Reading Skill by Skill

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2nd-8th Grade Skill by Skill books Key Comprehension Skills with Scaffolded Instruction.

Transcript of Reading Skill by Skill

Page 1: Reading Skill by Skill

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To the TeacherReading Skill-by-Skill is a powerful instructional tool that has beendesigned to help students strengthen their reading comprehension.

Each book in this series provides instruction and practice for a differentreading comprehension skill. The focus of this book is main idea and details.

In Part 1 of this book, students will learn practical techniques and strategiesfor answering questions that relate to main idea and details. Using a scaffoldedapproach to differentiated instruction, Reading Skill-by-Skill teaches studentsabout main idea and details by increasing the difficulty of what they read fromsentences to paragraphs to full-length passages.

In addition, each of the sections in Part 1 provides students with modeledinstruction, guided practice, and independent practice. Teacher support will berequired for students to complete the skill introduction, modeled instruction,and guided practice pages in Part 1. Students can complete the independentpractice pages on their own.

Part 2 reinforces what students have learned in Part 1. Students will read10 passages and answer a series of main idea and detail questions abouteach passage. Students work on their own to strengthen their readingcomprehension skills.

Reading Skill-by-Skill will enable you to target the reading comprehension skillsfor which your students need the most practice. Upon completing this book,you may elect to proceed to other books in this series. These books can betaught in any order.

ISBN 978-1-4204-4196-3R 4196-3

Copyright ©2009 RALLY! EDUCATION. All rights reserved. No part of the material protected by thiscopyright may be reproduced in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, includingphotocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission inwriting from the copyright owner. Printed in the U.S.A. 110.MAQ. Printed on recycled paper. C

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ContentsPart 1Instruction: Compare and Contrast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

SentencesModeled Instruction with Sentences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6Guided Practice with Sentences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7Independent Practice with Sentences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

ParagraphsModeled Instruction with Paragraphs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10Guided Practice with Paragraphs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11Independent Practice with Paragraphs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

PassagesModeled Instruction with Passages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16Guided Practice with Passages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17Independent Practice with Passages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Part 2On Your Own: Passages with Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Individual PassagesMaking Beautiful Music – Nonfiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28The History of Pennies – Nonfiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30Planning a Vacation – Fiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32Working for Rights – Nonfiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34Sailors of the Seas – Nonfiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36Growing a Garden – Fiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

Paired PassagesAnimal Friends in India – Nonfiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40Don’t Feed the Bears! – Fiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41The Story of Swimming Pools – Nonfiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44A Good Place for a Swim – Fiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45

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Compare and ContrastCan you tell how two things are alike? Can you tell how two things aredifferent? If so, you already know how to compare and contrast. The wordscompare and contrast have opposite meanings.

When you compare, you look for ways that two things are alike:

A pumpkin is a fruit.An apple is a fruit.

When you contrast, you look for ways that two things are different:

A pumpkin is orange.An apple is red.

Sometimes it can be helpful to use a diagram to compare and contrast.Below is an example of a Venn diagram.

Pumpkins

How they are alike(Comparing)

How they are different(Contrasting)

Both Apples

red colorgrow on trees

are small

are fruitused to make pie

have seeds

orange colorgrow on vines

are big

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You can compare and contrast many things—people, events, ideas, actions,and just about anything else you can think of. When you read, you may seesignal words that can help you compare or contrast.

Signal Words for Comparing Signal Words for Contrastinglike unlikealso but

as well as on the other handlikewise howeverboth in contrast

similarly on the contrary

Look at the sentences below. Notice how the signal words are used to compareand to contrast.

There is sand on a beach. There is also sand in a desert.

Signal Word for Comparing

Alexander and Leila both like to read books.

Signal Word for Comparing

Unlike most birds, penguins cannot fly.

Signal Word for Contrasting

Kino lives in Japan, but Terrence does not.

Signal Word for Contrasting

When you read, always look for compare and contrast signal words. They willhelp you to understand how things are alike or how they are different. Thiscan help when you must answer questions about what you have read.

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Modeled Instruction with SentencesDirections: Read the sentences and follow along.

1 Hiram likes to play the piano, and Koto likes to sing. They bothenjoy music.

How are Hiram and Koto alike?

HINTThis is a compare question. It is asking you how two people arealike. Read the sentences again and look for details that tell youhow Hiram and Koto are alike.

The first sentence tells you two things:

• Hiram likes to play the piano.• Koto likes to sing.

This tells you how they are different. It does NOT tell you how they arealike.

In the second sentence, there is a signal word.

They both enjoy music.

The word both is a signal word that tells you two things are alike. In thissentence it tells you how Hiram and Koto are alike—they like music.

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Guided Practice with SentencesDirections: Read the sentences and answer each question. Write your answerto question 1. Circle your answer to question 2.

1 Unlike Nadia, Omar likes to play checkers.

How is Nadia different from Omar?

HINTThis is a contrast question. Think about what the sentence tells youabout Omar. How is Nadia different?

Write your answer below.

2 Dogs like bones and cats like milk. Both animals make good pets.

These two sentences compare and contrast

A bones and milk

B different foods

C dogs and cats

D different drinks

HINTLook at the first sentence again. It is contrasting two things.Look at the second sentence again. It is comparing two things.Choose the best answer.

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Independent Practice with SentencesDirections: Read the sentences and answer the questions on your own.Circle or write your answers.

1 On Monday, Matt played the piano and studied math. On Tuesday,Matt had a spelling test and played the piano.

How was Monday the same as Tuesday?

A Matt played the piano both days.

B Matt had a spelling test both days.

C Matt studied math both days.

D Matt studied spelling both days.

Explain how you chose your answer.

2 Bread is soft, white, and good to eat. Toast is crunchy, brown, andgood to eat.

What is one way in which bread and toast are the same?

What is one way in which bread and toast are different?

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3 Karen was wearing a big red hat and a sweater. Clark was wearing asmall black hat and a coat.

