Comprehension Questions for
Progress Monitoring
AIMSWEB Reading Passages
Grade 5
E
F
I
MI
SEQ
V
C/E
Evaluation
Fact
Inference
Main Idea
Sequential
Vocabulary
Cause/Effect
Prepared by: CAIU
January, 2008
Comprehension Questions - Aimsweb
Grade 5, Passage 4
___ (MI)
1. What is this passage about?
(a boy who discovers his aunt’s library has elves)
___ (F)
2. Where did the library elves live?
(behind the books on the shelves in the library)
___ (V)
3. What does the word blustery mean?
(windy, any reasonable answer)
___ (F)
4. What kind of book was Alex looking for?
(a book about airplanes)
___ (I)
5. Why did Alex tumble from the ladder?
(he was surprised when the elf spoke to him)
___ (V)
6. What did Alex mean when he said to the elf, “I owe you
one”?
(Alex would return the favor, any reasonable
answer)
___ (F)
7. What did the elf ask Alex to do?
(read the book to him)
___ (V)
8. What does the word cushy mean in this sentence:
‘Then he sat down in a cushy chair in front of the fire….’?
(comfortable, soft, etc.)
___ (I)
9. Why do you think the elves wanted Alex to read to them?
(because they didn’t know how to read, they were too
small to hold the books, any reasonable answer)
___ (E)
10. Do you think Alex enjoyed his experience? Why/why not?
(yes – he read long into the night, he read the whole
book, any reasonable answer)
Comprehension Questions - Aimsweb
Grade 5, Passage 5
___ (MI)
1. What is this passage about?
(a boy named Brandon who loves outer space)
___ (C/E) 2. Why is Brandon like a walking, talking space computer?
(he knows all about the solar system, planets, sky, stars,
etc.)
___ (C/E) 3. How does Brandon find out information about space?
(he reads lots of books, stories, magazines, watches
shows and movies)
___ (F)
4. What did Brandon use to make models of the planets?
(clay)
___ (F)
5. What does Brandon hope to be someday?
(an astronaut)
___ (C/E) 6. Why does he want to explore Mars?
(to hunt for water, find out what kind of life might live
there, learn why it’s called a red planet – any 2)
___ (F)
7. What would life be like in Brandon’s giant space colony?
(people from different countries living there in peace and
harmony, jetting around in flying saucers)
___ (I)
8. Why would Brandon dream about outer space?
(because he thinks about it all the time, etc.)
___ (I)
9. Do you think Brandon will achieve his fantasy of building or
living in a giant space colony one day? Why/why not?
(any logical answer with support)
___ (V)
10. Right now he is painting a huge poster depicting the Big
Dipper and the Little Dipper. What does the word depicting
mean?
(showing, representing)
Comprehension Questions - Aimsweb
Grade 5, Passage 6
___ (MI)
1. What was this passage about?
(a boy named Chuck who wanted to make a paper
airplane)
___ (C/E) 2. What made Chuck an excellent student?
(attentive to teachers, kind to classmates, sat quietly on
bus)
___ (F)
3. Where did Chuck’s family live?
(next to an airport)
___ (C/E) 4. What gave Chuck the idea to make a paper airplane?
(listening to the planes fly over his house at night)
___ (C/E) 5. Why did Chuck become frustrated?
(his first plane didn’t turn out right, wouldn’t soar)
___ (C/E) 6. Why was Chuck anxious to visit the library?
(to get books on airplanes and flying machines)
___ (F)
7. What was Chuck imagining during class that afternoon?
(he was a jet that could fly, he was a brave, daring pilot)
___ (I)
8. Why was Chuck’s teacher worried about him?
(he had been daydreaming during class, he usually paid
attention)
___ (I)
9. Why did she make a paper airplane for him?
(she liked him, she wanted to teach him how to do it, etc.)
___ (V)
10. It flew through the air, but it didn’t soar. What does soar
mean?
(fly upwards, rise)
Comprehension Questions - Aimsweb
Grade 5, Passage 7
___ (MI)
1. What was this passage about?
(a girl named Fanny who catches a cold)
___ (F)
2. What is Fanny like?
(has no patience, wants everything now, stubborn)
___ (C/E) 3. Why didn’t Fanny’s mother want her to walk to school?
(Fanny had a sore throat, wet hair, mother didn’t want her
to get sick)
___ (C/E) 4. Why did Fanny disobey her mother?
(she didn’t think she’d get sick, she wanted to get there
sooner)
___ (I)
5. In what season did this story take place? How do you
know?
