aye Name eee es oe e Date Directions: Read the passage. Then use the information from the passage to answer questions 1-4. Rabbit's One winter day, snow fell softly in the forest. Rabbit looked for food. He found two turnips. Rabbit said, “Two turnips! I can eat only one. But I know who might want the other.” So Rabbit went to Goats house. Goat wasn't there, so Rabbit left the turmip on Goat's doorstep. As Rabbit left, the wind blew snow over his tracks. Soon after that, Goat carried a basket of carrots home. She saw the turnip. She thought, “I wonder who left that. With all these carrots, I don't need it. But 1 know someone who does.” So Goat went to Deers house. Deer wasn't home, so Goat left the turnip on Deer’s doorstep. As Goat left, snow covered her tracks. Deer held a basket of potatoes when he got home. He almost stumbled over the turnip in front of his doorstep. 116 Comprehension Strategy Assessment « Grade3 Turnip “Who left this tumip?” Deer asked. “I don't really need it. But I know who does. Surely Rabbit can't find food in this deep snow.” Deer went to Rabbits house. He left the turnip on his doorstep. As Deer left, snow covered his tracks. The next day, the sun was shining. Rabbit bit another chunk of his turnip for breakfast. Then he opened his door and found the turnip. Rabbit said, “The turnip is back! T'm not hungry, but | know who is!” So Rabbit invited Deer and Goat to his house, and they all shared a delicious lunch of fresh turnip. ‘©2015 Benchmark Education Company, LLC4 ea aa a a a Name Date 1, Which words best describe the character of Rabbit in this story? @® clever and sly ® greedy and selfish © quiet and shy @® caring and giving Nv . What do Rabbit, Goat, and Deer all do? @® They all give the turnip to someone else They all leave the forest. © They all get cold and wet in the snow. @® They all share a carrot. 3. What detail from this story could NOT really happen? @® A rabbit looks for food. Snow covers the animal tracks. © A goat eats carrots. ® A rabbit talks to a deer. 4.The story says that Deer held a basket of potatoes. Which word from the story means about the same thing as held? ® fell carried © left ® covered ‘B2015 Benchmark Education Company, LC ‘Comprehension Strategy Assessment »Grade3 117Blidy Name. BES 2 eo fo 8 eS Be ee Date Directions: Read the passage. Then use the information from the passage to answer questions 5-8. Mountain Man In the early 1800s, the American West was a wild place. There were no roads, no maps, and few trails. A few pioneers and mountain men were just beginning to explore the land. Mountain men had a rough life. They lived far away from cities and towns. They carried what they needed. They hunted for food. They moved often and slept on the ground. In the spring and fall, they trapped animals and sold or traded the furs. Jim Bridger was a famous mountain man. He explored many parts of the West and saw many new things. He also loved to tell 118 Comprehension Strategy Assessment» Grade3 stories about things he had seen. One day Jim Bridger discovered a huge lake. It wasn't an ordinary lake, though. It was filled with salt water! He had found the Great Salt Lake in Utah. His most important achievement came later. For years, people had tried to find easy ways to cross the Rocky Mountains. Most trails were too long and dangerous. In 1850, Captain Howard Stanbury of the U.S. Army asked Jim to guide him through the Rockies. Stanbury’s job was to explore the West and map the lands. So Jim Bridger showed him a new route through the mountains. This way was later named Bridger’ Pass. Before long, many people began using this route. Pony Express riders carried mail over it. Railroad tracks passed through it. Today, a highway follows this same route. ‘©2015 Bencanark Euston Company, LLC LETT eeTT aaa ei aera ae 5. What is the main idea of this passage? @® Jim Bridger was a mountain man who discovered a pass through the Rockies. Captain Howard Stanbury became the first man to cross the Rocky Mountains. The life of a mountain man was rough as he moved often and slept on the ground. Jim Bridger was a famous man who discovered the Great Salt Lake. @ 6 ®@ 6. Which detail explains why Captain Stanbury planned to cross the Rocky Mountains? @® Stanbury’s job was to explore the West and map the lands. He had found the Great Salt Lake in Utah. © For years, people had tried to