Themes List
(Quotations, Mottos, Proverbs and Old Sayings)
Prejudice
Things are not always as they appear.
Things are usually not as bad as you think they will be.
Look for the golden lining.
Beauty is only skin deep.
Prejudice leads to: wrong conclusions, violence, false perceptions, a vicious cycle, oppression.
Don’t judge a book by its cover.
Mercy triumphs over judgment.
Beware of strangers.
People from other cultures are really very much like us.
Look before you leap.
Belief
Believe in yourself. To succeed, we must first believe that we can.
Believe one who has proved it. Believe an expert.
The thing always happens that you really believe in; and the belief in a thing makes it happen.
One needs something to believe in, something for which one can have whole-hearted enthusiasm.
As long as people believe in absurdities, they will continue to commit atrocities.
Moral skepticism can result in distance, coldness, and cruelty.
Change
People are afraid of change but things always change.
Things are usually not as bad as you think they will be. Knowledge can help us prepare for the future.
Forewarned is forearmed.
It is impossible to be certain about things.
Good and Evil
Good triumphs over evil.
Evil is punished and good is rewarded.
Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Bullies can be overcome.
Good manners have positive results.
Greed leads to negative outcomes: suffering, disaster, catastrophe, evil, callousness, arrogance, megalomania.
It is possible to survive against all odds.
Jealousy leads to negative outcomes: guilt, resentment, loneliness, violence, madness.
Good and evil coexist.
Love
Treat others as you want to be treated.
Act kindly without seeking ultimate reasons. Practice random acts of kindness.
Love is blind. Love triumphs over all: hate, selfishness, cruelty, tragedy, death
Love one another.
Love your neighbor.
Non-human animals are beings with rights that deserve protection.
Friends are a person’s most valuable possession.
Blood is thicker than water.
When in love, one must suffer.
Love is a force for happiness and fulfillment.
One should be willing to sacrifice for the person one loves.
Politics
Follow the rules.
Our system of government is better than other systems.
Our system of government would be better if we would change.
Rules are there to protect and help us.
Personal freedoms, like those listed in the United States Bill of Rights, are good and necessary.
Personal freedoms have gone too far and must be curtailed.
Freedom cannot exist without personal responsibility.
Freedom is worth fighting (or dying) for.
Peace is worth fighting (or dying) for.
Our system of government is worth fighting (or dying) for.
Growing up
Growing up is a great time of life.
Growing up is a challenge for everyone.
It takes a village to raise a child.
It takes a family to raise a child.
Good communication between generations leads to: satisfaction, understanding, better relationships, cooperation.
Ambition
Too much ambition leads negative results: self-destruction, envy, greed, neurosis, downfall.
One needs ambition in order to succeed.
Hard work can bring a great reward.
We grow small trying to be great.
Goals are dreams we convert to plans and take action to fulfill.
Courage and Fear
Understanding feelings of cowardice.
Accepting a challenge leads to positive results.
One can be courageous and cowardly at the same time.
Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.
Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear.
Face your fears.
Where fear is present, wisdom cannot be.
I have not ceased being fearful, but I have ceased to let fear control me.
Intentions
Actions speak louder than words.
It’s not the gift that counts.
Don’t cry over spilled milk.
It is difficult to say who does you the most harm: enemies with the worst intentions or friends with the best.
Knowledge
Knowledge is power.
Ignorance is bliss.
Ignorance is never better than knowledge.
If you have knowledge, use it to help others.
Know your enemy.
Too much learning is a dangerous thing.
Be curious always! For knowledge will not acquire you: you must acquire it.
Perseverance
Never give up.
Try, try again.
When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.
The race is not always to the swift, but to those who keep on running.
To protect those who are not able to protect themselves is a duty which every one owes to society.
It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.
Our duty is to be useful, not according to our desires, but according to our powers.
Happiness
Enjoy life while you can.
Happiness is not having what you want. It is wanting what you have.
Happiness is not a station you arrive at, but a manner of traveling.
The Grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.
Happiness depends upon ourselves.
To ease another's heartache is to forget one's own.
Truth
You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can
not fool all of the people all of the time.
Believe those who are seeking the truth; doubt those who find it.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts.
Nothing is easier than self-deceit. For what each man wishes, that he also believes to be true.
The truth which has made us free will in the end make us glad also.
Falsehood is easy, truth so difficult.
Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive!
(Quotations, Mottos, Proverbs and Old Sayings)
Prejudice
Things are not always as they appear.
Things are usually not as bad as you think they will be.
Look for the golden lining.
Beauty is only skin deep.
