Answer Key: Level 1

Joe’s Workday
Understanding
1. Joe’s job starts at 8:00 a.m.
2. Joe’s boss is happy because Joe is on time.
3. Joes works at the pet store.
4. He feeds the birds first.
5. Raise means to earn more money, or to get a higher wage.

Supplement
Vocabulary Cloze Paragraph: Joe works in a pet store because he likes animals. He wakes up early in
the morning to make breakfast for his children before they go to school. Then he goes to work. He likes to
be at work on time. He leaves his house at 7:30. It takes him twenty minutes to get to work. He gets to
work at 7:50. He starts working at 8:00.
At the pet store, Joe feeds the birds and the dogs. He is kind and caring to the animals. He is good
with the animals, and they like him too.
Joe’s boss, Mr. Larson, notices that Joe is a hard worker. He decides to give Joe a raise. Joe is
happy. Soon he earns more money than before.

Fill in the Blank Language: Answers will vary.

1. earns
2. gets
3. good with
4. on time
5. feeds
6. pet store
7. raise
8. leaves

Speaking Assessment
1. He makes breakfast for his children 1. b
2. He leaves at 7:30. 2. a
3. It takes twenty minutes. 3. b
4. It starts at 8:00. 4. a
5. He works at a pet store. 5. c
6. He works hard, and he is good with the 6. b
animals.
 Answer Key: Level 1

9-1-1 Saves Lives

Understanding
1. Chris is five years old.
2. He was afraid because he tried to wake his dad, but his dad wouldn’t wake up. Chris was the only
one at home to help his dad.
3. Chris called 911.
4. Dad went to the hospital because he was very sick.
5. Chris is a hero because he saved his dad’s life by calling 911.

Supplement
Vocabulary Cloze Paragraph: When Chris was only five years old, he saved his dad’s life. He called 911
when he needed to. He is a hero! One day when Chris’s dad was on the couch, he wouldn’t wake up.
Chris shook him, but he didn’t move. Chris’s mom was at work, so Chris was alone. He felt very afraid.
He knew what to do: call 911. He told the officer who answered, “I need help.” He asked for help for his
dad. The officer sent a rescue team to the house. They came for Chris’s dad. They took him to the
hospital. Chris’s dad gives him a hug. He is grateful that Chris called 911 in an emergency.

Fill in the Blank Language

1. saved 1. give
2. alone 2. wants
3. shook 3. was
4. rescue team 4. says/said
5. afraid 5. call
6. came for 6. shook
7. hero 7. became
8. hug

Speaking Assessment

1. Chris saved his dad. 1. c

2. He would not wake up or move. 2. a
3. His mom was at work, so Chris was 3. b
alone. 4. b
4. He said, “My dad will not wake up. He 5. a
needs help.” 6. c
5. The rescue team came for Chris’s dad.
6. He feels better.
 Answer Key: Level 1

Fall is Here
Understanding
1. b. - Days get shorter in the fall.
2. There are more school buses on the roads in the fall because children have returned to school.
3. The fall leaves are brown, gold and red.
4. People rake the leaves into piles.
5. Kids jump in the leaves.
6. Some apples taste sweet and others are sour.

Supplement
Vocabulary Cloze Paragraph: We know when fall is here. The weather gets colder. Summer is gone.
Nights grow longer, and days are shorter. The leaves on the trees turn shades of red, orange, gold, and
brown. The leaves fall down—that’s why we call it fall! People rake the leaves into bags or piles. The
piles of leaves are fun for children to jump in.
A fall fruit is the apple. Families can visit an apple orchard and pick their own apples to eat later.
There are many kinds of apples to pick. They can be sweet or sour. The best apples are crisp.
When children return to school in the fall, drivers need to watch for school buses. They need to
pay attention to the flashing red lights of the buses when the buses are dropping children off.

Fill in the Blank Language: Answers will vary.

