CAASPP Grade 4 ELA
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Last updated about 1 month ago
33 questions
Read the passage and answer questions 1–9.
A Rainy Day at the Farmer's Market
I heard the honking of the horn as my dad's truck pulled into the driveway. Immediately, I knew it was time to stop playing catch with my dog. My grandmother called, "Matthew! Your dad is home. Please come help him!"
I was disappointed. It was a cloudy Saturday, and I thought we would be able to skip the Farmer's Market. I had hoped to do what I wanted today, but no such luck.
"Matthew!" Grandmother called again.
"I'll be right there!" I yelled.
"Please get the big umbrellas from the basement," Grandmother said.
"It looks like it's going to rain."
I still had to put on some shoes. I decided to wear my cowboy boots, but I couldn't find them. I looked in the front closet, upstairs, and by the back door. I could've worn my sneakers, but I really wanted to wear my boots. I knew that if I didn't hurry, everyone was going to be upset with me. Reluctantly, I put on my sneakers and went outside.
By then there were only a few crates of produce that needed to be loaded onto the truck.
"I could have used your help, son," said Dad. "Kayla helped me load all
of this produce into the truck."
I knew he wasn't happy with me, and I felt bad that my sister Kayla
had helped instead of me. I started to explain how I wanted to wear
my boots, but couldn't find them. Then I realized how selfish I
sounded.
Grandmother came outside, and I helped her carry a box of fresh
baked goods. Once we were all in the truck, Dad drove toward town.
The Farmer's Market was located in a parking lot behind the town
square.
Dad stopped the truck at the main entrance to check in. "Good
morning, Bill," Dad said to the attendant. "What's the weather
prediction?"
"It's not looking good," said Bill. He directed us to where we should
park our truck.
Dad drove the truck toward our parking space, and then carefully
backed in. We set up our table with fruits and vegetables on one side
and baked goods on the other. Grandmother's homemade pies and
cookies made my mouth water.
"We'd better put up the umbrellas in case it rains," said Dad.
I gulped. I realized I had forgotten the umbrellas. Dad, Grandma, and
Kayla looked at me expectantly.
"I'll be right back!" I yelled, and took off running before anyone had a
chance to say anything.
I knew that my friend Jose and his family were supposed to be at the
market, so I searched for them, keeping my fingers crossed that it
didn't start to rain. I ran past tables of flowers, fruits, vegetables, and
even homemade soaps and hand-knitted sweaters, but I could not find
Jose.
Exhausted, I continued searching through the rows of tables. I reached
the last row with growing concern. If it rained, our truck would get soaked, and so would my family.
Finally I saw Jose. I ran over and almost collapsed.
"Is everything all right, Matthew?" asked Jose's mom.
I gasped for air as I explained how I forgot our umbrellas. I asked if
they had any extras we could borrow.
"Of course! Jose, please help Matthew," said Jose's mom.
Then it happened: a drop of rain hit my face!
Jose and I quickly pulled out two large umbrellas from the family's
truck. Jose helped me carry the big umbrellas back to our space. We
had to go slowly, being careful not to bump into anyone. The market
had opened for business, and it was already crowded.
We arrived just in time. As we opened the umbrellas, the few drops of
rain began to turn into a steady drizzle. Dad smiled and nodded,
seemingly pleased that I had solved the problem on my own. After we
set up the umbrellas, Jose hurried back to his family. Luckily the rain
didn't stop the crowds. But the rain sure taught me a lesson that day.
Required
1
Matthew and his family go to the farmer's market regularly. Pick the two details from the passage that best support this inference.
Matthew and his family go to the farmer's market regularly. Pick the two details from the passage that best support this inference.
Required
1
Read the sentences from the passage.
I knew that my friend Jose and his family were supposed to be at the market, so I searched for them, keeping my fingers crossed that it didn't start to rain.
Why does the author use the phrase "keeping my fingers crossed"? Pick three choices.
Read the sentences from the passage.
I knew that my friend Jose and his family were supposed to be at the market, so I searched for them, keeping my fingers crossed that it didn't start to rain.
Why does the author use the phrase "keeping my fingers crossed"? Pick three choices.
Required
1
The author uses the word disappointed in the passage. Click on the group of words in the sentence that best shows that idea.
