A lady in a faded gingham dress and her husband, dressed in a homespun threadbare suit, stepped off the train in Boston, and walked timidly without an appointment into the president's outer office. The secretary could tell in a moment that such backwoods, country hicks had no business at Harvard and probably didn't even deserve to be in Cambridge. She frowned. "We want to see the president", the man said softly. "He'll be busy all day," the secretary snapped. "We'll wait," the lady replied. For hours, the secretary ignored them, hoping that the couple would finally become discouraged and go away. They didn't. And the secretary grew frustrated and finally decided to disturb the president, even though it was a chore she always regretted to do. "Maybe if they just see you for a few minutes, they'll leave," she told him. And he sighed in exasperation and nodded. Someone of his importance obviously didn't have the time to spend with them, but he detested gingham dresses and homespun suits cluttering up his outer office. The president, stern-faced with dignity, strutted toward the couple. The lady told him, "We had a son that attended Harvard for one year. He loved Harvard. He was happy here. But about a year ago, he was accidentally killed. And my husband and I would like to erect a memorial to him, somewhere on campus". The president wasn't touched - he was shocked. "Madam," he said gruffly, "We can't put up a statue for every person who attended Harvard and died. If we did, this place would look like a cemetery". "Oh, no," the lady explained quickly, "We don't want to erect a statue. We thought we would like to give a building to Harvard. The president rolled his eyes. He glanced at the gingham dress and homespun suit, then exclaimed, "A building! Do you have any earthly idea how much a building costs? We have over seven and a half million dollars in the physical plant at Harvard". For a moment the lady was silent. The president was pleased. He could get rid of them now. And the lady turned to her husband and said quietly, "Is that all it costs to start a University? Why don't we just start our own?" Her husband nodded. The President's face wilted in confusion and bewilderment. And Mr. and Mrs. Leland Stanford walked away, traveling to Palo Alto, California where they established the University that bears their name, a memorial to a son that Harvard no longer cared about. Why did the president of the university look down upon the couple?

He had punished their son and felt they were to blame for the trouble he caused.

He thought they were going to cause problems because they looked dangerous.

He didn't think they were important enough to talk to because they looked poor.

He knew them from where he grew up and was trying to avoid them.

I love the color green. The leaves on a tree, the grass, and some bugs are green. Some peoples eyes are green and there is even green tea. There could be green carpet, hats, or mittens. There are lots of things that could be green. I sorta like green. No I kinda like green. What is the main idea of this paragraph?

People have different eye colors

The soccer field was at the top of a hill. On each side, there was a steep slope down. The view was great. If the ball got kicked out of bounds, though, there would be a big problem. What might happen to the ball next?

The ball might roll down the steep slope.

The ball might fly into the sky.

The ball might bounce back up the hill.

The ball might disappear into thin air.

Today I was late for my volleyball game. Mom pulled the car over several times to study the map she had printed off the Internet. Mom even made me go into a convenience store to see if I could get some help in there. When we finally got to the gym, the girls on my team were almost finished warming up. Which of these conclusions can the reader draw based on the passage?

Mom's difficulty navigating using the printed map from the Internet caused the delay.

The girls on the team were intentionally trying to exclude the late player.

The convenience store was the main reason for the delay in reaching the gym.

Mom was an experienced volleyball player and could have helped the team warm up faster.

The Fox Who Had Lost His Tail A fox caught in a trap escaped, but in so doing lost his tail. Thereafter, feeling his life a burden from the shame and ridicule to which he was exposed, he schemed to convince all the other Foxes that being tailless was much more attractive, thus making up for his own deprivation. He assembled a good many Foxes and publicly advised them to cut off their tails, saying that they would not only look much better without them, but that they would get rid of the weight of the brush, which was a very great inconvenience. One of them interrupting him said, "If you had not yourself lost your tail, my friend, you would not thus counsel us." What is the theme, or moral of this story?

You cannot judge a book by it’s cover

"Mama, is it time to go?" I hadn't planned to cry, but the tears came suddenly, and I wiped them away with the back of my hand. I didn't want my older sister to see me crying. "It's almost time, Ruri," my mother said gently. Her face was filled with a kind of sadness I had never seen before. I looked around at my empty room. The clothes that Mama always told me to hang up in the closet, the junk piled on my dresser, the old rag doll I could never bear to part with--they were all gone. There was nothing left in the rest of the house. The rugs and furniture were gone, the pictures and drapes were down, and the closets and cupboards were empty. The house was like a gift box after the nice thing inside was gone; just a lot of nothingness. From "The Bracelet" by Yoshiko Uchida What conclusion can the reader draw after reading this passage? Highlight answer.

