Name:
Text Structure and Reference Material Study Guide
Test Date:
SITUATION 1
During his research for a report on school uniforms and school safety, Felix comes across a quote he thinks will help him.
It says, “Data from scientific studies seems to contradict the idea that school uniforms improve school safety. In fact, the
most beneficial way to protect students is through planning and practicing drills—not by forcing students to wear
uniforms.”
1. Paraphrase the two sentences in quotation marks:
2. Felix doesn’t know the meaning of the underlined words. Which resource should he use?
3. Using context clues, contradict means:
a. Support
b. Disagree
c. Include
d. Form
SITUATION 2
John is putting together a research project about the English settlers at Jamestown. He wants to include a section that lists
facts about Virginia in the 1600s, especially concerning the population. He also will need a visual aid to present his
project to the class.
4. To begin his research, John wants to collect basic information about colonial Virginia. Which resource would be
the best and most accurate?
5. Where should John look to gather information about the population of the Jamestown settlement? (There are two
possible answers.)
6. Where should John look to find a detailed map of Virginia?
7. John is worried that the language he is using in his research paper is too close to the original quotes from the
authors. What would be a useful tool to prevent John from plagiarizing (copying the author)?
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DICTIONARY AND CONTEXT CLUES PRACTICE
9. Read the following dictionary entries:
1. Peer, v. gaze, stare, examine, gawk, take in
2. Peer, n. equal, friend, cohort, colleague
Which word would best replace peer in this sentence: Franklin considered Harry not only his
cousin but also his peer.
10. What is the correct definition of bow as it is used in the sentence? (Circle the answer in the box.)
When Charles discovered Fernando was competing in the basketball tournament, Charles bowed out.
bow v.
1. to cease from completion or resistance: SUBMIT, YIELD. also to suffer defeat
2. to bend at the head, body, or knee in reverence, submission or shame
3. to incline the head or body in salutation or assent or to acknowledge applause
to bend an object into a rounded shape
12. What are two benefits to using the internet to research a topic?
13. What are two downfalls to using the internet to research a topic?
TEXT STRUCTURE PRACTICE
14. Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
After a volcano erupts, lava flows and then hardens into rock. More lava adds another layer to the rock. Eventually the
rock builds into either a mountain or an island. Many years must pass before the harsh surface of the new island can
sustain life. Over time the hard volcanic rock crumbles into soil. Wind carries seeds that fall into the soil and take root.
Islands soon become covered with dense plant life. Flowers and fruits attract birds, insects, and other animals.
Cause:
Effect:
Lava flows and
hardens into
rock.
Which of these best completes the chart above?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Magma oozes through cracks.
Plates float into each other.
The weather is changed.
An island is created.
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Directions: Read each passage and identify which text structure is being used. You must also identify one signal word or
phrase for each text structure that is being used.
Description
Problem and Solution
Compare and Contrast
Cause and Effect
Chronological/ Sequence
15. Ice-cream is a delicious frozen treat that comes in a many different colors and flavors. Two of my favorite flavors
are strawberry and chocolate. Though both of these flavors are similar in their deliciousness, strawberry may
contain pieces of fruit while chocolate usually will not. Even though more chocolate ice-cream is sold across the
country annually instead of strawberry, both flavors tastes great inside of a milk shake.
Text Structure:
One signal word/phrase:
16. The ice-cream shop around the corner from my house has the best ice-cream in the city. When you first walk
inside, there is a long chrome counter with matching stools extending to alongside the far wall. Also, right where
the counter stops, the booth seating begins. There are lots of old-timey knickknacks on the walls and chrome
napkin holders on all the tables. My favorite part of the shop is behind the counter glass, where they keep all of
the ice-cream flavors. A rainbow of delicious sugary flavors is specifically kept cool and delicious behind the
counter glass.
Text Structure:
One signal word/phrase:
17. Freezer burn is a problem that has wasted more ice-cream than sidewalks. If you don’t know, freezer burn is
when ice crystals form on the surface of ice-cream. These ice crystals can ruin the texture and flavor of the
ice cream. But you can prevent freezer burn. Since freezer burn is caused when melted ice-cream is refrozen,
rather than eating your ice-cream from the container as it melts, scoop your ice-cream into a bowl and put the
container back in the fridge immediately. Doing this ought to help you solve your issues with freezer burn.
Text Structure:
One signal word/phrase:
18. No one knows the true origin of ice-cream, but the first published ice-cream recipe appears in “Mrs. Mary
Eales's Receipts,” a cook book that was printed in London in 1718. Also, sometime around 1832, an African
American confectioner named Augustus Jackson created multiple ice cream recipes and invented a superior
technique to manufacture ice cream. In addition, ice cream soda was invented around 1874, but the real
breakthrough may have been at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis, Missouri, when the American ice-cream
cone was unveiled!
Text Structure:
One signal word/phrase:
19. Have you ever heard of an ice-cream headache? That’s when a painful sensation resonates in your head due
to eating something cold (usually ice-cream). This pain is a result of the dilation of a nerve center in the root
of your mouth. The nerve center is overreacting to the cold by trying to heat your brain. Consequently, icecream headaches have turned many smiles to frowns.
Text Structure:
One signal word/phrase:
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20. Making ice-cream is not easy. First, cream and sugar have to be mixed in a frozen container. Ingredients may be
added at this point, if desired. Second, the mixture must be stirred and whipped until the cream and sugar mixture
is frozen. Depending on the equipment, this may take as long as an hour. After the ice-cream is prepared, it must
be kept frozen until it is ready to be enjoyed. Making ice-cream is difficult, but most people would agree that is is
worth the trouble.
Text Structure:
One signal word/phrase:
21. It was the most beautiful banana split that I had ever seen. For instance, in the middle of the bowl, there were
three scoops of ice-cream: chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla. On top of the ice-cream were a banana and a
thick web of chocolate and caramel sauces. A huge puff of whipped cream covered the sauces and a handful
of crushed nuts dappled the whipped cream. Also, on top of it all was a cherry, but I’ve never liked the soggy
squish of cherries.
Text Structure:
One signal word/phrase:
22. When it comes to making ice-cream, you can do it the traditional way, by stirring it in a frozen container, or
in contrast you can use liquid nitrogen to freeze your mixture instead. There are some advantages to using
liquid nitrogen as well. Since liquid nitrogen freezes the mixture faster, the crystal grains are smaller, giving
the ice-cream a creamier texture. The downside is that ice-crystals grow faster in ice-cream prepared using
liquid nitrogen, so it must be stored at much colder temperatures. Both methods produce a distinct texture,
and both are delicious.
Text Structure:
One signal word/phrase:
Matching: Match the definition to the term
23. Differences and similarities of two or more things are
discussed
24. Explains a topic, idea, person, place, or thing by
listing characteristics, features, and examples.
25. Information is organized in order of time
26. A difficulty is described and an answer is offered
27. An action and its results are discussed
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Chronological Order/Sequence
Problem and Solution
Description
Cause and Effect
Compare and Contrast
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