It was a cloudy Saturday, and I thought we would be able to skip the Farmer's Market. I had hoped to do what I wanted today, but no such luck.
The author uses the word disappointed in the passage. Click on the group of words in the sentence that best shows that idea.
It was a cloudy Saturday, and I thought we would be able to skip the Farmer's Market. I had hoped to do what I wanted today, but no such luck.
Required
1
Read the sentences from the passage.
Finally I saw Jose. I ran over and almost collapsed.
What does the use of the word collapsed suggest?
Read the sentences from the passage.
Finally I saw Jose. I ran over and almost collapsed.
What does the use of the word collapsed suggest?
Required
1
The following question has two parts. First, answer part A. Then, answer part B.
Part A: Which of these inferences about Matthew is supported by the passage?
The following question has two parts. First, answer part A. Then, answer part B.
Part A: Which of these inferences about Matthew is supported by the passage?
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1
Part B: Which sentence from the passage best supports your answer in part A?
Part B: Which sentence from the passage best supports your answer in part A?
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1
What happens after Matthew and Jose open the umbrellas?
What happens after Matthew and Jose open the umbrellas?
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1
How does the author develop the idea that Matthew takes responsibility for his actions?
How does the author develop the idea that Matthew takes responsibility for his actions?
Required
1
Read the sentence from the passage.
I ran past tables of flowers, fruits, vegetables, and even homemade soaps and hand-knitted sweaters, but I could not find Jose.
Choose two statements that best explain why the author chose to include this sentence.
Read the sentence from the passage.
I ran past tables of flowers, fruits, vegetables, and even homemade soaps and hand-knitted sweaters, but I could not find Jose.
Choose two statements that best explain why the author chose to include this sentence.
Required
1
How does the paragraph about Matthew looking for his cowboy boots add to the plot?
How does the paragraph about Matthew looking for his cowboy boots add to the plot?
Read the passage and answer questions 10–15.
Dances with Animals
by Ellen R. Braaf
A honey bee returns to the hive. Sticky pollen clings to her body. Nectar fills her honey sac. She’s found apple blossoms in a distant orchard. How does she tell other worker bees about this new food source? She dances!
Unlike humans, animals don't have words to help them communicate. They can't say “Hey! Look what I found,” or “Keep away! This is my spot,” or “Want to go steady?” Yet, animals communicate all the time. They send out signals—messages others receive and understand using their senses of smell, taste, touch, hearing, and sight.
Animals with good vision “talk” to each other with their bodies. They
use patterns of movements to share information, to defend themselves
or their territories, and to attract mates. Nature designs their steps,
and they dance as if their lives depended on it. Often, they do.
Language of Bees
Most communication takes place among members of the same species. In dark beehives, honeycombed walls become waxy dance floors. Like a rock star swarmed by adoring fans, a bee returning from the apple orchard begins her dance. Other workers follow her as she moves forward in a straight line. She vibrates her wings and wags her body side to side very quickly—13 to 15 times a second. Then she turns to one side, circles back, and begins the waggle run again. When she finishes, she circles around—this time in the opposite direction—and repeats her steps. The dance may go on for hours.
As she traces a figure 8 on the dance floor, the follower bees touch her with their antennae. They sense the odors of apple blossom nectar and pollen clinging to her body. These workers also detect the scent she used to mark the distant flowers. A flight plan is coded in her movements. The length of the waggle run tells workers how far the flowers are from the hive. Its angle tells them how to get there. Because bees steer by the sun, the dancer links her directions to its position in the sky.
However, the position of the sun in the sky keeps changing. If the waggle dance lasts for hours, how do bees leaving the hive long after the dance has begun find their targets? Amazingly, they do. The waggling bee adjusts her dance to account for the sun's movement.
Keep Away!
“This is my spot!” Not all animals cooperate the way honey bees do. Most compete for food, territory, and mates. Fights take time and energy. Rivals risk injury and death, weakening the group as a whole. So some animals dance instead, using movements to make themselves look larger, stronger, and quicker than their competition.
“Don’t mess with me,” they say.
