Definitions pt. 1
What is a brief statement or account of the main points of a text without personal bias or feelings?
Objective Summary
True or False: The theme of a story is one word like "justice" or "love."
False.
Read the following passage.
“What they don’t understand about birthdays and what they never tell you is that when you’re eleven, you’re also ten, and nine, and eight, and seven, and six, and five, and four, and three, and two, and one. And when you wake up on your eleventh birthday you expect to feel eleven, but you don’t.”
What inference can be made from this passage?
A. The speaker is learning how to count backwards.
B. The speaker is turning eleven but doesn’t feel her age.
C. The speaker is turning eleven and feels very mature.
D. The speaker is turning eleven but everyone forgot.
B. The speaker is turning eleven but doesn’t feel her age.
Read the following passage.
Abraham Lincoln is regarded as one of America's greatest heroes due to both his incredible impact on the nation and his unique appeal. His is a remarkable story of the rise from humble beginnings to achieve the highest office in the land; then, a sudden and tragic death at a time when his country needed him most to complete the great task remaining before the nation. Lincoln's distinctively human and humane personality and historical role as savior of the Union and emancipator of the slaves creates a legacy that endures.
What is the main idea?
A. Slavery is Abraham Lincoln’s legacy.
B. Abraham Lincoln’s tragic death overshadows his myriad accomplishments.
C. Abraham Lincoln was a better than average president.
D. Abraham Lincoln’s legacy is a combination of his personal traits and heroic accomplishments.
D. Abraham Lincoln’s legacy is a combination of his personal traits and heroic accomplishments.
What is to provide a quote from a passage, book, or author as evidence to support a statement or claim?
Cite
What is the most important or central thought of a paragraph or larger section of text, which tells the reader what the text is about; essential information?
Main Idea
Read the following passage.
“It is far better to endure patiently a smart which nobody feels but yourself, than to commit a hasty action whose evil consequences will extend to all connected with you; and besides, the Bible bids us return good for evil.” (Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte)
What is the literary theme of the passage?
A. Karma will get you back.
B. Evil is everywhere.
C. Materialism is a destructive quality.
D. Overcome evil with goodness.
D. Overcome evil with goodness.
Read the following passage.
“Sometimes you're going to be faced with situations where the line isn't clear between what's right and what's wrong. Your heart will tell you to do one thing and your brain will tell you to do something different. In the end, all that's left is to look at both sides and go with your best judgment.” (Hoot by Carl Hiaasen)
What inference can be made from this passage?
A. The speaker is espousing the virtues of kindness.
B. The speaker is espousing the virtues of integrity.
C. The speaker is espousing the virtues of patience.
D. The speaker is predicting the verdict in a trial.
B. The speaker is espousing the virtues of integrity.
Read the following passage.
Most teenagers and young adults do not know what they want to do for the rest of their lives. It is a big decision. There are a number of things you can do to narrow the choices. For example you can take an interest test, do some research on your own about a career, try volunteer work in the field in which you are interested, or "job-shadow", in which you spend a day with a person who is working in a field that interests you. These are just a few helpful ideas as you begin to choose a career.
What is the main idea?
A. Occupational knowledge is paramount when choosing a career.
B. Teenagers who don’t know what they want to do professionally will be jobless.
C. Teenagers should work part time so they know what they want to do later as adults.
D. Adolescents can do many things when thinking about their future line of employment.
D. Adolescents can do many things when thinking about their future line of employment.
What is a story written in the first person about a personal experience that happened to the author?
Personal narrative
What is information pulled from a text to support a statement or claim?
Evidence
Read the following passage.
“Among other things, you'll find that you're not the first person who was ever confused and frightened and even sickened by human behavior. You're by no means alone on that score, you'll be excited and stimulated to know. Many, many men have been just as troubled morally and spiritually as you are right now.” (The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger)
What is the literary theme of the passage?
A. To be happy, you must be self-sufficient.
B. Some people need support to deal with life.
C. If you want to be spiritually enlightened, live alone.
D. It is rare to find honesty and truth in most people.
B. Some people need support to deal with life.
Read the following passage.
“It was slow-going at first, but I was determined to feed us. I stole eggs from nests, caught fish in nets, sometimes managed to shoot a squirrel or rabbit for stew, and gathered the various plants that sprung up beneath my feet. Plants are tricky. Many are edible, but one false mouthful and you’re dead.” (The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins)
What inference can be made from this passage?
A. The speaker is an inefficient, bloodthirsty hunter.
B. The speaker is a criminal who engages in theft.
C. The speaker is a carnivore with a strong dislike for plants.
D. The speaker is a resourceful and knowledgeable hunter.
D. The speaker is a resourceful and knowledgeable hunter.
Read the following passage.
