Reading fiction and plays
By the end of this chapter you will be able to
- Find a detail that the text states, and copy the words that prove it
- Work out the meaning of a word from the words around it
- Infer a feeling, thought or motive from evidence in the text
- Predict what might happen next, using the clues in the text
- Explain the effect of a simile, a personification, a short sentence and a stage direction
You should already know
- Retrieving facts and using evidence from a text (Year 4 reading)
- Dialogue, direct speech and stage directions in a play (Year 4 Chapter 9 of this series)
Where this leads
- Reading poetry and non-fiction, and comparing texts (Chapter 11 of this book)
National Curriculum for England, Key Stage 2 English, Year 6. Content: Read a wide range of fiction, myths, legends and plays, and check that the text makes sense (Y5-6 reading), Explain the meaning of unfamiliar words from their context, and ask questions to improve understanding (Y5-6 reading), Infer characters' feelings, thoughts and motives from their actions and what is said, with evidence (Y5-6 reading), Predict what might happen from details stated and implied (Y5-6 reading), Explain how language, structure and stage directions contribute to meaning, and compare texts of one type (Y5-6 reading).
Exercise P Do you remember?
Method. A theme is the big idea a text explores.
- Think about the meaning. A big idea that runs through a text is its theme.big idea
- Name the word. The term is theme.theme
- Write the answer. theme
Check. theme is the term. ✓
Method. A noun names a person, place or thing.
- Look at the words. Girl names a person.girl
- Check the others. Brave describes the girl, and climbed is a verb.girl
- Write the answer. girl
Check. girl is a noun. ✓
Method. The words that characters say are dialogue.
- Think about the meaning. The spoken words in a text are dialogue.spoken words
- Name the word. The term is dialogue.dialogue
- Write the answer. dialogue
Check. dialogue is the term. ✓
Method. A guess about the future, based on clues, is a prediction.
- Think about the meaning. A guess about the future is a prediction.a guess
- Name the word. The word is prediction.prediction
- Write the answer. prediction
Check. prediction is the word. ✓
Method. An adjective describes a noun.
- Find the noun. Lamp is the noun.lamp
- Find the word that describes it. Old describes the lamp.old
- Write the answer. old
Check. old describes lamp. ✓
Checking the text makes sense, and unfamiliar words
When you read fiction, check that the text makes sense. If a word is new, read the words around it. The context often shows what the word means, even if you do not know the word itself.
Marta, the lighthouse keeper's daughter, keeps the lamp lit during a storm.
Every evening, Marta climbed the one hundred and twelve steps of the lighthouse to trim the lamp. Her father had done the job for thirty years, but his hands had grown stiff, and now the task belonged to her. She had watched him climb those steps since she was small, and she knew every crack in the stone. Each step was a promise that she would keep the light burning for the boats.
On the night of the storm, the sea rose like a grey wall. Marta gripped the iron rail and counted each step, because counting kept her from thinking about the waves. When she reached the top, the lamp had gone out, and the dark was thick enough to touch.
She struck a match. The wind howled through the cracked window, and the flame flickered, nearly dying. Marta cupped her hands around it, as though it were a fragile bird. The flame was small and uncertain, and the smallest draught could take it away.
Below, a ship's horn sounded, thin and desperate. Somewhere out there, sailors could not see the rocks, and the rocks waited patiently for them. Marta felt her heart thud, and she told herself that her father had never once let the light fail, not even in the worst winter of his life.
She lit the wick at last, her fingers shaking. The beam swept out across the water, pale and steady, and the horn fell silent. Only then did she sit down on the cold floor and let her shoulders shake. Outside, the rain kept falling, but the sea no longer roared.
Key ideas
- Read the text again if it does not make sense.
- Use the context, the words before and after an unfamiliar word, to work out its meaning.
- Check the meaning in a dictionary if you are still not sure.
Method. Find the words in the text that answer the question.
- Find the detail. The text says Marta felt her heart thud.felt her heart thud
- Check it is stated. The detail is stated, not guessed.felt her heart thud
- Write the answer. felt her heart thud
Check. The text states this detail. ✓
Method. Read the words around the word, then choose its meaning.
- Read the context. Marta cups her hands around the flame, so the flame must be delicate.cups her hands
- Choose the meaning. Fragile means easily broken, so a fragile bird is delicate.easily broken, delicate
- Write the answer. easily broken, delicate
Check. The meaning fits the context. ✓
Method. Think about what the sailors need.
- Read the context. The sailors cannot see the rocks, so the horn is a call for help.a call for help
- Choose the meaning. Desperate means urgent and hopeless.urgent and hopeless
- Write the answer. urgent and hopeless
Check. The meaning fits the situation. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: do not guess from the first letters of a word. Use the whole sentence, and check that your meaning fits it.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask your child to read a paragraph aloud, pause at one new word, and to say what they think it means from the words around it.
Exercise 10A Practice: checking the text and unfamiliar words
Method. Find the words in the text that answer the question.
- Find the words in the text. Scan the text for the detail the question asks about.one hundred and twelve steps
- Check the answer. The text states the number of steps.one hundred and twelve
- Write the answer. one hundred and twelve
Check. The text states this detail. ✓
Watch out. Copy the detail from the text, and do not guess.
Method. Find the words in the text that answer the question.
