-
Spinning Thunderstorms
Spinning Thunderstorms
This article is provided courtesy of the American Museum of
Natural History.
Credit: FEMA Photo by Michael Raphael
The tornado destroyed much of the town. Many residents needed
temporary housing.
How do tornadoes form?
-
Spinning Thunderstorms
Credit: NOAA Credit: The Field Museum
Credit: The Field Museum
More than 75% of all tornadoes in the world take place in
“Tornado Alley.”
The 200 plus mph winds of a tornado canbend a stop sign.
A tornado is a swirling, funnel shaped column of wind.
Itstretches from a thunderstorm cloud down to the ground. Atornado
gets its start when strong winds at high altitudes set
athunderstorm’s winds rotating.
-
Spinning Thunderstorms
How do scientists predict dangerous storms?
Credit: NOAA
Doppler radar map shows the tornado shortly before itleveled
most of Greensburg, Kansas.
-
Questions: Spinning Thunderstorms
© 2014 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
1
Name: Date: 1. What happened to the town of Greensburg in
2007?
A It was destroyed by a fire. B It was destroyed by a tornado. C
It was destroyed by a hurricane. D It was destroyed by an
earthquake.
2. What does this article explain?
A how scientists use radar to track storms B how the town of
Greensburg was rebuilt C how the system of tornado watches and
warnings developed D how cool, dry air moves from the Arctic to the
middle of the United States
3. Read this sentence from the article: “Kansans are used to
tornadoes.” What evidence in the article supports this
statement?
A The tornado that destroyed Greensburg was a mile wide and had
winds that were moving faster than 200 miles an hour.
B A tornado came through Greensburg and destroyed the town 20
minutes after tornado sirens went off.
C Kansans live in an area of the United States where a lot of
tornadoes happen. D “Tornado Alley” has cool, dry air from the
Arctic that mixes with warm, wet air
from the Gulf of Mexico. 4. What might be a reason why
scientists track tornadoes?
A to encourage more people to use radar technology B to warn
people against living in “Tornado Alley” C to lower the number of
tornadoes that happen every year D to gather information that is
used to warn people that a tornado is approaching
5. What is the main idea of this article?
A Tornadoes are dangerous spinning storms, but storm tracking
and a system of watches and warnings can lessen their danger.
B “Tornado Alley” is an area in the middle of the United States
where cool, dry air mixes with warm, wet air.
C The tornado that struck Greensburg threw cars and trucks
through the air, pulled homes out of the ground, and killed 10
people.
D Radio waves give scientists information about approaching
storms by traveling from a radar unit toward a storm and then
returning to the radar unit.
-
Questions: Spinning Thunderstorms
© 2014 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
2
6. Why might the author use headings such as “How do tornadoes
form?” and “How do scientists predict dangerous storms?”
A to make readers think more deeply about the effects of
tornadoes B to suggest that there is still a lot to be learned
about tornadoes C to provide information about the pictures
included with the article D to help organize the information in the
article
7. Select the word that best completes the sentence. A tornado
warning saved many lives in Greensburg ___________ the town itself
was destroyed.
A after B although C because D for example
8. What is a tornado?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
-
Questions: Spinning Thunderstorms
© 2014 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
3
9. Explain how radar could be used to track a tornado. Support
your answer with evidence from the article.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
10. Could using radar to track a tornado help save lives? Explain
why or why not, using evidence from the article.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
-
Building a Bridge
Building a Bridge By R. Howard
Summer vacation had just begun, and Alex and Maria were ready to
spend all day outside. They decided to walk to the neighborhood
park, where there was a river that they liked to swim in when it
was particularly hot. Alex and Maria began to sweat as they walked,
even though their house was only ten minutes away from the park’s
entrance. When they got to the river, they saw that it was too
shallow to swim in. The rocks that made up the bed of the river
were even poking out of the water in some places, glistening in the
sun. Alex and Maria were frustrated. On the other side of the
river, about fifty yards away, and in a welcoming courtyard, there
was a fountain spewing water in beautiful arcs. “We should go play
in the fountain,” Maria said. “How will we get there?” asked Alex.
They thought for a moment. They knew if they walked upriver, they
would eventually come to a walkway that crossed the river, but it
was so hot, and they were eager to get to the fountain. Maria
looked around the grassy riverbank and noticed a few logs and
branches lying close to the water. “We could build a bridge!” she
said. She ran over to a thick tree branch that looked long enough
to be placed across the river. Together, she and Alex hefted the
branch onto their shoulders and walked it to the water. Here, they
stopped. How would they get the branch across?
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
-
Building a Bridge
Maria suggested throwing it down into the water and seeing if it
reached the other side. That seemed imprecise to Alex – what if the
branch did not reach the other side of the river, and got stuck or
swept away by the water? Then they would be unable to walk all the
way across the river. Maria wondered if they could measure the
distance from the riverbank they stood on to the other shore. They
put the log carefully down and decided to test the distance with
lighter, thinner branches. They found a few wispy branches by the
spot where they had first found the log, and they tied the branches
together using their hair bands. On their first attempt, they tied
two branches together and went back to the river to test the
length. The branches barely reached the center of the swirling
water. After tying two more branches together to the initial
branches, Alex and Maria were able to get the thin makeshift model
bridge to touch the far bank. “Hooray!” Maria said. “Now we know
how long the log needs to be.” They set the tied branches on the
ground next to the log. The log was luckily the exact length of the
tied branches. Now Alex and Maria had to figure out how to make
sure the log was secure on both sides of the bank before they
walked across it to reach the other side of the river. “I know!”
Alex said. She began to gather thinner branches, like the ones they
had tied together, which were pliable and easy to bend. She twisted
them together into a tight bundle, then laid them horizontally
across the edges of the log. Then she and Maria hauled some of the
stones out of the river and placed them on the branches on either
side of the log. In this way, they were able to stabilize the
log—at least on one side—in order to run across. When Alex and
Maria got to the other side of the river, they secured the other
side of the log with more branches and rocks, and looked back at
their handiwork. It had been a good day’s work, but now they were
free to enjoy the cool water in the fountain.
