Chernobyl
On April 28, 1986, employees at a Swedish nuclear power plant were
alarmed and puzzled. High levels of radioactivity in the air had triggered a
search for the cause. Was there a problem at the plant? Had a war started?
Where was all this radiation coming from? Before long, they figured out
that the radiation was coming from the general area of Ukraine. Sure
enough, the Soviet Union later admitted that an accident had occurred at
the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Early on April 26, a test on one of the
reactors had gone terribly wrong, causing it to explode.
The Chernobyl explosion released a significantly higher amount of
radiation than was released by the atomic bombs dropped on Japan during
World War II. It initially caused the deaths of 31 people. However, the
actual number of deaths attributable to the accident is controversial and
may never be known, because too much radiation can have many delayed effects. For example, too much
radiation can weaken the immune system and lead to cancers such as thyroid cancer, breast cancer, and
leukemia. After the accident, instances of cancer did increase, as did problems with overall health. The
number of miscarriages and stillbirths also rose. Babies born with various birth defects became more
common. In addition, the disaster may have altered the genes of those living near the plant, which could
have any number of effects on future generations.
The Chernobyl accident was costly in other ways too. Contaminated water affected the people and
animals that wanted to drink it as well as the fish and plants that lived in it. Contaminated soil resulted in
contaminated plants and trees. These environmental problems led to economic problems. Large areas of
land became unsuitable for farming, and the forestry industry suffered. The workforce dwindled while the
national debt soared. Plus, the stress of the event had psychological consequences to the victims.
In the years following the disaster, people studied the mistakes that led to and followed it. Perhaps if
people had communicated the risks they knew existed with the type of reactor that exploded, the accident
would not have happened at all. Perhaps if relocation efforts had begun immediately or if people had been
warned to remain indoors, people would have been exposed to less radiation. Perhaps if iodine pills had
been distributed earlier, the increase in thyroid cancers would not have been so great. These and other
lessons have helped make the use of nuclear power safer.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. The radiation released in the Chernobyl accident contaminated many things.
___ b. People still don't know how many deaths are attributable to the Chernobyl accident.
___ c. The Chernobyl accident was very costly but taught important lessons about nuclear power.
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2. Why were there high levels of radioactivity at the Swedish nuclear power plant?
___ a. An atomic bomb was dropped on Japan.
___ b. A test went wrong at a reactor in Ukraine.
___ c. A problem developed at the plant in Sweden.
3. What does relocation mean in this story?
___ a. a warning or announcement
___ b. a move to a new place
___ c. keeping someone away from others
4. What was one mistake people made after the Chernobyl explosion?
___ a. They tested the reactor.
___ b. They took iodine pills.
___ c. They waited to relocate.
5. Why is it likely that more than 31 deaths are attributable to the Chernobyl accident?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its definition.
initially
dwindled
altered
instances
communicated
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occurrences
in the beginning
shared ideas
became smaller
changed
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7. Move the sentences into the correct order.
Environmental problems surfaced around Chernobyl.
People studied ways to make the use of nuclear power safer.
Swedish nuclear plant employees were puzzled.
Ukraine began to have economic problems.
An accident occurred at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
8. What are some things people should do after a nuclear explosion?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. The Chernobyl accident was costly in many ways. Write three facts from the story that support this
statement.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
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China's Ancient Buried Army
In 1974, some Chinese farmers were digging a well for their
commune outside the city of Xian. As they dug, large pieces of
terracotta, a hard-baked earthenware, began to appear.
Archeologists were eventually called to investigate the artifacts.
As the archeologists dug, they uncovered a trench that was about
700 feet long and 200 feet wide. The trench was filled with an
estimated 6,000 statues of life-sized warriors, including archers,
infantrymen, cavalry troops, and charioteers.
In 1976, archeologists discovered a second and third trench full
of figures. These held many horsed chariots, cavalrymen with their horses, and foot soldiers. In all, the
terracotta army covered an area of five acres. All of the figures stood in rows, guarding the tomb of the
emperor of China, who lived 2,200 years ago. The emperor's tomb lies nearby in a mound of earth that
rises more than 140 feet from the ground. The person responsible for the buried army was Qin Shi Huang,
China's first emperor. He unified a warring China and was also responsible for starting the Great Wall of
China. He died after an 11-year reign, when he was about 49 years old. In his quest for immortality and
eternal glory, he wanted a terracotta army to protect him in the afterlife.
Historians think that the emperor forced as many as 700,000 laborers to work on his tomb. Building the
monument required mountains of raw materials. It took 36 years of toil to build the monument.
The quality of the work is as amazing as the quantity of the work. Many parts of the figures were
formed in molds, while other parts were sculpted by hand. There are several styles of facial hair with
different combinations of mustaches and chin whiskers. Some people believe that real soldiers served as
models, thereby giving each statue's face a unique look. When it was finished, the terracotta army was
painted in beautiful and bright colors. After many centuries, the figures are now a shadowy gray.
Two million visitors arrive yearly from all over the world to see this artistic, ancient army of statues
that guard the tomb of a Chinese emperor.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. Archeologists worked carefully for a long time to unearth the terracotta army.
___ b. The emperor's buried terracotta army was an amazing archeological find.
___ c. The buried terracotta army was part of an emperor's quest for immortality.
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2. Why do tourists arrive from all over the world?
___ a. to see the quantity and quality of the army
___ b. to see the laborers who built the army
___ c. to see the well where the farmers were digging
3. What does reign mean in this story?
___ a. illness or injury
___ b. time as leader
___ c. war for leadership
4. Which parts of the soldiers were most likely sculpted by hand?
___ a. faces
___ b. arms
___ c. hands
5. Why did it take so long to build the army?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its antonym.
warring
toil
unified
eternal
investigate
relaxation
ignore
temporary
peaceful
separated
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7. Move the sentences into the correct order.
Archeologists discovered an estimated 6,000 figures.
Millions of visitors traveled to China to see the army.
Workers finished building the 6,000 life-sized statues.
Farmers found pieces of terracotta while digging.
Qin Shi Huang unified a warring China.
8. Give three reasons to support the idea that Qin Shi Huang achieved his quest for eternal glory.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. Write three facts from the story that support this statement: The ancient army was an amazing
archeological find.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
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Earthquakes
Earthquakes are among the most powerful natural events that occur on
Earth. A single earthquake can have the destructive power of a nuclear
bomb. Earthquakes can cause great damage, human injury, and loss of life.
Unfortunately, even with the best equipment, scientists still can't figure out
where or when an earthquake of major proportions will occur.
Once a quake occurs, scientists can measure its strength and location
with a sensitive instrument called a seismograph. After measuring a quake,
seismologists, scientists who study earthquakes, read the results. They use
the Richter scale to describe the power. For every point on the scale, the
power increases ten times. In other words, a quake that registers a five on
the Richter scale is ten times more powerful than a quake that registers a
four.
The Japanese government has spent millions of dollars each year trying to predict the next quake. But
the monster quake that devastated the region of Tohoku, Japan, in 2011 was a total surprise. That quake
registered 9.0 on the Richter scale.
Fortunately, not all earthquakes are large. In fact, more than 3,000 small earthquakes occur every day.
Some are no greater than the vibration caused by a passing truck. The most powerful quakes come along
only about once a year.
The changes that occur on and below the surface of the earth cause earthquakes. The center of the earth
is a solid core of iron and nickel. A molten iron outer core and a thick layer of semi-fluid rock called the
lower mantle surround this core. Huge curved plates, made up of the earth's crust and the upper part of the
mantle, float on this semi-fluid layer. Because of the heating underneath, these plates constantly move and
shift, causing earthquakes.
Most earthquakes occur along a fault, which is where the huge outer plates meet and repeatedly slide
past each other. These fault lines are often in coastal areas. In North America, many earthquakes take
place along the Pacific coastline. But strong quakes can occur far from the coast, too. In the winter of 1811
–1812, a series of very strong quakes hit the town of New Madrid, Missouri, in the central United States.
These quakes, which measured about 7.0 on the Richter scale, were felt as far away as Toronto, the Gulf
of Mexico, and Washington, D.C.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. Earthquakes are powerful and unpredictable events caused by the shifting of Earth's plates.
___ b. The most powerful and destructive earthquakes come along only about once a year.
___ c. Instruments like the seismograph can help scientists learn more about earthquakes.
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2. Which of the following did not occur in a coastal region?
___ a. the earthquake in Tohoku, Japan
___ b. the earthquakes along the Pacific
___ c. the series of quakes in New Madrid
3. What does core mean in this story?
___ a. to remove
___ b. the most important
___ c. the center
4. Why do so many small earthquakes occur daily?
___ a. Seismographs detect even small quakes.
___ b. The earth's plates move constantly.
___ c. The center of the earth is solid.
5. Why can earthquakes be deadly?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its synonym.
proportions
devastated
occur
sensitive
region
happen
reactive
area
size
destroyed
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7. Fill in the blanks with words from the list below.
The vibrations caused by earthquakes of major ______________ can level a city. These
earthquakes can have the destructive power of a ______________. In 2011, an earthquake
______________ the region of Tohoku, Japan. Scientists used a ______________ to measure
the monster quake. They determined that the quake was a 9.0 on the ______________.
Richter scale, devastated, core, proportions, molten, seismograph, nuclear bomb
8. Why has the Japanese government spent millions of dollars each year trying to predict earthquakes?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. Write a summary statement for these facts: Seismographs can't measure an earthquake until it happens.
The Tohoku earthquake was a total surprise. Scientists still can't figure out where or when an earthquake
will occur.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
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Easter Island's Statues
Easter Island's mammoth and mysterious stone statues have
made it world-famous. These statues, which resemble humans—
some with huge stone cylinders balancing on their heads like hats—
have attracted tourists from all over the world. The tourists come to
see these works of ancient art carved by the early inhabitants of the
island. They come to see these unusual statues, which have baffled
archeologists for decades.
