Main Idea
Author's Purpose
Making Predictions
Theme
Drawing Conclusions
100
The middle of a pencil is filled with something that we call lead. There is a metal called lead, but this is not what pencil lead is made of. Pencil lead is actually made from something called graphite. So, why is it called lead when lead is not even used? In the 1400s, the Romans did write with the metal called lead. But in the late 1400s, a soft rock was found to be better. People began to write with this soft rock instead. This soft rock became known as graphite. Even though pencils no longer used lead, the name “pencil lead” just stuck. What is the main idea of the first paragraph? A. what pencil lead is made from B. when pencil lead was first made C. why pencils use the metal lead D. how most pencils are made today
A- what pencil lead is made from
100
The zebrafish is a popular aquarium fish. It grows to be about 2.5 inches long. It has five bluish black stripes running down the length of its body. This is why it is called a zebrafish. Boy zebrafish have gold stripes between the blue stripes. Girl zebrafish have silver stripes between the blue stripes. The purpose of this passage is A. to persuade readers to buy zebrafish. B. to tell readers a story about a zebrafish. C. to show how to care for zebrafish. D. to give information about zebrafish.
D. to give information about zebrafish
100
Albert loved his job as a zookeeper. He was in charge of making sure all the animals were locked in safe each night. One night Albert went around checking all the animals. He went to the lion's cage and checked the gate. The gate was locked. When he looked in, the lion was sleeping. Next, he went to check on the zebras. He checked the gate, and the gate was locked. He looked in and saw all the zebras sleeping. Albert had to check on the kangaroos next. As he walked up to their cage, Albert noticed that the gate was open! What will most likely happen next? A. Albert will see the kangaroos sleeping. B. Albert will check on the zebras again. C. Albert will let people enter the zoo. D. Albert will see that the cage is empty.
D. Albert will see that the cage is empty
100
Your final project for the year," Mr. Morris said, "is to write a report on your favorite animal. Your reports should have pictures and many details. They will be due in one week." "This will be fun," Jo whispered to Bree. Bree nodded. Jo decided to write about pandas. That afternoon, she went home and searched the Internet for all sorts of information. Bree decided to write about lions. That afternoon, she went home and played video games. A few days after, Jo stayed after school and checked some books out of the library. Bree raced home and watched her favorite movie. Jo spent the next afternoon downloading panda photos. That night, she wrote a rough draft. Bree spent the next afternoon downloading music. That night, she scribbled down her entire report. On Monday, both girls turned in their work. When Mr. Morris handed back the reports a week later, Jo got an A+ and Bree got a D. Bree frowned. Maybe she could ask Mr. Morris if she could do the report over. What is the theme of the story above? A. There are many ways to get a project done. B. It is important to hand in your work on time. C. You must work hard if you want to do well. D. It is easier to write about pandas than lions. Write your response here: Your final project for the year," Mr. Morris said, "is to write a report on your favorite animal. Your reports should have pictures and many details. They will be due in one week." "This will be fun," Jo whispered to Bree. Bree nodded. Jo decided to write about pandas. That afternoon, she went home and searched the Internet for all sorts of information. Bree decided to write about lions. That afternoon, she went home and played video games. A few days after, Jo stayed after school and checked some books out of the library. Bree raced home and watched her favorite movie. Jo spent the next afternoon downloading panda photos. That night, she wrote a rough draft. Bree spent the next afternoon downloading music. That night, she scribbled down her entire report. On Monday, both girls turned in their work. When Mr. Morris handed back the reports a week later, Jo got an A+ and Bree got a D. Bree frowned. Maybe she could ask Mr. Morris if she could do the report over. What is the theme of the story above? A. There are many ways to get a project done. B. It is important to hand in your work on time. C. You must work hard if you want to do well. D. It is easier to write about pandas than lions.
C. You must work hard if you want to do well.
100
The flag of the United States has changed many times. The first flag had thirteen stripes and thirteen stars. Each of the original colonies had one stripe and one star to stand for it. In the 1800s, the flag changed as America grew. More states were being added all the time. In 1818, Congress set the number of stripes for the flag at thirteen. It did not make sense to have a stripe for each state. New stars were added for each state instead. By 1912, there were forty-eight stars. Alaska and Hawaii had not been added as states yet. The American flag we know today has thirteen stripes and fifty stars on it. It was first raised on July 4, 1960, at Fort McHenry. adapted from http://clerkkids.house.gov/time/art/index.html Why did Congress probably agree to have only 13 stripes on the flag? A. The thirteen colonies are the best states of the fifty states. B. The flag is lucky because it has thirteen stripes. C. The flag would be huge if it had a stripe for every state. D. Congress did not want to make any changes to the flag.
