+ All Categories
Home > Documents > Reading Skill by Skill Series

Reading Skill by Skill Series

Date post: 30-Mar-2016
Category:
Upload: rally-education-texas
View: 253 times
Download: 4 times
Share this document with a friend
Description:
Sample Book Main Idea Grade 7 Aligned to the Readiness TEKS & Supporting TEKS as Measured by the STAAR
Popular Tags:
48
LEVEL G SAMPLE RALLY! EDUCATION 888.99.RALLY THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED. IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.
Transcript
Page 1: Reading Skill by Skill Series

LEVEL G

SAMPLE

RALLY! EDUCATION

888.99.RALLY

THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED.

IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN

FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.

Page 2: Reading Skill by Skill Series

SAMPLE

RALLY! EDUCATION

888.99.RALLY

THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED.

IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN

FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.

To the TeacherReading Skill-by-Skill is a powerful instructional tool that has been designed tohelp students strengthen their reading comprehension.

Each book in this series provides instruction and practice for a different readingcomprehension skill. The focus of this book is main idea and details.

In Part 1 of this book, students will learn practical techniques and strategiesfor answering questions that relate to main idea and details. Using a scaffoldedapproach to differentiated instruction, Reading Skill-by-Skill teaches students aboutmain idea and details by increasing the difficulty of what they read from sentences toparagraphs to full-length passages.

In addition, each of the sections in Part 1 provides students with modeled instruction,guided practice, and independent practice. Teacher support will be required forstudents to complete the skill introduction, modeled instruction, and guided practicepages in Part 1. Students can complete the independent practice pages on their own.

Part 2 reinforces what students have learned in Part 1. Students will read 10 passagesand answer a series of main idea and detail questions about each passage. Studentswork on their own to strengthen their reading comprehension skills.

Reading Skill-by-Skill will enable you to target the reading comprehension skills forwhich your students need the most practice. Upon completing this book, you mayelect to proceed to other books in this series. These books can be taught in any order.

ISBN 978-1-4204-4710-1R 4710-1

Copyright ©2011 RALLY! EDUCATION. All rights reserved. No part of the material protected by thiscopyright may be reproduced in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, includingphotocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission inwriting from the copyright owner. Printed in the U.S.A. 0311.MAQ

RALLY! EDUCATION • 22 Railroad Avenue, Glen Head, NY 11545 • (888) 99-RALLY

2© RALLY! EDUCATION. NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.

Page 3: Reading Skill by Skill Series

SAMPLE

RALLY! EDUCATION

888.99.RALLY

THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED.

IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN

FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.

ContentsPart 1Instruction: Main Idea and Details . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

SentencesModeled Instruction with Sentences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6Guided Practice with Sentences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7Independent Practice with Sentences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

ParagraphsModeled Instruction with Paragraphs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10Guided Practice with Paragraphs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11Independent Practice with Paragraphs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

PassagesModeled Instruction with Passages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16Guided Practice with Passages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17Independent Practice with Passages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Part 2On Your Own: Passages with Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

The Unusual Dodo Bird – Nonfiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28The Race for Space – Nonfiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30Day of the Dead – Fiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32The Alpaca’s Amazing Coat – Nonfiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34How Marie Curie Changed the World – Nonfiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36Samantha’s Lucky Penny – Fiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38The History of Hot Air Balloons – Nonfiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40Yosemite National Park – Nonfiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42A Phenomenal Birthday Present – Fiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44Teaching Your Dog How to Sit – Nonfiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46

3© RALLY! EDUCATION. NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.

Page 4: Reading Skill by Skill Series

SAMPLE

RALLY! EDUCATION

888.99.RALLY

THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED.

IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN

FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.

Main Idea and DetailsWhen you read a story or passage, there is a lot of information to remember.The small pieces of information that you read are called details. What the passage(or part of the passage) is mostly about is the main idea.

Details can tell you who, what, where, when, why, how much, or how many. Even onesentence can have a lot of details.

Read the sentence below.

After a heavy rainstorm, the lake behind my uncle’s house appears black,sinister, and bottomless.

Think about what details are in this sentence.

• The lake is behind the uncle’s house.• The lake appears black after a heavy rainstorm.• The lake appears sinister after a heavy rainstorm.• The lake appears bottomless after a heavy rainstorm.

The Main Idea answers the question “What is this mostly about?” There can only beone main idea.

Now, read the same sentence again.

After a heavy rainstorm, the lake behind my uncle’s house appears black,sinister, and bottomless.

Think about all of the details in the sentence. What is the sentence mostly about?

The details in this sentence all have to do with the lake. They tell you where thelake is located and what happens to the appearance of the water after a rainstorm.The main idea of this sentence is “what happens to the lake after it rains.”

4© RALLY! EDUCATION. NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.

Page 5: Reading Skill by Skill Series

SAMPLE

RALLY! EDUCATION

888.99.RALLY

THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED.

IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN

FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.

You may be asked questions about the main idea or details in a passage. It can helpyou to answer these types of questions if you make a graphic organizer.

Here are two examples of graphic organizers you may want to use.

Graphic Organizer for Main Idea and Details

Graphic Organizer for Structure

Main Idea of Passage

Supporting Detail Supporting Detail Supporting Detail

Supporting Detail Supporting Detail Supporting Detail

Supporting Detail Supporting Detail Supporting Detail

Main IdeaParagraph 2

Main IdeaParagraph 3

Main IdeaParagraph 1

Main Idea:Detail 5:

Detail 1:

Detail 2:

Detail 3:Detail 4:

5© RALLY! EDUCATION. NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.

Page 6: Reading Skill by Skill Series

SAMPLE

RALLY! EDUCATION

888.99.RALLY

THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED.

IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN

FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.

Modeled Instruction with SentencesDirections: Read the sentences and follow along.

1 Botanists study plants ranging from the smallest weeds growing in the park tothe tallest trees standing in the redwood forests.

What is a botanist?

Think about the details in the sentence:• Botanists study plants such as weeds and trees.• Botanists study things that grow in parks and forests.

The details tell you that a botanist is someone who studies a variety of plants.

2 Botanists who use their knowledge of plants to help manage parks,woodlands, and wilderness areas are called conservationists.

What is a conservationist?

Think about the details in the sentence:• Botanists have knowledge about plants.• Conservationists help manage parks, woodlands, andwilderness areas.

• Botanists can be conservationists.

The details tell you that conservationists are botanists who use their knowledgeof plants to help manage places in the environment where plants grow.

3 Within the field of botany, many botanists choose to specialize in areas suchas plant genetics, conservation, or the study of fungi.

What is one example of an area of specialization in the field of botany?

Think about the details in the sentence:• Some botanists specialize in plant genetics.• Some botanists specialize in conservation.• Some botanists specialize in the study of fungi.

The details tell you that plant genetics, conservation, and the study of fungiare different areas of specialization in the field of botany.

6© RALLY! EDUCATION. NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.

Page 7: Reading Skill by Skill Series

SAMPLE

RALLY! EDUCATION

888.99.RALLY

THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED.

IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN

FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.

Guided Practice with SentencesDirections: Below are the sentences from the last page. Read them again and answerthe question that follows. Circle your answer.

1 Botanists study plants ranging from the smallest weeds growing in the parkto the tallest trees standing in the redwood forests.

Botanists who use their knowledge of plants to help manage parks, woodlands,and wilderness areas are called conservationists.

Within the field of botany, many botanists choose to specialize in areas such asplant genetics, conservation, or the study of fungi.

This information would most likely appear in a passage titled

A Plants and Fungi C What is a Botanist?

B How to Become a Scientist D Conserving redwood forests

HINTTo think of the best title, you must know the main idea. Complete thegraphic organizer, then choose your answer. Add more circles if needed.

Main Idea:Detail 5:

Detail 1:

Detail 2:

Detail 3:Detail 4:

7© RALLY! EDUCATION. NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.

Page 8: Reading Skill by Skill Series

SAMPLE

RALLY! EDUCATION

888.99.RALLY

THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED.

IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN

FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.

Independent Practice with SentencesDirections: Read the sentences and answer the questions on your own. Circle or writeyour answer.

1 Since it had snowed the night before, ice covered the sidewalk that Michelleand Kenny walked along on their way to school Tuesday morning. They tooktheir time so they wouldn’t slip, but were late for homeroom.

Why were Michelle and Kenny late for homeroom Tuesday morning?

A They like snow and ice.

B They couldn’t get a ride to school.

C They were up late playing in the snow.

D They walked slowly so they wouldn’t slip on the ice.

Explain how you chose your answer.

2 Troy loves the outdoors. He’s very good at sports such as soccer, football, andbaseball. He likes to challenge his friends to races, too.

List three details that can be found in the sentences above.

Detail 3:

Detail 2:

Detail 1:

8© RALLY! EDUCATION. NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.

Page 9: Reading Skill by Skill Series

SAMPLE

RALLY! EDUCATION

888.99.RALLY

THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED.

IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN

FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.

3 Kayla’s little sister will turn six years old next week. During yesterday’s artclass, Kayla decided to make her sister a bracelet out of beads as a present.

The sentences above tell you

A why Kayla made her sister a bracelet

B where to buy the cheapest birthday presents

C why Kayla’s sister likes to wear a bracelet

D how to make someone a present

4 Before Gerry can paint the birdhouse blue, his father has to finish nailing thepieces together. After the paint dries, they will hang it in a tree and watchfrom the kitchen window as birds flock to their new home.

In the space below, make a graphic organizer that shows the details and main ideaof these sentences.

What would be a good title for a story with these details and main idea?

9© RALLY! EDUCATION. NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.

Page 10: Reading Skill by Skill Series

SAMPLE

RALLY! EDUCATION

888.99.RALLY

THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED.

IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN

FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.

Modeled Instruction with ParagraphsDirections: Read the paragraph below and follow along.

1 A lemur is a type of primate that only can be found on the island of Madagascar.The location of the island contributes to the animal’s survival. It is far from therest of the world. One of the first lemurs was said to be as large as a male gorilla.Today, they range in size from a few ounces to more than twenty pounds. Thesecreatures have long tails, big eyes, and flat noses. They eat fruits and leaves. Notall lemurs are awake at the same time. Nocturnal lemurs are active at night.Diurnal lemurs are active during the day.

According to this paragraph, what is a reason for the lemur’s survival?

A They eat only fruits and leaves.

B They have large eyes.

C They live on Madagascar.

D They sleep during the day.

Think about each answer choice and choose the best answer.

Answer A: The paragraph does mention that lemurs eat fruits and leaves.However, the paragraph does not discuss how the diet of a lemur is connectedto its survival. Choice A cannot be correct.

Answer B: One of the details states that lemurs have big eyes, but the paragraphdoes not explain how this might have helped them survive. Choice B cannotbe correct.

Answer C: One sentence states that the location of the island contributes tothe lemur’s survival because it is far from the rest of the world. Choice C is thecorrect answer.

Answer D: One of the details explains that some lemurs are nocturnal, whichmeans that they are awake at night. However, the paragraph does not state thatthis is the reason for their survival. Choice D cannot be correct.

10© RALLY! EDUCATION. NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.

Page 11: Reading Skill by Skill Series

SAMPLE

RALLY! EDUCATION

888.99.RALLY

THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED.

IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN

FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.

Guided Practice with ParagraphsDirections: Read the paragraph below and answer the question that follows.Write your answer.

1 When Jim wakes on Saturday morning, he sees the sun shining and feels the hot,humid air on his skin. He knows that his friend Enrico will want to go for a swim.Jim loves summer vacation, but he dreads days like this. He never learned how toswim, and he is embarrassed to tell his friend. Jim thinks about lying and tellingEnrico he is sick, but he knows he should tell the truth. Sure enough, Enricoshows up at Jim’s door with a towel and swimsuit and demands they goswimming. Jim stammers as he tells him that he doesn’t know how to swim.Enrico tells Jim that his older brother can teach him how to swim.

What is this paragraph mostly about?

HINTBefore you answer this question, make a list of important details that youread.

Look at your list and read the question again. Write your answer below.

11© RALLY! EDUCATION. NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.

Page 12: Reading Skill by Skill Series

SAMPLE

RALLY! EDUCATION

888.99.RALLY

THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED.

IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN

FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.

Independent Practice with ParagraphsDirections: Read each paragraph and answer all questions on your own.Circle or write your answers.

1 Iceland is an island located in the mid-Atlantic Ocean. It’s Europe’s leastpopulated country. Don’t let its name fool you. Iceland is not really that icy at all.It’s also not as cold as you might think. Make sure you pack both sweaters andshorts when heading to this country. The island enjoys a variety of differenttemperatures and weather. It’s common to see the warm sun one minute and thenfreezing rain the next.

According to the paragraph, Iceland is

A very icy and cold

B Europe’s most populated country

C warm all year

D located in the mid-Atlantic Ocean

2 Sandy is helping her mother, who is recovering from a recent surgery. Her mothercan’t leave the house yet, so she asks Sandy to walk to the nearby grocery store tobuy milk, eggs, butter, soup, and oranges. Sandy memorizes her mother’s list, butbecomes distracted when she sees her friend Renee. After chatting with Renee,Sandy tries to remember the items her mother needs. She buys eggs, butter, soup,and oranges.

Which item did Sandy forget to buy at the grocery store?

A milk

B eggs

C butter

D oranges

12© RALLY! EDUCATION. NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.

Page 13: Reading Skill by Skill Series

SAMPLE

RALLY! EDUCATION

888.99.RALLY

THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED.

IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN

FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.

3 Clouds are made up of water vapor that floats in the sky. Clouds are grouped intothree main types. Cirrus clouds float high in the sky and are thin and wispy. Theyare made mostly of ice crystals. Stratus clouds are gray and flat and are the lowest ofthe clouds. They contain water droplets. Cumulus clouds also float low in the sky,but they are white and puffy. They contain both water droplets and ice crystals.

What is this paragraph mostly about?

