Practice Reading Section
This is the Practice Reading Section.
 
Here is a list with pictures to help you locate the story and article in the Reading Section and Answer Section.
 

How the Chipmunk Got Its Stripes ... Click here
 

Amazing Black Holes ....................... Click here
 
Directions: It should take about 30–45 minutes to read the passages in this book and answer the 16 questions in the Answer Section. Read each passage, then refer back to it as needed when answering the questions in the Answer Section.












Read the story "How the Chipmunk Got Its Stripes" and then answer Numbers 1 through 8.
 

     ong ago, the Earth was covered in darkness. None of the creatures living there knew what daylight looked like.
 
One day, all of the animals of the forest gathered together in a clearing. They wondered if it would be better to remain in darkness, or if it would be better to also have light. Deer, Chipmunk, Raccoon, Wolf, Bear, and many other creatures climbed to the top of the highest mountain. The mountain stood so tall that there were no trees on its top, and it was covered only with rocks. Millions of stars blinked in the dark sky overhead. The biggest and most powerful animal in the forest was the bear, and he was the first to reach the mountaintop. Bear stood on the highest peak, looked out over the forest below, and argued for remaining in darkness. He said that the creatures of the forest would be able to sleep better in darkness because there would be no light to keep them awake. Most of the other animals were afraid, and they agreed with Bear. Raccoon said that he did not mind the darkness because he was so smart that he could find plenty of food, even in the dark. Wolf was easy to please, too. She didn't mind the darkness because she could howl in darkness or in light.
 
But one animal did stand up to Bear. Chipmunk, the smallest of the animals, argued that it would be better to have both light and dark. Chipmunk was very clever. As Bear continued to argue for darkness, she made many good arguments for light.
 
Slowly, the night passed. Bear grew tired of talking, but Chipmunk chattered on and on, as if she had all of the energy in the world. As the other animals dropped off to sleep, one by one, Chipmunk kept arguing. Finally, the first sunrise ever seen by the animals appeared over the top of the mountain. They woke up and were amazed by what they saw.

Chipmunk began to dance from rock to rock. Bear became angry because he didn't get his way. He roared loudly and ran after Chipmunk. He chased Chipmunk all the way down the mountain. Bear was fast, and he reached out his giant paw to grab Chipmunk. Chipmunk got away, but not before Bear managed to scratch her back with his long claws. And that is why, to this day, you can see stripes on Chipmunk's back!

Now proceed to the Answer Section below.



Read the article "Amazing Black Holes" and then answer Numbers 9 through 16.
 

     How many things can you see in the night sky? A lot! On a clear night you might see the Moon, some planets, and thousands of sparkling stars.
 
You can see even more with a telescope. You might see stars where before you only saw dark space. You might see that many stars look larger than others. You might see that some stars that look white are really red or blue. With bigger and bigger telescopes you can see more and more objects in the sky. And you can see those objects in more and more detail.
 
But scientists believe there are some things in the sky that we will never see. We won't see them with the biggest telescope in the world, on the clearest night of the year.
 
That's because they're invisible. They're the mysterious dead stars called black holes.
 
You might find it hard to imagine that stars die. After all, our Sun is a star. Year after year we see it up in the sky, burning brightly, giving us heat and light. The Sun certainly doesn't seem to be getting old or weak. But stars do burn out and die after billions of years.
 
As a star's gases burn, they give off light and heat. But when the gas runs out, the star stops burning and begins to die.
 
As the star cools, the outer layers of the star pull in toward the center. The star squashes into a smaller and smaller ball. If the star was very small, the star ends up as a cold, dark ball called a black dwarf. If the star was very big, it keeps squashing inward until it's packed together tighter than anything in the universe.
 
Imagine if the Earth were crushed until it was the size of a tiny marble. That's how tightly this dead star, a black hole, is packed. What pulls the star in toward its center with such power? It's the same force that pulls you down when you jump — the force called gravity. A black hole is so tightly packed that its gravity sucks in everything — even light. The light from a black hole can never come back to your eyes. That's why you see nothing but blackness.
 
So the next time you stare up at the night sky, remember: there's more in the sky than meets the eye! Scattered in the silent darkness are black holes — the great mystery of space.
 

Now proceed to the Answer Section below.


Practice Reading Test Answer Section
 


This is your Practice Reading Test Answer Section. The questions in this section are based on the story or article in your practice Reading Section (above). You may go back to the Reading Section to help you answer the questions.

Now answer Numbers 1 through 8. Base your answers on the story "How the Chipmunk Got Its Stripes."

What is the theme of this story?

  Stand up for what you believe in.
It is always better to go along with the crowd.
There is only one right way to do things.
Making decisions is easy.
 
What is Bear like?

  He is a good listener.
He is used to getting his way.
He is unsure about what he wants.
He is well liked by the other animals.
 

  Read this sentence from the story.
  Bear grew tired of talking, but Chipmunk chattered on and on, as if she had all the energy in the world.
 
What does chattered mean?
 
moved slowly
laughed
spoke quickly
argued
 

According to the story, why do chipmunks have stripes on their backs?
 
Use details from the story to explain your answer. Enter a short answer in the box, approximately 8 lines.



Where does the story take place?

  in a barn
on an island
near a lake
on a mountaintop
 

What happened after Chipmunk's argument with Bear?

  The animals saw their first sunrise ever.
Bear was happy that he got his way.
The animals continued to live in darkness.
Chipmunk fell asleep.
 

  Read this sentence from the story.
  Chipmunk, the smallest of animals, argued that it would be better to have both light and darkness.
 
What is an antonym for the word argued?
 
whispered
agreed
jumped
yelled
 

In what ways is Chipmunk different from the other animals? How does this help Chipmunk to win the argument with Bear? What lessons can we learn from Chipmunk?

  Use details from the story to support your answer.



  Proceed to the next reading: "Amazing Black Holes"


Practice Reading Test Answer Section
 


This is your Practice Reading Test Answer Section. The questions in this section are based on the story or article in your practice Reading Section (above). You may go back to the Reading Section to help you answer the questions.

Now answer Numbers 9 through 16. Base your answers on the article "Amazing Black Holes."

According to the article, what causes a star to die?

  As its gases run out, it cools down.
It collides with other stars.
It can only live for about a million years.
As it gets hotter and hotter, it explodes.

  Read this sentence from the story.
  They're the mysterious dead stars called black holes.
 
What is a synonym for the word mysterious?
 
ordinary
bright
strange
common
 

  In what ways is our Sun the same as other stars? How is it different from a dead star?
 
Use details from the article to support your answer.  Enter a short answer in the box, approximately 8 lines.



Which of the following statements is NOT a fact?

  Black holes are dead stars.
Black holes have gravity.
Black holes are invisible.
There is nothing as mysterious as a black hole.

What happens AFTER a star dies?

  It becomes invisible.
It falls to Earth.
It burns up all of its gases.
It becomes brighter and easier to see.

 

What might happen to our Sun billions of years from now? 

  Describe the process using details from the article.



Why can't you see light when you look at a black hole?

  because most black holes are so far away
because the gravity of a black hole is so strong that it sucks  the light inward
because as the star's gases burn, it stops giving off heat and light
because as a star cools, its outer layers pull in toward its center

  Read this sentence from the story.
  The Sun certainly doesn't seem to be getting old or weak.
 
What is an antonym for the word weak?
 
thin
tired
strong
big
 

This is the end of the Practice Test.
You may go back and check or finish questions you did not answer. Check your time so you stop or finish when the time is up. When you are done click on the submit button. You will be able to print your answers.
  Name: