Answer Key
Grade 3
Practice Test
,
•Plight of the Polar Bear
•Giant Pandas
© Learning A–Z All rights reserved.
www.readytesta-z.com
Grade 3: Answer Key
Practice Test
1. What is the most likely reason the author
D
included this map with the text?
A
B
C
D
Incorrect. Though it is cold near the North
Pole, people use maps to see where places
are located, not how cold it is in those places.
3. What is the main idea of paragraph 6?
Correct. This map shows where polar
bears live.
Incorrect. Though the map does show the
North Pole, the North Pole is not mentioned
in the text, so this is unlikely to be the reason
why the map was included. However, the
Arctic, which is also on the map, is mentioned
several times in the text as a place where
polar bears live.
Incorrect. Though maps do show most of
the world is covered with water, that is not
the most likely reason this map was included.
Think about which places mentioned in the
text also appear on the map and how seeing
where these places are located helps readers
better understand the text.
A
Incorrect. Though polar bears do have
blubber, this is not the main idea.
B
Incorrect. Though polar bears do hunt seals
far out to sea, this is not the main idea.
C
Correct This is the main idea of paragraph
6. The rest of the paragraph includes details
that support this idea.
D
Incorrect. Though polar bears do use their
paws like paddles, this is not the main idea.
4. Part A
Which word or phrase has the same meaning
as transparent?
2. Part A
A
Incorrect. This is not what transparent
means. There are clues to the meaning of the
word transparent in the sentences near this
word in the passage.
B
Incorrect. This is not what transparent
means. There are clues to the meaning of the
word transparent in the sentences near this
word in the passage.
C
Incorrect. This is not what transparent
means. There are clues to the meaning of the
word transparent in the sentences near this
word in the passage.
D
Correct. This is what transparent means.
Which two statements are main ideas for the
passage “Built to Survive”?
A
Correct. This tells what one of the sections
in this passage is mostly about.
B
Incorrect. This does not tell what a section
in this passage is mostly about.
C
Incorrect. This does not tell what a section
in this passage is mostly about.
D
Correct. This tells what one of the sections
in this passage is mostly about.
Incorrect. This detail does not support one
of the main ideas.
4. Part B
Which phrase from the text helps readers
understand the meaning of the word
transparent?
Part B
Which two details support the main idea from
Part A?
A
A
B
Incorrect. This is a main idea, not a detail.
Correct. The context clue for “each strand of
hair is transparent” is “this clear fur.”
B
C
Correct. This detail supports one of the
main ideas.
Incorrect. Though “the Arctic” is mentioned,
this is not the phrase that helps readers
understand the meaning of the word
transparent.
Correct. This detail supports one of the
main ideas.
© Learning A–Z All rights reserved.
1 of 6
www.readytesta-z.com
Grade 3: Answer Key
C
D
Practice Test
Incorrect. Though “bears’ black skin” is
mentioned, this is not the phrase that helps
readers understand the meaning of the word
transparent.
Incorrect. Though “severe conditions” are
mentioned, this is not the phrase that helps
readers understand the meaning of the word
transparent.
C
D
Correct. Adult giant pandas eat alone.
E
Correct. Adult giant pandas mark their home
area.
Incorrect. Adult giant pandas have already
learned how to survive.
6. Part A
What is the main idea in the “Food and Feeding”
section?
5. Part A
Which two choices describe a giant panda
at birth?
A
B
Correct. This is the main idea for this section.
Incorrect. This is not what this section is
mostly about.
A
Correct. Giant pandas are tiny when they
are born.
C
B
Correct. Giant pandas are blind when they
are born.
Incorrect. This is not what this section is
mostly about.
D
C
D
Incorrect. Only adult pandas eat alone.
Incorrect. This is not what this section is
mostly about.
E
Part B
Incorrect. Giant pandas learn how to survive
when they are a little older.
Which three details support the main idea from
Part A?
Incorrect. Only adult giant pandas mark their
home area.
Part B
Which of the following describes a giant panda
in the first two years of its life?
A
Incorrect. Giant pandas are only tiny when
they are born.
B
Incorrect. Giant pandas are only blind
at birth.
C
D
Incorrect. Only adult pandas eat alone.
E
Incorrect. Only adult giant pandas mark their
home area.
