Norway fell quickly to Nazi Germany’s superior military during World War II. Many individuals surreptitiously worked to fight back against the Nazis while managing to go unnoticed. Jan Baalsrud was someone that helped in the fight against Germany after the Nazis invaded Norway. He escaped Norway after the Nazi invasion and ended up joining a resistance movement in Britain. He returned to Norway in 1943 as part of a mission to undermine the German army there. He was working with a group of eight other men that planned on using explosives to destroy an air control tower. Their group spent a lot of time planning their mission, but a grave mistake ended up endangering the safety of everyone involved.
1. What does surreptitiously mean?
a. proudlyb. secretlyc. bravely
2. What does grave mean?
a. tombb. smallc. serious
Day 2
Jan Baalsrud and the rest of the crew arrived in Norway on a ship that contained nearly eight tons of explosives that they were going to use to destroy an air control tower. Part of their mission depended on them contacting someone that had committed to helping. Unfortunately, they contacted someone else that had the same name. The man they mistakenly got in touch with alerted the Germans to their plan. Baalsrud and his companions were attempting to escape on their ship the next day when they were attacked by the Nazis. The men managed to detonate the explosives after they jumped off the ship, which destroyed much of the evidence. Baalsrud was able to circumvent capture but many in his group were caught by German soldiers.
3. Underline the clues that helped you determine the answers to 1 & 2.
4. What is the effect of the foreshadowing in the last sentence?
a. It lets the reader know that the mission will be successful.
b. It suggests to the reader that a problem will affect the mission.
c. There is no foreshadowing in the last sentence.
Baalsrud was the only one from his mission that was able to make it out of the icy Norwegian waters uncaptured. He managed to swim to a nearby island where he immediately began running through the snowy landscape. Baalsrud was fortunate to encounter accommodating people who were willing to endanger their lives in order to help him. He was often provided with food and shelter. He could never safely stay in one place for very long and had to walk for extended periods of time through the frozen wilderness. At one point, he saw the lights from German soldiers who were undoubtedly still trying to locate the escaped saboteur. He finally was able to get help from a man who took him by boat to the Norwegian mainland in the middle of the night.
1. What does accommodating mean?
a. meanb. hiddenc. helpful
2. What does saboteur mean?
a. allyb. rebelc. inmate
Day 4
Baalsrud faced constant threats from both German soldiers and the harsh Norwegian weather as he attempted to escape to the neighboring country of Sweden. The man who rowed him to the Norwegian mainland provided him with skis to help expedite his journey and Baalsrud was able to make great time despite the terrible snowstorms he encountered. Unfortunately, Baalsrud got caught in an avalanche and fell nearly 300 feet and became trapped in the snow. His skis were mangled in the fall and he suffered a concussion but he did manage to survive. He was able to find help and was pulled on a sled back up the mountain where someone was supposed to come and pick him up and take him on the next leg of his journey. Unfortunately, the weather prevented this from going as planned.
3. Underline the clues that helped you determine the answers to 1 & 2.
4. What inference can be made about today’s passage?
a. The Germans would have likely punished anyone caught helping Baalsrud.
3. Underline the clues that helped you determine the answers to 1 & 2.
4. Which of the following quotes show that the author wanted Baalsrud to survive?
a. “Baalsrud faced constant threats from both German soldiers…”
b. “He was able to find help and was pulled on a sled…”
c. “Unfortunately, Baalsrud got caught in an avalanche…”
Day 5Once Jan Baalsrud reached the top of the mountain, his companions left him
under a shed to wait for the men who were supposed to pick him up to complete his journey to Sweden. Baalsrud was still confined to the sled and was injured, frostbitten and starving. A storm prevented the men from picking up Baalsrud as planned, and he was left alone for nearly a week before someone came and discovered that he was still alive. He was given food and other supplies and continued to wait there for nearly a month. Eventually, Baalsrud was able to complete the final leg of his journey to Sweden with the aid of men who used reindeer to carry him across the border.
Once in Sweden, it took Baalsrud nearly two months to recover from his formidable experience. Exposure to the elements and frostbite had caused permanent damage and he had to learn how to walk again. Once well enough, Baalsrud continued to work for the resistance and eventually was able to return to Norway. Baalsrud was in Norway when the war ended and he was finally able to reunite with members of his family that he hadn’t seen in five years. His incredible story of survival has captivated the hearts of many people. He was honored with awards in both Britain and his home country of Norway. Every year in Norway, a group of people spend nine days retracing the steps of his journey. His story has been published as a book and has also been turned into a movie.
