Main Idea or Theme
What is the theme of a story?
The theme is the lesson of the story.
The Earth is the third planet from the Sun and is the only known planet to support life. It has a diverse range of ecosystems, including deserts, forests, and oceans, that are home to millions of species. The Earth's atmosphere is composed of nitrogen, oxygen, and other gases that support life. It also has a natural satellite, the Moon, which orbits around it.
What is the Earth's atmosphere primarily composed of?
a. Nitrogen and oxygen
b. Carbon dioxide and helium
c. Oxygen and helium
d. Nitrogen and carbon dioxide
What is the Earth's atmosphere primarily composed of?
a. Nitrogen and oxygen
Shaking their head in disbelief, the parents were so disappointed when they saw the F on Skylar's report card. Based on the prefix dis-, the word disbelief means:
a. to believe again b. to have many beliefs
c. to not believe d. to move towards belief
The prefix dis- means:
c. to not believe
What is a simile?
A simile is a comparison of two things using like or as.
When James told the class about Chris riding on the roof of the car all the way to their Grandma’s house, the class broke into roars of laughter.
The phrase “broke into roars of laughter” means that the laughter:
a. came from different parts of the class.
b. was sudden and loud.
c. was frightening.
d. came from the car.
The phrase “broke into roars of laughter” means that the laughter:
b. was sudden and loud.
What is the main idea of a text?
The main idea of a text is what the text is mostly about.
When Elena moved to a new city, she felt lonely and nervous about starting at a new school. On her first day, she didn’t know where to sit at lunch or who to talk to in class. To solve this problem, Elena decided to join the school’s art club because she enjoyed drawing. There, she met other students who shared her interests. Over time, Elena made several new friends and began to feel more comfortable at her new school.
What is the text structure of the passage?
A. Compare and contrast
B. Problem and Solution
C. Cause and Effect
D. Sequence (chronological order)
What is the text structure of the passage?
B. Problem and Solution
It takes less than a minute for the vehicle to transform from an airplane to a car. Based on the prefix trans- what does the word transform mean?
a. above b. change c. between d. move
The prefix trans- means:
b. change.
What is a metaphor?
A metaphor is a comparison of two things that do not use like or as.
The Camping Trip
“I wish I could be out in the woods with my friends right now,” Sam thought to himself. He and his friends had planned a camping trip with their parents, but Sam couldn’t go. He had to stay home because he was sick with a bad cold.
That evening, Sam’s mother came into his bedroom. “I have a surprise,” Mom said. Sam glumly followed her to the basement and saw that she had set up a tent. “I’m sorry you had to miss the trip,” Mom said. “I thought we could have our own indoor adventure.” Mom and Sam spent the evening on sleeping bags in the basement. They watched a nature program on television and talked about their favorite things to do outdoors. After dinner, Mom even made s’mores for dessert.
Sam was still sorry to have missed the trip, but he and Mom had their own fun camping indoors.
What lesson does Sam learn in the passage?
a. It is important to rest when you are sick.
b. Good planning is important for a fun trip.
c. Friends should try to help each other.
d. Even bad days can include fun adventures.
What lesson does Sam learn in the passage?
d. Even bad days can include fun adventures.
Every afternoon, Lila stayed after school to work on her science project. Her first design didn’t work the way she expected—the model bridge collapsed under even a small amount of weight. Instead of starting over completely, Lila carefully studied what went wrong. She noticed that some of the materials she chose were too weak, so she replaced them with stronger ones and adjusted the structure. After several trials and small changes, her bridge could hold more weight than she imagined. On the day of the science fair, Lila confidently presented her project, explaining both her mistakes and how she improved her design.
A. Lila’s first bridge failed because she used weak materials.
B. Science projects require students to present their work clearly.
C. Lila improved her project by learning from mistakes and making thoughtful changes.
D. Building a strong bridge takes a long time and many materials.
Which statement best expresses the main idea of the passage?
C. Lila improved her project by learning from mistakes and making thoughtful changes.
Mount Everest is the highest mountain on Earth, standing at 29,032 feet (8,848 meters) above sea level. It is located in the Himalayas, on the border between Nepal and China. Mount Everest is a popular destination for climbers, but it is also a dangerous one. The extreme altitude, weather conditions, and lack of oxygen make it a challenging climb. Despite the risks, many people attempt to reach the summit each year, drawn by the mountain's majestic beauty and the challenge it presents.
According to the passage, which of the following is not a reason that Mount Everest is a difficult climb?
a. The mountain is extremely tall.
b. The weather conditions are dangerous.
c. There are lots of dangerous animals.
d. There is very little oxygen on the mountain.
According to the passage, which of the following is not a reason that Mount Everest is a difficult climb?
c. There are lots of dangerous animals.
When I was three years old, my family took a vacation and drove across the United States. I don't remember too many things that happened. The things I do remember are vague.
