Inferencing, Main Ideas, Author's Purpose & Context Clues

Inferencing, Main Ideas, Author's Purpose & Context Clues

INFERENCING

Use your PRIOR KNOWLEDGE and TEXT EVIDENCE to make EDUCATED GUESSES!

Multiple Choice

"Mia stuttered, blushed and shook as she addressed the crowd."

What can you infer about Mia from this statement?

• Mia is an actor

• Mia is nervous

• Mia enjoys public speaking

Multiple Select

The sun was low in the sky. Sarai's body ached. Blisters had formed on her hands. She set the rake down on the big pile of leaves and headed for home.

What can you infer from this passage?

• Sarai had worked a long time.

• Sarai had been feeling sick.

• Sarai dislikes raking leaves.

Multiple Choice

As usual, DeeJay left for school ten minutes later than he should have. His shoelaces were untied and his backpack was unzipped. He had traveled only one block when he heard his mother shout his name. He looked back and saw her waving his brown bag lunch.

What can you infer from this passage?

• DeeJay is disorganized and forgetful.

• DeeJay is in the 4th grade.

• DeeJay takes the bus to school.

Multiple Select

Mario made a mental checklist: Do laundry. Go to supermarket and get groceries. Clean house. Fix hallway light. Change the bed sheets in guest room. Wrap presents. His parents were coming in the morning and he didn't know how he would get everything done.

What can you infer from this passage?

• Mario is stressed.

• Mario is forgetful.

• Mario’s parents are strict.

Multiple Select

"You don't know what you're missing," Serena shouted into the phone over the loud music of the party.

"Nah, I'm too tired," McTobia said.

"Well, suit yourself, but you'll be sorry," Serena replied.

What can you infer from the passage above?

• Serena wants an apology.

• McTobia is sorry.

• Serena wants McTobia to come to the party

MAIN IDEAS

What the passage is MOSTLY talking about.

Multiple Choice

The next time you come face to face with a mouse, take a good look at it. Isn't the mouse a sleek and beautiful little creature? Look at its bright and lively eyes. How wide awake the little mouse looks! How well formed it is! How quickly it moves!

What is the main idea of the passage above?

• Why mice run around so fast

• How to trap a mouse

• What makes a mouse so good-looking

Multiple Select

Were you born after 1985? If so, how long do you expect to live? Most people born after 1985 can expect to live more than 70 years. Of course, this is just a guess based on past records. By the way, females can expect to live about six years longer than males. That’s taken from past records too!

What is the main idea of the passage above?

• why people live to be 70

• how long you might expect to live

• about the health of females

Multiple Choice

Babies use both hands. But babies use one hand more than the other. This hand may become the preferred one. How can you tell? Lay a baby on its back. Notice which side the baby faces. If the baby looks to the right most of the time, it will probably be right-handed. What does it mean if the baby faces left more often? The baby will most likely be left-handed.

What is the main idea of the passage above?

• how to tell right- from left-handed babies

• that babies use their hands for many things

• that there are more left-handed babies

Multiple Select

Farmers in Japan have a problem. There is not much land to farm, and there are many people to feed. Some farmers cut rows in the hillsides and grow crops there. This helps a little, but many kinds of food are shipped to Japan. They can choose anything they want to eat

What is the main idea of the passage above?

• The Japanese like getting food from different countries.

• Growing food on the hillside in Japan is hard work.

• There is little land to farm in Japan; so many kinds of food are shipped to Japan.

Multiple Choice

Canned snake meat has been sold in a few stores for a long time. Now people are beginning to buy more of it. Cattle raisers say they may begin to raise snakes as well as cattle. Who knows? You may soon be enjoying a tasty snake burger!

What is the main idea of the passage above?

• What snake meat looks like

• How snake meat tastes

• What is happening to snake meat

AUTHOR'S PURPOSE

WHY did the write write the passage?