Karen and Clark were both

A wearing red clothes C wearing coats

B wearing hats D wearing black hats

Explain how you chose your answer.

4 Terry’s house has two bedrooms, a kitchen, and a garage. Lorenzo’shouse has three bedrooms, a kitchen, and a basement.

Complete the Venn diagram below.

How is Terry’s house different from Lorenzo’s house?

Terry’s House Both Lorenzo’s House

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Modeled Instruction with ParagraphsDirections: Read the paragraph below and follow along.

1 Dogs come in many sizes. Some are so small they can fit in a person’shand, and others are as big as a small horse! The largest dog in America is amastiff. It is a strong dog that has a friendly face. This big dog weighsalmost 300 pounds! The smallest dog is a Chihuahua. A Chihuahua is akind of dog that looks almost like a cat. The littlest Chihuahua ever wasonly four inches tall. When it was born it was only about as big as aperson’s thumb!

What is one way in which mastiffs and Chihuahuas are alike?

A They both weigh about 300 pounds.

B They both look like cats.

C They are both as big as a horse.

D They are both types of dogs.

Think about each answer choice and choose the best answer.

Answer A: The paragraph states that a mastiff can weigh about 300pounds, but a Chihuahua is much smaller. Choice A cannot be correct.

Answer B: The paragraph only states that a Chihuahua looks like a cat.A mastiff is not described this way. Choice B cannot be correct.

Answer C: Details in the paragraph tell you that some dogs may be as bigas a small horse. But, details in the paragraph also tell you that aChihuahua is much smaller. Choice C cannot be correct.

Answer D: Details in the paragraph tell you that both mastiffs andChihuahuas are types of dogs. Choice D is the correct answer.

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Guided Practice with ParagraphsDirections: Read the paragraph below and answer the question that follows.

1 Carlita went to the baseball game to see the Baxter Buzzards play. She likedthe Baxter Buzzards because they were from her town. Carlita’s oldercousin, Eddie, also went to the game. He lived in a different town but stillwanted the Buzzards to win. Both Carlita and Eddie enjoyed watchingbaseball games. They both cheered loudly when the Buzzards scored.

What is one way that Carlita and Eddie are alike? What is one way they aredifferent?

HINTBefore you answer this question, complete the Compare andContrast chart below.

Look at the chart and read the question again. Write your answer below.

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Independent Practice with ParagraphsDirections: Read each paragraph and answer all questions on your own.Circle or write your answers.

1 People use paper and cardboard all the time. These things are verycommon around the world. Both come from trees and are often used inhomes, classrooms, and workplaces. People use paper for writing.Cardboard is mostly used to make boxes. Cardboard is much thicker thanpaper and is usually brown in color. Paper can be different colors, but mostpaper that people write on is white.

How is cardboard different from paper?

A Cardboard is used in workplaces.

B Cardboard is colorful.

C Cardboard is made from trees.

D Cardboard is thick.

2 Prince was a big gray cat who was always making a lot of noise. Hemeowed so much that people thought he was trying to talk to them. But,nobody could understand what Prince was saying. He didn’t use words likepeople use. He made sounds to show when he was happy or sad. Like mostcats, Prince loved to climb. Most cats like to climb trees. But, Prince likedto climb on cars and trucks.

How was Prince like others cats?

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3 In school, we do a lot of reading and writing. Both are very important.Reading is important because it helps us to learn. Books are filled withmany facts and ideas. We can read about many different people, places,and things. Writing is important because it is a way to share what we knowwith others. We can write about things we have leaned, or we can writestories. Without writing, there would be nothing to read!

What does this paragraph compare and contrast?

A books and stories

B reading and writing

C facts and ideas

D learning and sharing

4 I met two new friends when I moved to the town of Benton. They are botha lot of fun. The first friend I met was Shelley. She is nine years old, justlike me. She also goes to the same school as me. Shelly and I play gamestogether and sit together at lunch. The other friend I met is Mrs. Cooper.She is much older than I am and teaches at the school where Shelly and Igo. Mrs. Cooper and I like to talk and read stories together.

How are Shelley and Mrs. Cooper alike? How are they different?Complete the Venn diagram below.

Shelley Both Mrs. Cooper

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5 Pasta and pizza and are two kinds of food that many people enjoy. Pastacan come in many different shapes and sizes. Some pasta, such asspaghetti, is long and thin. Other pasta, such as lasagna, is big and flat.Pasta is usually cooked in hot water. Pizza is different from pasta. It is madefrom dough and cooked in an oven. Pizza is a round, flat bread withdifferent toppings. Some pizza toppings are tomatoes, cheese, and peppers.People can also put toppings on pasta.

How are pizza and pasta alike?

A They can both have toppings.

B They are both long and thin.

C They can both be made from cheese.

D They are both cooked in hot water.

6 Raymond and Billy are good friends, but they did not always get along wellwith each other. When they first met, they always argued over what to do.Raymond liked soccer, but Billy only wanted to play basketball. Billy likedto read comic books, but Raymond preferred wizard stories. The boys couldnot agree on anything! One day, Raymond was riding his bike and he gotlost. Luckily, Billy saw him and told him how to find his way home. Afterthat, the boys became great friends.

How were things different for the two boys when they first met?

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7 In China, many people like eating rice and fruit. Many people in China eatfoods that are very good for them. This helps keep many of these peoplehealthy for a long time. In America, people may have different ideas aboutChinese food because of what they eat in restaurants. Many Chineserestaurants in America use a lot of salt and fat in their foods. This is notusually the case in China.

What does this paragraph compare and contrast?

A Chinese food in America and in China

B Chinese food and American food

C healthy foods people eat in America

D rice and fruit people eat in China

8 Aaron and Sandra both wanted to write stories. Aaron enjoyed writingstories about people he knew. He liked to write adventures that were fun toread. Aaron always drew pictures to get ideas for his stories. Sandra enjoyedwriting adventure stories, too. But, she liked to write about make-believecharacters. Sandra always took a long walk to help her think of ideas forher stories.

