Benchmark - Grade 9 - Form 1
, Read the passage “How the Golden Carp Learned to Fly.” Then, answer the questions.
How the Golden Carp Learned to Fly
1 Alongside the ocean in the mouth of a wide river lived a school of carp in many colors—blue and
gray, white and red—and the leader of them all was a carp of a rich golden color, with scales that
glistened in the sunlit waters. The golden carp had lived in that harbor all her life and watched
with concern as the human port town grew thick and dense like riverweed. People dredged the
bottom of the river to make way for massive ships and developed a taste for carp. They cast
down their terrorizing twine nets over the sides of their ships, eager to feast upon what they
considered a delicacy. With a heavy heart, the golden carp determined it was time to search for
safer waters, for it was early spring and time for her to find a hidden place to lay her eggs. Some
carp objected to leaving the only home they had ever known, fearing unknown dangers more
than their enemies at hand, but the golden carp was determined.
2 The golden carp led the school through the wide, deep body of the river city. "Don't look back,"
she told them. "Swim upstream at all costs, as fast as you can." She hoped against hope that
beyond a bend in the river, they would find a safer haven, for their very future depended upon it.
Farther upstream, the river narrowed and there were no longer any ships—only small fishing
boats from a nearby village. Most carp felt relieved, but the golden carp urged them to press on.
"There are still too many hungry people living near these waters for my comfort." Some carp
agreed, but many more elected to stay behind, and most ended up served on plates with grated
radish and a splash of soy sauce.
3 Muscles aching, tailfins flapping, the golden carp and her stalwart companions swam on. Their
bodies and minds were tired as they swam higher and higher upstream, fighting against the
current, into the foothills. Here, too, they were hunted, surrounded by the fishing rods and reels of
country farmers. Around a bend they heard the thudding rush of water churning and saw that
they had come to the foot of a towering waterfall. The golden carp saw the jagged rocks above,
judged that no humans could live above the water line, and set her sights on leaping to the top
where she knew she and her eggs would be safe. She swam and leapt as high as she could, but
it was not high enough. Undaunted, she attempted her jump again and again until she shot into
the sky and landed in a pool of water at the top, where she laid her eggs. The fish who remained
below claimed the golden carp was magical and had turned into a flying dragon. They argued it
was useless to try and shrugged their fins. But the few who kept trying eventually joined her, and
they and their offspring lived there at the top for many generations in perfect safety.
, Question 1
Which statement best summarizes the passage?
A golden carp teaches her school how to fly.
A golden carp learns how to become a good leader.
A school of carp disagrees about finding a new home.
A school of carp struggles to find a new home far away from the danger of humans.
Question 2
Read this sentence from the passage.
The golden carp had lived in that harbor all her life and watched with concern as the human port
town grew thick and dense like riverweed.
What does the phrase "grew thick and dense like riverweed" suggest about the port town?
The town population is increasing.
The town is foggy and difficult to see.
The riverweed has spread to the town.
The townspeople have built many new buildings.
Question 3
Choose two ways in which the author creates suspense in the passage.
by mentioning that the golden carp laid eggs
by indicating that the carp traveled together up the river
by describing the dangers the carp faced while traveling up the river
by stating that the harbor had been the golden carp's home her whole life
by demonstrating the golden carp's attempts to get to the top of the waterfall
, Read the passage “How the Golden Carp Learned to Fly.” Then, answer the questions.
How the Golden Carp Learned to Fly
1 Alongside the ocean in the mouth of a wide river lived a school of carp in many colors—blue and
gray, white and red—and the leader of them all was a carp of a rich golden color, with scales that
glistened in the sunlit waters. The golden carp had lived in that harbor all her life and watched
with concern as the human port town grew thick and dense like riverweed. People dredged the
bottom of the river to make way for massive ships and developed a taste for carp. They cast
down their terrorizing twine nets over the sides of their ships, eager to feast upon what they
considered a delicacy. With a heavy heart, the golden carp determined it was time to search for
safer waters, for it was early spring and time for her to find a hidden place to lay her eggs. Some
carp objected to leaving the only home they had ever known, fearing unknown dangers more
than their enemies at hand, but the golden carp was determined.
2 The golden carp led the school through the wide, deep body of the river city. "Don't look back,"
she told them. "Swim upstream at all costs, as fast as you can." She hoped against hope that
beyond a bend in the river, they would find a safer haven, for their very future depended upon it.
Farther upstream, the river narrowed and there were no longer any ships—only small fishing
boats from a nearby village. Most carp felt relieved, but the golden carp urged them to press on.
"There are still too many hungry people living near these waters for my comfort." Some carp
agreed, but many more elected to stay behind, and most ended up served on plates with grated
radish and a splash of soy sauce.
3 Muscles aching, tailfins flapping, the golden carp and her stalwart companions swam on. Their
bodies and minds were tired as they swam higher and higher upstream, fighting against the
current, into the foothills. Here, too, they were hunted, surrounded by the fishing rods and reels of
country farmers. Around a bend they heard the thudding rush of water churning and saw that
they had come to the foot of a towering waterfall. The golden carp saw the jagged rocks above,
judged that no humans could live above the water line, and set her sights on leaping to the top
where she knew she and her eggs would be safe. She swam and leapt as high as she could, but
it was not high enough. Undaunted, she attempted her jump again and again until she shot into
the sky and landed in a pool of water at the top, where she laid her eggs. The fish who remained
below claimed the golden carp was magical and had turned into a flying dragon. They argued it
was useless to try and shrugged their fins. But the few who kept trying eventually joined her, and
they and their offspring lived there at the top for many generations in perfect safety.
, Question 1
Which statement best summarizes the passage?
A golden carp teaches her school how to fly.
A golden carp learns how to become a good leader.
A school of carp disagrees about finding a new home.
A school of carp struggles to find a new home far away from the danger of humans.
Question 2
Read this sentence from the passage.
The golden carp had lived in that harbor all her life and watched with concern as the human port
town grew thick and dense like riverweed.
What does the phrase "grew thick and dense like riverweed" suggest about the port town?
The town population is increasing.
The town is foggy and difficult to see.
The riverweed has spread to the town.
The townspeople have built many new buildings.
Question 3
Choose two ways in which the author creates suspense in the passage.
by mentioning that the golden carp laid eggs
by indicating that the carp traveled together up the river
by describing the dangers the carp faced while traveling up the river
by stating that the harbor had been the golden carp's home her whole life
by demonstrating the golden carp's attempts to get to the top of the waterfall
