THEME
What is the theme?
Jordan climbed onto the bus, late again. Every seat was taken—except one, next to Mason. Jordan hesitated. Mason was always alone. Rumors swirled around school about him being "weird" or "different."
As the bus jolted forward, Jordan stood, swaying, trying to look casual. But the bus hit a bump, and Jordan nearly fell. Mason looked up and scooted over. "You can sit here," he said quietly.
Jordan blinked. No judgment. Just kindness. Feeling embarrassed, he sat down. "Thanks," he mumbled.
The next day, Jordan didn’t hesitate. He sat beside Mason again.
Don't judge others based on rumors
The floor is wet, and there are muddy paw prints leading to the kitchen.
What can you infer?
A pet came inside from outside and tracked mud into the house.
What does the word stifiling mean in the sentence below?
The air was so stifling in the classroom that everyone was fanning themselves with papers.
Very hot
What is the author's purpose?
The author writes an article explaining how a new technology works and its benefits.
to inform
What character trait does Sarah demonstrate?
Sarah always volunteers to help others, even when she has a lot of her own work to do.
Generous
What is the theme?
Samantha had practiced for months. She wanted that first-place science trophy more than anything. When the results were announced and her name wasn’t called, she felt like the air had been punched from her lungs.
But then she looked over and saw Ava—quiet, hardworking Ava—crying happy tears as she held the trophy. Samantha remembered how Ava stayed after school every day, even when no one noticed.
Samantha took a deep breath, walked over, and hugged her. “You earned it,” she whispered. And she meant it.
Sportsmanship and recognizing others' efforts are important.
You hear someone shout “Ouch!” followed by the sound of a crash.
What likely happened?
Someone hurt themselves and dropped or broke something.
What does jovial mean in the sentence below?
He had a jovial expression on his face as he opened his birthday presents.
Happy
What is the author's purpose?
A political speech aims to convince people to vote for a certain candidate.
To persuade
What character trait does John demonstrate?
John stayed calm and collected even when the situation became stressful and difficult.
Calm
What is the theme of the passage?
Chris had been saving for months to buy a new phone. He was proud of himself—he didn’t ask for help, just worked hard mowing lawns. But only a week after buying it, his little sister accidentally dropped it. The screen shattered.
Chris was furious. She cried and apologized, but he couldn’t speak to her all day. That night, he saw her leave a note on his pillow: "I’ll help pay for it. I’m really sorry."
Chris realized the phone wasn’t more important than their bond. He walked to her room and said, “I forgive you.”
Relationships are more valuable than material things
"Lena stared at her math test, her pencil trembling in her hand. The clock ticked louder with every passing second.”
What can we infer about Lena?
She’s nervous or anxious about the test.
What does the word treacherous means in the sentnece below?
The mountain trail was treacherous, with loose rocks and steep drops along the edges.
dangerous
What is the author's purpose?
A short story about a group of friends having a fun adventure is written to engage readers and make them laugh.
To entertain
What character trait does Emma exhibit?
Emma refuses to take shortcuts in her work and always strives to do her best, even if it takes extra time.
Hardworking
What is the theme of the passage?
Maya didn’t study for her math test. She planned to sneak a look at her friend’s answers. As the teacher passed out the test, Maya’s stomach churned. She glanced at her friend’s paper—then stopped.
She turned her paper over and worked through every question, even when it was hard. Her grade wasn’t perfect, but it was hers.
Later, her teacher wrote a note: “Proud of your effort. Keep it up.”
Doing the right thing takes courage, but it’s worth it.
“Mark walked past the empty chair, ignoring it completely. He sat at the far end of the room, arms crossed.”
What can we infer about Mark’s feelings?
He’s upset or avoiding someone/something.
What does the word exhausted mean in the sentence below?
Despite feeling exhausted, Mia kept working on her project well into the night.
Very tired
What is the author's purpose?
An author writes an essay warning readers about the dangers of climate change and how to take action.
To persuade
What character trait does Maria show in the sentence below?
Even when her friends were gossiping, Maria chose not to join in and instead walked away from the conversation.
intergrity
What is the theme of the passage?
Every summer, Eli helped his grandfather in the garden. He used to complain about the heat, the bugs, and the dirt. But this summer was different. Grandpa wasn’t feeling well, so Eli tended the garden alone.
He watered the plants, pulled weeds, and waited for tomatoes to ripen. When Grandpa finally came outside to see, his eyes lit up.
“You did all this?” he asked. Eli nodded. “I wanted to make you proud.”
Grandpa smiled. “You’ve grown more than the plants.”
Responsibility and growth come from helping others.
“Even though her friends begged her to join, Nina stayed late to finish setting up the chairs for the assembly.”
What can you infer about Nina?
She is responsible and cares about helping others.
What does the word gregariou means in the sentence below?
The student was very gregarious, always surrounded by friends and chatting during lunch.
Talkative, outgoing, popular.
What is the author's purpose?
In a letter to the editor, the author argues that the community should have a park built to encourage outdoor activities for children.
To persuade
What character trait does Jill show?
After her friend shared a personal problem, Jill kept the conversation private and didn’t gossip about it.
Trustworthy