2. LESSON 1
Leaps that could save your life.
EMERGENCY JUMPS
Emergency jumps are dangerous. JUMPING FROM A BRIDGE OR A CLIFF INTO A RIVER
There’s only one good time to attempt What’s the most dangerous thing
such a jump: when you’ll probably die if about this kind of jump? You don’t know
you don’t. Who knows? Someday you how deep the water is. If you’re jumping
might need to make a literal leap. So be into a river, try to jump as far away from
prepared! Here’s some good advice for the riverbank as you can. Stay away from
making two kinds of emergency jumps. bridge towers. Why? Debris
collects there. You could be
JUMPING FROM A BUILDING INTO A DUMPSTER injured if you land on it.
Landing in a dumpster is usually a Jump feet first. Keep
safer bet than landing on the sidewalk. your body completely
Imagine jumping straight down. If you vertical. If your body isn’t
leap too far away from the building, you straight, you could break
could miss the dumpster. So be careful. your back. Squeeze your
As you fall, pull your chin toward your feet together. Squeeze
chest and bring your legs around. What your buttocks together,
you’re trying to do is land on your back. too. If you don’t, the force
This is the safest way to make contact. of the rushing water may
When it hits, your body folds into a V cause severe damage.
shape, so landing on your stomach could Hold your hands over
break your back. your crotch.
What if the dumpster is filled with The moment you hit
bricks? In that case, falling into the the water, spread your
dumpster would be as dangerous as arms and legs. Move
jumping into the street. So look before you them back and forth.
leap. If the dumpster is filled with clothes, This will slow down your
cardboard boxes, or other such material, plunge toward the bottom.
you’re in luck. It’s possible to survive a Jumping this way could
jump into a dumpster from five stories. break your legs—but it
All you need is the right kind of trash. could also keep you alive.
Think about emergency situations.
1. Describe a situation when jumping 2. Describe a situation when jumping
from a building into a dumpster into a river from a bridge or cliff
might save your life. might save your life.
__________________________________ __________________________________
__________________________________ __________________________________
6 READ•REFLECT•RESPOND

3. LESSON 1: EMERGENCY JUMPS
Circle a letter or word, fill in the blanks, or write out the answer.
Recall details. (More than one answer Similarities and differences. (More than
may be correct.) one answer may be correct.)
1. In a jump from a bridge, why 9. How might you be injured in
should you spread your arms either jump described?
and legs as you hit the water? a. landing on hard or sharp debris
a. to slow your plunge through b. getting crushed by air
the water pressure as you fall
b. to keep from hitting the c. holding your body in the
river bottom wrong position
c. to avoid hitting debris
on the bottom 10. What is a significant difference
between the two jumps?
2. If you dive headfirst from a. In a cliff jump, you try to guess
a bridge into the water, the length of your fall.
you risk b. You position your body
a. breaking your legs. differently in each jump.
b. breaking your skull. c. In both jumps you try to avoid
c. swallowing water. hitting obstacles.
Identify antonyms. (Complete the
3. If you jump into a dumpster,
words from the reading.)
try to land ( feet / back ) first.
11. reckless / c__ __ __ __ __ __
4. If you jump from a bridge, 12. die / s__ __ __ __ __ __
try to land in the water with
13. shallow / d__ __ __
your ( feet / back ) first.
14. safe / d__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Match words and meanings.
Look it up in a reference source.
5. ____ debris a. serious,
dangerous 15. The building is filling with smoke!
Drop to your hands and knees and
6. ____ vertical b. to dive or crawl to the nearest exit!
fall suddenly Why should you crawl rather than
walk or run?
7. ____ severe c. pieces of broken or
destroyed things _________________________________
_________________________________
8. ____ plunge d. straight up and
down; upright _________________________________
READ•REFLECT•RESPOND 7

