Connecting Ideas in Texts · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Connecting Ideas in Texts

English · Reading Comprehension · ages 8-9
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. Read: 'Cats sleep a lot during the day. Similarly, lions rest for many hours.' What does the word 'similarly' show here?

    • That the cats made the lions sleepy
    • Both rest alike
    • That the cats slept before the lions did

  2. Which word signals a cause-and-effect connection?

    • because
    • next
    • similarly

  3. If two paragraphs both use time words like 'next' and 'then,' they are probably connected by sequence.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. Which word signals what happens first in a sequence of steps?

    • first
    • because
    • however

  5. Read: 'The trail was steep, so the hikers moved slowly.' What caused the hikers to move slowly?

    • The trail was steep
    • The hikers were tired
    • The weather was cold

  6. Read: 'Bats sleep through the daytime. ___ owls rest while the sun is up.' Which words fit the gap?

    • However,
    • Similarly,
    • Because of this,

  7. Read: 'Maya loves swimming in the sea. ___ her brother will not go past his knees.' Which words fit the gap?

    • As a result,
    • Finally,
    • However,

  8. Look at the steps below. Which step happens straight after the shoot appears?

    Plant the seedWater the potA shoot appearsFlowers open
    • Water the pot
    • Flowers open
    • Plant the seed

  9. Which pair of sentences shows cause and effect?

    • 'Ali likes apples. Ali likes pears.'
    • 'We read at ten. We read again at two.'
    • 'Tap dripped all night. Bucket filled.'

  10. Read: 'Ben tied his laces. Then the bus arrived.' A student says tying the laces made the bus arrive. What went wrong?

    • 'Then' shows a comparison, not an order
    • 'Then' shows order, not cause
    • The two events could not both be true
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Connecting Ideas in Texts W1-mt_w4wKFP3jud-s1

  1. Both rest alike · 'Similarly' is a comparison word. It tells you the two animals do the same kind of thing.
  2. because · 'Because' points to a reason, which is the heart of a cause-and-effect link.
  3. True · Repeated time-order words across paragraphs usually mean the paragraphs describe steps in order.
  4. first · 'First' marks the opening step in a time-ordered list.
  5. The trail was steep · 'So' links the cause (a steep trail) to its effect (moving slowly).
  6. Similarly, · Both animals rest during the day, so the gap needs a word that shows they are alike.
  7. However, · Maya and her brother feel opposite ways about the sea, so the gap needs a contrast word.
  8. Flowers open · The steps run in time order, and the flower opening is listed right after the shoot appears.
  9. 'Tap dripped all night. Bucket filled.' · The dripping tap is what filled the bucket, so one sentence explains the other.
  10. 'Then' shows order, not cause · Time-order words put events in order. They never promise that one event caused the other.
Worksheet · LightMySky