VDOE READING SOL SHORT PRACTICE ITEMS

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What is the meaning of delved?

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1Determined to research the first mayor of the city, the student earnestly delved into the newspaper’s historical records.

WORD ANALYSIS

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Kenya tucked the letter from her brother Josh into a large folder, where she kept all of their correspondence. She took out the birthday card and the two postcards he had sent while he was at college. Kenya enjoyed having all of the mail from her big brother in one place so that she could keep it safe.

2 Which words or phrases best help the reader determine the meaning of correspondence in this paragraph?

tucked letter where she kept two postcards college enjoyed all of the mail in one place

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3The word revive means to –

restore health or vigor cover or shelterreturn to an earlier place give shine to the surface

After convincing her mom to purchase the dry, crumbling potted fern at the greenhouse, Miya worked tirelessly to revive the plant. She placed it on a table next to the window in her room, fed it fertilizer, and watered it often. Finally, the fern began to look healthier, and Miya felt proud of her efforts.

Underline the context clues in the paragraph that help the reader determine the word revive.

5

After seeing a movie preview full of adventure, action, and special effects, many people rushed to see the movie but were disappointed by its mediocrity.

4 Select the phrases that define mediocrity as used inthis sentence.

difference from reality

ordinary quality

neither good or bad

lack of enthusiasm

careless construction

5 Although he was eager, Louis Braille found the reading system for the blind a real challenge. At the time, books for the blind were made by forming the letters of the alphabet from copper wire. These letters were pressed into the paper, leaving a raised impression of the letter on the paper’s other side. The blind student could then read by feeling the raised letters. But even though they were raised, differentiating between the letters was intricate and time-consuming. Consequently very few raised-print books were available because they were tedious to make.

Integrating Perceiving Associating

Distorting Distinguishing Composing

Which words are antonyms for differentiating?

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6

The word neutral comes from a Latin root meaning “neither.” In which statement are Amy’s actions most accurately called neutral?

a) Amy wants her friend’s favorite team to win.b) Amy cheers whenever the losing team scores a

point.c) Amy hopes the most talented team wins. d) Amy supports the home team.

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8

Write synonyms for obliterated.

____________________ __________________________________________ _______________________

7 In 1813 the famous naturalist John Audubon observed a vast flock of passenger pigeons as he traveled through Kentucky. The flock took three days to pass above; in such a black cloud, they obliterated the sun at times. Conservatively, he estimated their numbers at 1.1 billion birds. How could a bird that was the most prolific in North America become extinct?

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Which two words are antonyms for the word lithe?

flexible unpliable exceptional tall limber stiff

8 During the competition, the lithe gymnast rolled and tumbled across the mat on the gym floor. Her graceful bends and nimble acrobatics displayed her exceptional gymnast abilities. She had clearly spent countless hours practicing her rigorous routine. The result was a polished performance that won her first place.

Underline the context clues in the paragraph that help the reader determine the word lithe.

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Adding the suffix –ment to the word arrange creates themeaning-a) one who will arrangeb) the process of being arranged c) the ability to arranged) a place for arranging items

If Don does not ride the bus home, I understand that I must make arrangements to have him picked up from school by 5:00 PM.

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Using words or phrases from the list, complete the chart to match the word and the meaning of the affix.

WORD MEANING OF AFFIX

childish

state or quality

malpractice

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novelty

badly

having the character

a person who

hospitable

apart

Darrian decided to cultivate his musical ability by practicing his trumpet each night and trying to play more difficult songs.

Which two words are synonyms of cultivate as it is used in this sentence?

ponder contact documentsubmit improve refine

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Louise seemed immersed in the lesson, taking notes while her teacher explained the topic and asking questions when she wanted more information.

In this sentence, which words or phrases help define the word immersed?

seemed the lesson taking notes explained the topic asking questions information

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A side view of an objectAn outlineDegree of exposureA brief biographical essayA graph, table, or list of scoresTo delineate, outline

In this dictionary entry, profile comes from a word meaning -

pro-file (proh-fahyl) n. 1. A side view of an object. 2. An outline. 3. Degree of exposure to public notice. 4. A brief biographical essay. 5. A graph, table, or list of scores representing the extent to which a person, field, or object exhibits various tested characteristics or tendencies (Italian prof (f) ilo, noun derivative of profilare to delineate, outline)

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The author assumes the reader already knows thata) children require limitsb) music lessons are rewardingc) studying music requires dedicationd) learning two things at once can be confusing

Jack wanted to take a guitar class at school, but he knew his mother would not let him since he was already learning to play the violin.

