Test Booklet

Subject: ELA, Grade: 05 ELA Mock Exam Book 1 December 2012

Student name:

Author: Jonathan Maniotis School: HARRIET TUBMAN CHARTER SCHOOL Printed: Monday December 03, 2012 ELA Mock Exam Book 1 December 2012 ELA:05

Read the passage about owls. Then, answer the questions that follow. How Do Owls Hunt at Night? by Edna Manning There’s a faint rustle in the dead leaves on the forest floor. A tiny mouse stops and peers around in the dim starlight, listening carefully. Without a sound, an owl swoops from the night sky. Amidst a swirl of leaves, the mouse becomes the owl’s midnight snack. Although some owls hunt during the day, most prefer to hunt at night. Nocturnal animals, such as owls, foxes, deer, and cats, have huge eyeballs that help to gather as much light as possible. The eye of the snowy owl is just as large as an adult human eye but is in a much smaller skull. If our eyes were that large for our body size, they’d be as big as oranges! An owl also has excellent eyesight because its eyes face forward. This gives it very good binocular vision, meaning the view it sees with both eyes overlaps, just as a human’s does. This kind of vision allows the owl to see three-dimensional objects, helping it figure out the distance from its perch on the tree to the mouse below. Owls can also shift focus from close up to far away very quickly. They can zoom in on a mouse 200 yards away. Since the owl can’t move its eyes in its sockets, it can look only straight ahead. An owl, however, has a very long and flexible neck. It can turn its head so far back it can see what’s going on behind it without moving its body. In fact, an owl can move its head a full 270 degrees. An owl’s eyes are also good at making use of very little light. Some, like the tawny owl, can see in light 100 times less bright than we can. The opening in the eye that lets in the light is called a pupil. At night the owl’s pupils open very wide to let in as much light as possible. This results in a larger “picture” being made on the retina at the back of the eye. Think of the retina as the film in a camera where the picture is made. The retina is made up of tiny cells called rods and cones that are sensitive to light. Cones react to bright light and colors. Rod cells are used in dim light for seeing at night, but they don’t provide the ability to see color. For example, try finding a particular color of T-shirt in a dark closet. Pretty tough to do. Nocturnal animals, such as owls, have more rods than cones, so they see well at night, but without much color. They don’t need to know if the mouse is brown or gray. Another feature of an owl’s eyes that helps it make use of low light is called eyeshine. Have you noticed how the eyes of a cat or deer seem to glow at night? They, like the owl, have a mirrorlike layer called a tapetum behind the retina. Some light entering the eye passes through the retina without being absorbed by the cells. The tapetum reflects the light back into the eyes, giving the cells of the retina a second chance to absorb it. Even a small amount of light shining into the eyes will make them look like they’re glowing. Whales, sharks, crocodiles, fruit-eating bats, and some snakes and birds also have this eyeshine. Some people think owls can’t see well during the day, but this isn’t true. Just as the pupils in our eyes adjust to the amount of light entering them, so do the owls’ pupils. However, most animals that are active both during the day and at night have pupils that open very wide at night and close tight during the day to protect the sensitive cells from bright sunlight. Many animals, including owls, combine their ability to see at night with their other keen senses to hunt and to avoid being hunted.

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1 This passage was mainly written to 6 According to the passage, what is the main reason an owl’s pupils close during the day? A persuade people to help owls. B tell a story about a family of owls. A to rest up for seeing at night C describe the different types of owls. B to keep its eyes safe from the sun D explain how owls’ eyes work in the dark. C to keep from seeing other animals D to allow its other senses to work harder 2 Why does the author compare human eyes to oranges?

A to show how big humans’ pupils can be B to suggest how big an owl’s eyes can be C to show how color changes the eyes D to explain how binocular vision works

3 Why is binocular vision important to the owl?

A It helps the owl to judge distances. B It shines light back into the owl’s eyes. C It allows the owl to see objects in color. D It protects the owl’s retinas.

4 What does the phrase zoom in on mean?

A to locate B to fly quickly C to reach out for D to move straight ahead

5 What will most likely happen when an owl enters a dark part of the woods?

A Its pupils will open wider. B Its eyeshine will disappear. C Its cone cells will increase. D Its eyeballs will become smaller.

