What's for Breakfast? · Miranda's backpack moved. I opened my mouth to say something but Miranda made a mean face and mouthed, "Don't say anything." A little white paw poked out

What's for Breakfast?

What's for Breakfast?by ReadWorks

Of course Dad decided to blame me when he came downstairs this morning to make coffee and burn toast, and saw the mess in the kitchen and the living room. "DANIEL," I heard him from my post in the bathroom. I stood there on my toes to see what I'd look like if I were taller, brushing my teeth and wondering if I could get out the door with un-brushed hair, and without Miranda, my older and snottier sister, noticing.

"DANIEL!"

I came downstairs still wearing my pajamas and saw a bunch of magazines on the rug by the couch, toppled over from their usual stack on the coffee table. Then I saw the bad mess in the kitchen. The jars with Miranda's baking supplies are usually lined up along the counter, but one of them was on the floor in pieces, and there was flour everywhere. Dad was standing in the middle of it, wearing half of a suit: shiny black shoes and pressed work pants, but no shirt; and his hair still wet from the shower. I laughed. That was a mistake.

"Did you do this, funny man?" The coffeemaker sounded like it was gargling mouthwash. I guess Dad wasn't so mad that he couldn't make his java.

"No, Dad, I didn't." It was the truth, too. When I turned off the TV the night before, the magazines were still stacked. And when I got my nighttime cup of water from the kitchen, there was no flour on the floor.

"Really? Because we've had this problem before, with footballs and jump ropes, and indoor kite-flying." Dad obviously did not believe me.

"Really, Dad, I have no idea how this happened. I got some water in the middle of the night, but everything was clean then."

Dad turned around and got some bread and butter, and honey. The toaster sounded like it hurt when he pushed the lever down. It was old and never made toast right. I only ate toast when I slept over at other people's houses. Dad didn't really care what his toast tasted like, I guess.

"I don't have time to clean this up, Daniel, and I'm mad. Go upstairs and get ready for school." Dad filled a big bowl with water.

"Okay." I was halfway up the stairs when Miranda's cat, Oatmeal, shot up underneath my legs. "DAD!" I yelled. "I BET IT WAS OATMEAL!"ReadWorks.org · © 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.


I don't think Dad heard me, but I got dressed and the more I thought about it, the more I just knew it had been Oatmeal. That cat always causes problems. At night he either fights things that can't fight back, like the couch or the cabinets or the laundry baskets downstairs, or he sits in the upstairs hallway and howls, trying to get into our rooms to show off the socks he hunts and kills. He's annoying, which means he's Miranda's perfect pet.

"Hey, Bozo." Miranda came out of her room dressed in high-tops and a red polka-dot dress. She had some bracelets on, which, plus the dress, made her look kind of like a girl, except that her bracelets had skulls on them and her sneakers were black.

She was a weird sister. She was in sixth grade and I was in fourth. I didn't understand why she didn't dress normally. Everything had to have something black or bone-y in it.

"Your stupid cat got me in trouble, Miranda."

"Maybe if you hadn't set precedent so many times, you wouldn't get blamed for wrecking the house."

"I didn't set president!" I didn't even know what that word meant.

"Precedent, dummy. And yes you did, every time you played ball or some other stupid game in the house." She walked past me and petted Oatmeal as he slithered toward her door. "Hurry up, or I'll eat all the cereal."

I didn't hurry up. I put on my shoes and was silently thankful that she hadn't noticed my messy hair. I walked back downstairs with heavy feet, and let my backpack hit the steps behind me.

Dad was eating his burned toast with honey, and trying to mop up a gloppy mess on the floor. He did not look happy. Miranda was at the table eating a bowl of Kix. She threw one at me. I decided to skip cereal.

"Daniel, this is unacceptable," Dad muttered.

"Dad, it was Oatmeal. He went on a night rampage and did this."

"MIRANDA!" Dad raised his voice.

"Dad, he's just being a cat. He has wild instincts." Miranda didn't even lift her head.

"You need to start keeping your cookie things in the pantry."

"They look good in the jars."

ReadWorks.org · © 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.


"Fine. They'll just have to look good in the jars in the pantry."

Miranda decided not to argue, I guess, because she shut up. Dad was struggling. The paper towels he was using to wipe up the wet flour weren't doing a good job. He threw two handfuls in the trash, but there were still smears of paste on the ground and some dry flour powdering the corners of the kitchen. Dad looked at the clock on the stove, and he said, "Look at the time! We have to go." Then he rushed to the laundry room to put on a work shirt.

"Get your school stuff together and get in the car," Dad said. He huffed his way out the door. Miranda got up and went back upstairs, leaving me in the kitchen by myself. I sidestepped the sticky streaks of flour on the ground and got a Popsicle from the freezer. Breakfast!

When I got outside, Dad was already waiting in the driveway. I got in the front seat (take that, Miranda!) and noticed some crusty flour on the back of his work jacket. I didn't say anything. He'd probably just get mad. He was already mad anyway and getting angrier, as he impatiently honked the horn for Miranda. She shuffled out the front door, holding her lumpy backpack in front of her with both arms. We pulled out and Dad turned on NPR.

"I hope you two packed lunch."

"I forgot," I said. "Can I have some money?"

"Here, take 10 bucks." Dad tossed his wallet into my lap. I looked back at Miranda. I was kind of disappointed that she hadn't gotten mad about me sitting in the front seat.

"Miranda, do you need money, too?" Dad asked.

"No."

"What did you bring for lunch?"

"Oatmeal."

"That's gross, weirdo." Who eats oatmeal for lunch, I thought.

"If you say so, kiddo." Dad rolled his eyes. "I hope you packed the instant stuff, because if you cooked oatmeal just now, it's going to get really cold and nasty, and I'm going to be really annoyed that you wasted time doing that while we were waiting outside for you."

Miranda just looked out the window. We didn't talk for a few minutes, and the radio droned on about the news.



"Yeah, we waited forever," I said, turning around to glare. When I did, I noticed something weird. Miranda's backpack moved. I opened my mouth to say something but Miranda made a mean face and mouthed, "Don't say anything."

A little white paw poked out from under the flap on her bag. I turned around again. Unbelievable! How is it that I was the one who always got in trouble for what that cat did? Miranda was worse than I was!

Dad pulled up to our school. "Have a good day, guys," he said, and I still didn't tell him about the flour-paste on his coat.

I got out; Miranda didn't. I stood on the sidewalk for a moment wondering why she was just sitting there. And then I saw Oatmeal squeeze his way out of her bag, despite her struggle to keep him contained. I slammed the door shut so he wouldn't escape. I heard her shriek and my dad yell, while I watched the cat tear the leather as he clawed his way under the passenger seat.

"MIRANDA!!!" Dad's scream was muffled with all the doors closed. I could hear them arguing, and then Dad waved at me without looking and drove away.

I probably should have felt a little angry that Miranda got to be late to school, or that my dad just drove away like that. But as I walked into the building, I just could not stop smiling.


ReadWorks Vocabulary - despite

despite

de·spite

Definitionpreposition

1. without being changed or stopped by.

He kept driving despite the blizzard.

Advanced Definitionpreposition

1. notwithstanding; regardless of.

The wedding took place despite the bad weather.

He left school despite his parents' warnings and threats.

Despite the fact that she's allergic to dogs, she has two of them.

noun

1. insulting treatment.

2. insolence.

These are some examples of how the word or forms of the word are used:

1. Skin may cover a large area, but it is very thin. It is only about 1/8 inch thick. Despite being so thin, skin is made of three layers.

2. Despite their violent ways, the Vikings were very religious people. They worshiped several gods, who dwelled in a place called Asgard. Among the most important of the Viking gods were Thor, Odin, Frey and Freyja.

3. So which one is it, Sarah wondered. Is the Meadowlands a big, ugly, dangerous swamp? Or is it a beautiful oasis of birds and flowers? Despite her dad's warnings to stay away, Sarah wanted to see for herself.