McDonald's is the king of a subgroup of restaurants called fast-food restaurants. Chances are, no matter where you live, there is a McDonald's restaurant near you. There are even McDonald's in the Soviet Union. Now McDonald's is trying something new. It is called McDonald's Express and there is a test site in Peabody, Massachusetts. It is part of a Mobil gas station. This allows you to fill up with gas and fill up on food at the same time. What will they think of next?
What is the main idea?
A. Big Macs are disgusting and bad for you.
B. Americans eat too much fast food as verified with the growing obesity epidemic.
C. People enjoy the perks of fast food as seen with the expansion of McDonalds.
D. Peabody, Massachusetts is a tourist trap for burger-loving vacationers.
C. People enjoy the perks of fast food as seen with the expansion of McDonalds.
What is a brief reference (an author's last name and a date or page number) made that helps identify an idea's original source?
In-text citation
What is significant idea/message an author is making about a topic?
Theme
Read the following passage.
“Before you, Bella, my life was like a moonless night. Very dark, but there were stars, points of light and reason. ...And then you shot across my sky like a meteor. Suddenly everything was on fire; there was brilliancy, there was beauty.” (New Moon by Stephenie Meyer)
What is the literary theme of the passage?
A. There is beauty in the simplicity of nature.
B. Love is a powerful emotion that turns your entire life around.
C. Enlightenment can be found in space.
D. Astronomy is a predominant branch of science.
B. Love is a powerful emotion that turns your entire life around.
Read the following passage.
“Wilbur never forgot Charlotte. Although he loved her children and grandchildren dearly, none of the new spiders ever quite took her place in his heart. She was in a class by herself. It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer. Charlotte was both.” (Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White)
What inference can be made from this passage?
A. Wilbur misses Charlotte but not her grandchildren.
B. Charlotte was a good friend but not a good writer.
C. Wilbur misses Charlotte deeply and thinks of her fondly.
D. Charlotte misses Wilbur and her grandchildren.
C. Wilbur misses Charlotte deeply and thinks of her fondly.
Read the following passage.
When a person decides to get a dog, he or she has many kinds to choose from. As a rule, short-haired dogs are best for cities. Beagles, Boston Terriers, and Dachshunds make good city pets. Great Danes are short-haired, too. However, they are too big for city living. It is hard in a city to give them all the exercise they need. Setters, Springer Spaniels, and Collies are especially good as country dogs.
What is the main idea?
A. Dogs make better pets than cats.
B. Some breeds of dogs are better than others for city life.
C. There are many breeds of dogs.
D. Short-haired dogs are better for cities.
B. Some breeds of dogs are better than others for city life.
What are important pieces of information that support the main idea of a text?
Key details
What is a conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning?
Inference
Read the following passage.
“The lion cannot protect himself from traps, and the fox cannot defend himself from wolves. One must therefore be a fox to recognize traps, and a lion to frighten wolves.” (The Prince by Machiavelli)
What is the literary theme of the passage?
A. Death is part of the life cycle and cannot be avoided.
B. Hunting is a wretched diversion that causes pain.
C. Education is life’s greatest gift and should not be squandered.
D. Shrewd intelligence is one’s greatest defense.
D. Shrewd intelligence is one’s greatest defense.
Read the following passage.
“I believe the universe wants to be noticed. I think the universe is improbably biased toward the consciousness, that it rewards intelligence in part because the universe enjoys its elegance being observed. And who am I, living in the middle of history, to tell the universe that it-or my observation of it-is temporary?” (The Fault in Our Stars by John Green)
What inference can be made from this passage?
A. The speaker of this passage believes he/she is omnipotent.
B. The speaker of this passage believes in a higher power.
C. The speaker of this passage believes in extraterrestrial life.
D. The speaker of this passage believes in evolution.
B. The speaker of this passage believes in a higher power.
Read the following passage.
Midas is the name of at least three members of the royal house of Phrygia. The most famous King Midas is popularly remembered in Greek mythology for his ability to turn everything he touched with his hand into gold. This came to be called the Golden touch, or the Midas touch. The Phrygian city Midaeum was presumably named after this Midas, and this is probably also the Midas that according to Pausanias founded Ancyra. According to Aristotle, legend held that Midas died of starvation as a result of his "vain prayer" for the gold touch.
What is the main idea?
A. Kings are obsessed with wealth, as epitomized by King Midas.
B. King Midas was lucky and therefore had the Golden Touch.
C. King Midas had a heart of gold as evidenced by his generosity.
D. Although he loved gold, King Midas learned the hard way that wealth isn’t everything.
D. Although he loved gold, King Midas learned the hard way that wealth isn’t everything.
What is closely studying a text, interpreting its meanings, and exploring why the author made certain choices?
Analysis