Comprehension Level 4 (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.……………………………………………………….. SAMPLE 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 4 p. 1

TEACHER USE ONLY VOCABULARY Read Meaning 1st 2nd 3rd appreciate (understand, be grateful) stowed (stored) carriage (vehicle pulled by a horse or train) definitely (certainly) luxurious (very expensive, magnificent) rifle (type of gun) bushranger (steals from others) reflect (replicate, think about) SAMPLE wail (cry) irrelevant (not important) mused (thought about) drought (no rain) falter (hesitate) surge (move forward quickly) deluge (severe flood) settlers (first people to build houses and live in an area) company (business or guests) midstream (middle of a river) lodge (settle inside, cabin, submit) blazed (fired) 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 4 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)Can you imagine the excitement of riding in a stage coach? (2)During the 1800s, at the price of just six shillings, you could travel from Manchester to Liverpool, a distance of forty miles at a leisurely eight miles an hour. (3)This meant you could truly appreciate the scenery. (4)For an extra one shilling, a guard took care of your luggage which was stowed away in the ‘boot places’ before and behind the carriage. (5)The coaches were luxurious and spotlessly clean. (6)Each wheel had two multi-layer springs on either side ensuring a smooth journey. (7)This was definitely the golden age of travel. SAMPLE Find the facts by looking back in the text. Infer by making connections. 1. To travel from Manchester to 4. The springs made the trip smooth by Liverpool would have taken a) absorbing the bumps in the road. a) eight hours. b) allowing the passengers to bounce b) five hours. up and down. c) forty hours. c) decreasing the speed of travel. 2. The scenery was enjoyed because Connect sentences 1, 6 and 7. a) you were travelling so slowly. b) it wasn’t expensive. 5. Which of these words are used to c) it was in the country. persuade you? a) golden age of travel b) multi-layered springs 3. Which was not a reason for it being a c) Manchester to Liverpool golden age of travel? a) It was cheap. Connect sentences 1 and 2. b) It was comfortable. c) It was fast. Evaluate by connecting to your own knowledge. 6. Do you agree or disagree that coaches are the best form of transport? Why? NUTSHELL SENTENCE: _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ Comprehension Level 4 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 fill in the words you missed the first time. Can you imagine the excitement of __________ in a stage (Excitement of doing what? Need a verb.) coach? During the 1800s, at __________ price of just six (Price is a noun. Need an article) shillings, you could travel from Manchester to Liverpool, a SAMPLE distance of forty __________ at a leisurely eight miles (Forty what? Need a noun.) __________ hour. This meant __________ could truly (Hour is a noun beginning with a vowel sound.) (Who could appreciate the scenery? Need the subject.) appreciate the scenery. For an extra one shilling, a __________ (Who took care of the luggage? Need the subject.) took care of your luggage which was __________ away in the (What happened to the luggage? Need a verb.) ‘boot places’ before __________ behind the carriage. The (Need a conjunction joining before to behind.) coaches __________ luxurious and spotlessly clean. Each (Need the verb to be.) __________ had two multi-layer __________ on either side (Each what? Need the subject.) (Multi-layered what? Need a noun.) ensuring a smooth __________. This was definitely the golden (A smooth what? Need a noun.) __________ of travel. (The golden what? Need a noun.) the were wheel riding and age journey miles guard you springs stowed an * verb=doing 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 4 p. 12

SAMPLEMAIN 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)Bushrangers used rifles so they could steal money and valuable possessions. (2)Bushrangers were a problem in Australia from the 1780s until the 1880s. (3)They were definitely a problem during the Gold Rush years. (4)Many people found gold. (5)The gold was transported to the cities in carriages and on horseback. (6)It was very easy for bushrangers to steal the gold. Ask: • Who is the story about? • What did you find out about bushrangers? • 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 extra information about bushrangers? 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 4 p. 13

SEQUENCING Read the sentence, circle the clue word that will help you decide the answer and then choose the correct statement. 1. When he is ready, Mark hitches the horses to the carriage. The clue word is: a) ready b) hitches c) to d) when d) he i) Mark gets ready first. d) his ii) Mark hitches the horses first. d) loudly iii) Both happened at the same time. SAMPLE 2. Shane sang while he cleaned his luxurious house. The clue word is: a) cleaned b) while c) sang i) Shane sang first. ii) Shane cleaned his luxurious house first. iii) Both happened at the same time. 3. Jason looked at his reflection after he combed his hair. The clue word is: a) after b) looked c) at i) Jason looked at his reflection first. ii) Jason combed his hair first. iii) Both happened at the same time. 4. The baby fell over and then wailed loudly. The clue word is: a) fell b) over c) then i) The baby fell over first. ii) The baby wailed loudly first. iii) Both happened at the same time. Comprehension Level 4 p. 14

FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS Read the passage and follow the directions. A suffix is added to the end of a word. Add the suffixes in the second column to the base words in the first column. Write the new words in the empty columns. You should be able to make eight new words. There is one suffix that can only be added to one of these base words. Circle that suffix and base word. wail ing reflect ed definite er stow ly 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. carriage irrelevant surge rifle mused luxurious wailing stowed drought reflect 1. Bird is to chirping as baby is to ____________. (Associated action) 2. Oven is to bake as mirror is to ____________. (Associated action) 3. Crawl is to sprint as falter is to____________. (Antonym–opposite meaning) 4. Box is to carton as thought is to ____________. (Synonym–similar meaning) 5. Miserable is to delighted as necessary is to __________. (Antonym-opposite meaning) 6. Engine is to aeroplane as horse is to ____________. (Used for moving) 7. Bored is to excited as plain is to ____________. (Antonym–opposite meaning) 8. Water is to boiled as luggage is to ____________. (Associated action) 9. Row is to boat as shoot is to ____________. (Associated action) 10. Straight is to bent as deluge is to ____________. (Antonym–opposite meaning) Comprehension Level 4 p. 15

As the student ROLLING WHEELS is reading, ask some of the following questions. Discuss the reasons underlying the answers. • What do you think this poem is about? • What are ‘rolling wheels’? • Which era is it in? Why? • What do you call SAMPLE your (1) “I definitely know of Rutherford, son, grandfather? ‘Cause my dad drove for Cobb and Co.,” Gramps says. • What are other “T’was the finest company there ever was, names we use? And everyone knew it back in the days.” • What was the relationship between ‘son’ and Gramps’ father? • How might he (2) “James Rutherford was a miner in Bendigo, have travelled? He worked hard and with luck found some gold. • Describe the He cashed in the gold and to Brisbane he rode, scene and how And bought oodles of horses, that for a profit he sold.” James would be feeling. (3) “He travelled back south to Melbourne town. Where he was set upon and robbed. Those scoundrels stole every single penny, And he was beaten so bad, his head really throbbed.” Comprehension Level 4 p. 16

• How much is (4) “The police successfully tracked the attackers down, five thousand And Rutherford received five thousand bob. bob? With the money, James and his friends, • Why did they Bought a carriage company from Freeman Cobb.” receive the money? • Why did being in (5) “T’was the middle of a gold rush, the middle of a And business did boom. gold rush make They grew that carriage company, Cobb and Co., And soon had four thousand horses to groom.” business boom? (6) “The crack drivers had the best paid job,” Gramps mused, rocking his chair as he sat back. “They drove those carriages 38,000 miles each week, Over gravel roads and uneven bush tracks.” • What is a crack SAMPLE driver? • Why were they well paid? • What might we (7) “By jiminy, they earned their pay. say instead of ‘by Carriages were kept in mint condition, jiminy’? And brought in on time without a falter, • What situations No matter what the situation.” might they encounter? • What does ‘fired’ (8) “Night or day, it was irrelevant. mean? Through flood and fire and drought, Those carriages had to arrive on time, Or you were fired without a doubt.” • How would you (9) “Once, a crack driver was running late, describe the Two bushrangers leapt from some rocks on the road.” driver? Why? “Stop!” they shouted, with rifles drawn. • What did the “No time!” the driver yelled. “I have to deliver this load.” bushrangers want? Comprehension Level 4 p. 17

• Describe what (10)“They blazed away with their rifles, flames leapt out. the driver did in One bullet lodged in the driver’s leg, another in his hat. your own words. He slashed the bushrangers with a twenty-foot whip, Then drove straight through the roadblock, a demon bat.” • What was the (11) “Another time, with Scottish settlers on board. problem? They arrived at a creek that should have been dry. • Why did they That creek was a river. They had no choice but to cross. have to cross? They raced into the deluge, boy did they fly.” • What was the (12)Halfway across, the horses faltered, mournful Losing their battle against the swirling water. wailing? They weren’t going to make it to the other side. • Why did the The driver cracked his whip high, not giving a quarter.” horses bolt? SAMPLE • Why were the (13)“Suddenly, a mournful moan filled the air. horses faltering? The horses surged wildly. The driver let out a scream. • Why did the The horses bolted from that river and sprinted away, driver crack his All ‘cause the Scots tuned their bagpipes midstream.” whip high? (14)“Ahh, those were the days,” Gramps reflected. • Why does “Cobb and Co. connected the country, from inland to coast. Gramps believe that the crack They carried stores and miners and gold and mail. drivers were the Crack drivers were true pioneers, and that’s not a boast!” true pioneers? • Who else might think they were the true pioneers? PURPOSE: Entertain Inform Persuade Instruct TENSE: Past Present Future Comprehension Level 4 p. 18