4. The Pilgrims built very simple and practical houses for themselves. Despite a terrible first winter, they worked hard to create homes for everyone. Until then, most of the group lived on the Mayflower, the ship that had brought them there.

5. Despite its small size (about 3 pounds), the brain is able to receive and send an unlimited number of messages. It does this with the help of the spinal cord, the sense organs, and the autonomic (automatic) nervous system. The brain carries out this task by assigning jobs.

6. Young Jun is already prepared to visit. An American he met on his way to South Korea gave ReadWorks.org · © 2020 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.

Definitions and sample sentences within definitions are provided by Wordsmyth. © 2015 Wordsmyth. All rights reserved.

ReadWorks Vocabulary - despite

him a U.S. dollar. Despite plenty of opportunities to spend the money in South Korea, Young Jun has kept it. After all, he tells me, he's going to need it when he gets to the United States.

7. To keep up with her assignments, she got used to studying calculus and chemistry textbooks on international flights. She'd surf all morning, take a study break for lunch, surf again, and then hit the books after dinner. Despite not being in the classroom, she managed to get good grades. She even got a few A's here and there.

8. Apple is hesitant; she really does not want to upset the girl, but she couldn't be more desperate for a treat. She finally agrees to the plan. What could go wrong? Plates are replaceable, and surely the girl won't mind. On the other hand, despite being the most loved, she is also likely to be the first blamed for the mishap.

ReadWorks.org · © 2020 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.Definitions and sample sentences within definitions are provided by Wordsmyth. © 2015 Wordsmyth. All rights reserved.

ReadWorks Vocabulary - precedent

precedent

prec·e·dent

Advanced Definitionnoun

1. an act that serves or may serve as an example for future actions of a similar nature.

Her high grades set a precedent for the class.

There is no precedent for this new rule.

2. in law, a decision serving as a guidepost for future cases of a similar nature.

The judge's decision was based on precedents rather than on legal theory.

adjective

1. going before; prior.

Spanish cognate

precedente: The Spanish word precedente means precedent.


1. "They told me that I had no hope," says Summers. "My comment was, 'You don't know me very well. I'm going to fight until I get well again.'" Five years later, Summers has regained the ability to stand and can take steps on a treadmill. His recovery "remains unprecedented," European researchers commented in the British medical journal The Lancet. "We are entering a new era."

2. The government has tried to cut down on the number of protesters. In one attempt, it ordered all Russian students between the ages of 14 and 17 to attend school on a Saturday for hastily arranged tests during the hours of the protest. They were warned they would risk flunking their courses if they failed to attend the unprecedented Saturday exams.


What's for Breakfast? - Comprehension Questions

Name: ___________________________________ Date: _______________

1. During what time of day does the story take place?

A. afternoon

B. morning

C. evening

D. midnight

2. Why is Daniel's father upset at the beginning of the story?

A. Daniel and Miranda had gotten into a fight.

B. There was a bad mess in the kitchen.

C. Daniel and Miranda were running late for school.

D. Daniel's father was out of clean shirts.

3. Daniel's father appears very stressed throughout the passage. Which evidence from

the passage best supports this conclusion?

A. Daniel's father suspects Daniel is responsible for the bad mess in the kitchen.

B. Daniel's father was eating burned toast with honey and trying to mop up the mess on the floor.

C. Daniel's father huffs his way out the door and honks the horn impatiently while waiting for Miranda in the car.

D. Daniel's father wishes Daniel and Miranda a good day at school.

4. Why does Daniel's father think it was Daniel who made the big mess in the kitchen?

A. Daniel has a history of making messes in the house.

B. Daniel always makes a mess when he cooks with flour.

C. Daniel was angry with his father and wanted to make him mad.

D. Daniel never cleaned up after himself.

5. What is this story mainly about?

A. the way Daniel and his family make breakfast

B. Daniel's difficult behavior

C. a troublemaking cat named Oatmeal

D. a morning incident that Daniel and his family experience



6. Read the following sentence from the story: "The toaster sounded like it hurt when

he pushed the lever down. It was old and never made toast right."

Why does the author say that the toaster "sounded like it hurt"?

A. to emphasize how old and non-functional the toaster was

B. to show that the toaster had feelings

C. to emphasize how badly the family treated the toaster

D. to show that the toaster made the same sounds as a human

7. Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below.

_________ Daniel is frustrated and annoyed by his sister Miranda, he doesn't tell his

father that he saw Oatmeal in Miranda's backpack.

A. In summary

B. Even though

C. Because

D. Since

8. What does Miranda bring to school?

9. Why did Daniel think that Oatmeal made the big mess in the kitchen?



10. Explain why Daniel "just could not stop smiling" at the end of the story. Use

information from the story to support your answer.


What's for Breakfast? - Vocabulary: precedent

Name: ___________________________________ Date: _______________

1. What is a meaning of the word precedent?

A. jewelry consisting of a cord or chain (often bearing gems) worn about the neck as an ornament (especially by women)

B. a woman's dress, usually with a close-fitting bodice and a long flared skirt, often worn on formal occasions

C. an act in the past which may be used as an example to help decide the outcome of similar instances in the future

2. What is another meaning of the word precedent?

A. the previous version

B. confectionery, candy

C. an act of delegating

Please use each answer choice only once. Choose the one word that best completes the sentence.

3. These decisions of the common-law courts were recorded and became the _____

that form the common law relating to business transactions.

A. precedence

B. preceding

C. precedent

D. precedes

E. precedents

F. unprecedented

4. Persons who come by appointment naturally have _____ over other callers.

A. precedence

B. preceding

C. precedent

D. precedes

E. precedents

F. unprecedented



5. My experience was similar to that in the _____ two rides.

A. precedence

B. preceding

C. precedent

D. precedes

E. precedents

F. unprecedented

6. One important _____ was Washington's creation of a cabinet made up of the heads

of the executive departments.

A. precedence

B. preceding

C. precedent

D. precedes

E. precedents

F. unprecedented

7. It was an _____ move to allow black officers in that company and in the First

Louisiana Native Guards, which was also composed of freemen of color.

A. precedence

B. preceding

C. precedent

D. precedes

E. precedents

F. unprecedented



8. It _____ the green and flowery spring, as mythology _____ regular poetry.

A. precedence

B. preceding

C. precedent

D. precedes

E. precedents

F. unprecedented

9. Please write your own sentence using the word precedent.

10. What would you like to remember about the meaning of the word precedent so that

you can use it when you write or speak?


What's for Breakfast? - Vocabulary: despite

Name: ___________________________________ Date: _______________

1. What is a meaning of the word despite?

A. go along

B. agree

C. defiant

2. What is another meaning of the word despite?

A. cooperative

B. in the groove

C. in spite on


3. Two hours had already passed when, as if out of sheer _____, the bright sky

suddenly clouded.

A. spiteful

B. spite

C. despite

D. spitefulness

4. Something _____, determined, selfish, and dangerous.

A. spiteful

B. spite

C. despite

D. spitefulness

5. You're a fine bench in _____ of your age, he says.

A. spiteful

B. spite

C. despite

D. spitefulness


What's for Breakfast? - Vocabulary: despite

6. _____ these examples, the United States is not planning to phase out pennies.

A. spiteful

B. spite

C. despite

D. spitefulness

7. Please write your own sentence using the word despite.

8. What would you like to remember about the meaning of the word despite so that you

can use it when you write or speak?


How Mountains Form

How Mountains FormThis text is excerpted from an original work of the Core Knowledge Foundation.

Mountains are formed in several different ways. To understand how mountains are formed, you need to remember that the Earth has a crusty shell made up of gigantic plates. These plates can shift, crack, and wrinkle.

