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Context Clues
Elements of Fiction
Inferences
Main Idea
Text Organizations
100
Everyone in the world is afraid of something. Instead of having just one phobia, or fear, at a time, most people have many fears simultaneously. People may be scared of bugs or spiders, water or flying. Sometimes, people have reasons for their fears. An assault may make someone scared of strangers on the street, even years after the attack. Other times, there is no reason for the fear. A person with a strong fear of bugs may spend large amounts of money to exterminate every insect in the house, even though all of them are less dangerous than the poison! In the passage above, what is the meaning of assault? A. an animal B. a storm C. an attack D. a test
What is an attack?
100
What is the part of the story where the characters find a turning point in the story. A) climax B) resolution C) exposition D) rising action E) problem/conflict F) falling action
What is climax?
100
Howie finished multiplying the fractions and turned in his worksheet. Mr. Green was making the class sit quietly until the bell. Twenty more minutes were left. Howie watched the clock as the hands moved slowly toward three o’clock. He groaned as he put his head on his desk but jerked back up when Mr. Green’s voice suddenly broke the silence. “Okay, class! I have your tests graded. Overall, I’m very pleased with how you all did. Some of you, however, need to study a bit harder,” Mr. Green said as he passed out the papers. Howie had studied every night for a whole week. He was positive that he had made an A. Mr. Green came and placed his test facedown on his desk. Howie turned it over excitedly, but his grin quickly turned to a frown. As he stared at his grade, a huge knot formed in his stomach. Why does Howie groan and put his head on his desk? A. He is upset about his bad grade. B. He feels sick after taking a test. C. He is bored after finishing his work. D. He does not want to talk to his teacher.
What is He is upset about his bad grade?
100
Killer whales are sometimes called the "wolves of the sea." They are predators; they need to eat other animals to live. Like wolves, they work together in groups. If you're a porpoise or a big fish, a killer whale looks mean because it wants to eat you. If you're a killer whale, then you hope that the porpoise or big fish doesn't get away. If it does, then you have to go hungry. What is the main idea of the paragraph? A. Killer whales chase big fish. B. Killer whales are harmless. C. Killer whales are predators. D. Killer whales live in groups.
What is Killer whales are predators?
100
Skiing vs. Snowboarding Unlike the sport of skiing, snowboarding does not involve the use of poles. In skiing, the skier’s feet are strapped to separate skis, and he or she can change direction using the poles. In snowboarding, on the other hand, the feet are strapped to a single board of fiberglass or wood. The snowboarder must steer by leaning in the direction he or she wants to go, as a skateboarder does. Whereas most skiers compete by racing against each other on different courses, most snowboarders compete with freestyle tricks or great feats of acrobatics. How is this passage organized? A. sequence B. cause and effect C. compare and contrast D. question and answer
What is compare and contrast?
200
Everyone in the world is afraid of something. Instead of having just one phobia, or fear, at a time, most people have many fears simultaneously. People may be scared of bugs or spiders, water or flying. Sometimes, people have reasons for their fears. An assault may make someone scared of strangers on the street, even years after the attack. Other times, there is no reason for the fear. A person with a strong fear of bugs may spend large amounts of money to exterminate every insect in the house, even though all of them are less dangerous than the poison! In the passage above, what is the meaning of simultaneously? A. a group of people B. at the same time C. one at a time D. large or important
What is at the same time?
200
The part of the story where the problem/conflict is resolved and the plot has been figured out? A) climax B) resolution C) exposition D) rising action E) problem/conflict F) falling action
What is the falling action?
200
"You always want to do what I do, Polly thought. She sighed and leaned over to talk to her sister eye-to-eye. 'You're too little to run a business like me. You just have to sit quietly and watch.' " What does the paragraph above suggest? A. Polly wants to help her little sister. B. Polly needs to learn to run a business. C. Polly thinks her sister is annoying. D. Polly likes to play with her sister.
What is Polly thinks her sister is annoying?
200
Do you know where to find Italy on a map? Italy juts out from the European continent. It sticks out into the Mediterranean Sea. It is shaped like a high-heeled boot. The toe is pointed to the island of Sicily. Other important islands to its west are Sardinia, Corsica, and Elba. To the north are France, Switzerland, Austria, and Germany. Some countries lie to the east. They are across the Adriatic Sea. Croatia, Bosnia, and Herzegovina are found across the water. Which sentence from the passage supports the idea that Italy is surrounded by water? A. It is shaped like a high-heeled boot. B. The toe is pointed to the island of Sicily. C. Do you know where to find Italy on a map? D. It sticks out into the Mediterranean Sea.
What is It sticks out into the Mediterranean Sea?
