Reading Comprehension Workbook Level 6355f5fff485fd0bd834f... · among the stars Southern Cron (suTH’ arm kr6s) a group of four bright stars in the form of a cross Beth Morris moved

READING COMPREHENSION WORKBOOKLevel 6

Series Designer

Philip J. Solimene

Editor Dorothy M. Bogart

Reading Consultant Sidney J. Rauch, Ed.D.

Professor of Reading and Education Hofstra University, New York

EDCON

Story AuthorsR u th W. B a rre t t

E le a n o r C olem an E llen C um m iskey

J a sk s o n D aviss W alter H olden J u s t in e K u sn er

N ancy B y rn es M arte l J a c q u e lin e N igh ting ale

C o py righ t © 2010 A /V C oncep ts C orp.

E dcon P u b lish in g G roup

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without permission of the publisher, with the following exception:Student activity pages are intended for reproduction. EDCON Publishing grants to individual purchasers of this book the right to make sufficient copies of reproducible pages for use by all students of a single teacher. This permission is limited to an individual teacher, and does not apply to entire school systems.

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CONTENTS

NO.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

TITLE SOMETHING ABOUT THE STORY STORY QUESTIONS

4

9

14

19

24

29

34

39

1

6

11

16

21

26

31

36

A message from the past will change the future of a small village.Baby-sitters have a duty to others— and to themselves.When weather conditions are right, some flyers move through the sky as birds do.The mystery of what happened on Roanoke Island 300 years ago may finally be solved.Have you a habit you would like to change? One of these “secrets” may help you.“Happy anniversary to the Andrews!” may really mean “Troops will land today.”Names have been changed, but this is the true story of one family’s voyage to freedom.Canoeists thrill to the challenge of a difficult and dangerous course.

Secrets of the Ancient Stones

Be a Better Baby-Sitter

Soaring

Croatan, the Lost Colony

Six Secrets of Changing Behavior

Hidden Messages

Escape to Freedom

The Hudson River Whitewater Derby

CONTENTS

Key Words......................................... 51

Comprehension Check Answer Key............................... 53

Vocabulary Check Answer Key............................... 55

NO.

9

10

TITLE SOMETHING ABOUT THE STORY STORY QUESTIONS

Elias Howe and the Sewing MachineThe Bermuda Triangle

One man’s imagination and work changed the lives of millions.Are mysterious forces at work, or has a legend been created from some easily explained accidents?

41

46

44

49

Secrets of the Ancient Stones F-1

Preview:1. Read the title.2. Look at the picture.3. Read the first two paragraphs of the story.4. Then answer the following question.

You learned from your preview that___a. Beth Morris is a Peace Corps worker.__ b. David Larsen is a Peace Corps worker.___c. David Larsen has ancestors in North Africa.___d. the villagers are not friendly.Turn to the Comprehension Check on page 4 for the right answer.

Now read the story.Read to find out what the ancient ones knew.

1

Learn the Key Words

archaeologist

civilization

corridor

crisscross

investigate

sacred

(ar1 ke ol' a jist)

(siv a la zS' shan)

(kôr' 3 der, kor' a dôr)

(kris' krôs)

(in ves' ta gât)

(sa' krid)

a person who studies people, customs, and the life of ancient times

Because she was an archaeologist, Beth understood the customs o f ancient people.

the life and manners of a race, nation, etc.Paintings o f an advanced civilization decorated the temple’s walls.

a long hallway passage A corridor in the temple had stone walls.

1. made or marked with crossed linesThe group o f stars had a crisscross pattern.

2. to mark3. a pattern of crossed linesexamine closely; look into carefully

They were anxious to investigate the secret o f the temple.belonging to or given to God or a god; holy

The temple was sacred to the villagers.

Secrets of the Ancient StonesF-1

Things you will read about:Acrnz (s' kruks)

the brightest star in the Southern Cross

■olitice (sol' stis)the sun's direction in space when it is at its farthest point north or south among the stars

Southern Cron (suTH’ arm kr6s)a group o f four bright stars in the form o f a cross

Beth Morris moved closer to the campfire and glanced at the starlit desert. An archaeologist working in North Africa, she had come to the desert to visit her friend David Larsen, a Peace Corps worker. “Aren’t you lonely here?” she asked David.

“Not really. The villagers are friendly, even though they are so stubborn. We have been trying to teach them about irrigation, but all they know are the ways of their ancestors. All we ever hear is ‘the ancient ones.’ Their ancient ones are just bones.”

“An archaeologist learns a

great deal from an old civilization,” said Beth.

“I apologize,” laughed David. “I appreciate your being here, even though you ate a digger in old stones. The other Peace Corps workers won’t return from the agricultural meeting until after Christmas.”

“Even an archaeologist needs to see a face from home at this time of year,” Beth teased. “In this hot place it’s hard to realize that tomorrow is the first day of winter.”

“You’re wrong,” David corrected. “It won’t be the first day of winter here in the

southern half of the world, but the first day of summer — the summer solstice. Look at that group of stars, the Southern Cross, with the bright star Acrux at the top. That’s not visible back home.”

“Summer in winter,” yawned Beth. “I’m sleepy and ready for bed. See you in the morning.”

She was awakened by David shouting her name outside her tent. Beth dressed and ran outside. The stars had faded and, although it was still dark, faint streaks of dawn appeared along the top of a dark mountain.

2

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“The whole village is going some place,” David cried, pointing to a shadowy line of people marching toward the mountain. “Let’s investigate.”

They grabbed flashlights and followed the marchers, climbing in the dusky light over rough boulders along a crisscross path leading to a wild place David had never seen before. Three huge boulders guarded the edge of a valley.

Peeking through a crack between the rocks, they saw in the valley below a great stone building with a pointed roof. The murmuring villagers knelt in front of the building.

“It’s the sacred temple of the ancient ones,” David whispered.

Suddenly the sun popped over the mountain, sending a shaft of light onto the building. A brilliant light seemed to explode from a corner of its roof, glittering like a star. The people threw themselves to the ground, shouting.

“They are praying to the ancient ones,” David guessed. “But why?”

“Today is the summer solstice.” Beth’s eyes narrowed as she spoke. “Ancient civilizations celebrated the solstice. The temple was designed so that a corner of the roof would catch the first light on this day of the year. The villagers have forgotten its meaning to their ancestors, but they know it is important. They are praying to a memory.”

The sun rose higher, the sparkling light dimmed, and the villagers got up and scattered back toward their homes.

Beth ran down the hill, shouting, “I’m going to investigate. This is a big find for an archaeologist.”

“But it’s a sacred place,” protested David, as he followed her.

They searched the outside of the building until they found a loose stone. Forcing it aside, they slipped into the building, pointing their flashlights at the walls.

“Look at those paintings!” exclaimed David.

Decorating the walls were brilliant pictures of people in richly embroidered garments, walking through fields of barley and wheat.

“The ancient ones were an advanced civilization!” exclaimed Beth in astonishment.

David paced up and down the crisscrossed corridor. “Wheat, barley,” he considered. “Nothing like the dry stalks of grain that grow here now. Where did the ancients get the water? And why do the corridors crisscross in this way? There is one long passageway and two at angles, like a cross.”

“Here’s the opening in the roof where the sun flashed,” called Beth. “It has a shiny stone like marble to catch the light.”

David grabbed her shoulders. “Beth, these corridors are in the shape of the Southern Cross and the light at the end is the star Acrux. It’s a message of some sort.” He wheeled around. “What’s that loud noise outside?”

They rushed outside to investigate and found themselves facing the furious villagers. Spears gleamed as

angry natives crowded near, shouting, “You go into sacred place. You die.”

“Stop!” David shouted. “We have learned the magic of the ancient ones.”

The men still held their spears, but they halted.

“We’ll show you the magic tonight,” David promised.

“What magic?” asked Beth in a shaking voice.

“I have an idea about the star Acrux,” whispered David. “Just hope that I’m right.”

All day, Beth and David crouched on the sharp rocks, surrounded by angry natives. Drums beating in the distance made them shiver.

When darkness came, David led the villagers to a spot directly beneath the star Acrux. “Dig!” he urged.

Muttering, the men dug their spears into what seemed to be ordinary sand. But then a cry of wonder went up as a spear came out dripping with water. The diggers scrambled into the hole, tossing out earth. Suddenly, a fountain of water shot from the earth and spread along the ground. The natives joyously flung themselves into the water, singing and splashing.

“Soon you will have great fields of grain, just like the ancient ones,” shouted David. “This temple is a map to tell you that water is at the spot where the star Acrux shines on the night of the summer solstice.”

Then she laughed. “We’ve all learned from an old civilization. I wonder what else the ancient ones will teach us.”

3

F-1

Secrets of the Ancient Stones

Preview answer:

b. David Larsen is a Peace Corps worker.

Check your answers with the key on page 53.

Idea starter: Why did the villagers forget the message of the temple?

This page may be reproduced for classroom use.

4

COMPREHENSION CHECK

Choose the best answer.1. David Larsen was in North Africa working for

a. the African government.___ b. the Southern Cross.___ c. the Peace Corps.___ d. the archaeologists.

2. David had been trying to teach the villagers about a. irrigation.____b. building roads.____c. old stones.___ d. their ancestors.

(3 ) Beth probably believed that____a. the villagers were lazy.____b. sacred places should never be entered.___ c. the cave paintings could be removed and

sold.____d. other ancient ways of the villagers should bestudied.

4. David described the natives as stubborn because___ a. they celebrated the summer solstice.____b. they spoke of their ancestors when he tried

to teach them.____c. they marched in shadowy lines.____d. they prayed to the ancient ones at the sacred

temple.5. One dawn,David and Beth followed the villagers as

they marched toward____a. the sacred temple.____b. the Southern Cross.____c. their homes.____d. the desert.

6. When Beth and David entered the sacred building, they found___ a. a flashlight.___ b. loose stones.___ c. dry stalks of grain.____d. a crisscrossed corridor.

7. The temple was___ a. a fountain___ b. a map.___ c. a grain field.____d. a hiding place.

( 8 ) In the future, David will probably____a. locate more big, bright stars.___ b. teach the villagers to paint the walls of the

temples.___ c. pay more attention to the ways of thevillagers’ ancestors.___ d. search for old stones.

9 . Another name for this story could be___ a. “The Work of the Peace Corps.”___ b. “Teaching Stubborn Villagers.”___ c. “A Visit in Africa.”___ d. “The Clue in the Temple.”

10. This story is mainly about___ a. a lonely Peace Corps worker.----- b. how stars help all people.___ e. discovering an ancient secret.___ d. discovering the summer solstice.

Secrets of the Ancient Stones F-1

VOCABULARY CHECK

archaeologist civilization corridor crisscross investigate sacred

4. A long hallway5. Holy

Down

I. Use the key words from the box to fill in the blanks in the puzzle.

Across

1. A person who studies ancient civilizations2. The life and manners of a nation or race3. Look into

6. Make or mark with crossed lines

II. Fill in each blank with a key word from the box above.

1. Someone is talking about ancient civilization. She is an.2. The objects in the temple are_______________________ .. Don’t touch them!3. This is very strange. Let’s.4. I got lost in that building. I used the wrong5. The archaeologists are excited. They discovered an ancient.6. I want to visit many cities. I will follow a______________ .route.




