Reading Page 1

Directions Read the story ÒRabbitÕs New Coat.Ó Then do Numbers 1 through 9.

Session 1

ÒHow beautiful,Ó said Bluebird.

Suddenly, a fox

jumped out from

behind a bush.

ÒI like your spots,

too,Ó he growled.

ÒIÕm hungry, and

now you cannot

hide from me!Ó

Rabbit ran away

as fast as she could

and hid under a bush.

When the fox came by, he

saw her bright blue spots in the

bush and chased after her. Rabbit ran and ran.

She slipped into a hole under some tree roots.

The fox couldnÕt reach her. Rabbit trembled

as she waited and waited. Finally, the hungry

fox left.

ÒAre you okay?Ó asked Bluebird, flying

down from a high tree branch.

ÒYes,Ó said Rabbit. Then she hopped over

to a big puddle. Rabbit rolled over and over

in the puddle and washed off all her blue

spots.

ÒYouÕre lucky you have a brown coat,Ó said

Bluebird. ÒIt helps you hide from the fox.Ó

ÒYes,Ó agreed Rabbit. ÒI love my brown

coat, too!Ó

Rabbit listened to her friend

Bluebird sing. She looked at

his bright blue feathers.

ÒYouÕre lucky,Ó Rabbit

said. ÒI cannot sing,

and I have such

plain brown fur.Ó

ÒI like your

fur,Ó said Bluebird.

ÒItÕs not as fancy

as your feathers,Ó

complained Rabbit.

ÒMy fur is dull and drab.

ItÕs not nearly as bright and

pretty as your feathers.Ó

Rabbit thought about her ordinary brown

fur all morning. She thought about it while

she nibbled some grass. She thought about it

while she napped in the shade of a bush. She

thought about it when she hopped over some

blueberries. Then Rabbit had an idea.

Rabbit rolled over and over in the

blueberries. The juicy berries made blue spots

on her fur. Rabbit smiled. Now she had a

fancy, blue-spotted coat.

Rabbit hopped through the meadow. She

wanted to show off her new blue-spotted fur.

She found Bluebird and showed him the

bright blue spots that decorated her fur.

RabbitÕs New Coat

by Clare Mishica

Page 2 Reading

1 This passage is mainly about

running away from fears

being happy with yourself

improving your appearance

making friends with enemies

2 Here is a time line of what happens in the passage.

Which of these events belongs in the empty box?

The fox gets tired of waiting.

Rabbit rolls over in the blueberries.

Rabbit says she likes her brown fur.

The fox cannot reach Rabbit in the hole

Rabbit

admires

BluebirdÕs

feathers.

The fox

chases

Rabbit.

Rabbit

washes

off the

blue spots.

?

3 Which of these best describes how Rabbit feels about Bluebird at the beginning

of the passage?

confused

frightened

jealous

upset

Reading Page 3

4 Read this dictionary entry.

slip v. 1. to lose oneÕs balance. 2. to move smoothly and quickly.

3. to make a mistake. 4. to move out of place or position.

Now read these sentences from ÒRabbitÕs New Coat.Ó

Rabbit ran and ran. She slipped into a hole under some tree roots.

Which meaning of slip is used in the sentence?

definition 1

definition 2

definition 3

definition 4

5 Why does the fox say, ÒI like your spots, tooÓ?

He wants to be friendly.

He can see Rabbit better.

He admires beautiful things.

He has spots on his own coat.

6 Why canÕt the fox catch Rabbit?

He is too hungry to chase Rabbit.

He is too tired to keep up with Rabbit.

He cannot reach Rabbit when she is hiding in a hole.

He cannot see Rabbit when she is hiding under a bush.

Page 4 Reading

7 What would probably happen if all the rabbits in the meadow had bright blue spots?

Foxes would not chase rabbits.

Rabbits would not be afraid of foxes.

It would be harder for rabbits to see foxes.

It would be easier for foxes to find rabbits.

8 What does Rabbit learn by the end of the passage?

Foxes are not good hunters.

It is good that her fur is plain.

Bushes are not good hiding places.

It is good that she can find blueberries.

