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"The Boy Who Saved Baseball" Test

Last updated over 1 year ago
20 questions
Base your answers on the passage “The Boy Who Saved Baseball.”
1

How does Tom feel right after the team finishes practice?

1

Read this sentence from the passage.

of newscasters, landowners, outsiders, and locals who came to root or gloat, hate or berate, filled the movie screen of his mind.

By comparing Tom's mind to a movie screen, the author implies that

1

Why does the author compare the team to a caterpillar?

1

Why does the author write that the team was cocooned for days in the school library?

1

Tom's feelings change after Alabaster Jones confronts him in the dugout because he starts to worry about

1

Read this excerpt from the passage.

“A lot of people are afraid of what might happen tomorrow. But we can't be. Then, whatever happens will turn out okay.”

How does this speech by Rachel change the way Tom feels?

1

The conflict that Tom faces in this passage is that if his team wins the game tomorrow,

1

Which of the following is the most likely reason readers might relate to Tom?

1

What is the theme of the passage?

1

Which had the biggest influence on Tom's decision at the end of the passage?

Read the following short story and answer the questions that follow.
One Bright Idea

"I've been working on a present for my dad," Danielle told her friend, Lina. She was holding a colorful knitted strip.

"Neat!" Lina said. "What is it?"

"A bookmark," Danielle said. "Can't you tell?" Lina thought it looked a little too thick to put in a book.

Danielle was just learning to knit, and her creations were not very practical. Lina recalled the misshapen duck booties Danielle had knit for her baby cousin. Lina hoped the baby never had to wear them.

Now Danielle picked up a big bag of yarn. She beamed at Lina and patted the floor next to her. "Come and pick out your colors!" she said.

Lina sat down. "My colors?"

"I'm going to knit you a sweater for your birthday," said Danielle. "I bought all this yarn. I was thinking shades of blue. Maybe some yellow?"

"That is so sweet of you. But that's too much work," said Lina. The thought of Danielle spending so much time on something she would never wear almost broke her heart.

"It's no problem. You're my best friend. And I love knitting," said Danielle.

Lina took a deep breath. "Danielle, I don't want a sweater." There, she had said it. "Those colors are so pretty, though. Maybe you could make me something to decorate my room?"

"A decoration?" Danielle echoed. Lina hoped she wasn't upset.

"Have you ever seen those pictures online of lampshades wrapped in yarn?" Lina went on. "I've always thought they look so cool, but I'm not crafty enough to make one myself."

"Oh! I know what you're talking about!" Danielle said in excitement. "I could do blue yarn at the bottom, then start adding some yellow in the middle . . ."

As Danielle began to plan excitedly, Lina breathed a sigh of relief. Now she would be getting a birthday present that reminded her of her best friend—and one that she would be excited to use.
1

Which of the following best describes the main theme or lesson of the story?

1

Select the quotation from the story that most strongly agreeds with the theme.

The Unhappy Princess

Once there was a king who had a daughter named Princess Araminta. He loved her greatly, and he wanted to make her happy more than anything in the world.

He bought her a fine steed, but she didn't like to ride. He bought her beautiful and expensive clothing, but Araminta said that the gold embroidery scratched at her neck. He bought a grand palace in the mountains to be their summer home, but Araminta thought the empty stone hallways felt drafty and lonely.

The king couldn't understand. He'd given his daughter everything that made him happy—a fine horse, nice clothes, and a beautiful palace.

"What else could you possibly want?" he asked her. Araminta didn't have an answer for him because she didn't know.

One day, she was wandering near a creek by herself, watching the little silver fish dart around in the water. She saw an abandoned fishing pole leaning against a tree. Impulsively, she hooked a worm to the hook and then cast the fishing rod into the water.

She sat there on a rock by the creek for hours as she fished, enjoying the warm sunshine on her skin. When she caught a trout, she shouted with joy.

"Father, would you buy me a fishing pole?" Araminta asked her father later that day.

"Well, that's easy enough. But I don't understand," the king said. "How could a fishing pole possibly make you happy?"

Araminta simply smiled. "You don't have to understand," she said.
1

Which of the following best describes the main theme or lesson of the story?

1

Select the quotation from the story that most strongly agrees with the theme.

When Can You Start?

Carolyn and Tina were hired to organize and paint their neighbor's shed. A great deal of stuff had accumulated in Mrs. Bosco's shed over the years. While Tina talked to Mrs. Bosco, Carolyn began sorting items into two piles: things that worked and things that were garbage.

"Mrs. Bosco, you're going to love what we're going to do with the shed," Tina was saying. "You won't even recognize it when we're done."

"I'm sure it will turn out very nicely, Tina," Mrs. Bosco said.​​​​​​​

"I'm thinking of installing a tool rack. What do you think?"

"Thanks, but that's not necessary."

"Have you ever thought about adding a window box?" Tina asked.

As they were talking, Carolyn hauled bags of trash to the curb. She took it upon herself to clear out rotten firewood, rusted gadgets, leaves, and dirt.

"Hey, Carolyn," Tina said. "I'm going to pick up some extra supplies at the hardware store. I'll be back soon."
While she was gone, Carolyn found a couple gallons of blue paint and some brushes on a back shelf. The inside of the shed was now clean and organized. Carolyn went to work painting the outside—a peaceful, quiet task. An hour later, she heard Mrs. Bosco in the yard on her cell phone, talking to Tina.

"Like I said, Tina, we don't need more shelves in the shed. Why don't you come back now?"

Sighing, Mrs. Bosco approached Carolyn. "Thank you. You seem to understand that I hired you to get a job done, not come up with add-ons I didn't ask for," she said. "Your sister is nice, but without you, it doesn't seem like anything would ever get done."

She paid Carolyn a generous amount, and the painting was nearly finished by the time Tina returned in the afternoon.
1

Which of the following best describes the main theme or lesson of the story?

1

Select the quotation from the story that most strongly supports the theme.

1

What is the meaning of the simile?

Bill and Erica smiled for the camera like movie stars.

1

What is the meaning of the simile?

Vincent eats his lunch just like a cow chewing grass.

1

What is the meaning of the simile?
Jessica's green eyes are like jewels.

2

Explain in your own words the meaning of this metaphor.

My teacher told me that ideas are wings.