A Battle Won—A War Lost
In the 1870s, tension was mounting between the U.S. and the American
Indian tribes of the Great Plains. The hostility was nothing new. The
relationship between the U.S. and these tribes had often been rocky. For
decades, thousands of settlers had been moving into American Indian
territory. These settlers had decimated the buffalo herds upon which the
tribes depended for food and had threatened the American Indians' way of
life. An 1868 treaty had temporarily restored some measure of peace by
establishing a large reservation for the Lakota tribes. The treaty identified
the Black Hills area as the property of the Lakota nation and promised
these tribes the right to hunt outside of this reservation. Yet white
prospectors soon violated the treaty by flooding the Black Hills area in
search of gold. Then the U.S. government ordered the tribes to their
reservations, denying them their treaty rights. The building hostility on
both sides finally became war.
In the spring of 1876, a great Lakota chief, Sitting Bull, prepared for battle. A vision of white soldiers
falling from the sky gave his tribe faith that they would defeat their enemy. Other tribes frustrated with
U.S. policies joined Sitting Bull and his warriors near the valley known as Greasy Grass in anticipation of
a U.S. attack. When fighting broke out in June, Sitting Bull's vision proved prophetic. Despite having
superior weapons, the U.S. Army was no match for the multitude of American Indian warriors united in
their purpose. By the time the battle ended, over 250 U.S. soldiers lay dead.
Sitting Bull rejoiced in the tremendous victory at the Battle of Greasy Grass, also known as the Battle
of Little Bighorn. Yet he knew the struggle was not over. The U.S. Army would soon return to claim more
tribal land and to force his people to live on a reservation. Such circumstances would destroy the Lakota
culture Sitting Bull had spent his whole life defending.
Thus, Sitting Bull and his tribe fled to Canada, where the U.S. Army couldn't reach them. The
Canadian winters were freezing, though, and there weren't enough buffalo to feed everyone. Within a few
years, the tribe returned to the U.S., surrendered their weapons, and lived on the reservation. The U.S.
government provided food, but Sitting Bull and many others felt humiliated. The war was over, and their
world had changed forever.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. The Lakota and other tribes joined forces to defeat the United States at the Battle of Little Bighorn.
___ b. An 1868 treaty restored peace by establishing a large reservation for the Lakota tribes.
___ c. The Great Plains tribes had one tremendous victory but eventually were forced to live on a
reservation.
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
1
Level 6.0 Stories
2. Why did Sitting Bull believe that his tribe would defeat the enemy?
___ a. He had a vision.
___ b. He had superior weapons.
___ c. He had treaty rights.
3. What does prophetic mean in this story?
___ a. difficult, hazy, and unclear
___ b. correctly saying what will happen
___ c. important, useful, or necessary
4. Why did Sitting Bull and his tribe return to the United States?
___ a. They were cold and hungry.
___ b. They had won the Battle of Little Bighorn.
___ c. Sitting Bull felt humiliated.
5. How were the American Indians able to win at Little Bighorn?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its definition.
tension
decimated
scenario
multitude
humiliated
large number
sequence of events
ashamed
destroyed
nervous worry or stress
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
2
Level 6.0 Stories
7. Move the sentences into the correct order.
The U.S. was defeated at the Battle of Little Bighorn.
Sitting Bull and his tribe fled to Canada.
The tribe surrendered their weapons.
An 1868 treaty established reservations for the tribes.
Settlers decimated the buffalo herds.
8. Explain why the American Indian tribes felt hostility toward the United States.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. Write a summary statement for these facts: an 1868 treaty limited the Lakota tribes' land; white
prospectors violated the treaty by entering the area; the United States violated the treaty by denying tribes
the right to hunt.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
3
Level 6.0 Stories
Breakout!
What do you do with prisoners when you want to ensure they
never escape? From 1934 to 1963, you sent them to Alcatraz. U.S.
officials had created this prison to be escape-proof. Each inmate
lived behind bars that were resistant to cutting and bending. Armed
guards stood in watchtowers, ready to shoot inmates who attempted
to flee. And most importantly, the prison was on a rocky island in
the frigid, rough waters of San Francisco Bay. With the nearest land
over a mile away, inmates knew they had almost no chance of
escaping. Nevertheless, a few still tried to break out.
One of the most famous and audacious of these attempts
occurred in 1962. The four prisoners involved spent months preparing. Little by little, each man secretly
dug a hole through the moisture-damaged concrete wall at the back of his cell. These holes gave the
prisoners access to a narrow hallway. From there, they could reach the roof undetected. But escaping the
prison building would only be the beginning—they would still need a way off the island. The men solved
this problem by collecting dozens of prison-issued raincoats and using them to build life preservers and an
inflatable raft. To buy themselves time on the night of the breakout, they wanted lifelike forms in their
beds to keep the guards from noticing their absence. So they created papier-mâché heads with real human
hair to place on their pillows. All along, they carefully hid their work and took turns watching for guards.
One June night after lights out, the prisoners finally put their plan into action. One of the four men soon
discovered that he could not get through the hole he had made in his cell, so the others left him behind.
The three remaining men climbed up to the roof and crawled down a pipe to the outside of the building.
Carefully avoiding the bright spotlights that constantly scanned the island at night, they made their way to
shore and boarded their raft.
The next morning, guards realized that the men were not in their cells. A massive manhunt ensued, but
officials found only remnants of the inmates' escape implements and a few of their belongings. Many
people wondered what happened to the prisoners. Did they reach land, or did they drown in the bay?
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. A massive manhunt took place after inmates escaped from Alcatraz.
___ b. Alcatraz was a high-security prison that was supposed to be escape-proof.
___ c. Some prisoners attempted an audacious escape from Alcatraz.
2. What did prisoners use to make lifelike forms in their beds?
___ a. piles of pillows
___ b. prison-issued raincoats
___ c. papier-mâché heads
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
4
Level 6.0 Stories
3. What does ensued mean in this story?
___ a. followed
___ b. failed
___ c. noticed
4. What type of prisoners got sent to Alcatraz?
___ a. people from San Francisco
___ b. people who were dangerous
___ c. people with good behavior
5. List three things the prisoners did to prepare for their escape.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its definition.
audacious
ensure
scanned
inflatable
implement
daring
tool used for certain jobs
looked quickly
able to be filled with air
make certain
7. Move the sentences into the correct order.
The prisoners put fake heads on their pillows.
Guards realized the prisoners were not in their cells.
Four prisoners started to dig holes through the cell walls.
The prisoners built a raft out of raincoats.
The prisoners boarded their raft and left Alcatraz.
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
5
Level 6.0 Stories
8. How were the prisoners able to avoid being seen as they escaped?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. Write three facts from the story that support this statement: Alcatraz inmates knew they had almost no
chance of escaping.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
6
Level 6.0 Stories
Capital Confectioner
What do you think of when you hear the word Hershey? You most
likely think of chocolate bars and candy kisses. Yet Hershey wasn't always
the name of a prominent chocolate company. In the late 1800s, it was just
the family name of a persistent young man named Milton Hershey.
Milton's entry into the business world was rocky. In his youth, he
floundered as a printer's apprentice. Though he enjoyed his next job at a
confection shop, his first attempts to open his own candy company failed.
After several years of hard work in different places, Milton returned home
to Pennsylvania nearly penniless.
Despite the difficulties he had faced, Milton persevered. In 1886, he
opened a caramel company using techniques he had learned at a previous
job. This company soon became very profitable. Milton had finally
succeeded in business—and he had only just begun to make his mark on the world.
In the 1890s, Milton began making chocolate. Years of trial and error eventually paid off when he
figured out how to make good milk chocolate—something few people anywhere had been able to do. He
soon sold the caramel part of his business for a million dollars and built a large chocolate factory in a rural
area. Having a large factory near dairy farms helped him mass-produce his new creation, transforming
milk chocolate from a costly luxury into a treat almost everyone could afford. Before long, Hershey had
become a well-known brand.
Good-tasting, affordable milk chocolate wasn't the only thing Milton actualized during the early 1900s.
He also designed a town for his workforce. Making it a pleasant place to live was important to him.
Among other things, he included a transportation system, nice houses, and a park.
As his company and town grew, Milton also attended to the education of orphan boys. In 1909, he and
his wife started a boarding school for them and set up a trust to fund it. Later, Milton chose to turn over
the bulk of his fortune to the school's trust. Until his death, Milton continued to take part in the school's
operation and to find ways to improve it.
Milton Hershey accomplished all these things and more in his 88 years. Perhaps next time you hear the
word Hershey, you will remember something about the inspirational man behind the famous sweets.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. Milton Hershey was a persistent man who accomplished many things.
___ b. Milton Hershey and his wife started a boarding school for orphan boys.
___ c. Milton Hershey worked hard to mass-produce milk chocolate.
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
7
Level 6.0 Stories
2. What did Milton Hershey sell for a million dollars?
___ a. the dairy farms
___ b. the chocolate factory
___ c. the caramel part of his business
3. What does persevered mean in this story?
___ a. opened
___ b. made a lot of money
___ c. kept trying
4. How did the factory's location help make chocolate more affordable?
___ a. Hershey could get fresh milk for a good price.
___ b. Hershey was closer to a large population of customers.
___ c. Hershey was closer to a large workforce.
5. What things did Milton Hershey do to make the world a better place?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its definition.
prominent
confection
techniques
penniless
apprentice
methods
learner
well-known
without money
candy
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
8
Level 6.0 Stories
7. Move the sentences into the correct order.
Hershey started mass-producing milk chocolate.
Hershey set up a trust to fund the education of orphan boys.
Hershey's candy company failed.
Hershey opened a caramel company.
Hershey worked as a printing apprentice.
8. How did Milton Hershey change the area around his factory?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. Write three facts from the story that support this statement: Milton Hershey had to overcome many
obstacles to become successful.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
9
Level 6.0 Stories
Changes in Chocolate
As time passes, many things change, and foods are no exception.
