Read this selection. Then answer the questions that
follow it.
Visfltors at the Creek
it was again. Its long, graceful neck formed a small "s"
against the green leaves. It stood perfectly still. It reminded
Camille of one of those plastic statues that people put in their
There
gatdens. This time she was so close that she could almost touch
the crane . What a wonderful bird! Camille thought.
camille loved coming to the creek. she tried to spend time
here every day during the summer. She needed the time by
herself. Camille was the third child in a family of six children,
and she never had much time alone. Here, she could hear herself
think. The creek offered a taste of nature in the big city where
she lived. Without the creek, Camille might never see any of the
animals she loved.
The crane seemed to know this, too. It had been here almost
every day when Camille had ventured from home to be near the
water. On the first day the crane appeared, Camille thought she
had scared it away for good. At first, she had not seen it when
she walked along the edge of the creek. It was so still. When she
tripped over a stone and knocked it into the watet, the bird
spread its wings and lifted into the air. It flew so close that
Camille could have reached out and touched it.
Even though camille did not expect to see the bird the next
day, she walked carefully and quietly. She tried to be as quiet
as she could. Then, there it was-in the same place as the
day before!
Today, the crane did not notice camille at all. she watched as
it searched the shallow water for tiny fish. Watching the bird
look for food gave her an idea. Later that afternoon, Camille
went with her mother to the market.
"Mom," Camille said, "can we buy some fresh fish for
the crane?"
"Only if you don't buy too much. Fall is here, and the
crane should fly to a warmer climate soon. If you give it
too much food, it won't leave," replied her mom'
"I know, but I thought that the crane might need a
snack,,' answered Camille. They both laughed at the silly
thought. camille bought a small piece of catfish for the bird.
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That night, the weather turned cooler. Camille woke the next
morning and quickly threw on a sweater and ieans. She hurried
to the creek, afraid that she was too late. The crane might have
already left for a warmer Place.
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L1
12
Camille approached the spot where she and the crane first
met. She carried the fish from the market. The bird was there! It
bobbed its head toward her as if it were greeting her. Camille
took a bit of fish from the package and floated it on the water to
the bird. It snatched the bite and swallowed it quickly. Now; the
crane looked very interested.
Camille tossed another piece to the bird. To Camille's
surprise, the bird stepped closer this time. When she came to the
last bite of fish, Camille held it in her hand and reached out to
the bird. The crane looked worried, but stretched its long neck
and grabbed the fish right out of her hand. I am a lucky girl!
Camille thought to herself.
The following day was Sunday, and Camille could not go to
the creek. Her family was going to visit her grandmother. The air
was even colder than the day before. As the car turned onto the
busy road, Camille looked toward the sky. She could hardly
believe what she saw. There was the crane flapping its great
wings. Its neck and body formed a perfect "2" as it flew in the
air. The bird flew low to the ground and dipped its wing as if to
say goodbye. Then it headed south across the busy road.
13
Camille whispered, "See you hext yeaL"
Objective 1 (Word Order/Context)
L. What does the word ventured
mean in paragraPh 3?
0n
0g
0C
0n
ffi
@
ECS
Appeared
Chanced
Traveled
Reached
Objective 1 (Multiple-Meaning Word)
2. ln paragraph 3, the word lifted
means0 a carried
0 g took
0 c stole
0o
Learning systems, Inc. a'IAKS MASTER@ Power Practice, Reading, Grade 3
flew
Objective 2 (Characterizotion)
Objective 1 (Retelling Events)
6. How does the crane show that it
3. Why does Camille go to the
creek every day during the
trusts Camille?
summer?
0
A She wants to visit the crane
0g
0
0
C
0P
that lives near the water.
Thb creek is a quiet place
where she can think.
She does not like to spend
time with her family.
Her mother wants her to
take food to the crane.
A It stands very still beside
0
g
0
C
0
n
the water.
It takes a bite of food from
her hand.
It dips its wing to say
goodbye to her.
It flies away when she kicks
the stone.
Objective 3 (Order of Events)
Objective 2 (Cha racteri zation)
4. Which word best describes how
7. Camille gets the idea of buying
fish for the crane after-
Camille feels toward the crane?
0A
0g
0C
0n
0
A seeing the bird look for
Fearful
Kindly
0
n
Gratetul
Bored
0
C
0
n
food in the creek
taking to her mother at
the market
seeing the bird for the
first time
her family visits her
grandmother
Objective 2 (Setting)
5. Where is Camille when she sees
the crane for the last time?
