Question: 7 / 37

Read the selection and choose the best answer to each question.

The Secret
by Carla Gajewskey

1 One morning Janie Rose woke up to a big crash in her room. She opened her eyes slowly, scared of what she might find.

2 She saw her unpacked boxes from the move scattered on the floor. Janie screamed in her pillow, “I wish I never had to move!”

3 Janie’s mom got a new job which moved Janie from her school, soccer team, and friends.

4 Janie got out of bed and went downstairs to fix a bowl of cereal for breakfast. Her mom was already down there and told Janie, good morning. Janie mumbled something that sounded like a good morning.

5 Her mom sat down beside Janie and tried to make her feel better by telling her that she would meet new friends and to give this town a chance. Janie just rolled her eyes, and slurped the milk up from her cereal bowl.

6 Janie then got up and went back to her room. She crawled back in bed and pulled her covers up to her chin. She stared at the window, and the old chest underneath it. The chest was there when they moved in.

7 Janie got out of bed and walked over to see what was in it. She opened it up to find many neat treasures. She found dolls, hair bows, colors, and a rolled up piece of paper.

8 She opened up the paper to find that it was a map. The map title read, The Secret of Blue Ridge.

“Hmmm, that is the name of this town,” Janie said.

9 As Janie studied the map she realized that this big secret was at Blue Ridge Library. Janie got herself ready and ran down the stairs with the map.

10 She grabbed an apple and told her mom she was headed to the library as she was running out the door. Janie’s mom yelled, “You don’t even know where the library is!”

Janie yelled, “I have a map!”

11 Janie hopped on her bike and looked at the compass rose. The compass rose showed that the library was north of her house.

12 Janie then compared the map symbols to the map key. The map symbols showed Janie that she would pass Bert’s Grocery, Amelia’s Flowers, and Carl’s Cars.

13 As Janie followed the map she saw a soccer field with a group of girls playing on it. She stopped for a moment and just watched them.

14 One of the girls ran up to Janie and asked her if she wanted to play. Janie gave a slight smile and said, “Maybe, but I have to take care of something first.”

15 She rode all the way to the library and parked her bike. She went into the library and read the clue on the back of the map.

16 The clue read, look to the stars. “Look to the stars,” Janie said while looking up.

17 Then Janie saw a quote etched on the ceiling. “Make today, better than yesterday, and tomorrow better than today.” Janie thought for a moment and realized that is the secret.

18 She smiled and said, “Now I think I have a soccer game to play.”

Question: 7 / 37

What is the secret that Janie uncovered at the Blue Ridge?

A. See the bright side of things.

B. Live life to the fullest and always try to make it better.

C. Always dream big.

D. Don't make mistakes.

Question: 6 / 37

Read the selection and choose the best answer to each question.

Sir Philip was Confused
Author Unknown

1 King Mortimer had sent Sir Philip into the wilderness with instructions to destroy the dragon that had been terrorizing the countryside.

2 The King had more than 500 knights, but he had chosen Sir Philip and he did not stop to explain why. King Mortimer viewed dragons as the worst menace in the kingdom.

3 When Sir Philip had first set out on his quest, he was filled with a sense of anticipation of the events to come. In his imagination, he could see what was going to happen. He would slay the dragon and receive the congratulations of King Mortimer.

4 But things didn’t quite turn out that way.

5 The previous evening, Sir Philip had arrived near the lake where the dragon was supposed to live. He camped for the night, sharpened his sword, and went to bed early. In the morning, Sir Philip opened his eyes. A pair of eyes was looking into his. Large eyes. Orange eyes. Dragon eyes. 

6 Sir Philip jumped out of his sleeping blankets in a great hurry, knocking over his sword. It made a great clattering noise and he chased after the dragon. His heart was pounding with fear. He could almost feel the flames shooting from the dragon’s mouth to roast him alive. Standing there, he suddenly recognized that he didn’t feel very roasted, or even hot. In fact, he felt quite cold. Looking down, he figured out why. He wasn’t wearing any pants.

7 “Chilly?” asked the dragon. “Wh—what?” asked Sir Philip, shivering. “I suppose you’ve come to slay me,” said the dragon.

“Well, yes, I have,” said Sir Philip. “How tiresome,” said the dragon. “Once every few months, some king or other sends a knight out here to try to slay me Gets kinda boring, if you ask me. Don’t you people have anything better to do?”

8 “You’ve been terrorizing the countryside!” said Sir Philip. “Baloney,” said the dragon. “You eat the people’s sheep,” said Sir Philip. The dragon laughed. “I’m a vegetarian,” he said. “Mostly I like ferns.” “But haven’t you been scaring the people?” “People get scared when they see me, I suppose,” said the dragon. “But that’s just because I’m big.” “And you shoot fire out of your mouth,” Sir Philip pointed out. “A bad habit,” admitted the dragon. “But I’ve never harmed anyone.”

9 Sir Philip looked confused. “But what happens now? I have a reputation. If I come home without slaying you, no one will respect me.”

“So people will only respect you if you do some killing first?” asked the dragon. Sir Philip looked worried. “I guess you’re right. But what am I supposed to do now?” “I suggest you start by putting your pants on,” said the dragon.

Question: 6 / 37

Part A

Select the three supporting details that would support the main idea of the passage as shown below.

A. King Mortimer had sent Sir Philip into the wilderness with instructions to destroy the dragon that had been terrorizing the countryside.

B. King Mortimer viewed dragons as the worst menace in the kingdom.

C. “You’ve been terrorizing the countryside!” said Sir Philip. “Baloney,” said the dragon.

D. The dragon laughed. “I’m a vegetarian,” he said. “Mostly I like ferns.”

E. A pair of eyes was looking into his. Large eyes. Orange eyes. Dragon eyes.

F. “People get scared when they see me, I suppose,” said the dragon. “But that’s just because I’m big.”

Part B

What context clue in section 1 or 2 of the passage help the reader know that menace means danger?

A. Instructions

B. Wilderness

C. Terrorizing

D. Destroy