Folded mountains are created when Earth's crust shifts. As it shifts, one piece of rock folds on top of another. The Himalayas (/him*uh*lae*uhz/) in Asia are folded mountains. Some of the Appalachian (/ap*uh*lae*chun/) Mountains in the eastern United States are folded mountains, too.

Folded mountains are created when one piece of rock folds over another. Both the Himalayas (left) and the Appalachians (right) are folded mountains.

Fault block mountains are also created by shifting plates. In this case, pieces of rock are broken off and driven upward by the force of the shifting plates. The Sierra Nevadas of western North America are fault block mountains.

photo: Cullen328 (CC BY 3.0); illustration: Core Knowledge

Fault block mountains are created when pieces of rock are driven up. The Sierra Nevadas are fault block mountains.

Dome mountains are created when melted rock called magma pushes up below the surface of


How Mountains Form

the Earth. As the magma moves up, it makes bumps on Earth's surface.

photo: © 2001 Doug Swisher (CC BY-SA 3.0); illustration: Core Knowledge

Magma pushing up below the surface of the Earth forms dome mountains. The Black Hills of South Dakota are dome mountains.

Japan's Mount Fuji is a volcano.

These bumps often look more like hills than mountains. The Black Hills of South Dakota are dome mountains.

Volcanic mountains form when a volcano erupts and breaks a hole in Earth's crust. Lava and ash flow down the sides of the volcano and harden into a mountain. Many islands, such as the Hawaiian Islands, are actually the tops of volcanic mountains. Japan's highest mountain, Mount Fuji, is a volcano. It last erupted in 1707.

Mountains sometimes form when a volcano erupts. The Hawaiian Islands are the tops of volcanic mountains.


How Mountains Form

The highest mountain in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro (/kil*uh*man*jar*oe/), is an extinct (/ek*stinkt/) volcano.

Volcanic mountains can be produced by a few days of huge eruptions. However, most mountains take thousands, or even millions, of years to form. They form so slowly that, in real life, you can't see them changing.

Some of Earth's mountains, such as the Appalachians, were formed more than two hundred million years ago. Others, such as the Rocky Mountains in western North America, were formed only about a million years ago. You can often tell whether mountains are young mountains or old mountains by their shape. Young mountains are usually steep, have a high elevation, and are often sharp or pointy. Old mountains have been worn down by many years of erosion (/er*oe*zhun/).

Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world.

Look at the picture of Mount Everest. You'll notice that there is snow on top of the mountain. Most tall mountains are covered with snow all year long. That is because the farther above sea level you go, the colder it gets. We use the term sea level to explain land elevation in relation to the surface level of the world's oceans. You may have noticed this if you have ever hiked up a mountain or driven to the top of one.

Mountaintops are usually cold, even when they are located in hot places. Snow covers the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, in the African country of Tanzania (/tan*zuh*nee*uh/), all year long even though it is very close to the equator.


ReadWorks Vocabulary - erupt

erupt

e·rupt

Advanced Definitionintransitive verb

1. to break or explode out of a restrained or confined condition.

His latent violence suddenly erupted.

Lava erupts from a volcano.

2. to spew forth matter violently.

That volcano erupted only ten years ago.

3. of a tooth, to break through the gums.

There is sometimes considerable discomfort when a tooth erupts.

4. of the skin, to break out, as with a rash or pimples.

His skin erupted with hives after eating some strawberries.

My skin always erupts just before some important occasion.

5. to break out from or form on the skin, as a rash or pimples.

After hiking in the woods, an itchy rash erupted all over her legs.

transitive verb

1. to cause to burst out; spew out.

The volcano erupted fiery gases.


1. An extinct volcano will probably never erupt again.

2. A volcano is ready to erupt, or explode.

3. An extinct volcano is unlikely to erupt again.

4. Hot gases or rocks sometimes erupt out of volcanoes.

5. Others stayed away, fearing that the volcano would erupt again at any moment.


ReadWorks Vocabulary - erupt

6. They try to figure out when volcanoes might erupt. Then people can get to a safe place before trouble starts.

7. Huge blooms of algae erupt and use up all the oxygen in the water--oxygen that other sea creatures need to survive.

8. A thundering sound erupted as the ball collided with the pins, knocking them all down. "Yes!" Christopher cried, running back to his seat.

9. In 1770, tensions erupted with the Boston Massacre. British troops thought they were under attack when colonists in Boston started throwing snowballs at them.

10. Volcanoes can be active (currently erupting or erupted not long ago), dormant (not currently active but likely to erupt someday), or extinct (unlikely to erupt again).


ReadWorks Vocabulary - form

form

form

Definitionnoun

1. the shape or structure of something.

He arranged the chairs in the form of a circle.

She presented the results of the survey in the form of a graph.

2. a document with empty spaces for writing in information.

She filled out a form to apply for a passport.

3. a type or kind of something.

She has a rare form of cancer.

verb

1. to make, build, or give a shape to.

He formed the clay into a pot.


1. structure or shape, as opposed to substance.

2. the body or outward appearance of an animal or person; figure.

3. something that imparts shape, such as a mold.

4. a document with empty spaces provided for the insertion of information.

5. type or kind.

a form of plant life

6. conduct guided by convention, regulation, custom, or standards of politeness.

It is considered bad form to insult the teacher during class.

7. the style, design, pattern, or method of an artistic work.

The sonata is a musical form.

8. state of physical or psychological fitness for athletic or other activities.


ReadWorks Vocabulary - form

She is in good form on the tennis court today.

transitive verb

1. to make, create, or construct.

2. to mold or train through instruction.

3. to be one, many, or all of the parts of; constitute.

4. to arrange in a specific order.

5. to develop, as in the mind.

She formed an opinion of us.

intransitive verb

1. to come into being; develop; arise.

2. to assume shape or form.


1. Tornadoes form when strong winds spin.

2. Energy cannot be created. Energy in the form of electricity has to be transferred from another kind of energy.

3. Some glaciers came together to form bigger ones, just like different streams of water join to form bigger rivers.

4. Kelvin is a form of measurement of heat that scientists use, instead of measuring degrees in Fahrenheit or Celsius.

5. The stream flows into the Apurimac River, which is one of the many rivers that combine to form the Amazon.

6. When warm air becomes colder, it condenses. The cool temperatures draw the water particles together. This forms the rain cloud.

7. The Ancient Greeks used gold as a form of currency and mined the metal throughout the Middle East and the Mediterranean.

8. Hurricanes are big storms. They form over the ocean. They can move toward land. Hurricanes bring lots of wind and rain.

9. Dodgeball develops hand-eye coordination, strengthens muscles, and builds concentration skills, Troy told Weekly Reader. "It is also a good form of exercise."

10. The Mayas were artists and sculptors. They also developed a calendar and an advanced form of writing. Their society collapsed around A.D. 800.


ReadWorks Vocabulary - shift

shift

shift

Definitionverb

1. to move or change position.

The boy shifted in his chair.

2. to change gears when driving a motor vehicle.

Start the car in neutral and then shift into first gear.

noun

1. a regular time period when people work.

He likes working during the night shift.

Advanced Definitionintransitive verb

1. to change position or direction, or to move from one place to another.

Bored with the lecture, the students shifted restlessly in their seats.

His family shifted from town to town during the Depression.

Public opinion seems to be shifting on this issue.

The photographer asked her to shift a little to the left.

2. to get along by oneself (usu. fol. by for).

She has always shifted for herself.

3. to change gears when driving a motor vehicle.

You'd better shift into a lower gear when you go down this hill.

transitive verb

1. to remove or abandon and replace with another; change.

I think I'm going to shift my phone service.

It's not always easy to shift another person's opinion.



We shifted seats so we could see the screen better.

2. to switch or move from one place to another or toward a new direction; change the position of.

Her boss shifted her to a different machine.

The election has shifted the balance of power in the congress.

3. to change (gears) from one position to another.

You'll have to learn how to shift with this new bike.

noun

1. a change from one person, location, direction, condition, or thing to another.