MAKING INFERENCES ANDDRAWING CONCLUSIONS

from Collecting Rocks by Rachel M. Barker*

Starting a Collection…The collection can be as large or as small as its owner wishes…A rock collection might begin with stones picked up from the ground near your home. These stones may have limited variety and can be replaced later by better specimens.

*Public Domain

Based on this paragraph, what may the reader infer about a rock collection?

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17

from A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett*

“Here we are, Sara,” said Captain Crewe, making his voice sound as cheerful as possible. Then he lifted her out of the cab and they mounted the steps and rang the bell. Sara often thought afterward that the house was somehow exactly like Miss Minchin. It was respectable and well furnished, but everything in it was ugly; and the very armchairs seemed to have hard bones in them. In the hall everything was hard and polished—even the red cheeks of the moon face on the tall clock in the corner had a severe varnished look. The drawing room into which they were ushered was covered by a carpet with a square pattern upon it, the chairs were square, and a heavy marble timepiece stood upon the heavy marble mantel.*Public Domain

Why does Captain Crewe make “his voice seem as cheerful as possible”?

What words or phrases help the reader infer that the setting is not a place for children?

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from A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett*

“Here we are, Sara,” said Captain Crewe, making his voice sound as cheerful as possible. Then he lifted her out of the cab and they mounted the steps and rang the bell. Sara often thought afterward that the house was somehow exactly like Miss Minchin. It was respectable and well furnished, but everything in it was ugly; and the very armchairs seemed to have hard bones in them. In the hall everything was hard and polished—even the red cheeks of the moon face on the tall clock in the corner had a severe varnished look. The drawing room into which they were ushered was covered by a carpet with a square pattern upon it, the chairs were square, and a heavy marble timepiece stood upon the heavy marble mantel.*Public Domain

What can the reader infer about Miss Minchin from the description of the setting?

What words best describe how Sara feels about Miss Minchin?

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Aaron looked at the homework pass in his hand, then at Bailey quickly walking away. Bailey stopped a few times to get a better grip on the lunchbox and instrument case she carried and to adjust her backpack, which was hanging open. Aaron thought Bailey would not notice the missing homework pass until she was already on the bus. As Aaron moved the crumpled paper he held in his fist toward his pocket, he sighed like a deflating balloon. He looked at Bailey again. She had dropped her lunchbox and was collecting the empty containers that had rolled out. Aaron felt his grip on the homework pass loosen as he began walking toward her.

Underline the sentence that best shows that Aaron is hesitant to return Bailey’s homework pass.

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WORD CHOICE

Underline how the author shows that Aaron finally decides to return Bailey’s homework pass.

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Aaron looked at the homework pass in his hand, then at Bailey quickly walking away. Bailey stopped a few times to get a better grip on the lunchbox and instrument case she carried and to adjust her backpack, which was hanging open. Aaron thought Bailey would not notice the missing homework pass until she was already on the bus. As Aaron moved the crumpled paper he held in his fist toward his pocket, he sighed like a deflating balloon. He looked at Bailey again. She had dropped her lunchbox and was collecting the empty containers that had rolled out. Aaron felt his grip on the homework pass loosen as he began walking toward her.

21

Aaron looked at the homework pass in his hand, then at Bailey quickly walking away. Bailey stopped a few times to get a better grip on the lunchbox and instrument case she carried and to adjust her backpack, which was hanging open. Aaron thought Bailey would not notice the missing homework pass until she was already on the bus. As Aaron moved the crumpled paper he held in his fist toward his pocket, he sighed like a deflating balloon. He looked at Bailey again. She had dropped her lunchbox and was collecting the empty containers that had rolled out. Aaron felt his grip on the homework pass loosen as he began walking toward her.

