UNIT 3 WEEK 1 Read the passage Seasick before answering Numbers 1 through 5. Seasick Jill walked slowly to the school bus stop where four other kids were already standing. She was headed for another long, confusing day of sixth grade at her new middle school. She had waited at this bus stop all week, but she knew only two of the kids names. Kaitlyn was the tall seventh grader, and Peter was the boy with curly hair who was winking at her? No, he was just rubbing his eye. A couple of the kids at the bus stop said Hi, or gave her a quick smile, which only made Jill feel more self-conscious. She was glad when they went back to talking about the new seventh-grade math teacher, someone Jill hadn t even seen yet. As Jill waited, she shivered in the wind, which was nothing like the soft breezes she left behind in St. Augustine, Florida. Soon the bus rumbled up and squealed to a stop. Kaitlyn headed for the fifth seat on the left, and Jill slid in beside her, making sure not to get too close. To Jill s advantage, the seats were assigned. She and Kaitlyn had sat next to each other on the bus all week. But Kaitlyn hadn t said much to Jill or to anyone else, Jill noticed. Instead, Kaitlyn had been totally preoccupied with her book. After a couple of days, Jill wondered if Kaitlyn might actually be shy, too. At least then, they would have something in common besides riding that bus! Jill sighed and reached into her coat pocket. Nestled there was a seashell that she received in the mail the day before from her best friend, Sarina. It meant a lot that Sarina had carefully packed up the shell and mailed it to her. Sarina misses me, Jill thought, but not nearly as much as I miss her. Jill admired the delicate shell. Suddenly, Kaitlyn suddenly turned and asked, What is that? Embarrassed, Jill mumbled, It s just a seashell from my friend. 106 Grade 6 Approaching-Level Weekly Assessment Unit 3, Week 1
Where did you get it? Kaitlyn asked, putting her hand out to take the shell. Jill reluctantly gave it to her, saying, My friend sent it from where I lived in Florida. Kaitlyn s face softened as she whispered, Where in Florida? St. Augustine, Jill told her. It s on the east coast. UNIT 3 WEEK 1 Kaitlyn smiled and nodded, saying, I know exactly where it is because I m from Fort Pierce. I know where that is! Jill said. It s south of St. Augustine! Nodding, Kaitlyn held up the seashell and said, And this shell is called a Lightning Whelk! Jill said. How long ago did you move from Fort Pierce? About three months, the older girl answered, three long months. I really miss the ocean and the beaches and Kaitlyn turned her head and stared out the bus window, but Jill had heard the desperation in her voice. I have more seashells at home, Jill told her, if you d like to see them. Kaitlyn turned back to Jill, smiling softly, and Jill finally felt the warmth she had been missing. Approaching-Level Weekly Assessment Unit 3, Week 1 Grade 6 107
Now answer Numbers 1 through 5. Base your answers on Seasick. 1 This question has two parts. First, answer part A. Then, answer part B. Part A: What is the theme of the passage? A Friends can surprise you sometimes. B Everyone gets homesick after moving. C Seashells bring back happy and sad memories. D People become friends when they have things in common. Part B: Which sentence from the passage helps to show the theme? A Jill walked slowly to the school bus stop where four other kids were already standing. B A couple of the kids at the bus stop said Hi, or gave her a quick smile, which only made Jill feel more self-conscious. C Nestled there was a seashell that she received in the mail the day before from her best friend, Sarina. D Kaitlyn smiled and nodded, saying, I know exactly where it is because I m from Fort Pierce. 108 Grade 6 Approaching-Level Weekly Assessment Unit 3, Week 1
2 This question has two parts. First, answer part A. Then, answer part B. Part A: Read the sentence from the passage. Instead, Kaitlyn had been totally preoccupied with her book. What does preoccupied mean? A absorbed in something B while absorbed in something C to absorb someone s thoughts D someone whose thoughts are absorbed Part B: Which part of speech is preoccupied in the sentence? A adjective B adverb C noun D verb 3 How would the passage be different if Kaitlyn wrote it? A It would show that Jill is lonely. B It would tell what Kaitlyn thinks of Jill. C It would tell about Jill s first day on the bus. D It would show that Jill knew Kaitlyn in Florida. Approaching-Level Weekly Assessment Unit 3, Week 1 Grade 6 109
4 Read the sentence from the passage. Kaitlyn turned her head and stared out the bus window, but Jill had heard the desperation in her voice. Which describes the word desperation? A a verb that means to lose hope B a noun that means hopelessness C an adjective that means hopeless D an adverb that means without hope 5 Read the message of the passage. Then choose one sentence from the passage that supports this message. Write the number of the sentence in the chart. Message You can find friends no matter where you go. Supporting Sentence Sentences: 1 - Kaitlyn was the tall seventh grader, and Peter was the boy with curly hair who was winking at her? 2 - As Jill waited, she shivered in the wind, which was nothing like the soft breezes she left behind in St. Augustine, Florida. 3 - Kaitlyn headed for the fifth seat on the left, and Jill slid in beside her, making sure not to get too close. 4 - Sarina misses me, Jill thought, but not nearly as much as I miss her. 5 - Kaitlyn turned back to Jill, smiling softly, and Jill finally felt the warmth she had been missing. 110 Grade 6 Approaching-Level Weekly Assessment Unit 3, Week 1
