Story Reading 230 1-1
"Mattie, let's go up into the attic," said Merrill. P
Mattie and Merrill climbed the creaky stairs. P
"Be careful. We might fall," said Mattie. P
There was a very old trunk in the attic. P
It was covered in dust. P
Mattie opened it and took out a very old-fashioned hat. P
Next to it was a picture of a little girl. P
She dusted both the hat and picture off. P
"Who is that? I've never seen her before," said Merrill. P
"Look at her carefully. Doesn't she look like you?" Mattie asked Merrill. P
"No, she looks like Mom!" Merrill shouted. P
They took the picture and hat downstairs. P
"Is this you, Mom?" asked Merrill. P
"No, it's not me," their mom answered. P
"Look at that lovely smile. P
Look how beautiful her eyes are. P
We look alike. Now, do you know who she is?" P
"Grandma?" Merrill and Mattie shouted in chorus. P
"Yes. This hat was your grandma's. P
She gave it to me 20 years ago, but I never wore it," their mom said. P
"It's a beautiful hat, Mom," Mattie said. P
"Now it belongs to both of you," their mom responded. P
"You two deserve to have it." P
"Thank you, Mom," the girls said. P
"You're both welcome. I'll have it cleaned tomorrow," their mom said. P
They looked forward to wearing their "new" old hat. P
Story Reading 230 1-2
What do you collect? P
Do you collect comic books or baseball cards? P
How old are they? They might be worth more than 1 million dollars. P
Some collectors get rich, if they get lucky. P
Some often become experts on their collection. P
Alex Lee is known as Dr. Comics. P
"I'm a big fan of Batman," he says. P
Alex is only 14. His brother Andy is 11. P
Together, they have collected over 1,000 comic books in just 2 years. P
"My most valuable comic book is worth $750.00," says Alex. P
Another young collector, Joshua Greene, is 13. P
He likes photography, so he collects cameras. P
He has nearly 30 of them. P
His favorites are instant cameras from the 1970s and 80s. P
He visits garage sales to find old, yet good cameras. P
One day, his cameras might be worth millions of dollars as well. P
What things can you collect that could be worth a lot some day? P
How about coins or stamps? P
Think of something you can make a collector's item. P
If you cannot find valuable things now, don't worry. P
Start by collecting the things you like. P
They can be old dolls, books, stuffed animals, or rocks. P
Collect them long enough, and they might become valuable. P
All you need is a little patience. P
Story Reading 230 1-3
Steven and Mary are best friends. P
They live next door to each other. P
Yesterday they were talking in the classroom when Mr. Jones, their teacher, came in. P
"Please put away all your books. You are going to have a pop-quiz," he said. P
Steven's jaw dropped in surprise. P
The students whispered to one another. P
Mr. Jones handed out quizzes. P
When Steven got his, he was nervous. His heart raced. P
"There will be no talking and no cheating," Mr. Jones said. P
"You have only 20 minutes. Begin…now!" P
Steven read the first question. P
It seemed extremely difficult. P
He began to sweat. The room felt hot suddenly. P
He looked around the classroom. P
All the other students were writing. P
Steven looked at Mary. She smiled at him. P
He returned her smile. He looked at the second question. P
It didn't seem difficult. All the others were easy. P
He looked at the first question again, and it wasn't difficult anymore. P
With five minutes left, Steven went over his answers. P
He found an error and corrected it. P
Then the bell rang. Time was up. P
Everyone submitted their quizzes and left. P
"That was horrible!" said Mary. "I hate pop-quizzes." P
"Me, too! But anyway, I'm glad it's over," replied Steven. P
"Let's have lunch…my treat!" P
Story Reading 230 1-4
1. Tina bounced a ball 7 times. P
May bounced the same ball 5 times. P
How many more times did Tina bounce the ball? P
2. A chef put 12 eggs in a basket. P
He took 3 and put them in the fridge. P
Later, he put another 3 in the fridge. P
How many eggs are left in the basket? P
3. Tess invited 12 friends to her birthday party. P
3 friends got sick and couldn't come to the party. P
How many friends came to the party? P
4. Sylvie has a die. P
4 sides of the die are orange. 2 are green. P
