Chapter 2: Pedro's Courage

Read the passage. Then answer questions about the passage below.

  Proyecto Salón Hogar

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"When the other students talk in class, they speak better than I do. I’m the only one in our class who speaks both Spanish and English, and so I think I sound a little different."      Mrs. Vasquez hugged her son tighter as they stood in the kitchen. "Mi hijo, knowing how to speak another language makes you very special! Don’t you see how lucky you are?"   Pedro thought about this. "What is your current events report about?" asked Mama.     "My article is about migrant farm workers. All those things you said are still true for them. People work so hard, and they don’t get paid much money."   His mama smiled. "You have an opportunity to teach your classmates something you care about. I am proud of you!"      Pedro said, "What about the scared part, Mama? How do I stop the butterflies in my chest?" Thinking about tomorrow made him nervous.   "Pedro, just take a deep breath, and then make believe that you are talking to me."      The next day, Pedro gave his report. He felt his knees shake as he reached the front of the room. Before he began, he recalled his mama’s words.      He looked at his report, closed his eyes, and inhaled deeply. The class was silent. As he exhaled, his fear seemed to leave his body. Pedro was amazed!      Only one, tiny butterfly remained in his chest, and he felt that it was his mama. He looked up, smiled, and made his presentation, just like when he talked to Mama.

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Questions  1) Which is a FACT stated in this passage?    A. Pedro will always need his mother's advice.    B. Pedro did not know the information in the article well.    C. Pedro's grandparents were migrant farm workers.    D. Pedro helped his mama feel good about being a migrant worker.   2) What will Pedro probably do in the future?    A. become a migrant farm worker    B. develop reporting skills and work for a newspaper    C. have the courage to give more oral reports    D. see a doctor about his butterflies   3) Why was Pedro able to give his current events report?    A. He learned to have the courage to speak in front of the class.    B. A butterfly flew into his stomach.    C. He spoke both Spanish and English.    D. He studied newspaper articles and an encyclopedia.   4) How does the author want the reader to think that Pedro feels?    A. bored    B. unhappy    C. shy    D. selfish   5) What could be another title for this story?    A. "Mama Learns Current Events"    B. "Mi hijo Helps Mama"    C. "Pedro and the Migrant Farm Workers"    D. "Pedro Finds Confidence"   Read these sentences from the story. 6) Pedro felt encouraged because of his mama's interest. Standing tall with his head held high, he continued.      What does the word encouraged mean?    A. cheerful    B. confused    C. afraid    D. excited

