the two selections probably intend for the reader to learn how —

A the two organizations selected leaders who could accomplish more than

members expect

B food banks are involved with organizations that aid children

C each organization grew out of a person’s desire to help others

D the two organizations make use of volunteers

36 What is one way that Kicking4Hunger is different from the Care Bags Foundation?

F Kicking4Hunger accepts donated items to give to communities in need.

G Kicking4Hunger focuses on meeting the needs of the children in a community.

H Kicking4Hunger needs a leader to decide how best to support a community.

J Kicking4Hunger provides training in exchange for donations to help the

community.

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37 One way that Whaley and Wignall are alike is that —

A they both want to attend college and earn teaching degrees

B they have both received awards for their willingness to assist others

C their concern for other people has inspired both of them to think creatively

D their enjoyment of volunteering has motivated them to start their own

organizations

38 Kicking4Hunger is different from the Care Bags Foundation in that —

F Kicking4Hunger has adopted more goals to meet, while the Care Bags

Foundation has kept the same goal but helped additional children

G volunteers are needed to operate Kicking4Hunger, while the Care Bags

Foundation can operate without volunteers

H Kicking4Hunger donates food to assist people of all ages, while Care Bags

Foundation donates toys and other items to children only

J Kicking4Hunger has assisted children in several countries, while the Care Bags

Foundation has assisted children only in the United States

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Page 38

Read the selection and choose the best answer to each question.

Then fill in the answer on your answer document.

To Manga, My Hamster

by Joyce Sidman

I wish I could set you free

like that day you escaped

and ran all over the house.

That was an amazing day.

5 My mother screamed.

My sister cried.

All because you were loose somewhere,

burrowing through pillows and toys.

When Mom finally found you

10 huddled in the mop bucket

(and you bit her)

you looked so fierce,

like your wild cousins

that roam the jungles of Asia.

15 I wish I had jungles to give you.

I wish that could be your life.

Please forgive me.

All I have to offer

is this warm, cozy cage

20 and my fingers

scratching behind your ears.

“To Manga, My Hamster” from THIS IS JUST TO SAY: POEMS OF APOLOGY AND FORGIVENESS by Joyce

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Page 39

39 What identifies this poem as an example of free verse?

A Its lines are not similar in length.

B It does not follow a rhyming pattern.

C It uses figurative language to create imagery.

D It presents a lesson that can be learned.

40 Which line from the poem shows that the speaker is not worried about Manga’s

behavior upsetting her mother and sister?

F That was an amazing day.

G My mother screamed.

H I wish that could be your life.

J Please forgive me.

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41 What is the speaker’s main purpose in the poem?

A To persuade her mother to let her keep Manga

B To explain to readers the benefits of having a pet hamster

C To share her feelings with Manga

D To teach readers to seek forgiveness for their mistakes

42 The poet uses lines 1 through 3 mainly to —

F introduce the conflict

G compare two related events

H explain how the speaker got Manga

J give human characteristics to Manga

43 What is the meaning of the word burrowing in line 8?

A Sleeping

B Eating

C Digging

D Squeaking

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44 What is emphasized by the repetition of the words “I wish” in the poem?

F The reason the speaker wants her mother to like Manga

G The speaker’s desire for Manga to have the best life possible

H The length of time it takes the speaker to find Manga when he escapes

J The speaker’s reason for keeping Manga as a pet

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GRADE 4

Reading

April 2014