Enter Title

Theme

Figurative Language

Authors purpose

Text Feature

Conflict

Setting

Summary

100

Money Mark was born rich. He never had to work a day in his life and he got everything handed to him on a silver platter. When he was six, Money Mark wanted to go to a basketball game. His father paid the starting five of the Bulls and Celtics to play a private game of Nerf-ball in Money Mark's bedroom. When Money Mark turned thirteen, he wanted to start a band. His father hired the Rolling Stones to play with him every Saturday at the family's private concert hall, though his family was never there. By the time he was twenty-one, Money Mark was bored with life. He was surrounded by a bunch of possessions that he didn't appreciate and Money Mark could find nothing new or exciting in his life. Despite his vast wealth, Money Mark never found happiness.

Penny Petal was born poor. Her family hardly had anything to eat, but they loved each other. Penny Petal appreciated every thing she got. When she was six, her father walked her around the United Center before the Bulls played the Celtics. She was excited by the crazy fans and feeling in the air. She looked forward to the day that she could see a real game. When she was thirteen, she learned to play the buckets. She was an extremely talented musician, a natural percussionist, and everyone on the block loved the rhythms that poured from her palms. By the time she was twenty-one, Penny was a successful businesswoman. Now she had everything that she had ever dreamed of and she truly loved to share her wealth and happiness with her family who supported her through all of the hard times.

What is the THEME?

Don't be greedy.
Material things make people happy.
Happiness can be bought.
Money is everything.

What is A. Don't be Greedy

100

“I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted,” said a tired voice from underneath the table. The chewed-up pencil barely hung on to what lead was left. Its eraser was but a memory now. He managed to drag his tired yellow body over to see about the crayons.

What does the figurative language in paragraph 2 help the reader understand about the pencil?

A. The pencil is remembering back to when it had an eraser.

B. The pencil is looking for its eraser in the classroom.

C. The pencil no longer has an eraser on the end.

D. The pencil longs for the day when it gets another eraser.

What is A. A. The pencil is remembering back to when it had an eraser.

100

Read the selection, and then answer the questions that follow.

(1)

A wave is any movement that carries energy. Some waves carry energy through water. Others

carry energy through gases, like air, or solid materials. If you drop a rock into a pool of water, a

wave, or ripple of energy, skims across the pool's surface. In the same way, an underwater

earthquake can release energy into ocean water. Then it carries a giant wave, or tsunami,

across the surface until it hits land.

(2)

If you hear a clap of thunder, sound waves (or vibrations) have carried the crashing BOOM to

your ears. Sound waves speed through the air at about 1,100 feet (335 meters) per second.

(3)

Light also travels through the air in waves. They travel at more than 186,000 miles (300 million

meters) per second. So the light waves from a flash of lightning reach your eyes before that clap

of thunder reaches your ears!

(4)

Electrons travel in waves, too. They move back and forth in a solid wire, sending waves of

electricity so you can turn on a light during the storm!

_____ 1. What is the author's most important purpose for writing the selection?

a. to persuade readers to throw rocks into the water

b. to entertain readers with the legend of Wally Wave

c. to teach readers how to use a surfboard to ride waves

d. to inform readers about different kinds of waves

What is d. to inform readers about different kinds of waves

100

What is the purpose of the picture:

What is to show how strong Kangaroos back legs are?

100

The problem in a story is referred to as the conflict.

True
False

What is True?

100

I was standing right there when Kemisha accidentally stepped on Keyshauna's foot in the line. Keyshauna shoved Kemisha backwards into the jello molds. Kemisha spilled her drink all over her brand new shirt. She was so mad, but not interested in getting into more trouble then she was already in. Just as Keyshauna reached up to grab Kemisha's hair the principal intervened and sent them to the office.

Based on the story what is the most appropriate setting?