4. LESSON 2
Can a common weed come to the rescue?
PLANTS THAT DETECT LAND MINES
Land mines are explosives buried just
below the surface of the ground. They’re
weapons of war. Some types are designed
to blow up vehicles, such as tanks. Others
are designed to blow up soldiers. Just a
footstep on the ground can set them off.
Land mines are easy to make and put in
place. After wars, the land mines are left
buried in the ground. Today, tens of
millions of explosives still lie just
underground—in 80 countries! In these
places, land mines maim or kill more than
8,000 people every year. And land mines
also make the soil around them unfit explosive material inside the land mines.
for farming. Thale-cress grows a few weeks after its
Recently a Danish company discovered seeds are scattered over a test area. If it
a possible solution to the land-mine turns red, the ground is dangerous. So the
problem. It’s a common weed called unexploded land mines are removed. If
thale-cress. Scientists at the not, it’s safe to walk there—or
company actually altered the grow crops or build houses.
genes of the thale-cress. This The plant is still being
caused the plant to develop a studied. After all, it must work
new characteristic. When it’s consistently in all soil types.
planted near land mines, it Someday, however, the lethal
turns red. The color is the danger buried beneath the
THE GREEN CRESS
plant’s reaction to nitrogen- TURNS RED WHEN IT soil may be wiped out by a
dioxide, a gas given off by the DETECTS EXPLOSIVES.
common little weed.
Think about weapons and safety.
1. Name three weapons of war besides 2. Think of a life-saving invention you
land mines and tanks. wish someone would create.
• _________________________________ _________________________________
• _________________________________ _________________________________
• _________________________________ _________________________________
8 READ•REFLECT•RESPOND

5. LESSON 2: PLANTS THAT DETECT LAND MINES
Circle a letter or word, fill in the blanks, or write out the answer.
Recall details. Build your vocabulary.
1. What two purposes do land characteristic altered lethal
mines have? scattered defeat maim
a. They lure people into
certain areas. 6. Something that is __________________
b. They destroy vehicles such has been changed.
as tanks.
7. To ___________________ something is
c. They kill soldiers who
step on them. to injure or cripple it.
2. What happens when thale-cress 8. ___________________ seeds are
grows near a land mine? thrown about in various places.
a. It dies.
9. A ___________________ is a feature
b. It keeps the mine from
blowing up. that helps identify a person or thing.
c. It turns red.
10. If you ___________________ enemies,
3. What gas that affects thale-cress you win a victory over them.
is given off by land mines?
a. carbon dioxide 11. A ___________________ attack would
b. nitrogen dioxide result in the victim’s death.
c. oxygen Draw a conclusion. (More than one
answer is correct.)
4. How did scientists enable
12. Why do land mines often do greater
thale-cress to react to land mines?
damage to children than adults?
a. They altered its genes.
a. Children’s bodies are smaller.
b. They turned it red.
b. Curious children pick up
c. They planted it near mines. land mines.
c. Children are less aware
Identify the main idea. of the dangers.
5. The reading is about
Look it up in a reference source.
a. a weed that could be used
13. In 1997, many countries signed
to detect land mines.
a treaty banning land mines.
b. an old-fashioned method Many nations agreed to stop
used to detect land mines. making and using them. In all,
c. how land mines can be how many nations
found all over the world. signed the treaty? _______________
READ•REFLECT•RESPOND 9

6. LESSON 3
Meet an awful man with an awesome talent.
TY COBB
Ty Cobb, born in 1886, is famous for nastiness. He was famous for ramming
his marvelous baseball records. His second basemen with his spikes. He even
record of 2,245 runs scored stood until sharpened them to make the impact more
2001. His record of 892 stolen bases painful. Easily angered, he got into
wasn’t broken until 1979. His lifetime fistfights with his teammates, umpires,
batting average was a remarkable .366. and opposing players.
Cobb, also known as the Georgia Off the field, Cobb beat his
Peach, was one of the greatest wives and children. He was
baseball players of all time. He was a violent racist. Once he
also a cruel and violent man. beat an African-American
No one knows when man—and his wife—for
Cobb’s troubles started. merely touching him.
But they got worse Talk about mean! He
when he was 18. That even stomped and
year, his father was shot kicked a paraplegic fan.
to death by Cobb’s mother, Cobb could also be
under suspicious circumstances. generous, however. He was
The week of his father’s death, young Ty a smart businessman who made a fortune
joined the major leagues, playing for the from baseball. He gave away millions to
Detroit Tigers. charity. And he enjoyed teaching young
It was common for baseball teams to players.
haze rookies, but Cobb was hazed without But Cobb’s meanness finally drove
mercy. His fellow players shoved him aside everyone away. He married several times,
in the batting cage. If he tried to talk to but one after another his wives left him.
them, they ignored him. They broke his Even his children kept their distance.
bats and wound his clothes in knots. One Eventually, all of his friends walked away.
player even broke Cobb’s nose. Tyrus Cobb died in 1961. Only three
As Cobb got better and better at his people who knew him well took the time
game, he also earned a reputation for to come to his funeral.
Think about troubled people.
1. If you owned a baseball team, would you want someone like Ty Cobb to be on it?
Why or why not?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
10 READ•REFLECT•RESPOND