Easter Island is located in a remote part of the south Pacific
Ocean about 2,300 miles west of Chile. Easter Island covers only
about 63 square miles. It consists of three extinct volcanoes,
grazing horses, stark vegetation, and the famous stone statues. This triangle-shaped island's Polynesian
name is Rapa Nui.
On Easter Sunday in 1722, a Dutch explorer named Jacob Roggeveen was the first European to see
Easter Island. The original Polynesian inhabitants of the island had arrived centuries earlier. Scientists
believe they had carved the stone statues to honor their tribal ancestors. In fact, the early Polynesian
islanders probably worshiped these giant statues.
The rock used for the statues came from Rano Raraku, one of the extinct volcanoes that formed the
island. Using only stone tools, the early Polynesians carved the statues in quarries within the crater of the
volcano. Then they moved over 400 of these huge statues to various destinations throughout the island and
placed them on stone temple platforms. These statues range in height from 10 to 32 feet. Some of them
weigh more than 80 tons.
In about 1680, a war broke out between two groups of islanders. The victors of the war and their
descendants toppled all of the statues. In many cases, they broke the necks of the statues.
Some of the colossal statues on Easter Island have since been restored to their original positions on
their stone platforms. Even in modern times, using advanced tools and machinery, re-erecting such large
statues and balancing cylinders on top of their heads presented a challenging task.
How did the early Polynesians lift hundreds of heavy statues out of the volcano? How did they move
them across the island to their various locations? The answers to these questions, as well as many others,
remain a mystery.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. Restoring the colossal statues to their original places was a challenging task.
___ b. The mysterious statues on Easter Island are both ancient and colossal.
___ c. The Easter Island statues were probably built to honor tribal ancestors.
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2. How did the early Polynesians form the stone cylinders that sit on the heads of some statues?
___ a. by carving them with stone tools
___ b. by toppling other statues
___ c. by using advanced machinery
3. What does restored mean in this story?
___ a. repaired
___ b. returned
___ c. taken
4. Who probably restored the statues to their original positions?
___ a. the early inhabitants of the island
___ b. the first Europeans to see the statues
___ c. archeologists studying the statues
5. Why is it amazing that these statues were moved from inside the volcano?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its synonym.
mammoth
range
ancestors
stark
inhabitants
vary
residents
elders
huge
bare
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7. Move the sentences into the correct order.
A war broke out between two groups of islanders.
Statues were placed on stone temple platforms.
A Dutch explorer came to the island.
Huge statues were carved using stone tools.
Some statues were restored to their original positions.
8. List at least one reason the Polynesians probably built the statues in the crater of the volcano.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. Write a summary statement for these facts: Archeologists don't know how people got the huge statues
out of the volcano. They don't know how people moved the statues on the island. They don't know why
the statues were made.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
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Egypt's Great Pyramids
According to the dictionary, a pyramid is a structure with a
square base and four smooth triangular sides that converge at the
top. Several ancient societies used pyramids as tombs and temples.
Some of the most famous pyramids were built centuries ago for
Egyptian kings, who were known as pharaohs.
The ruins of many major pyramids still stand near the river Nile
just outside of Cairo, Egypt. The Egyptians built them on the edge
of the desert, beyond the reach of the flooding Nile, from about
2700 to 1700 B.C.
Each pyramid was built to protect the mummified body of a pharaoh who thought he had to protect and
preserve his body so his soul could live for eternity. The Egyptians considered the tomb the house for the
spiritual body. They put anything that the pharaoh might need for life in the spiritual world into the tomb.
The tomb held food, gold, clothing, treasures, games, and weapons.
When a pharaoh died, his embalmed body was taken into the burial chamber through passageways that
were eventually sealed to deter thieves. However, tomb robbers still broke into most of them. They stole
the gold and other priceless treasures. So the pharaohs eventually stopped using pyramids and had secret
tombs built in cliffs instead.
The pyramids of Egypt are some of the most remarkable engineering accomplishments in the history of
civilization, especially when you consider that the builders constructed these stone mountains without the
benefit of modern machinery or iron tools. They used copper chisels and saws to cut limestone blocks
from nearby quarries. Then gangs of workers dragged and pushed the massive blocks up long ramps along
the edge of the pyramid. They adjusted the ramps as the pyramid's height grew. No one knows exactly
how long it took to build a pyramid. Scientists think that tens of thousands of people would have labored
for years to complete a single one.
The largest of these pyramids is known as "The Great Pyramid." It is about 450 feet high and over 700
feet wide on each side of the base. Over two million blocks were used in its construction. Each immense
block weighed two and a half tons.
The Egyptian pyramids are more than funeral monuments built for pharaohs. They are colossal feats of
ancient engineering, architecture, and art.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. Gangs of workers labored for years to construct the Egyptian pyramids.
___ b. The Egyptian pyramids had chambers to hold the embalmed bodies of pharaohs.
___ c. The Egyptian pyramids are engineering feats and tombs for pharaohs.
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2. Why did pharaohs start having their tombs built in cliffs?
___ a. because pyramids were difficult to build
___ b. to keep thieves from stealing their treasures
___ c. to get the tombs away from the flooding Nile River
3. What does embalmed mean in this story?
___ a. hidden away
___ b. dead and decaying
___ c. treated to preserve
4. Why were so many treasures sealed in the pyramids?
___ a. Thieves broke into some passageways.
___ b. The pyramid was the house for the pharaoh's soul.
___ c. Egyptians knew the passageways would be sealed.
5. What steps were taken to keep a pharaoh's body safe in the spiritual world?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its antonym.
converge
preserve
deter
accomplishments
base
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failures
top
destroy
encourage
separate
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7. Move the sentences into the correct order.
Passageways were sealed.
People moved blocks from quarries onto long ramps.
The pharaoh died.
The pharaoh's body was embalmed.
People used saws and chisels to cut limestone.
8. Describe what people might do differently if they were to build pyramids in modern times.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. Write three facts from the story that support this statement: The pyramids were an amazing engineering
feat.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
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The Great Wall of China
If you were traveling aboard a low-flying plane in northern China, you
would probably notice rivers and highways snaking off toward the horizon.
If you looked closely, you might even notice a structure that has fascinated
people for centuries: the Great Wall of China. It is one of the longest manmade structures ever built.
Amazingly, construction of the Great Wall began over 2,200 years ago.
Qin Shi Huang of the Qin Dynasty, the first emperor of China, wanted to
protect his newly unified empire from invading nomads. So in the third
century B.C., he put hundreds of thousands of people to work connecting
existing walls to form what would later be the Great Wall. This long
fortification separated the invading nomads of the north from the Chinese
people in the south. Subsequent emperors ordered workers to repair and
lengthen this formidable barrier. China remained unified behind its Great Wall.
The Great Wall is truly a wonder. Most parts of the wall are about 25 feet high and more than 15 feet
thick—and this gigantic structure was built with manual labor. Measured from its easternmost point to its
westernmost point, the Great Wall spans well over 1,000 miles. If it were in the United States, it would
stretch from Texas all the way to Washington, D.C. But the Great Wall of China is not a single wall; it is
actually many walls with several branches. The combined length of all the segments is over 3,500 miles.
The Great Wall starts on the east coast of China at the Yellow Sea and winds along the edge of the
Mongolian Plateau. The wall's main branch runs west to Gansu Province in north-central China. One of
the Great Wall's main gates is near Beijing, the capital of China. This gate and others in the wall became
trade centers and points of contact with the people from the north.
For many centuries, watchtowers placed at regular intervals served as lookout posts to thwart invasion.
If an enemy approached, guards summoned troops by using watchtower beacons. The mobile reserves
could quickly run along the top of the wall to fight the invaders.
Today the wall no longer serves the purpose of keeping people out; in fact, the opposite is true. The
Great Wall of China attracts tourists from all around the world.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. The Great Wall attracts tourists from all corners of the world.
___ b. The Great Wall has many gates that became important trade centers.
___ c. The Great Wall is a gigantic structure created long ago to protect China.
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2. What is the wall's easternmost point?
___ a. the Yellow Sea
___ b. Gansu Province
___ c. Beijing
3. What does summoned mean in this story?
___ a. called
___ b. added
___ c. attacked
4. What characteristics made the wall formidable?
___ a. It was long, tall, and wide.
___ b. It was made by hand.
___ c. It had many gates.
5. Why do tourists come from all around the world to see the Great Wall?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its definition.
plateau
subsequent
summoned
emperor
spans
ordered to come
large, high area of land
leader of an empire
stretches
happening after
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7. Fill in the blanks with words from the list below.
Soon after China became ______________, the emperor started a great project. He began
connecting existing walls to create a huge ______________. The wall would protect the
Chinese people from invading ______________ who lived in the north. Building the wall
required ______________ from hundreds of thousands of people. In later centuries,
______________ emperors ordered workers to make the wall even longer.
unified, fortification, nomads, manual labor, subsequent, thwart, beacons
8. How have the Great Wall and its gates been helpful to China over time?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. The Great Wall of China is one of the world's most impressive man-made structures. Write three facts
from the story that support this statement.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
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The Leaning Tower of Pisa
In 1173, when Italian architects began constructing a bell tower to
accompany the Pisa Cathedral, they had no idea they were building one of
the strangest structures in the world. The bell tower was not intended to
achieve such fame, nor was it meant to be called the Leaning Tower of
Pisa. The tower turned out differently than anyone could have anticipated
due to one simple fact—the Leaning Tower of Pisa was not supposed to
lean.
A testament to the beauty of Romanesque architecture, the circular bell
tower coated in white marble has always attracted a number of visitors, but
beauty is not the Leaning Tower's claim to fame. Tilting since its infancy,
it is certainly a wonder—perhaps even a miracle—that the Leaning Tower
of Pisa has remained standing for so many centuries. In fact, the odd bell
tower is appropriately located in what the Pisans now call the Plaza of Miracles. Visitors to this location
are constantly gazing up at the tower with cocked heads and furrowed brows, all wondering the same
thing: Why does it lean?