0a
0g
0C
0o
In her backyard
Beside the creek
In the family car
Inside her house
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Power Practice, Reading, Grade
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Objective 4 (lnference)
Objective 3 (Forms of Text)
8. The author ProbablY wrote this
story
to-
0 A explain how to feed cranes
0 g list waYs to helP wild cranes
0 C describe how cranes live
in'cities
0 P tell about a girl who sees
a crane
11".
Why does Camille say that she is
a lucky girl?
0
A
0
B
0
C
0
o
She sees the crane
just
before it flies to the south.
The crane comes close
enough to eat from trer
hand.
Her mother lets her buy
fish to feed to the crane.
She is the only person who
knows about the crane.
Objective 3 (6enre Feotures)
9. This passage is an examPle
0n
0g
0C
0O
of-
poetry
Objective 4 (Supporting I nterpretation/Conclusion)
fiction
nonfiction
12. Which sentence from the story
shows that the crane is getting
used to Camille?
directions
0
A
fts long, graceful neck formed
a small " s" Against the green
leaves.
0
e
fts neck and body forrned a
perfect " 2" AS it flew in
the air.
Objective 4 (lnference)
0 C It
10. Why does the crane remind
Camille of a Plastic statue?
bobbed its head toward
her as if it were greeting her.
0
o
0 n The crane has a long neck.
0 g The crane moves very
slowlY.
0 C The crane stands verY still.
0 O The crane is near the creek.
ffi
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t TAKS MASTER@
power Practice, Reading, Grade 3
The crane mtght have already
Iefr for a warrner place.
STAAR MASTER'" Student Practice Book-Reading, Grade 3
Dlaek Jack
If you dare to walk in the light of the moon
You can be sure that he
will come soon.
\fith soft, silent paws and eyes yellow-bright
Itk Black Jack the Cat, the thief of the night.
The mice and the crickets, they all run away.
\flhen Black Jack is out, it's no time to play.
His strut is smooth, and his tail is a snake.
His teeth are like pins, and his claws like a rake.
You might try and trick him with a bowl of milk,
But he will trick you back with a purr like silk.
As soon as you
think that you've made a friend,
He will leap in the air and dart'round the bend.
As a thief of the night, he knows to be tough.
No time to be sweer, he prefers to be gruff
On dark nights alone, you musr keep out of sight
From Black Jack the Cat, the thief of the night.
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S
Standard 6 (Forms/lmagery) M
1.
Standard 6 (Forms/lmagery) M
"BlackJack" is an example
of a poem-
4. Read the line from the poem.
His strut is srnooth, and his tail
A that rhymes
B
is a snake.
about a hero
This line gives an exarnple
C about nature
D in a-'b-c order
Standard 6 (Forms/lmagery) M
2.
The poet compares BlackJack
the Cat ro-
A
IAAR MASTER'' Sndent hactice Booh-Reading, Grzde 3
a mouse
A
metaphor
B
personification
of-
C rhyme
D simile
Standard 6 (Forms/lrnageil M
5. \7hich words from the poem are
B a thief
an example of a simile?
C the moon
D the night
A No time to be sweet
B Dart Tound the bend
Standard 10 (Sensory Language) H
3. \7hich words from the poem
are connected to the sense
hearing?
C His teetb are lihe pins
D But he u.,ill trick you bach
of
A Silent paws
B
Leap
in
the
air
C Darh nights alone
D Light of the moon
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STAAR MASTER* Student Practice Booh-Reading Grade 3
Standard 4 (Antonyms/Synonyms) L
6.
Read the lines from the poem.
S.RC.D (lnferences) H
8. \Vhy do the mice run away?
As a thief of the night, he knows
to be tough.
A Because they like ro tease
No time to be sweet, he prefers
to be gruff,
B
\fhich word means the opposite
of gruff?
A Alone
B Dark
C Sweet
D Tough
Standard 5 (Paraphrase Themes/Details) H
7. \7hat is the poett main message
in the poem?
A Cats come out at night.
B Cats make good friends.
Black Jack
Because rhey are trying to
catch the crickets
C
Because they are afraid the
cat will catch them
D
Because rhey do not stay
out at night like cats do
S.RC.D (lnferences) H
9.
The words "if you dare" in the
first line tell the reader that the
poem
will
describe
somethirg-
A childish
B dangerous
C dull
D funny
C Cats are like ot-her animals.
D Cats can be triclcy and clever.
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