Grade 5 • Page 1

Name ____________________________ Date ____________________

Diagnostic Placement Test Student Pages 5th Grade Directions This is a Reading test. Each question in this test has four answer choices. Read each question carefully. Then choose the best answer. Fill in the bubble for the answer you choose or circle your answer choice on the Answer Sheet.

Sample Question Read the sentence. Which word best fits in the blank?

Jonah has thick, curly hair, but my hair is _____. ❍ A. twin

❍ C. thin

❍ B.

❍ D. shin

chin

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Grade 5 • Page 2

Phonics Questions 1–10. Read each sentence. Choose the word that best fits in the blank. 1.

Blue jays like to _____ on the railing of the deck.

❍ A. parch ❍ B. porch 2.

The bus _____ at 7:00 P.M. and makes two stops on the way.

❍ F. lives ❍ G. leaves 3.

❍ H. invite ❍ J. adventure

The trees change color in _____.

❍ A. autumn ❍ B. aunt 6.

❍ C. after ❍ D. alone

A word that has three syllables is _____.

❍ F. combine ❍ G. responsible 5.

❍ H. loves ❍ J. loaves

In the wilderness, you should never hike _____.

❍ A. able ❍ B. always 4.

❍ C. perch ❍ D. pinch

❍ C. auto ❍ D. author

The roof on our house was only _____ finished when the rain began.

❍ F. partly ❍ G. parts

❍ H. parted ❍ J. parting

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Grade 5 • Page 3

7.

Halfway through dinner, someone _____ on the door.

❍ A. shocked ❍ B. clocked 8.

The weather report says there is a _____ chance of snow today.

❍ F. slate ❍ G. sleet 9.

❍ H. slit ❍ J. slight

This year our vegetable garden has been very _____.

❍ A. productive ❍ B. producer 10.

❍ C. knocked ❍ D. stocked

❍ C. production ❍ D. product

Drake went to the store and _____ three new video games.

❍ F. bout ❍ G. boat

❍ H. bought ❍ J. bait

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Grade 5 • Page 4

Vocabulary Questions 11–25. Choose the word that best fits in each sentence. 11.

Adele is too _____ to brag about the medals she won.

❍ A. yonder ❍ B. cheap 12.

❍ C. rickety ❍ D. modest

Near the White House, a _____ stopped to take pictures of the president.

❍ F. kimono ❍ G. sprout 13.

Leon made the salad dressing with oil and _____.

❍ A. vinegar ❍ B. oxygen 14.

❍ C. venture ❍ D. grieve

In Canada, the _____ of Quebec lies to the east of Ontario.

❍ F. wrapper ❍ G. rodent 17.

❍ H. hogan ❍ J. sheepskin

Mr. Kramer decided that we need to _____ the play once more.

❍ A. rehearse ❍ B. afford 16.

❍ C. lumber ❍ D. sunset

Every year, Mr. Dixon plants ten new apple trees in his _____.

❍ F. dugout ❍ G. orchard 15.

❍ H. gesture ❍ J. tourist

❍ H. province ❍ J. stirrup

Our business operations will _____ at five o’clock tomorrow.

❍ A. furnish ❍ B. cease

❍ C. embrace ❍ D. regard

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Grade 5 • Page 5

18.

Dr. Dean put him on a strict diet and makes him do _____ exercise every morning.

❍ F. barren ❍ G. scornful 19.

The _____ dove into the water and caught a fish.

❍ A. hockey ❍ B. fishhook 20.

❍ H. vigorous ❍ J. crinkly

❍ C. pelican ❍ D. mango

The architect drew up plans for the house, and now the owner has to _____ them.

❍ F. approve ❍ G. govern 21.

Hilda _____ over the party for days, but everyone had a good time.

❍ A. puckered ❍ B. enabled 22.

❍ C. occupant ❍ D. garment

In many countries, it is _____ to bring a gift when you visit someone’s home.

❍ F. temporary ❍ G. federal 25.

❍ H. medium ❍ J. feeble

Mom placed the photos on the _____ over the fireplace.

❍ A. threshold ❍ B. mantel 24.

❍ C. dissolved ❍ D. fretted

The old polar bear was too _____ to climb onto the iceberg.

❍ F. cinnamon ❍ G. gritty 23.

❍ H. billow ❍ J. reflect

❍ H. customary ❍ J. singular

Both the Aztec and the Maya _____ many different gods.

❍ A. worshiped ❍ B. recounted

❍ C. invaded ❍ D. enrolled

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Grade 5 • Page 6

Comprehension Questions 26–50. Read each passage and answer the questions. Choose the best answer to each question.

