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Context Clues, Main Idea, & Author's Purpose

Total questions: 15

Worksheet time: 8mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Based on context clues in the passage below, ecstatic means ______.

They were ecstatic at the birth of their baby. They couldn't stop smiling for days.

a)

nervous

b)

watchful

c)

discouraged

d)

excited

2.

Based on context clues in the passage below, eliminate means ______.

Please eliminate the blank lines between the pictures. They are not supposed to be there.

a)

delete

b)

find

c)

color

d)

add

3.

Based on context clues in the passage below, migrate means ______.

Many Northern birds migrate for the winter. They return in the spring.

a)

sign

b)

move away

c)

eat

d)

lay eggs

4.

Read the passage below. Which word or words best help you understand the meaning of the word obedient?

The obedient child always followed her mother's requests. That night, she brushed her teeth, folded her clothes, and went to bed before her mother had to come in and remind her.

a)

brushed her teet

b)

followed her mother's requests

c)

that night

d)

folded her clothes

5.

Read the passage below. What kind of context clues helps you understand the meaning of the word discontent?

Just yesterday the sailors had been happy. Now a wave of discontent swept through the ship's crew.

a)

explanation

b)

example

c)

antonym

d)

synonym

6.

Which of the following is an example of a main idea of a book?

a)

Sparky, a dog who fights fires.

b)

I read a story about Duke, a police dog.

c)

Slap Jake is my favorite comic book hero.

d)

Superpup is a brave beagle that fights crime in New York.

7.

Which question would be most helpful for figuring out the main idea of a book?

a)

What is the main thing the author wants to say?

b)

Who is the author?

c)

What is my opinion?

d)

What else do I know about the subject?

8.

The main idea of a book is "plants need sunlight to grow." Which of these is a detail that supports the main idea?

a)

My favorite kind of plant is the Venus fly trap.

b)

There are many different species of plants on the Earth.

c)

Plants that get more sunlight grow taller than plants that sit in the dark.

d)

Jessica sat in the sun and looked at her garden.

9.

Which sentence gives you the best clue about the main idea of this paragraph?

Insects are called "bugs" because they bother people. Some bugs are very helpful to farmers and other people. Some farmers buy ladybugs for their farms. Ladybugs eat other insects that eat crops. Farmers want the crops to grow. Some spiders also eat bugs that eat plants. Another bug that helps people is the honeybee. They don't eat plant-eating bugs, but bees pollinate flowers so that they grow. They also make honey, a natural sugar that many people love to eat.

a)

Insects are called "bugs" because they bother people.

b)

Some bugs are very helpful to farmers and other people.

c)

Some farmers buy ladybugs for their farms.

d)

Another bug that helps people is the honeybee.

10.

Which sentence best describes the main idea of this paragraph?

July 20, 1969 was an exciting day. This was the day the first astronauts stepped onto the moon. As the Apollo rocket circled the moon, a craft called the Eagle landed. The world watched on TV as the doors opened. Astronaut Neil Armstrong stepped down the ladder onto the dusty surface of the moon. "That's one small step for man; one giant leap for mankind," he said. With these famous words, the first man took the first steps on the surface of the moon.

a)

The surface of the moon is dusty.

b)

The Apollo rocket circled the moon.

c)

Armstrong became the first man on the moon in 1969.

d)

The world likes to watch astronauts on television.

11.

What do the letters in PIE stand for?

a)

persuade, investigate, examine

b)

program, interpret, entertain

c)

persuade, inform, entertain

d)

prepare, inform, experiment

12.

When an author's purpose is to inform, the text will include mostly ________.

a)

opinions

b)

funny or imaginary details

c)

characters and a setting

d)

facts

13.

Words like "best," "should," "think," "believe" and "feel" are clues that an author is most likely trying to ________.

a)

persuade

b)

inform

c)

entertain

14.

Choose the author's main purpose(s) in the passage below.

"Run to your nearest toy store and buy the Lazy Crazy Scooter today! Give your tired feet a rest as you zip through town in style on this motorized scooter. It's the best, craziest scooter around!"

a)

persuade

b)

inform

c)

entertain

d)

persuade, inform and entertain

15.

Choose the author's main purposes(s) in the passage below.

The evil monster loomed above Ella, Kai and Jerome. It was taller than the Empire State Building, and it had green, scaly skin. Sparks flew out of its ears as it raised its fist. Ella took a deep breath. "Are you ready?" she asked her friends.

a)

persuade

b)

inform

c)

entertain

d)

persuade, inform, and entertain