Summer Solutions© Reading Comprehension
Level 3
Level 3
Reading
Comprehension
Help Pages
65
Summer Solutions© Reading Comprehension
Level 3
Help Pages
Analogy
An analogy is a way of comparing things.
Here is an example:
This means,
frog : pond :: whale : ocean
“Frog is to pond as whale is to ocean.”
In other words,
A frog makes its home in a pond.
A whale makes its home in an ocean.
Here is another example:
juice
apple : fruit :: carrot :
vegetable
orange
garden
What is the relationship? An apple is a kind of fruit.
The missing word must be vegetable
because a carrot is a kind of vegetable.
In an analogy, the words may be compared in many ways.
The words may be synonyms. Synonyms are words that have the same or nearly
the same meaning.
Example : pretty : beautiful :: sad : gloomy
Pretty and beautiful are synonyms.
Sad and gloomy are synonyms, too.
The words may be antonyms. Antonyms are words that have the opposite
meaning.
Example: high : low :: empty : full
High is the opposite of low.
Empty is the opposite of full.
One word may describe the other.
Example: yellow : lemon :: furry : kitten
A lemon is yellow.
A kitten is furry.
One word may name a part of the other.
Example: book : pages :: piano : keys
A book has pages.
A piano has keys.
66
Summer Solutions© Reading Comprehension
Level 3
Help Pages
Analogy (continued)
One word may name a group while the other names a part of the group.
Example: troupe : boy scout :: marching band : trumpet player
A boy scout is part of a troupe.
A trumpet player is part of a marching band.
Context Clues
You can use context clues to figure out the meaning of a word. Context clues are
the words that come before or after the unknown word.
Example: The blueberries were abundant this year. We
had more than we could ever use!
The context clues let you know that abundant must mean a lot because
the next sentence says, “We had more than we could ever use!”
Sometimes the author gives hints about the meaning of the word by using
synonyms (words that mean the same or nearly the same).
Example: We got rid of the old refrigerator. It was inefficient,
and Dad doesn’t like things that are wasteful.
The context clues let you know that inefficient must mean wasteful because
the next part of the sentence says, “Dad doesn’t like things that are wasteful.”
Sometimes the author will give hints about the meaning of the word by using
antonyms (words that have the opposite meaning).
Example: Terrance loped across the yard, but I just
walked slowly.
You can tell that loped means he moved fast. The next part
of the sentence says, “but I just walked slowly.”
If you can’t figure out the meaning of a word, just keep reading. It may not matter
if you don’t get the meaning right away. You will still understand what the
selection is about.
Here is an example: Aunt Lucy cooked quinoa with apples,
raisins, and cinnamon for breakfast.
This sentence doesn’t tell you what quinoa is, but you can tell that it
is a food that you can have for breakfast.
67
Summer Solutions© Reading Comprehension
Level 3
Help Pages
Fact or Opinion
A fact can be proven. An opinion tells what someone thinks or believes.
Look at the examples below.
Example: Our new playground has a skateboard park.
This is a fact because you see the skateboard park at the playground.
It is definitely there.
Example: Only kids who live in our neighborhood should
be allowed to use our skateboard park.
This is an opinion. Others may not agree, and there is no way to prove it.
Look for clue words like can, should, always, never, may and phrases like
I think, I believe, and I feel. These words usually signal an opinion.
Sometimes part of a sentence is factual and another part states an opinion.
Example: Only ten kids are allowed in the skateboard
park at a time, and that’s why kids from other
neighborhoods should not use our park.
The underlined part of the sentence can be proven – just check the park rules.
The second part of the sentence is an opinion because there is no way to prove
whether or not someone “should” use the park.
Here is another example:
Our parents pay taxes to build and care for our parks, (Fact)
so I think we deserve to have the park to ourselves. (Opinion)
Homophones
Homophones sound the same, but they have different meanings and different
spellings. Each homophone in this section is used in a sentence that shows its
meaning.
Ate
Eight
Blew
Blue
Buy
By
Bye
68
The Lindens ate stew with fresh bread for dinner.
The number eight comes after the number seven.
Jenna blew out seven candles on her birthday cake.
Mark’s favorite color is blue.
If we have time to go to the market, I will buy some tomatoes.
It will be time to eat by the time we get home.
The baby waves when you say, “bye-bye.”
Summer Solutions© Reading Comprehension
Level 3
Help Pages
Homophones (continued)
Cent
Scent
Sent
One penny equals one cent.
The perfume has a flowery scent.
We sent flowers to grandma for Mother’s Day.
Dear
Deer
Dew
Do
Due
For
Four
Hear
Here
Hole
Whole
Its
It’s (it is)
Knew
New
Knot
Not
Know
No
One
Won
Peace
Piece
Right
Write
Road
Rode
Rowed
Sea
See
Mrs. McGarvey is a dear friend of my mom’s.
Sometimes we see deer eating plants in our back yard.
In the morning the grass is wet because it is covered with dew.
What did you do over the weekend?
My library books are due on Saturday.
I brought an extra baseball cap for my brother.
Marcy only has four dollars in her pocket.
The music was so loud, I couldn’t hear what you were saying.
My uncle lives in Germany, but my grandparents live here.
Kevin dug a hole in the ground and filled it with water.
You’d better bring two pies; Andy can eat a whole pie by himself!
The kitten is too young to be taken away from its mother.
We won’t have time to go to the shop because it’s getting late.
Rachel always knew all the answers.
There is a new hot dog shop on the corner.
Would you untie this knot in my shoelace?
There will not be a scout meeting today.
Shannon does not know the new phone number.
The sign read, “No Visitors on Sunday Mornings.”
Giovanni is one year old today.
The team from New York won the contest this year.
Nick enjoyed the peace and quiet of the empty house.
You will need a large piece of material to make the bedspread.
I always throw with my right hand.
Gina will write a letter to the editor.
This road takes you to the edge of town.
Jamey rode a horse at the county fair.
Cole rowed the boat until we were close to shore.
The discoverers sailed across the sea in huge ships.
Everyone can see the performers when the stage is lit.
69
Summer Solutions© Reading Comprehension
Level 3
Help Pages
Homophones (continued)
Sew
We learned how to sew buttons on jackets and shirts.
So
The playground gates were locked, so we went to the ball field.
Tail
My cat likes to chase its long tail.
Tale
Attica told us a funny tale about goblins and fairies.
Their
All of the guests leave their shoes next to the door.
They’re (they are) We can pick the apples now that they’re ripe.
There
You can help me unpack the trunk when we get there.
Threw
Oren threw the ball from third base to home plate.
Through
We walked along a trail that runs through the forest.
To
You will need some eggs if you want to make brownies.
Too
We should make some oatmeal cookies too.
Two
I’ll get two dozen eggs and some sugar at the store.
Wait
The doors are open, so you can wait inside.
Weight
The school nurse checks our height and weight every year.
Wear
I’m going to wear my purple sweater.
Where
Francine didn’t tell anyone where she was going.
Weak
I couldn’t use my cell phone because the signal was too weak.
Week
Next week we will leave for our vacation.
Weather
The weather has been dry, and it is very sunny here.
Whether
You need to decide whether or not you will go camping with us.
Who’s (who is) Who’s in the back yard?
Whose
I don’t know whose jacket was left in our car.
Your
Please clean your room before dinner.
You’re (you are) Call me when you’re leaving the house.
70