4th Grade Reading Proficient Practice Test 15

Name:

Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.

Read the passage.
First, take the chunk of clay and mold it into the shape that you want. Take the clay sculptor and save away rough edges. Sponge off the rough edges and make sure the clay stays moist. Continue sculpting until you are satisfied with the final shape. Bake in the kiln at setting 31/2 for 5 hours, or until you think the clay is sufficiently hardened. Remove, cool, then glaze.
What would you do to check if the clay is hard enough?

a.	wait for the timer to go off and when the kiln cools, check your work	c.	open the kiln and look at your sculpture
b.	try to speed up the timer so you can check the sculpture and see if it’s finished	d.	take your sculpture out after 2 hours and then fix it again a second time after 2 more hours

Read the label from a prescription.

When should Doug drink milk?

a.	with the capsules to wash them down	c.	after he has taken all of the capsules
b.	2-3 hours after a meal	d.	at least four times a day

Read the letter.

The purpose of this letter is to:

a.	invite Amie to the party	c.	thank Amie for attending the party
b.	tell Amie what to bring to the party	d.	tell Amie she’s sorry she missed her at school

Read the directions for a Spanish Omelet recipe.

a.	after the eggs are just set	c.	after the cheese is melted
b.	before the eggs are completely cooked	d.	after the omelet has been sliced into wedges

Literal Reading Comprehension—Reading for Detail--RIT 211 - 220
1. Read the passage.
Plants need nutrients to make their food and get energy. Some plants that grow in poor soil get the nutrients they need by “eating” animals. A sweet-smelling liquid attracts insects to a pitcher plant. Once an insect enters the tube-shaped leaf of the plant, hairs that point downward stop it from leaving. The insect falls into the pool of liquid inside the leaf. The liquid dissolves the insect, and the plant uses the nutrients.Copyright Info: Harcourt, Inc. 2002. School Permissions and Copyrights, Harcourt, Inc., 6277 Sea Harbor Drive, Orlando, Florida 32887-6777.
Why do plants eat animals or insects?

a.	they are natural predators	c.	they need them to produce a sweet liquid that provides nutrients
b.	they do not eat animals or insects	d.	they need the nutrients

Read the passage.

Copyright Info: Hakim, Joy. “Ruler of the President’s Navy”, Oxford University Press, Oxford, New York, 1999.
What was laid across the Mississippi to keep the Yankee ships out?

a.	a chain of old boat	c.	planks of wood
b.	a chain of cannon balls	d.	tall mounds of mud

Read the paragraph.
Throughout history, people have struggled for their freedom—freedom to worship in their own way, to work for a fair wage, to vote for their leaders, to get a good education, to name but a few. But rights and freedoms have always come with certain restrictions and responsibilities. The challenge for every nation is to find a balance between the two.Copyright Info: Not enough information given. “Historical Documents” The Struggle for
Freedom, Page 865. (Teacher Author: Weston).
According to the paragraph, which is true?

a.	It is a challenge for nations to treat their citizens kindly.	c.	Earning basic rights and freedoms has been obtained through struggle and balance.
b.	America was the first nation to fight for freedom.	d.	People were allowed to vote in 1850.

Read the paragraph.

Copyright Info: Not enough information given. “Paragraphs” page 107. (Teacher Author: Weston).
Which answer contains two details presented in the paragraph?

a.	Braille is a system of indented marks read by the seeing public.	c.	Braille creates letters with cells, but does not create numbers.
b.	Braille, developed in 1800, is a series of consistent dots.	d.	Braille is a system of communication that has opened a new world for the blind.

Read the paragraph
Trees can be classified in several ways based on their function or use. They are used most commonly for lumber or building products. Pine and oak are among the most popular for this purpose. Trees, especially pine and other fast-growing trees, are also used for erosion control and wind barriers. They are planted in rows on the tops and sides of steep hills. Besides these uses, trees are considered extremely valuable for landscaping purposes where they provide
shade, color, and screening for homes and businesses. Among the most popular are evergreens, maples, honey locusts, and birch. Obviously, trees have many other uses as well— just ask a bird...or a kid.Copyright Info: Not enough information given. “Thinking” Classifying, page 552. (Teacher
Author: Weston)
Based on the information above, trees:

a.	are used primarily for lumber and landscaping	c.	provide shade, especially oaks
b.	don’t have many uses except to birds and kids	d.	enrich the soil by planting them in your yard

10.