1. flashing
2. fall
3. watch for
4. gone
5. grow
6. shades
7. crisp
8. orchard
9. rake

Speaking Assessment
1. Days grow shorter in the fall.
1. b
2. School buses are on the roads in the fall.
2. c
3. The leaves change color/fall from the
3. c
trees/blow in the wind.
4. a
4. People rake leaves, and children jump in
5. a
the leaves
6. b
5. An apple is a fall fruit.
6. I can pick my own apples at an orchard.
 Answer Key: Level 1

Calling in Sick
Understanding
1. An alarm clock wakes Lynn.
2. Lynn gets ready for work.
3. Lynn lies down on the couch.
4. Lynn does not feel well. Her body aches.
5. Lynn calls her boss because she is too sick to go to work.

Supplement
Vocabulary Cloze Paragraph: Lynn wakes up by hearing her alarm clock. She gets dressed and combs
her hair. She is ready for work. Then she lies down on the couch. She doesn’t feel well. She touches her
forehead. Lynn has a fever. Her body aches. She feels sick. Lynn knows she needs to call her boss. She
needs to tell him she cannot work today. She calls Mr. Clark and tells him she is sick. “I will not be able
to work,” she says.
Mr. Clark thanks Lynn for calling. He says, “Let me know when you can return to work.” Lynn
promises she will call him when she feels better. She hopes she can return to work soon.

Fill in the Blank Language

1. fever 1. I don’t
2. combs 2. He isn’t
3. wakes 3. She’s
4. aches 4. I’ll
5. lies down 5. We’ll
6. return 6. I’m
7. alarm clock 7. I can’t

Speaking Assessment
1. An alarm clock wakes Lynn up.
1. c
2. She puts on her clothes and combs her
2. b
hair.
3. a
3. She has a fever. Her body aches. She is
4. a
sick.
5. b
4. Lynn calls her boss.
5. She needs to tell him that she cannot
come to work.
6. He says, “I hope you feel better soon.
Let me know when you will return to
work.”
 Answer Key: Level 1

An Obese Life
Understanding
1. Jon wants to go to the park because it is a nice day.
2. Jon is talking with his mom.
3. Mom can’t spend time with Jon because she is tired.
4. Mom wishes she could play with Jon.
5. Mom could lose weight.

Supplement
Vocabulary Cloze Paragraph: Jon wants to go to the park to play. He asks his mom if they can go. She
replies, “Not today.” She wants to take her son to the park, but her weight often stops her from playing
with him. She is so overweight that she is unhealthy. She is obese. Her weight makes her tired, and her
body aches when she moves too much. She becomes short of breath easily. Mom’s obesity prevents her
from doing many activities, including playing with Jon at the park.

Fill in the Blank Language

1. weight 1. Haley wishes she could visit her friend
2. short of breath in Florida.
3. prevents 2. The Carsons wish they could buy
another car.
4. obese
3. Suk Jong wishes she could get more
5. aches sleep.
6. take 4. I wish I could lose twenty pounds.
7. replies 5. Hans wishes he could spend more time
with his children.
Speaking 6. We wish we could stay longer.
7. Francisco wishes he could learn English
1. He wants to go to the park.
faster.
2. She says it’s too hot.
3. She is too tired. Assessment
4. She wishes she could take Jon to the
park. 1. b
5. She feels bad/tired/short of breath/body 2. c
aches. 3. a
6. Jon’s mom could try to lose some 4. a
weight. 5. c
6. c
 Answer Key: Level 1

Madge is Stressed Out

Understanding
1. Single means that Madge is not married.
2. Madge is tired because she has three children by herself/works long hours/her job is hard, etc.
3. Madge feels tired/stressed out.
4. Madge calls her friend Paige.
5. Madge could take a short walk/do a workout video/exercise daily/eat less junk food.

Supplement
Vocabulary Cloze Paragraph: Madge is so busy and worried that she has become stressed out. Because
she is a single mother, she parents her three children by herself. She has a full-time job. She is often
tired. She helps her children with their homework and reads them books before bedtime. Then she tucks
them into bed.
Madge calls her friend Paige and asks for advice. Paige gives Madge some tips. Paige tells Madge
to do a workout video online or on a DVD. Doing some exercise every day can help to relieve stress.
Plus, eating less junk food can help Madge feel better. Madge already feels less stressed out just by
talking with Paige. Sometimes talking about stress with a friend helps too.