How are Aaron and Sandra alike? How are they different? List details fromthe paragraph in the chart below.

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Modeled Instruction with PassagesDirections: Read Part 1 of the passage below and follow along.

Stories Come To Life (Part 1)Not all stories are in books. Real people sometimes bring stories to life. People,called actors, can act out different stories. Sometimes they act out stories on astage. This is called a play. Other times they act out stories that are made intotelevision shows or movies.

Special cameras are needed to make a movie. The cameras are used to recordpeople as they act out the story. Different parts of the movie, called scenes, canbe recorded in any order. Later the scenes are put together in the correct orderto tell the story. Unlike movies, plays are acted out in front of a crowd ofpeople. The scenes in a play must be acted out in the correct order. The actorsmust perform the play from the very beginning to the very end. If they make amistake, they cannot go back and fix it.

1 How are movies and plays alike?

A They are both recorded with special cameras.

B Scenes in both can be acted out in any order.

C They are both performed in front of large crowds.

D People act out scenes in both to tell stories.

Think about each answer choice and choose the best answer.

Answer A: The passage states that only movies are recorded with specialcameras. Choice A cannot be correct.

Answer B: Details in the second paragraph tell you that a play must beacted out from beginning to end. Choice B cannot be correct.

Answer C: The passage states that only plays are performed in front oflarge crowds. Choice C cannot be correct.

Answer D: Details in the passage tell you that people act out scenes inboth movies and plays to tell different stories. Choice D is correct.

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Guided Practice with PassagesDirections: Read Part 2 of the passage below and write your answer to thequestion that follows.

Stories Come To Life (Part 2)People can watch a movie many times. They can also watch it different ways.Movies are shown on large screens in movie theaters. People can also watchsome movies on television. Movies can even be viewed on a computer. If youwatch a movie more than once, it will always be the same. The actors are thesame, and everything looks the same. Plays, however, can change each time.

Plays are different from movies. You can only see a play if you go to a theaterwhere it is being performed. If you go to the play more than one time, you maysee different actors on the stage. Some scenes may even look different. Manypeople like plays better than movies because they can see the story being actedout right in front of them. This can make the story seem more real.

1 What is one difference between a movie and a play?

HINTIn the space below, create a Venn diagram or a Compare andContrast chart to help you answer this question.

Write your answer below.

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Independent Practice with PassagesDirections: Read the passage below. Answer questions 1–4 on your own.Circle or write your answers.

Rosa Goes to CampIt was the end of the school year, and Rosa had a lot of homework, tests, andother things to do. Rosa felt as if she was spending all of her time writing,reading, and counting. Finally, it was the last day of school. Summer vacationhad come at last! Now, Rosa had no more schoolwork—she had nothing to doat all!

1 How were things different for Rosa when summervacation began?

A Rosa had less to do.

B Rosa had more to do.

C Rosa had to read a lot.

D Rosa had to write a lot.

A few days later, Rosa wished she had something to do. Rosa’s mother toldRosa that she should sign up for summer camp. At summer camp, there weremany things for children to do. Rosa and her mother read about some nearbycamps. At the Learning Town Camp, campers could learn about music, sports,and math. At the Wild West Ranch, kids could spend time with animals and goon long trips in the woods.

2 How are the Learning Town Camp and the Wild WestRanch alike?

A They both have animals to play with.

B They are both near where Rosa lives.

C They both are closed during the summer.

D They are both good places to learn about music.

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Rosa decided to go to the Wild West Ranch. It was a little scary at first. She hadto share a room with five other girls and had a very small bed to sleep in.Rosa’s bed was high above another bed, and the mattress was very hard. Herroom was hot in the day and cold at night. Back at her house, Rosa’s was usedto sleeping in her big, soft bed. Her room back at home also had many cuteand cuddly stuffed animals. There were no stuffed animals in her room atcamp.

3 How was Rosa’s room at camp different from her roomat home?

A At home she had a very small bed.

B At camp her bed had a soft mattress.

C At home there were stuffed animals.

D At camp the room was warm at night.

Rosa soon felt better, though. The other girls staying in her room were verynice. One of the girls, Kara, knew how to play music on a violin and could ridea horse. Another girl, Larissa, liked to collect leaves and could play the piano.Rosa even knew one of the girls from school. Her name was Emily. Emily andRosa liked to talk about the fun they had at school. Soon, Rosa was having agreat time at camp.

4 How are Kara and Larissa alike?

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Directions: Read the passage below. Answer questions 1–4 on your own.Circle or write your answers.

Kids Who CareBoy Scouts and Girl Scouts are children who work together to learn and have agood time. The first Boy Scout group in America was started in 1910 byWilliam Boyce. Boys who have completed fifth grade can become Boy Scouts.Younger boys must become Cub Scouts first. Cub Scouts have different levels,or ranks. A Cub Scout’s rank is based on his age. Boys who are 7 years old canbecome “Tiger Cubs.” Boys who are 8 years old can become “Wolf Cubs,” andboys who are 9 years old can become “Bear Cubs.” Webelo Scouts are 10 yearsold. All of these scouts can become Boy Scouts when they are old enough.

1 Webelo Scouts are different from Tiger Cubs because

A Tiger Cubs are older than Webelo Scouts

B Tiger Cubs cannot become Boy Scouts

C Webelo Scouts are older than Tiger Cubs

D Webelo Scouts cannot become Boy Scouts

The Girl Scouts were started in 1912 by Juliette Gordon Low. Girl Scouts alsohave ranks. Daisy Girl Scouts are the youngest. A girl must be 5 or 6 years oldto be a Daisy Girl Scout. Brownie Girl Scouts are 6 to 8 years old. Junior GirlScouts are 8 to 11 years old. Studio 2B Girl Scouts are 11 to 17 years old. GirlScout groups are called “troops.”

2 How are Daisy Girl Scouts and Junior Girl Scouts alike?

A They are younger than Studio 2B Girl Scouts.

