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Inventions
Written by Ned Jensen

© 2006
Learning Page
All rights reserved.

Learning Page
1630 E. River Road #121
Tucson, AZ 85718

Photos:
© ArtToday; back cover, © UnitedStates Patent and Trademark Office; © Library of Congress; © Hemera Technologies; © Bettmann/CORBIS; ©
Associated Press, AP; © 2006 Felix-Fechenbach-Berufskollegpage; © ProQuest LearningPage; © Bruce Kluckhohn/TimeLife Pictures/Getty Images

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Introduction
Every day, people all over the world come
up with new inventions, and these
inventions often give us a better way to do
something. Most inventions make life easier
or more enjoyable. An invention isn’t
always a thing. An invention can also be a
process. For example processes for making
certain kinds of metals, glass, or even
cheese.

Inventions Follow Inventions

One invention often leads to another
invention. For example, consider the wheel.
Long ago, the only way people could get
from place to place was to walk. It took
days to walk long distances, until finally
someone invented the wheel. Next, people
started putting wheels on logs and boards.
These simple carts made it easier to carry
goods and people. Pulling the carts was less
work than walking and made it easier to
travel farther distances. Then people started
using horses, oxen, and mules to pull the
carts.
In the 1800s, the gasoline engine was
invented. Engines have led to the invention
of many other things that help move people
and goods from place to place. Some of
these inventions are steamboats, cars, trains,
and airplanes. These inventions now help
people and goods cross entire continents in
just a few days or even hours, and over time
more inventions made engines better.
Today, jet engines help planes fly around
the world in just a few hours; and of course
the jet engine led to the invention of the
rocket engine, which led to space
exploration.
When people invent something, they
usually apply for a patent. A patent ensures
that only the person who owns the patent
can make or sell the invention. If you have a
patent, no one else can take your idea.
Need Is the Mother of Invention
Sometimes when people want to explore
new places, such as space, the moon, the
stars, and other planets they need new
inventions. It is said that “need is the
mother of all invention.” So, for example,
scientists needed to invent ways for people
to breathe in outer space and they needed
to invent new materials to keep both
humans and spacecraft safe from extreme
temperatures. In fact, many new products
were invented because people wanted to
explore outer space.
The Computer: Then and Now
Of all the inventions over the last 50 years,
none has changed our lives more than the
computer. The computer is a complex
machine and lots of people have helped
make the computer what it is today.
Many historians believe that a German
named Konrad Zuse invented the first
computer in 1941. Soon after, two
professors from Iowa State University in the
United States invented a more powerful
computer. It was the size of a desk and it
had more than 300 vacuum tubes and used
one mile of wire. It weighed 700 pounds.
Then, in 1944, two inventors worked
together to build an even bigger and better

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computer. It was 16.8 meters (55 feet) long

and 2.4 meters (8 feet) high. It filled a giant
room and weighed 4.5 metric tons (10,000
lbs). In 1947, the transistor was invented.
This meant that computers no longer
needed hundreds of large vacuum tubes,
and smaller computers could be built. The
invention of integrated circuits later
replaced multiple electronic parts—putting
them all into one part—making computers
even smaller.

Then microprocessors were invented, which

combined large numbers of integrated
circuits into one microchip. These
improvements led to the computers we use
today. However, computers still needed
other inventions like operating systems, and
software; and then people wanted smaller
screens and an easy-to-use mouse. More
and more inventions were created as people
discovered new things to do with the
computer.

Computers then made way for the Internet,

a whole new way of communicating and
working. Web pages, e-mail, and high-
speed Internet connections soon followed.
These things made communicating and
working with people all over the world
easy. Imagine what the computer and other
related inventions will lead to over the next
50 years.

Conclusion
You might think that all the important
things have been invented already, and that
there is little left to invent, but that’s just not
true. There is always a need to make things
better, and with each new invention and
creation another one is sure to follow.

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Vocabulary
Read the text again and identify words you do not understand.

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Worksheet 1
Identify the main sections of the text and record them in the table below. For each section, scan
the text to find the main ideas. Then look for the most important details that support each main
idea and record them in the details column.

SECTION MAIN IDEAS IMPORTANT DETAILS

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Worksheet 2
Add the -ing suffix to each word below. Use the new word in a sentence.

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Worksheet 3
Think of synonyms for each word below and then use the synonyms in a sentence.

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Comprehension Check
Read each question and choose the best answer.

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Mysteries of the
Lost Civilization
Written by David L. Dreier

© 2006
Learning Page
All rights reserved.

