Show:
Understanding Poetry
Idioms
Name the Literary Element
Inferencing
Main Ideas
100
This poem is about the advice a mother gives to her son. Read the poem: "Mother to Son" By Langston Hughes Well, son, I’ll tell you: Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair. It’s had tacks in it, And splinters, And boards torn up, And places with no carpet on the floor— Bare. But all the time I’se been a-climbin’ on, And reachin’ landin’s, And turnin’ corners, And sometimes goin’ in the dark Where there ain’t been no light. So boy, don’t you turn back. Don’t you set down on the steps ‘Cause you finds it’s kinder hard. Don’t you fall now— For I’se still goin’, honey, I’se still climbin’, And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair. Read this section of the poem again: “But all the time I’se been a-climbin’ on, And reachin’ landin’s, And turnin’ corners,” Explain what the mother means in the above lines.
In the above lines, the mother means that she has never given up no matter how difficult each situation in her life has been. The mother keeps trying harder and harder, and the hard work has led to some success and new roads to travel in her life.
100
Being part of an army family meant Amy moved a lot. She didn't have many friends or much to move each time because a rolling stone gathers no moss. What does the idiom rolling stone gathers no moss mean?
What is The idiom, "a roling stone gathers no moss" means when you move frequently you don't have a chance to make or keep many things or friends. When a stone sicks for a long time, moss may grow on it, but if it is constantly moving the moss would never have a chance to grow. This idiom is comparing people to that stone.
100
Tell what literary element is used in this passage: Phyllis was trying to wallpaper the bathroom. She was feeling very frustrated by all the corners and edges in the room. "Don't get frustrated," her friend Chloe said. "It looks beautiful. Rome was not built in a day."
What is Idiom The idiom "Rome was not built in a day" means a difficult job can't be done quickly or all at once
100
The tow truck took the car into the mechanic's garage. The owner of the car followed. The mechanic used his equipment to lift the car. "What do you think happened to the tire?" the man asked. In response, the mechanic held up a nail. "Oh," the man said. "I see." How did the tire go flat?
What is The tire went flat because the man had driven over a nail.
100
October 4, 1957 was a big day for scientists. It was the day the Russians launched Sputnik I into space. Sputnik I went into orbit and circled the earth. It was the first time that a man-made object had ever orbited the earth. It was a day for Russian scientists to celebrate. It challenged American astronauts to come up with the next big event. The main idea in this passage is:
What is The main idea of this passage is that October 2, 1957 was a big day for scientists because Sputnik I was launched into space on that day.
200
Mr. Nobody By: Author Unknown I know a funny little man, As quiet as a mouse, Who does the mischief that is done In everybody’s house! No one ever sees his face, And yet we all agree That every plate we break was cracked By Mr. Nobody. ‘Tis he who always tears our books, Who leaves the door ajar, He pulls the buttons from our shirts, And scatters pins afar; That squeaking door will always squeak, For, prithee, don’t you see, We leave the oiling to be done By Mr. Nobody. The finger marks upon the door By none of us are made; We never leave the blinds unclosed, To let the curtains fade. The ink we never spill; the boots That lying round you see Are not our boots-they all belong To Mr. Nobody. Name five kinds of mischief Mr. Nobody makes around the house.
What is Some types of mischief Mr. Nobody makes around the house are breaking things, tearing books, scattering pins, pulling buttons from shirts, leaving fingerprints on things, leaving blinds unclosed, spilling ink, and leaving shoes lying around.
200
My toddler cousin stuck his toy into my game system. I can no longer use it. He certainly knows how to gum up the works. What does the idiom gum up the works mean?
What is The idiom "gum up the works" means to cause something to break or tear up. If a motor or machine gets "gummed up" it can no longer run normally, and many times will shut down completely.
200
Tell what literary element is used in this passage: Katie's prom dress was as blue as the sky.
What is simile "As blue as the sky" is a simile comparing the color of Katie's prom dress to the sky.
200
Mrs. Adams lived on a farm. She lived there with her husband, Mr. Adams, and her son, Cody. Once a week she hauled their trash to the big can behind the shed to be burned. She also had bags of glass, plastics, and cans to take to the recycling center in town. One Monday while Mr. Adams was out on the combine, she gathered the trash into a big bag and set out the box of matches on the kitchen counter. Cody asked if he could go with her to burn the trash, and she told him to get his jacket. He ran to his room. That's when Mrs. Adams realized that she had forgotten to empty the trash can in the bathroom. She left to do that. When Mrs. Adams returned to the kitchen, Cody was waiting by the door, shifting from foot to foot. As she reached for the trash bag so she could empty the bathroom can into it, she noticed a black dot on the tile floor. A black-ended match lay beside it. "Cody, did you play with my matches?" Mrs. Adams asked. "No, ma'am! Honest!" Cody replied, shaking his head. Why was Cody shifting from foot to foot?
What is Cody was shifting from foot to foot because he was in a hurry to go outside and burn the trash. Cody was probably also nervous because he knew he had done something he wasn't supposed to do when he played with the matches.
