CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.1
Description:
Key Ideas and Details
Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
Maps to Reading Plus skills:
1A, 1B, 3B, 3C, 4B, 4C, 5C, 6B, 6B, 8A, 9B
Exemplars
1A: Recalling Explicit Details
1A: Recalling Explicit Details
Description:
Identifying explicit details including character, time, setting and speaker
SeeReader
✓ standard met
Selection:
D-4
D-4
Grade level: 4
Word count: 1384 words
Author: Kate Carter
Synopsis: Animals use their tails in endless ways--from talking to just hanging around.
Excerpt:
Animals even talk with their tails. If you have a dog, you know that already. Dogs use their tails all the time to talk to people and to other dogs. Have you seen a dog wag its tail? A dog that wags its tail is saying, "Life is good, and I am happy." When it wags its tail so hard that its body wiggles, it means, "I like you, and I want to be your friend."
If a dog curls its tail under its belly, it is saying, "I'm scared. Please go away." If a dog points its tail down, it is thinking.
Cats talk with their tails, too. If a cat wags its tail slowly, it is mad. The cat is expecting something bad to happen. Maybe you're about to give the cat a bath, or maybe a dog is getting ready to chase it. The cat is saying, "I'm ready to run away if you try to catch me."
If a dog curls its tail under its belly, it is saying, "I'm scared. Please go away." If a dog points its tail down, it is thinking.
Cats talk with their tails, too. If a cat wags its tail slowly, it is mad. The cat is expecting something bad to happen. Maybe you're about to give the cat a bath, or maybe a dog is getting ready to chase it. The cat is saying, "I'm ready to run away if you try to catch me."
Question:
According to the selection, which two of the following statements are correct?
- Both dogs and cats wag tails to communicate.
- A dog wags its tail when it is happy, a cat wags its tail when it is scared.
- A dog wags its tail when it is angry, a cat wags its tail to say hello.
- Neither dogs nor cats are able to communicate with people.
- Cats are more likely to wag their tails when they are alone.
Writing
✓ standard met
Writing prompt:
Write a speech for a character in a selection you read in which the character describes his or her life, home, and the things he or she likes to do.
Evaluator
Organization:
Certica Solutions
1B: Analyzing Implicit Details
1B: Analyzing Implicit Details
Description:
Drawing Conclusions, Making Inferences from information in text
SeeReader
✓ standard met
Selection:
D-16
D-16
Grade level: 4
Word count: 1550 words
Author: R. Bender
Synopsis: What might surprise you about someone you already know?
Excerpt:
At the time, Sam's parents were young. They knew they needed to escape the violence and hardship in their village. They heard there were jobs in America, so they saved their money until they could afford to travel there on a small passenger ship.
Question:
Sam's parents decided to leave their village. What is the main reason they left?
- to escape from violence
- to explore America
- to find new jobs
- to get a good education
Writing
✓ standard met
Writing prompt:
Did the title of this selection provide you with clues about the selection's main idea? Why or why not?
Evaluator
Organization:
Certica Solutions
3B: Analyzing Plot/Character
3B: Analyzing Plot/Character
Description:
Analyzing setting, plot, and character
SeeReader
✓ standard met
Selection:
D-8
D-8
Grade level: 4
Word count: 1517 words
Author: Mary Dunn
Synopsis: Crows are smart survivors who also know how to have a good time.
Excerpt:
But a crow's favorite food is pig heart. A crow will do just about anything to get at this treat. Knowing this, one scientist used pig heart to test the crow's thinking skills. He placed pieces of pig heart in a tiny bucket, and put the bucket inside a tall plastic tube. Beside the tube, he put a piece of wire. Then he watched to see what the crow would do. First, it pecked at the tube to see if it could get the food. No luck. Next, the crow put its beak into the tube, but it couldn't reach the snack. Then the crow picked up the wire and pushed it into the tube, but it couldn't pull out the meat. The crow then used its beak to bend the wire into a hook. Finally, the crow used the hook like a tool. Pulling out the bucket by the handle, the crow got its treat.
Question:
Read this excerpt. Which two of the following characteristics best describe the crow that participated in this experiment?
- intelligent
- determined
- fearless
- confused
- friendly
Writing
✓ standard met
Writing prompt:
Explain why you agree or disagree with the behavior of a character.
Evaluator
Organization:
Certica Solutions
3C: Analyzing Cause/Effect
3C: Analyzing Cause/Effect
Description:
Analyzing Cause and Effect
SeeReader
✓ standard met
Selection:
D-12
D-12
Grade level: 4
Word count: 1340 words
Author: Allen Huse
Synopsis: A gym teacher got the ball rolling--or dribbling.
Excerpt:
No, if they ran with the ball, there'd be blocking and tackling and bruises and broken legs. How about something like a box, but raised off the ground, to throw the ball in and score points? Yeah, that was it; a raised goal would mean players needed to use ability rather than force to make points. They'd have to pass the ball to their teammates, not run with it.
Question:
Why did Naismith decide to have players throw the ball instead of carry it?
- Players would have to use skill instead of force to score points.
- The games would be longer and more exciting for fans.
- The ball was too heavy to carry from one end of the court to the other.
- Fans could see the ball more easily if it was in motion.
Writing
✓ standard met
Writing prompt:
Write three "why" questions about things that happened in a selection and then answer those questions.
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
- balloon.
- bird.
- soap bubble.
- 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
4C: Visualizing
4C: Visualizing
Description:
Visualizing
SeeReader
✓ standard met
Selection:
D-11
D-11
Grade level: 4
Word count: 1499 words
Author: Misha Berman
Synopsis: Monsters have been around as long as people. Which monsters are real, and which did we dream up?