Multiple Choice

The author's purpose or reason for writing is to do what for the reader?

Why do authors write books, newspapers, and articles?

• to entertain and amuse the reader

  reader take action

• to inform and give information about something

• to persuade to do something, to make the reader take action

• all of the above

Multiple Select

Some people believe that they can't make a difference by voting, but you can. If you don't vote, your voice cannot be heard. Show you care about your community, and exercise your right to vote.

The author's purpose for writing this passage is to do what to the reader?

• to entertain and amuse the reader

• to inform and give information about something

• to persuade to do something, to make the reader take action

Multiple Select

The day began like any other school day, except she really wanted to run to the bus and get to school. She had a feeling that she was going to be named homecoming queen.

The author's purpose for writing this passage is to do what to the reader?

• to entertain and amuse the reader

• to inform and give information about something

• to persuade to do something, to make the reader take action

Multiple Choice

One of the most harmful creatures on earth is the fly. Flies spread harmful diseases. They pick up germs with their hair, spreading germs everywhere.

The author's purpose for writing this passage is to do what to the reader?

• to entertain and amuse the reader

• to inform and give information about something

• to persuade to do something, to make the reader take action

Multiple Select

If you read an editorial (about voting for a particular political candidate or complaining about subscribing to a particular cable tv service) in the newspaper, the author's purpose is to

• to entertain and amuse the reader

• to inform and give information about something

• to persuade to do something, to make the reader take action

CONTEXT CLUES

Figuring out the meaning of words you don't know.

Multiple Choice

A reader uses context clues to determine the meaning of unknown words when they

• Use a dictionary to look up the definition

• Ask a friend what the word means

• Use the words around the unknown word as clues to infer the meaning.

Multiple Select

Maurice looks INDIGNANT when he doesn't get what he wants

Indignant means

• happy

• angry

• silly

Multiple Choice

In 1935, James Angel was the first American to EPSY the Angels Falls with his own eyes.

The word EPSY means

• name

• see

• ride

Multiple Select

Some model cars can look real because they are REPLICAS of actual cars.

The word REPLICA means

• drawings

• memories

• copies

Multiple Choice

When Kiki got a tiny cut on her finger she acted MELODRAMATIC and started bawling and screaming for a doctor.

The word MELODRAMATIC means

• Over reacting and having a big response to a small situation.

• Crying really hard

• Needing some stitches

RANDOMS

Be ready for anything!

Multiple Choice

Ben slammed down the phone. Why did Sergio always have to be right? Why didn't he ever listen?

What can you infer from the passage?

• Ben and Sergio had an argument.

• Ben regrets speaking rudely.

• Sergio is never wrong.

Multiple Choice

Native Americans developed a VARIETY of different vegetables- corn, squash, and potatoes.

The word VARIETY means

• the same thing

• a few different things

• too many things to count

Multiple Select

One of the best ways to lock a door is with a time lock. The lock is set for a certain time. It will not open before the time that has been set. It won't open when that time has passed. Banks find that time locks help keep your money safe.

What is the main idea of the passage above?

• What a time lock is

• Where to get a time lock

• How banks keep money safe

Multiple Select

LaToya heard footsteps behind her. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end. She began to quicken her pace, hoping that whoever was following her wouldn't notice, but at last she gave in to a run.

What can you infer from this passage?

• LaToya is late.

• LaToya is cold.

• LaToya is frightened.

Multiple Choice

Deshaun knew that he had waited until the last minute to type his research paper, but he couldn't think of what he wanted to write. As Deshaun was frantically typing away on his computer, the power went out. He hadn't saved his documents. He screamed at the computer as it faded into blackness. Maybe it wouldn't have been too bad if he had a rough draft in which to work from, but he was writing and typing at the same time. Deshaun swore to himself that this would never happen to him again.

The author shows the importance of

• buying a new computer.

• not waiting until the last minute to do your assignments.

• going to the library to do your research.

• making the honor roll.