Massachusetts English Proficiency Assessment Locator Test Reading/Writing Grade Span 5–6 Student Name School Name District Name [Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Logo] How to Answer Multiple-Choice Questions • Read all parts of each question. • Read each of the four answer choices (A, B, C, D). • Choose the best answer to each question. • Mark your answer to each question in the space provided on your Locator Test Answer Sheet at the end of this test booklet. Reading DIRECTIONS This session contains three passages and fourteen multiple-choice questions. Mark your answers to these questions in the spaces provided on your Locator Test Answer Sheet at the end of this test booklet. In this story, Isaac wants to help a tree that is lonely. Read the story. Then answer the questions that follow. Isaac and the Lonely Tree adapted from a Yiddish folk song by Louise Sawyer [Boy and his mother next to a tree] 1 In Isaac’s yard stood a tall tree with bare branches. Isaac loved the tree, and he thought it looked lonely. All the birds that sang to the tree in the summertime had flown south for the winter. Isaac said, “Mama, I will become a bird. I will fly up into the tree and sing to it so it won’t be lonely.” “But, Isaac, it is very cold out,” said Mama. “If you are going to sit in the tree, you must put on your long underwear.” Isaac put on his long underwear. 5 “And you must put on your long socks.” Isaac put on his long socks. “And you must put on your heavy pants and your heavy sweater.” Isaac put on his heavy pants and his heavy sweater. “And you must put on your warm coat and your warm cap and mittens.” 10 On went the warm coat and the warm cap and mittens. “And don’t forget your scarf and your boots.” Isaac didn’t forget his scarf and his boots. “There,” said Mama. “Now you are nice and warm, and you can go be a bird and sing to the tree.” But there was one problem. 15 “Mama, now I’m nice and warm, but I’m too heavy to fly,” said Isaac. Mama and Isaac walked outside and looked up at the tall tree. Mama said, “Don’t worry. You are not a bird, but you are Isaac. You can still keep the tree from being lonely.” It was true. So every day Isaac sat on the ground under the tree and sang to it until the birds came. “Isaac and the Lonely Tree” adapted by Louise Sawyer, from Highlights for Children. Copyright © 2000 by Highlights for Children, Inc. Reprinted by permission of Highlights for Children. Illustration copyright © 2000 by Allan Eitzen. Reprinted by permission of Highlights for Children, Inc. 1 In the first paragraph, why does Isaac think that the tree is lonely? A. The birds have flown away. B. There are no other trees nearby. C. There are no boys to take care of it. D. The tree is different from other trees. 2 This story most likely takes place in which season? A. spring B. summer C. fall D. winter 3 Based on the story, which word best describes Isaac? A. confused B. surprised C. kind D. afraid 4 In paragraph 2, Isaac says, “Mama, I will become a bird.” This statement shows that he wants to A. plant more trees. B. live in the tree. C. wear bright clothes. D. keep the tree from being lonely. We are learning more and more about the planets in our solar system every day. Read this passage to learn about Earth and the other planets in our solar system. Then answer the questions that follow. Family of Planets [Family of Planets. Note: At true scale, Earth = a grain of sand, the Sun = a basketball.] 1 Have you ever wanted to travel in space? In a way you already do, because you live on Earth, and Earth is a planet floating in space. There are other planets, too, a whole family of planets that scientists call our solar system. 2 The word solar means “having to do with the Sun.” The planets in our solar system all circle the Sun in paths called orbits. Planets that are closer to the Sun have shorter orbits. It doesn’t take them as long to travel around the Sun. Planets farther from the Sun have longer orbits. It takes Earth about 365 days — one year — to travel around the Sun. 3 The planets are alike in another important way. They all spin, or rotate. It takes Earth 24 hours, or one day, to spin around one time. As Earth spins, the parts that face the Sun are lit up — it is daytime there. The parts that face away from the Sun are dark — it is nighttime. 