Prejudice leads to: wrong conclusions, violence, false perceptions, a vicious cycle, oppression.
Don’t judge a book by its cover.
Mercy triumphs over judgment.
Beware of strangers.
People from other cultures are really very much like us.
Look before you leap.
Belief
Believe in yourself. To succeed, we must first believe that we can.
Believe one who has proved it. Believe an expert.
The thing always happens that you really believe in; and the belief in a thing makes it happen.
One needs something to believe in, something for which one can have whole-hearted enthusiasm.
As long as people believe in absurdities, they will continue to commit atrocities.
Moral skepticism can result in distance, coldness, and cruelty.
Change
People are afraid of change but things always change.
Things are usually not as bad as you think they will be. Knowledge can help us prepare for the future.
Forewarned is forearmed.
It is impossible to be certain about things.
Good and Evil
Good triumphs over evil.
Evil is punished and good is rewarded.
Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Bullies can be overcome.
Good manners have positive results.
Greed leads to negative outcomes: suffering, disaster, catastrophe, evil, callousness, arrogance, megalomania.
It is possible to survive against all odds.
Jealousy leads to negative outcomes: guilt, resentment, loneliness, violence, madness.
Good and evil coexist.
Love
Treat others as you want to be treated.
Act kindly without seeking ultimate reasons. Practice random acts of kindness.
Love is blind. Love triumphs over all: hate, selfishness, cruelty, tragedy, death
Love one another.
Love your neighbor.
Non-human animals are beings with rights that deserve protection.
Friends are a person’s most valuable possession.
Blood is thicker than water.
When in love, one must suffer.
Love is a force for happiness and fulfillment.
One should be willing to sacrifice for the person one loves.
Politics
Follow the rules.
Our system of government is better than other systems.
Our system of government would be better if we would change.
Rules are there to protect and help us.
Personal freedoms, like those listed in the United States Bill of Rights, are good and necessary.
Personal freedoms have gone too far and must be curtailed.
Freedom cannot exist without personal responsibility.
Freedom is worth fighting (or dying) for.
Peace is worth fighting (or dying) for.
Our system of government is worth fighting (or dying) for.
Growing up
Growing up is a great time of life.
Growing up is a challenge for everyone.
It takes a village to raise a child.
It takes a family to raise a child.
Good communication between generations leads to: satisfaction, understanding, better relationships, cooperation.
Ambition
Too much ambition leads negative results: self-destruction, envy, greed, neurosis, downfall.
One needs ambition in order to succeed.
Hard work can bring a great reward.
We grow small trying to be great.
Goals are dreams we convert to plans and take action to fulfill.
Courage and Fear
Understanding feelings of cowardice.
Accepting a challenge leads to positive results.
One can be courageous and cowardly at the same time.
Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.
Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear.
Face your fears.
Where fear is present, wisdom cannot be.
I have not ceased being fearful, but I have ceased to let fear control me.
Intentions
Actions speak louder than words.
It’s not the gift that counts.
Don’t cry over spilled milk.
It is difficult to say who does you the most harm: enemies with the worst intentions or friends with the best.
Knowledge
Knowledge is power.
Ignorance is bliss.
Ignorance is never better than knowledge.
If you have knowledge, use it to help others.
Know your enemy.
Too much learning is a dangerous thing.
Be curious always! For knowledge will not acquire you: you must acquire it.
Perseverance
Never give up.
Try, try again.
When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.
The race is not always to the swift, but to those who keep on running.
To protect those who are not able to protect themselves is a duty which every one owes to society.
It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.
Our duty is to be useful, not according to our desires, but according to our powers.
Happiness
Enjoy life while you can.
Happiness is not having what you want. It is wanting what you have.
Happiness is not a station you arrive at, but a manner of traveling.
The Grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.
Happiness depends upon ourselves.
To ease another's heartache is to forget one's own.
Truth
You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can
not fool all of the people all of the time.
Believe those who are seeking the truth; doubt those who find it.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts.
Nothing is easier than self-deceit. For what each man wishes, that he also believes to be true.
The truth which has made us free will in the end make us glad also.
Falsehood is easy, truth so difficult.
Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive!
Lesson: Citing Textual Evidence
Lesson Topic: Cite evidence from a text to support a claim
Question 1:
Read the following passage. Which evidence from the text supports the claim that Leslie is not very active?
Leslie’s favorite spot is his bed. It’s a cozy queen-sized bed, which can be folded into a couch (though
so far there has never been an occasion which required the bed to be folded), layered with soft, warm
quilts and piled with numerous pillows in different sizes and colors. Leslie spends the entire day sprawled
on the bed, his eyes glued to the huge smart plasma TV mounted on the wall of his bedroom. Leslie’s
grandparents can never understand why it’s called the “smart” TV.
