Author's Claim
You might think dirt is bad. It gets on your clothes, and then you have to wash them. But dirt is very important. Plants need dirt to grow, and people need plants for food. What would we do without dirt?
What is the author's claim in this paragraph?
a) Dirt is bad because it gets on clothes.
b) Dirty clothes should be washed.
c) Dirt is something important.
c) Dirt is something important.
A sailboat uses the wind for power. The wind in the sail moves the boat across the water. Good sailors understand how to use the wind. They can make a boat go slower or faster. They can also handle the sailboat in different kinds of wind. How does the author develop the purpose of this text?
a) by persuading people to learn to sail
b) by informing people about sailboats
c) by telling what sailboats look like
b) by informing people about sailboats
Community gardens are gardens that neighbors share. The gardens are in cities and towns. Neighbors choose the foods to grow. They enjoy time outside. They plant and care for the growing fruits and vegetables. When the foods are ripe, neighbors harvest the fresh foods and enjoy them.
What is the central idea?
A) Neighbors harvest the fresh foods and enjoy them.
B) Community gardens are gardens that neighbors share.
C) They plant and care for the growing fruits and vegetables.
B) Community gardens are gardens that neighbors share.
Blue whales are the largest animals on Earth. They grow up to 100 feet long and weigh more than 200 tons. Their hearts weigh as much as a car! To live, they eat thousands of tiny sea animals everyday.
“Their hearts weigh as much as a car!” How does this sentence support the central idea of the passage?
a) It explains why blue whales need to eat so much.
b) It makes it clear that blue whales are wonderful animals.
c) It gives an example to show the huge size of blue whales.
c) It gives an example to show the huge size of blue whales.
Informational texts have features. These help you find information you need. They also help you understand the text.
Which of these lets you know quickly what each section is about?
a) glossary
b) headings
c) key words
b) headings
When it rains, it's sometimes hard to find things to do. A trip to a nearby library could be fun. Libraries have comfy reading chairs and many books to choose from. You might play history games on the computers. Libraries may offer art shows or book clubs. Some even have groups in which kids can build things. In a library, you are sure to find something you didn't know about.
What is the author's claim about libraries?
a) Libraries offer free things when it's raining.
b) Libraries should be near where people live.
c) Libraries have a lot of interesting things to do.
c) Libraries have a lot of interesting things to do.
Keesha likes to build things. She makes small buildings that look like houses and schools. She builds little tables and chairs. She wants to be a builder when she grows up. How did the author develop the purpose in this text?
a) by telling what Keesha likes to do
b) by describing how to build a little table
c) by explaining that wood comes from trees
d) by telling about things made of wood
a) by telling what Keesha likes to do
Trees grow in many sizes and shapes. Some lose their leaves, and others keep them year round. Some trees grow really high. A person standing at the bottom of the tree cannot see the top. These trees extend many feet beyond the tops of other trees. A redwood tree in California is 369 feet tall! What is the central idea?
a) Trees grow in many sizes and shapes.
b) Some trees keep their leaves year round.
c) A redwood tree in California is 369 feet tall!
a) Trees grow in many sizes and shapes.
Walking is great exercise. It keeps your heart strong and helps you stay fit and healthy. It also makes you feel happy. You should take a walk everyday.
The author says that walking keeps your heart strong. How does this detail support the central idea of the passage?
a) It explains why walking is good for you.
b) It explains why walking makes you feel happy.
c) It explains why having a strong heart is important.
a) It explains why walking is good for you.
You have been reading a nonfiction book about Mars. The author has added the caption underneath a picture of an alien on Mars.
"People once believed that there was life on Mars. Now, we know that this is not the case."
What information does the caption contribute to the text?
a) astronauts have seen aliens living on Mars
b) people once thought that aliens lived on Mars
c) we know that aliens were once living on Mars
d) there are now aliens that are living on Mars
b) people once thought that aliens lived on Mars
Deserts are places where few plants grow. People may think that all deserts are hot and dry. But some deserts are cold. These deserts are found at the North and South Poles. In the winter, they get lots of snow. Then the land is covered by a thick blanket. It is a beautiful sight.
What is the author's claim?
a) Cold deserts can be beautiful places.
b) Many different plants grow in hot deserts.
c) Hot deserts are more interesting than cold deserts.
a) Cold deserts can be beautiful places.
Although ice skating and rollerblading have some similarities, they are actually quite different. First, ice skates require the skater to balance on a thin blade of steel, which makes standing up and balancing difficult at first. In contrast, rollerblades have a wide base of wheels on which to balance, so it is generally easier to learn to rollerblade than ice skate. Rollerblades have a supportive, but flexible boot that should fit snugly on the skater's foot. Similarly, ice skates have a flexible, supportive boot as well. How does the author develop the purpose in this text?
a) by entertaining the reader with stories about skating
b) by persuading the reader that ice skating is easier than rollerblading
c) by comparing and contrasting ice skates and rollerblades
c) by comparing and contrasting ice skates and rollerblades
Some scientists have studied laughter. It seems that when people laugh, they feel better. Their bodies relax. Laughter seems to make people feel hopeful and have more energy. Laughing with friends and family is good, too. People feel closer and happier with each other. It seems true. People need humor. What is the central idea of the passage?
a) Laughing is good for you.
b) Scientists have studied laughter.
c) It is important to relax sometimes.
a) Laughing is good for you.
