CRCT Reading2 Review:

4th Grade

Touched by Beauty

            The blue light of the aquarium tanks rippled across the floor. It made Merriam feel as though she were underwater even as she walked across the room towards the touch tank. A textbook-sized angelfish darted away as Lionel tapped on the glass again, earning him another scolding. Merriam hadn’t touched any of the tank walls, not even at the giant stingray exhibit, her favorite of the day.

            But by now, Merriam was ready to leave. Forget the touch tank. No way was she getting her hands gross by touching any of the animals in there, anyway. It would probably be just some slimy snails or something lame like that.

            The tank itself was surprisingly large, and half the class was crowded around it. Hands plunged in the water to touch the hermit crabs, the horseshoe crab, the sea urchins and the... stingray?

            Merriam pushed her way to the front and looked into the tank. Sure enough, two small stingrays glided through the water like kites in a strong wind. Her breath caught. Even this small, they were so elegant, so beautiful. But could they sting her? And were they slimy?

The museum guide said, "Everything in here is safe to touch, but remember to touch the stingrays on their wings only."

            Safe to touch? Merriam found herself inching closer to the end of the tank with the smallest stingray.

            All of her classmates were chattering like monkeys, dipping hands in the tiny pool over and over again. Hermit crabs were lifted and shown off, but no one tried to lift the stingrays. In fact, only Lionel had touched them at all. Even the prickly looking sea urchins had gotten more attention.

            The stingrays’ sandy skin blended in nicely to the tank bottom. They did look like they had wings, which flapped gently as they lazily swam. The voices of her classmates faded to a faint roar as she reached one hand, trembling, towards the tank. Slimy, sandpapery, squishy: it could feel like any number of ways that would be horribly icky.

Her hand hovered over the water for a long moment. She pulled back for a moment, but just then the stingray did a graceful spin. The long tail seemed more like a ribbon trailing a ballerina’s dress than a stinger. She had to know. The little stingrays had completely charmed her.

           

Her hand slid into the water, making as little splash as she could. She flinched, expecting cold water, but it was comfortably warm. She slid two fingers gently along the wing of the stingray, afraid of slime, afraid of sandpaper, afraid of squish. But she did it anyway.

            There was no slime, no sandpaper, no squish. The stingray was soft. It was smooth. And it was simply lovely.

            She dried off her hands, still watching the rays, grinning the whole time. She had done it. And now she knew that she’d be back again.

Which is the best summary of this passage?

a. Stingrays are beautiful creatures that swim gracefully through the water.

b. Merriam was nervous about petting the stingray, but when she finally did it, she was very happy.

c. Merriam followed the rules and didn’t touch any of the aquarium tanks.

d. Merriam’s classmates were excited to pet the hermit crabs, sea urchins, and stingrays.

Click here to reread part 1.

Click here to reread part 2.

Click here to reread part 3.

Touched by Beauty

            The blue light of the aquarium tanks rippled across the floor. It made Merriam feel as though she were underwater even as she walked across the room towards the touch tank. A textbook-sized angelfish darted away as Lionel tapped on the glass again, earning him another scolding. Merriam hadn’t touched any of the tank walls, not even at the giant stingray exhibit, her favorite of the day.

            But by now, Merriam was ready to leave. Forget the touch tank. No way was she getting her hands gross by touching any of the animals in there, anyway. It would probably be just some slimy snails or something lame like that.

            The tank itself was surprisingly large, and half the class was crowded around it. Hands plunged in the water to touch the hermit crabs, the horseshoe crab, the sea urchins and the... stingray?

            Merriam pushed her way to the front and looked into the tank. Sure enough, two small stingrays glided through the water like kites in a strong wind. Her breath caught. Even this small, they were so elegant, so beautiful. But could they sting her? And were they slimy?

The museum guide said, "Everything in here is safe to touch, but remember to touch the stingrays on their wings only."

            Safe to touch? Merriam found herself inching closer to the end of the tank with the smallest stingray.

            All of her classmates were chattering like monkeys, dipping hands in the tiny pool over and over again. Hermit crabs were lifted and shown off, but no one tried to lift the stingrays. In fact, only Lionel had touched them at all. Even the prickly looking sea urchins had gotten more attention.

            The stingrays’ sandy skin blended in nicely to the tank bottom. They did look like they had wings, which flapped gently as they lazily swam. The voices of her classmates faded to a faint roar as she reached one hand, trembling, towards the tank. Slimy, sandpapery, squishy: it could feel like any number of ways that would be horribly icky.

Her hand hovered over the water for a long moment. She pulled back for a moment, but just then the stingray did a graceful spin. The long tail seemed more like a ribbon trailing a ballerina’s dress than a stinger. She had to know. The little stingrays had completely charmed her.

           

Her hand slid into the water, making as little splash as she could. She flinched, expecting cold water, but it was comfortably warm. She slid two fingers gently along the wing of the stingray, afraid of slime, afraid of sandpaper, afraid of squish. But she did it anyway.

            There was no slime, no sandpaper, no squish. The stingray was soft. It was smooth. And it was simply lovely.

            She dried off her hands, still watching the rays, grinning the whole time. She had done it. And now she knew that she’d be back again.

The Stingray

The ocean water swirls—sun-baked, salty— Around the stingray, swimming swiftly, Eyes on top, mouth below, A sleek, smooth diamond, With a tail like an arrow.

The silky ray swims past Bright fish that dart like children playing. A puffy octopus, dives down deep, Stirring up a cloud of sand, He kicks eight legs in a startled sweep.

