Definitions
Which statement best defines a text feature?
A. The lesson a reader learns from a story
B. A tool that helps readers find information quickly
C. The problem that a character faces
D. The author's opinion about a topic
B. A tool that helps readers find information quickly
Which text feature usually appears directly below a photograph to explain what it shows?
A. Glossary B. Heading C. Table of contents D. Caption
D. Caption
Read the paragraph.
The blue whale is enormous. It has a long body, a broad tail, and a small dorsal fin. Its blue-gray skin sometimes appears lighter underwater.
Which text structure is used?
A. Description
B. Sequence
C. Problem and solution
D. Cause and effect
A. Description
Read the paragraph.
The giant panda eats mostly bamboo. It spends many hours each day feeding because bamboo does not provide much energy. Pandas use their strong jaws to chew the tough plant.
The page includes a photograph of a panda eating bamboo with the caption, “A panda can spend much of its day eating bamboo.”
How does the caption work with the paragraph?
A. It introduces a new topic unrelated to the paragraph.
B. It reinforces the paragraph's explanation of the panda's eating habits.
C. It explains the order in which bamboo grows.
D. It shows how pandas and bears are different.
B. It reinforces the paragraph's explanation of the panda's eating habits.
Read the paragraph.
The heart pumps blood throughout the body. Blood carries oxygen to cells and helps remove waste. The heart's steady beating keeps blood moving.
The page includes a labeled diagram of the heart.
What does the diagram contribute to the paragraph?
A. It helps readers locate parts of the heart discussed in the paragraph.
B. It explains the order in which a person should exercise.
C. It proves that the heart is larger than every other organ.
D. It lists the causes of all heart problems.
A. It helps readers locate parts of the heart discussed in the paragraph.
2. Which organizational structure explains how two or more things are alike and different?
A. Sequence
B. Cause and effect
C. Description
D. Compare and contrast
D. Compare and contrast
A student wants to find the meaning of the word habitat in an informational book. Which text feature would be most helpful?
A. Glossary B. Diagram C. Timeline D. Photograph
A. Glossary.
A glossary provides definitions of important words in a text.
Read the paragraph.
First, a seed absorbs water. Next, its outer covering begins to split. Then, a small root grows downward. Finally, a shoot grows toward the sunlight.
Which structure organizes the information?
A. Compare and contrast
B. Cause and effect
C. Sequence
D. Description
C. Sequence
Read the paragraph.
Why Leaves Change Color
In summer, leaves appear green because they contain chlorophyll. When autumn arrives and temperatures drop, chlorophyll breaks down. Other colors, such as yellow and orange, become easier to see.
How does the heading work with the paragraph's cause-and-effect structure?
A. The heading identifies the topic, and the paragraph explains why the color change happens.
B. The heading gives the steps for planting a tree, and the paragraph describes the tools needed.
C. The heading introduces two types of leaves, and the paragraph compares them.
D. The heading identifies a problem, and the paragraph describes a solution to it.
A. The heading identifies the topic, and the paragraph explains why the color change happens.
Read the paragraph.
Many birds migrate when the weather becomes colder and food becomes harder to find. They travel to places where food is more available. When warmer weather returns, many birds travel back to their original nesting areas.
A map shows arrows pointing south for fall migration and north for spring migration.
How do the map and the cause-and-effect structure work together?
A. The map compares the sizes of birds, while the paragraph describes their feathers.
B. The map identifies bird species, while the paragraph explains how birds build nests.
C. The paragraph explains why birds migrate, while the map shows the directions they travel.
D. The paragraph gives a list of bird habitats, while the map explains how birds find food.
C. The paragraph explains why birds migrate, while the map shows the directions they travel.
An author organizes a paragraph by explaining why a drought occurred and what happened to the crops afterward. Which structure is being used?
A. Cause and effect
B. Problem and solution
C. Sequence
D. Compare and contrast
A. Cause and effect
Read the paragraph.
Sea turtles lay their eggs on sandy beaches. After the eggs hatch, the baby turtles crawl toward the ocean. Many face dangers from birds and crabs along the way. A numbered diagram shows a baby turtle, its eggs, and arrows pointing from the nest toward the ocean.