Chocolate is a great example of a food that has evolved over time.
People began consuming chocolate well over a thousand years ago,
but you might not recognize its early versions as forerunners of the
sweet treat so many people love today.
Chocolate as you know it starts with the seeds of the fruit of
cacao trees. The ancient Maya also made chocolate from these
seeds. Their finished product wasn't sweet, though—and it wasn't
solid, either. Mayan chocolate was a bitter beverage often seasoned
with chili peppers. The Maya prepared this drink by pouring it back
and forth between containers until foam formed on top. They served chocolate in special pots and drank it
at religious ceremonies.
Centuries later, the Aztecs made and used chocolate much like the Maya had. Cacao was difficult to
grow in the Aztec region of Mesoamerica, so only wealthy Aztecs drank chocolate. Others used the seeds
as currency. People paid taxes, bought food, and even made offerings to their gods with cacao seeds.
In the 1500s, Spanish conquistadors took over much of Mesoamerica. These invaders saw that the
Aztecs valued cacao seeds and the drink made from them. Many didn't like how chocolate tasted, but they
brought the seeds home to Spain. Before long, people began mixing chocolate with sugar, and more and
more people found themselves hooked on the new concoction. Yet even as the drink became more popular
and spread throughout Europe, not everyone got to try it. The high cost of chocolate and the sugar it
contained kept chocolate a luxury for many years.
By the 1800s, people had invented machines to grind large quantities of cacao seeds. Then new
machines in the 1900s enabled chocolate to become a solid food for the first time. The age of chocolate
bars had begun. Mass production made chocolate more available and affordable.
Confectioners experimented with chocolate's flavor and texture. They added different amounts of
sugar, butter, and milk, and they filled chocolate bars with nuts, caramel, and flavored creams. From
baked goods to ice cream, chocolate soon appeared in too many foods to count!
Chocolate has come a long way since its ancient beginnings. Imagine if it continues to evolve—what
might it look like a thousand years from now?
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
10
Level 6.0 Stories
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. Chocolate has evolved over more than a thousand years to become the sweet treat many people love
today.
___ b. In early Aztec and European cultures, only wealthy people were able to enjoy the luxury of
chocolate.
___ c. The invention of a machine to grind cacao seeds enabled large numbers of chocolate bars to be
produced.
2. Name one ingredient in Mayan chocolate?
___ a. caramel
___ b. chili peppers
___ c. sugar
3. What does currency mean in this story?
___ a. a form of money
___ b. a kind of food
___ c. a certain plant
4. When did cacao seeds arrive in Spain?
___ a. after conquistadors took over much of Mesoamerica
___ b. after machines were invented to grind large numbers of cacao seeds
___ c. after chocolate was mixed with sugar for the first time
5. How has chocolate changed over time?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
11
Level 6.0 Stories
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its definition.
confectioners
texture
consuming
seasoned
valued
people who make candy
how something feels
eating or drinking
thought highly of something
having spices for flavor
7. Move the sentences into the correct order.
Wealthy Aztecs used chocolate as a form of currency.
Confectioners came up with many chocolate creations.
Mayan people made a bitter beverage out of cacao seeds.
Machines were invented to grind many cacao seeds.
Spaniards took cacao seeds back to Spain.
8. How did the conquistadors know that the Aztecs valued cacao?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. Write three facts from the story that support this statement: Chocolate became more popular and well
known after it was mixed with sugar.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
12
Level 6.0 Stories
Controversial Custer
Few things remained constant during George Custer's life. His career as
a soldier meant that he was often on the move, traveling from one place to
the next. But one thing always seemed to stay with him: controversy.
Early in Custer's life, people had conflicting opinions of him. His
teachers at the United States Military Academy saw him as anything but a
model cadet. He received poor grades and often found himself in trouble.
His behavior repeatedly brought him close to expulsion, and he graduated
last in his class. Yet the views of Custer's classmates did not match those
of his teachers. His classmates loved him for his leadership and charisma.
After Custer graduated from the Academy in 1861, he had an eventful
military career—one that sparks controversy even today. From one point
of view, Custer was a brave American hero. As a soldier in the Northern
army during the U.S. Civil War, he fought bravely and took many risks. His aggressive style helped the
North win several important battles. Custer's excellent record caught the attention of military officials.
Soon they promoted him to general at the young age of 23. Many soldiers under his command were very
loyal to him and often praised his bravery. In the end, Custer lost his life serving his country.
Another position regards Custer as reckless and cruel, more villain than hero. Many people mainly
associate him with the expeditions he led against American Indians in the 1870s. In addition, many of
Custer's soldiers on these missions criticized him for his harsh policies and reckless leadership. They
reported that Custer forced them to march long distances and threatened to whip those who did not obey
his orders. Also, he sometimes attacked without knowing the strength of his opponents. These bold actions
culminated in the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876. Custer led an attack on a large group of American
Indians that greatly outnumbered his own army. Over 250 U.S. soldiers died in the battle, including Custer
himself.
With such clearly opposing ideas, people may be able to agree on only one thing about George Custer:
he is controversial.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. George Custer was an American hero who took many risks.
___ b. George Custer was reckless and cruel, more villain than hero.
___ c. George Custer's life and career were filled with controversy.
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
13
Level 6.0 Stories
2. Why did Custer almost get expelled from the United States Military Academy?
___ a. The views of his classmates did not match those of his teachers.
___ b. He received poor grades and often found himself in trouble.
___ c. Some people regarded him as reckless and cruel.
3. What does promoted mean in this story?
___ a. raised to a higher rank
___ b. organized or set up
___ c. attempted to sell
4. Which word best describes General Custer's personality?
___ a. confident
___ b. cautious
___ c. thoughtful
5. Why did many of Custer's soldiers criticize him?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its synonym.
culminated
position
sparks
constant
missions
viewpoint
tasks
resulted
starts
unchanging
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
14
Level 6.0 Stories
7. Fill in the blanks with words from the list below.
At the United States Military Academy, George Custer was not a ______________ cadet. His
behavior in school brought him close to ______________. His classmates loved him for his
leadership and ______________. When he fought in the Northern Army, officials soon
______________ him. His controversial career ______________ in a battle that cost him his
life.
expulsion, model, eventful, promoted, charisma, culminated, missions
8. Give examples from the story that show why some of Custer's soldiers called him reckless.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. Write three facts from the story that support this statement: Controversy followed George Custer.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
15
Level 6.0 Stories
Do My Eyes Deceive Me?
While riding down the highway, you see a puddle of water on
the road ahead. As your car approaches it, the puddle vanishes!
Where did it go? The "puddle" was actually light that bent and
changed course as it passed through changing temperatures in the
air's layers. You were deceived by an optical illusion.
Optical illusions trick the eye and fool the mind, and the natural
world is full of them. Many animals have markings that make them
difficult to detect in their surroundings. Bold markings, like a
zebra's stripes, can also work to mislead predators about the
direction in which an animal is moving. But many naturally
occurring illusions, like the vanishing puddle, don't seem to serve a natural purpose.
Nevertheless, scientists study all types of optical illusions because the illusions reveal how our eyes and
minds work together to make sense of the world. In order to understand the relationship between the eyes
and the mind, scientists design optical illusions. Some illusions work by confusing the machinery of the
eye, while others work by misleading the brain. By analyzing people's reactions to the illusions, they learn
more about how we see.
When your eyes detect refracted light on the highway, they report the information to your brain. Your
brain compares that information to other patterns you have seen in the past. The light matches the pattern
of a puddle, and you know from past experience that water sometimes pools on the road. Therefore, you
reasonably interpret the light as a puddle even though no puddle exists.
Scientists have discovered that the opposite situation also happens: sometimes the eye detects a real
object, but without past experience to relate the image to, the brain cannot perceive it. Have you ever
looked at a photo of an animal blending in with its surroundings? At first you can't see the animal in the
photo. Then you read the photo's caption, and it tells you that the picture shows a familiar kind of bird
sitting on its nest. All of a sudden, you can plainly see the bird! Your eye saw the image the whole time,
but your brain didn't have enough information to see it.
You have probably heard the saying "seeing is believing," but optical illusions prove you can't always
believe what you see.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. The natural world is full of optical illusions.
___ b. Optical illusions can reveal how our eyes and minds work together.
___ c. Some optical illusions don't seem to serve a natural purpose.
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
16
Level 6.0 Stories
2. What causes light to change course?
___ a. bends in a stretch of highway
___ b. passing through changing temperatures
___ c. comparison by the brain to other patterns
3. What does refracted mean in this story?
___ a. shifted, bent, or turned
___ b. noticed or became aware of
___ c. arranged in a pattern
4. Which optical illusion tricks the eye rather than the brain?
___ a. a zebra's stripes, which mislead predators
___ b. the bent light that looks like a puddle of water
___ c. an animal blending in with its surroundings
5. How do optical illusions prove that you cannot always believe what you see?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its synonym.
deceived
caption
detect
course
pools
tricked
collects
note
discover
path
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
17
Level 6.0 Stories
7. Fill in the blanks with words from the list below.
As your car approaches a puddle, the puddle ______________. You have just been
______________ by an optical illusion. Many naturally ______________ illusions, like this
one, don't seem to serve a purpose. Scientists study the many different types of
______________ to learn how our eyes and minds work together. They learn about how we
see by ______________ people's reactions.
optical illusions, occurring, vanishes, analyzing, deceived, refracted, caption
8. How is your brain being fooled when you can't see an animal blending in with its surroundings?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. Write a summary statement for these facts: your eyes see light on the road; they report this sight to your
brain; your brain compares the sight to patterns seen in the past; your brain interprets the light as a puddle.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
18
Level 6.0 Stories
An Ellis Island Experience
Millions of people have traveled to the U.S. throughout its
history in hopes of starting a new life. Between 1892 and 1954,
prospective immigrants commonly arrived at Ellis Island. Many of
their stories express the excitement of reaching New York Harbor
after weeks at sea. Yet their stories often convey less positive
feelings too. Getting through Ellis Island could be trying and scary.
