STEP-UP

NAME: ________________________________________________________

1st QT REVIEWER: Reading

CONTEXT CLUES
Circle the word/s that identifies the meaning of the highlighted word. Then Identify the type of context clue used in the
sentence.
S -SYNONYM A- ANTONYM D- DEFINITION I-
INFERENCE EXP- EXPERIENCE EXA-EXAMPLE

1) She hums continuously, or all the time, and it annoys me.

2) He was the most hapless person Laura had ever known. In other words, he had no luck at all.
3) The dates are listed in chronological order. They start at the beginning and end with the last event.
4) Bill felt remorse, or shame, for his harsh words.
5) “Spot” was an apt name for the dog. It was a fitting name because he had brown spots on his fur.
6) Marty is gregarious, not like his brother who is quiet and shy.
7) She is a famous singing star in her country but unknown to the rest of the world.
8) The indigo bird’s feathers shone deep blue in the sunlight.
9) Emma had a lot of anxiety about the exam but I had no worries about it.
10) Why would anyone want to be an underachiever; he will never make good grades, never get a good job, and
never be successful. 
11) I am willing to hike in the mountains, but he is reluctant because it gets so cold walking up and down the
trails.
12) Avoiding the accident was futile. Both cars did not have time to stop before crashing.
13) Some celestial bodies, such as the planets and stars, can be seen with the naked eye.
14) This situation is a conundrum - a puzzle.
15) She saw the child dangling the cat over the railing. “Why are you letting it hang down like that?” she asked.
16) It was an idyllic day; sunny, warm and perfect for a walk in the park.
17) Her animosity, or hatred, of her sister had divided the family.
18) The manager wanted a weekly inspection, which is a methodical examination of all the equipment.
19) There was a lot of tangible evidence, including fingerprints and DNA, to prove them guilty.
20) There is a 30 percent chance of precipitation, such as snow or sleet.
21) “The haberdashery was Lou’s favorite place. He loved shopping for nice suits. The people who worked there
were so kind and helpful.”
22) “It was scorching,” Larry said, “and I mean really hot.”
23) During those first bewildering weeks, the thoughts of a college freshman drift back to high school where he
was “in,” knew everyone, and felt at home. A feeling of nostalgia sweeps over him
24) Their guffawing was so loud that Jorge had to wait until the laughter died down before continuing his
performance.
25) The rain was consistent—that is, it kept the same rhythm and intensity for more than an hour.
26) There is great prosperity in the country but many citizens are living in poverty.
27) Josie received a bauble for Christmas from her great aunt. This she put with her others, a pair of imitation
earrings, a fake emerald pendant, and a ring that looked like a ruby.
28) When she hurled the ball across the field, I said, “I didn’t know you could throw like that!”
29) Fluoroscopy, examination with a fluoroscope, has become a common practice.
30) The dudeen – a short-stemmed clay pipe – is found in Irish folk tales.
31) Piscatorial creatures, such as flounder, salmon, and trout, live in the coldest parts of the ocean.
32) She walked away from her closet and quickly slipped a jersey over her head. She smoothed it into place over
her hips, added a belt, glanced at the mirror, and left for work.
33) The prisoner was in a state of wrath—a feeling of intense anger.
34) I liked his blunt manner—for example, he always told me the truth.
35) To shun someone is to have nothing to do with that person.
36) Afterward Jerry showed some signs of remorse, such as apologizing to everyone and paying back the money
he had lost.
37) She had a gaudy wardrobe—for example, pink shoes, bright hats, and sweaters with rhinestones.
38) No one ever believes that particular newspaper because it is famous for printing canards.
39) Elvaridha is successful state woman, prime minister, and housewife. She is a versatile woman.
40) Anyone could tell by the look on her face that the test filled him with dread.

Ruse blunt phobia consistent shun

wrath gaudy remorse skeptical hues
Review the meanings of the words in the list above. Then insert in each sentence the word that correctly fits the meaning.

