[Reading Comprehension Booklet Class 6]Academic year 2013-14Department of EnglishDPS MIS

[This booklet contains prose and poetry passages and comprehension questions for students to work upon. They are allotted month wise to be completed along with the monthly assignments. A few of the passages could be challenging for the learners comprehension, care will be taken and teachers will guide the learner wherever necessary. ]

[Prose & Poetry Comprehension practice]

Passage No. 1Month June 2013

MARCO POLO

It is difficult to imagine what the world was like in 1254. Europe was living in an age that we call the medieval period. It was the time of castles, knights and nobles, swords and lances and many wars.

It was the time that Marco Polo was born in Venice, Italy. Life in Venice was different than life in most of Europe. Venice was a city of beautiful buildings and water canals. Many merchants brought riches from other countries to trade in Venice. Marco Polos father and uncle were merchants. They had travelled too far-off country called Cathay, now called China. There theyd become friends with the great ruler, Kublai Khan. He invited them to return.

When Marco Polo was seventeen years old, he began a journey to China with his father and uncle. They sailed the Indian Ocean and crossed the deserts and mountains of Asia on camels. The journey to China took three years. Kublai Khan greeted the Polos and showered the gifts. He was especially impressed with Marco, who could speak four languages. Khan sent Marco on many trips through China. On these trips Marco saw many amazing things that hed never seen in Europe such as coal used as fuel, paper-money instead of coins and paper making and printing processes. Marco made many notes about life in China. After almost twenty years in China, the Polos began their journey to Italy. Khan gave them many gifts of ivory, silk, jewels and jade.When they returned to Venice, they found their city at war. Marco Polo was put in prison. He spent his time writing a book about his experience in China. The book is called Descriptions of the World. It became the most popular book in Europe. Because of the book, many people in Europe learned about life in China.

Q1. Choose the correct option. 1. Which of the following best describes Venice during Marco Polos timea. It was just like the rest of Europe.b. It was the unique city with buildings and water canals.c. Very few merchants came to trade in Venice.d. Kublai Khan ruled Venice and all of Italy.

2. Which sentence best states the main idea of this passage?a. Travel to China took a long time in 1254 b. Khan welcomed the Polos when they arrived.c. Marco Polo could speak four languagesd. Marco Polo became famous for writing about his travels to China .

3. Which of the following is not true?

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a. He became a rich merchant.b. The city was at war.c. He was put in prison.d. He wrote a book.

4. Many merchants brought for trading

a. riches from Chinab. riches from Asiac. riches from Europed. riches from other countries

5. Which of these sentences are true?Marco was impressed by

a. paper makingb. coal used as fuelc. paper moneyd. all the above

Q2) Select the words from the passage

1. an antonym of ordinary- ------------------------2. a synonym of a medieval soldier of high rank- --------------------3. a rhyming word for seated- ----------------------------------4. a synonym of emeralds- -------------------

Poem No. 1Month June 2013

1. Read the following poems and answer the questions that follow: -

Is the moon tired? She looks so paleWithin her mist veil;She scales the sky from east to west,And takes no rest

Before the coming of nightThe moon shows papery white;Before the dawning of the dayShe fades away.

Q1) Complete the summary by filling the blanksThe poet feels the moon is ----------------- since she looks -----------The moon is tired because she ------------ the sky from --- to ----------- and does not take any ------ Before ------------- the moon looks ----- and at ------- she --------------- away

Q2) Select the words from the passage

1. an antonym of expose ---------2. an antonym of dusk----------3. a synonym of measure -----------

Passage No. 2Month July 2013

THE RIDDLE OF THE SPHINX

The people of Thebes were afraid. Outside the walls of their ancient city lurked a cunning and terrible monster with a lions body, the wings of a bird and a womans head. It was called the Sphinx. This cruel monster lay in wait on a great rock beside the road to the city, next to a deep ravine and refused to allow any travelers to pass. Whenever someone came along the road the sphinx would ask, Who goes there? in a loud and terrifying voice. The traveler would be so frightened that he couldnt even say his name. The Sphinx would then ask the traveler this riddle.

