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3rd Grade Reading Proficient Test 9



Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
 

 1. 

Read the passage.
It was a gloomy day. My brother and I stared out the windows with frowns on our faces. Nothing would ever be the same.
The mood or feeling of this story is:
a.
sad
c.
scary
b.
funny
d.
ridiculous
 

 2. 

Read the passage.
I am always hungry, but I can do it now, I can get food and I know I can get food and it makes me more. I know what I can do.
From the above passage, you can tell this writing is:
Copyright Info: Paulsen, Gary. Hatchet. Puffin Books, 1989.
a.
an autobiography
c.
a personal narrative
b.
a novel
d.
prose
 

 3. 

Read the sentences.
a. Gorillas are plant-eating creatures.
b. Gorillas can be found in Africa.
c. All gorillas are ugly, scary and mean.
d. Scientists think gorillas could have been as tall as ten feet.
Which of the above sentences are non-fiction?
a.
b, c, d
c.
a, b, d
b.
a, b, c
d.
none of the above
 

 4. 

Read the story.
Long ago, in the ancient sea, there lived a small, yellow octopus. He was very smart and very sneaky. He liked to tease the other fish and animals in the sea, and he was always telling them how he could get anyone to do anything he asked. He was a very over-confident and cunning octopus. One day, a giant eagle was flying over the waters, and the octopus waved to him, asking him to stop and visit. He told the eagle that he wanted to be friends, and that he would
make the eagle very popular with all the other animals, if the eagle would do anything the octopus asked. The eagle did not have any friends, so he agreed. The following morning, the octopus bragged to all the other animals that he had a slave that would take him flying or to do anything else he wanted. He continued to tease the other animals and made them all feel very bad. That afternoon, the eagle came flying by, and the octopus asked him to carry him in the eagle’s claws and fly around the sea looking for food. The eagle did this, but it was very tiring and difficult. The eagle was in pain, but the octopus didn’t care. He was only concerned about himself. One evening, when the octopus was sleeping, the other animals met and talked to the eagle. They all became great friends, and the next day when the octopus demanded that the eagle fly him around again to look for food, the eagle picked up the octopus and dropped him back into the water with a huge splash. The other animals all cheered.
Why might the eagle have dropped the octopus into the sea?
a.
The other animals asked him to so the octopus would quit teasing them.
c.
The octopus wanted to be dropped.
b.
The octopus wanted new friends.
d.
The eagle lost his grip.
 

 5. 

Read the passage.
It was a rainy and cold morning, but the children all wanted to play outside. Their mother told them to wear jackets and hats, so they would not get sick or catch a cold. They all agreed, but as soon as they were out of their mother’s sight, they took off their jackets and hats, so they could play football without any bulky clothing on.
What do you think will happen?
a.
The children will go back home.
c.
The children will win the game of football.
b.
The children will get sick, because they were wet and cold.
d.
The children will want to play a different game.
 

 6. 

Read the passage.
During the meeting at the school, the PTO met with the teachers and principal to discuss how they could raise money to buy new playground equipment. The principal said it was going to cost $500.00, but the school budget only had $250.00 left to spend for the year. The PTO said they would be able to kick in half of the money necessary for the purchase.
What is the meaning of “kick in” in this passage?
a.
The PTO will give them a loan.
c.
The PTO will donate the money.
b.
The PTO will help them organize fund-raisers.
d.
The PTO does not have any funds.
 

 7. 

Read the story.
It was a beautiful, sunny day, and Sara wanted to go swimming. She got up early in the morning to ask her mother if it would be okay to take her friend, Jenny, with them to the local swimming pool. Her mother was busy getting breakfast ready, and she told Sara that would be fine, but she had to do all her chores and eat a good breakfast first. Sara was delighted, and she hurried to make her bed, clean up her room and straighten her clothes in the closet. Once she was finished, she heard her mother calling her for breakfast. It was a wonderful breakfast, but she barely tasted it, because she was so excited to go swimming. She immediately called Jenny to invite her, and they had a wonderful time at the pool that day.
What kind of passage is this?
a.
folk tale
c.
realistic fiction
b.
historical fiction
d.
fable
 

 8. 

Read the definition and short passage.
Onomatopoeia—is defined as a formation of words by imitating sounds (Ex. Buzz). The old copper tea kettle perched on the stove like a bird on a branch. Steam whistled from the top. Grandma came bustling in the room to make tea for us.
Which of the above word(s) represents onomatopoeia?
a.
perched on the stove like a bird on a branch
c.
old copper tea kettle
b.
bustling
d.
whistled
 

 9. 

