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Reading Level 2

Number 1 Stonehenge

For many centuries, people have wondered about Stonehenge. They have studied the large circle of huge stone pillars (columns). Some stones still stand erect, but others lie on the ground where they fell hundreds of years ago. Scientists have suggested that Stonehenge was a religious temple, or that it was used to tell time.

The word Stonehenge means the “hanging stones.” Some of the stone pillars still stand, just as they did 4,000 years ago. Across the tops of a few of the pillars, connecting to one another, are smaller stones that seem to “hang” in space.

Stonehenge stands on a rise, a high place, in a rolling plain near Salisbury, England. The outer ring of stones at Stonehenge was made of 30 massive pillars. Some of them weigh up to 40 tons. Theses stones probably came from a quarry, a place where stone is dug up. The quarry is located 25 miles away. The stones had to be hauled (carried) over this distance by the people who built Stonehenge. They had to be cut into shape and set into place. After that, the smaller stones, called lintels, were set on top of them. Within the main ring of pillars at Stonehenge is another ring of smaller stones. The pillars of this inner ring weigh about 5 tons each. They are called bluestones because of their coloration. The closest quarry for stones like these is about 250 miles from the Salisbury Plain.

Stonehenge began as a large, circular ditch (a small man-made river). It was built about 1900 B.C. This ditch is about 300 feet in diameter (across). As the people dug, they piled the soil along one rim (edge) and so a mound (a small hill) was made. Fifty-six holes inside the mound were probably dug at the same time.

Two hundred years later, the ring of bluestones was built. It was near the center of the ditch and mound. Only a few of these stones now stand. Most have fallen over or have been removed. A broad avenue (a wide road), now a slight depression (low spot) in the land with mounds on either side, runs from Stonehenge across the Salisbury Plain. Some scientists think it was the main entrance and that it was built during this time period.

A hundred years or more went by before the large stone pillars were added, and their lintel set in place. Thus, at least 300 years were required (needed) to complete the “mystery” of Stonehenge.

Reading Time:

Total Words: 418

Passive Sentences: 31%

Flesch Reading Ease: 76.4

Flesch-Kincaid

Grade Level: 5.8

Recalling Facts

1. Stonehenge may have been

used as a

 a. fort

 b. temple

 c. village

2. How many pillars made up

the outer ring of stones?

 a. 30

 b. 15

 c. 10

3. When was the first part of

Stonehenge completed?

 a. about 1600 B.C.

 b. about 1900 A.D.

 c. about 1900 B.C.

4 Name the type of stone that

was used to build the inner ring

of smaller pillars.

 a. bluestone

 b. granite

 c. marble

5. What is an important part of

Stonehenge besides

the “hanging stones”?

 a. a grove of trees

 b. a ring-shaped ditch

 c. a stone quarry

Understanding the Passage

6. From this selection we can

conclude that

 a. The purposes of Stonehenge

are still not known.

 b. Stonehenge was unimportant

to its builders.

 c. Stonehenge is no longer

interesting.

7. Choose the best title for this article.

 a. Different Types of Stone

in Great Britain.

 b. A Mystery in Stone

 c. Prehistoric People of

Great Britain.

8. Stonehenge was probably built

 a. by people from Africa.

 b. by hundreds of people.

 c. within a period of a few years.

9. Which ring of stones holds up

the lintels?

 a. the outer ring

 b. the inner ring

 c. the third ring

10. What is another name for lintel?

 a. pillar

 b. column

 c. “hanging stone”

Reading Level 1

Text Number 1

Lions

1. Have you ever seen a real lion? If yes, where?

2. How are lions different from other cats?

3. How are lions the same as other cats?

4. Where do lions live?

Match each word with the best meaning.

1. including A. to keep safe

2. a collar B. not to have something

3. a female C. to also have or be part of

4. a male D. the part of a shirt or dress which is around the neck

5. to be without E. plants, animals and places that are not controlled by humans

6. long ago F. a girl or woman

7. a hunter G. a boy or man

8. to be wild H. a human or animal that is completely grown up

9. to be central I. a person who looks for animals to kill

10. to protect J. many years before now

11. an adult K. to be in the middle

Reading Level 1

Text Number 1

Lions

Long ago, lions lived in southern Europe, southern Asia, and all over Africa. A hunter killed the last lion in North Africa in the 1930s. Today there are only 300 wild lions in India and 200,000 in central and southern Africa. Lions also live in zoos. Almost every zoo around the world keeps a few lions.

