PT Videos

Which of the following statements might be the theme of a piece of literature?

• Natural beauty

• I stood alone in a field of daisies.

• Observing nature can change how you view the world.

• The flowers were pretty.

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Read the following. Then, choose the sentence below that best states the theme.

"Why can't you just pack me salami or tuna sandwiches? That's what everyone else eats."

"Don't you like the lunches I pack you?" Abu seemed surprised that I was complaining.

"Of course I love your mansaf, Abu, but it . . . it just smells so strong. People think the jameed in it smells like dirty socks. I feel like everyone's staring at my weird food," I said.

"Are you ashamed of being different?"

I didn't answer my father. He continued, "We have a beautiful heritage. There is no shame in eating the foods your grandparents and great-grandparents ate! Never look down on your traditions, my child."

I knew in my heart Abu was right.

• It is hard to fit in.

• A person should be proud of his or her heritage.

• One should eat ethnic foods.

• Some people don't like to appear "different."

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A Fox once saw a Crow fly off with a piece of cheese in its beak and settle on a branch of a tree. "I want that cheese," thought Fox. He walked up to the foot of the tree. "Good-day, Miss Crow," he cried. "How well you are looking today: how glossy your feathers; how bright your eyes. I feel sure your voice must surpass that of other birds. Please sing one song so that I may enjoy your lovely voice." The Crow lifted up her head and began to caw her best, but the moment she opened her mouth the piece of cheese fell to the ground, only to be snapped up by Fox.

Which statement below best communicates the theme of this passage?

• Don't trust those who flatter you.

• Appreciate what you have.

• Beauty is only skin deep.

• Be careful what you wish for.

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Read this stanza from a poem by Emily Dickinson. Which statement best communicates the theme?

Hope has feathers.

Tunes don't need to have words.

Hope is what keeps people going.

Hope is this same thing as love.

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all, . . .

• Hope has feathers.

• Tunes don't need to have words.

• Hope is what keeps people going.

• Hope is this same thing as love.

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Oh yeah?" Charles sneered. "If you're so great, why don't you race me?" Lucy gasped. Charles was the fastest runner at school. "You're on," she gulped. That night, she began to train. Day after day, she ran laps at the track. Charles would watch her, laughing. His friends asked him why he wasn't practicing, too. "Practice? I don't need practice to win." Finally, the day of the race dawned. Lucy met him at the track. "Good luck," she said. "I don't need it," he replied. They took off. At the finish line, he turned back to look for Lucy—but she'd already beaten him by half a lap!

Which of the following is NOT a theme of this text?

• Hard work pays off

• Love is the key to happiness

• Overconfidence can lead to failure

• With planning, the weak can defeat the strong.

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(1) One summer day, Grasshopper was having fun and singing. (2) Ant passed by, carrying food to her nest.
(3) "Why don't you sing with me?" asked Grasshopper.
(4) "Why work on a lovely day?"
(5) "I'm gathering food for winter," said Ant.
(6) "Why worry about winter, especially since we have food now?" asked Grasshopper. (7) Ant kept working, and Grasshopper kept playing. (8) Winter came, and Ant had plenty of corn and grain, but Grasshopper was starving.
(9) Grasshopper realized then that it is best to prepare for hard times ahead.

Which sentence from the paragraph best states the theme?

• 1

• 6

• 8

• 9

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A theme is the big idea in a story. It's the message about people or the world that the author is trying to get across. Themes are universal, which means they are true in all times and all places. They apply to many different types of people.

Read the following passage from a story.
Rohan triumphantly lifted the trophy above his head. Despite all the obstacles, he had won. Beneath his cheerful exterior, he felt a twinge of the constant pain he’d learned to live with. Almost unconsciously, Rohan 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. “Rohan!” he heard the crowd scream, as if in slow motion. A smile broke across Rohan’s 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?

• Some goals are too hard to achieve even if you try many times.
  
• Through determination, you can overcome big challenges.
  
• You need the support of your family to overcome challenges.
  
• When you achieve a goal, you shouldn’t brag about it.
  

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Which of these would be a good example of theme in a story?

• math is difficult
• if you steal, something bad will happen to you
• pets make people happy
• You should always have respect for others.

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Read the poem, and identify the theme.

The petals drop one by one—
from the fragile daisy.
The shriveled, yellowing pieces of flower
blow away, leaving behind a bare stem.
I have to remember to live,
to enjoy each petal of my life,
to share and grow and bask
in the sun's sweet light.

• Flowers lose petals quickly.

• Life is short, so enjoy every day.

• It is important to be alone sometimes.

  
  

• Selfishness doesn't pay.

  
  

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Sari handed the last of her hard-earned money to the cashier and sighed. She had really wanted to buy some new clothes with her money. Instead, she was paying for a silly phone card.

Sari's dad knew she was unhappy, but he had been forced to take her cell phone away from her when she disobeyed their parent-child phone contract. He hoped she would learn a lesson.

From what point of view is this story told?

• first-person

• third-person limited

• third-person omniscient

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