Emperor Norton
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be royalty? Maybe
you don't have to wonder. Maybe you could just declare yourself royalty. It
worked for Joshua Norton.
Joshua Norton lived in San Francisco in the 1800s. He was a regular
person. One day Joshua declared that he was the Emperor of the United
States of America. A San Francisco newspaper printed the story. Everyone
knew he wasn't really the emperor, but many people played along.
Restaurants around the city allowed him to eat for free. He didn't have to
pay to ride on streetcars. He even had a special seat when visiting the state
legislature!
Emperor Norton set out to make the world a better place—at least as he
saw it. If he wanted something done, he ordered it done. If he wanted
something changed, he ordered it changed. For example, he ordered the streets cleaned, and he printed his
own money. The newspapers printed his laws and other declarations because people loved to read about
them. Emperor Norton spent a lot of time with the people of San Francisco, and he went to many public
events.
In 1880, Emperor Norton died. Thousands of people went to his funeral.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. Norton made the world a better place.
___ b. Norton was a regular man who declared himself emperor.
___ c. Norton made laws and printed his own money.
2. Why did newspapers print stories about Joshua Norton?
___ a. People loved to read about Emperor Norton.
___ b. Emperor Norton ordered the newspapers to write about him.
___ c. Norton paid the newspapers to write the stories.
3. What does the word wondered mean in this story?
___ a. gave an answer to a question
___ b. thought about or imagined
___ c. walked without knowing the way
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4. How do you know people liked Emperor Norton?
___ a. Thousands of people went to his funeral.
___ b. He lived in San Francisco in the 1800s.
___ c. He ordered the streets to be cleaned.
5. What good things happened to Joshua Norton after he declared himself emperor?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its definition.
declarations
played along
regular
streetcars
announcements
pretended
vehicles that carry people
ordinary or normal
7. Fill in the blanks with words from the list below.
Joshua Norton decided to ______________ himself emperor. A newspaper ______________
a story about Joshua. People ______________ with him. They let him act like
______________. He didn't even have to pay to ride the ______________!
declare, printed, played along, royalty, streetcars, declaration, regular
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The First Cellphone
Martin Cooper stood on a busy city street holding a strange object. He
was about to do something that would go down in history: make one of the
first calls on a cellphone.
It was 1973 and Martin worked for a telephone company. His company
had finally made a wireless phone that could make a call from almost
anywhere. Now Martin was ready to try it out. Who did Martin call? He
called his rival at another telephone company!
It took more than ten years before cellphones were sold in stores.
Released in 1984, the DynaTAC 8000X became known as the world's first
cellphone. But you might not recognize it. It would never have fit in your
pocket. At nearly a foot long and almost two pounds, it was so bulky that
people called it "the brick." And at just under $4,000, it was too expensive
for most people.
The cellphone soon underwent many changes. As Martin had predicted, it got smaller, lighter, cheaper,
and much more widely used. After many years, it was able to do things Martin had never imagined. It took
pictures. It connected to the Internet. It sent text messages. Eventually, the cellphone became an essential
part of many people's daily lives.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. The first cellphone weighed nearly two pounds.
___ b. The cellphone has changed in many ways since it was used to make a call years ago.
___ c. The cellphone is an important part of many people's lives.
2. What did Martin predict that cellphones would do?
___ a. take pictures
___ b. get smaller and lighter
___ c. connect to the Internet
3. What does the word essential mean in this story?
___ a. important or necessary
___ b. not connected by wires
___ c. less expensive
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4. How was the DynaTAC 8000X like cellphones that came later?
___ a. It was light.
___ b. It fit in a pocket.
___ c. It was wireless.
5. Why might Martin have chosen to call his rival on the new phone?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its definition.
eventually
expensive
underwent
released
sold for the first time
after a long time
went through
costing a lot
7. Move the sentences into the correct order.
Martin took the phone onto a busy street.
Cellphones could connect to the Internet.
Martin called his rival.
Cellphones were available in stores.
Martin's company made a working cellphone.
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Level 3.5 Stories
The Great Molasses Flood
On an ordinary day in January 1919, Frank McManus heard
some very strange sounds. He turned to see something incredible
and frightening. A giant wave of molasses was roaring toward him,
swallowing everything in its path. "There's a wave of molasses
coming down Commercial Street!" McManus shouted.
What led to this strange situation? For three years, a giant tank
of molasses towered over a crowded part of Boston. Sticky brown
molasses leaked almost all the time, leaving pools on the ground.
The man who took care of the tank thought it might not be safe.
He was right. On that January day, the tank burst. It emptied over two million gallons of thick molasses
into the Boston streets. One man living near the tank woke up to find himself drowning in the gooey river.
Luckily, he spotted his bed floating nearby. He pulled himself onto the makeshift raft. Rescue workers
acted quickly. Still, 21 people lost their lives, and many others were hurt. Some buildings were destroyed.
Sticky molasses was everywhere.
As the molasses hardened, workers found it almost impossible to clean up. They spent weeks trying to
break it up and wash it away. Some people say they can still smell molasses in that part of Boston.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. A tank of molasses burst, killing people and destroying buildings.
___ b. Workers spent weeks trying to break up molasses and wash it away.
___ c. A giant tank of molasses towered over a part of Boston for three years.
2. Who thought the tank might not be safe?
___ a. the man who took care of it
___ b. rescue workers
___ c. Frank McManus
3. What does the word roaring mean in this story?
___ a. moving fast
___ b. yelling loudly
___ c. laughing wildly
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4. What made the sounds that Frank McManus heard?
___ a. the tank bursting
___ b. the tank leaking
___ c. workers cleaning
5. What damage did the molasses flood cause?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its synonym.
tank
ordinary
incredible
burst
exploded
amazing
container
normal
7. Move the sentences into the correct order.
Buildings were destroyed.
The flowing molasses became hard.
Workers spent a lot of time breaking up molasses.
A tank of molasses stood over a part of Boston.
A wave of molasses moved down Boston streets.
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Harry Houdini
When Harry Houdini was a boy, he was a very hard worker. His
family did not have much money, so Houdini did all kinds of jobs.