Which of the two colors will the die most likely land on if she rolls the die? P
5. The Thompson Gallery has 621 photographs. P
The same number of photographs is displayed in 3 different rooms. P
How many are displayed in each room? P
Jeremy got his test paper back. P
He scored very poorly on it. P
He knew he was not good at math. P
He felt very sad because he did not know what to do. P
Jeremy was supposed to meet with Miss Gordon, his teacher. P
He was very nervous. P
He knocked on the door of Miss Gordon's office. P
Miss Gordon was happy to see him. P
She handed him a CD entitled Math Games. P
Then, she told him that this video game would help him enjoy math. P
Jeremy thanked her and left her office. P
He loved video games. P
He thought this would be a good way to like math. P
Story Reading 230 1-5
Jonathan lives in Florida with his parents. P
His best friend, Suzie, is a dog. P
Suzie is with Jonathan almost all the time. P
Jonathan was born with weak eyes and ears. P
He can't walk very well. P
He wears a hearing aid. P
Suzie is specially trained to help him get around. P
She is always side by side with Jonathan. P
Before Jonathan met Suzie, he had no friends. P
He didn't have any siblings. P
He could not go outside by himself because he always needed help. P
He was always very lonely. P
Jonathan got Suzie on his fifth birthday. P
He patted her on the back and Suzie wagged her tail. P
Soon, they became best friends. P
Since that first meeting, Suzie has always helped Jonathan. P
They go everywhere together. P
When they go to school, Suzie opens the door for him. P
She also carries his backpack. P
If Jonathan falls, she helps him stand up. P
She is trained to be quiet and still at the right times. P
At school, Suzie rests under Jonathan's desk until it's time to go home. P
She takes instructions only from Jonathan. P
She never takes food from strangers or wags her tail for them. P
Jonathan always has Suzie's total attention. P
Thanks to Suzie, Jonathan can do a lot more now. P
Jonathan is no longer a lonely boy. P
They are a great team! P
Story Reading 230 1-6
Some people have hearing problems, some have speaking problems, and others have both. P
Even so, they still have the ability to communicate. P
They use sign language. P
They use their hands and arms to make signs or words. P
If you can understand sign language, you can understand what they are saying. P
Sign language is easy to learn. P
You use your fingers to make the letters of the alphabet. P
This is called finger spelling. P
Some signs are easy to learn. P
For example, to say "boy," you pretend you are grabbing the brim of a baseball cap. P
For "girl," you place the tip of your thumb on your cheek and move it toward your chin. P
To say "dog," pat your legs and snap your fingers. P
To say "cat," you close your index finger and thumb together as you brush them away from your cheek. P
It's like you're stroking a cat's whiskers. P
Sign language is understood all over the world. P
However, people use different types of sign language in different countries. P
You need to learn them like learning a spoken language. P
Most libraries have books with drawings that show how to sign. P
You can also learn sign language at schools. P
There are more than 1,000 signs you can learn. P
It takes a lot of time to learn all the rules, but it is not difficult. P
Learning sign language is useful and helpful to both you and to someone who can't hear or speak. P
Story Reading 230 1-7
February 13, 2014 P
Hi Danny! I hope that you are doing well. P
It is freezing up here in Alaska. P
I wear my boots and my overcoat to stay warm. P
The enclosed picture is of Katmai Mountain. P
I took this picture when I went hiking yesterday. P
As you can see, it is covered with snow. P
On that mountain there is an active volcano. P
I live in Anchorage, Alaska. P
There are mountains all around the city. P
Anchorage is the largest city in Alaska. P
About 298,000 people live in the city. P
Its nickname is "The City of Lights and Flowers." P
Thousands of buildings are lit by tiny white lights during the winter. P
In summer, there are many beautiful flowers. P
They make the city look very pretty. P
Anchorage is also the business center of Alaska. P
Most air travelers enter Alaska via the city's main airport. P
I miss you, Danny. P
