lucky birdwatchers - welcome to mr. b's ......room 12 birdwatchers 1 “i told you this...

Grade 4 • Unit 4 • Week 1Weekly Assessment Name

Read the story “Lucky Birdwatchers” and then answer Numbers 1 through 3.

Lucky Birdwatchers

1 “I told you this wasn’t a good idea,” Dale muttered to

Jenna as they sat in a field next to the river.

2 Half an hour ago they had come downstream on a raft,

following the river’s current. The raft was so cluttered with

all their supplies that there was barely room for Dale, Jenna,

and Lucky, her dog. Jenna had promised that Lucky would

behave, and he did. He lay so still that several times Jenna

looked at him to see if he had fallen asleep. Even so, Dale

wouldn’t admit that Lucky had not been a problem.

3 Now they’d been waiting for what seemed like ages.

Dale sounded more annoyed than he had been all day, if that

was even possible. Jenna didn’t think Dale could be more

unhappy, but now he sounded completely disgusted with how

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292 — 292 —CA Progress MonitoringWeekly Assessment • Grade 4Unit 4/Week 1

Grade 4 – Unit 4, Week 1

4 “Want to know why we’re not seeing any birds?” Dale

asked. “Lucky is scaring them away.”

5 “That isn’t true,” Jenna replied. “He’s at the other end of

the field.”

6 “Then why haven’t we seen any birds?”

7 “Give it a little time. I know it feels like we’ve been sitting

here all day. But the truth is, we haven’t really been waiting

that long. You didn’t expect to see them as soon as you got

here, did you?”

8 “I always see herons when I come here. It has to be

because of the dog. I knew we shouldn’t have brought him.”

9 “There was no way I was going to leave Lucky home,”

Jenna said. “He loves being out here.”

10 As if he knew they were talking about him, Lucky came

racing over. His wagging tail brushed against Dale’s cheek.

Dale let out a loud sigh to show how much this bothered him.

Then Lucky licked Jenna’s face and lay down next to her.

11 Lucky was quiet for a minute. Then he sat up and whined

twice. Jenna felt his big wet nose in her palm as he began to

nuzzle her hand.

12 “This is great!” Dale grumbled. “Now he’ll scare them

away for sure!”

13 Lucky’s deep bark echoed through the woods.

14 Suddenly there was the sound of wings flapping. A dozen

birds scattered into the air, filling the sky above them.

15 “Wow! Look at all those herons!” Dale cried.

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— 293 — 293CA Progress Monitoring

Weekly Assessment • Grade 4Unit 4/Week 1


16 “They were there all the time,” Jenna said. “You just didn’t

know it. Good thing we have Lucky with us! We make quite a

team, don’t we?”

17 Dale had to admit that they did. He smiled at Jenna and

then he rubbed Lucky’s head.

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Read this sentence fromthe story.

What information in paragraph 2helps you figure out the meaningof the word cluttered?

A Lucky had not been a problem.

B Jenna promised that Lucky

would behave.

C The crowded raft had barely

enough room.

D They came down the river half

an hour ago.

What is the setting of the story?

A the middle of a river

B the peak of a mountain

C a campsite in the woods

D a field alongside a river

Based on the story outcome,which statement best describesthe theme?

A Winner takes all.

B Patience is a virtue.

C Steady wins the race.

D Ideas don’t produce results.

CA Progress MonitoringWeekly Assessment • Grade 4


Read the story “What Did She Want?” and then answer Numbers 4 through 6.

What Did She Want?

1 Dan studied the tracks on the ground. For the third night in

a row, the adult bear had returned. Was she here because she

was just looking for an easy meal? Or was she here because

of the cub locked in the pen? If that was the reason, what did

she want with the cub?

2 Dan thought about the cub. He knew there was a lot the

cub could learn from an adult bear. He did not want to disturb

or interfere with the bears getting to know each other. But

the cub had been brought in injured. As the cub’s guardian,

Dan had a responsibility to make sure that the cub was safe.

Perhaps he had been hurt by this very bear. On the other

hand, what if the adult was friendly? She could teach the cub

things he had to learn if he were to live in the wilderness. Dan

decided it was worth taking a chance. He would let the adult

bear near the cub. But he would be ready for trouble, if this

turned out to be a mistake.

