MD+Reading

READING COMPREHENSION   NO. 1 **AFRICAN ELEPHANTS** African elephants are the largest mammals that live on land. They grow all of their lives. Male African elephants can get to be thirteenfeet tall if measured from the ground to the top of their shoulder. They can weigh up to 14,000 pounds. African elephants have ears that can be five feet long and areshaped like the continent of Africa. Elephants can flap their ears. The big ears help keep the elephants cool.Elephants eat all day long. They eat vegetables, such as grass,leaves, and other plants. They also eat fruit,like bananas. Elephants use their trunks to grab food and put it in their mouth. They can alsosuck water into their trunks and squirt the water into their mouths.Elephants sometimes drink up toforty gallons of water a day! Elephants use their trunks to pick up things and to hold things. Theycan pick up something as small as a marble, or as big as a tree. They also breathe through their trunks.Elephants have two tusks, which are made of ivory. The tusks grow to the right and the left sides of their trunks. Elephants can use their tusks to fight and to dig. People used to hunt elephants so that they could get their tusks. Ivory was used to make beautiful jewelry and statues. It is against the law to hunt elephants now, because hunting them made them endangered animals. **AFRICAN ELEPHANTS QUESTIONS** African Elephants Comprehension Sheet Use the reading sheet to answer the questions about elephants. __1. Write three facts that tell how big African elephants are:__
 * African elephants are the largest mammles on land.
 * They can weigh up to 14,000 pounds.
 * Male African elephants can get to bethirteenfeet tall.

__2. Write three facts that tell about an African elephant’s ears:__
 * Elephants can flap there ears.
 * The big ear help keep the elephants coll.
 * Elephants haveear that can be five feet long.

__3. Write four things that an African elephant eats:__
 * Bananas.
 * vegetables.
 * Grass.
 * Leaves.

__4. How many gallons of water can an elephant drink in a day?__
 * Elephants sometime up to toforty gallons a day.

__5. What are elephant tusks made of?__
 * African elephants tuskis are made of ivory.

__6. Why did people hunt elephants?__
 * To make them endangered.

__7. Why is it against the law to hunt elephants today?__
 * Because they will get endangered.

No 2 HURRICANES

__THE HURRICANE__ Terrance looked out the window. The sky was dark and full of storm clouds. The clouds were moving in circles. Lightning struck across the sky. Terrance was very scared. He looked at his parents. They were worried. A hurricane was approaching. A hurricane is a huge storm that grows over the ocean. It can grow big enough to make dangerous winds and huge waves. Terrance heard the wind. It was getting very loud. The wind chimes on the porch of the cottage were jingling. Hurricanes have winds that go 74 miles per hour or more. That is faster than many people drive on the highway! Now, Terrance’s father turned on the radio. The voice on the radio said that there was a hurricane warning. Terrance’s mother said that they should go into the shelter to be safe. Terrance looked at the clouds one last time. They were black and swirling around. He turned away and ran into the shelter. In the shelter, Terrance heard the wind howling. While they were waiting for the storm to pass, Terrance’s father told him about hurricanes. Hurricanes (or cyclones) form over the ocean from thunderstorms. Warm ocean water helps the thunderstorms grow into a hurricane. When the speed of the storm grows to 74 miles per hour, it becomes a hurricane. The clouds of a hurricane travel counter-clockwise around a hole in the center of the storm. This hole is called the eye of the hurricane. The voice on the radio said that the hurricane was going away. Soon, it wouldn’t be dangerous anymore. Hurricanes need moisture from the ocean to survive. Water is like the hurricane’s food source. Hurricanes lose their power when they pass over land because there is less water. After the hurricane went away, Terrance and his family left the shelter. Terrance saw the sun coming through the window. There were no more dark clouds. Thankfully, his house was not damaged by the fast winds of the hurricane. Terrance looked outside. A few trees had fallen in the street. He was happy that his family and his house were safe. He smiled.

QUESTIONS ABOUT HURRICAN ES  AND CYCLONES Look over the story to answer these questions. Write your answers in the spaces. 1. What makes hurricanes grow? A hurricane is a huge storm that grow over the oceon.

2. What makes hurricanes lose their power? lose power by passing land.

3. Complete: A hurricane has winds of 74 miles per hour. The hole in the center of the hurricane is called the what? the eye of the hurricane.

4. Underline one: The clouds of a hurricane move in a clockwise / __counterclockwise__ direction

5. Have you ever been in a hurricane? Do you know someone who has been in a hurricane? If you have, write about this below. If you haven’t, write about the last time you heard about a hurricane on the news. Where was it? What was its name?

6. How would you feel if you were Terrance? Terrorfide. __No 3 __ WHEN DOES SCHOOL START? When does school start where you live? In many countries school starts in the autumn. Children get ready for a new school year. But the school year does not start in the same month all over the world. Look at the chart below. United States - Late August or September Great Britain - September Brazil - February or March Japan April France - September Thailand - May New Zealand - February When do you start school? What other countries start school the same time as you? __* What month would you like to start school?_ UNDERLINE THE CORRECT ANSWERS: 1. When does Thailand start school? a). September  b). __May.__ <span style="color: rgb(0,0,255);">c) February d.) August 2. When does Australia start school? <span style="color: rgb(0,0,255);">a). May <span style="color: rgb(255,0,255);">b). September b.) August<span style="color: rgb(128,0,128);"> d). February 3. Students in the United States start back to school in <span style="color: rgb(128,0,128);">a.) August <span style="color: rgb(255,0,0);">b.) May <span style="color: rgb(0,255,0);">c.) September d)<span style="color: rgb(0,0,128);">. both a and c 4. France and Great Britain both start school in _. <span style="color: rgb(0,0,255);">a) May <span style="color: rgb(255,0,255);">b.) August <span style="color: rgb(0,0,128);">c). February <span style="color: rgb(255,0,0);">d.) September 5. Students in Japan start school in. a). May <span style="color: rgb(128,0,128);">b). April <span style="color: rgb(0,0,255);">c). August <span style="color: rgb(255,0,255);">d. )February The beginning of the school year is fun. What is your favorite memory, or part of a new school year? _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
 * Country and Month School Starts**
 * __
 * __