1. What is the meaning of confined as it is used in the passage?
a. openb. limitedc. playing
2. What is the meaning of formidable as it is used in the passage?
a. easyb. excitingc. difficult
3. Underline the word or words that helped you determine the answers to 1 & 2.
4. What was the most important factor in Jan Baalsrud’s survival?
Juliane Koepcke was a senior in high school in 1971. Her parents were two zoologists who spent a lot of time in the rainforest studying animals. They all lived in the rainforest together at one point, but Koepcke moved back to her hometown of Lima, Peru in order to finish high school. She decided to fly back to the rainforest with her mother to be reunited with her father for Christmas after she graduated in December. They had to fly using an infamous airline that had a lot of negative press because two of the airline’s planes had recently crashed. The bad reputation was cause for concern for Koepcke’smother, but she was willing to risk it in order to make sure that the family was together for the holiday.
1. What is zoology?
a. the study of air travelb. the study of rainforestsc. the study of animals
2. What does infamous mean?
a. shamefulb. popularc. expensive
Day 2
The flight from Lima, Peru to the Koepcke’s rainforest home was scheduled to take less than an hour. The first half of the flight was smooth, but the plane encountered a storm about halfway through the flight. Turbulence jolted the plane so badly that wrapped Christmas presents and luggage went flying wildly through the air. There was thunder and lightning all around and Koepcke was very afraid. Koepcke heard a loud explosion and the plane shook and then began to plummet in a nosedive towards the ground. Koepckelost consciousness as the plane broke apart in the air. Koepcke came to and found herself spinning down towards the rainforest below. She was still strapped in her seat and passed out again as she was free falling towards the trees below her.
3. Underline the clues that helped you determine the answers to 1 & 2.
4. What inference can be made about today’s passage?
a. Juliane Koepcke’s mother still felt the airline was safe.
b. Koepcke’s family did not value spending holidays together.
c. Juliane Koepcke was committed to studying zoology.
Koepcke woke up hours later to see the sun shining brightly through the canopy of leaves overhead. While she still felt out of it, she immediately realized that she had survived the plane crash. She hadn’t survived unscathed and felt pain from what would later be discovered as a broken collarbone. She had other injuries which included some deep cuts on her arms and legs. Her left eye was also swollen shut and she’d lost her glasses in her descent from the plane to the ground. She heard planes flying overhead that were looking for wreckage from the crash. She knew they wouldn’t be able to see her through the trees. Despite her injuries, she was still able to walk and she began walking to find help.
1. What does unscathed mean?
a. unhurtb. completelyc. injured
2. What does descent mean?
a. leapb. fallc. soar
Day 4
Juliane Koepcke knew she needed to find help as soon as possible in order to have any prospect of survival. She wasn’t afraid of the rainforest because she had spent enough time with her parents as a child there. Her father had always told her that she needed to find a stream and walk beside it if she was ever lost because it would eventually lead her to a river and a village or city. She didn’t have much in the way of food, but she did find a bag of candy from the crash that she picked up and ate along the way. She knew early on that she would not be able to subsist off of that candy alone. She came across some wreckage from the crash soon after she began walking, but she was unable to find any more food.
3. Underline the clues that helped you determine the answers to 1 & 2.
4. What inference can be made about today’s passage?
a. No one knew the plane had crashed.b. Officials were aware that the plane had
3. Underline the clues that helped you determine the answers to 1 & 2.
4. How did Koepcke’s childhood help her after the crash?
a. Her father taught her how to search for food.
b. She spent time in the rainforest and was comfortable there.
c. She knew which plants and animals to seek out.
Day 5Juliane Koepcke’s trek through the rainforest looking for help had been
miserable. She lost a shoe and her glasses in the crash. She only had on a short dress which did little to keep her warm during the cold nights. It rained frequently and she was bitten by a variety of insects which kept her from sleeping at night. To make matters worse, the deep cuts on her arm from the crash were infected. She was very worried that she would lose her arm. She ran out of the candy she had found and was beginning to give up hope. She came across a stream and stayed in the water as much as possible because she felt that was safer.
Nine days after the crash, Koepcke came across a boat in a shelter. She immediately went and found gasoline that she poured on the wound in her arm in an attempt to help with healing. She considered taking the boat but she had reservationsbecause she didn’t want to steal it. She spent the night there and the next day she was discovered by several men. They immediately began to help her with her injuries and gave her food to eat. She had to endure a seven-hour canoe ride and was then airlifted to a hospital. Ten days after the plane crash, Juliane Koepcke was finally reunited with her father who had no idea that she had survived the plane crash.
1. What is the meaning of trek as it is used in the passage?
a. climbb. tripc. ordeal
2. What is the meaning of reservations as it is used in the passage?
a. objectionsb. confidencec. questions
3. Underline the word or words that helped you determine the answers to 1 & 2.
4. What was the most important factor in Juliane Koepcke’s survival?
Sailing around the world can be a wonderful experience, but it can also be very dangerous. Dougal Robertson lived with his wife, Lyn, and their four children in a remote area of England that was far away from any busy cities. Robertson decided he wanted to expose his family to the world far beyond their farm and planned a trip to sail around the globe. He spent his family’s savings on a boat and designed a route that would take them well over a year to complete. Dougal Robertson had previous experience sailing but had long since retired. Robertson was looking forward to relying on his past experiences at sea while his family lived a nomadic lifestyle as they sailed all over the world.
