Central Idea 6-8
What is a central idea?
The central idea is what the the text is mostly about. It is supported by details.
What is a theme?
a universal lesson or moral of a story
Name three kinds of literary text.
Poems, dramas, and prose
Name three text structures.
cause/effect, problem/solution, sequence (chronological), compare/contrast, description
Which type of text would have a central idea?
informational text
Which text type would have a theme?
literary text
Select the answer that shows dialogue. (7)
a. Mary, Ben, Will.
b. (whispers something to Ben)
c. Mary: I love your cookies!
d. (hands Mary a cookie)
C
Name two signal words for each of the given text structures:
1) cause/effect
2) sequence (chronological)
3) compare/contrast
4) description
Ask the teacher!
Chameleons might change colors for several different reasons. If a chameleon is in the sun, it often changes from brown to light green. This causes the chameleon's skin to reflect the bright sunlight and helps it cool down. If the chameleon is cold, it will change its skin to a darker color. The darker color helps the chameleon soak up heat from the sun. Sometimes chameleons change color based on the mood they are in. If some chameleons get angry, they turn bright colors to let everyone know they are in a bad mood. The next time you see a chameleon, try to figure out why it is changing colors.
a. chameleons change color for different reasons.
b. chameleons have anger problems.
c. chameleons turn dark colors when they are cold.
d. chameleons like to soak up the sun.
A
Which is not an example of a theme? Why not?
a. Family is very important.
b. It is important to be a good friend.
c. Red Riding Hood shouldn't talk to strangers
d. Don't trust someone just because they compliment you.
C. This is not a universal lesson because it identifies a character.
What is the difference between a poem and a drama? (7)
A drama has a cast of characters, stage directions, and dialogue while a poem has stanzas and rhythm.
Thousand of people die each year in car accidents involving drugs or alcohol. Lives could be saved if our town adopts a free public taxi service. By providing such a service, we could prevent intoxicated drivers from endangering themselves or others.
a. Cause and Effect
b. Problem/Solution
c. Sequence
c. Description
B
What’s that humming sound? Could it be hummingbird, the only bird capable of backward flight? Hummingbirds have many unique flight habits that distinguish them from other birds. Most birds flap their wings up and down to fly, but the hummingbird moves its wings forward and backward very rapidly in a figure eight pattern. This allows the hummingbird to hover in position, fly upside down, and move about very rapidly. And while other birds have to push off with their feet to begin flying, and work their ways up to their top speeds, the hummingbird can both start flying at maximum speed and stop flying instantaneously. After you’ve seen a hummingbird in flight, it’s unlikely that you’ll mistake them for another bird.
What is the central idea of this informational text?
Hummingbirds have very distinctive features from other birds.
In his sophomore year of high school, Michael Jordan tried out for the varsity basketball team at Laney High School in Wilmington, North Carolina. But at five feet and eleven inches tall, the coach believed that Jordan was too short to play at that level, so Jordan was cut from the team. Jordan didn’t let this obstacle defeat him. In fact, it pushed him to work even harder. He trained vigorously and grew another four inches the following summer. When he finally made the varsity squad, Jordan averaged 25 points a game and went on to become one of the greatest basketball players in history. a. Always try your best. b. Don't listen to adults. c. Never give up on your dreams. d. Don't let obstacles stand in your way.
What is D
In Romeo and Juliet, the audience knows that Juliet is only asleep--not dead--but Romeo does not, and he kills himself. This is an example of:
a) dramatic irony
b) metaphor
c) imagery
d) allusion
A
Identify the primary text structure of the text and find two signal words to prove your answer.
All matter, all things can be changed in two ways: chemically and physically. Both chemical and physical changes affect the state of matter. Physical changes are those that do not change the make-up or identity of the matter. For example, clay will bend or flatten if squeezed, but it will still be clay. Changing the shape of clay is a physical change, and does not change the matter’s identity. Chemical changes turn the matter into a new kind of matter with different properties. For example, when paper is burnt, it becomes ash and will never be paper again. The difference between them is that physical changes are temporary or only last for a little while, and chemical changes are permanent, which means they last forever. Physical and chemical changes both affect the state of matter.
Both, difference
The pioneers who traveled to the west did so for different reasons. Some went in hopes of adventure. Some went for a chance at having success. Many pioneers hoped to join family members. Most went to claim either land or gold. Settlers in Oregon would receive a huge amount of free land. There they could farm and build a home. Many people went in search of finding a fortune in gold. Gold was discovered in California in 1848. New discovers of gold in Oregon, Idaho, and Colorado kept bringing people west. But getting there was nothing short of a challenge.
What is the central idea of this informational text?
People traveled west for a variety of reasons.
Even though they were sisters, Suzie and June were nothing alike. If Suzie wanted to jump rope, June wanted to play hopscotch. If June wanted to watch soap operas, Suzie wanted to watch talk shows. Tensions rose to the point that the girls could no longer stand one another’s company. It seemed that they had nothing in common, until the day that progress reports came out. While riding the bus home from school, the girls—startled by how upset the other looked—realized that they were both failing a subject. Suzie was failing math and June was failing reading. Since both girls wanted to pass their classes, they got to talking and agreed to help one another. So everyday after school for the next few weeks, Suzie tutored June in reading and then June tutored Suzie in math. By the time report cards came were distributed, Suzie and June were passing all of their classes. The girls were delighted, but their mother was happiest of all. Not just because her daughters passed their classes, but because they had learned to be good sisters.
It is better to work together and get along.
Death, be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;
For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow
Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me...
...One short sleep past, we wake eternally
And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.
How does the poet, John Donne, use poetic devices? (Hint: There are multiple correct answers.) (6-7)
a) Donne personifies death with negative human-like characteristics.
b) Donne compares death to a short sleep in an extended metaphor.
c) Donne provides imagery of how death will defeat him.
d) Donne incorporates irony to produce humor in his concluding statement.
A, B, and D.
What is the text structure? Identify two signal words and then add an additional signal word that could have been used.
Before applying the screen protector, clean the surface of your phone’s screen with a soft cloth. Once the surface of your screen is clean, remove the paper backing on the screen protector. Evenly apply the sticky side of the screen protector to your phone’s screen. Smooth out any air bubble trapped on between the protector and the phone screen. Enjoy the added protection.
Sequence: Before, Once
Other sequence signal words: After, Next, Finally, etc.