making a difference/theme 5 grade 5 theme...

Making a Difference/Theme 5

Grade 5

Theme Tests

Part No. 9997-87114-6

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ISBN-13: 978-0-15-358757-3ISBN-10: 0-15-358757-1

(Package of 12) 5

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Ride the Edge — Theme 5Name Date

Performance Summary

Student ScoreREADING

Reading Comprehension Multiple-Choice Items /18 Short-Response Open-Ended Item /2 Extended-Response Open-Ended Item /4

Robust Vocabulary /10

Total Student Reading Score /34

LANGUAGE ARTS Grammar /10 Spelling /10

WRITING /6

ORAL READING FLUENCY Passage 1 Words Correct Per Minute Passage 2 Words Correct Per Minute

(Bubble in the appropriate performance level.)Reading

Below Basic1–14

Basic (On-Level)15–23

Proficient (On-Level)24–30

Advanced31–34

Language Arts

Below Basic1–8


Proficient (On-Level)13–16

Advanced17–20

Writing

Below Basic1–2


Proficient (On-Level)5

Advanced6

Oral Reading Fluency

25th Percentile109 WCPM




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Theme Test

Theme 5Reading Comprehension

Read the story “In the Kitchen” before answering Numbers 1

through 7.

In the Kitchen

August 2

Dear Diary:

As you already know, my dear friend Justin moved away last week. His

mother got a new job in San Francisco, and there they all went. Now I’m

on my own, which, I tell you, can be dull for a ten year old.

August 15

Hello Diary:

I must report a startling event! Another family, with a kid around my

age, is in the process of moving into Justin’s house. I was just getting used

to being alone. I’d gotten a library book on North American birds and was

enjoying my first try at bird watching. When I was looking through my

father’s binoculars, I was nearly unfocused by a gigantic moving van. I saw

the parents carrying box after box from the van into the house, all about

the size of a microwave oven and seeming pretty heavy.

August 17

Dear Diary:

My father reports that Mr. Zuzga (the new family’s last name) is a

teacher at the college, just like Mom. And my mother has announced how

pleased she is to have a colleague across the street—colleague means ‘fellow

worker,’ she told me. I’m not sure what’s so great about having a colleague

across the street, but maybe that’s because I don’t work yet; maybe work is

a lonely place.

My dad told me the kid’s name is Evan and he’s exactly my age, which

means he’ll be my colleague (I’ve decided a colleague is something you

can have at school, too). Dad seemed to think I would be excited by this

news because he knows I miss Justin (home can be lonelier than work,

sometimes). But I’m not sure I want to meet Evan. Nobody can replace

Justin, and I told Dad that. He said I was right, but I should consider

Theme Test

Theme 5

© Harcourt • Grade 5

1Reading Comprehension

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giving Evan a chance because it’s good to stay open to new things

and new people. I certainly agree about staying open to new

things, like bird watching, but it seems a lot harder to stay open

to new people.

August 20

Hello Diary,

Well, another week has begun, and I made a very interesting discovery.

After writing to you yesterday, I pretended to be bird watching and I

snuck across the street to observe the new neighbors. I had no intention

of meeting any of them, but as I approached the house, I was hit by a tasty

smell drifting towards me from an open window on the side of the house.

I crept closer to the house and was craning to see in the window when a

boy’s face appeared. “Hi,” he said, “you must be Alyssa. Your dad said you

might stop by. I’m Evan.”

I was so surprised, all I could say was, “OK, thank you,” but then I had

to ask what he was doing—his mom was in the kitchen behind him, but

she was busy reading the paper. From what I could smell, Evan appeared

to be cooking. My powers of deduction are remarkable.

“I’m baking bread to take to the community center,” he replied.

I’d never met a ten year old who knew how to cook before, and it

raised a few questions. “How’d you learn to make bread?” I asked.

“My grandfather taught me,” Evan said. “My mom and I took bread

to the community center in the town where we used to live, so now I’m

trying to do the same thing here. If you want to help, I’ll show you how to

mix the ingredients.”

And that’s what happened—I went into the house, set my notebook

and binoculars on the table, and Evan taught me how to make bread. I

learned what ingredients it takes to make bread and how to knead, or mix,

the bread using my hands and fingers. The dough feels quite gooey. Later,

his mom drove us to the community center to drop it off. I’d never been to

the center before, but it seemed lively, and the people running the kitchen

all thanked us. I felt I had put in a good day’s work, and work, as it turns

out, is not lonely at all when you have a colleague.