The soft, sandy soil beneath the tower contains the answer to this ever-present question. The Leaning
Tower of Pisa stands on a riverbed of soil only a few feet above sea level. Under normal building
conditions, a heavy tower built on such a precarious foundation would have long since collapsed, but the
construction of the Leaning Tower was unique in that it lasted two hundred years.
Builders had completed the third tier of the tower when they started to notice that it was tilting. They
stopped building, and the tower was incomplete for decades as engineers tried to figure out how to make it
perpendicular. This long lapse in construction, however, allowed the layers of the ground beneath the
tower to compress and harden, thus cementing the tower in its slanted position. In spite of its stubborn
lean, the Pisans finally decided to finish the bell tower, optimistically labeling it an "object of curiosity."
What began as an architectural nightmare has since become one of the world's most beloved
monuments. In fact, in 1999, engineers finally figured out a way to straighten the tower by removing soil
from beneath its high side. Though they worked for years to decrease the lean and thus reduce the danger
of the tower eventually toppling over, the engineers were careful to make sure that the tower still had a
noticeable slant. At first it wasn't supposed to lean, yet today we won't allow Pisa's bell tower to stand
straight—it's no wonder the Leaning Tower of Pisa is one of the strangest buildings in the world!
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. The lapse in construction caused the Leaning Tower of Pisa to become cemented in a slanted
position.
___ b. People often wonder why the Leaning Tower of Pisa has a noticeable slant.
___ c. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is one of the strangest and most famous buildings in the world.
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2. Why did engineers work on the Leaning Tower of Pisa in 1999?
___ a. They didn't want it to topple over.
___ b. They wanted it to be perpendicular.
___ c. They wanted its slant to be more noticeable.
3. What does testament mean in this story?
___ a. a large volume or book
___ b. a piece of evidence
___ c. a spoken agreement
4. Why didn't the Leaning Tower of Pisa collapse during its construction?
___ a. It was built over a long period of time.
___ b. It was built on a riverbed a few feet above sea level.
___ c. It had many tiers and was very heavy.
5. What caused the layers of ground under the tower to compress?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its synonym.
anticipated
compress
noticeable
furrowed
cocked
creased
tilted
obvious
predicted
compact
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7. Move the sentences into the correct order.
Builders completed the third tier of the tower.
Engineers figured out how to make the tower perpendicular.
Layers of ground beneath the tower hardened and compressed.
People began to notice that the tower was leaning.
Pisans named the tower an "object of curiosity."
8. In 1999, why were engineers careful to make sure the Leaning Tower still had a noticeable slant?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is unique. Write three facts from the story that support this statement.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
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Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu was an amazing hidden city built in South
America in the 1400s. The Incas built this city on a steep
mountaintop in the Andes Mountains of Peru. The ruins of this Inca
city lie about 8,000 feet above sea level, between two peaks
overlooking the Peruvian river valley below.
The Incas ruled the largest native empire in the Americas. At
one time, their numbers may have topped 12 million, but their
dominance ended with the Spanish invasion in 1532. In the 16th
century, the Spanish conquistadors destroyed nearly all of the Inca
cities. But Machu Picchu is so high up in the mountains that the
invaders never found it.
For nearly 400 years, Machu Picchu remained virtually unknown to outsiders until Hiram Bingham, an
archeologist from the United States, came across the ruins in 1911. The Inca city had been abandoned
centuries ago, so it took many workers four months to clear away the jungle covering that camouflaged the
ruins. When the ruins came into clear view, Bingham found that they covered several square miles.
Bingham named the old city for the mountain beside it. Machu Picchu means "Old Peak."
Archeologists believe Machu Picchu served as a royal estate. Members of the royal family used it when
they were away from the Inca capital city. The site had houses for servants, farmers, and weavers who
worked for the royal family. The granite buildings had steep thatched roofs. Machu Picchu is noted for the
architecture of its more than 200 buildings. The Incas erected the buildings with huge, smoothly polished
stones that fit together perfectly. They did all of this work by hand. The Incas had no sophisticated
machines, iron tools, or horses.
The Incas adapted well to the surrounding mountainous landforms. They cut hundreds of farming
terraces into the nearby mountainside for growing crops. The Incas designed aqueducts to supply water.
They constructed a system of stairways throughout the city, so people could get around easily. The
architecture created the appearance of a city carved out of the mountainside.
Today, Machu Picchu is Peru's chief tourist attraction and one of the most famous archeological
monuments in the world.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. Machu Picchu was once an estate for royals of the Inca empire.
___ b. Machu Picchu is an archeological and architectural wonder.
___ c. Machu Picchu was virtually unknown to outsiders for 400 years.
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2. How did Machu Picchu survive the Spanish invasion?
___ a. The jungle camouflaged it.
___ b. It was very high in the mountains.
___ c. The stone architecture was so strong.
3. What does clear mean in this story?
___ a. remove or get rid of
___ b. allowing light to pass through
___ c. sunny, without clouds
4. Why is Machu Picchu important to archeologists?
___ a. It was camouflaged so well for so many years.
___ b. It is so high up in the Andes mountains.
___ c. It was not destroyed by the conquistadors.
5. Why is Machu Picchu a chief tourist attraction?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its synonym.
aqueducts
abandoned
dominance
sophisticated
architecture
advanced
deserted
control
design
channels
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7. Move the sentences into the correct order.
The Incas built Machu Picchu.
The Spanish conquistadors invaded South America.
The Incas abandoned their royal estate.
Hiram Bingham found Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu was empty for hundreds of years.
8. What were the benefits of building Machu Picchu high in the mountains? What were likely problems
building there?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. Give three examples that show how the Incas adapted to their surroundings.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
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The Mexican Pyramids
If a pyramid is a structure with four smooth, triangular sides, the
pyramids in Mexico don't qualify. The ancient Maya, Toltec, and
Aztec people who constructed pyramids in various locations in
present-day Mexico built them to be truncated, meaning flat on top.
Not only are the sides of these pyramids trapezoidal, but they are
also textured. These structural differences are not the only features
that distinguish the pyramids in Mexico from those in Egypt.
The Mexican pyramids were erected on the opposite side of the
Atlantic at least two millennia after the Egyptian pyramids. In both
design and purpose, the two sets of pyramids are vastly different.
The Mexican pyramids, though less famous than the Egyptian pyramids, are equally intriguing.
At first glance, the Mexican pyramids are notable for their elaborate exteriors. The bright red stucco
that once coated their sides has long since eroded away, yet many still have sculptures and other artistic
decorations on their surfaces. The Mexican pyramids also have a number of steps ascending their sides
that often led to beautiful temples on top.
These steps are the sites of fascinating architectural curiosities. On one of the pyramids, archeologists
have noticed that if you clap your hands in front of the steps, the pyramid will answer with an echo that
sounds like the chirping of a sacred Mexican bird called the quetzal. Scientists speculate that the Maya,
who prized the quetzal above gold, intended this acoustic phenomenon when they built the steps.
On yet another of the Mexican pyramids, the rising and setting of the sun on the vernal and autumnal
equinoxes casts a shadow down the steps in the shape of an ancient god, the serpent. As the sun moves, the
serpent appears to slither down the side of the pyramid. Each year, thousands of people gather around this
pyramid to watch.
In fact, people have been gathering at the Mexican pyramids for thousands of years. Unlike the private
pyramid tombs in Egypt, the pyramids in Mexico have always been public places of ceremony and
worship. Though some were used as tombs, most served primarily as public temples. They were located in
the middle of big cities, and they were the sites of great celebrations and community gatherings.
Because they reflect the values of a different culture and time period, the Mexican pyramids have little
in common with their Egyptian counterparts. Yet, despite these differences, the Mexican and Egyptian
pyramids share an important quality—both are architectural masterpieces that offer fascinating insight into
ancient cultures.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. The Mexican pyramids are architectural masterpieces that offer insight into an ancient culture.
___ b. The sides of the Mexican pyramids are trapezoidal and textured, which makes them unique.
___ c. The steps ascending the sides of the Mexican pyramids are the sites of architectural curiosities.
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2. What shows that Mexican pyramids were public places of worship?
___ a. Some of them were used as tombs.
___ b. Red stucco once coated their sides.
___ c. There were temples on the tops of many of them.
3. What does reflect mean in this story?
___ a. to show or be a sign of
___ b. to think carefully about
___ c. to bounce light off a surface
4. How are some Egyptian and Mexican pyramids alike?
___ a. used as tombs
___ b. used for worship
___ c. built with triangular sides
5. How do the Mexican pyramids give insight into ancient cultures?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its definition.
ascending
vernal
acoustic
intriguing
autumnal
in the spring
relating to sound
rising
fascinating
in the fall
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7. Fill in the blanks with words from the list below.
The Mexican pyramids offer fascinating ______________ into ancient times. These notable
pyramids have flat tops and ______________ shapes. Their exteriors were coated in red
______________. Steps ______________ their sides often led to beautiful temples on top.
Like their ______________ in Egypt, the Mexican pyramids are architectural masterpieces.
architectural, triangular, ascending, stucco, counterparts, insight, trapezoidal
8. Why did the Maya want the steps to have an echo that sounded like the quetzal?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. The Mexican pyramids are intriguing. Write three facts from the story that support this statement.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
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Radiation
The word radiation tends to raise alarm. It conjures images of people
dying on the streets of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It reminds people of its
potential to cause cancer. People are afraid of nuclear weapons and nuclear
accidents. Many are even nervous about the radiation they are exposed to
as the result of X-rays taken at the doctor's or dentist's office. So what is
radiation anyway? Does it deserve its negative reputation?