It is very easy to see the difference between male and female lions. Lions are the only kind of cat that show a clear difference between males and females. Male lions have a mane, a large collar of hair around the lion's face. The mane protects the male lion’s throat when he is fighting. Females do not have manes. Male lions are also larger than females. Adult male lions are usually about four feet (122 centimeters) tall at the shoulders and eight and a half feet (260 centimeters) long, including the tail. They usually weigh more than 200 kilograms (440 pounds). Adult females are much smaller. They usually weigh less than 140 kilograms (300 pounds).

Lions live in large family groups. These family groups are called prides. Lions are the only cats that do this. Each pride has a different size and organization, but a pride usually has two males, seven females and some cubs, baby lions. The females are usually sisters or cousins. When males are two and a half to three years old, they must leave the pride. The older males come from other prides.

Three or four cubs are usually born at one time. Only one in five cubs will live for more than a year. When there is no food, the youngest die first. Wild lions live for 15 to 18 years. Lions in zoos live for 25 to 30 years.

Lions are very strong. They eat many different kinds of medium and large-sized animals, but they like wildebeest best. Both male and female lions have very strong mouths. They can break the necks of other animals with one bite. One adult lion will usually kill from 10 to 20 large animals each year for food. They also steal food from other animals.

Female lions do most of the hunting. They work together to catch other animals. Males often eat the animals that the females catch.

Lions can live in Africa because they can live without water for almost one month. They have no trouble during the dry times.

Reading Time:

Total Words: 400

Passive Sentences: 2%

Flesch Reading Ease: 71.5

Flesch-Kincaid

Grade Level: 5.8

Recalling Facts

1. Lions used to live in

 a. Africa.

 b. southern Europe and Asia.

 c. both a and b.

2. Today, wild lions are found

 a. in zoos.

 b. India and Africa.

 c. Europe, India, and Africa.

3. How are lions different from

other cats?

 a. Male and female lions hunt.

 b. Male and female lions look

different.

 c. Male lions hunt.

4 Male lions

 a. are bigger than females.

 b. have manes.

 c. both a and b.

5. Groups of lions are called

 a. prides.

 b. cubs.

 c. adults.

Understanding the Passage

6. Prides usually have about

 a. 15 adult lions.

 b. 9 adult lions.

 c. 5 adult lions.

7. Outside of zoos, lions live about

 a. 17 years.

 b. 27 years.

 c. 30 years.

8. Adult lions usually kill about

 a. 15 animals a year.

 b. 5 animals a year.

 c. 25 animals a year.

9. The number of lions in the world has

 a. increased.

 b. decreased.

 c. stayed about the same.

10. Female lions

 a. hunt more than male lions.

 b. need to hunt everyday.

 c. need to drink water everyday.

Reading Level 1

Text Number 10

European Castles

1. Have you ever visited a castle?

2. Have you ever seen any of the castles in the pictures on these pages?

Match each word with the best meaning.

1. to protect A. the period in European history from 1100 AD to 1500 AD

2. the Middle Ages B. local leaders in Europe during the Middle Ages

3. enemies C. a place to keep gold, money, and other valuable things

4. lords D. a small mountain

5. soldiers E. scientific inventions

6. a treasure house F. to defend, to keep safe

7. a hill G. pointed sticks fired from bows

8. technology H. the opposite of friends

9. thick I. underground passages

10. arrows J. a place to keep bad people

11. tunnels K. not thin

12. a prison L. fighters

Chambord Chateau

-France

Reading Level 1

Text Number 10

European Castles

Life during the Middle Ages in Europe was hard. There were many wars. Therefore, people built castles to protect themselves from their enemies.

The castle was the home of a lord and the lord’s family. It was also the home of soldiers. The soldiers protected the castle, the lord, and his family. They also protected the village. The castle was the prison and the treasure house, too. The offices of the local government were also located in the castle.

Most castles were built on a hill or high ground. This made them easy to defend. A moat (a manmade river filled with water) was built around the castle. A drawbridge, which could be raised and lowered, was used as a bridge to cross the moat.

