Exploring Writing - Gary Robert Muschla 2011

Answer Key

Part 1

Answers for the worksheets throughout this section will vary, depending on your responses.

Part 2

2.1 Sentences will vary.

2.2 Answers may vary. Possible answers follow. 1. The dog barked through the night. 2. Tom slipped on the icy sidewalk. 3. Brianna almost cried when she stubbed her toe. 4. The little girl waited for her grandparents to come. 5. The thunder rumbled during the storm. 6. Paulo smiled at the thought of no homework. 7. Lila practiced the flute each night. 8. The river flooded because of the heavy rain.

2.3 Answers may vary. Possible answers follow. 1. Carl came home from school and did his homework. 2. It snowed all night, and school was canceled. 3. Susan likes to dance, but Staci, her sister, likes to sing. 4. The clouds grew darker, and the wind began to gust. 5. Amanda enjoys basketball, but she enjoys softball too. 6. It might rain tonight, or it might snow. 7. Tom could do his math homework, or he could work on his science project. 8. The puppy growled at the toy, but it was a playful growl.

2.4 Answers may vary. Possible answers follow. 2. After Luis finished his homework, he watched TV. 3. Because it rained all night, the river was rising. 4. When the computer crashed, Rashad was almost done with his science project. 5. Even though Carla had a terrible cold, she still went to dance practice. 6. Once the rain ended, the sky quickly cleared. 7. While it was raining, Trish finished reading Charlotte’s Web. 8. During the worst part of the storm, lightning flashed and thunder exploded.

2.5 Do you know the difference between meteoroid, meteor, and meteorite? Many people find these words confusing. Meteoroids are chunks of rock or metal that speed through space. Some are very large and may be hundreds of feet wide. Others may be the size of a small stone. Most meteoroids orbit the sun. Sometimes a meteoroid will enter the Earth’s atmosphere. Friction with the atmosphere will cause it to heat up and burn. When a meteoroid begins to burn in the atmosphere, it leaves a streak of light. This is called a meteor, or shooting star. Most meteors burn up before they hit the ground. If a meteor does not burn completely, it will hit the Earth. A meteor that hits the Earth is called a meteorite. If a meteor is big, this will cause a great explosion and much destruction. Most meteoroids stay safely away from the Earth. Of those that enter the atmosphere, most burn up long before reaching the ground.

2.6 Answers may vary. Possible answers follow. 1. Dan likes to read. 2. Jenna is an excellent athlete. 3. Bradley had a lot of homework. 4. Christy couldn’t find her keys. 5. Clues will vary.

2.7 Answers may vary. Possible answers follow. 1. She needed to clean the house, set up decorations, set the table, and get the cake. 2. The wind picked up. Thunder could be heard in the distance. The first drops of rain began to fall. 3. He helped in the yard. He painted the fence. He washed the car. 4. The temperature was in the nineties. Everyone was hot. The land baked in the heat.

2.8 Answers may vary. Possible answers follow. 2. The storm ripped the big oak tree from the ground. 3. The puppy chased the ball. 4. Kevin dashed across the finish line ahead of the other fifth graders. 5. The winds of the storm shook the house. 6. Jess jumped at the strange noises. 7. Miguel blasted the ball over the fence. 8. It was impossible to see through the heavy, falling snow.

2.9 Answers may vary. Possible answers follow. 1. blazing 2. old; chilling 3. huge 4. great; stately 5. Red; beautiful 6. playful; spongy 7. exciting 8. tall; blue 9. icy 10. lonely; empty

2.10 Answers may vary. Possible answers follow. 1. completely 2. Soon 3. recently 4. softly 5. hard 6. often 7. usually 8. quickly 9. easily 10. carelessly

2.11 Answers may vary.

2.12 1. Jill was nervous. She could not stop fussing. This was her first piano recital, and she was afraid she would make mistakes. When her mother tried to assure her that she would do fine, Jill smiled. But she still felt nervous. When her piano instructor called her name, Jill stood. She took a deep breath and walked toward the piano at the front of the room. 2. Alvaro woke up early on Saturday. He knew it was going to be a busy day. That morning, he helped his father clean the garage. In the afternoon Alvaro went to soccer practice. He came back from practice around four p.m. He watched his little brother until dinner because his parents went shopping. After dinner Alvaro went online to find information for his science report. By the time Alvaro went to sleep that night, he was very tired.

2.13 2. The wind whipped the kite about. 3. Eduardo washed the dishes. 4. Gina gave the speech. 5. Clare designed the cover for the class magazine. 6. Carlos sang a solo in the fifth-grade concert. 7. The cat sneaked up on the bird. 8. The storm caused dangerous driving conditions.

