Reading for main idea 3

Read the folk tale .

The Elephant and the Hummingbird

Long, long ago—in the days when people could talk to animals and learn their stories—an elephant walked slowly beside the Yellow River. This was before animals were tamed, even before the first Chinese emperors ruled. That’s how long ago it was.

The elephant was enjoying a peaceful stroll. Thick grasses and beautiful lotus flowers bloomed, and the water in the Yellow River made a pleasant swishing sound as it flowed past the elephant.

Noticing what appeared to be a hummingbird, the elephant stopped. Although they don’t exist in China today, the elephant had seen hummingbirds before. He’d watched them hover above lotus flowers, their wings beating so quickly that they appeared only as a blur. The elephant sometimes wished he could move as quickly as a hummingbird. This one, however, was lying upside down, her wings motionless and her legs pointing toward the sky. Occasionally, the little bird would sigh heavily or grunt, as if working extra hard.

“What are you doing?” asked the elephant. He slowly walked around the hummingbird, trying to understand the odd behavior. “You look ridiculous, you know.”

“I am holding up the sky,” replied the hummingbird calmly. “I overheard that it might fall today.”

The elephant raised his trunk and made a sound that today might pass as a deep laugh. “You’re holding up the sky? Why, just look at it. The sky is bigger than I am, and I doubt you could hold me up. Even if the sky were going to fall, your tiny legs could not possibly do the job.”

“Ah,” said the hummingbird, “but these are the only legs I have. I might not be able to do it by myself, but I am doing what I can.”

What is the message of the folk tale?

• People do what they can with what they have.

• Past wisdom is better than present wisdom.

• It is always best not to look ridiculous.

• It is risky to try things that other people are saying it is impossible.

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CCSS.RL.1.10

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CCSS.RL.K.5

WHAT IS THE MAIN IDEA OF THE PASSAGE?

Everyday we encounter things made of plastic at home, school, work, and play. Have you ever wondered how that spork in the school cafeteria, folder in your backpack, computer keyboard on your desk, or slide in your backyard were made? A plastic is a substance created from natural materials such as cellulose and crude oil. Some plastics are fashioned only when they are newly constructed while others can be altered by heating or melting. Since plastic can vary in shape, or form, the number of products that are created from plastic is endless.

• Different plastics can be utilized to manufacture different products

• Many items can be made of plastic and other petroleum products

• Some can be shaped only when they are freshly made

• The process used to make plastic is complex and requires many scientific concepts

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Weather reporters have to give out a lot of information. That's why they use pictures. The pictures help them tell us about the weather without using so many words. Weather reporters need to know where the cold air is. They need to know where the warm air is. They have to know where it is raining and what types of clouds are in the area. Their reports need to be correct, but they also need to be short. The pictures help weather reporters get the information out in a fast way.
Which sentence best describes the main idea of the paragraph?

• Weather reporters need to know where the cold air is
• Pictures help weather reporters get information out in a fast way
• Their reports need to be correct, but they also need to be short
• They have to know where it is raining and what types of clouds are in the area

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Kara chose a difficult piece to play for the piano recital. Her teacher advised her to select an easier piece, but Kara knew she could do it. Kara practiced every day after school. When her friends called to see if she could play, Kara told them that she couldn't and continued to practice. Even with all that practicing, a week before the recital, Kara still could not play the piece without making mistakes. Kara thought about giving up and switching to an easier piece, but instead she decided to double her practice time. The night of the recital arrived. Kara was the last student to play. As she walked onto the stage to take her place at the piano, she remembered the long hours she had spent practicing. Kara began to play. Her hands danced across the keyboard. She knew the piece so well! When the final note faded the room erupted in applause. She had played the piece perfectly! 

• It takes a lot of practice to play the piano.
• Kara practiced a lot and did well.
• persistence pays off.

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CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

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The Presentation

"For the final exam, instead of a written test, everyone will be required to give a ten-minute presentation on one of the science topics we covered this year," Mr. Marx announced.

Angela felt her stomach twist into anxious knots. When Mr. Marx passed around a sign-up sheet, Angela chose the topic of tadpoles, but also made sure she picked the very last time slot for presentation days. She wanted to put as much distance as possible between now and the moment she would have to speak in front of the class.

Angela began having trouble sleeping at night. She dreamed of failing the final exam not because she didn't know the material, but because she froze and forgot her speech. Every classmate's presentation she watched meant she was one step closer to having to present herself.

When the day arrived, Angela couldn't eat breakfast, and she had to get through math and history before science. She couldn't concentrate at all.

Her heart pounded as Mr. Marx called her name. She gathered her notecards with shaking hands and slowly walked to the front of the room.

"Tadpoles," she began, "are frogs or toads at the beginning of their life cycle."

Whew, she thought. The first sentence came out.

Then, something happened that she did not expect at all. She relaxed. Once she began, the words flowed out. She could see Mr. Marx start to smile and nod encouragingly. After weeks of dreading this moment, she couldn't believe how quickly the presentation passed.

"So," she said brightly, after her presentation concluded. "Does anyone have any questions about tadpoles?"

Which of the following best describes the main theme or lesson of the story?

• Thoroughly preparing for a challenge can make it seem less scary.

• Waiting to do something can be worse than actually doing it.

• Waiting can be an answer to problems.

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CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

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Read the following story.

Broken Dishes

Joe owned a few businesses in Penfield, and he was a thoughtful business owner. The windows of his art gallery were made of special glass that protected the art from sun damage. And he bought a new delivery van for his flower shop when the old one kept breaking down, because no one should receive withered flowers.

He was especially proud on the day his restaurant opened. A restaurant was a brand-new venture for Joe. He'd picked out beautiful plates and glasses. They were costly, but he wanted to give his customers the best dining experience he could.

He was thrilled when the restaurant filled up for lunch, but disheartened when he heard a glass break in the kitchen.

"Please be more careful," he told the dishwasher.

Not much later, a child shattered a plate on the dining room floor. After that, a man waved Joe to his table, where he pointed out a chip in the rim of his water glass. It would have to be thrown away.

In the kitchen that night, Joe counted the remaining plates and glasses.

"Owning this place is going to cost a lot more than I thought," he told the chef.

"You know, there's a restaurant supply store in Ridgemont. It sells dishes and glassware, and you buy them in bulk, so they're cheap," the chef said.

"Good point," said Joe. "In this business, sooner or later everything breaks."

That weekend, Joe and his chef drove to the store in Ridgemont.

The next day, Joe watched contentedly as the restaurant fill up again. When a server dropped one of the new plates, Joe didn't get upset. A new one was taken from a large box, where there were plenty more replacements at the ready.

Which of the following best describes the main theme or lesson of the story?

• If you want something to last a long time, invest in quality.

• Some things in life are not worth spending a lot of money on.

• Breaking dishes is an old tradition.

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CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

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