Vermont Comprehensive Assessment Program ELA — Grade 4

Read the passage below: In early March, Maya and her grandfather walked into the sugarbush behind their Vermont farm. Morning frost still sparkled on the ground, but the afternoon sun was warm. Maya helped insert metal spouts into the sugar maple trees and hung shiny metal buckets underneath. Tap, tap, drop! Clear sap began to drip slowly into the buckets. Grandfather smiled and said, "The warm days and freezing nights mean the sap is flowing. Soon we will boil it in the sugarhouse!" What is this passage mostly about?

• AMaya buying maple syrup at a local store in town
• BMaya helping her grandfather collect maple sap in early spring
• CMaya planting new maple seeds in the forest
• DMaya making wooden buckets in a workshop

Read the passage below: In early March, Maya and her grandfather walked into the sugarbush behind their Vermont farm. Morning frost still sparkled on the ground, but the afternoon sun was warm. Maya helped insert metal spouts into the sugar maple trees and hung shiny metal buckets underneath. Tap, tap, drop! Clear sap began to drip slowly into the buckets. Grandfather smiled and said, "The warm days and freezing nights mean the sap is flowing. Soon we will boil it in the sugarhouse!" Which character trait best describes Maya in the story?

• AHelpful
• BFearful
• CImpatient
• DCareless

Read the passage below: In early March, Maya and her grandfather walked into the sugarbush behind their Vermont farm. Morning frost still sparkled on the ground, but the afternoon sun was warm. Maya helped insert metal spouts into the sugar maple trees and hung shiny metal buckets underneath. Tap, tap, drop! Clear sap began to drip slowly into the buckets. Grandfather smiled and said, "The warm days and freezing nights mean the sap is flowing. Soon we will boil it in the sugarhouse!" Where does the story take place?

• AIn a crowded city park
• BIn a sugarbush behind a Vermont farm
• CInside a warm grocery store
• DOn a boat across Lake Champlain

Read the passage below: Leo was hiking near Camel's Hump with his older sister when he heard a faint sound behind a fern. Mew! A tiny orange kitten was shivering under a leaf. Leo knelt down and held out his hand. The kitten sniffed Leo's fingers and purred gently. Leo wrapped it safely inside his warm jacket, and they walked down the mountain to find its owner at the trail entrance station. Why did the kitten purr when Leo held out his hand?

• AIt was frightened by a big dog
• BIt felt comforted and safe around Leo
• CIt wanted to run up the high mountain peak
• DIt was trying to hide under a rock

Read the passage below: Leo was hiking near Camel's Hump with his older sister when he heard a faint sound behind a fern. Mew! A tiny orange kitten was shivering under a leaf. Leo knelt down and held out his hand. The kitten sniffed Leo's fingers and purred gently. Leo wrapped it safely inside his warm jacket, and they walked down the mountain to find its owner at the trail entrance station. In the passage, what does the word faint mean?

• AVery loud and startling
• BSoft and quiet
• CBright and shiny
• DHeavy and firm

Read the passage below: Leo was hiking near Camel's Hump with his older sister when he heard a faint sound behind a fern. Mew! A tiny orange kitten was shivering under a leaf. Leo knelt down and held out his hand. The kitten sniffed Leo's fingers and purred gently. Leo wrapped it safely inside his warm jacket, and they walked down the mountain to find its owner at the trail entrance station. Which detail from the story proves that the kitten was cold?

• AIt was orange
• BIt was shivering under a leaf
• CIt was hiking with Leo's sister
• DIt ran down the trail station

Read the passage below: Every summer, I help my aunt paint the old red barn on our Green Mountain valley farm. I love dipping my brush into the thick red paint and covering the faded wooden boards. Aunt Nora handles the high ladder while I paint the low trim near the clover fields. By late afternoon, the barn glows like a bright apple under the blue Vermont sky. From which point of view is the story told?

