Common Core: 5th Grade English Language Arts : Craft and Structure
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Common Core: 5th Grade English Language Arts
All Common Core: 5th Grade English Language Arts Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #51 : Craft And Structure
I don’t want to exaggerate and say that the chocolate was the best I ever had, because it was not.
In the sentence, what does the word “exaggerate” mean?
To say something is different than it is: better, worse, bigger, smaller…
To say something cost a lot of money
To be honest
To imagine something
To say something is different than it is: better, worse, bigger, smaller…
In this sentence, “exaggerate” means to say something is different than it is.
Example Question #52 : Craft And Structure
Read the sentences and determine the meaning of the underlined word using context clues or your prior knowledge.
Amy could not decide on a restaurant for her birthday dinner. She picked The Pie Emporium as the tentative location until she had a chance to research other places. She wanted to leave her options open in case she had a better idea.
What does the word tentative mean in the context of the sentences above?
Worst or last choice
Best or ultimate
Not certain or fixed
Confirmed or final
Not certain or fixed
Amy could not decide on a restaurant, so she set a “tentative” location until she could finalize or concrete her plans. She is not positive; this is the place she wants to eat, so she will leave her options open rather than settling the decision right now.
Example Question #53 : Craft And Structure
Read the following sentences and determine the underlined word’s meaning using context clues or your prior knowledge.
The dog did not want to do the trick without a concrete reward. A “good boy” or clap of the hands was not enough; he wanted a pat on the head or a delicious treat! Words and cheers were not what this pup was after!
What does the word concrete mean?
Unable to be touched or grasped
Very hard
Able to be perceived by touch
Very inexpensive
Able to be perceived by touch
In this set of sentences, the dog wants something he can touch or feel. He wants pats on the head or a dog treat to eat, not words or praise. Something concrete can be touched or grasped.
Example Question #54 : Craft And Structure
In the following paragraph, what is the meaning of the underlined word based on the context?
One complaint is that the funds that YES distributes have disproportionately gone to young people from low-income families. Though no one has claimed that any of the recipients of YES funds have been undeserving, several families have brought lawsuits claiming that their requests for funding were rejected because of the families’ high levels of income.
Marked by injustice or deception
Of the same measure, quantity, amount, or number as another
Free from self-interest, prejudice, or favoritism
To an extent that is too large in comparison with something else
To an extent that is too large in comparison with something else
The text states that the funds “have disproportionately gone to young people from low-income families” and that families with higher incomes were rejected and are suing. This context allows readers to understand that there are increased numbers of low-income families receiving the funds compared to high-income families.
Example Question #114 : Reading
Read the sentences and determine the meaning of the underlined word using context clues or your prior knowledge.
Rebecca was so excited to see her cousin Sharon after months of living in different states. She felt guilty for not writing to her as she had promised. When she approached Sharon with open arms, Sharon responded by turning her back and walking away. She thought she would be mad but didn’t think she would be this hostile.
What does the word hostile mean in the context of the sentences above?
sarcastic
caring
unfriendly
generous
unfriendly
The term hostile means being unfriendly or antagonistic. Sharon is angry about Rebecca’s lack of communication when we look at her actions and body language. Sharon turns her back and walks away from Rebecca’s embrace, which lets readers know that Sharon is angry and not reciprocating the gesture.
Example Question #115 : Reading
Inventions
Every day it seems, new inventions surface that promise to add value to our day-to-day lives. But did you know, many of the inventions we interact with daily were developed entirely by accident?
Take the microwave, for instance. This accidental invention was developed by engineer Percy Spencer who, upon experimenting with a microwave-emitting magnetron, found that the candy bar in his pocket had begun to melt. Spencer was then able to harness this radiation into the microwave we use today to make snack time a speedy process!
Perhaps one of today’s most well-known accidental inventions, the potato chip, was born when a customer kept requesting that his french fries be sliced thinner and made crispier. Though chef George Crum responded with the chips as a joke, they quickly became a favorite snack worldwide!
Even the match is a result of accidental invention. When pharmacist John Walker was stirring chemicals, he noticed that the end of his stirring stick had dried into a hardened lump. When attempting to scrape the dried residue off, a flame sparked, and so did Walker’s idea to turn this accident into a helpful tool!
So, the next time your science experiment doesn’t go as planned, or you burn what you have cooked on the stove, keep in mind that some of today’s most valued inventions were discovered when the inventor least expected it!
In the context of paragraph 2, “harness” most nearly means
expel
leather strap
destroy
utilize
utilize
In this passage, the term “harness” is used to mean the engineer was able to use, or utilize, the radiation to make a microwave. In another context, “harness” could be used to describe a set of straps used to fasten a horse to a cart, but this would not fit our context.
All Common Core: 5th Grade English Language Arts Resources
