MCAS Practice I

Read the questions from paragraph 1 of the article in the box. Does the sight of a mouse cause you to break into a sweat? Does the thought of the dentist’s office send shivers up your spine?

What is the most likely reason the author included the questions?

• A. to explain what fear is

• B. to give examples of fears

• C. to show that fears can be good

• D. to explain why fear is important

What does paragraph 25 of the folktale mainly show about Miobe?

"At the base of the mountain, he looked up and felt a chill. The monster looked bigger and more fiery than any dragon, fiercer than a pack of wolves or a nest of snakes. He remembered the days when he had been afraid. He took a deep breath and began to climb."

• A. He is feeling very cold.

• B. He is standing up to his fear

• C. He thinks the monster is imaginary.

• D. He wishes an elder had come with him.

Reread the section “Fight or Flight” in the article. Which sentence from the folktale best supports the information from the section?

• A. “Miobe pondered these words and decided he must find a way to conquer fear.” (paragraph 4)

• B. “He did not want to insult the man, but he saw nothing there.” (paragraph 13)

• C. “He began to see the smoke and fire, the wrinkled skin, the fiery eyes.” (paragraph 17)

• D. “Miobe shivered and his heart fluttered, but he was determined.” (paragraph 23)

From whose point of view is the folktale most likely told?

• A. a villager’s

• B. a narrator’s

• C. the monster’s

• D. the grandfather’s

In the folktale, what does the monster at

the top of the mountain turn out to be?

• A. a toad

• B. a wolf

• C. a snake

• D. a dragon

Read the sentences from paragraph 8 of the folktale below.

"For a moment he thought, “I don’t know these people at all. They might be unkind to a stranger.”

In the sentences, what does the prefix un mean in the word unkind?

• A. not

• B. half

• C. over

• D. very

Reread paragraphs 1 and 2 of the article.

What gives you the creeps? Does the sight of a mouse cause you to break into a sweat? Does the thought of the dentist’s office send shivers up your spine?

Fears come in many varieties. At times, everyone feels afraid. In fact, about 6.3 million people in the United States have specific fears called phobias (FOE-bee-ahz). Scientists are still trying to figure out what causes phobias. One thing they do know: All fears cause a series of reactions inside your body.

Based on paragraph 2, what does the word varieties mean?

• A. types

• B. places

• C. animals

• D. numbers