A. Leslie's bed can be folded into a couch but never has been.
B. Leslie's bed has numerous pillows in different sizes and colors.
C. Leslie has a plasma TV mounted on the wall of his bedroom.
D. Leslie spends the entire day sprawled on his bed.
Question 2:
Review the following passage. Which evidence from the text best supports the claim that Leslie's bed is
particularly comfortable?
A.Leslie's bed has soft warm quilts and numerous pillows.
B. Leslie's bed can be folded into a couch but never has been.
C. Leslie has a plasma TV mounted on the wall of his bedroom.
D. Leslie's grandparents do not understand his love of television.
Question 3:
Read the following passage. Which sentence from the text supports the claim that Leslie is only dragged
from his bed by necessity?
With so much comfort available within the four walls of his bedroom, Leslie does not see the need to
step out of his room. As a matter of fact, the only reason Leslie budges from his bed is to answer the call
of nature which, as you know, could result in something pretty embarrassing if ignored for too long. And
therefore, when the calls come knocking, Leslie reluctantly drags his feet—at a pace slower than a
tortoise—to the bathroom, which is located just a few steps away from his bed. As soon as he has eased
himself, Leslie immediately returns to his favorite spot and resumes his three favorite activities: eating,
sleeping, and watching TV.
A. Leslie does not see the need to step out of his room.
B. The only reason Leslie budges from his bed is to answer the call of nature.
C. Leslie reluctantly drags his feet at a pace slower than a tortoise.
D.Leslie's three favorite activities are eating, sleeping, and watching TV.
Question 4:
Read the following passage. Which evidence supports the claim that Leslie has a sense of imagination?
You see, Leslie is the only child. Since he does not have siblings to play with, he spent most of his
early childhood watching cartoons and creating make-believe friends out of the cartoon characters. Due
to the large amount of time spent in front of the TV, Leslie was able to operate it independently by the
time he was three years old. His parents were, initially, impressed by their son’s inborn talent. After a
while, their admiration began to dwindle as they became conscious that their son is transforming into a
“TV buff.” Leslie refuses to go for outings or partake in any activities that will require him to spend time
away from the TV.
A. He created make-believe friends out of cartoon characters.
B.He refuses to leave the TV for outings or activities.
C.His parents are no longer impressed by his talents.
D.He is an only child and has no siblings to play with.
Question 5:
Review the following passage. Which sentence provides evidence to support the claim that Leslie's parents
experienced a change of opinion about him?
You see, Leslie is the only child. Since he does not have siblings to play with, he spent most of his
early childhood watching cartoons and creating make-believe friends out of the cartoon characters. Due
to the large amount of time spent in front of the TV, Leslie was able to operate it independently by the
time he was three years old. His parents were, initially, impressed by their son’s inborn talent. After a
while, their admiration began to dwindle as they became conscious that their son is transforming into a
“TV buff.” Leslie refuses to go for outings or partake in any activities that will require him to spend time
away from the TV.
A. Since he does not have siblings to play with, he spent most of his early childhood
watching cartoons and creating make-believe friends out of the cartoon characters.
B. Due to the large amount of time spent in front of the TV, Leslie was able to operate it
independently by the time he was three years old.
C.After a while, their admiration began to dwindle as they became conscious that their
son is transforming into a "TV buff."
D. Leslie refuses to go for outings or partake in any activities that will require him to spend
time away from the TV.
Lesson Topic: Make inferences about a text
Question 6:
Read te following passage. What can you infer about the citizens of Leslie's town?
The blackout sends a wave of panic throughout the small town. People start digging into storage
boxes and dusty attics, looking for candles and items that can be used to ignite fire. It is indeed a trying
time for the citizens of the small town. But no one is more affected than poor Leslie. He looks at the TV
teary eyed. He taps it once, he kicks it twice, but the screen remains blank.
A.The citizens enjoy setting fires and watching things burn.
B. The citizens are used to dealing with blackouts and know the correct procedures to use
when one occurs.
C. The citizens are dependent upon electricity in their daily lives and do not know how to
live without it.
D.The citizens are all concerned about Leslie and the fact that he is unable to turn on his
television as he normally would.
Question 7:
Read the following passage. What can you infer about the reason that Leslie stops eating?
After failing to turn on the TV, Leslie then resorts to his second favorite activity: sleeping. He sleeps on
and on, waking up only at intervals to eat food. His parents tiptoe around the house, afraid of waking him.
