Everett Public Schools
Assessment of Student Learning
Student Packet
Benchmark Reading Assessment
Grade 3
Grading Period 2
“Monkey Business”
“Monkey Looks for Trouble”
“Monkey Me”
Student:
Date:
Teacher:
Period:
Informational Passage
Directions: Read the selection and answer the questions.
“Monkey Business”
By Judy Ling
Monkey Homes
1
Monkeys come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. There are nearly 200 different kinds
of monkeys, and they live in many of the world’s forests and grasslands. Most
monkeys spend their entire lives up in the trees. They have long arms and are good
at climbing. They can leap from tree to tree, high above the ground. Other
monkeys, such as baboons, live on the ground. They walk around on their hands
and feet.
Monkey Bodies
2
Monkeys’ fingers and toes are long and strong, which help them grip branches as
they climb. They use their fingers to hold food as they eat. Monkeys’ feet look a
lot like their hands, and their big toes are often just like thumbs. Most monkeys
have long tails. Their tails help them balance. Some monkeys, such as spider
monkeys and woolly monkeys, can use their tails to swing from tree to tree.
Monkeys are intelligent animals. Their eyes face forward, and most have good
eyesight. They can hear well, too.
Monkey Meals
3
Monkeys spend a lot of time looking for food. Most
monkeys eat almost anything: leaves, grass, fruit,
nuts, birds, frogs, and other small animals. Some
monkeys even fish for crabs.
Monkey Families
4
All monkeys live in groups. Some monkeys live in small family groups. Some
monkeys live in large groups called troops. While resting, monkeys groom each
other. Grooming is one way that monkeys care for each other.
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Monkey Talk
5
If you were to visit a rainforest, you would hear “monkey talk.” Monkeys call to
each other to keep in touch with their group. They call to warn each other of
dangerous animals or predators. Monkeys communicate by making sounds,
clapping their hands, and jumping up and down.
Selection from-Ohio released test, grade 3
2
Benchmark Reading Assessment
Grade 3 – Grading Period 2
“Monkey Business”
Fill in the bubble next to the letter of the best answer.
1. Which sentence explains why monkeys groom one another? [IA18]
c A. It is a way for monkeys to show they like each other.
c B. It is a way to help monkeys talk to each other.
c C. It is a way for monkeys to help each other stay clean.
2. Based on the information in the selection, what will most likely happen if a
threatening animal comes near a monkey’s home? [IC13]
c A. The monkeys will hide in the trees.
c B. The monkeys will make sounds.
c C. The monkeys will run into the water.
3. Which sentence tells how some monkeys are different from other monkeys? [IA17]
c A. Some monkeys have tails and others do not.
c B. Some monkeys have strong fingers and others do not.
c C. Some monkeys have small family groups and others do not.
4. Which sentence tells how spider monkeys and woolly monkeys are alike? [IA17]
c A. They both use their tails to swing from trees.
c B. They both walk around on their hands.
c C. They both have trouble climbing.
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5. Short Answer -2pts
Any of these words could describe monkeys in the selection “Monkey Business.”
Choose the word you think best describes monkeys in the selection.
Intelligent
Friendly
Active
Use two details from the selection to support your choice. [IC13]
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Literary Passage
Directions: Read the selection and answer the questions.
Monkey Looks for Trouble
1
One fine day in Trinidad, an island in the West Indies, a woman
walked along the road. From high in his treetop, Monkey watched
her. He saw the large clay pot she was carrying. How alarmed he
was when she tripped over a stone and dropped the pot! It broke
into many pieces. It had been full of fluffy white cakes that
scattered on the road.
2
“Oh, boy, have I ever got trouble now! I have so much trouble!” exclaimed the lady.
She tried to gather the cakes in her colorful skirt, but they kept spilling out. Soon she
gave up and left.
3
Monkey scurried down the tree trunk to the ground. “These are trouble?” he muttered
to himself. “I will taste this trouble, for it looks quite delicious.” The cakes were
coconut cakes, and they were indeed delicious. Monkey ate every one of them.
4
“I must find more trouble! I must find more trouble!” said Monkey. Off to the market
he went, skittering down the road on his quick little feet.
5
Monkey went to a man standing at a market stall and asked, “Please, kind sir, may I
have some trouble?”
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6
“You’re looking for trouble?” said the man. Monkey nodded his head in an excited
way. The man chuckled and went into a building. He came out with a bag and handed
it to monkey. “Here you go,” he said.
7
Monkey had trouble carrying the bag of trouble. It was so large and lumpy, and it was
moving! He was so happy to have more trouble, though, that he didn’t worry. He went
down the road to a quiet spot and opened the bag, ready for a feast of trouble.
8
Out of the bag came three fierce little dogs! They barked and snapped and snarled at
Monkey. Shaking with fear, Monkey climbed the nearest tree. How hungry he was!
He took a fruit and plopped it into his mouth. Little did he know that the tree was a
chili pepper tree. Suddenly his mouth felt full of fiery flames!
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Monkey needed water! Below, though, those three fierce beasts were snapping and
yapping at him. He had to wait until they grew bored and went away. Then Monkey
quickly returned to the ground and ran, lickety-split, to a stream. He drank lots of cool
water. After a while his burnt mouth felt better.
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Monkey returned to his own quiet treetop and never looked for trouble again.
Selection from- released California Standards Test, 2004
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Benchmark Reading Assessment
Grade 3 – Grading Period 2
“Monkey Looks for Trouble”
Fill in the bubble next to the letter of the best answer.
6. According to the selection, what happened when the woman tripped over a stone?
[LA08]
c A. She was hurt so she gave up and left.
c B. The cakes she was carrying were crushed.
c C. The pot she was carrying fell and broke.
7. What does the monkey mean when he says, “I will taste this trouble, for it looks quite
delicious?” [LC03]
c A. Monkey thought the cakes were called trouble.
c B. Monkey needed to eat many types of fruit.
c C. Monkey enjoyed getting into trouble.
8. Which sentence explains why Monkey wants to look for trouble? [LA08]
c A. Boredom causes Monkey to search for new adventures.
c B. Monkey wants to eat more tasty coconut cakes.
c C. He is a naughty monkey who likes causing problems.
9. How are the monkeys in “Monkey Business” and the monkey in “Monkey Looks for
Trouble” alike? [LA07]
c A. They both live in small family groups.
c B. They both spend time searching for food.
c C. They both spend their entire lives in trees.
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10. Based on the information in the story, what do you think Monkey will do the next
time he is hungry? [LC03]
c A. Monkey will make sure he eats the first thing he sees.
c B. Monkey will look for help to make sure he eats the right food.
c C. Monkey will be more careful about what he eats next time.
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Literary Passage
Directions: Read the selection and answer the questions.
Monkey Me
Monkey see,
monkey do,
I used to want
to be one, too.
5
10
15
20
He doesn’t have a bedtime.
Bet he doesn’t eat green beans!
Monkeys get to play around
the whole day long, it seems.
He doesn’t have to brush his teeth
or have to comb his hair.
If he had toys I’ll bet his dad
wouldn’t make him have to share.
I’ll bet he doesn’t ‘scuse me’
after each and every sneeze,
and you won’t hear him ‘thank you’
after every single ‘please’.
But Mommy said that monkeys
don’t ever watch TV…
so that’s when I decided
I’d rather just stay me.
Selection from- https://authorsden.com/visit/viewPoetry.asp?id=158855&AuthorID=6604
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11. Short Answer- 2pts
Explain why the author thought he wanted to be a monkey. Include two details from
the poem in your answer. [LA08]
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