Theme Test

Theme 5



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August 23

Dear Diary:

I’ve been very preoccupied with my new activity—baking. Evan, it

turns out, knows how to bake lots of things. I, it turns out, like baking

better than I like watching birds. Yesterday, I learned how to make

something called a croissant, which tasted like melting flakes on my

tongue. I also found out what was in all those big boxes—books. Evan’s

mom is a writer, and she reads a lot for fun and work. I know I haven’t

been paying much attention to you, Diary, but don’t worry—my plan is to

keep writing when I’m not baking. School starts soon, and my colleague

and I will be riding our bikes there together.

Theme Test

Theme 5



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Theme Test

Theme 5Now answer Numbers 1 through 7. Base your answers on the

story “In the Kitchen.”

1. Based on the story, which of the following conclusions can be drawn?

Alyssa was happy to give up her summer reading program.

Justin likes San Francisco better than Alyssa’s neighborhood.

Community spirit has always mattered to the Zuzga family.

There are not many birds near Justin’s and Alyssa’s houses.

2. Which of the following events occurs last?

Alyssa gets a book on bird-watching.

Alyssa learns how to make a croissant.

Justin’s mother gets a job in San Francisco.

Evan learns how to bake bread from his grandfather.

3. The author first introduces baking bread by using an appeal to the sense

of

sight.

sound.

touch.

smell.

4. Why does Alyssa’s dad encourage her to introduce herself to Evan?

He believes she can help Evan with learning English.

He believes she spends too much time at home.

He thinks she should ride to school with a colleague.

He thinks she should be open to new people.

5. How is the conflict resolved in the story?

Alyssa makes friends with her new neighbor, Evan.

Alyssa finds out what Evan’s mom does for a living.

Alyssa’s mom explains what the word colleague means.

Alyssa writes a letter to Justin telling him about her adventures.



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6. What is the author’s main purpose in writing “In the

Kitchen”?

to explain how to watch birds

to describe the process of making bread

to tell about a girl who meets a new neighbor

to persuade people to give to community centers

7. Describe the author’s use of the senses to make the story more interesting.

Use details and examples from the story to support your ideas.READTHINKEXPLAIN

Theme Test

Theme 5



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Theme Test

Theme 5Read the article “The White Squirrels of Marionville” before

answering Numbers 8 through 14.

The White Squirrels of Marionville by Richard Woods

There are only a few towns in the

United States that have a white, or albino,

squirrel population. One of these towns is

Marionville, Missouri. If you visited this

small community, you would probably see

some white squirrels scampering around

with the gray squirrels that live there.

Albino squirrels are white because their

bodies are unable to produce melanin. This

pigment gives color to skin and hair. It

protects animals from the sun’s harmful rays.

It also gives an animal the colors that help it

hide from enemies.

No one knows where the white

squirrels came from. Some people say that

they escaped from a passing circus train.

Others say that they have always been

in Marionville. Jim Smart, a longtime

Marionville resident, says, “The old-timers

around here said the squirrels were here

in the mid-1800s.” Mr. Smart is a wildlife

photographer and has taken many photos of

the white squirrels.

Eric Kurzejeski, who works with the

Missouri Department of Conservation, says

that occasionally someone might see one

albino animal living among normal-colored

animals. But it’s unusual to see a whole

group of albino animals living in one place.

The squirrels’ white color makes it

harder for them to hide from animals that

would eat them. So the squirrels can grow

in number only in areas where people help

them survive, such as Marionville.

The citizens of Marionville are proud to

help their white squirrels. The city council



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Theme Test

Theme 5passed a law against capturing or hurting

the white squirrels. People have raised

money to place corn feeders and den

boxes everywhere. The squirrels can nest

in the den boxes and stay cozy in bad

weather.

The Missouri Department of

Conservation donated 2,500 oak,

walnut, and hickory trees to the

residents of Marionville around 1985.

The squirrels love to eat the nuts that

these trees produce.

Why the white squirrels settled

in Marionville may be a mystery, but

one thing is certain—the people of

Marionville hope the squirrels will stay

for a long, long time.



