Quick-Study Edition STARS F SERIES STRATEGIES TO ACHIEVE READING SUCCESS
TABLE OF CONTENTS Strategy One Finding Main Idea................................................................ 2 Strategy Two Recalling Facts and Details.................................................... 6 Strategy Three Understanding Sequence...................................................... 10 Strategies One Three REVIEW................................................................ 14 Strategy Four Recognizing Cause and Effect................................................ 16 Strategy Five Comparing and Contrasting................................................... 20 Strategy Six Making Predictions............................................................. 24 Strategies Four Six REVIEW................................................................ 28 Strategy Seven Finding Word Meaning in Context............................................ 30 Strategy Eight Drawing Conclusions and Making Inferences............................. 34 Strategy Nine.................................. 38 Strategies Seven Nine REVIEW................................................................ 42 Strategy Ten Identifying Author s Purpose.................................................. 44 Strategy Eleven Interpreting Figurative Language............................................. 48 Strategy Twelve Summarizing...................................................................... 52 Strategies Ten Twelve REVIEW................................................................ 56 Answer Form... 59
Strategy Nine DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN FACT AND OPINION Learn About If a statement can be proved, it is a fact. If a statement tells what someone thinks or feels about something, it is an opinion. Facts can be proved. Opinions cannot. When you figure out if a statement is a fact or an opinion, you are distinguishing between fact and opinion. Facts are statements that can be checked or proved. Opinions are statements that cannot be proved. They tell what someone thinks, feels, or believes. Opinions often contain such clue words as think, feel, believe, and seem. Other common clue words are always, never, all, none, most, least, greatest, best, and worst. Read this article about a special parrot. As you read, ask yourself, Which statements can be proved? Which statements cannot be proved? Then answer the questions. Most people believe that wild parrots live only in tropical climates. If you re one of them, think again. For decades many of these natives to South America have lived outdoors in Connecticut, Illinois, New York, Virginia, Louisiana, and Texas. The birds are called Quaker parrots. They originated in temperate regions of South America, such as Argentina. Here the temperatures are similar to those found in some parts of North America. Quaker parrots are adaptable to all seasons, even winter. And, they always find something good to eat, such as buds, grass, seeds, and berries. They also survive by building nests. They are the only parrots to do so. Their nests are huge and can weigh up to several hundred pounds. These nests have been known to cause electrical outages and fires. Take a stroll around the soccer field of Brooklyn College in New York. There you will have the best opportunity to observe one or more Quaker parrots. You ll recognize them by their bright green feathers and orange beaks. They ll be among the pigeons and starlings that also reside in the area. 1. Which statement is a fact? If you re one of them, think again. The birds are called Quaker parrots. There you will have the best opportunity to observe one or more Quaker parrots. Most people believe that wild parrots live only in tropical climates. 2. In paragraph 2, which clue word signals an opinion about available food? believe all always never Talk about your answers to questions 1 and 2. Tell why you chose the answers you did. 38
Check Your Understanding Remember: Facts are statements that can be checked or proved. Opinions are statements that tell what someone thinks, feels, or believes. To determine if a statement is a fact, ask yourself, Can this statement be checked or proved? To determine if a statement is an opinion, ask yourself, Does this statement tell what someone thinks, feels, or believes? Look for clue words that signal an opinion, such as think, feel, believe, seem, always, never, all, none, most, least, greatest, best, and worst. Read this passage about the year 1881. As you read, think about which statements are facts and which statements are opinions. Then answer the question. The Year of Three Presidents The year 1881 began with Rutherford B. Hayes as president of the United States. Hayes term came to an end in March of that year when newly-elected president James A. Garfield took office. On July 2, 1881, Garfield went to a Washington, D.C., railroad station to begin a family vacation. At the station, a disgruntled office seeker shot Garfield. Eleven weeks later Garfield died from the wound. Vice-president Chester A. Arthur assumed the presidency on September 19, 1881. Historians believe that none of the presidents who held office in 1881 left a major impression on the politics of the period. The three men seem to have been forgotten by history. There was one other year when three men served as president. That year was 1841. The presidents were Martin Van Buren, William H. Harrison, and John Tyler. It seems that they, too, are little remembered. 3. Which statement from the passage tells what someone thinks or feels? The year 1881 began with Rutherford B. Hayes as president of the United States. There was one other year when three men served as president. That year was 1841. The three men seem to have been forgotten by history. Read why each answer choice is correct or not correct. 3. Which statement from the passage tells what someone thinks or feels? The year 1881 began with Rutherford B. Hayes as president of the United States. This answer is not correct because it can be proved; it does not tell what someone thinks or feels. There was one other year when three men served as president. This answer is not correct because it can be proved; it does not tell what someone thinks or feels. That year was 1841. This answer is not correct because it can be proved; it does not tell what someone thinks or feels. The three men seem to have been forgotten by history. This answer is correct because the statement expresses an opinion; it tells what the author thinks or feels. 39
