- Read Passage 1 and Passage 2.
Passage 1: I stood on the stage during our class play and saw bright lights above me. My knees felt shaky, but I remembered my lines when I heard my friend whisper, "You've got this." When the audience clapped, my face got warm and happy. After the show, I told my family I wanted to act again.
Passage 2: The fourth-grade class performed "The Lost Treasure" in the school cafeteria on May 9. The play had two scenes and lasted about 35 minutes. Families filled most of the 120 seats, according to the principal. Mr. Chen said students practiced for three weeks after school.
Which passage is a firsthand account (written by someone who experienced it)?
Answer: Passage 1 is firsthand because it uses "I" and tells what the speaker felt.
A firsthand account is written by a person who was actually there and experienced the event. Passage 1 is firsthand because the writer uses "I" again and again ("I stood on the stage," "I remembered my lines") and describes personal feelings, like shaky knees and a warm, happy face. That is why the correct answer names Passage 1 and points to "I" and the speaker's feelings. The choice saying Passage 2 is firsthand is wrong because Passage 2 does not use "I" at all; it reports facts from other people, like the principal and Mr. Chen. The choice calling Passage 1 secondhand is wrong because Passage 1 does not give dates or numbers—that describes Passage 2, which is the secondhand account. The choice saying Passage 2 tells how the writer felt on stage is wrong because Passage 2 never shares personal feelings; it only lists facts about the play from outside sources. Look for the "I" and personal feelings to find the firsthand account.
- Read Passage 1 and Passage 2 about a snowy day.
Passage 1: I woke up and saw thick snow covering our porch steps. The air felt sharp on my cheeks, and my boots made crunchy sounds. My brother and I built a lopsided snowman with a carrot nose. I laughed when a cold snowball slid down my collar.
Passage 2: The local weather station reported that 6 inches of snow fell overnight on Tuesday. Temperatures stayed below freezing, so the snow did not melt quickly. Several schools opened two hours late because roads were slippery. Meteorologists said the storm moved in from the northwest.
What information does the secondhand account tell that the firsthand account does not?
Answer: The exact snowfall amount and what meteorologists reported about the storm.
The secondhand account (Passage 2) was written by someone who was not there but learned about the storm from sources like the weather station. It gives facts the person who was actually there did not share: the exact snowfall amount and what meteorologists said about the storm. That makes the answer about the snowfall amount and meteorologist reports correct.
The choice about the writer laughing and feeling snow slide down a coat collar is wrong because those are personal feelings from the firsthand account (Passage 1), not the secondhand one. The choice about the lopsided snowman with a carrot nose is also from the firsthand account, describing what the writer did that day. The choice about sharp air and crunchy boots comes from the firsthand account too, since it tells what the writer personally saw, heard, and felt. To answer, ask which information came from someone reporting facts from sources rather than from personal experience.
- What information is included in Passage 1 that is NOT in Passage 2?
Answer: The student's nervous feelings and the sound of friends cheering.
The first choice is correct because only Passage 1 shares the student's personal feelings and the sound of friends cheering. The second choice describes details only found in Passage 2, not Passage 1. The third choice also describes details only found in Passage 2. The last choice is wrong because who came in first place is not mentioned in either passage.
- Which passage is a firsthand account, written by someone who experienced it?
Answer: Passage 1 is firsthand because it shares personal feelings and uses the word I.
Passage 1 is firsthand because the writer was actually there and tells us about it using the word I and personal feelings, like loving the thunder sound and having wobbly knees. That shows the person experienced the trip themselves. Naming the rooms in order is true about Passage 1, but simply listing exhibits does not make an account firsthand, so that reason is wrong. The choices pointing to Passage 2 are both wrong because Passage 2 is a secondhand report: it gives facts, a date, and a schedule about Ms. Chen's class from an outside point of view. Recording the exact date or telling how a guide taught the group are things a reporter can do without ever going on the trip, so neither one makes Passage 2 firsthand.
- Read Passage 1 and Passage 2 about a bike-riding lesson. How do the points of view in the two passages differ?
Answer: Passage 1 uses first-person point of view, while Passage 2 uses third-person.
