Selection: HiE-38

HiE-38

Grade level: 5

Word count: 1581 words

Author: Courtney Triola

Synopsis: There are many sphinxes in the world. You might even know a few.

Excerpt: Although most scientists believe King Khafre was responsible for building the Great Sphinx, there are those who argue against this view. Some believe the Great Sphinx was built by Khufu, King Khafre's father. Khufu had built the first Great Pyramid. Others believe the Great Sphinx is older than both Khafre and Khufu. Researchers who worked at the Giza site in the 1850s unearthed an ancient text. This ancient text told how Khufu found the Great Sphinx buried in the sand.

Question: This excerpt explains that some scientists think the Great Sphinx at Giza is older than both Kings Khufu and Khafre. Choose the sentence that gives evidence to support this.

Selection: HiE-31

HiE-31

Grade level: 5

Word count: 1689 words

Author: Ulysses S. Grant

Synopsis: Ulysses S. Grant published his memoirs in 1885, giving Americans a look at the private life of a public figure.

Excerpt: Every time I made a demand to start, my new horse would commence to kick. I was in quite a dilemma for a time. Once in Maysville I could borrow a horse from an uncle who lived there, but I was more than a day's travel from that point. Finally I took out my bandanna. I used it to blindfold my horse. In this way I achieved progress and reached Maysville safely the next day. Here I borrowed a horse from my uncle, and the following day we proceeded on our journey.

Question: This excerpt from the selection best shows Grant's ability to

1. solve a problem.
2. tell a joke.
3. settle a fight.
4. estimate an amount.

Selection: E-43

E-43

Grade level: 5

Word count: 1419 words

Author: Erica Cirino

Synopsis: Swamps, mangroves, and alligators are all part of the Florida Everglades. In some ways this wetland environment has changed over time, but in other ways it has not.

Excerpt: One kind of tree you would see in Ten Thousand Islands is the mangrove. The mangrove tree has long roots that look like skinny legs. The roots stick up high above the land. If the land is covered with water, a little section of the root can stick out of the water.

These long roots help the tree to live in a place where there is a blend of ocean water and fresh water. The roots take in ocean water and fresh water from the swamp. Then, they get rid of much of the salt in the ocean water. The roots get rid of the salt so it does not hurt other sections of the tree.

Mangrove trees grow near one another and the roots from different mangrove trees twist together. The roots twist together so much that they form a thick wall. The wall of twisted roots is so thick that you would have a hard time walking through a mangrove forest.

Question: Three of these statements about mangrove trees are correct. Which one is NOT correct?

1. Mangrove tree roots never touch one another.
2. Mangrove trees have roots that are long and thin.
3. Mangrove tree roots stick up above the land.
4. Mangrove tree roots take in fresh and ocean water.