Main Idea
Cause and Effect
Inferencing
Context Clues
Fact/Opinion
100
Steel is a very important metal which is used for many things. In the United States, the automobile industry uses the most steel. Steel is used in putting up buildings. Cans and containers are made from steel. Steel is used to make farm factory machines. The MAIN IDEA is:
What is Steel is used for many purposes.
100
Jack was alone in the house. He heard a strange sound upstairs. He tiptoed up the stairs and peeked into his bedroom. A big moth was fluttering against the window. EFFECT: Jack tiptoed upstairs. What was the CAUSE?
What is he heard a strange sound?
100
Gwen left the department store. She walked slowly to the bus stop. Should she take the summer job she had been offered? It meant she could make $5 an hour for 48 hours each week. Plus, she would make extra money on the things she sold. She could work for 14 weeks. That would be a lot of money. She could put it in her savings account. It would be there when she needed it for college. Gwen waited for the bus. Maybe she shouldn't take the summer job. Maybe she should visit her cousin, Ernie, in Boston. Ernie had invited her. It would be wonderful to see another part of the country. She would have a grand time. Maybe she would meet new friends. But then, she wouldn't make any money over the summer. Is it likely that:
Gwen is having a hard time deciding on her summer plans.
100
The cookies I wanted to eat were on a very high shelf. I ATTEMPTED to reach the shelf by standing on my toes, but I couldn't. I had to bring a step stool to stand on. The context shows the bolded word in the passage means:
What is tried?
100
There aren't any other cough drops just like ours. They taste just like the best cherry candy. They'll stop anyone from coughing. This story states a fact or an opinion?
What is an opinion?
200
Tom jumped into the pool. The water was chilly, but Tom didn't mind. Today was the day for his first driving lesson. He could do a few dives already, but he wanted to learn to do fancy dives correctly. He was anxious to learn the swan dive and the jackknife. What is the main idea?
What is Tom wants to learn to dive.
200
Bruce dared Katy to go into the dark cave. Katy wanted to seem brave. She crawled in and looked around. It really wasn't so scary after all. CAUSE: Katy wanted to seem brave. What was the EFFECT?
What is she went into the cave?
200
When students fail a subject in high school, they can take it again. In fact, they must take the subject over again if they want to graduate. Students cannot graduate from high school unless they get passing grades in certain subjects. But in college, things work a little differently. In college, students must have a certain grade average to graduate. They do not always have to repeat a course if their failed. But, if a student gets too many failing grades in college, the student is asked to leave the college. The student can no longer attend that college. Only students with a grade average of a C or better can continue to attend most colleges. The rest must leave. Is is likely that:
What is A student who fails in high school is not asked to leave.
200
Everyone has EMOTIONS. Sometimes you may get angry or you might be afraid. You may be very sad one day or you might jump up and down for joy. All of these are EMOTIONS and there are many more. The context shows the underlined word in the passage means:
What are feelings?
200
Our soft drink mix makes 11 quarts. It comes with the sugar already in it. All you add is the water. There is a free spoon in every can. This story states:
What is fact?
300
One of the best-known cartoonists in the world as Walt Disney. As a boy, Disney liked to draw. He moved to Hollywood and there he made cartoons. He was responsible for creating the characters of Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto the dog, and others.
What is Disney made many well-known cartoon characters?
300
Looking through the trees, we saw a campfire. We were surprised. "That's strange," said Stu. "Nobody ever comes here but us!" CAUSE: We saw a campfire. What was the EFFECT?
What is we were surprised?
300
Most students have heard of "detention" by the time they enter high school. Detention is a type of punishment often used in high school. The word "detention" means detaining or delaying a person. A Student who gets detention is delayed from getting out of school on time. Detention is used as a punishment by teachers. Sometimes all a student must do during detention is sit in a room. Just sitting can be pretty boring, especially if the detention is for two hours! But sometimes a student must work during detention. Maybe the student must help a teacher clean a classroom. Sometimes the teacher makes the student do homework during detention. It is likely that:
What is during detention, the student must do what he or she is told.
300
I visited my uncle's horse ranch. He takes good care of his horses. He brushes their manes and bodies until they are clean and SLEEK. The context shows the underlined word in the passage means:
What is soft and smooth?
300
You must own a puppy. You can find no better friend. Nothing can cheer you up like a pup.When you buy your puppy, get it from us. This story states:
What is opinion?
400
Chocolate is a popular food. Today we think of it mainly as a candy. Years ago, it started out as a drink. All chocolate is made from the beans of the cacao tree. There are many steps to follow in turning cacao beans into the kind of chocolate we eat. What is the main idea of this passage?
What is making chocolate is a long process?
400
It is a good idea to lock your door at night. Mr. Griswold forgot to lock his door last Monday. When he returned home, he found that his new T.V. set had been stolen. EFFECT: Mr. Griswold's T.V. was stolen. What was the CAUSE?
What is he forgot to lock his door?
400
What is an inference?
What is taking what you know, and adding it to what you just learned, to make an educated guess.
400
I played a game with my sister. When she used the spinner, it landed on high numbers. She was able to ADVANCE in the game very quickly, and she won. The context shows the underlined word in the passage means:
What is get ahead?
400
Our soap is 99 percent pure. It is so pure that it floats. It is safe enough for a baby. It will get Dad clean, too. This story states:
What is fact?
500
There are about 2,000 kinds of bats. They come in many sizes. Bats are rather strange looking animals. They are soft and furry with large ears. Bats cannot run or walk. They usually east insects. Bats are the only mammals that can fly. What is the main idea of this passage?
What is bats are unusual mammals?
500
The clock struck 12. "Come in," said the doctor. He had a low scary voice. I began to feel frightened. I wanted to leave, but it was too late. CAUSE: The doctor had a low, scary voice. What was the EFFECT?
What is I began to feel frightened?
500
Kelly slouched against the school building and watched the students. So, these were kids who went to his school, huh? They didn't look tough. They didn't look smart, either, she thought. They were carrying books. Pretty soon, she'd have to go in with them. Then the teachers would introduce her. They'd say, "Kelly Smith is with us today. She's new at our school, but I want you to make her feel welcome." Ha! She wasn't interested in being made to feel welcome. He was just interested in having everybody know he was tough. "Hey, kid," she said, bumping into a short boy on purpose, "watch where you're going!" It is likely that...
What is Kelly is a bully.
500
My friends came to visit me when I was sick. They brought me some bright flowers to cheer me up. They sat and talked to me and made me feel better. My friends are very CONSIDERATE. The context shows the underlined word in the passage means:
What is thoughtful?
500
Of these three sentences, which one states a fact? A. These apple pies are like the ones your mother made. B. These pies can be found in a grocery store. C. Your family will always ask for second servings.
What is B- These pies can be found in a grocery store.
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