Central Idea
Max and Leo were excited to build a treehouse in the backyard. Every day after school, they added something new. First, they built the floor, then the walls, and finally a small roof. Their dad helped them put up a wooden ladder so they could climb in safely.
A. Max and Leo were building a treehouse with help.
Lucy forgot to pack her lunch one morning. At school, she told her friend Sam what had happened. Sam had packed two sandwiches and offered one to her. Lucy thanked him and promised to bring him a cookie the next day.
What is the best summary of this paragraph?
Lucy didn’t have lunch, and her friend Sam shared his with her.
Anna was walking home when she saw a small dog wandering near the road. The dog looked lost and scared. Anna gently approached, checked its tag, and called the number on it. A few minutes later, the owner arrived and thanked her for returning the dog.
Helping others, even animals, is the right thing to do.
“I can’t wait for Saturday!” Mia shouted. “We’re going to the zoo, and I’m going to see the elephants and feed the giraffes!”
How does Mia feel about going to the zoo?
She is excited.
I couldn’t believe it when I opened the box and saw the puppy. My birthday had already been great, but this made it the best day ever!
What point of view is used in this paragraph?
A. First person
Maria had always been shy about speaking in front of others. When her teacher asked her to give a speech at the school assembly, she wanted to say no. But instead, Maria practiced every night, reading her speech out loud in front of the mirror. On the day of the assembly, her hands shook, but she walked on stage and spoke clearly. The crowd cheered, and she smiled, proud of what she had done.
Maria learned that facing her fear helped her succeed.
Ben loved to sleep in, but one morning he woke up late and realized he might miss the school bus. He skipped breakfast, threw on his clothes, and ran out the door. As he reached the corner, he saw the bus starting to pull away. He shouted, and luckily, the driver heard him and waited. Ben climbed aboard, out of breath but relieved.
Question:
What are two relevant details that you need to include in a summary of this paragraph?
Ben skipped breakfast and the bus driver waited for him.
Mark trained for weeks to get ready for the big race. He woke up early, stretched, and practiced running every day. On race day, he gave his best effort but came in second place. Instead of being upset, he smiled and congratulated the winner, knowing he had tried his hardest.
Being a good sport is more important than winning.
Troy dropped the ball during the final play of the game. He looked down at the ground, kicked the dirt, and avoided his teammates’ eyes. “I can’t believe I messed up again,” he whispered.
How is Troy feeling?
C. Frustrated and embarrassed
You must tie your skates tightly before stepping on the ice. If you don’t, you could fall and hurt yourself. Always check your laces!
Question:
What point of view is used in this paragraph?
Second person
The wind howled and the rain poured down as the storm moved through the town. Trees fell across roads and the power went out. Despite this, the people in the neighborhood stayed calm. Families shared food, used flashlights, and even checked on elderly neighbors to make sure they were safe. Though the storm caused damage, it also brought the community closer together.
The storm caused damage, but neighbors helped each other and stayed safe.
Tina had never been ice skating before. The first time she stepped on the rink, she fell almost immediately. But instead of giving up, she kept trying. Her knees were sore and her hands were cold, but she returned to the rink every weekend. Slowly, she began to skate without falling. After a month, she could skate all the way around without holding onto the wall.
Tina learned to skate by practicing, even though it was hard at first.
Lena was determined to improve her spelling. She had failed the last test and felt embarrassed, but she didn’t give up. Every night, she wrote each word five times and quizzed herself. The next week, she got a much better grade. Even though she didn’t get a perfect score, she was proud of her hard work and progress.
Making progress is more important than being perfect.
“I studied all night,” said Ava, looking at her notes one more time. “But I’m still worried I’ll forget everything once the test starts.” She bit her lip and tapped her pencil nervously on the desk.
What does this paragraph show about Ava?
She is nervous even though she worked hard.
Marcus walked slowly to the front of the room. He could feel his hands shaking and hoped no one would notice. The class waited quietly as he cleared his throat to begin.