B They are the same age.

C They are older than Brownie Girl Scouts.

D They are in the same troop.

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Boy Scouts like to have fun and do many different things. They stay in goodshape and do things outdoors. Boy Scouts often play sports, walk in the woods,and go camping. All of this exercise helps scouts to stay healthy. They learnmany things, too. One important thing that they learn is first aid. This meansthat they learn how to take care of people who are sick or hurt. Boy Scoutsknow it’s important to help others.

3 How is doing exercise different from learning about first aid?

A You exercise to help others, and you learn first aid to stayin good shape.

B You exercise to have fun, and you learn first aid to teachothers about camping.

C You exercise to help yourself stay healthy, and you learnfirst aid to help others.

D You exercise to have rest, and you learn first aid so you canplay sports.

Girl Scouts do many of the same things as Boy Scouts. Girl Scouts camp in thewoods, learn first aid, make things, and help others. When Girl Scouts learnsomething new, they get a patch to put on their uniforms. Each patch letsothers know that they are doing well as a Girl Scout. There are many differentpatches that Girl Scouts can earn. Joining Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts is a greatway to make friends, have fun, and learn a lot.

4 How are the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts alike?

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Directions: Read the passage below. Answer questions 1–4 on your own.Circle or write your answers.

Tonya Tries on Her ClothesTonya watched her mother take a few boxes out from the closet. Inside theboxes were some old clothes. Mother told Tonya it was time to try on herwinter clothes. Tonya did not like wearing her winter clothes. All of her wintershirts had long sleeves and buttons. Tonya liked her summer clothes better. Allof her summer shirts had short sleeves and buttons. Tonya thought hersummer clothes looked much prettier than her winter clothes.

1 How were Tonya’s winter shirts different from hersummer shirts?

A Her winter shirts looked prettier.

B Her winter shirts were old.

C Her winter shirts had buttons.

D Her winter shirts had long sleeves.

Mother took two shirts out of the box. They were both fluffy and soft. One ofthe shirts was pink, and the other was green. Tonya tried on the pink shirtfirst. The shirt was too tight to button up. Tonya had grown a lot since the lasttime she wore the shirt. Mother and Tonya both thought the pink shirt wastoo small. Mother said Tonya should try on the other clothes.

2 Both mother and Tonya

A thought the pink shirt was small

B tried on the green and pink shirts

C took two shirts out of a box

D were wearing shirts that were too tight

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Next, Tonya tried on the green shirt. It was just like the pink one—too small towear. She tried to button up the shirt, but it was too tight. Then, Tonya triedon a blue pair of pants and another shirt. The pants would not button, and theshirt was too short—everything was too small. Tonya was sad that her clothesno longer fit her.

3 What was the same about Tonya’s green shirt and blue pants?

A Tonya liked to wear both her green shirt and herblue pants.

B Tonya’s green shirt and Tonya’s blue pants were both new.

C Tonya could not button her green shirt or her blue pants.

D Tonya’s green shirt and Tonya’s blue shirt were bothtoo big.

Mother told Tonya not to be sad. She told Tonya that they could go to the storeto buy some new clothes for the winter. Tonya picked out a pink shirt and agreen shirt that looked just like her old winter clothes. But, the new shirts shepicked out were bigger than her old shirts. They fit her just right. Tonya alsopicked out a pair of blue pants that fit her. Tonya was very happy with her newclothes. She liked her new clothes even better than her summer clothes.

4 How were Tonya’s new clothes different from her old clothes?

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Directions: Read the passage below. Answer the extended-response questionon the next page. Support your answer with details from the passage.

Oak Trees and Maple TreesSome people enjoy looking up at big trees. Two big trees you might knowabout are oak trees and maple trees. Oak trees are very tall and very strong. Togrow so big and strong, oak trees use their roots to take in food and water fromthe dirt. This food and water also helps oak trees to grow leaves and acorns.Acorns are seeds that can grow into new trees after they fall to the ground.

How tall do oak trees grow? Oak trees can grow as tall as 100 feet. An oak treetrunk can be 32 feet around. Because they are so large and strong, oak trees canlive for a very long time. One oak tree in Maryland, called the Wye Oak, ismore than 400 years old!

Maple trees can also grow to be very big, but not as big as oak trees. Maplestrees are usually smaller than oak trees. Most maple trees grow to be about 60to 75 feet tall. Maple trees can also grow to be a few hundred years old. Mapletrees grow slowly and need a lot of sun. They also need wet dirt in which togrow. A maple tree uses its long roots to take in water that is needed to helpthe tree grow. In the fall, maple tree leaves turn many beautiful colors. As itgets colder, these leaves fall off the tree and float to the ground. Maple treesalso grow little green stem pods that fall to the ground. Inside the pods areseeds that can grow into new maple trees.

Both oak trees and maple trees are very important to people. People can usewood from oak trees to make tables, chairs, and floors for houses. People canalso make tables, chairs, and floors using wood from maple trees. Maple treesalso give us maple syrup. So, next time you are having a stack of pancakescovered in maple syrup, remember to thank a maple tree.

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1 What are two ways that oak trees and maple trees are alike? What are twoways that oak trees and maple trees are different? Use details from thepassage to support your answer.

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On Your OwnPassages with Questions

Making Beautiful Music – NonfictionThe History of Pennies – Nonfiction

Planning a Vacation – FictionWorking for Rights – NonfictionSailors of the Seas – NonfictionGrowing a Garden – Fiction

Animal Friends in India – NonfictionDon’t Feed the Bears! – Fiction

The Story of Swimming Pools – NonfictionA Good Place for a Swim – Fiction

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Directions: Read the passage below and answer the questions on the next page.

Making Beautiful MusicGeorge Gershwin was a famous songwriter during the early 1900s. George isknown as one of America’s greatest composers. A composer is someone whowrites music. Other famous composers include Leonard Bernstein and AndrewLloyd Webber.