2.14 Answers may vary. Possible answers follow. 2. The little girl whispered during the movie. 3. Tommy screamed when his toy broke. 4. The eagle soared over the valley. 5. Jason dodged the ball. 6. Melissa tiptoed across the room.

2.15 1. past 2. present 3. present 4. future 5. past 6. future

2.16 1. likes 2. play 3. enjoy 4. practices 5. lives 6. look 7. helps 8. come 9. fill 10. studies

2.17 I sighed, thinking of all the homework I had. I did not know where to begin.

I looked at the pile of books on my desk. I knew I had better start if I wanted to meet my friends later.

I opened my math book first. After I finished ten division problems, I did my spelling. Next I did my history.

Finished at last, I went to see my friends. They were waiting for me at the basketball court.

As soon as I got there, we chose teams and started a game.

2.18 Stories may vary, depending on the name of the point-of-view character.

Too excited to sleep, Deanna woke up early. This was the day her father and she were going on a ten-kilometer bike tour. The goal of the tour was to raise money for charity. Deanna thought it would be a great day.

By the time the tour began, she wasn’t so sure. The sky had grown dark and a cool wind was blowing. She was worried that it would rain.

All the time they rode, Deanna kept looking at the sky. Just as they came to the finish line, the first drops started to fall on them.

Deanna smiled. It had been a great day after all.

2.19 Comp are: Both elephants have trunks and eat grass and leaves. Contrast: African elephants are found mostly in Africa. The African elephant is larger and

has bigger ears. Indian elephants are found mostly in India and Southeast Asia. Indian elephants are taller at the arch of the back.

2.20 Answers may vary. Possible answers follow. 1. plane, S 2. rabbit, S 3. monster, M 4. fox, S 5. torpedo, M 6. scream, M

Part 3

Revised articles and stories will vary. Possible revisions are provided.

3.1 The moon is the Earth’s natural satellite. About 240,000 miles away, it is our closest neighbor in space. It is the only body in the solar system people have visited.

The moon is a barren, lifeless, and dangerous world. It has no atmosphere and no liquid water. The surface is covered with dust and craters. In the shade, the temperature on the moon can be as cold as —280° Fahrenheit. In sunlight, the temperature can be as hot as 260° Fahrenheit.

Scientists continue to study the moon. They hope that by learning more about the moon they will learn more about our solar system.

3.2 A geyser is a natural hot spring that shoots water and steam high into the air. Most geysers are found in the western United States, Iceland, and New Zealand.

Geysers occur when hot volcanic rock heats underground water to high temperatures. As the water is heated, it begins to boil. Steam forms and forces the water upward through cracks in the rock. Sometimes there is enough pressure to shoot the hot water and steam into the air.

The most famous geyser in the world is Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park. Old Faithful erupts on average once every ninety-four minutes each day. Between 3,700 and 8,400 gallons of hot water shoot up to 170 feet in the air.

Watching a geyser is exciting. Geysers are one of nature’s thrilling shows.

3.3 Modern roller coasters have their beginnings with Russian ice slides. The slides were first built in the mid-1600s.

The ice slides were big, wooden structures. Some were between seventy and eighty feet high. They were covered with thick ice. Large sleds sped down the slide along an icy path for hundreds of feet. The builders even constructed stairs for riders to walk up the slides.

Some historians believe the Russians also built the first true roller coaster in the late 1700s in St. Petersburg. It was a carriage with wheels.

From these simple beginnings, we have the super roller coasters of today. A person can only imagine what future coasters will be like.

3.4 Having healthy teeth is important. Strong, healthy teeth help you to chew your food properly. They help you to speak clearly and look your best.

To keep your teeth healthy, you must keep them clean. Brush your teeth at least twice each day, after breakfast and before bed. Brush for at least three minutes. Be sure to brush in the back and along the sides of your teeth. You should also clean your teeth with dental floss. The floss will clean places your toothbrush cannot reach. Finally, visit your dentist twice each year. The dentist will check for cavities and clean your teeth.

Strong, clean teeth will help to keep you healthy. Your teeth are something to smile about.

3.5 Exercising each day will help to keep you in good health. It will also help you think better, sleep better, and feel better.

Exercise helps your body stay fit. It causes you to breathe more deeply and makes your heart pump more strongly. It makes your muscles work harder and makes your body use more calories. Exercise helps to keep your body at a healthy weight.

You can exercise in many ways. You can walk, run, or jog. You can play sports. You can ride your bike. You can skate, swim, or dance. Any activity that makes your heart beat faster is good.

Exercise is important for your health. You should try to exercise every day.

3.6 The wandering albatross is a large seabird. When it spreads it wings, the wings measure up to twelve feet from tip to tip. This is the largest wingspread of any living bird.