Reading Page 5

9 Think about a time when you changed your mind about someone or something.

How was your experience similar to RabbitÕs feelings about her brown fur? Use

information from the passage and your own experience to support your answer.

Page 6 Reading

Directions Read the passage ÒPopcorn: The Inside-Out Food.Ó Then do Numbers 10

through 17.

Popcorn

Native Americans shared the fluffy food with

English settlers in America, the settlers

werenÕt sure what to do with it. They

decided to put it in their soup!

The settlersÕ children later tried popcorn

for breakfast, eating it with sugar and cream.

That was probably the first breakfast cereal.

Sometimes it was served for dinner with

butter and salt.

Popcorn Today

Today, our country grows most of the

worldÕs popcorn. It has become a favorite

snack at movie theaters, amusement parks,

and sports events. The average American eats

about 68 quarts of popcorn every year.

Popcorn can be yellow or white. It can be

in the shape of a mushroom, a butterfly, or a

ball. It can be plain or coated with candy.

But it always has to be inside out!

Almost everyone knows that popcorn is

tasty, healthy, fluffy, and fun. What you may

not know is that before you can eat it, it has

to be inside out!

How Popcorn Pops

Uncooked popcorn has a hard shell. But

inside the shell is a soft center with a small

amount of water in it. That waterÑplus

some heatÑis the magic formula for turning

a hard popcorn kernel inside out.

When the popcorn is heated, the water

inside turns to steam. The steam expands

until the pressure cracks the shell open. The

soft center fills with air and POP! The

popcorn has turned inside out and is 30 to

40 times its original size!

Now the popcorn is soft enough to eat.

Not only does it taste good, but plain

popcorn is also good for you. It contains

protein that gives your body energy.

Popcorn History

Popcorn is one of the oldest kinds of

corn. Native Americans used it as food and

decoration hundreds of years ago. When

Popcorn:

The Inside-Out Food

by Lynea Bowdish

Reading Page 7

10 This passage is an example of nonfiction because

it talks about the past

it tells facts about a topic

it does not have a rhyme pattern

it does not use a lot of descriptions

11 What does the passage say is most special about popcorn?

It has to be hot to taste good.

It has to turn inside out to be eaten.

It can be served with butter and salt.

It can be eaten with sugar and cream.

12 The author would most likely agree that popcorn

is best used for decorations

is best when served in soup

is healthiest when served plain

is healthiest when coated with candy

13 Which of these statements would best fit in the section ÒHow Popcorn PopsÓ?

Popcorn is a popular treat.

Breakfast cereals have a long history.

Heat and pressure can change objects.

Popcorn comes in all sizes and shapes.

Page 8 Reading

14 Which of these happens right after popcorn is heated?

The center fills with air.

The popcorn turns inside out.

The water inside turns to steam.

The popcorn is soft enough to eat.

15 Read this sentence from the passage.

Uncooked popcorn has a hard shell.

The word uncooked means

not cooked

cooked again

cooked wrong

not able to be cooked

16 The part of the passage called ÒPopcorn TodayÓ tells mostly about

snacks that people like to eat

how popular popcorn is in America

the history of popcorn in this country

what happens when popcorn kernels pop

17 Which of these sentences from the passage is not a fact?

Almost everyone knows that popcorn is tasty, healthy, fluffy, and fun.

Popcorn contains protein that gives your body energy.

Today, our country grows most of the worldÕs popcorn.

Popcorn can be yellow or white.

Reading Page 9

Page 10 Reading

Directions Read the passage ÒHigh Adventure.Ó Then do Numbers 18 through 26.

Session 2

Alice couldnÕt believe

her good luck! Her familyÕs

friend, Carl Banks, had

invited her to go for a

weekend ride in his rainbowcolored

hot air balloon

named ÒHigh Adventure.Ó

Saturday arrived with perfect weather for

ballooning. There was snow on the ground,

but gentle winds blew across the field.

ÒIf youÕre ready to go, hop in the

gondola,Ó Carl told Alice, pointing toward

the large basket attached to the huge balloon.

Alice smiled and climbed in the basket. Carl

used the flame from a propane tank to heat

the air inside the balloon. With a loud

Òwhoosh,Ó the balloon filled up with warm

air. Finally, the balloon stretched skyward,

lifted the basket and its two passengers off

the ground, and began to float away.

