The Space Shuttle. Miguel, are you still drowsy? Mrs. Garcia asked her son. He. rested with his head down on the kitchen table.

Transcription

1 1 Name: Examiner: Date: Total Words Read: Errors: Words Read Correctly (WRC): The Space Shuttle Miguel, are you still drowsy? Mrs. Garcia asked her son. He rested with his head down on the kitchen table. A plate of food sat pushed over to the side. I hope you got your math work done. Yes, Ma, I am, replied Miguel with a yawn. I didn t get much sleep last night. I did not want to miss the opportunity to see the space shuttle as it flew by up in the sky. And, yes, I finished my math. Oh, yes, that s right, said Mrs. Garcia. Your father was letting you stay up late to see the shuttle while I was at the town meeting after work. The sky was clear and you could see the shuttle as it passed overhead. There was hardly a place to sit, said Miguel. I kept having to move so I didn t get stepped on. Did you get to see the shuttle? asked Mrs. Garcia. Covering another yawn with his hand, Miguel answered, Well, about the time the shuttle was supposed to fly overhead, I spilled my drink all over my pants. Dad told me to go inside,

2 2 change, and come back outside. I went in to change and by the time I got back, the shuttle had flown over. You missed it? asked Mrs. Garcia. One of Dad s friends, Mr. Jackson, took a video tape of it and I got to see the shuttle on tape. It was like a little dot of light moving across the sky. Pretty cool, said Miguel with a smile. Will it be able to be seen tonight? asked Mrs. Garcia. Maybe I can look for it with you after I get back from the garden club meeting. Are you sure? asked Miguel. Don t you have to help Andrea get her costume ready for the school play? No, replied Mrs. Garcia. I get to watch with you for once

3 3 The Space Shuttle Miguel, are you still drowsy? Mrs. Garcia asked her son. He rested with his head down on the kitchen table. A plate of food sat pushed over to the side. I hope you got your math work done. Yes, Ma, I am, replied Miguel with a yawn. I didn t get much sleep last night. I did not want to miss the opportunity to see the space shuttle as it flew by up in the sky. And, yes, I finished my math. Oh, yes, that s right, said Mrs. Garcia. Your father was letting you stay up late to see the shuttle while I was at the town meeting after work. The sky was clear and you could see the shuttle as it passed overhead. There was hardly a place to sit, said Miguel. I kept having to move so I didn t get stepped on. Did you get to see the shuttle? asked Mrs. Garcia. Covering another yawn with his hand, Miguel answered, Well, about the time the shuttle was supposed to fly overhead, I spilled my drink all over my pants. Dad told me to go inside, change, and come back outside. I went in to change and by the time I got back, the shuttle had flown over.

4 4 You missed it? asked Mrs. Garcia. One of Dad s friends, Mr. Jackson, took a video tape of it and I got to see the shuttle on tape. It was like a little dot of light moving across the sky. Pretty cool, said Miguel with a smile. Will it be able to be seen tonight? asked Mrs. Garcia. Maybe I can look for it with you after I get back from the garden club meeting. Are you sure? asked Miguel. Don t you have to help Andrea get her costume ready for the school play? No, replied Mrs. Garcia. I get to watch with you for once.

5 5 Name: Examiner: Date: Total Words Read: Errors: Words Read Correctly (WRC): The Oven Glove It is one of the best things I have bought all year! I think is makes me a better cook! They come in three colors. I like the red one. It seems to work really well. Thousands of people across the country have bought the oven glove. The glove is made from the best cloth on the market today. It can be used to hold pots, pans, or dishes. These gloves keep your hands safe from oven heat better than all other gloves. How much do these wonderful gloves cost? The usual price is $15 for one pair of gloves. Now, for a short time only, you can buy one pair for $10. For an extra dollar, we will wrap each pair in gift wrap paper. You should not pass up such a great bargain. Each pair of oven gloves is made by hand. Thick thread keeps the gloves together. The gloves come in three pretty colors: red, blue, or green. Workers at the oven glove store are ready to fill your order. Each pair comes with its own carrying case. These gloves make the perfect gift. You can get a pair for anyone in your family and it will be loved for years to come