The guests' arrival brought a shift in her mood.

There was a shift in the wind.

2. a regularly scheduled work period.

He's working the night shift this month.

3. the workers on duty during a regularly scheduled period.

The morning shift came into work looking sleepy.

4. the process or an instance of changing gears when driving a motor vehicle.

Every shift of the gears made the car jerk.

5. a woman's dress that has no waistline, worn without a belt.

The shift was especially popular in the early sixties.

6. an ingenious maneuver, as to evade something or someone.

The police were fooled for a time by this clever shift.


1. In his sleep, Jamling shifts closer to me. His breath reeks.

2. Notice how your attention shifts when the commercial ends and your show comes back on. The same thing can happen during a conversation.

3. This friction causes the surface to shift back and forth. It also makes huge cracks in the ground, ReadWorks.org · © 2020 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.

Definitions and sample sentences within definitions are provided by Wordsmyth. © 2015 Wordsmyth. All rights reserved.


sometimes miles long and several feet deep.

4. I asked around-I asked the junkyard owner, the day shift manager, the night shift manager, members of the crews who drive the dump trucks in.

5. Kiara shifted in her seat to get more comfortable; she knew that when her father started talking about his work, he could go on for a while.

6. The sudden change felt odd and eerie, like a celestial power was using a remote control to shift the moon across the sky. But Marcus wasn't scared.

7. He would be able to afford the railroad-one of his favorite properties-and the game would shift in his favor. But he knew Nicky wouldn't let that happen.

8. The average workday hours an American may be used to do not apply on these farms-workers don't get scheduled breaks or eight-hour shifts. Laws restricting child labor don't apply here, either.

9. When temperatures fall below freezing or when the temperature becomes very hot, the ground around water mains shifts. This puts stress on water mains, and it might lead to water mains breaking.

10. And while emperor penguin parents take two-month-long shifts protecting their young, little blue penguins take turns more often, switching every few days. Their eggs hatch after only 36 days, and their average lifespan is 6.5 years.


How Mountains Form - Comprehension Questions

Name: ___________________________________ Date: _______________

1. How are folded mountains formed?

A. Huge pieces of rock break off the Earth's crust when it moves, piling up to form mountains.

B. Magma from below the Earth's crust pushes upwards, causing the crust to swell upwards.

C. Lava erupts through the Earth's crust, forming a mountain of hardened lava.

D. When the Earth's crust shifts, one piece of rock folds on top of another to form mountains.

2. In this passage, the author describes how mountains can change over time. Over

time, what effect does erosion have on mountains?

A. Erosion wears down mountains over time.

B. Erosion makes mountains sharp and pointy over time.

C. Erosion causes new mountains to form over time.

D. Erosion causes mountain tops to hold more snow over time.

3. The text states that fault block mountains are formed when, "pieces of rock are

broken off and driven upward by the force of the shifting plates." Based on this

evidence, what conclusion can you draw about the force of Earth's shifting plates?

A. The force of Earth's shifting plates is somewhat gentle.

B. The force of Earth's shifting plates is loud.

C. The force of Earth's shifting plates is very powerful.

D. The force of Earth's shifting plates is created quickly.

4. Based on the information in the text, what is one feature of a mountain that a person

could look at to draw conclusions about how that mountain formed?

A. the color of the rock that makes up the mountainside

B. how cold and snowy it is around the mountain

C. how sharp and pointy or smooth and hilly the mountain is

D. how quickly the rocks of the mountain are shifting



5. What is the main idea of this text?

A. Mountains are all very cold, but they come in all shapes and sizes.

B. Mountains can form in different ways and look different based on how they formed.

C. Mountains can be made of rock, Earth plates, or lava.

D. Mountains can form on land or in the ocean when volcanoes erupt and lava hardens.

6. Please read the following sentences from the text. "...the Earth has a crusty shell

made up of gigantic plates. These plates can shift, crack, and wrinkle. Folded

mountains are created when Earth's crust shifts. As it shifts, one piece of rock folds on

top of another."

Based on these sentences, what does the word shifts mean?

A. moves

B. explodes

C. shrinks

D. shivers

7. Please choose the answer that best completes the sentence below.

Most mountains take thousand or millions of years to form, ___ volcanic mountains can

be produced in just a few days.

A. also

B. before

C. therefore

D. but



8. The text says you can often tell whether mountains are old or young by their shape.

What do young mountains usually look like?

9. The text says, "Some of Earth's mountains, such as the Appalachians, were formed

more than two hundred million years ago. Others, such as the Rocky Mountains in

western North America, were formed only about a million years ago." Using evidence

from the text, describe how these two mountain ranges might look different.

10. Imagine you are going on a hike. In the distance, you see a huge, rocky mountain

range with several pointed, snow-covered peaks at the top. What kind of mountains

could these be? Use evidence from the passage in your answer.


How Mountains Form - Vocabulary: form

Name: ___________________________________ Date: _______________

1. What is a meaning of the word form?

A. a message received and understood

B. a social unit living together

C. a specific way of performing a movement

2. What is another meaning of the word form?

A. a particular mode in which something is manifested

B. a quantity of no importance

C. the capacity for being active


3. They also used thin branches that could be bent to _____ the frame of the house.

A. forms

B. reforms

C. formed

D. uniform

E. formation

F. forming

G. form

4. Ice and snow are two _____ of solid water.

A. forms

B. reforms

C. formed

D. uniform

E. formation

F. forming

G. form



5. Seashells _____ layers of sediment, too.

A. forms

B. reforms

C. formed

D. uniform

E. formation

F. forming

G. form

6. The barrier holds water back, _____ a lake or reservoir.

A. forms

B. reforms

C. formed

D. uniform

E. formation

F. forming

G. form

7. A tiny woman in a conductor's _____ appeared on the steps of the train and

announced the schedule: All aboard!

A. forms

B. reforms

C. formed

D. uniform

E. formation

F. forming

G. form



8. The _____ of soil is one of the most important aspects of the weathering process.

A. forms

B. reforms

C. formed

D. uniform

E. formation

F. forming

G. form

9. When the boys grew up they entered politics and tried to bring about certain much-

needed _____.

A. forms

B. reforms

C. formed

D. uniform

E. formation

F. forming

G. form

10. Please write your own sentence using the word form.



11. What would you like to remember about the meaning of the word form so that you



How Mountains Form - Vocabulary: erupt

Name: ___________________________________ Date: _______________

1. What is a meaning of the word erupt?

A. move very slightly

B. make a subtraction

C. become raw or open

2. What is another meaning of the word erupt?

A. to shake

B. to leave

C. break out


3. I was not there when the volcano _____, but was in time to see the lava flow.

A. erupt

B. erupted

4. She was about to _____ at the class because of their behavior.

A. erupt

B. erupted

5. Please write your own sentence using the word erupt.


How Mountains Form - Vocabulary: erupt

6. What would you like to remember about the meaning of the word erupt so that you



How Mountains Form - Vocabulary: shift

Name: ___________________________________ Date: _______________

1. What is a meaning of the word shift?

A. extreme force

B. a work period

C. rural regions

2. What is another meaning of the word shift?

A. a change of workers, now specifically a set group of workers or period of working time

B. a person with dark skin who comes from Africa (or whose ancestors came from Africa)

C. an animal that produces gametes (spermatozoa) that can fertilize female gametes (ova)


3. His friend _____ his weight from one foot to the other.

A. shifts

B. shift

C. shifty

D. shifted

E. shifting

4. The branches _____ in the wind.

A. shifts

B. shift

C. shifty

D. shifted

E. shifting



5. They worked around the clock in eight-hour _____.

A. shifts

B. shift

C. shifty

D. shifted

E. shifting

6. "Oh," she said, _____ her shopping bags so she could dig in her purse for some

coins.