What goes on four legs, then two legs, then three? Answer my riddle and you will be free. Answer it quickly or dead you will be. If he could answer it, the Sphinx would let him past. But if the traveler didnt reply or gave the wrong answer, the Sphinx leapt upon him and devoured him .The first few times it happened, the people of Thebes were shocked. But it kept on happening and soon they grew very afraid. Thebes is cursed! they cried. How can we bring food into the city if the Sphinx wont let anybody past? The bravest young men of Thebes decided to try their luck at answering the riddle to save their city. But none of the young could answer the riddle and soon there were no young men left in Thebes who were brave enough to try. The people of the city despaired and began to weep and wail in the streets.

Now at this time, the king of Thebes had died and there was no new king to take his place. After a long meeting, the wise men of the city sent out a message saying that any man who could save Thebes from the Sphinx would be made king. At last a youngster tried his luck and answered the riddle. It is man. A man crawls on all fours when he is a baby, walks on two legs when he grows up and when hes old, he walks on three legs because he uses a walking stick.It was a right answer. The Sphinx gave a horrible shriek and threw itself into the deep ravine. But the people never forgot the mysterious Sphinx, and in memory of the monster they built enormous statues of it. One of them remains to this day in Egypt, where it sits guarding the Great Pyramids at Giza.

Q1. Choose the correct option. 1. The Sphinx was a monster which had a. dogs head and a cats body.b. a mans head and a frogs bodyc. a womans head and a lions bodyd. lions head and a mans body

2. The people of Thebes were worried thata. they would drownb. they would starvec. they would burnd. they would fall over

3. There is a statue of the Sphinxa. guarding the Pyramids in Egyptb. outside Buckingham Palacec. in the Colosseum in Rome d. guarding the shops in Egypt

4. The young stranger heard the news of appointing the king soa. he argued with the Sphinx boldlyb. he tried his luckc. he attacked the travellersd. he saved the king and the people

5. This cruel monster lay in wait a. on a great rockb. outside the walls of their cityc. next to a deep ravined. all the above

Q2) Select the words from the passage

1. an antonym of create- ______________________2. a synonym of skulk- ______________________3. a homophone of veil - ______________________4. a synonym of narrow valley- ______________________

Poem No. 2Month July 2013

Mamas handsI saw you hide your hand in line,Behind that lady fair,I noticed too hers soft and white Immaculate for care.But ma, I say its no disgraceTo have working hands like you,And had she lived the life you have,Shed have hands just like it too.

Because her hands have never hauled in wood,Or worked in Gods good earth.Theyve never felt the bitter coldOr chopped ice for waiting stocks,Theyve probably never patched blue jeans,Or had ol worn socks to darn.

Theyve never touched a young oneOr caressed a fevered headWith hands so gentle foldedA night beside his bedSo you see dearest Mama Yours are hand of love,And I bet the lord will noticeWhen he greets you from above.

Q.1 The word immaculate in the poem suggests:a. stained b. spotlessc. impure

2. Pick out the words from the poem which means the same as:a. strokes or patted gentleb. dragged or pulled with lot of efforts

3. Answer the following questions:a. Who does she refer to?b. What kind of hands does she have?c. How are her hands different from Mamas hands?

4. How does the poet feel his mother is going to be appreciated?

5. Which are the words in the poem suggests that the poet is proud and not embarrassed by the way his mother hand looks?

Passage No. 3Month August 2013

Animal Homes

The tailorbird is one of the most skilled nest builders in the world. Its beak is thin and long like a needle, and the bird uses this tool to stitch two leaves together in order to create a pouch for its eggs. The tailorbird uses spiders silk as thread.Termites build towers that may be up to six metres wide. Ten tones of mud collected bit by bit by millions of these insects is made into a mud castle. This castle is guarded by soldier termites.Beavers build their home with wood and mud in lakes and rivers. They cut down trees into pieces by gnawing at the trunks. They drag these pieces into the water and build a dam in order to make a deep pool. They make underwater entrances using sticks and mud. The desert- dwelling elf owl makes its nest inside a cactus. It prefers its cool home to heat of the day. The water spider builds its home under the water. First, it makes a flat web of silk and fixes this to a water weed. Then it catches bubbles of air and carries down to the web. The web looks like a dome when its full of air. The female lays eggs in its waterproof silky tent. How wonderful to see these great architectures!

