Standards-based
Quick Assessments
& Reading Passages
Reading Informational RI.4.3
I can use textual evidence to explain ideas in a scientific
or technical text, including what happened and why.
Pre and Post Assessments aligned to a specific
standard and grade-level passages. Questions
address 3 levels of rigor for differentiation. Great for
formative assessments, quizzes, homework, and
more.
Assessments & Reading Passages
RI.4.3
Assessment #1
“A New Way to Play”
Standard RI.4.3
I can use textual evidence to explain ideas in a scientific or
technical text, including what happened and why.
15
Name: ______________________________________
Date: _________________
“A New Way to Play”
By STAAR
Lexile Level: 870 | F&P: Level T | DRA: 40 (396 Words)
Children grasp metal bars as the merry-go-round spins. One child jumps off and gives
his friends a push. This is not an ordinary merry-go-round, however. It’s a PlayPump,
and it’s unlike the merry-go-round you may see at a park. These PlayPumps offer hope
to people in southern Africa.
Getting clean water in some areas of Africa is difficult. PlayPumps make it easier to get
water needed for cooking, bathing, and drinking. This new water system can bring
fresh, healthful water to many people living in southern Africa. A man named Trevor
Field wanted to do something to help people in the parts of Africa where clean water
can be hard to find. So he teamed up with an inventor, and together they created
PlayPump.
The way a PlayPump works is simple. Children push the merry-go-round, and the
energy the merry-go-round makes helps draw water up from deep underground. The
water then travels to a large tower, where it is stored in a tank. Finally the water is
routed to a tap that controls the flow of the water. People in the community are able to
use the tap to get the fresh water they need.
Making sure the pumps work correctly can be expensive.
However, Field found a creative way to help maintain them.
Since the storage tank is tall and rectangular, he thought
that all four of its sides could be used to advertise to the
community or make public announcements. Two sides of
the tank may show tips for good health, such as how to
wash your hands. The other two sides show
advertisements from businesses. These businesses pay to
have their messages on the tank. The money they pay is
used to help keep the pumps working properly.
Assessment #1: “A New Way to Play”
2
PlayPumps can be used in areas where there is already a water source nearby. The
pumps are usually located near schools or community centers. This allows families to
collect water whenever they choose. Having clean water close by helps families stay
healthy. PlayPumps also give children a chance to play.
People in southern Africa are excited about the PlayPumps. Not only do the pumps
make clean water readily available, but the water is also easy to access. Several other
companies have also decided to build and install these pumps in some countries in
southern Africa. With PlayPumps, clean water just may be one spin closer.
Assessment #1: “A New Way to Play”
3
Name: ______________________________________
Date: _____________________
Standard RI.4.3
I can use textual evidence to explain ideas in a scientific or technical text,
including what happened and why.
1
DOK 1
What evidence does the author use to explain why PlayPumps are usually located
near schools and community centers?
a. Businesses can pay to advertise on the side of the tanks.
b. Families can collect clean water whenever they want.
c. These are the only places with available land for the pumps.
d. Underground water comes up through pipes.
2
DOK 1
Problem: Some places in Africa could not easily get clean water.
According to the article, what was the solution to this problem? Place an X by the
correct answer.
____ Energy from the merry-go-round draws up clean water from underground.
____ PlayPumps are expensive to maintain.
____ Clean water can be shipped from the ocean.
Assessment #1: “A New Way to Play”
4
3
DOK 2
Part 1
Which statement best explains why other companies have decided to install
PlayPumps in other African countries?
a. They want to advertise their businesses on four sides of the tank.
b. They recognized that many African communities do not have safe and fun
parks for children to play in.
c. They have realized how simple it can be to distribute clean water.
d. They can easily use the extra water being stored in the tanks.
Part 2
Which textual evidence best supports your claim in Part 1?
a. “PlayPumps also give children a chance to play.”
b. “The money they pay is used to help keep the pumps working properly.”
c. “The water then travels to a large tower, where it is stored in a tank.”
d. “Not only do the pumps make clean water readily available, but the water is
also easy to access.”
4
DOK 2
Part 1
Use the information from the article and the diagram to explain how the people get
the water to use.
a. The water is contained in a water tower or tank.
b. The people can get the water close by.
c. A tap allows the people to use the water from the tank.
d. Businesses put advertisements to show how to use fresh water.
Assessment #1: “A New Way to Play”
5
Part 2
Where can the reader find this information in the text and in the diagram?
a. Paragraph 1; Step 2
b. Paragraph 2; Step 6
c. Paragraph 3; Step 5
d. Paragraph 4; Step 7
5
DOK 3
Most of the PlayPumps are expensive, and these communities do not have a lot of
money. What was Trevor Field’s idea to pay for the PlayPumps? In two to three
sentences, explain why his idea is important for the successful use of the
PlayPumps?
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Assessment #1: “A New Way to Play”
6
*
Bonus
How would your daily life be different if you did not have regular and easy access to
clean water? Describe what changes you would have to make in your life if clean
water was hard to find in your community.