F-2

Now read the story.Read to find out how baby-sitters prepare themselves.

6

Learn the Key Wordsinfant

medical

oral

privilege

wages

youngster

(in' fant)

(med' a kal)

(ór' al, òr' al)

(priv* a lij)

(wàj' az)

(yung' star)

a baby; a very young child A n infant needs help in eating.

dealing with health and healingWhen the child could not breathe, medical help was needed.

spoken; said aloudThe oral instructions were not as clear as the written instructions.

a special favor; an advantage Mary was given the privilege o f first choice.

pay given for work doneOften, wages fo r baby-sitters are higher after midnight than before midnight.

a child older than a babyThat youngster will be four years old in May.

Preview:1. Read the title.2. Look at the picture.3. Read the first two paragraphs of the story. 14. Read the underlined sentences of the story.5. Then answer the following question.

You learned from your preview that___a. a baby-sitter must know how to fight fires.___b. a baby-sitter has an important job.___c. a baby-sitter should be a teen-ager.___d. a baby-sitter can earn one million dollars.

Turn to the Comprehension Check on page 9 for the right answer, j


Careful planning can make baby-sitting a pleasant experience for everyone.

The shrill shriek of fire engine sirens shattered the silence of the night. Flashing red lights were visible for several blocks. The smell of burning wood and cloth filled the neighborhood. A heavy cloud of smoke and steam hung over the burning furniture store and the apartment house next to it.

- Outside the apartment house, a grateful mother found her infant son safe and unharmed. Sal, the babysitter, had done what he had been hired to do. He had protected the infant when danger threatened.

Sal and more than one million teen-age boys and girls in this country earn money as

baby-sitters. Perhaps you, too, have worked as a baby-sitter or hope to work as one. Have you thought of ways to become a better baby-sitter and how to enjoy the job more?

The baby-sitter’s job is an important one. It can be fun, but it is, at the same time, a serious job. When you are a baby-sitter you are responsible for young lives. The health and safety of others will depend upon you. You must be prepared to do the right thing in almost any emergency. You can help prevent problems, but should an emergency develop, you can, as Sal did, save a child.

Probably the best way to keep children safe is to prevent

accidents. Think of the kinds of trouble little children get into. Then do your best to:

Keep matches away from children.

Keep medicines away from children.

Keep sharp instruments away from children.

It may not be as simple as it seems to follow rules when you baby-sit. You know that you should never permit a stranger to enter the home. It is clear that you put yoursfelf and others in danger when you allow someone you don’t know to come inside. But you could face the same problems that other baby-sitters have had.

For example, a man rings the doorbell when you are

F-2

baby-sitting. He says that he is the baby’s uncle. He asks you to unlock the door so that he can take a suit he left in the closet. You warn him that you will call the police, but he insists that his clothes are in the house. He refuses to leave and return the next day when the parents will be at home.

Another example might be one where the infant for whom you are baby-sitting wakes up in pain. She is gasping for breath and is turning blue. The closest neighbor is not at home.

Or, you could be sitting for two children who are asleep in separate bedrooms when you smell smoke. You run into the hall and see a fire burning in a closet.

These emergencies do happen, but are rare. More often, the baby-sitter will have a quiet, pleasant time. You can be ready for the few problems that arise by getting certain information before the parents leave. You will want to know where the parents can be reached. It is also important to know a neighbor and doctor to call for medical help if needed. Of course, you must also know how to phone the police and fire departments.

What else should you know to make the job easier? It

helps to know the name and nickname of each youngster. You must be aware of any special medical problems they have. You may have to remind children to take their medicine. Knowing what time they must go to bed is important. Many youngsters try to stay up past the time their parents have set for them to go to sleep. For night jobs, have a flashlight handy to help you locate light switches in an unfamiliar home, or in case of electric failure.

When you baby-sit, you will want to know if a certain privilege is allowed the children. Just as no two children are alike, no two families are alike. Find out, too, what your privileges are. Will it be all right for you to use the telephone, to help yourself to what is in the refrigerator, or to have a friend stay with you?

And there is the question of your wages. Discuss your pay before you baby-sit. How much do you charge for each hour of work? Do you charge more for hours after midnight? Reach an oral understanding with the family. If you have discussed your wages, there should be no problems when it is time for you to be paid. Without an oral understanding, either you or the

parents may feel cheated.Here is what happened one

time when the understanding was not clear. Alice expected to be paid one dollar an hour for the time she worked past midnight. At the end of the evening’s job, before being taken home, she was paid the same seventy-five cents for each hour before and after midnight. Alice learned the hard way that money matters must be discussed in advance.

Baby-sitters sometimes carry a “grab bag” of odds and ends to entertain youngsters. A large shopping bag packed with small toys, puzzles, games, and coloring materials will help you amuse a restless child. Let the boy or girl reach into the bag with one hand. Whatever he or she grabs can become the beginning of a special fun time.

Preparing for your babysitting job takes time, but your efforts will be rewarded. You will have few problems when the children are busy. They will regard you as a friend and ask to have you return. You will benefit from the skills you develop and the money you earn. And both you and the youngsters can have an enjoyable time with each other.

8

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Be a Better Baby-SitterPreview answer:

b. a baby-sitter has an important job.

COMPREHENSION CHECK

Choose the best answer.


Idea starter: If you wanted to be a baby-sitter, how would you get a job?


9

1. Sal, the baby-sitter, had protected ____a. the furniture store.___ b. the infant.___ c. the money.___ d. the teen-agers.

2. A baby-sitter’s job is an important one because___ a. the sitter is responsible for young lives.___ b. the sitter can earn money.___ c. the sitter can learn to follow rules.___ d. the sitter can stay up late at night.

3. It is most important for a baby-sitter to have (___ a. a list of rules.___ b. a “grab bag.”___ c. good judgment.___ d. comfortable clothing.

4. The best way to be ready for possible problems is ___ a. to have a friend for company.___ b. to make treats for the youngsters.___ c. to get information before the parents leave.___ d. to put the children to bed early.

5. The best time to discuss wages is___ a. before you agree to baby-sit.___ b. the day after the sitting.___ c. on your way home from the sitting.___ d. when the parents are leaving the house.

6. Three rules are listed for___ a. preventing strangers from calling.___ b. feeding the youngsters.___ c. putting out fires.___ d. preventing accidents.'

7. It is helpful to know the nicknames of ____a. the parents.____b. the youngsters.____c. the pets.___ d. the neighbors.

8 ) Even a good baby-sitter can probably learn___ a. to do a better job.___ b. to make more money.____c. to get more jobs.____d. to put out fires.

9 . Another name for this story could be___ a. “Hints for Teen-Agers.”___ b. “Hints for Earning Money.”____c. “Hints for Baby-Sitters.”___ d. “Hints for Saving Babies.”

10. This story is mainly about___ a. discussing wages in advance.____b. preventing accidents.____c. Sal, the brave baby-sitter.____d. doing a better job of baby-sitting.

Be a Better Baby-SitterF-2

VOCABULARY CHECK

infant medical oral privilege wages youngster

I. Choose the correct key word from the box to complete each o f the following sentences.

1. The________________________in the crib is two months old.

2. People who can’t read written directions need________________________directions.3. It was a________________________for Dot to plan her own vacation.4. I am going to put the________________________that I earn in the bank.5. Soon after we called the hospital for help, the________________________team arrived.

6. The seven-year-old________________________found the baby’s bottle for the sitter.II. Now that you have written the key words, find them in the box below and draw a circle around

them. The words may be printed from left to right, or from top to bottom. One example,that is not a key word, has been done for you.



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SoaringLearn the Key Words

alert (a tertO

descent (di sent')

gently (jent’ le)

monitor (mon1 a tar)

require (ri kwTr')

skillful (skil* fal)

ready; watchfulYou must be alert when crossing the street.

a coming down from a higher to a lower placeThe plane made a rapid descent from the sky to the landing field.

softly; in a quiet wayThe girl gently held her puppy to protect it.

to watch or check; to control A machine was used to monitor the patient’s heartbeats.

demand; needThe rules require us to be silent.

doing something well; having great skill or talent A skillful doctor set my broken arm.


You learned from your preview that__ a. a sailplane needs a tow plane to stay in the air.__ b. a sailplane uses its engine only for takeoffs.__ c. a sailplane is moved by air currents.__ d. a sailplane flies only at low altitudes.

Turn to the Comprehension Check on page 14 for the right answer.

Now read the story.Read to find out why Larry envies hawks.

11

SoaringF-3

Things you will read about:sailplane (sal' plan)

a type of gliderthermal (ther‘ mal)

a rising current of warm air

Sailplanes and birds glide on currents o f air.

Larry pointed at the sky and exclaimed, “There are two airplanes flying together, attached by a rope!”

His mother glanced up and explained, “That’s soaring, Larry. The powered airplane is pulling a sailplane, which has no engine. When the sailplane reaches the proper altitude, the tow rope will be released. Then the sailplane will move with air currents. Soaring is a popular sky sport.”~ Larry watched as the planes separated. The sailplane continued to climb in the sky as the power plane headed for a landing.

“That looks like a terrific

sport,” he said, “and I’d like to try it sometime.”

“You still have your birthday money,” Mom reminded him. “If you want to spend it on soaring, let’s go right now.”

Larry nodded happily, and they rode to the airport. The two of them walked to a small building where Mom made arrangements for Larry’s flight.

A pilot led Larry toward a row of parked sailplanes. Larry noticed that each sailplane had its left wing tip touching the ground. The planes rested in that position because the single wheels of sailplanes cannot balance

them. Also, each left wing was weighted so that it would not be lifted by the wind. No propellers spoiled the smoothly shaped noses of the planes, but Larry was surprised by the great length of their wings.

The pilot walked around a plane, making a pre-flight check. The plane had two seats, one in front of the other, and a clear, bubble-shaped roof over them. A crewman removed the weight from the wing. Larry helped the pilot raise the roof and then climbed into the front seat. Because the plane was used for training pilots, his part of the

12

F-3plane had an instrument board and a set of controls exactly like the pilot’s. The pilot made sure that Larry’s seat belt and shoulder harness were safely fastened. He showed him how to monitor the instrument board, and how to rest his hands and feet gently on the controls so that he could feel what the pilot was doing. Then the pilot climbed into the rear seat and adjusted his own seat belt and shoulder harness.

As the tow plane approached, Larry’s pilot closed the roof of the sailplane, shutting out much of the noise. The tow rope dragging from the tow plane was held up for Larry’s pilot to inspect. The pilot used hand signals to indicate that the tow rope was satisfactory. The crewman attached the loose end of the rope to the tow hook under the sailplane’s nose.

The tow plane moved forward and the sailplane advanced slowly. The crewman ran next to the sailplane for a few feet, holding its wing level. The pilot had to be extra alert at this time, keeping the sailplane behind the powered plane. Sailplanes always require trained pilots, but at takeoffs and landings, pilots must be especially skillful at controlling planes. Great knowledge and ability are required to control a plane that lacks power.

When the tow plane reached a speed of thirty miles, the sailplane left the ground.

Gently, the sailplane rose into the air. Seconds later, the powered plane rose too.