3 That night, Dan waited in the shadows near the pen. In

his hand was a big flashlight. If the adult bear tried to hurt

the cub, he would try to scare her off with the light. He had a

loud horn with him in case that did not work. He thought that

the sudden noise from the horn would drive her away.



4 Dan did not have to wait very long. Soon there was a

rustling in the woods. Then the adult proclaimed her presence

with a low growl and emerged from behind a tree. She was

agile and healthy. Dan hoped she would scare easily.

5 As soon as the cub heard her growl, he perked up and

started toward the fence in an awkward run. When the two

bears met at the fence, the adult stood and put her front paws

against it. The cub tried to do the same, but tottered and fell

forward. The adult bear snorted. Dan was not sure what the

snort meant. Then the cub stuck his nose through the fence

in a friendly greeting. How would the adult respond? Dan’s

heart raced. He raised the flashlight and the horn, ready to act.

6 The adult leaned forward and gently rubbed her nose

against the cub. Dan lowered the flashlight. Everything was

going to be fine.

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4 Read this sentence from the story.

Then the adult proclaimedproclaimed her presence with a low growl and emerged from behind a tree.

What word means about the same as proclaimedproclaimed?

A hid

B waited

C escaped

D announced

5 In paragraph 4, the author mentions that the bear is healthy and that Dan hopes the bear will scare easily. Why does the author include these details?

A to make it clear that Dan

is brave

B to hint that Dan fears that his

plan might fail

C to show that the bear already

had hurt the cub

D to suggest that the bear is

getting ready to attack Dan

6 Why does the author use a question as the title of the story?

A to get an answer from

the reader

B to see if the reader is

paying attention

C to create suspense before the

story begins

D to tell the reader that the end of

the story is uncertain

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Linda wrote this story. It contains errors. Read the story and then answer Numbers 7 through 9.

A Day at the Museum

(1) Bill’s father took Bill to the museum. (2) Bill liked

looking at the dinosaurs because they were him favorite animals.

(3) After looking at the dinosaurs, they had a picnic lunch in

the museum courtyard. (4) Then, them went to look at rocks

and gems. (5) Bill liked that almost as much as his liked the

dinosaurs. (7) When Bill got tired, his father took him home.

(8) Bill said he wanted to go back to the museum next month.

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Bill liked looking at the dinosaurs because they were himhim favorite animals.

What is the correct way to write the underlined word in the sentence?

A he

B his

C them

D their


Then, them went to look at rocks and gems.

What is the correct way to write the sentence?

A Then, I went to look at rocks

and gems.

B Then, we went to look at rocks

and gems.

C Then, him went to look at rocks

and gems.

D Then, they went to look at

rocks and gems.


Bill liked that almost as much as his liked the dinosaurs.


A Bill liked that almost as much

as he liked the dinosaurs.

B Bill liked that almost as much

as she liked the dinosaurs.

C Bill liked that almost as much

as him liked the dinosaurs.

D Bill liked that almost as much

as they liked the dinosaurs.

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The following questions are not about a passage. Read and answer each question.

10 Which word is not spelled correctly?

A cared

B flaged

C saving

D tasting


A careing

B flipping

C tapped

D tasted

12 Read this sentence.

We thought we had savedsaved time by skipingskiping a step and forcingforcing the tent into the bag, but the bag rippedripped as soon as we were finished.

Which underlined word from the sentence is not spelled correctly?

A saved

B skiping

C forcing

D ripped

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Unit 4 • Week 1Student Evaluation Chart

Tested Skills NumberCorrect

PercentCorrect

Word Analysis

Context clues 1

Synonyms 4 /2 %

Reading Comprehension

Author’s purpose 5, 6 /2 %

Literary Response and Analysis

Setting 2

Theme 3 /2 %

Written Conventions

Spelling 10, 11, 12

Usage 7, 8, 9 /6 %

Total Weekly Test Score /12 %

Next Steps


jointed legs

mandibles

head

thorax

petiole

antennae

abdomen

compoundeye

Grade 4 • Unit 4 • Week 2Weekly Assessment

Read the passage “The Ant Team” and then answer Numbers 1 through 3.

The Ant Team

1 Ants are very interesting

creatures. They have been around

since prehistoric times. Their

unique appearance makes them

different from other insects.

2 Ants have three main parts to

their bodies: the head, the trunk,

and the rear. The head contains

jaws, eyes, and antennae. An

ant’s jaw, or mandible, moves

from side to side, not up and

down. Ants use their jaws to hold

food and fight enemies. They

might also use their jaws to dig

through soil or cut through wood

as they build nests.

