Reading LeveL 5-6… · occurred in Peshtigo, Wisconsin in 1871. Over 1,200 people lost their...

Authors: Marion Hindes & Anne Sattler Cover Designer: Danny Beck

REM 953

Skills-Based Reading

Reading LeveL 5-6

©2016, 2010, 2002Copyright by Remedia Publications, Inc.

All Rights Reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.

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A TeAching ResouRce FRom

This product utilizes innovative strategies and proven methods to improve student learning. The product is based upon reliable research and effective practices that have been replicated in classrooms across the United States. Information regarding the Common Core State Standards this product meets is available at www.rempub.com/standards.

Skills-Based Reading ii ©Remedia Publications

CONTENTS

The stories and activities in this book are designed to capture student interest while building valuable word, comprehension, thinking, writing, and research skills. The Fry Graph Scale was used to help determine readability. Selections range from approximately early 5th to late 6th.*

Each story features vocabulary words to be introduced prior to reading. Particularly in science-related selections, the questions following the story may ask students to find certain definitions. You may wish to glance at the questions before assigning the story to determine if this is the case. You could then choose to introduce the new words yourself, or have the students look them up before reading the story.

The questions following each selection are labeled according to the primary skills they target. Consequently, you may decide to cover stories in sequence or according to their targeted skills.

The sections entitled “For Further Study/Writing Practice” provide research and writing activities for students desiring an extra challenge. At your discretion, students may write one paragraph, several paragraphs, or an entire report covering the suggested topic.

*Readability scales are useful as long as one realizes their limitations. Results are approximate guidelines only, with a minimum margin of error of (+ or –) 1.5 grade levels. In other words, a story measured at a fifth grade readability level could easily be suitable for both fourth and sixth graders. Another limitation is that two different readability scales can be applied to the same sample, yet yield widely varied results. In spite of the inexact nature of readability scales, we at Remedia use them because they measure word and sentence length, both valid predictors of readability. At the same time, we realize that these scales are not designed to measure every other factor affecting readability, such as sentence structure or appeal to the reader. We are also aware of the variance in standards and expectations set for each grade level. What is sixth grade material in one school may be seventh, or even eighth in another. At Remedia we strive to take all these factors into consideration as we develop and revise materials. We leave the rest in your capable hands. Regarding readability, you – and your students – will be the final judge.

Raging River .......................................................................................................................1Fire! ....................................................................................................................................4GPS (Global Positioning System).........................................................................................7Wearable Computers ........................................................................................................10Camera in a Pill ................................................................................................................13Phytonutrients ..................................................................................................................16A History of Money ..........................................................................................................19Earthquake! ......................................................................................................................22The Changing Population .................................................................................................25Cancer-Eating Bacteria ......................................................................................................28The Future of Robotics ......................................................................................................31Cybersurgery ....................................................................................................................34Cooking Garbage .............................................................................................................37Self-Driving Cars ..............................................................................................................40

INTRODUCTION

©Remedia Publications 1 Skills-Based Reading

Name ________________________________________

WORd LiSTWORd LiST

“The Flood of the Century” began with a cold, brutal winter in the upper Midwest. Record snowfalls together with a spring ice storm sealed the fate of the towns along the Red River. The river simply could not hold all this water. A flood was sure to come. Grand Forks, North Dakota and East Grand Forks, Minnesota would be the hardest hit. As the 1997 spring flood season approached, people nervously watched the river — and waited.

The Red River is unusual. It flows north instead of south. It often looks sleepy in the summer. But it can become a raging monster in the spring.

That spring the hardy Midwesterners built and reinforced dikes. Many helped sandbag. People worked feverishly around the clock. Still the relentless river rose. It would crest (reach its highest point) at 54.4 feet. The normal flood stage is 28 feet.

Finally, on April 18 the brave citizens lost their fight. The dikes gave way. As water poured into both cities, most people had to evacuate. The next day, 60,000 people were out of their homes. A fire in downtown Grand Forks destroyed 11 buildings. One of these buildings housed the Grand Forks Herald newspaper. Though it lost its offices, it did not

bru • tal

fe • ver • ish • ly

re • lent • less

Raging Riverre • in • force

Pu • lit • zer Prize

e • vac • u • ate

miss a day of publishing. The paper continued to keep flood-weary people informed. It later received a Pulitzer Prize for its efforts.

The 1997 flood caused terrible problems. Ninety percent of Grand Forks and all of East Grand Forks had to be evacuated. For weeks, even months, people lived with relatives or in special trailers. Some stayed at the air base ten miles away. Many lost all they owned. Three out of four homes in Grand Forks suffered flood damage. Almost all the homes in East Grand Forks did. Damages totaled $2 billion. Streets were lined with ruined items, resulting in 60,000 tons of trash having to be hauled away. Fortunately, thousands of volunteers rushed to help with the cleanup. Most fortunate of all, no lives were lost.

Since then, both cities have rebuilt. People are working hard to develop a better dike system in this flood-prone area. The lessons of 1997 will not soon be forgotten.

Skills-Based Reading 2 ©Remedia Publications

Name ________________________________________

GettinG the Facts

1. What did the people along the river do to prepare for the flood?

________________________________________________________

2. Why did 60,000 people need to evacuate?_______________________

3. Why did the Grand Forks Herald receive a Pulitzer Prize?

________________________________________________________

4. Name two bad results of the flood. _____________________________

________________________________________________________Dictionary skills / Vocabulary

5. Look up rage or raging in the dictionary. What would a raging river be

like? ____________________________________________________

________________________________________________________WorD analysis / Vocabulary

6. What does it mean to seal the fate of something? Circle the letter of the closest meaning.

A. to glue together

B. to be the cause of something bad that is sure to happen

C. to seal shutSequenCe

7. number these events in the order they happened.

_____ Volunteers helped the flood victims.

_____ Record amounts of snow fell, and an ice storm struck.

_____ The dikes broke.

_____ Both towns were flooded.

Raging River


Name ________________________________________

comparison/contrast

8. How is the Red River different from most rivers? __________________

________________________________________________________

9. How can the Red River in the summer be different than the Red River

in the spring? _____________________________________________cause anD eFFect

10. What caused the flood of 1997? _______________________________

________________________________________________________DraWinG conclusions

11. What have you learned about the amount of damage and suffering that

a flood can cause? _________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________applyinG inFormation

12. How can people help others who have experienced something difficult,

such as a flood? ___________________________________________

________________________________________________________

For Further Study/Writing Practice:Look up flood control. Gather information from print or digital sources. What are some methods of flood control? Write a paragraph about what you find.

Raging River


Name ________________________________________

WORd LiSTWORd LiST

oc • cur

fier • y

dis • as • ter

trag • e • dy

tech • nique

es • ti • mate

The united States has a long history of forest fires. Before the days of modern fire prevention and firefighting, they took many lives. One of the nation’s worst forest fires occurred in Peshtigo, Wisconsin in 1871. Over 1,200 people lost their lives. Four million acres burned. Another fiery disaster, a rare firestorm, struck Hinckley, Minnesota in 1894. Six hundred lives were lost. More would have died if not for the bravery of a few railroad employees. As the hungry flames approached, they rescued as many people as they could. Six towns and more than 160,000 acres were destroyed in that fire. In 1918, tragedy struck again in Cloquet, Minnesota. This time, 1,000 people were killed.

