Word Power: "The Fattest Bear in Alaska" p. 2
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ANSWER KEY to March/April 2020
Skill Builders and Quizzes
Word Power: “The Fattest Bear in Alaska” p. 2
adjectives that mean big or fat: chubby, plump, hulking
verbs that mean ate: chomped, gobbled
idioms that mean gaining weight: blow up, packing on pounds, bulking up
Nonfiction: “Attack from Outer Space” p. 4
Close Reading and Critical Thinking atmosphere without causing harm. The events in
1. Written this way, these words emphasize how very Chelyabinsk caused damage that injured people, but
loud and dramatic the space rock explosion was. (text no one died. The meteors that struck the two cities
features) in Russia are rare, and the catastrophic event that
2. Walls collapsed and people were knocked to the killed off the dinosaurs is even rarer. Also, scientists
ground. When windows shattered, razor-sharp pieces around the world are working hard to make sure what
of glass flew into homes, schools, and offices. About happened in Chelyabinsk doesn’t happen again. (text
1,500 people were injured. (text evidence) evidence)
3. The photograph shows what the fireball looked like
to the citizens of Chelyabinsk as it streaked across the Pause & Think
morning sky. (text features) 1. In Chelyabinsk on February 15, 2013, a fireball
4. Both are space rocks. However, meteors are streaks exploded in the sky. It damaged homes and injured
of light caused when a rock burns up in Earth’s 1,500 people.
atmosphere. They are called “fireballs” when they are 2. Sometimes space rocks knock into each other in outer
very large and bright. Meteorites are smaller pieces of space and fall to Earth.
a meteor that land on Earth. (compare and contrast) 3. The 1908 meteor was much larger and closer to the
5. After the asteroid crashed, dust clouds from the ground than the one in Chelyabinsk.
explosion blocked out the sun. Plants and animals 4. After the explosion, the people of Chelyabinsk
died. This event likely led to the extinction of the started looking for meteorites from the fireball on the
dinosaurs. (cause and effect) ground..
6. Events like that happen only once every 100 million
years or so. (text evidence)
7. The people of Chelyabinsk now look for meteorites as
a hobby. If they find any, they can sell them to make
money. Even small pieces can be worth thousands of
dollars. (drawing conclusions)
8. Answers will vary. Some students may say that
most of the debris that hits Earth burns up in the
Continued on next page ▶ANSWER KEY to March/April 2020
Skill Builders and Quizzes
Nonfiction: “Attack from Outer Space ” p. 4, cont’d.
Vocabulary Assessment
1. comets “Attack from Outer Space” Quiz
2. debris (Lower Level)
3. solar system 1. B (main idea, R.2)
4. missile 2. D (sequence, R.3)
5. vast 3. B (text structure, R.5)
6. asteroids 4. C (word meaning, R.4)
7. extinct 5. D (key detail, R.1)
8. meteoroids 6. A (text evidence, R.1)
Answers will vary but should be similar to:
Assessment 7. Tons of space debris hits Earth every day. Most of it
“Attack from Outer Space” Quiz burns up in Earth’s atmosphere, so it almost never
(On Level) causes damage to Earth. (key detail, R.1; cause and
1. C (author’s purpose, R.6) effect, R.3)
2. D (making inferences, R.1)
3. B (claims and reasons, R.8) Assessment:
4. B (vocabulary, R.4) “Attack from Outer Space” Quiz
5. A (main idea, R.2) (Higher Level)
6. A (cause and effect, R.3) 1. D (main idea, R.2)
7. D (text evidence, R.1) 2. B (text structure, R.5)
8. C (cause and effect, R.3) 3. C (sequencing, R.3)
Answers will vary but should be similar to: 4. A (vocabulary, R.4)
9. The explosion that happened 65 million years ago 5. A (compare and contrast, R.3)
was far more powerful than the one that happened 6. B (making inferences, R.1)
in 2013. The explosion 65 million years ago created 7. A (text evidence, R.1)
enough dust to block the sun. This killed off plants 8. C (main idea, R. 2)
and animals and probably led to dinosaurs becoming Answers will vary but should be similar to:
extinct. The 2013 space rock explosion was smaller 9. The fireball in Chelyabinsk left a flash of light that was
and less powerful. People were hurt, but no one was brighter than the sun. It made walls collapse. People
killed. (text evidence, R.1; compare and contrast, R.3) got knocked to the ground. Windows shattered. 1,500
10. Most of the space debris that hits Earth burns up in people were injured. In Tunguska, the meteoroid
the atmosphere without causing harm. The space exploded with the force of 200 atomic bombs. It
rock explosion in Chelyabinsk caused damage that knocked down 80 million trees. It almost burned the
injured people, but no one died. The meteors that shirt off S.B. Semenov who was more than 40 miles
struck the two cities in Russia are rare. The meteor away. (text evidence, R.1)
event that killed off the dinosaurs is even rarer. Also, 10. Greeks and Romans thought space rocks were
scientists around the world are working hard to make messages from the gods. Later, people thought that
sure what happened in Chelyabinsk doesn’t happen space rocks were actually from Earth but had been
again. (text evidence, R.1; problem and solution, R.3) swept up by strong winds. Ernst Chladani guessed
that the rocks actually came from outer space.