Simply put, radiation is energy, and it is everywhere. Atoms, the
building blocks of all things, consist of tiny particles that have positive or
negative charges. An atom sometimes needs to release excess energy in
order to reach a balance of these charges. As a result, various levels of
radiation exist in the air, in the water, in the soil, in our food, and in our
bodies. Cellular phones, microwaves, X-rays, sunshine, radio waves,
nuclear power plants, and televisions all give off radiation.
People are afraid of radiation for some very good reasons. As with just about anything, too much can
be harmful. Extremely large doses of radiation can be fatal. People in the vicinity of a nuclear explosion
could be exposed to such a high radiation dose.
Radiation can cause genes to mutate, thereby altering characteristics passed to the next generation.
Radiation can also lead to the development of cancer. Unfortunately, although we can predict which
serious effects radiation is likely to cause at various high levels, we do not know how much radiation is
safe.
But radiation is not all bad. Radiation offers many medical and dental benefits. We use it to detect
problems such as broken bones, cancer, and tooth decay. Radiation therapy kills some kinds of cancer
cells. Radiation also makes our lives easier. Among other things, it provides us with effective ways to
communicate, entertain ourselves, cook, sterilize food and equipment, and light and heat our homes.
Some radiation may even be essential to our health. Studies have shown that organisms living in an
environment free of background radiation do not grow normally.
With so many positives and negatives, it may be difficult to know what to think about radiation. In the
end, radiation is a reality in our world, and because radiation is so powerful, we must be respectful of it
and use it wisely and carefully.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. Radiation has a negative reputation because it can do a lot of harm.
___ b. Radiation is a reality in our world with many benefits and negative effects.
___ c. We should not be concerned about the radiation to which we are exposed.
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2. Which person is most likely to be exposed to too much radiation?
___ a. someone in the vicinity of a nuclear explosion
___ b. someone getting an X-ray at the doctor's office
___ c. someone receiving radiation therapy for cancer
3. What does excess mean in this story?
___ a. extra
___ b. positive
___ c. electrical
4. Why is radiation everywhere?
___ a. because nuclear accidents release radiation
___ b. because atoms sometimes need to release excess energy
___ c. because radiation is extremely powerful
5. How can you be respectful of radiation?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its synonym.
organisms
detect
vicinity
altering
sterilize
changing
creatures
find
purify
region
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7. Fill in the blanks with words from the list below.
The word radiation ______________ scary images in people's minds. Indeed, radiation can be
harmful and even be ______________ in extremely large doses. People ______________ to
large doses may develop cancer as a result. Radiation can also cause genes to
______________. But despite its negative characteristics, radiation also offers many medical
______________ and makes life easier.
conjures, fatal, exposed, mutate, benefits, characteristics, potential
8. Write three effects radiation is likely to cause at high levels.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. Radiation has many benefits and dangers. Write three facts from the story that support this statement.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
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The Roman Colosseum
The Colosseum of Rome is the ruins of an enormous outdoor
stadium. It ranks as one of the finest and largest examples of
Roman architecture ever created. In fact, in Latin—the language of
ancient Rome—the word colosseum comes from a word that means
huge.
The Roman people used the Colosseum as a giant entertainment
center featuring savage games. They orchestrated wild animal
fights, gladiator battles, and encounters between prisoners and
fierce beasts. The Romans also staged mock battles between the
Romans and their real-life enemies. Sometimes they even removed
the wooden floor and flooded the entire arena to hold fake naval battles.
The construction of the Colosseum started around 70 A.D., and the venue was inaugurated in 80 A.D.
The Colosseum was built of brick and concrete covered with stone, and it stood four stories high. The first
three stories had beautiful arches decorated with columns, while the fourth story, added later, was plainer.
Awnings hung on long poles from the fourth story shielded the audience from the hot sun.
Like modern stadiums, the Colosseum was oval-shaped. It was 620 feet long, 513 feet wide, and 157
feet high. It seated about 50,000 people on benches made of wood and marble. Eighty entrances allowed
people to get in and out quickly and easily. The Roman emperor had a tunnel for his personal use.
The floor of the Colosseum was built of heavy wooden planks. The Romans kept the wild beasts in
pens under the flooring. The builders included special passageways through which they could move
dangerous animals, and they designed elevators to lift the animals to the main floor.
The Romans used the Colosseum for more than 400 years. Then, during the Middle Ages, the Romans
began to use it as a handy quarry, removing many of the stones to erect newer buildings in Rome.
The Colosseum is a very famous landmark in Rome, Italy. Most of the Colosseum still stands today
near the center of the city. Millions of people visit the Colosseum every year, making it one of Rome's
principal tourist attractions. Although several earthquakes have damaged the Colosseum, it remains a
strong monument to the power of ancient Rome.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. The Colosseum is an impressive ruin that was once used as a venue for entertainment.
___ b. The Colosseum was once the site of gladiator battles and animal fights.
___ c. The Colosseum was a huge construction project done by the people of ancient Rome.
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2. What was added to the Colosseum after its inauguration?
___ a. beautiful arches
___ b. awnings
___ c. columns
3. What does mock mean in this story?
___ a. pretend
___ b. violent
___ c. amazing
4. Why is the Colosseum a monument to the power of ancient Rome?
___ a. It was used it to stage mock battles between Romans and their enemies.
___ b. It provided the stones for many of Rome's newer buildings.
___ c. It is one of the finest and largest examples of Roman architecture ever built.
5. Why is the Colosseum in ruins?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its antonym.
modern
inaugurated
erect
savage
principal
old
gentle
ended
insignificant
destroy
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7. Fill in the blanks with words from the list below.
The Roman Colosseum was ______________ in 80 A.D. It ______________ as an important
example of Roman architecture. In ancient times, the stadium was used as a ______________
for fierce battles. By the time of the ______________, Romans began to treat it like a quarry.
In modern times, the Colosseum is a ______________ tourist attraction in Rome.
inaugurated, ranks, venue, Middle Ages, principal, construction, mock
8. How is the Roman Colosseum similar to modern stadiums?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. Write a summary statement for these facts: It was the site of mock battles. Many savage games
happened there. People went there to watch gladiators fight. Later, it was used as a quarry. Today, it is a
tourist attraction.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
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The Tangshan Earthquake
In the few days before July 28, 1976, animals were behaving
strangely in and around the city of Tangshan, China. A group of
students noticed nocturnal creatures like weasels and rats scurrying
around in the middle of the day as if searching for refuge. For no
apparent reason, a farmer's horses and mules refused their food and
jumped and kicked until they broke free. One resident of Tangshan
even had a goldfish that jumped out of its bowl multiple times.
Hours later, at 3:42 a.m. on July 28, a possible explanation for this
unusual animal behavior violently awoke the sleeping residents of
Tangshan. Perhaps the animals sensed the imminence of the
deadliest earthquake of the 20th century.
When the Tangshan earthquake struck, the quiet industrial city in northeastern China was completely
unprepared. Scientists did not believe the city of Tangshan to be at risk of a large earthquake. As a result,
architects did not design its buildings to be earthquake-resistant. On July 28, the Tangshan earthquake
proved quickly and mercilessly that the city's buildings were not sturdy enough. In a matter of seconds,
nearly every building had crumbled into a massive pile of debris. Witnesses to the disaster reported seeing
bright flashes of light in the sky. They heard a deafening roar as they watched the entire city collapse right
before their eyes.
Though the quake killed a number of people immediately, it left many of its victims alive and trapped
beneath the rubble. Some survived for up to 15 days without food and water as they awaited relief. It took
several days, but doctors, soldiers, and a number of other heroes were eventually able to rescue over 80
percent of the quake's buried survivors. Nonetheless, the Tangshan earthquake, which registered between
7.8 and 8.2 on the Richter scale, claimed over 240,000 lives.
Immediately following the tragedy, the city of Tangshan began efforts to recover. Over time,
productive factories and over a million residents allowed Tangshan to thrive again. For all it endured, the
city served as a model of bravery and strength.
The city of Tangshan also taught the world an important lesson. Even though people cannot predict
where and when large earthquakes will hit, they can make sure buildings and infrastructures are as ready
as possible for such an event. Tangshan itself certainly learned that lesson. The city's buildings are now
built to be more earthquake-resistant. In the event that disaster could strike again, Tangshan is infinitely
more prepared.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. The Tangshan earthquake was unexpected and deadly, but it taught the world an important lesson.
___ b. The people of Tangshan did not sense the imminence of the earthquake, but perhaps the animals did.
___ c. Earthquake-resistant buildings and infrastructures are necessary preparations for all cities.
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2. What time of day did the Tangshan earthquake occur?
___ a. late afternoon
___ b. early morning
___ c. early afternoon
3. What does model mean in this story?
___ a. a copy
___ b. to sculpt
___ c. an example
4. Why was Tangshan a model of bravery and strength?
___ a. Tangshan overcame the effects of a destructive earthquake.
___ b. Tangshan taught the world to be as prepared as possible.
___ c. Tangshan's buildings and infrastructures are earthquake-resistant.
5. Why do you think nocturnal creatures were seeking refuge just before July 28, 1976?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its synonym.
relief
infinitely
apparent
endured
mercilessly
assistance
greatly
obvious
brutally
survived
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7. Fill in the blanks with words from the list below.
The city of Tangshan was not built to be earthquake-______________. A 1976 earthquake
caused buildings to ______________, and many people were trapped beneath the rubble.
Some trapped survivors had to wait for days before ______________ arrived. In time, and
with work from the brave residents, Tangshan was able to ______________ once more.
Today, the city's buildings, factories, and ______________ are built to be more prepared for
this kind of disaster.
imminence, infrastructures, registered, relief, resistant, collapse, thrive
8. What did architects do differently when they rebuilt Tangshan after the earthquake?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. The Tangshan earthquake was deadly. Write three facts from the story that support this statement.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
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The Black Hills
In the 1870s, many people flocked to a sea of lush hills in what
is now South Dakota. They were hoping to hit the jackpot. Rumor
had it that the Black Hills were rich with streams of sparkling gold.