1. What is the meaning of remote?
a. popularb. radioc. isolated
2. What is the meaning of nomadic?
a. stableb. wanderingc. boring
Day 2
The family set sail on January 1, 1971, on a 43-foot long schooner that they named the Lucette. The first 18 months went by without any serious trouble. There had been some problems, but overall the trip had gone very smoothly. For nearly a year and a half, the Robertsons sailed in the Atlantic Ocean and stopped at various places in the Caribbean to pick up supplies and visit new places. Over the course of their journey, one of the children decided to end her trip early and the family picked up an additional passenger that they met along the way. The relative ease of the first part of their excursionmay have given them a false sense of security because they had little idea of the trouble that was ahead.
3. Underline the clues that helped you determine the answers to 1 & 2.
4. Why did Dougal Robertson decide to sail around the world with his family?
a. He didn’t like farming.b. He had a lot of experience sailing.c. He wanted his family to see the world.
1. What is the meaning of schooner?
a. shelfb. shipc. vehicle
2. What is the meaning of excursion?
a. exerciseb. arrivalc. journey
3. Underline the clues that helped you determine the answers to 1 & 2.
4. What inference could be made about today’s passage?
a. The family did not anticipate having any problems on the trip.
b. All of the children wanted to continue on the trip.
c. There were many warning signs once they started their journey.
The months of smooth sailing came to an abrupt end soon after the Lucetteentered the Pacific Ocean. The family was startled by a loud boom and then realized that their ship was being attacked by a group of killer whales. The attack caused significant damage to the Lucette and the family quickly clambered off the ship. They had both an inflatable lifeboat and a dinghy to use in case the Lucette sank. Shortly after the initial attack, the Robertsons watched the boat that had been their home for many months disappear under the water. What had started out as a fantastic opportunity to travel the world had quickly turned into a desperate fight for survival.
1. What is the meaning of abrupt?
a. gruffb. suddenc. gradual
2. What is the meaning of clambered?
a. climbedb. swamc. hid
Day 4
The Robertsons hastily got off the sinking ship and didn’t have time to grab many provisions. They only had a small amount of food which included some fruit and cookies. The adult members of the family realized how dangerous the situation was and they limited food in order to make it last as long as possible. The food lasted around a week and then the family caught fish and turtles to eat. The family may have been surrounded by water, but none of it was safe to drink. They had some containers that were used to catch rainwater. The inflatable raft was small and uncomfortable but was the family's best option. Unfortunately, the inflatable life raft began to fail and the family’s situation became even worse.
3. Underline the clues that helped you determine the answers to 1 & 2.
4. What inference can be made about killer whales?
a. Killer whales do not normally attack humans.
b. The killer whales may have felt threatened by the ship.
c. Killer whale sightings are unusual in the Pacific.
1. What is the meaning of hastily?
a. quicklyb. independentlyc. intentionally
2. What is the meaning of provisions?
a. luggageb. paperworkc. supplies
3. Underline the clues that helped you determine the answers to 1 & 2.
4. What is the central idea of today’s passage?
a. The family survived on fish and turtles.b. The family had limited access to food
and water.c. The family was able to drink rainwater.
Day 5Bad luck for the family continued when their inflatable lifeboat sank. While the
lifeboat was far from comfortable, it was more capacious than the final boat that the family had to cram in, which was only 10 feet long. There was only a small section of the boat that wasn’t always wet, and the family took turns so that everyone had a chance to sit in the dry seat. The Robertsons were quickly running out of supplies. To make matters worse, sharks circled their small boat on a regular basis.
The Robertsons had been rowing daily to try to make it back to land, although it was unlikely that they would be successful. As luck would have it, the family’s small boat was spotted by a Japanese fishing boat 38 days after the Lucette sank. Initially the crew of the fishing boat assumed no one was on such a small boat in the middle of the ocean, but luckily they investigated. The Robertsons were overwhelmed with joy and gratitude for surviving their harrowing ordeal. Years later, the father wrote a novel telling his family’s story of survival. He used the money he made from writing the book to buy a boat while the mother opted to stay behind on their family farm.