George Gershwin was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1898. He grew up withhis parents, two brothers, and his sister. By the time George was a young man,he was playing the piano. He enjoyed playing the piano, but what he reallywanted to do was to write music. Around the age of 15, George started writingsongs for a living in New York. George became famous when he wrote somesongs that many people enjoyed listening to. Some of the songs he wrote werefor plays that were performed on a stage. George wrote songs for movies, too.

George was good at writing music, but he did not write words for it. In 1924,George and his older brother Ira started working together to write songs.George wrote the music and Ira wrote the words. Both brothers became famousfor their music. Today the songs the brothers wrote are known around theworld. Both George and Ira are still honored today for their great work.

People liked to listen to the style of music that George wrote. One of his mostfamous songs is called Rhapsody in Blue. Like many of the other songs thatGeorge wrote, there are no words—there is just music. This style of music wasvery popular in the early 1900s. Over the years, many different people haveplayed George Gershwin’s music. Today, his work can still be heard on theradio, in movies, and sometimes even in television shows. You may not knowit, but you have probably heard some music that was written by GeorgeGershwin. You might even know Rhapsody in Blue.

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5 How are George Gershwin, Leonard Bernstein, and Andrew Lloyd Webberall alike?

6 How did George Gershwin’s life change after he began writing music?

1 How was Ira Gershwin differentfrom George Gershwin?

A Ira wrote words for songs, butGeorge wrote music.

B Ira was born in New York, butGeorge was not.

C Ira wrote songs for plays, butGeorge wrote songs for movies.

D Ira was famous, but Georgewas not.

2 According to the passage,George and Ira both

A were born in New York in 1898

B are still honored for their work

C played the piano as young men

D wrote Rhapsody in Blue

3 The third paragraph comparesand contrasts

A different songs GeorgeGershwin wrote

B music for plays and musicfor television

C George Gershwin and IraGershwin

D different styles of musicpeople like

4 Rhapsody in Blue is like othersongs that

A people like to sing

B no one has heard

C were written for television

D do not have any words

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Directions: Read the passage below and answer the questions on the next page.

The History of PenniesPeople in America use many different types of money. Money can be bills orcoins. Bills are made from paper. One dollar bills, five dollar bills, and tendollar bills are examples of paper money. Pennies, nickels, dimes, and quartersare examples of coins. Coins are made from metal. A penny is a coin that isworth one cent. Pennies have been around for a long time in America.

The first pennies ever made in America were made in 1787. These pennies weredifferent from the pennies we use now. The first pennies were much largerthan the pennies we use today. Also, the picture on the penny has changed.There have been eleven different designs on the penny. Today, there is apicture of Abraham Lincoln on the front of a penny. The first pennies evermade had a picture of a woman known as Lady Liberty.

Like all other coins used in America, pennies are made from metal. The veryfirst pennies were made from copper. But, copper costs more today than it usedto. So, now pennies are made mostly from another metal called zinc. Pennieswe use today are only covered in copper. This is what makes them look adifferent color than nickels, dimes, and quarters.

The way that pennies are made has changed a few times. In 1943, pennies weremade with no copper at all. This was during World War II when thegovernment needed more copper for other things. So, for a short time, steel wasused to make pennies instead of copper. Because copper was not used to makethe 1943 penny, it did not have the same color that we are used to seeing.

Up until 1982, pennies were made mostly from copper. But, beginning in 1982copper has only been used on the outside of pennies. These pennies have thesame color as older pennies, but there is one way to tell how they are different.Just weigh pennies made before 1982 and after 1982. The pennies made after1982 will weigh less.

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888.99.RALLY5 What does the last paragraph in the passage compare and contrast?

6 How were pennies made during World War II different from allother pennies?

1 One difference between penniesand all other coins is that

A pennies are a type of money

B pennies are made from metal

C pennies are larger and heavier

D pennies are covered in copper

2 All pennies that were ever made

A were made mostly from copper

B had a picture ofAbraham Lincoln

C were worth one cent

D had a picture of Lady Liberty

3 Which of the following is true ofall coins made in America?

A They are all the same color.

B They are all the same weight.

C They are all made from metal.

D They are all made fromcopper.

4 How was the first penny evermade different from the pennieswe use today?

A It was smaller.

B It was bigger.

C It was made from paper.

D It was made from steel.

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Directions: Read the passage below and answer the questions on the next page.

Planning a VacationEvery year, Mariah’s family chooses a different place to go to for summervacation. Last year, Mariah and her family had a wonderful time on theirvacation. Mariah’s younger brother, Matthias, chose the place for their vacation.He was very certain about where he wanted to go. Mathias chose a water parkwhere the whole family had a great time going on water slides and swimming ina giant pool. This year, Mariah got to choose the place for their family vacation.

Mariah thought about where she wanted to go. She thought about going to thebeach because she liked the sun. Then, Mariah thought that biking on amountain could be fun because she liked adventure. Mariah also thoughtabout going to places with tall buildings and a lot of things to see, such as NewYork City or Chicago. Mariah could not decide where she wanted to go. Sheneeded help to make up her mind.

Mariah decided to ask Matthias if he had any ideas about where they shouldgo for their vacation. Mathias suggested to Mariah that she should choose aplace where there is a lot of sun and adventure. Matthias told Mariah that hewould pick the Grand Canyon if he were choosing. While her brother seemedas if he knew where he would go, Mariah still could not decide where shewanted to go. Then, Mariah had an idea.

Mariah gathered her family in the living room. She told them that she couldnot choose a place to go for their vacation. She asked each person in herfamily to write where he or she would like to go. Then, Mariah placed eachpiece of paper inside a hat. Mariah closed her eyes and reached into the hat.She pulled out one piece of paper and opened her eyes. On the piece of papershe saw the words “Grand Canyon.” Mariah looked at Matthias and smiled.

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5 How were last year and this year different for Mariah and her family? Howwere last year and this year alike? Complete the Venn diagram below.

Last Year Both This Year

1 Which of the following is trueabout Mariah and Mathias?

A Both chose to go to a water park.

