Reading Comprehension Skills 2 Table of Content and Sample Unit

Page 1

Reading Comprehension Step Step Skills

by approach to Critical Reading and Thinking

2

Reading Comprehension Skills is a structured reading program that develops students’ reading comprehension skills. Some examples of the skills include categorizing, comparing and contrasting, understanding cause and effect, and summarizing. Each chapter contains a long reading passage, which is divided into four parts for progressive development. These reading passages cover a wide range of engaging topics and there is a careful balance of text types, both fiction and non-fiction.

Reading Comprehension Skills adopts a four-step approach to the reading process. 1. Stepping In: A pre-reading question engages and prepares students for the topic. 2. Moving Through: A key question guides students in understanding the text. 3. Stepping Back: This section includes vocabulary exercises, reading comprehension questions, and graphic organizers. These exercises help students check and monitor their understanding, and develop specific reading skills.

At the end of every reading passage, worksheets are provided to help students build up their vocabulary and improve their grammar.

Reading Comprehension Skills is a series of three books designed for students in the upper primary levels.

ISBN

Empowering Minds Improving Lives

Comprehension 2.indd 1

www.alstonpublishinghouse.com

978-981-4321-36-5 978-981-4370-43-1

9 789814 370431

2 Step by Step Approach to Critical Reading and Thinking

4. Stepping Out: Post-reading activities help students to summarize, think critically and express their opinions about the reading passage.

Building Language Skills Reading Comprehension Skills

Building Language Skills

Building Language Skills

Reading

Comprehension

Skills

Step by Step approach to Critical Reading and Thinking

2

6/5/14 11:43 AM


Reading or

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Building Language Skills

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Comprehension

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Skills

Step by Step approach to Critical Reading and Thinking

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Published by Alston Publishing House Pte Ltd 745 Lorong 5 Toa Payoh, #01-07, Singapore 319455 enquiry@alstonpublishinghouse.com www.alstonpublishinghouse.com

(c

Š 2012 Alston Publishing House Pte Ltd All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner. First published 2012 Second impression 2014 ISBN 978-981-4370-43-1 Publisher: Sim Wee Chee Printed in Singapore


Contents Unit

1

Teresa’s Secret Closet

7

Fiction / Fantasy / Categorize, Sequence, Summarise

Unit

2

1816: The Year Without a Summer

21

or

3

Across Siberia!

4

A World of Computers

35

49

d,

Unit

Si ng

Fiction / Places and Travel / Categorize, Compare and Contrast

ap

Unit

e

Non-fiction / Natural Disasters / Categorize, Cause and Effect, Sequence

5

e

What’s Cooking?

Pt

Unit

Lt

Non-fiction / Technology / Categorize, Compare and Contrast

63

6

The Painting Tells Another Story

H ou

Unit

se

Fiction / Cooking / Categorize, Problem and Solution, Sequence

77

7

hi

Everyone Needs Friends

91

lis

Unit

ng

Non-fiction / Social Issues / Categorize, Cause and Effect, Compare and Contrast, Summarize

Unit

Pu b

Fiction / School Life / Main Idea and Details, Problem and Solution, Sequence

8

He’s a Nurse, She’s a Doctor

105

ls

9

Communication: Different and Difficult

)A

Unit

to n

Non-fiction / Jobs and Dreams / Compare and Contrast 119

(c

Fiction / Culture and Living / Compare and Contrast

Unit

10

Global Warming and Global Dimming

133

Non-fiction / Environment / Cause and Effect, Draw Conclusions

Answer Key

147


GUIDE TO READING COMPREHENSION SKILLS A division of long readings (400~600 words) into four parts.

• a to become impossible to see

• b air surrounding the Earth

3 trap

• c a large floating mass of ice

4 iceberg

• d to spring back after being hit

5 disappear

• e to prevent something from getting away

problem? Global warming is deeply related to the way we use gas, oil

MOVING THROUGH

Reading Comprehension

and coal for fuel. When we burn them, a gas called carbon dioxide

Circle

T

or

F

.

goes into the atmosphere. Usually, a lot of the sunlight that shines

1 Global warming is not such a serious problem.

T

F

onto the Earth bounces back into space. But when there is a lot of

2 Global warming is caused by the fuel we use.

carbon dioxide in the air, it stops some of the sunlight from bouncing away. Because more sunlight is trapped in the air around our planet, the Earth is warmer than before.

