Test Booklet
Subject: LA, Grade: 04
MSA Grade 4 Reading Sample Items
Student name:
Author: Maryland
District: Maryland Released Tests
Printed: Sunday September 02, 2012
MSA Grade 4 Reading Sample Items
1 Look at the word with the underlined letters. The
LA:04
4 telephone
underlined letters stand for a sound. Decide which
of the other three words has the same sound in
it. Then mark the space for the answer you have
chosen.
television
telegram
castle
The word part tele must have something to do with
A quart
B manner
C palm
A calling
B hearing
C sending
2 Look at the word with the underlined letters. The
underlined letters stand for a sound. Decide which
of the other three words has the same sound in
it. Then mark the space for the answer you have
chosen.
5
Advertising means _____.
A
B
C
D
sprang
A sport
B respect
C spray
6
3 Look at the word with the underlined letters. The
underlined letters stand for a sound. Decide which
of the other three words has the same sound in
it. Then mark the space for the answer you have
chosen.
polar
A narrow
B powder
C afford
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The department store was advertising the newest
clothes for fall.
showing
playing
sending
telling
Please hand the paper to the teacher.
In which sentence does the word hand mean the
same thing as in the sentence above?
A
B
C
D
Can you hand me that book?
The big hand points to the hour.
They gave the clown a big hand.
Jason caught the ball with his hand.
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MSA Grade 4 Reading Sample Items
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Summer Palace
By Heidi Chang
“Here, Yeh Yeh (grandfather), I drew another picture for you.”
“Ah, Sasha, you are getting so good now,” her grandfather said. Sasha liked to draw so much. She could spend
hours at the kitchen table drawing. Sasha especially liked giving her drawings to her grandfather.
Yeh Yeh hung all of Sasha’s pictures in his study. It made Sasha feel special. Her grandfather always found a
place for them.
“What is this drawing, Sasha?” her yeh yeh asked, putting on his glasses and looking closely. Sasha liked the
way her grandfather took time to talk about her drawings.
“Well, that’s Dad coming home from work and taking off his shoes,” Sasha said.
“It’s very nice. I think I’ll put it here right next to my books.” Sasha’s grandfather had been a scholar in China
and had a lot of books. Many of them were old and taped together. She knew the story of when Yeh Yeh left
China. All he packed in his two suitcases were books. Sasha knew how much Yeh Yeh’s books meant to him.
She was proud to have her drawings hang above them.
“I’m glad you always like my drawings, Yeh Yeh,” Sasha said.
“Your drawings are very special to me, Sasha,” he said. “Do you know why?” “Well, probably because I’m your
granddaughter,” she laughed.
“Yes, I suppose,” her grandfather said, removing his glasses. He patted Sasha on the head. “I never told you this
before because I thought you were too young to understand. But your drawings remind me of my father.”
“They do? Why?” she asked.
“Well, he was an artist. He came to Beijing from a small village in China. He was a young man at the time when
they were building Yi He Yuan, the Summer Palace. He was one of the major craftspeople who worked on it. It
is a famous garden in China and has some of the most beautiful buildings.”
“Wow, Yeh Yeh. I didn’t know that,” Sasha said. “He liked to draw, too?”
“Yes, Sasha. So you see, I am so glad you like to draw. Every time you give me a drawing, I think of my father.”
Sasha smiled and looked around at all her pictures on the walls. She felt happy to have given her grandfather so
many memories.
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MSA Grade 4 Reading Sample Items
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7 Why hadn’t Yeh Yeh told Sasha about the other
artist in the family before?
A
B
C
D
He didn’t want to bore her with old stories.
He thought she was too young to understand.
It made him sad to tell the story.
He was embarrassed about the story.
8 Sasha’s drawings and Yeh Yeh’s books were alike
because they both _____.