Today, most fires occur in the western states, not in the Midwest. Fortunately, not nearly as many lives are lost. This is due in part to better warning systems. Forest patrols and aircraft watch for signs of fire. If one

does start, they watch its progress closely. People who are too close to the fire can be sent to a safer place.

Firefighting techniques have also saved lives. Firefighters use several methods to stop fires. They may dig ditches around the fire. Or they may use a backfire. To do this, they burn an area ahead of the fire. When the fire gets to the ditch or the burned area, it stops. Since there is no more dead wood or thick brush to burn, the fire goes out. Sometimes airplanes drop special chemicals on the fire.

It is estimated is that two-thirds of fires are started accidentally. Almost one out of four is set on purpose. About one in ten is caused by lightning. Another important factor is dry weather. Dead wood and thick brush also play a part in starting forest fires.

Forest workers often allow fires that are started by lightning to burn. Or they may set a controlled fire on purpose. These fires help clean up the forest. Fires can help some trees and plants grow better afterward. They can also prevent a worse fire in the future. But all such fires must be watched closely.

We have made great progress since the deadly fires of a century ago.

Fire!


Name ________________________________________

GettinG the Facts

1. What area of the country had terrible fires a century (100 years) ago?

________________________________________________________

2. Where do most forest fires occur today? ________________________

3. Why are fewer lives lost today? _______________________________

4. Name two ways that firefighters can stop fires. ___________________


5. Look up control or controlled in the dictionary. What do you think a

controlled fire is? ___________________________________________

________________________________________________________Vocabulary

6. Write synonyms for these words. use words from the word list or the story.

flames: __________________________________________________

burning: __________________________________________________

happen: __________________________________________________

tragedy: __________________________________________________

method; way:______________________________________________context clues

7. What does factor mean? (Use the words around it to help you figure it

out.) ____________________________________________________

Fire!


Name ________________________________________

analoGies

8. Use words from the story to finish these analogies.

Wind is to windy AS fire is to ______________.

Policeman is to police car AS _______________ is to fire truck.cause anD eFFect

9. Name two causes of forest fires. _______________________________

________________________________________________________makinG inFerences

10. Forest workers sometimes set a controlled fire. How could this help

prevent a worse fire in the future? _____________________________


11. Think of the example of the railroad employees. How do some people

respond when there is a tragedy?______________________________

________________________________________________________analyzinG inFormation

12. What happened over and over again before modern fire control

methods were used?________________________________________

________________________________________________________

Fire!

For Further Study/Writing Practice:Look up fire prevention. Gather information from print or digital sources. Write a paragraph about how to prevent forest fires.


Name ________________________________________

WORd LiSTWORd LiST

GPS stands for Global Positioning System. It can closely pinpoint where a person or object is located. It does this by using GPS receivers and satellites. A ground receiver uses the signal from a satellite in space to tell where something is on earth. It does this by measuring the time it takes the signals to travel from a satellite to its location, which determines the user’s longitude, latitude, and altitude.

The u.S. Defense Department created the system for the armed forces. They first used it in the 1991 Gulf War. The GPS was a great success. It guided bombs and missiles. It helped U.S. troops find their way in the Arabian Desert.

At first, the military did not want others to use the GPS. But, in time, they gave in to pressure from the makers of the system. These companies wanted to sell it to more people.

The military did finally let others use the system. But they still kept the best signal for themselves. Their signal can be accurate within 0.4 inches. The signal for civilians has become accurate within 33 feet. Technology is always improving.

gPSpin • point

mil • i • tar • y

sat • el • lites

ci • vil • ians

se • cu • ri • ty

pri • va • cy

The GPS is used in many ways. Fire trucks and ambulances use it to help them get to people in trouble. Boaters and pilots can stay on course with it. Many cars have the system as well. Drivers can find out where they are if they are lost. They can also get directions to where they are going. Most cell phones even have GPS now.

GPS has been very helpful. But it also worries people. They are concerned about privacy. What if someone does not want to be found by satellite? What if a law is passed that says everyone must wear a receiver so they can be found easily? Some are also concerned about security. How can we keep the wrong people from using it? These are some of the problems that must be solved to make the best use of this amazing system.


Name ________________________________________

GettinG the Facts

1. What does the Global Positioning System (GPS) do? ______________

________________________________________________________

2. The GPS was first developed for whom? ________________________

3. When was it first used? ______________________________________

________________________________________________________

4. Write two other uses of the GPS today. _________________________


5. Look up pressure in the dictionary. Write its correct meaning (the one

that fits the way it is used in the story). __________________________

________________________________________________________WorD analysis

6. Write the noun forms of these words. The first one is done for you. (You may use a dictionary to help you.)

private: __________________________________________________

locate: ___________________________________________________

succeed: _________________________________________________makinG inFerences

7. Why do you think the makers of the GPS wanted to sell it to more people?

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

gPS

privacy


Name ________________________________________

comparison/contrast

8. In the past, how has the military signal been different than the civilian

signal? __________________________________________________

________________________________________________________classiFyinG inFormation

9. Are the people in these groups military or civilian?

the President, senators, postal workers: _________________________

Army, Navy, Air Force: ______________________________________eValuatinG inFormation

10. What do you think should be done to protect people’s privacy? _______

________________________________________________________

11. What type of person would you not want to use the GPS? ___________

________________________________________________________preDictinG outcomes

12. What are some other uses the GPS might have in the future? ________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

gPS

For Further Study/Writing Practice:Look up Global Positioning System. Gather information from print or digital sources. Write a paragraph about something new that you learn.


Name ________________________________________

WORd LiSTWORd LiST

aug • ment • ed

con • sist

land • mark

sur • round • ings

track • ing

sys • tem

Wearable Computers

A new kind of computer is being developed. It is called an AR (augmented reality) computer. This means it adds to what a person is looking at. It will be able to add things like printed words to the real world that people see.

The AR system needs three things in order to work. One is the headset. At this time it consists of goggles and small video cameras. Another part is the computer itself. It can be carried in a backpack. The third thing it needs is a tracking system. The one now in use is GPS.

How do all these parts work together? First, the computer uses the GPS receiver to find the wearer’s location. Then it can pull up information about the person’s surroundings. When that person looks at something,

information about it will show on his goggles. He might look at a landmark, for instance. The computer researches it. Then it shows facts about the landmark on the goggles. It would be like looking at printed words on a screen while a TV program is on. Right now, most headsets have to use video cameras. It is too expensive to develop one that uses the eyes alone.

Tourists could not only use this system for landmarks. They could also “point” at a restaurant and find out the menu for the day. It would help them find their way around as well.

Another use for the AR computer is with video games. It would make them seem more real.

The military is also researching this system. It would be very helpful to them. In the future, it could connect soldiers’ goggles to spy satellites or airplanes. It also could warn them of a nearby enemy.

Researchers hope to make the entire system smaller and more accurate. They would like to use smaller eyeglasses.

How soon do you think we will be able to use the AR computer?


Name ________________________________________

GettinG the Facts

1. What will an AR (augmented reality) computer be able to do?

________________________________________________________

2. What are the three parts of the AR computer? ____________________

________________________________________________________

3. How do researchers want to improve the AR computer?

________________________________________________________

4. name two of the ways the AR computer could be used.


