Because lambs are sometimes eaten by coyotes, ranchers may hunt or trap the coyotes. However, killing coyotes may upset nature's balance. Scientists have found a way to protect sheep without killing coyotes. Coyotes are fed lamb meat treated with a drug. When they eat the meat, they get sick. Later, coyotes won't even go near lambs. They'll hunt rabbits instead.
This story mainly tells.....

Do you ever wonder how you taste things? You owe your sense of taste to your taste buds. We have 9,000 taste buds just on the tongue alone. There are also taste buds on the roof of your mouth. You even have taste buds on the back of your throat.
What does the author want you to learn about the passage?

Most people think that gorillas are mean, but actually they are shy. It seems that such a huge animal with very large teeth would be aggressive. Hollywood movies help convey this image of the scary, ferocious gorilla. In fact, gorillas only attack if they are provoked. 
This author believes that:

Native Americans dried strips of meat, pounded it into a paste, and then mixed it with fat. Sometimes they added berries and sugar. Then they pressed it into small cakes. They called these cakes pemmican. Pemmican didn't spoil, and it provided lots of energy for people traveling or going hunting. 
This passage is mainly about?

Soccer players learn many skills when playing soccer. Soccer players learn how to dribble and pass the ball. They also learn how to control the ball so they can eventually score. Most importantly, soccer players learn how to work together with their teammates.
What is the central idea?

 A penny for your thoughts?  If it's a 1943 copper penny, it could be worth as much as fifty thousand dollars.  In 1943, most pennies were made out of steel since copper was needed for World War II, so the 1943 copper penny is ultra-rare.  Another rarity is the 1955 double die penny.  These pennies were mistakenly double stamped, so they have overlapping dates and letters.  If it's uncirculated, it'd easily fetch $25,000 at an auction.  Now that's a pretty penny. 
What's an appropriate title?

 Yellowstone National Park is mainly located in Wyoming, although three percent is located in the state of Montana.  The Continental Divide of North America runs diagonally through the southwestern part of the park.  The park sits on the Yellowstone Plateau, which is an average elevation of 8,000 feet above sea level.  This plateau is bounded on nearly all sides by mountain ranges.  There are 290 waterfalls that are at least fifteen feet in the park, the highest being the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River, which falls 308 feet. 
What's an appropriate title?

 If you use incorrect grammar, people may lower their opinion of you. They’re not trying to be unkind.  Poor use of language makes you sound unintelligent, even if you are bright and talented. Poor grammar can limit you in your business and professional life. For example, it can cause potential employers to decide not to hire you. If you already have a job, you may be passed over for promotion. This is especially true if the new role involves interacting with clients who are well spoken.
Which is NOT a supporting detail?

The diamondback rattlesnake is named for the diamond-shaped markings on its back and the rattling sounds it makes. The rattling sounds are caused by a loose rattle on the end of its tail. Diamondbacks are found in the southeastern United States and may grow to a weight of 30-35 pounds.
Which sentence provides another supporting detail for the passage?

The cyclops was a hairy, huge beast with one eye in the center of its forehead. My men were afraid of the creature and wished to leave. I, being of a curious nature, was determined to stay and meet this new oddity. We had seen many great things and this had to be another gift from the gods. The cyclops liked sheep. I went forth from the boat to see this new being.
Which sentence does not belong in the paragraph above?

A student argues that without immigration our society would not be as developed as it currently is. Which evidence supports this argument?

Which detail supports the argument that buying recycled materials will help the environment?

College students are often tempted by talk of "easy credit". Credit card companies often deceive young people by giving away “free” items in return for completing credit card applications. Many students then go into debt thanks to shopping sprees. They pay much more than the original loan because they are charged a high rate of interest which takes years to pay back. It is best to avoid this debt prison altogether.
Which is an irrelevant detail?

When a driver pushes on the brake pedal, it initiates a process that causes the vehicle to stop in motion. At this moment brake fluid is released into the area where the braking mechanisms are. As the fluid collects, this creates a leverage, which causes a friction to be applied. If the braking system is functioning properly, this friction will create a force that will cause the wheels to stop and allow you to reach your destination safely.
What is an appropriate title?

Native Americans dried strips of meat, pounded it into a paste, and then mixed it with fat. Sometimes they added berries and sugar. Then they pressed it into small cakes. They called these cakes pemmican. Pemmican didn't spoil, and it provided lots of energy for people traveling or going hunting.
What is NOT an irrelevant detail?

A type of narrative perspective in where the  author uses pronouns like ''your" and "you."

How can you know that something is written in first person point of view?

She liked ice cream, but he liked cake. So they bought both.

Ester smiled brightly at his back, shrugged casually, and kept voice smooth as she reassured, "I'm not going anywhere." to laugh as she saw his shoulders almost flinch. 

Ana keeps telling us to stop taking her gum. She thinks that it is us, but it is really Frank who takes her gum. What do you think should be done?

