Name ______Date ______
Grade 4 Practice Passages A
Reading Passage 1 – Author’s Purpose, Main Idea, Supporting Detail
Do you remember when Mom, Dad, you, and I used to gather around the radio after dinner? That was the best. We would listen to all those great shows with our favorite superheroes. We'd sing along to the theme songs we used to know by heart--in fact, I still know most of them. Then there were the science-fiction shows, with all their marvelous sound effects and crazy situations. The comedy shows were always Dad's favorite. He would laugh enormously at every joke, and get the whole family laughing, too.
What is the author’s purpose? / What is the main idea? / What is the supporting detail?a. to tell you a good story
b. to convince you to listen to the radio
c. to share a memory / a. the whole family enjoyed listening to the radio together
b. the whole family sang along with the radio
c. Dad loved the comedy shows / a. they gathered around the radio before dinner
b. they gathered around the radio after dinner
c. they gathered around radio after the dishes were washed
Reading Passage 2 – Using Context Clues, Synonyms and Antonyms
Before the sun had even risen, I bundled up for a walk on a brisk winter morning. I put on my warm boots, heavy jacket, and fur hat. It was refreshing to get up early and be outside in the crisp mountain air. I always felt so happy and alive during those early morning walks where I could appreciate nature all by myself.
In the first sentence, the word brisk means _____. / Which word is an antonym for crisp? / In this passage, what does the word appreciate mean?a. hot
b. warm
c. cold
d. rainy / a. crunchy
b. cool
c. warm
d. rainy / a. be grateful for
b. walk
c. build
d. destroy
Reading Passage 3 – Summary, Text Organization, Text Purpose
Erin and her mother were busy making sugar cookies for a party. Erin's mother was focused on mixing ingredients, while Erin was carefully cutting out various shapes in the rolled-out dough. Once Erin's mother had finished mixing the second batch, she put the cookies in the oven, as Erin once again cut shapes into the cream-colored dough. They smiled at each other. There was nothing Erin loved more than cooking with her mother.
Choose the sentence that best summarizes what happens in the passage. / How is this text organized? / What is the purpose of this text?a. Erin and her mother bake cookies.
b. Cookies are great at parties.
c. Erin and her mother get ready for dinner.
d. Family activities are important. / a. problem and solution
b. steps in order
c. cause and effect
d. description / a. to make you hungry for cookies
b. to explain how to bake with your mom
c. to tell a story
d. to persuade
Reading Passage 4 – Theme, Main Idea, Author’s Purpose
Everyone knows the story of the fisherman who one day pulled a magic fish from the river. Not only was the fish huge, but it could also talk. It said in a small voice, "Fisherman, throw me back into the river, and I'll grant you three wishes."
"I don't need any wishes," the man said. "My life is great just the way it is." And he threw the fish back into the river.
The next day another fisherman came along. Again, the magic fish was caught. "Fisherman," said the huge fish in a small voice, "throw me back into the river and I'll grant you three wishes."
"Hmm, let's see," said the man. "How about some lunch, fresh bait for my hook, and a new pair of boots without holes in them?" The fish granted the man his wishes and leapt back into the river.
The next day yet another fisherman came along. News of the magic fish had spread throughout the village. All day he fished, and he caught lots of huge fish to feed his hungry family. But not a single one of them could talk.
After a while, he started getting hungry too. Finally, he decided not to wait any longer. He would just have to choose -- eat well tonight or go hungry wishing for things he didn't have? When he thought about it that way, he decided to go home to his family.
What is the main theme of this passage? / Choose the best title for this story. / What is the author’s purpose?a. A magic fish tries to find the river where it came from.
b. A kind fisherman helps a magic fish.
c. Three men get wishes.
d. A fisherman learns the value of what he already has. / a. A New Pair of Boots
b. The Three Fishermen
c. The Man Who Waited So Long
d. The Magic Fish, the Three Fishermen, and The One Who Went Home / a. to persuade you to go fishing
b. to give an opinion
c. to tell a story that has a message
d. to give you facts about fishing
Reading Passage 5 – Genre, Figurative Language, Inference
Princess Mysoon sighed as she stroked the fur of Pax, her unicorn. The animal was as white as snow, with a single horn reaching skyward from the space between his forgiving eyes. He sensed Mysoon's fear.
Lately a wicked troll had been kidnapping the beautiful unicorns from the forest, and Mysoon was sure that her unicorn was in danger. There must be some way to save him from the terrible fate that awaited him. Though she loved the animal dearly, she knew that if Pax stayed here with her, he might be hurt. So Mysoon decided to send Pax far away. The kind princess would miss him, but at least her much-loved pet would be safe.
What details show that this passage is a fantasy? / Which phrase is an example of figurative language? / What can you infer about Mysoon?a. The unicorn and troll are fantasy characters.
b. Mysoon and Pax are common names in fantasy stories.
c. It is unrealistic that Mysoon wants to send her pet away.
d. Princesses do not exist in real life. / a. single horn reaching skyward
b. beautiful unicorns from the forest
c. he sensed Mysoon’s fear
d. as white as snow
What kind of figurative language is this? / a. She will become a Queen.
b. She will go to see her pet again after the troll is gone.
c. She will capture the troll.
d. She admires trolls.
