Text Marking 4

Informational Passages
for Text Marking & Close Reading

GRADE 4
By Marcia Miller & Martin Lee
New York T o r o nt o London A u c k lan d Sydney

M e x i c o C i ty New Delhi Hong Kong Buenos Aires
Informational Passages for Text Marking & Close Reading: Grade 4

2015 by Scholastic Teaching Resources
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ISBN: 978-0-545-79380-3
Copyright 2015 by Scholastic Inc.
All rights reserved.
Printed in the U.S.A.
Published by Scholastic Inc.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 40 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15

Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................5
Teaching Routine for Close Reading and Purposeful Text Marking......................................7
Connections to the Standards..................................................................................................9
Comprehension Skill Summary Cards.....................................................................................10
Informational Text Passages
Main Idea & Details
1. How Did That Taste, Doggie? (820 L)............ Life Science Essay.................................14
2. Towers of Green (920 L)..................................... Architecture Essay................................16
Sequence of Events
3. Accidents Happen (780 L)................................ Health and Safety Article....................18
4. Bigger and Better (840 L).................................. Technology Article...............................20
Fact & Opinion
5. Time to Learn (840 L)......................................... Debate Speech....................................22
6. Restart the Music! (870 L).................................. Business Letter.......................................24
Compare & Contrast
7. Which Boat? (810 L)........................................... Blog Post................................................26
8. Your Move (840 L).............................................. Games Article.......................................28
Cause & Effect
9. When Its 10 AM in... (890 L).............................. Geography Essay.................................30
10. Pop Culture (930 L)............................................ Culture Article.......................................32

Context Clues
11. The Five-Second Rule (890 L)............................ Health Essay..........................................34
12. From an Egghead (940 L)................................. Word Origin Article...............................36
Problem & Solution
13. Pickles on Ice (810 L)......................................... Environment Essay................................38
14. Animal or Vegetable? (850 L)........................... Newspaper Article...............................40
Summarize
15. Elephant Orchestra (840 L)............................... Animal Behavior Article.......................42
16. The Man Behind Yoda (940 L).......................... Biographical Sketch.............................44
Make inferences
17. The Whole Bird (810 L)....................................... Memoir..................................................46
18. Orlando Bloomed! (900 L)................................ Magazine Article..................................48
Authors Purpose
19. Bugs on the Menu (770 L)................................. Nutrition Article.....................................50
20. A Star of the Future? (860 L).............................. Sports Essay...........................................52
Answer Key................................................................................................................................54

Introduction
T he vast majority of what adults readin books, magazines, or onlineis

nonfiction. We read news stories, memoirs, science pieces, sports articles,
business e-mails and memos, editorials, arts reviews, health documents, assembly
or installation instructions, advertisements, and catalogs. Informational reading,
with its diverse structures, formats, and content-specific vocabulary, can be
demanding.
Many students enjoy reading nonfiction, but navigating the wide
variety of rich informational texts poses challenges for evolving readers. Connections to
Students may lack sufficient background knowledge of a topic or be the Standards
unfamiliar with specific vocabulary related to it. In addition, they may The chart on page 9
find some structures or features of nonfiction puzzling. This is why details how the
exposing students more frequently to complex informational texts and lessons in this
introducing them to active reading-comprehension strategies are now book will help your
key components of successful reading instruction. Useful strategies, students meet
clearly taught, can empower readers to approach informational texts the more rigorous
purposefully, closely, and independently. Such active tools provide demands of todays
reading standards for
students with a foundation for success not only in school, but for the
informational text.
rest of their lives.
Text Marking: A Powerful Active-Reading Strategy
To improve their comprehension of complex informational texts, students

must actively engage with the text. Careful and consistent text marking by hand
is one valuable way to accomplish that. To begin with, by numbering paragraphs,
students can readily identify the location of pertinent information when discussing
a piece. By circling main ideas, underlining supporting details (such as definitions,
descriptions, evidence, explanations, and data), and boxing key vocabulary,
students interact directly with the material, making it more digestible in the
process. But the true goal of teaching text marking is to help students internalize
an effective close-reading strategy, not to have them show how many marks they
can make on a page.
Purposeful text marking intensifies a readers focus. It helps readers identify
information as they read and recognize and isolate key details or connect relevant
ideas presented in the text. For instance, boxing words like before, next, finally,
and afterwards can clarify the sequence of ideas or events in a passage. By circling
expressions like I think or in my opinion, students learn to discern opinions from
facts. When students are asked to compare and contrast information in a passage,
boxing signal words and phrases, such as both, in the same way, or however, can
make identifying similarities and differences more apparent. Words like since,
because of, therefore, or as a result signal cause-and-effect relationships that structure
a piece. Furthermore, the physical act of writing by hand, in itself, helps students
not only process what they read, but remember it as well.

5 2015 by Scholastic Teaching Resources
About the Passages
The 20 reproducible passages in this book, which vary in genres and forms,
organizational structures, purposes, tones, and tasks, address ten key reading-
comprehension skills, from identifying main ideas and details, and separating
facts from opinions to summarizing and making inferences. Consult the table of
contents to see the scope of skills, genres, forms, content areas, and Lexile scores
of the passages. The Lexile scores fall within the ranges recommended for fourth
graders. (The scores for grade 4, revised to reflect the more rigorous demands of
todays higher standards, range from 740 to 940.)
Each passage appears on its own page, beginning with the title,
the genre or form of the passage, and the main comprehension skill 14 Problem & Solution Name
Animal or Vegetable?
Date
the passage addresses. Most of the passages include visual elements, Read the newspaper article.
Then follow the directions in the Text Marking box.
such as photographs, illustrations, or diagrams, as well as typical Ivory is a natural substance known for its
warm, creamy hue. For centuries, collectors
traveled the world in search of it. Artisans Vegetable-ivory
text elements, such as italics, boldface type, subheadings, sidebars,

owl carved from
carved and polished ivory to form unique art tagua nut
works and jewelry. But the problem with ivory
lay in the cruel way it was obtained.
and captions. The most common source of ivory was
the tusks of African elephants. Other ivory
came from walrus, hippo, and rhino tusks.
The passages are stand-alone texts and can be used in any Sadly, the only sure way to get ivory from
an animals tusk is to kill the creature. How
wrong to murder magnificent animals just to

Text Marking
order you choose. Feel free to assign passages to individuals, pairs, make art objects!
It took time for an acceptable solution
to emerge. Interestingly, the remedy was a

Find the problem and solution.
Box the signal words.
small groups, or the entire class, as best suits your teaching style. natural product found in the rainforests of
South America. So-called vegetable ivory
comes from the tagua nut. Tagua nuts grow

Circle the problem.
________ Underline the solution.
However, its a good idea to preview each passage before you assign in the fruit of a palm tree called an elephant
plant. Tagua nuts share many characteristics with ivory. Both are smooth, hard, and bone-
colored. Both can be carved and polished into lovely objects.
it, to ensure that your students have the skills needed to complete it But vegetable ivory has major advantages over animal ivory. For one thing, tagua nuts
are a renewable resource. Harvesting them causes no harm to the elephant plant. Furthermore,
successfully. (See the next page for a close-reading routine to model

tagua ivory is cheaper to obtain and encourages conservation of tropical rainforests.

for students.)
14 Do More Name Date
Reading-Comprehension Question Pages , Answer each question. Give evidence from the article.
1 Another word that means about the same as hue (paragraph 1) is ____________________.
tt A. finish tt B. taste tt C. color tt D. plant
What in the text helped you answer? _______________________________________________
Following each passage is a reproducible Do More page __________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
of text-dependent comprehension questions: two are multiple-

2 Which is the most important way that vegetable ivory is better than animal ivory?
tt A. Harvesting animal ivory damages the rainforest.
tt B. Vegetable ivory costs far less than animal ivory.
choice questions that call for a single response and a brief, text-
tt C. Vegetable ivory has a warmer color than animal ivory has.
tt D. Obtaining animal ivory causes animal cruelty while vegetable ivory is harmless.
based explanation to justify that choice. The other two questions 3

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
are open-response items. The questions address a range of

In what ways are animal and vegetable ivory similar?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
comprehension strategies and skills. All questions share the goal of

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
4 Make an inference. Why do you think farmers in the rainforests of South America are
ensuring that students engage in close reading of the text, grasp its eager to protect elephant plants?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
key ideas, and provide text-based evidence to support their answers. __________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Have additional paper on hand so students have ample space to

write complete and thorough answers.

14 Problem & Solution Name Date
An answer key (pages 5463) includes annotated versions of Read the newspaper article.
each marked passage and sample answers to its related questions.

Ivory is a natural substance known for its

owl carved from
Maintain flexibility in assessing student responses, as some markings

and answers to open-response questions may vary. (Since students

The most common source of ivory was
are likely to mark different places in the text as examples for

Sadly, the only sure way to get ivory from

Text Marking
particular skills, the annotated versions in the answer key highlight make art objects!

Find the problem and solution.
a variety of possible responses.) Encourage students to self-assess

Circle the problem.
natural product found in the rainforests of
South America. So-called vegetable ivory ________ Underline the solution.

and revise their answers as you review the text markings together. in the fruit of a palm tree called an elephant
This approach encourages discussion, comparison, extension, But vegetable ivory has major advantages over animal ivory. For one thing, tagua nuts
reinforcement, and correlation to other reading skills. 40


Teaching Routine for Close Reading and Purposeful
Text Marking
Any text can become more accessible to readers who have learned to bring various
strategies, such as purposeful text marking, to the reading process. Here is one suggested
routine that may be effective in your classroom.
Preview
44 Engage prior knowledge of the topic of the piece and its genre. Help students link it
to similar topics or examples of the genre they may have read.
44 for which students will be marking the text. Distribute the
Identify the reading skill
Comprehension Skill Summary Card that applies to the passage. Go over its key ideas.
(See Comprehension Skill Summary Cards, page 8, for more.)
Model (for the first passage, to familiarize students with the process)
44 Display the passage, using an interactive whiteboard, document camera, or other

resource, and provide students with their own copy. Preview the text with students by
having them read the title and look at any photographs, illustrations, or other graphics.
44 Draw attention to the markings students will use to enhance their understanding of
the piece. Link the text marking box to the Comprehension Skill Summary Card
for clarification.
44 Read aloud the passage as students follow along. Guide students to think about the
skill and to note any questions they may have on sticky-notes.
44 Mark the text together.Begin by numbering the paragraphs. Then discuss the choices
you make when marking the text, demonstrating and explaining how the various text
elements support the skill. Check that students understand how to mark the text using
the various icons and graphics shown in the text marking box.
Read
44 Have students do a quick-read of the passage independently for the gist. Then they
should read it a second time, marking the text as they go.
44 Encourage students to make additional markings of their own. These might include
noting unfamiliar vocabulary, an idiom or phrase they may not understand, or an
especially interesting, unusual, or important detail they want to remember. Invite them
to use sticky-notes, colored pencils, highlighters, question marks, or check marks.
Respond
44 Have students read the passage a third time. This reading should prepare them to
discuss the piece and offer their views about it.
44 Have students answer the questions on the companion Do More page. Encourage
them to look back at their text markings and other text evidence. This will help
students provide complete and supported responses.