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
-
Questions: Building a Bridge
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
1
Name: _____________ Date: _______________________ 1. What did
Alex and Maria want to build?
A a pool B a car C a fountain D a bridge
2. What is the main challenge faced by the characters in this
story?
A how to swim in a river so shallow that rocks are poking out of
the water in some places
B how to get from one side of the river to the other without
using the walkway C how to find the distance from one side of the
river to the other without
measuring tools D how to make sure the log they use for their
bridge is secure on both sides of
the river 3. Which of the following sentences from the story
provides evidence that Maria was deliberate and thoughtful in her
actions?
A “Maria looked around the grassy riverbank and noticed a few
logs and branches lying close to the water.”
B “Maria wondered if they could measure the distance from the
riverbank they stood on to the other shore.”
C “She ran over to a thick tree branch that looked long enough
to be placed across the river.”
D “Alex and Maria were frustrated.” 4. Which sentence from the
text supports the idea that Alex and Maria used teamwork to build
the bridge?
A “Alex and Maria began to sweat as they walked, even though
their house was only ten minutes away from the park’s
entrance.”
B “Together, she and Alex hefted the branch onto their shoulders
and walked it to the water.”
C “‘I know!’ Alex said. She began to gather thinner branches,
like the ones they had tied together, which were pliable and easy
to bend.”
D “‘Hooray!’ Maria said. ‘Now we know how long the log needs to
be.’”
-
Questions: Building a Bridge
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
2
5. What is this passage mostly about?
A the importance of girl power and teamwork B two girls solving
a problem together C the benefits of urgency when working toward
goals D the difference between two girls’ plans to get across a
river
6. Read this sentence: “Now Alex and Maria had to figure out how
to make sure the log was secure on both sides of the bank before
they walked across it to reach the other side of the river.” What
is the meaning of the word secure in this sentence?
A secure (adjective): self-confident B secure (adjective):
fastened, stable C secure (verb): to make safe or lock up D secure
(verb): to obtain or get ahold of
7. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the
answer that best completes the sentence. The friends placed rocks
on either side of the log to hold down the lighter branches;
_________, the log was stable enough to walk on.
A before B as a result C especially D meanwhile
8. It was important to measure the distance across the river
before putting the log in the water. Use evidence from the story to
prove or disprove this statement.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
-
Questions: Building a Bridge
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
3
9. What are two ways Alex helps to solve the problem facing her
and Maria?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
10. If Alex and Maria had not worked together to solve their
problem, what might have happened? Use evidence from the text to
support your answer.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
-
The Mermaid of Kona, Hawaii
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
The Mermaid of Kona, Hawaii
While many people dream of mermaids—mythological aquatic
creatures, with the body of ahuman and tail of a fish—few people
actually try to become one. How can someone become amermaid if they
don’t exist? Just ask Dana Richardson, who is a professional
mermaid inHawaii!
“As a child, I always felt very connected to the ocean and
played mermaids in the water,” saysDana. “My love of the ocean took
me to different types of work as a lifeguard, swim instructor,boat
crew member, underwater photographer, snorkel instructor and safety
swimmer, boatcaptain, surfer, and marine mammal naturalist. I just
decided to take it to the next level andgrow a tail!”
Dana doesn’t mean literally. In 2008 she began making mermaid
tails from sequins, fringe, andshiny fabric that she wears while
free diving in the waters around Kona, Hawaii. Free divingmeans
diving without any protective equipment. It requires you to hold
your breath whileswimming deep underwater. As she dives in, Dana
not only looks like a mermaid; sheexperiences what it is like to
swim like one, too.
“Free diving is all self discipline and mind over matter,” she
says. “Breath is a big part of freediving, relaxing the body and
lungs in order for the body to stay oxygenated longer.
Thatultimately takes practice, discipline and patience.”
The waters around Dana’s home in Kona are filled with wildlife,
including dolphins and whales.Kona is by a sheltered sea where the
waters are calm for swimming. For ten years Dana hasbeen swimming
with the creatures of Kona. Some of them have even learned to
recognize her.
-
The Mermaid of Kona, Hawaii
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
“When I’m swimming in the ocean I never touch or feed any of the
sea life, and matchwhatever mood they are in out of respect. I let
them come to me. I’ve had some amazingdolphin swims, and it’s very
cool since I know a lot of them. Many times they have rubbedagainst
me. One time in particular, a dolphin and I were swimming, and he
stopped next to meand came so close, he put his dorsal fin under my
arm and glided with me down about 40feet.”
Dana knows how to swim with sea life because she is a trained
marine naturalist. Sheunderstands the behavior of sea life and
knows how to safely interact with it. Every morningwhen she swims
with sea life she gets to experience her other “home.”
“The ocean beneath the depths really is another world. The
waves, plankton, coral, fish,turtles, rays, dolphins, whales and
sharks are all co related and need each other to survive.Watching
how the world works so gracefully in that circle of life underwater
is a beautifulthing.”
Dana uses her platform as a mermaid to teach people to protect
the ocean. Mermaids haveappeared in folklore (which means
traditional stories) from all parts of the world. In folklorethey
can be associated with goodwill and love, or with danger and
shipwrecks. The mostfamous mermaid story may be Hans Christian
Anderson’s “The Little Mermaid,” which wasadapted into a Disney
cartoon in 1989. While mermaid sightings have been reported
forcenturies, the United States National Ocean Service stated in
2012 that no evidence ofmermaids has ever been found. Some believe
that the sightings have actually been ofmanatees, a marine mammal.
Manatees are common in the Caribbean and are likely thecreature
Christopher Columbus reported as a mermaid.