The family is moving out of their house.

The family is renovating their house.

The family is going on vacation.

The family is hosting a garage sale.

Shasta flew into the house from her mother's car and parked herself right in front of the television. In a mere second, she had the video game system on and ready to play. Soon, she was playing her favorite racing game. Shasta loved racing cars; she relished the fiery explosions, the jets that flew over the track, and the deafening sirens. Moments later, her mother came into the room. "Shasta," she said, "all you ever do is play that game. You never move from that spot!" "Aw, mom," Shasta said. "I just like playing a lot." "Yeah, yeah," her mom said, "but it isn't healthy to be in front of the TV so much, and you are in need of some heart-pumping exercise." She reached down and tried to pull Shasta to her feet. Shasta pretended that she couldn't stand up. She wobbled like she was going to fall over. "Mom, I'm incapable of standing up! My legs are jelly. They can't hold me!" "Then you need to strengthen those muscles! Go outside and run around! I see your friends playing basketball across the street. You can come back in after an hour." Grumbling, Shasta shut the game off and dragged herself off the floor. The next time she sees Shasta playing video games, Shasta's mom will most likely:

tell Shasta to do something more active.

carry Shasta outside as punishment.

command Shasta to do her homework.

tell Shasta to let her little brother play.

Theme and Main Idea Quiz Quiz

1.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

2 mins • 5 pts

The Ant and the Grasshopper
In a field one summer's day, a grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart's content. An ant passed by, bearing along with great toil an ear of corn he was taking to the nest. "Why not come and chat with me instead of working so hard?" said the grasshopper. The ant said, "I am storing food for the winter, and I recommend that you do the same." "Why bother about winter?" said the grasshopper. "We have plenty of food." But the ant went on its way and continued its toil. When the winter came the grasshopper had no food and found itself dying of hunger, while everyday, it saw the ants distributing corn and grain from the stores they had collected in the summer. Then the grasshopper knew.
What is the theme, or moral of this story?

Strength in unity

Question people’s intention

Work now and play later

Don’t be greedy

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

2.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

1 min • 5 pts

Yesterday was my birthday. When I woke up, I noticed my brother Josh hung up a big sign that said,"Happy Birthday, Charles!" Mom made spaghetti for dinner.
It's my favorite food in the whole world. My friend Dave came over and handed me a wrapped gift. I wondered what it was. It was a new basketball! I had a great day.

What is the main idea of this paragraph?

Josh got lots of gifts.

Charles got a lot of gifts.

Charles had a great birthday.

Josh had a great birthday.

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

3.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

1 min • 5 pts

Dear Edith,
Pets should be allowed in restaurants. I brought my dog to dinner, and the waiter threw us out. He said that dogs were dirty, but my dog is cleaner than many people. I know! It's not fair - it's a ridiculous rule, and it should be changed.
What is the author’s purpose for writing this letter?

to persuade

to describe

to inform

to entertain

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.6

CCSS.RI.6.9

CCSS.RI.7.9

CCSS.RI.8.6

CCSS.RI.8.9

4.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

1 min • 5 pts

Predator in the night
Eyes flashing with intent
Hunting for something to feed
Her and her young
She claws up a tree to perch high above
To watch closely and carefully
Ready to kill, ready to provide
So that they can live another day
What would be a possible theme for the poem?

People turn into animals if they are left in the wild.

Hunting is a dangerous sport if you aren't careful.

Watch out for predators when you are outdoors.

The predator instinct exists within everyone.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.5.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

5.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

1 min • 5 pts

He had always wanted to serve his country, but this seemed like madness. He was supposed to fight a war in a foreign land, helping to protect people he didn't even know. Michael had a strong sense of patriotism, but he was worried about the bombs, death, and carnage that could await him in Iraq. He pondered whether he would ever see his family again.
What can you infer about Michael from this passage?

He feels proud of his country.

He is looking forward to the challenge of being in the military.

He is afraid of going into battle.

He regrets joining the military.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.6.6

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

6.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

1 min • 5 pts

The Monkey and the Snake
One winter a Monkey found a Snake stiff and frozen with cold. He had compassion on it, and taking it up, placed it in his bosom. The Snake was quickly revived by the warmth, and resuming its natural instincts, bit the monkey, inflicting on him a mortal wound.
What is the theme, or moral of this story?

It is better to do one thing right then a hundred things incorrectly.

Question people's intentions.

You cannot always change someone's nature by helping them.