New languages, new foods, crowded spaces, and separation from
family members often caused stress. Plus, people worried whether
they would get to remain in the U.S. after all their efforts. They
knew that not everyone who came to Ellis Island did. Officials
detained and sometimes deported people for various reasons. For example, those with certain medical
problems had to wait on Ellis Island until officials determined whether they were healthy enough to enter
the country. One person who experienced such struggles was Angelina Palmiero.
In 1923, 10-year-old Angelina boarded a ship with her mother and sisters. She wanted to join her father
in the U.S. Still, she was sad to leave her grandparents behind in Sicily. After about two weeks at sea, the
eager voices of fellow passengers alerted Angelina to the sight of the Statue of Liberty. Ellis Island was
too full to take in the ship's passengers right after it docked. For days, Angelina and her family waited to
disembark. During this time, her father came alongside the ship on a tugboat. Angelina looked down at the
smaller vessel and saw him for the first time in several years.
Once on Ellis Island, Angelina's mother and sisters passed their inspections and went to Pennsylvania
with Angelina's father. Meanwhile, officials took a sobbing Angelina to the hospital. During the voyage,
she had developed a fever and swollen glands. Angelina stayed on Ellis Island without her family for 23
days until officials sent a message to them that she had recovered. Finally, she reunited with her family
and began her life in the U.S.
The 23 days Angelina spent on Ellis Island was much longer than the time most immigrants spent
there. Though the inspection process caused many people distress, the majority of them left the
immigration station in fewer than five hours. Like Angelina, even those initially detained usually entered
the U.S. eventually. About 98 percent of the people who came to Ellis Island made it through
successfully—over 12 million immigrants in all.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. Angelina saw her father for the first time in several years when she arrived at Ellis Island.
___ b. Angelina was an immigrant who experienced the distress of the inspection process at Ellis island.
___ c. About 98 percent of the people who came to Ellis Island made it through successfully.
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
19
Level 6.0 Stories
2. Why did Angelina's family have to wait several days to disembark?
___ a. Ellis Island was too full.
___ b. They were waiting to see her father.
___ c. Angelina had developed a fever.
3. What does trying mean in this story?
___ a. determined
___ b. difficult
___ c. judging
4. Why did Angelina spend more time on Ellis Island than most immigrants?
___ a. She did not pass inspection.
___ b. She was sobbing.
___ c. The island was too full.
5. Why could getting through Ellis Island be trying and scary?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its definition.
express
various
prospective
majority
voyage
different
likely or upcoming
trip
tell
more than half
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
20
Level 6.0 Stories
7. Move the sentences into the correct order.
Angelina boarded a ship with her mother and sisters.
Angelina reunited with her family.
Angelina went to the hospital.
Angelina's mother and sisters passed their inspections.
Passengers were unable to disembark when they docked.
8. Why did Angelina have mixed feelings about moving to the United States?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. Write two facts from the story that support this statement: Angelina's experience on Ellis Island caused
distress.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
21
Level 6.0 Stories
Lake Monster Mystery
While on the shore of Lake Champlain in 1977, Sandra Mansi
noticed a disturbance in the water. Soon what looked like the head,
neck, and back of a dinosaur broke the surface. Before scrambling
back into her car with her family, Sandra snapped a photograph.
Sandra was far from the first person to see something out of the
ordinary in Lake Champlain. Over a hundred years earlier, people
began to report sightings of a monster in this large, deep lake.
Numerous reports in the late 1800s prompted museum show owner
P.T. Barnum to offer a $50,000 reward for the hide of the beast. No
one came forward to claim the prize, but strange sightings
continued.
Some witnesses described encounters with a snake-like creature, and others reported seeing something
more like a dinosaur. Horns, humps, and a horse-like head were among the features people mentioned.
Accounts of the creature's size varied too, from 6 feet in length to 35 feet or longer. Reports came from
individuals, small groups, and large groups. Their experiences had occurred while they were on the shore,
on bridges, or in boats. Witnesses usually claimed they had seen the creature in the water, but a few
asserted that it had been on shore.
Each sighting caused many people to wonder what witnesses had actually observed. Was an unknown
animal really living in the lake? Many people thought so. Some of these believers theorized that a species
of aquatic dinosaur had survived extinction. Many other people doubted the lake was home to anything
unusual. After all, if such a large animal really inhabited it, why wasn't there more proof? Perhaps
witnesses had mistaken large sturgeon, waves, or drifting logs for a monster. Maybe some were just telling
tall tales.
Sandra's photograph became public a few years after she took it, causing interest in the mystery of the
Lake Champlain Monster—affectionately called Champ—to grow. The photograph seemed like
convincing evidence to many people. In the 1980s, the states that border the lake, New York and Vermont,
even took steps to legally protect Champ—just in case.
Signs of Champ's existence continued to turn up. Some were easily dismissed, but others added to the
mystery. In 2003, researchers recorded surprising sounds in the lake. These sounds were similar but not
identical to the sounds dolphins and whales make. Many people wondered if Champ had made them.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. Numerous reports of strange sightings have inspired tales of a monster in Lake Champlain.
___ b. Sandra Mansi's photograph seemed like convincing evidence of the existence of a monster.
___ c. Strange sightings on Lake Champlain were reported as long ago as the late 1800s.
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
22
Level 6.0 Stories
2. When did two states take steps to legally protect Champ?
___ a. in 1977
___ b. in the 1980s
___ c. in 2003
3. What does asserted mean in this story?
___ a. stated with confidence
___ b. guessed or wondered
___ c. saw something unusual
4. Why would the monster's hide be worth $50,000 to P. T. Barnum?
___ a. It would make a lot of purses.
___ b. It would sell a lot of tickets.
___ c. It would save a lot of lives.
5. If not a large animal, what are some things that the story suggests Champ might be?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its definition.
prompted
encounters
asserted
aquatic
existence
stated with confidence
the fact of being alive
unplanned meetings
moved to action
relating to water
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
23
Level 6.0 Stories
7. Move the sentences into the correct order.
P. T. Barnum offered a $50,000 reward for Champ's hide.
Sandra Mansi noticed a disturbance in the water.
Sandra's photograph became public.
Researchers recorded surprising sounds in the lake.
Two states took steps to legally protect Champ.
8. If not a dinosaur, what other type of large animal might Champ be?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. Write three facts from the story that support this statement: There is much evidence of the existence of
an unknown animal living in Lake Champlain.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
24
Level 6.0 Stories
Math Meets Art
When someone hands you a picture, how can you tell which
edge of the picture goes on top? You likely look for clues based on
your experience. You have experienced gravity and have seen
sunlight come from above and form shadows. Artists take
advantage of this common knowledge all the time. They shade and
highlight their pictures to show a figure's shape and orientation.
They size and position figures to show distance.
The graphic artist M.C. Escher used the same visual clues to
confuse viewers. He drew optical illusions and scenes that don't
make sense in our world. "It is . . . great fun," he said, "to
deliberately confuse two and three dimensions . . . or to poke fun at gravity. Are you sure that a floor
cannot also be a ceiling? Are you absolutely certain that you go up when you walk up a staircase?"
Escher's 1953 print Relativity is one of his puzzling works. It is hard to know which way to view the
scene. The print shows three worlds intersecting each other. Figures move along staircases, sit on chairs,
or walk through doorways. Whichever way you turn the print, some figures seem to defy gravity. Yet each
of the figures obeys the laws of gravity in its own world.
To convincingly depict such mind-boggling scenes, Escher needed to understand laws of nature and
mathematics. He had been a weak student in school, but he was an astute student of life, with a sharp eye
and a sense of wonder about the world. Escher described his work as "exploring with lines" and "thinking
in images."
The geometric properties of objects always interested Escher. In his early years, he made detailed
drawings of real places and structures. By his late 30s, though, he said it was more important to draw what
he imagined. His art explored mathematical relationships among figures and shapes. By exploring, he
gained new insights into laws of nature and mathematics. He started working with well-known
mathematicians who admired and found inspiration in his art.
In Escher's 73 years, he created a large body of work that became a rich source of inspiration for
mathematicians and art lovers alike. Even so, it may show only a portion of his genius. Escher once said,
"What I give form to in daylight is only one percent of what I see in darkness."
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. Escher's work demonstrates only a portion of his genius.
___ b. Escher's work inspired mathematicians and art lovers alike.
___ c. Escher's figures often seemed to defy gravity.
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
25
Level 6.0 Stories
2. What did Escher draw in his early years?
___ a. what he imagined
___ b. real places
___ c. mathematical relationships
3. What does intersecting mean in this story?
___ a. crossing
___ b. defying
___ c. imitating
4. How did Escher learn the laws of mathematics?
___ a. through his art
___ b. in the classroom
___ c. from a well-known mathematician
5. Why is Escher's print Relativity puzzling?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its antonym.
defy
deliberately
illusions
mind-boggling
insights
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
obey
accidentally
confusions
realities
ordinary
26
Level 6.0 Stories
7. Fill in the blanks with words from the list below.
The ______________ properties of objects always interested Escher. In his work as a
______________, he made detailed drawings of real structures. He also drew optical
______________ and scenes that don't make sense in the world. In one picture, whichever
way you turn it, some figures seem to ______________ gravity. Escher's insights and art
became a source of ______________ for mathematicians and art lovers alike.
geometric, graphic artist, illusions, defy, inspiration, astute, orientation
8. What kinds of visual clues did Escher use to confuse viewers?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. Write three facts from the story that support this statement: Escher's work used optical illusions.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
27
Level 6.0 Stories
Snake Show
A thick snake with an upturned snout rested on an Arizona trail.
When a hiker stopped to look at it, the snake drew itself into a coil,
lifted and flattened its head, hissed loudly, and struck at her leg.
