Benchmark Practice

Which quotation from the passage shows Heidi’s perspective on the place where she has decided to sleep?

• Heidi thrust in her bundle of clothes, as far back behind her grandfather’s things as possible, . . .

• . . . near her grandfather’s bed she saw a short ladder against the wall; up she climbed and found herself in the hay-loft.

• . . . she called down to him, ‘it’s lovely, up here. Come up and see how lovely it is!’

• That is capital,’ said her grandfather; ‘now we must put on the sheet.’

Read the sentence from paragraph 14. “All right,” said the grandfather, and presently he went to the cupboard, and after rummaging about inside for a few minutes he drew out a long, coarse piece of stuff, which was all he had to do duty for a sheet. What is the meaning of rummaging as it is used in the sentence?

• organizing

• reaching

• searching

• wandering

Read the claim made by Marie Belew Wheatley in paragraph 3. Even if prior owners had trouble handling the dogs, trainers can work with most problem behaviors except biting. Which two quotations support Wheatley’s claim?

• At first, Shadow was anxious and insecure. De Cagny built up his confidence, little by little. (paragraph 4)

• In contrast, Moose was extremely hyper, rebellious, and mischievous. (paragraph 5)

• Many dogs love treats as a reward. Others work for praise, petting, or other attention. (paragraph 7)

• Acting dogs learn lots of behaviors to look like they belong in a story. (paragraph 9)

• What counts is how productions treat acting animals in real life. (paragraph 11)

Read the sentence from paragraph 3.

Streams, stream banks, and the low lands around them provide important habitat for animals and plants that share the urban/suburban landscape with us.

What does habitat mean as it is used in the sentence

• area

• environment

• shelter

• territory

Read the sentence from paragraph 5. Instead it hits impervious surfaces like hard pavement and rooftops and has no chance to infiltrate the soil. What is the meaning of impervious as it is used in the sentence?

• affected

• cracked

• exposed

• resistant

Read the sentence from paragraph 7.

If all this extra water is diverted directly into a stream channel, several important changes will occur.

What is the meaning of diverted as it is used in the sentence?

• pushed

• redirected

• brought together

• sped forward

Read the sentence from paragraph 1.

As he sat on the grass and looked across the river, a dark hole in the bank opposite, just above the water’s edge, caught his eye, and dreamily he fell to considering what a nice, snug dwelling ­place it would make for an animal with few wants and fond of a bijou riverside residence, above flood level and remote from noise and dust.

How does the author's use of the word "remote" impact the tone of this paragraph?

• It creates a tranquil and peaceful tone.

• It creates a tense and anxious tone.
• It creates a dull and lifeless tone.
• It creates a chaotic and noisy tone.

How does the photograph help the reader understand obscure as it is used in the caption?

• It shows that the lighthouse is blurred.

• It shows how difficult it is to see the lighthouse.

• It reveals the bad weather in the area.

• It shows how old the lighthouse is.

Read the sentence from paragraph 12.
The Grand Canyon is famous for its dramatic and striking changes in color, with vibrant reds, purples, and oranges that shift throughout the day as the sun moves across the sky.

Which two words mean the same as the word dramatic as it is used in this sentence?

• 
  

• subtle

• intense

• striking

• muted

• common

Read the sentence in paragraph 2.
 
For weeks, that particular nook of the library had been her study spot, her place to read, write, and research.
 
What meaning does the word particular add to the sentence?

• 
  

• Adeline's nook is the only nook in the library.

• There are other nooks in the library, but they are being used.

• There are other nooks in the library, but Adeline wants this one.

• Adeline had made a habit of changing her nook.