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4 English Language Arts
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To the Student
New York Ready™—English Language
Arts Practice is a review program for the
New York State Testing Program English
Language Arts Test. In this practice test, you
will respond to 66 ELA items (57 multiplechoice, 7 short-response, and 2 extendedresponse). Most of these items ask you
about literary and informational passages
you will read. Others ask about a literary
selection you will listen to. The practice
passages and items are similar to those you
will find on the New York Testing Program
English Language Arts Test.
Becoming familiar with the test format
will help you succeed on the New York State
Testing Program English Language Arts Test.
Your teacher will explain how you will do
the practice test and how to record your
answers. Be sure to follow the directions
for the practice test. As you complete the
practice test, read or listen to the passages
and answer the questions carefully. Record
your answers in your book. Remember
to write out your answers or fill in the
answer bubbles completely. If you change
an answer, you must erase your first answer
fully.
While you work on the practice test, use
the Testing Tips below. Read these helpful
tips carefully. They can make you a better
test-taker.
Testing Tips for Answering
Multiple-Choice Questions
• Read each question carefully before you
try to answer it.
• Be sure you know what the question is
asking you to do.
• Read all the answer choices before you
choose your answer. Cross out any
answer choices that you know are wrong.
Then, fill in the correct answer bubble.
• Read the question one more time. Then
check that your answer makes sense.
CONTENTS
Practice Test
Book 1: Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Book 2: Listening. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Book 3: Reading/Writing. . . . . . . . . . 36
Answer Form. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Illustration Credits:
Leslie Alfred McGrath: pages 39, 40
Susan Hawk: page 30
Photo Credits:
Page 7: Muellek Josef/Shutterstock.com
©2012—Curriculum Associates, LLC
North Billerica, MA 01862
No part of this book may be reproduced by any means
without written permission from the publisher.
All Rights Reserved. Printed in USA.
15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
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Book 1
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Read this story. Then answer questions 1 through 5.
The Cookie Calamity
by Felipe McCarthy
“This is going to be fun,” thought Michael. His class was finishing a unit
about family traditions. For the final project, they could bring in a food
connected to their heritage.
After school, Michael told his friend Alex, “I’m going to make linzer tarts.
My great-grandmother brought the recipe over from Germany.”
“What are linzer tarts?” asked Alex.
“They’re sandwich cookies with raspberry filling. You put powdered sugar
on top. Why don’t you come over to my house tomorrow and help me make
them?”
“This will make two dozen cookies,” Michael’s mom explained. “You’ll
have enough for everyone in the class.” She helped them gather ingredients
and equipment. Then, after showing them how to grate the lemon peel, she
told them, “I’ll be in the yard if you need me.”
Michael and Alex measured and mixed. Soon they had made the dough. “This says it has to chill in the refrigerator for an hour!” said Alex. “Let’s shoot some hoops while we wait.”
In an hour, Michael’s older sister, Louise, was home from school. She helped them roll out the dough and cut it.
©
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Alex agreed. The next afternoon Michael’s mother got out the recipe for
them. First, she showed them the recipe. It was written on thin paper that
had been folded and refolded many times. The ink had faded to a pale blue.
1
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Go On
Book 1: Reading
Alex looked at the recipe. “This says we need to make circles in the middle
of the top cookie. But we don’t have to do that. We could make squares, ovals,
anything.”
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“Alex, linzer tarts are supposed to show my heritage,” Michael reminded
him. “The top cookie always has circles.”
“OK, but next time let’s cut out animal shapes.”
They rolled and cut half the dough. Louise helped them put the first batch
into the oven. “Be sure to use mitts when taking them out. Call me if you need
help.”
The first batch of linzer tarts was cooling while the second batch baked. The
boys could wait no longer. “Let’s add the jam and powdered sugar and taste
one,” urged Michael. “Oh, Mom forgot to get the sugar out of the cupboard.
This must be it in this glass jar.”
After filling two cookies and sprinkling them with sugar, the two boys bit
into their cookies. A startled look came over their faces. “Yuck, these are
awful!” complained Alex. “They taste like chalk.”
“Something’s wrong,” replied Michael. “They don’t usually taste like this. I think it’s the powdered sugar.”
Just then Michael’s mom came back into the kitchen. Glancing at the open
glass jar, she groaned. “Did you put this on the cookies? This is cornstarch.”
©
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Michael sighed with relief. “It’s a good thing we sprinkled the cornstarch on
only two cookies. We can finish the rest right and still have enough for the
whole class.”
Book 1: Reading
2
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1 Read this sentence from the story.
Then, after showing them how to grate the lemon peel, she told them, “I’ll be in the
yard if you need me.”
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Which meaning best fits the way “grate” is used in this sentence?
A
B
C
D
to rub against with a harsh, scraping noise
to grind together with a rasping sound
to grind to pieces by rubbing
to annoy with one’s actions
2 Read these sentences from the story.
It was written on thin paper that had been folded and refolded many times. The ink had
faded to a pale blue.
Based on the description, the reader can conclude that the recipe was
A
B
C
D
written down long ago
dropped in the dough
not used very often
recently copied from a book
A
B
C
D
“They rolled and cut half the dough. Louise helped them put the first batch into the oven.”
“‘Let’s add the jam and powdered sugar and taste one,’ urged Michael.”
“‘OK, but next time let’s cut out animal shapes.’”
“After filling two cookies and sprinkling them with sugar, the two boys bit into their
cookies.”
Go On
©
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3 Which sentence from the story best shows that Alex wants to make the cookies again?
3
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Book 1: Reading
4 Here is a diagram about the character Michael.
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Confident
about
cooking
Michael
Proud
of his
heritage
Enthusiastic
about the
project
Which of the following belongs in the empty circle?