During the Middle Ages, most castles were square. They had a large tower in each corner. These towers were usually made of stone. Thick stone walls connected the towers. The area inside the walls was called the inner ward. The inner ward usually had a large central tower, the keep. The keep was always the strongest part of the castle. The lord and his family lived on the upper floors of the keep. The soldiers lived on the lower floors. The keep had many secret rooms and getaway passages. During times of great danger, all the village people would hide here. There were many underground tunnels leading to the keep. The other towers were used for the prison. The great hall (a big room) was used for town meetings. Castles also had large kitchens and bake shops.

The area just outside the towers and walls was called the outer ward. This outer ward also had a wall around it. This second wall also ran around the whole village. The top of this wall had a walkway for soldiers and battlements—low stone walls. From behind the battlements, the soldiers could hide to shoot arrows and throw stones at the enemy.

At the end of the Middle Ages, castles disappeared because new technology made them unsafe. Big guns could easily knock down the walls. However, after the Middle Ages great homes, the homes of kings and lords, were still built in the shape of a castle. People have always been interested in castles. Even today in European countries, the old castles are still popular with tourists. Many people go to see these ancient buildings.

Reading Time:

Total words 400

Passive Sentences: 20%

Flesch Reading Ease: 77.4%

Flesch-Kincaid

Grade Level: 4.9 The Tower of Bèlem

-Lisbon, Portugal

Recalling Facts

1. Castles were used to protect

people from their

 a. enemies.

 b. friends.

 c. neighbors.

2. The castle was also a

 a. church.

 b. market.

 c. prison.

3. Most castles were built on a

 a. cliff.

 b. hill.

 c. lake.

4 The ditch filled with water

that surrounded the castle was called a

 a. crevice.

 b. keep.

 c. moat.

5. Battlements are stone

 a. walls.

 b. statues.

 c. towers.

Neuschwanstein Castle

-Germany

Understanding the Passage

6. The safest place in the Castle was

 a. probably the inner ward.

 b. probably the outer ward.

 c. the keep.

7. We can see that castles were

 a. used only for war.

 b. used for many purposes.

 c. used only for prisons.

8. If someone wanted to enter the castle,

the drawbridge had to be

 a. destroyed.

 b. lowered.

 c. raised.

9. This article hints that castles were

mostly made of

 a. stone.

 b. straw.

 c. wood.

10. People stopped building real castles

 a. because the governments changed.

 b. because businesses changed.

 c. because wars changed.

Windsor Castle

-Great Britain

Reading Level 2

Number 11

A Guided Tour of Italy

Do you plan to visit Italy someday? If so, it’s a good idea to know about the country and its people. Italy, which is located in Southern Europe, has two very different areas. The North has business centers and large cities. The South, on the other hand, is slower and rural. The people of the North like the city life. They enjoy all the things that are found in a city. Those from the South like a slower lifestyle. They like their rural surroundings and quiet lives.

Italy, which has hundreds of miles of seacoasts, has a climate like that of California. It is sunny and warm all year in the South. Except in the mountains, summers are warm all over the country. Winter brings snow, sleet, cold rain, and fog to the North. Central Italy is mild in winter.

Many Italians are happiest when they are in groups. Wherever they gather, you are likely to hear fine singing and happy laughter.

A building boom is going on in the cities of Italy. Steel and glass skyscrapers look down on ancient ruins. Italy is full of life and color. Talk on the street corners is lively. The background music coming from open windows could be classical or the latest hit songs. Donkeys and street peddlers sometimes add to the color and noise.

The city streets are busy. Here you will see well-dressed people. These people are going to work in new office buildings. The street traffic includes different kinds of cars. You can even see some motor scooters (mopeds) and bicycles.

Italians like food, and they are good cooks. Each city and region has its own specialties. Bologna, for instance, is known for its sausages. Olive oil, garlic, and tomatoes are used more freely in cooking in the South than in the North. Some Northerners use butter instead of olive oil. You will see rice on their plates instead of pasta.

An Italian dinner begins with appetizers and ends many courses later with a fine dessert. During a dinner, you can try some of Italy’s fine cheeses. There are many to choose from. There are also many fine wines, and they are reasonably priced.

You may never visit Italy. Still, it’s nice to read about its lively and colorful personality. Maybe someday you will be lucky enough to see part of this wonderful land.