A
Correct. This is a detail that tells about what
and how a panda eats.
B
Correct. This is a detail that tells about what
and how a panda eats.
C
Incorrect. This is a detail that does not tell
about what and how a panda eats.
D
Incorrect. This is a detail that does not tell
about what and how a panda eats.
7. Part A
Correct. This is when giant pandas learn how
to survive.
Which two statements describe how an adult
panda tells other pandas to stay out of its
home area?
A
Incorrect. Though giant pandas do eat that
much bamboo, this is not how they tell other
pandas to stay out of their home area.
B
Incorrect. Though giant pandas do spend that
much time eating, this is not how they tell
other pandas to stay out of their home area.
C
Incorrect. Loud noises can be scary, but
there is nothing in this text to suggest that
Part C
Which two choices describe an adult giant panda?
A
Incorrect. Giant pandas are only tiny when
they are born.
B
Incorrect. Giant pandas are only blind at
birth.
© Learning A–Z All rights reserved.
2 of 6
www.readytesta-z.com
Grade 3: Answer Key
D
Practice Test
giant pandas make loud noises to keep other
pandas out of their home area.
A
Incorrect. The chart does not show this. The
chart compares the size of two kinds of bears.
Incorrect. Though adult giant pandas do
teach this to their cubs, this is not how adult
pandas tell other pandas to stay out of their
home area.
B
Incorrect. The chart does not show this. The
chart compares the size of two kinds of bears.
C
Correct. The chart shows that giant pandas
are smaller than grizzly bears, so they are not
really “giant” bears.
D
Incorrect. The chart does not show this. The
chart compares the size of two kinds of bears.
E
Correct. This is one way giant pandas tell
other pandas to stay out of their home area.
F
Correct. This is one way giant pandas tell
other pandas to stay out of their home area.
9. Part A
7. Part B
Based on the text, which is the most likely reason
why adult pandas need to keep other pandas
away from their home area?
Read this sentence about giant pandas: They are
so rare and endangered that they have become a
symbol of the effort to protect Earth’s animals. What
does endangered mean?
A
Incorrect. There is nothing in the text to
support this answer.
A
B
Correct. This is the best inference based on
the text.
Incorrect. This is not what endangered
means. There are clues to the meaning of the
word endangered in the sentences near the
word in the passage.
C
Incorrect. There is nothing in this text to
suggest that giant pandas need to protect
their young from other pandas.
B
D
Incorrect. There is nothing in this text to
suggest that adult pandas do not see well.
Incorrect. This is not what endangered
means. There are clues to the meaning of the
word endangered in the sentences near the
word in the passage.
C
D
Correct. This is what endangered means.
8. Part A
What new information does this picture of an
outline of a giant panda inside the outline of a
grizzly bear show?
A
B
C
Incorrect. This information is not true.
D
Incorrect. This information is already in
the text.
Incorrect. This is not what endangered
means. There are clues to the meaning of the
word endangered in the sentences near the
word in the passage.
Part B
Correct. This information is only in the chart.
Which two phrases from the text help readers
understand the meaning of the word endangered?
Incorrect. This information is already in
the text.
A
Correct. This is one of the context clues to
the meaning of the word endangered in
the sentence.
B
Incorrect. Though this detail is in the text,
it is not a clue to the meaning of the word
endangered.
C
Incorrect. Though this detail is in the text,
it is not a clue to the meaning of the word
endangered.
8. Part B
Which is the best explanation for why the author
included this chart and caption?
© Learning A–Z All rights reserved.
3 of 6
www.readytesta-z.com
Grade 3: Answer Key
Practice Test
D
Incorrect. Though this detail is in the text,
it is not a clue to the meaning of the word
endangered.
D
Incorrect. Though this is a detail in the text,
it does not help readers understand the
meaning of “vulnerable to predators.”
E
Incorrect. Though this detail is in the text,
it is not a clue to the meaning of the word
endangered.
E
Correct. Leopards and wild dogs are two
predators that will kill young pandas for food.
F
Incorrect. Though this is a detail in the text,
it does not help readers understand the
meaning of “vulnerable to predators.”
F
Incorrect. Though this detail is in the text,
it is not a clue to the meaning of the word
endangered.
G
Incorrect. Though this detail is in the text,
it is not a clue to the meaning of the word
endangered.
