Read the passage carefully, then choose the best answer for each question.
SEEING THE IMPOSSIBLE
Can you believe everything you see? Not always! Sometimes our minds and our eyes make mistakes. At other times, our eyes and minds can become confused. This may be because we are looking at something called an optical illusion.
The word optical means "related to sight"—the way we see things with our eyes. An illusion is something that looks different from the way it really is. In short, an optical illusion is a kind of trick that our eyes play on us.
Look at these optical illusions and compare what you see with what your classmates see. The way we see things is often personal, so you may not see things the same way as someone else.
So can you trust your eyes? Perhaps the answer is “sometimes." Sometimes our eyes see something, and our minds understand it easily. At other times, we may need to look twice.
Which red dot is larger?
Most people say it’s the dot on the left. Now measure the dots. The red dot on the left may seem larger because of the blue dots around it, but they’re really the same size.
Look at this picture. What do you see?
Do you see a cup, or do you see two faces? Now look again! The illusion shows two different images at the same time. Therefore, our minds have to choose which image to look at. Scientists think this choice is difficult, because different parts of your brain are getting different information. One part "sees" the cup and another part "sees" the faces, so the image keeps changing.
Are the circles moving?
When you stare at this picture, your mind may tell you that the circles are moving, but this is impossible! How can a picture move? Some people think the circles seem to move because, often, when we see circle-in-circle shapes, like in car wheels or snake bodies, they are usually moving. Our brains are used to seeing these shapes move. So when our eyes see this shape, our mind infers that the image is moving. Other scientists believe the illusion of movement is caused by the tiny movements of our eyes as we look at the different colors and patterns of the picture.
The word “they’re” refers to the_____.
A.red dots
B.big blue dots
C.small blue dots
D.red and blue dots

Read the passage carefully, then choose the best answer for each question.
SEEING THE IMPOSSIBLE
Can you believe everything you see? Not always! Sometimes our minds and our eyes make mistakes. At other times, our eyes and minds can become confused. This may be because we are looking at something called an optical illusion.
The word optical means "related to sight"—the way we see things with our eyes. An illusion is something that looks different from the way it really is. In short, an optical illusion is a kind of trick that our eyes play on us.
Look at these optical illusions and compare what you see with what your classmates see. The way we see things is often personal, so you may not see things the same way as someone else.
So can you trust your eyes? Perhaps the answer is “sometimes." Sometimes our eyes see something, and our minds understand it easily. At other times, we may need to look twice.
Which red dot is larger?
Most people say it’s the dot on the left. Now measure the dots. The red dot on the left may seem larger because of the blue dots around it, but they’re really the same size.
Look at this picture. What do you see?
Do you see a cup, or do you see two faces? Now look again! The illusion shows two different images at the same time. Therefore, our minds have to choose which image to look at. Scientists think this choice is difficult, because different parts of your brain are getting different information. One part "sees" the cup and another part "sees" the faces, so the image keeps changing.
Are the circles moving?
When you stare at this picture, your mind may tell you that the circles are moving, but this is impossible! How can a picture move? Some people think the circles seem to move because, often, when we see circle-in-circle shapes, like in car wheels or snake bodies, they are usually moving. Our brains are used to seeing these shapes move. So when our eyes see this shape, our mind infers that the image is moving. Other scientists believe the illusion of movement is caused by the tiny movements of our eyes as we look at the different colors and patterns of the picture.
What is the main idea of the first paragraph?
A.Optical illusions can only be seen by a few people.
B.Optical illusions are things that aren’t real.
C.Optical illusions makes us no longer believe in our eyes.
D.Optical illusions make us think we see something that’s not there.