Nobody believed him until thousands of meteorites
fell in France. A scientist named Jean-Baptiste Biot
did research that showed everyone that rocks can
Continued on next page ▶ANSWER KEY to March/April 2020
Skill Builders and Quizzes
Nonfiction: “Attack from Outer Space” p. 4, cont’d.
come from outer space. (key ideas, R.2; how an idea Reading Kit
develops, R.3) Descriptive Details
Answers will vary but should be similar to:
Reading Kit Passage 2: “a fireball streaks across the blue-pink
Text Evidence morning sky;” “a flash of light brighter than the sun;”
1. Answers will vary but should be similar to: People saw “a trail of smoke”
a fireball streaking across “the blue-pink morning Passage 3: “BOOM! SMASH!;” “Walls collapse;” “Windows
sky.” Then they saw it disappear in “a flash of light” shatter”
with just a “trail of smoke” left behind. Passage 4: “knocked to the ground;” “almost burned the
2. D shirt off me”
3. Answers will vary but should be similar to: Semenov For the Descriptive Details chart on page 2, answers will
experienced a great force of power that knocked him vary but students should note two different descriptive
off his chair. He also experienced the intense heat details and tell what the details help the reader to see,
from the explosion that almost burned his shirt off. hear, or smell.
4. B
5. Answers will vary but should be similar to: Most Research Kit
people would probably walk right by a meteorite Answers will vary.
because they look like little black rocks. They don’t
look special.
Paired Texts: “The Boy Who Couldn’t Smile” p. 10
Close Reading and Critical Thinking They were concerned about his future. (drawing
1. He had few friends, and most of his neighbors didn’t conclusions)
trust him. (main idea) 7. This charity worked with a hospital about 700 miles
2. Osawa had a cleft lip, which caused his mouth and from his village to repair Osawa’s cleft lip for free.
lip to be misshapen. Because of this, the villagers (problem and solution)
believed he was cursed. (main idea) 8. This section describes how the operation to repair
3. He struggled to chew, to swallow, and to say certain Osawa’s cleft lip changed his life physically and
sounds. (cause and effect) socially. The successful surgery reshaped his mouth.
4. Most babies with clefts in America have the necessary Osawa now has many friends and enjoys going to
surgery to repair their mouths and go on to live school. (text features)
normal lives. However, millions of kids around the 9. Ella’s family could afford the surgery to repair her cleft
world can’t have their cleft lips repaired because their lip. Many families in other countries can’t pay for this
parents are too poor to afford the surgery. (compare operation. (making inferences)
and contrast) 10. Every year, on Ella’s birthday, they set up a lemonade
5. They farmed a small plot of land and couldn’t afford to stand to raise money for Smile Train. In 10 years,
pay for the operation. (key details) they’ve raised $250,000, which has repaired about
6. They were very protective of their son because they 1,000 smiles. (problem and solution)
saw how cruelly their neighbors had treated him. 11. They want to help people who don’t have the same
Continued on next page ▶ANSWER KEY to March/April 2020
Skill Builders and Quizzes
advantages they do. (character traits) 3. D (interpreting text, R.4)
12. Osawa’s parents learned about Smile Train from the 4. B (sequence, R.3)
radio. This charity provided free surgery to repair 5. C (text structure, R.5)
Osawa’s cleft. Ella had the surgery to repair her cleft 6. B (compare and contrast, R.3; text features, R.7)
when she was a baby because her parents could afford 7. A (making inferences, R.1)
the cost of the operation. (problem and solution) 8. C (text evidence, R.1)
Answers will vary but should be similar to:
