African Elephants

Elephants are the biggest animals living on land. An adult male elephant can weigh as much as 11,000 pounds and be more than 13 feet tall. The biggest elephants live in Africa.

Trunk

Elephants have a long trunk. An elephant uses its trunk in many ways.

An elephant’s trunk is its nose. It uses its trunk to smell and breathe. Elephants also use their trunks like a hand. An elephant can pick up grass and branches with its trunk. It uses its trunk to reach high up and grab food from trees. Elephants are herbivores, which means they only eat plants. Elephants eat fruit, leaves, and grass. Adult elephants eat 300-400 pounds of food a day.

Elephants suck up water in their trunks and spray it onto themselves to stay clean. They also use their trunks as snorkels to help them breathe when they are swimming or in deep water.

Elephants use their trunks to make sounds. Elephants roar, rumble, and growl. When there is danger, elephants use their trunks to make a loud horn noise to warn others and scare away predators.

Tusks

African elephants have 2 tusks on either side of their trunk. Elephants use their tusks to dig holes and find food and water. They also use their tusks to carry things and even rest their trunks on their tusks. An elephant’s tusks also help it stay safe. Elephants can use their tusks to battle and protect themselves from enemies.

Ears

Elephants have the largest ears of any animal. Elephants use their ears to hear, stay cool, and show feelings. Elephants flap their ears to cool off and keep insects away.

Wrinkled Skin

Elephants have wrinkled skin. Their skin looks rough and tough but it is very sensitive. Elephants cover their skin in mud and dirt to protect themselves from getting a sunburn and bug bites.

Feet

Every part of an elephant is big, so of course an elephant also has very large feet. Elephants have pads on the bottom of their feet to protect them and help them walk quietly.

What has a long trunk, two big tusks, big ears and wrinkled skin? It’s an African elephant!

What is the text mostly about?

African Elephants

Elephants are the biggest animals living on land. An adult male elephant can weigh as much as 11,000 pounds and be more than 13 feet tall. The biggest elephants live in Africa.

Trunk

Elephants have a long trunk. An elephant uses its trunk in many ways.

An elephant’s trunk is its nose. It uses its trunk to smell and breathe. Elephants also use their trunks like a hand. An elephant can pick up grass and branches with its trunk. It uses its trunk to reach high up and grab food from trees. Elephants are herbivores, which means they only eat plants. Elephants eat fruit, leaves, and grass. Adult elephants eat 300-400 pounds of food a day.

Elephants suck up water in their trunks and spray it onto themselves to stay clean. They also use their trunks as snorkels to help them breathe when they are swimming or in deep water.

Elephants use their trunks to make sounds. Elephants roar, rumble, and growl. When there is danger, elephants use their trunks to make a loud horn noise to warn others and scare away predators.

Tusks

African elephants have 2 tusks on either side of their trunk. Elephants use their tusks to dig holes and find food and water. They also use their tusks to carry things and even rest their trunks on their tusks. An elephant’s tusks also help it stay safe. Elephants can use their tusks to battle and protect themselves from enemies.

Ears

Elephants have the largest ears of any animal. Elephants use their ears to hear, stay cool, and show feelings. Elephants flap their ears to cool off and keep insects away.

Wrinkled Skin

Elephants have wrinkled skin. Their skin looks rough and tough but it is very sensitive. Elephants cover their skin in mud and dirt to protect themselves from getting a sunburn and bug bites.

Feet

Every part of an elephant is big, so of course an elephant also has very large feet. Elephants have pads on the bottom of their feet to protect them and help them walk quietly.

What has a long trunk, two big tusks, big ears and wrinkled skin? It’s an African elephant!

Which of the following would be another good title for this text?

Text 1:

During the year, the weather has four seasons: summer, fall, winter, and spring. Each season can bring very different weather. When the weather changes, people have to make some changes too.

In the summer, the weather is normally very warm. There are green leaves on the trees and bright colored flowers blooming in gardens. To stay cool, people normally wear lightweight clothes in the summer.

The fall brings a change in the leaves and temperature. Tree leaves begin to turn from green to bright orange, yellow, and red. The temperature will begin to get cooler during the fall. People often put away their summer shorts and start wearing jeans in the fall.

Winter is a time for snow! The very cold temperatures of winter bring the snowflakes. The cold temperature also means that many plants won’t grow and that trees are left with no leaves, just bare branches. In the winter many people wear thick winter coats, hats, and gloves to try to keep themselves warm.

In the spring the weather is still warm, but most places get a lot of rain in the spring. All of the rain helps the flowers start to grow. Because of the rain, it’s always smart to have a rain jacket and an umbrella in the spring.

