Theme and Evidence

Carrie loved her phone and her tablet. She was always looking at one or the other. Her parents would try to talk to her about her life, but she would just ignore them or give them brief answers until they left her alone. When she was at school, she'd sneak peeks at her phone under her desk whenever she could get away with it. When she was at parties, she spent more time interacting with the devices in front of her than with the people around her. Even at concerts and sporting events, Carrie seldom removed her eyes from these tiny screens. One day Carrie was walking home from a friend's house and watching a funny video of people slipping on ice. She began crossing the street just after the light changed. She was so into the video that she did not notice the oncoming traffic. She walked directly into the traffic while laughing at the falling people on her tiny screen and was hit by a bus. Carrie sustained mild injuries, but both of her devices were destroyed. As far as she was concerned, her life was over.

• "Carrie loved her phone and her tablet. She was always looking at one or the other."

• "When she was at school, she'd sneak peeks at her phone under her desk whenever she could get away with it."

• "One day Carrie was walking home from a friend's house and watching a funny video of people slipping on ice."

• "She walked directly into the traffic while laughing at the falling people on her tiny screen and was hit by a bus."

A long time ago there was a king who wanted nothing but gold. He wished that everything he touched turned to gold. A fairy made his wish come true. Then anything he tried to eat turned to gold and he starved to death.

What is the theme?

• Don't be greedy

• Work together

• Respect your elders

• Don't steal

A long time ago there was a king who wanted nothing but gold. He wished that everything he touched turned to gold. A fairy made his wish come true. Then anything he tried to eat turned to gold and he starved to death.

Which text best supports the theme?

• "A long time ago there was a king who wanted nothing but gold."

• "anything he tried to eat turned to gold and he starved to death."

• "He wished that everything he touched turned to gold."

• "A fairy made his wish come true."

A number of flies were attracted to a jar of honey which had been overturned in a housekeeper's room, and placing their feet in it, ate greedily. Their feet, however, became so smeared with the honey that they could not use their wings, nor release themselves, and were suffocated.

Which text best supports the theme?

• A number of flies were attracted to a jar of honey

• placing their feet in it, ate greedily

• Their feet, however, became so smeared with the honey that they could not use their wings

• (they) were suffocated.

In a spell of dry weather, when the Birds could find very little to drink, a thirsty Crow found a pitcher with a little water in it. But the pitcher was high and had a narrow neck, and no matter how he tried, the Crow could not reach the water. The poor thing felt as if he would die of thirst. Then an idea came to him. Picking up some small pebbles, he dropped them into the pitcher one by one. What is the theme?

• respect your family

• don't be greedy

• always share with others

• never give up

Theme is what?

• The lesson of the story

• The main idea of the story and what the author feels about the idea

• Morale of the story

• The plot of the story

Themes are about universal topics. For example, a topic could be compassion, relationships or fate. A theme is often stated as a judgment about one of these topics. For example, a theme about the topic of relationships could be "relationships teach you important lessons."

Which of the following could be the theme of a story?

• You can never turn your back on your family

• Most people have at least one brother or sister

• A young girl returns home after moving far away.

• "I'll never speak to you again," she said quietly to her mother.

Read the following passage from a story. Rohan triumphantly lifted the trophy above his head. Despite all the obstacles, he had won. Beneath his cheerful exterior, he felt a twinge of the constant pain he’d learned to live with. Almost unconsciously, Rohan removed one hand from the trophy and rubbed the thin red scar that snaked around his ankle. He thought back to the surgery and the weeks spent lying in his bed, unable to compete. The months of exercises to strengthen his leg. “Rohan!” he heard the crowd scream, as if in slow motion. A smile broke across Rohan’s face, shattering his thoughts. He returned his hand to his trophy, firmly grasping it. Which of the following is most likely a theme of the story?

• Some goals are too hard to achieve even if you try many times.

• Through determination, you can overcome big challenges.

• You need the support of your family to overcome challenges.

• When you achieve a goal, you shouldn’t brag about it.

Marta was stumped. She had turned the details of the case over and over in her head, trying to figure out the answer. The suspect had somehow entered the store, stolen the artwork and exited without leaving any trace or fingerprints. Marta paced, her movements matching her storm of thoughts. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the new technological device she had been given to use, which she'd been avoiding like the plague. "I wonder…" she thought.

Hesitantly, Marta typed the details of the case into the device's keyboard. It whirred and spat out a list of similar cases and how they'd been solved. Reading through the information, Marta was amazed. She had been pondering for hours, but 30 seconds with this device, and she could find answer! With new respect, she rushed off.

Which detail from the passage provides the best clue that a theme of the story is "technology can have good effects"?

• "Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the new technological device she had been given to use, which she'd been avoiding like the plague."

• "She had been pondering for hours, but 30 seconds with this device, and she could find her answer!"

• "The suspect had somehow entered the store, stolen the artwork and exited without any trace or fingerprints."

• "Marta paced, her movements matching her storm of thoughts."

Wind whipped at Vanessa, Mo and Jaime's faces as they trudged up the mountain. "Do you have the ice samples?" Vanessa questioned Mo again. "Why don't you carry them the rest of the way?" he responded irritably. Mo was digging into his backpack to retrieve the samples when suddenly, a gust of wind snatched them out of his hands, sending them tumbling down the mountain. If we lose those, this was all for nothing!" Vanessa cried. The wind roared angrily, churning flakes of snow that had newly begun to fall. How far had the samples gone? The three scientists stared at each other in horrified silence. I'll go back for them," Jaime spoke up quietly. Vanessa and Mo looked at Jaime. He was the smallest and youngest of the group, barely strong enough to carry his large backpack. "I'll go," he said louder. Which sentence from the passage provides the best clue that a theme of the story is "Courage can be found in the people you least expect it"?

• "'Why don't you carry them the rest of the way?'" he responded irritably.

• "How far had the samples gone?"

• "The wind roared angrily, churning flakes of snow that had newly begun to fall."

• "He was the smallest and youngest of the group, barely strong enough to carry his large backpack."