What is the theme?
Main Idea
Text Structure
Text Features
Author's Purpose
100
The Heron
The heron, a proud, long-legged bird, walked to the river near his nest. It was nearly time for breakfast. He eyed the water. Today was his lucky day. There were so many fish swimming there! He would have his pick of food.
First, a school of little minnows swam by.
"Oh, a minnow just won't do," said the heron. "It's much too small."
Next, a perch swam past the heron.
"No!" he said. "A fish of that size isn't fit for a bird like me."
It got later, and the sun climbed higher in the sky. Soon most of the fish moved into deeper water. After a while, there were no more fish where the heron stood. By now he was very hungry. He could wait no longer to eat, but all he could find was a tiny snail.
What is the main theme or lesson of the fable?
A. If you are to hard to please, you might end up with little or nothing.
B. Sometimes what you didn't expect to enjoy can make you the happiest.
A. If you are to hard to please, you might end up with little or nothing.
100
It's Simple! It's Magic!
A good magic trick makes people believe they are seeing something amazing. But magic doesn't have to be hard to look real. One easy trick is to "bend" a spoon. First, hold the spoon's handle inside your hands with the end of the handle under your thumbs. Push the spoon's bowl down on the table. Next, let the handle slide down inside your hands. Since your hand is covering part of the handle, it will look like the spoon is bent.
What is the main, or central, idea of the passage?
A. It's easy to make a spoon appear to bend.
B. All magic tricks can be easy.
A. It's easy to make a spoon appear to bend.
100
Do you have trouble deciding what to wear in the morning? If so, here's an idea that could help. Before you go to bed, check the weather report. Find out if it's going to be hot or cold or rainy. Think about what you'll be doing the next day. Then lay out the clothes that you plan to wear. Now it will be fast and easy to pick out your clothes in the morning. Just put on what you laid out.
Which text structure does the text use?
A. problem-solution
B. descriptive
A. problem-solution
100
Now, look at the table of contents. You want to learn about snare drums. Which page should you go to?
Page 34
100
Place one foot on the ground in the direction of the goal. Then use the top of your other foot to kick the ball.
What is the text's most likely purpose?
A. to persuade
B. to inform
C. to entertain
B. to inform
200
The Monkey and the Dolphin
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 the main theme or lesson of the fable?
A. Never trust someone you don't know well.
B. Boasting and lying can get you into trouble.
B. Boasting and lying can get you into trouble.
200
Learning from Pen Pals
Pen pals are friends who live far apart but write letters to each other. It's exciting for pen pals to get letters in the mail from another city or country. More importantly, pen pals learn about each other's lives. They may share ideas about their families, pets, and favorite foods. They also may tell each other about special places and events in their towns. Through words and pictures, pen pals make each other's worlds a little bit bigger.
What is the main, or central, idea of the passage?
A. Having a pen pal is a good way to learn about life in another place.
B. Pen pals send letters and pictures to each other through the mail.
A. Having a pen pal is a good way to learn about life in another place.
200
You might think that Antarctica and the Sahara Desert have nothing in common. The Sahara is one of the hottest places in the world, while Antarctica is one of the coldest. Unlike the dry Sahara, Antarctica is covered in frozen water. But the two places are the same in some ways. Like the Sahara, Antarctica is a desert because it doesn't get much rain or snow. In fact, Antarctica and the Sahara are the two largest deserts in the world.
Which text structure does the text use?
A. sequential
B. compare-contrast
B. compare-contrast
200
Now, read the captions. When you hit a snare drum, what creates a rattling sound?
The wires
200
A hurricane is an enormous storm that forms over the ocean. The center of the hurricane is called the eye, and it is the calmest part of the storm.
What is the text's most likely purpose?
A. to persuade
B. to inform
C. to entertain
B. to inform
300
The Ant and the Dove
One day an ant was out walking and became very thirsty. She saw a stream and decided to take a sip from it. But when she bent over, she slipped and fell into the water.
Luckily, a dove flying overhead spotted the ant. The bird took a leaf in its beak and dropped the leaf into the water for the ant. The ant climbed onto the leaf and floated safely to the edge of the stream. "Thank you, dear dove," said the ant. "You saved my life."
Just then, the two animals saw a hunter nearby. The hunter was holding a net high in the air. Seeing that the hunter was about to capture the dove, the ant acted quickly. She bit the hunter hard on his leg. "Ow!" he cried, and he dropped the net on the ground.
The dove flew away, and the ant walked away smiling.
What is the main theme or lesson of the fable?
A. Those who are kind to others will be treated kindly in return.
B. The ant felt good about helping the dove.
A. Those who are kind to others will be treated kindly in return.
300
Where Do Bats Sleep?
Bats are known for flying around at night and sleeping during the day. You may have seen pictures of bats sleeping upside down in caves. Bats have other daytime resting places, too. They sleep in trees, in old buildings, and even under bridges. More than a million bats sleep under one bridge in Austin, Texas. This colony, or group, contains about as many bats as there are people in the city!
What is the main, or central, idea of the passage?