Text 2:

As you are growing up, the four seasons can create a timeline for the year. As a new season starts, there is a new time in the year to look forward to.

Fall means the start of school and school sports! The temperatures start to get cool in the fall, but that’s perfect weather for school events like football and soccer games.

Though winter can bring very cold temperatures, it can also bring snow days! Some places can get a lot of snow, which sometimes means that schools have to close. This means that instead of going to school, kids get to make snowmen and play outside.

When spring comes along, the temperatures get warmer and melt the winter’s snow. Spring also means that school is coming to an end for the year. Teachers are busy trying to plan end of the year activities, and students can’t wait for summer break to begin!

When summer finally arrives, the temperatures are very warm and many kids spend afternoons playing at the pool. Long summer nights are spent catching fire flies in the backyard, or playing flashlight tag.

As the summer comes to end, back to school shopping begins. School supplies are picked out, and kids look forward to starting a new school year.

What was the main topic of both texts?

What is the main idea of the text?

Dogs at Work

Many people have dogs. Dogs are good friends. They love to play and cuddle. Dogs will keep you company and make you feel better. Dogs will keep you safe and protect you from danger. Dogs are smart. They know their names and can learn cool tricks. Dogs are great pets. But did you know that many dogs have important jobs?

Therapy Dogs

Many dogs work to help people feel better. These dogs are called therapy dogs. Many therapy dogs work in hospitals to keep people happy and comfort people who are sick. Dogs make people feel happy and calm, which can help someone feel better when they are ill. Some therapy dogs work with kids in schools. Kids can read to dogs and practice their skills to become better readers.

Service Dogs

Some dogs have jobs to help people with disabilities. These dogs are called service dogs. Many people who cannot see or hear have service dogs. Service dogs are trained to help their owners in their everyday lives. Service dogs can help people who cannot see by telling them when it is safe to cross the street and leading their owners so they do not trip or run into something. Other service dogs help people who have illnesses. These service dogs are trained to sense when their owner is going to get sick and warn their owner to take medicine or call for help.

Search-and-Rescue Dogs

Search-and-rescue dogs help find people who are lost or trapped. Dogs have a very good sense of smell – much better than humans. Search-and-rescue dogs use their senses to help locate missing people or people who are trapped in caves or fallen buildings.

Detection Dogs

Some dogs, like search-and-rescue dogs, use their sense of smell to help find people who are lost. Other dogs use their sense of smell to find things that are hidden. These dogs are called detection dogs. Detection dogs can help police find people who have broken the law and are hiding. Detection dogs can also help find explosives or bombs before they can cause damage.

Dogs are great pets. They are smart, friendly, and good companions. Dogs also work hard and help us in many ways. It’s a good thing there are dogs!

Dogs at Work

Many people have dogs. Dogs are good friends. They love to play and cuddle. Dogs will keep you company and make you feel better. Dogs will keep you safe and protect you from danger. Dogs are smart. They know their names and can learn cool tricks. Dogs are great pets. But did you know, many dogs have important jobs?

Therapy Dogs

Many dogs work to help people feel better. These dogs are called therapy dogs. Many therapy dogs work in hospitals to keep people happy and comfort people who are sick. Dogs make people feel happy and calm, which can help someone feel better when they are ill.

Some therapy dogs work with kids in schools. Kids can read to dogs and practice their skills to become better readers.

Service Dogs

Some dogs have jobs to help people with disabilities. These dogs are called service dogs. Many people who cannot see or hear have service dogs. Service dogs are trained to help their owners in their everyday lives. Service dogs can help people who cannot see by telling them when it is safe to cross the street and leading their owners so they do not trip or run into something.

Other service dogs help people who have illnesses. These service dogs are trained to sense when their owner is going to get sick and warn their owner to take medicine or call for help.

Search-and-Rescue Dogs

Search-and-rescue dogs help find people who are lost or trapped. Dogs have a very good sense of smell – much better than humans. Search-and-rescue dogs use their senses to help locate missing people or people who are trapped in caves or fallen buildings.

Detection Dogs

Some dogs, like search-and-rescue dogs, use their sense of smell to help find people who are lost. Other dogs use their sense of smell to find things that are hidden. These dogs are called detection dogs.

Detection dogs can help police find people who have broken the law and are hiding. Detection dogs can also help find explosives or bombs before they can cause damage.

Dogs are great pets. They are smart, friendly and good companions. Dogs also work hard and help us in many ways. It’s a good thing there are dogs!

Why did the author write this text?

Dog or Wolf?

