- Which reading speed sounds best to a listener?
Answer: A steady speed, like natural talking.
A steady, talking speed is easiest for a listener to follow. Reading very slowly word by word, rushing too fast, or reading loud with no stops all make it harder to understand.
- What does it mean to read so it sounds like talking?
Answer: Read smoothly, pause at punctuation, and use feeling.
Reading that sounds like talking is smooth, pauses at punctuation, and has feeling. Reading word by word, in a flat voice, or as fast as you can does not sound like talking.
- When you read the same story a second time, how does your reading usually get better?
Answer: Smoother and easier, with more feeling.
Reading a story again usually makes it smoother and easier, with more feeling. It does not get slower, add mistakes, or stay exactly the same.
- In the sentence "Come here, Mia," what does the comma do?
Answer: It shows a short pause before the name.
The comma in 'Come here, Mia' comes before the name and shows a short pause. It does not end the sentence (the period does that), ask a question, or change how loud it is.
- What should you do when you come to a hard, long word while reading?
Answer: Slow down to read it carefully.
Slowing down for a hard word helps you read it correctly. Skipping it, speeding up, or stopping the book do not help you read the word.
- Which way of reading "The cat is sleepy" sounds most like talking?
Answer: Reading smoothly in a calm voice.
For 'The cat is sleepy,' reading smoothly in a calm voice sounds most like talking. No feeling, big stops after every word, or reading loud and fast do not.
- In "Can you help?" what does the question mark show?
Answer: The sentence is asking something.
The question mark shows 'Can you help?' is asking something. It is not telling, commanding, or a sign the sentence is quiet.
- In the sentence "I can jump." what does the period tell you?
Answer: The sentence is finished, so you stop at the end.
A period marks the end of a telling sentence, so you stop there. It does not tell you to read on without stopping, to say the sentence louder, or that the sentence is a question.
- What does an exclamation point tell you about a sentence?
Answer: It shows strong or excited feeling.
An exclamation point shows strong or excited feeling. It does not ask a question, mean to whisper, or mark a calm, quiet sentence.
- Why is it best to read at a just-right speed, not too fast and not too slow?
Answer: So the listener can understand the words.
A just-right speed helps the listener understand what you read. It is not about reading more books each day, skipping the stops at punctuation, or making the words sound louder.
- What does a question mark tell you about a sentence?
Answer: It is a question.
A question mark shows the sentence is a question, and your voice goes up at the end. It is not a telling sentence, a sign to whisper, or the mark for every sentence.
- In "The dog ran fast!" what does the exclamation point show?
Answer: The sentence has strong, excited feeling.
The exclamation point in 'The dog ran fast!' shows strong, excited feeling. It is not a question, a list, or a calm sentence.
- "Stop!" said Mom. Which mark tells you Mom spoke with strong feeling?
Answer: The exclamation point.
The exclamation point after 'Stop' shows Mom spoke with strong feeling. The comma, quotation marks, and period do not show strong feeling.