Name ______Date ______
Grade 4 Practice Passages B
Reading Passage 1 – Inference, Sequence
It was late one night when I was walking home from seeing my grandfather. It was almost nine, and I knew Mom was going to be mad. Even though it was summer, she didn't like me staying out past dark. And I was going to be in even more trouble because after practice, I was so hungry that I spent my allowance on a sandwich.
Just as I was reaching the corner of Maple Avenue, I heard a little squeak. It was a gray kitten tottering toward me. He must have been about five weeks old because he could walk and his eyes were open, but he was still pretty small.
I really wanted to take him home, but I could already hear Mom saying that we couldn't afford to keep another cat. We already had three, and Tiger was getting old. Last week we had to take him to the vet.
I didn't know what to do exactly, so I took my sandwich out of the bag and set it on the sidewalk. The kitten ran away when I unwrapped it, so I just left it there for him, hoping that he would come back and eat the meat.
All night long I couldn't sleep because I kept thinking about the kitten. I felt bad because I should have done more to help him. The next morning on the way to school I went past the corner where I'd seen him, but he wasn't there. I just hope someone is keeping him safe. Yesterday I found out about this neighborhood group that helps rescue wild cats. I think I'm going to ask Mom whether I can volunteer.
Why didn't the narrator take the kitten home? / What can you infer about Tiger? / What happened after the narrator took the sandwich out of the bag?a. He was worried about its health.
b. He didn’t know whether he could keep it.
c. He felt sorry for his mom.
d. He wasn’t sure he liked it. / a. The kitten came up to get a bite.
b. He thought about what his mom would say.
c. He asked his mom if he could volunteer to help wild cats.
d. He put the sandwich on the sidewalk.
Reading Passage 2 – Main Idea, Text Organization, Sequence
Last summer, Alphonse worked at a bakery. He had to get up early in the morning, before sunrise, and walk to the bakery when the streets were still empty. His job was to help bake rolls and pastries. After Alphonse and the baker put the large metal trays in the oven, the rich smell of rolls baking would fill the shop and make them hungry. Then they would eat their breakfast together. The baker was a kind man, and the pastries Alphonse learned to make were delicious!
What would be a good title for this passage? / How is this text organized? / What happened right after they put the trays of rolls in the oven?a. My Summer with Alphonse
b. Working at Night
c. Alphonse’s Job Last Summer
d. Making Rolls and Pastries / a. Cause and effect
b. Sequence
c. Problem and Solution
d. Description
Reading Passage 3 – Theme, Type of Writing, Antonyms
One day, a lion caught a mouse and was about to eat it. Just when the huge teeth were closing over the little mouse, the mouse squeaked, "Wait! If you allow me to live, I will one day do you a great favor."
The lion laughed at the thought that a weak little mouse could ever aid the king of beasts. But since the lion was not too hungry, and since the mouse's suggestion amused him, the lion smiled and let his dinner go.
Several days later, the lion was trapped in a great net laid down by hunters to trap him. The lion roared and struggled, but could not escape. Even his might could not break the bonds that held him.
The mouse heard the lion's cries and ran to help. He gnawed at the net's ropes until they parted and the lion was free. As the lion stepped away from the broken net, he thought to himself that even a small mouse could do a big favor.
What did the Lion learn in this story? / What type of writing is this? / What is an antonym for the word aid?a. He shouldn’t be so humble.
b. He was not the king of beasts.
c. He should be more careful of hunters.
d. He should have more respect for small creatures. / a. Informative
b. Persuasive
c. Narrative
d. Biography / a. Stop
b. Assist
c. Prove
d. Carry
Reading Passage 4 – Supporting Details, Main Idea, Context Clues
Dear Mom,
I'm writing you from the fabulous city of Santiago. It's amazing to see the Andes Mountains covered in snow in June.
I am so happy to be staying with the Alero family. Their house is on the outskirts of town, and it has a large yard where we can play outside on the days it isn't raining.
Outside my window I can see a beautiful persimmon tree. The persimmons look like orange balls hung all over the tree. I tried to eat a persimmon for dessert one night, but it made my tongue go numb! I don't think I'll try it again, but it was fun to taste something that I'd only read about in books. It's not too cold here yet, but we've had a lot of rain.
I can't wait to see you again when I get home. I hope your summer is warm and sunny!
With love from Chile,
Renata
Which phrase best matches Renata's description of Santiago? / What is Renata’s letter mainly about? / What is a synonym for outskirts as used in this passage?a. Warm and sunny
b. Rainy and snowy
c. Bright and wintry
d. Rainy and not too cold / a. She is lonely and wants to come home.
b. She is telling her mom about her visit in Santiago.
c. She wants her mom to come visit the Alero family.
d. She is giving an opinion about Santiago. / a. Outer edge
b. Center
c. Mountains
d. Playground
Name ______Date ______