Nebraska NSCAS ELA — Grade 7

Read the passage: Marcus had always been afraid of the water. When his friends signed up for swim lessons at the community pool, he forced himself to join them. The first day, he gripped the edge and refused to let go. His instructor, Ms. Patel, told him to take it one breath at a time. By the third week, Marcus was floating on his back without help, and by summer's end he was racing his friends across the pool. What is the main idea of this passage?

• AMarcus dislikes his swim instructor.
• BMarcus overcomes his fear of swimming through gradual effort.
• CMarcus is the fastest swimmer in his friend group.
• DMarcus only swims because his friends make him.

Read the passage: The old lighthouse stood at the edge of the cliff, its white paint peeling in the salt wind. No one had lived there since the keeper retired twenty years ago. Still, every night the lamp clicked on at dusk and swept its beam across the dark water, as if someone were still watching for ships. Which detail best supports the idea that the lighthouse still seems cared for?

• Aits white paint peeling in the salt wind
• BNo one had lived there since the keeper retired twenty years ago
• Cevery night the lamp clicked on at dusk and swept its beam across the dark water
• Dstood at the edge of the cliff

Read the passage: Jada wanted the lead in the school play so badly that she practiced her lines every spare minute. At auditions, her voice shook, but she delivered every word clearly. When the cast list went up, her name was not at the top. She had been given a smaller role with only three lines. At first she felt like quitting, but then she decided to make those three lines unforgettable. By opening night, the audience remembered her small part more than any other. Which statement best expresses the theme of this passage?

• AOnly the lead role matters in a play.
• BBeing disappointed means you should quit.
• CPutting full effort into any role makes it meaningful.
• DAuditions are unfair to hard workers.

Read the passage: Liam found a wallet on the sidewalk stuffed with cash and an ID card. He thought about keeping the money for the new bike he wanted. Then he pictured the name on the ID and the worry that its owner must feel. He walked to the address printed on the card and rang the bell. An elderly woman opened the door, her face breaking into relief. How does the plot develop in this passage?

• ALiam keeps the wallet and buys a bike.
• BLiam faces a choice and decides to return the wallet.
• CLiam loses the wallet before deciding what to do.
• DLiam is caught by the wallet's owner.

Read the passage: Whenever the team lost, Priya was the first one back on the practice field the next morning. She ran drills alone until her legs ached, then stayed late to help the younger players improve their form. "We can get better," she told them, "one pass at a time." What does this passage reveal about Priya?

• AShe blames others for the team's losses.
• BShe is determined and encouraging.
• CShe thinks winning is unimportant.
• DShe is too tired to lead the team.

Read the passage: The forest was silent except for the crunch of dry leaves under Nia's boots. Fog hung between the trees like a gray curtain, and the light had faded to a thin purple. She pulled her jacket tighter and checked the trail map again, but the path ahead had disappeared into the mist. How does the setting contribute to the mood of the passage?

• AThe bright sunlight creates a cheerful mood.
• BThe fog and silence create a tense, mysterious mood.
• CThe dry leaves create a calm, relaxing mood.
• DThe trail map creates a confident mood.

Read the passage: I never thought I would win the science fair. My project on water filters was simple compared to the glowing volcanoes and rockets on the other tables. When the judge stopped at my display, I explained how my filter could clean muddy water using sand and charcoal. She asked question after question, and I answered each one. Later, when they called my name for first place, I could not stop smiling. What point of view is used in this passage, and what is its effect?

• AThird-person limited, which shows what all characters think
• BFirst-person, which lets the reader see the narrator's personal experience and feelings
• CThird-person omniscient, which gives an outside observer's view
• DSecond-person, which gives the reader instructions

Read the poem: The wind whispers through the empty branches, and I remember every autumn that has passed. What does the short, broken line structure of this poem most suggest?

• AThe poem is meant to be read very quickly.
• BThe short lines create a quiet, hesitant feeling that matches the whispering wind.
• CThe poem is actually a paragraph of prose.
• DThe lines are too short to have any meaning.

Read the passage: Every Saturday, Mr. Alvarez set out a card table in his driveway and arranged his old tools for sale. He priced nothing more than a dollar. When teenagers stopped to look, he told them what each tool was for and let them hold it. "A tool is only useful," he said, "when someone knows how to use it." Over the years, he sold few tools but taught many people. Which theme is best supported by the passage?

• AMaking money is the most important goal in life.
• BSharing knowledge can be more valuable than selling things.
• COld tools are not worth keeping.
• DTeenagers should not be trusted with tools.

