(1) Carly put her new tulip plants on the window sill.  (2) She opened the curtains so they could get plenty of sun.  (3) She gave them plenty of fertilizer. (4) She watered them several times a day. (5) She never noticed the warning note.  (6) It said to give them plenty of sunshine, but very little water.  (7) The leaves turned brown and the plants eventually died. What sentence reveals Carly’s mistake?

(1) People want to get in shape.  (2) But, they don’t always want to go to the gym.  (3) Sometimes they don’t have the time to spare.  (4) Other times they feel tired.  (5) However, if people want to get in shape, they must take the time and effort to go to the gym.  (6) Do you want to get in shape? Which sentence is the main idea of the paragraph?

Children between the ages of 3 – 5 need to learn basic skills before starting school.  LeapStart is an interactive learning system that gets kids excited about counting, learning to read, and problem solving. The magic behind LeapStart is a stylus that reads invisible dots on every page, triggering questions, challenges, songs, jokes and more. LeapStart helps kids build tomorrow’s skills today, in new imaginative ways. What is the main idea?

I must decide between a small or large dog.  I have to admit, I like having a small dog on my lap while watching television.  On the other hand, it is beneficial to have a larger dog for protection.  Personally, I don’t think I see a large dog in my future.  My apartment is just too small.  Making decisions like this is often difficult. What reason did the author provide for NOT wanting a large dog?

(1) A Bobcat is a small, wild cat.  (2) They are very good hunters.  (3) They are fast and make very little noise.  (4) They also have strong back legs and can jump up to six feet in the air.  (5) Bobcats are one of over 30 species of small wild cats. What TWO sentences show WHY Bobcats are good hunters?

Mrs. John assigned three math problems.  After the students were done, she demonstrated the answers on the board. What does “demonstrate” mean?

Melanie thought the cake tasted remarkable. What is a synonym for “remarkable”?

When baking a cake, you must combine the dry ingredients first.  Then, mix the liquids.  Finally, combine them all together and pour into a baking pan.  Bake for 35 minutes at 350 degrees. What is the text structure?

Adam decided to wash his clothes. He mixed the red and white clothes together in the washing machine.  He washed them using hot water.  All of his white clothes turned pink. What is the text structure?

(1) Lisa was running late.  (2) She grabbed her books and ran to the car. (3) She started backing out of the driveway, and suddenly stopped. (4) She ran back inside and got her raincoat and umbrella.  (5) She went back into the car and drove away. What can you infer about this situation?

(1) The sign up sheet for basketball tryouts was on the gym door.  (2) Bob noticed it as he was walking back to class.  (3) That night, he finished all of his homework quickly. (4) He spent two hours practicing basketball. (5) Afterwards, he sat on his couch and watched a basketball game with his father for a few minutes. What sentence contains the BEST evidence that Bob wants to make the team?

Nick truly enjoyed going to the movies.  He loved the smell of popcorn, and the hushed sound before the previews started as people waited in anticipation.  But most of all, he loved getting lost in a good movie.  That is why his is a frequent  visitor of the movie theater. What does “frequent” mean?

 Amanda wanted to be a good student like her older sister, Jenna.  Jenna always got A’s, whereas Amanda mostly received B’s.  Amanda asked her sister for help.  Jenna taught her how to take good notes, and what to study every night.  By the end of the year, Amanda had mostly A’s!  Jenna was very proud of the progress Amanda made. What character trait did Amanda gain?

Miss Brown went from row to row handing back the essays.  Tanya obviously got an A, since she did a fist pump when she saw her paper.  Alex quickly put the paper away, so no one could see it.  I hope I get a good grade.  Here she comes! What is the point of view?

Mr. Irvington called out the names of his students on the first day of school.  Tommy made a joke when his name was called.  Jill said “here”, but you could barely hear her voice, and she was looking at the ground.  Samantha laughed when her name was called, and asked if she could change her seat. What is the BEST character trait for Jill?

Michael was having engine trouble with his car.  He decided to fix the car himself. He worked on it every night.  At first, it seemed like everything was going wrong.  But after a few weeks, he was able to figure out the problem, and fixed it.  He was very pleased with his success. What is a summary of this passage?

Mother was upset because the house was a mess, and company was arriving soon.  Melanie picked up all of the toys.  James dusted the dining room table and vacuumed the rugs.  Kim cleaned the bathrooms.  Mother smiled with relief. What is the theme of this story?

(1) I had so much fun with Sandy last night!  (2) We met on the corner near the gas station.  (3) We bought tickets and some popcorn.  (4) Afterwards, we made plans to see each other soon. (5) I was home and in my bed by 10 o’clock.  What sentence shows where they spent the evening? Make an inference

(1)Nora called in sick.  (2) She packed everything that she needed.  (3) After searching for a few minutes, she found a place to park.  (4) Nora really enjoyed her day off.  (5) The next day she came  to work with sunburn.  (6) Her friends noticed right away. What can you infer about Nora’s day?