The hiker was not hurt, and she did not flee in fear. Instead, she
reached down and lightly tapped the snake. Soon it began thrashing
about wildly only to roll over on its back and lay motionless as if it
were dead. Its mouth was open, and its tongue hung out. After
watching for several seconds, the hiker flipped the snake over. It
promptly returned to its back, resuming its deathlike pose. The
hiker chuckled to herself and continued on her way. A minute or
two passed before the snake turned over onto its stomach and quickly slithered away.
The snake described above was a hognose snake. Hognose snakes live in many parts of North America.
Most adults are two to three feet long, and their markings and coloring vary. The behavior the hiker
observed is typical for them. They are harmless to people and to their predators—and they are great actors.
When a hognose snake feels threatened, it often puts on an elaborate performance. It starts out playing
the role of an aggressive and dangerous snake. It mimics cobras and rattlesnakes by coiling its body,
raising and spreading out its head and neck, hissing, shaking its tail, and striking at whatever is threatening
it. If the threat remains, the hognose will likely try a different role—unappetizing carrion. This act begins
with the snake writhing around as though suffering a painful death. The actor might even regurgitate its
last meal, expel waste, or bleed a little. Then it lies still on its back with its tongue lolling out.
As convincing as the hognose's performances might be, there are some clear signs that it is only
bluffing. When feigning a strike, the hognose doesn't bite. In fact, it usually doesn't even open its mouth!
You can also get a hognose that is playing dead to move. Though the snake will remain limp if left on its
back, it will quickly turn over again if you flip it onto its belly. The hognose seems to believe being on its
back is more important to appearing dead than staying still is.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. To avoid predators, a hognose snake will put on an elaborate performance.
___ b. Hognose snakes live in many parts of North America and can grow up to three feet long.
___ c. When a hognose snake feels threatened, it mimics cobras and rattlesnakes.
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
28
Level 6.0 Stories
2. What does a hognose do after it pretends to be a dangerous snake?
___ a. It hisses.
___ b. It plays dead.
___ c. It strikes.
3. What does lolling mean in this story?
___ a. moving quickly
___ b. tasting something
___ c. hanging loosely
4. Why didn't the hiker flee from the snake?
___ a. She knew the snake was only bluffing.
___ b. She didn't want to scare the snake.
___ c. She thought the snake was dying.
5. Describe how a hognose snake plays dead.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its definition.
resuming
regurgitate
carrion
convincing
feigning
pretending
beginning again
dead or rotten flesh
to vomit
believable
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
29
Level 6.0 Stories
7. Fill in the blanks with words from the list below.
The hognose snake doesn't bite, but it ______________ snakes that do. It will coil its body to
______________ as a cobra or rattlesnake. If acting aggressive doesn't work, the snake may
begin ______________ and thrashing as if it is dying. To appear even more unappetizing, the
hognose may ______________ waste or regurgitate its last meal. If a predator doesn't eat
______________, the predator might decide to leave the hognose alone.
mimics, pose, writhing, carrion, expel, markings, lolling
8. Why is it funny that a hognose snake will turn over if you flip it onto its belly?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. Write three facts from the story that support this statement: There are some clear signs that the hognose
snake is only bluffing.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
30
Level 6.0 Stories
Strange Sights
From time to time, people all over the world report encounters with
extraordinary things. Often they have seen or heard something they
couldn't identify. Many people have claimed to see a creature that seems
half human and half ape. Others have described unusual animals such as
enormous birds and huge, poisonous worms. In a number of cases, people
have noted signs that something out of the ordinary has been around. They
may have lost livestock to a mysterious killer or come across odd
footprints. In addition, folklore is full of tales of strange beasts like sea
monsters, werewolves, and dragons. Could any of these animals truly
exist? What accounts for these reports and stories? Hoaxes, mistakes, and
real sightings are some of the possibilities.
Reports of living legendary creatures can be due to hoaxes. Some
people have faked evidence of these animals as a joke, an experiment, or in order to make money. People
might use fake footprints or photographs of monster models as part of a ruse. Once two men said they had
found the corpse of a Bigfoot, but the "corpse" was really a costume.
Mistakes can also account for claims of seeing unknown animals. Our eyes and brains can play tricks
on us. Lighting, angles, and the previous experiences of the viewer all impact how someone interprets
visual input. Emotions such as fear and excitement can affect what people see too. An honest description
of what someone sees may not match what is really there. For example, a young moose swimming in a
lake just after sunset might look like a lake monster from a distance.
Of course, some sightings of new creatures may be valid. Seeing something science hasn't documented
yet is unlikely—but far from impossible. After all, scientists around the world often discover new species.
Sometimes a creature widely believed to be a myth turns out to be real. Many people once thought the
gorilla and the giant squid couldn't be actual animals.
Whether or not the mysterious beings people sometimes claim to witness end up being real, the chance
that they could be draws attention. People everywhere enjoy stories about these creatures. Some even
spend their lives searching for proof that they really exist. These people are known as cryptozoologists.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. Seeing something science hasn't documented yet is unlikely but far from impossible.
___ b. Reports of strange creatures could be due to hoaxes, mistakes, or actual encounters with new
species.
___ c. Some people have faked evidence of strange creatures as a joke or way to make money.
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
31
Level 6.0 Stories
2. Which legendary animal did two men say they had found the corpse of?
___ a. Bigfoot
___ b. a sea monster
___ c. a werewolf
3. What does witness mean in this story?
___ a. capture
___ b. see
___ c. exist
4. Why did two men say that they had found the corpse of Bigfoot?
___ a. The men had sighted a real corpse.
___ b. The men were trying to pull off a hoax.
___ c. The men had made a mistake.
5. Explain why a claim of a sighting of a new creature is probably a hoax or a mistake.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its definition.
previous
folklore
documented
ruse
extraordinary
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
remarkable
trick
earlier
a culture's stories
verified or recorded
32
Level 6.0 Stories
7. Fill in the blanks with words from the list below.
From time to time people claim to ______________ strange things. And myth and
______________ are full of stories of mysterious beasts. What ______________ these
strange stories? Sometimes a person makes a mistake and interprets visual ______________
incorrectly. Of course, real sightings and encounters with new ______________, like the
gorilla and giant squid, do happen from time to time.
witness, folklore, accounts for, input, species, previous, impact
8. Explain why a real sighting of a strange beast might be less likely than a hoax or a mistake.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. Write a summary statement for these facts: lighting, angles, and past experiences impact how a person
interprets visual input; emotions can affect what someone sees; someone's honest description may not
match what is really there.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
33
Level 6.0 Stories
Tricky Tail
Birds of prey circle above, and snakes slither though the grass
and leaves on the ground. These and other predators might be in
search of a meal. Surrounded by such threats, it's not surprising that
the western skink tries to keep out of sight. Still, this lizard does
expose itself periodically. It spends time basking in the warmth of
the sun and pursuing the insects and spiders that make up its diet.
Fortunately for the skink, remaining hidden isn't its sole means of
protecting itself.
A fully grown western skink measures approximately seven
inches from tip to tip. More than half of that length is its tail. It is
this long tail, which is bright blue when the skink is young, that can help it escape danger. If a predator
attacks its tail, the skink simply lets the appendage go. Even after the tail has left the skink's body, it
continues to help its owner get away. For a short time, it wiggles about vigorously. While the detached tail
distracts the predator, the skink can often scurry to safety.
The skink doesn't go without a tail for the rest of its life. Another tail will grow to replace the discarded
one. Though the new tail may be a similar size, it will not be an exact duplicate of the original. The inside
will consist of cartilage rather than hard bones, and even if the skink's tail had still had a bright blue hue
when it fell off, the new one will not.
The western skink is not the only lizard that can autotomize and regenerate its tail. Many skinks and
other lizards have this ability too. This trick can save a lizard's life, but it is not without drawbacks. For
one thing, generally a tail only breaks off with such ease from an original—not regenerated—part of the
tail, which limits how frequently this method of eluding enemies can succeed. Plus, when leaving its tail
behind, the lizard loses a lot of energy stored as fat. In addition, it must expend even more energy to grow
a replacement. In some cases, the tail provides the means to recoup some of that fat. A lizard may return to
where it dropped its tail after the danger has passed. If the predator hasn't eaten the tail, the lizard may
make a meal of it!
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. The western skink's ability to drop off its tail helps it to elude its enemies.
___ b. The western skink exposes itself to predators when it basks in the sun.
___ c. The western skink's new tail consists of cartilage rather than hard bone.
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
34
Level 6.0 Stories
2. What does the western skink eat?
___ a. grass and leaves
___ b. insects and spiders
___ c. snakes
3. What does vigorously mean in this story?
___ a. forcefully
___ b. quietly
___ c. playfully
4. Why does the western skink sometimes eat its own tail?
___ a. to recoup fat
___ b. to expend energy
___ c. to elude enemies
5. Describe what the western skink looks like.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its definition.
pursuing
basking
expose
discarded
recoup
relaxing in a warm place
thrown away or disposed of
to get something back
following or chasing
to put out in the open
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
35
Level 6.0 Stories
7. Fill in the blanks with words from the list below.
If a predator attacks the western skink's tail, the skink simply lets the ______________ go.
The detached tail ______________ wiggles about. The tail ______________ the predator and
helps the skink to escape. Later, the skink will grow a ______________ tail. To do so, it must
______________ a lot of energy.
expend, vigorously, appendage, distracts, replacement, cartilage, drawbacks
8. Explain the differences between a skink's original tail and its new tail.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. Write three facts from the story that support this statement: There are some drawbacks to leaving a tail
behind.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
36
Level 6.0 Stories
Día de los Muertos
In the 1500s, when Spanish conquistadors invaded what is now
Mexico, they imposed many of their Catholic customs and beliefs
on the indigenous people. The indigenous people didn't just drop all
of their own traditions, though. In some cases, the Spanish and
Aztec cultures blended together and made new traditions. An
example of this blending is Día de los Muertos. This holiday takes
place on the first two days of November, in keeping with the
Catholic All Saints and All Souls days. Yet its spirit and purpose
coincide with an ancient Aztec ritual.
