Review (inferences, central idea, meaning)

"Larry, as your boss, I must say it's been very interesting working with you," Miss Valdez said. "However, it seems that our company's needs and your performance style are not well matched. Therefore, it makes me very sad to have to ask you to resign from your position effective today."

What is Miss Valdez telling Larry?

• She would feel bad if he decided to quit.

• He is getting a pay raise.

• She enjoys working with him in the office.

• He is being fired from his job.

Every year before Halloween, the dentist warns his children about the dangers of candy. Refined sugar causes cavities and will rot their teeth. Candy is as bad for your teeth as acid.

What is the meaning of the figurative language?

• Chemicals containing acid can have a sweet taste.

• The dentist has an irrational fear of candy.

• Too much candy can be harmful to your teeth.

• Acid is the main ingredient in sugary snacks.

Being a clown isn't all fun and games. Rodeo clowns expose themselves to great danger every time they perform. When cowboys dismount or are bucked off of bulls at riding competitions, rodeo clowns jump in front of the bulls and motion wildly to get their attention. In this way, rodeo clowns provide an alternative target and protect the rider. So you see, sometimes clowning around can be serious business.

What is the central idea of the paragraph?

• Rodeo clowns protect cowboys by putting themselves in danger.

• Attending a rodeo can be exciting.

• Being a clown can be both fun and scary.

• Clowns are good at riding bulls.

His mother understood then how Tyrell felt just by looking at his face. She saw that he wanted to stay in the house forever because of all the memories he had at this house. They still had to leave, but she wanted to help her son feel better about what was going to happen in a few days.

What inference can be made based on the passage?

• Tyrell is too sentimental and needs to get over it.

• Tyrell and his mom are moving to a new city.

• Tyrell's mom is making her son mad on purpose.

• Tyrell and his mom are going on an exciting vacation.

It had been six months since Alexis fell off her bike. She had scraped up her leg pretty bad and told her mom she would never ride a bike again. Today, her friends were getting ready to ride their bikes to the store. Alexis wanted to go with them, but she was still reluctant to ride her bike.

What is the meaning of the word reluctant as used in this text?

• willing

• hesitant

• eager

• scared

Cameron almost wished that he hadn't listened to the radio. He went to the closet and grabbed his umbrella. He felt silly carrying it to the bus on such a sunny morning.

What inference can be made based on the evidence in this paragraph?

• Cameron realized that he had a fear of radios and closets.

• Cameron was dared to do something silly on the way to school.

• Cameron heard a weather forecast that predicted rain.

• Cameron planned to trade his umbrella for candy while on the bus.

Carmen nervously held the letter in her hand. It was from the local art school. She had entered an art contest weeks ago and wanted to win more than anything. Her heart was beating fast with excitement as she opened the envelope. Carmen unfolded the letter and read the first sentence: "We are please to announce that your picture was selected as the first place winner." Carmen was ecstatic! She twirled around and shouted with joy.

What is the meaning of the word ecstatic?

• very loud

• very happy

• very upset

• very anxious

Jessica's favorite part about the weekend was going to Rockin' Records with her friends. Rockin' Records was the local music store just down the road from her house. On weekend afternoons, Jessica and her friends would walk down to the store to shop for new music.

What inference can be made about Jessica and her friends?

• Her friends do what she tells them to do.

• Jessica and her friends like to listen to music.

• Her friends live too far to walk to the music store.

• Jessica and her friends like to exercise by walking places.

The American Revolutionary War started like a wildfire. Tensions had been building for years. The British enacted increasingly harsh taxes and laws on the colonist. After a battle at Lexington, all of the colonies quickly readied themselves for battle.

What is the meaning of the phrase "started like a wildfire?"

• The war spread quickly to all of the colonies.

• The colonies and Britain spent all of their money.

• The war only lasted a few weeks.

• Many fires broke out due to the war.

If you are feeling sad, you can make yourself feel better by doing a few simple things. You can take a walk, talk to a friends, or write down your feelings. Doing something good for someone else will also help you feel better. If you still feel a little sad, act happy. It works like magic to make you feel better.

• Sometimes people feel sad.

• You should do good things for others.

• Exercise leads to a healthier life.

• There are many ways to make yourself feel better.