The ray settles in the sand to rest Next to sea urchins, starfish, and snails. Silent among the gently waving plants, It parks with the motor running, While eyes on each side keep a watchful glance.

Here, no sound of the waves above, And darker at night than the inside of black. The ray waits through the ocean night, Sleeping smoothly, fanning gently Until the dawn of morning light.

What is the difference between the setting in “Touched by Beauty” and the setting in “The Stingray”?

a. The settings are the same.

b. The setting in the poem is in water and the setting in the story is out of water.

c. The setting in the poem is in the ocean and the setting in the story is in a tank.

d. The setting in the poem is out of water and the setting in the story is in water.

Click here to reread the poem.

Click here to reread part 1.

Click here to reread part 2.

Click here to reread part 3.

The Stingray

The ocean water swirls—sun-baked, salty— Around the stingray, swimming swiftly, Eyes on top, mouth below, A sleek, smooth diamond, With a tail like an arrow.

The silky ray swims past Bright fish that dart like children playing. A puffy octopus, dives down deep, Stirring up a cloud of sand, He kicks eight legs in a startled sweep.

The ray settles in the sand to rest Next to sea urchins, starfish, and snails. Silent among the gently waving plants, It parks with the motor running, While eyes on each side keep a watchful glance.

Here, no sound of the waves above, And darker at night than the inside of black. The ray waits through the ocean night, Sleeping smoothly, fanning gently Until the dawn of morning light.

In “The Stingray,” to what does the author compare the bright fish?

a. A smooth diamond

b. Children playing

c. Startled octopus

d. Urchins, starfish, and snails

Click here to reread the poem.

How did Merriam change from the beginning of the story to the end?

a. At the beginning of the story, Merriam was unhappy, but at the end she was happy.

b. At the beginning of the story, Merriam didn’t like stingrays, but at the end she did.

c. At the beginning of the story, she thought touching the stingray was gross, but in the end she liked it.

d. At the beginning of the story, she was happy, and at the end she was unhappy.

Click here to reread part 1 of the passage.Click here to reread part 2 of the passage.Click here to reread part 3 of the passage.

From what point of view is “Touch by Beauty” written?

a. First person

b. Second person

c. Third person

d. Fourth person

Time Capsule

What do you like doing right now? Who are your friends and teachers? What are you studying in school? Why not record them so when you get older you can look back and be amazed?

Materials:1 shoebox with lid2 sheets of paper (4 inches by 6 inches)objects that show your intereststapeconstruction papergluedecorations such as beads, fabric, glitter, yarn

Directions:1. Using one sheet of paper, write the following things about yourself: Name, Age, Teacher, Things learned in school, Hobbies (or things you like to do), Name of the president of the United States, What you want to do in the years to come

2. Fold the paper and place it in the box.

3. Now decorate your box. Be creative—use lots of colors and many of the different decorations. On your decorations, write some names of friends and teachers. Write the names of some of your favorite songs. Don't forget to decorate the lid.

4. Let the decorations dry for one day.

5. Next, gather some objects that tell something about you. You may include a tennis ball if you play tennis or a special book if you enjoy reading. Include as many things as you want. Put them in the box.

6. Seal the box with tape.

7. Using the last sheet of paper, write the day you want to open the time capsule.    Example: Do not open until December 5, 2030.

8. Glue it to the box.

9. Hide the box in a safe place.

In which type of book would you MOST LIKELY find this passage?

a. a textbook b. an encyclopedia c. a book of craft project ideas d. a book of short stories for kids

Explain why the other choices are incorrect.

To reread part 1, click here.

To reread part 2, click here.

Time Capsule

What do you like doing right now? Who are your friends and teachers? What are you studying in school? Why not record them so when you get older you can look back and be amazed?

Materials:1 shoebox with lid2 sheets of paper (4 inches by 6 inches)objects that show your intereststapeconstruction papergluedecorations such as beads, fabric, glitter, yarn

Directions:1. Using one sheet of paper, write the following things about yourself: Name, Age, Teacher, Things learned in school, Hobbies (or things you like to do), Name of the president of the United States, What you want to do in the years to come

2. Fold the paper and place it in the box.

3. Now decorate your box. Be creative—use lots of colors and many of the different decorations. On your decorations, write some names of friends and teachers. Write the names of some of your favorite songs. Don't forget to decorate the lid.

4. Let the decorations dry for one day.

5. Next, gather some objects that tell something about you. You may include a tennis ball if you play tennis or a special book if you enjoy reading. Include as many things as you want. Put them in the box.

6. Seal the box with tape.

7. Using the last sheet of paper, write the day you want to open the time capsule.    Example: Do not open until December 5, 2030.

8. Glue it to the box.

9. Hide the box in a safe place.

What is the main purpose of this passage?

a. to tell a story about a time capsule b. to convince you to make a time capsule c. to give advice about hiding a time capsule d. to give instructions for making a time capsule

To reread part 1, click here.

To reread part 2, click here.

According to the instructions, what should be written on the LAST sheet of paper?

a. the day you want to open the time capsule b. to keep the capsule sealed c. the things you are learning in school d. the names of your favorite songs

To reread part 1, click here.

To reread part 2, click here.

Based on this passage, what is the purpose of making a time capsule?

a. to record what you and your world are like b. to let your family know what you like to do c. to create a gift for someone you care about d. to leave behind information about your country

To reread part 1, click here.

To reread part 2, click here.

How is this article organized?

a. Chronological order

b. Logical order

c. Cause and effect

d. Problem and solution

Rock on!