MAP 5th Grade Reading › Reading
Inventions
Every day it seems, new inventions surface that promise to add value to our day-to-day lives. But did you know, many of the inventions we interact with daily were developed entirely by accident?
Take the microwave, for instance. This accidental invention was developed by engineer Percy Spencer who, upon experimenting with a microwave-emitting magnetron, found that the candy bar in his pocket had begun to melt. Spencer was then able to harness this radiation into the microwave we use today to make snack time a speedy process!
Perhaps one of today’s most well-known accidental inventions, the potato chip, was born when a customer kept requesting that his french fries be sliced thinner and made crispier. Though chef George Crum responded with the chips as a joke, they quickly became a favorite snack worldwide!
Even the match is a result of accidental invention. When pharmacist John Walker was stirring chemicals, he noticed that the end of his stirring stick had dried into a hardened lump. When attempting to scrape the dried residue off, a flame sparked, and so did Walker’s idea to turn this accident into a helpful tool!
So, the next time your science experiment doesn’t go as planned, or you burn what you have cooked on the stove, keep in mind that some of today’s most valued inventions were discovered when the inventor least expected it!
Which of the following set of paragraphs have the most similar function?
Paragraphs 1 & 2
Paragraphs 2 & 3
Paragraphs 4 & 5
Paragraphs 1 & 5
The passage carries the following structure:
Paragraph 1: introduction
Paragraph 2: supporting example 1 - the microwave
Paragraph 3: supporting example 2 - the potato chip
Paragraph 4: supporting example 3 - the match
Paragraph 5: conclusion
Since paragraphs 2 & 3 both represent supporting examples, they are the most similar in structure.
Read the sentences and determine the meaning of the underlined word using context clues or your prior knowledge.
Amy could not decide on a restaurant for her birthday dinner. She picked The Pie Emporium as the tentative location until she had a chance to research other places. She wanted to leave her options open in case she had a better idea.
What does the word tentative mean in the context of the sentences above?
Not certain or fixed
Confirmed or final
Best or ultimate
Worst or last choice
Amy could not decide on a restaurant, so she set a “tentative” location until she could finalize or concrete her plans. She is not positive; this is the place she wants to eat, so she will leave her options open rather than settling the decision right now.
Inventions
Every day it seems, new inventions surface that promise to add value to our day-to-day lives. But did you know, many of the inventions we interact with daily were developed entirely by accident?
Take the microwave, for instance. This accidental invention was developed by engineer Percy Spencer who, upon experimenting with a microwave-emitting magnetron, found that the candy bar in his pocket had begun to melt. Spencer was then able to harness this radiation into the microwave we use today to make snack time a speedy process!
Perhaps one of today’s most well-known accidental inventions, the potato chip, was born when a customer kept requesting that his french fries be sliced thinner and made crispier. Though chef George Crum responded with the chips as a joke, they quickly became a favorite snack worldwide!
Even the match is a result of accidental invention. When pharmacist John Walker was stirring chemicals, he noticed that the end of his stirring stick had dried into a hardened lump. When attempting to scrape the dried residue off, a flame sparked, and so did Walker’s idea to turn this accident into a helpful tool!
So, the next time your science experiment doesn’t go as planned, or you burn what you have cooked on the stove, keep in mind that some of today’s most valued inventions were discovered when the inventor least expected it!
According to the passage, the author would most likely agree that
accidental inventions don’t count as real inventions
all of the best inventions were created accidentally
inventions can only be created by those who are not careful when cooking or conducting experiments
inventions aren’t always well planned out and anticipated
In the passage, the author cites examples of accidental inventions. Inventions that were discovered without the original intent of the inventor. However, this does not indicate to us that this is the only way helpful inventions can be created, nor does the passage indicate that the author believes these accidental inventions should not be credited as real inventions. However, there is strong evidence that the author believes that “Inventions aren’t always well planned out and anticipated,” as this is the entire idea behind accidental inventions.
Young Enterprise Services
Young Enterprise Services (YES) is a program created to encourage entrepreneurship in 14- to 18-year-olds who have already shown a clear ability for starting businesses. The program, which began in 2002, has provided loans, grants, and counseling—in the form of workshops and individual meetings with entrepreneurs—to over 7500 young people. The future of YES, however, is now at risk.
One complaint is that the funds that YES distributes have disproportionately gone to young people from low-income families. Though no one has claimed that any of the recipients of YES funds have been undeserving, several families have brought lawsuits claiming that their funding requests were rejected because of the families’ high levels of income.
