IP 406-1
The
BASIC
NotB oring
SERIES
LANGUAGE SKILLS
Grades 4-5
Reading Comprehension
Inventive Exercises to Sharpen
Skills and Raise Achievement
Series Concept & Development by
Imogene Forte & Marjorie Frank
Exercises by Marjorie Frank
INCENTIVE
PUBLICATIONS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION . . . Celebrate Basic Language Skills ................................................... 7
Skills Checklist for Reading Comprehension ........................................................... 8
SKILLS EXERCISES ............................................................................................................. 9
Adventures, Unlimited! . . . (Context • Synonyms & Antonyms) ......................... 10
Lights Required . . . (Context • Prediction) ........................................................... 12
No License Necessary . . . (Context • Generalization) .......................................... 13
Cures & Courage . . . (Context) .............................................................................. 14
Lessons in Silliness . . . (Read Titles) ...................................................................... 15
Old News Is Goose News . . . (Titles • Cause & Effect) ...................................... 16
Tricks on the Slopes . . . (Captions) ....................................................................... 17
The Mysterious Atlantis . . . (Main Idea) ................................................................ 18
Mythical Sea Creatures . . . (Main Idea) ................................................................. 19
Space Mission . . . (Fact & Opinion) ...................................................................... 20
Catch a Leprechaun . . . (Choose Title • Read for Details) .................................. 21
20,000 Feet and Still Climbing . . . (Read for Details) ........................................... 22
Bring Your Axe! . . . (Read for Details • Draw Conclusions) ............................... 23
Explore the Sunken Titanic . . . (Read for Details • Summarize) ........................ 24
Letters to Leonardo . . . (Read for Details) ............................................................. 25
Rock into the Past . . . (Read for Details) ............................................................... 26
Rock into the Future . . . (Literary Techniques) ..................................................... 27
High Seas Adventure . . . (Literary Techniques • Personal Response) ................ 28
Strange Disappearances . . . (Literary Techniques • Figurative Speech) ............. 29
Golden Recipes . . . (Sequence • Read for Details) .............................................. 30
Fight the Fiercest Bull . . . (Sequence) ................................................................... 31
Join the Circus! . . . (Paraphrase) ............................................................................ 32
Ride a Raging River . . . (Paraphrase) ..................................................................... 33
Meet the Man of la Mancha . . . (Summarize • Conclusions) ............................... 34
A Little Sluggish . . . (Conclusions • Generalizations) .......................................... 35
Your Name in Neon! . . . (Author’s Purpose • Point of View) ............................. 36
Alone in the Tangled Woods . . . (Predictions • Author’s Purpose) .................... 37
Tracking down Clues . . . (Predictions • Inference) ............................................. 38
Race with the Dogs . . . (Predictions • Conclusions) ............................................ 39
The Thrill of a Big Wave . . . (Inference) ............................................................... 40
A Stomach Dropper . . . (Evaluation) ..................................................................... 41
Here Comes the Judge . . . (Evaluation) ................................................................ 42
Bring a Mask . . . (Character Analysis • Conclusions) .......................................... 43
The World’s Luxury Train . . . (Character Analysis • Story Elements) ................. 44
An Ancient Art . . . (Information from Illustrations) .............................................. 46
Welcome to Camelot . . . (Information from Illustrations • Incorrect Details) .... 47
Drop into the Alps . . . (Read Table) ...................................................................... 48
A Ride with the “King” . . . (Read Charts & Tables) .............................................. 49
High Climber . . . (Read Graph) ............................................................................. 50
It’s Great to be Queen . . . (Follow Directions) ..................................................... 51
A Sweet Record . . . (Follow Directions) ................................................................ 52
The Greatest Cowboy . . . (Personal Response) .................................................... 53
Hunting for Nessie . . . (Personal Response) ......................................................... 54
APPENDIX ....................................................................................................................... 55
Literary Devices ....................................................................................................... 56
Reading Comprehension Skills Test ....................................................................... 57
Answer Key .............................................................................................................. 62
Context • Synonyms & Antonyms
ADVENTURES, UNLIMITED!
Let us take you on the adventure of your dreams! Adventures, Unlimited is the one stop
when you are shopping for travel anywhere, anytime. We have special trips to real and
fantasy locations in the past, present, and future! Choose your adventure—and start packing!
Find a word on the adventure posters that matches each direction below.
Look on both pages (pages 10 and 11).
Find a word that is a synonym for . . .
1. adventure ______________________
Find 2 synonyms for search
8. _________________________________________
_________________________________________
2. sail
______________________
3. tricks
______________________
4. socialize
______________________
5. examine
______________________
6. try
______________________
11. having to do
with food
_____________________________
7. travel
______________________
12. climb
Find a word or phrase that means . . .
9. make-believe _____________________________
10. grand
_____________________________
_____________________________
Use with page 11.
Name
Basic Skills ⁄ Reading Comprehension 4-5
10
Copyright ©1998 by Incentive Publications, Inc., Nashville, TN.
Context • Synonyms & Antonyms
Find a word on the adventure posters that matches each direction below.
Write a word that is an antonym for . . .
Write a word that is a synonym for . . .
13. safe________________________________
21. hard to catch________________________
14. real ________________________________
22. famous _____________________________
15. modern ____________________________
23. wreck ______________________________
16. pleasant ____________________________
24. a good price ________________________
17. small_______________________________
25. hire________________________________
18. plain & simple ______________________
26. a look______________________________
19. believable __________________________
27. far away____________________________
20. past________________________________
28. scariest _____________________________
Use with page 10.
Name
Copyright ©1998 by Incentive Publications, Inc., Nashville, TN.
11
Basic Skills ⁄ Reading Comprehension 4-5