A. shifts

B. shift

C. shifty

D. shifted

E. shifting

7. Now it was Napoleon's turn to try some _____ diplomacy.

A. shifts

B. shift

C. shifty

D. shifted

E. shifting

8. Please write your own sentence using the word shift.



9. What would you like to remember about the meaning of the word shift so that you



Accidental Butterfly

Accidental Butterflyby ReadWorks

Early June is the best time. It's the real beginning of gardening season for me! Once I'm out of school, I finally have time to dig in the dirt. This year, on the last day of school, I didn't even stop to have a glass of lemonade or change out of my nice school clothes; I just dumped all of my books onto the floor, and with an empty backpack, rode my bike to the garden center in town.

The entire patio in front of the store was covered with plants in little plastic pots. A wire rack full of seeds guarded the doorway. I grabbed a fistful of pumpkin seed packets while examining a table full of potted herbs.

I settled on a full-looking parsley plant. I paid for my seeds and my plant with a month's worth of pocket change: coins and bills I'd found left in my pants and jacket pockets, or on the seats of the bus. The cashier put the parsley and seeds in a brown paper bag, which I put into my backpack. Then I rode home, where I set up my windowsill with seedling containers and the parsley. Some people like flowers; I like leaves.

So do caterpillars.

A week after I started my window-garden, I noticed that I had a roommate. It was green with black and white stripes, and it was resting carefully on a thin stem in the center of the parsley plant. How did it get there, I thought as I grabbed my "Child's Guide to Insects" book from my bookshelf.

My favorite vegetable is parsley. Apparently that's the swallowtail caterpillar's favorite, too. Adult swallowtail butterflies lay their eggs on plants in the carrot family, such as Queen Anne's lace (one of my favorite flowers, because my name is Anne), dill, fennel, carrots (of course), and parsley. I guess that's how this little bug came to be in my bedroom.

"It must've been an egg when I bought it," I explained to my mom.

And then I had a momentary dilemma: which one of us was going to get to eat this parsley? It didn't take me too long to decide.

Mom drove me back to the garden center this time, because I needed some help paying for the glass fish tank that I wanted to set up for my caterpillar. I filled it with dirt and planted a dill plant inside, as well as the original parsley, and placed a screen lid on top. Within minutes, the



caterpillar had moved from the parsley plant to the dill. I decided to name it Albert, wishing it were male.

Over the course of about two weeks, my little caterpillar got not-so-little, filling up on dill and the rest of the parsley. I loved waking up every morning to see how much more plant it had eaten, and how much bigger it had gotten.

And then one morning, Albert wasn't munching on anything. It was hanging upside down from the roof of its tank, its tiny legs looped over the wires in the screen. When I checked back after breakfast, it had let go, but only halfway, and was hanging in a lazy J shape, secured at one end of its body by a sticky bit of silk. Albert didn't move. I'd read about metamorphosis in my insect book, but somehow, I was still afraid that it was dead.

I didn't have to worry, though. The next morning, Albert the caterpillar no longer looked like a caterpillar. He looked like a dinosaur without legs: in place of my formerly squishy caterpillar was an angular green chrysalis, with twin rows of yellow spikes down what used to be Albert's back.

A week went by and the few leaves remaining on the dill and the parsley plant were beginning to yellow. I wanted to water them, but I worried about getting Albert's shell wet. Somehow, the parsley I had been so excited to buy didn't really matter anymore. I just wanted to watch the caterpillar transform.

* * *

Some people get summer jobs; I'm only eleven, so I don't really work, except for a weekend in early July when my mom has a craft booth set up at a local arts fair. The days start early and run late. Albert still hadn't hatched when that weekend came around, and I looked at its cocoon on Saturday morning, as I got ready to leave. "Don't hatch while I'm gone, little guy."

Albert seemed to have waited, and it still hadn't cracked out of its shell when Mom and I got back that night, but the shell had turned black. Something was happening.

The next morning I woke up to a flutter. I heard it before I saw it: the cocoon was in two pieces, still stuck to the lid of the tank, and flapping aimlessly on the dirt was the new winged version of Albert: a black swallowtail butterfly.

Albert's wings were studded with yellow dots on the edges, and teardrops of powder blue seemed dusted on. I scoured my "Child's Guide" and discovered that Albert was actually a female-males have more yellow on them, and the females wear blue. I heard my mom call up to me from the kitchen. I had to get a move on-it was craft weekend-but now I had a butterfly ReadWorks.org · © 2014 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.


to take care of.

Mom suggested we wait till the evening to let Albert go. I think she wanted to hurry to the show, but I think she also knew that my bug would be all right resting from its recent metamorphosis. I worried all day long that Albert would break her wings or starve, but when I got home, she was just fine, standing still on the bottom of the fish tank.

I carried the tank to Mom's flower garden before we even unpacked the car. Mom fished her camera out from one of the boxes in the backseat, and as I lifted the lid-Albert was hanging upside down again, this time as a butterfly-she took pictures. Albert waited patiently and calmly for the photo op, wings spread. And then suddenly: SHOOM! She shot up, faster than I expected a butterfly could, and paused to flutter above our heads. We admired her for one second more, and then Albert flew quickly, in zigzags, toward the woods around our house. She was out of sight in seconds.

I felt as empty as Albert's fish tank.

But Mom told me to feel proud. I'd raised a butterfly by accident-most people would have squashed that caterpillar, she said. We went to unload the car, and I supposed that Mom was right. I could have picked any parsley plant at the garden center, and somehow, Albert and I got lucky.


ReadWorks Vocabulary - chrysalis

chrysalis

chrys·a·lis


1. a hard shell or cocoon encasing a moth or butterfly in the pupal stage; pupa.


1. He looked like a dinosaur without legs: in place of my formerly squishy caterpillar was an angular green chrysalis, with twin rows of yellow spikes down what used to be Albert's back. A week went by and the few leaves remaining on the dill and the parsley plant were beginning to yellow.

2. The covering is called a chrysalis (KRIS-a-liss). Inside the chrysalis, the caterpillar slowly changes.

3. About two weeks later, a new creature pops out of the chrysalis. It has become a butterfly!


ReadWorks Vocabulary - metamorphosis

metamorphosis

met·a·mor·pho·sis


1. a complete change of form, structure, substance, appearance, or character; transformation.

The vacant lot went through a metamorphosis as the new playground was built.

2. the form that results from such a change.

3. the developmental changes in living organisms, such as the successive stages from caterpillar to butterfly or from tadpole to frog.

Spanish cognate

metamorfosis: The Spanish word metamorfosis means metamorphosis.


1. Heat and heavy pressure cause the rock to undergo a metamorphosis, or a change. The new rock often has a different color.

2. I think she wanted to hurry to the show, but I think she also knew that my bug would be all right resting from its recent metamorphosis. I worried all day long that Albert would break her wings or starve, but when I got home, she was just fine, standing still on the bottom of the fish tank.


Accidental Butterfly - Comprehension Questions

Name: ___________________________________ Date: _______________

1. Anne goes to the garden center and buys some pumpkin seeds. What else does she

buy?

2. After Anne finds the caterpillar on her parsley plant, she buys a glass fish tank for the

caterpillar. What motivates this action?

3. Read the following sentences.

"A week went by and the few leaves remaining on the dill and the parsley plant were

beginning to yellow. I wanted to water them, but I worried about getting Albert's shell

wet. Somehow, the parsley I had been so excited to buy didn't really matter anymore. I

just wanted to watch this caterpillar transform."

Based on this evidence, how do Anne's interests change in the story?



4. Read the following sentences.

"My favorite vegetable is parsley. Apparently that's the swallowtail caterpillar's favorite,

too. Adult swallowtail butterflies lay their eggs on plants in the carrot family, such as

Queen Anne's lace (one of my favorite flowers, because my name is Anne), dill, fennel,

carrots (of course), and parsley. I guess that's how this little bug came to be in my

bedroom.

"'It must've been an egg when I bought it,' I explained to my mom.

