Context Clues
The theater was extremely ornate. There were crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, and all of chairs were upholstered in velvet. Intricately carved wooden balconies jutted out along the sides of the theatre, looking own upon a stage which itself was made of a complex and colorful pattern of various hardwoods which made the stage something to behold even before the performance began. What does the word ornate mean? a. old b. fancy c. expensive d. prepared
b. fancy
This prefix means "before"
pre-
Malik finished multiplying the fractions and turned in his worksheet. Ms. Watson was making the class sit quietly until the end of class. Twenty more minutes were left. Finally she said, “Okay, class! I have your tests graded. Overall, I’m very pleased with how you all did. Some of you, however, need to study a bit harder,” Ms. Watson said as she passed out the papers. Ms. Watson came and placed his test facedown on his desk. Malik turned it over excitedly, but his grin quickly turned to a frown. As he stared at his grade, a huge knot formed in his stomach. Why does Malik groan and put his head on his desk? A. He is upset about his bad grade. B. He feels sick after taking a test. C. He is bored after finishing his work. D. He does not want to talk to his teacher.
Killer whales are sometimes called the "wolves of the sea." They are predators; they need to eat other animals to live. Like wolves, they work together in groups. If you're a porpoise or a big fish, a killer whale looks mean because it wants to eat you. If you're a killer whale, then you hope that the porpoise or big fish doesn't get away. If it does, then you have to go hungry. What is the main idea of the paragraph? A. Killer whales chase big fish. B. Killer whales are harmless. C. Killer whales are predators. D. Killer whales live in groups.
C. Killer whales are predators
Words taken from the reading passage used to support the overall idea of the essay
The club was available only to the most elite of the city’s population: rock stars, movie stars, and successful politicians. Membership cost thousands of dollars a month just to enable them to walk through the door. Actually doing anything once they got there, like eating a meal or playing a round of golf, cost additional money. You had to have a sponsor in order to be accepted. What is the best definition for the word elite? a. upper class b. famous c. popular d. historical
a. upper class
This prefix means "after"
Post-
"You always want to do what I do, Polly thought. She sighed and leaned over to talk to her sister eye-to-eye. 'You're too little to run a business like me. You just have to sit quietly and watch.' " What does the paragraph above suggest? A. Polly wants to help her little sister. B. Polly needs to learn to run a business. C. Polly thinks her sister is annoying. D. Polly likes to play with her sister.
C. Polly thinks her sister is annoying
The ring you sometimes see around the sun or moon is called a halo. It is believed to be caused by the scattering of sunlight by tiny ice crystals very high in the sky. High clouds of ice crystals in the sky are called cirrus clouds or cirrostratus if they form a layer. These often form in front of warm fronts that bring rain. That means a halo around the sun or moon is often a warning that rain may come. The passage is mainly about A. the reasons the sun rises. B. how halos are formed. C. a warning that rain may come. D. warm fronts that bring rain.
B. how halos are formed.
The three-letter steps of writing a short response
When Ray’s father found a lump on his arm, the whole family was concerned. His father went to see a doctor, who did what he called a biopsy: he took a tissue sample from the lump and sent it in to a lab for testing. The whole family waited on pins and needles for the test results to come back, and when the doctor called to tell them the news, they were tremendously relieved to learn that the tumor was benign. What is the best definition for the word benign? a. deadly b. dangerous c. unusual d. harmless
The meaning of the prefix "semi" (semicircle, semi-retired, etc.)
half
Mr. Killian's class could be heard from the lobby of the school. His students laughed at his jokes and funny voices. A couple students were walking by his door and stopped to see what was happening. Mr. Killian wanted his students to like reading great novels. To make them interesting, he would sometimes act out the books using funny props and voices. The students paid attention in his class and even made good grades on his tests. He also gave each student individual attention and made each feel special. Even the other teachers had nothing but nice things to say about Mr. Killian. Based on the passage, which generalization can the reader make? A. Many students like Mr. Killian's teaching style. B. Most teachers like to make funny jokes in class. C. English is the most exciting class in all schools. D. No one likes to read long novels in English class.
