ELA Vocabulary
What does the word infer mean?
To figure something out using clues from the text and what you already know.
What is a theme?
A lesson or message about life that a story communicates.
What is tone?
The author’s attitude toward the subject, characters, or situation.
"The stars danced across the night sky.” What type of figurative language is used?
Personification.
When selecting the best summary, what should you avoid?
Minor details, opinions, and information that is not important to the main idea.
What is text evidence?
Specific information or details from a text that support an answer or idea.
Is “Friendship” a theme? Explain.
No. “Friendship” is a topic. A theme is a complete message, such as “True friends support one another during difficult times.”
What is mood?
The feeling or atmosphere created for the reader.
“Her smile was as bright as the sun.” What type of figurative language is used?
Simile.
A question asks, “What can the reader infer?” What should you do?
Use clues from the text and combine them with what you already know.
What does analyze mean?
To examine something closely and explain how or why it works or is important.
A character lies to avoid getting in trouble, but the lie causes an even bigger problem. What is a possible theme?
Dishonesty can create bigger problems.
Read the sentence:
“The abandoned house stood silently beneath the dark, cloudy sky.”
What mood does this sentence most likely create?
A gloomy, mysterious, or eerie mood.
“The classroom was a zoo after the teacher left.” What type of figurative language is used?
Metaphor.
Jamal looked at the dark clouds gathering above the playground. He quickly packed his backpack and headed toward the school doors. A few minutes later, rain began pouring down.
Question: What can the reader infer about why Jamal went inside?
A. He was tired.
B. He wanted to avoid getting wet.
C. He forgot his backpack.
D. He didn’t like recess.
B — He wanted to avoid getting wet.
What does summarize mean?
To state the most important ideas or events from a text using your own words.
Read the situation: Marcus fails his first science experiment. Instead of quitting, he studies his mistakes and tries again. After several attempts, he succeeds. What is a possible theme?
Perseverance can help people overcome failure.
Read the sentence:
“Everyone cheered as Maya sprinted across the finish line and won the race!”
What is the tone?
Excited, enthusiastic, or joyful.
“BOOM! The thunder shook the windows.” What type of figurative language is BOOM?
Onomatopoeia.
Every Saturday morning, Mrs. Carter placed a bowl of fresh fruit on the kitchen table. At first, her children ignored it and reached for sugary cereal. After several weeks, however, they began eating the fruit before school. Soon, they started choosing fruit as an afternoon snack, too.
Question: Which statement best explains how the children’s behavior changed?
A. They stopped eating breakfast.
B. They began making healthier food choices.
C. They learned that cereal was unhealthy.
D. They stopped eating snacks.
B — They began making healthier food choices.
A student says, “The character is selfish because she refuses to share her supplies.” What is the claim, and what is the evidence?
The claim is that the character is selfish. The evidence is that she refuses to share her supplies.
Elena wanted to try out for the school soccer team, but she had never played before. During practice, she missed several shots and felt embarrassed. She considered giving up. Instead, she asked an experienced teammate for advice and practiced every afternoon. At the final tryout, Elena made the team.
Question: What is the best theme of the passage?
A. Soccer is difficult to learn.
B. Asking for help can help people improve.
C. Practice and determination can help people overcome challenges.
D. Everyone should play soccer.
C — Practice and determination can help people overcome challenges.
Read the two sentences:
“The puppy bounced around the room, wagging its tail and licking everyone’s face.”
What mood does the description create, and which words help create it?
A happy, playful, or cheerful mood. Words such as “bounced,” “wagging,” and “licking” create the mood.
Read the sentence:
“I’ve told you a million times to put your name on your paper!”
What type of figurative language is used, and why did the author use it?
Hyperbole. The author exaggerates the number of times to emphasize how frequently the speaker has given the reminder.
The Empty Lot
For years, the empty lot at the end of Maple Street was covered with weeds and litter. Most neighbors walked past it without giving it much thought. One spring, twelve-year-old Nia decided the lot could become something better.
Nia asked her neighbors to help clean the area. At first, only three people showed up. They spent Saturday morning picking up trash and pulling weeds. The following weekend, more neighbors joined them. Someone donated flower seeds, while another neighbor brought wooden boards to build garden beds.
By the end of summer, the empty lot had become a community garden. Neighbors who had barely spoken before now worked together every weekend. Nia smiled as she watched families picking tomatoes and peppers from the garden.
“Sometimes,” Nia said, “all it takes is one person to get things started.”
Question: Which statement best explains how the events in the passage develop the theme?
A. Nia discovers that gardening is difficult.
B. Nia learns that adults can solve problems better than children.
C. Nia’s decision to act inspires others to work together and improve their community.
D. Nia realizes that vegetables are healthier than other foods.
C — Nia’s decision to act inspires others to work together and improve their community.