ORGANIZATIONAL PATTERNS

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1. If you’ve ever been to a Mexican restaurant, you’re
probably familiar with tacos and enchiladas. While both are
delicious dishes, they do have some differences. Tacos can be
served on either flour or corn tortillas, and they can be filled
with pretty much whatever toppings you like, such as
tomatoes, meat, cheese, lettuce, and more! Enchiladas, on the
other hand, are usually made with just cheese, chicken, beef,
or pork. Tacos can be served with or without salsa, while
enchiladas are almost always topped with some sort of sauce.
The next time you eat out, order them both and see for
yourself!
The author organizes this paragraph in a compare-and-
contrast pattern to illustrate—
A. the history of tacos and enchiladas
B. why tacos are more popular than enchiladas
C. how tacos and enchiladas are different
D. where the best enchiladas are made
3. Tacos are an extremely popular food, but their origins are
unclear. Many historians have a theory that tacos did not
make an appearance in America until 1905, when migrant
workers from Mexico began working on railroads and and
mines in America. In the years to come, as Mexican immigrants
became acclimated to the food served in America, they began
to incorporate American toppings into this traditionally
Mexican dish. For example, they started including cheddar
cheese and iceberg lettuce as taco toppings. In the 1940s,
Mexican chefs created the hard taco shell that is commonly
used today, and in the 1960s, Taco Bell was created. Tacos
became a fast food staple soon afterwards.
A chronological order is used in this paragraph to—
A. Illustrate how tacos have changed over time
B. Explain the history of the taco
C. Show that historians do not know when the taco was
created
D. tell when Taco Bell was created
2. Have you ever been to a party and seen that the host has
set up a taco bar? This is a fun way for party guests to
serve themselves and create a taco that is just the way they
like it. Creating your own taco bar is easy! First, purchase
the ingredients, such as tortillas, several types of meat,
beans, rice, cheese, and tomatoes. Then, prepare the
ingredients. Next, you will need to put each ingredient into a
separate bowl to keep the taco bar organized. Finally, set out
paper plates, napkins, and silverware for your guests to use.
Now you’ve got a delicious treat for your guests to enjoy!
By organizing this paragraph sequentially, the author is able
to—
A. explain the steps for setting up a taco bar
B. explain the benefits of having a taco bar
C. compare a taco bar to other food options
D. explain how to make tacos
4. It’s happened to almost everyone. You’ve spent time
creating the perfect taco with all the toppings you love. You
take a big, delicious bite, and—CRACK! Your taco shell breaks
in half, and now your carefully selected toppings have spilled
out onto your plate. This is a common problem that many taco
enthusiasts face. Thankfully, there is a solution. Taco bowls
are an equally tasty way to eat your taco without spilling
everything inside. Simply put all of your taco toppings in a
bowl, and then top your dish with tortilla chips or a crushed-
up hard taco shell. It will taste exactly the same and will be
easier to eat! The next time you eat a taco, give this method
a try.
The author organizes this paragraph in a problem-and-solution
pattern to—
A. Explain a frustrating part of eating tacos
B. Explain how to fix a common obstacles to enjoying tacos
C. Describe how to make a taco bowl
D. Persuade the reader to stop eating tacos
5. When it’s a hot and sweltering summer day, many people
reach for a cold ice cream cone or a freezing popsicle. But if
you’re going to enjoy one of these sweet treats, you better
act fast! Because these desserts are frozen, they will melt if
you leave them out for too long. After you take them out of
the freezing, try to eat them right away. Waiting too long will
result in a sticky mess that you have to clean up.
By organizing this paragraph using a cause-and-effect
pattern, the author is able to—
A. Explain why ice cream is so popular
B. Describe popular summer desserts
C. Persuade the reader to avoid these types of desserts
D. Explain what will happen if these treats are not eaten
quickly
7. If given the choice, would you choose to eat a popsicle or an
ice cream sandwich? Both are delicious desserts that are
perfect for warm days. However, they taste very different.
Popsicles are more likely to be fruit-flavored, while ice cream
sandwiches are normally just chocolate or vanilla. There is also
a difference in how you eat each sweet. Popsicles are formed
around a wooden stick, so if you don’t eat the popsicle fast
enough, the popsicle will begin to melt onto your hand. An ice
