Recess had just ended, and Mr. Lee blew his whistle. Most students jogged to the door, laughing about the game they'd played. Maya, however, shuffled across the blacktop. She kept glancing back at the swings and dragging her feet. When the class lined up, Maya stood at the very end and let a big sigh slip out. She was reluctant to go inside because the sunshine felt perfect and she wanted one more push on the swing. Even her backpack seemed heavier as she inched toward the doorway.

What does the word reluctant most likely mean in this passage?

Grandma and I decided to bake blueberry muffins. She handed me the recipe card and said, 'First, preheat the oven.' I turned the knob before we mixed anything. While the metal box warmed up, we measured flour, sugar, and milk. By the time the batter was ready, the oven was already hot. That way our muffins could start cooking right away and rise nicely. When I asked why 'preheat' was the first step, Grandma pointed to the prefix and smiled. 'Pre- tells you to do it before the main action,' she said.

What does the word preheat mean as used in the passage?

At the park concert, Leo brought a small, portable speaker. He clipped it to his backpack and carried it from the picnic table to the blanket without any trouble. Even when he moved to toss a frisbee, he could easily bring the speaker along. The music followed him wherever he went. Leo's dad explained that the word portable shares a root with words like transport and import. That root means 'carry.' Hearing this, Leo said, 'No wonder portable devices are easy to move!'

Using the root port, what does portable most nearly mean?

On Saturday, Tiana visited a new branch of the town library that opened near her bus stop. The building was smaller than the main library downtown, but it still had rows of books, comfy chairs, and a helpful librarian. Her science class would read there next week. Tiana had seen the word branch used for trees, roads, and businesses, so she checked a dictionary app to be sure. It listed several meanings. She wanted the precise meaning so she could tell her teacher about the new place.

Which dictionary meaning of branch fits this passage best?

In the library, most students whispered as they chose books. But Marco was boisterous today. He burst through the aisle, skipped between chairs, and laughed so loudly that the quiet room seemed to shake. Ms. Lee raised a finger to her lips, and Marco slowed down, but his energetic hops still made the bookmark stand wobble. His friend Ana, who was calm and gentle, sat and read peacefully. Compared with Ana, Marco's boisterous entrance drew every eye in the room.

What does boisterous most likely mean in the passage?

Grandpa offered Ava a new soup for dinner. It looked colorful, but the first spoonful made her frown. The flavor was disagreeable, and she set down her spoon and reached for water. Grandpa smiled and said they could try a different recipe next time. At home, Ava wrote notes about the meal so she would remember what she liked and what she did not. When you see a long word like disagreeable, you can use parts you know to unlock its meaning.

What does the prefix dis- tell you about the word disagreeable?

Jamal and Priya help each other every day. Jamal ties a shoelace; Priya shares markers. They play fair at recess and listen when someone is upset. Their teacher says their friendship is strong. When a problem pops up, they stay kind and find a solution together. If you know the word friend, you can figure out friendship. The ending changes the word, but the base stays the same, and it points to the meaning clearly.

Using the base word friend, what does friendship mean in the passage?

After the storm, our class visited the park to check the old oak tree. Pieces of bark lay on the grass, and you could see pale wood where the trunk had been scraped. We talked about how insects sometimes hide under that rough layer. Our science book has a glossary, so we opened it to look up unfamiliar nature words. I traced the lines on one strip of bark and wondered how long it took to grow back.

Which dictionary meaning of bark best fits the passage?

On the last stretch of our sunny hike, my mouth felt sticky and my lips were cracking. My water bottle was empty, and each step made me wish for shade. When we finally reached the creek, I knelt to splash my face and took slow sips from my new filter. I told Dad, "I'm absolutely parched." He laughed and said the breeze felt like a fan in an oven. After resting a few minutes by the cool water, I started to feel better and ready to walk again.

Based on the passage, what does the word "parched" most nearly mean?

On Saturday, I helped my aunt bake muffins. She said, "First we need to preheat the oven," and turned the dial before we cracked any eggs. While the metal box warmed up, we stirred flour, milk, and blueberries. When the light clicked off, we slid the pan in so the batter would start baking right away. I wrote the steps in my notebook so I could make them again. The word preheat popped out at me, and I wondered what it meant.

In this passage, what does "preheat" most nearly mean?