Reading Time:

Total Words 400

Passive Sentences: 10%

Flesch Reading Ease: 74.9

Flesch-Kincaid

Grade Level: 5.2

Recalling Facts

1. The business areas of Italy are

found in the

 a. East.

 b. North.

 c. South.

2. Italians who live in the city enjoy

 a. a faster pace.

 b. a slower pace.

 c. better food.

3. The climate of Italy is like that of

 a. California.

 b. Mississippi.

 c. New York.

4 Central Italy is mild during the

 a. spring.

 b. summer.

 c. winter.

5. Which of the following adds to the

color and noise of Italy?

 a. roving circuses

 b. street peddlers

 c. wildlife

Understanding the Passage

6. The life-styles of Northern and

Southern Italy are

 a. exactly the same.

 b. quite similar.

 c. very different.

7. The southern part of Italy is mostly

 a. rural.

 b. desert.

 c. swamp.

8. Southern Italy has warmer weather than

 a. Sicily.

 b. Eastern Italy.

 c. Northern Italy.

9. To most Italians, dinner should be

 a. long and delicious.

 b. short and sweet.

 c. simple and serious.

10. Italian streets are

 a. dangerous.

 b. noisy.

 c. quiet.

Reading Level 1

Text Number 7

Beer

1. Do you like beer?

2. What is your favorite brand?

3. Do you know what beer is made of?

Match each word with the best meaning.

1. brewing A. to reach a wider area, to become widely known

2. at least B. plants that are used for flavoring and medicine

3. the Sumarians C. a kind of bacteria used to make alcohol

4. records D. people who lived in Iraq long ago

5. divine E. corn, wheat, barley, rice, etc.

6. a technique F. written information

7. to spread G. beer making

8. cloudy H. no less than

9. herbs I. not sweet

10. grains J. not clear

11. yeast K. a method

12. bitter L. heavenly

Hops

Reading Level 1

Text Number 7

Beer

People have been brewing (making) beer for at least 6,000 years. The Sumarians, people who used to live in the area of present day Iraq, left records of beer brewing. The Sumarians thought beer was a divine (heavenly) drink because it made them feel good.

The Sumarians used bread to brew their beer. The Egyptians learned this brewing technique from the Sumarians. From Egypt, the art of beer making spread to Europe. This early beer was cloudy, and most people today would probably not like the way it looked or tasted. The early brewers in Europe used various kinds of herbs to flavor their beers. Hops, herbs which give beer its bitter flavor, were first used to brew beer in Belgium.

Beer that was similar to today’s beer began to be made when hops were introduced. In 1516, Wilhelm I, the King of the German state of Bavaria, established the German Beer Purity Law. Under this law, only barley, hops and pure water could be used to brew beer. Later, yeast was also permitted.

Many different kinds of beer are made around the world today. Beer is different from other kinds of alcohol. It is made from grain (wheat, barley, corn or rice), hops, yeast and water. The alcohol content is usually between 3 and 6 percent.

Most European, Japanese, and American beers are made from wheat and barley. Some South American and African beers are made from corn. All of these grains have a lot of starch. Yeast is used to change this starch into alcohol. Hops are also added to give beer its bitter taste.

The two most popular kinds of beer are lagers and ales. Lager beer is a lighter color than ale. When it is being made, lager beer is also kept cooler than ale. Different kinds of yeast are used to make lagers and ales. Another difference between these two kinds of beer is the time it takes to make the beer. Beer makers only need to spend five or six days to make ale. They must spend seven to twelve days to make lager.

The most popular beer in Japan and other parts of Asia is lager. Most people in the United States and Canada also prefer lager beer. Of all the beer sold in the United States, 90 percent is lager beer. Ale is the most popular kind of beer in England.

Reading Time:

Total Words: 400

Passive Sentences: 24%

Flesch Reading Ease: 75.8

Flesch-Kincaid

Grade Level: 5.6

Recalling Facts

1. Beer making began

 a. more than 6,000 years ago.

 b. exactly 6,000 years ago.

 c. 6,000 or more years ago.

2. The Sumarians

 a. once lived in the area of Iraq.

 b. in Egypt.

 c. in Belgium.

3. The Sumarians used

 a. hops to brew beer.

 b. herbs to brew beer.

 c. bread to brew beer.