Pause and Think 9. The author means that Osawa and his family have
1. Osawa had a cleft lip. His lip and mouth were a lot to be happy about because of the surgery.
misshapen. Now Osawa has friends. He laughs and plays. His
2. Many poor children with clefts live where there aren’t parents and grandfather no longer have to protect
many doctors or hospitals. Families might not be able him from cruel neighbors or worry about his future.
to pay for the surgery for their children. (interpreting text, R.4)
3. Smile Train provides free surgeries for kids with clefts 10. Ella and Osawa were both born with cleft lips. They
who cannot afford them. both had surgery to fix their cleft lips. In addition, they
4. Osawa’s life was changed by the surgery on his cleft have happy lives because they were able to get their
lip. He no longer looks different, and he now has lips fixed. (compare and contrast, R.3)
friends.
Assessment
Vocabulary (On Level) “The Boy Who Couldn’t Smile”/ “1,000
Answers will vary but should be similar to: Reasons to Smile” Quiz
1. it started to sink (Lower Level)
2. big bumps on it 1. C (making inferences, R.1)
3. spilled drinks all over the table 2. A (cause and effect, R.3)
4. buy toys for the dogs and cats in the animal shelter 3. B (cause/effect, RI.3)
5. split into two parts 4. C (interpreting text, R.4)
6. it was raining and she couldn’t go outside 5. A (main idea, R.2)
7. losing three games in a row 6. D (text evidence, R.1)
Answers will vary but should be similar to:
Vocabulary (Lower Level) 7. Osawa used to be sad and did not have many friends.
Answers will vary but should be similar to: His neighbors thought he was cursed and were scared
1. her friends come over to play of him. His family was worried he would never get
2. school notebook a job. He had a hard time chewing and saying some
3. had surgery to fix it sounds. After his surgery, he has friends. He looks
4. tree normal. He and his family are happy. (compare and
5. fell down contrast, R.3)
6. school because it was broken
7. feeds people Assessment
“The Boy Who Couldn’t Smile”/ “1,000
Assessment Reasons to Smile” Quiz
“The Boy Who Couldn’t Smile”/ “1,000 (Higher Level)
Reasons to Smile” Quiz 1. D (main idea, R.2)
(On Level) 2. A (making inferences, R.1)
1. B (text evidence, R.1) 3. B (vocabulary, R.4)
2. B (detail, R.1) 4. B (detail, R.1)
Continued on next page ▶ANSWER KEY to March/April 2020
Skill Builders and Quizzes
Paired Texts: “The Boy Who Couldn’t Smile” p. 10, cont’d.
5. B (sequencing, R.3) Text Reading Kit
6. D (text evidence, R.1)
7. A (making inferences, R.1) Problem ➔ Solution
8. C (text evidence, R.1) Osawa is born with a cleft Cleft surgery fixed Osawa’s
Answers will vary but should be similar to: lip. lip.
9. Osawa and Ella both were born with cleft lips and
both had surgery to fix them. However, Osawa’s Osawa’s parents did not Smile Train paid for
family could not afford the surgery. Ella’s family have the money to pay for Osawa’s surgery.
could. She had surgery as a baby. Osawa had surgery the surgery.
as a child. (compare and contrast, R.3)
10. Yes, Ella is only 12 years old, but she has raised over Neighbors were cruel to Osawa’s parents kept him
$250,000 dollars for a charity. That’s enough money to Osawa. close to protect him.
perform 1,000 cleft lip surgeries. She did this just by
hosting a lemonade stand, which young kids can do. The hospital for the surgery The hospital sent a driver
(reasons and evidence, R.8) was 700 miles away from to pick up Osawa and his
Osawa’s village. mother.