A
B
C
D
were handmade
reminded Yeh Yeh of his homeland
were treasures to Yeh Yeh
had been especially made for him
9 The story is mainly about a _____.
A
B
C
D
girl who likes to read
grandfather who travels
beautiful palace
girl learning about her great-grandfather
10 What do you think Sasha will do next?
A
B
C
D
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read a book to her grandfather
sit at the kitchen table with her grandfather
draw another picture for her grandfather
go to the Summer Palace with her grandfather
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MSA Grade 4 Reading Sample Items
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Root Beer and Banana
By Sarah Sullivan
It’s summer on the river, when the air’s as thick as soup and you can smell tar melting on the roof. Sun’s too hot
for climbing trees and we’ve already fished our limit.
“Cmon, Squirt,” Granddaddy says, giving me a wink. “Time to stop by Mister Mac’s.”
Rolling over gravel to the hard road, we drive past Tolliver’s Farm Supply and Glenda’s Antiques to Mister
Mac’s General Store.
I can hardly wait to get inside.
Mister Mac’s ceiling fan stirs the heat while the ice-cream freezer hums its steady tune.
Cold air hits my face when I slide the door open. I stare at the colors on the paper wrappers, orange, cherry, and
grape—but the best flavors are hidden underneath.
Banana or root beer?
Root beer or banana?
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MSA Grade 4 Reading Sample Items
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Which one will I choose?
I go outside to think it over, leaving Granddaddy and Mister Mac to swap stories—who moved, who got married,
who has a baby coming—the way old friends do.
Watching Main Street shimmer under the noonday sun, I see a girl waving from the shade of an old willow tree.
“What’s your name?” she asks.
13 “Molly,” I say. “But my granddaddy calls me Squirt.”
She has bright yellow patches on her dress with zigzag stitching so they look like shiny suns.
“My name’s Miracle,” she says. “On account of the doctor said Mama couldn’t have any more after my brothers,
but I came anyway.”
“I got some money,” Miracle says. “Wanna see?” She opens up her palm and shows me a nickel. “I found it
lying on the road,” she says. I’m gonna buy something with it."
“What are you gonna buy?” I ask.
“One of those ice pops,” Miracle says.
19 Ice pops cost a dime, but I don’t say anything.
C’mon," Miracle says. “I’ll show you where they are.”
She leads me to the freezer and reaches inside. “I want root beer,” she says. “Which one’s that?”
22 I fish out the ice pop with the brown wrapper and hand it over.
“What’s it going to be, Squirt?” Granddaddy asks. “Banana and root beer,” I tell him. He gives me a look. I
know what it means.
“Miracle needs one too,” I explain
“Miracle?” he asks.
“She’s my new friend,” I tell him.
“Pleased to meet you, little lady,” he says.
Miracle pumps his hand. “I live on Tucker’s Creek,” she says. “Do you know where that is?”
“I sure do,” he tells her.
“I’m gonna buy my ice pop with this,” Miracle says. “I found it lying on the road.”
“Well now,” Granddaddy says, “which flavor’s for you?”
“Root beer,” she tells him.
“And banana for me, please,” I say.
Miracle holds out her nickel.
“That’s all right,” Granddaddy tells her. “This one’s on me.”
“Thanks, Mister,” Miracle says. She tucks her money away.
37 I give Granddaddy’s hand a big squeeze.
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MSA Grade 4 Reading Sample Items
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The screen door makes a lazy moan when Miracle pushes it open. Mister Mac’s bird dog raises his head to see if
we have anything for him, but we tell him ice pops aren’t for dogs.
“Would you like to trade halves?” I ask her. “You can have half of my banana, and I’ll have half of your root
beer.”
“That is a good idea,” she says. “That way we get a taste of both.”
41 So I help her break her ice pop and she helps me with mine. And we sit together under the shade of the old
willow tree, eating root beer and banana, banana and root beer, and swapping stories the way old friends do.
Root Beer and Banana. Text Copyright © 2005 Sarah Sullivan. Illustrations Copyright © 2005 Greg Shed.
Reproduced by permission of the publisher, Candlewick Press, Inc., Cambridge, MA.
11 Which detail would be most important to include
13 Which of these questions is NOT answered by
in a summary of the story?
details and events in the story?