Fill in the Blank Language

1. workout video 1. Do
2. stressed out 2. Go
3. parents 3. Use
4. plus 4. Eat
5. tucks 5. Be
6. junk food 6. Exercise
7. exercise 7. Cook

Speaking
1. She has three children. Assessment
2. She works full time. She is a single
1. a
mom.
2. a
3. She cooks dinner and cleans the kitchen.
3. b
She helps her children with homework.
4. c
4. She calls her friend Paige.
5. a
5. She tells Madge to take a short walk and
6. c
eat less junk food.
6. Talking with a friend helps Madge to
feel less stressed out.
 Answer Key: Level 1

Baby Kate Loves Books

Understanding
1. Kate likes big pictures because they are easier to see.
2. Kate likes to see bright colors in books.
3. Wordless books are books without words. Wordless books have only pictures.
4. Kate’s mom has books in the house, in the car, and in her purse.
5. Mom reads to baby Kate every day.

Supplement
Vocabulary Cloze Paragraph: Kate is a baby. She cannot read on her own yet. Kate’s mother reads all
kinds of books to her. Kate’s mother reads books with a lot of pictures in them called picture books. She
reads books to Kate that have bold, bright colors that are easy for Kate to see. Books with dull colors are
hard to see. She reads Kate books with only a few words on each page. In fact, Kate’s mother reads
wordless books to her also – books without any words, just pictures. Kate’s mother shows her the
pictures in the books and talks about what is happening in the pictures.
Kate’s mother keeps many books all around the house. She even keeps small books in her purse
for times when they are waiting somewhere. Then she can read to her baby anywhere they are. Kate’s
mother reads to her, and now Kate loves books!

Fill in the Blank Language: Answers will vary.

1. dull
2. picture books
3. wordless
4. even
5. bright
6. hard
7. a few
8. purse

Speaking Assessment
1. Kate’s mom reads to her.
1. b
2. She likes books with big pictures.
2. c
3. She likes pictures of babies and animals.
3. b
4. She keeps books in the house, in the car,
4. c
and in her purse.
5. c
5. She knows babies learn a lot from
6. a
books.
6. She reads to Baby Kate every day.
 Answer Key: Level 1

Baby’s First Haircut

Understanding
1. Shane is one year old.
2. Dad likes Shane’s hair because it has nice curls.
3. A woman mistakes Shane for a girl because of his longer hair.
4. Shane will get his hair cut the next day/tomorrow.
5. Dad and Mom take Shane to get his first haircut.

Supplement
Vocabulary Cloze Paragraph: Shane is a baby, only one year old. He has long, curly hair. When Shane
and his father are at the grocery story, a woman stops to admire Shane’s curly hair. She tells Shane’s
father that she likes his baby’s pretty curls. The woman wonders how old she is. Shane’s father tells her
that the baby is a boy.
Shane’s father says to Shane’s mother, “A woman at the mall thought Shane was a girl.” He
thinks it funny. Shane’s mother wants the baby to get a haircut so Shane will look like a boy. The father
agrees. They plan to take Shane for his first haircut tomorrow.

Fill in the Blank Language: Answers will vary.

1. agrees
2. thought
3. haircut
4. funny
5. pretty
6. admire
7. curly

Speaking Assessment
1. He is one year old. 1. c
2. He has curly hair. 2. a
3. A woman admires Shane’s hair at the 3. c
mall. 4. c
4. She thinks Shane is a girl. 5. a
5. Dad thinks it was funny. 6. a
6. Shane’s parents will take Shane to get
his first haircut tomorrow.
 Answer Key: Level 1

The Yellow Pages

Understanding
1. Pam’s house is cold because her furnace isn’t working.
2. She uses the yellow pages.
3. She looks for the word heating in the phone book.
4. She calls Hal at Hal’s Heating.
5. The word repair means to fix something.

