Common Core: 5th Grade English Language Arts : Integration of Knowledge and Ideas

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Common Core: 5th Grade English Language Arts

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Example Questions

Example Question #31 : Integration Of Knowledge And Ideas

You likely hear the name “Napoleon Bonaparte” and immediately think of the short in stature and short in temper French emperor. But have you heard about his most embarrassing surrender? No, not Waterloo! Not Laon or the battle of La Rothiere either! Napoleon's most laughable defeat came well before his loss at Waterloo, in the summer of 1807.

Despite Napoleon's great renown as a brilliant military leader, he once retreated frantically from an army of ….bunnies! You heard that right! Shortly after Napoleon’s Treaties of Tilsit was penned, the emperor planned to celebrate with his fellow military men the best way he knew how - a hunt! Napoleon ordered the chief of staff, Alexandre Berthier, to organize an extravagant rabbit hunt for Napoleon and his men.

Not to be outdone, Berthier collected what was estimated to be between hundreds and thousands of rabbits for the hunt. However, while Berthier assumed that, like wild rabbits, these village-raised rabbits would scurry at the sight of Napoleon and his men, exactly the opposite was true. When the day came, and the hunting party was ready for the chase, the bunnies were released. But instead of running for the woods, the swarm of rabbits came straight for Napoleon and his men. Though the men initially attempted to fight back, they were overwhelmed by the hoard and fled to their coaches on a panicked retreat. It was not until the coaches sped away, rabbits still hopping aboard even as they attempted to retreat, that Napoleon could escape the furry army.

Embarrassed in front of the military peers and subordinates who once respected him, Napoleon fled home from a battle he never anticipated, and one he would never fully recover from the battle of the bunnies.

 

According to the passage, who was ordered to organize the rabbit hunt?

Possible Answers:

La Rothiere

Alexandre Berthier

Hundreds of bunnies

Napoleon Bonaparte

Correct answer:

Alexandre Berthier

Explanation:

This question is asking for a detail from the passage. At the end of the second paragraph, the author claims that Alexandre Berthier was ordered to organize the rabbit hunt. “Napoleon ordered the chief of staff, Alexandre Berthier, to organize an extravagant rabbit hunt for Napoleon and his men.”

Example Question #32 : Integration Of Knowledge And Ideas

You likely hear the name “Napoleon Bonaparte” and immediately think of the short in stature and short in temper French emperor. But have you heard about his most embarrassing surrender? No, not Waterloo! Not Laon or the battle of La Rothiere either! Napoleon's most laughable defeat came well before his loss at Waterloo, in the summer of 1807.

Despite Napoleon's great renown as a brilliant military leader, he once retreated frantically from an army of ….bunnies! You heard that right! Shortly after Napoleon’s Treaties of Tilsit was penned, the emperor planned to celebrate with his fellow military men the best way he knew how - a hunt! Napoleon ordered the chief of staff, Alexandre Berthier, to organize an extravagant rabbit hunt for Napoleon and his men.

Not to be outdone, Berthier collected what was estimated to be between hundreds and thousands of rabbits for the hunt. However, while Berthier assumed that, like wild rabbits, these village-raised rabbits would scurry at the sight of Napoleon and his men, exactly the opposite was true. When the day came, and the hunting party was ready for the chase, the bunnies were released. But instead of running for the woods, the swarm of rabbits came straight for Napoleon and his men. Though the men initially attempted to fight back, they were overwhelmed by the hoard and fled to their coaches on a panicked retreat. It was not until the coaches sped away, rabbits still hopping aboard even as they attempted to retreat, that Napoleon could escape the furry army.

Embarrassed in front of the military peers and subordinates who once respected him, Napoleon fled home from a battle he never anticipated, and one he would never fully recover from the battle of the bunnies.

 

According to the passage, the rabbit hunt occurred shortly after the signing of which agreements?

