Problem/Solution
Main Idea
Details
Compound words
Multiple Meaning
100
The Banjo
Mei-Lan wanted to become a banjo player, so she asked her parents for a banjo. Mei-Lan’s parents said that she needed a teacher who could show her how to play. Mei-Lan wanted a banjo, not a teacher. Then one day Mei-Lan met a woman who played splendid banjo music. She told Mei-Lan how a music teacher taught her to play.

The problem of banjo lessons was solved when _____.
What is when a woman showed Mei-Lan how she learned to play.
100
The Newspaper Writer
Mr. Bremen works for a newspaper called The City Times. He must always keep his eyes and ears open for interesting things to write about. Sometimes he learns about a new story at the last minute. The paper still has to be printed on time, so he must be able to write very fast.

Which sentence retells this passage best?
a. As a newspaper writer, Mr. Bremen must stay alert and write quickly.
b. Writing for a newspaper is fun for Mr. Bremen.
c. Mr. Bremen works for The City Times.
d. Mr. Bremen will lose his job if he can’t find something interesting to write about.
What is "a. As a newspaper writer, Mr. Bremen must stay alert and write quickly."
100
Lost and Found
Megan always lost things. Last winter she lost a scarf, two books, a necklace, her purple purse, and a fountain pen. She felt especially bad about the necklace. Then her mother thought of a solution. She wrote Megan’s name and her street and town on everything Megan had. The very next day, Megan lost a mitten. A week later, a package for Megan came in the mail.

Which fact is a detail in this story?
a. Megan found a mitten in the package.
b. Megan had ten fountain pens.
c. Megan lost a necklace but found a pair of earrings.
d. Megan lost a scarf and two books.
What is "d. Megan lost a scarf and two books."
100
The compound word that best completes the sentence:

Soon they had gathered a pile of (wood for a fire) _____.
What is "firewood"?
100
What RAISE means in this sentence:

I helped my family raise hundreds of animals.

a. ask
b. collect
c. care for
d. lift
What is "c. care for"?
200
The Baby Bird
Anna was painting the garden shed when she saw a baby robin on the branch of a tree. Anna called to her father, who quickly came over to look at the bird. Then Anna’s father whispered, “This little bird just left its nest. It is probably learning how to fly, so we should stay away for a while.”

Anna’s father said that the best way to help the robin was to _____.
What is leave it alone?
200
At the Grocery Store
Lupita and her mother were at the grocery store. Mrs. Garcia put granola into the shopping cart. Lupita added some apples. Mrs. Garcia got potatoes and carrots. Lupita found some delicious-looking blueberries. Mrs. Garcia picked up chicken, salami, and sausage. Lupita asked if she could have an orange. At the counter, Lupita looked at the covers of magazines while her mother paid for the food.

Give the story a new title. Which title tells the most about the story?
a. The Busy, Busy Store
b. Lupita Learns to Cook
c. A Trip to the Grocery Store
d. Lupita Reads Some Magazines
What is "c. A Trip to the grocery Store."
200
At the Festival
Cheng walked down the block to the Chinese festival. The street was filled with people and bright lights. Cheng searched for his friends in the crowd, but he could not find them. He stood and watched as a noisy parade passed by. At the end of it was a huge paper dragon followed by many laughing children. Suddenly Cheng saw his friends among the children. “Come along!” they called out.

Which fact is not a detail in this story?
a. Cheng saw his friends at the end of the parade.
b. People crowded the streets at the festival.
c. There were fireworks after the parade.
d. A huge paper dragon was in the parade.
What is "c. There were fireworks after the parade."
200
The compound word in this sentence:

He wished that he could be back at home in his own bedroom.
What is bedroom?
200
The meaning of the word HARD in this sentence:

When it comes to doing tough jobs, horses are hard workers.

a. dignified
b. strong
c. difficult
d. easy
What is "b. strong"?
300
A Gift for Jay
Jay hurt his ankle in a skating accident. He asked me to visit him. I wanted to take Jay a present—but what? I thought of a radio, but he already had one. I thought of a set of paints or a tape recorder. Then I looked at a used accordion and a videotape. They all cost too much! Then I remembered Jay’s dinosaur collection. I got him a small plastic dinosaur. He said, “I love this, Kristen!”