Question:
What point of view is used in this paragraph?
Third person
Jason wanted to grow his own vegetables. First, he read books about gardening and made a list of what he needed. Then, he cleared a spot in his backyard and planted tomatoes, carrots, and lettuce. He woke up early every morning to water the plants and pull weeds. When bugs started eating his leaves, he made a natural spray to protect them. After weeks of hard work, Jason picked his first tomato. It wasn’t perfect, but it tasted better than anything he had ever bought in a store.
Jason grew vegetables after researching and caring for his garden.
Leo was excited to join the chess club, but when he arrived, he realized he didn’t know how to play. The other kids already knew the rules and strategies. At first, Leo felt embarrassed and wanted to quit. But he started studying at home and practicing with a computer app. Week by week, he improved. By the end of the semester, Leo had won a match and even helped another student learn the rules.
Question:
What are two relevant details that should be included in a summary of this paragraph?
Leo didn’t know how to play chess, but he practiced and got better.
Jamal noticed that a new student had been sitting alone at lunch for several days. While his friends laughed and joked at their usual table, Jamal stood up and invited the student to sit with them. The student smiled and accepted. The next day, he was laughing along with everyone else and even joined their recess game. Jamal didn’t tell anyone, but he felt proud that one small action had made someone else feel welcome.
Being kind and including others can make a big difference.
The author writes, “The robot’s eyes glowed red, and its metal arms clanked loudly. But when it gently lifted the child out of the rubble, the people watching realized it had come to help, not to harm.”
What does the author want the reader to understand about the robot?
The robot looks scary but is actually helpful.
As Mia read her book, she smiled, enjoying the quiet. Across the room, her brother was thinking about the video game he wanted to play. Neither of them noticed their dog creeping toward the snacks on the table.
Question:
What point of view is used in this paragraph?
Third person
The students in Room 10 were upset by how much trash they saw on the playground every day. Instead of complaining, they decided to take action. They held a class meeting and voted to start a recycling club. They created posters, gave short presentations to other classes, and set up recycling bins in the lunchroom. Some students even stayed after school to pick up litter. As weeks passed, they noticed their school grounds looked cleaner, and other students began helping too. Their small idea had turned into a school-wide movement.
The students started a recycling club that made a positive impact on their school.
Sara had wanted a pet for years. After a lot of research, she decided a rabbit would be best. She read about how to care for one and even made a checklist of supplies. Her parents agreed, and they visited a shelter where she chose a gray rabbit named Clover. At home, she carefully set up a cage, made sure Clover had fresh food and water every day, and even learned to clean the cage properly. Over time, Clover began to trust Sara, and the two became close companions.
Sara adopted a rabbit and learned how to care for it responsibly.
Nina was using her sister’s phone when it slipped out of her hand and hit the floor. The screen cracked. She stared at it in shock. For a moment, she thought about pretending she didn’t know what happened. But then she took a deep breath, walked into the other room, and told her sister the truth. Her sister was upset but thanked Nina for being honest. Together, they figured out how to fix the phone. Nina learned that telling the truth—even when it’s scary—is always the right thing to do.
Always be honest, even when it’s hard.
Max had spent hours working on his painting. He mixed colors carefully, added tiny details, and tried to make everything perfect. But no matter how hard he tried, something felt off. “It’s not good enough,” he sighed, setting the brush down. His teacher walked by and smiled. “You’ve come a long way, Max. Art is about the process, not perfection.” Max looked at his painting again and saw it differently—not as a failure, but as a step forward.
How does Max feel, and what lesson does the author want readers to learn?
Max feels frustrated, and the author shows that growth is more important than perfection.
I watched Jordan walk into the room, her face full of excitement. You wouldn’t believe how fast she ran when she saw the surprise party waiting for her.
Question:
What point of view is used in this paragraph?
A mix of first and second person