200
A person who is color blind has trouble distinguishing contrasting colors. The most common type of color blindness pertains to seeing the colors red and green. You cannot tell that a person is color blind just by looking at them. Their disability can be annoying, but it does not limit a person very much. People who are color blind may need to label their clothes. They may have trouble reading from a chalkboard. They may also have trouble seeing traffic lights accurately. There are ways they can handle this challenge. The main idea in this passage is: A) Color blindness can be cured. B) Color blindness is a serious disability. C) The most common type of color blindness pertains to the color yellow. D) A person who is color blind can learn to function well.
What is D) A Person who is color blind can learn to function well. This is the answer because the entire passage is mostly about things that a color blind can do to overcome the disadvantages of their disability.
300
Mr. Nobody By: Author Unknown I know a funny little man, As quiet as a mouse, Who does the mischief that is done In everybody’s house! There’s no one ever sees his face, And yet we all agree That every plate we break was cracked By Mr. Nobody. ‘Tis he who always tears our books, Who leaves the door ajar, He pulls the buttons from our shirts, And scatters pins afar; That squeaking door will always squeak, For, prithee, don’t you see, We leave the oiling to be done By Mr. Nobody. The finger marks upon the door By none of us are made; We never leave the blinds unclosed, To let the curtains fade. The ink we never spill; the boots That lying round you see Are not our boots-they all belong To Mr. Nobody. The mood of a poem is how it makes you feel. What is the mood of this poem? Give reasons for your answer.
What is This question could have multiple answers but this is one example: This poems mood is silly. This poem makes me feel silly because it talks about all of the things that people do and then deny. Nobody likes to admit they did something wrong, so when Mom asks "Who spilled the milk?", everyone answers with "NOT ME!" That means "nobody did it. This poem points out this silly fact of life.
300
Kathy and Tina were trying to throw a baby shower for their sister. It was getting very complicated though. Friends, aunts, and grandmothers all wanted to help. Everyone, though, had a different plan and now things were all messed up. How true - too many cooks spoil the broth! What does the idiom "too many cooks spoil the broth" mean?
What is The idiom "too many cooks spoil the broth" means that too many people working on one project can mess the project up. If too many cooks were adding different ingredients to broth, it might get too many things mixed in it and begin to taste worse.
300
Tell what literary element is used in this passage: The fog was a blanket covering the road.
What is metaphor. This metaphor is comparing the fog to a blanket.
300
Dennis was known to be a troublemaker. He liked to be the clown in class. He liked to pull pranks on other kids. He liked to make fun of others as well. Mr. Brown, a teacher at school, wanted to change some of Dennis' bad habits. He believed that Dennis had a good heart inside of him. Without the other kids knowing, he managed to get him involved with a program where Dennis could help needy people. Every Saturday he showed up on his own time and helped these children read and write. He also played sports with them. A few months later Dennis was in class when a new girl tripped over a desk. The whole class turned to Dennis waiting for him to tease her. Instead they kept waiting. Based on the text, infer what probably happened next.
What is Dennis probably helped the girl get back up and did not tease her. I think this because the story says that Dennis had began helping children on his own time, and I think this probably changed his attitude.
300
The US Mint makes money. It doesn't make all kinds, just coins. At first, the US Mint made one cent and one-half cent pieces. Through the years, it has made many coins, including a $20 gold piece. Today, the mint makes all of the coins we use to shop. It makes coins for special occasions too. The mint also stamps the designs for special medals. The main idea in this passage is:
What is The main idea of this passage is to tell what the US Mint makes.
400
Landing of the Pilgrims By: Felicia Dorothea Hemans The breaking waves dashed high, On a stern and rock-bound coast, And the woods against a stormy sky Their giant branches tossed; And the heavy night hung dark The hills and waters o'er, When a band of exiles moored their bark On the wild New England shore. Not as the conqueror comes, They, the true-hearted came; Not with the roll of the stirring drums, And the trumpet that sings of fame; Not as the flying come, In silence and in fear;-- They shook the depths of the desert gloom With their hymns of lofty cheer. Amidst the storm they sang, And the stars heard, and the sea; And the sounding aisles of the dim woods rang To the anthem of the free! The ocean eagle soared From his nest by the white wave's foam; And the rocking pines of the forest roared-- This was their welcome home! There were men with hoary hair Amidst that pilgrim band: Why had they come to wither there, Away from their childhood's land? There was woman's fearless eye, Lit by her deep love's truth; There was manhood's brow serenely high, And the fiery heart of youth. What sought they thus afar? Bright jewels of the mine? The wealth of seas, the spoils of war?-- They sought a faith's pure shrine! Ay, call it holy ground, The soil where first they trod. They have left unstained what there they found-- Freedom to worship God. What types of people came to New England?
What is Men and Women of all ages.
400
The fire inspectors took a look at the seriously damaged home to see what caused the fire. There were many problems that could have caused the disaster. Faulty wiring was just the tip of the iceberg. What does the idiom tip of the iceberg mean?