Wolves and dogs share a common ancestor – the wolf. Over time, dogs evolved and changed while wolves stayed the same.

Dogs and wolves are very different species now, but they still share many similarities.

Brains

Wolves and dogs are both very smart. You can teach a dog how to do many tricks, and dogs quickly learn their names. Some dogs are even trained to do important jobs. Many dogs help police solve crimes and search for missing people. Dogs even help people who are deaf or blind. Wolves are also smart – they have strong senses that they use to survive in the wild, however, wolves are not easily trained the way dogs are.

Nose

Dogs and wolves have a great sense of smell. A dog’s sense of smell is 1000 times better than a human’s. Many dogs use their sense of smell to help with important jobs. Dogs work for police to detect illegal drugs and find criminals who are hiding. They also use their sense of smell to help find people who are lost or missing. When there is an accident, such as a building collapse, or a natural disaster, dogs use their strong sense of smell to find people who are trapped. Wolves use their strong sense of smell to help them find prey. They can also smell and sense dangers around them.

Ears

Dogs and wolves also have a strong sense of hearing – much better than people. Dogs and wolves use their ears for more than just hearing though. Their ears can show how a dog or wolf is feeling. Perky ears show that they are paying attention to something, flat ears, usually pointed backwards, means they are feeling angry or threatened and can warn others to stay away. Soft flat or flapping ears show a dog or wolf is happy, friendly, or comfortable.

Eyes

Dogs and wolves don’t see in color like people do. Many colors, such as red, orange and yellow, can all look alike to a dog or wolf. Even though they may not see colors well, dogs and wolves do have excellent eyesight. Having good eyesight is especially important for wolves in the wild who need to be able to see prey and predators.

Communication

Dogs and wolves make many different types of sounds to communicate.

Wolves are known for their howl. Some dogs howl, but not all. Dogs are known for barking. Dogs bark for many reasons. They may bark as a warning to stay away or to let their owners know they sense danger. Dogs bark when they play, when they want attention and even when they are bored. Wolves will sometimes bark as a warning of danger.

Dogs and wolves both growl and snarl to warn predators, animals, or people to scare them and as a warning to stay away. They growl when they feel threatened and are trying to protect themselves, their family, and their home.

Digging

Dogs and wolves both dig. Wolves dig holes to hide food and bones to save for later. Some wolves dig to find food such as mice. Wolves also dig holes in the summer to find somewhere cool to lie or in the winter to stay warm and escape the cold. Wolves also dig underground dens as shelter for their pups. Dogs dig mostly for fun or when they smell something interesting. Dogs love to dig holes to hide their toys and bones – and dig them up again later.

What is the text mostly about?

Dog or Wolf?

Wolves and dogs share a common ancestor – the wolf. Over time, dogs evolved and changed while wolves stayed the same.

Dogs and wolves are very different species now, but they still share many similarities.

Brains

Wolves and dogs are both very smart. You can teach a dog how to do many tricks, and dogs quickly learn their names. Some dogs are even trained to do important jobs. Many dogs help police solve crimes and search for missing people. Dogs even help people who are deaf or blind. Wolves are also smart – they have strong senses that they use to survive in the wild, however, wolves are not easily trained the way dogs are.

Nose

Dogs and wolves have a great sense of smell. A dog’s sense of smell is 1000 times better than a human’s. Many dogs use their sense of smell to help with important jobs. Dogs work for police to detect illegal drugs and find criminals who are hiding. They also use their sense of smell to help find people who are lost or missing. When there is an accident, such as a building collapse, or a natural disaster, dogs use their strong sense of smell to find people who are trapped. Wolves use their strong sense of smell to help them find prey. They can also smell and sense dangers around them.

Ears

Dogs and wolves also have a strong sense of hearing – much better than people. Dogs and wolves use their ears for more than just hearing though. Their ears can show how a dog or wolf is feeling. Perky ears show that they are paying attention to something, flat ears, usually pointed backwards, means they are feeling angry or threatened and can warn others to stay away. Soft flat or flapping ears show a dog or wolf is happy, friendly, or comfortable.

Eyes

Dogs and wolves don’t see in color like people do. Many colors, such as red, orange and yellow, can all look alike to a dog or wolf. Even though they may not see colors well, dogs and wolves do have excellent eyesight. Having good eyesight is especially important for wolves in the wild who need to be able to see prey and predators.

Communication

Dogs and wolves make many different types of sounds to communicate.

Wolves are known for their howl. Some dogs howl, but not all. Dogs are known for barking. Dogs bark for many reasons. They may bark as a warning to stay away or to let their owners know they sense danger. Dogs bark when they play, when they want attention and even when they are bored. Wolves will sometimes bark as a warning of danger.