3 Ants’ eyes are made up of

many lenses. Look closely at

an ant’s eye. You will see that it

is like many different eyes put

together. This helps ants see

movement very well.

4 The antennae on ants’ heads

are very sensitive. These antennae

are tools of smell, taste, touch, and

communication. When they are

out in the world, ants are almost

always moving their antennae.

They use them to sense smells,

learn about food, and touch other

ants. Sometimes a solitary ant

goes out alone and looks for food



in a new location. This ant is like

a scout, ready to get information

back to the team of ants that are

waiting. Its antennae help it smell

the food in this unfamiliar territory.

It will touch other ants with its

antennae to tell them where to find

the food.

5 Ants have six legs that are

connected to their trunks. Each

leg has nine parts and a sharp

claw on the end of it. As an ant

walks over a surface, its claw

grabs hold of the surface. That

is how an ant can climb trees

and walk upside down on leaves.

Ants also use their front claws to

dig through soil or create tunnels.

6 The rear of an ant contains

the poison sac. Stinging is one

way that ants defend themselves

against predators. If you have

ever felt the burning sting of an

ant, you have likely learned the

painful lesson that this is a very

good method of defense!

7 Ants survive by working as a

team. They go out in groups and

look for food. Like an astronomer

searching for a distant star, these

ants continue until they find what

they are looking for. Then they

take the food back to the colony.

Ants can lift up to 20 times their

body weight. This is the same

as if you lifted something that

weighs about 1,600 pounds!

8 Their antennae help them taste

the moist, delicious bits of food

that people leave behind. When

they eat, their bodies absorb the

nutrients. Then, the next day,

they will begin their search for

food all over again.



1 Read this sentence from the passage.

Like an astronomerastronomer searching for a distant star, these ants continue until they find what they are looking for.

The word astronomerastronomer contains a form of the Greek root “aster.” What does “aster” mean?

A ant

B star

C flower

D planet

2 In the passage, an ant’s eye is described as “many different eyes put together.” Why did the author include this description?

A to compare it to the

ant’s antennae

B to compare it to the rest of the

ant’s body

C to tell readers what it looks like

up close

D to tell readers what the ant uses

to defend itself

3 Which is an opinion from the passage?

A Ants are very interesting

creatures.

B The head contains jaws, eyes,

and antennae.

C Ants have six legs that are

connected to their trunks.

D Stinging is one way that

ants defend themselves

against predators.

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Rabbit and Turtle

1 Rabbit and Turtle met near the stream one morning. It was

a lovely clear day. They both basked in the warm sunshine

and swapped some stories. Rabbit started boasting that he was

the fastest runner in the world. Turtle wasn’t having any

of that!

2 “I bet I can beat you in a race,” Turtle said to Rabbit.

3 Rabbit laughed at the idea. “You crawl so slowly you

hardly look like you are moving,” Rabbit said. “You’ll never

beat me!”

4 Turtle was mad now. “I will win the race. You meet me

tomorrow morning right here,” said he. “I will wear a white

feather on my head so you can see me in the tall grass. We

will run over four hills. The first one to reach the stake at the

top of the fourth hill will be the winner.”

Read the story “Rabbit and Turtle” and then answer Numbers 4 through 6.



5 Rabbit laughed again and said: “That will be me! I will

see you tomorrow for the race!” Then Rabbit hopped off, still

chuckling to himself.

6 Turtle was in a bind now. He knew he could not run faster

than Rabbit. But he had an idea. He gathered all of his family

and told them that their honor was at stake. When they heard

about the race, the other turtles agreed to help him.

7 Turtle gave each of his family members a white feather.

Then he placed them at different places along the route. The

first was at the top of the first hill. The second stood in the

valley. The third at the top of the second hill, and so on. Then

Turtle placed himself at the top of the fourth hill next to the

winner’s stake.

8 The next morning, Rabbit found Turtle at the starting line

wearing his white feather. “Ready, set, go!” said Rabbit and

he ran up and up the first hill. Turtle started crawling along

behind him. As soon as Rabbit was out of sight, he disap-

peared into the bushes.

