POEMS & PLAYS “Your way to a better STAAR day”

B-A-T-H 1

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My dog Lucy, she loves lakes and swimming, running in the mud— but it's a different story when I try to get her in the tub. She hears the water running and she runs too, but the other way— and bath is just a dirty word that no one in our house can say. At B she makes a beeline for the backyard, but we shut the door. At A she slips and skids the other way across the kitchen floor. At T she whines and whimpers as we drag her kicking to the tub. At H she gives us hopeless eyes as Dad and I begin to scrub. Even when we spell it out, dear Lucy, she's too smart for me. She doesn't care about the muddy prints she leaves across my sheets. She always gets the last laugh, though, for when we towel 'round her eyes, she soaks the whole of everything by shaking her fur dry.

©Forde-Ferrier, L.L.C.

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1

2

3

Which element is found in this poem? A

Rhythm

B

Short line length

C

Repeating words

D

Stanzas

The main mood in this poem is – F

sadness

G

mystery

H

suspense

J

humor

What does hopeless mean in this poem? A

With lots of hope

B

With a little hope

C

With no hope

D

Sad

©Forde-Ferrier, L.L.C.

2

4

What does the word prints mean as it is used in the poem? prints \prĭnts\ noun 1 designs on paper 2 marks on a surface 3 a newspaper 4 fabrics with designs

5

6

F

Meaning 1

G

Meaning 2

H

Meaning 3

J

Meaning 4

How can the reader tell this poem is NOT written in free verse? A

Some lines are longer than others.

B

The poem has no stanzas.

C

Some lines are numbered.

D

The poem has a rhyming pattern.

Which answer shows how to pronounce whimpers? F

wĭm’-pərs

G

wīm-pərs’

H

hĭm’-pērs

J

wĭm-pērs’

©Forde-Ferrier, L.L.C.

3

7

Read line 16 from the poem. At A she slips and skids This line best shows –

8

A

why Lucy doesn’t like to take a bath

B

how muddy Lucy is

C

how Lucy looks as she tries to avoid a bath

D

how Lucy got so dirty

Read the title of the poem.

B-A-T-H The poet most likely wrote the title in this way –

9

F

to show how much Lucy does not like baths

G

because the speaker spells bath to try to fool Lucy

H

because the poem is about giving a dog a bath

J

to show why dogs need baths

What does Lucy do when she hears the letter B? A

Runs through the kitchen

B

Jumps on the speaker’s bed

C

Runs toward the backyard

D

Whines

©Forde-Ferrier, L.L.C.

4

10 Read line 13 from the poem. At B she makes a beeline This line best shows that – F

Lucy runs straight to the backyard

G

the speaker is chasing Lucy

H

Lucy is tracking mud in the house

J

Lucy is a happy dog

©Forde-Ferrier, L.L.C.

5

The Big One Characters Toby Tim Tom Scene 1 1

[The play takes place in a fishing boat on a lake. When the curtain opens, TOBY, TIM, and TOM are standing in the boat. They are wearing life jackets and holding fishing poles. TIM is baiting his hook and TOM is digging through a tackle box. Stage lights are bright.]

2

TOBY [testing the wind]: It's going to be good fishing today! I can tell already.

3

TIM: I sure hope you're right. I haven't had much luck out here lately.

4

TOM: Same here—I've been out here three days this week, and I haven't had a single bite yet.

5

TOBY [surprised]: Three days? Well, you should have called me! You know I'm a lucky charm! Stand back and let me show you how it's done. I'll have this bucket full of fish before noon. I guarantee it!

6

TIM: Toby, you couldn't fill that bucket if you had all week.

7

TOBY: Just watch me, boys. I'm catching the Big One today!

8

[TIM and TOM roll their eyes. All three drop their lines in the water, and the curtain closes.] Scene 2

9

[When the curtain opens, TOBY, TIM, and TOM are seated, fishing quietly. They appear tired, bored, and sunburned. Stage lights are still bright.]

10

TIM [to TOBY]: Well, how's that bucket of fish coming along?

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TOM: Yeah, we're still waiting on that Big One, Toby! I thought you were supposed to be our lucky charm!

©Forde-Ferrier, L.L.C.

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12

TOBY: Don't be so quick to give up, boys. Good things come to those who wait, you know. The Big One is probably down there right now, eyeing my hook!

13

TIM: Forget it, Toby. It's lunchtime. I think we've all earned a break by now.

14

TOBY [waving a hand]: Just five more minutes. I have a really good feeling about this hole right here—

15

[Suddenly, TOBY feels something on his line and starts reeling excitedly.]