For Dana Richardson being a mermaid just makes sense. “I’ve
always felt more comfortableunderwater than on land,” she says. “As
a child I felt a strong draw to the ocean, and dreamedof
communicating with whales and dolphins. As a mermaid, I now get to
share the underseamagic!”
Would you like to follow your dream, even if it seems
outlandish? Dana reminds everyone,“One person can truly make a
difference. By following your heart and offering the world
yourunique gifts, you will inspire others to do so. The world needs
you!”
-
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
1
Name: _____________ Date: _______________________ 1. Who is the
mermaid of Kona, Hawaii?
A Hans Christian Anderson B Dana Richardson C a member of the
United States National Ocean Service D Christopher Columbus
2. Dana Richardson’s love of the ocean is a cause. What is one
of its effects?
A Manatees are common in the Caribbean. B The most famous
mermaid story may be “The Little Mermaid.” C Dana Richardson swims
like a mermaid. D Whales and sharks need each other to survive.
3. Real mermaids do not exist. What information from the passage
supports this statement?
A Mermaid sightings have been reported for centuries. B “The
Little Mermaid,” a famous story by Hans Christian Anderson, was
adapted
into a Disney cartoon in 1989. C Dana Richardson began making
mermaid tails from sequins, fringe, and shiny
fabric in 2008. D The United States National Ocean Service
stated in 2012 that no evidence of
mermaids has ever been found.
4. What is one reason that Dana Richardson loves the ocean?
A She thinks that watching how the world works in the circle of
life underwater is a beautiful thing.
B Mermaids have appeared in folklore from all parts of the
world. C Following your dream may seem outlandish. D Many people
dream of mythological aquatic creatures with the body of a
human
and tail of a fish. 5. What is this story mainly about?
A the reasons some people believe that mermaid sightings have
actually been manatee sightings
B the United States National Ocean Service C the geography of
Kona, Hawaii D a woman who loves the ocean so much that she swims
in it like a mermaid
-
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
2
6. Read the following sentences: “Dana knows how to swim with
sea life because she is a trained marine naturalist. She
understands the behavior of sea life and knows how to safely
interact with it. What does the word “marine” mean?
A having to do with the wind B having to do with the sea C not
having much experience at something D not caring what other people
think
7. Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. Now
Dana Richardson is a professional mermaid; ______, she worked as a
lifeguard and underwater photographer.
A previously B currently C in closing D as an illustration
8. What is Dana Richardson’s advice about following your heart?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
-
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
3
9. Has Dana Richardson followed her heart? Explain why or why
not, using evidence from the passage.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
10. Based on her own experience, why might Dana Richardson believe
it is important to follow your heart? Support your answer with
evidence from the passage.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
-
The Ecosystem of the Forest
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
The Ecosystem of the Forest
Even if it doesn’t look like it, all living things constantly
interact with their environment. Forinstance, every time you take a
breath, you get oxygen from the air, and every time youbreathe back
out, you release carbon dioxide into the world around you. Both
oxygen andcarbon dioxide are vital gases that different organisms
can use. You, a human, need theoxygen for energy and need to get
rid of the carbon dioxide, because it’s a waste matter.
Just like us, all other organisms take something from their
environment while putting waste backinto it. When several kinds of
organisms interact with each other in one particular area, it’s
calledan ecosystem. In the forest, living beings (plants, animals,
insects, fungi and bacteria) all interactwith each other and with
the soil and water to form the forest’s specific kind of
ecosystem.
So, how does it work? Every organism in the forest can be put in
one of three categories.Depending on which category they’re in,
they’ll interact with each other and the forest’sresources in a
different way. The categories are producer, decomposer and
consumer. Let’slook at each one.
Producers are living things that can make their own energy out
of non living resources allaround them like, oxygen and water.
They’re also known as autotrophs. Autotrophs do notneed to kill
anything in order to eat. Plants and algae, for example, are
producers. In theforest’s ecosystem, the trees, shrubs and moss are
all producers. They turn water and sunlightinto the energy they
need to live and grow, through a process called photosynthesis.
Andremember that carbon dioxide you expelled as waste matter? Well,
for plants, carbon dioxideis a vital gas. It is used to help aid
with the process of photosynthesis.
-
The Ecosystem of the Forest
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Like producers, decomposers don’t need to kill another living
being to obtain food. However,they differ from producers because
they still need to get their nutrients from other organismsor from
waste matter expelled by other organisms. Usually they eat dead
animals and plants.Bacteria and certain kinds of fungi are examples
of decomposers. They’re very importantbecause by helping break down
dead organisms, they actually provide energy to living ones.
Consumers are the living beings that need to eat other organisms
to survive. You may haveheard about this group as being “at the top
of the food chain.” They’re also known asheterotrophs. Humans are
heterotrophs who eat both plants and animals to live. In the
forest,a deer eating plants, a wolf hunting deer, a hawk eating
rodents, and rodents eating both bugsand plants, are all examples
of the ecosystem’s consumers. As you can see, carnivores,omnivores
and herbivores are all different kinds of heterotrophs. It doesn’t
matter which kindof organism they eat; as long as they eat other
organisms to survive, they’reconsumers/heterotrophs.
So, now that you know each type of player, how does the
ecosystem’s cycle work? Well, whenan organism dies and its body
decomposes, bacteria go to work. Let’s imagine the deadorganism is
a deer. Bacteria obtain energy from the deer’s body, while helping
it decomposeefficiently. When the deer’s body breaks down, because
of the work done by the bacteria, itreturns to the soil. This is
important for the earth, because the carcass actually gives vital
energyback to the environment. It makes the soil rich in nutrients
for plants to grow there. Grasses,flowers and trees then grow in
that soil and get the energy they need, along with energy fromthe
sun and water. The water also filters through the soil, which is
necessary for the forest’sflowers and trees to be able to take it
up through their roots. Heterotrophs, like deer, eat thoseplants to
get their energy, and other heterotrophs, like wolves, eat the deer
for their energy.
