Reading Success Series A Anthology 2 Passageways Series 15 Nonfiction Selections
FOR THE STUDENT This reading book has 15 interesting nonfiction selections. These are the kinds of selections that you might read in school books, in library books, in magazines, and in other books. Each selection is followed by 18 multiple-choice questions. These questions give you practice with key reading strategies. Each selection also has 3 Explorations in Writing questions. These questions ask you to write about what you have read. PHOTO CREDITS: Page 4 Courtesy of EPA/Great Lakes National Program Page 30 (top) John Czenke/Shutterstock; (bottom) Ken Hammond/USDA Photo Library Page 45 Courtesy of Lisa Greenleaf Page 48 Courtesy of Lisa Greenleaf Page 76 Courtesy of California State Capital Museum Pages 77 79 Courtesy of National Archives Page 80 Courtesy United Farm Workers. Boycott Lettuce & Grapes. Circa 1978. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress Page 87 Courtesy of Patricia Lucas Page 94 (top) Courtesy of Joan Krensky Pages 108 112 Courtesy of John F. Kennedy Library & Museum ILLUSTRATION CREDITS: Pages 12 16, 22 23, 102 104, 116 120 Leslie Alfred McGrath Pages 5, 28, 31 32, 36 37, 68, 93, 100 Lisa Greenleaf ISBN 0-7609-3736-2 2006 Curriculum Associates, Inc. North Billerica, MA 01862 No part of this book may be reproduced by any means without written permission from the publisher. All Rights Reserved. Printed in USA. 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
TABLE OF CONTENTS Sandcastles................................. 4 Koalas.................................... 12 The World of Bugs.......................... 20 From Cow to Carton......................... 28 Birds That Cannot Fly........................ 36 Guitars................................... 44 Pirates.................................... 52 Face to Face................................ 60 Going Bananas............................. 68 Dolores Huerta: The Farm Workers Friend........ 76 One + One = Twins.......................... 84 The Great Land............................. 92 The Aim Game............................ 100 Young Jack Kennedy........................ 108 Living in the Stone Age...................... 116 Explorations in Writing....................... 124 128
KOALAS GETTING STARTED Do you like koalas? Most people do. They think koalas are cute. Read this selection to learn about this popular animal. 12 KOALAS
The koala looks like a teddy bear. Soft, thick fur covers its round body. It has a big black nose and small black eyes. Its ears are large and fluffy. People often call the koala a koala bear. But a koala is not a bear. It is more like a kangaroo. Both animals are marsupials (mahr SOO pee uhlz). Marsupials are born very tiny. They stay in a pouch on their mother s belly until they grow bigger. A young koala is called a joey. A koala looks like a pink jelly bean when it is born. It is less than an inch long. It has no fur. It has no ears. And it can t see. The joey spends about seven months in its mother s pouch. Then it rides on its mom s back for the next few months. The joey leaves home when it is about one year old. KOALAS 13
Australia K oalas live in only one place. It s along the east coast of Australia. They make their homes in forests. Koalas live mainly in eucalyptus (yoo kuh LIP tuhs) trees. The leaves of these trees are the only food koalas eat. Eucalyptus leaves have lots of water. So the koala almost never drinks water. In fact, its name means no drink. The koala eats over two pounds of leaves a day. But it s a fussy eater. It smells the leaves first. It picks out only the best ones. The leaves provide little energy. So the koala needs a lot of rest. It sleeps up to 18 hours a day. It often naps in a tree fork. The koala is active mostly at night. That s when it moves from tree to tree to get good leaves. The koala is a good climber. Its paws are built for moving up tree trunks and along branches. Where Koalas Live The koala s body is shaped like a pear. This shape helps the koala sit in tree forks. 14 KOALAS
Koala s Front Paw Koala s Back Paw The bottoms of its paws have thick, rough pads. These pads help the koala land softly as it jumps from branch to branch. They keep the koala from sliding down as it climbs up. The koala has sharp claws too. They help it hold onto things. Each front paw is divided into two groups. One group has two thumbs. The other group has three fingers. The front paws are made this way to let the koala get a tight grip when climbing. The back paws have five toes each. The first toe has no claw. It is used like a thumb. The second and third toes are joined together. The koala uses them to comb its fur. The fourth and fifth toes are good for gripping. The koala climbs down trees backward. On the ground, it moves on all four legs. The koalas can run fast. It runs as fast as a rabbit. KOALAS 15
In the past, hunters killed koalas for their fur. Today it is against the law to kill koalas. But they are dying anyway. Their worst enemies are people. People have cut down trees on koala land. They use the wood to build homes and farms. New roads have also been built where koalas live. Road signs warn drivers to watch out for koalas. Still cars kill many koalas each year. Koalas also die from attacks by pet dogs. Today most people see koalas only in zoos. The largest koala zoo is in Australia. It s called Lone Pine. Visitors there can hold the koalas. Each koala can be held for just 30 minutes a day. The rest of its day is full. Don t forget. A koala needs lots of time to eat and sleep. 16 KOALAS
Finding Main Idea and Details The main idea is the most important idea. The details are the pieces of information that tell more about the main idea. 1. A koala baby is also called a teddy. a pup. a joey. a kid. 2. Page 15 is mostly about a koala s claws. a koala s paws. a koala s fur. a koala s pouch. 3. Lone Pine is a zoo. a forest. a farm. a museum. Finding Word Meaning in Context Use context clues to find the meaning of a new word. Context clues are words in a sentence that help you figure out the meaning of the new word. 4. On page 13, the word fluffy means silly. snowy. having a round shape. having soft, light fur. 5. Look at page 14. Another word for active is still. busy. quick. useful. 6. On page 15, the word grip means a hard hit. a light touch. a firm hold. a loose hold. KOALAS 17
Recognizing Cause and Effect When one thing causes another thing to happen, it is called cause and effect. The cause is the reason why something happens. The effect is what happens. 7. A koala is often called a koala bear because it has large, fluffy ears. has a big black nose. looks like a bear cub. looks like a teddy bear. 8. Why don t koalas drink water? The water is salty where they live. There is no water where they live. They get water from the leaves they eat. They drink milk instead. 9. Which is not a reason that koalas are dying today? hunters cars pet dogs people Comparing and Contrasting Comparing is finding how two or more things are alike. Contrasting is finding how two or more things are different. 10. At birth a koala looks like a baby kangaroo. a pink jelly bean. a teddy bear. a tiny fur ball. 11. A koala s front paws and back paws each have two thumbs. three fingers or toes joined together. one finger or toe with no claw. five fingers or toes. 12. A koala runs as fast as a dog. a kangaroo. a bear. a rabbit. 18 KOALAS
Understanding Sequence Sequence is the order in which things are done or events happen. 13. Koalas are ready to take care of themselves after a year. two years. six months. seven months. 14. When do koalas hunt for leaves? in the morning in the afternoon at night between naps 15. Which happened first? People cut down trees on koala land. Homes, farms, and roads were built on koala land. Hunters killed koalas for their fur. Pet dogs killed koalas. Drawing Conclusions Drawing conclusions can help you figure out things that are not written in a selection. To draw a conclusion, think about the facts. Then think about what you know in your own life. 16. Which word can be used to describe koalas? weak afraid mean likable 17. The author probably believes that koalas do not belong in zoos. eat too much. are in danger of dying out. should sleep less. 18. From the selection, you can tell that koalas have a poor sense of taste. a good sense of smell. weak eyes. good ears. Go to page 124. KOALAS 19