• AFirst person (a narrator who is part of the story, using 'I')
• BSecond person (a narrator talking directly to 'you')
• CThird person limited (an outside narrator following Aunt Nora only)
• DThird person omniscient (an all-knowing outside narrator)

Read the passage below: Every summer, I help my aunt paint the old red barn on our Green Mountain valley farm. I love dipping my brush into the thick red paint and covering the faded wooden boards. Aunt Nora handles the high ladder while I paint the low trim near the clover fields. By late afternoon, the barn glows like a bright apple under the blue Vermont sky. Which simile is used in the passage to describe the painted barn?

• ALike a fading shadow in the woods
• BLike a bright apple under the blue Vermont sky
• CLike a fast train running on tracks
• DLike a cold winter breeze on the mountain

Read the passage below: Every summer, I help my aunt paint the old red barn on our Green Mountain valley farm. I love dipping my brush into the thick red paint and covering the faded wooden boards. Aunt Nora handles the high ladder while I paint the low trim near the clover fields. By late afternoon, the barn glows like a bright apple under the blue Vermont sky. What can the reader infer about Aunt Nora's attitude toward safety?

• AShe lets the narrator paint from the very top of the ladder
• BShe takes responsibility for the high ladder herself to protect the narrator
• CShe dislikes painting barns and wants to finish quickly
• DShe forgets to paint the barn trim near the ground

Read the passage below: Every summer, I help my aunt paint the old red barn on our Green Mountain valley farm. I love dipping my brush into the thick red paint and covering the faded wooden boards. Aunt Nora handles the high ladder while I paint the low trim near the clover fields. By late afternoon, the barn glows like a bright apple under the blue Vermont sky. What is a main lesson or theme of this passage?

• APainting is a difficult chore that no one should enjoy
• BWorking together with family can turn a big job into a rewarding experience
• CBarns should never be painted red in Vermont
• DLadders are too dangerous to ever use on a farm

Read the passage below: Making pure Vermont maple syrup requires several careful steps. First, maple producers drill small holes into sugar maple trees in early spring. Second, they insert spouts to collect clear sap. Next, the sap is gathered and piped into a big evaporator pan in the sugarhouse. Finally, workers boil the sap for hours until most of the water evaporates, leaving thick, sweet maple syrup. Which step happens immediately after inserting spouts into the trees?

• ABoiling the syrup in bottles
• BGathering the sap and piping it to the evaporator pan
• CDrilling small holes into the maple trees
• DSelling maple candy at a farm stand

Read the passage below: Making pure Vermont maple syrup requires several careful steps. First, maple producers drill small holes into sugar maple trees in early spring. Second, they insert spouts to collect clear sap. Next, the sap is gathered and piped into a big evaporator pan in the sugarhouse. Finally, workers boil the sap for hours until most of the water evaporates, leaving thick, sweet maple syrup. What is the main idea of this informational text?

• AHow to build a wooden sugarhouse in Vermont
• BThe process of turning maple tree sap into pure maple syrup
• CWhy sugar maple leaves change color in autumn
• DHow to plant apple orchards near mountain streams

Read the passage below: Making pure Vermont maple syrup requires several careful steps. First, maple producers drill small holes into sugar maple trees in early spring. Second, they insert spouts to collect clear sap. Next, the sap is gathered and piped into a big evaporator pan in the sugarhouse. Finally, workers boil the sap for hours until most of the water evaporates, leaving thick, sweet maple syrup. What happens to sap while it is boiled in the evaporator pan?

• AIt freezes into clear ice blocks
• BMost of the water evaporates, leaving thick syrup
• CIt turns into hard maple wood
• DIt changes color from red to bright green

Read the passage below: Beavers are often called nature's engineers because they build dams across Vermont streams. By placing logs, branches, and mud in flowing water, beavers create calm ponds. These ponds provide a safe habitat for the beavers' lodge. In addition, beaver ponds create wetland homes for trout, frogs, ducks, and herons. Without beavers, many woodland creatures would lose vital shelter and food sources. What is the author's primary purpose in writing this passage?

