The Longest Night

Read this sentence from The Longest Night.

Tomorrow, I would start the most important journey of my life, my Vision Quest. . . .

What does the word quest mean in this sentence?

• battle

• recital

• mission

• vacation

Which affix can be added to the base quest to generate a word that means “to ask a favor”?

• re-

• ion-

• be-

Read this sentence from The Longest Night.

The bear had reached up and raked my leg with its claws before disappearing into the woods.

What does the word raked mean in this sentence?

• licked

• tickled

• patted

• scraped

What is an antonym for raked?

• itched

• gathered

• scratched

• smoothed

Read this sentence from The Longest Night.

The dog retrieved the branch, laying it at my feet.

What does the word retrieved mean in this sentence?

• stole

• broke

• knocked

• returned

What word could replace retrieved in the sentence?

• fetched

• removed

• damaged

• borrowed

Directions: Read the paragraph. Then answer the question.

Why did Pa get a new dog?

Posey

Posey, our dog, is the best herder ever. Pa got Posey after our old dog, Blue, got too old to herd. Blue continued to herd, but Pa could see he wasn’t up to the task anymore. That’s when Pa decided to get Posey. He thought Posey would help Blue feel young again. Blue felt a little better after Posey’s arrival, but he struggled to keep up with her high energy.

• Susanna wanted a dog of her own.

• Blue became too old to herd sheep.

• Pa wanted to surprise Matt with a new dog.

• Susanna thought Blue needed a companion.

Directions: Read the question, and then the paragraph. Then select the best answer.

Why did Pa need Susanna to take the sheep to the pasture?

Posey

Today, Matt and I follow Ma and Pa out to the buckboard that Pa has hitched up to our plow horse, Nellie. Pa is going into town for supplies, but Ma is nervous about the foxes we have recently seen around our property. She holds Baby Laura close to her and tells Pa to hurry home.

• Pa was going into town for supplies.

• It was Susanna's turn to take the sheep to the pasture.

• Pa wanted to let Susanna work with Posey on her own.

• Pa wanted Susanna to teach Matt how to care for the sheep.

Directions: Read the question, and then the story. Then select the best answer.

What is the theme of the story?

Posey, our dog, is the best herder ever. Pa got Posey after our old dog, Blue, got too old to herd. Blue continued to herd, but Pa could see he wasn’t up to the task anymore. That’s when Pa decided to get Posey. He thought Posey would help Blue feel young again. Blue felt a little better after Posey’s arrival, but he struggled to keep up with her high energy.

One day, when we came out to feed the sheep, Pa whistled for Blue and Posey. Neither dog responded to Pa’s call. After searching for the dogs, we found Blue lying in the grass in front of the sheep pen. We knew then that it was time to retire Blue to the house, where he could rest by the hearth. Posey rose to the challenge and took care of the herding from then on. That was two years ago.

Today, Matt and I follow Ma and Pa out to the buckboard that Pa has hitched up to our plow horse, Nellie. Pa is going into town for supplies, but Ma is nervous about the foxes we have recently seen around our property. She holds Baby Laura close to her and tells Pa to hurry home.

“Susanna,” Pa says to me after he settles in the buckboard, “you, Matt, and Posey take the sheep to the east pasture. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

I nod at Pa’s request and watch as he turns Nellie and the buckboard down the dirt path and out the gate. I feel jittery as I watch him go. Ma pulls Matt and me close. “Everything will be all right,” she assures us. “Now, don’t you two have some work to do?”

Matt and I leave Ma and the baby with Blue. Then we grab Posey and head down to the pen where the sheep are anxious to pasture. Before I open the pen, I look at Posey who waits for my command. Pa and I taught her hand signals and commands for herding the sheep. I open the pen and throw out my hand. The sheep head out with Posey in control. Posey runs left and right to keep the sheep together and going in the right direction.

Suddenly, Posey tilts her head to one side and widens her eyes. I watch her, seeing where she is looking. Her attention is drawn to a large bush not far from the flock. “Go, Posey,” I whisper and watch her creep forward and flush out a fox that has come too close. I smile as Posey, knowing she’s done her job, trots back triumphantly.

• Dogs are good pets.

• Dogs are talented at herding sheep.

• People can trust each other in a time of need.

• Trained dogs can help people with their work.

Directions: Read the question, and then the story. Then select the best answer.

Which detail would be included in a summary of the story?

Posey, our dog, is the best herder ever. Pa got Posey after our old dog, Blue, got too old to herd. Blue continued to herd, but Pa could see he wasn’t up to the task anymore. That’s when Pa decided to get Posey. He thought Posey would help Blue feel young again. Blue felt a little better after Posey’s arrival, but he struggled to keep up with her high energy.

One day, when we came out to feed the sheep, Pa whistled for Blue and Posey. Neither dog responded to Pa’s call. After searching for the dogs, we found Blue lying in the grass in front of the sheep pen. We knew then that it was time to retire Blue to the house, where he could rest by the hearth. Posey rose to the challenge and took care of the herding from then on. That was two years ago.

Today, Matt and I follow Ma and Pa out to the buckboard that Pa has hitched up to our plow horse, Nellie. Pa is going into town for supplies, but Ma is nervous about the foxes we have recently seen around our property. She holds Baby Laura close to her and tells Pa to hurry home.

“Susanna,” Pa says to me after he settles in the buckboard, “you, Matt, and Posey take the sheep to the east pasture. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

I nod at Pa’s request and watch as he turns Nellie and the buckboard down the dirt path and out the gate. I feel jittery as I watch him go. Ma pulls Matt and me close. “Everything will be all right,” she assures us. “Now, don’t you two have some work to do?”

Matt and I leave Ma and the baby with Blue. Then we grab Posey and head down to the pen where the sheep are anxious to pasture. Before I open the pen, I look at Posey who waits for my command. Pa and I taught her hand signals and commands for herding the sheep. I open the pen and throw out my hand. The sheep head out with Posey in control. Posey runs left and right to keep the sheep together and going in the right direction.

Suddenly, Posey tilts her head to one side and widens her eyes. I watch her, seeing where she is looking. Her attention is drawn to a large bush not far from the flock. “Go, Posey,” I whisper and watch her creep forward and flush out a fox that has come too close. I smile as Posey, knowing she’s done her job, trots back triumphantly.

• Susanna and Matt are best friends.

• Posey is an excellent sheep herder.

• Blue was better at herding sheep than Posey.

• Pa hitched Nellie, the plow horse, to the buckboard.