Some miners got lucky, while most others searched fruitlessly.
Nonetheless, all of these gold rushers discovered what the
American Indians had known for centuries—the Black Hills had
more to offer than gold.
The Black Hills region, which stretches from western South
Dakota to northeastern Wyoming and southeastern Montana, has
been sacred to American Indian groups for thousands of years.
Some tribes refer to these pine-covered hills as "the heart of everything that is." The spiritual connection
of the American Indians to this landscape relates to its rich history and vast beauty. The Black Hills region
includes roughly 6,000 square miles of lakes, forests, waterfalls, caves, and wildlife. Indeed, this area is
home to some of North America's most beautiful scenery.
Unfortunately, the Black Hills have also been the site of conflict. An influx of white immigrants to this
region, especially after the discovery of gold, threatened the American Indian groups whose roots had
been connected to the land for centuries. Many violent conflicts occurred between these two groups in the
late 19th century.
Today, American Indian culture maintains an influential presence in the region. The region remains a
sacred place to many American Indians. Visitors from around the world travel to this area to experience
American Indian culture and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse
memorial, two of the nation's most famous landmarks, are located in the area. Tourists can also get a taste
of what life was like in the Wild West as they walk down the old-fashioned streets of Deadwood, once
home to Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane. Some people even continue to search the Black Hills for
hidden nuggets of gold.
Though most of the gold was probably claimed long ago, the Black Hills are still very rich. The value
of gold in the Black Hills has always been small in comparison to their lasting wealth of history and
beauty.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. The influx of white immigrants to the Black Hills caused violent conflicts in the region.
___ b. The Black Hills are sacred to the American Indians who have roots there.
___ c. The Black Hills, sacred to American Indians, are rich with beauty, culture, and history.
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2. Why did violent conflicts occur between white immigrants and American Indian groups in the Black
Hills?
___ a. The white immigrants threatened the American Indian groups.
___ b. The white immigrants took all the gold.
___ c. The white immigrants built large landmarks.
3. What does fruitlessly mean in this story?
___ a. without success
___ b. without food
___ c. without reason
4. Why do some tribes call the Black Hills "the heart of everything that is"?
___ a. It is a sacred place.
___ b. It has waterfalls and caves.
___ c. It had gold.
5. List at least three reasons why people visit the Black Hills.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its synonym.
roots
nonetheless
nuggets
maintains
vast
however
great
chunks
source
keeps
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7. Fill in the blanks with words from the list below.
The ______________ of the Black Hills features beautiful lakes, forests, and waterfalls. Many
people flocked to the region in the 1870s, searching for ______________ of gold. But these
gold rushers and other ______________ were not the first people to live in the Black Hills.
American Indian culture had ______________ that stretched back for centuries. Sadly, the
influx of white settlers caused much ______________.
landscape, nuggets, immigrants, roots, conflict, maintains, influential
8. Why was the influx of white immigrants upsetting to the American Indians?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. The Black Hills have a lasting wealth of history and beauty. Write three facts from the story that support
this statement.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
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The Brooklyn Bridge
In the mid-1800s, the East River posed a huge inconvenience to
many New Yorkers. Commercial activity was concentrated on the
island of Manhattan, located across the East River from residents of
Brooklyn. Though the distance between Brooklyn and Manhattan is
relatively short, the river made it a long journey for commuters. The
voyage was especially miserable in the winter, when ferries would
have to dodge ice floes in the partially frozen river. One day, while
sitting impatiently on a ferry that got stuck in the ice, an engineer
named John Roebling decided he'd had enough. It was time to build
a bridge connecting Brooklyn and Manhattan.
Shortly thereafter, John drew up plans and received a contract to build the Brooklyn Bridge. Though
John had designed suspension bridges in the past, none of them paralleled the magnitude of the Brooklyn
Bridge. John's design for the Brooklyn Bridge was ambitious. It was to be the world's longest suspension
bridge and the first to use steel cables. Furthermore, its construction was the first to rely on the use of
dynamite in underwater chambers called caissons. Unfortunately, this method of construction proved
dangerous and sometimes deadly for the builders.
The bridge's construction had an ominous beginning, as John Roebling died of tetanus before ground
even broke. John's son, Washington, succeeded him as chief engineer.
Misfortune continued to plague the construction when Washington and a number of other builders fell
ill with a dangerous disease called the bends. Moving from increased air pressure levels in the underwater
caissons to normal levels above ground took a toll on the builders' lungs and bloodstreams. This illness
afflicted nearly all the caisson workers and claimed roughly 20 lives.
In Washington's case, the bends paralyzed him and left him confined to his bed for the latter part of the
bridge's construction. He had no choice but to observe construction from his bedroom window using
binoculars. He dictated instructions to his wife, Emily, who then communicated his wishes to the crew on
site.
Finally, after 14 hazardous years of construction, the Brooklyn Bridge was complete. On May 24,
1883, the long-awaited bridge opened to a grateful and celebratory public. A total of 150,300 people paid
a penny each to cross the bridge on opening day. At the time, it was the longest and sturdiest suspension
bridge in the world. For its brilliant design, its great benefit to commuters, and the saga of its construction,
the Brooklyn Bridge is one of the most influential and beloved bridges in American history.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. The Brooklyn Bridge was the longest suspension bridge of its time, and the first to use steel cables.
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___ b. Though its construction was hazardous, the Brooklyn Bridge has a brilliant design and benefits
commuters.
___ c. The Brooklyn Bridge made travel across the East River easier.
2. How did the air pressure above ground compare to that in the caissons?
___ a. It was higher above ground.
___ b. It was lower above ground.
___ c. It was about the same above ground.
3. What does succeeded mean in this story?
___ a. reached a goal
___ b. followed or came after
___ c. happened without problems
4. What was one challenge Washington had while working on the bridge?
___ a. guiding the construction from home
___ b. designing the bridge
___ c. getting sick with tetanus
5. Why was the public grateful and celebratory when the Brooklyn Bridge opened?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its synonym.
influential
confined
paralleled
posed
concentrated
restricted
presented
important
equaled
clustered
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7. Move the sentences into the correct order.
John Roebling died of tetanus.
Ground broke for construction to begin.
Washington Roebling was confined to his bed.
Plans for the bridge were drawn up.
Emily Roebling dictated instructions to the crew.
8. How was the design of the Brooklyn Bridge ambitious?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. Construction of the Brooklyn Bridge was a saga. Write three facts from the story that support this
statement.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
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The Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, is one of the most famous landmarks
in all of Europe. Rising to 984 feet, the enormous tower of exposed iron
and steel dominates the Paris skyline.
When it was built, the Eiffel Tower was the world's tallest structure.
Finally, 40 years later, the Chrysler Building and then the Empire State
Building—both in New York—reached greater heights. The Eiffel Tower
had a significant effect on the building of all skyscrapers. Engineer
Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, an expert on bridges, designed the tower to
demonstrate how steel and iron could be used together to build tall
structures. Another design achievement of his was the Statue of Liberty in
New York.
Many people were displeased with the Eiffel Tower when workers
started to build it in 1887. Some said it was too hazardous for the workers to build, others worried that it
would attract lightning, and still others thought it was too ugly. Numerous individuals from the world of
art and literature protested the building of the tower by signing a petition. The tower drew insults
regarding its appearance, including some comparing it to a skeleton and others calling it an eyesore. But as
the tower grew higher and higher, so did the Parisians' affection for it.
The building of the tower was an interesting process, with each section assembled in a workshop. Eiffel
carefully checked everything before it was taken to the site where four-person teams riveted the sections
into place. It was dangerous work, but no one was killed while building this tall tower.
The construction of the Eiffel Tower was finished just over two years after it began, in time for the
Paris World's Fair in 1889. It cost over a million dollars to build. The plan was to dismantle it 20 years
after the fair, but when the time came, no one wanted to destroy such an eminent landmark.
Over time, the Eiffel Tower has undergone many changes to make it more welcoming to visitors.
Features such as a gift shop and a cafŽ were added. More observation decks allowed tourists to see
enchanting views of Paris. Workers installed new elevators and even built a post office—with its own
postmark.
The Eiffel Tower remains one of Europe's most famous landmarks, and millions of people visit it every
year.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. The Eiffel Tower has dominated the skyline of Paris, France, for over 100 years.
___ b. The Eiffel Tower, once the world's tallest structure, became a well-loved Parisian landmark.
___ c. The Eiffel Tower has undergone many changes to make it more welcoming.
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2. Why were some people displeased when workers started building the tower?
___ a. They thought it looked like a skeleton.
___ b. They didn't think steel and iron could be used together.
___ c. They knew it would cost over a million dollars to build.
3. What does dismantle mean in this story?
___ a. pay for
___ b. complete
___ c. take apart
4. Why were the iron and steel beams left exposed?
___ a. to see whether lightning would be attracted to the tower
___ b. to build a very tall but unattractive building
___ c. to show how steel and iron could be used together
5. Why was Eiffel considered a great engineer?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its synonym.
riveted
affection
effect
hazardous
enchanting
influence
dangerous
love
lovely
bolted
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7. Move the sentences into the correct order.
Sections were moved to the building site.
Four-person teams riveted sections in place.
Sections were assembled in a workshop.
Alexandre Gustave Eiffel carefully checked everything.
The Paris World's Fair took place in 1889.
8. Why did people's affection for the Eiffel Tower grow over time?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. Write a summary statement for these facts: The people of France didn't want the Eiffel Tower destroyed
after the World's Fair. The tower has undergone changes to make it more welcoming. Millions of people
visit the tower each year.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
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The Golden Gate Bridge
The beautiful Golden Gate Bridge spans the channel entrance to
San Francisco Bay in California. This graceful bridge is the first
thing people see when coming into the bay by ship. It connects San
Francisco with the Marin Peninsula. The Golden Gate Bridge is one
of the world's biggest and most spectacular bridges.
