SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT Grade 04 Unit 04 Assessment A

SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Grade 04 Unit 04 Assessment A
Informational & Literary Reading: Life in Colonial America
Reading Standards: RL.4.4, RL.4.5, RL.4.6, RI.4.4, RI.4.9
(RI.4.1, RI.4.2, RL.4.1, RL.4.2)
Name ___________________________________________________________ Date_______________________
Directions: Read the following article and answer the questions within and
after the text.
The Mayflower Compact
Adapted from Ellen Donohue Warwick
Some people think the passengers on the
Mayflower had many things in common. After all,
many passengers hoped that they would find
freedom in North America. But Mayflower
passengers were actually a diverse group of
people. Some were religious Separatists who were
looking for religious freedom from The Church of
England. Other people called Strangers were families, servants, and hired
hands. The people were crowded and uncomfortable on the Mayflower and the
journey was long. It is not surprising that fights broke out.
1.) What is the main idea of this first paragraph? (RI.4.2)
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The day after land was seen, a mutiny or an argument broke out on
the Mayflower. Some Strangers on board “began making discontented
speeches.” They were very angry. They said that when they came ashore, they
would do as they pleased. In other words, the Strangers said that they would
be free to do what they wanted when they reached land. They would not have
to answer to colony rules.
2.) What is the meaning of the word discontented? What clues did you use?
(RI.4.4)
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The argument made many people think
that they should work together as a
community. It would be unsafe for people to
follow their own rules. So someone wrote a
common agreement that asked people to work
together. The agreement was signed on the
ship. This agreement was called the
“Mayflower Compact.” Many Americans think
of it as one of the most important agreements of our government. It said that
the power to govern comes from the people.
3.) Why is the “Mayflower Compact” considered important? Give specific
details. (RI.4.3, RI.4.1)
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Directions: Read the following fictional excerpt. Answer the questions that follow.
“Helen! Come here!” my father shouted to me across the ship. Today I was
playing with a new friend, Sarah, at the end of the deck. We were looking at the
tiny piece of land we saw yesterday. After so many days of staring at only
water, we were so happy to finally see land. We had spent the morning talking
about what we will do when we get off of this ship.
“Helen!” my father shouted again. Something was wrong. Sarah and I walked
quickly past the other children. We heard loud, angry shouts from a crowd of
men.
“None have the power to command us!” shouted a man. Then other men
shouted back. I squeezed Sarah’s hand. I wondered why they were so mad. We
were so close to land it seemed silly to be fighting now.
“The Strangers will answer to no one!” shouted another voice. What was
happening? The men appeared to be fighting about who would govern us when
we stepped on to the new land.
4.) *Who is telling the story?
(RL.4.6)
*How do you know?
*Why might the author have chosen to tell the story in this point of view?
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5.) Describe the physical setting AND emotional setting of this excerpt.
(RL.4.3)
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6.) How does the informational text, “Mayflower Compact,” help you
understand this piece of historical fiction? Use evidence from BOTH
sources to support your answer. (RI.4.9) Use details from pages 1 & 3.
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