WY-TOPP Summative English Language Arts — Grade 4

Read the passage: 'Maya found a tiny, shivering puppy under the porch step on a cold rainy evening. She wrapped it in her warm blanket and brought it milk.' What character trait best describes Maya?

• ACaring
• BFearful
• CImpatient
• DSelfish

Read the sentence: 'The old oak tree stood like a tall guard watching over the schoolyard.' What type of figurative language is used in this sentence?

• ASimile
• BMetaphor
• CPersonification
• DHyperbole

Read the passage: 'Leo practiced throwing free throws every afternoon after school. Even when he missed ten shots in a row, he kept trying until he made twenty.' What is the theme of this story?

• APerseverance leads to success
• BWinning is the only important goal
• CPractice is unnecessary for natural athletes
• DFriends are more helpful than hard work

Read the passage: 'I watched the eagle soar across the blue Wyoming sky. My heart pounded as I snapped a picture with my camera.' Which point of view is used in this passage?

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

Read the poem lines: 'The wind began to sing a song / It whistled low and danced along.' Which literary device is used when the wind 'sings' and 'dances'?

• APersonification
• BAlliteration
• CSimile
• DOnomatopoeia

Read the passage: 'Liam wanted to build a birdhouse. First, he gathered wooden boards and nails. Next, he carefully measured and cut the wood. Finally, he painted the finished birdhouse bright yellow.' What is the setting or structure of Liam's task?

• AA step-by-step sequence of events
• BA comparison between two types of birds
• CA mystery about missing tools
• DA problem and its cause

Read the passage: 'Sophia stared at her broken bicycle chain. She frowned and kicked the ground in frustration.' How does Sophia feel in this scene?

• AUpset and frustrated
• BExcited and proud
• CCalm and peaceful
• DConfused and sleepy

In a story, what is the term for the lesson or moral that the author wants the reader to learn?

• ATheme
• BSetting
• CClimax
• DResolution

Read the line: 'The snow was a fluffy white blanket covering the sleeping meadow.' What figure of speech is used?

• AMetaphor
• BSimile
• CHyperbole
• DIdiom

Read the passage: 'Grandpa handed Ben an ancient wooden box. Inside lay a shiny brass compass with a leather strap.' What detail helps the reader picture the compass?

• AIt was made of shiny brass with a leather strap
• BIt was made of solid silver and gold
• CIt was hidden in a dark closet
• DIt was broken into small pieces

What is the main purpose of dialogue in a narrative story?

• ATo show what characters say and reveal their thoughts or feelings
• BTo list the table of contents
• CTo define difficult glossary terms
• DTo explain index page numbers

Read the passage: 'When the thunder rumbled outside, Pip the cat hid under the sofa.' What caused Pip to hide?

• AThe sound of thunder rumbling outside
• BA mouse running across the room
• CThe arrival of Pip's food bowl
• DA bright sunny morning

Read the passage: 'Pronghorns are fast-running mammals native to North America. They can reach speeds up to 55 miles per hour, allowing them to escape predators on the open Wyoming prairie.' What is the main idea of this passage?

• APronghorns use their high speed to escape predators on the prairie
• BPronghorns are the only animals in Wyoming
• CPredators always catch pronghorns on the plain
• DPronghorns live inside dark mountain caves

Which text feature is found at the back of a non-fiction book and lists topics alphabetically along with page numbers?

• AIndex
• BGlossary
• CTable of contents
• DCaption

Read the sentence: 'Unlike cold-blooded reptiles, warm-blooded mammals maintain a constant body temperature.' What text structure is used in this sentence?

• ACompare and contrast
• BChronological order
• CProblem and solution
• DCause and effect

Read the passage: 'Yellowstone National Park was created in 1872 as America's first national park. It features geysers, hot springs, and abundant wildlife.' Why did the author write this passage?

• ATo inform readers about Yellowstone National Park
• BTo persuade readers to buy a pet bison
• CTo entertain readers with a funny story about a bear
• DTo teach readers how to pitch a camping tent

What is the purpose of a heading in an informational article?

• ATo tell the reader what the following section of text will be about
• BTo list the publisher's address
• CTo illustrate a character's physical appearance
• DTo provide rhyming words at the end of lines

Read the passage: 'Bison feed on grasses and sedges throughout the year. In winter, they use their large heads to sweep away deep snow to reach green grass underneath.' Which detail shows how bison survive in winter?