A
B
C
D
A Where does Miracle live?
B What kind of friendship do Granddaddy and
Mr. Mac owns a dog.
Molly’s nickname is Squirt.
Miracle has older brothers.
Granddaddy pays for both ice pops.
12 Which of these details about the setting is most
Mr. Mac have?
C What kind of dog does Mr. Mac own?
D Why does Miracle probably not know the cost
of an ice pop?
important to the events in the story?
A
B
C
D
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the ceiling fan
the willow tree
the summer heat
the squeaky door
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MSA Grade 4 Reading Sample Items
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14 How do Granddaddy and Molly feel about each other? In your response, use events and details from the
story that show how Granddaddy and Molly feel about each other. Write your response on the lines below.
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MSA Grade 4 Reading Sample Items
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15 How do Granddaddy and Molly feel about each other? In your response, use events and details from the
story that show how Granddaddy and Molly feel about each other. Write your response on the lines below.
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MSA Grade 4 Reading Sample Items
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16 Explain how the author makes the characters in this story seem like real people. In your response, use
events and details from the story that make them seem real. Write your response on the lines below.
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MSA Grade 4 Reading Sample Items
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The River
Yetti Frenkel
(Based on a true story)
“Sh,” whispered Elisa. “I think she’s coming!”
Elisa and Cory stifled their giggles and crouched behind the pine tree. Peeping out through the snow—covered
branches, the children held their breath and listened for the tinkle of Minnie’s collar as the old dog tried to find
their hiding place. It was usually the hound’s favorite game, but today the only sounds the children heard were
the wind whistling softly across the frozen snow and ice cracking on the river.
Cory shivered with cold. “I wonder where she is,” he said. “I hope she isn’t off chasing a deer.”
Elisa snorted. “Minnie’s too lame for that. I bet she went home to wait where it’s nice and warm.”
Cory looked doubtful. “She wouldn’t go home without us,” he said. “Maybe she got ahead, and we didn’t notice.
Let’s go to the bridge and see if she’s there.”
6 They started down the trail at a quick pace, glad to be moving again. The bare branches of the trees rattled
forlornly as they tramped through the frozen snow.
Elisa struggled hard to keep up with her older brother. “Wouldn’t it be easier to walk on the ice on the river?” she
called to him.
8 Cory slowed his pace and waited for her to catch up. “It’s too dangerous,” he said. “The water is still flowing
underneath, and the ice is thin. We might fall through.” He held out a mittened hand. “I’ll help you.”
“No thanks,” said Elisa stubbornly. " I can keep up." But she was secretly glad when Cory walked beside her
until they reached the bridge.
The old wooden bridge spanned the widest part of the river. In summer they often came here to fish or lie in the
sun, but now it was a desolate, wind—swept place. They could hear the water gurgling softly beneath the ice as
they looked out over the railing, hoping to glimpse Minnie walking along the bank.
Cory cupped his hands to his mouth and called, “Minnie, Min—nie!” His voice echoed back to him from the
lonely woods. “I don’t see her, Elisa. Do you?” he asked.
Just then Elisa gave a startled cry, and Cory turned sharply to see Minnie ten feet from shore. The old dog had
fallen through the ice and was paddling in desperate circles.
“Hang on, Minnie, I’m coming!” Cory cried, racing toward the river. Elisa was already ahead of him, pulling off
her coat, scarf, and mittens, ready to plunge in and save her dog. Blinded by tears, she stumbled out onto the ice.
Cory caught up with her and pulled her back. “Do you want to drown yourself?” he shouted. His face was white
as he held out the warm clothes she’d dropped. “Put these back on and let me think of something.” He looked
grimly at the river.
Ella sobbed as she struggled into her coat. “You can save her, can’t you, Cory? She won’t die, will she?”
“Of course not,” he said, wishing he felt as confident as he was trying to sound.
The sight of her masters had given Minnie new hope, and she managed to get her front paws up on the ice. She
scratched and clawed frantically at the slippery surface, but her hind legs were too arthritic to be of much help.
