Theme Practice
Authored by Courtney Amburgey
English
4th Grade
CCSS covered
Used 3+ times
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10 questions
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1.
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION
3 mins • 1 pt
A Good Deal
Tomi loved money. He tried to get as much of it as possible, even if it meant tricking his little sister, Mai, into giving it to him. When their family went to the bank to trade all their change for bills, he got his sister to give him her $5 bill for his three quarters.
“I am giving you three coins for one bill,” he had told Mai. “You are getting a good deal.”
When he had gotten some cheap baseball cards for his birthday, Tomi got Mai to buy a couple of them for $10.
“These are going to be worth a lot one day,” he had said, even though he knew that those cards would not be worth much at all.
Mr. and Mrs. Sato, Tomi and Mai’s parents, learned about Tomi’s greediness and decided to teach him a lesson.
They knew that Tomi had been saving up for a certain $150 digital camera, so they told him that they would get him the camera if he gave them just the $75 he had saved.
Tomi couldn’t believe his ears. The deal seemed too good to be true. With a huge grin and a thank you, Tomi handed his parents all of his savings.
The next day, his parents handed him a beat-up box of the camera he wanted. Puzzled, he opened it, and upon seeing the used camera inside, his hopes fell. No wonder his parents had only wanted $75. This used camera was worth less than that.
“Is something wrong, Tomi?” Mr. Sato asked.
“I wanted a new camera, Dad. I thought you knew that. I trusted you.”
“Just like how your sister trusted you?” Mr. Sato looked earnestly at his son. “It doesn’t feel good when someone takes advantage of you, does it? Especially when that someone is family.”
All of a sudden, Tomi understood. He felt bad that he had made his sister feel this way and promised never to do it again.
At the end of the story, Tomi would most likely agree that
being the oldest child is really fun.
you should do what is the best for you.
it is bad to take advantage of others.
you should appreciate what you have.
Answer explanation
In the story, Tomi likes to take advantage of his sister's trust to make money. So, Tomi's parents take advantage of Tomi's trust to teach him a lesson. At the end, Tomi learns that it is bad to take advantage of others and promises to never do it again.
Tags
CCSS.RL.1.3
CCSS.RL.2.1
CCSS.RL.4.3
CCSS.RL.5.3
CCSS.RL.6.3
2.
MULTIPLE SELECT QUESTION
3 mins • 1 pt
Masquerade
Hector opened the invitation with trembling hands and looked at unusual masks decorating the outside of the card. What kind of birthday party is this? Hector wondered as he opened the card and saw "Come to a masquerade ball!" What's a mas-kwa-raw-dee ball? he thought, his excitement fading. With heavy sighs, he pulled a large dictionary from the shelf because he knew there was no sense in asking his mom; she would just say, "Look it up in the dictionary."
Hector thumbed through the pages until he found the word and said, "Oh. Mas-ka-RADE. A party where everyone wears a mask and usually a costume. That sounds . . . different." The invitation indicated there would be a game to guess who everyone was and a prize for the best costume. Hector looked around his room and saw his knight's helmet. No one would recognize him in that, but he had no costume to go with it, so he plodded down the hall to his mom's sewing room, the helmet under his arm.
"Mom, do you think you could help me make a knight's costume for my helmet? I know you don't have a lot of time. But. Well. Mary Jo is having a masquerade party next Saturday. Everyone's going and . . . they're wearing costumes . . . and . . . " Hector's mom looked at him, her gentle face disguised with a frown, but then her eyes looked at the helmet, and she smiled. She rose from her sewing machine and went to a box of material scraps while muttering something about sequins and silver.
"Here it is! Now, where was that satin?" Half of her disappeared into the box again. Pieces of colorful material started flying out of the box. "Aha! This is it."
Mom held a large rectangle of shiny red satin. A rectangle of silver sequins was draped over her arm. "Hand me two safety pins, please." Hector picked up two pins from the bowl on her sewing machine. She scrunched and gathered the corners of the two pieces of material and fiddled with the pins. Moments later she said, "Okay, let's see how this works."
Mom pulled the costume over Hector's head and told him to stand still. Hector looked down. Silver sequins hung from his chest to his knees like chain mail. Red satin pinned to the sequins with the safety pins flowed from his shoulders making a cape. Mom cut a length of sparkling silver cord from a spool on the shelf. She pulled the cord under his red cape and tied it around his waist. Finally, she placed the helmet on his head and turned him toward the mirror. Hector couldn't believe his eyes. He looked like a knight—in blue jeans.
"Wear your brown pants tucked into your boots, and your white, long-sleeved turtleneck. Everyone will think you are Prince Arthur himself!"
Hector hugged his mom. He returned to his room marveling at his mom's many talents.
Solving problems reveals a person's true talents.
Dictionary skills are more important than parties.
People should save leftover material scraps.
A mother's talent is only seen when you ask a favor.
Figure things out by yourself when you are able.