- Find the words in the text. Scan the text for the detail the question asks about.for thirty years
- Check the answer. The text states how long the job was done.thirty years
- Write the answer. thirty years
Check. The text states this detail. ✓
Watch out. Copy the detail from the text, and do not guess.
Method. Find the words in the text that answer the question.
- Find the words in the text. Scan the text for the detail the question asks about.gripped the iron rail
- Check the answer. The text says what she held.the iron rail
- Write the answer. the iron rail
Check. The text states this detail. ✓
Watch out. Copy the detail from the text, and do not guess.
Method. Find the words in the text that answer the question.
- Find the words in the text. Scan the text for the detail the question asks about.the lamp had gone out
- Check the answer. The text says what had stopped.the lamp
- Write the answer. the lamp
Check. The text states this detail. ✓
Watch out. Copy the detail from the text, and do not guess.
Method. Find the words in the text that answer the question.
- Find the words in the text. Scan the text for the detail the question asks about.a ship's horn sounded
- Check the answer. The text names the sound.a ship's horn
- Write the answer. a ship's horn
Check. The text states this detail. ✓
Watch out. Copy the detail from the text, and do not guess.
Method. Read the words around the word, and work out its meaning from the context.
- Read the context. The words around flickered show what is happening.the flame flickered, nearly dying
- Choose the meaning. In this text, flickered means moved unsteadily, as a small flame does.moved unsteadily, as a small flame does
- Write the answer. moved unsteadily, as a small flame does
Check. The meaning fits the context. ✓
Watch out. Read the sentence before and after the word, and check that your meaning fits both.
Method. Read the words around the word, and work out its meaning from the context.
- Read the context. The words around desperate show what is happening.thin and desperate
- Choose the meaning. In this text, desperate means urgent and hopeless.urgent and hopeless
- Write the answer. urgent and hopeless
Check. The meaning fits the context. ✓
Watch out. Read the sentence before and after the word, and check that your meaning fits both.
Method. Read the words around the word, and work out its meaning from the context.
- Read the context. The words around ashamed show what is happening.the stars were ashamed to appear beside her
- Choose the meaning. In this text, ashamed means embarrassed, and feeling they should not be seen.embarrassed, and feeling they should not be seen
- Write the answer. embarrassed, and feeling they should not be seen
Check. The meaning fits the context. ✓
Watch out. Read the sentence before and after the word, and check that your meaning fits both.
Method. Think about what the text does not explain straight away.
- Find the gap. The text does not say why she counts at first.why she counts
- Ask the question. A good question points to the gap in the text.Why does Marta count each step?
- Write the answer. Why does Marta count each step, and what is she trying to avoid thinking about?
Check. The question is answered later in the text. ✓
Method. Find the words that show the number of stairs.
- Find the number. The text gives the number of steps.one hundred and twelve
- Copy the words. The words are one hundred and twelve steps.one hundred and twelve steps
- Write the answer. one hundred and twelve steps
Check. The text gives the number of steps. ✓
Method. Read the words around the word, and work out its meaning from the context.
- Read the context. The words around stiff show what is happening.his hands had grown stiff
- Choose the meaning. In this text, stiff means hard to move, not bending easily.hard to move, not bending easily
- Write the answer. hard to move, not bending easily
Check. The meaning fits the context. ✓
Watch out. Read the sentence before and after the word, and check that your meaning fits both.
Method. Check the order of events and whether each sentence follows from the one before.
- Check the order. Marta climbs, the lamp is out, she lights it.the lamp is lit
- Decide. Each sentence follows from the one before, so the text makes sense.makes sense
- Write the answer. Yes, because the events follow in order, from the climb to the lit lamp
Check. The events follow in order. ✓
Method. Choose a part of the text you want to understand better.
- Choose the part. The sea rose like a grey wall.the sea rose
- Write the question. A question about the simile helps the reader think.Why does the sea rise like a grey wall?
- Write the answer. Why does the sea rise like a grey wall during the storm?
Check. The question checks understanding. ✓
Method. Read the words around the word, and work out its meaning from the context.
- Read the context. The words around cupped show what is happening.cupped her hands around it
- Choose the meaning. In this text, cupped means held in the hands, in a curved shape.held in the hands, in a curved shape
- Write the answer. held in the hands, in a curved shape
Check. The meaning fits the context. ✓
Watch out. Read the sentence before and after the word, and check that your meaning fits both.
Inferring feelings, thoughts and motives, with evidence
An inference is a sensible conclusion that the reader draws from the evidence in the text. The writer does not always say how a character feels. Read what the character does, thinks and says, and then infer the feeling, thought or motive, with evidence.
Marta, the lighthouse keeper's daughter, keeps the lamp lit during a storm.
Every evening, Marta climbed the one hundred and twelve steps of the lighthouse to trim the lamp. Her father had done the job for thirty years, but his hands had grown stiff, and now the task belonged to her. She had watched him climb those steps since she was small, and she knew every crack in the stone. Each step was a promise that she would keep the light burning for the boats.
On the night of the storm, the sea rose like a grey wall. Marta gripped the iron rail and counted each step, because counting kept her from thinking about the waves. When she reached the top, the lamp had gone out, and the dark was thick enough to touch.
She struck a match. The wind howled through the cracked window, and the flame flickered, nearly dying. Marta cupped her hands around it, as though it were a fragile bird. The flame was small and uncertain, and the smallest draught could take it away.