He shined shoes and sold newspapers to earn money. But when he
was 9 years old, Houdini got a job that was far more interesting. He
joined the circus.
First Houdini worked as an acrobat, and then he learned to do
magic tricks. He also taught himself to escape from handcuffs and
other restraints. He starred in several different circuses and shows.
When Houdini traveled with a circus, he challenged the town's
police to lock him up with their handcuffs. Then he escaped without
using a key. He became very famous for his handcuff escape acts.
But Houdini was not done. He worked hard to escape from situations that seemed impossible. He
untied himself while hanging upside down, dangling high above the ground. He escaped from a locked
prison cell. He had himself bound in locks and chains and thrown into a river. He made his escape under
water. Then he came up to the surface again. People came from miles away to watch Houdini do these
tricks. No matter how he was trapped, it seemed Houdini could always free himself.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. Houdini was great at escaping from situations that seemed impossible.
___ b. Houdini was a very hard worker when he was a little boy.
___ c. Houdini learned how to do magic tricks when he worked as an acrobat.
2. Why did Houdini work when he was a child?
___ a. He wanted to join the circus.
___ b. His family needed money.
___ c. He wanted an interesting job.
3. What does the word shined mean in this story?
___ a. sparkled brightly
___ b. glowed in the dark
___ c. polished something
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4. What was one thing that made Houdini a great escape artist?
___ a. He could pick many kinds of locks quickly.
___ b. He could swim to the surface of a river.
___ c. People came from miles away to watch him.
5. Why might Houdini make his escape while under water?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its definition.
escape
challenged
dangling
starred
asked to join a contest
hanging loosely
get away
had the main part in a show
7. Move the sentences into the correct order.
Harry escaped under water and swam to the surface.
Harry was bound and thrown in a river.
Harry shined shoes and sold newspapers.
Harry was an acrobat in the circus.
Harry taught himself to escape from restraints.
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Helen Keller
Imagine what it would be like to become blind and deaf. You would not
be able to see your parents, the birds, or the trees. You would not hear the
sound of your own voice or the conversations of people around you. You
would feel very alone.
Helen Keller did not have to imagine becoming blind and deaf. When
Helen was 19 months old, an illness made her unable to see and hear. Her
world became dark and silent. She struggled to communicate with her
family.
Then, when Helen was 6 years old, a teacher named Anne Sullivan
came. Anne taught little Helen about the world around her. She taught
Helen the meanings of words and how to spell out words using fingers in
the palm of a hand. Suddenly, the world seemed different to Helen. She
realized that she could tell people her ideas and understand theirs.
Helen wanted to learn as much as she could. She attended a special school for deaf people. She even
went to college. She learned subjects that were difficult for people who could see and hear. People all over
the world admired Helen. She became famous for her courage.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. Helen learned to spell out words using fingers in the palm of a hand.
___ b. Helen learned about the world even though she was blind and deaf.
___ c. Helen learned subjects that were hard for other people.
2. What did Anne Sullivan teach Helen Keller?
___ a. She taught Helen about words.
___ b. She taught Helen to have courage.
___ c. She taught Helen how to hear.
3. What does the word subjects mean in this story?
___ a. people ruled by others
___ b. parts of a sentence
___ c. things you study
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4. What was Helen Keller like before she met Anne Sullivan?
___ a. She struggled to share ideas.
___ b. She could spell words in the palm of a hand.
___ c. She wanted to study and go to college.
5. Why did Helen Keller become famous?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its synonym.
admired
realized
conversations
courage
talks
understood
bravery
respected
7. Move the sentences into the correct order.
Helen met Anne Sullivan.
Helen attended a special school.
Helen learned to communicate.
Helen became blind and deaf.
Helen got an illness.
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Is There a Bigfoot?
Many people say they have seen Bigfoot, a cross between an ape
-like animal and a human. Some report its loud cry. Others report
its strong smell. Some people say Bigfoot is playful, but others say
Bigfoot can be mean when bothered. There is no Bigfoot in a zoo.
But some people claim that giant footprints in the mountains are
evidence the creature exists. Still, no one has absolute proof it
exists. All we know for sure is that people tell stories about Bigfoot.
One story is about a man who was hiking in the mountains in
Canada. On his hike, he saw a huge creature. The creature walked
on two legs like a human, but it was covered in dark brown hair like
a bear. The man hid in the bushes, fascinated. He watched as the creature stripped leaves off branches with
its teeth. As it walked away, it made a high-pitched whinny.
The man wondered what he had seen. He felt certain it was not a bear. Was it a person dressed in
costume for a movie? The man looked for evidence of a film being made, but he found nothing. Plus, the
creature had seemed too much like a wild animal. Had he seen Bigfoot?
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. Many people say they have seen Bigfoot, but there is no absolute proof the creature exists.
___ b. Hiking in the mountains is a good way to find out whether or not Bigfoot is real.
___ c. Some people say Bigfoot is playful, but others say Bigfoot can be mean when bothered.
2. What do we know for sure about Bigfoot?
___ a. People tell stories about Bigfoot.
___ b. Bigfoot leaves footprints
___ c. Bigfoot is playful.
3. What does the word cross mean in this story?
___ a. an X
___ b. crabby
___ c. a mixture
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4. Why isn't there a Bigfoot in any zoo?
___ a. Bigfoot can only live in the mountains.
___ b. Bigfoot may not be a real animal.
___ c. Bigfoot is too scary to catch.
5. Why did the man look for evidence of a film being made?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its synonym.
film
stripped
absolute
bothered
certain
movie
removed
disturbed
7. Fill in the blanks with words from the list below.
People say Bigfoot is a ______________ between an ape-like animal and a human. They say
that this strange ______________ is covered with hair and walks on two legs. They say it can
be mean when ______________. Does Bigfoot really ______________? No one has
______________ proof that it does.
bothered, creature, cross, exist, absolute, evidence, fascinated
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Jim Thorpe
Jim Thorpe was an American Indian and a great athlete. In 1912, he
competed in the Olympics in Sweden. He entered the pentathlon, which
meant he had to excel at five different events. He won easily. Then he
entered the decathlon, which is made up of ten different events. He took
first place again. The king of Sweden called him the greatest athlete in the
world. Jim was happy to come home with his gold medals.