The Gift It just hadn’t been a very good week. On Tuesday, Sam’s father lost his job. Then on Wednesday, Sam’s mother announced that the rent on their apartment was going up. Now it was Friday, and Sam had just opened his e-mail to find an invitation from Rosa to her birthday party. Ordinarily, an invitation to a party at Rosa’s would have been good news. Sam knew Rosa from Adventure Club. Members of the club took trips to places such as the Museum of Natural History. Sam knew that he would enjoy Rosa’s party, but he didn’t want to go without a gift. What could he possibly buy her with the little bit of money he had left in his pocket? Sam knew he couldn’t ask Mom or Dad for any money—not this week! “Well,” Sam thought, “I don’t have time to worry about this right now. I’ve got a report to write for school, and I’d better get to the library before it closes.” Later that afternoon, as Sam was leaving the library, he noticed a sign that said there was a book sale going on downstairs. Sam headed down for a quick look, and two books caught his eye. The first was a cookbook of Puerto Rican foods, and the second was a book about women explorers. “Rosa would like these,” Sam thought, “but would it be tacky to give her used books for her birthday?” Sam decided that a used gift was better than no gift at all. Besides, Rosa supported recycling in a big way, so she would probably approve. With his last dollar, Sam bought the books and went home feeling a little better. The party on Saturday was a lot of fun. Everyone told stories about the funny things they had done in Adventure Club—like the time they went hiking in a nearby park and fell into the lake. Rosa’s mother and grandmother served them delicious food and creamy coconut milkshakes. Rosa opened all her gifts and

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Grade 5 • Page 7 thanked everyone for the nice things they had given her. She paused when she opened Sam’s gift, which made him wonder if she liked the books, but nothing was said. The moment passed, and soon the party was over. When Sam got home, he opened his e-mail to find this note from Rosa: Dear Sam, Of all the gifts I received today, yours was the nicest. How did you know I would love a book about women explorers and a cookbook of Puerto Rican foods? Now I have something to read that will inspire me to follow my dream of becoming an adventurer, and I have a book that I can share with my grandmother. She is getting older and wants to be sure her granddaughter knows how to make the wonderful foods of Puerto Rico. Thank you so much. You are a good friend. Love, Rosa. The week turned out to be a good one after all.

26.

What was the main problem in this story?

❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ 27.

F. Rosa had not invited Sam to her birthday party. G. Sam’s mother was out of work. H. Rosa’s grandmother was getting older. J. Sam didn’t think he had enough money to buy Rosa a gift.

Which word best describes Sam?

❍ ❍ ❍ ❍

A. thoughtful B. selfish C. bold D. foolish

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Grade 5 • Page 8 28.

The story says, “Ordinarily, an invitation to a party at Rosa’s would have been good news.” The word ordinarily means _____.

❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ 29.

F. usually G. out of the ordinary H. lined up in order J. plain and simple

Why was Rosa so pleased with the cookbook?

❍ A. She was not a very good cook, but she wanted to get better. ❍ B. She wanted to please her grandmother by learning to cook Puerto Rican foods.

❍ C. She had never tasted Puerto Rican foods before. ❍ D. Her dream was to become a great chef. 30.

After reading the thank-you note from Rosa, Sam will most likely _____.

❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ 31.

F. go back to the library to buy Rosa more books G. ask Rosa to lend him the cookbook H. write back to Rosa that he is glad she likes the books J. join the adventure club

Which saying best expresses a theme of this story?

❍ ❍ ❍ ❍

A. A penny saved is a penny earned. B. If at first you don’t succeed, try again. C. It’s the thought that counts. D. A rolling stone gathers no moss.

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Grade 5 • Page 9

The King of Beasts Long ago, in the days before lions were known in Europe, the bear was considered “the king of beasts.” Many knights put pictures of bears on their shields. They hoped the bears would make them look big and strong to the enemy. Today, people still admire bears for their size and strength. In North America, the two most common species of bears are the black bear and the brown bear. Some brown bears are called by other names, such as the Kodiak bear and the grizzly bear. Both black bears and brown bears vary in color from light brown to dark brown to black. These two species have much in common, but there are differences between them. Black bears are smaller than brown bears, for example. They are also more likely to climb trees. The brown bear has a shoulder hump and a curved snout. The snout of a black bear is straighter. Bears belong to the same family of animals as dogs and foxes. They are also like people in one interesting way. They walk flat-footed, as people do. Most other mammals walk on their toes. When the weather gets cold, bears curl up in a cave or other cozy spot and sleep for the winter. Baby bears are born in early spring. Bears eat both plants and meat, including nuts, berries, roots, fish, squirrels, and other small animals. Bears also like honey. Lucky for them, their thick coats protect them from bee stings. Bears live alone, except for mothers taking care of their cubs. They do not form groups. For the most part, bears are peaceful. They would rather walk away than fight. However, a bear will attack if scared or angry. For this reason, it’s best for people to stay at a safe distance from “the king of beasts.” 32.

