CollectionsGrade 7Guiding Questions

Collection 2

“Magic and the Brain” by Susana Martinez-Conde and Stephen L. Macknik

Read the magazine article “Magic and the Brain” by Susana Martinez-Conde and Stephen L. Macknik. Then, reread the lines indicated with each question below. Answer each question, citing text evidence.

  1. Title: Explain how the title and the visual elements that accompany it introduce the text.

The Title states the topic so readers know what the article is about. The photo emphasizes the magic aspect of the article; the lines of electricity create a little excitement and raise curiosity.

  1. Lines 1–9: What words and phrases make the anecdote especially vivid? What effect does word choice have on this opening paragraph?

Vivid words and phrases include: “tiny white dress”, “luminous beacon of beauty radiating”, “burning her image”, “ a blaze of red”. The vivid details help make the reader feel as if they are witnessing the event.

  1. Lines 21–25:What are the words in boldface type and the associated definitions in the margins? How do they impact the reading of the text?
  2. Footnotes: Locate the word intuitive in line 22. Use the context (or the words and phrases surrounding it that provide hints about its meaning) to determine the word’s meaning. Use the footnote to confirm the meaning, and restate the ideas in your own words.
  3. Sidebar:Explain how the text and graphic aid in the sidebar enhance the information in the main text.
  4. Lines 85–94:What is the central idea here? Summarize the paragraph.
  5. Lines 110–116:What context clues in these lines might help you determine the meaning of robust? What effect is created by the use of this word?
  6. Sidebar:Explain how the sidebar adds or contributes to the topic.
  7. Lines 124–134: Summarize this paragraph. First, it may help you to identify the central idea and then the supporting details.
  8. Heading:Use this heading to tell what this section is about. Explain how the section represents a new kind of information.
  9. Lines 166–199:Turn the heading above line 166 into a question. Then, summarize the last section of the article, using the heading-turned-question as a guide.