South Dakota English Language Arts Assessment — Grade 5

Read the short passage below: Maya sat at her desk, staring at a blank canvas. She wanted to paint a gift for her grandmother, but every stroke of her brush felt wrong. Just as she was about to give up, her older brother dropped by and said, "Remember when Grandma taught you to start with soft background colors first?" Maya smiled, picked up her blue paint, and began again. Which quote from the text shows why Maya decides to continue painting?

• A"every stroke of her brush felt wrong"
• B"staring at a blank canvas"
• C"Remember when Grandma taught you to start with soft background colors first?"
• D"She wanted to paint a gift for her grandmother"

Read the fable below: An ant and a grasshopper lived in a meadow. All summer long, the ant collected corn seeds and carried them to her underground nest. The grasshopper sang and hopped in the sun, laughing at the hardworking ant. When winter arrived with cold snow, the grasshopper had no food left. He knocked on the ant's door, asking for help. The ant shared a portion of her grain and advised, "If you sing all summer, you may starve in winter." What is the central theme of this story?

• APreparation and hard work today prevent hardship tomorrow.
• BSinging is more enjoyable than gathering food.
• CInsects should always live underground in winter.
• DSummer is the shortest season of the year.

Read the short narrative below: Liam and his family arrived at Custer State Park late Friday afternoon. They pitched their tent near a row of pine trees and hiked up a small ridge before dark. The next morning, Liam spotted a herd of bison grazing peacefully in the valley. By Sunday afternoon, the family packed up their gear, feeling happy after a peaceful weekend outdoors. Which sentence provides the best summary of this narrative?

• ALiam saw bison grazing in a valley on Saturday morning.
• BLiam and his family pitched a tent next to tall pine trees.
• CLiam's family spent an enjoyable weekend camping and viewing wildlife at Custer State Par…
• DLiam's family packed up their camping gear on Sunday afternoon.

Read the excerpt below: "Don't worry, Sam," whispered Elena as they stood backstage. "We practiced this scene twenty times. If you forget your line, I'll cue you gently." She gave his arm a reassuring squeeze and smiled warmly. Based on her words and actions, which adjective best describes Elena?

• ASupportive
• BImpatient
• CCompetitive
• DForgetful

Read the passage below: I stepped onto the trail as the morning fog began to lift. My backpack felt heavy on my shoulders, but my heart beat fast with excitement. I had waited all summer for this hike through the Black Hills. From which point of view is this story told?

• AFirst-person point of view
• BSecond-person point of view
• CThird-person limited point of view
• DThird-person omniscient point of view

Read the sentence below: At the start of the new school year, Mr. Davis played a fun trivia game to break the ice among the students. What does the idiom "break the ice" mean in this sentence?

• ATo help people relax and feel comfortable with each other
• BTo clear frozen water off the outdoor playground
• CTo solve a difficult math problem together
• DTo end a game early because of cold weather

Read the lines from the poem below: The prairie grasses whisper low, Beneath the golden sunset glow. Crimson clouds drift soft and bright, Greeting the quiet stars of night. Which line contains imagery that appeals mainly to the sense of sight?

• A"Crimson clouds drift soft and bright,"
• B"The prairie grasses whisper low,"
• C"Greeting the quiet stars of night."
• D"Beneath the golden sunset glow."

Read the text excerpt below: Nora unpacked her boxes in the new room. She looked out the window at the unfamiliar street, missing her old neighborhood park. "It feels strange here," Nora thought, clutching her favorite stuffed bear tight against her chest. Which text detail shows that Nora feels uncertain or homesick?

• A"missing her old neighborhood park"
• B"unpacked her boxes"
• C"looked out the window"
• D"in the new room"

Read the scenario below: Ben promised his mom that he would clean up the garage after school. Instead of talking about it at dinner, he quietly went outside, organized the tools, and swept the floor clean before anyone asked. Which adage best matches Ben's behavior?

• AActions speak louder than words.
• BA rolling stone gathers no moss.
• CToo many cooks spoil the broth.
• DDon't count your chickens before they hatch.