Dogs and wolves both growl and snarl to warn predators, animals, or people to scare them and as a warning to stay away. They growl when they feel threatened and are trying to protect themselves, their family, and their home.

Digging

Dogs and wolves both dig. Wolves dig holes to hide food and bones to save for later. Some wolves dig to find food such as mice. Wolves also dig holes in the summer to find somewhere cool to lie or in the winter to stay warm and escape the cold. Wolves also dig underground dens as shelter for their pups. Dogs dig mostly for fun or when they smell something interesting. Dogs love to dig holes to hide their toys and bones – and dig them up again later.

Why did the author write this text?

Dog or Wolf?

Wolves and dogs share a common ancestor – the wolf. Over time, dogs evolved and changed while wolves stayed the same.

Dogs and wolves are very different species now, but they still share many similarities.

Brains

Wolves and dogs are both very smart. You can teach a dog how to do many tricks, and dogs quickly learn their names. Some dogs are even trained to do important jobs. Many dogs help police solve crimes and search for missing people. Dogs even help people who are deaf or blind. Wolves are also smart – they have strong senses that they use to survive in the wild, however, wolves are not easily trained the way dogs are.

Nose

Dogs and wolves have a great sense of smell. A dog’s sense of smell is 1000 times better than a human’s. Many dogs use their sense of smell to help with important jobs. Dogs work for police to detect illegal drugs and find criminals who are hiding. They also use their sense of smell to help find people who are lost or missing. When there is an accident, such as a building collapse, or a natural disaster, dogs use their strong sense of smell to find people who are trapped. Wolves use their strong sense of smell to help them find prey. They can also smell and sense dangers around them.

Ears

Dogs and wolves also have a strong sense of hearing – much better than people. Dogs and wolves use their ears for more than just hearing though. Their ears can show how a dog or wolf is feeling. Perky ears show that they are paying attention to something, flat ears, usually pointed backwards, means they are feeling angry or threatened and can warn others to stay away. Soft flat or flapping ears show a dog or wolf is happy, friendly, or comfortable.

Eyes

Dogs and wolves don’t see in color like people do. Many colors, such as red, orange and yellow, can all look alike to a dog or wolf. Even though they may not see colors well, dogs and wolves do have excellent eyesight. Having good eyesight is especially important for wolves in the wild who need to be able to see prey and predators.

Communication

Dogs and wolves make many different types of sounds to communicate.

Wolves are known for their howl. Some dogs howl, but not all. Dogs are known for barking. Dogs bark for many reasons. They may bark as a warning to stay away or to let their owners know they sense danger. Dogs bark when they play, when they want attention and even when they are bored. Wolves will sometimes bark as a warning of danger.

Dogs and wolves both growl and snarl to warn predators, animals, or people to scare them and as a warning to stay away. They growl when they feel threatened and are trying to protect themselves, their family, and their home.

Digging

Dogs and wolves both dig. Wolves dig holes to hide food and bones to save for later. Some wolves dig to find food such as mice. Wolves also dig holes in the summer to find somewhere cool to lie or in the winter to stay warm and escape the cold. Wolves also dig underground dens as shelter for their pups. Dogs dig mostly for fun or when they smell something interesting. Dogs love to dig holes to hide their toys and bones – and dig them up again later.

What is the section “Communication” mostly about?

Marine Animals

Marine animals live in the sea. Many animals call the sea home. Some spend all of their time in water while others also live on land.

Dolphins

Dolphins are mammals. They spend all of their time in water. Dolphins are fast swimmers. They have sleek bodies and a strong tail, called a fluke, to help them move quickly through the water.

Dolphins are social animals. They live in groups called pods. Dolphins are very smart. They talk to each other by making whistling and clicking sounds. Dolphin sounds can be heard from very far away.

Dolphins cannot breathe underwater. They must come to the surface to breathe. Dolphins love to jump and play. They like to play with seaweed and ride waves.

Whales

The largest living animal on Earth is the Blue Whale. All whales are mammals. They spend all of their time in the water. Whales have long, round bodies with flippers and a tail. A whale's tail has 2 fins called flukes. It uses its strong tail to help it swim.

Whales can stay underwater for a long time, but they must come to the surface to breathe. Whales have a blowhole on top of their head that they use to breathe air.

Whales are mostly solitary animals and prefer to live alone. Whales communicate through low, deep noises that can be heard from miles away.

Sharks

Sharks are fish. Sharks spend all of their life underwater. Like fish, sharks have gills on the sides of their heads that help them breathe underwater. Sharks have fins and a strong tail to help them steer and swim through the water. Many sharks also have a fin on top of them.