Red Fish, Blue Fish
Most fish settle conflicts over territory without fighting. But Siamese fighting fish, also known as bettas, are little fish with a big mean streak. Brightly colored bettas in pet stores have been specially bred for their beautiful veil-like fins. In the wild, they live in rice paddies in Southeast Asia.
If threatened, male Siamese fighting fish switch back and forth between face-to-face and side-to-side positions. Facing each other, they flare out flaps of skin on their necks and extend their fins. This makes them seem twice their size. Side-to-side, they flicker their fins
and beat the water with their tails. Tail beating gets faster and faster until one male backs down. The loser lowers his fins and puts his tail down. His bright red, blue, or purple body color fades to a dull hue. Defeated, he swims away.
Whether it is to communicate where to find something or to tell
someone to “steer clear,” animal dances can tell us a lot!
“Dances with Animals” by Ellen R. Braaf, from Ask magazine.
Copyright © 2009 by Carus Publishing. Reprinted by permission of the
publisher.
Required
1
Click on the two sentences that best support the idea that dancing may be a better way for animals to communicate than fighting.
Not all animals cooperate the way honey bees do. Most compete for food, territory, and mates. Fights take time and energy. Rivals risk injury and death, weakening the group as a whole. So some animals dance instead, using movements to make themselves look larger, stronger, and quicker than their competition. "Don't mess with me," they say.
Click on the two sentences that best support the idea that dancing may be a better way for animals to communicate than fighting.
Not all animals cooperate the way honey bees do. Most compete for food, territory, and mates. Fights take time and energy. Rivals risk injury and death, weakening the group as a whole. So some animals dance instead, using movements to make themselves look larger, stronger, and quicker than their competition. "Don't mess with me," they say.
Required
1
Read the summary of the "Red Fish, Blue Fish" section of the passage and the directions that follow.
The male betta fish would rather dance than fight. First, they turn toward each other and stretch out their skin and fins to look bigger. Then, they move side to side and quickly beat the water with their tails until one backs down. The loser lowers his fins and tail and swims away.
An important detail is missing from the summary. Choose the sentence from the passage that includes the missing detail.
Read the summary of the "Red Fish, Blue Fish" section of the passage and the directions that follow.
The male betta fish would rather dance than fight. First, they turn toward each other and stretch out their skin and fins to look bigger. Then, they move side to side and quickly beat the water with their tails until one backs down. The loser lowers his fins and tail and swims away.
An important detail is missing from the summary. Choose the sentence from the passage that includes the missing detail.
Required
1
Read the sentence from the passage.
Because bees steer by the sun, the dancer links her directions to its position in the sky.
Pick the word that best defines position as it is used in the sentence.
Read the sentence from the passage.
Because bees steer by the sun, the dancer links her directions to its position in the sky.
Pick the word that best defines position as it is used in the sentence.
Required
1
What is the most likely reason the author uses dialogue in the passage? Pick three choices.
What is the most likely reason the author uses dialogue in the passage? Pick three choices.
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1
Pick the two sentences that should be included in a summary of the passage.
Pick the two sentences that should be included in a summary of the passage.
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1
What does the information in the section "Keep Away!" show about the author's point of view?
What does the information in the section "Keep Away!" show about the author's point of view?
Required
1
Parker is writing a story for her class about a dog that helps people who are blind. Parker wants to revise her story to add better detail about the main character. Read the draft paragraphs of her story and complete the task that follows:
About a year ago, a young Black Labrador puppy was adopted by a loving and helpful family. The family named the pup Bailey, and they taught her how to assist people who are blind.
Each day, Bailey learned a new skill for being a good guide dog. She learned how to listen very carefully to commands, and she also learned how to warn people when there was danger. Bailey seemed to beam with pride and happiness every time she was praised for her good work. She knew she was destined for great things in life. Bailey wanted nothing more than to help people. Bailey wagged her tail in delight when she heard, "Good girl! What a helpful dog you are!"
Finally, the day arrived for Bailey to go to her new home. A lovely lady who had lost her eyesight only a month earlier adopted the helpful dog. Bailey quickly became her faithful friend and assistant. Bailey always made sure the woman was safe both at home and in the neighborhood. In return, the woman made sure Bailey felt loved and treasured.
Choose the best sentence to add detail to show or explain who the main character is.
