Text Structures
Alex got an A on his Spanish test because he studied hard over the weekend.
What is the cause?
What is "theme"?
The message, lesson, or moral of the story
Select the synonym of the word in italics.
For exercise, my dad uses the stairs at work instead of the elevator. He climbs one hundred steps every day.
steps
What is the main idea of the passage?
Why should you exercise? When you exercise, you lower your chances of getting sick. For example, exercise makes your heart healthier and your body stronger. It improves your mood and can make you feel calm. Regular exercise helps you think more clearly, so you can get more done during the day. Exercise can even help you sleep better at night. Regular exercise can make your life better in so many ways!
Exercise helps people feel better in many ways.
What is the meaning of the word grueling as used in the passage?
Football players and coaches spend many long hours working to be the best. Teams are now using new tools to help with this grueling task. In the old days, coaches just told players to lift weights and run. Now, coaches use technology to help their players train. Machines help coaches see the players' speeds and how much weight they're lifting. Machines even track how many hours the players are sleeping. This kind of information can help coaches keep players healthy.
Difficult
Jenny has no lunch money and can not eat her lunch so she goes and asks a friend.
What is the problem?
The setting is __________ and ____________ a story takes place.
time and place
Select the synonym of the word in italics.
I think peacocks are beautiful birds. Parrots are really pretty, too.
pretty
What is the main idea of the passage?
Found in southwestern Asia, the Dead Sea isn't a sea at all. It is a salty lake, and it is much saltier than the ocean. In fact, the Dead Sea is so salty that no animals or plants can live in it. When fish are carried from the Jordan River into the Dead Sea, they die right away. The water is even too salty for plants. In fact, there are only a few plants that can grow in the salty dirt near the lake. The Dead Sea certainly does live up to its name!
The dead sea is too salty to support plant or animal life.
What is the meaning of wholesome as used in the passage?
Popcorn is a wholesome snack because it's a whole grain and low in fat. It's also delicious and fun to make. That big bag of popcorn starts out as a little pile of seeds. Each popcorn seed is covered with a hard shell. Inside that shell is a little water. As the popcorn is heated, the water turns to steam. Finally, the steam cracks the shell and turns the seed inside out. The soft part of the seed puffs up, and the popcorn is ready to eat.
1. I don't want pizza again for a long time.
2. I ate ten pieces of pizza.
3. Later that night, I got sick.
4. I felt very full.
Put these events in order.
2, 4, 3, 1
What is plot?
The events of a story
Select the antonym of the word in italics.
Central Park offers a quiet place to sit in New York City. There you can escape from the loud traffic of the city streets.
loud
What is the main idea of this passage?
You probably know that your brain and your heart are organs. But did you know that your skin is an organ as well? An organ is a body part that has a special job. Like other organs, your skin does many important things. It protects your body by keeping out harmful things that can cause illness. It contains special cells that allow you to feel the things you touch. Your skin also helps to keep your body at a comfortable temperature.
Your skin is an organ that has many important jobs.
What is the meaning of clarify as used in the passage?
Saturn is the sixth planet from the sun in our solar system. It's best known for the large, bright rings that circle it. Those rings are made of pieces of ice and rock. Saturn also has at least sixty-two moons. The bits of rock in Saturn's rings may have come from its moons. People studying Saturn believe that new moons are still being formed around the planet. In 1997, NASA sent a small spaceship named Cassini to Saturn. NASA hopes that Cassini can help clarify how Saturn's moons have come into being. The pictures that Cassini sends back from Saturn may tell more about what's happening there.
Jason got grounded after he came home three hours late.
What is the effect?
Jason got grounded
"Who" the story is about
Select the antonym of the word in italics.
Colton fell asleep by the time his grandmother arrived. When he woke up the next morning, his grandmother was already awake.
awake
What is the main idea of this passage?
Camels are large plant-eating animals that live in deserts. How do these animals live in such hot, dry places? The tall, rounded humps on their backs help them store fat. Camels can break down this fat into energy and water when they need it. Also, their noses trap the water that is in their breath, so they don't have to drink often. The long hairs around camels' eyes help keep the sand out. And their mouths are made to handle the chewing and swallowing of sharp plants like cacti.
Camels have many ways to stay alive in the desert.
What is the meaning of variety as used in the passage?
Coral reefs are home to a variety of animals. For instance, more than four thousand kinds of fish, sea stars, crabs, and sharks can be found around reefs. Many people depend on these sea creatures for food. People also depend on reefs to block waves from hitting the land during large storms. If a reef is damaged, it can rebuild over time. However, it can take hundreds of years for a reef to come back to life. Because of this, we should do all that we can to protect our reefs.
a. Put my dog in the water.
b. Dry him off with a towel.
c. Fill a tub with water and get a towel.
d. Wash the suds off the dog.
e. Rub the suds all over my dog.
Put these events in order.
c, a, e, d, b
True or False: There is not more than one setting in a story
False
Select the synonym of the word in italics.
Levi is angry that I took his sled without asking him first. I hope he doesn't stay mad for long!
mad
What is the main idea of this passage?
Whenever something makes a sound, sound waves travel away from it in all directions. How fast do sound waves travel? Their speed depends on some different things. For example, sound waves move faster or slower depending on what the sound is moving through. Sound travels faster through solids, such as stone and iron, than it does through water. It travels faster through water and other liquids than through air. The speed of sound also depends on how hot or cold the air is. For example, if the air is hotter, sound travels faster.
The speed of sound depends on what the sound waves are moving through and the air temperature.
What is the meaning of embers as used in the passage?
On a camping trip, it can be fun to build a campfire. Just remember these important safety tips. First, pick a good spot. A fire ring that's already been built and lined with stones is best. Make sure the fire is at least fifteen feet away from tents, trees, and dry grass. Keep a bucket of water and a shovel nearby. When you build the fire, keep it small. You can enjoy the fire by singing songs or telling stories around it. Before going to sleep, make sure there are no remaining embers. Pour water over them and stir so that nothing nearby can catch on fire.
small pieces of burning wood