(winter – it was wintry, windy, sleeting and snowing)
___ (C/E) 6. What did Fanny have to do to get better?
(stay in bed, take medicine)
___ (C/E) 7. Why did Fanny want to get better right away?
(she had things to do, places to go, people to see)
___ (F)
8. What did Fanny’s mother say she must do to get well?
(be patient, wait for her body to get well, take a nap)
___ (I)
9. Do you think her impatience made Fanny a happy person?
Why/why not?
(any logical response with support)
___ (V)
10. “I don’t want your sore throat to turn into a cold, Fanny,” she
told her pouting daughter. What does pouting mean?
(sulk, mope)
Comprehension Questions - Aimsweb
Grade 5, Passage 8
___ (MI)
1. What is this passage about?
(planning a school carnival)
___ (F)
2. What will the fifth grade students do to prepare for the
carnival?
(decorate the hallways, hang streamers, balloons,
ribbons, lights)
___ (I)
3. What types of decorations might the main hallway have?
(western items ie. cowboy gear, horses, etc.)
___ (F)
4. How many games will the carnival offer?
(over thirty)
___ (C/E) 5. How will players win the game called “Tower”?
(by building the tallest standing towers from straws,
cotton-balls, and pipe cleaners)
___ (F)
6. What choices will the face painting area offer?
(glittered butterfly, Martian, flowers, clowns, superheroes
– any 2)
___ (F)
7. What types of prizes will be available at the carnival?
(at least 2 mentioned in the passage)
___ (I)
8. Does the menu for the carnival offer mostly junk food? How
do you know?
(no – they have fruit, carrots, salad, juice, milk)
___ (I)
9. If you were planning a carnival, what types of decisions
would you have to make?
(decorations, games, food, prizes, date, time, etc.)
___ (V)
10. Each hallway will be decorated in a theme.
What does theme mean in this sentence?
(idea, subject, style, etc.)
Comprehension Questions - Aimsweb
Grade 5, Passage 9
___ (MI)
1. What was this passage about?
(a squirrel storing acorns for the winter)
___ (I)
2. What season is it? Name 2 clues that help you know.
(fall – it’s October, leaves falling, ducks/geese flying
south, bears preparing to sleep, chimney smoke, people
wearing sweaters/coats, winter is coming)
___ (F)
3. What was happening to Squirrel’s body as winter
approached?
(fur growing thicker, body storing fat)
___ (C/E) 4. Why did Squirrel need to store so many acorns for the
winter?
(they were his favorite food, he ate them for every meal, it
would be hard to find food – any 2)
___ (F)
5. What did Squirrel do with the acorns he found?
(dropped them in his nest, a hole in the tree)
___ (F)
6. Where did Squirrel find acorns?
(lying on the grass, hanging in trees, buried in the ground
– any 2)
___ (C/E) 7. How did Squirrel know where he had buried his acorns over
the summer?
(he would try different places but sometimes he forgot
where they were)
___ (C/E) 8. Why would it be hard to find acorns once winter came?
(snow might cover them)
___ (I)
___ (V)
9. Why is it important to prepare for the future?
(any logical response)
10. He’d scurry up the tree with his newfound treasure and put it
in his cozy nest. What does scurry mean?
(run quickly, scamper)
Comprehension Questions - Aimsweb
Grade 5, Passage 10
___ (MI)
1. What was this passage about?
(a boy who was bored, had to clean his closet)
___ (C/E) 2. Why couldn’t Norman play outside?
(it was raining)
___ (C/E) 2. Why couldn’t he watch TV?
(the power went out)
___ (F)
3. What did Norman’s mother suggest he do?
(tidy up room, clean out his closet)
___ (F)
4. How did Norman keep his closet door closed?
(with a large wooden block)
___ (C/E) 5. What kept Norman from just pretending to clean his closet?
(his mother came into the room)
___ (C/E) 6. What happened when Norman opened the closet door?
(doorframe creaked, junk fell on top of him)
___ (F)
7. Describe the closet after the junk fell out.
(smelled bad, dark, dreary, mysterious)
___ (I)
8. Why did Norman think the job could be an adventure?
(because something interesting might be hiding in there)
___ (I)
9. What do you think might be inside Norman’s closet? Would
that be real or imaginary?
