Nebraska NSCAS ELA — Grade 5 Feed

Question

Read the passage: "Tomas climbed the old oak tree in his backyard every afternoon. From the highest branch he could see, he watched the neighbor's horses gallop across the field. He named each horse and wrote their names in a small notebook he kept in his pocket. Tomas imagined what it would be like to ride one of them someday." What is this passage mostly about?

Reading Prose And Poetry

Question · Easy

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Read the passage: "The old library on Maple Avenue smelled like pencil shavings and paper. Ms. Vega, the librarian, knew every shelf by heart. When children came in after school, she always had the perfect book ready. 'This one has a dragon who is afraid of fire,' she would say with a wink. By closing time, every arm was full of stories." What is the main idea of this passage?

Reading Prose And Poetry

Question · Easy

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Read the passage: "Rain tapped against Lila's window all Saturday morning. She had planned a picnic with her friends in the park. Lila watched the drops slide down the glass and sighed. Then her mother brought out a board game and a bowl of popcorn, and soon the kitchen was full of laughter instead of complaints." What is the theme of this passage?

Reading Prose And Poetry

Question · Easy

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Read the passage: "Grandpa Jose rubbed the smooth wooden handle of his old fishing rod. 'This rod belonged to my father,' he told Diego. 'We caught catfish in the Platte River every summer. He taught me to be patient, to watch the water, and to wait for the fish to come to us.' Grandpa Jose handed the rod to Diego with careful hands." Which sentence from the passage best shows why the rod is important to Grandpa Jose?

Reading Prose And Poetry

Question · Easy

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Read the passage: "Aisha kept her garden tools in a bright red box on the porch. Every spring, she pulled out the trowel, the gloves, and the watering can. She turned the soil, planted seeds in neat rows, and waited. By June, tiny green shoots pushed through the dirt. Aisha smiled and said, 'It's starting again.'" Which detail from the passage shows Aisha has done this before?

Reading Prose And Poetry

Question · Easy

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Read the passage: "Noah tried out for the school play even though he had never been on stage before. At rehearsal, his voice shook and he forgot a line. The drama teacher, Mrs. Lin, said, 'Speak from your toes up, and the words will follow.' Noah practiced every evening in front of his dog. On opening night, he said every line clearly, and the audience cheered." What is the theme of this passage?

Reading Prose And Poetry

Question · Easy

Question

Read the passage: "Mia and her brother Sam found a muddy puppy shivering under their porch. They warmed it with a towel and gave it water. 'We have to find its owner,' Mia said. Sam wanted to keep the puppy, but Mia posted a sign at the grocery store. Three days later, a grateful family came to collect their lost dog, Biscuit." Which sentence best summarizes the passage?

Reading Prose And Poetry

Question · Easy

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Read the passage: "The forest trail wound past a bubbling creek, then climbed steeply up a rocky hillside. Pine trees leaned over the path and dropped needles that crunched under Priya's boots. At the top, the view opened to a wide valley dotted with wildflowers. Priya sat on a flat rock and pulled out her sketchbook." Which detail helps you picture the setting at the top of the trail?

Reading Prose And Poetry

Question · Easy

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Read the passage: "Elena was the fastest runner in her class, but she never bragged. Before each race, she shook every opponent's hand. After crossing the finish line first, she turned around and cheered for the runners still coming. 'We all work hard,' she told her friend. 'Everyone deserves to feel proud.'" What does this passage show about Elena's character?

Reading Prose And Poetry

Question · Easy

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Read the passage: "Benny liked to build things. He made a birdhouse out of scrap wood and a toy boat from empty bottles. His room was a workshop of half-finished projects. One Saturday, Benny decided to build a bookshelf for his mother's birthday. He measured the boards twice, nailed them carefully, and painted it her favorite color, sunny yellow." Which sequence of events is correct?

Reading Prose And Poetry

Question · Medium

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Read the passage: "Carla opened the mysterious package on her doorstep. Inside was a jar of deep purple jam with a handwritten label that read, 'From Grandma's kitchen.' Carla spread it on warm toast and took a bite. The sweet taste reminded her of summer mornings at her grandmother's house, eating breakfast on the porch swing." What can you infer about Carla's feelings?