But, as you are aware, a person can only sleep for so long. Leslie starts awake the next morning,
suddenly aware that he no longer wants to sleep.
Leslie begins in earnest upon his third favorite activity. He eats breakfast, then second breakfast, and
then third breakfast. Then he stops. He stares sadly at his stomach.
Leslie is full; there is no more room in his stomach.
Leslie is still hungry, but there is no food left.
Leslie wants to go back to sleep again.
Leslie is afraid that his parents will notice him eating.
Question 3:
Read the following passage. What can you infer about the trees?
Leslie stands up from the table and begins pacing. He has nothing left to do until the blackout ends,
which could be days! Bored, he notices that it is uncomfortably hot in the kitchen. He wanders into the
living room, but the air is no better. Without the air conditioner, his house keeps getting warmer during the
day time. It is the middle of summer and the sun streams in through the window. Leslie looks out the
window and notices that the trees seem to be dancing outside. They beckon to him.
The trees want Leslie to water them.
The trees are dying in the smoldering heat.
The trees are moving because of the wind.
The trees have learned to move on their own.
Question 4:
Read the following passage. What can you infer about the door to Leslie's home?
Leslie does the unexpected. His parents’ jaws nearly drop to the floor when they see their son making
his way towards the main entrance of their house. They stare wide-eyed as he walks up to the door. They
hold their breath as he puts his hand on the purple doorknob. And they nearly choke with tears when he
pushes the door open and puts his right foot out, stepping into the real world. “Our son has finally
emerged from his cocoon,” says Mrs. Andrew. Her husband just nods, too surprised to talk.
The door is painted an odd shade of purple.
The door is difficult to open and never used.
The door is a portal into another world where Leslie is a butterfly.
The door is never or almost never opened by Leslie.
Question 5:
Read the following passage. What can you infer about the reason for Leslie's tears?
Outside his house, Leslie is greeted by the glare of the sun. It is too much for Leslie, who cannot recall
the last time he was exposed to direct sunlight. He blocks his face with both his hands. His eyes become
teary. He wipes them with the long sleeves of his pajamas. Then he experiences something wonderful
that makes him take a few steps forward. A gust of wind blows on his face, cooling him immediately.
Leslie cries because he is overwhelmed by the awesome beauty of nature.
Leslie cries because he wants to be inside watching the TV.
Leslie cries because his eyes are not accustomed to strong, natural light.
Leslie cries because he is embarrassed to be outside in his pajamas.
Lesson Topic: Cite evidence from a text to support an inference
Question 1:
Which piece of evidence from the text supports the claim that Leslie is intimidated by Melissa's knowledge?
“Do you live here? I have never seen you before,” Melissa says.
Leslie blinks. “Yes, I live there—the purple house, No. 7, but I rarely come out,” he replies pointing to
his house.
“Oh! What a pity we did not meet earlier. I moved to this neighborhood eight months ago, and I rarely
have friends to play with,” Melissa responds. Suddenly, Leslie feels a flutter on his arm. He turns to see a
pretty thing with fluttering wings nestled on his arm.
“Butterfly! What a beautiful butterfly!” whispers Melissa excitedly.
“Is that what it is? Is this a butterfly?” asks Leslie, as he peers at the two dark circles on each of the
butterfly’s wings.
“Of course, silly! Don’t tell me you have never seen a butterfly before?” asks Melissa with a grin.
Leslie does not answer immediately. He has seen butterflies before, but not real ones, just the ones
on the TV screen. He could not possibly tell this to his new friend who seems to know so much about
nature. She may laugh at him.
Leslie is afraid to tell Melissa that he has never seen a real butterfly before because
she knows so much about nature that she may laugh at him.
Leslie is unable to identify the pretty thing with fluttering wings that lands on his arm
while he is in the midst of talking to Melissa.
Leslie rarely comes out of his house, so he has never met Melissa even though they
live in the same neighborhood.
Leslie studies the butterfly carefully, taking note of the two dark circles on each of the
butterfly's wings.
Question 2:
Which piece of evidence supports the claim that the woman who Leslie sees is Melissa's mother?
“Melissa! Melissa!” A woman, who looks like an exact replica of Melissa (except taller), is walking
toward them pushing a baby in a stroller. “Come on, Melissa! We need to get going.”
“Parents!” laughs Melissa as she turns to go. Leslie just watches as they walk to the end of the purple
row of houses, turn around the corner and disappear from his sight.
“But, wait!” shouts Leslie, a bit too late. No one could hear him now.
The woman knows Melissa's name.
The woman is pushing a baby in a stroller.
Melissa refers to her when she says, "Parents!"
The woman looks like Melissa.
