Lesson 5: Logical Connections
People usually choose their friends because they have something in common—they make a
connection. Maybe they like the same kind of jokes. They might like the same kind of
clothes, play the same sports, or enjoy the same type of music. Or they might find that they
think about things in the same way. Somehow, the friendship just makes sense.
This lesson is about a different kind of connection. On a language arts test, some questions will
require you to understand the stated or implied connections between important details in a
passage. You also will need to make a few logical connections on your own.
Directions: Read this passage. It will be used to explain the tips in this lesson.
The Tale of the Sword in the Stone
by Tom Fitzpatrick
Imagine a time centuries ago, when kings and queens ruled the lands of Europe, and knights
served in the name of honor. England's King Uther died without a known heir, so the
country went without a king for a number of years. Times were hard, and the people of
England longed for a wise, noble ruler to lead them.
One day, a huge stone appeared outside a great cathedral in Londontown. An iron anvil1 was
set into the rock, and a gleaming sword stood half-buried in the anvil like a knife in an
apple. Carved into the blade in large, friendly letters were these words:
Whosoever shall pull this Sword from this Stone
is Rightful Heir to the Throne of England.
The archbishop knew that every man in the kingdom would try his hand at drawing the sword if
it meant a chance at the crown. So the archbishop invited every noble in the kingdom to a
New Year's Day tournament. There, knights would compete in games of skill and stamina.
The winner of the contest, the archbishop hoped, would be the right man to draw the
sword.
A young knight named Sir Kay came to take part in the tournament. Kay traveled to London
with his father, Sir Ector, and a squire,2 Arthur, who had been raised as Kay's brother.
When they arrived at the tournament, Kay realized that he had left his sword at the inn where
they had passed the previous night. "Arthur," Kay said, "please return and fetch my
weapon. I would go with ye, but I must stay rested for the competition."
1anvil:
a heavy iron block
2squire:
a knight's assistant, who carries the knight's armor and weapons
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Arthur agreed and dashed off through the cobblestone city streets. He hurried because he
wanted to be of service to his master and brother. Arthur was not yet grown, so he was
considered too young to compete in the tournament himself. Still, he did not want to miss
any of the events. As the boy ran through the city, his mind drifted back to his meeting in
the woods with the old man, Merlin. The wizard had shown Arthur a vision that promised
greatness in his future.
The squire came upon the courtyard of the cathedral, which—unlike most days—was empty of
people because of the tournament. He saw the sword sticking out of the stone. It didn't
seem to belong to anyone, and Arthur was in a hurry to get back to the tournament. He
jumped onto the stone and, with nary a struggle, pulled the sword from the anvil. With a
satisfied smile, Arthur wrapped the sword in his cloak and headed back to the tournament.
Arthur took the sword to Sir Kay, who quickly recognized the weapon was not his own. As he
read the words on the blade, Kay slowly realized what he held: the key to rule all of
England. Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at Arthur, who was busily gathering the
rest of Kay's armor for the contest. Kay ran to Sir Ector and exclaimed, "Father, I have the
sword from the stone. I am the new king of England!"
Sir Ector saw through his son's boast. "Tell me, your majesty, how did ye come into possession
of the sword?" He smiled, but his eyes were fierce.
Kay knew his father had caught him. "I cannot lie to you, Father. Arthur brought it to me:'
Ector called Arthur before him and asked how he had come by this new sword. Arthur
apologized. "I am sorry, Father, but Kay had left his sword at the inn, and instead of going
back for it, I found this one. It was just sitting in a churchyard. I didn't think anyone
wanted it."
"Did anyone see ye take it?" Ector asked.
"No," said Arthur. "Everyone was here, at the tournament:'
"Return the sword, and we shall let everyone take a turn trying to pull it from the stone." Ector's
command was gentle but definite, and Arthur did as he was told.
Ector told the archbishop that the sword had been drawn from the stone, and the archbishop
immediately interrupted the tournament with the startling news. A great crowd had
gathered by the time Arthur slipped the sword back into place in the anvil.
Arthur watched as the young knights lined up in the courtyard of the cathedral and each tried to
pull the sword from the stone. All failed, including the brash Sir Kay.