Q.1 Complete the sentences1. The tailorbird is one of the most skilled nest builders in the world because ---

-------------------------------------------

2. The castle is -------------------------------------- by these termites.

3. --------------------------------------- to remain cool in the desert heat.

4. The eggs are laid in the silky tent ------------------------------ weed.

5. The beavers cut down trees in pieces, ------------------------- and --------------------- dam

Q2) Select the words from the passage

1. smart and good at doing something-------------

2. a unit of measurement--------------

3. an antonym of babies -----------

4. water bodies ------------- and ----------

Poem No. 3Month August 2013

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel bothAnd be one traveller, long I stoodAnd looked down one as far as I couldTo where it bent in the undergrowth:

Then took the other, as just as fair,And having perhaps the better claim,Because it was grassy and wanted wear:Though as for that the passing thereHand worn them really about the same:

And both that morning equally layIn leaves no step had trodden black.Oh, I kept the first for another day,Yet knowing how way leads on to way,I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sighSomewhere ages and ages hence:Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,I took the one less travelled by,And that has made all the difference.Robert FrostQ 1. Select the best option:1. The poet took the other road becausea. it had a long end, b. it was grassyc. it had a bentd. it was black

2. The poet experienced the new road as:a . it was not much walked by anyoneb. it led to many waysc. it was very oldd. a and b

3. Why does the poet tell it with a sigh?a. He sighs with relief that has achieved what he wantedb. He sighs with regret that he has missed somethingc. Both are likelyd. He sighs because he is old

Q.2. Pick out the words from the poema. synonym of walkedb. an antonym of convergec. a prefix d. the other word for forestPassage No. 4Month September 2013

The Great Indian Munch around

When you travel around India, you will find people in each region tucking into something special to their area and to the season. Some good things are found all over India- bananas, mangoes, tamarind, chickpeas, apples, oranges, grapes also seem to travel almost everywhere. However, folks in North, South, East and West India relish many things in different ways in all different seasons.

In North India, people munch their way in winter. Street vendors sprout everywhere busy selling chikki made of peanuts and jaggery, mixed fruit with special spices called chaat with boiled potatoes and a dash of lemon. Rewri and gajak also pass around which is made of jaggery and sesame seeds which helps to warm the blood and keep our bodies fight the cold.

In Assam, the bazaar favourite is jalphai-olives eaten with salt and chilly powder. So are star-shaped slices of the sour, green fruit, kamrak. In Gujarat, they eat a lot of savouries like ganthia, sevpuri with onions, chillies and lemon.In summer, Karnataka people eat jackfruit called-halasu and a special green, raw mango called ginimutikai means mango with a parrot beak shape with salt and red chilli powder and tatlinga, which has the coolest, relishing water in it. In Tamil Nadu, youll find shundal (boiled chickpeas), a lentil savoury eaten.

Spring is time for festivals celebrated all over India. As the monsoon sweep across India in great, wet blasts, jamun, berand guavas are munched. This is the time for tasty corn (bhutta), grilled on little pavement fire and smeared with spices and lemon. So does the Bengali jhalmoodi, a concoction of puffed rice, onions and chillies that can taste like dynamite if youre not careful. Before you realize the coming of next season, the whole delicious cycle of street snacks stars again !

Q.1 Complete the sentences

1. Corn (bhuttas) is eaten after --------------------------------- lemon.

2. The special green mango of Karnataka called------------------------------

--------------------- chilly powder.

3. ------------------------- warm blood and keep our body to restrain cold.

4. Some eatables found all over India are ----------------------------------

5. Olives eaten with salt and chilly powder is called -----------and is eaten by people of -------------

Q-2 Tick the right bubble which has the correct meaning of the phrasesFold overTo collideA little bit

1. A dash of

To cleanMove over a wide areaRun across

2. Sweep across to

Hang up

To put ineating

3. Tucking into

Spring upTake upFill up

4. Sprout everywhere

Poem No. 4Month September 2013

When Frankenstein was just a kid,He ate his greens. Its true. He did!He ate his spinach, salads, peas, Asparagus, and foods like these,And with each leaf and lima beanHis skin became a bit more green.On chives and chard he loved to chew,And Brussels sprouts and peppers too,Until he ate that fateful beansThat turned his skin completely green.He turned all green, and stayed that way,And now he frightens folks away.Poor Frankenstein, his tale is sad,But things need not have been so bad.Its fair to say, if only heHad eaten much less celery,Avoided cabbage, ate no kale,Why, then, wed have a different tale.So, mom and dad, Im here to sayPlease take the vegetables awayOr my fate could be just as grim.Yes, I could end up green like him.So, mom and dad, before we dine,Please give a thought to Frankenstein.