5. Look up augment in the dictionary. Write the definition that fits the way

it is used in the story. _______________________________________

________________________________________________________WorD analysis

6. Beside each of the words below write whether it is a noun, a verb, or an adjective. (use a dictionary if you need to.)

wear: ______________________ locate: ___________________

wearable: __________________ local: ____________________

wearer: ____________________ location: _________________classiFyinG inFormation

7. name three groups of people who could use the AR system.

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

Wearable Computers


Name ________________________________________

summarizinG

8. Write one or two sentences telling what the story was about.

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________Fact or opinion

9. Write F if the sentence is fact. Write O if it is opinion.

____ The AR computer will never work well.

____ The AR system is made up of three parts.

____ The military is studying the AR system.

____ The AR computer system is a good idea.DraWinG conclusions

10. People are working on a more accurate satellite signal for the AR system. What does this tell you about the GPS signal they have had before?


11. How do the parts of the AR system work together? ________________


12. Do you think the AR system will be used by many people? __________

Why or why not? ___________________________________________

________________________________________________________

Wearable Computers

For Further Study/Writing Practice: Imagine that you can use the AR system for a day. Write a paragraph about the different ways you might use it.


Name ________________________________________

WORd LiSTWORd LiST

Camera in a Pilldi • ag • nose

di • ges • tive

in • tes • tine

break • through

trans • mit • ter

pro • ce • dure

Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona has a new way to diagnose digestive problems. This means they have a new way to tell what is wrong with the way a patient digests his food.

The doctors at Mayo can simply have a patient swallow a pill. This amazing plastic pill is about the size of a large vitamin tablet. It contains a tiny video camera. The camera takes pictures of the small intestine. It does this as it passes through the body. The pill also holds other things. There is a light to help the camera “see.” There is a battery to give it power. The pill also has a transmitter. It sends pictures from the camera to a recorder. The recorder, which looks like a walkman, is worn on the patient’s waist. It stores the pictures. Taking and storing these pictures may take about eight hours.

After the pictures are taken and stored, they are downloaded onto a computer. The computer has special software that changes the pictures into video form. Doctors can then study the video. They may speed it up or slow it down. They can find out what is wrong with the patient. Then they can decide on the best treatment for him.

This new procedure is a breakthrough in medicine. Other tests before helped doctors see only four or five feet of the small intestine. With this new test they can see all thirty feet of it. The old tests were unpleasant. The new procedure is easy and painless. It is also more accurate.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the new camera pill on August 1, 2001. Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale is only the third place in the country to use it. The new procedure will help doctors find and treat disease. It will also teach them more about how the body works. It may also pave the way for other breakthroughs.

What do you think the next breakthrough might be?


Name ________________________________________

GettinG the Facts

1. What does the new camera pill help doctors do? __________________

________________________________________________________

2. What year did the FDA approve the camera pill? __________________

3. How big is the camera pill? ___________________________________

4. name two things the pill contains. _____________________________

________________________________________________________Dictionary skills/Vocabulary

5. Look up diagnose in the dictionary. Write what it means. ___________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

6. Look up digestion in the dictionary. Write what it means. ___________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

7. Look up procedure in the dictionary. Write what it means. __________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________WorD analysis/context clues

8. Look at the two words that form the compound word breakthrough.

now look at the words around it (the context). Write what you think

breakthrough means. _______________________________________

________________________________________________________

Camera in a Pill


Name ________________________________________

sequence

9. number these events in the order they happen.

____ The camera takes pictures as it passes through the small

intestine.

____ The patient swallows the camera pill.

____ Doctors study the video to find out what is wrong with the patient.

____ The pictures are downloaded onto a computer which makes a video of them.

____ The pictures are sent to a recorder worn by the patient.comparison/contrast

10. How is the new camera pill procedure different from the old tests? ____

________________________________________________________


11. How do you think the camera pill could be used next? ______________


12. Besides the camera pill, what are the other pieces of equipment used in

the new procedure? ________________________________________

________________________________________________________

For Further Study/Writing Practice:Look up the Food and Drug Administration. Gather information from print or digital sources. Write a paragraph about what it is and what it does.

Camera in a Pill


Name ________________________________________

WORd LiSTWORd LiST

phy•to•nu•tri•ent

com • pound

fla • vo • noid

fo • cus

im • mune

nu • tri • tious

Phytonutrients

What are phytonutrients (fahy-tuh-noo-tree-unts)? They are helpful plant compounds. We find them in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Diets rich in these nutrients are linked to lower rates of certain diseases. These include cancer and heart disease.

There are various kinds of phytonutrients. One type is the flavonoids (fley-vuh-noids). Flavonoids can do many helpful things. They may boost the immune system and fight cancer. They may also protect against viruses and bacteria. The flavonoids in some plant foods may decrease the risk of heart disease. They may also help protect against weak bones and some cancers. Certain flavonoids in blueberries may help keep nerve cells young.

In the past, plant scientists focused on increasing yields, which means how much plants can produce. They also focused on developing plants that would fight off insects and diseases. This work helped increase the food supply. It continues to be helpful and important. But now scientists want to take their work further.

Scientists have now become interested in phytonutrients. More phytonutrients mean more nutritious food. These plant nutrients

are very promising. That is why both plant and nutrition scientists are working with them. They are trying to increase phytonutrients in plants. They are also working to keep plants from losing the nutrients they have. Scientists are studying how plants can lose nutrients. Soil and storage methods can affect nutrient levels. For instance, if a plant’s soil is poor, the plant will not be rich in nutrients. Or, if plants are stored improperly, they may lose nutrients also.

Scientists are working on more nutritious plants. Some are growing a new kind of tomato. It has more of the red color that may help prevent cancer. Other scientists are increasing the cancer-fighting power of broccoli. More plants like these will need to be developed.

It will take time to produce more nutritious plants. In the meantime, we can eat a healthful diet. We can eat foods rich in phytonutrients.


Name ________________________________________

GettinG the Facts

1. What are phytonutrients? ____________________________________

2. In the past, what did plant scientists focus on? ____________________

________________________________________________________

3. Why have plant scientists become interested in phytonutrients? ______

________________________________________________________

4. What are two things that flavonoids may do? _____________________

________________________________________________________Dictionary skills/WorD analysis

5. Look these words up in the dictionary. Write what they mean.

phyto: ___________________________________________________

nutrient: __________________________________________________

What does phytonutrient mean? _______________________________

6. Look these words up in the dictionary. Write what they mean.

affect (verb): ______________________________________________

effect (noun): ______________________________________________Vocabulary

7. Find antonyms (opposite meaning) from the story for these words:

decrease: ________________________________________________

rich: _____________________________________________________

gain: ____________________________________________________

Phytonutrients


Name ________________________________________

Vocabulary

8. Find synonyms (same meaning) from the story for these words:

several: __________________________________________________

concentrate: ______________________________________________

useful: ___________________________________________________cause anD eFFect

9. Scientists produced plants that had higher yields and that could fight off

insects and disease. This had what effect on the food supply? _______

________________________________________________________

10. What can cause plants to not have many nutrients? _______________


11. Who is more likely to be live healthier, longer lives - people who eat

fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, or those who don’t?

________________________________________________________eValuatinG inFormation

12. Would you like to be a plant scientist? ____________Why or why not?

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

Phytonutrients

For Further Study/Writing Practice:Look up immune system. Gather information from print or digital sources. Write a paragraph about what it is and what it does for the body.