Reading Prose And Poetry

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Read the passage: "Devon's older sister, Tasha, was captain of the basketball team. Devon felt nervous watching her play in the championship. Every time Tasha scored, Devon jumped up and clapped. When the buzzer sounded and Tasha's team won, Devon ran down to hug her. 'You were amazing!' he shouted over the cheering crowd." How does Devon feel about his sister's game?

Reading Prose And Poetry

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Read the passage: "The meadow was quiet at dawn. Dew sparkled on the grass like tiny diamonds scattered by a giant hand. A rabbit hopped between the wildflowers, and a hawk circled high above. Slowly the sun climbed, and the meadow filled with the hum of bees and the chatter of waking birds." Which sentence from the passage contains a simile?

Reading Prose And Poetry

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Read the passage: "Griffin pressed his nose to the aquarium glass. The silver fish darted left, then right, then left again. 'He looks worried,' Griffin said. His mother laughed. 'Fish don't worry, Griffin. He is looking for food.' Griffin dropped a flake into the water and watched the fish gobble it up." From which point of view is this passage told?

Reading Prose And Poetry

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Read the passage: "In the first chapter, Kate meets a new neighbor named Owen. In the second chapter, Kate and Owen build a tree fort. In the third chapter, a storm damages the fort, and Owen helps Kate fix it." How are the first and third chapters alike and different?

Reading Prose And Poetry

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Read the poem: "The wind and I play hide-and-seek, / It whistles soft, then starts to shriek. / It ruffles fur on squirrels and cats, / Then hides behind the trees like cats." What is the main idea of this poem?

Reading Prose And Poetry

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Read the poem: "Silver moon, silver moon, / Hanging in the quiet sky. / Singing to the sleeping world / A lullaby. / Stars blink softly, one by one, / As the night says day is done." Which lines from the poem show that the moon is being described as if it were a singer?

Reading Prose And Poetry

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Read the passage: "Marta wanted to join the science club, but meetings were at the same time as her soccer practice. She talked to her soccer coach, who moved practice to Tuesdays. She talked to the science teacher, who agreed Marta could come on Thursdays. By the end of the week, Marta was building a volcano and kicking goals." What can you infer about Marta from this passage?

Reading Prose And Poetry

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Read the passage: "On Saturday, Reza woke early to bake bread with his grandmother. They mixed flour and water, kneaded the dough, and let it rise while they drank tea. The kitchen smelled warm and yeasty. When the loaf came out golden, Grandmother sliced it and spread butter on each piece. 'Bread tastes best when it is shared,' she said." Which sentence best summarizes the passage?

Reading Prose And Poetry

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Read the passage: "Jordan practiced free throws every day after school. His first shot always missed, but by the tenth, the ball swished through the net. His coach said, 'You are improving because you do not give up.' Jordan grinned and kept shooting until the gym lights flickered off." How do Jordan's feelings change during the passage?

Reading Prose And Poetry

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Read the passage: "The old map crumbled at the edges when Tessa unfolded it. 'This belonged to my great-grandfather,' her father said. 'He used it to find his way across Nebraska in a covered wagon.' Tessa traced the faded roads with her finger and imagined the dust, the horses, and the long prairie stretching to the horizon." How does Tessa's point of view shape how she sees the map?

Reading Prose And Poetry

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Read the passage: "In Scene One, Lily and Jade find a lost kitten in the park. In Scene Two, they make posters to help find the kitten's owner. In Scene Three, no one calls, so they build the kitten a cozy bed from a shoebox. In Scene Four, a girl calls and happily reclaims her kitten." Which event happens right before Lily and Jade build the cozy bed?

Reading Prose And Poetry

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Read the passage: "When Eli moved to a new town, he felt invisible. No one talked to him at lunch. Then he joined the art club, and a boy named Sam asked to share Eli's paint set. By the end of the month, Eli had three new friends and a painting hanging in the school hallway." What is the theme of this passage?

