Question

from key word to theme
a good first step towards understanding theme is to identify a key word or concept that a story deals with. for example, a story might be about courage, friendship, or bravery. but a theme cannot be expressed in a single word. the subject or key word of a story might be friendship, but the theme is something particular about friendship that can be expressed in a complete sentence.
read the passages below. for each one, circle the key word that best describes what the passage is about. then, think about the passage and write a sentence that includes that key word, and which expresses its theme. remember, theme is bigger than just the story itself; it is a lesson or a message that is applicable in the real world.

1. kim’s diet was terrible. all she ate was chips and sweets and jelly sandwiches on white bread. she was overweight and she was always tired. when her doctor told her that she felt bad because of what she was eating, kim was amazed. she didn’t realize that she had so much power to make herself feel better. kim stopped eating junk food and started eating fruits and vegetables. in a few weeks she felt like a new person.

a) courage
b) responsibility
c) health
a healthy diet can greatly improve ones overall health and well - being

1. dan was really looking forward to eating some cake. but when his mother sliced the cake, she made the pieces very small. “why is my piece so small?” dan asked, dismayed. “because there are a lot of people here,” his mother told him. “we have to make sure that we have enough cake for everybody. his mother continued to cut and serve the cake and soon there was no more cake left. disappointed that he would not be able to have seconds, dan went off to sit and eat his tiny piece of cake. there was a small girl sitting at his table. she looked longingly at dan’s cake. “i did not get any cake,” she said. “by the time i got up there, all of the cake was gone.” “here,” dan said, handing the girl a fork. “i will share my cake with you.” the little girl’s face lit up, and suddenly dan felt better.

a) hunger
b) generosity
c) disappointment

Explanation:

1. The passage about Kim focuses on her diet - related health issues and improvement after changing her eating habits, so 'health' is the key - word. The theme is about how a healthy diet can enhance overall well - being.
2. In the passage about Dan, he shares his cake with a girl who didn't get any. This act represents generosity. The theme is that being generous can bring happiness.

Answer:

1. c) health; A healthy diet can greatly improve one's overall health and well - being.
2. b) generosity; Being generous can bring joy to both the giver and the receiver.