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-49

C-49

Grade level: 3

Word count: 1222 words

Author: R. Bender

Synopsis: Six blind men have very different ideas about what an elephant is like.

Excerpt: For many hours after the elephant left, the six blind men sat by the side of the road. They argued loudly about the elephant. Each blind man believed that he knew best what the animal was like. Each blind man called the others harsh names because they could not agree if the elephant was like a wall, a spear, a snake, a tree, a fan, or a rope.

Question: Which is true about the six blind men?

1. They ignored the opinions of other people.
2. They never left their house because they were afraid.
3. They refused any help from the wise man.
4. They did not speak to any of their neighbors.

Selection: C-51

C-51

Grade level: 3

Word count: 1436 words

Author: Jay Shabat

Synopsis: What is a great job for someone who loves to travel and experience new things? Teaching Chinese college students!

Excerpt: Being a teacher in China is different from teaching in the United States. For example, Chinese students usually do not talk to teachers when they are in the classroom. A teacher stands in front of the class and teaches a lesson. The students sit silently. They listen and take notes.

China is one of the most polluted countries in the world. In the city where I teach, pollution makes the skies gray and foggy. Many people have a hard time breathing with all the pollution in the air.

Question: Based on what you read in this selection, which two of the following statements are correct?

1. The classrooms in China are quieter than the classrooms in America.
2. Air pollution causes health problems for many people in China.
3. It is easy to find an empty seat on a bus in China.
4. American fast food restaurants are the only places to buy a meal in China.
5. People in China are healthier than people from other places due to clean, fresh air.

Selection: C-15

C-15

Grade level: 3

Word count: 1381 words

Author: Diane Lang and Mike Buchanan

Synopsis: Charley wants to hatch some chicks, but what she gets is a real surprise from her dad.

Excerpt: "There might be," her dad answered. "We can build one, too, if you're really interested. We would need to get a box, a light bulb, a thermometer, and some straw. And then we would need to get some eggs."

Question: To build a successful incubator, you need a

1. box, a light bulb, and a thermometer.
2. plant bulb, a box, and a light meter.
3. box, a book, and a chicken.
4. thermometer, an egg, and a refrigerator.

Selection: C-3

C-3

Grade level: 3

Word count: 1141 words

Author: Kate Carter

Synopsis: Have you had your rice today? For millions of people around the globe, the answer is yes.

Excerpt: In China, the word for rice means food. When Chinese people meet friends, they do not say, "How are you?" They say, "Have you had your rice today?" If you are not Chinese, that question might get you some strange looks.

Question: Why do people in China ask, "Have you had your rice today?"

1. They want to make sure their friends are well fed and healthy.
2. They think that people should not eat rice every day.
3. They want to be invited to a dinner where rice is part of the meal.
4. They always prepare extra rice for all of their friends and neighbors.

Selection: C-7

C-7

Grade level: 3

Word count: 1130 words

Author: Kate Carter

Synopsis: When scientists explore the deep sea by submarine, they bump into some creepy characters.

Excerpt: A deep-sea vent is like a geyser, but it is on the ocean floor. It may be a mile or several miles below the surface. A deep-sea vent also blows hot water--hotter than boiling. But it blows the water into the cold ocean. That means the water around a deep-sea vent is much warmer than the rest of the ocean.

The temperature of the deep sea is much too cold for animals.

Question: What would most likely happen if all the deep-sea vents suddenly disappeared?

1. The temperature of deep ocean water would become colder.
2. More sunlight would reach the deepest part of the ocean.
3. Sea creatures would have an easier time finding food.
4. More sea creatures would start living in the deepest part of the ocean.

Selection: C-58

C-58

Grade level: 3

Word count: 1452 words

Author: Roberta Bard

Synopsis: After visiting with his friend Peter, Johann makes a discovery that puts soldiers at risk.

Excerpt: It was still October but the chilly wind cut through his heavy sweater. All the farmers said the winter of 1777 would be a bad one.

