Reading Rally Practice Test
IREAD Assessment Form A • Grades 3-6
Session 1: Foundational Skills
Indiana Reading Rally Practice Test
Assessment Blueprint Aligned: Reading Foundations, Nonfiction, & Literature
Student Name:
Date:
Grade:
General Directions: Read each question carefully. Choose the best answer from the four options given. Fill in the corresponding circle on your answer document or mark your answer clearly.
1
Section 1: Reading Foundations (Items 1–12)
Which word has the same beginning consonant sound as city?
A. candle
B. circle
C. cabin
D. cushion
Which word has the same vowel sound as the underlined letters in bird?
A. fork
B. barn
C. fern
D. door
Which word has the same long vowel sound as boat?
A. float
B. pond
C. rock
D. shop
Which word contains a short e vowel sound?
A. sweet
B. nest
C. team
D. leaf
Read the sentence:
The explorer felt weary after hiking up the steep hill all afternoon without any rest.
What does weary mean in this sentence?
A. cheerful and excited
B. very tired and exhausted
C. angry and upset
D. lost and confused
Read the sentence:
The sudden rainstorm was detrimental to our picnic because it soaked all the food and blankets.
Which clue best helps determine the meaning of detrimental?
A. "sudden rainstorm"
B. "our picnic"
C. "soaked all the food"
D. "all afternoon"
Indiana Reading Rally • Grade 3-6 Form A Go on to the next page → Page 1
Section 1: Reading Foundations (Continued)
Vocabulary & Word Relationships
Items 7–12
Look at the dictionary entry box:
har•bor noun or verb
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n. A sheltered body of water where boats dock.
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v. To hold an idea or feeling in mind for a long time.
Which sentence uses definition 2 of harbor?
A. The large fishing ship safely entered the harbor.
B. Maya did not harbor any anger toward her brother.
C. We walked along the rocky pier at the harbor.
D. Many small rowboats were moored in the harbor.
Which word is a synonym for cautious?
Example: "The driver was cautious on the icy highway."
A. careless
B. careful
C. hurried
D. brave
Which word is an antonym for frigid?
Example: "The winter night was frigid and windy."
A. chilly
B. freezing
C. scorching
D. frosty
Choose the word pair that completes the sentence correctly:
The hound caught the sweet ________ of pine needles as it ran along ________ trail.
A. cent / they're
B. sent / their
C. scent / there
D. scent / their
Read the two sentences:
• The strong river current pushed the kayak downstream.
• What is your current home address?
What type of word relationship is shown by the word current?
A. multiple-meaning word (homograph)
B. rhyming pair
C. opposite pair (antonym)
D. contraction
In which sentence does the word scale have the same meaning as "to climb up"?
A. The grocer weighed the apples on a balance scale.
B. A single silver scale fell from the fish's side.
C. The hikers managed to scale the steep rock wall.
D. The map includes a miles-to-inches scale at the bottom.
End of Section 1: Reading Foundations
Turn the page to begin Section 2: Reading Nonfiction.
Indiana Reading Rally • Grade 3-6 Form A Go on to the next page → Page 2
2
Section 2: Reading Nonfiction (Items 13–25)
Informational Text
Nature's River Architects: The Beavers of Indiana
By Assessment Science Team • Reading Lexile: Grade 3–4 Text Complexity
1 Across the wetlands and winding streams of Indiana, North American beavers are hard at work. Known as nature's architects, beavers are the only animals besides humans that dramatically reshape their surroundings to suit their survival needs. With broad orange teeth coated in iron-rich enamel, a beaver can fell an eight-inch willow tree in under fifteen minutes.
2 Beavers build dams primarily to create deep, quiet ponds. Because beavers are clumsy waddlers on land but graceful swimmers in water, deep water protects them from predators like coyotes and bobcats. First, the beaver anchors heavy branches into the muddy creek bed. Next, it weaves smaller twigs, river stones, and thick mud into a watertight barrier. Finally, the slowed water rises behind the dam, forming a calm sanctuary where the beaver family builds its lodge.
Diagram: Cross-Section of an Indiana Beaver Lodge Diagram Feature 1
• Air Chimney
Small vent at roof peak lets fresh oxygen circulate.
• Living Chamber
Dry, elevated wooden floor lined with dried moss.
• Water Tunnel
Underwater entrance blocks land predators entirely.
• Food Cache
Piles of willow & bark anchored beneath winter ice.
3 Scientists consider beavers a "keystone species" because their dams nourish entire ecosystems. The new ponds filter pollutants out of waterways, prevent severe flash floods downstream during heavy spring storms, and provide breeding grounds for Indiana bluegills, wood ducks, and green frogs.
According to paragraph 1, what makes a beaver's teeth strong enough to cut trees?
