Great-horned Owls

Have you ever heard a hoot as the sun goes down? This may be the cry of a great- horned owl. She is
looking for her dinner.
Great-horned owls have sharp eyes and ears. They see and hear small animals. Then, they swoop
down and grab their prey.
Great-horned owls eat mice, frogs, snakes, and small birds. They also eat insects. They can fly without
making a sound.
Great-horned owls hoot to other owls in the forest. Their brown and black feathers make them hard to
see in the daytime. You may see one flying at dawn or dusk. Be very quiet. Then, you may hear owls
calling out to each other through the trees.
_____________________________________________

1. In this passage, the word swoop means . . .

A. run B. fly

C. skip D. skate

2. Which statement is false?

A. Great-horned owls don’t see well. B. Great-horned owls fly in silence.

C. Great-horned owls eat snakes. D. Great-horned owls have feathers.

3. What colours are the great-horned owl’s feathers?

A. black and white B. blue and red

C. brown and orange D. brown and black

4. When might you have the chance to see a great-horned owl?

A. During a sunny afternoon B. In the middle of the night

C. At dawn or dusk D. Only during a lunar eclipse

George Washington

George Washington was the first president of the United States. He was a great man because he gave
his country a good start.
George was born in 1732. George liked to do math. His father died when he was 11, and he had to
help his mother take care of the land. George had to do many chores. He grew to six feet two inches
tall.
England was telling the colonies what to do and didn't ask them what they wanted. George did not like
that. He became a general in the army, and he made his own uniform.
The colonies went to war, and it was very hard. The men wanted to go home. They had no money for
their families. They had rags for clothes, and some of them had shoes that were falling apart. It was
cold, and there was snow. They were almost out of food. The men had to fight and not get paid.
George said that if they did not get paid, he would not get paid either. The soldiers stayed, and they
fought as hard as they could. They won the war.
The people wanted George to be the new king. He wanted to be president. They all voted for him. He
loved the people, and the people loved him back. He listened to them. He picked good men to work for
him, and they tried to make good choices.
He wanted to do his best. He was the president for eight years. He did not live in the White House,
because it was not built yet. The people wanted him to stay, and he said, “No.” George wanted
someone else to be president. He wanted to stop working. It was time to rest.
_____________________________________________

1. How did the people feel about George?

A. They all loved him. B. They did not like him.

C. They said he was too fat. D. They said he was happy.

2. What was the condition of the soldiers during the war?

A. They had plenty of food and clothing.

B. They were well-paid and well-rested.
C. They were in rags, had falling-apart shoes, and were almost out of food.
D. They lived in comfort.

3. When the soldiers did not get paid, what did George say he would do?

A. He would pay them out of his pocket.

B. He would go home.
C. He wanted to go out for ice cream.
D. He would work for free, too.

4. Why did George have to help his mother take care of the land when he was 11?

A. His mother asked him to. B. His father passed away.

C. He loved farming. D. He was forced to.

5. Why did George Washington refuse to stay as president after his second term?

A. He didn't want to be president anymore.

B. He thought someone else should have the opportunity.
C. The people didn't want him to stay.
D. The White House was not built yet.
 Ghost Town

An old town hides in the mountains of Montana. The name of it is Garnet. Most people today simply
call it a ghost town. Many buildings still stand, but the town is silent. The last person who lived in the
town of Garnet was a storeowner who died in 1947.
Garnet was started by families who came looking for gold in 1898. Over 1,000 people made their
homes in the town. The men and women built the town by hand. Men worked hard inside the mines.
They used simple hand tools and steam engines. Sixty thousand ounces of gold were mined near
Garnet. Fifty thousand ounces of silver were found. Sixty thousand ounces of copper were put into
mining cars.
The town was not built to last very long. After five years, the gold was almost gone. The copper was
gone. Only a little silver remained. One hundred fifty people lived in the town at that point.
World War I took the men away from the town. People packed their bags. They took their families and
moved away. A fire ruined most of the buildings in Garnet in 1912. Garnet became a ghost town
overnight. Today, the town of Garnet is full of history. It is a quiet place to walk around and hear
whispers about life in the past.
_____________________________________________

1. A mine is a word for . . .

A. something that belongs to you.

B. ghost town.
C. an underground area that is created to get minerals.
D. silver and gold.

2. Garnet is now . . .

A. a river town B. a seaport town

C. a mining town D. a ghost town

3. Why did the city of Garnet die so suddenly?

A. The gold ran out. B. The silver ran out.

C. The men went to fight in World War I. D. All of the above

4. A ghost town is a place . . .

A. where there are ghost festivals each year.

B. where you go for Halloween.
C. that is haunted.
D. that has been deserted—the people have all moved away.

5. What can visitors to Garnet experience today?

A. An active mining community
B. The bustling town life of the early 1900s
C. Whispers of history and a quiet atmosphere
D. Gold and silver mining operations
 Jupiter