The line at a football game
The cafeteria lunch line
A classroom
The girls' locker room

What is 2. the cafeteria line

100

"I don't want a babysitter. I am eleven years old. My babysitter is only three years older than I am," she loudly yelled to her Mom. Now, she really wished she had somebody with her as she heard the clicking, scratching noises outside of the living room window. "This is silly. It's probably the storm," the girl said. She regretted watching the horror show she had been tuned into for the last half hour. As she searched for the remote to turn off the vampire movie, the front door blew open with a thunderous noise. Carla whirled around to see a dark image."

Carla didn't want a babysitter because:

She believes she is old enough to take care of herself.
She wants to watch scary movies.
Carla's mother leaves her alone all the time.
Carla's babysitter is only three years older than Carla.

What is

She believes she is old enough to take care of herself.

200

What does it mean when a theme is stated?

You say the theme out loud.
Someone else says the theme out loud.
The author tells the reader directly what the theme of the story is.
All of these.
None of these.

What is 4. All of theses.

200

Ally Stewart was known to most as Tornado Ally. She got her name because of the tantrums she always threw when she didn’t get her way. The tantrums were like a raging tornado and all would stand back until the storm was over. No one knew what to expect when it was all said and done.
The name started when she was in pre-school. It had followed her ever since. One would think the name would eventually go away, but the tantrums continued. So therefore, so did her name.
Read the following sentence from paragraph 2.

It had followed her ever since.
This sentence is an example of a — A. simile
B. alliteration
C. personification
D. metaphor

What is C. personification?

200

2. Which question could best help someone figure out this author’s purpose?

a. Did the author give me information?

b. Did I learn how to make an electric light?

c. Did the selection make me feel sad or scared?

d. Did the author want me to make waves?

What is a. Did the author give me information?

200

What does the Diagram Show?

What is where earthquakes start and where the plates are?

200

Travis was having a really bad day. He was being rude to everyone. He pushed Frederick on his way to class, and even threw Michael's books out of his hands. When it came time to go to the in-school game Travis got to the concession stand and ordered a hot dog and soda. As Travis waited for his snacks, he sunk his hand into his pocket only to find that he had lost his money. He turned to see that Michael was laughing at him.

What is the main conflict in the story?

Michael laughed at Travis.
Travis forgot his money.
Travis was having a really bad day.
Travis was rude to everyone.

What is 3. Travis was having a really bad day.

200

The entire school was there! I was so excited to have finally made the team. I was standing there shaking my pom poms in the air like a maniac. The crowd was wild and inside this room the noise was so loud I thought I might bust an eardrum. The students were stomping on the bleachers showing immense school spirit.

Based upon what you know from the passage, what do you think is the most appropriate setting?

at a concert
at a school pep rally in the gym
at a football game concession stand
at a magnet tour

What is 2 a school pep rally in the gym?

200

To retell something in your own words is to .

classify
paraphrase
distinguish

What is paraphrase?

300

Little Things

by Ebeneze Cobham Brewer

Little drops of water,

Little grains of sand,

Make the mighty ocean

And the pleasant land.

Thus the little minutes,

Humble though they be,

Make the mighty ages

Of eternity.

"Little Things" shares a message with readers. Which choice best represents that message?

The minutes tick by slowly
Never underestimate the power of a child
Drops of water and grains of sand are very small
The small things are as important as the big things

What is 4. The small things are as important as the big things.

300

5

10

15

20 When it Rains, it Pours

When it rains, it pours.
A wise man once said.
You step on a tack
You fall out of bed.

Your computer stops working
Your TV is shot
Your mom yells your name
You know you’ve been caught.

When it rains, it pours.
A wise man once said.
You’re late for work
You ate moldy bread.

You crack your phone
You lose one shoe
You drop the milk
You spill all the glue.

You just have to laugh
What else can you do?
Laughter is medicine
Your day is anew.

Problem:

What does the figurative language in line 6 help the reader understand about the television?

The rain caused the television to stop working.

The television has been shot.

The television has stopped working.

The narrator broke the television.

What is C. The television has stopped working?