A
B
C
D
Friendly to a classmate
Bossy toward a classmate
Stingy with a classmate
Shy around a classmate
A fantasy story
B magazine article
©
C myth
D real-life story
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5 This passage is most like a
Book 1: Reading
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Read this article. Then answer questions 6 through 11.
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A Soggy Situation at
Center Valley Elementary School
by Carter Folks
“We knew that section of the school roof needed to be replaced. We just
hoped it would last one more year. I guess our luck ran out.”
—Principal Erica Foster
The sun is shining. Flowers are blooming. Joggers and walkers are taking
to the streets of Center Valley once more. The unwelcome rains that pounded
the area last week are a fading memory. At least, they are for most people. But
for those of us who attend Center Valley Elementary school, the rains are hard
to forget.
During the worst of the storm, large holes opened up in the roof over the old
part of the school.
Ceilings in several classrooms were ruined. Desks, chairs, and books in
Mr. Janwitz’s fifth-grade classroom and Mrs. Ortez’s third-grade classroom
were soaked. Principal Foster said some classes will have to be combined until
the roof is fixed.
The worst water damage was in the old gym. Principal Foster said that the
school board will decide whether or not to replace the wood floors there. The
old gym is not used for sports events anymore. Principal Foster thinks that
spending a lot of money on the old gym makes no sense.
The old music room also suffered water damage. Three years ago, when the
new school addition was built, the old music room became a meeting room.
Since then, many school groups, including the newspaper staff, have been
meeting there each week. Teachers often used it to meet with students and
Go On
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“I’m not surprised,” fourth-grade student Paula Murray said. “Every time it
rained, that part of the roof leaked. Mr. Elliot had to put big buckets up and
down the hall to catch drips. Then he had to put those yellow warning signs up
so we wouldn’t slip.”
5
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Book 1: Reading
parents. These meetings are being rescheduled. Principal Foster is asking all of us to be
patient. “We will do our best,” she said. “It’s hard to find a place and work out a time for every
group. I just hope everyone understands.”
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Principal Foster also said that repairs on the old part of the roof will start next week. The
$35,000 cost will be covered by the school’s emergency repair fund.
New Club Meeting Schedule
(All meetings are in Room 6, Floor 2)
Group
Day
Time
Book Club
Mon.
3:30–4:30
Math Club
Mon.
4:30–6:00
Newspaper
Tues.
3:15–5:00
Computer Club
Wed.
3:30–4:30
Young Inventors
Wed.
5:00–6:30
Science Fair
Thurs.
3:30–5:30
6 Paula Murray was not surprised by what
7 Why is it hard for students at Center
happened because
Valley Elementary to forget the
rainstorm?
A her own home was damaged in
©
school roof.
B They can’t go out for recess.
C Teachers have to move parent
meetings.
D The old gym is not used anymore.
Curriculum Associates, LLC Copying is not permitted.
A There are big holes in the
the storm
B big rainstorms are common in
Center Valley
C the roof was not yet finished
D the roof leaked before the storm
Book 1: Reading
6
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8 Which of these statements from the article is an opinion?
A
B
C
D
“The unwelcome rains that pounded the area last week are a fading memory.”
“Principal Foster said some classes will have to be combined until the roof is fixed.”
“The old gym is not used for sports events anymore.”
“The $35,000 cost will be covered by the school’s emergency repair fund.”
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9 Rick is in the Math Club and the Young Inventors Club. He also works on the newspaper.
According to the New Club Meeting Schedule, on which days will Rick be at school after
5:00 p.m.?
A
B
C
D
Mondays and Tuesdays
Tuesdays and Wednesdays
Mondays and Wednesdays
Mondays and Thursdays
10 Read the chart below.
Harm Done to School Building
ceilings ruined
desks, chairs, and books soaked
?
A
B
C
D
new school addition built
rains pound the area
repairs cost $35,000
wooden floors damaged
11 The author most likely wrote this article in order to
A
B
C
D
entertain readers with a story about a storm
teach readers how to repair a damaged building
inform readers about what happened to a school
convince readers to pay for the building repairs
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Curriculum Associates, LLC Copying is not permitted.
Which phrase best completes the chart?
7
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Go On
Book 1: Reading
D
irections
Read this story. Then answer questions 12 through 16.
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The Sad Princess
by Wendy Smith
Long, long ago in a far off land, a young
princess lived in a magnificent castle surrounded
by a moat. She had all the riches she could ever
want, and yet she was sad.
magnificent = wonderful
Wait! That’s not quite true. First, it was only six or seven years ago. And the
land wasn’t that far away. It was near Chicago. She did have a magnificent
home. But it wasn’t a castle surrounded by a moat. It was an enormous stone
house on Lake Michigan. And she wasn’t sad. She was miserable.
One day, the king and queen talked about their daughter’s gloomy mood.
(Actually, they were very nice, rich people, but slightly out of touch with the
real world.)
“How could she be unhappy?” the king asked. “She has every toy a child
could want. She has the most beautiful clothes money can buy. She has people
waiting on her every command. She has her own television, movie theater,
bowling alley, and skateboard park. She has no right to be sad!”
“How could that be?” the king shouted. “She has her own waiters, her own
chefs, her own private tutors, her own personal dresser, and her own flying
horse. How could she be lonely with so many people around to take care of her?”
“I think she needs friends her age,” the queen said.
“Friends?” the king questioned.
“Why? I never needed playmates.”
“Times have changed,” the
queen said. “Kids today need
friends.”
Book 1: Reading
©
The king loved his daughter
and did not want her to be
unhappy. “Well, then,” he said,
“get her some friends.”