Treat others as you would like to be treated.

Tags

CCSS.RL.1.10

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RL.K.5

7.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

1 min • 5 pts

The author of an car and truck magazine wrote about a new kind of tire that has just been created for people who live in areas that experience flooding. These tires are for deep water and are supposed to prevent vehicles from slipping off the road. What is the Author's purpose?

Persuade

Inform

Entertain

Explain

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.6

CCSS.RI.7.6

CCSS.RI.8.9

CCSS.RL.6.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

8.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

1 min • 5 pts

There is a common belief that while the dog is man’s best friend, the coyote is his worst enemy. The bad reputation of the coyote traces back to his fondness for small animals; he hunts at night and is particularly destructive to sheep, young pigs, and poultry. Yet it is sometimes wise to encourage coyotes. Provided valuable farm animals are protected, the coyote will often free the property of other animals, like rabbits, which are ruinous to crops and certain trees. He is especially beneficial in keeping down the rodent population. Where coyotes have been allowed to do their work without molestation, ranchers and fruit growers have found them so valuable that they would no more shoot them than they would shoot their dogs.
What is the central idea of this passage?

Under certain conditions the coyote is helpful to man.

The coyote is feared because of his fondness for small animals

Modern ranchers would no sooner shoot coyotes than they would shoot dogs.

The coyote usually prefers rabbits and other rodents to sheep and poultry.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

9.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

1 min • 5 pts

Vote for Carl for class president! Carl is a leader! Last year in fourth grade, he was a great vice president. This year he volunteers to help with after-school clubs. He will do great things for our class! Carl promises more school dances. And better choices at lunch. So vote for Carl for class president.
The author's purpose in writing this is to:

persuade the reader that Carl is a good candidate

inform the reader of Carl's intentions

entertain the reader with Carl's antics

describe Carl’s leadership skills

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.6

CCSS.RI.6.9

CCSS.RI.8.9

CCSS.RL.6.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

10.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

1 min • 5 pts

Katina and her brother, Jess were playing with the water hose outside one day. Jess was hiding from Katina so she wouldn't squirt him with the water. The back door opened and Katina pointed the water hose toward the door. It was Mom and she was dripping wet!
The author wrote this story to:

entertain the reader with a funny anecdote

explain how Jess hide from Katina

persuade the reader to play a joke on their mom

inform the reader of the effects of a prank

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.6

CCSS.RI.7.6

CCSS.RI.8.6

CCSS.RI.8.9

CCSS.RL.6.6

Theme and Main Idea Quiz

20 questions

Predator in the night
Eyes flashing with intent
Hunting for something to feed
Her and her young
She claws up a tree to perch high above
To watch closely and carefully
Ready to kill, ready to provide
So that they can live another day
What would be a possible theme for the poem?

The author of an car and truck magazine wrote about a new kind of tire that has just been created for people who live in areas that experience flooding. These tires are for deep water and are supposed to prevent vehicles from slipping off the road. What is the Author's purpose?

Katina and her brother, Jess were playing with the water hose outside one day. Jess was hiding from Katina so she wouldn't squirt him with the water. The back door opened and Katina pointed the water hose toward the door. It was Mom and she was dripping wet!
The author wrote this story to:

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Theme and Main Idea Quiz

20 questions

Predator in the nightEyes flashing with intentHunting for something to feedHer and her youngShe claws up a tree to perch high aboveTo watch closely and carefullyReady to kill, ready to provideSo that they can live another dayWhat would be a possible theme for the poem?

The author of an car and truck magazine wrote about a new kind of tire that has just been created for people who live in areas that experience flooding. These tires are for deep water and are supposed to prevent vehicles from slipping off the road. What is the Author's purpose?

Katina and her brother, Jess were playing with the water hose outside one day. Jess was hiding from Katina so she wouldn't squirt him with the water. The back door opened and Katina pointed the water hose toward the door. It was Mom and she was dripping wet!The author wrote this story to:

Create a free account and access millions of resources

Similar Resources on Wayground

Popular Resources on Wayground

Discover more resources for English

Predator in the night
Eyes flashing with intent
Hunting for something to feed
Her and her young
She claws up a tree to perch high above
To watch closely and carefully
Ready to kill, ready to provide
So that they can live another day
What would be a possible theme for the poem?

Katina and her brother, Jess were playing with the water hose outside one day. Jess was hiding from Katina so she wouldn't squirt him with the water. The back door opened and Katina pointed the water hose toward the door. It was Mom and she was dripping wet!
The author wrote this story to: