4.3B Context Clues
ead the sentence from Paragraph 3: "The trail along the cliff was so treacherous that several hikers slipped on loose rocks." What does the word treacherous mean in this sentence?
A) Smooth and flat
B) Dangerous and unsafe
C) Long and winding
D) Bright and sunny
B) Dangerous and unsafe
Based on how characters and settings are described in reading selections, what is an inference?
A) A direct quote taken word-for-word from the text
B) A conclusion reached by combining text evidence with background knowledge
C) A short retelling of the beginning, middle, and end of a story
D) The main lesson or moral that the author wants the reader to learn
B) A conclusion reached by combining text evidence with background knowledge (Correct Answer)
Why do authors provide specific text evidence in informational articles?
A) To make the passage longer so it takes more time to read
B) To support claims and prove that main ideas are accurate
C) To share the personal opinions of the author
D) To replace the need for headings and graphics
B) To support claims and prove that main ideas are accurate
Which statement best describes what a student does when paraphrasing a sentence from a text?
A) Copies the exact words from the selection using quotation marks
B) Restates the author's original idea using their own words
C) Writes a detailed critique explaining why the author is wrong
D) Shortens an entire chapter into a single topic word
B) Restates the author's original idea using their own words
What is the central idea of an informational text?
A) The very first sentence located at the top of Paragraph 1
B) The main message or overarching point the author wants the reader to understand
C) The problem faced by the main character in the story
D) A definition listed in the glossary at the back of the book
B) The main message or overarching point the author wants the reader to understand
Read the sentence from Paragraph 1: "The elephant was so immense that it towered over the nearby trees and blocked out the sunlight." Which TWO phrases from the sentence provide context clues that help the reader understand the meaning of immense? (Select TWO answers)
A) "The elephant was"
B) "towered over the nearby trees"
C) "and blocked out the sunlight"
D) "so immense"
E) "nearby trees"
B) "towered over the nearby trees"
C) "and blocked out the sunlight"
Read the paragraph below: "Leo unhooked his yellow raincoat from the wall, pulled on his heavy rubber rain boots, and popped open his big blue umbrella before opening the front door." What can the reader infer about the setting based on Leo's actions?
A) It is a hot, sunny summer day outside.
B) A heavy rainstorm is taking place outside.
C) A freezing snowstorm is covering the ground.
D) High winds are knocking down tree branches.
B) A heavy rainstorm is taking place outside. (Correct Answer)
Read the paragraph below: "Mother sea turtles slowly crawl onto sandy ocean beaches late at night to dig nests and lay their eggs. By nesting after dark, the sea turtles reduce the chance that land predators will spot them." Which detail explains WHY sea turtles lay their eggs at night?
A) "Mother sea turtles slowly crawl"
B) "onto sandy ocean beaches"
C) "to dig nests and lay their eggs"
D) "reduce the chance that land predators will spot them"
D) "reduce the chance that land predators will spot them"
Read the paragraph below: "Monarch butterflies are famous for their amazing long-distance journey. Every autumn, millions of monarch butterflies fly thousands of miles from North America to warm forests in Mexico to survive the cold winter. During this migration, they face harsh weather, predators, and loss of habitat. When spring arrives, the monarchs begin their return trip north, laying eggs on milkweed plants along the way."
Which sentence is the BEST summary of the paragraph?
A) Monarch butterflies lay their eggs on milkweed plants when they travel north in the spring.
B) Monarch butterflies migrate thousands of miles to Mexico each autumn to survive the winter and return north in the spring.
C) Monarch butterflies face dangerous predators and bad weather during their flight.
D) Millions of monarch butterflies enjoy spending the cold winter months in Mexico's warm forests.
B) Monarch butterflies migrate thousands of miles to Mexico each autumn to survive the winter and return north in the spring.
How do supporting details contribute to an informational text?
A) They describe the setting where the story takes place.
B) They provide facts, examples, and evidence that explain the central idea.
C) They organize events in order from beginning to end.
D) They introduce dialogue between different people.
B) They provide facts, examples, and evidence that explain the central idea.
Read the dictionary entry below: bark \ bahrk \ noun
The short, loud sound made by a dog
The tough outer covering of a tree trunk or branch
A type of rich chocolate dessert made with nuts
A small sailing ship with three masts
Which definition best matches the way the word bark is used in this sentence? "The old oak tree's bark was rough, cracked, and covered in light green moss."
A) Definition 1
B) Definition 2
C) Definition 3
D) Definition 4
B) Definition 2
Read the paragraph below: "When the teacher set the graded math assignment on Sarah's desk, Sarah let out a sigh of relief, let a big smile spread across her face, and quickly slipped the paper into her binder." Based on Sarah's actions, the reader can infer that Sarah —
A) feels embarrassed by her performance on the math assignment
B) is satisfied with how well she did on the math assignment
C) is confused by the teacher's corrections on her assignment
D) wishes she had studied harder for her math assignment
B) is satisfied with how well she did on the math assignment
Read the paragraph below: "Unlike green plants that make food using sunlight, Venus flytraps grow in swampy soil that lacks crucial nutrients. They trap and digest insects to gather the nutrients required for survival." Based on the paragraph, why do Venus flytraps capture insects?
A) They trap insects because the soil does not supply needed nutrients.
B) They trap insects to prevent bugs from eating nearby green plants.
C) They trap insects because they prefer the taste of bugs over sunlight.
D) They trap insects to keep the swampy area clean.
A) They trap insects because the soil does not supply needed nutrients.
Read the original sentence from an article: "Severe, hazardous weather forced school district officials to cancel all scheduled outdoor extracurricular events." Which option is the best paraphrase of the sentence?