Why don't you come visit me during your vacation? P
There are many places to go here. P
There is a place such as H2Oasis- an indoor waterpark. P
There are also nice slopes where you can ski. P
You can also see a lot of wildlife like moose, black bears, and brown bears at Chugach State Park. P
I hope this letter arrives at your house quickly. P
I also hope you enjoy the photo. P
I look forward to seeing the whole family. Love, Uncle John P
Story Reading 230 1-8
Sending and receiving postcards is a fun activity. P
You can send postcards to any country in the world. P
Here is how: First, select a postcard of your choice. P
Second, write a message to the person you are sending it to. P
Write their name and address on the back of the postcard. P
Third, put the right amount of stamps on it. P
You are not finished yet. P
This is only the beginning. P
Next, choose a way to mail it. P
If the mail carrier comes to your home, place it in the roadside mailbox and raise the red "flag." P
The mail carrier will take it to the post office. P
If you live close to the post office, you can take it there yourself. P
If, however, you live in a large city, there are mail boxes on many street corners. P
You can put the postcard in one of those boxes. P
Your postcard goes to a central post office. P
There, it is sorted by its zip code, state, and city. P
Then, it is put into a tray with other mail. P
Again, it is sorted and put into a mail carrier's bag or van. P
Finally, the mail carrier delivers your postcard to the right address. P
Remember that it takes more time for a card to travel from one country to another. P
Sometimes, it takes more than ten days, but it always gets there. P
Story Reading 230 1-9
The Cheetahs were in the championship game against the Hounds. P
The score was tied at 3:3. P
They were into the final five minutes of overtime. P
Tom, Kate, Bill, May, and Emmett played for the Cheetahs. P
Bill kicked the ball down the field. P
Kate passed to Tom. P
Tom took a hard shot, but the Hounds' goalkeeper blocked it. P
He kicked the ball down the field. P
Kate took the ball away, but quickly lost it. P
The Hounds took a hard shot to the right corner of the goal. P
Emmett, the Cheetahs' goalkeeper, jumped but couldn't get to it. P
Goal! The score was 4:3 for the Hounds. P
The Cheetahs were disappointed. P
Then, Tom kicked the ball straight to Kate. P
She received the pass. P
A Hounds' player took it away from her and passed it, but Bill was there. P
Bill headed the ball into the net. P
Goal! The score was tied again. P
The Cheetahs were excited. P
Two minutes were left in the game. P
The Hounds moved the ball quickly and took a good hard shot. P
However, Emmett was better at goal keeping. P
He kicked the ball very hard. P
May stopped the ball. P
She passed to Tom and he passed to Kate. P
Kate took a hard shot. P
The ball went into the net. P
Goal! The goalkeeper couldn't get to the ball. P
The buzzer sounded. P
Game over! The Cheetahs won. P
They celebrated their championship win! P
Story Reading 230 1-10
Ali Bruce is an excellent basketball coach in Texas. P
He leads 11 young players between the ages of 9 and 11. P
Coach Bruce has only one goal: victory. P
In order to win, he teaches them one important thing - teamwork. P
Only five players play on the court in a game. P
Players try hard to play their positions well, but they also work hard together as a team. P
Coach Bruce thinks passing the ball is very important because good passes score goals. P
He always reminds them by shouting "Teamwork works!" P
During spring and summer, the players attend basketball camps. P
There, they receive special training. P
They practice for five hours a day at camp. P
They run, play, eat, sleep, and do everything together. P
Coach Bruce usually picks a leader from the group. P
The leader is most often the oldest, but age is not the only thing he looks for. P
He says, "A team needs a leader who strengthens players. P
A good leader should be wise and responsible." P
He believes that excellent is the most important part of excellent. P
"A good leader must also get along well with the players," he often says. P
"Good teamwork makes good teams. P
Good teams win championships. P
I like good teams," he often says. P
Story Reading 230 1-11
