ELAR Grade 5 Unit 02A: Appreciating Literary Nonfiction and Drama
2012-2013
Midland ISD
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Source • Girl of the Alamo, American Battlefields The Alamo, www.tamu.edu/faculty
about "The Story of Enrique Esparza" as told in The San Antonio Light.
A Survivor
Enrique Esparza was the son of Alamo defender Gregorio Esparza and Ana Salazar
Esparza. Enrique, his mother, and siblings survived the attack by the Mexican army. In
1902, Enrique shared his diary of experiences with a reporter.
Thursday, February 20, 1836
1) I awake in the morning with thoughts of my 13th birthday. My grandmother sent
me a journal for my 13th birthday.
I smell the cedar pencils and touch the cover of my
new diary. This is my birthday present.
I have not seen my grandmother in two
years. She knows that I enjoy writing. I have sent several letters to her about living in
Texas.
2) Yesterday, during my school lessons, the class heard the creaky supply wagons
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come through the muddy streets. My home is in the DeWitt’s Colony. It is the western
most colony, and supplies only come twice a year. The supplies are imported from New
Orleans by ship before being loaded onto wagons. The diary and pencils had come by
one of those wagons a few days before. There is much activity around the ships these
days.
3) I was eager to see the men unload barrels of molasses, flour, sugar, dried apples,
and other things. My mother was always so excited to see the bolts of calico cloth and
brightly colored silk ribbons. My sisters would be hoping for new dresses from the
colorful bolts of fabric. I might get a new shirt for school. Many cases of guns are being
unloaded from the ships. There is talk about disagreements with Mexico.
4) I live in Texas, but Mexico wants us off their land. My parents settled in Texas a few
years ago. They wanted to own the land and grow our own food. However, Mexico
had other ideas. They also wanted this for the people of Mexico. This is a difficult time
for Texas.
Sunday, February 23, 1836
5) I wake up to a thick fog across the woods and river. I hear a pop, pop, pop of
rifles. While walking to the window, I jump at the sound of a loud boom. My father
says that it is the sound of the old cannon. I think it is the Mexican army coming for the
land. I have heard my father talk about the large Mexican army. I overhear him discuss
the fight for land. He keeps saying that we will see the army march over the nearby
hills. Father moves our family into the Alamo.
Wednesday, February 26, 1836
6) I watch my mom and the other women cook. They pat balls of moistened corn into
thin, round shapes called tortillas. The tortillas cook in a flat skillet. Then, I help fill the
tortillas with peppered beans and take the food to the other children. As I stuff the
small tortilla into my mouth, my mom pats my head and says that I must be a
bottomless pit. While we finish the meager meal, I hear Mexican bugles blaring outside
the walls. Black smoke billows into the sky.
Saturday, March 1, 1836
7) Father tells us that the Mexican army is near. He describes the numbers of soldiers
riding horses. They are approaching the fort very quickly. He asks us to hide in the
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shadows of the room with our mother. He says that there is no time to flee the fort.
We must be brave and stay at the fort.
Tuesday, March 4, 1836
8) We feel the ground rumble under our feet. The cannon fire seems closer every day.
The days are long. We must stay busy inside the fort. The adults whisper about the
thousands of Mexican soldiers advancing toward the fort. There are less than two
hundred men in the fort. How will we be able to survive such a battle!
Thursday, March 6, 1836
9) I am sleeping on the cots with my sisters. The cannons are firing. I hear my
mother say, “Gregorio, the soldiers have jumped the wall. The fight is beginning. Be
careful.”
10) My father gets up and takes his rifle. He leaves the room to return to the fight. My
two sisters and I huddle under the blankets. My mother and I hear soldiers shouting
about jumping the wall. The men are fighting so close that we hear them strike each
other. It is so dark in the area that we can’t see anything. We huddle in the corners of
the fort. Mother embraces my sisters as they begin to cry.
11) Finally, we hear the bullets coming closer. The soldiers begin shooting through the
dark into the room where we are. I hear a cry in the darkness. A boy who is wrapped
in blankets is hit by a bullet. I run to him, but it is too late. The boy has died. The
Mexican army fires into the room several more times. Huddled together, my family
shakes in fear.
Friday, March 7, 1836
12) The crying stops. We do not hear the rifles firing or men shouting. It is a miracle
that none of my family is hit by the cannons or guns. My uncle comes back in the night
to tell us about the fight. He explains how my father died in the fight with Santa Anna. I
will never see him again.
