Inference and Main Idea Practice

Cheerleading is a great activity for young men and women. It has risen in popularity in recent years and is a good way to show off a variety of skills. Cheerleaders must be precise, energetic and able to motivate crowds. There are two main types of cheerleading: sideline and competitive. Sideline cheerleaders are the cheerleaders you see cheering on the sidelines at football or basketball games. They shout out cheers and do some basic jumps and tumbling. Competitive cheerleading allows cheerleading squads to compete against each other. They participate in routines where they can show off their precision, flexibility, stunting and tumbling. Cheerleading programs can start as young as age 2 and go up through the college level. Both males and females can be cheerleaders. Male cheerleaders are often used as spotters when stunting because of their strength. Cheerleading can be a private sport or club that is not affiliated with any schools, or it can be a school sport. In order to become a cheerleader, the athlete must try out and demonstrate their skill set before a group of judges. Only the most skilled are chosen to become a cheerleader.

What is a central idea of this passage?

• Cheerleading is a wonderful way for kids to stay active

• There are two main types of cheerleading and both require skill and hard work.

• Cheerleading at football and basketball games is very popular.

Cheerleading is a great activity for young men and women. It has risen in popularity in recent years and is a good way to show off a variety of skills. Cheerleaders must be precise, energetic and able to motivate crowds. There are two main types of cheerleading: sideline and competitive. Sideline cheerleaders are the cheerleaders you see cheering on the sidelines at football or basketball games. They shout out cheers and do some basic jumps and tumbling. Competitive cheerleading allows cheerleading squads to compete against each other. They participate in routines where they can show off their precision, flexibility, stunting and tumbling. Cheerleading programs can start as young as age 2 and go up through the college level. Both males and females can be cheerleaders. Male cheerleaders are often used as spotters when stunting because of their strength. Cheerleading can be a private sport or club that is not affiliated with any schools, or it can be a school sport. In order to become a cheerleader, the athlete must try out and demonstrate their skill set before a group of judges. Only the most skilled are chosen to become a cheerleader.

What inference about trying out to be a cheerleader can be made from the passage?

• It is usually very easy to become a cheerleader on a team or squad.

• There usually isn’t a lot of interest in becoming a cheerleader.

• It is a very competitive process.

Cheerleading is a great activity for young men and women. It has risen in popularity in recent years and is a good way to show off a variety of skills. Cheerleaders must be precise, energetic and able to motivate crowds. There are two main types of cheerleading: sideline and competitive. Sideline cheerleaders are the cheerleaders you see cheering on the sidelines at football or basketball games. They shout out cheers and do some basic jumps and tumbling. Competitive cheerleading allows cheerleading squads to compete against each other. They participate in routines where they can show off their precision, flexibility, stunting and tumbling. Cheerleading programs can start as young as age 2 and go up through the college level. Both males and females can be cheerleaders. Male cheerleaders are often used as spotters when stunting because of their strength. Cheerleading can be a private sport or club that is not affiliated with any schools, or it can be a school sport. In order to become a cheerleader, the athlete must try out and demonstrate their skill set before a group of judges. Only the most skilled are chosen to become a cheerleader.

What inference can be made about stunting?

• Cheerleaders have to be very strong in order to participate in stunting.

• Stunting is not necessary during cheerleading competitions.

• The majority of cheerleaders do not participate in stunts.

There is no debate regarding which building is the world’s tallest skyscraper, but there is debate as to which building was actually the first skyscraper. One building that many consider to be the first skyscraper is the Home Insurance building in Chicago, Illinois. It was built in 1884 and was ten stories tall when it was first built, but later additions made it twelve stories. It was built after the Chicago Fire of 1871, which destroyed many buildings in Chicago. In response to the fire, the Home Insurance building had a fireproof frame made of metal and it was that unique frame that is the reason many consider it to be the world’s first skyscraper. Unfortunately, the historic building is not still standing today because it was demolished 47 years after it was built.

What is the central idea of this passage?

• The Home Insurance building was built after the Chicago fire.

• The Home Insurance building is considered the first skyscraper by some.

• The Home Insurance building was demolished many years ago.

There is no debate regarding which building is the world’s tallest skyscraper, but there is debate as to which building was actually the first skyscraper. One building that many consider to be the first skyscraper is the Home Insurance building in Chicago, Illinois. It was built in 1884 and was ten stories tall when it was first built, but later additions made it twelve stories. It was built after the Chicago Fire of 1871, which destroyed many buildings in Chicago. In response to the fire, the Home Insurance building had a fireproof frame made of metal and it was that unique frame that is the reason many consider it to be the world’s first skyscraper. Unfortunately, the historic building is not still standing today because it was demolished 47 years after it was built.

