OCESD Houghton Mifflin Selection Test
3rd Grade Theme 5 Week 1 Across the Wide Dark Sea
Theme 5 Week 1 Across the Wide Dark Sea
Name ____________________________________ Date ______________________________
3rd Grade Theme 5 Week 1 Across the Wide Dark Sea
Read this story. Then read each question. Circle the letter next to the best answer.
A First-Time Traveler
Debbie was about to fly on an airplane for the first time She frowned as
she watched the big planes land and take off. She was trying to imagine how it
would feel to leave the ground where it was safe. Debbie stepped a little closer
to her father.
“You’re squeezing my had pretty tightly,” he said with a smile.
Finally it was time to board the plane. As they walked down the crowded
aisle of the airplane, Debbie lost hold of her father’s hand. “Dad, wait for me!”
Her father reached back and took her hand. “Don’t worry. I’m right here.”
They walked past three more rows. “Here are our seats. Would you like to sit
by the window?”
Debbie sat by the window and clenched her fists tightly. She kept her
eyes closed while the plane took off. After they were in the air, she opened her
eyes. The ride was very smooth. It felt just like riding in a car. She looked out
the window and saw buildings, roads, and farms through the clouds. It was fun
to see how small things looked. Debbie rested back against her seat and smiled
at her father.
He gave her a wink and squeezed her hand. “Grandma will be very glad to
see you.”
“Maybe we could fly out to see her every summer,” said Debbie.
Theme 5 Week 1 Across the Wide Dark Sea
1. Which is a clue that shows how
Debbie feels while waiting to board
the plane?
4. Which clue best shows how Debbie’s
feelings about flying have changed?
A She is frowning.
A She wants to fly to her Grandma’s
every summer.
B She watches the planes take off.
B She opens her eyes after takeoff..
C she stands near her father.
C She looks out the window at the
view.
D She holds her father’s hand.
D She wants her father to wait for her.
2. Which word best describes how
Debbie Feels at the beginning of the
story?
5. Which word best describes how
Debbie feels at the end of the story?
A happy
A worried
B bored
B bored
C worried
C upset
D dreamy
D relaxed
3. Which is a clue that shows how
Debbie feels as the plane takes off?
A She sits by the window.
B She clenches her fists and keeps her
eyes closed.
C She sits next to her father.
D She doesn’t get out of her seat.
Theme 5 Week 1 Across the Wide Dark Sea
6.Read this sentence from the story.
It was a long and terrible winter.
What is the subject pronoun in this
sentence?
A
long
B
terrible
C
winter
D
It
7.Read this sentence.
Some pilgrims began to ask why
we had left our safe homes to go
on this endless journey to an
unknown land.
8. What is a synonym for the word snatch?
A
pluck
B
snack
C
match
D
lurk
9. Which word could be either a noun or a
verb?
A
anchor
B
furl
C
weary
D
defend
10. Which of the following sentences
should have an exclamation mark?
Which answer gives the best meaning for
A
My father was calm and sure that we
would find the New World.
B
I stood on deck, watching the sailor
hauling on ropes and climbing in the
rigging.
C
One cold morning in March I
gathered firewood.
D
How I longed to run and jump and
climb.
the word endless as it is used in the
sentence?
A
about to end
B
without an end
C
coming to an end
D
not starting yet
Theme 5 Week 1 Across the Wide Dark Sea
11. Which pair of words do NOT have the
same vowel sound?
A
boot, spoon
B
grew, tooth
C
shook, chew
D
flew, drew
12. Which group of words is in alphabetical
order?
A
seeping, shelter, survive, swamps
B
seeping, survive, shelter, swamps
C
shelter, seeping, swamps, survive
D
seeping, shelter, swamps, survive
13. Which sentence is divided correctly
into its subject and predicate?
A
Snowflakes / danced in the wind.
B
Snowflakes danced / in the wind.
C
Snowflakes danced in / the wind.
D
Snowflakes danced in the / wind.
Theme 5 Week 1 Across the Wide Dark Sea
14.Read this sentence.
Yet the storms and sickness went
on.
What is the base word for the underlined
word?
A
ness
B
sickly
C
sickness
D
sick
15.How should the word settlement be
divided into syllables?
A
settle - ment
B
set - tle - ment
C
sett - le - ment
D
set – tlem - ent
16. What is the genre of the story Across
the Wide Dark Sea?
A
poetry
B
historical fiction
C
folktale
D
fantasy
Answer Key
Question
Number
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Correct
Answer
A
C
B
A
D
D
B
A
A
D
C
A
A
D
B
B
Standard
R 2.2, R 2.6, R 3.3
R 2.2, R 2.6, R 3.3
R 2.2, R 2.6, R 3.3
R 2.2, R 2.6, R 3.3
R 2.2, R 2.6, R 3.3
LC 1.2
R 1.6
R 1.4
LC 1.2
LC 1.1
R 1.1, LC 1.8
LC 1.9
LC 1.2
R 1.8
R 1.2
R 3.2
Theme 5 Week 1 Across the Wide Dark Sea