Two massive steel towers stand in the water, one on each end of
the bridge. From the towers hang giant cables three feet in diameter.
All of this equipment supports the six-lane road and two footpaths
suspended more than 200 feet above the water. From end to end,
the Golden Gate Bridge is exactly 8,981 feet in length—nearly two
miles long.
American-born engineering expert Joseph Baermann Strauss took on the role of chief engineer in
charge of the Golden Gate Bridge's construction. Strauss, a visionary engineer, had previously designed
many other bridges. Now, in collaboration with skilled architect Irving Morrow, senior engineer Charles
Alton Ellis, and another famous bridge designer named Leon Moisseiff, Strauss embarked on his most
ambitious project yet.
The challenging construction of the Golden Gate Bridge started in January 1933. The builders
encountered great difficulties when building the bridge foundation. They had to build one foundation
inside a huge concrete cofferdam made on the ocean bed.
Building the bridge was also very dangerous work. The construction crew worked high in the air, often
with nothing but small wire cables to support them. Working on the bridge was especially dangerous
during windy, foggy, and cold weather conditions.
During the first four years of the bridge's construction, 19 people accidentally fell off the bridge, but
they all landed in the safety net and survived. In February 1937, a scaffold broke loose and ten men
tragically fell to their deaths. Tragedies continued to occur on the bridge even after it opened.
Unfortunately, the Golden Gate Bridge, like many bridges throughout the world, has attracted suicides.
More than a thousand people have purposely jumped from the bridge.
On May 27, 1937, the beautiful Golden Gate Bridge opened to the public. The final cost to build this
impressive structure was 35 million dollars. Over 200,000 people walked, ran, and skated across the
bridge for the first time on the opening day. It cost a nickel for a pedestrian to cross the bridge. The
following day this toll bridge opened to cars, buses, and trucks. It has since become one of the most
famous bridges in the United States.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most famous bridges in the United States.
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___ b. The Golden Gate Bridge connects the city of San Francisco to the Marin Peninsula.
___ c. The construction of the spectacular Golden Gate Bridge was a dangerous and difficult task.
2. When did people begin paying a toll to cross the Golden Gate Bridge?
___ a. February 1937
___ b. May 1937
___ c. January 1933
3. What does massive mean in this story?
___ a. made of metal
___ b. big and heavy
___ c. long-lasting
4. Why did workers use a cofferdam to build the foundation for one tower?
___ a. Working on the wire cables was dangerous.
___ b. The weather conditions were cold and windy.
___ c. It was too hard to work in the water.
5. Why is the Golden Gate Bridge spectacular?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its synonym.
encountered
spectacular
tragically
scaffold
cables
met
magnificent
sadly
wires
platform
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7. Move the sentences into the correct order.
Nineteen workers survived falling off the bridge.
A scaffold broke loose, causing ten people to die.
Over 200,000 people paid a nickel to cross the bridge.
The bridge opened to cars, buses, and trucks.
Joseph Baermann Strauss took on the role of lead engineer.
8. Why was working on the Golden Gate Bridge dangerous?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. Write a summary statement for these facts: Much of the work on the Golden Gate Bridge was done high
in the air over water. Workers often dealt with windy, foggy weather. Workers had little to hang on to
except small wire cables.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
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The Golden Temple
For centuries, people have been drawn to a peaceful lake in what
is now the city of Amritsar, India. Thousands of years ago, the
small lake nestled in a lush forest was a picturesque place for
people to meditate and pray. Today, this same lake reflects the
shimmering exterior of the Golden Temple, one of the most sacred
sites in the world.
Before the Golden Temple was built, the lake was a shrine for
members of the Sikh religion. They envisioned building a temple on
the lake to symbolize the fortitude of their faith. The temple would
also serve as a central place of worship. Years later, in 1577, the
Sikhs constructed the Harmandir Sahib, or "Temple of God," amidst the placid waters of their holy lake.
Opponents of the Sikh religion have destroyed the Harmandir numerous times since its original
construction. But the Sikhs have proven that their commitment to the temple is indestructible. Each
version they've built has been more beautiful than the last. Today the Harmandir, also known as the
Golden Temple, attracts admirers from all over the world. People are enchanted by the way it glimmers in
the sunlight and casts an equally bright reflection onto the lake.
The Golden Temple is appealing for its beautiful exterior. But it is also architecturally unique. Temples
are often constructed on hilltops to show eminence, yet the Sikhs followed a different logic. To symbolize
humility, the Sikhs built the Golden Temple in the lake. It sits at a lower level than the surrounding land.
Likewise, while most temples have one or two doors, the Sikhs built their temple with four entrances. The
four doors symbolize that the Harmandir welcomes people from every class, race, religion, and the like.
The Golden Temple's structure was thus intended to reflect the humility and acceptance of the Sikh
religion.
Each day, the Golden Temple has many visitors. They may come to admire the golden domes sparkling
in the sunlight or recite prayers at the holiest of the Sikh shrines. People from all over gather to soak in the
serene beauty of the ancient lake and its great temple.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. The sacred Golden Temple is an indestructible building.
___ b. The Golden Temple's structure symbolizes humility and acceptance.
___ c. The Golden Temple and its surrounding lake are sacred and beautiful.
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2. What makes the Harmandir architecturally unique?
___ a. It is built in a lake.
___ b. It has golden domes.
___ c. It has a beautiful exterior.
3. What does casts mean in this story?
___ a. flings or tosses
___ b. hard coverings
___ c. gives off or projects
4. Which feature of the Golden Temple symbolizes acceptance?
___ a. its golden exterior
___ b. its four entrances
___ c. its position in the lake
5. How does the Golden Temple symbolize the fortitude of the Sikh faith?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its definition.
nestled
meditate
logic
recite
envisioned
calmly concentrate
reasoning
say aloud
located in a sheltered place
dreamed or thought
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7. Fill in the blanks with words from the list below.
The Golden Temple was created by members of the ______________ religion. Over the
years, ______________ of the Sikhs have destroyed this sacred temple numerous times. Yet,
each time, the Sikhs have rebuilt it, proving that their commitment to the temple is
______________. In this way, the temple symbolizes the ______________ of the Sikh
religion. Today, many people visit this holy Sikh ______________ to recite prayers or just
admire the building's beauty.
opponents, indestructible, fortitude, shrine, Sikh, eminence, picturesque
8. Why would a temple constructed on a hilltop show eminence?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. The Golden Temple is beautiful. Write three facts from the story that support this statement.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
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Hurricanes
In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina battered the Gulf Coast of
the United States. This devastating storm caused more than 80
billion dollars in damage. More than 1,500 people died, and
800,000 others were displaced.
A hurricane is a powerful whirling storm that is usually 200 to
300 miles in diameter, but in rare cases it can grow to more than
900 miles across. This severe weather event has the ability to
produce coastal floods, gale force winds, tornadoes, and torrential
rains.
The winds of a hurricane are the most direct cause of widespread death and destruction, and they are
responsible for producing the waves and tides that damage coastal areas. Consequently, many deaths in a
hurricane result from drowning in coastal floods.
Hurricanes develop over tropical oceans. In these regions, extremely moist air supplies the energy
necessary to spawn and maintain a tropical storm. This storm may develop into a hurricane. Mature
hurricanes are characterized by high wind speeds around an eye, which is a cloud-free circular region with
relatively low winds in the center of the storm. Hurricane eyes can range in diameter from just a few miles
to more than 60 miles.
Wall clouds surround and rotate around the eye. In the northern hemisphere, these clouds move in a
counterclockwise manner. In the southern hemisphere, however, wall clouds move in the opposite
direction. Wall clouds produce the heaviest rains and bring the strongest winds. These winds can exceed
200 miles per hour in the worst storms. Just as ice skaters spin faster when they bring in their arms, the air
in a hurricane rotates faster as it is pulled closer to the center of the storm.
Hurricanes are part of large-scale wind currents that typically travel 10 to 20 miles per hour. In some
cases, however, the winds can move two or three times as fast. In other cases, they can stall in the same
spot.
When a hurricane moves across land, strong winds and heavy rain hit the area for several hours. As the
eye of the hurricane reaches the area, the rain strangely stops and the winds calm. When the eye passes,
the rain and winds return at full strength. Eventually, friction from the land causes the hurricane to weaken
and die.
Meteorologists keep a close watch on air pressure, water temperature, and wind speeds in order to
predict the formation of a hurricane. Once a storm develops and is detected, hurricane hunters track and
monitor it by satellite, aircraft, and radar in order to warn communities in its path.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. Hurricanes are large-scale natural disasters.
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___ b. Hurricanes develop over tropical oceans.
___ c. Meteorologists monitor hurricanes to help keep people safe.
2. Which part of a hurricane has the strongest winds?
___ a. the part that is directly in the center
___ b. the part that rotates around the eye
___ c. the part that is farthest from the center
3. What does monitor mean in this story?
___ a. notify or warn
___ b. watch over
___ c. discover or encounter
4. Which cities are most likely to be battered by hurricanes?
___ a. cities located along coasts
___ b. cities that get a lot of wind or rain
___ c. tropical cities located far inland
5. What can people do to protect themselves from hurricanes?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its definition.
battered
rotate
detected
displaced
characterized
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circle
forced out
described
located
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7. Fill in the blanks with words from the list below.