T

F

3 Carbon dioxide traps the sunlight around the Earth.

T

F

4 The Earth is getting colder as a result of pollution.

T

F

5 The sea level rises because icebergs melt.

T

F

Vocabulary Choose the correct definition for each word. •

• a something that is true

2 fact

• b like most others of the same type

3 average

• c the degree of hotness or coldness

4 range

• d damage caused to water, air, or land

5 temperature

• e the number of something between an upper and a lower limit

Reading Comprehension

What did the scientist find out around 11 September 2001?

But some scientists

1 pollution

T

Circle

found

something very strange; when they added up all the carbon

or

F

.

1 According to scientists, the Earth was not becoming as warm as they had expected.

T

F

2 It was difficult to study the effect of airplanes on pollution because airplanes were flying all the time.

T

F

3 Scientists still cannot study what happens when there is no airplane pollution.

T

F

dioxide sent into the air, the Earth should be a lot hotter than it

4 Planes were not allowed to fly in the United States for three days in 2001.

T

F

level will rise. Islands will disappear. And cities built near the ocean

Visualizing

is. Why wasn’t the Earth becoming warmer even faster? This

F

Cause and Effect: Complete the chart.

question was answered when a scientist was studying the effect

5 When planes were not flying, the average temperature dropped.

T

will be full of water if the sea level goes too high.

We burn gas, oil and coal for

A gas called

Draw Conclusions: Complete the chart.

time when the scientist could study this very well. After 11 *

goes into the atmosphere.

days. During those three days, the scientist found a surprising

away.

Why was the Earth not becoming

** fact: the average range of temperatures was one degree Celsius

 More sunlight is

Question

September 2001, no airplane flew in the United States for three

 Carbon dioxide stops the sunlight from

in the air around the Earth.

even

faster?

higher. How was this possible?

 The Earth is

Visualizing

because planes are flying all the time. But there was a special

.

Conclusion The average temperature was one degree Celsius in the USA.

• When to study: For

* 11 September 2001: On 11 September 2001, terrorists attacked the World Trade Center Twin Towers in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. **Celsius: a scale for measuring temperature

than before.

days after 11 September 2001

10. Global Warming and Global Dimming • 135

134 • READING COMPREHENSION SKILLS 2

Study • What to study: the effect of airplanes on

ap

*Antartic: the area around the South Pole **Artic: the area around the North Pole

of airplanes on pollution. It was very difficult to study this

How does pollution speed up global warming?

** The Antarctic* and the Arctic icebergs will melt and the sea

Si ng

MOVING THROUGH

global warming and why is this a serious

2 Why is the amount of sunlight that gets to the Earth important? Do you think we are getting more sunlight or less sunlight now?

e

1 atmosphere 2 bounce

or

Choose the correct definition for each word.

How does global warming occur?

What is

STEPPING IN

Vocabulary

STEPPING BACK

STEPPING BACK

STEPPING IN

1

Have you heard of global warming? What is global warming?

10. Global Warming and Global Dimming • 137

136 • READING COMPREHENSION SKILLS 2 RCS 2 Unit 9-10.indd 137

4 dust

• d to become less bright

5 examine

• e a substance that can make heat or power when it is burned

realised that pollution

wasn’t just speeding up global warming, but it was also slowing it down. Pollution was dimming the light of the sun – making the

Reading Comprehension

light less bright – and this was affecting the weather. So this effect

1 What is the effect of pollution slowing down global warming called?

was called global dimming.

It causes global same time.

and global

Some people might think that global dimming is a way to slow

Because pollution can

There was

down global warming. But does this mean global dimming is a good

from getting to the Earth.

• e the part that sticks out at the back of an animal’s body

Visualizing Cause and Effect: Complete the chart.

se

Why is global dimming not a solution to global warming? Dust pollution blocks .

Dust pollution changes the way

There is less and less sunlight.

are made.

few years in a row, nobody knew why. Scientists now think it was

This kind of pollution can cause

.

pollution from Europe that changed the clouds and made the rain stop in Africa. Thus, global dimming clearly is not the answer to solving global warming.