John's neighbor is angry because John plays loud music every day. John is frustrated at his neighbor because his neighbor complains too much. They talked about it and came to a compromise--John will still play his loud music every day, but will only play for 1 hour instead of 2.

How to grill by Steven Raichlen 
Once you have your grill assembled, the next thing to decide is where to put it.  A grill puts out a lot of heat, so you should position it several feet away from the side of the house or any plants or shrubbery.  You'll have an easier time with a spot that is sheltered from the wind.  When positioning a grill on a wooden deck, remember that sparks and live embers can fall from a charcoal grill.  

The Patchwork Girl of Oz by Lyman Frank Baum 
 Unc Nunkie, Margolotte and the Magician all stood looking at the marvelous Powder, but Ojo was more interested just then in the Patchwork Girl's brains.  Thinking it both unfair and unkind to deprive her of any good qualities that were handy, boy took down every bottle on the shelf and poured some of the contents in Margolotte's dish.  No one saw him do this, for all were looking at the Powder of Life; but soon the woman remembered what she had been doing, and came back to the cupboard.    

The Baffled Parent's Guide to Great Basketball Drills by Jim Garland 
Before each practice begins, make sure you check the court and remove any debris from the playing surface.  When your players arrive, check that they have the proper footwear and that they've removed any jewelry, which could injure the player wearing the jewelry or another player.  Always carry a list of emergency phone numbers for your players, and know where the nearest phone is located.  You should also have a first-aid kit, and you might want to take a first-aid course.  

Curious George and the Pizza by Margret Rey 
At the pizza place, Tony the baker was getting the pizzas ready for baking.  He flattened out a ball of dough into a large pancake and tossed it in the air.  He spread tomato sauce on it, sprinkled it with cheese, and shoved it in the over.  Then the telephone rang.  "A fellow from the factory wants a large pizza delivered in a hurry," Tony's wife called.  "OK, I'll get my coat," said Tony.

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
At dawn, Mae Tuck set out on her horse for the wood at the edge of the village of Treegap.  She was going there, as she did once every ten years, to meet her two sons, Miles and Jesse, and she was feeling at ease.  At noon time, Winnie Foster, whose family owned the Treegap wood, lost her patience at last and decided to think about running away.  

Invitation to the Game by Monica Hughes 
And we scrounged.  Next to survival, scrounge was probably the most important word in our new vocabulary.  We found a store that was throwing out water-damaged mattresses.  Getting them home was a problem, since we had to make two trips, leaving Brad and Katie, armed with sticks to guard over the remained.  I truly expected them to be challenged by some gang boss, but they said that the only person who came by was a scrawny little rat of a girl living alone.  We let her have one of the mattresses.  

Alice's adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, John Tenniel 
Alice was beginning to get very tired of sitting by her sister on the bank, and of having nothing to do: once or twice she had peeped into the book her sister was reading, but it had no pictures or conversations in it, "and what is the use of a book," thought Alice, "without pictures or conversations?"  So she was considering, in her own mind whether the pleasure of making a daisy-chain would be worth the trouble of getting up and picking the daisies, when suddenly a White Rabbit with pink eyes ran close by her.  

Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar.
 Leslie sat in front of Paul.  She had two long, brown pigtails that reached all the way down to her waist.  Paul saw those pigtails, and a terrible urge came over him.  He wanted to pull a pigtail.  He wanted to wrap his fist around it, feel the hair between his fingers, and just yank.  He thought it would be fun to tie the pigtails together, or better yet, tie them to her chair.  But most of all, he just wanted to pull one. 

John looked nervously at Patty as she reached into the cage without hesitation. She seemed to not to be scared of snakes in the slightest. 

Sometimes we have to “read between the lines.” Authors don’t always tell us everything. We need to use textual evidence and prior knowledge to understand the text better. 

Many breeds of dogs are used for work. In many cultures dogs are used to herd sheep. The dogs keep the flock from being attacked by animals such as wolves. They also keep sheep from wandering off. Sheepdogs are known for their loyalty and gentleness. Based on your reading of the text, you can INFER that:

Macey's mom noticed that she was squinting as she read her book, which was only a few inches away from her face. She scheduled a doctor's appointment for the next week, and when the doctor said Macey needed glasses, she tried on every single pair in the office. After spending an hour looking at glasses, mom suggested that perhaps she should sleep on it and come back and decide in the morning. Macey agreed, but she kept talking about the pros and cons of each pair all night long. 
What can you infer about Macey?

As the teacher lectured the class about how important it was to pay attention, Brian found himself staring out the window again. Suddenly, a little boy came up to the window and peeked in. The boy blew a bubble with his gum and it exploded all over his face and the window. Brian began laughing so hard he fell out of his seat. The rest of the class silently stared at him as the teacher walked to his desk.
What can you infer about how the teacher will react?

Every day after work Paul took his muddy boots off on the steps of the front porch.  Alice would have a fit if the boots made it so far as the welcome mat.  He then took off his dusty overalls and threw them into a plastic garbage bag; Alice left a new garbage bag tied to the porch railing for him every morning.  On his way in the house, he dropped the garbage bag off at the washing machine and went straight up the stairs to the shower as he was instructed.  He would eat dinner with her after he was "presentable," as Alice had often said.  
What type of relationship do Paul and Alice have?