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People seem to love buildings that look like animals or picnic baskets or milk bottles. This passage is about buildings that look like other things, and one especially that looks like an elephant. Buildings in Disguise by Joan Marie Arbogast 1 Some buildings don’t look like buildings. They look like oversize elephants, beagles, or ducks. These buildings are meant to grab your attention, and they usually do. Architects1 call these structures mimetic because they mimic other objects. 2 As engineer and land-developer James V. Lafferty Jr. admired his very unusual building, he knew people would come to see it. But that was only part of his plan. The other was to convince people to purchase parcels of his land along the Atlantic coast. 3 That was back in 1881 — and his idea worked! His plan, after all, had been simple. Make it big. Make it fun. Make it in disguise. And that’s exactly what he did. With the help of an architect and a crew of burly builders, Mr. Lafferty constructed a one-of-a-kind, sixty-five-foot-tall elephant-shaped building near the growing seaside resort of Atlantic City, New Jersey. People came from miles around to see his extraordinary building.

4 Curious customers climbed the spiral staircases to the howdah, or canopied2 carrier, on the elephant’s back. There they viewed the lots for sale. Some eager land-buyers even sealed their deals inside the elephant’s belly. 5 To prevent others from copying his idea, Mr. Lafferty applied for and received a patent on his building in 1882. 6 Two years later, Lafferty built Elephantine Colossus in Coney Island, New York – the amusement park of its time. This spectacular building towered 122 feet, nearly twice the height of Lucy [the name given to the original elephant building]. Visitors paid to view its innards of seven floors and thirty-one rooms. But in 1896, a fire leveled the mammoth pachyderm.3

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7 In 1887, Mr. Lafferty sold his original elephant to Anton Gertzen, who’d helped construct the unusual building. The Gertzen family owned and operated the elephant as a tourist attraction for nearly eighty years. 8 During the early 1900s, tourists paid ten cents to enter the awesome structure. People traveled the states and sailed the sea to examine this remarkable building. 9 Though Lucy survived severe storms along the Atlantic coast for eighty years, the,terrible storm of 1962 left her tattered and torn. Years of saltwater mists had already weakened her wooden “bones.” Years of sandy winds had worn her tin “skin” thin. No longer safe for curious tourists, Lucy’s doors were locked to the public. 10 Afraid that their unusual landmark would be toppled to make room for condominiums, concerned citizens formed the Save Lucy Committee, which sprang into action in 1969. Even children pitched in to protect the aging elephant. The group raised enough money to move their beloved pachyderm to a safe spot in a city park farther from the water’s edge. 11 Though Lucy moved only two short blocks, it took nearly seven hours to inch her down the road. Once secured in her new location, lengthy repairs and restorations began. Then, in 1976, Lucy was honored as a National Historic Landmark. 12Today Lucy welcomes guests through her doors as she did when she was young. People still climb to the howdah on Lucy’s back, where they can view the seascape and the city of Margate, New Jersey, that Lucy helped to create. 13 Lucy is our nation’s oldest functioning example of mimetic architecture. She’s also our oldest zoomorphic (animal-shaped) structure. Both are designed to grab your attention. And Lucy has for more than 120 years! The Future of Mimetic Architecture 14 Sweet Willy is one of the youngest buildings to enter the mimetic scene. His construction was completed in 2003. This thirty-foot beagle stands in Cottonwood, Idaho, among fields of canola and prairie wheat. Designed and built by husband and wife Dennis J. Sullivan and Frances Conklin, the beagle serves as a three-dimensional billboard for their chainsaw art studio.

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15 “The initial drawing for Sweet Willy was made on a napkin at a restaurant in 1998, when Dennis and I were brainstorming possible billboard designs,” explained Conklin. “One idea led to another, and before dinner was cold, we had decided to make this giant billboard not only wordless, but also large enough to be a lodging.” Inside this pup’s belly is the main bedroom; a loft is tucked in his head. 16 Wooden two-by-four studs form Willy’s “skeleton.” Wire mesh forms his “hide.” Stucco and shingles form his “fur.” 17 Why would the artists choose a beagle for their billboard? Because they sculpt and paint their canine friends. One of their favorite subjects to carve is Seaman, the Newfoundland that accompanied explorers Lewis and Clark through this area years ago. 18 But Sweet Willy won’t be one of the youngest mimetic buildings for long. Somewhere, someone will construct another eye-catching, head-turning building to lure potential customers through its doors. ______1architects – people who design buildings 2canopy – a protective rooflike covering 3pachyderm – a hoofed mammal, such as an elephant

