Contents. Lesson Quizzes...4. Practice Test Practice Test

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2 Contents Lesson Quizzes....4 Practice Test Practice Test

3 LESSON 1 Quiz Read the passage and answer the questions that follow. The Milkmaid and Her Pail adapted from a fable by Aesop 1 Once there was a milkmaid, a dairy farmer s daughter, whose job was to milk the cows every morning. Being a girl who loved to sleep late, she hated this chore most of all. Every day, she had to herd all the cows into the barn and milk each one and she was expected to finish the job before breakfast! So, each morning she woke up before dawn and dragged her feet down the long path toward the barns. Oh, how the young girl disliked that walk! With each step, she wished she were back in her comfortable bed, still asleep. The walk back home was even worse, because she had to carry the heavy pail of milk on her head. She had learned long ago that this was the easiest way to balance the load. Still, she had never been able to find a way to distract herself from the hateful chore. One day, the milkmaid was walking home with an especially heavy pail. It was full to the brim with fresh milk. As she walked along, with the pail balanced on her head, she began to daydream about what she might do. I have collected quite a lot of milk, she thought. Once it has settled, I will scrape a thick, heavy layer of cream off the top. Then, I will churn the cream until it becomes beautiful, smooth butter. I will take the butter to the market to sell. 5 She realized that the happy thought helped take her mind off her work. The young girl smiled as she went along, thinking of the many people who would want to buy such excellent butter. People will line up, one after another, she said to herself. Each will offer a higher price than the last. With all the money I earn from the butter, I will buy many eggs. I will take the eggs home and wait for them to hatch. Then, I will have many chickens. The chickens will lay eggs of their own. In a short time, even more chicks will hatch. I will have a coop for all of them. My chicken yard will be the envy of everyone, far and wide. 4

4 The milkmaid began to feel much happier as she continued her walk along the path. She stretched her arms wide, thinking about everyone who would admire her chicken yard. I will have so many chickens that I will be able to sell some of them at the market, she decided. The money from the chickens will be enough to buy a beautiful new dress for myself. I will go to the seamstress, and she will sew me a perfectly fitted gown. It will be from silk cloth, the kind that only the finest ladies can afford to wear. The daydream became even more wonderful. I will be envied by all the girls in the town. All the young men will admire me and ask to talk with me. They will want to accompany me to the fair, just to be seen with me. But why should I, in my fine clothes, have anything to say to them? No I shall simply toss my head. 10 Then, having forgotten all about the full pail of milk on her head, the young girl really did toss her head. The pail toppled off and crashed to the ground. All the milk spilled out onto the dirt path. A morning s work, ruined! she cried. With a sigh, she picked up the empty pail and said, I should not have counted my chickens before they were hatched. Lesson Quizzes 5

5 1. What does the word disliked mean? A. liked again B. did not like C. wanted to like D. liked very much 3. What does the milkmaid plan to do AFTER she buys eggs? A. churn cream into butter B. wait for the eggs to hatch C. sell butter for a high price D. sell the eggs to buy chickens 2. Read this sentence from the passage. She had learned long ago that this was the easiest way to balance the load. What question does this sentence answer? A. How has the milkmaid learned to milk cows? B. What does the milkmaid dislike about milking? C. Why does the milkmaid carry the pail on her head? D. Why does the milkmaid wake up early in the morning? 4. What does the word seamstress mean? A. a fancy party B. a stylish person C. a store that sells silk D. a person who makes clothing 6

6 5. Read these sentences from the passage. But why should I, in my fine clothes, have anything to say to them? No I shall simply toss my head. What do these sentences show about the milkmaid? A. She wants to seem important. B. She wants to make new friends. C. She does not like the people in her town. D. She is too shy to talk to the people in her town. Lesson Quizzes 6. What is the MOST LIKELY reason the milkmaid tosses her head? A. She is hoping to spill the pail of milk. B. She is thinking only about her daydream. C. She does not realize the pail is full of milk. D. She thinks her daydream is actually happening. 7. What is meant by the saying, You should not count your chickens before they are hatched? Explain your answer using details from the story. 7

