reading level 5355f5fff485fd0bd834f-ee8d35f23e0ceb27c81bace1301421dd.r93.cf1.ra… · fleas ......

AUTHOR: Linda Miller EDITOR: Marcella Hines COVER DESIGNER: Don Merrifi eld

REM 443

Comprehension Quickies

READING LEVEL 5

A TEACHING RESOURCE FROM

©2010, 1996 Copyright by Remedia Publications, Inc.

All Rights Reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.

The purchase of this product entitles the individual teacher to reproduce copies for classroom use. The reproduction of any part for an entire school or school system is strictly prohibited.

To fi nd Remedia products in a store near you, visit:www.rempub.com/stores

REMEDIA PUBLICATIONS, INC.15887 N. 76TH STREET • SUITE 120 • SCOTTSDALE, AZ • 85260

This product utilizes innovative strategies and proven methods to improve student learning. The product is based upon reliable research and effective practices that have been replicated in classrooms across the United States. Information regarding the research basis is provided on our website at www.rempub.com/research

REM443_book.indd 1 7/30/10 6:27:36 AM

Comprehension Quickies 5 ©Remedia Publications

A Glow in the Night ................................... (RL 5.5) ...............................1Lilies of the Pond ...................................... (RL 5.8) ...............................2The World’s Wettest Weather ................... (RL 5.1) ...............................3The Growth of Photos............................... (RL 5.5) ...............................4Famous Faces .......................................... (RL 5.2) ...............................5White Trails of Water ................................ (RL 5.1) ...............................6Carlos Cooks Mexican Food .................... (RL 5.9) ...............................7Windmill Power ......................................... (RL 5.2) ...............................8Antique Objects ........................................ (RL 5.9) ...............................9The Colorful White House ........................ (RL 5.4) .............................10A Good Breakfast ..................................... (RL 5.0) ............................. 11Sand Lots ................................................. (RL 5.0) .............................12Mammoth Cave ........................................ (RL 5.0) .............................13The Blind Army ......................................... (RL 5.1) .............................14Little Sure Shot ......................................... (RL 5.8) .............................15Pandas from China ................................... (RL 5.0) .............................16Cowboy Talk ............................................. (RL 5.0) .............................17Fashion Fun.............................................. (RL 5.0) .............................18TV Trivia ................................................... (RL 5.6) .............................19Safe Snacks ............................................. (RL 5.6) .............................20The Secret of the North Star..................... (RL 5.5) .............................21Swimming the Channel............................. (RL 5.2) .............................22Under The Sea ......................................... (RL 5.5) .............................23Wood‑Boring Pests ................................... (RL 5.8) .............................24Fleas ......................................................... (RL 5.0) .............................25Vacuum Cleaners of the Sea .................... (RL 5.0) .............................26The Bird That Can’t Fly ............................. (RL 5.0) .............................27

Reading, comprehension, vocabulary, and writing skills are emphasized in Comprehension Quickies. Short, thought‑provoking paragraphs require students to pay attention to details, understand content, know word definitions, and draw conclusions in order to write complete-sentence answers to pertinent questions.

The Comprehension Quickies is designed for use in grades 4‑8. Readability is on the 3rd‑grade reading level. The Flesch‑Kincaid Readability Scale was used to ensure that all stories are the desired reading level (RL).

INTRODUCTION

CONTENTS

REM443_book.indd 2 7/27/10 7:31:12 AM

©Remedia Publications 1 Comprehension Quickies 5

Name ________________________________________

Answer each question with a complete sentence.

The world’s first lightbulb glowed all through the night of October 28, 1879. It was invented by Thomas Edison. He also made the first talking pictures. His favorite invention was the phonograph.

1. What date is important in this story?

____________________________________________________________________

2. What happened on that night?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

3. What word means “made or created”?

____________________________________________________________________

4. Who made the lightbulb?

____________________________________________________________________

5. What kind of pictures did Edison make?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

6. What invention did Edison like best of all?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

A Glow in the Night

REM443_book.indd 1 7/27/10 7:31:12 AM

Comprehension Quickies 5 2 ©Remedia Publications

Name ________________________________________


Water lilies love to grow in ponds. These sweet-smelling flowers float across the surface of the water on leaves. They cool the water and prevent oxygen from escaping, making the pond a perfect home for fish.