find easy ways to cross the Rocky Mountains. ® Before long, many people began using this route. ~ . The passage says that Captain Stanbury asked Jim to “guide him through the Rockies.” What does guide mean? @® watch meet © lead ® protect 8. The author wrote this passage to @® describe the Rocky Mountains in the 1800s ® tell about the discovery of Great Salt Lake © give information about Jim Bridger and what he did ® explain how the West was settled by pioneers {©2015 Benchmark Edueation Company LLC Comprehension Strategy Assesment sGrade3 119,Directions: Read the passage. Then use the information from the passage to answer questions 9-12. The Tambourine “You've got to tell her,” Josh said. “Lisa’s tambourine is too loud for our band.” “[m not saying anything,” Michaela said, “because | don’t want to insult her.” Josh said, “I liked our band before. You played your guitar, and 1 played mine. Now we sound awful just because you gave her a tambourine.” “I know,” Michaela said, “but Lisa wanted to play an instrument, and she didn’t have one.” “Let's tell her she can't sing in the band anymore,” suggested Josh. “That would be mean,” Michaela said. “Besides, Lisa has the best voice.” “Tve got it,” Josh said. “Why don’t we leave the tambourine in the driveway? Then Mom can run over it.” 120 Comprehension Strategy Assessment + Grade} “I like my tambourine, and 1 don’t want it smashed. But I have an idea.” “What's that?” “Come over tomorrow and you'll see.” The next day they gathered at Michaela’s house. Michaela borrowed her father’s video camera. She set it up on a stand in front of the band. “Let's record our practice,” Michaela said. “Then we can see how we sound.” They recorded a song. Then they played it back. Lisa frowned and said, “Oh, that sounds terrible! The tambourine is too loud. 1 can't hear anything else. Maybe I could just sing without playing an instrument.” Josh looked at Michaela, and they both smiled. 102015 Benchimak Eduction Compary, LLC = Ke Neha MMM mm MhPea aaa aaa aaa Name Date 9. What will probably happen next? @® Lisa will stop playing the tambourine in the band. Lisa will become angry and quit the band © Lisa will argue with Michaela and Josh about the band. @® Lisa will send their recording to a radio station. 10. What is the main problem in the story? @® Lisa does not have an instrument. Michaela gets an idea for band practice. © Josh and Michaela make a recording of a song. ® Lisa plays the tambourine too loudly. 11. What can you tell about Michaela from this story? She thinks carefully before acting. She acts quickly and hopes for the best. She makes friends easily. She is a talented musician. 0668 12. Michaela says, “I don’t want to insult her.” What does insult_ mean? make a copy of sounds recall or remember something say something mean or hurtful 0008 accuse or blame someone (©20)5 Benchmark Education Company, LL Comprehension Strategy Assessment »Grade3— 121ee ee Date Directions: Read the passage. Then use the information from the passage to answer questions 13-17. Ezra Jack Keats Ezra Jack Keats was born in New York City in 1916. When he was a small boy, he began to draw. He knew then that he loved art. Jack’s father worked at a coffee shop and did not want his son to be an artist. The family was very poor. Jack’s father knew that artists had a hard time making money. He did not intend to let his son become a poor artist. One day, Jacks father bought a tube of paint and gave it to his son. He told Jack that a poor artist had swapped the paint for a bowl of soup. That story didn’t scare Jack. He still wanted to draw. As Jack grew older, he took art classes at night and worked during the day. In 1937, he got a job painting huge paintings. 122 Comprehension Strategy Assessment + Grade In 1940, he got a job drawing comic books. In 1943, he joined the army. He became an artist for the army. Jack drew pictures for his first children’s book in 1954. He was good at it. In the next eleven years, he illustrated 85 books! He was an author for 24 of those books. In the 1960s, Jack drew a little boy named Peter and began writing books about him. The best book about Peter is The Snowy Day. Ezra Jack Keats died in 1983. But his books live on and still delight children of all ages. (22015 Benchmark Education Company, LLC TE A norm eo ee 7 nam mmm 7 nh PD,POPP R PRR ddd ee ee ee eo ee Name. Date 13. Most of