Read the passage: Derek copied the math problems onto his paper, but his eyes kept drifting to the window where the soccer game was starting on the field below. He filled in answers quickly, guessing at the ones he did not know. When the bell rang, he was the first out the door, paper half-finished on his desk. What motivates Derek's behavior in this passage?

• AHis desire to do well in math
• BHis eagerness to join the soccer game
• CHis fear of the math teacher
• DHis plan to help a classmate

Read the passage: At the start of the summer, Gabriela refused to speak to her new neighbor, a boy named Sam who had moved from across the country. She thought he would be loud and annoying. By August, though, they had built a treehouse together, and she realized he was quiet and thoughtful, just shy in a new place. On the last day of summer, she was the one who suggested they keep in touch after school started. How does Gabriela change over the passage?

• AShe becomes louder and more annoying.
• BShe moves across the country like Sam.
• CShe learns that her first judgment of Sam was wrong and becomes his friend.
• DShe decides she does not like Sam after all.

Read the passage: Tariq stayed up late studying for the history exam, so he overslept and missed the bus. His mother had already left for work, so he walked the two miles to school and arrived halfway through the test. Out of breath, he filled in what he could remember from his late-night review and turned it in with several questions blank. How does one event in the passage lead to the next?

• AStaying up late studying causes Tariq to oversleep and miss the bus.
• BMissing the bus causes Tariq to fail the exam and quit school.
• CWalking to school causes Tariq to forget everything he studied.
• DHis mother leaving for work causes Tariq to study late.

Read the passage: The diner was the only place open after midnight, its neon sign buzzing pink against the empty street. Inside, the booths were cracked red leather, and the smell of coffee and bacon hung in the warm air. Two truck drivers sat at the counter talking quietly while the cook scraped the grill. Elena slid into the last booth and felt, for the first time that night, safe. How does the setting influence Elena's feelings?

• AThe cold, empty street makes her feel excited.
• BThe warm, familiar diner makes her feel safe.
• CThe truck drivers make her feel afraid.
• DThe cracked leather makes her feel angry.

Read the poem: The moon is a silver coin tossed into the dark well of the sky; it sinks slowly, out of reach, and leaves me poorer than before. What does the comparison of the moon to a silver coin most suggest?

• AThe speaker thinks the moon is made of real metal.
• BThe speaker feels that the moon is something valuable that is slipping away.
• CThe speaker wants to collect coins.
• DThe speaker thinks the sky is a well full of water.

Read the scene from a play: [BEN, 14, stands center stage holding a letter. Lighting: a single overhead bulb.] BEN: (reading) "Dear son, I'm sorry I missed your birthday. The job took longer than I promised. I'll be home Saturday." (BEN folds the letter slowly, then crosses to the window and stares out.) BEN: Saturday. That's what he always says. [Lighting fades.] What do the stage directions most contribute to the scene?

• AThey tell the audience what Ben looks like.
• BThey show Ben's emotions through actions and lighting, revealing his disappointment.
• CThey summarize the plot of the whole play.
• DThey explain the meaning of the letter.

Read the passage: From the top of the hill, the valley looked small and orderly, the river a thin blue thread. Carlos imagined he was a giant who could pick up the farms like toy blocks. Down below, a farmer looked up at the same hill and thought how far away and lonely the top must be. How does the passage contrast two points of view?

• ABoth Carlos and the farmer see the valley as small and orderly.
• BCarlos sees the valley as something he could control, while the farmer sees the hilltop a…
• CCarlos and the farmer both want to climb the hill.
• DThe farmer thinks the valley is a toy.

Read the passage: The letter had been in the drawer for thirty years, the paper yellow and the ink faded to brown. When Maria unfolded it, the corners crumbled at her touch. She read the first line, and her hands began to tremble. What is the tone of this passage?

• ACheerful and excited
• BNostalgic and tense
• CAngry and harsh
• DSilly and lighthearted

Read the passage: Rosa's grandmother made tortillas every morning before the sun rose. She mixed the dough by hand, pressed each circle flat, and laid it on the hot griddle. While they cooked, she told Rosa stories about the village where she grew up. When the stack was tall enough, the two of them sat down to eat together, the kitchen warm and bright. Which is the best summary of the passage?

• ARosa's grandmother tells sad stories about her village.
• BEach morning Rosa and her grandmother make tortillas together and share stories over brea…
• CRosa learns how to press tortillas by herself.
• DRosa's grandmother cooks alone and eats alone.

Read the passage: Evan wanted to go to the robotics competition, but it was the same weekend as his grandfather's eightieth birthday party. His coach said the team needed him. His mother said the family would not gather like this again for years. Evan stared at the two calendar squares and wished he could split himself in half. What is the main conflict Evan faces?