1. What kind of lilies is this story about?

____________________________________________________________________

2. Where do these lilies grow?

____________________________________________________________________

3. What kind of flowers do they have?

____________________________________________________________________

4. Where do the flowers float?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

5. What do the flowers do to the water’s temperature?

____________________________________________________________________

6. What does not escape?

____________________________________________________________________

7. What else lives in the pond?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

Lilies of the Pond

REM443_book.indd 2 7/27/10 7:31:12 AM


Name ________________________________________


1. Where is the island in this story?

____________________________________________________________________

2. What stands out about this island?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

3. How long does it take for 500 inches of rain to fall there?

____________________________________________________________________

4. How much rain do most places receive in a year?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

5. What places are very dry?

____________________________________________________________________

6. How much rain do these dry places receive in a year?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

The World’s Wettest Weather

One of the world’s wettest spots is an island in Hawaii. Nearly 500 inches of rain fall in Hawaii in one year. Most places receive only 40 inches of rain every year. In deserts, only 6 to 7 inches of rain fall every year.

REM443_book.indd 3 7/27/10 7:31:12 AM


Name ________________________________________


1. What took eight hours to shoot?

____________________________________________________________________

2. Where was the photo shot?

____________________________________________________________________

3. What did the photo show?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

4. Who made a camera in 1888?

____________________________________________________________________

5. What was different about this camera?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

6. What was introduced in 1935?

____________________________________________________________________

The Growth of Photos

The first photograph took eight hours to shoot. The picture showed a black-and-white outdoor view from a balcony. In 1888, the Kodak company made a camera that everyone could afford. Color film wasn’t introduced until 1935.

REM443_book.indd 4 7/27/10 7:31:12 AM


Name ________________________________________


1. Whose faces are printed on American money?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

2. Where does Lincoln look?

____________________________________________________________________

3. What coin carries Lincoln’s face?

____________________________________________________________________

4. From what is Lincoln’s coin made?

____________________________________________________________________

5. Who can be found on a dime?

____________________________________________________________________

6. Where can you see the face of Washington?

____________________________________________________________________

7. Whose face is on a dollar bill?

____________________________________________________________________

Famous Faces

The faces of the United States Presidents are printed on American money. Lincoln looks to the right on a copper penny. Franklin Roosevelt can be found on a dime. Washington appears on a quarter. Whose face is on a dollar bill?

REM443_book.indd 5 7/27/10 7:31:12 AM


Name ________________________________________


1. What is the name for white trails behind jets?

____________________________________________________________________

2. Where do these trails form?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

3. When do these trails form?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

4. What does the cool temperature do?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

5. With what do the water droplets mix?

____________________________________________________________________

6. What can happen after these droplets mix with clouds?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

White Trails of WaterJets flying at high altitudes leave white trails called contrails behind them. These contrails form when cool air surrounds the plane. The air’s cool temperature makes water droplets and ice crystals appear. Sometimes, these droplets mix with clouds and lead to rain.

REM443_book.indd 6 7/27/10 7:31:12 AM


Name ________________________________________


1. What did Carlos cook?

____________________________________________________________________

2. Who did he cook for?

____________________________________________________________________

3. What did Carlos make first?

____________________________________________________________________

4. What did he fry for the tostados?

____________________________________________________________________

5. What did he put on top of the tortilla shells?

____________________________________________________________________

6. What are huevos rancheros?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

Carlos cooked Mexican food for his friends. First, he made tostados (toe-stah-doz). He fried corn tortilla (tor-tee´-uh) shells and topped them with beans, tomatoes, lettuce, and cheese. Carlos also prepared huevos rancheros (hwa´-vos ranch-air´-ohs), which are eggs served on a tortilla and topped with a tomato sauce.

Carlos CooksMexican Food

REM443_book.indd 7 7/27/10 7:31:12 AM


Name ________________________________________


1. What country uses windmills?

____________________________________________________________________

2. What do we call people who live in that country?

____________________________________________________________________

3. What do the windmills pump?

____________________________________________________________________

4. From where do windmills remove the water?

____________________________________________________________________

5. What does the wind turn?

____________________________________________________________________

6. What do these hard‑working machines perform?

____________________________________________________________________

7. What chores can windmills do?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

Windmill PowerIn Holland, the Dutch people use windmills to pump water out of their soggy fields. Windmills’ blades turn by wind power. These hard-working machines perform many chores. Windmills can grind grain, water crops, and make electricity.

