Text Features
Text Structure
Authors Purpose
Summary
100
What type of text feature will MOST LIKELY show you the location of major cities in a country?
A. A diagram
B. A graph
C. A map
D. A photograph
C. A MAP
100
Read the selection below and answer the question.
Sara kicked the soccer ball. The ball rolled across the goal line. Score!
What type of organizational pattern is shown?
A. Cause and Effect
B. True or False
C. Problem and Solution
D. Description
A. CAUSE AND EFFECT
100
Read the following paragraph.
One day, the zookeepers forgot to close the gate to the monkey exhibit. The monkeys got out climbed trees, stole food, and made a big mess. The zookeepers had to postpone the zoo opening until all of the monkeys were located. From then on, the zoo was extra careful with checking the monkey exhibit gate.
What is the MOST LIKELY reason the author wrote this paragraph?
A. To reveal the daily routines of the zookeepers.
B. To show how the zoo responds to emergencies.
C. To compare the monkey exhibit to other animal exhibits.
D. To illustrate some of the events zoo visitors can witness.
B. TO SHOW HOW THE ZOO RESPONDS TO EMERGENCIES
100
Which statement is true about summaries.
A. A summary has to be as long as the original text.
B. A summary is always shorter than the original text.
C. A summary should always be three to four words long.
D. A summary should only review the beginning of a text.
B. A SUMMARY IS ALWAYS SHORTER THAN THE ORIGINAL TEXT.
200
What does a heading do?
A. Tells the price of the book
B. Shows what a section is about
C. Gives the definition of a word
D. Labels a picture
B. SHOWS WHAT A SECTION IS ABOUT
200
Read the selection below and answer the question.
The beach was covered with leftover trash from tourists. The community set up a beach cleanup.
What type of organizational pattern is shown?
A. Cause and Effect
B. True and False
C. Problem and Solution
D. Right and Wrong
C. PROBLEM AND SOLUTION
200
Recess
A. Ghimire
Fewer than 11% of schools in the U.S. have recess. It means that millions of kids do not get to play for at least 20 minutes in school. These kids are missing out. Kids learn to interact differently with friends when they play. They behave differently in class or during recess. They are more on their own and have to make their own decisions while playing.
Knowing one should not push another kid is different from actually not pushing another kid while playing. Recess means time to practice what kids have learned at home and in class. Parents and teachers should let more kids in the U.S. have recess time.
An important message in this passage is that...
A. Kids can benefit from more recess time in the U.S.
B. Kids are not learning how to act in classrooms.
C. American kids need more recess time than other kids.
D. For some kids, only recess is the time to exercise.
A. KIDS CAN BENEFIT FROM MORE RECESS TIME IN THE U.S.
200
Kangaroos
K. Reiter
Kangaroos are mammals that have strong hind legs, small front legs, a long, strong tail, and big feet. They stand about 6 feet tall and can weigh up to 200 pounds. Using their large feet, kangaroos can jump about 25 feet in one single bounce. They can travel about 30 miles per hour.
The kangaroos’ tail is used for balance when they jump. They use their strong legs to stomp the ground when they feel threatened by predators. The sound gives off a warning sign for others to stay away. Kangaroos can also use their legs to kick their enemies if needed.
Kangaroos live in Australia. Their groups are called troops, herds, or mobs. Each mob has about 50 kangaroos in it. Kangaroos protect those within their troop and groom each other. Kangaroos feast on grass, flowers, leaves, and moss. They throw up their food and then re-chew it. Then, the food can be totally digested.
Kangaroos are known as marsupials because they carry their young in a pouch. The pouch is on their belly, and they use it to hold their babies. The babies are called joeys and are only about one inch long when they are born. They get milk from their mothers while in the pouch. The joey stays snug and warm inside the pouch for about ten months. At that time, the joey leaves and does not return. Joeys live in their mother's pouch until they are about 10 months old. Kangaroos are interesting animals to watch and study. They are the official mascot of many sports teams in Australia, and there are even more kangaroos than people on the continent.