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	The Gift   Serena watched thoughtfully from her bedroom window as the scarlet leaves of the maple tree fluttered to the ground. Next to the tree stood the swing where she had played every day until she got sick last spring. It had been six months since she had been well enough to play outside.    A shout of laughter drew her attention to the yard next door. By moving as far as she could to one side of her window, she could catch a glimpse of the children next door.    They were playing tag, and from time to time she could see one of them race across the lawn. There were three children in their family. She knew this because she had seen them play, and because her mother had told her after they moved in last month.                                                                                     The smallest one, a little boy, often sat alone in the back yard. "So why doesn't she ever come outside?" Bryce demanded, seeing Serena watching them.  "Mom told you," replied his sister impatiently. "She's been sick, so she can't come out and play." "What's the matter with her?" Bryce asked.    All three of them had tumbled together in a heap because they were exhausted by their dashing around the yard. Tiffany shrugged.    She was eleven years old and not particularly interested in little kids. She was keeping an eye on Bryce and her other little brother, Damon, while their parents were painting their bedrooms.
Page 4        Otherwise, she would have been skating with her new friends. "I don't know," she replied. Bryce knew that what she really meant was "I don't care," so he didn't ask anything else.    Still, he glanced up at Serena's window and raised his hand in a brief wave. It must be hard, he thought, to be stuck in your room when there was so much to do outside.      He knew what it felt like to be left out. At home, he was too young to do the things that Tiffany and Damon could do. At school, he was slow to make friends because he was shy, and also because he was smaller than the other kids.      Serena saw the little boy's wave. Smiling and wishing she could talk with him, she pushed back the curtain a little and returned his wave. That was the beginning of their long-distance friendship.    Serena sat next to her window every day, except when she was resting, making trips to the doctor, or when the visiting teacher came to give her lessons. When she first got sick, her friends would come to see her regularly.    They had grown busier with school, though, so they visited less and less. Bryce, however, was there every day. He had seen her staring at her swing and guessed how much she missed it.    As soon as he came home from school, he would go to her window and wave, and then he would go to her swing and pump his small legs until he got it to go as high as he could.    Serena would laugh and wave to him as he jumped from the still moving swing into a pile of leaves. Since she couldn't actually get outside, then this was the next best thing, she thought.    Bryce stared up at the window and grinned. His brother and sister didn’t understand why he went over there every day, but he knew that Serena expected him, and she would be disappointed if he didn't come.    Knowing he was needed made him feel important. Serena watched as he disappeared into his house and then smiled to herself.    He looked much happier than he had a few weeks ago. Before leaving her window, she glanced back over at the swing. It rocked slowly in the sunshine, a symbol of the gift.     Page 5
	Questions   1) Which is a FACT stated in this passage?    A. Serena misses going to school.    B. Bryce goes to Serena's yard every day.    C. Tiffany and Damon think their little brother is crazy.    D. Bryce is happier at the end of the passage than he is at the beginning.   2) Which of the following is Bryce most likely to do in the future?    A. stop visiting Serena every day after school    B. find new friends to play with    C. continue to visit Serena after school each day    D. give Serena her school lessons   3) This passage takes place during    A. the fall.    B. the spring.    C. the winter.    D. the summer.   4) What is "the gift" mentioned in the title and the last sentence of the passage?    A. the swing    B. friendship    C. a pile of maple leaves    D. the view from Serena's window   5) Which of these is the BEST summary of this story?    A. Serena is ill and unhappy.    B. Bryce makes a new friend.    C. Bryce and Serena are both lonely.    D. Bryce and Serena each make a new friend.   6)  All three of them had tumbled together in a heap because they were exhausted by their dashing around the yard.       What does the word exhausted mean?    A. tired    B. excited    C. frightened    D. pleased
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	Writing: Finding the Main Idea It is important to find main ideas when reading. Main ideas help readers remember important information. The main idea of a paragraph tells the topic of the paragraph. The topic tells what all or most of the sentences are about.   The other sentences in the paragraph are called details. Details describe or explain the main idea.   Read the paragraph and find the main idea.        1) The rain forest is home to many creatures. Monkeys, toucans and macaws live in the rain forest. Blue Morpho      butterflies and anteaters also live in the rain forest. Mark the main idea.    A) Sloths and tapirs are other creatures that live in the rain forest.    B) The rain forest is home to many creatures.    C) Monkeys, toucans and macaws live in the rain forest.   2) Soccer players learn many skills when playing soccer. Soccer players learn how to dribble and pass the ball. They also      learn how to control the ball so they can eventually score. Most importantly, soccer players learn how to work together      with their teammates. Mark the main idea.    A) They also learn how to control the ball so they can eventually score.    B) Soccer players learn how to dribble.    C) Soccer players learn many skills when playing soccer.   