9 As Rabbit reached the top of the first hill, he saw that

Turtle was ahead of him. Turtle’s white feather was blowing

in the breeze. Rabbit was amazed. He put on a burst of speed

and passed Turtle with the white feather. Soon Rabbit had his

back turned. Then the second Turtle took off the white feather

and crawled into the bushes. He chuckled to himself.

10 When Rabbit reached the valley floor, there was Turtle

ahead of him again, crawling up the second hill with his white

feather. Rabbit ran and ran, leaving Turtle far behind him. But

every time he reached a hilltop or a valley, there was Turtle

again with his white feather. And again he was crawling along

as fast as he could go!



11 Rabbit was gasping for breath when he reached the bottom

of the third valley. He had passed Turtle yet again at the top

of the third hill. Here again was that rascally turtle appearing

on the racetrack ahead of him, crawling as fast as he could go

up the slope of the fourth hill.

12 Rabbit was determined to win the race. He plucked up

the last few ounces of his strength and sprinted up the hill.

He passed Turtle with the white feather. He was nearly

there! Rabbit rounded the last corner and braked to a halt in

astonishment. Sitting by the stake, waving his white feather

proudly, was Turtle. He had won the race!




What word means about thesame as boasting?

A begging

B bragging

C learning

D weeping

What word bestdescribes Turtle?

A tricky

B caring

C cautious

D frightened

This story can best bedescribed as

A a science-fiction story about

a race.

B a tale that explains why

rabbits hop.

C a true story about a rabbit and

a turtle.

D a fable about an animal that

learns a lesson.



Luke wrote this story. It contains errors. Read the story and then answer Numbers 7 through 9.

Graduation Day

(1) In two weeks I will visit Sara and Sidney at their school.

(2) They are both graduating from middle school. (3) I have

been friends with they for five years. (4) It will be nice to see

theirselves on that special day. (5) I won’t be graduating from

middle school for another two years. (6) When I do, I know that

Sara and Sidney will be there to see it. (7) Theirs parents might

bring them, but they might come by theirselves.

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I have been friends with theythey for five years.


A their

B themselves

C them

D thems


It will be nice to see theirselvestheirselves on that special day.


A we

B them

C they

D ourselves


Theirs parents might bring them, but they might come by theirselves.


A Theirs parents might bring

them, but they might come

by theirselves.

B Their parents might bring


by themself.

C Their parents might bring


by themselves.

D Theirs parents might bring


by themselves.

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FamilysFamilys should not get too worriedworried about crying children because even the happiesthappiest baby criescries sometimes.


A familys

B worried

C happiest

D cries


A lazier

B sillest

C marries

D replied


A easily

B merrier

C pennys

D sorriest


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PercentCorrect

Word Analysis

Greek roots 1

Synonyms 4 /2 %


Description 2

Fact and opinion 3 /2 %


Character 5

Genre 6 /2 %

Written Conventions

Spelling 10, 11, 12

Usage 7, 8, 9 /6 %


Next Steps



Read the story “You Know Me—Miss Perfectionist!” and then answer Numbers 1 through 3.

You Know Me—Miss Perfectionist!

1 Yoshiko came home looking very frustrated. She tossed

her books on the kitchen table. Then she leaned her chin on

her hand and stared at the ceiling.

2 “Yoshiko, what’s wrong? What happened at school?” her

mom asked. She too had just arrived home after a hard day as

a defense attorney.

3 “Oh, Mom. Remember the projects I told you about last

week? I still haven’t thought of a good one.”

4 Yoshiko’s mom looked at her. “I thought Dad and I gave

you some ideas. Didn’t you like any of them?”

5 “Oh, they were good. But you know me—Miss

Perfectionist! I want mine to be the best of all.” Yoshiko was

really bewildered.

6 “Well, if you don’t have any idea, it certainly won’t be the

best one. Give me a little time and . . .”

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7 Just then Yoshiko’s grandmother and grandfather walked in

the door. Each was holding a bag of groceries. They had lived

with Yoshiko’s family for the past few years.

8 “Hi, Yoshiko! Hi, Miyoshi!” said Yoshiko’s grandmother.

“Wow, the price of fresh vegetables is really going up. Do

you remember the garden we used to have, Shinji? Wasn’t it

wonderful? We never had to buy vegetables at a store. I wish

we had our garden again!” She just sighed.

9 “Yes, yes, I remember,” said Yoshiko’s grandfather, “but

it was so hard to take care of.”

