Theme

Multiple Choice

One way you could figure out the theme is to

• skim through the story

• think about what the character has learned

• just read the beginning of the story

• read the ending of the story

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of theme?

• Carry your laptops with two hands at all times.

• You can severely break your leg while crossing the street.

• Cereal is the healthiest food you can eat.

• Life is short; make the most of it.

Multiple Choice

Jim was stacking boxes at work.  There was a certain height he had to reach.  He stretched his body, but could not reach to place the final box at the top.  Bill happened to see Jim struggling and came to his rescue, since he was a foot taller.

What is the theme of this text?

• Teamwork can accomplish a goal.

• Work hard to reach a goal.

• Tall people are the best.

• People can be like boxes.

Multiple Choice

An old turtle looked up and said,

“Mr. Sky, I have lived a long time.

I have seen it all,

And what they say is true.

There is nothing new under the sun.”

“Really?” said Sky.

And from six miles up, he dropped 

A single snowflake. 

Which sentence describes the theme of the poem?

• There's always something new to experience.

• Animals understand nature better than humans.

• Nature always challenges us to think twice.

• It's important to gather new knowledge.

Multiple Choice

Rohan triumphantly lifted the trophy above his head. Despite all the obstacles, he had won. Beneath his cheerful exterior, he felt a twinge of the constant pain he’d learned to live with. Almost unconsciously, Rohan removed one hand from the trophy and rubbed the thin red scar that snaked around his ankle. He thought back to the surgery and the weeks spent lying in his bed, unable to compete. The months of exercises to strengthen his leg. “Rohan!” he heard the crowd scream, as if in slow motion. A smile broke across Rohan’s face, shattering his thoughts. He returned his hand to his trophy, firmly grasping it.

Which of the following is most likely a theme of the story?

• Some goals are too hard to achieve, even if you try many times.

• You need the support of your family to overcome challenges.

• Through determination, you can overcome big challenges.

• When you achieve a goal, you shouldn't brag about it.

Multiple Choice

Marta was stumped. She had turned the details of the case over and over in her head, trying to figure out the answer. The suspect had somehow entered the store, stolen the artwork and exited without leaving any trace or fingerprints. Marta paced, her movements matching her storm of thoughts. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the new technological device she had been given to use, which she'd been avoiding like the plague. "I wonder…" she thought. Hesitantly, Marta typed the details of the case into the device's keyboard. It whirred and spat out a list of similar cases and how they'd been solved. Reading through the information, Marta was amazed. She had been pondering for hours, but 30 seconds with this device, and she could find answer! With new respect, she rushed off. Which detail from the passage provides the best clue that a theme of the story is "technology can have good effects"?

• "The suspect had somehow entered the store, stolen the artwork and exited without any trace or fingerprints."

• "Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the new technological device she had been given to use, which she'd been avoiding like the plague."

• "Marta paced, her movements matching her storm of thoughts."

• "She had been pondering for hours, but 30 seconds with this device, and she could find her answer!"

Multiple Choice

Wind whipped at Vanessa, Mo and Jaime's faces as they trudged up the mountain. "Do you have the ice samples?" Vanessa questioned Mo again." Why don't you carry them the rest of the way?" he responded irritably. Mo was digging into his backpack to retrieve the samples when suddenly, a gust of wind snatched them out of his hands, sending them tumbling down the mountain. "If we lose those, this was all for nothing!" Vanessa cried. The wind roared angrily, churning flakes of snow that had newly begun to fall. How far had the samples gone? The three scientists stared at each other in horrified silence. "I'll go back for them," Jaime spoke up quietly. Vanessa and Mo looked at Jaime. He was the smallest and youngest of the group, barely strong enough to carry his large backpack. "I'll go," he said louder. Which sentence from the passage provides the best clue that a theme of the story is "Courage can be found in the people you least expect it"?

• "'Why don't you carry them the rest of the way?'" he responded irritably.

• "The wind roared angrily, churning flakes of snow that had newly begun to fall."

• "How far had the samples gone?"

• "He was the smallest and youngest of the group, barely strong enough to carry his large backpack."