Main Idea
Key Details
Authors' Purpose
Key Details
Authors' Purpose
Passage:
Many people enjoy gardening because it helps them relax and spend time outdoors. Some people grow colorful flowers that make their homes look beautiful, while others grow fruits and vegetables to eat. Gardening is also a healthy hobby because it provides light exercise and fresh air. People can learn patience and responsibility by taking care of plants every day. Even small gardens can make people feel proud and happy.
Question: What is the main idea of this passage?
A. Gardening is relaxing and has many benefits.
B. Flowers are more beautiful than vegetables.
C. Gardening is only for people who have big yards.
D. People garden because they like insects.
✅ Answer: A. Gardening is relaxing and has many benefits.
Which sentence is the best topic sentence for an opinion paragraph about school uniforms?
A. School uniforms are usually blue and white.
B. Many schools require students to wear uniforms.
C. I believe students should wear uniforms because they create equality and reduce distractions.
D. Some students like wearing hoodies instead of uniforms.
✅ Answer: C. I believe students should wear uniforms because they create equality and reduce distractions.
(Topic sentences clearly state an opinion and introduce reasons.)
According to the short response guide, what should you do before you read the passage?
A. Write your answer right away.
B. Read the questions and underline keywords.
C. Skip the questions and start reading.
D. Highlight every sentence in the passage.
✅ Answer: B. Read the questions and underline keywords.
Which sentence best describes something without telling a story?
A. The cat ran through the garden and chased the bird.
B. The cat has soft gray fur, bright green eyes, and long whiskers.
C. Yesterday, I went to the park and met my friend.
D. The story was about a brave knight who saved a village.
✅ Answer: B. The cat has soft gray fur, bright green eyes, and long whiskers.
(Descriptive writing describes something; narrative writing tells a story.)
Which of the following should you include in a good summary?
A. The main idea and important details from the passage
B. Your personal opinion about the passage
C. Every single sentence in the passage
D. Extra facts you know from outside the passage
✅ Answer: A. The main idea and important details from the passage
Passage:
Penguins are birds that live in some of the coldest parts of the world. Even though they cannot fly, they are strong swimmers and can stay underwater for several minutes. Penguins use their wings like flippers to move quickly through the ocean. Their thick feathers and layer of fat protect them from the freezing temperatures. Penguins usually live in large groups and take care of their young together, which helps them survive in the harsh climate.
Question: Which detail best supports the main idea that penguins are built for cold environments?
A. They cannot fly.
B. They live in large groups.
C. Their feathers and fat keep them warm.
D. They take care of their young.
✅ Answer: C. Their feathers and fat keep them warm.
Look at these sentences from a paragraph about online learning. Which one should come first as the topic sentence?
1. Online classes help students save time and money.
2. Many people now prefer studying from home.
3. Students can also learn at their own pace.
4. For these reasons, I think online learning is a great option.
Sentence 2
(The topic sentence introduces the main idea; supporting details and conclusion follow.)
When writing your short response, which of the following is NOT a good strategy?
A. Start with a complete sentence that answers the question.
B. Copy long sentences from the passage word-for-word.
C. Use your own words to explain your answer.
D. Check that your answer makes sense and stays on topic.
✅ Answer: B. Copy long sentences from the passage word-for-word.
Which of the following is a good first step when writing a descriptive paragraph?
A. Decide what you want to describe and think about what it looks, sounds, smells, tastes, and feels like.
B. Start writing a story with a problem and solution.
C. Write a long list of events in order.
D. Summarize your paragraph in one sentence before writing it.
✅ Answer: A. Decide what you want to describe and think about what it looks, sounds, smells, tastes, and feels like.
Choose the correctly written sentence:
A. last summer, we visited paris and saw the eiffel tower.
B. Last Summer, we visited Paris and saw the Eiffel Tower.
C. Last summer, we visited Paris and saw the Eiffel Tower.
D. Last summer, we visited paris and saw the Eiffel Tower.
✅ Answer: C. Last summer, we visited Paris and saw the Eiffel Tower.
Passage:
Every year, millions of tons of plastic end up in the ocean. Plastic items like bottles and bags do not break down quickly, and they often harm sea animals. Turtles can mistake plastic bags for jellyfish and eat them, which makes them sick. Many organizations are working to clean beaches and teach people to recycle more. The author wants us to think carefully about how our daily choices affect the environment.
Question: What is the author’s purpose in this passage?
A. To explain how plastic is made.
B. To tell a story about sea animals.
C. To persuade readers to reduce plastic waste.
D. To describe how to make art from plastic.
✅ Answer: C. To persuade readers to reduce plastic waste.
Write a topic sentence for a paragraph that gives your opinion about this question:
“Should students have homework every day?”
✅ Sample Answer:
“In my opinion, students should not have homework every day because they need time to rest and spend with their families.”
(Focus: stating a clear opinion + reason.)
Passage:
Maria loves to paint landscapes in her free time. Every weekend, she goes to a nearby park with her sketchbook and paints trees, lakes, and sunsets. Painting helps her feel calm after a busy week at school. Her friends admire her artwork and sometimes ask her to paint for them. Maria dreams of becoming an artist in the future.
Level 1 Question:
What activity helps Maria relax after school?
📝 Write your answer in one complete sentence using your own words.
✅ Sample Answer:
Painting helps Maria relax after a busy week at school.