Name ________________________________________

WORd LiSTWORd LiST

a History of Money

Before money, there was barter. Barter is trading one product for another. early man could trade a cow for grain, for example. But it would be hard to bring a cow along every time you wanted to buy something. And what if you wanted grain, but the grain grower did not want a cow?

So man invented money. Money is an item that is used to buy something else. Many things have been used for money in the past. Some examples were beads, fur, tea, and tobacco. Most early cultures also used precious metals, like gold or silver. Around 700 B.C., people called Lydians made coins. Later, the Greeks and Romans did the same. By the 1700s, coins had become popular in europe. People liked coins because they lasted. They were also easy to carry. The value of the coins was based on the amount of gold or silver they contained.

More than 1,000 years ago, the Chinese invented paper money. Paper money had no gold or silver. But it could be exchanged for something the buyer wanted. Because of this, it had value. It was also easier to use than coins.

The same holds true for the checking accounts we use today. We put our money in a bank account. If we see an item we want to buy, we may write a check or use a debit card. For instance, we may purchase something for $20. Our bank will then take the $20 out of our account and give it to the store.

Today we have many kinds of cards that we use for money. As a result, our money system is becoming more cashless. There is also online banking. People pay bills simply by logging on to their bank account and transfering money. no physical cash is exchanged.

Some people want to do away with cash and coins. Cards and online banking make it easier to keep track of money. But other people are concerned. They want to be able to use cash if they choose to. They worry about their personal information being shared. Many feel that privacy is very important.

smart card

deb • it card

pre•cious met•al

val • ue

ex • change

con • ven • ient


Name ________________________________________

GettinG the Facts

1. What is money? ___________________________________________

________________________________________________________

2. By the 1700’s, what kind of money was popular in Europe?

________________________________________________________

3. Who invented paper money and when did they invent it?

________________________________________________________

4. name at least two kinds of money that we use today. ______________


5. Look up tracking in the dictionary. Then write what it means to keep

track of someone or something. _______________________________

________________________________________________________WorD analysis / Vocabulary

6. Are criminals law-abiding, or are they lawbreakers?

________________________________________________________main iDea

7. Write the main idea of this story in a sentence. ___________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

a History of Money


Name ________________________________________

sequence

8. Number these events in the order they happen.

___ We write a check or use a debit card to buy something we want.

___ The bank takes the money out of our account and gives it to

the store.

___ We go shopping.makinG inFerences

9. What makes money have value? In other words, why did paper money

have value even though there was no gold or silver in it? ___________


10. What is one advantage (good point) of using cards for money?

________________________________________________________

11. What is one disadvantage (bad point) of using cards for money?


12. Canada has a Privacy Commissioner. It is his job to make sure that

people’s privacy is protected in Canada. Do you think it would be a

good idea for the U.S. to have such a person? _____ Why or why not?

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

a History of Money

For Further Study/Writing Practice:Look up the Federal Reserve System. Gather information from print or digital sources. Write a paragraph about what it is and what it does.


Name ________________________________________

WORd LiSTWORd LiST

tsu • na • mi

seis • mo • graph

stress

mag • ni • tude

Rich • ter scale

fault

earthquake!

earthquakes have always been feared. In 1557, an earthquake killed 830,000 people in China. In 1750, england experienced five strong earthquakes. Five years later a terrible quake and tsunami destroyed Lisbon, Portugal. It was after this that the modern study of earthquakes began.

John Milne developed the seismograph in 1890. It was used to measure ground movements. Also around that time, Grove Gilbert came to an important conclusion. He saw that faults were a major cause of earthquakes. Before this, many thought that underground explosions caused them.

After the San Francisco earthquake in 1906, Harry Reid made a discovery. He found that quakes were the result of stress building up in the earth. After many years, the weak point in the earth (the fault) snaps, causing an earthquake.

Many people know about the quakes

on the west coast of the united States. But there is another area in the u.S. that is prone to earthquakes. It is called the new Madrid Seismic Zone. It includes parts of Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Illinois.

The most violent earthquakes in the U.S. occurred here during 1811-1812. The area suffered about 2,000 shocks in six months. Five were a magnitude of 8.0 on the Richter scale. eighteen quakes were strong enough to ring church bells on the east coast, 1,000 miles away. People saw the ground moving in waves. Large areas of land rose and fell. Forests and farmlands were destroyed. Reelfoot Lake was formed in Tennessee, and the course of the Mississippi River was changed. Fortunately, few people lived there at the time.

Today this area is more populated. That is why people there have joined together to plan and prepare in case another earthquake occurs. They are studying the movements of the earth. They are telling people how to be prepared. They are also working to get stronger buildings, highways, and bridges. This way, if an earthquake does strike, more people will be kept safe.


Name ________________________________________

GettinG the Facts

1. What did Grove Gilbert discover about earthquakes? ______________

________________________________________________________

2. What did Harry Reid discover about earthquakes? ________________

________________________________________________________

3. Where and when did the most violent earthquakes occur in the U.S.?

________________________________________________________

4. name two areas of the u.S. that are more likely to have earthquakes.


5. Look up each of these earthquake terms in the dictionary. Then write its correct meaning.

tsunami: _________________________________________________

stress: ___________________________________________________

magnitude: _______________________________________________

Richter scale: _____________________________________________main iDea

6. What is this story mainly about? _______________________________

________________________________________________________summarizinG

7. In one or two sentences, tell what happened during the 1811-1812

earthquakes. ______________________________________________

________________________________________________________

earthquake!


Name ________________________________________

earthquake!classiFyinG inFormation

8. What groups do these belong to?

earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis:_____________________________

John Milne, Grove Gilbert, Harry Reid: __________________________

Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois: _________________Fact or opinion

9. Write F if the statement is fact. Write O if it is opinion. ___ A seismograph measures ground movements. ___ The Richter scale measures how strong an earthquake is. ___ It is a bad idea to live in an area that is earthquake-prone.

cause anD eFFect

10. What is a major cause of earthquakes? _________________________

________________________________________________________

11. Many people in the new Madrid Seismic Zone know they are in an earthquake-prone area. What is this knowledge causing them to do?


12. Do you think it is important for people to know if they live in an

earthquake-prone area? __________ Why or why not? ____________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

For Further Study/Writing Practice:Look up plate tectonics. Gather information from print or digital sources. Write a paragraph about what you find.


Name ________________________________________

WORd LiSTWORd LiST

The Changing Population

dem • o • graph • y

pop • u • la • tion

de • vel • op • ed

mor • tal • it • y

in • dus • try

so • ci • ol • o • gy

The world’s population is changing. It is predicted that the world population will go from 7 billion people in 2012 to nearly 10 billion in 2050.

The study of human population is called demography. It came about in the 1800s when people realized that they could study the statistics of mortality. Demography studies how economics, sociology, medicine, biology, history, and more affect population. understanding these factors can help predict how population will change over time.

In most developed nations, populations are staying rather even with a gradual increase. Developed nations are more advanced nations. They are richer than other countries. They also have more technology, industry, and access to medicine.

These nations include the u.S., Canada, Japan, Australia, new Zealand, and much of europe.

By contrast, the populations in less developed nations are increasing more quickly. They have 25 births to 8 deaths. By 2050, the people in less developed countries may reach seven billion.