ÒHere we go,Ó shouted Carl.

by Claudia Cangilla McAdam

Alice watched her parents shrink as the

balloon rose. Cars on the ground soon

looked like toys. ÒHigh AdventureÓ lifted up

and over the trees of a forest. Carl and Alice

used the two-way radio to talk to her

parents, who followed the balloon in a

ÒchaseÓ truck on the ground.

The balloon sailed silently over the forest

and fields. Carl explained how the burner

and the balloonÕs flaps worked. The only

other sound was the blast of the flames

whenever Carl turned on the burner to heat

the air inside the balloon. Alice found the

flight peaceful and exciting at the same time.

Reading Page 11

After an hour, Carl decided to land on

a snowy field. They were still moving

swiftly when the gondola thudded onto the

ground and bumped along the snow.

Suddenly, the basket groaned and tipped

on its side. It scooped up some snow that

sprayed Alice. Then a big bounce sent Carl

flying from the basket and onto the

ground. Just as quickly, the basket groaned

and turned upright and began to rise into

the air.

Alice peered over the edge of the basket

and saw a surprised Carl looking up in

disbelief. I could jump, she thought briefly,

but she quickly changed her mind when

she saw how far up she had risen.

The chase truck had just pulled up, and

Carl ran to it to grab the two-way radio.

ÒAlice, can you hear me?Ó Carl shouted

through the radio.

ÒYes, help! Help!Ó Alice cried back into

her radio.

ÒDonÕt worry. IÕll talk you down,Ó Carl

said. ÒJust do what I tell you to do.Ó

Alice followed CarlÕs instructions to

lower the balloon, but each time it got

close to the ground, she panicked and fired

the burner too long. The extra hot air lifted

the balloon up again.

Carl could see the balloon drifting back

toward the forest. ÒAlice, youÕve got to land

now,Ó he yelled. ÒHereÕs what you do. Give

it gas, count to two, and pull the top flap

rope that I showed you.Ó

Alice followed his directions and pulled

the rope. The flap released. As hot air

rushed out, the balloon floated gently

down. Alice held on tightly as the gondola

dragged along the snow. Finally, Carl and

the ground crew grabbed the basket.

The bumping stopped. Alice leaped over the

edge of the basket onto the ground.

ÒWhew,Ó she said with a relieved

smile, Ònow I see why you called it

ÔHigh Adventure!ÕÓ

Page 12 Reading

18 The main purpose for reading a

passage like this is probably to

discover how dangerous flying

can be

learn about the life of a famous

person

enjoy a story about a girl who has

an adventure

get information about how to fly

a hot air balloon

19 How does Alice feel at the beginning

of the passage?

confused

excited

satisfied

scared

20 Read this sentence from the passage.

They were still moving swiftly

when the gondola thudded onto

the ground and bumped along

the snow.

In this sentence, swiftly means they

were moving

at a fast rate

in short bursts

with quick turns

in an unsafe manner

21 What problem did Alice have during

her hot air balloon ride?

She was left alone to land

the balloon.

The flaps on the balloon would

not release.

The weather made the balloon

hard to control.

She did not know how to work

the two-way radio.

22 Read this sentence from the passage.

Alice peered over the edge of the

basket and saw a surprised Carl

looking up in disbelief.

In this sentence, peered means about

the same as

fell

leaped

looked

reached

Reading Page 13

23 Why did Carl yell, ÒAlice, youÕve got

to land nowÓ?

He wanted to take her on

another flight.

A winter storm was quickly

approaching.

The propane tank was running

out of fuel.

The balloon was moving toward

the forest.

24 Alice is able to land the balloon

because she

follows CarlÕs directions

has been on many flights

waits for the wind to shift

has watched how Carl lands it

25 Read this sentence from the passage.

Suddenly, the basket groaned and

tipped on its side.

The author uses the word groaned

because

the passengers in the basket made

groaning sounds

the noise the basket made

sounded like a person groaning

the wind made groaning sounds

as it blew over the basket

the people on the ground

groaned when they saw what

was happening

26 How does Alice probably feel at the

end of the passage?

angry

calm

grateful

sad

Page 14 Reading

Directions Read ÒEd and Fred.Ó Then do Numbers 27 through 34.

