Reading & Writing · Unit 4 · Weeks 19–24 · 45–55 min (fine to split over two sittings)

Opinion Essays, Inference & Point of View

36 points total · Name: ____________________ Date: __________

For the adult

This test covers Weeks 19–24: the parts of an opinion essay, reasons and evidence, linking words, making inferences, context clues, the author's purpose, and telling your own view apart from an author's or a narrator's. You may read all directions and the questions aloud. Your child reads the essay and the short story alone. When a question asks for your child's own view, any view is fine as long as it comes with a reason; there is no single right opinion. In Language and Word Study, read only the directions. For the opinion paragraph, read the prompt aloud and allow a minute to plan reasons before writing. Do not spell words for your child. Two sittings are fine: the essay and story on one day, the rest on the next.

Part 1: Reading: An Opinion Essay

11 points

Read the essay written by a third grader. Then answer the questions.

1.
What is the author's opinion?
(1 pt)
2.
List the author's three reasons.
(2 pts)
3.
Copy one piece of evidence the author gives for the reason "watching fish can help kids feel calm."
(1 pt)
4.
What is the author's main purpose for writing this essay?
(1 pt)
○ to persuade readers that classrooms should have fish tanks○ to tell a made-up story about a fish○ to explain how to clean a fish tank
5.
Which linking word does the author use to answer people who say a tank is too much work?
(1 pt)
6.
Read: "Students could observe how fish eat, rest and swim." What does observe mean? What clue helped you?
(2 pts)
7.
What does the author ask readers to do in the conclusion?
(1 pt)
8.
The author thinks a fish tank is worth the work. What is your own view? Give a reason of your own that is not one of the author's reasons.
(2 pts)

Part 2: Reading: Making Inferences

6 points

Read the short story. Use clues from the story and what you already know to answer.

9.
What special day is it? Write two clues that helped you know.
(2 pts)
10.
What is Dad most likely baking in the oven?
(1 pt)
11.
Who is telling this story? Which words show you?
(1 pt)
12.
The narrator thinks surprises are the best part of the whole year. What do you think? Tell whether your view is the same or different, and why.
(2 pts)

Part 3: Language

6 points

Read each sentence by yourself. Follow the directions.

13.
Circle the right word. Of all the fish in the tank, the goldfish is the (bigger / biggest).
(1 pt)
○ bigger○ biggest
14.
Circle the right words. Ana reads (more quietly / most quietly) than her brother.
(1 pt)
○ more quietly○ most quietly
15.
Join the two sentences. Begin your new sentence with Although. I wanted to swim. The water was cold.
(2 pts)
16.
Fix the verb so the whole sentence stays in the past tense. Yesterday we walked to the pond and see a heron.
(1 pt)
17.
Add the missing comma. Ms. Hall lives in Boise Idaho.
(1 pt)

Part 4: Word Study

9 points

Read each item by yourself. Follow the directions.

18.
Add the ending. Use the spelling rules. hot + est = ____ wide + er = ____
(2 pts)
19.
What does chewable mean?
(1 pt)
20.
Add -ment to make a noun. amaze → ____
(1 pt)
21.
Add the ending. Change y to i first. hurry + ed = ____ silly + est = ____
(2 pts)
22.
Add -y to make a describing word. cloud → ____
(1 pt)
23.
Use the words in the box to make two compound words. rain coat sun flower
(2 pts)

Part 5: Writing: Opinion Paragraph

4 points

Write an opinion paragraph on your own paper or in the box.

24.
Should kids have a job to do at home every week? Write an opinion paragraph. State your opinion, give two reasons, support each reason with evidence (a fact, an example or something from your own life), use linking words, and end with a conclusion.
(4 pts)