REM443_book.indd 8 7/27/10 7:31:12 AM


Name ________________________________________


1. What are antiques?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

2. How were most antiques made?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

3. What kind of glass is popular with collectors?

____________________________________________________________________

4. What kind of furniture is popular with collectors?

____________________________________________________________________

5. What happened in 1876?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

6. What kind of antiques do you think people collected in 1876?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

Antique ObjectsAntiques are objects that are more than 100 years old. Most of them were made by hand, not machine. Hand-blown glass and pioneer furniture are popular with collectors. Collecting antiques became a hobby in 1876 when the U.S. became 100 years old.

REM443_book.indd 9 7/27/10 7:31:12 AM


Name ________________________________________


1. What famous building is this story about?

____________________________________________________________________

2. Who lives there?

____________________________________________________________________

3. How many rooms does this home contain?

____________________________________________________________________

4. What room do visitors see first?

____________________________________________________________________

5. What are two colorful rooms where people can visit with the President?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

6. How many guests can the State Dining Room seat?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

The Colorful White HouseThe White House is the official home of the President of the United States. This historic building has 132 rooms. Visitors are greeted in the Blue Room, and the Red and Green Rooms serve as living rooms where guests can visit with the President. The State Dining Room can seat 140 guests for dinner.

REM443_book.indd 10 7/27/10 7:31:12 AM


Name ________________________________________


1. What makes a healthy breakfast?

____________________________________________________________________

2. How many bowls of cereal do people in the United States eat each year?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

3. From what is cereal made?

____________________________________________________________________

4. Name some examples of grains.

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

5. What is sprayed on some cereals?

____________________________________________________________________

6. What do some people like eating with their cereal?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

A Good BreakfastCereal makes a very healthy breakfast. People in the United States eat 20 billion bowls of cereal each year. Cereal comes from grains, which are wheat, rice, oats, and barley. Some cereals are sprayed with vitamins. You may like eating your cereal with milk, but some people like eating cereal with honey or nuts.

REM443_book.indd 11 7/27/10 7:31:12 AM


Name ________________________________________


Sand LotsLong ago, a newspaperman thought kids shouldn’t play in the streets. The people of the city of Boston agreed with him, so they built the first playground. It was on a sand lot and had game areas, a track, and tires on ropes. Today’s playgrounds have seesaws, swings, play areas, and even tennis courts.

1. Who was worried about kids long ago?

____________________________________________________________________

2. Where was it he didn’t want to see them play?

____________________________________________________________________

3. Who agreed with him?

____________________________________________________________________

4. What did they do?

____________________________________________________________________

5. Where was the first playground built?

____________________________________________________________________

6. What did this playground contain?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

7. What can be found on today’s playgrounds?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

REM443_book.indd 12 7/27/10 7:31:13 AM


Name ________________________________________


The world’s largest group of caves is Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. Mammoth Cave has more than 190 miles of underground tunnels. The tunnels spread out at five different levels. The deepest level is 360 feet below the surface. Some of Mammoth Cave’s rocks look like objects such as flowers, trees, and waterfalls.

1. Where is the world’s largest group of caves?

____________________________________________________________________

2. What is it called?

____________________________________________________________________

3. How many miles of tunnels are there?

____________________________________________________________________

4. How many levels are there to the tunnels?

____________________________________________________________________

5. Where is the deepest level?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

6. What do some of the rocks look like?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

Mammoth Cave

REM443_book.indd 13 7/27/10 7:31:13 AM


Name ________________________________________


The Blind ArmyImagine an army of soldiers with very powerful jaws, strong legs, and no eyes! Termite soldiers are blind, yet they fiercely guard their homes against attack from ants. Termites are insects that love to chew wood. Each year, termites destroy more trees and homes than forest fires do.

1. What kind of jaws does this army have?

____________________________________________________________________

2. What kind of legs does this army have?

____________________________________________________________________

3. What is strange about this army’s eyes?

____________________________________________________________________

4. Who does this army guard against?

____________________________________________________________________

5. What kind of animal are termites?

____________________________________________________________________

6. What do they love to do?

____________________________________________________________________

7. What do they destroy?

____________________________________________________________________

REM443_book.indd 14 7/27/10 7:31:13 AM


Name ________________________________________


1. Who was one of the West’s top sharpshooters?

____________________________________________________________________

2. What could she shoot out of a hand?

____________________________________________________________________

3. How far away could she hit an object?

____________________________________________________________________

4. How tall was she?

____________________________________________________________________

5. What was her nickname?

____________________________________________________________________

6. Who called her by her nickname?

____________________________________________________________________

7. What did Annie do in her spare time?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

Little Sure ShotAnnie Oakley was one of the West’s top sharpshooters. She could shoot a dime out of a hand or hit an object 90 feet away. Annie stood five feet tall, and an Indian chief gave her the nickname “Little Sure Shot.” In her spare time, she liked to do needlepoint.

