Context Clues
Our class was reading a biography about Dian Fossey who worked with lowland gorillas in Africa for many years. Lowland gorillas are endangered and need help to survive. In 2013, the Republic of Congo set aside a National Park, which is like a preserve, to help protect these animals.
The word preserve means:
A. an area saved for a group
B. To keep
C. Jam made from fruit
A. An area saved for a group
I put all of my change in a jar on my dresser.
The word change means:
A. to transform or convert
B. coins
B. Change
Peter and Bobby were playing football in the backyard. Marcia's mom asked her to call them inside to clean their room. Marcia went outside just as Peter threw the football. The football hit Marcia right in the nose! Marcia's nose got very big and swollen.
What was the effect of Marcia getting hit by the football
Her nose got very big and swollen
What do you call the main problem of the story?
The conflict
On the last day of school, Tony said goodbye to all his classmates and his teacher. As soon as the last bell rang, Tony hurried to the bus. He couldn’t wait to start his summer vacation. Tony’s parents had packed their car with luggage and were waiting for Tony to arrive home from school. Tony and his parents were going on vacation to a themed park in Florida. It was Tony’s first road trip with his parents. Tony knew he would have the best vacation ever!
What is the best summary of this selection?
A. On the last day of school, Tony said goodbye to his classmates and his teacher. He couldn’t wait to start his vacation. Tony would go on his first road trip with his parents to Florida.
B. Tony’s parents packed their car with luggage. The last bell rang and Tony hurried to the bus. Tony said goodbye to his classmates and his teacher.
C. Tony knew he would have the best vacation ever. Tony hurried to the bus. His parents waited for him to arrive from school
A. On the last day of school, Tony said goodbye to his classmates and his teacher. He couldn’t wait to start his vacation. Tony would go on his first road trip with his parents to Florida.
My mom decided to give my dad a surprise party for his 40th birthday. We were hiding at the restaurant waiting for them to arrive while my mom and dad drove there. I knew mom would try to act nonchalant so dad wouldn't get suspicious.
The word nonchalant means:
A. Acting unconcerned/casual
B. Anxious
C. Obvious
A. Acting unconcerned/casual
4. I hope that tomorrow is clear so we don’t have to cancel the picnic.
The word clear means
A. cloudless
B. easily understood
A. Cloudless
Cindy was the youngest child in a big family. One day, Cindy started tattling on her brothers and sisters. They got tired of always getting in trouble and decided to stop playing with her. Cindy was sad and lonely for a while, but she learned an important lesson about tattling.
What caused Cindy's brothers and sisters to stop playing with her?
She tattled on everything they did
What do you call the ending of the story?
The resolution
Susan and her family woke up early Saturday morning to go visit the local zoo. On their way to the zoo, they stopped for breakfast at Susan’s favorite restaurant. Once the family ate, they headed towards the zoo. On their way to the zoo, the family’s car got a flat tire. Susan’s dad pulled over on the side of the road and replaced the flat tire with a spare tire. Finally, Susan and her family made it to the zoo where they saw many animals. The family had a wonderful time at the zoo.
What is the best summary of the selection?
A. Susan and her family went to the zoo and saw many animals. The family’s car had a flat tire on the way to the zoo. Susan and her family had breakfast at her favorite restaurant.
B. Susan’s family ate breakfast at her favorite restaurant. The family had a great time at the zoo. The family’s car had a flat tire.
C. Susan and her family woke up early Saturday morning to go visit the local zoo. On their way to the zoo, they had a flat tire. Susan and her family saw many animals at the zoo and had a great time.
C. Susan and her family woke up early Saturday morning to go visit the local zoo. On their way to the zoo, they had a flat tire. Susan and her family saw many animals at the zoo and had a great time.
We have a donut poster in our classroom that says "Donut Philosophy" on it. My teacher explained that this is a reminder about how we should look at life. We can look back at what we have (like the sweet part of the donut) or look at life in a negative way (what's missing...the hole).
The word negative means:
A. a number below zero
B. with a gloomy attitude
C. Something good
B. with a gloomy attitude
John decided to tear up Donna’s note when she broke up with him.
The word tear means:
A. cry
B. rip
B. Rip
When Jamie woke up, the first thing she did was look out the window. The sun was shining brightly. Yesterday's snow was melting fast. There was no more snow on the trees and the street outside her house was clear too. "No more snow days for you," said mom, "Time to get ready for school."
What was the effect of the snow melting
Jamie had to go to school
This is the most interesting part of the story, where the protagonist faces the problem.