Wandering albatrosses do not have a permanent home. They spend most of their lives flying over the oceans of the Southern Hemisphere, where they feed on small fish. They can sleep on the sea’s surface when they become tired of flying. Like most seabirds, they drink seawater. They land on empty islands only to mate and make their nests.

Because of its size, the wandering albatross has few predators. The wandering albatross is thought to be one of the few birds to die of old age.

3.7 Pompeii was a city in ancient Italy. It was built a few miles south of Mt. Vesuvius, an active volcano. Pompeii was a wealthy city and was always busy with trade.

The day of August 24 in the year a.d. 79 began like any other. People awoke that day and began their chores. In the distance the volcano sent lazy dark smoke into the sky. But this was normal. No one was worried.

Without warning, the top of Vesuvius exploded. Great clouds of smoke and ash rose high into the sky. Soon the light of the sun was blocked and the sky became dark.

The eruption continued throughout the day and night. The city was covered with ash and molten rock. It is estimated that two thousand people died. The doomed city of Pompeii disappeared in a day.

3.8 The Oregon Trail was the most important pioneer route to the American Northwest. The trail was about two thousand miles long. It started in Independence, Missouri, and ended at the Columbia River in Oregon.

The journey over the trail was long, hard, and dangerous. The trip could take as long as six months. The pioneers faced many hardships. Terrible storms, illness, lack of food, and attacks by Native Americans were constant threats. Sometimes as many as half of the people of a wagon train died on the trail.

Despite the hardships, thousands of pioneers followed the trail. They believed that the Oregon Trail was a way to a new life.

3.9 Laura Ingalls was born in Pepin, Wisconsin, on February 7, 186 7. She was the second daughter of Charles and Caroline Ingalls.

During her childhood, Laura traveled westward with her family in a covered wagon. The Ingalls family crossed Wisconsin, Kansas, and Minnesota. They finally settled in the Dakota Territory.

Laura loved living on the prairie. Life could be hard, but it was full of joy too. Laura enjoyed helping her parents with the chores.

When Laura grew up, she married Almanzo Wilder. Laura and Almanzo moved to Mansfield, Missouri, and built a home.

Laura remembered her family’s pioneer days fondly. She would tell Rose, her daughter, stories about living on the prairie. Rose suggested that her mother write the stories down so that others could read them. These stories became the Little House series.

3.10 Rachel stood in her new room. Boxes were everywhere. The room was bigger than the room in her old house. But it did not feel like home.

Rachel missed her old house. She missed her old friends and was worried about making new friends.

After unpacking some boxes, Rachel went outside. She sat on the front steps. She looked around the pretty yard that was filled with colorful flowers and trees.

She noticed a girl from the house across the street walking toward her. The girl was about her own age.

“Hi, I’m Danielle,” the girl said. “But my friends call me Dani...”

3.11 Jason stood in his messy room. He was upset.

He could not find his science report. He had finished it yesterday right after school. Then he had gone out to play with his friends.

He looked at his messy desk. First he searched through the books and papers on it. Next he searched the messy drawers in the desk. Then he searched his messy dresser. Finally, he searched under his messy bed.

He tried to remember where he put the report. Suddenly, he remembered.

He picked up his knapsack. The report was in a folder. He had put it in the knapsack yesterday so that he would not lose it.

Jason heard the school bus. He grabbed his knapsack and hurried to the door.

3.12 Maria stood in front of the big roller coaster. Carlos, her younger brother, was with her.

The roller coaster was called the Monster. Maria had been looking forward to riding it for weeks, but now she was not sure.

The Monster was high and fast, and had three loops. Maria liked fast rides, but this one scared her.

“Come on, Maria,” said Carlos. “Let’s get in line.” He took her hand and started pulling her.

At first Maria did not move. It was as if her feet would not go.

“Maria, come on,” said Carlos. “You’re not afraid, are you?”

Maria smiled weakly. If her little brother was not afraid, she should not be afraid either.

“Let’s go,” Maria said. She led Carlos to the line.

3.13 One second was left in the championship game between the Hawks and Cougars. The score was 38 to 38.

Kevin Williams, the Cougars’ youngest player, was at the foul line. If he made either of his two foul shots, the Cougars would be champions. But Kevin was not a good foul shooter.

The referee gave him the ball.

He took a deep breath and bounced the ball to calm himself.

He looked up at the basket, aimed, and let the ball go. It bounced off the rim. The home crowd groaned.

The referee handed Kevin the ball again. Once more he bounced the ball to steady himself. He aimed and let it go.

He watched the ball fall perfectly through the net.

