On Friday afternoon, our class turned the gym into a stage for the talent show. I was in charge of testing the microphone while my friend Leo checked the music. Bright lights warmed my face as I stepped onto the taped X at center court. Coach Rivera waved from the bleachers, reminding me to project my voice. I tapped the microphone. The sound that came out made everyone freeze. Leo glanced up from the laptop, and I felt my cheeks grow hot. I took a breath and tried again, counting three beats in my head. The speakers finally hummed, and the first song started. I nodded to the dancers waiting behind the curtain, hoping the audience would only remember the smooth beginning, not the awkward start.

Which sentence would best add vivid detail after the sentence, "I tapped the microphone"?

Every Saturday, Ben bikes to Grandma's house to bake. Today the kitchen smelled like butter and cinnamon the moment he opened the door. Sunlight spread across the counter where Grandma had set out flour, apples, and a rolling pin. Ben washed his hands and tied on a flour-dusted apron. They planned to make a pie for the neighborhood block party. Ben read the recipe card while Grandma preheated the oven and pulled out a big mixing bowl. We lined up all the ingredients on the counter, but the steps to get the filling and crust ready felt like a puzzle. Soon, the timer would beep to remind them it was time to put the pie in. They needed to move quickly before the butter got too soft.

Place these sentences in the most logical order to show what Ben and Grandma did next:

1. We rinsed the apples and peeled them into long curls.
2. While Grandma sliced the apples, I mixed cinnamon and sugar.
3. Then we rolled the dough flat and laid it in the pan.

This morning, our class hiked the Creek Loop Trail behind the library. Ms. Ortiz asked us to notice small details and write them in our field journals. I walked near the back, listening to the crunch of dry leaves and the soft rush of the stream. A sudden rustle in the brush made me pause. It was only a squirrel, but something else caught my eye near a stump—a round metal tag on the ground. I picked up the tag and turned it in my hand. I wondered if it belonged to a lost dog. I slipped it into my pocket so we could check the park office on our way back, hoping someone would be glad to see it again.

Which sentence would best add vivid detail after the sentence, "I picked up the tag and turned it in my hand"?

At the science fair, my partner Lina and I set our model volcano on a plastic tray. We had spent weeks building the paper-mâché mountain and painting rocky ridges down its sides. The gym buzzed with voices as families walked from table to table. Our poster explained the safe ingredients we would use, but the order of the last steps mattered most. We wanted the eruption to be dramatic, not messy. The judges stopped nearby, and Lina gave me a thumbs-up. I checked that the supplies were ready and that our safety goggles fit snugly. The volcano stood quietly in the middle of the table, waiting for the signal to erupt.

What is the most logical order for these final steps?

1. I spooned baking soda into the crater.
2. We set the model on the tray and stepped back.
3. I poured vinegar mixed with a drop of red soap into the top.

I woke before sunrise at Cedar Ridge Campground. My cousin Maya zipped the tent while Leo tugged on his muddy boots. We followed a narrow path toward the stream, stepping over roots that looked like sleeping snakes. Mist hovered above the water, and birds made tiny clicks in the branches. Suddenly, something rustled in the ferns across the bank. [Add one sentence here.] We crouched behind a log, hardly breathing. A doe stepped out, ears twitching, and for a moment the woods forgot to move. When the deer bounded away, we grinned at each other and headed back to camp for oatmeal. The day felt like it had already given us a secret.

Which sentence would best add detail to the story at the bracketed spot?

Snow started while our class set up a hot cocoa stand outside the gym for Family Night. I taped a paper sign to the table, and Mr. Ortiz plugged in the kettle. In the rush, four sentences from my directions got shuffled. They belonged right after we opened the first packet. The slips read: (1) I stirred until the powder disappeared. (2) Steam curled like tiny ghosts. (3) I carefully poured hot water into the pitcher. (4) We tasted a spoonful to check the sweetness. Parents hurried in, brushing snow from their coats, and I didn't want to serve lumpy cocoa. We needed the steps in order so we wouldn't spill or burn ourselves.

What is the most logical order for these sentences?

Backstage at the school talent show, the curtains smelled like dusty paint, and the floor tape glowed under the lights. My friend Dani squeezed my shoulder. "You've got this," she whispered. I nodded and looked at my ukulele, its sticker of a blue star catching the glow. The host called the act before mine, and the audience clapped in waves. When my name boomed from the speakers, I stepped into the wings. [Add one sentence here to show my reaction.] The curtain parted, and I walked out, counting four beats in my head. By the time I reached the mic, the quiet felt like a hand I could hold.

Which sentence best adds a vivid, relevant detail at the bracketed spot?

Saturday morning fog pooled along Maple Street as I pedaled to the new library with my brother, Eli. We raced past puddles, brakes hissing, and chained our bikes to the rack by the glass doors. Inside, it was warm and lemon-bright. I headed to return Mom's cookbook, but the metal slot was jammed halfway, like a frozen grin. I pressed once, then twice. "Let's ask for help," Eli said, pointing to the desk. We walked over, and the librarian in a green sweater listened carefully. She reached for a ring of keys hanging from a hook. [Which sentence should come next to keep the events in logical order?]

Which sentence should come next to keep the events in logical order?

Saturday morning, our fifth-grade science fair buzzed in the gym. My partner Maya and I arranged our volcano on a table by the bleachers. We taped our poster and filled the plastic cone with baking soda while Mr. Lopez walked by with a clipboard. When the judges stopped, Maya whispered, "Ready?" I poured in the vinegar and stepped back. The foam bubbled over the rim. Some kids cheered, and I tried to explain how the reaction worked, but my voice shook a little. I wanted the judges to see we practiced for days. The pink lava slid across the tray, and I realized I had forgotten to add one detail to make our model stand out.

Which sentence would best add vivid, relevant detail after the sentence "The foam bubbled over the rim"?

Mom, my cousin Leo, and I hiked the Cedar Ridge Trail after lunch. The air smelled like pine, and thin clouds braided across the blue sky. Our plan was to find the small waterfall before it got too late. At the first mile marker, Leo asked if we were close. I shook my head and pointed to the winding path that disappeared into ferns. We stepped into cooler shade where gnats danced like glitter. Before we reached the waterfall, we did several small things to stay safe and on track. Then the roar grew from a low whisper to a rush, and cool mist touched our faces. We whooped when the pool came into view and dropped our packs on a flat rock.

What is the most logical order for these sentences to fill the gap in the story?

1. We tightened our boot laces.
2. We checked the trail map at the fork.
3. We crossed a narrow footbridge.
4. We stepped carefully over slick stones near the creek.