Context Clues
After skipping breakfast and working through lunch, I was absolutely famished.
What does famished most likely mean?
A. playful
B. Tired
C. Hungry
D. Thirsty
C. Hungry
Clues in the sentence:
-didn't eat breakfast
-worked through lunch
What does the prefix "-un" do when added to a word? A. makes the word mean the opposite
B. makes the word smaller
C. makes the word a noun
D. makes the word rhyme
A. makes the word mean the opposite
Which text structure tells why something happened and shows the result?
A. description
B. cause and effect
C. sequence
D. persuasion
B. cause and effect
What is the central idea of this short passage: "Tommy loves soccer. He watches soccer games on the T.V. He practices soccer on Mondays and Wednesday. He even stays after to practice a bit more. He plays soccer games on Fridays and Saturdays.
A. Tommy is busy helping kids all week learn to play soccer.
B. Tommy is learning to play soccer from professionals.
C. Tommy enjoys many aspects of soccer.
D. Tommy doesn't like to practice, but he loves to play in the games.
C. Tommy enjoys many aspects of soccer.
Which of these is an author's purpose?
A. answer
B. cause and effect
C. photograph
D. description
A. answer
Choose the simile and explain its meaning: "As brave as a lion" means:
A. as brave as a scaredy cat
B. as brave as someone who is not scared
C. as small as a mouse
D. as slow as a turtle
as brave as someone who is not scared
The sentence says: "Lina scowled at the boy who tried to cut her in line." What does scowled mean and what clue words are context clues to help you with meaning?
A. clue: folding her arms (meaning: stubborn)
B. clue: the name Lina (meaning: angry)
C. clue: the word "scowled" itself (meaning: sad)
D. clue: Linda scowled/ boy cut
(meaning: frown in mad way)
Which word has an r‑controlled vowel sound like in "bird"?
A. cat
B. car
C. fern
D. lion
C. fern
Read: "The picnic was canceled because it rained all afternoon."
This is an example of:
A. description — it lists picnic foods
B. cause and effect — rain caused the picnic to be canceled
C. sequence — steps of a recipe
D. problem/solution — people found a new plan
B. cause and effect — rain caused the picnic to be canceled
Which two ideas would be good supporting details for the central idea, "Dogs need exercise"?
A. Dogs like to run fast and sleep a lot.
B. Exercise helps to keep dogs healthy and walking helps to strengthen their muscles.
C. Dogs are great at swimming and should swim daily.
D. Dogs can sit, lay down, and roll over.
B. Exercise helps to keep dogs healthy and walking them strengthens their muscles.
Read: "Follow these steps to bake cookies."
What is the author's purpose?
A. answer
B. describe
C. explain
D. complain
C. explain
Which sentence is a simile and what does it mean? A. "He sleeps like a log." — it means he sleeps outside.
B. "He is a log when sleeping." — it means he sleeps very soundly.
C. "He sleeps log-like." — it means he sleeps while standing.
D. "He sleeps as still as a log" — it means he is sleeping well and can't be woken up easily.
D. "He sleeps as still as a log" — it means he is sleeping well and can't be woken up easily.
Use the sentence-level context: "The teacher explained, 'A peninsula is land surrounded by water on three sides,' so a peninsula is probably a ____." A. small island in the middle of a lake
B. piece of land connected to larger land with water on three sides
C. mountain range with rivers
D. group of islands
B. piece of land connected to larger land with water on three sides
Choose the correct meaning of the word with the prefix "-un": "unhappy"
A. very happy
B. not happy
C. extra happy
D. a happy place
B. not happy
Which signal word often shows cause and effect?
A. difference
B. once upon a time
C. next
D. because
D. because
Read: "Bees make honey and help flowers by moving pollen from one plant to another. Because of this, many plants can make seeds."
What is the central idea and one supporting detail? A. Central idea: Bees are dangerous. Detail: Bees sting.
B. Central idea: Bees make honey and help pollinate. Detail: They move pollen so plants make seeds.
C. Central idea: Flowers make honey. Detail: Plants eat pollen.
D. Central idea: Seeds fly away. Detail: Bees carry seeds.
B. Central idea: Bees make honey and help pollinate. Detail: They move pollen so plants make seeds.
Which example best shows persuasion?