Jupiter is the biggest planet in our solar system. It is 1,000 times larger than the planet Earth. That is
pretty big! Jupiter is bigger than all the other planets combined. Jupiter is described as a big ball of
gas. That is because it is made up mostly of gases. Jupiter is mostly hydrogen with a little helium.
We see mostly the outer layer of clouds when we look at Jupiter. Gas planets do not have a solid
surface. The inner core of Jupiter is rocky and solid. Jupiter is the fourth-brightest object in the sky.
People have been seeing Jupiter in the night sky for many years.
Many years ago, people thought Jupiter was a “bright, wandering star.” A man named Galileo
developed the telescope. The telescope helped him see Jupiter’s four large moons. This observation
helped Galileo realize that Earth was not the centre of the universe.
The great red spot on Jupiter has been seen for over 300 years. This spot is big enough to hold two
Earths. Jupiter also has rings. They are made up of particles of rocky materials. The rings are dark in
colour. Jupiter is the fifth planet from the sun.
_____________________________________________

1. What would be the best title for this passage?

A. “Jupiter: The Largest Planet” B. “Outer Planets”

C. “Cool Planets” D. “Planets with Moons”

2. Which of the following is not a fact about the planet Jupiter?

A. Jupiter is the largest planet.

B. Jupiter is one of the outer planets.
C. Jupiter has a great red spot.
D. Jupiter does not have rings like Saturn.

3. What was meant by the “bright, wandering star?”

A. Jupiter was at first a star that moved across the sky at night.
B. Jupiter couldn’t be found in the night sky.
C. Jupiter was located in a star’s position.
D. Jupiter was first thought to be a star that moved in the night sky.

4. How did the telescope change what people thought about Jupiter?
A. Jupiter was the first planet viewed through a telescope.
B. Galileo discovered that Jupiter had moons.
C. It was determined that Jupiter was not located in a star’s position.
D. Jupiter was discovered to be the centre of the universe.

5. What do we primarily see when we look at Jupiter?

A. Its rocky surface
B. Its inner core
C. The outer layer of clouds
D. Its rings
 PG-13 Movies

Have you been to the movies lately? You have probably noticed that each movie has a rating. The
ratings are meant to be guidelines for viewers, to explain levels of violence, language, and other
characteristics of movies. The rating system was set up to prevent children from being exposed to
inappropriate or intensive scenes or storylines. It seems that these days the rating is used to entice
movie fans to go to a movie, as opposed to avoiding a movie.
Adding the PG-13 rating has allowed movie producers to avoid the strict standards of the ratings
system. It seems that if a movie wanted to add more violence or bad language but not get the R rating,
movie producers would go for the PG-13 rating. Exactly what is the difference between the R rating
and the PG-13 rating? As far as I can see, there isn’t one.
At one time, the R rating meant that it was not appropriate for children under a certain age. In fact,
they were not allowed into the theatre without an adult. Now, not only can children go to the movie
without an adult, but also movie producers change the rating to PG-13 so that more kids can attend.
By using the PG-13 rating, just about anything goes. When will movie executives and producers be
held to a high standard again? Kids are seeing worse things on the big screen than they’ve ever seen
before. What’s next: a PG-8 rating?
_____________________________________________

1. Which of the following is a reason presented in this passage as to why children should not be
allowed to watch PG-13 movies?

A. PG-13 movies are produced with higher budgets than R movies.

B. Movie producers are allowed to add more violence and language with the PG-13 rating
than the R rating.
C. Many PG-13 movies have high levels of violence and bad language.
D. The rating system was set up to prevent children from seeing anything inappropriate.

2. Which of the following statements would the author of this passage most likely make?

A. Children need to be taught how to decipher the ratings system on movies.

B. Parents should hold movie theatres accountable for letting their children in movies.
C. Movie producers should be held to higher standards when they are given a rating for
their movies.
D. PG-13 movies should not be allowed.

3. What is the meaning of the word intensive as used in this passage?

A. strenuous B. deceased

C. concerned D. graphic

Buyer Beware

Once there was a young lad. He walked each day to the marketplace to sell his wares. It was a hard
life, but the young lad had no complaints. He worked from sun up until sundown. He knew that one day
his hard work would pay off.
One day, as the young lad made his way to the marketplace, he could see a large wagon filled with
goods. The young lad set down his bundle of baskets. Greed began to fill his heart.
“I could buy these flowers and sell them for a higher price. The land is barren, and I know I could sell
them quickly,” he thought.
So with that, the young lad offered his bundle of goods in exchange for the flowers. The young lad and
the seller made their deal.
The young lad made his way to the marketplace. He laid out his flowers and waited for the ladies to
come purchase his flowers. But the heat of the sun took its toll on the flowers, and without any water
nearby, they soon wilted. The young lad realized his mistake. He looked over at the man selling his
goods.
The next day, the young lad saw the man with a wagon full of fruit. The man asked the young lad if he
wanted to trade. The young lad saw money in the man’s eyes and said simply, “It is better to work for
my fortune than to wish it away.”
_____________________________________________