10 Just then, a lightbulb popped in Yoshiko’s head! She

stared at her mother and her mother stared back at her. They

seemed to be reading each other’s minds. “Hey, Mom, are

you thinking what I’m thinking? Do you remember one of the

projects we discussed last week?”

11 “I think I know which one you’re talking about,” her

mother replied.

12 “What’s going on? What did I say?” Yoshiko’s grand-

mother was puzzled by the conversation.

13 Yoshiko smiled. “Grandma and Grandpa, what would you

say if I said you were going to have your garden again? And

I’d help you with it. And Mom and Dad will help, too. Maybe

even Toshu and . . .” She stared pleadingly at her mother.

14 Yoshiko’s mom was startled, but her shocked look soon

melted into a smile.

15 “We can all be part of a community garden! We learned

all about it in school. Everyone shares in the tasks. Everyone

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16 “Slow down, Yoshiko! Catch your breath,” said Yoshiko’s

mom. “Think about what you’re saying.” She knew it was a

fantastic idea, though.

17 “A community garden! What a wonderful idea! I’ve

heard people on television talk about them.” Yoshiko’s

grandmother was pondering the idea of having really fresh

vegetables again. She turned to her husband with the gentle,

calm look that was her trademark. “Shinji?”

18 He just nodded and smiled.

19 Yoshiko knew everyone liked the idea. She shrieked

out loud. “Yes, it will be the best idea of all. We’ve got

to start planning—right after dinner tonight. Won’t Dad be

surprised!”

20 Everyone looked at one another. “Oh, he’ll be surprised all

right,” said Yoshiko’s mom, with a smile on her face.

21 Yoshiko smiled, too. “You know me—I’m Miss

Perfectionist, after all!”

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In this sentence, what isthe meaning of theword community?

A suburban district

B downtown district

C people living in an area

D land surrounding an area

Which word best describesYoshiko’s relationship withher mother?

A bitter

B healthy

C unloving

D acceptable

The story “You Know Me—Miss Perfectionist!” mainlyserves to

A inform readers about a

community garden.

B describe a girl’s relationship

with her mother.

C persuade readers to plant a

community garden.

D entertain readers with a story

about a project idea.



Read the passage “The Community Garden” and then answer Numbers 4 through 6.

The Community Garden

1 Have you ever seen a

community garden? It is a

great place for people from all

backgrounds. It is a way to make

a neighborhood a better place

to live. This garden is the heart

and soul of a neighborhood. It

provides a spot for people of all

ages to work and play together.

Very often, all family members

take part. Mom and Dad work

in the garden. Their sons and

daughters work in the garden.

Even Grandma and Grandpa

work in the garden. What a sight

this kind of teamwork is!

2 The garden gives people a

chance to grow their own food.

And the food is fresh and doesn’t

cost too much. The garden

provides a friendly place for

people of all ages. The garden

gives people a chance to share

what they know about gardening.

It also gives them a chance to

talk about many, many

other things.

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3 People who work in the

garden usually sign up for a

small plot of land each spring.

They are charged a small fee.

The fee gives them permission to

work on the land. Though low, it

also covers other costs associated

with the garden. More and more,

nearby businesses help manage

the land. This is done on a

voluntary basis. The community

spirit created by the garden is

well worth the effort.

4 There are many community

gardens in the United States

today. More and more people are

working in these gardens. Some

people, however, cannot work

in these gardens. They would

love to, but they have a hard time

gardening on the ground. Some

may not be able to bend over

for a long period of time. Others

may be in a wheelchair. Some

gardens have special raised beds

for these people.

5 Many gardens have people

who teach gardening skills

throughout the year. These skills

include pest control, starting

seeds indoors, seed saving, fall

planting, food preservation, and

cooking. Truly the time for the

community garden has arrived!

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Read this sentence fromthe passage.

The root word in preservationmeans

A save.

B cook.

C start.

D plant.

Which is an opinion inthe passage?

A Many gardens have people who

teach gardening.

B It is a great place for people

from all backgrounds.

C The fee gives them permission

to work on the land.

D More and more, nearby

businesses help manage

the land.

What evaluation can you makeabout a community garden?

A The garden is a good

gathering place.

B The cost of working in the

garden is very low.

C The garden is a good place to

grow vegetables.

D The food grown in the garden

is sold to neighbors.



Jeremiah wrote this story. It contains errors. Read the story and then answer Numbers 7 through 9.