• ATo persuade readers to adopt a pet beaver
• BTo inform readers about how beavers build dams and help stream wildlife
• CTo entertain readers with a funny fable about talking animals
• DTo instruct readers on how to cut down forest trees safely

Read the passage below: Beavers are often called nature's engineers because they build dams across Vermont streams. By placing logs, branches, and mud in flowing water, beavers create calm ponds. These ponds provide a safe habitat for the beavers' lodge. In addition, beaver ponds create wetland homes for trout, frogs, ducks, and herons. Without beavers, many woodland creatures would lose vital shelter and food sources. In the passage, what does the word habitat mean?

• AA fast athletic race
• BA natural home or environment where an animal lives
• CA tool used for digging deep holes
• DA type of cold winter weather

Read the passage below: Beavers are often called nature's engineers because they build dams across Vermont streams. By placing logs, branches, and mud in flowing water, beavers create calm ponds. These ponds provide a safe habitat for the beavers' lodge. In addition, beaver ponds create wetland homes for trout, frogs, ducks, and herons. Without beavers, many woodland creatures would lose vital shelter and food sources. Which creature mentioned in the text benefits from beaver ponds?

• ADesert lizards
• BTrout, frogs, ducks, and herons
• COcean sharks
• DMountain gorillas

Read the passage below: In the 1800s, Vermont builders began placing wooden roofs and walls over stream bridges. Uncovered wooden bridges rotted quickly from rain, heavy snow, and harsh sunlight. Covering the bridges protected their heavy timber frames from moisture. As a result, covered bridges could last over a century, earned the nickname "kissing bridges," and became famous historic landmarks across the state. According to the passage, why did 19th-century builders cover wooden bridges?

• ATo make them invisible to passing steam trains
• BTo protect the wooden frames from rot caused by rain and snow
• CTo trap warm air inside during hot summer months
• DTo prevent fish from swimming under the stream

Read the passage below: In the 1800s, Vermont builders began placing wooden roofs and walls over stream bridges. Uncovered wooden bridges rotted quickly from rain, heavy snow, and harsh sunlight. Covering the bridges protected their heavy timber frames from moisture. As a result, covered bridges could last over a century, earned the nickname "kissing bridges," and became famous historic landmarks across the state. What is the main topic of this passage?

• AHow Vermont rivers freeze in winter
• BThe history and purpose of Vermont's covered bridges
• CHow to pave modern steel highways
• DThe invention of steam-powered boats

Read the sentence from the passage: "Covering the bridges protected their heavy timber frames from moisture." Is this statement a fact or an opinion?

• AFact, because it can be proven true by examining structural history and wood preservation…
• BOpinion, because some people prefer open bridges
• CFact, because it expresses a personal feeling about red paint
• DOpinion, because it describes a future event

Read the passage below: In the 1800s, Vermont builders began placing wooden roofs and walls over stream bridges. Uncovered wooden bridges rotted quickly from rain, heavy snow, and harsh sunlight. Covering the bridges protected their heavy timber frames from moisture. As a result, covered bridges could last over a century, earned the nickname "kissing bridges," and became famous historic landmarks across the state. According to the passage, how long could covered bridges last when protected from weather?

• AOnly two or three years
• BOver a century
• CExactly ten days
• DFewer than six months

Choose the relative pronoun that correctly completes the sentence: The Vermont farmer ______ grows organic apples guided our class through the orchard.

• Awho
• Bwhich
• Cwhere
• Dwhen

Choose the relative adverb that correctly completes the sentence: October is the month ______ the maple leaves turn brilliant shades of red and gold.

• Awhen
• Bwhere
• Cwhy
• Dwho

Which modal auxiliary verb best completes the sentence to show permission? Students ______ borrow snowshoes from the gym teacher during recess if they return them before class.

• Amay
• Bmust
• Cwould
• Dmight

Which sentence contains a verb in the past progressive tense?

• AEthan hiked up Mount Mansfield yesterday.
• BEthan was hiking up Mount Mansfield when it began to snow.
• CEthan will hike up Mount Mansfield next weekend.
• DEthan hikes up Mount Mansfield every summer.

