Comprehension Level 5 (Am) Sample

CONTENTS PAGE Instructions 2 • Vocabulary …………………….…….…………………….……... 2 • Short Reading Exercise ………………...…………...…….……… 4 • Cloze………………………….…………………………….…….. 4 • Main Idea………………….……………………….……….…….. 6 • Sequencing …..………………….…………….………….….…... 6 • Following Directions …………………………………………….. 6 • Critical Reading …………………….……………………..……... 8 • Extended Reading ………………………………………………… 8 • Reading for a Purpose …………………………………………… 8 • Dig Deeper ……………………………………………………….. Week 1: ………………….……………..………………………....…. 10 Week 2: ………………..…………..………….………………..……. 26 Week 3: …………………...…………………..………………..……. 42 Week 4: ………………………………………………………...……. 58 Week 5: …………………..…………..………………………...……. 74 Week 6: ………………………………………………………...……. 90 Week 7: …………….………………………………………...……… 106 Week 8: ……………….………………………………………..……. 122 Week 9: ……………..………………………………………..……… 138 Week 10: …………….………………………………………..……... 154 References: ….…………………………………………………..…… 170 Comprehension Level 5 p. 1

TEACHER USE ONLY VOCABULARY Read Meaning 1st 2nd 3rd Sherpa (group of people living in Nepal) expedition (exploring trip) superb (fantastic) peril (danger) determined (not giving in) fierce (violent) summit (top of a hill) dispatched (sent) celebrate (have a party) SAMPLE malaria (tropical disease) conquer (overcome) coronation (crowning a king or queen) applause (clapping) steadily (slowly but continuously) crucifix (cross) unattainable (not possible) sacred (holy) attempt (try) Commonwealth (countries associated with the UK) survey (examine the land) GOALS: • Read the words in 20 seconds • Know the meanings of the words PLEASE RECORD YOUR BEST TIME FOR EACH DAY Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Comprehension Level 5 p. 10

Read the story. Circle the correct answer for each question. Write a title for the story that reflects the main idea. Write a nutshell sentence. TITLE:____________________________________ PURPOSE: Entertain Inform Persuade Instruct TENSE: Past Present Future (1)Sherpas are an ethnic group in Nepal who were highly regarded for their superb mountaineering abilities. (2)However, today the term is often used just to mean any guide or porter hired to assist in mountaineering expeditions. (3)The Sherpas’ experience was very valuable to early explorers of Mount Everest, a mountain known for its perilous conditions. (4)They are known by international climbers as being extremely hardy and very skillful, especially when climbing in high altitudes. (5)They are able to climb without using the oxygen tanks that other climbers need. (6)Unfortunately, over the years many Sherpas have died on these expeditions. SAMPLE Find the facts by looking back in the text. Infer by making connections. 1. Sherpas originally lived 4. At the top of Mt. Everest a) on Mt. Everest. a) there is little oxygen. b) in Nepal. b) it is very hot. c) with international climbers. c) there are lots of Sherpas. 2. Sherpas were employed by Connect sentences 4 and 5. international climbing teams because a) they were superb climbers. 5. Sherpas have died on Mt. Everest b) they have died on expeditions. expeditions because c) they were valuable. a) they don’t have the skills. b) they don’t use oxygen tanks. 3. Sherpas can climb to high altitudes c) it is a dangerous trek. a) without using oxygen tanks. b) without dying. Connect sentences 3 and 6. c) without any equipment. Evaluate by connecting to your own knowledge. 6. What do you think Sherpas do on these expeditions? Connect to sentence 4. NUTSHELL SENTENCE: _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ Comprehension Level 5 p. 11