Comprehension Skill Summary Cards
To help students review the ten reading-comprehension skills this book addresses
and the specific terms associated with each, have them use the ten reproducible
Comprehension Skill Summary Cards (pages 1012). The boldface terms on each card
are the same ones students will identify as they mark the text.
You might duplicate, cut out, and distribute a particular Comprehension Skill
Summary Card before assigning a passage that focuses on that skill. Discuss the
elements of the skill together to ensure that students fully grasp it. Encourage students
to save and collect the cards, which they can use as a set of reading aids to refer to
whenever they read any type of informational text.
Tips and Suggestions
44 The text-marking process is versatile and adaptable. Although numbering,

boxing, circling, and underlining are the most Compreh common
ension Skill
methods, you can
personalize the strategy for your class if M itahelps augment the process. You Comprehension Skill
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2015 by Scholas e Reading: Grade 4
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reading and thinking skill. Authors discu 8 w th ey are alike and 2015 by Scholastic Teaching Resources
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Connections to the Standards
The lessons in this book support the College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards for Reading for
students in grades K12. These broad standards, which serve as the basis of many state standards, were
developed to establish rigorous educational expectations with the goal of providing students nationwide
with a quality education that prepares them for college and careers. The chart below details how the
lessons align with specific reading standards for informational text for students in grade 4.
These materials also address language standards, including skills in the conventions of standard English,
knowledge of language, and vocabulary acquisition and use. In addition, students meet writing standards
as they answer questions about the passages, demonstrating their ability to convey ideas coherently, clearly,
and with support from the text.
Reading Standards for Informational Text Passages
Key Ideas and Details
44 Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says 120
explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
44 Determine the main idea of a text and explain how it is supported by key 120
details; summarize the text.
44 Explain events, procedures, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, 111, 1320

or technical text, including what happened and why, based on specific
information in the text.
Craft and Structure
44 Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words or 120

phrases in a text relevant to a grade 4 topic or subject area.
44 Describe the overall structure (e.g., chronology, comparison, cause/effect, 120

problem/solution) of events, ideas, concepts, or information in a text or part
of a text.
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
44 Interpret information presented visually, orally, or quantitatively (e.g., in 2, 4, 79, 1114, 17, 19
charts, graphs, diagrams, time lines, animations, or interactive elements on
Web pages) and explain how the information contributes to an understanding
of the text in which it appears.
44 Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support particular 120
points in a text.
Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity
44 By the end of the year, read and comprehend informational texts, including 120
history/social studies, science, and technical texts, in the grades 45 text
complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of
the range.
Source: Copyright 2010 National Governors Association Center for Best Practices
and Council of Chief State School Officers. All rights reserved. Informational Passages for Text Marking & Close Reading: Grade 4
Main Idea & Details Sequence of Events
Every passage has one or more main As you read, notice the order in which
ideas supported by details. The main idea things happen or ideas are presented.
answers the question, Who (or What) is Think about the beginning, middle,
this piece about? and end.
44 The main idea is the most important 44 Events are the important actions
point an author makes about a topic. that happen.
The main idea in most paragraphs The sequence is the order in which
44
is stated in a topic sentence. The topic events happen.
sentence can appear anywhere in
44 Signal words give clues that help
a paragraph.
clarify the order of events. Examples
44 Supporting details are facts, include first, second, third, next, then,
statements, examples, descriptions, last, later, before, prior to, soon, during,
and other information that tell more while, after, finally, as well as specific
about the main idea. dates and times.
Fact & Opinion Compare & Contrast
Do you truly know something or do you Authors discuss people, places, objects, or
simply believe it? Telling the difference ideas by describing how they are alike and
between knowing and believing is a critical ways they differ.
reading and thinking skill.
44 To compare means to tell how two or
44 A fact is a statement you can prove more things are alike.
or verify. Facts are true and certain.
44 To contrast means to tell how two or
44 An opinion is a statement of personal more things are different.
belief or feeling. Opinions vary.
44 Signal words guide you to compare
44 Signal words can help distinguish facts and contrast.
from opinions.
Examples for comparing: both, like, alike,
Examples for facts: proof, know, and discovered, also, too, share, in the same way, and similarly.
as well as details, such as dates and ages.
Examples for contrasting: but, only, unlike,
Examples for opinions: believe, wish, favor,
instead, however, in contrast, different,
expect, agree, disagree, probably, seems to,
although, on the other hand, as opposed to,
sense, think, viewpoint, and feel.
neither, whereas, while, and rather.

Cause & Effect Context Clues
A text may discuss the relationship Authors may use words you dont
between something that happens and know. Search for synonyms, antonyms,
any outcomes that follow from it. explanations, or examples in the
nearby text to help you figure out
44 A cause is an event, condition,
the meaning.
reason, or situation that makes
something happen. 44 Context refers to the words and
An effect is the result of that sentences around the unfamiliar
44
particular event, condition, reason, word.
or situation. 44 Context clues are specific
Signal words are clues that help indications in the text that can
44
link a cause with its effects. Examples help you unlock the meaning of an
include due to, as a result, since, unfamiliar word.
therefore, because of, so, for this reason,
consequently, so that, in order to,
and leads to.
Problem & Solution Summarize
This kind of writing presents a challenging Think about how to retell the key ideas of
situation to engage readers, then offers a passage in your own words. Leave out
one or more forms of resolution. unimportant details and get to the point.
44 A problem is a difficulty or setback 44 The topic is the focus of the passage

situation that needs fixing. what it is mainly about.
44 A solution is a way to deal with the 44 Important details add more

problem to make things better. information about the topic.
44 Signal words are clues that indicate 44 A summary is a brief statement of the
a problem and its solutions. topic using its most essential details.
Examples for problems: question, A good summary is short, clear, and
challenge, dilemma, issue, puzzle, need, recalls what is most important.
and trouble.
Examples for solutions: answer, result,
one reason, solve, improve, fix, remedy,
respond, and led to.

Make Inferences Authors Purpose
Authors may hint at an idea without Every author has goals in mind before
stating it directly. You must use what writing. Close reading and common
you already know about a topic to read sense can help you figure out the authors
between the lines to figure out an intention.
unstated idea.
44 The authors purpose is the reason
44 Text clues are words or details that the author chose to write a particular
help you figure out unstated ideas. piece. An author may write with more
You make an inference by than one purpose.
44
combining text clues with your 44 The main purposes for writing are to
background knowledge to come to inform (tell, describe), to persuade
a logical conclusion, or educated (convince, influence), or to entertain
guess. (amuse, please).
44 Text clues are words or sentences

that reveal the authors purpose.

Informational
Text Passages
.
.
.

1 Main Idea & Details Name Date
How Did That Taste, Doggie?

Read the life science essay.
If you have ever spent any time with
dogs, you have noticed how much better
their sense of smell is than yours. They can
smell things before you do. They can detect
smells that you cannot. But how does a
dogs sense of taste compare with ours?
Their sense of taste is not as good as
ours. You get one clue simply by watching
them gobble up food as if they are starving A puppy wolfing down dinner
and dont seem to even taste what they are
wolfing down. Well, dogs just dont seem to
care much about taste. Thats because they

Text Marking
have fewer taste buds than you do.
Taste buds are groups of cells that let us Find the main idea
and supporting details.
know how things taste. They tell us whether
foods are sweet, salty, sour, bitter, or savory. Circle the main idea
in each paragraph.
Taste buds are located on the surface of the
tongue. There are also some on the roof of ________ Underline supporting
details for each main
the mouth and in the back of the mouth.
idea.
The more taste buds you have, the better
your sense of taste is. Whereas humans
have about 9,000 of these, canines have about 1,700.
But compared to cats, dogs are foodies. Poor cats have only about 470 taste buds
in their mouths.

1 Do More Name Date

,, Answer each question. Give evidence from the essay.
1 Which of the following words has the same meaning as detect (paragraph 1)?
tt A. avoid tt B. enjoy tt C. identify tt D. taste

What in the text helped you answer? ________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
2 Which statement is true about the connection between number of taste buds and the
ability to taste different things?
tt A. An animal with more taste buds has a weaker sense of taste.

tt B. An animal with more taste buds senses more kinds of smells.
tt C. The fewer taste buds an animal has, the weaker its sense of taste.
tt D. There is no connection because all animals can taste the same things.
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
3 In your own words, explain what you think it means to wolf down food.
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
4 Suggest a different title that would work for this piece. Explain your thinking.
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
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___________________________________________________________________________________

Towers of Green
Read the architecture essay.
Most people would describe farms as huge
outdoor fields for growing crops. Farms are mostly
horizontalflat spaces on the land. A vertical farm
is a new way to bring farms to cities. Most cities are
crowded and lack open spaces, you say. No problem!
Vertical farms are flat fields hung from a towering
skyscraper.
Supporters of vertical farming envision many
benefits for their futuristic idea. First, crops would
grow closer to where most people live, saving money
and energy now used to transport crops. Next, Design for the Urban Skyfarm
vertical farming would provide jobs for city workers.
And vertical farms would use far less water than

Text Marking
traditional farms do.
Architects in Seoul, South Korea, are designing Find the main idea
what they call the Urban Skyfarm. It resembles a
Circle the main idea
massive tree that supports 24 acres of fields for
in each paragraph.
growing food. The trunk has rooms for indoor
________ Underline supporting
growing. The canopy holds solar panels and
wind engines needed to make clean energy. The idea.
branches are open-air terraces, stacked one above
another, where plants can grow.
The architects see other uses for vertical farms. They could provide spaces for community
gardens, public parks, learning centers, and farmers markets. Architects hope that vertical
farms will become a major solution to food shortages.

2 Do More Name Date
Towers of Green
1 Which statement about vertical farms is supported by information in the text?
tt A. Vertical farms cost millions of dollars to build.

tt B. Vertical farming is nothing like horizontal farming.
tt C. Vertical farms were invented in Seoul, South Korea.
tt D. Vertical farms would provide jobs and save water and energy.
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
2 Which part of a tree is most likely the canopy (paragraph 3)?
tt A. the very top tt B. the sturdy bark tt C. the hidden roots tt D. the green terraces
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
3 In your own words, explain why vertical farms make sense for big cities.
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
4 Make an inference using the text and the picture. Why would a vertical farm need less
water than a traditional farm would?
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
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3 Sequence of Events Name Date
Accidents Happen
Read the health and safety article.
What if you scrape your shin or a pet
claws you by mistake? Alas, accidents occur
to everyone. Minor wounds need TLC
tender loving careand sufficient time to
mend. Luckily, you can manage most small
wounds without visiting a hospital; thats
why its a good idea to have basic first-aid
supplies on hand at home. First-aid kit
The first thing to do is to stop any
bleeding immediately. Small cuts and
scrapes usually close on their own. If not, cover the Text Marking
wound with a clean cloth or bandage. Then press Find the sequence of steps.
gently on it until the bleeding stops. This could
take a few seconds or minutes.
________ Underline the important
Next, its essential to rinse the wound to avoid
steps.
infection. Use lukewarm water and mild soap to
1-2-3 Number the events in
gently clean the area; repeat to remove dirt and the sequence they
grit. If needed, wet some cotton or gauze with happen.
alcohol or peroxide and lightly clean again. Dry
the area thoroughly.
Then, cover the wound to keep out harmful germs using a bandage, gauze pad,
or other type of clean cover, but dont make it too tight.
Finally, be kind to your wound. Try not to bump it. When the bandage gets wet or dirty,
replace it. After a scab forms, expose the wound to fresh air so it can finish healing.