RCS 2 Unit 9-10.indd 139

11/16/12 9:56 AM

10. Global Warming and Global Dimming • 141

140 • READING COMPREHENSION SKILLS 2

RCS 2 Unit 9-10.indd 140

11/16/12 9:57 AM

RCS 2 Unit 9-10.indd 141

11/16/12 9:57 AM

lis

hi

ng

11/16/12 9:56 AM

• d getting into a higher level, becoming better

5 solve

It looks like

drought. In the 1980s, when northern Africa didn’t get any rain for a

The temperature of the Earth does as much as not expected.

10. Global Warming and Global Dimming • 139

138 • READING COMPREHENSION SKILLS 2

• c one after another without any break

a lot of dust pollution around the

Some scientists think that this kind of pollution can cause

H ou

• b a long period of dry weather

4 in a row

In

has less rain. Effect

• This can sunlight from getting to the Earth.

• a to find an answer for

3 drought

3 Where was a serious drought in the 1980s?

lot of dust very clearly, like a long tail. Everywhere under that tail

Global dimming

• The pollution produced by fuel . acts like

2 tail

2 What was the shape of the dust cloud in India?

was less rain and less sunlight. For example, pictures of India show a

Cause and Effect: Complete the chart.

Cause

1 developing

1 Where did the dust pollution appear the most?

sunlight and changed the way clouds were made. As a result, there Visualizing

interesting.

Choose the correct definition for each word.

world, especially in developing countries. Dust pollution blocked

thing? Scientists examined the dust by looking at pictures of the Earth from outer space. And they noticed something very

Vocabulary

Reading Comprehension

Why is dust pollution bad for the environment?

at the

3 Why do some people think that pollution can slow down global warming?

cause for global warming and global dimming at the same time.

4

Pt

2 What did scientists discover about the effect of pollution?

The pollution produced by fuel acts like dust in the air, and it can block sunlight from getting to the Earth. So the pollution is the

RCS 2 Unit 9-10.indd 138

If global dimming is true, is it a good thing or a bad thing? What do we need to do to control it?

• c to make or grow something

• b fine dry powder

d,

• a to look at or check carefully

3 fuel

2 produce

e

1 dim

Lt

Choose the correct definition for each word.

MOVING THROUGH

MOVING THROUGH

The scientist

Vocabulary

STEPPING BACK

What is the difference between global warming and global dimming?

STEPPING IN

STEPPING BACK

STEPPING IN

3

What happens when there is a lot of dust in the air? Why can’t you see through the air when it is dusty?

11/16/12 9:56 AM

to n

STEPPING IN

Pu b

A four-step approach to the reading process

(c

)A

ls

A warm-up stage to generate learners’ interest in the topic with a simple question

MOVING THROUGH

STEPPING BACK

STEPPING OUT

A topic-related question to think about while reading text

A review of the reading by checking knowledge of vocabulary, content and text structure

Post-reading activities to review, engage in critical thinking, and build opinions about the topic


A simple and general question about the theme to familiarise learners with the topic STEPPING BACK

1

Have you heard of global warming? What is global warming?

Choose the correct definition for each word.

How does global warming occur?

A key question directly related to the topic to guide learners through the reading

1 atmosphere

• a to become impossible to see

2 bounce

• b air surrounding the Earth

3 trap

• c a large floating mass of ice

4 iceberg

• d to spring back after being hit

5 disappear

• e to prevent something from getting away

global warming and why is this a serious

problem? Global warming is deeply related to the way we use gas, oil

Reading Comprehension Review of details of the content

Reading Comprehension

and coal for fuel. When we burn them, a gas called carbon dioxide

Circle

T

or

F

.

goes into the atmosphere. Usually, a lot of the sunlight that shines

1 Global warming is not such a serious problem.

T

F

onto the Earth bounces back into space. But when there is a lot of

2 Global warming is caused by the fuel we use.

T

F

carbon dioxide in the air, it stops some of the sunlight from

3 Carbon dioxide traps the sunlight around the Earth.

T

F

4 The Earth is getting colder as a result of pollution.

T

F

5 The sea level rises because icebergs melt.

T

F

bouncing away. Because more sunlight is trapped in the air around our planet, the Earth is warmer than before.

e

MOVING THROUGH

MOVING THROUGH

What is

Vocabulary Review of key vocabulary with definitions in English

Vocabulary

or

STEPPING IN

STEPPING IN

STEPPING BACK

** The Antarctic* and the Arctic icebergs will melt and the sea

Visualizing

will be full of water if the sea level goes too high.