Question 3:
Which piece of evidence from the text supports the claim that Leslie's response to his father is
uncharacteristic?
“Leslie, we just heard a very good news,’ says Mr. Andrew as soon as he sees his son. “I just got a call
from the Electricity Board. The electricity will be restored tomorrow morning,” says Mr. Andrew with a shrill
in his voice.
“Oh!” mumbles Leslie, as he climbs the spiral staircase leading to his bedroom upstairs.
“Honey! Are you ok?” He hears his mother’s concerned voice, but he does not reply. Once he is inside
his room, he flings open the only window. The row of indigo houses greets him. Just as he is about to
close the window again, a butterfly flies in and sits on the window sill. Soon, three more butterflies join it.
And as he watches, he hears a weird sound— too-woot-too. An owl peeps at him from its hiding behind
the flourishing green leaves of the apple tree in their house compound. The tree is full of ripe apples.
Leslie hears a weird sound after he makes his reply.
Leslie's mother is concerned when she hears his answer.
Mr. Andrew has good news for Leslie about the electricity.
Leslie looks out the window when he gets to his room.
Question 4:
Which piece of evidence from the text supports the claim that Leslie is not happy to have the electricity
back?
The following morning, just as Mr. Andrew said, the electricity is restored. Leslie can hear the sound of
the blender and microwave in the kitchen, the sound of the washing machine twirling in the bathroom,
and the sound of stereo blasting in the hall. He opens the window and sighs deeply, for the sound of the
household appliances has drowned out the sound of nature. He stares blankly, and then he smiles. He
can just go outside again.
Leslie reaches out of the window and grabs a juicy red apple from the tree nearby. He munches on it
happily as he observes the tiny ants at work on one of the tree branches.
Leslie sighs deeply when he hears the appliances.
Leslie watches the tiny ants at work on the tree.
Leslie can hear many different kinds of machines.
Leslie reaches out of the window for an apple.
Question 5:
Which piece of evidence from the text supports the claim that Melissa enjoys spending time with Leslie?
Leslie's parents are delighted when he spends the entire day outside exploring nature and basking in
the warm sun. He begins to explore all the streets of the town. Guess what? When he reaches the first
house on the first row, his heart skips a beat. He sees Melissa playing with a small baby in front of the
house. It’s her house.
Everyday Leslie will walk all the way to Melissa’s house. The TV does not interest Leslie anymore. He
has found a much better way to spend his time. Even better, he has found a friend who laughs with him.
Leslie's parents are delighted when he explores.
Melissa is a friend who laughs with Leslie.
Melissa lives in the first house on the first row.
Television does not interest Leslie anymore.
Lesson Topic: Cite evidence from a text to support a claim
Question 1:
Read the following passage. Which evidence from the text supports the claim that Leslie is not very active?
Leslie’s favorite spot is his bed. It’s a cozy queen-sized bed, which can be folded into a couch (though
so far there has never been an occasion which required the bed to be folded), layered with soft, warm
quilts and piled with numerous pillows in different sizes and colors. Leslie spends the entire day sprawled
on the bed, his eyes glued to the huge smart plasma TV mounted on the wall of his bedroom. Leslie’s
grandparents can never understand why it’s called the “smart” TV.
A. Leslie's bed can be folded into a couch but never has been.
B. Leslie's bed has numerous pillows in different sizes and colors.
C. Leslie has a plasma TV mounted on the wall of his bedroom.
D. Leslie spends the entire day sprawled on his bed.
Question 2:
Review the following passage. Which evidence from the text best supports the claim that Leslie's bed is
particularly comfortable?
A.Leslie's bed has soft warm quilts and numerous pillows.
B. Leslie's bed can be folded into a couch but never has been.
C. Leslie has a plasma TV mounted on the wall of his bedroom.
D. Leslie's grandparents do not understand his love of television.
Question 3:
Read the following passage. Which sentence from the text supports the claim that Leslie is only dragged
from his bed by necessity?
With so much comfort available within the four walls of his bedroom, Leslie does not see the need to
step out of his room. As a matter of fact, the only reason Leslie budges from his bed is to answer the call
of nature which, as you know, could result in something pretty embarrassing if ignored for too long. And
therefore, when the calls come knocking, Leslie reluctantly drags his feet—at a pace slower than a
tortoise—to the bathroom, which is located just a few steps away from his bed. As soon as he has eased
himself, Leslie immediately returns to his favorite spot and resumes his three favorite activities: eating,
sleeping, and watching TV.