Worldwide populations are changing in another way. They are aging. Poeple have a longer life expectancy, which means that they are supposed to live longer. A major reason for this is better medical care.

Developed nations have more older people than less developed nations. According to the united nations’ Population report, in 2012, 5% the of people in less developed countries were 60 or older . While in more developed countries this number was 22%.

In 2012 there were about 810 million people over 60 years old in the world. By 2050, this number should grow to two billion. At that point, people over 60 will outnumber the population of children for the first time in human history. This means people are living longer! There is better nutrition, health care, and eduction.

high prediction

YEAR

PO

PU

LATI

ON

(in b

illio

ns)

World Population (1700-2000) & Population Projections (2000-2100)

21

43

6

5

87

109

1211

14

13

1700 1750 1800 1850 1900 1950 2000 2050 2100

Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs/Population Division 2004


Name ________________________________________

GettinG the Facts

1. What does developed nations mean?___________________________

________________________________________________________

2. What countries make up the developed nations? __________________

________________________________________________________

3. What is demography?

________________________________________________________

4. What factors does demography study to predict population?


5. Look each word up in the dictionary. Then write its correct meaning.

technology: _______________________________________________

industry: _________________________________________________WorD analysis

6. Write whether each word is a noun, a verb, or an adjective. (You may use a dictionary to help you.)

populate: ___________________ developed: ________________

population: _________________ development: ______________

populous: __________________ develop: __________________applyinG inFormation

7. name a country that may be considered less developed. Support your

answer. __________________________________________________

________________________________________________________



Name ________________________________________

comparison/contrast

8. Complete the table.

interpret Graphs & charts

9. What was the population of the world in 1800? Use the graph on pg. 25.

________________________________________________________

10. What is the predicted population of the world in 2100 according to the

graph on pg. 25?

________________________________________________________cause anD eFFect / preDictinG outcomes

11. What are some causes given for people living longer?

________________________________________________________

12. How do you think the causes you listed affect population growth?

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________


For Further Study/Writing Practice:Interview one or two people over 50 years of age. Ask how their life was different from yours when they were your age. Write a paragraph about what you learn.

Question 2012 2050 (prediction)World’s Population

number of People Over 60 in the World


Name ________________________________________

WORd LiSTWORd LiST

Cancer-eating Bacteria

bac • te • ri • a

can • cer

tis • sue

tu • mor

che•mo•ther•a•py

treat • ment

Scientists at Johns Hopkins Medical Center have created special bacteria*. It destroys cancer in mice. To do this, they first had to find bacteria that does not need much oxygen. Why was this important? The bacteria would have to be able to work inside tumors. usually, tumors do not have much oxygen.

After much searching, they discovered the bacteria (called C.novyi). It is found in dust and soil. It also has a toxin (poison) that can hurt animals. The scientists had to first change the bacteria. Then they could remove the toxin.

In most cases, cancer tumors do not have good blood circulation. That is, blood does not easily flow through them. This is why tumors do not contain much oxygen. But the lack of oxygen does not bother the bacteria.

The scientists decided to use both the bacteria and chemotherapy (chemo) on mice with large tumors. They gave the mice shots containing both substances. The bacteria attacked the tumors from the inside. The chemo attacked them from the outside. The results were amazing. Within 24 hours, more than half of the tumors were totally destroyed. This included even very large tumors. The tumors simply decayed and became black scars. The healthy tissue was unharmed. After two weeks, even the scars had disappeared. Only healthy tissue remained.

It will take years before this experiment is tried on humans. In the meantime, scientists need to solve some problems. First, they must find the best chemo drugs to use. Chemo can kill cancer cells. But it can also kill healthy cells. Second, they must find ways to deal with the toxins given off by the decaying tumors. These toxins can make a person sick.

Treatments that work on mice may not work on people. new treatments need to be completely tested. It is important that they not do any harm. It is also important that they work.

To simplify, only bacteria is used.Bacterium is the singular form while bacteria is the plural.


Name ________________________________________

GettinG the Facts

1. Who created a special kind of bacteria that destroys cancer?

________________________________________________________

2. What did they have to do to the bacteria before they could use it on

animals? _________________________________________________

3. Scientists gave mice shots that contained what two substances? _____

________________________________________________________

4. What are two problems scientists must solve before they can test this

on humans? ______________________________________________

________________________________________________________Dictionary skills

5. Look each word up in the dictionary. Then write its correct meaning.

tissue: ___________________________________________________

chemotherapy: ____________________________________________

treatment: ________________________________________________sequence

6. number these events in the order they happened.

___ The scars disappeared, and only healthy tissue remained.

___ Scientists gave mice shots containing bacteria and chemo.

___ More than half the tumors were destroyed within 24 hours.

___ Scientists found and changed the C.novyi bacteria.



Name ________________________________________

main iDea

7. What is this story mostly about? _______________________________cause anD eFFect

8. Why don’t tumors have much oxygen? __________________________

9. What effect did the shots have on the mice’s tumors? ______________


10. Treatments that work on mice may not work on people. Why is this?


11. Why do you suppose it takes so long to develop new medical

treatments for people? ______________________________________


12. Do you think scientists will find a way to make this treatment work for

humans? ________ Support your answer. ______________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

For Further Study/Writing Practice:Look up clinical trial. Gather information from print or digital sources. Write a paragraph about what it is and how it is used to try out new treatments.



Name ________________________________________

WORd LiSTWORd LiST

The Future of Robotics

ro • bot • ics

sum • mon

med • i • ca • tion

con • scious

pro • grammed

fu • tur • is • tic

For over 50 years, robots have been working in factories. They help build cars, electronic products, and machinery. They handle chemicals that could be dangerous for people to work with. Police use them to handle packages suspected of having bombs in them. Robots are hard working and reliable. They can do the same job over and over without making mistakes. They can work 24 hours a day.

Robots have been very helpful in industry. But they have only begun to be used to help people in their daily lives. Future robots will be able to move about in a home. They will be able to understand commands and perform household tasks. A robot with these abilities will be a great helper for the elderly and disabled. A special robot-like wheelchair has already been developed. It has an arm that can be commanded to open doors. The arm can also pick up objects and

do other simple tasks.Future robots will be able to fetch and

carry. They will cook, clean, and assist people who need help. They will even be conscious of time. They will “remember” to bring medicine to patients who need regular medication. They will be able to “sense” if a person is ill. They can then summon a caregiver to the home.

For those who cannot or do not like to mow lawns, there is a robot lawnmower that can do the job. It knows when to turn at the right places.

Of course, robots will never completely replace humans. They cannot think for themselves. everything robots will be able to do must be programmed into their “brains.” If a situation requires something that has not been included in the program, they will just stop functioning.

Other futuristic projects include tiny flying and crawling robots. They may help soldiers find their way through minefields. Or they may help police spy on hostage-holding terrorists.

Many new uses of robots are being studied by scientists. It looks like they will be an important part of our future.


Name ________________________________________

GettinG the Facts

1. How have robots been used in the past? ________________________

________________________________________________________

2. Robots have just begun to be used where? ______________________

3. Why will robots never completely replace humans?

________________________________________________________

4. name two things that robots may be used for in the future.