Arthur now knew of the sword's importance and wondered if it could be true: Could he be the
king? He had been raised by Sir Ector. The young squire had never known who his real
parents were, and neither had Ector. Guided by the magician Merlin, Ector had raised the
child in safety, far from the violent fights over who would be England's next king. Merlin
had promised that one day a sign would appear that would lead the true king back to his
rightful place.
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At last, Arthur stepped up to the stone. It had been so easy the first time, when the young man
had not understood the sword's significance. One more time he pulled, and again the
shining blade slid out of the stone, flashing in the sunlight for all to see.
Sir Ector touched the young man's shoulder and pronounced his destiny. "We have found
England's true and rightful king."
All the knights gathered around their chosen leader. "All hail Arthur," they cheered. "Long live
the king!"
TIP 1: Pull together details from the passage to make inferences.
To infer is to make an educated guess based on incomplete information, to figure out
something from what you already know.
A prediction is an inference about what will happen next in a passage.
A conclusion is your own decision about a character, event, or idea in a passage. When you put
together important details to make a conclusion, be sure to consider whether your
conclusion makes sense with the rest of the things you know about the passage.
Read the following question.
Why was Arthur raised by Sir Ector?
Look for places in the passage where the author talks about Arthur's childhood. How does
Arthur's childhood relate to the sword in the stone? Why is the sword in the stone in the
first place?
Now answer the question.
1. Why was Arthur raised by Sir Ector?
A. If it were known that Arthur was the heir to the throne, someone might have tried to kill
him.
B. Sir Ector did not have a son of his own, so he promised to take care of Arthur when
Arthur's father died.
C. Arthur was being trained in secret by the magician Merlin, who lived with Sir Ector.
D. Arthur was being trained by Sir Ector to become a great knight so that he would know
how to pull the sword from the stone.
2. Underline details in the passage to support your conclusion in Number 1.
Though the answers to inference questions won't be directly stated in the passage, they will be
supported by the passage in some way—by the author's tone, by details in the passage, or
by other clues. Always make sure your inferences are based on something in the passage.
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TIP 2: Look for words that show a cause-and-effect relationship.
As you're reading a passage, you may come across words or phrases that make it clear you're
dealing with a cause-and-effect relationship. Not all cause-and-effect relationships are
revealed by specific words, but looking for such words can be a good place to start.
Several words and phrases can tip you off to cause-and-effect relationships. Some examples are
shown below:
because of
increased/decreased
so
therefore
resulted in
as a consequence of
hence
thus
in order to
was responsible for
led to
caused
in response to
due to
affected
since
3. Reread the following paragraph from "The Tale of the Sword in the Stone." Underline any
cause-and-effect words you see.
Arthur agreed and dashed off through the cobblestone city streets. He hurried because he
wanted to be of service to his master and brother. Arthur was not yet grown, so he was
considered too young to compete in the tournament himself. Still, he did not want to miss
any of the events. As the boy ran through the city, his mind drifted back to his meeting in
the woods with the old man, Merlin. The wizard had shown Arthur a vision that promised
greatness in his future.
TIP 3: Look for unstated cause-and-effect relationships.
Not all cause-and-effect relationships are described using the words listed in Tip 2. Often, it's
up to the reader to make the connection. One way to do this is to create a because sentence
that links two events.
To practice this tip, complete the following sentence:
4. Arthur first decides to pull the sword from the stone because
Now use your sentence from Number 4 to answer Number 5.
5. Arthur first decides to pull the sword from the stone for which of the following reasons?
A. Merlin instructs him to take it.
B. He cannot read the sign next to it.
C. He wants to show that he is the true king.
D. He is in a hurry to find a sword for Sir Kay.
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TIP 4: Look for words that show a comparison/contrast
relationship.
Some words in the passage may signal when two things are being compared. Words such as
like, as, both, unlike, and but can clue you in to logical relationships in which either
similarity or difference is established. Pay attention to how these words are used when you
encounter them in the text.
In the box at right are several words and phrases that can tip you off to a comparison and
contrast relationship.