Judging by its name, some people might think Día de los
Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a morbid occasion. Typical components of its observance, such as
cemetery vigils, skull-shaped decorations, and "bread of the dead," may seem to support that assessment.
Yet Día de los Muertos is really a joyous celebration.
Día de los Muertos is based on the Aztec belief that the souls of the deceased return home once a year.
Customs for marking their visit vary from place to place, but the traditions share a common theme. Día de
los Muertos is a time to honor departed loved ones and to feel connected with them again.
In many Mexican homes, people build beautiful altars for the souls of their loved ones. They decorate
the altars with candles, flowers, photos, and special former belongings of the deceased. They offer food
too. Sweet loaves of pan de muerto, or bread of the dead, might be round or shaped like a body or bones.
Sugar skulls may have names frosted on their foreheads.
Many people visit the cemeteries where their loved ones are buried. A number of people pull weeds
and make repairs. They may also decorate the graves with brightly colored flowers and other offerings.
Some people enjoy a picnic of the deceased's favorite foods and play the deceased's favorite music while
they reminisce. They may even spend the night there in the company of family members, friends, and
neighbors.
Communities celebrate Día de los Muertos too. Some schools and offices put up their own decorations
and altars. Cities may have colorful parades, lively music, and dancing.
No matter how different people observe Día de los Muertos, the holiday is full of images of death. Yet
the occasion itself ensures that people's connection to one another—and to their heritage—stays very
much alive.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. The spirit and purpose of two Catholic holidays coincide with an ancient Aztec ritual.
___ b. Día de los Muertos is a joyous holiday for remembering loved ones who have died.
___ c. Some communities celebrate Día de los Muertos with food and music.
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
37
Level 6.0 Stories
2. What do people put on the foreheads of sugar skulls?
___ a. flowers
___ b. names
___ c. candles
3. What does reminisce mean in this story?
___ a. dance
___ b. remember
___ c. sing
4. What is the purpose of Día de los Muertos?
___ a. to honor departed loved ones
___ b. to frighten people with images of death
___ c. to make repairs at cemeteries
5. List three things people might do to celebrate the Día de los Muertos.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its definition.
ensures
imposed
coincide
components
assessment
guarantees
parts of a whole
to agree with or match
judgment
forced on another
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
38
Level 6.0 Stories
7. Fill in the blanks with words from the list below.
The spirit and purpose of Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, ______________ with an
ancient Aztec ritual. During this holiday, people in many Mexican homes build beautiful
______________ for the souls of their loved ones. Some people hold cemetery
______________. While at the cemeteries, many people listen to music and
______________. Día de los Muertos ______________ that people's connection to their
heritage stays alive.
coincides, altars, reminisce, vigils, ensures, indigenous, components
8. List some ways Día de los Muertos reminds people of their deceased loved ones.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. Write a summary statement for these facts: Día de los Muertos is based on an Aztec belief; it takes place
in early November, in keeping with Catholic holidays; its spirit and purpose coincide with an ancient
Aztec ritual.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
39
Level 6.0 Stories
Enormous Explosion
Shortly after seven in the morning on June 30, 1908, an unusual
event took place in a remote forest in Siberia. A blaze of light
appeared in the sky, and intense heat scorched vegetation. Dozens
of miles away, a powerful force knocked people and animals off
their feet and blew out windows. Hundreds of miles away, people
heard loud bangs, and devices that measure earthquakes showed
activity. Thousands of miles away, the night sky was strangely
bright. What had happened?
In the 1920s and '30s, a scientist made visits to the site of the
incident. He expected to find proof for his theory that a meteorite
had crashed there. Remnants of the meteorite would be there, he thought, along with a big hole where the
rock hit the ground. Yet the scientist didn't find pieces of a meteorite or an impact crater. Instead he found
a group of trees, standing up, stripped of all their leaves and branches. Surrounding these trees were
millions of fallen trees, lying over hundreds of square miles with their tips pointing away from the
standing group. Clearly, the cause of the incident wouldn't be as easy to explain as the scientist had hoped.
Indeed, the world had a mystery on its hands.
In subsequent years, many people studied this mystery, sometimes called the Tunguska event. In time,
scientists generally agreed that something had exploded high above the forest. Some thought the energy
released in the blast was roughly equivalent to 1,000 atomic bombs like the one dropped on Hiroshima.
Most scientists considered and believed scenarios that involved meteorites or comets as the event's cause.
Yet a plethora of possibilities—from plausible to unlikely—emerged. Maybe a black hole had passed
through Earth. Perhaps methane gas had erupted from below ground and formed an explosive mass in the
sky. Could there have been an atomic explosion of some kind in 1908, long before humans were known to
have such technology? The idea that a UFO had been responsible for the blast even floated around. Still,
critics pointed out problems with all of the theories.
Just what the Tunguska event was and how it happened weren't the only questions it inspired. Had the
same thing happened over a large city, the human toll would have been huge. Many people wondered
whether such an explosion would ever take place again—and if it did, where.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. One theory explaining the Tunguska event says that a black hole passed through Earth.
___ b. People don't know what caused the Tunguska event and wonder if such an explosion could ever
happen again.
___ c. A scientist expected to find proof that a meteorite had crashed at the site of the Tunguska event.
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
40
Level 6.0 Stories
2. Where did the incident of June 30, 1908, take place?
___ a. over a large city
___ b. in a forest in Siberia
___ c. near Hiroshima
3. What does remnants mean in this story?
___ a. things left over
___ b. clues or signs
___ c. meteorites from space
4. What did scientists generally agree upon about the Tunguska event?
___ a. They agreed that an explosion had happened.
___ b. They agreed on what caused the explosion.
___ c. They agreed that such an event would happen again.
5. What were some of the explanations for the Tunguska event?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its definition.
devices
remote
emerged
scorched
subsequent
distant or far away
burned on the outside
machines for a certain job
soon after
came into being
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
41
Level 6.0 Stories
7. Fill in the blanks with words from the list below.
An unusual event took place in a ______________ forest on June 30, 1908. A blaze of light
appeared in the sky, and intense heat scorched the ______________. When a scientist visited
the site, he expected to find proof that a ______________ had crashed there. He didn't find
any remnants, so scientists considered different ______________. Some believed that
______________ had erupted from below ground.
meteorite, scenarios, vegetation, methane gas, remote, devices, impact crater
8. After the scientist visited the site of the incident in the 1920s and '30s, what became of his meteorite
theory?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. Write a summary statement for these facts: a blaze of light appeared in the sky; intense heat scorched
vegetation; people and animals were knocked off their feet; devices that measured earthquakes showed
activity.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
42
Level 6.0 Stories
History of a Holiday
Thousands of years ago, Celtic people in ancient Ireland and
surrounding areas marked the end of the harvest and the start of the
long, cold winter with a festival. These people believed that, at this
time of the year, the spirit world came in contact with the world of
the living. Around bonfires, they honored the dead, hoped to ward
off evil, and made prophecies. This festival was known as Samhain,
which roughly means summer's end. Observance probably began
each year on the evening of what we now call October 31.
As centuries passed and different cultures clashed and merged,
many of the original Samhain traditions faded from common
practice. Yet the holiday's ideas and rituals didn't disappear completely. The days and nights near October
31 remained a time to be mindful of the dead. In many parts of Europe, people took steps to protect
themselves from the evil spirits they believed roamed the earth around this time of year. When they left
their homes, they wore costumes so the spirits would mistake them for fellow ghosts. Some people placed
bowls of food on their doorsteps in hopes that the spirits would leave them alone in return for the gift. In
England, people went "souling." They walked door to door promising to pray for the souls of people's
dead relatives in exchange for pastries called soul cakes.
It was also customary in many places to talk about the dead around October 31. Many people made a
point of remembering loved ones who had passed. Others told stories of evil spirits or ghosts. An Irish
favorite was the legend of Stingy Jack. This ghost, also called Jack of the Lantern, carried a lantern made
from a hollowed-out turnip. Perhaps because of this story, some people began carving out turnips to make
their own lanterns.
Do parts of these old customs sound familiar? As these traditions changed and came together over time,
they helped form a modern holiday celebrated in many parts of the world—Halloween. Costumes, treats
on doorsteps, and "souling" probably turned into trick-or-treating. Pumpkins replaced turnips as jack
o'lanterns, and talk of ghosts and spirits became mostly just for fun.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. Over time, an ancient Celtic tradition became the modern holiday of Halloween.
___ b. Celtic people believed that the spirit world came into contact with the world of the living.
___ c. In many places, it was customary to talk about the dead around October 31.
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
43
Level 6.0 Stories
2. What did people in England exchange for pastries?
___ a. gifts
___ b. prayers
___ c. soul cakes
3. What does ward off mean in this story?
___ a. confuse
___ b. keep away
___ c. predict
4. Which tradition was inspired by the legend of Stingy Jack?
___ a. trick-or-treating
___ b. making bonfires
___ c. carving pumpkins
5. How did people in Europe protect themselves from evil spirits?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its definition.
lanterns
prophecies
faded
rituals
mindful
aware
lamps
predictions
disappeared gradually
traditional acts
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
44
Level 6.0 Stories
7. Fill in the blanks with words from the list below.
Celtic people marked the end of the ______________ with a festival. Around
______________, they honored the dead and hoped to ward off evil. As centuries passed,
many but not all of the original Samhain traditions ______________ from practice. People in
England exchanged prayers for ______________. People began carving out turnips to make
their own ______________.
lanterns, faded, harvest, bonfires, pastries, cultures, observance
8. How did modern Halloween costumes evolve from European tradition?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. Write three facts from the story that support this statement: It was customary in many places to talk
about the dead around October 31.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
45
Level 6.0 Stories
Mine Mystery
Stories of gold prospectors lured to promising mining sites are
common in history. Often treasure hunters have flocked to places in
which others had clearly found the valuable metal. Beginning in the
late 1800s, the impetus for many prospectors in Arizona's
Superstition Mountains was the legend of the gold of Jacob Waltz.