A. Many students like Mr. Killian's teaching style
Do you know where to find Italy on a map? Italy juts out from the European continent. It sticks out into the Mediterranean Sea. It is shaped like a high-heeled boot. The toe is pointed to the island of Sicily. Other important islands to its west are Sardinia, Corsica, and Elba. To the north are France, Switzerland, Austria, and Germany. Some countries lie to the east. They are across the Adriatic Sea. Croatia, Bosnia, and Herzegovina are found across the water. Which sentence from the passage supports the idea that Italy is surrounded by water? A. It is shaped like a high-heeled boot. B. The toe is pointed to the island of Sicily. C. Do you know where to find Italy on a map? D. It sticks out into the Mediterranean Sea.
The most important sentence of an essay is called...
The claim or thesis statement
Everyone in the world is afraid of something. Instead of having just one phobia, or fear, at a time, most people have many fears simultaneously. People may be scared of bugs or spiders, water or flying. Sometimes, people have reasons for their fears. An assault may make someone scared of strangers on the street, even years after the attack. Other times, there is no reason for the fear. A person with a strong fear of bugs may spend large amounts of money to exterminate every insect in the house, even though all of them are less dangerous than the poison! In the passage above, what is the meaning of simultaneously? A. a group of people B. at the same time C. one at a time D. large or important
B. at the same time
The meaning of the prefix "auto" (automobile, autobiography, etc.)
self
Last night, someone broke all the windows of the empty Kizer building. This is the fourth building in Farrell Square to be damaged at night. The old neighborhood has seen better times. In the past, it was the center of activity in the city. People could go to the park, go shopping, or catch a movie. Now, the screen of the old theater is covered in graffiti. Many of the old shops are now abandoned. The park is overgrown with weeds. What conclusion can the reader make from the reading? A. Many people used to work in the Kizer building. B. Most people want to live near the park. C. Many people have moved to other parts of the city. D. Kids don't respect their neighborhoods.
C. Many people have moved to other parts of the city
The solar system is made of our Sun and everything that travels around it. Our solar system is elliptical. This means it is shaped like an egg. The Sun is in the center of the solar system. Our solar system is always moving. Eight planets and their moons orbit the Sun. Comets, asteroids, and other space objects also move around the Sun. The Sun is the biggest object in our solar system. It has more than 99% of the solar system's mass. Astronomers think the solar system is over 4 billion years old. Which would be the best title of the passage? A. Comets and Moons B. Eight Planets C. The Solar System D. The Sun's Mass
C. The Solar System
The beginning of the introduction paragraph; meant to grab the readers' attention
The hook
Alfred Nobel invented dynamite. He was, however, a pacifist who felt bad about the destructive power that he created. He established the Nobel Prize as an award for outstanding achievement in physics, chemistry, medicine, peace, literature, and economics. Looking at the context, what is the definition of pacifist? A. a cruel, violent person B. an inventor of explosives C. a very famous scientist D. a person against violence
D. a person against violence
This suffix usually indicates that the part of speech of a word is an adverb (adverbs describe verbs) (verbs are action words)
-ly (quickly, slowly, easily, etc.)
What is Sleep Talking? Sleep talking is a common activity people do while sleeping. People make sounds or speak during sleep without being aware of it. Sleep talking can happen at any stage of sleep. People with anxiety disorders or fever are known to talk in their sleep. Sometimes, people with other sleep disorders like sleep walking or shortness of breath while sleeping also talk in their sleep. More children are known to sleep talk compared to adults. Usually, sleep talking goes away in children when they hit puberty. Children who sleep walk may continue to sleep talk as well. While some sleep talkers carry on conversations, others only make sounds. Lack of sleep is known to increase sleep talking. Other factors that increase sleep talking are stress and anxiety. People with irregular sleep habits might talk in their sleep. Researchers say eating a heavy meal before bedtime creates discomfort that might cause sleep talking. What can the reader tell about people who sleep talk? A. They will remember everything they said while sleeping. B. They are most talkative when they are in deep sleep. C. They feel least stressed or anxious while sleep talking. D. There are a variety of factors that contribute to sleep talking.
D. There are a variety of factors that contribute to sleep talking.
Come hear Granger Smith at Wildcats Stadium on April 8 from 5-7 p.m. Granger is a Lake Highlands High School graduate who is a rising country music star. Smith is best known for his top ten single "Don't Listen to the Radio." Bring a blanket and a picnic, and enjoy the show. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. Proceeds go to benefit the cheerleading squad and drill team. What is this passage mainly about? A. a benefit concert at the high school B. a rally against listening to the radio C. a drill team contest at the school D. a graduation concert at the stadium
A. a benefit concert at the high school
The middle of the introduction paragraph (in between the first and last sentences) includes...
Background information