In real life, people who can back up an opinion about a text with Textual Evidence are taken more seriously than people who can only give a reason of “just because".

What is an inference?

To make an inference, we use evidence from the text, and our prior knowledge. 

When reading literature, it is important to cite text evidence to support your analysis of the most important details and events of a story. In addition to citing text evidence to answer comprehension questions, you can also use text evidence to make inferences.

_{Inferring uses these skills?}
• making an assumption based on subtle verbal and nonverbal clues
• judging or concluding that something is true
• analyzing facts and coming to a logical outcome based on
the evidence
• drawing conclusions (reading between the lines)
• realizing “Oh, now I get it!”

Joshua went into the backyard to play on the swing set. His new puppy, Rascal,ran beside him. As Joshua was running toward the play area, he twisted his ankle.The accident caused him a lot of pain. Joshua’s dad was always doing yard work and making sure that the grass was perfectly cut and the ground was even.Certainly, he would have noticed that hole and filled it up. Neither Joshua nor his father could figure out how that hole appeared.Who or what do you think caused the hole?

Tsunamis, large ocean waves caused by underwater earthquakes, can be deadly and destructive. For example, in December 2004, an underwater earthquake triggered a massive tsunami throughout the Indian Ocean. The tsunami killed more than 200,000 people and caused billions of dollars of damage to the coasts of numerous Southeast Asian countries.

Even today, the U.S. Supreme Court does not reflect the U.S. population. It was 1967 before the first black justice was appointed. It was 1981 before the first woman was appointed to the Court. It was 1986 before the Court had its first justice of Italian descent. No person of Hispanic or Asian descent has yet been appointed as a member of the Court.

In Africa, music is usually performed outdoors. There is spontaneous music making as well as performances by social and music groups at ceremonies and feasts. There is no musical notation (written music). African music tradition, like folklore and history, is transmitted orally. Music is a social activity in which almost everyone participates. Clearly, African music has several interesting characteristics.

High achievement motivation affects people's choice of occupation and job success. (High achievement motivation refers to the psychological need for success in school, sports, occupations, or other competitive situations.) People with high achievement motivation often go into occupations that provide rewards for individual achievement, such as sales, engineering, architecture, or law. Moreover, people with high achievement motivation tend to go into occupations that realistically match their abilities. For this reason, they have little anxiety or fear of failure. And when success is achieved, they enjoy the fruit of their labor more than the average person.

Some believe that Americans have become merely consumers of material goods who no longer care about helping others. This image is false, however. An estimated 90 million Americans volunteer, and the monetary value of their volunteer time is estimated at $200 billion a year. Many of these volunteers serve on committees, baby-sit, sing in church choirs, coach, and lead scout troops. More than 1.5 million of these volunteers provide fire protection and ambulance service without pay.

Is it an ant, you wonder, or a termite? Ants resemble termites, but they are quite different and can be easily distinguished. In contrast to termites, ants are usually dark in color, are hard bodied, and have constriction between the thorax and abdomen. Also, ants and termites belong to different orders.

Adolescents tend to choose friends who are like them, and friends influence each other to become even more alike. Friends are usually the same race and have similar status within the peer group. Male adolescents tend to have many friends, but the friendships are rarely close ones. Among teenage girls, friendships are fewer but much closer, and they provide a great deal of emotional support.

An individual with the eating disorder bulimia first eats secretly, consuming an enormous amount of food in one sitting. The large quantity of food is clearly beyond simple hunger. Then, after the eating binge comes the purge. In this phase, the person vomits or uses laxatives to make sure the food does not stay in the body and produce weight gain. With bulimia, there is always a distinct "binge and purge" pattern.

When you listen to a speech, can it help you to focus on the speaker's strengths and weaknesses? By closely observing and listening to people when they give speeches, you can learn a great deal that will make you a more successful speaker. If the speaker is not effective, try to determine why. If he or she is effective, try to pick out techniques you can use in your own speeches. If the speaker is ineffective, avoid the errors the person made.

A type of literature or writing

When an inanimate object or animal is given human characteristics.

A play on words

The feelings associated with a word

Words spoken to God or to oneself in a story.

When a story relives a previous moment, like a memory, dream, etc

The bad guy

An expression that does not have a literal meaning. Ex: It's raining cats and dogs.

When a character is fighting against his/her hopes and dreams.

A statement that seems true and not true at the same time. Ex: Everything I say is a lie.

A conclusion about a group of things or people.

When the words mean something other than what they say; the opposite of literal meaning.

The dictionary definition of a word.

Extreme exaggeration

The leading character of a story.

When a story jumps forward in time.

Believability

When the words mean exactly what they say.

Stories that are made up and never really happened.

Writing about something that really happened.

A decisive moment that is of maximum intensity or is a major turning point in a plot.

When a character is fighting against something outside his/her own mind.