As you can see, in a forest ecosystem or any kind of ecosystem,
every being interacts withother beings. What’s important to
remember is that each part of the ecosystem is asimportant as
another. Without soil, there’d be no plants. With no plants,
there’d be no deer,rodents or certain kinds of insects. And without
tiny microbes (remember, the decomposers),animals and plants would
die without their bodies being returned to the earth.
Becauseforests cover about a quarter of the total land surface of
the world, keeping their ecologybalanced is important for the
entire earth.
-
Questions: The Ecosystem of the Forest
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
1
Name: _____________ Date: _______________________ 1. What is an
ecosystem?
A a living being, such as a human, that eats other living beings
in order to survive B the process by which the body of a living
thing is broken down by decomposers C one particular area where
several kinds of organisms interact with each other D an organism
that breathes in oxygen and then breathes out carbon dioxide
2. What does this passage explain?
A This passage explains what the difference between plants and
fungi is. B This passage explains what an ecosystem is and how it
works. C This passage explains how oxygen is used by the human body
after it is
breathed in. D This passage explains what happens when a
decomposer dies in the forest.
3. In an ecosystem, different organisms interact with each
other. What evidence from the passage supports this statement?
A Plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide in a process
called photosynthesis. B Forest ecosystems cover about a quarter,
or one-fourth, of the total land
surface in the world. C Producers are living things that can
make their own energy out of non-living
resources. D A deer decomposing in the soil provides food for
bacteria and nutrients for
plants to grow.
4. Based on the information in the passage, what do all
ecosystems have in common?
A All ecosystems are home to living beings that interact with
each other. B All ecosystems are home to trees, deer, humans,
rodents, wolves, hawks, and
bacteria. C All ecosystems have an equal number of consumers,
decomposers, and
producers. D All ecosystems have a few consumers that do not
interact with decomposers
and producers. 5. What is this passage mainly about?
A the differences between oxygen and carbon dioxide B different
kinds of consumers and the reasons they are “at the top of the food
chain” C different organisms in a forest ecosystem and how they
interact D what happens when the ecology of a forest is thrown
off-balance
-
Questions: The Ecosystem of the Forest
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
2
6. Read the following sentence: “Consumers are the living beings
who need to eat other organisms to survive.” What does the word
“organisms” mean?
A environments B waste matter C categories D living things
7. Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below.
Every organism in the forest can be put in one of three categories,
_______ producer, decomposer, or consumer.
A namely B although C as a result D earlier
8. What is a decomposer?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
-
Questions: The Ecosystem of the Forest
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
3
9. How do decomposers interact with their ecosystem? Be sure to
name one example of them taking from the ecosystem and one example
of them giving to the ecosystem.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
10. The author writes that each part of the ecosystem is as
important as another. Based on the information in the passage, do
you agree or disagree? Explain your reasons for agreeing or
disagreeing using evidence from the passage.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
-
Cicadas: No Ordinary Bugs
© 2014 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Cicadas: No Ordinary Bugs By ReadWorks
Cicadas are not ordinary bugs. They live in groups known as
broods, which are like families. Everybrood has a different cycle
and stays in the same area for life.
Cicada broods are found all over the world. Each one is assigned
a roman numeral. Dependingon their broods, cicadas have different
life cycles. In the United States, there are 15 differentbroods.
Most of them are on a 17 year cycle. However, three have a 13 year
cycle.
Most of their lives are spent deep underground. Once they are
almost fully grown, cicadas crawlup to the earth's surface and
emerge above ground to mate. After hurriedly mating and layingeggs
for the next generation, they die soon thereafter.
With their large, red, fiery eyes, cicadas might look scary. Yet
they are harmless. They can't stingor bite. Like all insects, they
have three body parts: the head, thorax, and abdomen. They
haveshort, bristly antennae. Their bodies are generally dark
colored. Sometimes their clear wingshave orange veins. Adult
cicadas grow to about one to two inches long and have six jointed
legs.They are some of the noisiest creatures on earth.
-
Cicadas: No Ordinary Bugs
© 2014 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
The reason that cicadas are so noisy is the male bugs call out
to the females to attract a mate.
It's a competition where each male tries to call louder than
other males. When a whole brood
sings at the same time, the large chorus can sound like a
roar.
Female cicadas stay busy laying their eggs in trees. A single
Brood II female can produce as many
as 600 eggs. Once the eggs drop to the ground, young cicadas,
known as nymphs, are born. Soon
after, the baby nymphs travel within the earth for nourishment.
They dig as far as two feet deep
and stay underground until they are almost mature enough to
mate.
Brood II and Brood X cicadas keep growing beneath the earth
until the spring of their 17th year.
Then they start to crawl back to the surface. To prepare for
their return above ground, the nymphs
build small cones, like tunnels, that stick above the soil. Soon
after they reach the surface, the
nymphs shed their skins to grow larger. This process is called
molting, and it transforms the
nymphs into adults, ready to mate. But shortly after
reproducing, they die. Their young dig into
the earth, only to emerge in another 17 years. So the cycle
repeats again and again.
In 1970, cicadas from Brood X invaded Princeton, New Jersey.
When the famous songwriter Bob
Dylan was awarded a special degree at Princeton University, the
bugs were so noisy themusician
wrote a song about them. Since he thought he was hearing
locusts, he called the song “Day of
the Locusts.” Here are some of the words to the song:
As I stepped to the stage to pick up my degreeAnd the locusts
sang off in the distanceYeah the locusts sang such a sweet
melody
One of the last appearances of Brood X was during 1987 in
Princeton. Then they emerged again
in 2004. Brood X is found in American states, including
Illinois, Michigan, New York, and Georgia.
Cicadas have "a tendency to be homebodies and do not travel far
beyond the region in which
they come out,” said Princeton ecology professor Henry Horn.