Supplement
Vocabulary Cloze Paragraph: Pam wakes up one morning and notices how cold the room is. She puts on
her robe and walks through the house. Every room is cold! The whole house is cold! Pam looks at the
thermostat. It is only fifty-five degrees, cooler than normal. Pam goes downstairs to check the furnace.
It’s not working. It must be broken. Pam needs to call someone to fix it, but she can’t use her cell phone.
She finds her phone book with the yellow pages and the white pages. She looks in the yellow
pages for businesses that repair furnaces. She doesn’t look for “furnace.” She looks for “heating.”
Pam calls Hal’s Heating and tells Hal about her cold house. Hal sends an employee to Pam’s
house. The man makes the repair on the furnace. It works now! Pam is glad that the man fixed the
furnace, and she is happy she had the yellow pages in her house!

Fill in the Blank Language

1. furnace 1. Carrie’s Cake Shop
2. repair 2. Chocolates by Bella
3. robe 3. Daily Bread Bakery
4. fix 4. Delia’s Hair Salon
5. yellow pages 5. Drywall Experts, Inc.
6. whole 6. Egbert’s Egg Company
7. glad 7. Elegant Weddings
8. heating
9. phone book

Speaking Assessment
1. She notices that her room is cold. 1. a
2. The temperature is 55 degrees. 2. a
3. She looks in the phone book/the yellow 3. c
pages for help. 4. b
4. She calls Hal’s Heating. 5. a
5. One of Hal’s workers comes to fix the
furnace.
6. She is glad.
 Answer Key: Level 1

I Miss My Mom
Understanding

1. Minh feels sad.

2. Minh misses her mom.
3. Joel misses his parents (mom and dad).
4. Joel has not seen his parents for five years.
5. Joel and Minh stay in touch with their loved ones through letters, phone calls, and e-
mails.

Supplement
Vocabulary Cloze Paragraph: Joel and Minh talk during the class break. Joel notices that Minh looks
sad. He asks, “Is something wrong?”
Minh answers, “I miss my mom. She lives in Laos. She is sick, and I wish I could be with her.”
Joel understands. His parents live far away in Maine. He says, “I write them letters and emails,
but that is not the same thing as seeing them.”
Minh agrees. She would like to visit her mother and give her a hug.
Joel and Minh both miss their loved ones.

Fill in the Blank Language

1. miss 1. at
2. break 2. on
3. both 3. at
4. Maine 4. in, in
5. loved ones 5. at
6. hug 6. in
7. Laos 7. on
8. same

Speaking Assessment
1. “Is something wrong?” 1. b
2. Minh is sad because she misses her 2. a
mom. 3. c
3. She lives in Laos. 4. b
4. They live in Maine. 5. b
5. He has not seen them for five years.
6. c
6. They talk on the phone, write letters,
and email.
 Answer Key: Level 1

Seasons of Rhyme
Understanding
1. The first day of summer is June 21st.
2. People like to eat fresh apples in the fall.
3. There are three months between each season.
4. Answers will vary - “nature awakes from its rest” means that during the winter the grass, trees,
and flowers are resting and then awaken (reappear; burst forth new life) in the spring season.
5. Christmas is in December.
6. Reappear means to be seen again or to come into view again.

Supplement
Vocabulary Cloze Paragraph: Each of the four seasons is different. Winter begins in December. Snow is
on the ground and holiday decorations abound. The perfect Christmas gifts are sought to give to loved
ones and friends. Many people go sledding and ice skating. In winter, we wear gloves, hats, and long
underwear to keep warm.
Spring begins in March when the weather gets warmer and the snow is melting. Grass reappears
after the snow melts. The air is fresh, and trees bud new leaves and flowers.
Summer begins in June. Some people go fishing and some go swimming. Many go to the lake
and bask in the sun.
Fall, or autumn, begins in September. We enjoy the cool breeze. Farmers harvest their crops.
Apples are ripe. School starts!