REM443_book.indd 15 7/27/10 7:31:13 AM


Name ________________________________________


1. Where do giant pandas live?

____________________________________________________________________

2. What is happening to the pandas?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

3. What do pandas eat?

____________________________________________________________________

4. From where does bamboo come?

____________________________________________________________________

5. How often do bamboo trees bloom?

____________________________________________________________________

6. What happens after they bloom?

____________________________________________________________________

7. What is being done about this problem?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

Pandas from ChinaGiant pandas dwell in the forests of China, but they are slowly becoming extinct. The pandas must have bamboo to eat. Bamboo trees bloom every 80 to 100 years, and then they die. Too many bamboo trees are dying right now. Scientists are searching for an answer as to why.

REM443_book.indd 16 7/27/10 7:31:13 AM


Name ________________________________________


Cowboy TalkCowboys ruled the West for a 20-year period. It was their job to take care of the cattle for ranchers. The cowboys’ heavy pants, which protected them from thorns, were called chaps. The cowboys’ lariat, or rope, was used to rope cattle. Each spring and fall, the cowboys rounded the calves up and branded them.

1. For how long did the cowboys rule the West?

____________________________________________________________________

2. What was the main job of cowboys?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

3. What was the name of the cowboys’ heavy pants?

____________________________________________________________________

4. What did these pants do?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

5. What was the name of the cowboys’ rope?

____________________________________________________________________

6. What happened to calves in the spring and fall?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

REM443_book.indd 17 7/27/10 7:31:13 AM


Name ________________________________________


1. What were women’s hoops made from in the 1840s?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

2. What did these hoops do?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

3. In the 1890s, what did women do with lace?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

4. What fashion was around in 1910?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

5. What did these tight skirts do to women?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

Fashion FunIn the 1840s, women wore stiff whalebone hoops to make their petticoats flair out. Women tied lace tightly around their waists to make their waists look smaller in the 1890s. By 1910, the tight hobble skirt was in fashion. The hobble skirt interfered with normal walking. As a result, women could only hobble.

REM443_book.indd 18 7/27/10 7:31:13 AM


Name ________________________________________


1. Who invented the first TV?

____________________________________________________________________

2. What year was the first TV invented?

____________________________________________________________________

3. When did television start working properly?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

4. What kind of pictures did the first TV sets have?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

5. What happened to the world of television in 1953?

____________________________________________________________________

6. Who has TV sets today?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

TV TriviaPaul Nipkow invented the first TV in 1884. But television did not work properly until about 1945. The first working TV sets had black-and-white pictures only. There was no color television until 1953. Today, almost everyone in the U.S. has a TV set. In fact, people all over the world watch television.

The United States. has more TV sets than any country in the world. There are 814 sets for every 1,000 people, and 98% of the homes own at least one. Africa has the fewest, with just 60 sets per 1,000 people. An average person watches seven hours of TV each day.

REM443_book.indd 19 7/27/10 7:31:13 AM


Name ________________________________________


1. When does a snack make sense?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

2. What should snack food do for you?

____________________________________________________________________

3. What should you drink instead of soda?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

4. What fruits or vegetables are good to chew?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

5. What is full of nourishment?

____________________________________________________________________

6. What should you stay away from when you eat popcorn?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

Safe SnacksA snack after school and before dinner makes sense if the food is good for you. Instead of soda, drink orange or tomato juice. Munch on fruits like apples or raisins or raw vegetables like carrots and celery. Peanut butter is tasty and full of nourishment. Popcorn can be good for you, too, but avoid the butter.

REM443_book.indd 20 7/27/10 7:31:13 AM


Name ________________________________________


1. What is the true name of the North Star?

____________________________________________________________________

2. What do the other stars seem to do around this star?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

3. What points to Polaris?

____________________________________________________________________

4. What will happen to Earth’s axis in time?

____________________________________________________________________

5. What will Earth’s axis point to in time?

____________________________________________________________________

6. What is the secret of the North Star?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

Polaris, or the North Star, never appears to move. It seems like all the other stars in the solar system revolve around it. The reason is that Earth’s axis points to Polaris. In time, the path of Earth’s axis will change. In about 22,000 years, Earth’s axis will point to a different “north star.”

