Cause & Effect
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.
What is the Author's Purpose?
Florida is a state in the southern United States. The capital is Tallahassee and the state bird is the mockingbird. There are many beaches in Florida.
Inform the reader.
We all wanted to visit Grandfather. Mother, Father, and I got into the car. We _____________ to Grandfather's house and we all had a good time.
a. ran
b. drove
c. crossed
b. drove
Hurricanes are storms with winds of at least 74 miles per hour. They begin over water and rotate around an 'eye.' Hurricanes can cause a great deal of damage. Trees can be uprooted and buildings destroyed. People have been killed in the worst hurricanes. Millions of dollars' worth of property can get damaged.
What is the main idea?
a. Hurricanes have strong winds.
b. Hurricanes can be extremely damaging.
c. Hurricanes are the worst storm.
b. Hurricanes can be extremely damaging.
Eric's mom is having a birthday party this weekend. He wants to do something special for her. Eric knows that his mom has always wanted to go to the Grand Canyon. He turned on the computer and looked at the map. What is Eric doing? How do you know?
Eric is going to plan a trip to the Grand Canyon for his mom.
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.
What is the Author's Purpose?
I think dogs make the best pets! They are much nicer than other animals and they are very intelligent. You can train them to do all sorts of tricks. Dogs are definitely better than all other pets!
Persuade the reader.
I am in a hurry in the morning so I eat a small breakfast. I am busy at lunchtime and do not each much at all. At night, I am extremely hungry so I eat a big ___________.
a. breakfast
b. lunch
c. dinner
c. dinner
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 cannot run or walk. They usually eat insects. Bats are they only mammals that fly.
What is the main idea?
a. Bats are unusual mammals.
b. Bats move by running and flying.
c. Bats usually eat insects.
a. Bats are unusual mammals.
Elizabeth was so proud of her garden. She planted the seeds early in the spring and watered the plants every morning. Last Friday, her mom called and asked her to come over for the week because she was feeling sick. When Elizabeth came back home, her plants were bent a drooping.
Why were the plants drooping? How do you know?
Elizabeth had not watered them in a week, so the plants were not doing well. Evidence: watered the plants every morning; after a week away the plants were bent and drooping.
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.
What is the Author's Purpose?
If you want to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, follow these directions. First, get bread, jelly, peanut butter, and a knife. Then, put peanut butter on one piece of bread. Next, put jelly on the other piece of bread. Last, put the two pieces of bread together to make your sandwich.
Inform the reader.
The police officer held her hand out and the cars halted. The children crossed the street and the officer waved her hand for the cards to move again. What does the word "halted" mean?
a. started
b. stopped
c. moved quickly
b. stopped
Carlos and Luis had been watching their new neighbor for several days. "I think it's strange that he's always dressed in black and carries that case," Carlos whispered. One day Carlos and Luis saw their neighbor, Alex, who knew the man in black. "We think he's a spy," Luis exclaimed. Alex laughed. "His name is Fritz. He carries his trumpet in a case. He just likes to wear black."
What is the main idea? Summarize the story in one sentence.
Carlos and Luis learned about their new neighbor from their friend Alex.
Elana and her very good friend, Dena, went for a boat ride on Star Lake. Star Lake was so deep that if anything fell into it and didn't float, it would never be found. Elana had worn her watch, which didn't float in the water, for the boat ride. Suddenly, the watch fell off her wrist and dropped into Star Lake.
What prediction can you make?
Elana will never be able to find her watch.
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 as 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.
What is the Author's Purpose?
Dear Mrs. Wilson,
We think you should give us homework every Friday. Our weekends are so boring without homework. Please assign us lots of projects and essays!
Sincerely,
Your 4th Grade Students
Persuade the reader.
There are so many people in the city who sell things. Some merchants sell food. Some sell clothes. I like the merchants who sell toys the 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.
One night, Gabriel went outside to empty the trash. He heard a spooky noise coming from the big avocado tree behind him. Bravely, he tiptoed over to the tree and looked up into it's branches. Two huge golden eyes peered down at him. Gabriel was looking at an owl.
What is the main idea? Summarize the story in one sentence.
Gabriel saw an owl in the avocado tree when he took the trash out.
Joy looked forward to the weekend because she and her father would travel by train to Hope City. There they would choose an animal at the Hope City Pet Shop. The weekend arrived, and they set off to Hope City. They headed straight for the pet shop. In the window, Joy spotted a cute four-legged animal with black fur.
What prediction can you make?
Joy and her father will buy an animal at the pet shop.
Jasper and Judy lived 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.
What is the Author's Purpose?
Ted was nervous about soccer tryouts. He practiced day and night. On the day of tryouts, he was scared but he did his best. Finally, he found out he made the team!
Entertain the reader.
I raced with my friend. We started together and both ran very fast. This time, she _____________ first. I said, "you win!"
a. began
b. fell
c. finished
c. finished
One of the most welcome sights in the desert is the cactus. The cactus is a plant that can store large amount 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.
"Kenneth!" Mom called out as she opened the front door. "Please help me with these groceries! Kenneth!" Still there was no reply. Mom walked into the kitchen and saw the shattered pieces from the window all over the floor and a baseball not far from the broken glass.
Why do you think Kenneth was not answering his mom? Why do think so?
Kenneth was not answering his mom because he is scared he may get into trouble for breaking the window. Evidence: the shattered window, the baseball, and Kenneth's absence.