READING Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills 5 Form A Practice and Mastery Name
To the Student TAKS Practice and Mastery in Reading is a review program for the TAKS Reading test. This book has five practice lessons. In each practice lesson, you will read a selection and answer 10 multiple-choice comprehension questions. The practice selections and questions are similar to those you will find on the TAKS Reading test. Becoming familiar with the TAKS format will help you succeed on the TAKS Reading test. Your teacher will explain how you will do the practice lessons and record your answers. Be sure to follow the directions for each lesson. As you complete the lessons, read the selections and answer the questions carefully. Use the Answer Form on page 37 to record your answers. Remember to fill in the answer bubbles completely. Also, if you change an answer, you must erase your first answer fully. While you work on the practice lessons, use the Testing Tips below. Read these helpful tips carefully. They can make you a better test-taker. Testing Tips for Answering Multiple-choice Questions Read each question carefully before you try to answer it. Be sure you know what the question is asking you to do. Cross out any answer choices that are not reasonable. Then make your choice from the remaining choices. Read the question again. Check that your answer makes sense. Table of Contents Practice 1... 1 Practice 2... 8 Practice 3... 15 Practice 4... 22 Practice 5... 30 Answer Form... 37 This TAKS Practice and Mastery in Reading book was prepared for students by Mary Ellen Osowski. Illustrated by Pat Lucas Photo Credits: pages 9, 21: 2001 Arttoday.com ISBN 0-7609-2315-9 2003 Curriculum Associates, Inc. North Billerica, MA 01862 No part of this book may be reproduced by any means without written permission from the publisher. All Rights Reserved. Printed in USA. 15 14 13 12 11 10 987654321
Practice 4 Read the next two selections. Then answer the questions that follow. The Cuckoo s Reward 1 On a bright spring morning, Chaac, the ancient Mayan god of the fields and crops, called all the birds to a gathering in the woods. The time for planting is at hand, he said. Will you help me prepare the fields, as you have in past seasons? 2 All the birds chattered amongst themselves and agreed to help in any way they could. 3 The owl wise counselor of all birds inquired in his dignified way, Chaac, when shall we start our work? 4 Tomorrow at sunrise, Chaac answered. But you must work hastily, for at midday the fire god will come to burn off the old plants. 5 Before Chaac had finished speaking, the cuckoo fluttered from bird to bird. Her bright yellow eyes and plumage of rainbow colors caused many to gaze at her in admiration. 6 What must we do? she called loudly. Will someone please tell me? I cannot recall what I did last season. 7 Embarrassed by the cuckoo s behavior, the owl said, You cannot remember because you never came to help us. 8 She hides because she is afraid of fire, squawked the parrot. 9 The cuckoo turned away because the parrot had spoken the truth. 10 Chaac smiled and raised his hand for silence. I am certain each of you will do your part. The task is simple: all birds will collect their favorite seeds along with many grains of corn until there are no more seeds to gather. Pile them at the edge of the woods so that they can be planted when the fields are ready. 22
11 Before dawn, crackling noises awakened the owl and he flew quickly to a tall tree. Just as the owl had suspected, fires blazed nearby. In the distance, he saw the fire god scampering from field to field, setting everything ablaze with his great torch. 12 This is another of the fire god s spiteful tricks, thought the owl. He flew through the woods to wake the other birds and called out, Quick! Quick! Fly to the field right away. 13 When the birds reached the scene, they could not believe their eyes. One lone bird was flying back and forth through the roaring flames. Surely that bird is a god, they chorused. No earthly creature has the courage and strength to ferry seeds from such a fiery place. 14 It has smoke-colored feathers and reddish eyes, observed the owl. 15 The bird was so exhausted it now turned away from the burning fields and flew to a pool where it slipped into the cool water. The other birds followed. It is the cuckoo! they cried. The brave cuckoo! The voice of the parrot was the loudest of all. 16 All the birds gathered around the cuckoo in wonderment, for she had saved the seeds that would supply food for the coming winter. The owl spoke in his wise, kindly way. Dear Cuckoo, as a token of our gratitude, we wish to grant you and all cuckoos an everlasting reward. From this day forward, other birds will care for your children and your children s children down through the ages. So that is how the cuckoo got her gray feathers and flamecolored eyes, and why she puts her eggs into the nests of other birds who will raise her young. 23