He never thought he would have to give them back. But someone found
out that when Jim was younger, he had played baseball for a little money.
Athletes in the Olympics were not supposed to have taken any money for
sports. Jim's medals were taken away from him. Many people were angry.
They did not think it was right to take Jim's medals away. But no one could
take away the fact that he had won. Many years later, after Jim had died,
the Olympic committee agreed to restore his world title and his medals. Now he is remembered as an
amazing athlete and a true Olympic medalist.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. Jim competed in an Olympic decathlon.
___ b. Jim was a great athlete who won gold medals.
___ c. Jim was not supposed to play baseball for money.
2. Which contest had ten different events?
___ a. Olympics
___ b. pentathlon
___ c. decathlon
3. What does the word entered mean in this story?
___ a. walked into a place
___ b. signed up for
___ c. won very easily
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4. Why were Jim Thorpe's medals taken away?
___ a. He broke a rule.
___ b. People were angry.
___ c. He didn't win the events.
5. Why would it be difficult to win a decathlon?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its definition.
supposed to
restore
pentathlon
decathlon
expected to
put back
sports contest with 10 events
sports contest with 5 events
7. Move the sentences into the correct order.
Jim won the decathlon.
Jim played baseball for money.
Jim's medals were taken away from him.
Jim competed in the Olympics.
Jim's title was restored.
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Nettle Eating At a festival in England, a man sits at a table. His tongue is black.
Green drool hangs from his mouth. Is the man sick? No! He is trying to
win the World Stinging Nettle Eating Challenge!
In this challenge, contestants eat the leaves of stinging nettle plants. The
winner is the person who can eat the most leaves in one hour. But
contestants need more than just a big appetite to win. They must also be
ready to face pain. Nettle leaves are covered in tiny, sharp spines that can
pierce skin and leave burning chemicals behind.
To reduce pain, contestants fold the leaves into squares and place them
in the backs of their mouths. They chew carefully, trying to keep their
tongues from touching the sharp spines. But eventually the chemicals
spread. The contestants' tongues turn black, and their saliva turns green!
Some drooling is allowed, but a contestant who vomits may be disqualified.
How did this strange competition begin? In 1986, two farmers were arguing over who had grown the
tallest nettle plants. One farmer put out a challenge. If anyone presented a nettle plant taller than his own,
he would eat it. The farmer lost his bet. Over time, this challenge evolved into a yearly tradition.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. People compete in a contest to see who can eat the most stinging nettle plants.
___ b. In 1986, two farmers argued over who had grown the tallest nettle plants.
___ c. Eating nettle plants turns people's tongues black and their saliva green.
2. Who might be disqualified from the nettle eating challenge?
___ a. a contestant who vomits
___ b. a contestant who drools
___ c. a contestant with green saliva
3. What does the word tradition mean in this story?
___ a. a custom from the past
___ b. a thing that is hard to do
___ c. an argument or bet
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4. What did the farmer have to do when he lost his bet?
___ a. eat a nettle plant
___ b. enter the World Stinging Nettle Eating Challenge
___ c. grow a taller nettle plant
5. Why is eating nettle plants challenging?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its definition.
challenge
appetite
reduce
disqualified
a contest
to make less
not allowed to take part
the feeling of wanting food
7. Fill in the blanks with words from the list below.
In the World Stinging Nettle Eating Challenge, ______________ compete to see who can eat
the most stinging nettle plants. Eating nettle plants is painful because they are covered in tiny
______________. The nettle plants can ______________ the skin and leave behind burning
chemicals. The ______________ of eating nettle plants began in 1986. The yearly contest
______________ from a bet between two farmers.
contestants, spines, pierce, tradition, evolved, drool, reduce
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New Year's Foods
It's New Year's Eve, and the clock strikes midnight. All over
Spain, people begin eating grapes. Each person eats one grape
every time the bell rings. Tradition says that the person's luck in the
coming year is tied to the sweetness of the grapes.
Many people in the southern United States eat "Hopping John"
on New Year's Day. This meal is made of black-eyed peas and rice.
It is often served with vegetable leaves called greens. These leaves
look a bit like paper money. People eat this meal in the hopes that
the New Year will bring prosperity.
In many parts of the world, fish is a popular New Year's meal. Fish often swim in huge groups, so they
symbolize abundance. By eating these fish, people hope to have their own abundance in the New Year. In
Germany, some people save a few fish scales. They even put them in their wallets!
All over the world, people eat different foods for the New Year. Many of these traditions date back to
ancient times. The foods may be different from place to place, but one thing is the same. People hope the
New Year brings them good fortune and prosperity.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. People eat certain foods hoping that they will have good fortune in the New Year.
___ b. "Hopping John" is often served with green vegetable leaves that look like money.
___ c. People in Spain eat grapes when the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve.
2. Which food symbolizes abundance?
___ a. fish
___ b. grapes
___ c. black-eyed peas
3. What does the word greens mean in this story?
___ a. leafy vegetables
___ b. grassy areas
___ c. paper money
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4. In Spain, how many grapes do people eat at midnight on New Year's Eve?
___ a. 6
___ b. 8
___ c. 12
5. Why do some people put fish scales in their wallets?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its definition.
fortune
ancient
wallets
tradition
small cases for carrying money
from long ago
the way things end up in life
old way of doing something
7. Fill in the blanks with words from the list below.
Each place has its own ______________ for New Year's meals. People in Spain eat grapes at
______________. In many parts of the world, fish ______________ abundance. People in
Germany sometimes keep fish ______________ in their wallets. Some New Year's meals date
back to ______________ times.
tradition, midnight, symbolize, scales, ancient, prosperity, fortune
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Prickly Personality
Some people say the saguaro is a plant with a personality. This
cactus has arm-like branches that seem to be making a friendly
greeting. But nothing could be further from the truth. If the saguaro
could talk, it would probably say, "Go away!"
Why is the saguaro so unwelcoming? Water is rare in the desert.
