1. READ
REFLECT
RESPOND
Comprehension
Skill-Boosters
A
A
by JOANNE SUTER

3. CONTENTS
To the Student . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
LESSON 1: Sharks Never Sleep and Other Shark Facts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
LESSON 2: Heroes From History: The Buffalo Soldiers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
LESSON 3: Phew! What’s That Smell? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
LESSON 4: John Muir (1838–1914): Father of America’s National Parks .12
LESSON 5: Camels and their Humps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
LESSON 6: The Ends of the Earth: The North and South Poles . . . . . . . .16
LESSON 7: Meet Rosie the Riveter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
LESSON 8: Through Rain, Snow, Sleet, and Hail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
LESSON 9: Would you buy one of these? Some Very Peculiar Patents . . . .22
LESSON 10: How to Get a Passport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
LESSON 11: The Truth About Dogs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
LESSON 12: City Coyotes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
LESSON 13: On the Bayou . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
LESSON 14: Happy Birthday, Pac Man . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
LESSON 15: Rachael Scdoria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
LESSON 16: Pumpkin Moon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
LESSON 17: Cesar Chavez Fights for La Causa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
LESSON 18: Writing a Business Letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
LESSON 19: Samurai Warriors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
LESSON 20: How Animals Breathe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
LESSON 21: Death Valley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
LESSON 22: How to Ride a Bus . . . and More! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
LESSON 23: The Trojan Horse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
LESSON 24: Chimp Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
LESSON 25: Angels on Earth: Clara Barton and Florence Nightingale . .54
LESSON 26: A Nutrition Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
LESSON 27: Words of Wisdom: Give Me Liberty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
SUPER LESSON : The Oregon Trail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62

4. LESSON 1
Do you know these interesting facts about sharks?
SHARKS NEVER SLEEP AND OTHER SHARK FACTS
• Sharks are ancient creatures. They shark’s brain is at work smelling things.
were around some 400 million years It can smell one drop of blood in the sea.
ago! Even before dinosaurs roamed the Humans use their noses for smelling
earth, sharks hunted the seas. and breathing, but a shark’s nose is
only for smell. Sharks see things in
• Sharks are survival machines. They’re color. They can make out a light ten
well designed to stay alive. They have times dimmer than any
the strongest jaws on the light we can see.
planet. Unlike other animals,
And sharks have
both their upper and lower
jaws move. If a shark loses two bonus senses.
a tooth, it’s no problem. A line of sensors from head
Why? Another tooth spins to tail picks up vibrations.
forward from a back-up They can sense an injured
row. In its lifetime, one fish quivering in the distance.
shark may grow and Another sense lets sharks “feel” electricity.
use more than 20,000
A shark can sense electric pulses from a
teeth! Sharks can feed on nearly any
creature in the sea. The only animals beating heart.
that see sharks as food are other • Where’s mama? Unlike most animals,
sharks, whales, and human beings. sharks don’t take care of their babies.
• No bones about it! Instead of bones, a Newborn pups fend for themselves. In
shark’s body has cartilage—hard, some species, the strongest pup eats its
bendable stuff like the material in brothers and sisters. This improves its
human ears. This makes the shark own chances of survival.
flexible. Tough shark “skin” has hard, • No need for a wake-up call! Some
razor-sharp scales. types of sharks must swim constantly in
• Seven super senses! Sharks have the order to breathe. Sharks go from
same five senses humans do: sight, periods of strong activity to times of
hearing, smell, taste, and touch. But calmer rest. But it is true that sharks are
there are differences. Two-thirds of a ever-watchful. They never sleep.
Think about sharks.
1. Circle the four adjectives 2. Sometimes the word “shark” is used to describe
that describe sharks a person. What traits might such a person have?
flexible watchful motherly _____________________________________________
sleepy ancient vegetarian _____________________________________________
alert soft furry _____________________________________________
6 READ•REFLECT•RESPOND

