Vocabulary & Word Meaning
Which strategy uses clues around an unfamiliar word to determine its meaning?
Context clues
What do we call the message or lesson of a story?
Theme
What is the central idea of an informational text?
What the text is mostly about
What is the sentence that states the main point of an essay?
Thesis statement
What kind of word describes an action?
Verb
A word that has a similar meaning to another word is called a ______.
Synonym
The struggle between two opposing forces in a story is called what?
Conflict
A text that explains how something works uses which structure?
Explanation / cause‑effect
What is a hook?
An engaging opening that grabs the reader’s attention
What punctuation is needed for items in a list?
Commas
Which type of figurative language compares two things using “like” or “as”?
Simile
Name the three main types of point of view.
First person, second person, third person
Evidence that supports a claim in nonfiction is called what?
Textual evidence
What is the purpose of using transitions in writing?
To connect ideas smoothly
Identify the preposition: “The cat hid under the table.”
Under
What do we call the dictionary definition of a word?
Denotation
What part of the plot reveals the turning point of the story?
Climax
Name two common informational text structures.
Cause‑effect, compare‑contrast, chronological, problem‑solution, description
What do we call details that support the writer’s claim?
Evidence
Choose the correct pronoun: “Each of the students brought ___ book.”
His or her
What is the term for a phrase whose meaning cannot be understood from the individual words (e.g., “break the ice”)?
Idiom
When a narrator only knows one character’s thoughts, this is ________.
Third‑person limited
What is the difference between a claim and evidence?
Claim = main argument; evidence = facts supporting it
What is a counterclaim?
An opposing viewpoint
Add the missing comma: “Before we eat we must wash our hands.”
Before we eat, we must wash our hands.