OSTP ELA Grade 5 Practice Questions - Oklahoma School Testing Program - English Language Arts, Grade 5 Exam

Read the passage below: 'The Prairie Falcon's Flight' High above the Gloss Mountains of northwestern Oklahoma, an injured prairie falcon nested inside a sandstone ledge. Below, twelve-year-old Sam scanned the cliffs with his binoculars. He had spent three weeks monitoring the nest after discovering the falcon had a damaged wing tip. Instead of climbing up to capture the bird, Sam consulted Ms. Vance, a wildlife rehabilitator. She advised him to leave fresh food nearby and observe from a distance so the bird would not lose its wild instincts. Every afternoon, Sam hiked up the mesa, recorded observations, and left food. On the twenty-first day, Sam watched with breathless awe as the falcon spread its wings, caught a strong thermal updraft, and soared effortlessly into the blue sky. Which sentence best expresses a central theme of 'The Prairie Falcon's Flight'?