Parker is writing a story for her class about a dog that helps people who are blind. Parker wants to revise her story to add better detail about the main character. Read the draft paragraphs of her story and complete the task that follows:
About a year ago, a young Black Labrador puppy was adopted by a loving and helpful family. The family named the pup Bailey, and they taught her how to assist people who are blind.
Each day, Bailey learned a new skill for being a good guide dog. She learned how to listen very carefully to commands, and she also learned how to warn people when there was danger. Bailey seemed to beam with pride and happiness every time she was praised for her good work. She knew she was destined for great things in life. Bailey wanted nothing more than to help people. Bailey wagged her tail in delight when she heard, "Good girl! What a helpful dog you are!"
Finally, the day arrived for Bailey to go to her new home. A lovely lady who had lost her eyesight only a month earlier adopted the helpful dog. Bailey quickly became her faithful friend and assistant. Bailey always made sure the woman was safe both at home and in the neighborhood. In return, the woman made sure Bailey felt loved and treasured.
Choose the best sentence to add detail to show or explain who the main character is.
Required
1
A student is writing a report for his teacher about raising frogs. Read the draft of the report and complete the task that follows:
When Robert brought the frog eggs to school, they looked like tiny jelly balls. They were attached like a bunch of grapes to a rock under the water of the aquarium tank. For several days, nothing seemed to be happening. We worried that something had gone wrong. Frog eggs will not hatch if the water is not clean enough or if the temperature is too cool. Then, one morning Kate noticed that the eggs had hatched. Tadpoles were swimming around the tank like a swarm of tiny bees. It was disappointing that we were not able to see the hatching itself, raising frogs has been very interesting so far.
Choose the best two phrases to connect "It was disappointing that we were not able to see the hatching itself" and "raising frogs has been very interesting so far."
A student is writing a report for his teacher about raising frogs. Read the draft of the report and complete the task that follows:
When Robert brought the frog eggs to school, they looked like tiny jelly balls. They were attached like a bunch of grapes to a rock under the water of the aquarium tank. For several days, nothing seemed to be happening. We worried that something had gone wrong. Frog eggs will not hatch if the water is not clean enough or if the temperature is too cool. Then, one morning Kate noticed that the eggs had hatched. Tadpoles were swimming around the tank like a swarm of tiny bees. It was disappointing that we were not able to see the hatching itself, raising frogs has been very interesting so far.
Choose the best two phrases to connect "It was disappointing that we were not able to see the hatching itself" and "raising frogs has been very interesting so far."
Required
1
A student is writing an opinion article for the teacher about too much homework.The student wants to revise the draft to improve the development of ideas. Read the draft of the article and complete the task that follows:
Students these days have too much homework. At my school, students get more than an hour and a half of homework every night, and that doesn't include our daily reading.First of all, our homes should not feel like another form of school. We listen and work all day at school. Home should be for spending time with our families and friends. However, the amount of homework the average fourth-grade student receives is taking away important family time and time to play. Kids also need to get enough sleep to do well in school. Sometimes we have so much homework in so many different subjects that we are up way past our bedtimes trying to get it done.
However, other people believe homework gets students ready for high school and makes them more responsible. They also say homework makes parents get more involved in their child's learning. I disagree. I believe it's more important to spend fun times with your family instead of arguing over homework.
After you've worked on schoolwork all day long, it's not fun to go home and do homework. I hope teachers, principals, students, and parents can find an answer and end the problem of too much homework!
Choose the sentence that best supports the underlined reason in the second paragraph.
A student is writing an opinion article for the teacher about too much homework.
The student wants to revise the draft to improve the development of ideas. Read the draft of the article and complete the task that follows:
Students these days have too much homework. At my school, students get more than an hour and a half of homework every night, and that doesn't include our daily reading.
First of all, our homes should not feel like another form of school. We listen and work all day at school. Home should be for spending time with our families and friends. However, the amount of homework the average fourth-grade student receives is taking away important family time and time to play. Kids also need to get enough sleep to do well in school. Sometimes we have so much homework in so many different subjects that we are up way past our bedtimes trying to get it done.
However, other people believe homework gets students ready for high school and makes them more responsible. They also say homework makes parents get more involved in their child's learning. I disagree. I believe it's more important to spend fun times with your family instead of arguing over homework.