the information in this passage is organized by @® problem and solution time order © cause and effect @® compare and contrast 14. Why did Jack’s father tell him that a poor artist had swapped a bowl of soup for a tube of paint? @® He wanted to show Jack how poor people bought food. He wanted Jack to know that working in a coffee shop was a good job. He wanted Jack to choose another way to make a living. He wanted to show Jack that he could trade paint for food. 8e 15. Which sentence from the passage states an opinion? As Jack grew older, he took art classes at night and worked during the day. Ezra Jack Keats was born in New York City in 1916. The best book about Peter is The Snowy Day. Jack drew a little boy named Peter and began writing books about him. ® 80®e 16. The passage says, “He did not intend to let his son become a poor artist.” What does intend mean? @® plan bother © pay ®D wait 17. The author wrote this passage to @® describe New York in 1916 ® tell how Ezra Jack Keats became an artist © teach the reader how to draw @® explain why Ezra Jack Keats joined the army. ‘©2015 Benchmark Education Company, LLC Comprehension Strategy Assessment #Grade3 123Name Date Directions: Read the passage. Then use the information from the passage to answer questions 18-22. The Oldest Living Trees Where are the oldest living trees? To see them, you would have to travel to other parts of the world. The oldest tree is a spruce tree in Sweden. It is more than 9,500 years old! How has it lived so long? Scientists say that it copies itself. When one tree trunk dies, the tree pushes out another one. The oldest tree that doesn't make copies is a bristlecone pine tree. You can see this tree only in pictures because people keep its exact location secret. They don’t want anyone to harm it. They call this tree the Methuselah tree. It lives in a dry, cold place where there are few insects to harm it and forest fires are not a threat. There are other very old trees throughout the world. You can use this graph to see how old they are and where you can find them The Oldest Living Tree Baobab Tree (South Africa) ‘chestnut Tree (uly) ‘cypress Tree (Frida) Methuselah Tree (California) Fy Tree & Location 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000 Age ‘124 Comprehension strategy Astetiment » Grade 3 ©2015 Benchmatk Eduction Company, LLCPee ea ae eee eee aii eee ae ae Name Date 18. The passage says, “People keep its exact location secret.” What does location mean? ® tree ® age © look ® place 19. Which is the best summary of the second paragraph? @® A spruce tree in Sweden pushes up new trunks when one dies. A spruce tree in Sweden is the oldest tree in the world. © When a tree trunk dies in Sweden, the tree pushes up another trunk. @® Scientists say the spruce tree makes copies of itself. 20. About how old is the Methuselah tree? ® 9,500 years old 8,000 years old © 5,000 years old ® 3,500 years old 21. Which of the following questions can be answered using the graph? @® How many spruce trees grow in Sweden? Where does the cyprus tree grow? © How do some trees live so long? ® How old is the oldest oak tree? 22. What is the result of the Methuselah tree being in a dry, cold place? Its location is secret It is the oldest tree in the world It is safe from the threat of insects and fires. It can make copies of itself. e688 (©2015 Benchmark Education Company, LLC Comprehension Strategy Assessment «Grade 125Date Directions: Read the passage. Then use the information from the passage to answer questions 23-27. Tito’s Journal August 14 Dad says we need time together. He’s been away in the army for six months. We need to get to know each other again, he says, so we're off on a canoe trip. No TV, no computer games, and nothing but mosquitoes and bad food. Ugh. 1 hate bugs and fresh air. 1 wish we were at home. 1 want my bed. August 15 Traveling in a canoe is hard work. After rowing all day, my arms feel like wood. I can hardly lift them to roll into my sleeping bag. Did I mention that it rained today and I’m wet through and through? August 16 Dad’s not the best cook. Who knew you could ruin mac and cheese? On the plus side, we saw a bear and a bald eagle today. Very cool. 126 comprehension Strategy Assessment « Grades August 17 The worst thing happened. We were zooming down the river really fast and the canoe hit a rock, The boat tipped over and everything spilled into the water. Dad was amazing. He pulled me to the bank and then swam and got all our stuff. 