Curriculum Associates, LLC Copying is not permitted.
The queen said, “I think she’s lonely.”
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“It’s not that easy,” the queen said. “You can’t just go out and hire friends
like you hire tutors and chefs. People like to choose their own friends.”
“That means we have to let her outside to play,” the king said. “But she can
get hurt out there. And she’ll get dirty. Dirt has germs that can make her sick.”
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“She’ll survive,” the queen said. “Most kids do, you know.”
“I have a better idea,” the king said.
A few days later, the king visited the princess in her tower room. (Really, it
was the entire third floor of the house.)
“Your mother and I realize you need friends,” the king said. “So I’ve sent out
a notice to the entire neighborhood, seeking friends for you.”
The princess stared in wonder. “Father,” she said, “thank you, but that was
not a great idea.”
“Why not?” the king asked.
“Because kids don’t make friends that way,” the princess said.
“Well, we’ll see,” the king said. “Please come to the main living room in
one hour.”
Toward the end of the second hour, the princess got bored. She wandered over
to the living room window, where she saw a girl and boy laughing and playing
ball on the lawn. They looked like they were having so much fun. Because no one
in the room was paying any attention to her, she slipped out the side door.
“Did you come to meet me?” she asked the girl and boy, who suddenly
looked worried.
“No, our ball bounced over your fence, and we climbed over to get it,” the
boy said.
“Will you tell the king?” the girl asked.
“I won’t tell if you let me play ball with you,” the princess said, smiling gently.
“Okay,” the girl said. “My name’s Beth, and this is Joey. What’s your name?”
“Samantha,” the princess answered. “I hope we can be friends.”
“Sure, Sam!” Joey and Beth said.
Samantha smiled. She felt happier than she had in ages.
©
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The princess was even more miserable than before as she stood watching a
parade of girls, brought by their mothers,
auditioning to be her friends. She knew that not
auditioning = trying out
one of these girls was interested in her as a person.
All they wanted was a rich friend and a way inside the castle.
9
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Go On
Book 1: Reading
12 This story is most like a real-life story because it
A
B
C
D
tells about a lonely girl in a big house
mentions a flying horse
pretends the parents are a king and queen
uses words such as “magnificent” and “gloomy”
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13 What is the princess’ main problem in the story?
A
B
C
D
She is lonely and needs friends.
She is poor and wants to live in a castle.
She is worried that she might become ill.
She is out of touch with the real world.
14 What will probably happen after this story ends?
A
B
C
D
Samantha, Beth, and Joey will become friends.
The king will demand that Samantha come inside.
Samantha will tell the king that Beth and Joey are on the lawn.
The queen will find a friend for the princess.
A girl lives with her parents.
A girl is sad about her life.
A girl has a flying horse.
A girl lives in a big stone house.
©
A
B
C
D
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15 Which event from the story shows something make-believe?
Book 1: Reading
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16 Here is a chart about important events in the story.
THE SAD PRINCESS
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The king learns why the princess is sad.
The king sends a notice to all the neighbors.
A parade of girls audition for the princess.
?
Which event completes the chart?
The princess gets bored.
The princess becomes even more unhappy.
The princess tells her father that kids don’t make friends that way.
The princess wishes she could play with Beth and Joey.
Go On
©
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A
B
C
D
11
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Book 1: Reading
D
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Read this article. Then answer questions 17 through 22.
Taming the Mighty Vortex
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by Simon Samuels
Vortex. Sounds a little spooky, doesn’t it? It’s a word you might expect to
read in a science-fiction book. But if you’ve ever seen a toilet flush or watched
leaves spinning on the sidewalk, then you have seen a vortex.
A vortex is, quite simply, spinning gas or
liquid. Some kinds of storms are very large
vortices = plural of vortex
vortices. A vortex in the form of a tornado or
hurricane can be powerful, even terrifying.
But you can tame the mighty vortex right in your own home or classroom. A vortex cannon launches a vortex of spinning air out of a hole in a container.
Follow the directions below to make your own small vortex cannon.
What You Need for the Cannon:
• A shoebox
• A pair of scissors
• Plastic wrap
• Tape
• Baby powder
Step 1: Cut a hole in the bottom of the shoebox. The hole should be about three
inches across, or at least as big as the top of the baby powder container.
Step 2: Cut a piece of plastic wrap large enough to cover the top of the shoebox.
Step 3: Stretch the plastic wrap tightly over the top of the shoebox and tape it
to the sides.
Step 4: Put the top of the baby powder container into the hole and squeeze
some powder into the box.
Step 5: Put the box on a flat surface such as a table and hold it down with one hand.
Step 6: With your other hand, tap the plastic wrap gently but firmly.
©
A ring of air will puff out of the hole in the box. The baby powder will make the
ring visible. It may look like a spinning donut, flying through the air.
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How You Build the Cannon:
Book 1: Reading
12
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What You Do with the Cannon:
Now, test your vortex cannon. Try to knock down a house of cards or a stack
of paper cups. Now that you know how a vortex cannon works, you can make
one of almost any size. The bigger the container, the bigger (and mightier) the
vortex.
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17 What should you do right after you
20 What information can be found under the
stretch a piece of plastic wrap over the
top of the shoebox?
heading “What You Do with the Cannon”?
A
B
C
D
A Tape the plastic wrap to the sides of
the box.
B Put baby powder into the box.
C Tap the plastic wrap to make a ring
of air appear.
D Cut a hole in the bottom of the box.
why to make a vortex cannon
how to build the vortex cannon
what parts are in the vortex cannon
how to test the vortex cannon
21 By looking at the picture, the reader
can see
A how a vortex works in nature
B what the finished vortex cannon
18 Which item do you use in Step 5?
baby powder
shoebox
tape
plastic wrap
looks like
C all of the tools needed to make a
vortex cannon
D why vortices look as they do
22 Why did the author most likely write
19 In which steps of “Taming the Mighty
Vortex” do you use a pair of scissors?