Many families around the Ella raises money for Smile
world cannot afford the Train so kids can have the
cost of cleft surgery. surgeries.
Compare and Contrast (KFT)
Osawa Ella
He or she was born with a cleft lip. ✔ ✔
He or she has cleft surgery as a baby. ✔
He or she had cleft surgery as a child. ✔
His or her parents could not afford the surgery. ✔
People were cruel to him or her before the surgery. ✔
Smile Train paid for his or her surgery. ✔
The surgery had a big effect on his or her life. ✔ ✔
He or she raises money for Smile Train. ✔
He or she feels lucky to have had the surgery. ✔ ✔
Continued on next page ▶ANSWER KEY to March/April 2020
Skill Builders and Quizzes
Fiction: “Enemy Pie” p. 14
Close Reading and Critical Thinking Pause and Think
1. He needs one because he considers Jeremy Ross to 1. The narrator doesn’t like Jeremy for two reasons.
be his enemy—his only one. Jeremy laughed when he Jeremy laughed when he struck out the narrator in
struck the narrator out and didn’t invite him to his baseball. Jeremy had a party on his trampoline and
trampoline party. (key details) didn’t invite the narrator.
2. He gets out his old recipe for Enemy Pie. (problem and 2. The dad tells the narrator that he has to spend a day
solution) with his enemy, Jeremy.
3. He says the recipe is a secret, but he really wants 3. The narrator tears down his enemy list because he
his son to figure out the meaning of Enemy Pie by doesn’t want Jeremy to see it.
himself. (making inferences) 4. Nothing bad happens when Jeremy eats Enemy Pie.
4. He’s surprised because he and the boy aren’t really Jeremy likes the pie a lot!
friends. (making inferences)
5. He’s about to ask Jeremy, his enemy, to play with him. Vocabulary
(making inferences) Write On!
6. He and Jeremy are having such a good time playing Answers will vary.
together that he can no longer consider Jeremy an
enemy. (main idea) Assessment
7. The picture shows Jeremy and the narrator playing “Enemy Pie” Quiz
together in the narrator’s tree house when his dad (On Level)
calls them down to dinner. It helps you imagine the On Level Quiz
scene that is described in this section of the story. 1. C (key detail, R.1)
(text features) 2. A (character, R.3)
8. He now considers Jeremy to be his friend and doesn’t 3. D (text evidence, R.1)
want him hurt. He’s kind and wants to protect his 4. C (cause and effect, R.3)
friend. (character traits) 5. D (character, R.3 )
9. There’s nothing harmful in the pie that Dad bakes. He 6. B (interpreting text, R.4)
baked it so his son would learn how to become friends 7. B (text evidence; R.1)
with Jeremy. (making inferences) 8. C (how a character changes, R.3)
10. Answers will vary. Students may say that Enemy Pie Answers will vary but should be similar to:
isn’t a real pie that you bake. It’s a way to become 9. Dad doesn’t tell the narrator what goes into Enemy Pie
friends with someone you once considered your because the ingredients in the pie aren’t what make it
enemy by getting to know him. The narrator learned work. What makes Enemy Pie work is for the narrator
this lesson as his relationship with Jeremy changed. to get to know his enemy, Jeremy. But if Dad told the
(expressing an opinion) narrator the truth, the narrator would never go along
11. Baking the Enemy Pie is really a way to get his son with the plan. (central message, R.2)
to spend time with Jeremy. Dad wants to teach him 10. At first, the narrator thinks Jeremy Ross has ruined
that getting to know the person you think is your what should’ve been a perfect summer. But by the end
enemy will change how you feel about him. Instead of the story, the narrator has gotten to know Jeremy.
of considering him an enemy, you might find out that They spend time together and become friends. You
he’s really a friend. (making inferences) can guess that at the end of the story, the narrator
feels like his summer has become perfect again. (how
a character changes, R.3)
Continued on next page ▶ANSWER KEY to March/April 2020
Skill Builders and Quizzes
Fiction: “Enemy Pie” p. 14, cont’d.
Assessment 4. How does the narrator feel about Jeremy eating
“Enemy Pie” Quiz Enemy Pie?