5. LESSON 1: SHARKS NEVER SLEEP AND OTHER SHARK FACTS
Circle a letter or word, fill in the blanks, or write out the answer.
Identify a main idea. 7. Sharks never
a. give birth. b. eat. c. sleep.
1. Which is a main idea of this
reading?
Match synonyms.
a. Sharks are well equipped to
survive. 8. ____ flexible a. stay alive
b. Sharks have lots of teeth. 9. ____ vibrations b. alert
c. Sharks pups can be mean. 10. ____ survive c. bendable
11. ____ watchful d. quiverings
2. Write one detail from the reading
that supports the main idea you Make comparisons.
selected.
12. List three ways a shark body is
_________________________________
different from a human body.
_________________________________
• _________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Recall details. • _________________________________
_________________________________
3. Sharks have been around
• _________________________________
a. since the early 1900s.
_________________________________
b. longer than dinosaurs.
c. less time than human beings. Look it up in a reference source.
13. Name three species of shark.
4. Besides the usual five senses, a
• _________________________________
shark can also sense
• _________________________________
a. weather and seasonal changes.
• _________________________________
b. outcomes of future events.
c. vibrations and electricity. 14. Are human swimmers usually in great
danger from sharks? (Give details to
5. When it comes to caring for their explain and support your answer.)
young, sharks __________________________________
a. are over-protective. __________________________________
b. ignore their offspring. __________________________________
__________________________________
c. teach their offspring
hunting skills. __________________________________
__________________________________
6. A baby shark is called a __________________________________
a. tadpole. b. cub. c. pup. __________________________________
READ•REFLECT•RESPOND 7

6. LESSON 13
Alligators, snakes, and nutria . . . Oh, my!
ON THE BAYOU
Would you some red-winged blackbirds singing in
like to tour the trees. Perhaps you’ll see a nutria
the Louisiana darting from the shore to water. This
swamps? Use a hardy creature looks like a cross
flat-bottomed boat between a beaver
to travel the bayous. and a rat. You’ll
These slow-moving waterways wind see reptiles, too.
through the low-lying areas of the Turtles paddle
Mississippi River delta. about. More than
The word bayou (say BYE-oo) was 100 kinds of snakes live in the swamp.
first used by the French in Louisiana. It Three types, including the cottonmouth,
comes from the Choctaw word bayuk, are poisonous. But the king of the
which means “small stream.” bayou is the alligator. This fellow might
As you glide through the shady look like a floating log—until its eyes
swampland, you’ll find a world of eerie and nose clear the surface. He splashes
beauty. Spanish moss dangles like tinsel his scaly tail. The ’gator slides through
from the branches of live oaks and the water and climbs onto the shore. He
cypress trees. The dark, still surface stretches out there to soak up sun.
mirrors the hanging wisps. According to It’s usually hot on the bayou. The air
one old story, these strands are hairs is moist and heavy. If you’re lucky, a
from the beard of a villain named Gorez breeze off the water will keep you cool
Goz. The legend says that Goz tried to enough to enjoy your journey. At dusk,
capture a lovely bayou maiden—but she the setting sun turns the dark waters a
was able to escape. brilliant red-orange. When the moon
The Louisiana bayou teams with life. rises, the Spanish moss takes on a
As the boat intrudes, you might see a mysterious glow. As you leave the
heron perched on a fallen cypress bayou, the slender strands of moss
branch, bald eagles soaring above, and seem to wave a ghostly farewell.
RRRdirections
1. Write three words you 2. Would you enjoy taking a swamp tour?
think of when you hear Explain why or why not.
the word bayou. _______________________________________________
•____________________ _______________________________________________
•____________________ _______________________________________________
•____________________ _______________________________________________
30 READ•REFLECT•RESPOND