A
B
C
D
1 and 4
2 and 5
2 and 4
1 and 2
this article?
A
B
C
D
to scare the reader with a story
to convince readers to study weather
to give information about storms
to teach readers a fun activity
Go On
©
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A
B
C
D
13
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Book 1: Reading
D
irections
Read this retelling of a story. Then answer questions 23 through 27.
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Rip Van Winkle
Once upon a time, there was a village at the foot of the Catskill Mountains.
The village was very old. A man named Rip Van Winkle lived on a farm in the
village. His house looked worn and needed many repairs. Instead of working
on his farm, Rip liked to fish and hunt. He also liked to sit for hours in the
shade and talk with his dog Wolf.
Rip was a kind, friendly man who liked to help his neighbors. His kindness
made him popular with people in the village. The one person Rip was not
popular with was his wife. Dame Van Winkle had a sharp tongue. She nagged
Rip to make repairs on their farm, but Rip only shook his head and looked up
at the sky.
Book 1: Reading
14
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©
Life in the Village
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based on the story by Washington Irving
A Long Walk in the Mountains
One fine autumn day, Rip Van Winkle took a long walk in the Catskill
Mountains. He heard a voice from far away call out his name. He was surprised
to see a strange little man. The stranger had thick bushy hair and a beard. He
was a short, stocky fellow dressed in old-fashioned clothes. He carried a big
barrel on his back. He wanted Rip to help him carry the barrel.
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Rip and the little man took turns carrying the heavy barrel. As they walked,
Rip heard the rolling sound of far-off thunder. The sound seemed to come from
a glen, or deep pass in the mountain. At last they came to an open place. Rip
was surprised by what he saw. A group of little men, all dressed like the
stranger, were bowling. Whenever they rolled the bowling balls, the sound
echoed in the mountains like low rumbles of thunder.
The bowlers stopped playing and stared at Rip. They said nothing to him.
Rip’s heart pounded and his knees shook. Soon they opened the barrel and
poured the contents into big cups and jugs. Rip took several sips of the tasty
drink, and soon he fell sound asleep.
Back to the Village
23 Read this sentence from the story.
24 What detail does the author use to show
that a long time has passed?
Th
e sound seemed to come from a
glen, or deep pass in the mountain.
A Rip Van Winkle wakes up alone on
the mountain.
B Rip Van Winkle wakes up with a
long beard.
C Rip Van Winkle feels well rested
when he wakes up.
D Rip Van Winkle cannot believe he
slept through the night.
The word “glen” most likely means
A
B
C
D
river
forest
valley
field
Go On
©
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When Rip woke up, he could not believe he had slept through the night. Rip
remembered the strange little men and the bowling party, but he was alone. He
shook his head and rubbed his face. Rip found that he now had a beard, and it
was more than a foot long! Rip returned to the village, but things were not the
same. He did not know any of the people, and people did not know him. Rip
called out, “Doesn’t anyone know Rip Van Winkle?” Finally, his son and
daughter recognized him. They told Rip he had been gone for twenty years!
15
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Book 1: Reading
25 In the story, the rolling bowling balls sound like
A
B
C
D
a storm coming over the mountains
Wolf ’s deep growl at strangers
the low rumbles of thunder
a bowling alley in the village
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26 Here is a web about the character Rip Van Winkle.
kind
friendly
Rip Van Winkle
?
popular
A
B
C
D
rich
lazy
grumpy
hard working
27 Which event from the story shows something that could not really happen?
Rip Van Winkle does not take care of his farm.
Rip Van Winkle helps his neighbors.
Rip Van Winkle goes for a long walk.
Rip Van Winkle sleeps for many years.
©
A
B
C
D
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Which detail best completes the web?
Book 1: Reading
16
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D
irections
Read this article. Then answer questions 28 through 33.
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The Most Famous Polar Bear in the World
by Dianne Wilson
A Cuddly Cub
In December 2006, twin polar bears were born in captivity at the Berlin Zoo in Germany. One twin died soon after birth. The mother, a former circus bear, rejected the remaining cub. The cub, now an orphan, was given the name Knut. A zookeeper raised Knut. He cared for Knut around the clock. He bottle fed Knut, played with him, and taught him how to swim. Knut became the first polar
bear cub to live past infancy at the zoo in many years.
Instant Fame
The Plight of Polar Bears
Many people thought it was wrong for the zoo to make money from Knut.
However, Knut also drew attention to the problems that wild polar bears face.
Their lives are under threat because of climate change. The warming waters
melt the snow and sea ice. This change to their natural home makes it hard for
polar bears to survive.
One scientist said, “The long-term outlook for polar bears is grim.” Many
people think that zoos can play a key role in the survival of polar bears. In
response to the growing threat to the polar bear habitat, some zoos are
expanding their space for polar bears.
Go On
©
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In March 2007, Knut was introduced to the world. The white, fluffy cub
became an instant star. He melted the hearts of animal lovers. People from all
over the world visited the Berlin Zoo to see the cub. After Knut’s arrival, the
number of visitors to the zoo increased by 30 percent. The zoo sold T-shirts and
many other products that advertised Knut.
17
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Book 1: Reading
A Sudden Death
In the wild, polar bears usually live at least 15 years. In zoos, polar bears can
live even longer—some up to 30 years. So, people were shocked when Knut
suddenly died at the age of four. Many wonder if Knut’s life as a star played
a part in his early death. Practically every moment of the young bear’s life was
captured on film. Sadly, so was his death in March 2011.
