Main Idea
Dogs and wolves are part of the same animal family. Both animals have strong senses of smell and are loyal to their packs. But dogs and wolves are quite different when it comes to people. Dogs are used to living with people and get along well with them. In fact, dogs have been called "man's best friend." Wolves, on the other hand, cannot live with humans. Wolves prefer to live in the wild, where they can hunt for their food. Clearly, dogs belong with people, while wolves do not.
What is the main idea?
A. Dogs are better suited to living with people than wolves are.
B. Wolves and dogs are members of the same animal family, so they have many things in common.
A. Dogs are better suited to living with people than wolves are.
Elizabeth Blackwell was the first woman in the U.S. to attend medical school and become a doctor. Blackwell was turned down by 16 medical schools before she was accepted as a student in 1847. When she first became a doctor, she had few patients. Many people didn’t want to a “lady doctor.” Difficulty didn’t stop Blackwell. She opened a clinic in 1853 and then a hospital in 1857 to serve women and children who did not have the money to pay other doctors.
Based on the text, which of the following words BEST describe Elizabeth Blackwell?
A. difficult and impatient
B. honest and friendly
C. smart and determined
C. smart and determined
Carnivorous plants include pitcher plants, Venus flytraps, and sundews. Since most carnivorous plants live in habitats where there are not many minerals in the soil, they get their nutrients from animals instead. A few of these plants snare animals as large as mice, but most eat only insects. Once an insect is caught, juices called enzymes begin to digest it, and within a few days, the insect’s body is gone. Now the plant has the nutrients it needs!
Based on the text, which of the following words is a synonym for “carnivorous”?
A. exotic
B. meat-eating
C. dangerous
B. meat-eating
Sometimes you need to speak softly when you whisper a secret to a friend. But other times you need to shout loudly to your friend on the other side of the playing field! Sounds have different volumes. Also, a mouse makes a very squeaky, high sound. But a lion makes a low growl. The sounds that these animals make have different pitches.
Which sentence gives a point
made by the author in paragraph 1?
A Sound needs to have different
volumes.
B Often you need to speak softly.
C More times you need to shout.
A Sound needs to have different volumes.
Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers are two breeds of dogs that come from a common ancestor. Commonly confused for one another, there are some differences that can help you determine which breed is which. Golden Retrievers are all different shades of gold. From very light gold (almost white) to dark gold. Labradors come in more of a variety of colors including black, yellow, and brown. Both breeds have thick, layered fur. However, Golden Retrievers usually have longer fur that may be more difficult to take care of. Labradors love to swim, and their webbed paws make them some of the best dog swimmers there are! Golden Retrievers have webbed paws as well, but don’t enjoy being wet as much as their Labrador friends. Both breeds are excellent pets and are friendly to kids and other animals.
What text structure is this?
A. Compare & Contrast
B. Cause & Effect
C. Problem & Solution
D. Sequence
A. Compare & Contrast
The Boys' War
During the American Civil War, soldiers were supposed to be at least eighteen years old. Because of the great need for soldiers, however, both sides accepted younger people. Thousands of boys between thirteen and seventeen fought for the North and the South. Even boys as young as ten could be drummers or messengers. Drummers used different drum rolls to send messages on the battlefield. Messengers were fast runners who passed messages between officers. In fact, so many boys served in the Civil War that it became known as "The Boys' War.”
What is the main idea?
A. The North and South allowed boys to fight because they needed soldiers so badly.
B. Ten-year-old boys served as messengers or drummers during the Civil War.
A. The North and South allowed boys to fight because they needed soldiers so badly.
Vincent van Gogh (van GOH) was a Dutch painter who lived from 1853 to 1980. He painted landscapes, people, and himself. He did not try to make his subjects look real. Instead, he tried to show how he felt about them. He used bold colors and think pain to make powerful images. Van Gogh made over 800 paintings in just 10 years. He sold only one of them during his life. After he died, his work became famous. Now his art sells for millions of dollars!
After reading the text, what conclusion can you make about Vincent van Gogh?
