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Idioms
Author's Purpose
Context Clues
Inferences
Compare & Contrast
100
If my brother finds out that we borrowed his camera without permission and we broke it, we're out of the frying pan and into the fire!

What does "out of the frying pan and into the fire" mean?
"Out of the frying pan and into the fire" means going from a bad situation to a worse one.
100
Harborplace is a wonderful place to vacation. There are over 100 shops and many seafood restaurants. During the day, you don't have to go to the beach. You can enjoy a water slide or miniature golf. Every Friday night, there are fireworks.

What is the author's purpose?
The author's purpose is to inform.
100
Mom asked us to put our overshoes away. She didn't like all of those boots cluttering up the hall.

What are overshoes?
Overshoes are a kind of boot.
100
Jon took some blueberries out of the refrigerator. His teenage brother Bill organized all the other materials on the countertop. Bill carefully preheated the oven. After mixing all the ingredients, Jon poured the batter into the muffin pan.

What were Jon and Bill making?
Jon and Bill were making blueberry muffins.
100
Mr. and Mrs. Badger want to take their three children on vacation. Mr. Badger wants to go to the mountains because the family can camp out and hike across the hills. Mrs. Badger wants to go to the beach so they can all go swimming and also relax on the sand.

How are Mr. and Mrs. Badger the same?
Mr. and Mrs. Badger are the same because they both want to take their children on vacation.
200
We didn't clean our rooms, so we're in the doghouse.

What does "in the doghouse" mean?
"In the doghouse" means we are in trouble.
200
Many people wear helmets when they ride bikes. Falling from a bike can be dangerous. A helmet can protect a rider's head.

What is the author's purpose?
The author's purpose is to inform.
200
Look in the gazette to see who is running for mayor. The Main Street News is sure to have that news on the front page.

What is a gazette?
A gazette is a small newspaper.
200
Alice pressed the button by the door of her white, plastic house. The door slid open without a sound. She felt the heat from the launching pad where the noon rocket for Mars had just taken off.

When might Alice's story take place?
Alice's story takes place in the future.
200
Andrew and John are brothers. Andrew likes to play sports and does not like to sit still for very long. John likes to read and to work on the computer. He sits quietly for long periods of time. Both boys really like to cook and are very good at it.

How are Andrew and John different?
Andrew plays sports, but John likes to read and work on the computer. Andrew does not like to sit still, but John likes to sit still.
300
We're leaving for the soccer game now, so you'd better shake a leg.

What does "shake a leg" mean?
"Shake a leg" means hurry up.
300
Our neighborhood’s new bookstore is the most popular in town. Many customers say this is the best bookstore for both fiction and nonfiction books, and the prices are very cheap. In addition, the bookstore looks terrific, with attractive bookcases and thick blue carpet.

What is the author's purpose?
The author's purpose is to persuade.
300
The cholla has many short stems covered with thorns. This desert plant has pretty flowers and red, juicy fruit that tastes awful.

What is a cholla?
A cholla is a kind of cactus.
300
The mother sea horse lays many eggs. Sometimes she lays as many as 200 at one time. The eggs are carried in a pouch until they are ready to hatch. The strange part is that the eggs are carried in the father sea horse's pouch.

How can you tell that baby sea horses must be very small when they first hatch?
You can tell that baby sea horses are very small when they first hatch because 200 babies fit in a father sea horse's pouch.
300
Hundreds of years ago, rulers of some countries would send their slaves to the high mountains to bring snow back to the palace. Their cooks would mix the snow with honey and fruit juices to have an icy treat.

What do we eat today that is like this dessert?
This ancient dessert is like the snow cones we eat today.
400
When your brother tells you that he just won a contest, you think he is pulling your leg.

What does "pulling your leg" mean?
"Pulling your leg" means playing a trick on you.
400
Jake sat on the rail in front of the post office. He was waiting for the stage coach. In just a few days he would be in Dallas which was 200 miles away. He knew he had a long, tiring trip ahead of him.

What is the author's purpose?
The author's purpose is to entertain.
400
A sloop has two sails, one large and one small. It does not carry many people.

What is a sloop?
A sloop is a kind of sailboat.
400
The spider monkey has a tail that is twice as long as its arms. The monkey uses its tail to hang from trees. The ant bear uses its tail as an umbrella. The gila monster, a big desert lizard, stores food in its fat tail.

Why does the gila monster need to store food in its tail?
The gila monster needs to store food in its tail because it lives in the desert where there isn't much food.
400
Grasshoppers have long, strong back legs and two sets of wings. They make a loud sound by rubbing their top wings together. Grasshoppers eat grassy green plants. Another noisy bug is the cicada. Cicadas make a loud, humming sound inside their body. These insects lay their eggs in trees. When the baby cicadas are born, they fall to the ground and eat roots and plants near the tree.

How are grasshoppers and cicadas alike?
Grasshoppers and cicadas are alike because they both make loud noises.
500
This painting you made is going to knock their socks off.

What does "knock their socks off" mean?
"Knock their socks off" means that it will really impress people.
500
When winter comes, animals must find ways to take care of themselves. They do this in many different ways. Many birds fly from their cold homes to places where it is warmer. They stay there until spring comes to their home land.

What is the author's purpose?
The author's purpose is to inform.
500
The mynah has a sharp, pointed bill that it uses to eat bugs and worms.

What is a mynah?
A mynah is a kind of bird.
500
In the Gobbler family, everyone has jobs to do. Jack cleans the back porch. Ellen washes the car and keeps the garage clean. Mark and Jack share window washing. Mark waters the house plants.

If Dad was looking for a hammer, who would he be most likely to ask?
If Dad was looking for a hammer, he would probably ask Ellen because she is the one who keeps the garage clean.
500
A flea is a tiny insect that lives in the hair of many animals. It has no wings, but it can jump 100 times its own height. The flea often moves from one animal to another. The bedbug is a very small, wingless insect. Bedbugs like to hide in beds and mattresses. Then they come out at night looking for their favorite food--human blood!

How are bedbugs and fleas alike?
Bedbugs and fleas are alike because they are insects that don't have wings.