It Was Great to See You, As Always! Thanks for Thinking of Me and My Growing Family

3rd Grade ELA - 1st 9 Weeks

Dear Melanie,

I just love the rattle you gave the new baby at the party. You always find the cutest things. I can't wait to show it to the little one.

It was great to see you, as always! Thanks for thinking of me and my growing family.

3-1.1 1) The passage above is best described as what? a. a get-well soon letter b. a thank-you note c. a business letter d. a written invitation

3-1.2 2) What just recently happened to Betty?

a. she had party for her new baby b. she went to a party for Melanie’s baby c. she bought a rattle for Melanie’s baby d. she received a note from Melanie

"First Meeting" (passage from Peter Pan)

"What's your name?" he asked.

"Wendy Moira Angela Darling," she replied with some satisfaction. "What is your name?"

"Peter Pan"…

"Is that all?"

"Yes," he said rather sharply. He felt for the first time that it was a shortish name.

"I'm so sorry," said Wendy Moira Angela.

"It doesn't matter," Peter gulped.

She asked where he lived.

"Second to the right," said Peter, "and then straight on till morning."

"What a funny address!"

Peter had a sinking feeling. For the first time he felt that perhaps it was a funny address.

"No, it isn't," he said.

"I mean," Wendy said nicely, remembering that she was hostess, "is that what they put on the letters?"

He wished she had not mentioned letters.

"Don't get any letters," he said…

"But your mother gets letters?"

"Don't have a mother," he said. Not only had he no mother, but he had not the slightest desire to have one. He thought them very over-rated persons. Wendy, however, felt at once that she was in the presence of a tragedy.

3-1.8 3) The characters in the passage came from the author’s imagination. This makes it an example of which of these?

a. non-fiction b. fiction c. biography d. verse

3-1.5 4) The characters in the passage are most likely doing which of the following?

a. meeting for the first time b. talking on the phone c. getting ready to go to school d. playing in a sporting event

3-1.2 5) Which of the following best describes the tone of the conversation between the two characters in the passage?

a. relaxing b. pleasant c. awkward d. boring

3-3.3 3-3.5 6) The last sentence of the passage states that Wendy “felt at once she was in the presence of a tragedy.” In the context, what is the meaning of this phrase?

a. she thinks something terrible is about to happen b. she thinks her guest has a sad life c. she thinks she has a great responsibility d. she thinks she just did an awful thin

3-3.3 7) The following exchange appears at the start of the passage: 3-3.5 "What's your name?" he asked.

"Wendy Moira Angela Darling," she replied with some satisfaction.

In this context, why does the author use the phrase “she replied with some satisfaction”?

a. Wendy is proud of her name b. Wendy is surprised by the question c. Wendy is embarrassed by her name d. Wendy is not giving her true name

3-1.3 8) The passage is written from a “3rd person” point of view. In which case would it be written in 1 st person point-of-view?

a. if the narrator was Peter and he describes what he sees b. if the narrator knows everything about all of the characters c. if the narrator is a close friend of Peter and Wendy d. if the narrator does not know Peter or Wendy

Wonderful Day

It’s amazing to feel the soft, white sand between my toes. The world melts away as I look at yellow sun shining its rays over the endless, blue ocean. The seagulls sing to me as the ocean waves provide the calming background music. The water teases my toes as it sneaks up the sand, and then returns to the sea as quickly as it came.

The soft heat of the air is gently covering my skin. My nose picks up a scent that is a wonderful combination of sun block, salt, and sea water. It’s as if time stands still on this fantastic day.

3-1.8 9) The above passage is written in a style that best fits which of the following? a. a journal entry b. a philosophical essay c. a biography d. a technical manual

3-1.4 10) The phrase, “The seagulls sing to me as the ocean waves provide the calming background music,” features which figure of speech?

a. understatement

b. metaphor

c. propaganda d. personification

11) The phrase, “It's as if time stands still,” is an example of which figure of speech? a. onomatopoeia b. oxymoron

c. simile d. rhyme

3-1.4 12) The writing style in the above passage can be best described as which of the following? a. formal b. descriptive c. technical d. editorial

3-1.2 13) Which of the following describes the way the narrator is feeling in the passage? a. angry b. cynical c. apathetic d. joyous

3-1.3 14) What is the Point-of-View of the passage?

a. 1st person b. 2nd person c. 3rd person limited d. 3rd person omniscient

I felt a tap on my shoulder. "Excuse me," I heard someone say.

"Yes?" I asked.

"Do you know where the bus stop is?" He looked like he was in a rush.

I pointed to the street. "Over there, by that sign."

"Thank you! You are a life-saver!"

I was happy I could help.

