Main Ideas
After many years of hard work, Susan's mom received her college degree. To celebrate her mom's achievement, Susan has planned a surprise party, and tonight is the big night. She has ordered a special cake, and her dad has helped her decorate the house. All of their family and friends will be there. Susan is sure her mom isn't suspecting anything because all the guests were told to keep the party a secret. It's going to be the best surprise party ever!
The main idea of this paragraph is:
A. A surprise part has been planned.
B. Susan invited all of her mom's friends.
C. Everyone was able to keep the party a secret.
A. A surprise party has been planned.
Yesterday was the Elm Elementary Food Drive. All students were asked to participate by donating food for the local homeless shelter. The results were fantastic, and Grade 1 did an outstanding job by collecting 265 cans of food. They brought in everything from beans, peaches, and beets to soup, chili, and spaghetti. Grade 1 actually broke the school record for the most food collected in a single day! For all of their hard work, the generous mayor rewarded them with a trip to the zoo.
The word generous means:
A. Giving
B. Happy
C. Talented
A. Giving
Justin and Bianca decided to go on a hike. During the hike, Justin tried hard to keep up with his sister but was having a very difficult time. First, they climbed the side of a mountain, and then they hiked up a steep trail that led to the mountain's peak. Justin's feet were sore, and he could feel the sweat running down the sides of his face. Justin could barely catch his breath as he watched Bianca continue up the trail without a problem.
Bianca is probably in ____________.
A. a great mood
B. good physical shape
C. a race for first place
B. good physical shape
My partner and I conducted a class survey to find out which flavor of ice cream students like best. We discovered that mint chip ice cream was the favorite. Some students also chose chocolate, vanilla, or marble fudge ripple. But more than half the class said they like mint chip ice cream better than any other, just like me!
Choose the correct cause and effect pair:
A. The class was surveyed / Most students like ice cream
B. Some students like ice cream / Most students prefer mint chip ice cream
C. A class survey was conducted/ We learned what ice cream students like best
C. A class survey was conducted/ We learned what ice cream students like best
John was listening to his favorite radio station one rainy Saturday. The announcers were advertising a contest. The winner had to be the 42nd caller to get through and know the answer to the trivia question, "What was Franklin D. Roosevelt's dog's name?" John had just done a book report on this former president and felt certain he knew the answer. He picked up the phone and started dialing. The line was busy, so he kept hitting the redial button. Finally, on his 6th try, he got through. He gave his answer, Fala. Then he found out he was the winner. John could not believe he had won. Now he had tickets to the best concert in town!
What were the criteria to win?
A. Call in as the 42nd caller and name the title of the song currently playing
B. Be the 42nd caller after the song ends and ask a trivia question.
C. Be the 42nd caller and answer the trivia question correctly.
C. Be the 42nd caller and answer the trivia question correctly.
If you like spy stories, you will enjoy the story of Dr. William Passmore. During the Civil War, he dressed in rags and pretended to be a poor beggar. He wandered through Union camps selling fruits and vegetables from a cart. No one suspected that Passmore was a spy, and he was able to gather lots of important information. Everything he learned went directly to the rebel army.
The main idea of the paragraph is:
A. Passmore dressed as a beggar for the Rebel Army.
B. Passmore spied for the Union Army.
C. Passmore was a fruit and vegetable salesman.
A. Passmore dressed as a beggar for the Rebel Army.
Lisa watched through the window as a streak of lightning flashed through the sky. As soon as it flashed, she started counting. She had learned that you could measure the distance between yourself and an approaching storm by counting the seconds between a flash of lightning and the crash of thunder. 1... 2... 3... 4... CRASH! The window rattled. Lisa guessed the storm was close by.
The word approaching means:
A. Coming
B. Running
C. Flying
A. Coming
Two weeks ago, Michael planted tomatoes, pumpkins, lettuce, green beans, and carrots. He was very excited about his vegetable garden but became discouraged when he saw the vegetables weren't growing very well. He had used good soil and made sure there weren't bugs or other pests around to nibble the leaves. He gave his plants plenty of food and even made sure his garden got at least four hours of sunlight each day. Michael couldn't figure out what was wrong until he reached down and touched the soil. It was bone dry.
Michael's vegetable garden needed ____________.
A. sunlight
B. water
C. soil
B. water
John loved fishing and he loved to be on boats. Saturday was little different though. The water was very choppy, so his boat tossed and turned in the water. He'd never been in a boat that had tossed and turned so much. To make matters worse, it didn't look like the water was going to calm down anytime soon. John put down his fishing pole and grabbed the side of the boat. His head was spinning and his stomach was churning. He knew he was seasick.
