Wisconsin Forward Exam English Language Arts — Grade 4

Read the passage below before answering the question. **The Great Barn Build** *Ten-year-old Lucas stood in the morning dew watching neighbors arrive from across Green County. His family's old wooden barn had collapsed in a winter snowstorm, but today was barn-raising day. Uncle Thomas handed Lucas a box of steel nails. "Your job is to hand these to the carpenters on the scaffold," Uncle Thomas whispered with a proud smile. By noon, the massive wooden frame stood tall against the blue Wisconsin sky.* Why did neighbors gather at Lucas's farm?

• ATo help rebuild the barn that collapsed during a winter snowstorm.
• BTo celebrate Lucas's tenth birthday with a neighborhood party.
• CTo buy wooden scaffold frames from Lucas's Uncle Thomas.
• DTo clear the morning dew from the surrounding crop fields.

Read the passage from 'The Great Barn Build': *Uncle Thomas handed Lucas a box of steel nails. "Your job is to hand these to the carpenters on the scaffold," Uncle Thomas whispered with a proud smile.* How does Uncle Thomas feel about Lucas helping with the project?

• AHe feels proud and trusts Lucas with an important task.
• BHe feels worried that Lucas will drop the box of nails.
• CHe feels annoyed because Lucas is standing in the way.
• DHe feels surprised that Lucas arrived early in the morning.

Read the passage below before answering the question. **The Secret of Devil's Lake** *Maya and Grandpa walked along the rocky trail surrounding Devil's Lake. Ancient quartzite cliffs towered above the clear water like giant purple walls. "These rocks were formed millions of years ago," Grandpa explained, pointing to a boulder shaped like an elephant's foot. Maya gasped and took a picture with her camera. "Nature is the greatest sculptor in Wisconsin," she said proudly.* What is the main theme of this passage?

• ANature creates extraordinary beauty that inspires wonder and appreciation.
• BTaking photos on rocky trails can be dangerous without adult supervision.
• COlder family members prefer quiet walks over outdoor sports.
• DWisconsin parks are only enjoyable during summer vacations.

In 'The Secret of Devil's Lake', what does the word **sculptor** mean when Maya says, "Nature is the greatest sculptor in Wisconsin"?

• AAn artist or force that shapes objects and landforms.
• BA scientist who studies ancient animal fossils.
• CA photographer taking pictures of high cliffs.
• DA park ranger guiding visitors along hiking trails.

Read the poem below before answering the question. **Autumn Whispers** *Gold and crimson leaves tumble down, Dancing gently through the quiet town. North winds whistle a chilly song, As winter shadows stretch lean and long.* Which line from the poem contains an example of **personification**?

• A"North winds whistle a chilly song,"
• B"Gold and crimson leaves tumble down,"
• C"Dancing gently through the quiet town."
• D"As winter shadows stretch lean and long."

In the poem 'Autumn Whispers', what is the rhyme scheme of the four lines?

• AAABB (down/town, song/long)
• BABAB (down/song, town/long)
• CABCB (down/town, song/shadows)
• DABCD (no rhyming pairs)

Read the passage below before answering the question. **The Blue Jay and the Oak Tree** *A noisy Blue Jay perched on an old Oak Tree and boasted, "I am the fastest flyer in this forest! You just stand rooted in the dirt!" The Oak Tree rustled its leafy branches gently. "I may stay in one place," replied the Oak, "but my roots shelter the stream, and my acorns feed fifty families of squirrels each winter." The Blue Jay went quiet, realizing true value comes from helping others, not boasting.* What moral does this fable teach?

• ATrue worth is shown through helpfulness to others rather than bragging.
• BBirds should avoid building nests in tall oak trees during winter.
• CFast flyers are always the most important creatures in the forest.
• DSquirrels prefer acorns over seeds dropped by blue jays.

From what point of view is 'The Blue Jay and the Oak Tree' narrated?