The Secretof the North Star

REM443_book.indd 21 7/27/10 7:31:13 AM


Name ________________________________________


1. How wide is the English Channel?

____________________________________________________________________

2. Who tries to swim across the channel?

____________________________________________________________________

3. Where is the channel?

____________________________________________________________________

4. What bodies of water does the channel connect?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

5. What is the fastest time for a one‑way crossing?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

6. How many times did Jon Erikson swim back and forth without stopping?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

The English Channel is the body of water between England and France that connects the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea. The channel is between 21 and 100 miles wide. Lots of athletes try to swim across it. The best recorded time for a one-way crossing is about 7½ hours. In 1981, Jon Erikson swam back and forth across the channel three times without stopping. It took him 38 hours and 27 minutes.

Swimming the Channel

REM443_book.indd 22 7/27/10 7:31:13 AM


Name ________________________________________


An underwater ship is called a submarine. It can dive into or rise out of the water by moving water into or out of different compartments. The submarine was first invented in AD 1620 by Cornelius Van Drebel. The submarine sailed the Thames River 15 feet below water. During World War I and World War II, many ships were sunk by German submarines. In 1954 the U.S.S. Nautilus was the first submarine to sail under the North Pole. In 1960 a submarine sailed around the world completely underwater. It was called the U.S.S. Triton.

Under The Sea

1. How can a submarine dive in the water?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

2. Who invented the submarine?

____________________________________________________________________

3. When was it invented?

____________________________________________________________________

4. What did German submarines do during World War I and World War II?

____________________________________________________________________

5. What was the name of the submarine that sailed under the North Pole?

____________________________________________________________________

6. What did the U.S.S. Triton do for the first time?

____________________________________________________________________

7. What is a submarine?

____________________________________________________________________

REM443_book.indd 23 7/27/10 7:31:14 AM


Name ________________________________________


Baby beetles, called grubs, are considered pests because they eat wood and destroy homes. Grubs remain babies for three years, but some long-horned beetles remain babies for 32 years. After becoming adults, beetles feed on flowers, pollen, and leaves. They grow long and slender. They are very colorful. Collectors like beetles because of their colorful appearance. Beetles usually die within a few weeks after reaching adulthood.

1. What are baby beetles called?

____________________________________________________________________

2. What do baby beetles like to eat?

____________________________________________________________________

3. Why are they considered pests?

____________________________________________________________________

4. How long does a beetle remain a baby?

____________________________________________________________________

5. What do adult beetles eat?

____________________________________________________________________

6. What do adult beetles look like?

____________________________________________________________________

7. Why do collectors like to collect beetles?

____________________________________________________________________

Wood‑Boring Pests

REM443_book.indd 24 7/27/10 7:31:14 AM


Name ________________________________________


Fleas are insects that feed on blood. Their legs are covered with bristles and tipped with hooks so that they can cling to their hosts better. Fleas make incredible jumps, and they are capable of leaping 150 times their own length. Fleas are great survivors that can go without feeding for many months and live. They can also be revived after being frozen for a year. There are over 2,400 different species of fleas, and they are often found on cats and dogs.

1. What type of animal are fleas?

____________________________________________________________________

2. What do fleas feed on?

____________________________________________________________________

3. How many different species of fleas are there?

____________________________________________________________________

4. How far can fleas leap?

____________________________________________________________________

5. What do fleas’ legs look like?

____________________________________________________________________

6. Why are fleas very good at survival?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

7. What household pets are fleas often found on?

____________________________________________________________________

Fleas

REM443_book.indd 25 7/27/10 7:31:14 AM


Name ________________________________________


Sea cucumbers are relatives of the sea urchin and starfish. They are covered with spiny skin and live in the sea. They crawl along the ocean floor eating sand and pieces of dead animals and plants. Sea cucumbers produce sticky mucous which makes food stick to their feet. They then suck the food off their feet. Sea cucumbers search for food at night. They are found at shorelines, coasts, and the bottoms of coral reefs.

