A Bee-Friendly Garden” Before Answering Numbers 1 Through 5

UNIT 2 WEEK 4

Read the article “A Bee-Friendly Garden” before answering Numbers 1 through 5.

A Bee-Friendly Garden

Our lives would be different without bees. Bees help plants grow. Many plants produce the fruits and vegetables we eat. Without bees, these fruits and vegetables could not grow. Bees are truly wonderful creatures. Yet the number of bees is now low. It is getting even lower. Scientists are unsure why. Some people are fearful for their future. They think that bees may die off. We must do something about this problem. One solution is to make our gardens bee-friendly. One of the most careless things to do is spray insect killer. Insect killer does work. It kills the insects that eat plants. But it can also be harmful to bees. Some insect killers can kill the bee before it returns to the hive. Others can get carried back by bees. This could harm the rest of the hive. Insect pests can be stopped in other ways. For example, ladybugs and praying mantises eat pests. Wiping insect soap on plants leaves can also kill pests. These two methods do not harm bees. Making our gardens bee-friendly can also add to the bee population. Planting a bee garden is a great idea. Bee gardens provide nectar and pollen for the bees. A successful bee garden would have flowers that bloom over the spring, summer, and fall. The flowers need to be planted in bunches of like flowers. The garden would also have different types of plants that are closely grouped together. Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education

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Weekly Assessment • Unit 2, Week 4 Grade 3 97 UNIT 2 WEEK 4

Many people believe that all bees live in hives. That is untrue. Some bees dig into the ground. There, they build their nests. They lay their eggs. When people lay wood chips or other materials on the ground, bees cannot dig nests. So here is another good way to help bees. When you are working outside, leave loose dirt in flower beds and gardens. Some bees nest in old pieces of wood. Others nest in holes. Still others nest in buildings or trees. Gardens can be made to provide spaces like these for bees. Trees or walls that block wind are a good idea. So are shady areas. These help bees to escape the hot sun. Trees and overhangs can protect bees from hard rains. Bee gardens also provide bees with water. Bees need water just like people do. Making a bee-friendly garden is far from a useless task. The rewards are worth the effort. A bee-friendly garden is beautiful and colorful. Most importantly, it keeps bees healthy and happy. Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education

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98 Grade 3 Weekly Assessment • Unit 2, Week 4 Name: Date:

Now answer Numbers 1 through 5. Base your answers on “A Bee-Friendly Garden.”

1 This question has two parts. First, answer part A. Then, answer part B.

Part A: Read the sentence from the article.

Some people are fearful for their future.

What does the word fearful mean?

A being very afraid

B being without fear C being afraid over and over again D being afraid before there is danger

Part B: What is the meaning of the suffix -ful in fearful ?

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Weekly Assessment • Unit 2, Week 4 Grade 3 99 Name: Date:

2 Read the sentence from the article.

One of the most careless things to do is spray insect killer.

What does the word careless mean?

A paying attention again B paying much attention C before paying attention

D without paying attention

3 Underline the sentence in the paragraph that best summarizes the author’s point of view about bee gardens.

Making our gardens bee-friendly can also add to the bee population. Planting a bee garden is a great idea. Bee gardens provide nectar and pollen for the bees. A successful bee garden would have flowers that bloom over the spring, summer, and fall. The flowers need to be planted in bunches of like flowers. The garden would also have different types of plants that are closely grouped together. Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education

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100 Grade 3 Weekly Assessment • Unit 2, Week 4 Name: Date:

4 This question has two parts. First, answer part A. Then, answer part B.

Part A: What is the author’s point of view about bees?

A They are important to our world. B They are necessary for other insects.

C They do not belong in flower gardens. D They do not help us as much as they could.

Part B: Which sentence from the article best summarizes the author’s point of view about bees?

A “Our lives would be different without bees.” B “Bees help plants grow.” C “Yet the number of bees is now low.” D “Insect killer does work.”

