Reading 2

COMPREHENSION

Is It Summer Yet?

The summer had barely started and already I was tired of going over to Jeremy’s house.
Jeremy was spoiled rotten. He had every computer game, video game, and electronic device you
could ever imagine. And while I always had a blast there, I kept feeling like I was missing out on
my summer sunshine and outdoor adventures I was used to having!
“Adam, Jeremy is on the phone!” yelled my mom.
“Just a minute,” I hollered. “Hey Jeremy! What’s up?” I asked while noticing the pitter-patter
of rain on my bedroom window.
“When are you coming over?” Jeremy asked. “I’m dying to begin our Blast into the Past
marathon. I know today I’m going to outscore you and set a new personal record!”
I knew he was going to be annoyed with me. On one hand, it was raining and playing video
games wouldn’t be the worst thing. On the other hand, I had no desire to spend the day defending
my title. But how else was I going to spend my time?
“Jeremy, why don’t you come over here for once?” I begged.
“What? No way! I have to defeat you! You can no longer be the master of Blast into the Past.
Oh, I get it, you don’t want me to beat you!” Jeremy taunted.
“No, seriously, you’ve got all summer to beat me, but today can’t we just do something
unique, different? Please?” I wasn’t too confident he’d agree but he did.
Jeremy arrived drenched. He was so obsessed with electronics that I wasn’t sure that my
regular, old basement would meet his approval. As we rounded the corner, I tripped over a
circular piece of wood. Just then, a light bulb went off in my head. “Hey, Jeremy, let’s make a
tree swing.”
Hours later, after drilling a hole in the center of the wood and sealing the swing, we
measured and cut the rope. As soon as the rain had stopped and the swing was securely tied to a
tree branch, Jeremy jumped on for the first ride. It was an instant hit! Jeremy only let me swing
when he got tired of gripping the rope. We started challenging one another to swing the highest,
jump off the farthest, and swing one handed for the longest. As Jeremy mounted his bike to ride
home he said, “See you tomorrow. I’m sure by then you still won’t be able to swing one handed
as long as I can!” I’d finally succeeded in coaxing Jeremy out of the house for the summer! The
only problem was that he’d still found a way to make it into a competition between the two of us.
Well, I guess that will give me another challenge to work on for the rest of the summer!
 Directions
Choose the item that best answers each question about the selection you just read. Circle
the letter next to the answer.

____ 1 Which word best describes Jeremy?

A competitive
B frustrated
C creative
D boring
____ 2 During what time of year is the story set?
F fall
G winter
H spring
J summer
____ 3 Which sentence best identifies the theme of this story?
A Friends can help you grow and change.
B Friends make fun of one another.
C Friends should force you to do what they want to do.
D Friends can make things together.
____ 4 Which sentence does not describe Adam?
F Adam likes playing inside and outside.
G Adam is friends with Jeremy.
H Adam lets Jeremy take advantage of him.
J Adam likes to take on challenges.
____ 5 Why does Adam invite Jeremy over?
A He doesn’t want to play video games again today.
B He wants to show him his new tree swing.
C He thinks Jeremy’s house is boring.
D He doesn’t want to go out in the rain.
____ 6 What is the underlying theme in this story?
F You should bully your friends into doing what you want to do.
G You should try to learn something new every day.
H You should spend time outside in the summer.
J You should always compete with your friends.
____ 7 What challenge is Adam hoping to conquer next?
A Adam wants to hold on with one hand longer than Jeremy.
 B Adam wants to show Jeremy that they don’t always have to compete.
C Jeremy wants to beat Adam at Blast into the Past.
D Adam wants to show Jeremy that there is more to life than video games.
____ 8 What is Adam’s opinion of Jeremy?
F Jeremy is obsessed with electronics.
G Jeremy is abnormally rude.
H Jeremy is superhumanly athletic.
J Adam is very patient.
Reading 2
Answer Section

1 ANS: A PTS: 1
NAT: G6_CCSS_Literature 2. Determine a theme or central idea of a text and how it is
conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal
opinions or judgments. | G6_CCSS_Literature 3. Describe how a particular story’s or drama’s
plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot
moves toward a resolution.
2 ANS: J PTS: 1
NAT: G6_CCSS_Informational Text 8. Trace and evaluate the argument and specific claims in
a text, distinguishing claims that are supported by reasons and evidence from claims that are not.
3 ANS: A PTS: 1
NAT: G6_CCSS_Literature 2. Determine a theme or central idea of a text and how it is
conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal
opinions or judgments. | G6_CCSS_Literature 5. Analyze how a particular sentence, chapter,
scene, or stanza fits into the overall structure of a text and contributes to the development of the
theme, setting, or plot. | G6_CCSS_Literature 9. Compare and contrast texts in different forms or
genres (e.g., stories and poems; historical novels and fantasy stories) in terms of their approaches
to similar themes and topics.
4 ANS: H PTS: 1
NAT: G6_CCSS_Literature 2. Determine a theme or central idea of a text and how it is
conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal
opinions or judgments. | G6_CCSS_Literature 3. Describe how a particular story’s or drama’s
plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot
moves toward a resolution.
5 ANS: A PTS: 1
NAT: G6_CCSS_Literature 1. Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says
explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text. | G6_CCSS_Informational Text 1. Cite
textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn
from the text.
6 ANS: G PTS: 1
NAT: G6_CCSS_Literature 2. Determine a theme or central idea of a text and how it is
conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal
opinions or judgments. | G6_CCSS_Literature 5. Analyze how a particular sentence, chapter,
scene, or stanza fits into the overall structure of a text and contributes to the development of the
theme, setting, or plot. | G6_CCSS_Literature 9. Compare and contrast texts in different forms or
genres (e.g., stories and poems; historical novels and fantasy stories) in terms of their approaches
to similar themes and topics.
7 ANS: B PTS: 1
NAT: G6_CCSS_Literature 1. Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says
explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text. | G6_CCSS_Informational Text 1. Cite
textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn
from the text.
8 ANS: F PTS: 1
NAT: G6_CCSS_Literature 2. Determine a theme or central idea of a text and how it is
conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal
opinions or judgments. | G6_CCSS_Literature 3. Describe how a particular story’s or drama’s
plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot
moves toward a resolution.