Grade: 4 Subject: SAT/ACT Skills Unit: Evidence-Based Answers Lesson: 3 of 6 SAT: Information+Ideas ACT: Reading

Guided Practice

Learn

In this guided practice lesson, you will apply your skills in finding and citing text evidence. Remember: strong answers always point back to specific words or sentences in the passage!

Key Strategies

  • Read the question first - Know what you're looking for before reading.
  • Underline key words - Mark important details as you read.
  • Go back to the text - Always check the passage before answering.
  • Use exact words when possible - Quote directly from the text.

Examples

Practice Passage

Read this passage carefully. You will answer questions about it.

Bees are amazing insects that help our world in many ways. They fly from flower to flower collecting nectar to make honey. While doing this, they spread pollen, which helps plants grow new seeds. Without bees, many of the fruits and vegetables we eat would not exist. Scientists are worried because bee populations are shrinking. People can help by planting bee-friendly flowers and avoiding harmful pesticides.

Example Question

Question: According to the passage, how do bees help plants?

Think: Look for the part that explains what bees do for plants.

Evidence: "They spread pollen, which helps plants grow new seeds."

Answer: Bees help plants by spreading pollen, which allows plants to grow new seeds.

Practice Quiz

Use the passage about bees above to answer questions 1-5. For questions 6-10, use the new passage provided.

1. What do bees collect from flowers?

Show Answer

Nectar - Evidence: "They fly from flower to flower collecting nectar to make honey."

2. Why are scientists worried about bees?

Show Answer

Bee populations are shrinking. - Evidence: "Scientists are worried because bee populations are shrinking."

3. What is one way people can help bees?

Show Answer

Plant bee-friendly flowers OR avoid harmful pesticides. - Evidence: "People can help by planting bee-friendly flowers and avoiding harmful pesticides."

4. What would happen without bees, according to the passage?

Show Answer

Many fruits and vegetables we eat would not exist. - Evidence: "Without bees, many of the fruits and vegetables we eat would not exist."

5. The passage says bees are "amazing insects." What evidence supports this description?

Show Answer

They help our world in many ways - making honey and helping plants reproduce. - Evidence: "They fly from flower to flower collecting nectar to make honey. While doing this, they spread pollen, which helps plants grow new seeds."

New Passage for Questions 6-10

The octopus is one of the smartest animals in the ocean. It has eight arms and can change color in less than a second. Scientists have seen octopuses open jars, solve puzzles, and even escape from their tanks! Octopuses have blue blood and three hearts. They live alone and can squeeze through tiny spaces because they have no bones. When threatened, an octopus sprays ink to confuse predators and escape.

6. How many hearts does an octopus have?

Show Answer

Three hearts - Evidence: "Octopuses have blue blood and three hearts."

7. What evidence shows that octopuses are smart?

Show Answer

They can open jars, solve puzzles, and escape from tanks. - Evidence: "Scientists have seen octopuses open jars, solve puzzles, and even escape from their tanks!"

8. Why can octopuses squeeze through tiny spaces?

Show Answer

They have no bones. - Evidence: "They can squeeze through tiny spaces because they have no bones."

9. How does an octopus protect itself from predators?

Show Answer

It sprays ink to confuse predators and escape. - Evidence: "When threatened, an octopus sprays ink to confuse predators and escape."

10. Do octopuses live in groups or alone? What is your evidence?

Show Answer

Octopuses live alone. - Evidence: "They live alone and can squeeze through tiny spaces because they have no bones."

Check Your Understanding

Review your answers. Did you include specific evidence from the text in each answer? Strong answers always point back to the passage!

Next Steps

  • Practice underlining key details as you read
  • Always go back to the text to check your answers
  • Move on to Lesson 4: Making Inferences