5. Look each word up in the dictionary. Write its correct meaning.

summon: _________________________________________________

fetch: ____________________________________________________

conscious: ________________________________________________WorD analysis

6. What is the root word of each of these words?

robotics: _________________________________________________

futuristic: _________________________________________________

7. Write noun, verb, or adjective after each word.

medicine: ________________________________________________

medical:__________________________________________________

medicate: ________________________________________________

medication: _______________________________________________



Name ________________________________________

comparison/contrast

8. How is a robot similar to a person? _____________________________

________________________________________________________

9. How is a robot different from a person? _________________________

________________________________________________________summarizinG

10. In two or three sentences write about the ways robots can be used now

or in the future. ____________________________________________

________________________________________________________


11. How could a robot save human lives? __________________________


12. Do you think that robots are a good idea? ________ Why or why not?

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

For Further Study/Writing Practice:Look up unmanned aerial vehicle. Gather information from print or digital sources. Write a paragraph about what they do and how they work.



Name ________________________________________

WORd LiSTWORd LiST

Cybersurgerycy•ber•sur•ger•y

crit • i • cal

probe

in • stru • ments

un • der • staffed

spe • cial • ist

Imagine a person having surgery. But the doctor is not there. He or she is a hundred miles away. This is not just a future possibility. It is already beginning to happen.

The operation is done through cybersurgery. This kind of surgery involves computers. Machines, such as robots, are also used. A surgeon controls them. But they carry out the surgical tasks.

The robot’s arms hold surgical instruments. The arms are held over a part of the patient’s body. This is the part where the surgery will be done. A camera is also in place. It is linked by an electronic device to the surgeon’s computer.

The surgeon’s computer screen shows a 3-D view of the patient’s body. It looks totally realistic. The doctor also has a set of surgical instruments just like those the robot

has. The doctor’s tools are connected to a control panel. This panel is in turn linked to the robot’s control panel.

The surgeon uses his or her tools to cut, probe, and stitch in the air. It feels as if he or she is actually operating. The robot copies exactly every move the doctor makes. It does this automatically. The robot does the actual surgery, but the doctor guides every move. The surgeon sees everything on the screen as it is happening.

A few specially trained surgeons are now using this procedure. They use a three-armed da Vinci robot. It performs certain kinds of heart operations and gall bladder removals. Its use will likely expand to other surgeries in the future.

Cybersurgery could save many lives in an emergency. If an ambulance has the robotic equipment, surgeries could be performed at the accident site. This equipment would also be useful in time of war. Surgery could be performed on the battlefield. Long-distance cybersurgery could also help understaffed hospitals. Doctors could operate from miles away when no specialists are available. Cybersurgery could be especially helpful when time is critical to saving lives.


Name ________________________________________

GettinG the Facts

1. What is cybersurgery? ______________________________________

________________________________________________________

2. In cybersurgery, who or what does the actual surgery?

________________________________________________________

3. In cybersurgery, who or what controls the operation?

________________________________________________________

4. name two kinds of surgeries done now using robots.



gall bladder: ______________________________________________

automatic: ________________________________________________WorD analysis


surgery: ____________________ special: ____________________

surgical:____________________ specialist: __________________

surgeon: ___________________ specialize: _________________main iDea

7. What is this story mostly about?

________________________________________________________

Cybersurgery


Name ________________________________________

Vocabulary

8. Write a synonym for each of these words. Use words from the story.

essential: _________________________________________________

explore: __________________________________________________

enlarge: __________________________________________________Fact or opinion

9. Write F is the sentence is fact. Write O if it is opinion.

___ Cybersurgery involves computers, robots, and surgeons.

___ Only foolish people would let a robot operate on them.

___ Some cybersurgeries have already been performed.analoGies

10. Use words from the story to finish these analogies.

Specialist is to specialty AS ___________ is to surgery.

Teacher is to school AS doctor is to _______________.analyzinG inFormation

11. Besides the surgeon, what tools are a part of cybersurgery? _________


12. Do you like the idea of cybersurgery? ____________ Why or why not?

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

Cybersurgery

For Further Study/Writing Practice:Look up laser surgery. Gather information from print or digital sources. Write a paragraph about what it is and how it works.


Name ________________________________________

WORd LiSTWORd LiST

every day, sanitation workers pick up tons of garbage from people’s homes. Restaurants and hotels also have a lot of garbage to be picked up, as do schools and hospitals.

Factories make garbage as well. It can be chemical waste that is toxic, or poisonous. If dumped into the ground, it can pollute drinking water. It can also contaminate soil. Then crops cannot grow.

Disposing of garbage is becoming a difficult problem. Landfills are getting full. Scientists are working on a new process, however. It would change the way that garbage is treated in the future.

The scientists can send a strong electric current through a special kind of gas. This creates plasma, a different kind of gas. The plasma becomes very hot, up to 18,000°F.

With such intense heat, garbage can be completely burned up. Plasma incinerators, or furnaces, burn cleanly. They do not give off much smoke.

Contaminated soil samples have been cooked in a plasma furnace. The soil melts down. Then it turns into harmless glassy rocks. These rocks can be used for road gravel.

It takes years for garbage in landfills to break down and decompose. Some scientists think they have a solution for this. They would drill holes in the ground of the landfill. Then they would lower plasma torches into them. This would burn up the garbage.

A city in Japan has a plasma incinerator. It burns 3,000 tons of waste each day. As yet, there are no full-scale solid waste plasma furnaces in the u.S. These furnaces cost a lot of money to build. It will be awhile before they are in common use. Furthermore, critics of the new furnace believe that we should first try harder to recycle. Recycled items would not have to be burned in plasma furnaces.

Sometime in the future, people may have plasma furnaces in their own homes. Then they could “zap” their trash with the flip of a switch.

in•cin•er•a•tor

con•tam•i•nate

de • com • pose

dis • pos • al

pol • lute

plas • ma

Cooking garbage


Name ________________________________________

GettinG the Facts

1. Where is a lot of garbage disposed of today? _____________________

________________________________________________________

2. What country has a plasma incinerator? _________________________

3. How hot can the plasma get? _________________________________

4. name two things that toxic waste can pollute. ____________________



contaminate: ______________________________________________

decompose: ______________________________________________

landfill: ___________________________________________________WorD analysis


poison: __________________________________________________

contaminate: ______________________________________________

poisonous: ______________ pollution: _____________________

contamination:____________ pollute: _______________________main iDea

7. What is this story mostly about? _______________________________

________________________________________________________

Cooking garbage


Name ________________________________________

makinG inFerences

8. Toxic waste has not only been dumped into the ground. Where else

has it been dumped? _______________________________________

________________________________________________________cause anD eFFect

9. What can cause crops not to grow? ____________________________

________________________________________________________

10. Using a plasma furnace has what effect on garbage? ______________

________________________________________________________

11. Why aren’t there any full-scale plasma furnaces in the U.S.? ________


12. How can we produce less garbage? ____________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

Cooking garbage

For Further Study/Writing Practice:Look up landfills. Gather information from print or digital sources. Write a paragraph about what you find.


Name ________________________________________

WORd LiSTWORd LiST

drive • er • less

sen • sors

au• to • mat • ic

pre • dic • tions

ped • es •tri • an

ac • ci • dents

Self-driving Cars

For many years, driverless cars have been featured in science-fiction stories. But the technology is speeding into reality very quickly.