A. They are coated in iron-rich enamel.
B. They are sharpened against river rocks.
C. They are replaced every month.
D. They grow directly into wood fibers.
Why do beavers build dams in shallow streams?
A. To trap fish for daily meals
B. To make deep water that keeps predators away
C. To stop rivers from flowing into lakes
D. To signal other animals to leave the area
Which animal is explicitly mentioned as a predator of the beaver?
A. Wood duck
B. Green frog
C. Coyote
D. Bluegill
Where does a beaver family sleep inside its lodge?
A. Underwater near the food cache
B. In an elevated, dry chamber above the water line
C. Outside on top of the air chimney
D. In burrows high up on the forest bank
Indiana Reading Rally • Grade 3-6 Form A Go on to the next page → Page 3
Section 2: Reading Nonfiction (Continued)
Questions 17–25 on "Nature's River Architects"
9 Items
Based on the text, why are beavers safer in water than on land?
A. They can hold their breath for several hours.
B. They are awkward on land but swim gracefully.
C. Land predators are unable to see objects in rivers.
D. River water washes away all animal scent.
What is the main idea of paragraph 3?
A. Beavers store branches to eat during winter.
B. Beaver dams create wetlands that help many living things.
C. Beavers cut down willow trees very quickly.
D. Heavy spring storms damage most river habitats.
Which detail best supports the idea that beavers are skilled builders?
A. "beavers are clumsy waddlers on land"
B. "weaves smaller twigs, river stones, and thick mud"
C. "slowed water rises behind the dam"
D. "protects them from predators like coyotes"
What is the first step a beaver takes when building a dam?
A. Digging an underwater entrance tunnel
B. Anchoring heavy branches into the creek bed
C. Storing winter food under frozen ice
D. Plastering moss along the living chamber floor
According to the article, why do downstream communities benefit from beaver ponds?
A. Ponds help filter pollution and lessen flash floods.
B. Ponds allow humans to travel faster on rafts.
C. Ponds dry up rivers so bridges are not needed.
D. Ponds scare coyotes away from local farms.
Based on the diagram on page 3, what is the purpose of the Air Chimney?
A. It allows beavers to enter without swimming.
B. It allows fresh air to circulate inside the lodge.
C. It serves as a lookout tower to watch for birds.
D. It provides an escape route during high floods.
Which feature in the diagram shows how beavers survive when the pond surface freezes?
A. Living chamber with moss
B. Food cache anchored under the ice
C. Open roof vent
D. Woven mud walls
How is the information in paragraph 2 primarily organized?
A. Chronological / step-by-step process
B. Compare and contrast between two animals
C. Question and answer format
D. Opinion supported by emotional arguments
Which problem-and-solution relationship is described in the article?
A. Problem: Beavers cannot see at night.
Solution: They live only in sunny rivers.
B. Problem: Shallow streams leave beavers exposed to predators.
Solution: Beavers build dams to deepen the water.
C. Problem: Trees are too hard to cut.
Solution: Beavers use abandoned bird nests.
D. Problem: Fish overpopulate the river.
Solution: Beavers hunt the fish each morning.
End of Section 2: Reading Nonfiction
Turn the page to begin Section 3: Reading Literature.
Indiana Reading Rally • Grade 3-6 Form A Go on to the next page → Page 4
3
Section 3: Reading Literature (Items 26–38)
Traditional Folktale / Story
The Whispering Willow: A Midwest Heartland Fable
Adapted from Traditional Midwestern River Folklore
1 Long ago in a valley beside the Wabash River, two young woodcrafters named Caleb and Samuel set out to carve canoes for the village harvest festival. Caleb was impatient and constantly in a rush. "Speed is what wins admiration," Caleb boasted, his axe chopping wildly into a young green tree. Samuel, by contrast, walked thoughtfully through the grove, studying the grain of fallen timber.
2 As dusk settled, an old woman wrapped in a patchwork shawl stood by an ancient weeping willow. Her wicker basket had overturned, scattering sweet acorns across the muddy grass. "Young men," she called softly, "would you lend a tired traveler your hands?"
3 Caleb scoffed, never pausing his frantic work. "I have no time for spilled nuts! If I pause even a moment, Samuel might finish his canoe before mine." But Samuel immediately laid his chisel on a flat stone. He knelt in the damp moss and spent nearly an hour patiently collecting every acorn until the woman's basket was heaped high.
4 The traveler smiled warmly. "Kindness given without thought of reward is the truest compass," she whispered. She reached into her pocket and handed Samuel a small wooden whistle carved from cured cedar. "When the river mist rises tomorrow, blow this whistle once before you strike your first timber."
