4th Grade ELAR Bridging Assessment, Block 1 Lesson 17
Some questions (c) 2014 by STAAR Test Maker.
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The Happy Little Man
by Helen Gothrup
Reprinted with permission from Highlights for Children, Inc.
1 Mr. Feliz liked to sing and whistle and turn cartwheels on his lawn. All the children
in the neighborhood would come to watch him and to listen to his wonderful stories.
2 Two ladies who lived next door used to watch Mr. Feliz, too. As they peeked out
from their window, they often wondered what made him so happy.
3 "That man is happier than he has a right to be," Mrs. Ceno would growl. "He should
be more like me."
4 Miss Malos agreed. "There's something mighty strange about someone who is
always smiling and happy."
5 "He leaves the house every afternoon at three," said Mrs. Ceno. "Let's follow him
tomorrow and find out where he goes."
6 The next day they did just that. When Mr. Feliz left his house at three o'clock, Mrs.
Ceno and Miss Malos followed him down the street. When he stopped at the bus stop,
they stopped there, too. When he got onto the bus, they got onto the bus. And when he
got off, the ladies got off after him.
7 Mrs. Ceno and Miss Malos saw Mr. Feliz go through the entrance to a big red-andwhite-striped tent. But when they tried to follow him, the man at the door said, "Sorry,
ladies, you can't get into the circus without tickets."
8 "A circus!" said Miss Malos. "Now what would Mr. Feliz be doing at a circus?"
9 The ladies decided to find out, so they bought tickets and went into the tent.
10 Soon the circus began. There were acrobats and jugglers. There were lions and
elephants. There were trained seals, bareback riders, and a man who walked on tall, tall
stilts. Last of all came the clowns. Everyone cheered, and all the children laughed and
clapped their hands.
1 1 The funniest clown had bright red hair. He wore a polka-dot suit, big shoes, and
bright purple socks. He pounded on a big drum, stood on his head, and turned a
cartwheel. Everything he did made the people laugh and clap more. Even Mrs. Ceno and
Miss Malos had to smile.
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12 Soon the circus was over, and everyone poured out of the striped tent. It had begun
to rain, so Mrs. Ceno and Miss Malos hurried to the bus as fast as they could go. They
hopped aboard just as the driver was starting up the bus. Then they heard a shout,
"Wait for me, please."
13 There was Mr. Feliz, running along so fast that he didn't see a big puddle on the
sidewalk. Slip, slide, and down he went! But he wasn't hurt. He scrambled to his feet and
climbed aboard the bus, laughing to himself.
14 But Miss Malos and Mrs. Ceno were not laughing. They were too surprised to laugh.
1 5 "When Mr. Feliz fell down, did you see his socks?" Mrs. Ceno asked.
16 "Yes, I did," answered Miss Malos. "Bright purple, just like the clown's socks."
17 "Well, that must be his secret," said Mrs. Ceno. "He is happy all the time because he
is a clown."
18 And Miss Malos agreed.
19 But they were only partly right. If they had asked Mr. Feliz the secret of his
happiness, he would have told them. He knows that you do not have to be a clown to be
happy; you just have to want to make others happy—and you will find that makes you
happy, too.
From: Highlights, Vol. 36, Number 6, Issue No. 369 (June-July, 1981):
Pgs. 48-49.
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1
How are the children and the ladies alike?
A They both watch Mr. Feliz.
B They both follow Mr. Feliz to the circus.
C
They both listen to Mr. Feliz's stories.
D They both laugh at Mr. Feliz.
2 Mrs. Ceno and Miss Malos are —
F
curious about Mr. Feliz's happiness.
G
angry with Mr. Feliz.
H amused when Mr. Feliz falls.
J
3
excited to see the circus.
If Mr. Feliz ever spoke to Mrs. Ceno and Miss Malos, what might he tell them about
happiness?
A Happiness comes from being around children.
B Happiness comes from making yourself happy.
C
Happiness comes from being a clown.
D Happiness comes from making others happy.
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4 Why did the author write this story?
F
To teach readers about circus performers
G
To teach readers about true happiness
H To entertain readers with a funny story
J
5
To show readers how neighbors behave
Which sentence from this story shows that Mr. Feliz likes to entertain the children in the
neighborhood?
A All the children in the neighborhood would come to watch him and to listen to his
wonderful stories.
B He wore a polka-dot suit, big shoes, and bright purple socks.
C
"There's something mighty strange about someone who is always smiling and
happy."
D Mr. Feliz liked to sing and whistle and turn cartwheels on his lawn.
6 The author helps the reader to understand why Mr. Feliz is happy all the time by —
F
providing the words to his songs.
G
telling how he entertains people.
H describing his circus clothing.
J
listing all of his clown tricks.
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