Learning Page
1630 E. River Road #121
Tucson, AZ 85718

Photos:
© Gianni Dagli Orti/CORBIS, © Royalty-Free/CORBIS; © ArtToday; © Yann Arthus-Bertrand/CORBIS; © Gustavo Tomsich/CORBIS; © Gail
Mooney/CORBIS; © PhotoDisc; © CORBIS; Library of Congress

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The Island of Crete Minoans raised sheep and grew olives and
South of Greece in the Mediterranean Sea grapes, and as the people’s ability to create
there is a large, mountainous island called goods such as olive oil, wine, and wool
Crete. Today, Crete is a part of the country increased, their civilization grew.
of Greece, but long ago it was an
independent nation and was home to the
Minoan civilization.

Between the years 2600 BC and 1450 BC, the

Minoan civilization prospered on Crete.
Hundreds of years of trading with other
countries around the Mediterranean made
the Minoans very rich. Then suddenly the
Minoan civilization disappeared. How
could a rich nation that was a leader among
other nations suddenly disappear?

The First People in Crete

The first people on Crete settled on the
island about 8,000 years ago. Researchers
believe they came from what is present-day
Turkey. Since Crete is an island, people had
to use ships to settle there. These people
would have brought their knowledge of
farming and of the sea.
Researchers have learned that the soil on
Crete was good for growing food. The
island’s forests were also full of trees that
the Minoans used to build ships. The
The Minoan Culture
By about 3000 BC, the Minoans had become
great traders. The Minoans traded their
goods with their Mediterranean neighbors
for gemstones, ivory, silver, gold, and
copper. These things were not found on
Crete so the people valued them. The
Minoans grew rich through trade and over
time the Minoan civilization became more
advanced. They had a system of writing

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and created many fine works of art, such as
pottery and jewelry. They built cities and
connected them with paved roads. They
also built beautiful houses and large
palaces. The palaces became the centers of
Minoan society.
Researchers have studied Minoan works of
art, which show scenes of daily life such as
people farming, sailing, and celebrating.
They show how Minoans dressed and wore
their hair. Another important thing to
understand about the Minoans is that their
artwork shows very few battle scenes,
which tells us that the Minoan people were
mostly peaceful and had few enemies.
The Minoan civilization reached its peak
around 1700 BC. Then, beginning in about
1450 BC, the civilization collapsed. There is
evidence that many of its cities and palaces
burned. By about 1100 BC, the Minoan
civilization no longer existed. Researchers
have tried to solve the mystery of what
happened to the Minoans by studying the
evidence.
The Explosion of Thera
The Minoans lived near an island called
Thera (now called Santorini). The island
was about 40 kilometers (70 miles) north of
Crete. The island of Thera had been an
active volcano off and on for thousands of
years. During the time of the Minoans, the
volcano had been quiet for so long that
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people thought the island was safe.
However, hot magma was building deep
beneath the island. The build-up of magma
caused great pressure within the mountain
and caused a number of earthquakes.
Finally, the volcano erupted with incredible
force.
The eruption of Thera was one of the most
powerful eruptions in history. Large
amounts of rock, hot gas, and ash were
blown into the sky, and rocks and ash fell
onto the islands close to Thera. Small rocks,
gases, and ash also formed a gigantic dark
cloud in the sky.
Thera’s eruption was so big it caused a
huge tsunami estimated to have been 100
feet high. The tsunami crashed onto shores
around the Mediterranean. Many islands
were covered with water, and entire cities
were lost. After the eruption, all that was
left of the middle of the island of Thera was
a large hole (called a “caldera”). The
caldera filled up with water and the island
of Thera became the shape of a crescent.
Did Thera Destroy the Minoans?
For a long time, researchers thought that
the eruption of Thera caused the
disappearance of the Minoan civilization.
However, later evidence showed that the
volcano on Thera erupted about 180 years
before the Minoans disappeared.
Some researchers now think that the
eruption of Thera may have played a part in
the Minoans’ disappearance. The tsunami
would have destroyed many of the Minoan
ships and ports along Crete’s coastline and
ruined crops as well. This would have left
the Minoans with few goods to trade and
few trading ships. The earthquakes before
the eruption could have destroyed many of
Crete’s cities as well. All these losses made
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the Minoans susceptible to enemies it had Because of the greatness of Minoan

