Sometimes a Dream Needs a Push Selection Test

The reader can tell that this selection is realistic fiction because -

• it is based on the lives of real people and actual events

• it is written to teach readers a lesson about hardship

• it is about characters and events that could exist in real life

• it is written to tell readers about the life of an important person

Based on paragraphs 10-11 of the selection, the reader can infer that -

• Chris does not think his team plays basketball very well

• Chris wants to convince his mother to let him play basketball

• Chris values the opinion of his father about basketball

• Chris is not confident in his ability to play basketball

In paragraphs 12-17, Chris and Sarah have a conversation. Based on this conversation, which two inferences can the reader make about the characters?

• Chris is patient with people and their faults.

• Chris finds Nicky impressive and intimidating.

• Chris believes he has not been chosen for the team.

• Sarah wants Chris to understand that she is not nosy.

• The whole school knows that Chris wants to play basketball.

Read paragraph 22. Which sentence explains the conflict that Chris faces in this paragraph?

“I don’t know,” I said with a shrug. My heart sank. I went into my room and started on my homework, trying not to think of why Dad would call Mr. Evans.

• He believes that he is not good enough to play basketball.

• He thinks that his father will try to coach the basketball team.

• He fears that his father will not let him play on the basketball team.

• He worries about doing schoolwork while playing on the basketball team.

Label the events in the order in which they occur in the selection. The first event will be labeled 1, and the last event will be labeled 5.

___  The team votes to play in the league.

___  Chris’s father comes to the first practice and gives the players tips.

___  Chris’s father does not seem happy that his son wants to play wheelchair basketball.

___  The team loses the first game but has played well.

___  The team practices backboard shots.

• 5, 2, 1, 4, 3

• 5, 2, 3, 4, 1

• 1, 3, 5, 2, 4

• 1, 5, 3, 4, 2

How would the selection most likely change if it were told from the point of view of Chris's father?

• The reader would be more sympathetic about the problems that Chris faces.

• The reader might understand more about what is motivating Chris's father.

• The reader would know more about why basketball is important to Chris.

• The reader might learn more about how Chris's mother feels.

Read paragraph 30. Which sentence could be added to the end and maintain consistent verb tense?

The next day zoomed by. It was like the bells to change classes were ringing every two minutes. I hadn’t told any of the kids about my father coming to practice. I wasn’t even sure he was going to show up. He had made promises before and then gotten called away to work. This time he had said he was coming to practice, which was at two-thirty, in the middle of his day.

• I would have doubted that he would come.

• I had my doubts that he would come.

• I doubt that he will come.

• I have doubts that he will come.

Read the sentence from paragraph 50. Which phrase from paragraph 49 helps the reader understand the meaning of the word collision in the sentence?

But our baseline plays looked more like a collision derby.

• When you learn to move without running into each other

• have a big advantage

• trying to keep up with you

Read the sentence below.

The basketball team won and celebrates with a pizza party.

What change should be made to use consistent verb tense?

• Change won to will win.

• Change celebrates to will celebrate.

• Change celebrates to celebrated.

• No change should be made.

Read the sentence from paragraph 61.

We ran a few plays along the baseline, but it still seemed more like bumper cars than basketball with all the congestion.

Which definition most closely matches the way the word congestion is used in this sentence?

• Overfilling or overcrowding

• Stoppage

• Accumulation of bodily fluid

• Blockage