7. LESSON 13: ON THE BAYOU
3. Describe a waterway you have seen. Tell something about its location, wildlife,
climate, and surroundings.
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Circle a letter or word, fill in the blanks, or write out the answer.
Recall details. Build your vocabulary.
1. What is the history of the delta legend reptile swamp
word bayou?
a. a Native American word 6. A _____________________ is a
meaning “small stream” triangle-shaped piece of land. It’s
b. a Native American word formed when sand and soil build
meaning “alligator snout” up at the mouth of a large river.
c. a Canadian word meaning 7. A _____________________ is a tale
“travel south”
that has been told for ages.
2. What wildlife could you
expect to find on the bayou? 8. A _____________________, or
a. trout, Canada geese, and foxes marsh, is a wet, boggy region.
b. polar bears, penguins, and seals 9. The alligator, along with snakes,
c. turtles, snakes, and birds lizards, and other scaly, crawling
animals, is a ___________________.
3. What plants would you be
likely to find on the bayou?
Think about setting and mood.
a. fir trees, pines, and tulips
b. cypress trees, live oaks, 10. Which words identify the setting of
and Spanish moss the reading? (Circle three.)
the West the South Canada
c. cacti, sagebrush, and junipers
Louisiana the Mississippi delta
4. What is the usual climate
on the bayou? 11. In the reading, how is the mood of
a. hot and dry the bayou described? (Circle three.)
hectic mysterious eerie
b. hot and moist
ugly beautiful boring
c. cold and icy
Look it up in a reference source.
Make comparisons.
12. Write one fact about bayous that
5. The bayou is most like a: (Circle one.) isn’t mentioned in the reading.
rapid river irrigation system ocean ________________________________
waterfall slow-moving stream pond ________________________________
READ•REFLECT•RESPOND 31

8. LESSON 14
Do you like to play video games? Have you ever played Pac Man?
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PAC MAN
In May, 2005, the world’s most famous The game is simple to learn. It takes
video game character turned 25. But only a four-position joystick to guide
age isn’t stopping little, yellow Pac Man! Pac Man. He goes through a maze
Copies of the original game and gobbling up dots and avoiding “ghosts.”
updated versions are still These are colorful figures that look
selling around the world. like upside down sacks with eyes.
The year 1975 was early If a ghost touches Pac Man, he dies,
in the history of video and the games is over. With each level,
games. Game creator Toru the ghosts speed up, and play
Iwatani was looking for a gets harder.
fresh idea. He wanted Pac Man was the first video
something that looked like a game to name its characters.
cartoon. He hoped it would Besides the hero,
appeal to adults as well as there are the ghosts:
young people. As the story goes, Blinky, Pinky, Inky,
a brainstorm struck Iwatani at dinner. and Clyde. With its
After taking a first slice of pizza, he familiar characters and catchy music,
studied the pie. It looked like a head Pac Man quickly became the hottest
with a big, open mouth! Iwatani arcade game in history. The yellow
pictured it racing through a maze, fellow soon showed up on T-shirts,
eating things. Then, of course, video coffee mugs, cereals, and board games.
technology wasn’t what it is today. In 1982, a Ms. Pac Man game came out.
Iwatani couldn’t make a character as The lovely lady looks like Pac Man but
detailed as a pizza. So Pac Man became she also sports lipstick, a red bow, and
a yellow circle with a wedge of a mouth. a beauty mark.
His name came from the Japanese word Recordkeepers believe that the Pac
pakupaku. That mens “to flap one’s Man game was played more the 10
mouth open and closed.” billion times in the 20th Century.
Think about video games.
1. Do you play video games? If so, which one is your favorite? What do you like
about it?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
32 READ•REFLECT•RESPOND