Literal Reading Comprehension—Sequencing--RIT 211 - 220
Read the Passage.
After Joel finished his run, he went and recorded his time on his log. It was his best time he had recorded since his last run in October. Since then, he wondered if he was not in as good of shape because his times seemed to be longer. After today, he would have to pay close attention to what he was doing differently to make sure he was running as fast as he could.
How would you paraphrase Joel’s events?

a.	Today’s run was as fast as October.	c.	Joel’s running times have not changed.
b.	Joel has not improved his times since October.	d.	Joel has no idea how to get a better time.

11.

Read the Passage.
Utzel loved to sleep and each night he went to bed with the chickens. In the morning he would complain that he was tired from so much sleeping and so he went to sleep again. When he was not sleeping, he lay on his broken-down cot, yawning and complaining. He would say to his daughter, “Other people are lucky. They have money without working. I am cursed.”Copyright Info: Not enough information. Utzel and His Daughter, Poverty, By Isaac Bashevis
Singer, page 149. (Teacher authors: Phillips, Blackman, Felts).
Utzel loved to sleep. What does he do after he complains each morning?

a.	He lays on his cot all day long.	c.	He complains he is tired.
b.	He goes to bed with the roosters.	d.	He eats breakfast.

12.

Read the Passage.

What happened on Tuesday?

a.	I wanted a pop.	c.	The repairman fixed the pop machine.
b.	The chip machine broke.	d.	The pop machine broke.

13.

Read the passage.
The alarm clock rang. Lali opened her eyes, stretched out her arm, and pushed in the small knob that shut off the noise. She lay back staring at the ceiling. Off in a corner the paint was peeling and a large crack made that section buckle. Every day she cleaned the small chips of paint that fell on the dresser top and floor. She looked over at Rudi’s side of the bed. He was gone. Each morning he awoke at five thirty and, except for Sunday, reset the alarm at seven thirty for Lali. On Sunday the store was closed, but Rudi got up at five-thirty anyway; he had been doing this for sixteen years. Since he always awoke before the alarm went off, Lali wondered why he bothered to set the clock, and had asked him about it.
What does Lali do right after she wakes up?
Copyright Info: Not enough information. Stories of Newcomers, Lali, page 183. (Teacher
authors: Phillips, Blackman, Felts).

a.	She looks over at Rudi’s side of the bed.	c.	She cleans up the paint chips.
b.	She looks at the ceiling.	d.	She resets the alarm.

14.

Read the note.

What did Kim do after the movie?

a.	ate pizza	c.	got some ice cream
b.	went to the mall	d.	went bowling

15.

Read the Passage.
To find out what the symbols used on a map mean, you must look at the map key. The map key explains what each symbol stands for. It is important to check the map key on each map you use. A symbol that stands for one thing on one map may stand for a completely different thing on another map.Copyright Info: Not enough information. Reviewing Geography Skills, Independent Practice
Book, page 11. (Teacher author: Bev Holtom).
What information is given before the map key on each map you use?

a.	It explains the map key.	c.	It asks you to look at two maps.
b.	It defines a symbol.	d.	It asks what the color green stands for.

16.

Literary Response and Analysis—Literary--RIT 211 – 220

a.	It was John’s birthday.	c.	As Ryan walked through the door, Buddy, John’s dog slipped in.
b.	John ran to get a towel to wipe up the stain.	d.	They were playing games, eating pizza and drinking grape juice.

17.

Read the passage.

How does the author try to help you picture the trees?

a.	describes how they look and sound	c.	explains what nature is really like on the trail
b.	compares them to other trees	d.	describes how tall and wide they are

18.

Read the passage.

a.	Tommy does not like the house.	c.	The boxes are very full.
b.	Tommy is very tall compared to the house.	d.	There are other people in the house.

19.

Read the passage.

What is the intent in this passage?

a.	to describe the library	c.	to describe the school
b.	to describe the librarian	d.	to describe the principal

20.

Read the passage.

This passage is most likely from a:

a.	journal	c.	play
b.	novel	d.	essay