The Black Stallion Reading Level 3.2

Adapted Book Usage

These adapted resources are provided by the ACCESS Project at the University of Delaware’s Center for Disability Studies for teachers to help students with significant intellectual disabilities participate in the general curriculum. Please limit the use and distribution of these materials accordingly. Please read and purchase each original text (cited by author) prior to using the adapted text.

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Chapters 1-3

Alec was taking a ship home to New York City from India. He had just visited his

uncle, and while he was there, he learned how to ride a horse. The ship stopped

at a port to pick up a stallion. The stallion was angry and strong. Alec gave sugar

to the stallion every night. The stallion started to like Alec. Alec met a stallion .

One night, the ship was struck by lightning. It started sinking. Alec wanted to save

the stallion. The stallion jumped into the water. Alec fell in with him. He grabbed

the rope around the stallion’s neck. Alex and the stallion swam for hours until

they reached land. Alec met a stallion .

Alec and the stallion were stranded on an island. He found berries and fish to eat.

He shared it with the stallion. Alec named the stallion Black. Alec met a stallion .

Chapters 4-6

On the island, Black stopped a snake from biting Alec. Black let Alec pet his head.

The next day, Alec tried to ride Black, but he ran so fast that Alec fell off. Alec

tried to ride again. He whispered in Black’s ear to slow him down. Alec and Black

helped each other.

Alec and Black were stuck on the island for 19 days. One night, the island caught

on fire. Black screamed and woke Alec up. Sailors saw the fire and came to help

them. They told Alec to get on their ship. Alec helped Black get on the ship. The

captain of the ship called Alec’s parents and told them he was safe. Alec and

Black helped each other.

The ship stopped in Spain. Alec thanked the captain and the sailors for saving him

and the stallion. Alec and Black waited to take another ship to the United States.

Before they got on the ship, Black saw another stallion. The stallions fought each

other and Black won. Alec and Black got onto the ship. Alec and Black helped each

other.

Chapter 7-10

On the boat, Alec stayed with Black until they arrived in New York. Alec’s parents

were waiting for him. They were surprised to see his new friend, Black. Alec

wanted to take Black home. His dad said it was okay, but Alec had to take care of

him. Black stayed with Alec.

Black stayed in a neighbor’s barn. There was another horse named Napoleon.

Black and Napoleon became friends. Black stayed with Alec.

The next day, Alec rode Black. They went faster and faster around the field.

Henry, the neighbor, watched them. He had never seen a horse run so fast.

Henry said he would love to see Black race. Henry used to race horses and he

wanted to make Black the greatest race horse. Black stayed with Alec.

Chapter 11-13

Months passed and Alec was busy going to school and taking care of Black. Alec

practiced riding with Henry’s help. After time, the horse became calmer. Black

was the fastest horse in the country.

In the spring, it was time to start training. Alec tried to put a saddle on Black.

Black didn’t like the saddle at first. Alec whispered in his ear and Black let him ride

with the saddle. Alec taught Black to turn right and left by pulling the rein. Black

was the fastest horse in the country.

At night, they secretly trained Black on a race track. They brought Napoleon to

help Black stay calm. On the track, Black ran as fast as he could. Alec tried pulling

on the reins, but the stallion did not slow down until Alec whispered into his ear.

Black was the fastest horse in the country.

Chapter 14-16

The best race horses, Cyclone and Sun Raider, were entering a race to see which

one was the fastest. Henry and Alec knew that Black could beat them. They

needed permission from the other owners for him to join the race. Alec wanted to

show everyone in the country how fast his horse was.

One night, two reporters watched Black train on the track. They wrote an article

about Black in the newspaper. The reporters called him the Mystery Horse. They

said Black was the fastest horse in the world. After reading about him in the

newspaper, the other owners agreed to let Black enter the race. Alec wanted to

show everyone in the country how fast his horse was.

Alec had to keep the race a secret from his friends and family. He didn’t tell them

that the Mystery Horse in the newspaper was Black. Alec wanted to show

everyone in the country how fast his horse was.

Chapter 17-18

Henry and Alec took Black to Chicago for the race. Everyone in the country was

watching. Alec’s mom and dad were in the crowd. They did not know that Alec

was racing Black. This was the greatest race of all time.