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Assessment #1: “A New Way to Play”
7
Scoring Rubric
RI.4.3 Assessment #1:
“A New Way to Play”
Student Name: ____________________________
Date of Administration: _____________
Teacher Name: ____________________________________________________________________
Question/ Key / Rubric
Level
Points
#1
01
DOK 1
b. Families can collect clean water whenever they want.
#2
01
DOK 1
__X__ Energy from the merry-go-round draws up clean water from
underground.
#3
Part 1
DOK 2
012
c. They have realized how simple it can be to distribute clean water.
It could be option a, but Paragraph 6 of the article specifically
connects the ease and accessibility of water to the expansion of
PlayPumps by other companies
Part 2
d. “Not only do the pumps make clean water readily available, but
the water is also easy to access.”
SCORING
1 point: answers Part 1 correctly
1 point: answers Part 2 correctly (must answer Part 1 correctly to
receive credit for Part 2)
Assessment #1: “A New Way to Play”
8
#4
DOK 2
Part 1
012
c. A tap allows the people to use the water from the tank.
Part 2
c. Paragraph 3; Step 5
SCORING
1 point: answers Part 1 correctly
1 point: answers Part 2 correctly (must answer Part 1 correctly to
receive credit for Part 2)
#5
Model Student Response
DOK 3
Trevor Field came up with the idea to have local businesses
advertise on two sides of the blank tank. The money they gave for
the advertising space covers the cost of the expensive pumps and it
also helps the local businesses. This is important because it shows
how the pumps benefit everybody in the community.
01234
SCORING:
2 points: explains Field’s idea
2 points: explains how the idea is important
#BONUS
This item is not scored and is an option for early finishers.
TOTAL
Assessment #1: “A New Way to Play”
___ / 10
9
Assessments & Reading Passages
RI.4.3
Assessment #2
Excerpt from “Iceberg
at Sea”
Standard RI.4.3
I can use textual evidence to explain ideas in a scientific or
technical text, including what happened and why.
15
Name: ______________________________________
Excerpt from
Date: _________________
“Iceberg at Sea”
Adapted by Goalbook
Lexile Level: 850 | F&P: Level S | DRA: 40 (611 Words)
A giant block of ice broke away from Antarctica sometime last week. It started floating
freely in the sea.
The iceberg is one of the largest on record. It is the size of the state of Delaware. The
floating ice poses no immediate problem for sea levels. But, scientists say the break
may have changed the shape of the continent’s western peninsula for decades to
come. And, it could show what global warming might do to other sea ice shelves.
Global warming is the heating up of the Earth's climate. Scientists say global warming
has largely been caused by the heavy use of coal, gas and oil. When these fuels are
burned, they release gases. These gases remain in the air. Over time, they trap heat
from the sun, making average temperatures rise.
Crack Grew Rapidly Since January
Scientists on a study team from Swansea University and Aberystwyth University in
Britain confirmed the break on July 12, [2017]. The team used data from NASA
satellites.
They have been watching a crack in an ice shelf called Larsen C for years, they said.
It started to grow rapidly in January. It increased in length to about 120 miles and left
the iceberg hanging on a short 3-mile-long thread of ice.
Assessment #2: Excerpt from “Iceberg at Sea”
2
Global Warming's Role Debated
There is a debate about whether global warming caused by people played a role.
Martin O’Leary, a scientist on the team, said the break is a natural event. It is called
calving. The team does not know of any link to climate change caused by people, he
said.
But scientists say the break has reduced the Larsen C shelf by more than one-tenth.
Some worry the loss could make the rest of the ice shelf less stable. The ice shelf is
among Antarctica’s largest.
Larsen C is nearly half a mile thick at its largest point. It floats on the ocean at the
edge of the Antarctic Peninsula. The shelf holds back a flow of glaciers that feed into
it.
Eric Rignot is a scientist at the University of California and at NASA. As climate
warming moves south, it will affect larger ice shelves that hold back bigger glaciers,
he said. The breakdown of larger shelves will contribute more to sea level rise, he
said.
How Ice Shelves Are Formed
The Larsen Ice Shelf is named after Carl Anton Larsen. The explorer from Norway
discovered it over 100 years ago in 1893. The shelf is actually a series of many
floating chunks of ice. Larsen C, the largest, was first photographed in the 1960s.
Even then, the crack showed, NASA said.
Ice shelves are thick platforms of ice floating on the ocean. They form as ice sheets
flow downhill from land to the ocean.
Ice shelves shed weight through icebergs or through melting on the bottom. One way
to know if a sheet is healthy is to see if it’s gaining as much ice as it is losing.
Ice sheets grow as snow piles up and freezes. They lose ice through melting and
calving of their shelves.
More Icebergs Likely To Break Loose
If a large enough iceberg comes off, an ice shelf can break down.
That’s what happened to Larsen C’s neighbors, Larsen A and Larsen B.
“That’s just the way Antarctica works,” said Helen Fricker. She is a scientist who
studies the Larsen C ice sheet.