4. Hops are

 a. bitter.

 b. herbs.

 c. both a and b.

5. The first beers

 a. were not clear.

 b. were made with hops.

 c. were made with corn.

Understanding the Passage

6. Hops are used to

 a. give beer a bitter flavor.

 b. give beer a sweet taste.

 c. make alcohol.

7. Yeast is used to

 a. give beer its color.

 b. give beer its flavor.

 c. make alcohol.

8. Most beer today is made from

 a. corn, yeast, hops, and water.

 b. grain, yeast, hops, and water.

 c. rice, yeast, hops, and water.

9. Lager beer is made

 a. at a higher temperature than ale.

 b. at a lower temperature than ale.

 c. at the same temperature as ale.

10. Similar beers are popular in

 a. Japan and Canada.

 b. Japan and South America.

 c. Japan and England.

Reading Level 1

Text Number ???????

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1.

2.

3.

Match each word with the best meaning.

1. A.

2. B.

3. C.

4. D.

5. E.

6. F.

7. G.

8. H.

9. I.

10. J.

11. K.

Reading Level 1

Text Number ?????????????????

Changing Families

American families are changing. In the past, many American families were extended families. Extended families are families with grandparents, parents, and grandchildren all living together. Today, most families are nuclear families. Nuclear families are families with only parents and children living together.

Today, some other kinds of families are also becoming more common. Single-parent families and bicultural families are becoming common. Single-parent families are families with only one parent and a child or children living together. In the past, there were few single-parent families, and divorce was uncommon. Today, about 50% of marriages end in divorce, and many unmarried couples are having children and not staying together. One third of all children born in 1998 had unmarried mothers.

Bicultural families are also becoming more common. The United States is a multicultural country. In the past, people usually married people from the same cultural background. Today, more people are getting married to people from different cultural backgrounds. Families with parents from two different cultures are called bicultural families. For example, if the husband is Chinese American and the mother is European American, the family is bicultural.

Family sizes are also changing. People are having fewer children. In the past, many families had five or more children. Today, most families have only one or two children. There are several reasons for this. One reason is that raising children is more expensive today. Children stay in school longer. Today, most children attend college after they finish high school, and they start working later. Parents need more money to raise one child, so another reason for smaller families is that parents today work more than before. In the past, most married women were housewives. They worked at home. Today, most women work outside of the home. They do not have time to take care of a lot of children. More than 60% of women with children work, and about 50% of women return to work within a year after they have a baby. Another reason is that most people now live in cities and do not need a lot of children to work on farms.

The number of people living alone is also increasing. In 1980, about 23% of homes had one person living alone. In 1998, almost 26% of homes had one person living alone.

It is difficult to predict what American families will be like in the future, but they will probably continue changing.

Reading Time:

Total Words: 404

Passive Sentences: 2%

Flesch Reading Ease: 51.1

Flesch-Kincaid

Grade Level: 8.9

Recalling Facts

1. American families are

 a. staying the same.

 b. becoming different.

 c. getting bigger.

2. In the past, most families were

 a. extended families.

 b. nuclear families.

 c. bicultural families.

3. Nuclear families are families with

 a. grandparents, parents, and

grandchildren living together.

 b. parents, and children living

together.

 c. one parent, and a child or

children living together.

4 There are more single-parent

families today because

 a. divorce is more common.

 b. unmarried women are having

babies.

 c. both a and b.

5. Divorce will end about

 a. 5% of marriages.

 b. 15% of marriages.

 c. 50% of marriages.

Understanding the Passage

6. A family with parents from two

cultures is

 a. monocultural.

 b. bicultural.

 c. multicultural.

7. In bicultural families, the parents

 a. have the same cultural

background.

 b. have different cultural

backgrounds.

 c. have different educational

backgrounds.

8. Families today have

 a. fewer children than before.

 b. the same number of children

as before.

 c. more children than before.

9. Today, most women with children

 a. are housewives.

 b. stop working.

 c. work.

10. The number of people living alone is

 a. decreasing.

 b. staying the same.

 c. increasing.

Reading Level 2

Number 16 The Eruption of Mount Saint Helens

On May 18, 1980, Mount Saint Helens in Washington State erupted. A huge blast blew away more than 1,000 feet of the mountain. It also killed at least 34 people. The eruption rained mud in the immediate area. It rained ash over many states. It changed the environment for many years to come. And it clearly showed the force of nature.