Reading Prose And Poetry

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Read the poem: "The river talks as it rushes past, / Gurgling songs over stones. / It tells tall tales of mountains tall, / And whispers secrets to the bones. / Then slides away, a silver snake, / Into the waiting sea." Which line from the poem contains a metaphor?

Reading Prose And Poetry

Question · Medium

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Read the passage: "Hana's grandmother told a story about a clever fox who tricked a bear out of its honey. 'The fox promised to guard the honey while the bear napped,' she said, 'but he ate every drop.' Hana laughed. 'The fox reminds me of you, Grandma,' she said. 'You always find a way to get the last cookie.'" Why does Hana compare her grandmother to the fox?

Reading Prose And Poetry

Question · Hard

Question

Read the passage: "The hike up Sandstone Ridge was steep. Rocks crumbled under Theo's boots, and sweat dripped down his neck. At the halfway point, his water bottle was empty. 'I can do this,' Theo muttered, gripping a root and pulling himself up. At last, the path leveled, and he stood at the top, looking out over the plains." What is the main conflict Theo faces in this passage?

Reading Prose And Poetry

Question · Hard

Question

Read the passage: "When the circus came to town, Marisol could hear the music from her porch. She clutched her ticket and hurried down the street. Inside the tent, clowns tumbled, elephants paraded, and acrobats flipped through the air. Marisol's eyes grew wide. She forgot to eat her popcorn until the show was nearly over." How do the details in the passage work together to create a mood?

Reading Prose And Poetry

Question · Hard

Question

Read the poem: "I asked the wind where it was going. / It rushed past, breathless, and would not say. / I asked the brook why it was singing. / It gurgled on and rushed away. / I asked the sky why it was weeping. / It dropped a single drop of rain, / Then hushed, as if it had no answer. / So I went home and tried again." What do the three questions have in common?

Reading Prose And Poetry

Question · Hard

Question

Read the passage: "Rosa's family had always spent Sunday dinners together. When Rosa's older brother left for college, the table felt too big. Rosa started setting his place anyway. One Sunday, the doorbell rang, and there he was, holding a bag of groceries. 'I missed Mom's enchiladas,' he said with a grin. Rosa laughed and added a plate." How does the ending of the passage change the mood?

Reading Prose And Poetry

Question · Hard

Question

Read the passage: "In the first version of her story, Priya wrote, 'The girl was happy to see the puppy.' Her teacher suggested she add details to show the happiness instead. Priya revised it to: 'The girl dropped her backpack, dropped to her knees, and buried her face in the puppy's soft fur, laughing as it licked her cheek.'" Why is Priya's revised sentence more effective?

Reading Prose And Poetry

Question · Hard

Question

Read the passage: "Honeybees are important pollinators. As they fly from flower to flower, pollen sticks to their fuzzy bodies and rubs off onto the next bloom. This process, called pollination, helps plants make seeds and fruit. Without bees, many of the fruits we eat, like apples and cherries, would be much harder to grow." What is the main idea of this passage?

Reading Informational Text

Question · Easy

Question

Read the passage: "Thunderstorms form when warm, moist air rises quickly into cooler parts of the sky. The moisture forms clouds, and the rising air creates strong winds. Lightning happens when tiny bits of ice in the clouds bump together and make electricity. That electricity is released as a bright flash of lightning." What is the main idea of this passage?

Reading Informational Text

Question · Easy

Question

Read the passage: "The Sandhill crane is a tall gray bird that migrates through Nebraska each spring. Hundreds of thousands of cranes stop along the Platte River to rest and feed before flying north. People travel from many states to watch the cranes dance, leap, and call to one another at sunrise." Which text structure does this passage use?

Reading Informational Text

Question · Easy

Question

Read the passage: "Mount Ash is a volcano that has not erupted for over two hundred years. Scientists called it dormant, which means sleeping. However, small earthquakes near the mountain in 2019 made scientists watch it more closely. Dormant does not mean dead; a dormant volcano can wake up." Which sentence from the passage best supports the idea that a dormant volcano is not harmless?