Fill in the Blank Language

1. abound 1. !/!
2. long underwear 2. ./.
3. breeze 3. !/!
4. melting 4. .
5. crops 5. !
6. bask 6. !/!
7. sought 7. .
8. bud 8. .
9. reappears

Speaking Assessment
1. They all begin on the 21st.
1. a
2. In the spring, leaves and grass/flowers
2. c
are new.
3. a
3. Fishing and swimming are popular in
4. b
the summer.
5. c
4. In the fall, farmers harvest their crops.
6. b
5. They like a snow day. They like to go
ice skating and sledding.
6. You should wear hats and gloves and
long underwear.
 Answer Key: Level 1

Too Much Sitting

Understanding
1. Ron sits for eight hours each day.
2. He sits on the bus/at his desk/during his breaks/at lunch/on the sofa/in his chair.
3. Ron’s back aches.
4. He talks with a friend.
5. Ron could stand/walk/move more.

Supplement
Vocabulary Cloze Paragraph: Ron sits a lot. He sits for almost fourteen hours a day! He sits when he is
eating and when he is on the bus to work. He sits during his breaks at work and again on the bus ride
home. In the evenings, he sits on the sofa when he watches TV. He reads books while sitting in a chair.
That’s a lot of sitting!
Ron has noticed his back aches. He asks his friend about his back pain. His friend gives him
some good advice. He says, “Ron, you should move more. Try standing, walking, or doing more
exercise. Then your back won’t hurt as much.”
Ron will try to move more and sit less!

Fill in the Blank Language

1. during 1. stomachache
2. aches 2. backache
3. move 3. toothache
4. almost 4. sore throat
5. sofa 5. aches
6. more 6. throat aches
7. back 7. stomach aches

Speaking Assessment
1. He rides the bus.
1. a
2. He sits at his desk.
2. b
3. He watches TV and reads.
3. c
4. He sits for eight hours.
4. a
5. His back aches.
5. c
6. Ron should move more.
6. c
 Answer Key: Level 1

My Mother
Understanding
1. This reading is about a mother, or the author’s mother.
2. Answers will vary.
3. Answers will vary.
4. Answers will vary.
5. Forever means always; for all time.

Supplement
Vocabulary Cloze Paragraph: This poem was written by a man about his mother. He wonders, “Whom
do I turn to when I am down?” He knows he can turn to his mother when he is feeling sad, and she will
be there for him. He knows he can trust her with his life. She will always stand by his side for support.
She will always listen to him. She will never turn her back on him when he needs her. The man’s
mother will love him forever. He knows he has a wonderful mother!

Fill in the Blank Language

1. trust 1. trust in
2. forever 2. gives the runaround to
3. turn her back on 3. turn to
4. down 4. brush off
5. turn to 5. turn your back on
6. whom 6. leans on
7. poem 7. turn to/trust in

Speaking Assessment
1. The poem is about a child and his
1. a
mother.
2. a
2. He can turn to his mother always/all the
3. a
time.
4. a
3. He trusts his mother.
5. b
4. His mother listens.
5. “Turn her back on him” means his
mother will never ignore him or be
unavailable.
6. His mother
 Answer Key: Level 1

Story Hour
Understanding
1. Story hour takes place at the library.
2. Lore brings her son, Juan, to story hour.
3. They sing the ABC song.
4. Yes, they are having a good time. They both smile when listening to the story and when they are
singing.
5. They bring home an ABC book.

Supplement
Vocabulary Cloze Paragraph: Lore and her son go to story hour at their local library. They like the
library. They listen to a story about a young boy. When Juan listens, he smiles. He likes the story. The
boy in the story learns to sing the ABC song. When the story is finished, Lore and Juan both sing the
song with the other parents and children. Juan sings the song by himself to Lore. She likes to hear Juan
sing.
Story hour is finished, and it’s time to go home. Lore checks out a book so he can practice
singing the song at home. When they drive home, Lore and Juan sing together. Juan knows his ABCs!

