CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.5.c

Description: Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings. Demonstrate understanding of words by relating them to their opposites (antonyms) and to words with similar but not identical meanings (synonyms).
Maps to Reading Plus skills: 4A, 4A, 4B, 4B

Exemplars

4A: Interpreting Word Meaning

4A: Interpreting Word Meaning

Description: Interpreting Word Meaning

SeeReader
✓ standard met

Selection: D-9

D-9

Grade level: 4
Word count: 1314 words
Author: Madeline Arroyo
Synopsis: First endangered, then protected, the wolf is still at risk.
Excerpt: The more people visit national parks and other wildlife-rich places, the more they're apt to help protect these lands--and the animals that live there.

Question: Read this excerpt from the selection. Which of the following best described the meaning of the word "apt"?
  1. likely
  2. not willing
  3. afraid
  4. quietly

Writing
✓ standard met

Writing prompt: Choose a selection that included some unfamiliar vocabulary. Replace the unfamiliar words with synonyms that are easier to understand yet still convey the same meaning.

Evaluator

Organization: Certica Solutions

4B: Interpreting Analogies

4B: Interpreting Analogies

Description: Interpreting Analogies

SeeReader
✓ standard met

Selection: D-1

D-1

Grade level: 4
Word count: 1420 words
Author: Mary Dunn
Synopsis: Frogs sing to other frogs, but they also have a lot to say to people.
Excerpt: For a small animal, the frog can make a lot of noise. Some frogs make a sound you can hear from more than a mile away. These super-loud frogs puff up with air when they call. They look as if they have swallowed a large balloon. When a frog takes in a lot of air, it can make a very big sound.

Question: This selection describes a frog that puffs up with air to make a very loud sound. The selection says this kind of frog looks like a
  1. balloon.
  2. bird.
  3. soap bubble.
  4. beach ball.

Writing
✓ standard met

Writing prompt: List five words in a selection that helped you form a picture in your mind. Do additional research to find a synonym and antonym for each word, and use the word in a sentence.

Evaluator

Organization: Certica Solutions

4A: Interpreting Word Meaning

4A: Interpreting Word Meaning

Description: Interpreting Word Meaning

SeeReader
✓ standard met

Selection: HiD-8

HiD-8

Grade level: 4
Word count: 1565 words
Author: Jack London
Synopsis: A proud young man finds out it takes more than just muscle to stay alive in the frozen north.
Excerpt: Still, Tom was alive with joy. He was doing something, achieving something, mastering the elements. Strong as the elements were, he was stronger.

Question: Read this excerpt from the selection. What does the phrase "mastering the elements" mean?
  1. He believed he was stronger than nature.
  2. He thought he owned that area of land.
  3. He knew the long hike would not make him tired.
  4. He was sure it would get warmer soon.

Writing
✓ standard met

Writing prompt: Choose a selection that included some unfamiliar vocabulary. Replace the unfamiliar words with synonyms that are easier to understand yet still convey the same meaning.

Evaluator

Organization: Certica Solutions

4B: Interpreting Analogies

4B: Interpreting Analogies

Description: Interpreting Analogies

SeeReader
✓ standard met

Selection: D-17

D-17

Grade level: 4
Word count: 1585 words
Author: R. Bender
Synopsis: A teacher gets the attention of his students through clever lessons about scientific ideas.
Excerpt: Then he looked at all of us, smiled, and said, "Hello, sponges! I'm Mr. A. Welcome to science!"

This was weird! I raised my hand and asked, "Why did you call us sponges?"

Mr. A smiled. "A sponge soaks up things, right? You are going to be soaking up science in my class this year!"

Question: According to Mr. A, a sponge is to liquid like
  1. students are to science.
  2. gravity is to a desk.
  3. people are to plants.
  4. teachers are to skateboards.

Writing
✓ standard met

Writing prompt: List five words in a selection that helped you form a picture in your mind. Do additional research to find a synonym and antonym for each word, and use the word in a sentence.

Evaluator

Organization: Certica Solutions