For a moment her frightened brown eyes met Cory’s, then she slipped back into the icy water and began wearily
swimming once more.
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MSA Grade 4 Reading Sample Items
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18 Cory searched the bank until he found a long, twisted branch. Holding it firmly, he maneuvered the end until
he had it hooked under Minnie’s collar. “C’mon, girl,” he said to the tired dog. She heaved her front paws onto
the ice and struggled desperately while he tried to help her by pulling on the branch. But frost and moisture had
made the wood brittle, and it snapped almost immediately. Once more Minnie struck out swimming, but now her
head was barely above the surface of the water.
A terrible thought crossed Cory’s mind — Minnie was going to drown before their eyes. It’s not fair, he thought.
Why doesn’t someone come along to help us? He scanned the woods for a game warden or hunter, but saw no
one. The woods were dark and silent, waiting. “I don’t know what to do,” he said, frightened.
“I know what to do,” cried Elisa. “I’m going to help her!”
21 Once again Cory grabbed his sister’s arm to prevent her from going out onto the ice. She bit and kicked at
him like a small fury as tears of frustration ran down her cheeks.
“Listen to me!” yelled Cory. “I thought of something, but I need your help.” Elisa wiped the tears from her face.
“I’m going to lie down on the ice and try to crawl to Minnie. You lie down behind me and hold my ankles. Don’t
let go, no matter what, and don’t stand up. Understand?” Elisa nodded, sniffling.
Cory lay on the ice so that his weight would be distributed more evenly and there would be less chance of
breaking through. He felt Elisa’s hands close around his ankles. As he inched his way forward, he could hear the
water rushing beneath the ice. A few feet in front of him was the deep green hole where the dog had broken
through. Cory’s heart pounded with fear, but he bit his lip and kept going. At last he reached the edge of the hole
and threw his arms around Minnie’s neck. It felt reassuring to have a hold on her, but he soon realized that there
was little else he could do. The ice was slippery, and every time he tried to pull her out, he began to slide forward
himself.
“Have you got her?” called Elisa anxiously.
“Yes,” Cory yelled over his shoulder, “but I can’t” — Before he could explain, he found himself being pulled
back across the ice with Minnie in his arms. He looked around in amazement, expecting to see a big man with a
broad grin standing behind him, but there was only his sturdy little sister, laughing and crawling over the ice to
throw her arms around the shivering dog. “How did you ever do that?” cried Cory. “You’re not that strong!”
Then as Minnie, tail wagging wildly, began to lick his face, he saw what had happened.
Elisa had put her wool coat down on the ice to protect her from the cold. The warmth of her body lying on the
top of it had made the wool fibers stick firmly to the ice so that when she pulled on Cory’s legs, he slipped across
the surface to her as easily as a cork popping from a bottle.
Cory grinned in admiration. “You sure are one smart little sister!” he said, tousling her hair. He took off his plaid
shirt and dried Minnie with it. “It’s a good thing we were all together today,” he said to the old dog softly as he
rubbed her lopsided ears. She wagged her tail in agreement, and the three hurried toward the warmth of home
without looking back.
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MSA Grade 4 Reading Sample Items
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17 “The River” is a good title for this story mostly
because the river is
A
B
C
D
a part of the story problem
close to the characters’ home
changing the mood of the story
a favorite place of the characters
18 Read this sentence from paragraph 9 of the story.
But she was secretly glad when Cory walked
beside her until they reached the bridge.
What is the best paraphrase of this sentence?
A Cory walked with Elisa to the bridge which
made her really happy.
B Elisa did not want Cory to know she was glad
that he stayed beside her.
C Elisa kept her happiness to herself as she and
Cory walked to the bridge.
D Cory stayed with Elisa on their walk but she
did not show him how glad she was.
19 Which of these details is most important to the plot
of this story?
A
B
C
D
Cory takes his sister by the hand as they walk.
Minnie likes to play hide and seek.
Elisa removes her coat and places it on the ice.
Cory tells his sister that she is smart.
