Reading original short passages and answering questions about theme, tone, word choice, inference and the author's purpose, using evidence from the text.
Alabama Course of Study content standard: 8.3; 8.4 · theme, tone and textual evidence
How we explain it
Children can open this short lesson before they practice.
Theme is the message about life. Tone is the author’s attitude, shown through word choice.
Back every answer with the words from the text that prove it best.
Ask what each paragraph does: introduce, explain, give an example, admit a limit or suggest a solution.
Example: Which words best show that Dara is calm during a delay: “pressed her forehead to the window and watched” or “paced the aisle”? Calm means still and relaxed. Pacing shows worry. Quietly watching shows calm. Answer: “pressed her forehead to the window and watched”
Close Reading in Alabama
In the Alabama Course of Study, this is unit 1 of 12 in 8th grade English Language Arts, before Literary Devices.
Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.
A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.
Question 1
What does the author do in the final paragraph?
Why We Keep Bees
When the Hartman family started keeping bees on their roof in the city, their neighbors were nervous. Bees, they said, belonged in the countryside, not beside the laundromat.
But researchers have found that cities can be surprisingly good homes for pollinators. A city garden, balcony pot or park offers flowers from early spring to late autumn, while farms often have only one crop that blooms for a few weeks. Many cities also use fewer pesticides than large farms.
Still, urban beekeeping is not a perfect solution. Honey bees are not native to North America, and when too many hives crowd a neighborhood they can compete with wild bees for food. Experts suggest that city dwellers who want to help should also plant native flowers and leave small patches of bare soil, where many wild bees nest.
Compares two cities
Describes how to build a hive
Tells a personal story
Presents a limit to the idea and offers a suggestion
Presents a limit to the idea and offers a suggestion
Hint: “Still, … is not a perfect solution” introduces a concern, and the last sentence gives advice.
Question 2
According to the passage, why are cities good for pollinators?
Why We Keep Bees
When the Hartman family started keeping bees on their roof in the city, their neighbors were nervous. Bees, they said, belonged in the countryside, not beside the laundromat.
But researchers have found that cities can be surprisingly good homes for pollinators. A city garden, balcony pot or park offers flowers from early spring to late autumn, while farms often have only one crop that blooms for a few weeks. Many cities also use fewer pesticides than large farms.
Still, urban beekeeping is not a perfect solution. Honey bees are not native to North America, and when too many hives crowd a neighborhood they can compete with wild bees for food. Experts suggest that city dwellers who want to help should also plant native flowers and leave small patches of bare soil, where many wild bees nest.
They have no flowers to compete over.
They offer flowers over a longer part of the year.
They use more pesticides.
They have fewer people.
They offer flowers over a longer part of the year.
Hint: Reread the second paragraph: “flowers from early spring to late autumn.”
Question 3
Why does the author include the phrase “beside the laundromat” in the first paragraph?
Why We Keep Bees
When the Hartman family started keeping bees on their roof in the city, their neighbors were nervous. Bees, they said, belonged in the countryside, not beside the laundromat.
But researchers have found that cities can be surprisingly good homes for pollinators. A city garden, balcony pot or park offers flowers from early spring to late autumn, while farms often have only one crop that blooms for a few weeks. Many cities also use fewer pesticides than large farms.
Still, urban beekeeping is not a perfect solution. Honey bees are not native to North America, and when too many hives crowd a neighborhood they can compete with wild bees for food. Experts suggest that city dwellers who want to help should also plant native flowers and leave small patches of bare soil, where many wild bees nest.
To explain how honey is made
To advertise a business
To prove that bees can swim
To show how unexpected bees seemed in a city
To show how unexpected bees seemed in a city
Hint: A laundromat is the opposite of a meadow. The detail shows why the neighbors were surprised.
Question 4
Which sentence best states the central idea of the passage?
Why We Keep Bees
When the Hartman family started keeping bees on their roof in the city, their neighbors were nervous. Bees, they said, belonged in the countryside, not beside the laundromat.
But researchers have found that cities can be surprisingly good homes for pollinators. A city garden, balcony pot or park offers flowers from early spring to late autumn, while farms often have only one crop that blooms for a few weeks. Many cities also use fewer pesticides than large farms.
Still, urban beekeeping is not a perfect solution. Honey bees are not native to North America, and when too many hives crowd a neighborhood they can compete with wild bees for food. Experts suggest that city dwellers who want to help should also plant native flowers and leave small patches of bare soil, where many wild bees nest.
Bees should only live in the countryside.
City beekeeping can help pollinators, but it works best alongside support for wild bees.
Honey bees are native to North America.
Farms are always better than cities for pollinators.
City beekeeping can help pollinators, but it works best alongside support for wild bees.
Hint: The passage gives benefits first, then a caution, then advice. The central idea combines them.
Question 5
Why does the author describe Mateo's practicing in so many places?
Fourth Down
Mateo had practiced the kick a thousand times, in the backyard, in the school gym, even in the hallway at night until his dad said to stop. Now the whole season came down to one play.
The stadium lights blurred. His teammates were shouting something, but the words sounded like they were underwater. Mateo took two steps back, then one to the left, exactly as always. He thought of Coach's advice: “Don't aim at the goalposts. Aim at the one blade of grass in front of you.”
His foot met the ball with a sound like a snapping branch. For one long second nobody moved. Then the crowd's roar rolled over him, and Mateo realized he had been holding his breath since the whistle.
To show how hard he has worked to prepare.
To show that he is bored.
To suggest he plays several sports.
To show that his dad is angry.
To show how hard he has worked to prepare.
Hint: Backyard, gym, hallway: the repeated places show dedication.
Question 6
What is the main message of Coach's advice?
Fourth Down
Mateo had practiced the kick a thousand times, in the backyard, in the school gym, even in the hallway at night until his dad said to stop. Now the whole season came down to one play.
The stadium lights blurred. His teammates were shouting something, but the words sounded like they were underwater. Mateo took two steps back, then one to the left, exactly as always. He thought of Coach's advice: “Don't aim at the goalposts. Aim at the one blade of grass in front of you.”
His foot met the ball with a sound like a snapping branch. For one long second nobody moved. Then the crowd's roar rolled over him, and Mateo realized he had been holding his breath since the whistle.
Grass is more important than the ball.
Always aim for the goalposts.
Never practice at home.
Focus on one small, close target instead of the huge pressure.
Focus on one small, close target instead of the huge pressure.
Hint: “One blade of grass” makes a big task feel small and manageable.