Determine Word Meanings in Text
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2nd Grade ELA › Determine Word Meanings in Text
Read the passage: In fall, many birds migrate, or travel, to warmer places. For example, some geese fly south where it is not so cold. They return in spring when the weather warms up. In the passage, what does migrate mean?
To build a bigger nest
To sing loudly
To travel to a new place
Explanation
This tests understanding new words. The passage says 'migrate, or travel, to warmer places.' The word 'or' tells us migrate means travel.
Read the passage: Some rocks hold a fossil, or the remains of a plant or animal. For example, you might see a shell shape in stone. In the text, what does fossil mean?
The remains in a rock
A new leaf on a tree
A puddle after rain
Explanation
We need to find what fossil means. The text says fossil is 'the remains of a plant or animal.' You can see old shells in rocks.
Read the passage: A cactus is prickly. It has sharp spines all over it that can poke your skin. Many animals stay away so they do not get hurt. In the passage, what does prickly mean?
Wet and dripping
Soft like a pillow
Sharp and can poke you
Explanation
We need to find what prickly means. The passage says it 'has sharp spines' that 'can poke your skin.' So prickly means sharp and can poke you.
Read the passage: Some seeds sprout when they get water and warmth. A tiny green shoot pushes up out of the soil. Soon it grows into a small plant. In the passage, what does sprout mean?
To turn into a rock
To start growing
To stop growing
Explanation
This asks what sprout means. The passage shows 'a tiny green shoot pushes up' and 'grows into a small plant.' Sprouting means starting to grow.
Read the passage: Salt can dissolve in water, which means it seems to disappear. If you stir the water, the salt breaks into tiny bits you cannot see. The water still tastes salty. In the passage, what does dissolve mean?
To float on top without mixing
To freeze into ice
To turn into tiny bits in liquid
Explanation
This tests what dissolve means. The passage says salt 'seems to disappear' and 'breaks into tiny bits you cannot see.' That matches answer A perfectly.
Read the passage: A sponge can absorb water. When you press it into a puddle, it soaks up the water like a towel. The sponge gets heavier because it holds the water inside. In the passage, what does absorb mean?
To splash water everywhere
To soak up and hold liquid
To make water disappear forever
Explanation
We're finding what absorb means. The passage says the sponge 'soaks up the water' and 'holds the water inside.' That's what absorb means!
Read the passage. Ants live in a colony, or a big group, under the ground. In one colony, there can be thousands of ants. They work together to find food and care for eggs. In the passage, what does colony mean?
A big group living together
A kind of ant food
A single ant by itself
Explanation
We need to find what colony means. The passage tells us colony is 'a big group.' Thousands of ants live together in one colony.
Read the passage: A raincoat is waterproof, which means water cannot soak through it. This keeps you dry in the rain. In the text, what does waterproof mean?
So water goes through fast
So it feels heavy
So water cannot go through
Explanation
We need to find what waterproof means. The text says it 'means water cannot soak through it.' Raincoats keep you dry because water can't go through.
Read the passage. When salt dissolves in water, it seems to disappear. The salt breaks into tiny bits and mixes all through the water. You can still taste it, even when you cannot see it. In the passage, what does dissolve mean?
To mix in and seem to disappear
To jump out of the water
To freeze into ice
Explanation
We need to find what dissolve means. The passage says when salt dissolves, 'it seems to disappear.' The salt breaks into tiny bits and mixes in water.
Read the passage. Earth has gravity, a pull that brings things down. If you drop a ball, gravity makes it fall to the ground. Without gravity, the ball would not fall. In the passage, what does gravity mean?
A pull that brings things down
A bright light in the sky
A push that lifts things up
Explanation
We need to find what gravity means. The passage tells us gravity is 'a pull that brings things down.' When you drop a ball, gravity makes it fall.