Context Clues
"Unlike his meticulous sister who kept her room spotless, Mark was very messy."
What does meticulous mean?
Showing great attention to detail.
"Do you love candy?" I asked my friend Paul. I always make new friends.
Name that point of view.
First person
A speech written by a local athlete listing the negative effects of steroids and urging young athletes not to use them.
What is the author's purpose?
To persuade
Students are trying to prove the claim that using praise and food for dog training is more effective than punishment. Which research question would help them prove the claim?
a. Which type of treats do dogs prefer the most?
b. How well do different dog breeds learn new tricks?
c. What effect does positivity have on dogs’ behaviors?
d. What does dogs’ body language tell us about their moods?
c. What effect does positivity have on dogs’ behaviors?
What is the meaning of the metaphor in the sentence: "Life is a roller coaster"?
Life is fun and you should ride it.
Life has many ups and downs.
Life is scary and makes you dizzy.
Life is very fast and ends quickly.
Life has many ups and downs.
"The noxious fumes, including carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide, made everyone cough."
What does noxious mean?
Harmful, poisonous, or very unpleasant.
Which pronoun will the narrator not use in third person?
He, We, They, Them
We
A one-page printout showing how to assemble a coffee table that came in a box.
What is the author's purpose?
To inform
Students are writing an argumentative essay about stopping production of the penny. They found sources for their essay. Which sources would provide the most relevant information about the topic. Choose two answers.
a. A book on the development of ancient money systems in Europe
b. A blog about the different types of coins found throughout the world
c. An opinion article in the local newspaper about throwing pennies into fountains
d. An article on the website for the U.S. Mint that describes the process of making money
e. A report in a news magazine about the effects of eliminating pennies in the United Kingdom
d. An article on the website for the U.S. Mint that describes the process of making money
e. A report in a news magazine about the effects of eliminating pennies in the United Kingdom
It was a special day in Ms. Bonner’s first-grade class. Each child put a decorated shoe box on the edge of his or her desk. Then, all of the students got up and dropped small cards into each others’ boxes. Afterwards, Ms. Bonner handed out heart-shaped candies.
What can you infer about the day in this passage?
It's Valentine's Day
"After running the marathon, Elena felt lethargic and needed to nap immediately."
What does lethargic mean?
A state of having little energy, feeling sluggish, and being unwilling or unable to do anything.
The crowd began to roar as I made a few practice swings with the bat. The umpire called to me sharply to hurry. I was not in any hurry to face the most famous pitcher in history.
Which character is most likely telling this story?
A baseball player
Which of the following is a characteristic of a text written to inform?
The author uses emotional language to convince the reader.
The author tells a funny story.
The author uses facts, definitions, and details.
The author uses facts, definitions, and details.
Read the student’s draft paragraph from an informational essay.
Trains just keep getting faster and faster! The steam locomotives of the early 1800s could go about 20 miles per hour. Today, the fastest type of train in the world is a maglev train. These trains regularly carry passengers in several Asian countries. Maglev trains do not have wheels. Instead, they have powerful magnets that let them glide just above the track. Right now, the record for speed is held by the Shanghai Maglev in China. This amazing train can _________.
a. travel at 270 miles per hour
b. shock people with its speed
c. appear to move like the wind
d. go well over 100 miles per hour
a. travel at 270 miles per hour
How does a sidebar or text box help a reader?
It provides interesting, extra information that relates to the main topic.
"Mr. Mehl was quite impressed by Jana’s plan for the new recycling program, so he decided to endorse it in the school paper."
What does endorse mean?
To declare one's public approval or support of.
Which sentence is written from a third person point of view?
I brought my mother breakfast this morning.
You always wear your seatbelt.
We didn't mean to hurt Billy's feelings!
Cynthia and her brother walked home from school this afternoon.
Cynthia and her brother walked home from school this afternoon.
When an author writes to persuade, they often...
State their position directly and provide supporting evidence.
Use sensory details to create a picture.
Use flashbacks to tell a story.
State their position directly and provide supporting evidence.
A student is writing a report about Pluto. Read her draft.
Many adults grew up learning that Pluto was the ninth planet from the sun. In 2006, though, astronomers announced that Pluto was no longer considered a planet. The scientists said that to be a planet, an object must meet three conditions. First, it has to be in orbit around the sun. Second, it must be big and heavy enough to have a round shape. Third, it has to be the biggest object in its own path around the sun. Pluto is round, and it travels around the sun. However, it is not always the largest object in its orbit.
Which sentence would make the best conclusion for the student’s draft?
a. Although Pluto is small, it has several moons.
b. Because of this, scientists now call Pluto a “dwarf planet.”
c. Astronomers are now looking at objects far beyond Pluto.
d. Therefore, Pluto’s discovery in 1930 is now considered insignificant.
b. Because of this, scientists now call Pluto a “dwarf planet.”
Genevieve spent days making a perfect diorama, but she threw it away twice because of tiny mistakes. Because she kept restarting, she turned it in late and got a 'C' instead of an 'A'.
What is the theme of this story?
Perfectionism can sometimes get in the way of success.
"Isaiah hoped to nourish the neglected garden by watering the plants regularly and fertilizing the soil."
What does nourish mean?
Provide with the food or other substances necessary for growth, health, and good condition.
In an article about school uniforms, the author only interviews students who hate them.
What is the author's likely perspective?
The author is biased against school uniforms.
A story written about a young boy who moves to a new school and is bullied, but he gains self-confidence by joining a sports team and learns to stand up for himself.
What is the author's purpose?
To entertain
Read a student’s draft essay about Costa Rica.
Costa Rica is a tiny country in Central America. Yet, Costa Rica has more plant and animal species than many other places on Earth. There are more than 800 different types of birds, for example. Some of them do not live anywhere else in the world! _______________ The different landscapes explain the country’s many organisms. Costa Rica even has a rare place called a cloud forest. The trees and plants here are covered by cool, misty clouds. Many people visit Costa Rica to hike in the cloud forest.
Which sentence provides the best transition between ideas?
a. Costa Rica has many reptiles and mammals.
b. Hikers can see birds, monkeys, and much more.
c. Costa Rica has meadows, mountains, rivers, and forests.
d. The whole country is smaller than many states in the US.
c. Costa Rica has meadows, mountains, rivers, and forests.
Choose the event that represents the climax of the story:
a. The hero meets the mentor
b. The hero fights the antagonist
c. The hero returns home
d. The hero meets friends.
b. The hero fights the antagonist