Selection: B-68

B-68

Grade level: 2

Word count: 1004 words

Author: R. Bender

Synopsis: While walking around her house, Kayla discovers that people need to use math all the time.

Excerpt: Kayla sighed. "Dad, why do I need to learn math? No one uses math outside of school."

Question: Read this part from the selection. Why did the author use the word "sighed" in this part?

1. to show that Kayla is upset
2. to prove that Kayla is happy
3. to explain why Kayla likes math
4. to demonstrate that Kayla is afraid

Selection: HiB-52

HiB-52

Grade level: 2

Word count: 1105 words

Author: Herodotus

Synopsis: Croesus was a powerful king. Solon was a wise man. One day, Croesus asked Solon, "Who is the happiest man?" Solon's answer is not what Croesus thought it would be.

Excerpt: King Croesus had everything that could make him happy. He had lands and houses and servants. He had fine clothes to wear and beautiful things to look at. He could not think of anything that he needed. "I am the happiest man in the world," he decided.

Many years passed. King Croesus was much older and much richer. At that time, another king rose to power in Asia. His name was Cyrus. Cyrus was the head of a great army. He marched through one country after another. He took over many a rich and old kingdom. Croesus, with all his wealth, could not defeat the mighty Cyrus. King Croesus' city was taken. His great palace was burned. His gardens and stables were destroyed. His many fine things were carried away, and he himself was thrown into prison.

Question: Read this excerpt. The change in the Croesus' mood from the first paragraph to the second can best be described as moving from

1. happy to sad.
2. weak to strong.
3. interested to bored.
4. lonely to joyful.

Selection: B-52

B-52

Grade level: 2

Word count: 1249 words

Author: R. Bender

Synopsis: This old story teaches a lesson about listening to good advice.

Excerpt: They boy had never seen the bear look so nice. "Where are you going?" the boy asked.

"Don't go! Don't go!" cried the boy. "If you do you will never come back! You have the most beautiful fur in the world. It is the kind of fur that people want to use as a rug. The people at the wedding will be sure to harm you and take your fur."

"Where are you going?" the boy asked the wolf.

"Don't go!" said the boy again. "Your fur is so thick and warm. Winter is not far off now. The people at the wedding will harm you. They will take your fur."

Next the boy met the fox.

"You look very fine!" said the boy. "Are you going to the farmer's wedding?"

"You poor fellow," said the boy. "Take my advice. Stay at home. The farmer's dogs will tear you to pieces. They will be harming you to get your fur."

Question: In what way are the bear, the fox, and the wolf alike?

1. They all are in danger of being harmed by the people at the wedding.
2. They all change their minds about going to the wedding after talking with the boy.
3. They all got up early to brush their fur before the wedding.
4. They all met the boy for the first time when they went to the wedding.
5. They all decided to ignore the boy's advice and go to the wedding.

Selection: B-21

B-21

Grade level: 2

Word count: 1150 words

Author: Amie Leavitt

Synopsis: Sister volcanoes: twice the fun, and twice the danger.

Excerpt: Native American groups said the mountain was a sacred place. They did not climb to the top. They were afraid that doing so might upset their gods.

Question: Native Americans did not climb to the top of Mount Rainier because

1. they thought it might make the gods angry.
2. English settlers were living at the top.
3. they thought the mountain was too small to climb.
4. the mountain constantly erupted with lava.

Selection: HiB-6

HiB-6

Grade level: 2

Word count: 1143 words

Author: Kate Carter

Synopsis: When you adopt a pet from a shelter, you can do a world of good.

Excerpt: Puppy mills became big business. They "make" and sell puppies the way other mills make and sell cotton or flour.

But the trouble is, dogs are not cotton or flour. They're living, breathing creatures. Puppy mill owners care about making money. They don't care about dogs' well being.

Question: In this excerpt, why does the author say that dogs "are not cotton or flour"?

1. She is pointing out that dogs shouldn't be treated like nonliving things.
2. She is afraid readers won't know the difference between dogs and cotton or flour.
3. She thinks it's more important for mills to make and sell cotton and flour.
4. She believes that cotton and flour can be useful to dogs.

Selection: B-6

B-6

Grade level: 2

Word count: 787 words

Author: Susan Hughes

Synopsis: The tiger is a beautiful animal but it is in great danger. We need to help the tiger before it is too late.

Excerpt: In fact, there are more of the big cats at the zoo than in the wild. In 1995, there were about 5,000 wild tigers. Now there are only about 3,200 wild tigers. That's very sad.

Question: Read this part from the selection. What does it tell you about the author of this selection?

1. The author is a person who wants to protect tigers.
2. The author is a person who thinks governments should do less to help tigers.
3. The author is a person who does not care what happens to tigers.
4. The author is a person who has seen many tigers in person.

Selection: B-28

B-28

Grade level: 2

Word count: 1112 words

Author: Michael H. Levitt

Synopsis: A son remembers his favorite trip to Mount Rushmore.

Excerpt: My dad took my older brother James and me camping every summer. We would pack our sleeping bags in our dad's car. We would go to all different parts of the country.

That night at camp we sat around the fire. Dad began to speak. "James, you were right when you said those men were four of our greatest presidents. But they were very good at many different things. Each of them was something other than a president."

Now I take my own kids to see the faces carved in the stone. My children look up at the huge faces in the mountain. I like to tell them the stories about the men who were great presidents. I tell them that these great men were once young children too. These great men had started as young kids with dreams, just like them.

Question: Based on what you read, in which two of the following ways are the author of this selection and his father alike?

1. Both took their children to places to learn about history.
2. Both believed it was important to teach their children about the presidents.
3. Both served as president of the United States.
4. Both helped carve Mount Rushmore.
5. Both thought Jefferson was the greatest president.