13) After the fight, Santa Anna gives my uncle permission to get my father’s body. My
uncle finds my father in the thickest part of the fight. My mother, sisters, and I survived
the battle of the Alamo, but we have lost our precious father.
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1
In Paragraph 2 the root port in the
4
word imported means -
mom mean when she says that he is
A opposite
a bottomless pit?
B bring to
A Enrique always eats tortillas.
C
B Enrique is helpful with the cooking.
side of ship
C
D not moving
2
In Paragraph 6, what does Enrique's
Enrique would crawl through
tunnels.
D Enrique could eat so much food.
What is the meaning of the word
bolts in Paragraph 3?
A runs away
5
the word flee?
B sliding lock
C
A small insect
short, heavy arrow
B begin cleaning
D roll of goods
3
In Paragraph 7 what is the meaning of
C
escape
D mosquito
In Paragraph 5, the author uses
sensory language in the sentence, I
hear a pop, pop, pop of rifles. Why
6
Why did the author of the diary
might the author have chosen to
include the Tuesday, March 4th,
word the sentence in that way?
entry?
A so that the reader could visualize
A The entry lets the reader know
that not every minute was filled
the rifle
with worry.
B so that the reader could imagine
what the woods and river looked
B The entry explains how to prepare
a meal with tortillas.
like
C
so that the reader could imagine
what the event sounded like
D so that the reader could learn
more about Father
C
The entry is important to the
battle sequence.
D The entry compares the food of
the Mexican army with Texan
foods.
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7
What is a possible lesson learned
10 What is the webmaster’s purpose in
about freedom in this selection?
choosing his words and styling the
A People disagree and go to war.
links at the bottom of the webpage?
B Freedom may come at a very high
A
for where to find information in
cost.
C
Death causes unhappiness.
D Children can't be a part of a fight
the website.
B
website.
C
What is the main idea of Enrique
Esparza's diary entries?
A A young boy tells about his
He wanted to encourage viewers
to visit other parts of the
for freedom.
8
He wanted to provide a shortcut
He wanted to make the Alamo
site seem exciting.
D All of the above support this
purpose.
experiences during the final days
at the Alamo.
B A young boy plays a big part in the
battle for the Alamo.
C
A young boy celebrates his
birthday at the Alamo.
D A young boy meets Santa Anna.
9
What is the point of view provided on
the sample web page for the Alamo
seen at the beginning of this test?
A The Alamo is a tourist attraction in
Texas.
B The Alamo is a universal symbol of
patriotism others should learn
from.
C
The Battle of the Alamo was a
hard-fought siege lost by the
Texans to the Mexican army.
D Visiting the Alamo should be
required of every Texas school
child.
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11 Both the diary and the webpage give information about the Battle of the Alamo.
What kind of information can you get from visiting the webpage that you cannot get
from the diary? What kind of information can you get from the diary that you cannot
get from the webpage? Support your answers with text evidence.
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A Caterpillar’s Voice
A play adapted from the African folktale.
As the curtain comes up, a caterpillar is inching along the rugged landscape when he
spies an inviting cave. As he crosses the threshold, he is impressed with the
comfortable furniture and makes himself at home.
Caterpillar: What a fabulous home to have! I think I’ll stay awhile. (Caterpillar acts
shocked.) My voice sounds enormous in here! I sound like I am a creature bigger
than the biggest of creatures. Yes, I like it here. I think I’ll stay. (He drifts asleep.)
(HARE enters the stage and looks around at the ground around his front door.)
Hare: What’s going on here? These imprints look like tracks, and they lead right into
my home. I think someone’s in there. (calls out) Who is in my cave?
Caterpillar: (leaps up in surprise from his nap, in a soft voice) I bet I can fool the hare
into thinking I am the grandest of all creatures. (in a big voice) It is I! I am the biggest,
strongest, and most fearsome of all creatures. Go away before I trounce you into
dust!
Hare: (hopping about crying) Oh dear! How am I going to get my home back? I am
but a small hare.
(Jackal enters carrying some food he has collected, as if to bring it to his friend, Hare.)
Hare: Oh Jackal, I am so grateful to see you. A terrible creature has taken possession
of my home? Do you think you can get him to flee and leave me alone?
Jackal: Sure, I can try. (calls out) Who is in there? This is my friend Hare’s home.
Get out!
Caterpillar: (acting at first like he is thinking of what to do, turns to face the audience
and in a loud voice yells) It is I! I am the biggest, strongest, and most fearsome of all
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creatures. Go away before I trounce you into dust!
Jackal: (turning to Hare) I’m sorry, Hare. What could I do against such a fierce
predator? I must go now!