Which detail would BEST belong in a summary of the article?
A. Each mob has about 50 kangaroos in it.
B. Kangaroos carry their babies in a pouch on their bellies.
C. The joey leaves and does not return to the mother.
D. Kangaroos throw up their food and then re-chew it.
B. KANGAROOS CARRY THEIR BABIES IN A POUCH ON THEIR BELLIES
300
What is the purpose of a caption?
A. A big title on the cover.
B. A sentence under a picture that explains it.
C. A list of chapters.
D. A bold word
B. A sentence under a picture that explains it.
300
Read the following passage.
Zilker Park
The city of Austin, Texas, is known for its love of nature. One of its most famous parks is called Zilker Metropolitan Park. It is located near the center of the city. People come here to boat, hike, and play in the fields that surround the Colorado River. The park has a pool that flows directly from Barton Creek. The water in this pool is very cold throughout the whole year. The park also contains a miniature train that people of any age can ride. There is a playground and a botanical garden. The park also has fields for playing baseball and soccer. People can listen to live music and have picnics. Once a year, a hot air balloon festival is held here. If you love the outdoors, Zilker Park is one of the best places to visit.
What can the reader tell based on the photograph?
A. The park is closed in the winter
B. People bring dogs to the park
C. There are lifeguards in the park
D. The park changes an entrance fee
B. PEOPLE BRING DOGS TO THE PARK
300
Recess
A. Ghimire
Fewer than 11% of schools in the U.S. have recess. It means that millions of kids do not get to play for at least 20 minutes in school. These kids are missing out. Kids learn to interact differently with friends when they play. They behave differently in class or during recess. They are more on their own and have to make their own decisions while playing.
Knowing one should not push another kid is different from actually not pushing another kid while playing. Recess means time to practice what kids have learned at home and in class. Parents and teachers should let more kids in the U.S. have recess time.
The author wrote this passage to...
A. Give the reader facts about Martial Arts for kids
B. Teach the reader how to practice Martial Arts.
C. Make the reader want to teach Martial Arts.
D. Explain how Martial Arts makes kids stronger.
A. GIVE THE READER FACTS ABOUT MARTIAL ARTS FOR KIDS
300
What’s the Matter?
K. Reiter
Matter is everywhere. It’s the stuff that things are made of, such as the air we breathe and the liquid we drink. Matter is anything that has mass and takes up space. All matter is made of tiny particles called atoms. The three main states of matter are solid, liquid and gas.
Solids
Solids include such things as your desk or chair. They can be moved from one place to another but will always keep their shape. In solids, atoms are tightly packed together and can barely move. That is why solids feel hard to the touch.
Liquids
Liquids are able to move about freely. Liquids will take the shape of the container in which they are poured. For example, it you pour water into a cup, it will take the shape of that particular cup. The atoms are not as tightly packed as they are in a solid. They vibrate and slide past each other.
Gas
In a gas, the atoms are so loose and far apart that you can move freely through it. The atoms move very fast in a gas. The air around us is a gas. The atoms in a solid, liquid, and gas differ from each other.
Matter can change from one state to another. Temperature can affect the state of matter. If an ice cube, which is a solid, comes in contact with heat, it will melt and become a liquid. If the liquid is heated again, it will become a gas. If water, which is a liquid, is frozen, it becomes an ice cube. The ice cube is a solid. So, look around and notice all the matter around you because matter matters.
What is the best summary of this passage?
A. Matter is what things are made of. The three main states of matter are solid, liquid, and gas. The atoms determine the state of matter. Matter can change from one state to another
B. In a solid, the atoms are tightly packed. In a liquid, the atoms are more spread apart and can take the shape of its container. In a gas, the atoms are spread so far apart that a person can walk through it.
C. Matter is anything that has mass and takes up space. Matter can change from one state to another by adding or subtracting heat.