Vacuum Cleanersof the Sea

1. Who are sea cucumbers’ relatives?

____________________________________________________________________

2. What does their skin look like?

____________________________________________________________________

3. What do they eat?

____________________________________________________________________

4. When do they search for food?

____________________________________________________________________

5. What do they produce to help them catch food?

____________________________________________________________________

6. How do they feed themselves?

____________________________________________________________________

7. Where are they found?

____________________________________________________________________

REM443_book.indd 26 7/27/10 7:31:14 AM


Name ________________________________________


Although most birds fly, the penguin is a bird that can’t fly at all. Penguins can’t walk very well either, so they waddle instead. Penguins can swim, though. Penguins are very fast swimmers, capable of reaching 30 miles per hour. There are 17 different kinds of penguins. The giant Emperor penguin stands at about 4 feet tall and can weigh up to 100 pounds. The little penguin, also called the fairy penguin, is only 1 foot tall and weighs just 3 pounds. Penguins are black and white or gray and white. They live south of the equator, with some living as far south as the icy waters of Antarctica.

The Bird That Can’t Fly

1. How fast do penguins swim?

____________________________________________________________________

2. Where do they live?

____________________________________________________________________

3. How many kinds of penguins exist?

____________________________________________________________________

4. What is the name of the biggest penguin?

____________________________________________________________________

5. What is the size of the smallest penguin?

____________________________________________________________________

6. What color are penguins?

____________________________________________________________________

7. What do penguins do when they walk?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

REM443_book.indd 27 7/27/10 7:31:14 AM


PAGE 1: 1) The important date in this story is October 28,1879. 2) The world’s first lightbulb glowed on that night. 3) Invented means “made or created.” 4) Thomas Edison made the lightbulb. 5) Edison made talking pictures. 6) Edison liked the phonograph best of all.

PAGE 2: 1) This story is about water lilies. 2) These lilies grow in ponds. 3) They have sweet‑smelling flowers. 4) The flowers float across the surface of the water on leaves. 5) The flowers cool the water. 6) Oxygen does not escape. 7) Fish also live in the pond.

PAGE 3: 1) The island in this story is in Hawaii. 2) This island is one of the world’s wettest spots. 3) It takes one year for 500 inches of rain to fall. 4) Most places receive 40 inches of rain a year. 5) Deserts are very dry. 6) These dry places receive 6 to 7 inches of rain a year.

PAGE 4: 1) The first photograph took eight hours to shoot. 2) The photo was shot from a balcony. 3) The photo showed a black‑and‑white outdoor view. 4) The Kodak company made a camera in 1888. 5) This camera was different because everyone could afford it. 6) Color film was introduced in 1935.

PAGE 5: 1) The United States Presidents’ faces are printed on American money. 2) Lincoln looks to the right. 3) A copper penny carries Lincoln’s face. 4) Lincoln’s coin is made from copper. 5) Franklin Roosevelt is on a dime. 6) The face of Washington is on a quarter. 7) George Washington is on a dollar bill.

PAGE 6: 1) White trails behind jets are contrails. 2) These trails form behind jets flying at high altitudes. 3) These trails form when cool air surrounds the plane. 4) The cool temperature makes water droplets and ice crystals appear. 5) The water droplets mix with clouds. 6) When the droplets mix with clouds, it might rain.

PAGE 7: 1) Carlos cooked Mexican food. 2) He wanted to cook for his friends. 3) First, Carlos made tostados. 4) He fried corn tortilla shells for the tostados. 5) He put beans, tomatoes, lettuce, and cheese on top of the shells. 6) Eggs served on a tortilla and topped with a tomatoe sauce are huevos rancheros.

PAGE 8: 1) Holland uses windmills. 2) People in that country are called Dutch people. 3) The windmills pump water. 4) Windmills remove the water from soggy fields. 5) The wind turns the windmills’ blades. 6) This hard‑working machine performs many chores. 7) Windmills can grind grain, water crops, and make electricity.

PAGE 9: 1) Antiques are objects that are more than 100 years old. 2) Most antiques were made by hand. 3) Hand‑blown glass is popular with collectors. 4) Pioneer furniture is popular with collectors. 5) In 1876, the U.S. became 100 years old. 6) Answers will vary.

PAGE 10: 1) This story is about the White House. 2) The President of the United States lives there. 3) This home contains 132 rooms. 4) Visitors see the Blue Room first. 5) Two colorful rooms where people can visit with the President are the Red and Green Rooms. 6) The State Dining Room can seat 140 guests.