As the sailplane gained altitude, the pilot said, “Now I have to fly twenty feet above tow position to help us avoid waves of air from the tow plane. When we are high enough, I’ll release the tow rope to let air currents carry us. A warm air current, or thermal, will keep us in the air. A pilot must always be alert to wind currents. I constantly monitor the instrument board to check on air speed and to know if the plane is rising or falling.”

When the dial showing altitude reached the 2,100 feet mark, the pilot pulled a knob to release the tow rope. Larry heard the loud sound of metal scraping and saw the rope drop. The powered plane turned left, and the sailplane turned right. The sudden silence was startling.

Larry’s pilot was skillful in making use of thermals. Pockets of warm air moving upwards kept the sailplane soaring. Pockets of cold air could cause the plane’s descent.

Larry realized how much he enjoyed the silence of a sailplane as he soared through the sky. The sound of rushing wind made him feel he was speeding above the earth, but a dial showed the air rate was fifty miles an hour. The smooth path through the air was calm and peaceful.

Larry monitored the dials

again and saw their altitude was 9,000 feet, almost two miles high.

“It’s time to head back,” announced the pilot.

While speaking, he pulled a lever and the plane started its descent. Landings must be made into the wind, and the pilot headed the plane in the right direction. A sailplane must be landed properly on the first attempt because it has no engine to correct mistakes.

The plane made its final approach to the landing strip and Larry kept watching the touchdown point. He had a strange feeling that all other objects were rushing away from the point towards which he was moving. The plane’s only wheel touched the ground, and Larry felt a slight bump. As the plane skidded to a stop, a crewman came running to hold down a wing. The pilot opened the bubbleshaped roof and he and Larry quickly left the plane. Together they rolled it from the landing strip to make way for another plane ready to land.

Larry’s mother was waiting at the parking field.

“How was it, Larry?” she wanted to know.

Larry raised his eyes and saw a hawk floating lazily on a thermal. Instantly he remembered the freedom he had known when soaring. “If I couldn’t be Larry,” he answered, “I’d like to be that hawk!’.

13

F-3Soaring

Preview answer:

c. a sailplane is moved by air currents.

COMPREHENSION CHECK


Idea starter: Why don’t travelers use sailplanes instead of powered planes?


14

Choose the best answer.1. Soaring is

____ a. a sailplane.____ b. a powered plane.___ c. an air sport.____ d. an air current.

2. The powered plane pulls____ a. the air currents.____ b. the thermals.____ c. the engine.____ d. the sailplane.

( 3 ) After the sailplane’s rope is released,____ a. it flies lower than the powered plane.___ _b. it flies higher than the powered plane.____ c. it heads for a landing.____ d. it uses its own engine.

4. Sailplanes have____ a. one wheel.____ b. four wheels.____ c. two wheels.____ d. three wheels.

5. Larry rested his hands and feet on the controls so that he could____ a. feel what the pilot was doing.____ b. move forward.____ c. keep alert.____ d. adjust his own seatbelt.

6. A sailplane must be landed properly on the first attempt because___ a. only one wheel touches the ground.___ b. the crewman must be near the wing.c. it will roll from the landing strip.___ d. it has no engine to correct mistakes.

7. The thing that surprised Larry the most when the rope dropped was___ a. the sound of scraping metal.___ b. the sailplane turning right.___ c. the sudden silence.___ d. the sailplane turning left.

(8 .) You could probably make soaring a hobby if you lived___ a. near low buildings.___ b. near a hospital.___ c. near an airplane factory.____d. near an airport.

9 . Another name for this story could be___ a. “Larry’s Birthday.”----- b. “A Popular Air Sport.”___ c. “How Pilots Work.”___ d. “How Hawks Fly.”

10. This story is mainly about___ a. the importance of airplanes.___ b. spending birthday money.___ c. trying an air sport for the first time.___ d. why hawks and sailplanes are alike.

Soaring

VOCABULARY CHECK

F-3

alert descent gently monitor require skillful

I. Fill in the blank in each sentence with the correct key word from the box above.

1. These____________________ workers always make fine furniture.2. The elevator’s________________________was so smooth, I couldn’t believe I was going down.3. Most sports________________________some special uniform.4. When you speak slowly and softly, you speak________________________5. A pilot must________________________takeoffs and landings carefully.6. The_______________________ dog saw the smoke as soon as the fire started.II. Are the following statements true or false? Place an X next to the correct answer.1. A skillful cook often spoils the food.

_____ True ______False2. A sleeping baby should be carried gently.

_____ True ______False3. A balloon starts its descent when it begins to lose air.

_____ True ______False4. An alert boy probably would not hear his name called.

_____ True ______False5. A museum director might set up a small camera to monitor visitors.

_____ True ______False6. Very young birds require feeding by their parents.

_____ True ______False

Check your answers with key on page 56.


15

F-4

Croatan, the Lost Colony

Now read the story.Read to find out what may have become of the Lost Colony.

16

Learn the Key Words

arrival

defense

endure

fate

slain

vicinity

(a ri val)

(di fens')

(en dúr\ en dyùr')

(fat)

(slàn)

(va sin' a té)

the reaching of a goal Joan could hardly wait for the arrival o f Jane.

protection; a means of guarding from harm The colonists built a fort for their defense.

to put up with; live through Explorers must endure great hardships.

final result or happening Do you know the fate o f the missing detective?

killedThousands o f men were slain at Gettysburg.

area; neighborhoodWhat national park is in the vicinity?


You learned from your preview that___a. a group of people disappeared from Roanoke Island.___b. a group of people disappeared from Rhode Island.___c. the story takes place 117 years ago.___d. the story takes place 200 years ago.


The only clue left by a colony was a sign on a tree.

Over three hundred years ago, 117 men, women, and chil- d re n d is a p p e a re d from Roanoke Island. History writers agreed that they must have starved to death or been slain by Indians. One writer stated that “their sad fate” was a sacrifice to human progress.

But perhaps they did not die terrible deaths. Perhaps their descendants are still living within two hundred miles of Roanoke Island.

The story begins in 1587 when Sir Walter Raleigh, the English explorer, sent Governor John White to Virginia with 117 colonists. Governor White sailed for Roanoke Island, hoping to find fifteen colonists left there from an earlier trip. On his arrival at Roanoke, all he found were the

bones of one man. The fort had been destroyed. So had the houses the colonists had built in the vicinity of the fort. Wild plants were growing over everything. Governor White and his group landed in the middle of summer, too late to plant crops for that year’s harvest. White decided to return to England for food and other needed supplies. He knew that the colonists would find it difficult to endure the hardships of the wilderness, and he disliked leaving them. They had little defense against Indian attacks. Also, one colonist, Eleanor Dare, was his daughter. Eleanor had a baby daughter Virginia, the first English child bom in America. White told the colonists that if conditions became too difficult

on the island, they should go inland, leaving him a message. If there were trouble, the message was to be marked with a cross.

With a small crew, John White returned to England. He never saw any of the colonists again.

On his arrival in England, he found England and Spain at war with each other. Spanish warships surrounded England, and White was unable to set sail for Roanoke Island. Three years passed before he returned to America, wondering about the fate of his daughter Eleanor and the baby Virginia.

Finally, his ship reached Roanoke, and White searched for the colonists. The 117 men, women, and children had

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disappeared from the vicinity. Before leaving, they had buried some goods, as if they expected to return. The only message White found was a single word carved on a tree. The word was “Croatoan.” . There was no cross to indicate trouble.

Years passed. Walter Raleigh instructed his sailors traveling near the American coast to look for the colonists and to ask Indians if they had seen them. But the people of the Lost Colony were not found. The English decided that they had met with some terrible fate from disease or lack of food. Many thought that they had been slain by Indians. Although it seemed strange that the colonists would leave their goods and the defense of their fort unless they were in trouble, no one believed that they could have endured the wilderness for such a long time.

Still, strange stories kept drifting back to England — stories about Indians speaking English and dressing like English people. Captain James Smith of Jamestown colony reported one such story. Another Jamestown colonist wrote that the Roanoke Islanders had lived with the Indians for twenty years, but that the Indians, angered by the settlement of more Englishmen at Jamestown, had slain them all.

Even after that, more stories were told. As settlers pushed westward into the wilderness, they were surprised to find Indians who had blue eyes and blond hair and spoke English. History writers didn’t pay much attention to these scattered reports. After all, the American frontier was full of wild tales. Gradually it became an accepted fact of American history that the Lost Colony had been completely destroyed.

Today there is a small group of Americans, the Lumbee Indians of North Carolina, who cling to the idea that the colonists had lived. The Lumbees say that they are descended from the people of the Lost Colony. Some Lumbee families have the same names as John White’s colonists. The greatest Lumbee leader was named Henry Berry, the exact name of a man of the Lost Colony. The Lumbees were even called Croatans.

The Lumbees were a proud people who kept apart from their neighbors. Most writers of histories either never heard the Lumbees’ story or decided not to believe it. The writers said that there was no evidence to prove that the Lumbees were descended from the Roanoke colony.

About forty years ago, evidence was found. Two stones, carved with writing like the

English of over three hundred years ago, were discovered. Both stones were found many miles inland from Roanoke Island. Some scientists agreed that the writing was that of Eleanor Dare, John White’s daughter. One stone had the words, “Father we go SW.” “SW” means southwest and a line drawn southwest from Roanoke Island through the place where the stone was found leads to Robeson County, North Carolina, the home of the Lumbee Indians for over two hundred years.

Some people think that these stones were carved recently by someone playing a trick. Whether or not the stones are evidence, many people now believe the Lumbees’ story.

One leading history writer, Samuel Eliot Morison, wrote in 1971 that he believed that the Lumbee Indians are descended from the people of the Lost Colony. He considered the facts. Some Lumbees have blue eyes and blond hair and use English words from Raleigh’s time. They strongly believe that they are descended from the Lost Colony, and nearly half of the colonists’ names endure among the Lumbees.

Considering these facts, there can be little doubt today that the Lost Colony has been found.

18

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Croat an, The Lost ColonyPreview answer:

a. a group of people disappeared from Roanoke Island.


Idea starter: Why do history writers sometimes disagree about events in the past?


19

COMPREHENSION CHECK

Choose the best answer.6. Another name for the Lumbees was

------ a. Roanokes.____ b. Croatans.____ c. North Carolinians.____ d. Americans.7. English writing o f three hundred years ago was probably____ a. exactly the same as English writing of today.____ b. completely different from English writing of

today.____ c. the same as Indian writing of today._____d. a little different from English writing of

today.8 ) Many years ago, children probably were taught that

the Roanoke Island colonists____ a. returned to England._____b. joined the Lumbee Indians.____ c. starved or were killed by Indians._____d. died o f old age.

9 . Another name for the story could be____ a. “ New Facts about the Roanoke Colonists.”____ b. “No Trace Was Ever Found.”____ c. “Shy Indians of Virginia.”____ d . “The Voyages o f Captain W hite.”

10. This story is mainly about____ .a. the fate of the Roanoke colonists.____ b. the hardships endured by the colonists._____c. the war between England and Spain.____ d. the life o f the Lumbee Indians.

1. Three hundred years ago, the colonists on Roanoke Island_____a. starved._____b. were killed._____c. disappeared._____d. grew wild plants.