Underline the sentences which show that Bailey is distracted.

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGEfrom The Bridge by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow*

And like those waters rushing Among the wooden piers,A flood of thoughts came o’er me That filled my eyes with tears.*Public Domain

In the simile in this stanza, which two items are being compared?

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In this stanza, how are the waters and thoughts alike?_______________________________________________________________________________

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Which sentences use figurative language?

• The softball flew higher and higher until finally it began to fall down toward Taylor’s open glove.

• In a dish on the table, the candy was a glittering pile of jewels.

• The rain laughed against the window, reminding Cecil that his trip to the zoo was cancelled.

• Ray thought he heard a loud, scary noise in the garage.

• Most of the chalk drawings on the sidewalk were a bright blue.

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Which phrase in this sentence is an example of figurative language?

In a dish on the table, the candy was a glittering pile of jewels.

Which phrase in this sentence is an example of figurative language? The rain laughed against the window, reminding Cecil that his trip to the zoo was cancelled.

Complete this cause-and-effect chart. Effect:Jakie

squawks during storms.

Jakie is inside the

house.

Jakie makes the narrator

sad.

Jakie hears the boys

playing horns during the holidays.

Jakie is a timid bird.

Effect:Jakie is

frightened by a

Christmas tree.

Cause:

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from The Busy Blue Jay by Olive Thorne Miller*

He was a timid little fellow. Wind or storm outside the windows made him wild. He would fly around the room, squawking at the top of his voice; and the horrible tinhorns the boys liked to blow at Thanksgiving and Christmas drove him frantic. Once I brought a Christmas tree into the room to please the birds, and all were delighted with it except my poor little blue jay, who was much afraid of it. Think of the sadness of a bird being afraid of a tree!

*Public Domain

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Did you know that scientists have a special name for creatures that live deep in caves? Named “troglobites,” these creatures are very unique and very rare. One example of a troglobite is the olm. The olm is also classified as an amphibian. The olm resembles a dragon from storybooks, but it is small--less than one foot long--and completely white. The olm has a long, slender head and small limbs. It eats other cave-dwelling creatures such as tiny snails, which it swallows whole! There is something else that makes the olm an interesting creature. Because the olm lives deep in dark caves, it does not necessarily need eyes to see. Even though the olm’s eyes are underdeveloped, its other senses are very strong; therefore, the unique olm uses its senses of hearing and smell to “see” the world around it.

Complete this cause-and-effect chart.

The olm relies on its senses of hearing and

smell.

The olm’s eyes are

underdeveloped.

The olm looks like a small white

dragon.

The olm swallows tiny snails whole.

Cause: The olm lives

only in dark caves.

Effect:

Effect:

MAIN CONFLICT Aaron looked at the homework pass in his hand, then at Bailey quickly walking away. Bailey stopped a few times to get a better grip on the lunchbox and instrument case she carried and to adjust her backpack, which she must not have noticed was open. Aaron thought Bailey would not notice the missing homework pass until she was already on the bus. As Aaron moved the crumpled paper he held in his fist toward his pocket, he sighed like a deflating balloon. He looked at Bailey again. She had dropped her lunchbox and was collecting the empty containers that had rolled out. Aaron felt his grip on the homework pass loosen as he began walking toward her.

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What is the main conflict in this paragraph?

A. Aaron has to decide whether to return the homework pass or keep it for himself.

B. Bailey loses her homework pass because she is distracted walking to the bus.

C. Aaron has to return the homework pass, although Bailey was not careful with it.

D. Bailey loses her homework pass, and then she drops her lunchbox.

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As Victoria walked toward the lunchroom, she realized she’d forgotten something important – her book report. She could picture it sitting on the kitchen table, where she had left it to remind herself. She had even written herself a note and stuck it to the bathroom mirror. No luck. She had forgotten the most important assignment of the whole year. “Mr. Tyler, may I go to the office to call my mom?” Victoria asked her teacher. “Why do you need to call your mom?” Mr. Tyler asked, but Victoria did not want to admit that she had left an assignment at home again. “Why don’t you eat lunch first, then go to the office on your way back to class,” Mr. Tyler said. After lunch, Victoria stopped by the front office, and Mrs. White let her use the phone. It rang many times before she hung up and looked at the clock. It was 12:05. Victoria’s mom left the house every day at 12:00 to go for a walk and would not return home for some time.