Read the passage below: The wind howled around the wooden cabin on Black Elk Peak. Snowdrifts piled high against the thick oak door, trapping Caleb inside until morning. He sat by the stone fireplace, carefully feeding dry logs into the flames to stay warm. How does the setting directly influence the plot in this passage?

• AThe severe blizzard forces Caleb to stay indoors and keep the fire burning.
• BThe warm sunshine makes Caleb want to go hiking outside.
• CThe cabin's quiet location inspires Caleb to write a letter to his friends.
• DThe mountain peak causes Caleb to lose his map.

Read the passage below: During the regional science fair, Clara noticed that her rival, Julian, was missing a crucial battery component for his electrical circuit display. Although winning first place had been Clara's goal all semester, she reached into her supply bag and handed him her spare battery pack. "Here," Clara whispered. "We both worked hard on our projects, so your board should run at its best." Which sentence best explains Clara's hidden motivation for helping Julian?

• AClara values fair competition and respect for hard work above an easy victory.
• BClara wants Julian to owe her a favor during the next contest.
• CClara realizes her own project is complete and no longer cares about winning.
• DClara believes Julian's project is poorly built and will fail anyway.

Read the passage below: Thunder boomed overhead, rattling the farmhouse windowpanes. Ten-year-old Ethan jumped under his wool blanket, covering his ears. His older sister, Rachel, walked quietly over to the window, closed the wooden shutters tight, and turned on the reading lamp. "It's just a cold front moving across the valley, Ethan," she said in a steady, calm voice. How do Ethan's and Rachel's perspectives on the storm differ?

• AEthan feels frightened by the noise, whereas Rachel remains calm and practical.
• BEthan enjoys watching the weather, whereas Rachel wants to sleep early.
• CEthan understands weather science, whereas Rachel is afraid of thunder.
• DEthan wants to go outside, whereas Rachel prefers staying in bed.

Read the story below: Marcus trained every morning for the 800-meter track run. On race day, he stumbled around the final turn and finished fourth, missing the medal podium. Disappointed, he sat on the bench until his coach walked over. "You improved your personal best time by three seconds today, Marcus," coach noted. Marcus looked at the stopwatch, smiled, and realized that personal growth mattered more than a medal. Which statement best captures the theme of the story?

• ATrue success comes from self-improvement rather than winning trophies.
• BStumbling during a race means a runner should switch sports.
• CCoaches should always award medals to every participant.
• DMorning training is useless if you finish in fourth place.

Read the story excerpt below: Detective Toby looked at the clue log. The golden key had gone missing from the display case during recess. Toby remembered seeing Leo standing near the janitor's closet holding a ring of brass keys. Toby decided to question Leo before checking the playground bins. How does Toby's decision to question Leo advance the story's plot?

• AIt moves the investigation forward by focusing on a specific suspect and memory.
• BIt causes the golden key to be permanently lost.
• CIt ends the mystery immediately without needing further clues.
• DIt changes the story setting from the school to Toby's home.

Read the excerpt below: Grace looked at the tall climbing wall. Her palms felt clammy, and her knee twitched slightly. She wondered if her team members would laugh if she asked to wear a safety harness twice. Meanwhile, her teammate Jonah stood nearby, wondering how long until lunch break. What makes this passage an example of third-person omniscient narration?

• AThe narrator reveals the internal thoughts of more than one character (Grace and Jonah).
• BGrace tells the story using the first-person pronoun 'I'.
• CThe story speaks directly to the reader using 'you'.
• DThe narrator only knows what Grace can see with her eyes.

Read the sentence below: Early on the quiet spring morning, the mountain lake was a polished mirror reflecting the snowcapped peaks. What does the metaphor "the mountain lake was a polished mirror" mean?

• AThe lake water was calm, clear, and perfectly still.
• BThe lake was made of silver metal and glass.
• CThe water was too cold for fish to swim in.
• DThe lake had sharp edges like broken glass.

Read the story excerpt below: When Aaron saw the rusty, scuffed acoustic guitar at the garage sale, he almost walked past it. But when the owner picked it up and played a melody, the sound was warm and beautiful. Aaron remembered his mother's advice: "Don't judge a book by its cover." How does the proverb apply to Aaron's experience?