Cause and Effect: Complete the chart. How does pollution speed up global warming?

*Antartic: the area around the South Pole **Artic: the area around the North Pole

We burn gas, oil and coal for

.

Si ng

 A gas called

Visualizing Graphic organizers to review text structure and the relationship between the information in the content

ap

level will rise. Islands will disappear. And cities built near the ocean

goes into the atmosphere.

 Carbon dioxide stops the sunlight from

away.

 More sunlight is

in the air around the Earth.

 The Earth is

than before.

10. Global Warming and Global Dimming • 135

Lt

d,

134 • READING COMPREHENSION SKILLS 2

Pt

e

STEPPING OUT

se about

Fill in the blanks with the words or phrases from below.

your

the

. Carbon dioxide stops into space and .

The Earth is not This is because pollution was

it should be.

global warming by

and makes it

. This kind of pollution can for some periods.

lis

What is the worst thing about global dimming?

4 Which one is a bigger problem, global warming or global dimming? Why?

We should travel in planes as little as possible.

3

We should try to use other fuels instead of oil, gas and coal.

to n

ls

RCS 2 Unit 9-10.indd 143

10. Global Warming and Global Dimming • 143

11/16/12 9:57 AM

Thinking about the Reading Expressing thoughts and opinions about the reading

144 • READING COMPREHENSION SKILLS 2

RCS 2 Unit 9-10.indd 144

4

11/16/12 9:57 AM

Writing Your Opinion Expanding the learners’ experience based on the topic

(c

)A

Using less energy will save the Earth.

It can stop the rain. Without rain, food and plants cannot grow, and people will be thirsty.

11/16/12 9:57 AM

Organizing the Reading Review and summary of the entire reading

Example

1

2 3

as hot as a solution for slowing down bouncing back clouds are made

RCS 2 Unit 9-10.indd 142

Why do people think they should do this?

Suggestions We should not waste energy.

We should make cars that create less pollution.

Example

Pu b

warmer rain less drought blocking sunlight the fuels we burn

142 • READING COMPREHENSION SKILLS 2

 Here are some ways people think they can protect the environment. Why do they think people should do these things?

Global dimming is not global warming. The pollution blocks sunlight, changes how

bring

2 What was the most surprising thing in this reading? Why?

ng

What effects does global dimming have?

.

1

Do you think global warming is good or bad?

sunlight from makes the Earth

What is global dimming?

H ou

Global warming is caused by carbon dioxide from

What is global warming?

hi

STEPPING OUT

Writing Opinion

Thinking Reading

Organizing the Reading

Worksheets Worksheet A

Build Up Sentences Review of key sentences in each chapter

Build Up Your Sentences

C

Choose the correct definition for each word.

Rewrite each sentence, starting with the words given.

a to become less bright

1 When we burn fuel, a gas called carbon dioxide goes into the atmosphere.

2 examine

b to look at or check carefully

3 dim

c like most others of the same type

2 The Antarctic and Arctic icebergs will melt and the sea level will rise.

4 drought

d air surrounding the Earth

5 fact

1 atmosphere

A gas called carbon dioxide The sea level will rise

e to make or grow something

3 The Earth is becoming warmer steadily.

6 developing

f something that is true

7 iceberg

g a long period of dry weather

8 produce

h to find an answer for

4 Pollution was not just speeding up global warming, but it was also slowing it down.

9 average

i a large floating mass of ice

10 solve

j getting into a higher level, becoming better

1 Can we turn on the heater? The room

3 Spiders make webs in order to

7 The air

D

pollution bounces

fuel trap

dust disappear

produced temperature 10. Global Warming and Global Dimming • 145

RCS 2 Unit 9-10.indd 145

.

