Reading original short passages and answering questions about theme, tone, word choice, inference and the author's purpose, using evidence from the text.
New York State Learning Standards learning standard: 8R1; 8R2 · 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 New York
In the New York State Learning Standards, this is unit 1 of 16 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
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.
Honey bees are native to North America.
Bees should only live in the countryside.
City beekeeping can help pollinators, but it works best alongside support for wild bees.
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 2
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 prove that bees can swim
To advertise a business
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 3
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.
Presents a limit to the idea and offers a suggestion
Describes how to build a hive
Compares two cities
Tells a personal story
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 4
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 offer flowers over a longer part of the year.
They use more pesticides.
They have fewer people.
They have no flowers to compete over.
They offer flowers over a longer part of the year.
Hint: Reread the second paragraph: “flowers from early spring to late autumn.”
Question 5
Which detail best supports the claim that solutions can be affordable?
Keeping the Night Sky
On a clear night far from any town, thousands of stars are visible to the naked eye. In a large city, you may be able to count only a few dozen. The reason is light pollution: electric light that shines upward or spills where it isn't needed, making the sky glow.
Light pollution is more than an inconvenience for stargazers. Many birds migrate at night and can become confused by bright buildings, sometimes flying into windows. Sea turtle hatchlings, which use moonlight on the water to find the ocean, may crawl toward streetlights instead. Researchers have also linked bright light at night to poorer sleep in people.
Fortunately, the problem can be fixed. Shields that aim lamps downward, warmer-colored bulbs and timers that dim lights after midnight all help. Several communities have adopted “dark sky” rules, and many report lower energy bills as a bonus. Protecting the night, it turns out, can be both practical and affordable.
Many communities report lower energy bills.
Some birds fly into windows.
Shields aim lamps downward.
Bulbs can be warmer in color.
Many communities report lower energy bills.
Hint: Lower bills mean the solutions save money.
Question 6
Which sentence best states the central idea of the passage?
Keeping the Night Sky
On a clear night far from any town, thousands of stars are visible to the naked eye. In a large city, you may be able to count only a few dozen. The reason is light pollution: electric light that shines upward or spills where it isn't needed, making the sky glow.
Light pollution is more than an inconvenience for stargazers. Many birds migrate at night and can become confused by bright buildings, sometimes flying into windows. Sea turtle hatchlings, which use moonlight on the water to find the ocean, may crawl toward streetlights instead. Researchers have also linked bright light at night to poorer sleep in people.
Fortunately, the problem can be fixed. Shields that aim lamps downward, warmer-colored bulbs and timers that dim lights after midnight all help. Several communities have adopted “dark sky” rules, and many report lower energy bills as a bonus. Protecting the night, it turns out, can be both practical and affordable.
Stars are visible only in cities.
Light pollution affects wildlife and people, but practical steps can reduce it.
Birds migrate only in daylight.
Streetlights should be banned.
Light pollution affects wildlife and people, but practical steps can reduce it.
Hint: The passage describes the problem, gives examples of harm, then offers solutions.