Iowa practice, Grade 5

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Scholar Tests · Set 3

Iowa practice test, Grade 5

Name ______________________ Date ____________

Reading

Circle the letter of the best answer. About 14 minutes.

  1. Two Texts About Sea Otters

    Text 1: A Furry Way to Stay Warm

    Sea otters live in the cold northern Pacific Ocean. They swim along the coasts of California and Alaska. Seals and whales have a thick layer of fat called blubber to keep them warm. Sea otters do not. Instead, they have the thickest fur of any animal. Each square inch of skin can have up to about a million hairs. Otters spend hours every day cleaning and fluffing their fur. This traps a layer of air that keeps their skin dry and warm.

    Text 2: Helpers of the Kelp Forest

    Off the coast of California, a giant seaweed called kelp grows in underwater forests. Many fish live there. Spiny sea urchins eat kelp. If there are too many urchins, they can chew a whole kelp forest away. Sea otters help by eating sea urchins. Where sea otters live, kelp forests are more likely to stay healthy.

    1.

    According to Text 1, how do sea otters stay warm without blubber?

    1. AThey grow a layer of fat in the winter.
    2. BThey stay in warm water near the shore.
    3. CThey float in the sunshine all day.
    4. DTheir thick fur traps a layer of air.
  2. 2.

    According to Text 2, what can happen when there are too many sea urchins?

    1. AThe kelp grows taller and faster.
    2. BThey can eat a kelp forest until it is gone.
    3. CSea otters move away to find food.
    4. DThe water becomes too cold for otters.

  3. The Tryout

    CHARACTERS: OMAR, a fourth grader; TESSA, his friend; MS. RUIZ, the music teacher

    (The school stage. OMAR stands in the middle, holding a kazoo. TESSA sits in the front row with a clipboard.)

    MS. RUIZ: Next for the talent show is Omar. What will you perform?

    OMAR: (proudly) "Yankee Doodle," played on the kazoo.

    TESSA: (whispering) Omar, you said you would practice all week.

    OMAR: (whispering back) I did practice. I practiced thinking about it.

    (OMAR takes a deep breath and blows. The kazoo makes a sound like an angry goose. MS. RUIZ covers a smile with her hand.)

    OMAR: That was a warm-up. (He blows again. Another goose.) That was also a warm-up.

    TESSA: (standing up) Ms. Ruiz, could Omar try again next week? I'll help him practice every day at recess.

    MS. RUIZ: (nodding) One more week. But Omar, real practice, please.

    OMAR: (saluting with the kazoo) Real practice. With my actual mouth.

    (TESSA laughs and pulls him offstage.)

    3.

    What do the words in parentheses, such as "(whispering)" and "(nodding)," tell the reader?

    1. AWhat the characters are thinking but not saying
    2. BWhere the audience is sitting
    3. CWhich character will speak last
    4. DHow the characters move or speak
  4. 4.

    Why does Tessa ask Ms. Ruiz to let Omar try again next week?

    1. AShe wants to help her friend get ready and do well.
    2. BShe wants to take Omar's place in the show.
    3. CShe thinks the kazoo is too loud for the stage.
    4. DShe wants Ms. Ruiz to stop smiling.

  5. My Library Card

    It is only a thin blue rectangle with my name printed on the back, small enough to slip into my sneaker. But with this card, I have crossed oceans on ships with patched white sails. With this card, I have walked through jungles where parrots shouted from the trees. With this card, I have galloped across the prairie beside a wagon train heading west. With this card, I have floated in a space station, my breakfast drifting off my plate. Every Saturday, I hand it to Mr. Brooks, and he hands it back with a stack of books, heavy as bricks and light as wings. A key does not look like much, either, until you find the door it opens.

    5.

    What does the speaker mean by saying the stack of books is "heavy as bricks and light as wings"?

    1. AMr. Brooks gives the speaker the lightest books first.
    2. BThe books are all about birds and buildings.
    3. CThe books are made of bricks and feathers.
    4. DThe books weigh a lot, but reading them makes the speaker feel free and happy.
  6. 6.

    Which message does the poem share?

    1. ALibrary cards should be kept in your shoe.
    2. BTraveling by ship is better than traveling by train.
    3. CSomething small and plain can open the way to many adventures.
    4. DIt is important to return library books on time.
  7. 7.

    Why does the poet begin several lines with "With this card"?

    1. ATo list the steps for getting a library card
    2. BTo make every line of the poem rhyme
    3. CTo show that the speaker keeps losing the card
    4. DTo show how many different places the card has taken the speaker

  8. Build a Rain Gauge

    Weather scientists measure rainfall with a tool called a rain gauge. You can build your own and keep track of how much rain falls where you live.

