Main Idea/Summary
Inference
Author's Purpose
Context Clues
Genres
100
I have a dog named Boots. I taught him lots of tricks. When I tell him to, Boots will sit or lie down. He can also wave his paw to greet people. When I say, “Dance, Boots”, he will stand up on two legs and walk. I don't know of many dogs that can do such amazing tricks. The main idea of this paragraph is: A. Boots is my dog. B. Boots can sit. C. Boots is very smart. D. Most dogs can't dance.
What is "Boots is very smart"?
100
Maggie was getting ready to walk to school. She put on her coat and grabbed her backpack. As she was leaving, her mother said, “I love you. Be careful.” You can infer that... A. Maggie is in kindergarten or first grade. B. Maggie lives close to school. C. Maggie is never late for school. D. Maggie is excited about going to school.
What is "Maggie lives close to school"?
100
Sally: Hey, come to the mall with me! Tammy: But I have homework. Sally: There is a sale at our favorite store. Tammy: Can we stop at the candy store really quick if I go? Sally: If you come to the mall with me, I promise we will! What is the author's purpose of the selection above? A. persuade B. inform C. entertain D. explain
What is persuade?
100
Cliffs are not the only way waterfalls are formed. Waterfalls may also appear where the river flows over ground containing a hard bed of rock. The river WEARS away the softer rock on both sides of the hard bed. Once the hard rock is exposed, it forms a lee over which the water plunges. The word WEARS means___________. A. to have on the body B. scrapes or rubs C. clothing D. to last a long time
What is "Scrapes or rubs?"
100
Text created from the imagination, not presented as fact, though it may be based on a true story or situation. A. poetry B. expository C. fiction D. drama
What is a fiction?
200
Truman grabbed his fishing pole and tackle box and hurried down to the pond close to his house. Sitting down on the dock that jutted into the pond, he opened his tackle box and chose a blue plastic worm. Carefully, Truman worked the hook through the water and began working the fishing line. After five casts, a fish hit the line. Carefully Truman pulled back to set the hook, and began reeling in his catch. Truman pulled in the biggest fish he had ever seen in his life. He could hardly wait to run home and show it to his family. What is this passage mostly about? A. visiting the pond B. fishing at the pond C. baiting a hook D. sitting on the dock
What is "Fishing at the pond"?
200
Hudson hurried out of the house so he wasn't late for work. He wore overalls and carried a toolbox with wrenches in it. He hopped in his truck and drove off. The sign on his truck said, “Pipe Masters.” You can infer that... A. Hudson is an auto mechanic. B Hudson enjoys his job. C. Hudson works as a plumber. D. Hudson is a truck salesman.
What is "Hudson works as a plumber"?
200
Did you know that the largest ice cream sundae ever made weighed 54,914 pounds? It was made by Palm Dairies in Alberta, Canada on July 24, 1988. It had 44,689 pounds of ice cream, 9,688 pounds of syrup, and 537 pounds of topping! Yummy! What is the author's purpose of this selection? A. persuade B. inform C. entertain D. explain
What is inform?
200
Hiking is an activity that can be enjoyed by almost anyone. Many people ENROLL in hiking clubs or groups. They join these clubs so they can be around other hikers and learn from their experiences. A hiker does not have to spend much money on equipment. In this passage, the word ENROLL means________. A. quit B. travel C. become a part of D. stay away from.
What is "Become a part of"?
200
Text that creates an emotional experience using language chosen and arranged through meaning, sound, and rhythm. A. poetry B. expository C. fiction D. drama
What is poetry?
300
Yesterday was my birthday. When I woke up, I noticed my brother Todd hung up a big sign that said, “Happy Birthday, Joey!” Mom made spaghetti for dinner. It's my favorite food in the whole world. My friend Dave came over and handed me a wrapped gift. I wondered what it was. It was a new basketball! I had a great day. The main idea of this paragraph is: A. Todd had a great birthday. B. Joey had a great birthday. C. Todd got lots of gifts. D. Joey got lots of gifts.
What is "Joey had a great birthday"?
300
Nicole came out of the elevator in her apartment building. She ran to the curb and held up her arm to hail a taxi. When she hopped in, she said, “Please take me to 345 45th Street.” You can infer that... A. Nicole's car is broken. B. Nicole is going on vacation. C. Nicole is going shopping. D. Nicole lives in a large city.
What is "Nicole lives in a large city"?
300
Daniel, his mom, his dad, and his younger sister, Carina, lived in a faraway town called Tumbler Ridge in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. In the summer they would go exploring together. They looked for new caves and waterfalls and hiked to the tops of mountains. In the winter, they would go cross-country skiing together up frozen creeks and through beautiful canyons. One day they skied to a spot where they found an old abandoned wooden cabin. Daniel said "Wouldn't it be fun to see what this place looks like in the summer? What is the author's purpose to this selection? A. persuade B. inform C. entertain D. explain
What is entertain?
