This document discusses various text structures including cause and effect, compare and contrast, description, problem and solution, and sequence. It provides examples of each text structure using paragraphs about topics like bears, the Grand Canyon, wildfires, and French fries. The document is intended to help readers identify different text structures.

1. TEXT
STRUCTURE
Can you identify the text structure? Let’s go!

2. Scientists remind people repeatedly – DO NOT
FEED BEARS. Why is this so important? Bears that
are fed become comfortable being around
humans and are more likely to damage
property or injure someone. When bears
become uncomfortable around humans, they
are often eventually destroyed when they are in
search of food and approach a person who is
frightened by the bear. They are also more likely
to cause a vehicle accident, which can cause
injury (or death) to the bear and the humans
involved. Humans can help protect bears simply
by remembering not to feed them.
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3. CAUSE AND
EFFECT
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4. The sun bear is the smallest of all bears. It gets its
name from the golden or white patch of fur on
its chest that legend says represents the rising
sun. Short, black fur covers the rest of its body.
The sun bear grows four to five feet tall and
weighs between 60 and 150 pounds. Because
of its size and facial features, it has been
nicknamed the “dog bear.” It has also been
nicknamed the “honey bear” because of its
long tongue – perfect for extracting honey from
beehives. The sun bear is nocturnal and
extremely shy and reclusive.
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5. DESCRIPTION
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6. Two bears call the continental United States
home – the black bear and the Grizzly bear.
Both are omnivores that feed on plants and
animals. Both species are solitary animals, living
alone most of the time. There are, however,
many differences between the two species. The
Grizzly bear is usually larger, growing to 8 feet
and weighing 800 pounds. The black bear grows
to 5-6 feet tall and weighs between 200 and 600
pounds. Grizzly bears are always brown,
whereas black bears can be black, brown, and
even (rarely) white. When winter arrives, Grizzlies
hibernate, while black bears go into a dormant
state.
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7. COMPARE AND
CONTRAST
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8. Hiking in the mountains can be a beautiful
experience. Stunning waterfalls and hidden
lakes can take your breath away. There are
dangers, though, too. An encounter with a bear
can be deadly. This possibility need not stop you
from hiking, however. There are several things
you can do to protect yourself from a bear. Hike
in groups and make noise occasionally. If you
see a bear, do not run. Rather, calmly walk
away from it. Serious hikers who intend to hike in
isolated areas should carry bear spray. If a bear
is charging, you should direct the spray in the
bear’s face. Being prepared is key.
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9. PROBLEM AND
SOLUTION
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10. The Grand Canyon is a unique place on Earth,
and humans have been drawn to it for a very
long time. 12,000-year-old human artifacts have
been discovered within the canyon, and Native
Americans have lived there ever since.
Americans began to explore the area in the
1850s. It was named a Forest Reserve in 1893. It
became a National Monument in 1908. It was
finally awarded National Park status in 1919, a
full three years after the National Park Service
was established. In 1919, 44,173 people visited
the park. Today, close to 5 million people visit
Grand Canyon National Park each year.
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11. SEQUENCE
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12. As one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the
World, very few people would argue that the
Grand Canyon is a place of epic beauty. What
happened to cause this beautiful, unique place
to exist? There are two major causes of the
Grand Canyon we see today. The first major
cause is constant erosion by the Colorado River.
This fast-moving river has continued to cut
through layer upon layer of rock for millions of
years. The second major cause is the uplift of the
Colorado plateau. The plateau has pushed
upward of 5,000-10,000 feet while the Colorado
River has carried away rock, resulting in the
Grand Canyon.
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13. CAUSE AND
EFFECT
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14. The Grand Canyon Skywalk is a U-
shaped bridge that extends over the
edge of the canyon and towers over
the Colorado River 800 feet below.
The skywalk is made of a very thick
glass floor and sides, making it
transparent. It was deigned to
withstand strong winds. It is owned
by the Hualapai Indian tribe. It
opened to visitors in 2007.
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15. DESCRIPTION
7

