Reading Gains Form 1, sections 3 & 4 - beginning of the year for ELD III (12/3/2025)

Directions:
Read the paragraph and complete the statement.

Bison are one of the most dangerous animals encountered by tourists to the American West. From a distance, or when looking at pictures, bison seem like nothing more than oversized cows. But weighing in at up to 2,000 pounds, they can be a threat. Their seemingly lethargic movements can be coupled with amazing physical feats. A bison can jump six feet in the air. It can run up to 35 miles per hour. Considering their size, bison are amazingly agile. Other than humans, they have no serious predators. While bison would rather graze, they will attack if provoked.

Directions:
Read the paragraph and complete the statement.

We've all heard of theme parks such as Disneyworld and Six Flags. Now there is a new park to add to the list: Dickens World. The park opened in the spring of 2007 in England. It is modeled on the world described in the books of Charles Dickens, who wrote stories about the struggles of living in 19th-century England. His novels often featured colorful characters, from miserly businessmen to scrappy orphans. The theme park includes replicas of old London streets with people dressed as beggars and pickpockets.

Directions:
Read the paragraph and complete the statement.

The Amur leopard is a large cat that lives in eastern Russia, northeastern China, and on the Korean peninsula. Unlike other leopards, the Amur has long legs and long fur. These traits help it survive in the thick snow and bitter cold of its regions. But those traits cannot protect it from people. Hunting of the leopard, and the destruction of its habitat, has nearly wiped the animal out. Scientists estimate that only about thirty Amur leopards remain. If governments do not intervene, experts say, the animal will likely become extinct.

Directions:
Read the paragraph and complete the statement.

Karen watched as her pitcher tumbled to the ground, sending clay shards across the hard tile floor. Instantly her eyes swelled with tears as she thought about how long it had taken her to make it. She didn't immediately hear Bobby, or notice him as he gathered the pieces. “I didn't see you there,” he stammered, his hands trembling as he reached for another piece of the pitcher. He tried to put two of the pieces together, and could see that they fit, but they wouldn't stay together. “Perhaps I could glue it back together,” he suggested desperately, knowing that it wouldn't work.

Directions:
Read the paragraph and complete the statement.

The Boston Marathon is the most heralded marathon in the United States. Many consider it to be the world's premier road race due to its longevity, difficulty, and qualification requirement. First run in 1897, it is the world's oldest annual marathon. The marathon's course, 26.2 miles long, begins in Hopkinton and ends in downtown Boston. It is famous for its hilly terrain, and it is susceptible to unpredictable weather. One of its most strenuous hills is even called Heartbreak Hill. In order to participate in the Boston Marathon, a runner must complete another marathon in a designated qualifying time. Many believe that just qualifying for the Boston Marathon is an achievement in itself.

Directions:
Read the passage about fixing things. Complete the statement with the word for each question number.

    Fixing things can be very satisfying. Every day we depend upon things such as household appliances, computers, electronic gadgets, bicycles, and automobiles. These things often make our lives easier. When they break, what was once convenient becomes a problem. We can pay to replace broken items, or we might want to hire someone else to fix the broken item for us. However, fixing things ourselves saves money and provides a wonderful sense of accomplishment. There are ____6____ to repairing things yourself.

    Fixing an item often involves taking it apart first. Taking things apart in an orderly fashion can make a repair job go more smoothly. There are a few steps to follow when dismantling an object for repair. These steps work whether the item under repair is a toaster, a desktop computer, or a sports car. These steps can be ____7____ to many tasks.

    The first step is to place a clean rag on a flat surface near your workspace. A lint-free rag is best. As you remove a part from your appliance or vehicle, place it on the rag. As you do so, mentally note the purpose of the part. Also note how it was attached. If you feel that you need help remembering, you can make written notes. You can even put the note with the part to keep track of it. It is useful to remove items with the ____8____ of putting them back.

    As you remove parts, place them in clockwise order on the rag. Point them in the same direction in which they will be replaced. Doing this makes reassembly simple and easy. Their position ____9____how they will be replaced.

    Once you reach the broken part, you will be able to replace it and then reassemble the item simply by replacing parts in counter-clockwise order. Your item will be as good as new, and you will have the satisfaction of having fixed it. You will have a(n) ____10____ .

Directions:
Read the passage about Elise and Donna. Complete the statement with the word for each question number.

    Elise still didn't have a birthday gift for her best friend and time was running short. Months ago, she had started thinking about what kind of a present Donna might like. Elise jotted down ideas in the margins of her notebook but then quickly crossed them out. She wanted to give the perfect gift, but what was it? Elise ____11____ the gift.

    Last year, Donna had helped Elise through a difficult stretch of months. Elise had broken a leg in four places in a car accident that happened the first week of school, and she had been restricted to bed during most of her recovery. Almost every afternoon, Donna came by to give Elise her homework, and to catch Elise up on what was going on at school with all their friends. Donna would sit on the end of the bed and they would play cards and laugh. She even brought potted plants for Elise's windowsill and watered them each day. It was the best part of Elise's day. Donna had been ____12____.