Read all the words in the box. Read the story. Try to fit the words from the box into the spaces. Put a line through each word in the box as you use it. If you don’t immediately know the answer, leave it out and move to the next word. When you have finished, circle all the words you haven’t used in the box. Now read the story again and see if you can fill in the words you missed the first time. __________ are an ethnic group in Nepal who were highly __________for(Who is the subject of this sentence?) their superb mountaineering abilities. (Highly what? Needs to be a doing verb.) term is often __________ just to mean any However, today the guide __________ porter (Often what? Needs to be a doing verb) hired to assist in mountaineering SAMPLE (Needs to be a conjunction that joins ‘guide’ to ‘porter’.) __________. The Sherpas’ experience __________very (Referring to the Sherpa’s experience. Needs to be a verb ‘to be’.) valuable to early __________of Mount Everest. They are(Mountaineering what? Needs to be a noun.) (Who was it valuable to? Needs to be a noun. Who was at Mount Everest?) known by international __________ as being extremely hardy (International what? Needs to be a noun.) and very skillful, especially when __________ in high (When doing what? Needs to be a doing verb.) __________. They are able to __________ without using __________ oxygen tanks that other climbers need.(What was high? Needs to be a noun.) (Able to do what? Needs to be a doing verb.) (Oxygen is a noun. Needs to be an article.) the __________ many Sherpas have Unfortunately, over (Over the what? Needs to be a noun.) __________ on these expeditions. (Have done what? Needs to be a doing verb.) expeditions died Sherpas the climbers used altitudes explorers or climb was regarded years climbing * verb=be, do, or have word * subject=who or what the sentence is about * noun=naming word * conjunction=joins words, phrases, or sentences * articles=are used in front of a noun to tell us if it is something specific (the) or something general (a/an) Comprehension Level 5 p. 12

SAMPLE MAIN IDEA Find the one main idea and three supporting details in the following passage. The main idea is the big idea or key point. The supporting details provide extra information. Highlight the main idea. Circle the number at the beginning of the sentences which provide supporting detail. (1)When visitors came to the house, Janice’s mother asked her to play the piano. (2)Janice was embarrassed because she was a shy child. (3)The visitors applauded after Janice played the piano. (4)They asked her to play another song. (5)The visitors enjoyed Janice’s superb performance. (6)Janice was determined to keep learning the piano. Ask: • What is the story about? • What did the story tell you happened when Janice played the piano? • Highlight the key word(s) in each sentence that show(s) this in red. • Which is the one sentence that provides an overview of all these ideas? That is the main idea. Highlight this sentence in yellow. • Which are the two sentences that do NOT give you information about Janice playing for the visitors? Put a line through those two sentences. • The sentences that are left are providing supporting detail. Put a circle around the number next to those sentences. Comprehension Level 5 p. 13

SEQUENCING Read the sentence, circle the clue word that will help you decide the answer, and then choose the correct statement. 1. A fierce dog bounded along the beach, then played in the waves. The clue word is: a) along b) then c) played d) waves i) A fierce dog played in the waves first. ii) A fierce dog bounded along the beach first. iii) Both happened at the same time. SAMPLE 2. Everyone applauded as the queen waved from the balcony. The clue word is: a) as b) from c) the d) everyone i) Everyone applauded first. ii) The queen waved from the balcony first. iii) Both happened at the same time. 3. Donna decided to climb to the summit, before she packed her equipment. The clue word is: a) before b) decided c) she d) climb i) Donna packed her equipment first. ii) Donna decided to climb to the summit first. iii) Both happened at the same time. 4. When the news had been dispatched, the Sherpas celebrated their successful climb to the summit. The clue word is: a) dispatched b) their c) to d) when i) They dispatched the news first. ii) They celebrated their success first. iii) Both happened at the same time. Comprehension Level 5 p. 14

FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS Read the passage and follow the directions. Newspaper wanted advertisements are often difficult to understand. The words in the advertisements seem like nonsense words. Study the following list of words and their meanings. When you think you have mastered the list, write the sample advertisement in full, spelling the words correctly and adding in missing words. hse-house Sat/Sun-Saturday/Sunday wtd-wanted m/f-male/female lt-light trans-transportation hr-hour wk-work M/f wtd lt hse wk, Sat/Sun only, provide own trans, $5/hr ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ SAMPLE CRITICAL READING Determine the relationship between the first two words in bold. Select a word from the list that shows a similar relationship to the third word in bold in each sentence. Make sure the student understands all the words in the box before beginning the exercise. Do the ones the student finds easy first. expedition conquer superb Sherpa coronation malaria perilous steadily applause crucifix 1. Noise is to silence as safe is to ____________. (Opposite meaning – antonym) 2. Bank is to teller as mountain is to ____________. (Occupation and workplace) 3. Student is to graduation as queen is to____________. (Celebration associated with person) 4. Old is to antique as trip is to ____________. (Similar meaning – synonym) 5. Bright is to brilliant as fantastic is to ____________. (Similar meaning – synonym) 6. Arrive is to dispatch as quickly is to ____________. (Opposite meaning – antonym) 7. Hospital is to stethoscope as church is to ____________. (Object used in that location) 8. Flower is to daffodil as disease is to ____________. (An example of that category) 9. Nose is to sniff as hands are to ____________. (Action associated with object) 10. Minute is to tiny as surmount is to ____________. (Similar meaning – synonym) Comprehension Level 5 p. 15

As the student TWO MEN AND A DREAM is reading, ask some of the following questions. Discuss the reasons underlying the answers. • Picture this sceneSAMPLE and describe. (1)“Hip, hip, hooray! Hip, hip, hooray!” The applause of the Where is the crowd packing the streets of London filled the air. It was June Queen? What is 2nd, 1953. The people of England were out celebrating the she wearing? It coronation of Queen Elizabeth II of England. is June in London in 1953. (2)However, the people were not applauding Queen Elizabeth. What would the They were applauding this announcement: “A team of people in the Commonwealth climbers has reached the summit of Mt. streets be Everest – the first foreigners to conquer this mountain peak. wearing? What a superb coronation gift for the Queen!” • Why would this (3)This was the greatest news in mountaineering history. Mt. achievement be Everest, the highest mountain in the world, located in Nepal, had considered a gift always been the peak out of reach – the unattainable summit. for the Queen? • Why do you (4)The Sherpas, an ethnic group who lived near the mountain, think the Sherpas call it Chomolungma. This means ‘Goddess Mother of Mountains’ – a sacred mountain. They told their children it is considered Mt. ‘The mountain so high no bird can fly over it’. However, the British called it Mount Everest after Sir George Everest, an Everest sacred? expert surveyor who charted much of India. • Why would (5)Mt. Everest is 29,029 feet high. It was first noticed in 1847 by having malaria a team of British surveyors lead by Andrew Waugh. Two years make you return later, Waugh dispatched James Nicolson to the area to make further observations and calculations. Unfortunately he home? Where is contracted malaria and had to return home. home for James? Comprehension Level 5 p. 16