You want to write a descriptive paragraph about your favorite place.
Task: Write a topic sentence that tells the reader what you will describe.
✅ Sample Answer:
“My favorite place is the small park near my house, where I like to relax and enjoy nature.”
Correct the punctuation and capitalization in this paragraph:
last week, sara and i went to the zoo we saw lions tigers, and monkeys it was so much fun we took many pictures
✅ Sample Corrected Version:
Last week, Sara and I went to the zoo. We saw lions, tigers, and monkeys. It was so much fun, and we took many pictures.
Passage:
In 1955, an African American woman named Rosa Parks made a brave decision that changed history. She refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger, as was required by unfair laws at the time. Her arrest led many people to protest for equal rights and justice. This event inspired Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and others to lead peaceful marches across the country. Rosa Parks became known as the “Mother of the Civil Rights Movement” for her courage and strength.
Question: What is the main idea of this passage?
A. Rosa Parks helped inspire the Civil Rights Movement through her courage.
B. Rosa Parks didn’t like riding buses.
C. Rosa Parks became famous by accident.
D. The laws on buses were confusing to people.
✅ Answer: A. Rosa Parks helped inspire the Civil Rights Movement through her courage.
Prompt:
Here’s a topic sentence:
“I believe having pets teaches children responsibility.”
Write one supporting sentence that gives a reason or example to support this opinion.
✅ Sample Answer:
“For example, children must remember to feed, clean, and play with their pets every day.”
(Focus: give a concrete reason or example that supports the topic sentence.)
Passage:
Jason always sat in the back of the classroom and didn’t talk much. During group projects, he listened carefully but rarely shared his ideas. One day, his teacher asked him to present his science project to the class. Everyone was surprised when Jason spoke confidently and explained his experiment clearly. After that day, he started raising his hand more often.
Level 2 Question:
What can you infer about Jason’s personality and how it changes in the story?
📝 Use evidence from the passage to support your answer.
✅ Sample Answer:
At first, Jason was shy and quiet, but after his successful presentation, he became more confident and willing to participate in class.
Here’s your topic sentence:
“My favorite park is full of beautiful flowers and tall trees.”
Task: Write one supporting sentence that uses at least one sense (sight, sound, smell, taste, or touch) to describe the park.
✅ Sample Answer:
“The colorful flowers smell sweet, and the leaves rustle gently in the warm breeze.”
Which word in this sentence is a cohesive device (used to connect ideas)?
I wanted to go to the park, but it started raining.
A. I
B. wanted
C. but
D. park
✅ Answer: C. but
(“But” connects two ideas in a sentence, showing contrast.)
Passage:
Many students today face pressure to succeed in school and in their personal lives. They spend long hours studying, playing sports, and sometimes working part-time jobs. While being busy can help students learn responsibility, too much stress can cause health problems and make it difficult to focus. Some schools are trying to help by teaching students how to manage time, rest, and mental health. Finding a healthy balance between school and personal life is important for long-term success and happiness.
Question: What is the author’s main message?
A. Students should quit sports to have more time to study.
B. Being busy always means being successful.
C. Students need balance and stress management to stay healthy and happy.
D. Schools give too much homework.
✅ Answer: C. Students need balance and stress management to stay healthy and happy.
Prompt:
Here’s a short opinion paragraph (missing a conclusion):
Many people enjoy traveling to new countries. I believe traveling is important because it helps people understand other cultures and become more open-minded. When people see different ways of living, they learn to respect diversity and appreciate what they have at home.
Write a concluding sentence that clearly ends the paragraph and restates the opinion.
✅ Sample Answer:
“In conclusion, traveling is one of the best ways to learn about the world and become a better person.”
(Focus: restate opinion + summarize main idea clearly.)
Passage:
Every summer, Lina visits her grandmother’s farm in the countryside. She helps feed the chickens, water the plants, and pick fresh vegetables from the garden. In the city, Lina often eats fast food and spends time on her phone. But at the farm, she enjoys being outdoors and talking to her grandmother while they cook together. Each time she leaves, she promises to visit more often and spend less time on her phone.
Level 3 Question:
What lesson does Lina learn from her time at the farm, and how could this lesson connect to your own life?
📝 Write 2–3 sentences that explain what she learns and how it relates to your own experience.
✅ Sample Answer:
Lina learns that spending time with family and nature is more meaningful than using her phone. I can connect to this because I also feel happier when I take breaks from technology and spend time outside or with loved ones.
Prompt:
You have written these sentences:
My grandmother’s kitchen is my favorite room in her house. The walls are bright yellow, and the smell of fresh bread fills the air. Pots and pans hang neatly on the wall, and the sunlight makes the wooden table shine.
Task: Write a concluding sentence that wraps up your description.
✅ Sample Answer:
“In every corner, her kitchen feels warm, cozy, and full of life, making it the most welcoming place in the house.”
Passage:
“Lina wanted to visit the museum. However, her friends preferred to go to the park. She decided to join them because it was a sunny day. Later, they all agreed that they had fun, and they promised to visit the museum next weekend.”
Question:
Which words or phrases in this passage are cohesive devices that connect ideas?
A. Lina, friends, museum
B. However, because, and
C. visit, sunny, weekend
D. all, next, they
✅ Answer: B. However, because, and
(“However” shows contrast, “because” shows reason, and “and” adds information — all cohesive devices linking ideas.)