How does the diagram help the reader?
A. It explains why birds hunt baby turtles.
B. It compares baby turtles with adult turtles.
C. It visually shows the movement from the nest toward the ocean.
D. It defines the scientific terms in the paragraph.
C. It visually shows the movement from the nest toward the ocean.
Read the paragraph.
During a heavy rainstorm, a creek overflowed and covered the walking path. As a result, the park closed the path to keep visitors safe.
Which text structure is most clearly used?
A. Description
B. Cause and effect
C. Compare and contrast
D. Sequence
B. Cause and effect
The overflow causes the path to close, showing an effect
Read the paragraph.
To make a paper airplane, fold a sheet of paper in half lengthwise. Open the paper and fold the top corners toward the center line. Then fold the paper in half again and fold down the wings.
A diagram shows three pictures labeled Step 1, Step 2, and Step 3.
How do the text structure and diagram work together?
A. The sequence explains why paper airplanes fly, while the diagram compares different designs.
B. The sequence describes the airplane's appearance, while the diagram defines unfamiliar words.
C. The sequence lists the steps, while the diagram shows what the airplane looks like after each step.
D. The sequence compares paper airplanes with real airplanes, while the diagram identifies their differences.
C. The sequence lists the steps, while the diagram shows what the airplane looks like after each step.
Read the paragraph.
Plastic waste can enter rivers and harm wildlife. One community responded by organizing monthly river cleanups and placing recycling bins near the water. Volunteers collected hundreds of pounds of trash during the first three months.
A bar graph shows the pounds of trash collected during each of the three months.
How do the text structure and graph work together?
A. The problem-and-solution structure explains the community's response, while the graph compares the amount of trash collected over time.
B. The sequence structure explains how plastic is manufactured, while the graph lists the tools used by volunteers.
C. The compare-and-contrast structure shows differences between rivers, while the graph identifies animal species.
D. The description structure lists the river's physical features, while the graph explains why plastic exists.
A. The problem-and-solution structure explains the community's response, while the graph compares the amount of trash collected over time.
A nonfiction book has a heading called “How Bees Help Plants.” Under the heading, the author explains how bees carry pollen from one flower to another. What is the main purpose of the heading?
A. To show the order in which the author wrote the book
B. To compare bees with other insects
C. To introduce the specific topic explained in that section
D. To provide the definition of every scientific word
C. To introduce the specific topic explained in that section
Read the paragraph.
Solar panels collect energy from sunlight and turn it into electricity. Homes can use this electricity to power lights and appliances. A chart lists three homes and the amount of electricity each home's solar panels produced in one day.
How does the chart add to the information in the paragraph?
A. It explains the steps needed to install solar panels.
B. It provides specific data that allows readers to compare electricity production among homes.
C. It describes the physical appearance of solar panels.
D. It explains why sunlight disappears at night.
B. It provides specific data that allows readers to compare electricity production among homes.
Read the paragraph.
Reusable water bottles can be washed and used again, while disposable bottles are usually thrown away after one use. Both types can hold water, but reusable bottles can reduce the number of bottles people discard.
Which structure best organizes the information?
A. Problem and solution
B. Sequence
C. Description
D. Compare and contrast
D. Compare and contrast
The paragraph explains similarities and differences between reuseable and disposable bottles.
Read the paragraph.
Some desert plants lose water quickly through their leaves. Cacti have a different adaptation: their spines help reduce water loss and protect them from animals. Their thick stems also store water.
A labeled diagram identifies the cactus's spines and thick stem.
How do the text structure and diagram work together to explain how a cactus survives?
A. Compare and contrast shows that all desert plants survive in exactly the same way, while the diagram lists their habitats.
B. Cause and effect explains why certain features help the cactus survive, while the diagram identifies where those features are found.
C. Sequence explains the order in which spines grow, while the diagram shows how to plant a cactus.
D. Problem and solution explains how gardeners remove cactus spines, while the diagram shows gardening tools.
B. Cause and effect explains why certain features help the cactus survive, while the diagram identifies where those features are found.
Read the paragraph.