1. What is the meaning of capacious as it is used in the passage?
a. minisculeb. spaciousc. homey
2. What is the meaning of harrowing as it is used in the passage?
a. disturbingb. joyfulc. boring
3. Underline the word or words that helped you determine the answers to 1 & 2.
4. What was the most important factor in the family’s survival?
The Arctic is the northernmost part of Earth and surviving there is incredibly difficult. The weather there is harsh and the few sources of food are difficult to acquire. Ada Blackjack, a young woman in her early 20s, found herself fighting for her life alone in the Arctic after a mission went terribly wrong. Blackjack was born in Alaska and lived there much of her life. She got married at an early age and had three children. Unfortunately, she lost her husband and two of her children to disease. Her remaining child was very sick and Blackjack could not afford to buy medicine. Blackjack decided to sign up to go on a mission to dwell on a remote Russian island in order to claim it for Canada. While Blackjack knew that this would not be an easy way to earn money, she had no idea it would turn into a fight to stay alive.1. What is the meaning of acquire?
a. obtainb. stealc. consume
2. What is the meaning of dwell?
a. liveb. searchc. escape
Day 2
Initially, Blackjack was not going to be the only woman on the mission, but the other Eskimo families that had volunteered to go backed out at the last minute. Blackjack changed her mind as well and wanted to forsake the mission, but she was told that more people would be joining them on the island. Blackjack set out with four men who were selected for their knowledge and experience. Her role was to cook and sew for all members of the group and the men would provide food. They only took six month’s worth of supplies even though the mission was planned to last for two years. The men were supposed to hunt and trap animals in order to build up a supply of food. The start of the mission was successful, but difficulty getting additional supplies to the group imperiledeveryone on the island.
3. Underline the clues that helped you determine the answers to 1 & 2.
4. What was Blackjack’s true motivation for going on the mission?
a. She enjoyed the outdoors.b. She wanted to help claim the island for
Canada.c. She needed money for her son’s
medicine.
1. What is the meaning of forsake?
a. joinb. abandonc. support
2. What is another word for imperiled?
a. endangeredb. protectedc. insulted
3. Underline the clues that helped you determine the answers to 1 & 2.
4. How did Blackjack feel about going on the mission?
a. Blackjack had second thoughts about the mission.
b. Blackjack was always supportive of the mission.
When they first arrived on the island, the men had success hunting and were able to amass a large quantity of meat. However, they were still dependent on the ship that was scheduled to bring supplies. When the ship did not show up as planned, they realized that they would have to do something quickly because their food supplies were running dangerously low. Two of the men left in order to procure supplies but had to return because one of the men was too sick to travel. Shortly after that, they realized they must make another attempt to get more supplies if they were to have any chance of surviving. Since they were without a ship, three of the men were forced to attempt to walk over 700 miles across a frozen sea for help. Blackjack stayed back with the remaining man who was too ill to care for himself.1. What is the meaning of amass?
a. spreadb. purchasec. store
2. What is the meaning of procure?
a. getb. rejectc. pack
Day 4
Ada Blackjack had gone on the mission in order to cook and perform other light duties but became the sole provider for herself and the ailing man who was too sick to travel. While Blackjack wasn’t alone, the remaining man was a burden because taking care of him took so much of her time and energy. He was suffering from scurvy, which was caused by a lack of Vitamin C in his diet. The disease caused him to have muscle pain and constant tiredness. He eventually passed away and Blackjack was left alone except for the company of a cat they had brought with them. Blackjack waited and hoped that the men who left had been successful, but days turned into weeks and the men did not return. Blackjack was forced to face the grim reality that she was stranded and alone in the Arctic with very few supplies.
3. Underline the clues that helped you determine the answers to 1 & 2.
4. What is the central idea of today’s passage?
a. Unsuccessful hunting caused the group to face starvation.
b. A missing supply ship forced group members to seek out more supplies.
c. The harsh weather made survival more difficult than planned.
3. Underline the clues that helped you determine the answers to 1 & 2.
4. What inference can be made about today’s passage?
a. Blackjack anticipated ending up alone on the island.
b. An unhealthy diet can cause scurvy.c. The man had scurvy before he went on
the mission.
Day 5Blackjack may have anticipated having some difficulties on her mission, but
she never imagined that she would end up fighting for survival all alone on the island. She had no experience hunting or trapping animals but she was left with no other options and quickly learned. She was able to set traps that helped her capture small animals such as foxes. She also managed to hunt seals and birds. In addition to facing starvation, she also had multiple encounters with dangerous animals. She once had to run back to her tent in order to get away from a menacing polar bear.
Blackjack was rescued two years after she landed on the island and nearly four months after her remaining companion died. Blackjack became a sensation as people learned of her story but she did not enjoy being in the spotlight and did nothing to take advantage of her fame. She used the money she earned from the mission to get medical care for her sick child who then made a full recovery. There were several books that were written about her plight that ended up making a lot of money, but Blackjack didn’t receive any of it. Blackjack ended up marrying again and had another son. She eventually moved back to the Arctic and spent the rest of her life there.