Read the passage.
Friday was going to be a big day! It was the championship game of the season in soccer, and Joe was the team captain. He wanted to lead his team to their first district championship in the history of their school. They only had enough players to use 3 substitutes, so they always had to be in excellent shape in order to play almost the entire games and run at their fastest speeds the whole time. Alex was one of their fastest players, and Joe knew that without Alex, it was be
difficult to win on Friday. The school held a huge pep rally to encourage the team and cheer them on that morning. The cheerleaders were planning a special presentation during half time, and it seemed that the entire community was going to be at the game to witness the historic victory. The game was supposed to start at 5:00 that evening, so Joe asked all the players to meet in the locker rooms at 3:30 to suit up and have a quick warm up before the game. Excitement and tension were in the in air, and Joe was feeling both confident and nervous. He didn’t want to let everyone down. As he walked up to the locker rooms to get ready for all the other players to arrive, he saw the coach standing at the door. He looked very upset and told Joe that three of the players had come down with the flu, and they would be unable to play in the game today. They didn’t have to forfeit the game as long as the rest of the players were still willing to play, but this would mean they would have to stay in the whole time and have no substitutes.
What would be the best solution?
A. They should play the game and do their best.
B. They should just forfeit the game.
C. Joe should ask the coach to make the sick players play, even if they are really ill.
D. Joe should quit the soccer team.

a.
They should play the game and do their best.
c.
Joe should ask the coach to make the sick players play, even if they are really ill.
b.
They should just forfeit the game.
d.
Joe should quit the soccer team.
 

 10. 

Read the passage.
Alice and Frank were very hard workers, and they had lived on the same property for many years. They had four children, Beth, Frances, Peter and Paul. Every morning, the entire family would wake up with the sunrise and the roosters. Alice would start breakfast, Frank and the boys would clean the stalls and feed the livestock and Beth and Frances milked the cows. After all the chores were finished, they would all come back to the house for a nice, warm breakfast,
compliments of Alice.
What is the setting of this passage?
a.
a city
c.
a farm
b.
a park
d.
a small neighborhood
 

 11. 

Read the passage.
There was a big test in science that morning, and Peyton forgot to study. The class had known about the upcoming exam for weeks, but Peyton wanted to spend his time watching television and playing touch football with his cousins after school. He was planning to study the night before, but he completely forgot, because he got so wrapped up in an educational movie on television. That morning, as he entered the classroom, he felt sick. What was he going to do?
He looked across the room at his friend, Shelly. She had a delightful smile on her face and looked completed confident. Peyton knew she had been studying for this test for weeks, and she was going to do very well.
What is the main theme of this passage?
a.
Playing football is a good past time.
c.
Watching television is a waist of time.
b.
Preparation is the key to confidence.
d.
Everyone can be forgetful at times.
 

 12. 

Read the passage.
Doug was five years old and just learning to ride his bike. He was off to a great start, but then he lost his balance and crashed onto the grass. He was not hurt, but he started to cry, because it scared him. His father ran to his side and checked to make sure he was okay. Then, his father laughed and said, “It’s a good thing you didn’t hurt my grass!”
Why did Doug’s father make this joke?
a.
to make Doug laugh and feel better
c.
to remind Doug to be more careful
b.
to make Doug cry more
d.
to be mean
 

 13. 

Literary Response and Analysis—Compare and Contrast--RIT 181 - 190
Read the passage.
Jan and Todd were riding horses along the canal road, when suddenly, Jan’s horse got spooked. Her horse started jumping and bucking, and Jan could barely hold on. She started to scream for help, and Todd was frozen. He had no idea what to do to help Jan out. She fell off the horse and broke her right leg. The horse ran off down the road, and Todd started to cry.
How are Jan and Todd alike?
a.
Neither of them was prepared for this situation.
c.
They are both animal lovers.
b.
Jan and Todd are both experienced horse riders.
d.
They had medical and emergency training.
 

 14. 

Literary Response and Analysis—Inference--RIT 181 - 190
Read the story.
For nearly a year, I sopped around the house, the Store, the school, and the church, like an old biscuit, dirty and inedible. Then I met, or rather got to know, the lady who threw me my first lifeline. Mrs. Bertha Flowers was the aristocrat of Black Stamps. She had the grace of control to appear warm in the coldest weather, and on the Arkansas summer days it seemed she had a private breeze which swirled around, cooling her. She was thin without the taut look of wiry people, and her printed voile dresses and flowered hats were as right for her as denim overalls for a farmer. She was our side’s answer to the richest white woman in town.
Copyright Info: Angelou, Maya. “I know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” Elements of Literature:Second Course. Holt, Rinehart, Winston 1997.