4 Keisha enjoys playing soccer after school with her friends. Her goal is to one dayplay for her middle school’s soccer team. She tried out for the team last year anddid well, but not well enough to make the team. While this upset her at first, shebecame determined to become a better player. Over the summer, she played oftenwith her friends and practiced kicking and passing the ball. She perfectedblocking—keeping the ball from going into the other team’s goal. If she makesthe soccer team this year, Keisha wants to play the position of goalie. This year,she thinks she will definitely make the team.

List three things Keisha did to get ready for tryouts this year.

1.

2.

3.

13© RALLY! EDUCATION. NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.

Page 14: Reading Skill by Skill Series

SAMPLE

RALLY! EDUCATION

888.99.RALLY

THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED.

IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN

FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.

5 Greyhounds are dogs known for their long legs and slim bodies. At a height ofabout 26 inches and a weight of only 50 to 80 pounds, a greyhound is built torun. Originally bred for racing, some greyhounds can reach speeds of 60 miles perhour, but most run about 30 miles per hour. Even though they were bred to race,these dogs do not need much exercise. Most enjoy living indoors and get all theexercise they need from a daily walk. In fact, some owners of greyhounds describetheir dogs as lazy, lovable “couch potatoes.”

How tall are most greyhounds?

A 26 inches

B 30 inches

C 50 inches

D 60 inches

6 The aquarium was an amazing place. Carmen and Aunt Reya enjoyed seeing themany brightly colored fish swim past them in long fish tanks. Carmen waswatching a large purple fish swim near some blue crabs when she spotted multi-colored structures on the bottom of the fish tank. Aunt Reya explained that thestructures were coral reefs. She told Carmen that the reefs serve as shelter formarine life.

What were the structures Carmen saw on the bottom of the fish tank?

A purple fish

B coral reefs

C blue crabs

D marine life

14© RALLY! EDUCATION. NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.

Page 15: Reading Skill by Skill Series

SAMPLE

RALLY! EDUCATION

888.99.RALLY

THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED.

IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN

FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.

15© RALLY! EDUCATION. NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.

7 Trees need plenty of sunlight and water for photosynthesis. Duringphotosynthesis, trees convert sunlight into energy. They use the chlorophyll, orgreen pigment, in their leaves to attract the sun. However, as the end of summernears, the days become shorter and there is less sunlight during the day. Whenthis happens, trees do not have enough light for photosynthesis to occur. Thiscauses the leaves on the trees to lose their chlorophyll and turn shades of red,orange, and yellow.

What is the main idea of this paragraph?

8 Robert sat in the back of the bus, huddled over his notes anxiously trying tomemorize the words he learned in his Spanish class. His friends tried to get hisattention, but he ignored them. He had only a few minutes to remember twoweeks’ worth of vocabulary words. As the bus neared the school, Robert’s stomachturned and he felt queasy. He knew he should have studied. He should havewritten the words and the definitions several times to become familiar with them.Then he should have made flash cards to quiz himself. He also should have askedhis mother to quiz him on the vocabulary words.

List three things Robert should have done to prepare for the test.

1.

2.

3.

Page 16: Reading Skill by Skill Series

SAMPLE

RALLY! EDUCATION

888.99.RALLY

THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED.

IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN

FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.

Modeled Instruction with PassagesDirections: Read Part 1 of the passage below and follow along.

The Great Depression (Part 1)One of the most difficult times in American history was the Great Depression of the1930s. In 1929, the stock market unexpectedly crashed and seriously damaged theAmerican economy. Then, to make matters worse, nearly all of America’s banks closedwhen fearful customers began taking out all their money. Before long, millions ofpeople lost their jobs. Afraid to spend what little money they had, people stoppedbuying things. This all caused the nation’s economy to grow worse and worse. Thistough economic era became known as the Great Depression.

1 According to this paragraph, what event marked the beginning of the GreatDepression in America?

A people lost their jobs

B banks closed

C the stock market crashed

D people stopped buying things

Think about each answer choice and choose the best answer.

Answer A: The paragraph does state that people lost their jobs. However, this isnot what marked the beginning of the Great Depression. Other events happenedfirst. Choice A cannot be correct.

Answer B: Although banks did close, this was not the first event that markedthe beginning of the Great Depression. Something else happened that led to this.Choice B cannot be correct.

Answer C: The paragraph indicates that the stock market crash was the mainevent that marked the beginning of the Great Depression. Other events that madethe economy worse soon followed. Choice C is the correct answer.

Answer D: People stopped buying things after other events occurred and causeddamage to the American economy. This did not happen first. Choice D cannotbe correct.

16© RALLY! EDUCATION. NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.

Page 17: Reading Skill by Skill Series

SAMPLE

RALLY! EDUCATION

888.99.RALLY

THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED.

IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN

FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.

Guided Practice with PassagesDirections: Read Part 2 of the passage below and write your answer to the questionthat follows.

The Great Depression (Part 2)President Franklin D. Roosevelt took office in 1933. This was when the GreatDepression was at its worst. Roosevelt promised an end to the Great Depressionand introduced his “New Deal” plan. He started programs that helped those withoutjobs, rebuilt and improved the banking system, and more. Before long, things slowlyimproved. In addition to the “New Deal,” the increased need for manufacturingequipment as the United States prepared to enter World War II helped to createmore jobs and bring the United States out of the Great Depression.

1 What is this paragraph mostly about?

HINTCreate a graphic organizer to help you answer this question.You may need to use a separate sheet of paper.

Write your answer below.

17© RALLY! EDUCATION. NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.

Page 18: Reading Skill by Skill Series

SAMPLE

RALLY! EDUCATION

888.99.RALLY

THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED.

IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN

FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.

Independent Practice with PassagesDirections: Read the passage below. Answer questions 1−4 on your own. Circle orwrite your answers.

Billy and Mara’s Family VacationBilly and Mara were very excited because tomorrow was the day for which they’dbeen waiting for so long. The next day would be the start of their family vacation andthey were finally going to the science museum in the city! In the meantime, the twowere busy getting ready. They dashed around collecting everything they would needand packing their luggage. Once they were finished, it was time for bed, but they wereboth too excited to sleep. All night long, they sat awake in their beds, thinking of thefun day ahead.

1 Where are Billy and Mara going tomorrow?

A school

B science museum

C the beach

D a birthday party

The next morning, Billy and Mara sprung from their beds with glee and quickly gotready to leave. Before long, they were on the road with their parents. They playedgames, laughed, and had much fun. Their excitement grew as the minutes ticked byand they neared their destination. After what seemed like forever, Billy and Marastarted to recognize their surroundings. Suddenly, the car stopped; they had reachedthe hotel and were almost at the museum.

2 What is this paragraph mostly about?

A Billy and Mara’s day at the museum

B Billy and Mara’s long car ride

C Billy and Mara’s trip back home

D Billy and Mara’s fun travel activities

18© RALLY! EDUCATION. NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.

Page 19: Reading Skill by Skill Series

SAMPLE

RALLY! EDUCATION

888.99.RALLY

THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED.

IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN

FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.

They all jumped out of the car and made a quick stop in their hotel room to relax andgrab a bite to eat. Billy and Mara could see the museum out the hotel room window.Before long, they set out for the museum. When they arrived in front of the building,Billy and Mara triumphantly raced up the steps and ran inside. They were thrilled tobe there. For hours, they roamed the museum and had fun exploring the variousexhibits and learning about many different science topics such as sound, motion, andelectricity.

3 Where were Billy and Mara when they first saw the museum?

A in the hotel room

B in the car

C on the highway

D on the sidewalk

All day long, Billy and Mara enjoyed themselves at the museum, loving every minuteof it. They learned about many new things and had much to tell their friends backhome. The end of the day came too soon, however, and although Billy and Mara weresad as they departed the museum, they were happy to know that they would still havethe rest of the week to explore more of the city and visit many more new places.

4 What is the main idea of this paragraph?

19© RALLY! EDUCATION. NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.

Page 20: Reading Skill by Skill Series

SAMPLE

RALLY! EDUCATION

888.99.RALLY

THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED.

IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN

FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.

Directions: Read the passage below. Answer questions 1−4 on your own. Circle orwrite your answers.

George SchallerIt didn’t take George Schaller long to decide what he wanted to do with his life. As achild, he was interested in wild animals. As a young adult, he became seriouslyconcerned with the safety of many species. This worry led George to the field ofbiology. He wanted to make a difference in the world. George studied many livingthings in nature. He made many important discoveries in his life.

1 What is the main idea of this paragraph?

A Biologists study nature.

B People liked George Schaller.

C George Schaller was very interested in animals.

D George Schaller was a successful biologist.

George Schaller was known for his studies in the field. This means that he studiedanimals in their natural habitats. George traveled to Africa in 1959 with his wife tostudy mountain gorillas. They lived with the gorillas and studied them for two years.He then wrote a book about the experience. He wrote that gorillas are not angrybeasts as people sometimes think they are. He was one of the first to say that gorillasare gentle and friendly animals. He said that sometimes they even behave as if theyare human.

2 Which of these was not something George Schaller discoveredabout gorillas?

A People are wrong to think gorillas are angry.

B Gorillas can be gentle and friendly.

C Sometimes gorillas act like humans.

D Gorillas eat mostly meat and few plants.

20© RALLY! EDUCATION. NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.

Page 21: Reading Skill by Skill Series

SAMPLE

RALLY! EDUCATION

888.99.RALLY

THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED.

IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN

FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.

Over the years, George Schaller’s interest in protecting animals led him to travel allover the world. He studied lions in Africa, jaguars in Brazil, and giant pandas inChina. He also learned about snow leopards in Nepal and antelope in Tibet. He evenstudied Marco Polo sheep in Afghanistan. For more than 50 years, George traveled towetlands and rainforests. He even traveled to the bases of many volcanoes and thetops of snowy mountains. He worked hard to save endangered wildlife. Animals thatare endangered might not be here in the future.

3 What is this paragraph mostly about?

A Animals all over the world need help.

B George Schaller worked as a biologist for 50 years.

C George Schaller’s career allowed him to travel to many places.

D Some animals live at the bases of volcanoes and on the topsof mountains.

Throughout his career, George Schaller protected many endangered animals. He alsoworked with animals that were thought to be extinct. An animal is extinct if it nolonger exists. Between 1994 and 1996, he found a species of pig and a group of deerthat scientists believed to be dead for many years. The world would never know theseanimals were still alive without George!

4 Which animals did scientists think were extinct before GeorgeSchaller rediscovered them?

21© RALLY! EDUCATION. NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.

Page 22: Reading Skill by Skill Series

SAMPLE

RALLY! EDUCATION

888.99.RALLY

THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED.

IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN

FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.

Directions: Read the passage below. Answer questions 1−4 on your own. Circle orwrite your answers.

Baking a Carrot CakeEmily knew that her mother worked hard at her job—and lately she had been workingvery hard. Yet somehow, her mother always found time to help Emily with herhomework and quiz her for upcoming tests. To show her appreciation, Emily wantedto do something nice for her mother, so she asked her father to help her bake a carrotcake. Carrot cake was her mother’s favorite dessert. Emily and her father found arecipe in a cookbook and headed to the grocery store to purchase the necessaryingredients.

1 Why did Emily want to bake her mother a carrot cake?

A She thought it might be fun to follow a recipe.

B She knew that her mother liked to eat desserts.

C She wanted to thank her mother for helping her.

D She wanted to do something special with her father.

When they returned home, Emily and her dad set to work in the kitchen, gatheringall the important ingredients that would go into the carrot cake. Opening therefrigerator, Emily removed the eggs, carrots, and a few other items while her fatheropened the heavy bag of flour and chopped the pecans. Then, the two of themcarefully measured just the right amount of each ingredient.

2 This paragraph is mostly about Emily and her dad

A preparing the ingredients

B mixing the eggs, carrots, and flour

C making the cake batter

D coming home from the store

22© RALLY! EDUCATION. NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.

Page 23: Reading Skill by Skill Series

SAMPLE

RALLY! EDUCATION

888.99.RALLY

THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED.

IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN

FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.

Emily’s dad prepared the mixer, setting the mixing bowl in its place and attaching thebeaters. Once the mixer was ready to go, Emily poured the flour into the bowl. Sheadded pecans, carrots, vegetable oil, sugar, and cinnamon, and then her dad helpedher break the eggs. With her dad’s help, Emily turned on the mixer and watched as itwhisked and whipped the ingredients into a smooth batter. When the mixing wascomplete, she poured the batter into a cake pan and placed it into the oven to bake.

3 Which ingredient does Emily put in the bowl first?

A sugar

B eggs

C flour

D pecans

After removing the cake from the oven and allowing it to cool, Emily had just enoughtime to apply the cream-cheese frosting before her mother came home. She quicklyfinished the cake and hid in the next room, and then she waited for her mom’sarrival. When Emily’s mom finally appeared, her eyes opened wide when she saw thebeautiful carrot cake on the kitchen table. Emily told her that she had made the cakefor her because she was the best mother ever.

4 What is the main idea of the last paragraph?

23© RALLY! EDUCATION. NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.

Page 24: Reading Skill by Skill Series

SAMPLE

RALLY! EDUCATION

888.99.RALLY

THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED.

IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN

FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.

Directions: Read the passage below. Answer the extended-response question on thenext page. Support your answer with details from the passage.

Recycling Works!One of the most important tasks we have is to keep our world healthy and clean. Wemust use our natural resources wisely and be careful not to pollute the land wedepend upon. One of the best ways we can do this is through recycling.

To recycle means to use our planet’s resources over and over again. Recycling keeps ourplanet clean and saves our natural resources. It can also help us to save energy andmoney by reusing materials to create products instead of creating new products fromscratch. When we recycle, we create less waste and make better use of our resources.

