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Context Clues & Cause/Effect

Grade 5 · On-level practice · 8 questions · Version PG-Y8DMSI-GJ3P

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1.Read: “A museum displayed a sailor's diary beside a modern historian's article. The diary captured firsthand feelings, while the article connected records from many sources.” What does “firsthand” mean, and what caused the result?
2.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?
3.Read: “During drought, the farm watered every field equally and several crops wilted. The next season, soil sensors directed water only where moisture was low.” What does “directed” mean, and what caused the result?
4.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?
5.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?
6.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?
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: “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?

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 18
  1. Read: “A museum displayed a sailor's diary beside a modern historian's article. The diary captured firsthand feelings, while the article connected records from many sources.” What does “firsthand” mean, and what caused the result?experienced or recorded directly. Cause: The sources were created for different purposes and at different times.
  2. 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.
  3. Read: “During drought, the farm watered every field equally and several crops wilted. The next season, soil sensors directed water only where moisture was low.” What does “directed” mean, and what caused the result?guided or sent. Cause: Soil sensors identified where moisture was low.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  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: “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.

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.