Unit 1 Review

Why the Cat PurrsMany years ago, even before your grandparents were running under the sun, catswere considered very special animals. In fact, they were so special that ordinary peoplelike you and me were not able to own them. Only the king of one very special land had allthe cats that ever lived. His name was King Wilburoo, and his kingdom was called theLand of Four Paws. As you might have guessed, all the citizens of this kingdom were cats,but they were not cats as we know them now. These cats all had the ability to talk—andtalk they did! All day long they chatted, complained, gossiped, and blamed. Never was akind word heard in the Kingdom of Four Paws.One day, as King Wilburoo was walking amongst his subjects, he finally realizedthat he had enough. It was ever so dismal to walk in the Catnip Gardens and on RodentRoad, hearing only the most unpleasant words. King Wilburoo decided he would meet withhis wizard to see what could be done.Wizard Fanisol had just the right solution. One moonlit night when all the cats of theKingdom were gathered together and carping in Brie Square, Wizard Fanisol swung hismagic rodent around and shouted, “Fiddelly, Faddely, Fur. No more words, only a purr!”At that instant, Brie Square went totally silent. Then, all that could be heard was asound like a thousand soft motors running. From that day forward, when cats eventuallymoved to new lands and kingdoms, if they felt content and not in the mood to complain,they would make that soft motor sound—a purr.

dismal[diz-muh l]

adjective1.causing gloom or dejection; gloomy; dreary; cheerless; melancholy:dismal weather.2.characterized by ineptness or lack of skill, competence, effectiveness,imagination, or interest; pitiful:Our team played a dismal game.3.Obsolete.

a. disastrous; calamitous.b. unlucky; sinister.

Which definition best matches the word DISMAL as it is used in the passage?

A. Definition 1

B. Definition 2

C. Definition 3

Question 2

The myth is mostly about-

A.A king that disliked complainers

B.How cats began to only purr and stopped talking

C.A kingdom with complaining cats

D.A ruler who controlled cats

Question 3

What is the message (theme) of the myth?

A.Cats like to purr a lot because they are happy

B.Complaining is a disease that can cause silence

C.Complaining is not a virtue

D.Cats are silent but used to talk

Question 4

What does the word content mean in paragraph 4?

a.angry

b.satisfied

c.frustrated

d.elated

Question 5

The author of this myth probably wrote it to-

a.persuade audiences to like cats more

b.entertain readers with an interesting story

c.explain why cats cannot talk but only purr

d.compare and contrast cats of yesterday and today

Question 6

The author organizes this selection by-

a.comparing cats of yesterday and today

b.describing the events of when cats lost the ability to speak

c.listing advantages and disadvantages of complaining

d.stating the reasons that cats purr

Question 7

What can you infer about King Wilburoo from the myth?

A.He complains a lot

B.He has a low tolerance for negativity

C.He likes dogs more than cats

D.He is a fair and easy going ruler

Question 8

What statement best describes how the story is told?

A.The cats tell what is happening.

B.King Wilburoo explains the story.

C.Someone outside is explaining all the characters’ thoughts

D.Someone who watched the events is telling the story