Jacob Waltz was a German immigrant who settled near the
Superstition Mountains toward the end of the 1860s. Several stories
about Jacob maintain that he had access to a huge supply of gold.
Some of the people who knew him said he had a rich mine in the
Superstitions. They also said that he had shared information about
how to find it.
Jacob died in 1891. Reports of his mine, clues for how to find it, and stories about him spread quickly.
There were accounts of Jacob giving large sums of money to a sister and a friend. Stories told of him
paying bills with high-quality gold ore. Some people claimed he seemed to vanish into the wilderness
before the eyes of those who tried to follow him to his mine. Others said he had threatened or killed a
number of individuals to protect his secret. Then there were those who asserted Jacob didn't have a mine at
all. Perhaps he knew of a cache of gold that someone had brought in from elsewhere and hidden in the
Superstitions. The facts were hard to separate from the myths.
After Jacob's death, his friends searched for his mine. Hundreds of others followed suit. Not
surprisingly, tales of Jacob's mine—which became known as the Lost Dutchman Mine—caught the
attention of many people. Immense wealth seemed to be just waiting for someone to take it.
Jacob's supposed treasure proved elusive, though. The clues he allegedly left were less than clear, and
the terrain in the Superstitions is rough. Plus, an earthquake in the late 1800s may have changed the
landmarks Jacob described or cut off access to the already hard-to-find spot. Claims of success cropped up
from time to time, but convincing proof to back up those reports did not, and searches continued. In most
cases, Lost Dutchman Mine hunters gained no more than a bit of an adventure. Many left the mountains
disappointed. These pursuers were among the lucky ones, though. Sadly, over the years, multiple quests
for Jacob's gold have ended in death.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. The legend of Jacob Waltz's mine lured many prospectors, but the supposed treasure proved
elusive.
___ b. An earthquake in the late 1800s may have cut off access to Jacob Waltz's legendary gold mine.
___ c. Jacob Waltz was a German immigrant who settled near the Superstition Mountains near the end
of the 1860s.
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
46
Level 6.0 Stories
2. What may have changed the landmarks Jacob described?
___ a. a cache of gold
___ b. a prospector
___ c. an earthquake
3. What does cache mean in this story?
___ a. a secret supply
___ b. a long tunnel
___ c. a gold mine
4. Why have multiple quests for Jacob's gold ended in death?
___ a. The terrain in the mountains is dangerous.
___ b. Prospectors killed people to learn Jacob's secret.
___ c. There was an earthquake in the mountains in the late 1800s.
5. Why were the facts hard to separate from the myths about Jacob Waltz?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its definition.
impetus
accounts
myths
immense
cropped up
unusually large
legends or stories
descriptions
cause of action
appeared or happened
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
47
Level 6.0 Stories
7. Fill in the blanks with words from the list below.
Jacob Waltz, a German ______________, settled near the Superstition Mountains. Many
stories about Jacob say that he had ______________ to a large supply of gold. The legend of
Jacob's gold was the ______________ for many prospectors to search the Superstition
Mountains. But Jacob's supposed treasure proved ______________. Many pursuers of his
______________ of gold went home disappointed.
immigrant, access, impetus, elusive, cache, terrain, pursuers
8. Explain why the quest for the Lost Dutchman Mine was unsuccessful.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. Write three facts from the story that support this statement: Jacob had access to a huge supply of gold.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
48
Level 6.0 Stories
A Poet for Life
By her own account, Gwendolyn Brooks was not a talker. In her youth,
she preferred solitude to socializing. She rarely participated in the parties
her peers enjoyed, and when she did, she remained uncomfortable and
silent most of the time. Yet Gwendolyn had much to say. She just shared
her thoughts and ideas in verse rather than through speech.
Born in 1917, Gwendolyn grew up in a poor part of Chicago. Even as a
small child, she loved books and words. She started keeping notebooks of
her own writing when she was 11. A couple of years later, a children's
magazine printed one of her poems. As time passed, Gwendolyn continued
to spend hour upon hour of her leisure time with pen in hand. At 16, she
sought the opinions of and received encouragement from two well-known
black poets. Soon she had dozens of published poems to her credit.
So what did Gwendolyn write about? She composed poems about what she felt and what she saw. "If
you wanted a poem, you had only to look out of a window," she once wrote. Many of her poems revealed
the everyday experience of being a black person living on Chicago's South Side. They exposed human
struggles in the face of poverty or racial inequality. Gwendolyn had a talent for depicting the beauty of the
lives of ordinary people and capturing their dreams and troubles.
By 1950, many people had noticed Gwendolyn's writing, and that year she won the Pulitzer Prize for
her second book of poetry. She was the first black person to receive that award. More books followed—
and other honors did too. For example, she was appointed the poet laureate of Illinois, and several colleges
and universities offered her honorary degrees. Of all the accolades that came her way, though, her favorite
among them wasn't a well-established or prestigious prize. Instead, it was an event in the late 1960s at a
Chicago theater. Other black artists had gathered to read poetry, dance, and perform music in celebration
of Gwendolyn. She later said of this tribute, "I was given an award for just being me, and that's what
poetry is to me—just being me."
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. Gwendolyn Brooks became famous for writing about what she saw and felt growing up poor in
Chicago.
___ b. Gwendolyn Brooks was very quiet and preferred solitude to socializing throughout her life.
___ c. Gwendolyn Brooks received encouragement from famous black poets who helped her publish
dozens of poems.
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
49
Level 6.0 Stories
2. Why did Gwendolyn rarely participate in parties?
___ a. She grew up in a poor part of Chicago.
___ b. She did not have much to say.
___ c. She preferred solitude to socializing.
3. What does prestigious mean in this story?
___ a. respected
___ b. expensive
___ c. honest
4. What was Gwendolyn most proud of?
___ a. exposing human struggles
___ b. receiving the Pulitzer Prize
___ c. getting an award for being herself
5. What types of things did Gwendolyn Brooks write about?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its synonym.
appointed
participated
depicting
peers
account
report
joined
showing
equals
named
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
50
Level 6.0 Stories
7. Move the sentences into the correct order.
A children's magazine published one of her poems.
Gwendolyn won the Pulitzer Prize.
Gwendolyn got encouragement from two well-known poets.
Gwendolyn started keeping notebooks of her writing.
Gwendolyn was appointed the poet laureate of Illinois.
8. What did Gwendolyn mean when she said, "If you wanted a poem, you had only to look out the
window"?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. Write a summary statement for the following facts: Gwendolyn Brooks won the Pulitzer Prize for her
work; she was appointed the poet laureate of Illinois; she was offered honorary degrees by several
colleges.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
51
Level 6.0 Stories
The Sea Lamprey
Most fish live either in fresh water or in salt water and cannot
survive in both. Some species, though, can move between the two
environments. One of these species is the sea lamprey. This
primitive, cartilaginous fish is native to the coastal areas of the
Atlantic Ocean and resembles an eel. It spends part of its life in
shallow tributaries and the other part in the ocean.
The sea lamprey starts its life in fresh water. It emerges from its
egg as a small, eyeless, worm-like creature. For years, the larva
burrows in the sand and mud of a riverbed, feeding on algae and
detritus. Then its body changes significantly. Eyes and a suctioncup-like mouth filled with rings of small, sharp teeth develop. The sea lamprey's body also adjusts to
handle salt water. Through this metamorphosis, it becomes a hungry parasite. At that time, it enters the
ocean in search of fish to feed on.
When the sea lamprey finds a fish, it latches on tightly. It scrapes a hole through scales and skin and
begins draining the fish's body fluids. A substance in the sea lamprey's saliva keeps the host's blood from
clotting while the parasite eats. The sea lamprey hangs on for a few hours or many days—until it is
satisfied or the host dies. For a year or two, the sea lamprey nourishes itself in this way and may grow to
well over three feet in length.
When it is time to reproduce, the sea lamprey migrates back to a river to find a mate. If it is a female, it
lays tens of thousands of eggs in a shallow nest dug in the riverbed. Its mate fertilizes the eggs. Soon after
spawning, the sea lamprey dies.
The sea lamprey's anadromous nature allowed it to expand its range beyond the Atlantic and its
tributaries. By way of a man-made canal, the sea lamprey moved to and became established in the upper
Great Lakes. It adapted well and began spending the parasitic period of its life in these lakes and spawning
in the many connected rivers and streams. Though the sea lamprey had little trouble surviving and finding
hosts in its new environment, several fish indigenous to the Great Lakes had trouble with the sea lamprey.
It contributed to the extinction of a few fish species and to years of near extinction of others.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. The sea lamprey is a parasitic fish that can live in both salt water and fresh water.
___ b. The sea lamprey spends years burrowing in the sand and mud, feeding on algae and detritus.
___ c. The sea lamprey became established in the upper Great Lakes, causing some fish species to become
extinct.
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
52
Level 6.0 Stories
2. What does the sea lamprey eat in the ocean?
___ a. scales and skin of fish
___ b. body fluids of fish
___ c. algae and detritus
3. What does metamorphosis mean in this story?
___ a. a change
___ b. a journey
___ c. a type of algae
4. Where does the sea lamprey lay its eggs?
___ a. fresh water
___ b. salt water
___ c. fresh water or salt water
5. How did the sea lamprey contribute to several fish becoming extinct?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its definition.
resembles
algae
migrates
adapted
tributaries
changed to fit in
small rivers or streams
looks like
moves to a different place
plants that grow in water
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
53
Level 6.0 Stories
7. Move the sentences into the correct order.
The sea lamprey lives in fresh water and eats algae.
The sea lamprey becomes a hungry parasite.
The sea lamprey migrates back to a river to find a mate.
Soon after spawning, the sea lamprey dies.
The sea lamprey enters the ocean.
