TABLE OF CONTENTS Lesson 1 Finding Main Idea . .4 Lesson 2 Recalling Facts and Details. .14 Lesson 3 Understanding Sequence . .24 Lessons 1 – 3 REVIEW . .34 Lesson 4 Recognising Cause and Effect . .38 Lesson 5 Comparing and Contrasting . 48 Lesson 6 Making Predictions. .58 Lessons 4 – 6 REVIEW . 68 Lesson 7 Finding Word Meaning in ContextEducation. .72 Lesson 8 Drawing Conclusions and Making Inferences . .82 Lesson 9 Distinguishing Between Fact and Opinion. .92 Lessons 7 – 9 REVIEW . .Brownlow . .102 Lesson 10 Identifying Author’s Purpose. .106 Lesson 11 HawkerInterpreting Figurative Language. 116 Lesson 12 © Summarising . .126 Lessons 10 – 12 REVIEW . .136 Lessons 1 – 12 FINAL REVIEW . .140 © 2013 Hawker Brownlow Education • 9781743305812 • STARS Plus Student Book F CA12147 3 PART FIVE: Prepare for a Test • A test question about the main idea may ask you what a reading passage is mostly or mainly about. • A test question about the main idea may ask you to identify the TEST TIPS main topic of a reading passage. • A test question about the main idea may ask you to choose the best title for a reading passage. A good title often identifies the main idea. Read this myth once told by the ancient Greeks. Then answer questions about the myth. Choose the best answer for Numbers 13 and 14. Narcissus was a very handsome young man. All the young girls and maidens who met Narcissus immediately fell in love with him. But Narcissus was hard-hearted and vain. He loved no one but himself. One day, Narcissus was walking in the woods, and he became thirsty. Coming upon a quiet pool of clear water, Narcissus bent down to take a drink. As he leaned toward the water, he suddenly stopped and stared. Mirrored there before him on the surface of the water, Narcissus Educationsaw the most beautiful face he had ever seen in his life. Narcissus was spellbound by the beauty he saw in the pool. Narcissus smiled at the handsome face. The face smiled back. But when Narcissus reached out to touch it, the image vanished in a blur of ripples. Narcissus did not realise that he had fallen in love with his own refl ection. When the water stilled and theBrownlow refl ection returned, Narcissus could not tear himself away. He longed for that which he could never possess. Now he knew the pain of love! Neither eating nor drinking for weeks, Narcissus eventually died. Close to where Narcissus died, there grew a delicate fl ower with white petals and a yellow centre. We call this lovely fl ower a narcissus, remembering a beautiful youthHawker who died from love for himself. © 13. The myth mainly tells 14. Which of these is an appropriate title for Ꭽ how a flower got its name. the myth? Ꭾ what life was like in ancient Greece. Ꭽ “The Properties of Water” Ꭿ where a vain young man once lived. Ꭾ “The Missing Reflection” ൳ how water reflects light. Ꭿ “Greek Gods and Goddesses” ൳ “Narcissus – How It Came to Be” 12 STARS Plus Student Book F CA12147 • 9781743305812 • © 2013 Hawker Brownlow Education Read this article about a magnificent structure. Then answer questions about the article. Choose the best answer for Numbers 15 and 16. The Great Wall of China is the longest structure ever built. Its total length is about 6275 kilometres. One of the highest parts of the wall rises to about 10 metres. The wall crosses northern China between the east coast and north-central China. The Great Wall of China was built entirely by hand. Some believe the Great Wall is a symbol of China’s greatness and of the ability of humankind to accomplish amazing feats. The Great Wall of China is really a series of walls strung together. About two thousand years ago, the wall began as a series of short walls. Historians believe that these short walls were built to mark northern territories. Over the centuries, various rulers built sections of the wall to protect their northern borders against invaders. During these periods, sections of the wall were connected and strengthened. Parts of the Great Wall have crumbled through the years. However, much of it remains, and some sections have been restored. Watchtowers stand positioned along the wall about 100–200 metres apart. The towers once served as lookout posts. Throughout the centuries, armies were posted along the length of the wall to provide early warning of an invasion and a first line of defence. Large piles of straw and dirt, once used to build signal fires, have been found at different points of the wall. Some parts of the Great Wall consist of a foundation of granite blocks. The sides were constructed with stone or brick, and the inside of the wall was filled with earth. On top of the wall, a road was constructed by using bricksEducation set in mortar. The road was used by the workers who built the wall and by the soldiers who defended it. In hilly areas where brick and rock were scarce, portions of the wall were built from dirt dug from the earth. Workers moistened the dirt and then pounded it until it was solid. Brownlow Though the Great Wall is no longer used for defence, it attracts many visitors. Tourists from around the world come to see China’s symbol of greatness and achievement.Hawker © 15. What is the article mostly about? 