Excerpt:
In maps from the 1500s and 1600s, the ocean is full of sea monsters. Some of them look a bit like a whale, except with a nose like a beak and enormous sharp teeth. Others have a snout like a pig or a body like a huge snake. None of them look the least bit like someone you would want to meet.
Question:
Many maps from the 1600s showed pictures of sea monsters in the ocean. The selection says some of these sea monsters looked like
- whales with sharp teeth.
- mermaids with sharp claws.
- roaring lions with web feet.
- dragons with two heads.
Writing
✓ standard met
Writing prompt:
Draw a picture of something that happened in a selection.
Evaluator
Organization:
Certica Solutions
5C: Examining Genre
5C: Examining Genre
Description:
Examining Genre
SeeReader
✓ standard met
Selection:
D-13
D-13
Grade level: 4
Word count: 1389 words
Author: Michael H. Levitt
Synopsis: The shy, gentle octopus is one of the most intelligent sea animals.
Excerpt:
No excerpt is available for this question.
Question:
This selection is best described as
- informational text.
- science fiction.
- realistic fiction.
- a news report.
Writing
✓ standard met
Writing prompt:
How do you know if a text is fiction or non-fiction? Provide examples from texts you have read to support your ideas.
Evaluator
Organization:
Certica Solutions
6B: Recognizing Persuasion
6B: Recognizing Persuasion
Description:
Recognizing Persuasive Devices
SeeReader
✓ standard met
Selection:
D-18
D-18
Grade level: 4
Word count: 1429 words
Author: Derrick Rose
Synopsis: These two football fans could argue all afternoon--and they do.
Excerpt:
"True," Jayson said, "I guess the Packers can show off a little bit if they want to. They're one of the oldest teams, and the most successful, with something like 13 championships, including four Super Bowl championships. Plus they've had so many famous players through the years, like Bart Starr and Brett Favre. They also have some of the greatest fans in the world."
"Cheeseheads, as the fans are called, don't let the cold Wisconsin weather prevent them from going to every game, though.
"Cheeseheads, as the fans are called, don't let the cold Wisconsin weather prevent them from going to every game, though.
Question:
Choose the two sentences in this excerpt that prove the Packers receive a lot of support from the community.
Writing
✓ standard met
Writing prompt:
Explain how you can tell if an author is writing about something real or make-believe in a selection. Use examples from at least four selections you have read to support your argument.
Evaluator
Organization:
Certica Solutions
8A: Judging Validity
8A: Judging Validity
Description:
Judge Validity
SeeReader
✓ standard met
Selection:
D-6
D-6
Grade level: 4
Word count: 1328 words
Author: Kate Carter
Synopsis: Tough and tougher: that describes the plants and animals that make their home in the desert.
Excerpt:
The kangaroo mouse is one such animal. This tiny mouse lives in the southwestern United States. It has very strong back legs, like a kangaroo, and it can jump a huge distance. It gets enough water from the insects, plants, and seeds it eats, so it never has to drink any water. The mouse makes its home under the desert sand. There it can stay cool even when the sun is very hot. At night the mouse will come out to search for food.
Many other small animals also live in tunnels in the day.
Many other small animals also live in tunnels in the day.
Question:
Based on what you have read in this selection, which statement is correct?
- The kangaroo mouse gets the water it needs from the food it eats.
- The kangaroo mouse is able to find hidden supplies of water under the ground.
- The kangaroo mouse is a common desert animal that needs large amounts of water.
- The kangaroo mouse builds its nest inside desert plants.
Writing
✓ standard met
Writing prompt:
Describe at least five ways you can tell if a selection is true or not true. Use examples from selections you have read to support your statements.
Evaluator
Organization:
Certica Solutions
9B: Classifying
9B: Classifying
Description:
Classify
SeeReader
✓ standard met
Selection:
D-20
D-20
Grade level: 4
Word count: 1491 words
Author: Kerry Mescallado
Synopsis: Many people like to go to amusements parks, but not many know how much work goes into them.
Excerpt:
Some of the earliest amusement parks in the world date back to Europe in the 1600s. At that time, the parks were called "pleasure gardens." They included water fountains and flower gardens. They also had games and music. But not everyone could go. Only the kings, the queens, and the people who were rich had the money to go there.
Question:
The pleasure gardens of the 1600s included
- fountains, games, flower gardens.
- music, roller coasters, zoos.
- music, ice slides, bowling.
- ice slides, fountains, pony rides.
Writing
✓ standard met
Writing prompt:
What makes a character a hero or a villain? List the names of characters who are heroes or villains and explain why they belong to that group. The characters can be from fiction or non-fiction texts.
Evaluator
Organization:
Certica Solutions
6B: Recognizing Persuasion
6B: Recognizing Persuasion
Description:
Recognizing Persuasive Devices
SeeReader
✓ standard met
Selection:
D-15
D-15
Grade level: 4
Word count: 1303 words
Author: Joyce C. Trygstad
Synopsis: The aquarium's dolphin is unhappy. Can scientists figure out how to help him?
Excerpt:
Scientists have also learned that dolphins are as social as they are intelligent. Just as we need to have contact with other human beings, a dolphin needs to have contact with other dolphins. That's the biggest lesson Whittles shared.
Question:
The author thinks the most important thing the scientists did was
- learn that dolphins need other dolphins to be happy and healthy.
- discover that dolphins cannot communicate.
- discover that dolphins are afraid of humans.
- realize that keeping dolphins in a pen will make them unhappy.
Writing
✓ standard met
Writing prompt:
Explain how you can tell if an author is writing about something real or make-believe in a selection. Use examples from at least four selections you have read to support your argument.
Evaluator
Organization:
Certica Solutions