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: 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.