New York State Elementary Test Prep: ELA 4 (Grade 2) Develop an Idea Within a Brief Text

Click on the arrow to read along with me.

Let's review some important
points before practicing.

Brief text means short and to the point.

Paraphrase means to say something that someone else has
said, but in your own words.

When you paraphrase, DO NOT change the meaning of what
you have heard or read.

To develop the idea, add detail.

Directions
Read the first sentence, then read sentence A and sentence B.
Which has the same meaning as the first sentence?
Click the down arrow to check your answer.
Let's Begin!

Groundhogs belong to the squirrel family. They are also called woodchucks.
  A. Groundhogs are squirrels.
  B. Groundhogs are also known as woodchucks. They fit in the
      squirrel family.

A groundhog has grayish brown fur. It has a bushy tail. Its claws are sharp to make digging easier.
A. Groundhogs have coats of hair that are gray and brown. They
dig with their razor sharp claws. They have a thick tail.
B. All groundhogs love to dig. Sometimes they dig with their feet.

A groundhog lives in an underground burrow. Its home may have more than one entrance.
A. Their home beneath the earth can have more than one way to get
        in and out. It is like a tunnel.
B. The burrow always has more than one way to get in but not
        out.

To warn others of danger a groundhog makes a loud, whistling sound.
A. A groundhog whistles when he is happy. It is loud.
B. To tell that they aren't safe, a groundhog lets out a shrill noise.
It sounds like a shriek.

The groundhog fattens up before hibernating. Its body uses the extra fat when it is sleeping.
A. Groundhogs have to eat a lot before they go to sleep for the
       winter. They have to gain weight so they can survive. They live
       off the fat that they store.
B. A groundhog eats and sleeps all winter.

According to legend, if a groundhog exits his burrow and casts a shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter.
A. The experts say that winter will last forever if the groundhog
        sees his shadow.
B. As the tale says, winter will last longer if the groundhog casts a
       shadow when he finally comes out of his hole. Winter could last
       up to a month and a half longer.

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