Below, a ship's horn sounded, thin and desperate. Somewhere out there, sailors could not see the rocks, and the rocks waited patiently for them. Marta felt her heart thud, and she told herself that her father had never once let the light fail, not even in the worst winter of his life.
She lit the wick at last, her fingers shaking. The beam swept out across the water, pale and steady, and the horn fell silent. Only then did she sit down on the cold floor and let her shoulders shake. Outside, the rain kept falling, but the sea no longer roared.
Key ideas
- An inference is a conclusion from evidence, not a guess.
- A motive is the reason why a character does something.
- Always quote the evidence that supports your inference.
Method. Find the evidence that explains the action.
- Find the evidence. The text says counting kept her from thinking about the waves.counting kept her from thinking about the waves
- Infer the motive. She counts to stop herself thinking about the danger.to stop herself thinking about the waves
- Write the answer. to stop herself thinking about the waves
Check. The evidence supports the motive. ✓
Method. Read what she does and feels.
- Find the evidence. She struck a match, and she cupped her hands around the flame.struck a match
- Infer the feeling. She is worried, but she acts quickly and carefully.worried and determined
- Write the answer. worried and determined
Check. The actions show worry and determination. ✓
Method. Think about what has just happened.
- Find the evidence. The horn fell silent, after the beam swept out across the water.the horn fell silent
- Infer the feeling. The danger is over, so she can finally relax, which is relief.relief
- Write the answer. relief, after the danger has passed
Check. The danger is over, so relief is the feeling. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: an inference must have evidence. Do not say how someone feels without showing where the text supports it.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask your child to say how a character feels in one sentence, then to find the words in the text that show it.
Exercise 10B Practice: inferring feelings, thoughts and motives
Method. Use the evidence in the text to work out what the character thinks or feels.
- Find the evidence. The text says the following, which is a clue.Marta felt her heart thud
- Work out the inference. Her heart thudding shows she is frightened.afraid
- Write the answer. afraid
Check. The evidence supports the inference. ✓
Watch out. An inference is a sensible conclusion from the evidence, not a guess. Quote the evidence to show why.
Method. Use the evidence in the text to work out what the character thinks or feels.
- Find the evidence. The text says the following, which is a clue.she told herself that her father had never once let the light fail
- Work out the inference. She repeats a comforting thought to feel brave.to give herself courage
- Write the answer. to give herself courage
Check. The evidence supports the inference. ✓
Watch out. An inference is a sensible conclusion from the evidence, not a guess. Quote the evidence to show why.
Method. Use the evidence in the text to work out what the character thinks or feels.
- Find the evidence. The text says the following, which is a clue.Somewhere out there, sailors could not see the rocks
- Work out the inference. She knows the sailors are in danger, so she worries for them.anxious for the sailors
- Write the answer. anxious for the sailors
Check. The evidence supports the inference. ✓
Watch out. An inference is a sensible conclusion from the evidence, not a guess. Quote the evidence to show why.
Method. Use the evidence in the text to work out what the character thinks or feels.
- Find the evidence. The text says the following, which is a clue.The wind howled through the cracked window
- Work out the inference. She protects the flame, because the wind could put it out.to protect the flame from the wind
- Write the answer. to protect the flame from the wind
Check. The evidence supports the inference. ✓
Watch out. An inference is a sensible conclusion from the evidence, not a guess. Quote the evidence to show why.
Method. Use the evidence in the text to work out what the character thinks or feels.
- Find the evidence. The text says the following, which is a clue.now the task belonged to her
- Work out the inference. She feels responsible for the light, because it is now her job.It is her duty, which she takes seriously
- Write the answer. It is her duty, which she takes seriously
Check. The evidence supports the inference. ✓
Watch out. An inference is a sensible conclusion from the evidence, not a guess. Quote the evidence to show why.
Method. Find the evidence, then infer the feeling.
- Find the evidence. The beam swept out, pale and steady, and the horn fell silent.pale and steady
- Infer the feeling. A steady beam and a silent horn show the danger is over.relief
- Write the answer. Relief, because the beam is steady and the horn falls silent.
Check. The feeling is supported by evidence. ✓
Method. Use the evidence in the text to work out what the character thinks or feels.
- Find the evidence. The text says the following, which is a clue.Her father had done the job for thirty years
- Work out the inference. The job was done for a long time, so it is a serious responsibility.The job is long-standing and important, and Marta inherits it
- Write the answer. The job is long-standing and important, and Marta inherits it
Check. The evidence supports the inference. ✓
Watch out. An inference is a sensible conclusion from the evidence, not a guess. Quote the evidence to show why.
Method. Use the evidence in the text to work out what the character thinks or feels.
- Find the evidence. The text says the following, which is a clue.her father had never once let the light fail
- Work out the inference. She admires him, and she wants to keep his standard.proud and loyal
- Write the answer. proud and loyal
Check. The evidence supports the inference. ✓
Watch out. An inference is a sensible conclusion from the evidence, not a guess. Quote the evidence to show why.
Method. Use the evidence in the text to work out what the character thinks or feels.
- Find the evidence. The text says the following, which is a clue.sit down on the cold floor and let her shoulders shake
- Work out the inference. After the long, dangerous night, she is exhausted and relieved.exhausted and relieved
- Write the answer. exhausted and relieved
Check. The evidence supports the inference. ✓
Watch out. An inference is a sensible conclusion from the evidence, not a guess. Quote the evidence to show why.
Method. Find an action, then explain what it shows.