"And then I had a momentary dilemma: which one of us was going to get to eat this

parsley? It didn't take me too long to decide."

What is Anne's decision?

5. What is the main idea of this story?



6. Read the sentences and answer the question.

"A week after I started my window-garden, I noticed that I had a roommate. It was green

with black and white stripes, and it was resting carefully on a thin stem in the center of

the parsley plant. How did it get there, I thought as I grabbed my 'Child's Guide to

Insects' book from my bookshelf."

What does the author refer to with the word "roommate"?

7. What word or phrase best completes the sentence?

Anne initially thought the caterpillar was male, ____ it was actually female.

8. How does Anne feel after Albert flies away?



9. Explain whether Anne enjoyed raising a butterfly. Use evidence from the text to

support your answer.

10. Why does Anne feel lucky at the end of the story? Support your answer using

evidence from the text.


Accidental Butterfly - Vocabulary: metamorphosis

Name: ___________________________________ Date: _______________

1. What is a meaning of the word metamorphosis?

A. a change of form

B. a tinkling sound

C. someone who skis

2. What is another meaning of the word metamorphosis?

A. a striking change in appearance or character or circumstances

B. people who transact business (especially business executives)

C. a common mineral consisting of crystallized calcium carbonate


3. He had not wanted to _____ into something different.

A. metamorphosis

B. metamorphose

4. The _____ was complete; Gregor was a bug.

A. metamorphosis

B. metamorphose

5. Please write your own sentence using the word metamorphosis.


Accidental Butterfly - Vocabulary: metamorphosis

6. What would you like to remember about the meaning of the word metamorphosis so

that you can use it when you write or speak?


Accidental Butterfly - Vocabulary: chrysalis

Name: ___________________________________ Date: _______________

1. What is a meaning of the word chrysalis?

A. the property of being unpleasant or disagreeable

B. pupa of a moth or butterfly enclosed in a cocoon

C. a woman skilled in aiding the delivery of babies

2. What is another meaning of the word chrysalis?

A. an adulterous woman

B. the quantity broken

C. a strong constraint


3. The _____ were soon to yield hundreds of butterflies.

A. chrysalis

B. chrysalides

4. Inside the _____ the pupa grew.

A. chrysalis

B. chrysalides

5. Please write your own sentence using the word chrysalis.


Accidental Butterfly - Vocabulary: chrysalis

6. What would you like to remember about the meaning of the word chrysalis so that



Backseat Driver

Backseat Driverby W.M. Akers

It's important to make your big brother angry. As far as Sandy was concerned, that wasn't just her job, it was her calling. Greg was 15 years old, a skinny kid who seemed to get an inch taller every month and a little bit more stuck-up every day. Sandy's mission in life was to keep him from getting too big of a head. She had to make him as angry as possible, as often as possible.

What else are little sisters for?

She hid his schoolbooks. She flicked rubber bands at him while he was talking on the phone. When his friends came over, she was extremely nice to them, so they always asked her to hang out and play video games. This drove Greg crazier than anything else.

"Don't you guys get it?!" he would yell. "She's such a little brat!"

"Nah, Greg, you're nuts," one of his friends would say. "Sandy's all right. She's way better than my little sister. She drives me crazy."

When none of his friends were looking, Sandy would stick her tongue out at Greg. This would make him even angrier.

But now that Greg was almost 16, there was something even more important to him than the approval of his buddies. More than anything else, Greg wanted to learn to drive a car. He wanted to be the best in the city, the best in the state. He wanted his driver's license so badly, ReadWorks.org · © 2014 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.

Backseat Driver

the tips of his fingers sometimes hurt from thinking about holding it. Sandy knew how important it was to him, and she was going to make sure he never got it.

He'd just finished Driver's Ed, but Dad insisted Greg practice driving with him a few times before trying for his test.

"Driving with an instructor is one thing," Dad said, "but until you're comfortable driving with a few people, I'm never letting you touch my car. We're going to your aunt's for dinner. Why don't you drive the whole family?"

"Sure thing," said Greg, his eyes shimmering with anticipation.

This would be Sandy's big chance.

After the family climbed into the car, Greg took a few minutes to get ready. He adjusted his seat, fiddled with his mirrors, and familiarized himself with the air-conditioner and windshield wipers, even though it wasn't hot outside or raining. For all of his confidence, he was starting to look nervous. He was about to turn on the car when Sandy made her first attack.

"Do you have your learner's permit?" she asked from the back seat.

"Of course," said Greg.

"Maybe you should check your wallet."

Greg looked at her for a few seconds longer than he needed to before reaching into his back pocket and hauling out his wallet.

"It's not here."

"Well you can't drive without it," said Dad.

"That's right," said Sandy. "It's the law."

"It was in there this morning!"

"Sure it was."

"Be quiet, Sandy."

"Don't worry about it," said Dad. "I'll drive."

"No! I'm driving. Just wait here."


Backseat Driver

Greg threw open the car door and tore into his bedroom. He upended his sheets and all the papers on his bed. He yanked his bedside table drawer so hard it almost flew onto the floor. He checked the pockets of the pants he wore the day before, and he looked in all his shirts. The permit was nowhere to be found.

Outside, Sandy hummed happily to herself. Everything was going as planned.

Greg returned flushed, but smiling, the permit displayed proudly in his hand.

"Where did you find it?" asked Sandy, trying to conceal her nervousness.

"The strangest place. It was in the medicine cabinet...in your bathroom."

"How odd," said Dad, as Greg pulled out of the driveway.

Sandy's first attempt had failed, but she was not defeated yet. She had been reading about safe driving online and spent the whole ride giving Greg unasked-for pointers about the speed limit, turn signals, and when it was safe to merge lanes.

"Remember to keep your hands at ten and two," she said.

"I know where to put my hands!"

"There's no need to yell."

"Just be quiet, please. You don't even know how to drive."

"By the looks of it, neither do you."

Despite her sabotage, Greg kept his head. They were nearly at their aunt's house when Sandy was forced to resort to her final trick. She grabbed her stomach and lurched forward in her seat.

"Oh no," she said. "My tummy."

"Are you okay, sweetheart?" asked Dad.

"I don't feel well. I think Greg's driving is upsetting my stomach. He's all over the road!"

"Pull over, Greg."

"But Dad-"

"Pull over! Your sister is going to be sick. I'll drive the rest of the way."


Backseat Driver

Sandy smiled as the car stopped, and her father stepped out. Greg turned to look at her, his mouth pulled back in a tight little snarl.

"Why did you do it?"

"Do what?"

"Why are you trying to mess up my driver's license? Come on, Sandy! This is really, just...you know how important this is to me."

Sandy looked at him, more upset than he'd been in years-not angry, even, just sad-and her stomach flooded with that rancid feeling that told her she'd done something awful.

"I don't know," she said. "I just...when you get your driver's license, you're going to be gone all the time. You'll never want to hang out with me."

Dad knocked on the car window, waiting for Greg to get out.

"One sec, Dad!" Greg paused for a moment, intent on his sister. "When you get your driver's license, where's the first place you'll go?"

"I don't know...the ice cream place, the mall, the movies."

Greg got out of the car and let his father in. When Greg was settled into the passenger seat, he said, "Dad-when I get my license, the first place I'm going is the ice cream place. Then the mall, then the movies, then the ice cream place again. And I'm taking Sandy with me."

Huh, thought Sandy. Maybe her brother wasn't such a bad driver after all.


ReadWorks Vocabulary - approval

approval

ap·prov·al

Definitionnoun

1. the act of approving.

You need the approval of your doctor before you can leave the hospital.


1. the act of approving.

You need the approval of the supervisor before you can go ahead with the project.

2. favor, sanction, or positive regard.

The new mayor worked hard to win the approval of the people.

Spanish cognate

aprobación: The Spanish word aprobación means approval.


