NWEA Reading 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A student reads a passage that begins with the earliest events and moves forward in time to the most recent. Which text structure is being used?
- Problem and solution
- Chronological order (Correct answer)
- Compare and contrast
- Descriptive
Correct answer: Chronological order
Chronological order organizes information in the sequence in which events occurred, from earliest to most recent.
Question 2: In the sentence, 'The thunderstorm raged all night, but by morning a serene calm had settled over the valley,' what does 'serene' most likely mean?
- Stormy and chaotic
- Peaceful and calm (Correct answer)
- Foggy and cold
- Loud and surprising
Correct answer: Peaceful and calm
The contrast with the raging storm and the phrase 'calm had settled' suggest 'serene' means peaceful and tranquil.
Question 3: An author describes a character who always arrives late, forgets important tasks, and loses his belongings. What can the reader infer about this character?
- He is extremely athletic
- He is very disorganized (Correct answer)
- He is purposely trying to annoy others
- He is new to the town
Correct answer: He is very disorganized
The pattern of lateness, forgetfulness, and losing belongings is evidence that the character struggles with organization.
Question 4: Which of the following is the BEST way to determine the main idea of a nonfiction passage?
- Find the most interesting sentence in the passage
- Identify what most of the passage is about and what the author wants you to understand (Correct answer)
- Count the number of times a key word appears
- Read only the first sentence of the first paragraph
Correct answer: Identify what most of the passage is about and what the author wants you to understand
The main idea is the central message the author wants to convey, supported by the majority of details in the passage.
Question 5: A student reads: 'Marcus sprinted toward the finish line, sweat dripping, lungs burning, heart hammering.' Which literary technique does the author use to create a vivid image?
- Flashback
- Foreshadowing
- Sensory details (Correct answer)
- Dialogue
Correct answer: Sensory details
Sensory details appeal to the senses of sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell to help readers picture events clearly.
Question 6: A reader wants to evaluate whether two authors have different perspectives on the same topic. What should the reader compare?
- The length of each article
- The authors' claims, evidence, and word choices (Correct answer)
- The number of paragraphs in each text
- The publication dates of each article
Correct answer: The authors' claims, evidence, and word choices
Comparing claims, evidence, and word choices reveals how each author's viewpoint, bias, and reasoning differ.
Question 7: The phrase 'actions speak louder than words' is used in a story to comment on a character who makes many promises but never keeps them. This phrase is an example of:
- A simile
- An idiom (Correct answer)
- Hyperbole
- Alliteration
Correct answer: An idiom
An idiom is a common expression whose meaning is understood culturally but is not literal, such as 'actions speak louder than words.'
NWEA Reading 5
A student reads a passage that begins with the earliest events and moves forward in time to the most recent.
Which text structure is being used?