Which sentence states a main idea of this passage?

❍ ❍ ❍ ❍

F. Bears were known in Europe long ago. G. Bears are admired for their size and strength. H. Both brown bears and black bears vary in color. J. Brown bears include Kodiak and grizzly bears.

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Grade 5 • Page 10 33.

Why was the bear considered “the king of beasts” in Europe?

❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ 34.

A. It was the largest animal. B. It was bigger than most lions. C. It carried knights into battle. D. It walked like a person with feet flat.

The passage says there are “two main species of bears” in North America. The word species means _____.

❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ 35.

H. names J. caves

A. They are smaller and have straight snouts. B. They do not have shoulder humps. C. They are larger and have curved snouts. D. They are better at climbing trees.

In what way are bears different from most other mammals?

❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ 37.

G. colors

How are brown bears different from black bears?

❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ 36.

F. types

F. They eat berries and nuts. G. They have babies in the spring. H. They walk flat-footed. J. They eat both plants and animals.

Which is the best reason for people to avoid bears?

❍ ❍ ❍ ❍

A. Bears will attack if they feel scared or angry. B. Bears live in groups and like to fight. C. Bears eat honey, which attracts bees. D. Bears eat both plants and animals.

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Grade 5 • Page 11

Marly and the Kite Marly’s class was studying China. One day her teacher, Miss Singh, told the students that kites were invented in China more than 2,000 years ago. “To this day,” she said, “most Chinese people have a passion for kites. On sunny, windy days, people of all ages go to the park to fly them.” Miss Singh explained that Chinese kites are always colorful and are often beautifully decorated to look like dragons, butterflies, or other creatures. Then she announced an unusual homework assignment. She asked each student to make a kite and bring it to class. “The Chinese make kites that represent something important to them,” she said. “Each of you should make a kite that signifies something important to you.” Marly did not like the assignment. “I don’t know how to make a kite,” she grumbled as she walked home. Then she decided to ask her dad for help. Marly explained to Papa that the kite had to mean something to her. “What do you think of when you see a kite?” Papa asked. As Marly thought for a moment, her mind filled with images of things that flew, such as planes and birds. “Eagles,” she said. Papa nodded and agreed that an eagle design would make an excellent kite. “They are proud and fierce,” he said. Marly and Papa got two rods of balsa wood and bound them into the shape of a cross. Papa cut a square out of an old white bed sheet, and Marly painted a great golden eagle on the sheet. Then they stretched the sheet over the rods and made a diamond-shaped kite. Finally, Marly tied a long tail to the bottom of the kite, and it was finished. Next, Marly and Papa took the kite to the park and tested it. The kite flew perfectly. Marly jerked the string and made the kite swoop so that the eagle dived to the earth and flew back up again. “Wow,” Marly cried, “This kite really flies!” “Yes, it does,” Papa said proudly. “I think your teacher will like your kite.”

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Grade 5 • Page 12 38.

Where is Marly at the beginning of this story?

❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ 39.

G. at the park H. in school J. at home

How did Marly solve her problem?

❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ 40.

F. in China

A. She cut a square out of an old bed sheet. B. She painted an eagle on her kite. C. She asked her teacher for a different assignment. D. She asked her dad to help her build a kite.

Miss Singh said, “Each of you should make a kite that signifies something important to you.” The word signifies means _____.

❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ 41.

G. adds color to H. cancels out J. stands for

What happened after Marly and Papa finished making the kite?

❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ 42.

F. flies high

A. They tested it in the park. B. They painted an eagle on it. C. They tied a long tail to the bottom of it. D. They learned about the Chinese passion for kites.

At the end of the story, how did Marly feel about the homework assignment?

❍ ❍ ❍ ❍

F. bored G. excited H. upset J. nervous

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Grade 5 • Page 13 43.

Which detail shows how Marly felt about her kite?

❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ 44.

A. The kite flew perfectly. B. She said, “Wow, this kite really flies!” C. She jerked the string and made the kite swoop. D. She said, “I don’t know how to make a kite.”

Which is the best summary of this story?

❍ F. Marly had to make a kite for school. She did not like the assignment at first, but she and her dad made a great kite.

❍ G. Everyone in China has a passion for kites. On windy days, people of all ages go to the park to fly their kites.

❍ H. Marly and her dad used two pieces of balsa wood to make the kite. They stretched an old sheet over the wood and tied on a tail.

❍ J. In China, people make colorful kites. Each kite suggests something about the person who made it.