300
Heart attacks can be brought on by the pressures of everyday life. Stress and strain at work, eating an UNBALANCED diet, smoking, drinking, alcohol, and taking drugs all lead to bad health. In this passage, the word UNBALANCED means__________ A. healthy B. heavy C. not healthy D. difficult
What is "Not healthy"?
300
Fact-based writing with the purpose of explaining, describing, or giving information to the reader. A. poetry B. expository C. fiction D. drama
What is an expository?
400
A mother rabbit is gentle when she cares for her offspring. Before they come into this world, she builds a soft padded nest in a hollow scraped under the grass or in a burrow between the large roots of a tree. She carefully shreds leaves and collects grass to line the nest. Then she pulls bits of fur from her coat to make a warm bed. When baby rabbits are born, they have no fur and they cannot see. Because of this, the mother rabbit never leaves the nest without covering it with more leaves and grass to protect her offspring. What is the main idea of this story? A. Rabbits live in nests or burrows. B. The mother rabbit uses her own fur to make a warm bed. C. Rabbits are gentle. D. A mother rabbit carefully cares for her babies.
What is "A mother rabbit carefully cares for her babies"?
400
Everett held his father's hand as he crossed the busy parking lot. They walked into a grocery store. Everett's dad lifted him into the seat of the shopping cart. “Here,” said dad, “You can hold my shopping list.” You can infer that... A. Everett had never been to a grocery store. B. Everett's dad does not shop often. C. Everett's dad needs help with the shopping. D. Everett is very young.
What is "Everett is very young"?
400
Baiting a hook is a messy process. First, you have to dig the worm out of the ground or out of a cup of worms and dirt. Next, slide the worm on the hook, covering the hook so the fish can’t see it. Finally, toss the hook and worm into the water. Good luck! What is the author's purpose? A. persuade B. inform C. entertain D. explain
What is explain?
400
Frank was ALL EYES as he watched Coco the Clown perform his juggling act. Five, six, then seven multicolored balls spun in a circle around Coco's head. How was he able to keep so many balls in the air without any of them falling to the ground? In this passage, the phrase ALL EYES means Frank_______________ A. has more than one pair of eyes. B. didn't pay attention. C. wears glasses. D. watched carefully.
What is "Watched carefully"?
400
A story where animals often speak as humans and teach the reader a lesson. There is usually a moral to the story. A. fairy tale B. fable C. myth D. historical fiction
What is a fable?
500
Peter's parents bought a new carpet for the living room. Now, he has to take his shoes off when he enters the house. He's also not allowed to eat or drink in the living room any more. Peter's furry dog isn't allowed to play ball in there either. When his parents got the new carpet, there were lots of new rules. The main idea of this paragraph is: A. Peter cannot go in the living room. B. Peter's parents don't like the carpet. C. Peter likes to make a mess. D. Peter's parents made new rules so the new carpet stays clean.
What is "Peter's parents made new rules so the new carpet stays clean"?
500
When Joseph walked into the kitchen, he saw muddy paw prints on the floor. His mother's wet coat was hanging on a chair. Below the coat he spotted his mother's rubber shoes. Joseph looked for his dog, Riley. He found Riley, who was soaking wet, lying on the couch panting. Joseph can infer that... a. His mother gave Riley a bath. b. Riley played in the yard during a rainstorm. c. Riley dragged the coat outside. d. His mother took Riley for a walk in the rain.
What is "His mother took Riley for a walk in the rain"?
500
Do you ever wonder how an e-mail gets from A friend’s computer to yours? When your friend sends the message, his computer changes it into a series of electronic blips. These will travel over phone lines. First, the message goes to your friend’s service provider. The service provider directs all messages to a routing station, or hub computer. The hub examines the e-mail address and decides on the quickest way to get the message to your computer. The e-mail travels to another hub, either by satellite or over a super fast cable connection. Then, the message travels to your service provider and along your phone line to your computer. Your computer translates the electronic blips into your message. Now, you have e-mail. What is the author's purpose? A. persuade B. inform C. entertain D. explain
What is explain?
500
Now that the oil wells had run dry, Michael's life had certainly changed. He was no longer able to LIVE LIKE A KING. He had to do his own work on the ranch, prepare his own meals, and take care of the house. It took him a lot of time to adjust. In this passage, the phrase LIVE LIKE A KING means_____________ A. to be married to a queen. B. to sit on a throne. C. to have someone else do all his work. D. ruling a country.
What is "Have someone else do all his work"?
500
Stories that are about fairies or other magical creatures, usually for children. A. fairy tale B. fable C. myth D. historical fiction
What is a fairy tale?
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