SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Grade 04 Unit 04 Assessment B
Informational & Literary Reading: Life in Colonial America
Reading Standards: RL.4.4, RL.4.5, RL.4.6, RI.4.4, RI.4.9
(RI.4.1, RI.4.2, RL.4.1, RL.4.2)
Name __________________________________________________________
Date_____________________
Directions: Read the following article and answer the questions within and
after the text.
The Mayflower Compact
Adapted from Ellen Donohue Warwick
The passengers on the Mayflower had things
in common. They all hoped to find freedom. But
Mayflower passengers also had many differences.
Some were religious Separatists and wanted to be
free from The Church of England. Other people
called Strangers were families and servants. The
Mayflower was crowded and uncomfortable. It is
not surprising that fights broke out.
1.) What is the main idea of this first paragraph? (RI.4.2)
The main idea is ________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
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The day after land was seen, a mutiny, or an argument broke out on
the Mayflower. Some Strangers “began making discontented speeches.” They
were very angry. They said that when they got on shore, they would do as they
pleased. In other words, the Strangers said that they would be free to do what
they wanted. They would not have to answer to colony rules.
2.) What is the meaning of the word discontented?
(RI.4.4)
a) unhappy
b) crazy
c) joyful
What clues did you use to find the meaning of the word?
The clues I used were _____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
The argument made many people think that it
would not be safe if they didn’t work together. So
someone wrote an agreement for both sides to
follow. The agreement asked people to work
together and it was signed on the ship. This
agreement was called the “Mayflower Compact.”
Many Americans think it was one of the most important agreements for our
government. It said that the power to govern comes from the people.
3.) Why is the “Mayflower Compact” considered important? Give specific
details. (RI.4.3, RI.4.1)
The “Mayflower Compact” is important because _________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
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Directions: Read the following fictional passage. Answer the questions that follow.
“Helen! Come here!” my father shouted to me across the ship. Today I was
playing with a new friend, Sarah, at the end of the deck. We were looking at the
tiny piece of land we saw yesterday. After so many days of staring at water, we
were so happy to finally see land. We had spent the morning talking about what
we would do when we get off of this ship.
“Helen!” my father shouted again. Something was wrong. Sarah and I walked
quickly. We heard loud, angry shouts coming from other men.
“None have the power to command us!” shouted a man. Then other men
shouted back. I squeezed Sarah’s hand. I wondered why they were so mad. We
were so close to land it seemed silly to be fighting now.
“The Strangers will answer to no one!” shouted another voice. What was
happening? The men appeared to be fighting about who would govern us when
we stepped off the ship and onto on to the new land.
4.) Who is telling the story?
a) Helen
b) Sarah
c) The father
How do you know? I know because ________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Why might the author have chosen to tell the story in this point of view?
(RL.4.6)
The author chose to use this point of view because __________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_
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5.) Describe the physical and emotional setting of this passage.
(RL.4.3)
The physical setting of this passage is ______________________________
________________________________________________________________
The emotional setting of this passage is _____________________________
________________________________________________________________
6.) How does the informational text, “Mayflower Compact,” that you read on
the first page, help you understand this piece of historical fiction? Use
evidence from both sources to support your answer. (RI.4.9)
Go back and read the first passage on page 1.
From reading the Mayflower Compact I learned that___________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
It helped me to understand the fictional passage because______________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
ELA-Grade04-Unit04-Lev B
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