• AThe guitar's worn outer appearance did not reflect its high musical quality.
• BBooks with plain covers are always better than books with illustrated covers.
• CAaron should only purchase brand-new items from music stores.
• DOld instruments are always worth a lot of money.

Read the scene from a script below: SCENE 2: School Art Room [SAMIR stands holding a paintbrush over a shared canvas. CHLOE folds her arms.] CHLOE: Samir, you painted yellow over the section we agreed would be dark blue! SAMIR: (Softly) I thought adding sunlight would make our stormy ocean look more hopeful. CHLOE: But we didn't plan it together. Now we have to fix the whole left corner. What is the primary cause of conflict between Chloe and Samir?

• ASamir made a major paint change without consulting Chloe first.
• BChloe dropped her paintbrushes on the floor.
• CSamir refused to participate in the art assignment.
• DChloe wanted to paint a forest instead of an ocean.

Read the passage below: Wyatt loved building model airplanes. One Tuesday, he accidentally knocked over his wooden biplane, snapping its left wing. Instead of throwing it away, Wyatt carefully sanded the broken edges, applied wood glue, and clamped the wing overnight. The next afternoon, the wing was sturdy again, and Wyatt painted a bright red star over the repaired seam. Which sentence provides an accurate, objective summary of the passage?

• AAfter breaking his model airplane wing, Wyatt glued, clamped, and repainted it successful…
• BWyatt is the most talented model builder in his entire school grade.
• CWyatt broke his model plane on Tuesday because he was being careless.
• DWyatt loves the color red more than any other paint color.

Read the passage below: Grandpa Joseph opened the dusty wooden trunk in the attic. Inside lay a brass compass, a pair of leather boots, and a worn map of the Missouri River. He ran his thumb over the compass glass and murmured, "This little needle led me safely through miles of wilderness fifty years ago." Which text detail supports the inference that Grandpa Joseph was an adventurous explorer in his youth?

• A"'This little needle led me safely through miles of wilderness fifty years ago.'"
• B"opened the dusty wooden trunk"
• C"in the attic"
• D"ran his thumb over the compass glass"

Read the story excerpt below: At the start of summer camp, Leo sat alone on the bench during team games, convinced he wasn't fast enough to play soccer. By the third week, after practicing kicks every evening with his counselor, Leo volunteered to be team captain and scored the winning goal in the final tournament. How does Leo change from the beginning of the story to the end?

• AHe shifts from being insecure and isolated to confident and proactive.
• BHe shifts from loving soccer to preferring basketball.
• CHe becomes less interested in practicing with his counselor.
• DHe decides that winning games is unimportant.

Read the lines of poetry below: The autumn wind sang through the trees, And danced across the fallen leaves. It tapped upon my windowpane, Then raced away to chase the rain. Which human action is given to the wind (personification) in these lines?

• ADancing across the fallen leaves
• BBlowing cold air from the north
• CTurning leaf colors to yellow
• DRaining heavily over the roof

Read the poem below: Stanza 1: The prairie sun begins to set, In golden rays we won't forget. Stanza 2: The night sky opens wide and clear, As twinkling stars at last appear. How do the stanza breaks organize the poem's structure?

• AThey mark the transition from daytime sunset to nightfall.
• BThey separate different characters' spoken dialogue.
• CThey show a change in the poem's rhyming language from English to Spanish.
• DThey contrast summer weather with winter weather.

Read the passage excerpt below: Old wooden signs creaked in the mountain breeze as Maya walked down the main street of the abandoned mining town. Broken glass glittered in the doorway of the deserted general store, and shadow stretched long across the gravel path. Maya held her breath and took a slow step forward. Which mood is created by the descriptive details of the setting?

• AMysterious and tense
• BJoyful and festive
• CCalm and cozy
• DHumorous and silly

Read the passage below: Tyler noticed a loose bolt on his bicycle chain guard before leaving for the ten-mile trail ride. "I'll fix it tonight," he thought. Two miles down the trail, the bolt fell out, the chain jammed, and Tyler had to walk four miles back home. His father remarked, "A stitch in time saves nine." What does the adage "a stitch in time saves nine" mean in this context?