The Fair

(1) I’ll go to the fair (the Kendall County Fair that is! after

school) today. (2) My brother and sister want to join me, but they

can’t. (3) Mom says that they’ve too young to go. (4) When they

get older, they is going to go, too.

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Mom says that they’vethey’ve too young to go.


A they’ll

B they is

C there

D they’re


When they get older, they is they is goinggoing to go, too.

What is the correct way to write the underlined words in the sentence?

A they’s going

B them are going

C they’re going

D they am going


I’ll go to the fair (the Kendall County Fair that is! after school) today.

What is the correct way to punctuate the sentence?

A I’ll go to the fair (the Kendall

County) Fair that is! after

school today.

B I’ll go to the (fair the Kendall

County) Fair that is! after

school) today.

C I’ll go to the fair the Kendall

County Fair that is! after

school today.

D I’ll go to the fair (the Kendall

County Fair that is!) after

school today.

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A grew

B move

C stewl

D tunes


You’llYou’ll be amazed at the hoogehooge amount of foodfood this crewcrew can eat.


A You’ll

B hooge

C food

D crew


A groop

B should

C suit

D zoom


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PercentCorrect

Word Analysis

Context clues 1

Root words 4 /2 %


Evaluate 3, 6

Fact and opinion 5 /3 %


Character 2 /1 %

Written Conventions

Punctuation 7, 9

Spelling 10, 11, 12

Usage 8 /6 %


Next Steps


Grade 4 • Unit 4 • Week 4Weekly Assessment

Night Camping

1 Mr. Jackson, our history teacher, had a crazy idea that he

said would build teamwork. We would go camping in the

woods overnight. He said it would help us appreciate country

living. Can you picture thirty city kids camping in the woods

overnight? I couldn’t either. This trip was doomed from the

start. The farther we got from city lights, the worse I felt.

2 Everything about the country makes me nervous—even the

grass. After all, it’s alive! Mr. Jackson kept telling us how great

it would be to sleep under the stars. I looked at my pals Leo and

Roberto; they looked at me. We all rolled our eyes.

Read the story “Night Camping” and then answer Numbers 1 through 3.



3 The fun began as soon as we got to the campsite.

Mr. Jackson wanted Leo and me to help build a fire. None

of us wanted anything to do with wood-gathering. Leo said

he had allergies. Roberto claimed he had a sore ankle. I just

stalled. I was sure that hundreds of evil things were lurking in

the bushes.

4 I lay inside my sleeping bag wondering what would get me

first. A hungry forest animal? Bat-sized mosquitoes? A slith-

ering snake? All night long I heard sounds. I felt bugs. I saw

beady little eyes. No doubt about it! I was scared to death.

5 I finally fell asleep. Then I felt something fly past my

head. Was it a bird? Was it a bat? I felt something bounce

off my sleeping bag. I let out a scream. I tried to get out of

my sleeping bag, but the zipper was stuck. Leo and Roberto

jumped up and started stomping on whatever it was that was

trying to get me. We looked at the monster and then at one

another. We had just killed . . . a twig! The three of us broke

into laughter when we realized how silly we had been. This

little incident taught us a few things. Maybe Mr. Jackson’s

crazy idea wasn’t so crazy after all!

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GRADE 4 – Unit 4, Week 4


Which of the following reflectsthe meaning of trip as it is usedin the sentence?

A journey

B stumble

C mistake

D lie

What conclusion can you drawabout the narrator of the story?

A He likes indoor activities.

B He is not an outdoors person.

C He depends on his friends a lot.

D He thinks Mr. Jackson is a

good teacher.

Based on the story outcome,which statement best describesthe theme?

A Live and learn.

B Try, try, and try again.

C All’s well that ends well.

D Do not fear the unknown.



Read the passage “Dimsdale Book Festival” and then answer Numbers 4 through 6.

Dimsdale Book Festival

1 The Dimsdale School held its

third annual book festival last

week. Everyone seemed to have

a good time. The festival was

started by a group of parents and

teachers three years ago. They

wanted to do something to bring

the community together. And

they wanted to raise money for

people in need.

2 This year’s festival included

many events. Authors of all kinds

of books were invited to attend

the festival. They told listeners

where they get their ideas. They

read from and signed copies of

their books.

3 The festival was divided

into several areas. Each area

had books that would satisfy

the interest of different readers.