Complete the summary by filling in the blanks:

When Frankenstein was a kid, he loved to eat _________________, ________________, ______________________ and _________________. With each ______________ and ______________, his skin became a bit more green. His skin finally _______________ and now he frightens____________________, the poet says that Frankesteins fate would have been different if he would have eaten less ____________ and avoided ___________ and ______________. The poet concludes that his fate will also be the same if he also eats ______________. So he asks his parents to think about Frankestein before sitting for dinner.

Q2) Select the words from the passage1. unpleasant and depressing2. an adverb3. an abstract noun4. an anagram of late

Passage No. 5Month October 2013

It is bad to have food stuck between your teeth for long periods of time. This is because food attracts germs, germs produce acid, and acid hurts your teeth and gums. Flossing helps to remove the food that gets stuck between your teeth. This explains why flossing helps to keep your mouth healthy, but some doctors say that flossing can be also good for your heart. It may seem strange that something you do for your teeth can have any effect on your heart. Doctors have come up with a few ideas about how flossing works to keep your heart healthy. One idea is that the germs that hurt your teeth can leave the mouth and travel into your blood. Germs that get into the blood can then attack your heart. Another idea is based on the fact that when there are too many germs in your mouth, the body tries to fight against these germs. For some reason, the way the body fights these mouth germs may end up weakening the heart over time. Not every doctor agrees about these ideas. Some doctors think that the link between good flossing habits and good heart health is only a coincidence. A coincidence is the occurrence of two or more events at one time apparently by mere chance. The incidence of these events is completely random, as they do not admit of any reliable cause and effect relationship between them. For example, every time I wash my car, it rains. This does not mean that when I wash my car, the weather changes. This is only a coincidence. Likewise, some doctors think that people who have bad flossing habits just happen to also have heart problems, and people who have good flossing habits just happen to have healthy hearts. The idea that flossing your teeth helps to keep your heart healthy might not be true. But every doctor agrees that flossing is a great way to keep your teeth healthy. So even if flossing does not help your heart, it is sure to help your teeth. This is enough of a reason for everyone to floss their teeth every day.

Q.1 Complete the sentences1. Acid produced by germs ----------------------- gums.2. A coincidence is the ------------------------------------------------.3. Good flossing ------------------------ hearts.4. The teeth attacked by germs can----------------------------------5. Flossing is necessary because ----------------------------------

Q2) Select the words from the passage1. a rhyming word for worms ------------2. a synonym of happening---------------------3. an antonym of mystify----------4. homophone of whether--------5. a prefix ---------

Poem No. 5Month October 2013Memories

Memories from childhood stay with us forever,Taking us where we have been and will go,Pieces of life that live on and will neverLet us forget we were young long ago.Sometimes I wander back into those shadows,Quietly being who I used to be,Bringing to life all the joys and the sorrows,Days that cant die while they still live in me.Holidays linger and happy times glisten;I can see everyone active and well.I can still hear them if only I listen,Feeling each motion and breathing each smell.Life has such treasures that times always stealing;Nothing can ever entirely stay.While you are young, you can capture each feeling;Make all the memories you can every day.

Questions:1. Author takes the perspective of someone who _______.

a. is very youngb. has had a hard lifec. cant remember muchd. is elderly

2. According to the poem, our memories _______.

a. are lost as we ageb. are an important part of who we arec. become less accurate over timed. are not worth recalling

3. The poet says that _______.

a. some memories are happy and some unhappyb. all memories should be happyc. you should forget the pastd. we can change the past by forgetting some things

4. The author suggests that young people should _______.a. ignore their friends and relatives if possibleb. only think about the futurec. appreciate the present to preserve it in their mindsd. try to help others stay active and healthy as they age.5. Find out the homophone of the word quite-----------.6. Which two pair of words are the antonyms of each other in stanza 2?