- Find an action. She climbs the steps, and relights the lamp.climbs the steps
- Explain what it shows. Acting in a storm, when she is frightened, shows courage.courage
- Write the answer. She climbs the steps and relights the lamp, even though the sea is rough.
Check. The action shows courage. ✓
Method. Use the evidence in the text to work out what the character thinks or feels.
- Find the evidence. The text says the following, which is a clue.a ship's horn sounded, thin and desperate
- Work out the inference. A desperate horn is a sign of danger, and the sailors need help.danger
- Write the answer. danger
Check. The evidence supports the inference. ✓
Watch out. An inference is a sensible conclusion from the evidence, not a guess. Quote the evidence to show why.
Method. Think about what the sound tells the reader.
- Look at the words. Thin and desperate describe a weak, urgent sound.thin and desperate
- Infer the intention. The writer wants the reader to feel the danger.feel the danger
- Write the answer. To show that the sailors are in urgent danger, and need the light to be lit.
Check. The writer shows urgent danger. ✓
Method. Use the evidence in the text to work out what the character thinks or feels.
- Find the evidence. The text says the following, which is a clue.She struck a match
- Work out the inference. She acts at once, showing she is determined to keep the light going.determined to keep it burning
- Write the answer. determined to keep it burning
Check. The evidence supports the inference. ✓
Watch out. An inference is a sensible conclusion from the evidence, not a guess. Quote the evidence to show why.
Predicting from details stated and implied
A reader can predict what might happen by using details the text states (directly says) and details it implies (suggests without saying). Good predictions link a clue to a character and to what they have done before.
An original myth: why the Moon shines softly.
Long ago, the Moon was the brightest thing in the night sky, and she shone so fiercely that the stars were ashamed to appear beside her. One evening, a young hunter called Teo looked up and asked her why she burned so hard. Nobody in the village dared to ask her such a thing.
The Moon laughed, and her laugh made the sea shiver, and the fishermen pulled their boats higher on the sand. 'Because I am proud,' she said, 'and I will not be dimmed by anyone.'
Teo was poor, but he was clever. Nobody in the village had ever seen a hunter speak so boldly to the sky. He climbed the highest hill, and he sang a song to the wind, asking it to carry a message to the Moon. The wind agreed, and it blew a single cloud across her face.
The Moon grew angry, and her light flared across the whole valley. But the cloud was soft and patient, and it drifted slowly, until she could see that her pride had hurt the sea, the stars and the hunters below.
From that night, the Moon chose to shine more gently. She still rises each evening, but her light is softer, so that the stars can shine too, and the hunters can find their way home by the gentle glow.
Key ideas
- A prediction uses clues from the text.
- Stated details are said directly; implied details are suggested.
- A prediction should be sensible, and supported by a clue.
Method. Find a detail that shows what Teo is like.
- Find the detail. The text says he is poor but clever, and he sang a song to the wind.poor but clever
- Make the prediction. A clever person will find another way to reach the Moon.find another way
- Write the answer. he sang a song to the wind
Check. The prediction uses a stated detail. ✓
Method. Look at what the Moon says.
- Find the clue. The Moon says she will not be dimmed by anyone.will not be dimmed
- Make the prediction. If she remains proud, a cloud or another event might still reduce her light.reduce her light
- Write the answer. she would be dimmed or lose her light
Check. The prediction is based on her words. ✓
Method. Read what happens to the Moon after the cloud.
- Find the detail. The cloud was soft and patient, and her pride hurt the sea.soft and patient
- Make the prediction. She will learn from it and shine more gently.shine more gently
- Write the answer. shine more gently
Check. The text states she chooses to shine more gently. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: a prediction is a sensible guess, based on clues. Do not predict something with no clue in the text.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Stop reading a story part-way, and ask your child to predict the ending, using two clues from what they have read.
Exercise 10C Practice: predicting from the text
Method. Find the words in the text that answer the question.
- Find the words in the text. Scan the text for the detail the question asks about.a young hunter called Teo
- Check the answer. The text names the hunter.Teo
- Write the answer. Teo
Check. The text states this detail. ✓
Watch out. Copy the detail from the text, and do not guess.
Method. Find the words in the text that answer the question.
- Find the words in the text. Scan the text for the detail the question asks about.blew a single cloud across her face
- Check the answer. The text names the object the wind blew.a single cloud
- Write the answer. a single cloud
Check. The text states this detail. ✓
Watch out. Copy the detail from the text, and do not guess.
Method. Find the words in the text that answer the question.
- Find the words in the text. Scan the text for the detail the question asks about.he sang a song to the wind
- Check the answer. The text says what Teo does.sang a song to the wind
- Write the answer. sang a song to the wind
Check. The text states this detail. ✓
Watch out. Copy the detail from the text, and do not guess.
Method. Use the clue about Teo.
- Find the clue. Teo is clever, and he climbed the highest hill.clever
- Make the prediction. A clever hunter would find another way.another way
- Write the answer. He might climb higher or sing louder, because he is clever and determined.
Check. The prediction uses a clue. ✓
Method. Use the clues in the text, then predict what might happen next.
- Find the clue. The text gives a detail that points forward.The Moon laughed
- Make the prediction. A sensible prediction uses the clue and the character.She might stop laughing and listen to Teo, because she is now angry
- Write the answer. She might stop laughing and listen to Teo, because she is now angry.
