Selection: HiC-48

HiC-48

Grade level: 3

Word count: 1347 words

Author: Edmund Lester Pearson

Synopsis: There's only one hour left until summer vacation. For one student, however, it's the longest hour of the entire year.

Excerpt: But, somehow, the days had dragged slowly by. Even this final one was nearly gone. Then at the last moment, when our release was so near at hand, a dark shadow rose before us to block the way. It was the grim shadow of Mr. Colburn.

We ran eagerly through the hall and out the door with a yell of sheer joy. Mr. Colburn and his evil book lay behind us. Ahead were summer vacation and freedom.

Question: The change in mood from the first excerpt to the second can best be described as going from

1. unhappy to thrilled.
2. excited to sad.
3. brave to fearful.
4. important to helpless.

Selection: C-1

C-1

Grade level: 3

Word count: 1242 words

Author: Kate Carter

Synopsis: Musician Ray Charles wanted to be great, not famous, but he was both.

Excerpt: Ray's full name was Ray Charles Robinson. He was born on September 23, 1930, in Georgia, at the beginning of the Depression. It was a bad time for everyone. There were no jobs, and people had no way of making money. It was especially bad in the South, where Ray lived. There were still problems between white people and black people in the South. Slavery had ended in 1865, but a lot of white people still did not believe black people were equal. Some white people were unkind to black people and made life very difficult for them.

Question: Which statement best describes the time when Ray was born?

1. It was a time when there were few jobs and people had little money.
2. It was a time of many good jobs for anyone who wanted to work.
3. It was a time when black people and white people had the same opportunities.
4. It was a time when the United States when slavery was legal.

Selection: C-53

C-53

Grade level: 3

Word count: 1360 words

Author: Kate Carter

Synopsis: DJ Focus, also known as Kelvin Doe, is using his knowledge of science to help his community and the world.

Excerpt: Kelvin Doe is from a country in Africa. He was born there in 1996. Kelvin is special for many reasons. First, he is very smart. He has always been an excellent student, especially in science.

Kelvin Doe lives in Sierra Leone.

A man named David Sengeh was in charge of the contest. David had grown up in Sierra Leone. But at the time of the contest he was a college student in the United States. He was a top student at one of America's best science schools.

Question: Based on this selection, in which two of the following ways are Kelvin Doe and David Sengeh alike?

1. They are both from Sierra Leone.
2. They both study science.
3. They are both DJs.
4. They both started radio stations.
5. They both won a science contest.