Read the passage carefully, then choose the best answer for each question.
POLAR PIONEER
Matthew Henson: Arctic Explorer
Robert Peary and Matthew Henson both wanted to be great explorers. When Peary needed someone to join him on his trip to the North Pole, he thought of Henson. They had once worked together in Central America. At the time, it was unusual for an African American to be a well-known explorer. Henson wanted to change that. So, though he knew the trip would be hard, he agreed to go.
First, they traveled by ship to Greenland. The members of Peary's team lived among the Inuit people there. The Inuit called Henson "Maripaluk—Matthew, the Kind One.” Henson learned their language. The Inuit taught him how to live outdoors on the ice, find food, build igloos, make snowshoes, and drive dogsleds through the snow and ice.
To the Top of the World
Between 1891 and 1906, the Peary-Henson team made seven attempts to get to the North Pole. Each time, they learned hard lessons about the dangers there. Sleds broke. Dogs died. Men got hurt. They got close to the North Pole, but they always had to go back.
In 1909, they decided to make one more attempt. Peary and Henson found themselves within 56 kilometers (35 miles) of the North Pole. Peary sent Henson ahead. Henson made a trail through the snow for Peary to follow. Peary followed 45 minutes later. "I think I am the first man to sit on top of the world,” Henson told Peary.
The team returned home as heroes. Both men's dreams had come true: They were the first explorers to reach the North Pole.
The word “their” can be replaced by_____.
A.the Inuit’s
B.the team’s
C.Peary and Henson’s
D.African American’s

Read the passage carefully, then choose the best answer for each question.
POLAR PIONEER
Matthew Henson: Arctic Explorer
Robert Peary and Matthew Henson both wanted to be great explorers. When Peary needed someone to join him on his trip to the North Pole, he thought of Henson. They had once worked together in Central America. At the time, it was unusual for an African American to be a well-known explorer. Henson wanted to change that. So, though he knew the trip would be hard, he agreed to go.
First, they traveled by ship to Greenland. The members of Peary's team lived among the Inuit people there. The Inuit called Henson "Maripaluk—Matthew, the Kind One.” Henson learned their language. The Inuit taught him how to live outdoors on the ice, find food, build igloos, make snowshoes, and drive dogsleds through the snow and ice.
To the Top of the World
Between 1891 and 1906, the Peary-Henson team made seven attempts to get to the North Pole. Each time, they learned hard lessons about the dangers there. Sleds broke. Dogs died. Men got hurt. They got close to the North Pole, but they always had to go back.
In 1909, they decided to make one more attempt. Peary and Henson found themselves within 56 kilometers (35 miles) of the North Pole. Peary sent Henson ahead. Henson made a trail through the snow for Peary to follow. Peary followed 45 minutes later. "I think I am the first man to sit on top of the world,” Henson told Peary.
The team returned home as heroes. Both men's dreams had come true: They were the first explorers to reach the North Pole.
The sentence “Peary sent Henson ahead.” is closest in meaning to_____.
A.Peary sent Henson a message
B.Peary asked Henson to go first
C.Peary and Henson traveled together
D.Peary told Henson to go alone

Read the passage carefully, then choose the best answer for each question.
POLAR PIONEER
Matthew Henson: Arctic Explorer
Robert Peary and Matthew Henson both wanted to be great explorers. When Peary needed someone to join him on his trip to the North Pole, he thought of Henson. They had once worked together in Central America. At the time, it was unusual for an African American to be a well-known explorer. Henson wanted to change that. So, though he knew the trip would be hard, he agreed to go.
First, they traveled by ship to Greenland. The members of Peary's team lived among the Inuit people there. The Inuit called Henson "Maripaluk—Matthew, the Kind One.” Henson learned their language. The Inuit taught him how to live outdoors on the ice, find food, build igloos, make snowshoes, and drive dogsleds through the snow and ice.
To the Top of the World
Between 1891 and 1906, the Peary-Henson team made seven attempts to get to the North Pole. Each time, they learned hard lessons about the dangers there. Sleds broke. Dogs died. Men got hurt. They got close to the North Pole, but they always had to go back.
In 1909, they decided to make one more attempt. Peary and Henson found themselves within 56 kilometers (35 miles) of the North Pole. Peary sent Henson ahead. Henson made a trail through the snow for Peary to follow. Peary followed 45 minutes later. "I think I am the first man to sit on top of the world,” Henson told Peary.
The team returned home as heroes. Both men's dreams had come true: They were the first explorers to reach the North Pole.
Which of these statements would Henson likely agree with?
A.He and Peary were a good team.
B.Bringing dogs to the North Pole was a bad idea.
C.The explorers could have reached the North Pole without the help of the Inuit.
D.He was the best explorer as he was the first man to sit on top of the world.