Check. The prediction is based on a clue. ✓
Watch out. A prediction should be supported by a clue from the text.
Method. Find the detail about Teo.
- Find the detail. The text says he was poor.Teo was poor
- Check. The detail is stated directly.poor
- Write the answer. Teo was poor
Check. The detail is stated. ✓
Method. Think about the Moon's pride and the damage it causes.
- Find the clue. Her pride hurt the sea, the stars and the hunters.hurt the sea
- Make the prediction. If nothing changes, the harm would continue.the harm would continue
- Write the answer. The stars and the sea would stay hurt, because the Moon would stay proud.
Check. The prediction uses the clue. ✓
Method. Look for a detail that shows the Moon reacting to Teo.
- Find the reaction. The Moon grew angry, which shows she heard him.grew angry
- Check. The reaction implies that she is listening.implies
- Write the answer. The Moon grew angry
Check. The reaction implies she heard him. ✓
Method. Use the clues in the text, then predict what might happen next.
- Find the clue. The text gives a detail that points forward.so that the stars can shine too
- Make the prediction. A sensible prediction uses the clue and the character.She will shine softly, so the stars can also shine
- Write the answer. She will shine softly, so the stars can also shine.
Check. The prediction is based on a clue. ✓
Watch out. A prediction should be supported by a clue from the text.
Method. Use two clues.
- Clue one. Teo is poor but clever.poor but clever
- Clue two. He sang a song to the wind, which carried the message.sang a song to the wind
- Write the answer. Teo is clever, and he chooses to sing to the wind, which carries his message.
Check. Two clues support the prediction. ✓
Method. Look for words that describe the cloud.
- Find the words. The cloud was soft and patient.soft and patient
- Check the meaning. Soft and patient suggest the cloud is gentle, not harsh.gentle
- Write the answer. soft and patient
Check. soft and patient describe the cloud. ✓
Method. Think about what the Moon realises.
- Find the clue. The text says her pride had hurt the sea.her pride had hurt the sea
- Make the prediction. When she realises this, she will feel sorry.feel sorry
- Write the answer. She will feel sorry, because she realises her pride hurt the sea.
Check. The prediction is based on her realisation. ✓
How language and structure affect the reader
Authors choose language and structure carefully. A simile compares two things with like or as. A personification gives human feelings to a thing. A short sentence makes the reader pause. A structure such as a quiet ending can leave the reader with a feeling.
Marta, the lighthouse keeper's daughter, keeps the lamp lit during a storm.
Every evening, Marta climbed the one hundred and twelve steps of the lighthouse to trim the lamp. Her father had done the job for thirty years, but his hands had grown stiff, and now the task belonged to her. She had watched him climb those steps since she was small, and she knew every crack in the stone. Each step was a promise that she would keep the light burning for the boats.
On the night of the storm, the sea rose like a grey wall. Marta gripped the iron rail and counted each step, because counting kept her from thinking about the waves. When she reached the top, the lamp had gone out, and the dark was thick enough to touch.
She struck a match. The wind howled through the cracked window, and the flame flickered, nearly dying. Marta cupped her hands around it, as though it were a fragile bird. The flame was small and uncertain, and the smallest draught could take it away.
Below, a ship's horn sounded, thin and desperate. Somewhere out there, sailors could not see the rocks, and the rocks waited patiently for them. Marta felt her heart thud, and she told herself that her father had never once let the light fail, not even in the worst winter of his life.
She lit the wick at last, her fingers shaking. The beam swept out across the water, pale and steady, and the horn fell silent. Only then did she sit down on the cold floor and let her shoulders shake. Outside, the rain kept falling, but the sea no longer roared.
Key ideas
- A simile compares two things, using like or as.
- A short sentence makes the reader pause, or creates tension.
- Structure is the order of events, such as a quiet ending after a danger.
Method. Name the device, then say what it makes the reader picture.
- Name the device. Like a grey wall is a simile.simile
- Say the effect. The sea is compared to a wall, so the reader pictures a huge, threatening sea.huge and threatening
- Write the answer. makes the sea seem huge and threatening
Check. The simile creates a threatening picture. ✓
Method. Look at the length of the sentence.
- Look at the length. The sentence has only four words, after a long one.four words
- Say the effect. The short sentence makes the reader pause, and builds tension.pause and tension
- Write the answer. it creates a pause and tension
Check. The short sentence creates a pause. ✓
Method. Think about the order of the events.
- Find the ending. The horn falls silent, and Marta sits down.falls silent
- Explain the structure. After the climax, the quiet ending lets the reader feel relief.relief
- Write the answer. it lets the tension drain away, and shows the relief after the danger
Check. The quiet ending shows relief. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: name the device, then explain its effect on the reader. Naming alone is not enough.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask your child to find a simile in a favourite book, and to say what picture it puts in their mind.
Exercise 10D Practice: language and structure
Method. Look at the words, then explain the effect on the reader.
- Find the words. The author uses this language: as though it were a fragile birdas though it were a fragile bird
- Explain the effect. The words create a picture or feeling, and the reader responds to it.It shows that Marta is careful and gentle with the flame, as if it could easily be lost
- Write the answer. It shows that Marta is careful and gentle with the flame, as if it could easily be lost
Check. The effect on the reader is explained. ✓
Watch out. Name the device, then say what it makes the reader feel or picture.
Method. Look for like or as.
