Name (Optional)


DIRECTIONS
Read the two selections and the viewing and representing piece. Then answer the questions that follow.







D
 




D
 


D
 

Use “A Horse for Matthew” to answer questions 1–16.


1In paragraph 43, the word emitting means —
Auttering
Bviewing
Crushing
Dwhispering
 

2Tommy’s grandfather was once well known as a —
Fhorse trainer
Gbelt maker
Hrodeo champion
Jhorse breeder
 

3Approximately how long does it take Grandpa to find the right horse for Matthew?
AA month
BA couple of days
CAll summer
DTwo weeks
 

4How was Matthew’s leg broken?
FA horse threw him.
GHe had a rodeo accident.
HA horse fell on him.
JThe corral fence collapsed.
 

5Paragraph 42 is mainly about —
AMatthew and Sundance becoming acquainted
Bwhat horses like to eat while in the corral
Cfences and their usefulness on ranches
DMatthew leaving the corral with the others
 

6The primary conflict in the story is between —
FTommy and Grandpa
GMatthew and his fear
HMatthew and Sundance
JTommy and his anger
 

7Which line from the story best reveals Grandpa’s love for Tommy?
A“Tell me about the boy.”
B“So, are you going to tell me what is troubling you?”
C“I’ve seen this kind of fear in grown men. . . .”
D“I will try, because it is you who ask.”
 

8In paragraph 18, the author uses the phrase “leaden silence” to create a mood of —
Fsuspicion
Gmystery
Hanger
Jdiscomfort
 

9Paragraph 12 tells the reader that Grandpa —
Aknows nothing about Matthew
Bdoes not want to disappoint Tommy
Cusually spends the day in his chair
Dis not accustomed to being surprised
 

10Which of the following foreshadows Tommy’s intention to ask his grandfather for help?
FI settled into a nearby chair and stared silently into the amber flames.
G“They removed his cast last week. He was in it three months, Grandpa.”
HGrandpa was bent forward in his rocker, poking a pinion log burning in the fireplace.
JIt was to this room one morning that I came to the past in hopes of shaping the future.
 

11The story’s point of view helps the reader understand —
Athe difficulty of working with wild horses
Bthe fear that Matthew experiences
Cthe depth of Tommy’s concern for Matthew
Dthe importance of horses on the reservation
 

12Paragraph 23 shows the reader that Matthew is feeling —
Fdisappointed by Tommy’s visit
Gnervous about having to stay at home
Hindifferent about being injured
Jfrustrated with his current situation
 

13Tommy knows that Matthew’s conflict has been resolved when —
ATommy visits Matthew
BSundance gets hurt
CMatthew rides Sundance
DGrandpa finds the horse
 

14Paragraph 8 suggests that —
FMatthew will soon ride again
GTommy is ashamed of Matthew’s fear
HMatthew’s accident was very serious
JTommy is also afraid of horses
 

15Based on Matthew’s behavior around Sundance, the reader can conclude that Matthew —
Ahas never trained a horse before
Bplans to ride the horse on the trail ride
Cdoes not like horses
Dunderstands the horse’s fear
 

16The reader can infer from paragraph 24 that —
FMatthew is not a good friend
GMatthew has hurt Tommy’s feelings
HMatthew cannot forgive Tommy
JMatthew is jealous of Tommy
 

Use “Hello, Old Paint” to answer questions 17–28.


17When the author finally found the paper with the bank’s phone number on it, it was difficult to read because —
Athe paper was wet
Bthe handwriting was poor
Cthe author could not see well
Dthe seller had made a mistake
 

18Read the following dictionary entry.
 
 Which definition best matches the use of the word bounced in paragraph 1?
FDefinition 1
GDefinition 2
HDefinition 3
JDefinition 4
 

19Paragraphs 5 and 6 are mainly about —
Ahow much trouble the animals had become
Bhow the author rationalized the sale of her pets
Chow angry the author was with the buyers of Cricket and Sassy
Dwhy American saddlebreds are lovable horses
 

20The author had good memories of Cricket and Sassy because —
Fthey were gifts from the author’s husband
Gthe author and her husband rode Cricket and Sassy frequently
HCricket and Sassy participated in the author’s wedding
Jthe author had raised the animals from birth
 

21What caused the author’s primary conflict?
AShe couldn’t ride Sassy.
BShe didn’t have enough money.
CShe missed her friend Billy.
DShe regretted selling her pets.
 

22In paragraph 12, the author was —
Fnervous
Gtired
Hfrustrated
Jtimid
 

23Which lines show that the author was beginning to question her decision to sell Cricket and Sassy?
AI ask her how Cricket and Sassy are doing, and she says, “Great!” Nothing more.
BWhat do they think, I’m an idiot or something? I stomp into the house.
C“Well, Cricket, friendships take work,” I’ll say. “That’s all there is to it.”
DBut the check bounced! Isn’t that strange? I mean, is there a message here?
 

24What sort of tone does the author create in this selection?
FReflective
GComical
HMysterious
JUnemotional
 

25The reader can conclude that the people who bought Cricket and Sassy —
Awere new to the neighborhood
Bdid not manage money well
Chad other horses of their own
Dwere not kind to their horses
 

26In paragraph 8, the sentence “I wish she had said more” shows —
Fhow much the author missed Cricket and Sassy
Gthe rudeness of the buyer toward the author
Hthat the author feared the animals might have been ill
Jthat the buyer was too busy to talk with the author
 

27How did the author persuade herself that she had made the right decision to sell her animals?
AShe recognized that the money from the sale would help her family.
BShe told herself that the animals were better off with the new owners.
CShe accepted Billy’s opinion that she had made a wise choice.
DShe admitted that the buyers were responsible businesspeople.
 

28Based on paragraph 18, the reader can conclude that —
Ffriends are not very important to the author
Gthe author will resume her friendship with Billy
Hanimals are more important to the author than people
Jthe author will give Cricket and Sassy to Billy
 

Use “A Horse for Matthew” and “Hello, Old Paint” to answer questions 29 and 30.


29Which theme do both selections address?
AFamily members can be wise and supportive.
BNever conduct business with friends.
CFear is a damaging emotion.
DFriendships are worth preserving.
 

30The reader can conclude that the authors of “A Horse for Matthew” and “Hello, Old Paint” —
Fwrite only about events that have actually happened
Gsee similarities between horses and people
Hunderstand the business of breeding horses
Jhave written extensively about animals
 

Use the visual representation to answer questions 31–33.


31The magazine’s publishers probably intend for the cover photograph to illustrate —
Athe importance of telephone communication
Bthe difficulty of apologizing to friends
Cthe positive aspects of friendship
Dthe challenges of finding time to spend together
 

32The publishers of this magazine want readers to believe that it can —
Fstrengthen reading skills
Gincrease volunteerism
Hprevent arguments
Jimprove friendships
 

33Which of the following articles would best fit the primary purpose of the magazine?
A“Why I Can’t Talk to My Mom”
B“Sisters—The Real Best Friends”
C“Friendly Relations Between Governments”
D“How to Break Up with Your Boyfriend”
 

Short Answer Questions:
Students were asked to answer the following questions on a separate piece of paper. These questions will NOT be scored as part of the interactive online versions of the released TAKS tests.


34In “A Horse for Matthew,” what do Matthew and Sundance have in common? Explain your answer and support it with evidence from the selection.
 

35What did the author of “Hello, Old Paint” learn from her experience? Explain your answer and support it with evidence from the selection.
 

36How is the bond between humans and animals important in both “A Horse for Matthew” and “Hello, Old Paint”? Support your answer with evidence from both selections.
 

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