8. What changes during metamorphosis help the sea lamprey live in the ocean?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. Write a summary statement for these facts: The sea lamprey starts its life in fresh water. Later, it enters
the ocean in search of fish to feed on. It migrates back to a river when it is time to reproduce.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
54
Level 6.0 Stories
Surfing on the Snow
It is not unusual for kids to try new tricks while playing. Some
might try climbing up a steep slide or riding a bicycle no-handed.
Others might have the nerve to stand rather than sit on a sled. One
day in the 1960s, Sherman Poppen noticed one of his daughters
doing just that—sliding down a hill while standing sideways on her
sled. This sight caused him to imagine a sled specifically designed
to stand on—a surfboard for the snow.
Sherman nailed two child-sized skis together and let his kids try
it. His wife dubbed the new toy a Snurfer, combining the words
snow and surfer. Before long, neighborhood kids began requesting
their own Snurfers.
Sherman saw promise in the toy he had made and worked on adjusting the design. A rope fastened to
the nose of the Snurfer helped give the rider more control and kept it from flying down the hill after the
frequent falls that occurred. Sherman patented his invention and licensed it to a company that began
manufacturing Snurfers. The retail price for a Snurfer was around $15. Soon hundreds of thousands of
people had Snurfers. Several Snurfer contests even took place through the 1970s.
Snurfers didn't last in their original form. By 1980, they were no longer in production. Yet Snurfers
weren't just forgotten as a fad that had passed. They contributed to the development of a popular sport—
snowboarding!
Sherman Poppen didn't invent modern snowboarding. The credit for that actually goes to many people.
Numerous individuals experimented with various models of what would become snowboards around the
same time Sherman did and in the years that followed. The equipment for snowboarding and how people
used it changed quickly and considerably between the birth of the Snurfer and snowboarding's Olympic
debut in 1998. Afterward, snowboarding continued to evolve! In truth, Snurfers weren't even the first
contraptions people used to slide down hills while standing up. Still, they were the first commercially
marketed ones. Plus, a number of other snowboarding pioneers found their initial inspiration in Snurfing.
Sherman Poppen and his Snurfer certainly deserve a prominent place in snowboarding history.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. Snurfers contributed to the development of snowboarding.
___ b. Sherman Poppen created the Snurfer by nailing two child-sized skis together.
___ c. Hundreds of thousands of people purchased the Snurfer through the 1970s.
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
55
Level 6.0 Stories
2. Who invented modern snowboarding?
___ a. Sherman Poppen
___ b. many people
___ c. a toy manufacturer
3. What does dubbed mean in this story?
___ a. joined
___ b. named
___ c. scrubbed
4. Why did Sherman first make the Snurfer?
___ a. He wanted to make a surfboard for the snow.
___ b. He wanted to invent modern snowboarding.
___ c. He wanted to license it to a company.
5. How did Sherman Poppen prepare the Snurfer for production and sale?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its definition.
promise
requesting
debut
prominent
adjusting
important or well-known
hope or possibility
first public appearance
asking for
making a small fix or change
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
56
Level 6.0 Stories
7. Move the sentences into the correct order.
Snowboarding made its Olympic debut.
Sherman patented his invention and licensed it to a company.
The production of Snurfers stopped.
Sherman saw promise in the toy and adjusted its design.
Sherman nailed two child-sized skis together for his kids.
8. Why weren't Snurfers used in the 1998 Olympics?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. Write a summary statement for these facts: Sherman made a contraption for sliding down hills while
standing; many snowboarding pioneers found their initial inspiration in Snurfing; many people owned
Snurfers in the 1970s.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
57
Level 6.0 Stories
Tragedy at Mount Tambora
On the Indonesian island of Java, people heard a distant explosion. A
group of soldiers prepared for battle, thinking that the sound had been
cannon fire. In truth, the sound came from something even more
devastating: hundreds of miles away, Mount Tambora was erupting.
This volcanic eruption in 1815 was one of the most powerful in history.
It sent billions of pounds of rock and ash into the sky. Smoke billowed
from the volcano's peak as the dust reached a height of over 25 miles.
Huge streams of fire shot into the air, and red-hot lava rushed down the
mountain. Before the eruption, Mount Tambora stood nearly 14,000 feet
tall. But the explosion blew almost 5,000 feet off the top of the mountain.
A thick cloud of dust hung in the area for many days. With the help of the
wind, dust traveled to far-off places. Measurable amounts of ash settled on
distant islands, and fine particles lingered in the atmosphere for many months. The massive explosion also
triggered tsunamis that hit areas hundreds of miles away.
Not surprisingly, the eruption had a tragic effect on life near the volcano. At its base, thousands of
people died instantly when an avalanche of ash and sulfurous gas engulfed their community. Numerous
animals and plants also met a swift end. To make matters worse, those whom the eruption left unhurt soon
faced other dangers. The disaster had left little to eat and had created poor living conditions. Volcanic ash
had contaminated most of the nearby rivers and streams. People suffered extreme food shortages, and
many became ill. In the days and weeks following the eruption, tens of thousands of people died from
starvation, poisoning, and disease.
Mount Tambora has interested many scientists over the years. Some have used it to study eruptions and
the effects eruptions have. Others have kept a close watch on Mount Tambora, hoping that they can warn
nearby residents if another big eruption is ever imminent. More recently, some scientists began excavating
an area at the mountain's base. Because volcanic ash covered the area so quickly, it preserved many
artifacts, structures, and people exactly as they had been in 1815. Digging up the ruins has helped
scientists learn about this lost community.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. Survivors of the Mount Tambora eruption faced many dangers, including starvation and disease.
___ b. The eruption of Mount Tambora was one of the most powerful and devastating volcanic eruptions
in history.
___ c. Mount Tambora has interested many scientists over the years.
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
58
Level 6.0 Stories
2. Why did soldiers on the island of Java prepare for battle?
___ a. They thought they heard cannon fire.
___ b. They knew Mount Tambora had erupted.
___ c. Thousands of people were dying at the base of the volcano.
3. What does imminent mean in this story?
___ a. experienced
___ b. even bigger
___ c. about to happen
4. Distant islands were mainly affected by which of the following?
___ a. tsunamis
___ b. red-hot lava
___ c. billions of pounds of rock
5. What were the effects on life near the volcano after its eruption?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its definition.
engulfed
lingered
artifacts
excavating
triggered
digging out
objects from the past
stayed around
started or set off
surrounded
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
59
Level 6.0 Stories
7. Move the sentences into the correct order.
Scientists began to study Mount Tambora.
Smoke billowed from the volcano's peak.
Lava rushed down the mountain.
Thousands died instantly.
Scientists dug up ruins to learn about the lost community.
8. Why did many people become ill after the eruption?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. Write three facts from the story that support this statement: Mount Tambora has interested many
scientists over the years.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
60
Level 6.0 Stories
Watch Your Step!
Looking at a stonefish, it's easy to see that it has an appropriate
name. The resemblance is clear. Bumps cover the often brown or
green skin of the stonefish, and its body is somewhat round and
normally about a foot long. In fact, it can be hard to distinguish a
stonefish from rocks or coral when seeing it in the shallow reefs it
often inhabits. It even stays completely still for long periods of
time, increasing the effectiveness of its camouflage.
The stonefish's ability to hide itself so well helps it both
offensively and defensively. Though it doesn't swim well enough to
escape sharks and chase down small fish, it is so well disguised that
predators and prey alike miss its presence. Predators that don't notice the stonefish aren't likely to hurt it,
and prey unknowingly approach as it waits motionless. When a small fish or shrimp gets close enough, the
stonefish acts quickly. It opens its mouth and sucks down its meal in a fraction of a second.
The stonefish isn't only a threat to the creatures it eats. It can also harm its predators—and human
beings. A fish that looks and often acts like a rock may not sound very menacing. Yet the stonefish is one
of the most venomous fish in the world. Appearing to be a harmless rock just makes it all the more
dangerous. Those who fail to see the stonefish can easily end up victims.
A stonefish has 13 dorsal spines, each equipped with 2 venom glands. Any pressure around or on those
sharp spines forces venom out—and generally into whatever they pierce. In people, the venom causes
swelling and excruciating pain. The area around the puncture wounds often turns blue. The victim may
experience short-term paralysis, have trouble breathing, or go into shock. The stonefish's venom can even
kill a person.
The purpose of the stonefish's venomous spines is purely to protect it. The stonefish will not attack
when creatures it cannot eat come near. It might not move much even when touched. Still that's no
consolation when someone accidently puts a bare foot on one. Thus, those enjoying the coastal beaches
and waters of the Indo-Pacific region are wise to heed the warning, "Watch your step!"
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. To people, a stonefish's venom can cause excruciating pain.
___ b. Prey unknowingly approach the stonefish as it waits motionless.
___ c. The stonefish is well camouflaged and highly venomous.
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
61
Level 6.0 Stories
2. How many venom glands does each dorsal spine have?
___ a. 2
___ b. 13
___ c. 26
3. What does the word distinguish mean in this story?
___ a. to tell one thing apart from another
___ b. to chase and catch
___ c. to look like something else
4. How does a stonefish capture its prey?
___ a. It chases it down.
___ b. It sucks it down.
___ c. It forces venom into it.
5. Describe the effects of a stonefish's venom on a person.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its synonym.
consolation
pierce
menacing
fraction
resemblance
part
similarity
stab
comfort
threatening
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
62
Level 6.0 Stories
7. Fill in the blanks with words from the list below.
A stonefish can be hard to ______________ from rocks or coral. The stonefish is a
______________ to predators and human beings. The stonefish is one of the most
______________ fish in the world. In people, the venom causes swelling and
______________ pain. The victim may experience short-term ______________.
paralysis, threat, venomous, distinguish, excruciating, equipped, inhabits
8. Explain why the stonefish is a threat to humans.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. Write three facts from the story that support this statement: A stonefish's camouflage is very effective.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
63
Level 6.0 Stories
Writing Out Slavery
Late in 1862, during the U.S. Civil War, Abraham Lincoln welcomed
Harriet Beecher Stowe to the White House. He reportedly greeted her by
saying, "So you're the little woman who wrote the book that made this
great war!" The book this quote refers to is Uncle Tom's Cabin. In the
years before the war began, this book had persuaded many people to join
the fight against slavery.