Self-driving cars are able to do all of the driving without a human’s input. Drivers will be able to just relax. Perhaps they will read the morning paper on their way to work.

Many of today’s cars already have self-driving technology. Some cars have automatic breaking systems. These cars sense that it is necessary to stop, so they will, without the driver’s control. Some of today’s cars can even park themselves.

Self-driving cars have been in the works since the 1920s. Those cars were controlled with wires under the road. The road told the car when to stop, start, and turn. Today’s self-driving cars are using GPS, sensors, computer software, and 3-D cameras.

A self-driving car must think like a human. Like a human driver, the car must know where it is. It uses GPS technology to know what street it’s on, in what country, and even what lane it is in.

A self-driving car must also know what is happening around it. Sensors will detect

every kind of object and whether it moves. A self-driving car, like a human driver, must also predict what might happen next and how to best handle it. The software in the self-driving car will need to predict if a pedestrian will cross the street. Then the software chooses the safest action to take.

Therefore, a big worry with self-driving cars is safety. During the testing phases of self-driving cars there have been accidents. But with each accident new code can be written into the car’s software so that it is always learning and improving.

As more testing happens, the safer self-driving cars become. There are about five million car accidents each year. About 90% of all car accidents are due to human error. A car that drove on its own could reduce the number of accidents by a lot!


Name ________________________________________

GettinG the Facts

1. What do self-driving cars use to help them drive? _________________

________________________________________________________

2. How many car accidents are due to human error? _________________

3. Name two self-driving technology’s most of today’s cars have.


4. Look up each word in the dictionary. Write its correct meaning.

sensor: _________________________________________________

pedestrian: ______________________________________________

prediction: _______________________________________________context clues

5. What does automatic mean? _________________________________

________________________________________________________summarizinG

6. Write what this story was about in two or three sentences.

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

Self-driving Cars


Name ________________________________________

Fact/opinion

7. Write F if the sentence is fact. Write O if it is opinion.

____ Self-driving cars use computer software.

____ There are five million car accidents each year.

____ A car that drove on its own might reduce the number of accidents. cause anD eFFect

8. What causes most car accidents? _____________________________

9. Self-driving cars should result in what? _________________________


10. Based on information from the story, do you think it is a good thing that

the self-driving cars get into car accidents during the testing phases?

Support your answer.

________________________________________________________


11. Do you think self-driving driving cars are a good idea? Support your

answer. __________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

For Further Study/Writing Practice:Look up radar. Gather information from print or digital sources. Write a paragraph about what you find.

Self-driving Cars

anSWeR Key


2-3 1) built and reinforced dikes; sandbagged 2) The dikes broke and water poured into both cities. 3) even though its offices were destroyed, it continued to publish the paper. 4) Any two of the following: 60,000 people had to leave their homes; three out of four homes in Grand Forks and almost all homes in East Grand Forks suffered flood damage; damages totaled $2 billion; 60,000 tons of trash had to be hauled away. 5) one that moves with great intensity; one that spreads over a wide area 6) B 7) 4,1,2,3 8) It flows north instead of south. 9) In the summer it is often sleepy and calm; in the spring it can become a raging monster. 10) a spring ice storm on top of record snowfalls 11) Accept any reasonable answer. 12) Accept any reasonable answer. Examples: give money, help with cleanup

5-6 1) the Midwest; Minnesota and Wisconsin 2) the western states 3) better fire prevention and firefighting techniques 4) Any two of the following: digging trenches; setting backfires; planes dropping chemicals 5) one that is held in check; under control 6) fire; fiery; occur; disaster; technique 7) a contributing cause 8) fiery; firefighter 9) Any two of the following: dry weather; lightning; dry brush and dead wood; people’s carelessness; people setting fires on purpose 10) by burning away dead wood and underbrush that could help cause a future fire 11) It brings out the best in them; they respond with courage; they are willing to risk their lives for others. 12) Terrible forest fires kept taking many lives and burning millions of acres.

8-9 1) It closely pinpoints where a person or object is on earth. 2) the armed forces or the military 3) the 1991 Gulf War 4) Any two of the following: guidance system for boaters and pilots; directions for emergency vehicles; directions for car drivers and help if they are lost 5) to force, as by overpowering influence or persuasion 6) location; success 7) to make more money 8) It was more accurate; it was accurate within 60 feet, while the civilian signal was accurate within 100 feet. 9) civilian; military 10) Answers will vary. Example: pass laws protecting law-abiding citizens from being spied on 11) Answers will vary. Examples: terrorists; criminals; countries we are at war with 12) Accept any reasonable answer.

11-12 1) add things like printed words to the world that people see 2) headset; computer; tracking system (GPS) 3) They want to make it smaller and more accurate. 4) Any two of the following: tourists could use it to find out information about landmarks and restaurants; people could use it for getting directions; it would make video games more real; the military could use it to track the enemy. 5) to enlarge or increase; to add to 6) verb or noun; adjective; noun; verb; adjective or noun; noun 7) tourists, video game players, the military 8) Summaries will vary. 9) O, F, F, O 10) It has not

been accurate enough; for smaller areas people need a signal that is more accurate than 100 feet. 11) The computer uses the GPS receiver to find the wearer’s location. When the wearer looks at something, the computer pulls up information about it, and shows it on the goggles. 12) Accept any reasonable answer.

14-15 1) diagnose and treat digestive problems 2) 2001 3) about the size of a large vitamin tablet 4) Any two of the following: a tiny video camera; a light; a battery; a transmitter 5) to identify a disease 6) the process by which food is changed into substances that can be used by the body 7) a series of steps taken to accomplish something 8) Example: a major achievement that opens the door to further progress 9) 2,1,5,4,3 10) It helps doctors see all 30 feet of the small intestine, while the old tests let them see only 4-5 feet of it; the new procedure is easy and painless, while the old tests were unpleasant; the new procedure is more accurate. 11) Accept any reasonable answer. 12) the recorder; the computer; the software; the video

17-18 1) helpful plant compounds found in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains 2) increasing plant yields; developing plants that fight off insects and disease 3) Phytonutrients have so many health benefits. 4) Any two of the following: boost the immune system; protect against viruses and bacteria; decrease risk of heart disease; protect against weak bones and some cancers; help keep nerve cells young 5) plant; a source of nourishment; a source of nourishment that is found in plants 6) to have an influence on; a result 7) increase; poor; lose 8) various; focus; helpful 9) increased the food supply 10) poor soil; poor storage practices 11) people who eat fruits, vegetables, and whole grains 12) Answers will vary.

20-21 1) an item used to buy something 2) coins 3) the Chinese, about 800 A.D. 4) Any two of the following: coins; paper money; checks; cards such as debit, credit, and “smart” cards 5) to follow their trail or their tracks; to pursue them successfully 6) lawbreakers 7) Sentences will vary. 8) 2, 3, 1 9) It can be used to buy something the buyer wants. 10) Cards are convenient; they can make it easier to track criminals. 11) The government or private companies can find out things about people that they have no right to know; they can invade the privacy of law-abiding people. 12) Accept any reasonable answer.

