ENGL-4
GUI - January Fourth Grade Reading
[Exam ID:115ARW] Scan Number:1059
Read the following passage and answer questions 1 through 12.
Day at the Beach 1 Keisha could hardly contain her emotions. She and her family had left their home in the mountains before sunrise. It was now five hours later, and she knew that they must be close. Her little sister, Sheri, had somehow slept the entire trip, but Keisha was far too excited to sleep. Today, she would see the ocean for the first time in her life. 2 “We’re almost there!” Keisha’s father announced as he drove the van through the crowded streets. Sheri clapped and smiled at her big sister. They had never seen so many people! Some rode bicycles and others had rollerblades. Some wore bathing suits with towels wrapped around them. Keisha looked out every window of the van. She could not tell by watching the people which direction the ocean was, but she knew it must be near. She was glad that she had put on her bathing suit before she left the house that morning! 3 “Should we check into the hotel or go see the beach first?” her father asked. “We want to see the beach!” Keisha and Sheri yelled at the same time. Their father laughed. He must have expected this response, because he was already parking the car on the side of the street. He held his daughters’ hands as they crossed the street and walked toward the beach. They climbed stairs that took them up and over the sand dunes, and… 5 There it was! The ocean! Keisha was spellbound. The pictures she had seen did not prepare her for the ocean’s beauty. The water, stretching to the horizon, sparkled beneath the yellow midday sun. Hundreds of people relaxed on the sand, while others played in the gently crashing waves. 6 Keisha looked at Sheri. “I’ll race you to the water,” she said to her little sister. Before Sheri could answer, they were both sprinting toward the surf. They ran past umbrellas, sand castles, and people. Leaving her sister far behind, Keisha reached the water first. She continued running until the water got too deep, and then she dove in. 7 Keisha came up coughing with a distressed look on her face. Sheri and her father were standing at the edge of the water. “What’s wrong?” her father cried out. 4
8
“This water tastes terrible!” Keisha said in astonished voice. Her father laughed as he and Sheri waded out to join Keisha. 9 “That’s because it’s saltwater!” he said. “You’re not supposed to drink it!” He and Sheri laughed. Even though the salty water had caught her by surprise, Keisha would not let it dampen her spirits. She, too, began to laugh. 10 “I guess the beach is full of surprises!” she said, before diving back underwater. 1
What happened right after Keisha's father parked the car?
A Sheri went into the water.
B Keisha changed into her bathing suit.
C The family walked toward the beach.
D Keisha's father checked into the hotel.
2
Read this dictionary entry. In paragraph 10, which meaning of the word back is used?
F the location opposite to or farthest from the front
the rear part of the body, from the neck to the lower G
end of the spine
H toward the original starting point or place
J in a reclining or leaning position
3
Which word means the opposite of crowded in paragraph 2?
A busy
B wide
C empty
D dangerous
4
What does the word distressed mean in paragraph 7?
F surprised
G troubled
H excited
J faded
5
The author included paragraph 2 in the story to —
A show that they are close to the beach
B explain why Keisha likes the beach
C describe the activities that are available
D tell about the long trip
6
Read this sentence. Keisha came up coughing with a distressed look on her face. What made Keisha cough?
F She has a cold.
G She is trying to get her father's attention.
H She got saltwater in her mouth.
J She dislikes swimming.
7
In paragraph 6, why do the girls run to the water?
A They need to get something to drink.
B They are excited about seeing the ocean.
C They are running away.
D They are hot and want to go swimming.
8
Read this sentence from paragraph 5. The water, stretching to the horizon, sparkled beneath the yellow midday sun. This sentence appeals to the reader’s sense of —
F sight
G taste
H hearing
J smell
9
Which sentence best supports the fact that it was Keisha's first time visiting the ocean?
He held his daughters' hands as they crossed the A
street and walked toward the beach.
She was glad that she had put on her bathing suit B
before she left the house that morning!
The pictures she had seen did not prepare her for C
the ocean's beauty.
She continued running until the water got too deep, D
and then she dove in.
