Beneath Waves Modified Test
Unit 2 • Into the Deep
Module Assessment: Reading Passage
Name: ______________________
Date: ____________
Beneath the Waves
Reading Tip: The numbers 1 through 8 show paragraph numbers. You will use them to find clues!
1
If you look at a picture of Earth taken from space, you will see large areas of blue. These areas are Earth’s five oceans: Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Arctic, and Southern. They cover more than two-thirds of the surface of the Earth. But humans have explored only a tiny part of them. Beneath the surface of the oceans is mostly a mystery.
Word Helper
explored: traveled to find out what a place was like
Ready for Adventure
2
A man named Victor Vescovo wanted to learn more about the oceans. He planned a number of trips to explore the deepest part of each ocean. He called it the Five Deeps Expedition. Why explore the oceans? Because few humans had explored these places before. Vescovo had always loved adventure. He had already climbed to the top of the highest mountains in the world. He had also been to the North and South Poles. For his next adventure, he wanted to explore the five oceans.
3
Although robots had been to the deepest parts of the oceans, Vescovo decided to see them for himself in a special submersible. It could hold two passengers, and it had small windows for looking outside.
Deeper and Deeper
4
Vescovo began the Five Deeps Expedition in the Atlantic Ocean. He went down more than 27,000 feet to see the Puerto Rico Trench. Vescovo was the first human to make this dive alone.
Turn the page to continue reading... Page 1 of 4
Unit 2 • Into the Deep
Beneath the Waves (Continued)
Read paragraphs 5 through 8
5
Vescovo also took his submersible to the deepest trenches in the other oceans. On his dive in the Pacific Ocean, Vescovo went to the deepest place in the world. This place is called Challenger Deep. Only three people had been to Challenger Deep before. Vescovo went deeper than any of them. He went down to 35,839 feet below the surface.
6
But Vescovo did not stop after his first five dives. He decided to explore the second deepest trench in the world, the Tonga Trench. This trench is also in the Pacific Ocean. Vescovo went down to the deepest part of the Tonga Trench.
Word Helper
explore: to study some place or something unknown
A New World
7
On his journeys, Vescovo found that the deep areas of the ocean seemed like a different world. He described them as very dark and peaceful.
8
Vescovo’s Five Deeps Expedition was a success. He broke records and discovered more than 40 new types of sea life. But even after these explorations, he wanted to explore more. Why? Because so much of the ocean is still a mystery!
Word Helper
discovered: found
✓
Great job reading the story!
Turn to Page 3 to answer the comprehension questions. You may look back at the story anytime.
Turn page for Comprehension Questions 1–3 Page 2 of 4
Part 1 • Reading Comprehension
Questions 1–3
Look back at the story for clues!
1 What is the main idea of paragraphs 4–6?
Reread Paragraphs 4, 5, & 6
Hint: What big achievement do all three paragraphs share about Vescovo’s dives?
A Vescovo traveled to the deepest trenches in different oceans.
B Vescovo only visited one trench in the Atlantic Ocean.
C Vescovo stopped exploring after his very first dive.
2 Why was the Five Deeps Expedition a success?
Look at Paragraph 8
Complete the two sentence frames using facts from paragraph 8:
Detail 1: The expedition was a success because Vescovo
Detail 2: It was also a success because he discovered
3 Put the events in time order (from First to Fourth).
Sequence
Read the four events below. Write the letter of each event in the correct order box.
A. Deepest place: Vescovo went to Challenger Deep. (Para. 5)
B. Atlantic Ocean: Vescovo traveled to Puerto Rico Trench. (Para. 4)
C. Planning: Vescovo planned the Five Deeps Expedition. (Para. 2)
D. Submersible: Vescovo decided to use a special vehicle. (Para. 3)
1st • First
2nd • Second
3rd • Third
4th • Fourth
Turn page for Language Questions 4–6 Page 3 of 4
Part 2 • Language & Vocabulary
Questions 4–6
Grammar & Word Clues
4 Circle the word that correctly completes each sentence.
-er compares 2 things (e.g. faster than)
-est compares 3 or more (e.g. fastest in the world)
Leatherback sea turtles are the ________ turtles in the world.
large larger largest
They have long flippers that make them swim ________ than other turtles.
fast faster fastest
5 Find the meaning of the word with a prefix.
"At the beach, the wind and the waves had formed the sand into uneven hills."
Prefix Clue: The prefix un- means "not" or "opposite of".
What is the meaning of the word uneven?
A not even (bumpy or rough)
B even after
C even again
6 Choose the conjunction that completes the sentence.
"Should Amina paint a picture of the ocean animal, ? should she make a statue of the animal out of clay instead?"
Clue: Look at the word "instead". Amina is choosing between two options.
A
and (joins two things together)
B
or (shows a choice between things)
C
but (shows a difference or contrast)
D
so (shows a result or reason)
You are all done! Check over your answers. Page 4 of 4
Story Cues Teacher Guide
Intervention & Accommodation Guide
Story Highlighting & Visual Cues
Teacher / Specialist Resource
Recommended 3-Color Highlighting System
Providing highlighted text cues removes working memory overload for striving readers without changing the core text. Use this color code:
Yellow HighlightQuestion 3: Time Order / Sequence
Green HighlightQuestion 1: Main Idea across Paras 4–6
Orange HighlightQuestion 2: Evidence of Success (Para 8)
Annotated Story • Paragraphs 1 through 4
Highlighted sections show what students need to locate
1
If you look at a picture of Earth taken from space, you will see large areas of blue. These areas are Earth’s five oceans: Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Arctic, and Southern. They cover more than two-thirds of the surface of the Earth. But humans have explored only a tiny part of them. Beneath the surface of the oceans is mostly a mystery.
Ready for Adventure
2
A man named Victor Vescovo wanted to learn more about the oceans. He planned a number of trips to explore the deepest part of each ocean. He called it the Five Deeps Expedition. Why explore the oceans? Because few humans had explored these places before. Vescovo had always loved adventure. He had already climbed to the top of the highest mountains in the world. He had also been to the North and South Poles. For his next adventure, he wanted to explore the five oceans.
Sequence Clue #1 (Q3 - Event C: Planning the expedition)
3
Although robots had been to the deepest parts of the oceans, Vescovo decided to see them for himself in a special submersible. It could hold two passengers, and it had small windows for looking outside.
Sequence Clue #2 (Q3 - Event D: Deciding to use a special submersible)
Deeper and Deeper
4
Vescovo began the Five Deeps Expedition in the Atlantic Ocean. He went down more than 27,000 feet to see the Puerto Rico Trench. Vescovo was the first human to make this dive alone.
Sequence Clue #3 (Q3 - Event B: Atlantic dive) Main Idea Element 1 (Q1: Dive 1 in Atlantic Ocean)
Turn page for Paragraphs 5–8 Annotations & Question-by-Question Prompting Page 1 of 2
Story Cues & Teacher Reference
Paragraphs 5–8 & Prompting Script
Classroom Accommodations
5
Vescovo also took his submersible to the deepest trenches in the other oceans. On his dive in the Pacific Ocean, Vescovo went to the deepest place in the world. This place is called Challenger Deep. Only three people had been to Challenger Deep before. Vescovo went deeper than any of them. He went down to 35,839 feet below the surface.