Another challenge has been making sure that a young person, not his or her family, is receiving the funding. The rules state that the youth must create the business plan and that any profits above $1,000 be placed in a bank account. The rules say that the money can only be used for education, investment in the business, and little else. There have been cases of parents or even a neighbor using the money for their business.
On the other hand, YES has had some real success stories. A 14-year-old girl in Texas used the knowledge and funding she received through the program to connect with a distributor who now carries her line of custom-designed cell phone covers. Two brothers in Alaska have developed an online travel service for young people vacationing with their families. Both of these businesses are doing well and earning money. Unfortunately, these and other successes have received little media coverage. This is a shame, but one that can be fixed.
How does the author organize this passage?
Chronologically listing the achievements of YES
Highlighting the challenges and successes of YES
Identifying the problem YES faces and providing a solution
Persuading readers to support YES with positive details and facts
The author of the text Young Enterprise Services compares and contrasts the challenges and the successes of YES. The author describes the lawsuits the organization is facing, the public scrutiny, and the logistical challenges of allotting funds correctly. The author also highlights the successful businesses of multiple young people and how the organization helps the community.
A Voice for Freedom and Song
Marian Anderson was a world-class singer. By the year 1939, Marian had sung for people around the world, including kings and presidents. Her dream was to sing at Constitution Hall, but, in her mind, she viewed it as something that would never happen. The owners, the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), would not allow her to sing because she was African-American.
Marian was used to dealing with people who only saw her for her skin color. When she was younger, she applied to become a student at a music school. She was denied entrance because of her race. In the early 1900s, when Marian began her singing career, segregation still kept African-American people from achieving their goals and dreams.
Marian performed in 1925 in a voice contest in New York and won. She was able to sing with the New York Philharmonic! She thought doors would start opening for her in the United States, but instead, people foolishly turned her away. Marian traveled to Europe in 1928, and there she became quite popular.
In 1939, she returned to the United States, but she was still subject to the cruelty and unfairness of racism and segregation. When Marian attempted to sing at Constitution Hall, the DAR had many excuses for why she couldn’t perform. They tried telling her that the dates weren’t available, or that they weren’t booking new performers. Eventually, they told Marian the truth: she couldn’t perform because they only allowed white musicians.
This rejection inspired thousands of people to rally together against the horrible segregation laws that prevented many from hearing Marian’s beautiful voice. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt resigned from the DAR and publicly shamed them for their treatment of African-American performers. Mrs. Roosevelt and her staff arranged a concert at the Lincoln Memorial for Marian to perform. Seventy-five thousand people attended, standing against discrimination and getting to hear Marian sing.
After the DAR incident, Marian took a stand and refused to sing for segregated crowds. She finally achieved her dream of singing at Constitution Hall when the DAR reversed its policy on allowing African-American performers. Marian retired from performing in 1964, the same year that the Civil Rights Act was signed. Along with other brave activists, she used her talents to advocate for justice, and her voice helped create lasting change against racism and segregation in the United States.
How did First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt’s view of racism and segregation compare to the DAR’s?
Mrs. Roosevelt resigned from DAR over their racist policies because they did not allow African-American’s to perform.
Mrs. Roosevelt publicly shamed DAR for their treatment of African-American performers.
Mrs. Roosevelt and her staff arranged a concert at the Lincoln Memorial for Marian to perform when the DAR refused to allow Marian to perform.
All of the answer choices are correct.
Mrs. Roosevelt had much more progressive ideas about racism and segregation and did not support the DAR’s policies. She left the DAR, publically shamed them, and held her own concert supporting African-American performers. DAR had a strict white performers only viewpoint, and this contradicted what Mrs. Roosevelt thought.
Passage 1: Passage and illustrations adapted from "How Sun, Moon, and Wind Went Out to Dinner" in Indian Fairy Tales (1892; ed. Joseph Jacobs, illus. John D. Batten)
ne day Sun, Moon, and Wind went out to dine with their uncle and aunts Thunder and Lightning. Their mother (one of the most distant Stars you see far up in the sky) waited alone for her children's return.
Now both Sun and Wind were greedy and selfish. They enjoyed the great feast that had been prepared for them, without a thought of saving any of it to take home to their mother—but the gentle Moon did not forget her. Of every dainty dish that was brought round, she placed a small portion under one of her beautiful long finger-nails, that Star might also have a share in the treat.
On their return, their mother, who had kept watch for them all night long with her little bright eye, said, "Well, children, what have you brought home for me?" Then Sun (who was eldest) said, "I have brought nothing home for you. I went out to enjoy myself with my friends—not to fetch a dinner for my mother!" And Wind said, "Neither have I brought anything home for you, mother. You could hardly expect me to bring a collection of good things for you, when I merely went out for my own pleasure." But Moon said, "Mother, fetch a plate, see what I have brought you." And shaking her hands she showered down such a choice dinner as never was seen before.