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7 Which word is an antonym for mammoth as used 11 Which is the most likely reason the author wrote in the sentence below? this passage? But in 1896, a fire leveled the mammoth pachyderm. A To inform B To entertain A Tiny C To convince B Wide D To persuade C Ugly D Funny 12 Which event occurred before Mr. Lafferty sold Lucy? 8 Which word is a synonym for the word tattered as A The Elephantine Colossus was built. used in paragraph 9? B The Sweet Willy structure was built. A Strong C Citizens formed the Save Lucy Committee. B Empty D Lucy became a National Historic Landmark. C Spotless D Rundown 13 What would be another good title for this passage?

9 Which of these is an opinion? A “Mimetic Structures” B “Famous Pachyderms” “Some eager land-buyers even sealed their A C “Elephantine Colossus” deals inside the elephant’s belly.” D “World’s Tallest Building” B “During the early 1900s, tourists paid ten cents to enter the awesome structure.” C “Then, in 1976, Lucy was honored as a National Historic Landmark.” D “Somewhere, someone will construct another eye-catching, head-turning building . . .”

10 What type of passage is “Buildings in Disguise”?

A Fictional B Narrative C Persuasive D Expository

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Read the passage about two friends. Then, answer the questions that follow. Moving Day “Just be back in time for dinner around 6:30 or so,” said Kathy’s mother, peering into her eyes. “You know how your father likes to eat dinner on time.” Kathy quickly started toward the street but did not jump off of the small ledge near the end of the sidewalk. She knew that Alex, her fluffy dog, could not keep up when she took off too fast. Kathy and Alex had a bounce in their step today, and the two trotted merrily down the street, carefully hugging the side of the street to avoid traffic. “Stay as close to the side as you can,” her father had said in his most serious voice. “Alex is a small dog, and you aren’t a whole lot bigger than he is,” he said, grinning. “That makes it hard for cars to see you, especially once it starts getting dark outside.” As Kathy and Alex plodded down the street, she thought about Monica and her mother. They always had happy expressions on their faces when Kathy and Alex arrived each Saturday for a snack and some playtime. She wondered what would be on the menu today, muffins or banana bread. The banana bread was her favorite. Suddenly, Kathy felt a sharp pull on the leash and saw Alex staring in the direction of a gray cat under an old truck. “Cool it, Alex, we’re almost there,” she said, trying to comfort him. She knew that Alex was afraid of cats but that he always tried to act tough around them. The thought brought a smile to her face. She gave Alex a gentle pull and they were off again. Rounding the last curve to her friend’s familiar house, she noticed something not so familiar. It was a large, yellow truck parked in Monica’s driveway. Two men in blue jumpsuits were steadily carting and loading boxes up a long ramp to the truck and then rolling back inside the house for another load. Kathy felt confused. She was pretty sure that this was a moving truck, and that could mean only one thing. Monica was moving away to some faraway place, for sure, and this might be the last time she and Alex would be walking over to share food and visit with their friend. She remembered the last time a friend moved away, and the painful memory of it left a hollow feeling in her stomach. Walking through the front yard, heading straight toward the door, she was unable to shake the thought from her mind. She knew that Monica would be happy to see her and Alex and that she probably wasn’t feeling too excited about moving. Kathy decided it was probably all right to knock a bit and announce her arrival, before letting herself in the front door. One of the men was rolling a stack of boxes down the hallway toward her when she heard Monica’s voice. Monica’s head popped out of a nearby room. “Kathy, you made it! I almost forgot you were coming. Mom asked me to help with some of the packing. Hey, Mom!” she yelled, “Kathy’s here!” “What’s going on, Monica? I didn’t know that you were moving. You could have told me,” Kathy said with a frown. “I told you awhile back that we were going to move in June. I just didn’t know exactly when. Anyway, Dad said that even though our new house is kind of far away, we could still hang out together on Saturdays. There’s a park not far from our new house, and he said we can pack a picnic and all meet there on Saturday afternoons.” This sounded like fun to Kathy, and that hollow feeling in her stomach started to ease. Monica’s mother walked in with three sandwich bags containing small slices of banana bread. She handed two to Kathy and one to Monica.

