The peacock is the bird with the beautiful, giant fan of bright colors. When the peacock is young, both male and female birds look alike. At about two years of age, the male grows the long beautiful tail feathers. Because of their beauty, peacocks were often pets. They live about 20 or 30 years.

The main idea of this paragraph is:

In 1901, oil was discovered in Texas. Oil was in demand because it was used to heat homes and run trains. Suddenly oil companies sprang up all over the Southwest, as everyone wanted a piece of the pie. Some companies failed. But others, like Standard Oil, are still going strong today.

What does "a piece of the pie" mean in the paragraph above?

Kimberly, her parents, and her sister, Camille, were flying to visit Los Angeles. They were going to stay for a week with Kimberly and Camille's grandparents. Then they were going to drive down to San Diego to visit Stephanie, a girl Kimberly had met at summer camp in New Hampshire.

When would Kimberly's family go to San Diego?

Linda's school held a contest to design a new mascot. The old mascot was a tiger that the school began using 20 years earlier. Forty-five kids submitted a design. Both Linda and Tanesha suggested a toucan, and Linda's design won. The school put the toucan on T-shirts and mugs and sold them in the school store.

Where were the mugs sold sold?

You were walking to a coconut tree to get your dinner, when suddenly a gust of wind came. A coconut fell off the tree you were walking under and hit you in the head. Now you have a headache, you feel dizzy, and all you want to do is take a nap.

It is likely that:

The old man was walking down the street slowly. Since he was a pedestrian, he stayed along the outer edges of the lanes and was careful to keep to the crosswalks as he crossed to other streets.

What does the word "pedestrian" mean in the paragraph above?

Molly was in a hurry to get to the playground. She pulled up the zipper on her coat so fast that her sweater got stuck in it. She struggled to unzip it but she couldn't do it. Luckily, her mom was able to extricate the sweater.

What does the word "extricate" mean in the paragraph above?

Steel is a very important metal which is used for many things. In the United States, the automobile industry uses the most steel. Steel is used in putting up buildings, in making cans and containers, and in making farm and factory machines.

The main idea is:

From 1815 through 1914, Europeans arrived in America like bees swarming to a hive. Most entered through Ellis Island in New York Bay. There, they were questioned by officials and examined by doctors. Some were sent back to Europe because they weren't healthy enough or because they weren't able to work.

What does "like bees swarming to a hive" mean in the paragraph above?

Fish, nuts, and seeds have protein. Protein helps your body build muscle and build up immunity to illnesses. It is important to get enough protein in your diet to keep you strong so that you can get all of your work done.

It is likely that:

A house was burning down. The firefighters tried to put out the fire. They worked for hours. The heat was so intense that they had to move farther away from the house. Then they used a long hose to spray the water on the flames.

The word "intense" in the paragraph above means:

Ranita bought a used laptop computer from her neighbor, Becky. Becky had bought the computer two years earlier and did not need it anymore. Ranita's friend Ian helped her set up the computer. She stored the silver computer in a beige carrying case.

What did Ian help Ranita do?

In 1947, a Washington pilot reported the first sighting of a disk-shaped spacecraft. A month later, a New Mexico rancher found pieces of a spaceship that had reportedly crashed on his land. Rumors were started that the Air Force was hiding the alien crash victims. UFO fever had infected the country!

What does "UFO fever had infected the country" mean in the paragraph above?

In the United States, people make well over 200 million telephone calls a day. That should give you an idea just how important the telephone is in our daily life. The telephone was invented in 1874 by Alexander Graham Bell. It took several years before the use of the telephone was widespread.

The main idea is:

As a girl Beyonce loved to sing. She was born in Houston, Texas. At 8 years old, she had a girls group. They named the group Destiny's Child. Her family helped out. Her mom made outfits. She had a powerful voice and wrote the group's songs. Her glamorous style helped the group become one of the most famous girl groups of all time. They wowed audiences with their R&B style. Her songs were catchy and fun. When she went solo, her songs were more mature. People loved them.

Where was Beyonce born?

Some people say that the White House has ghosts. The most famous ghost is Abraham Lincoln. He is often seen standing in his room looking out the window. Even Eleanor Roosevelt said that she saw him. There is a legend that old Abe walks back and forth all night before something terrible is about to happen. This paragraph mainly tells:

People do not really use music to charm snakes. Snakes have no ears, so the snake can't hear a flute. The snake charmer startles the snake by waving a hand near it. The snake lifts its head to look around. The charmer then says back and forth or moves the flute. The snake moves its head to keep an eye on the movement. This paragraph mainly tells:

The _______ is where the story takes place.

If your life were a story, one of the characters might be:

The people in a story are called the ...

Ted was anxious to try out for the basketball team. He had practiced and knew he was ready. Tryouts made him a little nervous, but when he found out he made the team he knew that all the work had paid off.

What is the author's purpose?

John and Matt want to be firemen. They want to ride on the big fire truck. John wants to climb ladders and rescue people from fires. Matt wants to hold the big hose and spray water on the fires to put them out.