3.14 The sun is a star. Like other stars, it is a giant ball of burning gases. It is made up mostly of hydrogen.

Inside the sun, hydrogen atoms are fused (forced together) to make helium. Great amounts of energy are produced. Some of this energy reaches the Earth as light and heat. The temperature on the surface of the sun is about 11,000° Fahrenheit. Inside the sun, near the center, the temperature is about 35 million degrees Fahrenheit.

The sun makes life possible on the Earth. Without the sun, the Earth would be a cold, dark, lifeless planet.

3.15 Bears are large mammals. There are several kinds of bears.

Black bears were once found throughout North America, but now they are found mostly in wilderness areas. Black bears are one of the smallest bears. They weigh between two hundred and four hundred pounds.

Grizzly bears are among the most dangerous bears and can weigh up to one thousand pounds. Grizzlies hunt other animals for food. Grizzlies may be brown, black,

or cream-colored. The fur on their shoulders and backs is often tipped with white. This gives them a “grizzled” look.

Polar bears are found on the islands of the Arctic Ocean. They may be ten feet tall and weigh up to fifteen hundred pounds. Polar bears hunt seals, young walruses, and fish. Their thick white coats keep them warm in icy temperatures.

Bears are found in many parts of the world. They are among nature’s most interesting animals.

3.16 Many people have heard of Smokey Bear. They know Smokey is a symbol for fire prevention, but not everyone knows the story of the real Smokey.

On a spring day in 1950, a terrible fire burned parts of New Mexico. Firefighters found a baby black bear in a tree. The cub had climbed the tree to try to escape the flames. But his paws and back were burned. The men gently took the cub from the tree. They did not know what to do with him. A rancher who had been helping the firefighters offered to take the injured cub home.

A forest ranger heard about the cub. He drove to the ranch and had the injured cub flown to Santa Fe. A veterinarian there treated his injuries.

Eventually the cub was sent to Washington, D.C., and was given a home in the National Zoo. The cub became known as Smokey Bear.

3.17 Johnny Appleseed was a real man. His name was John Chapman. He was born in 1774 in Leominster, Massachusetts.

When settlers moved westward, John went with them. For nearly fifty years John planted apple trees in what became the states of Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana. People called John the Apple Tree Man or Johnny Appleseed.

John worked alone. As he walked across the wilderness, he would find a good spot for planting. He would clear the land and plant apple seeds. He would build a brush fence around the spot to keep animals out. In time, an orchard would fill the spot.

John Chapman died in 184 5. The apple orchards he left behind were a gift to the settlers who came after him.

3.18 With nervous fingers Tamara tightened the laces of her ice skates. She took a deep breath.

“Don’t worry,” her coach said. “You’ll do fine.”

That made Tamara worry even more. That was what people told her last winter. Tamara remembered trying to jump and turn in the air for the first time. She would never forget the terrible pain of her ankle breaking. Her ankle hurt badly for days, and her slow recovery took months.

Tamara started skating again a few weeks ago. She had not tried to jump and spin, but she would today.

Tamara stood and stepped onto the ice. Her heart was thumping.

“Good luck,” said her coach.

Tamara nodded.

She skated around the rink and tried to build up her courage.

She began to skate faster and faster. She lifted off the ice, rose, and spun.

She landed perfectly!

3.19 When ancient sailors reported seeing sea monsters, they might have seen a giant squid. The giant squid is a frightening animal.

The name giant squid fits this creature. The giant squid can grow to be 150 feet long. Its big eyes can be 3 feet across. It has long tentacles that it uses to catch prey.

The giant squid is one of the fastest creatures in the ocean. It can draw water into its body and force the water out. That shoots the animal forward like a rocket.

Giant squid live deep in the ocean, but sometimes they come to the surface. If ancient sailors saw a giant squid on the surface, they could have mistaken it for a sea monster.

3.20 John Montagu was a nobleman who lived in England in the 1700s. He was the fourth Earl of Sandwich and a well-known gambler.

When he was gambling, he would sit at the table for hours. One day he was gambling and got hungry. But he did not want to leave the game. He sent a servant to bring him meat between two slices of bread.

Other gamblers thought this was a good idea. When they got hungry, they said something like, “I’ll have what Sandwich had.” Soon the name Sandwich came to mean meat between two slices of bread.

The sandwich was named after the Earl of Sandwich in 1762. Since then, countless sandwiches have been made.

3.21 When most people think of dinosaurs, they think of big creatures. But there were little dinosaurs too.

The smallest dinosaur is thought to be a microraptor. This dinosaur was about sixteen inches long and was about the size of a crow.

Saltopus was a little bigger than a microraptor. It was about two feet long, the size of a small cat. It walked on two legs, had a long head, and had dozens of sharp teeth.

Compsognathus was about the size of a big chicken. It was about three feet long. It had two thin legs, three-toed feet, and a long tail. It had a pointed head and sharp teeth.

