VOCABULARY IN CONTEXT
Sarah felt anxious about her first day at school. What does anxious mean?
Nervous or worried
A story tells what happened first, then what happened next, then what happened last. What is this text structure called?
Sequence (or chronological order)
An author writes a funny story about a silly talking dog. What is the author's purpose?
To entertain
In the sentence "The cat jumps on the bed," what is the subject?
The cat
What does this simile mean? "Her smile was as bright as the sun."
Her smile was very bright and happy
The old bridge was rickety and made creaking sounds. Which word means almost the same as rickety?
Unstable, shaky, or fragile
A text explains how a caterpillar becomes a butterfly, then a butterfly lays eggs, and the cycle starts again. What text structure is this?
Cause and effect
A text explains step-by-step how to make a peanut butter sandwich. What is the author's purpose?
To inform or explain (teach how to do something)
Which sentence is written correctly?
B) She goes to the store.
Is this a simile or a metaphor? "The classroom was a zoo."
Metaphor (it doesn't use "like" or "as")
The storm was so ferocious that everyone had to stay inside. What does ferocious tell us about the storm?
It was wild, dangerous, violent, or intense
The text says: "Dolphins are smart mammals that live in the ocean. Whales are also smart mammals that live in the ocean." What text structure shows how things are alike and different?
Compare and contrast
An article describes why recycling is important for our planet and asks readers to recycle more. What is the author's purpose?
To persuade (convince readers to do something)
Combine these two sentences using a conjunction: "I like pizza. My sister likes tacos."
I like pizza, but my sister likes tacos. (or "and," "while," etc.)
What does the idiom "raining cats and dogs" mean?
It's raining very hard (not actually raining animals)
Marcus was bewildered by the complicated math problem and didn't know where to start. What is Marcus feeling?
Confused or puzzled
A paragraph explains that because it rained all night, the soccer game was cancelled. The cancelled game caused the team to practice indoors instead. What text structure is being used?
Cause and effect
A biography tells the life story of Martin Luther King Jr., including his childhood, achievements, and impact on America. What is the author's purpose?
To inform (or to educate/explain)
Identify the noun, verb, and adjective in this sentence: "The happy dog ran quickly through the park."
Noun = dog (or park); Verb = ran; Adjective = happy
Create a simile to describe how fast a cheetah runs.
A cheetah runs as fast as a race car. (or similar; accept any reasonable answer)
The explorer's perseverance helped him climb the mountain even when it got difficult. What does perseverance mean, and why is it important?
Determination to keep trying; it helps you succeed even when things are hard
A text describes a problem: kids have too much homework. Then it gives three different solutions. What text structure is this, and why might an author use it?
Problem and solution; authors use it to help readers understand issues and possible fixes
A letter from a student argues that recess should be longer because it helps kids focus better in class and improves their health. What is the author's purpose, and how do you know?
To persuade; the author gives reasons and tries to convince the reader to agree
Rewrite this sentence in the past tense: "She walks to school every morning."
She walked to school every morning.
Explain the difference between a simile and a metaphor and give an example of each.
A simile compares two things using "like" or "as" (example: "brave as a lion"). A metaphor compares two things without using "like" or "as" (example: "He is a lion on the field")