Show:
Context Clues
Main Idea
Inference
Figurative Language
Style and Tone
100
The police officers held her hand out. The cars halted. The children crossed the street. Then the police officer waver her hand. All the cars started to move again. Halted means…
What is stopped?
100
Years ago, baskets were very important. Women had to learn to weave baskets so that firewood, fruits, fish, and other things could be carried from place to place. The baskets were easy to carry as they were so light. Many baskets had pretty designs woven in them. What is the main idea?
What is baskets were more important long ago?
100
The young girl held the pole in the air. Then she saw some younger children. She held them back from the street with her arm. She looked both ways. Then she lowered the pole. A white flag with red letters was on the pole. The letters spelled STOP. While the pole was down, the children crossed the street. When they were on the other side, the girl raised the pole. It is likely that the girl’s job is…
What is the girl is a crossing guard?
100
Practically everyone in the world celebrates Mother’s Day. In England, it was celebrated as early as 1600. On Mother’s Day, people were given the day off. They could spend the day treating their mothers like they were queens. In the U.S., Mother’s Day started as a day of peace. Today, we remember our mothers on this day. The figurative language here is . . . and it literally means . . .
What is "treat their mothers like they were queens" (simile) and it literally means treat them with respect and kindness and do nice things for them?
100
Bouncing into the room, she lit up the vicinity with a joyous glow on her face as she told about her fiancé and their wedding plans.The tone of this passage is...and the words that tell us this are...
What is happy, ecstatic, overjoyed and what is "lit up" and "joyous"?
200
There are many people in the city who sell things. Some merchants sell food. Some sell clothes. I like the merchants who sell toys best. Merchants means…and the context clues are . . .
What is people who sell things and the context clues are "sell food," "sell clothes," "sell toys"
200
Fish come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors. Some fish live in fresh water and some live in salt water. There are more than 20,000 kinds of fish. Most fish hatch from eggs. Fish have backbones and breathe underwater through gills. What is the main idea?
What is there are many kinds of fish?
200
Dear Colleen , I like college. Mom and Dad can’t tell me when to wake up. I sleep all morning. My first class starts at one o’clock in the afternoon! Isn’t it wonderful? Of course, my last class ends at five o’clock. That’s kind of late. Tell Mom and Dad I said hello. I’ll write to them tomorrow. Love Jim Who is Colleen?
What is Colleen is Jim’s sister?
200
In the 1800s, many people came to America. They wanted to live in a free country. But getting to America wasn’t easy. Most people came on boats. The boats were very crowded. People were packed on the boats like sardines in a can! Many people were hungry. Lots of people became sick. Like sardines in a can means… and it is an example of a . . .
What is very close to each other, and it is an example of a simile?
200
She huddled in the corner, clutching her tattered blanket and shaking convulsively, as she feverishly searched the room for the unknown dangers that awaited her. The tone of this passage is.....and the words that tell us this are....
What is terrified and sick with fear and what are "shaking convulsively" and "feverishly"?
300
At the circus the clowns were so tall! They were walking on stilts. They looked so funny so high up in the air. I thought they would all fall. Stilts means… and the context clues are . . .
What is tall sticks? and the context clues are "so tall," "high up in the air."
300
One of the poisonous snakes that lives in the United States is the copperhead. It gets its name from the color of its head. The snake is about three feet in length. Copperheads will not attack if left alone. Copperheads eat frogs, small birds, and rodents. What is the main idea?
What is describe the copperhead?
300
Some colleges divide the school year into parts. These two parts are called “semesters.” Each semester is about four months long. The first semester starts in September. It ends in January. Then the students get a short vacation. After the vacation, it is time to start the second semester. When does the second semester end?
What is the second semester ends in May?
300
Franklin and Jessica had been practicing pitching for more than two hours. It was far past lunchtime. Jessica’s stomach was growling and she was running out of energy, but Franklin wanted to keep practicing. “Franklin,” Jessica said, “we have to stop. I’m so hungry I could eat a horse!” So hungry I could eat a horse means… and it is an example of . . .
What is very hungry, and it is an example of hyperbole (exaggeration)?
300
Bursting through the door, the flustered mother screamed uncontrollably at the innocent teacher who gave her child an F. The mood of this passage is and the words that tell us this are....
What is angry and upset and what are "screamed uncontrollably"?
400
I like hot soup on cold days. I put my nose near the bowl. I sniff the aroma. I love that smell. I wish the soup was already in my mouth! Aroma means… and the context clues are . . .
What is good smell? and the clues are "sniff," "I love that smell."
400
One of the most amazing birds is the hummingbird. This tiny bird is usually no longer than four inches long. It does not sing, but it squeaks. Hummingbirds move their wings about 50 times a second. The hummingbird is the only bird that can fly backwards. What is the main idea?
What is hummingbirds are unusual birds?
400
Doug counted his money. He had less than $10. And today was just Monday! He wouldn’t get another $25 from his parents until Saturday! How could he make it through the whole week on less than $10? He couldn’t buy hamburgers every night! He couldn’t buy pizza every night! He couldn’t have milkshakes every day! He would have to eat in the cafeteria, because those meals were already paid for. Ugh! Doug kicked the desk. What do you infer Doug will do?
What is Doug will still have food to eat all week long from the cafeteria?
400
Laura Ingalss Wilder wrote Little House on the Prairie and many other books that tell about her childhood. When she was young, her family moved out West. To the Ingalls, living out West was like living in another world. Like living in another world means...and it is an example of . . .
What is very different, and what is a simile?
400
He furtively glanced behind him, for hear of his imagined pursuers, then hurriedly walked on, jumping at the slightest sound even of a leaf crackling under his own foot. The mood of this passage is.... and the words that tell us this are...
What is paranoid and scared and what are "imagined pursuers" and "jumping at the slightest sound"?
500
It was a hot day. I went by a garbage truck. A foul smell came from the truck. I held my nose. The garbage was full of old food. Foul means… and the context clues are. . .
What is bad? and the clues are "held my nose," "old food."
500
Ed had promised to meet Wayne at the skating pond after school. They were going to have a race. Everyone from school was going to be there. Ed knew Wayne could skate fast, but he was sure he could beat him. He just hoped he would skate his very best against Wayne. What is the main idea?
What is Ed and Wayne planned to race against each other?
500
“Okay, Sandra,” said Mrs. Waverly. “Try it again.” Sandra walked back to the door. Then she turned and walked to the front of the stage. A big X was taped on the floor. She was supposed to stop at the X. Sandra walked up to the X very quickly. She kept looking behind her. “Help!” she yelled. “Help! Help me!” What is Sandra doing?
What is Sandra is practicing for a play?
500
Alexander Graham Bell found a way to send a human voice over a wire. He did this using electricity. At first the voices were hard to hear. But over time, they became crystal clear. Bell added a mouthpiece. He also added a receiver. His invention looked a little like the telephones we use today. Crystal clear means... and it is an example of . . .
What is very clear, and what is a metaphor?
500
Gently smiling, the mother tenderly tucked the covers up around the child’s neck, and carefully, quietly, left the room making sure to leave a comforting ray of light shining through the opened door should the child wake. The tone of this passage is....and the mood is...
What is protective and loving, and what is peaceful and safe?