Scientists may discover even smaller dinosaurs someday. But most people will probably continue to think of dinosaurs as big creatures.

3.22 Wiley Post was born in Grand Plain, Texas, in 1899. Although he did not have much formal schooling, he became one of the most famous early pilots.

In 1931, Post and his navigator, Harold Charles Gatty, flew around the world. They made the flight in eight days, fifteen hours, and fifty-one minutes. They set a new world record.

In 1933, Post decided to fly around the world by himself. He set a new record of seven days, eighteen hours, and forty-nine minutes.

Wiley Post died on August 15, 1935. His plane crashed at Point Barrow, Alaska. He was called a national hero.

3.23 Kareem woke up early on Saturday. He had a busy day planned.

After breakfast, Kareem went to soccer practice. He liked soccer and was the goalie for his team.

After lunch, Kareem helped his father in the yard. They raked leaves and trimmed the hedges. As his father mowed the lawn, Kareem weeded the flower beds. They worked in the yard all afternoon.

In the evening, Kareem’s friends, David and Charles, came. The boys decided to watch a movie. After his friends went home, Kareem watched TV a little while with his parents.

Tired, he soon went to bed. It had been a busy day.

3.24 The platypus is a strange, unusual animal. It is a mammal, but it also has traits of a duck. Another name for the platypus is the duckbill.

Platypuses are found in Australia. They live in burrows along the banks of rivers.

An adult platypus is about fourteen inches in length. It has a long body and a flat tail. It uses its tail for swimming.

The platypus has many traits of mammals. It is warm-blooded, has fur, and feeds its young milk.

But the platypus also has some traits of ducks. Instead of a nose and mouth, the platypus has a leathery bill. It has webbed feet for swimming, and it lays eggs. A baby platypus hatches from an egg.

The platypus is truly a strange, unusual animal.

3.25 Daedalus and his son Icarus were imprisoned on the island of Crete. In hopes of escaping, Daedalus thought of a dangerous and daring plan. He would build wings of wax and feathers for Icarus and himself.

Daedalus began his work. When the day came that the wings were done, he called to Icarus. He warned Icarus not to fly too close to the sun. The heat would melt the wax and the wings would fall apart.

Icarus promised his father he would be careful. But once they set off, the boy was overcome with the thrill of flying like a bird.

Daedalus saw his son flying higher and higher. He called to him that he was too close to the sun. Yet the boy kept going higher.

Soon the wax on Icarus’s wings began to melt. Feathers started to fall off. The boy flapped the wings wildly, but the wings came apart. Icarus fell into the sea and drowned.

Part 4

In a few articles and stories, corrections may vary depending on context. This is particularly true in the case of commas. Corrected articles and stories follow.

4.1 The Gila monster is not a monster. It is a lizard. It is the largest lizard in the United States. It is also the only poisonous lizard in our country.

The Gila monster is found in the desert areas of Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and New Mexico. It is named after the Gila River.

An adult Gila monster is easy to recognize. It is about two feet long and weighs between three and five pounds. It has a thick body and short legs. Its black, scaly body is covered with orange, pink, and yellow spots.

The poison of a Gila monster is usually not strong enough to kill humans. But the bite of the lizard is painful.

4.2 Do you know how to study for tests? Here are some suggestions.

On the days leading up to the test, listen to any reviews your teacher gives. This will help you find out what may be on the test. You will be able to study the right material. If you have any questions about the material, ask your teacher.

Begin studying a day or two before the test. Go over your notes and key parts of your textbook. Do not wait until the last minute to study. Students who study ahead of time usually do better than those who cram.

On the day of the test be confident. People who study do better than people who do not study.

4.3 Katie woke up early on Saturday. She was too excited to sleep. Today was the day of her family’s picnic.

Each year the Morgan family met at Ellis Park for a picnic. All of Katie’s aunts, uncles, and cousins would be there.

After breakfast Katie helped her mother pack food in coolers. They packed sandwiches, salads, and desserts.

The drive to the park seemed to take forever. As they entered the park, Katie’s father headed for Lake Ellis, where the picnic grounds were located. Nearing the lake, Katie saw that people were already there.

She smiled. This would be a great day.

4.4 Frogs and toads are amphibians. They are animals that can live both in water and on land. Although frogs and toads are much alike, they are different too. Do you know how they are different?

Frogs spend much of their lives in water. Their bodies are usually slimmer than the bodies of toads, they have smooth skin, and they have long legs for jumping.

Toads spend most of their lives on land. Their bodies are usually thicker than the bodies of frogs, they have warty skin, and they have shorter back legs.

Of course, for most people these are not very big differences. To them, frogs and toads are more alike than different.