Read the passage carefully, then choose the best answer for each question.
POLAR PIONEER
Matthew Henson: Arctic Explorer
Robert Peary and Matthew Henson both wanted to be great explorers. When Peary needed someone to join him on his trip to the North Pole, he thought of Henson. They had once worked together in Central America. At the time, it was unusual for an African American to be a well-known explorer. Henson wanted to change that. So, though he knew the trip would be hard, he agreed to go.
First, they traveled by ship to Greenland. The members of Peary's team lived among the Inuit people there. The Inuit called Henson "Maripaluk—Matthew, the Kind One.” Henson learned their language. The Inuit taught him how to live outdoors on the ice, find food, build igloos, make snowshoes, and drive dogsleds through the snow and ice.
To the Top of the World
Between 1891 and 1906, the Peary-Henson team made seven attempts to get to the North Pole. Each time, they learned hard lessons about the dangers there. Sleds broke. Dogs died. Men got hurt. They got close to the North Pole, but they always had to go back.
In 1909, they decided to make one more attempt. Peary and Henson found themselves within 56 kilometers (35 miles) of the North Pole. Peary sent Henson ahead. Henson made a trail through the snow for Peary to follow. Peary followed 45 minutes later. "I think I am the first man to sit on top of the world,” Henson told Peary.
The team returned home as heroes. Both men's dreams had come true: They were the first explorers to reach the North Pole.
What is the main idea of the second paragraph?
A.The Inuit have a difficult life in Greenland.
B.Henson learned how to speak the Inuit language.
C.The Inuit gave Henson a name.
D.Henson learned many things from the Inuit.

Read the passage carefully, then choose the best answer for each question.
WHO WAS SACAGAWEA?
There are more statues of her than of any other American woman. Her face is on a U.S. coin. Clearly, she was an important person. But what do we know about the real Sacagawea?
Sacagawea was part of a Native American tribe called the Shoshone. At the age of 13, she was taken away by people from the Hidatsa tribe. She was living among the Hidatsa when Meriwether Lewis and William Clark met her in 1804.
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were mapmakers. These pioneers were exploring the western part of the U.S. Because Sacagawea spoke two different Native American languages, they asked her to travel with them, along with her husband and baby son.
Sacagawea became an important part of the group and helped the explorers in many ways. For example, on May 14, 1805, a strong storm tipped over one of their boats. Sacagawea stayed calm. She acted quickly and was able to save many of the maps and other things from the water. Her actions saved important knowledge from being lost.
As they traveled, Sacagawea helped Lewis and Clark talk to the Native American people in each village they visited. She helped the explorers make friends among the Native Americans, so they could trade with them. She also helped Lewis and Clark find a way across the mountains to the Pacific Ocean, and helped them find food on the way.
Sacagawea died when she was about 25. Sadly, we don't know much more about this amazing woman. But two hundred years later, she is remembered as an important woman in U.S. history.
Which of the following sentences is likely to be true?
A.The author thinks Sacagawea was too young to travel.
B.The author would like to know more about Sacagawea.
C.The author believes the story of Sacagawea is not true.
D.The author thinks Sacagawea didn’t deserve to be remembered.