Choose the correct cause and effect pair:
A. The water was choppy / The boat tossed and turned in the water
B. John loved fishing / He loved to be on boats
C. John's head was spinning / It didn't look like the water was going to calm down
A. The water was choppy / The boat tossed and turned in the water
In the United States, the national government is divided into three branches. The judiciary branch consists of courts and judges. It decides what is lawful. The executive branch, headed by the president of the United States, executes and carries out the laws. Also in this branch are departments and agencies. The legislative branch makes the laws and is made up of members of the Senate and House of Representatives. All three branches work together for the welfare of our nation and to keep our citizens safe in the pursuit of life, liberty, and freedom for all.
According to the paragraph, which branch is responsible for making the laws?
A. Legislative
B. Executive
C. Judiciary
A. Legislative
Jennifer Capriati is a world-renowned tennis champion. In 1989, when she was only 13 years old, Capriati took the tennis world by storm. She became the youngest player to win the French Open junior title. Then, in 1990, she set more records. Capriati became the youngest player to win a match in the history of Wimbledon's tournament. Through the years, Capriati has won and lost many matches, but she never gives up. She continues to practice and compete all around the world.
The main idea of the paragraph is:
A. Jennifer Capriati started playing tennis at a young age.
B. Jennifer Capriati is an accomplished tennis player.
C. Jennifer Capriati has an interesting life.
B. Jennifer Capriati is an accomplished tennis player.
Animals live in four different layers of the rain forest. Insects, snakes, and frogs live on the floor, while monkeys and jaguars inhabit the understory. The next layer, called the canopy, receives a good amount of sunlight and is home to orangutans, butterflies, and fruit bats. Finally, birds such as eagles, toucans, and parrots can be found in the emergent layer, or the top layer of the rain forest.
The word inhabit means:
A. look like
B. laugh at
C. live in
C. live in
Galileo, born in 1564, was a great Italian astronomer. By making improvements to the telescope, he made many important discoveries. For hundreds of years, people thought that Earth was the center of the universe. Galileo was one of the first people to believe otherwise. He believed that the sun was the center of the universe. Galileo also observed mountains on the moon and four "small bodies" orbiting Jupiter.
Galileo's discoveries ____________ what people knew about the universe.
A. Changed
B. Proved
C. Told
A. Changed
Lena is going to run in the city marathon. To prepare for the big event, she has been training hard to get in shape. Lena has been running five mornings a week, and by the time the marathon rolls around, she will be running 10 miles a day. She has also been eating a healthier diet. Lena has been eating more fruits, vegetables, and lean meats. She'll definitely be ready for race day!
Choose the correct cause and effect pair:
A. Lena runs five mornings a week / Lena eats a healthier diet
B. Lena has been eating healthier / Lena has lost weight
C. Lena trains for the marathon / Lena will be ready for race day
C. Lena trains for the marathon / Lena will be ready for race day
Katie has decided to write a report on lizards. She wants to focus on 5 different types of lizards and where they live. In an effort to gather information, Katie went to the library and checked out 7 different books about lizards.
Following is a list of books Katie brought home: Scaled Reptiles and Their Habitats Caring for Your Pet Lizard How Big Will Your Lizard Get? A Home for Your Lizard Lenny the Lizard The Life of a Lizard Leo's Lizard
Which book will be the most helpful in providing information that is relevant to Katie's report?
A. A home for Your Lizard
B. Scaled Reptiles and Their Habitats
C. Leo's Lizard
B. Scaled Reptiles and Their Habitats
McKenzie couldn't believe it! She'd been chosen to take part in the county art show, one of the largest in the state. For years she'd tried different styles of painting, emulating such famous artists as Picasso and Monet, and she had tried using a variety of materials, such as paint, charcoal, and pastels. Finally, after all this time, she was going to get the chance to show off her hard work.
The main idea of this paragraph is:
A. McKenzie worked hard and was chosen for the county art show.
B. McKenzie modeled her artwork after famous artists.
C. McKenzie liked using a variety of materials.
A. McKenzie worked hard and was chosen for the county art show.
Carlos' puppy is named Tess, and she jumps on everyone who comes over to the house. She chews up shoes, digs holes in the garden and shreds the newspaper. Carlos can't even eat breakfast without Tess pouncing in his lap. To make things worse, Tess chases the mailman out of the yard every time he comes to drop off the mail. It's tome to take Tess to obedience school!