1 want to be able to do that someday. August 18 Should we go home? Everythings wet and muddy, and the map on his cell phone says there is a road nearby. Dad said its up to me. | decided to go on. We both like to fish, and we haven't had an opportunity to do that yet, Besides, who knows whats around the river bend? August 19 Today we caught a fish! We made a campfire and fried it. Its the best thing I have ever tasted. Tomorrow is our last day. 'm sad to leave the river. I also like talking to Dad. | really did miss him when he was away. ‘9015 Benchmark Eéueation Comp, LLC Rmmarnnrm "om‘aie eee eee eee eae eee eee Name, Date 23. How does Tito feel about going on this trip? @® He doesn't really want to go. He looks forward to being outside. © He misses his friends and his pets. @® He is afraid to leave home. 24. What is one way that Tito and his father are alike? @ They are both good cooks. ® Both like rowing all day. © They both like writing in a journal. © Both like to catch fish. 25. What happened the day after the canoe tipped over in the water? @® Tito decided to continue the canoe trip. ® Dad ruined the mac and cheese dinner. © It rained all day and everything got wet. @® Tito and his dad saw a bear and an eagle. 26. On their trip, when did Tito and his father get to fish? @® after six months ® during the whole month of August © on the sixth day © after rowing all day 27. The passage says, “We haven't had an opportunity to do that yet.” What does opportunity mean? ® luck ® a road © space © a chance {22015 Benchmak Education Company LC Comprehension strategy Assesment Grade3. 127Directions: Read the passage. Then use the information from the passage to answer questions 28-32. Leggy Lobsters Maine lobster spiny lobster What do you picture when you think of a lobster? Many people think of a red fish that crawls on the ocean floor. This is only partly true. Lobsters do crawl on the ocean floor. But they are not fish, and they are not red. Like crabs and shrimp, lobsters are animals with shells. Most lobsters are brown and green, They turn red when they are cooked. Most of the lobsters that we eat are American lobsters. They 2B Comprehension strategy Assessment «Grade 3 are scary-looking animals with ten legs. They live in cold ocean waters and eat small fish and plants. They have small claws to grab food. They have large claws to crush the food. American lobsters stay close to shore in the spring, summer, and fall. When the weather turns cold, they move away from the shallow waters. They move into deep waters that are warmer. Some lobsters live in warmer places. These are called spiny lobsters. They look different because they don’t have huge claws. How do lobsters grow? As they get bigger, they shed their shells and grow new ones. The new shell is very soft. Lobsters have to hide in the sea grass or under rocks until their shells harden. Otherwise, fish could easily eat them. {22015 Benchmark Education Company, LLC =eae ee aa ee ea ee hehehe eee aaa ae ee Name. Date 28. How are spiny lobsters different from American lobsters? @® Spiny lobsters don’t have large claws. ® Spiny lobsters stay near the shore. © Spiny lobsters weigh a lot more. ® Spiny lobsters are bright red. 29. Which sentence from the passage states an opinion? @® Most of the lobsters that we eat are American lobsters. @® When the weather turns cold, they move away from the shallow waters. © American lobsters stay close to shore in the spring, summer, and. fall. @® They are scary-looking animals. with ten legs 30. The passage says, “Lobsters have to hide in the sea grass or under rocks until their shells harden.” What does harden mean? @® fall off ® become hard © turn red @® not hard ‘When the weather turns cold, they move away from the shallow waters.” Which word from the passage means the opposite of shallow? @® huge ® deep © soft ® cold 31. The passage says, “ 32. Which is the best summary of the last paragraph? @® When a lobsters shell is very soft, the lobster. hides. Fish can easily eat a lobster that hides in the sea grass. © As lobsters grow, they shed their shells and grow new ones. @® Lobsters get bigger and hide in the sea grass or under rocks. (22015 Benchmark Eduestion Company, LLC ‘comprehension Strategy Assesment +Grade3 129