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Officials at the Berlin Zoo wanted to find out what caused Knut’s death.
Many tests were done, and the results showed changes in Knut’s brain. These
changes could mean that Knut suffered from a brain disorder. The disorder
may have led to his death.
28 According to the article, why did
30 Under which heading in the article
a zookeeper raise Knut?
Knut’s mother died after his birth.
Knut was rejected by his mother.
Knut needed to learn how to swim.
Knut was born in captivity in a zoo.
A
B
C
D
29 Which of these statements from the
A Cuddly Cub
Instant Fame
The Plight of Polar Bears
A Sudden Death
31 What is this article mostly about?
article describes an opinion?
A “The mother, a former circus bear,
A the life and early death of Knut the
polar bear
B the cause of Knut’s sudden and early
death
C the threat of climate change to polar
bears
D the zookeeper who raised Knut by
hand
©
rejected the remaining cub.”
B “People from all over the world
visited the Berlin Zoo to see
the cub.”
C “After Knut’s arrival, the number
of visitors to the zoo increased by
30 percent.”
D “Many people thought it was
wrong for the zoo to make money
from Knut.”
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A
B
C
D
can you find information about
climate change?
Book 1: Reading
18
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32 Read the chart below.
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Knut born
in a Berlin
zoo.
Knut’s
mother
rejects him.
?
Knut
introduced
to the
world.
Which detail from the article best belongs in the empty box?
A
B
C
D
Knut’s twin dies.
Knut is raised by a zookeeper.
Knut becomes a star.
Knut dies at age four.
33 Read these sentences from the article.
The white, fluffy cub became an instant star. He melted the hearts of animal lovers.
Which statement best explains why Knut become an “instant star”?
People had strong feelings about the orphaned bear.
The number of visitors increased by 30 percent.
The zoo made a lot of money because of Knut.
Knut was introduced to the world in 2007.
Go On
©
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A
B
C
D
19
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Book 1: Reading
D
irections
Read this poem. Then answer questions 34 through 37.
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In Praise of
Bats
by Sal Torre
On late summer nights,
I stand on the back porch and look to the sky.
The moon shines its hazy beam
Like a one-eyed monster in the night.
5
I see a multitude of mosquitoes,
Madly swarming in the humid air.
The wings of the flying mosquitoes
Stir the air, sending out waves of sound.
In reply, from the dark distance,
They fly with their mouths gaping open,
Ready to devour the insect pests.
Badly misunderstood since ancient times,
Bats are witches in old wives’ tales.
15 Maybe because they only come out at night,
Maybe because of their scary faces,
But the bats do not frighten me. I sing their praises
And watch in wonder as they come to the rescue,
Feeding nightly on mosquitoes, beetles, and moths.
©
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10 Bats—hundreds of them—come flying.
Book 1: Reading
20
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34 According to the poem, what do you know about the speaker?
A
B
C
D
He enjoys mosquitoes.
He likes bats.
He fears the moon.
He thinks bats are pests.
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35 Which statement best expresses a main idea of the poem?
A
B
C
D
Bats are helpful because they eat many insects.
All bats are scary and harmful to people.
Many bats are found throughout North America.
People should stand outside at night and watch bats.
36 What does the poet compare the moon to?
A
B
C
D
a hazy beam
a multitude of mosquitoes
a one-eyed monster
a scary face in the dark
Badly misunderstood since ancient times,
Bats are witches in old wives’ tales.
These lines mean that
A
B
C
D
almost all bats are harmful to people
people have feared bats for a long time
old wives knew that bats were really witches
bats no longer frighten people
STOP
©
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37 Read these lines from the poem.
21
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Book 1: Reading
Book 21
D
irections
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You are going to listen to a story called “A Project for Two.” Then you will answer some
questions about the story.
You will listen to the story twice. The first time you hear the story, listen carefully but do
not take notes. As you listen to the story the second time, you may want to take notes.
Use the space below and on the next page for your notes. You may use these notes to
answer the questions that follow.
©
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Notes
Book 2: Listening
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Go On
©
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Notes
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Book 2: Listening
38 Which of the following best describes Inez?
A
B
C
D
She cannot come up with any project ideas.
She spends much of her free time figure skating.
She gets excited about making presentations.
She is serious about doing well in school.
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39 Why does Emilio roll his eyes when Mrs. Lowe assigns Inez as his partner on the project?
A
B
C
D
He is disappointed that Dee was not assigned as his partner.
He is not happy about having Inez assigned as his partner.
He is excited about working on a new class project with Inez.
He is not thrilled about having to work on another class project.
40 What is the first idea Emilio has for their demonstration?
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how to figure skate
how to fly a plane
how to make a teepee
how to make pizza
©
A
B
C
D
Book 2: Listening
24
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41 The chart below shows what happens in the story.
WHAT HAPPENS IN THIS STORY
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Inez and Emilio cannot think of a good topic.
Inez’s mother invites Emilio to stay for dinner.
?
Emilio tells Inez that he knows how to make pizza.
Which step completes the chart?
A
B
C
D
Inez shows Emilio how to put tacos together.
Inez and Emilio brainstorm ideas for their project.
Emilio goes to Inez’s apartment to work on the project.
Emilio wants to beg Mrs. Lowe for a new partner.
A
B
C
D
fly a plane
figure skate
make tacos and pizza
make a model of a teepee
Go On
©
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42 For their project, Emilio and Inez will most likely show how to
25
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Book 2: Listening
43 Emilio and Inez each come up with a topic idea that the other person says won’t work. Why
does the other person say the topic idea won’t work? Complete the chart using details from
the story.
