MCAS 2001, 4th Grade English (ELA), Questions 7 to 15

There are shelves for shirts and sweaters,
there are hangers for his jeans,
a drawer for socks and underwear,
a rack for magazines,
there's a fishtank and a birdcage
perched upon the handle bars,
a bookcase, and a telescope
to watch the moon and stars.

There's a telephone, a blender,
and a stove to cook his meals,
there's a sink to do the dishes
somehow fastened to the wheels,
there's a portable piano,
and a set of model trains,
an automatic bumbershoot
that opens when it rains.

There's a desk or typing letters
on his fabulous machine,
a stall for taking showers,
and a broom to keep things clean,
but you'll never see him ride it,
for it isn't quite complete,
Michael left no room for pedals,
And there isn't any seat.

Text copyright © 1984 by Jack Prelutsky

Are you well prepared to be a safe bicycle rider? Read these rules to see.

• Know and follow all the bicycle rules for riding in your city or town.
• Put front and rear reflectors and pedal reflectors on your bike.
• Wear a helmet to protect your head.
• Always use hand signals for slowing down, stopping, or turning.
• Keep both hands on the handlebars except when giving hand signals.
• Ride on the right side of the road with the flow of traffic.
• When riding with others, always ride single file.
• Watch out for people walking.
• Watch out for cars pulling into traffic.
• Watch out for car doors being opened suddenly.
• Slow down before crossing streets.
• Walk your bike across busy street crossings.
• Do not carry other people on your bike.
• Never stunt ride or show off.
• Always lock your bike when not in use.

"Bicycle Rules of the Road" from A SOFT PILLOW FOR AN ARMADILLO in HEATH READING by Alvermann, et al. Copyright © 1989 by D.C. Heath & Company. Reprinted by permission of Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Question #7

A. informational writing.

B. diary writing.

C. poetic writing.

D. descriptive writing.

Question #8

A. signaling when you turn left

B. wearing gloves in cold weather

C. riding single file on back roads

D. sharing your seat while you pedal

Question #9

A. handlebars.

B. front wheel.

C. back wheel.

D. pedals.

Question #10

A. brake.

B. seat.

C. gears.

D. handlebars.

Question #11

A. noun.

B. verb.

C. adjective.

D. pronoun.

Question #12

A. a door.

B. an axle.

C. an umbrella.

D. a curtain.

Question #13

A. They are proper nouns.

B. Each begins a sentence.

C. A section of the poem ends.

D. A rhyme pattern begins.

Question #14

A. under the speed.

B. not made for speed.

C. likely to speed.

D. built to speed.

Question #15 (Open-Response Question)