Recycling is good for the earth and good for the people who live here. When wechoose to just throw away materials that we no longer need, such as old newspapers,glass bottles, or empty cans, these items are taken to a garbage dump where they areallowed to become waste. This creates a big mess and can lead to different forms ofpollution that hurt our planet. We could decrease the size of our dumps and lower therisk of pollution by reusing some of the materials we normally throw away.

Recycling can also help us to make better use of the resources we must use to supportour way of life. Many of the important resources we rely on will not last forever. Wemust be sure to use them wisely and waste as little as possible. Recycling allows us tocut down on our use of these important resources by helping us to reuse the materialswe already have.

The best thing about recycling is that anyone can do it. We all have the ability tomake a difference. All you need to do is separate recyclable materials, such as tin cans,paper, cardboard, or glass, from the rest of your trash and place them in separatecontainers. When your garbage is picked up, your recyclables will be placed in aspecial truck and taken to the recycling center. There, they will be turned intoreusable materials.

24© RALLY! EDUCATION. NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.

Page 25: Reading Skill by Skill Series

SAMPLE

RALLY! EDUCATION

888.99.RALLY

THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED.

IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN

FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.

1 What types of things can be recycled? Why is it a good idea to recycle?Support your answer with at least three benefits of recycling that are discussedin the passage.

25© RALLY! EDUCATION. NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.

Page 26: Reading Skill by Skill Series

SAMPLE

RALLY! EDUCATION

888.99.RALLY

THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED.

IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN

FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.

26© RALLY! EDUCATION. NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.

Page 27: Reading Skill by Skill Series

SAMPLE

RALLY! EDUCATION

888.99.RALLY

THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED.

IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN

FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.

On Your OwnPassages with Questions

The Unusual Dodo Bird – NonfictionThe Race for Space – Nonfiction

Day of the Dead – FictionThe Alpaca’s Amazing Coat – Nonfiction

How Marie Curie Changed the World – NonfictionSamantha’s Lucky Penny – Fiction

The History of Hot Air Balloons – NonfictionYosemite National Park – Nonfiction

A Phenomenal Birthday Present – FictionTeaching Your Dog How to Sit – Nonfiction

27© RALLY! EDUCATION. NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.

Page 28: Reading Skill by Skill Series

SAMPLE

RALLY! EDUCATION

888.99.RALLY

THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED.

IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN

FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.

Directions: Read the passage below and answer the questions on the next page.

The Unusual Dodo BirdThe dodo bird became extinct many years ago, but this unusual bird has captured theimaginations of people for centuries. Dodo birds once lived on Mauritius, an island inthe Indian Ocean. The birds were unknown to most of the world until a group ofEuropean sailors explored the island in the 1500s. In their notes, the sailors describedthe dodo bird as being about the size of a turkey, with blue-gray feathers. The bird’shead was large, but its wings were small, too small for the bird to fly.

The dodos were not afraid of the sailors, making the birds easy to hunt. Because ofthis, the sailors believed the birds were unintelligent. Some historians think this iswhy the sailors called the birds “dodos.” While the birds were easy to catch, thesailors did not enjoy the taste of their meat, so they stopped hunting them. Still,many threats to the birds lurked on the sailors’ ship. The cats, rats, and pigs aboardthe ship soon made their way to the island. These animals destroyed dodo bird eggs,and trees cut down by the sailors cut off much of the dodos’ food supply. By the late1600s, there were no more dodo birds alive on the island of Mauritius.

Several dodo birds were brought to Europe before the species died out. The birdsinterested many people, including scientists and authors. Author Lewis Carroll likedthe birds so much that he featured a dodo in the popular children’s story Alice’sAdventures in Wonderland. The birds did not live long in Europe, but scientistscontinued studying them after their extinction. However, few dodo remains were leftto examine, and scientists knew very little about the birds for many years.

Modern scientific advances have helped scientists discover new facts about dodos.They now know that the birds are closely related to pigeons. Scientists hope that theycan one day learn how these flightless birds came to live on the island of Mauritius.

28© RALLY! EDUCATION. NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.

Page 29: Reading Skill by Skill Series

SAMPLE

RALLY! EDUCATION

888.99.RALLY

THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED.

IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN

FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.

5 What did rats, cats, and pigs do to harm the dodo bird?

6 What is the main idea of the last paragraph?

1 Which sentence best expresses themain idea of the first paragraph?

A Sailors explored the island ofMauritius in the 1500s in searchof the dodo bird.

B The dodo was a bird that lived onthe island of Mauritius in theIndian Ocean.

C The dodo bird’s head was large,but its wings were too small forthe bird to fly.

D The sailors observed that dodoswere the size of a turkey, withblue-gray feathers.

2 This passage is mostly about

A what happened to the dodo bird

B what the dodo bird looked like

C why the dodo bird was broughtto Europe

D why people like the dodo bird

3 Which fact would fit best in thesecond paragraph of the passage?

A The dodo bird is also relatedto doves.

B The dodo bird was aboutthree feet tall.

C A dodo skeleton is on displaytoday in the Museum ofNatural History.

D Some scientists think a flashflood also affected the dodo.

4 Where did the sailors take someof the dodos before the birdsbecame extinct?

A Asia

B Africa

C Europe

D North America

29© RALLY! EDUCATION. NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.

Page 30: Reading Skill by Skill Series

SAMPLE

RALLY! EDUCATION

888.99.RALLY

THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED.

IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN

FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.

Directions: Read the passage below and answer the questions on the next page.

The Race for SpaceOn the night of October 4, 1957, U.S. citizens slept peacefully in their beds. At thesame time, the Soviet Union launched the world’s first satellite into space. They calledit Sputnik 1. It was only about the size of a beach ball, but the 184-pound devicemade history.

About one month after the launch of Sputnik 1, the Soviet Union launched a largercraft called Sputnik 2. This time, there was a dog on board the spacecraft as it sailedthrough space. All of this space exploration activity by the Soviet Union prompted theUnited States to decide it was time to make its own history by sending an American tothe moon.

Less than one year after the launch of Sputnik 1, the United States formed NASA.Laws were passed that made all public school teachers create math and science lessonsabout space. These classes encouraged students to pursue careers in space travel andspace science.

In 1958, NASA made a plan to send a man into space. During a 15-minute flight onMay 5, 1961, Allan B. Shepard, Jr. became the first American to enter space. A fewweeks after Shepard’s historical trip, President John F. Kennedy announced his planto put an American on the moon by 1970.

Soon, NASA created the Apollo program. This program’s goal was to send three mento the moon. These men wouldn’t have to step foot on the moon, though. Instead,they would simply use the moon’s orbit to explore it from the ship. The astronautsinside would study the moon’s surface, looking for spots where they could land a shipin the future.

On December 21, 1968, Frank Borman, James Lovell, and William Anders boardedApollo 8. Three days after leaving Earth, they told ground control they wereapproaching the moon. Using the moon’s orbit, they traveled around the moon forabout twenty hours before starting a course back home. On December 28, 1968, theywere back on Earth.

30© RALLY! EDUCATION. NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.

Page 31: Reading Skill by Skill Series

SAMPLE

RALLY! EDUCATION

888.99.RALLY

THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED.

IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN

FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.

5 Why did the United States pass laws requiring teachers to give lessonsabout space?

6 What is this passage mostly about?

1 What sentence best expresses themain idea of the fifth paragraph?

A NASA created the Apollo programto send man to the moon.

B The United States decided it wastime to send a man into space.

C The astronauts needed to betrained to walk on the moon.

D NASA found the three men forthe Apollo 8 mission.

2 What would be another good titlefor this passage?

A Borman Goes to Space

B Sputnik 1 vs. Apollo 8

C The United States and the Moon

D Kennedy Explores Space

3 Which fact would fit best in the lastparagraph of the passage?

A Lovell acted as navigator forthe journey.

B NASA launched Apollo 4and Apollo 6 duringpractice missions.

C To prepare for the journey, thecrew trained in space simulators.

D Apollo 11 landed on the moonseven months later.

4 According to the passage, the crew ofApollo 8 orbited the moon for

A fifteen minutes

B twenty hours

C three days

D one week

31© RALLY! EDUCATION. NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.

Page 32: Reading Skill by Skill Series

SAMPLE

RALLY! EDUCATION

888.99.RALLY

THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED.

IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN

FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.

Directions: Read the passage below and answer the questions on the next page.

Day of the DeadRosa glanced at the calendar in her room. She drew a big star on November 2 becauseit is one of her favorite days of the year.

On this special day, Rosa’s family celebrates the Day of the Dead, or “Dia de losMuertos.” The Day of the Dead is an ancient Mexican holiday that celebrates the livesof family and friends who have passed away. While it may not sound like a happyevent, Rosa and her family have much fun preparing for this celebration andremembering their loved ones.

This year, Rosa and her family must prepare food to share with everyone at thecelebration. Rosa’s mom prepares tamales for everyone to eat. Tamales are a LatinAmerican dish that consists of masa (ground corn), meats, and cheese rolled in a cornhusk. Rosa’s mom carefully prepares the masa by hand. She then fills a corn husk withthe masa, meats, and cheese. She tightly rolls the corn husks into small logs andcovers them with a spicy sauce before placing them in a steamer.

Rosa is very excited because she is in charge of a special tradition. She is baking the“pan de muerto,” or “bread of the dead.” Pan de muerto is a sweet bread with a toyskeleton baked inside. Rosa is delighted that it’s her turn to hide the toy skeleton thisyear. The skeleton is an important symbol of the holiday and brings good luck to theperson who finds it in the bread.

After the food is prepared, the family dresses in costumes. Rosa’s brother, Enrique,usually dresses like a ghoul. Their mom paints his face with white and black makeup.The family marches with much enthusiasm and anticipation to the site of thecelebration. When they arrive, they set up decorations that include photographs,flowers, and candles. They play music and dance. It is not a sad celebration. On thecontrary, it is a happy day filled with pleasant memories.

32© RALLY! EDUCATION. NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.

Page 33: Reading Skill by Skill Series

SAMPLE

RALLY! EDUCATION

888.99.RALLY

THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED.

IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN

FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.

5 Why does Rosa’s family celebrate Dia de los Muertos?

6 What is the second paragraph mostly about?

1 What does Rosa’s mother make?

A masa

B tamales

C cheese

D bread

2 What is the main idea of thefourth paragraph?

A Rosa is pleased to be in chargeof a special tradition.

B Rosa loves to make cake forher family.

C Rosa carefully prepares themasa by hand.

D Rosa hopes to bring good luckto everyone.

3 What does Rosa’s family do whenthey arrive at the site of thecelebration?

A put out decorations

B bake some bread

C march down the street

D dress in costumes

4 What is another good title forthis passage?

A History of Mexican Holidays

B Saying Goodbye

C Rosa Makes a Cake

D Celebrating Tradition

33© RALLY! EDUCATION. NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.

Page 34: Reading Skill by Skill Series

SAMPLE

RALLY! EDUCATION

888.99.RALLY

THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED.

IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN

FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.

Directions: Read the passage below. On the next page, you will need to make agraphic organizer for the passage.

The Alpaca’s Amazing CoatAlpacas lived alongside the Inca Indian tribes of the South American AndesMountains for thousands of years. Their coats of fleece provided a source of fiberto the tribes. This fiber was used to make clothing and blankets. During the 17th

century, Spanish conquerors killed off many breeds of alpacas. The suri and huacayaare the only surviving breeds today. The suri has long and silky fleece. The huacayahas a shorter, denser coat of fleece that looks like wool.

Today, alpacas are still mainly bred for their beautiful coats. Alpacas are loveable andgentle animals. They are easy to care for and breed. They are part of the same class ofanimals as camels and llamas. While they look similar to the llama, they are calmerand do not spit. They live from 15 to 20 years and can grow to about three feet inheight. Most weigh about 100 to 200 pounds. They eat hay and grass and only needa small piece of land to graze. Because of this, alpaca farms are becoming a popularsource of income for many families around the world.

Most of the alpacas in the world live in South America in Peru, Bolivia, and Chile; butalpaca farms are growing in many other parts of the world. The first alpacas werebrought to the United States in 1984. Now they can be found in states such asKentucky, Pennsylvania, and California.

Removing an alpaca’s coat of fleece does not harm or hurt the animal. Its coat growsback in a few months. One alpaca can produce 5 to 10 pounds of fleece in one year.An alpaca’s fleece is similar to yarn. It comes in a variety of colors and is woven intosweaters, hats, blankets, gloves, and scarves. These items are then sold for a profit.

34© RALLY! EDUCATION. NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.

Page 35: Reading Skill by Skill Series

SAMPLE

RALLY! EDUCATION

888.99.RALLY

THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED.

IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN

FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.

1 In the space below, create a graphic organizer for the passage you just read.Be sure to include—

1) one main idea of the passage2) one main idea of each paragraph3) three important details from each paragraph

35© RALLY! EDUCATION. NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.

Page 36: Reading Skill by Skill Series

SAMPLE

RALLY! EDUCATION

888.99.RALLY

THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED.

IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN

FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.

Directions: Read the passage below and answer the questions on the next page.

How Marie Curie Changed the WorldHave you ever heard of polonium? What about radium? You can find these elementson the periodic table, a chart used in science classes and labs all over the world. MarieCurie and her husband, Pierre, received credit for finding these elements in the early1900s. In fact, Marie Curie won two Nobel Prizes, one in 1903 and one in 1911, forthis work.

Before Marie could ever dream of being a scientist who would change the world, sheworked hard for eight years to earn money to go to school. While attending school inParis, Marie met Pierre, and the two began a working relationship that lasted manyyears.

Marie and Pierre worked in the darkest of places. Many of their labs were cold, wet,and had little to no fresh air. Some did not even have windows! These workingconditions did not matter to them, however. Though they were often sick, they kepton working in the name of science.

After Pierre’s death in 1906, Marie continued her work. At the time, many Frenchmensuffered on the battlefield during World War I. Marie developed an x-ray unit thatcould be moved from bed to bed. The unit was easy to use and showed doctors wherethe soldiers’ bones were broken or where bullets or objects were stuck in their bodies.The x-ray unit allowed doctors to look at film to see each man’s injuries and treatthem correctly.