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Idea
Why the Idea Won’t Work
Flying a plane
Ice skating
44 Why doesn’t Mrs. Lowe let her students pick their own partners? Why do you think she
45 During their brainstorming session, Emilio and Inez cannot come up with good project ideas.
Book 2: Listening
©
What happens that helps them solve this problem? Use details from the story to support your
answer.
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decides to make Emilio and Inez partners? Use details from the story to support your answer.
26
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Planning Page
You may PLAN your writing for question 46 here if you wish, but do NOT write your final answer
on this page. Write your final answer on Pages 28 and 29.
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Go On
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Answer
27
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Book 2: Listening
46 Emilio’s and Inez’s feelings about each other change in the story. How do they feel about each
other at the beginning of the story? How do they feel about each other at the end of the
story? What happens to make their feelings change? Use details from the story to support
your answer.
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In your answer, be sure to include • how Emilio and Inez feel about each other at the beginning of the story • how Emilio and Inez feel about each other at the end of the story • what causes Emilio and Inez’s feelings about each other to change • details from the story to support your answer
©
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Check your writing for correct spelling, grammar, capitalization, and
punctuation.
Book 2: Listening
28
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Go On
©
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O
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P
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29
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Book 2: Listening
D
irections
Read this article. Then answer questions 47 through 54.
WORD PLAY
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by Wilma Warden
Word games can be fun. Some word games, such as crosswords and
scrambles, are played on paper or online. Other word games take place in
everyday speech, such as jokes and riddles. Let’s look at some of the simpler
games that people play with words.
That’s Punny!
The workhorse of many jokes and riddles is the pun. A pun is the use of one
word to suggest two or more meanings. It’s easy to make puns in the English
language. This is because English has so many multiple-meaning words. For
example, think about two meanings of the word pop in the answer to this
riddle:
What kind of test did Cassandra’s dad take?
A pop quiz.
Why couldn’t the flower ride its bike to school?
Its pedals were broken.
What multiple-meaning word or homophone
makes up the pun in this next riddle?
Why did the driving teacher think of herself as lucky?
She got all the brakes.
©
Can you come up with a pun of your own?
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English also has many homophones. These are
words that sound alike but have different
meanings. The riddle below makes a pun by using
an almost-homophone. Can you figure it out?
Book 2: Listening
30
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Riddle Double-Trouble
Another way to have fun with words is to make up or solve hink pinks.
Hink pinks are a special type of riddle. The answer to a hink pink is a pair of
words that both rhyme and have the same number of syllables. Here are some
hink pinks.
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What do you call a carpet for insects?
A bug rug.
What do you call a rabbit that makes you laugh?
A funny bunny.
Can you think of your own hink pink? A good place
to start is with one-syllable rhyming words you use often.
For example, can you think of a question that someone
can answer with the words fat cat or night light?
Mix ‘Em Up!
Another kind of word play is anagrams. An anagram is a word or phrase
made by using all the letters of another word or phrase. For example, an
anagram of “the eyes” is “they see.” “They see” is an anagram because it uses
every letter in “the eyes” but puts them in a different order. The following
anagram is a favorite of math lovers:
eleven plus two = twelve plus one
Hey, would you call that anagram sum fun? That’s almost a hink pink. What
else is sum fun?
heavy rain = hire a navy
By the way, the answers to anagrams don’t have to be clever. They just have to
be words. For example, an anagram for meat is team, and an anagram for diet is
tide. Can you make an anagram by moving around the letters of your first or
last name, the name of your school, or the name of a favorite place?
Anytime Amusements
You don’t need special materials to make puns, hink pinks, and anagrams.
You can make them on a bus, in the car, or while sitting around at home. Why
is word play a good way to spend your day? Because it won’t cause you too
much brain drain.
Go On
©
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Here’s another common anagram:
31
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Book 2: Listening
47 According to the article, a hink pink is a riddle with an answer that has
A
B
C
D
three parts
one or two syllables
more than one meaning
two rhyming words
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48 According to the article, homophones are two or more words that
A
B
C
D
sound alike but have different meanings
sound different but have the same meaning
have identical meanings and sound similar
have identical meanings and sound different
49 If you need to find the definition of an anagram, under which heading should you look?
A
B
C
D
That’s Punny!
Riddle Double-Trouble
Mix ‘Em Up!
Anytime Amusements
Sum and some sound the same.
Both words have one syllable, and they almost rhyme.
They make a pun on the word fun.
Their letters can be moved around to make a new word.
51 Why does the author call the pun the “workhorse” of jokes and riddles?
A
B
C
D
Many jokes and riddles are about horses.
Jokes and riddles are hard to make.
Many jokes and riddles are based on puns.
The word workhorse has at least two meanings.
Book 2: Listening
32
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©
A
B
C
D
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50 Why is sum fun almost a hink pink?
52 Read this chart about the article.
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Name
Pun
Hink pink
Anagram
Definition
one word that suggests two or
more meanings
rhyming words with the same
number of syllables
?
Which statement best completes the chart?
A
B
C
D
words or phrases about topics such as eyes, the navy, or math
words or phrases made from the letters of other words or phrases
words or phrases that don’t have to be clever
words or phrases made from the letters of your first and last names
53 Which of these statements from the article is an opinion?
“It’s easy to make puns in the English language.”
“Can you think of your own hink pink?
“For example, an anagram of ‘the eyes’ is ‘they see.’”
“You can make them on a bus, in the car, or while sitting around at home.”
54 Why did the author most likely write this article?
A
B
C
D
to convince readers that word play is important
to inform readers about different types of word play
to tell readers where they can do their word play
to explain the difference between word play and jokes
Go On
©
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A
B
C
D
33
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Book 2: Listening
D
irections
Read this poem. Then answer questions 55 through 61.
