Grade 5 Author's Point of View and Purpose

[Pages:4]SKILL: Analyze and Infer Author's Point of View and Purpose

Who Am I?

5th Grade Nonfiction

Center for Urban Education ?2007

I am proud to be a member of two cultures. Even though I am only ten years old, I have lived in two countries and in two cultures. I have lived in both Mexico and the United States.

I was born in the state of Michoac?n. I was born in a small town called Quinceo. Life there was simple and peaceful. There was a small church where we would go to hear mass on Sundays. There was a corral where we would go and watch rodeos. After school, my friends and I would go for a swim in a creek. My mom did not work; she stayed at home taking care of our family. Life in Quinceo was nice, but money was sometimes not enough to support us.

In 1996, the day came when my dad decided to bring us to the United States. Leaving my town was hard, but it was important that my family stay together. When I left Mexico, I had a lot of special friends and nice teachers.

When I first came to the United States, I started at a new school in Chicago. I found care and company at the school, among Hispanic people, my friends, and my teacher. She helped me all the time.

My education now is different from the one in Mexico. Here, I am studying in two languages. I feel very happy because I am able to communicate in two languages. In my case, speaking Spanish is an indication of my Mexican heritage. Speaking English is a symbol of my triumph and the struggles that I have as an immigrant in this country. Now that I have been here three years, I am proud to offer my help and support to people who need it.

I urge those who come from Mexico and other countries to learn English and to continue speaking their native language, too. It will help them reach out to others.

Questions developed by Center for Urban Education for use by Area 7 2008-2009.

Directions: Choose the best answer for each question

1. How does the writer feel about the United

2. Why did the writer write this passage?

States?

a. to tell people about Mexico

a. He likes it.

b. to help people understand immigrants

b. He does not like it.

c. to explain why he speaks English

c. He is not sure.

d. to tell why he left Mexico

d. He does not know it well.

3. How does the writer feel about Mexico? a. He does not remember it. b. He is proud of his heritage. c. He has moved to the United States. d. He has many friends there.

4. What does the writer want people to do? a. learn other languages b. understand each other c. move to other countries d. become teachers

5. Write your own answer to this question. What do you think this writer wants you to learn from this passage?

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TEACHER NOTES: Develop Students' Skills: Exercise Thinking These questions have not been validated, so decisions about student's achievement should not be made based on their responses. They are intended to exercise skills. Recommended activities include: students work in pairs to choose the best response; give students the questions without the responses so they generate their own answers; students make up additional questions; students make up questions like these for another passage.

Answers: You can remove this answer key and then give it to students and ask them to figure out the basis for the correct response.

Item

1

2

3

4

Answer a

b

b

b

Question 5 is open-ended. Here is a suggested response.

5. That you can be from one country and be proud of that and your new country.

SKILL: Analyze and Infer Author's Point of View and Purpose

Mama's Happy Christmas

5th Grade Fiction

Source: Public Domain, adapted by Center for Urban Education, may be used with citation.

It had seemed to the Johnson children that they would have a very sad Christmas. Mama had been very ill, and their father had been so anxious about Mama that he could not think of anything else. Everyone had been quiet for days. They did not want to wake Mama when she was napping. They did not even put up a Christmas tree because they didn't want to have one. Everyone felt very sad.

When Christmas Day arrived, they received great news. Mama said, "I'm feeling much better today, so I am coming downstairs!"

Mama looked so much better. Though she was still tired, she came downstairs and lay down on the couch. The family brought their presents out and opened them all together that morning.

"I am sorry I did not get a chance to buy presents for you," said Mama. "This is the best present we could have received," said father. "You are feeling better." "I am glad everyone feels well. I can tell you do because you are all smiling." "Why, I NEVER had such a happy Christmas before," said Marie. "And it's just because you are well again." "But what about dinner?" asked Mama. "Mrs. Jones from next door is bringing it," said Marie. "She said she remembered how you had been so helpful when she had her new baby, and she was glad to be able to help you." Mama said, "OK, then I will go upstairs and take a nap and come back down at dinner time." Marie said to everyone else, "We should do something to make it a special night." "Let's put on a play," Father said. "Oh, yes!" they all cried, "It would be fun; we can make one up ourselves." So all day long, they were busy working on the play. First they planned the play--it would be a play about their own family. It would tell about how they moved to Chicago. Then after dinner, when Mama was saying what a wonderful day she had, the children said, "We have a surprise for you. We wrote a play, and we would like to perform it now." Then they put on the play. Each of them played themselves, except for Felicia, who played Marie, and Marie, who played Mama. Felicia was only one year old when they moved in, so they used one of her dolls to be the baby. Mama laughed and laughed. The play was funny because everyone was so happy. They remembered how excited everyone had been to move to Chicago. They even had Mrs. Jones come in and play her part. She was their neighbor now and had been the first person they met when they moved in. "I know this," said Mama, "I feel so much better. A loving family is definitely the best medicine, and a good neighbor helps everyone feel better."

Questions developed by Center for Urban Education for use by Chicago Public Schools 2008-2009.

Directions: Choose the best answer for each question.

6. What is the idea the writer wants you to

7. How do you think the writer feels about Mrs.

understand?

Jones?

a. that when a mother is sick everyone worries a. She is a nosy neighbor.

b. that a family is important

b. She is a good neighbor.

c. that Christmas without presents is sad

c. She is a difficult person.

d. that families move a lot

d. She is a lonely person.

8. Why do you think the writer wrote this story? a. to tell about a family b. to tell about a problem c. to tell how people solved a problem d. to tell what is important

9. Why do you think the writer told how the neighbor helped the family? a. to show what people should do b. to show how the family needed help c. to show what happens in cities d. to show why they liked her

10. Write your own answer to this question. Why would someone write a story like this?

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TEACHER NOTES: Develop Students' Skills: Exercise Thinking These questions have not been validated, so decisions about student's achievement should not be made based on their responses. They are intended to exercise skills. Recommended activities include: students work in pairs to choose the best response; give students the questions without the responses so they generate their own answers; students make up additional questions; students make up questions like these for another passage.

Answers: You can remove this answer key and then give it to students and ask them to figure out the basis for the correct response.

Item

6

7

8

9

Answer b

b

d

a

Question 10 is open-ended. Here is a suggested response.

10. They would write a story to help people understand what is important.

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