9. LESSON 14: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PAC MAN
2. Have you ever played Pac Man? Do you like the game? Tell why or why not.
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
3. Compare one of the new games with Pac Man. Think about subject matter,
graphics, difficulty, and about the audiences they appeal to.
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Circle a letter or word, fill in the blanks, or write out the answer.
Recall details. 7. What can “kill” Pac Man?
1. In 2005, how many years old a. ghosts b. dots c. Ms. Pac Man
was the Pac Man Game?
a. 100 b. 5 c. 25 Build your vocabulary.
2. What sparked the idea for Pac Man? 8. Toru Iwatani had a brainstorm, or a (
a. a scary movie headache / sudden brilliant idea ).
b. a partly-eaten pizza 9. Shaped like a wedge, Pac Man’s
c. a fat, yellow cat mouth is ( triangular / square ).
3. The name Pac Man comes from what 10. Moving along a ( straight roadway /
language? series of winding paths), Pac Man
a. French b. Greek c. Japanese gobbles his way through a maze.
4. Who is Clyde? Draw conclusions.
a. a ghost in the game 11. Give two reasons you think the game
b. the inventor of Pac Man of Pac Man became so popular.
•________________________________
c. a champion Pac Man player
•________________________________
5. How was Pac Man different from
earlier games? Look it up in a reference source.
a. It was harder. 12. Pong and Space Invaders were
b. It was more violent. among the earliest video games.
Describe one of these games.
c. Its characters had names.
_________________________________
6. The Pac Man game was meant to _________________________________
appeal to whom? _________________________________
a. young men _________________________________
b. children _________________________________
c. all adults and young people _________________________________
READ•REFLECT•RESPOND 33

10. LESSON 17
How much change can one courageous man bring about?
CESAR CHAVEZ FIGHTS FOR LA CAUSA
“Viva la causa! Long live the cause!” workers had to help themselves. In 1962,
That was the cry of Cesar Chavez and the he formed a union. In 1965, he convinced
United Farm Workers. It was 1965, and workers to overcome their fears. They
California’s Mexican- launched a strike
American farm workers against grape growers.
were calling for change. At first, La Causa,
They wanted fair wages “The Cause,” seemed
and decent working hopeless. But the farm
conditions. If they had to, workers were fighting for
they would strike. their children’s future.
Cesar Chavez had begun People saw justice in their
life 38 years earlier on his struggle. Many college
family’s small farm in Arizona. When he students and community leaders
was ten, the Great Depression struck and supported La Causa. By 1968, Chavez
his family lost their farm. Along with was leading a national boycott of
thousands of others, they headed for California table grapes.
California. There they worked the fields. Chavez insisted that the strike be
As migrant workers, they moved often, nonviolent. Even La Causa, he said, was
following farming seasons. Sometimes not worth a single life. To show his
the Chavez family lived in shacks. resolve, he fasted. For 25 days Chavez ate
Sometimes they slept in their car. As they nothing and drank only water. His
labored long, hot hours for little pay, determination encouraged others. In
Cesar dreamed of a better life. 1970, both grape growers and union
Cesar attended about 36 different workers signed a contract.
grammar schools. He quit school after The famous labor leader died in 1993.
grade eight, but he never quit learning. In 1994, President Clinton presented the
Most importantly, he learned to make his U.S. Medal of Freedom in Chavez’s name.
voice heard. He’d shown how to effectively fight
Cesar Chavez decided that farm injustice—without violence.
Think about Cesar Chavez and his fight for right.
1. Circle one word in each pair that describes Cesar Chavez.
violent / nonviolent determined / weak leader / follower selfish / unselfish
38 READ•REFLECT•RESPOND

