READING ELEMENTARY - Ex. 1-13

EXERCISE 1
The Bald Eagle is a majestic bird. The adult bird has a brown body, brown wings, white head, and large, hooked yellow bill. Younger birds appear all brown.

Bald Eagles almost always live near water because their main food source is fish. Sometimes, however, Bald Eagles will eat dead animals (carrion). They will even steal food from other birds such as ospreys and gulls! It was for this reason that the famous Patriot Benjamin Franklin preferred the Wild Turkey as America`s National symbol. Nevertheless, the Bald Eagle remains America`s symbol.

1. Benjamin Franklin thought....
the Wild Turkey was a better choice as America`s symbol than the Bald Eagle.
the Bald Eagle was a fine choice as America`s symbol.
neither the Wild Turkey or Bald Eagle were good choices as America`s symbol.
the Bald Eagle was a better choice as America`s symbol than the Wild Turkey.

2. Why do Bald Eagles usually live near water?
It protects the nest from predators.
Because they steal food.
Bald Eagles like to swim.
Bald Eagles eat fish.

3. What color is the Bald Eagle`s bill?
black
brown
yellow
white

4. The author seemed surprised that....
bald eagles have white heads.
bald eagles steal food from other birds.
bald eagles eat fish.
the bald eagle is America`s symbol.

5. How are younger Bald Eagles different from adult Bald Eagles?
They are totally brown.
They have black bills.
They are smaller.
They have lighter bodies.


EXERCISE 2
Banks are places where people can keep their money. Most people use banks to save money in their savings accounts and to pay money from their checking accounts. Today, when a person earns money from their job, their paycheck is often electronically deposited (put) into their savings or checking account. Then, he or she can pay their bills by writing checks from their checking accounts or pay online where their bills are electronically connected to their bank accounts.

Banks also give loans to people. Banks use the money that their customers deposit to lend to people to buy new houses, cars, or to start businesses among other reasons. The bank makes money from lending by charging interest. In other words, people have to pay back more than they borrowed. This amount depends on how risky the bank thinks the borrower is and how fast the loan is paid back among other things.

1. How does "interest" work?
Banks require people to pay back money they borrowed very quickly.
Banks require people to pay back more money than they borrowed.
Banks pay people more money than they borrowed.
Banks require people to pay back the same amount they borrowed.
2. How do banks make money?
Electronically
Saving their customers deposits
Charging interest to those they lend to
By having a lot of accounts

3. What do banks NOT do?
lend money to people
provide a place for people to save their money
help people get jobs
provide a place where people can pay their bills from
4. What do banks NOT do?
Allow people to pay bills online from their accounts
Charge interest
Tax people
Give loans
5. How much "interest" do borrowers have to pay?
The story doesn`t say.
Most borrowers don`t have to pay interest.
It depends on a lot of things.
Everyone pays the same amount of interest.

EXERCISE 3
Money is what you use to buy things. You may earn money from completing household chores, getting good grades, for your allowance, or for losing a tooth! Money is very important in our world and comes in many different forms.

People have been using money for hundreds of years. Before money gave specific values for things, people simply traded items. In the United States, we use the dollar as our currency or money, but people in different parts of the world use different currencies, though some countries also use or accept our dollars.

People earn money from the jobs they work and use that money to save for the future or pay for their houses, cars, good, taxes, medical needs, and household items, among other things.” Even things such as turning the lights on, using the air conditioning or heat, and connecting to the internet cost money.

1. How long have people used money?
Since the beginning of time
Hundreds of years
They started recently
Thousands of years
2. The dollar .....
is never used in other countries.
is used in the United States.
is used in every country in the world.
is not used very much in the United States.
3. What did people do before there was money?
People traded to get what they needed
The story doesn`t tell
They just never got what they needed
They made everything themselves

4. According to the author of this story, money is ____________.
only earned by adults
not very important
only used in America
very important
5. Select all of the things that money might be used for.
to save for the future
to buy things
to pay bills
to pay you for doing your chores


EXERCISE 4
Hummingbirds are amazing little birds. They are the smallest of all birds and weigh less than even a penny. The Bee Hummingbird, at barely more than two inches long, is the smallest bird in the world!

