Selection: HiE-13

HiE-13

Grade level: 5

Word count: 1724 words

Author: Mike Buchanan and Diane Lang

Synopsis: The Megalodon was the biggest and fiercest shark that ever lived. It could easily swallow a great white shark whole!

Excerpt: So far, his plastic bag held fossil horse teeth, whale ear bones, and shark teeth. But these were fairly common finds. He would probably give what he had found so far to the science teachers at the local school.

As he thinks about all this, he suddenly feels the presence of another animal. And unlike the dead bones he had found, this animal is very much alive. His light shines on the particles of dirt in the water as he turns the beam to his left. Then he sees it -- a gray object floating just above the bottom of the river, and only an arm's length away. It is a giant catfish. It's at least four feet long, and its whiskers are curled back by the strong current. He is even with the creature's eye and they lock vision. In a flash, the catfish swims away.

The sudden movement of the catfish sends mud and sand rushing away from the river's bottom. It also sends his heart racing. As the bottom clears and he calms down, that's when he sees it. It's a gray and black tooth, shaped like a triangle and lying flat against the sand, uncovered by the rushing catfish. But this is no ordinary tooth. Unlike the other teeth he has found, this one is as big as his hand. He runs his finger over the smooth, raised surface. It has to be at least four or five pounds.

A tooth like this can come from only one creature: the largest and most deadly shark that ever lived. "Yes!" the diver thinks. "It's a giant Megalodon tooth!"

Question: This selection begins with a diver in the water. Put these events in order from first to last.

1. The diver has a plastic bag with fossil horse teeth, whale ear bones, and shark teeth in it.
2. The diver feels the presence of another animal.
3. The sudden movement of a giant catfish clears away mud and sand at the bottom of the river.
4. The diver finds a giant Megalodon tooth.

Selection: E-31

E-31

Grade level: 5

Word count: 1655 words

Author: Adapted from a story by Horace E. Scudder.

Synopsis: This classic legend tells about Dutch sailors who must spend eternity sailing the ocean.

Excerpt: Now, while they were talking, the man at the ship's wheel listened. This was not a man of good character. As he heard of the bags of gold Otto was transporting home, his evil heart began to desire the gold. As he steered the ship, and later when his shift was over, he thought and thought about how he could get that gold. He knew it would be impossible for him alone to seize it. So he whispered about it to one and another and another of the sailors on the ship.

The crew included not one man who had a good and decent character. Every member of that crew had committed some crime at one time or another. When the sailor told them of the gold on board, they were ready for anything. They did not fear or respect the authority of the captain.

Question: Read this excerpt from the selection. Which two of the following statements best summarize the author's description of the crew of The Flying Dutchman?

1. The crew members were willing to defy the captain's orders to get what they wanted.
2. The crew members were all criminals.
3. The crew members were all loyal to the captain.
4. The crew members were all loyal to Otto.
5. The crew members had all worked with one another on The Flying Dutchman for many years.