Possible Answers:

Treaties of Tilsit

Alexandre Berthier

Waterloo

Battle of La Rothiere

Correct answer:

Treaties of Tilsit

Explanation:

This question is asking for a detail from the passage. In the middle of the second paragraph, the author claims that the hunt was shortly after the Treaties of Tilsit. “Shortly after Napoleon’s Treaties of Tilsit was penned, the emperor planned to celebrate with his fellow military men the best way he knew how - a hunt!”

Example Question #33 : Integration Of Knowledge And Ideas

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 on a daily basis were developed completely 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 the most well-known accidental inventions of today, 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 around the world!

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!

 

According to the passage, who invented the potato chip?

Possible Answers:

John Walker

Percy Spencer

George Crum

Gregory Pringles

Correct answer:

George Crum

Explanation:

This question is asking for a detail from the passage. In the third paragraph, the author explains how George Crum initially created the potato chip as a joke. “Though chef George Crum responded with the chips as a joke, they quickly became a favorite around the world!”

Example Question #34 : Integration Of Knowledge And Ideas

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 on a daily basis were developed completely 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 the most well-known accidental inventions of today, 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 around the world!

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!

 

According to the passage, what was John Walker doing when a flame sparked and helped him to create the match?

Possible Answers:

Slicing french fries

Scraping dried chemicals off of a stick

Creating the microwave

Heating a candy bar

Correct answer:

Scraping dried chemicals off of a stick

Explanation:

This question is asking for a detail from the passage. In the fourth paragraph, the author explains how John Walker was trying to scrape chemicals off of a stick when it sparked a flame. “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!”

Example Question #35 : Integration Of Knowledge And Ideas

Exactly how domesticated dogs came to North America is uncertain. What is reasonably sure, however, is that dogs were domesticated from wolves at least twice in two different locations and that native American dogs were not domesticated in North America, but in Asia, migrating to the North American continent only 10,000 years ago - thousands of years after humans first arrived on the continent. Archaeologists have determined this by examining DNA.

DNA studies and archaeological findings in Alaska suggest that dogs migrated from Siberia to the Americas with a wave of humans crossing the land bridge, spreading out as those humans settled. The dogs coexisted among humans as companions, pets, and (occasionally) food until Europeans arrived. At that time, native American dogs seem to have almost completely vanished, although the exact reason for their disappearance is unclear. Disease and forced cultural exchange likely led to the decline of the native American dog.

 

According to the passages, what caused the reduction of native American dogs?

Possible Answers:

Dogs were domesticated from wolves

Dogs coexisted among humans as companions

Disease and forced cultural exchange

A wave of humans crossing the land bridge

Correct answer:

Disease and forced cultural exchange

Explanation:

The reduction of native American dogs was believed to be a combination of disease and forced cultural exchange. When the Europeans arrived, they would have brought new diseases that the native dogs had no immunity to. The dogs also would be breeding with European dogs or exchanged as bartering pieces or currency causing a reduction in the population.

Example Question #36 : Integration Of Knowledge And Ideas

Passage 1: Passage and illustrations adapted from "How Sun, Moon, and Wind Went Out to Dinner" in Indian Fairy Tales (1892; ed. Joseph Jacobs, illus. John D. Batten)

How sun  moon  and wind went out to dinner   image 1

How sun  moon  and wind went out to dinner   image 2ne day Sun, Moon, and Wind went out to dine with their uncle and aunts Thunder and Lightning. Their mother (one of the most distant Stars you see far up in the sky) waited alone for her children's return.

Now both Sun and Wind were greedy and selfish. They enjoyed the great feast that had been prepared for them, without a thought of saving any of it to take home to their mother—but the gentle Moon did not forget her. Of every dainty dish that was brought round, she placed a small portion under one of her beautiful long finger-nails, that Star might also have a share in the treat.