The saguaro must hold on to every drop it can get. Visitors are
likely competitors for this precious resource. So, the saguaro is a
loner. It rarely grows within 30 feet of another saguaro. To take in
enough water to live, the saguaro has roots that cover a large area.
Two saguaros that live close together become competitors. It may
be hard for both of them to get enough water.
Using its roots, the saguaro brings water into its huge stem. Here the cactus can store hundreds of
gallons of water. Many desert animals would steal this treasure if they could. To keep these thieves away,
the saguaro's skin is covered in sharp spines.
In order to survive, the saguaro needs a prickly personality. An especially successful saguaro may live
to the age of 200. A cactus this old may be taller than a five-story building!
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. The saguaro is unwelcoming so that it can survive in the desert.
___ b. The saguaro's skin is covered in sharp spines.
___ c. The saguaro can store hundreds of gallons of water.
2. Where does the saguaro store water?
___ a. in its stem
___ b. in its roots
___ c. in its spines
3. What does the word precious mean in this story?
___ a. important or worth a lot
___ b. loved or adored
___ c. common or easy to find
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4. Why does the saguaro need to store so many gallons of water?
___ a. because water is rare in the desert
___ b. because its roots cover such a large area
___ c. because it grows so tall
5. Explain why some people say the saguaro is a plant with a personality.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its antonym.
rare
unwelcoming
successful
survive
failing
die
common
friendly
7. Fill in the blanks with words from the list below.
Water is a precious ______________ in the desert. So, the saguaro cactus needs an
______________ personality. This cactus is a ______________ and rarely lives close to other
saguaros. Its sharp spines keep ______________ away. A successful saguaro may
______________ for 200 years.
unwelcoming, resource, loner, competitors, survive, desert, spines
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The Spruce Goose
One of the largest airplanes ever built flew only one time. Many
people know this airplane as the Spruce Goose.
Howard Hughes and his staff built this airplane in the 1940s.
They built it to carry soldiers and supplies to Europe during World
War II. Because of the war, they had to avoid using materials
needed for other war purposes. So, they made the airplane almost
entirely out of wood. However, they did not actually use much
spruce. Spruce is a soft wood. Most of the Spruce Goose is made of
birch wood. Birch is a harder, stronger wood.
When it was finished, the Spruce Goose had a wingspan of almost 320 feet. It weighed about 300,000
pounds. It was made to carry over 100,000 pounds. Eight engines hung on the wings. It had cost many
millions of dollars to build. But the war ended before it could carry out its purpose.
Still, Howard Hughes did fly the Spruce Goose on November 2, 1947. It flew only about 70 feet above
the water. It was in the air for around one minute and went about a mile. Then it landed, never to fly again.
Hughes kept the Spruce Goose in flight condition until he died in 1976.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. The Spruce Goose was in flight condition until 1976.
___ b. The Spruce Goose was huge and flew only once.
___ c. Howard Hughes flew the Spruce Goose in 1947.
2. Why was the Spruce Goose built?
___ a. to carry soldiers and supplies
___ b. to make the largest airplane
___ c. to see if a wooden plane would fly
3. What does the word wingspan mean in this story?
___ a. the speed of the airplane
___ b. the weight of the airplane
___ c. the distance across the wings
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4. Why was the Spruce Goose made of wood?
___ a. because wood was easier to keep in flight condition
___ b. so that eight engines could hang from its wings
___ c. to avoid using materials needed for the war
5. How was the Spruce Goose different from most airplanes that fly now?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its definition.
avoid
entirely
staff
carry out
stay away from
make something happen
completely
group of people doing a job
7. Fill in the blanks with words from the list below.
The Spruce Goose was built to carry ______________ during wartime. The ______________
avoided using materials needed for war. They built the airplane almost ______________ out
of wood. The airplane's ______________ was almost 320 feet. It cost a lot to build, but it
never did ______________ its purpose.
supplies, entirely, staff, wingspan, carry out, materials, avoid
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Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder always had a great talent for making music.
When he was only 2 years old, he liked to make rhythms by
banging spoons on the table. Stevie taught himself to play the
drums, piano, and harmonica, all before he was 10. He had a great
singing voice too. When Stevie sang and played music in front of
his house, people from the neighborhood would stop and join in.
Stevie's family and neighbors helped him learn more about music.
Many people said he was a musical prodigy.
One thing made Stevie's talent even more extraordinary. Stevie
was blind. He could not see the notes on a sheet of music. He could
not see the keys of his piano as he played. Instead, he learned by listening. Stevie had a remarkable ear for
music.
When he was 11, Stevie got his first big break. The president of Motown Records liked the way Stevie
made music. He thought other people would too. He signed Stevie to a contract. Stevie's first hit sold more
than a million copies.
As Stevie grew up, he wrote many songs, made many albums, and sold millions of copies. People
around the world agreed with Stevie's family and neighbors. They thought Stevie Wonder was an amazing
musician.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. Stevie taught himself to play the drums, piano, and harmonica.
___ b. Stevie became a great musician even though he was blind.
___ c. Stevie signed a contract with Motown Records when he was 11 years old.
2. How old was Stevie when he first banged spoons on the table?
___ a. 2
___ b. 10
___ c. 11
3. What does the word break mean in this story?
___ a. crack apart
___ b. lucky chance
___ c. empty space
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4. Why did people say Stevie was a prodigy?
___ a. He was blind and could not see the keys of his piano.
___ b. He wrote many songs and made many albums.
___ c. He made great music when he was a child.
5. Give two examples that show Stevie had a remarkable ear for music.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its definition.
contract
rhythms
remarkable
sheet
something flat and thin
sound patterns
written agreement
worth noticing
7. Fill in the blanks with words from the list below.
People called Stevie Wonder a musical ______________. Stevie learned to play the
______________ and drums by himself. He used his ______________ talent to teach himself
piano. Stevie signed a ______________ at age 11. He went on to sell many ______________
after that.
albums, break, contract, extraordinary, harmonica, prodigy, rhythms
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Level 3.5 Stories
Atlantis—Found?
For thousands of years, people have been telling the story of
Atlantis. They say Atlantis was once an island in the Atlantic
Ocean. It had a royal city with beautiful buildings and gardens. The
people of this kingdom were wealthy and wise.