SAMPLEREADING FOR A PURPOSE Infer. 1. Gramps was probably a) scared of his father. b) proud of his father. c) ashamed of his father. Draw conclusions. 2. Cobb and Co. grew quickly because a) there were many crack drivers. b) Rutherford was given five thousand bob. c) supplies were needed at the gold fields. Synthesise. 3. Cobb & Co. coaches carried a) only miners and settlers. b) only gold, mail and stores. c) all the above. Figurative language. What does it really mean? 4. A crack coach driver would be one who a) used his whip a lot. b) drove carriages long distances. c) was very good at his job. Figurative language. What is meant by ‘demon bat’? 5. The driver outwitted the bushrangers by a) shouting, “No time!” b) driving the team fast at them. c) shooting at them. Predict. 6. Because some Scottish settlers played their bagpipes, the a) driver of the coach was hurt. b) horses refused to move. c) coach arrived on time. Characterisation. 7. Mr Rutherford was probably a) strict, but fair. b) easy going and careless. c) mean, but honest. Comprehension Level 4 p. 19

DIG DEEPER A. Homonyms are words that are spelled and pronounced the same, but have different meanings. Decide which meaning of the following words has been used in the nominated passage. 1. boom (5) 3. groom (5) a. loud explosion a. marries the bride b. grow quickly b. brush and clean a horse’s coat c. long pole at the bottom of a sail c. prepare or train someone 2. fire (8) 4. bat (10) a. dismiss from job a. mammals that fly b. burning wood b. used for hitting c. shoot a rifle c. to wink SAMPLE B. Some poems use words that rhyme at the end of each line or alternate lines. Look back in the poem to find the rhyming word for these words. Then write your own rhyming word. says drought gold road robbed hat bob dry boom water back scream condition coast C. Match the characteristic with the action or behaviour. Characteristic Action/behaviour 1. brave A. Beat and robbed people. 2. scoundrel B. Made a profit from selling horses 3. crack driver and running a business. 4. intelligent C. Drove through bushrangers shooting their rifles. D. Could drive carriages under any condition. Comprehension Level 4 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. rifle appreciate Homonym: _________ Antonym: _________ bushranger stowed Synonym: _________ Part of speech: _________ SAMPLE reflect carriage Synonym: _________ Base word: _________ wail definitely Antonym: _________ Synonym: _________ irrelevant luxurious Base word: _________ Antonym: _________ Comprehension Level 4 p. 21

(understand, be grateful) (type of gun) Sentence:___________________________________________ Sentence:___________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ (stored) (steals from others) Sentence:___________________________________________ Sentence:___________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ SAMPLE (vehicle pulled by a horse (replicate, think about) or train) Sentence:___________________________________________ Sentence:___________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ (certainly) (cry) Sentence:___________________________________________ Sentence:___________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ (very expensive, magnificent) (not important) Sentence:___________________________________________ Sentence:___________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ Comprehension Level 4 p. 22

settlers mused Part of speech: _________ Part of speech: _________ company drought Part of speech: _________ Antonym: _________ SAMPLE midstream falter Antonym: _________ Synonym: _________ lodge surge Synonym: _________ Synonym: _________ blazed deluge Synonym: _________ Antonym: _________ Comprehension Level 4 p. 23

(thought about) (first people to build houses and live in an area) Sentence:___________________________________________ __________________________________________________ Sentence:___________________________________________ _________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ (no rain) (business or guests) Sentence:___________________________________________ Sentence:___________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ SAMPLE (hesitate) (middle of a river) Sentence:___________________________________________ Sentence:___________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ (move forward quickly) (settle inside, cabin, submit) Sentence:___________________________________________ Sentence:___________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ (severe flood) (fired) Sentence:___________________________________________ Sentence:___________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ Comprehension Level 4 p. 24

SHORT READING EXERCISE 1. B Purpose: Persuade 2. A Tense: Past 3. C Nutshell: ‘(Title)’ argues that stage coaches were the best way to travel. 4. A 5. A 6. Check the answer is logical. MAIN IDEA Main idea: 2 Supporting details: 1, 3, 6 SEQUENCING SAMPLE 1. D i 2. B iii 3. A ii 4. C i FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS wail ing wailing wailed wailer reflect ed reflected reflecting definite er definitely stow ly stowing stowed CRITICAL READING 1. wailing 6. carriage 2. reflect 7. luxurious 3. surge 8. stowed 4. mused 9. rifle 5. irrelevant 10. drought READING FOR A PURPOSE 1. B 5. B Purpose: Inform and entertain 2. C 6. C Tense: Past 3. C 7. A . 4. C DIG DEEPER A B. C. says-days drought-doubt 1-C 1. B gold-sold road-load 2-A 2. B robbed-throbbed hat-bat 3-D 3. B bob-Cobb dry-fly 4. A boom-groom water-quarter 4-B scream-midstream back-track coast-boast condition-situation Comprehension Level 4 p. 25