Answer these questions from this week's story. When you are done
click "submit" to see how you did - then PRINT a copy to show Miss
Murphy and take it home to study for your reading test.

• 1) What are rushes?
  

  tall shrubs
  bushes
  grass like plants that grow on wet soil
  largest branches on a tree
  pale blue flowers
• 2) What does shallow mean?
  

  still
  dark
  very cold
  not deep
  fast
• 3) What does jointed mean?
  

  made from cloth filled with padding
  soiled or stained
  having places where parts are joined together
  stiff
  unable to move
• 4) What is a dugout ?
  

  insect free area
  valley between two mountains
  soil or gravel taken from the ground
  deepest part of the pond
  shelter formed by digging into the side of a hill
• 5) What does punish mean?
  

  cause pain for doing something wrong
  give a reward to
  send someone away to somewhere else
  show a lot of love and affection
  lift up
• 6) Laura probably felt that her parents_____________.
  

  made them work too hard
  thought only of themselves
  did not understand her
  tried to do what was best for her
  should have had more rules
• 7) What does bristled mean?
  

  gleamed or shone
  became tangled
  shook
  stood straight up
  trembled
• 8) What does naughty mean?
  

  confused
  badly behaved
  puzzled
  worn out
  lonesome
• 9) Laura and her family lived near __________
  

  the ocean
  a river
  a mountain
  a creek
  a lake
• 10) Laura and Mary discovered many things they could make with ___________.
  

  mud
  flowers
  rocks
  rushes
  leaves
• 11) Pa and Ma did not want the girls to go to the swimming hole because _________.
  

  wild animals lived near there
  it was too far away from home
  it was not safe for them to swim there alone
  they had too many chores to do at home
  they did not own the land
• 12) What does this story suggest about the outdoors?
  

  The outdoors is full of fun and wonder.
  Children do not enjoy the outdoors.
  The outdoors is a dark, bad place.
  People spend too much time outdoors.
  Outdoors is only for animals.
• 13) The badger probably flattened itself because it_____________.
  

  was thirsty
  was afraid
  was getting ready to sleep
  liked Laura
  wanted to play
• 14) What is the theme of this story?
  

  Sisters are best friends.
  Parents make many mistakes.
  Children should be seen and not heard.
  Children earn freedom when they can be trusted.
  Growing up is fun.
• 15) What bothered Laura most when she returned to the dugout after going to the swimming
  hole?
  

  worrying that Pa and Ma would find out
  knowing she had broken a promise to Pa
  remembering the badger she had seen
  running home without getting a cold drink
  she hadn't asked Mary to go to the swimming hole with her