Selection: HiE-7

HiE-7

Grade level: 5

Word count: 1571 words

Author: W. W. Jacobs

Synopsis: A man gets a mysterious object that can make wishes come true. Will it bring him everything he ever hoped for?

Excerpt: Mr. White examined his new possession closely, asking, "How does it work?"

"Hold it in your right hand and wish aloud," said Sergeant-Major Morris, "but I warn you of the consequences."

Mr. White dropped the talisman back in his pocket, where it stayed throughout the duration of the visit and was thus forgotten.

Question: Reread this excerpt. What does the word "talisman" mean?

1. an object thought to have magic powers
2. a person who warns others of danger
3. a pocket sewn into the front of a coat or jacket
4. an idea that leads to an experiment

Selection: HiE-47

HiE-47

Grade level: 5

Word count: 1617 words

Author: Diane Lang

Synopsis: He had a smile for everyone, even for those people who didn't smile back.

Excerpt: As their group began to follow the hostess, one of the young men waiting in front of them stepped in front of the group and said, "Hey, we were here before they were. We should be seated first."

"We called ahead but our table was not ready," Alicia explained.

"Yes, and today is my birthday!" Uncle Scott said.

"There's something wrong with him," the young man said as he stared at Uncle Scott. "He tried to hit on my girlfriend."

Uncle Scott smiled and said, "No, I was just saying hello."

Just then a group of people from Uncle Scott's work walked in carrying balloons and party hats. "Surprise!" they yelled. "Happy birthday, Scott!"

The young man tilted his head from side to side, stretching one neck muscle and then another. "Guys like him should not be allowed out in public."

Question: How does the author use conversation in this part of the selection?

1. to build a feeling of tension
2. to create a mood of sadness
3. to give an example of fear
4. to show a sense of loneliness

Selection: HiE-17

HiE-17

Grade level: 5

Word count: 1708 words

Author: Paul Lloyd

Synopsis: Once the Collyer brothers started collecting things, they never stopped.

Excerpt: Stamps. Coins. Postcards. Dolls. You name it, and somebody somewhere probably collects it. Collecting everyday things is a very popular hobby all over the world. One reason it is so popular is that a person can choose to collect almost anything. Also, the cost can be as low or as high as you like, and it is a hobby that can be carried on right in the comfort of your own home. You can work on a collection no matter what time of day or night it is and no matter what the weather.

Question: Why does the author begin the selection this way?

1. to show how collecting things is very common
2. to explain how rare items become valuable
3. to argue that collecting things is a waste of time
4. to tell how all people like the same things

Selection: HiE-26

HiE-26

Grade level: 5

Word count: 1552 words

Author: Karen Berman

Synopsis: Basketball today is very different from the game of old. When the NBA started, African Americans weren't even allowed to play. Find out how things changed.

Excerpt: Getting into the NBA was a great achievement. But the three young players still faced many obstacles. Some hotels in the southern United States would allow only white people to stay in their rooms. So when Cooper, Clifton, and Lloyd traveled to games with their teams, sometimes they could not stay with their teammates and had to find other hotels. Not all the other players and fans were supportive, either. In fact, they were sometimes openly disrespectful. Many years later, Lloyd remembered those early days. "Fans called me everything. They told me to go back to Africa, where I've never been! But you can't jump over the stands and get at the fans. The only way you can get at them is to play," he said.

Question: What is the author's opinion of the first African American professional basketball players?

1. They were hardworking and determined.
2. They were easily disappointed.
3. They were angry and stubborn.
4. They were talented but too sensitive.