Vocabulary
The message, moral, or lesson in a story
What is theme?
Name the text structure:
The dodo bird used to roam in large flocks across America. Interestingly, the dodo wasn’t startled by gun shot. Because of this, frontiersmen would kill entire flocks in one sitting. Unable to sustain these attacks, the dodo was hunted to extinction.
What is cause and effect?
Spots was a large grey and white cat. Spots lived in a barn on a farm. Spots liked living in the barn. It was warm in the winter and cool in the summer. There were many mice for Spots to chase. Best of all, Spots had a soft place to sleep in the corner of the barn.
What is the main idea of this passage?
A. The barn was dirty.
B. Spots was grey and white.
C. The barn was a good place for Spots to live.
D. Spots often slept outside when it rained
What is C?
The barn was a good place for Spots to live.
For a long time he lived in the toy cupboard or on the nursery floor. No one thought very much about him. He was naturally shy. Being only made of velveteen, some of the more expensive toys quite snubbed him. The mechanical toys were very superior and looked down upon everyone else. They were full of modern ideas, and they pretended they were real. The model boat, who had lived through two seasons and lost most of his paint, caught the tone from them. He never missed an opportunity of referring to his rigging in technical terms. The Rabbit could not claim to be a model of anything, for he didn’t know that real rabbits existed. He thought they were all stuffed with sawdust like himself. He understood that sawdust was quite out-of-date and should never be mentioned in modern circles.
What does velveteen mean?
What is a soft fabric similar to velvet?
Use context clues to find the meaning of celestial.
Celestial bodies, including the sun, moon, and stars, have fascinated man through the centuries.
What are objects in the sky or heavens?
Sometimes when a reader finds a new word, an example might be found nearby that helps to explain its meaning. Words like including, such as, and for example, point out example clues.
The way in which an article or passage is organized
What is text structure?
Bonus: Name 4 types
Name the text structure:
Jack and Jill ran up the hill to fetch a pail of water. Jack fell down and broke his crown and Jill came tumbling after. Then they went to the hospital to get X-rays.
What is chronological/sequence of events?
James and his sister, Anna, went to the carnival on Saturday. They rode the merry-go-round, the roller coaster and the Ferris wheel. James ate popcorn and a hot dog. Anna drank lemonade and ate an apple. They saw many exciting shows. They were tired when they went home.
What is the main idea?
A. James and Anna were hungry.
B. James and Anna did many things at the carnival.
C. The merry-go-round was broken.
D. The carnival was on Saturday.
What is B?
James and Anna did many things at the carnival.
For a long time he lived in the toy cupboard or on the nursery floor. No one thought very much about him. He was naturally shy. Being only made of velveteen, some of the more expensive toys quite snubbed him. The mechanical toys were very superior and looked down upon everyone else. They were full of modern ideas, and they pretended they were real. The model boat, who had lived through two seasons and lost most of his paint, caught the tone from them. He never missed an opportunity of referring to his rigging in technical terms. The Rabbit could not claim to be a model of anything, for he didn’t know that real rabbits existed. He thought they were all stuffed with sawdust like himself. He understood that sawdust was quite out-of-date and should never be mentioned in modern circles.
What does season mean?
What is a particular time of the year?
Determine the meaning of “cordial” in the following excerpt.
The salesperson smiled when the couple came into the store. She told them to take their time in choosing a ring. She chatted with them about their future plans. She was the most cordial salesperson they had ever met.
What is pleasant?
The excerpt states that the salesperson smiled. It says that she told them to take their time and that she chatted with them. Obviously the word “cordial” has a positive meaning based on the context clues. They seem to like the salesperson. She seems very pleasant. If you place "pleasant" in place of "cordial," the sentences make sense.
Additions to the text that can help to better understand it. Usually subheadings, charts, captions, or graphs/maps
What are text features?
Name the text structure:
Linux and Windows are both operating systems. Computers use them to run programs. Linux is totally free and open source, so users can improve or otherwise modify the source code. However, Windows is proprietary, so it costs money to use and users are prohibited from altering the source code.
What is compare and contrast?