(6)Then, in 1852, Radhanath Sikdar, an Indian mathematician and surveyor from Bengal, using Nicolson’s measurements, was the first to officially calculate and identify Mt. Everest as the highest peak in the world. Four years later, Waugh and his staff confirmed these calculations. • Why did the (7)From then on, Everest became a magnet, attracting determined writer compare mountaineers from many nations. French, British, and Swiss Mt. Everest to a teams all tried their skill against its fierce perils of mist, ice, and blizzards. Many climbers lost their lives in their attempts to be magnet? How the first to conquer this unattainable summit and to be the first to stand on top of the world. might climbers have died? (8)Two men who had this dream lived on opposite sides of the world. In Nepal, was Tenzing Norgay, which means ‘wealthy- fortunate-follower-of-religion’. He was a Sherpa who had climbed the perilous ridges of Chomolungma all his life. Often he would not be able to see the summit, for it was covered in mist. At other times, he could see it towering high into the sky. Tenzing was twenty when he joined his first expedition to climb Mt. Everest in 1935. SAMPLE • Why do you (9)On the other side of the world, lived Edmund Hillary, a bee- think it would be keeper from New Zealand. His fascination in climbing was important to have sparked as a sixteen year old when he went on a school trip to a ‘working climb a mountain in New Zealand. friendship’ if you are climbing Mt. (10)In May, 1953, these two men became members of Colonel Everest? Hunt’s expedition to climb Mt. Everest. They forged a strong working friendship. They were strong and cheerful, and both • Why are there so were determined to reach the top of this unconquered peak. many people in the team? (11)This Commonwealth climbing team consisted of 400 people (including 362 porters and 20 Sherpa guides) and over 4,500 • Why do you think kilograms of supplies and equipment. The expedition set up base the team worked camp in March 1953. Working slowly, but steadily, the team set slowly? up their final camp at a height of 25,886 feet. On 26th May, two of the climbers attempted to reach the summit, but had to turn back • Discuss how when one of the climber’s oxygen system failed. oxygen levels change with altitude and the effects of limited oxygen. Comprehension Level 5 p. 17

• How might (12)After a two day delay due to snow and fierce winds, Edmund Hillary have and Tenzing set out for a final attempt. They pitched a tent at 27,887 feet. The next day, Hillary discovered his boots had frozen warmed his solid and he had to spend two hours warming them. Then the two determined men began the climb of a lifetime. boots? • Picture and (13)At 11.30 am, they reached the summit, the highest point on describe this earth. Their dream had come true. They shook hands. They scene. If you laughed and thumped each other on the back, and they looked were watching around at the peaks below them. The sun was shining and the sky the men, how was the deepest blue they had ever seen. There was only a gentle would you know breeze and the feathery wisps of snow that blew from the summit how they were were small and beautiful. It was a superb moment in the two feeling? men’s lives. SAMPLE • Why did they (14)They only spent 15 minutes on the summit. Edmund took the only spend 15 now famous photo of Tenzing posing with his ice-axe. Tenzing left chocolates in the snow and Edmund left a crucifix to show minutes on the their respect to this scared peak. On their return to base camp, the news of their success was quickly dispatched to England. summit? (15)In recognition of their great achievement of conquering this perilous summit, the new Queen of England knighted Edmund Hillary and Tenzing received the George Medal from the British Government. PURPOSE: Entertain Inform Persuade Instruct TENSE: Past Present Future Comprehension Level 5 p. 18

SAMPLEREADING FOR A PURPOSE Infer. 1. The Sherpas called Mt. Everest Chomolungma because a) it was the highest mountain in the area. b) the summit was unattainable. c) birds couldn’t fly over it. Figurative language. What does it really mean? 2. In the story, Mt. Everest was compared with a magnet. a) because magnets are made of metal and so was the mountain. b) because it attracted people just like magnets attract things. c) because there is a strong magnetic field around Mt. Everest. Making comparisons. 3. Mt. Kosciusko is 7,310 feet high. Compared with it, Mt. Everest would be almost a) twice as high. b) three times as high. c) four times as high. Infer. 4. The main reason Edmund Hillary wanted to climb Mt. Everest was to a) give a present to the Queen on her Coronation Day. b) see the summit and its veil of snow. c) achieve something not previously accomplished. Draw conclusions. 5. Tenzing and Hillary were good climbing partners because they a) had lived near Mt. Everest for many years. b) possessed the characteristics necessary for the task. c) had everyday jobs which showed their interest in mountain climbing. 6. When Hillary and Tenzing stood on the summit, they were a) disappointed with the scene. b) thrilled and respectful. c) exhausted and unable to move. Predict. 7. If the weather on the 26th May had been calm and sunny a) Edmund and Tenzing would not have been the first people to reach the summit. b) Edmund and Tenzing would have reached the summit two days earlier. c) 400 people would have been able to reach the summit. Comprehension Level 5 p. 19

