Chipmunks

Long ago, the Earth was covered in darkness. None of the creatures living there knew what daylight looked like. One day, all of the animals of the forest gathered together in a clearing. They wondered if it would be better to remain in darkness, or if it would be better to also have light. Deer, Chipmunk, Raccoon, Wolf, Bear, and many other creatures climbed to the top of the highest mountain. The mountain stood so tall that there were no trees on its top, and it was covered only with rocks. Millions of stars blinked in the dark sky overhead. The biggest and most powerful animal in the forest was the bear, and he was the first to reach the mountaintop. Bear stood on the highest peak, looked out over the forest below, and argued for remaining in darkness. He said that the creatures of the forest would be able to sleep better in darkness because there would be no light to keep them awake. Most of the other animals were afraid, and they agreed with Bear. Raccoon said that he did not mind the darkness because he was so smart that he could find plenty of food, even in the dark. Wolf was easy to please, too. She didn't mind the darkness because she could howl in darkness or in light. But one animal did stand up to Bear. Chipmunk, the smallest of the animals, argued that it would be better to have both light and dark. Chipmunk was very clever. As Bear continued to argue for darkness, she made many good arguments for light. Slowly, the night passed. Bear grew tired of talking, but Chipmunk chattered on and on, as if she had all of the energy in the world. As the other animals dropped off to sleep, one by one, Chipmunk kept arguing. Finally, the first sunrise ever seen by the animals appeared over the top of the mountain. They woke up and were amazed by what they saw. Chipmunk began to dance from rock to rock. Bear became angry because he didn't get his way. He roared loudly and ran after Chipmunk. He chased Chipmunk all the way down the mountain. Bear was fast, and he reached out his giant paw to grab Chipmunk. Chipmunk got away, but not before Bear managed to scratch her back with his long claws. And that is why, to this day, you can see stripes on Chipmunk's back! Practice questions: Highlight the correct answer What is the theme of this story? Stand up for what you believe in It is better to go along with the crowd There is only one right way to do things Making choices is easy What is bear like? He is a good listener He is used to getting his way He doesn’t know what he wants Other animals like him a lot “Bear grew tired of talking, but Chipmunk chattered on and on, as if she had all the energy in the world” What does chattered mean? Moved slowly Laughed Spoke quickly Argued Why do the chipmunks have stripes on their backs? ….. Because bear Scratch chipmunk back Where does the story take place? A barn On an island Near a lake On a mountain top What happened after Chipmunk's argument with Bear? The animals saw their first sunrise ever Bear was happy that he got his way The animals continued to live in darkness Chipmunk fell asleep

Text and questions sourced from pearsonlongman.com

All about blueberries

o you know how blueberries grow? They grow on bushes. Each blueberry is small and round. Many blueberries can grow on one bush. At first, the blueberries are green. The green berries are not ready to eat yet. They need a lot of sun and rain to help them become fat and sweet. When the berries turn blue, they are ripe and ready to be picked. Some farmers grow blueberries in big fields. The people who live nearby can earn money by helping to pick the blueberries. Each one takes a pail out to the field and fills it with blueberries. They work fast so that they can fill many pails. They want to earn as much money as they can. When they are done picking, their fingers are blue from the juice of the berries! After the blueberries are picked, they are put into boxes and sent to stores. People buy the blueberries and take them home to eat. Some people like to wash the berries and eat them one by one. Other people like to cook with blueberries. They make blueberry muffins and pancakes. No matter how you eat them, blueberries taste great!

Test Questions:

“The people who live nearby can earn money by helping to pick the blueberries.”

What does earn mean?

1. Sell
2. Get
3. Lose
4. Share

What color are the blueberries BEFORE they are ready to be picked?

1. Blue
2. Red
3. Green
4. Brown

Where do the blueberry pickers work?

1. In a barn
2. In a field
3. In a forest
4. Near a stream

What happens to blueberries AFTER they are picked?

1. They are put into boxes.
2. They need sun and rain
3. They become sweet and ripe.
4. Farmers plant them

“They need a lot of sun and rain to help them become fat and sweet.”

What does sweet mean?

1. Juicy
2. Sour tasting
3. Dry
4. Sugary tasting

What could be another title for this story?

1. All about blueberries
2. How to cook with blueberries
3. Eating blueberries
4. All about berries

Problem solving

My maths test