Learn More About Facts often contain numbers, dates, or ages. Facts might include information about a specific person, place, or thing. Distinguishing between fact and opinion in persuasive writing can be difficult. Facts are often used to support opinions. A good opinion is based on fact, but it is still an opinion. Opinions often deal with things that cannot be verified. Some opinions are written to sound like facts, but if you cannot verify what you read, it is probably an opinion. Read Darlene s history report. Then answer the questions. The Freedom Riders The lines of a famous Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poem celebrate Paul Revere s famous ride on April 18, 1775. However, Longfellow s poem does not mention other riders who, historians believe, also warned the countryside that, The British are coming! Rumors abounded in Boston of a British plan to seize ammunition that the local militia had stored in Concord, Massachusetts. As the rumors turned more factual, a patriot leader, Joseph Warren, engaged the services of William Dawes and Paul Revere. They were to alert Samuel Adams and John Hancock, two of the Sons of Liberty, about the British plan. Adams and Hancock were wanted by the British and were hiding out in Lexington. After delivering their message in Lexington, Dawes and Revere set out for Concord together to alert the militia. Along the way, they met up with Samuel Prescott. The three riders soon encountered trouble with British troops and only Prescott was able to reach Concord. Yet, because of the three riders, the militia was prepared to confront the British troops. On April 19, 1775, a fourth, and lesser known, rider set out on a mission that seemed impossible. Israel Bissell rode from Boston to Philadelphia in a five-day dash across five states. He was a 23-year-old postal rider who traveled day and night to warn over 8,000 people about the British. His 345-mile ride ended up at the site of a bell, a bell that later became known as the Liberty Bell. 4. Which of these statements is a fact? Longfellow s poem is a rare literary achievement. No one believed a rider could travel 345 miles in only five days. There were a total of three riders on the night of April 18, 1775. Because of the Longfellow poem, everyone knows who Paul Revere is. 5. Which of these statements is an opinion? Only Samuel Prescott was able to reach Concord. Israel Bissell should have received more acclaim for his actions. Samuel Adams and John Hancock were both members of the Sons of Liberty. The British had a plan to seize ammunition from the local militia. 40
Prepare for a Test A test question about distinguishing between fact and opinion may ask you to determine if a statement is a fact or an opinion. If a statement can be proved, it is a fact. If it cannot, it is an opinion. To recognize a fact, read each answer choice and ask yourself, Can this statement be proved? To recognize an opinion, read each answer choice and ask yourself, Does this statement tell what someone thinks, feels, or believes? Also, look in the answer choices for clue words that signal an opinion. Read this book review about a spy thriller. Then answer questions about the review. Choose the best answer for Numbers 6 and 7. Stormbreaker is a high-powered, spy adventure, featuring a 14-year-old hero named Alex Rider. Alex is the most exciting teen hero to come along in years. British author Anthony Horowitz weaves a tale that, I believe, is sure to captivate every young readers imagination. Stormbreaker takes off when Alex s guardian and uncle, Ian, is mysteriously slain. Soon in the story, Alex discovers that his mild-mannered uncle was actually a spy for the British government. Soon the government forces Alex to continue his uncle s mission learning all he can about the makers of a computer called Stormbreaker. You will feel the excitement build as Alex undergoes special training with James Bond-style gadgets and weapons. Alex must uncover a major secret held by business executive, Herod Sayle. Sayle is probably fiction s most despicable villain. He hides behind a cloak of kindness. Alex seeks to uncover Sayle s reason for donating a super computer to every high school in the country. What is Sayle s real intent? At Sayle s company headquarters, Alex finds himself entwined in a world of secrets, danger, and intrigue. The teen survives one danger after another. He suffers through perilous encounters with dangerous thugs. I was held at the edge of my seat during the high-speed bike chase. The deathdefying dance with the Portuguese man-of-war is the novel s most imaginative surprise. And, the crash through the roof of a museum leads to a most suspenseful and satisfying conclusion. Stormbreaker contains brief, cliff-hanger chapters. The short chapter lengths should appeal to most readers. The pace of the action is non-stop adventure. Stormbreaker is sure to leave all readers wanting more. 6. Which of these statements is a opinion? Alex must uncover a major secret held by business executive, Herod Sayle. Soon the government forces Alex to continue his uncle s mission. The teen survives one danger after another. Alex is the most exciting teen hero to come along in years. 7. Which of these statements is a fact? Sayle is probably fiction s most despicable villain. The short chapter lengths should appeal to most readers. Alex discovers that his mild-mannered uncle was actually a spy. Stormbreaker is sure to leave all readers wanting more. 41