Answer Keys: Text Features & Structure

Grade 3 Reading | FAST Success Kit

Teacher/Parent Resource: This page contains all answers. Keep separate from student materials.
Student Concept Worksheet Answers (Butterflies)
1. Purpose of heading "The Life Cycle"
B. To tell the reader that this section is about how butterflies grow and change. Headings preview what a section is about.
2. Why are "metamorphosis" and "chrysalis" in bold?
These words are in bold because they are important vocabulary words that readers need to know. Bold text signals that these are key terms the author wants to highlight.
3. How does the diagram help you understand the article?
C. It shows the body parts of a butterfly with labels. The diagram visually shows what words alone cannot.
4. Where to find the meaning of "pollen"
D. The glossary. Glossaries define key vocabulary words and are found at the end of texts.
Practice Worksheet Answers
Passage 1: Volcanoes
1. Purpose of heading "How Volcanoes Form"
B. To tell the reader this section explains how volcanoes are created.
2. How does the diagram help you understand the passage?
The diagram shows the inside parts of a volcano (crater, vent, magma chamber) with labels. It helps readers visualize what's under the surface, which is hard to explain with words alone.
3. Where to find "dormant" meaning
C. The glossary. The glossary defines vocabulary words like "dormant."
4. Why "magma" and "lava" are in bold
C. To show these are important vocabulary words.
Passage 2: Animal Habitats
5. Page for polar bears
D. Page 20 (Arctic). Polar bears live in the Arctic, so that's where information about them would be.
6. Purpose of the map
The map shows WHERE rainforests are found around the world. It helps readers see the locations visually instead of just reading about them in words.
7. Why the sidebar "Fun Fact!" is included
A. Give extra interesting information about rainforests.
8. How Table of Contents helps
C. It helps readers find specific topics quickly.
Passage 3: Our Solar System
9. Planet with most moons
D. Jupiter (95 moons).
10. How the table helps
The table organizes information about planets in an easy-to-compare format. You can quickly see each planet's type, distance, and moons without searching through paragraphs.
11. Information in table NOT in main text
B. The exact distance of each planet from the Sun. The specific miles are only in the table.
12. What heading "Rocky vs. Gas Planets" tells reader
B. Compare two types of planets. The word "vs." signals a comparison.
Challenge Questions
13. Difference between glossary and index
A glossary DEFINES key words (gives meanings). An index lists topics ALPHABETICALLY with page numbers (tells WHERE to find information). Glossary = definitions, Index = locations.
14. Why authors use diagrams, maps, and tables
Authors use visual features because some information is easier to understand when you can see it. A diagram shows HOW something works, a map shows WHERE things are, and a table helps you compare information quickly. Visuals often explain things better than many sentences.
FAST Practice Quiz Answers (Water Cycle)
1
B. To tell the reader this section explains the steps of the water cycle
Headings preview what a section will cover.
2
B. Help readers see how water moves through the cycle
The diagram with arrows shows the continuous movement of water.
3
D. The glossary
Glossaries define vocabulary words.
4
B. Where each step of the water cycle happens
The table includes a "Where It Happens" column not detailed in the main text.
5
B. To show these are important vocabulary words
Bold text signals key terms readers need to learn.
6
B. Share an interesting fact about water
Sidebars add extra, often interesting information that doesn't fit in the main text.
7
B. It explains what the diagram shows and what the arrows mean
Captions explain visual elements like diagrams and photos.
8
B. Oceans, lakes, and rivers
The table clearly shows evaporation happens at "Oceans, lakes, rivers."
9
Sample: The diagram helps me understand the water cycle better because it shows all the steps in order with arrows connecting them. I can see how water goes from the ocean up to clouds and back down. The pictures and labels make it easier to remember the steps than just reading about them.
10
Sample: The glossary is a text feature that defines important words. It helps readers by giving the meaning of vocabulary like "evaporation" and "condensation" so they can understand the passage even if they don't know those words. Without the glossary, readers might be confused by the science terms.

Scoring Guide

Assessment Total Points Proficient (70%+) Focus Area if Struggling
Student Concept Worksheet 4 points 3+ correct Review feature identification
Practice Worksheet 14 points 10+ correct Focus on explaining PURPOSE
FAST Practice Quiz 10 points 7+ correct Practice "How does it help?" questions

Common Errors: Just identifying features without explaining purpose; ignoring information in diagrams/tables when answering questions; confusing glossary (definitions) with index (page numbers).

FAST Success Kit | Grade 3 | FL B.E.S.T. Standard: ELA.3.R.2.1