Context Clues
In Passage A, what does the word translucent most likely mean based on the text?
Allowing some light to pass through, not totally clear but not opaque.
Is Passage A organized by Cause/Effect, Comparison, or Description?
Description
What is the primary purpose of Passage A?
To inform/explain the science of snow.
What is the main idea of Passage A?
How snow forms and its role in nature.
What is a likely theme for Passage B?
Bravery, starting fresh, or trying new things.
In Passage B, the author describes frost as "white vines." What does this suggest about how the frost looks?
It is spreading or growing in a tangled, crawling pattern.
Passage B uses a chronological structure. What is the "signal word" in the second paragraph that shows time is moving forward?
"Tomorrow" or "January 1st"
What is the primary purpose of Passage B?
To entertain/tell a story about a character's growth.
According to Passage A, what is at the center of every snowflake?
A tiny grain of dust.
Based on Passage A, what can you infer would happen to plants if there was a deep freeze with no snow on the ground?
In Passage A, the word insulates is used. What is the "blanket" of snow doing for the ground?
Keeping heat in, protecting it from the cold.
If Passage A included a diagram of a snowflake’s life cycle, what graphic feature would be most helpful for the reader?
Labels or Captions
From which point of view is Passage B told?
Third person
In Passage B, what is the specific event Leo is preparing for?
The Polar Plunge
In Passage B, how does Leo feel about the Polar Plunge at the beginning of the story?
Reluctant, nervous
In Passage B, what does the word resolutions mean in the context of Leo’s list?
Firm decisions or goals to do or not do something.
How does the genre of Passage A differ from Passage B?
Passage A is informational (nonfiction) and passage B is narrative (fiction).
Does the author of Passage A seem to have a positive, negative, or neutral tone toward snow?
Neutral
Which sentence from Passage A supports the idea that snow is helpful to animals?
"...providing a 'blanket' that insulates the ground and protects... hibernating animals."
Why does Leo sigh before reaching for his coat?
He realizes that to be brave, he has to do something uncomfortable.
Look at Passage B. Leo mentions staying on the sidelines. In this context, what does that mean?
Being a spectator; not participating in an activity.
Why did the author of Passage A put the word "white" in quotation marks?
To show that snow isn't actually white, it just appears that way.
Why did the author include the detail about Maya in Passage B?
To provide a contrast to Leo's personality or to explain the tradition.
Summarize Passage B in exactly one sentence.
Leo decides to overcome his fear and participate in a New Year's tradition to fulfill his resolution.
How are the "blanket" in Passage A and the "coat" in Passage B similar in their symbolic meaning?
Both represent protection or preparation against the cold