Read the passage Pele and the Pig Man before answering Numbers 6 through 10. UNIT 3 WEEK 1 Pele and the Pig Man Long, long ago, the beautiful fire goddess Pele set out across the ocean in a splendid canoe. When she reached the Hawaiian Islands, she knew she had found a peaceful place to make her new home. Immediately, she dug into the sand on the beach. Then she hollowed out a lovely, warm fire pit. From the hole she dug, fire and smoke poured forth, but as the waves rushed in from the ocean, the fire hole instantly filled with water and vapors. That angered Pele, which was not hard to do, since she had an uncontrollable temper. She set out again to find a warm, cozy home. By and by she came to Hawaii, the Big Island. There she saw looming the great peak of the volcano Kilauea. But she also spotted a cozy nook in the crater. Barely able to stay awake, she settled into her new dwelling and decided to relax for a few days until she had recovered from her labor. Pele had caught the attention of Kamapua a, an eager and powerful demigod. Upon spying Pele, Kamapua a instantly fell in love. He decided he wanted to marry her. For even with her terrible temper, Pele was the most beautiful woman in the Hawaiian Islands. Kamapua a appeared to Pele as a handsome man, singing ballads that spoke of his admiration and devotion. But this disguise did not fool Pele, for she had heard tales of Kamapua a. She knew that, like herself, Kamapua a could anger easily. She knew that he could be destructive when he was angered. When his destructive urges overcame him, he changed his appearance and took on the form of a wild hog. Approaching-Level Weekly Assessment Unit 3, Week 1 Grade 6 111
UNIT 3 WEEK 1 So, Pele feared she could not trust the handsome man who visited her each day. For days, she agonized about how to make him reveal his true self. She created a plan to taunt Kamapua a mercilessly. One day he could stand it no more and turned into a hog, unleashing his destructive self. Seeing this trickery, Pele was enraged. In her fury, she sent lava flowing down the mountainside to drive Kamapua a away. Kamapua a, who had his own powers, poured a rainstorm into the volcano, putting out the fires. Back and forth they went, first fire and then rain. Eventually this destructive argument awakened the great gods from their slumber. Enough! the gods cried out irritably. After thinking over how to punish them, the gods divided the island forever. They commanded Kamapua a to stay in the wet forests, where hogs belong. They left the mountain and its volcano to Pele. They could never quiet Pele s temper, however. She still shakes the earth, lights up the sky, and makes lava flow whenever something displeases her. 112 Grade 6 Approaching-Level Weekly Assessment Unit 3, Week 1
Now answer Numbers 6 through 10. Base your answers on Pele and the Pig Man. 6 This question has two parts. First, answer part A. Then, answer part B. Part A: Read the sentence from the passage. From the hole she dug, fire and smoke poured forth, but as the waves rushed in from the ocean, the fire hole instantly filled with water and vapors. What does vapors mean? A mist B misty C in the mist D to turn into mist Part B: Which part of speech is vapors? A adjective B adverb C noun D verb Approaching-Level Weekly Assessment Unit 3, Week 1 Grade 6 113
7 This question has two parts. First, answer part A. Then, answer part B. Part A: What is the message of the passage? A Outer beauty is not important. B All people show their true nature. C Everyone can get along if they try. D Some people are nicer than others. Part B: Which sentence from the passage helps to show this message? A When she reached the Hawaiian Islands, she knew she had found a peaceful place to make her new home. B Upon spying Pele, Kamapua a instantly fell in love. C One day he could stand it no more and turned into a hog, unleashing his destructive self. D Eventually this destructive argument awakened the great gods from their slumber. 8 Which helps to show the theme of the passage? A Pele rests in the volcano Kilauea. B Kamapua a climbs Kilauea to see Pele. C Pele tries to make Kamapua a show his true self. D The gods become angry with Pele and Kamapua a. 114 Grade 6 Approaching-Level Weekly Assessment Unit 3, Week 1
9 Read the sentence from the passage. For days, she agonized about how to make him reveal his true self. Which describes the word agonized? A a verb meaning worried a lot B a noun meaning a great worry C an adjective meaning very worried D an adverb meaning with great worry 10 Underline the sentence that best supports the theme of the passage. Kamapua a appeared to Pele as a handsome man, singing ballads that spoke of his admiration and devotion. But this disguise did not fool Pele, for she had heard tales of Kamapua a. She knew that, like herself, Kamapua a could anger easily. She knew that he could be destructive when he was angered. When his destructive urges overcame him, he changed his appearance and took on the form of a wild hog. STOP Approaching-Level Weekly Assessment Unit 3, Week 1 Grade 6 115