What does the word vague mean? Use context clues.
a. not clear or lacking details
b. very detailed and specific
c. strong and mighty
d. easy to remember
What does the word vague mean?
a. not clear
What is the meaning of the idiom below?
My mother was over the moon when I told her I won the writing contest.
a. The mother is on the moon.
b. The mother is very happy with the child.
c. The mother likes the brightness of the moon.
d. The mother is upset with the child.
What is the meaning of the idiom "over the moon"?
b. The mother is very happy with the child.
Sarah woke up to the sound of birds chirping outside her window. She stretched and smiled, excited for the day ahead. After breakfast, she put on her shoes and grabbed her backpack, ready to head to the park to meet her friends. As she stepped outside, the sun warmed her face, and everything felt perfect.
Which text structure is used in this paragraph?
a. Chronological/Sequence order
b. Compare and contrast
c. Cause and effect
d. Problem and solution
Which text structure is used in this paragraph?
a. Chronological/Sequence order
Nia had always been excited to join the school’s track team. On the first day of practice, however, she quickly realized that running laps was much harder than she expected. While other runners seemed to move with ease, Nia struggled to keep up and often finished last. Embarrassed, she considered quitting.The next day, Nia almost didn’t show up. But as she watched the team practice from the sidelines, she noticed something surprising. Even the fastest runners were breathing hard and pushing themselves. Their coach reminded them that improvement takes time and consistent effort. Nia decided to stay. Each day, she focused on doing a little better than the day before. Weeks passed, and although she was not the fastest runner, she no longer finished last. More importantly, she felt proud that she hadn’t given up.
Which statement best expresses the theme of the passage?
A. Being the fastest runner is the most important part of joining a team.
B. Some people are naturally better at sports than others.
C. Consistent effort and perseverance lead to personal growth.
D. Watching others can be more helpful than practicing yourself.
Which statement best expresses the theme of the passage?
C. Consistent effort and perseverance lead to personal growth.
Bees play an important role in the environment through a process called pollination. When bees travel from flower to flower collecting nectar, they carry pollen on their bodies. This pollen is transferred between plants, allowing them to grow fruits and seeds. Without bees and other pollinators, many plants would not be able to reproduce.
In recent years, however, bee populations have been decreasing. Scientists believe this is due to several factors, including the use of harmful pesticides, loss of natural habitats, and climate change. As a result, fewer bees are available to pollinate crops and wild plants. This can lead to lower food production and fewer plant species in certain areas.
Because of this, many people are working to protect bees by planting gardens, reducing pesticide use, and supporting conservation efforts. These actions can help maintain healthy ecosystems and ensure that bees continue to play their vital role.
Which statement is best supported by the information in the passage?
A. Bees only help flowers grow in gardens.
B. The decrease in bee populations could negatively affect food production.
C. Scientists have solved the problem of declining bee populations.
D. Pollination is a process that only happens in certain climates.
Which statement is best supported by the information in the passage?
B. The decrease in bee populations could negatively affect food production.
The classroom grew unusually quiet as Ms. Carter handed back the tests. Jordan glanced at his paper and felt a wave of disappointment. He had studied hard, but his grade was lower than expected. For a moment, he considered crumpling the paper and giving up. Instead, he paused, reread the questions he missed, and asked Ms. Carter for help understanding his mistakes. Though still discouraged, Jordan took a deep breath and approached the next assignment with a more resilient attitude.
What does the word resilient most nearly mean as it is used in the passage?
A. Easily upset and unable to move forward
B. Willing to ignore mistakes and move on quickly
C. Able to recover from difficulty and keep trying
D. Certain to succeed without needing help
What does the word resilient most nearly mean as it is used in the passage?
C. Able to recover from difficulty and keep trying
Lena sat quietly at her desk, staring at the blank page in front of her. The pencil seemed to beg her to pick it up. Outside, the morning sun smiled through the window, lighting up her notebook with a soft glow.
Which sentence from the paragraph shows personification?
a. Lena sat quietly at her desk, staring at the blank page.
b. The pencil seemed to beg her to pick it up.
c. The morning sun smiled through the window.
d. Both B and C
Which sentence from the paragraph shows personification?
d. Both B and C
---------
b. The pencil seemed to beg her to pick it up.
c. The morning sun smiled through the window.
Tommy was excited to spend the weekend at his grandpa's farm. As soon as he arrived, Grandpa handed him a shiny red apple and said, "Let's go meet Old Bessie."
Tommy followed Grandpa to the barn, where he saw the biggest cow he had ever seen. Old Bessie had large, gentle eyes and a shiny coat of fur. Grandpa explained that Old Bessie had been on the farm for as long as he could remember and was like a part of the family.
Later that day, Tommy helped Grandpa feed the animals and collect eggs from the chickens. As the sun began to set, they sat on the porch, eating homemade apple pie and watching the stars twinkle in the night sky.