1. What does in-crowd entry take? The criteria vary from culture to culture and even school to school. Nonetheless, teens worldwide worry about popularity. As people grow from children to adults, seeking approval from peers is normal, explains Mitchell Prinstein, a psychologist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

2. "The judicial branch is the system of courts. It is headed by the U.S. Supreme Court, which is made up of nine justices. They are appointed by the president with the advice and approval of the Senate."

3. "'Yeah, friends. Well, about that...You see, it's just that Kelly will bring in a lot more business for our dad's company,' says Trent. Boyd nods in approval. 'It's nothing personal. You're a nice dude and all. But Kelly has a little more...spirit.'"

4. "You might not have heard of polio before. That's because 50 years ago, on April 12, 1955, the U.S. government approved the use of a vaccine that stopped people from getting the disease. Invented by Jonas Salk, the vaccine all but eradicated polio worldwide. To commemorate the anniversary of the vaccine's approval, the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C., has an exhibit called 'Whatever Happened to Polio?'"


ReadWorks Vocabulary - permit

permit

per·mit

Definitionverb

1. to allow (someone or something) to go into or be in a place.

The hospital does not permit visitors after nine o'clock.

2. to allow; let.

She will not permit her boyfriend to drive her car.

Smoking is not permitted in the bank.

noun

1. a written statement that officially allows someone to do something; license.

He got a building permit for the new porch.

The officer asked to see his fishing permit.

Advanced Definitiontransitive verb

1. to allow the entrance or the presence of.

The hotel does not permit dogs.

This ticket permits two people, not just one.

The children were not permitted at the table with the guests.

2. to allow or authorize.

The rules don't permit non-members to use the pool.

Her parents won't permit her to wear makeup.

The city council permitted the demonstration.

The school permits going outside during lunch, but students may not leave the

school grounds.



The company permits smoking in designated areas.

For years, she had permitted her husband's swearing at her and ridiculing her,

but now that was over.

3. to give the opportunity for or to.

They cut the tree to permit the passage of electric lines.

intransitive verb

1. to grant or provide an opportunity.

The concert will be outdoors if the weather permits.

noun

1. a written statement that authorizes or allows certain conduct or activity; license.

You'll have to get a building permit before you can start the expansion.

He can practice driving now that he has his learner's permit.

Spanish cognate

permitir: The Spanish word permitir means permit.


1. In 2013 the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation program issued permits to hunt the snakes within state wildlifemanaged areas of the Everglades. Sixtyeight animals were captured.

2. But Lincoln did not believe he had the legal right to free the slaves in the "border states," which included Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, and Missouri. These states had remained loyal to the Union. All four states permitted slavery.

3. Brown's men were able to cut the telegraph wire, which was important to prevent communication with the government, and seize a passing train. However, the train was foolishly permitted to continue on. This was a mistake, as the conductor alerted authorities about the raid farther along on his route.

4. Even if no new permits for mountaintop removal mines are issued, the problem of how to reclaim the postmined sites remains. Researchers at Virginia Tech decided to try using biochar to help reforest the postmining site soil. They got permission to apply a layer of biochar to a postmining site before it was reseeded and replanted. What the team found was that the biochar worked, but not as well as they had hoped.

5. Trading in ivory is permitted in Sudan as long as the shopkeeper has a government license. The merchants may sell only old ivory, carved before 1990.



6. The telescope had discovered 1,235 possible exoplanets orbiting 997 stars. The find includes 68 about the size of Earth and 54 planets in what scientists call the Goldilocks zone-the zone around a star that permits liquid surface water, considered an essential condition to produce life.

7. But whether the genetically modified trees can be grown in the wild comes down to whether government regulators think those added genes are dangerous. Right now, these trees are only permitted to be planted in specific areas where there is no danger of spreading pollen to other, non-genetically modified trees.


Backseat Driver - Comprehension Questions

Name: ___________________________________ Date: _______________

1. What does Sandy consider her calling?

A. making her brother angry

B. learning how to drive

C. preventing her brother from getting his license

D. being nice to her brother's friends

2. What are the results of Sandy's actions during the car ride to her aunt's house?

A. Sandy's brother does not get his driver's license.

B. Sandy's brother crashes the car.

C. Sandy's brother gets upset with her.

D. Sandy's brother is not allowed to drive home.

3. Sandy purposefully hid Greg's learner's permit. What evidence from the story

supports this conclusion?

A. "Greg returned flushed, but smiling, the permit displayed proudly in his hand."

B. "Greg threw open the car door and tore into his bedroom."

C. "'Well you can't drive without it,' said Dad."

D. "Outside, Sandy hummed happily to herself. Everything was going as planned."

4. Read the following sentence: "Sandy looked at him, more upset than he'd been in

years-not angry, even, just sad-and her stomach flooded with that rancid feeling that

told her she'd done something awful."

How does Sandy likely feel about her actions?

A. successful

B. regretful

C. annoyed

D. unapologetic



5. What is this story mostly about?

A. a girl who tries to stop her brother from getting his driver's license

B. why little sisters always annoy their big brothers

C. safety tips to follow when learning to drive a car

D. the relationship between a father and his son and daughter

6. Read the following sentences: "Greg was 15 years old, a skinny kid who seemed to

get an inch taller every month and a little bit more stuck-up every day. Sandy's mission

in life was to keep him from getting too big of a head."

What does the phrase "getting too big of a head" mean?

A. having very low self-esteem

B. believing in unrealistic scenarios

C. thinking too highly of yourself

D. having a head that grows too much

7. Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below.

__________ Greg thinks that Sandy is a brat, Greg's friends think Sandy is all right.

A. Finally

B. Although

C. Specifically

D. Initially

8. What does Greg want more than anything else?



9. Explain how Sandy tries to sabotage Greg on the car ride to their aunt's house.

10. Sandy's actions do not represent her feelings towards her brother. Explain whether

this statement is accurate or not based on information in the passage.


Backseat Driver - Vocabulary: approval

Name: ___________________________________ Date: _______________

1. What is a meaning of the word approval?

A. a discussion intended to produce an agreement

B. a feeling of liking something or someone good

C. growths such as molds, mildews, and mushrooms

2. What is another meaning of the word approval?

A. the male reproductive cell

B. acceptance as satisfactory

C. a particular point in time


3. This means that the actions of each branch have to be _____ by another branch.

A. disapproved

B. approves

C. approved

D. disapproving

E. approve

F. approval

G. disapproval

4. He gave me a big nod of _____.

A. disapproved

B. approves

C. approved

D. disapproving

E. approve

F. approval

G. disapproval



5. This means that both the House and the Senate can write a law, but the other one

has to _____ it.

A. disapproved

B. approves

C. approved

D. disapproving

E. approve

F. approval

G. disapproval

6. It was not anger, nor surprise, nor _____, nor horror, nor any of the sentiments that

she had been prepared for.

A. disapproved

B. approves

C. approved

D. disapproving

E. approve

F. approval

G. disapproval

7. She enrolled in an acting school at fifteen, but her parents _____.

A. disapproved

B. approves

C. approved

D. disapproving

E. approve

F. approval

G. disapproval



8. Since your father _____, I won't keep you, said his mother.

A. disapproved

B. approves

C. approved

D. disapproving

E. approve

F. approval

G. disapproval

9. Barbara saw Mama's chin set in a _____ way.

A. disapproved

B. approves

C. approved

D. disapproving

E. approve

F. approval

G. disapproval

10. Please write your own sentence using the word approval.



11. What would you like to remember about the meaning of the word approval so that



Backseat Driver - Vocabulary: permit

Name: ___________________________________ Date: _______________

1. What is a meaning of the word permit?

A. a written license

B. fasten with a lock

C. prepare a hot meal

2. What is another meaning of the word permit?

A. issue or terminate (in a specified way, state, etc.)

B. a legal document giving official permission to do something

C. make clean by removing dirt, filth, or unwanted substances from


3. The Roman Empire grew by _____ people in conquered lands to become citizens.

A. permissible

B. permitting

C. permitted

D. permit

E. permits

F. permission

G. permissive

4. Illinois used to issue alligator _____, but stopped three years ago because of

problems with illegal ownership and people releasing unwanted pets.