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“Hey, why don’t I get two?” asked Monica. Her mother gave her a sharp look. “I just thought a little extra bread might make Kathy feel better.” “Thanks, Mrs. Greenfield,” responded Kathy. “Banana bread is my favorite!” “You’re welcome, Kathy. Why don’t you girls head to the back porch to play for a while? This house is such a mess now, the porch may be the only place you can find.” “Thanks, Mom,” said Monica, and the two girls headed down the hall, Alex trailing behind.

14 According to the passage, what will most likely 17 As used in the passage, which is the best meaning happen after Monica moves away? for the word hugging?

A Kathy’s father will walk Alex. A putting one’s arms around something B Kathy and Monica will see each other at the B jumping over something park on Saturdays. C staying close to something C Monica will make new friends, because she is D pushing past something far away from Kathy.

D Monica’s mother will stop baking banana 18 According to the passage, why does Kathy smile bread and muffins for her. when Alex encounters the cat?

15 Mrs. Greenfield can best be described as A Kathy knows that Alex is afraid of cats. B Kathy thinks Alex might chase the cat. A curious. C Kathy thinks that the cat will follow her. B indignant. D Kathy likes cats and wishes she had one. C stubborn. D understanding. 19 How does Kathy feel when she sees the moving truck in Monica’s driveway? 16 What is Kathy’s main problem in the passage? A She is confused and upset that Monica may be A She forgets that Monica is moving. leaving. B She must protect her dog from a cat. B She is afraid that Monica does not like her C She must walk to Monica’s new house. anymore. D She cannot be home in time for dinner. C She is relieved that Monica is going some- where new. D She is happy that Monica will live closer.

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Wagon Train and Rush Hour

Jason tapped his foot impatiently on the side of the car door. “How much longer is this going to take?” he asked. “Are we ever going to get there?” The traffic on Highway 84 was its usual mess, as everyone seemed to want to take the same route home at the exact same time. Jason was positive that he could have walked faster than the vehicles were moving. It was too bad he couldn’t just take out his skateboard and take off down the road. He would be there in 15 minutes! Aunt Cecilia glanced over at her nephew. “We definitely picked the wrong time of day, Jason. Rush hour is at its peak. However, getting grouchy won’t help us get to the skate park any faster. In fact, it will only make the trip seem much slower for both of us,” she advised. “Why don’t you tell me about something you learned in school today to pass the time until we get there?” Although Jason shrugged, he reached over and opened his backpack. He pulled out his history folder and took out a piece of paper. “We have been learning about the pioneers for the last few weeks. Today Mr. Hollander showed us a list of all the items they packed into their covered wagons when they moved West,” explained Jason. “They had to find room for everything or leave it behind. These families had to cope with amazing hardships. Could you imagine how difficult that kind of travel must have been?” “Actually I know quite a bit about what it was like—and no, I am not that old!” said Aunt Cecilia before Jason could make a quick remark. “Have you ever heard of the Alabama Wagon Train?” Jason shook his head. For the next half hour, as the car inched forward one mile at a time, Aunt Cecilia told Jason about one of the most exciting adventures in her life. Three years ago, she had been a part of the Alabama Wagon Train. It is a 190-mile trip from Boaz to Montgomery. The event has been held once a year for the last 30 years. It is one of the largest moving wagon trains in the country. Aunt Cecilia described how she rode in an old-fashioned mule-driven wagon in line with all of the other trucks and trailers carrying food and supplies. It certainly was a different way to see the state! “It sounds great! I wish I could have gone with you. Did you get the chance to ride a horse?” asked Jason.

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“Every single day,” replied Aunt Cecilia. She explained how hard it was to get used to sitting in a saddle for hours but how exciting it was at the same time. The trip was made up of horses, cattle, wagons, and dozens and dozens of people. “We traveled about 20 miles a day, covering five counties throughout Alabama. Each night, we camped—and it was amazing how long it took to set it up and then take it down each morning.” She went on to explain all of the wonderful scenery she saw along the trail and the friends she made during the trip. Jason had what felt like a million questions to ask his aunt. He wanted to know as much about the trip as he could. It was clear that while it had not been an easy journey, it was an incredible one that Aunt Cecilia would always remember fondly. Already, Jason was making plans to go to the public library and look up whatever information he could find online about the Alabama Wagon Train. He was eager to go to school the next day and tell his teacher about his aunt’s adventure. Most of all, he could not wait to ask his parents if he could join the wagon train when he was a little older. “Okay, we are almost there,” said Aunt Cecilia. “I can see the park from here. Sorry it took us so long, Jason.” Jason chuckled, “It’s okay. Just think how long it would have taken if we had been in the wagon train!”

20 Why does Aunt Cecilia tell Jason about her trip? 22 How can the reader tell the story is realistic fiction? A To teach him about history B To describe the difficulties of her trip A The events actually occurred. C To make the time pass more quickly B The events are based on historical facts. D To encourage him to take a wagon train trip C The events could not happen in real life. D The events are made up but could happen. 21 How are Aunt Cecilia and Jason similar?

A They are impatient. B They like adventures. C They are skateboarders. D They like to travel on trains.

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23 Read the sentence from the story. It was clear that while it had not been an easy journey, it was an incredible one that Aunt Cecilia would always remember fondly. The word incredible means —

A unbelievable B puzzling C effortless D common

24 Where does the story most likely take place?

A In a small town B At a skateboard park C Near a large city D On the wagon train trail

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This passage is about a boy who discovers the importance of sticking with a goal or task even when others give up on him. Ready, Set . . . Flop! by Diana R. Jenkins 1 “You’re serious?” 2 Hershel looked me in the eye and said, “Jesse, I’m not joking.” 3 “You’re going out for track?” 4 He nodded. “So, will you help me train?” 5 I rolled my eyes and said, “You know me — I am so not into team sports!” 6 “Then why do you always wear a baseball cap?” he demanded. "Why do you own three footballs? Why do you have a basketball hoop over your – " 7 “So I’m a fan! But I’ve never tried out for anything — ever!” Why bother? I always figured. I wasn’t good enough to make any team. “Listen, Hersh . . . ,” I started. But how do you tell the most uncoordinated guy in school that he doesn’t stand a chance? “Listen, I . . . well, all right. I’ll help you.” 8 “OK! My house. After school. Today!” he ordered. 9 So after school I dumped my books and hurried next door. Hershel had his legs twisted around each other. His left hand was holding his right ear. 10 “What are you doing?” I asked. 11 “I’m stretching,” he said. “And scratching.” He scratched his ear and promptly fell over. 12 I sighed and helped him up. “That’s not how you stretch!” 13 “I figured,” he said, dusting himself off and grinning. “So how do you do it, Coach?” 14 This is hopeless! I thought. Out loud, I said, “Well, first you need to warm up.” I had Hershel walk around the block, then I showed him the right way to stretch. He only fell down twice! 15 “OK, now we work on distance,” I said, “Run around the block four times.”

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16 Hershel took off, his arms and legs pumping. He couldn’t quite catch up with Mrs. Emerson and her ancient poodle, but he came close. Then he turned the corner and was out of sight.

17 I waited. 18 At last he returned, his arms flapping loosely, his mouth opening and closing like a baby bird’s beak. He collapsed onto the grass, clutching his chest. Finally he sat up. “Well, that’s one down. Three to go!” he declared. He got up and ran down the block. 19 Each lap was slower than the one before it. Each time, Hershel collapsed, then got up again. When he staggered off for the fourth lap, I followed him. “Maybe that’s enough for today,” I said. 20 He grinned at me. “What kind of coach are you? You can’t let me quit now!” He wobbled off. 21 Let him quit! How could I stop him? 22 The next afternoon I told Hershel, “You need to practice sprints.” 23 “OK,” he said. “What are they?” 24 “Fast, short runs,” I explained. “Like from your driveway to the stop sign.” Maybe he can handle that,I thought. 25 I was wrong. Hershel’s legs worked like crazy, but it took a year for him to reach the stop sign. I could have crawled there and beaten him! 26 “How was that, Jesse?” he gasped. 27 I handed him the water bottle. “I hate to say this, but you’re not much of a sprinter. Actually . . . you’re pretty hopeless.” 28 “Yeah,” he replied. He took a big swig of water. 29 Yes! I thought. Finally he - 30 “Really, I’m more of a distance guy,” he said. “So I guess it’s time for my laps, huh, Coach?” He thrust the water bottle at me and took off around the block.