Then Star turned to Sun and spoke thus, "Because you went out to amuse yourself with your friends, and feasted and enjoyed yourself, without any thought of your mother at home—you shall be cursed. Henceforth, your rays shall ever be hot and scorching, and shall burn all that they touch. And men shall hate you, and cover their heads when you appear."
(And that is why the Sun is so hot to this day.)
Then she turned to Wind and said, "You also who forgot your mother in the midst of your selfish pleasures—hear your doom. You shall always blow in the hot dry weather, and shall parch and shrivel all living things. And men shall detest and avoid you from this very time."
(And that is why the Wind in the hot weather is still so disagreeable.)
But to Moon she said, "Daughter, because you remembered your mother, and kept for her a share in your own enjoyment, from henceforth you shall be ever cool, and calm, and bright. No noxious glare shall accompany your pure rays, and men shall always call you 'blessed.'"
(And that is why the moon's light is so soft, and cool, and beautiful even to this day.)
In the illustration, the title of the story is shown __________.
as part of the decorative border
as the table on which the characters are eating
as the outline of food on a table
The title of the story is not shown in the illustration.
Looking carefully at each part of the illustration that is described in each of the answer choices, we can figure out which one is correct. Is the title of the story shown "as the table on which the characters are eating"? No, it is not. Is it shown "as the outline of food on a table"? Nope. Is it shown "as part of the decorative border"? Yes, it is! You can see the phrase ""How Sun Moon and Wind" in the upper-left-hand corner of the illustration, and "Went Out to Dinner" in the upper-right-hand corner. The correct answer is "as part of the decorative border."
Passage 1: Passage and illustrations adapted from "How Sun, Moon, and Wind Went Out to Dinner" in Indian Fairy Tales (1892; ed. Joseph Jacobs, illus. John D. Batten)
Image "Common Core Fifth Grade CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.7 - Analyze How Visual and Multimedia Elements Contribute to the Meaning, Tone, or Beauty of a Text - Image 1" in Indian Fairy Tales (ed. Joseph Jacobs, illustrator John D. Batten, 1892 ed.).
Image "Common Core Fifth Grade CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.7 - Analyze How Visual and Multimedia Elements Contribute to the Meaning, Tone, or Beauty of a Text - Image 2" in Indian Fairy Tales (ed. Joseph Jacobs, illustrator John D. Batten, 1892 ed.).
ne day Sun, Moon, and Wind went out to dine with their uncle and aunts Thunder and Lightning. Their mother (one of the most distant Stars you see far up in the sky) waited alone for her children's return.
Now both Sun and Wind were greedy and selfish. They enjoyed the great feast that had been prepared for them, without a thought of saving any of it to take home to their mother—but the gentle Moon did not forget her. Of every dainty dish that was brought round, she placed a small portion under one of her beautiful long finger-nails, that Star might also have a share in the treat.
On their return, their mother, who had kept watch for them all night long with her little bright eye, said, "Well, children, what have you brought home for me?" Then Sun (who was eldest) said, "I have brought nothing home for you. I went out to enjoy myself with my friends—not to fetch a dinner for my mother!" And Wind said, "Neither have I brought anything home for you, mother. You could hardly expect me to bring a collection of good things for you, when I merely went out for my own pleasure." But Moon said, "Mother, fetch a plate, see what I have brought you." And shaking her hands she showered down such a choice dinner as never was seen before.
Then Star turned to Sun and spoke thus, "Because you went out to amuse yourself with your friends, and feasted and enjoyed yourself, without any thought of your mother at home—you shall be cursed. Henceforth, your rays shall ever be hot and scorching, and shall burn all that they touch. And men shall hate you, and cover their heads when you appear."
(And that is why the Sun is so hot to this day.)
Then she turned to Wind and said, "You also who forgot your mother in the midst of your selfish pleasures—hear your doom. You shall always blow in the hot dry weather, and shall parch and shrivel all living things. And men shall detest and avoid you from this very time."
(And that is why the Wind in the hot weather is still so disagreeable.)
But to Moon she said, "Daughter, because you remembered your mother, and kept for her a share in your own enjoyment, from henceforth you shall be ever cool, and calm, and bright. No noxious glare shall accompany your pure rays, and men shall always call you 'blessed.'"
(And that is why the moon's light is so soft, and cool, and beautiful even to this day.)
The illustrator may have chosen to picture __________ in the first letter of the story and not in the main illustration because this character __________, and so is not pictured with the guests.