(Jackal exits.)
(Hare runs off stage and returns pulling a leopard, a rhinoceros, and an elephant with
him to the door of his cave.)
Hare: Oh, please, Leopard. Do you think you can get the creature out of my home?
Leopard: Oh, definitely. I am big and strong myself. Just the mention of me
makes others quiver in fear. (calls out) Who is in my friend’s home?
Caterpillar: It is I! I am the biggest, strongest, and most fearsome of all creatures. Go
away before I trounce you into dust!
(Leopard, Rhinoceros, and Elephant all shrink back. Leopard runs off stage. Hare
moves up to Rhinoceros who puts up his hands.)
Rhinoceros: I wouldn't dare challenge this fearsome creature. His very voice can make
the Earth tremble and veer off of its axis.
(Rhinoceros leaves in the opposite direction.)
Hare: (turning to Elephant with his hands in a pleading position) We were talking about
how big and strong you are.
Elephant: I heard the creature’s menacing claim. Even I cannot dare to approach him.
My family needs me.
(Elephant exits the stage slowly.)
Hare: (wringing his hands) Now what I am going to do?
Frog: (enters from where the rhinoceros had left) Hare, what is wrong? I saw
rhinoceros on the road, and he said you were having an insurmountable problem.
Something is in your house?
Hare: Oh, it is just terrible. I am trying to go inside my home, but there is
something in my cave. I asked all of my friends to help me, but they were all afraid and
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ran away. Now, I don’t know what to do.
Frog: Have you tried to talk to the creature?
Hare: Oh, yes. We all did, but he just yells back at us in his enormous, terrifying voice.
Frog: I know I am not as big as Jackal, Leopard, Rhino, or Elephant, but can I try, too?
Hare: Be my guest. You will see that what I’ve said is undoubtedly true.
Frog: (going nearer to the cave, cups his hand beside his mouth to call out) Who’s in
the cave of my friend, Hare?
Caterpillar: It is I! I am the biggest, strongest, and most fearsome of all creatures. Go
away before I trounce you into dust!
Frog: (Moving now further inside the cave, Frog yells again.) I am the strongest of all
creatures, and I have come at last to help my friend. I am the one who destroys those
who destroy the rhino and trounces those that trounce the elephant.
Caterpillar: (biting his nails and trembling as if worried, in a whisper) That was the
most fearsome voice I have ever heard! I had better escape while I can. (He gets off
the chair and crawls out the side of the cave trying not to be seen.)
Hare: (spotting him and running over) What? All this trouble and it was YOU in the
cave?
(Jackal, Leopard, Rhinoceros, and Elephant enter.)
Jackal: Wow, it was only a caterpillar? Why did his voice sound so gigantic?
Leopard: I feel so foolish, I should have known better.
Hare: I cannot believe that you were all terrified of a little caterpillar.
Frog:
I think you were scared too, Hare.
Hare: No, no, not of a Caterpillar. It was only that thunderous voice. Caterpillar, how
did you get that big voice? Speak to me.
Caterpillar: (in a meek voice) Well, this cave was very cozy. And when I spoke, there
was a wonderful echo! It made me feel important and gave me courage. I will be
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moving on now, though. Good-bye.
(Caterpillar creeps away.)
Elephant: Can you believe it? All of us were frightened of that small, little caterpillar!
The problem wasn't nearly as big as we made it out to be.
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12
Which of the following accurately
14 What did Frog do that supports the
represents the author’s intended
inference that he knew the “big
lesson or moral in this drama?
voice” came from an echo?
A
A
Many of our fears seem much
insurmountable problem.
more frightening than they really
are.
B
It is easy to fool your friends.
C
You have to solve your most
B
He says that he knows he is not
as big as the other friends.
C
He tells Hare that he was afraid
too.
frightening problems by yourself.
D An echo is a useful thing.
He told Hare he had an
D He moved into the cave to make
his threat.
13
Men-ace me-nas
15 In the drama, the playwright uses
v: a show of intention to inflict harm
n: threat; one that represents a danger;
n: an annoying person
the sentence, "His very voice can
Synonyms: hazard, risk, threat, trouble
add emphasis to the fear Rhinoceros
make the Earth tremble and veer off
of its axis." How does this phrase
is feeling?
Use the dictionary entry above to
A
He is saying that the Earth turns
on an axis.
answer the following question.
B
He is saying that even something
Which of the following is the
as huge as the Earth would be
meaning of the word menacing as it
affected.
is used in the play:
I heard the creature’s menacing
claim. Even I cannot dare to
approach him.