4.5 Throughout history many plants and animals have become extinct. These plants and animals are no longer alive anywhere on our planet. Plants and animals become extinct for many reasons.

Big changes in climate can cause plants and animals to become extinct. If the climate of an area that once got much rain becomes very dry, some plants and animals may die out.

Sometimes people change the land where plants and animals live. For example, people cut down forests. They may use wood to build houses, or they may clear land for farming. The plants and animals that lived there may die.

Overhunting can cause animals to become extinct. Before the settlers came, buffaloes ranged across the American Great Plains. By the end of the nineteenth century buffaloes were hunted almost to extinction.

Every effort should be made to protect plants and animals from extinction. Once a plant or animal becomes extinct, it is too late.

4.6 Marissa went down the hall toward her classroom. She felt foolish coming back to school. But she had forgotten her history book. Without her history book, she wouldn’t be able to study for the big history test tomorrow.

History was a hard subject for Marissa. If she wanted a high grade on her report card, she had to study.

Just before she got to the classroom, she saw a paper on the floor. When she picked the paper up, her eyes widened. It was the test’s answer key.

This was her chance to get a good grade. She held the key for a long moment.

That would be cheating, and Marissa wasn’t a cheater.

She went into her classroom. Her teacher, Ms. Carter, was there. Marissa went to the desk and handed the key to Ms. Carter.

4.7 With its oceans, lakes, and rivers, the Earth has plenty of water. But not all parts of the Earth have a lot of water. About one-fifth of the Earth’s land is desert.

Deserts are dry areas of land. Some deserts get only an inch or two of rainfall every year.

Although it is hard for life to survive in deserts, many plants and animals make the desert their home. Plants such as the cactus live in deserts. Animals such as snakes, lizards, and camels live in deserts too.

People also live in or near deserts. Many of these people believe that deserts have a special beauty. This beauty is found nowhere else on our planet.

4.8 Earthquakes are more common than most people think. Thousands of earthquakes occur each year, but most are so weak they aren’t felt. Only about one out of five hundred earthquakes causes damage.

In the past, people didn’t know what caused earthquakes. Today scientists know that the Earth’s crust, its outer layer, is divided into great pieces. These pieces, called plates, are made of rock. The plates move slowly in different directions. They may move past each other, away from each other, or toward each other. Sometimes a

long crack, called a fault, forms between plates. If enough stress builds up along a fault, an earthquake occurs.

Minor earthquakes cause little damage. Major quakes can destroy buildings, bridges, and roads. They can cause thousands of deaths.

4.9 It was field day at Manuel’s school. As he waited for his turn to run, Manuel was worried. He was the fastest boy in the fifth grade, but that could change today.

Mr. Wilkins, Manuel’s teacher, called the last four boys to the starting line.

Manuel stepped forward. This was a race against time. Whoever ran the fastest would be the fastest runner in the fifth grade.

Manuel took a deep breath and bent his legs. Every muscle was ready. He looked at the finish line at the end of the field. Another teacher, Ms. Edwards, was there with a stopwatch.

“On your mark!” said Mr. Wilkins. “Get set! Go!”

The boys began. Manuel took powerful strides. He heard the other kids cheering, but his thoughts were only on running. He was pulling ahead.

Manuel crossed the line first.

“Sixteen point three seconds!” Ms. Edwards said.

Manuel smiled. That was the best time of the day. He was still the fastest runner in the fifth grade.

4.10

123 Mountain Road

High Point, WA 00000

September 25, 2010

Mr. William Connors, Circulation Manager

Rugged Outdoors Magazine

50 Carter Street

Centerville, CA 00000

Dear Mr. Connors:

I would like to subscribe to Rugged Outdoors Magazine. Enclosed is a check for $19.95 for a subscription for one year.

Thank you.

Yours truly,

Jon Petersen

4.11 Jimmy and I are best friends. We’ve been best friends since kindergarten.

Some kids think it’s strange that a girl and a boy in fifth grade are best friends.

But Jimmy and I have a lot in common.

We live next door to each other. We both like sports, we like the same type of music, and we like the same kinds of movies. But most important, we just like hanging out together. Jimmy’s easy to talk to, and he’s always willing to help when I have a problem. I do the same for him.

No matter what happens, I know I can count on Jimmy. I suppose that’s what’s best about being best friends.

4.12 Arbor Day is a day for planting trees. All fifty states in the U.S. celebrate Arbor Day.

Julius Sterling Morton (1832-1902) founded the first Arbor Day in Nebraska on April 10, 1872. Morton believed that Nebraska’s land could be improved by the planting of trees.

Nebraska’s first Arbor Day was a great success. People planted more than one million trees. A second Arbor Day took place in 1884 and also was successful. In 1885, Nebraska made Arbor Day a holiday and set April 22nd to celebrate it. April 22nd was Julius Sterling Morton’s birthday.