16. What is the best title for the article? Ꭽ the restoration of the Great Wall Ꭽ “A Wall for the Ages” Ꭾ the many uses of the Great Wall Ꭾ “Human-made Structures” Ꭿ the builders of the Great Wall Ꭿ “Ancient Chinese Cultures” ൳ the construction of the Great Wall ൳ “The World’s Greatest Achievement” © 2013 Hawker Brownlow Education • 9781743305812 • STARS Plus Student Book F CA12147 13 PART TWO: Read an Article Read this article about a famous Australian musician. Then answer questions about the article. Choose the best answer for Numbers 7 to 12. Jimmy Little Jimmy Little was born on an Aboriginal mission in New South Wales in 1937. He was a member of the Yorta Yorta people. His mother was a Yorta Yorta woman and his father was from the Yuin people. Jimmy’s father was a tap dancer, comedian, musician and singer. He led his own group of entertainers in the 1930s and 1940s. Jimmy’s mother was a singer and a yodeller who’d joined the group. From the time he was a small child, Jimmy knew what he wanted to be. When he was just sixteen years old, Jimmy went to Sydney to perform on a radio show. At eighteen he left home to live in Sydney and pursue a career in country music. Jimmy Little went on to become an Aboriginal music legend. His successful career lasted six decades. Jimmy became the first Aboriginal musician to be popular with non-Aboriginal people. He also acted in filmEducation and on television. But singing was always Jimmy’s first love. His 1963 single “Royal Telephone” became his biggest hit. It peaked at number one on the charts in Sydney and number three in Melbourne. Jimmy was made a National Living Treasure. He was also given an Order of Australia. In 1990 he was put into the ARIA Hall of Fame. But Jimmy was proudest of his work to help his fellow AboriginalBrownlow Australians. He was a firm supporter of reconciliation. He also worked tirelessly for Aboriginal health. Jimmy Little died in 2012. But his music and his spirit live on. Hawker © 36 STARS Plus Student Book F CA12147 • 9781743305812 • © 2013 Hawker Brownlow Education Finding Main Idea Recalling Facts and Details 7. What is the main idea of paragraph 1? 10. Which detail tells about Jimmy Little’s Ꭽ Jimmy Little was born in New South work to help his fellow Aboriginal Wales. Australians? Ꭾ Jimmy Little’s mother could yodel. Ꭽ He was a firm supporter of Ꭿ Born to parents who were themselves reconciliation. entertainers, Jimmy Little always Ꭾ He was a member of the Yorta Yorta knew he wanted to follow in their people. footsteps. Ꭿ Jimmy Little went on to become an ൳ Jimmy Little was a member of the Aboriginal music legend. Yorta Yorta people. ൳ Jimmy was made a National Living Treasure. Finding Main Idea Understanding Sequence 8. What is the main idea of the article? 11. Which of these happened first? Ꭽ Jimmy Little was a popular and Ꭽ Jimmy was put into the ARIA Hall much-loved Australian musician who of Fame. also worked to help his people. Ꭾ EducationJimmy left home to live in Sydney. Ꭾ Jimmy Little’s biggest hit was “Royal Ꭿ Jimmy Little died. Telephone”. ൳ “Royal Telephone” became a big hit. Ꭿ Jimmy Little was born in 1937 and died in 2012. ൳ Jimmy Little’s successful career lasted six decades. Brownlow Recalling Facts and Details Understanding Sequence 9. Jimmy first performedHawker on a radio show in 12. After “Royal Telephone” went to number Ꭽ Melbourne. © one in Sydney, Jimmy Little Ꭾ the ARIA Hall of Fame. Ꭽ moved to Sydney to pursue a career Ꭿ an Aboriginal mission in New South in country music. Wales. Ꭾ travelled to Sydney to be on a radio ൳ Sydney. show. Ꭿ was popular and successful for another 49 years. ൳ lived on an Aboriginal mission in New South Wales. © 2013 Hawker Brownlow Education • 9781743305812 • STARS Plus Student Book F CA12147 37 Lesson RECOGNISING CAUSE AND 4 EFFECT PART ONE: Think About the Strategy What Is Cause and Effect? There is a reason for everything that happens. What happens is called the effect.