Grade 4 English Language Arts: Reading Closely and Writing Clearly
What the test measures
Grade 4 ELA questions ask you to read a short passage and then show that you understand it, can find evidence in it, and can use language conventions correctly. The main concepts are main idea and supporting details, summarizing, character and setting, comparing two texts on the same topic, and figuring out what words mean from context. On the writing side, expect questions about complete sentences, verb tense, subject-verb agreement, pronoun reference, capitalization, commas, quotation marks, and choosing the best word.
Traps to watch for
First, a detail question may offer an answer that is true in real life but not stated in the passage - always go back to the text. Second, main-idea choices are often too narrow (one small detail) or too broad (a whole category). The right one covers the whole passage. Third, in vocabulary questions, a common meaning of the word is often a wrong choice; pick the meaning that fits the sentence. Fourth, in revising questions, the answer that sounds fanciest is rarely right - choose the one that is clearest and grammatically correct. Fifth, watch for sentences where the subject and verb are separated by extra words.
Rule of thumb and worked example
Rule: prove every answer with a line from the passage or a grammar rule you can name.
Worked example: "The team of runners (was / were) ready at the starting line." Find the subject: it is team, not runners. Team is singular, so use was. The phrase "of runners" is extra and does not change the verb. The same logic applies to reading: the main idea is the "subject" and details are the extra words around it.