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TOBY: See, I told you! Get the net! Hurry up!

17

[TOM scrambles for the net. But before he reaches it, TOBY pulls his catch into the boat. To TOBY's disappointment, it's only an old boot.]

18

TIM [joking]: You were right, Toby! We should all skip lunch to fish this hole! That's a good looking boot!

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TOM: Yeah, if we're really lucky, we might catch a matching pair!

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TOBY: Go ahead and laugh now, boys. When I catch the Big One, you'll be begging me to take your picture with it!

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[TOBY tosses the boot to the back of the boat. TIM passes out sandwiches and drinks, and the curtain closes.] Scene 3

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[When the curtain opens, the back of the boat is filled with junk from the fishing hole. Stage lights are low.]

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TIM: Come on, guys, I say we pack it up. We're losing light.

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TOM: Yeah, so much for Toby being our lucky charm. We didn't catch a thing all day again!

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TOBY: Hey, speak for yourselves!

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TIM: I hope you're not bragging about that pile of junk. An old boot, a rusty license plate, a tin can, and a rubber tire don't exactly count as the Big One, Toby!

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TOBY: Maybe I was just saving the best cast for last!

©Forde-Ferrier, L.L.C.

7

28

[TOBY casts his line offstage. TIM and TOM look on doubtfully. They begin to pack up. But suddenly, TOBY feels something on his line again.]

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TOBY: Hey, I've got something!

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TOM: What is it, another boot? Hey, maybe you caught our anchor this time!

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TOBY: No, it's the Big One! I'm serious! Hurry up and get the net before I lose it!

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[TIM scrambles for the net again, but as he grabs onto it, the boat starts moving. TOBY, TIM, and TOM struggle to keep their balance.]

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TIM: That really is the Big One, Toby! It's pulling the boat, anchor and all!

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[The boat drifts across stage. TOBY struggles with the fishing pole.]

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TOM: Reel it in, Toby, get it!

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TIM [looking over the side of the boat]: Are we going to need a bigger net?

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TOBY: No, we're going to need a bigger boat! How's that for luck!

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[The “Big One” pulls the boat offstage, and the curtain closes.]

©Forde-Ferrier, L.L.C.

8

1

Look at the diagram below.

fishing poles boat life jackets Which answer makes the best title for the diagram?

2

A

Setting of the Play

B

Stage Directions

C

Props Used in the Play

D

Main Idea of the Play

The stage lights are low in Scene 3 to – F

explain that the boys are very tired

G

show that the sun is going down

H

show how excited the boys are

J

show that the boys are not very good at catching fish

©Forde-Ferrier, L.L.C.

9

3

4

5

What is the main problem for the boys in this play? A

They are not catching any fish.

B

They don’t get along with each other.

C

They become lost.

D

Their boat starts to sink at the end of the play.

In paragraph 8, TIM and TOM roll their eyes because – F

they are bored with fishing

G

they are excited to see TOBY catch a big fish

H

they don’t believe TOBY will catch fish

J

there is no more bait

Look at the table of information below. Junk the Boys Catch While Fishing Boot Tin Can License Plate

Which answer best fits in the blank box of the table? A

Old Fishing Tackle

B

Tire

C

Bottles

D

Piece of Wood

©Forde-Ferrier, L.L.C.

10

6

7

8

Which answer is NOT true about how each scene is similar? F

All characters have speaking lines in each scene.

G

The setting in each scene is a boat on a lake.

H

Toby thinks he will catch a fish in each scene.

J

The boys catch a fish in each scene.

Which answer shows dialogue spoken by TOBY in Scene 3? A

No, we're going to need a bigger boat! How's that for luck!

B

TOBY struggles with the fishing pole.

C

Are we going to need a bigger net?

D

TOBY:

What is the main idea of Scene 1? F

TIM and TOM don’t want to go fishing.

G

TOBY teaches TIM and TOM how to fish.

H

The boys are fishing together for the first time.

J

TOBY is confident that he will catch fish.

©Forde-Ferrier, L.L.C.

11

9

What is the meaning of bite as it is used in the play? bite 1 2 3 4 A

Meaning 1

B

Meaning 2

C

Meaning 3

D

Meaning 4

\bīt\ noun a small meal a wound the grip of a tool the attempt of a fish to take bait

10 The reader can tell from reading paragraph 9 that the boys – F

are excited about fishing together

G

have been fishing for a long time

H

are about to catch a big fish

J

are hungry

©Forde-Ferrier, L.L.C.

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POEMS & PLAYS Grade 4

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