1. What is the meaning of menacing as it is used in the passage?
a. threateningb. welcomingc. distant
2. What is the meaning of plight as it is used in the passage?
a. exciting storyb. difficult situationc. secret past
3. Underline the word or words that helped you determine the answers to 1 & 2.
4. What was the most important factor in Ada Blackjack’s survival?
Miners work long hours many feet below the surface of the Earth. The work can be dangerous, but for many people, mining is one of the few good paying jobs where they live so they are willing to take the risk. Mining is still dangerous, but it is far safer than it was years ago due to augmented safety regulations and government control. Unfortunately for the miners that worked at the San Jose copper and gold mine, the increased safety precautions didn’t prevent them from facing a potentially deadly situation when a mine shaft collapsed. The collapse stranded the men over 2300 feet underground with limited supplies and no way of corresponding with anyone on the surface.
1. What is the meaning of augmented?
a. lessenedb. relaxedc. increased
2. What is the meaning of corresponding?
a. communicatingb. touchingc. conflicting
Day 2
On August 5, 2010, the men working in the San Jose mine heard what sounded like a loud detonation followed by a blinding dust storm that prevented them from seeing clearly for hours. When the dust finally settled the men discovered that they were trapped nearly half a mile underground without electricity. The trapped men realized their good fortune in surviving the initial collapse and assumed they would be able to exit the mine in a matter of hours or days. The men initially planned on escaping through ventilation shafts, but the ladders that were supposed to be there were missing. Still, they knew people would be working on the surface to rescue them as quickly as possible. They had no idea how serious the situation actually was due to the extent of the damage from the collapse.
3. Underline the clues that helped you determine the answers to 1 & 2.
4. Why do people work as miners despite the dangers?
a. It provides a good paying job for people who have limited options.
b. They enjoy spending time in the mines.c. People are required to work in the mines.
While the miners believed that they would soon be rescued, officials on the scene were overwhelmed by the extent of the destruction. The mine had collapsed in multiple locations and was still shifting, which meant it would be incredibly difficult to find the trapped men. What made the situation even worse is that no one above ground knew for sure if the men had even survived the collapse. They also didn’t know exactly where the miners were because the maps of the mines were outdated. Family members waited in anguish for days as rescuers scrambled to figure out how to find the trapped men. The 33 trapped men had a supply of food that was only meant to feed 25 people for two days and an abysmally low supply of water.
1. What is the meaning of anguish?
a. agonyb. contentc. joy
2. What is the meaning of abysmally?
a. terriblyb. reasonablyc. happily
Day 4
Days turned into a week and then another with no sign of the men. Rescuers had been drilling for days and finally broke through into a room where they believed the miners were trapped, but the room was empty. Down below, the trapped miners heard the drill getting louder. The miners had already realized the gravity of their situation and were rationing food by only eating a little bit each day. The men had been trapped for days and were quickly becoming hopeless. Finally, after 17 days of being trapped, the drill broke through into the room where the men were. The miners rejoiced and sent up a note that said they were all okay. Rescuers were able to send food, water and medicine down to the men but knew that actually freeing them from the mine could take months.
3. Underline the clues that helped you determine the answers to 1 & 2.
4. What is the central idea of today’s passage?
a. Officials knew they would be able to resolve the situation quickly.
b. The miners didn’t immediately realize the severity of the collapse
c. Family members weren’t worried about the trapped miners.
3. Underline the clues that helped you determine the answers to 1 & 2.
4. What inference can be made about today’s passage?
a. Rescuing the men was turning out to be a very complex task.
b. Rescuers were not in a rush to save the miners.
c. The men felt safe in the mine.
Day 5The joy of the trapped men quickly turned to dejection when they learned it
could take up to four months for them to be rescued from the mine. While they no longer had to worry about food or water, they were still trapped in a cramped and humid space. Luckily, they were able to communicate with their family members and were kept updated on the progress of the rescue mission. Businesses and people from all over the world worked together to tackle the complex task of drilling a hole that was large enough to rescue the men without inducing any more collapses in the mine.
Three different holes were being drilled at the same time so that there would be a backup if one of the plans failed. On October 9, the first drill reached the trapped men. The miner’s ordeal was not over because they still had to be transported to the surface. The men would have to travel individually in a container that was only 21 inches wide. The capsule contained oxygen and lighting with video so that officials could keep an eye on the men. Over one million people watched with anticipation as they waited for the first miner to be rescued. It took nearly thirty minutes for the first miner to complete the trip. Nearly a day later, the last man was pulled from the mine. Afterward, the men were internationally famous and received donations from people all around the world.