2. Governor John White returned to England for____ a. his daughter and her child.____ b. food and supplies.____ c. 117 additional colonists.____ d. letters and messages.

3. The only message found on Roanoke Island was____ a. a letter nailed to a tree._____b. a smoke signal sent by a Lumbee Indian._____c. the word “Virginia” carved on a tree._____d. the word “Croatoan” carved on a tree.

4. For many years,most people believed that the Lost Colony____ a. had moved westward into the wilderness.____ b. had changed its name to “ Croatoan.”____ c. had changed its name to “Jamestown.”_____d. had been completely destroyed.

5. Most o f the people who believe that the colonists lived are____ a. the Lumbee Indians.____ b. the Jamestown colonists.____ c. the English sailors.____ d. Croatan scouts.

Croatan, the Lost ColonyF-4

VOCABULARY CHECK

arrival defense endure fate slain vicinity

/. Fill in the blank in each sentence with the correct key word from the box above.

1. Our thin jackets gave little________________________against the freezing winds.

2. I waited at the airport over two hours for the plane’s________________________3. My water supply is gone. My thirst is almost too much to------------------------------------4. The goats had to be________________________ because their disease couldn’t be cured.5. There are many seagulls in the------------------------------------of the ocean.6. I don’t know what happened to Ann and I wonder about her ---------------------------------------------II. Choose the answer with the same meaning as the underlined key word. Place an X next to

the correct answer.1. We were glad to see Captain White. We welcomed him on his arrival.

____a. coming ____ c. sailing____b. going ____ d. disappearing

2. With so few fighters, we have little defense against attacks.___ a. trouble ____c. fate___ b. protection ____d. hardship

3. Let’s try to endure this cold weather. Spring will be here soon.____a. indicate ____ c. destroy___ b. return ____ d. put up with

4. For many years after our dog was lost, we wondered about his fate.___ a. final wish ____ c. final result____b. final hardship ____ d. final defense

5. Thousands of people were slain during the war.____a. endured ____c. surrounded____b. wounded ____ d. killed

6. Drive slowly and carefully. Many children live in this vicinity.____a. colony ____c. frontier____b. neighborhood ____ d. wilderness



20

Six Secrets of Changing BehaviorF-S

Now read the story.Read to find out how people can change their habits.

21

Learn the Key Words

accomplish

diary

diet

employ

painful

snack

(a kom' plish)

(dl‘ ar e)

(dl' at)

(em ploi')

(pan' fal)

(snak)

to complete a job; to do something successfully I t is hard to accomplish all you want to in a day.

a record of daily events M ark keeps a diary o f how much time he spends watching television.

the food and drink a person eatsYou should make sure that your diet includes fruits and vegetables.

to useAlways employ a dictionary when you’re not sure o f a word's meaning.

something that hurts; hurtingSliding on your bottom is a painful way to go down a hill.

food eaten between mealsI always have a snack o f crackers and milk before bedtime.

Preview:1. Read the title.2. Look at the picture.3. Read the first paragraph of the story.4. Read the underlined sentences of the story.5. Then answer the following question.

You learned from your preview that__ a. Bud, Joyce, and Jack are friends.___b. Bud, Joyce, and Jack have different problems.___c. Bud, Joyce, and Jack share a problem.__ d. Bud, Joyce, and Jack have bad manners.



Bud, Joyce, and Jack can find ways to make their lives more satisfying.

Bud’s last checkup at the dentist’s office was terrible. Though the dentist warned him that his diet probably includes too many sweets, Bud has a sweet tooth. He nearly always has a candy bar after lunch or a rich snack after school. When he goes back for his next checkup, Bud knows he won’t hear good news.

Joyce wants to save money for a new bike, but each time she has a few dollars she winds up buying something she doesn’t really need, like a new T-shirt or a record. It has been six months since she started saving. Her old bike is a wreck, and she has saved just one dollar and four cents.

Jack’s worry is time. There

doesn’t seem to be enough of it in the day for him to do what he wants and what he should. So Jack plays baseball with his friends all afternoon when he knows he must be home for practice on the trumpet. He watches TV until it’s too late to start his homework.

Bud, Joyce, and Jack have the same problem: they need to change their behavior. But changing behavior is painful. In fact, if you’ve tried it, you might think it’s nearly impossible to accomplish any such change. But there are valuable tricks you can employ when you’re trying to improve your habits. Here are six little secrets of changing behavior.

1. Reward yourself when

your behavior is good. Think of something you really want and promise yourself that you’ll reward yourself the next time you do “the right thing.” Bud, for example, could go all day with no sweet snacks. As a reward, he might ask for an extra helping of dessert at supper (and brush his teeth right afterward, of course.)!

2. Record all the behavior that has to do with your problem, as it happens. This means carrying a kind of “behavior diary” with you everywhere you go. It doesn’t have to be fancy; a notebook will do. The result of keeping such a diary is that you will be reminded every time your behavior is not what you wish

it were. After a few days of writing in your diary, if you are like most people, you will find your behavior improving as if by magic.

Joyce might do well to keep such a diary. She will be surprised to see how much money she spends on things she doesn’t need or want. And\ she will find herself saving' more and more money, just so she can fill her diary with a record of good rather than bad behavior.

3. Avoid situations that may lead to the unwanted behavior. Bud should stay away from places where he usually gets sweets. Joyce nearly always spends money when she goes shopping with her sister. Maybe she should stay at home instead. As for Jack, he should sit down and start his homework right after supper. Then he won’t get caught up in a TV show.

Think about where you are and what you are doing when the unwanted behavior happens. You may be able to avoidsuch situations---- and thebehavior that always results.

4. Get others to help you change your behavior. Explain your problem to your family

and friends and ask for their help and advice. You will be surprised at how much you can accomplish when others are on your side. Jack may find that his friends are willing to quit playing baseball an hour or so earlier. After all, they have things they have to do, too. Bud’s friend Tommy always has a supply of cookies for after-school snacks. Tommy might be willing to forget about cookies and switch to carrots or pickles.

5. Divide the problem into parts that are smaller and, therefore, easier to deal with. For example, Joyce might make up her mind to save fifty cents of every dollar she gets or earns. That way, although she’s still spending money on things she doesn’t really need, she’s also saving something toward her bicycle.

People who change their diets to lose or gain weight can also use this secret. It is much more painful to think of a weight loss or gain of twenty pounds than it is to think of a change of five pounds. But, in several steps of five pounds at a time, that twenty-pound goal can be reachedl

6. Pretend that you have

solved your behavior problem. Write a long, glowing letter to yourself, telling how good your behavior is. Don’t be modest. Describe yourself as you really wish you were and think you could be. Jack, for example, could write how carefully he plans his time so he gets everything done that he has to do and still has time leftover for sports. Joyce could write how easy it has always been for her to save money and how she almost never spends money on things she doesn’t really need. Bud could write about his well- balanced diet that hardly ever includes a sweet snack. He could throw in a few friendly compliments from his dentist for good measure.

Take this letter out and read it several times a day. After a while, you will begin to believe what you wrote in the letter and your behavior will improve. As silly as this may sound to you, it actually works!

Now, which little secret will help you change your behavior? If you think about it, you will probably discover that you can employ one or more of these secrets with success.

F-6

23

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COMPREHENSION CHECK

Preview answer:

c . B u d , J o y c e , a n d J a c k s h a r e a p r o b l e m .



Idea starter: W h i c h “ s e c r e t ” c o u l d b e m o s t h e l p f u l t o y o u ? W h y ?


24

1. Bud has a problem with ___ a. his teeth.___ b. his dentist.___ c. his lunch.___ d. his school.

2. Joyce wants to save___ a. old bikes.___ b. money.___ c. one dollar and four cents.___ d. records.

3. Jack must learn___ a. to do his homework.___ b. to play baseball.___ c. to play the trumpet.----- d. to use his time wisely.

4. All three people in the story need to change ___ a. their names.----- b. their behavior.----- c. their clothes.___ d. their secrets.

5. You should reward yourself___ a. when you spend money.----- b. when your behavior is good.___ c. when you get a fancy notebook.___ d. when you go to the dentist.

6 ) Joyce might try to save____ a. fifty cents every week.____ b. all o f her money.____ c. half o f her money.____ d. fifteen cents out o f every dollar.

7 Many people probably want to change____ a. all o f their behavior.____ b. none o f their behavior.____ c. some o f their behavior._____d. all o f their problems.

8. W hen you divide a big problem into smaller parts,____ a. the problem goes away.____ b. the problem lasts longer.____ c. the problem can be painful.-------d. the problem is easier to deal with.

9 . Another name for this story could be____ a. “A Better You.”____ b. “ Healthier Teeth.”-------c. “ How to Save Money.”____ d. “ Spending Time W isely.”

10. This story is mainly about____ a. keeping secrets.-------b. losing weight._____c. three unhappy friends.____ d. self-improvement.


VOCABULARY CHECK

accomplish diary diet employ painful snack



25


1. I’m not hungry enough for supper, but I would like a little________________________2. Let’s________________________ this job before we listen to records.3. I write my secret thoughts in my________________________every day.4. We will have to________________________a bigger saw for cutting this log.5. It was________________________for Ted to hear that his dog had died.6. I can’t have eggs in my________________________ I get sick when I eat them.II. Choose the best word or words from the box below to complete each sentence. Put the correct letter in the blank.1. A diary is a ________________________2. When you accomplish a job, you_______________________ it.

3. Your diet is the------------------------------------you eat.

4. When you employ a tool, you------------------------------------it.

5. A snack is a------------------------------------6. Things that are painful, --------------------------------- you.

a. finishb. food and drink

c. use

d. small meal

e. hurt

f. daily record

Hidden MessagesF-6

Learn the Key Words

backward

naval

photograph

recent

substitute

throughout

(bak' ward)

(na' val)

(fô* ta graf)

(rS' snt)

(sub' sta tüt, sub' sta tyiit)

(thrii out’)

Preview:

1. Read the title.2. Look at the picture.3. Read the first two paragraphs of the story.4. Read the underlined sentences in the story.5. Then answer the following question.

You learned from your preview that____ a. secret writing is used only by spies.____ b. secret writing has changed world events.____ c. secret writing can always be understood.____ d. secret writing can never be understood.Turn to the Comprehension Check on page 29 for the right answer.

Now read the story.Read to learn about different ways of sending hidden messages.

26

with the back firstThe message was written backward so it could not be easily read.

having to do with the navy or warships A n important naval battle was won because o f a broken code.

1. a picture taken with a cameraThe spy took a photograph o f the letter.

2. to take a picture with a cameranot long ago; modern

New code machines have been introduced in recent years.

1. to put something in the place of something else This machine will substitute one letter fo r another.

2. a person or thing used in place of anotherall the way through; in every part

The enemy sent messages in code throughout the war.

Hidden MessagesF-6

A place you will read about:Midway (mid' tva)

an island in the Pacific Ocean

Something you will read about:cipher (s? far)

secret writing

That photograph may be pasted over the dot o f an “i. ”

Kings and queens have died because of secret writing. Throughout history, battles have been lost and won, and governments have fallen because of “secret” messages that were not so secret.