Hurricanes are devastating storms that develop over ______________ oceans. Scientists
called ______________ watch weather conditions for developing hurricanes. When the wind
currents, temperature, and ______________ are right, a mature hurricane may form. Scientists
continue to ______________ the storm. They will track the direction of the storm by radar
and ______________, and they will warn communities in its path.
tropical, meteorologists, air pressure, monitor, satellite, range, rotate
8. Why is the work of meteorologists important?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. Write three facts from the story that support this statement: Hurricanes are severe weather events.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
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King Henry VIII
"Divorced, beheaded, died; divorced, beheaded, survived," is a rhyme
that helps people remember the fates of six former queens. Who were these
queens, and why do people remember them? For centuries, people have
been fascinated with these six women for their mutual husband, the
infamous 16th-century English king, Henry VIII. Henry's six wives are
interesting not only because there were so many of them, but because they
testify to the most important aspect of his regime: Henry VIII was a ruler
who wasn't afraid of change.
Henry's six-wife saga began with Catherine of Aragon, who, after years
of trying, was unable to bear Henry a son. This failure, as Henry saw it,
along with Henry's increasing infatuation with Anne Boleyn, a woman in
his court, eventually led Henry to divorce Catherine and marry Anne. Soon
Anne became too grouchy for his taste, and Henry promptly had her beheaded. He went through the rest of
his wives quickly, divorcing Anne of Cleves because he found her too ugly and recklessly beheading the
16-year-old Katherine Howard.
Henry's offensive habit of discarding wives may seem merely anecdotal, but it actually brought about a
major change in the country of England. During Henry's first marriage, England was a Catholic country,
and divorce was therefore forbidden. When the Church refused to grant Henry the divorce he wanted, he
broke ties with Roman Catholicism and formed the Church of England. Henry declared himself supreme
head of this church and granted himself a divorce. This unprecedented move made him ruler of both
religious and political matters. Henry's bold declaration was the first step in England's transformation from
a medieval, Catholic country into a Protestant country with a more modern social structure. Provoking this
change, which later became known as the English Reformation, was the largest milestone in Henry VIII's
career. It was also one of the biggest changes England has ever seen.
Though history probably could have done without a few of Henry's impulsive wife-changes, he
nonetheless made a significant and lasting change in the country of England. For that radical step—in
addition to his six wives—King Henry VIII will forever be remembered.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. Henry VIII had an offensive habit of discarding wives by beheading or divorcing them.
___ b. Henry VIII is remembered for his six wives and for the radical change he made in England.
___ c. The fates of Henry VIII's six wives have fascinated people for centuries.
2. Which two wives did Henry have beheaded?
___ a. Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn
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___ b. Anne Boleyn and Katherine Howard
___ c. Katherine Howard and Anne of Cleves
3. What does bear mean in this story?
___ a. endure or withstand
___ b. uncover something
___ c. give birth to
4. What kind of church was the Church of England?
___ a. Roman Catholic
___ b. Protestant
___ c. medieval
5. Why was the way Henry VIII treated his wives offensive?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its synonym.
provoking
radical
infatuation
testify
mutual
crush
demonstrate
common
causing
extreme
7. Move the sentences into the correct order.
Sixteen-year-old Katherine Howard was beheaded.
King Henry VIII divorced Catherine of Aragon.
King Henry VIII broke ties with Roman Catholicism.
Anne Boleyn was beheaded.
King Henry VIII divorced Anne of Cleves.
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8. How did Henry VIII make himself ruler of both religious and political matters?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. Henry VIII was a ruler who wasn't afraid of change. Write three facts from the story that support this
statement.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
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Mount Rushmore
Mount Rushmore, the memorial of four former U.S. Presidents
carved into the Black Hills of South Dakota, is one of the world's
largest statues. The sculpture of President George Washington's
head, for example, is as tall as a five-story building. If the
President's body had been sculpted on the same scale, the statue
would be nearly 40 stories tall.
In 1925, the state of South Dakota commissioned American
sculptor Gutzon Borglum to create a huge sculpture in the granite
outcroppings of the Black Hills. Borglum chose Mount Rushmore
for his sculpture because it had a high wall of solid granite at the
top.
Borglum wanted to carve the likenesses of Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson,
Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. He chose these Presidents to represent important aspects of
the United States. Washington represents the birth of the United States. Jefferson represents the country's
expansion. Lincoln represents the nation's preservation, and Roosevelt represents the development of the
United States. Borglum referred to his work as a shrine to democracy.
First, Borglum made a five-foot scale model of each President's head. After he obtained measurements
from the models, work on the giant sculpture began. Each of the sculpted faces on the mountain is 60 feet
high. The noses are 20 feet long, and the mouths are 18 feet across. Borglum carved the pupils of the eyes
in such a way that, from a distance, the eyes seem to sparkle.
Borglum and his crew used dynamite as the principal means of altering the mountain, but they also
used hammers, chisels, and pneumatic drills. They carved Washington's head first, and this portion of the
monument was dedicated in 1930. Jefferson originally appeared on Washington's right, but after many
months of work, the crew discovered that the granite had cracked and was too weak to support Jefferson's
head. So they blasted the figure off of the rock and began sculpting it again, this time on Washington's left.
The sculpture of Jefferson was dedicated in 1936. Then Lincoln was carved at the far end of the sculpture
and Roosevelt between Jefferson and Lincoln.
Sadly, Gutzon Borglum, who designed and oversaw all construction, died shortly before the completion
of his huge memorial. His son supervised the final carving, which concluded in October 1941.
The project in its entirety took 14 years; however, the actual labor took only six and a half years. The
crew spent the rest of the time waiting for favorable weather or additional funding. The federal
government provided most of the funding for the one-million-dollar monument.
The Mount Rushmore National Memorial annually brings millions of tourists to South Dakota.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. Mount Rushmore annually brings in millions of tourists to South Dakota.
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___ b. Mount Rushmore is a huge sculpture that represents important aspects of the United States.
___ c. Mount Rushmore was designed and carved by Gutzon Borglum.
2. In which order, left to right, do the Presidents appear to a viewer?
___ a. Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Roosevelt
___ b. Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, Lincoln
___ c. Jefferson, Washington, Roosevelt, Lincoln
3. What does aspects mean in this story?
___ a. parts
___ b. leaders
___ c. carvings
4. How was the final sculpture different from Borglum's original design?
___ a. Jefferson was on Washington's left.
___ b. The eyes seemed to sparkle from a distance.
___ c. The work was a shrine to democracy.
5. What difficulties did Borglum and his crew experience as they created the monument?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its definition.
expansion
supervised
principal
referred
means
directed someone's work
most important
mentioned or talked about
growth
way of doing something
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7. Move the sentences into the correct order.
Gutzon Borglum died.
Washington's head was carved.
Lincoln's head was carved.
Mount Rushmore was completed.
Jefferson's head was carved.
8. Explain Borglum's reasons for choosing the four Presidents that are on Mount Rushmore.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. Mount Rushmore represents important aspects of the history of the United States. Write three facts from
the story that support this statement.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
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Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty, in New York Harbor, is one of the most famous
landmarks in the world. Millions of immigrants passed by this colossal
national monument as they entered the United States. To them, it provided
a strong and welcoming national symbol of America.
"Liberty Enlightening the World," the statue's full name, is a majestic
copper sculpture of a proud woman draped in a long, flowing classical
robe. In her right hand, she holds a torch high above her head. Her left
hand cradles a tablet with the date of America's Declaration of
Independence written on it. Her crown has seven points. They stand for
liberty on the seven seas and on the seven continents of the planet. A
broken chain at her feet symbolizes the broken bonds of tyranny.
Liberty is one of the tallest statues in the world. From the star-shaped
base of her enormous concrete-and-steel pedestal to the tip of the golden flame of Liberty's torch, the
statue stands 305 feet above the ground. Stairs and an elevator run through the interior.
The statue, made in France, was a gift for the people of the United States to honor their 1876 centennial
celebration. The people of France paid for the statue and gave her to the people of America as a symbol of
friendship and liberty for all people.
The sculpted outer skin of the statue, created by French sculptor Frederic Bartholdi, consists of 300
sheets of copper just 3/32 of an inch thick. French craftsmen hammered these copper sheets into shape on
wooden forms. Then they took the copper skin from the forms and riveted it to Liberty's framework.
The brilliant interior design of wrought iron was the work of Gustave Eiffel, who later designed the
Eiffel Tower. His strong but flexible design allows Liberty to withstand high winds and temperature
changes without great stress on the framework.
Liberty was completed in 1884 and unveiled on October 28, 1886, in New York Harbor. A grand
parade and a harbor filled with boats celebrated the unveiling.
One hundred years later, in the 1980s, private sources raised funds for major repairs and improvements
for the statue's 1986 centennial celebration. With the surface cleaned and the framework repaired, the
Statue of Liberty was once again ready to welcome millions of tourists from all over the world for years to
come.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. The Statue of Liberty is a landmark that was given as a symbol of freedom.
___ b. The Statue of Liberty has a strong, flexible design and is one of the tallest statues in the world.
___ c. The Statue of Liberty has undergone several improvements and repairs throughout its history.
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2. What is one thing that the points on Liberty's crown stand for?
___ a. the independence of the United States
___ b. the broken bonds of tyranny
___ c. liberty on the continents
3. What does cradles mean in this story?
___ a. rocks
___ b. holds
___ c. cares for
4. At the statue's centennial celebration, how long had the United States been a country?
___ a. about 100 years
___ b. about 200 years
___ c. about 300 years
5. Why was the statue named "Liberty Enlightening the World"?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its synonym.
colossal
draped
withstand
enlightening
pedestal
covered
huge
survive
teaching
base
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7. Fill in the blanks with words from the list below.
The Statue of Liberty was ______________ on October 28, 1886. In her hand, she
______________ a tablet showing the date of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. The
statue was built to honor the ______________ of this date. Inside the statue, a brilliant design
allows Liberty to ______________ high winds and temperature changes. When
______________ arrived in the United States, they saw this welcoming national symbol.
unveiled, cradles, centennial, withstand, immigrants, pedestal, tyranny
8. List at least two reasons why Americans wanted to repair Liberty in 1986.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. Write three facts from the story that support this statement: The Statue of Liberty is an important
national landmark in the United States.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
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The Taj Mahal
Many people believe that the Taj Mahal is the most beautiful
building in the world. It stands on the outskirts of the city of Agra,
India, on the bank of the Yamuna River.