Question:
How does the author make you feel about Old Bessie?
a. By describing her large size and shiny coat, the author makes you feel intimidated by Old Bessie.
b. By explaining that Old Bessie is like a part of the family, the author makes you feel connected to and fond of Old Bessie.
c. By mentioning Tommy's excitement, the author makes you feel indifferent towards Old Bessie.
d. By describing the barn, the author makes you feel curious about Old Bessie's surroundings.
How does the author make you feel about Old Bessie?
b. By explaining that Old Bessie is like a part of the family, the author makes you feel connected to and fond of Old Bessie.
I planted seeds on Monday,
But nothing grew by three.
I almost stopped on Thursday,
And said, “This won’t be me.”
But Friday came with sunshine,
And tiny leaves appeared.
I smiled at what had taken time,
And all I almost feared.
What is the theme of the poem?
A. Plants grow best in sunny weather.
B. Patience is important because good things take time to grow.
C. It is important to plant seeds at the right time.
D. Gardening is a fun activity for everyone.
What is the theme of the poem?
B. Patience is important because good things take time to grow.
The 1904 Olympic Marathon
The 1904 Olympic Games were the first Olympics held in the United States—in St. Louis, Missouri. One event in the Olympics was the marathon. A marathon is a very long running race. In 1904, the marathon length was 24.9 miles. That year, the Olympic marathon had many problems.
The marathon was run on a hot August afternoon. The race course was covered in dust, which made it hard for the runners to breathe. The runners could get water in only two places. More than half of the runners quit the race. Three hours and twenty-eight minutes after the race began, Thomas Hicks crossed the finish line as the winner of the 1904 Olympic marathon!
Which two pieces of evidence does the author use to support the idea that the 1904 marathon was very challenging?
a. “. . . the first Olympics held in the United States. . . .” (paragraph 1)
b. “One event in the Olympics. . . .” (paragraph 1)
c. “The race course was covered in dust. . . .” (paragraph 2)
d. “. . . runners could get water in only two places.” (paragraph 2)
e. “. . . after the race began. . . .” (paragraph 2)
Which two pieces of evidence does the author use to support the idea that the 1904 marathon was very challenging?
c. “The race course was covered in dust. . . .” (paragraph 2)
d. “. . . runners could get water in only two places.” (paragraph 2)
When Bessie Coleman decided to become a pilot, she had to travel to France to get her license. No flying schools in the U.S. were willing to teach an African American woman. But she earned her license in 1921 and soon became well known for her skills. She began performing stunts at air shows. People called her "Brave Bessie." She thrilled crowds with daring maneuvers like figure eights and loop the loops.
What is the meaning of maneuvers as used in the passage?
a. A plan that will not work
b. A vehicle that goes very fast
c. A part of an airplane
d. A movement that requires skill
What is the meaning of maneuvers as used in the passage?
d. A movement that requires skill
Read the paragraph and answer the question that follows:
Jessica looked out the window and sighed. The rain had been falling all day, and her baseball game was canceled. She slumped onto the couch and stared at her glove, wishing the sun would come back.
What answer best describes the tone of this paragraph?
a. Joyful and energetic — the character is full of excitement.
b. Calm and peaceful — the character is feeling relaxed and at ease.
c. Disappointed and gloomy — the character feels let down by the weather.
d. Nervous and uncertain — the character is unsure of what will happen next.
What answer best describes the tone of this paragraph?
c. Disappointed and gloomy — the character feels let down by the weather.
Excerpt from Heidi by Johanna Spyri
Heidi, climbing on a chair, took down the dusty book from a shelf. After she had carefully wiped it off, she sat down on a stool.
“What shall I read, grandmother?”
“Whatever you want to,” was the reply. Turning the pages, Heidi found a song about the sun, and decided to read that aloud. More and more eagerly she read, while the grandmother, with folded arms, sat in her chair. . . . When Heidi had repeated the end of the song a number of times, the old woman exclaimed: “Oh, Heidi, everything seems bright to me again and my heart is light. Thank you, child, you have done me so much good.”
Heidi looked enraptured at her grandmother’s face, which had changed from an old, sorrowful expression to a joyous one.
1. What does enraptured mean?
a. Feeling bored and uninterested
b. Feeling extremely happy and delighted
c. Feeling angry or upset
d. Feeling tired and sleepy
2. How did Heidi affect her grandmother's demeanor in the story?
a. Heidi's reading encouraged her grandmother's spirits.
b. Heidi kept singing until she annoyed her grandmother.
c. Heidi's grandmother became saddened as Heidi read to her.
d. Heidi's grandmother was upset because Heidi wanted to stop reading.
1. What does the word enraptured mean?
b. Feeling extremely happy and delighted
2. How did Heidi affect her grandmother's demeanor in the story?
a. Heidi's reading encouraged her grandmother's spirits.