There are eight planets in the Solar System, and each one is very different. Some planets, like Jupiter and Saturn are very large. Others, like Mercury and Mars are smaller. Jupiter has moons that are larger than Mercury. The planets also have different atmospheres. Uranus, Jupiter and Saturn have atmospheres of hydrogen and helium. The atmosphere on Venus is made up of carbon dioxide. Earth has a nitrogen and oxygen atmosphere. Neptune’s atmosphere is mostly hydrogen. The planets also have different temperatures. Uranus is the coldest and Venus is the hottest.
What is the main idea?
What is the planets are different?
For a long time he lived in the toy cupboard or on the nursery floor. No one thought very much about him. He was naturally shy. Being only made of velveteen, some of the more expensive toys quite snubbed him. The mechanical toys were very superior and looked down upon everyone else. They were full of modern ideas, and they pretended they were real. The model boat, who had lived through two seasons and lost most of his paint, caught the tone from them. He never missed an opportunity of referring to his rigging in technical terms. The Rabbit could not claim to be a model of anything, for he didn’t know that real rabbits existed. He thought they were all stuffed with sawdust like himself. He understood that sawdust was quite out-of-date and should never be mentioned in modern circles.
What does superior mean?
What is higher in rank, status, or quality?
Find the definition of culinary using context clues.
She wanted to impress all her dinner guests with the food she served, so she carefully studied the necessary culinary arts.
What is food preparation?
The author explains the reason for or the result of the word. Words like “because,” “since,” “therefore,” “thus,” “so,” etc. may signal context clues.
The main problem in the story
What is conflict?
Name the text structure:
Thousands of people die each year in car accidents involving drugs or alcohol. Lives could be saved if our town adopts a free public taxi service. By providing such a service, we could prevent intoxicated drivers from endangering themselves or others.
Problem and Solution
What is problem and solution?
Meerkats in Africa live in large groups of 20 to 50 members. The group works together to survive. All members of the group care for the baby meerkats. They take turns babysitting and will protect the young ones from danger. Members of the group also take turns watching out for threats from other animals while the group finds food. If any dangerous animal comes towards the group, the meerkat will bark a warning.
What is the main idea?
What is Meerkats live in groups to help each other?
For a long time he lived in the toy cupboard or on the nursery floor. No one thought very much about him. He was naturally shy. Being only made of velveteen, some of the more expensive toys quite snubbed him. The mechanical toys were very superior and looked down upon everyone else. They were full of modern ideas, and they pretended they were real. The model boat, who had lived through two seasons and lost most of his paint, caught the tone from them. He never missed an opportunity of referring to his rigging in technical terms. The Rabbit could not claim to be a model of anything, for he didn’t know that real rabbits existed. He thought they were all stuffed with sawdust like himself. He understood that sawdust was quite out-of-date and should never be mentioned in modern circles.
What is the meaning of snubbed?
What is to ignore?
Find the meaning of dilate using context clues. When the light brightens, the pupils of the eyes contract; however, when it grows darker, they dilate.
What is to become larger?
Antonyms are words with opposite meanings. An opposite meaning context clue contrasts the meaning of an unfamiliar word with the meaning of a familiar term. Words like “although,” “however,” and “but” may signal contrast clues. “Dilate” means the opposite of “contract.”
A brief retelling of a text usually in your own words
What is summary?
Name the text structure
When you walk into my bedroom there is a window facing you. To the right of that is a dresser and television and on the other side of the window is my bed.
What is descriptive?
Dolphins are mammals that live in the ocean. Mammals are different than fi sh, reptiles or birds. As a mammal, dolphins breathe oxygen, even though they live in water. Because they are mammals, a dolphin mother gives birth to a live baby, unlike reptiles and birds who lay eggs. A dolphin mother also feeds her baby milk like other mammals.
What is the main idea?
What is dolphin are mammals?
For a long time he lived in the toy cupboard or on the nursery floor. No one thought very much about him. He was naturally shy. Being only made of velveteen, some of the more expensive toys quite snubbed him. The mechanical toys were very superior and looked down upon everyone else. They were full of modern ideas, and they pretended they were real. The model boat, who had lived through two seasons and lost most of his paint, caught the tone from them. He never missed an opportunity of referring to his rigging in technical terms. The Rabbit could not claim to be a model of anything, for he didn’t know that real rabbits existed. He thought they were all stuffed with sawdust like himself. He understood that sawdust was quite out-of-date and should never be mentioned in modern circles.
What is the meaning of the word season?
What is a particular time of the year?