Most cicadas on the east coast of the United States belong to
Brood II. They live in an area that
stretches from Connecticut in the North down to North Carolina
in the South. Brood II last
appeared in 2013. In northern states such as New Jersey, this
happens around early June when
the temperature warms up to about 64 degrees. Once the nymphs
crawl out above ground, they
find a leaf on which to perch. Then they transform and turn into
winged adults capable of flying
around and reproducing.
-
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Honey to the Bee
Bees are flying insects that feed on nectar and pollen. They are
usually yellow and black and covered in fuzzy hair that makes
collecting pollen easier. A bee’s body is similar to that of
other insects—for instance, an ant—with three major sections: the
head, the middle section called the thorax, and the last section
called the abdomen. The head of a bee has five eyes for seeing and
two antennae for touching and smelling. Two sets of wings and three
sets of legs can be found on a bee’s
thorax. Depending on the type of bee, the last set of legs
might have little sacs that store the pollen that the bee has
collected from flowers. Many types of bees have stingers. The bee
stinger is the most feared part of a bee, and for good reason.
Filled with poison, the stinger is a bee’s
protection from danger. The stingers are around 12 millimeters
long. There are over 20,000 known bee species in the world. The
best known is probably the honeybee.
Honeybees live in beehives, which have a distinct order that
helps things run smoothly. At the bottom of the totem pole are the
workers. Workers are young female bees. Some of their main duties
include going out to find food (nectar and pollen), building the
hive, and keeping it clean. Honeybees will travel up to eight miles
if necessary to find nectar and pollen to bring back to the hive.
Worker bees are actually the only bees that ever do any stinging.
When this does happen, it is usually because they are trying to
protect their hive from harm. A bee rarely stings when it is away
from the hive, but it might sting if it senses danger. The lifespan
of a worker bee is anywhere from 4 to 9 months.
The queen honeybee is the biggest bee in the hive. There is
usually only one per hive, and her job is to grow the family by
laying eggs that will become the next generation of honeybees. She
lays over a thousand eggs per day and can live anywhere from 3 to 5
years. When the time
-
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
comes for a new queen to take over, some larvae are placed in
special chambers to grow queen bees. After they hatch, they are
fattened up with royal jelly, a nutritious substance that worker
bees secrete. It usually takes about two weeks for a newly hatched
female bee to grow into a queen bee. The first female bee to become
a queen bee kills the other potential queen bees.
Male honeybees are called drones. They don’t have
stingers, and they don’t collect nectar or
pollen. Their only purpose is to mate with the queen. Several
hundred drones can live in a hive at one time. As the winter months
approach, the males are kicked out of the hive in order to make it
easier for the queen and her workers to survive. Food needs to be
saved as there are fewer flowers to collect pollen and nectar from.
Less food means the drones are the first ones to go!
-
Questions: Honey to the Bee
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
1
Name: _____________ Date: _______________________ 1. What is a
bee?
A an insect that lives near water and eats fish B a
red-and-black insect that lives under the ground C a flying insect
that collects nectar and pollen D a crawling insect with two sets
of legs and no wings
2. What does this passage describe?
A wings, legs, mouths, and trees B totem poles and winter
weather C different honeybees in a beehive D poison and
measurement
3. Different bees in a hive have different duties. What evidence
from the passage supports this statement?
A Worker bees gather food; the queen bee lays eggs. B Bee
stingers are about 12 millimeters long. C Bees have two sets of
wings and three sets of legs. D The honeybee is probably the best
known bee species.
4. Which bees are probably the least important bees in a
beehive?
A worker bees B the queen bee C female bees D drones
5. What is this passage mainly about?
A the lives of bees B the bodies of bees C different types of
insects D antennae and wings
-
Questions: Honey to the Bee
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
2
6. Read the following sentences: “There are over 20,000 known
bee species in the world. The best known is probably the honeybee.”
What does the word “species” most nearly mean in the sentences
above?
A colors or shades B orders or levels C kinds or types D duties
or jobs
7. Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below.
There is less food available for the honeybees in the hive during
the winter; _______, the drones are kicked out.
A never B even though C including D consequently
8. What does a bee look like, according to the text?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
-
Questions: Honey to the Bee
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
3
9. What are the main duties of worker bees?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
10. Drones are the first bees to be kicked out of a beehive as the
winter months approach. Why might this be? Make sure to consider
the role of the drone in the beehive. Use evidence from the text to
support your answer.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
-
Bring in the Beavers!
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Bring in the Beavers!
It was the fifth straight day of heavy rain in the town of
Leith. If it kept on pouring for muchlonger, the river would swell
with rainwater and flood the town. All the citizens of Leith
wouldhave to flee their homes and find safety on higher ground.
Anna and her parents stayed gluedto the television set, nervously
listening to the weather reports.
For now, the weatherman said, the situation was still safe, but
helicopters were ready to liftpeople away at any moment if the rain
did not stop soon. Anna felt her palms grow sweaty asshe saw the
frightened expressions on her parents’ faces. Her parents never
looked scared.They were used to the rain, since Leith was located
in the rainy country of Scotland, but it hadnever, ever poured like
this before. The town had cancelled school in case of a
suddenemergency, so all Anna could do was try to read her favorite
detective stories and hope for therain to stop. Luckily, it did.
When she awoke the next morning the skies were sunny and clear.It
was a miracle. They had been spared from a terrible natural
disaster.
Everybody in Leith breathed a great sigh of relief, but they
knew they had to take action. Nobodywanted to face this flooding
danger again. The day after the downpour stopped, the Mayor ofLeith
called a town meeting. Anna went along with her parents to find out
more. She really didnot want all her books and toys, and her pet
dog Noodles, to get washed away in a flood.
At the meeting, the Mayor presented three experts who had
different ideas about solving theproblem. One man suggested they
build a concrete dam upstream to block the river’s path.With such a
big dam, the river would never overflow into Leith, even in heavy
rain. Anotherlady suggested building a different structure, a high
stone wall all around Leith to stopfloodwater from getting in. The
last speaker, a small, slender man with a heavy Scottishaccent, had
what seemed to be the craziest idea of all.