(any logical response)
___ (V)
10. Why do you think the author used the word wave in this
sentence: Norman was pushed back by the wave of
forgotten junk he’d jammed into his closet.
(the junk fell out like an ocean wave hitting him)
Comprehension Questions - Aimsweb
Grade 5, Passage 11
___ (MI)
1. What was this passage about?
(a boy who didn’t have money for candy, got a job in the
candy store)
___ (F)
2. When did the kids go to the candy shop?
(on the way home from school)
___ (C/E) 3. Why did Kirby follow his friends?
(sometimes they gave him a piece of candy, he liked to
look at the candy)
___ (F)
4. What kinds of candy were sold in the shop?
(chocolate kisses, licorice sticks, jelly beans, peanuts,
candy corn)
___ (I)
5. Who made all the candy?
(the old man who owned the shop)
___ (I)
6. Why did Kirby tell the shop owner that he didn’t have a
sweet tooth? Did the owner believe him?
(he was embarrassed that he didn’t have any money so
he said he didn’t like candy much - no)
___ (C/E) 7. Why did the old man give Kirby a job in his shop?
(to help him earn money)
___ (C/E) 8. Why did the old man insist that Kirby try his sweets?
(to see if his friends would like it, to give him a chance to
eat candy)
___ (I)
9. Do you think Kirby will ever admit to the old man that he
really likes candy? Why or why not?
(any logical response with support)
___ (V)
10. He was practically bald… What does practically mean?
(almost, nearly, just about)
Comprehension Questions - Aimsweb
Grade 5, Passage 12
___ (MI)
1. What is this passage about?
(a woman who makes clay pots)
___ (F)
2. For what purpose was Maria making her pots?
(everyday use, cooking, carrying water, eating, drinking)
___ (F)
3. When did Maria make her pots?
(every afternoon)
___ (F)
4. Where did Maria’s clay come from?
(red cliffs in the nearby desert)
___ (I)
5. Why did Maria have to make every pound of clay count?
(because she had to hike several miles to get it and carry
it home on her shoulders, she didn’t want to waste any)
___ (F)
6. How did she decorate her pottery?
(black glaze, black and white designs, shapes of birds
and animals)
___ (C/E) 7. Why did people come to visit Maria when she was older?
(to see her work, to learn from her, she was famous)
___ (C/E) 8. Why did Maria teach the children how to make pottery?
(she wanted them to learn her skills, she wanted them to
enjoy art)
___ (I)
___ (V)
9. How did you picture the setting of the story (time and
place)? What gave you that impression?
(small village near desert, past – people carry water, she
gets clay from cliffs, must carry it, bakes pots in kiln in the
earth, etc.)
10. Maria made serving bowls so delicate the shadow of a hand
could be seen through their sides. What does the word
delicate mean?
(easily broken, thin)
Comprehension Questions - Aimsweb
Grade 5, Passage 13
___ (MI)
1. What was this passage about?
(two boys explore an attic, find a trap door that takes
them into the past)
___ (F)
2. What is the attic like?
(creepy, full of junk, spider webs)
___ (C/E) 3. How did the boys end up in a stone hallway?
(Jeff bumped the bookshelf and a trap door opened)
___ (F)
4. What did they find as they walked along the hallway?
(darkness, a large room with a golden chair, two other
kids)
___ (I)
5. Why were the kids’ clothes weird?
(one wore a gown, one wore a tunic, they wore crowns –
any 2)
___ (C/E) 6. Why do you think the boys looked scared?
(the bookshelf disappeared, they didn’t know how they’d
get out, they thought they had traveled back in time)
___ (C/E) 7. How did their new friends make them feel safe and
welcome?
(said they’d show them around and the way out,
introduced them to their family, taught them about their
life– any 2)
___ (I)
8. Was this story real or fantasy? How do you know?
(fantasy – people can’t travel back in time)
___ (I)
9. Would you like to be able to travel back in time? Why or
why not?
(any logical response with support)
___ (V)
10. Our new found friends were very hospitable.
What does hospitable mean?
