Understanding Author’s Craft #2

Rats are some of the smartest animals on Earth. Scientists have proven this to be true. To test how smart rats are, scientists built boxes with tricky paths. The rats were quickest to learn the right path to get to the exit. Most animals couldn’t do that!

What does the author want to the reader to believe?

• Scientists build lots of boxes.

• Rats are very smart animals.

• Most animals don’t work hard.

Most people connect President Abraham Lincoln with his tall stovepipe and hat. However, many people don’t know that he stored items in it. Often, he tucked letters and documents inside his hat. Most people rightly picture Lincoln as a person who was serious about his responsibilities. However, many are unaware that he enjoyed telling and playing jokes.

 

What is the purpose of this passage?

• To describe life in President Lincoln’s time

• To persuade readers to fun for office

• To inform readers about President Lincoln

Going hiking in spring can be about as fun as visiting the dentist. Sometimes it can seem like there are enough mosquitoes to block the sun. Even bathing yourself in mosquito spray isn’t enough to hold back the blood-thirsty bugs! That’s why, during mosquito season, it’s sometimes better to just stay home and read.

Why does the author use exaggeration when talking about mosquitoes?

• to help convince reader of the necessity of staying away from them

• to show people that mosquitoes can sometimes be dangerous

• to explain why people should read more books and magazines

When the author claimed to have written three hundred novels, it was clearly an _________.

• Outgrowth

• Exaggeration

• Invasion

• Abbreviation

It’s wise to measure an object twice before cutting it. I learned this last year when I made a birdhouse. I measured all the wood, but I forgot to check my work. My dad cut the wood exactly where I marked it. It turned out that none of the pieces fit together! Now, I always measure twice.

 

What support does that author give for measuring twice?

• He gives three good reasons.

• He gives an expert’s opinion

• He gives an example from his life.

On January first,

the year began,

so I leaped from my bed

with a brand-new plan.

My resolution was simple

and very clear,

I’ll be contented

for the rest of the year.

 

How does the speaker in the poem feel about the coming year?

• nervous

• positive

• disappointed

Rihanna smothered another yawn and listened to the ocean. Warm sand slipped between her toes. She squinted in the bright sunlight. She could see her friend happily playing in the surf. Rihanna looked forward to a pleasant afternoon enjoying the beach.

What is the mood of this paragraph?

• gloomy

• relaxed

• humorous

Do you know you can use old things instead of throwing them away? Old shoe boxes make great places for small toys or crayons. You can paint old paper and use it for wrapping gifts. It’s important to think about new ways to use old things.

What does the writer want the reader to believe?

• Put your toys and crayons away.

• It is important not to waste things.

• Painting paper can be fun to do.

Rashan reached up to the top shelf of the oak bookcase. He removed the book, brushed away the dust, and admired the worn leather binding. The title was stamped in a faded gold print that was perfectly centered on the cover. He opened the book and gently turned the tea-colored pages.

 

What do the sensory details help you understand about the book?

• It is new and expensive

• It is worn out and useless.

• It is old and impressive

Our class would benefit from planting a vegetable garden at school. Working in the beautiful garden would give us man opportunities to learn. We could learn about how plants grow and develop. We could also learn about healthy eating habits. Working in the garden would help us become more responsible people. We should definitely plant a garden at our school.

How does the writer support having a school garden?

• By describing how the garden could help students

• By explaining that vegetables are good for you

• By arguing that having a garden is better than other idea