The blast was heard 135 miles away from the volcano. It equaled the force of 10 million tons of TNT! In comparison, it was 500 times as strong as the atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, in 1945. All life in an area of 155 square miles was destroyed by the eruption. Large trees were felled within 5 miles of the summit. Waterways were clogged with debris, causing $2.7 billion in damage.

Mount Saint Helens had been inactive from 1857 to March 27, 1980. Then, it began to shake with local earthquakes. The 1980 eruptions were the first in the United States outside of Alaska and Hawaii for some years. Back in 1921 , Lassen Peak in California erupted. As an active volcano, Mount Saint Helens has small eruptions even now.

A volcano like Mount Saint Helens is an opening in the earth. Ash, hot gas, and rock shoot from the volcano when there is a build up of magma, melted rock found beneath the earth’s surface. This magma accumulates near the surface. Here it is under great pressure. Soon it erupts, spouting a “rain” of hot material.

Most volcanoes are found in the Ring of Fire which “rings” the Pacific Ocean. The earth’s outer shell is divided into 20 large plates that slide over rock. This rock is partially melted. Most volcanoes form when two plates clash and one slides under the other. The edges and lower plates melt because of great friction. The melted material forms a peak or a volcano.

Scientists predict that the recovery of wildlife around Mount Saint Helens will take many years. Large animals, such as deer, will not return soon because they need tree cover. Most of the forest cover was destroyed by the eruption. Smaller animals have returned to the area, but they need insects for food. Insects must adapt to a changed plant setting of fewer, younger plants. Millions of fish were killed by the hot mud that blocked the rivers. Many of the spawning (breeding) grounds were also destroyed by the mud from this volcano.

Reading Time:

Total Words: 407

Passive Sentences: 27%

Flesch Reading Ease: 68.3

Flesch-Kincaid

Grade Level: 6.5

Recalling Facts

1. Mount Saint Helens is located in

the state of

 a. Washington.

 b. Massachusetts.

 c. Florida.

2. The blast of the eruption of

Mount Saint Helens was heard

 a. 300 miles away.

 b. 1,000 miles away.

 c. 135 miles away.

3. What is magma?

 a. the name of a volcano

 b. melted rock

 c. the earth’s outer shell

4 Mount Saint Helens had been inactive

from

 a. 1857 to 1980.

 b. 1980 to 1987.

 c. 1700 to 1900.

5. The eruption of this volcano

 a. did not destroy any plants.

 b. destroyed animal and plant life.

 c. destroyed only animals.

Understanding the Passage

6. The Ring of Fire is located around

 a. the Pacific Ocean.

 b. the Atlantic Ocean.

 c. the Indian Ocean.

7. Why does the area around Mount Saint

Helens lack wildlife?

 a. The soil is no longer fertile.

 b. Hot gases are still present

in the air.

 c. The food chain has been

partially destroyed.

8. What causes the eruption of a volcano?

 a. plate friction within the earth

 b. earthquakes around the volcano

 c. a forest fire on the slopes

of the volcano

9. Three materials of a volcanic eruption are

 a. hot gases, ash, and magma.

 b. air, fire, and ice.

 c. rocks, sand, and fire.

10. Most volcanic activity occurs around

 a. the Arctic Ocean.

 b. the Pacific Ocean.

 c. the Atlantic Ocean.

Reading Level 2

Number 2 Solid Waste

What happens to all the solid waste produced in the United States? Well, some of it is thrown away. It litters streets, roadways, the countryside, and waterways. Some of it is burned in the open air. Still some trash is left to sit in the open at garbage dumps. These dumps smell, look bad, and attract rats and insects. Some of the trash is buried. Valuable materials that might have been reused are thus lost. Some of the buried waste can be harmful. It leaks deadly chemicals which poison the land and water.

Waste is everywhere. Each year we throw away more than 7 million television sets. We junk 7 million old cars and trucks. We use and discard 48 billion cans and 26 billion bottles. We toss out 30 million tons of paper. Waste disposal costs us four and a half billion dollars a year. Something has to be done with all this trash and garbage. Even though we are not sure of the best way to get rid of trash, we must make an effort.