The Magpie and the Cuckoo 1 Long ago in the forest lived two feathered friends, the magpie and the cuckoo. Because they had no nests of their own, they found shelter together deep in the branches of the trees. Every day, Cuckoo would awaken early and sing from her treetop perch, I need a nest, I need a nest. As time went on, her singing of this constant complaint disturbed their neighbors who wondered why she did not do something about it. 2 One day Magpie suggested, Cuckoo, let s build strong, comfortable nests for one another. I ve gathered all the tools we need. First, we will build a nest for you and then one for me we can complete the work together in no time. 3 Nevertheless, Cuckoo refused, I have neither the strength nor the skill to build a nest. I m sure that if I continue singing I need a nest, I need a nest, those birds who are my true friends will soon build a cozy nest for me. 4 Magpie insisted, Cuckoo, we should not wait any longer. It is not wise. Spring is coming when we must lay eggs and hatch them, and raise our young. 5 But Cuckoo only replied in her usual way, I need a nest, I need a nest, and fluttered off. 6 Magpie could see that her pleas were in vain, so she started to build a nest for herself. Magpie made the walls of the nest with twigs and bound them securely together with a mixture of clay and the roots of plants. From smaller twigs, she made a trap door. Then she smoothed the outside and inside of the nest with mud. Finally, she lined the nest with a bed of soft feathers collected from the forest floor. Now that her nest was ready, Magpie settled in her new home. 24
7 In the meantime, Cuckoo still whined, I need a nest, I need a nest. Eventually her once-beautiful voice broke and her call changed so much that the other birds made fun of her. Even today, the cuckoo has no nest of her own, nor does she have a family. She lays her eggs in any nest she happens to find. Other birds hatch her young, which grow up as orphans. 25
Use The Cuckoo s Reward (pp. 22 23) to answer questions 31 33. 31 Why is it important that the forest is located near the fields? A B The birds are close enough to help with the planting. The owl is able to see the burning fields and call the other birds. C Chaac can watch the birds to make sure they collect the seeds. D The cuckoo can rescue the seeds from the fire. 32 In paragraph 16, the word token means F hint G omen H symbol J symptom 33 Look at this web about the cuckoo. Is admired by other birds for her beauty Rudely interrupts the meeting of all the birds The cuckoo at beginning of story Which of these belongs in the empty circle? A Does not like to work hard B Has forgotten what to do C Is afraid of fire D Does not want to help others 26
Use The Magpie and the Cuckoo (pp. 24 25) to answer questions 34 36. 34 Paragraph 6 is mostly about F how Magpie built her nest G why Magpie gave up on cuckoo H how Magpie laid her eggs J why Magpie raised cuckoo s young 36 What changed about Cuckoo at the end of the story? F her attitude G her actions H her appearance J her voice 35 Why did Cuckoo refuse to build her own nest? A She did not like living in a nest. B She was sure other birds would build a nest for her. C She did not want to do the work. D She liked living deep in the tree branches. 27
Use The Cuckoo s Reward and The Magpie and the Cuckoo to answer questions 37 40. 37 What purpose do the two stories share? A to explain why the cuckoo puts her eggs into the nests of other birds B to explain why self-reliance is important C to explain how the cuckoo got her gray feathers and reddish eyes D to explain how to overcome a fear of something 39 What is one difference between the cuckoos in The Cuckoo s Reward and The Magpie and the Cuckoo? A B The first cuckoo has a sweet call, but the second cuckoo has a broken voice. The first cuckoo lives in a jungle, but the second cuckoo lives in a forest. C The first cuckoo helps other birds, but the second cuckoo takes advantage of them. D The first cuckoo is fearful, but the second cuckoo is brave. 38 At the beginning of the two stories, how do the owl and the magpie act differently towards the cuckoo? F The owl points out the cuckoo s faults, but the magpie defends her actions. G The owl praises the cuckoo, but the magpie pleads with her. H The owl ignores the cuckoo, but the magpie stands by her. J The owl scolds the cuckoo, but the magpie tries to help her. 28
40 Look at the chart comparing the two stories. Story Differences The Cuckoo s Reward other birds care for the cuckoo s young because the cuckoo has saved the other birds from starvation the other birds gain respect for the cuckoo the cuckoo changes from a cowardly character to a courageous one The Magpie and the Cuckoo other birds care for the cuckoo s young because the cuckoo is still waiting for the other birds to make her a nest the other birds lose respect for the cuckoo Which of these best completes the chart? F the cuckoo s character does not change at all G the cuckoo s character changes dramatically H the cuckoo changes from a lazy character to a hardworking one J the cuckoo changes from a beautiful bird to an ugly one 29