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31 He was already tired, so the four laps took forever! My dad called me in for supper just as Hershel started his last lap. “Don’t worry!” Hershel called. “I’ll finish.” 32 Like I didn’t know that! 33 He trained for three weeks. Every day I wanted to tell Hershel that he was wasting his time. But I just couldn’t say anything when I saw him working so hard. 34 Finally, it was the day before tryouts. “Are you going to watch?” Hershel asked. 35 I didn’t want to see him flop. All that work — for nothing! But I said, “No. I don’t want anybody to think I’m trying out.” 36 “You could try out, you know,” said Hershel. “You haven’t been training like I have, but you might make it.” 37 What? As if he was Superjock! “I have a better chance than you do!” I snapped. “I don’t even know why you’re bothering!” 38 Hershel just stood there a minute before he said quietly, “At least I try.” Then he walked away. 39 It turned out I was right: Hershel didn’t make the team. I wasn’t glad to be right. All I could think about was how Hershel had kept trying and trying — and I’d never tried at all. 40 So when I saw Hershel turning away from the sports bulletin board, I went up and said, “Hey, did you see the announcement about baseball tryouts?” 41 “Yeah,” he said. “So?” 42 I swallowed. “I’m trying out. Do you want to train with me?” 43 He paused, then smiled. “OK,” he said. Then he barked, “My house! After school! Today!” 44 “I’ll be there,” I told him.

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25 Which character should be in the empty box?

A Dad B Jesse C Hershel D Mrs. Emerson

26 What is the best summary of this passage? 28 Which is the most likely reason the author wrote this passage? A Jesse shows how to be a good coach. B Jesse and Hershel try out for the baseball team. A To inform C Training with a friend helps Hershel win the B To explain race. C To describe D Coaching a friend leads Jesse to try out for a D To entertain sport. 29 Which term best describes this passage? 27 What would be another good title for this passage? A Myth A “Winning Games” B Biography B “Running Around” C Science fiction C “Making the Team” D Realistic fiction D “Trying Your Hardest”

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30 What type of literary device is used in the text below? . . his mouth opening and closing like a baby bird’s beak.

A Idiom B Simile C Onomatopoeia D Personification

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This passage is about different ways animals communicate, from scratching to tapping to howling. Animals ‘speak’ many strange languages by Sharon J. Huntington 1 If you’re sitting around a lonely campfire at night, the howl of a wolf can sound pretty scary. But the wolf isn’t trying to scare anyone, it’s just letting other wolves know where it is. This helps members of its pack find it and tells other wolves to stay out of the pack’s territory. 2 Animals use communication to tell others about their territory, find a mate, make friends, let others know how they feel, start and stop fights, and warn others of danger. Here are some of the more unusual ways that animals talk. SOUND 3 Dogs bark, cats meow, birds chirp. We’re pretty familiar with these forms of communication. But animals use sounds in other ways, too. To find a mate, the male ruffed grouse stands on a hollow log and beats his wings, making a drumming sound. The hollow log amplifies* the sound so that it can be heard for up to a quarter of a mile. Mole rats use a banging sound for the opposite reason. They like to live alone. So they warn other mole rats to stay out of their way by banging their heads on the top of their tunnels. 4 Anyone who has used a dog whistle knows that dogs can hear sounds pitched so high that humans can’t hear them. 5 Elephants, on the other hand, can hear sounds too low for humans to detect. These low rumblings, or infrasounds, can be heard across long distances. They help elephants keep track of one another when they’re too far away to see or smell each other.

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TOUCH 6 Animals use touch to communicate in many ways. Biting, kicking, and hitting send obvious messages, but touch can also be used in friendly ways. Chimpanzees will touch hands to greet each other. Many primates groom each other as a way to show friendship, removing bits of dirt or insects from each other’s fur. Elephants may touch trunks in greeting.

SIGHT 7 Elephants also use their trunks for signals. A baby elephant will raise its trunk in the air when it wants attention from its mother. Body language is important to other creatures, too. When a gorilla is startled, it may stand still and shake its head back and forth. This means it does not intend to harm you. A chimpanzee will wear a special “play face” when it wants to let you know it’s friendly. 8 Dancing is another way to “talk.” When a bee wants to tell other bees where to find a good stash of nectar, it performs a special dance, waggling its body and moving in ways that tell the other bees which direction to go and how far to fly. 9 Some creatures even put their message in lights. Each type of firefly has its own flashing code. This helps males and females find mates of the same species. The lights not only tell what kind of firefly it is, they also guide the insects to each other. Color can also be important. The cuttlefish turns different colors to show how it feels. When it’s ready to fight, it turns a dark color. Its colors change quickly when it is agitated. Some animals have been taught to use human sign language to communicate with humans and even with each other. You may have heard of Koko, the gorilla who learned to form simple sentences with sign language. Other primates have also been taught to use such signals. And in another experiment in Thailand in 1994, elephants were taught to “sign” with their trunks and to use them to point to objects as they “talked.”

