Nonfiction is any text that is based in fact. Biographies, textbooks and cookbooks are all nonfiction. Informational text is a type of nonfiction. Informational text teaches a reader about the natural world or society. It informs, or gives knowledge, about a certain topic. It often contains text features like a table of contents, an index and diagrams. Articles, some essays and textbooks can be considered informational text. Based on the passage, an informational text might

tell a made-up story about the ocean

contain funny, made-up characters

Text structure is the way an author organizes information in a text. Description is one type of informational text structure. An author describes, or tells about, a topic and its characteristics. Characteristics are the things that make something different from others. A text that has a description structure will include details about a topic. Words and phrases like “for example,” “such as,” “looks like” and “for instance” can signal that description is being used. You may also see the words “many,” “some,” “including” and “most.” Which of the following passages has a description text structure?

Rhesus monkeys are primates with brown bodies and red faces. They come from Asian countries, such as Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. They are very intelligent, and some have even adapted to live near humans. Rhesus monkeys are good climbers and swimmers.

Rhesus monkeys and baboons are part of a group called Old World monkeys. Like rhesus monkeys, baboons have tails. However, baboons usually weigh more than rhesus monkeys. Baboons live in Africa and Arabia, while rhesus monkeys live in Asia.

Scientists were preparing to send the first humans into outer space. However, they didn’t yet understand the effects that space would have on the human body. They didn’t want to put humans in danger. As a solution, they started by sending rhesus monkeys into space and studying the effects on them.

In 1947, scientists first discovered the Zika virus in a rhesus monkey in Uganda. A year later, they learned that Zika was spread by mosquitoes. In 1952, the first cases of Zika in humans were found. The virus did not make people very sick.

The text structure sequence is also called time order or chronology . In texts that use sequence, authors tell about events in chronological order, the order that they happened. Words that show sequence is being used include “first,” “next,” “then,” “before,” “during” and “after.” You may also see “now,” “last,” “finally,” “at the same time” or “meanwhile.” You’ll often find dates in the text, too. Which of the following passages has a sequence text structure?

The Olympic Games started in Greece 3,000 years ago. They took place every four years for hundreds of years. The modern form of the Olympic Games started in 1896. The best athletes from countries all over the world compete. In 2016, the Summer Olympics were held in Brazil.

Only men were allowed to compete in the original Olympic Games. These men had to be Greek, and they could not be slaves. Slaves, women and people from other countries were excluded from the games.

It takes a lot of food to feed all of the people who are part of the Olympic Games. It also creates a lot of leftovers. To reduce food waste, some famous chefs came up with a plan. They decided to use the leftover food from the Olympics to help feed the homeless. They cooked meals for the homeless using ingredients that would have been thrown away.

The Olympic Games always begin with an opening ceremony, a big show that often includes music and dancing. All of the countries that are playing in the games participate. Athletes march, wearing their countries’ colors.

Cause and effect is another text structure. A cause is something that makes something else happen, or the reason something happens. An effect is something that happens because of something else (a cause). Words and phrases like “because,” “so,” “since,” and “due to” show that a cause and effect structure is being used. You may also see “therefore,” “as a result of” and “if...then…” Read the following passage. Piping plovers are losing their habitats. This is because humans are taking many of the beaches where they live to construct buildings. Humans have also changed the level of water in the piping plovers’ homes. Sometimes, there is too much water or too little water. As a result of the loss of their habitats, piping plovers have become an endangered species. In the passage above, the underlined sentence provides

a cause that led to piping plovers losing their habitats

an effect of humans changing the level of water in piping plovers' homes

a cause that led to there being too many piping plovers

an effect of piping plovers leaving their homes

Can you guess how text with a problem and solution structure is organized? The author describes a problem and then explains how this problem was solved! In text with a problem and solution structure, you may find words and phrases like “problem,” “issue,” “solution,” “question” and “answer.” You may also see “since,” “as a result,” “so” and “leads to.” Read the following passage. Many people think that Thomas Edison built the first light bulb. He did not, but his inventions greatly changed the effect that electricity had on people’s lives. The light bulbs that existed before Edison were not practical for most people to use inside their homes. They needed too much power and were too bright. So Edison developed a new type of light bulb called an incandescent bulb. It was affordable and reliable. It used less power than existing models and became a success. Which detail from the passage above best describes a problem ?

"The light bulbs that existed before Edison were not practical for most people to use inside their home."

"He did not, but his inventions greatly changed the effect electricity had on people's lives."

"It used less power than existing models and became a success."

"So Edison developed a new type of light bulb called an incandescent bulb"

Compare and contrast is another text structure. To compare is to explain how things are similar. To contrast is to explain how they’re different. In a text with a compare and contrast structure, authors explain how something is similar to and different from something else. Words and phrases that show compare and contrast is being used include “similar,” “same,” “alike,” “in contrast,” “unlike” and “both.” You may also see “on the other hand” and “however.” Which of the following passages has a compare and contrast text structure?

Urban and suburban communities both have stores, schools, banks, libraries and buildings. However, these things are more spread out in the suburbs than they are in urban communities.

In a rural community, there are not many lights from buildings to block the stars. As a result, you can see many stars when you look up at the night sky.

The tallest skyscraper in the world is Burj Khalifa in a city called Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. It has 163 stories and is 2,723 feet tall.