H
11. Part A
Which three statements describe giant pandas?
Correct. This is one of the context clues to
the meaning of the word endangered in
the sentence.
A
B
Correct. Giant pandas eat mostly bamboo.
C
Incorrect. The text states that giant pandas
eat mostly bamboo. There is nothing in the
text to support the idea that giant pandas
hunt other animals for food.
D
Correct. Giant pandas live in the mountains
of China.
E
Correct. Giant pandas need to eat a lot of
food to survive.
10. Part A
Based on what you read in the text, what does
the phrase “vulnerable to predators” mean?
A
Incorrect. This is not what “vulnerable to
predators” means.
B Incorrect. This is not what “vulnerable to
predators” means.
C
Incorrect. This is not what “vulnerable to
predators” means.
D
Correct. This is what “vulnerable to
predators” means.
Part B
Which three statements describe polar bears?
Part B
Which two phrases from the text help readers
understand the meaning of “vulnerable to
predators”?
A
Correct. They are vulnerable to predators
because they are so helpless.
B
Incorrect. Though this is a detail in the text,
it does not help readers understand the
meaning of “vulnerable to predators.”
C
Incorrect. Though this is a detail in the text,
it does not help readers understand the
meaning of “vulnerable to predators.”
© Learning A–Z All rights reserved.
Incorrect. There is nothing in the text to
support the idea that giant pandas can swim.
4 of 6
A
Incorrect. There is nothing in the text
to support the idea that polar bears eat
bamboo.
B
C
Correct. Polar bears are excellent swimmers.
D
Incorrect. Polar bears do not live in China.
They live in the Arctic.
E
Correct. Polar bears need to eat a lot of food
to survive.
Correct. Polar bears hunt seals and other
animals for food.
www.readytesta-z.com
Grade 3: Answer Key
Practice Test
12. You have read two texts about bears. Write an essay that compares and contrasts giant pandas and
polar bears.
Explain two ways giant pandas and polar bears are alike.
Explain two ways giant pandas and polar bears are different.
Use details from both texts in your response.
Scoring Rubric
4
The response gives full evidence of the ability to locate, select, interpret, and integrate information from
the two texts to explain two ways giant pandas and polar bears are alike and two ways they are different.
The response includes the effective use of facts and details from the texts to support the main ideas
such as
• Both are bears.
• Both need to eat a lot of food to survive.
•They look different: Giant pandas have black and white fur. Polar bears look white, but their fur is
really transparent.
•They live in different parts of the world: Giant pandas live in the mountains of China. Polar bears live
in the Arctic.
• They eat different things: Giant pandas eat mostly bamboo. Polar bears eat seals and other animals.
3
The response gives sufficient evidence of the ability to locate, select, interpret, and integrate information
from the two texts to explain two ways giant pandas and polar bears are alike and two ways they are
different.
The response provides uneven use of facts and details from the texts to support the main ideas and flaws
are present.
2
The response gives partial evidence of the ability to locate, select, interpret, and integrate information
from the two texts to explain one or two ways giant pandas and polar bears are alike and one or two
ways they are different.
The response provides uneven use of facts and details from the texts to support the main ideas, and flaws
are present.
1
The response is related to the topic (to compare and contrast giant pandas and polar bears) but provides
little or no focus with minimal use of facts and details from the texts.
0
A response gets no credit if it is vague and/or includes no relevant information from the text to show the
student understands ways that giant pandas and polar bears are alike and different.
© Learning A–Z All rights reserved.
5 of 6
www.readytesta-z.com
Grade 3: Answer Key
1.A
B C D
Practice Test
7.Part A
A B C D E F
2.Part A
A B C D E F
Part B
A B C D
Part B
A B C D E F
3.A B C D
4.Part A
A B C D
Part B
A B C D
5.Part A
A B C D E
Part B
A B C D E
Part C
A B C D E
6.Part A
A B C D
Part B
A B C D
© Learning A–Z All rights reserved.
8.Part A
A B C D
Part B
A B C D
9.Part A
A B C D
Part B
A B C D E F G H
10. Part A
A B C D
Part B
A B C D E F
11. Part A
A B C D E
Part B
A B C D E
12. Constructed Response
6 of 6
www.readytesta-z.com