1
What challenge did Maria face in the story?
She felt nervous about entering the school art contest.
Read the first sentence aloud. What expression or tone should you use to match the mood?
A tense or dramatic tone, because the wind “howled loudly.”
What is one thing that every narrative needs at the beginning?
An introduction to the characters, narrator, and situation.
Evaluate: (5 + 3) × 2
16
Write an expression for: “Subtract 6 from 20.”
20-6
How did Maria respond to her nervous feelings?
She practiced every day and entered the contest anyway.
What does the word “clutched” mean based on how it is used in the passage?
Held tightly.
Write one transition word you could use in a story.
Sample answers: Then, Later, Suddenly, Afterward, Meanwhile.
Which part of 4 × [2 + (6 – 3)] do you solve first?
(6 – 3)
What does (8 + 2) × 3 mean without solving it?
Three times the sum of 8 and 2.
What is a possible theme of this story?
Trying your best is more important than winning.
(Also acceptable: Believe in yourself / Don’t give up.)
Find one word in the passage that you might need to reread to confirm its meaning.
Possible answers: howled, clutched, shivering, gently.
(Any of these earns credit.)
Rewrite this with dialogue added.
Original: The girl found her dog in the backyard.
Example: The girl found her dog in the backyard and shouted, “There you are!”
(Any sentence with appropriate dialogue earns credit.)
Evaluate: 12 – {4 + 2}
6
Which expression matches “Add 5, 5, and 2”?
5+5+2
Which detail from the passage best supports the theme?
She didn’t win first place but still felt proud for trying her best.
Why is it important to read this passage at an appropriate pace?
Reading too fast may cause you to miss the mood or important details about Liam helping the dog; reading at the right pace improves understanding.
What are “sensory details”?
Words that describe what something looks, sounds, smells, tastes, or feels like.
True or false: Brackets [ ] work like parentheses ( ).
True
Write a numerical expression that means “triple the sum of 7 and 4.”
3 × (7 + 4)
Summarize the passage in 2–3 sentences.
Maria is nervous about entering an art contest but practices daily.
She submits her drawing even though she’s unsure of herself.
She doesn’t win, but she feels proud because she tried her best.
What clue in the text helps you understand that the dog was cold?
The dog was “shivering.”
What should a narrative include at the end?
A conclusion that follows from the events and wraps up the story.
Evaluate: (10 – 4) + 3
9
Explain how 5 × (10 + 2) compares to (10 + 2).
It is five times larger than (10 + 2).