Answer explanation
The theme is the most important idea or lesson the reader gets from the story. In this story, Hector figures out a hard word without help, but he needs Mom's help to get a costume. Later, Hector's mom surprises him with her many talents by making the knight's costume. Two possible themes found here are "Figure things out by yourself when you are able" and "Solving problems reveals a person's true talents."
Tags
CCSS.RL.3.9
CCSS.RL.4.2
CCSS.RL.4.9
CCSS.RL.5.2
CCSS.RL.5.9
3.
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION
2 mins • 1 pt
adapted from The Oak and the Reeds
by Aesop
A Giant Oak stood near a brook in which grew some slender Reeds. When the wind blew, the great Oak stood proudly upright with its hundred arms uplifted to the sky. But the Reeds bowed low in the wind and sang a sad and mournful song.
"You have reason to complain," said the Oak. "The slightest breeze that ruffles the surface of the water makes you bow your heads, while I, the mighty Oak, stand upright and firm before the howling storm."
"Do not worry about us," replied the Reeds. "The winds do not harm us. We bow before them and so we do not break. You, in all your pride and strength, have so far resisted their blows. But the end is coming."
As the Reeds spoke a great hurricane rushed out of the north. The Oak stood proudly and fought against the storm, while the yielding Reeds bowed low. The wind redoubled in fury, and all at once the great tree fell, torn up by the roots, and lay among the pitying Reeds.
What is one theme found in the story?
Disagreements with others are best avoided.
Being prideful can lead to a downfall.
Complaining about difficulties can bring change.
One should be strong during storms.
Answer explanation
The oak tree is full of pride when he brags to the reeds about his strength. The tree's pride about not bending to the wind causes him to topple over. Therefore, the theme is "Being prideful can lead to a downfall."
Tags
CCSS.RL.3.9
CCSS.RL.4.2
CCSS.RL.4.9
CCSS.RL.5.2
CCSS.RL.5.9
4.
MULTIPLE SELECT QUESTION
3 mins • 1 pt
The Surprise
by Barbara Paulsen
Emma and Stacey were like two peas in a pod. They had done everything together since the day they met in first grade, and that's why Emma was especially upset when Stacey started acting mysterious.
"What are you doing?" Emma would ask when she would happen upon Stacey writing something after school. Stacey would quickly shuffle her papers and grin innocently at Emma. "Nothing," she would say.
After a week of secrets, Emma found herself walking home alone for the first time since first grade. Kicking a stone moodily, she was just deciding that Stacey didn't want to be her friend anymore when she heard footsteps behind her and turned to find Stacey running to catch up.
"Can you stop by my house?" Stacey asked breathlessly, pushing a backpack that looked heavier than usual back on her shoulder.
"What do you have in there?" Emma asked.
"It's a surprise," Stacey said.
"I wish I knew what was going on," Emma said, throwing her hands up in frustration.
"Just come with me," Stacey said. Reluctantly, Emma agreed.
As they walked in the front door of Stacey's house, Stacey pulled something large and bulky out of her backpack and handed it to Emma. Emma looked down at a photo album with a picture of the two of them, arms slung over each other's shoulders, on the cover. "Friends" the album cover said. Inside were carefully labeled photos from their years together.
"I've been working on this all week," Stacey said.
Emma grinned, happy to know that her best friend had been hiding such a wonderful surprise.
Select ALL the correct answers.
Which two themes are found in the story?
Things are not always as they seem.
A picture paints a thousand words.
Surprises are worth the wait.
The best things in life are free.
Two wrongs don't make a right.
Answer explanation
Although Emma is sad that Stacey seems to ignore her, Emma becomes "happy to know that her best friend had been hiding such a wonderful surprise" for her. She had not been ignoring her after all. Therefore, the two themes found in the story are "Surprises are worth the wait" and "Things are not always as they seem."
Tags
CCSS.RL.3.9
CCSS.RL.4.2
CCSS.RL.4.9
CCSS.RL.5.2
CCSS.RL.5.9
5.
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION
2 mins • 1 pt
The Cat-Maiden
The gods were once arguing whether it was possible for a living being to change the way it acts. Jupiter said yes, but Venus said no. So, to try to answer the question, Jupiter turned a cat into a maiden and gave her to a young man for a wife. The wedding was performed, and the young couple sat down to the wedding feast.
“See,” said Jupiter to Venus, “how nicely she behaves. Who could tell that yesterday she was but a cat? Do you agree that she has changed the way that she acts?”
“Wait a minute,” replied Venus, and she let loose a mouse into the room. The bride saw it, and just like a cat, she jumped up from her seat and tried to pounce upon the mouse. “Ah, you see,” said Venus.
adapted from "The Cat-Maiden" by Aesop
Venus teaches Jupiter a lesson at the end of the story.
What will Venus most likely say to sum up her lesson?
"You should never marry a woman who used to be a cat."
"A living being will never change the way it acts."
"Cats are very difficult creatures to train."
"You are always right, so I will trust your judgment."