3 Do More Name Date
Accidents Happen
,, Answer each question. Give evidence from the article.
1 Which of the following words means about the same as sufficient, as used in paragraph 1?
tt A. enough tt B. scarce tt C. painful tt D. restful

___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
2 Which is the last thing to do when caring for a wound?
tt A. Rinse the wound carefully. tt C. Press on the wound to stop any bleeding.
tt B. Let the wound get some fresh air. tt D. Apply some form of cover to the wound.
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
3 According to the article, what is the most important reason to clean and cover a wound?
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
4 Does the advice explained in this article apply to all kinds of accidents? In your own words,
explain your response.
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___________________________________________________________________________________
Bigger and Better

Read the technology article.
Back in 1927, Americans got their first
peek at television. On this electronic wonder
with its 2-inch by 3-inch screen, a fortunate few
watched a speech in black-and-white given by
Herbert Hoover.
A decade later, people could watch on
slightly larger sets, some with 9-inch screens
(measured diagonally). They watched in
astonishment. But television was still in its

1949 TV set in a large console
infancy. Very few families owned a set.
After World War II, TV sales skyrocketed;

Text Marking
about 1 in 200 families nationwide had one.
Find the sequence of events.
That number leaped to more than 9 in 10
households by the 1960s, when TV screens got Box the signal words.
much larger. Then, with the arrival of color, ________ Underline the important
fascination increased again. Yet, there were events.
very few channels people could watch. 1-2-3 Number the events in
the sequence they
With the coming of cable in the 1970s,
happened.
the number of channels multiplied. Then,
in the 1980s, TV viewing itself changed with
the invention of devices that let people record programs and then watch them whenever they
wished. Next, in the late 1990s, new high-definition television changed the game again. These
HDTVs displayed clearer, sharper pictures on even larger, flat-panel screens. Today, with further
improvements in technology, TVs are linked to computers and the Internet.
Whats next for TV?

4 Do More Name Date
Bigger and Better

1 Look at the photo and its caption. Which is the best synonym for console?
tt A. cabinet tt B. furniture tt C. opening tt D. window

___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
2 Which of the following statements is true about the earliest televisions?
tt A. They showed color images. tt C. They got their power from gasoline.
tt B. They had very small screens. tt D. You could find them in nearly every home.
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
3 Make an inference. What led to each new rise in interest for television? Support your idea.
___________________________________________________________________________________
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___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
4 Compare and contrast early televisions with todays TVs.
___________________________________________________________________________________
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5 Fact & Opinion Name Date
Time to Learn
Read the debate speech.
Text Marking
I believe that American students need to spend more Identify the facts and opinions
time in school. We need it to keep up with students all in the speech.
over the world. And the following facts support my views. Box at least three signal
words or phrases.
American students are in school for about

Circle at least three facts.
6 hours a day, 180 days a year. In Germany, the ________ Underline at least three
school year lasts 240 days; in Japan and South opinions.
Korea, it lasts for more than 200 days. In France,
the school day is 8 hours long, plus kids have a half-day every Saturday.
Chinese students are in class 9 hours each day, 260 days a year.
Test scores show that we are falling behind students in many other
countries. This is both sad and unnecessary. To keep up, I think we
must extend our school year and lengthen each school day. We do not
need all those hours we spend playing video games or watching dumb
TV shows. We should be more productive by sharpening our math skills
or becoming better readers. We can do itwe just need more time.
I acknowledge that other factors, like well-qualified
teachers and supportive homes, are important to helping
kids learn. But if we dont add more school time, well keep
falling behind.

5 Do More Name Date
Time to Learn
,, Answer each question. Give evidence from the speech.
1 Which of the following words means about the same as acknowledge (paragraph 4)?
tt A. argue tt B. learn tt C. question tt D. recognize

___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
2 Why does the debater argue that American test scores are lower than test scores
in other countries?
tt A. Foreign students have more days of school than American students have.
tt B. Foreign students are far smarter than American students are.
tt C. American students start school later.
tt D. American tests are much too difficult.
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
3 Summarize the debaters point of view on how American kids spend their free time.
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
4 In your own words, explain how you can tell a fact from an opinion in this speech.
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________

Restart the Music!

Read the business letter.
Dear Superintendent Caldern,
I am discouraged that our schools music programs have been cut. As the father
of three children, I know how much my kids need music. In my view, music is not an
unnecessary frill, as critics say. As I see it, music is as vital as reading, writing, and math.
I believe music helps children grow socially, emotionally, and academically.
Serious brain science supports my view. Dr. Nina Kraus, researcher at Northwestern
University, has long studied how learning music affects growing brains. Her findings
prove that it does enhance students brains and nervous systems. These benefits improve
childrens abilities in language, memory, patterning, and critical listening. She supports
music training as part of a balanced school program. I strongly agree. I favor all the brain
development kids can get!
My kids sang nearly as soon as they could speak. They learned new words from song
lyrics. They exercised their bodies and minds dancing to DVDs and music videos. They
sang songs to memorize math facts. In my opinion, these are perfect examples of music
working its magic.
A 1997 study by research teams from Wisconsin Text Marking

and California found that music increases spatial
Identify the facts and opinions
reasoning, which links to stronger math and science in the speech.
skills. Is this not proof enough that our schools
Box at least three signal
deserve music for all?
words or phrases.
Respectfully yours,
James Gosch
________ Underline at least three
(Father of Brianna, Luke, and Nelson)
opinions.

6 Do More Name Date
Restart the Music!

,, Answer each question. Give evidence from the letter.
1 Which of the following is most nearly opposite in meaning to vital, as used in paragraph 1?
tt A. energetic tt B. musical tt C. unhealthy tt D. unnecessary

___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
2 Why did Mr. Gosch discuss research by Dr. Nina Kraus in paragraph 2?
tt A. He is a music lover himself. tt C. He agrees with her research findings.

tt B. He went to Northwestern University. tt D. He hopes his children will become musicians.
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
3 Why do you think Mr. Gosch shared his memories of his children as perfect examples
of music working its magic?
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
4 Explain how the last paragraph of the letter summarizes Mr. Goschs point of view.
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
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___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
7 Compare & Contrast Name Date
Which Boat?
Read the blog post.
I just had a great weekend at a lake cabin
where I got an introduction to boating. I now
know differences between a rowboat and a canoe.
But let me first describe how they are alike.
Each is small enough to be handled by one
or two people. Both vessels are the right size for

Rowboat
a small lake and require muscle power to make
them go. Neither has an engine or a sail.
But the two water craft differ in important
ways. First, the canoe is lightweight; it has a
tapered bottom and is pointed at either end. In
contrast, the heavier rowboat has a flat bottom
and is pointed only in the front. Each vessel

Canoe
requires a special device to propel it through the
water. To move a canoe, each person uses one

Text Marking
paddle and switches it from side to side to steer.
But to move a rowboat, a rower uses two oars at Compare and contrast rowboats
and canoes.
once, one on each side of the boat.
Safety is another contrast between the canoe Box at least three

signal words or phrases.
and rowboat. The rowboat is sturdier, which
Circle at least three ways
makes it safer. On the other hand, the lighter
they are alike.
canoe can go faster, but is harder to steer and
can more easily tip over.
ways they are different.
I preferred the rowboat because I was better
able to control it.

7 Do More Name Date
Which Boat?
,, Answer each question. Give evidence from the blog.
1 Which of the following words in the piece best helps you determine the meaning of vessel
(paragraph 2)?
tt A. boating tt B. device tt C. engine tt D. paddle

___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
2 Which is a similarity between canoes and rowboats?
tt A. Both have flat bottoms and two pointed ends. tt C. Both are powered by engines or sails.
tt B. Both move equally fast through the water. tt D. Both are a good size for lake use.
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
3 In your own words, explain the different ways you make the two boats move.
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
4 Contrast the photos of the canoe and rowboat. What other differences do you notice?
___________________________________________________________________________________
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___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Your Move
Read the games article.
Checkers and chess have many things in
common. But these two popular board games have

Checkers set
a number of key differences, too.
Players and Board Both games are for two
players who sit at opposite sides of a square board.
Its same-sized small squares alternatedark and
light. In both games, players take turns moving
their pieces according to the rules.

Chess set
Pieces and Movements In checkers, each player
begins with 12 flat, round pieces called men. One Text Marking
player has all dark pieces, the other, all light ones.
Compare and contrast the games
To start, men are set out on alternating squares of checkers and chess.
across the three rows nearest each player. All pieces Box at least four
move only diagonally. signal words or phrases.
Like checkers sets, chess sets come in two Circle at least three ways
opposite colors. But in contrast, each chess player they are alike.
gets 16 pieces to arrange in two rows. Pieces are ________ Underline at least three
not all the same. Instead, one row holds the eight ways they are different.
larger pieces: two rooks, two knights, two bishops,
one queen, and one king. The eight smaller pieces, or pawns, fill another row. Each type
of piece has its own particular way to move. For instance, bishops move diagonally over
one or several squares, while pawns move only one square at a time.
To Win A checkers game ends when one player captures all the others men. However,
the winner in chess is the one who captures the opponents king.
8 Do More Name Date
Your Move
1 Which of the following direction words best describes how checkers pieces move on the board?
tt A. horizontally tt B. vertically tt C. diagonally tt D. circularly

___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
2 In which way are chess pieces unlike checkers pieces?
tt A. Chess pieces are played on a square board. tt C. Chess sets cost more than checkers sets.
tt B. Chess pieces come in six different shapes. tt D. Chess pieces are all the same color.
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
3 Study the photographs of the playing boards. Describe them in as many specific ways as you can.
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
4 Look back at your text markings and think about the ideas in the article. In your own words,
summarize the similarities and the major differences between chess and checkers.
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
9 Cause & Effect Name Date
When Its 10 AM in . . .
Read the geography essay.
Pacific Mountain Central Eastern

Time Time Time Time
Time zones are geographical areas in
which one common time is used. The world
is divided into 24 time zones. There are

Chicago New York City
six in the United States: Eastern, Central,
Denver
Mountain, Pacific, Alaska, and
Hawaii-Aleutian. When it is noon in San Diego
New York City, it is 11 AM in Chicago,

Hawaii-Aleutian
10 AM in Denver, 9 AM in San Diego, 8 AM Time
in Anchorage, and 7 AM in Honolulu. Honolulu
Six U.S. Time Zones

Anchorage
Before there were time zones, towns [Standard times shown]
Alaska
and cities used their own time standards; Time
they set their clocks to local sunrises and
sunsets, though these events differed from place to place. Text Marking
The effect was that separate towns had their own times.
Find at least two cause-and-effect
For a while, it didnt matter too much because snail-like relationships.
travel speeds made time differences in distant locations
Box at least four
hardly noticeable.
But since the coming of railroads, time variations
Circle the causes.
between locations began to matter. In the late 1800s,
there were more than 300 regional sun times in the ________ Underline the effects.
United States. These differences caused chaos for railroad
timetables. Uniform schedules for departures and arrivals were sorely needed.
In 1883, American and Canadian railroad companies adopted four time zones.
The time was the same anywhere within each zone. This decision resulted in less confusion.
Now travelers could easily know the correct time at their destination.
9 Do More Name Date
1 Which is a synonym for uniform, as it is used in paragraph 3?
tt A. costumed tt B. consistent tt C. haphazard tt D. published

___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
2 Ohio is in the Eastern Time Zone. Oregon is in the Pacific Time Zone. If it is 9 AM
in Cleveland, Ohio, what time is it in Salem, Oregon?
tt A. 7 AM tt B. 8 AM tt C. 6 AM tt D. 5 AM
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
3 Reread the opening paragraph and use the time-zone map. Explain why the author
listed the times in those particular cities in the order you see.
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
4 What made train scheduling so difficult before time zones came into effect?
___________________________________________________________________________________
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Pop Culture
Read the culture article.
Americans love popcorn; we consume more
of it than people do anywhere else in the world
16 billion quarts a year! We also love going to the
movies. But at first, popcorn and movie theaters did
not go together.
As movie-going became a popular activity,
luxurious movie theaters popped up across
the country. People flocked to these glamorous
places with their elaborate decorations, crystal
chandeliers, and grand staircases. The last thing
theater owners wanted was the challenge of crumbs
on the plush velvet seats and expensive red carpets.