What inference can be made from this passage?

• Skyscrapers are difficult to build

• It is not necessary for buildings to be built with fireproof material.

• Prior to 1871, many buildings in Chicago were not fireproof.

Practical jokes played on April Fools’ Day have been tricking people for years. On April 1, 1957, a news channel in England played a short special that featured a family in Switzerland who grew spaghetti on trees. Video footage showed people removing the spaghetti from trees and laying it out to dry. At the time, spaghetti was not a popular food in England and few people actually knew how it was made. Many people didn’t realize the story wasn’t real. Hundreds of people called in to ask if the story was true. Some people even called in to ask how they could grow their own spaghetti trees.

What is the central idea of the passage?

• April Fools’ Day has a long history of tricking people.

• A practical joke convinced many people that spaghetti grew on trees.

• Some people wanted to grow their own spaghetti trees.

Practical jokes played on April Fools’ Day have been tricking people for years. On April 1, 1957, a news channel in England played a short special that featured a family in Switzerland who grew spaghetti on trees. Video footage showed people removing the spaghetti from trees and laying it out to dry. At the time, spaghetti was not a popular food in England and few people actually knew how it was made. Many people didn’t realize the story wasn’t real. Hundreds of people called in to ask if the story was true. Some people even called in to ask how they could grow their own spaghetti trees.

What inference can be made about the passage?

• News officials knew people wanted more practical jokes.

• People were interested in making spaghetti.

• Pasta was uncommon in England at the time.

It was hard to miss the videos in the summer of 2014. All over social media networks, people posted videos of themselves being soaked by a bucket of ice water. It was referred to as the Ice Bucket Challenge. At the end of each video, participants challenged a number of their friends to either perform the challenge within 24 hours or make a donation to an organization dedicated to treatment and research for ALS. ALS is an acronym for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. In the United States, ALS is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. ALS is a disease that attacks neurons and for which there is no cure.

The Ice Bucket Challenge quickly went viral. Some critics said that it did little to raise awareness of the disease. Later, studies showed that the majority of people who participated in the challenge did not actually donate, but many did. Over $100 million was raised in the United States. The majority of that money went to fund research for treatments for the devastating disease. Money also went to help support patients currently suffering from the disease.

What is a central idea of this passage?

• The Ice Bucket Challenge required participants to dump a bucket of ice water on themselves.

• The Ice Bucket Challenge was popular in 2014 and raised money for ALS research.

• ALS is a devastating disease that currently has no cure.

It was hard to miss the videos in the summer of 2014. All over social media networks, people posted videos of themselves being soaked by a bucket of ice water. It was referred to as the Ice Bucket Challenge. At the end of each video, participants challenged a number of their friends to either perform the challenge within 24 hours or make a donation to an organization dedicated to treatment and research for ALS. ALS is an acronym for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. In the United States, ALS is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. ALS is a disease that attacks neurons and for which there is no cure.

The Ice Bucket Challenge quickly went viral. Some critics said that it did little to raise awareness of the disease. Later, studies showed that the majority of people who participated in the challenge did not actually donate, but many did. Over $100 million was raised in the United States. The majority of that money went to fund research for treatments for the devastating disease. Money also went to help support patients currently suffering from the disease.

What inference can be made about most people that participated in the Ice Bucket Challenge?

• Their participation was not motivated by a desire to help ALS research.

• The majority of people that participated did so because they were personally affected by ALS.

• Most people didn’t participate in the challenge and simply donated money.

It was hard to miss the videos in the summer of 2014. All over social media networks, people posted videos of themselves being soaked by a bucket of ice water. It was referred to as the Ice Bucket Challenge. At the end of each video, participants challenged a number of their friends to either perform the challenge within 24 hours or make a donation to an organization dedicated to treatment and research for ALS. ALS is an acronym for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. In the United States, ALS is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. ALS is a disease that attacks neurons and for which there is no cure.

The Ice Bucket Challenge quickly went viral. Some critics said that it did little to raise awareness of the disease. Later, studies showed that the majority of people who participated in the challenge did not actually donate, but many did. Over $100 million was raised in the United States. The majority of that money went to fund research for treatments for the devastating disease. Money also went to help support patients currently suffering from the disease.

What inference can be made about the role of social media in the success of the Ice Bucket Challenge?

• Social media was the reason the challenge was so successful.

• The challenge would have been successful without social media.

• Most people were not influenced by social media to donate money.