2 on pollution / was studying / when / the effect of airplanes / a scientist This question was answered .

every year. on your farm every day?

by factory smoke is harming human health.

8 We need to clean the house. The furniture is covered with .

The way clouds were made

Unscramble the sentences. 1 the way we use / deeply related to / for fuel / gas, oil and coal Global warming is

insects. the ball three times before

5 Many species of plants and animals 6 How many eggs are

Global warming

is too low. and stopped in the middle of

4 The player usually serving.

Pollution was slowing down

6 Dust pollution blocked sunlight and changed the way clouds were made.

Fill in the blanks with the words from the box.

2 Our car was out of the road.

Steadily,

5 Global dimming might be a way to slow down global warming.

B

Build Up Vocabulary Review of key vocabulary in each chapter

Worksheet

Build Up Your Vocabulary

11/16/12 9:57 AM

3 acts / in the air / produced by fuel / like dust The pollution

.

4 is / global dimming / this mean / a good thing Does

5 to solving / the answer / is not / global warming Global dimming clearly

? .

146 • READING COMPREHENSION SKILLS 2

RCS 2 Unit 9-10.indd 146

11/16/12 9:57 AM


Learning Major Reading Skills Number of Skills READING SKILLS

Volume 1

Volume 2

Volume 3

Percentage

Total

15

9

10

34

28.3%

Understanding Cause and Effect

4

6

1

11

9.2%

Comparing and Contrasting

7

12

11

30

25%

Draw Conclusions

4

1

5

4.2%

Finding the Main Idea and Details

1

1 3

5 4.2%

Identifying Problems and Solutions

2

2 —

4 3.3%

Understanding Sequences

4

7

6

Summarizing

3

2

9 40

or

ap

Si ng d,

40

14

Lt

40

17 14.1% 11.7%

120 100%

e

Total

e

Categorizing

Theme

Volume 2

H ou

Volume 1

Fiction/Non-fiction Fiction

2

Communication

Non-fiction

3

Places and Travel

Fiction

Fantasy

Non-fiction

Jobs and Dreams

Non-fiction

Places and Travel

Fiction

Entertainment

Fiction

Technology

Non-fiction Space

Natural Disasters

lis

Fiction Cooking

to n

7

Fantasy

8

Neighbours

9

(c

)A

ls

Space

10 Environment

Pu b

6 Music

Fiction

Non-fiction

Culture and Living Fiction

Non-fiction

Social Issues

Non-fiction Seasons Non-fiction

Fiction

School Life

Fiction

Social Issues

Non-fiction

Jobs and Dreams

Non-fiction

Mathematics Non-fiction

Fiction

Culture and Living Fiction

Culture and Living Fiction

Non-fiction

Environment

Transportation Non-fiction

Non-fiction

Reading level reviewed by ATOS™ VOLUME

Fiction/Non-fiction Fiction

Non-fiction

Social Issues

Theme Hobbies

4 Health 5

Fiction/Non-fiction

Volume 3

Fiction

hi

1 Fantasy

Theme

ng

Unit

se

Pt

A balance of reading content types (50% fiction, 50% non-fiction) with diverse and interesting themes

Volume 1

Volume 2

Volume 3

Book Level

4.5

4.5

4.9

Word Count

400~480

440~520

520~600

Fiction


se

Pt

e

Lt

d,

Si ng

ap

or

e

01

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to n

Pu b

lis

hi

ng

H ou

Teresa’s Secret Closet

Fiction Fantasy Categorize, Sequence, Summarise illustrated by Ok Kim


1

STEPPING IN

Have you ever moved to a new place? How did you like it?

Lt

d,

Si ng

ap

or

e

MOVING THROUGH

Pt Teresa’s family moved into their house,

se

The day

e

Where was the mysterious door?

H ou

she unpacked her boxes, put her clothes away and settled into her

ng

room. Then she found something very interesting. There was a door

hi

in the back of her closet.

“Mom! Dad!” she shouted, but they didn’t answer. So Teresa

Pu b

lis

took a deep breath, leaned forward and opened the door. She expected nothing but a little tunnel, or a brick wall, or

to n

ls

maybe some tiny, dusty storage room. But she was very surprised to

(c

)A

hear the sounds of birds.