On their return, their mother, who had kept watch for them all night long with her little bright eye, said, "Well, children, what have you brought home for me?" Then Sun (who was eldest) said, "I have brought nothing home for you. I went out to enjoy myself with my friends—not to fetch a dinner for my mother!" And Wind said, "Neither have I brought anything home for you, mother. You could hardly expect me to bring a collection of good things for you, when I merely went out for my own pleasure." But Moon said, "Mother, fetch a plate, see what I have brought you." And shaking her hands she showered down such a choice dinner as never was seen before.

Then Star turned to Sun and spoke thus, "Because you went out to amuse yourself with your friends, and feasted and enjoyed yourself, without any thought of your mother at home—you shall be cursed. Henceforth, your rays shall ever be hot and scorching, and shall burn all that they touch. And men shall hate you, and cover their heads when you appear."

(And that is why the Sun is so hot to this day.)

Then she turned to Wind and said, "You also who forgot your mother in the midst of your selfish pleasures—hear your doom. You shall always blow in the hot dry weather, and shall parch and shrivel all living things. And men shall detest and avoid you from this very time."

(And that is why the Wind in the hot weather is still so disagreeable.)

But to Moon she said, "Daughter, because you remembered your mother, and kept for her a share in your own enjoyment, from henceforth you shall be ever cool, and calm, and bright. No noxious glare shall accompany your pure rays, and men shall always call you 'blessed.'"

(And that is why the moon's light is so soft, and cool, and beautiful even to this day.)

In the illustration, the title of the story is shown __________.

Possible Answers:

The title of the story is not shown in the illustration.

as part of the decorative border

as the outline of food on a table

as the table on which the characters are eating

Correct answer:

as part of the decorative border

Explanation:

Looking carefully at each part of the illustration that is described in each of the answer choices, we can figure out which one is correct. Is the title of the story shown "as the table on which the characters are eating"? No, it is not. Is it shown "as the outline of food on a table"? Nope. Is it shown "as part of the decorative border"? Yes, it is! You can see the phrase ""How Sun Moon and Wind" in the upper-left-hand corner of the illustration, and "Went Out to Dinner" in the upper-right-hand corner. The correct answer is "as part of the decorative border."

Example Question #37 : Integration Of Knowledge And Ideas

Passage 1: Passage and illustrations adapted from "How Sun, Moon, and Wind Went Out to Dinner" in Indian Fairy Tales (1892; ed. Joseph Jacobs, illus. John D. Batten)

Image "Common Core Fifth Grade CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.7 - Analyze How Visual and Multimedia Elements Contribute to the Meaning, Tone, or Beauty of a Text - Image 1" in Indian Fairy Tales (ed. Joseph Jacobs, illustrator John D. Batten, 1892 ed.).

Image "Common Core Fifth Grade CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.7 - Analyze How Visual and Multimedia Elements Contribute to the Meaning, Tone, or Beauty of a Text - Image 2" in Indian Fairy Tales (ed. Joseph Jacobs, illustrator John D. Batten, 1892 ed.).

Common core fifth grade ccss.ela literacy.rl.5.7   analyze how visual and multimedia elements contribute to the meaning  tone  or beauty of a text   image 1

Common core fifth grade ccss.ela literacy.rl.5.7   analyze how visual and multimedia elements contribute to the meaning  tone  or beauty of a text   image 2ne day Sun, Moon, and Wind went out to dine with their uncle and aunts Thunder and Lightning. Their mother (one of the most distant Stars you see far up in the sky) waited alone for her children's return.

Now both Sun and Wind were greedy and selfish. They enjoyed the great feast that had been prepared for them, without a thought of saving any of it to take home to their mother—but the gentle Moon did not forget her. Of every dainty dish that was brought round, she placed a small portion under one of her beautiful long finger-nails, that Star might also have a share in the treat.

