Cause and Effect
Using context clues, tell me the definition of the word commence in the sentence below:
"The principal announced that the graduation ceremony would commence, or begin, at exactly 10:00 AM."
Commence: To begin or start.
"The room was dark and cool. The smell of buttery popcorn filled the air. Everyone in the crowd stopped talking as the giant screen in front of them lit up and loud music began to play. Sarah leaned back in her soft seat and put on her 3D glasses. Where was Sarah?"
She was at a movie theater.
"Little Timmy was at the park holding a bright red helium balloon. He was so excited to see a dog walk by that he clapped his hands and accidentally let go of the string. The balloon wasn't tied to anything. Predict what will happen to the balloon."
The balloon will float away into the sky.
Exercise is very important for keeping your body healthy. Running helps your heart beat strong. Lifting weights helps your muscles get bigger. Stretching helps you stay flexible so you don't get hurt. All of these activities help you feel good." State the Main Idea:
Exercise is important for a healthy body.
"Kevin was painting a picture in art class. He was having fun, but he accidentally knocked over his water cup. The water spilled all over his painting and ruined the paper. Give me the cause of the painting being ruined."
Kevin knocked over his water cup.
Using context clues, tell me the definition of the word rigid in the sentence below:
"The cooked spaghetti was soft and flexible, but the uncooked noodles were rigid and hard to break."
Rigid: Stiff, hard, or not flexible.
"Tyler carefully put the worm on the hook. He swung his rod back and cast the line far out into the middle of the lake. He sat quietly on the dock and waited for the red and white bobber to dip below the water's surface. What was Tyler doing?"
He was fishing.
"Mrs. Baker put the chocolate cake batter into the oven and set the timer for 30 minutes. She went into the living room to read a book while it baked. Suddenly, the loud 'DING!' of the oven timer went off. Predict what Mrs. Baker will do next."
She will take the cake out of the oven (or go to the kitchen to check on it).
First, you need to get two slices of bread. Next, you spread peanut butter on one slice and jelly on the other. Then, you put the two slices together. Finally, you cut the sandwich in half. Making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich is a simple process." State the Main Idea:
How to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich (or that it is a simple process).
"Sarah is the goalie for the Taylor County Middle School soccer team. She had a championship game on Saturday morning, but she forgot to pack her cleats in her bag the night before. When she arrived at the field, her coach told her she couldn't play without proper shoes. Give me the cause of Sarah not playing in the championship game."
She forgot to pack her cleats the night before.
Using context clues, tell me the definition of the word vessel in the sentence below:
"The harbor was filled with every kind of vessel you could imagine, including speedboats, sailboats, and cruise ships."
Vessel: A ship or boat (or something that travels on water).
"Mr. Jones put on his black and white striped shirt. He placed a silver whistle around his neck and ran onto the field. He watched the players closely to make sure they followed the rules. When a player stepped out of bounds, Mr. Jones blew his whistle and waved his arms. What is Mr. Jones's job?"
He is a referee.
"Rex is a very energetic dog who loves to chase small animals. While on a walk, he spotted a squirrel sitting on a low branch just a few feet away. Rex’s ears perked up, he let out a whine, and his tail started wagging furiously. Predict what Rex will try to do."
Rex will try to chase the squirrel (or pull on his leash/bark).
"The violin is made of wood and uses a bow to make sound. The trumpet is made of shiny brass and you blow into it. The drums are hit with sticks to keep the beat. The piano has black and white keys that you press with your fingers." State the Main Idea:
There are many different types of musical instruments (and they are played in different ways).
"Every morning, the school bus comes at exactly 7:30 AM. On Tuesday, Jasmine overslept and didn't leave her house until 7:35 AM. When she got to the bus stop, the bus was already gone. Give me the cause of Jasmine missing the bus."
Jasmine overslept (or left her house too late).
Using context clues, tell me the definition of the word famished in the sentence below:
"After hiking up the mountain for six hours without a snack, the hikers were famished and ate their dinner in record time."
Famished: Extremely hungry or starving.
"Suddenly, the TV turned off and the house went completely black. 'Where is the flashlight?' Mom asked. Dad went to the window and saw that all the streetlights down the block were dark, too. The wind howled loudly outside. What had happened to the neighborhood?"
There was a power outage (or they lost electricity).
"Lucas was building a tower out of wooden blocks. He wanted it to be the tallest tower ever. He reached up high to place the very last block on top, but the tower began to wobble and lean heavily to the left. Lucas held his breath as the wobble got worse. Predict what is about to happen to the tower."
The tower will fall over (collapse/crash).
"The green leaves on the trees are turning red, orange, and yellow. The air is starting to feel crisp and cool in the mornings. People are putting pumpkins on their front porches and drinking hot apple cider. The days are getting shorter and the nights are getting longer." State the Main Idea:
It is the season of Autumn (or Fall).
"The Science Club was launching a model rocket. They painted the rocket bright red, checked the wind speed, and set up the launch pad perfectly. However, during the assembly, they installed the batteries for the igniter backward. When they pressed the launch button, the rocket sat still and did not launch. Give me the cause of the rocket failing to launch."
The batteries were installed backward.
Using context clues, tell me the definition of the word indifferent in the sentence below:
"When his mom asked if he wanted pizza or burgers for dinner, Alex was indifferent; he simply shrugged his shoulders and said he didn't care either way."
Indifferent: Not caring, having no preference, or unconcerned.
"The room was completely empty. There was nothing on the floor except for a few dust bunnies. When Maya spoke, her voice echoed off the bare walls. She looked at the lighter squares on the paint where her pictures used to hang. She sighed, picked up the last taped-up cardboard box by the door, and walked out to the truck waiting in the driveway. What was Maya doing?"
She was moving (moving out of her house).
"Kara has been saving her allowance for three months to buy a new video game. She finally had exactly $50 in her piggy bank. She walked into the game store, grabbed the game, and walked to the counter. However, the cashier told her the total price was $60 because of tax. Kara looked at the $50 in her hand and frowned. Predict what Kara will have to do."
Kara will have to put the game back (she cannot buy it yet/needs to save more money).
"Thomas Edison tried thousands of times to make a lightbulb that worked, but he failed over and over again. He did not quit. He learned something new from every mistake he made. Finally, after much hard work, he discovered the right way to make the lightbulb glow." State the Main Idea:
Thomas Edison succeeded because he never gave up (or perseverance leads to success).