In the following years, other states set aside their own Arbor Days. Although the dates vary because of climate, Arbor Day remains a day for planting trees. It is a day people throughout the country can celebrate our environment.

4.13 Jason looked at the darkening sky. He turned to Martin, his friend.

“I bet it’s going to rain,” Jason said.

“It’ll hold off until after the game,” said Martin.

The two boys had just arrived at the baseball field. Some of the players of both teams were already there. This was the first game of the season, and all the boys were excited.

Coach Smith instructed the boys to begin warm-ups.

Jason and Martin took their places with their teammates and began stretching.

Jason looked back at the sky. He loved baseball and had been looking forward to this first game for weeks.

“You worry too much,” said Martin. “From the looks of those clouds, it won’t rain for a while.”

“I hope you’re right,” said Jason.

A little while later the game was ready to start.

“Play ball!” the umpire called.

“See,” said Martin. “You worry too much.”

Jason smiled. “Maybe you’re right.”

4.14 Everybody in my family likes to read. Books, magazines, and newspapers are everywhere in our home.

My father reads the newspaper every morning. He reads the New York Times on the train to work. He also reads magazines. His favorite is Newsweek.

My mother likes to read novels. She reads a new novel every week. She likes mysteries the best.

Stephie, my sister, likes short stories and poems. One of her favorite short stories is “The Open Window” by H. H. Munro. Her favorite poem is Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken.”

I like to read novels. My favorites are science fiction. If I had to pick one favorite, I would choose A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’ Engle.

4.15 Kyra stood on the top of the mountain. She looked down the ski slope. Breakneck Trail disappeared in the distance. She took a deep breath to steady herself.

“Don’t be afraid,” said Mia, her big sister. “You can make it down.”

“I’m not worried about making it down,” said Kyra. She forced a smile. “I’m worried about how many pieces I’ll be in.”

Mia patted her on the shoulder. “You don’t have to do this,” she said.

“Yes, I do,” said Kyra. “This is the only trail on this mountain I’ve never gone down.”

Mia smiled. “Keep your knees bent,” she said, “and remember to lean into the turns.”

“Wish me luck,” Kyra said. She pushed off with her poles and started down the trail.

As she picked up speed, she heard Mia’s voice behind her.

“Good luck.”

4.16 What causes sound? The sounds of a crying baby, the slamming of a door, or the roar of a jet’s engines are all produced in the same way.

Sound is caused by vibrations. When something vibrates, it moves back and forth rapidly. Imagine pulling a string on a guitar. As the string vibrates, it makes a sound.

Vibrating objects cause the molecules in the air around them to move. As the molecules move, the vibrations travel through the air in waves. When these waves reach your ear, you hear the sound.

As sound waves move away from a vibrating object, they become weaker. A sound becomes fainter the farther away you are from its source.

4.17 Have you ever played checkers? If you have, you have played one of the world’s oldest games.

Games similar to checkers were played by the ancient Egyptians about thirty- five hundred years ago. A form of the game was also played in ancient Greece. The modern form of checkers appeared about five hundred years ago.

Checkers is a game of skill. Two players play against each other. Each player has twelve playing pieces on a board that has sixty-four squares. The goal of the game is to capture an opponent’s pieces. The best players think ahead and take advantage of their opponent’s mistakes.

Checkers is played around the world. Minor rules vary somewhat from country to country, but the basic game is the same.

4.18 Most accidents happen at home. Although nobody can prevent every accident, you can prevent many accidents by being careful and using common sense.

Many accidents occur in the kitchen. Always be careful around a stove so that you don’t get burned. Don’t leave paper towels, napkins, or cloths near the stove. Handle knives with care. Don’t touch their sharp blades, and always cut away from your body. Keep knives in a safe place where young children can’t get them.

Many accidents also occur in the bathroom. Never use electrical appliances such as a hair dryer near water. Use a rubber mat to prevent anyone from slipping in the bathtub. Keeping soap in a soap dish will help prevent people from slipping on it.

Accidents can happen to anyone. But using common sense and being careful can reduce the chances of an accident happening to you.

4.19 Hallie took her seat in the boat. She was not pleased. Her parents and she were spending one of their vacation days looking for whales. Her mom called it whale-watching. Hallie would have liked to spend the day at the lake, where her parents had rented a cabin for the week.

“This will be exciting,” Hallie’s mother said.

“I’d rather be swimming at the lake,” Hallie said.

“You can swim every day for the rest of the week,” said her father. “But you can’t see a whale every day.”

Hallie didn’t understand what could be so great about seeing a whale. She pulled up the hood of her sweatshirt to block the cool breeze.

It was early afternoon when one of the boat’s crewmen pointed ahead.