B Both liked sun and adventure.

C Both could not decide whereto go.

D Both wanted to ride their bikes.

2 What does the second paragraphcompare and contrast?

A ideas that Mariah andMathias have

B places that Mariah hasbeen to before

C ideas about how to choose aplace to visit

D places the family could go fortheir vacation

3 Both New York City and Chicago

A have tall buildings

B are in the mountains

C have many beaches

D are places Matthias wantsto visit

4 How was the way Mariah chose aplace to go different from the wayMatthias chose?

A Mariah chose a place by askingMatthias his thoughts.

B Mariah chose a place bythinking about fun things to do.

C Mariah chose a place by pickingan idea from out of a hat.

D Mariah chose a place bylooking at pictures in a book.

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Directions: Read the passage below and answer the questions on the next page.

Working for RightsDuring the 1950s and 1960s, many people in America worked hard to betreated fairly. At the time, not everyone in America was treated the same.People such as Martin Luther King, Jr., and Rosa Parks believed that everyoneshould be treated fairly, no matter what their skin color was. Like most otherAfrican Americans, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Rosa Parks were not alwaystreated fairly. So, they worked very hard to get “equal rights” for everyone wholived in America.

Rosa Parks became famous for being brave while riding on a bus in December1955. Unlike today, back then people riding on a bus were separated by skincolor. One day, Rosa was riding the bus home from her job. She was tired from along day. Another passenger wanted Rosa’s seat. But, she would not give up herseat. Other passengers on the bus did not have to give up their seats. But becauseof Rosa’s skin color, she was asked to move. Rosa wanted to be treated the sameas all the other passengers on the bus. So, she did not move from her seat.

After Rosa Park’s brave act on the bus, Martin Luther King, Jr., asked people notto ride the buses. He asked people not to ride until they were allowed to sitwhere they wanted, no matter what their skin color was. Many people listenedto Martin Luther King, Jr. He was one of the most important leaders during hislife. He gave many important speeches. Martin Luther King, Jr., worked all ofhis life so that everyone would have the same rights.

Rosa Parks became famous for her one act of bravery. Martin Luther King, Jr.,became famous for many different things that he did and said to make surethat all people were treated fairly. Both of these people are very important tothe history of America. Martin and Rosa did different things to help people,but they both worked hard for the rights of others.

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5 What is one way that things are different today than they were in 1955?

6 How were Martin Luther King, Jr., and Rosa Parks alike?

1 How was Martin Luther King, Jr.,different from Rosa Parks?

A He was allowed to sit on a bus.

B He gave many importantspeeches.

C He was always treated fairly.

D He became very famous.

2 Rosa was treated different fromother passengers on the busbecause

A she was asked to give upher seat

B she allowed to have a seat

C she was not allowed on the bus

D she allowed to sit by a window

3 What words from the passage tellyou that things are differenttoday than they were in 1955?

A “one day”

B “unlike today”

C “many different things”

D “both worked hard”

4 What does this passage compareand contrast?

A two things that happenedin 1955

B two ideas Martin LutherKing, Jr., had

C two very important people

D two important days inour history

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Directions: Read the passage below and answer the questions on the next page.

Sailors of the SeasLong ago, people from Europe began to sail around the world. They looked fornew places. They went to faraway places that they had never been to before.These people were called explorers. Two important explorers during thisexciting time were Christopher Columbus and Ferdinand Magellan. Bothexplorers were looking for ways to sail from Europe to East Asia, where thingslike gold and spices could be found.

Christopher Columbus was from Italy. But, it was the country of Spain thatasked him to sail across the ocean. The king and queen of Spain gaveColumbus the money he needed to go on the long journey. They had hopedthat he could find a faster way to get to East Asia. Columbus, with three boats,left Spain in August 1492. Columbus and his men sailed west across theAtlantic Ocean. A few months later, their boats landed on an island that wasclose to North America. No sailors from Europe had come to this area formany, many years. Columbus thought he had reached East Asia.

Ferdinand Magellan was another explorer. He was born in a country calledPortugal. He also wanted to find a faster way to get to East Asia. Before sailingon his own journey, Magellan studied the way Columbus had traveled acrossthe ocean. Like Columbus, Magellan was given money by the king of Spain topay for his long trip.

Magellan left Spain with five boats in 1519. Just as Columbus did, Magellanand his boats sailed west across the Atlantic Ocean. They sailed around SouthAmerica. However, Magellan and the other sailors he traveled with had manyproblems. They had to sail through very bad storms and did not have enoughfood. They had a much harder journey than Columbus had had. More than ayear after leaving Spain, Magellan’s ships reached a group of small islands inEast Asia. Magellan had sailed a long time, but had finally found a new way toEast Asia.

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5 How were Columbus and Magellan alike? How were they different?List details from the passage in the chart below.

1 Which of the following is true?

A Both Columbus and Magellanleft Spain in 1492.

B Both Columbus and Magellansailed west across the Atlantic.

C Both Columbus and Magellansailed with five boats.

D Both Columbus and Magellanreached islands in East Asia.

2 Which word in the last paragraphhelps to contrast Magellan’sjourney with Columbus’ journey?

A “other”

B “finally”

C “after”

D “however”

3 How was Magellan’s journeydifferent from Columbus’journey?

A Magellan took less time tofinish his journey.

B Magellan had fewer boats.

C Magellan sailed east acrossthe ocean.

D Magellan had more problemson his journey.

4 Where did both Columbus andMagellan begin their journeys?

A Spain

B South America

C Asia

D North America

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Directions: Read the passage below and answer the questions on the next page.

Growing a GardenTroy and Jason liked Mr. Chen’s class. They both learned many things from Mr.Chen. One day, Mr. Chen explained that he wanted to plant a garden. He saidthat any students who helped with the garden could earn extra points in class.Troy and Jason both enjoyed being outdoors. They agreed that it would be funto help plant a garden. Troy had helped to make a garden at his uncle’s houseonce before. But, Jason had never helped to make a garden. This would be thefirst time.