7. LESSON 3: TY COBB
2. Suppose a man had a terrible time in his teen years. Should he be forgiven for
being mean as an adult?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Circle a letter or word, fill in the blanks, or write out the answer.
Build your vocabulary. 8. Why did so few people attend Cobb’s
paraplegic suspicious hazing funeral?
circumstances rookie impact _________________________________
_________________________________
1. __________________ means giving a
newcomer a rough time. Recall details.
2. An athlete who’s just begun to play a 9. Describe a low point in Cobb’s life.
professional sport is a _________________________________
__________________. _________________________________
3. The effect of one object striking 10. Describe a high point in Cobb’s life.
another is called an _________________. _________________________________
4. If your legs are paralyzed, you’re _________________________________
a __________________.
11. Name two good things Ty Cobb did.
5. __________________ are the conditions •________________________________
at a certain time or place.
•________________________________
6. To be __________________ is to think
12. Name two awful things Ty Cobb did.
there is guilt but have no proof.
•________________________________
Draw conclusions. •________________________________
7. If Ty Cobb were a baseball player
today, he Look it up in a reference source.
(More than one answer may be correct.) 13. Who broke Cobb’s record for
a. probably wouldn’t be hazed stealing bases?
so cruelly.
_________________________________
b. would be likely to receive
counseling. 14. Who broke Cobb’s record for
runs scored?
c. couldn’t get away with
spiking players. _________________________________
READ•REFLECT•RESPOND 11

8. LESSON 4
Bigger doesn’t always mean better.
NANOTECHNOLOGY
What is nanotechnology? The prefix “nano” COMPARISON CHART: METER TO NANOMETER
comes from the Greek word nanos, meaning TIMES SMALLER
THAN A METER
“dwarf.” Technology is the use of science 1 meter —
BASEBALL BAT
for practical purposes. Nanotechnology is
100 millimeters 10
the science of developing extremely small
HUMMINGBIRD
devices and materials. 10 millimeters 100
HEAD OF A NAIL
How small? In nanotechnology, things are
1 millimeter 1,000
measured in nanometers. A nanometer is
one billionth of a meter. To give you a 100 micrometers 10,000
RED BLOOD CELLS
better idea of just how tiny that is, a
10 micrometers 100,000
strand of hair is 80,000 nanometers thick.
Why are people interested in working 1 micrometer 1 million
with things this tiny? This field of study WAVELENGTH
VISIBLE LIGHT
100 nanometers 10 million
has great potential. When manipulated
VIRUS
atom by atom, materials change. Carbon, 10 nanometers 100 million
DNA MOLECULE
for example, becomes surprisingly strong.
1 nanometer 1 billion
Experts believe that nanotechnology can
make almost anything smaller, stronger,
and more powerful. Today, those are only ideas. In the future
Nano-materials are in use today. Nano- they could become reality.
sized clay particles are already used to Meanwhile, nano-materials must be
strengthen car bodies. Other nano-materials studied very carefully. There have been
are used in tennis balls, wrinkle-resistant serious concerns about their safety. Some
clothing, and sunscreen. nano-materials have a toxic effect on
Possible applications of nanotechnology living things. Many people are concerned
are endless. Here are just two ideas: nano- about the effect of these nano-materials
robots might patrol your bloodstream and on the environment.
attack viruses. And nano-robots could be Nanotechnology can make our future
used to clean up oil slicks and toxic spills. world better—or worse. It’s up to us.
Think about large and small objects.
1. Think of an object that’s about 10 times as
thick as a human hair. What is it? ___________________________________
2. A nanometer is 80,000 times thinner than
a strand of human hair. Can you name an
object that’s about 80,000 times thicker
than a strand of hair? Take a guess. ___________________________________
12 READ•REFLECT•RESPOND