Fill in the Blank Language

1. story hour 1. We
2. checks out 2. He
3. about 3. It
4. library 4. They
5. listens 5. She
6. both 6. You
7. finished 7. She

Speaking Assessment
1. She brings him to story hour at the
1. a
library.
2. b
2. They listen to a story.
3. c
3. The boy learns the ABC song.
4. c
4. After the story is finished, they sing the
5. b
ABC song.
6. a
5. When they are singing, they smile.
6. She checks out an ABC book.
 Answer Key: Level 1

Bike Safety
Understanding
1. Beth got a new bike as a gift for her birthday.
2. Beth’s last gift was a new bike helmet.
3. Dad wants Beth to wear a helmet because it will keep her head safe.
4. The chinstrap is loose on Beth’s helmet.
5. Beth’s family ride their bikes to the park.

Supplement
Vocabulary Cloze Paragraph: Beth’s birthday is today! She turns five. It is her fifth birthday. Beth
received a bike as a gift. She is excited to start riding it. Her father says, “Wait.” He tells her she has one
gift left to open. Beth opens the gift. It is a red bike helmet to wear when she rides her bike. Her father
says it will protect her head and keep it safe. Beth promises to wear the helmet when she rides her bike.
She says, “Let’s ride our bikes to the park!” Beth tries out her new gift. Her family bikes to the park.

Fill in the Blank Language

1. gift 1. Your
2. bike 2. my
3. safe 3. hers
4. left 4. theirs
5. bikes 5. its
6. helmet 6. our
7. fifth 7. his
8. let’s

Speaking Assessment
1. She is five.
2. She got a bike and a red helmet. 1. b
3. The helmet will keep her head safe. 2. a
4. She wants to ride her bike to the park. 3. c
5. Beth’s brother helps her put her helmet 4. a
on. 5. c
6. They bike to the park.
 Answer Key: Level 1

Omar Loves to Read

Understanding
1. Omar is eight months old.
2. Omar loves to read.
3. Omar’s mom reads to Omar because she knows it is good for his brain, he learns a lot from
reading, and because she wants him to be a good reader.
4. Omar’s mom reads to Omar every day.
5. Omar likes pictures of animals, toys, trucks and children.

Supplement
Vocabulary Cloze Paragraph: Omar is eight months old. He likes many things. He likes learning,
feeding himself, and clapping his hands. He likes playing peekaboo with his parents. He especially likes
reading. Reading is good for Omar’s brain.
Omar thinks books are fun! His mother reads to him every day. She reads him many wonderful
books. Omar likes books with bright, colorful pictures. He likes books that play music and have loud
noises. He likes pop-up books with pictures that come up off the page. He likes books so much that he
sometimes tries to chew on them. He knows that board books are hard to chew because they are made of
cardboard. Omar’s mother hopes he will not chew his books!

Fill in the Blank Language

1. peek-a-boo 1. driving/to drive
2. clapping 2. drinking/to drink
3. pop-up books 3. meeting/to meet
4. chew 4. walking/to walk
5. bikes 5. reading/to read
6. board books 6. delivering/to deliver
7. brain 7. baking/to bake
8. noises

Speaking Assessment
1. He is growing and learning. He likes
clapping his hands, playing peek-a- 1. a
book, and feeding himself crackers. 2. a
2. She reads to him because she knows 3. c
reading is good for his brain/knows he 4. c
learns a lot from reading. 5. b
3. He likes books with bright 6. a
colors/pictures of
animals/toys/trucks/children.
4. They surprise him.
5. They are hard to chew.
 Answer Key: Level 1

Violence at Home
Understanding
1. Josh loves his mom and dad.
2. Yelling woke Josh.
3. Josh feels sad and scared about the fighting.
4. He heard his dad calling his mom mean names.
5. Josh and his mom could contact a friend/family member/police/teacher.

Supplement
Vocabulary Cloze Paragraph: Josh’s parents fight a lot. Josh is only seven years old. He feels sad and
scared when he hears them fighting. He heard his father yelling at his mother one night. He saw his
father hit his mother, and she fell down to the floor, crying. Josh’s father called his mother mean names.
Josh started crying too. He was frightened by watching his parents fight.
No one deserves to be hit or yelled at. Everyone deserves to have a safe place to live, free from
violence and free from fear. The first step toward getting help is to let someone else know what is
happening. Josh and his mother can tell someone like a friend, a teacher, or the police. They can get help
to move somewhere safe.