11. LESSON 17: CESAR CHAVEZ FIGHTS FOR LA CAUSA
2. Circle two things that workers do when they go on strike.
stay home from their job work harder at their job
advertise for their employer carry signs to raise public awareness
3. What are some reasons that workers might strike? Why might a strike force an
employer to make changes?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
4. Imagine you could improve the lives of workers if you stopped buying your
favorite food. Would you be willing to do it? Explain your answer.
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Circle a letter or word, fill in the blanks, or write out the answer.
Recall details. Build your vocabulary.
1. What was the United Farm 6. A group of people joined together for
Workers? a purpose is a u __ __ __ n .
a. a group of California grape
growers 7. The G r __ __ __ D __ p r __ __ __ __ __ n
b. a union created by Cesar was a period in American history.
Chavez 8. A m __ __ __ __ ___ t worker is a farm
2. What is the meaning of La Causa? laborer who moves from place to place
a. The Cause b. The Dream to pick seasonal crops.
9. To b __ __ __ __ __ __ something is to
3. Where was the struggle described
in the reading? stop buying, selling, or using it.
a. Mexico b. California 10. Chavez believed in n__ nv__ __ __ __ __ __
protest. He would not use physical force
4. What two things did the farm
workers do to bring about change? to get what he wanted.
a. burned fields and smashed 11. To give his followers courage, Chavez
grapes f __ s __ __ __, or went without food.
b. went on strike and started a
boycott Look it up in a reference source.
12. When was Cesar Chavez born?
5. How did Chavez show his When did he die? Write the
dedication and inspire his fellow month, day, and year.
workers?
BORN: ______________________________
a. He shaved his head.
b. He went without food. DIED: ______________________________
READ•REFLECT•RESPOND 39

12. LESSON 19
Could you live the life of a samurai warrior?
SAMURAI WARRIORS
Stretch your imagination back some fear death. In fact, a samurai who
800 years to the island nation of Japan. dishonored himself was expected to end
You’ve landed in a time when an his own life. Each samurai carried both
emperor ruled from the imperial capital. a long sword and a short one. If
Although he lived in splendor, the necessary, he would use the short
emperor was only the formal ruler. sword to end his own life.
The real power was held by a The samurai could also fight
military leader, or shogun. without weapons. He was
The shogun granted lands highly trained in martial arts.
to local warlords. Each Japanese society greatly
warlord protected his respected the samurai. This
region with an army of was more than just a job. It
highly trained warriors. These was a social class as well. The
armies battled for power. warriors and their families
The warriors were called lived in fine houses near the
samurai (SAM oo rye). That warlord’s castle.
word means “those who The position of samurai
serve.” The samurai could be was often inherited. A boy
compared to the knights of Europe. Like would be “born” a samurai because his
knights, they had high social status. father had been one. Only samurai
They were also heavily armed and well- could carry swords. If a boy played with
trained for war. On the battlefield, they a wooden sword, everyone knew he was
wore elaborate suits of armor. a samurai. A young samurai learned to
The samurai lived by a code of honor do more than make war. He learned to
known as bushido (BOO shee doh). read and write and he studied literature.
Meaning “the way of the warrior,” To learn to tolerate pain, he walked
bushido demanded fierce loyalty to the barefoot in snow. All day every day he
warlord. It called for honor and bravery. followed strict rules. Living as a samurai
Most importantly, a warrior must not was not easy!
Think about samurai warriors and ancient Japan.
1. Circle words that could describe a samurai.
uneducated well-educated loyal fearful follower warrior
admired looked down upon proud ashamed brave pacifist
42 READ•REFLECT•RESPOND

13. LESSON 19: SAMURAI WARRIORS
2. Name two things about being 3. Name two things about being
a samurai that you think would a samurai that you think would
be good. be bad.
•_________________________________ •_________________________________
•_________________________________ •_________________________________
Circle a letter or word, fill in the blanks, or write out the answer.
Match word and meaning. 9. What was the main job of the samurai?
a. to guard the emperor
1. ____ emperor 3. ____ shogun
b. to fight for their local warlord
2. ____ warlord 4. ____ samurai
c. to become a scholar
a. the powerful head of a region
10. Which would cause a samurai
of ancient Japan
to take his own life?
b. person who rules an entire a. killing another human being
group of countries
b. displaying fear in battle
c. member of the warrior class
of ancient Japan c. reading a book
d. local ruler who controls a 11. Where did the samurai families live?
military force a. in tents on the battlefield
Recall details. b. in the village with the peasants
5. What is the meaning of the c. in homes near the castle
word samurai?
Make a comparison.
______________________________
12. Explain two ways that Samurai
6. What is the meaning of the warriors were like European knights.
word bushido? •__________________________________
______________________________ __________________________________
7. Circle three requirements of •__________________________________
bushido. __________________________________
honor wealth bravery Look it up in a reference source.
beauty loyalty gentleness 13. Japanese karate is still a popular
martial art. Learn something about
8. Who had the real power of karate. Write one or two facts below.
government in ancient Japan?
____________________________________
a. the samurai
____________________________________
b. the emperor ____________________________________
c. the shogun ____________________________________
READ•REFLECT•RESPOND 43