Open garbage dumps are the most common places that we put our solid wastes. Therefore, it’s a good place to start. These dumps can be made better by turning them into clean landfills. In such a landfill, layer of soil is applied daily over the waste. This helps to keep pests away and cuts down on the water pollutants that wash off in the rain. A landfill does away with the need to burn the waste, and this prevents wind-blown litter. When filled, the site can be planted with grass, shrubs, and trees and made into a park.

Ordinary sanitary landfills may not stop waste matter from seeping through the soil and ruining water supplies. Dangerous waste matter needs landfills that are sealed in a special way to stop seepage. In the past, harmful waste was burned. It was also dumped into waterways. Then, pollution controls went into effect. More of these wastes showed up in landfills. The yearly amount of harmful waste is on the rise. Our health is threatened by the unsafe waste from these landfills.

There are good ways to get rid of the most dangerous waste without harming people’s health or the ecology, but the costs of such disposals are high. The national and state governments are working with business firms and citizens to solve these cost and waste problems.

Reading Time:

Passive Sentences: 34%

Flesch Reading Ease: 80.2%

Flesch-Kincaid

Grade level: 4.9

Recalling Facts

1. Open dumps attract

 a. game animals.

 b. rats and insects.

 c. trash collectors.

2. Some of the buried waste

has deadly

 a. chemicals.

 b. insects.

 c. plants.

3. How many junk cars and trucks

are thrown away each year?

 a. 7 million

 b. 26 billion

 c. 30 billion

4 Garbage dumps can be made better

by turning them into

 a. clean landfills.

 b. parking lots.

 c. usable canals.

5. The yearly amount of harmful

waste is

 a. decreasing.

 b. increasing.

 c. stable.

Understanding the Passage

6. Open garbage dumps are

 a. beautiful.

 b. dangerous.

 c. restful.

7. We can see that many people

 a. have open garbage dumps

in their yards..

 b. save millions of tons of

newspapers.

 c. throw away things that

can be reused.

8. A clean landfill takes the place of

 a. a beautiful park.

 b. an open garbage dump.

 c. an unpolluted waterway.

9. Getting rid of waste is

 a. easy.

 b. expensive.

 c. popular.

10. This article hints that

 a. litter along the highway is

usually cleaned up

by the town.

 b. more and more people are concerned

with waste disposal.

 c. waste disposal is not

an important problem.

Reading Level 2

Number 20 Climbing Safety

Reaching the top of a mountain is a thrilling experience, but like many exciting sports, mountain climbing can be dangerous. The urge to conquer high places makes many people take chances and forget safety rules.

Good climbers take precautions. None of the explorers of Mount Everest would have made it home if they had not planned ahead. So, if you have never hiked before, take the time to learn some simple safety tips.

First, don’t try to climb a mountain alone. Plan ahead of time. Let someone know where you are going and when they should expect you back.

Know ahead of time where the nearest ranger station is. Stay on the marked roads and trails. Look for landmarks as you move through the woods.

It is important that you be properly equipped. You should have maps, a compass, a flashlight, matches, a knife, a first aid kit, and warm clothes. Bring plenty of high-energy food like raisins and peanuts. Make sure you have water with you.

If you do get lost, don’t panic. Sit down a few minutes and catch your breath. Then, look around to see where you are. You could climb a tree for a better view. Look for familiar landmarks. If the country is hilly, going downhill is best. You are more likely to find streams and rivers that way, and these lead to houses and towns. You can also look for telephone poles and follow the wires. Even in the middle of the Grand Canyon, there are telephone poles!

Rest when you need to. Don’t get overtired. Avoid dangerous cliffs or steep slides. Be sure to stay warm and dry. At night, you can light a signal fire. This will keep you warm, and maybe you can cook on it, too, but keep water handy and don’t let the fire get out of control.

If you get hungry, be careful not to eat things unless you know what they are. One idea is to kill a porcupine. This sounds strange, but it is easy to do with a rock. Porcupines move very slowly and are protected from hunters by law so that people who are lost in the woods can eat them.

Above all, remain calm. Don’t panic. Know what you are doing before you leave, and be prepared for emergencies. The biggest thrill of mountain climbing is reaching your goal by being in control.

Reading Time:

Passive Sentences: 2%

Flesch Reading Ease: 86.5

Flesch-Kincaid

Grade Level: 3.7

Recalling Facts

1. When mountain climbing,

make sure you

 a. always hike alone.

 b. bring along a good book.

 c. know where the nearest

ranger station is.

