Context Clues
Read this sentence: "I want to go home!" Timmy exclaimed.
The Latin word exclamare means to cry out. What does exclaimed mean as it is used in this sentence?
a) asked
b) shouted
c) sobbed
d) whispered
b) shouted
Read the passage below:
The golden sun begins to peek, Beyond the mountain’s purple peak. The dew drops glisten on the grass, As silent, morning shadows pass. The waking birds begin their song, To tell us day has come along.
Based on the poem, what are two things that happen to show the reader that it is morning?
The sun begins to peek/rise AND the birds begin to sing (or dew appears).
"In 1920, Bessie Coleman did something no one thought possible. Because no flight school in America would teach a Black woman to fly, she saved her money and moved to France."
From which point of view is the story of Bessie Coleman told?
A First Person (Bessie is telling her own story).
B Third Person (An outside narrator is telling about Bessie’s life).
C Second Person (The narrator is talking directly to you).
D First Person (A friend of Bessie's is telling the story).
B Third Person (An outside narrator is telling about Bessie’s life).
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a famous part of Virginia. These mountains are known for having a blue color when seen from a distance. The range is covered in thick forests of oak and hickory trees. Many animals, such as black bears and wild turkeys, call these mountains home. Cold, clear streams flow down the rocky slopes, making the air feel cool even in the summer.
Which details from the passage help the reader "visualize" the Blue Ridge Mountains?
A. The names of the states nearby.
B. How long it takes to hike the mountains.
C. The blue color, thick forests, and clear streams.
D. The reason why people move to Virginia.
C. The blue color, thick forests, and clear streams.
Choose the correct words to complete the sentence: "The wind ________ the fallen leaves right ________ the open front door."
A. blue / through
B. blew / threw
C. blew / through
D. blue / threw
C. blew / through
“The workers began to construct the new library after the foundation was poured.”
The word "construct" contains the Latin root struct. Based on this root, what does the word "construct" mean?
A To move to a new place
B To build or put something together
C To tear down an old building
D To draw a picture of a house
B To build or put something together
"Because no flight school in America would teach a Black woman to fly, she saved her money and moved to France."
Question: Why did Bessie Coleman move to France?
A. She wanted to learn the French language.
B. No flight school in America would teach her.
C. She wanted to become a hero in a new country.
D. She had already earned her license in the United States.
B. No flight school in America would teach her.
"Caleb tightened his grip on the leather reins as the wagon jolted over a deep rut in the dusty trail... sixty days since they left Missouri, and the tall grass of the prairie seemed to go on forever."
1. How does the setting of the "endless prairie" affect Caleb’s feelings in the story?
A It makes him feel excited to start a new farm.
B It makes the journey feel long and tiring.
C It makes him worry about finding enough water.
D It makes him want to turn the wagon back to Missouri.
B It makes the journey feel long and tiring.
In many parts of the Chesapeake Bay, the sea level is rising. Because the water is getting higher, the salty waves wash over the grassy marshes more often. This causes the marsh grass to die. As a result, the small animals that hide in the grass, like crabs and minnows, lose their homes and must find new places to live.
What is one effect of the grass dying?
A. The sea level stops rising.
B. The water becomes less salty.
C. Animals like crabs and minnows lose their homes.
D. The weather in Virginia gets colder.
C. Animals like crabs and minnows lose their homes.
In which sentence does the word object have the same meaning as it does in the sentence below? "The mysterious object on the forest floor turned out to be an old compass."
A. I must object to your plan because it is too dangerous.
B. The teacher asked us to identify the object in the photograph.
C. The object of the game is to score the most points.
D. He did not object when the referee called a foul.
B. The teacher asked us to identify the object in the photograph.
Sentence: "The pioneer family traveled for months in a covered wagon, sleeping under the stars as they moved toward the unsettled western frontier."
Which words from the sentence help the reader understand the meaning of pioneer?
A "family traveled"
B "for months"
C "sleeping under the stars"
D "moved toward the unsettled western frontier"
D "moved toward the unsettled western frontier"
It had been sixty days since they left Missouri, and the tall grass of the prairie seemed to go on forever."
Question: How many days had passed since Caleb and his sister left Missouri?
A. Sixty days
B. Six days
C. Sixteen days
D. One hundred days
A. Sixty days
The Little Seed
The wind blew cold, the sky was gray, I hid beneath the earth away. I felt the rain, I felt the chill, I stayed quite dark, I stayed quite still. But then the sun began to glow, I felt a tingle in my toe. I pushed through dirt, I reached for light, And turned into a flower bright.
What is the theme of this poem?
A. Growing a garden is hard work.
B. Flowers need rain and sun to live.
C. Patience and hard work help you grow through tough times.
D. Winter is a cold and lonely season.
C. Patience and hard work help you grow through tough times.
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a famous part of Virginia. These mountains are known for having a blue color when seen from a distance. The range is covered in thick forests of oak and hickory trees. Many animals, such as black bears and wild turkeys, call these mountains home. Cold, clear streams flow down the rocky slopes, making the air feel cool even in the summer.