-
Bring in the Beavers!
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
“You see,” he said, “if we just bring some beavers back into our
landscape, we might be able tokiss our problem goodbye. About 400
years ago, there were thousands of beavers roamingaround the
Scottish countryside. Our ancestors killed most of them off because
they enjoyedhunting them for their warm fur. What our ancestors
didn’t realize was that we need to keepbeavers alive for our own
safety. The beaver builds dams in the rivers out of sticks, mud,
andleaves. These dams are strong enough to stop a river from
flooding in heavy rain. If we bringthe beavers back, we can solve
our problem by working with nature.”
After the three experts spoke, the Mayor asked the citizens of
the town to think for a weekand then vote for the best plan. Anna’s
father said, “That last guy is crazy. He thinks he cansolve the
flooding problem with beavers? Really, how silly.”
Anna’s mother looked very thoughtful. “You know, Fred,” she
said. “It’s worth a try. What harmcan it do? If workmen build just
one concrete dam or a stone wall, it won’t be as useful asseveral
dams built by the beavers. And besides, beavers are very cute, and
they build beautifuldams out of things they find in the forest.
Concrete dams are not nearly as beautiful.”
There was much whispering and discussing all over town until the
final vote was cast. Annasecretly hoped that the beaver plan would
win. She had always wanted to see a beaver in reallife. Since Leith
was in the countryside, and everyone in town loved nature and
animals, Annasuspected that the rest of the town might be on her
side. When the vote finally came in, Annawas proven right. They
would bring in the beavers!
Over the next two years, scientists brought beavers in from
other parts of Scotland, and setthem free upstream and in the
countryside around Leith. Everyone noticed a difference. Itrained
and rained, but the river did not even come close to overflowing
because of three damsthe busy beavers had already made. For her
fourth grade field trip, Anna’s teacher brought herclass into the
countryside to see the beavers at work. They watched in awe as the
furrycreatures hurried back and forth from the dam carrying twigs
and bark in their claws.
Beavers almost seemed like furry, cute little people. Before
they left, Anna and her classmatesshouted out a loud “thank you” to
their animal friends for saving their town.
-
Questions: Bring in the Beavers!
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
1
Name: _____________ Date: _______________________ 1. What danger
are the people of Leith worried about?
A a fire B a flood C a tornado D an earthquake
2. The river is a problem for the people of Leith because it
could overflow and flood their town. How do they solve this
problem?
A They solve this problem by cancelling school and having
helicopters lift people away. B They solve this problem by building
a concrete dam upstream. C They solve this problem by building a
high stone wall around their town. D They solve this problem by
bringing in beavers to build dams in the river.
3. Anna and her parents are worried about the river flooding
their town because of the rain. What sentence from the passage
supports this statement?
A “Anna and her parents stayed glued to the television set,
nervously listening to the weather reports.”
B “Anna’s father said, ‘That last guy is crazy.’” C “Anna’s
mother looked very thoughtful.” D “Since Leith was in the
countryside, and everyone in town loved nature and
animals, Anna suspected that the rest of the town might be on
her side.” 4. How can the plan to use beavers to prevent flooding
in Leith be described?
A foolish B dangerous C impossible D successful
5. What is this story mainly about?
A a girl who watches weather reports on television and reads
detective stories during the rain
B two parents who are worried about their daughter not being
able to attend school because of the weather
C the danger that a town’s citizens face from a river and what
they do about that danger
D the reason that there are no longer thousands of beavers
roaming the Scottish countryside
-
Questions: Bring in the Beavers!
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
2
6. Read the following sentences: “The beaver builds dams in the
rivers out of sticks, mud, and leaves. These dams are strong enough
to stop a river from flooding in heavy rain.” What does the word
“dams” mean?
A high stone walls that go all the way around a town B
structures that hold back the flow of water C pools used by beavers
to play in and trap fish D high levels of water that sometimes
cause flooding
7. Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below.
Bringing in beavers turns out to prevent the river from flooding
_______ the idea seems crazy to some of the citizens of the town at
first.
A although B because C before D especially
8. What is the first idea for preventing the river from flooding
that is shared at the Mayor’s meeting?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
-
Questions: Bring in the Beavers!
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
3
9. What are two reasons that Anna’s mother gives in support of
beaver dams over a concrete dam?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
10. Think about the danger of flooding that the people of Leith
faced. Would building a concrete dam have been a better or worse
solution to that problem than bringing in beavers to build dams?
Support your answer with evidence from the passage.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
-
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
It’s Opening Day By W.M. Akers
The weather was growing crisper. It was getting dark later, and
Matthew had stopped
wearing a coat to school. Spring was coming, but that didn’t
matter to him. What was really
important was it was April. April meant baseball. April meant
the end of the long, cold off
season. April meant opening day.
The local team was called the Crickets. It wasn’t a very tough
name for a baseball team,
but that was okay. The Crickets weren’t a Major League team,
with a 50,000 seat stadium,
expensive tickets, and big name players. They were a minor
league team, and that suited
Matthew just fine. The stadium was small, the tickets were
cheap, and the players weren’t
famous—at least not right now. Some were young players, only
seven or eight years older
-
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
than Matthew, with dreams of playing in the big leagues, and the
talent to make it happen.
Other players were older, their time in the big leagues
finished, but they stuck around the
Crickets because they weren’t ready yet to let go of the game
that had defined them ever
since childhood.
And then there were players like Willie Carney, the shortstop.
He had manned the space
between second and third base for as long as Matthew could
remember. Each year he was one
of the two best players on the team, but he never did quite well
enough to get called up to the
majors. Each opening day, Matthew was shocked to see that Willie
was still playing for the
Crickets.
“Jeez, Dad!” he would say. “I can’t believe Willie didn’t get
called up to the big leagues this
year.”
“You think he played pretty well last season?” his father would
ask.