1. What is the meaning of dejection as it is used in the passage?
a. cheerfulnessb. miseryc. indifference
2. What is the meaning of inducing as it is used in the passage?
a. causingb. stoppingc. hurting
3. Underline the word or words that helped you determine the answers to 1 & 2.
4. What was the most important factor in the Chilean miners’ survival?
Anyone that has spent time at the beach knows that there are inherentdangers that go along with swimming in the ocean. Bethany Hamilton grew up in Hawaii so she knew the risks that are associated with the ocean. She spent as much time in the water as possible and took a very early interest in surfing. She practiced so much that she was able to enter and win her first surfing competition when she was only eight years old. As someone who spent many hours a day swimming, Hamilton was very adept at spotting signs of a nearby shark, but there aren’t always warning signs before a shark attack.
1. What is the meaning of inherent?
a. basicb. randomc. unknown
2. What is the meaning of adept?
a. confusedb. skilledc. average
Day 2
On October 31, 2003, 13-year old Bethany Hamilton went surfing early in the morning with her friend’s family. By this point, Hamilton was already a competitive surfer and had done very well in different competitions. On that Friday morning, Hamilton and her friend were enjoying spending time on their surfboards. The water had been relatively calm and there hadn’t been anything that indicated that there was a shark nearby. Hamilton was laying on her surfboard with her arm jutting in the water when she was attacked by a shark. She was totally shocked because she hadn’t seen the shark swimming around before it bit her. In an instant, Hamilton went from playing in the ocean to fighting for her life.
3. Underline the clues that helped you determine the answers to 1 & 2.
4. What is the effect of the last sentence?
a. The foreshadowing lets the reader know that Hamilton will suffer a shark attack.
b. The foreshadowing lets the reader know that Hamilton will be successful.
c. The flashback explained what happened to Hamilton as a child.
Bethany Hamilton’s friend and her friend’s father immediately realized the severity of her condition after her arm was severed from the shark attack. She had lost her arm from the shoulder down, and her life was in danger due to blood loss. They were far away from the shore when the attack took place. Her friend’s father expeditiously worked to tie the rope from a surfboard around Hamilton’s injury to slow down the bleeding. Once he finished applying the tourniquet, he knew he had to get her to shore as quickly as possible because she needed immediate medical attention. The tourniquet could only do so much. He and Bethany’s friend swiftly paddled Bethany back to the shore.
1. What is another word for severed?
a. injuredb. grazedc. detached
2. What is another word for expeditiously?
a. quicklyb. slowlyc. helplessly
Day 4
Once Hamilton was brought to shore, people on the beach scrambled to help her. She was rushed to a nearby hospital and an emergency doctor was called in. By the time she got to the hospital she was suffering from hypovolemia because she had lost 60% of the blood in her body. Manifestations of hypovolemia include an increased heart rate and lowered blood pressure. It is a very serious condition, especially in children, and must be treated immediately. She went into surgery as soon as she got to the hospital. Despite the seriousness of her injury, doctors were quickly able to stabilize Hamilton and were very hopeful about her prognosis. She underwent more surgeries and was released from the hospital only one week after the attack.
3. Underline the clues that helped you determine the answers to 1 & 2.
4. What is a tourniquet?
a. A device used to help with flotation.b. A device used to stop severe bleeding.c. A device used to seek medical
a. chances of recoveryb. chances of illnessc. chances of change
3. Underline the clues that helped you determine the answers to 1 & 2.
4. What causes hypovolemia?
a. Hypovolemia is caused by nearly drowning.
b. Hypovolemia is caused by traumatic injury.
c. Hypovolemia is caused by severe blood loss.
Day 5The story of Bethany Hamilton’s survival after being attacked by a shark is
incredible. She was still a child when she was attacked in the ocean while engaging in an activity that she loved. Despite the extent of her injuries, she recovered quickly and was sent home from the hospital only a week after the attack. The quick thinking and response of bystanders along with expert medical care helped make her recovery so successful and rapid.
Hamilton’s story does not end with being released from the hospital. She felt at home in the water and surfing was a major part of her life. Even though she lost her arm, she was unwilling to give up surfing. Many people may have been hesitant to reenter the ocean after surviving an attack by a 14-foot long shark, but Hamilton quickly returned to the water. At first, she used a special board to help compensate for the loss of her left arm, but she soon moved on to regular boards. Incredibly, Hamilton entered a surfing competition less than three months after the attack. Her survival may have made her famous, but her persistence in pursuing the sport she loved despite the loss of her arm has made her a hero to many. A book was published that chronicled her story and she has been the subject of a movie. Hamilton is still a public figure and credits her faith for her survival and success.
1. What is the meaning of compensate as it is used in the passage?
a. despiteb. rewardc. make up for
2. What is the meaning of chronicled as it is used in the passage?
a. examinedb. concealedc. told
3. Underline the word or words that helped you determine the answers to 1 & 2.
4. What was the most important factor in Hamilton’s survival?
When Mauro Prosperi entered the Marathon des Sables in 1994, he knew that he would return home with an exciting story to tell. The race itself was hard enough. It was 155 miles of running through the Sahara desert over the course of six days. If anyone was up to this challenge though, it was Prosperi. He was a former Olympic athlete for Italy. He competed in the pentathlon which involved the five different events of fencing, swimming, show jumping with horses, pistol shooting and cross country running. Prosperi was an experienced and dynamic athlete who continued to train and stay in shape long after his Olympic career was over. Little did he know that his experience during the Marathon des Sables would test the limits of his endurance in ways that he couldn’t conceive.