300

Everyone needs help sometime. Humans depend on one another. That's why communities

everywhere have special people to lend a helping hand to anyone who needs it.

(2)

For example, what would our citizens do without a community fire department? If a home

catches on fire, as the Jackson place did last week, it might be destroyed and the inhabitants

hurt . . . or worse. We're so fortunate to have trained firefighters to come to the rescue and put

out the fire, safely. If the fire department hadn't come so quickly, the Jacksons might have lost

everything.

(3)

And what about our local police who protect our families, our homes, and our belongings? The

police have helped so many families this past year, especially rescuing people and pets and

protecting our property after the flood.

(4)

Think about all the other service workers we have in this community. We have sanitation

workers who collect trash and keep our community clean. We have road workers who put up

and repair traffic signs and fix potholes in the streets to protect not just us, but the tires on our

cars! And where would this community be without the teachers in our school and the doctors,

nurses, and technicians in our community clinics?

(5)

We benefit so much from all these tireless workers who keep our community running. But these

services are expensive. As citizens, we pay taxes, it's true, and some of the taxes go toward

buying the services we need. But today, there's just not enough money. Times are hard and the

economy has slowed. Plants are closing and people are losing their jobs and homes. But

citizens still need services!

(6)

Many service workers are thinking of leaving and going to other communities where they'll be

paid a better wage, one that allows them to support their families. They can't afford to live here

anymore . . . and we can't afford to let them leave.

(7)

We need these people in the community. So join with us today as we petition for changes to our

tax system that will allow our community to keep more of the tax dollars to invest in service

workers who live right here in the community. Please sign our petition now, and be sure to vote

for Proposition 6X1 on Election Day!

_____ 4. What is the author’s most important purpose for writing the selection?

a. to entertain readers with an exciting story about a flood

b. to persuade readers to sign a petition about taxes

c. to teach readers how to use the new voting machines

d. to inform readers about what firefighters do

What is b. to persuade readers to sign a petition about taxes?

300

What is the Purpose of the box titled Historical Earthquakes?

What is to give a timeline of earthquakes in the past?

300

Jan was born in an upper class family and received many privileges and advantages, many of which she didn't even realize that she was receiving. When she went away to college and met people from other backgrounds and places, she began to realize just how unfair things could be. Now Jan wants to make a change and is calling for the radical redistribution of wealth, but as her movement gains traction she attracts some unwanted attention and notices she is being followed by men in black suits.

What type of conflict is shown in the passage?

Person v. Society
Person v. Person
Person v. Self
Person v. Technology

What is 1. Person Vs. Society?

300

What is the plot in a story?

the sequence of events
the main character's ideas and feelings
how the main character handles conflict
the character's goals and dreams

What is 1. the sequence of events?

300

March 2nd was a great day at the New York Public Library. More than 250 first and second graders wore red-and-white-striped stovepipe hats. They were celebrating The Cat in the Hat's 50th birthday. Dr. Seuss's The Cat in the Hat picture book has been published for 50 years now. The famous feline danced with children racing around him. At the same time, pink, purple, and white confetti rained down.

Serena Williams, the tennis champion, read The Cat in the Hat to second graders. They sat on brightly-colored rugs around her. Two lucky second graders from PS 152 in Manhattan sat next to Williams on a big red chair. Pink and purple umbrellas hung from the ceiling. The students giggled while Williams made her voice change from deep to high for the many characters in the story.

After reading the book, Williams shouted, "Tip your hat to the Cat!" The students took off their hats and waved them excitedly.

Which sentence should be included in the summary of the passage above?

After reading the book, Williams shouted, "Tip your hat to the Cat!"
The students giggled while Williams made her voice change from deep to high...
Two lucky second graders from PS 152 in Manhattan sat next to Williams on a big red chair.
Serena Williams, the tennis champion, read The Cat in the Hat to second graders.

What is

Serena Williams, the tennis champion, read The Cat in the Hat to second graders.

400

Is the theme of this passage stated or implied?

Stated
Implied

What is 2. Implied?