A. Leslie does not see the need to step out of his room.
B. The only reason Leslie budges from his bed is to answer the call of nature.
C. Leslie reluctantly drags his feet at a pace slower than a tortoise.
D.Leslie's three favorite activities are eating, sleeping, and watching TV.
Question 4:
Read the following passage. Which evidence supports the claim that Leslie has a sense of imagination?
You see, Leslie is the only child. Since he does not have siblings to play with, he spent most of his
early childhood watching cartoons and creating make-believe friends out of the cartoon characters. Due
to the large amount of time spent in front of the TV, Leslie was able to operate it independently by the
time he was three years old. His parents were, initially, impressed by their son’s inborn talent. After a
while, their admiration began to dwindle as they became conscious that their son is transforming into a
“TV buff.” Leslie refuses to go for outings or partake in any activities that will require him to spend time
away from the TV.
A. He created make-believe friends out of cartoon characters.
B.He refuses to leave the TV for outings or activities.
C.His parents are no longer impressed by his talents.
D.He is an only child and has no siblings to play with.
Question 5:
Review the following passage. Which sentence provides evidence to support the claim that Leslie's parents
experienced a change of opinion about him?
You see, Leslie is the only child. Since he does not have siblings to play with, he spent most of his
early childhood watching cartoons and creating make-believe friends out of the cartoon characters. Due
to the large amount of time spent in front of the TV, Leslie was able to operate it independently by the
time he was three years old. His parents were, initially, impressed by their son’s inborn talent. After a
while, their admiration began to dwindle as they became conscious that their son is transforming into a
“TV buff.” Leslie refuses to go for outings or partake in any activities that will require him to spend time
away from the TV.
A. Since he does not have siblings to play with, he spent most of his early childhood
watching cartoons and creating make-believe friends out of the cartoon characters.
B. Due to the large amount of time spent in front of the TV, Leslie was able to operate it
independently by the time he was three years old.
C.After a while, their admiration began to dwindle as they became conscious that their
son is transforming into a "TV buff."
D. Leslie refuses to go for outings or partake in any activities that will require him to spend
time away from the TV.
Lesson Topic: Make inferences about a text
Question 6:
Read te following passage. What can you infer about the citizens of Leslie's town?
The blackout sends a wave of panic throughout the small town. People start digging into storage
boxes and dusty attics, looking for candles and items that can be used to ignite fire. It is indeed a trying
time for the citizens of the small town. But no one is more affected than poor Leslie. He looks at the TV
teary eyed. He taps it once, he kicks it twice, but the screen remains blank.
A.The citizens enjoy setting fires and watching things burn.
B. The citizens are used to dealing with blackouts and know the correct procedures to use
when one occurs.
C. The citizens are dependent upon electricity in their daily lives and do not know how to
live without it.
D.The citizens are all concerned about Leslie and the fact that he is unable to turn on his
television as he normally would.
Question 7:
Read the following passage. What can you infer about the reason that Leslie stops eating?
After failing to turn on the TV, Leslie then resorts to his second favorite activity: sleeping. He sleeps on
and on, waking up only at intervals to eat food. His parents tiptoe around the house, afraid of waking him.
But, as you are aware, a person can only sleep for so long. Leslie starts awake the next morning,
suddenly aware that he no longer wants to sleep.
Leslie begins in earnest upon his third favorite activity. He eats breakfast, then second breakfast, and
then third breakfast. Then he stops. He stares sadly at his stomach.
Leslie is full; there is no more room in his stomach.
Leslie is still hungry, but there is no food left.
Leslie wants to go back to sleep again.
Leslie is afraid that his parents will notice him eating.
Question 3:
Read the following passage. What can you infer about the trees?
Leslie stands up from the table and begins pacing. He has nothing left to do until the blackout ends,
which could be days! Bored, he notices that it is uncomfortably hot in the kitchen. He wanders into the
living room, but the air is no better. Without the air conditioner, his house keeps getting warmer during the
day time. It is the middle of summer and the sun streams in through the window. Leslie looks out the
window and notices that the trees seem to be dancing outside. They beckon to him.
The trees want Leslie to water them.
The trees are dying in the smoldering heat.
The trees are moving because of the wind.
The trees have learned to move on their own.
Question 4:
Read the following passage. What can you infer about the door to Leslie's home?
Leslie does the unexpected. His parents’ jaws nearly drop to the floor when they see their son making
his way towards the main entrance of their house. They stare wide-eyed as he walks up to the door. They
hold their breath as he puts his hand on the purple doorknob. And they nearly choke with tears when he
pushes the door open and puts his right foot out, stepping into the real world. “Our son has finally
emerged from his cocoon,” says Mrs. Andrew. Her husband just nods, too surprised to talk.