    Materials
    a clear plastic container with straight sides and a flat bottom
    a ruler that measures in inches
    clear packing tape
    a notebook and a pencil

    Steps

    1. Tape the ruler to the outside of the container. Line up the zero mark with the inside bottom.

    2. Set the gauge outside on flat, open ground, away from trees, roofs, and walls.

    3. Check the gauge at the same time each day. Read the water level on the ruler.

    4. Write the date and the number of inches in your notebook.

    5. Empty the container so it is ready for the next rain.

    Why Straight Sides? A container that is wider at the top than at the bottom catches rain through its wide opening, then squeezes that water into its narrow bottom. The water rises higher than the real amount of rain that fell, so your reading would be too high.

    8.

    What should you do right after you write the number of inches in your notebook?

    1. ATape the ruler to the container.
    2. BEmpty the container.
    3. CSet the gauge on open ground.
    4. DMove the gauge closer to a wall.
  9. 9.

    Why does the author include the section called "Why Straight Sides?"

    1. ATo list all of the steps in order
    2. BTo tell when to check the gauge
    3. CTo explain the reason for one of the materials
    4. DTo describe how rain forms in clouds
  10. 10.

    Where should a reader look to find out what to gather before starting?

    1. AStep 5
    2. BThe section called "Why Straight Sides?"
    3. CThe Materials list
    4. DThe title

Written Expression

Circle the letter of the best answer. About 10 minutes.

  1. 1.

    Which sentence puts the describing words in the usual order?

    1. AGrandma found a tiny old silver key in the drawer.
    2. BGrandma found an old tiny silver key in the drawer.
    3. CGrandma found a tiny silver old key in the drawer.
    4. DGrandma found an old silver tiny key in the drawer.
  2. 2.

    Which word is spelled correctly?

    1. Atresure
    2. Btreshure
    3. Ctreasur
    4. Dtreasure
  3. 3.

    Elena is writing a letter to the editor of the town newspaper about litter in the park.

    Which sentence would be best to use?

    1. AUgh, people, stop trashing the park!
    2. BLitter in the park is, like, super nasty.
    3. CResidents should work together to keep Riverside Park free of litter.
    4. DThe park is gross and full of junk.
  4. 4.

    Which sentence is a complex sentence?

    1. AWe can play inside, or we can go to the park.
    2. BMaya laughed and clapped her hands.
    3. CThe snow melted in the sun.
    4. DWhen the lights went out, the baby started to cry.
  5. 5.

    We had ______ water nor snacks on the long hike.

    Which word or words best complete the sentence?

    1. Awhether
    2. Bneither
    3. Cboth
    4. Deither
  6. 6.

    1. By midmorning, they stopped beside a cold stream to rest and eat granola bars.
    2. They started up the steep trail just after sunrise.
    3. Finally, after five hours of climbing, they reached the rocky summit.
    4. From the top, Mateo could see for miles, and he felt that every step had been worth it.

    In what order should these sentences go?

    1. A2, 1, 3, 4
    2. B1, 2, 3, 4
    3. C3, 1, 2, 4
    4. D2, 4, 3, 1
  7. 7.

    Which sentence writes the title correctly?

    1. ARusty the robot is a movie about a brave little robot.
    2. B"Rusty the Robot" is a movie about a brave little robot.
    3. CRusty the Robot is a movie about a brave little robot.
    4. DRusty the Robot is a movie about a brave little robot.
  8. 8.

    Which sentence uses commas correctly?

    1. AWe won, the game, didn't we?
    2. BWe, won the game didn't we?
    3. CWe won the game didn't we?
    4. DWe won the game, didn't we?
  9. 9.

    Liam lost his glove. Liam found it under the bench.

    Which sentence best combines the two sentences without changing what they mean?

    1. ALiam lost his glove because he found it under the bench.
    2. BLiam lost his glove, he found it under the bench.
    3. CLiam lost his glove so found it under the bench.
    4. DLiam lost his glove but found it under the bench.
  10. 10.

    Kids should spend less time on screens and more time outdoors. Playing outside builds strong muscles and healthy hearts. In addition, time in nature can help people feel calmer and less stressed. ______

    Which sentence would be the best concluding sentence for this paragraph?

    1. ATrading some screen time for outdoor time is a healthy choice for every kid.
    2. BThe art teacher hung our paintings in the hallway.
    3. CMy aunt is moving to an apartment in Denver.
    4. DOutdoor games also teach kids to cooperate and solve problems together.

Mathematics

Circle the letter of the best answer. About 10 minutes.

  1. 1.

    Zoe has 24 rocks. Olivia has 6 times as many rocks as Zoe. Which equation can be used to find how many rocks Olivia has?

    1. A? = 24 ÷ 6
    2. B? = 6 + 24
    3. C24 = 6 × ?
    4. D? = 6 × 24
  2. 2.

    What is the measure of angle JKL?

    1. A65°
    2. B55°
    3. C115°
    4. D70°
  3. 3.

    Which shows 14.8 in words?

    1. Afourteen and eight tenths
    2. Bone hundred forty-eight
    3. Cfourteen and eight hundredths
    4. Dfourteen and eight
  4. 4.

