Context Clues
Fiction
NonFiction
Main Idea
Character Traits
100
Jill had a very fancy appearance in her new dress and shoes.
What is Another word for appearance ? a.smell b.look c.job
100
Jessie ran into the kitchen on his way to the backyard. He spied a yummy plate of cookies cooling on the kitchen counter. He tried to slow down and grab a couple to take on his way out the door, but he slipped and accidentally knocked the plate of cookies onto the floor.
What happened after Jessie saw the cookies? a.He grabbed a couple b.He knocked the cookies onto the floor c.He tried to slow down
100
Sound is made when tiny parts inside the ear move back and forth, or vibrate. When something is heard, waves travel into the ear canal. The waves hit the eardrum. The eardrum moves back and forth. Sound passes along three tiny bones and becomes louder. Then it moves to a tube filled with liquid. The sound moves thousands of little hair-like cells that send a message to the brain and tells the brain what the sound is.
What effect do the three tiny bones have on sound? a.The sound becomes louder. b.They move the eardrum back and forth. c.They tell the brain what the sound is.
100
The Wild West had many famous frontiersmen. One famous frontierswoman during this time period was Calamity Jane. She lived during the 1800s and learned to ride a horse and shoot a gun at an early age. She is best known for dressing in men’s clothing and fighting Indians
This story is mostly about? The Wild West had many famous frontiersmen. Calamity Jane was a famous frontierswoman. Calamity Jane rode a horse and could shoot a gun.
100
Joseph had worked for over a month preparing his car for the big derby race. He was proud of how his car had turned out and knew he could win the race. When Saturday arrived, Joseph took out his car and looked around at all of the other competitor’s cars. His stomach began to hurt and he asked his mom if they could race another day.
How did Joseph’s feelings about the race change? Joseph was happy about his car and then became mad that other cars were better than his. Joseph was excited about the race and then became nervous once he saw the other cars. Joseph was ready to race but then he got sick and just wanted to go home.
200
I can usually see the school from my window, but it is so foggy today that I can’t.
What is Another word for foggy ? a.clear b.cold c.cloudy
200
Josh’s team had been planning for the basketball game all week. On Monday, he stayed afterschool with his teammates and practiced his shooting. On Tuesday and Wednesday, they worked on their defense. Finally, Friday came and the team played a good game, but in the end they lost by 2 points.
What can you conclude will happen next? a.Josh will ask to join the winning team. b.Josh and the team will continue practicing for the next game. c.Josh will give up playing basketball.
200
Compost is a very easy and useful way to add nutrients to the ground to grow large healthy plants. To start a compost pile, find a nice clear location away from the house. Begin by adding yard clippings, twigs, and dried leaves. Next, add vegetable and fruit food scraps. Finally, soak the pile with water. Continue to add more clippings, food scraps, and water. After several months, the plant matter will have decayed, or broken down into smaller pieces, and made a nice compost for the garden.
Why does it take several months to make compost? a.It takes several months to gather enough food scraps. b.The compost can only be added to a summer garden. c.The plant matter needs time to decay.
200
Many years ago, people did not have grocery stores to go buy fresh meat and vegetables. They grew gardens throughout the year. They picked wild berries and fruit from trees. They also raised chickens, pigs, and cows for eggs, meat, and milk. Life today is much different than it was many years ago.
This story is mainly about? a.Today, we can go to grocery stores to buy food to eat. b.Many years ago, people did not have grocery stores to buy food. c.Many years ago, people had to grow and raise their own food.
200
Molly’s teacher had assigned her class 15 math problems to complete before they could go outside for recess. Molly asked to go to the bathroom. When she returned, her pencil broke and needed to be sharpened. Then, she was cold and had to go get her coat. The teacher’s buzzer went off and Molly had only answered 3 of the 15 problems.
What can you tell from the passage about Molly? a.Molly did not want to do her math assignment. b.Molly wanted to go outside to play. c.Molly is a very busy student.
300
Not many people learn to water ski on their initial try. Most people have to try again.
What is Another word for initial ? a.first b.best c.last
300
The wind howled as the storm raged outside. Lightening struck and thunder crashed. The whirling wind knocked down an old oak tree on top of our brand new car. As the oak tree fell, it also knocked down the electric pole and all of our lights went out.
What caused the lights to go out? a.The electric pole fell. b.The tree fell on top of the car. c.Lightening struck and thunder crashed.