• AFixing a small problem immediately prevents a much larger problem later.
• BSewing clothes requires nine needles for strong stitches.
• CRiding a bicycle is better than walking four miles.
• DBicycles should always be stored inside a garage.

Read the passage below: When a sudden rainstorm washed away the outdoor chalk mural, Hannah threw her hands up and complained, "Our whole afternoon of work is ruined!" Meanwhile, Caleb smiled, pulled out his sketch pad, and said, "Now we have a fresh idea to draw on paper inside." How do Hannah and Caleb react differently to the ruined mural?

• AHannah feels frustrated by the setback, while Caleb stays positive and adaptable.
• BHannah wants to draw inside, while Caleb wants to stay in the rain.
• CHannah cleans up the chalk, while Caleb leaves the park.
• DBoth children blame each other for the rainstorm.

Read the short story excerpt below: Uncle Dan grinned as he placed the burnt pancakes on the table. "Behold!" he declared with a bow. "My latest culinary creation—Crispy Charcoal Delights! Guaranteed to test your teeth and your bravery!" What is the author's tone in this passage?

• AHumorous and playful
• BSerious and solemn
• CAngry and accusatory
• DFearful and anxious

Read the passage below: Deep in the Black Hills, a sudden dense fog blanketed the trail. Sixteen-year-old guide Sarah stopped her group near a distinctive twin-pine landmark. Her younger cousin panicked, wanting to push blindly forward. Sarah insisted on checking her map and waiting twenty minutes until the fog thinned enough to spot the marked blazes safely. How do the setting and Sarah's character traits work together to resolve the story's conflict?

• AThe dangerous fog setting tests Sarah's patience and knowledge, allowing her calm leaders…
• BThe warm sunny setting helps Sarah find the trail without using a map.
• CSarah's impatience forces the group to run through the fog quickly.
• DThe twin-pine landmark collapses and traps the hiking group.

Read the passage below: Julian sat near the stage, convincing himself that he wasn't nervous for his cello solo. Across the room, Director Vance looked at Julian's trembling fingers and thought, "He's terrified, but if he plays the first three bars cleanly, his confidence will return." Meanwhile, backstage, Maya was secretly hoping the concert would end quickly so she could celebrate her birthday. Which statement best describes the complex narrator perspective in this passage?

• AIt is third-person omniscient because the narrator accesses the internal thoughts of Juli…
• BIt is third-person limited because it only reveals Julian's thoughts.
• CIt is first-person because Director Vance tells his own story.
• DIt is second-person because the reader is given instructions on playing cello.

Read the passage below: Throughout his childhood, Oliver kept a small silver pocket watch that had stopped running at 4:15. Whenever he felt overwhelmed by change, he would wind its frozen stem. On the day he finally left for boarding school, Oliver placed the watch in his desk drawer without winding it, smiling as he boarded the bus. What does Oliver's final action with the pocket watch symbolize?

• AHe is ready to accept new growth and move past his need for childhood comfort.
• BHe is angry that the watch maker could not repair the gear.
• CHe forgot to pack his essential belongings for school.
• DHe intends to sell the watch to pay for his bus ticket.

Read the excerpt below: [1] The old lighthouse keeper, Mr. Henderson, rarely came into town during the week. [2] Children often whispered that he was cold and unwelcoming. [3] Yet every December storm, Mr. Henderson kept a thermos of hot soup and thick blankets by the boathouse door for lost travelers. [4] When asked about it, he merely shrugged and said, "The sea demands that we look out for one another." Which TWO quotes together best support the inference that Mr. Henderson is deep down a caring person despite his quiet reputation?

• AQuotes [3] and [4]
• BQuotes [1] and [2]
• CQuotes [2] and [3]
• DQuotes [1] and [4]

Read the passage below: When asked why she entered the town essay contest, Beatrice claimed she just wanted to practice her typing skills. However, her best friend noted how Beatrice spent weeks reading past winning essays, revising her drafts late into the night, and checking the mail every morning for the result letter. What is the difference between Beatrice's stated reason and her true underlying motivation?