Troy and Jason both stayed after school to work on the garden. Some otherstudents stayed, too. Everyone was excited about helping Mr. Chen make agarden. Troy and Jason were in charge of digging holes for the plants. Theother students put plants into each of the holes. After one hour, the studentswere done planting the garden. The garden had flowers and vegetables. All thestudents were delighted.

Over the next few weeks, Troy, Jason, and the other students cared for thegarden. All the plants grew quickly. Troy’s favorite plants were the blue andyellow flowers growing along the edge of the garden. Jason’s favorite plantswere the carrots and corn at the center of garden. They both liked the peanutsand berries that were planted between the flowers and the vegetables.

On the last day of school, Mr. Chen let each student bring home one plantfrom the garden. Troy chose a big yellow flower and Jason chose a corn plant.Troy was glad that Mr. Chen let him keep the yellow flower, but he was sadthat it was the last day of school. Jason, on the other hand, was happy that itwas the last day of school.

On their way home from school, Jason and Troy had an idea. They agreed tostart their own garden. The two boys raced to Troy’s backyard and dug holesfor the plants that Mr. Chen had given them. Jason and Troy placed the plantsin the ground and smiled.

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5 How did all the students feel about helping Mr. Chen make a garden?

6 How was the way Jason felt on the last day of school different from theway Troy felt?

1 What was one way in which Troyand Jason were alike?

A They both had helped make agarden before.

B They both learned a lot fromtheir teacher.

C They both liked yellow andblue flowers.

D They both had gardens intheir backyards.

2 To help Mr. Chen, both Troyand Jason

A dig holes for the plants

B put plants in the ground

C choose flowers for the garden

D find peanuts and berries

3 What does the third paragraphcompare and contrast?

A different students inMr. Chen’s class

B different ways to make a garden

C different vegetables thatpeople like to eat

D different things that wereplanted in the garden

4 Which words from the passagesignal that Jason and Troy aredifferent in some way?

A “they agreed”

B “both learned many things”

C “on the other hand”

D “other students”

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Directions: Read the next two passages. Then, answer questions 1–9.

Animal Friends in IndiaIn the country of India, people have a special love for animals. Many peoplethink that animals are just as important as people are. When animals are nearby,people treat them very kindly. People act as if the animals are friends, and oftenoffer them food. People in India don’t just give food to house pets, such as catsor dogs. They feed all kinds of animals, from tiny in size to very big!

What would you give an elephant if one showed up at your house? You mightsay, “Anything it wants!” In India, many people have special foods that theygive to elephants. These foods include bananas and rice pudding. People inIndia also give bananas, fruit, and peanuts to monkeys. They even feed bulls,cows, and other larger animals.

In America, we are used to seeing people take care of animals such as dogs,cats, and birds. People in India also treat these animals very well. But, there aremany other animals that are treated well in India—even animals that cancause problems for people. Some of these animals include rats, snakes, andants. Most people around the world would rather stay away from theseanimals. But, in India they are treated quite well. Some people in India givemilk to snakes and candy to rats!

Many times, large groups of animals that are looking for food and water willcome near the places where people live in India. The people are always willingto help. The people hope that if they are kind to the animals, the animals willbe kind to people. This may sound like a good idea, but there are times whenbeing nice to animals can cause problems. Some animals are wild anddangerous. It is best not to get too close to these animals.

Next time you feed a dog or a cat, just think what it would be like to live inIndia. Maybe you would need to feed and elephant or a monkey!

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Don’t Feed the Bears!Tyrone had two pets. One was a dog named Rex, and the other was a catnamed Clara. It was very early in the morning, and both Rex and Clara werehungry. They ran to the kitchen for their breakfast. Tyrone smiled to see hispets. Tyrone and his family loved animals and took great care of all their pets.

Tyrone filled one bowl with dog food and another bowl with milk. He placedthe two bowls on the floor. Rex started crunching away at his food, and Clarabegan to drink her milk. They were both very happy.

A few minutes later, Tyrone could hear his sister’s pet bird chirping away. Hissister, Katie, was just getting out of her bed. She picked up a box of birdseedand walked over to the bird cage. She poured some birdseed in the cage forIzzy. Izzy was a bright red bird who loved to eat birdseed. After feeding Izzy,Katie went to the kitchen to make her own breakfast.

Katie joined Tyrone and the rest of her family at the kitchen table. Katie had abowl of cereal, a banana, and a glass of orange juice. Tyrone ate a banana anddrank a tall glass of milk. Their mom and dad both had toast and a cup of tea.As soon as they were done with breakfast, everyone helped pack the car for aweekend camping trip. Then, everyone climbed inside the car and off they went.

When they arrived at the campsite they were greeted by a ranger. The rangertold them to be careful with their food. “Never feed wild animals,” he told them.He explained that wild animals could be dangerous—especially bears. If any foodwas left out, wild bears could come looking for it. Someone could get hurt!

During the camping trip everyone was careful not to feed any wild animals. Atnight, they packed their food inside the car. One night, a bear came to theircampsite! Tyrone and his family watched the big animal as it walked around.They were glad they hadn’t left any food out. Soon, the bear lost interest andwalked away. Tyrone and Katie had been very scared. They told their mom anddad that they would remember never to feed any animals that were not theirown pets.

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Use the passage titled “AnimalFriends in India” to answerquestions 1–3.

1 What animal is treated verydifferently in India than it is inAmerica?

A a rat

B a dog

C a cat

D a bird

2 How are rats and snakes alike?

A They both live only in India.

B They can both eat a lot ofcandy.

C They both live only inAmerica.

D They can both causeproblems for people.

3 In India, people give bothmonkeys and elephants

A candy

B bananas

C milk

D pudding

Use the passage titled “Don’t Feedthe Bears!” to answer questions 4–6.

4 How are Rex, Clara, andIzzy alike?

A They are all dogs

B They are all cats.

C They are all wild animals.