400

Miss Ryan took me to a seat at the front of the room, into which I shrank—the better to survey her.

The author's word choice suggests that Ernesto feels

like this is the best day of his life.
like he wants to go back to his school in Mazatlan.
like he wants to hide and just observe the classroom.

What is 3. like he wants to hide and just observe the classroom?

400

We are excited to tell all students about this year's fundraiser. Instead of asking you to sell magazines or candy, we are holding an online Read-a-Thon!

We can't do this without you. To meet our fundraising goal of five thousand dollars, we need all students to register online and create an account. Next, invite sponsors via email or social media. Sponsors can pledge a dollar amount for every hour that you read, or they can pledge a fixed amount. Improve your reading ability and support your school at the same time. Get started today!

Which author's purpose is suggested by the text?

A to encourage students to take part in the fundraiser

B. To inform students why the fundraiser is necessary

C. To tell students how easy fundraisers are

What is A. to encourage student to take part in the fundraiser.

400

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE MAP?

What is to show where Kangaroos live?

400

What is the conflict portrayed in this film clip?

What is man Vs self Rapunzel is conflicted about defying her mothers wish and leaving the tower?

400

Which of the following sentences most accurately describes a setting?

"From the very beginning Moose Maddon picked on him. The kid was bait for all of Maddon's cruel practical jokes around the camp."
"The summer we were cutting big stuff in an almost inaccessible stand of Douglas fir about fifty miles out of Nanaimo."
"One evening late in the summer as I was walking along the river having an after-supper pipe, I stumbled upon Cecil curled up on a narrow sandy beach."
"We walked back to the camp together and I managed to calm him down some."

What is 3. "One evening late in the summer as I was walking along the river having an after-supper pipe, I stumbled upon Cecil curled up on a narrow sandy beach."

400

Travis and Frederick went to the mall to buy shoes. Frederick decided that he was going to steal pair of shoes from the mall. Travis tried to talk Frederick out of doing it. When they got to the mall and entered the shoes store Travis went to look at some shoes. Frederick pretended to be looking at shoes, when he suddenly bolted for the door with a pair of Nikes. The security guard reached out and grabbed Frederick's arm and took him to the station. Travis just called his mom to pick him up.

What is the most appropriate summary?

Travis wanted a pair of shoes from the mall so he got his friend Frederick to steal them.
Frederick thought he could get away with stealing shoes from the mall and he did.
Travis had no idea that Frederick planned to steal from the mall when they planned to buy shoes.
Travis tried to talk his friend Frederick out of stealing shoes from the mall, but when he did it anyway he got caught.

What is

Travis tried to talk his friend Frederick out of stealing shoes from the mall, but when he did it anyway he got caught.

500

Passage 1

The Emerging of Kasia

Kasia could not believe she was actually boarding a flight to America. Only yesterday, she was sitting on the floor in the attic with dust all over her hands and the white cotton dress. The dress was her grandmother's last gift to Kasia. As Kasia moved her fingers around the old, greasy, and dusty globe, she thought of her grandmother who had put it there.
"Darling, one day you shall see the world," Kasia's grandmother, Justina, had said, "It is your fate." She had stood in the same attic with Kasia years ago. "Be sure to go to America, and write to me in English," Justina would say dreamily. Now, America was Kasia's dream. She thought about her university in New York.
"How will people understand me there?" Kasia spoke her fear out loud. From that moment, Lublin and everything Polish was always dearest to Kasia's heart.

Passage 2

What was Ahead?

Unable to ignore his mother's routine plea, Deepak decided to seek an astrologer. He had little trouble finding one because there was a fortune-teller of some sort in every nook of the city. He decided to visit a man with the most curious-sounding name.
"Son, do not seek after what your heart desires the most," the man said as Deepak entered the room that smelled of incense and saffron. "It is not your destiny," he continued without asking Deepak any questions."You have great athletic abilities. Why don't you play cricket?" the astrologer asked, "Don't you want to be famous?"
Deepak's eyes were focused on the view outside the window. He had forgotten all about the days when he used to play cricket. Deepak did not care about the astrologer's prophecies. He only wanted to become a scientist.

