Great White Shark - Practice #16

This is a comprehension assignment.  Please read the expository text and answer the questions on your four-square binder paper.  Remember to divide your binder paper into 4 squares using your ruler.  Use your comprehension strategies that you wrote on your red paper.

Transylvania, A Tourist Attraction

     Transylvania is located in the country of Romania.  Romania is found in Europe.  The word "transylvania" means "the land beyond the forest."  The estimated number of people who live in Transylvania is 5,000,000.  People still have jobs like shepherds, weavers, blacksmiths, and carpenters.
    The Apusini Nature Park is one of Transylvania's most beautiful treasures.  Scientists have found fossils of animals that lived in the Ice Age in the caves of Apusini Nature Park!  Visitors like to go to see these caves.  It's not easy.  If they want to enjoy the special view of the caves, they must climb high.  Also, they have to use ropes, crawl and creep to see everything.  The beauty and wonder of Transylvania is waiting for us.


1)  What is the main idea of the passage?

a)  Transylvania is a very dangerous place, so we should not go there.
b)  Transylvania is filled with hardworking people, lovely nature, and history.
c)  It's too expensive to go to Transylvania, so we should go to Australia instead.
d)  None of the above.

2)  Transylvania is found in which of these places?

a)  Romania
b)  Europe
c)  On planet Earth
d)  Mars
e)  a, b, and c

3)  The population of Transylvania is 5 million.  What does the word "population" mean?

a)  something that makes a popping sound.
b)  the size of the place.
c)  the estimated number of people.
d)  the award you get at the end of 3rd grade

4) What does the word "transylvania" mean?

a)  beautiful treasure that is hidden in leaves
b)  the sleeping fossils, once found, never forgotten
c)  the land beyond the forest
d)  the place of vampires

Click on the map below to see it larger.

Great White Shark - Practice #15

There is no writing in this assignment.  Please read each sentence two times carefully and slowly.  This is alliteration, where the same sound is repeated over and over.  This will help you say words clearly.

1) Tim took tons of tools to make toys for tots.

2)  Ralph the reindeer rose rapidly and ran round the room.

3)  Larry's lizard likes leaping leopards.

4)  Betty bought some butter but the butter was bitter so she bought some more butter to make the bitter butter better.

5)  Steve's seven sisters slept soundly in the sand.

Great White Shark - Practice #14

This practice assignment helps you understand how to use there is and there are.  There is - singular.  Example:  There is a shark in the water!  There are - plural.  Example:  There are sharks in the water!

Directions A:  Please complete the following sentences.  Use there is/ there are.  Please write the whole sentence.

1)  _________________ an Australian boy in my class.

2)  __________________ a running track at my school.

3)  _________________  five supermarkets in my town.

4)  _________________ a park next to the library.

5)  _________________ folders in my desk.

Great White Shark - Practice #13

Here, you are going to review root words.  A root word is what everything else hangs onto.  A root word is a real word, and when you add to it, it becomes a new word.  For example the word care is a root word.  If we add the suffix ful, then it becomes careful.  care + ful = careful.  Another example is nonsense.  The root word is sense.  The added prefix is non.  non + sense = nonsense.

Prefix - added before the root word

Suffix - added after the root word

(Hint:  P comes before S in the alphabet, so Prefix is added before, and Suffix is added after)

Directions:  On binder paper, please write the word.  Underline the root word.  Circle the prefix.  Put a rectangle around the suffix.

1) photograph
2) hemisphere
3) unicycle
4) telephone
5) helpful
6) homeless
7) quickly
8) kindness
9) faster
10) nonfiction

Great White Shark - Practice #12

Starting Monday, you will be reading the Go-Around Dollar.  Here are some comprehension questions.  Please read the question 2 times.  Answer by writing 2 sentences.  Use adjectives to describe your answer.  You may use your book.

1)  When you think of a Dollar bill, what does circulation mean?  Do not use the dictionary.  Please use your own thoughts to answer the questions.

2)  Pick 2 symbols on the back of the United States one Dollar bill.  Explain the meaning behind those symbols.

3)  There is a secret formula.  What is the secret formula for?  Why is it secret?

4)  How long does it take for a Dollar bill to become worn out?

5)  What is a star note?