Name ______Date ______
Lesson 1
They’re No Place To Roam!
Read the story. Choose the answer that best completes each sentence.
The American bison is a spectaular animal. It has a large, brown head attached to a tall, but narrow, massive body. The name bison is a Greek word meaning “ox-like”.
Buffalo once roamed north into Canada, south into Mexico and west to the Appalacian Mountains. People believed these animals to plentiful and hunted them to near extinction. The animals today have been carefully brought back from near extinction.
Today the American bison image often is used on seals, flags and logos. The grandness of this creature causes many to want to examine it at close range. However it is more agile than it may appear. It has been recorded at running at speeds over 35 miles an hour.
____ 1. A bison has
a. a large head c. a thin body
b. a weak body d. a worn appearance
_____ 2. The bison got its name from its
a. ancestors c. early settlers
b. its appearance d. Canadian trappers
_____ 3. The bison was nearly
a. driven into Mexico c. over ran by ox
b. hunted d. extinct
_____ 4. The images of bison are used because people
a. think they are grand c, they cover such a large range
b. they were nearly gone d. people fear them
_____ 5. Bison are
a. extinct c. fast
b. Greek d. good pets
Name ______Date ______
Lesson 2
Can You Open This?
Read the story. Choose the answer that best completes each sentence.
The octopus once terrified people and was often called “monster of the sea”. Early sailors thought that the octopus was capable of pulling a ship under. In modern times, experts know that octopusses actually like to be left alone. Their average length is around ten feet. Most are not any larger than a softball. Octopus may bite, using its beak-like mouth, if it feel threatened.
An octopus uses its arms to collect food. The diet of a octopus includes shellfish. The arms of an octopus have excellent motor skills. They are capable of unscrewing jars to retrieve food. The octopus collects food and places it in the flaps of skin between its arms, called the web. This allows for an octopus to dine in it den at the bottom of the sea.
1. _____ An octopus is capable of
a. pulling a ship under seas c. throwing a softball
b. opening a screw-on jar d. storing food in its cheeks
2. _____ In regular situations an octopus
a. perfers to be left alone c. pulling aship under seas
b. use its arms to swim d. eat large fish
3. _____ An octopus uses it arms maily to
a. carry young c. eat
b. fight d. carry rocks
4. _____ The octopus carries its food in
a. his/her cheeks c.his/her beak-like mouths
b. in his/her web d. his/her arms
5. _____ The octopus eats his/her meals
a. while hunting c. in its den
b. above water d. while swimming
Name ______Date ______
Lesson 3
A’Hoy Mate!
Read the story. Choose the answer that best completes each sentence.
A pirate is a person who robs ships. The idea has been around for nearly 3000 years. In ancient times, pirates raided the Mediterrean Sea. In 67 BC the Roman Senate decided to take action. They divided the Mediterrean in three parts and put Pompey in charge of ending the pirate problem. He quickly defeated the pirates, having thousands killed. Many more surrendered.
The Middle Ages proved a great time for piracy as well, with the European countries growing and many valuables being shipped. The English Channel was over crowded with pirates. Often the pirates raided each other when there were not any commerce ships available. The great age of piracy was during the growth of the colonies and America, in the 1800s.
1. _____ Pirates are people who
a. steal c. kill l
b. rob ships d. travel
2. _____ Piracy was dealt with the Roman Senate in
a. 3000 BC c. 3000 AD
b. 67 years ago d. 67 BC
3. _____ Pompey was in charge of
a. the Roman Senate c. caring for the Mediterrean
b. ending piracy d. the English
4. _____ When pirates could not find a suitable commerce ship, they
a. raided each other c. helped European countries
b. worked for Pompey d. sailed the open sea
5. _____ Piracy had its greatest success
a. 3000 years ago c. in 67 BC
b. in the English Channel d. during the 1800s
Go to the next page…
Name ______Date ______
With the discovery of the new world, piracy spread with the explorers. Once the Spanish defeated the Aztecs and the Incas, pirates were after the Spanish’s loot. British pirates captured many Spanish ships in the Central America area. In the late 1700s, French pirates also started attacking the Spanish in the Caribean area.
Pirate ships were armed with cannons.and long-range guns called culverins. Their objective was to board and raid the ships they attacked. When they boarded ships they threw grenades. They also fought with pistols and muskets.
However, the British navy at this time was extremely large and brought an end to the golden age of piracy. In the 21st century, piracy has had a comeback, especially around northern Africa. In 2008, pirates from Somolia attacked several ships, including a Ukrainian ship carrying 33 tanks. Piracy continues to add to the danger of the open sea.
6. _____ Piracy increased because of
a. the Aztecs and Incas c. the discovery of the new world
b. an increase in tanks d. an increase in English loot
7. _____ Who was responsible for attacking ships in the Caribbean?
a. the Spanish c. The Aztec
b. the French d. The British
8. _____ When pirates boarded ships they
a. used their culverins c. threw their loot overboard
b. brought gold d. threw grenades
9. _____ The British navy is credited with
a. inventing new weapons c. using tanks
b. ending the golden age of piracy d. defeating Somolia
10. _____ Piracy today is making a comeback around
a. Somolia c. Central America
b. Spain d. northern Africa
Name ______Date ______
ANSWER KEY
Lesson 1 Lesson 2
1. A 1. B
2. B 2. A
3. D 3. B
4. A 4. B
5. C 5. C
Lesson 3
1. B
2. D
3. B
4. A
5. D
6. C
7. B
8. D
9. B
10. C