Theme

Read the following passage from a story.

Sebastian triumphantly lifted the trophy above his head. Despite all the obstacles, he had won. Beneath his cheerful smile, he felt a twinge of the constant pain he’d learned to live with. Sebastian removed one hand from the trophy and rubbed the thin red scar that snaked around his ankle. He thought back to the surgery and the weeks spent lying in his bed, unable to compete. The months of exercises to strengthen his leg. “Sebastian!” he heard the crowd scream, as if in slow motion. A smile broke across his face, shattering his thoughts. He returned his hand to his trophy, firmly grasping it.

Which of the following is most likely a theme of the story?

• When you achieve a goal, you shouldn’t brag about it.

• 
  Some goals are too hard to achieve even if you try many times.

• Through determination, you can overcome big challenges.

• Through determination, you can't overcome big challenges.

Tags

5.8A

Which of the following could be the theme of a story?

• 
  You can never turn your back on your family.

• Most people have at least one brother or sister.

• 
  A young girl returns to her family after moving far away.

• 
  “I’ll never speak to you again,” she said quietly to her mother.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.9

Read the following passage from a story.

Naarah gazed across the field, noticing how peaceful Creature's Cove seemed now. The only evidence of the battle were the scorched patches of earth dotting the landscape like a sunburn. Naarah clutched the jade pendant that dangled heavily under her robe. Her dad's words echoed in her head. "This necklace has always belonged to the protector of what is good and just in the kingdom. Now, it belongs to you."

Naarah had passed her first test, the dragon was no longer a threat to the kingdom's way of life. Wisps of smoke drifted up from the land that its poisonous breath had burned. Soon, new grass would poke through, and memories of the battle would recede into the past. But Naarah knew this was not the end. The dragon lay slain in the Yonderland. But its spirit would return again and again in different forms.

Which of the following is most likely a theme of the story?

• 
  Good people are difficult to find.

• People often forget the things they don't want to remember.

• Good and evil always exist together in the world.

• 
  Evil can easily be defeated.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.9

Read the following passage.

The last time Naomi saw Abigail, they were eight years old, building forts of dirt and sticks in the sand box. When Abigail's family moved to Texas, Naomi was heartbroken. For a time, Naomi mourned the loss of their friendship. But much to her surprise, a letter appeared in her mailbox the next week. It was the first of many funny letters in which Abigail's unique personality leaped off the page. Through these letters, Naomi followed six years of events in Abigail's life: her family's many moves, her struggles in school, her triumphs playing volleyball. Naomi hoped that Abigail looked forward to her responses as much as she looked forward to hers.

What is the MAIN IDEA of the passage?

• 
  

• 
  A girl remains friends with another girl who's far away by writing letters.

• 
  A girl's relationship with a good friend ends after she moves away.

• People can remain good friends even if they are separated.

• As people grow up and go through hard times, they aren't as close anymore

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.4.2

Read the following passage from a story.

Monroe was stumped. She had turned the details of the case over and over in her head, trying to figure out the answer. The suspect had somehow entered the store, stolen the artwork and exited without leaving any trace or fingerprints. Monroe paced, her movements matching her storm of thoughts. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the new technological device she had been given to use, which she'd been avoiding like the plague. "I wonder…" she thought.

Hesitantly, Monroe typed the details of the case into the device's keyboard. It whirred and spat out a list of similar cases and how they'd been solved. Reading through the information, Monroe was amazed. She had been pondering for hours, but 30 seconds with this device, and she could find answer! With a newfound respect, she rushed off.

Which DETAIL from the passage provides the best clue that a theme of the story is "technology can have good effects"?

• 
  "The suspect had somehow entered the store, stolen the artwork and exited without any trace or fingerprints."

• 
  "Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the new technological device she had been given to use, which she'd been avoiding like the plague."

• "Monroe paced, her movements matching her storm of thoughts."

• 
  "She had been pondering for hours, but 30 seconds with this device, and she could find her answer!"

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.9

Read the following passage from a story.

Wind whipped at Kollin, Jace and Zoey's faces as they trudged up the mountain. "Do you have the ice samples?" Jace asked.

"Why don't you carry them the rest of the way?" Zoey responded irritably. Kollin was digging into his backpack to retrieve the samples when suddenly, a gust of wind snatched them out of his hands, sending them tumbling down the mountain.

"If we lose those, this was all for nothing!" Zoey cried. The wind roared angrily, churning flakes of snow that had begun to fall. How far had the samples gone? The three scientists stared at each other in horrified silence.

"I'll go back for them," Jace spoke up quietly.

Kollin and Zoey looked at Jace. He was the smallest and youngest of the group, barely strong enough to carry his large backpack.

"I'll go!" he said louder.

Which sentence from the passage provides the best clue that a theme of the story is "Courage can be found in the people you least expect it"?

• 
  "'Why don't you carry them the rest of the way?'" she responded irritably.

• 
  "The wind roared angrily, churning flakes of snow that had begun to fall."

• 
  "He was the smallest and youngest of the group, barely strong enough to carry his large backpack."

• "How far had the samples gone?"

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.9

The _______ is what the text is mostly about.

• Conclusion

• Prediction

• Main Idea

• Theme

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.4.2

________ is the message, lesson, or moral of the story.

• Main Idea

• Subject

• Text Evidence

• Theme

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.9

Read the following passage from a story.

Jordan stared at the blank canvas, feeling a mix of excitement and fear. He had always wanted to paint, but the fear of failure held him back. Taking a deep breath, he dipped his brush into the vibrant colors and began to paint. With each stroke, his confidence grew, and soon, a beautiful landscape emerged on the canvas.

Which detail from the passage best supports the theme of overcoming fear?

• "Jordan stared at the blank canvas, feeling a mix of excitement and fear."

• "He had always wanted to paint, but the fear of failure held him back."

• "Taking a deep breath, he dipped his brush into the vibrant colors and began to paint."

• "With each stroke, his confidence grew, and soon, a beautiful landscape emerged on the canvas."

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.9

Read the following passage from a story.

Emma watched as the new student, Liam, sat alone during lunch. She remembered how lonely she felt when she first moved to the school. Gathering her courage, she walked over to Liam and introduced herself. They quickly became friends, and Emma was glad she had taken the first step.

What is the main idea of the passage?

• Emma felt lonely when she first moved to the school.

• Liam was a new student who sat alone during lunch

• Emma introduced herself to Liam, and they became friends.

• Emma gathered her courage to talk to Liam

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RI.6.2