- Find like. Like compares the sea to a wall.like
- Name the device. A comparison with like is a simile.simile
- Write the answer. simile
Check. like makes a simile. ✓
Method. Look for a human action given to a thing.
- Find the action. The wind howls, which is a human sound.howled
- Name the device. Giving a non-human thing a human action is personification.personification
- Write the answer. personification
Check. The wind is given a human action. ✓
Method. Look at the words, then explain the effect on the reader.
- Find the words. The author uses this language: the lamp had gone outthe lamp had gone out
- Explain the effect. The words create a picture or feeling, and the reader responds to it.It creates a shock, because the light that should guide the ships has failed
- Write the answer. It creates a shock, because the light that should guide the ships has failed
Check. The effect on the reader is explained. ✓
Watch out. Name the device, then say what it makes the reader feel or picture.
Method. Think about what the words describe, and the feeling they give.
- Find the words. Thin and desperate describe the horn.thin and desperate
- Explain the effect. The reader feels the sailors are in urgent danger.urgent danger
- Write the answer. The words show that the horn is weak and urgent, which makes the reader feel the danger.
Check. The effect is explained. ✓
Method. Check whether the words compare two things with like or as.
- Look at the phrase. As though it were a fragile bird compares the flame to a bird.as though
- Name it. Comparing with as is a simile.simile
- Write the answer. Fragile bird is not a simile; the simile is as though it were a fragile bird, which uses as
Check. A comparison with as is a simile. ✓
Method. Look at the words, then explain the effect on the reader.
- Find the words. The author uses this language: Somewhere out there, sailors could not see the rocksSomewhere out there, sailors could not see the rocks
- Explain the effect. The words create a picture or feeling, and the reader responds to it.It shows the sailors are alone in the dark, unable to see the danger
- Write the answer. It shows the sailors are alone in the dark, unable to see the danger
Check. The effect on the reader is explained. ✓
Watch out. Name the device, then say what it makes the reader feel or picture.
Method. Look at the last paragraph.
- Look at the ending. The beam is steady, the horn is silent, and Marta sits down.steady, silent
- Name the structure. A calm ending is quiet.quiet
- Write the answer. quiet
Check. The ending is calm. ✓
Method. Think about what the opening tells the reader.
- Look at the phrase. Every evening shows a routine.routine
- Explain the effect. The reader knows the job is regular and important.regular and important
- Write the answer. It sets a routine, so the reader sees that Marta has a serious job every day.
Check. The phrase shows a routine. ✓
Method. Look at the words, then explain the effect on the reader.
- Find the words. The author uses this language: the flame flickered, nearly dyingthe flame flickered, nearly dying
- Explain the effect. The words create a picture or feeling, and the reader responds to it.it creates tension, as the light is nearly lost
- Write the answer. it creates tension, as the light is nearly lost
Check. The effect on the reader is explained. ✓
Watch out. Name the device, then say what it makes the reader feel or picture.
Method. Find a short sentence, then say what it does.
- Find the sentence. She lit the wick at last is a short sentence.She lit the wick at last
- Explain the effect. It marks a turning point, from tension to relief.a turning point
- Write the answer. She lit the wick at last, which creates relief after the tension.
Check. The effect is explained. ✓
Reading a play: stage directions, speakers and conventions
A play is written as dialogue. Each line starts with the speaker's name in capitals. Stage directions, in brackets, tell the actors how to move, speak and feel. They help the reader to imagine the scene.
An original short play extract, with stage directions in brackets.
MAYA: Grandma, is the well really magic? Dad says it is only an old well full of rainwater.
GRANDMA (smiling, and stirring a pot): Magic is a funny word, Maya. Some people say it grants wishes. Others say it only keeps the wishes safe until they are ready.
ROCO (leaning over the stone edge, and grinning): I'm going to wish for a bike, a red one with a bell.
MAYA (pulling him back by his jumper): Careful! You might fall in.
GRANDMA (quietly, to herself): The well listens to the honest wish, and it is patient with the rest.
(Roco turns, looks at the well, and then at Maya. He is silent for a moment.)
ROCO: I think I'll wish for you to be happy, Maya. The bike can wait until another day, and it will still be there.
Key ideas
- A play lists the speakers by name, in capitals, before each line.
- Stage directions are in brackets, and describe movement, tone or feeling.
- Stage directions help the reader imagine the scene, as the audience would see it.
Method. Read the stage direction in brackets, and say what it tells the actor.
- Find the direction. The direction is quietly, to herself.quietly, to herself
- Explain the meaning. It tells the actor to speak softly, as if thinking aloud.speak softly
- Write the answer. speak quietly, as if to herself
Check. The stage direction shows how to speak. ✓
Method. Find the stage direction and the line that follows.
- Find the direction. He is silent for a moment.silent for a moment
- Explain the meaning. The silence shows Roco is thinking, before he changes his wish.thinking
- Write the answer. he is thinking, and has changed his mind
Check. The silence shows Roco is thinking. ✓
Method. Look for the speaker's name before the line.
- Find the line. Careful! You might fall in. is the line.Careful!
- Find the speaker. The name before the line in capitals is MAYA.MAYA
- Write the answer. MAYA
Check. Maya speaks the line. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: the stage directions are not spoken. Read them as instructions that show the scene, not as lines for the speakers.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask your child to read the play extract aloud, with a different voice for each speaker, and to follow the stage directions.
