Lesson 25 Name Date PRACTICE BOOK Author’s Purpose · Author’s Purpose Read the selection below. The Progress of the American School Most students in the United States today go

Author’s PurposeRead the selection below.

The Adventures of Jules VerneIf you like science fiction and

adventure stories, read Jules Verne.

Verne was one of the world’s first

science fiction writers. He wrote

stories about adventures with modern

technology.

Around the World in 80 Days

tells the story of a rich man named

Phineas Fogg, who bets a friend

that he can travel around the world

in eighty days. He plans to use

trains, steamships, and even a hot

air balloon. The book, published in

1873, tells of Fogg’s adventures in

different parts of the world.

Another of Verne’s famous books,

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, is the

story of a professor who goes looking

for a sea monster that has been sinking

ships. The sea monster turns out to be

a submarine called the Nautilus. The

professor and his servant enter the

submarine and realize that the captain

is responsible for the attacks. Then,

they try to escape.

Both of these books are exciting

adventure stories that sometimes

describe machines that hadn’t been

invented at the time. Many of

Verne’s ideas later came true.

Complete the Inference Map to show text details and identify the author’s purpose for writing. Write complete sentences.

Text Detail Text Detail Text Detail

Author’s Purpose

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Lesson 25P R A C T I C E B O O K

Name Date

Grade 4, Unit 5: Change Is All Around

The Fun They HadComprehension: Author’s Purpose

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Author’s PurposeRead the selection below.

The Progress of the American SchoolMost students in the United

States today go to several different

schools. Some begin school as early

as age four. Others begin preschool

even earlier. Most go on to a

different school for kindergarten and

elementary school. Many attend

a new school for middle school or

junior high, and then yet another

school for high school. Each school is

tailored to the needs of the age group

of its students.

In nineteenth-century America,

however, preschool did not exist.

Kindergarten was uncommon. And

everyone else went to the same

school. Often, they went to school in

the same room!

To keep order, teachers had to

be very strict. Because they had

few books, they had their students

memorize facts. School may have

been boring and dull, but people

learned what they needed to get by.

Use an Inference Map like the one here to organize your thoughts. Analyze the selection to determine the author’s viewpoint andpurpose. Then answer the questions below.

1. What in the title shows the author’s view of school?

2. What does the author seem to think is better about

schools today? Support your answer with text details.

3. Why do you think the author wrote this selection? Explain.

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Name Date


The Fun They HadComprehension: Author’s Purpose

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First Pass

Greek and Latin Word Parts: meter, therm, aud, facThe words in the box each have a part that comes from Greek or Latin. In Greek, therm means “heat” and meter means “measure.” In Latin, aud means “to hear” and fac means“to make” or “to do.”

thermometer

thermos

barometer

chronometer

audible

audience

manufacture

factory

Activity Write the correct word from the box to complete each sentence.

1. When the concert ended, the orchestra stood and bowed

to the .

2. The captain used a to help determine

the position of the ship at sea.

3. The company will and sell computers.

4. Check the outside to see if you need a

sweater.

5. Mr. Wilson makes chocolate candy at his

.

6. The weather forecast predicts rain, because the

reading shows a drop in air pressure.

7. Every morning my dad fi lls his with

hot coffee.

8. With everyone talking at once, Solomon’s voice was

barely above the noise.

291Vocabulary Strategies© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.


Name Date


The Fun They HadVocabulary Strategies:

Greek and Latin Word Parts: meter, therm, aud, fac


Confirming Pages

VV PatternBasic Write the Basic Words that fit the clues to complete the crossword puzzle.

1 2 3

4

6

5

7

8 9

10

Across

5. piece of rock fl ying

through space

8. tape that records TV

programs

9. where cowhands show

skills

10. equipment used to

receive signals

Down

1. study of natural things

2. food made from grain

3. second month of the

year

4. punctuation mark

6. large musical instrument

7. daily written record

Challenge 11–14. You are asked to be student teacher for your geography class today. Give instructions to the class about a writing assignment in which they describe the features of the region in which they live. Use four of the Challenge Words. Write on a separate sheet of paper.

