Inferencing
Context Clues
Idioms
Vocabulary
Central Idea
100

Maggie was getting ready to walk to school. She put on her coat and grabbed her backpack. As she was leaving, her mother said, "I love you. Be careful."    

    A. Maggie is in kindergarten or first grade. 

    B. Maggie lives close to school. 

    C. Maggie is never late for school. 

     D. Maggie is excited about going to school. 

B. Maggie lives close to school. 

100

My little brother nibbled on the cookie. 

Nibbled means...

A. threw

B. smell

C. ate

D. candy

C. ate

100

She's really "on the ball" today, she has turned in all of her assignments!

Explain what "on the ball" means? 


to be quick to understand and react to things: Aware

100

The point of view from the character’s own perspective. The pronouns I, we, and us are used.

What point of view does this explain? 

a) first person 

b) second person 

c) third person

A. First Person

100

I can't wait until this weekend! We’re going to my grandparents’ house and my entire family will be there. I will spend most of my time playing games with my cousins. We always have such a good time together! The day goes by so fast, and by the end we are all exhausted... but we still don’t want to leave!

The main idea of this passage is:

A. Weekends are times to travel.

B. The writer enjoys spending time with family.

C. The writer’s grandparents live far away.

D. The writer is sad to leave her cousins.

B. The writer enjoys spending time with family. 

200

You may want to have my phone number around just in case your house has a leaky pipe! My services come in handy when your house is having problems with the kitchen sink, faucet, or bath tub. 

What can we infer about the person's occupation? 

He is a plumber

200

"My backpack!" Lauren exclaimed, "Where is it?" 

"I don't know for sure, but I assume it's by the door like it usually is," her mom said calmly. 

What does the word assume mean? 

To guess

200

That assignment is as "easy as the ABCs!"

What does "easy as the ABCs" mean? 

Something very easy

200

The conflict or issue that arises in a story is called the: 

a) problem 

b) solution

c) plot 

d) setting

a. Problem

200

I have a dog whose name is Paco. He is almost 10 years old. Paco is very love-able with a brown face and short black fur. He is one of my best friends. He plays with me, sleeps with me, and goes on walks with me. I am so glad to have him around. I love him.

The main idea of this passage is:

A. The dog’s name is Paco.

B. Everyone should have a dog.

C. The writer's dog is an important part of his life.

D. The dog is cute and sweet.

C. The writer's dog is an important part of his life. 

300

Avery watched as her next-door neighbors moved in. She observed a tall man carrying a bicycle and a kayak into the garage. She also saw a young woman carrying a surfboard through the front door. 

Avery can INFER that...

  A. her new neighbors are elderly. 

  B. her new neighbors have several children.  

  C. her new neighbors like to spend time outdoors. 

  D. her new neighbors are kind and generous. 

C. Her new neighbors like to spend time outdoors. 

300

The parking lot at the concert was so congested, it took an hour to get out! 

What does congested mean? 

a. empty

b. hot 

c. crowded

c. Crowded

300

In order to find the answer, you need to "read between the lines."

What does this idiom mean? 

To find the hidden message/meaning

300

The resolution in a story, in which the problem is taken care of, is called the:

a) setting

b) solution

c) motivation

d) plot

B. Solution

300

Homemade pizza is delicious. First, make the dough from flour, water, and yeast. After that, begin making the tomato sauce. Next, add any vegetables you like. Then, bake it in the oven. After a short time, the kitchen begins to smell delicious. Soon, it’s ready to eat!

The main idea of this passage is:

a. Pizza is made from flour

b. How to make homemade pizza

c. Pizza is easy to make

d. Pizza makes the kitchen smell delicious

B. How to make homemade pizza

400

You walk into the room and see your fishbowl on the floor. After you clean it up you sit down and wonder what happened. Your cat jumps on your lap... When you pet him, he is damp. 


What can infer? 

The cat broke the fishbowl and ate the fish. 

400

The conspicuous man wore a purple wig and big yellow sunglasses. 

What does conspicuous mean? 

A. sleeping

B. standing out 

C. invisible

B. Standing out

400

Oh my goodness! You are moving at a "snail's pace."

What does "snail's pace" mean? 

To move slow 

400

The reason why a character does something is called: 

a) plot 

b) characters 

c) motivation 

d) character traits

C. Motivation

400

Plants are some of the only living things that make their own food. The process is called photosynthesis. To do this, green leaves trap energy from the sun. Chlorophyll is something that absorbs light from the sun. Leaves also take in water. Both substances are converted into energy.

What is the main idea? 

Plants use sunlight to create energy. 

500

Sophia threw on mismatched socks and forgot to brush her teeth. She ran out the door just in time to see the bus drive by. 

What can you infer from this? What clues tell you that? 

I can infer that Sophia is late for school because it says that she was just in time to see the bus drive by. 

500

When Kaitlyn peeled off the lid of Whiskers' cat food, the aroma of canned chicken filled the air. 

What does aroma mean? 

Smell

500

"Put a bug in your moms ear" about spending the night!

What does this idiom mean? 

Make a suggestion. 

500

The person who tells the story is called the:

 a) narrator 

b) characters 

c) illustrator 

d) author

A. Narrator

500

Water changes states as it moves between the atmosphere, land, and bodies of water on Earth. The water cycle starts when water falls from the sky. It can fall as rain or even snow. After falling from the sky, water sits in puddles on the ground or in other bodies of water. Think about what happens on a hot day. Rain that falls from the sky after a storm disappears after a few hours or days. Water evaporates. This means that it changes from a liquid to a gas. Water that does not change form seeps down into underground wells. The entire cycle repeats.

What is the central idea? 

Water changes as it goes through the cycle.