3.10B Text Structures
In a biography about Milton Hershey, the author organizes the events of his life in the order they happened. How does this chronological structure contribute to the author’s purpose?
A. It highlights the specific problems Hershey faced with his first candy shop.
B. It helps the reader understand how Hershey’s success grew over time.
C. It compares Hershey’s chocolate to other candies made in the 1900s.
D. It explains the scientific process of how chocolate is manufactured.
B. It helps the reader understand how Hershey’s success grew over time.
Read this excerpt from a letter to the principal:
"Our school should have a longer recess. Research shows that kids focus better after playing outside. Currently, we only get fifteen minutes, which isn't enough time to run around."
What is the author’s claim in this passage?
A. Research shows that kids focus better after playing.
B. The school should have a longer recess.
C. Students only get fifteen minutes of play.
D. Playing outside is the best part of the day.
B. The school should have a longer recess.
Read the paragraph below:
"Honeybees are very busy insects. They spend most of their day flying from flower to flower to collect nectar. Back at the hive, they work together to turn that nectar into sweet honey. They also build wax cells to keep the hive strong and protect the queen bee."
What is the central idea of this paragraph?
A. Honeybees build wax cells to protect their queen.
B. Honeybees work hard to complete many different tasks.
C. Nectar is a sweet liquid that comes from colorful flowers.
D. Most insects spend their time flying through the air.
B. Honeybees work hard to complete many different tasks.
Read this sentence from a story: "I looked at the mountain of laundry on my bed and sighed, wondering how I would ever finish before soccer practice."
How can the reader tell this story is told from the first-person point of view?
A. The author describes the setting in great detail.
B. The narrator is a character in the story and uses the word I.
C. The narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of every character.
D. The story explains a problem that many people have.
B. The narrator is a character in the story and uses the word I.
Honeybees carry pollen from flower to flower. This helps plants grow new seeds. Without bees, many of the fruits and vegetables we eat would disappear from grocery stores.
Question: Based on the details in the text, what is the most likely outcome if the honeybee population continues to decrease?
A) Plants will find a new way to make seeds quickly.
B) Grocery stores will begin to sell more flowers.
C) It will become much harder for farmers to grow certain foods.
D) People will stop eating fruits and vegetables altogether.
C) It will become much harder for farmers to grow certain foods.
In an article about saving sea turtles, the author describes the dangers of plastic in the ocean and then lists ways people can reduce waste. How does this problem-and-solution structure support the author's intent?
A. By proving that sea turtles are the most important animals in the ocean.
B. By showing the reader that there are clear actions they can take to help.
C. By describing what a sea turtle looks like in its natural habitat.
D. By explaining why plastic was invented in the first place.
B. By showing the reader that there are clear actions they can take to help.
Which sentence from an article about space is a FACT?
A. The moon is the most beautiful object in the night sky.
B. Every student should want to become an astronaut.
C. The moon takes about 27 days to orbit the Earth.
D. Stargazing is the most relaxing hobby for a summer night.
C. The moon takes about 27 days to orbit the Earth.
In an article about the solar system, the author includes the word orbit in bold, dark letters.
Why did the author most likely use bold font for this word?
A. To show that the word is the title of a new section.
B. To indicate that the word is an action the reader should take.
C. To signal that the word is an important vocabulary term.
D. To make the page look more interesting to the reader.
C. To signal that the word is an important vocabulary term.
Read this sentence:
"After the long hike, the cool water felt as refreshing as a gentle breeze on a hot summer day."
Why does the author use the phrase "as refreshing as a gentle breeze"?
A. To show that the water was moving very fast.
B. To explain that the hike took place during the summer.
C. To help the reader understand how good the water felt.
D. To compare the sound of the water to the sound of the wind.
C. To help the reader understand how good the water felt.
Early explorers used stars to navigate the ocean. Today, sailors use GPS and satellite technology to find their way. Both methods allow people to travel across deep waters safely.
Which new understanding can the reader form by combining the ideas in this text?
A) Modern technology is the only way to stay safe at sea.
B) Early explorers were not as smart as modern sailors.
C) While tools change over time, the need for navigation remains the same.
D) GPS is more difficult to use than looking at the stars.
C) While tools change over time, the need for navigation remains the same.
An author writes a passage comparing the physical traits of African elephants and Asian elephants. Why did the author most likely choose a comparison text structure?
A. To tell a story about two elephants living in a zoo.
B. To list the different foods elephants like to eat in the wild.
C. To help the reader identify the specific differences between the two species.
D. To explain the history of how elephants evolved over millions of years.
C. To help the reader identify the specific differences between the two species.
Read the following sentence:
"The local library is the best place to spend a Saturday afternoon because it is quiet and has many books."
Which word in the sentence tells the reader that this is an OPINION?
A. Library
B. Saturday
C. Best
D. Books
C. Best
An informational text about the life of Milton Hershey includes a timeline at the bottom of the page. How does this timeline support the reader’s understanding?
A. It explains the meaning of difficult words in the text.
B. It shows the order of important events in Hershey’s life.
C. It lists the ingredients used to make milk chocolate.
D. It provides a picture of what Hershey’s first factory looked like.
B. It shows the order of important events in Hershey’s life.
Read the following sentence:
"The dry leaves crunched under Sarah’s boots as she walked through the woods."