1. What is the meaning of the word wares as used in the passage?

A. fruits and vegetables B. merchandise

C. pots and pans D. none of the above

2. What can you learn about the young lad in this story?

A. He took pity on his fellow sellers.

B. He is very good with animals.
C. He learned his lesson.
D. He wants to open a new store.

3. What is the moral of the story?

A. There is no such thing as quick and easy wealth.

B. It is better to give than receive.
C. One for all and all for one.
D. The early bird gets the worm.

Storms of life

“Are you ready?” Walter nodded as he clambered up into his pa’s truck. Finally, he had permission to
accompany his father on his daily milk-delivery route. Walter had noticed that even in the midst of dust,
failed crops, and hard times, life went on. He’d heard the grownups discussing how they’d stick it out
no matter what, but he also heard their wishful thinking: If only it would rain.
The truck sputtered to life, with the rattling of chains in the rear. Walter’s mother scurried off the front
porch, waving to catch their attention. “George! Your lunch!” Walter reached out the window to accept
the paper bag. He knew even without looking what the bag would contain. Cold biscuits left from
breakfast, dried jerky, and maybe some peas she’d managed to salvage from the garden near the
house. He didn’t mind working in the garden; they were all grateful for it, but having a few hours today
away from the farm felt like a vacation.
“Why are there chains attached to the rear bumper?” Walter hollered over the noise as they made their
way down the lane rutted with potholes.
“If a dust storm comes up, I don’t want the engine to short out from the static electricity in the air,” his
pa replied. “Can’t afford the repairs or the time it would take away from the delivery route.”
Walter quit trying to converse over the racket and, instead, idly gazed out the window. He watched as
the bare wheat fields passed before his eyes. The fields, ploughed and planted before the market fell,
were now dried up and left exposed to the prairie winds. For entertainment, Walter decided to count
how many rabbits he saw. He’d probably have better luck counting grasshoppers, as they seemed to
be everywhere, ravaging the few remaining crops.
Pa jerked the steering wheel, and Walter was pulled from his thoughts. Walter stared, wishing he could
shut his eyes and forget about the ominous black cloud that swirled their way.
_____________________________________________

1. Given the clues in the story, during what period of history is this story most likely set?

A. The Civil War B. The Dust Bowl

C. The Great Depression D. World War II

2. What is most likely the meaning of the word salvage as it is used in the text?

A. Walter’s mother was able to rescue the peas from peril.

B. The peas were saved from someone else’s garden.
C. Walter’s mother was able to sell the peas for money.
D. Walter’s mother was able to rescue the peas from being damaged by insects.

3. Given the setting, what does the ominous black cloud probably indicate?

A. a heavy rainstorm B. a tornado

C. a dust storm D. a steam locomotive

4. What is the main idea of the text?

A. People get through hard times the best they can.

B. Walter’s family decided to give up.
C. People can’t get their work done when it rains.
D. Chains keep engines from being affected by static electricity.

5. Why are there chains attached to the rear bumper of the truck?

A. To play a prank on Walter

B. To keep the engine cool
C. To prevent static electricity from damaging the engine
D. To help pull the truck in case it gets stuck
 Mythology

What is mythology? Mythology is the study of myths or stories. The myths of a society show the
people’s beliefs during a certain point in their past. Most past cultures have myths, but people today
are especially familiar with the myths of the ancient Greeks and Romans.
Why are people today so familiar with the myths and names of the Greek and Roman gods and
goddesses? For one thing, their names are often associated with parts of our modern-day culture. For
example, Nike— a familiar brand name—was the goddess of victory in one set of myths. Think about
the names of the planets and you will find the names of gods and goddesses from Ancient Rome have
been used to name the celestial bodies. Many school mascots also get their names from the myths of
ancient Greek or Roman cultures. The professional National Football League’s team the Titans is
another modern-day example that owes its name to mythology.
Mythology is connected with another word: theology. Theology is the study of a group’s religion and
practices of that religion. Studying the myths of the ancient cultures helps define and explain the
group’s religious beliefs and practices, even if those beliefs are not still practiced in today’s culture.
Studying the beliefs and the stories of ancient societies can help us understand the past as well as
their appearance in our modern-day world.
_____________________________________________

1. What does the suffix “ology” most likely mean?

A. the beginning of B. the study of

C. the ending of D. the presenting of

2. Which statement best explains the importance of studying ancient myths?

A. Myths help explain an ancient culture’s religious beliefs.

B. Myths help people today to understand brand names of products.
C. Myths give great entertainment.
D. Myths show us mistakes from the past so we can avoid them in the future.

3. According to the text, which ancient cultures have had a wide impact on modern society?

A. Egyptian and Greek B. Roman and Egyptian

C. Mayan and Roman D. Greek and Roman

4. Which is a synonym for the word ancient as it is used in the first paragraph?

A. new B. early

C. original D. mysterious

5. What was the author’s purpose in writing this text?

A. To compare and contrast B. To entertain

C. To persuade D. To inform
Codex
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