GREEK/LATIN ROOTS
What does the word biochemistry mean?
a. the branch of science that studies the chemistry of light
b. the branch of science that studies the chemistry of sound
c. the branch of science that studies the chemistry of living things
c. the branch of science that studies the chemistry of living things
What is the meaning of the metaphor?
"Whenever I'm having a hard time, Mrs. Kelly is my rock."
Mrs. Kelly is dependable and you can always count on her!
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 central idea of the passage?
Dogs are better suited to living with people than wolves are.
In classical mythology, Hercules struggles to fight the Hydra, a monster with nine heads. When one head is cut off, two grow in its place.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
"The flowers in my garden were crowded out by hydra-headed weeds."
The flowers are difficult to control or contain.
In classical mythology, Hercules is the son of a god and has amazing strength.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
"It took a Herculean effort, but Nolan moved the giant branch out of the road."
Very strong.
What does the word phonograph mean?
What is the meaning of the metaphor?
"When I opened the closet door, everything fell out in a landslide."
Everything in the closet was tumbling/flying out.
A Woman of Firsts
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was the first woman to be elected as the leader of an African country. As president of Liberia, she made huge improvements in peoples' lives. Before Johnson Sirleaf became president in 2005, Liberia was in debt, and most people didn't have jobs. The country had also been divided by a long war. After Johnson Sirleaf entered office, she asked other countries for help with the debt. She made it possible for more girls to go to school. She also worked for peace in Liberia. Because of the important work she did in Liberia, she won a Nobel Peace Prize in 2011.
What is the central/main idea of the passage?
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's work made the lives of many people in Liberia better.
In Greek mythology, sirens are creatures who use magical songs to draw sailors to their island.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
"For some actors, the wish to become famous is the siren song that leads them to acting."
Something that persuades you to do something. The wish to become famous persuades them to become famous.
In The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy finds herself in an unusual place that looks nothing like home. She says to her dog, "Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore."
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
"As a man fed his zebra nearby, Candice said to Meg, "We're not in Kansas anymore."
We are in an unusual place.
What does the word periscope mean?
a. a tool that helps you look at something that is blocked from your view
b. a tool that helps you hear something that is not very loud
c. a tool that helps you move something that is blocking your way
a. a tool that helps you look at something that is blocked from your view
What is the meaning of the simile?
"During Kelly's trip, she felt like a queen."
A New Way to Help the Poor
As the daughter of a wealthy Illinois businessman, Jane Addams did not have to worry about money. However, she was concerned about the poor. During a trip to Europe, Addams visited Toynbee Hall, a settlement house in London. Settlement houses were places offering free services to the poor. Inspired by what she saw in London, Addams opened a settlement house of her own in Chicago in 1889. Hull House was one of the first centers of its kind in the United States. It helped many families who had just arrived from Italy, Germany, Russia, and Greece. The center offered classes, child care, food, and help with finding jobs.
What is the main idea of the passage?
As a result of her visit to London's Toynbee Hall, Jane Addams founded the first settlement house in Chicago.
In the fairy tale "The Ugly Duckling," ducks tease a young bird for being ugly. Soon, however, it grows into a beautiful swan.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
"Our house was an ugly duckling when we bought it, but now we love it."
A person or thing that changes for the better.
In Greek mythology, the phoenix lives for hundreds of years before burning itself to ashes. Then the bird comes back to life.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
"Fans argued whether their team would rise from the ashes."
What does the word portfolio mean?
a. a large machine you use to print words onto posters
b. a large machine you use to shred papers
c. a large, flat case you use to carry papers
c. a large, flat case you use to carry papers
What is the meaning of the simile?
"Trying to find my missing sock was like looking for a needle in a haystack."
The sock was nearly impossible to find.
Antarctica: Not What You Think
When people think of Antarctica, they think of snow and ice. When they think of deserts, they think of sun, heat, and sand. Yet in spite of its cold temperatures, Antarctica is actually a desert. In fact, it is the largest desert on the planet. A desert is a very dry environment that receives less than ten inches of precipitation yearly. On average, Antarctica gets less than two inches. Most of that precipitation is in the form of snow, but rain or ice can sometimes fall as well.
What is the main idea of the passage?
Even though Antarctica is cold and has snow, it is a desert.
In the fairy tale "Rumpelstiltskin," a man falsely says that his daughter can spin hay into gold. When she cannot, a magical man appears and turns the straw into gold for her.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
"Spinning straw into gold, Rhianna filled the rainy day with games and stories."
Making good from nothing.
In the Greek poem The Odyssey, the hero Odysseus is returning home after the Trojan War. His journey is filled with dangers and takes ten years.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
"After biking all summer across America, Mr. Franklin ended his odyssey."
a long and difficult trip
What does the word import mean?
a. to write a list of goods being sold
b. to carry or move goods to be sold into a country
c. to give the price of goods being sold
b. to carry or move goods to be sold into a country
What is the meaning of the simile?
"The leaves fall from the tree, just as snowflakes fall from the sky."
The leaves are gently falling like snowflakes fall gently.
Small Steps to a Happier Planet
Recycling things like paper, plastic, and metal helps the Earth by cutting down on trash. Yet many people throw away their newspapers, bottles, and cans instead of recycling them. The question, then, is how to encourage more people to recycle. One way that works is to put recycling containers in more places. Seeing more recycling bins helps people remember to use them. Another way is to teach people why recycling is important. If we make recycling easier and teach people why it matters, more people will join in.
What is the central idea of this passage?
We need to get more people to recycle so that we stop throwing out so much trash.
In Greek mythology, Mount Olympus is the home of the twelve Greek gods.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
"After the year he's had, Bert has earned a spot on the Mount Olympus of baseball."
A place of fame and honor.
In one of Aesop's fables, a fox tries to reach a bunch of grapes. He cannot reach them and therefore cannot eat them, so he decides they must be sour.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
"What Hugo said about your new bike is clearly a case of sour grapes."
Finding fault with something that you can't have even though you wanted it originally. Often a form of jealousy.