Then she smelled something so strange that she couldn’t believe

it. It smelled like some kind of forest. A hot forest… a jungle!

Now this was a mystery. Teresa never could resist a mystery.

“Why not?” she said with a smile, and jumped through the

doorway.

8 • READING COMPREHENSION SKILLS 2


STEPPING BACK

Vocabulary Choose the correct definition for each word. •

• a a space where things can be kept

2 lean

• b to take things out of a container

3 tiny

• c something that is hard to explain or understand

4 storage

• d very small

5 mystery

• e to move one’s body close to something

Si ng

ap

or

e

1 unpack

Reading Comprehension

Lt

d,

1 What did Teresa NOT expect to find when she opened the door of the closet? b a brick wall

e

a a little tunnel

d sounds of birds

Pt

c a storage room

c She is mean.

ng

a She is curious.

H ou

se

2 What does “Teresa never could resist a mystery” say about her character? b She is shy. d She is foolish.

.

to n

Pu b

She found

lis

hi

3 What did Teresa find when she opened the door in the back of the closet?

ls

Visualizing

(c

)A

Sequence: Number the sentences in the correct order. 1 Teresa found a door in the back of her closet. She jumped through the doorway. She smelled something like a forest. She opened the door. She heard the sounds of birds. 01. Teresa’s Secret Closet • 9


2

STEPPING IN

Do you sometimes dream of going to another world? What would it be like there?

or

with a

ap

MOVING THROUGH

Teresa landed

e

Where did Teresa land?

Si ng

splash in the middle of a giant puddle. It was a huge footprint of some enormous creature.

“Ticket, please,” said a voice nearby. Teresa turned

d,

Lt

and looked around, until the voice shouted, “Down here!” When she looked down, she saw who — what —

Pt

e

se

was talking. It was a lizard in a black suit and red

H ou

striped tie. He was about half a metre tall. “Where’s your ticket?” it asked impatiently.

ng

hi

Teresa shook her head, and it said, “Well, give

Pu b

“I don’t have my passport, Mister… uh,

to n

list.”

lis

me your passport, then. We’ll find you on the

ls

Mr Lizard,” said Teresa, “I don’t even know

(c

)A

where I am.”

“You’re in the Jungle of Queen

Kalastrazino.”

“And,” the lizard said, flicking* its fire-red

tongue, “You’re in big trouble!” *flick: to move quickly and suddenly

10 • READING COMPREHENSION SKILLS 2


STEPPING BACK

Vocabulary Choose the correct definition for each word. •

• a anything that lives except plants

2 puddle

• b to move and scatter roughly

3 creature

• c a very small pool

4 impatiently

• d a document that allows people to travel to foreign countries

5 passport

• e in a way of wanting something to happen quickly

ap

or

e

1 splash

Si ng

Reading Comprehension 1 What was talking to Teresa?

d,

Lt

2 How tall was the lizard?

tall.

Pt

e

It was about

se

3 What did Teresa need to enter the Jungle of Queen Kalastrazino?

H ou

She needed

4 Why did the lizard shout “Down here!”?

ng

a Because Teresa was not paying attention

hi

b Because the lizard was so small

Pu b

lis

c Because the lizard had to look down at Teresa Visualizing

(c

)A

ls

to n

Categorize: Complete the chart. Wh ere did Ter esa go ?

Who did Teresa meet?

She went into

She did not

She met

.

have a passport about half a metre

What problem did Teresa have?

and red striped tie. He was tall.

.

a lizard in a black suit the Jungle of Queen Kalastrazino 01. Teresa’s Secret Closet • 11


STEPPING IN

Have you ever been in big trouble? How did you get out of trouble?

MOVING THROUGH

3

What do children do at Kalastrazino?

The lizard said, “Well, according to the laws of Kalastrazino,

Si ng

ap

a worried look.

e

Teresa said with

or

“Big trouble?”

d,

anyone who comes here without a ticket or passport must work

Lt

for five years before going home.” Teresa’s heart sank. Five years?

Pt

e

She would be a high school girl by then!

“What’s your job in your home world?” asked the lizard.