16. Bryce Canyon and the Grand Canyon are
national parks located in the Southwestern
United States known for their stunning beauty
and their amazing geologic features. There are
many hiking opportunities at both parks,
including overnight hikes. There are also several
differences between the two parks, however.
Bryce Canyon is located in Utah, while the
Grand Canyon is in Arizona. The Grand Canyon
was formed by river erosion, while Bryce Canyon
was formed by frost and steam erosion. The
Grand Canyon is deeper and hosts more visitors
than Bryce Canyon.
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17. COMPARE AND
CONTRAST
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18. French fries, potato chips, and fried chicken are
not nutritious foods. In fact, people should limit
the number of fried foods they ear. There are
many health risks that can be linked to eating
foods friend in oil. One well-known side effect is
obesity. People who eat fried foods often tend
to be overweight. Eating friend foods also
increases the chance of gas, heartburn, and
bloating. Eating fried foods can result in higher
levels of cholesterol, which can result in a heart
attack. Clearly, there are many negative effects
which can be associated with eating large
amounts of fried foods.
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19. CAUSE AND
EFFECT
9

20. When you open a supermarket freezer, you
can immediately see how many French fry
varieties are available to consumers.
Homestyle fries usually have straight edges,
while crinkle-cut fries have rippled edges.
Waffle fries tend to be round with a
crisscross waffle-like pattern in the middle.
Steak fries tend to be straight with a wider
cut. Curly fries are spiral ringlets of potato.
Regardless of their cut, French fries are
close to the top of the list when it comes to
favorite American foods.
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21. DESCRIPTION
10

22. In the 1990s, McDonalds and other fast-food
restaurants started getting publicity for the
amount of fat in their kids’ meals. At that time,
one hamburger Happy Meal contained about
70% of the recommended daily fat allowance
for children. Greasy French fries account for
most of the fat in the meal. A public outcry
caused most fast-food restaurants to review
their kids’ meal offerings. McDonald’s solved the
problem by offering healthy apple slices in
place of the greasy fries. Now, a Happy meal
consisting of a hamburger, apples, and milk
contain about 35% of a child’s recommended
daily fat allowance.
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23. PROBLEM AND
SOLUTION
11

24. French fries were not invented in the U.S., but
Americans still adore them. The first
documented use in the United States was when
then-President Thomas Jefferson asked a French
chef to make “potatoes served in the French
manner.” A recipe for “French Fried Potatoes”
has been found in a cookbook from 1850s. They
were referred to as “French fried potatoes” until
the 1930s, when Americans dropped the word
“potatoes” and started referring to them as
simply French fries. They gained in popularity
with the growth of the fast-food chains that took
America by storm in the 1950s and 1960s. Today,
they are as popular as ever!
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25. SEQUENCE
12

26. Wildfires can cause the destruction of beautiful
trees and forests. Nonetheless, there are several
benefits to wildfires. Some trees can only
reproduce after a fire. Certain pine tree cones
are sealed with something called a pitch. A
pinecone’s seeds can only be released after a
fire has melted away the pitch. Aspen and birch
tree seeds will also only sprout roots following a
fire. Also, ash remaining after a fire adds
nutrients to the soil. Deer and other animals feed
on new grasses and shrubs that grow after forest
fires. These are a few of the benefits of a wildfire.
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27. CAUSE AND
EFFECT
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28. Most wildfires are caused by humans. People
who live in or near the woods in fire-prone areas
should follow certain guidelines to help prevent
the spread of wildfires. First, homeowners should
use non-flammable roof and deck materials on
their homes. They should trim their trees
regularly. There should be at least a five-foot
opening between neighboring trees. Further,
there should be no tree limbs within ten feet of
the ground. This will reduce the chance that
flames will travel to the top of the trees. Finally,
homeowners should keep the lawn well-
watered and cut short.
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29. PROBLEM AND
SOLUTION
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30. Smokey Bear is a fictional character that has
educated generations of Americans about how
they can help prevent human-caused wildfires.
He was created in 1944 and his original catch
phrase was “Smokey says – Care will prevent 9
out of 10 Forest Fires.” In 1947, the phrase was
shortened to “Only YOU can prevent Forest
Fires.” It was changed once again in 2001 to
“Only You Can Prevent Wildfires” because of
the large number of wildfires in natural areas
other than forests. Smokey Bear’s message is still
as important today as ever.
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31. SEQUENCE
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32. At first glance, wildfires and prescribed fires look
the same. Both fries produce hot flames and
smoke that can be seen for quite a distance. A
closer look, however, reveals that these two
types of fires are vastly different. While most
wildfires are caused accidentally by humans, a
prescribed fire is purposely started by humans
only after careful planning. During a prescribed
fire, weather conditions are closely monitored,
and the fire is under control at all times. In
contrast, wildfires are not under human control,
and can spread rapidly, resulting in property
destruction and death.
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33. COMPARE AND
CONTRAST
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