Then, in one day and one night almost 12,000 years ago, great
earthquakes and a huge tsunami destroyed the city. The sea washed
over the island. Everything and everybody sank under the waves.
People said the story of Atlantis was just a legend. But then
something happened that made them think the story might be true.
In 1968, a pilot flying over the waters near the Bahama islands noticed a large rectangular shape on the
bottom of the sea. When explorers examined the shape, they found stones that looked like the remnants of
an old building! Soon, explorers found other mysterious structures nearby. Some of the ruins looked like
columns or an old temple. In one place, explorers found a huge path made of carved stones. All of these
stones were thousands of years old. Now some people believed that there really was an island of Atlantis.
What else, they asked, could these stones be? What do you think?
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. People said that the story of Atlantis was just a legend.
___ b. Explorers found mysterious structures that some people believed were from Atlantis.
___ c. Atlantis had a royal city with beautiful buildings and gardens.
2. What did the pilot notice on the bottom of the sea in 1968?
___ a. a large rectangular shape
___ b. a path made of carved stones
___ c. columns and an old temple
3. What does the word tsunami mean in this story?
___ a. great earthquakes
___ b. very large wave
___ c. ruins of a city
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4. What must be true about the water near the Bahama islands?
___ a. It must be very old.
___ b. It must be very cold.
___ c. It must be very clear.
5. Why did the structures the explorers found cause people to believe in the island of Atlantis?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its definition.
noticed
remnants
columns
temple
place to pray
pillars
observed or saw
leftover pieces
7. Move the sentences into the correct order.
An earthquake hit Atlantis.
Explorers found a path made of carved stones.
Some people believed Atlantis was a real place.
Atlantis sank under the waves of the sea.
A pilot noticed a rectangular shape under the water.
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Level 3.5 Stories
Hippos
Many people think a hippopotamus would eat a person if it had
the opportunity. But hippos are plant eaters; they do not eat people.
Still, they are mean and fast, so it is best to stay away from them.
The hippo spends most of its day trying to stay cool in shallow
African rivers. It is well adapted to the water. Its eyes, ears, and
nose are on the top of its head, so it can see, hear, and breathe when
most of its body is underwater. When its entire head is submerged,
it can hold its breath for five or six minutes.
The hippo is a nocturnal feeder. At night it moves to land to eat
grass and plants. It eats for five or six hours. It consumes about 80 pounds of food each night. But it can
live for weeks without food if it must. It stays still to conserve energy.
The hippo has an enormous mouth with huge teeth. When it is threatened, it opens its mouth wide and
bares its teeth. Its teeth can grow to be more than a foot long! A hippo can weigh more than 8,000 pounds.
Along with the elephant and the white rhinoceros, it is one of the largest land animals.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. The hippo is an excellent swimmer.
___ b. The hippo is a nocturnal feeder.
___ c. The hippo is a large, interesting animal.
2. Why does the hippo spend most of the day in the river?
___ a. It is very heavy.
___ b. It is looking for food.
___ c. It is trying to stay cool.
3. What does the word submerged mean in this story?
___ a. put under
___ b. swam in
___ c. floated on
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4. What is the weather like where the hippopotamus lives?
___ a. dry
___ b. cool
___ c. hot
5. Explain how the hippo is well adapted to the water.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its antonym.
bares
shallow
conserve
entire
deep
waste
part
covers
7. Fill in the blanks with words from the list below.
The hippo ______________ lots of food. If there is no food, it will ______________ its
energy by staying still. It lives in ______________ rivers. Most of its body is
______________ under the water on hot days. It ______________ its enormous teeth when it
is threatened.
consumes, conserve, shallow, submerged, bares, entire, threatened
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Level 3.5 Stories
Hummingbird
Have you ever heard of a bird that can fly upside down? A
hummingbird can! This tiny bird can fly backward and sideways
too. It can also hover in the air like a helicopter. It is a good thing
that the hummingbird can fly so well, because its feet are too weak
to walk. The hummingbird uses its feet only to perch.
The hummingbird flies in unique ways because it has special
muscles in its wings. These muscles allow it to beat its wings very
quickly. The rate can be as high as 200 times per second! The
hummingbird's wings move so rapidly that you can't see them
move.
Wings are not the only fast-moving body parts on a hummingbird. Its tongue is fast too. It can take 13
licks of nectar per second! The tongue is actually longer than the hummingbird's beak. The extra length is
useful. It helps the hummingbird drink nectar that is deep inside a flower.
The hummingbird eats at least half of its weight in sugar every day. To eat like a hummingbird, a 200pound person would need to eat 100 pounds of food every day! The hummingbird needs all that extra
energy to move its wings so fast.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. A hummingbird moves and eats in unique ways.
___ b. A hummingbird drinks nectar with its long tongue.
___ c. A hummingbird is unable to walk.
2. Why can a hummingbird fly in unique ways?
___ a. It is small and very fast.
___ b. Its wings have special muscles.
___ c. Its feet are too weak to walk.
3. What does the word beat mean in this story?
___ a. hit or pound
___ b. win a game or contest
___ c. move up and down
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4. Why must a hummingbird drink so much sugary nectar every day?
___ a. It loves the taste of the sugar in the flowers' nectar.
___ b. It needs the sugar in the nectar for energy to move fast.
___ c. Without sugar from the nectar, it would be too weak to walk.
5. List at least three ways a hummingbird is different from most other birds.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its synonym.
rapidly
actually
allow
per
each
truly
let
quickly
7. Fill in the blanks with words from the list below.
The hummingbird has a ______________ way of flying. It can ______________ like a
helicopter. Its wings must move very ______________. They must beat at a fast
______________. The rate can be 200 times ______________ second.
unique, hover, rapidly, rate, per, perch, energy
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Level 3.5 Stories
Ice Cream Sodas
Start with a tall glass. Fill it with soda pop, but leave some room at the
top. Add a big, round scoop of ice cream. Watch the soda bubble and
foam. Now grab a spoon or a straw, and enjoy—you've made an ice cream
soda!