A. He was not a good painter, because he couldn’t make his subjects look real.
B. He got rich selling his paintings for millions of dollars.
C. He spent a lot of time painting even though he did not make very much money from it.
C. He spent a lot of time painting even though he did not make very much money from it.
While the first Olympic Games were held in Greece centuries ago, the modern games were founded in 1894 by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). In the past, both the Winter and Summer Olympic Games were held in the same year. Four years would pass before the next round of Olympic Games. After the 1994 winter games in Norway, the IOC decided to separate the games. Today, the Winter and Summer Olympic Games alternate every two years.
What does the word “alternate” mean in this text?
A. different or unusual
B. to take turns
C. to occur
B. to take turns
Only a few paleontologists ever have the opportunity of naming a dinosaur, and even fewer have species named after them. Paleontologists get to name a dinosaur if they, or their team, find an animal that is different from any others known. Occasionally the remains of a dinosaur may have been unearthed a long time ago, but only later do studies show that it is a new dinosaur. This is the case of Sefapanosaurus zastronensis, South Africa's most recently named dinosaur, which was excavated more than 80 years ago in South Africa. At the time it was collected, it was unnamed. Later, scientists studied the bones and thought them to be like that of another early dinosaur called Aardonyx. But the material was recently re-examined and found it to be quite unlike any of the known modern dinosaurs.
Which sentence gives a point made by the author?
A Dinosaurs were unearthed long
ago.
B Paleontologists name dinosaurs.
C It is difficult to name a dinosaur.
C It is difficult to name a dinosaur.
Termites are tiny creatures, but can build homes that are several feet tall! How do they do it? First, because termites are so tiny, they must work in groups of a million workers or more. The termites work together to begin moving soil and dirt. Underground rooms and tunnels are also created. Building a mound can take as long as four to five years. During this time, many natural events can cause all or part of the above ground section of the mound to fall or cave in. Luckily, termites are always ready to build and will immediately begin fixing any type of destruction. While most termites continue working on the mound itself, the queen termite will be busy laying over 160 million eggs over her 15 year life span. These new termites will continue the colony and the cycle will go on for many years.
What text structure is this?
A. Cause & Effect
B. Sequence
C. Problem & Solution
D. Compare & Contrast
B. Sequence
Sisters and Writers
In 1847, Charlotte Brontë and her sister Anne both published their first novels. The following year, their sister Emily also published a first novel. Charlotte's novel, Jane Eyre, was one of the best-sellers of 1847. Emily's novel, Wuthering Heights, was disliked at first but later became highly respected. Annes's first novel did not sell well, but her second novel did. How did three sisters from the same family all become published writers? Their childhood might have had something to do with it. When Charlotte and Emily were young girls, they made up stories about an imaginary land called Angria. They filled notebooks with stories about Angria. When Anne was old enough, she joined in. It could be that their early years helped the girls to develop their creativity and storytelling abilities.
What is the main idea?
A. The Bronte sisters’ childhood storytelling may have helped their future writing careers.
B. While Charlotte Bronte’s first novel was a best-seller, her sister Emily’s first novel was not immediately successful.
A. The Bronte sisters’ childhood storytelling may have helped their future writing careers.
Did you know that Vikings came to North America hundreds of years before Christopher Columbus did? About 1,000 years ago, the Vikings set sail from Greenland to a land they called Vinland. Old writings tell us Leif Erikson and his crew settled there. Vikings built houses, traded, and fought with the native people. In 1960, the ruins of ancient sod houses were found in Canada. A small stone lamp, a bone needle, and jewelry were also uncovered. These are items Vikings were known to use.
What conclusion can you make based on the last sentence of the text?
A. Vikings were probably the ones who settled in Canada and built the sod houses.
B. Vikings liked to wear a lot of jewelry.
C. Viking buried their belongings so no one would steal them.
A. Vikings were probably the ones who settled in Canada and built the sod houses.
Some historians believe that popcorn was served at the first Thanksgiving. However, this theory has not yet been proved. We do know that some native tribes brought popcorn to meetings with settlers as a token of friendship. The settlers were excited about this new food. They grew corn in their gardens and ate popcorn for breakfast with cream and sugar. By the 1890’s, popcorn was a popular treat in the United States!