20 An important idea in this story is about the
importance of
A
B
C
D
staying close to home
knowing how to swim
taking care of others
wearing proper clothes
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MSA Grade 4 Reading Sample Items
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21 Explain how the author’s use of words and phrases helps reader understand the setting. In your response,
use words and phrases from the story that support your explanation. Write your answer in the box below.
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MSA Grade 4 Reading Sample Items
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22 Describe the relationship between Cory and Elisa and their dog, Minnie. In your response, use details and
examples from the story that support your description. Write your answer in the box below.
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MSA Grade 4 Reading Sample Items
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Brainy Birds
By Cynthia Berger
What’s the world’s smartest bird? Most scientists say it’s the com- mon raven. One sign of ravens’ brain power is
their adaptability. That means that they can change their behavior to solve new problems.
For example, if they can’t find one kind of favorite food, they learn to eat something else. In fact, they eat almost
any food they can get their beaks on. Their foods indude small animals, fruit, seeds, eggs, garbage, and dead
meat. And because they eat so many different foods, they can live in lots of different places around the world:
deserts, mountains, forests, cities, and even the cold Arctic.
The size of a raven’s brain may help explain why the bird is so smart. It has a large brain compared to its body
size. For example, a chicken weighs twice as much as a raven. But its brain is only one fifth as heavy as the
raven’s brain.
Quork-quork-quork! Oo-oo. Rap-rap-rap. Kek-kek-kek. Honk honk! Ravens make lots of different sounds.
Scientists have counted as many as 80 different sounds. Ravens can copy sounds too. One raven learned to
imitate all the dogs in a neighborhood. They can also imitate other kinds of birds, the sound of falling water,
human speech, motorcycles, and even the ringing of the bell on an ice cream truck. Copying sounds may not be a
sign of smarts, but it sure makes ravens interesting to have around!
Ravens play more than most other birds, and this may be a sign of intelligence. They seem to have tons of fun
just flying around. They especially like to roll over in the air. They also fly in rollercoaster patterns and in
swooping loop-the-loops.
Ravens like to swing, but they don’t need a swing set to do it. They lean backward off a perch and swing upside
down by their feet just for the fun of it. They even swing by their beaks from branches!
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MSA Grade 4 Reading Sample Items
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Ravens often save food in the top of a rotting stump, in a clump of tall grass, or in a hole dug in dirt or snow.
With their excellent memories, they have no trouble finding their meals later on. What’s more, ravens watch
where other ravens hide food—and then they steal it.
Sometimes a raven can be too clever. A scientist named Konrad Lorenz kept a raven named Roah to study it.
One day; Roah picked up some wet laundry that had fallen off Dr. Lorenz’s clothesline. The scientist rewarded
the helpful bird with food. Big mistake. After that, Roah showered the scientist with wet laun- dry from all the
neighborhood clotheslines! A raven may look plain—but oh, what a brain!
23 Which of these sentences from the article most
26 Which of these statements about ravens would the
clearly suggests that “Brainy Birds” is nonfiction?
author of this article probably agree is true?
A One sign of ravens’ brain power is their
A
B
C
D
adaptability.
B Ravens make lots of different sounds.
C They especially like to roll over in the air.
D Sometimes a raven can be too clever.
24 Which of these ideas is most clearly supported by
the illustrations?
A
B
C
D
how fast ravens can fly
how silly ravens can be
how skillful ravens can be
how well ravens can hide
25 Which of these phrases from paragraphs 5 and 6
would make the best heading for these paragraphs?
A
B
C
D
Keeping a raven as a pet is a good idea.
Ravens are healthiest in a wooded area.
Watching ravens is an entertaining activity.
Ravens are helpful birds for the environment.
27 Read this sentence from paragraph 8 of the article.
A raven may look plain – but oh, what a brain!
Which of these statements is the best paraphrase of
this sentence?
A A raven seems simple but can do many things.
B A raven appears ordinary but is actually smart.
C A raven is a regular bird but knows a lot of
tricks.
