Mia and her dad looked at the broken fence after a storm. "We need to take steps to fix it," he said. Mia giggled, picturing giant shoes marching across the yard. Then they took careful steps around puddles and gathered tools to repair the boards. Dad planned, listed jobs, and got started. Mia learned words can be literal or mean starting actions to solve a problem.

In the passage, "take steps to fix it" most nearly means:

At rehearsal for our class play, time flew as we practiced. I knew my lines by heart. Diego believed he would do fine. Lin suspected he might miss a cue, and Maya wondered if she was ready. When the teacher clapped to stop us, we all smiled and felt proud of our progress.

Which word from the passage shows the greatest certainty?

On Saturday, our class met to clean the park. "Can anyone lend a hand?" the leader asked. Kim is friendly and helpful; she shares gloves, picks up litter, and carries heavy bags. Jay is generous with time and smiles. Sam stayed on a bench playing, which wasn't supportive. Working together made the messy field shine.

Which action best shows someone being helpful in this passage?

Before the spelling bee, I had butterflies in my stomach. I wasn't sick; I just felt nervous and a little worried. My partner seemed calm and confident. After I took a deep breath and whispered my first word, the fluttery feeling eased, and I believed I could finish the list.

In the passage, the phrase "butterflies in my stomach" means the narrator felt:

After school, our class wanted to make the garden look better. Ms. Lee said we should take steps to fix it. Maya knew we needed a plan, Leo believed we could finish today, and I wondered where to start. We picked up litter, pulled weeds, and watered the dry soil. No one walked up any stairs; instead, we took action together. Our helpful, friendly team made the garden neat again.

In this passage, what does the phrase 'take steps' most likely mean?

Before the school play, Jonah stood behind the curtain. He had cold feet, even though the stage lights were warm. He felt nervous and uneasy, while his best friend was calm and confident. Jonah believed he could do it, but he also wondered if he might forget a line. When the music started, he took a deep breath and stepped out to speak.

What does 'had cold feet' mean as used in the passage?

At reading club, Lila opened a mystery, and time flew. She hardly noticed the clock. Her brother heard the rain, but Lila hardly did. She wondered who took the missing key. Tom suspected the neighbor, while Maya believed the gardener did it. The teacher knew the answer because she had read the book before, but she smiled and kept it secret until the end.

Which word shows the strongest certainty about the answer?

Sam planned a surprise lunch for his kind coach. He asked the team to keep quiet and not spill the beans. Zoe is friendly and helpful; she offered to carry plates and set the table. Mark is generous too, and he brought fruit. When the coach walked in, he smiled wide. No one spilled any beans; they kept the secret until a happy shout at the end.

Which word is the best synonym for helpful as used in the passage?

Our class found wilted leaves in the garden. Ms. Lee said we should take steps to help it grow again. I believed watering every morning would help. Jay wondered if we should add mulch first. We made a list, pulled weeds, and watered. By Friday, we knew the plants looked stronger, and the butterflies returned. Everyone felt proud that our small actions made a big difference.

In this passage, what does the phrase "take steps" mean?

At the soccer game, I heard the whistle start the second half. We believed we could come back. Our passes were quick, and time flew as the clock ticked down. Carlos suspected the other team was getting tired, but I knew our teamwork was sharp. When the final whistle blew, we had won by one goal. We cheered and hugged our coach.

Which word in the passage shows the strongest certainty about an idea?