The climax
Sam invited his two best friends to the carnival. Sam’s mother drove them to the carnival. All the boys bought bracelets to get on all rides. The first ride they got on was the bumpy cars. Sam rode the red car while his friends rode blue cars. After that ride, Sam’s friend Pete, suggested the roller coaster ride. Sam was hesitant at first, but decided to get on the ride and hide his fear of riding the roller coaster. After the ride was over, Sam felt glad he was able to overcome his fear of riding a roller coaster. He felt great to share his first experience with his best friends at the carnival.
What is the best summary of the selection?
A. Sam and his friends bought bracelets for all the rides. Sam rode the roller coaster. Sam’s mom drove him and his friends to the carnival.
B. Sam invited his two best friends to the carnival. The boys rode the bumpy cars first. Sam then rode the roller coaster and overcame his fear of riding a coaster for the first time.
C. Sam’s mom drove him and his friends to the carnival. Sam rode the roller coaster. Sam and his friends bought bracelets to get on all the rides
B. Sam invited his two best friends to the carnival. The boys rode the bumpy cars first. Sam then rode the roller coaster and overcame his fear of riding a coaster for the first time.
The travelers had been walking across the hot, dry sand for days, in search of shade and some cool water. Finally, they spied a small oasis and started walking towards it. As they walked, they dreamed of finding something to eat there too, before being rescued.
The word oasis means:
A. a dry place
B. a swamp
C. a garden in the middle of a desert
C. a garden in the middle of a desert
Mr. Carson is a man of great import.
The word import means:
A. trading
B. products
C. importance
D. travels
C. Importance
Kyle really struggled in math, but he wanted to do well on the upcoming test. He asked his older sister, Wendy, to help him study. Each day after school, Wendy worked with Kyle. By the day of the test, Kyle was doing much better. he took the test and got an A!
What was the effect of Wendy helping Kyle?
He got an A on his test
What happens before the story begins
Exposition
Betty and her two best friends got together on a Friday night at her house for a sleepover party. Betty’s mom ordered pizza for the girls. Betty’s dad rented DVD movies for the girls to watch. The girls changed into their pajamas and ate pizza as they watched the first movie. After that, Betty and her friends started a pillow fight. The girls were so loud that Betty’s mom had to tell them to calm down. The girls played board games and told stories till they felt sleepy and finally fell asleep.
What is the best summary of this selection?
A. The girls played board games and told stories. Betty’s mom ordered pizza for the girls. Betty and her friends had a sleepover party.
B. Betty and her friends had a sleepover party. They ate pizza and watched movies. Then the girls played board games and told stories till they fell asleep.
C. Betty’s mom ordered pizza and her dad rented DVD movies. Betty and her friends had a sleepover party. The girls had a pillow fight.
B. Betty and her friends had a sleepover party. They ate pizza and watched movies. Then the girls played board games and told stories till they fell asleep.
The big oil company was making lots of money each year, but they always tried to evade paying the government what they owed. They hired a sneaky accountant to help them hide the money they had made.
The word evade means:
A. try to get someone's attention
B. avoid someone or something
C. to look for someone
B. avoid someone or something
He wouldn’t allow the boy to be subject to any more bullying.
The word subject means:
A. told
B. exposed
C. topic
D. authority
B. Exposed
It was autumn and all of the trees in the yard were losing their leaves. Dad raked all of the leaves into a giant pile. While he was inside eating lunch, Alex jumped into a pile and scattered the leaves everywhere. When Dad came back outside, he handed the rake to Alex.
What caused the leaves to scatter everywhere?
Alex jumped into the pile
The order the events of a story occur in
Sequence
On Monday morning, Mary woke up with a stomach ache. Her mom checked her temperature, Mary had a high fever. Mary’s mom gave her medicine to bring the fever down. Her mom told her to stay in bed and rest. Mary felt sad that she would no be able to make it to school on Monday. Mary’s mom stayed home with her. Later that morning, Mary’s mom took her to the doctor. The doctor gave Mary medicine for her stomach ache. Mary felt better and was ready to go to school the following day.
What is the best summary of this selection?
A. Mary felt sad that she would not go to school on Monday. Mary’s mom took her to the doctor’s office. Mary woke up with a stomach ache.
B. Mary had a high fever. The doctor gave her medicine. Mary’s mom checked her temperature.
C. Mary woke up with a stomach ache and high fever. Mary stayed home to rest and did not go to school. Later that morning, her mom took her to the doctor.
C. Mary woke up with a stomach ache and high fever. Mary stayed home to rest and did not go to school. Later that morning, her mom took her to the doctor.