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Name:_____________________________________________
Date:________________________
1.
According to the chart, in which phase of mitosis do chromosomes align at the equatorial plate?
A. Anaphase
B. Metaphase
C. Prophase
D. Telophase
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2.
The young puppy chased its own tail around and around for several minutes.
"Spot," said Al. "You know better than to chase your own tail."
"Al," said his mother. "Spot is just a puppy and doesn't know any better."
"That's right, Al. Spot is still getting used to our home. He will learn once he gets older," said father.
"I think Spot is the smartest puppy I have ever seen," said Susie.
Who was criticizing Spot's behavior?
A. mother
B. father
C. Susie
D. Al
3.
Although their parents had warned them many times about the dangers of going alone into the forest behind their
new house, the twins were very curious about it. One day as they were playing in the backyard, one of the boys
said, "Let's go to the forest to see what it's like. Mom and Dad are busy in the house, and they will never know.
We won't stay long." The other brother was not sure that this was a good idea, but he went along because he knew
that his brother would go on without him.
From this introduction to a story, you can guess that
A. the parents will never know that the boys disobeyed them.
B. the boys will probably get lost in the woods and be in serious trouble.
C. the parents will praise the boys for finding their way out of the woods.
D. the boys will continue to go into the woods when their parents are busy.
4.
The prefix in the word nonsense means _______.
A. no
B. much
C. little
D. many
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5.
The Father and His Two Daughters
by Aesop
A man had two daughters, the one married to a gardener, and the other to a tile-maker. After a time he went
to the daughter who had married the gardener, and inquired how she was and how all things went with her.
She said, "All things are prospering with me, and I have only one wish, that there may be a heavy fall of
rain, in order that the plants may be well watered." Not long after, he went to the daughter who had married
the tile maker, and likewise inquired of her how she fared; she replied, "I want for nothing, and have only
one wish, that the dry weather may continue, and the sun shine hot and bright, so that the bricks might be
dried." He said to her, "If your sister wishes for rain, and you for dry weather, with which of the two am I to
join my wishes?"
Why would the daughter who married the gardener want rain?
A. The father does not like his daughters' husbands.
B. The girls' father does not care about the rain or dryness.
C. The weather needs to stay dry, so the gardener will have plants.
D. Plants need to be watered in order for her husband to keep his job.
Floating City
Venice (ven'is), a city in the country of Italy, is sometimes called "The Floating City." Venice isn't really floating,
but it was built in the middle of a lagoon.
The City of Venice was built over a thousand years ago. The people who built it were tired of being bothered by
barbarians (bär-bâr ´e-?ns). The barbarians were trying to scare the people of Venice off their land, so the people of
Venice decided to build a city in the water. They hoped that the barbarians would not follow them out into the lagoon.
Their plan worked. They pounded millions of large poles, called pilings, into the land under the shallow water of the
lagoon. The pilings stuck out above the water, and buildings and sidewalks were built on top of them.
The people who built Venice created tiny rivers, called canals, between the buildings. There are few cars in
Venice. People travel around Venice by walking or by riding through the canals in narrow boats called gondolas.
One large canal runs through the middle of Venice. It is called the Grand Canal. Only three bridges cross this
canal. If a person needs to cross the Grand Canal in a place where there is no bridge, they can pay to be rowed across
the canal in a gondola.
For years, Venice has been slowly sinking. The weight of the buildings is pushing the pilings farther into the
bottom of the lagoon. Water sometimes flows into the buildings, so the bottom floors of these buildings are no longer
used.
People still live and work in Venice today. Many people from around the world visit Venice every year.
Hopefully, scientists will be able to stop Venice from sinking, and people will be able to visit the city hundreds of
years from now.
6. Based on the passage, which word BEST describes the people who built "The Floating City"?
A. lazy
B. lonely
C. creative
D. generous
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7. Which of these events happened before buildings and sidewalks were built on poles in Venice's lagoon?
A. Canals were built for transportation in Venice.
B. Barbarians tried to scare away the people of Venice.
C. The bottom floors of buildings in Venice were closed.
D. People used bridges to cross the Grand Canal in Venice.
8. Why is Venice known as "The Floating City"?
A. There are several bridges in Venice.
B. The people of Venice travel by boat.
C. Venice seems to rest on the water of the lagoon.
D. Sometimes water flows into the buildings of Venice.
9. According to the passage, why are there few cars in Venice?
A. The streets of Venice have flooded.
B. Cars are too expensive in Venice.
C. People who live in Venice cannot drive.
D. There are few roads in the city of Venice.
Are We There Yet
Do you feel like going on vacation? Well, then, how about a trip to Mars? That may sound strange, but to Robert
Zurbin, President of the Mars Society, sending humans to Mars is not such a "far off" idea. The Mars Society, an
international group that encourages Mars exploration, believes that this possibility may come sooner than most people
think.
