Comprehension
In the 16th century, an age of great marine and terrestrial exploration, Ferdinand Magellan led the first expedition to sail around the world. As a young Portuguese noble, he served the king of Portugal, but he became involved in the quagmire of political intrigue at court and lost the king’s favor. After he was dismissed from service by the king of Portugal, he offered to serve the future Emperor Charles V of Spain.
The 16th century was an age of great ______ exploration.
1. Cosmic
The brain is the most complicated system in the human body. The brain is separated into two hemispheres or halves. From front to back, the brain is further divided into three parts: the forebrain, the midbrain, and the hindbrain. The forebrain is where most reasoning, thinking, and emotional activity occur. It is also where most memories are stored. The midbrain controls reflexes and processes sensory information (sight, touch, taste, etc.) The hindbrain processes basic survival functions, like breathing and maintaining a heartbeat. The brain is truly the most amazing system in the human body.
What is the main idea?
The brain is a complex and important system in the human body.
What the text is mostly about
Main Idea
The purpose of an informational text is to:
A) entertain
B) inform
C) persuade
B) inform
I should have studied harder. My palms are sweating; my heart is racing; and my pencil broke! I raised my hand, hoping not to disrupt the other students. I looked back and forth from the clock to my paper. Time seemed to be racing by. I had to do my best!
What am I doing? How do you know?
The main character is taking a test. We know this because they're nervous and surrounded by other students.
Weather reporters have to give out a lot of information. That's why they use pictures. The pictures help them tell us about the weather without using so many words. Weather reporters need to know where the cold air is. They need to know where the warm air is. They have to know where it is raining and what types of clouds are in the area. Their reports need to be correct, but they also need to be short. The pictures help weather reporters get the information out in a fast way.
Who is this passage about?
Weather reporters
During recess, I always go to the library because there are a lot of amazing books there. I love reading. As it is quiet, it lets me concentrate and think about different things. The librarian is really nice and friendly too. She gives me candies all the time.
What is the main idea?
The library is the subject's favorite place.
To summarize is to:
A) Give the main points of the text
B) Retell the text word-for-word
C) Make an educated guess about what the text is saying
A) Give the main points of the text
The peanut is a humble plant with hundreds of functions. Most peanuts are roasted in their shells and lightly salted. About half the peanuts eaten in the United States are ground into a thick paste called peanut butter. The rich oil made from peanuts is good for frying foods and is used for oiling machines and making soaps and paint. Even peanut shells are used to make plastics and to fertilize soil.
Is this an informational or literary text?
Informational
Elizabeth was so proud of her garden. She planted the seeds early in the spring and watered the plants every morning. Last Friday, Elizabeth's mom called and asked her to come over for the week because she was feeling sick. When Elizabeth came back home, her plants were bent and drooping.
Why were the plants drooping? How do you know?
Floods can cause tremendous damage. They can ruin houses, roads, and buildings. Floods can take down trees and cause mudslides. They often leave behind mud, sand, and debris. It can take months to clean up after a flood.
What is a synonym for tremendous?
A. Small
B. Intelligent
C. Great
C. Great
The diamond is a hard element that can cut through almost any metal. That is why it is often used for industrial purposes. Whole diamond stones are set into tools. Dust from crushed diamond stones is used for coating the edges of tools. Care must be taken when exposing diamonds to extreme heat because heat can turn them into graphite. Graphite is the soft material used in the manufacture of lead for pencils.
What is the main idea?
How diamonds are used in the industry
True or false: The purpose of a literary text is to entertain or tell a story.
True!
Mark Twain is one of America's most famous writers. His real name was Samuel Clemens. He was born in Missouri in 1835. When he was eighteen, Mark Twain left Missouri and worked as a printer in different cities. He wrote The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
Is this an informational or literary text?
Informational
"Boy, am I lucky! I just found a 4-leaf clover," exclaimed Bobby. "I'll bet that I do well on my math test today." "You don't really believe that a 4-leaf clover brings good luck, do you?" asked Jim. "You'll get a good grade on the test only if you've studied". What can you infer about Jim?
Jim doesn't believe that four-leaf clovers bring good luck.
Dolphins are mammals that live in the ocean. Mammals are different than fish, reptiles or birds. As a mammal, dolphins breathe oxygen, even though they live in water. Because they are mammals, a dolphin mother gives birth to a live baby, unlike reptiles and birds who lay eggs. A dolphin mother also feeds her baby milk like other mammals.
In one sentence, summarize the passage.
Dolphins are mammals that live in the ocean and reproduce differently than reptiles.
Black widow spiders are far more dangerous to animals than they are to people. The spiders catch beetles, flies, and other insects in their webs and wrap them in silk. Then, they suck the insects out and eat them. People, on the other hand, are usually safe from black widows. The spiders only bite to defend themselves. A person who is bitten by a black widow may experience aches or upset stomachs. However, it is rare for a person bitten by a black widow to die.
What is the main idea?
Black widows are not as deadly to humans as they are to other animals.
Taking a ________ out of the text changes the entire meaning
A) Sentence
B) Key detail
C) Minor detail
B) Key detail
Eric gripped the bat in his hands. His palms were sweaty but he took a deep breath as he stepped up to the plate. He had to score a run or his team would lose the game. When the pitcher threw a fastball, Eric’s reflexes took over and he heard the “Crack!” of the bat hitting the ball. His heart raced with excitement as he ran to first base. He was safe!
Is this an informational or literary text? Why?
Literary text
John overslept. When he woke up and saw the clock, he jumped out of bed and scrambled around the house trying to clean himself and get dressed quickly. He grabbed his suitcase, got in the car, and sped to the airport! Five minutes after getting to there, John was disappointed.
Why was he disappointed? How do you know?
John missed his flight.
Clues: Overslept; Grabbed his suitcase; Sped to the Airport; Disappointed
What is the difference between a square and a cube? A square is a shape. It is two-dimensional- it has length and width, but it is flat. It has four equal sides and four equal corners. A cube is a solid shape. It is three-dimensional- it has length, width, and height. It has six equal squares, called faces. It also has edges. The edges are where the sides of the squares meet.
What is the difference between a square and cube?
A square is two-dimensional and a cube is three-dimensional.
The first ukuleles were developed in Hawaii in the 1800s as a result of Portuguese influence. Native Hawaiians enjoyed music from a Portuguese instrument called the machete and adapted it to suit Hawaiian tastes. The ukulele spread to mainland America during the 1910s, where it became an immediate sensation. They quickly became very popular because they could be quickly and cheaply made from a small amount of wood. After the World Wars, plastic ukuleles revitalized the declining ukulele fad by making them even more affordable to the average American. Today, ukuleles are still enjoyed by many enthusiasts and come in a wide variety of shapes and sounds.
What is the central idea of today’s passage?
a. Plastic ukuleles are important classical instruments.
b. Ukuleles developed in Hawaii and are still popular today.
c. Portuguese instruments inspired the ukulele.
B)
Define inference.
An inference is an educated guess made using the evidence in the text.
Is a biography considered an informational text? Why or why not?
A biography is considered an informational text because it educates an audience about the subject's life.
Rachel climbed up the ladder. She got more and more nervous with every step she took. She finally reached the top, walked out on the board, and looked way down into the deep blue. Her friends had dared her, but could she do it?
What was Rachel afraid to do? How do you know?
Jump off the high diving board.
Clues: Climbed the ladder, walked out on the board; looked way down into the deep blue.