D. If an ice cube has heat added to it, it will melt and become a liquid. If that liquid is frozen, it will go back to a solid.
A. Matter is what things are made of. The three main states of matter are solid, liquid, and gas. The atoms determine the state of matter. Matter can change from one state to another
400
What can you learn from a diagram?
A. Only the title
B. How something looks or works
C. The author's name
D. The table of contents
B. HOW SOMETHING LOOKS OR WORKS
400
Read the paragraph. Use the paragraph to answer both questions.
Clouds form when water vapor in the air cools down and changes back into tiny drops of water. This happens because the warm air rises up high in the sky where it is cooler. As the air cools, the water vapor sticks together to make little water droplets or ice crystals. These droplets or crystals group together and float in the sky, making clouds. Clouds can look different depending on how high they are and how much water they have in them.
What causes water vapor to turn into tiny drops of water?
A. The low elevation
B. The cool air
C. The clouds colliding
D. The warm winds
C. THE CLOUDS COLLIDING
400
Travel
A. Ghimire
Travel can be a form of learning. Even simple trips can be educational. For example, a trip to the post office teaches you things. This summer, you should ask your parents to take you to a different kind of school: the world school.
Family Time
A family trip means more family time. According to New Mexico State University, children feel safe around their family. Parents know their kids better when they are together more. The family learns about each other. They also learn about the world when they travel.
Learning by experience
Traveling is learning by seeing or doing. For example, at a farm, you may learn about how a farm works. You can be a part of growing real food. You will actually enjoy this kind of trip.
Learning about different cultures
You do not have to travel far to meet people from different cultures. You can go to community towns like little India or Chinatown. You can even check out restaurants or foods from different cultures. Even those trips teach you more about many people.
Bring history alive
The things that can be boring in books can be fun in real life. Many museums have graphics, cartoons, or videos about history. Seeing things you’ve only read in books can teach you so many important things.
The author wrote this passage to...
A. List the steps to spending more family time together.
B. Make the reader want to save money for traveling.
C. Tell readers the different benefits of travel.
D. Describe what education is for children.
C. TELL READERS THE DIFFERENT BENEFITS OF TRAVEL
400
The History of the Purse
K. Reiter
When we think of the word “purse,” we usually think about small pouches that women use to carry all the things they need. They come in different sizes and colors. The straps can be long or short. But did you know that the first known purse was actually carried by a man?
Purses date back more than 5,000 years. A man, known as Otzi the Iceman, carried a purse. He is known as the oldest natural mummy and was found in the Alps Mountains in 1991 with a handbag next to him. It was made from animal hide and even had a strap. There is more evidence of purses being used by men as seen in Egyptian hieroglyphs.
In the Middle Ages, both men and women started carrying purses. Most were made with round pieces of leather and had a drawstring at the top. The purses were small and could only carry small items such as money. The purses would hang from belts that were worn by the man and women. Near the end of the Middle Ages, the wealthier class started carrying a purse that was bigger and had a metal frame covered by leather. Purses in the Middle Ages were made from round pieces of leader tied with a drawstring.
In 1670, pockets were invented, so men no longer had the need to carry a purse attached to their belt. They did carry small pouches to hold money. This later became the modern-day, wallet. During the 16th and 17th century, fashion changed for women as well. Their dresses were bigger, and they could no longer hold the purse on the outside of their clothes. They wore the purses on the inside of the dress instead.
By the 18th century, fashion changed yet again, and the dresses were slimmer. Women no longer wanted to carry the purse on the inside of their dress. Women also needed something bigger to take while traveling. By the 1930's, handbags started to change. They now came in different sizes and shapes. Today, purses and handbags are carried by many and continue to change with the times.
What is the best summary of paragraph 2?