1. Tim was really embarrassed; his face showed ________________ from pink to scarlet.
2. His ________________ clothes were out of place at the funeral.
3. The suspect’s story was not ________________ with what the evidence showed.
4. The teacher was quite ________________ about Ed’s story. She didn’t see how it could be true.
5. The mayor has a ________________ manner—rather plain-spoken and abrupt.
6. He refused to enter that small, enclosed space. He must have had some kind of ________________ about it.
7. The tiger was in quite a state of ________________—snarling, snapping, and lunging at the keeper.
8. Fortunately, the general thought of a clever ________________ that completely fooled the enemy.
9. ________________ is an emotion we don’t always see in convicted criminals, but Jones seemed to be really sorry.
10. My friends all began to ________________ me until they realized I had never given away the secret

AUTHOR’S PURPOSE
Identify the author’s purpose in each of the statements below.
1) If you are interested in sharing your ideas with like-minded people who can comment on your writing, you may
want to try blogging. Blogging is short for "Web logging," logging on to a Web site where you can upload your
writing and ask other "bloggers" to post their comments.
________________________________________
2) Students ordinarily make sense of concepts in either of two ways. For sequential learners, understanding occurs as
they take in information in small, connected steps. By contrast, global learners may seem to miss the information
initially but later grasp concepts in a leap of understanding.
________________________________________
3) If teachers would learn to recognize students' learning styles, they could tailor their teaching strategies to
accommodate those in their classes. Although most people in the Western culture are visual, most lectures are
geared toward the auditory learner. A good teacher should take note and provide pictures, graphs, and diagrams to
enhance the lecture. Also, although some people actively process information well in groups, reflective learners
need time to ponder new material. Instructors should provide collaborative opportunities from time to time and also
recognize that some students need guidance and encouragement when working in groups.
________________________________________
4) There once was a writer named Fitzgerald
On the rich and famous he'd herald.
When the story was told
Poor Gatsby, though bold,
Lost his dear Daisy, though well-appareled.
________________________________________
5) College couples have been the subjects of much research, and one thing is clear: the major reason for relationship
breakups is boredom. The timing of the breakup also seems consistent with most findings. Couples tend to dissolve
relationships during vacations and holidays. Who initiates the breakup is also interesting. Often it is the woman,
who tends to notice first when the man is less attentive. But if the woman breaks up first, there is usually no "Can
we still be friends?" situations because the man strongly feels the rejection. However, if the man initiates the
breakup, there is a better chance the two will still stay in touch.
________________________________________
6) One of the creators of Cranium, Richard Tait, a former Microsoft executive, said he wanted to invent a game that
allowed people to leave the board feeling good. He wanted a game that involved chance as well as skill, one in
which people could have fun together and not feel so competitive. One of today's hottest-selling games, Cranium
can be played by four people or several teams. While some moves on the game board may require that a team
member know the name of the largest mammal on earth (the blue whale), other moves may ask participants to hum
songs, pantomime people, or spell words backward. At the end, though, all the teams feel good because they have
had so much fun. Every household should purchase Cranium. You will discover it is better than TV. Also, it will
stimulate your brain and encourage people to have fun together.
________________________________________
7) Game night at our house was hilarious when we played Cranium with two teams of three. Imagine Abram, the savvy
surfer, doing an impression of Marilyn Monroe singing "Happy Birthday." Or Dave, the macho bodybuilder,
swinging his hips and singing a medley of Madonna's songs. But the most memorable was George's Cranium
Doodle hint for the architectural term "flying buttress." It was, well, side-splittingly outrageous!
________________________________________
8) Because researchers studying circadian rhythms have discovered that most teenagers are really nocturnal, school
administrators should take this into account when organizing a school day. For example, traditionally teenagers must
arise in the predawn hours and arrive at school before sunrise. Groggy and unfocused, they find it difficult to
concentrate and be alert before lunch. After lunch, which for many students in overcrowded high schools begins at
10:30 a.m., they are finally able to pay attention. Armed with this information, the school board should be
innovative and rearrange the schedule, which would curb truancy in grades 8 through 12.
________________________________________
 9) Circadian rhythms have fascinated scientists for many years. Recognizing that the eye nerves translate information
to the brain about the time of day, scientists observe that we adapt to the conditions around us. Also, these
researchers have recently discovered that not everyone is alike. For example, teenagers are nocturnal. That is, they
are more active at night but do not function as well early in the morning.
________________________________________
10) Alonzo winked at his mother's shocked gaze and with a grin quipped, "Sausage and pepperoni pizza for breakfast
makes perfect sense. Allow me to demonstrate. You have your tomato. Tomato is technically a fruit. You have your
cheese. Cheese is a dairy product. You have your crust—necessary carbs for quick energy in the morning. And don't
forget the sausage and pepperoni—my protein. If you think about it, it's just like bacon and eggs, toast, and orange
juice." Still grinning, he added, "Really it is. Well, almost. Why are you looking at me that way?"
________________________________________
11)  What do you do with aluminum cans? Do you throw them in the trash, or do you recycle when you are finished
with them? At the rate we are filling our landfills, we will not have anywhere else to put our trash. If you recycle,
you will help the environment. The next time you throw away your Coke can, think about putting it in a recycling
bin. Your effort will help save your community.
________________________________________
12) It was a glorious morning in Alabama. The sun was shining through the trees. Alan couldn't wait to find his fishing
pole and call his friend Sam to go fishing. They had a great time on these early morning fishing trips. They took
their dogs with them and the dogs would swim in the lake while they fished. It was so funny to watch those dogs
paddle around the lake.
________________________________________
13) The Slim-O-Matic will cause you to lose pounds and inches from your body in one month. This amazing machine
helps you to exercise correctly and provides an easy video to show you the proper way to exercise. Send $75.99 and
begin exercising today.
________________________________________
14) The Underground Railroad was a secret organization which helped slaves escape to freedom. Many slaves were able
to escape because of the conductors and station masters. The northern states were free states and slaves were free
once they arrived in the north. Secret codes and signals were used to identify the conductors and station masters.
________________________________________