7 Read the passage and answer the questions that follow. Anansi and the Wisdom of the World a West African folktale 1 Long ago, the sky god, Nyame, held all the wisdom of the world. Every clever thought, every new idea, and every kind of new skill all these belonged to Nyame alone. One day, Nyame looked down upon the people of the earth. He saw that the people had so much to learn. I must share my wisdom with them, he said. So, Nyame collected all his wisdom and put it into a huge pot. Then, he called to his son Anansi, the spider. Moving quickly on his eight thin legs, Anansi scuttled up to the sky palace. I have seen that the people of the earth need my wisdom, said Nyame. There are so many ideas they can use and so many skills they can learn. I know that you, Anansi, are very clever. I am sure you can find a way to spread my wisdom among the people. So Nyame gave Anansi the pot and told him to share its wisdom with all those on earth. Anansi promised to do as his father asked. However, when Anansi returned to the earth, he began to look at all the wisdom in the pot. What marvelous ideas he found! Each time he looked into the pot, he found something new to think about. He saw better ways of building cities. He saw faster ways to go from one place to another. He learned skills that no one else on earth knew yet. 8

8 5 Before long, Anansi had decided not to follow his father s orders. Why should I share this wisdom, when I can keep it all to myself? he thought greedily. If I have all the wisdom of the world, I will always know what is best. People will be eager to help me, because I will always have answers to their questions. They will pay me great riches to teach them new skills. No longer will I just be clever Anansi. I will be respected as the wisest on earth! As he was mending his web that night, Anansi began thinking. I must hide the pot where no one will find it, he said to himself. The next morning, Anansi secretly crept into the forest. He stood beneath the tallest tree he could find. Then, he tied the pot of wisdom to his stomach and began climbing the tree. The pot banged against his stomach as he climbed. He had to reach around the thick trunk of the tree, and several times he almost lost his grip. But he hardly paid attention. His mind was full of pictures of himself, Anansi, the wise and great, honored by all the people of the earth. Anansi had not noticed, but his young son had followed him from a distance to see what he was doing. The son saw his father struggling with the pot on his stomach. He wanted to help. He called out, Father, why don t you tie the pot to your back instead? Then your climb will be easier. Hanging onto a high branch, Anansi swung around in fury. He knew his son was right, but he did not want to admit it. How can you think you know more than I do? he shouted. Do you not see that I alone have all the wisdom of the world in this pot? 10 As Anansi said these words, he angrily struck the pot. Suddenly, wisdom and ideas began to spill everywhere, and the pot slipped away from him. It fell to the ground and broke into thousands of tiny pieces. Some of them fell into nearby streams and were carried throughout the world. Others were blown by the wind to faraway places. And so the wisdom of Nyame spread throughout the earth. Anansi expected Nyame to punish him harshly, but Nyame only laughed. Foolish Anansi! he said. You have been outdone by your selfishness. Now, the people have the wisdom you hoped to keep for yourself. Lesson Quizzes 9

9 8. Which of the following questions is answered in the story? A. What wisdom did Anansi gain? B. How did Anansi become a spider? C. How did people use their wisdom? D. Where did people first get wisdom? 10. Anansi tries to keep the wisdom for himself because he A. wants to gain power. B. is angry with his father, Nyame. C. is jealous of the people of the earth. D. wants to become a sky god like Nyame. 9. What is the meaning of the word scuttled? A. walked slowly B. glided smoothly C. hurried in short, fast steps D. ran with long, graceful strides 11. Which statement BEST explains why Anansi ignores the pot banging against him? A. He is in a hurry to hide the pot. B. He is busy thinking about the future. C. He does not care if something happens to the pot. D. He does not realize the pot is getting in his way. 10

10 12. Which of the following happens FIRST after Anansi strikes the pot? A. Winds blow wisdom far away. B. Streams carry wisdom everywhere. C. The pot breaks into thousands of pieces. D. The pot slips away and falls to the ground. 13. What does the word selfishness mean? A. being by yourself B. thinking only of yourself C. trying to do things yourself D. caring for others before yourself Lesson Quizzes 11

11 14. Why does Anansi become angry with his son? Explain your answer using details from the story. 12

12 Use The Milkmaid and Her Pail and Anansi and the Wisdom of the World to answer questions Which statement BEST describes how the settings of The Milkmaid and Her Pail and Anansi and the Wisdom of the World are different? A. One story takes place on earth, and the other story takes place in the sky. B. One story occurs in the past, and the other story occurs in the present. C. One story happens during the day, and the other story happens at night. D. One story occurs in a realistic place, and the other story occurs in a mythical place. 16. What lesson do BOTH the milkmaid and Anansi learn? A. Being lazy never leads to success. B. Don t be too proud to take others advice. C. If you are too greedy, you may lose everything. D. If you try to trick others, you may be tricked yourself. Lesson Quizzes 13