1. idea

2. lion

3. usual

4. radio

5. liar

6. poem

7. India

8. piano

9. January

10. quiet

11. poet

12. science

13. diary

14. violin

15. period

16. February

17. cereal

18. video

19. meteor

20. rodeo

Challenge

variety

gradual

geography

diagram

punctuate

Spelling Words

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Name Date


The Fun They HadSpelling: VV Pattern


Spelling Word SortWrite each Basic Word beside the correct heading.

VV Pattern with two syllables:

Divide between the vowels

Basic Words:

Possible Selection Words:

VV Pattern with three syllables: Divide between

the vowels

Basic Words:

Challenge Words:

VV Pattern with four syllables: Divide between

the vowels

Basic Words:

Challenge Words:

Possible Selection Words:

Challenge Add the Challenge Words to your Word Sort.

Connect to Reading Look through The Fun They Had. Find words that have the VV patterns on this page. Add them to your Word Sort.

1. idea

2. lion

3. usual

4. radio

5. liar

6. poem

7. India

8. piano

9. January

10. quiet

11. poet

12. science

13. diary

14. violin

15. period

16. February

17. cereal

18. video

19. meteor

20. rodeo

Challenge

variety

gradual

geography

diagram

punctuate

Spelling Words



Name Date




First Pass

Proofreading for SpellingFind the misspelled words and circle them. Write them correctly on the lines below.

It was in Janeary that Talia got the idear to enter the

Galactic Music Contest. She wrote a composition for her

violen using a pome for inspiration. It was early Febuary

when she heard.

“Mamma, guess what?” said Talia, smiling. “I placed in

the contest. I have to go to Indea for the final competition.

I may get to see a lyin there!”

“That’s wonderful news,” said Mrs. Simms as she

handed Talia the sereal.

Talia left the next morning on the shuttle. Everyone

was quiat and focused on the captain’s vidio. She explained

that in the usueal way, after blast-off, they would shut off

the engines to conserve fuel and switch to solar power. As

Talia looked out the window, she saw a metear streak past

her. To her, that was a sign of good luck!

1. 7.

2. 8.

3. 9.

4. 10.

5. 11.

6. 12.

1. idea

2. lion

3. usual

4. radio

5. liar

6. poem

7. India

8. piano

9. January

10. quiet

11. poet

12. science

13. diary

14. violin

15. period

16. February

17. cereal

18. video

19. meteor

20. rodeo

Challenge

variety

gradual

geography

diagram

punctuate

Spelling Words



Name Date




Capitalization and Writing Titles

Capitalize important words in the titles of movies,

books, chapters, and articles in a newspaper or

magazine. Short words such as in, if, of, a, and the

are not capitalized unless they are the first word in

the title.

When writing the title of a shorter work, such as a

story or news article, use quotation marks. When

writing the title of a longer work, such as a book,

magazine, or movie, underline the title.

book title storyA Pizza for Jin “The Diary of a Mouse”

1–5. Rewrite each sentence. Add capital letters, underlining, and punctuation where they are needed.

1. The headline in Friday’s newspaper read “clowns lead parade.”

2. the little mermaid is my little sister’s favorite movie.

3. Jesse’s story about his trip to Mexico was called “crossing the

border.”

4. benson elementary wins trophy was the front page headline in

the school paper.

Thinking Question Is this title capitalized correctly? Does the title name a long work or a short work?

295Grammar© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.


Name Date


The Fun They HadGrammar: Proper Mechanics


End PunctuationThe punctuation at the end of a sentence helps to show

its meaning. Use a period (.) at the end of a statement

or a command. Use a question mark (?) at the end

of a question and an exclamation mark (!) to show

strong feeling.

declarative I like to play basketball.

imperative Hand me the ball, please.

interrogative What is the score?

exclamatory What a great game!

1–8. Add the correct end mark for each sentence. Write declarative, interrogative, imperative, or exclamatory on the line.