• AA conflict between his robotics team and his coach
• BA conflict between two important events on the same day
• CA conflict with his mother about chores
• DA conflict about which calendar to use

Read the poem: I count the streetlamps as the bus rolls on, one, two, five, ten, then none at all. The town I knew slips past the frosty glass, and I am left with only what I carry. What can you infer about the speaker of this poem?

• AThe speaker is arriving home happily.
• BThe speaker is leaving a familiar place and feeling a sense of loss.
• CThe speaker is counting streetlamps for fun.
• DThe speaker drives the bus.

Read the passage: "That's not how you do it," Marta said, taking the glue from Jorge's hands. "Let me." Jorge stepped back. "I was just trying to help." "You can help by staying out of the way," Marta said without looking up. What does the dialogue reveal about Marta?

• AShe is patient and kind.
• BShe is controlling and dismissive of Jorge's help.
• CShe is afraid of glue.
• DShe wants to learn from Jorge.

Read the poem: Train wheels clack-clack, clack-clack, rushing me closer closer closer to the place I swore I'd never return. How does the form of the poem contribute to its meaning?

• AThe repeating 'clack-clack' and shortening lines imitate the train's rhythm and build a s…
• BThe rhyme scheme creates a cheerful mood.
• CThe long sentences slow the poem down like a stopped train.
• DThe form has no connection to the poem's meaning.

Read the passage: Mr. Bell was the strictest teacher in the school, and everyone dreaded his class. He returned essays covered in red marks and made students rewrite until their handwriting was perfect. But when Daniel's family lost their apartment, Mr. Bell quietly left a bag of groceries on their porch and never mentioned it to anyone. Daniel only found out years later, from his mother. What does this passage suggest about Mr. Bell's character?

• AHe is harsh because he dislikes students.
• BHe is publicly strict but privately generous, caring for students in ways he does not sho…
• CHe is only generous because he wants praise.
• DHe has no real standards for his students.

Read the passage: After her team won the state championship, Coach Nguyen gave the trophy to the bench players, not the starters. "They showed up to every practice knowing they would not play," she said. "They made us better every day, and no one ever saw it." The starters clapped, and the bench players held the trophy together, some of them crying. Which statement best expresses the theme of this passage?

• AOnly the players who score deserve recognition.
• BUnseen effort and dedication matter as much as visible success.
• CTrophies should be given to everyone equally.
• DBench players are not real members of the team.

Read the passage: The crowd rose to its feet as the ball arced toward the basket. Time seemed to slow. Every eye followed the orange sphere as it turned in the air, the gym silent for one long breath. Then the net swished, the buzzer sounded, and the noise came crashing back like a wave. How does the third-person point of view affect this passage?

• AIt puts the reader inside one player's head only.
• BIt lets the reader experience the moment as the whole crowd does, focusing on the ball ra…
• CIt makes the passage confusing and hard to follow.
• DIt tells the reader what each person in the crowd is thinking.

Read the scene from a play: [Living room, night. A pot of soup boils over on the stove, hissing. ANNE sits on the couch reading, headphones on. TOM enters from the hall, sees the stove, and freezes.] TOM: Anne! The soup! (ANNE does not look up. TOM lunges for the burner, turns it off, and waves the smoke away.) TOM: (quietly) You didn't hear me at all. What do the stage directions reveal that the dialogue alone does not?

• AThat Anne is listening to music and does not notice the boiling-over soup until Tom handl…
• BThat Tom is angry at Anne for making soup.
• CThat the soup is perfectly fine.
• DThat Anne is reading a cookbook.

Read the passage: The tree in our yard was older than the house. I climbed it when I was small, hid in it when I was scared, and carved my initials in it the summer before I left. The year I came back, a storm had split the trunk down the middle. One half still stood, bare and broken. The other lay across the yard, slowly being covered by vines. I put my hand on what remained and felt the wood, still warm from the sun. How does the structure of the passage, moving from past to present, contribute to its theme?

• AIt shows the tree has not changed at all.
• BIt contrasts the narrator's cherished memories with the tree's destruction, developing a…
• CIt proves the narrator should not have left home.
• DIt makes the passage about storms rather than the tree.

Read the passage: Honeybees do more than make honey. As they move from flower to flower collecting nectar, they carry pollen with them, which allows plants to produce fruits and seeds. About one-third of the food we eat depends on this process, called pollination. Without bees, many of our favorite foods, from apples to almonds, would become much harder to grow. What is the central idea of this passage?