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Theme Test

Theme 5Now answer Numbers 8 through 14. Base your answers on the

article “The White Squirrels of Marionville.”

8. Which of the following describes one way that white squirrels DIFFER

from other squirrels?

White squirrels eat more nuts than other squirrels.

White squirrels tend to live longer than other squirrels.

White squirrels have a harder time hiding from enemies.

White squirrels enjoy eating corn and nesting in den boxes.

9. Why are albino squirrels white?

They are active mostly at night.

Escaping an enemy is traumatic.

Their bodies produce no melanin.

Pigment protects animals from the sun.

10. Why does the author interview and quote Eric Kurzejeski?

to reveal the fact that albino animals are very unusual

to prove how long white squirrels have been in Marionville

to give information about where to get hickory and walnut trees

to provide statistics on the numbers of white squirrels in different

cities

11. Based on the article, which of the following is TRUE about white

squirrels in Marionville, MO?

They are animals loyal to the community of Marionville.

They are fragile animals that need help from the community.

They are animals happy to have a home and food.

They are animals that should be sent to another community.



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Theme Test

Theme 512. Based on the article, which of the following conclusions can

be drawn?

White squirrels are the only type of squirrel in Marionville.

White squirrels often live in places where there is a lot of snow.

There are more white squirrels in Marionville than anywhere else.

Food and shelter in Marionville have allowed white squirrels to

thrive.

13. What is the author’s main purpose in writing this article?

to describe the white squirrels of Marionville

to explain how white squirrels came to live in Marionville

to tell a story about how white squirrels survive in bad weather

to persuade people to help the white squirrel population grow in

their towns



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Theme Test

Theme 5

14. Describe how the community of Marionville, Missouri worked to make a

difference in their town and save the white squirrel. Use examples from

the article to support your ideas.READTHINKEXPLAIN



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Theme Test

Theme 5Read the article “Community Gardens” before answering

Numbers 15 through 20.

Community GardensHave you ever walked down a city street and suddenly seen a bright

garden full of vegetables and flowers? It may have been a community

garden—a garden planted by the people in the community. More than just

pretty places, these gardens improve the neighborhoods in which they are

located.

People first started planting these gardens during the 1970s in cities

such as Philadelphia, Chicago, New York City, Seattle, and Boston. At that

time, the price of produce (fresh vegetables and fruits) was rising. In many

city neighborhoods, crime was increasing, and other social problems were

occurring.



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People decided to get together to create gardens to combat

these problems. The gardeners thought that by growing

vegetables and flowers in empty lots, they might make the area more

beautiful and improve people’s lives. They hoped to make people feel

more as if they belonged to the neighborhood around them. These

gardeners were right! Community gardens have many benefits, improving

the appearance of their neighborhoods and strengthening the sense of

togetherness of the people who live there. For this kind of garden to work,

many people have to pitch in. The responsibility that comes with joining

in the work of a community garden makes people part of a joint effort and

connected with those who live around them.

Members of a community garden work on a small area within the

garden. Each person grows the plants of his or her choice. However, people

also work together to help each other. Members who have experience

gardening can help those who are just learning.

Sometimes, garden members pay for supplies like small plants and

seeds. Many of these gardens have sponsors that support their neighbors

by supporting the garden. They give land, tools, soil, seeds, or money to

keep the garden going every year. Sponsors may be park departments,

churches, schools, local businesses, or other groups who want to be a part

of the community and help clean up and beautify a neighborhood.

Active community gardens promote stability in an area by giving

people of all ages a chance to work together. Some gardens offer programs

for children and older people. They may offer classes or food programs to

donate the foods grown. Such gardens can sometimes benefit people by

improving air quality and creating income.

Today there are about 10,000 community gardens in cities throughout

the United States. They have become popular because of their positive

influence. People simply enjoy having spaces in their neighborhoods

dedicated to fruits, vegetables, trees, and flowers.

Theme Test

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Theme Test

Theme 5Now answer Numbers 15 through 20. Base your answers on

the article “Community Gardens.”

15. What is MOST LIKELY the author’s purpose in writing this article?

to compare different types of gardens

to persuade people to stop littering cities

to explain how to start a community garden

to tell how community gardens have improved cities

16. Based on the article, which of the following conclusions can be

drawn?

People take a lot of pride in the community gardens they build.

There are more community gardens in Seattle than anywhere else.