The author includes the first paragraph to establish the –

conflict resolution setting main idea

What is the main conflict in these paragraphs?

A. Victoria has forgotten her assignments before.B. Victoria’s teacher will not let her use the phone until after lunch. C. Victoria has left her book report at home.D. Victoria’s mother cannot bring her book report to school.

MAIN IDEA AND SUPPORTING DETAILS

Complete this web.

Ways to Participate in Field Day

Relay Races

.Flag Football

.Dunking Booth

Early Dismissal

Comfortable Clothing

Ribbons Awarded for First - Third

Place

Scavenger Hunt

Bagged Lunch

Provided

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30

Complete this web.

A Troglobite’s Appearance

How to Live in a Dark

Cave

How Creatures Adapt to Cave Life

The Olm’s Features

.

Less than one foot

long

White skin

Under-develope

d eyes

Small limbs

Did you know that scientists have a special name for creatures that live deep in caves? Named “troglobites,” these creatures are very unique and very rare. One example of a troglobite is the olm. The olm is also classified as an amphibian. The olm resembles a dragon from storybooks, but it is small--less than one foot long--and completely white. The olm has a long, slender head and small limbs. It eats other cave-dwelling creatures such as tiny snails, which it swallows whole! There is something else that makes the olm an interesting creature. Because the olm lives deep in dark caves, it does not necessarily need eyes to see. Even though the olm’s eyes are underdeveloped, its other senses are very strong; therefore, the unique olm uses its senses of hearing and smell to “see” the world around it.

Complete this cause-and-effect chart.

Cause: The olm lives

only in dark caves. Effect:

The olm’s eyes are

underdeveloped.

The olm swallows tiny snails whole.

The olm looks like a small white

dragon.

The olm relies on its senses of hearing and

smell.

Effect:

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from Collecting Rocks by Rachel M. Barker

Rocks are continually changing. Wind and water wear them down and carry bits of rock away; the tiny particles accumulate in a lake or ocean and harden into rock again. The oldest rock that has ever been found is more than 3.9 billion years old. The Earth itself is at least 4.5 billion years old, but rocks from the beginning of Earth’s history have changed so much from their original form that they have become new kinds of rock. By studying how rocks form and change, scientists have built a solid understanding of the Earth we live on and its long history.

Which is the best heading for this paragraph?

Rocks Tell the Story of the Earth Types of Rocks that Change

Tiny Particles Make the Earth Identifying a Rock’s Age

Why Scientists Study Earth’s Rocks32

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Complete this web.

Where Jakie Hides Extra FoodIn the

narrator’s slipper

Behind the tray in the cage

On the book shelf

In the ruffle of a

dress

Over the

floor

Inside the wall

In the garbage

pail

In the narrator’s

hair

from The Busy Blue Jay, a narrative nonfiction essay by Olive Thorne Miller*

Many things which Jakie did were very funny. For instance, he made it his business to clear up the room. When he had more food than he could eat at the moment, he did not leave it around, but put it away carefully,—not in the garbage pail, for that was not in the room, but in some safe nook where it did not offend the eye. Sometimes it was behind the tray in his cage, or among the books on the shelf. The places he liked best were about me,—in the fold of a ruffle or the loop of a bow on my dress, and sometimes in the side of my slipper. The very choicest place of all was in my loosely bound hair. That of course I could not allow, and I had to keep a very close watch of him for fear I might have a bit of bread or meat thrust among my locks. In his clearing up he always went carefully over the floor, picking up pins or any little thing he could find, and I often dropped…buttons, and other small things to give him something to do. These he would pick up and put nicely away.*Public Domain

FACT AND OPINION

Which statement is a fact and which one is an opinion?

The recipe calls for less cinnamon than sugar, and salt is used the least. Fact Opinion

The 87% student participation in our Read-a-thon last year was not impressive enough. Fact Opinion

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Which words from the opinion statement make it a feeling or belief that can be argued?