The door is painted an odd shade of purple.
The door is difficult to open and never used.
The door is a portal into another world where Leslie is a butterfly.
The door is never or almost never opened by Leslie.
Question 5:
Read the following passage. What can you infer about the reason for Leslie's tears?
Outside his house, Leslie is greeted by the glare of the sun. It is too much for Leslie, who cannot recall
the last time he was exposed to direct sunlight. He blocks his face with both his hands. His eyes become
teary. He wipes them with the long sleeves of his pajamas. Then he experiences something wonderful
that makes him take a few steps forward. A gust of wind blows on his face, cooling him immediately.
Leslie cries because he is overwhelmed by the awesome beauty of nature.
Leslie cries because he wants to be inside watching the TV.
Leslie cries because his eyes are not accustomed to strong, natural light.
Leslie cries because he is embarrassed to be outside in his pajamas.
Lesson Topic: Cite evidence from a text to support an inference
Question 1:
Which piece of evidence from the text supports the claim that Leslie is intimidated by Melissa's knowledge?
“Do you live here? I have never seen you before,” Melissa says.
Leslie blinks. “Yes, I live there—the purple house, No. 7, but I rarely come out,” he replies pointing to
his house.
“Oh! What a pity we did not meet earlier. I moved to this neighborhood eight months ago, and I rarely
have friends to play with,” Melissa responds. Suddenly, Leslie feels a flutter on his arm. He turns to see a
pretty thing with fluttering wings nestled on his arm.
“Butterfly! What a beautiful butterfly!” whispers Melissa excitedly.
“Is that what it is? Is this a butterfly?” asks Leslie, as he peers at the two dark circles on each of the
butterfly’s wings.
“Of course, silly! Don’t tell me you have never seen a butterfly before?” asks Melissa with a grin.
Leslie does not answer immediately. He has seen butterflies before, but not real ones, just the ones
on the TV screen. He could not possibly tell this to his new friend who seems to know so much about
nature. She may laugh at him.
Leslie is afraid to tell Melissa that he has never seen a real butterfly before because
she knows so much about nature that she may laugh at him.
Leslie is unable to identify the pretty thing with fluttering wings that lands on his arm
while he is in the midst of talking to Melissa.
Leslie rarely comes out of his house, so he has never met Melissa even though they
live in the same neighborhood.
Leslie studies the butterfly carefully, taking note of the two dark circles on each of the
butterfly's wings.
Question 2:
Which piece of evidence supports the claim that the woman who Leslie sees is Melissa's mother?
“Melissa! Melissa!” A woman, who looks like an exact replica of Melissa (except taller), is walking
toward them pushing a baby in a stroller. “Come on, Melissa! We need to get going.”
“Parents!” laughs Melissa as she turns to go. Leslie just watches as they walk to the end of the purple
row of houses, turn around the corner and disappear from his sight.
“But, wait!” shouts Leslie, a bit too late. No one could hear him now.
The woman knows Melissa's name.
The woman is pushing a baby in a stroller.
Melissa refers to her when she says, "Parents!"
The woman looks like Melissa.
Question 3:
Which piece of evidence from the text supports the claim that Leslie's response to his father is
uncharacteristic?
“Leslie, we just heard a very good news,’ says Mr. Andrew as soon as he sees his son. “I just got a call
from the Electricity Board. The electricity will be restored tomorrow morning,” says Mr. Andrew with a shrill
in his voice.
“Oh!” mumbles Leslie, as he climbs the spiral staircase leading to his bedroom upstairs.
“Honey! Are you ok?” He hears his mother’s concerned voice, but he does not reply. Once he is inside
his room, he flings open the only window. The row of indigo houses greets him. Just as he is about to
close the window again, a butterfly flies in and sits on the window sill. Soon, three more butterflies join it.
And as he watches, he hears a weird sound— too-woot-too. An owl peeps at him from its hiding behind
the flourishing green leaves of the apple tree in their house compound. The tree is full of ripe apples.
Leslie hears a weird sound after he makes his reply.
Leslie's mother is concerned when she hears his answer.
Mr. Andrew has good news for Leslie about the electricity.
Leslie looks out the window when he gets to his room.
Question 4:
Which piece of evidence from the text supports the claim that Leslie is not happy to have the electricity
back?
The following morning, just as Mr. Andrew said, the electricity is restored. Leslie can hear the sound of
the blender and microwave in the kitchen, the sound of the washing machine twirling in the bathroom,
and the sound of stereo blasting in the hall. He opens the window and sighs deeply, for the sound of the
household appliances has drowned out the sound of nature. He stares blankly, and then he smiles. He
can just go outside again.