What did Kristen finally give Jay?
What is a plastic dinosaur?
300
Lupita and Maxi
Lupita’s dog, Maxi, had trouble learning tricks. She could roll over, and she could stand on her hind legs. However, Maxi always got the tricks mixed up. She stood when Lupita said roll over, and she rolled over when Lupita said stand. One evening Lupita decided that Maxi needed to practice, so she stood before Maxi and said, “Roll over, Maxi.”

What is the main idea?
a. Lupita stood before Maxi.
b. Maxi could stand on her hind legs.
c. Maxi could roll over.
d. Maxi had trouble learning tricks.
What is "d. Maxi had trouble learning tricks."
300
Restaurant Trouble
Fay had trouble while eating at a restaurant last night. To begin with, she spilled her milk. Then she had to get a whole new dinner because she knocked her carrots off the plate. She also dropped some beef in her lap. Then Fay stood up just as a man walked behind her with three huge dishes of food.

How did you know Fay had trouble while eating at the restaurant?
a. She spilled her milk.
b. A man walked behind her.
c. She was not feeling well.
d. It was night when she ate.
What is "a. She spilled her milk."
300
The compound word in this sentence:

He noticed a falling snowflake.
What is snowflake?
300
The meaning of the word LAST in this sentence:

This might be the last time Max goes camping with us.

a. newest
b. hold
c. remain
d. final
What is "d. final"?
400
At the Festival
Cheng walked down the block to the Chinese festival. The street was filled with people and bright lights. Cheng searched for his friends in the crowd, but he could not find them. He stood and watched as a noisy parade passed by. At the end of it was a huge paper dragon followed by many laughing children. Suddenly Cheng saw his friends among the children. “Come along!” they called out.

At the festival, Cheng had trouble finding _____.
What is his friends?
400
Amanda Keeps Trying
Amanda wanted to learn to do cartwheels, so her brother made a deal with her. “Do two cartwheels in a row and you may borrow my roller skates,” said William. He watched Amanda practice her cartwheels, and he grinned each time she fell over. Finally Amanda said, “I will try just once more.” Then she did two cartwheels without falling.

What is the main idea?
a. William grinned at Amanda.
b. Amanda wanted to do cartwheels.
c. William had roller skates.
d. William watched Amanda practice her cartwheels.
What is "b. Amanda wanted to do cartwheels."
400
The best main-idea sentence that goes with these details:

We bought many seeds. I picked out a small wire fence.

a. We looked at pretty flowers and plants.
b. I helped Mom shop for our first garden.
c. The people helped us.
d. A new garden shop opened downtown.
What is "b. I helped Mom shop for our first garden."
400
The compound word that goes in this sentence:

Ben and I ran eagerly to the (ground used for playing) _____.
What is playground?
400
The meaning of the word LAST in this sentence:

He is being good now, but that will not last.

a. continue
b. newest, most recent
c. first
d. rear
What is "a. continue"?
500
The Tricky Twins
Karen and Katherine were twins. Their friends could tell them apart because each girl had a necklace with her name on it. One day the twins decided to confuse their friends. Each girl left her necklace at home. Then they joined their friends at the playground. The twins laughed about their great trick, but their friends did not appreciate it.

The friends could have solved their problem if _____.
What is if Karen and Katherine were wearing their necklaces?
500
Stuart’s Room
Stuart decided to change the order of his room. First he dragged a chair and a small table across the floor. Next he moved his toy box in front of the closet. Then he moved the box again since it looked funny and it was in the way. Stuart looked at his new arrangement. “It was better before,” he sighed.

What is the main idea?
a. Stuart dragged a chair and a small table across the floor.
b. Stuart decided to change the order of his room.
c. Stuart moved his toy box in front of the closet.
d. Stuart looked at his new arrangement.
What is "b. Stuart decided to change the order of his room."
500
The best main idea sentence that goes with these details:

First, we gathered all the tools. Next, we dug up the soil.

a. Mom and I worked hard all day.
b. Then, we pulled up weeds.
c. We made holes in the soil.
d. Finally, we planted the vegetable seeds.
What is "a. Mom and I worked hard all day."
500
The compound word that goes in this sentence:

Someone left a (book for notes) _____ on the swing.
What is notebook?
500
The meaning of the word TAKE in this sentence:

Horses take more time than other animals.

a. give
b. require
c. collect
d. move
What is "b. require"?
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