A breakdown of Larsen C is probably decades away, Rignot said. However, the ice
shelf has now retreated farther back than it has in the last 125 years.
Rignot thinks more icebergs will break loose. "It will become weaker and eventually
fall apart in a domino effect,” he said.
Assessment #2: Excerpt from “Iceberg at Sea”
3
Name: ______________________________________
Date: _____________________
Standard RI.4.3
I can use textual evidence to explain ideas in a scientific or technical text,
including what happened and why.
1
DOK 1
What evidence does the author use to explain why global warming is occurring?
a. Giant blocks of ice have broken away from Antarctica.
b. When fuels are burned, they release gases that trap heat from the sun.
c. The changing shape of continents increases the use of coal, gas, and oil.
d. Scientists believe that the natural breaking of ice shelves traps gases in the
air.
2
DOK 1
Effect: Ice sheets can melt more ice than they gain.
According to the article, what causes this effect? Place an X by the correct answer.
______ Antarctica’s coastline changed shape.
______ Sea levels are rising.
______ Average temperatures are increasing.
Assessment #2: Excerpt from “Iceberg at Sea”
4
3
DOK 2
Part 1
Which statement best explains why scientists have been closely monitoring
Larsen C?
a. NASA Satellites have shown that Larsen A and B are calving.
b. The entire ice shelf can break down if large enough icebergs break away.
c. Larsen C is no longer holding back the glaciers that feed into it.
d. The ice shelf is floating on the ocean.
Part 2
Which textual evidence best supports your claim in Part 1?
a. “Larsen C is nearly half a mile thick at its largest point.”
b. “It floats on the ocean at the edge of the Antarctic Peninsula.”
c. “However, the ice shelf has now retreated farther back than it has in the last
125 years.”
d. “There is a debate about whether global warming caused by people played a
role.”
4
DOK 2
Part 1
How does the information in the diagram help explain how the shape of Antarctica’s
peninsula has changed because of the recent break?
a. The diagram shows how the rising depth of the sea levels have affected the
peninsula.
b. The diagram shows how much the crack has grown over time.
c. The diagram shows the before and after images of Antarctica’s coastline.
d. The diagram shows how global warming could melt other ice shelves in
Antarctica.
Assessment #2: Excerpt from “Iceberg at Sea”
5
Part 2
Where can the reader find this information in the text?
a. In the section titled “Crack Grew Rapidly Since January”
b. In the section titled “Global Warming’s Role Debated”
c. In the section titled “How Ice Shelves Are Formed”
d. In the section titled “More Icebergs Likely to Break Loose”
5
DOK 3
Explain the possible effects from Larsen C breaking off from Antarctica. Write a two
to three sentence explanation and use one to two pieces of evidence from the text to
support your answer.
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Assessment #2: Excerpt from “Iceberg at Sea”
6
*
Bonus
Imagine that you are a scientist studying icebergs in Antarctica. As you sit in your
small boat off the coast, you see an iceberg fall into the water! Describe the sounds
and sights you might see as the iceberg slides down into the sea. What would you be
thinking?
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Assessment #2: Excerpt from “Iceberg at Sea”
7
Scoring Rubric
RI.4.3 Assessment #2:
Excerpt from “Iceberg
Student Name: ____________________________
at Sea”
Date of Administration: _____________
Teacher Name: ____________________________________________________________________
Question/ Key / Rubric
Level
Points
#1
01
DOK 1
b. When fuels are burned, they release gases that trap heat from
the sun.
#2
DOK 1
#3
DOK 2
01
__X__ Average temperatures are increasing.
Part 1
012
b. The entire ice shelf can break down if large enough icebergs
break away.
Part 2
c. “However, the ice shelf has now retreated farther back than it has
in the last 125 years.”
SCORING
1 point: answers Part 1 correctly
1 point: answers Part 2 correctly (must answer Part 1 correctly to
receive credit for Part 2)
Assessment #2: Excerpt from “Iceberg at Sea”
8
#4
DOK 2
012
Part 1
b. The diagram shows how much the crack has grown over time.
Part 2
a. In the section titled “Crack Grew Rapidly Since January”
SCORING
1 point: answers Part 1 correctly
1 point: answers Part 2 correctly (must answer Part 1 correctly to
receive credit for Part 2)
#5
DOK 3
Answers may include:


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
01234
Scientists worry about the remaining ice shelf becoming
weaker without Larsen C.
Icebergs that break free may lead to rising sea levels.
It has changed the shape of Antarctica.
It could show what Global Warming will do to other ice
shelves.
SCORING:
2 points: explains effects
2 points: explains textual evidence to support explanation
#BONUS
This item is not scored and is an option for early finishers.
TOTAL
Assessment #2: Excerpt from “Iceberg at Sea”
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9
Student Name
I can use textual evidence to explain ideas
in a scientific or technical text, including
what happened and why.
RI.4.3
Explain events, procedures, ideas, or concepts in a historical,
scientific, or technical text, including what happened and why, based
on specific information in the text.