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
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STEPPING IN
Pu b
A four-step approach to the reading process
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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
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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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Pu b
lis
hi
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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
.