PAGE 11: 1) Cereal makes a healthy breakfast. 2) People in the United States eat 20 billion bowls of cereal each year. 3) Cereal is made from grains. 4) Some grains are wheat, rice, oats, and barley. 5) Vitamins are sprayed on some cereals. 6) Some people like eating honey or nuts with their cereal.

PAGE 12: 1) A newspaperman was worried about kids. 2) He didn’t want to see them play in the streets. 3) The people of the city of Boston agreed with him. 4) They built the first playground. 5) The first playground was built on a sand lot in Boston. 6) This playground contained game areas, a track, and tires on ropes. 7) Today’s playgrounds have seesaws, swings, play areas, and even tennis courts.

PAGE 13: 1) The world’s largest group of caves is in Kentucky. 2) It is called Mammoth Cave. 3) There are more than 190 miles of tunnels. 4) There are five different levels to the tunnels. 5) The deepest tunnel is 360 feet below the surface. 6) Some of the rocks look like objects such as flowers, trees and waterfalls.

PAGE 14: 1) This army has powerful jaws. 2) This army has strong legs. 3) They have no eyes. 4) This army guards against ants. 5) Termites are insects. 6) They love to chew wood. 7) They destroy more trees and homes than forest fires do.

Answer Key Note to the teacher: Answers given below may not coincide exactly with student answer. However, student answers must be in the form of a complete sentence.

REM443_book.indd 28 7/27/10 7:31:14 AM


PAGE 15: 1) Annie Oakley was one of the West’s top sharpshooters. 2) She could shoot a dime out of a hand. 3) She could hit an object 90 feet away. 4) She was five feet tall. 5) Her nickname was “Little Sure Shot.” 6) An Indian chief gave her a nickname. 7) In her spare time, Annie did needlepoint.

PAGE 16: 1) Giant pandas live in the forests of China. 2) The pandas are slowly becoming extinct. 3) Pandas eat bamboo. 4) Bamboo comes from trees. 5) Bamboo blooms once every 80 to 100 years. 6) After they bloom, the trees die. 7) Scientists are searching for an answer.

PAGE 17: 1) Cowboys ruled for 20 years. 2) Cowboys took care of the cattle for ranchers. 3) The cowboys’ heavy pants were called chaps. 4) The pants protected them from thorns. 5) The cowboys’ rope was called a lariat. 6) In the spring and fall, calves were rounded up and branded.

PAGE 18: 1) Womens’ hoops were made from whalebone. 2) These hoops made petticoats flair out. 3) Women tied lace tightly around their waists to make their waists look smaller. 4) In 1910, the tight hobble skirt was in fashion. 5) These tight skirts interfered with normal walking so that women could only hobble.

PAGE 19: 1) Paul Nipkow invented the first TV. 2) The first TV was invented in 1884. 3) Television started working properly around 1945. 4) The first TV sets had black-and-white pictures. 5) Color television was invented in 1953. 6) Today almost everyone in the U.S. has a TV set, and people all over the world watch television.

PAGE 20: 1) A good time for a snack is after school and before dinner. 2) Snack food should be good for you. 3) You should drink orange or tomato juice instead of soda. 4) Apples, raisins, raw carrots, and raw celery are good to chew. 5) Peanut butter is full of nourishment. 6) You should stay away from butter when you eat popcorn.

PAGE 21: 1) The true name of the North Star is Polaris. 2) The other stars seem to revolve around this star. 3) The Earth’s axis points to Polaris 4) In time, the path of Earth’s axis will change. 5) Earth’s axis will point to another “north star.” 6) The North Star’s secret is that it won’t stay the same star.

PAGE 22: 1) The English Channel is between 21 and 100 miles wide. 2) Athletes try to swim the channel. 3) The channel is between England and France. 4) The channel connects the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea. 5) The fastest time is about 7½ hours. 6) Jon Erikson swam back and forth three times without stopping.

PAGE 23: 1) It can dive by moving water into or out of compartments. 2) The submarine was invented by Cornelius Van Drebel. 3) It was invented in 1620. 4) They were used to sink ships. 5) The U.S.S. Nautilus sailed under the North Pole. 6) The U.S.S. Triton sailed around the world completely underwater. 7) A submarine is an underwater ship.

