Beginning-of-Year Reading Comprehension Assessment PDF

A.1 ASSESSMENT Beginning-of-Year Reading Comprehension Assessment Today you will read three selections from the CKLA Grade 3 Ecology unit. The first selection is called “The Cat,” the second se...

A.1 ASSESSMENT Beginning-of-Year Reading Comprehension Assessment Today you will read three selections from the CKLA Grade 3 Ecology unit. The first selection is called “The Cat,” the second selection is called “The Wolf, the Elk, and the Aspen Tree,” and the third selection is called “Invasive Species.” After reading each passage, you will answer several questions based on the text. Some of the questions have two parts. You should answer Part A of the question before you answer Part B. Passage 1: “The Cat” 1 Once upon a time in Denmark, there was a man named Franz. Franz lived a good life all year long, until one night. That evening, a pack of horrible, badly behaved trolls descended on him. The trolls drove poor Franz from his house and took over the place for the night. 2 This went on for many years on the exact same night every year, until, one year, a famous hunter visited the house the morning of the dreaded night. The hunter had just captured a large, white bear and planned to present it to the king of Denmark. The hunter had a long journey ahead of him and asked Franz if he and the bear could spend the night. 3 “I would let you stay,” said Franz, “but I can’t, for every year at this time I am visited by trolls at night who drive me out of the house. They will be here tonight and you do not want to be here when they arrive!” 4 “Oh,” said the hunter, “I am not afraid of trolls. If that is all you are worried about, let me stay in the house. The bear can sleep under the stove there. I will sleep in the back, in the comfortable bedroom.” 5 “Very well,” said Franz. “You may stay, at your own risk, but I must get the house ready for the trolls. If I don’t, they will be furious.” Grade 4 Activity Book | Unit 1 6 Franz worked diligently to get his house ready for the trolls. He chopped wood and built a fire. He set the table with his best dishes and loaded them with porridge, assorted fruit, smoked fish, and delicious sausages. When he was done, he left he hunter and the bear in the house and went to stay with a friend. 7 At sunset, the trolls arrived. They stormed into the house and began a raucous celebration. They ate and drank, sang songs, and made a terrible mess. 8 One of the trolls caught a glimpse of the bear. It was lying under the stove, with only an ear sticking out. 9 “Look!” the troll said, “Franz has a cat!” 10 The troll cut off a bit of sausage and tossed it on the floor. Then, he kicked the bear in the ear and shouted, “Wake up, kitty! Get the sausage!” 11 The bear rose up on its hind legs, ripping the stove away from the floor. The stove was launched across the room. The bear, in a great fury, roared ferociously. The trolls were terrified. They screamed and ran for their lives. 12 Franz returned home the next day. He cleaned up the horrific mess the trolls had made, repaired the stove, and lived another year in his house. When the dreaded evening arrived once again the next year, he expected the trolls to come again. He went out into the yard to cut wood for them. 13 After a few minutes, he heard a voice calling, “Franz! Franz!” 14 Franz squinted into the woods but saw nothing but trees. 15 Then, he heard the voice again say, “Franz! Franz!” 16 “Yes?” Franz said. “What is it?” 17 “Have you still got that huge, ferocious cat?” the voice asked. 18 Franz thought for a minute. Then, he replied. Unit 1 | Activity Book Grade 4  A.1 continued ASSESSMENT 19 “Yes,” Franz said. “I still have the cat. It is lying under the stove, and, earlier this year, it had seven kittens. Now, all of the kittens have grown up. They are bigger and fiercer than their mother!” 20 “Egad!” said the voice. “Then, you will never see us again!” 21 Franz heard a rustling of feet in the woods. Then, there was silence. 22 After that, Franz went on with his life and the trolls never bothered him again. Questions 1–8 pertain to Passage 1: “The Cat” The following question has two parts. Answer Part A and then answer Part B. 1. Part A: In paragraph 17, what is the meaning of the word ferocious? A. hungry B. dangerous C. enormous D. furry Part B: Which phrase from the text best helps the reader determine the meaning of ferocious? A. It was lying under the stove B. The trolls were terrified. C. Then, he heard the voice again say, “Franz! Franz!” D. Then, he kicked the bear in the ear Grade 4 Activity Book | Unit 1 2. Based on information from the text, which statement best expresses how the characters Franz and the hunter feel about trolls? A. Franz is afraid of trolls and the hunter is afraid of trolls. B. The hunter is afraid of trolls, but Franz is not afraid of trolls. C. The hunter is not afraid of trolls and Franz is not afraid of trolls. D. Franz is afraid of trolls, but the hunter is not afraid of trolls. 3. In what two ways do paragraphs 12–19 of the text contribute to the development of the plot? A. These paragraphs show how Franz remained afraid of the trolls. B. These paragraphs show how the trolls forgot the way to Franz’s house. C. These paragraphs show how the hunter was kind to Franz. D. These paragraphs show Franz was clever. E. These paragraphs show the trolls were clever. F. These paragraphs show the bear was clever. 4. Using the numbers 1–5, sequence the following events (as they occurred in the selection). Franz told the voices in the forest that his cat had seven kittens. On the exact same night each year, trolls drove Franz from his house and took over the place. A troll threw a piece of sausage to the bear lying under the stove. A hunter asked if he could stay at Franz’s house on his way to take the bear he had captured to the king of Denmark. The bear roared ferociously and scared the trolls away. Unit 1 | Activity Book Grade 4  A.1 continued ASSESSMENT The following question has two parts. Answer Part A and then answer Part B. 5. Part A: In paragraph 7, what is the meaning of the word raucous? A. soft and peaceful B. friendly C. loud and disorderly D. unfriendly Part B: Which phrase from the text best helps the reader determine the meaning of raucous? A. At sunset, the trolls arrived B. sang songs, and made a terrible mess C. they ate and drank D. into the house Grade 4 Activity Book | Unit 1 6. The text describes how Franz reacted to the trolls before and after the hunter’s visit. Compare these events in Box 2 below by choosing details from the text that show how Franz reacted to the trolls. Write the letter of the details from Box 1 in Box 2 to show how Franz reacted. Box 1 Details from the story A. He told the trolls he still had the cat. B. He asked if he could spend the night. C. He chopped wood and built a fire. D. He tossed some sausage on the floor. E. He set the table with his best dishes. F. He told the trolls all of the kittens had grown up. Box 2 Detail 1 showing Detail 2 showing Event Franz’s reaction Franz’s reaction How Franz reacted to the trolls before the hunter’s stay. How Franz reacted to the trolls after the hunter’s stay. Unit 1 | Activity Book Grade 4  A.1 continued ASSESSMENT The following question has two parts. Answer Part A and then answer Part B. 7. Part A: Which statement best describes a main theme of the story? A. Trolls are kind. B. Cats are ferocious. C. Using your wits can make for a happy ending. D. People from Denmark are clever. Part B: Which character from the story acts as the best example of this theme? A. the hunter B. Franz C. a troll D. the bear 8. What are two details from the story that show the trolls thought the bear was a cat. A. The trolls screamed and ran for their lives. B. Franz squinted into the woods but saw nothing but trees. C. The trolls drove poor Franz from his house and took over the place. D. The troll shouted, “Wake up, kitty! E. The troll asked, “Have you still got that huge, ferocious cat?” F. Franz went on with his life and the trolls never bothered him again. Grade 4 Activity Book | Unit 1