How does Maya let us know the importance of Mrs. Flowers in her life?
a.
She says she threw her a lifeline.
c.
She shopped at our store.
b.
She was rich.
d.
She wore flowered hats.
 

 15. 

Read the fable.
A fox one day spied a beautiful bunch of ripe grapes hanging from a vine trained along the branches of a tree. The grapes seemed ready to burst with juice, and the Fox’s mouth watered as he gazed longingly at them.
The bunch hung from a high branch, and the Fox had to jump for it. The first time he jumped he missed it by a long way. So he walked off a short distance and took a running leap at it, only to fall short once more. Again and again he tried, but in vain. Now he sat down and looked at the grapes in disgust. “What a fool I am,” he said. “Here I am wearing myself out to get a bunch of sour grapes that are not worth gaping for.” And off he walked very, very scornfully.
Copyright Info: Aesop. “The Fox and the Grapes.” Elements of Literature: First Course. Holt,
Rinehart, Winston 1997.

Which inference can be made after reading the fable?
a.
The fox does not like grapes.
c.
The fox broke his leg when he tried to jump.
b.
The fox wants to make grape juice.
d.
The fox pretended he did not like grapes after he saw that he couldn’t get any.
 

 16. 

Read the paragraph.
“Until I was eleven years old I attended an English school. I felt very American and often thought I had to speak up for my country. At recess, for instance. The English children would sometimes tease me by making fun of America. I never let that pass even if it meant a fight.”
Copyright Info: Fritz, Jean. “”Meet the Writer, I Wander About in History . . .” Elements of Literature. Holt, Rinehart, Winston 1997.

What is the person who wrote the paragraph trying to say?
a.
She did not care about America.
c.
She wanted to go back to America.
b.
She stood up for her country.
d.
She was a teacher in China.
 

 17. 

Read the passage.
I got up and walked to the curb to see what the commotion was. About a block away I saw a crowd of little kids yelling, with the dogs yipping and growling around someone who was walking down the middle of the street.
I watched the group as it slowly came closer and saw that in the center of the strange procession was a man wearing a tall black hat. He’s pause now and then to peer at something in his hand and then at the houses on either side of the street. I felt cold and hot at the same time as I recognized the man. “Oh, no!” I whispered. “It’s Grandpa!”
Copyright Info: “From Generation to Generation.” Elements of Literature. Holt, Rinehart,
Winston 1997.

Who is the narrator?
a.
the grandfather
c.
the neighborhood child
b.
the neighborhood child
d.
the policeman
 

 18. 

Read the poem.
The Runaway
Once when the snow of the year was beginning to fall,
We stopped by a mountain pasture to say, “Whose colt?”
A little Morgan had one forefoot on the wall,
The other curled at this breast. He dipped his head
And snorted at us. And then he had to bolt.
We heard the miniature thunder where he fled,
And we saw him, or thought we saw him, dim and gray,
Like a shadow against the curtain of falling flakes.
“I think the little fellow’s afraid of the snow.
He isn’t winter-broken. It isn’t play
With the little fellow at all. He’s running away.
I doubt if even his mother could tell him, ‘Sakes,
It’s only weather.’ He’d think she didn’t know!
Where is his mother? He can’t be out alone.”
And now he comes again with clatter of stone,
And mounts the wall again with whited eyes
And all his tail that isn’t hair up straight.
He shudders his coat as if to throw off flies.
“Whoever it is that leaves him out so late,
When other creatures have gone to stall and bin,
Ought to be told to come and take him in.”
Copyright Info: Frost, Robert. “The Runaway.” Elements of Literature. Holt, Rinehart, Winston 1997.
Why is the horse afraid?.
a.
Another colt is chasing him.
c.
He is hungry.
b.
Another colt is chasing him.
d.
The people are watching him.
 

 19. 

Read the riddle.
What is black and white and read all over? A newspaper.
What is the purpose of this riddle?
a.
to educate
c.
he inform
b.
to persuade
d.
to amuse
 

 20. 

Literary Response and Analysis—Literary--RIT 181 - 190
Read the story.
Maria opened her locker to get her books for class. It was empty! What happened to her things? Was this a joke?
Whose experience is shared in this passage?
a.
Maria’s
c.
a teacher’s
b.
a parent’s
d.
a custodian’s
 



 
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