4 th Grade ELA Unit 1 Student Assessment Directions: Read the following passage then answer the questions below. The Lost Dog (740L) One particularly cold Saturday in January, I was supposed to take our dog out for a walk, but it was so cold that I didn t want to go outside. Instead, I just opened the door and let the dog out by himself. I kept an eye on him to make sure he would come back inside. However, another neighborhood dog quickly ran past our house, and our dog sped after to catch him. I hurriedly went to grab my coat so I could follow my dog, and then I rushed outside. Unfortunately, I was already too late, and my dog was nowhere in sight. I walked a few blocks, but I was unable to find him. Distressed, I returned home. My mother was standing at the door waiting, and she asked me what had happened. I know I was supposed to walk our dog, I confessed, but I thought he would be able to go outside and come back by himself. Now he s gone and I can t find him anywhere. My mother was very angry with me; she said I should have been more responsible. She decided to help by making some signs. The signs read, Lost: A big black dog. Please call us right away and she printed our phone number on the bottom. Okay, Darrell, she said, as she handed over the stack of signs, now go post these fliers on all the street posts. My sister and I grabbed the signs and we posted them along our street as well as along the surrounding streets. The whole time, I was incredibly sad and worried about our dog. All I could think about was how cold it was and how cold our dog must be. My sister wanted to go home, so I told her I d walk her home, but then keep looking for the dog myself. I took her home and resumed the search. I continued circling the neighborhood, looking for our dog, but I didn t see him anywhere. I called out his name, and I looked in all the alleys. I got more and more upset. I had made such a huge mistake. All I wanted was to stay warm, but now I was extremely cold and so was my dog. Finally, I gave up and sulked home. When I returned, my mother was waiting for me and smiling broadly. She told me, Our dog came back home all by himself. So, you were right he did come back but you were wrong, too. You should have done your job this morning. You re right, mom. I was wrong, and, as a result, I have learned a very important lesson today. What seems easy initially may turn out to be difficult in the end. This was a very difficult morning for everyone. Ever since that morning, I have remembered that important lesson I learned. Center for Urban Education, DePaul University 2008 http://teacher.depaul.edu *Permission granted for classroom use, 4.RL.3 Read the following statements. Choose T for a true statement and F for a false statement. 1. Darrell and the dog went for a walk, even though it was cold outside. 2. Darrell never gave up looking for his dog. 3. Although Darrell s mom was angry, she helped make signs for the lost dog. 4. Darrell s sister went home because she was cold.
5. Who was the narrator in this story? a. Mother b. Father c. Sister d. Darrell 6. Why was the narrator sad when returning home? a. His sister wanted to come home before he did. b. The narrator didn t see the dog anywhere. c. It is important to do what you say you are going to do. d. It is important to always listen to your parents. 7. Choose the statement that best describes the theme of this story: a. Dogs should not go outside during the winter. b. It is important to continue to look for things that are lost. c. It is important to do what you say you are going to do. d. It is important to always listen to your parents. 8. Read the following sentence from the passage. Choose the SYNONYM for the underlined word. Finally, I gave up and sulked home. a. continued b. pouted c. scurried d. skipped 9. Read the following sentence from the passage. Choose all of the correct ANTONYMS for the underlined word. Unfortunately, I was already too late, and my dog was nowhere in sight. I walked a few blocks, but I was unable to find him. Distressed, I returned home. A. calmly B. joyfully C. troubled D. worried 10. Read the following sentence from the passage. Choose the definition of the underlined word. I took her home and resumed the search. a. stopped b. abandoned c. started again d. gave up
Directions: Read the following passage then answer the questions below. A New Home (L550) Patience looked around; on every side of the trail were trees. They were so tall they blocked out the light. When she looked up she could see only a few bits of blue. Ahead, branches almost blocked the trail. The trail was nothing more than a narrow path. The ground was hard and rough. She stubbed her toe on a rock poking out from the dirt. The ground here seemed full of stones and rocks. Her long skirt did not make it easy to move. She walked behind her sister. Her father led the way. Her mother carried the baby. Her brother pushed a cart carrying their belongings. They had to stop often to unload the cart. Then they would carry the things they had unloaded up a hill. Or they would lift them over a fallen tree. Then her father and brother would lift the cart over the obstacle1 and push it ahead. Then, one by one, they would reload the cart. The things they carried were few. There were some pots, quilts, a few spoons, cloth, a bag of seeds, and some tools. They had left the coast several weeks before. There, the land had been cleared. Open fields stretched down to the sea. Flowers in gardens tipped their faces to the sky. People lived in snug houses, but that comfort was left behind when they entered the dark woods. Patience couldn t wait to get to the end of the trail. It would be home. She knew several other families had gone on ahead. They were clearing the land and bringing light to the center of the forest. Patience knew it would be a very small patch of open land. It could take forever to clear this stony land. She hoped there would be time. 4.RL.3 11. What was the setting of this story? a. The coast b. The prairie c. The forest d. The desert 12. Which text from the story helped you determine the setting? Choose all that apply. a. They had left the coast several weeks before. b. Open fields stretched down to the sea. c. When she looked up she could see only a few bits of blue. d. Patience looked around; on every side of the trail were trees. 13. Which sentence supports the inference that the family s journey was difficult? Choose all that apply. a. They had to stop often to unload the cart. b. Her mother carried the baby. c. Ahead, branches blocked most of the trail. d. She hoped there would be time. 14. Choose the statement that best describes the theme of this story: a. Patience and her family left home to find a new home. b. Patience and her family left a beautiful home. c. Patience would be glad to make it to the end of the trail. d. It would take Patience s family forever to clear the land.
Directions: Read the poem below then answer the questions below. Mr. Nobody By Anonymous I know a funny little man, As quiet as a mouse, Who does the mischief that is done In everybody s house! There s no one ever sees his face, And yet we all agree That every plate we break was cracked By Mr. Nobody. Tis he who always tears out books, Who leaves the door ajar, He pulls the buttons from our shirts, And scatters pins afar; That squeaking door will always squeak, For prithee, don t you see, We leave the oiling to be done By Mr. Nobody. The finger marks upon the door By none of us are made; We never leave the blinds unclosed, To let the curtains fade. The ink we never spill; the boots That lying round you see Are not our boots, they all belong To Mr. Nobody. Source: The Golden Book of Poetry (1947) 4.RL. 15. What can you infer from this poem? a. Mr. Nobody gets in trouble often. b. Mr. Nobody is the author of this poem. c. Mr. Nobody represents all of us. d. Mr. Nobody is a funny little man. 4.RL.5 16. How are narratives different from poems? Choose all that apply. a. Narratives usually have characters, setting, problem, and solution but poems do not. b. Poems usually have characters, setting, problem, and solution but narratives do not. c. Poems sometimes rhyme, but narratives do not. d. Narratives and poems are the same genre.
17. After reading Mr. Nobody, think of a time, or imagine a time, when you blamed someone else for something you did. Write a narrative about the situation, making sure you use descriptive details, a clear sequence of events, and at least 2 examples of dialogue.