Unlike most birds, hummingbirds have iridescent feathers. Iridescent feathers glitter and shine in the sun. Hummingbirds are often dazzling combinations of greens and reds or greens and blues. Others are violet, orange, golden, silver or other combinations only Mother Nature could dream up. All hummingbirds have long bills to insert into flowers. Some hummingbirds have special bills to fit in specific flowers. Hummingbirds are the only birds that can fly backwards.

Hummingbirds are also unique among bird species in that they drink nectar from flowers. You can attract hummingbirds to your yard with special feeders that are filled with sugar water. These feeders are usually bright red in color because hummingbirds are attracted to red.
1. Hummingbirds eat ___________.
berries
flower nectar
insects
the story doesn`t say
2. What color are most hummingbird feeders?
golden
red
white
green

3. To attract hummingbirds to your yard, put up feeders with _____________________ in them.
seeds
flowers
berries
sugar water
4. Compared to other birds, hummingbirds are _________.
lighter
about the same size
larger
heavier

EXERCISE 5
Green is a beautiful color! In nature, the grass that you walk on is green and the leaves that you see on trees are usually green. Most of the plants that you see are green, too! Frogs are green and many grasshoppers are green, too. Turtles are different shades of green.

Did you know that you can make green paint by mixing blue and yellow? Because you can make green by mixing two primary colors, it is called a secondary color. Green is also the name used to describe the movement to make products that do not harm the Earth. Green products are often those made from recycled materials or those that are safe to throw out in the trash.

1. Which of the following might be an example of a green product?
a plastic bottle that can be recycled
a big truck
a frog
a plastic bottle that can not be recycled
2. According to the reading, which is green?
A frog
A mushroom
A bat
A primary color

3. Green is...
a primary color
a type of kite
a secondary color
a kind of plant
4. Turtles are...
different shades of green
green products
not found in nature
not green
5. What is a green product?
One that is safe for Earth
One that is fun
One that is mixed together
One that is made from grass


EXERCISE 6
The United States is a large country. It is the third largest in the whole world! It is located in a continent called North America. Parts of the United States touch three different oceans. The United States has tall mountains, wide plains, deserts, hills, rivers, lakes, volcanoes, and even rainforests! People from all over the world have come to live in the United States.

There are 50 states in the United States. The newest states, Alaska and Hawaii, are not connected to the other states. Alaska is the largest state and Hawaii is a chain of islands in the Pacific Ocean.

1. The United States does not have...
mountains
volcanoes
50 states
continents
2. What continent is the United States in?
___________________________

3. Alaska is ___________ and Hawaii is ___________
not connected to the other states; the largest state.
not connected to the other states; a chain of islands
the largest state; a chain of islands
a chain of islands; the largest state

4. The United States is the _____________ country in the world.
smallest
largest
second largest
third largest
5. Parts of the United States touch _______ different oceans.
1
4
2
3



EXERCISE 7
The magnificent Redwood trees are some of the largest trees in the world! They are found mostly in northern California where cool temperatures, misty rains, and dense fog allow them to grow.

Redwood Trees can live thousands of years. The oldest of these trees can grow to over 300 feet tall. Some rise higher than the Statue of Liberty! A few are so wide that roads can be built through them.

Redwoods trees are preserved in California`s Redwood National Park. Every year, nearly a million visitors come to see the giant trees. Others just like to drive along the 33-mile long Avenue of the Giants, a road that winds through the park and surrounding areas.

1. Redwood trees grow...
where it is hot and dry.
everywhere in the United States.
where it is cool and misty.
where it is icy cold.
2. The author seems...
to not know that much about the trees.
bored by the Redwood trees.
impressed with the Redwood trees.
to think Redwoods can grow anywhere.
3. _________ Redwood Trees can grow to over 300 feet tall.
One or two
No
All
Old
4. Redwood trees can...
live a very long time.
live without water.
stop growing at 100 feet tall.
live about as long as a person.
5. How many people come to Redwood National Park?
a few
no one knows
almost a million
a couple of hundred



EXERCISE 8
Penguins are among the most popular of all birds. They only live in and around the South Pole and the continent of Antarctica. No wild p