WorksheetsAuthor's Purpose, Central Idea and Context Clues
Total questions: 20
Worksheet time: 2hrs 40mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
The rain barrel was about 40” tall and could hold more than fifty gallons of water. It was reddish-brown in color, similar to the color of adobe. The top was sloped into a narrow opening and a spigot protruded near the bottom where a hose could be attached.
a)
inform
b)
describe
c)
entertain
d)
explain
2.
Nothing to do tonight? Why not see a play? The theater is alive and well, and tickets are available. Call the ticket hotline now and reserve your seats.
a)
persuade
b)
inform
c)
describe
d)
explain
3.
Many people dream of an acting career, but few have the followthrough to take the steps that will make that dream a reality. The first step to becoming an actor is to train. Actors are not born with acting skills; they study and practice. Next, have professional photos taken of yourself. Whenever you audition for a part, leave behind a photo.
a)
describe
b)
persuade
c)
explain
d)
inform
4.
In a recent survey of parents of children in grades 1-8, more than half of the parents agreed that students are overburdened with homework. These parents favored mandating less homework in local schools.
a)
persuade
b)
describe
c)
explain
d)
inform
5.
Built in 1919, the Parker Theater was once the height of luxury but has fallen into disrepair. Shreds of what was a plush velvet curtain hang from a bowed crossbar at the front of the state. Gold, red, and purple paint flakes fall from the walls and ceiling. The rows of seats, once upholstered in red velvet, are dull brown and have gold trim.
a)
inform
b)
persuade
c)
entertain
d)
describe
6.
For many years, people had two choices when it came time to buy a computer: PC or Mac. It’s time for a third choice. The next time you’re in the market for a new computer, consider a Guppy Computer. The Guppy combines the features you love from both PCs and Macs into one, easy-touse, affordable machine. Get a Guppy today!
a)
inform
b)
explain
c)
persuade
d)
describe
7.
Lewis stared at the blank screen. Dead. His computer was dead. “I have to finish my paper tonight,” he thought, as panic slowly sunk in. “How am I going to do that?” Lewis’s mind raced. He tried to think of how he could get his work done. His little sister wandered by. “How long will it be?” she asked. Lewis looked at her blankly. “Until the power comes back?” she said. Lewis sighed with relief.
a)
Persuade
b)
Inform
c)
entertain
d)
describe
8.
“The rain forest is home to many creatures. Monkeys, toucans and macaws live in the rain forest. Butterflies and anteaters also live in the rain forest.”
What is the central idea?
What is the central idea?
a)
Sloths and tapirs are other creatures that live in the rain forest.
b)
The rain forest is home to many creatures.
c)
Monkeys, toucans and macaws live in the rain forest.
d)
Anteaters live in the rain forest
9.
Microchips provide the power for wristwatches. They are also the brains in our computers, and they control robots. These chips are used in video games and space shuttles. They make our cameras, radios, and televisions small and light.
What is the story mainly about?
What is the story mainly about?
a)
How computers work
b)
Why televisions are small
c)
How microchips are used
d)
Microchips provide power for wristwatches
10.
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?
What's an appropriate title?
a)
Planning your family vacation to Yellowstone Park
b)
Founder of Yellowstone Park
c)
Yellowstone Park Beauty
d)
Physical Features of Yellowstone Park
11.
The people of ancient Egypt created an advanced civilization. More than 6,000 years ago, they developed a calendar with 360 days divided into 12 months. The people made paper and learned how to write. They also built huge monuments with machines they invented.
What is the passage mostly about?
What is the passage mostly about?
a)
How people in Egypt made paper.
b)
The creation of an advanced civilization in Egypt.
c)
How the people in Egypt built huge monuments.
d)
Walk like an Egyptian
12.
After a long and dangerous chase, the police finally apprehended the car thief.
a)
punished
b)
killed
c)
caught
d)
spoke with
13.
When Ally came home two hours late, her parents went into a teo hour tirade.
a)
silence
b)
complaint
c)
punishment
d)
angry speech
14.
Tristin couldn’t see the school building; it was SHROUDED by smoke and dust.” What does the word SHROUDED mean?
a)
covered
b)
ruined
c)
bounced
d)
invisible
15.
Ms. Hallett did not have lunch or breakfast, so she was FAMISHED by dinnertime.
Based on the sentence above, what does FAMISHED mean?
Based on the sentence above, what does FAMISHED mean?
a)
tired
b)
full
c)
dizzy
d)
hungry
16.
Tea is the world’s second most popular drink after water. Tea is a big part of the Chinese culture. A Chinese saying identifies the seven basic daily necessities as fuel, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and tea. According to Chinese legend, tea was invented accidentally by the Chinese Emperor Shen Nong in 2737 B.C. China is one of the main producers of tea, and tea remains China’s national drink.
a)
The importance of tea in the Chinese culture
b)
Why tea is so popular
c)
The health benefits of tea
17.
You've heard of a full moon and a new moon, but have you heard of a blue moon? Once in a while, there are two full moons in one month. We call the second moon a blue moon. A blue moon appears about every 32 months. So if something happens once in a blue moon, it doesn't happen very often.
What is this paragraph mainly about?
What is this paragraph mainly about?
a)
Why the moon looks full
b)
How the moon moves
c)
What a blue moon is
d)
The different colors of the moon
18.
When lion cubs are born, they have thick, brown, spotted fur. As many as six cubs are born at one time. The mother lion hides her cubs. She wants to keep them safe from hyenas and leopards. When the cubs are one month old, they meet the lion group.
What is this paragraph mainly about?
What is this paragraph mainly about?
a)
The number of cubs born at one time
b)
How hyenas and leopards hunt
c)
How much cubs weigh
d)
The lives of lion cubs
19.
People do not really use music to charm snakes. Snakes have no ears, so they can't hear a flute. The snake charmer startles the snake by waving a hand near it. The snake lifts his head to look around. The charmer then sways back and forth or moves the flute. The snake moves its head to keep an eye on the movement.
What is this paragraph mainly about?
What is this paragraph mainly about?
a)
Why flute music charms snakes
b)
Why snakes can't hear sound
c)
How people really charm snakes
d)
Why snakes have no ears.
20.
Papermakers made the first hot-air balloon. They got the idea when they saw ashes rising from a fire. They turned paper bags upside down over the fire. Just as they had hoped, the bags filled with hot air and floated up. Soon they tried bigger bags made of paper and then cloth. Finally, in 1793, people took their first ride in a hot-air balloon. The age of flight had begun!
What is this paragraph mainly about?
What is this paragraph mainly about?
a)
How the hot-air balloon was invented
b)
How papermakers made a bag
c)
Why ashes rise over a hot fire
d)
How hot-air balloons are made
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