Passage No. 6Month November 2013MysteriesI might be letting my young son watch too much television. I am certainly watching too many of his programs. They can really be perplexing as they force you to ponder the mysteries of life. For example, when Franklin (the turtle) wanted a pet, his parents didnt want it to be a frog. They felt that frogs belong in a pond. Isn't that where turtles belong?And why is it that Little Bears animal friends can all talk and behave like people, but his friend Emily has a dog that can only bark and fetch? Tell me that isnt a mystery!Dog lovers can be reassured by Kipper and his friends. These dogs are very human. However, the only time they wear clothes is when they put on bathing suits to go swimming. Im confused! Speaking of dogs, could Pluto ever be Goofyspet? I dont get it! What did the great Mr. Disney have in mind? And this is gross! The other day we watched a very nice little pig setting up a picnic. One of the foods was a big ham. Could it have been a soy ham? Is there such a thing? I hope so! Another thing that bothers me: What if Elmo isnt real? He cant be a mere puppet! Hes got a better attitude than most people. I just keep wondering. I think well turn off the TV and go out for a walk. Maybe well run into that mouse who dresses well but certainly doesnt speak as clearly as the average bear.Questions:1. Which word is a synonym of perplexing?

a. boringb. confusingc. humorousd. itchy

2. Which word is a synonym of ponder?

a. avoidb. rememberc. considerd. distant

3. The author thinks its gross when __________.a. a pig has a picnic because pigs are dirty animalsb. a pig eats soy beans because soy beans give pigs gasc. a pig eats ham because ham is too expensive for farm animalsd. a pig eats ham because ham is made from pigs4. The author probably __________.a. believes that Elmo is a real live creatureb. wishes that Elmo were a real live creaturec. feels that Elmo is a very annoying creatured. wont let his son watch Sesame Street5. The author decides that-------------------------------a. theres a TV mouse that should speak more clearlyb. TV mice should not wear good clothesc. bears can really speak more clearly than miced. going for a walk is better than watching television.

Poem No. 6Month November 2013To The Ferryby B.J. Lee

Down we go to Shawshung ferryjust beyond Van Dorens dairy.The man says, Itll be awhile,so into the dairy we all pileand have ourselves an ice cream cone.Thats when we hear the ferrys drone.We run outside down to the slip.The ferrys gone; weve missed our trip.Our mouths turn down; its been our dream,then we go have some more ice cream.Questions:-1. Why do the people in this poem decide to buy ice cream?

a. Because there is an ice cream stand on the ferryb. Because they just finished dinnerc. Because they have extra time before the ferry arrivesd. Because they want to see Mr. Van Doren2. What is a dairy?

a. a book where you write secretsb. place where ice cream and milk products are made or soldc. a large steamboatd. place where a ferry stops3. What is a ferry?

a. a magical, flying, human-like creatureb. an ice cream shop near waterc. a boat that brings foodd. a boat that carries people or automobiles4. What does the word slip mean in this poem?

a. place where boats dockb. to fall downc. to arrive lated. the bottom of a hill5. Turn down is an expression of

a. Disappointmentb. Happinessc. Encouragement6. Find out the antonym of outside.7. Pick out the homophone of the word here.8. Find out the homonym of trip. Give the meaning.Passage No. 7Month January 2014

TreesTrees are a vital part of our life. The cutting of trees means cutting short the human life. Tress not only provides us things such as fuel, fodder, gum and wood for furniture but also help in reducing the atmospheric pollution by maintaining the oxygen-carbon dioxide balance on earth. Trees also provide us fruits and medicine and a habitat to wildlife which is also considered important for mans survival on earth. Trees dont allow the upper fertile layer of the soil to blow or flow away. Thus, they protect the soil from erosion. They cause rain but they also save us from floods. Keeping in mind the benefits of trees all of us should join hands and dedicate ourselves to planting more and more tress with ever-increasing enthusiasm. If human being only understand clearly that mankind will survive on this planet only as long as trees are there, the rest will follow as mans activities will automatically get directed to growing trees and protecting them against the danger of getting destroyed.1. Answer the following questions.1) Name the two solid products which we get from the trees.2) How trees help in reducing the pollution?3) How are trees helpful to wild life?4) How long will human survive on planet?5) Why should man grow more and more trees?2. Give a synonym for each of the following words.