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11 Some bears and tigers leave visual signs. They put scratch marks on a tree as high up as they can. When another bear or tiger comes along, it may discover it can’t make marks that high. That tells the visiting animal that the tiger or bear that made the marks is bigger and should be left alone.

SMELL 12 Another way to communicate without actually being there is through smell. 13 A gazelle has special scent glands near its eyes that it rubs on branches to mark its territory. When other gazelles pick up the smell, they realize that this territory has already been claimed. Many animals mark territory by smell, including domestic cats and their wild cousins. 14 Queen ants can communicate with their workers by smell. The queen produces different chemicals, which rub off on her workers. As the ants rub antennas, the message travels to more ants, telling them what to do. The chemicals can tell the ants to march across the forest or to camp for the night. 15 The ways animals communicate are as varied as the creatures and the messages they want to send. By observing carefully, we can learn more about what they mean. Try it with your own pets: Notice how many ways they tell you what they want and how they feel. They probably have you trained better than you realize. ______amplifies – makes louder

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31 What is the main idea of the passage? 36 What is the first thing a male ruffed grouse does to find a mate? A Animals show anger through sound. B Animals use their senses to communicate. A Beats his wings C Animals show emotions through touch. B Amplifies his sound D Animals put their messages in lights. C Stands on a hollow log D Makes a drumming sound 32 In paragraph 6, the word primates refers to

A bees. B moles. C elephants. D chimpanzees.

33 Which of these is an opinion about the passage?

A Animals use sounds in many ways. B Animal communication is interesting. C Animal territory can be marked by scent. D Animals use body movements to communi- cate.

34 What is the most likely reason cats mark their space by smell?

A To start a fight B To clean their fur C To leave a message D To attract their prey

35 Which type of writing is this passage?

A Expository B Biography C Persuasive D Narrative

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Read the next two selections. Then answer the questions that follow them.

London Eye Sees First Passengers 1 LONDON—The world’s largest Ferris wheel, the London Eye, has finally made its first revolution with people aboard. The event, intended for New Year’s Day, was delayed a month. But today the 700 people who took the first ride on the Ferris wheel agreed it was well worth the wait. And they couldn’t wait for another turn.

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2 The London Eye rises more than 440 feet above the city. The wheel sits on the south bank of the Thames River, standing high above the House of Parliament and the famous Big Ben clock. Made of more than 1,300 tons of steel, glass, and cable, the wheel cost about $50 million to build. The main part of the wheel was built in the Netherlands, while other pieces were made in other European countries. The assembly of the parts was done on large temporary platforms stretched across the Thames River. Large cranes lifted the gigantic wheel to its upright position. With the amount of effort it took, it’s no wonder the London Eye was not completed on time. 3 London architects David Marks and Julia Barfield wanted to celebrate the New Year in a remarkable way. They chose a wheel design that would represent the turning of one millennium, or one thousand years, into a new millennium. Their vision was to create a structure that people could play a part in and enjoy. 4 The Ferris wheel moves continuously at about two miles per hour. People can easily get on the ride by stepping from a boarding platform into the slow-moving passenger cars called pods. There are 32 pods on the London Eye. The pods have glass walls and are heated in winter and cooled in summer. Each pod can carry 25 passengers. In clear weather riders can see about 25 miles in every direction, viewing sights such as Windsor Castle. The ride takes about half an hour to complete. At the end of the trip, thrilled passengers clap and cheer loudly. Nearly everyone wants to repeat the experience again and again. 5 The plan of the builders is for the London Eye to remain running until 2005, when it is supposed to be taken down. From the reaction of its first riders, however, this may not happen. Many riders have voiced the opinion that the wheel should keep turning after 2005. It is clear that the crowds of people enjoying the London Eye want it to stay where it is for many years. Photo courtesy of ©Pawel Libera/CORBIS. ... March 4, 2000

