Selection: B-27

B-27

Grade level: 2

Word count: 1052 words

Author: Susan Hughes

Synopsis: Leonardo da Vinci. The most talented person of all time? Probably.

Excerpt: When Leonardo was in his 20s, he started his own art studio. He began to design costumes and create projects for festivals and parades.

In his 30s, Leonardo started to work in a whole new area. He went to the city of Milan in Italy. He offered to help design and build weapons.

Later in his life, Leonardo moved from Italy to France. In France he decided to finish a painting he had begun years before. The painting is called the "Mona Lisa."

Question: Put these events from Leonardo's life in the order in which they occurred, from first to last.

1. Leonardo started his own art studio.
2. Leonardo went to Milan, Italy.
3. Leonardo moved to Paris, France.
4. Leonardo completed the "Mona Lisa."

Selection: B-18

B-18

Grade level: 2

Word count: 1107 words

Author: R. Bender

Synopsis: It would be impossible to live without plants. They are very important to our lives. From breathing to eating to brushing our teeth, we use plants throughout the day.

Excerpt: Water moves from the roots of a plant to its leaves. When the water reaches the leaves, it changes into a vapor. You cannot see this vapor but it gets into the air. That water vapor joins with other vapor in the sky. It all comes together to make a cloud. Groups of clouds come together and we get rain. The rain falls to the ground.

Question: According to this selection, which of the following is true about plants?

1. Plants have a role in the creation of rain water.
2. Plants are not important for the environment.
3. Plant pieces are found in most clouds.
4. Plants can survive if their roots are cut off.

Selection: B-15

B-15

Grade level: 2

Word count: 1069 words

Author: Kate Carter

Synopsis: How to make your school environmentally friendly, one step at a time.

Excerpt: Now that we're outside, let's talk about the best thing you can do to help your school go green. Have a Walk Ride Day each month. That's a day when students, parents, teachers--everyone--agrees to walk, ride a bike, take a bus or subway, or share a ride to school. This is a win for everyone. You get exercise and have fun. Your school's neighborhood gets cleaner air.

Question: How does sharing a ride to school help the environment?

1. You will use only one car, so you save gas and cause less pollution.
2. While you ride to school, you can talk to your friends.
3. Riding in a car is faster than walking or riding a bike, so you will arrive at school earlier.
4. Riding in a car means you can do your homework on the way to school.

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.