(Lower Level) At the Beginning He wants Jeremy to eat Enemy Pie
1. D (cause and effect, R.3) because he wants to get rid of his enemy.
2. A (text evidence; R.1) At the End He tries to stop Jeremy from eating Enemy
3. D (vocabulary, R.4) Pie because he doesn’t want something terrible to
4. C (character, R.3) happen to Jeremy.
5. B (cause and effect, R.3)
6. C (how a character changes, R.3) Sum It Up!
Answers will vary but should be similar to: Answers will vary but should be similar to:
7. Dad doesn’t tell the narrator what goes into Enemy Pie At the beginning of the story, the narrator thinks Jeremy
because the ingredients in the pie aren’t what make it Ross is his enemy because Jeremy is ruining his perfect
work. Dad is tricking the narrator into getting to know summer. By the end, he realizes spending time with
Jeremy. If Dad told the narrator the truth, the narrator Jeremy is fun, and he wants to keep Jeremy as a friend.
would never go along with the plan. (central message,
R.2) Making Inferences
Answers will vary but should be similar to:
How a Character Changes 1. You can infer that the narrator’s summer is not
Answers will vary but should be similar to: turning out the way he expected. The word
“should‘ve” tells you that what should have been
1. What does the narrator think Enemy Pie tastes like? perfect seems to be ending up as disappointing.
At the Beginning He thinks Enemy Pie is filled with 2. Dad wants the narrator to get to know his enemy
awful things like weeds, worms, and chewed gum, better so that they can become friends.
and will taste horrible. 3. The narrator is trying to get Dad to figure out that
At the End He thinks Enemy Pie is delicious. he doesn’t want his dad to serve Enemy Pie because
2. How does the narrator feel about spending time with Jeremy is no longer his enemy. You can guess that Dad
Jeremy? understands what his son means. But he pretends he
At the Beginning He thinks spending time with doesn’t because he knows Enemy Pie isn’t dangerous
Jeremy will be horrible and scary. and will help the two boys become friends.
At the End He thinks spending time with Jeremy is 4. The narrator blurts this out because Jeremy is now
fun. his friend, not his enemy. He is afraid something bad
3. What does think about letting Jeremy into his tree will happen to Jeremy if he eats Enemy Pie. He is also
house? afraid he’ll lose Jeremy as a friend if Jeremy eats it.
At the Beginning He says Jeremy is not allowed in his 5. Enemy Pie works because it gives the narrator a
tree house. reason to spend time with and get to know someone
At the End He thinks Jeremy isn’t being a very good he thought was his enemy. By the time they eat Enemy
enemy, so he takes his enemies list off the wall of his Pie, it doesn’t matter that it is just normal, delicious
tree house and lets Jeremy in. pie because the narrator and his former enemy are
now friends.
Continued on next page ▶ANSWER KEY to March/April 2020
Skill Builders and Quizzes
Play: Martina the Little Cockroach p. 20
Close Reading and Critical Thinking Vocabulary
1. Because she’s 200 days old, it’s time for her to choose a A. Answers will vary.
husband. (plot) B. 1. dazzling
2. Her friends want her to wear a new dress and lovely 2. insult
party shoes; however, Abuela wants her to follow her 3. swooped
directions for making a cake to offer to the suitors. 4. admires
(compare and contrast) 5. slithers
3. He never eats homemade cake, only cakes from fine C. Answers will vary.
bakeries. (key details)
4. He’s so self-centered and concerned with his Assessment
appearance that he will never be able to love anyone Martina the Little Cockroach (LH)
but himself. (character traits) (On Level)
5. Crabby means bad-tempered. Also, Luis is a crab. 1. D (setting, R.1)
(figurative language) 2. A (plot, R.1)
6. She thinks she would be batty, or crazy, to marry him 3. C (figurative language, R.4)
because he’s so rude and hurtful. (Also, Raul is a bat.) 4. C (key detail, R.1)
He spits out her cake and says it belongs in the trash. 5. D (character, R.3)
Then he calls her a bad cook. (figurative language/ 6. B (text evidence, R.1)
drawing conclusions) 7. C (key detail, R.1)
7. He is very polite and kind. He always bows and 8. B (character, R.3)
says “please.” He eats Martina’s cake even though it Answers will vary but should be similar to:
tastes horrible because he is nice—and he likes her. 9. Martina’s abuela is caring. She wants Martina to
(character traits) choose a husband who will be kind to Martina.