Ed

and

Fred

by Mark Merfeld

Ed and Fred were born the same day,

Went to the same school, lived in the same

town,

But, as they grew up, they acted in ways

As different as ÒupÓ is to Òdown.Ó

Ed was the one who woke up too late,

Grabbed his clothes from a pile on the floor,

And, though his first class began at eight,

It was 8:10 before he ran out the door.

Fred, on the other hand, got up at dawn,

Made his bed and washed his shirt,

Ate a good breakfast and was gone,

Arriving at school on time and alert.

Ed turned in papers all wrinkled and bent,

And spotted with stains of drinks and treats.

Classmates could tell by the colors and scent

The last meal that Ed had tried to eat!

Reading Page 15

FredÕs work was typed and neatly covered,

His papers required no edits.

It wasnÕt long before the teacher discovered

Fred had turned in a yearÕs extra credit!

When Ed got home he watched TV,

Then played ball until it was dark.

He postponed his chores quite easily

As long as there were kids in the park.

Fred went to the library after school,

Then hurried along his way.

It was his job and the household rule

To walk the dog each day.

Ed came home with a tired smile

And fell on his bed all muddy.

Fred had finished his walk of a mile

And already had started to study.

EdÕs mom looked in and pulled at her hair,

Then screeched like ten violins,

ÒWho would believe that the two boys in there

Are not only brothers, but twins?Ó

Page 16 Reading

29 Read these lines from the poem.

He postponed his chores quite easily

As long as there were kids in the park.

What does the word postponed mean?

delayed

enjoyed

finished

rushed

28 Which of these lines from the poem tells the most about the kind of person Ed is?

Ed and Fred were born the same day,

Grabbed his clothes from a pile on the floor,

Made his bed and washed his shirt,

Ed came home with a tired smile

27 Which of these best describes Ed and Fred?

They act in silly ways.

They act in opposite ways.

They prepare well for school.

They try to do too many things.

Reading Page 17

31 Look at this chart.

The word that best fits in the last box is

day

gone

shirt

town

late

eight

bent

scent

dawn

?

Rhyming Words in ÒEd and FredÓ

30 Which of these words best describes Fred?

brave

carefree

responsible

sloppy

Page 18 Reading

33 Look at the Venn diagram that shows some ways that Ed and Fred are alike

and different.

Which of these belongs on the line for both?

walk the dog

forget to do chores

turn in schoolwork

eat a good breakfast

wakes up late

plays ball after school

wakes up at dawn

goes to library after school

have same birthday

?

Ed

Both

Fred

32 Read the first section of the poem again.

Ed and Fred were born the same day,

Went to the same school, lived in the same town,

But, as they grew up, they acted in ways

As different as ÒupÓ is to Òdown.Ó

Which of these lines could replace the last line in this section and still fit in the poem?

As different as night is to day.

As different as a smile and a frown.

That made them seem like a pair of clowns.

As if they were starring in the very same play.

Reading Page 19

34 Compare yourself to one of the boys in the poem. Explain how the two of you are

alike or different. Use information from the poem and your own experience to

support your answer.

Page 20 Reading

Directions Read the passage ÒCaring for a Pet Rat.Ó Then do Numbers 35 through 45.

Session 3

Pity the poor pet rat.

For 150 years he has been bred to be

loving, clean, and friendly, yet many people

still confuse him with his meaner cousinÑ

the wild rat. Instead of Mickey Mouse, they

think of a dirty rat in a cave or tunnel.

But pet rats are not the same as wild rats.

They are not dirty, diseased, or mean. In

fact, pet rats are clean, smart, and playful.

ThatÕs why rat lovers find they make

excellent pets.

With patience and care, a young rat can

be taught to come when you call. It can also

be taught to do tricks like stand up or find

its way through a maze.

Rats are not difficult to care for, but they

do have certain needs. The following is a

brief guide to caring for your pet rat.

Caring for a Pet Rat

by Holly Beckstead

Food and Water

A rat will eat just about any food a

person will eat. However, a pet rat should

be given food that keeps it healthy.