9. LESSON 5
She risked her life to help girls learn.
SAKENA YACOOBI
As a child in Afghanistan, Sakena discovered. After a British woman had
Yacoobi dreamed of becoming a doctor. visited one of the schools, word leaked
She wanted to help women in her country out. The Taliban authorities prepared to
lead better lives. But she probably never raid the school.
imagined she’d risk her own Luckily, someone told the
life to help them learn to read. teachers that the Taliban were
In the late 1990s, the coming. “They scattered the
Taliban took over Afghanistan. children,” Yacoobi remembers.
Their laws were harsh. They “They put away the books and
outlawed music and television. covered up the blackboards.
Men could be jailed for When the authorities arrived,
shaving their beards. Women the teachers said, ‘What? We
were not allowed to work, and have no school here.’ We came
girls could not go to school. this close to being caught,”
When the Taliban rose to Yacoobi says, bringing her
power, Yacoobi was living in thumb and forefinger very
the United States. She had close together.
graduated from college and After September 11, 2001,
was working here. Yacoobi could have the United States and its allies drove the
remained in the United States and lived a Taliban from power. Now Afghanistan’s
comfortable life. But instead, she returned new government is running schools
to Afghanistan. There, along with two for all children. Yacoobi continues to
other women, she set up and managed 80 help women and children in her country
secret schools for girls. and in Pakistan. She is also one of the
The schools were in basements or leaders of the Global Fund for Women
rooms with blacked-out windows. Girls located in San Francisco, California. This
were told not to come to school in groups, organization provides money for women
but to arrive one by one. to set up businesses, health clinics, and
Once, the secret schools were nearly schools.
Think about education.
1. Imagine that education for girls was suddenly forbidden in the United States.
Write two sentences describing what you think would happen.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
14 READ•REFLECT•RESPOND

10. LESSON 5: SAKENA YACOOBI
2. What do you think are the most important things that schools teach?
___________________________________________________________________________
Circle a letter or word, fill in the blanks, or write out the answer.
Match synonyms. Draw conclusions. (More than one answer
may be correct.)
1. ____ harsh a. forbid
9. Girls were told not to arrive at school
2. ____ allies b. operated at the same time. Why?
3. ____ managed c. partners ____________________________________
4. ____ authorities d. strict ____________________________________
5. ____ outlaw e. officials
10. The reading suggests that Sakena
Recognize gestures. Yacoobi
You make a gesture when you hold your a. knows the problems women
thumb and forefinger close together. face in many countries.
A gesture is a meaningful body signal b. has traveled to many different
that takes the place of speech. countries.
6. Which of the following are gestures? c. is an expert on sports around
a. a circle with a line through it the world.
b. holding your thumb up
Put events in order.
c. putting a finger to your lips
11. Number the events to show the order
in which they happened.
Interpret figurative language.
Some expressions have different meanings ____ Yacoobi sets up secret schools.
than the literal meaning of the words.
____ Yacoobi returns to Afghanistan.
What do the following figurative ____ The Taliban is driven from power.
phrase and sentence mean?
____ One of Yacoobi’s schools is
7. “Word leaked out” means nearly raided.
a. the news spread. ____ Yacoobi is educated in the
b. the words dripped out. United States.
8. “They scattered the children” Look it up in a reference source.
means they 12. Why did the United States and its
a. told them never to allies attack the Taliban?
come back. ____________________________________
b. sent them off in different ____________________________________
directions.
____________________________________
READ•REFLECT•RESPOND 15

11. LESSON 6
A look at daily life some 2,000 years ago.
A DAY IN ANCIENT ROME
Days began early in ancient Rome.
Before dawn, the streets were busy as
laborers and small shop owners hurried
to work. Many of them carried oil lamps
to light their way.
In houses and apartments, slaves went
around to bedrooms to wake up their
masters. People got up and washed their long rolls of paper called scrolls. An
faces and hands in bowls of water. Then abacus was used for teaching arithmetic.
they dressed in tunics and leather sandals. Older boys studied public speaking, Latin
Men wore togas over their tunics. grammar, math, and Greek.
Before leaving home, Girls were taught reading, writing, and
people prayed in front music at home. There they also learned
of their family shrine. how to run a house.
The shrine was a special In the afternoon, men and boys often
place of honor for images went to the public baths. (Women went in
of the gods who looked the morning.) Hardly anyone had a bath
after the family. at home. Besides keeping clean, the
If the family was ancient Romans enjoyed going to the
wealthy enough, the baths to visit friends. Men could also
boys went to school. exercise in the sports area.
Their teachers were The evening meal was served about six
paid by their parents. o’clock. Soon after dinner, it was bedtime.
Students learned reading, Few Romans could afford to keep their oil
writing, and arithmetic. lamps burning into the night. So, as soon
Lessons were written on as darkness fell, the day was over.
Think about ancient Rome.
1. Circle the words or phrases 2. Would you have enjoyed living in
associated with ancient Rome. ancient Rome? Why or why not?
mud huts gladiators _________________________________
the Coliseum knights in armor _________________________________
_________________________________
chariots ice skating
_________________________________
16 READ•REFLECT•RESPOND