4th Grade Language Arts Review

Text Structures

100

This type of text structure features a detailed description of something to give the reader a mental picture. Example: A book may tell all about whales or describe what the geography is like in a particular region.

Description

200

This structure presents the causal relationship between an specific event, idea, or concept and the events, ideas, or concept that follow. EXAMPLE: Weather patterns could be described that explain why a big snowstorm occurred.

Cause and Effect

300

This type of text examines the similarities and differences between two or more people, events, concepts, ideas, etc. EXAMPLE: A book about ancient Greece may explain how the Spartan women were different from the Athenian women.

Compare and Contrast

400

This text structure gives readers a chronological of events or a list of steps in a procedure. EXAMPLE: A book about the American revolution might list the events leading to the war. In another book, steps involved in harvesting blue crabs might be told.

Sequence/Order

500

This type of structure sets up a problem or problems, explains the solution, and then discusses the effects of the solution.

Problem and Solution

Cause & Effect

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Context Clues

100

We all wanted to visit Grandfather. Mother, Father, and I got in the car. We ____________ to grandfather's house. We had a good time with him all afternoon. a. ran b. drove c. crossed

b. drove

200

I raced with my friend. We started together. We both ran very fast. This time she _____________ first. I said, "you win!" a. began b. fell c. finished

c. finished

300

I am in a hurry in the morning. I eat a small breakfast. I am busy at lunchtime. I do not eat much. I am hungry at night. I eat a big __________. a. breakfast b. dinner c. lunch

b. dinner

400

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

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

Main Idea

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Theme

100

In his sophomore year of high school, Michael Jordan tried out for the varsity basketball team at Laney High School in Wilmington, North Carolina. But at five feet and eleven inches tall, the coach believed that Jordan was too short to play at that level, so Jordan was cut from the team. Jordan didn’t let this obstacle defeat him. In fact, it pushed him to work even harder. He trained vigorously and grew another four inches the following summer. When he finally made the varsity squad, Jordan averaged 25 points a game and went on to become one of the greatest basketball players in history. What is the theme of the story?

Never give up. Persistence pays off.

200

Ulysses spent all of his free time reading books and felt that he was very intelligent. One day a nice student from his class asked him if he wanted to go sledding and Ulysses responded, "I've read about sledding in books, and it sounds miserable. No, thank you." On another day, a different friendly student asked Ulysses if he wanted to go out for hotdogs after school. Ulysses responded, "I've read that hotdogs are filled with rat parts and pig bellies. No, thank you." Nobody asked Ulysses to hang out again, but he did read about friends in his books.

There is no substitute for experience.

300

All Victor ever wanted to do with his life was be a singer. He didn't pay attention in school and he spent all of his time at home watching music videos online and impersonating his idols. His mother tried to teach him the value of getting an education and having a backup plan, but Victor would respond the same way every time, "Mom, I won't need to know any of that boring old stuff when I'm famous. You'll see." But there was one major problem with Victor's plan: he wasn't any good at singing. Victor wanted to be a singer so badly, that he didn't notice the pained look on the faces of those who endured his singing. Because he wanted to be a singer so badly, when honest people told him to find something else to do with his life, he accused them of being "jealous haters" and ignored their advice. After Victor dropped out of high school to focus on his music career, the years passed and the doors never opened. What is the theme?

ave a back up plan, don't put all of your eggs in one basket, sometimes you should listen to other's advice, etc.

400

The little grey mouse that lived in my wall prospered for many days on nibbles of my lunch. I'd pack a meal before bed and, while I slept, he would take small bites of my lunch, which I left on the counter. He'd take a cracker crumble here, and a bread crumb there, but he wouldn't take too much and he'd always clean up after himself. Things were going quite well for him and I didn't even know he existed, until he got sloppy. One night while I slept, he ate all of my chips and left behind a big mess. When I awoke to this sight, I knew what had happened to my chips. So the next night when he returned for another snack, he found a nice, delicious piece of cheese... lightly balanced on a mouse trap. Now I don't have to share my chips anymore. What is the theme?

Don't be greedy, don't be sloppy, clean up after yourself, etc.

500

Tammy and Sammy were both students in Mr. Morton's reading class. Mr. Morton wasn't too strict about deadlines, and Sammy took advantage of that. He did all of his homework in his other classes but never bothered to complete Mr. Morton's reading assignments, figuring that he could complete them later. Tammy, on the other hand, completed each assignment Mr. Morton assigned the night that he assigned it. She had to stay up a little later, but she didn't want to get a penalty for turning in her reading work late. Tammy knew reading was a core subject and that she had to keep "C" average for the entire year or she would have to go to summer school. When the end of the quarter came, Tammy and Sammy had both planned on going to the Enchanted Castle amusement park, but Mr. Morton called Sammy's mother, and she grounded Sammy until he turned in all of his work. That weekend was horrible for Sammy. He stayed up until 2:00 AM each night and still couldn't complete all of the assignments. The whole while, Tammy had a great time eating pizza at Enchanted Castle, watching movies late at night, and enjoying her weekend free of stress and pressure. At the end of the quarter, Sammy was lucky to squeak by with a "C" minus in reading while Tammy earned an "A." Sammy still hasn't learned his lesson and probably won't complete this activity either. What is the theme?

It is better to do things right the first time. Work hard, play hard.