According to an often-told story, ice cream sodas were invented by
Robert M. Green. Robert sold soda pop in Philadelphia. He made a special
beverage with soda pop and sweet cream. People really liked it.
One day in October 1874, Robert was selling his drinks at a celebration
and ran out of sweet cream. Instead of shutting his stand down, Robert
decided to make the best of things. He bought some ice cream. He
intended to let it melt and use it in place of the sweet cream. But before the
ice cream had a chance to melt, some people wanted to purchase a drink.
Robert didn't want to turn them away, so he made the drinks with the frozen ice cream. People loved his
ice cream sodas!
After that day, Robert sold many more ice cream sodas. Soon other people began selling them at soda
fountains. Eventually, people started making them at home.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. Ice cream sodas are made from soda pop and ice cream.
___ b. According to a story, Robert M. Green invented ice cream sodas.
___ c. The ice cream soda is a special beverage.
2. Why did Robert buy ice cream?
___ a. to make ice cream cones to sell
___ b. to invent the ice cream soda
___ c. to use in place of sweet cream in his drinks
3. What does the word stand mean in this story?
___ a. a table or booth for selling
___ b. to be up on your feet
___ c. to put up with something
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4. Why did Robert put the ice cream in the soda pop before it melted?
___ a. He wanted to sell drinks to people.
___ b. People told him to do it that way.
___ c. He wanted to invent a new drink.
5. Why do people like ice cream sodas?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its antonym.
eventually
melt
purchase
invented
sell
copied
now
freeze
7. Move the sentences into the correct order.
Robert made beverages with sweet cream.
Robert made beverages with ice cream.
Robert ran out of sweet cream.
People started selling ice cream sodas at soda fountains.
People made ice cream sodas at home.
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Level 3.5 Stories
The Lake That Disappeared
Lake Peigneur was a lovely lake in Louisiana. One terrifying
day in 1980, this freshwater lake almost disappeared through a hole.
What happened?
On the morning of November 21, a crew was drilling for oil
from a platform in the lake. Before long, the crew returned to shore.
They thought the platform might collapse. They were right.
Suddenly, the water began to swirl. It made a huge whirlpool and
started to drain through a hole in the bottom of the lake. The hole
grew, and the whirlpool turned faster and faster. The drilling
platform, a house, 11 barges, and a tugboat were sucked through the
hole. It didn't take long before most of the lake, and just about everything in it, was gone. Miraculously, no
human beings lost their lives.
How did this event happen? The oil drillers had drilled into a salt mine. Once water got into the mine,
the salt began to dissolve. The small hole the drillers made grew and grew. The lake poured through this
hole to the bottom of the deep mine.
Interestingly, Lake Peigneur was not lost forever. Salt water from the nearby ocean rushed down a
canal and refilled it. Lake Peigneur had suddenly become a saltwater lake!
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. A house was sucked into a hole.
___ b. A lake drained into a salt mine.
___ c. People drilling for oil found salt.
2. Why did the drilling crew return to shore?
___ a. They knew the lake was going to disappear.
___ b. They did not want to get sucked into the hole.
___ c. They thought the drilling platform might collapse.
3. What does the word whirlpool mean in this story?
___ a. rapidly spinning water
___ b. a wide, shallow pool
___ c. hot, bubbly water
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4. Why did Lake Peigneur become a saltwater lake?
___ a. The barges brought salt to the lake.
___ b. It filled up with salt water from the ocean.
___ c. A house and barges got sucked into a salt mine.
5. Why is it miraculous that no human beings lost their lives?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its definition.
collapse
platform
terrifying
barges
causing fear
fall down suddenly
flat-bottomed boats
raised surface
7. Move the sentences into the correct order.
Ocean water rushed down a canal into Lake Peigneur.
Water from Lake Peigneur made a whirlpool.
The oil drilling crew left the platform.
Boats and a house were sucked through a hole.
The oil drilling crew drilled into a salt mine.
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Level 3.5 Stories
Old Faithful
About every 90 minutes, a crowd gathers 300 feet from a hole in the
ground at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Soon water begins to
splash out of the hole. A few of the splashes shoot 20 feet in the air.
Suddenly, water and steam shoot over 100 feet in the air. This event is
what the people have gathered to see. It is an eruption of Old Faithful.
Old Faithful erupts about every 90 minutes. But the time between
eruptions can be as much as 2 hours or as little as 35 minutes. You can
predict the time of the next eruption if you know how long the previous
one lasted. A long eruption means a longer wait for the next eruption.
Eruptions can last from 90 seconds to 5 minutes. During that time, the
geyser spews from 3,700 to 8,400 gallons of water. The water can reach a
height of 180 feet. And it is very hot—204 degrees Fahrenheit.
Larger and more predictable geysers exist. But Old Faithful remains one of the most famous geysers in
the world.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. Old Faithful shoots out hot water in a predictable way.
___ b. Old Faithful is in Yellowstone National Park.
___ c. Old Faithful is not the largest of all geysers.
2. How hot is the water that spews from Old Faithful?
___ a. 90 degrees Fahrenheit
___ b. 204 degrees Fahrenheit
___ c. 180 degrees Fahrenheit
3. What does the word exist mean in this story?
___ a. to be real
___ b. to shoot water
___ c. to heat up
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4. Why do people stand 300 feet back from Old Faithful?
___ a. so the eruption will last longer
___ b. so they can see the eruption better
___ c. so the steam and hot water do not burn them
5. What information would you use to predict the time of Old Faithful's next eruption?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its synonym.
previous
faithful
erupts
event
explodes
dependable
past
happening
7. Fill in the blanks with words from the list below.
Old Faithful is one of the world's most famous ______________. An ______________
happens about every 90 minutes. Old Faithful ______________ out steam and gallons of hot
water. Each eruption is ______________. You just need to know how long the
______________ eruption lasted.
geysers, Fahrenheit, spews, previous, event, exist, predictable
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Level 3.5 Stories
Sacagawea
You may have heard of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. These
explorers traveled across the American West beginning in 1804, blazing
the trail for others to follow. But have you heard of Sacagawea?