5 With which sentences would the author of the article most likely agree? Pick two choices.

A Wood chips should cover the ground of a bee garden. B The dirt in bee gardens should not be loose.

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Weekly Assessment • Unit 2, Week 4 Grade 3 101 UNIT 2 WEEK 4

Read the article “The Manatee” before answering Numbers 6 through 10.

The Manatee

It is not pretty to look at. It is not as friendly as a dolphin. It does not sing like a whale. But the manatee is beautiful in its own way. It has special qualities all its own. The manatee is a rare animal that needs our help. The manatee is a large mammal. It can grow up to 13 feet long. That is about the length of a car. It can weigh more than 1,000 pounds! The manatee swims in warm, shallow waters. It is found along the coast and inland waterways of Florida. In the summer, manatees may swim as far west as Texas. Even though the manatee is huge, it is one of the most graceful swimmers. It glides through the water. The manatee uses its powerful tail to propel it. It steers with its fins. Even though it is big, the manatee is a gentle animal. It munches on sea grasses and other water plants. Its size and peaceful nature give it the nickname “sea cow.” The manatee has a wrinkled gray body. It looks hairless. But like all mammals, it does have hair. Also, like all mammals, manatees have lungs Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education to breathe air. The manatee will come to the surface of the water to breathe. Sometimes people will see its nose sticking out of the water. This can be a problem for manatees. It is dangerous for them to be near the surface of the water when motorboats race by. The blades of boat propellers can cut them when they come up to breathe. Many manatees have scars from these cuts. Others are killed when boats hit them.

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People also cause other problems for manatees. The animals sometimes get trapped in canal locks and floodgates that people have built. Others get caught in crab nets. Then they cannot come up to breathe. Some manatees swallow fishhooks and fishing lines. These items are harmful to the animals. Removing these items when they have been swallowed by the animal is dangerous. Because of these actions by people, manatees are now endangered. That means the number of manatees has become so low that they may die out. Everyone should be concerned about manatees. There are many people that are misinformed. Everyone should help save them. The government has correctly made the manatee a protected animal. That means it is a crime to harm one. Boaters must not be so careless. They should follow speed limits where manatees live. People should learn more about this amazing creature. They should learn how to protect it. Then this gentle giant will continue to live on without these threats. Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education

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Weekly Assessment • Unit 2, Week 4 Grade 3 103 Name: Date:

Now answer Numbers 6 through 10. Base your answers on “The Manatee.”

6 This question has two parts. First, answer part A. Then, answer part B.

Part A: What is the author’s point of view about the manatee?

A It is hard to watch while it swims. B It is pretty when it is not moving. C It is beautiful on the inside. D It is very strong.

Part B: Which sentence from the article best summarizes the author’s point of view?

A “It is not as friendly as a dolphin.” B “It does not sing like a whale.” C “It has special qualities all its own.” D “It glides through the water.” Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education 7 Read the sentence from the article.

The manatee uses its powerful tail to propel it.

What does the word powerful mean?

A weak B strong C in need of power D having power again

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8 Read the sentence from the article.

It looks hairless.

What does the word hairless explain?

A The manatee looks like it needs hair. B The manatee looks like it has no hair. C The manatee looks like it has a lot of hair. D The manatee looks like it used to have hair.

9 How are the ideas connected in the fifth and sixth paragraphs of the article? Pick two choices.

A They explain why manatees are endangered. B They explain why people love manatees so much. C They describe how manatees get caught in fishing nets. D They describe problems that people cause for manatees. E They explain why manatees need to come up for air to breathe.

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Weekly Assessment • Unit 2, Week 4 Grade 3 105 Name: Date:

10 Circle two ideas that the author would most likely agree with, based on evidence from the text.

Author’s Point of View

Manatees cause many problems for people.

Everyone should be concerned about the manatees.

Boaters are not a real danger to manatees.

People should work to protect manatees.

STOP

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