Secret writing has been around for a long time. It can be as easy to read as a sentence written backward. Or it can be so difficult,that no enemy can ever figure it out.

Once,two English noblemen plotted to drive a king from his throne. They sailed their ships to a seaport from which they intended to set out to capture the king. But they found the king’s soldiers waiting, and the

noblemen were seized and put to death.

How did the king learn of the plot? The noblemen had written some letters in secret writing. These fell into the hands of the king’s agents, who figured out the messages. The king acted quickly, and the two plotters lost their heads.

Secret writing still plays an important part in world events. The most important battles in a war are often the battles of wits between two teams of experts, each trying to keep the other from understanding important messages.

In recent times, all govern

ments, many business firms, some people who lead lives of crime, and, of course, spies have used secret messages. Many ways are used to get jealously guarded secrets past curious eyes. If someone has no other choice, one of the simple methods may be used, such as writing the message on paper in milk or fruit juice, letting it dry, then writing an ordinary letter over it. The receiver holds the letter near heat, which shows up the secret message.

Today, spies may make a photograph of a page of material, then make the photograph as small as the

27

F-6

period at the end of a sentence. Then they can substitute it for a period in an ordinary letter.

To slip secret messages past enemy eyes, spies hide them in shoes, hollow canes, lipsticks, pencils, and even in false teeth!

Radio plays an important part in sending secret messages, which are different from the way things sound. A radio program may carry a message such as, “Happy birthday, Marie, from John,” or “This song is for the gang at Johnson’s.” During a war, a government may not allow such messages to be put on the air. Why? Because they could tell when a ship is sailing or where troops are going.

The easiest way to send a message probably is to write it backward. Let us say, “Alice will be home Wednesday.” Backward it will read, YAD- SENDEW EMOH EB LLIW ECILA. No government would use such an easy method.

The most common way to keep information secret is to use a code, which is a group of letters or numbers that stand for a word or even a sentence. It will mean something to the person for whom it is intended, but not to anyone else. Both the sender and the receiver have to have a list of what the groups of letters or words mean. For example, EYACS might mean, “The ship sails at

midnight.” The secret list can make a thick book, and on land such books are kept in a safe place. On ships, the naval code books are bound in heavy metal so that if the ship sinks, the code books will not float to the surface.

Code books take up a lot of space, and if they are stolen, the whole system must be changed. So another form of secret writing is often used. It is called cipher, and there are two main kinds. In one, a letter or number is substituted for another, perhaps the fourth or fifth letter before it in the alphabet. So the word “attack” might look like this: FYYFHP. Can you figure it out, using the fifth letter of the alphabet before each letter in the message?

The other kind of cipher mixes up the letters in a message, so that “attack” might look like this: TKAATC. Try this message: “Meet friends at the club.” It might look like this: ETEM SREFDIN TA HET BLUC. You can even mix up all the letters. Or, to make it harder, the way many writers of secret messages do, put the letters in groups of five: ETEMS REFDI NTAHE TBLUC.

That is the general idea, but governments use far more difficult ciphers.

Throughout recent wars, code machines have come into

use and most are top secret. What they usually do is to put a message into code and send it out. The receiver has a machine that turns the code message back into plain language.

Breaking a code or cipher takes patience and the ability to concentrate. Some people seem to have a special talent for this kind of work. Sometimes a message can be solved quickly. More often, long hours of work are required before a clue to the message is uncovered. The person who sends the message must also be clever. The sender cannot make mistakes and must never, never send the same message in two different codes. There is always a chance that the enemy has already broken one of them.

Breaking codes was very useful during World War II. Once, the Japanese planned to attack the important Pacific island of Midway. To fool the Americans, they sent their ships far to the north and to the south. They did not know that the Americans had broken their most important naval code and could read the messages sent out by radio. When the Japanese came near Midway, they found the American fleet waiting. There was a great naval battle, and the Japanese lost. Thus, a broken code turned the tide of the war.

28

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Hidden Messages Preview answer:b. secret writing has changed world events.

COMPREHENSION CHECK


29

Choose the best answer.1. Secret writing has been around ___ a. for a few years.

___ b. for a very long time.___ c. for about twenty years.___ d. only in recent times.

2. Two English noblemen___ a. did not want the king to rule.___ b. wanted to drive the king to a ship.____c. helped the king.___ d. found the king’s soldiers.

3. Some secret messages are written ___ a. in Chinese.___ b. in the air.___ c. in fruit juice.___ d. in code books.

4. Secret messages that are written in milk show up when they are___ a. sent by radio. ___ b. allowed to dry.

___ c. hidden in false teeth.___ d. held near heat.

5. The sender must never send the same message___ a. in two broken codes.___ b. with two different spies.___ c. in two different codes.___ d. at different times.

6. A cipher is a form of secret writing___ a. for which a code book is always used.___ b. for which a code book is not needed.___ c. in which every letter is backward.____d. in which numbers are always used.

( 7 ) Taking a photograph of a page of material would probably be the best way to secretly pass------a. the names of forty business firms.___ b. the name of a street.____c. the names of two spies.___ d. the name of a foreign ship.

( 8 ) The danger in sending the same message in two different codes might be that----- a. two people would receive the same message.___ b. the receiver would remember the messagetwice as long.___ c. it would take twice as long to break eachcode.____d. one code could be useful in breaking the other.

9 . Another name for this story could be___ a. “Secret Codes and Writing.”___ b. “The Missing Code Book.”___ c. “How Governments Use Spies.”___ d. “Clever Naval Messages.”

10. This story is mainly about___ a. the importance of secret messages.___ b. kinds of ciphers.___ c. how governments use secret writing.___ d. backward writing.


idea starter: Write a sentence of five to seven words in cipher, and ask someone to solve it.

Hidden MessagesF-6

VOCABULARY CHECK

Thii page may be reproduced for classroom use.

30

backward naval photograph recent substitute throughout

I. Fill in the blanks in each sentence with key words from the box. Each key word is to be used twice.

1. We took a_______________________ of my sister in her new________________________uniform.2. Many pages_______________________ the book were arranged________________________ by

mistake.3. Here is the most_______________________ _______________________ of the baby.4. I will_______________________ this new door for the one I put on________________ .5. Mother will________________________canned vegetables for fresh ones__________________

the winter.6. Our country has not had any------------------------------------ battles in----------------------------------

years.

II. Unscramble the groups of letters so that they correctly spell out key words. Match the key words in Column A with the definitions in Column B.Column A Column B

1. hortugthou 1 .______________________ ___a. with the back first2. hoppragtoh 2_____ _________________ __ b. of or for warships or the navy

3. butiuttess 3 .____________ __________ __ c. a picture taken by a camera4. netcer 4_______________________ d. to put one thing in the place of another

5. cadkwbar 5_______________________ e. all the way through

6. vanal 6_______________________ f. not long ago


F-7

Now read the story.Read to find out how Tony reached safety.

31

Escape to Freedom

Learn the Key Words

blouse

determination

fled

raft

swollen

thirst

(blous)

(di ter ma nS' shan)

(fled)

(raft)

(swo' lan)

(therst)

a shirt worn by girls and women Each girl in the chorus had to wear a white blouse and black skirt.

1. a strong, sure feeling; will powerBecause o f his determination, the crippled boy learned to walk again.

2. a decisionran away from something

The hunters fled when the elephants began to stampede.

a flat boat usually made of logs or boards tied together

Burt used a long pole to push his raft across the stream.

large and rounded in size; to be puffed upLee’s sprained ankle was swollen and he couldn't wear his shoe.

1. a dry, painful feeling caused by the need for water A stop at an oasis will satisfy the thirst o f a desert traveler.

2. a great desire for something

Preview:

1. Read the title.2. Look at the picture.3. Read the first paragraph of the story.4. Then answer the following question.

You learned from your preview that___a. Tony has been on a raft for seven days.___b. Tony wanted to get away from Cuba.___c. Tony wanted to get back to Cuba.___d. Tony was not moving because there was no wind.


Escape to FreedomF-7

A place you will read about:Cuba (kyii* bs)

a country in the West Indies, south of Florida

Someone you will read about:Fidel Caatro (fe del' kas* tr5)

the head of the Cuban government since 1959

Something you will read about:tanker (tang* ksr)

a cargo ship fitted to carry liquids, such as oil

A small raft was the Silvio’s home fo r twelve days.

Tony sat near the edge of the tiny homemade raft, clinging to its sides. A brisk north wind was stirring up the waves. Papa feared that wind the most, for it was pushing the raft back towards Cuba. And Cuba was the island from which they fled five days ago.

The Silvio Family — Papa, Mama, Tony, and Baby Florita—was not the only family trying to escape from Cuba since the new government had taken charge. Most Cubans had hoped that their new leader, Fidel Castro, would bring freedom to the island. Instead, the people found

themselves ruled more severely than before. Castro refused to permit anyone to leave the island, so thousands of Cuban families fled secretly and sought freedom in the United States.

Papa hadn’t been able to buy or build a regular boat for his family. He couldn’t afford it. Instead, he had constructed a six foot by nine foot raft by tying together six old tubes from truck tires. Mama had sewn large pieces of canvas over them, and Tony had carved several paddles from flat pieces of wood.

The distance from Cuba to

Key West at the southern tip of Florida was only ninety miles, no more than a four- or five-day trip by boat. Even though Papa had no maps, he did have a small compass. And even though Papa had never been to sea before, he was a man of courage and determination.

Tony shared that courage and determination. At twelve, he wasn’t a child anymore; he was Papa’s first officer on board. Tony recognized the terrifying dangers facing them. They might be captured and returned to Cuba as prisoners. That would be the worst thing.

32

Or they might die at sea. If so, at least they would die together as a family. But it was also possible that they would reach freedom. And Tony was confident that they would.

But after five days at sea, that confidence was disappearing. Their food and water were almost gone. They had been paddling north, but the wind had blown them back so far south, they could see the mountain tops of Cuba again. Papa’s and Tony’s hand*: were badly swollen and painfully blistered from paddling. Their bodies were covered with sores from the sun, the salt water, and from rubbing against the canvas. But their courage and determination kept them paddling night and day.

Papa and Tony were desperately worried about Mama’s condition. Her eyes were red and swollen, and her lips were dry and cracked from the blazing tropical sun. Still, she cradled Baby Florita in her arms, trying to comfort her. But the frantic year-old baby screamed with thirst and clawed at Mama until her blouse was in tatters and her body was covered with bloody scratches.

By the ninth day, Papa and Tony were so weakened from hunger and thirst that they could hardly paddle. Mama and Florita lay on the raft half conscious, gazing into space.

Airplanes flew overhead. Papa tried to signal them, but the batteries in his flashlight

had been spoiled by the salt water. Tony tried waving his paddle with Mama’s blouse tied to it to attract their attention, but it was no use. The airplanes disappeared into the distance.

By the eleventh day, four motionless bodies lay on the raft with their eyes scarcely open. Death seemed near. As Papa blinked, he spied rain clouds blowing towards them. He raised himself on one elbow and gasped, “Get ready! Get bags and catch as much water as you can. Then turn your face up and open your mouth.” And for ten minutes, everyone did. No one spoke. Everyone was busy tasting the delicious, sweet, fresh water.