never had before. civilization and that it seemed to suddenly
disappear, some people think it may be
The Greek Invasion Plato’s Atlantis. Some people think that by
studying Plato’s stories about Atlantis, they
Beginning in about 1450 BC, Crete was
can learn more about the collapse of the
invaded by people from Greece. They were
Minoan civilization. Whether or not Crete
called the Mycenaeans (my-suh-NEE-unz).
was Atlantis, many people are intrigued by
It was probably the Mycenaeans who struck
the mystery of the Minoan civilization.
the final blow that ended the Minoan
There may never be an answer to what
civilization. The Minoans were weakened
really happened to the Minoans, but one
by the eruption of Thera. They could not
thing is sure—the search for answers will
gather the strength they needed to keep
continue.
themselves safe from the Mycenaeans and
the Mycenaeans took over Minoan cities.
Researchers know this because tales of these
battles were written down and can still be
read today.

Many people know about the Mycenaeans

through a tale written by a man named
Homer. Homer lived around 1200 BC and
he wrote about the city of Troy and the
Mycenaeans’ fight to win back Helen.
Homer’s tale was believed to be fictional
until researchers discovered a very old city
in Turkey that seems to match the
description of Troy.

Was Crete Atlantis?

Many people are beginning to think that
Homer’s tales are real stories and contain
important information about ancient cities
and civilizations. They think that if
Homer’s stories have some truth, then
perhaps other ancient writers’ stories are
also true.

The famous Greek philosopher—Plato—

wrote about a great island country that
disappeared. He called the country Atlantis.
Plato said Atlantis had been destroyed by a
terrible disaster. The disaster caused the
country to sink under the sea, never to be
seen again.

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Vocabulary
Read the text again and identify words you do not understand.

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Worksheet 1
Identify the main sections of the text and record them in the table below. For each section, scan
the text to find the main ideas. Then look for the most important details that support each main
idea and record them in the details column.

SECTION MAIN IDEAS IMPORTANT DETAILS

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Worksheet 2
Choose two vocabulary words from Mysteries of the Lost Civilization and write them in the word
boxes. Then, write the definition of each word, a synonym, an antonym, and then use the word
in a sentence.

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Comprehension Check
Read each question and choose the best answer.

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Our Solar System

Written by Bruce D. Cooper

© 2002
Learning Page
All rights reserved.

Learning Page
1630 E. River Road #121
Tucson, AZ 85718

Photos:
NASA-NSSDC and SOHO (ESA & NASA)

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Introduction
Our solar system is made up of the Sun,
eight planets, and 68 moons. It also contains
dwarf planets, comets, asteroids, and clouds
of gas. The Sun is the center of the solar
system and everything else orbits the Sun.
Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars are the
inner, rocky planets and they are made of
rocky material. The outer planets are
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, and
are known as the gas giants because they
are made mostly of gases.
To get an idea of the size of things in our
solar system, imagine that Earth is a grape.
If Earth were the size of a grape, the Moon
would be the size of a green pea. The Sun
would be as big as a ball that an adult man
could stand in. Jupiter would be the size of
a grapefruit, while Saturn would be the size
of an orange. Uranus and Neptune would
be the size of lemons.
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The Sun
The Sun is a huge ball of burning gas that
sends energy far out into the solar system.
The Sun provides energy that supports all
life on Earth. The Sun also creates seasons,
climate, ocean currents, wind, and all
weather.
The Sun is just one of many billions of stars.
It has been around for approximately 4.6
billion years, and it will keep producing
energy for another 5 billion years. Before it
dies, the Sun will swell up and swallow
many of the inner planets. Then it will
shrink into a much smaller ball.
Mercury
Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun. It is
the smallest planet in our solar system. It
takes only 88 Earth days for Mercury to
make a complete orbit around the Sun,
whereas Earth takes 365 days to orbit the
Sun. Like all other planets, Mercury spins
as it goes around the Sun. It spins very
slowly—a day on Mercury is equal to 59
earth days. Because it spins so slowly,
Mercury gets very hot during the day and
very cold at night.
Venus
Venus and Earth are similar in size. But
Earth and Venus are very different. Venus
is covered by layers of very thick clouds.
These clouds trap most of the Sun’s heat, so
Venus gets very, very hot with
temperatures reaching 400˚C (752˚F).
As well as trapping in heat, the clouds of
Venus reflect sunlight. This makes Venus
one of the brightest objects in the sky.
Venus rotates even more slowly than
Mercury—one day on Venus is equal to 243
Earth days.
63