Fill in the Blank Language

1. hit 1. was shouting
2. tell 2. was raining
3. fear 3. were driving
4. safe 4. was doing
5. deserves 5. were barking
6. yelling 6. was writing
7. step 7. were playing
8. scared
9. mean
Assessment
Speaking
1. He feels sad and scared. 1. b
2. He heard yelling. 2. c
3. His father hit Josh’s mom and called her 3. c
mean names. 4. c
4. Josh began to cry. 5. a
5. Everyone deserves to live in a safe place 6. b
free from fear.
6. They can tell someone.
 Answer Key: Level 1

Understanding One Another

Understanding
1. Val and Reem meet at work in the break room.
2. Reem does not speak much English.
3. Val repeats questions and points to things to in order to help Reem better understand her.
4. Reem nods her head to show that she understands Val.
5. Reem has worked at the turkey plant one month. Val has worked at the turkey plant one week.

Supplement
Vocabulary Cloze Paragraph: Val and Reem both work at a turkey plant. They are coworkers. During
break time, many coworkers are visiting with each other.
Val talks to Reem. Reem is shy. Val and Reem tell each other their names. Val asks, “How long
have you worked at the turkey plant?” Reem says that she doesn’t know English.
Val sees the plant logo on a piece of paper on the table. She points to it. She asks again. Reem
nods. She understands. She replies, “One month.”
Val says, “We are both new to the job.” Val and Reem cannot speak with each other very much,
but they understand each other.

Fill in the Blank Language

1. logo 1. has gone
2. sheet 2. has studied
3. coworkers 3. have worked
4. points 4. have been
5. visiting with 5. has had
6. plant 6. has read
7. shy 7. has grown
8. replies

Speaking Assessment
1. They work at a turkey plant.
2. They are talking during break time. 1. c
3. Reem doesn’t speak much English. 2. b
4. Val points to the plant logo. 3. a
5. Reem nods her head. 4. c
6. Reem has worked at the turkey plant for 5. a
one month.
 Answer Key: Level 1

Shopping for a Car

Understanding
1. The black car has two doors.
2. The red car has four doors.
3. The red car has been driven eighty thousand miles.
4. Unsure means not sure.
5. Answers will vary – student opinion.

Supplement
Vocabulary Cloze Paragraph: Andy wants to buy a new car for his family. He is looking for a
used car, one that has been owned before. He needs a car that is big enough for him, his wife, and their
two children. He finds two cars that he plans to test drive before buying one. The red car and the black
car cost the same. They were produced in the same year. They are different, though. The red car has four
doors and a good-sized trunk. The black car only has two doors and has a smaller trunk. The red car has
been driven more miles than the black car. Andy is unsure about which car would be best for him and his
family. He knows that driving each car will help him to decide. He is excited to find the right car.

Fill in the Blank Language

1. which 1. younger
2. test drive 2. shorter
3. looking for 3. better
4. found 4. more beautiful/more interesting
5. trunk 5. larger
6. good-sized 6. more interesting/better
7. unsure 7. earlier
8. decide

Speaking Assessment
1. Andy wants a new car. 1. b
2. The red car has eighty thousand miles 2. c
on it. 3. a
3. The black car had two doors. 4. c
4. They cost the same. 5. b
5. The red car has a bigger trunk. 6. c
6. He will decide by test driving the cars.
 Answer Key: Level 1

Mike Gets Ready for Work

Understanding
1. Mike wakes up at 6:00 a.m. for work
2. He takes a shower.
3. A healthy breakfast gives a person energy.
4. It takes Mike 10 minutes to drive to work.
5. Mike’s job begins at 7:00 a.m.

Supplement
Vocabulary Cloze Paragraph: Mike wakes up at 6:00 a.m. when his alarm clock rings. He takes a
shower and washes his hair and body. Then he shaves his face. He puts on clean clothes. He also combs
his hair.
Mike eats breakfast at 6:20 a.m. He has wheat toast, a fried egg, and orange juice. His breakfast is
healthy. He takes a vitamin too. His breakfast will help Mike have energy at work. Mike brushes his
teeth. He is ready for work.
Mike drives to work at 6:35 a.m. It takes him ten minutes to get to work. He parks in the
company parking lot. He goes inside and hangs his coat in his locker. Now he can punch in at 6:55 a.m.
for work. His shift begins soon. He is always on time for work.