• AShe downplays her effort by citing typing practice, but her actions reveal a deep desire…
• BShe claims she wants to win, but her actions show she only cares about typing fast.
• CShe entered the contest to please her teacher, but told her friend she wanted money.
• DShe claims she wrote the essay alone, but her friend wrote it for her.

Read the excerpt below: "Oh, great," muttered Felix as rain poured through his open tent flap, soaking his sleeping bag. "My grand plan for an ultra-cozy wilderness retreat is going exactly according to schedule!" Which literary device is Felix using when he makes this statement?

• AVerbal irony (sarcasm)
• BSimile
• CFlashback
• DAlliteration

Read the passage below: Kendra had worked for three months building an automated watering system for the school garden. On inspection day, a loose rubber valve leaked water onto the greenhouse floor. Kendra quickly replaced the valve with a spare fitting from her toolbox, and the system functioned flawlessly for the rest of the demonstration. Which summary option contains an inaccurate detail or opinion that makes it unobjective?

• A"Kendra built a garden watering system that leaked because she was careless, but she mana…
• B"Kendra built an automated watering system over three months for the school garden."
• C"During an inspection, a leaking valve was quickly replaced with a spare fitting."
• D"After replacing the valve, Kendra's system ran properly for the rest of the demonstratio…

Read the passage below: At the craft fair, visitors hurried past Mr. Gable's display of carved wooden spoons, admiring bright plastic toys at nearby booths instead. However, an elderly woodworker stopped, held one of Mr. Gable's smooth walnut spoons to the sunlight, and admired the delicate grain. "True craftsmanship takes time to appreciate," the woman whispered. Mr. Gable remembered the adage: "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." How does the adage apply to the story?

• ADifferent people place value on different things; while crowd preferred plastic, the wood…
• BWooden spoons are always more useful than plastic toys.
• CCraft fairs should ban plastic toys to help local artists.
• DWalnut wood is the most expensive material for carving.

Read the informational passage below: American bison once roamed the Great Plains in massive herds numbering tens of millions. By the late 1800s, overhunting reduced their population to near extinction. Thanks to modern conservation efforts in national parks like Wind Cave and Custer State Park in South Dakota, wild bison populations have steadily recovered, helping restore grassland ecosystems. What is the main idea of this passage?

• ABison populations declined dramatically in the 1800s but have recovered through dedicated…
• BWind Cave National Park is the largest wildlife sanctuary in South Dakota.
• CBison only eat native prairie grasses in South Dakota.
• DHunting bison was banned in the United States in 1950.

Read the passage excerpt below: Honeybees use a special movement pattern called the 'waggle dance' inside the hive. By moving in a figure-eight shape and vibrating their wings, scout bees communicate the exact distance and direction of nectar-rich flowers to other worker bees. According to the passage, how do scout bees share the location of flowers?

• ABy performing a figure-eight dance and vibrating their wings
• BBy leaving scent trails on flower petals
• CBy making loud buzzing noises outside the hive entrance
• DBy flying in straight circles around the queen bee

Read the passage below: When heavy spring rains wash across bare farmland, topsoil strips away into nearby streams. As a result, crops lose valuable nutrients, and water quality in rivers decreases. Which organizational text structure is used in this passage?

• ACause and effect
• BChronological order
• CCompare and contrast
• DProblem and solution

Read the text below: Wind turbines generate electricity by capturing the natural energy of moving air. As wind blows against the giant blades, they spin a rotor connected to a generator, creating clean energy without burning fossil fuels. What is the author's primary purpose for writing this text?

• ATo inform readers about how wind turbines produce clean electricity
• BTo persuade readers to buy wind turbines for their homes
• CTo entertain readers with a story about a windy day
• DTo describe the history of windmills in ancient times

Read the headings from an informational article below: - Section 1: Fossils in the Badlands - Section 2: Tools Used by Paleontologists - Section 3: Cleaning and Preserving Bone Specimens Under which heading should a reader look to find information about rock hammers and delicate brushes?