This question tests comparing firsthand and secondhand accounts of the same event (CCSS.RI.4.6), specifically recognizing differences in point of view. A firsthand account is written by someone who experienced the event directly and uses first-person point of view (I, we, my, our). A secondhand account is written by someone who learned about the event from sources and uses third-person point of view (he, she, they, names). In these passages, Passage 1 is firsthand because it uses 'I' and describes personal experiences like feeling wind on ears, wobbling handlebars, falling, and feeling like flying. Passage 2 is secondhand because it uses third-person with names like Maya and reports information from her family. Choice B is correct because it accurately states Passage 1 uses first-person point of view while Passage 2 uses third-person, highlighting the key perspective difference. Choice C is incorrect because it reverses the points of view, claiming Passage 1 is third-person and Passage 2 is first-person; this error occurs when students don't identify pronouns like 'I' as first-person. To help students compare firsthand and secondhand accounts: Teach the key differences—(1) Point of view: Firsthand uses I/we/my/our (first person); Secondhand uses he/she/they/names (third person). (2) Author: Firsthand written by person who WAS THERE (experienced it); Secondhand written by person who LEARNED ABOUT IT (from research/sources). (3) Focus: Firsthand emphasizes personal experience, what person saw/heard/felt, emotions, individual perspective; Secondhand emphasizes facts, dates, measurements, overall event, broader context. (4) Information: Firsthand has sensory details, personal reactions, subjective experience; Secondhand has objective facts, data, information from multiple sources. Practice by having students identify pronouns (I vs he/she), highlight personal vs factual information, and explain whose perspective each passage represents. Watch for: assuming 'firsthand' means 'written first' (it means experienced directly), thinking any emotion = firsthand (secondhand can report someone's emotions third-person), and focusing on topic instead of perspective.
- What is the main difference between how Passage 1 and Passage 2 describe penguins?
Answer: Passage 1 shares a personal experience, while Passage 2 gives general facts.
Passage 1 tells about one person's own visit, using words like "I laughed" and "I wanted to stay," so it shares a personal experience. Passage 2 lists general facts, like where penguins live and what they eat, so the answer that says Passage 1 is personal and Passage 2 is factual is correct. The choice saying Passage 1 lists facts while Passage 2 tells a personal story swaps the two passages, since the story is actually in Passage 1. The choice saying Passage 1 gives facts from scientists while Passage 2 shares feelings also mixes them up, because the feelings are in Passage 1, not Passage 2. The choice saying both passages share the same personal feelings is wrong because Passage 2 never shares any feelings; it only gives facts.
- Read Passage 1 and Passage 2.
Passage 1: I stood in line at Sports Day and felt the grass tickle my ankles. When it was my turn to throw the beanbag, I aimed for the yellow hoop. I heard my teammates yelling my name, and my stomach flipped. After my throw landed inside, I smiled so wide my cheeks hurt.
Passage 2: Lincoln Elementary held Sports Day on September 29 on the school field. Students rotated through six stations, including beanbag toss, relay races, and jump rope. The PE teacher said each class spent 12 minutes at each station. Volunteers handed out water, and the event ended with a short awards ceremony.
How can you tell Passage 1 is written from a firsthand account?
Answer: It uses the word "I" and shares the writer's own senses and feelings during the event.
The correct answer is the one saying the writing uses the word "I" and shares the writer's own senses and feelings during the event. A firsthand account comes from a person who was actually there, so it tells things only that person could know—like grass tickling their ankles, teammates yelling their name, a flipping stomach, and cheeks sore from smiling. That personal, from-the-inside view is the clue.
The choice about reporting the schedule and repeating the PE teacher's words describes Passage 2 instead; retelling what someone else said is a secondhand clue, not firsthand. The choice about the school's full name and exact date also matches Passage 2, where an outside writer collects facts about the event rather than living through it. The choice about counting stations and naming activities again fits Passage 2's list of gathered facts, not one person's personal experience. Only the answer about "I," senses, and feelings shows the writer was truly present and speaking for themselves.
- Which passage is a firsthand account, meaning it was written by someone who experienced the event?
Answer: Passage 1 is the firsthand account because the writer describes pressing the button and feeling tired.