Read the passage carefully, then choose the best answer for each question.
WHO WAS SACAGAWEA?
There are more statues of her than of any other American woman. Her face is on a U.S. coin. Clearly, she was an important person. But what do we know about the real Sacagawea?
Sacagawea was part of a Native American tribe called the Shoshone. At the age of 13, she was taken away by people from the Hidatsa tribe. She was living among the Hidatsa when Meriwether Lewis and William Clark met her in 1804.
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were mapmakers. These pioneers were exploring the western part of the U.S. Because Sacagawea spoke two different Native American languages, they asked her to travel with them, along with her husband and baby son.
Sacagawea became an important part of the group and helped the explorers in many ways. For example, on May 14, 1805, a strong storm tipped over one of their boats. Sacagawea stayed calm. She acted quickly and was able to save many of the maps and other things from the water. Her actions saved important knowledge from being lost.
As they traveled, Sacagawea helped Lewis and Clark talk to the Native American people in each village they visited. She helped the explorers make friends among the Native Americans, so they could trade with them. She also helped Lewis and Clark find a way across the mountains to the Pacific Ocean, and helped them find food on the way.
Sacagawea died when she was about 25. Sadly, we don't know much more about this amazing woman. But two hundred years later, she is remembered as an important woman in U.S. history.
The word “trade” means ______.
A.fight
B.tell stories
C.buy and sell things
D.travel

Read the passage carefully, then choose the best answer for each question.
WHO WAS SACAGAWEA?
There are more statues of her than of any other American woman. Her face is on a U.S. coin. Clearly, she was an important person. But what do we know about the real Sacagawea?
Sacagawea was part of a Native American tribe called the Shoshone. At the age of 13, she was taken away by people from the Hidatsa tribe. She was living among the Hidatsa when Meriwether Lewis and William Clark met her in 1804.
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were mapmakers. These pioneers were exploring the western part of the U.S. Because Sacagawea spoke two different Native American languages, they asked her to travel with them, along with her husband and baby son.
Sacagawea became an important part of the group and helped the explorers in many ways. For example, on May 14, 1805, a strong storm tipped over one of their boats. Sacagawea stayed calm. She acted quickly and was able to save many of the maps and other things from the water. Her actions saved important knowledge from being lost.
As they traveled, Sacagawea helped Lewis and Clark talk to the Native American people in each village they visited. She helped the explorers make friends among the Native Americans, so they could trade with them. She also helped Lewis and Clark find a way across the mountains to the Pacific Ocean, and helped them find food on the way.
Sacagawea died when she was about 25. Sadly, we don't know much more about this amazing woman. But two hundred years later, she is remembered as an important woman in U.S. history.
When the explorers’ boat tipped over, Sacagawea_____.
A.lost all the food they were carrying
B.was able to save Meriwether Lewis
C.was able to save maps from the water
D.was unable to stay calm

Read the passage carefully, then choose the best answer for each question.
WHO WAS SACAGAWEA?
There are more statues of her than of any other American woman. Her face is on a U.S. coin. Clearly, she was an important person. But what do we know about the real Sacagawea?
Sacagawea was part of a Native American tribe called the Shoshone. At the age of 13, she was taken away by people from the Hidatsa tribe. She was living among the Hidatsa when Meriwether Lewis and William Clark met her in 1804.
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were mapmakers. These pioneers were exploring the western part of the U.S. Because Sacagawea spoke two different Native American languages, they asked her to travel with them, along with her husband and baby son.
Sacagawea became an important part of the group and helped the explorers in many ways. For example, on May 14, 1805, a strong storm tipped over one of their boats. Sacagawea stayed calm. She acted quickly and was able to save many of the maps and other things from the water. Her actions saved important knowledge from being lost.
As they traveled, Sacagawea helped Lewis and Clark talk to the Native American people in each village they visited. She helped the explorers make friends among the Native Americans, so they could trade with them. She also helped Lewis and Clark find a way across the mountains to the Pacific Ocean, and helped them find food on the way.
Sacagawea died when she was about 25. Sadly, we don't know much more about this amazing woman. But two hundred years later, she is remembered as an important woman in U.S. history.
The reading is mainly about why____.
A.not much is known about Sacagawea
B.Sacagawea left Lewis and Clark’s group
C.Sacagawea was taken away by people from the Hidatsa tribe.
D.Sacagawea was an important woman in U.S. history