After you've worked on schoolwork all day long, it's not fun to go home and do homework. I hope teachers, principals, students, and parents can find an answer and end the problem of too much homework!
Choose the sentence that best supports the underlined reason in the second paragraph.
Required
1
A student is writing a story for language arts about learning to ski. Read the draft of the story and complete the task that follows:
The student wants to make sure that he has used the right words to make his meaning clear. Choose two of the underlined words that he should change.
This weekend, I went skiing with my friend Jack and his family. I had never been there before, so I was really excited. The mountains looked so beautiful with their peaks covered in snow.
First, Jack's father gave me a ski lesson and I practiced for a while. Then, we rode to the ski slope on the thing that takes people to the mountain top. It was fun to slide on the skis, but I forgot how to stop and crashed into Jack. We both fell down, but we weren't hurt. Jack's dad was laughing. He helped us up and taught me how to stop again.
A student is writing a story for language arts about learning to ski. Read the draft of the story and complete the task that follows:
The student wants to make sure that he has used the right words to make his meaning clear. Choose two of the underlined words that he should change.
This weekend, I went skiing with my friend Jack and his family. I had never been there before, so I was really excited. The mountains looked so beautiful with their peaks covered in snow.
First, Jack's father gave me a ski lesson and I practiced for a while. Then, we rode to the ski slope on the thing that takes people to the mountain top. It was fun to slide on the skis, but I forgot how to stop and crashed into Jack. We both fell down, but we weren't hurt. Jack's dad was laughing. He helped us up and taught me how to stop again.
Required
1
Read the story and the question that follows.
Today, our class went to The Fishery, a local fish store, because we are learning about fish: where they live and how they are different from people. Inside the store was very dark, except for the bright lights on top of each tank.
The girl, working in the store told me that the lights are neon, and they are used to show off the bright, colors of each fish.
The different fish were beautiful under the lights. They were bright blue, purple, yellow, and green.
I wanted to take all of the fish home.
What is the best way to correct the punctuation error in the underlined sentence?
Read the story and the question that follows.
Today, our class went to The Fishery, a local fish store, because we are learning about fish: where they live and how they are different from people. Inside the store was very dark, except for the bright lights on top of each tank.
The girl, working in the store told me that the lights are neon, and they are used to show off the bright, colors of each fish.
The different fish were beautiful under the lights. They were bright blue, purple, yellow, and green.
I wanted to take all of the fish home.
What is the best way to correct the punctuation error in the underlined sentence?
Required
1
Read the paragraph and complete the task that follows.
We went to visit my uncle in Massachusetts. He lives just outside of Boston, so we went sightseeing in the City. We went to see where Paul Revere lived. He was a famous hero in the American Revolution.
After that we walked through Boston Commons, a large park. Then we went to a baseball game.
Choose the underlined word that is incorrectly capitalized.
Read the paragraph and complete the task that follows.
We went to visit my uncle in Massachusetts. He lives just outside of Boston, so we went sightseeing in the City. We went to see where Paul Revere lived. He was a famous hero in the American Revolution.
After that we walked through Boston Commons, a large park. Then we went to a baseball game.
Choose the underlined word that is incorrectly capitalized.
The Telephone Is Born
Listen to the presentation. Then answer questions 23–26.
Excerpt from Alexander Graham Bell: Inventor of the Telephone by Editors of Time for Kids with John Micklos, Jr. Copyright © 2006 by Time Inc. Reused with permission of Time Inc.
Required
1
The following question has two parts. First, answer part A. Then, answer part B.
Part A: What is the main idea of the presentation?
The following question has two parts. First, answer part A. Then, answer part B.
Part A: What is the main idea of the presentation?
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1
Part B: Which sentence from the presentation best supports the main idea?
Part B: Which sentence from the presentation best supports the main idea?
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1
Which detail from the presentation best supports the conclusion that Alexander Graham Bell was a dedicated scientist?
Which detail from the presentation best supports the conclusion that Alexander Graham Bell was a dedicated scientist?
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1
Choose two details from the presentation that support the idea that the telephone took a long time to invent.
Choose two details from the presentation that support the idea that the telephone took a long time to invent.