On their return, their mother, who had kept watch for them all night long with her little bright eye, said, "Well, children, what have you brought home for me?" Then Sun (who was eldest) said, "I have brought nothing home for you. I went out to enjoy myself with my friends—not to fetch a dinner for my mother!" And Wind said, "Neither have I brought anything home for you, mother. You could hardly expect me to bring a collection of good things for you, when I merely went out for my own pleasure." But Moon said, "Mother, fetch a plate, see what I have brought you." And shaking her hands she showered down such a choice dinner as never was seen before.

Then Star turned to Sun and spoke thus, "Because you went out to amuse yourself with your friends, and feasted and enjoyed yourself, without any thought of your mother at home—you shall be cursed. Henceforth, your rays shall ever be hot and scorching, and shall burn all that they touch. And men shall hate you, and cover their heads when you appear."

(And that is why the Sun is so hot to this day.)

Then she turned to Wind and said, "You also who forgot your mother in the midst of your selfish pleasures—hear your doom. You shall always blow in the hot dry weather, and shall parch and shrivel all living things. And men shall detest and avoid you from this very time."

(And that is why the Wind in the hot weather is still so disagreeable.)

But to Moon she said, "Daughter, because you remembered your mother, and kept for her a share in your own enjoyment, from henceforth you shall be ever cool, and calm, and bright. No noxious glare shall accompany your pure rays, and men shall always call you 'blessed.'"

(And that is why the moon's light is so soft, and cool, and beautiful even to this day.)

The illustrator may have chosen to picture __________ in the first letter of the story and not in the main illustration because this character __________, and so is not pictured with the guests.

Possible Answers:

Sun . . . is not invited to dinner

Star . . . is not invited to dinner

Star . . . is the one taking other characters out to dinner

Sun . . . is the one taking other characters out to dinner

Correct answer:

Star . . . is not invited to dinner

Explanation:

First, let's try to figure out which character is pictured in the image depicting the "O" of "One," the word that starts the story. It is difficult to discern whether Star or Sun is pictured; based on just the image in the "O," it could really be either of them. Let's look at the other illustration, though. Sun is pictured drinking from a large glass. It makes sense that the illustrators would probably not draw the same character twice, so the illustration in the "O" is probably Star. Let's see what else we can figure out to support that conclusion by looking at the answer choices.

The answer choices consist of different selections from two pairs of options. The first option is whether Sun or Star is pictured in the illustration starting the word "one." The second states a reason why the illustrator might not have shown this character with the other characters: it is either because this character "is the one taking other characters out to dinner" or because the character "is not invited to dinner."

We learn from the first paragraph that neither Sun nor Star hosts the dinner party in the story: 

One day Sun, Moon, and Wind went out to dine with their uncle and aunts Thunder and Lightning. Their mother (one of the most distant Stars you see far up in the sky) waited alone for her children's return.

Thunder and Lightning take Sun, Moon, and Wind to dinner. So, we can ignore any answer choice that includes the "is the one taking the characters out to dinner" option. This leaves us to choose between whether Sun or Star "is not invited to dinner." Looking again at the first sentence of the story, we learn that Sun is invited to dinner, but Star does not go out to dinner with the group. Based on this conclusion, the correct answer is that the illustrator may have chosen to picture Star in the first letter of the story and not in the main illustration because this character is not invited to dinner, and so is not pictured with the guests ("Star . . . is not invited to dinner").

Example Question #3 : Understand The Use Of Visuals

Screen shot 2020 08 11 at 4.36.59 pm

Image adapted from Edward de Deene, De warachtighe fabvlen der dieren, Brugghe, 1567, plate 26. Aesop's fable of the grasshopper and the ant. Image retrieved from the Library of Congress, <https://www.loc.gov/resource/cph.3b06025/>.

 

Adapted from Aesop’s The Ants & the Grasshopper (620-560 BCE)

One bright day in late autumn a family of Ants was bustling about in the warm sunshine, drying out the grain they had stored up during the summer, when a starving Grasshopper, his fiddle under his arm, came up and humbly begged for a bite to eat.