Sacagawea was an American Indian who accompanied Lewis and Clark
on their journey. She was very helpful to the explorers. One time their boat
tipped over on the Missouri River. Books, medicine, and important papers
started to float away. But Sacagawea rescued the supplies.
Sacagawea was also helpful as an interpreter. To cross the Rocky
Mountains, Lewis and Clark needed horses. They wanted to trade with a
Shoshone tribe for horses. But they didn't speak the tribe's language.
Sacagawea's knowledge of the Shoshone language helped the explorers get
the horses they needed.
Sacagawea traveled with Lewis and Clark for over a year. It was a long, hard trip. It was especially
hard for Sacagawea, because she was a mother. She cared for her baby the whole time. But she still helped
the explorers reach the Pacific Ocean.
Today, there are mountains, lakes, and rivers named after Sacagawea in the places where she traveled
with Lewis and Clark. She is remembered for her part in the great achievement of exploring the West.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. Sacagawea helped Lewis and Clark talk to a Shoshone tribe.
___ b. Sacagawea helped Lewis and Clark explore the West.
___ c. Sacagawea rescued some supplies for Lewis and Clark.
2. What may have made the trip especially hard for Sacagawea?
___ a. The boat tipped over in the river.
___ b. Sacagawea had her baby with her.
___ c. They had to cross the Rocky Mountains.
3. What does the word trail mean in this story?
___ a. path
___ b. to follow
___ c. scent
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4. Why are mountains, lakes, and rivers named after Sacagawea?
___ a. Sacagawea knew how to cross the Rocky Mountains.
___ b. Sacagawea rescued supplies that would have been lost in the Missouri River.
___ c. Sacagawea helped blaze the trail to the American West.
5. Why was exploring the West difficult for Lewis and Clark and Sacagawea?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its synonym.
achievement
rescued
knowledge
especially
success
understanding
particularly
saved
7. Move the sentences into the correct order.
Places were named after Sacagawea.
Sacagawea joined Lewis and Clark on their journey.
Sacagawea rescued Lewis and Clark's supplies.
Lewis and Clark's boat tipped over.
Sacagawea helped Lewis and Clark trade for horses.
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Level 3.5 Stories
Saint Bernards
In the 1700s, some monks lived in the Alps Mountains. They kept a
special kind of dog. These dogs had a great sense of direction. They helped
the monks find people who got lost, and they guided travelers in the
mountains. The dogs worked together and helped bring people back to
safety—even during bad snowstorms. The monks lived at the Great Saint
Bernard Hospice. So these dogs came to be called Saint Bernards.
These Saint Bernards were well suited to work as rescue dogs in the
mountain climate. Their bodies were very large and strong. They could
withstand cold weather. The dogs could travel easily in the mountains
because they were sure-footed. They even seemed to be able to sense when
avalanches or snowstorms were coming.
The Saint Bernards had an excellent sense of smell too. Their sense of
smell helped them find people buried in the snow. When the dogs found someone, they provided warmth
by lying on top of the person. Meanwhile, one dog went back to alert the monks. The monks could then
bring the person to safety.
Saint Bernards showed great courage and determination in rescuing people. They helped save
thousands of lives during the 200 years they worked as rescue dogs.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. Saint Bernards lived in the mountains with monks.
___ b. Saint Bernards helped monks rescue people in the mountains.
___ c. Saint Bernards could withstand cold weather.
2. Why could Saint Bernards find people buried in the snow?
___ a. They had a good sense of smell.
___ b. They could sense snowstorms.
___ c. They were large and sure-footed.
3. What do the words sense of direction mean in this story?
___ a. the ability to smell things
___ b. the ability to pull heavy things
___ c. the ability to find one's way
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4. How did Saint Bernards show courage and determination?
___ a. They traveled easily in snowstorms.
___ b. They worked together.
___ c. They rescued thousands of people.
5. List several ways a Saint Bernard might help you on a mountain camping trip.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its synonym.
provided
withstand
rescuing
sure-footed
saving
endure
supplied
steady
7. Fill in the blanks with words from the list below.
The ______________ of the Alps Mountains could get cold. Travelers in the Alps could get
lost or buried by ______________. Saint Bernards ______________ travelers through the
mountains. The dogs worked hard, along with the ______________, to rescue people. They
saved many lives because of their ______________ and courage.
climate, avalanches, guided, monks, determination, withstand, sure-footed
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Level 3.5 Stories
Three‐Legged Man
Some people complain about being different from other people.
Francesco Lentini could have complained, but he didn't. Francesco led a
happy life even though his body was unusual. He had three legs!
Francesco was born on the island of Sicily in 1889. Doctors believed
his third leg was part of an undeveloped conjoined twin. This leg could not
be removed without danger to Francesco's life. As Francesco got older, lots
of people stared and asked questions about his third leg. At first Francesco
felt embarrassed. But then he visited a hospital where he saw children who
had serious disabilities. Many of them were deaf, blind, or unable to speak.
Francesco began to appreciate everything he was able to do.
After that visit, Francesco did not mind that his body was different. He
did not let his third leg prevent him from having new experiences. He
learned to drive a car, ride a bike, and ice-skate. When he swam, his extra leg helped him steer. He could
even use his third leg to kick a ball across a room! Francesco was glad to be able to do so many things. He
even said, "I think life is beautiful and I enjoy living it."
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. Francesco led a happy life even though he had three legs.
___ b. Francesco used his third leg to help him steer when he swam.
___ c. Francesco's third leg was part of an undeveloped conjoined twin.
2. Why didn't the doctors remove Francesco's third leg?
___ a. The doctors did not know how to remove his leg.
___ b. Removing his leg might have killed him.
___ c. He was happy being a three-legged man.
3. What does the word steer mean in this story?
___ a. to guide
___ b. to go faster
___ c. to swim
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4. Why didn't Francesco complain about being different?
