Writing Benchmark Review

Read the paragraph.

James worked hard to get ready for his birthday party. He sent out invitations, ordered a cake, and decorated the house. The guests arrived at the party. ________, the music started, and everyone began dancing and having fun.

Which word best fills the blank?

• After

• But

• Then

• Because

A student is writing a report about how plants grow. Which research question would help the student the most?

• What animals live in forests?

• What do plants need to grow?

• How do plants help people?

• Where do most trees grow?

Which choice punctuates the sentence correctly?

• "The field trip will be on Fri, March 12," the teacher said.

• "I will finish my homework at 6:00 pm." Sarah said.

• "We’re going to the museum on Tuesday," said Jack.

• "The concert starts at 8:00 PM" the announcer said.

A student is writing a research paper about the solar system and has taken notes on the research.

Choose the note that best fits in the subheading of the paper called “The Planets in Our Solar System.”

• The Sun is a giant ball of hot gas that provides light and heat to the solar system.

• The Moon orbits around Earth and is our planet's natural satellite.

• Mars is known as the "Red Planet" because of its reddish appearance.

• The asteroid belt is located between Mars and Jupiter and is made of rocks and dust.

A student is writing a research report on how inventions are made. Which research question would provide the most useful information?

• What is the history of the first lightbulb?

• How do inventors come up with new ideas?

• What tools do inventors use to create their inventions?

• Where are most inventions made?

What letter(s) do you think will be abducted (taken) by the ALIEN APOSTROPHE?

What letters do you think will be abducted this time?

Which TWO sentences are written correctly?

• The “chef said, Let’s cook something special tonight.”

• “Can I have a cookie?” asked Lily.

• John asked, “Are we going to the park today?”

• The teacher “said, We are going to learn about fractions today.”

A student is writing an opinion piece about their favorite holiday. Read a paragraph from the piece.

On Christmas, people enjoy giving and receiving gifts, decorating their homes with lights, and spending time with family. Many people also enjoy singing Christmas carols and baking cookies. It is a time for joy and celebration.

Which sentence best begins the paragraph?

• Christmas is the best holiday because it brings people together and spreads joy.

• Christmas decorations are often colorful, with lights and ornaments everywhere.

• Christmas is a time to relax and enjoy the winter weather.

• Christmas is celebrated by people all around the world.

Read the paragraph.

(1) I decided to plant a vegetable garden in my backyard. (2) First, I picked a sunny spot where the plants would grow well. (3) After that, I watered the garden every day to help the plants grow. (4) Then, I carefully dug holes for the seeds and planted them. (5) Finally, I harvested the vegetables and made a delicious salad for dinner!

Which switch better organizes the paragraph?

• move sentence 1 after sentence 2

• move sentence 3 after sentence 4

• move sentence 5 before sentence 1

• move sentence 2 after sentence 3