The English colonists left their cows out all winter as they had done in England. But not Johann's family, or the other Pennsylvania Dutch colonists. They came from the Rhineland in Germany where winters were bitter. They believed in the old German saying, "A good cow one expects to find in the barn."

It was hard for Johann to explain ideas in English. He searched for the right words. What does the king know about living in Pennsylvania? It is better to be free to make our own laws."

Question: Which two of the following statements are correct based on what you read?

1. This setting of this selection is a fall day in Pennsylvania.
2. English colonists' cows were not as healthy as the cows of the Pennsylvania Dutch colonists.
3. The Patriots supported the king and wanted him to rule the colonies.
4. The boys in this selection both speak German.
5. The cow did not provide any help to Johann.

Selection: C-26

C-26

Grade level: 3

Word count: 1320 words

Author: Jaleena Sabrit

Synopsis: You might think the world's largest animal would have nothing to fear. But you'd be wrong.

Excerpt: There are two kinds of whales. One kind has teeth. The other kind of whale does not have teeth. This kind has something called "baleen."

Question: According to this selection, whales can be divided into two groups. What are these groups?

1. Whales with teeth and whales with baleen.
2. Whales with blowholes and whales without blowholes.
3. Whales that are mammals and whales that are fish.
4. Whales that breathe air and whales that do not breathe air.

Selection: C-12

C-12

Grade level: 3

Word count: 1346 words

Author: Anonymous

Synopsis: A farmer and his wife get a surprising gift from two unusual travelers.

Excerpt: Soon Baucis came out to tell them their dinner was ready. "It is not very much of a dinner," she said. "There is some bread and cheese, and a pitcher with some milk, and some small purple grapes.

Question: Which two of the following items are offered to the strangers for dinner?

1. cheese
2. grapes
3. apples
4. ham
5. potatoes

Selection: C-36

C-36

Grade level: 3

Word count: 1195 words

Author: Mark Twain

Synopsis: What's the best way to get a boy to do something? Tell him he can't do it.

Excerpt: "Really? Is that so?" Ben asked. "Oh, come now. Let me just try, only just a little. I'd let you, if you was me, Tom."

"Ben, I'd like to. Really, I would. But Aunt Polly likes it done just so. Jim wanted to do it, but she wouldn't let him. Sid wanted to do it, but she wouldn't let Sid. Now, don't you see my problem? If you were to tackle this fence and anything was to happen to it?"

"Oh, come on! I'll be just as careful," Ben said eagerly. "Now let me try. Say, I'll give you a piece of my apple."

"No, Ben."

Ben said, "Okay. I'll give you all of it!"

Question: Which of the following was the most unusual thing that happened in this selection?

1. Tom was able to get other boys to do his work and to pay him to do so.
2. Tom had an aunt who needed help whitewashing a fence.
3. Tom had many friends who lived in his neighborhood.
4. Tom hoped his friends would not make fun.

Selection: C-44

C-44

Grade level: 3

Word count: 1130 words

Author: Erica Cirino

Synopsis: A day at the zoo requires detective work when car keys disappear.

Excerpt: The next exhibit they searched was the safari exhibit. This was Marco's favorite place in the whole zoo. They hopped on the safari train again. Marco and his dad were so happy that they nearly forgot about the lost keys.

Question: In the selection, Marco rides on the safari train two times. When he rides on the train, what kind of expression would you probably see on his face?

1. a smile
2. a frown
3. anger
4. surprise

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: "Well," he said, "the old lighthouse had been here for many years. It was not as big as this one. It did not have electrical equipment. The light was from a fire that the lighthouse keeper had to tend. The light wasn't as strong as it is today, so boats at a great distance couldn't see it. But the signal never failed to warn boats away from the rocks."

Question: The old sailor said that the old lighthouse differed from the new lighthouse in which two of the following ways?

1. The old lighthouse was smaller.
2. The old lighthouse needed a fire to create light.
3. The old lighthouse was taller.
4. The old lighthouse was damaged by a boat that crashed into it.
5. The old lighthouse had a more powerful light that could be seen from great distances.