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Context Clues & Cause/Effect

Grade 5 · On-level practice · 8 questions · Version PG-10GAGCA-GJ3P

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1.Read: “Solar panels produced the most electricity at midday, but household use peaked after sunset. A battery stored the midday surplus for evening use.” What does “surplus” mean, and what caused the result?
2.Read: “The council's first traffic plan shortened car trips but removed a busy crosswalk. After residents objected, the revision restored the crossing and added a protected turn lane.” What does “revision” mean, and what caused the result?
3.Read: “The town planted native grasses beside the river. Their deep roots held soil during storms, and the water became less muddy.” What does “native” mean, and what caused the result?
4.Read: “One article called the new park expensive, while another emphasized cleaner air and cooler streets. The budget showed high initial costs but lower maintenance expenses over time.” What does “initial” mean, and what caused the result?
5.Read: “The creek looked shallow near the bank but deepened toward the center. Maya used the marked bridge posts instead of guessing the water level.” What does “marked” mean, and what caused the result?
6.Read: “Keiko read two reports about the same storm. One used measurements from weather stations; the other relied on a single person's memory.” What does “relied” mean, and what caused the result?
7.Read: “The first model predicted flooding from rainfall alone. A revised model also included soil saturation and paved surfaces, and its predictions matched later storms more closely.” What does “saturation” mean, and what caused the result?
8.Read: “Two teams tested paper airplanes. One changed the wing shape; the other changed both the wings and the paper weight, making its results harder to explain.” What does “variable” mean, and what caused the result?

Answers and teaching notes

Use the answers to check the work after the learner finishes. For writing prompts, the guide describes what a strong response should include.

Show answers for version 10
  1. Read: “Solar panels produced the most electricity at midday, but household use peaked after sunset. A battery stored the midday surplus for evening use.” What does “surplus” mean, and what caused the result?an amount greater than what is needed. Cause: Electricity production and household use peaked at different times.
  2. Read: “The council's first traffic plan shortened car trips but removed a busy crosswalk. After residents objected, the revision restored the crossing and added a protected turn lane.” What does “revision” mean, and what caused the result?a changed or improved version. Cause: Residents raised concerns about the removed crosswalk.
  3. Read: “The town planted native grasses beside the river. Their deep roots held soil during storms, and the water became less muddy.” What does “native” mean, and what caused the result?originating naturally in an area. Cause: Deep roots held the soil during storms.
  4. Read: “One article called the new park expensive, while another emphasized cleaner air and cooler streets. The budget showed high initial costs but lower maintenance expenses over time.” What does “initial” mean, and what caused the result?occurring at the beginning. Cause: The sources emphasized different costs and benefits.
  5. Read: “The creek looked shallow near the bank but deepened toward the center. Maya used the marked bridge posts instead of guessing the water level.” What does “marked” mean, and what caused the result?labeled with measurements. Cause: The depth changed across the creek.
  6. Read: “Keiko read two reports about the same storm. One used measurements from weather stations; the other relied on a single person's memory.” What does “relied” mean, and what caused the result?depended. Cause: The reports used different kinds of evidence.
  7. Read: “The first model predicted flooding from rainfall alone. A revised model also included soil saturation and paved surfaces, and its predictions matched later storms more closely.” What does “saturation” mean, and what caused the result?the state of holding as much water as possible. Cause: The revision included additional flood-related variables.
  8. Read: “Two teams tested paper airplanes. One changed the wing shape; the other changed both the wings and the paper weight, making its results harder to explain.” What does “variable” mean, and what caused the result?a factor that can change. Cause: The second team changed two factors.

Worked example

Use nearby words to infer meaning, then connect the action that produced the result.

Common mistake

Using a familiar meaning that does not fit the sentence.

Helpful hint

Replace the word with your meaning and reread.