D They are all pets.

5 For breakfast, Tyrone and Katieboth had

A a bowl of cereal

B a glass of orange juice

C a banana

D a piece of toast

6 How is a bear different fromTyrone’s pets?

A A bear does not eatmuch food.

B A bear is a wild animal.

C A bear does not like togo camping.

D A bear is a big pet.

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888.99.RALLY9 How is the way Tyrone and his family treats their pets the same as the way

people in India treat most animals? Include details from both passages inyour answer.

Use both passages to answer questions 7–9.

7 Both passages compareand contrast

A pets that are dangerous

B places where animals live

C why different people own pets

D what different animals eat

8 Which of the following is true?

A Both passages tell you whatdogs and cats like to eat.

B Both passages tell you whyyou should not feed bears.

C Only one of the passages tellsyou what monkeys like to eat.

D Only one of the passages tellsyou that wild animals can bedangerous.

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Directions: Read the next two passages. Then, answer questions 1–9.

The Story of Swimming PoolsMost people enjoy swimming in a pool when it is hot outside. Some townshave large swimming pools where people can go to have fun. Some peoplehave small pools in their yards or even inside their homes. Swimming poolshave not always been around, though. Long ago, people had to swim in lakesor rivers to cool off. Then, people thought about making their own pools.

People first began building pools close to their homes so that they did nothave to travel far to find a lake or river. Pools were safe and clean. They weregood places to swim and spend time with family or friends. Some people builtpools indoors so they would not have to worry about rain or storms.

Today, people use pools in different ways. Some people use pools to exercise.Swimming is a great way to stay in good shape and become strong. Mostpeople just swim because it is a fun thing to do. Swimming in a pool on a hotday is great way relax and have a good time. Long ago, people used pools forthese same reasons. But, they also used pools to clean themselves. Pools werelike big bathtubs.

Some things about pools have not changed much over time. All pools are filledwith a lot of water. Even most small pools need a great amount of water. But,people have made some improvements. For example, many pools today can beheated so that the water is not too cold. We even have “hot tubs.” A hot tub islike a small pool with very hot water. The water in a hot tub is hot enough tokeep a person warm on a cold winter night.

Another way that pools have changed is that they are cleaner and safer. Mostpools people swim in today use machines that have filters and pumps. Thishelps to keep the water clean. The first pools that people built did not havethese machines. Today, people also put special chemicals in the water to helpkeep pools clean. Now pools are safer and more fun than ever before!

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A Good Place for a SwimAngela stood in her backyard and looked around. She could see the swimmingpools in her neighbors’ yards. The pools looked like so much fun. The waterlooked clean and blue, and big wooden decks near the pools looked like greatplaces to sit and enjoy the sun. Machines with filters and pumps sat next to thepools and made a funny rrrrr-rrrrr sound. Some neighbors even had hot tubs!Angela could see some of her neighbors in their hot tubs during the winter. But,Angela just wanted a pool to swim in and to cool off in during the hot summer.

Angela asked her parents if they could get a pool. Angela’s mom said theycould not. Their yard was smaller than their neighbors’ yards, and pools cost alot of money. Angela’s mom said they could take a trip to the lake to goswimming, but that was far away. Some people like swimming in a lakebecause it is bigger than a pool, but not Angela. She like liked swimming in apool because the water was cleaner. Angela was disappointed that she couldnot go swimming in a pool. Then she remembered the town pool, which wasmuch closer than the lake.

Angela put on her bathing suit and walked into town with her mother. Theywent to a big place with a fence around it. Angela looked inside and saw a verybig, blue pool! There were many people in and around the pool. There wereold people and young people, and everyone was laughing and having fun. Itlooked like many people were enjoying the sun and having a good time.Angela and her mother sat down next to the pool.

After a few minutes in the sun, Angela was ready for the pool. She slowly walkedinto the pool and could feel the cool water all around her. “This is great!” shethought to herself. Then, Angela saw some friends from school. They playedtogether all day and had a lot of fun. Angela had a great time at the town pool. Itwas safe, it was clean, and it cost a lot less than building a pool in the backyard.

At the end of the day, Angela gave her mother a big hug. She thanked hermother for taking her to the town pool. Angela still hoped that she wouldhave a pool of her own some day, but she was pleased that she could go to thetown pool. She couldn’t wait to go back again.

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Use the passage titled “The Story ofSwimming Pools” to answerquestions 1–3.

1 How are most pools alike?

A They are very small.

B They can hold a lot of water.

C They are built indoors.

D They look like bathtubs.

2 How are newer pools differentfrom the first pools?

A Newer pools are not as big.

B Newer pools help peoplecool off.

C Newer pools are cleaner.

D Newer pools do not needto be heated.

3 Hot tubs are different from otherpools because

A hot tubs are bigger

B hot tubs are warmer

C hot tubs are older

D hot tubs are more fun

Use the passage titled “A GoodPlace for a Swim” to answerquestions 4–6.

4 Angela’s yard and her neighbors’yards are different because

A Angela’s yard has a pool

B her neighbors’ yards are bigger

C Angela’s yard has a lake

D her neighbors’ yardshave fences

5 Angela and her friends

A all had fun swimming in thetown pool

B all have swimming pools intheir yards

C all wanted to go to the lake

D all live next to each other

6 How is the lake different from thetown pool?

A The lake is cleaner than thetown pool.

B There are more peopleswimming at the lake.

C The lake is closer to Angela’shouse.

D The lake is farther away fromAngela’s house.

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9 What are three ways that Angela is like most other people who like toswim in a pool? Include details from both passages in your answer.

Use both passages to answer questions 7–9.

7 Which of the following is trueabout both passages?

A They both tell you swimmingpools cost a lot.

B They both tell you mostpeople have swimming pools.

C They both tell you people goin hot tubs during the winter.

D They both tell you mostpeople like swimming in lakes.

8 Both passages compareand contrast

A different kinds of pools

B different ways to cool off

C different places people go

D different ways to have fun

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