Leslie reaches out of the window and grabs a juicy red apple from the tree nearby. He munches on it
happily as he observes the tiny ants at work on one of the tree branches.
Leslie sighs deeply when he hears the appliances.
Leslie watches the tiny ants at work on the tree.
Leslie can hear many different kinds of machines.
Leslie reaches out of the window for an apple.
Question 5:
Which piece of evidence from the text supports the claim that Melissa enjoys spending time with Leslie?
Leslie's parents are delighted when he spends the entire day outside exploring nature and basking in
the warm sun. He begins to explore all the streets of the town. Guess what? When he reaches the first
house on the first row, his heart skips a beat. He sees Melissa playing with a small baby in front of the
house. It’s her house.
Everyday Leslie will walk all the way to Melissa’s house. The TV does not interest Leslie anymore. He
has found a much better way to spend his time. Even better, he has found a friend who laughs with him.
Leslie's parents are delighted when he explores.
Melissa is a friend who laughs with Leslie.
Melissa lives in the first house on the first row.
Television does not interest Leslie anymore.
Standard: I can integrate information presented in different formats to better understand a topic or issue.
When have we discussed this topic before? How does this review build on what we already learned about this standard?
Why is this an important standard? How will we use it in our lives?
Mount St. Helens
Video 1: "Mount Saint Helens" - Smithsonian Channel
https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video;_ylt=A0SO81PncM5Ww0IArJBXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE0NDhyamc3BGNvbG8DZ3ExBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDQjExNzhfMQRzZWMDcGl2cw--?p=mt+st+helens&fr=yfp-t-458&fr2=piv-web#id=15&vid=47a4d047ea319aeb161b8bdfaac96c8a&action=view
Video 2: "The Eruption of Mount Saint Helens" - ArtistsDirect.com
http://www.artistdirect.com/video/the-eruption-of-mount-st-helens/62563
![Picture](/uploads/5/8/2/4/58246667/3447798.jpg?186)
Mt. St. Helens
The 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens is the most studied volcanic eruption of the twentieth century. Although most people were unaware of the potential for such a violent display of volcanism in the contiguous U.S., volcanologists were keenly aware of the potential danger.
Months before it erupted, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) established a base of operations at Vancouver, Washington to monitor the volcano. On May 18, survey volcanologist David Johnston was camping on Coldwater Ridge, only a few miles north of Mt. St. Helens. The eruption occurred that morning. At 8:32 a.m., Johnston radioed the USGS base and exclaimed "Vancouver, Vancouver, this is it!" The ensuing volcanic blast devastated the northern flank of the volcano, killing Johnston and 56 other victims.
At the same time, geologists Keith and Dorothy Stoffel were flying in a light plane only 400 meters above the summit of Mt. St. Helens. From their vantage point, they witnessed one of the largest landslides ever recorded in historic times. Seconds later, a massive explosion shot out the north side of the volcano, toward Coldwater Ridge and Spirit Lake. The explosion generated a billowing cloud with numerous lightning bolts thousands of meters high. The cloud began to expand rapidly toward their aircraft and appeared to be gaining on them, but by turning south they managed to outrun it and survive.
http://www.geology.sdsu.edu/how_volcanoes_work/Sthelens.html
Timeline of Eruption
March 20, 1980: A shallow 4.1 magnitude earthquake rumbles beneath Mount St. Helens, signaling its latest reawakening. Earthquake activity increases over the next few days.
March 27, 1980: A loud boom and a puff of ash and smoke mark the first eruption in 123 years.
April 30, 1980: A growing bulge on the north flank of the volcano concerns scientists.
May 18, 1980: A 5.1-magnitude earthquake a mile beneath the summit triggers the largest landslide in recorded history, followed by a lateral blast and mudflow that leveled 230 square miles of forest, killed 57 people and caused billions of dollars in property damage. An ash plume reached 80,000 feet in less than 10 minutes and the ash fallout covered 22,000 square miles.
1980-86: Lava from ongoing eruptions adds 97 million cubic yards of material to the crater floor.
2004-2008: An additional 125 million cubic yards of material spills onto the crater floor, enough to pave seven highway lanes three feet thick from Portland to New York City. Since 1980, about seven percent of the crater created by the 1980 eruption has refilled with lava.
February 2008-present: Mount St. Helens has been quiet.
Source: United States Geological Survey
Read more here: http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/special-reports/ article25859035.html#storylink=cpy
![Picture](/uploads/5/8/2/4/58246667/5940006.jpg?1456379237)
Map of Mount St. Helens' Ash
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