A. permissible

B. permitting

C. permitted

D. permit

E. permits

F. permission

G. permissive



5. This does not mean she was entirely _____.

A. permissible

B. permitting

C. permitted

D. permit

E. permits

F. permission

G. permissive

6. If you don't like what is served, it is _____ to refuse it.

A. permissible

B. permitting

C. permitted

D. permit

E. permits

F. permission

G. permissive

7. Have a parent sign the back of this form to show that your family will _____ you to go.

A. permissible

B. permitting

C. permitted

D. permit

E. permits

F. permission

G. permissive



8. Just ask us for _____ the next time you need something.

A. permissible

B. permitting

C. permitted

D. permit

E. permits

F. permission

G. permissive

9. The aunt _____ herself a smile, which might almost have been described as a grin.

A. permissible

B. permitting

C. permitted

D. permit

E. permits

F. permission

G. permissive

10. Please write your own sentence using the word permit.



11. What would you like to remember about the meaning of the word permit so that you



Spring Into Poetry

Spring Into Poetry

Fun With Poetry

Learn about three types of poems.

Let's celebrate the season of spring with poetry! Spring is a time when life begins again. Flowers bloom. Many baby animals are born. Which poem is your favorite?

RhymingIn a rhyming poem, the same sounds of two or more words repeat. The words that rhyme are often at the ends of lines.

The poem below is a quatrain. It has four lines in each stanza. A stanza is a grouping of lines. In a quatrain, the last words in lines two and four must rhyme. Can you find the rhyming words below?

Juniors Bildarchiv/Photolibrary

Hello AgainListen! Do you hear it?

The quacking of beaks,

As mallards return

ReadWorks.orgCopyright © 2009 Weekly Reader Corporation. All rights reserved. Used by permission.Weekly Reader is a registered trademark of Weekly Reader

Corporation.

Spring Into Poetry

To lakes, ponds, and creeks.

They've come back to build nests,

And sunbathe on rocks,

And raise little ducklings

To add to their flocks.

- Marie E. Cecchini

AcrosticIn an acrostic poem, each line describes the topic word. Each letter of the word starts a new line. This poem about a flower uses the letters in the word flower to begin each line.

Paul McCormick/Getty Images

FragrantLovelyOpened wideWind blowsEager beeReady

- Rachelle Kreisman

HaikuA haiku (HIGH-koo) is a type of poem from Japan. It is usually about nature. A haiku has three lines. The first line has five syllables. The second line has seven syllables. The third line has


Corporation.

Spring Into Poetry

five syllables.

Stephanie Krause-Wieczorek/Photolibrary

The ColtFrisky-full of pep.

Galloping through the green grass.

Always moving. Free.

- Connie Unsworth


Corporation.

ReadWorks Vocabulary - bloom

bloom

bloom


1. a flower; blossom.

A cactus may be a tough plant, but its blooms are delicate and beautiful.

2. the state or time of being in blossom.

Let's take some pictures while the tulips are in bloom.

3. the state or time of being in peak condition; prime.

These years saw the bloom of his creative genius.

4. a fresh glow or rosiness of the cheeks.

It was good to see the bloom back in her cheeks after weeks of illness.

5. in botany, a delicate coating on the surface of some leaves and fruits that resembles powder.

Bloom can be found on the surface of the plum.

intransitive verb

1. to produce flowers.

The daffodils are blooming, and the tulips will follow.

2. to flourish.

New ideas were blooming during these liberal times.

3. to be in a healthy, vigorous condition.

Having fully recovered from the illness, the child is now blooming.


1. Spring is the season when most apple trees start to bloom.

2. In June, Rome was warm and the roses were in bloom.

3. The air was crisp, the flowers were in bloom, and the birds chirped merrily in the trees.

4. Green grass grows, and flowers bloom!

5. The Harlem Renaissance was in full bloom.

6. They say the weather is warmer for longer periods now, so plants bloom longer.

7. Ricardo discovered he had a talent for imagining what the garden would look like in bloom and deciding which plants should go where.


Spring Into Poetry - Comprehension Questions

Name: ___________________________________ Date: _______________

1. What is a quatrain?

A. a kind of poem in which each line describes the topic word

B. a kind of poem in which each line has a specific number of syllables

C. a kind of poem in which the last words in lines two and four rhyme

D. a kind of poem in which none of the words rhyme

2. What does the acrostic poem by Rachelle Kreisman describe?

A. a flower in the springtime

B. the sound of ducks quacking

C. a young horse, galloping in a field

D. flocks of little ducklings

3. Read these sentences from the text.

"In a rhyming poem, the same sounds of two or more words repeat. The words that

rhyme are often at the ends of lines.

The poem ['Hello Again'] is a quatrain. It has four lines in each stanza. A stanza is a

grouping of lines. In a quatrain, the last words in lines two and four must rhyme."

Based on this information, what can you infer about the relationship between rhyming

poems and quatrains?

A. A rhyming poem is a kind of quatrain.

B. A quatrain is a kind of rhyming poem.

C. A rhyming poem is the same thing as a quatrain.

D. Rhyming poems and quatrains have nothing in common.



4. Read this poem from the text.

"The Colt

Frisky-full of pep.

Galloping through the green grass.

Always moving. Free."

How could the colt in this poem be described?

A. tired and upset

B. lost and sad

C. energetic and lively

D. happy and hungry

5. What is this text mostly about?

A. the ducks returning to lakes, ponds, and creeks in the spring

B. the celebration of spring through three different kinds of poems

C. all of the different kinds of poems that exist

D. the different ways that bees pollinate flowers in the spring

6. Why might the author have included three poems in the passage?

A. to give an example of each kind of poem described in the passage

B. to persuade readers that all poems should rhyme

C. to explain the difference between a stanza and a quatrain

D. to compare and contrast acrostic poems with haikus



7. Read this excerpt from a poem from the text.

"Listen! Do you hear it?

The quacking of beaks,

As mallards return

To lakes, ponds, and creeks."

What does the word "it" refer to here?

A. the lakes, ponds, and creeks

B. the sound of mallards building nests

C. the little ducklings added to the flocks

D. the quacking of beaks

8. A haiku has three lines. How many syllables are in each line of a haiku?

9. What makes "Hello Again" a quatrain?

Support your answer with evidence from the text.



10. Contrast haikus and quatrains, using the poems "Hello Again" and "The Colt" from

the text.


Spring Into Poetry - Vocabulary: bloom

Name: ___________________________________ Date: _______________

1. What is a meaning of the word bloom?

A. works for an expert to learn a trade

B. an asset of special worth or utility

C. to glow with youthful, healthy color

2. What is another meaning of the word bloom?

A. a special right

B. a strong belief

C. to have flowers


3. To attract moths, a flowers' _____ must stay open when there is no sunlight.

A. bloom

B. blooms

C. bloomed

D. blooming

4. When rain came, some plants _____.

A. bloom

B. blooms

C. bloomed

D. blooming

5. It was _____ in the grass.

A. bloom

B. blooms

C. bloomed

D. blooming


Spring Into Poetry - Vocabulary: bloom

6. They may grow into other daffodils, but they will take years to _____.

A. bloom

B. blooms

C. bloomed

D. blooming

7. Please write your own sentence using the word bloom.

8. What would you like to remember about the meaning of the word bloom so that you



How Charlie Got Her Chopsticks

How Charlie Got Her Chopsticksby ReadWorks

kimchi

The new boy bent his head over his desk, quickly scribbling in the answers to his math homework. The teacher had introduced him this morning as Jin, a student from South Korea, who had recently moved to the United States.

Charlie watched him, feeling confu

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