Text Marking
For that reason, patrons were asked not to bring
food into theaters. Find at least two cause-and-effect

relationships.
But that all changed in the 1930s, when a few
bold theater owners allowed popcorn stands in Box at least four

their movie palaces. As a result, attendance rose signal words or phrases.
and profits soared. (And so did the piles of crumbs!) Circle the causes.
Popcorn and movies began a lasting relationship.
________ Underline the effects.
By the 1940s, the smell of melted butter wafted
from most theater lobbies.
The hefty profits popcorn sales brought had three clear effects. One was that movie theater
concessions began selling other foods and beverages. Another was that movie prices dropped
at least for a while. And a third effect was that movie theaters needed constant cleaning.

Pop Culture
1 When their profits are hefty (paragraph 4), movie theater owners
tt A. had financial troubles. tt C. needed to raise ticket prices.

tt B. removed the messy carpets. tt D. took in huge sums of money.
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
2 Why did popcorn and movie theaters not go together at first?
tt A. Owners didnt want to dirty up their grand theaters.

tt B. Theaters had no room for popcorn stands.
tt C. Popcorn was not a popular snack food.
tt D. Popcorn hadnt been invented yet.
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
3 Explain why movie theaters came to need regular cleaning.
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
4 Make an inference. Why do you think that movie theater ticket prices fell after popcorn
was first introduced to theater audiences?
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________

11 Context Clues Name Date
The Five-Second Rule

Read the health essay.
When a person drops otherwise
edible food on the floor, you might hear
someone yell, Five-second rule! This is
the belief that if you retrieve food from
the floor in five seconds or less, its still
safe to eat. Is this a legitimate fact you
can accept as true? Or is it simply an
excuse not to waste that tasty brownie?
High school senior Jillian Clarke wanted

Illness-causing E. coli bacteria (seen through
to know. She conducted a controlled a microscope)
scientific experiment to test this notion.
Clarke got smooth and rough tiles

Text Marking
of equal size. First, she cleaned them
thoroughly. Then she contaminated Use context clues to unlock word

meanings.
them with samples of the E. coli bacteria.
She chose cookies and gummy bears as Circle the words

legitimate and
the test foods. In turn, she dropped one
contaminated.
of each on the tainted tiles, picked each
________ Underline context clues
up in five seconds or less, and tested for
for each word.
the presence of E. coli on the foods.
The results left no doubt. Clarke
found a transfer of germs in less than five seconds. Common sense prevails: Its simply not safe
to eat food that has fallen on the floor. For her work, Clarke received a joke prize for research
that first makes you laugh, then makes you think.


1 Which of the following is not edible (paragraph 1)?
tt A. broccoli tt B. brownies tt C. floor tiles tt D. gummy bears

___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
2 What usually happens when people eat food that is contaminated with E. coli bacteria?
tt A. They become sick. tt C. They have endless hunger.

tt B. They fall on the floor. tt D. They perform a science experiment.
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
3 Summarize what Jillian Clarke discovered as a result of her experiment.
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
4 Use context clues in the essay to explain the meaning of tainted (paragraph 2) in your
own words.
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
From an Egghead
Read the word origin article.
Expressions come and go, but some
are so durable that they never fade away.
Because Im a good egga friendly, reliable
personId like to draw attention to sayings
using the word egg. Expressions with egg
have been around for centuries.
Language is one of my greatest delights.
Ive been a fan of words ever since, as a

Dont put all your eggs in one basket!
child, I perused my dads huge dictionary
for new ones! Still, I hope I dont lay an egg
with this topic; rather, I hope you find it
amusing and interesting. Perhaps youll add

Text Marking
eggy sayings to perk up your own speaking Use context clues to unlock the
and writing. meanings of words and phrases.
Yet it was like walking on eggs to present Circle the word durable
my idea for this article to a language and the phrases walking

on eggs and nest egg.
magazine that has very demanding
standards. The editors typically select
for each word or phrase.
serious pieces. So I planned my pitch, spoke
carefully, and offered logical examples to
make my case. I held my breath, hoping my
editor wouldnt frown and order me to go fry an egg. Happily, her praise led to this piece.
I plan to tuck away the money Ill earn from this article and others to build my nest egg.
One day, if I can save enough, I hope to buy a farm, and maybe even some hens!

From an Egghead
1 According to the article, why did the author say it was like walking on eggs to convince
a magazines editors to accept a piece on egg expressions?
tt A. Magazine editors may not respect eggheads.

tt B. An editors feelings can be fragile, like eggs are.
tt C. There were broken eggshells on the editors floor.
tt D. It is worrying to present a lighthearted idea to a serious magazine because
the author thought the editors might react badly.
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
2 Which expression might the editor have used instead of go fry an egg (paragraph 3)?
tt A. Get lost! tt C. Think of another topic!

tt B. Bring me breakfast! tt D. Tell me more egg ideas.
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
3 Explain how you determined the meaning of nest egg (paragraph 4).
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
4 Think about the saying in the caption of the photo. In your own words, explain its meaning.
Tell how the picture offers clues. Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.

Pickles on Ice
Read the environment essay.
Do thoroughfares in your area ice over in
winter? Are sidewalks treacherous for walking? If
so, would you ever think to grab a jar of pickles?
Icy roads can be dangerous. Cities and towns
spend heavily each winter spreading rock salt
on roads to melt the ice. However, the problem
with using rock salt is that it is hazardous to the
environment. Salt seeps into the ground and into

Truck de-icing a road in winter
our fresh water, damaging plants and trees. Salt
also harms wildlife and pets.
This challenge has pushed transportation Text Marking

departments in some states to seek safer Find the problem and solution.
materials to use. One solution is to replace rock
salt with brine. Brine is salty water. It is found in
the juice of beets, pickles, potatoes, and cheese. Circle the problem.
Brine has three advantages over rock salt.

First, it causes less harm to the environment.
It also works better than rock salt at very low
temperatures. Moreover, using brine saves money for taxpayers.
Indiana has begun to use beet brine to melt ice on its roadways. Surfaces
in Tennessee are being de-iced with potato brine. New Jersey ice is being melted
with pickle brine. Cheese brine is now used to combat Wisconsins icy streets.
Yes, states may have found an effective answer to a slippery problem.

Pickles on Ice
1 Which of the following is the best meaning of brine?
tt A. a winter danger tt C. slippery ice

tt B. liquid with salt in it tt D. a kind of cheese
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
2 Why may rock salt not be the best way to melt ice on roads in winter?
tt A. Rock salt works too slowly.

tt B. Rock salt is the same color as ice.
tt C. Rock salt causes potholes in roads.
tt D. Rock salt can harm living things and the environment.
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
3 What transportation problems do cities and towns face in winter weather?
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
4 Give three reasons from the text that explain why using brine to melt ice is a good idea.
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Read the newspaper article.

owl carved from
The most common source of ivory was

Text Marking
make art objects! Find the problem and solution.

Circle the problem.

in the fruit of a palm tree called an elephant
But vegetable ivory has major advantages over animal ivory. For one thing, tagua nuts

1 Another word that means about the same as hue (paragraph 1) is ____________________.
tt A. finish tt B. taste tt C. color tt D. plant

___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
2 Which is the most important way that vegetable ivory is better than animal ivory?
tt A. Harvesting animal ivory damages the rainforest.

tt B. Vegetable ivory costs far less than animal ivory.
tt C. Vegetable ivory has a warmer color than animal ivory has.
tt D. Obtaining animal ivory causes animal cruelty while vegetable ivory is harmless.
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
3 In what ways are animal and vegetable ivory similar?
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
4 Make an inference. Why do you think farmers in the rainforests of South America are
eager to protect elephant plants?
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
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15 Summarize Name Date
Elephant Orchestra
Read the animal behavior article.
Elephants like music, says musician and
neuroscientist David Sulzer. If you play music,
theyll come over. At a conservation center in
Thailand, he saw this for himself. He watched
elephant trainers sing to the animals to soothe
them. Sulzer already knew that elephants
could recognize melodies. He wondered if they
would play music themselves.
So Sulzer collected a band of elephants at
the center to find out. He first built a variety
of huge, unbreakable percussion instruments
the elephants could play with their trunks or
feet. He built 22 such instruments. These included An elephant named Pratiah playing the drums
drums, gongs, flutes, cymbals, and king-sized
xylophones the elephants could play with a large
mallet. Sulzers instruments resemble traditional Text Marking

Thai ones and sound like them, too. Summarize the text.
Sulzer soon found that elephants were indeed
Circle the topic.
musicians. They could bang, stomp, tap, and blow
________ Underline important
to play distinct musical notes. With the help of the
details.
trainers, Sulzer got his elephant orchestra to play
Thai melodies the tuskers recognize.
The Thai Elephant Orchestra has been a success. They have made three albums. And
theyll play for peanuts (or bananas or apples). But the best part is that these talented
musicians help raise much-needed money to house and protect other endangered elephants.
Elephant Orchestra
1 The purpose of a conservation center (paragraph 1) is to ________________________.
tt A. soothe and calm wild animals tt C. provide musical entertainment

tt B. offer a safe home for wildlife tt D. raise funding for special equipment
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2 Which of the following would make another good title for this article?
tt A. How to Fund Conservation Centers tt C. Massive Musicians

tt B. David Sulzers Work tt D. A Visit to Thailand
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
3 Look back at your text markings. Write a one-paragraph summary of the key information
provided in the article.
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4 In this article, play for peanuts has two meanings. Explain what they are.
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The Man Behind Yoda

Read the biographical sketch.
Make-up artists play an important role in
movie-making. Every year, the best of them, like
the best actors, directors, and screenwriters, are
honored by Hollywood for their contributions.
Stuart Freeborn, called by some the grandfather
of modern make-up design, may have been the
best of the best.
English-born Freeborn was already famous

Stuart Freeborn with Yoda
for his imaginative work when he was hired
to create characters for Star Wars. Hed already
worked on many films and had done the make- Text Marking
up for scores of famous actors. This gifted artist Summarize the text.
understood faces. He knew just how to emphasize
Circle the topic.
a cheekbone or arch an eyebrow.
But Stuart Freeborn is best known today for details.
the unforgettable characters he created for the
Star Wars movies. Fanciful creatures like Jabba
the Hutt and Chewbacca were his creations. So was the tiny Jedi master, Yoda.
Yoda is odd-looking, with a pointed chin and wrinkles crossing his forehead. The
resemblance between that charming pint-sized Jedi and Freeborn is unmistakable. Thats
because when coming up with a model for this now-famous face, Freeborn chose one hed never
used beforehis own!
Stuart Freeborn worked on glamorous stars, superheroes, cavemen, and Muppets, too.
He died in 2013, but his memorable characters will live on.

