Practice Test 2 for MCT2 is developed and published by the Mississippi Department of Education. Copyright © 2009 by Mississippi Department of Education. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher. The Mississippi logo appears courtesy of the Mississippi Development Authority. MS515393-8110_Gr3Fm1_R 2/2/09 3:52 PM Page 3 Language Arts: Section 1 Reading YOU ARE ONLY ALLOWED TO REVIEW THIS SECTION OF THE TEST TODAY. Page 3 Read the following passage “Buried Treasure.” Then answer questions 1–9 based upon the passage. You may write in your test booklet, but you must mark your answers on your answer document. Buried Treasure Mr. Murphy’s fifth-grade science class stood outside the school in front of a large, white van. The students fidgeted anxiously, eager for what was to come. Mr. Murphy walked through the group, collecting the forms that the students’ parents had signed giving their permission for this field trip. Supervised by Mr. Murphy and the school’s 5 principal, Ms. Rodriguez, the class was going to the nearby beach to observe plants and animals that live in small tide pools. Shalin nudged his friend Marta. “I wonder what kinds of creatures we’re going to find,” he whispered excitedly. “I don’t know,” Marta replied, “but I can’t wait to see the beach!” 10 Shalin and Marta climbed into the van with the teachers and the rest of the students. As the van rumbled down the road, its passengers chatted excitedly to each other. When the vehicle came to a stop near the beach, Mr. Murphy paused to remind his students of the rules for the field trip. “Ms. Rodriguez and I have blocked off a very small area of the beach for the class to 15 explore. We will split into two groups. Everyone must stay with his or her group at all times. Please do not pick up anything from the beach without an adult’s permission. Does everyone understand?” Shalin and Marta nodded their heads along with the rest of the class. The students climbed out of the van and followed the adults along the path that led to the beach. 20 Each of the two groups gathered around a tide pool. These pools were very small bodies of water that had formed on the beach following a high tide. The students clutched their notebooks and pencils, taking notes and drawing sketches of the plants and animals that they saw. Marta peered into the pool in front of her. “Wow!” she cried, tugging on Shalin’s arm to 25 get his attention. “Look at those!” Marta directed. Inside the pool lay a collection of shiny, spiral-shaped shells. “What are they?” Shalin asked Mr. Murphy. “They are called brown periwinkles,” Mr. Murphy instructed. He went on to point out other creatures that lived in the pool, including urchins, barnacles, and anemones. 30 As Shalin listened to Mr. Murphy, his eyes traveled across the surface of the pool and beyond it to the other side. He noticed something shiny sticking out of the sand. Page 4 Shalin raised his hand, waving it slightly to catch his teacher’s eye. “Mr. Murphy!” he called. “I can see something buried in the sand over there. May I pick it up?” “Let’s all walk over there together, Shalin. I’ll investigate your discovery to make sure 35 that it’s safe.” Mr. Murphy bent down to pluck the object out of the sand. He held it up for Shalin to see. It was a green bottle sealed tightly with a cork. Inside the bottle was what appeared to be a rolled up piece of paper. Mr. Murphy pulled the cork out of the bottle and shook the container until the piece of paper fell out. 40 “Shalin, I believe that you’ve found a message in a bottle!” he exclaimed. “Long ago, sailors would write down letters, seal them in bottles, and throw them into the sea, hoping that the messages would reach the shore.” He handed the paper to Shalin, who looked at it with amazement. “I think it’s a poem,” Shalin declared. 45 “Would you like to read the poem to us?” Mr. Murphy asked. Shalin cleared his throat and began reading. “I stand tall on sturdy legs As the ship beneath me sways, Hoping for clear, starry nights, 50 For bright and sunny days. The sea sparkles before me, A shining miracle of blue. My men stand behind me, A brave and loyal crew. 55 As the captain of this ship, I am a king of the sea. I make my home upon the waves. Dry land is not for me. I know not if this message 60 Has reached another’s eyes, But if it has, I wish you Fair and friendly skies.” When Shalin had finished reading, he folded the poem and held it gently in his hand. “Wow, Shalin,” Marta cheered. “You found a real buried treasure!” Page 5 1. A reader wants to find out what 3. The author wants to add the subheading kinds of creatures urchins, “Beach Rules” to the passage “Buried barnacles, and anemones are. Treasure.” In which source will he not find the Before which of the following lines will information? the subheading be placed? A. Glossary A. Lines 1–6 B. Thesaurus B. Lines 10–13 C. Dictionary C. Lines 14–17 D. Encyclopedia D. Lines 18–23 2. What type of figurative language does the poet use in lines 51–52 to describe the sea? 4. What is the author’s purpose for writing F. Simile this passage? G. Metaphor F. To explain the kinds of treasures to look for at the beach H. Hyperbole G. To explain about creatures that are J. Personification found in tide pools H. To explain that some experiences lead to finding unexpected treasures J. To explain that safety rules are necessary for enjoying a beach trip Page 6 5. Select the answer choice that 6. Which of the following lines from correctly interprets the shift in point the passage uses setting to help of view from third person in the to reveal characterization? passage to first person in the poem found in “Buried Treasure.” F. Supervised by Mr. Murphy and the school’s principal, A. Shalin reads the poem using first Ms. Rodriguez, the class was person to make others think that he going to the nearby beach to has written the poem. observe plants and animals that live in small tide pools. B. Shalin reads the poem using first person to make sure others G. The students climbed out of the understand the poem. van and followed the adults along the path that led to the C. Shalin reads the poem using first beach. Each of the two groups person because that is what his gathered around a tide pool. teacher has asked him to do. H. “They are called brown D. Shalin reads the poem using first periwinkles,” Mr. Murphy person because the poem reveals instructed. He went on to point the thoughts of the person speaking out other creatures that lived in in the poem. the pool, including urchins, barnacles, and anemones. J. “Let’s all walk over there together, Shalin. I’ll investigate your discovery to make sure that it’s safe.” Mr. Murphy bent down to pluck the object out of the sand. Page 7 7. Based upon the passage, which of 9. What conclusion can the reader the following can the reader infer? draw about the author’s method of sequencing the events in the A. Marta was impressed with her passage? discovery of the brown periwinkles but not with the poem that Shalin A. The author uses a poem to tie found. events from long ago to the present field trip at the beach. B. Both the message in the bottle and the brown periwinkles in the pool are B. The author uses a field trip to the examples of beach treasures. beach to show the importance of exploring new places in the C. The message in the bottle is the future. only treasure that a student found on the beach. C. The author uses a teacher to explain the items on the beach in D. Shalin broke the rules of the field trip the order that students discover by picking up the message in a them. bottle. D. The author uses tide pools on the beach to create a setting in the present where students can 8. Read the poem that is inserted in discover treasures that have “A Buried Treasure.” washed up in the past. What conclusion can the reader draw from the poem? F. The captain does not wish to return to live on the land. G. The captain has not experienced stormy weather at sea. H. The captain is responsible as king of the sea to protect the sea and its inhabitants. J. The captain has a crew that wishes to return to their homeland and their families. Page 8 Mark your answers for questions 10–17 on your answer document. Mark only one answer for each question. You may write in your test booklet, but you must mark your answer in your answer document. 10. Read the following book report that 11. Which word below is not formed Adam wrote about Where the Red by adding the affix ous to a base Fern Grows. word? (1) One of the best books I have A.