Which word correctly completes the sentence? The hikers put on ______ boots before walking into the muddy forest.

• Atheir
• Bthere
• Cthey're
• Dthem

Which option shows correct capitalization for the proper noun?

• AWe took a ferry across lake champlain on Tuesday.
• BWe took a ferry across Lake Champlain on Tuesday.
• CWe took a ferry across lake Champlain on tuesday.
• DWe took a ferry across Lake champlain on Tuesday.

Which sentence uses commas correctly to separate items in a series?

• AOur class packed apples cheese and cider for the field trip.
• BOur class packed apples, cheese, and cider for the field trip.
• COur class packed, apples cheese and, cider for the field trip.
• DOur class, packed apples cheese, and cider for the field trip.

What is the meaning of the prefix un- in the word unpredictable?

• AAgain
• BNot
• CBefore
• DUnder

Read the sentence: The swift mountain stream carried the fallen leaves down the valley. Which word is a synonym for swift?

• AFast
• BSlow
• CDeep
• DQuiet

Which of the following is a complete sentence?

• AWalking along the snowy trail in Burlington.
• BThe yellow school bus stopped near the village store.
• CBecause the weather turned cold overnight.
• DUnderneath the tall evergreen trees.

Read the passage below: Sam stood at the edge of the wooden pier at Lake Champlain as sunset painted the sky in shades of violet and orange. The lake was completely still—until a sharp splash broke the surface fifty yards out. A dark, serpentine ridge rippled above the water for three seconds before sinking quietly out of sight. Sam gasped. Was it just a big fallen log, or had he witnessed the legendary monster Champ? He smiled to himself, deciding that some mysteries made the lake even more magical. What is the main theme of this passage?

• ALakes are dangerous places that people should avoid at night
• BWonder and mystery can make natural places feel magical and special
• CFears should always be reported to police immediately
• DScientific tools are required to enjoy outdoor scenery

Read the passage below: Sam stood at the edge of the wooden pier at Lake Champlain as sunset painted the sky in shades of violet and orange. The lake was completely still—until a sharp splash broke the surface fifty yards out. A dark, serpentine ridge rippled above the water for three seconds before sinking quietly out of sight. Sam gasped. Was it just a big fallen log, or had he witnessed the legendary monster Champ? He smiled to himself, deciding that some mysteries made the lake even more magical. How does Sam react after seeing the strange ripple in the water?

• AHe runs away screaming in terror
• BHe gasps in surprise and then smiles at the mystery
• CHe jumps into the cold lake to swim after it
• DHe calls his friend to complain about the noisy water

Read the passage below: Sam stood at the edge of the wooden pier at Lake Champlain as sunset painted the sky in shades of violet and orange. The lake was completely still—until a sharp splash broke the surface fifty yards out. A dark, serpentine ridge rippled above the water for three seconds before sinking quietly out of sight. Sam gasped. Was it just a big fallen log, or had he witnessed the legendary monster Champ? He smiled to himself, deciding that some mysteries made the lake even more magical. Which phrase from the story contains a metaphor?

• ASunset painted the sky in shades of violet and orange
• BSam stood at the edge of the wooden pier
• CA sharp splash broke the surface
• DSinking quietly out of sight

Read the passage below: Sam stood at the edge of the wooden pier at Lake Champlain as sunset painted the sky in shades of violet and orange. The lake was completely still—until a sharp splash broke the surface fifty yards out. A dark, serpentine ridge rippled above the water for three seconds before sinking quietly out of sight. Sam gasped. Was it just a big fallen log, or had he witnessed the legendary monster Champ? He smiled to himself, deciding that some mysteries made the lake even more magical. What is the climax or turning point of this brief narrative?

• ASam arriving at the lake during the afternoon
• BThe sudden splash and appearance of the dark rippling ridge in the water
• CSam walking home for dinner
• DThe sun rising high in the sky the next morning

Read the passage below: A thick snow carpet covered the trail as Hannah and her brother Jacob strap on their snowshoes. Jacob grumbled, "My feet feel like heavy boulders, and it's too cold!" But Hannah pointed ahead to the red wooden covered bridge arching over the frozen creek. Snow piled atop its roof like frosting on a gingerbread house. "Look, Jacob!" she cheered. "It's our own winter castle!" Jacob looked up, smiled despite the chill, and picked up his pace toward the bridge. How do Jacob's and Hannah's initial points of view about the snowshoe trek differ?

• AJacob feels tired and cold, while Hannah feels excited and imaginative
• BJacob loves snowshoeing, while Hannah wants to go back inside
• CBoth children think the bridge looks ugly and dark
• DHannah is angry at Jacob for moving too fast

Read the passage below: A thick snow carpet covered the trail as Hannah and her brother Jacob strap on their snowshoes. Jacob grumbled, "My feet feel like heavy boulders, and it's too cold!" But Hannah pointed ahead to the red wooden covered bridge arching over the frozen creek. Snow piled atop its roof like frosting on a gingerbread house. "Look, Jacob!" she cheered. "It's our own winter castle!" Jacob looked up, smiled despite the chill, and picked up his pace toward the bridge. What mood is created by Hannah's description of the covered bridge?

• AScary and mysterious
• BMagical and cheerful
• CGloomy and depressing
• DBusy and noisy

Read the passage below: A thick snow carpet covered the trail as Hannah and her brother Jacob strap on their snowshoes. Jacob grumbled, "My feet feel like heavy boulders, and it's too cold!" But Hannah pointed ahead to the red wooden covered bridge arching over the frozen creek. Snow piled atop its roof like frosting on a gingerbread house. "Look, Jacob!" she cheered. "It's our own winter castle!" Jacob looked up, smiled despite the chill, and picked up his pace toward the bridge. What evidence from the passage shows that Jacob's attitude changed?

• AHe grumbled that his feet felt like boulders
• BHe complained about the cold wind
• CHe looked up, smiled despite the chill, and picked up his pace
• DHe took off his snowshoes and sat down

Read the passage below: In May, Julian carefully pressed tiny pumpkin seeds into the moist soil of his backyard garden patch. Weeks passed, and only small green leaves appeared. Julian felt discouraged. "Will they ever grow real pumpkins?" he asked his mother. She advised, "Good things take time, Julian. Keep watering and weed the soil." Julian continued weeding every afternoon through the humid summer. By October, bright orange pumpkins lay heavy on the vines. Julian beamed with pride as he picked his first pumpkin for the harvest festival. How does Julian's perspective change from May to October?

• AHe starts with impatience and doubt but ends with pride and accomplishment
• BHe begins with great joy but ends feeling angry at his mother
• CHe refuses to work in May and gives up completely in October
• DHe prefers buying store pumpkins over garden growing

Read the passage below: In May, Julian carefully pressed tiny pumpkin seeds into the moist soil of his backyard garden patch. Weeks passed, and only small green leaves appeared. Julian felt discouraged. "Will they ever grow real pumpkins?" he asked his mother. She advised, "Good things take time, Julian. Keep watering and weed the soil." Julian continued weeding every afternoon through the humid summer. By October, bright orange pumpkins lay heavy on the vines. Julian beamed with pride as he picked his first pumpkin for the harvest festival. Which theme is best supported by the events in the story?

• APatience and persistent effort lead to satisfying rewards
• BVegetable gardens require no work once seeds are planted
• CSummer weather in Vermont is too hot for gardening
• DMotherly advice should be ignored when working outdoors

Read the passage below: In May, Julian carefully pressed tiny pumpkin seeds into the moist soil of his backyard garden patch. Weeks passed, and only small green leaves appeared. Julian felt discouraged. "Will they ever grow real pumpkins?" he asked his mother. She advised, "Good things take time, Julian. Keep watering and weed the soil." Julian continued weeding every afternoon through the humid summer. By October, bright orange pumpkins lay heavy on the vines. Julian beamed with pride as he picked his first pumpkin for the harvest festival. In the text, what does the mother mean when she says, "Good things take time"?

