Theme Review Practice

In a piece of fictional text, what is the "theme"?

• What the story is about

• The topic of the text

• A message about life that the author is trying to get across to the reader

• Where and when the story happens

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

A theme should be a statement, not just one word.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

A lion was about to eat a mouse when the mouse pleaded, "Let me go, and someday I may help you." Laughing, the lion let the mouse go. Later, some hunters caught the lion in a trap. The mouse came and chewed through the ropes and saved the lion's life.

What is the theme of this story?

• Respect your elders.

• Don't steal.

• Don't be lazy.

• Help others because what goes around comes around.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

There was once an ugly duckling. The other ducks laughed at her, and she felt ashamed. When she grew up, it turned out that she was actually a swan, and she was beautiful.

What is the theme of this story?

• Don't steal.

• Don't judge others because you don't know what they're capable of.

• Being beautiful is the most important thing in the world.

• Swans are prettier than ducks.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

When determining a theme, the reader should first consider...

• the illustrations in the text

• the topic(s) in the story

• the title

• the length of the story

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

One way you could figure out the theme is to...

• Skim through the entire story

• Just read the beginning of the story

• Think about what the character has learned

• Read the ending of the story

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

During a baseball game, Tanner tried to tag a player leaving first base. When the umpire called the player out, Tanner immediately informed the umpire that he in fact did not tag the runner. Two weeks later, the very same umpire was at another one of Tanner’s baseball games. Tanner was playing short stop and tagged a runner as they approached third base. When the umpire called the player safe, Tanner didn’t say a word, but the umpire noticed the surprised look on Tanner’s face. “Did you tag the runner?” she asked Tanner. When Tanner told her that he did tag the runner, the umpire changed her decision and called the player out. The coaches and parents were furious, but the umpire stood by her decision.

What is the theme of the story?

• You should cheat to win.

• Always try your best and work hard.

• It pays to be honest.

• Teamwork is best.

A story can have more than one theme.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Three people reading the same story will always come up with the same theme.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

In a spell of dry weather, when the birds could find very little to drink, a thirsty crow found a pitcher with a little water in it. But the pitcher was high and had a narrow neck, and no matter how hard he tried, the crow could not reach the water. The poor thing felt as if he would die of thirst. Then an idea came to him. Picking up some small pebbles, he dropped them into the pitcher one by one. With each pebble the water rose a little higher until at last it was near enough so he could drink.

What is the theme of the story?

• Persistence pays off in the end.

• Be honest with yourself and others.

• Always share with others.

• Respect and honor your family.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.5.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2