Sharks have very strong senses. Sharks have good eyesight to help them see underwater. They also have an excellent sense of smell. A shark can smell a drop of blood in the ocean from 5 miles away.

Walruses

Walruses live on ice and in cold water. They have a thick layer of fat, called blubber, to help them stay warm.

Walruses have 2 long tusks, or teeth. They use their tusks to help them dig for food, protect themselves from predators and move around. Walruses have flippers to help them swim in the water and walk on ice. They bark and make loud snorting noises to communicate with other walruses.

Sea Lions

Sea lions got their name from the roaring sound they make. Sea lions also make honking and barking noises. Sea lions like to live in large groups. They are very playful and clever. Sea lions can be trained to do tricks and are often seen in shows at zoos and at the circus.

Sea lions spend their time on land and in water. They have flippers that help them swim in water. When on land they use their flippers to help them walk. Sea lions also have short fur and blubber to help them stay warm in the cool water.

Sea Otters

Sea otters are marine mammals. They use their feet and tails to swim, but spend most of their time floating on their backs on the water. Sea otters even sleep and eat while floating on their backs.

Sea otters do not have blubber. They have thick fur to keep them warm in cold water.

Sea Turtles

The leatherback turtle is the largest turtle in the world. Sea turtles have two sets of flippers that they use to help them swim in the water. Their large, front flippers are very strong and help them move through the water. Their back flippers help them steer. Sea turtles can stay underwater for over an hour before they need to breathe air.

Sea turtles live almost all of their lives in water; however, female sea turtles travel to land to lay eggs. Female sea turtles dig holes in the sand with their flippers to make a nest for their eggs. After they lay eggs, sea turtles return to the sea, leaving their eggs buried on the beach. When baby sea turtles hatch, they crawl towards the water and begin life in the sea.

What is the text mostly about?

Adapted from "The Pig Brother" by Laura E. Richards (1908)

There was once a child who was untidy. He left his books on the floor, and his muddy shoes on the table; he put his fingers in the jam-pots, and spilled ink on his best pinafore; there was really no end to his untidiness.

One day the Tidy Angel came into his nursery.

“This will never do!” said the Angel. “This is really shocking. You must go out and stay with your brother while I set things to rights here.”

“I have no brother!” said the child.

“Yes, you have!” said the Angel. “You may not know him, but he will know you. Go out in the garden and watch for him, and he will soon come.”

“I don’t know what you mean!” said the child; but he went out into the garden and waited.

Presently a squirrel came along, whisking his tail.

“Are you my brother?” asked the child.

The squirrel looked him over carefully.

“Well, I should hope not!” he said. “My fur is neat and smooth, my nest is handsomely made, and in perfect order, and my young ones are properly brought up. Why do you insult me by asking such a question?”

He whisked off, and the child waited.

Presently a wren came hopping by.

“Are you my brother?” asked the child.

“No indeed!” said the wren. “What impertinence! You will find no tidier person than I in the whole garden. Not a feather is out of place, and my eggs are the wonder of all for smoothness and beauty. Brother, indeed!” He hopped off, ruffling his feathers, and the child waited.

By and by a large Tommy Cat came along.

“Are you my brother?” asked the child.

“Go and look at yourself in the glass,” said the Tommy Cat haughtily, “and you will have your answer. I have been washing myself in the sun all the morning, while it is clear that no water has come near you for a long time. There are no such creatures as you in my family, I am humbly thankful to say.”

He walked on, waving his tail, and the child waited.

Presently a pig came trotting along.

The child did not wish to ask the pig if he were his brother, but the pig did not wait to be asked.

“Hallo, brother!” he grunted.

“I am not your brother!” said the child.

“Oh, yes, you are!” said the pig. “I confess I am not proud of you, but there is no mistaking the members of our family. Come along, and have a good roll in the barnyard! There is some lovely black mud there.”

“I don’t like to roll in mud!” said the child.

“Tell that to the hens!” said the pig brother. “Look at your hands, and your shoes, and your pinafore! Come along, I say! You may have some of the pig-wash for supper, if there is more than I want.”

“I don’t want pig-wash!” said the child; and he began to cry.

Just then the Tidy Angel came out.

“I have set everything to rights,” she said, “and so it must stay. Now, will you go with the Pig Brother, or will you come back with me, and be a tidy child?”

“With you, with you!” cried the child; and he clung to the Angel’s dress.

The Pig Brother grunted.

“Small loss!” he said. “There will be all the more wash for me!” and he trotted on.

What did the boy learn by the end of the story?