Show:
Definitions/Signal Words
Passages - Easy
Text Evidence/Author's Purpose
Passages - Difficult
Written Response Practice
100
The author states an issue and lists one or more ways to solve that issue.
What is problem and solution?
100
To surprise her mother on her birthday, Samantha got up early and make coffee. First, she filled the pot with water. Then she cleaned and replaced the filter. Next, she got fresh coffee, measured just the right amount, and poured it into the filter. Finally, she pressed the "on" button and within seconds, the aroma of the fresh-brewed coffee filled the house. The MAIN text structure used in this paragraph is . . .
What is sequence?
100
To surprise her mother on her birthday, Samantha got up early and make coffee. She wanted to make her mom feel special! First, she filled the pot with water. Then she cleaned and replaced the filter. Next, she got fresh coffee, measured just the right amount, and poured it into the filter. Within minutes, the fresh smell of coffee was in the air!

Which sentence lets the reader know how the author structured the ideas in the passage?

A. To surprise her mother on her birthday, Samantha got up early and make coffee.
B. She wanted to make her mom feel special!
C. Then she cleaned and replaced the filter.
D. Within minutes, the fresh smell of coffee was in the air!
The answer is C.

This is a sequential text structure so you want to choose the answer that explains things in order. A, B, and D have nothing to do with the process of making coffee.
100
One challenge with every modern Olympics is that it has become very big and expensive to operate. The city or country that hosts the games often loses a lot of money. A stadium, pools, and playing fields must be built for the athletic events and housing is needed for the athletes who come from around the world. And all of these facilities are only used for two weeks! In 1984, Los Angles solved these problems by charging a fee for companies who wanted to be official sponsors of the games. Companies like McDonald’s paid a lot of money to be part of the Olympics. Many buildings that were already being built in Los Angeles were also being used. The Coliseum where the 1932 games were held was used again and many colleges and universities in the area became playing and living areas.

What is the text structure and what sentence from this text lets you know how the author structured the ideas?
Problem and solution.

The sentence is "One challenge with every modern Olympics is that it has become very big." This shows me that this is problem and solution because it is dealing with the problem of the Olympics becoming too big.
100
Directions: Read the two texts and then answer the question.

Text 1) One challenge with every modern Olympics is that it has become very big and expensive to operate. The city or country that hosts the games often loses a lot of money. In 1984, Los Angeles solved these problems by charging a fee for companies who wanted to be official sponsors of the games. Companies like McDonald’s paid a lot of money to be part of the Olympics.

Text 2) The Olympic games began as athletic festivals to honor the Greek gods. These games were ended in 394 A.D. by the Roman emperor in Greece. No Olympic games were held for more than 1,500 years. Then the modern Olympics began in 1896. In the games held in 1900, female athletes were allowed to compete. The games have continued every four years since 1896, except during World War II and they will most likely continue for many years to come.

Question: How are the two authors different and alike in their portrayal of the same event?
(*Hint: S1E2E!)
S: The two authors focus on the Olympics. 1: However, the first text uses a problem and solution text structure because the author wants us to know how the issue of losing money from the Olympics was finally solved. E: In the text it says, "In 1984, L.A. solved these problems by charging a fee." 2: On the other hand, the second text uses a sequential text structure because the author wants to focus on telling the history of the Olympics. E: In the text it says "Then the modern Olympics began in 1896."
200
The author explains a topic, person, place, or thing by listing characteristics, examples, or features such as what it is, where it is, etc.
What is description?
200
Willow Creek is very different from New York City. There are no tall skyscrapers in Willow Creek. All you can see are fields and sky. Instead of taxicab horns and fire truck sirens, it is so quiet at night that you can hear the crickets chirping. The MAIN text structure used in this paragraph is . . .
What is compare and contrast?
200
Willow Creek is very different from New York City. There are no tall skyscrapers in Willow Creek. All you can see are fields and sky. Instead of taxicab horns and fire truck sirens, it is so quiet at night that you can hear the crickets chirping.

Which sentence lets the reader know how the author structured the ideas in the passage?

A. Willow Creek is very different from New York City.
B. There are no tall skyscrapers in Willow Creek.
C. All you can see are fields and sky.
A is the correct answer.

