Name: WEEK 1

Monitor Comprehension DAY 2

READ THE PASSAGE Think about how the brothers behave.

Ishmael and Isadore

Brothers Ishmael and Isadore were complete opposites. People who knew them both could hardly
believe they were from the same planet, let alone the same family. The boys were not unkind toward one
another, but their personalities were so different that it was difficult for them to reach a decision they both
liked. Their mother frequently played the referee in their disagreements.
Ishmael, the older brother, was tall and athletic, and he loved sports. He played baseball, football, and
basketball. Isadore, the younger brother, hated sports. He was quieter and less active than his brother. He
preferred spending his time on the computer, making short videos and writing blog entries.
The brothers’ taste in music was completely different, too. Ishmael loved classic rock. He listened to
bands like the Beatles, the Who, and the Rolling Stones. Isadore didn’t care much for those bands. He
preferred spending his time streaming world music, especially music from Central Africa. Luckily for their
parents, both boys enjoyed listening to music through headphones.
One other thing the brothers did agree on was that they wanted a pet. Mom had resisted getting one,
but after both brothers had pleaded and begged, she finally agreed.
“We can get a pet, as long as you two take care of it,” she said. “That means you do the feeding, you
do the training, and if it needs to be walked, you do the walking.”
“No problem, Mom,” Ishmael and Isadore said together.
“Good, we all agree,” Mom said. “Now, what kind of pet are we going to get?”

STRATEGY PRACTICE Was there any part of the passage that you didn’t understand right away?
How did you figure it out?

SKILL PRACTICE Read each question. Fill in the bubble next to the correct answer.
1. Which best describes what the passage is about? 3. Based on information about the brothers, which
 two brothers who argue with their mother of these do you predict will happen next?
 two brothers who love sports  They will have trouble deciding what kind of
pet to get.
 two brothers who are very much alike
 They will both want a dog to play sports with.
 two brothers who mostly disagree
 They will both want to get a snake.
2. Which of these details supports the main idea  They will agree on their pet’s name.
of the passage?
 The brothers have different tastes in music. 4. If the brothers get a dog, which of these
is least likely to happen?
 Mom says they must take care of the pet.
 Ishmael will run with the dog.
 The brothers have a lot in common.
 Isadore will make videos of the dog.
 The brothers’ names are Ishmael and Isadore.
 They will always agree on what to do with
the dog.
 They will argue about who walks the dog.

12 Daily Reading Comprehension • EMC 3456 • © Evan-Moor Corp.

[Link] 12 6/25/10 1:48 PM

 Name: WEEK 1
Monitor Comprehension DAY 3
READ THE PASSAGE Underline or make notes about words you do not understand.

Mayan Calendars
The Maya were an influential people living in what is now Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador,
and parts of southern Mexico. The ancient Maya developed sophisticated systems of agriculture, architecture,
science, mathematics, and writing. One of the most important Mayan developments was the creation
of calendars.
The ancient Maya had several calendars. The Tzolkin (ZOL-keen)
calendar was tied to religious beliefs. The Haab (hayb) calendar was based
on the length of a year.
Understanding astronomy helped the Maya accurately measure days,
months, and years. A year had 365 days by Mayan calculations, as it does
in our own calendar. The Mayan year, though, was made up of 18 months,
and each month had 20 days. An extra 5 days were added to complete the
calendar year. These days rounded out the calendar nicely, but the Maya
thought they were unlucky.
One of the most unusual Mayan calendars was actually a pyramid. Around ad 1050, the Maya built the
Pyramid of Kukulkan (KO-KUL-kan) at Chichén Itzá (chee-CHEN eet-SAH). The pyramid had a stairway on
each of its four sides. Each stairway had 91 steps. Counting the platform at the top, there were 365 steps,
the same number of days in the calendar year.

STRATEGY PRACTICE List one or two words you found confusing and describe how you figured out their
meanings.

SKILL PRACTICE Read each question. Fill in the bubble next to the correct answer.
1. What is the second paragraph mostly about? 3. Which detail supports the idea that the
 The Maya were a very hardworking people. Pyramid of Kukulkan was a calendar?
 The Maya had different kinds of calendars.  The pyramid had 365 steps.
 The pyramid had four sides.
 Mayan months consisted of 20 days.
 The pyramid was very unusual.
 The Maya built a pyramid that was a calendar.
 The pyramid was built around ad 1050.
2. What does the map show?
 how far Mayan culture spread 4. Which of these would a Mayan probably do
during the last five days of the year?
 locations of Mayan calendars
 make a dangerous trip
 where the Maya lived
 take a risk or a chance
 where people can visit Mayan ruins
 stay home
 have a wild party

© Evan-Moor Corp. • EMC 3456 • Daily Reading Comprehension 13

[Link] 13 6/25/10 1:48 PM

 Name: WEEK 1
Monitor Comprehension DAY 4
READ THE PASSAGE Read slowly and think about the main idea of each section.