3) There are many fun things to do at the beach. Swimming is one thing that can be done at the beach. Snorkeling is      another thing that can be enjoyed. Playing beach volleyball can be a lot of fun. It is also fun to look for shells. Some      people simply like to sunbathe. Mark  the main idea.      A) There are many fun things to do at the beach.    B) It is also fun to look for shells.    C) Some people simply like to sunbathe.   Now, go back to your desk and do one of the following activities.      1. Get a book of your choice. It may be one you’ve already read or would like to read.      Read the book. Choose a paragraph and then find the main idea of that paragraph. Next, copy the paragraph on a sheet of paper. Then, identify the main idea by underlining it or highlighting it with a marker. Finally, make an illustration of the main idea to share. Be creative and have fun!      2. Write your own paragraph about a topic that interests you and illustrate it.    ______________________________________________________________________    ______________________________________________________________________    ______________________________________________________________________    ______________________________________________________________________    ______________________________________________________________________    ______________________________________________________________________
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	Literature: Fact A statement that gives true and verified information about something is known as a fact. Always, a fact is supported by evidence.    Example: The dolphin is a mammal and lives in the ocean.                      They also give live birth to their young.                      Communication can be made for miles apart between other dolphins.   Check the sentences that are displaying facts.    __   1. The ocean is large.    __   2. Cows can fly.    __   3. A tiger can hurt you.    __   4. Medicine can make you feel better.    __   5. Today it is going to rain.    __   6. A dog is part of the canine family.    __   7. Everyone likes ice cream.    __   8. It is nine o' clock.    __   9. A person should eat three healthy meals a day.    __ 10. Friends are important.     Check the sentences that are facts about you.    __   1. I am a dog.    __   2. I am a student.    __   3. I am a girl.    __   4. I am eight years old.    __   5. I am a boy.    __   6. I am healthy.    __   7. I am happy.    __   8. I am nine years old.    __   9. I am smart.    __ 10. I am a doctor.   Write three facts.    1. ________________________________________________________________________________________    2. ________________________________________________________________________________________    3. ________________________________________________________________________________________
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	Opinion Beliefs, judgments, thoughts, or feelings of a person are called opinions. Most of the time an opinion can not be proven or supported with evidence.    Example: In the 1400's some people thought the world was flat and other thought it was round.   Mark f for fact and o for opinion.    __ 1. Charles is not a good friend.    __ 2. Mary is a girl.    __ 3. It is going to rain all day.    __ 4. This place is the best.    __ 5. Everyone likes pizza.   Vocabulary: Synonyms A word that has the same meaning or almost the same meaning is called a synonym.    Example: Happy and glad almost have the same meaning.   Connect the synonyms.    __ 1. scared    __ 2. friend    __ 3. clean    __ 4. upset    __ 5. kids   A. children B. disappointed C. fellow D. frightened E. scrub     Context Clues A shortcut to using your dictionary is to use context clues. Context clues help you figure out the meaning of words. There are four kinds of context clues. - Definition is when the sentence defines the word for you.    Example: A dog is a member of the canine family.   - Example is when the sentence uses an example to define the word.    Example: The place when you put wood and fire is called a fireplace.   - Contrast is when the sentence provides a clue for the meaning of a word by saying what it does not mean.    Example: A puppy is not a full grown dog.   - Inference is when the reader must use reasoning and prior knowledge to define the word.    Example: That was hard and almost impossible.
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	Grammar: The Subject The part of the sentence that tells you who or what the sentence is about is the subject.    Example: Sara likes hot dogs.   Write the subject in the sentences.    _________________ 1. Steve likes to go to the football games.    _________________ 2. Whales are very large mammals.    _________________ 3. The car was about to brake down.    _________________ 4. I am ready to leave for work.    _________________ 5. She is happy with her new puppy.   Create a subject for the sentences.    1. ________________ likes to play golf on the weekends.    2. ________________ is driving to my grandmother's house    3. ________________ walks four miles a day.    4. ________________ is my best friend.    5. ________________ is the most important to me.   The Predicate The part of the sentence that tells you what the subject is, does, or has, or what happened to it.    Example: Steve is going to school.   Circle the predicate in the following sentences.    1. The hill was very steep to climb.    2. My car will be fixed soon.    3. Billy is a strange man today.    4. Rainy days are good for the plants.    5. I am happy to be in school.   Create a predicate to complete the sentences.    1. Sharon _____________________________________________________________________.    2. The man ____________________________________________________________________.    3. My family ____________________________________________________________________.    4. She ________________________________________________________________________.    5. Cats _______________________________________________________________________.
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