A) Dangerous weather caused district leaders to call off all outside school activities.
B) Severe, hazardous weather forced school district officials to cancel all events.
C) Students were thrilled that their outdoor events were canceled due to severe weather.
D) School was closed today because of a major storm in the area.
A) Dangerous weather caused district leaders to call off all outside school activities.
Read the paragraph below: "Honeybees play a vital role in our environment. They pollinate millions of flowering plants, help farmers grow fruits and vegetables, and build structured hives that produce honey." What is the central idea of the paragraph?
A) Farmers rely on honeybees to sell sweet honey.
B) Honeybees perform several crucial jobs that benefit nature and humans.
C) Honeybee hives are built using complex structures.
D) Honeybees prefer visiting fruit trees over wild flowers.
B) Honeybees perform several crucial jobs that benefit nature and humans.
Read the excerpt from the article: Paragraph 1 describes how the town experienced three straight months of blistering sun without a drop of precipitation. Paragraph 2 states: "The severe drought forced local farmers to haul water from miles away to keep their crops alive." Based on the information in Paragraph 1, what is the meaning of drought in Paragraph 2?
A) A prolonged period of unusually dry weather with little rain
B) A sudden freezing snowstorm that destroys plants
C) An unexpected flash flood caused by heavy rain
D) A disease that spreads quickly through crops
A) A prolonged period of unusually dry weather with little rain
Read the paragraph below: "As dark gray clouds rolled over the neighborhood and loud rumbles shook the windowpanes, the puppy whimpered, pinned its ears back, and scrambled under the couch." Why does the puppy hide under the couch?
A) It wants to play a game with its owner.
B) It is excited to go outside for a walk.
C) It feels frightened by the approaching thunderstorm.
D) It is looking for a lost toy under the furniture.
C) It feels frightened by the approaching thunderstorm.
Read the paragraph below: "Despite shivering in the icy wind, Maya dragged her heavy sled up the steep, snowy hill three times until she finally mastered steering down the track." Which sentence segment shows that Maya is determined?
A) "shivering in the icy wind"
B) "dragged her heavy sled... three times until she finally mastered"
C) "up the steep, snowy hill"
D) "steering down the track"
B) "dragged her heavy sled... three times until she finally mastered"
Read the events from a story below:
Sam practiced shooting jump shots every afternoon on the playground.
Sam wanted to earn a spot on the middle school basketball team.
Sam cheered when he found his name listed on the posted tryout sheet.
What is the correct logical order of these story events for a summary?
A) 1, 2, 3
B) 3, 1, 2
C) 2, 1, 3
D) 2, 3, 1
C) 2, 1, 3
Read the central idea below: Central Idea: Recycling programs help protect the natural environment. Which sentence BEST supports this central idea?
A) Many neighborhoods collect recycling bins on Tuesday mornings.
B) Recycling keeps reusable materials out of landfills and reduces pollution.
C) Blue plastic recycling containers come in several different sizes.
D) Some families forget to rinse out containers before placing them in the bin.
B) Recycling keeps reusable materials out of landfills and reduces pollution.
Read the sentence from the selection: "Maya was reluctant to jump into the freezing lake, so she hesitated at the edge and dipped only her big toe into the water." Which word is a synonym for reluctant as it is used in the sentence?
A) Eager
B) Unwilling
C) Delighted
D) Prepared
B) Unwilling
Read the paragraph below: "Jax walked into the kitchen and sat down, staring in shock at his empty plate. He turned around and spotted his toddler brother sitting on the rug with chocolate frosting smeared all over his chin and hands."
Part A: What can the reader infer happened to Jax's snack?
A) Jax accidentally dropped his snack on the kitchen floor.
B) Jax's brother ate Jax's snack off the plate.
C) Jax finished eating his snack quickly.
D) Jax's mother took his snack away.
Part B: Which sentence from the paragraph BEST supports the answer to Part A?
A) "Jax walked into the kitchen and sat down..."
B) "...staring in shock at his empty plate."
C) "He turned around and spotted his toddler brother..."
D) "...with chocolate frosting smeared all over his chin and hands."
Part A: B) Jax's brother ate Jax's snack off the plate.
Part B: D) "...with chocolate frosting smeared all over his chin and hands."
Read the paragraph below: "Cheetahs are famous for their incredible acceleration, reaching speeds up to 70 miles per hour in just three seconds. However, running at top speed exhausts their bodies, forcing them to rest after short sprints." Which detail supports the idea that cheetahs cannot maintain high speeds over long distances?
A) "reaches speeds up to 70 miles per hour"
B) "reaching speeds... in just three seconds"
C) "running at top speed exhausts their bodies, forcing them to rest"
D) "Cheetahs are famous for their incredible acceleration"
C) "running at top speed exhausts their bodies, forcing them to rest"
What is the primary difference between a retell and a summary of a reading selection?
A) A retell is used for non-fiction articles, while a summary is used for stories.
B) A retell includes many small, specific details, while a summary includes only the most important main points.
C) A summary is much longer and contains more dialogue than a retell.
D) A retell explains the theme of a text, while a summary explains context clues.
B) A retell includes many small, specific details, while a summary includes only the most important main points.
Read the paragraph below: "Polar bears are built to survive in extreme Arctic temperatures. They feature thick dense fur to block freezing winds, black skin beneath their coats to absorb heat from sunlight, and a thick layer of blubber to trap body heat."
What is the central idea of the paragraph?
A) Polar bears like Arctic weather.
B) Polar bears have physical adaptations for surviving extreme cold.
C) Polar bears hunt for food under frozen ice.
D) Animals in the Arctic have white coats.
B) Polar bears have physical adaptations for surviving extreme cold.