Theme/Central Idea
What is the central idea of a text?
The main point or message the author wants to communicate.
What is a synonym?
A word that has the same or nearly the same meaning as another word.
Identify the metaphor and explain its meaning:
"The classroom was a battlefield during the group project."
“The classroom was a battlefield” — compares the classroom to a battlefield to show it was chaotic and competitive.
What is the prefix in the word unhappy, and what does it mean?
Un-; it means “not.”
True or False: Any detail from a text can be used as evidence, even if it doesn’t relate to the question.
False - it HAS to be relevant to the question!
How is a theme different from a central idea?
A theme is a lesson or message about life, while the central idea is the main point of the text.
Which of the following is the closest synonym for “fragile”?
sturdy, delicate, heavy, strong
delicate
Identify the metaphor and explain its meaning:
"Her mind was a locked treasure chest, full of secrets no one could open."
“Her mind was a locked treasure chest” — compares her mind to a treasure chest to show it holds valuable or hidden thoughts.
The suffix -ful in the word joyful means what?
“Full of” or “having.”
True or False: You can use your own opinion as text evidence.
False
A story shows a young girl learning to be brave through facing challenges. What is a possible theme?
Bravery, courage, or overcoming fear.
Identify an antonym for “generous."
Choices: selfish, kind, giving, thoughtful
Selfish
What kind of figurative language is this?
She was so hungry she could eat an entire dragon.
Hyperbole
Which prefix means “before” in the word preview?
Pre-
If a question asks, “Why did the character make that choice?” what should you look for in the text?
Details that show the character’s actions, thoughts, or feelings
The central idea of a story is “Friendship helps people through hard times.” Give an example of a theme that could be drawn from this central idea.
The importance of loyalty, the value of friendship, or people need support to overcome difficulties.
Choose the word that is a synonym of “reluctant."
Choices: eager, hesitant, excited, brave
Hesitant
In this sentence, identify the onomatopoeias and explain its effect:
"The old engine coughed and sputtered before finally roaring to life."
“Coughed,” “sputtered,” and “roaring” — the words imitate sounds and help the reader hear the engine’s struggle.
The word careless has the suffix -less. What does this suffix mean?
“Without”
If a question asks, “How does the author show that the setting is important?” what two things should you do to find the best text evidence?
Identify details about the setting and explain how they affect the story or characters
Explain why two readers might identify the same theme but describe different central ideas in the same story.
Readers may focus on different events or details in the story. The central idea is specific to what the story is mostly about, but the theme is a broader lesson that can be expressed in many ways.
Select the antonym of “scarce” as used here:
"Water was scarce in the desert, making every drop valuable."
Choices: plentiful, rare, minimal, limited
plentiful
What kind of figurative language is this?
I’m reading a book about anti-gravity — it’s impossible to put down!
Pun
If bio- means “life” and -logy means “the study of,” what does the word biology mean?
The study of life
A character’s internal thought says, “I hope no one notices my mistake,” and the narrator notes the character’s face turned red. If asked, “What can you infer about the character’s feelings and how can you support it?”
Infer embarrassment or anxiety; support with “I hope no one notices my mistake” and “face turned red.”