5 The next morning, Caleb dragged his hastily assembled canoe to the water's edge. He had used green saplings that were full of moisture and crooked joints. Samuel arrived at dawn, brought the whistle to his lips, and sounded a clear, gentle note. At that sound, an ancient fallen walnut trunk—naturally hollowed by years of weather and smooth as polished glass—drifted quietly against the bank. Recognizing the gift, Samuel carefully fitted sturdy cedar thwarts and carved an elegant, balanced vessel.
6 When the midday festival race commenced, Caleb's canoe warped and quickly sprang leaks in the churning river current, forcing him to paddle frantically back to shore. Meanwhile, Samuel glided smoothly across the finish line, warmly welcoming Caleb aboard to share the celebration feast.
What were Caleb and Samuel building for the village festival?
A. Wooden whistles
B. River canoes
C. Storage cabins
D. Wicker baskets
Why did Caleb refuse to help the elderly woman?
A. He did not see her basket drop.
B. He was worried Samuel would finish first.
C. He was afraid of the dark riverbank.
D. He had lost his woodworking tools.
What happened when Samuel blew the cedar whistle at dawn?
A. A hollowed walnut trunk floated to the bank.
B. The old woman appeared in a canoe.
C. Caleb's green wood turned into solid cedar.
D. The river current stopped moving entirely.
Why did Caleb's canoe fail during the race?
A. He forgot his paddle on the bank.
B. He struck a sunken river boulder.
C. It was built hastily from moist green wood.
D. Samuel accidentally collided with it.
Indiana Reading Rally • Grade 3-6 Form A Go on to the next page → Page 5
Section 3: Reading Literature (Continued)
Questions 30–38 on "The Whispering Willow"
9 Items
What did Samuel do when he won the harvest festival race?
A. He demanded Caleb give him his woodcrafting tools.
B. He invited Caleb aboard to share the feast.
C. He hid his whistle so no one else could use it.
D. He immediately challenged the villagers to another contest.
Which statement best expresses the central theme or moral of this fable?
A. Speed is more valuable than careful craftsmanship.
B. Patience, care, and selfless kindness bring lasting rewards.
C. Competitions always destroy friendships between workers.
D. Never share secrets with strangers in the woods.
Which element shows that this story is a traditional folktale?
A. It includes real scientific dates and measurements.
B. A mysterious traveler tests character and gives a magical gift.
C. It takes place in a modern futuristic city.
D. It explains the laws of gravity in water currents.
Which pair of character traits best describes Samuel?
A. Boastful and jealous
B. Thoughtful and generous
C. Reckless and noisy
D. Lazy and uninterested
How does Caleb's attitude contribute to the turning point of the plot?
A. His rush causes him to ignore the elder and use flawed wood.
B. His kindness earns him the traveler's whistle.
C. His canoe is so light that it sets a river speed record.
D. His calm nature helps him repair his boat during the race.
In paragraph 3, what motivates Samuel to set down his tools?
A. He was looking for an excuse to quit carving.
B. He genuinely cared about helping a person in need.
C. He expected the woman would pay him with gold.
D. His chisel had broken against the stone.
How do Caleb's feelings most likely change by the end of the story?
A. From humble to furious
B. From proud and rushed to humbled and grateful
C. From peaceful to frightened
D. From cheerful to resentful
Based on paragraph 1, what would a reader most likely predict about Caleb's canoe?
A. It would be the most durable boat ever made.
B. It would encounter structural trouble due to haste.
C. It would win the harvest festival with ease.
D. It would turn into pure silver under the moonlight.
What will Caleb most likely do the next time he undertakes a woodworking project?
A. Rush even faster to finish before sunrise.
B. Take time to select seasoned wood and work with care.
C. Refuse to let anyone in the village watch him.
D. Stop doing woodwork and leave the valley forever.
STOP. YOU HAVE FINISHED THE TEST.
Review your answers for Questions 1 through 38.
Indiana Reading Rally • Grade 3-6 Form A Turn to Page 7 for Answer Document Page 6
OFFICIAL ANSWER SHEET IREAD Summative Practice Assessment
FORM: IN-38A CODE: 49281
Student Response Grid
Mark only one bubble per item using a dark pencil. Erase completely to change your answer.
Marking Examples:
Correct
×
Incorrect
✓
Incorrect
Do not make stray marks on this page.
Section 1: Foundations (1–12)
01
A B C D
02
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03
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04
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12
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Section 2: Nonfiction (13–25)
13
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15
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Section 3: Literature (26–38)
26
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31
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32
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38
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Teacher / Test Administrator Signature:
Total Score ____ / 38
Proficiency Level [ Pass+ • Pass • DNP ]
Indiana Reading Rally • Grade 3-6 Form A Official Student Testing Document Page 7