Slumber
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by Susan DeStefano
Most nights,
Sleep takes its time
Crawling in my head,
Lowering my lids,
Slowly stealing thoughts of the day just spent,
Replacing them with hazy, mixed-up dreams
Of travel to far-fetched places
In extraordinary vehicles with wings and sails
To conquer an exotic world and sometimes
Scary creatures that breathe fire
And speak in garbled languages.
©
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Some nights
Sleep comes quickly
Snatching away the light
Bringing nothing but necessary rest
And sweet, sound sleep.
Book 2: Listening
34
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55 In the poem, the author tells of traveling
59 This poem is about a person who
to far-fetched places in her dreams. The
word “far-fetched” most likely means
A
B
C
D
nearby
unreal
silly
beautiful
A thinks about what falling asleep
is like
B wants to learn to fall asleep
more quickly
C tries to controls her dreams
each night
D sleeps the same way each night
O
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Y
P
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56 What does the title of the poem
“Slumber” mean?
A
B
C
D
night
sleep
dream
rest
60 What does the author compare sleep to
in the poem?
A
B
C
D
a dream
a dragon
a thief
a pair of wings
57 What most likely happens to the speaker
most nights?
She falls asleep slowly.
She dreams while awake.
She wakes up rested.
She falls asleep quickly.
Sleep comes quickly
Snatching away the light
These lines mean that the speaker
A immediately goes to sleep after
turning off the lights
B falls asleep right after someone takes
away her lamp
C can only go to sleep quickly when it
is dark
D goes to sleep soon after closing
her eyes
58 What does the author think about before
she falls asleep?
A
B
C
D
exotic worlds
nothing
sailboats
thoughts of the day
STOP
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A
B
C
D
61 Read these lines from the poem.
35
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Book 2: Listening
Book 31
D
irections
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Read this article. Then answer questions 62 and 63.
Bright Creatures
by Jay Ramirez
Lights in the Night Sky
Some creatures are really bright. No, that doesn’t mean they can read or do
math. It means they light up. They glow in the dark. Some light up the air.
Others light up the sea. One lights up the ground like a train.
Glow, Little Glowworm!
Just about everyone has seen fireflies flicking their lights off and on at night.
Fireflies, sometimes called lightning bugs or glowworms, belong to the beetle
family. They are blackish brown and rather ugly bugs during the day. But at
night, their ability to light up an evening garden makes them appear magical.
Most scientists believe that lighting up is part of the bugs’ mating ritual.
Males usually fly up and use a pattern of flashes to attract females. Females
often stay closer to the ground. A female firefly will wait for a male firefly to
stop flashing. Then it will respond with a flashing
pattern of its own.
©
Fireflies may also use their light to keep predators
away and warn them of their bitter taste. Frogs don’t
seem to pay attention to the warning, though. They
find the fireflies a tasty treat. In fact, some frogs have
eaten so many fireflies that the frogs began to glow.
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There is a science behind the firefly’s glow. The bugs make light in their
abdomen, or belly. The light is a result of energy produced when certain
chemicals react with oxygen. Almost 100% of that energy is given off as light.
Almost none of the energy is wasted on heat.
Book 3: Reading/Writing
36
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Turn on the Lights! It’s Dark Down Here!
Deep down under the water, it’s always night. Light does not reach the
bottom of the sea. To find food, some animals light up.
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One animal that lights up is a lantern-eye fish. It has a pouch under each eye
that can light up its surroundings for as long as thirty minutes. Like the firefly,
the lantern-eye fish uses this light as part of its mating ritual. Unlike the firefly,
the lantern-eye fish uses the light to attract prey such as small fish. When their
prey come close, the lantern-eye fish eats them.
Squid can also make light. Some squid have skin that glows. Actually, it’s
not the skin that glows, but the bacteria that live on the squid’s skin.
That Train’s Alive!
Go On
©
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Perhaps the most fascinating creature that lights up is the railroad worm.
Like the firefly, the railroad worm belongs to the beetle family. In its larval
stage, before it becomes an adult, the railroad worm’s head glows red when
touched. Several spots along both sides of its body give off a greenish-yellow
glow. Some people think these spots look like the light that spills from the
windows of a train at night.
37
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62 Fireflies and squids make light in different ways. Use the chart below to compare how fireflies
and squid make their light. Use details from the passage in your answer.
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Animal
How the Animal Makes Light
Firefly
Squid
63 Fireflies and lantern-eye fish use their light to do certain jobs. Describe one similarity in why
Similarity: Difference: ©
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they use their light. Then describe one difference in why they use their light. Use details from
the article in your answer.
Book 3: Reading/Writing
38
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D
irections
You are going to read a story called “A Farm Summer” and an article called “Planting a
Healthy, Happy Garden.” You will answer questions 64 through 66 and write about what
you have read. You may look back at the story and the article as often as you like.
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A Farm Summer
by Betsy Farrow
We live in the city. Last summer, my
mom and dad decided that we should
experience country life. They planned
for my sister Joan and me to spend
eight weeks on my uncle Mack’s farm
in Pennsylvania. We love Uncle Mack,
his wife, Bernice, and their new baby.
Still, I was worried about getting bored.
Farm life is not city life, that’s for
sure. The farm is quiet and peaceful.
As busy as the city is, there is much
more work to do on a farm. Uncle
Mack and Aunt Bernice didn’t expect
us to do chores. But we knew that our
parents wouldn’t be happy if we didn’t
chip in and help out, at least a little.