Earth
Earth is a very special planet because it is
the only planet in our solar system that can
support life. The most important difference
between Earth and other planets is the
presence of water, which covers nearly 70
percent of the Earth’s surface.
Earth’s atmosphere is unique because it is
made up of gases that living things need to
live. The atmosphere protects us from most
of the Sun’s harmful rays and also helps
protect us from meteors by causing them to
burn up before reaching Earth’s surface.
The Moon
The Moon is about one-fourth the size of
Earth. The origin of the Moon is unknown,
but most scientists believe that it came from
Earth when our planet was hit by an
enormous object from space. The Moon’s
gravitational pull causes Earth’s ocean
tides.
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun. It is
known as the red planet because of large
amounts of rust on its surface. Mars is the
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most Earth-like of all the planets in our
solar system. Mars has seasons similar to
Earth’s, and the soil is similar to the Earth’s
soil. However, there is very little oxygen or
water vapor in Mars’ atmosphere. The
climate on Mars changes widely between
seasons. Temperatures on its surface can
range from 30˚C (86°F) in the summer to
–130˚C (–202°F) in the winter.
Mars often has winds that blow up to 200
kilometers per hour (120 mph). These winds
cause huge dust storms that color the
planet’s atmosphere pink. There are ice
caps on both poles of Mars. The northern
one is made up mostly of ice that never
melts, while the southern pole is made of
carbon dioxide, which melts during the
summer. Mars has two small moons,
Phobos and Deimos. A year on Mars is
almost as long as two Earth years. A day on
Mars lasts only thirty minutes longer than a
day on Earth.
Jupiter
Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar
system. It is like a star in many ways
because it is made up mostly of gas clouds
and produces its own heat. The clouds of
Jupiter form bands that have very high
winds and are always very stormy. Jupiter’s
temperature is very cold at the tops of the
clouds, but beneath the clouds it is much
hotter.

In some ways, Jupiter is like a mini-solar
system because it is so big and has 16
moons and several thin rings around it.
Jupiter spins quickly—one day on Jupiter is
roughly 10 Earth hours. However, it takes
Jupiter almost 12 Earth years to complete its
orbit around the Sun.
Saturn
Saturn is the sixth planet of the solar
system. It is easy to recognize because of its
large, visible rings. The rings are made up
of millions of pieces of ice and frozen gases.
Saturn has 23 moons.
Saturn is not as dense as other planets. It is
the only planet less dense than water, which
means Saturn could float. Saturn spins very
fast—one day on Saturn is only ten and
one-half Earth hours.
Uranus
Uranus is the seventh planet of the solar
system and the third largest. It looks blue-
green in color because of methane gas in its
atmosphere. Uranus seems to roll around
the Sun because it is tilted. Scientists think
this might be because it bumped into
another large object long ago. Uranus has 18
moons and 11 known rings. It takes Uranus
81 Earth years to go around the Sun.
Neptune
Neptune is the eighth planet from the Sun.
Neptune and Uranus are sometimes called
the twin giants because they are so much
alike. They are about the same size, and
they both glow with the same blue-green
color, and like Uranus, Neptune is covered
with thick clouds. Neptune has at least 8
moons and 5 dust rings. It takes Neptune
about 165 Earth years to go around the Sun.
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Pluto
Before 2006, Pluto was the ninth planet of
our solar system. However, scientists, after
much debate, voted to create a new
category called dwarf planets for space
objects like Pluto. Three space objects have
been categorized as dwarf planets: Pluto,
Ceres, and UB313.
Asteroids & Comets
Asteroids—rocky, metallic objects orbiting
the Sun—are also part of our solar system.
Asteroids and meteoroids that float in space
are called meteors. If they enter the Earth’s
atmosphere, most burn up, but if they
survive and land on the Earth’s surface,
they are called meteorites.
Comets are another type of space object.
They are composed of ice and dust and
have oval-shaped orbits. During their orbit,
they come close to the Sun and then they
move far out into space. Some comets orbit
the Sun in less than 200 years, while other
comets take thousands of years to complete
their orbit. For example, Halley’s Comet
returns every 76 years, whereas Comet
Hyakutake, which passed close to Earth in
1996, won’t return for 9,000 years.
Conclusion
Humans are fascinated with outer space
and we are curious about other solar
systems and about the universe. As
technology continues to advance, many of
the space adventures that are now only
fantasy may become a very real part of
mankind’s future.
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Vocabulary
Read the text again and identify words you do not understand.

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Worksheet 1
Read the text again and fill in the information for each planet.

