The desert at night is cool and quiet. Sand stretches in every direction, silver under the moon. Tall cacti stand still against the stars, and the air smells faintly of dust.
5th grade English Language Arts practice sheet
Maine Learning Results · from Gradelings · Name: ______________________
Question 1
Put the events of “The New Player” in order, from the exposition to the resolution.
- Maya has just moved to a new town and doesn't know anyone at her school.
- Maya starts a chess club, and soon it has twelve members.
- At the school chess tournament, Maya faces the best player in the final game and wins.
- She asks to join the lunchtime chess games, but the players tell her the boards are full.
- The other players crowd around and ask her how she planned her moves.
Maya has just moved to a new town and doesn't know anyone at her school. → She asks to join the lunchtime chess games, but the players tell her the boards are full. → At the school chess tournament, Maya faces the best player in the final game and wins. → The other players crowd around and ask her how she planned her moves. → Maya starts a chess club, and soon it has twelve members.
Hint: Start with the event that introduces the characters. End with how things turn out.
Question 2
What kind of figurative language is this?
The bacon sizzled in the hot pan.
- simile
- onomatopoeia
- alliteration
- metaphor
onomatopoeia
Hint: Onomatopoeia is a word that imitates a sound, like buzz, crash or sizzle.
Question 3
How is this text organized?
- compare and contrast
- description
- sequence
- cause and effect
description
Hint: The text describes one thing in detail: what it looks like, sounds like or feels like.
Question 4
What does “transparent” mean in this sentence?
The window was so transparent that the bird thought it was open sky.
- very thick
- clear enough to see through
- covered in dirt
- painted blue
clear enough to see through
Hint: The bird could see the sky through the window. What does that tell you about the glass?
Question 5
Which root do all three words share?
dictionary • predict • contradict
- port
- terr
- vis
- dict
dict
Hint: Look for the letters that appear in all three words. Then think: what do dictionary, predict, contradict have in common in meaning?
Question 6
Which part of this sentence is the dependent clause?
Maya studied at home since the library was closed.
- since the library was closed
- Maya studied at home
since the library was closed
Hint: A dependent clause starts with a word like because, when, if or although. It can't stand alone as a sentence. The independent clause can.
Question 7
Which shows a ball that belongs to several dogs?
- the dogs' ball
- the dogs ball
- the dogs's ball
- the dog's ball
the dogs' ball
Hint: For a plural word that already ends in s, just add an apostrophe after the s.
Question 8
Which technique makes claims so big they can't be true?
- repetition
- exaggeration
- emotional appeal
- testimonial
exaggeration
Hint: Exaggeration makes claims so big they can't possibly be true.
Question 9
For a message to a younger class, you should…
- use long technical words
- use simple words and bright pictures
- have no pictures
use simple words and bright pictures
Hint: Think about your audience.
Question 10
Why is the author's background important?
- it helps you judge if they know the topic
- it is not important
- it shows the font
- it tells you the price
it helps you judge if they know the topic
Hint: Experts are more likely to be accurate.
Answer key
- 1. Maya has just moved to a new town and doesn't know anyone at her school. → She asks to join the lunchtime chess games, but the players tell her the boards are full. → At the school chess tournament, Maya faces the best player in the final game and wins. → The other players crowd around and ask her how she planned her moves. → Maya starts a chess club, and soon it has twelve members. (Plot and Conflict)
- 2. onomatopoeia (Figurative Language)
- 3. description (Purpose and Structure)
- 4. clear enough to see through (Context Clues)
- 5. dict (Greek and Latin Roots)
- 6. since the library was closed (Complex Sentences)
- 7. the dogs' ball (Punctuation Power)
- 8. exaggeration (Media Smarts)
- 9. use simple words and bright pictures (Create With Words, Pictures and Sound)
- 10. it helps you judge if they know the topic (Research Ready)
Want more than 10 questions?
In Gradelings the questions change every time and adjust to your child, with hints and kind feedback. See all English language arts units.