Exercise 10E Practice: plays and stage directions
Method. Find the words in the text that answer the question.
- Find the words in the text. Scan the text for the detail the question asks about.smiling, and stirring a pot
- Check the answer. The stage direction says who is stirring the pot.Grandma
- Write the answer. Grandma
Check. The text states this detail. ✓
Watch out. Copy the detail from the text, and do not guess.
Method. Find the line that Roco speaks.
- Find the line. Roco says he will wish for a bike.wish for a bike
- Copy the words. The words are a bike.a bike
- Write the answer. a bike
Check. Roco wishes for a bike. ✓
Method. Find the speaker's name before the line.
- Find the line. Careful! You might fall in. is the line.Careful!
- Find the speaker. The name before it is MAYA.MAYA
- Write the answer. MAYA
Check. MAYA speaks the line. ✓
Method. Think about who the words are for.
- Find the direction. Quietly, to herself means she is not speaking to the others.not to the others
- Explain the effect. The words are a private thought, which the audience hears.a private thought
- Write the answer. It shows that Grandma is thinking privately, and her words are not meant for the others
Check. The direction shows a private thought. ✓
Method. Read the stage direction.
- Find the direction. Roco turns, looks at the well, and then at Maya.looks at the well
- Explain the meaning. He is thinking, and then turns to Maya.thinking
- Write the answer. He is thinking about what he wants to say, and he changes his mind about his wish.
Check. The direction shows he is thinking. ✓
Method. Count the different names before the lines.
- Count the names. MAYA, GRANDMA and ROCO speak.MAYA, GRANDMA, ROCO
- Write the number. There are three speakers.three
- Write the answer. three
Check. Three different names speak. ✓
Method. Think about the actors and the audience.
- Think about the actors. Actors need to know how to move and speak.how to move and speak
- Think about the reader. Readers imagine the scene from the directions.imagine the scene
- Write the answer. To tell the actors how to move, speak and feel, and to help the audience imagine the scene.
Check. Stage directions guide the actors and help the reader. ✓
Method. Look for a word that warns.
- Find the warning word. Careful is the warning word.Careful
- Check. Careful warns that something could go wrong.warns
- Write the answer. Careful
Check. Careful is a warning. ✓
Method. Find the words in the text that answer the question.
- Find the words in the text. Scan the text for the detail the question asks about.The well listens to the honest wish
- Check the answer. The text says what the well does.listens
- Write the answer. listens
Check. The text states this detail. ✓
Watch out. Copy the detail from the text, and do not guess.
Method. Think about what the myth explains.
- Find the explanation. The myth explains why the Moon is soft and gentle.why the Moon shines softly
- Name it. A myth often explains a natural thing.natural thing
- Write the answer. The myth explains why the Moon shines softly
Check. The myth explains a natural thing. ✓
Method. Think about how a myth begins.
- Look at the opening. Long ago tells the reader the story is old.long ago
- Name the convention. Myths often begin in a time long ago.a time long ago
- Write the answer. A myth is set in a time long ago, so the reader knows it is an old story.
Check. A myth begins in a time long ago. ✓
Chapter summary
| Skill | Method |
|---|---|
| Check the text | Read again if a sentence does not make sense; use the context for unfamiliar words. |
| Infer | Work out a feeling, thought or motive from evidence in the text, and quote the evidence. |
| Predict | Use details the text states and implies to make a sensible guess about what will happen. |
| Language and structure | Name the device and explain its effect on the reader: simile, personification, short sentence, quiet ending. |
| Play | Speakers are named in capitals; stage directions in brackets tell the actors and the audience what happens. |
| Myth | A traditional story, often set long ago, which explains a natural thing through characters and magic. |
Can you…?
- I can check that a text makes sense, and use the context for unfamiliar words
- I can infer a feeling, thought or motive, with evidence from the text
- I can predict what will happen, using details the text states and implies
- I can explain the effect of a simile, a personification and a short sentence
- I can read a play, and explain how the stage directions add meaning
Key terms
- inference
- a sensible conclusion the reader draws from evidence in the text
- motive
- the reason why a character does something
- prediction
- a sensible guess about what will happen, based on clues
- simile
- a comparison of two things using like or as
- personification
- giving human feelings or actions to a thing
- stage direction
- an instruction in brackets in a play, telling the actors how to move, speak or feel
- speaker
- the character who says a line in a play, named in capitals
- myth
- a traditional story that explains a natural thing through characters and magic
Exercise 10Z Check-up
Method. Find the words in the text that answer the question.
- Find the words in the text. Scan the text for the detail the question asks about.had done the job for thirty years
- Check the answer. The text says the job.the job
- Write the answer. the job
Check. The text states this detail. ✓
Watch out. Copy the detail from the text, and do not guess.
Method. Read the words around the word, and work out its meaning from the context.
- Read the context. The words around flickered show what is happening.the flame flickered, nearly dying
- Choose the meaning. In this text, flickered means moved unsteadily, as a small flame does.moved unsteadily, as a small flame does
- Write the answer. moved unsteadily, as a small flame does
Check. The meaning fits the context. ✓
Watch out. Read the sentence before and after the word, and check that your meaning fits both.
Method. Use the evidence in the text to work out what the character thinks or feels.
- Find the evidence. The text says the following, which is a clue.counting kept her from thinking about the waves
- Work out the inference. Counting distracts her from the danger.to stop herself thinking about the waves
- Write the answer. to stop herself thinking about the waves
Check. The evidence supports the inference. ✓
Watch out. An inference is a sensible conclusion from the evidence, not a guess. Quote the evidence to show why.
