Text Features
Which text feature helps readers quickly locate major sections of information in a nonfiction article?
Headings or Subheadings
What is the central idea of a nonfiction text?
The most important point the text is mainly about.
What is text evidence?
Information or quotes taken directly from the text to support an answer.
What does “author’s purpose” mean?
The reason the author wrote the text.
What is a context clue?
A word or phrase around an unfamiliar word that helps reveal its meaning.
Why might the author include a caption under a photograph?
To explain the contents of the photo
What is one strategy to determine the central idea of a paragraph?
Look at repeated ideas or summarize the paragraph in your own words.
Give one example of strong evidence in nonfiction.
Statistics, expert quotes, research findings, or facts.
Which purpose fits an article explaining a historical event?
To inform.
What type of context clue provides the opposite meaning?
An antonym
How can bolded words support a reader’s comprehension in an informational text?
They show important vocabulary that the reader should understand.
Explain the difference between central idea and supporting details.
Central idea = main point; supporting details = evidence that explains or proves it.
If an author includes a statistic, what makes it credible?
It comes from a reliable, accurate, or expert source.
A text includes emotional language and strong opinions. What is the likely purpose?
To persuade.
How can knowing a prefix or suffix help determine a word’s meaning?
Affixes give clues about the word’s meaning, such as direction, number, or negation.
A scientific article contains a diagram explaining a complex process. How does this feature contribute to the reader's understanding of the text?
It helps readers visualize and better understand information the author wants to explain.
In recent years, plastic pollution has become a major threat to ocean ecosystems. Scientists estimate that millions of tons of plastic enter the ocean each year. This pollution harms marine animals, destroys habitats, and even affects the food humans eat. To protect the oceans, people must reduce plastic use and support cleanup efforts.
What is the central idea of the paragraph?
Plastic pollution is a major threat to oceans and needs to be reduced.
Some people believe music can help students concentrate during homework. In a recent survey, 65% of students reported they focus better when listening to calm background music. One teacher noticed that when she played soft instrumental tracks during independent work, students completed assignments more quickly and with fewer mistakes.
Which evidence best supports the idea that music helps students concentrate?
The statistic: “65% of students reported they focus better.”
How does understanding an author’s purpose help you analyze accuracy and reliability?
It helps you judge bias, evaluate evidence, and understand why certain details were included or left out.
Sentence: “The volcano lay dormant, or inactive, for centuries.”
What type of context clue is this?
A definition clue because the word is directly defined in the sentence.
The article “Saving the Florida Scrub Jay” includes several text features. A sidebar titled “Fast Facts” lists the bird’s habitat, diet, and average lifespan. A labeled map shows where scrub jay populations are shrinking. The author also uses bold print for key terms such as endangered, habitat loss, and conservation efforts.
Why might the author choose to bold the words endangered and habitat loss in this article?
o highlight important vocabulary and signal key concepts the reader needs to understand.
In recent years, plastic pollution has become a major threat to ocean ecosystems. Scientists estimate that millions of tons of plastic enter the ocean each year. This pollution harms marine animals, destroys habitats, and even affects the food humans eat. To protect the oceans, people must reduce plastic use and support cleanup efforts.
Which detail best supports the central idea?
“Millions of tons of plastic enter the ocean each year,” because it shows the severity of the problem.
Some people believe music can help students concentrate during homework. In a recent survey, 65% of students reported they focus better when listening to calm background music. One teacher noticed that when she played soft instrumental tracks during independent work, students completed assignments more quickly and with fewer mistakes.
Why is the teacher’s observation considered evidence and not an opinion?
Because it is based on actual classroom results, not personal feelings.
Many students don’t realize how much sleep affects their school performance. Studies show that getting fewer than eight hours of sleep can lead to poor concentration and lower grades. To help students succeed, schools should consider starting later in the morning. A later start time would give students the rest they need to focus and learn.
What is the author’s main purpose in the paragraph?
To persuade the reader that schools should start later.
The hikers were exhausted as they climbed the final stretch of the mountain. The trail became treacherous, filled with loose rocks and narrow edges that made each step risky. Even so, the group continued carefully, determined to reach the summit before sunset.
Based on the passage, what does treacherous most likely mean?
Dangerous or risky.