10 Read this sentence. She would not let it dampen her spirits Dampen her spirits means —
F make her sit in the surf
G change her happy mood
H cause her to lose interest
J get her wet
11 In paragraph 6, what does the word sprinting mean?
A walking
B skipping
C wandering
D running
12 What is this story mainly about?
F A long vacation at a crowded beach.
G An older sister who helps her sister swim.
H A car trip from the mountains to the beach.
J A girl who visits the ocean for the first time.
Read the following passage and answer questions 13 through 24.
Rainforests
1
Rainforests are special types of forests that are always hot and moist. They grow near the equator where the temperatures are the hottest in the world. It rains in the rainforest almost every day. The sun and rain cause the plants to grow quickly. Some of the trees are enormous and measure over two hundred feet tall. 2
A rainforest’s top layer of branches is called the canopy. It receives the most sunlight. The leaves here grow very thick and shade the forest floor below. Many strange and wonderful animals live in the canopy. Each rainforest has animals that are unique to it. Orangutans 3 The rainforests in Asia are home to an animal known as the orangutan. It is a large ape covered with reddish brown hair. It lives in the tops of the trees and swings between the branches. Orangutans can hold onto the branches with their hands and feet. They can even use their feet to peel bananas. People are surprised by how intelligent orangutans are. Some people think they act a lot like humans. The word orangutan actually means “people of the forest.” Chameleons 4 The African rainforests are home to an interesting animal known as the chameleon. Chameleons are large lizards with amazing features. A chameleon’s tongue is longer than its body, and its large eyes can move in different directions. Chameleons can change their skin color to match the objects around them. Anacondas 5 The largest rainforest in the world is the Amazon rainforest. It is found in South America. It is home to more animals than any other place on Earth. The most remarkable animal there is the anaconda. Anacondas are the largest snakes in the world. They can grow to be over 30 feet long and can weigh over 500 pounds! 6
Rainforests are full of unique plants and animals. Scientists think that there may still be species of living things in these forests that have yet to be discovered. If they are right, the rainforests will become even more interesting! 13 The information provided by the map supports which sentence from the article?
They grow near the equator where the temperatures are the hottest in the world.
Many strange and wonderful animals live in the B
canopy.
Some of the trees are enormous and measure over C
two hundred feet tall.
The rainforests in Asia are home to an animal D
known as the orangutan.
A
14 All of the following sentences from the article are facts EXCEPT —
Many strange and wonderful animals live in the canopy.
G A chameleon’s tongue is longer than its body.
The largest rainforest in the world is the Amazon H
rainforest.
Orangutans can hold onto branches with their hands J
and feet.
F
15 From the headings in the article, a reader can predict that it will be mostly about —
A food
B plants
C people
D animals
16 Look at the chart for the word discovered in paragraph 6. What belongs in the empty box?
F happened again
G made something disappear
H took place in the past
J created more of something
17 This article is mainly about —
A scientists who study plants and animals
B where rainforests can be found
C unique animals that live in the rainforests
D reasons why people need to save the rainforests
18 Which word means the opposite of enormous in paragraph 1?
F small
G skinny
H gigantic
J tall
19 From the map with the story, a reader can determine —
A what types of animals live in the rainforests
B the best way to travel through a rainforest
C why the rainforests have large trees
D where the rainforests are located
20 Which of the following would be the best heading for paragraph 2?
F Animals
G The Canopy
H Sun and Rain
J The Rainforest
21 Which question does paragraph 2 answer?
What types of animals live in the rainforest's tall A
trees?
B How many species of animals live in the rainforests?
What types of animals live in the shaded areas of the C
rainforest?
Which part of the rainforest receives the most D
sunlight?
22 A student asks this question about the article. Which rainforest is the largest? Which paragraph from the article answers this question?
F 2
G 5
H 4
J 1
23 Read this sentence from paragraph 2. The leaves here grow very thick and shade the forest floor below. Which word sounds like here but is spelled in a different way and has a different meaning?
A ear
B hear
C herd
D hare
24 Why is the ground in the rainforest shady?
F The large leaves of the trees block the sunlight.
G It is usually shady near the equator.
H The rainforests are located near the equator.
Some of the animals in the forests live in the high J
branches.