A. A huge group of bats sleeps under a bridge in Austin, Texas.
B. Bats sleep in many different kinds of places during the day.
B. Bats sleep in many different kinds of places during the day.
300
There are many interesting things to see in Kenya, a country in east Africa. For example, you can see Lake Victoria, the world's second-largest freshwater lake. Also, many large wild animals live in Kenya, such as lions, elephants, rhinos, giraffes, and wildebeests. Visitors can see these animals at the country's twenty-one national parks. Kenya has important cities, too. The largest is the capital, Nairobi, and the second-largest is Mombasa. Near Mombasa are popular beaches.
Which text structure does the text use?
A. problem-solution
B. descriptive
B. descriptive
300
Now, read the information under the headings. Why is a phone a good tool for reporters?
It has many uses
300
Buy two dozen envelopes for just one dollar! We offer them in Simple White, Sky Blue, and Ruby Red.
What is the text's most likely purpose?
A. to persuade
B. to inform
C. to entertain
A. to persuade
400
The Fox and the Goat
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 the main theme or lesson of the fable?
A. The fox thought only of himself.
B. Think about what could happen before you act.
B. Think about what could happen before you act.
400
Baby Kangaroos
A female kangaroo has a special fold of skin that forms a pouch. The pouch is like a large pocket on its stomach. When a baby kangaroo, or joey, is born, it climbs into its mother's pouch. At birth, a joey is only about one inch long. It needs to stay in the pouch so it can grow more. After several months, the joey has grown enough to leave the pouch for short periods of time. By the time the joey is ten months old, it is ready to leave the pouch for good.
What is the main, or central, idea of the passage?
A. A baby kangaroo stays in its mother's pouch until it's strong enough to live on its own.
B. Female kangaroos have pouches on their bellies for carrying their young.
A. A baby kangaroo stays in its mother's pouch until it's strong enough to live on its own.
400
The Great Chicago Fire burned for two days in October 1871. There are several reasons why the fire did so much harm. The fire spread quickly through Chicago because many of the city's buildings were wood. The fire was also harder to fight due to the dry weather. Luckily, the next day, it started to rain. As a result, firefighters were finally able to get the fire under control.
Which text structure does the text use?
A. cause-effect
B. compare-contrast
A. cause-effect
400
Now, read the text around the key words. What kind of food might a frugivore eat?
A. crabs
B. ants
C. Bananas
C. Bananas
400
The light flickered and went out. It was so dark that Pam couldn't see her hand in front of her face. "Hello?" she called out.
What is the text's most likely purpose?
A. to persuade
B. to inform
C. to entertain
C. to entertain
500
The Great Stone Bowl
Long ago in Japan, a prince wanted to marry a lovely princess. She wouldn't marry him unless he brought her a beautiful stone bowl that was kept in a temple in India.
The prince was lazy. When he found out it would take three years to travel to India and back, he decided he would never go. Instead, he went to a nearby city and stayed there for three years.
At the end of that time, he found an old stone bowl. He wrapped it in a piece of fine silk cloth. He wrote a letter to the princess, telling of his long, hard journey searching for the bowl. Then he sent the bowl and the letter to the princess.
When the princess read the letter, she felt sorry for the prince. Then she untied the cloth and found a plain, dirty stone bowl, which she knew was not the beautiful bowl from India. The princess knew that the prince had lied to her. She sent the bowl and the letter back to him, and the prince never saw her again.
What is the main theme or lesson of the fairy tale?
A. Things are not always as they appear to be.
B. If you want something done well, do it yourself.
C. If you are lazy, you won't get what you want.
C. If you are lazy, you won't get what you want.
500
Smartphones
Smartphones are phones that are used for more than making calls and sending messages. People count on them for getting directions and finding information on the internet. People also have fun listening to music, taking pictures, and playing games on their phones. On the other hand, smartphones have some downsides. They can make it hard to keep your mind on important things, like studying. Some people even text during meals, or when spending time with their family. Driving while using a phone puts people in danger. Smartphones are useful, but they can cause problems if not used safely and politely.
What is the main, or central, idea of the passage?
A. Smartphones can be used in both good and bad ways.
B. There are many good things about smartphones.
A. Smartphones can be used in both good and bad ways.
500
Imagine taking a boat trip down the whole length of the Mississippi River. You would start at Lake Itasca in the state of Minnesota, not far from Canada. Then, you would travel south through the middle of the United States. First, you would pass by Wisconsin and Iowa. Next, you would see Illinois, Missouri, and Kentucky. Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi would come later in your trip. Finally, you would finish in New Orleans, Louisiana, on the Gulf of Mexico. By the end of your trip, you would have traveled more than two thousand miles.
Which text structure does the text use?
A. problem-solution
B. sequential
B. sequential
500
Now, read the text around the key words. What do black bears do in the winter?
A. They dig a hole.
B. They sleep.
C. They look for food.
B. They sleep.
500
Vote for Brian Warren for city council. He'll stand up for the needs of our town's hardworking citizens.
What is the text's most likely purpose?
A. to persuade
B. to inform
C. to entertain
A. to persuade