Read the selection. Then choose the best answer toeach question.

Jasmine and Jason

JaSmine WaS a Saver. Whenever she earned Some money-nomatter how little-she saved it. She had a goal. She really wanted a

pair of shiny purple in-line skates, a sparkly purple helmet, and

purple knee and elbow pads. These items cost a lot of money' But

Jasmine knew if she saved, she would eventually reach her goal.

Jason was a spender. "why save for tomorrow?" he thought.

"I Want to enjoy myself nOW." JasOn, tOo, wanted in-line skates, but

he also liked buying stickers and toy cars and balloons and popcorn

and ice cream,

All fall and winter, Jasmine saved. She hoped to have enough

money to buy the in-line skates in the spring. She wished she were

old enough to baby-sit, It was hard to earn money as a third grader.

But still, she earned some, She saved her allowance each week'

Sometimes, her mother gave her money when she helped around

the house, Her large family didn't have a lot of money' Most of the

time, she didnot get moneyfor doing chores,but once in a

while, she did,

Practice Test 3

Jasmine's aunts and uncles and grandparents gave her a littlemoney from time to time. Sometimes she even found a quarter or adime on the sidewalk. Progress was slow, but Jasmine's piggy bankwas filling up, Jasmine liked shaking her piggy bank and hearing thecoins jingle.

Jason, too, wanted skates. But he did not save. His birthday wasin the spring. He hoped to receive his in-line skates as a birthdaygift, Jason's household didn't have a lot of money, either. His parentscould not afford to give him skates for his birthday. "Set your sightsa little lower" were his mother's exact words.

But still Jason hoped, Maybe his father would take extra shiftsat work. Maybe his parents would win a contest. Jason spent everydime that he earned. He did not save even one penny.

Jasmine's birthday was also in the spring, "What do you want foryour birthday, Jasmine?" her mother asked,

Jasmine knew her parents could not afford in-line skates, butmaybe they could help her reach her goal. "I'd like some money formy skate fund," she said. "I think ten dollars is all that I still need."

"That sounds fair," said her mother, "We'll see."

Practice Test 3

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on his birthday, Jason eagerly opened his presents. His sistersand brothers gave him small things-a yo-yo, balloons, and somestickers. The gift from his parents was small and light. '.How couldskates be in here?" Jason wondered. srowly, he unwrapped the gift.In the box were more toy cars to add to his collection. No in-lineskates. No helmet. No pads. He was greaily disappointed,

on her birthday, Jasmine politely opened her presents, Hersisters and brothers had each made her a birthday card and givenher trinkets-some jacks, bubble bath, and so on. The gift from herparents was small and light, Jasmine opened it. In it was not tendollars, but fifteen dollars. "oh, thank you so much!,, Jasmineexclaimed, "This is the best birthday present ever!,,

10

11

I<Practice Test 3

What is the main problem that Jasmine and Jason have?

A Jasmine is a saveq but Jason is a spender.

B They both want a pair of in-line skates.

C Jasmine can skate; Jason doesn't know how to skate,

D They both come from families without a lot of money.

Which of these best describes Jason?

F A kid who is concerned about his parents

G A boy who saves for the future

H Someone who spends his money right away

J A boy who wishes he could save money

In

A

B

c

D

paragraph 11, which words help the reader know what the word trinkets means?

small and light

politely opened

jacks, bubble bath, and so on

the best birthday present ever

Practice Test 3

Jasmine. Saves

. Has reasonableexpectations of others

. Plans for the future

Jason. Spends

. Has unreasonableexpectations of others

. Thinks only about today

. Want in-lineskates

Look at the diagram about Jasmine and Jason.

Which of the following goes in the blank?

F Get what they want for their birthdays

G Have parents who give expensive gifts

H Save money each week in bank accounts

J Have birthdays in the spring

l

IPractice Test 3

Jason's parents told him they could not afford to buythe reason that Jason is disappointed when he opens

A Jason doesn't want to collect toy cars anymore,

B He wanted money so that he could buy skates,

C Jason had been hoping for skates anyway.

D Jason wanted a gift that was big and heavy,

him skates. What is probablyhis birthday present?

Which sentence from the story hints that Jason will not get in-line skates for hisbirthday?

F Maybe his father would take extra shifts at work.

G "set your sights a little lower" were his mother's exact words.

H Maybe his parents would win a contest.

J Jason spent every dime that he earned.

Practice Test 3