Star . . . is not invited to dinner
Sun . . . is not invited to dinner
Star . . . is the one taking other characters out to dinner
Sun . . . is the one taking other characters out to dinner
First, let's try to figure out which character is pictured in the image depicting the "O" of "One," the word that starts the story. It is difficult to discern whether Star or Sun is pictured; based on just the image in the "O," it could really be either of them. Let's look at the other illustration, though. Sun is pictured drinking from a large glass. It makes sense that the illustrators would probably not draw the same character twice, so the illustration in the "O" is probably Star. Let's see what else we can figure out to support that conclusion by looking at the answer choices.
The answer choices consist of different selections from two pairs of options. The first option is whether Sun or Star is pictured in the illustration starting the word "one." The second states a reason why the illustrator might not have shown this character with the other characters: it is either because this character "is the one taking other characters out to dinner" or because the character "is not invited to dinner."
We learn from the first paragraph that neither Sun nor Star hosts the dinner party in the story:
One day Sun, Moon, and Wind went out to dine with their uncle and aunts Thunder and Lightning. Their mother (one of the most distant Stars you see far up in the sky) waited alone for her children's return.
Thunder and Lightning take Sun, Moon, and Wind to dinner. So, we can ignore any answer choice that includes the "is the one taking the characters out to dinner" option. This leaves us to choose between whether Sun or Star "is not invited to dinner." Looking again at the first sentence of the story, we learn that Sun is invited to dinner, but Star does not go out to dinner with the group. Based on this conclusion, the correct answer is that the illustrator may have chosen to picture Star in the first letter of the story and not in the main illustration because this character is not invited to dinner, and so is not pictured with the guests ("Star . . . is not invited to dinner").
Young Enterprise Services
Young Enterprise Services (YES) is a program created to encourage entrepreneurship in 14- to 18-year-olds who have already shown a clear ability for starting businesses. The program, which began in 2002, has provided loans, grants, and counseling—in the form of workshops and individual meetings with entrepreneurs—to over 7500 young people. The future of YES, however, is now at risk.
One complaint is that the funds that YES distributes have disproportionately gone to young people from low-income families. Though no one has claimed that any of the recipients of YES funds have been undeserving, several families have brought lawsuits claiming that their funding requests were rejected because of the families’ high levels of income.
Another challenge has been making sure that a young person, not his or her family, is receiving the funding. The rules state that the youth must create the business plan and that any profits above $1,000 be placed in a bank account. The rules say that the money can only be used for education, investment in the business, and little else. There have been cases of parents or even a neighbor using the money for their business.
On the other hand, YES has had some real success stories. A 14-year-old girl in Texas used the knowledge and funding she received through the program to connect with a distributor who now carries her line of custom-designed cell phone covers. Two brothers in Alaska have developed an online travel service for young people vacationing with their families. Both of these businesses are doing well and earning money. Unfortunately, these and other successes have received little media coverage. This is a shame, but one that can be fixed.
How does the author organize this passage?
Chronologically listing the achievements of YES
Highlighting the challenges and successes of YES
Identifying the problem YES faces and providing a solution
Persuading readers to support YES with positive details and facts
The author of the text Young Enterprise Services compares and contrasts the challenges and the successes of YES. The author describes the lawsuits the organization is facing, the public scrutiny, and the logistical challenges of allotting funds correctly. The author also highlights the successful businesses of multiple young people and how the organization helps the community.
Adapted from Aesop’s The Ants & the Grasshopper (620-560 BCE)
One bright day in late autumn, a family of Ants were bustling about in the warm sunshine, drying out the grain they had stored up during the summer, when a starving Grasshopper, his fiddle under his arm, came up and humbly begged for a bite to eat.
"What!" cried the Ants in surprise, "haven't you stored anything away for the winter? What in the world were you doing all last summer?"
"I didn't have time to store up any food," whined the Grasshopper; "I was so busy making music that before I knew it, the summer was gone."
The Ants shrugged their shoulders in disgust.
"Making music, were you?" they cried. "Very well; now dance!" And they turned their backs on the Grasshopper and went on with their work.
When comparing the Grasshopper and the Ants, there is a contrast in their behavior and attitudes. How could the Grasshopper and Ants be described?
The Grasshopper is irresponsible, and the Ants are hard-workers.
The Grasshopper is well-prepared, and the Ants are lazy.
The Grasshopper is cruel, and the Ants are kind.
The Grasshopper is greedy, and the Ants are generous.
The Grasshopper has not prepared a stash of food for the winter because he was busy playing music and forgetting about his responsibilities for the upcoming season. The Ants saved food and are prepared for a hard winter. The Grasshopper has to beg others for supplies, and the Ants are well stocked from their own planning and diligence.