(friendly, kind to guests)
Comprehension Questions - Aimsweb
Grade 5, Passage 14
___ (MI)
1. What was this passage about?
(a girl who gets up early to feed the calves)
___ (F)
2. Where does Jane live?
(on a farm)
___ (I)
3. What season is it in the story?
(winter)
___ (F)
4. Who is awake at Jane’s house at 4:30 A.M.?
(Jane and her dad)
___ (C/E) 5. Why do the baby calves bawl when they see Jane?
(they’ve learned that when Jane shows up she will feed
them)
___ (F)
6. How does Jane feed the calves?
(fills big plastic bottles with warm milk and props them on
her hip)
___ (F)
7. What other jobs does Jane have on the farm?
(milks cows, feeds chickens, shovels manure)
___ (I)
8. Why do Jane and her dad have to get up so early to feed the
animals?
(animals are hungry, it takes a long time, she must finish
before school, etc.)
___ (I)
9. Why do you think Jane enjoyed feeding the calves better
than feeding the chickens?
(any logical response with support)
___ (V)
10. Sometimes a little calf would buck, and Jane would jump
back and laugh. What does buck mean in this sentence?
(jump and kick)
Comprehension Questions - Aimsweb
Grade 5, Passage 15
___ (MI)
1. What was this passage about?
(a girl who hears the voice of a tree in the forest)
___ (F)
2. Who owned the forest land?
(Fern’s father)
___ (C/E) 3. Why was Fern worried about the voices she heard?
(only outlaws and criminals would dare trespass, they
might kidnap her)
___ (C/E) 4. Why did Fern peek to see who was talking?
(she was curious)
___ (F)
5. Where did the voice come from?
(a tree)
___ (F)
6. What did the tree’s face look like?
(ancient woman, carved in the bark, wise eyes)
___ (C/E) 7. Why was the tree talking to herself?
(she was lonely)
___ (F)
8. What did the tree offer to do for Fern?
(fan her with its branches)
___ (I)
9. What did the tree mean when she said, “How could one
plant hurt another?
(Fern is also the name of a plant)
___ (V)
10. Just then a tree branch swooped down and blocked Fern’s
retreat. What does retreat mean?
(escape, withdrawal)
Comprehension Questions - Aimsweb
Grade 5, Passage 16
___ (MI)
1. What was this passage about?
(a girl who sees a unicorn)
___ (F)
2. Where did June see the unicorn?
(outside her bedroom window, in her backyard)
___ (I)
3. Why do you think June was practical and smart but not
imaginative?
(both her parents were scientists)
___ (C/E) 4. How did June know she wasn’t imagining the unicorn?
(she never made things up, didn’t believe in magic, make
believe, or luck)
___ (C/E) 5. Why didn’t June tell her parents about the unicorn?
(they would think she’d been dreaming)
___ (F)
6. What did June do just before the bus came?
(went to look for the unicorn in her backyard)
___ (C/E) 7. Why did June miss her bus?
(she became so caught up with searching)
___ (F)
8. What did the unicorn look like?
(beautiful, white, silver mane, golden hooves – any 2)
___ (I)
9. How do you think June should accept the ride from the
unicorn? Why?
(any logical response with support)
___ (V)
10. So she didn’t say a word and vowed to look for the unicorn
herself as soon as she gets a chance. What does vowed
mean?
(promised)
Comprehension Questions - Aimsweb
Grade 5, Passage 17
___ (MI)
1. What is this passage about?
(a boy who gets picked up by the stars one night)
___ (C/E) 2. Why did Ned have trouble falling asleep?
(the stars shone brightly through his window and glared in
his eyes)
___ (F)
3. What are constellations?
(groups of stars that form pictures in the sky)
___ (F)
4. Which constellation glowed the brightest that night?
(the Big Dipper)
___ (C/E) 5. Why didn’t Ned care how he looked in his pajamas?
(everyone else on the block was sleeping, no one would
see him)
___ (F)
6. What pictures did Ned see as the stars began to move?
(a galloping horse, a man swinging a sword at other stars)
___ (F)
7. What did the Big Dipper do?
(dipped down and picked Ned up, took Ned to Jupiter)
___ (I)
8. What did Ned see on Jupiter?
(a huge storm on one side)
___ (E)
9. Do you think Ned will tell his friends about his experience
with the stars? Why/why not?
(any logical response with support)
___ (V)
10. A cluster of stars that looked like a horse galloped across
the sky and hurdled the moon. What does hurdled mean?
(jumped over)
Comprehension Questions - Aimsweb
Grade 5, Passage 18
___ (MI)
1. What was this passage about?
(a person describing the home of a neighbor)
___ (I)
2. In what season does this story take place? How do you
know?
