Parts of Speech
Cause & Effect
Context Clues
Main Idea
Simile or Metaphor
100

A person, place, thing, idea, living creature, quality, or action.

noun

100
In 1519, Ferdinand Megellan and his crew sailed west from Spain. They wanted to see what would happen if they kept sailing west. Three years later, they landed in Spain. They had sailed around the world. Effect: Magellan and his crew sailed around the world. What was the cause? a. They wanted to see what would happen if they kept sailing west. b. They sailed from Spain to America. c. They went to Spain in 1519.
a. They wanted to see what would happen if they kept sailing west.
100

After the bird escaped, Chris tried to coax it back into the cage with treats. 

 a. let go b. kill c. persuade

c. persuade

100
The crop that gives the most food to humans and animals in the United States is corn. Most of the corn grown is for use as animal feed. The farmers of the United States produce about one half of all the corn grown in the world. What is the main idea? a. Corn is grown as feed for humans and animals. b. Corn is grown all over the world. c. Corn is important as it is used for many things.
a. Corn is grown as feed for humans and animals.
100

Your head is as hard as a rock.

simile

200

A word that describes an action (doing something) or a state (being something).

verb

200
Jasper and Judy live in a big apartment house. They live on the tenth floor. Last week Jasper walked up all nine flights of stairs. He was very tired when he got home. Cause: Jasper walked up nine flights of stairs. What was the effect? a. Judy was tired when she got home. b. He lives on the tenth floor. c. He was tired when he got home.
c. He was tired when he got home.
200

There are so many people in the city who sell things. Some merchants sell food. Some sell cloths. I like the merchants who sell toys best. What is a merchant? a. people who sell things b. people who buy things c. people who throw things


a. people who sell things


200
One of the most welcome sights in the desert is the cactus. The cactus is a plant that can store large amounts of water. It has a thick, tough skin to keep the water in. There are many kinds of cacti. Some grow as tall as 50 feet. What is the main idea? a. The cactus grows in most parts of the world. b. The cactus is a beautiful-looking plant. c. The cactus is designed for storing water.
c. The cactus is designed for storing water.
200

Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know you're going to get.

simile

300

A word that describes a noun. It tells you something about the noun.

adjective

300
Michael did not want to go to the dentist. He was afraid that Dr. Yurman would hurt him. He cried all the way to the office. But after all that, it didn't hurt at all. Effect: Michael cried all the way to the office. What was the cause? a. He wanted to see Dr. Yurman. b. He was afraid of the dentist. c. The dentist didn't hurt him at all.
b. He was afraid of the dentist.
300

Max was sick of quarreling with his wife about money when all he wanted to do was enjoy her company and have a good time.

a. laughing b. arguing c. spending money

b. arguing

300
There are about 2,000 kinds of bats. They come in many sizes. bats are rather strange looking animals. They are soft and furry with large ears. Bats can not run or walk. They usually eat insects. Bats are the only mammals that fly. What is the main idea? a. Bats are unusual mammals. b. Bats move by runnung and flying. c. Bats look like many other animals.
a. Bats are unusual mammals.
300

You are the apple of my eye.

Metaphor

400

A word which usually describes a verb. it tells you how something is done. It may also tell you when or where something happened.

adverb

400
Kitty and her friend decided to take a trip. "We'll go to the beach," said Kitty. "The beach is nice in the autumn. It's cool, so there won't be many people there. It won't be crowded at all." Cause: The weather is cool. What is the Effect? a. There won't be many people at the beach. b. Kitty will take a long trip. c. The beach will be very crowded.
a. There won't be many people at the beach.
400

Vince had to put his sunglasses on because the rays of the sun were so brilliant.

 a. smart b. bright c. hot

b. bright

400
Cats are popular house pets. Cats come in a variety of colors. Some cats have long hair and some have short hair. There are cats that have no tails. Cats can have eyes of many different colors. A cat can be solid color, more than one color, or striped. What is the main idea? a. Cats make the best house pet. b. Cats are very similar. c. There is much variety in the cat family.
c. There is much variety in the cat family.
400

My daughter's room is a disaster area.

Metaphor

500

A word used instead of a noun, to avoid repeating the noun. (Ex: I, you, he, etc.)

pronoun

500
Peter walked quickly down the dark street. It was quiet. Suddenly, a dog howled. Peter walked even faster after that. Cause: A dog howled. What was the effect? a. Peter went inside. b. Peter walked even faster. c. Everything was quiet.
b. Peter walked even faster.
500

The police officer held her hand out. The cars halted. The children crossed the street. Then the police officer waved her hand. All the cars started to move again. What does the word halted mean? a. started b. stopped c. moved quickly

b. stopped

500
Chocolate is a popular food. Today we think of it mainly as a candy. Years ago, it started out as a drink. All chocolate is made from the beans of the cacao tree. There are many steps to follow in turning cacao beans into the kind of chocolate we eat. What is the main idea? a. Making chocolate is a long process. b. Chocolate is high in vitamins. c. Chocolate has few uses.
a. Making chocolate is a long process.
500

My mother is as sweet as pie.

simile