The Great Mantis Rescue

13. Part A. What is a the lesson of the passage?

• A. Flying insects make the best classroom pets.

• B. Sharing one's interests with others can be rewarding.

• C. It is important for students to listen to their teachers.

• D. One must follow many steps when catching insects.

14. Part B.

Which quotation from the passage best supports the answer in Part ?

• A. “He could barely believe it when Mrs. Beecher agreed to make the soon-to-be baby mantises  their class project.” (paragraph 2)  

• B. “‘We’re starting science class with journals today. Please copy the prompt from the board.’”  (paragraph 3) 

• C. “Donald grinned and called out, ‘Richie, get some paintbrushes! Jennifer, start laying out  white paper on the floor!’” (paragraph 16)

• D. “Just like that, Donald had a new nickname, and with it came new opportunities to make  friends.” (paragraph 32)

15. Part A

Which choice describes Donald at the beginning of the passage?

• A. He is angry that no one in his class likes insects.

• B. He is hopeful that he will be liked by his teacher.

• C. He is unsure how to make friends with other students.

• D. He is eager to be the center of attention.

Part B

16. Which quotation from paragraph 2 best supports the answer in Part A? 

• A. “Donald attempted to explain that the egg case of a praying mantis was not meant to be  exciting, that the exciting part was when the eggs hatched.”

• B. “Donald thought back to the day he found the egg case in his backyard and brought it into  school.” 

• C. “He could barely believe it when Mrs. Beecher agreed to make the soon-to-be baby mantises  their class project.” 

• D. “If the class pet were an insect, maybe Donald would finally have something to talk about  with the other kids.”

17. What does the phrase “lost cause” in paragraph 2 suggest about Donald? 

• A. Donald wishes that he could find the missing eggs. 

• B. Donald worries that there is little hope for the eggs to hatch.

• C. Donald thinks that the eggs may contain something other than mantises. 

• D. Donald wonders if it is his fault that nothing has happened to the eggs.

18. What does paragraph 8 show about Becky?

• A. Becky knows that some insects are loud.

• B. Becky catches insects in her backyard.

• C. Becky has read many books about insects.

• D. Becky is startled by seeing the insects. 

        19. How do paragraphs 9-10 help the reader understand the passage?

• A The paragraphs explain why Richie thinks the praying mantises are boring.

• B The  paragraphs explain why the praying mantises are all over the classroom.

• C The paragraphs explain why the praying mantises take so long to hatch.

• D The paragraphs explain why Donald brings the praying mantises to school.

20. What is the meaning of the phrase “take the lead” in paragraph 15?

• A do the work all alone 

• B find a new way to do something 

• C guide others in how to act 

• D walk in front of other people 

 21. Read the sentence from paragraph 19. 

Soon the classroom was buzzing like a nest of carpenter bees.

What does the author mean by this sentence?

• A The students are busy and working together. 

• B The students are building homes for the mantises. 

• C The students decide to study bees as well as mantises.

• D The students make insect sounds as they work

22. Which phrase from paragraphs 28-31 helps the reader understand the meaning of the  word astounding? 

• A “…reading their answers aloud.”

• B “…couldn’t believe the things he heard.” 

• C “‘…help bugs and not just step on them.’” 

• D “‘Donnie did a good job…’”