(winter/Christmas – houses are decorated with lights,
etc.)
___ (F)
3. Where is the older woman’s house located?
(a block away on a corner lot)
___ (F)
4. What decorates the trees in the woman’s front yard?
(lights, popcorn, berries, and pinecones – any 2)
___ (I)
5. How does the narrator know what the woman’s house looks
like inside?
(she has invited him in for cocoa a few times)
___ (F)
6. What does the old woman look like?
(long gray hair wrapped in a bun, wise, green eyes)
___ (C/E) 7. What makes a beautiful sound inside the house?
(the cat bells as they run around the house)
___ (I)
8. How old do you think the narrator is? Why?
(older teen or adult – can walk alone at night)
___(I)
9. Why do you think the woman has so many cookies on her
countertops?
(she plans to invite many friends in to visit)
___ (V)
10. The colors usually vary from house to house. What does
vary mean?
(differ)
Comprehension Questions - Aimsweb
Grade 5, Passage 19
___ (MI)
1. What is this passage about?
(a girl who visits her great aunt for the weekend)
___ (C/E) 2. Why did Velvet go to stay with her great aunt?
(her parents both had to work)
___ (F/I)
3. Where does Auntie live? Is it in the city or country?
(in a stone cottage, near a stream - in the country)
___ (F)
4. Where was Auntie’s friend Jack when Velvet arrived? Why?
(on the roof, cleaning out her chimney)
___ (C/E) 5. Why did Jack almost fall off the roof?
(he did a little dance)
___ (I)
6. Did Auntie use her best teacups for tea?
(yes, it was her finest china)
___ (F)
7. What does Auntie suggest they do with themselves for the
weekend?
(weed the garden, dress up and see a show, chase
fireflies, ride a horse bareback – any 2)
___ (C/E) 8. Why does Auntie invite Velvet over on the weekends?
(she wants to feel like a young girl again)
___ (E)
9. Do you think Auntie will really teach Velvet how to ride
bareback? Why/why not?
(probably not, she’s just kidding, she might get hurt, etc.)
___ (V)
10. Viola chipped her teacup, but she only shrugged and took
another gulp. What does shrugged mean?
(lifted her shoulders, meaning “oh well”)
Comprehension Questions – Aimsweb
Grade 5, Passage 20
___ (MI)
1. What is this story about?
(a boy who chops down a tree)
___ (C/E) 2. Why were the fires smoky?
(the wood was wet and moldy)
___ (F)
3. Who did Alvin live with?
(his uncle)
___ (I)
4. Why was Alvin sad that he couldn’t find any dry wood?
(he wouldn’t get anything to eat, there would be no fire,
any reasonable answer)
___ (F)
5. What had Alvin forgotten?
(his uncle’s ax)
___ (I)
6. Who spoke to Alvin in the woods?
(the tree)
___(E)
7. Why do you think she called him ‘Alvin the Great’?
(if he could chop down the tree, he must be very strong;
he would help all the villagers; any reasonable answer)
___ (V)
8. What is meant by the sentence:
“A strange music filled his ears”?
(the sound of the ax hitting the tree was loud, any
reasonable answer)
___ (V)
9. What part of your body is the brow?
(forehead, eyebrow, etc.)
___ (C/E) 10. Why won’t Alvin starve?
(he cut down enough wood to supply his uncle for the
winter)
Comprehension Questions – Aimsweb
Grade 5, Passage 21
____(MI)
1. What is this story about?
(a boy and his dad that look at stars, that find a new
comet)
___ (V)
2. What does a telescope do?
(makes things far away look bigger, magnifies, etc.)
___ (F)
3. What was Pedro’s father’s job?
(to look at the stars, a scientist, an astronomer, etc.)
___ (I)
4. Why do you think Pedro’s father smiled when Pedro knew
Mercury was the hottest planet?
(he was proud of his knowledge, any reasonable answer)
___ (F)
5. What was Pedro’s father’s dream?
(to discover a comet)
___ (I)
6. Who actually discovered the comet?
(Pedro)
___ (V)
7. What is a light year?
(the distance light travels in one calendar year)
___ (F)
8. What is the comet’s tail made out of?
(ice)
___ (C/E) 9. Why did Pedro’s dad call the other observatories?
(the tell them about the comet, h is discovery, etc.)