    Now Elise wanted to express her gratitude through Donna's birthday gift, but she was finding the choice to be challenging. Elise wanted to ____13____ Donna. Elise couldn't afford an MP3 player or a new bicycle, both of which she knew Donna wanted. Anything bought from a store seemed cold and impersonal to Elise's mind, anyway. She considered giving Donna the unabridged dictionary from Elise's desk, as Donna was always looking up words in it, but she didn't want to let it go because it had belonged to her father. She was ____14___ to give up the dictionary.

    Thinking of the dictionary gave Elise a good idea. She would write a book for Donna, and use a bunch of obscure words from the dictionary in the story. Then they could read it together and Donna could look up all the words as they read. It would be the perfect way to thank her for her friendship. Elise closed her eyes and flipped open the dictionary. She put her finger down in the middle of a page. The word “convalescent” would be in her first sentence. Elise's present was ____15____.

Directions:
Read the passage about container gardening. Complete the statement with the word for each question number.

    When someone mentions a garden, what often comes to mind is a large plot of land filled with vegetables, flowers, bees, and butterflies. But not all gardens need to be large to be beautiful or useful. City dwellers, apartment owners, or residents of densely developed neighborhoods often don't have access to land for gardening. Container gardens can be the perfect solution for a lack of wide-open spaces. They are an attractive ____16____ .

    The most common container garden is the hanging basket. Often these baskets hold a variety of flowers or other greenery to add a splash of color to a front porch or a back deck. These containers are usually planted for their visual appeal and vibrant colors. Certain plants are used to attract birds or bees, while others are chosen simply for their blooming hues or fragrance. Colors and scents ____17____ a garden.

    A kitchen window can house a different type of garden—the container herb garden. Chefs often have potted herbs right at their fingertips to add while preparing tasty dishes. Rosemary, thyme, and sage are examples of culinary herbs. Basil, parsley, and oregano can also be found in herb gardens. If there isn't a kitchen window available, these herbs also grow well in pots on porches and decks. Herb gardens can be ____18____.

    When considering a container garden, a traditional terra cotta pot isn't the only option for planting. Basically anything—a colorful bowl, metal watering can, or even an old shoe—can be used to contain the plants. Open-wire baskets can also be used if moss or fiber liners are added before planting. Sometimes the container can be a beautiful part of the garden arrangement. Grouped containers can also make a bigger visual impact. There are many ____19____ of the typical pot.

    Creating a small container garden can appeal to the eye like a painting does. The container becomes the canvas and the paints are the varied shades of the flowers and leaves. The only real limitation is a person's imagination. Making a garden just takes ____20____ .

Directions:
Read the paragraph and complete the statement.

The island of Murano is located off the coast of Venice, Italy. It is known for its glassmaking. People have been making glass on the island for centuries. Murano became a glassmaking center in 1291 when Venice's glassmakers were ordered to live on the island. The people of Venice feared that the glass foundries could catch fire and cause the mostly wooden buildings of Venice to burn down. Glassmakers soon achieved a special social status on Murano because they possessed a valued skill. The craftsmen held onto their glassmaking monopoly for centuries.

Directions:
Read the paragraph and complete the statement.

Dale knew he needed to get to school, but didn't finish putting his shoes on. He knew he should be excited for the field trip. His class was going to the zoo, and though Dale had been before with his parents, he was nervous. There were a million things that could go wrong and as he sat there, he imagined them. He could be left behind, or lost, or eaten by a tiger that had escaped, or stepped on by an elephant. Although he knew none of these things was going to happen, he still didn't finish putting on his shoes.

Directions:
Read the paragraph and complete the statement.

The Mammoth Cave System is the longest cave system in the world. Located in central Kentucky, the cave is known to contain over 367 miles of passageways. That distance grows every year as new areas of the cave are discovered. Mammoth Cave National Park contains some of Mammoth Cave although parts of the cave system extend beyond the park. It is assumed that many more miles of cave passages exist but have yet to be mapped. There are two other large cave systems nearby. If connections are ever found between the other caves and Mammoth Cave, the total system would exceed over 500 known miles.

Directions:
Read the paragraph and complete the statement.

Joan Miró has been heralded by many as a great surrealist artist; he never became an official member of the Surrealists but maintained a fluctuating connection with the movement. He pursued his own diverse interests in the art world and investigated different artistic styles. As a painter, sculptor, and ceramist, Miró employed various mediums while developing his experimental style and rejecting conventional techniques. He investigated lithography in his paintings and incorporated found objects into his sculptures. His paintings are characterized by organic forms, strong lines, and bold colors.

Directions:
Read the paragraph and complete the statement.

Underwater earthquakes, which occur on the ocean floor, can transform the land in dramatic and devastating ways. The earthquakes can cause giant ocean waves, resulting in environmental destruction. In April 2007, an earthquake occurred in the South Pacific Ocean that lifted one small island about ten feet out of the ocean. The quake also revealed a boat that may have been sunk during World War II. Sadly many of the coral reefs that circle the island were left exposed to the sun, which killed them and displaced the marine life that lived in them.

Directions:
Directions:
Read the passage about Noah. Complete the statement with the word for each question number.