“Job?” Teresa blinked. “I don’t have a job. I’m a middle-

H ou

se

school girl.”

“No job? That’s ridiculous. Here in Kalastrazino, kids work

hi

ng

lis

from age three. Everyone works. Which world are you from?”

Pu b

“Earth.”

ls

The lizard narrowed his eyes. “One moon?” Teresa nodded.

to n

“Lots of kids?” the lizard asked with a scary, toothy smile.

“Um…” Teresa nodded.

Looking at the way the lizard smiled, she knew it had evil

)A (c

“Lots of cars?” She nodded again.

ideas.

12 • READING COMPREHENSION SKILLS 2


STEPPING BACK

Vocabulary Choose the correct definition for each word. •

• a having many large teeth

2 blink

• b very bad

3 ridiculous

• c to wink quickly

4 toothy

• d causing to make fun of

5 evil

• e to lose hope or confidence

or

e

1 sink

T

or

F

.

Si ng

Circle

ap

Reading Comprehension

T

F

2 Teresa did not have a job on Earth.

T

F

T

F

4 Children living in Kalastrazino had to work.

T

F

5 The lizard had an evil plan.

T

F

Lt

d,

1 Anyone could freely enter Kalastrazino without a ticket.

H ou

se

Pt

e

3 Teresa is in elementary school.

ng

Visualizing

lis

hi

Summarize: Complete the chart.

Pu b

What are the rules of the Jungle of Queen Kalastrazino?

to n

• People should work for without a

ls

• Children usually start working once they turn old.

years

(c

)A

or

years if they visit there .

01. Teresa’s Secret Closet • 13


4

STEPPING IN

What do you do when you meet someone you cannot trust? What would you say to the lizard?

se

Pt

e

Lt

d,

Si ng

ap

or

e

MOVING THROUGH How did Teresa get out of trouble?

H ou

Teresa smiled

and

ng

said, “Sure! Millions of kids, ready to work for you!

lis

hi

They’re doing nothing but playing, studying and having fun!” “Fun? What a waste of time!” said the lizard, disgusted. “We’ll

Pu b

to n

change that. Show me… where’s this door?” “Come with me,” she said, and pulled him along as she jumped

(c

)A

ls

at the spot where the door had been. They landed in her closet, and went out to her room.

“Wow!” said the lizard. “We’re here. Now, where are the kids?”

“Mom!” she shouted, grabbing the lizard’s tail as she slammed

the door shut. “Get a cage! I found a pet lizard!”

“Nooooooo!” shouted the lizard, but Teresa was holding tight.

Teresa’s eyes twinkled. It was only her first day in a new neighbourhood and already she had her own new pet! 14 • READING COMPREHENSION SKILLS 2


STEPPING BACK

Vocabulary Choose the correct definition for each word. 1 disgusted

• a a small area

2 spot

• b an animal that you have at home for pleasure

3 slam

• c the area we live in

4 pet

• d feeling of strong dislike

or

F

.

Si ng

T

ap

Reading Comprehension Circle

e

• e to close with a loud noise

or

5 neighbourhood •

T

F

2 The lizard was not fooled by Teresa’s plans.

T

F

T

F

4 Millions of kids on Earth were forced to work for the lizard.

T

F

5 Teresa wanted to keep lizard as her pet.

T

F

Lt

d,

1 Teresa tricked the lizard to come to her room.

H ou

se

Pt

e

3 The lizard was happy to remain on Earth with Teresa.

Visualizing

ng

Sequence: Complete the chart.

lis

hi

Teresa knew that the lizard had evil ideas. What did Teresa do?

Pu b

1 Teresa told the lizard that millions of Kalastrazino to

can come to .

to n

2 The lizard followed Teresa to the spot where the

(c

)A

ls

had been.

3 Teresa and the lizard

in the closet, and they went

out to the room.

 4 Teresa

the lizard’s tail and

the door shut.

 5 Teresa asked her mother to get a

.

 6 Teresa had a

lizard! 01. Teresa’s Secret Closet • 15


STEPPING OUT

Organizing the Reading Fill in the blanks with the words or phrases from below.

Teresa

a new house with her family. She in the back of her closet. Teresa went through the door to .

