Reading comprehension skills strategies level 8

Directions: ROOT act ang aud cred dict fac loc man mob Would you believe that a large part of our language has its roots in Latin? Well, after you complete this page, you will. Study the Latin roots and the English words that were grown from them. Then, match each word to its meaning. (just MEANING do bend hear believe speak make place hand move a few) LATIN ROOTS: EXAMPLE ROOT enact ped triangle pop audience rupt discredit sign dictate spec factory tract locate urb manual vac mobile vid 1. incredible 2. angular 3. manipulate 4. audible 5. relocate 6. mobilize 7. pedestrian 8. contradict 9. abrupt 10. suburb 11. vivid 12. attraction 13. popular 14. disrupt 15. manufacture 16. evacuate 17. audition 18. automobile 19. evidence 20. signature EXAMPLE pedal population erupt signal spectator traction urban vacant video having bends move into action one who is on foot speak against not believable move by hand able to be heard move to a new place easy to see pull toward liked by people a sudden break break up or apart below or outside the city leave a place empty seen with the eyes make by hand the mark of identity a time to be heard machine that moves by itself Name: _______________________________________ Reading Comprehension • Saddleback Educational Publishing ©2002 MEANING foot people break mark see pull, drag city empty see 10 Date: _____________________ 3 Watson, Irvine, CA 92618•Phone(888)SDL-BACK•www.sdlback.com Directions: The roots of our language are widespread. The ones below are Greek. After you complete this page, their meanings won’t be Greek to you. Study the Greek roots. Then for each, write two English words that grew from them. GREEK ROOTS: 1. ast: star 2. cycl: circle ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ 3. graph: write/draw 4. gram: written ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ 5. meter: measure 6. phon: sound ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ 7. photo: light 8. scop: see ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ 9. therm: heat ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ 12. hydr: water ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ 13. opt: eye telephoto phonics biopsy diagram hydrant graphic optical photosynthesis symphony biology claustrophobic cyclical geology 10. bio: life ________________________ 11. geo: earth geography thermos periscope asterisk phobia cyclone diameter hydroelectric autograph optometrist astronomy telescope telegram thermometer (2) 14. phob: fear ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ Name: _______________________________________ Reading Comprehension • Saddleback Educational Publishing ©2002 11 Date: _____________________ 3 Watson, Irvine, CA 92618•Phone(888)SDL-BACK•www.sdlback.com Directions: Read each word. Pull it apart in your mind. Then write the parts in the correct columns. The first one is done for you. PREFIX ROOT WORD SUFFIX host ess 1. hostess ____________________________________________________ 2. discomfort ____________________________________________________ 3. redefine ____________________________________________________ 4. import ____________________________________________________ 5. annually ____________________________________________________ 6. uncertainty ____________________________________________________ 7. thoughtless ____________________________________________________ 8. mispronounce ____________________________________________________ 9. government ____________________________________________________ 10. joyous ____________________________________________________ 11. irregular ____________________________________________________ 12. antisocial ____________________________________________________ 13. misleading ____________________________________________________ 14. uncomfortable ____________________________________________________ 15. sorrowful ____________________________________________________ 16. knighthood ____________________________________________________ 17. subcategory ____________________________________________________ You’re on a roll! Now find three words in one of your textbooks: one with a root word plus a prefix, one with a root word plus a suffix, and one with both. Write them below. 18. _______________________________________________________________________________ 19. _______________________________________________________________________________ 20. _______________________________________________________________________________ Name: _______________________________________ Reading Comprehension • Saddleback Educational Publishing ©2002 12 Date: _____________________ 3 Watson, Irvine, CA 92618•Phone(888)SDL-BACK•www.sdlback.com You’re a well-oiled reading machine, right? But it wouldn’t hurt to check if you are a bit rusty with this skill—recognizing plurals and possessives. Directions: Test your ability to tell the difference between a plural and a possessive. Remember: a plural means more than one; a possessive shows ownership. Fill in the bubble that describes the word in bold. 1. Maria’s cat seems to sleep all day. 1. O plural O possessive 2. The boys’ gloves lay by the bench. 2. O plural O possessive 3. Thunderous clouds loomed in the distance. 3. O plural O possessive 4. The girl’s makeup was too heavy. 4. O plural O possessive 5. The bird preened its feathers. 