Sunflowers Read the article. Use contexts clues to answer thequestions.

1. What is the meaning of the bolded word “vibrant” as it is used in the paragraph 2?

a. dullb. brightc. dryd. sparkling

2. Read these sentences from paragraph 2 of the article:Sunflowers can also be cut and brought inside. They will last a long time if kept in vase filled with fresh water and access to sunlight.What does the word “vase” mean in paragraph 2?

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3. Read these sentence from paragraph 4 of the article:Be careful of the stem, though – they are rough and very jagged! What does the word “jagged” mean in paragraph 4?

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Edited by Ms. Asher

A sunflower is a big, circular, yellow flower. Sunflowers need a lot of sun to grow. Sunflowers are made up of lots and lots of tiny flowers. The center part is made of one kind of flower, and the petals around it are another kind of flower.

We use sunflowers in different ways. One thing we do with them is look at them! Many people them to gardens because they are so big, beautiful, and their colors are vibrant. Sunflowers can also be cut and broughtinside. They will last a long time if kept in vase filled with fresh water andaccess to sunlight.

Sunflower seeds are good to eat. People, birds, and other animals, including squirrels and chipmunks, love to eat sunflower seeds. They can be difficult to eat if they are still in their shells, but they are filled with protein and are good for you! Sunflower seeds also have a lot of oil in them. It can be squeezed out and collected. Many people use sunflower oil for cooking.

Sunflowers are pretty flowers, and they give us and other animals food. Be careful of the stem, though – they are rough and very jagged!

Over the summer, Jaden’s family moved to a new house. Jaden liked his new house, but he was reluctant to leave his friends behind. Jaden was starting a new school in the fall. On the first day of school, Jaden felt anxious.

“What if I don’t make any friends? What if no one likes me?” Jaden asked his mom that morning. Jaden’s mom helped him develop some ideas to make new friends. “Sometimes all you have to do is smile and say hello,” his mom told him. Jaden wasn’t sure about that. “If you are kind and friendly to the other kids, they’ll want to be your friend,” his mom said.

At school, Jaden decided to take his mom’s advice. Jaden was going to stop being negative. He stopped frowning. He sat down at a desk near the middle of the room and smiled at the boy next to him. The boy smiled back. Maybe making friends wasn’t so hard after all.

Jaden’s big move

WORD SENTENCE WHAT DOES IT MEAN?USE WORD IN YOUR

OWN SENTENCE

reluctant Jaden liked his new house but he was reluctant to leave his friends

behind.

anxious On the first day of school, Jaden felt anxious.

develop Jaden’s mom helped him develop some ideas to make

new friends.

negative Jaden was going to stop being negative.

A Day at the amusement parkSusan and Julie were spending the day at the amusement park. It was a very crowded day at the park.

There were lots of boisterous children making noise everywhere. Susan and Julie bought some popcorn and walked around.

Julie stopped and pointed at a roller coaster. It was very tall. “Do you want to ride it?” Julie asked. Susan tried to act nonchalant, but Julie could tell that Susan was secretly nervous. “Let’s stand and watch it first,” Julie said. The girls watched agroup of boys get on the roller coaster.

The ride went slowly up a tall hill. Julie and Susan were eager to see what happened when the ride got to the top. The ride descended to the bottom of the hill very quickly. Julie and Susan could hear the boys screaming and laughing. Julie and Susan looked at each other, took a deep breath, and got in line.

WORD SENTENCE WHAT DOES IT MEAN?USE WORD IN YOUR

OWN SENTENCE

boisterous There were lots of boisterous children making noise everywhere.

nonchalant Susan tried to act nonchalant, but Julie could tell that Susan was

secretly nervous.

eager Julie and Susan were eager to see what happened when the ride got to

the top.

descend The ride descended to the bottom of the hill very quickly.

The Black WidowBlack widow spiders are one of the most dreaded spiders in North America.

This is because they are venomous, or poisonous. They are called black widow spiders

because the females usually eat their mates!

Black widow spiders are arachnids. Arachnids are animals with eight legs. This

spider is easily recognized because it usually has a red or orange hourglass shape on its

stomach. Females have shiny, dark back bodies and are about 1-2 inches long. Males are a

lighter black. They are about half the size of females. Some males have red spots on their

backs.

Black widows live in moderate climates all around the world. Areas with cold

winters are too cold for them. They can be found in the southern and western parts of the

United States. They are also found in South America, Sothern Europe, Asia, Australia, and

Africa.

Black widows eat other arachnids and various insects. Their diet includes flies,

ants, mosquitoes, caterpillars, cockroaches, and grasshoppers. They trap their prey in webs.

Then, they use their feet to wrap their prey in silk. Next, they injure their prey with their

fangs. Finally, they inject digestive enzymes into the insects. The insect’s organs liquefy,

and the spiders suck up the liquid. The black widow can live for months without eating. Some

can live up to a year without food!

Black widows are one of the most venomous spiders to reside in North

America. Their venom can be fifteen times stronger than rattlesnake venom! While this

sounds treacherous, these predators will only strike humans if they are disturbed. Their bites

are painful, but if they are treated, they rarely cause death.

Read the passage. Use context clues to answer the questions.

1. What is the meaning of “dreaded” as it is used in the first paragraph?

a. loved

b. feared

c. famous

d. interesting

2. Read these sentences from paragraph 1 of the passage:

Black widow spiders are one of the most dreaded spiders in NorthAmerica. This is because they are venomous, or poisonous.

What does the word “venomous” mean in paragraph 1? (pick all that apply.)

a. toxic

b. scary

c. frightful

d. fascinating

3. What is the meaning of the word “arachnids” in paragraph 2?

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The Black Widow4. What is the meaning of the word “moderate” in paragraph 3?

_________________________________________

5. Read this sentence from paragraph 5 of the passage:Black widows are one of the most venomous spiders to reside in North America. What does the word ”reside” mean in paragraph 5?

_______________________________________

6. What is the meaning of the word “treacherous” in paragraph 5?

a. safeb. amazingc. excitingd. dangerous

The coastlines of North America have a beautiful, but unusual shape. The ocean waves are responsible for weathering away bits of soil, rock, and sand wherever the water meets the land. Some beaches change more than others. Those that experience severe storms or lots of winds change the most. Water carries the sediment, or sand, soil and rocks, and drops it along another part of the coast.

A bay is formed when water eventually wears away the land in a natural curve. This creates a body of water that has a wide opening to the sea but is partly enclosed by land. The waters of a bay are usually calm.

Ocean waves aren’t the only water sources that pick up and redeposit sediment. River systems are made up of many different rivers. They join up on their journey toward the ocean. They all eventually join a major river that will take them all the way to the ocean. One example of this is the Mississippi River system. It eventually empties into the Gulf of Mexico. At the mouth of the river, deposits of sediment build up over time. This forms a large land area called a delta.

Sometimes people change the path that water naturally follows. Man-made lakes are created by building dams. The lake that forms is a called a reservoirand stores the region’s fresh water supplies. In some areas, the dam may also use the force of gravity to make electricity. Water rushing from a high place to a low one turns huge turbines, or wheels, creating and storing electricity for the region’s power system. Water from the reservoirs can also be used in irrigation projects that help farmers get enough water to grow crops.

Water often shapes our land. Humans also shape and control the watersources of the Earth.

Water Carves the LandRead the article. Use context clues to answer the questions.

1. How does a bay form?

______________________________

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2. Read the sentences from paragraph 3 of the article:At the mouth of the river, deposits of sediment build up over time. This forms a large land area called a delta. What does the word ”sediment” mean in paragraph 3?

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Edited by Ms. Asher