4 If you could visit the other planets, you would find some strange and surprising worlds. Some are dry and rocky, while others are balls of swirling gases with solid centers. Some planets are much hotter than Earth — so hot that nothing can live there. That’s because they are so close to the Sun. Other planets are far away from the Sun. They are very, very cold — colder than any place on Earth. 5 Earth is just the right distance from the Sun — it is not too hot and not too cold. Earth has water to drink and air to breathe. Earth is the only planet in our solar system where plants and animals and people can live. “Family of Planets” from CLICK magazine. Copyright © 2003 by Carus Publishing Company. Reprinted by permission of Cricket Magazine Group, Carus Publishing Company. Illustration copyright © 2004 by Measured Progress. 5 According to the passage, what is another name for our “family of planets”? A. orbit B. space C. solar system D. swirling gases 6 According to the passage, how is Earth different from other planets in the solar system? A. It is made of hot gases. B. It orbits the Sun. C. It has dry, rocky places. D. It has living things. 7 Paragraph 3 says that all planets rotate. Which word means the same as rotate? A. solar B. orbit C. gases D. spin 8 Based on the passage, day and night on Earth are caused by Earth’s A. temperature. B. rotation. C. seasons. D. orbit. 9 According to the passage, the planets that are farthest away from the Sun are A. larger than Earth. B. colder than Earth. C. smaller than Earth. D. hotter than Earth. Have you ever seen a frog or a toad? They are very common animals. Read this passage to find out more about frogs and toads. Then answer the questions that follow. Terrific Toads Toad Basics 1 . . . Do you want to find out the differences between a frog and a toad? Well, this is a good place to begin! 2 Both frogs and toads are amphibians. Amphibians have a strong tie to the water, but some live mostly on land or only part of the time in the water. The many species of toads live in all kinds of world habitats, ranging from deserts and high mountains to tropical rainforests. It’s no wonder that you might find toads in your own backyard no matter where you live! 3 Frogs and toads are both vertebrates (animals with backbones) that begin life in the water, then move onto land. Mother frogs and toads lay their eggs in ponds. Then the babies hatch as tadpoles, taking air from the water through gills, in the same way that fish do. The tadpoles are gradually transformed into air-breathing creatures as they grow legs and develop lungs. This process, called metamorphosis, may take a few weeks or many years, depending on the kind, or species. Find Out More about Toads What’s the difference between a frog and a toad? [Image of a Toad] [Image of a Frog] Toads and frogs have many things in common, but let’s compare their differences: Toad Frog Skin Dry, warty, usually brown Smooth and slimy, often green Body Fat with short legs Skinny with long legs Habitat Usually on land In water and land Reproduction Lays eggs in strings Lays eggs in stacks Transportation Hopping or walking Jumping and leaping Hunting Usually at night Usually in the daytime How are frogs and toads the same? 4 Most frogs and toads prefer moist habitats, although frogs must have water to live in. Both breathe air through lungs. Like all amphibians, they are both cold-blooded creatures. That means their body temperature depends on their surroundings. Most frogs and toads lay their eggs in water, where they hatch into tadpoles in early spring or summer. Both of these amphibians are carnivorous (meat-eating), feeding mainly on worms, insects, and spiders. They are both very important in controlling insect pests in gardens and near human habitats. “Terrific Toads” by Carol A. Amato, from Backyard Pets. Copyright © 2002 by Carol A. Amato. Reprinted by permission of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Illustration copyright © 2002 by Cheryl Kirk Noll. Reprinted by permission of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 10 According to paragraph 2, an amphibian is an animal that A. lives in water and on land. B. has a backbone and gills. C. is difficult to find. D. eats mostly plants. 11 Paragraph 2 says, “toads live in all kinds of world habitats.” The word habitat means A. the food an animal eats. B. the way an animal looks. C. the way an animal moves. D. the place an animal lives. 