Question Types
In this lesson, you will practice identifying and answering four different types of reading questions: Main Idea, Detail, Vocabulary, and Inference.
Passage: The Red Panda
The red panda is a small, furry animal that lives in the mountains of Asia. Despite its name, the red panda is not closely related to the giant panda. Red pandas are about the size of a house cat and have rust-colored fur with white markings on their faces. They spend most of their time in trees, where they feel safe from predators.
Red pandas are shy and solitary animals, which means they prefer to live alone. They are most active at dawn and dusk, sleeping during the hottest parts of the day. Their diet consists mainly of bamboo, but they also eat berries, mushrooms, and bird eggs. Sadly, red pandas are endangered because their forest homes are being cut down. Conservation groups are working hard to protect these adorable creatures.
1. What is the main idea of this passage?
A) Red pandas eat bamboo.
B) Red pandas are interesting animals that need protection.
C) Red pandas live in trees.
D) Red pandas have rust-colored fur.
Answer
B) - The passage describes many facts about red pandas and ends by explaining they are endangered and need protection. This covers the whole passage.
2. According to the passage, what size are red pandas?
A) As big as a giant panda
B) About the size of a house cat
C) Smaller than a mouse
D) As large as a dog
Answer
B) - The passage states that "Red pandas are about the size of a house cat."
3. As used in the passage, the word "solitary" most nearly means:
A) Friendly and social
B) Angry and mean
C) Alone and by themselves
D) Sleepy and tired
Answer
C) - The passage explains that solitary "means they prefer to live alone." Context clues tell us the definition.
4. Based on the passage, why do red pandas probably spend time in trees?
A) Because they like to fly
B) Because it keeps them safe from danger
C) Because they cannot walk on the ground
D) Because bamboo only grows in trees
Answer
B) - The passage says they spend time in trees "where they feel safe from predators." We can infer that being in trees protects them from danger.
Passage: Making Maple Syrup
Every spring in New England, farmers collect sap from maple trees to make maple syrup. The process begins when temperatures rise above freezing during the day but drop below freezing at night. This temperature change causes sap to flow inside the trees.
Farmers drill small holes into maple trees and insert spouts. The clear, watery sap drips into buckets or flows through tubes to a collection tank. This raw sap doesn't taste like syrup yet! It must be boiled down in a process called evaporation. It takes about 40 gallons of sap to make just one gallon of syrup. The boiling process removes water and leaves behind the sweet, thick syrup we pour on pancakes.
5. How much sap is needed to make one gallon of maple syrup?
A) One gallon
B) Ten gallons
C) About 40 gallons
D) One hundred gallons
Answer
C) - The passage states "It takes about 40 gallons of sap to make just one gallon of syrup."
6. As used in the passage, the word "evaporation" refers to:
A) Adding water to something
B) Removing water by boiling
C) Freezing sap into ice
D) Pouring syrup on pancakes
Answer
B) - The passage describes evaporation as a "boiling process" that "removes water," leaving behind thick syrup.
7. Based on the passage, why can't maple syrup be made in summer?
A) Because the trees are too hot
B) Because farmers are too busy
C) Because temperatures don't go below freezing at night
D) Because there are no buckets available
Answer
C) - The passage explains that sap flows when temperatures rise above freezing during the day but drop below freezing at night. In summer, nights are warm, so this temperature pattern doesn't happen.
8. What would be the best title for this passage?
A) Why Pancakes Are Delicious
B) Trees in New England
C) How Maple Syrup Is Made
D) Spring Weather Patterns
Answer
C) - The entire passage explains the step-by-step process of making maple syrup from tree sap.
Passage: A New Student
When Ms. Garcia introduced the new student, Aiden felt a pang of nervousness. The new kid, Marco, would be sitting right next to him. Aiden wasn't very good at talking to people he didn't know.
At lunch, Aiden noticed Marco sitting alone at a table. Marco was looking down at his tray, not eating. Aiden remembered his first day at a new school two years ago. It had been miserable. Before he could talk himself out of it, Aiden picked up his lunch and walked over.
"Hey, want some company?" Aiden asked. Marco's face lit up with relief. "That would be great," he said. By the end of lunch, Aiden had learned that Marco loved the same video games he did. Maybe making new friends wasn't so hard after all.
9. Why did Aiden decide to sit with Marco?
A) The teacher told him to.
B) He remembered how hard his own first day was.
C) Marco called him over.
D) There were no other seats available.
Answer
B) - The passage shows Aiden "remembered his first day at a new school" and that "It had been miserable." This memory motivated him to help Marco.
10. As used in the passage, the word "miserable" most nearly means:
A) Exciting and fun
B) Very unhappy and awful
C) Confusing and strange
D) Quick and easy
Answer
B) - Aiden describes his first day at a new school as "miserable," and the context suggests he was very unhappy and had a hard time.
Remember the Four Types
- Main Idea: What is the passage mostly about?
- Detail: What specific fact does the passage state?
- Vocabulary: What does this word mean in the passage?
- Inference: What can you figure out from clues in the passage?