Which universal theme is most apparent in both passages?

a person's struggle with nature
the effects of scientific progress
contemplating over the future
a person's loss of innocence

What is

contemplating over the future?

500

Read the sentences below.

John looks sleepy this morning. Why is he so tired? He had forgotten that he had a big report to write for his social studies class. The report is due today, and John had wanted to give his best effort to the assignment. With his deadline approaching, he had burned the midnight oil.

What does the idiom BURN THE MIDNIGHT OIL mean?

Rested to little
Worked too late at night
Wasted a lot of energy
Stressed out over assignments

What is 2. Worked too late?

500

We are excited to tell all students about this year's fundraiser. Instead of asking you to sell magazines or candy, we are holding an online Read-a-Thon!

Which best shows that the author's purpose is to encourage students to take part in the fundraiser?

A. The author names a specific figure as a fundraising goal (five thousand dollars).

B. The author tells readers that we can't do this without you and asks them to get started today.

What is B. The author tells readers that we can't do this without you and asks them to get started today.

500

What is the purpose of the graph?

What is to show the most popular sport?

500

Erowyn is a mystic dragon-rider from the land of Gnarr. He has everything that a dragon-rider could want: a strong lance, a sturdy saddle, and a powerful dragon. One day while he is riding over Carowall, an evil wizard casts a spell that turns Erowyn's dragon against him.

What type of conflict is shown in this passage?

Person v. Nature
Person v. Person
Person v. Supernatural
Person v. Society

Person v. Supernatural

500

Where is this story set?

What is the school?

500

The Road Crew

by Bryan Ellett

Seth watched out the front window as a crew of about 10 people worked hard to destroy parts of the street in front of his house. There was a large sign down at the end of the street describing the construction project underway. It said, "Road Resurfacing. Expected completion: Fall 2009." The sign did not explain what Seth was watching out his front window. To Seth, it appeared that the destruction was somewhat random.

One man sat in the seat of a large piece of construction equipment that Seth's dad told him was called a backhoe. This giant piece of metal machinery had a scoop with jagged metal teeth at the end of a long arm, and the operator was controlling the arm and scoop with two joysticks. He would raise the arm high in the air, with the teeth of the scoop pointing downward. Then, he would bring the arm down quickly and with great force, using the teeth of the scoop to crush the concrete that it landed on. Already, this gentleman had ripped out the entire portion of sloped concrete that connected the driveway of Seth's house with the road. Several workers came along and hauled away the large pieces of concrete left behind.

Another worker was in charge of a large circular saw. He would wheel the saw to a particular piece of the road and fire it up. The spinning of the saw, even before it began cutting, created a high whining sound. Then, he would lower the saw into the concrete and cut long sections of the road. The piece of the road Seth watched him cut was about eight feet long and two feet wide. Seth could tell that the saw operator was working extremely hard.

Seth stepped into his front yard and looked up and down the street. Nothing made sense. Several other houses had the front portion of their driveway ripped out just as Seth's had been. But there were several more houses whose driveways were untouched. There were slices of road cut out here and there, but Seth could see no pattern to the places that were cut up. He could even see one worker filling in a recently cut piece of the roadway with fresh cement. Was there any point to what they were doing, or were they just breaking things and putting them back together to kill time? Seth had no way to know, so he just went back to the window to watch. It might not make sense, but, for Seth, destruction was fun to watch.

Which of these best summarizes the last paragraph?

Seth noticed that one worker was filling in with concrete one of the holes that had been cut.
Seth saw that some driveways were being ripped out while others were not being touched.
Seth was happy to be watching workers from his window because he enjoyed watching destruction.
Seth did not understand why only parts of the road were being destroyed, so he decided to just watch and enjoy.

What is

Seth did not understand why only parts of the road were being destroyed, so he decided to just watch and enjoy.