1. What is another word for dynamic?
a. weakb. energeticc. average
2. What is another word for conceive?
a. imagineb. dreamc. ignore
Day 2
Mauro Prosperi was interested in the Marathon des Sables when he first found out about it. Running a grueling 155 miles through the desert sounded like a challenge he could overcome. He started his training by running more and began to prepare his body by limiting his water intake so that he would be able to run long distances through the heat. His family was not exactly thrilled that he had decided to participate in such a challenging and dangerous race, but Prosperi was determined to compete. He assured his family that he would be fine during the race. He was a strong athlete and he had spent months preparing. Additionally, it was organized by officials that kept the runners’ safety in mind. Prosperi felt certain that his family’s worries were unfounded.
3. Underline the clues that helped you determine the answers to 1 & 2.
4. What inference can be made about Mauro Prosperi?
a. Prosperi did not enjoy physically challenging competitions.
b. Prosperi enjoyed physically challenging competitions.
c. Prosperi did not train enough for the marathon.
Prosperi was in high spirits at the start of the Marathon des Sables. The race started in Morocco and Prosperi was in awe of the incredible views. He had managed to maintain a great pace throughout the start of the race and was already in 4th place by the 4th day. Prosperi’s fortune changed when he encountered a sandstorm that made seeing and breathing difficult. The sand battered his exposed skin and he felt like he was being stuck with hundreds of pins. His vision was limited due to the amount of sand that was in the air. After the storm was over, Prosperi discovered the sand had changed his surroundings so much that he became disoriented about where he was.
1. What is another word for awe?
a. carelessb. terrorc. amazement
2. What is another word for disoriented?
a. confusedb. foundc. exhausted
Day 4
Prosperi had a map and a compass with him, but the sandstorm changed the area so much that he could no longer recognize anything and he wasn’t sure where he was. Nevertheless, he wasn’t immediately distressed. He even continued to run at first, unaware that he was straying far from the race course. He had some supplies with him, including the compass and map, as well as a knife and some food. He didn’t have a lot of water with him because race officials provided water at the many stops along the way. Prosperi wasn’t too concerned and felt that race officials would quickly find him. He finally realized how dire his situation was when he spotted a helicopter that was almost certainly looking for him. He set off the small flare the officials had given all runners, but the pilot did not see it and the helicopter flew away.
3. Underline the clues that helped you determine the answers to 1 & 2.
4. What is the central idea of today’s passage?
a. The race was going really well for Prosperi.
b. An injury caused Prosperi to slow down and then get lost.
c. A terrible sandstorm caused Prosperi to become lost.
3. Underline the clues that helped you determine the answers to 1 & 2.
4. What caused Prosperi to become concerned about his situation?
a. He was quickly running out of extra food.b. He had a limited supply of water and no
access to more.c. The helicopter that was looking for him
didn’t see him.
Day 5When the helicopter failed to spot him, Prosperi was worried but still sanguine
that he would be found. After a few more days alone in the desert, he finally came across a building. He was optimistic that he would find people there, but it was a Muslim shrine that was abandoned. He stayed there for a while and ate bats he found near the roof of the building. He eventually heard a plane and quickly ran out to try to flag it down, but yet again, he went unnoticed and was forced to watch the plane fly away. His hopes were beginning to fade but he continued his journey across the desert.
Many days after becoming lost in the desert, Prosperi came across an oasis. He slowly drank water to help his dehydration. The next day he was found by women who offered him goat’s milk and food. They called the police who quickly came to see who the strange man was. The police were dumbfounded to discover that he was the marathon runner that got lost in the sandstorm because he ended up over 180 miles away in the country of Algeria. He lost nearly 40 pounds over the nine days that he was lost in the desert. While he survived, it took him nearly two years to fully recover. Despite the hardships that he faced during the Marathon des Sables, he entered the race again in 1998 and then in 2012.
1. What is the meaning of sanguine as it is used in the passage?
a. doubtfulb. cautiousc. hopeful
2. What is the meaning of dumbfounded as it is used in the passage?
a. astonishedb. unsurprisedc. expected
3. Underline the word or words that helped you determine the answers to 1 & 2.
4. What was the most important factor in Prosperi’s survival?
You probably haven’t heard of Eva Hart, but you are likely familiar with the story that changed her life forever. Hart was born on January 31, 1905, and grew up in London, England. When she was seven years old, her father decided to move the family to Canada so that he could follow his dreams of opening his own store. On April 10, 1912, Hart traveled with her mother and father to Southampton, England to commence the trip that would take them to their new life. They were to travel by sea and Hart was fascinated by the ship. In fact, so many people were amazed by it that the excitement surrounding the ship was palpable. The name of the ship that was to take Hart’s family to begin their new life in North America was the RMS Titanic.
