Theme Post Test
Name___________________________________ Date____________ Period__________
A Clean Park
Tyler ran into the kitchen. “Mom, I’m going to the park!” he said. “Wear your helmet!” his mom called
back. The park was just down the street. Tyler grabbed his bike and rode there. It was pretty much his
favorite place to go. The park looked pretty crowded. Some kids were playing. But other kids held
garbage bags. They were picking up trash.
Tyler stopped his bike. One of the kids was Lauren, a girl from his school. She waved at Tyler. “We’re
cleaning up the park today,” she said. “Want to help?” “No thanks,” Tyler said. Today was Saturday,
a day off. He came to the park to have fun, not to work!
Tyler rode his bike around the path. He passed the swings and slide. He passed the small pond. As he
rode, he saw things he never noticed before. There was lots of garbage on the ground. He saw old
soda bottles. He saw old food wrappers. It was pretty gross.
Tyler rode back to Lauren. He got off his bike. “I’ll help,” he said. Lauren smiled. “Here,” she said. She
gave him a bag. Tyler and the kids cleaned for about an hour. When they were done, the park
looked great. Tyler rode his bike around the path again. There were no old soda bottles. There were
no old food wrappers. Tyler smiled. Now the park was better than ever!
1. Which statement best summarizes the story?
a. Lauren organized a group of kids from school to clean the park. Tyler didn’t want
to help, but he did anyway.
b. Tyler went to the park to play, but when he got there he noticed people cleaning
up. At first he didn’t want to pick up trash, but when he noticed the condition of the
park he decided to help.
c. Tyler loved riding his bike on the path in the park, but he notice how dirty it was and
asked Lauren to help clean it up.
d. Tyler’s mom told him to go clean up the park. He didn’t want to help, so he rode his
bike around the path instead, avoiding the people who were cleaning up.
2. What is the theme in this story?
a.
It feels good to keep your community clean.
b.
It is important to listen to your friends.
c.
Helping your friends is the right thing to do.
d.
Saturday is a day for work.
3. Which detail does not support the theme?
a. Lauren was picking up trash.
b. Tyler noticed trash on the ground.
c. Tyler rode his bike.
d. Tyler thought the park looked better.
The Tortoise and the Hare
The tortoise and the hare were going to have a race. The hare knew he was faster than the tortoise.
The hare told the tortoise that he would be waiting for the slow poke at the finish line. After the race
had begun, the hare decided he was fast enough he could take a break and catch up to the
tortoise later. The tortoise, even though he was slow, kept trying his hardest to win the race. When the
hare tried to catch up and beat the tortoise it was too late. He had waited too long to try to win the
race and the tortoise beat him.
4. Which sentence would not be included in a summary of this story?
a. The hare told the tortoise that he would be waiting for the slow poke at the finish line.
b. The hare decided he could take a break and catch up to the tortoise later.
c. He had waited too long to try to win the race and the tortoise beat him.
d. The tortoise and the hare were going to have a race.
5. Which statement is the best theme for this story?
a. Being fast means you always win
b. Slow and steady wins the race
c. You should give up if you are the slowest
d. Winning isn’t everything
Big Time Basketball
In his sophomore year of high school, John tried out for the varsity basketball team at Maple Heights
High School in Maple Heights, Ohio. But at five feet and eleven inches tall, the coach believed that
John was too short to play at that level, so he was cut from the team. John didn’t let this obstacle
defeat him. In fact, it pushed him to work even harder. He trained vigorously and grew another four
inches the following summer. When he finally made the varsity squad, John averaged 25 points a
game and went on to become one of the greatest basketball players in history.
6. Which statement best describes the summary of this passage?
a. John wanted to be an NBA player, but didn’t make the team because he was too short.
b. John wanted to play basketball on the high school team, but didn’t make the team because
he wasn’t good enough. He practiced and got better and made the team.
c. John wanted to play on the high school basket ball team, but he was too short and was cut
from the team. He trained had and grew over the summer and made the team leading him to
become one of the greatest players in history.
d. John wanted to try out for an NBA team, but he was too short and didn’t make it. He
practiced and grew over the summer and made it to the NBA.
7. What is the best theme of the story?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Hard work pays off
Good always wins over evil
Treat others the way you want to be treated
Winning isn’t everything
8. Which sentence gives the best evidence to support the theme?
a. In his sophomore year of high school, John tried out for the varsity basketball team at Maple
Heights High School in Maple Heights, Ohio.
b. But at five feet and eleven inches tall, the coach believed that John was too short to play at
that level, so he was cut from the team.
c. He trained vigorously and grew another four inches the following summer.
d. When he finally made the varsity squad, John averaged 25 points a game and went on to
become one of the greatest basketball players in history.
Answer Key
Q1:B
PTS:1
Q2:A
PTS:1
Q3:C
PTS:1
Q4:A
PTS:1
Q5:B
PTS:1
Q6:C
PTS:1
Q7:A
PTS:1
Q8:D
PTS:1