___ (I)
10. Why did people look at the comet the next night?
(to see the newly discovered comet, any reasonable
answer)
Comprehension Questions – Aimsweb
Grade 5, Passage 22
___ (MI)
1. What is this story about?
(a boy who tries to catch a snowflake in his mouth)
___ (V)
2. What word(s) mean the opposite of graceful?
(clumsy, awkward, etc.)
___ (F)
3. What did Oscar walk into when he tried to catch a
snowflake?
(light posts, parked cars, fire hydrants, other kids – any 2)
___(E)
4. Why do you think Oscar had difficulty catching snowflakes?
(any reasonable answer)
___ (F)
5. Why did Oscar want to catch a snowflake?
(to see what they tasted like)
___ (F)
6. What did someone throw into Oscar’s mouth?
(an eraser)
___ (C/E) 7. How did Oscar react?
(he spit it out, he just kept trying to catch a snowflake, any
reasonable answer)
___ (V)
8. What is a synonym for resumed?
(continued, etc.)
___ (F)
9. When did Oscar finally catch a snowflake?
(at the end of recess)
___ (C/E) 10. How do you know recess was over?
(the bell rang)
Comprehension Questions – Aimsweb
Grade 5, Passage 23
___ (MI)
1. What is this story about?
(a rabbit that travels)
___ (I)
2. Is this story fiction or non fiction? How do you know?
(fiction; rabbits don’t read, talk, etc.; any reasonable
answer)
___ (V)
3. What is a synonym for hovel?
(home, den, etc.)
___ (F)
4. What does Reginald pack in his bag?
(clothes, food, money – any 2)
___ (I)
5. How does Reginald feel about his friends?
(he thinks they were just ‘regular’, any reasonable
answer)
___ (F)
6. What kinds of transportation did Reginald use?
(bus, plane, taxi, train, boat – any 2)
___ (F)
7. Where do rabbits usually ride on an airplane?
(in the cargo area, etc.)
___ (I)
8. Why couldn’t Reginald understand the people in the other
country?
(they spoke another language)
___ (E)
9. About how long do you think Reginald was traveling?
(several days, a few weeks, any reasonable answer)
___ (F)
10. How does Reginald feel about traveling?
(he liked it, but he missed his friends)
Comprehension Questions – Aimsweb
Grade 5, Passage 24
___ (MI)
1. What is this story about?
(a mountain that protects a village)
___ (I)
2. Is the mountain very high? How do you know?
(yes; the top is ringed with clouds)
___ (V)
3. What is another way to say ‘the flank of the mountain’?
(the side, the slopes, etc.)
___ (I)
4. Why did the people of the village believe that they lived in
the best place in this world?
(the mountain protected them from the wind, the lake
provided them with fresh water and fish, the mountain
protected them – any 1)
___ (F)
5. How did the village give thanks to the mountain?
(they had a feast, they danced, etc.)
___ (F)
6. How did Santo know something wasn’t right?
(he felt the earth tremble)
___ (F)
7. What else happened that made Santo you think something
was going to happen?
(he saw a puff of smoke from the top of the mountain)
____ (V)
8. What is a squeal?
(a loud yell, etc.)
___ (I)
9. What does the family plan on doing later that day?
(have a celebration)
___ (C/E) 10. What do you think is happening to the mountain?
(it’s a volcano, it will erupt, any reasonable answer)
Comprehension Questions – Aimsweb
Grade 5, Passage 25
___ (MI)
1. What is this story about?
(little girls having a tea party, girls who learn to accept
others)
___ (V)
2. What does the word venture mean?
(to go, etc.)
___ (I)
3. How old do you think Susanna is?
(any reasonable answer)
___ (F)
4. What did the bears and dolls do after the tea party?
(took a nap)
___ (F)
5. Who is never invited to the tea parties but always shows up?
(Miss Debbie)
____(F)
6. Why do the children dislike Miss Debbie?
(she never brings anything to the parties, she comes
uninvited)
___ (F)
7. Why don’t the children want Shelly to join them?
(they don’t think she’ll fit in)
___ (V)
8. What does the phrase turn up her nose mean?
(snubbed, show dislike for, etc.)
___ (E)
9. Why do you think the children decided to allow Shelly to join
them?
(any reasonable answer)
___ (E)
10. What made the girls start to ask Miss Debbie to their
parties?