A. Otzi the Iceman, the oldest natural mummy, was found in 1991 with a handbag next to him.
B. Otzi the Iceman is the oldest natural mummy known to man. He was found in the Alps in 1991.
C. Otzi the Iceman had a handbag that was made of animal hide and had a strap.
D. There is evidence of purses used by men in Egyptian hieroglyphs.
A. Otzi the Iceman, the oldest natural mummy, was found in 1991 with a handbag next to him.
500
Why are some words in bold print?
A. To make them harder to read.
B. To show they are not important.
C. To highlight important words.
D. To decorate the page.
C. TO HIGHLIGHT IMPORTANT WORDS.
500
The Best Homemade Ice Cream
K. Reiter
What’s the best way to cool down on a sunny, hot day? Eating ice cream, of course. What’s even better than eating ice cream? Making your own ice cream. Making your own ice cream can be a fun way to escape the heat, and you will have a sweet treat to enjoy afterward. If you want to try it on your own, follow this easy recipe below. Be sure to ask a parent to help with some of the instructions listed.
Ingredients:
1 ¼ cups of heavy cream
1 ¼ cup whole milk
¾ cup sugar
¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
Supplies:
Saucepan
Ice Cream Maker
Instructions:
1. Pour one cup of the cream into a saucepan and add the sugar and salt.
2. Warm over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved. (Ask a parent to help)
3. Remove from heat and add the rest of the cream, milk, and vanilla. (Ask a parent to help)
4. Put in refrigerator.
5. When you are ready to churn, remove it from the refrigerator.
6. Whisk the mixture again and pour it into the ice cream maker. (Ask a parent to help)
7. Follow the directions that came with the ice cream maker. Then, scoop out and place in the freezer.
8. Leave in until frozen and then enjoy your sweet treat.
2. You can top it with your favorite chocolate syrup or crunchy nuts. You can even add a cherry on top!
How does the author organize the passage?
A. By giving ingredients and steps to make homemade ice cream.
B. By explaining why ice cream is the best treat on a hot day.
C. By comparing how ice cream was made in the past to how it's made today.
D. By giving examples of different types of ice cream you make.
A. BY GIVING INGREDIENTS AND STEPS TO MAKE HOMEMADE ICE CREAM
500
Recess
A. Ghimire
Fewer than 11% of schools in the U.S. have recess. It means that millions of kids do not get to play for at least 20 minutes in school. These kids are missing out. Kids learn to interact differently with friends when they play. They behave differently in class or during recess. They are more on their own and have to make their own decisions while playing.
Knowing one should not push another kid is different from actually not pushing another kid while playing. Recess means time to practice what kids have learned at home and in class. Parents and teachers should let more kids in the U.S. have recess time.
What is the author's main purpose in this passage?
A. To make the reader want to be more active in the day.
B. To teach the reader how to behave in classroom and recess.
C. To inform the reader about school recess time in the U.S.
D. To list for the reader the steps of having the best recess.
C. TO INFORM THE READER ABOUT SCHOOL RECESS TIME IN THE U.S.
500
Soda
K. Reiter
Pop! Fizz! Fizz! There is nothing like a refreshing gulp of your favorite soda on a hot day. But are they good for you? Studies say absolutely not. Sodas have a lot of sugar. This 
much sugar can cause harm to the body such as tooth decay, obesity or high blood pressure. It could also cause heart disease and even cancer.
Sodas do not have anything that the body needs such as vitamins, minerals or fiber. They contain sugar, caffeine, and added calories. Even though we have heard a million times that sodas are not good for our bodies, the average American takes in about 38 gallons of soda a year. Some Americans only drink soda and drink little to no water at all. However, it seems that Americans are drinking less soda than before, so hopefully these drinks are on their way out!
Which detail would best belong in a summary of the passage?
A. There is nothing like a refreshing soda on a hot day.
B. The sugar found in sodas causes harm to the body.
C. Some Americans drink little to no water at all.
D. We have heard a million times that sodas are not good for our bodies.
B. The sugar found in sodas causes harm to the body.