1. A voice command can make the mechanical dog walk

and sit

2. Insert a quarter into the machine

3. How many centuries have passed since the Revolutionary

War

4. The building inspector will be here next week

5. Your picture is amazing

6. What a waste of time this is

7. How much progress have you made with your

work

8. Try not to miss your bus

Thinking Question What kind of sentence am I reading? Does the sentence tell something, ask a question, or show excitement?



Name Date




First Pass

Using ApostrophesWhen you join two words to make a contraction,

use an apostrophe (’) to represent the letters left

out. You should also use an apostrophe to show

ownership with a possessive noun.

contraction do not becomes don’t

possession shoe of the girl becomes the girl’s shoe

1–5. Write the contraction for the underlined words.

1. Laeticia does not want to be a cheerleader this year.

2. Mark said that he is coming with us to the game.

3. They are working on the school paper as reporters.

4. I did not swim in the race, did you?

5. I am going to win fi rst place in the art contest.

6–10. Circle the correct word in parentheses to complete each sentence.

6. (Carls, Carl’s) hat is on the table.

7. The (womens’s, women’s) packages were full of gifts.

8. (Nancy’s, Nancies) boat is named Good Times.

9. Mrs. (Sanchezes, Sanchez’s) son is a pilot in the Air Force.

10. The wood carving is (James’s, Jameses)

Thinking Question Why is there an apostrophe in this word? Does the word show a possessive or a contraction?



Name Date




Writing Abbreviations

Titles Doctor Dr. Senior Sr.

Addresses Road Rd. Company Co.

Months March Mar. November Nov.

Days Tuesday Tues. Saturday Sat.

States Alabama AL Wisconsin WI

Time Hour hr. minute min.

Measurement Feet ft. Inch in.

Rewrite these groups of words, using correct abbreviations for the underlined word or words.

1. Miami, Florida

2. Sunday, December 9, 1951

3. a length of 35 feet

4. 465 Maple Street

5. Doctor Sanjay Walsh, Junior

6. Post Offi ce Box 2157

7. Mechanical Supply Corporation

8. 32 minutes, 15 seconds

9. Jibby’s Rare Book Company

10. 1458 Greenview Boulevard

11. 4176 Seaport Avenue



Name Date


The Fun They HadGrammar: Spiral Review


First Pass

Writing Carefully

1–4. Rewrite the sentences on the lines below. Use the correct capitalization and punctuation.

1. dont forget to bring treats to school on Friday. they are

for Miss Smiths birthday party

2. simons boots were covered with mud they were also fi lthy

and smelly

3. be careful didnt I tell you the sidewalk was slippery its

covered with ice, too

4. kim wrote a scary story about an imaginary friend named

Bindi its called the secret staircase

Incorrect Mechanics Correct Mechanics

At last! the day of the science fair has finally arrived and everyones excited. mr. joness class will present it’s project first? Our class will be last.

At last! The day of the science fair has finally arrived, and everyone’s excited. Mr. Jones’s class will present its project first. Our class will be last.



Name Date


The Fun They HadGrammar: Connect to Writing


Focus Trait: Word ChoiceUsing Synonyms to Paraphrase

1–4. Rewrite each sentence in your own words. Use synonyms and

other ways of rewording.

1. Furniture was fastened to classroom fl oors so that it could

not be moved.

2. Almost all of the youngsters carried their lunches to

school and had their meal in the classroom.

3. Children enjoyed having conversations with their buddies.

4. School was a place where children could study and

have fun.

Bees have round, hairy bodies and wasps have bodies that are less round and hairy.

Bees are rounder and hairier than wasps.

Paraphrased SentenceOriginal Sentence

300 Grade 4, Unit 5: Change Is All Around

Writing© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.


Name Date

The Fun They HadWriting: Write to Inform


Documents

Lesson 25 Name Date PRACTICE BOOK Author’s Purpose · Author’s Purpose Read the selection below. The Progress of the American School Most students in the United States today go