CHARACTER TRAITS
Read each sentence carefully. Write the character trait that matches the situation.
trustworthiness respect responsibility
citizenship caring fairness

1. Bryan and James were playing with blocks. Bryan’s little sister wanted to play too. James got a bunch of pieces he
didn’t need and made a pile just for her.
2. Sam was playing at his Grandma’s house. He accidently broke a lamp. His big brother told him to hide it. Sam
decided to go straight to Grandma and tell her the truth.
3. Kimmie came home late from soccer practice and she was really tired. She knows it is her turn to take out the trash,
so she makes sure she does it before she goes to bed.
4. As Haley was walking home from school she saw some older boys making fun of a little boy who had fallen down.
She went over and told them to stop. Haley helped the little boy up, and walked him home.
5. The teacher asked for volunteers for the canned food drive. This person would have to give up a week of recess to
help. Jeremy raised his hand high.
6. Katie got a special award from her teacher. Katie is known for using good manners and always being considerate of
others.

A Proud Flight

Long ago, people looked to the sky and saw birds fly. They wondered if there was a way they could fly like birds.
People made up myths about flying. A myth is a story that has imaginary people and places in it. A myth that people in
Greece made up was about a young man. The young man was called Icarus. In the story, he and his father, Daedelus, were
imprisoned by an evil man. They were kept on an island. They could not escape because there were high walls. The island
was surrounded by water. His father was an inventor. He invented wings made from bird feathers. He used wax to get them
to stick to a frame shaped like a wing. They would use the wings to escape. Because they were made with wax, the wings
could melt if they got hot. So Daedelus warned his son not to fly close to the sun. At that time, which was hundreds of years
ago, people did not know how very far away the sun is. The story comes from Greece, where the sun feels very hot in
summer. You probably guessed what happened next. Daedelus and Icarus used the wings to escape. They flew over the
walls. They flew away from the island. They were flying across the sea. But Icarus forgot what his father had warned him
about. He forgot to stay away from the sun. There were no clouds. The sun shone brightly. It melted the wax. The feathers
fell off the wings. They would no longer support him in the air. So he fell to the sea. Daedelus was sad to see his son fall into
the sea. But he could not help him. He knew this could happen. That was why he had tried to tell his son how dangerous it
was to fly close to the sun.