14. LESSON 20
Take a deep breath and read on.
HOW ANIMALS BREATHE
MAMMALS
What do all animals— tubes take oxygen from the
including humans—have in air and carry it to the
common? One trait we share bloodstream.
is our need for oxygen. We Fish live underwater. They
can’t live without it! All do not get oxygen through
animals have body parts the air. In fact, if they are
that do the job of bringing out of water for too long,
MAMMALS BREATHE THROUGH THEIR NOSES.
in oxygen. THE AIR GOES TO THEIR LUNGS. THE LUNGS they will die from a lack
TAKE THE OXYGEN FROM THE AIR.
Human beings belong to of oxygen. Gills are the
the animal class called FISH breathing organs of fish and
mammals. Mammals are many other water-dwelling
warm-blooded and have a animals. As water flows into
backbone. Female mammals a fish’s body, it passes
have glands that produce through its gills. The gills
milk for feeding their young. contain blood vessels that
Mammals breathe air into carry oxygen from the water
their bodies through their THE GILLS ARE A FISH’S BREATHING ORGAN. throughout the body.
noses. Special organs, the What about whales?
lungs, take in oxygen from INSECTS Because they’re fish-shaped
that air. swimmers, people often
Insects, who are members think they breathe through
of another class of animal, gills. But whales, in fact, are
have no lungs. They breathe not fish. Just like other
through small holes called INSECTS BREATHE THROUGH HOLES mammals, a whale will
IN THE SIDES OF THEIR BODIES.
spiracles. These openings are drown if it’s underwater too
in the sides of their bodies. Spiracles long. When a whale is underwater, it
lead into branching air tubes. These closes its nostrils and holds its breath!
Think about how animals breathe.
1. Human beings take in air through their 3. Name another animal that breathes
noses. What other job does a nose do? the way a grasshopper does.
___________________________________ __________________________________
2. Name another animal that breathes 4. Circle four animals that are fish.
the way human beings do. trout seal salmon
___________________________________ carp guppie sea otter
44 READ•REFLECT•RESPOND

15. LESSON 20: OXYGEN FOR EVERYONE: HOW ANIMALS BREATHE
Circle a letter or word, fill in the blanks, or write out the answer.
Recall details. 8. Three different classes of animals are
a. human beings, cows, and whales.
1. All mammals are
b. mammals, insects, and fish.
_________________-blooded.
c. lungs, gills, and spiracles.
2. In mammals, the
Build your vocabulary.
_________________ take
oxygen from the air. 9. O__ __ __ __ __ is a colorless, odorless
gas that animals need to stay alive.
3. Insects breathe through
10. A b__ __ __ __ v__ __ __ __ __ is one of
small holes called
the body’s many tubes through which
____________________.
blood flows.
4. Fish have breathing organs 11. Like the heart, a part of the body that
called _________________. has a special purpose is an o__ __ __ __ .
Recognize a main idea. 12. To take air in and let it out is to
5. According to the reading,
b__ __ __ __ __ __.
all animals need 13. A puff of air taken in or let out is a
a. love. b__ __ __ __ __.
b. air.
Look it up in a reference source.
c. oxygen.
14. How does each of the following
Use the diagrams in the reading. animals get oxygen?
6. A human being takes air into An eel:___________________________
the body through its __________________________________
a. lungs.
A dolphin:_________________________
b. nose.
__________________________________
c. blood vessels.
A bird:___________________________
7. Gills help water animals __________________________________
a. protect their young. A bee:____________________________
b. get oxygen from air. __________________________________
c. get oxygen from water. A pig:____________________________
__________________________________
READ•REFLECT•RESPOND 45