Fill in the Blank Language

1. vitamin 1. before/after
2. shift 2. after/before
3. shaves 3. during
4. energy 4. by, in
5. hangs 5. after/before
6. alarm clock 6. during
7. healthy 7. at, until
8. punch in

Speaking Assessment
1. Every day, Mike wakes up at 6:00 a.m.
2. Before he eats breakfast, Mike takes a 1. a
shower/shaves/puts on clean 2. c
clothes/combs his hair. 3. b
3. Mike has wheat toast, a fried egg, and 4. a
orange juice for breakfast. 5. b
4. After breakfast, Mike brushes his teeth. 6. a
5. Mike arrives at work at 6:45 a.m.
(Students may put 6:55 a.m. as well.)
6. Mike’s shift starts at 7:00 a.m.
 Answer Key: Level 1

Greetings
Understanding
1. Pam and Bob were strangers before they met.
2. Pam met Bob at work.
3. The greeted each other with words and a handshake.
4. Kris lives in Texas.
5. Close friends and family members often greet each other with a hug.

Supplement
Vocabulary Cloze Paragraph: People greet each other in different ways. Pam and Bob have never met.
They are strangers. One day, they meet at work. Pam says, “Hi. I’m Pam.” Bob says, “Hello. I’m Bob.
It’s nice to meet you.” Pam shakes Bob’s hand. This is a common way for strangers or friends to greet
each other.
Kim and Kris are sisters who live in different states. Kim lives in New York and Kris lives in
Texas. They live very far apart. Kris flies to visit Kim in New York. After the plane lands, Kris gets off
the plane. She gives Kim a big hug. Family members like parents, brothers, and sisters often hug when
they visit each other.

Fill in the Blank Language

1. common 1. strangers
2. gets off 2. sisters
3. members 3. brothers
4. strangers 4. hand
5. shakes 5. coworkers
6. met 6. friend
7. greet 7. way
8. apart

Speaking Assessment
1. They meet at work.
2. Pam says hi, and Bob says hello. They 1. a
shake hands. 2. c
3. Kim lives in New York. Kris lives in 3. c
Texas. 4. b
4. Kris flies to New York. 5. a
5. They hug because they are family/don’t 6. c
see each other often/know each other
well.
6. Coworkers usually shake hands. Family
members and close friends often shake
hands or hug.
 Answer Key: Level 1

Looking Her Best

Understanding
1. Cale wants to look her best because she is starting a new job.
2. The dress code at her new job is clean jeans and a clean shirt.
3. Cale lays her clothes on the bed.
4. Cale looks for spots or stains and any tears on her jeans and shirt.
5. Cale’s clothes fit well. They are not too loose or too tight.

Supplement
Vocabulary Cloze Paragraph: Cale is getting dressed for her first day at a new job. Her workplace has a
dress code for the workers. Everyone must wear clean jeans and a clean shirt with no tears or rips in the
fabric. Cale cannot wear clothes with dark marks or stains from food or bleach. She chooses her clothes
and lays them on the bed to check them over. They look good. Cale puts on her jeans and shirt. Her
clothes are not too big or loose. They are also not too small or tight. She looks at herself in the mirror.
She feels good about what she is wearing. Cale is ready to start her new job.

Fill in the Blank Language

1. lays 1. lies
2. spots/stains 2. lay
3. mirror 3. lay
4. stains/spots 4. lies
5. loose 5. lays
6. tears 6. life
7. dress code
8. tight

Speaking Assessment
1. She has a new job.
1. b
2. She must wear clean jeans and a clean
2. c
shirt.
3. a
3. She lays her clothes on the bed.
4. b
4. She looks for spots/stains and tears.
5. b
5. They are not too loose or too tight.
6. a
6. Cale feels good.