There was a mystery area. There

was a history area. There was a

humor area. There was a cooking

area. There was a music area.

And there were many other areas!

4 Each area had a speaker or

two talking about his or her

books. This was a very fasci-

nating part of the festival—just

hearing authors and how they get

their ideas. And of course, the

authors autographed books after

they spoke.

5 Martina Hernandez, a spokes-

person for the festival, said that

each year the festival has grown.

“This year was the largest so

far,’’ she said. “Thanks to the

efforts of so many people, we

raised over $40,000. We will give

all of the money to groups within

our community that are helping

people help themselves.”

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GRADE 4 – Unit 4, Week 4

Read this sentence fromthe passage.

The word autographed containsthe Greek root “graph.” Whatdoes “graph” mean?

A write

B speak

C print

D read

What conclusion can youdraw about the DimsdaleBook Festival?

A The cost of the festival is high.

B Children cannot attend

the festival.

C The Dimsdale Book Festival

is popular.

D Only the best authors attend

the festival.

The passage mainly serves to

A inform readers about a

school event.

B describe the work of

famous authors.

C persuade readers to attend

book festivals.

D entertain readers with a story

about an author.



Garehart wrote this passage. It contains errors. Read the passage and then answer Numbers 7 through 9.

Notes on Class Reports

(1) In class, we continued to hear students’ reports. (2) Since

we heard everyone else’s report yesterday, we heard Diane’s

today. (3) Everyone in class knew that hers report was about

giant pandas. (4) Ours teacher suggested we do our research on

the computer. (5) Diane did her research on the computer at her

best friend Luke’s house. (6) I did mine’s research at home and

at the library.

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Everyone in class knew that hershers report was about giant pandas.

What is the correct way to write the underlined word in this sentence?

A her’s

B her

C she’s

D she


Ours teacher suggested we do our research on the computer.


A Our teacher suggested us do

our’s research on the computer.

B Our’s teacher suggested us do

our’s research on the computer.

C Our’s teacher suggested we do

our research on the computer.

D Our teacher suggested we do

our research on the computer.


I did mine’s research at home and at the library.


A I did my research at home and

at the library.

B I did me research at home and

at the library.

C I did mine research at home

and at the library.

D I did mines research at home

and at the library.

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Read this sentence.

Which underlined word from thesentence is not spelled correctly?

A hound

B flower

C howling

D annoi

Which word is notspelled correctly?

A brown

B cowboy

C froun

D spoil


A moist

B scout

C pouch

D voiyage





PercentCorrect

Word Analysis

Greek and Latin roots 4

Multiple meanings 1 /2 %


Draw conclusions 2, 5, 6 /3 %


Theme 3 /1 %

Written Conventions

Spelling 10, 11, 12

Usage 7, 8, 9 /6 %


Next Steps



Read the story “Fatima” and then answer Numbers 1 through 3.

Fatima

1 “Let’s all say goodbye to Fatima Ahmed. She will be going

back to her homeland, Palestine. We’ve all grown to know

and respect her. She’s just like a member of our family. She’s

a true friend and a fantastic soccer player. In fact, the soccer

team has voted to make Fatima honorary team captain. She

deserves this honor. She has really helped the team. Fatima,

come up and say a few words.”

2 I sat in the audience and cheered along with the other kids.

Fatima was amazed and a little embarrassed. She walked

quietly to the stage. I remembered the day in September when

we first met Fatima. She certainly has changed!

3 On the first day of school, Ms. Oliver, our homeroom

teacher, introduced us to a very quiet, neatly dressed girl. “I’d

like you all to meet Fatima Ahmed. She’s an exchange student

from Palestine and will be with us this year.”

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4 We tried to be cordial, but she just stared at us. She sat

down and carefully unpacked her school bag. She lined up her

pens like a row of soldiers and stacked her notebooks neatly

on her desk. This went on day after day like clockwork.

5 Things began to change, however, when soccer season

started. We soon learned that inside Fatima was an absolutely

incredible soccer player. She taught us a great soccer move

called “give and go.” Fatima would kick the ball to me and

then bolt down the field to meet the ball flying back from me.

You’ve never seen anyone move so fast! She was fantastic!

6 Ms. Pulaski, our coach, had been struggling to pound this

soccer skill into our heads. We just couldn’t get it, though.