Answer explanation
Venus and Jupiter were arguing about whether it was possible to change the way a living being acts. Venus proved that it is not possible because the woman who used to be a cat still liked to chase mice. She proved that you cannot change the way a living being acts.
Tags
CCSS.RL.1.10
CCSS.RL.2.2
CCSS.RL.3.2
CCSS.RL.K.5
6.
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION
3 mins • 1 pt
Tom Landry was born in Mission, TX on September 11, 1924. Mission is a small town in Texas. Landry once said, "Anyone you'd meet on the street knew who you were, where you lived, and often where you were heading." Because everyone knows what is happening in a small town, he also said that is what taught him all about accountability and being a responsible person.
That small town helped him become a very successful man. He graduated from Texas University and signed a contract with a professional football league. A few years later his career playing football came to an end. He then decided to accept a job as the New York Giant's assistant coach.
As assistant coach, Tom became well known for wearing fedoras on the sidelines at each Giant's game. Landry continued to wear his trademark hat when he signed a contract and became the youngest head football coach for the Dallas Cowboys in 1960. The new Texas team tried to persuade, or encourage, him to wear a Dallas Cowboy's hat to the games, but Landry never stopped wearing his fedoras on Sundays. He was well known for wearing his Sunday best on the sidelines. Each Sunday he wore a suit, tie, and of course one could always find a fedora right on top of his head. His sideline outfit was fitting for a coach who always expected the best from his team on game day.
Read the sentence from the passage.
The new Texas team tried to persuade or encourage him to wear a Dallas Cowboy's hat to the games, but Landry never stopped wearing his fedoras on Sundays.
Which theme is best supported by the sentence?
Listening to the ideas of others can lead to success.
Learn from your mistakes as you move forward in life.
Wearing your favorite hat can make you feel proud.
Choose your own path in life even if others disagree.
Answer explanation
Stories can express different themes. In this story, a theme is expressed through the sentence "The new Texas team tried to persuade or encourage him to wear a Dallas Cowboy's hat to the games, but Landry never stopped wearing his fedoras on Sundays." This shows that Landry wanted to be himself and make his own choices. So, a theme supported by this sentence is "Choose your own path in life even if others disagree."
Tags
CCSS.RL.3.9
CCSS.RL.4.2
CCSS.RL.4.9
CCSS.RL.5.2
CCSS.RL.5.9
7.
MULTIPLE SELECT QUESTION
3 mins • 1 pt
Prince Goodheart's Daughters
by Zelia Margaret Walters
Prince Goodheart had twin daughters about eight years old, named Myrtle and Violet. He had a number of other daughters, and sons too, for this was a large family. But today's story is about the twins.
When the nurse was getting them ready for bed at night she always told a story, and one night her story was about the good-luck plant. She told how the seeds of it had been scattered about over all the earth, and here and there the good-luck plant came up. Then she told about a child that had found one, and of all the pleasant things that happened to her. The little princesses listened with wide open eyes, and hoped they, too, would find a leaf of that marvelous plant someday.
The next morning Myrtle and Violet were out in the garden early.
"I'm going outside of the gate," said Myrtle. "I mean to find the good-luck plant to-day."
"But we haven't permission to go out," said Violet.
"I'm not going to ask," said Myrtle. "They'll all be glad when I come back with the plant. You'd better come with me."
"But I must get my lessons, and finish the sewing mother gave me to do, and afterward I promised to weed one of the flower beds for mother. I must do those things first."
"Oh, well, I can find it by myself," said Myrtle, and out she ran.
She didn't have as fine a time as she expected. She got tired and cross. She looked for the plant by the roadside, and in the park, and on the lawns. Whenever anyone spoke to her she answered crossly. When the sun set, and warned her that it was time to go home, she hadn't seen a thing that looked like the good-luck plant. She shed a few tears as she ran home.
At the castle gate she heard a pleasant noise of laughter and happy voices in the garden. "Could they have had a party without me?" she cried.
She darted in. "Oh, Myrtle!" called her little brothers and sisters. "What do you think! Violet has found the good-luck plant, and she let us all hold it awhile, and we've had such a lovely time since lessons are done.
Myrtle's face flushed. "You are a deceitful girl," she said to her twin. "You said you meant to stay home."
"So I did," said Violet. She looked so happy and sweet that even cross Myrtle stopped frowning. "I found it while I was weeding mother's flower bed. There it was among the pansies. I knew it at once by the horseshoe shape on the leaves."
Choose the correct answers.
Which two themes are found in the story?
Good things happen to those who do the right thing.
Stories told at bedtime can sometimes come true.
Not following the rules can lead to trouble.
Good-luck plants are hard to find.
Looking for things by oneself is fun.
Answer explanation
The sentences "Not following the rules can lead to trouble" and "Good things happen to those who do the right thing" are the correct answers. They are the main themes found in the story.
Tags
CCSS.RL.3.9
CCSS.RL.4.2
CCSS.RL.4.9
CCSS.RL.5.2
CCSS.RL.5.9
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