People may move to the suburbs so that they can have more space but still enjoy the city. Suburbs are usually so close to a city that you can get to the city and back in the same day

LEAP REVIEW 8.1 Text Structure Quiz

1.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

3 mins • 1 pt

In a text with a sequence text structure, the author

describes a topic and its characteristics

tells about events in the order they happened

explains how things are similar and different

describes a problem and then explains how someone solved it

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.5

CCSS.RI.4.5

CCSS.RI.5.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

2.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

3 mins • 1 pt

In a text with a compare and contrast text structure, the author

explains something that happened and the reasons why

tells about events in the order they happened

explains how things are similar and different

describes a problem and then explains how someone solved it

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.5

CCSS.RI.4.5

CCSS.RI.5.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

3.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

3 mins • 1 pt

In a text with a cause and effect text structure, the author

explains something that happened and the reasons why

tells about events in the order they happened

describes a problem and then explains how someone solved it

describes a topic and its characteristics

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.5

CCSS.RI.4.5

CCSS.RI.5.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

4.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

3 mins • 1 pt

Identify the main text structure used in the passage below.
Many students in the US say that they've been bullied at school. Natalie Hampton is a high school student who was bullied a lot in middle school. She often had no one to sit with at lunch. So she created a phone app called "Sit With Us." This app lets students sign up and post when there are free seats at their lunch tables. These students have promised to be kind to those who come sit with them. Hampton hopes her app will help students find people to sit with without fear of being bullied.

description

problem and solution

compare and contrast

sequence

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.5

CCSS.RI.4.5

CCSS.RI.5.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

5.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

3 mins • 1 pt

Identify the main text structure used in the passage below.
A river is a large natural stream of flowing water. The source of a river is the place where the river starts. This is usually the highest point in the river. Many rivers begin in springs, places where underground water flows to the Earth’s surface. Some rivers begin in melting glaciers high up in the mountains or in lakes.

sequence

description

cause and effect

problem and solution

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.5

CCSS.RI.4.5

CCSS.RI.5.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

6.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

3 mins • 1 pt

Identify the main text structure used in the passage below.
Robots that look like humans are called androids. But not all robots are androids. The industrial robots used in manufacturing and production look like machines and not at all like human beings. So what does an android have in common with an industrial robot? They both have computers. And they both have sensors to gather information and ways to interact with their environments, too.

sequence

cause and effect

problem solution

compare and contrast

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.5

CCSS.RI.4.5

CCSS.RI.5.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

7.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

3 mins • 1 pt

Identify the main text structure used in the passage below.
A current is a steady flow of water in the ocean. In the Pacific Ocean, garbage from the shore and ships gets trapped by ocean currents. The currents move the trash into a large area in the middle of the ocean. This has created a swirling mass of plastics and seawater called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

cause and effect

compare and contrast

problem and solution

description

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.5

CCSS.RI.4.5

CCSS.RI.5.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

8.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

3 mins • 1 pt

Identify the main text structure used in the passage below.
The Greenland shark can grow to be around 16 feet long. It’s an apex predator, an animal that is at the top of the food chain. No other creatures prey on apex predators. The Greenland shark can live to be about 400 years old, making it the the longest-living vertebrate animal.

sequence

compare and contrast

description

cause and effect

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.5

CCSS.RI.4.5

CCSS.RI.5.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

9.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

5 mins • 1 pt

Which of the following passages has a sequence text structure?

The Veterans Day National Ceremony is held every year at Arlington Cemetery. The ceremony always starts at 11 o’clock. A wreath is laid on a special monument that honors soldiers. The Veterans Day Ceremony also includes a parade and speeches by important figures.

The fighting in World War I stopped on November 11, 1918. A year later, President Woodrow Wilson declared November 11th Armistice Day. He said that every year, Americans would honor and thank the veterans who fought. Armistice Day became a federal holiday in 1938.

Armistice Day became the holiday Veterans Day. Both holidays celebrated veterans. But while Armistice Day was only for veterans of World War I, Veterans Day is for all veterans of any war.

Across the country, people celebrate Veterans Day in different ways. Some schools and business close for the day or have a moment of silence at 11 o’clock. Groups may also organize parades.

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.5

CCSS.RI.4.5

CCSS.RI.5.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

10.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

5 mins • 1 pt

Which of the following passages has a compare and contrast text structure?

Scientists at NASA, the United States space program, think that there is liquid water on Mars. Pictures of the surface of Mars showed wet-looking spots. Researchers used these pictures to figure out that liquid water exists there.

The ExoMars 2016 mission blasted off on March 14, 2016. The spacecraft is owned by Russian and European space programs. It left from the country of Kazakhstan. The ExoMars spacecraft has special tools to help scientists learn more about Mars.

Mars is a red-orange planet in our solar system. There are eight planets in the solar system that orbit, or travel around, the Sun. Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun.

Mars is farther away from the Sun than the Earth is. It’s much colder. Mars is 142 million miles from the Sun, while Earth is 93 million miles away. Even though Mars is smaller and colder than Earth, the two planets are similar. Both have seasons, like winter and summer.

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.5

CCSS.RI.4.5

CCSS.RI.5.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

LEAP REVIEW 8.1 Text Structure

16 questions

In a text with a sequence text structure, the author

In a text with a compare and contrast text structure, the author

In a text with a cause and effect text structure, the author

Which of the following passages has a sequence text structure?

Which of the following passages has a compare and contrast text structure?

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