23-24 1) that faults were a major cause of earthquakes 2) that quakes were the result of stress building up in the earth 3) the New Madrid Seismic Zone, 1811-1812 4) Any two of the following: Alaska; west coast; New Madrid Seismic Zone 5) a very large ocean wave caused by an underwater quake or volcano; an applied force that tends to strain or deform something; the measure of the amount of energy released by an earthquake; the

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anSWeR Key


scale used to express the amount of energy released by an earthquake. (An increase of 1 means the energy released is 32x stronger than the number below it.) 6) the history and causes of earthquakes 7) Summaries will vary. 8) natural disasters; scientists who studied earthquakes; states that are part of the new Madrid Seismic Zone 9) F, F, O 10) faults; stress building up in the earth 11) to study movements of the earth; to help people be prepared; to build stronger highways, bridges, and buildings 12) Accept any reasonable answer.

26-27 1) countries that are more advanced in technology, industry, and economics 2) u.S., Canada, Japan, Australia, new Zealand, much of europe 3) the study of human population 4) economics, biology, history, sociology, medicine 5) the application of science, especially to help business and industry; producing and selling of goods 6) populate: verb; population: noun; populous: adjective 7) Answers will vary. 8) 2012: 7 billion; 2050: 10 billion; 2012: 810 million; 2050: 2 billion 9) 2 billion 10) 14 billion 11) better nutrition, healthcare, and education. 12) Answers will vary.

29-30 1) scientists at Johns Hopkins 2) They had to first change it, then remove the toxin. 3) the bacteria and chemo 4) find the best chemo drugs to use, and find ways to deal with the toxins given off by decaying tumors 5) a group of similar cells that perform a function in the body; a cancer treatment that uses chemicals; the application of remedies for disease or injury 6) 4, 2, 3, 1 7) an experiment with cancer-eating bacteria 8) They don’t have good blood circulation. 9) More than half the tumors were destroyed within 24 hours. 10) People and animals have different physical makeups. 11) because so much experimenting and testing needs to be done 12) Accept any reasonable answer.

32-33 1) to make cars, electronic products, and machinery; to handle chemicals; to handle bombs 2) in homes, to help with daily living 3) because they can’t think for themselves; they must be programmed 4) Any two of the following: bringing medicine to people; calling for help; guiding soldiers through minefields; helping spy on terrorists 5) to send for; to go after something and return with it; aware 6) robot; future 7) noun; adjective; verb; noun 8) It can do many of the same tasks a person does. 9) It cannot think for itself; it must be programmed. 10) Summaries will vary. 11) by doing things that are dangerous for humans to do, such as handling chemicals and bombs, going on spy missions, or going to war 12) Accept any reasonable answer.

35-36 1) a kind of surgery in which a surgeon directs a robot to perform an operation 2) the robot 3) the surgeon 4) certain heart surgeries; gall bladder removals 5) a small sac by the liver that stores bile for digestion; without conscious thought 6) noun; adjective; noun; adjective or noun; noun; verb 7) what cybersurgery is and how

it can be used 8) critical; probe; expand 9) F, O, F 10) surgeon; hospital or doctor’s office 11) the robot; surgical instruments; camera; computer; control panel 12) Accept any reasonable answer.

38-39 1) landfills 2) Japan 3) up to 18,000° F. 4) soil and drinking water 5) to make impure or unclean; to decay; a site where garbage is buried between layers of dirt 6) noun or verb; adjective; noun; verb; noun; verb 7) a new way to dispose of garbage, or the plasma incinerator 8) into rivers, lakes, and oceans 9) contaminated soil 10) burns it up completely 11) They cost a lot of money to build; critics think we should try more recycling before building any furnaces. 12) by recycling; by using products that break down more easily

41-42 1) GPS, sensors, computer software, and 3-D cameras 2) 90% 3) automatic breaking and self-parking 4) a device that receives and responds to a signal; a person traveling by foot; an educated guess 5) thaving the capability to move independently 6) Summaries will vary. 7) F, F, O 8) driver/human error 9) fewer accidents 10) Example: Yes, because it means their software is learning and improving. 11) Accept any reasonable answer.

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Analogies ✔ ✔

Analyzing Information ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Applying Information ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Cause & effect ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Classifying Information ✔ ✔ ✔

Comparison / Contrast ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Context Clues ✔ ✔ ✔

Dictionary Skills ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Drawing Conclusions ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

evaluating Information ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Fact / Opinion ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Getting the Facts ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Main Idea ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Making Inferences ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Predicting Outcomes ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Sequence ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Summarizing ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Vocabulary ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Word Analysis ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

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Chart ofSkills Covered

(by Story)

Comprehension Quickies Story Binder - Short, Nonfiction Stories for Short Attention Spans Rdg. Level 1.0-5.3 ......................................................................................................Rem 1200D

Comprehension Quickies - 3-Minute Comprehension Activities 5-Book Set.................................................................................................................Rem 444A

Improving Reading Fluency & Comprehension - 48 Nonfiction Stories with Skill-Building Activities Gr. Level 2-3 ..............................................................................................................Rem 173A

Gr. Level 3-4 ..............................................................................................................Rem 173B

Specific Skills Series - High-Interest Reading Activities that focus on Single Skill Mastery(Rdg. Level 3-4)

Reading to Understand ...............................................................................................Rem 445

Finding the main Idea (Rdg. Level 4) ............................................................................Rem 484

Reading for Details

Rdg. Level 3 .............................................................................................Rem 489A

Rdg. Level 4 .............................................................................................Rem 489B

Comparing .................................................................................................................Rem 490

Locating Information ...................................................................................................Rem 4001

Fact & Opinion ...........................................................................................................Rem 4002

making Inferences ......................................................................................................Rem 4003

Summarizing ..............................................................................................................Rem 4006

High-Interest Low Readability - Improve Reading Skills of those Reading Below Grade Level(Gr. Level 4-12/Rdg. Level 2-4)

Amazing Facts ............................................................................................................Rem 1114A

Famous People, Places & events .................................................................................Rem 1115A

Outstanding Americans ...............................................................................................Rem 1116A

Wonder Stories - Intriguing Questions & Answers to Motivate Reluctant Readers 5-Book Set.................................................................................................................Rem 465

Labeling for Comprehension - A Visual Way to Teach Comprehension 4-Book Set ...............................................................................................................Rem 449A

Cloze Reading - Comprehension Activities for the Diverse Classroom Rdg. Level 2 ..............................................................................................................Rem 412

Rdg. Level 3 ..............................................................................................................Rem 413

Rdg. Level 4 ..............................................................................................................Rem 414

Rdg. Level 5 ..............................................................................................................Rem 415

E-Z Reading for Older Students - Build Fluency with Easy-to-Read Stories & Controlled Vocabulary Rdg. Level 2 ..............................................................................................................Rem 3050

HI/LO Reading - Lots of Repeated Practice for Challenged Readers Rdg. Level 1 ..............................................................................................................Rem 750

Rdg. Level 2 ..............................................................................................................Rem 751

Rdg. Level 3 ..............................................................................................................Rem 752

FUNbook of Reading Comprehension - Silly Short Stories, Easy-to-Use Exercises, Plus Audio CD Rdg. Level 3-4 ............................................................................................................Rem 104G

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RP9 v.03 ©2015

Reading LeveL 5-6… · occurred in Peshtigo, Wisconsin in 1871. Over 1,200 people lost their...

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Transcript of Reading LeveL 5-6… · occurred in Peshtigo, Wisconsin in 1871. Over 1,200 people lost their...