(any reasonable answer)
Comprehension Questions – Aimsweb
Grade 5, Passage 26
___ (MI)
1. What is this story about?
(sisters who enjoy their creek, any reasonable answer)
___ (I)
2. Where does the family live?
(on a farm)
___ (F)
3. What do the sisters do at the creek?
(have picnics, watched cows in the pasture, wade in the
water, looked for rocks and snail shells, fished, caught
frogs, skated – any 3)
___ (F)
4. What do the girls make fishing poles out of?
(fallen branches and safety pins)
___ (V)
5. What is a synonym for snicker?
(laugh, giggle, chuckle, etc.)
___ (I)
6. Why doesn’t Susan want to go back to school?
(she enjoys being at the creek, any reasonable answer)
___ (F)
7. Why do her sisters say Susan can’t stay at the creek year
round?
(it gets cold in the winter, she wouldn’t have time for
anything else)
___ (I)
8. What other things might Susan miss doing if she stayed at
the creek year round?
(any reasonable answer)
___ (V)
9. What does the phrase get carried away mean?
(let her imagination take over, doesn’t think rationally, any
reasonable answer)
___ (F)
10. What happened that made the girls stop their conversation?
(Susan caught a fish)
Comprehension Questions – Aimsweb
Grade 5, Passage 27
___ (MI)
1. What is this story about?
(a girl who saves a baby bird, any reasonable answer)
___ (F)
2. Where are the woods located?
(behind Alicia’s house)
___ (F)
3. How old is Alicia?
(10 yrs. old)
___ (E)
4. Why do you think her parents insisted she stay on the path?
(so she wouldn’t get lost, hurt; any reasonable answer)
___ (F)
5. What made Alicia think something was different that day?
(the birds’ songs seemed nervous, the squirrel chattered
anxiously – both responses)
___ (F)
6. What did the squirrel want her to do?
(follow him into the woods)
___ (E)
7. Why do you think Alicia followed the squirrel?
(she trusted the squirrel, she sensed something was
wrong, any reasonable answer)
___ (V)
8. What does inspect mean?
(to look at carefully, any reasonable answer)
___ (F)
9. How did Alicia help the baby bird?
(she returned him to his nest)
___ (E)
10. Do you think this could have really happened? Why or why
not?
(any reasonable answer with support)
Comprehension Questions – Aimsweb
Grade 5, Passage 28
___ (MI)
1. What is this story about?
(a boy who thinks the milkman is a spy)
___ (I)
2. How old is Alex?
(ten or eleven)
___ (F)
3. Why did Alex think the milkman was a spy?
(he found a note in code, the milkman looked suspicious,
the milkman had access to everyone’s house, any
reasonable answer)
___ (E)
4. Do you think the milkman had access to the president? Why
or why not?
(any reasonable answer with support)
___ (V)
5. What does the following sentence mean:
“He knew the fate of the whole world rested on his
shoulders ?”
(any reasonable answer)
___ (F)
6. What did Alex do so he could spy on the milkman?
(built a fort near his side porch)
___ (V)
7. What are binoculars?
(apparatus that magnify images at a distance, any
reasonable answer)
____(F)
8. How did the milkman know where Alex was?
(he saw him in the bushes)
___ (I)
9. Why was Alex shocked when a note fell out of the milkman’s
pocket?
(he thought it was a secret message, any reasonable
answer)
___ (E)
10. Do you think Alex will continue to think the milkman is a
spy? Why or why not?
(any reasonable answer with support)
Comprehension Questions – Aimsweb
Grade 5, Passage 29
___ (MI)
1. What is this story about?
(a boy who wants to climb a tall tree)
___ (E)
2. Why do you think Charles wanted to climb the tree?
(it was a challenge, any reasonable answer)
___ (V)
3. What does Charles mean when he says he will touch the
sky?
(he will climb all the way to the top of the tree, any
reasonable answer)
____ (I)
4. What kind of tree is this? How do you know?
(a pine tree – the story said there were dried needle stuck
in his hair)
___ (V)
5. What does felt his stomach roll mean?
(his stomach felt upset, he felt nervous, etc.)
___ (E)
6. It seems as if Charles is unsure about continuing up the tree
at one point. Why do you think he decides to keep on going?
(any reasonable answer)
___ (V)
7. Describe what shimmy would look like.
(any reasonable description that would include wiggling,
trying to get through a small spot, etc.)