This passage is contrasting Willow Creek to New York City so you want to choose a sentence that shows how the two places are DIFFERENT.
200
The Olympic games began as athletic festivals to honor the Greek gods. The most important festival was held in the valley of Olympia to honor Zeus, the king of the gods. It was the festival that became the Olympic games in 776 B.C. These games were ended in 394 A.D. by the Roman emperor in Greece. No Olympic games were held for more than 1,500 years. Then the modern Olympics began is 1896. Almost 300 male athletes competed in the first modern Olympics. In the games held in 1900, female athletes were allowed to compete. The games have continued every four years since 1896, except during World War II and they will most likely continue for many years to come.

What is the text structure and what sentence from this text lets you know how the author structured the ideas?
Sequence.

The sentence is..."In the games held in 1900, the female athletes were allowed to compete." This is the supporting evidence because it includes an important date, which shows the text structure is sequential. (Other answers work too as long as they have a date in them. For instance, "Almost 300 male athletes competed in the first modern Olympics." would NOT work since it has a number, not a DATE.)
200
Read the two texts and the question that follows.

Text 1: The modern Olympics are very unlike the ancient Olympic games. Individual events are different. While there was no swimming in the ancient games, for example, there were chariot races. There were no female contestants and all athletes competed without uniforms. Of course, the ancient and modern Olympics are also like in many ways. Some events, such as the javelin and the discus throws are the same. Some people say that cheating, professionalism, and nationalism in the modern games are a disgrace to the Olympic tradition. But according to the Greek writers there were many cases of cheating, nationalism, and professionalism in their Olympics, too.

Text 2: The Olympic games began as athletic festivals to honor the Greek gods. These games were ended in 394 A.D. by the Roman emperor in Greece. No Olympic games were held for more than 1,500 years. Then the modern Olympics began in 1896. In the games held in 1900, female athletes were allowed to compete. The games have continued every four years since 1896, except during World War II and they will most likely continue for many years to come.

Question: How are the two authors different and alike in their portrayal of the same event? (*Hint: S1E2E!)
S: Both authors talk about the Olympics. 1: However, the first text uses a compare/contrast text structure because the author wants to focus on how the ancient and modern Olympics are similar and different. E: In the text it says "While there was no swimming in the ancient games, for example, there were chariot races." 2: On the other hand, the second text uses a sequential text structure because the author wants to focus more on telling the history of the Olympics and how it developed over time, instead of comparing and contrasting modern and ancient events. E: In the text it says "Then the modern Olympics began in 1896."
300
The author lists one or more events and what happens due to those events.
What is cause and effect?
300
The music was blasting so loud, Marco thought his ears would burst. The stage was filled with bright blue laser beams and a shower of yellow and green paper streamers. All around him, the crowd was singing and dancing wildly. The MAIN text structure used in this paragraph is . . .
What is description?
300
To surprise her mother on her birthday, Samantha got up early and make coffee. She wanted to make her mom feel special! First, she filled the pot with water. Then she cleaned and replaced the filter. Next, she got fresh coffee, measured just the right amount, and poured it into the filter. Within minutes, the fresh smell of coffee was in the air! What is the PURPOSE of the text structure?

A. To explain why Samantha wanted to surprise her mom.
B. To explain the steps Samantha took in making coffee.
C. To explain HOW the smell of coffee got into the air.

*Hint: purpose means what the author wants you to know
The purpose of the text is B) to explain the steps Samantha took towards making coffee.

It is NOT to show how Samantha wanted to surprise her mom. That purpose would be more related to a cause and effect text structure.

It is NOT C because the author isn't writing this to focus on how the coffee smell got into the air (that is more cause and effect)
300
The Olympic symbol consists of five interlocking rings. The rings represent the five continents- Africa, Asia, North America, Europe, and South America- from which athletes come to compete in the games. The rings are colored black, blue, green, red, and yellow. At least one of those colors is found in the flag of every country sending athletes to compete in the Olympic games.

What is the text structure and what sentence from this text lets you know how the author structured the ideas?
Description.

The sentence is..."The rings are colored black, blue, green, red, and yellow" since this is describing WHAT the Olympic symbol looks like in more detail.