    69,069 − 34,536 = ?

    1. A34,543
    2. B35,533
    3. C103,605
    4. D34,533
  5. 5.

    How much heavier is the heaviest bag than the lightest bag?

    1. A1 pound
    2. B3/4 pound
    3. C1/2 pound
    4. D1 1/4 pounds
  6. 6.

    Pattern A starts at 0 and follows the rule "add 2." Pattern B starts at 0 and follows the rule "add 6." The 1st numbers make the ordered pair (0, 0). Which ordered pair do the 9th numbers make?

    1. A(16, 48)
    2. B(48, 16)
    3. C(16, 20)
    4. D(18, 54)
  7. 7.

    What ordered pair names point R?

    1. A(1, 7)
    2. B(2, 8)
    3. C(1, 8)
    4. D(8, 1)
  8. 8.

    Chloe recorded these times in seconds: 8, 8, 8, 8 and 23. What is the mean after the unusual value is left out?

    1. A11
    2. B8
    3. C6
    4. D23
  9. 9.

    √28 is closest to which of these?

    1. A5.25
    2. B6
    3. C5.75
    4. D5
  10. 10.

    Which of these is the largest?

    1. A12.5%
    2. B0.25
    3. C37/50
    4. D9/10

Vocabulary

Circle the letter of the best answer. About 5 minutes.

  1. 1.

    The prefix un- means "not." What does the word unsafe mean?

    1. Asafe again
    2. Bsafe
    3. Ca person who is safe
    4. Dnot safe
  2. 2.

    Which word means the same as hinder?

    1. Ahover
    2. Bobstruct
    3. Cassist
    4. Dwander
  3. 3.

    The guide words on a dictionary page are misery and mysterious.

    Which word would you find on that page?

    1. Amodest
    2. Bminute
    3. Cmagnet
    4. Dmatch
  4. 4.

    The judge gave the thief a sentence of two years.

    Which meaning of sentence is used in this sentence?

    1. Aa kind of song
    2. Ba long road
    3. Ca group of words that tells a complete thought
    4. Dthe punishment a judge gives
  5. 5.

    When our trip was canceled, Dad said, "Every cloud has a silver lining," and we had a movie night instead.

    What does the saying in bold mean?

    1. Abad things only get worse
    2. Bsomething good can come from something bad
    3. Cclouds are made of silver
    4. Drain clouds are pretty
  6. 6.

    The crowd broke into spontaneous applause.

    What does the word spontaneous mean in this sentence?

    1. Avery expensive
    2. Bvery boring
    3. Cdone without planning
    4. Dcarefully planned
  7. 7.

    The colonies declared independence from Great Britain in 1776.

    This sentence is from a social studies book. What does independence mean?

    1. Abeing ruled by others
    2. Ba kind of tax
    3. Ca celebration with fireworks
    4. Dfreedom from control by someone else
  8. 8.

    The dejected team walked off the field after losing by one point.

    What does the word dejected mean in this sentence?

    1. Aproud and happy
    2. Bbored and restless
    3. Cnervous and shaky
    4. Dsad and without hope
  9. 9.

    Scientists put tiny tags on whales to follow their migration across the ocean.

    This sentence is from a science book. What does migration mean?

    1. Aa long winter sleep
    2. Ba move from one place to another, often by a large group
    3. Ca kind of storm
    4. Da new kind of plant
  10. 10.

    Which word is a milder way to say astonished?

    1. Aangry
    2. Blarge
    3. Cflabbergasted
    4. Dsurprised

Computation

Circle the letter of the best answer. About 7 minutes.

  1. 1.

    420 ÷ 15 =

    1. A18
    2. B28
    3. C27
    4. D38
  2. 2.

    What is 0.8 × 0.8?

    1. A0.06
    2. B1.60
    3. C6.40
    4. D0.64
  3. 3.

    808 × 12 =

    1. A8,080
    2. B9,696
    3. C9,706
    4. D2,424
  4. 4.

    2.91 + 8.8 =

    1. A11.61
    2. B11.71
    3. C3.79
    4. D12.71
  5. 5.

    16 + 5 × 4 =

    1. A84
    2. B37
    3. C35
    4. D36
  6. 6.

    2/4 ÷ 2 =

    1. A1/4
    2. B3/8
    3. C1
    4. D1/3
  7. 7.

    6/8 × 1/4 =

    1. A7/32
    2. B3/16
    3. C7/12
    4. D3
  8. 8.

    3/4 − 1/2 =

    1. A1/3
    2. B1/2
    3. C1/8
    4. D1/4
  9. 9.

    2/3 + 1/4 =

    1. A11/12
    2. B1
    3. C3/7
    4. D3/4
  10. 10.

    2,059 × 20 =

    1. A41,170
    2. B4,118
    3. C41,190
    4. D41,180

Written by Scholar Tests in the style of the published Iowa question types. Not a real Iowa test, and a practice score is not a real score.