Papa’s strength seemed to return, and he whispered encouragingly, “The rain is a good sign, my little ones, for it means we are nearing the end of our terrible trip.” Tony nodded silently, but deep down he wished he could be as certain as Papa.

That evening, a furious wind began to blow. Papa warned everyone, “Stay awake, sit up straight, and hold on tight!” The little raft twisted and tossed for hours, lifting and falling on the waves before the seas finally calmed and the skies finally cleared about 4:00 a.m.

Suddenly, Tony spotted some moving lights in the distance. “ Look, Papa,” he shouted, “it’s a boat.”

“We’re going to be saved,”

F-7cried Papa, “but we must keep paddling so they’ll see us when it gets light.”

As dawn approached, the dark gray shape of a giant tanker appeared, flying an American flag from its mast. Papa and Tony struggled to their feet and tore off their shirts, waving them to attract attention. The tanker changed direction and began moving slowly towards the raft.

Bells sounded and red lights flashed as the tanker came to a halt. Forgetting their exhaustion, Papa and Tony paddled harder than ever towards the ship. When they were about fifty feet away, a voice shouted down, “Who are you?”

“We are Cubans,” answered Papa. “We have escaped from our island, and we have been at sea for twelve days.”

The sailors dropped a rope from the tanker’s deck. Papa grabbed it and pulled the raft alongside the ship. Then a ladder was lowered.

Mama was scarcely conscious, but Papa lifted her carefully and helped her up the ladder. Next, he tucked Baby Florita under one arm and started up.

Alone on the raft, Tony took one last look at the six tire tubes covered with canvas. Those tubes had brought them to safety. “We made it,” he murmured as he started his climb up the ladder to freedom.

33

F-7

Escape to Freedom Preview answer:

b. Tony wanted to get away from Cuba.

COMPREHENSION CHECK



Idea starter: What do you think happened to Tony when he reached the United States?

This page may be reproduced for claisroom use.

34

1. The Silvio family hoped to escape from ___ a. Key West.___ Jj. Cuba.____c. the United States.___ d. Florida.

2. Cubans were leaving their island to find ___ a. good jobs.___ b. a new leader.___ c. freedom.___ d. better weather.

(3 ) Old truck tires were used for the raft because ,___ a. they cost little money.____b. they made little noise.___ c. they were stronger than anything else.___ d. they could not be seen at night.

4. Papa’s and Tony’s hands were swollen and blistered from i ____a. the sim.___ b. paddling.___ c. the salt water.___ d. rubbing against the canvas.

5. The Silvio family knew they were being blown back towards Cuba___ a. when they saw mountain tops.___ b. when they felt the south wind.___ c. when their food and water were gone.___ d. when they saw the blazing sun.

6. Tony and Papa paddled____a. only at night.___ b. only during the day.____c. every few days.____d. day and night.

7. The family was at sea___ a. less than a week.____b. more than a month.____c. a little less than two weeks.____d. a little less than a month.

(8 ) The Silvio Family probably valued freedom a. as much as comfort.

___ b. enough to risk their own lives.____c. more than anyone in Cuba.____d. the same as loyalty to Cuba.9. Another name for this story could be____a. “A Raft at Sea.”____b. “A New Cuban Leader.”____c. “One Family’s Courage.”____d. “Rescue at Sea.”

10. This story is mainly about____a. the courage of a family that decides to leave

Cuba.____b. the difficulty of traveling on a raft.____c. the new Cuban government.___ d. a young boy’s confidence.

Escape to FreedomF-7

VOCABULARY CHECK



35

blouse determination fled raft swollen thirst !

/. Choose the two correct key words from the box to complete each of the following sentences. Each key word is to be used twice.

1. There was no water on our floating_______________________ to satisfy our•

2. My sister’s_______________________ to finish that lovely________________________ byherself, could be seen as she sewed.

3. A girl wearing a red______________________ , _______________________ from the store.4. Our fingers became_______________________ from tying the logs of our

________________________together.5. Our________________________to cross the desert helped us forget our great

6. People_______________________ from the strange animal with the_____________________face.

II. Are the following statements true or false? Place an X next to each correct answer.

1. A person with determination feels shy and unsure._____ True ______False

2. A blouse is a kind of shirt._____True _____ False

3. A raft is very expensive to build._____ True _____ False

4. A swollen finger would look larger and rounder than a normal finger._____ True _____ False

5. Thirst is caused by the need for food._____ True _____ False

6. An army that fled would probably have lost a battle._____ True _____ False

Now read the story.Read to find out about the danger and excitement of a whitewater derby.

36


F-8

Learn the Key Words

combination

depth

manual

previous

rapids

recreation

(kom ba na' shan)

(depth)

(man' yii al)

(prè' ve as)

(rap' idz)

(rek rè a' shan)

two or more things joined togetherThe whitewater derby is a combination o f thrills and spills.

a measurement between the surface and the bottom; deepness The depth o f the water is four feet.

a type of book that describes how to do something“Basic Canoeing” is a manual published by the American Red Cross.

coming before in time or order The previous race resulted in a tie.

a section of the river where the water flows very fast A t this time o f year, the rapids are very dangerous.

a means of pleasure or relaxation One form o f outdoor recreation is canoeing.


You learned from your preview that___a. the whitewater derby takes place in spring.___b. the whitewater derby takes place in New Jersey.___c. the whitewater derby is held on a Friday afternoon.__ d. the whitewater derby is a race for canoes and rafts.

Turn to the Comprehension Check on page 39 fo r the right answer.


F-8

Things you will read about:derby (der' be)

an im portant raceGiant Slalom (jl' ant sla' Ism)

in canoeing, a race for expert paddlers along a zigzag course between upright poles

Novice Slalom (nov' is sla' lam)in canoeing, a race for beginning paddlers along a zigzag course between upright poles

whltewater (hwit' w6 tar)water tha t is churned and foamy

Courage and skill ride with this canoeist.

Every spring, hundreds of people flock to the little town of North Creek in upstate New York. They line the road and jam the sidewalks that face the Hudson River. This village is located in a valley in the Adirondack Mountains. The crowds come here to watch and to take part in the Hudson River Whitewater Derby.

The visitors begin to arrive late Friday afternoon. They bring with them many types of canoes. There are brightly colored kayaks that are designed to fit snugly about the paddler’s waist, open canoes of

aluminum and fiberglass, and closed canoes with specially built decks. There are even some inflated rubber rafts to use for recreation, but not for the derby. By nightfall, every parking space is taken. The slopes of a nearby ski center are dotted with the bonfires of campers who have pitched tents for the night.

At dawn, the ground is damp and chilly from the previous night. The sleepy campers shuffle down the muddy ski slopes to the lodge for a breakfast of pancakes and sausages. Those who plan

to enter the races must leave the recreation area early and take their canoes to the starting point. Road signs to direct the traffic, and colored gates to mark the river course, were posted on the previous day. The stores along the river road do a brisk business selling derby programs, the whitewater canoeing manual, snacks, and souvenir T-shirts. As word spreads that the race is about to begin, shoppers hurriedly complete their purchases, including the last manual on how to build your own kayak. They climb over

F-8the rocky shoulder of the road to the river’s edge.

The river conditions today are perfect for the whitewater derby. The depth of the water is much greater than usual from the spring runoff of melted snow. Long stretches of rapids are broken by large rocks and waves up to three feet high. Rushing through a spray of chilling water, dodging rocks that could easily crush the lightweight canoes, crashing across a series of foaming waves — this is the sport known as whitewater canoeing. Getting through this dangerous passage requires a canoeist with a combination of skill and courage.

The first event is the Novice Slalom. Color-coded poles, called gates, are hung over the rivet on cables. The canoes must pass between them. Each color shows the canoeist the manner and direction in which to go. In the Novice Slalom, which is intended for the beginning paddler, there are twelve gates over a three- quarters of a mile course. Points are added or subtracted according to the paddler’s racing time and whether he or she passes through the gates as directed. The canoeist who uses the least time and earns the most points will be the winner.

The canoeists run the course one at a time and prizes are awarded for various classes of craft and paddlers. The three main classes are for kayaks, open canoes, and covered

canoes. The classes are further divided according to the paddlers—a man or woman alone, two men, two women, one man and one woman, or team combinations of any two members of a family if one is less than fifteen years of age.

One by one, the less experienced paddlers run the river course. Passing through the first gate, they slide sideways to the opposite shore. They pass through the second gate and then return to the other side. Back and forth, forward and backward, fighting the current, avoiding rocks, they continue the length of the river course. Sometimes a canoe strikes a gate and loses one point. Or a canoe goes only part of the way through a gate and loses two points. A few miss the gate completely. Others are unable to travel backward against the current. One canoe hits a rock that scrapes its bottom badly. Another tips over in water to the depth of the paddler’s chest and is swept downstream where men with lines wait to catch the runaway canoe. Very few of the paddlers complete the course without losing points.• After a break for lunch, the Giant Slalom takes place. This river course follows the gates of the Novice Slalom and continues through an additional eight gates over much more difficult sets of rapids. The Giant Slalom is intended for the expert paddler and offers some stretches of heavy

rapids that can be run only by covered canoes and kayaks. Crowds gather at the points where the passage is narrow, the waves high, and the course blocked by huge boulders as the canoes buck and spin past the gates. Many of the paddlers are flipped into the icy water on the turns or run aground before crossing the finish line.

The Downriver Race on the next day is a popular event that draws large numbers of paddlers. Unlike the slalom races, the Downriver Race has no gates or point scores. The course is set only by the natural borders of the river- banks. The race is started by the clock. The winner is the one who completes the seven and one-half miles course in the shortest time. The first stretches of the river are not too difficult. But the last set of rapids is almost impossible to run and presents a real test of the canoeist’s skill. Extremely cold water temperatures cause additional problems for those who spill. At the end of the race, it is a wet, tired, but happy canoeist who finally crosses the finish line.

The Hudson River Whitewater Derby is over for another year. The fans and canoeists pack up their camping gear and battered canoes, say farewell to their newfound friends, and head for home while making plans for their return the following spring.

38


Idea starter: W h a t a r e s o m e a b i l i t i e s t h a t a w h i t e w a t e r c a n o e i s t n e e d s ?

This page may be reproduced for classroom use. 39

The Hudson River Whitewater Derby Preview answer:

a. the whitewater derby takes place in spring.

F-8

COMPREHENSION CHECK

Choose the best answer.1. The Hudson River Whitewater Derby is a name for

_____a. rocky shoulders at the river’s edge.____ b. canoe races._____c. muddy ski slopes.____ d. sidewalks that face the Hudson River.

2. The whitewater derby is held a. every spring._____b. every Friday afternoon.------- c. at nightfall._____d. when the river conditions are perfect.

3. The first event is the_____a. Kayak Race._____b. Giant Slalom._____c. Downriver Race._____d. Novice Slalom.

4. The town o f North Creek is located____ a. on the top of a mountain._____b. in the Whitewater Valley._____ c. in a valley in the Adirondacks._____d. on a large rock in the Hudson River.

( 5 ) The derby lasts for_____ a. one week._____b. one weekend._____c. one month._____d. one day.

6. The inflated rubber rafts are used___ a. for recreation.___ b. for the derby.___ c. for dodging rocks.----- d. for getting through dangerous passages.