Identify and infer stated and implied character traits. Choose the best answer for each question
1. What was a trait of the man who had imprisoned Daedelus?
a. evil b. helpful c. lonely d. cheerful
2. What was a trait of Daedelus?
a. helpless b. greedy c. inventive d. careless
3. What was a trait of Icarus?
a. sad b. bold c. helpful d. cooperative
4. Which trait led to the problem for Icarus?
a. careless b. faithful c. mean d. kind

PREDICTING OUTCOMES
Directions: Read the following passages. Determine what event is likely to occur next. Explain your answer using textual
evidence.
1) As Frank marched through the desert, the high winds blew sand at speeds that stung his exposed skin. He looked back and
could see his footprints for hundreds of feet, beyond that the winds had blown them away. He had no idea how long or how
far he had walked. He turned his back to the wind and opened his canteen. He attempted to pour it into his mouth, but there
was not a drop. He rolled his tongue around the nozzle of the canteen, but it was bone dry. Frank dropped the canteen in the
sand and continued walking. His steps slowed. He was getting dizzy. The sun's rays seemed to only increase in intensity
throughout the day. It hung high overhead and punished all that resided in the desert beneath it. Frank was lightheaded. He
felt his knees get wobbly...
What event is most likely to occur next? ________________________________________________

2) Valarie pulled into her mother's driveway on a lovely morning in the month of May. She got the kids out of the car and
walked them up to the door. Grandma smiled brightly and welcomed them, "So nice to see you children. You too, Valarie, I
hope that you have a wonderful vacation. We will see you in a couple weeks." The kids kissed their mother goodbye and
went outside to play in the warm sun. They were wearing shorts and t-shirts and had sunblock on their noses. As mom pulled
out of the driveway, a storm cloud rolled across the sky. The temperature suddenly dropped. Grandma looked at the weather
report and saw a bunch of snowflake icons across the next few days. Then Grandma looked at the shivering children in their
summer clothes. "Do you have anything warmer in your bags, kids?" The children shook their heads. Grandma replied, "Ok,
well, hop in the car. We've got to go to the store." Tiny snowflakes began to fall...
What event is most likely to occur next? ________________________________________________

3) "Don't forget to lock the barn behind you, so the animals don't get out." Farmer Green told his new farmhand, Danny.
Danny nodded and went to work. He fed all of the animals, and then he cleaned the stables. It was hard work, but Danny was
happy to have a job. At first Farmer Green watched him carefully, but gradually he gave Danny some distance, showing him
his trust. Danny was exhausted from a hard day's work. He wiped the sweat from his brow and proceeded to exit the barn. He
left the lock in a pile of hay by the shovels and shut the door behind himself, walking away from the unlocked door. Danny
was off to see Farmer Green to find out his next task...

What event is most likely to occur next? ________________________________________________

4) Kenya was pumped about the dance competition. She was driving there in her mama's car and taking her teammates Dana
and Jenna. It was a four-hour car ride. They were listening to the new Mountain Boys' album and the girls were singing along
to all of choruses, replaying the songs that they liked multiple times. They were having so much fun cruising down the
highway and singing that Kenya didn't even notice the needle on her fuel gauge drop below the E line. Dana pressed the back
button to replay their favorite song, My Heart Takes off Its Cowboy Hat for You. As the song began playing, the car's engine
began sputtering...
What event is most likely to occur next? ________________________________________________