The author uses the word crunched most likely to —
A. emphasize the sound made by the dry leaves.
B. describe the color of the leaves on the ground.
C. show that Sarah is walking very quickly.
D. explain that the woods are a dangerous place.
A. emphasize the sound made by the dry leaves.
The Texas Horned Lizard has scales that look like thorns. It can also puff up its body to look bigger. If a predator gets too close, the lizard can even squirt blood from its eyes.
Which detail best supports the key idea that the Texas Horned Lizard has many ways to protect itself?
A) It lives in the state of Texas.
B) It is a type of lizard with scales.
C) It can squirt blood from its eyes to scare predators.
D) It is smaller than most of its enemies.
C) It can squirt blood from its eyes to scare predators.
Read a paragraph that explains how a lack of rain leads to a drought, which then causes crops to fail. How does this cause-and-effect structure contribute to the author’s purpose?
A. It helps the reader visualize what a farm looks like during a rainstorm.
B. It explains the relationship between weather patterns and food supply.
C. It argues that farmers should plant different types of crops.
D. It lists the chronological steps of how to plant a seed.
B. It explains the relationship between weather patterns and food supply.
Read this paragraph from a persuasive essay:
"Many families think about getting a dog. While dogs are fun, cats make much better pets for busy families. Cats do not need to be walked, they clean themselves, and they are happy to sleep while you are at work."
What is the author trying to convince the reader to believe?
A. Dogs are more fun than cats.
B. Busy families should not have any pets.
C. Cats make better pets than dogs for busy families.
D. Cats spend most of their day sleeping.
C. Cats make better pets than dogs for busy families.
The author of a text about "How to Care for a Pet Rabbit" uses a bulleted list.
What is the most likely reason the author used bullets?
A. To list items or facts in an organized and easy-to-read way.
B. To show the reader which part of the story is the most exciting.
C. To provide a map of where rabbits live in the wild.
D. To give the reader a hint about what will happen next in the text.
A. To list items or facts in an organized and easy-to-read way.
Read this description:
"The kitchen was filled with the sweet, spicy aroma of cinnamon and the warm glow of the golden sunlight streaming through the window."
The author uses these descriptive details to —
A. show that the characters are in a hurry to eat.
B. create a cozy and inviting feeling for the reader.
C. explain how to bake a dessert with cinnamon.
D. describe a kitchen that is messy and unorganized.
B. create a cozy and inviting feeling for the reader.
Litter in the park can wash into storm drains when it rains. These drains lead directly to local creeks and rivers. Fish and turtles often mistake trash for food, which can make them very sick.
After reading the text, what is a new understanding the reader can create about keeping the park clean?
A) Rain is the main reason that parks become dirty.
B) Picking up trash in a park helps protect animals in the water.
C) Fish and turtles should stay away from storm drains.
D) Most litter in the park is made of food.
B) Picking up trash in a park helps protect animals in the water.
In a passage describing the Great Barrier Reef, the author uses vivid sensory details to move from the surface of the water down to the ocean floor. How does this descriptive structure contribute to the author's purpose?
A. It convinces the reader to buy a ticket to visit Australia.
B. It explains the causes of coral bleaching in the reef.
C. It allows the reader to visualize the beauty and diversity of the reef.
D. It compares the Great Barrier Reef to other reefs around the world.
C. It allows the reader to visualize the beauty and diversity of the reef.
Read the sentences below:
Apples are a type of fruit grown on trees.
Apples are the most delicious snack to pack in a lunchbox.
What is the difference between sentence 1 and sentence 2?
A. Sentence 1 is a claim, and sentence 2 is a fact.
B. Sentence 1 is a fact, and sentence 2 is an opinion.
C. Both sentences are facts that can be proven.
D. Both sentences are opinions about apples.
B. Sentence 1 is a fact, and sentence 2 is an opinion.
Read the sentence below: "The recycling center helps the community by reducing the amount of trash that goes into landfills."
Which detail from a text would best support this idea?
A. Many people drive their cars to the recycling center on Saturdays.
B. The recycling center is located next to the city park and a school.
C. Last year, the center turned ten tons of old paper into new notebooks.
D. Recycling bins come in many different colors, like blue and green.
C. Last year, the center turned ten tons of old paper into new notebooks.
Read this paragraph:
"Leo grabbed his backpack and headed for the door. He felt nervous about the spelling bee, but he had practiced every night for a week. His mom waved goodbye and wished him luck."
Which statement best describes the point of view of this paragraph?
A. It is first-person because Leo is telling his own story.
B. It is third-person because a narrator is telling the story about Leo.
C. It is first-person because the narrator uses the word he.
D. It is third-person because Leo is talking directly to the reader.
B. It is third-person because a narrator is telling the story about Leo.
In 1920, the 19th Amendment was passed, giving women the right to vote. Before this, many women marched in the streets and gave speeches for years to change the law. They believed everyone should have a voice in the government.
Which detail from the text is most important for determining the key idea of the passage?
A) The specific year the amendment was passed.
B) That women gave speeches in public.
C) That women worked for years to gain a voice in the government.
D) That some people marched in the streets.
C) That women worked for years to gain a voice in the government.