The Man Behind Yoda

,, Answer each question. Give evidence from the biographical sketch.
1 Someone or something that is pint-sized (paragraph 4) is ______________.
tt A. the size of a milk carton tt B. a fictional character tt C. very old tt D. little

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2 Which of the following do Jabba the Hutt, Chewbacca, and Yoda have in common?
tt A. All three were honored in Hollywood. tt C. All three are real people.
tt B. All three had the same creator. tt D. All three are Muppets.
___________________________________________________________________________________
3 Look back at your text markings. Write a one-paragraph summary of the key
information provided in the biographical sketch.
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
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4 What do people mean by calling Stuart Freeborn the grandfather of modern

make-up design?
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17 Make Inferences Name Date
The Whole Bird

Read the memoir.
No one knows who first said, Waste not, want
not, but my grandmother lived by that saying.
She applied the strategy to most everything she
did, especially to her cooking. Oh, what she did
with chicken!
Chicken was a staple in her home, a food
she served all the time. Or so it seemed to me. For
dinners, she often prepared the most delicious
roast chicken anyone ever ate. But that was only
part of what she did with that chicken. She would

Parts of a chicken
use just about every part of that bird before she
was done with it.
She wasted nothing, not even the extra fat, Text Marking
which she melted down to use in future cooking.
Make an inference: Why does the
She took out the liver and the gizzardthe birds writer admire Grandma?
stomachto save for her delicious stuffing or
________ Underline text clues.
to flavor a meatloaf. She used the picked-over
Think about what you
chicken carcass to make stock for soup. And, as I
already know.
recall, shed also include the birds neck, feet, back,
and wing tips for that purpose. Naturally, she used
any leftover chicken meat for sandwiches, stews, or casseroles.
I try to be a smart shopper and economical cook. I dont let food go to waste.
But as conscientious and frugal as I aim to be, Ill never match Grandma.

The Whole Bird

,, Answer each question. Give evidence from the memoir.
1 Any food served regularly in a household can be called a ______________.
tt A. hamburger tt B. leftover tt C. chicken tt D. staple

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2 According to the memoir, which word would best describe the writers grandmother?
tt A. cheap tt B. elderly tt C. thrifty tt D. natural

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3 Look back at your text markings and consider your own knowledge. What does the writer
admire about Grandma?
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4 Based on this memoir and your own knowledge, in what other ways might Grandma
have applied the waste not, want not saying?
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Orlando Bloomed!
Read the magazine article.
Orlando Bloom is a famous actor you may
know from his roles in The Pirates of the Caribbean
or Lord of the Rings films. But his life was not always
so successful.
As a boy, Bloom was diagnosed with dyslexia,
which made his school years challenging. He
often felt stupid or worthless, despite his mothers
steady love and support. Still, young Orlando felt
anger and frustration, though he never let on to
his classmates how difficult school was for him.

Actor Orlando Bloom
Though he took extra classes and studied hard, his
mind moved faster than his words could express. dyslexia: a learning disorder that
makes reading and interpreting
He recalls that he had to work three times as hard
words very difficult
to get two-thirds of the way.
He hid his problem whenever possible; he
avoided reading aloud. Then Bloom discovered Text Marking

acting. Playing characters on stage helped him Make an inference: How did acting
focus. Some of his fears vanished as he experienced help Orlando Bloom cope with his
disability?
success and respect. Through acting, Bloom was
able to work around his disability, letting his ________ Underline text clues.
creative side shine. Think about what you
Bloom encourages dyslexic kids never to think already know.
theyre failures, but rather to use their hurdle to
find other ways to succeed. If you can overcome this obstacle, you are going
to be that much further along than anyone else, Bloom advises.

Orlando Bloomed!
1 Which of the following is true about having a learning disorder (sidebar)?
tt A. It makes a person take up acting.

tt B. It makes it harder to keep up in school.
tt C. People with learning disorders cannot find work.
tt D. People with learning disorders can never learn to read.
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2 Which of these words can replace the word hurdle as it is used in paragraph 4 without
changing the meaning of the sentence?
tt A. failure tt B. injury tt C. obstacle tt D. success

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3 Why do you think Orlando Bloom avoided reading aloud in class?
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4 Look back at your text markings and consider your own knowledge. How did acting help
Orlando Bloom cope with his disability? Explain in your own words.
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19 Authors Purpose Name Date
Bugs on the Menu

Read the nutrition article.
Heres a question for you: What food has a
mild, nutty flavor, is low in fat, and is loaded with
nutrients? If you answered a cricket, you would be
right on target.
Really? you might ask. Yuck! you might add.
Eating insects may seem, well, disgusting to
you. But thats because you havent been introduced

Fried grasshoppers, a delicacy in Brazil,
to what 2 billion people around the world already Ghana, Mexico, and Thailand
know: Insects are very healthy and tasty. And they

nutrient: a substance living things
are environmentally friendly, too. Eva Muller at the
require to live and grow
United Nations agrees because she knows that insects
are not only harmless to eat, but nutritious and full
of protein. She adds that they are a delicacy Text Marking

a special food treatin many countries.
Check to identify the authors
One reason that bugs are so high in nutrients three purposes.
is that you eat the entire insect, including its
to entertain (E)
exoskeleton, or outer body covering. (You dont eat a
to inform (I)
whole cow, however.)
to persuade (P)
Bugs are beginning to be served in restaurants
here in America. Cricket taco with guacamole and ________ Underline text clues
for each purpose. Write
fresh cream, anyone, with some delicious crittle*
E, I, or P in the margin
for dessert? Come, now. Just close your eyes and take beside each clue.
a nibble. You might be pleasantly surprised.
* Crittle is peanut brittle flavored with chunks of cricket meat.

Bugs on the Menu

1 When would you be most likely to enjoy a delicacy (paragraph 3)?
tt A. on a desert hike tt C. while at a highway rest stop

tt B. during a holiday party tt D. during lunch in a school cafeteria
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2 According to the article, which is not a reason to eat insects?
tt A. Eating insects is environmentally friendly. tt C. Insects can be very tasty.

tt B. Insects are very cheap to buy. tt D. Insects are very healthy.
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3 Look back at how the author began the article. How would you describe the purpose of
starting that way?
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4 Look back at your text markings regarding authors purpose. Summarize the authors
point of view about eating insects.
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A Star of the Future?

Read the sports essay.
The 2014 Little League World Series
caught the attention of a whole nation,
thanks to Mone Davis, a bundle of talent
throwing pitches 70 miles per hour.
Displaying skills equal to those of any
boy in the tournament, Mone became
an overnight sensation. Her impressive
feats landed her on the cover of Sports
Illustrated magazine.
Mone on the mound
But will her awesome talent lead to further
successes in baseball? Will she go on to become the
first woman ever to pitch in the Major Leagues? Text Marking

Some think she might. But expecting Mone to
Check to identify the authors
reach the Majors is unrealistic. The reason has to do two purposes.
with biology. At 13, girls are likely to be as tall and
to entertain (E)
as strong as boys their age. The more opportunities
to inform (I)
young women get to play against boys, the more
to persuade (P)
they will show that they are equal to the task.
But this all seems to change with age. ________ Underline text clues
As boys and girls age, clear differences in size
and strength emerge. The best male ballplayers will beside each clue.
be able to throw a ball harder and hit it farther than
the best females can. So, as gifted and determined as
she is, Mone will not likely be able to compete successfully against Major League players.
Or will she? Only time will tell.


1 Which is another word that means the same as feats, as it is used in paragraph 1?
tt A. accomplishments tt B. adventures tt C. pitches tt D. opportunities

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2 What does the author think will happen if more 13-year-old girls compete in sports
against boys their own age?
tt A. Girls will give up because they cant keep up with the boys.
tt B. There will be fewer men wanting to coach Little League teams.
tt C. More girls will prove that they can compete successfully against boys.
tt D. More girls will become better athletes than boys their age.
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3 Look back at your text markings regarding authors purpose. Summarize the authors
reasons why Mone is not likely to become a Major League pitcher.
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4 Notice how the essay ends. What do you think this says about the authors point of view
on Mone Daviss chances in the future?
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Answer Key
. Sample Text Markings

Passage 1: How Did That Taste, Doggie?
Read the life science essay.
1. C; Sample answer: This paragraph talks about
If you have ever spent any time with
how much better dogs can smell than we can. I used
dogs, you have noticed how much better
their sense of smell is than yours. They can

context clues in the text to figure out that C is the
smell things before you do. They can detect correct answer. Also, detect reminds me of detective, and
smells that you cannot. But how does a detectives try to identify clues.
dogs sense of taste compare with ours?
Their sense of taste is not as good as 2. C; Sample answer: In paragraph 3, the author writes,
ours. You get one clue simply by watching
them gobble up food as if they are starving A puppy wolfing down dinner
the more taste buds you have, the better your sense of
and dont seem to even taste what they are
taste is.
wolfing down. Well, dogs just dont seem to
care much about taste. Thats because they 3. Sample answer: I think it means to gobble the food
Text Marking
have fewer taste buds than you do. down as fast as possible. It probably comes from wolves
Taste buds are groups of cells that let us Find the main idea
in the wild eating very quickly before others try to take
know how things taste. They tell us whether
foods are sweet, salty, sour, bitter, or savory. Circle the main idea their food.
in each paragraph.
Taste buds are located on the surface of the
tongue. There are also some on the roof of ________ Underline supporting 4. Accept reasonable responses. Sample answer:
the mouth and in the back of the mouth.
idea. I might call the essay All About Taste Buds because
The more taste buds you have, the better
it is mostly about how the number of taste buds affects
your sense of taste is. Whereas humans
have about 9,000 of these, canines have about 1,700.

how well an animal can taste different flavors.
But compared to cats, dogs are foodies. Poor cats have only about 470 taste buds
in their mouths.


Towers of Green
Passage 2: Towers of Green
Read the architecture essay.
1. D; Sample answer: It says in paragraph 2 that vertical
Most people would describe farms as huge
farms could provide jobs and use less water.
outdoor fields for growing crops. Farms are mostly
horizontalflat spaces on the land. A vertical farm
is a new way to bring farms to cities. Most cities are

2. A; Sample answer: The text compares the Skyfarm to
crowded and lack open spaces, you say. No problem!
a tree and mentions parts, like the trunk, branches, and
Vertical farms are flat fields hung from a towering canopy, so the canopy is probably the top. Plus, since
skyscraper. the canopy holds solar panels, it makes sense that this is
Supporters of vertical farming envision many
benefits for their futuristic idea. First, crops would

at the top where it can catch sunlight.
grow closer to where most people live, saving money
and energy now used to transport crops. Next, Design for the Urban Skyfarm
3. Sample answer: I think they make sense in crowded
vertical farming would provide jobs for city workers. cities that dont have a lot of open space for traditional
And vertical farms would use far less water than
Text Marking farms. Vertical farms would be more likely to fit.
traditional farms do.
4. Sample answer: It seems like the vertical farm would

Architects in Seoul, South Korea, are designing Find the main idea
what they call the Urban Skyfarm. It resembles a
massive tree that supports 24 acres of fields for

Circle the main idea grow more crops in a smaller space so there is less wasted
in each paragraph.
growing food. The trunk has rooms for indoor water. Also, it looks like water could probably drip down
________ Underline supporting
growing. The canopy holds solar panels and
details for each main to layers below.
wind engines needed to make clean energy. The idea.
branches are open-air terraces, stacked one above
another, where plants can grow.
The architects see other uses for vertical farms. They could provide spaces for community
gardens, public parks, learning centers, and farmers markets. Architects hope that vertical
farms will become a major solution to food shortages.


