Brady followed Wen into his room, asking why everyone was wearing red-colored pajamas for the sleepover. A smile played on Wen's face. "Open your present."

As he slowly pulled the thin paper away, Brady found his own pair of red pants and a knee-length shirt with long, wide sleeves. "They're pien-fu; I'll be wearing the same thing," Wen explained. "Wearing new clothes, especially in red, is part of the Chinese New Year tradition and symbolizes good fortune."

Brady went into the bathroom to change into his new clothes. They were loose and comfortable. He liked the smoothness of the silk against his skin and the way the fabric breathed.

Why does the author include such detail in the last two paragraphs?

Even before graduating from high school, Keichline showed her architectural ability. At the age of 14, she designed and constructed an impressive oak table that won her first prize at a local county fair. The table showed true craftmanship, and even grabbed the attention of a reporter from the Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper. The reporter praised Keichline and compared her construction to that of a highly skilled professional.

Keichline believed education was important. After graduating from high school in 1906, she began studying mechanical engineering at Pennsylvania State College, even though she was one of only a few women in the classes.

In the first paragraph, the newspaper reporter writes about Keichline most likely because she...

Daren showed up at the banquet with food stains all over his dress shirt. He sat down, put his feet on the table, and burped loudly. The other people sitting at the table looked at each other but continued eating.

What character trait does Daren demonstrate?

Diamond spent twelve hours working on her Popsicle stick White House yesterday. Today she noticed that there are bushes in front of the building, so she spent another six hours making bushes out of construction paper.

What character trait does Diamond demonstrate?

Direct characterization is when the author tells us directly what the characters are like. The author may state the character’s traits: “Kareem was a polite, patient boy who always listened to his parents.”

Which of the following is an example of direct characterization?

In indirect characterization, the author does not come out and tell us what the character is like. Instead, the author shows the character’s personality through things the character says, does, feels and thinks and the way other characters react to the character.

In the following passage from the book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, the character Dorothy is talking to another character, the Scarecrow.

Read the passage and then answer the question below.

“No, indeed. I don’t know anything. You see, I am stuffed, so I have no brains at all," [the Scarecrow] answered sadly.

“Oh,” said Dorothy, “I'm awfully sorry for you.”

“Do you think,” he asked, “if I go to the Emerald City with you, that Oz would give me some brains?”

“I cannot tell,” she returned, “but you may come with me, if you like. If Oz will not give you any brains you will be no worse off than you are now.”

Which detail from the passage best shows us that Dorothy is caring and kind?

Making an inference means using clues from the story to figure out something that the author doesn’t directly tell you.

Read the following passage.

“We did it! We did it! We did it!” Mei boasted, slapping her hand against the table, scattering toast crumbs, knocking aside teaspoons and almost smearing the butter in her zeal.

“Whoa!” her brother exclaimed, startled. “Well, congratulations!”

Mei stood up and triumphantly strutted around the kitchen, transforming her walk around the breakfast table into a victory parade.

Her brother laughed, surprised and amused. “Who are you, and what have you done with my sister, Mei?” he teased.

Based on the passage, what can you infer about the main character Mei?

The main character in story who wants to reach a goal.

The character who prevents the protagonist from reaching his/her goal.

The introduction to a story, including the primary characters' names, setting, mood, and time.

What is the climax of a story?

All of the events that lead to the eventual climax, including character development and events that create suspense.

Everything that happens as a result of the climax, including wrapping up of plot points, questions being answers, and character development.

Unlike the topic of literature, a theme ...

Which of the following is NOT an example of a theme?

The repetition of sounds at the end of words is known as

a poem that has no specific rhyme scheme or structure

a three lined poem with a 5-7-5 syllable pattern; usually about nature

A song-like narrative that has a specific rhyme scheme and structure

This poem is an example of a

This poem is an example of

This poem is an example of

This poem is an example of

A five lined rhyming poem that is usually humorous

This is an example of

The _____ identifies what the topic of an article or book will be about.

This image is an example of a(n)

Bold and Italicized words are important because

If the reader wants to look up information on a specific topic inside of the textbook, like Hammerhead Sharks, they would look in the...

The ______ tells the reader the names of each chapter and what page the chapter begins.

A _____ tells the reader specific information in relation to a photograph or illustration within a text

A ____ provides information such as numbers in a logical way.

The _____ divides a text into sections and explains what each section will be about.

The ____ tells the definitions of specific words related to the text.