5. O plural O possessive 6. Loud noises came from the barn. 6. O plural O possessive 7. Dr. Raymond’s office was crowded. 7. O plural O possessive 8. The planks creaked as we walked across. 8. O plural O possessive 9. A big ship can withstand pounding waves. 9. O plural O possessive 10. I’m always finding Rex‘s toys in my room. 10. O plural O possessive 11. The flowers’ petals were soft and delicate. 11. O plural O possessive 12. I hardly recognized the Browns’ children. 12. O plural O possessive 13. An artist’s style is unique. 13. O plural O possessive 14. The trees’ branches were laden with snow. 14. O plural O possessive 15. The moon’s gravity causes Earth’s tides. 15. O plural O possessive 16. Whales migrate thousands of miles. 16. O plural O possessive 17. Caroline thought your brother’s car was cool. 17. O plural O possessive 18. The beaches are patrolled day and night. 18. O plural O possessive 19. Dad went to Uncle Jeff’s to go fishing. 19. O plural O possessive 20. In the cave hung hundreds of bats. 20. O plural O possessive Name: _______________________________________ Reading Comprehension • Saddleback Educational Publishing ©2002 13 Date: _____________________ 3 Watson, Irvine, CA 92618•Phone(888)SDL-BACK•www.sdlback.com Reading is like detective work. Clues to unknown words can be found right among the words around it. This strategy is called using context clues, and it works! Directions: Use context clues to figure out the meaning of the bold word. Write it on the line. 1. In math class, Jen passed the note to Sara discreetly. __________________________________________________ 2. The thirsty man yearned for a drink of water. __________________________________________________ 3. The miner struck a new lode of coal. __________________________________________________ 4. Old age did not hamper him one bit. __________________________________________________ 5. The explorers were running short on provisions. __________________________________________________ 6. Pirates were caught red-handed with the contraband. __________________________________________________ 7. Without shots, the animals were susceptible to disease. __________________________________________________ 8. This is only a facsimile—the real gem is in the safe. __________________________________________________ • necessities • strongly wished for • hold back; adversely affect • in a positive way • destroy • newborn • vulnerable to attack • look alike; copy • in a secretive way • stolen goods • members of the cat family • vein of mineral ore 9. The tiny infant remained in the neonatal ward. __________________________________________________ 10. The tornado threatened to annihilate the small town. __________________________________________________ 11. Unlike other felines, lions live in groups. __________________________________________________ 12. Dad said nothing, but just nodded affirmatively. __________________________________________________ Name: _______________________________________ Reading Comprehension • Saddleback Educational Publishing ©2002 14 Date: _____________________ 3 Watson, Irvine, CA 92618•Phone(888)SDL-BACK•www.sdlback.com Directions: Read the story. Use context clues to figure out the possible meanings of the words in bold. Then write them next to their meanings below. Last month we took a trip to Southern California for my cousin’s wedding. By the scowl on my face when Mom told us we were going, she knew I was less than thrilled. So the next declaration out of her mouth was that, besides going to the wedding (drudge, drudge), we would also be going to the Wild Animal Park AND the water park. OK! I decided I could sit through the wedding and even be hospitable for a few hours. During the ceremony I was catatonic, but the reception wasn’t too bad. There were copious amounts of food and their choice of music was palatable. It was over in a flash and the next day we were on to better things. The Wild Animal Park was awesome. No cages or enclosures—just open range for giraffes, zebras, and other creatures to roam. The docent said as long as we adhered to the rules, everyone (us and the animals) would be safe. The next day we donned our swimsuits for a day at the water park. Mom was a trifle tired, so she just reclined under a shady tree and read a book. The rest of us did the slides, the tubes, the wave machine...stopped for a snack...then did it all again. That night I wrote a thank-you note to my cousin Irene for the great time we had (at her wedding, of course). 1. hard, tedious work: ______________________ 2. tour guide: _________________________ 3. abundant; plentiful: _________________________ 4. a small amount; a bit: _____________________ 5. leaned or lay back to rest: ________________________ 6. put on or dressed in: __________________________ 7. open area of land for grazing: _________________________ 8. statement; announcement: _____________________________ 9. a frowning facial expression: __________________________ 10. friendly, sociable toward guests: _____________________________ 11. pleasant or acceptable to the taste or mind: ________________________ 12. unmoving; seemingly without thought or action: _______________________________ Name: _______________________________________ Reading Comprehension • Saddleback Educational Publishing ©2002 15 Date: _____________________ 3 Watson, Irvine, CA 92618•Phone(888)SDL-BACK•www.sdlback.com