Guided Practice
Now it's time to practice what you've learned! Read each passage carefully and answer the questions. Use your skills to find main ideas and key details.
Passage 1: The Helpful Honeybee
Honeybees are some of the hardest workers in nature. They spend their days flying from flower to flower, collecting nectar and pollen. The nectar is used to make honey, which feeds the hive during cold winter months. While gathering nectar, bees spread pollen between flowers. This process, called pollination, helps plants grow fruits and vegetables. Without bees, many of the foods we eat every day would not exist. Scientists say that bees help pollinate about one-third of all the food we eat!
1. What is the main idea of this passage?
A) Bees make honey for winter.
B) Honeybees are important workers that help plants and provide food.
C) Flowers need pollen to grow.
D) Scientists study bees.
Answer
B) - The passage explains how bees work hard, make honey, and help pollinate plants that give us food. This covers the whole passage, not just one detail.
2. According to the passage, what do bees use nectar for?
A) To build their hives
B) To make honey
C) To fly faster
D) To attract other bees
Answer
B) - The passage states that "The nectar is used to make honey, which feeds the hive during cold winter months."
3. What is pollination?
A) When bees make honey
B) When bees fly to flowers
C) When bees spread pollen between flowers
D) When flowers bloom in spring
Answer
C) - The passage explains that pollination is when bees "spread pollen between flowers" as they gather nectar.
Passage 2: A Trip to the Aquarium
Last Saturday, our class took a field trip to the city aquarium. The first thing we saw was a giant tank filled with colorful tropical fish. Some were bright yellow, others were striped with blue and orange. Our guide, Ms. Torres, told us these fish come from coral reefs in warm oceans. Next, we visited the touch pool where we could gently feel starfish and sea urchins. The starfish felt bumpy and rough. My favorite part was the jellyfish exhibit. The jellyfish glowed in the dark water and moved like floating umbrellas. I learned that jellyfish have been around for millions of years, even longer than dinosaurs!
4. What was the narrator's favorite part of the aquarium?
A) The tropical fish tank
B) The touch pool
C) The jellyfish exhibit
D) Meeting Ms. Torres
Answer
C) - The passage clearly states "My favorite part was the jellyfish exhibit."
5. Based on the passage, where do the colorful tropical fish come from?
A) Cold rivers
B) Coral reefs in warm oceans
C) Deep sea caves
D) Lakes and ponds
Answer
B) - Ms. Torres told the class that "these fish come from coral reefs in warm oceans."
6. How did the starfish feel when touched?
A) Smooth and slippery
B) Soft and squishy
C) Bumpy and rough
D) Wet and cold
Answer
C) - The passage describes the starfish as feeling "bumpy and rough."
7. What can you infer about the narrator from this passage?
A) The narrator does not like fish.
B) The narrator enjoys learning about sea creatures.
C) The narrator wants to be a tour guide.
D) The narrator is afraid of jellyfish.
Answer
B) - The narrator describes the trip with excitement, mentions learning about jellyfish history, and calls the exhibit their "favorite part," showing they enjoy learning about sea creatures.
Passage 3: Growing a Garden
Growing a vegetable garden is easier than you might think! First, choose a sunny spot in your yard. Most vegetables need at least six hours of sunlight each day. Next, prepare the soil by mixing in compost, which adds nutrients that help plants grow strong. Then, plant your seeds according to the directions on the packet. Some seeds, like lettuce, can be planted close together. Others, like tomatoes, need more space. Water your garden regularly, but be careful not to overwater. Too much water can actually harm the roots. With patience and care, you will soon have fresh vegetables to enjoy!
8. What is the purpose of this passage?
A) To tell a story about a garden
B) To explain how to grow a vegetable garden
C) To compare different vegetables
D) To describe why vegetables are healthy
Answer
B) - The passage gives step-by-step instructions for growing a vegetable garden, making it an explanatory "how-to" text.
9. Why is compost added to the soil?
A) To make the soil look nice
B) To keep bugs away
C) To add nutrients that help plants grow strong
D) To make watering easier
Answer
C) - The passage states that compost "adds nutrients that help plants grow strong."
10. According to the passage, what can happen if you water too much?
A) The vegetables will grow faster.
B) The roots can be harmed.
C) The soil will become too sunny.
D) The seeds will not sprout.
Answer
B) - The passage warns that "Too much water can actually harm the roots."
What Did You Learn?
- Always read the whole passage before answering questions.
- Look for key words in questions to help find the answer in the passage.
- Main idea questions ask about the big picture, not small details.
- Detail questions can be answered by finding specific sentences in the passage.