City Lights Comprehension Worksheet
Reading Comprehension Assessment
Informational Text Analysis • Paired Evidence Questions
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Date:
Score: / 6
From Candles to Electric Lights: How Cities Began to Shine
by Marcus Vance
Informational Text
1 In the early 1800s, American cities grew dark when the sun went down. A few oil lamps and candles gave off light. Many people went home before night. Dark streets made it hard to travel and stay safe. Shops also closed early. City leaders wanted better lights for streets and safer ways for people to get around.
2 In the 1820s, cities began to use gas lights. Pipes under the streets carried gas to lamps. The gas made bright flames. Shops could stay open after dark, so people could shop later. Theaters grew busy, and workers could walk downtown at night. But gas lights had problems. Their flames flickered and gave off dim light. They made soot and bad smells. The flames could also start fires in wooden buildings.
3 Later in the 1800s, electricity changed city lights. A power plant could make electricity. Wires carried it across the city. In 1879, Thomas Edison made a light bulb that could shine for a long time. It helped people use clean, safe light inside and outside. Soon, bright electric lamps took the place of gas lamps on many main streets.
4 Electric lights changed city life. They made streets brighter and did not give off smoke or soot. They were safer than lamps with open flames. People could work and have fun at night. Factories could run night shifts, and more people could get jobs. Cities began to use electricity to light streets and homes. This helped build the way of life many people have today.
Part 1
Vocabulary in Context & Best Evidence
1
Vocabulary in Context
Read this sentence from paragraph 2: “Their flames flickered and gave off dim light.” What does the word dim most likely mean as it is used in the text?
A Having little brightness or clarity
B Producing dangerous sparks and heat
C Burning without smoke or odor
D Moving quickly in sudden bursts
2
Best Evidence
Which quotation from paragraph 2 provides the best context clue to support the meaning of dim in Question 1?
A “Pipes under the streets carried gas to lamps.”
B “The gas made bright flames.” (contrasting earlier detail)
C “Theaters grew busy, and workers could walk downtown at night.”
D “The flames could also start fires in wooden buildings.”
Turn to Page 2 to complete Questions 3–6. Page 1 of 2
From Candles to Electric Lights: How Cities Began to Shine
Student Name:
Part 2
Central Idea & Best Evidence
3
Central Idea
What is the central idea of the article?
A Early American cities were deserted after sunset because candles and oil lamps were too expensive.
B Gas lighting was the cleanest, safest, and most reliable lighting system in American history.
C Advances in lighting technology made city streets safer and transformed how people lived and worked after dark.
D Thomas Edison invented the light bulb solely to prevent accidental fires in wooden buildings.
4
Best Evidence
Which sentence from the text provides the best evidence for the central idea in Question 3?
A “A few oil lamps and candles gave off light.” (Paragraph 1)
B “The flames could also start fires in wooden buildings.” (Paragraph 2)
C “In 1879, Thomas Edison made a light bulb that could shine for a long time.” (Paragraph 3)
“Electric lights changed city life... This helped build the way of life many people have today.” (Paragraph 4)
Part 3
Author's Purpose & Best Evidence
5
Author's Purpose
What is the author's primary purpose in writing this article?
A To inform readers about how urban lighting improved over time and shaped modern daily life
B To persuade modern cities to replace electric streetlights with historic gas lamps
C To entertain readers with suspenseful tales of people getting lost on dark city streets
D To explain the exact engineering equations required to operate an electrical power plant
6
Best Evidence
Which sentence from the text provides the best evidence to support the answer to Question 5?
A “Dark streets made it hard to travel and stay safe.” (Paragraph 1)
B “Pipes under the streets carried gas to lamps.” (Paragraph 2)
C “Soon, bright electric lamps took the place of gas lamps on many main streets.” (Paragraph 3)
D “Cities began to use electricity to light streets and homes. This helped build the way of life many people have today.” (Paragraph 4)
Review all answers before submitting. Page 2 of 2
City Lights Answer Key
Teacher Answer Key & Explanations
Master Key
Marcus Vance • “From Candles to Electric Lights: How Cities Began to Shine”
Assessment Type: Paired Evidence (EBSR)
Total Points: 6 Points (1 pt each)
Quick Grading Key:
Q1: A
Q2: B
Q3: C
Q4: D
Q5: A
Q6: D
1 VIC Vocabulary in Context
Correct: A
• Why A is correct: In paragraph 2, “dim” describes the weak, inadequate illumination produced when gas flames flickered, meaning faint or having little brightness.
• Distractor Analysis: B confuses fire hazard with light quality; C is contradicted by text (“made soot and bad smells”); D defines “flickered,” not “dim.”
2 Evidence Best Evidence (for Q1)
Correct: B
• Why B is correct: Earlier in paragraph 2, the text states “The gas made bright flames.” The transition word “But” introduces a contrast with “dim light.”
• Distractor Analysis: A describes underground gas pipes; C discusses evening shopping/theaters; D warns of fire hazard. None directly define brightness.
3 Central Idea Central Idea
Correct: C
• Why C is correct: The whole text chronicles how improving technology (candles → gas → electricity) gradually made cities safer, extending work and leisure after sunset.
• Distractor Analysis: A makes an unsupported claim about cost; B contradicts the text regarding gas safety flaws; D is an overly narrow assumption about Edison's motive.
4 Evidence Best Evidence (for Q3)
Correct: D
• Why D is correct: Paragraph 4 synthesizes how electric lights transformed nighttime work, recreation, and ultimately built our modern urban lifestyle.
• Distractor Analysis: A only describes early limitations; B details a single hazard of gas lighting; C is an isolated fact regarding Edison's invention date.
5 Purpose Author's Purpose
Correct: A
• Why A is correct: The author uses informative, chronological text structure to teach readers how evolving lighting technology shaped modern societal routines.
• Distractor Analysis: B falsely claims persuasive intent to bring back gas; C misinterprets historical context as scary storytelling; D invents technical electrical formulas.
6 Evidence Best Evidence (for Q5)
Correct: D
• Why D is correct: The concluding sentence of the text proves the author's primary goal: showing how lighting advancements built our modern way of living.
• Distractor Analysis: A illustrates the starting problem; B describes pipe infrastructure; C describes an intermediate transition on streetlamps.
Instructional Takeaways & Standards Alignment
Grades 4–6 ELA
CCSS RI.4/5.4 • Context Clues Remind students to look for contrast signal words like “But” to recognize antonym context clues (e.g., “bright flames” vs. “dim light”).
CCSS RI.4/5.2 • Central Idea Reinforce that a central idea must cover the whole text arc, not just an isolated paragraph or inventor's specific achievement.
CCSS RI.4/5.1 • Paired Evidence Guide students to test their Part B textual quote against their Part A choice to confirm it directly validates their answer.
Debrief Discussion Question: “How would your daily routine change if our city lost electrical street and home lighting for one week?”
Cities That Shine • Lesson Assessment Materials Teacher Answer Key • Page 1 of 1