200
Droughts occur when there is not enough water to meet people’s basic needs. Since water is such an essential part of life, droughts trigger a chain reaction of disasters. Without water, farmers have trouble producing crops and feeding livestock. A decrease in crop production and livestock occurs, and this leads to famine. Without moisture to hold down the soil, wind can easily pick up mounds of dirt and sand. An increase in dust storms occurs, and this leads to increased respiratory problems for humans. Wildfires are also common in times of drought. They destroy precious vegetation and animal habitats. How is this passage organized? A. compare and contrast B. chronological order C. cause and effect D. description
What is cause and effect?
300
Everyone in the world is afraid of something. Instead of having just one phobia, or fear, at a time, most people have many fears simultaneously. People may be scared of bugs or spiders, water or flying. Sometimes, people have reasons for their fears. An assault may make someone scared of strangers on the street, even years after the attack. Other times, there is no reason for the fear. A person with a strong fear of bugs may spend large amounts of money to exterminate every insect in the house, even though all of them are less dangerous than the poison! In the passage above, what is the meaning of phobia? A. poisonous spider or bug B. strong fear or anxiety C. job or responsibility D. dream or desire
What is a strong fear or anxiety?
300
What is the part of the story where the story ends and the problem is solved? A) climax B) resolution C) exposition D) rising action E) problem/conflict F) falling action F
What is resolution?
300
Mr. Killian's class could be heard from the lobby of the school. His students laughed at his jokes and funny voices. A couple students were walking by his door and stopped to see what was happening. Mr. Killian wanted his students to like reading great novels. To make them interesting, he would sometimes act out the books using funny props and voices. The students paid attention in his class and even made good grades on his tests. He also gave each student individual attention and made each feel special. When he walked down the hall, Mr. Killian was greeted with smiles and high fives. Even the other teachers had nothing but nice things to say about Mr. Killian. Based on the passage, which generalization can the reader make? A. Many students like Mr. Killian's teaching style. B. Most teachers like to make funny jokes in class. C. English is the most exciting class in all schools. D. No one likes to read long novels in English class.
What is Many students like Mr. Killian's teaching style?
300
The ring you sometimes see around the sun or moon is called a halo. It is believed to be caused by the scattering of sunlight by tiny ice crystals very high in the sky. High clouds of ice crystals in the sky are called cirrus clouds or cirrostratus if they form a layer. These often form in front of warm fronts that bring rain. That means a halo around the sun or moon is often a warning that rain may come. The passage is mainly about A. the reasons the sun rises. B. how halos are formed. C. a warning that rain may come. D. warm fronts that bring rain.
What is how halos are formed?
300
Gary woke up late on Monday, the first day of summer. He had a busy day ahead. He threw on a pair of old shorts and a dirty T-shirt sporting the logo of his favorite BMX team. After running his hands through his hair to give himself that “just out of bed” look that all the teenage girls went crazy over, he ran downstairs and ate breakfast. After a nutritious breakfast of left-over pizza and a can of soda, which Gary's mother thought was absolutely horrible, he hopped into the garage and jumped on his bike. He rode down the street and over to his friend Kevin’s house. Gary knocked on the front door. Kevin’s mother answered it and told Gary that Kevin had several chores to do around the house before he could come out to play. Dismayed, Gary got back on his bike and rode down the street to the local convenience store run by Mr. Lewis. Mr. Lewis had known Gary since he was a little kid, and Gary always went into the store for sodas or snacks, and sometimes to play video games. This morning, Gary was there to play video games. He spent the next few hours running through a stack of quarters before buying himself lunch in the form of a cheese burrito, nacho-flavored corn chips, and a gigantic fountain drink. After Gary spent his morning playing video games, he felt sure that Kevin was done with his chores. He got back on his bike and rode up the street to Kevin’s house again. When he got there, he saw Kevin mowing the front lawn. “Dude,” said Gary. “You’ve been doing chores for hours now. When are you going to be done?” “I don’t know, man,” Kevin responded. “My mom keeps on finding stuff for me to do.” Gary rolled his eyes. It was already mid-afternoon, and the first day of summer, and he couldn’t find anyone to hang out with. What a drag, he thought. How does the author organize this passage? A. problem and solution B. compare and contrast C. question and answer D. sequence
What is sequence?
400
Everyone in the world is afraid of something. Instead of having just one phobia, or fear, at a time, most people have many fears simultaneously. People may be scared of bugs or spiders, water or flying. Sometimes, people have reasons for their fears. An assault may make someone scared of strangers on the street, even years after the attack. Other times, there is no reason for the fear. A person with a strong fear of bugs may spend large amounts of money to exterminate every insect in the house, even though all of them are less dangerous than the poison! In the passage above, what is the meaning of exterminate? A. escape B. kill C. enjoy D. help
What is to kill?
400
What is the part of the story where the characters and setting are introduced? A) climax B) resolution C) exposition D) rising action E) problem/conflict F) falling action
What is exposition?