5) "Yeah, I go horseback riding all of the time. My uncle has a horse," Brian told Shannon. Brian's uncle did not have a horse
and he had never gone horseback riding in his life. Shannon stared deeply into his eyes and said, "I like you, Brian. Will you
come horseback riding with me tomorrow?" Brian agreed without hesitation. He was so excited to spend more time with
Shannon that he had forgotten his lie entirely. He showed up at Shannon's house and she asked him why he didn't wear his
riding gear. He lied again, telling her that his gear was at the cleaners. Shannon lent him some of her brother's gear and they
went to the stables. "This one's called Black Scarlet. He's my brother's horse and he's by far the fastest. Since you're an
experienced rider, I'm going to let you take him out." Brian gulped. He figured that horseback riding looked pretty easy in the
movies. "Ok," he replied, and then he attempted to mount Black Scarlet...
What event is most likely to occur next? ________________________________________________

STORY ELEMENTS
1) Caleb was having a really bad day. He was being rude to everyone! He pushed Fred on his way to class, and even threw
Michael's books out of his hands. When it came time to go to the basketball game that night at school, Caleb decided to go to
the concession stand and order a hot dog and a soda. As he waited for his food, he stuck his hand in his pocket to get his
money but it was gone! He must have lost it. He turned around to ask Michael if he could borrow some money but Michael
was just laughing at him.
What would be the BEST theme for this passage?
1. Everything always works out in the end.
2. You should always carry extra money.
3. Always treat people as kindly as you would like to be treated.
4. Be nice to everyone, they could end up being a good friend.

2) Tim loved baseball but hated his old baseball glove. He wanted to play with a new glove, but he didn't have any money so
he decided to steal one. But when Tim got caught stealing the glove, his parents said he couldn't play baseball at all that
summer as his punishment.

What is the BEST theme for this passage?

1. You should always just take what you want.
2. Stealing is a good idea.
3. If you want something, you should work for it.
4. Only lie to your parents if you won't get caught.

3) Mrs. Melissa called my name to come sit in her chair. First, she washed my hair. I love the smell of the shampoo she uses.
Then, once she was done washing my hair, she began to cut my hair. I love getting my hair cut! Where is the setting of this
story?
1. Farm
2. Desert
3. Barbershop
4. School

Choose the correct answer to the question.

1. The feeling or atmosphere created when reading a story is called the

a. Mood.
b. Conflict.
c. Climax.
d. Setting.

2. The plot of a story starts off with a

a. Climax.
b. Rising action.
c. Conflict.
d. Theme.

3. The most exciting part of a story is called the

a. Conflict.
b. Falling action.
c. Resolution.
d. Climax.

4. The moral or lesson to be learned in a story is called the

a. Conflict.
b. Mood.
c. Sequencing.
d. Theme.

Please Read the Following Selection and Answer the Questions

Although Sherri was only seven years old, people always wanted to know what she wanted to be when she grew up. Her
response was easy, a teacher. She had the perfect picture in her mind what her classes would look like and how they would
behave. The only problem was that she didn't have any worksheets or materials to give to her imaginary class.
In class she watched the teacher walk over to her file cabinet and throw mounds of unused worksheets in the trash. "What a
waste!" Sherri murmured to herself. An idea suddenly blossomed in her head. She would use the worksheets that had ended
up in the trash. After school, when the halls were clear of students and teachers, she sneaked into Mrs. Smith's class, her first
grade classroom and grabbed the discarded worksheets. Feeling confident that she had accomplished her mission, she walked
around the corner with her new teaching materials under her arms. A loud, booming voice startled her as the janitor yelled,
"What are you doing here? Go home!"

Sherri didn't wait to respond to his questions as she ran out of the school's front doors. As she walked home, she kept looking
behind her to see if the janitor had followed her. Safely home, she closed her bedroom door and announced to her imaginary
students, "Good morning, students. Today you are going to learn about nouns and verbs. I am going to pass out a few
worksheets and explain the assignment to you."

5. Sherri searched in the trash for

a. Her homework.
b. Her lunch.
c. Money.
d. Unused worksheets.