Passage 1 is firsthand because the writer was actually there: the writer pressed the button, watched the rocket light up, and had tired feet after the trip. Those are the writer's own actions and feelings, so it must have been written by someone who lived through the event. Listing exact dates and how long the visit lasted does not make Passage 2 firsthand—those are outside facts someone could report without ever going. Naming the students, the class, and the exhibits also just reports information about others, not personal experience. And saying both are firsthand is wrong because describing the same trip does not matter; Passage 2 reports what happened from a distance instead of telling what the writer saw and felt. Only Passage 1 shows a real person sharing what they experienced themselves.
- Read Text 1 and Text 2. What does Text 2 tell readers that Text 1 does not?
Answer: It states facts, like the date and the number of projects.
Text 2 is a secondhand account, so it reports facts the writer of Text 1 never gives, like the exact date and that there were 22 projects. That is the right answer. The choice about personal feelings is wrong because only Text 1, the firsthand account, tells how nervous the writer felt. The choice about small moments is also wrong, since the shaky hands come from Text 1, not Text 2. The choice about the snack is wrong for the same reason: the lemon cookies are a detail from Text 1. Only the facts belong to Text 2.
- Which statement best compares the information in the two accounts?
Answer: Passage 1 shares one runner's experience, while Passage 2 shares overall facts about the day.
The right answer is that Passage 1 shares one runner's experience while Passage 2 shares overall facts. Passage 1 is a firsthand account: the writer uses "I" and tells about a thumping heart, damp grass, and sliding sneakers. Passage 2 is a secondhand account that reports facts like the date, six events, and about 120 students.
The choice saying Passage 1 lists the schedule and Passage 2 shares one racer's feelings switches the two passages around. The choice saying Passage 1 reports facts from a bulletin and Passage 2 shares a personal memory also flips them; the bulletin details are in Passage 2, and the personal memory is in Passage 1. The choice saying Passage 1 gives event-wide numbers and Passage 2 explains the writer's feelings mixes them up too, since the numbers are in Passage 2 and the feelings are in Passage 1. Only the correct answer matches each passage to what it really does.
- Read Passage 1 and Passage 2. What does the secondhand account tell that the firsthand account does not?
Answer: It reports the exact date, snowfall amount, and wind speed that were measured.
The secondhand account (Passage 2) was written by someone who learned about the storm from sources like the weather station and meteorologists. That's why it gives measurable facts: the date January 18, the 8 inches of snow, and the 25-mile-per-hour wind. The firsthand account never gives numbers like these, so reporting the exact date, snowfall amount, and wind speed is what the secondhand account uniquely tells.
The choice about schools staying open and how long the storm sound lasted is wrong because Passage 2 says schools closed, not how many stayed open, and neither passage times a sound. The choice about the writer's feelings and the exact minute the snow began is wrong because feelings belong to the firsthand account, and no passage gives a starting minute. The choice about the color of the street through the writer's cold window is wrong because that view comes from the firsthand account, not the secondhand one. Only one answer names facts that appear solely in the secondhand account.
- Read Passage 1 and Passage 2. How does the focus of the firsthand account differ from the secondhand account?
Answer: The firsthand account shares personal experiences, while the secondhand gives event facts.
Passage 1 is a firsthand account: the writer uses "I" and tells what they personally saw, heard, and felt, like turning the crank and feeling proud. Passage 2 is a secondhand account: it uses names and "the students," and reports facts like the date, the number of students, and how long the trip lasted. So the best answer is that the firsthand account shares personal experiences, while the secondhand gives event facts.
The choice saying the firsthand account lists the date and student count is wrong because those facts appear in Passage 2, not Passage 1. The choice saying both accounts are secondhand is wrong because Passage 1 is written by someone who was there, using "I." The choice saying the firsthand account focuses on exhibits and the secondhand focuses on emotions mixes them up—Passage 1 shares feelings, and Passage 2 lists facts about the exhibits and event.
- How does the focus of the firsthand account differ from the secondhand account?
Answer: The firsthand account focuses on personal feelings and senses, while the secondhand account focuses on facts.