Reading Informational Text

Question · Easy

Question

Read the passage: "A compass is a tool that shows direction. It has a needle that spins freely and points toward magnetic north. Hikers use compasses along with maps to find their way in areas without roads or signs. A compass works even when a phone battery dies." What is the author's main purpose in this passage?

Reading Informational Text

Question · Easy

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Read the passage: "Chimney Rock rises nearly 300 feet above the North Platte River in western Nebraska. Pioneers traveling the Oregon Trail in the 1800s used it as a landmark to know they were headed the right way. The rock got its name because it looks like a tall chimney rising from the prairie." Which text feature would best help a reader understand where Chimney Rock is located?

Reading Informational Text

Question · Easy

Question

Read the passage: "Some frogs survive freezing winter temperatures by producing a special kind of antifreeze in their blood. When the weather warms, the frog thaws out and hops away as if nothing happened. Scientists study these frogs to learn how organs can be preserved in extreme cold." What is the main idea of this passage?

Reading Informational Text

Question · Easy

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Read the passage: "Source A says, 'Solar panels turn sunlight into electricity.' Source B says, 'Solar panels work best on sunny days but can still make some electricity on cloudy days.' Together, what do these two sources show about solar panels?

Reading Informational Text

Question · Easy

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Read the passage: "Washing your hands is one of the best ways to avoid getting sick. Wet your hands, add soap, and scrub for twenty seconds, making sure to wash between your fingers and under your nails. Rinse well and dry with a clean towel. Doing this before eating helps keep germs out of your body." Which text structure does this passage use?

Reading Informational Text

Question · Medium

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Read the passage: "Before 1880, most Nebraskans lived on farms. By 1920, more people had moved to cities like Omaha and Lincoln to work in factories and shops. Trains made it easier to transport crops and goods between farms and cities. This shift changed how Nebraskans lived and worked." Which text structure does this passage use?

Reading Informational Text

Question · Medium

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Read the passage: "Source A: 'The Jimmy Carter Wetland Reserve protects hundreds of acres of marshland in Georgia.' Source B: 'Wetlands filter pollution from water and provide homes for birds, fish, and insects.' Based on both sources, why is protecting wetlands important?

Reading Informational Text

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Read the passage: "Astronauts wear special suits called EMUs during spacewalks. The suits protect them from extreme heat and cold and provide air to breathe. Tiny jets in the backpack let astronauts move around in space, where there is very little gravity. Each suit costs millions of dollars and takes years to build." Which detail from the passage supports the idea that spacewalks are challenging?

Reading Informational Text

Question · Medium

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Read the passage: "Tornadoes form during severe thunderstorms when warm, moist air meets cold, dry air. The warm air rises fast and starts to spin. If the spinning column of air reaches the ground, it is called a tornado. Tornadoes can happen quickly, so meteorologists issue watches and warnings to keep people safe." Which sentence from the passage explains why tornadoes are dangerous?

Reading Informational Text

Question · Medium

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Read the passage: "Recycling helps the environment in several ways. First, it reduces the amount of trash sent to landfills. Second, it saves energy because making new products from recycled materials uses less energy than making them from raw materials. Third, recycling conserves natural resources like trees and water." Which text structure does this passage use?

Reading Informational Text

Question · Medium

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Read the passage: "The Pony Express carried mail across the country on horseback for only eighteen months, from April 1860 to October 1861. Riders raced between stations about ten miles apart, switching to fresh horses at each one. The telegraph, which could send messages in minutes, made the Pony Express unnecessary." Which sentence best summarizes the passage?

Reading Informational Text

Question · Medium

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Read the passage: "Pioneer children on the Oregon Trail had many chores. They helped drive oxen, gather buffalo chips for fuel, and watch younger siblings. There was little time for games. When work was done, children played simple games like hide-and-seek or jumped rope. School happened only when families stopped long enough for parents to teach lessons." What is the author's main purpose in this passage?

Reading Informational Text

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Read the passage: "Glaciers are huge rivers of ice that move very slowly down mountains. As they move, they carve deep U-shaped valleys and carry rocks along with them. When a glacier melts, it leaves behind piles of rocks and dirt called moraines." What is the main idea of this passage?

Reading Informational Text

Question · Medium

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