A grief-stricken emperor named Shah Jahan had the Taj Mahal
built as a tomb for his wife, Arjumand Banu Begum. He built this
beautiful mausoleum to honor his dead empress and to eternally
show his love for her.
Work on the Taj Mahal started shortly after the death of the
empress in 1631. Twenty thousand people worked to build it,
finally completing the work in 1648. The white marble tomb stands on a red sandstone platform. The
emperor wanted it to be elegant and beautiful like his wife.
The architect who designed the Taj Mahal took great care to meet the emperor's standards of beauty.
The Taj Mahal has a large dome and several smaller domes. The largest dome, covering the center of the
building, rises 240 feet. All of the domes are in perfect symmetry. At each corner stands a slender, 133foot-tall prayer tower. Passages from the Koran, the Muslim holy book, decorate the outside. Beautiful
inlaid images of flowers adorn the exterior as well.
The architect also took great pride in the interior of the building. Inside the tomb are chambers adorned
with semi-precious stones. Light comes in through carved marble screens. The central room, under the
main dome, contains two monuments, which visitors can see through another carved marble screen.
Equally impressive are the classical gardens that surround the building and the long, ornamental pools
that reflect the lovely tomb. It's no wonder that the Taj Mahal has been called the most elaborate tomb in
the world.
According to traditional stories, the emperor originally intended to have his tomb, a replica of the Taj
Mahal, built on the other side of the river. He envisioned the replica in black marble and connected to the
Taj Mahal by a bridge over the river. The emperor felt that the two magnificent buildings would always
echo his love for his wife.
Sadly, the emperor was overthrown and put into prison by his own son. After eight years in prison, the
emperor died. Today, his body rests beside his beloved wife in the vault of the Taj Mahal, one of the most
beautiful buildings in the world.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. The Taj Mahal is a beautiful mausoleum that reflects the love of an emperor for his empress.
___ b. The Taj Mahal sits on a bank of a river on the outskirts of a city in India.
___ c. The Taj Mahal, which is reflected in pools, has domes that are in perfect symmetry.
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2. How long did it take to build the Taj Mahal?
___ a. about 8 years
___ b. about 17 years
___ c. about 20 years
3. What does vault mean in this story?
___ a. a room in which to keep money
___ b. a big jump or leap
___ c. a burial chamber
4. Why didn't the emperor build a replica of the Taj Mahal, as stories say he had intended?
___ a. He wanted his body to rest beside his wife's.
___ b. He was too old to complete the project.
___ c. He was overthrown and put in prison.
5. Write at least two facts from the story that show the emperor's great love for his wife.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its synonym.
envisioned
eternally
chambers
replica
adorn
forever
copy
rooms
pictured
decorate
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7. Fill in the blanks with words from the list below.
The Taj Mahal stands on the ______________ of Agra, India. Emperor Shah Jahan had the
Taj Mahal built as a tomb for his wife, the ______________. The architect was careful to
meet the emperor's high ______________. It is a beautiful building; each of its domes is in
perfect ______________. It is decorated with writings from the ______________.
outskirts, empress, standards, symmetry, Koran, replica, echo
8. Why did the Taj Mahal take so long to build?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. The Taj Mahal is one of the most elaborate tombs in the world. Write three facts from the story that
support this statement.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
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Tornadoes
A tornado is characterized by a rapidly rotating, tube-shaped
column of air that hangs from clouds, usually cumulonimbus
clouds. Although it may last only a couple of minutes from
formation to disappearance, this funnel-shaped whirlwind has
enough deadly power to cause an enormous amount of damage and
destruction. One of the worst tornadoes on record is a Bangladesh
tornado that killed at least 1,300 people in 1989.
A tornado is caused by great instability in the atmosphere, often
associated with severe thunderstorms. A tornado starts when cold,
dry air, coming from a westerly direction, catches up with warm,
moist air, coming from the south. When a gust of warm air rises, water vapor is swept upward. In cooling,
it forms a twisting, funnel-shaped cloud called a vortex. The spiraling vortex is the tornado's trademark.
The winds that compose the vortex may blow at speeds of up to 350 miles per hour. However, it is
extremely difficult to measure the exact speed in the vortex because the winds can destroy anemometers,
the instruments that measure wind speed.
A tornado has been known to embed straw or even a whole fork into wood. The force of a tornado can
bend the wood so far that many small cracks form. Pieces of flying debris become lodged inside these
cracks and remain after the wood is released from the pressure of the wind.
Once a tornado makes contact with the ground, its movement can be unpredictable. The vortex may
stand still or reverse direction. Some tornadoes have more than one vortex. These tornadoes can leave
twisted paths that destroy some objects completely and leave others untouched. A tornado's path is
generally a few hundred feet wide and four to five miles long. As the tornado skips along, things in its
path are whirled upward. Some tornadoes have even lifted frogs and fish from ponds and dropped them
over populated areas.
The greatest incidence of tornadoes in the world is in the central United States. About a thousand
tornadoes are reported in the United States each year. Texas leads the country with the most tornadoes on
average. However, when you take the size of Texas into account, Oklahoma and Kansas record a greater
average number of tornadoes each year per square mile. This region is often called Tornado Alley.
Tornadoes go by many different names, depending mostly upon location. In the midwestern United
States, they are sometimes called cyclones. In other regions, they are called twisters. If they form over
water, they are called waterspouts. Regardless of the name, a tornado is one of the most destructive
powers in nature.
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. Tornadoes are deadly and destructive forces of nature.
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___ b. Tornadoes are associated with thunderstorms.
___ c. Tornadoes are caused by instability in the atmosphere.
2. When is a vortex formed?
___ a. when the water vapor is swept upward
___ b. when warm air rises
___ c. when the water vapor cools
3. What does compose mean in this story?
___ a. to make calm
___ b. to measure or record
___ c. to form or make up
4. Why is the incidence of tornadoes so high in the central United States?
___ a. There are many thunderstorms in this region.
___ b. Tornado Alley is in this region.
___ c. This region is very cold and dry.
5. Why is a tornado so destructive?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its synonym.
incidence
spiraling
pressure
lodged
associated
frequency
connected
circling
force
stuck
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7. Move the sentences into the correct order.
Warm air rises.
The vapor cools.
A vortex is formed.
Cold, dry air collides with warm, moist air.
Water vapor is swept upward.
8. What weather conditions do people observe when predicting tornadoes?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. Write a summary statement for these facts: Tornadoes can stand still or reverse directions. Tornadoes
can form and disappear in minutes. Some tornadoes have more than one vortex.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
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The Tower of London
In the city of London, on the north bank of the River Thames, stands
one of England's most famous and infamous landmarks: the Tower of
London. The Tower of London is actually a group of stone buildings that
have, throughout history, served as a fortress, prison, and palace.
Construction started on the Tower during the reign of William the
Conqueror in about 1078, shortly after the Norman Conquest. William
built this castle with thick limestone walls to protect the capital and royal
residence. People called it the White Tower. Early on, the Tower also
served as a storehouse for animals and official documents. It was even a
mint for making money. Other rulers later added to the Tower and
converted it into a prison.
The Tower complex, which eventually covered 18 acres, was made up
of concentric fortifications. A moat and two stone walls surrounded the group of buildings, and each stone
wall featured several towers. The builders intended the Tower complex to be strong enough to hold off an
entire army.
The Tower of London is a landmark filled with history and intrigue. Many aristocrats met grisly deaths
there. King Henry VIII had two wives beheaded there. Both of King Edward IV's sons were killed in the
Tower—at the orders of their own uncle, who wanted the throne for himself. Due to the many deaths that
occurred there, one of the towers was fittingly named the Bloody Tower.
The Tower of London also held hundreds of prisoners. One of the most famous prisoners was Sir
Walter Raleigh, an explorer, writer, and military commander who was later accused and convicted of
conspiracy. People aren't killed or imprisoned in the Tower anymore.
Eventually the Tower became a major tourist attraction. One of the most popular parts of the Tower is
the Jewel House. England's royal jewels are displayed in brightly lit glass cases containing crowns,
scepters, and other royal treasures known as regalia. The Tower also houses an armor museum that
originated in the 1500s.
A number of soldiers and their families live on the site. The soldiers guard the Tower day and night and
also guide the two million tourists who visit each year. These guards, who still wear picturesque red and
blue Tudor uniforms, are called Beefeaters. Their name dates back to 1669, when a visitor described them
as "great eaters of beef."
Quiz Questions
1. What is the main idea of this story?
___ a. The Tower of London has played different roles throughout English history.
___ b. The Tower of London is actually a complex of buildings.
___ c. The Tower of London was once an infamous prison.
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2. What was the original purpose of the Tower?
___ a. a landmark of the Norman Conquest
___ b. a residence for animals and a place to store official documents
___ c. to protect the royal home and the capital from attack
3. What does regalia mean in this story?
___ a. military armor
___ b. display cases
___ c. royal treasures
4. Why is the Tower of London infamous?
___ a. Many people died there.
___ b. Royal jewels are displayed there.
___ c. It's almost a thousand years old.
5. Why do tourists continue to flock to the Tower of London?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Match each word with its synonym.
moat
converted
originated
fittingly
conspiracy
ditch
plot
appropriately
began
changed
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7. Move the sentences into the correct order.
The Tower served as a storehouse.
The Tower became a tourist attraction.
The Tower was used as a prison.
Construction on the Tower of London began.
The Norman Conquest took place.
8. Why would it have been difficult to escape from the Tower of London prison?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. The Tower of London played many roles throughout the history of England. Write three facts from the
story that show the different uses of the Tower of London during its long history.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
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