Text Structures: Quiz 1

Read the following paragraph:

Which one is it- an alligator or a crocodile? These two animals look almost the same because they are both reptiles with similar body parts and body structures. However, if you look closely, you will see some small differences. Crocodiles have long, narrow snouts shaped like a 'V', while alligators have wider snouts shaped like a 'U'. Unlike the alligator, you can see both the upper and lower teeth on a crocodile, and they are exposed in an interlocking pattern when the mouth is closed. However, you can only see an alligator’s upper teeth when its mouth is closed. Another slight difference is their color. A crocodile has an olive-brown color, while alligators are usually darker, almost black.

Determine which text structure was used in the paragraph above.

• Cause & Effect

• Compare & Contrast

• Description

• Problem & Solution

• Sequence

Read the following paragraph:

Slavery came to an end in the United States in 1865 when the Thirteenth Amendment was added to the U.S. Constitution. However, it took nearly another century for black children to be integrated into U.S. schools. In 1896, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that “separate but equal” schools were allowed in the United States. This ruling lasted for over fifty years. It wasn’t until 1954 that the Supreme Court overturned that decision and declared that separate schools were “inherently unequal”. Still, black students were not allowed to attend school with white students immediately. In 1957, thousands of soldiers had to be sent by the U.S. government to protect nine black high school students enrolled in a previously all-white school in Little Rock, Arkansas. In 1960, 6-year-old Ruby Bridges was the first to enroll in a previously all-white school in New Orleans. In 1963, a small number of black students attended public school with white students for the first time in Mississippi and Alabama. Clearly, the path to integrated schools in the United States has been long and complex.

Determine which text structure was used in the paragraph above.

• Cause & Effect

• Compare & Contrast

• Description

• Problem & Solution

• Sequence

Read the following paragraph:

Millions of people around the world have trouble getting to sleep at night. In fact, one in three people report having this problem. If you are one of these people, there are things you can do to get a good night’s sleep. First, doctors recommend that you go to bed and get up at the same time every night, including weekends. Keep the same routine every night at bedtime. Another solution is to avoid eating or drinking foods with caffeine. Coffee, tea, soda, and chocolate are often high in caffeine and should be avoided. Also, do not exercise within three hours of bedtime. Try to do something relaxing before heading to bed. Avoid watching scary or intense television programs, and do not think about stressful events. These are just a few ideas that can help you get a complete night of sleep.

Determine which text structure was used in the paragraph above.

• Cause & Effect

• Compare & Contrast

• Description

• Problem & Solution

• Sequence

Read the following paragraph:

Venus, the second planet in our solar system, is the hottest of the planets. It is also the brightest of all planets. It is about the same size as Earth, and it is covered with thick clouds of carbon dioxide and sulfur. The clouds are so thick that little light reaches the surface of Venus. The surface of Venus is often described as a “stormy desert” full of very active volcanoes and many craters. There is no liquid water on Venus.

Determine which text structure was used in the paragraph above.

• Cause & Effect

• Compare & Contrast

• Description

• Problem & Solution

• Sequence

Read the following paragraph:

Do you drink enough water each day? The average person should drink eight to ten glasses of water a day- even more if you are athletic. It is important to drink water each day for several reasons. People who do not drink enough water gain weight and have excess body fat. They also have poor muscle tone, muscle soreness, and joint pain. Students who don’t drink enough water tend to have trouble focusing in school because the brain needs water in order to think and solve problems. The digestive system does not work properly without enough water, as well. All parts of the body work better when a person drinks the correct amount of water each day.

Determine which text structure was used in the paragraph above.

• Cause & Effect

• Compare & Contrast

• Description

• Problem & Solution

• Sequence

Read the following paragraph:

The Great Depression was a difficult period in American History. It was a time of hardship for millions of American families in the 1930s. There were many factors that caused the Great Depression. One of the major causes was the Stock Market Crash of 1929. Another cause was bank failures. When banks failed during this time, their customers simply lost all of the money they had saved. This made many Americans nervous about their money. Therefore, they stopped buying things, and many stores had to close. When this happened, the people who worked in stores lost their jobs. Furthermore, the factories that were making the goods that these stores used to sell had to close down as well, and those workers lost their jobs. The people who had lost their jobs were unable to pay for services. Service workers, like house painters or doctors, lost their jobs. The Depression was a difficult time in the history of the United States.

Determine which text structure was used in the paragraph above.

• Cause & Effect

• Compare & Contrast

• Description

• Problem & Solution

• Sequence

Read the following paragraph:

Field hockey and ice hockey have many similarities. They are both played on a rectangular area. There are goals with nets at the ends of each playing area. Players carry wooden hockey sticks for both sports. Each team attempts to get the scoring device across the goal line. There are also many important differences between the two sports. Field hockey began in England, while ice hockey originated in Canada. Field hockey is played on a grassy field, while ice hockey is played on an ice rink. Eleven field hockey players run across the field wearing shoes and shin guards, trying to hit a ball into the goal. Conversely, ice hockey players glide across the rink wearing skates, helmets, and a lot of protective padding. There are six players from each team on the ice at one time, trying to hit a puck into the goal.

Determine which text structure was used in the paragraph above.

• Cause & Effect

• Compare & Contrast

• Description

• Problem & Solution

• Sequence

Read the following paragraph:

The Kingda Ka, a tiger-themed roller coaster, is the tallest coaster in the world. It is located at Six Flags Great Adventure Amusement Park in Jackson, New Jersey. It reaches 456 feet in the air. It is also the world’s second fastest roller coaster, reaching a speed of 128 miles per hour. It was completed in 2005. The ride lasts 28 seconds from start to finish. Thrill seekers enjoy the lightning fast speed (it goes from 0 to 128 miles per hour in 3.5 seconds), 418 foot drop, and the moment of weightlessness that occurs near the end of the ride.

Determine which text structure was used in the paragraph above.

• Cause & Effect

• Compare & Contrast

• Description

• Problem & Solution

• Sequence

Read the following paragraph:

Michael Phelps is well known as the most decorated Olympian of all time, with a total of 28 medals. He was born June 30, 1985 in Maryland. He began swimming at age 7, partly to provide him with an outlet for all of his energy. By age 10, he held a national record for his age group. At age 15, he qualified for his first U.S. Olympic swim team. Although he didn’t medal at his first Olympics in 2000, he did win 5th place in the 200-meter butterfly, and people began to notice his ability. In the 16 years that followed, he competed in four Olympics Games, and he won several medals each time. He won eight medals at the 2004 Athens Olympics, another eight at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, six in the 2012 London Olympics, and six in the 2016 Rio Olympics. After the Rio Olympics, he retired at the age of 31.

Determine which text structure was used in the paragraph above.

• Cause & Effect

• Compare & Contrast

• Description

• Problem & Solution

• Sequence

Read the following paragraph:

Sadly, many children and teenagers report that they are victims of bullying. How do we solve this problem? Many experts believe that the solution lies with the bystanders. The bystanders are the people who witness the bullying. Bystanders often want to do something to stop the bullying, but ultimately do not intervene or try to discourage the bully. A number of experts believe that the bystanders have the power to drastically reduce bullying at school. They believe that schools need to give kids the tools necessary to take a stand when they see someone being bullied. Therefore, teachers and guidance counselors are working hard to empower bystanders by role-playing situations and discussing when it’s necessary to tell an adult about bullying.

Determine which text structure was used in the paragraph above.

• Cause & Effect

• Compare & Contrast

• Description

• Problem & Solution

• Sequence