Long before the publication of Uncle Tom's Cabin, the issue of slavery
had divided the U.S. Many people in the South thought slaves were
necessary for the economy. Many in the North felt that slavery was unjust.
In 1850, a new law intensified the debate. This law required U.S. officials
to help capture runaway slaves, and it prescribed punishments for any
citizens who helped runaway slaves. Harriet had seen examples and heard
many accounts of the horrors of slavery. She wanted the government to free slaves, not to capture them.
Yet as a woman, Harriet didn't even get a vote. What could she do to help put an end to slavery?
Harriet's sister-in-law had a suggestion. In a letter to Harriet, she wrote, "If I could use a pen as you
can, I would write something that would make this whole nation feel what an accursed thing slavery is."
Harriet accepted the challenge and soon began writing what she thought would be a short series of stories
for a newspaper. Over about a year, though, she completed dozens of installments that more and more
people read and talked about. In 1852, she published this work in book form as Uncle Tom's Cabin.
Thousands of copies of Uncle Tom's Cabin sold almost instantly—and caused plenty of controversy.
The story of fictionalized slaves laboring long hours, suffering abuse, and being sold away from their
families helped many people identify with real slaves and understand their misery. Resolve to stop this
suffering grew among these readers. Other people had a different reaction to the book, though. These
people stated that it painted an inaccurate picture of slave life. Harriet got angry letters, and books with a
contradictory view soon appeared.
In 1861, the Civil War began. Four years later, this war—and slavery—officially came to an end.
Several factors led to these events, but many people credited Harriet's book with galvanizing the
abolitionist cause.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. A new law in 1850 required U.S. officials to help capture runaway slaves.
___ b. Harriet Beecher Stowe met Abraham Lincoln in the White House in 1862.
___ c. Harriet Beecher Stowe's book Uncle Tom's Cabin persuaded many people to join the fight against
slavery.
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
64
Level 6.0 Stories
2. Who challenged Harriet to write a book about slavery?
___ a. her sister-in-law
___ b. Abraham Lincoln
___ c. her uncle Tom
3. What does resolve mean in this story?
___ a. firmness of purpose
___ b. confusion or uncertainty
___ c. pain and suffering
4. Why did Lincoln say Harriet's book "made this great war"?
___ a. It sold thousands of copies instantly.
___ b. It persuaded people to fight slavery.
___ c. It contained dozens of installments.
5. How did Harriet's book galvanize the abolitionist cause?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its definition.
persuaded
intensified
accepted
accursed
galvanizing
awful or hateful
bringing to action
talked into doing something
agreed to something
made more extreme
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
65
Level 6.0 Stories
7. Move the sentences into the correct order.
The Civil War began.
A new law intensified the debate over slavery.
Abraham Lincoln welcomed Harriet to the White House.
Slavery officially came to an end.
Harriet published Uncle Tom's Cabin.
8. How did the new law in 1850 intensify the debate over slavery?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. Write three facts from the story that support this statement: Even before the publication of Uncle Tom's
Cabin, the issue of slavery had divided the United States.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
66
Level 6.0 Stories
The Year Without a Summer
On a cool September morning, a New England farmer sadly
surveyed his fields. Most Septembers brought the activity and
satisfaction of a plentiful harvest. This year, however, most of his
crops were ruined. It was 1816—the year without a summer.
The New England weather that year didn't cause alarm right
away. The last weeks of winter were normal enough, and few
people worried when spring began a bit cool and dry. Many farmers
started planting a little later than most years, but they got seeds in
the ground.
Then in May, a number of cold snaps left the ground in many places covered with frost. In early June,
snow and cold temperatures killed countless sprouts. Farmers rushed to replant their fields, hoping they
could salvage enough of a harvest to avoid disaster. Yet the strange weather continued with a cold front in
July. As far south as Pennsylvania, people reported ice forming in lakes, rivers, and wells. More cold
weather in August crushed any remaining hopes of a successful year. In September, farmers harvested
only a fraction of their expected yield. Prices of wheat, corn, and other important items shot up, and the
threat of famine loomed.
Thankfully, most New England families survived despite the poor harvest. Yet many people in other
places were not so lucky. Crop failures contributed to famine in Europe. In Ireland and Switzerland,
starvation claimed thousands of lives. Food riots occurred in France and Britain. Weakened populations in
these parts of the world soon fell victim to disease. People all over felt concerned and confused.
What happened to the climate that summer? Eventually, scientists concluded that volcanoes were the
biggest reason for the low temperatures. Powerful eruptions during the preceding years, especially the
record-breaking eruption of Mount Tambora in 1815, sent millions of tons of gas and dust high into the
stratosphere. Winds scattered these dust clouds around Earth, creating a screen of dust that decreased the
amount of sunlight that could reach Earth. As a result, temperatures fell in many parts of the world.
Unaware of this explanation, farmers in 1816 worried. Would New England's weather return to
normal? The answer was yes; more normal temperatures returned the following year. Many New England
farmers had not stayed long enough to find out, though. Instead, many had moved west hoping to find a
more stable climate.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. Unusually cold weather caused hard times in many places.
___ b. Many farmers left New England after their crops failed.
___ c. In 1816, crop prices shot up and famine loomed.
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
67
Level 6.0 Stories
2. Where did food riots occur?
___ a. Ireland and Switzerland
___ b. France and Britain
___ c. New England
3. What does yield mean in this story?
___ a. amount produced
___ b. cost of something
___ c. a certain kind of plant
4. Why did many people get sick in Europe?
___ a. They were sick from lack of sunlight.
___ b. They were weak from lack of food.
___ c. They were sick from the gas from volcanic eruptions.
5. What caused the falling temperatures in 1816?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its antonym.
plentiful
salvage
preceding
survey
stable
destroy
unpredictable
next
ignore
scarce
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
68
Level 6.0 Stories
7. Move the sentences into the correct order.
Prices of wheat and corn shot up.
Farmers rushed to replant their fields.
New England's weather returned to normal.
Cold temperatures killed many sprouts.
Spring was a bit cool and dry.
8. How did volcanic eruptions lead to a famine in Europe?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. Write three facts from the story that support this statement: Many countries in Europe experienced
famine in 1816.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
69
Level 6.0 Stories
The Z‐Boys
The popularity of skateboarding plummeted in the late 1960s. Yet some
kids still wanted to skate. Among them was a group of kids from a rundown, rough part of California. Commercial skateboards were scarce then,
so a number of them built their own skateboards. When skateboarding
made a comeback in the mid-1970s, these kids, who came to be known as
the Z-Boys, helped shape its future.
The Z-Boys loved surfing, but conditions didn't always allow them to
surf. Skateboarding was a great substitute, and they copied on skateboards
the styles of the surfers that they admired. Riding together day after day,
they pushed each other to try and master new moves.
External factors in the early 1970s contributed to the Z-Boys' skating
development too. One was the introduction of better wheels. New,
improved commercial skateboards then became available and helped revive skateboarding. Plus, a severe
drought in California left many swimming pools empty. Perhaps these dry cement holes seemed useless to
many, but not to the Z-Boys. They saw an opportunity to skate on new terrain. Soon they began hunting
for and skating in empty pools—and trying not to get caught.
The greater skateboarding community first saw the Z-Boys in 1975. Skateboarding had rebounded
enough that a national contest took place that year in Del Mar. From the moment the Z-Boys arrived with
their long hair, ripped jeans, and blue team T-shirts, they drew attention. During the competition, other
entrants rode mostly upright in neat circles, doing handstands and other tricks that had been popular in the
1950s and early 1960s. The Z-Boys, though, rode fast, low, and with an aggressive style. Their
performances were so different from what most people had seen before that at first the judges weren't sure
how to score them. In the end, half of the competition's finalists were Z-Boys, and the group's only female
won the girls' division.
The Z-Boys didn't start skating to alter the nature of skateboarding, to win competitions, or to make
money. They didn't set out to please other people, either. Indeed, not everyone liked their attitudes or how
they skated. They sometimes caused controversy or got into trouble. Still, the Z-Boys loved to skate and
spent a lot of time doing it. Consequently, they were able to push the sport of skateboarding into a new
era.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. The Z-Boys helped revive skateboarding and pushed the sport into a new era.
___ b. The Z-Boys were introduced to the greater skateboarding community at a competition in Del Mar.
___ c. The Z-Boys were from a run-down, rough part of California, and they made their own skateboards.
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
70
Level 6.0 Stories
2. When did skateboarding make its comeback?
___ a. 1950s
___ b. 1960s
___ c. 1970s
3. What does terrain mean in this story?
___ a. the ground, or surface of an area of land
___ b. a type of skateboarding equipment
___ c. property that belongs to someone else
4. How did the Z-Boys help shape the future of skateboarding?
___ a. They brought a new style to skateboarding.
___ b. They built their own skateboards.
___ c. They worked hard to please people.
5. List the external factors in the early 1970s that contributed to the Z-Boys' skating development.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its definition.
alter
controversy
rebounded
aggressive
revive
bold and energetic
recovered
a debate
to bring back
to change
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
71
Level 6.0 Stories
7. Fill in the blanks with words from the list below.
In the late 1960s, the popularity of skateboarding ______________ . Skateboards were
______________ then, so kids who still wanted to skate, like the Z-Boys, made their own. By
the mid-1970s, skateboarding had ______________ enough to hold a national competition.
The Z-Boys entered and showed off the skills they had worked hard to ______________.
Their ______________ pushed the sport of skateboarding into a new era.
plummeted, scarce, rebounded, master, performances, consequently, commercial
8. Why didn't everyone like the Z-Boys' attitudes or how they skated?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. Write three facts from the story that support this statement: The Z-Boys were able to push
skateboarding into a new era.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Copyright © 2012 Read Naturally, Inc.
Read Naturally Live
72
Level 6.0 Stories