2

She met a

3

She heard about another rule of the jungle: Kids had to work from three years old. The lizard had bad ideas about the kids . on Earth, and Teresa

Si ng

ap

or

e

1

Pu b

lis

hi

ng

H ou

se

Pt

e

Lt

d,

in the Jungle of Queen Kalastrazino. The lizard wanted to see Teresa’s ticket or passport. But she didn’t have them. In the jungle, visitors without a ticket or a passport had to work before going home. She got into big trouble.

Teresa offered the lizard to visit the Earth

to n

4

(c

)A

ls

to work for him. The lizard went with Teresa to the Earth. Teresa tricked the lizard and !

to get kids moved into for five years a strange new world

16 • READING COMPREHENSION SKILLS 2

lizard found a door made him a pet knew the lizard’s plan


Thinking Reading about

the

1

2

e

What is the feeling of this reading?

ap

or

What is the strangest thing about Teresa’s adventure?

Si ng

Example

lis

hi

ng

H ou

se

Pt

e

Lt

d,

It is quite exciting and mysterious. The story has always made me curious about the next thing happening.

Pu b

3

to n

Do you think Teresa’s solution is a good one?

(c

)A

ls

Example

4 Teresa lied to the lizard. Is this kind of lying good or bad?

I think Teresa’s solution is not good because I don’t want to live with the bad lizard in the same house.

(Yes / No), because

01. Teresa’s Secret Closet • 17


Writing Opinion your

Si ng

Who lives there?

Example

Example

ap

What is the name of the world?

or

e

 Imagine that the door in Teresa’s closet visits a different world every time it opens. What kind of world can you imagine?

Robots that look like children

H ou

se

Pt

e

Lt

d,

Tengalalano

ng

What are they like?

hi

Example

How long would Teresa stay there?

(c

What would Teresa do there?

18 • READING COMPREHENSION SKILLS 2

How would Teresa get home?

)A

ls

to n

Pu b

lis

They are very friendly, and like to sing and dance.


Worksheet Build Up Your Vocabulary

a feeling of strong dislike

2 tiny

b to move one’s body close to something

3 toothy

c a small area

4 lean

d to lose hope or confidence

5 spot

e very bad

6 sink

f having many large teeth

7 disgusted

g to take things out of a container

8 unpack

h very small

9 puddle

i an animal that you have at home for pleasure

10 pet

j a very small pool

hi

ng

H ou

se

Pt

e

Lt

d,

Si ng

ap

or

e

1 evil

Pu b

lis

Fill in the blanks with the words from the box below. 1 The sunlight was so bright that I

novels because I like to solve the problem as I

to n

2 I love read.

my eyes.

3 My new house has enough room for

ls

.

)A

B

Choose the correct definition for each word.

4 The children jumped into the pool and made a big

.

5 Everybody laughed at Chris’ idea because it was so

.

(c

A

6 I need a

to travel to Spain for a school trip.

7 I grew up in a quiet 8 Please don’t

slam splash

in Tanjung Katong. the door like that.

ridiculous mystery

passport neighbourhood

blinked storage

01. Teresa’s Secret Closet • 19


Worksheet Build Up Your Sentences

C

Rewrite each sentence, starting with the words given. 1 Teresa took a deep breath, leaned forward and opened the door.

e

Teresa opened the door She couldn’t believe that

Si ng

ap

2 She smelled something so strange that she couldn’t believe it.

or

3 Teresa landed with a splash in the middle of a giant puddle.

Into the middle

e

Wearing a

Pt

Lt

4 It was a lizard in a black suit and red striped tie.

d,

Anyone who comes here without

H ou

se

5 Anyone who comes here without a ticket or passport must work for five years before going home.

hi

Pu b

D

She had a new pet

lis

ng

6 It was only her first day in a new neighbourhood and already she had her own new pet!

Unscramble the sentences.

Then

to n

1 very interesting / found / she / something

.

He was

.

(c

)A

ls

2 a metre / half / about / tall 3 where / even know / don’t / I am

I

.

4 at the way / smiled / the lizard / looking

, she knew it had evil ideas.

5 the door had been / where / at the spot / as she jumped

She pulled him along

20 • READING COMPREHENSION SKILLS 2

.


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