300
Deep below the Earth’s surface the temperature is very hot. The temperature is so hot, it has melted rocks into a liquid called magma. When the pressure inside the Earth from the melted rock builds, it pushes towards the Earth’s surface through a volcano. When the magma pours out of the volcano it becomes lava. After several hours, the lava cools and hardens and becomes igneous rocks.
What caused the magma to come to the Earth’s surface? a.The pressure from inside the Earth. b.The opening of the volcano. c.The temperature melting the rocks.
300
The Egyptians were the first to develop the drawing tool we know as the crayon. They took hot beeswax and added a color pigment to it. This first crayon could not be held. It was used like a painting technique. Later, this same technique was used by the Greeks and Romans.
This story is mainly about? a.The Egyptians were the first to develop the crayon. b.Crayons are made from hot beeswax and color pigment. c.The Egyptian crayon is different than the crayons we use today.
300
Eric loves library day. He knows where all of the different types of books are located. His classmates sometimes ask Eric to recommend a book to read. Historical fiction is his favorite, but sometimes he likes to read scary stories too.
What can you tell from the passage about Eric? a.Eric just started reading books this year. b.Eric wants to be a writer when he grows up. c.Eric has been reading books for a long time.
400
Smog is a mixture of smoke and fog. Smog can ____ a person’s health and kill plant life.
What is a.save b.fix c.harm
400
Jenny ran as fast as she could to catch the school bus. She was running late because she couldn’t find what she had been working on last night before she went to bed. She always put it in her backpack, but last night she fell asleep and forgot to put it in her bag. Jenny secretly hoped her reading teacher would just forget about it.
The reader can tell Jenny is worried about? a.She forgot to do her math project. b.She is afraid of her reading teacher. c.She cannot find her reading homework
400
A platypus is a mammal that looks like a cross between a bird and a beaver. It has webbed feet like a duck. It also has a flat bill just like a duck. It has a furry body like a beaver, and its tail is like a beaver’s too. The platypus lives on land, but it also likes to swim in the water.
How did the author structure the text? a.Compare and Contrast b.Chronological Order c.Problem and Solution
400
Many people claim they have seen the Loch Ness Monster. The monster is said to live in a lake in Scotland called Loch Ness. The monster is to be about twenty feet long, has a short head, and a long neck. The monster also has flippers and several humps on its back. The first sighting dates back to the 7th century by a monk named Saint Columba. Today, people still claim to see the Loch Ness Monster.
This story is mostly about? a.There is a monster living in Scotland. b.A Loch Ness Monster is said to live in a lake in Scotland. c.Saint Columba first saw the Loch Ness Monster.
400
Dad came home with some awful news today. He had been offered a new job in a big city. My friends and baseball team raced through my head as I tried to hold back the tears. I wouldn’t know anyone in a new city. Who would I play with? Where would I play baseball?
What can you tell from the passage about the author? a.The author is mad at his dad. b.The author is happy to meet new friends. c.The author is worried about moving.
500
Moths are a lot like butterflies. It is often _____ to tell them apart.
What is a.easy b.difficult c.unusual
500
The sand on the beach tickled Ashley’s toes as she sat wondering how to get some water. She had been busy all day building a sandcastle with her hands. The castle looked great, but it needed water to go around the outside. Ashley was so excited this morning, she had forgotten to pack her beach toys. Suddenly, a large wave crashed onto the shore and got Ashley and all of the sand wet.
How was Ashley’s problem solved? a.The wave destroyed her sandcastle. b.She remembered leaving her beach toys at home. c.The wave brought Ashley some water.
500
Rock and Roll Concert tonight 6-8
Why did the author write this? a.To persuade the reader to go to a concert. b.To inform the reader of Big Hair ‘s concert. c.To show the reader a concert ticket.
500
A black Tahitian pearl is extremely rare and is considered one of the most beautiful pearls in the world. Tahitian pearls are found inside oysters that are located around the island of Tahiti. These oysters are very large and can weigh as much as 10 pounds. Because of their dark color, they are known as “black pearls.”
This story is mainly about? Many people like Tahitian black pearls. The black pearl comes from large oysters. The Tahitian black pearl is extremely rare and beautiful
500
We traveled deeper underground following our tour guide to the place where miners used to mine for gold. It was cold, dark, and damp in the cave. There wasn’t much room to walk and the cave seemed to go on forever. Suddenly out of the darkness, bats flew out above our heads! I held Mom’s hand tightly and tried not to scream.
What can you tell from the passage about the author? a.The author is excited. b.The author is scared. c.The author is upset.
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