The firsthand account is written by someone who was there, so it shares personal feelings and senses, like smelling popcorn and feeling excited after scoring. The secondhand account reports facts, like the date, the final score, and how many people attended. That makes 'personal feelings and senses versus facts' the best answer. The choice about scores and attendance numbers swaps the passages, because it is the secondhand account that gives statistics, not the firsthand one. The choice about the practice schedule and the smell of popcorn also mixes them up, since the practice schedule is a secondhand fact and the popcorn smell is a firsthand detail. The choice about both teams and one player's feelings misstates each account, because the secondhand account describes both teams while the firsthand account shares the writer's own feelings, not a single player's.
- Read Passage 1 and Passage 2 about a museum field trip. What does the firsthand account include that the secondhand account leaves out?
Answer: The firsthand account shares personal sights and feelings, while the secondhand only gives facts.
The firsthand account is Passage 1. Because the writer was there, it shares personal sights and feelings, like the smell of clean wood and the pride of sketching, while the secondhand account in Passage 2 only reports facts such as the date and how long the trip lasted. One choice flips this: it says the firsthand account lists dates and hours and the secondhand shares thoughts, but the dates belong to Passage 2 and the feelings belong to Passage 1. Another choice says the firsthand account reports events from far away, but a firsthand account comes from someone who was actually there, not far away. The last choice again swaps the passages, claiming the firsthand gives outside facts and the secondhand describes feelings, when it is really the other way around. Only the correct answer matches which details each passage truly includes.
- Read Passage 1 and Passage 2.
Passage 1: Our class went to the city museum on Friday, and I sat by Maya. I heard the guide's voice echo as we walked into the dinosaur room. The giant T. rex skeleton made my stomach flip, and I could not stop staring. I wrote notes fast because I wanted to remember every cool fact.
Passage 2: Ms. Rivera's fourth-grade class visited the City Museum on April 12. The group toured three exhibits: dinosaurs, ancient Egypt, and space science. A museum guide led the tour for 90 minutes, and 26 students attended. The visit supported the class's science unit on fossils and habitats.
How do the points of view in the two passages differ?
Answer: Passage 1 uses first person, while Passage 2 uses third person.
This question tests comparing firsthand and secondhand accounts of the same event (CCSS.RI.4.6), specifically identifying point of view differences through pronoun use. A firsthand account is written by someone who experienced the event directly and uses first-person point of view (I, we, my, our). A secondhand account is written by someone who learned about the event from sources and uses third-person point of view (he, she, they, names). In these passages, Passage 1 is firsthand because it uses 'I' throughout ('I sat by Maya,' 'I heard,' 'I could not stop staring'), while Passage 2 is secondhand because it uses third-person ('Ms. Rivera's fourth-grade class,' 'The group,' '26 students'). Choice B is correct because it accurately identifies that Passage 1 uses first person (the student writing about their own experience) while Passage 2 uses third person (someone reporting about the class trip). Choice A is incorrect because it reverses the point of view—students often confuse which passage is which when they don't carefully identify the pronouns. To help students compare firsthand and secondhand accounts: Focus on pronouns as the clearest indicator—circle all I/we/my/our for firsthand and he/she/they/names for secondhand. Practice by having students rewrite the same event from both perspectives, noticing how pronouns change along with the type of information included (personal experience vs. factual reporting).
- Read Passage 1 and Passage 2. Which passage is a secondhand account (written by someone who learned about it from sources)?
Answer: Passage 2 is secondhand because it reports what Amir's family and parents said about him.
The passage that reports what Amir's family and parents said about him is the secondhand account. A secondhand account is written by someone who did not experience the event but learned about it from others. Passage 2 tells about Amir from the outside, using his name and repeating what his family reported—so its writer was not there.
The idea that Passage 1 is secondhand because it uses "I" and shares feelings is wrong: using "I" and describing your own feelings shows a firsthand account by the person who lived it. The choice saying Passage 1 is secondhand because it lists steps in order is also wrong—telling events in order does not decide firsthand or secondhand, and Passage 1 is clearly firsthand. The choice calling Passage 2 firsthand because it names facts like the park and helmet mixes things up: naming facts and details does not make an account firsthand; what matters is that Passage 2's writer only learned about Amir from others. Look at who is telling the story and how they know, not at the details listed.