Balloon Wranglers
Listen to the presentation. Then answer questions 27–30.
Required
1
The following question has two parts. First, answer part A. Then, answer part B.
Part A: Which conclusion is supported by the presentation?
The following question has two parts. First, answer part A. Then, answer part B.
Part A: Which conclusion is supported by the presentation?
Required
1
Part B: Which sentence from the presentation best supports your answer in part A?
Part B: Which sentence from the presentation best supports your answer in part A?
Required
1
"One job of the balloon wranglers is to amuse the people in the crowd."
Which detail from the presentation best supports this idea?
"One job of the balloon wranglers is to amuse the people in the crowd."
Which detail from the presentation best supports this idea?
Required
1
The presentation gives information about the balloons used in the Thanksgiving parade in New York City as well as information about other parts of the parade. Look at the chart that match whether the information describes balloons or other parts of the parade.
The presentation gives information about the balloons used in the Thanksgiving parade in New York City as well as information about other parts of the parade. Look at the chart that match whether the information describes balloons or other parts of the parade.
Balloons | Parade | |
|---|---|---|
Famous Characters | ||
Funny Clowns | ||
Long and Tall | ||
Colorful Floats |
Required
1
A student is writing a research report about the sky. Read the sentences from her report and the directions that follow.
It is a clear day in the summer. The sun shines brightly on your face. You lie down on the soft carpet of green grass and look up at the bright blue sky. Suddenly you ask yourself, "If air has no color, then what makes the sky blue?"
Choose two of the sources that would most likely give the student more information about the ideas she has written.
A student is writing a research report about the sky. Read the sentences from her report and the directions that follow.
It is a clear day in the summer. The sun shines brightly on your face. You lie down on the soft carpet of green grass and look up at the bright blue sky. Suddenly you ask yourself, "If air has no color, then what makes the sky blue?"
Choose two of the sources that would most likely give the student more information about the ideas she has written.
Required
1
A student is writing a report about chipmunks. Read the sentences from a source and the directions that follow.
There are 25 kinds of chipmunks, 24 of which live in North America. Chipmunks can also be found in Northern Asia. Female chipmunks have at least one litter per year with four or five babies who stay in the nest for up to six weeks. They look like squirrels, their bushy-tailed cousins, but they are smaller. Chipmunks live in dens with two rooms. One room is a nest lined with leaves, and the second room is where they store their food of nuts, seeds, and grains. Chipmunks hibernate in cold weather, which means they spend most of the winter sleeping in their dens.
The parts of the student's report are shown below. In which part of the report would the facts from the source best fit?
A student is writing a report about chipmunks. Read the sentences from a source and the directions that follow.
There are 25 kinds of chipmunks, 24 of which live in North America. Chipmunks can also be found in Northern Asia. Female chipmunks have at least one litter per year with four or five babies who stay in the nest for up to six weeks. They look like squirrels, their bushy-tailed cousins, but they are smaller. Chipmunks live in dens with two rooms. One room is a nest lined with leaves, and the second room is where they store their food of nuts, seeds, and grains. Chipmunks hibernate in cold weather, which means they spend most of the winter sleeping in their dens.
The parts of the student's report are shown below. In which part of the report would the facts from the source best fit?
Required
1
A student is writing a research report about panda bears. He wrote an opinion in the report. Read the sentences from the report and the directions that follow.
A panda bear has black hair around its eyes, ears, nose and all across its tummy. The rest of its fur is white. A panda has a short, stubby tail. It has five claws and an extra finger, kind of like a thumb, that starts at its wrist bone. It uses this extra finger to grip and eat bamboo. Panda bears love to eat lots and lots of bamboo.
The student found another source about pandas. Choose two of the sentences from the source that support the student's opinion.
A student is writing a research report about panda bears. He wrote an opinion in the report. Read the sentences from the report and the directions that follow.
A panda bear has black hair around its eyes, ears, nose and all across its tummy. The rest of its fur is white. A panda has a short, stubby tail. It has five claws and an extra finger, kind of like a thumb, that starts at its wrist bone. It uses this extra finger to grip and eat bamboo. Panda bears love to eat lots and lots of bamboo.
The student found another source about pandas. Choose two of the sentences from the source that support the student's opinion.