    It was Noah's first season on the men's swim team. He was a strong swimmer and had already earned a spot as the anchor in the 500-meter relay. Thanks to Noah's performance, the team was having one of its best years ever. If they maintained their record of wins, they would be in an excellent position to take the regionals and advance to the state finals. They needed to ____26____ their success.

    As the season progressed, everyone on the team worked extra hard to make sure they would have a winning season. They encouraged and supported each other at all the swim meets. Everyone on the swim team was ecstatic when they won at the regionals, but now they had to get ready for the state meet. The team was going to face some of its toughest opponents of the season. The coach of one of the other teams had been an Olympic swimmer and his team had been turning in record-breaking times all season long. The other team swam ___27___ .

    The members of Noah's team voted unanimously to hold two practices a day for the entire week leading up to the state meet. They were determined to do everything they could to win. If they didn't win, at least it wouldn't be for lack of trying. They wanted to be ready for the ___28___.

    Noah was running late for the last practice before the finals. When he got to the pool, he was shocked by what he saw. As he walked around the corner of the lockers, Noah saw the coach running a pair of electric clippers over the head of one of his teammates. Noah watched as the hair fell to the floor and was surprised at the size of the piles of hair he saw there. He knew they were shaving their heads to eliminate drag in the water and possibly bring on some good luck. It was ___29___ to shave their heads.

    “You're the last one, Noah,” the coach said. As much as he liked his hair, Noah wasn't about to let the team down. “Let's do it,” Noah said. “I feel a win coming on.” He felt they might be ___30___.

Directions:
Read the passage about Ruby's Earth Day. Complete the statement with the word for each question number.

    Every year, Ruby and her mother took Earth Day very seriously. The Saturday before Earth Day was usually spent planting the garden. Ruby collected long, straight tree branches in order to construct a tepee-shaped trellis for the bean plants to climb. This year she was going to bury a soaker hose in the garden bed. This hose dribbles water out along its entire length, delivering water directly to the roots of all the vegetables. Ruby and her mother were ____31____ about Earth Day.

    As another regular Earth Day practice, Ruby's mother always organized a neighborhood cleanup project. This year several families were teaming up at the largest city park to don gloves and fill trash bags with the litter that had accumulated there. Another family had made a colorful birdhouse, which they were going to install at the top of a post in the park. Ruby's mother had even convinced the local newspaper to send a reporter and photographer to cover the event. People were ____32____ on Earth Day.

    Ruby started at the picnic area. Picnickers had, for the most part, thrown their trash in a couple of large, open drums by the tables, but the bottoms of the drums had rusted out and collapsed. Ruby also found a lot of broken bottle glass, which she cautiously collected in a bag of its own for recycling. Ruby ____33____ the glass.

    Her mother came over to check on her, and she looked into Ruby's bags. “It's too bad they don't recycle broken glass, isn't it?” she sighed. Ruby realized it would be a shame to throw it in the landfill. The sun shone upon the shards and dazzled her with the different colors and reflections. It was ____34____ . This gave Ruby an idea. She brought the glass home, washed it, and fastened the pieces to the light fixture in the ceiling of her room with superglue. Ruby flipped on the light when the glue was dry and admired the stained-glass effect. From the doorway her mother said, “If you have some glass left over, why don't you do that to all the lights in the house?” Ruby made the glass ____35____ .

Directions:
Read the passage about Benjamin Franklin. Complete the statement with the word for each question number.

    When it comes to influential early Americans, one of the most famous is Benjamin Franklin. Born in 1706, he accomplished many important things in his life. Among his many roles, Benjamin Franklin was an author, politician, publisher, musical composer, scientist, diplomat, inventor, and civic activist. He had many ____36____ .

    When people think of Benjamin Franklin, many remember learning about his early experiments with electricity. Although most historians and scientists agree that Benjamin Franklin's famous experiment of flying a kite with a key in a thunderstorm didn't occur as it is popularly described, his discovery was very important. It led to Franklin's invention of the lightning rod, which protects homes from lightning strikes by diverting electricity to the ground. His discovery was a ____37____ .

    Benjamin Franklin's genius wasn't confined to his scientific discoveries. He is also credited with creating the first volunteer firefighting company in the United States. He invented bifocal glasses and a kind of wood-burning stove that is named after him. Although Franklin invented many things in his lifetime, he refused to patent them and, instead, freely offered his ideas to humanity in hopes of improving people's lives. His inventions were ____38____ .

    In addition to his many discoveries and inventions, Benjamin Franklin made a name for himself as a diplomat, politician, and public servant. He was one of the authors of the Declaration of Independence and served as the ambassador to France from 1776 to 1785. In that role he was instrumental in securing France's support of America's fight against the British in the Revolutionary War. He was an ____39____ for his country.

    Following the end of the war and his return to the United States, Franklin devoted much time and attention to promoting the abolition of slavery. He wrote several essays on the subject, arguing that African Americans should be integrated into American society. When Benjamin Franklin died, he left behind a legacy of accomplishment that helped to shape the future of the United States. He is ____40____.