- What does Passage 2 focus on more than Passage 1?
Answer: The facts and dates about the invention, described from an outside third-person point of view.
Passage 2 gives facts and dates about Bell's work and tells them from an outside view, using words like "he" and "his" instead of "I." That makes the answer about facts and a third-person point of view the best match. The choice about exciting feelings and sounds fits Passage 1, the firsthand story told with "I" and "my," not Passage 2. The choice about earlier steps sounds close, but it says those steps are told through the inventor's own excited feelings, and Passage 2 never shares personal feelings that way. The choice about changing daily life does mention an idea from Passage 2, but it claims this is told as one person's personal memory, which describes Passage 1's voice, not Passage 2's outside report. Only one answer names both a fact focus and a third-person view, so it is correct.
- How does the focus of the firsthand account differ from the secondhand account?
Answer: The firsthand account tells a personal moment, while the secondhand shares general facts.
Passage 1 shares one person's own experience and feelings while watching a bird, making it firsthand, while Passage 2 shares general facts from a brochure, making it secondhand. Choice B reverses which passage does which. Choice C is wrong because neither passage focuses on dates and numbers. Choice D incorrectly labels the secondhand account as firsthand.
- Read Passage 1 and Passage 2.
Passage 1: I practiced riding my bike in our driveway, and my legs felt tired. When I finally let go of the training wheels, the bike wobbled like jelly. I took a deep breath and kept my eyes on the mailbox ahead. When I stayed up, I shouted because I couldn't believe I did it!
Passage 2: Maya learned to ride a two-wheeled bike during the first week of July. Her family said she practiced for 30 minutes each day and wore a helmet every time. By the end of the week, she rode from her driveway to the corner and back without stopping. Adults often suggest looking forward and pedaling steadily to keep balance.
What information is included in Passage 1 that is NOT in Passage 2?
Answer: How the rider's body felt and the burst of joy after finally staying up on the bike.
Passage 1 is told by the rider, so it shares things only that person could know: how their body felt while trying and the rush of excitement when they finally stayed up. That personal feeling and emotion is the information missing from Passage 2, which reports facts from the outside. So the choice about how the rider's body felt and the burst of joy is correct.
The choice about minutes of practice, the helmet, and the distance is wrong because all of those facts come from Passage 2, not Passage 1. The choice about the month and the exact week is also from Passage 2, which names the first week of July. The choice about keeping your eyes forward and pedaling steadily matches the advice adults give in Passage 2, so it is not unique to Passage 1. Only the personal feelings and emotion appear in the firsthand account alone.
- Read Passage 1 and Passage 2.
Passage 1: I walked into the animal shelter and heard dogs barking in different pitches. A small brown puppy licked my hand, and its fur felt like soft fuzz. I named him Peanut because he was tiny and wiggly. On the ride home, I kept smiling at his sleepy eyes.
Passage 2: The Ramirez family adopted a mixed-breed puppy from the Oak Street Animal Shelter on June 3. Shelter workers said the puppy was about four months old and weighed 12 pounds. The shelter requires families to sign an adoption form and schedule a vet visit within 10 days. Staff members said adoption helps give animals safe homes.
How do the points of view in the two passages differ?
Answer: Passage 1 uses first person to tell the story, and Passage 2 uses third person to share facts.
The right answer is that Passage 1 uses first person and Passage 2 uses third person. Passage 1 is a firsthand account: the writer was there and uses first-person words like 'I walked,' 'my hand,' and 'I named him.' Passage 2 is a secondhand account: the writer learned about the adoption from others and uses third-person words like 'The Ramirez family,' 'Shelter workers said,' and 'Staff members said.'
The choice that says Passage 1 uses third person and Passage 2 uses first person is backwards—it flips which passage is firsthand and which is secondhand. The choice that says both passages use first person is wrong because Passage 2 never says 'I' or 'we'; it names people from the outside, like 'the Ramirez family.' The choice that says both passages use third person is wrong because Passage 1 clearly says 'I,' so it is not written from an outside view. To check point of view, look for who is telling the story and hunt for pronouns: 'I,' 'we,' and 'my' signal first person, while names, 'he,' 'she,' and 'they' signal third person.