• AHoneybees make honey for people to eat.
• BHoneybees play an essential role in pollination and in producing much of our food.
• CBees are dangerous insects that should be avoided.
• DApples and almonds are the only foods bees help grow.

Read the passage: The moon does not produce its own light. Instead, it reflects sunlight toward Earth. The phases of the moon, such as full moon and new moon, depend on how much of the sunlit side faces us. During a new moon, the side lit by the sun faces away from Earth, so the moon seems to disappear from view. Which detail from the passage explains why a new moon cannot be seen from Earth?

• AThe moon does not produce its own light.
• BDuring a new moon, the side lit by the sun faces away from Earth.
• CThe moon reflects sunlight toward Earth.
• DThe phases depend on how much of the sunlit side faces us.

Read the passage: First, a butterfly lays tiny eggs on the underside of a leaf. Next, a caterpillar hatches and eats the leaf, growing quickly. After that, the caterpillar forms a hard shell called a chrysalis and transforms inside. Finally, an adult butterfly emerges, dries its wings, and flies away to begin the cycle again. What text structure does this passage use?

• ACause and effect
• BChronological order, showing the stages of a butterfly's life cycle
• CCompare and contrast
• DProblem and solution

Read the passage: Drinking enough water each day helps your body stay at a steady temperature, keeps your joints moving smoothly, and removes waste. Most people need about six to eight glasses, though athletes or hot weather may mean you need more. Carry a reusable bottle, and take a sip whenever you feel thirsty. What is the author's main purpose in this passage?

• ATo entertain readers with a story about water
• BTo inform readers why staying hydrated matters and how to do it
• CTo argue that people should never drink juice
• DTo describe a famous river

Read the passage: The Great Wall of China was built over many centuries, not all at once. Different sections were added by different emperors to protect against invasions from the north. Today, much of the wall has crumbled, but some sections have been repaired and are popular places for visitors to walk and learn about China's history. Which is the best summary of the passage?

• AThe Great Wall was built in a single year by one emperor to attract tourists.
• BThe Great Wall was built over many centuries for defense, and today parts of it are prese…
• CThe Great Wall is completely ruined and no longer exists.
• DThe Great Wall was built to protect against invasions from the south.

Read the passage: ## How Solar Panels Work Solar panels capture sunlight and turn it into electricity that can power homes. Each panel is made of small cells that absorb light and release tiny particles called electrons. When the electrons flow through wires, they create an electric current. What is the main purpose of the heading 'How Solar Panels Work'?

• ATo describe the price of solar panels
• BTo tell the reader what the section will explain
• CTo argue against using solar power
• DTo list the names of panel makers

Read the passage: The Grand Canyon is one of the most beautiful places in the world. It stretches 277 miles long and up to 18 miles wide, and its rock layers are millions of years old. Everyone should visit it at least once because no photograph can truly capture its size. Which sentence from the passage is an opinion rather than a fact?

• A"It stretches 277 miles long and up to 18 miles wide."
• B"The Grand Canyon is one of the most beautiful places in the world."
• C"Its rock layers are millions of years old."
• D"The Grand Canyon is located in Arizona."

Read the passage: When factories burn fossil fuels, they release gases such as carbon dioxide into the air. These gases trap heat that would otherwise escape into space, like a blanket around the planet. As a result, the Earth's average temperature rises, which can melt ice caps and raise sea levels over time. What is the main cause described in this passage?

• ARising sea levels
• BFactories burning fossil fuels, which releases gases that trap heat
• CMelting ice caps
• DThe Earth's rotation

Read the two passages: Passage A: The cheetah is the fastest land animal, reaching speeds of 70 miles per hour in short sprints. Passage B: Unlike the cheetah, the pronghorn can run at 55 miles per hour for much longer distances, making it the fastest animal over long distances. What can you learn by putting these two passages together?

• AThe cheetah is the slowest land animal.
• BThe cheetah is fastest in short sprints, while the pronghorn is fastest over long distanc…
• CBoth animals run at the same speed.
• DThe pronghorn is faster than the cheetah in short sprints.

Read the passage: Sleep is not a waste of time. While you sleep, your brain sorts and stores what you learned during the day, and your body repairs muscles and fights off illness. Students who get enough sleep tend to remember more and focus better in class than those who stay up late. What is the main idea of this paragraph?

• ASleep has no effect on memory.
• BSleep helps the brain and body function properly.
• CStudents should never study at night.
• DSleeping makes you sick.

Read the passage: Reading fiction may improve how we understand other people. In one study, people who read short stories scored higher on tests that measure the ability to guess what others are feeling. Researchers think this is because following characters through a story gives practice imagining different points of view. Which detail best supports the central idea that reading fiction may improve understanding of others?