7 ) The Giant Slalom follows a set of____a. eight gates.------b. twelve gates.------c. twenty gates.___ d. less than eight gates.

8. The winner of the Downriver Race is the one who____a. completes the course in the shortest time.____b. gets through the most gates.------c. scores the highest number of points.___ d. can stand the extremely cold watertemperatures.

9 . Another name for this story could be___ a. “Fighting the Impossible Rapids.”____b. “Canoeing at North Creek, New York.”------c. “Recreation on the River.”____d. “North Creek’s Canoe Racing Weekend.”

10. This story is mainly about___ a. canoe racing on the Hudson River.------b. the dangers of whitewater raft racing.____c. the sport of canoeing.___ d. the skill and courage of canoeists.

The Hudson River Whitewater DerbyF-8


40 This page may be reproduced for classroom use.

VOCABULARY CHECK

combination depth manual previous rapids recreation


1. Playing tennis is a form of_______________________ for me.2. Our little boat rocked as it passed through the river’s________________________.3. Read the driver’s________________________ to learn how to start the new car.4. Our________________________house had fewer windows than our present house.5. My sandwich is a________________________of bread and cheese.6. We dropped a wire to the bottom of the lake to measure its________________________

//. Are the following statements true or false? Place an X next to each correct answer.

1. Work that you must do each day is recreation._____ True ______ False

2. A canoeist needs skill when paddling through the rapids of a river._____ True ______ False

3. Two or more things joined together can be called a combination._____ _ True _____ False

4. A book of short stories is called a manual._____ True ______ False

5. A race that will be held tomorrow is the previous race.______ True ______ False

6. The depth of a lake is the distance from one side to the other..... True -------- False

F-9Elias Howe and the Sewing Machine

Learn the Key Words

income

industry

mechanical

register

similar

wealthy

(in' kum)

(in' da stre)

(ma kan' a kal)

(rej' a star)

(sim' a lar)

(wel' the)

money received from property or work Mr. Howard’s income is $10,000 a year.

a company or companies producing goods for sale The automobile industry provides many jobs.

having to do with machines or machinery Americans are famous for mechanical inventions.

to enter as an official record Don’t forget to tell him to register to vote.

alike, but not exactly the sameWoolly mammoths were similar to elephants.

having much money; rich Some wealthy people gave a library to our town.

Preview:

1. Read the title.2. Look at the picture.3. Read the first paragraph of the story.4. Then answer the following question.

You learned from your preview that___a. Elias Howe was an orphan.___b. Elias Howe liked to sew.___c. Elias Howe had great strength.___d. Elias Howe needed to rest often.


Now read the storyRead to find out about an invention that changed millions of lives.

41

F-9

Elias Howe and the Sewing Machine

Elias Howe invented a wonderful machine, and clothes no longer had to be made by hand.Elias Howe was born lame.

When he was a boy in Spencer, Massachusetts, he tired very easily. Often he sat around the house, watching his mother work. She labored from daylight until after dark, and he felt bad that he couldn’t make her life easier. As she moved about, cooking and washing and sweeping and ironing, he could only sit in the corner and watch. At night,by the light of a small lamp on the kitchen table, she would sew clothing

for the entire family. Sewing seemed to be the hardest work she did. She bent her back over the cloth, holding it in the flickering light so that she could see the difficult and close work. Before she could complete a single garment, she had to run her needle and thread in and out of the cloth many times.

Although Elias tired quickly if he worked too long at a time, he had great mechanical ability. He liked to work with

small machines. When he did this kind of mechanical work, his hands were sure and clever. He began to get good jobs in the machine industry. At sixteen, he worked in a shop in Lowell, a city near Spencer. He worked for Ari Davis, who made machines for Harvard professors. Making many different kinds of machines was a good experience. One day in Mr. Davis’s shop, Elias heard a man remark, “If a man wants to get rich, he should

42

F-9invent a sewing machine for women.” The others laughed. Many men had tried, but no invention could seem to make a needle and thread to go through cloth as well as a woman could.

When Elias was still a young man, he fell in love and married. Soon he saw that his wife was doing the same difficult work with needle and thread that his mother had done. Seeing this made Elias even more determined to make housework easier.

Later, Elias Howe went to Boston to work for a man who made watches and fine instruments. Remembering the remark about a mechanical sewing machine, he kept thinking about how one might work. He watched his wife as she sewed. In his spare time he worked on his idea. When he was in his early twenties, he developed a machine that worked like a human arm. It operated in a way similar to the way a person’s arm and hand pushed a needle and thread through cloth. Elias Howe was happy that he had succeeded where so many other inventors had failed. Sadly, the machine was not good enough. It would not sew a long enough straight line. Besides, the thread kept breaking or snarling into a knot. People said that the sewing machine made an interesting show, but no one would buy it.

Elias’s work in the watch and instrument shop paid him very little money. He had only that small income. Yet he did not quit. From his father and a partner, he got some money to • work on a new machine. Within a year he had perfected a better sewing machine. This new machine made 250 stitches a minute, joining two threads so that they would stay in a straight line and hold long pieces of cloth together. Howe went immediately to register the invention so that no one could copy it. But nobody in the United States seemed to be interested in this remarkable invention.

William Thomas, an English manufacturer, asked Howe if he would come to England and work for him. Howe’s wife was not well, but they decided that they had no other choice. So Howe took his wife and three small children across the Atlantic Ocean to England. Thomas owned one of the biggest companies in the machine industry. Although he was a wealthy man, Howe received only a small income from him. After three years in England, Howe’s wife became so ill that they decided to return to America. He was forced to sell the English rights to his sewing machine to William Thomas for a small amount of money, just about enough to pay for his family’s passage back to America.

When Howe reached the

United States, he discovered that other men were imitating his designs and selling sewing machines similar to the one he had invented. His wife was dying and he had no money at all. He determined to fight for whatever money was due him. He took the men to court to get back his rights to the sewing machine. After several years, he won his case. The court declared that because he had registered the invention in his name, he was the one that owned the rights. The other men who had been selling sewing machines similar to his, had to pay him large sums of money.

Soon Elias Howe became wealthy. He was so rich that, during the Civil War, he paid great sums of money to raise and equip an entire regiment of soldiers. Although he could have been an officer if he had wanted to, he served as a private soldier in his own regiment.

After the war ended, he formed the Howe Machine Company in Bridgeport, Connecticut. His company was a great success. His invention of the sewing machine made the lives of millions of people easier and more pleasant. But there was one great sadness in Howe’s life. Both his mother and wife had died before they could benefit from his remarkable invention.

43

F-9

COMPREHENSION CHECK


Elias Howe and theSewing Machine

Preview answer:

d. Elias Howe needed to rest often.


Idea starter: What might your life be like if there were no sewing machines?


1. Elias Howe often sat and____ a. watched his mother work.____ b. felt sorry he was lame.____ c. held a flickering light.____ d. helped his mother sew.

2. When Elias was sixteen, he got a job a. selling machines.____ b. sewing clothes.____ c. making needles and thread.____ d. making machines.

3. Elias Howe thought that the hardest kind of housework was____ a. cooking.____ b. sewing.____ c. cleaning.____ d. ironing.

4. Elias Howe had great ____ a. mechanical ability.____ b. ability for doing hard work.____ c. sewing ability.____ d. ability for selling machines.

5. Elias Howe perfected a machine that____ a. made 250 stitches a minute.-------b. sewed a very short, straight line.____ c. snarled thread into a knot.____ d. everyone wanted to buy.

6. When Howe returned to the United States, he found-------a. he had to pay factory owners large sums of

money.-------b. little interest in sewing machines.____ c. other men were selling machines similar to

his.____ d. many factories in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

7 . A new invention should be____ a. registered immediately.------- b. tried in England.____ c. brought to a large factory._____d. sold for a large amount o f money.

( 8 ) The clothing industry probably grew larger_____a. as soon as the first sewing machine was

made.____ b. while Elias Howe was working on his sewing

machine idea._____c. before the invention o f the sewing machine.____ d. after the invention of the sewing machine.

9 . Another name for this story could be____ a. “A Trip to England.”-------b. “A Famous Inventor.”------- c. “ Registering Inventions.”------- d. “ Mechanical Ability.”

10. This story is mainly about____ a. bad luck._____b. stealing an idea.____ c. a great invention._____d. a lame boy.

Elias Howe and the Sewing Machine F-9

VOCABULARY CHECK

income industry mechanical register similar wealthy



45

/. Choose the two correct key words from the box to complete each o f the following sentences. Each key word is to be used twice.

1. A------------------------------------doll is------------------------------------to a robot.2. The workers had to________________________ to get jobs in the construction

3. My_______________________ uncle has a very high_________________________4. The growth of the clothing------------------------------------made Elias Howe a

_______________________ man.5. The inventor of the_______________________ toy decided to------------------------------------her

invention.6. The big house that is---------- -------------------------to a castle was purchased by someone with a

high------------------------------------II. Match each word in Column A to the word or phrase in Column B that is similar in meaning.

Column A Column B1. wealthy a. money from property or work2. mechanical b. having to do with machines3. register c. rich4. similar d. almost the same5. industry e. sign up6. income f. companies producing goods for sale

The Bermuda TriangleF-10

46Now read the story.Read to find out why the Bermuda Triangle became famous.

Learn the Key Words

aircraft

contact

location

numerous

unexpected

weird

(er' kraft, ar' kraft)

(kon* takt)

(Io ka’ shan)

(nii* mar as, nyü' mar as)

(un ek spek* tid)

(wird)

a machine or machines used for air travel; another namefor airplanes

Many types o f aircraft are used by the U.S. Air Force.a connection; to be in touch with

We depend a lot on telephone contact as we live too far apart for visiting.

a particular placeThe location o f the new bookstore is at the comer o f First Street.

many; a large number I have numerous happy memories o f my summer at camp.

sudden; not planned for Betty said that her surprise party was an unexpected pleasure.

very unusual, odd, or mysterious His weird stories usually frighten me.

Preview:

1. Read the title.2. Look at the picture.3. Read the first paragraph of the story.4. Read the underlined sentences of the story.5. Then answer the following question.

You learned from your preview that____ a. the Bermuda Triangle is near Atlantic City.____ b. the Bermuda Triangle is the scene of strange disappearances.____ c. the Bermuda Triangle vanished in 1750.____ d. the Bermuda Triangle became famous in 1945.Turn to the Comprehension Check on page 49 for the right answer.

The Bermuda Triangle F-10

Things you will read about:Bermuda Triangle (bar myii' da tri' ang gal)

an area in the Atlantic Ocean formed by an imaginary line drawn from Florida to Bermuda to Puerto Rico and back to Florida

longboat (lSng' b5t)the largest boat carried by a sailing vessel

This part o f the Atlantic Ocean has been the setting for many strange disappearances.

A mysterious part of the Atlantic Ocean is located off the east coast of the United States. This area is a threesided part of the ocean known as the Bermuda Triangle. What is weird about this place is that it has been the location of numerous strange disappearances.

Over one hundred ships and planes have vanished in this part of the world, according to records. The earliest known disappearance took place in 1609 when the Sea Venture, a ship bringing English settlers to the colony of Virginia, was wrecked near the island of Bermuda. The ship’s longboat

set sail to get help. It disappeared forever.

