Module 4,

Name Date Week 3

Assessment

Reading
Read the selection and answer each question.

A Simple Gift
by Sandra Havriluk

This story takes place several months after the Battle of Gettysburg, during the American Civil War.
President Abraham Lincoln was traveling to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where he would give his famous
speech—the Gettysburg Address.
1
Jack wondered if the 5:02 evening train would ever arrive. Standing between his parents,
he peered down the curve of the track, cupping one hand over his eyes to shade them from
November’s late afternoon sun. In his other hand, he held a red apple from their family orchard.
He’d chosen it carefully from the apple barrel in the root cellar.
2
It was not just any red apple. Jack had searched for the largest, handsomest one. He wanted
one that was suitable to give to a special passenger traveling on the B&O train that would stop in
Hanover Junction, Pennsylvania.
3
Jack glanced over at the Hanover Branch Express train sitting on the opposite track. The brass
trim on its red-and-green engine car shone. The passenger-car windows gleamed. The engine sent
billows of steam rising from its stack.
4
The B&O passengers would transfer to the Express and travel the remaining miles to
Gettysburg. Among the travelers was a very special one: President Abraham Lincoln! He was
headed to Gettysburg to speak at the Soldiers’ National Cemetery tomorrow.
5
Jack had overheard his parents’ comments when they learned of the president’s trip.
6
“The war makes traveling difficult for him,” Pa had said.
7
Ma had replied, “And they say his son Tad is ill.”
8
The poor president! Jack felt a sadness creep over him like a fog’s mist.
9
Jack had felt this sadness before, in July, after the battle at Gettysburg. The wounded soldiers
had been carried to Hanover Junction, where they’d been transported by train to hospitals.
Everyone helped care for the soldiers until the trains arrived. Pa pitched tents, Ma cooked meals, and
Jack offered apples to the soldiers. Many of the soldiers smiled, and one reached out to shake Jack’s
hand, saying, “Thanks, young’un!” Jack was surprised at how such a simple gift brought them cheer.

Grade 5 1 Module 4, Week 3 Assessment

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 Module 4,
Name Date Week 3
Assessment

10
The B&O’s piercing whistle broke through Jack’s thoughts, and the wooden depot platform
rumbled as the train approached. In the near distance, smoke drifted in the breeze, and Jack’s rapid
heartbeat matched the train’s wheels rolling clackity-clack on the track. Grit from the engine flew
into the air as the brakes squealed, and the train came to a stop with a steamy hiss.
11
The crush of the excited, noisy crowd surrounded Jack and his parents, and Jack tightened
his hold on the apple, wondering how he’d be able to see the president through all these people.
Would he get a chance to act on his special plan?
12
“Up you go, son!”
13
Lifted up by his father’s strong arms, Jack balanced himself on Pa’s broad shoulders. He now
had a bird’s-eye view of the station!
14
Everyone cheered when President Lincoln stepped from the train wearing his stovepipe hat.
Jack thought he was the most unusual-looking man he’d ever seen! Yet when the president smiled,
the kindness in his worried eyes made him handsome.
15
Walking through the crowd toward the Hanover Express, the president shook hands and
patted children’s heads. Jack said to Pa, “Move closer! Please!”
16
Before they could get nearer, President Lincoln disappeared into the train’s passenger car. The
conductor climbed onto the engine’s step and announced, “Pulling out!”
17
Everyone kept calling for the president, and Jack joined in. After a moment, the door to the
railcar slid open, and the president ducked through it and stood on the car’s narrow ledge.
18
As Pa hurried toward him, Jack held out the apple and yelled, “Mr. President, for your son!”
19
The president took Jack’s gift in his large hand.
20
“I hope Tad feels better,” Jack added.
21
The tired worry in President Lincoln’s eyes softened as he said, “Thank you, young man.”
22
With one last wave, the president ducked back into the railcar, and the train began chugging
toward Gettysburg. Jack scrambled from his father’s hold and trotted beside the train. Through its
window, Jack saw President Lincoln polishing the apple, a smile on his face.

Grade 5 2 Module 4, Week 3 Assessment

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 Module 4,
Name Date Week 3
Assessment

1 Read the sentence from paragraph 2.

He wanted one that was suitable to give to a special passenger traveling on the B&O train
that would stop in Hanover Junction, Pennsylvania.

Think about the suffix -able. What is the meaning of suitable above?
A something that is of value
B something that is personal
C something that is likely to be remembered
D something that is right for a certain person

2 How does the Civil War setting affect the story’s plot?

A It explains why Jack’s family grows apples.

B It explains why most people travel by train.
C It explains why Jack begins to give people apples.
D It explains why many people live in Hanover Junction.

3 Which quotation from the story uses dialect from the time period?

A “The war makes traveling difficult for him.”

B “Thanks, young’un!”
C “Move closer! Please!”
D “I hope Tad feels better.”

4 The story is told from the third-person point of view. What kind of information does the
narrator’s point of view allow the reader to know about Jack? Use details from the story to
support your answer.

Grade 5 3 Module 4, Week 3 Assessment

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 Module 4,
Name Date Week 3
Assessment

5 What does the information in paragraph 13 suggest about Jack and his father?

A Jack can depend upon his father for help.

B If Jack is in danger, his father protects him.
C Jack wishes that he were as strong as his father.
D If Jack wants to go somewhere, he asks his father first.

6 Read the sentence from paragraph 18.

As Pa hurried toward him, Jack held out the apple and yelled, “Mr. President, for your son!”

Which of Jack’s character traits does this sentence help develop?

A his honesty
B his kindness
C his eagerness
D his confidence

Grade 5 4 Module 4, Week 3 Assessment

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 Module 4,
Name Date Week 3
Assessment

Writing
Read the selection and choose the best answer to each question.

Ricardo wrote a paper about the rocks he found in his backyard. Read the first paragraph of Ricardo’s
paper and look for any changes he should make. When you finish reading, answer the questions
that follow.

Backyard Rocks
(1) I never wondered about the rocks in my backyard until we learned about them in school.
(2) My teacher showed us examples of the different kinds of rocks in the area. (3) Then she explain
how each kind was formed. (4) When I helped Dad dig a new garden, we found many rocks in the
soil. (5) As we removed them, we toss them aside. (6) By the time we finished digging, we had quite
a pile of rocks. (7) I decided to try to identify some of them and was surprised at what I discovered.
(8) My backyard is home to various types of rocks. (9) I will search again next weekend to see what I
can add to my new rock collection.

1 What change should be made in sentence 3?

A Change explain to explains.
B Change explain to explained.
C Change explain to is explaining.
D No change is needed.

2 What is the correct way to write sentence 5?

A As we remove them, we tossed them aside.

B As we remove them, we tossing them aside.
C As we removed them, we tossed them aside.
D No change is needed.

3 What change should be made in sentence 9?

A Change will search to search.

B Change will search to searched.
C Change will search to will searched.
D No change is needed.

Grade 5 5 Module 4, Week 3 Assessment

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