Accidents Happen
Passage 3: Accidents Happen
Read the health and safety article.
1. A; Sample answer: It takes time for a wound to
What if you scrape your shin or a pet
heal so the other choices dont make sense. The
claws you by mistake? Alas, accidents occur
to everyone. Minor wounds need TLC

word enough was the best choice to mean the same
tender loving careand sufficient time to as sufficient.
mend. Luckily, you can manage most small
wounds without visiting a hospital; thats 2. B; Sample answer: Each of the other choices
why its a good idea to have basic first-aid describes something to do earlier in the process of
supplies on hand at home.
The first thing to do is to stop any

First-aid kit
caring for a wound.
1
bleeding immediately. Small cuts and
scrapes usually close on their own. If not, cover the Text Marking 3. Sample answer: You need to clean the wound to help
wound with a clean cloth or bandage. Then press Find the sequence of steps. avoid infection and cover it to keep germs from getting
gently on it until the bleeding stops. This could
Box the signal words. into the wound before it is healed.
take a few seconds or minutes.
________ Underline the important
2 Next, its essential to rinse the wound to avoid
steps. 4. Sample answer: I think that the advice in this
infection. Use lukewarm water and mild soap to
gently clean the area; repeat to remove dirt and

1-2-3 Number the events in article is only for minor wounds. The author repeats
the sequence they
grit. If needed, wet some cotton or gauze with happen. the words minor and small. And I know that some
alcohol or peroxide and lightly clean again. Dry injurieslike a broken leg or bad burnneed a
3 the area thoroughly.
4 doctor or a hospital visit.
Then, cover the wound to keep out harmful germs using a bandage, gauze pad,
or other type of clean cover, but dont make it too tight.

5 6
Finally, be kind to your wound. Try not to bump it. When the bandage gets wet or dirty,
replace it. After a scab forms, expose the wound to fresh air so it can finish healing.
7


Bigger and Better

Passage 4: Bigger and Better
Read the technology article.
1. A; Sample answer: Cabinet fits best to replace
1 Back in 1927, Americans got their first
console in the caption. The TV in the photo is in
peek at television. On this electronic wonder
with its 2-inch by 3-inch screen, a fortunate few

the console.
watched a speech in black-and-white given by
Herbert Hoover.
2. B; Sample answer: It says in paragraphs 1 and 2 that
2 A decade later, people could watch on early TVs were very small; the other choices were not
slightly larger sets, some with 9-inch screens true about them.
(measured diagonally). They watched in
astonishment. But television was still in its
infancy. Very few families owned a set.

1949 TV set in a large console 3. Sample answer: I think that every time there was
3 After World War II, TV sales skyrocketed;
something new about or on television, people got
Text Marking
about 1 in 200 families nationwide had one. excited and wanted to be part of it. For example, people
Find the sequence of events.
That number leaped to more than 9 in 10 got excited when color TVs were introduced.
4 households by the 1960s, when TV screens got Box the signal words.
much larger. Then, with the arrival of color,

5 ________ Underline the important
events.
4. Sample answer: All televisions show a moving picture
fascination increased again. Yet, there were
very few channels people could watch. 1-2-3 Number the events in
with sound. But the early sets had very small screens
6 With the coming of cable in the 1970s,
the sequence they that only showed pictures in black-and-white. Also,
happened.
the number of channels multiplied. Then, they could not record, did not have high definition,
in the 1980s, TV viewing itself changed with
and had few channels to watch. TVs today have all of
7 the invention of devices that let people record programs and then watch them whenever they
wished. Next, in the late 1990s, new high-definition television changed the game again. These 8 those things and can link to the Internet. Some are
HDTVs displayed clearer, sharper pictures on even larger, flat-panel screens. Today, with further gigantic, too.
improvements in technology, TVs are linked to computers and the Internet.
9
Whats next for TV?

Time to Learn
Passage 5. Time to Learn
Read the debate speech.
1. D; Sample answer: The details in this paragraph
Text Marking
show that the speaker recognizes other factors that are
I believe that American students need to spend more Identify the facts and opinions
time in school. We need it to keep up with students all in the speech. important to helping kids learn.
over the world. And the following facts support my views. Box at least three signal
words or phrases. 2. A; Sample answer: In paragraph 2, the speaker
American students are in school for about Circle at least three facts. describes the greater number of days students in other
6 hours a day, 180 days a year. In Germany, the ________ Underline at least three
countries go to school. Its one of the points the debater
school year lasts 240 days; in Japan and South opinions. uses to support this view.
Korea, it lasts for more than 200 days. In France,
the school day is 8 hours long, plus kids have a half-day every Saturday.
3. Sample answer: The speaker believes that American
Chinese students are in class 9 hours each day, 260 days a year.
kids waste a lot of time when they arent in school
Test scores show that we are falling behind students in many other
like playing video games or watching dumb TV.
countries. This is both sad and unnecessary. To keep up, I think we
must extend our school year and lengthen each school day. We do not 4. Sample answer: The speaker uses specific facts about
need all those hours we spend playing video games or watching dumb the number of hours and days students attend schools
TV shows. We should be more productive by sharpening our math skills
in other countries. When giving an opinion, the debater
or becoming better readers. We can do itwe just need more time.
uses judgment words that show a personal view, like
I acknowledge that other factors, like well-qualified
dumb, sad, I think, and I believe.
teachers and supportive homes, are important to helping
kids learn. But if we dont add more school time, well keep
falling behind.


Restart the Music!

Passage 6: Restart the Music!
Read the business letter.
1. D; Sample answer: Vital means very important, like
Dear Superintendent Caldern, reading, writing, and math; unnecessary means
I am discouraged that our schools music programs have been cut. As the father not needed.
of three children, I know how much my kids need music. In my view, music is not an
unnecessary frill, as critics say. As I see it, music is as vital as reading, writing, and math. 2. C; Sample answer: The conclusions Dr. Kraus found
I believe music helps children grow socially, emotionally, and academically.
in her research are facts Gosch uses to support his
Serious brain science supports my view. Dr. Nina Kraus, researcher at Northwestern
University, has long studied how learning music affects growing brains. Her findings
argument that music is important.
prove that it does enhance students brains and nervous systems. These benefits improve
childrens abilities in language, memory, patterning, and critical listening. She supports 3. Sample answer: I think Mr. Gosch offers this
music training as part of a balanced school program. I strongly agree. I favor all the brain information to show how his own kids benefited from
development kids can get!
using music to help them learn and grow.
My kids sang nearly as soon as they could speak. They learned new words from song
lyrics. They exercised their bodies and minds dancing to DVDs and music videos. They
sang songs to memorize math facts. In my opinion, these are perfect examples of music
4. Sample answer: The last paragraph begins with a fact
working its magic. Mr. Gosch finds important to his argument. It lets him
A 1997 study by research teams from Wisconsin Text Marking end with his opinion that schools should bring back
and California found that music increases spatial
Identify the facts and opinions music programs.
reasoning, which links to stronger math and science in the speech.
skills. Is this not proof enough that our schools
Box at least three signal
deserve music for all?
words or phrases.
Respectfully yours,
James Gosch
(Father of Brianna, Luke, and Nelson)
opinions.


Which Boat?
Passage 7: Which Boat?
Read the blog post.
1. A; Sample answer: The word boating is used in
I just had a great weekend at a lake cabin
paragraph 1, so I think vessel is a synonym for boat.
where I got an introduction to boating. I now
know differences between a rowboat and a canoe.
But let me first describe how they are alike.

2. D; Sample answer: The blog says this in paragraph 2.
Each is small enough to be handled by one
The other choices are not similarities.
or two people. Both vessels are the right size for
3. Sample answer: To move the rowboat, you use two
Rowboat
a small lake and require muscle power to make
them go. Neither has an engine or a sail. oars to push against the water, one on each side of the
But the two water craft differ in important
boat. But to move a canoe, you use one or two paddles
ways. First, the canoe is lightweight; it has a
tapered bottom and is pointed at either end. In

to push against the water.
contrast, the heavier rowboat has a flat bottom
and is pointed only in the front. Each vessel 4. Sample answer: It looks like the people in the canoe
Canoe
requires a special device to propel it through the are facing the direction they are paddling, but the
water. To move a canoe, each person uses one
Text Marking person in the rowboat is not facing the pointed part in
paddle and switches it from side to side to steer.
But to move a rowboat, a rower uses two oars at Compare and contrast rowboats the front of the boat. He cant see where he is going.
and canoes.
once, one on each side of the boat.
Safety is another contrast between the canoe Box at least three

and rowboat. The rowboat is sturdier, which
Circle at least three ways
makes it safer. On the other hand, the lighter
they are alike.
canoe can go faster, but is harder to steer and
can more easily tip over.
ways they are different.
I preferred the rowboat because I was better
able to control it.


Passage 8: Your Move

Your Move
Read the games article.
1. C; Sample answer: In paragraph 3, the author says that
all checkers pieces move diagonally.
Checkers and chess have many things in
common. But these two popular board games have

Checkers set
2. B; Sample answer: In paragraph 4, the author mentions
a number of key differences, too. six different types of chess pieces, whereas all checkers men
Players and Board Both games are for two are the same size and shape.
players who sit at opposite sides of a square board.
Its same-sized small squares alternatedark and 3. Sample answers: Both boards are square and divided into
light. In both games, players take turns moving
64 smaller squares. Every other small square is light or dark.
their pieces according to the rules.
Chess set Both boards have a border with letters and numbers. Each
Pieces and Movements In checkers, each player
side of the checkers board has 12 playing pieces on the dark
begins with 12 flat, round pieces called men. One Text Marking
player has all dark pieces, the other, all light ones.
squares of the first three rows. The pieces on one side are
Compare and contrast the games
To start, men are set out on alternating squares of checkers and chess. light; those on the opposite side are dark. Each side of the
across the three rows nearest each player. All pieces Box at least four chess board has 16 pieces in different shapes and sizes with
move only diagonally.
light pieces on one side and dark pieces on the other.On
Like checkers sets, chess sets come in two Circle at least three ways
opposite colors. But in contrast, each chess player they are alike. each side,the 8 larger pieces are on the squares in the first
gets 16 pieces to arrange in two rows. Pieces are ________ Underline at least three row; the 8 smaller ones are on the squares in the second row.
not all the same. Instead, one row holds the eight ways they are different.
larger pieces: two rooks, two knights, two bishops, 4. Sample answer: Both chess and checkers are games
one queen, and one king. The eight smaller pieces, or pawns, fill another row. Each type played by two people who move pieces around on an
of piece has its own particular way to move. For instance, bishops move diagonally over
8 x 8 square board. But chess has more pieces with different
one or several squares, while pawns move only one square at a time.
shapes and a variety of ways to move, while checkers men
To Win A checkers game ends when one player captures all the others men. However,
the winner in chess is the one who captures the opponents king.
are all the same size and shape and only move diagonally.
28
Checkers and chess have different ways to get a winner.

Passage 9: When Its 10 AM in...
Read the geography essay.
Pacific Mountain Central Eastern

1. B; Sample answer: The paragraph was about how
hard it was for the trains dealing with all different times,
Time Time Time Time
Time zones are geographical areas in
which one common time is used. The world
is divided into 24 time zones. There are

so consistent made sense.
Chicago New York City
six in the United States: Eastern, Central,
Mountain, Pacific, Alaska, and

Denver
2. C; According to the map, places in the Pacific Time
Hawaii-Aleutian. When it is noon in San Diego
Zone are three hours earlier than the Eastern Time
New York City, it is 11 AM in Chicago, Zone. So 6 am is correct.
Hawaii-Aleutian
10 AM in Denver, 9 AM in San Diego, 8 AM Time
in Anchorage, and 7 AM in Honolulu.

