RI.5 - Informational Text Structures

The street was dark and quiet. In the distance, the sound of a barking dog and a honking horn cut through the silence. Somewhere nearby, someone was burning logs in a fireplace, and the smell of wood smoke drifted through the neighborhood.

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Some families choose to homeschool their children, which means they teach them at home instead of sending them to private or public schools. Sometimes, people who choose to homeschool are concerned that a curriculum at home may not prepare students for college and might not offer the same rigorous courses. To overcome this problem, some homeschoolers have turned to online courses offered for middle school and high school students. These courses supplement or add to what the students learn from their parents. They can also cover material that some parents might not feel confident teaching, such as advanced math and science.

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While hail and sleet are both types of frozen precipitation, there are key differences that meteorologists note. Hail forms when a dust particle or other small object traveling in air currents interacts with super cold moisture. The water freezes around the particle, forming an ice pellet. As more moisture adheres, the pellet grows into a ball. Sleet can also be in the form of a pellet. However, it forms when snowflakes travel through cold air, warm air, and then back into cold air. The changing air temperatures melt and then refreeze the water. There are no dust particles or other objects within sleet.

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Having a study plan makes studying for any test much easier. Begin by determining what will be on the test. Perhaps your teacher has given you a list of topics, or maybe the test is on a certain section of the textbook. Next, pick out the most important vocabulary words and create flashcards. As you’re looking for vocabulary, you’ll be reviewing main ideas. Once you have your vocabulary cards, go through thematerial and your notes and identify the main ideas of the information. Use this information to start an outline that includes a main idea and supporting details for each topic.

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Some people believe ponies are baby horses. That is not the case. A baby horse is called a colt, while ponies are a specific breed of horses. Ponies are much shorter than other horses. Horses and ponies are measured in a unit called “hands.” A horse is at least 14.2 hands (or 4 ft. 10 in.) tall at its shoulders. Horses that are shorter are classified as ponies. Ponies have shorter legs, broader chests, and thicker necks than horses. While horses can be sensitive to cold weather, ponies are hardier and can withstand cold climates. Ponies are also stronger than horses and better suited to pulling carts or wagons.

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It was the most fanciful birthday cake she had ever seen. It consisted of three layers, each covered with a smooth fondant frosting. The large bottom layer was covered with pink frosting and decorated with green, yellow, and blue candy bows. The second layer was frosted in mint green, and decorated with large white polka dots. The top and smallest layer was bright yellow and decorated with pink, green, blue, and white sprinkles.

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When students move to a new community and a new school, it can be difficult for them to make friends—especially if they move in the middle of the year. Wilson Middle School has developed a Community Club that reaches out to new students for their first year at school. The Community Club invites new students to events where they can meet other students outside of the classroom. The club also provides every new student with a “buddy” who helps the student navigate the school.

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In many American cities, there are homeless people. Homeless people do not have a permanent home and usuallly stay in shelters, with friends, in their cars, or even outside. There are many reasons why people might become homeless. For example, if a person loses his or her job, he or she may be unable to find another one for a long time. Because of this, it may become difficult to continue paying for a house or an apartment.

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From 1861 to 1865, The United States was embroiled in a Civil War. There were several reasons why this war erupted, many of which were as old as the nation itself. One cause was a dispute over states’ rights, or the rights of individual states to make their own laws. While the northern states believed that unified federal laws would strengthen the nation, many southern states wanted the right to nullify individual laws that seemed unfair to their citizens.

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Both dishwashers and washing machines use warm or hot water and detergent to make things clean. Washing machines are used to clean clothes. Clothing is agitated (shaken) within a solution of detergent and water. Agitating the clothing loosens dirt particles so that they wash away easily. A dishwasher, on the other hand, does not agitate its contents. Instead, a person arranges plates, cups, and glasses on racks before turning on the machine. Then, rotating arms inside the dishwasher spray the items with hot, soapy water before spraying them with clean water. The rotating water jets dissolve and wash away food particles

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