Method. Find the words in the text that answer the question.
- Find the words in the text. Scan the text for the detail the question asks about.a young hunter called Teo
- Check the answer. The text names the hunter.Teo
- Write the answer. Teo
Check. The text states this detail. ✓
Watch out. Copy the detail from the text, and do not guess.
Method. Look at the words, then explain the effect on the reader.
- Find the words. The author uses this language: the sea rose like a grey wallthe sea rose like a grey wall
- Explain the effect. The words create a picture or feeling, and the reader responds to it.It makes the sea seem huge and threatening, so the reader feels the danger
- Write the answer. It makes the sea seem huge and threatening, so the reader feels the danger
Check. The effect on the reader is explained. ✓
Watch out. Name the device, then say what it makes the reader feel or picture.
Method. Find the speaker before the line.
- Find the line. Roco speaks the line about wishing for Maya.wish for you
- Find the speaker. The speaker is ROCO.ROCO
- Write the answer. ROCO
Check. ROCO speaks the line. ✓
Method. Use a clue from the text.
- Find the clue. The cloud was soft and patient, and her pride hurt the sea.soft and patient
- Make the prediction. She will learn to shine gently.shine gently
- Write the answer. She will shine more gently, because she has been humbled by the cloud.
Check. The prediction uses a clue. ✓
Method. Read the stage direction.
- Read the direction. Roco turns and looks at two things.turns, looks
- Name the action. The main action is to look.look
- Write the answer. look
Check. The action is to look. ✓
Method. Use the evidence in the text to work out what the character thinks or feels.
- Find the evidence. The text says the following, which is a clue.I think I'll wish for you to be happy, Maya
- Work out the inference. He changes his wish, which shows he cares for Maya.thoughtful and kind
- Write the answer. thoughtful and kind
Check. The evidence supports the inference. ✓
Watch out. An inference is a sensible conclusion from the evidence, not a guess. Quote the evidence to show why.
Method. Think about what the story explains.
- Think about what it explains. The Moon's soft light.soft light
- Think about how it explains. Through characters and magic.characters and magic
- Write the answer. It explains a natural thing, such as the Moon, in a fictional way with magic and characters.
Check. The myth explains by magic and characters. ✓
Total 18 marks. Allow about 18 minutes.
Exercise 10X Practice test questions
Method. Find the number in the text.
- Find the number. The text says one hundred and twelve steps.one hundred and twelve
- Copy the words. The words are one hundred and twelve steps.one hundred and twelve steps
- Write the answer. one hundred and twelve steps
Check. The text states the number. ✓
Method. Read the words around the word, and choose the meaning.
- Read the context. The sailors cannot see the rocks, so the horn is a call for help.a call for help
- Choose the meaning. Desperate means urgent and hopeless.urgent and hopeless
- Write the answer. urgent and hopeless, because the sailors need help.
Check. The meaning fits the situation. ✓
Method. Use the evidence to infer the motive.
- Find the evidence. The text says counting kept her from thinking about the waves.counting kept her
- Infer the motive. She counts to stop herself thinking about the danger.stop herself thinking
- Write the answer. to stop herself thinking about the waves
Check. The evidence supports the motive. ✓
Method. Name the device, then say what it makes the reader picture.
- Name the device. Like a grey wall is a simile.simile
- Say the effect. The reader pictures a huge, threatening sea.huge and threatening
- Write the answer. The simile makes the sea seem huge and threatening, so the reader feels the danger.
Check. The simile creates a threatening picture. ✓
Method. Find the hunter in the myth.
- Find the hunter. The text says a young hunter called Teo asked the Moon.Teo
- Write the name. The name is Teo.Teo
- Write the answer. Teo
Check. Teo asked the Moon. ✓
Method. Find the speaker's name before the line.
- Find the line. Careful! You might fall in. is the line.Careful!
- Find the speaker. The name before it is MAYA.MAYA
- Write the answer. MAYA
Check. MAYA speaks the line. ✓
Method. Read the direction, and explain its effect on the audience.
- Find the direction. The direction is quietly, to herself.quietly, to herself
- Explain the effect. The audience hears a private thought, not a line for the others.a private thought
- Write the answer. The actor speaks softly, as if to herself, so the audience hears a private thought.
Check. The direction shows a private thought. ✓
Method. Use a clue from the text, and make a sensible prediction.
- Find the clue. The cloud was soft and patient, and her pride hurt the sea.soft and patient
- Make the prediction. She will shine more gently.shine more gently
- Write the answer. She will shine more gently, because the cloud showed her that pride hurts others.
Check. The prediction uses a clue. ✓
Method. Name the short sentence, then explain its effect.
- Find the short sentence. She struck a match is short.She struck a match
- Explain the effect. The short sentence makes the reader pause and builds tension.pause and tension
- Write the answer. She struck a match is a short sentence that makes the reader pause and builds tension.
Check. The short sentence builds tension. ✓
Method. Find the reason in the text.
- Find the reason. After the cloud, the Moon chose to shine more gently.chose to shine more gently
- Explain why. Her pride had hurt the sea, the stars and the hunters.pride had hurt
- Write the answer. The Moon chose to shine gently after she realised her pride hurt the sea.
Check. The reason is in the text. ✓