C. The flag would be huge if it had a stripe for every state.
200
Willie Mays was one of the greatest baseball players in history. He came from a sports background. Both of his parents were athletes. His mom was a fast runner in school. His dad played baseball. Willie learned how to catch a ball before he could walk. He played good baseball as a teenager. Willie started playing for the Giants in 1951. He was only 20 years old. He played centerfield for the team. He did not get a hit his first 12 times at bat. He quickly made up for that. Willie was a terrific outfielder and hitter. Other players admired him. He won the Most Valuable Player award twice. He quit playing in 1973 and was welcomed into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979. He still works for the Giants today. What is this paragraph mainly about? A. Willie Mays was named the Most Valuable Player twice. B. Willie Mays did not start off well with the Giants baseball team. C. Willie Mays was one of the greatest baseball players in history. D. Willie Mays learned how to play baseball from his father.
C. Willie Mays was one of the greatest baseball players in history.
200
Hiro and Micah are putting together a model airplane. What do they need to put it together? A. a newspaper article B. an instruction booklet C. a story about airplanes D. a description of the plane
B. an instruction booklet
200
There was a new bike path near Riley's house. Riley couldn't wait to try it out. His teacher had told the class that bikers must follow the same rules as cars. They must ride on the right side of the path. They must stop at all stop signs. If they were about to pass walkers, they should say, "Passing on your left," to alert them. The teacher had also told the class that bikers should check their bikes carefully to be sure they were in good shape. Riley's mother told him that if he forgot to wear his helmet, he couldn't ride for the rest of the week. That afternoon, Riley got on his bike and headed for the new bike path. Then, he remembered he did not have his helmet on. Based on the story, if Riley saw a stop sign, he would probably A. talk to the walkers. B. stop his bicycle. C. put on his helmet. D. pass on the left.
B. stop his bicycle
200
Robin and Reed went to visit their cousin in the country. The kids were on their summer vacation. Reed had never been to his cousin Vinnie's place. Vinnie's parents had a big cottage and a nice farm with lots of crops, trees, and plants. After riding their bicycles all afternoon, the kids got tired and went to the garden. For the first time in his life, Reed saw real fruit growing on trees and plants. "Can I eat the guavas?" Reed asked Vinnie. "Of course," Vinnie replied. "Just don't forget to wash them first." So, Reed gathered the fresh guavas from the trees and washed them at a tap nearby. The guavas were so tasty that Reed could not stop eating them. He knew eating fruit was good for you, so he ate a lot of them. However, Reed's stomach started hurting soon, and he asked Vinnie what was wrong with the guavas. "You ate too many, Reed," Vinnie told his cousin. "Guavas are good for you, but eating too much of them can make you sick." What is the theme of this selection? A. Living in the country can be tough for some people. B. Sharing your tasty food makes you a better friend. C. Not everyone can eat fresh fruits and vegetables. D. Too much of a good thing can leave you feeling sorry.
D. Too much of a good thing can leave you felling sorry.
200
Dinosaurs roamed the earth millions of years ago. For one reason or another, they all died (became extinct). Some people think that a large meteor hit the surface of our planet and caused huge dust clouds to block out the sun. Without the sun, plants did not grow. Without plants, plant-eating dinosaurs began to die. When the plant-eating dinosaurs began to die, the meat-eating dinosaurs lost their food source. The dinosaurs died out and their bones were discovered millions of years later. Which of the following statements would support the above hypothesis? A. The brontosaurus and apatosaurus were actually the same dinosaur. B. The remains of a new dinosaur was found in New Guinea. C. Roger Ebert said that the Walt Disney movie Dinosaur was "one of the best movies ever made about dinosaurs." D. A huge crater was found in Mexico, believed to have hit the earth at the time all the dinosaurs died.
D. A huge crater was found in Mexico, believed to have hit the earth at the time all dinosaurs died.
300
Police officers are busy people with many jobs to do. They protect you and your neighbors. The police look into crimes. They also arrest people who have done crimes. They help look for people who are lost. They stop drivers who break traffic rules. They help with emergencies, too. They help people who are hurt. The police are caring people who work to make your neighborhood safer. This passage is mostly about A. why police officers help direct traffic. B. the studying police officers have to do. C. how police officers arrest people. D. the different jobs police officers have.
