3rd Review: Central Idea, Author's Claim, Purpose

The first potato chips were invented in 1853 in

a New York hotel kitchen by Chef George Crum.

When he invented them, he hoped that they would taste

bad. You see, he was irritated with a cranky guest who had

complained that Crum’s potatoes were too soggy, thick, and

bland. The guest had requested that Crum make him a new

batch. Chef Crum wanted to “teach the guest a lesson”

about insulting the chef, so he made a batch that was

paper-thin, overcooked, and over-salted. To his surprise,

the diner loved the second batch! Word spread quickly, and

potato chips became a very popular snack.

What is the central idea of this passage?

What is your favorite way to eat a potato?

Potatoes are one of the most versatile foods in

the world. You can bake a potato and eat it whole, or you

can cut it up and roast it in the oven. Many people boil

potatoes and then beat them until the potatoes are

smooth, creating mashed potatoes that can be covered

with gravy. Potatoes can be made into French fries,

potato chips, hash browns, soft dumplings, or potato

salad. Cooks often use potatoes in soups and casseroles.

No one can accuse the potato of being useless!

What is the central idea of this passage. Type in your response.

Homework. Some teachers love assigning it, some kids love completing

it. Some teachers dread grading it, some kids complain about getting it

done. As a parent and a retired teacher, I strongly believe that students

should not have homework. Most importantly though, it seems like kids are having MORE

homework, which leaves less time for them to spend doing other

activities. Students spend all day in school, and when they come

home, I believe they should be able to spend time with their family

members, play outside, attend sporting events, or other extra

curricular activities. With 1-2 hours of homework per night,

students have less of a chance of finding a passion outside of

school. Homework has been around for what feels like the beginning

of time, however, it’s time to change the way homework is given in the school setting.

Which sentence does the author use to support their claim that homework should not be assigned.

Ache-Be-Gone is a special medication that will

remove your headache in 10 minutes or less.

This easy to swallow pill tastes great and will

last for up to five hours. It even has fewer side

effects than other similar medications.

Try Ache-Be-Gone today!

What is the author's purpose of writing this passage?

The Underground Railroad was a secret organization which helped slaves escape to freedom. Many slaves were able to escape because of the conductors and station masters. The northern states were free states and slaves were free once they arrived in the north. Without the Underground Railroad it would have been hard for slaves to escape slavery. Harriet Tubman used the Underground Railroad to help over 300 slaves escape to freedom.

What is the author's claim about the Underground Railroad?