• AThird-person point of view (an outside narrator telling the story)
• BFirst-person point of view from the Blue Jay's perspective ("I")
• CFirst-person point of view from the Oak Tree's perspective ("I")
• DSecond-person point of view addressing the reader directly ("You")

Read the passage below before answering the question. **The Canoe Adventure** *Sam and Jenna pushed their red canoe into the calm waters of the Flambeau River. Jenna held her paddle tightly as a mother duck guided four tiny ducklings across the lily pads. "Keep paddling slowly so we don't frighten them," Jenna whispered to Sam. Sam nodded and dipped his paddle silently into the water.* What setting is described in this passage?

• AA quiet river in Wisconsin with calm water and lily pads.
• BA stormy lake with crashing waves and strong winds.
• CA busy city harbor filled with large wooden motorboats.
• DA frozen winter pond surrounded by snow covered trees.

In 'The Canoe Adventure', why does Jenna ask Sam to paddle slowly?

• ASo they avoid scaring the mother duck and her ducklings.
• BBecause the canoe is leaking water from the front.
• CSo they can race another boat coming down the river.
• DBecause Sam dropped his wooden paddle into the river.

Read the sentence below: *The snow was a white blanket covering the sleeping Wisconsin meadow.* What type of figurative language is used in this sentence?

• AA metaphor
• BA simile
• CAn idiom
• DOnomatopoeia

Read the sentence below: *The runner was as fast as a cheetah speeding across the field.* What two things are being compared in this simile?

• AThe runner's speed and a cheetah's speed
• BThe field and the running track
• CThe cheetah and the sports audience
• DThe runner and the soccer ball

Read the passage below before answering the question. **How Honeybees Help Wisconsin Farms** *Honeybees play a vital role in Wisconsin's agriculture. As bees fly from flower to flower gathering nectar, pollen sticks to their furry bodies. When they land on another blossom, they transfer this pollen, allowing plants to produce fruit and seeds. Major Wisconsin crops—including apples, cranberries, and cherries—depend heavily on honeybee pollination to thrive each season.* What is the main idea of this passage?

• AHoneybees are essential for pollinating crops and helping Wisconsin farms produce fruit.
• BHoneybees travel long distances to collect sweet nectar for their hive.
• CCranberries and apples are the most popular fruits grown in North America.
• DPollen is a sticky yellow powder that covers flowers during springtime.

Based on 'How Honeybees Help Wisconsin Farms', which three crops depend heavily on honeybee pollination?

• AApples, cranberries, and cherries
• BCorn, soybeans, and wheat
• CPotatoes, carrots, and onions
• DStrawberries, pumpkins, and grapes

Read the passage below before answering the question. **Great Lakes Freighters** *Freighters are giant cargo ships that sail across the Great Lakes, including Lake Michigan and Lake Superior. These impressive vessels carry heavy loads of iron ore, grain, and coal from port to port. Some freighters are over 1,000 feet long! Because winter ice freezes port waters, most freighter crews work long hours from April through December before taking winter break.* What is the main purpose of Great Lakes freighters?

• ATo transport heavy bulk cargo like iron ore, grain, and coal between ports.
• BTo take tourists on scenic summer vacation cruises across Lake Superior.
• CTo break thick lake ice so smaller fishing boats can navigate in January.
• DTo race across open water during annual summer sailing competitions.

In 'Great Lakes Freighters', why do freighter crews stop sailing during mid-winter?

• ABecause winter ice freezes the port waters, making navigation impossible.
• BBecause the ships must be painted red every January.
• CBecause cargo like iron ore dissolves in cold water.
• DBecause summer sailors replace the winter crew members.

Read the passage below before answering the question. **Why Leaves Change Colors** *During spring and summer, tree leaves contain chlorophyll, a green chemical that absorbs sunlight to make food. When autumn arrives, daylight hours grow shorter and temperatures drop. Trees prepare for winter by stopping chlorophyll production. As the green color fades, hidden orange and yellow pigments called carotenoids finally become visible!* Which organizational pattern is used in this passage?

• ACause and effect (explaining why leaves change color when autumn comes)
• BCompare and contrast (comparing tree leaves to pine needles)
• CProblem and solution (solving how to protect trees from winter cold)
• DOrder of importance (listing trees from tallest to shortest)

According to 'Why Leaves Change Colors', what chemical makes tree leaves green during summer?

• AChlorophyll
• BCarotenoid
• COxygen
• DNectar

Read the passage below before answering the question. **Wisconsin's Ice Age Trail** *Thousands of years ago, massive glaciers covered much of Wisconsin. As these giant sheets of ice melted and moved, they carved deep valleys, created round lakes, and piled up winding hills called moraines. Today, people can hike the Ice Age Trail, a 1,200-mile footpath that follows the edge of where those ancient glaciers once stood.* What created the valleys and hills along Wisconsin's Ice Age Trail?

• AMoving and melting glaciers thousands of years ago.
• BVolcanoes erupting near the Great Lakes.
• CEarly settlers digging hiking trails across the state.
• DEarthquakes carving deep rocky canyons.

In 'Wisconsin's Ice Age Trail', what is a **moraine**?

• AA winding hill formed by debris piled up by glaciers.
• BA deep river formed by melting winter snowfall.
• CA long wooden bridge used by trail hikers.
• DA tool used by geologists to measure ice thickness.

Which text feature would be MOST helpful in an article to show the route of the 1,200-mile Ice Age Trail across Wisconsin?

• AA labeled map of Wisconsin highlighting the trail line
• BA glossary listing geological terms at the back
• CA bold heading at the top of the second page
• DA table showing monthly average temperatures

Which sentence from an informational article expresses an **opinion** rather than a factual statement?

• AHiking along the Ice Age Trail is the most fun activity in Wisconsin.
• BThe Ice Age Trail spans approximately 1,200 miles across Wisconsin.
• CGlaciers covered parts of Wisconsin thousands of years ago.
• DMoraines were created by melting glacial ice sheets.

Read the passage below before answering the question. **Dairy Farming in Wisconsin** *Wisconsin is nicknamed "America's Dairyland" because of its rich farming history. The state has over 6,000 dairy farms housing nearly 1.2 million dairy cows. Farmers harvest fresh milk daily to make world-famous cheeses, creamy butter, and ice cream.* What is the main topic of this short paragraph?

• AWisconsin's dairy farming industry and products.
• BHow to make ice cream at home during summer.
• CThe history of building cheese factories in Europe.
• DWhy cows prefer eating green pasture grass.

Why is Wisconsin nicknamed "America's Dairyland"?

• ABecause it has a rich history of dairy farming and milk production.
• BBecause it experiences more snowfall than any other state.
• CBecause its state bird is the white dairy cow.
• DBecause all children in Wisconsin work on dairy farms.

Which relative pronoun correctly completes the sentence below? *The teacher ______ guided our field trip to the capital was very helpful.*

• Awho
• Bwhich
• Cwhose
• Dwhere

Which verb form correctly completes the sentence in the **past progressive tense**? *Yesterday afternoon, Maya __________ her bicycle near the park.*

• Awas riding
• Brides
• Cwill ride
• Dhas ridden

Choose the sentence that uses correct capitalization for a geographic location.

• AWe took a boat ride across Lake Michigan during our vacation.
• BWe took a boat ride across lake Michigan during our vacation.
• CWe took a boat ride across lake michigan during our vacation.
• DWe took a boat ride across Lake michigan during our vacation.

Which modal auxiliary verb best expresses **ability** in the sentence below? *With enough practice, Caleb ______ play the trumpet smoothly.*

• Acan
• Bmust
• Cmight
• Dshould

Which prefix added to the root word **happy** forms a word meaning "not happy"?

• Aun- (unhappy)
• Bre- (rehappy)
• Cpre- (prehappy)
• Ddis- (dishappy)

Which word is a **synonym** for the word **gigantic**?

• AHuge
• BTiny
• CHeavy
• DQuiet

Read the passage below before answering the question. **The Mystery of the Old Lantern** *Oliver dusted off the rusty metal lantern he found in his grandmother's attic in Superior. Inside rested a yellowed scroll tied with blue ribbon. When he unrolled it, he discovered a hand-drawn map of Wisconsin's Apostle Islands with a tiny red 'X' marked near Madelaine Island. His heart pounded like a drum. Could his great-grandfather have been a lake captain who buried cargo long ago?* Based on the passage, what inference can be made about how Oliver feels when unrolling the scroll?

• AHe feels excited and curious about a potential family secret or mystery.
• BHe feels bored because the map looks old and faded.
• CHe feels frightened that the lantern might break in his hands.
• DHe feels disappointed that the scroll does not contain money.

In 'The Mystery of the Old Lantern', what does the author mean by the simile **"His heart pounded like a drum"**?

• AOliver was feeling intense excitement and anticipation.
• BOliver was playing a musical instrument in the attic.
• COliver heard a loud thumping noise downstairs.
• DOliver was moving heavy boxes across the floor.

Read the passage below before answering the question. **The Big Snowstorm** *Paragraph 1: Ten-year-old Nora looked out her bedroom window at the heavy snow blanketing Milwaukee. School was canceled, but her younger brother Leo was crying because their dog, Barnaby, had darted into the backyard drift and lost his collar tag. Paragraph 2: Nora put on her thick winter coat and waterproof boots. She systematically searched near the wooden fence where Barnaby loved to dig. After twenty minutes of digging through deep powder, her fingers touched cold metal. She pulled up the shiny silver tag and ran inside to show Leo, whose face lit up with joy.* Which sentence BEST summarizes Paragraph 2?

• ANora dressed warmly and carefully searched the snow until she found Barnaby's tag to make…
• BNora went outside in the snow while Leo stayed inside crying about his lost dog tag.
• CNora searched near the wooden fence because Barnaby always dug holes in the backyard dirt.
• DNora wore waterproof boots and searched for twenty minutes in deep snowdrifts.

In 'The Big Snowstorm', how does Nora's character change from the beginning of the passage to the end?

• AShe moves from observing a problem calmly to actively taking initiative and solving it.
• BShe starts off angry at her brother and ends up laughing at him.
• CShe begins eager to play outside and ends up shivering and defeated.
• DShe starts out nervous about the storm and ends up frightened of her dog.

Read the drama script excerpt below before answering the question. **Act I, Scene 2** *Setting: A pioneer log cabin in 1840 Wisconsin.* **CHARACTERS:** *ELIZA (age 11)* *CALEB (age 9)* *ELIZA: (stirring a pot over the hearth) Keep blowing on those embers, Caleb! Mother will be back from the trading post soon, and the soup must be hot. CALEB: (wiping forehead) My arms are tired, Eliza! Why can't we just use the matches from the dry cupboard? ELIZA: (shaking her head) Those matches are for emergency candles only! Every pioneer child must learn patience.* How do the stage directions in parentheses contribute to the scene?

• AThey guide the actors' physical actions and emotional expressions.
• BThey explain what the audience should shout during the performance.
• CThey provide rhyming background poetry for the narrator to read aloud.
• DThey list the historical dates when pioneer cabins were constructed.

In the drama excerpt above, what conflict exists between Eliza and Caleb?

• ACaleb wants to take a shortcut using emergency matches, but Eliza insists on traditional…
• BCaleb wants to go to the trading post, but Eliza forces him to stay inside the cabin alon…
• CEliza wants to eat all the soup herself, while Caleb demands half of the dinner.
• DEliza accidentally spilled the soup into the fireplace, and Caleb is blaming her.

Read the passage below before answering the question. **The Maple Sugar Bush** *Every March when winter cold yields to warm spring sunshine, Grandfather takes me into the woods near La Crosse. We tap sugar maple trees and hang shiny metal buckets on spigots. It takes forty gallons of clear sap boiled over a roaring wood fire to yield just one gallon of sweet golden syrup. Grandfather says tapping trees connects us to generations of Wisconsin ancestors who harvested the forest's sweetness.* What is the meaning of the word **yields** as used in the first sentence: "Every March when winter cold yields to warm spring sunshine..."?

• AGives way or surrenders to
• BProduces a crop or harvest
• CSlows down a vehicle at a sign
• DRefuses to move from a spot

In 'The Maple Sugar Bush', why does Grandfather value maple tree tapping beyond just producing syrup?

• AHe views it as a meaningful tradition connecting them to Wisconsin history and ancestors.
• BHe sells all the syrup to buy modern farm machinery.
• CHe wants to cut down the maple trees before summer arrives.
• DHe needs the metal buckets to carry well water back to the cabin.