What does the word “token” mean in this text?
A. a kind of money
B. a snack food
C. a sign or symbol
C. a sign or symbol
How can we make sounds louder? Have you ever seen someone talking into a megaphone? A megaphone makes our voices louder and travel further. Many instruments also make sounds louder in some way. Wind instruments (tube instruments) use a tube as a funnel to make sounds seem louder, similar to what you see with a megaphone. String instruments do the same but using a hollow shape.
Select two reasons the author wrote this
paragraph.
A to show how to hear louder sounds
B to describe how instruments make
sounds louder
C to compare a megaphone and
instruments
D to explain how to make a megaphone
B to describe how instruments make sounds louder AND
C to compare a megaphone and instruments
Imagine if a lion was trying to eat you. How would you protect yourself, especially if you were less than half the size of your opponent? Porcupines have a solution! They are equipped with 30,000 needle sharp quills that can easily pierce the skin of any predator that thinks they’re going to have porcupine for breakfast. These quills are mixed in with softer hair and lay flat on a porcupine’s back until it feels threatened by another animal. The quills also help defend from predators such as coyotes, wolves, bobcats, cougars, and foxes. Most animals are smart enough to recognize the dangerous quills, but if they aren’t the porcupine will ram its quills into a predator’s paws, face, or body. As long as the porcupine doesn’t get flipped over, (or bitten in the face) quills act as one of the best animal defense systems.
What text structure is this?
A. Cause & Effect
B. Sequence
C. Problem & Solution
D. Description
C. Problem & Solution
A Fearless Explorer
English explorer Henry Hudson made four voyages to find a northern route to Asia. Each time, thick ocean ice brought his trips to an end. Though he never found a northern route, Hudson still became famous. On his voyages, he explored the eastern waterways of North America. He also discovered what would become known as Hudson Bay. A river, bridges, schools, and even towns now bear his name. His efforts helped light the way for more Europeans to settle in North America.
What is the main idea?
A. Henry Hudson never reached his goal, but he is still one of the best-known explorers.
B. Henry Hudson tried four times to find a northern route to Asia but had no success.
A. Henry Hudson never reached his goal, but he is still one of the best-known explorers.
At one time, Harry Houdini was the world’s most famous magician. He performed all over the globe from 1893 to 1926. Houdini is best remembered for being an escape artist. During his career, he escaped from chains, ropes, jail cells, locked crates, and coffins sunk in water. He boasted that he could escape from any handcuffs ever made. He even offered a reward to anyone who made handcuffs Houdini could not escape. No one ever collected the money.
Which of the following conclusions can you make based on the last sentence of the text?
A. Houdini is most famous for escaping from a coffin sunk in water.
B. Houdini like to brag about the magic tricks he could do.
C. No one was ever able to make handcuffs Houdini could not escape.
C. No one was ever able to make handcuffs Houdini could not escape.
Communicating means giving and receiving information. People communicate by speaking, writing letters, and more. Animals communicate with each other, too. Dolphins use sound to communicate with other dolphins in their pods. Each animals has its own special whistle. Dolphin calves quickly learn their mothers’ sounds. Dolphins also make clicks and creaks. They listen to the echoes that their sounds make as they bounce off things. This helps them find food.
What does the word “pods” mean in this text?
A. groups of animals
B. the shells or cases of seeds
C. parts of a ship or airplane
A. groups of animals
Noise pollution makes the area we live or work in very unpleasant. Noise pollution can be harmful and cause permanent damage to hearing. Even music that is too loud is noise pollution. Most outdoor noise pollution comes from construction sites and noise from cars and trucks. If you live near an airport, there is a lot of noise pollution from the sounds made by airplanes. Loud sounds can damage your hearing. Doctors have found that people who work with very loud machinery become hearingimpaired when they are still young. They have also found that loud music can also cause hearing loss. Powerful amplifiers and speaker systems can be bad for your hearing. Headphones playing loud music can damage your hearing. Do not listen to very loud music, especially through earphones.
Select two reasons the author wrote this paragraph.