3-1.1 15) What does the narrator do in the passage?

a. ask someone where to find the bus stop b. give someone directions to the bus stop c. tap someone on the shoulder d. call someone a "life-saver"

3-1.5 2) What is the setting of the passage?

a. in a classroom b. inside a bus c. at a bus stop d. near the street

16) In the passage, one character asks how to get to a bus stop. How does his mood change from the start to the end? a. he goes from happy to angry b. he goes from shocked to amused c. he goes from giddy to gloomy d. he goes from stressed to grateful Excerpt from Divided We Stand:

I was wide awake before sunrise on Christmas morning. I bet every kid in the world wakes up early on Christmas morning.

The house looked lovely. It was decorated in ribbons, greenery, and mistletoe. The Christmas tree stood proudly in the parlor. Every year, Will and I make new decorations to add to the tree. He carves little figurines and I use ribbon and paper.

Will and I ran down the stairs and found Mother and Father sipping coffee in the parlor, waiting for us. We stood near the doorway, eager to find out what was inside the beautifully wrapped packages. Mother saw our anticipation.

"Well go on," she said with a laugh.

We darted for the tree and sat on the floor. I unwrapped a beautiful dress that was a deep, violet color with white lace trim. In my stocking I found my favorite dried fruit, candy, a tiny trinket box, and a bright, painted top.

"Was Santa good to you this year?" Father asked. Will and I nodded enthusiastically.

3-3.5 17) Which word is a synonym for the word "anticipation" in the third paragraph?

a. excitement b. happiness c. boredom d. disgust

18) Where is Francis Marion's epitaph most likely written?

a. on a plaque or trophy b. in his biography c. in his diary d. on his gravestone

3-3.2 19) Judging from the above words, the definition for the Greek word "meter" is connected to which of the following?

a. meteors b. meetings c. meats d. measurements

3-3.2 20) Which of the following best describes the words in the above table?

a. The words in Column B are the prefixes of the ones listed in Column A. b. The words in Column B are the base words of the ones listed in Column A. c. The words in Column B are homonyms of the ones listed in Column A. d. The words in Column B are the suffixes of the ones listed in Column A.

Excerpt from A South Carolina Mystery:

Most of the time when we go to Charleston, we stay at Folly Beach and come into the historic district to sightsee. Mom likes to shop in the little stores in the restored buildings. Lauren likes to fuss over the fancy houses that line the streets near the water. I don't much care about houses, but I like taking the boat over to Fort Sumter, where the Civil War began.

I really get a kick out of the palmetto trees that grow everywhere. Although the palmetto is the state tree, I've never seen one near our house in the mountains. I guess it's too cold for them up there. Being in Charleston is like being in another country.

3-3.2 21) In the first paragraph, which word is an example of a compound word?

a. houses b. restored c. Fort Sumter d. sightsee 3-3.3 22) In the first paragraph, what does the author mean by "Lauren likes to fuss over the fancy houses"?

a. Lauren makes fun of the fancy houses. b. Lauren makes a big deal about the fancy houses. c. Lauren gets angry at the fancy houses. d. Lauren climbs over the fancy houses. 3-3.3 23) The phrase "get a kick out of" is an example of which type of expression?

a. alliteration b. simile c. idiom d. personification

3-3.3 24) In the second paragraph, what does the author mean when he says, "I really get a kick out of the palmetto trees that grow everywhere"?

a. alliteration b. simile c. idiom d. personification 3-1.4 25) In the second paragraph, which device does the author use in the sentence, "Being in Charleston is like being in another country"?

a. simile b. personification c. onomatopoeia d. metaphor 3-1.5 26) What is the setting of this passage?

a. a house on Christmas morning b. a barn on Christmas Eve c. a forest on Thanksgiving Day d. a cabin on Will's birthday 3-1.1 27) Which of the following is best described as information in a written passage that gives the reader a general summary of the work?

a. the point-of-view b. the figurative language c. the main idea d. the tone

3-1.9 28) The lyrics to "South Carolina on my Mind" are most similar to a:

a. poem. b. play. c. letter. d. drama.

3-1.8 29) The sentence shown above would probably appear in which type of written work?

a. biography b. fable c. folktale d. tall tale 3-1.8 30) Why is the sentence above an example of nonfiction?

a. because it mentions a real person b. because it easy to prove or disprove c. because it states a true fact d. because it is talking about an actual time period in history

3-1.9 31) How many stanzas does the above poem have?

a. two stanzas b. nine stanzas c. four stanzas d. one stanza 3-1.9 32) In the poem shown above, which two lines rhyme?

a. Line 1 and Line 2 b. Line 1 and Line 3 c. Line 3 and Line 4 d. Line 6 and Line 7