400
Last night, someone broke all the windows of the empty Kizer building. This is the fourth building in Farrell Square to be damaged at night. The old neighborhood has seen better times. In the past, it was the center of activity in the city. People could go to the park, go shopping, or catch a movie. Now, the screen of the old theater is covered in graffiti. Many of the old shops are now abandoned. The park is overgrown with weeds. What generalization can the reader make about Farrell Square today? A. Many people work in the Kizer building. B. Most people want to live near the park. C. No one takes care of that part of town. D. The kids see many movies at the theater.
What is No one takes care of that part of town?
400
The solar system is made of our Sun and everything that travels around it. Our solar system is elliptical. This means it is shaped like an egg. The Sun is in the center of the solar system. Our solar system is always moving. Eight planets and their moons orbit the Sun. Comets, asteroids, and other space objects also move around the Sun. The Sun is the biggest object in our solar system. It has more than 99% of the solar system's mass. Astronomers think the solar system is over 4 billion years old. Which would be the best title of the passage? A. Comets and Moons B. Eight Planets C. The Solar System D. The Sun's Mass
What is The Solar System?
400
Recycling and Waste Have you looked in your garbage? Did you know you throw away many things that can be saved? You can help cut down garbage and help the environment. If we did simple things, we could lower landfills. If we reused glass, we could lower landfills by almost 10%. We can’t throw things away anymore. It must be managed. It may not affect us for a good twenty years, but it will affect our children and our children's children. There are still many advantages to waste management. Today, more and more people like companies who invest in "green products". These companies take out phosphates, bleaches, and have made their paper out of recycled papers. At home, families, are saving things, like leftovers, and making sandwiches for the next day. Some card companies even make Christmas cards out of recycled paper. They do this because it takes 20 trees to make a ton of cards. Small businesses are doing Christmas tree pickups. They use the trees again. This helps to stop erosion in stream beds. Some use the trees as fertilizer. People are starting to see a problem. We are beginning to deal with it. We can make the world a cleaner place for future generations. How is this passage organized? A. cause and effect B. sequence C. problem and solution D. compare and contrast
What is problem and solution?
500
Alfred Nobel invented dynamite. He was, however, a pacifist who felt bad about the destructive power that he created. He established the Nobel Prize as an award for outstanding achievement in physics, chemistry, medicine, peace, literature, and economics. Looking at the context, what is the definition of pacifist? A. a cruel, violent person B. an inventor of explosives C. a very famous scientist D. a person against violence
What is a person against violence?
500
What is the part of the story where problem/conflict is introduced? A) climax B) resolution C) exposition D) rising action E) problem/conflict F) falling action
What is the rising action?
500
What is Sleep Talking? Sleep talking is a common activity people do while sleeping. People make sounds or speak during sleep without being aware of it. Sleep talking can happen at any stage of sleep. People with anxiety disorders or fever are known to talk in their sleep. Sometimes, people with other sleep disorders like sleep walking or shortness of breath while sleeping also talk in their sleep. More children are known to sleep talk compared to adults. Usually, sleep talking goes away in children when they hit puberty. Children who sleep walk may continue to sleep talk as well. While some sleep talkers carry on conversations, others only moan or make sounds. Lack of sleep is known to increase sleep talking. Other factors that increase sleep talking are stress and anxiety. People with irregular sleep habits might talk in their sleep. Researchers say eating a heavy meal before bedtime creates discomfort that might cause sleep talking. What can the reader tell about people who sleep talk? A. They will remember everything they said while sleeping. B. They are most talkative when they are in deep sleep. C. They feel least stressed or anxious while sleep talking. D. They do not know that they are talking in their sleep.
What is They do not know that they are talking in their sleep?
500
Come hear Granger Smith at Wildcats Stadium on April 8 from 5-7 p.m. Granger is a Lake Highlands High School graduate who is a rising country music star. Smith is best known for his top ten single "Don't Listen to the Radio." Bring a blanket and a picnic, and enjoy the show. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. Proceeds go to benefit the cheerleading squad and drill team. What is this passage mainly about? A. a benefit concert at the high school B. a rally against listening to the radio C. a drill team contest at the school D. a graduation concert at the stadium
What is a benefit concert at the high school?
500
Jaguars are big cats. They are related to lions, tigers, and leopards. Some people confuse leopards and jaguars. You might ask, "How can you confuse these animals?" The answer is simple: some jaguars are spotted and look similar to leopards. Jaguars are very different animals though. So what do most jaguars look like? Jaguars look a lot like leopards, but they act a lot like tigers. Some jaguars look completely black, but they have spots if you look closely. Jaguars that are all black are often called panthers, but they are actually jaguars. People often ask, "Where do jaguars live?" Jaguars live in rain forests and open land in South and Central America. They used to live as far north as the southwestern U.S., and many are starting to move back into northern Mexico. How is this passage organized? A. question and answer B. cause and effect C. sequence D. compare and contras
What is question and answer?