8. It is a test so Martina will find out what her suitors are Abuela is also clever. She has Martina offer the
really like. (plot) bad-tasting cake to the suitors to figure out who is
9. Her actions show that she is very wise and thoughtful and who is not. (character, R.3)
understands that people aren’t always as they first 10. Martina gets to find out what her suitors are really
appear to be. (character traits) like by offering them the bad-tasting cake. Señor
10. When Martina tastes Pérez’s cake, she says something Caracol refuses to eat the cake because it’s not from
nice even though it tastes horrible. Similarly, Pérez a fine bakery. This shows that he’s a snob. Luis spits
thanks Martina for her cake. He tells her it makes him out the cake and tells Martina that she must cook
smile because she’s sweet even if her cake is not. They food the way he likes it. This shows that Luis is selfish.
behave this way because they are kind and don’t want Raul insults Martina’s cooking which shows that he’s
to hurt each other’s feelings. Their actions show how rude. Only Pérez is polite and treats Martina kindly.
considerate they both are. (character traits) This behavior shows Martina that he is the suitor she
should marry. (central message, R.2)
Continued on next page ▶ANSWER KEY to March/April 2020
Skill Builders and Quizzes
Play: Martina the Little Cockroach p. 20, cont’d.
Character Traits Plot
Clever Answers will vary but should be similar to:
Martina makes clever jokes, such as saying that Luis is 1. It is time for Martina to choose a husband.
“too crabby.” 2. When the first three suitors taste Martina’s cake, she
Fun sees what they are really like. Señor Caracol refuses
Answers will vary but should be similar to: to taste it. Luis spits it out and says when they are
Martina likes to dance and enjoy the party with her married, Martina will cook food he likes. Raul calls
friends. Martina a “bad cook.”
Admirable 3. Pérez is polite, even though the cake tastes awful. He
Everyone admires Martina, including the many suitors asks how she learned to make her cake then tells her
who want to marry her. to taste it.
Answers will vary but could include: 4. Pérez asks Martina to marry him.
Confident, Sweet, Nice, Kind, or Wise 5. Martina and Pérez get married, bake their own
Confident: Martina stands up for herself when her first wedding cake, and fill it with sweetness.
three suitors insult her cake.
Sweet, Nice, or Kind: Martina is polite after she tastes
Pérez’s cake, even though it’s terrible.
Wise: Martina sees that she would not be happy with the
first three suitors by the way they react to her cake.
Debate: “Water Bottles: Handy or Harmful?” p. 26
Assessment 10. If companies stop selling bottled water, sea animals
“Water Bottles: Handy or Harmful?” Quiz might become healthier. They would no longer get
(On Level) sick from eating plastic bottles. But some people
1. D (key detail, R.1) might get sick more often. These people do not have
2. D (compare and contrast, R.3) safe drinking water. They need bottled water. [other
3. A (text evidence, R.1) effects may include: People might drink more sugary
4. B (key detail, R.1) sodas and sports drinks. People might have problems
5. C (text evidence, R.1) with their teeth if their tap water doesn’t have fluoride.
6. C (text structure, R.5) We would have less litter in our streets and parks.]
7. B (claims and reasons, R.8) (making inferences, R.1; cause and effect, R.3)
8. A (interpreting text, R.4)
Answers will vary but should be similar to:
9. Bottled water often isn’t better than tap water because
it often is just tap water. Also, bottled water is not
tested as strictly as tap water. Also, bottled water
creates lots of trash, but tap water doesn’t. Bottles end
up in landfills or as litter in our streets and oceans.
(compare and contrast, R.3)
Continued on next page ▶ANSWER KEY to March/April 2020
Skill Builders and Quizzes
Debate: “Water Bottles: Handy or Harmful?” p. 26, cont’d.