What is the main idea?

"I hate the idea of having all those people out there watching me...I just don't like it when I'm around so many people. I wish I just could hide somewhere," whispered Violet.

What can you infer about Violet?

Were you born after 1985? If so, how long do you expect to live? Most people born after 1985 can expect to live more than 70 years. Of course, this is just a guess based on past records. By the way, females can expect to live about six years longer than males. That’s taken from past records too!

What is the paragraph mostly about?

Someday we will all have robots that will be our personal servants. They will look and behave much like real humans. We will be able to talk to these mechanical helpers and they will be able to respond in kind! Amazingly, the robots of the future will be able to learn from experience. They will be smart, strong, and untiring workers whose only goal will be to make our lives easier.

What is this selection mainly about?

Yesterday was my birthday. When I woke up, I noticed my brother Josh hung up a big sign that said,"Happy Birthday, Charles!" Mom made spaghetti for dinner.

It's my favorite food in the whole world. My friend Dave came over and handed me a wrapped gift. I wondered what it was. It was a new basketball! I had a great day.

What is the main idea of this paragraph?

I can't wait until this weekend! We’re going to my grandparents’ house and my entire family will be there. I will spend most of my time playing games with my cousins. We always have such a good time together! The day goes by so fast, and by the end we are all exhausted... but we still don’t want to leave!

What is the main idea?

It was backward day at school. The students had to do things backward. Some of them wore their T-shirts backward. They took a test before they studied the lesson. Dessert was served first instead of last. They tried to walk home backward, but they bumped into each other and fell down.

What is the main idea?

The word 'noted' in line 2 is closest in meaning to which of the following?

The expression 'Homo sapiens' in line 8 is closest in meaning to.....

The paragraph preceding the passage most probably discusses.....

Look at the word bronchi in paragraph 2. bronchi are.....

The paragraph preceding this passage most probably discusses

Look at the word 'novel' in the passage, this word could best be replaced by.....

Which of the following would be the best title for this passage

According to the passage, which of the following is true about Rattlesnakes?

The word 'posture' in line 5 is closest in meaning to which of the following?

Look at the word 'mortality' in paragraph 3. this word is closest in meaning to....

Emily has three dogs and two cats. They are all brown, but one of the dogs has spots. His name is Spot.

Which of the following is true?

Floods can cause tremendous damage. They can ruin houses, roads and buildings. Floods can take down trees and cause mudslides. It often leaves mud, sand and debris behind. It can take months to clean up after a flood.

What is the main idea presented in this passage?

We're Racing, Racing Down the Walk

We're racing, racing down the walk,

Over the pavement and round the block.

We rumble along till the sidewalk ends-

Felicia and I and half our friends.

Our hair flies backwards. It's whish and whirr!

She roars at me and I shout at her

As past the porches and garden gates

We rattle and rock

On our roller skates.

What makes the sound of 'whish and whirr'?

Brittany's mom walks into the kitchen wearing her sun hat and a pair of old shoes. “Those vegetable plants are growing by leaps and bounds!” she exclaims to Brittany, as she takes off a dirty glove and wipes a smudge of dirt off her face.

Where was Brittany's mom?

What are those little green lights floating on the grass and flying in the yard? Are they monsters? Are they UFOs? No, they aren’t monsters and they aren’t UFOs. They’re fireflies.

Fireflies are little insects that glow with a cool green light. If you touch one it won’t burn you. Some fireflies glow to warn other animals that they don’t taste good. Frogs, bats, and birds do not like to eat animals that glow. The glow helps keep fireflies safe.

Sometimes we call fireflies glowworms. You can catch fireflies in a jar. Don’t forget to let them go again.

What color are fireflies when they glow?

What are those little green lights floating on the grass and flying in the yard? Are they monsters? Are they UFOs? No, they aren’t monsters and they aren’t UFOs. They’re fireflies.

Fireflies are little insects that glow with a cool green light. If you touch one it won’t burn you. Some fireflies glow to warn other animals that they don’t taste good. Frogs, bats, and birds do not like to eat animals that glow. The glow helps keep fireflies safe.

Sometimes we call fireflies glowworms. You can catch fireflies in a jar. Don’t forget to let them go again.

Fireflies are sometimes called

What are those little green lights floating on the grass and flying in the yard? Are they monsters? Are they UFOs? No, they aren’t monsters and they aren’t UFOs. They’re fireflies.

Fireflies are little insects that glow with a cool green light. If you touch one it won’t burn you. Some fireflies glow to warn other animals that they don’t taste good. Frogs, bats, and birds do not like to eat animals that glow. The glow helps keep fireflies safe.

Sometimes we call fireflies glowworms. You can catch fireflies in a jar. Don’t forget to let them go again.

If you touch a firefly, it will burn you?

What are those little green lights floating on the grass and flying in the yard? Are they monsters? Are they UFOs? No, they aren’t monsters and they aren’t UFOs. They’re fireflies.