All things are made of matter. P
Matter is anything that takes up space. P
Look around at the things in your classroom. P
They are all made of matter. P
You are made of matter, too. P
Matter appears in three different states: solid, liquid, and gas. P
Like all matter, solids take up space and have mass. P
Only solid matter has a shape of its own. P
A pencil and an eraser are both solids. P
Look around you and find things that are solids. P
Liquid is another state of matter. P
It takes up space and has mass. P
However, it can change shape but not by itself. P
In fact, liquids take the shape of the container they are in. P
The containers could be a glass, cup, bowl, or vase. P
Milk, juice, and water are all liquids. P
If you pour a liquid from a tall glass into a round pot, what shape will it take? P
The third state of matter is gas. P
It takes up space and has mass, but it does not have a shape of its own. P
Gas changes shape and size when it spreads out. P
Air is made up of gases. P
You cannot see or taste it, but you can sometimes smell it. P
Air is everywhere. P
It can fill up a balloon. P
What will happen to the air in a balloon if it pops? P
Story Reading 230 1-12
Dad hung a small white object on the wall. P
"What is that?" I asked. P
"It's a mothball, Cindy. P
There is a chemical inside called naphthalene. P
It keeps bad smells away," he responded. P
Days later, I looked and saw nothing in the mothball. P
"Where is the naphthalene? Did Kitty eat it?" I thought. P
I couldn't find Kitty. I was worried. P
"Dad, I think Kitty ate the naphthalene. P
She is probably sick somewhere," I said in tears. P
"Oh, dear! Don't cry. P
Kitty couldn't reach it on the wall. P
Besides, naphthalene dissolves naturally," he said. P
"Naturally?" I responded. P
"Yes. The naphthalene became gas. P
It's called sublimation. P
Let me show you something," he said. P
He brought some ice cubes from the fridge and started heating them in a pan. P
"Cindy, watch what happens," he pointed at the ice cubes. P
"They melted and became water," I said quietly. P
"Yes. If you continue heating the water, it will dry out," he responded. P
"The water is gone! It became a gas. P
That's interesting!" I said. P
"It's called evaporation. P
If you leave a glass of water open, the same thing happens. P
Do you know water can become a solid, too?" he asked. P
"Um, if I leave water in the freezer, it will get frozen and become ice. P
The water will become a solid!" I snapped my fingers. P
"That's right, Cindy! As you see, matter can change states," he said. P
"Thanks Dad. I learned something new today," I responded. P
Just then, Kitty came into the room. P
I ran and hugged Kitty. P
"Where were you, Kitty? I was worried about you," I said. P
"I'm so happy you didn't eat the naphthalene after all." P
Story Reading 230 1-13
July 7, 2014 P
Today, my friend Pat and I arrived in Korea to visit my aunt. P
She teaches English in Daejeon. P
We do not speak any Korean, but some nice people helped us find a bus from Seoul to Daejeon. P
They also helped us to get off at the right stop. P
July 8, 2014 P
This morning we traveled to Namwon. P
We got to see a lot of Korea's beauty on this trip. P
We ate traditional Korean food. P
It was very different from Western food. P
Most of the food was very good, but I especially liked Bibimbap. P
After lunch, we drove up Jiri Mountain. P
My aunt's car broke down halfway. P
My uncle opened the hood to examine the engine. P
He was able to fix it. P
We were happy to make it all the way to the top of the mountain. P
It was a beautiful place with a breathtaking view. P
July 9, 2014 P
Last night, we slept in a hotel room with an ondol floor for the first time. P
It was an amazing experience. P
After breakfast, we went to a bathhouse. P
It was my first time in a public bathhouse. P
I was nervous at first, but I soon became comfortable. P
It was a very relaxing place. P
I especially liked the outdoor baths. P
After that, we visited Hwa-Eom temple. P
It was my first visit to a Buddhist temple. P
The history of the temple was interesting. P
July 10, 2014 P
We traveled back to Seoul today. P
What an enormous city! P
We went shopping in Itaewon and Insa-dong. P
We bought clothes and souvenirs in both places. P
Now we are on a plane heading home to Canada. P