“There!” he cried.

Hallie turned and saw a fantastic creature rise from the water.

“It’s beautiful,” she said, and she forgot all about swimming.

4.20 Colors make the world a brighter place. Imagine how dull the world would be without colors.

Colors can be divided into three kinds: primary, secondary, and intermediate.

The primary colors are red, yellow, and blue. These are known as the basic colors. They can’t be made by mixing any other colors.

The secondary colors are orange, green, and violet. Secondary colors are made by mixing two primary colors. Mixing red and yellow makes orange. Mixing yellow and blue makes green. Mixing blue and red makes violet.

Intermediate colors are made by mixing primary and secondary colors. Mixing white or black with colors will make them lighter or darker.

It is remarkable that all colors are based on combinations of red, yellow, and blue. What a colorful world the Earth is!

4.21 I was doing my homework when Annie, my little sister, came running into my room.

“Cassie, come quick!” she cried.

“What’s wrong?” I said.

“It’s Sasha!” Annie said between sobs. “She’s stuck in a big tree.” Sasha was our cat.

I followed her downstairs and out the front door.

I looked up at the big oak tree in our yard. Sure enough, Sasha was sitting on a high branch. Although she had climbed up, she was afraid to climb down.

“Sasha, come down,” I said. But all I received was a sad meow.

There wasn’t anything I could do except to keep calling Sasha to come down. But the cat wouldn’t budge.

Fortunately, my father and mother soon came home from work. My father got the ladder from the garage and got Sasha.

I smiled as Annie scolded the silly cat.

“Sasha, don’t ever do that again,” she said.

4.22 When sunlight strikes water droplets in the air, a rainbow may form. The rainbow makes an arc in the sky. Sometimes its ends seem to touch the Earth.

Why does a rainbow appear when sunlight hits water droplets? The answer lies in sunlight. A ray of sunlight contains all the colors of the spectrum: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. Tiny water droplets separate the sunlight into its different colors. Under the right conditions, that creates a rainbow.

Rainbows most often are seen near the end of a rain shower. But they can also be seen in the spray of a waterfall, a fountain, or a garden hose.

According to legend, a pot of gold is at the end of a rainbow. Of course, no one can ever reach the end of a rainbow. As you approach a rainbow, it seems to move farther away and soon disappears.

4.23 Lateesha rang the doorbell to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Morgan. This was the first time she was to babysit for their son Nathan. She hoped Nathan, who was only five years old, would behave. Her friend Christina had babysat for Nathan once, and she would never do it again.

Mrs. Morgan opened the door with a big smile.

Lateesha saw Nathan standing in the living room. He was smiling too. He seemed like a nice boy.

After Mrs. Morgan gave Lateesha instructions, she and her husband got ready to leave.

“Remember, Lateesha,” Mrs. Morgan said at the door, “Nathan must be in bed by nine.”

“I won’t forget,” Lateesha said.

For the next two hours she read to Nathan, they colored, and they watched TV. Nathan was so delightful that Lateesha began to wonder if Christina had babysat for the same boy.

At nine o’clock Lateesha announced that it was time for bed.

Nathan looked at her and smiled.

“No!” he said. The firmness in his voice told Lateesha that it was going to be a long night.

4.24 It was tennis day at summer camp. Darci was to play Lora in the championship match.

Darci looked at Lora and frowned. She doubted that she could beat Lora.

“Lora’s a great player,” Darci said to Melissa, her best friend.

“She is,” said Melissa, “but she loses her cool. She tries to hit the ball as hard as she can every time. She hits a lot of balls out of bounds. Then she gets mad and hits them even harder. That makes her miss more.”

“But how does that help me?” said Darci. “I’ll be lucky to return half of her shots.”

“You have to play a steady game,” said Melissa. “Don’t make mistakes. That’s how you’re going to beat her.”

“You mean she’ ll beat herself,” said Darci.

Melissa nodded.

Not long after the match began, Darci knew her friend was right. When the match was finished, Darci was the tennis champ.

4.25 Captain Danos watched the main viewing screen on the bridge of his spaceship. The tiny world grew on the screen. As it became larger, oceans and land masses appeared through patchy white clouds.

“It looks much like home,” said Danos to Lieutenant Tarka.

“Yes, it does,” Tarka said.

“Does the planet have intelligent life?” Danos asked.

Tarka checked some instruments.

“I think it does,” he said. “I’m picking up radio transmissions.”

“Are the inhabitants advanced enough for us to make contact?” said Danos.

“Doubtful,” Tarka said. “They seem primitive and warlike.”

“Too bad,” said Danos. “What’s the name of the planet?”

“Earth,” said Tarka.

Captain Danos gave the order to pass by Earth.