Reading Bank 1

Read these lines from Passage 1. “He brought me his report card from the teacher and he said He wasn’t very proud of it and sadly bowed his head.” (lines 1–2) Which inference is supported by these lines?

• The boy feels ashamed of his grades.

• The boy knows the speaker will be angry.

• The boy believes he could have done better.

• The boy is disappointed by his grade in reading.

What are two purposes of the second stanza (lines 7–12) in Passage 1?

• It explains what will happen in the future.

• It explains what matters most to the speaker.

• It explains what the speaker has done in the past.

• It explains how the child feels about the speaker’s words.

• It explains why the speaker is still pleased with the child.

Read these lines from Passage 1. “But one little bit of credit which was given brought me joy—He was ‘excellent in effort,’ and I fairly hugged the boy.” (lines 5–6) What is the word credit referring to in these lines?

• an apologetic remark from the boy

• a positive comment from the teacher

• a small compliment from the speaker

• an unexpected reward from the school

This question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B. Part A In Passage 1, what is the speaker’s point of view on the disappointing report card results?

• They are a stage all people go through.

• They can be a valuable lesson for the future.

• They are a warning to work harder next time.

• They can be a forgettable childhood occurrence.

Which lines from the poem support your answer in Part A?

• “He brought me his report card from the teacher and he said He wasn’t very proud of it and sadly bowed his head.” (lines 1–2)

• “Oh, it doesn’t make much difference what is written on your card,’ I told that little fellow, ‘if you’re only trying hard.’” (lines 7–8)

• “The ‘very goods’ and ‘excellents’ are fine, I must agree, But the effort you are making means a whole lot more to me;” (lines 9–10)

• “And at last, when you grow older, you will come to understand That by hard and patient toiling men have risen to command.” (lines 15–16)

What is a theme of Passage 2?

• Being smart is better than being good at sports.

• A cool nickname can help give you confidence.

• Patience and hard work will eventually pay off.

• Working together is more important than winning.

What is the main difference between the June and September sections of Passage 2?

• In June, Eugene is immature and Suede is rude toward him; in September, Eugene is more mature, and Suede is less rude.

• In June, Eugene is annoying and Suede ignores him; in September, Eugene is more pleasant and Suede pays more attention to him.

• In June, Eugene is insecure and Suede barely notices him; in September, Eugene is more confident and Suede encourages him.

• In June, Eugene is frightened of the older boys and Suede is impatient with him; in September, Eugene is cocky and Suede is kind to him.

Read the dictionary entry for the word spurt. Select the one definition that matches the way spurt is used in paragraph 7 of Passage 2.

• noun a sudden burst of activity or development

• noun a sudden gush

• verb to gush forth

• verb to squirt

• noun a short period of time

Based on the definition of heliotropic in paragraph 5 of Passage 2, what is the meaning of helio-?

• sun

• summer

• science

• realistic

What is a difference in the way the speaker or narrator of each passage describes events?

• The speaker of Passage 1 is excited; the narrator of Passage 2 is angry.

• The speaker of Passage 1 is dishonest; the narrator of Passage 2 is honest.

• The speaker of Passage 1 is humorous; the narrator of Passage 2 is serious.

• The speaker of Passage 1 is reassuring; the narrator of Passage 2 is anxious.