The first challenge was getting up at
5:00 a.m. to milk the cows and feed the
chickens, ducks, and pigs. At home,
even on school days, we get to sleep
until 7:30 a.m. But after a week on the
farm, we were waking up without the
alarm clock. We looked forward to Go On
©
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We had to leave our friends, all our
video games, and the computer
behind. Even more amazing, Uncle
Mack doesn’t own a TV! Mom had
said it would be good for us. We could
do more reading.
39
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being outdoors all day, but Joan and I agreed that we’d never worked so hard in
our lives. By the time we ate dinner in the evening and did the dishes, Joan and
I were exhausted. We could hardly wait to go to bed. We didn’t miss television
because we couldn’t have stayed awake to watch it.
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Early on in our visit, Uncle Mack gave Joan and me our own separate patch
of ground to garden. He said we could grow whatever we wanted. We would be
in charge, from planting to weeding to harvesting. Joan chose to plant a small
vegetable garden. She planned to give some crops to Aunt Bernice and to sell
some crops at Aunt Bernice’s roadside farm stand to earn some extra money.
I chose to plant a flower garden and strawberries. I wanted to learn how to
make strawberry jam. I thought it would be fun to use strawberries I had
grown myself. I love flowers. I thought they would beautify that part of the
garden. I could also sell bunches of them at the farm stand.
We found out that some bugs are good for a garden, but lots of them aren’t.
Trying to figure out how to keep gophers and rabbits from eating the plants
was another challenge. We surely didn’t know how much weeding and watering
a garden needs. We put off both and almost lost all our plants. Luckily, it
rained. Aunt Bernice kindly
gave us advice. By the end of the
summer, both our gardens
looked pretty good.
©
Joan and I were sad when we
had to leave the farm, although
we were happy to get home to
our parents and friends. We
don’t watch as much TV
anymore. We also have a much
greater appreciation for string
beans and daisies.
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Of course, being city girls, Joan and I didn’t realize how much work it is to
keep a garden healthy. We also didn’t know how important it is to follow all the
steps for gardening. For example, the ground was hard. After we turned over a
few shovelfuls, we had blisters all over our hands. We decided the soil was all
right. That was our first mistake. Many seeds didn’t sprout. The soil had not
been prepared well enough to nourish them. The soil was too hard. The
seedlings that did come up almost strangled each other because we had planted
the seeds too close together. We also didn’t mark the plants and had no idea
what was coming up.
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64 Using details from the story, complete the chart below with two examples of differences
between the lives the children lead in the city and the lives they lead on the farm.
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City Life
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1.
2.
Go On
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2.
Farm Life
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Planting a Healthy, Happy Garden
by Brett Karman
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Gardening can be a fun and rewarding activity. There are three important
steps to keeping a healthy, happy garden. The first step is preparing the soil. The
second step is planting seeds. The third step is caring for the garden.
Before beginning, you will need some basic things. These include a patch of dirt
that gets at least six hours of sun a day, packets of seeds (flower or vegetable), some
tools (shovel, hoe, spade), gardening gloves, string, and a watering can or hose.
Step 1: Prepare the soil.
• Turn over the soil, a shovelful at a time. This will help loosen the soil so that
water and air can move through it.
• Make the soil richer. Mix in things like peat moss and compost. (Compost is
made from rotted plant matter.)
Step 2: Plant the garden.
• Mark planting rows. Use string to mark the rows evenly.
• Read the directions on the back of the seed packets
to see how deep and far apart to plant the seeds.
• Attach short sticks to the empty seed packets and use
them as plant markers.
• Put a scarecrow nearby. Birds and other small animals
may come to eat the seeds and later the grown plants.
A scarecrow can help keep them away.
• Weed the garden once or twice a week. Weeds grow
quickly. They choke small plants and can even kill them.
• Get rid of bugs that can eat the plants. Examine the
underside of plant leaves. That’s where tiny harmful
bugs like to hide. Ladybugs eat harmful garden pests,
like aphids. So leave ladybugs in the garden.
Finally, watch your garden grow. Enjoy the results of all
your hard work.
42
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©
• Water the garden every morning or late in the day,
unless it rains. DO NOT WATER PLANTS IN FULL
SUN. This will burn them. Try to keep the water close
to the bottom of the plants, near their roots.
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Step 3: Pamper your plants.
65 To plant a garden, you need different things for different reasons. List two things you need for
gardening, and explain what each is used for. Use details from the article in your answer.
1. 2. Go On
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Planning Page
You may PLAN your writing for question 66 here if you wish, but do NOT write your final answer
on this page. Write your final answer on Pages 45 and 46.
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Answer
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66 Think about the girls in “A Farm Summer.” Explain how information in “Planting a Healthy,
Happy Garden” would have been helpful to them. What steps and tips would the girls
probably follow the next time they try to garden? Be sure to include details from both the
story and the article in your answer.
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In your answer, be sure to
• explain what problems the girls had gardening
• explain how the information in the article would have been helpful to them
• tell what steps and tips the girls should follow next time they try gardening
• use details from both the story and the article in your answer
Check your writing for correct spelling, grammar, capitalization, and
punctuation.
Go On
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STOP
Book 3: Reading/Writing
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New York Ready ™—ELA Practice, Grade 4
Answer Form
Name
Teacher
School
Grade
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City
Practice Test
Cut along the dotted line.
Book 1
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Book 2
38. A B C D
39. A B C D
40. A B C D
41. A B C D
42. A B C D
For numbers 43
through 46, write
your answers in
the book.
47. A B C D
48. A B C D
49. A B C D
50. A B C D
51. A B C D
52. A B C D
53. A B C D
54. A B C D
55. A B C D
56. A B C D
57. A B C D
58. A B C D
59. A B C D
60. A B C D
61. A B C D
Book 3
or numbers 62
F
through 66, write
your answers in
the book.
47
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