_GCPS_05_RD_RSVC_T2 (_GCPS_05_RD_RSVC_T2)
Name:_____________________________________________
Date:________________________
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_GCPS_05_RD_RSVC_T2 (_GCPS_05_RD_RSVC_T2)
Do you have a pet? Here is some information about pets. Read the paragraphs and use the chart to answer the
questions.
What Makes a Good Pet?
There are all kinds of pets for all kinds of kids: city kids, country kids, younger kids, older kids. But which pet
would be a good pet for you? Which one should you pick?
A good first step would be to talk it over with your parents. They can help you figure out how much money you
might need to spend on your pet. Goldfish, for example, are cheap and easy to keep. But many tropical fish need
special food and equipment.
Another thing to figure out is how much of your time your pet will need. You must make a real commitment to take
care of your own pet!
You might also find that furry animals make you or someone else in your family sneeze and cough. A bird might
work out better for you.
Give some thought to where and how you live before deciding on a pet. It would be tough to keep a pony in an
apartment, for example. But a few gerbils or mice might be OK.
And be sure to think about what you want from your pet. Do you want a dog you can cuddle and play with? Or
would you rather study and learn from stay-put pets, such as fascinating insects?
One really important thing to remember is that there are some animals that you should never pick as pets: wild baby
birds, raccoons, foxes, skunks, squirrels, opossums, deer, and many more.
These animals should not be taken from the wild or even touched. It can be against the law to keep them, and they
may carry deadly diseases. Even if you find them for sale in a store, do not choose them.
These cute wild babies may also get nasty when they get older. And if you try to let them go in the wild after
they've grown up, they're almost sure to die. The rule to remember about almost any animal is, "If wild and free, let it
be!"
To help you decide what might make a good pet, we've put together a pet checklist. We've named a lot of the
animals that are often kept as pets. We've shown some good points and bad points about each. And we've told you
which are OK or not OK to keep. Which pet is for you?
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_GCPS_05_RD_RSVC_T2 (_GCPS_05_RD_RSVC_T2)
Pick-a-Pet Checklist
PET
Guinea pigs
•
•
•
•
Domestic
rabbits
•
•
Sheep
Goats
•
•
•
•
Mules
Horses
Ponies
Burros
•
•
•
•
Raccoons
Other wild
mammals
•
Cats
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Dogs
•
•
•
•
•
•
1.
GOOD POINTS
BAD POINTS
Can be very messy
Active during the day•
Very sensitive to
Rarely bite or scratch•
dampness
Affectionate
Hard
to housebreak
Easy to tame
•
Shed lots of hair
Enjoy being petted •
Good to cuddle • Very sensitive to heat
Interesting to watch • Against the law to keep
Can be exhibited
in many places
Wool and milk can be• Need shelter, pasture,
used
fencing
Can be ridden, driven,• Can be costly to keep
used for work • Can kick, bite, or throw
you
Affectionate
Good exercise for owner
• Need shelter, pasture,
fencing
Beautiful to watch
Can be exhibited • Need lots of care and
training
Can be smelly and
•
messy
Can be very interesting• Against the law to keep
Can be affectionate
in many states
when young
Can carry deadly
•
diseases
• Can get mean when
older
Small size
• May scratch furniture
or rugs
Easy to feed and care
Litter pans can be
for
•
messy
Can live indoors or out
Fun to hold and cuddle• May kill birds or small
Very affectionate
mammals
Need little daily care•
May get insect pests
Easy to find vet care for
May scratch or bite
•
• May make you sneeze
Come in many sizes • Can be smelly, messy,
noisy
Can live indoors or out
May get insect pests
Fun to love and play •
with
• Need to be licensed and
trained
Very affectionate
Can give protection • May make you sneeze
Easy to find vet care for
• May bite if annoyed
• Need lots of attention
OK TO KEEP
YES
YES
YES
YES
NO
YES
YES
Which animal should no one consider keeping as a pet?
A. guinea pig
B. sheep
C. chipmunk
D. cat
2.
How does the checklist help people who want to know the best pet for them?
A. It tells things about pets they might forget to think about when picking a pet.
B. It identifies the most popular and least popular pets.
C. It lists the pets in order from worst to best.
D. It reminds them what the different animals look like.
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_GCPS_05_RD_RSVC_T2 (_GCPS_05_RD_RSVC_T2)
3.
Look at the column called GOOD POINTS. According to the chart, what do raccoons, cats, and dogs have in
common?
A. They all can live indoors.
B. They all can be affectionate.
C. They all can hurt you.
D. They all have four legs.
4.
What is something to keep in mind that is mentioned in the article but not on the chart?
A. parental approval
B. laws
C. allergies
D. expense
5.
The writer states a rule, "If wild and free, let it be." She could have said simply, "You should leave wild
animals alone." Why did she probably state the rule the way she did?
A. Her way is clearer and easier to understand.
B. The rhyme will help people remember the rule.
C. She wanted to quote a famous poem.
D. She likes poetry better than prose.
6.
The author makes a strong point for kids to
A. ask parents to care for the pets.
B. take care of their own pets.
C. choose one type of pet over the others.
D. spend money on pets.
7.
According to the author, which pet would be the best choice for someone who lives in an apartment?
A. horse
B. goat
C. raccoon
D. cat
The Purpose of Rice
Each year farmers throughout the world harvest about 535 million short tons of rice. In addition to being a main
food source, rice now serves a second purpose. For many years the outer covering of rice, called hulls, was
considered a waste and was burned. Now, however, a way has been found to change the rice hulls into high-quality
cement, a scarce item in many developing countries. A controlled-temperature furnace has been developed in which
hulls are burned and ash is obtained. Mixed with lime, the ash becomes a rich black cement which is extremely
attractive for both public and private buildings. Equally important, it can be helpful to those growing nations which
need a sure supply of good cement at a reasonable cost. Thus, rice now is used not only as a food, but also as a
building material.
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_GCPS_05_RD_RSVC_T2 (_GCPS_05_RD_RSVC_T2)
8.
The words public and private in the passage are
A. antonyms.
B. synonyms.
C. homophones.
D. contractions.
9.
A supporting detail provided in this passage is
A. that most rice is boiled before being eaten.
B. that rice hulls can also be used for fertilizer.
C. that cement made from rice hulls is black.
D. that the rice flower is called the panicle.
10.
The MAIN idea of the passage is
A. about 535 million short tons of rice are grown worldwide each year.
B. the ash from burned hulls must be mixed with lime.
C. rice can be used as a food and as a building material.
D. growing nations need a steady supply of good cement.
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_GCPS_05_RD_RSVC_T2 (_GCPS_05_RD_RSVC_T2)
Answer Key
1. C) chipmunk
2. A) It tells things about pets they might forget to think about when picking a pet.
3. B) They all can be affectionate.
4. A) parental approval
5. B) The rhyme will help people remember the rule.
6. B) take care of their own pets.
7. D) cat
8. A) antonyms.
9. C) that cement made from rice hulls is black.
10. C) rice can be used as a food and as a building material.
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