SBA Tools & Strategies
Which tool helps you mark important parts of the passage?
Highlighter
Sophie stays awake during the witching hour in The BFG. What does this show?
She is brave, curious, night owl...
In the phrase “witching hour,” what does “witching” most nearly mean?
What is a theme?
A theme is a lesson or message the author wants the reader to learn.
How many pieces of text Evidence should you give in a written response?
2-3 (the more the better)
Which tool helps you eliminate answer choices you know are wrong?
Strikethrough tool
What is an inference?
An educated guess, idea with clues from the text, conclusion, something the reader figures out that isn't directly said in the text.
The BFG speaks in a “gibberish” way that Sophie slowly learns to understand. What does “gibberish” most nearly mean in this context?
A. clear and formal speech
B. musical singing
C. confusing or hard-to-understand language
D. loud shouting only
C
What is a possible theme starting to develop in The BFG? (Give evidence)
Answers may very but incorporate bravery, trust, etc.
Part A: Why does Sophie hide when she first sees the giant?
A. She is curious
B. She is frightened and unsure what the giant will do
C. She wants to surprise him
D. She is bored
Part B: Which sentence BEST supports your answer?
A. “Sophie stayed very still and did not make a sound.”
B. “Sophie ran outside to greet the giant.”
C. “Sophie began singing loudly from her window.”
D. “Sophie opened the door and invited him in.”
B, A
You want to write down your thinking before answering. What tool do you use?
Notepad
The BFG captures Sophie but does not hurt her and brings her to his home. What can you infer about his motivations beyond just keeping a secret?
He may feel lonely and is interested in connection or companionship..
When the giant “lurks” outside Sophie’s window, what does “lurks” most nearly mean?
A. moves loudly and quickly
B. hides or moves in a secretive, sneaky way
C. sits peacefully in one place
D. runs away immediately
B
What does compare and contrast mean?
To find similarities and differences
Part A: Why does Sophie start observing the BFG instead of panicking in the cave?
A. She trusts him immediately
B. She is trying to understand her situation
C. She is pretending to sleep
D. She is planning to escape right away
Part B: Which evidence BEST supports this?
A. “Sophie watched carefully as the giant moved around the cave.”
B. “Sophie screamed and ran outside.”
C. “Sophie closed her eyes and refused to look.”
D. “Sophie immediately fell asleep.”
B, A
What should you do if a question is confusing?
Sophie quickly begins observing the BFG’s behavior instead of panicking. What does this suggest about how she handles unfamiliar situations?
She adapts quickly and uses observation to understand what is happening..
In Chapter 1, Sophie is described as feeling “apprehensive” during the witching hour. What does “apprehensive” most nearly mean?
A. excited and playful
B. slightly nervous or worried about what might happen
C. completely relaxed and calm
D. angry and aggressive
B
What is author’s craft?
The techniques the author uses to accomplish goals in their story.
What does R.A.C.E stand for? (Used for written response)
Restate, Answer, Cite(Evidence), Explain
Which tool lets you save a question to come back to later and how long should you take to look over your answers at the end?
Part A:
What can you infer about Sophie when she first arrives in the BFG’s cave?
A. She immediately tries to attack the BFG
B. She feels calm and treats the cave like home right away
C. She is frightened but begins to carefully observe her surroundings
D. She forgets everything that just happened
Part B:
Which sentence from the text BEST supports your answer in Part A?
A. “Sophie stayed very still and looked around the enormous cave.”
B. “Sophie ran straight back out of the cave as fast as she could.”
C. “The BFG told her she was safe, and she fell asleep immediately.”
D. “Sophie laughed loudly and started eating the giant’s food.”
Part A- C and Part B- A
What strategies will help you the most with vocab. questions on the test? (Name 4)
Context clues, background knowledge, substitute, strikeout/eliminate, synonyms/antonyms
How does Roald Dahl’s use of dialogue help the reader understand the BFG? (Use an example of how he talks)
It shows his personality, humor, and way of speaking.
What is the BEST evidence that Sophie is trying to understand the giant instead of immediately escaping in The BFG (Ch. 1–6)?
A. “Sophie stayed very still and watched everything carefully from her hiding spot.”
B. “Sophie ran out of the room as fast as she could.”
C. “Sophie screamed and closed her eyes right away.”
D. “Sophie ignored the giant completely and went back to sleep.”
A