“Are you kidding?!” Matthew’s face turned purple whenever
anybody questioned Willie
Carney. “He hit twenty seven home runs! He had ninety eight
RBIs! He walked more than
anybody else on the team!”
Matthew didn’t need a baseball card to tell him Willie’s
statistics. He knew them by heart,
from studying the sports page every morning at breakfast, to see
how Willie and the other
-
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Crickets had played the night before. Over the winter, he
committed all of their numbers to
memory, and at night he would recite them to himself until he
fell asleep.
“How was his fielding?” Matthew’s father would ask, teasing him.
“I bet he made a lot of
errors.”
“Dad—are you crazy? He moves like a spider out there. Nobody
turns a double play faster
than Willie. Nobody’s better at tagging runners out. Last
season, he didn’t make an error for...”
Matthew thought for a moment, doing the math in his head. “Forty
seven games!”
“That’s not bad.”
“Then how come he didn’t get called up to the majors?”
“I don’t know.”
“It’s not fair. He’s better than most of the guys you see
playing on TV.”
“It’s good news for us, right? Now we get to watch him play live
for another season.”
“I’m telling you, Dad. He’s the best.”
Matthew and his father had gone to see the Crickets play every
opening day since Matthew
was born. Their family celebrated a lot of
holidays—Thanksgiving, Halloween, the Fourth of
July, not to mention Matthew’s and his sister’s birthdays—but as
far as he was concerned,
-
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
opening day was the best one. It was usually on a weekday, and
his dad always let him skip
school to go.
“There are some things you can only learn in school,” he told
Matthew once, “and there
are some things you can only learn at the ballpark.”
Each year, Matthew and his dad wore Crickets jerseys and
Crickets hats, and they always
got to the ballpark early enough to watch the hitters take
batting practice. County Stadium
was an old ballpark, almost as old as Matthew’s dad himself, and
it had started to get a little
shabby by the time Matthew started going to games. The
scoreboard was rusty; the speakers
were screechy, and the chairs weren’t as comfortable as they
could have been. But on a sunny
day, Matthew thought, it was the most beautiful stadium in the
world. Last year was perfect.
The sun was bright, the sky was clear, and there was just enough
of a breeze to remind him
that summer wasn’t quite here yet. The Crickets won 4 2, Matthew
ate two hot dogs and a
plastic baseball helmet full of ice cream, and Willie Carney
bowed to the fans when he ran out
onto the field. They went to a lot of games the rest of the
summer, but opening day—as
always—was his favorite. On the coldest days of winter, when
wind cut through Matthew’s
parka and his fingers turned as pink as Vienna sausages, Matthew
remembered opening day,
and the outfield grass that was as green and perfect as the
Emerald City in the Wizard of Oz.
-
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
“I’ve got bad news,” said Matthew’s father, two days before the
season started. “I can’t go to
opening day this year.”
“Dad,” said Matthew. “That is a dumb joke.”
“I’m not kidding. Your sister’s play is Sunday afternoon.”
“Her play is happening for three days. We’re watching it at
school on Monday. Why don’t
you just come then?”
“I’ve got to work, kid. I’m really sorry.”
Matthew’s father looked sad, but Matthew did not. He did not
cry; he did not scream; he
did not yell at his father about breaking promises. One of the
things that he could only learn at
the ballpark is that there’s no crying in baseball, so Matthew
didn’t cry. But he wanted to.
“Why don’t we go to the game Monday night?” his father
asked.
Matthew wanted to explain that night games were no good, that he
had been waiting all
winter for blue skies and green grass and sunshine. Night games
were fine in the middle of the
summer, when it was too hot to sit out in the sun, but it was
April. He didn’t want to go to
County Stadium in his parka, but he didn’t know how to put it
into words.
“I want to go to opening day,” he said, finally.
“I’ve got an idea,” said his dad. “It’s kind of crazy but...do
you want to go by yourself?”
“What?!”
-
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
“You’re old enough now. When I was your age I’d go to games
alone all the time. I know
it’s not what we usually do, but it could be fun.”
“Go to the game...alone?” asked Matthew. He had to admit: it was
better than not going
at all.
The sky was blue, the grass was green, and Matthew wore his
Crickets jersey and Crickets hat.
His seat was right where he liked—along the first base line,
behind the home dugout—and all
his favorite players were in the lineup, with Willie Carney
batting first. He took out his
scorecard and carefully wrote their names down. During the game,
he would make notes of
what happened—who got a double, who struck out, who had the big
home run. It was an old
fashioned thing to do, but Matthew liked it, because it helped
keep him focused on the game.
His father had taught him how to keep score.
It was a perfect day for baseball. So why did Matthew feel so
gloomy?
During the second and fifth innings, Matthew bought hot dogs
from the hot dog vendor.
His dad had given him $20 to spend, and Matthew was going to
spend all of it. He wanted to
get a plastic baseball helmet full of ice cream, but he had to
go to the concessions stand for
that, and if he stopped watching the game, he wouldn’t be able
to write down what happened
-
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
on his scorecard. If it were later in the season, this wouldn’t
worry him so much, but today was
opening day, and the scorecard—everything—had to be perfect.
He decided to skip the seventh inning stretch. This was a big
sacrifice, because singing
“Take Me Out To The Ballgame” was one of the best parts of going
to see the Crickets. The
mascot—a big green cricket in a foam costume—would run out onto
the field and dance
around and throw t shirts. But Matthew already had plenty of
Crickets t shirts. What he didn’t
have was ice cream.
He waited in line, and paid the last of his money for a plastic
baseball helmet full of mint
chocolate chip. When he got back to his seat, the sun had gone
away. Matthew balanced his
ice cream in the cup holder in front of him, and frowned at his
scorecard. In the space for
“Weather” he had written “Sunny.” He changed it to
“Sunny/Clouds.” He put his scorecard
aside and focused on his ice cream, which was beginning to melt.
As he ate it, he shivered.