16. LESSON 22
Don’t have your own wheels? Not a problem!
HOW TO RIDE A BUS . . . AND MORE!
How do you ride the bus? That’s access to a computer, a phone number
easy! You get on, pay your fare, and sit is usually listed. A local phone book
down. What’s the big deal? may also list some information. Most
Actually, taking full advantage of a libraries, post offices, banks, and
city bus system is a big deal! Lots of shopping centers provide free bus
information is available to help you schedules and route maps.
make the most of your public transit City transit is accessible to almost
system. Where can you find it? everyone. Reduced fares are usually
Most city bus systems have a web offered to seniors and riders with
site. You can look online for bus routes disabilities. Ramps and lifts provide
and schedules, as well as for fare access to wheelchair passengers and
information. Automatic “trip planners” others who can’t climb steps. There’s
allow users to type in their starting usually a special easy-seating area near
point, destination, and preferred time the front of the bus. Service animals,
schedule. Then the service helps them such as seeing-eye dogs, are usually
plan their itineraries. It suggests the welcome. Bus schedules are also
best bus line, bus stops, and departure available in large print or on audio
and arrival times. If you don’t have cassette for riders who need them.
ROUTE 63: WEEKDAY SCHEDULE TO GROVE CITY PARK
GROVE CITY
TOWN CENTER GROVE CITY
RAPID TRANSIT SQUARE 3RD & FISHER 8TH & LAKE 15TH & CLARK PARK
14, 22, 32, 78, 80 16, 28, 37, 50
6:48 A.M. 6:53 A.M. 7:00 A.M. 7:12 A.M. 7:30 A.M.
7:30 A.M. 7:35 A.M. 7:42 A.M. 7:54 A.M. 8:12 A.M.
9:15 A.M. 9:20 A.M. 9:27 A.M. 9:39 A.M. 9:57 A.M.
10:25 A.M. 10:30 A.M. 10:37 A.M. 10:49 A.M. 11:01 A.M.
HOW TO READ BUS SCHEDULE:
•Reading from top to bottom tells you the departure time at each scheduled stop.
•To figure out how long it takes to get from point to point along the route, read
the times from left to right.
•Numbers listed in italics under the stop points show transfer lines.
Think about your local bus system.
1. What’s the name of your local transit company? _______________________________
2. Other than buses, are there more public transit options in your city or town?
What are they? (Examples would be rail lines, subways, trams, or streetcars.)
_____________________________________________________________________________
48 READ•REFLECT•RESPOND

17. LESSON 22: HOW TO RIDE A BUS . . . AND MORE!
3. What are some of the benefits and disadvantages of traveling by bus?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
4. Think about your city or town. List three popular destination points that might
appear on a bus route map.
•_______________________ •_______________________ •_______________________
Circle a letter or word, fill in the blanks, or write out the answer.
Identify main ideas. 6. What are two other ways a person
might get a bus route schedule?
1. What’s the main idea of the reading?
•_________________________________
a. Reading a bus schedule is easy.
•_________________________________
b. City bus systems have a lot to
offer everyone. Build your vocabulary.
2. What’s the main purpose of a bus 7. At a transfer point, a rider
schedule? can ( buy a weekly pass /
a. to trace the route of a certain change to a different bus route ).
bus line
8. An itinerary is a ( large city bus /
b. to tell what time a bus reaches
trip plan ).
each stop along the route
9. A destination is the ( place a person
Recall details. is going / starting point of a trip ).
3. Circle three items of information
10. The departure is the time a bus
you can find on a bus schedule.
( leaves / arrives ).
when a bus arrives how long it take to get
at certain stops from one stop to the next Use the schedule.
which stops are if the bus is running 11. It takes bus #63 _____ minutes to
transfer points on time that day
travel from Town Center Square to
4. Describe two ways transit companies 3rd & Fisher.
help riders with disabilities.
12. A rider who catches bus #63 at
• _________________________________
8th & Lake at 9:27 will get to
_________________________________
Grove City Park at _________.
• _________________________________
_________________________________ 13. A rider who misses the 7:30 A.M. bus
at Town Center Square will have to
5. List three public places a bus rider
might pick up a printed schedule. wait _______ minutes for the next one.
• _________________________________ 14. A rider can transfer from line #63 to
• _________________________________ line #19 at the ________________ stop.
• _________________________________
READ•REFLECT•RESPOND 49

