Selection: HiC-23

HiC-23

Grade level: 3

Word count: 1364 words

Author: Diane Lang

Synopsis: What happens when a young teen boy joins an all-girl roller derby team?

Excerpt: After school on Friday, Jake asked his mom if she could drive him to tryouts on Saturday morning. Jake's mom gave him a puzzled look. "For what, honey?" she asked.

"I'm trying out for a position on the Roller Derby. I want to surprise Dad."

"He'll be surprised, alright," she sighed.

Question: In this excerpt, Jake's mom says his dad will "be surprised, alright." What does she mean?

1. He's not going to like what Jake tells him.
2. He's going to be nervous and lonely.
3. He's not going to let Jake see his fear.
4. He's going to be confused and sad.

Selection: C-52

C-52

Grade level: 3

Word count: 1231 words

Author: Adapted from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor

Synopsis: Is a job as a carpenter, electrician, or car mechanic the right career for you?

Excerpt: No excerpt is available for this question.

Question: The tone of this selection is best described as

1. plain and factual.
2. false and cruel.
3. sad and confusing.
4. boastful and incorrect.

Selection: F-51

F-51

Grade level: 6

Word count: 1334 words

Author: Barbara D. Krasner

Synopsis: Immigrants to the United States had to pass physical examinations, and a chalk mark on the shoulder indicated their result.

Excerpt: This is a fictional story, but it is based on facts about immigrants' experiences at Ellis Island, the port of entry for those arriving by ship in New York.

With as many of their belongings as they could stuff into satchels and suitcases, the Palmieri family took a seven-hour train ride to the port city of Palermo. There, they boarded the ship, called the "Sicilian Prince," that would take them to America.

Question: The genre of this selection could be described as

1. historical fiction.
2. contemporary fiction.
3. science fiction.
4. classical fiction.

Selection: C-24

C-24

Grade level: 3

Word count: 1323 words

Author: Michael H. Levitt

Synopsis: Was the stranger telling the truth? Did he even EXIST?

Excerpt: The darkness seemed to close around me like a big, black glove. I thought, "I'm sure glad I'm not outside this evening. I had better make sure the light is working, because this would be the worst time for it to fail."

Question: What does the boy mean when he says, "The darkness seemed to close around me like a big, black glove"?

1. It was so dark that the boy could not see anything.
2. The boy thought he could touch the darkness with his hand.
3. The darkness warmed the boy's hands.
4. The darkness made the boy feel safe and happy.