The word pouncing means:
A. jumping
B. lying
C. wiggling
A. jumping
Exploration is one of the oldest human endeavors. Early explorers searched for new lands to settle, as well as gold and riches. Due to the courage of early explorers, most of the Earth's surface was known to the world by 1900. Since then, explorers have traveled as far down in the ocean as the Mariana Trench and as high as the peak of Mount Everest.
Explorers must be ___________ individuals.
A. shy
B. adventurous
C. funny
B. adventurous
Earthquakes occur when plates on the Earth's surface move, rub, or slip against each other. These plates float on a layer of Earth called magma. As they move slowly across the magma, they bump into and push against each other, which builds up a lot of pressure. When one plate finally slips, the energy released results in shock waves and vibrations. These vibrations are what we call an earthquake.
Select the correct cause and effect pair:
A. Plates push up against each other and build pressure / Plates float on a layer of Earth
B. Plates on the Earth's surface slip / An earthquake occurs
C. Plates float on a layer of Earth called magma / Pressure is built up
B. Plates on the Earth's surface slip / An earthquake occurs
Jenny wants to play a sport after school. The soccer team meets for 2 hours per day on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursday. Practice is from 3:00 to 5:00 on those afternoons. The track team practices for 1 hour per day on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. The track team's practice is from 4:30 to 5:30. Another option is for Jenny to join the basketball team. Those players meet for 1 1/2 hours per day on Mondays and Tuesdays. They practice from 3:00 to 4:00. Currently, Jenny's only commitment is her private tutoring, which is every day from 2:30 to 3:30.
Which team can Jenny join if she wants to keep her tutoring schedule the same?
A. soccer
B. track
C. basketball
B. track
Weeds are often thought of as a nuisance, but many people don't realize that weeds are important. They help the soil, and some weeds act as shelter for animals. In addition, animals and humans actually eat some kinds of weeds. For example, all parts of the common dandelion can be eaten, and this weed is rich in vitamins A and C. Chickweed is another example of a very nutritious plant. Its leaves can be cooked like spinach.
The main idea of this paragraph is:
A. Some weeds are nutritious.
B. Animals benefit from some weeds.
C. Weeds are important for many reasons.
C. Weeds are important for many reasons.
Spring is the most beautiful season of the year because everything looks fresh and the air is clean. Spring is a wonderful time because the promise of new life is seen everywhere. Not only can seedlings be found sprouting where the ground was bare and cold, but it's also easy to find flower buds blooming and fruit becoming ripe. In addition, baby animals are often seen frolicking on the hillsides.
The word frolicking means:
A. lying down
B. leaping playfully
C. shouting loudly
B. leaping playfully
Jenny saw five bouncing, happy puppies as she looked in the window of the pet shop. Jenny's mom was busy talking to a friend, so Jenny went inside to pet the puppies. Jenny really wanted to own a puppy, but her parents didn't think she was capable of caring for a puppy on her own yet. Jenny hoped they would change their minds when they saw these cute little puppies!
Jenny was too __________ to care for a puppy.
A. young
B. busy
C. shy
A. young
Jason's baseball jersey was very dirty. In an effort to help his mom, he decided to wash it himself. He started by pouring lots and lots of laundry soap into the washing machine. He didn't measure the amount of soap, because he knew it would take a lot to get his clothes clean. After putting the soap in the machine, he added his clothes and pressed the start button. But after a few minutes, Jason heard a strange sound. When he walked into the laundry room, there were soapsuds everywhere!
Choose the correct cause and effect pair:
A. Jason's clothes were very dirty /Jason heard a strange sound
B. Jason put too much soap in the machine / There were soapsuds everywhere
C.Jason decided to help his mom / Jason didn't measure the amount of soap
B. Jason put too much soap in the machine / There were soapsuds everywhere
The new millennium, the year 2000, was celebrated all around the world. Many countries celebrated with big festivities and fireworks that lit up the skies over big cities. Along with all of the celebrations, the new millennium also brought concern regarding the "Y2K bug". People were frightened that the year would bring many glitches in the computer world. They feared 2000 would be read as "00". Fortunately, there were few problems in the computer systems because many people had replaced old computers and updated their software.
What caused the great concern for computers crashing at the beginning of the new millennium?
A. The fireworks caused damage to the computers.
B. The "Y2K bug" was a virus that infected many computers and spread throughout many countries.
C. Early computers weren't capable of handling years with four digits: they could only use two digits.
C. Early computers weren't capable of handling years with four digits: they could only use two digits.