Words Synonyms(a) vital ________________(b) provide ________________(c) reducing ________________(d) maintaining ________________(e) allow _________________3. Give an antonym for each of the following words.

Words Antonyms(a) protect ________________(b) upper ________________(c) fertile ________________(d) balance ________________

Poem No. 7Month January 2014 Patriotism

Breathes there the man with soul so dead,Who never to himself hath said,"This is my own, my native land!"Whose heart hath ne'er within him burnedAs home his footsteps he hath turnedFrom wandering on a foreign strand?If such there breathe, go, mark him well;For him no Minstrel raptures swell;High though his titles, proud his name,Boundless his wealth as wish can claim;Despite those titles, power, and pelf,The wretch, concentred all in self,Living, shall forfeit fair renown,And, doubly dying, shall go downTo the vile dust from whence he sprung,Unwept, unhonoured, and unsung.

1. What is the most likely meaning of the underlined wordpelf, as used in this poem?a. b. powerc. wealthd. stealthe. health

2. What is the poet's main idea in this poem?a. b. Those who become rich must hate their country.c. Traveling abroad helps a person appreciate home.d. Those who do not love their country will not be honoured.e. Patriotism is the last refuge for scoundrels.3. What does the poem mean that such people will be "doubly dying" (three lines from the end)?a. b. They will not die alone.c. They will die physically and also be forgotten.d. Their death will be painful.e. They will die, then rise again.4. What does the underlined wordconcentredmost likely mean?a. b. swirling or curvedc. arrogant, proudd. focused on, concerned withe. looking upward

5. One can infer from this poem that Sir Walter Scotta. b. loved his homeland.c. was from Great Britain.d. hated war.e. spoke many languages.6. Complete the sentences, using the correct form of the words given in brackets:-a. The soldiers fought till the last ------------------of their life. (Breathe)b. ---------------goes before a fall. (Proud)c. The children sang a ------------------song on 15th August. (Patriotism)d. The --------------merchant called up his seven daughters & asked for their wish. (Synonym of Wealthy)

Passage No. 8Month February 2014

Ice Fishing

The first tip for a good day of ice fishing is to wear the right clothes. You should dress in layers. Wear 2 or 3 shirts, so you can take off a layer when you are warm. Wear a face mask, a warm hat with ear flaps over your ears, and warm gloves and boots. The second tip is to stay warm. Some people put up cloth tents when they go ice fishing. Some people own small ice houses where they can stay warm. You can use a small heater inside the tent or outside on the ice. Be sure to take a hot drink like hot chocolate. You should move around to stay warm. Some people take ice skates. The third tip is to check the ice. Look at it carefully. The ice must be 4 or more inches thick. This is the ice rule: Thick and blue, tried and true. Thin and crispy, way too risky. Thick ice is safe for ice fishing. Thin ice is dangerous. The fourth tip is to take the right tools. You need to drill a hole in the ice with an ice drill. Then make the hole bigger with a chopping tool, like an ax. You need to carry your bait in a bait bucket. Use worms or small fish for bait. You need a chair to sit on. Take a folding chair so you can carry it easily. Be sure to take your fish hooks and fishing rod! Pull all your tools on a sled. Take your cell phone. You might need to call for help. The fifth tip is to have a great time!

Questions:1) You need ear flaps over your ears toa. keep water out of your ears.b. protect your ears from noise.c. keep your ears warm.d. Both A and B are correct.2) You should move around toa. keep warm in the cold weather.b. keep from falling in the water.c. scare the large animals away.d. make the fish come to you.3) How should you check the ice?a. Look at the ice carefullyb. Chop a hole in the ice.c. Drill a hole in the ice.d. Skate on the ice.4) What can you use for bait?a. Hot chocolateb. Small fishc. Wormsd. Both B and C are correct.5) How thick must the ice be?a. 2 inchesb. 4 inchesc. 5 inchesd. Both B & C

Vocabulary:1) Tents area. hatsb. bootsc. heatersd. shelters2) Another way to say check isa. look over carefully.b. cut with an ax.c. follow the rule.d. Use the right tool.3) Something that is risky is a. safeb. thickc. crispyd. dangerous4) What is bait?a. Something the fish want to eatb. A kind of pail or bucketc. Something to sit ond. None of the above.5) A folding chair is a chair thata. you should take for ice fishing.b. you can fold to make smaller.c. you can carry easily.d. All of the above.

