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Grade 7 · English Language Arts · Unit 1 of 10

Close Reading

Theme, inference and author's craft

What your child practises

Reading original stories, arguments and informational passages, then identifying theme and main idea, making inferences, spotting claims and counterarguments, and explaining why an author made certain choices.

BC Curriculum learning standard: Story/text: forms, functions and genres of text; text features; reading and viewing strategies (inferring, identifying theme, claims and counterarguments, analyzing author's craft)

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    What is the main idea of this passage?

    Citizen Scientists

    You don't need a lab coat to do real science. Every year, thousands of volunteers count birds, track butterflies and record when the first flowers bloom in their neighbourhoods. They are called citizen scientists.

    Scientists can't be everywhere at once. By collecting observations from many places, volunteers help researchers spot large patterns, such as changes in when some birds arrive each spring.

    Of course, data from volunteers must be checked. Many projects train participants, ask for photos and compare reports to catch mistakes. With these steps, a single backyard observation can become part of a study that spans a whole continent.

    • Birds arrive at exactly the same time every spring.
    • Only scientists in labs can do real science.
    • Volunteers can collect useful scientific data, especially when projects check it carefully.
    • Citizen science projects never contain mistakes.
    Show answer

    Volunteers can collect useful scientific data, especially when projects check it carefully.

    Hint: The main idea covers the whole passage: who citizen scientists are, why they help and how their data is checked.

  2. Question 2

    How does the author hook the reader in the first sentence?

    Citizen Scientists

    You don't need a lab coat to do real science. Every year, thousands of volunteers count birds, track butterflies and record when the first flowers bloom in their neighbourhoods. They are called citizen scientists.

    Scientists can't be everywhere at once. By collecting observations from many places, volunteers help researchers spot large patterns, such as changes in when some birds arrive each spring.

    Of course, data from volunteers must be checked. Many projects train participants, ask for photos and compare reports to catch mistakes. With these steps, a single backyard observation can become part of a study that spans a whole continent.

    • By asking the reader a question
    • By sharing a surprising statistic
    • By challenging a common idea about who can do science
    • By quoting a famous scientist
    Show answer

    By challenging a common idea about who can do science

    Hint: Reread the first sentence. What idea about scientists does it push back against?

  3. Question 3

    What is the purpose of the third paragraph?

    Citizen Scientists

    You don't need a lab coat to do real science. Every year, thousands of volunteers count birds, track butterflies and record when the first flowers bloom in their neighbourhoods. They are called citizen scientists.

    Scientists can't be everywhere at once. By collecting observations from many places, volunteers help researchers spot large patterns, such as changes in when some birds arrive each spring.

    Of course, data from volunteers must be checked. Many projects train participants, ask for photos and compare reports to catch mistakes. With these steps, a single backyard observation can become part of a study that spans a whole continent.

    • To list the kinds of birds people count
    • To introduce the topic for the first time
    • To address a possible weakness and explain how projects handle it
    • To argue that citizen science should stop
    Show answer

    To address a possible weakness and explain how projects handle it

    Hint: “Of course” signals that the author is about to deal with a concern.

  4. Question 4

    What does “spans” mean in “a study that spans a whole continent”?

    Citizen Scientists

    You don't need a lab coat to do real science. Every year, thousands of volunteers count birds, track butterflies and record when the first flowers bloom in their neighbourhoods. They are called citizen scientists.

    Scientists can't be everywhere at once. By collecting observations from many places, volunteers help researchers spot large patterns, such as changes in when some birds arrive each spring.

    Of course, data from volunteers must be checked. Many projects train participants, ask for photos and compare reports to catch mistakes. With these steps, a single backyard observation can become part of a study that spans a whole continent.

    • Divides in half
    • Stretches across
    • Describes
    • Ignores
    Show answer

    Stretches across

    Hint: Try each choice in the sentence. Which one makes sense with “a whole continent”?

  5. Question 5

    What is the author's main claim?

    Give Readers a Choice

    In many classrooms, every student reads the same assigned novel. Sharing a book has real value, but schools should also give students regular time to read books they choose for themselves.

    Choice builds motivation. When students pick books that match their interests, they are more likely to finish them and to keep reading outside of school. A student who would love graphic novels or sports biographies may never discover that love if every book is assigned.

    Some people worry that students will only choose easy books. Teachers can prevent this by helping students set reading goals and try a new genre each term. Choice does not mean giving up on challenge; it means giving students a reason to read.

    • Students will only choose easy books.
    • Schools should give students regular time to read books they choose.
    • Graphic novels are better than all other books.
    • Schools should stop assigning shared novels completely.
    Show answer

    Schools should give students regular time to read books they choose.

    Hint: The claim is the main point the author argues (see paragraph 1). Careful: the author still sees value in shared books.

  6. Question 6

    Which word best describes the author's tone?

    Give Readers a Choice

    In many classrooms, every student reads the same assigned novel. Sharing a book has real value, but schools should also give students regular time to read books they choose for themselves.

    Choice builds motivation. When students pick books that match their interests, they are more likely to finish them and to keep reading outside of school. A student who would love graphic novels or sports biographies may never discover that love if every book is assigned.

    Some people worry that students will only choose easy books. Teachers can prevent this by helping students set reading goals and try a new genre each term. Choice does not mean giving up on challenge; it means giving students a reason to read.

    • Reasonable
    • Sarcastic
    • Furious
    • Unsure
    Show answer

    Reasonable

    Hint: Notice that the author admits shared books have value and answers a concern calmly.

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