<span style="font-size: 160%; color: rgb(255,0,0); font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">No 4 __<span style="font-size: 200%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Leprechauns __ What do trolls, elves, fairies, leprechauns and unicornsall have in common? These are all imaginary characters thatdon’t really exist. You can’t go out into the world and find anelf, fairy, leprechaun or unicorn. They are all creatures that are imaginary. They never existed except as characters instories that are called folk tales or folklore. Folk tales are stories that ordinary people make up which are then told over and over again from one generation to the next.Leprechauns are folklore characters from Ireland. In the early days of the leprechaun stories a leprechaun was described asa little old man who worked as a cobbler. A cobbler is another name for a shoemaker. In early times you didn’t go the store and buy a pair of shoes.Shoes were made by hand by a shoemaker. Leprechauns are supposed to be the keepers of ancient Irish treasure in the form of pots of gold. Leprechauns know where the gold treasure is buried. In modern times folklore says a pot of gold can be found at the end of a rainbow.Leprechauns like to live alone in quiet woods; that’s why people don’t see them very often. If you catch a leprechaun you can get him to show where thepot of gold is. But a leprechaun disappears if take your eyes off of it so it’s impossible to find that pot of gold.A leprechaun carries two leather pouches. One pouch holds a silver coin that returns to the purse after the leprechaun gives it away. The other pouch has a gold coin that the leprechaun uses as payment to get away from someone.The gold coin turns into ashes or leaves when the leprechaun gives it away. Leprechauns date back to the eighth century or earlier. These leprechaunswore red outfits. Today leprechauns are always pictured in bright green clothing.They wear a short jacket and vest, a tall hat and leather boots with silver buckles. They might be shown carrying a shamrock. Modern leprechauns are drawn with a red beard. Leprechauns are now a symbol of Ireland and are part of the fun of celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. Some people wear a bright green leprechaun hat on St. Patrick’s Day. <span style="font-size: 160%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> <span style="font-size: 150%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Leprechauns Questions Multiple Choice Questions Underline the correct answer. 1. Imaginary creatures exist only in folklore. Which one of these creatures is not folklore? a. Leprechaun b. Fairy c. Dinosaur d. Unicorn 2. What is the job of a leprechaun? a. Cobbler b. Shoemaker c. Both a. and b. above d. None of the above 3. According to folklore where can you find a pot of gold? a. At the end of a rainbow b. In shoes made by a leprechaun c. Both a. and b. above d. None of the above 4. Where are leprechauns supposed to live? a. In shoe shops b. In the woods c. On the seacoast of Ireland d. All of the above 5. When a leprechaun gives away his gold coin a. It goes back into his purse b. It turns to leaves or ashes c. He turns into an elf d. It turns into a shamrock 6. Today a leprechaun is drawn with a red a. Hat b. Jacket c. Scarf d. Beard __ Short Answer Questions __ 1. Are the Disney characters like Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck folklore? Explain why or why not.

2. Explain who a cobbler is and why we don’t see many cobblers today.

3. How did the Catholics in Ireland traditionally celebrate St. Patrick’s Day?

4. How are leprechauns related to a pot of gold?

5. Folklore says that you can find a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Do you think you could find the pot of gold? Explain why or why not.

6. Describe what a leprechaun wears for clothing.

7. Why is the leprechaun a symbol for Ireland?

__<span style="font-size: 150%; color: rgb(255,0,0);">No 5 Oceans __ Directions: Visit the web link below. Use the web link to answer the questions that follow. Remember to answer in complete sentences. Proofread for correct spelling and punctuation. 1 World Oceans __[]__ 1. What percentage of the Earth’s water supply is housed by the world’s oceans?

2. What about the Earth is unique to all the other plants in the Milky Way?

3. What do the oceans of the Earth impact?

4. Approximately how much of the Earth is covered by water?

__ 2 World Oceans __ Directions: Visit the web link below. Use the web link to answer the questions that follow. Remember to answer in complete sentences. Proofread for correct spelling and punctuation. __[]__ 1. What new ocean was named by the International Hydrographic Organization in the spring of 2000?

2. What are seas?

3. What are seas often corralled by?

4. What are the three biggest seas?

__ No 3 World Oceans __ Directions: Visit the web link below. Use the web link to answer the questions that follow. Remember to answer in complete sentences. Proofread for correct spelling and punctuation. [] 1. What ocean has an average depth of 3,953 feet?

2. According to the chart, what is the largest ocean?

3. What is the area of the Artic Ocean?

4. What is the deepest part of the Indian Ocean?

<span style="font-size: 150%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">__ No. 1 CORAL REEFS __

[] Click on the link Coral Reefs to answer each question below. 1. What do coral reefs provide sea life?

2. What types of coral are there? (Hint: two types.)

3. Where is coral often located?

<span style="display: block; font-size: 160%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; text-align: left;">__No. 2 Coral Reefs__ [] Click on the link Coral Reefs to answer each question below. 1. Where might an individual locate a Fringing Reef?

2. Identify two reasons why many corals are perishing?

3. What does the term perish mean?

4. What does a barrier reef do?