PAGE 24: 1) Baby beetles are called grubs. 2) Baby beetles eat wood. 3) They eat wood and destroy homes. 4) It is a baby anywhere from 3 to 32 years. 5) They eat flowers, pollen, and leaves. 6) They are long, slender, and colorful. 7) Collectors like to collect beetles because of the beetles’ colorful appearance.

PAGE 25: 1) Fleas are insects. 2) Fleas feed on blood. 3) There are over 2,400 species of fleas. 4) Fleas can jump 150 times their own length. 5) Fleas’ legs are covered with bristles and tipped with hooks. 6) Fleas can go without eating and survive. 7) Fleas are often found on dogs and cats.

PAGE 26: 1) The sea urchin and the starfish are relatives of the sea cucumber. 2) Their skin is spiny. 3) They eat sand and pieces of dead plants and animals. 4) They look for food at night. 5) They make a sticky mucous to help them catch food. 6) They suck the food off of their feet. 7) They are found at shorelines, coasts, and the bottoms of coral reefs.

PAGE 27: 1) They swim up to 30 miles per hour. 2) They live south of the equator. 3) There are 17 different kinds of penguin. 4) The biggest penguin is the Emperor penguin. 5) The smallest penguin is only 1 foot tall and weighs 3 pounds. 6) They are black and white or gray and white. 7) Penguins waddle when they walk.

Answer Key

REM443_book.indd 29 7/27/10 7:31:14 AM

RP2 v.01 ©2010

Nee

d M

ore

Hig

H-in

ter

est

Mat

eria

ls?

Avai

labl

e at

ww

w.r

empu

b.co

m High-Interest Topic/Title Reading Level Item Number

CelebritiesSkill-Based Story Cards: Celebrities ..................................... 3-4 .................. REM 1072D

Skill-Based Story Cards: Biographies ................................... 3-4 .................. REM 1072B

Celebrity Readers: Famous Actors ....................................... 3-5 .................. REM 472

Celebrity Readers: Famous Actresses .................................. 3-5 .................. REM 473

Celebrity Readers: Famous Male Musicians ......................... 3-5 .................. REM 474

Celebrity Readers: Famous Female Musicians ...................... 3-5 .................. REM 475

EZ Celebrity Readers .......................................................... 2-3 .................. REM 478

Famous People, Places, & Events ........................................ 2-4 .................. REM 1115A

HumorousImprove Reading with Humor ............................................... 2-4 .................. REM 184B

Pup Fiction Adventure Series ............................................... 2-3 .................. REM 740

Big Fibs, Fake Fables, & Little White Lies ............................. 2-3 .................. REM 1069

5 W’s Story Cards ........................................................... 2.5-4.5 ............... REM 1093

5 W’s Game - Level A ......................................................... 1-2 .................. REM 6005A

5 W’s Game - Level B ......................................................... 3-5 .................. REM 6005B

interesting FaCtsSurprising Facts Readers .................................................... 2-3 .................. REM 5007B

I Wonder... Series 1 ............................................................ 1-4 .................. REM 174B

I Wonder... Series 2 ............................................................ 1-4 .................. REM 5001B

Wonder Stories - Reproducible Activities ............................... 1-5 .................. REM 466-470

Amazing Facts .................................................................... 2-4 .................. REM 1114A

Skill-Based Story Folders: Facts & Conclusions ................. 3.0-4.5 ............... REM 1092A

inventionsGreat Inventions ................................................................. 1-2 .................. REM 5004B

High-Interest Reading: Great Inventions ............................... 3-4 .................. REM 736

mysteriesMini Mystery Readers ......................................................... 2-4 .................. REM 178B

Mini Mystery Readers Software ........................................... 2-4 .................. REM 1178

Mini Mysteries Book & Audio CD ......................................... 3-4 .................. REM 117C

More Mini Mysteries Book & Audio CD ................................. 3-4 .................. REM 118C

High-Interest Mini Mysteries (3-Book Set) ............................. 2-5 .................. REM 1077D

sportsHot Sports Readers ............................................................ 1-2 .................. REM 187B

High-Interest Reading: Hot Sports ....................................... 1-3 .................. REM 733

Celebrity Readers: Famous Male Sports Stars ...................... 3-5 .................. REM 476

Celebrity Readers: Famous Female Sports Stars .................. 3-5 .................. REM 477

ProductPages_09.indd 2 3/1/10 12:51:36 PM

reading level 5355f5fff485fd0bd834f-ee8d35f23e0ceb27c81bace1301421dd.r93.cf1.ra… · fleas ......

Documents