Henry told Alec to stay on the horse and ride him like he never had before. At the

gate, Black started to fight with Sun Raider, but Alec stopped them. The race

started and Black ran. This was the greatest race of all time.

At first, Black was far behind the other horses. Then, he ran so fast that he won

the race! The crowd cheered for Alec and Black. His parents and Henry were very

proud of him and the stallion. This was the greatest race of all time.

The Black Stallion Vocabulary Definitions*This list is a vocabulary reference tool. Teachers should choose existing words and/or create additional words

based on student needs.

Essential VocabularyImportant Vocabulary

Ship- a large boat

Stallion- a male horse

Lightning- a flash of light during a storm that comes from a cloud

Sink- to move down below

Island- an area of land surrounded by water

Ride- to be carried on an animal’s back

Sailors- someone who works on a ship

Captain- the leader of a ship

Safe- free from danger

Fought- physical struggle against someone else

Neighbor- a person who lives near or next to another person

Barn- building used to store farm animals or equipment

Fast- moving quickly

Race- a contest of speed

Calm- feeling peaceful and relaxed

Train- to practice

Saddle- a leather seat for a horseback rider

Rein- a leather rope used to control a horse

All definitions adapted from www.wordcentral.com

Reporter- someone who tells people the news

Newspaper- a printed paper that has information about recent events

Mystery- something that cannot be explained

Secret- something not everyone can know about

Country- nation, territory

Crowd- large group of people

Proud- feeling very pleased with something or someone

All definitions adapted from www.wordcentral.com

The Black Stallion Vocabulary and Object List

* This list is a vocabulary reference tool. Teachers should choose existing words and/or create additional words based on student needs.

Vocabulary ObjectShip Toy shipStallion Toy Horse/ Horse Hair (Mane) Lightning Lightning BoltSink Rock sinking in waterIsland SandRide Riding a toy horseSailors Sailor Hat (Make out of paper)Safe HelmetFought Boxing GlovesNeighbor 2 dolls next to each otherBarn Toy barnFast Toy Car (Demonstrate moving fast)Race WhistleCalm Weighted vest/Sleep MatTrain (Verb) Dog Leash/CollarSaddle Toy saddle Rein RopeReporter MicrophoneNewspaper NewspaperMystery Magnifying GlassSecret Demonstrate whisperingCountry Globe/Map (3d)/FlagCrowd Several dolls togetherProud High Five/Medal

Ship Stallion

Lightning

Sink

Island

Ride

Sailors

Captain

Safe

Fought

Neighbor

Barn

Fast

Race

Calm

Train

Saddle Rein

Reporter

Newspaper

Mystery

Secret

Country

Crowd

Proud

The Black Stallion Comprehension Questions

Chapters 1-3

● What did the ship pick up at a port? (a stallion)● Why did the stallion start to like Alec? (he fed him sugar)● What happened to the ship? (struck by lightning, sank)● Where did Alec and the stallion end up? (an island, stranded)● How did Alec and Black stay alive? (they ate berries and fish)

Chapters 4-6

● How did the Black help Alec? (stopped a snake from biting him, screamed to wake him up during the fire)

● What did Alec do to slow Black down? (whispered in his ear)● Who saved Alec and Black? (captain/sailors on a ship)● Why did the captain call Alec’s parents? (to tell them he was safe)● What did Black do when he saw another stallion? (started to fight, won a

fight)Chapters 7-10

● Where did the ship take Alec and Black? (New York)● How did Alec’s parents feel when they saw Black? (surprised)● Where did Black live? (in a neighbor’s barn)● Who wanted Black to race? (Henry, the neighbor)● Why did Henry want Black to race? (he was the fastest horse he’d ever

seen)Chapters 11-13

● What made Black special? (He was the fastest horse in the country)● How did Alec calm Black? (He whispered into his ear)● How did Black change? (became calmer)● Where did Black run? (On the track)

Chapters 14-16

● Who was watching Black train? (Two reporters)● Why did they want Black to race? (To prove that he is the fastest horse)● What did the reporters call Black? (Mystery Horse)

Chapters 17-18

● Where was the race? (Chicago)● What happened at the gate before the race started? (He started to fight

with another horse)● Who won the race? (Black)● How do you think Alec felt when they won? (Happy, Excited, Proud)● How do you think Alec felt when they won?