The beach is a fun place to visit. People can fly kites and play in the sand. On warm days, swimming is fun. Visitors should keep the beach clean. Then everyone can enjoy the beach!
The beach is a fun place to visit. Which detail from the passage shows this?
a) People can fly kites and play in the sand.
b) Visitors should keep the beach clean.
c) Then everyone can enjoy the beach!
a) People can fly kites and play in the sand.
First, I went to the store. Next, I found the things I needed. I gathered apples, nuts, bananas, and cheese. Then I paid for all the food, and last, I went home. Which type of text structure is this paragraph?
A) cause and effect
B) chronology
c) compare and contrast
B) chronology
It’s important to get enough sleep. Sleep makes you feel better during the day. You will be able to think better too. That can help you in school. So, set a good bedtime and stick with it!
Why does the author think it’s important to get enough sleep?
a) People expect you to do it.
b) It will help you set a good bedtime.
c) You will feel better and do better in school.
c) You will feel better and do better in school.
Good morning, Mrs. Costa's Class, Choosing the best place to go on a field trip is important. The place we go should be fun and educational. That is why the best choice is the Winding Brook Nature Center.
The center is a fun place to learn about nature. In class we only see pictures of nature. At the center we can walk on the trails and see animals in their real homes. A second reason for an outdoor trip is getting exercise.
Finally, we can help animals, plants, and trees on this trip. We can pick up the trash. This will keep the woods clean for animals, plants, and trees.
An outdoor trip is most useful for everyone and everything. We can learn about the real world and get exercise at the same time. Learning, exercise, and helping out are important.
Thank you,
Travis
How did the author develop the purpose in the text?
a) by teaching students about the five senses
b) by convincing students to choose an outdoor field trip
c) by telling people what they can see in the woods
b) by convincing students to choose an outdoor field trip
Baby alligators might look scary, but they need to be kept safe. Other animals might try to get to them. Babies stay close to their mother. When they go somewhere, the mother carefully carries them in her mouth. Sometimes a baby rides on her head. The baby clings to the head and off they go. What is the central idea?
a) Alligator babies need to be kept safe.
b) Alligator babies stay close to their mother.
c) Alligators carry their babies in their mouths.
a) Alligator babies need to be kept safe.
Sunflowers have large, round heads. A sunflower head looks like one large flower. It is really made up of many tiny flowers. Each flower turns into a sunflower seed.
What happens to the tiny flowers on a sunflower head?
a) They grow into one large flower.
b) They turn into sunflower seeds.
c) They close when the flower grows.
b) They turn into sunflower seeds.
One day, I forgot to bring to school the book I was reading. When it was time to read, the teacher gave me a different book. It was a great book. Now I want to read more books written by the same person. It's funny. I'm going to read a lot more books because I forgot one!
What is the text structure of this paragraph?
a) chronology
b) cause and effect
c) compare and contrast
b) cause and effect
Our country should send more people into space. We already know a lot about Earth. But what about other places, like Mars? Space travel is the best way to learn about those places. Write to our leaders. Tell them how important space travel is. Make your voices heard.
What reason does the author give for sending people into space?
a) Leaders need to know how important it is to learn about space.
b) Space travel is the best way to learn about places in space.
c) People enjoy learning about new places, such as Mars.
b) Space travel is the best way to learn about places in space.
Have you seen a snowflake picture? Snowflakes have different shapes and a star-like appearance. Seeing a real snowflake up close is almost impossible. About 100 years ago, Wilson Bentley found a way to take pictures of snowflakes before they melted. He took more than 5,000 pictures. All the snowflakes were different! What is the central idea?
a) Snowflakes have different shapes.
b) It's hard to see snowflakes up close.
c) Bentley took more than 5,000 pictures.
a) Snowflakes have different shapes.
There are many different kinds of dogs. Dogs can be very big or very small. Some dogs have short, pointy ears. Other dogs have long ears that hang down. Dogs can have lots of hair or no hair at all!
Which other sentence would go in the paragraph?
a) Dogs are very friendly.
b) Many people like dog shows.
c) Some dogs have long tails.
c) Some dogs have long tails.
Basketball and football are two of America's most popular sports. Both of these sports are team sports. They also have differences. Football is a fall sport, while basketball is a winter sport. What is the text structure of this paragraph?
a) compare and contrast
b) chronology
c) cause and effect
a) compare and contrast