"What!" cried the Ants in surprise, "haven't you stored anything away for the winter? What in the world were you doing all last summer?"

"I didn't have time to store up any food," whined the Grasshopper; "I was so busy making music that before I knew it the summer was gone."

The Ants shrugged their shoulders in disgust.

"Making music, were you?" they cried. "Very well; now dance!" And they turned their backs on the Grasshopper and went on with their work.

How does the image contribute to the story?

Possible Answers:

The illustration does not help the reader understand anything about the passage.

The illustration provides more information than the passage gives.

The illustration tells the entire story so reading the passage isn’t necessary.

The illustration can help readers picture what is happening in the story with more detail.

Correct answer:

The illustration can help readers picture what is happening in the story with more detail.

Explanation:

A visual such as an illustration or photograph is a text feature that can assist readers with understanding more about a story. This illustration provides examples of the setting and characters to help readers picture the events and happenings in the passage.

Example Question #4 : Understand The Use Of Visuals

Screen shot 2020 08 11 at 4.36.59 pm

Image adapted from Edward de Deene, De warachtighe fabvlen der dieren, Brugghe, 1567, plate 26. Aesop's fable of the grasshopper and the ant. Image retrieved from the Library of Congress, <https://www.loc.gov/resource/cph.3b06025/>.

 

Adapted from Aesop’s The Ants & the Grasshopper (620-560 BCE)

One bright day in late autumn a family of Ants was bustling about in the warm sunshine, drying out the grain they had stored up during the summer, when a starving Grasshopper, his fiddle under his arm, came up and humbly begged for a bite to eat.

"What!" cried the Ants in surprise, "haven't you stored anything away for the winter? What in the world were you doing all last summer?"

"I didn't have time to store up any food," whined the Grasshopper; "I was so busy making music that before I knew it the summer was gone."

The Ants shrugged their shoulders in disgust.

"Making music, were you?" they cried. "Very well; now dance!" And they turned their backs on the Grasshopper and went on with their work.

What media form could this story be told in to help you understand the text better?

Possible Answers:

Song

Video

Graphs and data tables

Poem

Correct answer:

Video

Explanation:

Seeing this story put in a video form will give readers a clearer picture of the details as well as the characters and settings. A video would help understand the nuances that can be difficult to picture in a text-based setting. In a video media form, music and sound effects can also be added to set the mood and tone of the story.

Example Question #5 : Understand The Use Of Visuals

Screen shot 2020 08 11 at 4.36.59 pm

Image adapted from Edward de Deene, De warachtighe fabvlen der dieren, Brugghe, 1567, plate 26. Aesop's fable of the grasshopper and the ant. Image retrieved from the Library of Congress, <https://www.loc.gov/resource/cph.3b06025/>.

 

Adapted from Aesop’s The Ants & the Grasshopper (620-560 BCE)

One bright day in late autumn a family of Ants was bustling about in the warm sunshine, drying out the grain they had stored up during the summer, when a starving Grasshopper, his fiddle under his arm, came up and humbly begged for a bite to eat.

"What!" cried the Ants in surprise, "haven't you stored anything away for the winter? What in the world were you doing all last summer?"

"I didn't have time to store up any food," whined the Grasshopper; "I was so busy making music that before I knew it the summer was gone."

The Ants shrugged their shoulders in disgust.

"Making music, were you?" they cried. "Very well; now dance!" And they turned their backs on the Grasshopper and went on with their work.

How could this illustration be improved to provide more information?

Possible Answers:

It could be a photo instead.

There is no way to improve the illustration.

The illustration could be in color.

A caption could be included.

Correct answer:

A caption could be included.

Explanation:

A caption is a text feature that may be included to provide more detail and a deeper level of understanding between a visual and the passage. A caption detailing what is taking place in the visual readers are seeing may help the understanding of the text.

All Common Core: 5th Grade English Language Arts Resources

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