• A"In one study, people who read short stories scored higher on tests that measure the abil…
• B"Reading fiction may improve how we understand other people."
• C"Researchers think this is because following characters through a story."
• DThe passage does not give any supporting detail.

Read the passage: Both dolphins and sharks live in the ocean and have streamlined bodies, but they are very different. Dolphins are mammals, so they breathe air, give birth to live young, and feed them milk. Sharks are fish, so they breathe through gills and most lay eggs. Dolphins are warm-blooded, while most sharks are cold-blooded. What text structure does this passage mainly use?

• AChronological order
• BCause and effect
• CCompare and contrast
• DProblem and solution

Read the passage: Schools should start later in the morning. Teenagers' bodies are naturally programmed to stay up later and wake up later, so an early start leaves many students sleep-deprived. Studies show that schools that moved start times later saw better grades, fewer absences, and fewer car accidents among student drivers. What is the author's main claim?

• ASchools should start earlier in the morning.
• BSchools should start later in the morning because it benefits students.
• CTeenagers should go to bed earlier.
• DCar accidents are caused by homework.

Read the passage: Some people claim that playing video games makes students worse at schoolwork. To support this, they point out that one student who played games for hours every day got poor grades. Which is the best evaluation of the evidence used to support this claim?

• AIt is strong because it proves the claim for all students.
• BIt is weak because one example is not enough to prove a claim about all students.
• CIt is strong because it comes from a scientist.
• DIt is weak because video games are always good.

Read the passage: I have taught middle school for twenty years, and I have seen every new trend come and go. But I have also seen something that never changes: when a student finds a book they truly love, everything else in their reading improves, from vocabulary to confidence. That is why the most important thing we can do is help each student find that one book. What point of view does the author express in this passage?

• AFirst person, sharing personal teaching experience to argue that helping students find a…
• BThird person, describing someone else's classroom
• CSecond person, giving the reader instructions
• DThe author has no clear point of view.

Read the passage: A writer argues that the town should build a new skate park because "young people have nothing to do after school, so they must be getting into trouble." The writer gives no data about crime or after-school activity. What is the strongest evaluation of this reasoning?

• AThe reasoning is strong because it is clearly stated.
• BThe reasoning is weak because it assumes young people are getting into trouble without ev…
• CThe reasoning is strong because skate parks are popular.
• DThe reasoning is weak because no one likes skate parks.

Read the passage: It is shameful that the historic theater on Main Street may be torn down. For ninety years it has stood at the heart of our town, hosting graduations, concerts, and first dates. Once it is gone, no bulldozer will be able to bring it back. What is the author's tone in this passage?

• AProud and celebratory
• BConcerned and urgent about preserving the theater
• CBored and uninterested
• DConfused and unsure

Read the passage: The storm "slammed" into the coast, "smashing" boats against the dock and "ripping" roofs from houses. What is the effect of the words "slammed," "smashing," and "ripping"?

• AThey make the storm sound gentle and calm.
• BThey create a violent, forceful tone that shows the storm's destructive power.
• CThey make the passage confusing.
• DThey describe a light rain.

Read the two passages: Passage A: The sloth moves so slowly that algae grows on its fur, giving it a green tint that helps it hide among leaves. Passage B: Sloths only come down from their trees about once a week, usually to use the bathroom, which is when they are most vulnerable to predators. What new understanding do you gain by combining both passages?

• ASloths are fast animals that live on the ground.
• BSloths' slow movement helps them hide, but coming down from trees puts them in danger.
• CSloths never come down from trees.
• DSloths eat algae for food.

Read the passage: Some people think composting is difficult, but it only requires three things: "greens" such as fruit peels, "browns" such as dry leaves, and water. Mix them in a bin, turn the pile every week, and in a few months you will have rich soil for your garden, all from scraps you would have thrown away. What is the author's main purpose?

• ATo persuade readers that composting is easy and worthwhile
• BTo entertain readers with a story about a garden
• CTo argue that no one should compost
• DTo describe the history of composting

Read the passage: When the factory opened upstream, the river water became cloudy and the fish population dropped. A group of citizens tested the water and found high levels of a chemical used by the factory. After the factory was required to filter its waste, the water cleared and the fish returned within two years. What is the main cause-and-effect relationship in this passage?

• AThe factory's waste caused the river's pollution and the drop in fish; filtering the wast…
• BThe fish caused the factory to open.
• CThe citizens caused the factory to close permanently.
• DThe river became cloudy because of the fish.