PLANET SIZE DAY ORBIT MOONS WEATHER

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Worksheet 2
Write a paragraph using the sentences below with the proper punctuation and capitalization.

jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system

it is like a star in many ways because it is made up mostly of gas clouds

the clouds of jupiter form bands that have very high winds and are

always very stormy

scientists believe one storm is like a huge hurricane

it is called the great red spot

this storm is about three times the size of earth

jupiters temperature is very cold at the tops of the clouds

beneath the upper layer of clouds it is much hotter

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Comprehension Check
Read each question and choose the best answer.

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Mozart
Written by Bertha E. Bush
Illustrated by Stephen Marchesi

© 2002
Learning Page
All rights reserved.

Learning Page
1630 E. River Road #121
Tucson, AZ 85718

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The Toddler Pianist exactly right. He forgot everything else—he

Leopold Mozart walked into the chapel in
Salzburg, Austria followed by his two small
children. “I’d like to sign my daughter
Nannerl up for music lessons. She is eight
years old, and I already believe she has
quite a talent for music,” he said to the
organist. The organist, Anton, smirked a bit,
for he knew how Leopold could boast about
his children. “So, when will you be signing
up the little boy?” Anton asked.
didn’t even notice his father and sister
standing behind him, nor his father
shouting for the organist to come see. He
was completely devoted to the music. He
began changing the scales, even inventing
simple tunes of his own. Leopold stared at
his young son Wolfgang. The boy was a
musical prodigy.

Leopold laughed at the joke, for little

Wolfgang was only three years old. “Not
for at least five years. I think eight is
certainly young enough.”

The organist promised to sign Nannerl up.

Before Leopold left, he called Nannerl over
to the church piano. “Come, I will give you
a beginner lesson,” he said. Nannerl ran
over to her father, and Wolfgang toddled
happily after her. “Me too, Papa, me too!”
he cried.

“No, no, Wolfgang, you are too small,” said

his father. “Pianos are not meant for little
folks to touch, so please go outside and
play.”

Wolfgang turned around obediently. If his

father had seen the disappointed look on
little Wolfgang’s face, it would have broken
his heart. Wolfgang went outside and
played near the door of the church, but his
every thought was on the piano.
The Child Wonder
After Nannerl and Leopold had finished,
Mozart played music as naturally as he
they went to speak with the organist again.
breathed. When he was four years old, it
Wolfgang crept up to the piano and put his
took him only half an hour to learn a
little hands on the keyboard. He began to
difficult piece of music. If he heard the
play the simple scales he had heard his big
piece, even if he heard it only once, he
sister practicing.
could memorize it instantly. When
Wolfgang was five, Leopold and a friend
The sound entranced him, and he played
came in to find him bent over a piece of
the scales over and over, playing them
paper and writing big, black notes,

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smearing and splattering ink everywhere.
“Wolfgang, what are you doing?” his father
asked.
“Papa, I’m writing a concerto,” Mozart said,
his little eyes shining. His father picked up
the paper and laughed, but soon his
amusement turned to amazement. It was a
concerto, composed for several instruments.
He could see that the notes were correct,
despite the smears and blotches. “But
Wolfgang, this music would be too difficult
for anyone to play,” he said. “Oh, no, it
would only take some practice. See, it goes
like this,” said Wolfgang, and he ran to the
piano. He placed his smudged paper on the
music stand and began to play.
His father’s friend had been laughing—
he’d assumed Leopold was just playing
along with Wolfgang, but now he saw that
the child was a true wonder. “You ought to
travel with him,” the friend suggested. “He
should be playing for emperors, for kings
and queens.” “Perhaps I will,” said his
father.
The following year, when Wolfgang was
only six years old, he and Nannerl started
on tour. Wherever Wolfgang went to play,
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people would giggle at him. He was so
small compared to the big piano that his
feet couldn’t touch the floor. However,
when he began to play, the audiences fell
silent. His playing was perfect and
beautiful. The first place they went to play
was in Vienna, the capital of Austria. On
the way, they stopped to visit a monastery
in the little town of Ipo. There was a great
pipe organ in the chapel.
“I want to play on it,” Wolfgang said.
“Papa, explain the pedals to me.”
Wolfgang’s father helped his son onto the
high stool. He was too small to even
operate the pedals, so he walked across
them instead. The music poured out of the
chapel, growing more and more powerful.
The monks, who had been at dinner, rushed
into the room, but Wolfgang was so small,
the monks could not see him, and they
thought the organ was playing itself. “It’s
an angel!” they cried. “Such music must
come from heaven!”
Wolfgang was also very charming.
Everywhere he went, people were
enchanted with this little musician. The
customs officials asked him why he came to
Vienna. “I came to play the piano,” he said.
“Why, you’re no bigger than a chicken. You
can’t be old enough to play anything but a
whistle.”
“I’ll show you,” Wolfgang said. He asked
the officials to open the box containing his
piano, and the little boy began to play right
in the customs house. A crowd gathered
around in awe. The head of customs
immediately gave the order to let the
Mozart family through without difficulty.
After playing in Vienna, Wolfgang was
invited to spend the day with the royal
children. One of the princesses was the
famous Marie Antoinette, who was just a
little girl about Wolfgang’s age. Wolfgang