Marie Curie’s work changed the world. People often say that she paved the way forother women, such as her daughter Irene, who were interested in the sciences. Shewas also known for her refusal to accept money for her work. She claimed that shejust wanted to make the world a better place and didn’t care if she earned a pennydoing it. This earned her the respect of many all over the world.

36© RALLY! EDUCATION. NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.

Page 37: Reading Skill by Skill Series

SAMPLE

RALLY! EDUCATION

888.99.RALLY

THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED.

IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN

FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.

5 What did Marie Curie have to do before she was able to go to school?

6 What is the last paragraph mostly about?

1 Another good title for this passage is

A Moveable X-ray Machines

B Marie and Pierre Curie

C How Marie Curie Becamea Scientist

D Marie Curie: Selfless Scientist

2 According to the passage, what didMarie do after Pierre’s death?

A earned money for school

B won two Nobel Prizes

C continued her work

D attended school in Paris

3 What is the third paragraphmostly about?

A how Marie created a moveablex-ray machine

B why Marie and Pierre workedwithout windows

C the places where Marie andPierre worked

D the place where Marie and Pierrewent to school

4 Which of the following did MarieCurie not do?

A develop a portable x-ray machine

B help injured soldiers duringthe war

C receive two Nobel Prizes

D fight alongside soldiers in the war

37© RALLY! EDUCATION. NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.

Page 38: Reading Skill by Skill Series

SAMPLE

RALLY! EDUCATION

888.99.RALLY

THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED.

IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN

FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.

Directions: Read the passage below. On the next page, you will need to write asummary of the passage.

Samantha’s Lucky PennySamantha’s softball team was playing a rival team from a neighboring town, and shewanted to get ready quickly so she could spend time warming up before the game.Samantha laced her shoes and braided her hair. When she walked out of her bedroom,she realized that she had almost forgotten something very important: her lucky penny.Samantha walked back into her room, retrieved the coin, and put it into her shoe.

As Samantha got into the car with her parents to go to the softball game, sheremembered how she found her lucky penny. Two years ago, when Samantha had firstjoined the softball team, she was walking to her first game of the season when shefound a penny in the field’s parking lot. Samantha knew that some people believefinding a penny brings good luck, so she picked up the penny and slipped it into hershoe. That day, Samantha hit a homerun and helped her team win. From that dayforward, Samantha always carried her lucky penny with her while she played.

Samantha decided to check on her lucky penny when she arrived at the field. Whenshe slipped off her shoe, she was shocked to find it missing. Samantha searched allaround the bench but couldn’t find the penny anywhere. When Samantha heard herteammates call her name, she realized she would have to bat without her penny.

Samantha was certain she wouldn’t play well without her lucky penny, but she wentup to the plate anyway. When the first pitch came, she swung and missed. Then, thesecond pitch came toward the plate, and Samantha swung again. This time, she felt acrack as her bat hit the ball. To Samantha’s amazement, her ball sailed across the fieldand out of the ballpark—it was a homerun. As Samantha ran around the bases, sherealized that she was a talented softball player with or without her lucky penny.

38© RALLY! EDUCATION. NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.

Page 39: Reading Skill by Skill Series

SAMPLE

RALLY! EDUCATION

888.99.RALLY

THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED.

IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN

FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.

39© RALLY! EDUCATION. NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.

1 Write a summary of this story. Use details from the story to describe thecharacters, plot, and setting.

Page 40: Reading Skill by Skill Series

SAMPLE

RALLY! EDUCATION

888.99.RALLY

THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED.

IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN

FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.

Directions: Read the passage below and answer the questions on the next page.

The History of Hot Air BalloonsHave you ever watched a large parade? If you have, you have probably seen hot airballoons. They are usually brightly colored and shaped like cartoon characters,monsters, and cuddly animals. Hot air balloons that are used in parades are tethered,which means they are tied to ropes or strings to keep them from flying away. Not allhot air balloons are tethered, however. Some are free-flying. Groups of people often ridegracefully through the air in these hot air balloons, which are flown by licensed pilots.

While today’s hot air balloons are used mostly for entertainment, this hasn’t alwaysbeen the case. Hot air balloons were the world’s first aircrafts. They taught scientistsabout wind currents and gravity. On August 27, 1783, the first hydrogen-filled balloonwas launched in France. No one rode in this balloon. The first manned hot air balloonwas flown on October 15, 1783. It reached a height of 80 feet.

Less than a year and a half later, a Frenchman named Jean-Pierre Blanchard crossedthe English Channel in a hot air balloon. In 1793, he designed and built the first hotair balloon used in America. He launched it in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, under thewatchful eye of President George Washington.

People soon realized that hot air balloons could be used for purposes other thanentertainment. During the French Revolutionary Wars, the French used tetheredhydrogen balloons to track the movement of their Austrian enemies. Hot air balloonswere also put to use during the American Civil War to spy on enemy camps. In battle,soldiers aboard the balloon waved flags in various directions to help others on theground know where to shoot and attack.

Although today hot air balloons are most often seen dancing between skyscrapersduring parades, they are still used to set records across the globe. For example, in1999, three men from Switzerland became the first to travel around the world in aballoon. The journey took nineteen days.

40© RALLY! EDUCATION. NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.

Page 41: Reading Skill by Skill Series

SAMPLE

RALLY! EDUCATION

888.99.RALLY

THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED.

IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN

FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.

5 Why are hot air balloons sometimes tethered?

6 What is this passage mostly about?

1 What did Jean-Pierre Blanchard do?

A He built the first hot air balloonused in America.

B He used a hot air balloon duringa war.

C He flew to America in a hotair balloon.

D He launched the first hot airballoon in France.

2 Hot air balloons that are used todayare mostly used for

A war

B travel

C entertainment

D science experiments

3 Which of these is not true of hotair balloons?

A They can be operated by anyone.

B They can be filled with hydrogen.

C They can be shaped like animals.

D They can be used to travellong distances.

4 What is the main idea of thefourth paragraph?

A Soldiers were the first to fly inhot air balloons.

B Hot air balloons were usedin wars.

C The French used hot air balloonsduring wars.

D Americans used hot air balloonsto spy on their enemies.

41© RALLY! EDUCATION. NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.

Page 42: Reading Skill by Skill Series

SAMPLE

RALLY! EDUCATION

888.99.RALLY

THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED.

IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN

FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.

Directions: Read the passage below and answer the questions on the next page.

Yosemite National ParkYosemite National Park is one of the best-known national parks in the United States.It is located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California. The park is known for itsbeautiful natural features including waterfalls, trees, and rock formations. This area isalso well known for its wide variety of plants and animals.

Yosemite National Park and other national parks were created to protect nature and togive Americans a place to go to see nature. Today, the National Park Service protectsthe park and its plants and animals from buildings, roads, and other developments.However, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, much of what is now Yosemite NationalPark was damaged by human development.

