Main Idea and Inferences

“Hurry up! We’re going to be late to the movie,” exclaimed Neil as he tugged on his mom’s arm. He hurriedly put on his shoes and ran to the door.

Neil is _________________ about going to the movie.

• Nervous

• Scared

• Excited

• Indecisive

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.8.4

Raleigh, North Carolina’s capital city, takes its name from Sir Walter Raleigh, an English explorer. Queen Elizabeth granted Sir Walter Raleigh the right to explore and colonize North America, and he first sailed to North America in 1578. In 1585 he attempted to start a colony on Roanoke Island in present-day North Carolina, but the colony failed. He tried again in 1587, but this colony (known as “The Lost Colony”) also failed. Despite his failures at colonization, Sir Walter Raleigh did succeed in introducing potatoes and tobacco to the English. What is the main idea?

• Raleigh is North Carolina's capital city

• Sir Walter Raleigh introduced tobacco and potatoes to the English.

• Sir Walter Raleigh experienced both success and failures in his life

• North Carolina's capital city is named for Sir Walter Raleigh

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

Scoring in football is much more complex than in soccer or baseball, where each goal or run equals 1 point. For example, a touchdown in football is worth 6 points. After scoring a touchdown, a football team automatically gets a kick to try for 1 more point, which is called the “point after attempt”. Since the kick is relatively easy, many people just consider a touchdown as 7 points. After a touchdown, a team can also try a “two point conversion”. If the team can throw or run the ball into the end zone, it will earn 2 points instead of just 1 for the extra point. Teams usually don’t go for two points, however. If a team does not succeed in scoring a touchdown, it can try to kick the ball from the field through the goalposts to score a field goal, which is worth 3 points. Another way to score is called a “safety”, which is worth 2 points. A safety results when one team tackles the man with the ball on the other team in his own end zone. Safeties are much more rare than touchdowns, field goals, and point after attempts.

You’ll never see a final score in a football game of 1-0 like you might in soccer or baseball. Instead, the lowest score you could have in football would be 2-0, but 3-0 is much more likely.

What is the main idea of this passage?

• Football scoring is more complex than in other sports

• A touchdown is worth six points

• Teams score a two-point safety when they tackle the other team's player in his own end zone

• Football scores are often higher than baseball or soccer scores

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

Norman stretched his legs and took a deep breath of fresh mountain air. He put on his favorite shoes and tightened the laces. Then, he set his stopwatch and began to sprint around the track. Never stopping to rest, Norman continued his routine for thirty minutes. As soon as his timer sounded, Norman had completed five laps around the track.

Norman is a ___________________.

• A. Swimmer

• B. Runner

• Weight lifter

• Diver

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.1

CCSS.RI.5.1

CCSS.RL.4.1

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RL.6.1

“Are you sure you want to jump?” Antonio asked in amazement as he watched his brother, Mario, put on his parachute pack.

“Of course I do!” Mario exclaimed with exuberance. “I’ve been waiting for this moment my entire life!”

Mario is about to __________________.

• A. Climb

• B. Clamber

• C. Skydive

• D. Sprint

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.1

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

Water plays an important part in our lives and in our environment. It covers nearly three-quarters of the Earth’s surface. It is fun to play in, but it is also needed for life. In fact, we can not survive without water to drink. People also need water to wash, cook, and grow food. Every living thing needs water. Without it, plants and trees would not grow, aquatic life would have no where to live, and animals who find their food in the water would have nothing to eat. Up in Earth’s atmosphere, water vapor cools and collects into clouds. When enough clusters of cloud particles stick together, they tumble back down to Earth as rain, snow, hail, or sleet. So, without water the water cycle would not work, and we would not have precipitation on Earth. Did you know that most of the world’s population does not have access to clean water? We are very lucky to live in a country where clean water is available for us to drink. It is up to us to be responsible users of the water we have on Earth.

What is the main idea?

• Plants and trees would not grow.

• We can not survive without water to drink

• Water plays an important part in our lives and in our environment

• Water is not super important

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

North Carolina grows more sweet potatoes than any other state, almost half of the nation’s supply. In fact, it’s the North Carolina state vegetable.

The Native Americans grew sweet potatoes for their high nutritional value. It is a great source of vita- min A, vitamin C, and fiber. It is also low in fat. The European settlers quickly adopted it, and it is now a sta- ple of the American diet. Sweet potatoes can be prepared many ways: mashed, roasted, boiled, and even fried like French fries.

• A. North Carolina grows more sweet potatoes than any other state.

• B. The sweet potato is a versatile, nutritious vegetable

• C. The Native Americans grew sweet potatoes.

• D. Sweet potatoes can be prepared many ways.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

The honey bee population is slowing declining. Scientists all across the United States, are baffled at this mystery. They are working hard to figure out why so many honey bee colonies are dying, but it is not an easy mystery to solve. These busy insects fly up to two miles away from their hive in search of pollen and nectar from flowers. On their journey, bees pick up diseases or get exposed to poisons in their environment. Researchers speculate that bees could be getting sick from poisons widely used to kill insects, or they might not be getting enough food to stay strong. Also, tiny insects called mites feed on bees. Any or all of these could be weakening the honey bees, and researchers seem to think that a virus or bacteria could be killing the bees. Bees give us a lot more than delicious honey. They pollinate plants to produce the fruits and nuts we enjoy, and flowers need them to continue blooming in their brilliant colors. It is important to figure out why the honey bee is disappearing because they add so much to our diet and environment.

What is the main idea?

• A. The honey bee population is slowing declining.

• B. They might not be getting enough food to stay strong.

• C. Tiny insects called mites feed on bees, weakening them.

• D. Bees could be getting sick from poisons used to kill insects.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

Joseph and Caitlin were choosing the players for their teams. It was Caitlin's turn to choose, and only Jason was left. Caitlin said, "Jason."

We can infer that…

• Jason was the best player.

• Caitlin was Jason's sister

• Jason was not a very good player.

• Caitlin had a hard time choosing a team member.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.1

CCSS.RI.5.1

CCSS.RI.6.1

CCSS.RL.4.1

CCSS.RL.5.1

What can you "infer" by reading the passage below?

"I hate the idea of having all those people out there watching me...I just don't like it when I'm around so many people. I wish I just could hide somewhere," whispered Violet.

• Violet can be a mean girl.
• Violet can be somewhat relaxed.
• Violet is probably somewhat shy.
• Violet is afraid of everything.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3