liked her very much. She showed him
around the palace, but Wolfgang was not
used to such smoothly polished floors, and
he slipped and fell. All the children laughed
except Marie. After she helped him up,
Wolfgang said, “When I am a man, I will
marry you.” The princess’s servant gasped.
Then Wolfgang put his arms around Marie
and gave her a big kiss. “Dreadful!” cried
the servant, for it was never allowed for a
common person to touch royalty. But Marie
only laughed, took Wolfgang’s hand, and
gave him a kiss back.
The Poor Young Man
Wolfgang and his father toured all around
Europe. Wolfgang’s fame grew, and he
became a very handsome young man. But
unfortunately, the life of a musician did not
pay well in those days. People were less
impressed with his playing as he got older.
After all, a six-year-old musician was a
marvel, but a 20-year-old musician was
nothing new.
For his entire adult life, Wolfgang Mozart
was very poor. Once, a friend came to visit
him and found Wolfgang and his young
wife waltzing around their apartment—
they were dancing to try and keep warm,
because they could not afford fuel.
Wolfgang’s wife, Constance, was often ill.
They also had little children to take care of.
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Everyone agreed that his music was
wonderful, but writing, selling, and playing
music did not bring in much money.
The Requiem
One day when Mozart was thirty-six, a tall
stranger pounded on his door. Without
saying a word, he handed Mozart an
envelope. Inside was some money and an
order for Mozart to write a requiem. Nothing
in the envelope said whom it was for.
“It is for me,” Mozart said to Constance. “I
feel it in my heart.”
She laughed. He was still young, and it was
silly for him to talk of dying! The truth was
that the requiem had been ordered by a
count. He wanted to play the music at his
wife’s funeral, but he wanted to say that he
had written it himself.
Wolfgang began writing. He wrote
feverishly, staying up all night, sometimes
even forgetting to eat. The work exhausted
him, and he began to grow weak. Mozart
had been making a little money by teaching
music students, but now he was so
concentrated on the requiem that he
cancelled all of his classes. Without money,
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the family couldn’t afford much food. They

couldn’t afford candles to light their cold
house at night. But still Mozart wrote,
growing weaker and weaker. Finally, just
before finishing the requiem, Mozart died.

The Greatest Musician Who Ever Lived

Mozart is still considered the greatest
musician who ever lived. However, when
he died, his family was so poor they could
not purchase a gravestone. Eventually, no
one could remember where he had been
buried. Today, there is a great monument to
Mozart in Vienna, and on it is an inscription
reading, “The probable site of Mozart’s
grave.” Mozart lived from 1756 to 1791.

Mozart’s music is still played today. He

wrote such famous operas as “The Marriage
of Figaro” and “The Magic Flute,” and the
piano piece, “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik”
(which means “a little night music” in
German). You may not have heard of these
pieces of music, but if you heard them being
played, you might recognize them. Mozart’s
music is used everywhere. You can hear it
at concerts, in cartoons, and in commercials.
Imagine the wealth of music we might have
if Mozart had lived to be an old man.

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Vocabulary
Read the text again and identify words you do not understand.

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Worksheet 1
Identify the main sections of the text and record them in the table below. For each section, scan
the text to find the main ideas. Then look for the most important details that support each main
idea and record them in the details column.

SECTION MAIN IDEAS IMPORTANT DETAILS

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Worksheet 2
Create sentences about Mozart using the following words in sentences. Write one sentence using
the comparative form and one sentence using the superlative form of each adjective.

1. Fast
______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

2. Lucky
______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

3. Amazing
______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

4. Happy
______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

5. Bad
______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

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Worksheet 3
Choose two vocabulary words from Mozart and write them in the word boxes. Then, write the
definition of each word, a synonym, an antonym, and then use the word in a sentence.

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Comprehension Check
Read each question and choose the best answer.

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