Selection: E-7

E-7

Grade level: 5

Word count: 1577 words

Author: Kate Carter

Synopsis: A skateboarder's life takes a tricky turn when she finds a stray puppy.

Excerpt: Nicki's mother was making lunch when they got home, and she could see the girls walking up the driveway.

"Girls, where are your bikes, and WHERE did you get that puppy?"

"Mom, we found it--her--at the bus stop, and she was all alone and crying, and, well, we thought we should bring her home because it's not safe there, and she has no tag, and--can I keep her?"

"Someone must love and miss her very much, so you have to try to find her owner. Maybe it's a little girl like you, and she is looking everywhere and is very sad because she can't find her dog," her mother said. "Carla, you can stay for lunch, and we will discuss this. After you eat, I think you should probably use the computer to look up what to do when you find a lost puppy."

Question: How does Nicki's mother react when the girls bring home the puppy?

1. surprised but supportive
2. shocked and angry
3. calm but annoyed
4. excited and curious

Selection: E-55

E-55

Grade level: 5

Word count: 1842 words

Author: Mike Ciecierski

Synopsis: When it's time to think about a career, follow your interests. Work is more pleasant if you get to do something you enjoy.

Excerpt: However, when she was not talking on the phone, Nick's mom always talked to him about school and careers. She wanted him to become a doctor. She said Nick had a talent for science, so a career in medicine was the right one for him. He had something else he wanted to do.

Although his mom wanted him to be a doctor, Nick thought the career he would really want was to make movies.

As he passed the coffee shop, he recognized his neighbor, a man who sat at the corner table and drew in a sketch book. Nick knew that the man was a successful artist. One time when Nick and his mom were in the coffee shop, the man talked to them about his work. He had said, "When I was young I had a real talent for art. But my father wanted me to be a bus driver, so that's what I did. After many unhappy years in that career, I decided that art was what I was supposed to do. So I corrected the mistake I made. Now I do the kind of work I love."

Question: Read these two excerpts from the selection. In what way are Nick and the man in the coffee shop alike?

1. They both wanted to pursue a career that was different from the one a parent suggested.
2. They were both interested in making movies.
3. They both followed a parent's advice and pursued careers they did not like.
4. They both had a parent who was a doctor.

Selection: HiE-1

HiE-1

Grade level: 5

Word count: 1716 words

Author: Kerry Mescallado

Synopsis: President Theodore Roosevelt was one of America's most prominent and energetic leaders. But to his children, he was just a big kid.

Excerpt: "Has the lordly Ted turned up yet? Is his loving sister able to reduce the size of his head, or does she need any assistance from her male parent? Your affectionate father, The Tyrant."

Question: In this excerpt, Roosevelt described his son, Ted, as "lordly" and asked his daughter, Ethel, if she needed any help "to reduce the size of his head." What do these lines say about Ted and Ethel?

1. Ted would act bossy, like a king, and Ethel would try to get him to stop.
2. Ted refused to try any new foods unless Ethel tried them first.
3. Ted was afraid to travel and Ethel had to comfort him.
4. Ted took care of the stray animals he found, but Ethel thought they were dangerous.

Selection: E-55

E-55

Grade level: 5

Word count: 1842 words

Author: Mike Ciecierski

Synopsis: When it's time to think about a career, follow your interests. Work is more pleasant if you get to do something you enjoy.

Excerpt: At last, the director yelled, "Cut! We're done!" Nick was relieved. The director looked at him and said, "Well, you held the bounce board perfectly. I wish you could work on all the ads I make."

Nick was speechless. He could not believe he just helped to make a TV ad. All he could do was smile at the director and nod his head.

"You know what, kid?" the director said, "You should think about a career making ads or movies. I'm someone who recognizes talent. You clearly have it."

Nick smiled as he walked home. He had a talent for making movies!

Question: Which character was most encouraging about Nick's career in movies?

1. the director
2. the woman in the car
3. Nick's mother
4. Nick's friend Andrew

Selection: HiE-70

HiE-70

Grade level: 5

Word count: 1521 words

Author: Judy Dodge Cummings

Synopsis: A contest between tribes is important in more than one way.

Excerpt: Flinging off his father's arm, Dyami ran from the longhouse straight to the playing field. Retrieving his stick from the weeds, he began to swing wildly. He raged at everyone: his mother for her illness, Goyogoin for denying a game to heal her, and Aystan for accepting this decision without question.

But mostly he raged at himself for disobeying the dream. Dyami struck the air again and again, finding strength in his sorrow and fury.

Question: These two excerpts can best be described as paragraphs that

1. list reasons why Dyami was angry.
2. explain the rules of Little Brother of War.
3. describe the setting of the selection.
4. compare the warriors on the two teams.