3. Sample answer: I see from the map that each city
Honolulu
Six U.S. Time Zones

Anchorage
Before there were time zones, towns [Standard times shown]
and cities used their own time standards;

Alaska
Time
listed is in a different time zone, and they are listed from
they set their clocks to local sunrises and east to west. They are also all big cities.
sunsets, though these events differed from place to place. Text Marking
The effect was that separate towns had their own times.
Find at least two cause-and-effect 4. Sample answer: Before time zones, there were too
For a while, it didnt matter too much because snail-like relationships.
many different times to make sense of. Trains couldnt
travel speeds made time differences in distant locations
hardly noticeable.
Box at least four set schedules, and there was a lot of confusion.
But since the coming of railroads, time variations
between locations began to matter. In the late 1800s,

Circle the causes.
* The phrases in the passage that are circled and
there were more than 300 regional sun times in the ________ Underline the effects.
underlined are both causes and effects.
United States. These differences caused chaos for railroad
timetables. Uniform schedules for departures and arrivals were sorely needed.
In 1883, American and Canadian railroad companies adopted four time zones. *
The time was the same anywhere within each zone. This decision resulted in less confusion.
Now travelers could easily know the correct time at their destination.

Pop Culture
Passage 10: Pop Culture
Read the culture article.
1. D; Sample answer: I understood from context that
Americans love popcorn; we consume more
hefty means large or great, so large profits means making
of it than people do anywhere else in the world
16 billion quarts a year! We also love going to the

a lot of money.
movies. But at first, popcorn and movie theaters did
not go together.
2. A; Sample answer: In paragraph 2, the author
As movie-going became a popular activity, describes the fancy movie theaters that the owners
luxurious movie theaters popped up across wanted to keep clean.
the country. People flocked to these glamorous
places with their elaborate decorations, crystal
chandeliers, and grand staircases. The last thing

3. Sample answer: Once people could buy and eat
theater owners wanted was the challenge of crumbs
popcorn at the movies, and later other foods and
on the plush velvet seats and expensive red carpets. beverages, they probably spilled and dropped stuff on
Text Marking
For that reason, patrons were asked not to bring the floor, seats, and carpets.
food into theaters. Find at least two cause-and-effect
relationships.
But that all changed in the 1930s, when a few
4. Sample answer: I think that since popcorn sales
bold theater owners allowed popcorn stands in Box at least four
their movie palaces. As a result, attendance rose signal words or phrases. brought in so much more money and customers, the
and profits soared. (And so did the piles of crumbs!) Circle the causes. owners could lower ticket prices to encourage even
Popcorn and movies began a lasting relationship. more customers.
________ Underline the effects.
By the 1940s, the smell of melted butter wafted
from most theater lobbies.
The hefty profits popcorn sales brought had three clear effects. One was that movie theater
concessions began selling other foods and beverages. Another was that movie prices dropped
at least for a while. And a third effect was that movie theaters needed constant cleaning.



Passage 11: The Five-Second Rule
Read the health essay.
1. C; Sample answer: The paragraph describes edible
When a person drops otherwise
food versus food that is contaminated and not safe
edible food on the floor, you might hear
someone yell, Five-second rule! This is

to eat. So edible has to do with food. Floor tiles are
the belief that if you retrieve food from not food.
the floor in five seconds or less, its still
safe to eat. Is this a legitimate fact you 2. A; Sample answer: The caption of the picture explains
can accept as true? Or is it simply an that eating E. coli can make you sick.
excuse not to waste that tasty brownie?
High school senior Jillian Clarke wanted
to know. She conducted a controlled

Illness-causing E. coli bacteria (seen through
a microscope)
3. Sample answer: She found that germs do attach to
scientific experiment to test this notion.
foods in less than five seconds, which means that the
Clarke got smooth and rough tiles five-second rule isnt reliable.
Text Marking
of equal size. First, she cleaned them
thoroughly. Then she contaminated Use context clues to unlock word

meanings.
4. Sample answer: I think tainted means infected
them with samples of the E. coli bacteria.
Circle the words
with something or made unsafe. Its a synonym for
She chose cookies and gummy bears as
the test foods. In turn, she dropped one

legitimate and contaminated. Clarke contaminated the tiles with
contaminated.
of each on the tainted tiles, picked each E. coli, which tainted them.
up in five seconds or less, and tested for
for each word.
the presence of E. coli on the foods.
The results left no doubt. Clarke
found a transfer of germs in less than five seconds. Common sense prevails: Its simply not safe
to eat food that has fallen on the floor. For her work, Clarke received a joke prize for research
that first makes you laugh, then makes you think.


From an Egghead
Passage 12: From an Egghead
Read the word origin article.
1. D; Sample answer: In paragraph 3, the author says
Expressions come and go, but some
the magazine is strict and demanding and usually picks
are so durable that they never fade away.
Because Im a good egga friendly, reliable

serious pieces. The author wasnt confident the idea
personId like to draw attention to sayings would be accepted.
using the word egg. Expressions with egg
have been around for centuries. 2. A; Sample answer: I think the expression means go
Language is one of my greatest delights. away or stop bothering me. A is the only choice that
Ive been a fan of words ever since, as a
child, I perused my dads huge dictionary

Dont put all your eggs in one basket! makes sense in the context of the paragraph.
for new ones! Still, I hope I dont lay an egg
with this topic; rather, I hope you find it

3. Sample answer: I think a nest egg is like a piggy bank
amusing and interesting. Perhaps youll add
Text Marking or money-saving plan you can add to so it will grow
eggy sayings to perk up your own speaking Use context clues to unlock the over time. I used the text clue if I can save enough... .
and writing. meanings of words and phrases.
Yet it was like walking on eggs to present Circle the word durable
and the phrases walking
4. Sample answer: I think the saying means that you
my idea for this article to a language
magazine that has very demanding

on eggs and nest egg. shouldnt put all your hopes, plans, or energy into just
standards. The editors typically select
________ Underline context clues one thing, because if it goes wrong, you could lose
for each word or phrase.
serious pieces. So I planned my pitch, spoke everything. Its like if you drop the basket of eggs, most
carefully, and offered logical examples to
of them will probably break.
make my case. I held my breath, hoping my
editor wouldnt frown and order me to go fry an egg. Happily, her praise led to this piece.
I plan to tuck away the money Ill earn from this article and others to build my nest egg.
One day, if I can save enough, I hope to buy a farm, and maybe even some hens!


Pickles on Ice
Passage 13: Pickles on Ice
Read the environment essay.
1. B; Sample answer: I saw the word brine in the middle
Do thoroughfares in your area ice over in
of paragraph 3 and a definition of it: brine is salty water.
winter? Are sidewalks treacherous for walking? If
so, would you ever think to grab a jar of pickles?
Icy roads can be dangerous. Cities and towns

2. D; Sample answer: In paragraph 2, I read that salt
spend heavily each winter spreading rock salt
can harm pets, plants, wildlife, and our water.
on roads to melt the ice. However, the problem
with using rock salt is that it is hazardous to the 3. Sample answer: Roads and sidewalks get icy, which
environment. Salt seeps into the ground and into
Truck de-icing a road in winter
makes travel dangerous. But using rock salt to melt the
our fresh water, damaging plants and trees. Salt
ice harms the environment.
also harms wildlife and pets.
Text Marking
4. Sample answer: The article says that brine is safer for
This challenge has pushed transportation
departments in some states to seek safer Find the problem and solution.
materials to use. One solution is to replace rock the environment, that it works better than rock salt at
salt with brine. Brine is salty water. It is found in low temperatures, and is less expensive than rock salt.
the juice of beets, pickles, potatoes, and cheese. Circle the problem.
Brine has three advantages over rock salt.

First, it causes less harm to the environment.
It also works better than rock salt at very low
temperatures. Moreover, using brine saves money for taxpayers.
Indiana has begun to use beet brine to melt ice on its roadways. Surfaces
in Tennessee are being de-iced with potato brine. New Jersey ice is being melted
with pickle brine. Cheese brine is now used to combat Wisconsins icy streets.
Yes, states may have found an effective answer to a slippery problem.


Passage 14: Animal or Vegetable?
Read the newspaper article.
1. C; Sample answer: The context helped me know that
hue is another word for color.
traveled the world in search of it. Artisans
carved and polished ivory to form unique art

Vegetable-ivory
owl carved from 2. D; Sample answer: In paragraph 2, the article
tagua nut

describes the cruelty involved in obtaining ivory from
lay in the cruel way it was obtained. elephant tusks, but in paragraph 4, it states that getting
The most common source of ivory was tagua nuts doesnt harm the elephant plant they grow on.

3. Sample answer: Both kinds of ivory are smooth, hard,
and bone-colored. Both can be carved and polished to
Text Marking form lovely objects.
make art objects! Find the problem and solution.

Box the signal words. 4. Sample answer: I think that farmers can harvest and
Circle the problem.
sell tagua nuts without hurting the trees, so they have

a valuable crop they can use to support themselves and
comes from the tagua nut. Tagua nuts grow their families.
in the fruit of a palm tree called an elephant
But vegetable ivory has major advantages over animal ivory. For one thing, tagua nuts


Elephant Orchestra Passage 15: Elephant Orchestra

Read the animal behavior article.
1. B; Sample answer: At the end of the article, the
Elephants like music, says musician and
author talks about raising money to house and protect
neuroscientist David Sulzer. If you play music,
theyll come over. At a conservation center in

endangered elephants.
Thailand, he saw this for himself. He watched
elephant trainers sing to the animals to soothe

2. C; Sample answer: Its the only choice that refers to
them. Sulzer already knew that elephants the elephants, who are at the center of this article.
could recognize melodies. He wondered if they
would play music themselves. 3. Sample answer: This article explains how David
So Sulzer collected a band of elephants at
Sulzer used what he observed about elephants and his
the center to find out. He first built a variety
of huge, unbreakable percussion instruments

knowledge of music to answer a question. Will elephants
the elephants could play with their trunks or play music? He built huge handmade instruments
feet. He built 22 such instruments. These included An elephant named Pratiah playing the drums
and taught elephants to play them. This took place in
drums, gongs, flutes, cymbals, and king-sized
Thailand at a conservation center, which earned money
xylophones the elephants could play with a large
mallet. Sulzers instruments resemble traditional Text Marking by selling albums the Thai Elephant Orchestra made.
Thai ones and sound like them, too. Summarize the text.
Sulzer soon found that elephants were indeed
Circle the topic.
4. Sample answer: I know that elephants like peanuts,
musicians. They could bang, stomp, tap, and blow
so one meaning is that the elephants earn their pay in
to play distinct musical notes. With the help of the
details. peanuts for working in the orchestra. But the expression
trainers, Sulzer got his elephant orchestra to play
Thai melodies the tuskers recognize.

of doing something for peanuts means to do
The Thai Elephant Orchestra has been a success. They have made three albums. And something for very little pay.
theyll play for peanuts (or bananas or apples). But the best part is that these talented
musicians help raise much-needed money to house and protect other endangered elephants.

The Man Behind Yoda

Passage 16: The Man Behind Yoda
Read the biographical sketch.
1. D; Sample answer: In the previous paragraph, the
Make-up artists play an important role in
author described Yoda as being tiny.
movie-making. Every year, the best of them, like
the best actors, directors, and screenwriters, are
honored by Hollywood for their contributions.

