Reading Literature: Test Practice

1. Mrs. Watson kept reminding Byron to do his homework.

“I know, I know!” was Byron’s constant reply.

The next day Mrs. Watson got a note from Byron’s teacher, explaining that Byron missed all of

his homework assignments for the quarter. Byron was then grounded, so he couldn’t go to a

party with his best friend, Buphead.

Which is the BEST theme?

• A. Friendship

• B. A young boy forgets to do his homework.

• Some parents are too strict.

• It is important to live up to your responsibilities.

2. Nature's first green is gold,

Her hardest hue to hold.

Her early leaf's a flower;

But only so an hour.

What is the main idea of this poem?

• Green is associated with nature.

• Flowers are beautiful in the spring.

• A garden is filled with flowers and plants.

• Enjoy the beauty of nature while it lasts.

3. Brian was born right before The Great Depression. He managed to escape an orphanage,

and was on a mission to find his father. He met a number of interesting people during his

adventure, and finally located his father. Although it took him a while, his father was eventually

very grateful to have his son in his life again.

Which is the best theme?

• A boy finds his father.

• A boy is born before the Great Depression and lived in an orphanage.

• The importance of family.

• The importance of working hard and staying in school.

4. Phil did not make the basketball team. Although upset, he didn’t give up. He shot hoops every day after school. On the weekends, he joined neighborhood games. His father practiced with him and gave him tips.

The next year, he made the team!

What is the theme?

• Basketball is fun.

• Work hard to reach goals in life.

• Everyone should make the team.

• Be careful what you wish for.

5. Because the past is the past for a reason.

It's been, and now it is gone,

So stop trying to think of ways to fix it.

It's done, it's unchangeable; move on.

What is the central idea of the poem?

• Put the past behind you.

• Find ways to fix the past.

• A person is worried about the future.

• The future is always filled with happiness.

6. (1) Therefore, it is important to brush your teeth three times a day. (2) Another benefit of brushing your teeth is to prevent cavities. (3) Cavities can be very painful and must be treated by a dentist. (4) Brushing your teeth helps keep your breath fresh.

These sentences are out of order. What is the correct order?

• 4, 2, 3, 1

• 1, 3, 4, 2

• 4, 1, 2, 3

• 2, 3, 1, 4

7. Caroline and Deborah are best friends. Caroline has a tendency to boss Deborah around.

She usually chooses which table to sit at during lunch. Deborah often shares her lunch with

Caroline. When she goes back for more food, she always asks everyone at her table if they

need anything. Caroline wouldn’t do that.

Which word BEST describes Deborah?

• Bossy

• Kind

• Lonely

• Funny

8. Charlie likes to play basketball occasionally. Juan completes his homework most of the time. Doug knows how to build bird houses and juggle four balls at once. Kent never forgets to hold the door for his classmates.

Which boy can be considered “accomplished”?

• Charlie

• Juan

• Doug

• Kent

9. While in gym class, Angela stole the ball and ran away. Benjamin sat on the bench and refused to play. Jessica scored three out of the four goals, but didn’t brag about it. Joe wanted to play the whole game because he loves soccer so much.

Which child showed good sportsmanship?

• Angela

• Benjamin

• Jessica

• Joe

10. “When will you learn to be nice to your sister?” asked Mrs. Jones.

“When will she start being nice to me?” asked David.

“She is always nice to you. She even made your bed today.”

“So what. I didn’t want her to make it anyway,” said David.

“I don’t know what I am going to do with you,” responded Mrs. Jones with a sigh.

Which of the following best describes how Mrs. Jones is feeling?

• Extremely angry

• Very frustrated

• Quite cheerful

• Very Sarcastic