12 According to the passage, you might find frogs and toads A. mostly in dry areas. B. only in warm climates. C. only in the United States. D. almost anywhere in the world. 13 The chart mostly gives information about A. where toads and frogs live. B. how to tell toads and frogs apart. C. how toads and frogs are like other animals. D. why toads and frogs are amphibians. 14 According to paragraph 3, how are tadpoles most like fish? A. They are green. B. They are little. C. They breathe through gills. D. They move from water to land. Writing DIRECTIONS This session contains twelve multiple-choice questions. Mark your answers to these questions in the spaces provided on your Locator Test Answer Sheet at the end of this test booklet. 1 What is the correct way to show that the coat belongs to Bianca? A. Biancas coat B. Bianca’s coat C. Biancas’ coat D. Biancas’s coat 2 Which sentence is correct? A. Sasha go to school every day. B. Sasha goed to school every day. C. Sasha goes to school every day. D. Sasha going to school every day. 3 Choose the word that correctly completes the sentence. I ____________ find my pencil. A. cant B. can’t C. ca’nt D. cant’ 4 Which sentence is correct? A. Tomás rode his bike to school. B. Tomás rode him bike to school. C. Tomás rode its bike to school. D. Tomás rode they bike to school. 5 Which sentence is correct? A. Come home at six o’clock, “Mom said.” B. “Come home at six o’clock Mom said.” C. Come home at six o’clock “Mom said.” D. “Come home at six o’clock,” Mom said. 6 Which is not a complete sentence? A. I have a new puppy. B. When I got home. C. I took him for a walk. D. Then, he fell asleep. 7 Which sentence shows the correct way to use commas? A. I found my book, a pen, and a folder in my backpack. B. I found my book, a pen, and a folder, in my backpack. C. I found, my book, a pen and a folder in my backpack. D. I found my book a pen, and a folder, in my backpack. 8 Which sentence is correct? A. My uncle lives in portland, maine. B. My uncle lives in Portland Maine. C. My uncle lives in Portland, maine. D. My uncle lives in Portland, Maine. You are about to read text that contains errors. The questions that follow the text will ask you to correct the errors. Visiting Boston 1 Boston is the largest city in Massachusetts. It’s also the state 2 capital. More than 500,000 people live in Boston. But many more come to 3 visit each year. 4 There’s so much to do in Boston that it’s very hard to be bored. 5 There are parks full of animals and statues to look at. In the winter, people 6 go ice skating on the frozen Frog Pond. In the summer, they take a ride 7 on the swan boats. You can learn and have fun at places like the New 8 england Aquarium, the Museum of Science, and the Children’s Museum. 9 You can tour the city on foot or by trolley, there are also plenty of stores 10 and places to eat. Boston also has famous sports teams that you can 11 watch. The Red Sox play baseball, the Bruins play hockey, and the Celtics 12 play basketball. 13 People who visit Boston don’t have enough time to see everything 14 you want. That’s why they keep coming back! 9 What is the best way to combine the underlined sentences in lines 2 and 3? A. More than 500,000 people, live in Boston but many more come to visit each year. B. More than 500,000 people live in Boston, but many more come to visit each year. C. More than 500,000 people live in Boston but many more, come to visit each year. D. More than 500,000 people live in Boston but many more come to visit, each year. 10 Which word should be capitalized in the sentence in lines 7 and 8? A. Learn B. Fun C. Places D. England 11 Where should a period be added to the sentences in lines 9 and 10? A. You can tour. The city on foot or by trolley, there are also plenty of stores and places to eat. B. You can tour the city on foot. Or by trolley, there are also plenty of stores and places to eat. C. You can tour the city on foot or by trolley. There are also plenty of stores and places to eat. D. You can tour the city on foot or by trolley, there are also plenty of stores. And places to eat. 12 Which word should be used instead of you in line 14? A. we B. he C. she D. they Locator Test Answer Sheet READING 1. ABCD 4. ABCD 7. ABCD 10. ABCD 13. ABCD 2. ABCD 5. ABCD 8. ABCD 11. ABCD 14. ABCD 3. ABCD 6. ABCD 9. ABCD 12. ABCD WRITING 1. ABCD 4. ABCD 7. ABCD 10. ABCD 2. ABCD 5. ABCD 8. ABCD 11. ABCD 3. ABCD 6. ABCD 9. ABCD 12. ABCD