2. B; Sample answer: It says in paragraph 3 that Stuart
Stuart Freeborn, called by some the grandfather
Freeborn created all three.
of modern make-up design, may have been the
best of the best. 3. Sample answer: Stuart Freeborn was a world-famous

English-born Freeborn was already famous
Stuart Freeborn with Yoda make-up artist. He worked on many movies with many
for his imaginative work when he was hired
actors and was highly respected. He was best known for
to create characters for Star Wars. Hed already
worked on many films and had done the make- Text Marking his Star Wars characters, especially Yodawhose face he
up for scores of famous actors. This gifted artist Summarize the text. modeled on his own.
understood faces. He knew just how to emphasize
Circle the topic.
a cheekbone or arch an eyebrow.
4. Sample answer: A grandfather is someone older,
But Stuart Freeborn is best known today for details. who has been around a long time and has had many
the unforgettable characters he created for the
Star Wars movies. Fanciful creatures like Jabba

experiences, like Freeborn. But it also means that,
the Hutt and Chewbacca were his creations. So was the tiny Jedi master, Yoda. like a grandfather, Freeborn passed on his creative
Yoda is odd-looking, with a pointed chin and wrinkles crossing his forehead. The techniques and brilliant make-up ideas to the
resemblance between that charming pint-sized Jedi and Freeborn is unmistakable. Thats
generations that followed.
because when coming up with a model for this now-famous face, Freeborn chose one hed never
used beforehis own!
Stuart Freeborn worked on glamorous stars, superheroes, cavemen, and Muppets, too.
He died in 2013, but his memorable characters will live on.


The Whole Bird

Passage 17: The Whole Bird
Read the memoir.
1. D; Sample answer: In paragraph 2, staple is defined in
No one knows who first said, Waste not, want
the sentence as a food she served all the time.
not, but my grandmother lived by that saying.
She applied the strategy to most everything she
did, especially to her cooking. Oh, what she did

2. C; Sample answer: The grandmother didnt waste any
with chicken!
part of the chicken. She used every part of the bird to
Chicken was a staple in her home, a food stretch its value, which is a thrifty way to be.
she served all the time. Or so it seemed to me. For
dinners, she often prepared the most delicious 3. Sample answer: I think the writer was inspired by
roast chicken anyone ever ate. But that was only
how clever Grandma was in making use of every part of
part of what she did with that chicken. She would
use just about every part of that bird before she

Parts of a chicken the foods she cooked. I think Grandmas common sense
was done with it. and careful habits influenced the writers life to this day.
She wasted nothing, not even the extra fat, Text Marking
which she melted down to use in future cooking.
Make an inference: Why does the
4. Sample answers: Maybe Grandma mended clothes
She took out the liver and the gizzardthe birds writer admire Grandma? to make them last longer instead of buying new ones;
stomachto save for her delicious stuffing or
to flavor a meatloaf. She used the picked-over

maybe she reused items for a long time to save money;
chicken carcass to make stock for soup. And, as I
Think about what you
already know.
maybe she grew her own vegetables or canned them,
recall, shed also include the birds neck, feet, back, or baked items from scratch instead of using more
and wing tips for that purpose. Naturally, she used
expensive mixes.
any leftover chicken meat for sandwiches, stews, or casseroles.
I try to be a smart shopper and economical cook. I dont let food go to waste.
But as conscientious and frugal as I aim to be, Ill never match Grandma.


Orlando Bloomed!
Passage 18: Orlando Bloomed!
Read the magazine article.
1. B; Sample answer: This is the only statement
Orlando Bloom is a famous actor you may
supported by the text. In paragraph 2 it says that having
know from his roles in The Pirates of the Caribbean
or Lord of the Rings films. But his life was not always
dyslexia made Blooms school years challenging.
so successful.
As a boy, Bloom was diagnosed with dyslexia,

2. C; Sample answer: Blooms own words in that
which made his school years challenging. He paragraph include the word obstacle, and I know that
often felt stupid or worthless, despite his mothers an obstacle is something in your way that you must get
steady love and support. Still, young Orlando felt
anger and frustration, though he never let on to

over or around to keep going.
his classmates how difficult school was for him.
Though he took extra classes and studied hard, his

Actor Orlando Bloom
3. Sample answer: I think that because of his dyslexia,
mind moved faster than his words could express. dyslexia: a learning disorder that reading was hard for him. He probably didnt want to
makes reading and interpreting
He recalls that he had to work three times as hard
words very difficult embarrass himself in front of his classmates or let on
to get two-thirds of the way.
that he had to struggle.
He hid his problem whenever possible; he
avoided reading aloud. Then Bloom discovered Text Marking

acting. Playing characters on stage helped him Make an inference: How did acting
4. Sample answer: According to the article, when Bloom
focus. Some of his fears vanished as he experienced help Orlando Bloom cope with his discovered acting, it changed how he felt about himself.
disability?
success and respect. Through acting, Bloom was Being on stage playing a character helped him focus and
able to work around his disability, letting his
brought out his creativity. Probably the new success and
creative side shine. Think about what you
Bloom encourages dyslexic kids never to think already know. respect he earned encouraged him to keep going.
theyre failures, but rather to use their hurdle to
find other ways to succeed. If you can overcome this obstacle, you are going
to be that much further along than anyone else, Bloom advises.


Bugs on the Menu

Passage 19: Bugs on the Menu
Read the nutrition article.
1. B; Sample answer: The context clue let me know
Heres a question for you: What food has a
that a delicacy is a special food treat. Id be most likely
mild, nutty flavor, is low in fat, and is loaded with
E nutrients? If you answered a cricket, you would be
to have a delicacy at a holiday party than at any of the
right on target. other times described.
Really? you might ask. Yuck! you might add.
E Eating insects may seem, well, disgusting to 2. B; Sample answer: Even if this is true, the article
you. But thats because you havent been introduced
Fried grasshoppers, a delicacy in Brazil, doesnt include this information. But it does mention all
to what 2 billion people around the world already Ghana, Mexico, and Thailand
know: Insects are very healthy and tasty. And they

the other choices.
nutrient: a substance living things
are environmentally friendly, too. Eva Muller at the I
I United Nations agrees because she knows that insects
require to live and grow
3. Sample answer: The writer starts by asking a question
+
P are not only harmless to eat, but nutritious and full whose answer is not what youd expect. I think this is
of protein. She adds that they are a delicacy Text Marking done to grab readers attention and make them curious
a special food treatin many countries.
Check to identify the authors to know more.
One reason that bugs are so high in nutrients three purposes.
is that you eat the entire insect, including its
I
exoskeleton, or outer body covering. (You dont eat a
to entertain (E)
4. Sample answer: The author uses a playful, funny,
whole cow, however.)
to inform (I)
entertaining approach to give information about an
to persuade (P)
Bugs are beginning to be served in restaurants unusual topic. It sounds like the author would be
________ Underline text clues
I
here in America. Cricket taco with guacamole and
E for each purpose. Write willing to try an insect meal because it is nutritious and
fresh cream, anyone, with some delicious crittle*
for dessert? Come, now. Just close your eyes and take
beside each clue.
also supports this as a good idea for the environment.
a nibble. You might be pleasantly surprised. P
* Crittle is peanut brittle flavored with chunks of cricket meat. I



Passage 20: A Star of the Future?
Read the sports essay.
1. A; Sample answer: In that paragraph, the writer refers
The 2014 Little League World Series
to her skills, so I think that feats are accomplishments or
caught the attention of a whole nation,
thanks to Mone Davis, a bundle of talent

great things that you do.
throwing pitches 70 miles per hour.
I Displaying skills equal to those of any

2. C; Sample answer: The writer says that the more
boy in the tournament, Mone became opportunities girls get to play against boys, the more the
an overnight sensation. Her impressive girls will show that they can be equal to the task.
feats landed her on the cover of Sports
Illustrated magazine.
But will her awesome talent lead to further

Mone on the mound 3. Sample answer: The author admits that Mone is
successes in baseball? Will she go on to become the
amazing as a 13-year-old Little League player, but
first woman ever to pitch in the Major Leagues? Text Marking doubts whether her skills will be able to keep up with
Some think she might. But expecting Mone to
Check to identify the authors the skills that boys typically develop as they grow.
reach the Majors is unrealistic. The reason has to do two purposes.
with biology. At 13, girls are likely to be as tall and
to entertain (E) 4. Sample answer: Although the writer argues that
as strong as boys their age. The more opportunities
P to inform (I) Mone is unlikely to succeed as a young female
young women get to play against boys, the more
they will show that they are equal to the task.

to persuade (P) competing against young male ballplayers, it sounds
But this all seems to change with age. ________ Underline text clues
like the writer holds out hope that she just might.
As boys and girls age, clear differences in size
and strength emerge. The best male ballplayers will beside each clue.
be able to throw a ball harder and hit it farther than
P
the best females can. So, as gifted and determined as
she is, Mone will not likely be able to compete successfully against Major League players.
Or will she? Only time will tell.


Notes
.
.
.


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Informational Passages

for Text Marking & Close Reading

By Marcia Miller & Martin Lee

New York T o r o nt o London A u c k lan d Sydney

Informational Passages for Text Marking & Close Reading: Grade 4

Cover design: Brian LaRossa

Informational Passages for Text Marking & Close Reading: Grade 4

Teaching Routine for Close Reading and Purposeful Text Marking......................................7

Connections to the Standards..................................................................................................9

Comprehension Skill Summary Cards.....................................................................................10

Informational Text Passages

Main Idea & Details

2. Towers of Green (920 L)..................................... Architecture Essay................................16

3. Accidents Happen (780 L)................................ Health and Safety Article....................18

4. Bigger and Better (840 L).................................. Technology Article...............................20

Fact & Opinion

5. Time to Learn (840 L)......................................... Debate Speech....................................22

6. Restart the Music! (870 L).................................. Business Letter.......................................24

Compare & Contrast

7. Which Boat? (810 L)........................................... Blog Post................................................26

8. Your Move (840 L).............................................. Games Article.......................................28

Cause & Effect

9. When Its 10 AM in... (890 L).............................. Geography Essay.................................30

10. Pop Culture (930 L)............................................ Culture Article.......................................32

Informational Passages for Text Marking & Close Reading: Grade 4

11. The Five-Second Rule (890 L)............................ Health Essay..........................................34

12. From an Egghead (940 L)................................. Word Origin Article...............................36

Problem & Solution

13. Pickles on Ice (810 L)......................................... Environment Essay................................38

14. Animal or Vegetable? (850 L)........................... Newspaper Article...............................40

15. Elephant Orchestra (840 L)............................... Animal Behavior Article.......................42

16. The Man Behind Yoda (940 L).......................... Biographical Sketch.............................44

17. The Whole Bird (810 L)....................................... Memoir..................................................46

18. Orlando Bloomed! (900 L)................................ Magazine Article..................................48

19. Bugs on the Menu (770 L)................................. Nutrition Article.....................................50

20. A Star of the Future? (860 L).............................. Sports Essay...........................................52

Informational Passages for Text Marking & Close Reading: Grade 4

T he vast majority of what adults readin books, magazines, or onlineis

Text Marking: A Powerful Active-Reading Strategy

To improve their comprehension of complex informational texts, students

Informational Passages for Text Marking & Close Reading: Grade 4

warm, creamy hue. For centuries, collectors

traveled the world in search of it. Artisans Vegetable-ivory

text elements, such as italics, boldface type, subheadings, sidebars,

works and jewelry. But the problem with ivory

lay in the cruel way it was obtained.

and captions. The most common source of ivory was

the tusks of African elephants. Other ivory

came from walrus, hippo, and rhino tusks.

an animals tusk is to kill the creature. How

wrong to murder magnificent animals just to

It took time for an acceptable solution

to emerge. Interestingly, the remedy was a

Box the signal words.

South America. So-called vegetable ivory

comes from the tagua nut. Tagua nuts grow

________ Underline the solution.

colored. Both can be carved and polished into lovely objects.

successfully. (See the next page for a close-reading routine to model

Informational Passages for Text Marking & Close Reading: Grade 4