Read Between the Lines
When Mia walked into the kitchen, her mom quickly closed the oven and told her not to look inside. Mia's birthday was the next day.
Why might Mia's mom not want her to look in the oven?
She may be baking a surprise birthday cake or treat.
Leaves covered the sidewalk, and Nora pulled her jacket tighter as a cold wind blew.
Which detail shows that the weather was chilly?
Nora pulled her jacket tighter as a cold wind blew.
After seeing the enormous pile of dishes from Thanksgiving dinner, Dad said, 'Well, this should only take about five seconds.'
What did Dad actually mean?
There are many dishes, and cleaning will take a long time. He's exaggerating sarcastically.
As temperatures dropped, many animals began preparing for hibernation, a period of reduced activity during colder months.
When do many animals begin preparing for hibernation?
When temperatures drop and colder months approach.
Before leaving for the Thanksgiving parade, Olivia grabbed a scarf, gloves, and a heavy coat.
What can you infer about the weather?
It's probably cold.
After the football game, Ethan walked to the car without speaking. He tossed his helmet onto the seat and stared out the window.
How might Ethan be feeling and why?
Disappointed or frustrated, possibly because his team lost or he didn't play well.
Tyler said he wasn't nervous about presenting, but he kept rereading his note cards and tapping his foot.
Which details suggest Tyler may actually be nervous?
Rereading his note cards and tapping his foot.
A student showed up to the fall festival without a jacket. His friend said, 'Great planning,' as he stood shivering.
What is the friend implying?
That coming without a jacket wasn't a good decision.
The town organized a food drive to distribute donated groceries to families before Thanksgiving.
What does distribute mean? Who would benefit from the distribution of donated groceries?
To give something out. Families receiving the donated food.
At the pumpkin patch, Noah noticed that every pumpkin in one section had a green sticker. A sign said, 'Green stickers: $5 off.'
How could Noah save money on a pumpkin?
Choose a pumpkin with a green sticker.
The principal announced that the school's fall festival would be held indoors. Students carrying umbrellas hurried into the building, shaking water off their jackets.
Why was the festival probably moved indoors?
Because of rainy weather.
At Thanksgiving dinner, everyone complimented the mashed potatoes. Uncle Rob quietly pushed his serving aside and reached for more stuffing.
Which detail suggests Uncle Rob might not have enjoyed the mashed potatoes?
He pushed his serving aside and chose more stuffing.
At dinner, Maya said, 'I guess the stuffing is the star of the show this year,' after everyone asked for seconds.
What does 'star of the show' mean?
The stuffing was especially popular or impressive.
Farmers carefully monitored the harvest, gathering crops before the first frost could damage them.
What does harvest mean? Why did farmers want to complete the harvest before the frost?
The act of gathering crops. Because frost could damage the crops.
The Thanksgiving turkey had been cooking for hours. Suddenly, the kitchen filled with smoke, and the smoke alarm began beeping.
What might have happened to the turkey?
It may have burned or started smoking.
During Thanksgiving dinner, Grandma kept glancing at the empty chair beside her. She checked her phone several times before everyone started eating.
Who might Grandma be waiting for?
A family member or guest who hasn't arrived.
After the fall fundraiser, the student council counted twice as much money as last year. The advisor smiled and congratulated the volunteers.
Which evidence supports the claim that the fundraiser was successful?
It raised twice as much money as last year.
When Ben arrived forty minutes late to Thanksgiving dinner, his sister said, 'Nice of you to join us.'
What might his sister be communicating beyond the literal words?
She may be annoyed that Ben arrived late, depending on her tone and context.
The school encouraged students to conserve energy by turning off lights and unplugging unused devices.
What does conserve mean? How could students conserve energy at school?
To protect something from harm, loss, waste, or destruction, and to use resources carefully so they last longer. By turning off lights and unplugging devices that aren't being used.
At the fall festival, three students said the raffle tickets were sold out before noon. The organizer announced that they had sold more tickets than expected.
What can you infer about the raffle's popularity?
It was more popular than expected.
When Jordan opened the refrigerator, the container labeled 'Thanksgiving Leftovers — DO NOT TOUCH' was empty. His brother avoided eye contact and quickly hid a fork behind his back.
What might Jordan suspect, and what evidence supports that inference?
His brother may have eaten the leftovers, based on his avoidance and hidden fork.
The family expected the Thanksgiving drive to take two hours. Four hours later, they were still on the highway. Brake lights stretched into the distance, and the car had barely moved for twenty minutes.
What evidence supports the inference that heavy traffic caused the delay?
The long line of brake lights and the car barely moving for twenty minutes.
After his cousin dropped the pumpkin pie, Leo said, 'Well, that went perfectly,' while looking at the mess on the floor.
Why is Leo's statement an example of sarcasm?
Because the outcome was clearly unsuccessful, but he described it as perfect.
After several weeks of drought, the soil became dry and cracked. The lack of precipitation made it difficult for farmers to grow crops.
What does drought mean? Why did the drought threaten agricultural production?
A long period of no rainfall. Because insufficient precipitation left the soil too dry for crops to grow.
The pumpkin pie disappeared from the kitchen counter. Alex had whipped cream on his sleeve. Sam had a fork in his pocket. Their cousin had been seen carrying a pie box toward the garage.
Can you determine who took the pie? Explain what the evidence does or doesn't establish.
No single person can be identified with certainty. Multiple clues raise possibilities, but none proves who took it.