Ancient and Modern Chinese Characters

In the Beginning
When people write in English, they use letters of the alphabet. People who write in Chinese, however,
use characters that stand for words or ideas. Historians believe Chinese writing began as early as 1500 bc.
The earliest forms were called “oracle bones.” These were animal bones marked with pictures and symbols.
In addition to writing on bones, the Chinese also made marks on turtle shells. By 1400 bc, the Chinese
writing system had become more complex. It had more than 2,500 characters. Around 200 bc, Chinese
characters became standardized. This means that everyone used the same characters.
Then and Now
Many modern Chinese characters are similar to those from 2,000 years ago. For example, the
character that means man in the Lishu system from 200 bc is similar to the character that means man from
the Jiantizi, or modern simplified system, of the twentieth century.

A Simpler System
People have made efforts to change Chinese characters over the centuries. The most important
changes happened in the twentieth century. The Chinese government simplified many characters so that
more people could learn to read. This simpler system is used in mainland China and Singapore. Traditional
characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau. Even with these changes, Chinese writing from
2,200 years ago is still understood today.

STRATEGY PRACTICE Did you understand the main points the writer makes? Why or why not?

SKILL PRACTICE Read each question. Fill in the bubble next to the correct answer.
1. What do the headings tell? 3. What is the main idea of the passage?
 the topic of each section  Modern Chinese characters are nothing like
those used in ancient China.
 a list of important Chinese characters
 Modern Chinese characters were developed
 important events in the development of
the Chinese language from symbols used in ancient China.
 Chinese writing uses an alphabet.
 how Chinese characters changed
 Few people in ancient China could write.
2. Which detail supports the idea that ancient and
modern Chinese characters are related? 4. Which of these would be another good heading
 Animal bones were used for writing. for the third paragraph?
 There were once more than 2,500 characters.  “Provinces in China”
 “The Language of Singapore”
 The ancient Chinese wrote symbols and
characters on bones and turtle shells.  “Twentieth-century Changes”
 Most of the characters from 2,200 years ago  “A Language for Everyone”
can still be read today.
14 Daily Reading Comprehension • EMC 3456 • © Evan-Moor Corp.

[Link] 14 6/25/10 1:48 PM

 Name: WEEK 1
Monitor Comprehension DAY 5
READ THE PASSAGE Read slowly and pause after each paragraph.

Colossus of Rhodes
The Colossus of Rhodes, a giant bronze statue, was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Other ancient civilizations also built large statues, but the Colossus of Rhodes was one of the tallest. At
more than 105 feet (32 meters) tall, it was twice as big as most of the other colossi (kuh-LOSS-eye), or giant
statues, of ancient times. The Statue of Liberty, its modern counterpart, is only slightly taller.
The Colossus of Rhodes was designed and built by the sculptor Chares (CHAR-eez) of Lindos. It
showed the sun god Helios. The people of the Greek island of Rhodes had it built to celebrate the defeat of
Demetrius I in 305 bc. Chares and the artists in his workshop began building the statue in 292 bc. The
Colossus was completed twelve years later. It welcomed friends and warned foes as they approached the
island’s harbor.
Unfortunately, the statue stood for only 56 years. In 224 bc, a powerful earthquake hit Rhodes. The
quake damaged the Colossus, and it fell to the ground in giant pieces. The statue’s parts lay on the ground
for hundreds of years, and travelers came from all over to see these impressive ruins.

Demetrius I is defeated. The remains of the Colossus

are finally removed.
Construction of the Colossus is finished.

The Colossus collapses due to an earthquake.

305 BC 280 BC 224 BC 0 Timeline not to scale. AD 654

STRATEGY PRACTICE List two important facts about the Colossus of Rhodes.

SKILL PRACTICE Read each question. Fill in the bubble next to the correct answer.
1. Which best describes what the passage is about? 3. What does the timeline tell you that the passage
 the harbor in the ancient city of Rhodes does not?
 how Rhodians defeated Demetrius I  when the remains of the Colossus are removed
 the reason why the Colossus collapsed
 a giant statue built in ancient Greece
 when the Colossus's construction was finished
 building the Statue of Liberty
 when Demetrius I was defeated
2. Which detail explains why the Colossus was one
of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World? 4. Which of these would most likely become a
 It watched over the Mandraki Harbor. wonder of the modern world in the future?
 It showed the sun god Helios.  a life-size statue of a mayor of Chicago, Illinois

 It was built by Chares of Lindos.  a building in Dubai that is over 2,600 feet tall
 a recording of the most popular song of 2011
 It was twice as big as most ancient statues.
 a trophy from a twenty-first century
World Series
© Evan-Moor Corp. • EMC 3456 • Daily Reading Comprehension 15

[Link] 15 6/25/10 1:48 PM