Poem No. 8Month February 2014The Pied Piper of Hamelienby Robert BrowningInto the street the Piper stept,Smiling first a little smile,As if he knew what magic sleptIn his quiet pipe the while;Then, like a musical adept,To blow his pipe his lips he wrinkled,And green and blue his sharp eyes twinkled.Like a candle-flame where salt is sprinkled;And ere three shrill notes the pipe uttered,You heard as if an army muttered;And the muttering grew to a grumbling;And the grumbling grew to a mighty rumbling;And out of the houses the rats came tumbling.Great rats, small rats, lean rats, brawny rats,Brown rats, black rats, gray rats, tawny rats,Grave old plodders, gay young friskers,Fathers, mothers, uncles, cousins,Cocking tails and pricking whiskers,Families by tens and dozens,Brothers, sisters, husbands, wives,Followed the Piper for their lives.From street to street he piped advancing,And step by step they followed dancing,Until they came to the river Weser,Wherein all plunged and perished!

1. Who is composer of the poem?2. In which river did the Pied Piper drown the rats?3. With what are the sharp eyes of Pied Piper compared?4. Why did the rats follow the Pied Piper?5. Define the rats, which followed the Piper.6. Pick out any two rhyming words from the poem.7. What does the word adept mean?

Passage No. 9Month March 2014

Flags

The first flags were probably in China. People flew flags in China over 4,000 years ago. Each part of the army had its own flag so the soldiers could see their leaders. Early flags were sticks of wood. They had pictures cut into the wood. Iran had metal flags about 3,000 years ago. Old Greek coins show pictures of flags. People in Rome also used flags over 2,000 years ago. People first made flags of cloth about 2,000 years ago. Those flags looked like todays flags. Flags are important at sea. Most ships fly their own countrys flag and the flag of the country they are visiting. When a ship flies only its own flag, it is ready to fight. Every country now has a flag. Every U.S. state has a flag. Clubs, teams, and schools have flags. The Olympics has a flag. The Olympics flag has five rings of five colours. Each ring stands for, or represents, a continent. It means that people from five continents Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America come to play. Railway lines also use flags. Railway flags tell the trains what to do. For example, a red flag tells the train to stop, just like a stop sign. A blue, white, or green flag tells the train that it can go. A blue flag on the side of a train means someone is working on the train. It means nobody can move the train.Questions:1) The first flags were made ofa. woodb. clothc. ringsd. metal2) How many flags do most ships fly?a. 0b. 1c. 2d. 33) The Olympics flag hasa. five ringsb. five coloursc. five countriesd. Both A and B are correct.

4) A white flag tells a train thata. it can go.b. it should stop.c. it has to be careful.d. nobody can move the train.5) People flew the first flagsa. less than 2,000 years ago.b. about 2,000 years ago.c. about 3,000 years agod. more than 4,000 years ago.Vocabulary:1) Another word for cloth isa. colour.b. fabric.c. metal.d. wood.2) Ships area. boats.b. coins.c. flags.d. teams.3) Another way to say represents isa. flies.b. visits.c. works on.d. stands for.4) Continents area. countries.b. kinds of games.c. large pieces of land.d. pictures cut in wood.

Poem No. 9Month March 2014The Spelling Bee

Do you know a Spelling Bee?I know one well, and vow that sheCan spell the names of all the flowersWhose sweet nectar she devours,I took this Spelling Bee with me,and brought her to a spelling bee.I said, This way the world can tellThat you, the Spelling Bee, can spell!She spelled Petunia. Quite divine!And with Dahlia she did fine.Then she missed both Thigh and Thumb,but quickly spelled Chrysanthemum.So I found out that Spelling Beescannot spell all words with ease.For flower names, they spell each one,but other words? They know none.

Questions:

1. Complete the table.

Words the Spelling Bee Spells CorrectlyWords the Spelling Bee Spells Incorrectly

2. What is the genre of this poem?a. historical fiction c. science fictionb. realistic fiction d. fantasy

3. Which word would the Spelling Bee most likely misspell?a. daffodil c. violetb. petal d. buttercup

4. Pick out the synonyms of the following words from the poem:a. Juice b. Comfort

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