Weekly AssessmentUnit 4 Week 3

“The Race”Unit 4 Week 3…Story 1

1. Read this sentence from the passage.The air filled the sail as the boat skimmed over the blue water in the narrow strait.What does strait mean as used in the sentence above?

• A. not curved• B. difficult situation• C. completely honest and candid• D. channel joining bodies of water

2. Which word from the passage is a homophone for the word defined below? gave lessons on a subject

• F. tilted• G. taut• H. arc• I. righted

3. What message does the author want to get across to the reader?

• A. Nature can be cruel and unpredictable.

• B. Family is more important than friendship.

• C. Working hard can get you to the finish line first.

• D. Doing the right thing is more important than winning.

4. Which word from the passage is a homophone for the word defined below? move to face in a different direction

• F. skimmed• G. tern• H. streamlined• I. dunked

5. Which excerpt from the passage best expresses the author’s message?• A. Both times, in fact, they had lost to the Magic Hat. This

time, they were determined to do anything to win the race.

• B. “They’re catching up!” Jerry called. “We have to go faster!” Malia nodded, working as quickly as she could.

• C. The Treasure was still close enough to the Magic Hat that Malia could see the other boat’s sailors. They were Ben and Howie Taylor, good friends of Malia and Jerry’s.

• D. It only took a moment for them to reach the overturned boat, and to Malia’s relief, they could see Ben and Howie clinging to the side of the Magic Hat.

6. Which actions by a character best supports the passage’s theme?

• F. Malia pulls the sail taut.• G. Jerry turns the boat around.• H. Malia follows Jerry’s instructions.• I. Ben takes a poll about who would have won.

7. Read this sentence from the passage.“We have to,” Jerry replied, and Malia knew he was

right.

How does this sentence support the passage’s theme?

• A. It shows that Malia will do more than Jerry will do to win.• B. It shows that Jerry is a more thoughtful

person than Malia is.• C. It shows that Jerry and Malia do not

care winning the race.• D. It shows that Jerry and Malia’s friends

are more important than the race.

8. Read this sentence from the passage?

“We can’t stop!” Malia said, her heart sinking.

What does the idiom “her heart sinking” mean?

• F. Malia feels troubled.• G. Malia’s boat is sinking.• H. Malia does not feel well.• I. Malia’s heart is beating fast.

9. Read this sentence from the passage.Ben said, “I took a poll, you two – everyone thinks you would have won the race if we hadn’t tipped over.”What does poll mean as used in the sentence above?

• A. a survey of people• B. a long, straight object• C. one of two total opposites• D. furthest point north or south on Earth

10. How do Malia’s and Jerry’s feelings about the race change by the end of the passage?

• F. They regret their choice to help their friends.• G. Winning the race is not as important as friendship.• H. They are very upset that they did not win the race.• I. Winning the race is no longer

important to them at all.

“Cap O’Rushes”Unit 4 Week 3…Story 2

11. Which word from the passage is a homophone for the word defined below? water falling from clouds

• A. reign• B. assurance• C. sighed• D. seasoning

12. Read this sentence from the passage.“Father,” she said in a weak voice, wringing her hands, “I love you as much as food needs seasoning.”What does wringing mean as used in the sentence above?

• A. echoing loudly• B. twisting painfully• C. forcing liquid out of• D. making the sound of a bell

13. What is the author’s message?

• A. Families never betray one another.

• B. Being humble leads to great rewards.

• C. People always get what they deserve.

• D. If you love someone, you can forgive him or her.

14. Read this sentence from the passage?

True to his word, the lord’s son took to his bed

and refused to eat. What does the idiom “took to

his bed” mean?

• F. brought to his bed• G. refused to go to bed• H. would not get out of bed• I. was pulled out of his bed

15. Which word from the passage is a homophone for the word defined below? dedicated for religious use

• A. rushes• B. desperate• C. wholly• D. fled

16. Which action by a character best supports the passage’s theme?

• F. The king banishes his daughter.

• G. The lord’s son marries Cap O’Rushes.

• H. Cap O’Rushes is reunited with her father.

• I. Cap O’Rushes asks for food without seasoning.

17. Read this sentence from the passage.Because she loved her father, she did not protest, but calmly left her home and went away.How does this sentence support the passage’s theme?

• A. It shows that Cap O’Rushes will forgive her father.• B. It shows that Cap O’Rushes cannot

bear her father’s anger.• C. It shows why Cap O’Rushes will fall in

love with the lord’s son.• D. It shows why Cap O’Rushes cannot

believe the lord’s son loves her.

18. Which excerpt from the passage best expresses the author’s message?• F. She made herself known to the lord’s son, and again he

proposed marriage. This time, Cap O’Rushes accepted.

• G. “Oh, Father,” the oldest answered, “I love you as much as life.” The middle daughter said, And I, Father, love you as much as all the world.”

• H. Before long, the lord held a ball, and all the servants, when their work was done, went to watch the dancing. Cap O’Rushes, however, stayed behind.

• I. The king did not need to ask his daughter for forgiveness. She had forgiven him long ago. Father and daughter were reunited at last, with tears of joy.

19. Which word from the passage is a homophone for the word defined below? horse-drawn vehicle for traveling in snow

• A. pleaded• B. slay• C. gruel• D. demanded

20. How does Cap O’Rushes feel after her father banishes her?

• F. She loves and forgives her father.

• G. She feels betrayed by her father.

• H. She is lonely and frightened.

• I. She is hurt and angry.

21. What does the word tentatively mean?

A.in a pleasant or funny wayB.in an uncertain or unsure wayC.in a confident or arrogant wayD.in a critical or challenging way

22. What does the word empathy mean?

F. experiencing your own feelings or thoughts

G. experiencing the feelings or thoughts of another

H. experiencing a lack of feeling or thoughts for others

I. experiencing an overwhelming feeling of happiness

23. Which word has almost the same meaning as benefactor?

A.candidateB.competitorC.donorD.opponent

24. What does the word multitude mean?

F. a great numberG. a small collectionH. an angry gatheringI. an important quantity

25. Which word has almost the same meaning as indecision?

A.acceptanceB.independenceC.trustD.uncertainty

26. Which word has the opposite meaning of the word extensive?

F. broadG. comfortableH. limitedI. universal

27. Which word has almost the same meaning as endeavor?

A.attemptB.capacityC.potentialD.success

28. What does the word entail mean?

F. to distribute or scatter by command or order

G. to cause or involve by necessity or as a consequence

H. to ignite or spark with controversial ideas or proposals

I. to use up or consume through carelessness or neglect

U4W3 Essay Question“The Race” & “Cap O’Rushes”

Write 2 paragraphs…one for each story. For each story, discuss the following points in your paragraph:• What difficult decisions do the

characters have to make?• What happens as a result of their

decisions?

YOU MUST HAVE AT LEAST 2 PIECES OF TEXT EVIDENCE FOR EACH STORY!!!