Earthquakes occur when energy is suddenly released in Earth's crust. The shaking can damage buildings, roads, and bridges. Engineers use flexible materials and special building designs to help structures withstand shaking.
The page includes a labeled diagram of a building with shock-absorbing supports beneath its foundation.
Why is the diagram especially useful with this paragraph?
A. It replaces the need to explain what an earthquake is.
B. It provides a timeline of earthquakes that have happened around the world.
C. It compares the materials used in every type of building.
D. It makes the solution more understandable by showing how a building feature can help reduce damage from shaking.
D. It makes the solution more understandable by showing how a building feature can help reduce damage from shaking.
5. An author describes a flood, explains the damage it causes, and then describes how a town builds a stronger flood barrier. Which statement best explains the difference between the structures used?
A. Description tells what something is like, while sequence lists events in time order.
B. Cause and effect explains why the damage occurred, while problem and solution explains how the town addresses the danger.
C. Compare and contrast explains the damage, while description explains the solution.
D. Sequence explains the flood's effects, while compare and contrast explains how the barrier wa
B. Cause and effect explains why the damage occurred, while problem and solution explains how the town addresses the danger.
Beavers build dams across streams. The dams slow the water and create ponds where beavers can build safe homes. These ponds can also provide habitats for other animals.
The page includes a labeled diagram of a beaver dam showing the stream, dam, pond, and lodge.
Which statement best explains how the diagram supports the paragraph?
A. It changes the paragraph's focus from beavers to other animals.
B. It gives the steps for building a beaver dam in exact time order.
C. It compares beavers with animals that do not build dams.
D. It helps readers visualize the parts of the dam and pond described in the paragraph.
D. It helps readers visualize the parts of the dam and pond described in the paragraph.
Read the paragraph.
Many students left their lunch trash on the playground. The school wanted to keep the area clean, so it placed recycling and trash bins near the doors and taught students how to sort their waste. By the next week, less trash was scattered across the playground.
Which answer best describes the structure and its purpose?
A. Description — it lists the physical features of the playground.
B. Sequence — it explains the exact order for building the playground.
C. Problem and solution — it presents a cleanliness problem and explains actions taken to address it.
D. Compare and contrast — it explains how two playgrounds are alike and different.
C. Problem and solution — it presents a cleanliness problem and explains actions taken to address it.
Read the paragraph.
During winter, some roads become icy and dangerous. To reduce accidents, road crews spread salt on icy roads. The salt helps ice melt, making the roads safer for drivers.
A chart compares the number of reported road accidents on icy days before and after a town began using a new road-salting plan.
Which answer best explains how the paragraph's structure and the chart work together?
A. The paragraph uses description to list road features, while the chart shows different types of vehicles.
B. The paragraph uses sequence to explain how drivers learn to stop, while the chart lists road signs.
C. The paragraph uses compare and contrast to describe two kinds of salt, while the chart defines road safety terms.
D. The paragraph uses problem and solution to explain how the town responds to icy roads, while the chart provides data readers can use to examine accident patterns.
D. The paragraph uses problem and solution to explain how the town responds to icy roads, while the chart provides data readers can use to examine accident patterns.
Read the paragraph.
During a drought, a town had less water available for homes and gardens. Town leaders encouraged residents to collect rainwater in barrels and use it to water plants. After several months, residents reported using less treated drinking water for their gardens.
The page includes:
A heading: Saving Water During a Drought
A diagram showing how rainwater flows from a roof into a collection barrel
A bar graph comparing the amount of treated water used for gardening before and after residents began collecting rainwater
Which answer best explains how the text features and organizational structure work together?
A. The heading introduces a description of the town, the diagram compares different kinds of roofs, and the graph lists the steps for collecting rainwater.
B. The problem-and-solution structure explains how the town responds to limited water, the diagram shows how the collection system works, and the graph provides evidence of a change in water use.
C. The sequence structure explains the history of droughts, the diagram identifies different plants, and the graph shows the town's population.
D. The compare-and-contrast structure explains how all towns use water, the diagram shows the effects of flooding, and the graph describes the weather.
B. The problem-and-solution structure explains how the town responds to limited water, the diagram shows how the collection system works, and the graph provides evidence of a change in water use.