• AThey use their heads to sweep away deep snow to reach grass
• BThey migrate to tropical ocean islands
• CThey sleep in heated wooden barns
• DThey eat fruits grown on orchard trees

What type of text feature provides a brief description or explanation right under a photograph?

• ACaption
• BSidebar
• CSubheading
• DTitle

Read the passage: 'Heavy snowfall in the mountains caused roads to be blocked. As a result, snowplows worked through the night to clear a safe path.' What is the cause of the roads being blocked?

• AHeavy snowfall in the mountains
• BSnowplows working through the night
• CWarm sunny weather
• DTraffic lights turning green

In an informational passage, what does a graph or chart help the reader do?

• AVisualize data or statistics quickly and clearly
• BRead the dialogue between fictional story characters
• CFind the definitions of bolded vocabulary words
• DSee the cover design of the book

Read the sentence: 'The reservoir was arid, having received less than two inches of rainfall all summer.' What does the word 'arid' mean based on context clues?

• AExtremely dry
• BDeep and cold
• CFull of overflowing water
• DCovered in green trees

Which section of a textbook defines specialized vocabulary words used throughout the chapters?

• AGlossary
• BBibliography
• CTitle page
• DAppendix

Which word in the sentence is a relative pronoun? 'The teacher who led our field trip was very knowledgeable.'

• Awho
• Bteacher
• Cfield
• Dknowledgeable

Which modal auxiliary verb expresses ability in the sentence: 'Oliver _____ swim across the lake without stopping.'

• Acan
• Bmust
• Cmight
• Dshould

Choose the correct progressive verb tense to complete the sentence: 'Right now, the students _____ quietly in the library.'

• Aare reading
• Breaded
• Cwere reading
• Dwill read

Which sentence is capitalized correctly?

• AWe visited Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming last July.
• BWe visited grand teton national park in wyoming last july.
• CWe visited Grand teton national Park in Wyoming last July.
• DWe visited grand Teton National park in wyoming last July.

Which sentence uses commas correctly in a compound sentence with a coordinating conjunction?

• AThe storm clouds rolled in, but we finished our hike safely.
• BThe storm clouds rolled in but, we finished our hike safely.
• CThe storm clouds rolled in but we finished, our hike safely.
• DThe storm clouds, rolled in but we finished our hike safely.

Choose the word that correctly completes the sentence: 'The puppy lost _____ favorite chew toy under the couch.'

• Aits
• Bit's
• Cits'
• Dits's

What is the correct way to write the title of a chapter in a book?

• AIn quotation marks: "The Hidden Cave"
• BUnderlined with all lowercase letters
• CIn ALL CAPS with no punctuation
• DIn parentheses: (The Hidden Cave)

Read the passage: 'Elena looked at the mountain peak. Her legs ached, and her water bottle was nearly empty. But she remembered her grandmother's words: "Every step brings you closer to the sky." Elena took a deep breath, adjusted her backpack, and kept climbing.' How does the grandmother's advice influence Elena?

• AIt inspires her to stay motivated and continue climbing despite fatigue.
• BIt convinces her to turn around and walk back down the mountain.
• CIt makes her decide to build a wooden cabin on the trail.
• DIt causes her to give her remaining water to another hiker.

Read the stanza from a poem: 'The river hums a gentle tune, / Beneath the silver August moon. / It whispers secrets to the shore, / And dances on for evermore.' What mood does this stanza create?

• APeaceful and serene
• BScary and mysterious
• CAngry and chaotic
• DHumorous and silly

Read the passage: 'When Jack lost his compass during the forest hike, he remembered that moss usually grows thicker on the north side of tree trunks. By observing the trees carefully, he found his way back to camp.' What theme is expressed in this passage?

• AUsing knowledge and resourcefulness helps solve difficult problems
• BHiking in the woods is too dangerous for young people
• CCompasses are completely useless tools for navigation
• DAlways bring a map when camping in summer

Read the passage: 'When Jack lost his compass during the forest hike, his hands trembled and butterflies fluttered in his stomach. But when he spoke his first line on stage, his voice sounded clear and strong.' What does the idiom 'butterflies fluttered in his stomach' mean?

• AHe was feeling nervous and anxious
• BHe had swallowed live insects
• CHe was hungry for dinner
• DHe felt dizzy and sick

Read the excerpt: 'Narrator: The sun rises over the pioneer cabin. Sarah enters carrying a wooden bucket. Sarah: (sighing) The well is frozen solid this morning!' This text is an example of which literary genre?