Which text structure is used in this passage?
A. Cause and Effect
B. Description
C. Comparison and Contrast
D. Problem and Solution
B. Description
Read the sentence below: "The hunter picked up his bow and prepared to bow before the king."
How does the pronunciation or meaning of the word bow change in this sentence?
A. The first bow is a weapon; the second bow is a movement of respect.
B. The first bow means to bend; the second bow is a ribbon.
C. Both words are pronounced the same and have the same meaning.
D. The first bow means a ship's front; the second bow means to exit.
A. The first bow is a weapon; the second bow is a movement of respect.
Sentence: "Black bears often enter a state of hibernation during the winter, where they fall into a deep sleep and their heart rate slows down to save energy."
Which phrase from the sentence provides the best clue to the meaning of hibernation?
A "often enter a state"
B "during the winter"
C "fall into a deep sleep"
D "to save energy"
C "fall into a deep sleep"
Caleb tightened his grip on the leather reins as the wagon jolted over a deep rut in the dusty trail. Behind him, his younger sister was humming a tune to her rag doll. It had been sixty days since they left Missouri, and the tall grass of the prairie seemed to go on forever. "Are we there yet?" she whispered, but Caleb just looked at the setting sun, knowing they still had many miles to go before they reached the Oregon Territory.
What are two challenges the characters face during their journey?
A bumpy/rough trail (jolting over ruts) AND the long length of time/distance (60 days/many miles to go).
The Little Seed
The wind blew cold, the sky was gray, I hid beneath the earth away. I felt the rain, I felt the chill, I stayed quite dark, I stayed quite still. But then the sun began to glow, I felt a tingle in my toe. I pushed through dirt, I reached for light, And turned into a flower bright.
Which detail from the poem best supports the theme of overcoming a struggle?
A. "The wind blew cold, the sky was gray"
B. "I stayed quite dark, I stayed quite still"
C. "I pushed through dirt, I reached for light"
D. "I felt a tingle in my toe"
C. "I pushed through dirt, I reached for light"
In many parts of the Chesapeake Bay, the sea level is rising. Because the water is getting higher, the salty waves wash over the grassy marshes more often. This causes the marsh grass to die. As a result, the small animals that hide in the grass, like crabs and minnows, lose their homes and must find new places to live.
According to the passage, what is the cause of the marsh grass dying?
A. Small animals like crabs are eating it.
B. The sea level is rising and salty waves wash over it.
C. The minnows are moving to new places.
D. There is not enough rain in the Chesapeake Bay.
B. The sea level is rising and salty waves wash over it.
Read the two sentences below:
Sentence A: The meticulous student checked her math work three times.
Sentence B: The fussy student checked her math work three times.
Both words mean "paying great attention to detail," but how does the connotation change from Sentence A to Sentence B?
A. Sentence B makes the student sound more professional.
B. Sentence B gives the student a negative "feeling," as if they are being annoying.
C. Sentence A makes the student sound like they are in a hurry.
D. There is no change in feeling between the two words.
B. Sentence B gives the student a negative "feeling," as if they are being annoying.
Sentence: "The coach was jubilant after the final whistle, high-fiving the players and wearing a giant grin because the team had finally won the championship."
Which two clues from the sentence help the reader know the coach is jubilant?
A "after the final whistle" and "finally won"
B "high-fiving the players" and "wearing a giant grin"
C "the coach was" and "the team had"
D "final whistle" and "won the championship"
B "high-fiving the players" and "wearing a giant grin"
In 1920, Bessie Coleman did something no one thought possible. Because no flight school in America would teach a Black woman to fly, she saved her money and moved to France. She studied the French language at night and practiced flying during the day. After months of hard work, she earned her international pilot’s license and returned to the United States as a hero, inspiring many others to follow their dreams.
According to the passage, what two obstacles did Bessie Coleman have to overcome to become a pilot?
No school in America would teach her (discrimination) AND she had to learn a new language (French).
"The coach was jubilant after the final whistle, high-fiving the players and wearing a giant grin because the team had finally won the championship."
3. How would the perspective of the story change if it were told by a player on the losing team?
A The description of the "final whistle" would be replaced with "giant grin."
B The narrator would focus on the joy of the championship.
C The narrator would likely describe feelings of sadness or disappointment instead of jubilance.
D The story would no longer mention the coach.
C The narrator would likely describe feelings of sadness or disappointment instead of jubilance.
In many parts of the Chesapeake Bay, the sea level is rising. Because the water is getting higher, the salty waves wash over the grassy marshes more often. This causes the marsh grass to die. As a result, the small animals that hide in the grass, like crabs and minnows, lose their homes and must find new places to live.
Which signal words in the text let the reader know this is a Cause and Effect structure?
A. "famous," "thick," "clear"
B. "Many animals," "in the summer"
C. "Because," "This causes," "As a result"
C. "Because," "This causes," "As a result"
Which word has a more positive connotation to describe someone who saves money?
A. Cheap
B. Stingy
C. Thrifty
D. Greedy
C. Thrifty