Compare/Contrast Words
and Phrases
Similarities
Differences
alike
but
also
different
as well as
even though
both
except
just as
however
like
instead
same
not
similar
not like
together
though
too
unlike
6. When Arthur arrives in the churchyard, what is unusual about it?
A. There are lots of knights there.
B. It is noisy from the tournament.
C. There are no people around.
D. It is very quiet and peaceful.
TIP 5: Make your own comparisons.
Not all comparisons will be signaled by the types of words listed in Tip 4. You may need to
make some comparisons of your own.
7. Arthur and Sir Kay are alike in that they both
A. were raised as Sir Ector's sons.
B. tell a lie about the sword.
C. are heirs to the throne of England.
D. can pull the sword from the stone.
In some cases, you may need to make comparisons between two or more passages. When
comparing two passages, notice how they are alike and different in the following areas:
 genre, or type of passage
 topic, main idea, and theme
 scope, or range of information about the topic
 quality and amount of supporting details
 characters, conflicts, and literary techniques
 organization
 author's tone, attitude, and purpose
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Directions: Read this passage, then answer Numbers 8 and 9.
King Arthur: Man and Legend
by Alicia Monroe
Heroes often become legends over time, and in the case of Britain's King Arthur, stories of this
"once and future king" have entertained audiences for more than a thousand years.
Historians are vague about the real Arthur, but they generally agree he once existed. They
believe he lived in Southern Britain in the late 400s and early 500s and was able to unite
his people to fight off Roman and Anglo-Saxon invaders who were occupying the island.
The real Arthur was thought to have won many battles, but to have died in a civil war at
the Battle of Camlann, around 537 C.E.
As generations passed, storytellers embellished Arthur's achievements, creating a legend that
includes a mysterious upbringing, a revelation of royalty with the sword in the stone, a
magical adviser in Merlin, the famous castle Camelot, Sir Lancelot and the Knights of the
Round Table, and beautiful Queen Guinevere. Among the many writers who have added to
Arthurian lore was a monk, Geoffrey of Monmouth, who first put Arthur's story on paper
in 1137. In the 13th century, French poet Robert de Boron introduced the story of the
sword in the stone. Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur ("The Death of Arthur") in
1470 further developed the legend and has become a famous work of classical fiction.
Arthur continues to inspire novelists, playwrights, and filmmakers, and it seems his appeal
will never die: a hero saves his country, only to be betrayed by his queen and his most
trusted knight.
Making the Connections
There are many more techniques for examining and connecting the ideas in a passage. Here are
just a few:
 analysis - separating a subject into its basic parts and looking closely at each
 deduction - using a general rule to understand a specific situation
 induction - adding up specific details to reach a general conclusion
 synthesis - combining elements from various sources to reach a general understanding
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8. How do the genres of "The Sword in the Stone" and "King Arthur: Man and Legend"
compare?
A. The first passage is a legend; the second is an autobiography.
B. The first passage is a biography; the second is a myth.
C. The first passage is a folktale; the second is historical fiction.
D. The first passage is fiction; the second is nonfiction.
9. Which event does the author of the second passage suggest did not actually happen?
A. Arthur pulls a sword from a stone.
B. Arthur knows a knight named Sir Kay.
C. Arthur is raised from infancy by Sir Ector.
D. Arthur is crowned king of England.
You will learn more about comparing texts in Lesson 9.
Summing Up
When answering questions about logical relationships, remember the following tips:
 Pull together details from the passage to make inferences.
 Look for words that show a cause-and-effect relationship.
 Look for unstated cause-and-effect relationships.
 Look for words that show a comparison/contrast relationship.
 Make your own comparisons.
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DIRECTIONS: Read this passage and then answer questions 1 through 10.
Yoh Fei and the Magic Spear
Yoh Fei and his friends met with their master, Chou Hsien Sheng, and the abbot of the
monastery. The abbot told the young men about the Li Ch'uan Magic Spring. "It is behind
a nearby mountain," he said. "Its water makes the very best tea, and when the springwater
is applied to the eyes, it cures diseases and lets one see things not visible before!'
Yoh Fei was struck by the urge to visit the spring, even though the abbot had delivered this
warning: "Every morning, a poisonous mist rises from the spring that kills anyone it
touches!'
The abbot's story did not deter Yoh Fei. He was not afraid of any poisonous spring. He wanted
to drink the water. More important, he wanted to bring back a cup of the water to cure his
master's ailing eyesight.