• ADrama (a play script)
• BPoetry
• CInformational essay
• DBiography

Read the passage: 'Clara loved her grandmother's quilt. Each patch of fabric came from a family member's old clothing—a piece of Dad's flannel shirt, a scrap of Mom's wedding dress, and a strip of Clara's baby blanket.' What does the quilt symbolize to Clara?

• AFamily history, love, and togetherness
• BThe cold winter weather in Wyoming
• CThe high cost of buying blankets
• DA chore that needs to be washed

Read the passage: 'Marcus wanted to win the science fair, so he secretly hid his partner's notes so he could take all the credit. However, when the judges asked questions about the project, Marcus couldn't answer them without those notes, and his partner had to step in.' How does Marcus's action affect the story's resolution?

• AHis deceit backfires, forcing him to realize he needs his partner's help.
• BHe easily wins first prize and receives a gold medal.
• CHis partner gets angry and leaves the school forever.
• DThe judges decide to cancel the science fair entirely.

Read the lines: 'The thunder roared like a giant angry lion, / Rattling the windows and shaking the floor.' Which two figurative language devices are present in these lines?

• APersonification ('thunder roared') and Simile ('like a giant angry lion')
• BMetaphor and Hyperbole
• COnomatopoeia and Idiom
• DAlliteration and Oxymoron

Read the passage: 'Toby ran as fast as his legs could carry him, but the school bus was already pulling away from the corner. He slumped onto the bench and let out a long sigh.' What can the reader infer about Toby?

• AToby missed his bus and feels disappointed
• BToby is excited to go on a long weekend vacation
• CToby won a gold medal in a track race
• DToby loves waiting for the bus in the rain

Read the passage: 'I looked out the window and saw the snow falling fast. "We might get snowed in!" I yelled to my brother.' Contrast this with: 'Sam watched the snow fall from his window. He warned his brother that they might get snowed in.' How do the points of view differ?

• AThe first passage uses first-person ('I'); the second uses third-person ('He/Sam').
• BThe first passage is a poem; the second passage is a drama.
• CThe first passage takes place in summer; the second in winter.
• DThe first passage is non-fiction; the second is a fairy tale.

Read the story passage: 'The dragon did not want to fight the knights. Instead, he preferred baking blackberry pies in his warm cave. When the knights arrived, the dragon offered them warm pie, and they sat down together for lunch.' How does the author create humor in this story?

• ABy creating a gentle dragon who bakes pies instead of acting ferocious
• BBy describing a scary battle with fire and swords
• CBy having the knights destroy the dragon's cave
• DBy setting the story in a modern city baking contest

In a story, what is the 'climax'?

• AThe turning point or highest moment of action and conflict
• BThe very first sentence that introduces the main character
• CThe list of chapters at the beginning of a book
• DThe lesson learned by the reader at the end

Read the passage: 'Amir found an old map inside a library book. Marked with a red 'X' near the town creek, it promised a hidden treasure. Amir grabbed his shovel and set out on an adventure.' What drives Amir's action in this passage?

• ACuriosity and excitement to find the hidden treasure on the map
• BFear of getting lost in the library
• CAnger at his parents for giving him chores
• DA desire to return the shovel to his neighbor

Read the poem lines: 'The raindrops tap upon the glass, / Pitter-patter on the grass.' Which sound device is demonstrated by 'pitter-patter'?

• AOnomatopoeia
• BHyperbole
• CSimile
• DMetaphor

Read the passage: 'Hannah wanted to learn to play the violin. At first, her bow squeaked and her fingers hurt. But she practiced twenty minutes every day. A year later, she played a beautiful solo at the school concert.' How does the author structure this passage?

• AChronologically, showing Hannah's progress over time
• BBy comparing the violin to a flute
• CBy presenting a problem and leaving it unsolved
• DBy listing facts about how violins are manufactured

Read the sentence: 'The old cellar was as dark as pitch and smelled of damp earth.' What sensory details are used in this sentence?

• ASight ('dark as pitch') and smell ('damp earth')
• BTaste and hearing
• CTouch and taste
• DSound and sight

Read the fable: 'A fox tried repeatedly to reach grapes hanging high on a vine. When he couldn't reach them, he walked away saying, "They are probably sour anyway."' What is the moral of this fable?

• APeople often pretend to dislike what they cannot get
• BGrapes are always sour in late summer
• CFoxes are the fastest animals in the forest
• DIt is easy to jump high if you try hard enough