___ (E)
8. Why did Charles decide he’d gone far enough the second
time he stopped?
(he was scared, etc.)
___ (V)
9. What does predicament mean?
(a difficult situation, any reasonable answer)
___ (E)
10. Do you think Charles will attempt to climb the tree again?
Why or why not?
(any reasonable answer with support)
Comprehension Questions – Aimsweb
Grade 5, Passage 30
___ (MI)
1. What is this story about?
(a rabbit who saves a caterpillar)
___ (E)
2. Why do you think Rabbit opened the door?
(he was curious, any reasonable answer)
___ (V)
3. How would you describe the rabbit?
(greedy, insensitive, selfish, rude - 2 descriptors)
___ (F)
4. Who else had the rabbit helped that winter so far?
(mice, badger)
___ (I)
5. Why did the rabbit trade firewood for carrots?
(rabbits like carrots, any reasonable answer)
___ (I)
6. Why did the rabbit use his shabbiest blanket for the
caterpillar?
(he was not very caring, etc.)
___ (I)
7. How did the rabbit feel about helping the caterpillar?
(not very happy, any reasonable answer)
___ (F)
8. What is the caterpillar’s name?
(Ginger)
___ (V)
9. What does dreary mean?
(not cheerful, drab, etc.)
___ (E)
10. Why do you think the caterpillar feels the rabbit will call him
Ginger?
(they will become friends, any reasonable answer)
Comprehension Questions – Aimsweb
Grade 5, Passage 31
___ (MI)
1. What is this story about?
(a birthday surprise, etc.)
___ (F)
2. What is the date?
(May 12th)
___ (I)
3. How many brothers does Vincent have?
(none)
___ (I)
4. Why was Vincent sad as he walked to is bike?
(his mother hadn’t wished him a happy birthday)
___ ( F)
5. What did Vincent find tied to his handlebars?
(a note, a clue)
___ (F)
6. Who gave Vincent his first clue?
(his neighbor, Bill Watson)
___ (V)
7. What does the phrase peddled like a madman mean?
(pedaled quickly, etc.)
___ (E)
8. Why do you think Bill didn’t say anything to Vincent?
(he didn’t want to give away the secret, any reasonable
answer)
___ (I)
9. How many clues did Vincent receive in all?
(12)
___ (F)
10. Where did the last clue lead Vincent to?
(his house, the kitchen, etc.)
Comprehension Questions – Aimsweb
Grade 5, Passage 32
___ (MI)
1. What is this story about?
(a boy trying to stop some boys from bullying him, any
reasonable answer)
___ (F)
2. What is the name of the town?
(Windset)
___ (F)
3. How old are the boys in this story?
(13 yrs. old)
___ (F)
4. How could someone join the bully’s group?
(by placing a penny on the railroad tracks and having the
train flatten it)
___ (F)
5. What made this dangerous?
(putting the penny on the tracks late enough so the
vibrations wouldn’t shake the penny off, but not getting hit
by the train)
___ (E)
6. Why would other boys want to join Seth’s group?
(any reasonable answer)
___ (I)
7. What were the flattened pieces of copper that Seth and his
friends wore around their necks?
(pennies flattened by a train)
___ (I)
8. What season is it?
(winter)
___ (E)
9. Why do you think Jonathan changed his mind?
(any reasonable answer)
___ (E)
10. What would you have done?
(any reasonable answer)
Comprehension Questions – Aimsweb
Grade 5, Passage 33
___ (MI)
1. What is this story about?
(a boy who meets a polar bear)
___ (F)
2. Where did Zachary learn that polar bears lived?
(the Arctic Circle)
___ (I)
3. How did Zachary feel about coming face to face with the
polar bear?
(scared, surprised, etc.)
___ (V)
4. What does bellowed mean?
(roared very loudly, etc.)
___ (E)
5. Why do you think the polar bear bellowed at Zachary?
(to scare him, any reasonable answer)
___ (F)
6. What did Zachary keep repeating?
(“Oh my stars.”)
___ (E)
7. How do you think the polar bear knew what to do with the
sled?
(any reasonable answer)
___ (V)
8. What does daintily mean?
(carefully, delicately, etc.)
___ (E)
9. What did the bear say as he flew down the hill?
(“Oh my stars!”)
___ (E)
10. Could this story really happen? Give two examples to
support your answer.
(any reasonable responses that are mentioned in the
story)