What is The idiom "tip of the iceberg" means just one part of a much bigger problem. An iceberg tip is just one small part of an iceberg, which is much bigger under the water than on top. When many problems pile up, the one on top is just the "tip" of the problem.
400
Tell what literary element is being used in the sentence below: I had so much homework, I needed a pickup truck to carry all my books home!
What is hyperbole. The author is extremely exaggerating the amount of homework he received.
400
Tara was supposed to watch her younger brother while her mother was at work. Tara got home from school and she waited for her brother Mike to get home. Mike went back and forth to school each day on his bike. He was under strict orders from his parents to come straight home. "I will," Mike had said to his parents in the morning. When Mike left school that day, he got on his bike and headed home. Passing the park, though, he spotted some of his buddies. He didn't think anyone would miss him for a few minutes. He decided to play. But the minutes passed. Tara was frantic by now. She didn't know where Mike was. She kept calling her mother's cell phone but couldn't reach her either. Tara picked up the phone and dialed those three numbers meant for emergencies only. When the police pulled up in their patrol car, guess who rode up on his bike? Based on the text, what can we infer that Tara was thinking before Mike got home.
What is Based on the text, I can infer that Tara was worried that Mike had gotten hurt or that something bad had happened to him. I know this because the story says that Tara was frantic and even called the police. People do not feel frantic and call the police until they are worried.
400
What is a mortgage? A mortgage is a particular kind of a loan. When someone takes out a mortgage, they get money to buy a house. They must pay the money back, plus interest. Usually people make a mortgage payment once each month. The house is collateral on the loan. That means that, if the payments aren't made, the bank can take the house. In fact, the bank holds the deed to the house until the mortgage is paid. The main idea in this passage is: a) pros and cons of buying a house b) information about buying a house c) a definition of the word mortgage d) a definition of the word collateral
What is c) A definition of the word mortgage
500
Landing of the Pilgrims By: Felicia Dorothea Hemans The breaking waves dashed high, On a stern and rock-bound coast, And the woods against a stormy sky Their giant branches tossed; And the heavy night hung dark The hills and waters o'er, When a band of exiles moored their bark On the wild New England shore. Not as the conqueror comes, They, the true-hearted came; Not with the roll of the stirring drums, And the trumpet that sings of fame; Not as the flying come, In silence and in fear;-- They shook the depths of the desert gloom With their hymns of lofty cheer. Amidst the storm they sang, And the stars heard, and the sea; And the sounding aisles of the dim woods rang To the anthem of the free! The ocean eagle soared From his nest by the white wave's foam; And the rocking pines of the forest roared-- This was their welcome home! There were men with hoary hair Amidst that pilgrim band: Why had they come to wither there, Away from their childhood's land? There was woman's fearless eye, Lit by her deep love's truth; There was manhood's brow serenely high, And the fiery heart of youth. What sought they thus afar? Bright jewels of the mine? The wealth of seas, the spoils of war?-- They sought a faith's pure shrine! Ay, call it holy ground, The soil where first they trod. They have left unstained what there they found-- Freedom to worship God. What does the author mean by "their bark" in the second stanza?
What is their ship
500
Jeremy never took any responsibility for what he had to do at home. He always blamed his brother and tried to pass the buck. What does the idiom pass the buck mean?
What is The idiom "pass the buck" means to pass the responsibility or blame to another person instead of taking responsibility for your own actions.
500
The pitcher flung the ball to Adam. His heart pounded in anticipation...this could mean victory or loss for his team. Suddenly, he heard the loud crack of the bat. The ball flew over the fence as the crowd cheered.
What is Onomatopoeia The "crack" of the bat is the imitation of the sound the bat made when hitting the ball.
500
Tara was supposed to watch her younger brother while her mother was at work. Tara got home from school and she waited for her brother Mike to get home. Mike went back and forth to school each day on his bike. He was under strict orders from his parents to come straight home. "I will," Mike had said to his parents in the morning. When Mike left school that day, he got on his bike and headed home. Passing the park, though, he spotted some of his buddies. He didn't think anyone would miss him for a few minutes. He decided to play. But the minutes passed. Tara was frantic by now. She didn't know where Mike was. She kept calling her mother's cell phone but couldn't reach her either. Tara picked up the phone and dialed those three numbers meant for emergencies only. When the police pulled up in their patrol car, guess who rode up on his bike? What can you infer that the weather might have been like on this day?
What is I can infer that the weater was probably pretty nice. I think it was a nice day because the story says that Cody rode his bike to school and stopped to play in the park. By prior experience I know that people usually ride bikes and play outside when the weather is nice.
500
They stepped out of their vehicle. They walked on the new land. While they were there, they collected 46 pounds of rocks. Their other partner was waiting in a larger getaway vehicle. Before they left, one of the men said, "That's one small step for a man. . . " The main idea in this passage is: a) rock collectors b) rock thieves c) the first explorers on the moon d) hikers in the Grand Canyon
What is c) the first explorers on the moon