DIG DEEPER A. To determine the key facts of a story ask yourself ‘How’, ‘Which’, ‘Why’, ‘When’, Where’, ‘Who’, or ‘What’. Write two questions about the story. 1. ______________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ 2. ______________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ B. Put these events in the correct order that they happened. SAMPLEA. Queen B. A climber’s C. Mt. Everest Elizabeth II was oxygen tank was calculated coronated. failed. to be the highest mountain in the D. Tenzing and world. Edmund reached the summit of E. Edmund Mt. Everest. climbed a mountain in New Zealand. C. Certain items in the story can be arranged in groups. Match the words in the first column with the correct words in the second column. 1. knighthood, George Medal • Perils 2. shout, clap, cheer • Awards 3. bee-keeper, surveyor, mathematician • Characteristics 4. ice, blizzard, mist • Careers 5. strength, determination, cheerful • Applause Comprehension Level 5 p. 20

On the front of the card find an antonym, a synonym, or an example of a type for each word as directed and on the back write a sentence using the word. Sherpa fierce Live in: _________ Antonym: _________ expedition summit Synonym: _________ Synonym: _________ SAMPLE superb dispatched Antonym: _________ Antonym: _________ peril celebrate Synonym: _________ Synonym: _________ determined malaria Antonym: _________ Passed on by: _________ Comprehension Level 5 p. 21

(violent) (group of people living in Nepal) Sentence:___________________________________________ __________________________________________________ Sentence:___________________________________________ _________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ (top of hill/mountain) (exploring trip) Sentence:___________________________________________ Sentence:___________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ SAMPLE (sent) (fantastic) Sentence:___________________________________________ Sentence:___________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ (have a party) (danger) Sentence:___________________________________________ Sentence:___________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ (tropical disease) (not giving in) Sentence:___________________________________________ Sentence:___________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ Comprehension Level 5 p. 22

conquer unattainable Synonym: _________ Antonym: _________ coronation sacred Antonym: _________ Example: _________ SAMPLE applause attempt Antonym: _________ Part of speech: _________ steadily Commonwealth Antonym: _________ One country: _________ crucifix survey Part of speech: _________ Synonym: _________ Comprehension Level 5 p. 23

(not possible) (overcome) Sentence:___________________________________________ Sentence:___________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ (holy) (crowning a king or queen) Sentence:___________________________________________ Sentence:___________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ SAMPLE (try) (clapping) Sentence:___________________________________________ Sentence:___________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ (countries associated with (slowly, but continuously) United Kingdom) Sentence:___________________________________________ Sentence:___________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ (examine the land) (cross) Sentence:___________________________________________ Sentence:___________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ Comprehension Level 5 p. 24

SHORT READING EXERCISE 1. B Purpose: Inform – it explains about Sherpas. 2. A Tense: Present 3. A Nutshell: ‘(Title)’ is about Sherpas, an ethnic group in Nepal, who are 4. A skillful climbers. 5. C 6. Give advice on all aspects of climbing including weather conditions, the best paths, where to stop, etc. MAIN IDEA Main Idea: 1 Supporting details: 3, 4, 5 SEQUENCING SAMPLE 1. B ii 2. D iii 3. A ii 4. D i FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS Male or female wanted for light housework only on Saturdays and Sundays. Provide your own transportation. $5 per hour CRITICAL READING 1. perilous 6. steadily 2. Sherpa 7. crucifix 3. coronation 8. malaria 4. expedition 9. applause 5. superb 10. conquer READING FOR A PURPOSE 1. A 6. B 2. B 7. A Purpose: Inform 3. C Tense: Past 4. C 5. B DIG DEEPER BC 1. C 1. awards 2. E 2. applause 3. B 3. careers 4. D 4. perils 5. A 5. characteristics Comprehension Level 5 p. 25