Context Clues
After finding crumbs all over Fido's bed, Mom concluded that the dog had eaten the cookies.
What does the word conclude mean?
arrive at a judgment or opinion by reasoning
infer
gather
Before you put on that skeleton costume and rove door-to-door pandering for candy, take a minute to reflect on this tradition. Halloween is believed to have come from an ancient Celtic festival dating back some 2,000 years. November 1st was the Celtic New Year and marked the end of summer to the Celts. They celebrated on its eve by wearing costumes made of animal skins and dancing around bon fires. Over the next two millennia, this primitive celebration grew to be the candy fueled costume ball that we know today.
How the Halloween traditions we have today got started
A section in a history book describing the conditions and causes of the Great Depression in the Midwest in the 1930s
Author's purpose is to inform readers about the conditions and causes of the Great Depression in the Midwest in the 1930s.
Long ago, a beautiful princess had all beautiful, expensive dresses. She bragged about them all the time. The other girls got so annoyed by it they stopped being friends with the princess.
What is the theme/message?
Don't brag, be modest.
What does it mean to make an inference?
Using prior knowledge plus text evidence to draw a conclusion; reading between the lines
While others eat eggs, pancakes, and bacon for breakfast, Mike was content with a piece of toast and a glass of orange juice.
What does the word content mean in this sentence?
happy, satisfied
Screech! When a driver pushes on the brake pedal, it initiates a process that causes the vehicle to stop
in motion. We literally trust braking systems with our lives every time we get into a vehicle or cross at a busy intersection. How does this life-critical process work? It begins when the pedal is pushed. At this moment brake fluid is released into the braking mechanisms. As the fluid collects, this creates a leverage, which causes a friction to be applied. This friction will create a force that will cause the wheels to stop and allow you to reach your destination safely. Beep! Beep!
How braking works
A booklet containing the school rules and the consequences for violating those rules
The author's purpose is to inform students of the school rules and consequences.
There was once some hard-working ants and a grasshopper that hated to work. The ants gathered food all spring while the grasshopper played. When winter came the ants had enough food but the grasshopper had nothing to eat.
What is the theme/message?
Don't be lazy.
Hard work pays off.
Ben is auditioning for a part in the school play. He's been fine all day, but right before the audition he says he feels sick. You might infer that Ben __________.
Ben is nervous about his audition.
The richest man in town was losing his hearing and he offered a large reward to anyone who could find a remedy for his condition.
What does the word remedy mean in this sentence?
cure, solution, treatment
Remember, if something is worth doing, it is worth doing correctly. That said, the key to making perfect cookies is merely a matter of preparation and precision. To begin with, read your cookie recipe thoroughly before baking. Make sure that you have all the necessary ingredients before you continue. Next, use good tools and utensils. Sometimes, the craftsperson is only as good as his or her tools. By using good tools you minimize mistakes and improve the quality of your product. Last, use top quality ingredients. Unlike characters in fairytales, you can't turn lead into gold. If you use poor quality materials, you'll create inferior products. So, to make perfect cookies you should use the highest quality materials available. Bon appetite!
How to make perfect cookies
An article where the author argues that an iPhone is better than an Android phone
The author's purpose is to persuade readers that iPhones are better than Androids.
What is the main difference between theme and main idea?
The main idea is what the story is mostly about.
The theme is the message, lesson, or moral of a book.
True or False? Making an inference is the same as making a prediction.
False! A prediction is usually based on explicit details (given in the text), whereas an inference relies on implicit details (implied).
Since it was a school day, Denise thought it was peculiar that she saw no children on the street during her drive to work.
What does the word peculiar mean in this sentence?
weird, strange, unusual, odd
Many people use the words cyborg and android interchangeably, but these words have different meanings. Both refer to beings powered by robotics, but an android is powered entirely by machinery. Cyborgs are partly powered by a living organism. They also look different. Androids may be completely mechanical, but they are designed to look like humans. They may have synthetic skin, hair, and other human-like features. Cyborgs are usually designed in a way that accents their robotic modifications. A cyborg's mechanically enhanced eye may cast a red light or have a chrome plate surrounding it, for instance. So you see, though the terms cyborg and android seem similar, they refer to different things.
Differences between cyborgs and androids
A story written about a young boy who moves to a new school and is bullied, but he gains self-confidence by joining a sports team and learns to stand up for himself.
The author's purpose is to entertain readers by telling the boy's story.
True or False: A theme can be expressed in one word.
False! It must be a statement or phrase. A topic is usually one word.
It is snowing. Your friend Justina is coming to a sleep over. She texts you that she's on her way but will be late. What is the BEST inference you could make?
Justina is late because of snow on the roads; bad weather.
Max was sick of Max was sick of quarreling with his wife about money when all he wanted to do was enjoy her company.
What does the word quarrel mean?
argument, fight, disagreement
There are many types of lethal venom in the animal kingdom, but perhaps no stranger carrier than the platypus. The platypus is one of few venomous mammals. Male platypus carry a venom cocktail in their ankle spurs. This venom incapacitates victims with excruciating pain. Stranger still, the platypus is the only mammal that uses electroreception. That means that the platypus uses its bill to sense the electricity produced by the muscular movements of its prey. Electroreception is a sixth sense different from seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, or feeling. Perhaps most odd, the platypus is the only mammal that lays eggs rather than giving birth to live young. What an odd creature indeed.
The platypus is an unusual venomous animal.
A speech written by a professional athlete listing the negative effects of steroids and urging young athletes to not use steroids.
The author's purpose is to persuade listeners to not use steroids.
In his sophomore year of high school, basketball legend Michael Jordan tried out for the varsity basketball team. But at five feet and eleven inches tall, the coach believed that Jordan was too short to play. The coach cut Jordan from the team. Jordan didn’t let this obstacle defeat him. In fact, it pushed him to work even harder. He trained vigorously and grew another four inches the following summer. The next year, Jordan made the varsity squad. He averaged 25 points a game and went on to become one of the greatest basketball players in history.
What is the theme/message?
Never give up on your dreams.
It's important to keep trying even if you fail at first.
Crack! Thunder struck and rain poured. Max stared blankly out the window, trying to contain his emotions that raged like the weather. He was beginning to lose it. Dropping the kite from his hand, Max broke out into full sobs. His mother comforted him, “There, there, Max. We’ll just find something else to do.” She began to unpack the picnic basket that was on the counter and offered him a sandwich. Max snapped, “I don’t wanna sand-mich!” A flash from the sky lit up the living room. Boom! Mom sighed.
Why is Max upset?
His picnic day got cancelled because of bad weather.