Vocab in Context
In the sentence “The volcano erupted suddenly,” what does erupted mean?
Burst out or exploded
If an author writes to inform, what does that mean?
The author wants to teach you or share information
What does it mean to find evidence in a text?
To find details that prove or support your answer
How do you find the main idea of an informational paragraph?
Look for what all the sentences are mostly about and which detail is repeated or explained most.
What does point of view mean?
It’s the way an author or character sees or thinks about something.
What clue in this sentence helps you figure out what fragile means?
“The ancient vase was fragile, so the archaeologist handled it carefully.”
The clue, "handled it carefully," shows fragile means easily broken
If an author writes to persuade, what does that mean?
The author wants you to believe or do something
If a character has tears in their eyes, what can you infer?
They might be sad or hurt
If the central idea is “Bees are important to nature,” which detail best supports it?
A. Bees make honey for people to eat.
B. Bees can sting when they feel scared.
C. Bees pollinate flowers so plants can grow fruit.
C. This detail shows how the bees are helping nature.
If one text says, “Dogs make the best pets,” and another says, “Cats are easier to care for,” what is different about the two texts?
They have different opinions or points of view.
Read the sentence: “After hiking for hours, we reached a plateau, a flat area high in the mountains.”
Which word helps you understand plateau?
"Flat area"
If an author writes to entertain, what does that mean?
The author wants you to enjoy the story
When you explain your answer, what kind of evidence should you give?
Details or facts from what you read, not your opinion
A passage explains that firefighters train daily, check their gear, and help in emergencies. What is the main idea?
Firefighters prepare carefully so they can respond quickly and safely.
How can you tell if a text is written in first-person point of view?
It uses words like I, me, and my — the narrator is part of the story.
“After running the race, Maya was exhausted, but she still smiled proudly as she crossed the finish line.”
What does exhausted mean and what part of the text helps you know?
Exhausted means very tired and "after running the race."
What text structure looks at similarities and differences between two things
Compare and contrast
True or false: you can make an inference without using clues from the text
False: you must use clues from the text AND what you already know
Which sentence best shows the main idea of a paragraph about a city’s recycling program?
A. “The trucks pick up bins every Thursday.”
B. “Students collect bottles and cans at school.”
C. “The city works together to reduce waste and protect the environment.”
C. The main idea is about the city.
Two passages both describe the same event, but one focuses on the facts and the other focuses on feelings.
What is the difference in purpose?
The factual passage is meant to inform, while the emotional one is meant to entertain or express feelings.
Read the sentence:
“When the teacher announced the surprise test, a wave of panic spread through the classroom.”
What does the phrase wave of panic mean and what type of language is it?
It is figurative language meaning a sudden strong feeling of fear.
A passage explains how tornadoes form, gives facts about when they happen, and ends with safety tips for what to do during one.
What is the author’s main purpose for writing this passage?
The author's purpose is to inform
A student walks into class with wet shoes, a dripping umbrella, and a big smile.
What can you infer about what just happened, and what evidence supports your inference?
You can infer that it’s raining outside, and the student doesn’t mind because they’re smiling. The evidence is the wet shoes and dripping umbrella (shows rain) and the smile (shows a positive mood).
A paragraph explains that:
Some sea turtles travel thousands of miles each year.
They always return to the same beach where they were born.
Scientists track their long journeys using special tags.
What is the main idea of this paragraph?
A. Sea turtles live in warm ocean waters.
B. Sea turtles migrate great distances and return to their birthplaces.
C. Scientists study sea turtles because they are endangered.
D. Some sea turtles can swim faster than fish.
Answer: B — The main idea is that sea turtles travel long distances and always return to where they were born, and each detail supports that idea.
Two articles describe volcanoes.
Article A gives scientific facts about how they form.
Article B tells the story of a family living near one.
How do the authors’ points of view differ?
Article A explains volcanoes from a scientific and factual point of view, while Article B shows a personal and emotional point of view about experiencing them.