Passage 1: Rabbits, Stoats, and Kiwis: The Ecology of New Zealand (2016)
The island nation of New Zealand is unique. Many of its animals and plants are found nowhere else. The kiwi is one of the most famous of these animals. This small, flightless bird dwells on the ground. It has tiny wings with which it is unable to fly. Kiwis belong to the same biological family as ostriches and emus, but they are much smaller than their relatives. Kiwis have round bodies and long beaks, and their brown feathers are very long and thin. Because of this, at first glance, someone who has never seen a kiwi before might think it has fur!
New Zealand is particularly fond of the kiwi. It is the country’s national bird. New Zealanders are even sometimes referred to as “kiwis.” Unfortunately, the kiwi is in danger due to changes humans made to New Zealand’s environment.
Hundreds of years ago, European colonists decided to bring rabbits from Europe to New Zealand. They wanted to hunt them for food and for sport. Unfortunately, their plan succeeded too well. In Europe, other animals in the food chain eat rabbits. This keeps their population in check. In New Zealand, though, no animals ate rabbits. So, their population grew to an enormous size. There were way too many rabbits!
The colonists tried to fix the problem by bringing another animal to New Zealand. Since none of New Zealand’s animals ate rabbits, the colonists imported one from Europe that did: the stoat. Stoats are small, carnivorous mammals similar to weasels. They eat rabbits, as well as birds and their eggs. Bird scientists warned the colonists to reconsider their plan, but the plan went forward—to the kiwi’s detriment.
New Zealand’s islands historically lacked predatory mammals. Because of this, kiwis’ flightlessness never put them at a huge risk of being hunted and eaten. This was the case until the stoats were released. The stoats began to eat the kiwis and their eggs in huge numbers. The kiwis had no way of protecting themselves from the stoats. As a result, their population plummeted.
To this day, stoats threaten the kiwi population in New Zealand. To protect native wildlife, residents have to tried to use various methods of trapping and hunting to limit the size of the stoat population. Certain areas have also been fenced in to keep stoats away from native birds like the kiwi.
To function, environments maintain a careful equilibrium between predators and prey. Altering this balance purposely or accidentally can have serious consequences.
Which of the following best summarizes the passage’s message?
Human interference in New Zealand’s environment has caused problems and harmed the kiwi, a native bird.
Humans have caused a lot of problems in New Zealand.
Interfering in any environment is always a bad idea, no matter how good of an idea it might seem.
Kiwis are bound to be driven to extinction eventually.
By bringing rabbits to New Zealand, European colonists altered the natural balance of the environment.
A good summary of a passage is not too broad or too specific. A summary that is too broad could encompass and describe a much wider range of topics than the passage actually discusses. A summary that is too specific will only relate to one of the passage's points. A good test to use is to consider whether the summary describes something relevant to each and every paragraph in the passage. If certain paragraphs don't relate to the summary at all, but others do, the summary is likely too specific to be the best one.
One way to approach a summary question is to consider how you would describe the passage to a friend who asked you what you just read. For this passage, you might say that it was about New Zealand, the kiwi, and the effects that humans bringing rabbits and stoats to the island have had. Notice that you wouldn't necessarily mention that New Zealanders are now trapping and hunting stoats using various methods—that's a detail that only pertains to one paragraph and likely wouldn't be included in a summary of the entire passage. Imagining you're describing the passage to a friend in a sentence or two can help you avoid including unnecessary detail.
Let's now look at the answer choices. "Kiwis are bound to be driven to extinction eventually" doesn't match the point of the passage. While the author discusses how stoats have reduced the kiwi's population, at no point does the author claim that the birds will necessarily be driven to extinction. "Humans have caused a lot of problems in New Zealand" and "Interfering in any environment is a bad idea, no matter how good of an idea it might seem" are both too general to be the best answer. Humans may have caused non-environmental problems in New Zealand, too, and it's possible that interfering in an environment in some way could be a good thing. We would at least need to see more evidence than the one narrative the passage provides to conclude that it's always a bad idea. The answer choice "By bringing rabbits to New Zealand, European colonists altered the natural balance of the environment" doesn't pass the paragraph test described earlier. The statement certainly describes the paragraphs that talk about the importation of rabbits, but what about the other paragraphs that talk about the stoats and kiwis? It doesn't reflect the point of those.
The best answer choice is "Human interference in New Zealand’s environment has caused problems and harmed the kiwi, a native bird." The focus on the kiwi specifically is appropriate, because before we hear about the environmental problems the European colonists caused in New Zealand, we learn about the kiwi. This is the best answer.