Fireflies are little insects that glow with a cool green light. If you touch one it won’t burn you. Some fireflies glow to warn other animals that they don’t taste good. Frogs, bats, and birds do not like to eat animals that glow. The glow helps keep fireflies safe.

Sometimes we call fireflies glowworms. You can catch fireflies in a jar. Don’t forget to let them go again.

If you catch a firefly in a jar, you should...

What are those little green lights floating on the grass and flying in the yard? Are they monsters? Are they UFOs? No, they aren’t monsters and they aren’t UFOs. They’re fireflies.

Fireflies are little insects that glow with a cool green light. If you touch one it won’t burn you. Some fireflies glow to warn other animals that they don’t taste good. Frogs, bats, and birds do not like to eat animals that glow. The glow helps keep fireflies safe.

Sometimes we call fireflies glowworms. You can catch fireflies in a jar. Don’t forget to let them go again.

When is the best time to catch fireflies?

Weather reporters have to give out a lot of information. That's why they use pictures. The pictures help them tell us about the weather without using so many words. Weather reporters need to know where the cold air is. They need to know where the warm air is. They have to know where it is raining and what types of clouds are in the area. Their reports need to be correct, but they also need to be short. The pictures help weather reporters get the information out in a fast way.

Which sentence best describes the main idea of the paragraph?

Dolphins are very smart animals. They even have their own language. They talk to each other with clicks, whistles, and grunts. Scientists have been studying this dolphin language. They hope that in the future, people and dolphins will be able to talk to each other.

This paragraph mainly tells:

In winter, the wind can be as cold as ice.

What is the wind being compared to?

Leaves from the ground fly like butterflies.

What are leaves being compared to?

I can't wait until this weekend! We’re going to my grandparents’ house and my entire family will be there. I will spend most of my time playing games with my cousins. We always have such a good time together! The day goes by so fast, and by the end we are all exhausted... but we still don’t want to leave!

What is the main idea?

My family went to the circus. We saw the funny clowns. We watched the lion act. We ate a lot of treats and popcorn.

This story is about:

Thomas Alva Edison was one of the greatest inventors of all times. He lived from 1847 until 1931. He was born in Milan, Ohio, in 1847. In 1854 his family moved to Port Huron, Michigan. When he was 12, he got very sick. As a result he became partially deaf. He attended school for only three months there. So, his mother taught him reading, writing, and arithmetic at home.

In 1862, Edison saved a boy from being run over by a train. The boy’s father operated a telegraph machine. As thanks, the father taught Edison how to operate the telegraph. Later, Edison made improvement to the telegraph.

In 1876, Edison started the first industrial research laboratory at Menio Park, New Jersey. One of his inventions is the long – lasting light bulb. Thomas Alva Edison died in 1931. When he died all electric current in the country was turned off. Although he died not have enough formal education and was deaf, he became a famouse inventor. Once he said, 'Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety–nine percent perspiration.'

Where was Thomas Alva Edison born?

Thomas Alva Edison was one of the greatest inventors of all times. He lived from 1847 until 1931. He was born in Milan, Ohio, in 1847. In 1854 his family moved to Port Huron, Michigan. When he was 12, he got very sick. As a result he became partially deaf. He attended school for only three months there. So, his mother taught him reading, writing, and arithmetic at home.

In 1862, Edison saved a boy from being run over by a train. The boy’s father operated a telegraph machine. As thanks, the father taught Edison how to operate the telegraph. Later, Edison made improvement to the telegraph.

In 1876, Edison started the first industrial research laboratory at Menio Park, New Jersey. One of his inventions is the long – lasting light bulb. Thomas Alva Edison died in 1931. When he died all electric current in the country was turned off. Although he died not have enough formal education and was deaf, he became a famouse inventor. Once he said, 'Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety–nine percent perspiration.'

When was Thomas Alva Edison born?

IDENTIFY THE MAIN IDEA

Sometime in December of 1891, Dr. James Naismith was teaching gym at the YMCA College in Springfield, Massachusetts. It was raining, and Dr. Naismith was trying to keep his students active. He wanted them playing a rough game that would keep them moving. He didn't like a few ideas that were too rough. Then Naismith had his breakthrough. He wrote out the rules for a game with peach baskets fixed to ten-foot elevated tracks. Naismith's students played against one another, passing the ball around and shooting it into the peach baskets. Dribbling wasn't a part of the original game. Also it took a while to realize that the game would run more smoothly if the bottoms of the baskets were removed. But this game grew to be one of the most popular sports in America today. Can you guess which one?

What had made this a good year for apples?

Who said, "I think I can smell an apple pie baking right now." ?

How often did Jason's family go to U Pick M Orchard?

Did Jason enjoy picking apples?

What did Jason mean when he said he could almost smell the apple pie baking now?

Jason and his family were from ________________________.

We don't want the pies to be sour.

sour means....

Complete the sentence.

"I will bring an apple _______________________,"he said.

How many bushel baskets Jason and his family were able to fill?