1. What is the meaning of commence?
a. beginb. boardc. see
2. What is the meaning of palpable?
a. uncertainb. noticeablec. hidden
Day 2
The Titanic had been touted as unsinkable. At the time that it was built, it was the world’s largest ship and was capable of reaching high speeds. It had advanced technology that was supposed to make the ship safer. There were 16 separate watertight compartments in the ship’s hull to keep it from sinking if it ran into anything. The separate compartments meant that the ship could take on some water and still stay afloat. It also had many luxurious amenities including a gymnasium and a swimming pool for the first class passengers. There were only enough lifeboats on the ship for less than half of the total passengers, but this didn’t worry many people because the ship was supposed to be safe.
3. Underline the clues that helped you determine the answers to 1 & 2.
4. Why might the author have included the name of the ship?
a. The author knows that most people are familiar with the story of the Titanic.
b. The author wanted the reader to have as much information as possible.
While Hart’s father was excited about riding on the Titanic, her mother had misgivings about being on a ship that was proclaimed to be unsinkable. She was very worried at the start of the trip and even refused to sleep in her room at night. It turned out that her premonition that the ship wasn’t safe was correct. Late in the night on April 14th, Hart’s father woke her up from her sleep and wrapped her in a blanket. The Titanic had hit an iceberg while speeding through the Atlantic ocean and was sinking. Hart’s father took her and her mother up to the deck of the ship and loaded them into one of the few lifeboats. He told Hart to be good and to make sure that she held her mother’s hand and then he disappeared into the chaos of the crowds on the deck of the ship.
1. What is the meaning of misgivings?
a. doubtsb. hopesc. anger
2. What is the meaning of premonition?
a. statementb. claimc. suspicion
Day 4
It quickly became apparent that the Titanic was not actually unsinkable. It began to take on water and the situation deteriorated rapidly as passengers desperately scrambled to try to find space on lifeboats. Eva Hart and her mother luckily managed to get on a life boat and were lowered with other passengers into the icy waters of the Atlantic ocean. There weren’t enough lifeboats for even half of the people on the ship, and the lifeboat passengers were mostly women and children. Hart sat with her mother in the lifeboat as she watched the Titanic sink in the night. She was unable to get any rest in the lifeboat and watched as the last of the once incredible ship became completely submerged. Once the Titanic disappeared under the water, Hart and the other lifeboat passengers were alone and stranded in the cold night.
3. Underline the clues that helped you determine the answers to 1 & 2.
4. What is the central idea of today’s passage?
a. The Titanic hit an iceberg and was sinking.
b. The Titanic was safer than any other ocean liner at the time.
c. Eva Hart’s father believed that the Titanic was safe.
3. Underline the clues that helped you determine the answers to 1 & 2.
4. What inference can be made about today’s passage?
a. Officials didn’t believe they would actually need to use the lifeboats.
b. Officials believed that the lifeboats would be used.
c. The lifeboats were optional because they never actually helped.
Day 5The passengers that were lucky enough to get in a lifeboat watched in horror
as the ship that had been lauded as unsinkable slipped beneath the surface of the water. They sat in the dark in their lifeboats, unsure of their fate. Eva Hart and the other passengers didn’t know that crewmembers of the Titanic had sent out an emergency alert before it sank. A competitor’s ship had picked up the alert and was speeding in the direction of the last known location of the Titanic. The ship arrived about an hour after the Titanic had disappeared in the Atlantic and initially the crew didn’t see the lifeboats. Happily, the lifeboats were finally spotted and the passengers and crew of the RMS Carpathia worked together to rescue the stranded passengers.
The Carpathia took the rescued passengers from the Titanic to New York City. Hart and her mother arrived in the United States six days after the Titanic sank. While some families were reunited, Hart’s father was not among the survivors. Since it was her father’s dream to move to Canada, Hart and her mother returned to England. Eva Hart struggled from the memories of that fateful voyage and had regular nightmares. Hart was a critic of the lack of lifeboats because there would have been many more survivors had there been enough lifeboats. She was very active in Titanic survivor’s activities until she passed away at the age of 91.
1. What is the meaning of lauded as it is used in the passage?
a. praisedb. criticizedc. blamed
2. What is the meaning of fateful as it is used in the passage?
a. luckyb. eventfulc. tragic
3. Underline the word or words that helped you determine the answers to 1 & 2.
4. It is now a requirement that all boats have enough lifeboats for every person on them. What role did accidents like the Titanic likely play in this?