A. A brochure telling why recycling is helpful
B. An encyclopedia entry about whales
C. A recipe for pancakes
D. A dictionary definition
A. A brochure telling why recycling is helpful
Which is a simile that means someone moves quickly?
A. She raced around the track very quickly.
B. "She is the wind racing by.
C. "She runs as fast as the wind whizzing by.
D. "She whizzed by very fast.
C. "She runs as fast as the wind whizzing by.
Determine the meaning of the bold word from context: "The explorers trudged through the torrential rain; their clothes were drenched." What does "torrential" mean?
A. light
B. steady
C. very heavy
D. cold
C. very heavy
Which word below contains an r‑controlled vowel with the same sound as in "her"?
A. here
B. hat
C. herd
D. hill
C. herd
Read: "The plant drooped after not being watered for days. The leaves turned brown." Identify the cause and the effect. A. Cause: plant drooped; Effect: nobody watered it B. Cause: leaves turned brown; Effect: plant drooped C. Cause: not being watered; Effect: plant drooped and leaves turned brown D. Cause: days; Effect: watered
C. Cause: not being watered; Effect: plant drooped and leaves turned brown
Summarize this informational paragraph in one sentence: "Recycling helps save resources. People can recycle paper, plastic, and glass. Recycling reduces trash in landfills."
A. Recycling is bad for the planet.
B. Recycling helps save resources and reduces trash by reusing materials like paper, plastic, and glass.
C. Only glass can be recycled.
D. Recycling makes more landfills.
B. Recycling helps save resources and reduces trash by reusing materials like paper, plastic, and glass.
Identify the author's purpose: "A short article explains how bees pollinate flowers and includes facts and diagrams." What is the purpose?
A. answer
B. describe
C. explain
D. confuse
B. describe
Pick the simile that shows someone is very quiet and explain the meaning.
A. "She tiptoed like a mouse." — She moved like a dancer.
B. "She tiptoed like a mouse." — She moved slowly.
C. "She tiptoed like a mouse." — She moved quietly.
D. "She tiptoed like a sun." — She was hot and sweaty.
C. "She tiptoed like a mouse." — She moved quietly.
Read: "He was ecstatic when he saw the surprise party: he jumped, cheered, and hugged everyone." Which clue words show the meaning of "ecstatic"?
A. jumped, cheered, and hugged
B. surprise party
C. when he saw
D. everyone
A. jumped, cheered, and hugged
Which word below does not have an r-controlled vowel?
A. stir
B. born
C. street
D. turn
C. street
Which text is mostly description and not cause and effect?
A. "Because of the wind, the kite fell."
B. "The blue car has shiny wheels, a bright horn, and a comfy seat."
C. "She studied hard, so she passed the test."
D. "The icy roads were dangerous, so drivers went slow."
B. "The blue car has shiny wheels, a bright horn, and a comfy seat."
Why is sleep important for kids? Choose the best central idea and two supporting details.
A. Central idea: Sleep is a game. Details: Kids stay awake, watch TV.
B. Central idea: Sleep is boring. Details: Kids don't do anything while they sleep.
C. Central idea: Sleep is important for kids' health. Details: It helps them grow and helps them focus at school.
D. Central idea: Parents like for their children to sleep. Details: Parents get to watch their favorite TV shows.
C. Central idea: Sleep is important for kids' health. Details: It helps them grow and helps them focus at school.
Read: "I believe every child should play outside because it makes them healthy and happy." Which option best matches the author's intent?
A. To inform —facts are given regarding exercises and heart rates.
B. To persuade —trying to convince someone of the importance of outside playtime.
C. To entertain —writing a story about characters who play outside together.
D. To explain — tells directions of games kids can play outside.
B. To persuade —trying to convince someone of the importance of outside playtime.
"His hands were as cold as ice." What does this simile help you understand?
A. His hands were in the freezer.
B. He made a hand shape out of ice.
C. His hands were cold when they touched me.
D. His hands were as hard as ice cubes.
C. His hands were cold when they touched me.