D A raven is a normal bird but changes its mind
quickly.
Most Other Birds
A Sign of Intelligence
Tons of Fun
Rollercoaster Patterns
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MSA Grade 4 Reading Sample Items
28 Which of these text features would most help a
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32 After reading this article, a reader might still have
reader understand the information in this article?
a question about—
A
B
C
D
A
B
C
D
a photograph of a brain
a caption for the illustration
a map showing places where ravens could live
a boxed text that gives basic facts about ravens
where ravens can live
how ravens like to play
why ravens watch other ravens hide food
how ravens are able to make different bird
sounds
29 After reading this article, a reader can conclude
that-
A that having a good memory can help a raven
survive
B because a raven likes to swing, it needs a
special perch
C imitating other bird sounds allows a raven to
live anywhere
D because a raven eats many foods, it can be a
household pest
30 Which of these sentences from this article states
an opinion?
A Their foods include small animals, fruit, seeds,
eggs, garbage, and dead meat.
B It has a large brain compared to its body size.
C For example, a chicken weighs twice as much
as a raven.
D They seem to have tons of fun just flying
around.
31 The information in this article would be most
useful to a student who-
A
B
C
D
lives close to the mountains
is learning about the habits of common birds
enjoys exciting wildlife stories
is bird watching as a summer project
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MSA Grade 4 Reading Sample Items
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33 What other title would show the main idea of this article? Explain how your title would show the main
idea. In your response, use information from the article that supports your explanation.
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MSA Grade 4 Reading Sample Items
Roller Coaster
Carousel
Roller Coaster
By Rebecca Kai Dotlich
C
R
A
W
L
SLOW and steady,
hold on,
get ready,
oh so
slow it climbs,
turtling,
turtling,
turtling up,
you know the drill
of the thrill:
how it creeps
crawls,
stalls
for a spell—
an almost-stop
on top—
then WHOOOSSSHHH,
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On thin golden poles
gliding up, sliding down,
a kingdom of horses
goes spinning around
Jumper, Brown Beauty,
Dark Thunder, Sir Snow,
a medley of ponies
parade in a row.
Settled in saddles,
their riders hold on
to reins of soft leather
while circling along
on chestnut or charcoal,
on sleek Arctic white,
on silver they gallop
in place day and night.
Such spinning is magic,
(to dream as you sail)
with lavender saddle
and ebony tail,
whirling to music
in moonlight, spellbound,
galloping, galloping,
merrily go round.
******************
d
o
w
n
(into) the dip,
back up,
around,
hugging
the armored
humpback track;
claketyclaketyclaketyclack.
******************
Carousel
By Rebecca Kai Dotlich
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MSA Grade 4 Reading Sample Items
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34 An important idea in this poem is about—
A
B
C
D
the loud noises caused by a roller coaster
the fun of riding roller coasters with friends
the building excitement of a roller coaster ride
the different motions caused by roller coaster
tracks
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MSA Grade 4 Reading Sample Items
35 Read lines 11-13 of the poem.
turtling,
turtling,
turtling up,
Repeating the word “turtling” suggests that—
A
B
C
D
riding to the top is the best part
getting to the top takes a long time
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38 Read stanzas 5 and 6 of the poem.
Details in these stanzas suggest that the speaker of
the poem—
A
B
C
D
dreams while sleeping
likes listening to music
wants to ride in the evening
enjoys using her imagination
roller coaster riders must be patient
a roller coaster has a hard outside shell
39 Details suggest that the setting of each poem is
probably-
36 Read lines 14 and 15 of the poem.
you know the drill
of the thrill
Which of these sentences best explains the
meaning of these lines?
A This roller coaster ride is the same each time.
B The reader knows how to get on a roller
A
B
C
D
a state fair
a family picnic
school celebration
a neighborhood party
40 Which pair of words best compares the moods in
“Carousel” and “Roller Coaster”?
coaster.
C This roller coaster ride is different from others.
D The reader knows what to expect on a roller
coaster.