A to tell people loud music can cause
damage
B to describe how the ear is
damaged by noise
C to compare noise and air pollution
D to explain what noise pollution is
A to tell people loud music can cause damage
AND
D to explain what noise pollution is
Wolves howl for a number of reasons, none of which involve the moon. Wolves are pack animals. This means they spend most of their time in groups of four to nine members. If the group separates, a wolf will howl to signal its location. Another reason wolves howl is to mark their territory. This is similar to a dog urinating on a fire hydrant or mailbox post. Wolves also howl to scare off their enemies (bears, other wolf packs) who may be trying to hunt or eat the same animal. The most interesting reason wolves howl is to attract another mate. That’s right, instead of writing a love letter or buying roses, a wolf will howl to signal their love for another member of the pack. So the next time someone tells you that wolves are just howling at the moon, you can give them the real reasons!
What text structure is this?
A. Cause & Effect
B. Description
C. Sequence
D. Compare & Contrast
A. Cause & Effect
Putting Code in the Classroom
Computer-science skills are important in today's world. In countries such as Britain, China, and Vietnam, most students learn computer programming, also called coding. However, few American schools offer computer-science classes. A group called Code.org believes this should be changed. The group provides a first step in bringing computer science to U.S. schools. They offer a service called Hour of Code. Hour of Code gives students one hour of free online computer-science classes. Code.org hopes this program will encourage all schools to teach computer programming.
What is the main idea?
A.Code.org believes that not enough schools in the U.S. offer computer-science classes.
B. Code.org offers a way for more students to learn computer science.
B. Code.org offers a way for more students to learn computer science.
Wetlands are part land and part water. They can be found in low areas both along the coast and inland. The water in wetlands is shallow. Salt marshes near the ocean are wetlands fed by the tides. Swamps are a kind of wetland far from the coast. Swamps are fed by rivers and streams or water from underground. The water in them is fresh. Wetlands are home to many types of animals. You can find hundreds of species of birds, insects, and fish there.
Which of the following statements is BEST supported by the text?
A. Wetlands can be either saltwater or freshwater.
B. Wetlands are only found near the coast.
C. Salt marshes are fed by underground rivers.
A. Wetlands can be either saltwater or freshwater.
The Pony Express began in April 1860. The route covered about 2,000 miles between Missouri and California. Pony Express riders who carried mail on horseback were tough and courageous. They faced many dangers on their rides. The trails were rugged, and the riders didn’t stop for darkness or bad weather. They had to FORGE rivers and pass over high mountains. Although several riders were hurt or killed, only one mail pouch failed to reach its destination.
In this text, what does the word “forge” mean?
A. to build a bridge
B. to climb up
C. to wade across or get across
C. to wade across or get across
Animals can be harmed by noise pollution. A good example is a whale. Whales communicate with each other by making sounds. The sound can travel over long distances through the water from the one whale to the next. When there are lots of ships present, they make additional noise. Water carries these noises very well and very far. This makes it difficult for whales to communicate with each other. This can cause whales to get lost in the ocean.
Select two reasons the author wrote this paragraph.
A to make people aware that noise can
hurt animals
B to describe how noise travels over the
ocean
C to compare loud noise to waste in the
ocean
D to explain one way the animals might
be hurt by human noise
A to make people aware that noise can hurt animals
AND
D to explain one way the animals might be hurt by human noise
Although the anglerfish isn’t known as the most beautiful animal on the planet, it is a very fascinating creature. Living at water depths of 5,280 feet (that’s one mile), anglerfish were created to survive conditions not many other animals could withstand. Their large, flexible heads allow them to devour animals that are twice their size. This includes shrimp, snails, and other fish. Anglerfish can weigh up to 110 pounds, with the females usually being larger than the males. One of their most unique features is a ball of glowing flesh that hangs just above their mouths. This ball acts as bait. When another animal gets close enough, the anglerfish will strike and swallow their prey. Their thin, flexible skin allows them to move their mouths to fit just about any food that they desire.
What is the text structure?
A. Compare & Contrast
B. Cause & Effect
C. Problem & Solution
D. Description
D. Description