Grade 4 ELA SBA Practice

Test 1: The Inventor's Notebook

Reading Literature

Lena kept a small notebook in her backpack. Whenever she saw something interesting — a bee on a flower, a stuck zipper, a leaky faucet — she sketched it and wrote down a question.

Her teacher said good inventors didn't start with answers; they started with careful questions. Lena's favorite question was: How could this be made better?

101. Why does Lena carry a notebook?

A. To record sketches and questions B. To keep grocery lists C. To pass notes in class D. To collect autographs

102. What does her teacher say good inventors do?

A. Memorize facts B. Start with careful questions C. Always work alone D. Avoid drawing

103. What is Lena's favorite question?

A. What time is it? B. How could this be made better? C. Where can I rest? D. Who is in charge?

104. Written Response: Describe one way Lena's notebook could help her invent something.

Test 2: How Tides Work

Informational Text

The pull of the moon's gravity tugs at the oceans, raising water on the side of Earth that faces it. As Earth spins, coastal areas move into and out of these high points, producing tides.

Most coasts experience two high tides and two low tides each day. Local geography — bays, channels, and shorelines — can amplify or delay the effect.

105. What causes ocean tides?

A. Wind only B. The moon's gravitational pull C. Underwater earthquakes D. Schools of fish

106. How many tides do most coasts experience each day?

A. One high, one low B. Two high, two low C. Only highs D. It varies wildly

107. What can change how tides arrive at a particular shore?

A. Local geography B. The phase of the moon only C. Whether it is sunny D. Which way ships are sailing

108. Written Response: Explain how Earth's rotation interacts with tides.

Test 3: Language and Writing

Language & Writing

109. Which sentence uses commas correctly?

A. After lunch we went to the library, museum, and park. B. After lunch we went to the library museum and park. C. After lunch we, went to the library, museum and park. D. After lunch, we went to the, library museum, and park.

110. Choose the sentence in past tense.

A. I write a story. B. I am writing a story. C. I wrote a story. D. I will write a story.

111. Which is a compound sentence?

A. The dog barked. B. The dog barked, and the cat ran. C. Barking dogs. D. When the dog barked.

112. Written Response: Write a compound sentence about a hobby you enjoy.

Test 4: A History Project

Reading & Evidence

For their history project, the class researched how their town was first settled. They found old maps, letters from early residents, and photos from the local library archive.

The students compared the sources and noticed that early letters described the river as larger than it appears today. The teacher reminded them that primary sources can disagree, and that part of doing history is weighing evidence.

113. Where did students find old materials?

A. A toy store B. The local library archive C. An app D. A weather report

114. What did letters say about the river?

A. It was smaller B. It was larger than it appears today C. It had no fish D. It was frozen

115. What does the teacher say about primary sources?

A. They always agree B. They can disagree, and historians weigh evidence C. They are unimportant D. They are easy to ignore

116. Written Response: Use evidence from the passage to explain how the students used multiple sources.

Test 5: Editing Practice

Editing & Revision

Draft: yesterday at the science fair we saw projects about plants weather and machines

117. Which word should be capitalized?

A. yesterday B. fair C. science D. machines

118. What punctuation is needed at the end?

A. A period B. A comma C. A semicolon D. A question mark

119. Choose the best revision of the list.

A. plants weather and machines B. plants, weather, and machines C. plants, weather and, machines D. plants weather, and machines

120. Written Response: Add a sentence with one specific detail about a project the class saw.

Directions

Test 1: The Inventor's Notebook

Test 2: How Tides Work

Test 3: Language and Writing

Test 4: A History Project

Test 5: Editing Practice

Answer Key & Sample Written Responses