Assessment
“Water Bottles: Handy or Harmful?” Quiz
(Lower Level)
1. D (key detail, R.1)
2. B (interpreting text, R.4)
3. B (key detail, R.1)
4. D (cause and effect, R.3)
5. A (problem and solution, R.3)
6. C (text structure, R.5)
Answers will vary:
7. Plastic water bottles are harmful to the planet
because they create huge amounts of trash. It can take
hundreds of years for bottles to break down. Or they
are left in the street as trash. Sometimes they end up
in the ocean, which can be bad for sea animals.
My True Story: “I’m the Youngest Female Barber” p. 28
Paragraph Template
Answers will vary.
Grammar: “Fascinating Facts About Blood” p. 30
Grammar Activity female mosquitoes need blood to make their eggs.
1. Actually a muscle, your heart pumps blood through 6. Blood travels through tubes called vessels. As a matter
your body. The human heart is the size of a fist, but of fact, you have 60,000 miles of blood vessels inside
other creatures’ hearts can be as big as a piano or your body. Amazingly, that’s enough to go around
smaller than a pencil point. Earth more than twice.
2. Human blood is red, but other animals have different-
colored blood. Spiders have light-blue blood, and Grammar Scavenger Hunt
some worms have green blood. 1. a. In the weeks before the contest, bears like Holly
3. Scientists have shown that a big laugh can help your caught slippery fish in their powerful paws and
blood flow, so funny jokes are good for your heart! chomped down with their mighty jaws.
4. Human blood has gold in it. However, it’s a tiny b. W hen the cold Alaskan winter hits, the bears’ food
amount, so you shouldn’t expect your next paper cut supplies disappear.
to make you rich. c. To survive this harsh winter, the bears go into
5. Vampires aren’t real, but there are plenty of blood- hibernation.
sucking animals in nature. Fleas drink blood, and d. S nuggled up in their dens, the bears will not eat,
Continued on next page ▶ANSWER KEY to March/April 2020
Skill Builders and Quizzes
Grammar: “Fascinating Facts About Blood” p. 30, cont’d.
drink, pee, or poop for months. 5. a. A round the world, more than 2 billion people have
e. W hile these plump bears snooze, their bodies use water that contains harmful germs or chemicals.
their extra fat to stay healthy and warm throughout b. I f they were to drink this water, they could get very
the winter. sick or even die.
f. N
ow that it’s spring, Holly soon will be crawling out c. S o for them, bottled water isn’t just an easy choice.
of her den. d. I f your tap water doesn’t contain fluoride, bottled
2. We live on a planet that is drifting through space, and water could be a healthy choice for you.
there are objects drifting along with us. e. I f it weren’t available, you might drink a sugary
3. In many places, kids with clefts die young or end up beverage, like lemonade, soda, or a sports drink.
begging on the streets. (“Instead, they tried to protect 6. a. He decided not to take the class, but it sounded cool
him.” is also an acceptable answer.) to me.
4. a. He threw it, and it came right back to him. b. My mom warned me that I might be the only girl in
b. I threw it, and it went into my backyard. the class, but I didn’t care.
“One Word, Three Ways” p.31
Answers will vary.
Poem: “Make up your mind March!” p. 32
Close Reading and Critical Thinking Personification
1. falling, calling (rhyme) The poet is asking March to make up its mind about
2. The poet describes cold March weather with snow something.
falling. (interpreting text) mind
3. The poet describes warm March weather with robins April
singing. (interpreting text) show up; pick one; rooting
4. please, freeze (rhyme) Answers will vary but should be similar to: The month of
5. March is asked to make a choice, to pick something. March is sometimes cold, like winter. At other times, it’s
(personification) more like spring because it’s warmer and you can hear the
6. She wants March to pick the weather, either warm like Robins singing. The poet wants March to choose whether
spring or freezing cold like winter. (main idea) it’s going to bring winter or spring. The month of April will
7. door, for (rhyme) be here soon. We know that April wants spring to come.
8. April is the month that follows March. (interpreting Answers will vary for the rest of the activity.
text)
9. April wants the March weather to be warm like
spring, not cold like winter. (making inferences)
10. Answers will vary. Students may think it’s a good title
because it sums up what the poet is asking March
to do in the poem: decide if it will be a warm or cold
month. (expressing an opinion)You can also read