In 1750, five Spanish trea- sure ships were caught in a storm here. Three of them disappeared without leaving any trace of wreckage.

The next big mystery involved a French ship called the Rosalie, which was found abandoned and drifting. There was no sign of any struggle or battle. The Rosalie’s sails were perfectly set in position, and all the cargo was still on board when the ship was found. The weird thing was that the entire crew was missing.

After 1945, numerous aircraft as well as ships began

to be reported missing in the Bermuda Triangle. The most famous of these strange disappearances was that of five United States Navy training planes. These planes had full supplies of fuel when they left their base in Florida. After only an hour in the air, however, the control tower, with which they were in radio contact, received an unexpected message.

The flight leader reported that he knew the aircraft were off their course, but he was completely unaware of their location. He said that the compasses, as well as all other instruments, were showing dif-

47

F-10ferent readings, and that the pilots had no idea where they were. Although the day was clear, the pilots were not able to determine the position of the sun. They were unable to chart the course that would have led them to a safe landing. Within another hour, all radio contact was broken between the control tower and the five planes.

An attempt was made to find the five missing planes and their crews. A group of rescue aircraft was sent searching. One of these, a twin-engined seaplane, had a crew of thirteen men on board. Again, the unexpected happened. Instead of receiving news of a sighting and rescue, the control base lost all contact with this plane also. No reason has ever been given for the strange way in which those six planes vanished.

Since 1945, in addition to the six planes, other aircraft have been listed as missing in the Bermuda Triangle. In every case the reports state: “radio contact lost.”

The captain of a tugboat called the Good News reported an unusual experience in the area of the Triangle. He started out with the weather both calm and clear. Everything was working smoothly. Suddenly, a mysterious fog closed over the tug. Captain Don Henry stated that all the electrical power suddenly failed. He felt as if the whole

boat were being pulled backward. He ordered full speed ahead anyway. Shortly after the tug moved out of the fog, the electrical power returned. The tug managed to reach port safely, although all the ship’s batteries had gone dead. Even the flashlight batteries of some crew members had to be thrown away.

In another interesting case, a pilot named Chuck Wakely described an unusual flight in the Bermuda Triangle in 1964. The wings of his plane suddenly began to glow and all the instruments began to behave in a weird way, failing to operate properly. After about five minutes, during which time he could do nothing to control his aircraft, the glow disappeared and the instruments began to work again.

Numerous explanations have been offered to account for these happenings. Some of the theories are just as odd as the events themselves.

One theory is that there is a large underwater chunk of iron in the area that acts as a magnet upon any metal instruments that may be near. This would explain why compasses sometimes behave so peculiarly on ships and planes traveling in the Triangle.

Another idea is that there may be certain locations on the planet Earth where the force of gravity does not work. This would definitely disturb the regular operation of planes

and vessels.A third suggestion is that

the Triangle may be a place where warm ocean currents and cold ocean currents meet and cause the tides to turn in different directions. This, it is said, may cause the earth’s magnetic force to behave in an unexpected way in the Bermuda Triangle.

Perhaps the weirdest theory of all is the one which scientists believe the least. This theory involves beings from another planet. According to this explanation, visitors from outer space have made a landing on our planet. The Bermuda Triangle is a kind of doorway through which they pull ships and aircraft that they wish to study.

What do you think about these strange disappearances? Is there some tie among them all? Or is the fact that they all took place in the same location just a matter of chance?

Many people refuse to travel through the Bermuda Triangle because they are afraid. They are willing to spend extra time or money to take a less direct route when traveling. Others laugh at the notion of mysterious forces at work. They purposely choose to sail or fly through the area. How about you? Would you dare to travel through the mysterious Bermuda Triangle, or would you avoid it?

48

F-10

The Bermuda TrianglePreview answer:

b. the Bermuda Triangle is the scene of strange disappearances.

COMPREHENSION CHECK



Idea starter: Most ships and planes that travel through the Bermuda Triangle do not have trouble. What might be some reasons for this?

This page may be reproduced for classroom use. 49

1. Strange disappearances have taken place ___ a. in the colony of Virginia.___ b. in 1750.___ c. in the Bermuda Triangle.___ d. in the eastern United States.

2. The number of ships and planes that have vanished is___ a. too many to count.___ b. less than 100.___ c. more than 100.___ d. more than 1,000.

3 . After 1945, aircraft were probably used___ a. more than ever before.___ b. less than ever before.___ c. about the same as before.___ d. about half as much as before.

4. Chuck Wakely reported that his plane’s wings ___ a. started to shake.___ b. started to glow.___ c. started to grow.___ d. starred to disappear.

5. One explanation for the mystery is that an underwater chunk of iron___ a. acts as a magnet.___ b. behaves peculiarly.___ c. controls all aircraft.___ d. causes tides to turn.

6. The weirdest theory is the one which___ a. scientists believe the most.___ b. scientists believe the least.___ c. all scientists believe.____ d. no one believes at all.

7. Many people refuse to travel through the Bermuda Triangle because___ a. it is out of their way.___ b. it costs too much money.___ c. they are afraid.____d. they are brave.8. Scientists will probably___ a. avoid the Bermuda Triangle.___ b. laugh at the notion of strange forces atwork.___ c. take a less direct route when traveling.____d. continue to study the Bermuda Triangle.9. Another name for this story could be___ a. “Doorway to Another Planet.”------b. “Mystery in the Atlantic Ocean.”____c. “Mystery in Bermuda.”____d. “Disappearing Ships.”

10. This story is mainly about ___ a. safety for ships.____b. a three-sided part of the Atlantic Ocean.____c. traveling to Bermuda.___ d. the forces of gravity.

The Bermuda TriangleF-10

VOCABULARY CHECK

aircraft contact location numerous unexpected weird


1. The shells on the beach are too________________________to count.2. Mother’s visit over the weekend was sudden and________________________3. My pencils are missing every day. It’s________________________!4. A few________________________ .were flying over the airport.5. The________________________of the airport is just outside the city.6. After the wires had blown down, all telephone________________________.was

broken.II. Choose the word or words with the same meaning as the underlined key word in each sentence.

Place an X next to the correct answer.1. Many types of aircraft were flying at the air show.

____a. machines used for flying ____c. longboats____b. machines used for cleaning ____d. cargo

2. We made radio contact with the spacecraft.____a. location ___ c. connection____b. position ____d. control

3. I didn’t know the package was coming. It was unexpected!____a. not opened ____c. not wanted____b. not planned for ____d. not liked

4. Our backyard is a good location for the treehouse.___ a . particular person _____c. particular time____b. particular thing _____d. particular place

5. There are numerous stars shining tonight.____a. bright _____c. few____b. many _____d. glowing

6. The moving shadows looked weird in the darkness.____a. laughable _____c. mysterious____b. large _____d. light


50 This page may be reproduced for clanroom use.

KEY WORDS Lessons F-1 - F-10

F-1archaeologistcivilizationcorridorcrisscrossinvestigatesacred

F-2infantmedicaloralprivilegewagesyoungster

F-3alertdescentgentlymonitorrequireskillful

F-4arrivaldefenseendurefateslainvicinity

F-5accomplishdiarydietemploypainfulsnack

F-6backwardnavalphotographrecentsubstitutethroughout

KEYWORDS Lessons F-1 - F-10

F-7blousedeterminationfledraftswollenthirst

F-8combinationdepthmanualpreviousrapidsrecreation

F-9

mcomeindustrymechanicalregistersimilarwealthy

F-10

aircraftcontactlocationnumerousunexpectedweird

COMPREHENSION CHECK ANSWER KEYLessons F-1 - F-10

53

VOCABULARY CHECK ANSWER KEYLessons F-1 - F-10

LESSONNUMBER

PAGENUMBER

F-1 SECRETS OF THE ANCIENT STONES

/.

//. 1. archaeologist2. sacred3. investigate4. corridor5. civilization6. crisscross

F-2 BE A BETTER BABY-SITTER 10

I. 1. infant2. oral3. privilege4. wages5. medical6. youngster

II.

VOCABULARY CHECK ANSWER KEY Lessons F-1 - F-10

LESSON PAGENUMBER NUMBER

F-3 SOARING 15

/. 1. skillful2. descent3. require4. gently5. monitor6. alert

//. 1. False2. True3. True4. False5. True6. True

F-4 CROATAN, THE LOST COLONY 20

I. 1. defense2. arrival3. endure4. slain5. vicinity6. fate

II. 1. a2. b3. d4. c5. d6. b

56



F-5 SIX SECRETS OF CHANGING BEHAVIOR 25/. 1. snack

2. accomplish3. diary4. employ5. painful6. diet

II. 1. f2. a3. b4. c5. d6. e

F-6 HIDDEN MESSAGES 30

I. 1. photograph, naval2. throughout, backward3. recent, photograph4. substitute, backward5. substitute, throughout6. naval, recent

II. 1. throughout2. photograph3. substitute—4. recent____5. backward-6. naval

a. with the back firstb. of or for warships or the navyc. a picture taken by a camerad. to put one thing in the place of anothere. all the way throughf. not long ago

57

VOCABULARY CHECK ANSWER KEY Lesson F-1 - F-10


F-7 ESCAPE TO FREEDOM 35

/. 1. raft, thirst2. determination, blouse3. blouse, fled4. swollen, raft5. determination, thirst6. tied, swollen

II. 1. False2. True3. False4. True5. False6. True

F-8 THE HUDSON RIVER WHITEWATER DERBY 40

/. 1. recreation2. rapids3. manual4. previous5. combination6. depth

II. 1. False2. True3. True4. False5. False6. False

58

LESSONNUMBER

F-9

F-10


ELIAS HOWE AND THE SEWING MACHINEI. 1. mechanical, similar

2. register, industry3. wealthy, income4. industry, wealthy5. mechanical, register6. similar, income

PAGENUMBER

45

//. 1. wealthy2. mechanical3. register4. similar5. industry6. income

a. money from property or work having to do with machines

c. richd. almost the samee. sign upf. companies producing goods for sale

THE BERMUDA TRIANGLE 50

I.

II.

59

1. numerous2. unexpected3. weird4. aircraft5. location6. contact1. a2. c3. b4. d5. b6. c

f fat, ifg go, bagh he, how

e let, beste equal, beer term, learn

b bad, robch child, muchd did, red

a hat, capa age, faceä father, farâ fault, allã air, care

i it, pini ice, five

o hot, rocko open, goô order, alloi oil, voiceou house, out

p paper, cupr run, trys say, yessh she, rush

j jam, enjoyk kind, seekl land, coalm me, amn no, inng long, bring

represents:a in aboute in takeni in pencilo in lemonu in circus

v very, savew will, womany young, yetz zero, breezezh measure, seizure

u cup, butteru full, putü rule, move

t tell, itth thin, bothTH then, smooth

PRONUNCIATION KEYThe pronunciation of each word is shown just after the word, in this way:

ab bre vi ate ( bre´ ve at).

The letters and signs used are pronounced as in the words below.

The mark ´ is placed after a syllable with primary or heavy accent, as in theexample above.

The mark ´ after a syllable shows a secondary or lighter accent, as in:ab bre via tion ( bre´ ve a´ sh n).

e

e e

e

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