6. Sherri can be best described as

a. Goal orientated (she knows what she would like to do).
b. Shy.
c. Angry.
d. Moody.

7. Sherri's imaginary class is located in the

a. Dining room.
b. School.
c. Library.
d. Her bedroom.

8. What was the last event of the story?

a. The janitor yelled at her.
b. She ran out of the school.
c. She walked home.
d. She greeted her imaginary class.

9. Sherri's conflict at the beginning of the story is

a. She doesn't have any teaching material.
b. She doesn't know what she wants to do when she grows up.
c. That the janitor catches her sneaking into the trash.
d. That her teacher doesn't recycle.

10. Which one of the following is a major character?

a. Mrs. Smith
b. Sherri
c. imaginary class
d. janitor

CAUSE AND EFFECT

1) Due to sending home various notes from the office and writing reminders in their planners, the students brought in a total
of 435 packages of pasta for the school-wide service project.

What is the EFFECT?

a) The students brought in packages of pasta.
b) The students at MLR were participating in a project.
c) The students at MLR were very generous.
d) Notes went home and reminders were written in planners.

2) In recent decades, cities have grown so large that now about 50% of the Earth's population lives in urban areas. There are
several reasons for this occurrence. First, the increasing industrialization of the nineteenth century resulted in the creation of
many factory jobs, which tended to be located in cities. These jobs, with their promise of a better material life, attracted many
people from rural areas. Second, there were many schools established to educate the children of the new factory laborers. The
promise of a better education persuaded many families to leave farming communities and move to the cities. Finally, as the
cities grew, people established places of leisure, entertainment, and culture, such as sports stadiums, theaters, and museums.
For many people, these facilities made city life appear more interesting than life on the farm, and therefore drew them away
from rural communities.

What was one EFFECT of industrialization?

a) People moved to rural communities.
b) People made less money.
c) Theater became more popular.
d) Many factory jobs were created.

3) Due to their incredible force and unpredictability, floods can cause tremendous damage. They can ruin houses, roads and
buildings. Floods can take down trees and cause mudslides. It often leaves mud, sand and debris behind. It can take months
to clean up after a flood.

What is the EFFECT?

a) Floods can cause a lot of damage
b) Floods happen in many areas without warning.
c) Floods are strong and unpredictable.
d) Flood damage is devastating

4) Mrs. Marcozzi didn't remind the students to wear their pride shirts for Friday's Fanfare, therefore, many of the students
forgot.
What is the EFFECT?
a) Mrs. Marcozzi didn't remind the students to wear their pride shirts
b) Many students forgot to wear their pride shirts.
c) There was a Fanfare celebration on Friday.
d) The students weren't required to wear their pride shirts.

5) Due to sending home various notes from the office and writing reminders in our planner, MLR students brought in a total
of 435 packages of pasta for the schoolwide service project.

What is the CAUSE?

a) The students brought in packages of pasta.
b) The students at MLR were participating in a project.
c) The students at MLR were very generous.
d) Notes went home and reminders were written in planners.

6) What would be one of the effects of having such a small house?

a) You would not be able to have people visit you.
b) You would have to limit your belongings.
c) You would have to live way out in the country.
d) You would not be able to own your own car.

7) What could happen if a can opener is not included in the emergency kit?
a) You would run out of water.
b) You might need more batteries.
c) You would have trouble staying warm.
d) You might not be able to eat the food you brought.

8) Which of these events would cause problems in getting food and water?
a) Losing electrical power
b) Having a summer storm
c) Forgetting extra batteries
d) Getting too much rain at once

9) What might cause people to decide to build a small house like the ones described here?
a) They do not want to live in a city apartment.
b) They have a great deal of extra furniture.
c) They do not have a great deal of money to spend.
d) They enjoy the processes of cleaning and repairing.

10) The reason for having a battery-powered radio in an emergency kit is so that you can...
a) listen to your favorite music.
b) keep up with the latest news reports.
c) find out where your other family members are.
d) make sure you have enough supplies for everyone.