Yoh Fei set off for the mountains and soon found himself entering a forest of bamboo, pines,
and ginkgo trees. After a long walk, the young man came to a rock that had characters1
inscribed on it. When he read the words Li Ch'uan Chi Ping ("the Miracle of Li Ch'uan"),
he knew he had come upon the magic spring.
But an evil spirit had invaded the Li Ch'uan Spring. A poisonous mist surrounded the waters.
Sticking out of a rock, drinking from the spring, was an enormous snake, weaving from
side to side, blocking the entrance to Li Ch'uan.
So that is what is poisoning the spring, thought Yoh Fei. Again, he was not afraid. 1 must kill
the serpent. He picked up a stone and threw it at the snake's head. The rock hit the snake,
but the snake did not die. Instead, the serpent let out a roar that could be heard throughout
the forest.
1. The Chinese language is written in the form of pictures called characters.
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The snake lunged at Yoh Fei, its eyes glittering with evil and its forked tongue slithering out at
the young man. Yoh Fei jumped to one side, grabbed the snake by its tail, and swung it
against a rock. Suddenly, the poisonous mist evaporated, leaving behind clear light and a
spring burbling from out of the rocks.
When Yoh Fei looked to the dead snake, he discovered the serpent had changed into a long,
magnificent spear. On the shaft of the spear, Yoh Fei found four characters that read, "The
Spear of Li Ch'uan." If the spring is magical, thought Yoh Fei, then the spear also must
be magical.
Yoh Fei remembered his desire to bring back magic springwater for his master, Chou Hsien.
But he discovered that the spring had dried up. All the young warrior had left was the
spear.
Yoh Fei returned to Chou Hsien and the old abbot. When the two old men saw Yoh Fei and the
spear, they bowed.
"My work here is done," said the abbot. "The spear you hold in your hands is a divine weapon.
It gives great power to its owner. A warrior can achieve great deeds with this spear. Yoh
Fei, you have won the spear honorably. It is yours. Go forth, but remember: You must use
the spear to do good in the world. As long as you carry goodness in your heart, you will be
a blessing to your people:'
1
What is the best summary of this passage?
A An old man goes looking for a magic spring to cure his teacher's blindness.
B An abbot sends a young man on a quest to retrieve a spear from a spring.
C A young man goes to get magic springwater, but instead finds a magic spear.
D A warrior with a magic spear slays a serpent and cures his master, the abbot.
2
Which detail is common to "Yoh Fei and the Magic Spear" and "The Sword in the Stone"?
A Both are about heroes who discover a special weapon.
B Both are about boys who are destined to be kings.
C Both are about young men who are raised by great knights.
D Both are about young heroes who are guided by wise abbots.
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3
Who was Yoh Fei's master?
A the abbot
B Li Ch'uan
C Chou Hsien Sheng
D Li Ch'uan Chi Ping
4
Which of these best describes Yoh Fei's relationship with his master and the abbot?
A Yoh Fei wants to prove he is wiser.
B Yoh Fei wants to teach them magic.
C Yoh Fei wants to become stronger.
D Yoh Fei wants to please both of them.
5
Why does Yoh Fei want to visit the Li Ch'uan Magic Spring?
A to slay an evil, poisonous serpent
B to find a spear with magical power
C to become a strong and famous warrior
D to drink the water and cure his master
6
How is the magic spring different after the serpent turns into a spear?
A The spring turns dark.
B The spring's water dries.
C The mist is not poisonous.
D The water is even stronger.
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7
How do the abbot's feelings toward Yoh Fei change after the young man returns with the
spear?
A He honors Yoh Fei as a powerful warrior.
B He thinks Yoh Fei needs more training.
C He wants Yoh Fei to return the magic spear.
D He is sad that Yoh Fei did not get the water.
8
Based on the passage, what will most likely happen if Yoh Fei does not "carry goodness in
his heart"?
A He will break the spear into pieces.
B The spear will disappear into mist.
C He will use the spear to do harm.
D The spear will become a snake again.
9
Which is the best definition for inscribed?
A grown
B nailed
C pasted
D written
10
What causes the spring to be poisoned?
A the spear
B the snake
C the abbot
D the rock
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