37 Read lines 5 and 6 of the poem.
Jumper, Brown Beauty
Dark Thunder, Sir Snow
These words are written in italics probably to—
A
B
C
D
point out the popularity of the horses
describe special colors of the horses
emphasize the names of the horses
refer to the talent of the horses
A
B
C
D
joyful versus scary
calm versus exciting
sleepy versus amused
gloomy versus playful
41 Which of these statements about the speaker in
“Carousel” and the speaker in “Roller Coaster” is
supported most by details in the poems?
A Each speaker gets on only one ride.
B Each speaker notices the noise of the ride.
C Each speaker has fun with a different kind of
ride.
D Each speaker wants someone to ride with him
or her.
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MSA Grade 4 Reading Sample Items
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42 Read the poem ‘Carousel’. Then answer the following.
Explain how the speaker of the poem “Carousel” feels about riding a carousel. In your response, use details
and examples from the poem that support your explanation. Write your answer in the boxbelow.
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MSA Grade 4 Reading Sample Items
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43 Read the poem ‘Roller Coaster’. Then answer the following.
Explain how the shape of the poem “Roller Coaster” helps a reader understand the feeling of riding a roller
coaster. In your response, use details and examples from the poem that support your explanation. Write
your answer in the box below.
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MSA Grade 4 Reading Sample Items
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Vrooooom
Margaret Mickelway writes about a wild new sport for girls and boys. Read about junior drag racing in this
article called “Vrooooom” from National Geographic World magazine.
1 Sick of slow? There’s a hot new sport for kids that will put your life in the fast lane. It’s called junior (jr.) drag
racing, and it gives kids as young as 8 a chance to develop topnotch driving skills
2 Girls and boys, ages 8 to 17, have been revving up for league competition at racetracks around the United
States for the last three years. In jr. drag racing, two cars at a time race each other down an eighth-mile strip—a
straight track a little longer than two football fields. The cars look almost like the ones the pros drive, but jr. cars
are half as big. Their smaller engines are generally propelled by alcohol or gasoline.
Drivers go up to 60 miles an hour. The real test isn’t only speed, however, but split-second timing. Each driver
must start and finish the race within an estimated time for his or her car. Going faster than estimated or too slow
can bring a loss to a racer.
Young drivers get instruction at the track, then take part in a series of competitions to qualify for major meets. At
every jr. drag meet safety is the number one concern. Accidents are rare. Track conditions, car equipment, and
safety gear are all strictly regulated.
In the summer of 1994, 500 of the best racers competed at the Inaugural Jr. Drag Racing National
Championships, at Indianapolis Raceway Park in Indianapolis, Indiana. The champs were the Houston
Half-Scale Team, from Houston Raceway Park in Baytown, Texas. The 10-member team beat out 59 other
groups—and had an individual winner, Mark Lowry, 16, of Baytown; and a runner-up, Erica Enders, 10, of
Houston.
What gets a kid into racing? For many it’s a family thing. “My dad raced before I was born,” explains Erica.
“My dad worked as pit crew,” says Mitch Elliott, 12, of Woodstock, Ontario, in Canada. The college scholarship
prizes attract others. But for J. R. Todd, 13, a racer from Lawrenceburg, Indiana, there are greater attractions.
“What do I like?. . . It’s the people, the excitement,” he says.
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MSA Grade 4 Reading Sample Items
LA:04
44 Read this sentence from the introduction.
Margaret Mickelway writes about a wild new sport for girls and boys.
Explain whether the word wild is a good word to describe junior drag racing. In your response, use
information from the passage that supports your answer. Write your answer in the box below.
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MSA Grade 4 Reading Sample Items
LA:04
45 After reading “Vrooooom,” what question might a reader still have about junior drag racing? In your
response, use information from the article that explains why a reader might still have that question. Write
your answer in the box below.
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MSA Grade 4 Reading Sample Items
LA:04
46 Explain whether or not the words in this article make junior drag racing sound like a sport you would like
to try. In your response, use information from the article that supports your explanation. Write your answer
in the box below.
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