In the late 1800s, many Americans traveled to California to see more of the country.So many people traveling took its toll on nature. Some people living in and visitingplaces such as the Yosemite Valley wanted the government to help protect naturefrom this destruction. In 1864, the government passed a law that made the YosemiteValley a park.

Even though Yosemite became a park, no one person or group had the power to controlthe area. People soon moved onto the land and tried to build homes. The area was alsodisturbed by wagons, horses, and grazing animals. Since no one had the power to putrules into effect in the park, no one could stop the destruction of the land.

Then, in 1890, the government took action and made Yosemite a national park. In1916, the government started the National Park Service. The National Park Servicetook control of the park and helped protect it from additional damage. Today, mostof the park is considered Yosemite Wilderness, an area of the park that is strictlyprotected.

42© RALLY! EDUCATION. NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.

Page 43: Reading Skill by Skill Series

SAMPLE

RALLY! EDUCATION

888.99.RALLY

THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED.

IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN

FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.5 According to the passage, what is Yosemite National Park best known for?

6 What is the main idea of the last paragraph?

1 What is the third paragraphmostly about?

A what happened in Californiaduring the 1800s

B why people traveled to Californiaduring the 1800s

C what life was like in Americaduring the 1800s

D how government made new lawsduring the 1800s

2 The National Park Service began in

A 1800

B 1890

C 1900

D 1916

3 What would be another good titlefor this passage?

A Protecting a Beautiful Park

B Settling in California

C The History of National Parks

D The Future of Yosemite Valley

4 Today, most of Yosemite NationalPark is strictly protected because itis considered

A the National Park Service

B Yosemite Wilderness

C Yosemite Valley

D the Sierra Nevada Mountains

43© RALLY! EDUCATION. NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.

Page 44: Reading Skill by Skill Series

SAMPLE

RALLY! EDUCATION

888.99.RALLY

THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED.

IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN

FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.

Directions: Read the passage below and answer the questions on the next page.

A Phenomenal Birthday PresentOn the night of my 12th birthday, my grandfather said he had one final surprisefor me. As I helped clear the table and dry the dishes, I could barely contain myexcitement. Since my surprise awaited me outside, he told me to put on my bootsand dress warm. At the time, I lived in Alaska, where it was often frigid and snowy,especially after sunset and just before sunrise.

I zipped my coat, tied my boots tight, pulled on my hat and gloves, and bounded intothe living room. I was surprised to see Mom, Dad, and my brother, Billy, standingbeside my grandfather, all ready to take part in my birthday surprise. I could tell theyall knew what was going on, and it made me even more eager—and a little nervous—to find out for myself.

Together, we walked into the night and through the barren field behind our house.The snow crunched beneath our feet, and the wind made our faces rough and red.I didn’t mind that the temperature was below freezing, though. My birthday hadbeen incredible thus far, and I was truly satisfied. Ahead of me, Grandfather suddenlystopped and gestured toward the mountain range in the distance.

For the first time, I noticed that the sky above the mountains wasn’t black, as itnormally is at night. In place of the darkness were green and red lights that seemed todance gracefully along the mountain tops. I’d never seen something so astonishing.

Grandfather put his large, rough hands on my shoulders, and we watched the lightsshine and move. “These are the Northern Lights,” he told me. “The Cree, a NativeAmerican tribe, called this phenomenon the Dance of Spirits. Sometimes people alsorefer to it as aurora borealis, after Aurora, a Roman goddess. I think you are now oldenough to appreciate it, Marty. Do you like it?”

Incapable of taking my eyes off the incredible light show, I simply said, “This is thegreatest birthday present ever.”

44© RALLY! EDUCATION. NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.

Page 45: Reading Skill by Skill Series

SAMPLE

RALLY! EDUCATION

888.99.RALLY

THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED.

IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN

FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.

5 What is the main idea of the fourth paragraph?

6 What was Grandfather’s present to Marty?

45© RALLY! EDUCATION. NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.

1 What is the passage mostly about?

A bright lights shining above somemountains in Alaska

B a boy who receives a special giftfrom his grandfather

C life in Alaska, where it is alwayscold and snowy

D a boy who goes on a longjourney with his family

2 What did Grandfather tell Martybefore they went outside?

A to be careful

B to close his eyes

C to dress warm

D to dry the dishes

3 The third paragraph is mostlyabout the

A coldness of the night

B family’s traditions

C light in the sky

D snow that crunched

4 What did the Cree call theNorthern Lights?

A the Dance of Spirits

B aurora borealis

C Aurora, a Roman goddess

D the Dancing Lights

Page 46: Reading Skill by Skill Series

SAMPLE

RALLY! EDUCATION

888.99.RALLY

THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED.

IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN

FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.

Directions: Read the passage below and answer the question on the next page.

Teaching Your Dog How to SitTeaching your dog to sit is an easy and satisfying task as long as you have patience,time, and treats. It’s best to teach your dog this command when it’s a puppy, becausepuppies usually learn more quickly than adult or senior dogs. Dogs learn by repetitionand positive reinforcement. Repetition means practicing the command multiple timesover an extended period of time until your dog comprehends it. Use positivereinforcement, such as praise and food, to reward your dog when it sits.

First, choose a quiet area to train your dog that is relatively free from distractions.Your backyard or a room in your house might be a good choice. Next, gather somefood. Try prepackaged dog treats or small pieces of lunch meat or boiled chicken.Choose something that your dog enjoys so the reward will motivate the dog to learnthe command.

Stand in front of your dog and hold a treat near its nose just out of the dog’s reach.Then, raise the treat above your dog’s head back toward its ears. If the dog leaps intothe air after the treat, reprimand it by firmly saying, “No.” Never strike or physicallyharm your dog while training. After your dog stops jumping for the treat and calmsdown, loudly say the dog’s name followed by “Sit.”

If the dog sits, praise the dog by saying, “Good” or “Good sit,” and reward it with atreat. Repeat the process, giving the dog praise and a treat each time it sits. If your dogdoesn’t sit, repeat the process about five times until the dog sits. Some dogs needmore time to learn than others. As long as you stay calm and continue to practice,your dog will eventually learn the command. Practicing commands is important. Haveyour dog sit on command each day until it knows the command well. Eventually, youwon’t need to give the dog a treat to get it to sit. Once your dog learns to sit, you canmove on to other commands, such as “Stay,” “Down,” “Come,” and “Heel.”

46© RALLY! EDUCATION. NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.

Page 47: Reading Skill by Skill Series

SAMPLE

RALLY! EDUCATION

888.99.RALLY

THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED.

IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN

FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.

1 How can a dog be trained to sit? Use details from this passage to explain all of thesteps that you should follow to train a dog to sit.

47© RALLY! EDUCATION. NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.

Page 48: Reading Skill by Skill Series

SAMPLE

RALLY! EDUCATION

888.99.RALLY

THIS SAMPLE BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED.

IT IS NOT A BLACKLINE MASTER. PERMISSION IS NOT GIVEN

FOR THIS BOOK TO BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY.

48© RALLY! EDUCATION. NO PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.


Recommended