Fatima made it look so easy. We began getting goal after goal

and winning games. We were finally a team!

7 We discovered that Fatima wasn’t unfriendly, just shy.

Soccer seemed to be just the thing to make her come alive.

She turned out to be an interesting person—and fun to be

with. She shared so much with us about her homeland. She

was quite a girl!

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The word player contains thesuffix -er. What is the meaningof the word player?

A related to playing

B in a playing way

C much playing

D one who plays

In paragraph 4, the authorincludes phrases like “linedup,” “stacked . . . neatly,”and “like clockwork.” Thesephrases were used to show thatFatima was

A tense.

B picky.

C organized.

D concerned.

How does Fatima change inthe story?

A At first she is happy, then she

is uncaring.

B At first she seems unfriendly,

then she is cordial.

C At first she seems friendly, then

she is unkind.

D At first she is organized, then

she is disorganized.

Now answer Numbers 1 through 3. Base your answers on the story “Fatima.”



Read the passage “The Donaldson Family Band” and then answer Numbers 4 through 6.

The Donaldson Family Band

1 Everyone in the county loves

listening to the Donaldson Family

Band. They have performed for

over twenty years.

2 The band is made up of eleven

members. Chester and Myrtle are

key players. Then there are their

eight children. Starting with the

oldest, there’s Melvin, Louise,

Gert, John, Garehart, Frederick,

Anna, and six-year-old Marie.

Even Opal, Chester’s mother,

gets in the act.

3 The Donaldsons play all kinds

of musical instruments. They

know how to play drums, electric

guitar, rhythm guitar, and piano.

Just recently they added fiddles

to the list of instruments. And to

everyone’s surprise, little Marie

has been learning to play the

harmonica. Each and every one

of them is a talented performer.

4 The Donaldsons play all kinds

of music. “Our music makes

people happy,” says Chester. The

band basically plays country and

Western swing. Grandma Opal

and the girls enjoy folk. The band

also likes pop and soft rock.

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5 At the performances the

Donaldson Family Band starts

out with a few of their favorites.

As Myrtle says, “If we express

our love of certain music, we

feel this will carry over to the

audience. It’s worked for us all

these years.”

6 After playing their own

favorites, audience members

make requests. Then things

really start hopping. It’s just a

lot of good quality music that

appeals to people of different

backgrounds and interests. The

Donaldsons make a great team.

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Each and every one of them is a talented performer.

When the suffix -er is added to the word performperform, it forms a new word that means

A one who performs.

B much performing.

C in a performing way.

D related to performing.

5 Which is an opinion from the passage?

A The band is made up of

eleven members.

B They have performed for over

twenty years.

C “Our music makes people

happy,” says Chester.

D The band basically plays

country and Western swing.

6 Why did the author probably mention all the instruments played by the Donaldson Family Band?

A to show how talented they are

B to win the respect of musicians

C to gain popularity

among readers

D to show that a band has

many instruments

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Leroy wrote this story. It contains errors. Read the story and then answer Numbers 7 through 9.

The Missing Lamp

(1) If your the one who put the lamp away, why can’t I

find it? (2) I no its not in your room because I’ve looked there.

(3) You’re sisters said the lamp is knot in there room, either.

(4) If it isn’t in your room or theirs, where can it be?

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If youryour the one who put the lamp away, why can’t I find it?


A you

B youre

C yours

D you’re


I no itsno its not in your room because I’ve looked there.

What is the correct way to write the underlined words in the sentence?

A no its’

B no it’s

C know it’s

D knows its


You’re sisters said the lamp is knot in there room, either.


A You’re sisters said the lamp is

not in their room, either.

B Your sisters said the lamp is not

in their room, either.

C Your sisters said the lamp is

knot in there room, either.

D You’re sisters said the lamp is

knot in their room, either.

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A bald

B fought

C stalke

D strawberry


A caut

B chalk

C halt

D laws

Read this sentence.

Which underlined word from thesentence is not spelled correctly?

A thought

B aw

C small

D talking




PercentCorrect

Word Analysis

Suffixes 1, 4 /2 %


Author’s perspective 2, 6Fact and opinion 5Monitor comprehension 3 /4 %

Written Conventions

Spelling 10, 11, 12Usage 7, 8, 9 /6 %


Next Steps


lucky birdwatchers - welcome to mr. b's ......room 12 birdwatchers 1 “i told you this...

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