___ a. He knew that people would always stare at him.
___ b. He knew that the doctors could not remove his leg.
___ c. He knew that others had bigger problems.
5. Why might Francesco's story make people feel hopeful?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its antonym.
prevent
unusual
undeveloped
embarrassed
proud
help
normal
grown
7. Fill in the blanks with words from the list below.
When Francesco was born, his body was ______________. He had a third leg that was part of
a ______________. Francesco did not ______________ about it. The third leg did not
______________ him from doing things. He was able to ______________ all the things he
could do.
unusual, conjoined twin, complain, prevent, appreciate, unable, embarrassed
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Level 3.5 Stories
Treasures in a Tomb
Almost 3,500 years ago, a 9-year-old boy became the king, or
pharaoh, of Egypt. King Tut ruled Egypt until he died. He died
when he was only about 19 years old.
In 1922, archeologists found King Tut's tomb hidden behind
some debris. It was full of treasures. Grave robbers stole most of
the treasures from the tombs of other pharaohs. But no one had
touched King Tut's tomb in thousands of years.
Inside the tomb, the archeologists found paintings on the walls
and statues of servants. They also found many items made of gold.
King Tut's mummy was wearing a beautiful gold mask. He had 15 gold rings. He also had a number of
bracelets and earrings.
Some people wonder why King Tut died so young. His mummy gives us many clues. His skull has a
piece of bone inside it. His leg is badly broken. His body shows signs of illness. Pieces of his rib cage are
missing. But these clues do not tell the whole story of his death.
People continue to study King Tut, his life, and his treasures. The treasures of King Tut are worth more
than just their gold. They are also valuable because of what they teach us about life long ago.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. The treasures of King Tut's tomb teach us about life long ago.
___ b. Some people wonder how King Tut died.
___ c. King Tut's tomb was discovered by archeologists in 1922.
2. Why did King Tut die when he was about 19?
___ a. He broke his leg.
___ b. His skull had a hole in it.
___ c. We do not know for sure.
3. What does the word grave mean in this story?
___ a. how serious something is
___ b. where someone is buried
___ c. when something bad happens
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4. Why was finding King Tut's tomb important?
___ a. because King Tut became the ruler of Egypt when he was only 9 years old
___ b. because it was full of treasures that archeologists could study
___ c. because no one knew why King Tut died so young
5. Why do you think King Tut's tomb was left untouched for thousands of years?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its definition.
worth
debris
servants
items
pieces of a destroyed thing
equal in value
separate things
workers
7. Move the sentences into the correct order.
Archeologists found King Tut's tomb.
King Tut became pharaoh.
People study King Tut.
King Tut was about 19 years old.
Archeologists found statues of servants.
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Level 3.5 Stories
Velcro
Have you ever wondered how people get ideas to make new
inventions? Sometimes people get ideas by looking in nature.
Velcro, now a very popular fastener, was discovered this way.
One day, George de Mestral took a walk through the woods.
Along the way, several burs stuck to his clothes. As George pulled
the burs off of his clothes, he wondered what made them stick so
well. So he looked at them under a microscope. Looking through
the microscope, George could see that the burs had tiny hooks all
over them. The hooks caught on the loops of his clothes. George
began to think about making a fastener with hooks on one side and
loops on the other.
Many people laughed at George at first, but he had the last laugh. He found a way to make his fastener
and named it Velcro. Now people use Velcro to attach all kinds of things. People use Velcro to fasten their
shoes, their clothes, and their backpacks. Even astronauts use Velcro. The Velcro helps them keep things
from floating away in space.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. Astronauts use Velcro to keep things from floating away in space.
___ b. Several burs stuck to George's clothes as he walked through the woods.
___ c. Velcro was invented after George saw how burs attached to clothes.
2. What do burs have all over them?
___ a. hooks
___ b. loops
___ c. fasteners
3. What does the word fasten mean in this story?
___ a. fast or quick
___ b. join together
___ c. invent something
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4. Why did George use a microscope to look at the burs?
___ a. He was a scientist studying plants.
___ b. He wanted to see what made burs stick.
___ c. He was looking for little animals.
5. List four things people use Velcro for today.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its definition.
discovered
microscope
inventions
wondered
instrument to see tiny things
new things people create
learned about
thought about
7. Move the sentences into the correct order.
George looked at burs under a microscope.
Astronauts used Velcro in space.
George took a walk through the woods.
George pulled burs off of his clothes.
George called his new fastener Velcro.
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Level 3.5 Stories
Zebras
Most people know that zebras are wild horses with stripes and
that they live in Africa. But did you know that of all the zebras in
the world, no two look exactly alike? Each zebra has a unique
pattern of stripes.
A zebra's stripes serve many purposes. They help zebras
recognize each other. They also work as a form of camouflage. The
stripes may confuse predators. They make it hard to pick out one
zebra from the group. The stripes help scientists tell zebras apart
too. Zoologists use a zebra's stripe pattern to help determine its
species. Some zebras have stripes that are far apart, with a lighter
stripe between two darker ones. Other zebras have narrow stripes. There are zebras with stripes all over
their bodies. Some zebras have no stripes on their legs or bellies.
Many years ago, there was a kind of zebra with beautiful brown and white stripes. The stripes were
only on the zebras' heads and front halves. The zebras had no stripes on their legs, bellies, rear halves, or
tails. Sadly, hunters killed too many of these zebras. They became extinct in 1883.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. Stripes can be a form of camouflage.
___ b. One kind of zebra is now extinct.
___ c. Zebras' stripes are unique and useful.
2. Why did the zebras with beautiful brown and white stripes become extinct?
___ a. Hunters killed too many of them.
___ b. Predators could recognize them.
___ c. They didn't have enough stripes.
3. What does the word narrow mean in this story?
___ a. thin
___ b. colorful
___ c. large
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4. How can a zebra's stripes help the zebra survive?
___ a. The stripes may confuse a predator.
___ b. The stripes may help the zebra find other zebras.
___ c. The stripes may help zoologists find the zebra.
5. What purposes do zebras' stripes serve?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its definition.
extinct
unique
serve
determine
no longer living
be useful
different from all the rest
figure out
7. Fill in the blanks with words from the list below.
No two zebras look ______________ the same. Each one has a unique ______________ of
stripes. There was one kind of zebra ______________ know about with a pattern of brown
and white stripes. These zebras didn't have any stripes on their ______________. Hunters
caused these beautiful animals to become ______________.
exactly, pattern, rear halves, unique, extinct, recognize, zoologists
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