Literary Terms
What is a central idea?
Central Idea: What the passage is mainly about
What is the meaning of the word "bantered" ?
"I listened as the friends bantered back and forth. The jokes didn’t stop coming and everyone was laughing."
Bantered: To talk or interact in a humorous or teasing way
What was the author's purpose of writing this passage?
"There was a squirrel named Jareth who lived in a special forest. He had a shiny acorn that glowed at night. One night, a raccoon named Noah took Jareth's acorn and ran away. So Jareth and his owl friend Scarlet went on an adventure to find the acorn."
To entertain readers in learning about a squirrel who lived in the forest.
What is the main idea of the passage?
"There are a lot of easy things that people of any age can do to help the planet. Recycling used items is very helpful, of course. Reusing items like glass jars and paper towel tubes helps, too. This can lower the amount of waste that ends up in landfills. While recycling cans, plastics, paper products, and more is good, people can also cut back on how much they use in the first place. Plastic-free packaging is now very common. Buying bulk packages can also lead to less wasted material. Using washable products can also reduce the amount of trash created over time."
a. Washable products are better for the environment.
b. People can do many things to help the environment.
c. Recycling is the most important thing someone can do to help the planet.
Answer:
B. People can do many things to help the environment.
What is author's purpose?
Author's Purpose: The reason why the author wrote what they did
What is the meaning of the word "peculiar" ?
"The object in the museum was peculiar. Stuart had never seen anything like it."
Peculiar: Strange, odd, unusual
What was the author's purpose of writing this passage?
"Think about getting a TV. It's fun and has movies, news, and learning stuff. The screen and sound are great, like in a movie theater. You can watch with family and choose your own shows. Get a TV now for fun times at home!"
To persuade readers to buy a new TV
What is the main idea of the passage?
"A paper doll is a picture of a doll that comes with clothes to dress it up. Shirts, dresses, pants, shoes, and other items can be mixed and matched to change the doll’s outfit. Paper dolls were sold in London in the early 1800s. It is believed that people in other countries made them even earlier. Paper dolls came in all different shapes and sizes. Paper dolls were not only made of paper but were also made of materials like cloth and plastic. They could be found in magazines, advertisements, newspapers, and books. They were so popular in the early 1900s that people started to collect them."
a. Paper dolls have been sold for hundreds of years.
b. Paper dolls can be found in magazines and books.
c. Paper dolls were popular toys that came in a variety of formats.
Answer:
C. Paper dolls were popular toys that came in a variety of formats.
What is a claim?
Claim: A statement that an author asserts as truth or an opinion about a topic
What is the meaning of the word "repetition" ?
"If you want to get better at a skill, it requires repetition. The more you practice, the better you get."
Repetition: Doing something over and over again
What was the author's purpose of writing this passage?
"Cats have a special tongue with tiny barbs called papillae. These papillae help cats clean their fur by grabbing onto dirt and loose hair. When a cat licks itself, these backward-facing barbs act like a natural comb, making their fur look neat and tidy. So, thanks to their unique tongue, cats can stay clean and have beautifully groomed fur all on their own."
To inform readers about how cats use their tongue to clean themselves
What is the main idea of the passage?
"Virtual reality allows a person to experience a simulated environment. This is done by wearing different types of equipment, including headsets. The equipment contains many sensors that create the feeling of a 3-D environment. If you were in a virtual reality house, you’d be able to walk into different rooms and feel like you were really there. You might even be able to “pick up” objects that feel like they were actually in your hand. Virtual reality can be very useful for different reasons. It has been used for entertainment such as video games and is even used by the government for military training."
a. Virtual reality is a technology with many use.
b. Virtual reality is helpful for video game
c. Specific equipment is required for virtual reality.
Answer:
A. Virtual reality is a technology with many use.
What is formal language?
Formal Language: A style of writing that is polite and proper.
What is the meaning of the word "resilient" ?
"Omar was resilient and finished the race despite his injured ankle."
Resilient: Able to recover or withstand tough experiences
What was the author's purpose of writing this passage?
"If you’re going to grab a quick meal from a restaurant, I’d suggest you eat at Chipotle. Chipotle is not like other fast food restaurants. They have healthy options on their menu. For example, you can have brown rice, black beans, lettuce, guacamole, and grilled chicken, just to name a few. Most other fast food restaurants offer food that is high in saturated fats and covered in grease. This can be harmful to your health. At Chipotle, you can have a meal that is similar to a home-cooked one. The next time you want fast food, try Chipotle, so you can have healthy options."
To persuade readers to choose Chipotle as a place for their next meal
What is the main idea of the passage?
"Volleyball was invented in 1895 by William G. Morgan. Intended as an indoor sport, it became popular very quickly. It even became an Olympic sport in 1964. The game is usually played with two teams of six players. The court has lines and a net separating the two sides. It can be played both indoors and outdoors. When it is played in the sand, it is called beach volleyball. The goal of the game is to have the ball touch the other team’s court before they can send it back. A player from one team serves the ball. This is done by throwing the ball in the air and hitting it hard to the other team. Many fans enjoy watching this popular sport."
a. A net is required to play volleyball.
b. Volleyball is played between two team.
c. Volleyball is a popular team sport.
Answer:
C. Volleyball is a popular team sport
What is an inference?
Inference: An idea or conclusion that's drawn from evidence and reasoning.
What is the meaning of the word "skirmish" ?
"The skirmish between the athletes got both players kicked out of the game."
Skirmish: A small argument or fight
What was the author's purpose of writing this passage?
"To keep everyone safe on the roads, the U.S. has laws for drivers to follow. Most of the laws center around drivers following traffic signs and lights as they travel. A few traffic signs that a driver might see while traveling are stop signs, speed limit signs, pedestrian signs, or work zone signs. Drivers have to pay attention to all traffic signs to ensure they’re safe as well as others. There are also traffic lights. These let drivers know when to go, move with caution, or stop. The purpose of traffic signs and lights are to maintain order and keep everyone safe."
To inform readers on the importance of following the law to stay safe on the road
What is the main idea of the passage?
"Going to the movie theater is fun, but have you ever wondered about the history of movie theaters? Picture shows were popular in the 1800s. These shows were also known as magic lantern shows. These shows had no motion or sound, just pictures projected onto the wall using a bright light. The earliest movies were usually shown in existing buildings, such as theaters where actors and actresses performed live. As movies became more popular, business owners realized it made sense to build theaters that were only used for showing movies. Most of these movie theaters had just one room for watching a movie. In the 1950s, a new type of movie theater, known as the drive-in, became popular in America. Drive-in theaters have an outdoor movie screen where people drive up and watch the movie from their car. Today’s movie theaters often have multiple rooms all showing different movies at the same time."
a. The first movie was shown in 1850.
b. Movie theaters have changed over time.
c. Modern movie theaters can show many different movies.
Answer:
B. Movie theaters have changed over time.