What's the Big Idea?
Biking is a popular way to travel short distances. It is good for the environment and helps people stay healthy. Many cities are building bike lanes to keep riders safe.
What is the central idea of the paragraph?
A. Cities are building new roads
B. Biking is helpful and becoming more common
C. Riding bikes can be dangerous
D. Short distances are hard to travel
B. Biking is helpful and becoming more common
The new computer ran like lightning.
What does this comparison show?
A. The computer is dangerous
B. The computer is fast
C. The computer uses electricity
D. The computer stopped working
B. The computer is fast
The coach helped develop new strategies for the team.
The root velop means “wrap.” What does develop most nearly mean here?
A. Hide
B. Create or build
C. Destroy
D. Announce
B. Create or build
What is the problem-and-solution structure used to do?
A. Describe characters and the setting
B. Explain a cause or topic
C. Present a problem and ways to fix it
D. Compare two ideas or topics
C. Present a problem and ways to fix it
What should a strong summary include?
A. Opinions and examples
B. Central ideas and key steps
C. Quotes only (text evidence)
D. Every detail big or small
B. Central ideas and key steps
Gardening requires patience. Seeds must be watered daily, weeds must be removed, and plants need sunlight to grow strong.
Which detail best supports the central idea?
A. Seeds are small
B. Plants grow outdoors
C. Seeds must be watered daily
D. Gardening is fun
C. Seeds must be watered daily
Practice helped tilt the odds in her favor.
What does tilt the odds most nearly mean?
A. Make something fair
B. Change luck magically
C. Increase the chance of success
D. Break the rules
C. Increase the chance of success
The scientist predicted the storm days before it arrived.
What does predicted mean?
A. Caused
B. Argued
C. Declared in advance
D. Prevented
C. Declared in advance
Many students forget homework. One solution is using a planner to track assignments.
What is the problem?
A. Using planners
B. Forgetting homework
C. Writing assignments
D. Tracking time
B. Forgetting homework
Short Text Topic: Preparing for a power outage
Which step should come first?
A. Use flashlights
B. Make a plan
C. Buy supplies
D. Stay calm
B. Make a plan
Which two sentences usually express a central idea in an informational text?
A. Topic sentences and conclusions
B. Definitions and examples
C. Quotes and dialogue
D. Side details and statistics
A. Topic sentences and conclusions
Why do authors use figurative phrases instead of literal ones?
A. To confuse readers
B. To shorten the text
C. To create clearer mental images
D. To avoid facts
C. To create clearer mental images
The teacher used gestures to communicate instructions.
What does communicate most nearly mean?
A. Entertain
B. Share information
C. Perform
D. Question
B. Share information
Which signal word often introduces a solution?
A. Because
B. However
C. As a result
D. One way
D. One way
Why should summaries be in logical order?
A. To sound formal
B. To match exact wording
C. To help readers understand the process
D. To include more details
C. To help readers understand the process
Recycling helps reduce waste. When people recycle paper and plastic, fewer materials end up in landfills. Recycling also saves energy.
Which sentence is least relevant to the central idea?
A. Recycling helps reduce waste
B. Fewer materials end up in landfills
C. Recycling saves energy
D. Paper can be folded into shapes
D. Paper can be folded into shapes
His words hit harder than a punch.
Why is this phrase effective?
A. It exaggerates to show emotional impact
B. It explains a physical fight
C. It describes an injury
D. It gives instructions
A. It exaggerates to show emotional impact
Plans will adjust depending on the weather.
What clue helps you understand adjust?
A. Plans
B. Depending
C. Weather
D. Will
B. Depending
Flooding can damage homes. To reduce risk, communities build barriers and create drainage systems.
Which sentence presents the solution?
A. Flooding can damage homes
B. Communities exist
C. Barriers and drainage systems
D. Floods are dangerous
C. Barriers and drainage systems
Which sentence does not belong in a summary?
A. The main problem
B. The solution steps
C. Personal opinion
D. Important details
C. Personal opinion
Why might an author include both teamwork and individual skills when explaining a topic?
A. To confuse the reader
B. To add unnecessary details
C. To fully explain how success happens
D. To make the text longer
C. To fully explain how success happens
How does figurative language help explain difficult ideas in informational texts?
A. It removes facts
B. It replaces explanations
C. It connects ideas to familiar experiences
D. It adds humor only
C. It connects ideas to familiar experiences
Why is knowing Latin roots helpful when reading complex texts?
A. They replace context clues
B. They work only in science texts
C. They help readers infer meanings of unfamiliar words
D. They give exact definitions
C. They help readers infer meanings of unfamiliar words
Why is problem-and-solution effective for safety or instruction texts?
A. It tells stories people have lived through
B. It explains consequences clearly
C. It helps readers know what actions to take
D. It adds emotion and rhythm
C. It helps readers know what actions to take
How does summarizing help with comprehension?
A. It shortens the text
B. It removes vocabulary
C. It identifies what matters most
D. It replaces rereading
C. It identifies what matters most