We will never forget this wonderful visit. P
Story Reading 230 1-14
Sally and I were going to Paris from Italy with a Eurail pass. P
We were both excited about Paris. P
It takes about ten hours, so we decided to go by EuroNight. P
We got on the train. P
I had the window seat, and Sally had the seat next to the aisle. P
We discussed our plans for Paris. P
"We have five days in Paris," said Sally. P
"We must visit the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre." P
"Yeah, but I want to eat French cheese with baguettes! I can't wait!" I replied. P
"Peter, is that how you want to spend your time in Paris? Eating?" Sally laughed. P
A boy approached me. "Excuse me, I think you are sitting in my seat," he said. P
"Could you please show me your ticket?" Sally asked politely. P
He showed us his ticket, and Sally compared it with mine. P
"Well, the seat numbers on the tickets are the same, but the carriage numbers are different. P
You are in Carriage 1. This is Carriage 2," said Sally. P
"I'm sorry," the boy said. He blushed on his way to his carriage. P
The ride was smooth and comfortable. P
We entered a tunnel. P
Then there was a sudden stop. P
"What's wrong?" I asked. P
"I don't know," Sally responded. P
The train conductor walked down the aisle. P
"Don't worry, everyone. P
There are some sheep crossing the tracks ahead of the tunnel. P
We'll be moving shortly," he said. P
Everything turned out okay. P
The train continued on its journey. P
Finally, we went back to our planning. P
Story Reading 230 1-15
Dear Maggie, I am on vacation in Cancun, Mexico with my family. P
We are staying in a lovely hotel called The Dream Cancun. P
I share a room with my sister, Mimi. P
There are two double beds in our enormous room. P
It's almost like I have my own bedroom. P
I sleep soundly every night. P
The hotel even has a large swimming pool. P
We use it when we feel like a night swim. P
From our room, we have an ocean view. P
I hear the waves day and night. P
We've done many exciting things here in Mexico. P
Today, we swam in the ocean. P
After that, we rode on a pirate ship. P
On the ship, we pretended to shoot cannons at another ship. P
It was really fun. P
Yesterday, we took a glass-bottomed boat to view the coral reefs. P
They were so beautiful. P
It was very early, so we had breakfast on the boat. P
Then we went on a bus tour. P
We traveled to a ruined Mayan city. P
There was a huge pyramid. P
I climbed to the top of it. P
Tomorrow, we will go on another boat trip. P
We will go to a cave. P
I've heard that there is a river inside the cave. P
I hope to swim in it. P
Well Maggie, I have to go now. P
I am going to sit by the ocean and watch the sunset. P
I'll take pictures. P
Check my blog if you'd like to see them. P
All the best to you, Your friend, Gina P
Story Reading 230 1-16
Mexican menus offer a wide variety of dishes. P
There are so many items to choose from, it's difficult to decide what to eat. P
For breakfast, there is a burrito with cheddar cheese and Mexican salsa. P
There is also an omelet made with fresh eggs. P
It also comes with cheddar cheese and Mexican salsa, but it has chili sauce on top. P
If you like tortillas, there is a choice between flour or corn tortillas. P
They are served with rice and beans. P
The lunch menu is larger. P
There is a corn or flour tortilla filled with cheese, onions, lettuce, tomatoes, meat, and avocado. P
It is called a taco. P
There is a wide choice of tacos. P
How about a hot beef sausage taco or a taco with avocado, potatoes, cheese, and sour cream? P
They are all-time favorites. P
In the afternoon, there are always lots of snacks. P
One that many people like is nachos. P
They taste so good with beans, cheese sauce, peppers, black olives, sour cream, avocado, and tomatoes. P
You can also have a flour tortilla with cheese served with avocado and tomatoes. P
That is called a quesadilla. P
When tortillas are made with ham, they are called sincronizadas. P
However, Mexican corn chips by themselves are the best. P
Start dinner with a nice green salad of apples and nuts with mango dressing. P
Finish the meal with a hot hominy and pork soup. P
Mexican food is really good! P
It's especially delicious for dinner after you've had a nap. P
Remember, though, it's very spicy! P