D. The different jobs police officers have.
300
Tommy wrote his principal a letter asking him to make recess 2 hours long instead of a half hour. The letter also explains why Tommy thinks recess should be lengthened. What was the purpose of Tommy's letter? A. to entertain the principal with a story about recess B. to inform the principal that children like recess C. to describe the playground outside of the school D. to persuade the principal to make recess longer
D. to persuade the principal to make recess longer
300
Allison always makes wishes. She makes a wish every night when she sees the first star. She also makes a wish every time she blows out the candles on her birthday cake. Every night and every birthday, Allison makes the same wish. She wishes for a horse of her very own. Allison loves horses. She knows that her parents will not buy her one. They do not have enough money. This, however, does not stop her. Allison never gives up. What will most likely happen on Allison's next birthday? A. Allison's parents will have to work. B. Allison will eat some cookies. C. Allison will wish for a horse. D. Allison's parents will buy a horse.
C. Allison will wish for a horse.
300
Rosamund did not like to try new things. She did not like to wear her hair in different styles because it might look silly. She did not like to try new sports because she might get hurt. She definitely did not like to try new foods because they might taste bad. One day, Rosamund's dad baked cookies. Rosamund loved cookies, but she had never seen this kind. "These are oatmeal raisin cookies," he told her. Rosamund did not like the looks of them. They were bumpy and had black dots. She did not think they could be very good. "Just take one little bite," her dad said. "You might like it." Rosamund looked at the freshly baked cookies. She picked up a small one and took a tiny bite. Then she took another bite. Then another and another! "Oatmeal raisin cookies are delicious!" she told her dad. "I wish I had tried these before. Dad, what other kinds of cookies do you know how to make?" What is the theme of the story? A. Everyone should know how to bake. B. It is important to try new things. C. Oatmeal raisin cookies are delicious. D. Some dads are really good bakers.
B. it is important to try new things.
300
Once upon a time a baby parrot sat alone in the bottom of a big basket. It lived at the pet store. It was waiting for someone to come along and take it home as a pet. When the parrot had hatched nine weeks earlier, it had four brothers and sisters! Now it was the only one of them without a new home. At the same time, Mrs. Jackson was looking for a friend to fill her “empty nest.” You see, her son had left home for college, and she was pretty sure he was really gone for good! Mrs. Jackson saw an ad in the newspaper saying, "Darling baby parrots for sale." She went to visit the pet store the next day. Mrs. Jackson saw many parrots that day, but the baby all alone in the big basket was the one she wanted! Mrs. Jackson took out her checkbook to pay. She put the parrot in a plastic carrying case and hurried home to show her friends her new baby bird! How can the reader tell that Mrs. Jackson is lonely? A. She is looking through the newspaper ads. B. She is visiting her son at his college. C. She is looking for a friend to live with her. D. She is selling baby parrots to her friends.
C. she is looking for a friend to live with her.
400
Have you ever heard of a zonkey? It is a cross between a zebra and a donkey. Other names for this type of mix are zedonk, zenkey, and zebronkey. Not all animals can mix. The zebra and donkey can mix together because they are in the horse family. However, you would not be able to mix a pig and a bird because they are in different animal families. What other animal mixes have you heard of? This passage is mostly about A. zebras being like horses. B. combining different animals. C. animals in different families. D. liking all kinds of animals.
B. combining different animals
400
William Shakespeare is the world's most famous playwright (a person who writes plays). One of his most famous plays is Romeo and Juliet. The purpose of Romeo and Juliet is A. to explain. B. to entertain. C. to inform. D. to persuade.
B. to entertain
400
On the last day of school, John and Jimmy raced home to put on their swimming trunks. They wanted to play water volleyball with their friends. They ran to the pool, and there they spotted their friend Sammy in the water. Sammy called, "Hey, Guys! There's a water volleyball game in five minutes! Come on in!" What will John and Jimmy most likely do next? A. They will buy food at the snack bar. B. They will put their clothes back on. C. They will jump in the water. D. They will go home to do homework.
C. they will jump in the water
400
Gemma loved Lucy's blue sweater. It was light blue like the sky on a spring afternoon. "Lucy, can I borrow your blue sweater sometime?" Gemma asked. "Sure, you can," Lucy told her. Lucy lent Gemma her sweater the following week. Gemma wore it to school. While she was in art class, she rubbed the sweater's sleeve into a picture she was painting. At lunch, she splattered the front with ketchup. After school, she played soccer in it and got a grass stain on the side. When she gave the sweater back to Lucy the next day, Lucy was shocked. Her sweater was ruined. She was angry that Gemma had been so careless. "Can I borrow your pink sweater next week?" Gemma asked. "No," Lucy said. "I only lend my things to people who know how to take care of them." Gemma was upset, but she understood why Lucy would not lend her another sweater. 5. What is the theme of the story? A. Have respect for other people's belongings. B. Wear old clothes when you play outside. C. Do not ask people if you can borrow things. D. You should never lend anything to a friend.