Dear Christy, 1 I am in London, England, visiting Aunt Connie and Uncle Nigel. We’ve gone to many places and seen dozens of amazing things. The best thing I’ve done so far is ride the London Eye, the largest Ferris wheel in the world. It sits on a bank of the Thames River, which runs right through the city. 2 Hundreds of people were waiting to buy tickets when we got there. Luckily Uncle Nigel bought the tickets months ago. We were able to get in line for the ride right away. While we waited, I looked up at that huge wheel turning in the sky, and I began to feel a little reluctant. It looked a little scary, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to ride after all. 3 Finally we walked up a ramp and onto a platform that extended over the river. An empty car called a pod came down toward us. It moved very slowly. As it turned, we were able to step inside easily. The automatic door shut behind us. The noise and cold of the outside world disappeared. Inside the pod it was warm. I forgot my fears and relaxed. The ride was smooth and calm. It wasn’t at all like those jerky amusement-park rides we have back home. 4 The pod began to rise slowly. Aunt Connie and Uncle Nigel sat on a bench in the center of it. Other passengers walked from side to side. The pods were made so that people would have plenty of room to move around. I stood next to the curved glass wall. It was like flying in a gigantic fishbowl!

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5 Aunt Connie and others began pointing out landmarks below us. They talked about the famous places they could see from so high up. Aunt Connie saw the statue of Lord Nelson. Uncle Nigel pointed at the building where he and Aunt Connie live. He also pointed out the Tower Bridge, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and a dozen other buildings. As for me, I was watching the bright-red buses that looked like toys on the streets below. The Thames River looked like a silver ribbon right in the middle of the city. 6 As we reached the top of the ride, we could see Windsor Castle far off to the west. Aunt Connie told me that the kings and queens of England have lived there for more than 900 years. 7 Over the next 15 minutes, we gradually returned to the ground. When it was over, I was ready to go again, but there were too many other people waiting for their turn. 8 Someday I hope you can come with me to visit London. We can ride the London Eye at night. I’ve heard that the lights of London shine like a million stars beneath your feet. See you soon! Your cousin, Lacey

Use the newspaper article to answer this question.

37 The London Eye was built to —

A allow people in London to see nearby land- marks B fill an empty space on the river C celebrate the new millennium D carry people across the Thames River

Use the newspaper article to answer this question.

38 Look at the outline below and answer the question that follows. I. ______A. Move two miles per hour B. Have glass walls C. Hold 25 people D. Can be heated or cooled Which idea belongs in the blank?

A Sections of the London Eye B Pods on the London Eye C Buildings near the London Eye D Why the London Eye was built

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Use the letter to answer this question.

39 Which sentence from the letter suggests that the London Eye is even more thrilling at night?

A The best thing I’ve done so far is ride the London Eye, the largest Ferris wheel in the world. B Aunt Connie saw the statue of Lord Nelson. C The Thames River looked like a silver ribbon right in the middle of the city. D I’ve heard that the lights of London shine like a million stars beneath your feet.

Use the letter to answer this question.

40 The first-person point of view in the letter helps the reader understand —

A Lacey’s thoughts and feelings during the ride B why the builder chose to build the London Eye C how hard it was to build the London Eye D Uncle Nigel’s reasons for taking Lacey on the ride

Use the letter to answer this question.

41 In paragraph 2, the word reluctant means —

A angry B unsure C tired D impatient

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Use the letter to answer this question. Use the newspaper article and the letter to answer this question. 42 The reader knows that passengers on the London Eye are not required to stay in their seats, because 45 A similarity between these two selections is that — both discuss —

A it was built so people would have room to move A the new millennium around B the plans to take down the London Eye in B no one is watching what they do 2005 C an announcer tells them they may walk around C the London Eye’s builders D the pod tilts as the people move D the view passengers have while riding the London Eye Use the newspaper article and the letter to answer this question.

43 How does the reader know that it was a clear day when Lacey rode the London Eye?

A She saw the pod above her. B She could see Windsor Castle. C There were many people waiting in line. D She wanted to ride again

Use the newspaper article and the letter to answer this question.

44 Which detail in Lacey’s letter shows that she felt the same way about the London Eye as the passengers in the newspaper article felt?

A Lacey thought the Ferris wheel looked scary. B Lacey wanted another turn on the ride. C It was peaceful and warm inside. D Lacey thought the pod looked like a giant fishbowl.

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