Read the two story excerpts below. **Story A:** *Ben loved building model wooden boats in his warm basement workshop. He worked quietly for hours, sanding every edge until it was completely smooth.* **Story B:** *Sasha preferred running through open pine forests with her hound dog. She leaped over fallen logs, laughing as cold wind whipped through her hair.* How do Ben and Sasha differ in how they enjoy their free time?

• ABen enjoys quiet, detailed indoor craft activities, whereas Sasha enjoys energetic outdoo…
• BBen likes spending money on toys, whereas Sasha builds her own outdoor equipment.
• CBen prefers playing sports with friends, whereas Sasha prefers solitary reading.
• DBen works outdoors on boats, whereas Sasha stays indoors training her dog.

Read the passage below before answering the question. **The Lost Compass** *Grandma handed Jonah an old brass compass. "Your great-uncle used this when navigating the Northwoods," she explained. Jonah turned the heavy metal instrument in his palm. The needle spun freely, pointing steadily north. Jonah smiled, realizing that no matter how deep into the forest he wandered, this tool would always show him the path home.* What does the compass symbolize to Jonah?

• AGuidance, security, and connection to family heritage.
• BA valuable item that should be sold at an antique shop.
• CA heavy weight that slows down hiking trips.
• DA broken toy that cannot accurately find direction.

Read the sentence from a story: *The autumn wind whispered secrets through the golden birch leaves, urging the forest creatures to prepare for winter.* How does the phrase **"urging the forest creatures"** enhance the mood of the sentence?

• AIt creates a sense of gentle urgency and seasonal transition in nature.
• BIt makes the forest sound scary and dangerous for animals.
• CIt shows that the animals are angry about changing weather.
• DIt suggests that humans are shouting at wild animals.

Read the passage below before answering the question. **The Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter** *Every evening at sunset, Clara climbed ninety wooden steps to the top of the Duluth lighthouse. While cold gale winds rattled the glass lantern room, Clara trimmed the oil wick so Lake Superior ships could navigate safely away from rocky reefs. Though her friends lived in warm town homes, Clara felt proud keeping watch over sailors in the dark night.* Which character trait BEST describes Clara?

• AResponsible and dedicated
• BFearful and hesitant
• CFoolish and careless
• DGreedy and competitive

In 'The Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter', what is the main setting detail that creates suspense?

• ACold gale winds rattling the glass room while dark waves crash on rocky reefs.
• BThe warm town houses where Clara's friends play indoor games.
• CThe bright morning sunlight shining down on calm lake waters.
• DThe nineties wooden steps inside a carpeted hallway.

Read the passage below before answering the question. **The County Fair Blue Ribbon** *Mason spent four months raising his prize lamb, Barnaby, for the Walworth County Fair. Every morning before sunrise, Mason cleaned Barnaby's pen, fed him fresh hay, and practiced walking him around the yard. On judging day, the judge slapped a blue ribbon onto Barnaby's halter. Mason hugged his lamb tightly, knowing that his early mornings and consistent effort had paid off.* What is the central lesson of this story?

• AHard work and daily dedication lead to meaningful success.
• BCounty fairs are only fun if you win cash prizes.
• CRaising livestock requires no prior experience or effort.
• DMorning chores should be avoided whenever possible.

In 'The County Fair Blue Ribbon', why does Mason hug his lamb on judging day?

• AHe feels proud of their shared accomplishment after months of hard work.
• BHe is sad because he has to leave the fair early.
• CBarnaby was startled by the loud judging microphone.
• DThe judge instructed all contestants to hold their animals.

Read the sentence below: *When the sun dipped below the horizon, the lake became a smooth mirror reflecting the twilight sky.* What does the metaphor **"a smooth mirror"** mean in this sentence?

• AThe lake surface was exceptionally calm and reflected images clearly.
• BThe lake was made of glass manufactured in a factory.
• CThe water was too icy for boats to navigate.
• DSomeone dropped a vanity mirror into the water.

Which detail from a story best supports the inference that a family lives in a rural farming area?

• AThey wake up to rooster crows and walk down a dirt road past milk barns.
• BThey ride a subway train five stops to reach the city library.
• CThey press the elevator button to reach their 12th-floor apartment.
• DThey hear streetcars clanking outside their front window.