A. Have respect for other people's belongings.
400
Marcus looked out the window when his teacher taught class. He looked at the birds in the trees and the worms in the grass. He did not hear his teacher ask, “What is the answer to that?” Against the nearby window, Marcus had his face pressed flat. He watched kids going to P.E. and a janitor whiz by with a mop. Marcus sometimes saw a bunny eat grass and cutely start to hop. Marcus was quite surprised when his last report card came. He made the worst grades ever, and he had only himself to blame. Marcus’ teacher knew this, so she helped him with all her might. The next time Marcus came to school, the blinds were closed tight. 10. What does Marcus' teacher do to suggest that she cares about Marcus? A. The teacher hands Marcus his report card. B. The teacher asks Marcus to play outside. C. The teacher closes the blinds for Marcus. D. The teacher gives poor grades to Marcus.
C. The teacher closes the blinds for Marcus
500
Rosa Parks has been called the "mother of the civil rights movement." She is one of the most important citizens of the 20th century. In December of 1955, she refused to give up her seat on a city bus to a white passenger. The bus driver had her arrested. She was convicted of violating a local law. Black citizens then refused to use the buses for more than a year. The boycott introduced the country to a clergyman named Martin Luther King, Jr. He became famous around the country. Soon, the U.S. Supreme Court said that black people could sit wherever they wanted to sit on city buses. What is the main idea of the paragraph above? A. Rosa Parks was friends with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. B. Rosa Parks was a black woman living in the South. C. The buses in Alabama used to be segregated. D. Rosa Parks was a leader of the civil rights movement.
D. Rosa Parks was a leader of the civil rights movement.
500
How to Play Tag 1. Find at least three players to play the game. 2. Choose one of the players to be "it." 3. The person who is "it" yells "Go!" to start the game. 4. The person who is "it" runs after the other players and tries to "tag" (touch) one of them. 5. The person who is "it" yells, "Tag, you are it," when he or she tags someone. That person then becomes "it." 6. The game goes on until all players have been tagged "it." 10. The purpose of this selection is A. to persuade readers to play a game. B. to entertain readers with a story. C. to teach readers how to play a game. D. to inform readers about different games.
C. to teach readers how to play the game.
500
It was a warm, sunny day. Jonathan and Robbit were resting in the sunshine. Robbit scratched his ear in a lazy way. "I was wondering," he said. "Why do nettles have stings?" Jonathan could not think of a good answer. "Let's ask Farmer Jack," he said. What will most likely happen next in the story? A. Jonathan and Robbit will take a long nap outdoors. B. Farmer Jack will tell Jonathan and Robbit to go away. C. Jonathan and Robbit will go looking for Farmer Jack. D. Farmer Jack will give Jonathan and Robbit some food.
C. Jonathan and Robbit will go looking for Farmer Jack.
500
Aisha always wanted to live in a desert. One day, Aisha was playing in the park when she saw a tall, strange tree. The tree waved its branches at Aisha, and she went to the tree. "Is there something you want?" the tree asked Aisha. Aisha was surprised that the tree could talk. "Yes, I want to live in a desert," she replied. "Are you sure, child?" the tree asked again. "You cannot go back." "Yes," Aisha said with a smile. Then, the tree asked Aisha to close her eyes. When she opened her eyes, Aisha found herself in the middle of a desert. The desert was hot and windy. Aisha was thirsty all the time. She felt sorry about her wish. As she walked in the desert, she saw a tree in the middle of nowhere. It was the same tree she had seen in the park. "Now that you have learned your lesson, you can go back to your city," the tree said to Aisha, and suddenly, Aisha was back in her beautiful city by the sea. What is the theme of this selection? A. Never trust a tree that can talk. B. A sea is different from a desert. C. Some people really love deserts. D. Be careful what you wish for.
D. be careful what you wish for
500
Mr. Manchester is a third grade teacher at Littlefield Elementary. His students come into the classroom very excited to learn every day. He always has fun science projects for his students to do. On Monday, Mr. Manchester’s class was learning about seeds. He had everyone in the class look for seeds over the weekend. Each student came to school with seeds that they brought from home. There were many different kinds of seeds. Mr. Manchester put all the seeds onto a table, and the class had to guess what each seed would look like when it became a plant. The students had a lot of fun making guesses. On Tuesday, Mr. Manchester’s class got to plant the seeds. All the students chose a seed. Then, they drew pictures of what they thought their seeds would look like when the plants grew. Mr. Manchester put all the pictures next to each of the planted seeds. It was going to take a while for many of the seeds to grow into plants. Mr. Manchester smiled seeing that his students could not wait to see which student’s picture would look most that student’s plant. The kids in Mr. Manchester's class are most likely A. enjoying their science class. B. able to talk anytime in class. C. interested in working on math. D. interested in lunch and recess.
A. enjoying their science class
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