Key Details (RL/RI)5.1
Clue: In this passage, the main character finds a mysterious note in her locker. What detail reveals how she feels after finding it?
Passage: Sara opened her locker to find a crumpled piece of paper. Her heart raced as she smoothed it out and read the words scrawled in black ink: "Meet me after school." She looked around nervously, wondering who could have left it.
Answer: What is “Sara’s heart raced, and she looked around nervously”?
Clue: In this story, the theme centers on the value of friendship. What event shows the importance of friends supporting each other?
Passage: When Josh tripped and fell during the big race, he thought it was over. But then, his best friend Emma was by his side, pulling him up. "We’ll finish together," she said, smiling.
Answer: What is “Emma helping Josh after he fell”?
Clue: In this scene, how does the main character change from the beginning to the end?
Passage: At the start of the school year, Rachel was shy and afraid to speak up in class. By the end of the year, she was leading group discussions and raising her hand with confidence.
Answer: What is “Rachel becomes more confident”?
Clue: In this sentence, what does the word "exasperated" most likely mean?
Passage: "I've told you five times already!" Mom said, exasperated, as she pointed to the grocery list on the counter.
Answer: What is “frustrated or annoyed”?
Clue: What text structure is used to explain the effects of deforestation?
Passage: When forests are cut down, the habitat for many animals is destroyed, soil erosion increases, and the carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere rise.
Answer: What is “cause and effect”?
Clue: According to the article, what was the main reason the explorers decided to turn back?
Passage: The explorers trudged through the snow for days. The blizzards were unrelenting, and the temperature continued to drop. Finally, after a week of harsh conditions, the leader of the group decided it was too dangerous to continue.
Answer: What is “the harsh weather conditions”?
Clue: What is the main idea of this passage about the importance of recycling?
Passage: Recycling helps reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills. It conserves natural resources and reduces pollution. By recycling, people can help protect the environment for future generations.
Answer: What is “the benefits of recycling for the environment”?
Clue: According to this historical account, what event led to the signing of the peace treaty?
Passage: After months of negotiations and several battles, both sides were exhausted. They realized that continuing the war would lead to more destruction, so they agreed to meet and discuss terms for peace.
Answer: What is “both sides being exhausted from battles”?
Clue: In the article, what is the meaning of the word "preserve" in the context of the environment?
Passage: It is important to preserve natural habitats so that endangered species can continue to thrive.
Answer: What is “to protect or keep safe”?
Clue: Which text structure is used in a passage that explains how to build a birdhouse step by step?
Passage: First, gather all the materials. Next, cut the wood to size. Then, assemble the walls and roof.
Answer: What is “sequence or step-by-step process”?
Clue: What detail shows why Samantha’s team lost the game?
Passage: Samantha’s team was winning until the last few minutes when they missed a critical pass, allowing the other team to score.
Answer: What is “Samantha’s team missed a critical pass”?
Clue: What lesson does the character learn by the end of the story?
Passage: James was always quick to judge others until he found himself in a difficult situation and needed help. He realized that everyone deserves understanding.
Answer: What is “don’t judge others too quickly”?
Clue: What character trait does Mia show when she refuses to cheat on the test, even though her friends did?
Passage: Mia glanced at her friends, who were whispering answers, but decided she would rather get a fair score. She completed the test on her own.
Answer: What is “honesty or integrity”?
Clue: In this sentence, what does "eagerly" mean?
Passage: Lucas eagerly opened his birthday present, grinning as he tore off the wrapping paper.
Answer: What is “with excitement or enthusiasm”?
Clue: What was the effect of Sarah planting a garden in her backyard?
Passage: After Sarah planted a garden, more butterflies and bees started visiting her backyard.
Answer: What is “more butterflies and bees visited her backyard”?
Clue: According to the text, what is one reason that ancient Egyptians built the pyramids?
Passage: The pyramids were built as tombs for the pharaohs to protect them in the afterlife and as a testament to their greatness.
Answer: What is “to serve as tombs for the pharaohs”?
Clue: What is the main idea of the article about the water cycle?
Passage: The water cycle describes how water moves from the earth’s surface to the atmosphere and back, including processes like evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.
Answer: What is “the process of how water moves in the water cycle”?
Clue: According to the biography, what event led Susan B. Anthony to fight for women’s rights?
Passage: After being denied the right to vote in an election, Susan B. Anthony realized how unfairly women were treated and dedicated herself to fighting for equal rights.
Answer: What is “being denied the right to vote”?
Clue: In the passage, what does "persistent" most likely mean?
Passage: Despite facing many obstacles, Rosa remained persistent in her efforts to improve her community.
Answer: What is “determined or not giving up”?
Clue: What was the cause of the town’s river being polluted?
Passage: The factory upstream dumped waste into the river, which caused pollution that affected the entire town.
Answer: What is “the factory dumped waste into the river”?
Clue: In the story, why does Juan feel nervous during the competition even though he practiced for weeks? Use evidence to support your answer.
Passage: Juan took a deep breath as he stepped onto the stage. Although he had practiced for weeks, seeing the large crowd made his palms sweat, and he stumbled on his first line.
Answer: What is “seeing the large crowd made him nervous despite his practice”?
Clue: In the fable, what is the central theme, and how does the main character’s actions reveal it?
Passage: The young fox thought it could trick the wise owl into giving it food. But every time the fox tried, the owl saw through its plan and outsmarted the fox, teaching it a lesson about honesty.
Answer: What is “the theme is honesty, and the owl outsmarting the fox shows that dishonesty is often discovered”?
Clue: How does the main character's reaction to failure at the beginning of the story differ from their reaction at the end? Provide examples.
Passage: When Ella first failed her math test, she was devastated and didn’t want to try again. But after practicing, she felt more confident, and by the end of the year, she was proud of how much she’d improved.
Answer: What is “at first, she felt devastated and defeated, but by the end, she was confident and proud”?
Clue: In the context of this passage, what does the word “meticulous” imply about how the artist worked?
Passage: The artist was meticulous in her work, carefully brushing each stroke to make sure the colors blended perfectly.
Answer: What is “it implies that the artist was very detailed and careful in her work”?
Clue: How is the main character in Story 1 different from the main character in Story 2?
Passage: In Story 1, Jake is very shy and prefers to be alone. In Story 2, Lisa is outgoing and loves meeting new people.
Answer: What is “Jake is shy, while Lisa is outgoing”?