A
inflicting
B
threatening
C
annoying
C
He is saying that the Earth will
continue to spin no matter what
happens.
D He is saying that the Earth has
more courage than he does.
D risking
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Can Music Make You Smarter?
(1) This question has been floating around the news for years. (2) People who
have music in their lives are convinced that exposure to music is making their
children smartest. (3) Some of these parents are musitions themselves. (4) As
they practice their singing or playing an instrument, the children are dancing and
singing along. (5) A growing body of research supports this observation.
(6) “Nothing activates as many areas of the brain as music” stated a music
education researcher. (7) Another professor of music education stated that music
by itself does not make one smarter. (8) However, he added that music is
a part of a richer environment, which does make a difference. (9) Many
researchers have made the following analog: The brain is like an athlete’s
muscle: Use it, or lose it. (10) Obtaining more education hasens the connections
within the brain. (11) Thus, music can be beneficial in making more connections
within the brain.
16 What change, if any, should be made
17 What change, if any, should be made
in Sentence 2?
in Sentence 3?
A
Change smartest to smarts.
A
B
Change smartest to smartist.
C
Change smartest to smarter.
D
Make no change.
Change musitions to
musicians.
B
Change musitions to
musitians.
C
Change musitions to
musicions.
D Make no change.
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18 What change, if any, should be made
in Sentence 6?
A
Put a comma after music but
before the quotation marks.
B
Put a period after music but
before the quotation marks.
C
Move the quotation marks after
music to after researcher.
D Make no change.
19 What change, if any, should be made
in Sentence 9?
A
Change analog to analogey.
B
Change analog to analogy.
C
Change analog to analoge.
D Make no change.
20 What change, if any, should be made
in Sentence 10?
A
Change hasens to hastes.
B
Change hasens to hasons.
C
Change hasens to hastens.
D Make no change.
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Test Key
ELAR Grade 5 Unit 02A: Appreciating Literary Nonfiction and Drama 2012-2013
##
Item #
Correct Answer
Primary
SE
Secondary
SE
Obj/Cat
1
051146699D
B
5.2(A) [R]
None
STAAR: R1
2
051146703D
D
5.2(B) [R]
None
STAAR: R1
3
E05025110CS
C
5.7(A) [S]
None
STAAR: R2
4
051146708D
D
5.8(A) [R]
None
STAAR: R2
5
051146701D
C
5.2(B) [R]
None
STAAR: R1
6
051146712D
C
5.RC(D)
[R&S]
None
STAAR: R2
7
051146720D
B
5.3(C) [S]
None
STAAR: R2
8
051148203D
A
5.RC(E)
[R&S]
None
STAAR: R2
9
E05016693CS
B
5.14(C) [S]
None
STAAR: R2
10
E05016695CS
D
5.RC(A)
None
None
11
E05016694CS
SEE RUBRIC BELOW
5.RC(F) [R]
5.11(E) [R]
None
12
E05016140CS
A
5.7
5.RC(D)
[R&S]
None
13
E05016138CS
B
5.2(E) [R]
None
STAAR: R1
14
E05016142CS
D
5.RC(D)
[R&S]
None
STAAR: R2
15
E05016141CS
B
5.8(A) [R]
None
STAAR: R2
16
E0515230CS
C
5.20(Aiii)
None
None
17
E0515231CS
A
5.22(Ai)
None
None
18
E0515232CS
A
5.21(Bii)
None
None
19
E0515234CS
B
5.22(Aii)
None
None
20
E0515233CS
C
5.22(Aiii)
None
None
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Scoring Rubrics
Question (#11)
The student will likely provide repeats of phrases from the webpage as information such as:
Who the heroes were
All about the movies and books about the Alamo
See a map of the Alamo
How to take a tour of the Alamo
The Mexican point of view about the Alamo
For the memoir, they should infer that the information gives a personal viewpoint of how the battle
impacted a real family and a real boy. You can learn how people felt and some of the specific
details leading up to the battle.
SCORE 3- Communicates complete understanding- A
(The student provides several logical and accurate responses related to the type of information
that can be gathered from the webpage and the memoir. There are no errors or major omissions
of obvious content.)
SCORE 2- Communicates partial understanding- B
(The student provides several logical responses; however, some may be more vaguely put. The
argument could also be unbalanced.)
SCORE 1- Communicates limited understanding-C
(The student provides some logical responses, but may only give one source or provide general
responses in one to two sentences for each side.)
SCORE 0- Communicates no understanding/does not attempt to respond- D
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