The Bee Highway
Based on the description of “a big bulky sweatshirt with MC Hammer pants,” what does “bulky” mean?
Thick, loose, and oversized
What two-part writing structure does the author use to help emphasize the story's theme?
She shows the difference between a once-thriving town and its later destruction
What is Central Idea
The central idea is the big idea of a text—what it’s mostly about and what the author wants you to learn.
Why did my mom always get mad when I said, "Yeah" instead of "Yes" when responding to the doctor or teachers?
(Other than me potentially embarrassing her)
Formal language helps people understand you, respect you, and take you seriously.
In the sentence, "Carefully, Helena lifts out a frame from one of the hives, smelling sweet beeswax and seeing the glint of fresh honey," what does “glint” most nearly mean?
Shiny or sparkling
Based on the sentence, "The countryside was, in fact, famous for the abundance and variety of its bird life."
What does “abundance” mean?
a large amount or great number
What is Theme?
The theme is a deeper message about life, people, or the world that you learn from a story.
Rewrite this sentence in formal language:
“People shouldn’t use chemicals because they mess up bees.”
People should not use chemicals because they harm bees.
What happens when people control plant growth with chemicals in suburbs and farmland?
Pesticides and herbicides harm bees and their food sources
What is the author’s purpose in telling the reader she is writing about an imaginary town?
To warn readers that environmental destruction could happen anywhere if humans are not careful
What is Formal Language?
Formal language is how you write or speak when you want to sound respectful and professional, like in an essay or presentation.
Rewrite this sentence by removing redundancy and improving clarity:
“The bees completely disappeared entirely from the area.”
“The bees completely disappeared.”
OR
“The bees disappeared.”
What is the effect of cities having a greater variety of plants than rural areas?
Bees have access to more types of plants and food
Based on this excerpt: "Then a strange blight crept over the area and everything began to change. Some evil spell had settled on the community: mysterious maladies swept the flocks of chickens; the cattle and sheep sickened and died." What does the word “blight” most nearly mean?
a disease or widespread problem causing harm
What is a Simple Sentence?
A simple sentence is one complete idea with a subject and a verb.
Ex. : The bee flies.
Helena checks the hive.
The birds disappeared.
Replace the informal phrase with a more formal, precise word:
“Bees are very important to plant life.”
What is the central idea of the passage? Provide one piece of evidence.
Cities can be good environments for bees when people create and protect habitats
What is the Theme of the passage? Provide one piece of evidence.
Human actions can harm the environment and destroy ecosystems
What is Writing Structure?
Writing structure is how the author builds the text—how the ideas are ordered and connected.
Rewrite the italicized portion in a more formal and concise way:
“The absence of bees is really bad for how plants grow and stuff.”
Best Answer:
The absence of bees negatively affects plant growth.