The game was over. The Crickets had won, 6 1. A blowout, but not
a very exciting one.
According to his scorecard, Willie Carney had a single and a
walk, but no runs batted in—a
good day, but not a great one. As always, Willie had bowed to
the people when he ran out
onto the field, and Matthew bowed back. When he hit his single,
with a sound like a judge’s
gavel, Matthew cheered louder than he had all day. He fixed the
image in his mind: Willie
-
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Carney, hustling down the first base line, right in front of his
eyes. He would tell his father
about it when he got home, and he would remember it come
winter.
Matthew’s dad had told him to call when the game was over and he
would come pick him
up, but now, standing outside the stadium, he didn’t want to
leave. He sat on a bench outside
the stadium, making sure his scorecard was perfect. He erased
wobbly lines and redrew them,
straight, bold and firm. Flawed letters—a wobbly K, a slouching
B—he went over until they
looked like they had been put there by a computer. By the time
he was finished, nobody could
have done a better job.
Matthew looked up, and saw the parking lot was empty. Behind
him, the stadium was
closed—and with it, the only pay phone. How would his dad know
to come pick him up? The
sun was long gone now, and Matthew began to wish he had brought
his parka. It was windy in
the County Stadium parking lot.
He walked around the ballpark, hoping to find another phone, but
all he found was
cracked concrete and overgrown grass. On the other side from the
outfield wall, he saw a
battered old baseball—a forgotten home run from the season
before. He picked this up and
put it in his pocket. A boy can never have too many baseballs.
Holding it as he picked his way
across the gravel, he felt less afraid. As he completed the loop
around the stadium, he heard a
door close behind him.
-
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
“Hey kid,” said a voice, and Matthew’s heart leapt. It was
Willie Carney. Out of uniform, he
looked bigger than he did on the field, like he could crush a
rock into dust with one hand. He
was smiling, just like he had when he bowed to the crowd that
afternoon. “You here by
yourself?”
“Kinda,” said Matthew. “My dad’s supposed to pick me up, but I
don’t have a way to call
him.”
Silently, Willie took his cellphone out of his pocket and handed
it over. Matthew dialed his
father’s number, and told him to meet him by the main entrance.
When he handed the phone
back to Willie, he said thanks, quietly.
“No problem,” said Willie. “You want some company while you
wait?”
“Sure,” said Matthew, as they walked back to his bench.
“Enjoy the game today?”
“It was pretty good,” said Matthew. “That was a nice at bat you
had in the sixth, when you
drew the walk.”
“Thanks. It must have been seven, eight pitches.”
“It was nine,” said Matthew. “I was counting.”
“Glad to know somebody’s paying attention. That a baseball in
your pocket?”
“I found it on the other side of the center field fence.”
-
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
“They don’t clean back there as much as they should. Want me to
sign it?”
Matthew handed Willie the ball, his heart in his chest. As
Willie traced his wide, looping
signature across the grimy yellow leather, Matthew asked the
question that had been
bothering him all day.
“Do you ever get sick of playing here?” he asked.
“What do you mean?”
“You’re good enough to play in the majors. I know it. You know
it. The whole crowd knows
it. You hit twenty seven home runs last year! You had ninety
eight RBIs! You walked more
than anybody else on the team! Doesn’t it drive you crazy to be
stuck down here, in this
crummy old ballpark, playing for nobody?”
For a moment, Willie looked hurt. Then a smile broke out across
his face, and he started
laughing. “Are you nuts, kid?” he asked. “I get to play baseball
for a living! It’s not much
money, but it’s enough. And if I can keep the people entertained
here, who cares about the
big leagues?”
“Yeah?”
“It’s opening day. We’re at the ballpark. What have we got to
complain about?”
The End
-
Questions: It’s Opening Day
Name: _____________ Date: _______________________ 1. What does
Matthew like to do every April?
A go for a bike ride in the sunshine and blue skies B eat ice
cream and watch a movie at home C see the Crickets play on opening
day D see his sister perform in a school play
2. What is the climax of the action in this story?
A Matthew eats ice cream at the ballpark. B Matthew’s father
says that he cannot go to opening day. C Matthew commits Willie
Carney’s statistics to memory. D Matthew talks to Willie
Carney.
3. Matthew is excited to meet Willie Carney. What evidence from
the story supports this statement?
A “During the second and fifth innings, Matthew bought hot dogs
from the hot dog vendor.”
B “Each opening day, Matthew was shocked to see that Willie was
still playing for the Crickets.”
C “One of the things that he could only learn at the ballpark is
that there’s no crying in baseball, so Matthew didn’t cry.”
D “‘Hey kid,’ said a voice, and Matthew’s heart leapt. It was
Willie Carney.”
4. Based on what Willie says, how does he feel about playing
baseball for the Crickets?
A Willie is happy about playing baseball for the Crickets. B
Willie is tired of playing baseball for the Crickets. C Willie is
worried about playing baseball for the Crickets. D Willie does not
care much about playing baseball for the Crickets.
5. What is a theme of this story?
A the pleasures of winter B the pleasures of baseball C the
damage that war can cause D the damage that nature can cause
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
1
-
Questions: It’s Opening Day
6. Read the following sentence: “Doesn’t it drive you crazy to
be stuck down here, in this crummy old ballpark, playing for
nobody?” What does the phrase playing for nobody mean in the
sentence above?
A not caring about how well a baseball team plays B not playing
in a baseball game on opening day C not playing for very many
people or anyone important D playing in a ballpark that does not
have any seats
7. Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below.
Willie looks hurt _______ Matthew asks him whether playing in a
crummy old ballpark drives him crazy.
A after B before C for instance D however
8. For Matthew, what is the best holiday of the year?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
2
-
Questions: It’s Opening Day
9. When Matthew asks Willie whether playing for nobody in a
crummy old ballpark drives him crazy, what does Willie say?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
10. What do Matthew and Willie have in common? Support your answer
with evidence from the passage.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
3