• ASection 2: Tools Used by Paleontologists
• BSection 1: Fossils in the Badlands
• CSection 3: Cleaning and Preserving Bone Specimens
• DIn the index under 'Volcanoes'

Read the sentence below: During dry summer months, prairie plants enter a state of dormancy, stopping active growth to conserve water until rain returns. Based on context clues, what does the word "dormancy" mean?

• AA period of temporary inactivity or rest
• BA rapid production of colorful flowers
• CA disease that destroys plant roots
• DA method of spreading seeds by wind

Read the paragraph below: Plastic bottles dumped in landfills can take hundreds of years to decompose. To address this environmental issue, many communities have launched curbside recycling programs and installed public bottle refill stations. Which text structure is used in this passage?

• AProblem and solution
• BChronological order
• CCompare and contrast
• DSpatial organization

Read the passage excerpt below: Badlands National Park in South Dakota features striking rock formations created by millions of years of erosion. Water and wind carved layers of sedimentary rock, uncovering ancient mammal fossils such as saber-toothed cats and three-toed horses. Which statement is supported by facts in the passage?

• AWind and water erosion revealed ancient mammal fossils in Badlands National Park.
• BBadlands National Park receives millions of human visitors every month.
• CSaber-toothed cats still live in South Dakota rocks today.
• DSedimentary rock was brought to the Badlands by human workers.

Read the short paragraph below: In 1874, an expedition explored the Black Hills region. Two years later, in 1876, Deadwood was established as a bustling mining town. By 1889, South Dakota officially gained admittance as the 40th U.S. state. How is this information organized?

• AChronological order (time sequence)
• BCause and effect
• CProblem and solution
• DCompare and contrast

Read the sentences below: Sentence A: Solar panels convert sunlight into usable electricity. Sentence B: Solar energy is the most exciting topic to study in science class. Which statement correctly identifies the nature of these sentences?

• ASentence A is a verifiable fact, while Sentence B is an opinion.
• BBoth sentences are personal opinions.
• CSentence A is an opinion, while Sentence B is a fact.
• DBoth sentences are scientific facts.

Read the two text passages below: Passage 1: Solar power systems generate energy during daylight hours, while wind turbines produce power whenever wind speed reaches minimum thresholds. Solar panels require open sunny areas, whereas wind turbines require tall towers built on windy ridges. Passage 2: Engineers first built small experimental wind farms in the 1970s. During the 1990s, turbine efficiency improved greatly. By 2020, wind energy supplied a significant percentage of electricity in several Midwest states. How do the text structures of Passage 1 and Passage 2 differ?

• APassage 1 uses compare and contrast, while Passage 2 uses chronological order.
• BPassage 1 uses cause and effect, while Passage 2 uses problem and solution.
• CPassage 1 uses chronological order, while Passage 2 uses compare and contrast.
• DBoth passages use spatial organization.

Read the excerpt below: Installing low-flow water fixtures in municipal buildings significantly reduces water waste. In a recent two-year city study, buildings equipped with aerated faucets reduced total water consumption by 28 percent, saving over 400,000 gallons annually. Which evidence best supports the author's claim about low-flow water fixtures?

• AStatistical data showing a 28 percent reduction and 400,000 gallons saved
• BThe statement that municipal buildings are located downtown
• CThe opinion that low-flow faucets look modern
• DThe fact that water flows through metal pipes

Read the two accounts of pioneer travel below: Firsthand Account: (From Clara's 1852 Diary) "May 14: Rain poured all night. Our wagon wheel sank deep into mud near the riverbank. Pa and I had to unhitch the oxen and push together for two hours in freezing water." Secondhand Account: (From a History Textbook) Pioneers traveling west in the 1850s faced frequent delays due to spring rainstorms. Wagons often became stuck in muddy soil near river crossings, requiring travelers to unhitch draft animals. What is a key difference between these two accounts?

• AClara's account provides personal sensory details and emotions, while the textbook gives…
• BThe textbook account was written by an actual 1852 wagon traveler.
• CClara's diary explains the overall economic causes of westward migration.
• DBoth accounts describe travel in motorized vehicles.