Packaged rat food is the easiest to use.

Seeds, grains, and cereals can also be fed to

your rat. You can give your rat healthy

treats like fresh fruit or vegetables, too.

A ratÕs teeth are constantly growing, so

rats like to gnaw or grind their teeth

together. You should give your pet rat

something hard to chew on, like a carrot or

dog biscuit. A raw rib bone or even a piece

of hard wood will help the rat take care of

its teeth.

Do not give your rat too much meat,

peanuts, or other foods with a lot of fat in

them. You also should not give your rat junk

food like candy or chips.

Reading Page 21

36 Which question about pet rats could

you answer by reading this passage?

How long do pet rats sleep?

Where can you get a pet rat?

How do pet rats care for

their young?

How can you make a pet rat cage

more fun?

Make sure you give your rat fresh water

daily. It is best to buy your rat a water bottle

with a tube. Rats may drink water out of a

bowl or a shallow cup, but they will also

spill it and soak the bedding in their cage.

Shelter

An adult rat should have a large enough

cage to give it room to move around. Metal

or strong plastic cages are good. All cages

should have a solid floor with a bedding of

soft paper, wood chips, shavings, or cat litter.

The bedding should be changed two to three

times a week to prevent it from smelling.

Rats like to be clean and spend a great

amount of time each day grooming

themselves and each other. The first thing a

rat does when it wakes up is stretch, yawn,

and groom.

To add some fun, put cardboard toilet

paper rolls or plastic pipes in the cage. Your

rat will love exploring these and will rest and

sleep in them, too.

Love and Care

Rats are social animals that like to be

with people and with other rats. They are

playful and smart enough to play games like

tag, tug-a-war, and peek-a-boo. They need

time out of their cage every day to explore

and play with their owners.

As with all pets, caring for a rat is a

responsibility. They need food, water, a clean

home, and a loving companion to play with.

If you just want a pet to look atÑbuy a

goldfish. But if youÕre looking for a pet that

is friendly, smart, and easy to care for, then a

rat may be a good choice for you.

35 This passage is an example of

a play

fiction

a poem

nonfiction

Page 22 Reading

38 Look at the chart.

Which of these best completes the chart?

apples

carrots

dry cereals

potato chips

seeds

grains

dog biscuits

candy

peanuts

?

What Rats Eat

Healthy Foods for a Pet Rat Unhealthy Foods for a Pet Rat

37 Read this sentence from the passage.

All cages should have a solid floor with a bedding of soft paper, wood chips,

shavings, or cat litter.

Solid means about the same as

colorful

firm

hollow

smooth

Reading Page 23

39 The author suggests putting toilet paper rolls or plastic pipes in the cage so the rat

will have a place to

store food

explore and rest

hide from enemies

stay warm and dry

41 Which idea from the passage best supports the authorÕs statement that rats are

Òsocial animalsÓ?

Rats stretch and yawn when they wake up.

Rats like to gnaw or grind their teeth together.

Rats like to be with people and with other rats.

Rats will eat just about anything a person will eat.

40 According to the passage, why is it best to buy your rat a water bottle with a tube?

A bottle with a tube is easiest to refill.

Rats spill less water from a bottle with a tube.

A bottle keeps the water colder than a bowl does.

Rats find it too difficult to drink water out of a bowl.

Page 24 Reading

42 Read this sentence from the passage.

The following is a brief guide to caring for your pet rat.

Which word means the opposite of brief as it is used in this sentence?

dull

little

long

tall

43 Read this sentence about pet rats.

A rat likes to have a sleeping box such as a flowerpot or empty coconut shell.

In which section of the passage would this statement best fit?

in the introduction under the title ÒCaring for a Pet RatÓ

in the section under ÒFood and WaterÓ

in the section under ÒShelterÓ

in the section under ÒLove and CareÓ

44 The author would most likely agree that

everyone should have a pet rat

goldfish make better pets than rats

wild rats can be good pets if they are fed well

rats make excellent pets for responsible owners

Reading Page 25

45 The passage says Òcaring for a rat is a responsibility.Ó Explain what you would do

to be a responsible owner of a pet rat. Use information from the passage and your

own experience to support your answer.