Strange Weather
Tyrik gasped at the weather outside. He had heard of this weather spectacle before, but he had never experienced it. White flakes accumulated on the front yard, the street, and the sidewalk. It was snow.

Tyrik grew up near Miami, where it never snowed. But, during a winter break from school, his parents took him up to visit his aunt and uncle in Michigan. This was his first time out of Florida. For the first few days, it was bitterly cold. Fortunately, Tyrik brought a warm coat, snow gloves, and a knit cap with him. Today, though, it snowed and he wished he had a pair of snow pants.

After a scrumptious breakfast of grapefruit, kiwi, and seasoned scrambled eggs, his aunt and uncle asked if he wanted to go sledding. He jumped up and down with excitement. His mother, however, pointed out that he did not have snow pants. She didn’t want him to ruin his normal pants in the snow. Tyrik’s aunt offered to go next door to borrow a pair from the neighbors. They had a son close to Tyrik’s age. While his aunt walked next door, Tyrik brushed his teeth and put on a few layers of clothes. With his teeth cleaned and his body protected by two pairs of pants, two shirts, two pairs of socks, he went downstairs. Eventually, his aunt walked in carrying a pair of snow pants and snow boots. She was followed by a boy around the same height as Tyrik.

“Hi, I’m Connor,” the boy replied. “Do you want to go sledding with me?” Tyrik pulled on the snow pants and laced up the snow boots. He zipped up his coat and followed the boy outside. Connor explained that there was a great hill for sledding a few blocks away. He had an extra sled that Tyrik could use. As they walked, Tyrik told his new friend about Florida.

“It sounds awesome,” Connor replied. “I’d love to visit sometime. I want to see the ocean.”

“Yeah. You could stay at my house,” Tyrik suggested.

The boys spent the whole morning sledding. They took a break to have lunch at Connor’s house. Then, in the afternoon, they built a snow fort and a snowman. Although Tyrik loved Florida, he was grateful for an opportunity to see snow and play in it. He couldn’t wait to teach Connor how to build sand castles and how to boogie board when he visited Florida.
The author compares building sandcastles in Miami to building snow forts and snowmen in Michigan. What Florida activity does Tyrik compare sledding to?
A: Fishing
B: Wake boarding
C: Boogie boarding
D: Playing in the ocean
2: What is another word that could replace scrumptious in this sentence? “After a scrumptious breakfast of grapefruit, kiwi, and seasoned scrambled eggs, his aunt and uncle asked if he wanted to go sledding.”
A: Bland
B: Exciting
C: Delicious
D: Unappetizing
3: Who does they refer to in this sentence in the last paragraph? “Then, in the afternoon, they built a snow fort and a snowman.”
A: The neighbors
B: Tyrik's family
C: Tyrik and Connor
D: The fort and snowman
4: What significance do Tyrik’s Aunt and Uncle’s neighbors have in the story?
A: They invited Tyrik’s family over for dinner.
B: They asked Tyrik to go sledding in the snow.
C: They found snow pants that Tyrik could borrow.
D: They encouraged Tyrik to come out to Michigan again next year.
5: Read the following sentence from the passage: “Although Tyrik loved Florida, he was grateful for an opportunity to see snow and play in it.” What is another word that can replace the underlined word in this sentence?
A: Happy
B: Excited
C: Gracious
D: Appreciative
6: Why does Connor want to see the ocean?
A: He loves the ocean and marine animals.
B: He is used to seeing snow every winter.
C: He wanted to visit Tyrik where he lives in Miami.
D: He had never been to Florida and has never seen it before.
7: According to the passage, what characteristic is similar between Connor and Tyrik?
A: They are the same age.
B: They have the same interests.
C: They are about the same height.
D: They are in the same grade level in school.
8: Why was the weather mentioned in the first paragraph considered a 'spectacle' or unusual event for Tyrik?
A: The snowfall frightened Tyrik.
B: It was unusual for it to be snowing in Miami.
C: Tyrik was not aware that it snowed in Michigan.
D: This was the first time Tyrik had ever seen snow.
9: Why the author included the information presented in the last paragraph?
A: The author presents this information to describe the photo in the article.
B: Information provided in the last paragraph provides for a strong conclusion.
C: The author wants the reader to know they spent the whole day sledding, building snow forts, and a snowman.
D: The author describes the fun Connor and Tyrik had together and how they are building a lasting friendship.