cream sandwich can melt too, but it comes in a wrapper that
can protect your hand from getting messy.
The author organizes this paragraph in a compare-and-
contrast pattern to—
A. describe how popsicles taste
B. describe how popsicles and ice cream sandwiches are
similar and different
C. describe popular ice cream sandwich flavors
D. describe how popsicles and ice cream sandwiches are
packaged
6. Making an ice cream sundae is an activity that is easy and
enjoyable! You only need a few materials to create a dessert
that everyone will love. First, decide what type of ice cream
you want to use. Something simple, like chocolate or vanilla, will
go well with many different toppings. Next, decide what
toppings you want to use. Popular ice cream toppings include
chocolate syrup, sprinkles, maraschino cherries, Oreos, and
gummy worms. Finally, scoop your ice cream into a bowl and
add however many toppings you’d like. Voila! Now you’ve got a
delicious treat that was made just the way you like it.
A sequential pattern is used in this paragraph to—
A. inform the reader about popular ice cream toppings
B. explain how to make an ice cream sundae
C. compare an ice cream sundae to other types of desserts
D. explain why chocolate or vanilla ice cream is better than
other flavors
8. It’s no secret that ice cream cones are delicious, especially
when you get a cone that includes your favorite toppings
mixed in with your ice cream. However, if you wait too long to
eat your ice cream, you’ll soon find it dripping all over your
hands, wrists, and arms. This is an annoying problem to have
when you’re just trying to enjoy your dessert. Eating your ice
cream out of a bowl can solve this common problem. Most ice
cream shops will serve your ice cream in a bowl if you ask
them, and you will be able to add all the toppings you want! It
will still melt if you eat it too slowly, but at least it won’t melt
all over you.
By organizing this paragraph using a problem-and-solution
pattern, the author is able to—
A. explain why ice cream melts
B. describe a common problem related to eating ice cream
C. explain how to enjoy ice cream without getting messy
D. explain why eating ice cream in a bowl prevents it from
melting
9. Flamin’ Hot Cheetos are one of the most popular snacks
among students today, but do you know the history of these
tasty chips? Hot Cheetos were created by a janitor, Richard
Montanez, who had been working in the Frito-Lay plant in
California since 1976. One day, a machine at the factory
malfunctioned and some Cheetos were not dusted with the
famous orange powder. Richard took those Cheetos home and
topped them with chili powder. Soon afterwards, he pitched
his idea for a spicier version of Cheetos to company
executives. His idea was accepted, and he is now in charge of
the Frito-Lay Hispanic marketing team.
The author organizes this paragraph in a chronological order
to—
A. Explain how Flamin’ Hot Cheetos were created
B. Explain how Flamin’ Hot Cheetos got their name
C. Compare Flamin’ Hot Cheetos to regular Cheetos
D. Explain how to make Flamin’ Hot Cheetos at home
11. Anyone who has ever eaten several Cheetos knows that
these tasty chips will leave your fingers coated in a bright
orange powder if you eat more than a few. This coating can
be a dead giveaway to your parents or teachers that you’ve
been snacking when you’re not supposed to. Thankfully, there
are several ways to avoid this issue. First, try eating the
Cheetos one at a time, picking each chip up with a napkin. The
cloth will protect your digits from the colorful Cheeto dust.
You can also try eating Cheetos while wearing gloves, or use a
spoon to bring the chips to your mouth. Any of these
strategies will help you snack more stealthily!
A problem-and-solution pattern is used in this paragraph to—
A. Offer a solution to a common Cheeto problem
B. Describe a common problem related to eating Cheetos
C. Explain why Cheetos turn your fingers orange
D. Persuade the reader to use a napkin while snacking
10. When it comes to chips, do you prefer hot and spicy chips,
or are you partial to more mild flavors? Flamin’ Hot Cheetos
are similar to their non-spicy counterpart in several ways.
Both Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and regular Cheetos will leave your
fingers coated in crumbs if you eat too many. In addition,
both types of Cheetos are sold in both crunchy and puffy
varieties. However, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos definitely have more
of a kick than the regular type of Cheeto. If you can handle
spicy foods, you may enjoy them, but if your eyes start to
water at the thought of a spicy snack, you should probably
stick to the regular orange Cheetos.
By organizing this paragraph using a compare-and-contrast
pattern, the author is able to—
A. Persuade the reader that Flamin’ Hot Cheetos are
superior
B. Describe how Flamin’ Hot Cheetos taste
C. Illustrate how popular Flamin’ Hot Cheetos are
D. Explain what both types of Cheetos have in common
12. Have you ever wanted to throw the perfect movie night
for your friends? Many people love to eat snacks while they
enjoy a film, so if you’re hosting a movie night, you need to be
sure to set up a snack area for your guests. First, think
about what kind of snacks you want to include. Young movie-
watchers will want different kinds of snacks than older
guests. Second, make sure you have an equal split between
sweet snacks, salty snacks, and sour snacks. This way,
everyone can find something they like! Finally, place your
snacks in individual bowls and give guests plates to put their
snacks on. This set-up will create a movie night that everyone
is sure to enjoy!
The author uses a sequential pattern to explain—
A. why including different snacks is important
B. how to host a successful movie night
C. that different guests enjoy different types of snacks
D. what snacks are most popular with movie guests
13. If you ask a child what their favorite food is, there’s a
good chance that they will say pizza! This popular dish has its
origins in Italy, where the first documented pizza was enjoyed
in the year AD 997. For the most part, pizza remained in Italy
until the late 19th century, when Italian immigrants coming to
America brought their cuisine with them. The first pizzeria
was opened in 1905 in New York, but pizza still was eaten
primarily by Italian-Americans until World War II. Soldiers
fighting in Italy had been exposed to pizza and when they
returned home to the United States, they continued to enjoy
the Italian dish. Pizza became a mainstream dish soon
afterwards.
The author uses a chronological pattern mainly to—
A. Explain why pizza originated in Italy
B. Explain why pizza is so popular
C. Explain the history of a popular dish
D. Explain when the first pizzeria opened in America
15. Have you ever been to a pizza buffet? Having so many
different pizza options to choose from can be awesome, but
also overwhelming! You really have to think about all the
choices and decide what kind of pizza you are hungry for in
the moment. Two of the most popular kinds of pizza are plain
cheese and pepperoni. Pepperoni pizza is well-loved because
the pieces of pepperoni give your slice an extra kick of flavor.
Cheese pizza, on the other hand, is delicious because of how
simple it is—because there are no other toppings, you can
really appreciate the cheese flavor. These two types of pizza
are both tasty, so you can’t go wrong with either one!
A compare-and-contrast pattern is used in this paragraph
to—
A. Persuade the reader to eat cheese pizza
B. Explain the steps to eating at a pizza buffet
C. Describe a pizza buffet
D. Explain how cheese and pepperoni pizza are different
14. Did you know that it’s easy to make delicious pizza in your
own kitchen? With just a few ingredients, you can turn your
home into an Italian pizzeria. The first step is to purchase
ingredients. You will need a pizza crust, pizza sauce, cheese,
and any other toppings you enjoy, such as pepperoni, olives,
or peppers. Then you will need to read the instructions on the
crust to know what temperature to preheat the oven.
Spread the pizza sauce on the crust, top with cheese and
your toppings, and place in the oven for 15-18 minutes. When
the timer dings, you’ll be ready to enjoy your meal!
By organizing this paragraph sequentially, the author—
A. provides the steps needed to make a pizza
B. describes how easy it is to make a pizza
C. persuades the reader to includes toppings on his/her pizza
D. explains why making a pizza at home is better than
ordering a pizza
16. If you have ever eaten pizza off of a paper plate or a
napkin, you may have noticed that your slice leaves behind a
grease stain after you pick it up. The cause of this grease is
the different oils that come out when the pizza is cooked. The
different ingredients in pizza, such as cheese and meats,
release oil that you can see when you pick up a slice. If a pizza
has a lot of cheese, you will see more oil on the pizza. Some
people are bothered by this grease and choose to dab it off
with a napkin, while others do not care if there’s a little extra
oil.
By organizing this paragraph in a cause-and-effect pattern,
the author—
A. explains what causes pizza to be greasy
B. provides a solution for greasy pizza
C. argues that pizza should be less greasy
D. describes what pizza grease looks like
 Student Recording Sheet
Name: _____________________________

1. 2. 3. 4.

5. 6. 7. 8.

9. 10. 11. 12.

13. 14. 15. 16.

Answer Key
1. C
2. A
3. B
4. B
5. D
6. B
7. B
8. C
9. A
10. D
11. A
12. B
13. C
14. A
15. D
16. A
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