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: 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: 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.