Mars, the fourth planet from the Sun, is Earth's nearest neighbor. Mars is known as the Red Planet. Covered with
iron oxide, sand dunes, craters, and rocks, Mars is not quite ready for human visitors. With temperatures near –200
degrees Fahrenheit, vacationers would hardly consider Mars to be inviting.
Several robotic space missions have been sent to Mars. In 1976, Viking Missions I and II landed on Mars with
hopes of finding evidence of life. Their searches came up empty. On July 4, 1997, a small pathfinder called Sojourner
landed on Mars and was more successful in its mission. With the help of its onboard camera, Sojourner took pictures
of Mars' surface and sent them back to scientists to study. In 1999, a failed Polar Lander Mission left scientists
disappointed, but that disappointment did not last very long. On June 22, 2000, NASA released information from its
Mars surveyor equipment stating that sources of liquid water may have been found. With a robotic mission planned
for 2003, a human trip to Mars may be approaching soon.
10. How were the Viking Missions like the Sojourner Mission?
A. Both were robotic missions.
B. Both found evidence of life.
C. Both sent astronauts to Mars.
D. Both sent photos back to Earth.
11. What is the main reason scientists did not remain disappointed for very long after the Polar Lander Mission?
A. Sojourner sent back photographs of Mars' surface.
B. The Viking missions discovered evidence of life on Mars.
C. NASA launched a pathfinder with an onboard camera onto Mars.
D. Surveyor equipment stated that sources of water may have been found.
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12. Who would find this passage MOST useful?
A. a person traveling to Mars
B. a person studying craters on Mars
C. a person trying to join the Mars Society
D. a person gathering information about Mars
13. In the second paragraph, what MOST LIKELY is the author's purpose in describing the planet Mars?
A. to encourage the reader to vacation on Mars
B. to inform the reader that nothing is living on Mars
C. to help the reader to understand the harsh conditions on Mars
D. to convince the reader that humans can easily survive on Mars
14. Which event happened FIRST?
A. The Polar Lander Mission failed.
B. The Viking Missions landed on Mars.
C. Liquid water sources were found on Mars.
D. A camera on Sojourner took pictures on Mars.
15. Which detail from the passage is an opinion?
A. Humans may enjoy trips to Mars in the near future.
B. Mars is the fourth planet from the sun.
C. The temperature on Mars is –200 degrees Fahrenheit.
D. Robotic missions to Mars have already taken place.
16. Which word has nearly the same meaning as far off as used in this sentence?
That may sound strange, but to Robert Zurbin, President of the Mars Society, sending humans to Mars is not such a
"far off" idea.
A. strange
B. difficult
C. creative
D. humorous
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17.
What is the correct meaning of the underlined word?
It was too hard to finish climbing the rock wall.
A. durable
B. difficult
C. inflexible
D. unbreakable
18.
A Wish Is Quite a Tiny Thing
by Annette Wynne
A wish is quite a tiny thing
Just like a bird upon the wing,
It fies away all fancy free
And lights upon a house or tree;
It flies across the farthest air,
And builds a safe nest anywhere.
This poem appeals to which sense?
A. taste
B. touch
C. sight
D. hearing
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19.
Interstate 84 connects what two other interstates?
A. Interstate 5
B. Interstate 26
C. Interstate 5 and Interstate 205
D. Interstate 205
20.
According to the chart, which Alaskan region had the most wildfires in 2006?
A. Arctic NWR
B. Kenai NWR
C. Yukon Delta NWR
D. Yukon Flats NWR
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Answer Key
1. B) Metaphase
2. D) Al
3. B) the boys will probably get lost in the woods and be in serious trouble.
4. A) no
5. D) Plants need to be watered in order for her husband to keep his job.
6. C) creative
7. B) Barbarians tried to scare away the people of Venice.
8. C) Venice seems to rest on the water of the lagoon.
9. D) There are few roads in the city of Venice.
10. A) Both were robotic missions.
11. D) Surveyor equipment stated that sources of water may have been found.
12. D) a person gathering information about Mars
13. C) to help the reader to understand the harsh conditions on Mars
14. B) The Viking Missions landed on Mars.
15. A) Humans may enjoy trips to Mars in the near future.
16. A) strange
17. B) difficult
18. C) sight
19. C) Interstate 5 and Interstate 205
20. C) Yukon Delta NWR
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