Context Clues
Every spring on the beaches of Delaware, New Jersey, and Maryland, the horseshoe crabs gather. Crowds of them make nests on the beach, and the females lay their eggs. Soon the crabs are joined by a multitude of shorebirds. Thousands of birds stop at these beaches each year.
This is the meaning of multitude.
What is a great number?
I scoop tea leaves into a pot and pour boiling water over them. I take the teapot and four cups to the table.
I ladle rice into a large bowl. I take the bowl and four plates to the table.
The text is written in this point of view.
What is first person?
This structure identifies a problem and then presents one or more solutions.
What is problem and solution?
There once was a clever fox who loved playing tricks. He invited his friend the stork over for dinner one day. When dinner was served, the poor bird saw that the meal was soup served in a flat dish. Try as she might, the stork could not drink the soup with her long, thin beak.
"I'm sorry you aren't enjoying the dinner," the fox said, laughing to himself over his trick.
"Oh, it's no problem at all," the stork said, acting very polite. "You must join me for dinner next time."
Soon the stork invited the fox to her house for dinner. The fox had worked hard all day and was very hungry. But when the stork brought out the food, the fox got a surprise. The dinner was served in tall, narrow jars. With her long beak, the stork had no trouble gobbling up the tasty food. The fox's mouth did not fit in the jar, so he went home hungry.
This is the theme of the fable.
What is "expect others to treat you the same way you treat them."
He was as brave as a lion.
This is an example of this type of figurative language.
What is a simile?
In December 2014 and January 2015, this volcano erupted. When the eruption subsided, a wonderful sight appeared through the clearing smoke. A new island had risen out of the sea.
This is the meaning of the word subsided.
What is settled down?
She glanced back toward the road. It was as if another step would bring the ordinary world completely to an end and this would be Wonderland. Even the sights and sounds didn't match here. Near her a bucket hung against a tree, and she distinctly heard a sound of drip—drip—drip.
The text is written in this point of view.
What is 3rd person?
This structure elaborates on a topic, person, place, or thing by providing detailed features, qualities, or characteristics.
What is description?
A group of sailors set sail on a long voyage. They brought along a monkey to keep them company. After several weeks at sea, there was a terrible storm. The choppy waves tossed around the small ship, and both the sailors and the monkey were thrown into the sea.
A dolphin saw the monkey in the water and rescued him. The dolphin swam to a nearby island, carrying the monkey on her back. When they arrived at the island, the dolphin asked, "Have you been here before?"
The monkey said, "Yes, I have. Actually, I am the king of this island." Of course, that was not true. In fact, no one lived on the island at all.
The dolphin replied, "Good. Then you no longer need me." And she swam off, leaving the monkey stuck on the island.
What is "boasting and lying can get you in trouble?"
I'm so hungry I could eat a horse.
This is an example of this type of figurative language.
What is a hyperbole?
In winter, the seals cut breathing holes in the thick ice. Polar bears hunt the seals by waiting for them to come up through the holes for air. That's when the seals are the most vulnerable. A polar bear may have to wait at a hole for many days. But if the bear is patient enough, it might end up with a tasty treat.
This is the meaning of the word vulnerable.
What is "endangered of being harmed"?
Omri entered the house by the side door, which opened into the kitchen. His black and white cat, Kitsa, was sitting on the drainboard. She watched him out of her knowing green eyes as he came to get a drink of water.
The text is written in this point of view.
What is 3rd person?
This structure explains why something happened and what the result was.
What is cause and effect?
Once upon a time, a fox was out walking in the woods. He did not see a well in the ground ahead, and he fell right into it. It was too deep for him to climb out. After several hours passed, a goat came walking by. The goat was feeling thirsty and saw the fox in the well.
"How's the water down there?" asked the goat.
"Why, hello, Goat," said the fox. "The water tastes great. Why don't you come in and have a sip?"
The goat jumped into the well and leaned down to start drinking. Quickly, the fox leaped onto the goat's back and used her horns to spring up and out of the well.
"Oh no!" said the goat. "Now I'm stuck down here. Please help me!"
But the fox only said, "That was your mistake." And he ran off into the woods.
What is "think before you act?"
Her smile was a sunrise.
This is an example of this type of figurative language.
What is a metaphor?
They're keeping the tree's exact location a secret, though. That's because they're apprehensive about visitors coming to see it. Visitors could damage the tree just by walking on top of its roots.
This is the meaning of apprehensive.
What is worried or afraid?
I went into my bedroom. I put Dribble on top of my dresser. I tried to pet him and tell him he would be happy living with me. But it isn't easy to pet a turtle.
The text is written in this point of view.
What is first person?
This structure examines the similarities and differences between two or more items, ideas, or concepts.
What is compare and contrast?
Daedalus and his son Icarus were trapped on the island of Crete by King Minos. One day Daedalus saw a flock of birds in the sky. This gave him an idea. He would make two pairs of wings so that they could escape from the island.
For weeks Daedalus gathered all the feathers he could find on the ground. He glued them together with wax. Finally, he and Icarus put on the wings. Daedalus told Icarus, "Do not fly too close to the sun, or the wax will melt."
Daedalus and Icarus flapped their arms as fast as they could. They soared into the sky! As they flew upward, the island of Crete grew smaller below them. But Icarus was so excited about flying that he kept going higher and higher. "No, Icarus, no!" Daedalus shouted.
It was too late. The sun had already begun to melt the wax. The feathers blew away, and Icarus fell into the sea.
What is "don't be too bold?"
Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
This is an example of this type of figurative language.
What is alliteration?
In 1937, she set off to fly around the world at the equator. Her plane was lost, and what happened to it is a mystery. Debris found on Gardner Island in the Western Pacific, however, suggests that Earhart may have landed there. Researchers say that a piece of metal found on the island matches a patch from Earhart's airplane.
This is the meaning of the word debris.
What are the remains of something broken?
You have to find Homer. He's your friend. You enter the front yard through the old, rusty gate. You tiptoe around to the back of the house. You see a stone bench and an empty fish pond, but no Homer.
The text is written in this point of view.
What is 2nd person?
This structure presents events or items in a specific order, often related to time.
What is sequence or chronological?
Long ago there lived a handsome man named Narcissus who loved only himself. Echo, a goddess of the mountains, fell in love with him. She followed him everywhere, but he acted coldly and cruelly toward her. She was so sad that she faded away until nothing was left of her but her voice.
Soon after, Narcissus was out taking a walk in the forest. Thirsty, he decided to stop for a drink from a pool. As he leaned down to scoop up the cold water in his hands, he saw himself in the water. The face he saw was so beautiful that he fell in love with it. He could not look away, so he sat and stared at himself in the water. He could not bear to leave, not even to eat or drink.
For the rest of his life, Narcissus never left the pool.
This is the lesson of the story.
What is "don't think too much of yourself?"
The leaves danced in the wind.
This is an example of this type of figurative language.