Comprehending Informational Texts Flashcards
7 cards from real NJSLA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Comprehending Informational Texts flashcards as text
A student reads a persuasive essay arguing that school lunches should be healthier. Which sentence is an OPINION rather than a fact?
Answer: Healthier school lunches are the most important change schools can make.
An opinion expresses a belief or judgment that cannot be proven true or false; calling something 'the most important' is a value judgment, not a verifiable fact.
A reader notices that an informational article uses bold text for certain words. What is the MOST LIKELY reason for this formatting choice?
Answer: The bold words are key vocabulary terms that are important to understanding the text
Authors use bold text to highlight key vocabulary or important concepts, signaling to readers that these terms require special attention.
A historical article states: 'By 1920, women in the United States had gained the right to vote.' A student asks, 'What events led to this outcome?' The student is analyzing:
Answer: Cause-and-effect relationships within the text
Asking what events led to an outcome reflects cause-and-effect thinking, connecting prior events (causes) to a historical result (effect).
Which strategy BEST helps a reader monitor their comprehension while reading a complex informational text?
Answer: Pausing to ask questions and summarize sections in their own words
Pausing to self-question and paraphrase helps readers check their understanding and identify sections that require rereading.
An author writes: 'Coral reefs, often called the rainforests of the sea, support approximately 25% of all marine species.' The phrase 'rainforests of the sea' is an example of:
Answer: A metaphor used to help readers visualize the biodiversity of coral reefs
A metaphor compares two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as'; here, coral reefs are compared to rainforests to convey their rich biodiversity.
A student reads two texts on the same topic: one is a personal blog post and the other is a peer-reviewed scientific journal article. Which text is MOST likely to be considered more reliable for a research report?
Answer: The peer-reviewed journal article, because it has been reviewed by experts for accuracy
Peer-reviewed articles are evaluated by subject-matter experts before publication, making them more credible sources for academic research.
A student reads a passage about the water cycle and is asked to identify the CENTRAL IDEA. Which answer best represents a central idea statement?
Answer: The water cycle is a continuous process in which water evaporates, condenses into clouds, and falls back to Earth as precipitation.
The central idea encompasses the whole passage's main point; a single process explained with all its stages represents the complete central idea better than one detail.