Skill: Determine the meaning of words using root words, prefixes, and suffixes
TestSMART ® Focus LinksTM for Reading, Grade 4
form is a base word that means “shape”
Preform the cookies before baking them.
cred is a root word that means “believe”
She is a credible witness.
PL
Example:
pre- is a prefix that means “before”
pre (before) + form = preform (shape before)
-ible is a suffix that means “is, can be”
cred (believe) + ible = credible (can be believed)
E
A root word is the part of a larger word that carries the main meaning. If a root word is a complete
word, it is called a base word. A prefix is a word part added to the front of a root word or base
word. A suffix is a word part added behind a root word or base word. Prefixes and suffixes change
or add to the meaning of a root word. A reader can use the root word, its prefixes, and its suffixes to
understand an entire word’s meaning.
Some Common Prefixes
sub- (under)
super- (above, over,
more)
tri- (three)
un- (not)
under- (below, less
than)
M
-able, -ible (is, can be)
-er (more, greater)
-er, -or (one who)
-ess (one who—
female)
-est (most, greatest)
-ful (full of)
-ish (like)
-less (without)
-ly (like, manner of)
-ment (action,
process)
-ness (act of; state of
being)
-ship (state or quality
of)
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bi- (two)
co- (with, together)
mis- (not correct, bad)
non- (not)
re- (again)
pre- (before)
post- (after)
Some Common Suffixes
Use the prefixes and suffixes listed above to build a new word with root words and base words. Write
the word parts separately in the first column. Then write the new word in the second column. Write the
meaning of the new word in the third column.
New Word
Meaning
play + ful
playful
full of play
SA
Word Parts
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5
Skill: Recognize the organizational pattern of a text
TestSMART ® Focus LinksTM for Reading, Grade 4
Prereading Question: If you were a raindrop, what would your life be like?
The Water Cycle
E
Authors know many different ways to put their ideas in order. An author may put ideas in order from
most important to least important. Another author may put ideas in time order from first to last. The
way a writer puts ideas in order is called a passage’s organizational pattern. Knowing a passage’s
organizational pattern makes it easier for a reader to understand an author’s ideas.
Organizational Pattern
1. The author organizes most of the passage by
giving the steps of the water cycle—
A in the order that the steps happen
B in order from easiest step to hardest step
C in the order that the author remembered
them
D in order from most important to least
important
PL
Did you know that there are trillions of gallons
of water in the atmosphere* above you? Most of
the water comes from the earth’s oceans. How
does water get into the air above us? This happens
during the water cycle.
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There are three main steps in the water
cycle.The first step of the water cycle is called
evaporation. The sun heats the water in oceans,
rivers, and lakes. When the water is warm enough,
it changes into a gas. The gas is called water vapor.
It’s easy to remember this step. The word vapor
sits right in the middle of “evaporation.”
2. Look at the diagram below.
Evaporation
M
The second step of the water cycle is called
condensation. When water becomes vapor, it
rises into the air above us. As the water vapor
rises, it cools. The cooler vapor forms small drops
of water. The clouds you see in the sky are really
tiny drops of water. That is why a cloudless day is
a sign of no rain!
Organizational Pattern
SA
The third step in the water cycle is called
precipitation. The tiny drops of water begin to
stick together. At some point, they become too
heavy to stay in the air. Then they fall to the
ground as precipitation. There are many kinds of
precipitation. If the air is cold, heavier water drops
will fall as snow or sleet. If the air outside is warm,
they will fall as rain. All the water that falls to the
earth will flow back into lakes, rivers, and oceans.
Then the water cycle starts over again.
* the air surrounding the earth
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© ECS Learning Systems, Inc.
Condensation
Which idea belongs in the empty box?
A atmosphere
B precipitation
C water vapor
D sleet and snow
Progression of Ideas *
3. According to the passage, precipitation falls
from the sky because the—
A water cycle needs to start over again
B sun’s heat makes the water drops fall
C water drops can soak into the ground
D water drops become too heavy to stay
in the air
Postreading Question: What would happen if
the earth did not have a water cycle?
Review
TestSMART ® Focus LinksTM for Reading, Grade 4
Animal “Cousins”
Organizational Pattern
1. The author organizes most of this
passage by—
A describing the okapi’s stripes
B explaining how okapis and giraffes are
alike and different
C explaining why okapis and giraffes need
very little water and sleep
D listing the okapi’s most important
characteristics in order of importance
E
Which African mammal has big ears, small
horns, and white stripes along its backside? Did
you say an okapi (oh-KOP-ee)? You might not
know by its looks, but the okapi is part of the
giraffe’s family.
PL
The okapi is much smaller than its long-necked
cousin, though. A grown okapi is only about six
feet tall. That’s the size of a giraffe’s neck alone!
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Giraffes and okapis also have different
markings. All giraffes have a series of brown
patches on their bodies. These patches never
appear in the same pattern. Each giraffe’s pattern
of spots is different, just like every person’s
fingerprint. But, okapis also have markings that
make each animal stand out. Okapis do not have
brown spots. Instead, they have white stripes on
their hind legs. Their special markings help okapis
and giraffes remember who’s who in their herd.
2. In which way are okapis and giraffes alike?
A Both animals have large horns.
B Both animals have similar markings.
C Both animals have six-foot-long necks.
D Both animals can survive without water
for weeks.
Context Clues
M
How are okapis and giraffes the same? Both
animals have long, blue tongues. Their lips are
made of tough skin. This lets them eat things
other animals cannot eat. For example, okapis
and giraffes both like prickly leaves and thorny
branches. Because these foods contain so much
moisture, neither animal needs a lot of water. In
fact, both okapis and giraffes can go without water
for weeks at a time.
Relevant Facts/Details
SA
Okapis and giraffes are alike in another way.
Neither animal needs much sleep. To be fully alert,
giraffes and okapis need only 30 minutes of sleep
per day. Just think about
that! These animals get
a full night’s rest in the
same time it takes you
to watch a cartoon!
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© ECS Learning Systems, Inc.
3. In this passage, the word alert means—
A alike
B awake
C fed
D rested
Representation of Text
4. Look at the diagram below.
Okapi
only six
feet tall
––––––––
Giraffe
tough lips
eat branches
and leaves
larger than
six feet tall
brown patches
on body
Which of the following belongs on the
blank line?
A blue tongues
B do not need much water
C white stripes on hind legs
D need only 30 minutes of sleep per day