Many of the people who work in community gardens are children.

Real estate developers feel that the gardens take up too much

space.

17. Why do neighbors and sponsors work to create community gardens in

their areas?

to show that gardening is a fun group activity

to show that fresh vegetables lead to better health

to show that each member’s garden plot is special

to show that unity in a neighborhood can make it better

18. To which sense does the phrase “bright garden full of vegetables and

flowers” appeal?

hearing

smell

sight

taste



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19. Why do sponsors give support to community gardens?

to generate city income by selling the flowers

to help neighborhoods become more attractive and safe

to provide people with information on how to grow plants

to provide jobs for the people who know how to farm

20. Which is the main idea of this article?

Community gardens can feed all the hungry people in a city.

As a community garden grows, so does the connection among the

neighbors in the community.

A community garden is the best way to show care for the

environment.

A city without a community garden will be a city filled with sad

strangers.

Theme Test

Theme 5



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Theme Test

Theme 5Robust Vocabulary

Choose the best word to complete each sentence for Numbers

21 through 30.

21. Private citizens often help the police crime in their

neighborhood.

loathe

assuage

detect

circulate

22. When their names were announced, the winners gave a shout.

precious

bland

turbulent

gleeful

23. For good advice about a problem, I turn to my .

altruism

mentor

excursion

sensibility

24. A king-size mattress is to move up a flight of stairs.

cumbersome

desolate

giddy

vital

25. Getting a fair allowance encourages me to keep my bedroom .

desolate

bland

sleek

immaculate


15Robust Vocabulary

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26. The school newspaper was started by some students.

enterprising

immaculate

analyzing

compassionate

27. Booming thunder and flashing lightning will the cat.

gouge

panic

bustle

damage

28. At the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the visitors filed past the

monument.

vitally

precariously

somberly

sleekly

29. Many people support the senator’s of human rights.

pinnacle

loathing

excursion

advocacy

30. The dog we got at the rescue shelter had been .

deflated

dilapidated

mistreated

enraptured

Theme Test

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16Robust Vocabulary

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Theme Test

Theme 5Grammar

Read and answer Numbers 31 through 40.

31. Read this sentence.

Marianna thought soccer would be fun, but she

was still sore from yesterday’s game.

What is the action verb in this sentence?

thought

would

be

was

32. In which sentence is the verb correct?

Ronald was exhaust after the long hike.

Smiling and laughing, Dianna appears happy.

Shannon want this gift for her birthday.

An image slowly appear on the screen.

33. Which sentence uses a verb in the simple present tense?

Learning to drive will be challenging.

Jill is going to the library after lunch.

My uncle makes sculptures out of old car parts.

We had discussed the story in class.

34. Which sentence has both an action verb and a linking verb?

Carrie felt the cloth and decided against buying it.

Torrance was late for the movie and missed the beginning.

Find the starting place, and then connect all the dots.

Billy ran to the bus before it left without him.


17Grammar

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Theme Test

Theme 535. In which sentence is the verb incorrect?

The farm lies on a broad plain.

Even the fourth-graders wants to come to the picnic.

At the sound of the bell, the students rise.

I call the cat in a coaxing voice.


After gathering in the town square, the veterans, who had

been looking forward to the event, were cheering as they

raised the flag.

Which verb in the sentence is in the simple past tense?

gathering

had been looking

were cheering

raised

37. Which sentence uses a verb in the past perfect tense?

By the time we arrived, the sun had broken through the clouds.

E.B. White wrote Stuart Little in 1945.

Students have been playing on this playground since 1990.

The committee will welcome the newly elected members.


The researchers have traveled to many countries in order

to collect important data.

What is the tense of the underlined verb?

present

future

present perfect

future perfect


18Grammar

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39. In which sentence is the verb NOT in the simple future

tense?

The senator will finish her term in six months.

The ballet company is going to perform on an outdoor stage.

By tomorrow, we will have been waiting two weeks for the

delivery.

The President will speak tomorrow at 7:00 P.M.

40. Which sentence uses a verb in the future perfect tense?

On Saturday, we will clean up the yard and mow the lawn.

I promise I will not tell him about the surprise party.

Niko is going to make posters for the car wash.

By the time Mom gets home, we will have cleaned the

entire house.