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Grade 5 • Page 14

Galileo Galileo Galilei was born in Pisa, Italy, in 1564. His father taught music while his mother cared for Galileo and his three siblings. The family was not wealthy, but Galileo’s parents paid for him to go to school. At first Galileo planned to become a doctor, but he changed his mind. He liked a different kind of science—the kind we now call physics. In Galileo’s time, not much was known about how objects moved. Centuries earlier, a Greek named Aristotle had written down his ideas about motion, and everyone seemed to believe them. Galileo questioned those ideas and did experiments that showed how things really worked. For example, Aristotle thought that a heavier object would fall faster than a lighter one of the same size and shape. No one had ever really tested this idea. It just seemed to make sense. Then Galileo came along, dropped two balls from a high tower, and discovered that they hit the ground at the same time! Here’s another example. When Galileo was only 17 years old, he saw a lamp hanging from a chain in a cathedral. A breeze caused the lamp to swing back and forth. Galileo timed the swings, using his pulse as a watch. He discovered that every swing of the lamp took the same amount of time, no matter how big or small the swing. This discovery later led to the use of pendulums in clocks. In later years, Galileo became interested in how the stars and planets move. He watched the night sky with a telescope he built himself. Once again, he saw things no one had ever seen before. For example, he saw that the moon was bumpy, not smooth. Then he noticed that the sun had spots that seemed to move. Galileo realized from his observations that the Earth was moving around the sun. A Polish scientist named Copernicus had said this recently, but no one believed him. Galileo knew that Copernicus was right. Unfortunately, Galileo’s statements got him into trouble with the Catholic Church. The Church said that Earth was at the center of the universe with the sun traveling around it. This was what people had long believed, but Galileo said it was untrue and was sent to jail. He was soon released, but for the rest of

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Grade 5 • Page 15 his life he had to stay in his house and yard. Galileo died in 1642, but his work helped to change the world. He is sometimes called the “father of modern science” because he showed us how important it is to look carefully at things and to test out ideas with experiments. 45.

Which would be another good title for this passage?

❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ 46.

A. “Growing Up in Pisa, Italy” B. “Around the Sun” C. “How Galileo Changed the World” D. “The Catholic Church”

When Galileo saw a lamp swinging from the ceiling of a cathedral, he noticed that _____.

❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ 47.

G. the lamp was about to fall from the ceiling H. each swing took the same amount of time J. the swings took longer when the church was breezy

Both Galileo and Copernicus believed that _____.

❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ 48.

F. the light inside the lamp was going dim

A. the planets travel around the sun B. two objects will fall at different speeds C. the sun travels around the Earth D. a pendulum can be used as a clock

According to this passage, Galileo was the father of modern science because he _____.

❍ ❍ ❍ ❍

F. almost became a doctor G. made careful observations and tested his ideas H. built a telescope and looked at the stars and planets J. belonged to the Catholic Church

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Grade 5 • Page 16 49.

You can tell from this passage that _____.

❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ 50.

A. Galileo knew Copernicus and exchanged letters with him B. Galileo’s parents wanted him to study music C. Galileo wished he had become a doctor D. the Catholic Church was very powerful in Galileo’s time

While he stayed at home in his later years, what did Galileo most likely do?

❍ ❍ ❍ ❍

F. began to practice medicine G. carried out science experiments H. learned to play music J. studied to become a priest

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Grade 5 • Answer Sheet Name __________________________________________________ Date _________________________

PHONICS

VOCABULARY

Sample: A

B

C

D

COMPREHENSION

11. A

B

C

D

26. F

G

H

J

12. F

G

H

J

27. A

B

C

D

13. A

B

C

D

28. F

G

H

J

1. A

B

C

D

14. F

G

H

J

29. A

B

C

D

2. F

G

H

J

15. A

B

C

D

30. F

G

H

J

3. A

B

C

D

16. F

G

H

J

31. A

B

C

D

4. F

G

H

J

17. A

B

C

D

32. F

G

H

J

5. A

B

C

D

18. F

G

H

J

33. A

B

C

D

6. F

G

H

J

19. A

B

C

D

34. F

G

H

J

7. A

B

C

D

20. F

G

H

J

35. A

B

C

D

8. F

G

H

J

21. A

B

C

D

36. F

G

H

J

9. A

B

C

D

22. F

G

H

J

37. A

B

C

D

10. F

G

H

J

23. A

B

C

D

38. F

G

H

J

24. F

G

H

J

39. A

B

C

D

25. A

B

C

D

40. F

G

H

J

41. A

B

C

D

42. F

G

H

J

43. A

B

C

D

44. F

G

H

J

45. A

B

C

D

46. F

G

H

J

47. A

B

C

D

48. F

G

H

J

49. A

B

C

D

50. F

G

H

J

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