• AImportant achievements require patience and sustained care rather than instant results
• BSeeds will only grow if you plant them during a thunderstorm
• CHarvesting pumpkins should be done as quickly as possible in spring
• DDiscouragement is the only emotion people feel when working

Read the poem below: High upon the granite hill, Where mountain winds are sharp and chill, Stands a white birch, proud and tall, Watching green leaves turn in fall. Through winter snow and spring's gentle rain, It whispers soft across the plain, A quiet guardian, strong and grand, Rooted deep in Vermont land. How many stanzas does this poem contain?

• A2 stanzas
• B4 stanzas
• C8 stanzas
• D1 stanza

Read the poem below: High upon the granite hill, Where mountain winds are sharp and chill, Stands a white birch, proud and tall, Watching green leaves turn in fall. Through winter snow and spring's gentle rain, It whispers soft across the plain, A quiet guardian, strong and grand, Rooted deep in Vermont land. Which line from the poem contains personification?

• AHigh upon the granite hill
• BWatching green leaves turn in fall
• CWhere mountain winds are sharp and chill
• DRooted deep in Vermont land

Read the poem below: High upon the granite hill, Where mountain winds are sharp and chill, Stands a white birch, proud and tall, Watching green leaves turn in fall. Through winter snow and spring's gentle rain, It whispers soft across the plain, A quiet guardian, strong and grand, Rooted deep in Vermont land. What rhyming pattern (scheme) is used in the first stanza?

• AAABB (hill/chill, tall/fall)
• BABAB (hill/tall, chill/fall)
• CABCB (hill/chill, tall/rain)
• DABCD (no rhyming words)

Read the poem below: High upon the granite hill, Where mountain winds are sharp and chill, Stands a white birch, proud and tall, Watching green leaves turn in fall. Through winter snow and spring's gentle rain, It whispers soft across the plain, A quiet guardian, strong and grand, Rooted deep in Vermont land. What tone does the poet convey toward the white birch tree?

• ARespectful and admiring
• BAngry and annoyed
• CScared and nervous
• DFunny and silly

Read the poem below: High upon the granite hill, Where mountain winds are sharp and chill, Stands a white birch, proud and tall, Watching green leaves turn in fall. Through winter snow and spring's gentle rain, It whispers soft across the plain, A quiet guardian, strong and grand, Rooted deep in Vermont land. What is the central image of the poem?

• AA fast motorboat on Lake Champlain
• BA resilient birch tree standing steadfast through changing seasons in Vermont
• CA busy city street full of cars and buses
• DA farmer harvesting corn in late summer

Read the sentence from a story: Julian built a sturdy wooden trellis to support the heavy pumpkin vines as they grew. In this sentence, what does the word sturdy mean?

• AWeak and easily broken
• BStrong and solidly built
• CBrightly painted yellow
• DTiny and invisible

Read the passage below: In early spring, Oliver dreaded helping his family chop and stack firewood for winter. "Why do we need so many logs?" he grumbled. But when January brought freezing sub-zero blizzards to their mountain home, Oliver sat comfortably by the roaring woodstove, sipping hot cocoa. He looked at the neatly stacked woodpile outside his window and thought, "Now I understand why all that hard work mattered." Which type of character is Oliver in this story?

• AA dynamic character who changes his perspective after experiencing winter's reality
• BA static character who hates firewood from beginning to end
• CA villain who tries to destroy his family's woodstove
• DA minor character who never speaks or acts

Read the dialogue below: "Listen!" whispered Chloe, stopping on the forest trail. "Did you hear that knocking sound high in the maple tree?" "It's just the wind," replied Ben, looking at his watch. "We need to hurry back before dinner." "No, look!" Chloe pointed upward. "It's a pileated woodpecker with a bright red crest!" What does Ben's reaction reveal about his character?

• AHe is fascinated by wild birds and wants to study them for hours
• BHe is more focused on keeping schedule and getting home than exploring nature
• CHe is afraid of birds and wants to run away
• DHe wants to build a birdhouse immediately