Theme Test

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19Grammar

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Spelling

For Numbers 41 through 50, read each sentence. Choose the

sentence that has the underlined word misspelled. If none of

the underlined words are misspelled, choose the answer “No

mistake.”

41. It is the job of the police to uphold the law.

Tito works as a nurse in the outpatient clinic.

Ariel lost her confidence and became indecisive.

No mistake

42. My grandfather receives a military pension.

I prefer to travel with a companion.

The new power plant is ready for activasion.

No mistake

43. Darla and Damien wrote a report on the panda population.

The new baseball team lacked organization.

Because of the argument, the air was filled with tention.

No mistake

44. The teacher will assign your seat.

Now I must hasten to catch the train.

Enter your name in the second column.

No mistake

45. The poem was written without any rhyme.

I took the class in order to gain knowlege.

Patrick did a thorough cleaning job.

No mistake

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20Spelling

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46. Hailey put all the addresses in order.

Fall, when leafs drop, is the time for raking.

Hawaii has many volcanoes.

No mistake

47. The sauce was made with tomatos and basil.

The sheets and towels were stacked on the shelves.

The library was supported by public taxes.

No mistake

48. In the cave, our voices came back as eerie echoes.

The animal reserve was home to bears and wolfs.

The joke had everyone in stitches.

No mistake

49. The winner tried to downplay her success in the match.

Your spending should be less than your income.

Our teachers are fair when they upphold the school rules.

No mistake

50. The children are bored and need a comepanion.

The building was scheduled for demolition.

We took a tour of a historic mansion.

No mistake

Theme Test

Theme 5


21Spelling

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Theme Test

Theme 5Writing to a Prompt

Your principal wants to offer students a new after-school activity.

Think about an after-school activity you would like the school to offer.

Now write to persuade your principal to offer the activity you have chosen.

Planning Page

Use this space to make your notes before you begin writing. The writing

on this page will NOT be scored.


22Writing to a Prompt

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Theme Test

Theme 5Begin writing here. The writing on this page and the next

WILL be scored.



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Theme Test

Theme 5



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Oral Reading Fluency

In more and more communities, both parents work during the day,

and their children need healthy activities to do and safe places to be

when they get out of school. All over the United States, Boys & Girls

Clubs offer this and much more.

In 1860, the first Boys Club was formed. In 1906, fifty-three Clubs

joined together as one national organization. In 1990, Boys Clubs were

renamed Boys & Girls Clubs. The clubs’ mission, since the beginning,

has been to provide hope and supply opportunities to children, ages

five through eighteen. Club programs give boys and girls the chance to

socialize outside of school through working together in groups toward

a common goal. These experiences help boys and girls feel useful and

positive about themselves. Clubs also offer services to help young people

get involved in their communities and become responsible, caring

citizens.

Most Boys & Girls Clubs are located in city neighborhood buildings

that are within walking distance for many students, and they are open

every day, after school and on weekends. Staff members are full-time

trained teachers who are positive role models and offer support. These

teachers help the Boys & Girls Clubs across the country serve as a home

away from home for thousands of children.

Theme Test

Theme 5


25Oral Reading Fluency

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Elise had been waiting for weeks for this Saturday to arrive. Today,

people would gather at the Town Commons to clean up the duck pond,

and that would represent the conclusion of her community service

project. Elise had created posters, sent out flyers, and worked with her

parents to make phone calls to organize the event. She was excited

about doing something positive for her community. Now, at 7:00 A.M.,

standing at the window of her house and looking up at the pouring rain,

all she felt was disappointment. This wasn’t just a sprinkle or a mist or

a passing shower—this rain was coming down in buckets. Elise was sure

that no one would show up and her whole project would be a failure.

“Of course you can still go,” said her mother when Elise asked, sadly,

if she would have to stay home. “I’ll find you an umbrella,” her mother

said. “You’ll see, everything will be fine.”

As they drove into the parking lot, Elise was astonished to see dozens

of colorful umbrellas twirling and bobbing over the heads of all the

people who’d come to help clean the pond. When she got close enough

to peer under the umbrellas, she saw raincoats and boots and big sunny

grins. Rain wouldn’t stop this project! Elise ran back to the car, grinning,

too, and began unloading supplies out of the trunk. The weather

wouldn’t stop their project after all.

Theme Test

Theme 5


26Oral Reading Fluency

making a difference/theme 5 grade 5 theme...

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