(Other answers work too as long as it is a supporting detail.)
400
These words are signal words to this text structure: same as, similar, alike, as well as, also, both, instead of, on the other hand, different from, and as opposed to
What is compare and contrast?
400
Joey lost his science book. He knew he would be in big trouble if he was unable to study for the final. What should he do? He thought for a few worried moments, and then decided to retrace his steps. He remembered putting the book in his backpack that morning. He had taken it out at school when his friend Kim asked to look something up. Now he remembered - Kim still had his book! The MAIN text structure used in this paragraph is . . .
What is problem and solution?
400
Joey lost his science book. As a result, he was in big trouble since the test was the next day. He thought for a few worried moments, and then decided to retrace his steps. He remembered putting the book in his backpack that morning. He had taken it out at school when his friend Kim asked to look something up. Now he remembered - Kim still had his book!

What is the purpose of the text structure?

A. To show the effect of Joey losing his book.
B. To explain how Joey solved the problem of losing his science book.
C. To describe the steps in finding something you lost.

*Hint: purpose means what the author wants you to know
The purpose is B) to explain how Joey solved the problem of losing his science book. (Remember, the purpose is related to the text structure, which is problem and solution!)

It is NOT A because the author isn't writing more about the results from Joey losing his book. There is a solution in this text, so it is problem and solution and so the purpose must be related to that.

It is NOT C because the author isn't writing this to explain to readers how to find something lost, even though Joey does go through steps to finding his book.
400
The modern Olympics are very unlike the ancient Olympic games. Individual events are different. While there was no swimming in the ancient games, for example, there were chariot races. There were no female contestants and all athletes competed without uniforms. Of course, the ancient and modern Olympics are also like in many ways. Some events, such as the javelin and the discus throws are the same. Some people say that cheating, professionalism, and nationalism in the modern games are a disgrace to the Olympic tradition. But according to the Greek writers there were many cases of cheating, nationalism, and professionalism in their Olympics, too.

What is the text structure and what sentence from this text lets you know how the author structured the ideas?
Compare and contrast.

The sentence is "Of course, the ancient and modern Olympics are also like in many ways" since this sentence is comparing the two events together, proving that it is a compare and contrast text feature." (Other answer is: "Some events, such as the javelin, are the same.")
500
These words are signal words to this text structure: first, next, then, before, after, finally, following, dates, and times
What is sequence?
500
Every spring, shortly after the tulips bloom, farmers in Holland go through the tulip fields and cut the blooms off the tulips. This seems strange, because it leaves a field full of green stems. However, it makes the colorful tulip blooms grow back even bigger and stronger later that spring. The MAIN text structure used in this paragraph is . . .
What is cause and effect?
500
Every spring, shortly after the tulips bloom, farmers in Holland go through the tulip fields and cut the blooms off the tulips. This seems strange, because it leaves a field full of green, lonely-looking stems. However, it makes the colorful tulip blooms grow back even bigger and stronger later that spring.

What is the purpose of the text structure in "Florida Keys"?

A. To describe the problem of a lonely-looking field empty from flowers.
B. To explain the similarities and differences between a field full of tulips and an empty field.
C. To explain how cutting off flowers leads to them growing back bigger and stronger
The purpose is C) To explain how cutting off flowers leads to them growing back bigger and stronger. This answer is related to the text structure of cause and effect since the cause is cutting off flowers and the effect is them growing back bigger. The author wants us to focus on these events.

It is NOT A because the author is not focused on telling his readers how a lonely looking field is a problem.

It is NOT B because the author is not focused on telling you the differences between a full field and an empty field. That is not the main idea of the text. He barely mentions it.
500
There are several reasons why so many people attend the Olympic games or watch them on television. One reason is tradition. The name Olympics and the torch and flame remind people of the ancient games. People can escape the boring routine of daily life by attending or watching the Olympics. They like to identify with someone else’s individual sacrifice and accomplishment. National pride is another reason, and an athlete’s or a team’s hard earned victory becomes a nation’s victory. There are national medal counts and people keep track of how many medals their country’s athletes have won.

What is the text structure and what sentence from this text lets you know how the author structured the ideas?
Cause and effect.

The sentence is "People can escape the boring routine of daily by attending or watching the Olympics." The cause is that they are bored. The effect is that they watch the Olympics. This is NOT problem and solution because the author is focused on describing WHY people watch Olympics, rather than focusing on the problem of them being bored.