2. When you go mountain climbing,

you should

 a. let someone know

where you’ve gone.

 b. go alone.

 c. take provisions for a long hike.

3. If you get lost, you could

 a. climb a tree.

 b. whistle loudly.

 c. plan to stay the night.

4 When you go mountain climbing,

you should carry

 a. a map.

 b. a tent.

 c. a weapon.

5. When you walk through the woods,

you should look for

 a. caves.

 b. landmarks.

 c. wildlife.

Understanding the Passage

6. This article hints that mountain

climbing can be dangerous if you

are not

 a. educated.

 b. healthy.

 c. prepared.

7. It’s a good idea to mountain climb with a

 a. child.

 b. friend.

 c. backpack.

8. When you go hiking, you should travel on

 a. hilly cliffs.

 b. marked trails.

 c. steep slides.

9. If you get lost in the woods, you should

 a. lie flat.

 b. stay calm.

 c. yell and scream.

10. The article suggests that a signal fire

 a. has more than one use.

 b. tends to flare out of control.

 c. may be difficult to light.

Reading Level 2

Number 25 Wandering in the Wilds

Backpacking offers freedom found in no other type of wilderness travel. However, you must know what to expect when you hike off into the wilderness. There will be no table to eat from and no grill to hold your pots and pans. There will be few trail signs to guide you. You must know how to follow a map. You will be on your own.

Still, there are countless places you can go. Try an overnight trip to a mountain or stream. Follow an unmarked trail that seems inviting. A trial run will help to tone up muscles and show up mistakes in plans. During a short trip, you will not suffer too badly if something has been left at home.

Experienced backpackers pride themselves on being able to travel light. With many, weight saving is a game. Some cut towels in half and saw the handles off tooth brushes to save ounces. They measure out just the right amount of food needed and put it in plastic bags. Plastic bags are lighter than cardboard. There are dozens of tricks to save ounces that add up to pounds.

Footwear is an important thing to keep in mind. Sneakers are cool and cheap. For youngsters who are growing, the heavy-soled, ankle-high sneaker (hightops) is best. Rubber is good where the going is wet. Hikers in swamps and bogs prefer the shoepac above anything else. However, leather is the most popular shoe material for all-around hiking. It wears well and is soft. It can be waterproofed to shed snow and rain.

Leather soles on boots are slippery. Most hikers use rubber or cord soles. When the soles wear out, thick rubber lug soles can be put on. The grip the rocks well.

Hiking boots should fit comfortably over two pairs of socks, one thin and one thick. They should protect the ankles and support the foot. They must be able to withstand long mileage on rocks and roots. Be sure that boots are well broken in before the trip. A mountain trail is no place to break in a new pair of boots. Make sure also to se the proper type of footwear for hiking. Ski boots are for skiing and cowboy boots are for horseback riding. Footwear with eyelets and lacing have proved best for hiking. A wise hiker always brings an extra pair of laces.

Reading Time:

Passive Sentences: 5%

Flesch Reading Ease: 85.7

Flesch-Kincaid

Grade Level: 3.8

Recalling Facts

1. When backpacking, you must know

how to follow

 a. a graph.

 b. a manual.

 c. a map.

2. A trial run at backpacking helps

to tone up your

 a. bones.

 b. muscles.

 c. speech.

3. In order to travel light,

some backpackers cut the handles off

 a. grills.

 b. pots.

 c. toothbrushes.

4 Rubber soles are good when the going is

 a. rocky.

 b. smooth.

 c. wet.

5. What is the most popular shoe material

for all-around hiking?

 a. plastic

 b. rubber

 c. leather

Understanding the Passage

6. Backpacking is similar to

 a. hiking.

 b. skiing.

 c. mountain climbing.

7. Backpackers

 a. cannot read simple maps.

 b. do not carry heavy items.

 c. wear leather cowboy boots.

8. Cardboard is heavier than

 a. pots and pans.

 b. plastic bags.

 c. tin cans.

9. Leather boots can be

 a. shrunk.

 b. stretched.

 c. waterproofed.

10. Rubber lug soles are good for

 a. flooded areas.

 b. freezing temperatures.

 c. rocky surfaces.