Comprehension
What is the difference between main idea and theme?
The main idea is what the text is mostly about. The theme is the lesson learned.
What are the four types of context clues?
Example, Definition, Synonym, and Antonym
Name the four elements of drama.
Cast of characters
Dialogue
Stage Directions
Setting
Identify the text structure:
When I got home from school after a long boring day, I took out the peanut butter, jelly, and bread. After taking the lid off of the jars, I spread the peanut butter on one side of the bread and the jelly on the other, and then I put the two pieces of bread together. After that, I enjoyed it while watching “Cops” on the TV. I swear, that was the best peanut butter and jelly sandwich I ever ate.
Chronological / Sequence
What's the difference between first-person and third-person narration?
First-person narration is when the narrator is a character in the story. First-person narration uses pronouns such as I, me, and us.
Third-person narration is when the narrator is NOT a character in the story. First-person narration uses pronouns such as he, she, and them.
Summarize the passage below in two sentences:
"I don't want a babysitter. I am eleven years old. My babysitter is only three years older than I am," she loudly yelled to her Mom. Now, she really wished she had somebody with her as she heard the clicking, scratching noises outside of the living room window. "This is silly. It's probably the storm," the girl said. She regretted watching the horror show she had been tuned into for the last half hour. As she searched for the remote to turn off the vampire movie, the front door blew open with a thunderous noise. Carla whirled around to see a dark image."
Answers may vary.
Example: Carla regrets telling her mom that she doesn’t need a babysitter, after watching a scary movie and hearing weird noises. She turned around and saw a dark shape.
Unlike my loquacious sister, I never talk.
Loquacious means talkative.
Name the five elements of poetry.
Rhyme
Rhythm
Meter
Verse
Stanza
Identify the text structure.
Dr. Miller doesn’t want the tigers to vanish. These majestic beasts are disappearing at an alarming rate. Dr. Miller thinks that we should write to our congress people. If we let them know that we demand the preservation of this species, maybe we can make a difference. Dr. Miller also thinks that we should donate to Save the Tigers. Our donations will help to support and empower those who are fighting the hardest to preserve the tigers. We owe it to our grandchildren to do something
Problem and solution
What is the difference between firsthand account and secondhand account?
Firsthand account - a text written by someone who was there at the time of the event, i.e. primary source
Secondhand account - a text written by someone who was not there at the time of the event, i.e. secondary source.
Find the main idea of the passage:
Blood is a miracle liquid. It flows to every part of the body. Some blood cells carry food and oxygen to body organs. Other blood cells kill germs and help stop cuts from bleeding. People can die if they lose a lot of blood or if their blood cells get sick. Doctors sometimes give people fresh blood to save their lives.
Answers may vary.
Example: Blood is an important liquid that has many functions, such as carrying oxygen and saving lives.
The teacher's face, like a brightly glowing summer day, signaled her feelings of contentment.
Contentment means happiness.
Describe the differences between meter, rhythm, and rhyme.
Rhyme refers to the words that have the same ending sound. Rhythm is the overall flow of the poem. Rhythm is created by meter. Meter is a pattern of weak and strong syllables.
Identify the text structure.
All matter, all things can be changed in two ways: chemically and physically. Both chemical and physical changes affect the state of matter. Physical changes are those that do not change the make-up or identity of the matter. For example, clay will bend or flatten if squeezed, but it will still be clay. Changing the shape of clay is a physical change, and does not change the matter’s identity. Chemical changes turn the matter into a new kind of matter with different properties. For example, when paper is burnt, it becomes ash and will never be paper again. The difference between them is that physical changes are temporary or only last for a little while, and chemical changes are permanent, which means they last forever. Physical and chemical changes both affect the state of matter.
Is this written in first or third person narration?
"I don't want a babysitter. I am eleven years old. My babysitter is only three years older than I am," she loudly yelled to her Mom. Now, she really wished she had somebody with her as she heard the clicking, scratching noises outside of the living room window. "This is silly. It's probably the storm," the girl said. She regretted watching the horror show she had been tuned into for the last half hour. As she searched for the remote to turn off the vampire movie, the front door blew open with a thunderous noise. Carla whirled around to see a dark image."
Third-person narration
Dear Editor,
The litter in the park is becoming a problem. I believe the issue is there are not enough trash cans located around the park. The city council needs to place more trash cans in the park.
What is the author's purpose?
Inform
Brady tried to quell the rumors about him having a contagious disease, but unfortunately they continued.
Quell means to stop or put an end to.
Why might a drama have a cast of characters and stage directions and prose might not?
Dramas are meant to be acted out.
Identify the text structure.
Many people are confused about why our economy went to shambles in 2008. The crisis was actually the result of a combination of many complex factors. First, easy credit conditions allowed people who were high-risk or unworthy of credit to borrow, and even people who had no income were eligible for large loans. Second, banks would bundle these toxic loans and sell them as packages on the financial market. Third, large insurance firms backed these packages, misrepresenting these high-risk loans as safe investments. Fourth, because of the ease of acquiring credit and the rapid growth in the housing market, people were buying two or three houses, intending to sell them for more than they paid. All of these factors created bubbles of speculation. These bubbles burst, sending the whole market into a downward spiral, causing employers to lose capital and lay off employees. Consumer spending then plummeted and most businesses suffered. The economy is like a big boat, and once it gets moving quickly in the wrong direction, it’s hard to turn it around.
Cause and Effect
You are watching an advertisement for a new toy on television.
What is the author's purpose?
Persuade
A book titled "Cars, Then and Now" would more likely be written to .
Inform
Kelly's grandmother was so feeble she couldn't walk well or get out of bed much.
Feeble means frail or weak.
What is the difference between Prose, Poetry, and Drama?
Prose - text written in paragraph form, i.e. newspapers and novels.
Poetry - text written using verses and stanzas
Dramas - texts intended to be performed, written in lines
Identify the text structure.
Robert James Fischer was born in Chicago but unlocked the secrets of chess in a Brooklyn apartment right above a candy store. At the age of six he taught himself to play by following the instruction booklet that came with his chess board. After spending much of his childhood in chess clubs, Fischer said that, “One day, I just got good.” That may be a bit of an understatement. At the age of 13 he won the U.S. Junior Chess Championship, becoming the youngest Junior Champion ever. At the age of 14 he won the U.S. Championship and became the youngest U.S. Champion in history. Fischer would go on to become the World Champion of chess, but he would also grow to become his own worst enemy. Instead of defending the title, he forfeited it to the next challenger without even making a move, and the rise of a chess superstar ended with a fizzle.
Description
Give an example of something that would be a firsthand account.
Answers may vary.
Example: Diary, Journal