OCESD Houghton Mifflin Selection Test
3rd Grade Theme 4 Week 2 Seal Surfer
Theme 4 Week 2 Seal Surfer
Name ____________________________________ Date ______________________________
3rd Grade Theme 4 Week 2 Seal Surfer
Read this story. Then read each question. Circle the letter next to the best answer.
Crocodiles and Alligators
Can you tell a crocodile from an alligator? They are alike in some ways.
Yet, in other ways, they are very different.
Both animals are covered with scales and have backbones. They have
short legs and long, powerful tails. Also, baby crocodiles and alligators both
hatch from eggs.
Both crocodiles and alligators are very dangerous and very strong
hunters. Both eat fish and small animals, and they can even attack people,
though that is rare. These two animals have strong jaws and many sharp teeth.
They also have eyes high on their head so they can see while they float in the
water. Both can be found in hot, damp places like swamps.
Crocodiles and alligators are different in certain ways. For example, a
crocodile’s snout, or the part of its head that sticks outward and includes its
nose and mouth, is pointed at the end. The snout of an alligator is broad and
rounder. Also, crocodiles like muddy, shallow water, while alligators are
usually found in deeper water.
Theme 4 Week 2 Seal Surfer
1. Which is true about both crocodiles
and alligators?
4. How are crocodiles and alligators
different?
A They have backbones.
A Only crocodiles eat small animals.
B Their eyes are set low on the sides of
their heads.
B Only alligators have strong jaws.
C They cannot float on water.
C Only alligators have rounded snouts.
D Only crocodiles live in water.
D They live in deep water.
2. How is a crocodile’s body different
from an alligator’s?
A Crocodiles have short legs.
B Crocodiles have a short tail.
C Crocodiles have sharper teeth.
D Crocodiles have pointed snouts.
3. How are crocodiles and alligators
alike?
A They both like to attack people.
B Their bodies are covered with scales.
C They have only a couple of sharp
teeth.
D They only eat fish.
Theme 4 Week 2 Seal Surfer
5. What do alligators do that crocodiles
do not?
A live in hot, damp places
B lay eggs
C live in deeper water
D eat fish
6. Read this sentence from the story.
8. Read this sentence from the story.
Best of all she loves to haul herself
up onto the rocks with other
young seals to feel the sun and
wind o her skin.
While the wet winter winds
buffeted the boy on his way to
school, the young seal learned the
lessons of the sea.
Use the context clues to infer what the boy
and the seal are doing.
A
They are going to swim later.
B
They are both learning new things.
C
They both like to surf.
D
They are no longer going to be
friends.
7. Read this sentence from the passage.
The wonderful summer and gentle
autumn were _______ by the
worst winters.
Which word below completes the sentence
correctly?
A
following
B
was following
C
followed
D
will follow
Theme 4 Week 2 Seal Surfer
Which answer gives the best meaning for
the word haul as it is used in the sentence
in the box?
A
to swim
B
to play
C
to eat
D
to pull
9. How should the word buffeted be
divided into syllables?
A
bu-ffe-ted
B
buff-et-ed
C
buff-eted
D
buf-fet-ed
10.
What word is NOT spelled correctly?
A
libraries
B
stopped
C
parties
D
hurryed
11. Which word could have multiple
meanings?
A
wildflowers
B
Ben
C
waves
D
summer
14. Which group of words is in
alphabetical order?
A
swooped, swell, quay, horizon
B
horizon, quay, swell, swooped
C
quay, swell, horizon, swooped
D
horizon, quay, swooped, swell
15. Read this part of a sentence.
Rain and mountainous waves
__________________.
12. Read this sentence.
Ben watched as the mother seal
pushed her pup off the rocks and
into the sea.
Which word is the subject in the sentence?
A
pushed
B
Ben
C
pup
D
rocks
13. Which statement is an OPINION, not a
fact?
A
Swimming with seals is the best!
B
The ocean can be a dangerous place.
C
There are four seasons in a year.
D
Waves can be found in the ocean.
Theme 4 Week 2 Seal Surfer
Which of these predicates could NOT be
used to complete the sentence?
A
coming towards the shore.
B
continued pounding the surf all day.
C
can be very dangerous.
D
wrenched great rocks from the cliffs.
16. Which sentence is divided correctly
into its subject and predicate?
A
All afternoon Ben / and the seal
surfed together.
B
All afternoon Ben and the seal surfed
/ together.
C
All afternoon Ben and the seal /
surfed together.
D
All afternoon / Ben and the seal
surfed together.
17. Read this passage.
The wonderful summer and gentle
autumn were followed by the
worst of winters. The storms
smacked the rocks and churned up
the sand and stones.
What is the main idea of this passage?
A
It was time to go to the beach.
B
The seal likes to play in the storms.
C
The weather was not dangerous.
D
The weather was dangerous.
18. How should the word reflection be
divided into syllables?
A
refl - ection
B
reflec-tion
C
re – flec - tion
D
re – fle – ction
19. Which reference book would I use to
find out more information about seals?
A
encyclopedia
B
thesaurus
C
dictionary
D
phone book
Theme 4 Week 2 Seal Surfer
Answer Key
Question
Number
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
Correct
Answer
A
D
B
C
C
B
C
D
D
D
C
B
A
B
A
C
D
C
A
Theme 4 Week 2 Seal Surfer
Standard
R 2.6
R 2.6
R 2.6
R 2.6
R 2.6
R 2.4
LC 1.3
R 1.6
R 1.2
LC 1.8
R 1.6
LC 1.4
R 2.6
LC 1.9
LC 1.1
LC 1.4
R 2.5
R 1.2
W 1.3