Debra J. Housel, M.S. Ed. Author

Transcription

1 Editor Eric Migliaccio Managing Editor Ina Massler Levin, M.A. Editor-in-Chief Sharon Coan, M.S. Ed. Illustrator Bruce Hedges Cover Artist Brenda DiAntonis Art Coordinator Kevin Barnes Imaging Rosa C. See Product Manager Phil Garcia Publisher Mary D. Smith, M.S. Ed. Author Debra J. Housel, M.S. Ed. Teacher Created Resources, Inc Industry Way Westminster, CA ISBN: Teacher Created Resources, Inc. Reprinted, 20 Made in U.S.A. The classroom teacher may reproduce copies of materials in this book for classroom use only. The reproduction of any part for an entire school or school system is strictly prohibited. No part of this publication may be transmitted, stored, or recorded in any form without written permission from the publisher.

2 Table of Contents Introduction Meeting Standards and Benchmarks How to Use This Book Achievement Graph Practice Passages The Battle Against Germs Volatile Volcanoes Science Passages The Father of Genetics Why Do Animals Act the Way They Do? The Water Cycle Your Remarkable Body Sun Storms Diamonds: The Gems from Deep in the Earth Geography Passages Brr! The Ice Ages Look Out for Lightning! Fire Fuels the Cycle of Life The Census Counts Terrifying Tsunamis Lake Erie s Struggle to Survive History Passages The California Gold Rush The Battle of Midway The Berlin Wall Let There be Light! Satellites Mexico: Past and Present Answer Key #3386 Nonfiction Reading Comprehension Grade 6 2 Teacher Created Resources, Inc.

3 Science Passages Science Standard: Understands the scientific enterprise Benchmark: Knows that throughout history, many scientific innovators have had difficulty breaking through accepted ideas of their time to reach conclusions that are now considered common knowledge The Father of Genetics In 1822 Gregor Mendel was born on a farm in Austria. His father encouraged Mendel s fascination with plants. He knew that his son was intelligent, and he wanted him to have a good education. So he sent Mendel to high school. At that time few people attended high school, and those who did lived there. However, since his father could not pay the full tuition, Mendel received no food. He always felt hungry, but he survived because the other students gave him the scraps from their plates. As an adult Mendel became a monk and continued his studies. He tended the gardens at the monastery where he and the other monks lived. He did experiments with pea plants for eight years. He wanted to prove that parents passed characteristics to their offspring. Over time he found that plants have genes. Genes carry codes for features from one generation to the next. Around 1860 Mendel discovered recessive and dominant genes. Dominant genes showed up the most often in offspring. Recessive genes only showed up occasionally and only when both parents carried the gene for the trait. How did he figure this out? He bred a tall pea plant with a short pea plant. Every one of the first generation of four pea plants was tall. This meant that tall was the dominant gene. Yet in the next generation of four pea plants, one plant was very short. The recessive short genes it received from both of its parent plants had made it short. Eager to share his finding with others, he wrote a paper. No one paid any attention to it. During his lifetime no one cared about what he had discovered. At the time of his death, he still felt frustrated because his knowledge went unrecognized. Finally, his important discovery was recognized in We now know that both plants and animals have genes and that genes play a major role in how we look, how we act, and whether or not we are apt to get certain diseases. Today, Gregor Mendel is called the Father of Genetics. #3386 Nonfiction Reading Comprehension Grade 6 12 Teacher Created Resources, Inc.

4 The Father of Genetics (cont.) Comprehension Questions Science Passages 1. Scientists acknowledged Mendel s discovery about genetics worldwide a before his death. b more than 100 years after he figured it out. c during the 19th century. d just last year. 2. On a historical timeline, what happened second? a Mendel learned how parents pass genes to offspring. b Mendel became a monk. c Mendel conducted extensive plant experiments. d Mendel wrote a paper to share his discoveries. 3. Mendel found out that when both parents carry a recessive gene, a there is a strong chance that their child will inherit the trait. b there is some chance that their child will inherit the trait. c there is no chance that their child will inherit the trait. d their child will definitely inherit the trait. 4. Which is an example of tuition? a finishing a school project on time b knowing something is going to happen before it happens c buying food in a restaurant d spending money on school courses 5. How do you think Mendel felt about the students who gave him their scraps? a overjoyed c grateful b annoyed d disgusted 6. Picture Mendel writing the paper about his findings. What is he using? a a quill pen c a ball-point pen b a word processor d a marker 7. Should scientists continue to study genetics? Explain. Teacher Created Resources, Inc. 13 #3386 Nonfiction Reading Comprehension Grade 6

5 Science Passages Science Standard: Understands the genetic basis for the transfer of biological characteristics from one generation to the next Benchmark: Knows that the characteristics of an organism can be described in terms of a combination of traits; some traits are inherited and others result from interactions with the environment Why Do Animals Act the Way They Do? All animal behavior comes from instincts, learning, or reasoning. Instinctive behavior comes from reflexes and the urge to survive and reproduce. Every newborn has reflexes. Reflexes happen automatically, without conscious thought. If you pick up something that s very hot, you will immediately drop it. You don t have to think about it, and no one has to tell you to do it. In fact, the pain message doesn t even make it to your brain before you react. Your spinal cord triggers your reflex reaction to pain. Every animal wants to stay alive. When an animal feels fear, it fights or flees. Depending on the enemy, the animal will fight or run away. To protect her pups, a mother walrus will attack a polar bear. A squirrel will run up a tree to elude a fox. Species would die off without the urge to reproduce. This instinct causes animals to mate. Some animals, like birds, also have an instinct to care for their young. Birds sit on their eggs until they hatch. They bring food to the babies, and they chase away predators that approach the nest. Mammals take care of their young, too. Unlike instincts, learning comes from experience. Learning helps a species to survive. For example, if a heron finds a good spot to catch frogs, it will repeatedly return to the same place. Animals learn through imitation, too. Birds learn to fly by watching their parents. Lions and other predators teach their babies how to hunt for food. All animals have instincts and many animals can learn, but few can reason. Animals that can reason can think about what to do the first time they encounter a situation. A seeing-eye dog knows how to guide a blind person safely down a sidewalk, but it must use reason to figure out what to do in a new, unusual situation. For example, the dog must decide what to do when it comes to a car that s completely blocking the sidewalk. So far, scientists have discovered that humans, dogs, chimpanzees, porpoises, and dolphins can reason. #3386 Nonfiction Reading Comprehension Grade 6 14 Teacher Created Resources, Inc.

6 Why Do Animals Act the Way They Do? (cont.) Science Passages 1. Which animal can reason? Comprehension Questions a cats c lions b herons d dolphins 2. Read all of the statements. Decide what happens third. a b c d The polar bear goes away. The polar bear tries to snatch the infant. The mother walrus attacks the polar bear with her tusks. A polar bear sees a baby walrus. 3. What s an example of a human reflex? a giggling c scratching b sneezing d sleeping 4. A synonym for elude is a escape. c trick. b attack. d scare. 5. Based on the animals that we know can reason, which of these animals can also probably reason? a opossums c squirrels b wolves d barracudas 6. Picture an animal wandering into traffic on a busy street. What is the animal most apt to do? a b c d leap up on a car sit still and hope the cars don t hit it run away from the cars play dead by laying flat in the road 7. Since it s against the urge to survive, why do you think that whales sometimes beach themselves? Explain. Teacher Created Resources, Inc. 15 #3386 Nonfiction Reading Comprehension Grade 6