18. LESSON 24
Give a chimp a paintbrush, and who knows what might happen?
CHIMP ART
In the 1950s, animal expert Desmond including Pablo Picasso! The great artist
Morris encouraged a chimpanzee is said to have framed and hung a
named Congo to paint. Morris wanted “Congo original” in his own studio!
to know if a chimp could “create order In 2005, three of Congo’s artworks
through art.” By the time Congo was were offered for sale at a London art
two, he’d stopped eating the brushes auction. Congo’s paintings appeared
and actually begun to paint! alongside those of some famous human
Congo’s works could be described as artists! The sale’s art director said he
“modern” or “abstract” art. Some critics included the chimp’s paintings as a lark.
say they’re nothing more than scribbles. He described Congo’s work as “brightly
Others compliment his “bold strokes.” colored with bold brushstrokes.”
Clearly, Congo has had admirers— Together the three paintings were
expected to sell for around $1,500.
Congo’s art was the hit of the
auction! When the bidding closed, an
American had purchased the chimp’s
paintings for more than $25,000!
Before he died at age 10, Congo
had created about 400 artworks.
Considering the recent sales price, art
dealers are sure to be looking for more
Congo originals!
Think about “modern” art and this most unusual artist.
1. Some people think all abstract art looks like animal scratchings.
What is your opinion of modern art?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
2. Why might someone want to own a chimp painting?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
52 READ•REFLECT•RESPOND

19. LESSON 24: CHIMP ART
3. Do you think chimpanzees are intelligent animals? Give reasons and/or examples
to support your answer.
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Circle a letter or word, fill in the blanks, or write out the answer.
Identify the main idea. 6. An auction is a
1. The reading is about a. group meeting where people give
opinions about things.
a. the surprising interest in
Congo’s paintings. b. public sale where things are sold
to the highest bidder.
b. how to teach a chimpanzee
to paint. 7. To bid on something is to
c. how hard it is to understand a. offer a purchase price for it.
abstract art.
b. advertise it in the newspaper.
Recall details.
Draw a conclusion.
2. To become an artist, what did
8. The reading suggests that paintings gain
Congo have to stop doing?
value after the artist dies. Does Congo’s
a. ignoring his trainer story support that idea? Why or why not?
b. eating paint brushes
______________________________________
c. playing board games
______________________________________
3. What type of art did Congo create? ______________________________________
a. landscapes
9. Why might a painting become more
b. abstracts valuable after the artist’s death?
c. photographs
______________________________________
4. At the auction, Congo’s ______________________________________
paintings sold for
______________________________________
a. less than expected.
b. a little more than expected. Look it up in a reference source.
c. much more than expected. 10. Check out some paintings by Pablo
Picasso. Give your opinion of his work.
Build your vocabulary.
______________________________________
5. Abstract art is
______________________________________
a. formed with designs, not
actually like a real thing. ______________________________________
b. as clearly realistic as a ______________________________________
photograph.
READ•REFLECT•RESPOND 53