6 6 Five years ago, Mr. Michael Griffin set out to make the oven glove. He knew people everywhere wanted a light, yet strong, tool to keep their hands safe. Mr. Griffin tried many different ways of putting cloth together. After many tries, he found the right mix of cloth to shield skin from the high heat of a gas or electric oven. Fingers, hands, wrists, and lower arms were kept safe. The gloves were able to guard them from any burns. This year do not give the usual gifts like salt and pepper shakers, hand towels, hot drink mugs, or soap. Give the oven glove. It is the best way for you to spend your money today!

7 7 The Oven Glove It is one of the best things I have bought all year! I think is makes me a better cook! They come in three colors. I like the red one. It seems to work really well. Thousands of people across the country have bought the oven glove. The glove is made from the best cloth on the market today. It can be used to hold pots, pans, or dishes. These gloves keep your hands safe from oven heat better than all other gloves. How much do these wonderful gloves cost? The usual price is $15 for one pair of gloves. Now, for a short time only, you can buy one pair for $10. For an extra dollar, we will wrap each pair in gift wrap paper. You should not pass up such a great bargain. Each pair of oven gloves is made by hand. Thick thread keeps the gloves together. The gloves come in three pretty colors: red, blue, or green. Workers at the oven glove store are ready to fill your order. Each pair comes with its own carrying case. These gloves make the perfect gift. You can get a pair for anyone in your family and it will be loved for years to come.

8 8 Five years ago, Mr. Michael Griffin set out to make the oven glove. He knew people everywhere wanted a light, yet strong, tool to keep their hands safe. Mr. Griffin tried many different ways of putting cloth together. After many tries, he found the right mix of cloth to shield skin from the high heat of a gas or electric oven. Fingers, hands, wrists, and lower arms were kept safe. The gloves were able to guard them from any burns. This year do not give the usual gifts like salt and pepper shakers, hand towels, hot drink mugs, or soap. Give the oven glove. It is the best way for you to spend your money today!

9 9 Name: Examiner: Date: Total Words Read: Errors: Words Read Correctly (WRC): Pigs When people eat a lot they are said to be pigging out. If people are messy when they eat, others may say that they are eating like a pig. It is true that pigs are messy when they eat their food. Food can get all over their mouths and noses. But pigs do not eat too much. They eat just what they need and stop. Pigs have been around for thousands of years. People raise them on farms. They give us food. But many parts of a pig can provide other things that people use as well. The skin of pigs can be made into shoes, gloves, and clothes. The hair found on pigs can be used for brushes. Some pig parts are even used to help doctors take care of their patients. Even though there are different kinds of pigs, they all have much the same look. Pigs have a round nose called a snout. It is flat on the end and quite strong. Pigs can use their nose to dig food out of the ground. Four short legs hold up a somewhat round and often plump body. Each leg ends with four toes, but pigs only use the two toes in the middle for walking. The skin of a pig cannot get too much sun. Most pigs have short hair on their bodies. It does not keep them safe from the heat of the sun very well. To stay cool and to keep their skin

10 10 safe, many pigs will spend time in a puddle of water. If there is no water nearby, the pigs might look for wet mud. Rolling around in the mud keeps their skin covered and their bodies cool. Pigs come in many different colors. Some are white, pink, brown, red, or black. Other pigs can be a mix of colors. A few kinds of pigs have spots while others have stripes or bands of color across their bodies. A mother pig can give birth to a group of six to fifteen babies called piglets. At first, the piglets drink milk made by their mother. Soon, the babies start to eat food given to them by the farmer where they live. Piglets eat enough food to grow quickly. Baby pigs weigh about three pounds when they are born. At six weeks old, they weigh around 35 pounds. When the piglets reach six months of age, they can weigh 200 pounds. They grow fast. Most pigs are raised to become food for people. A few pigs are turned into pets. Others are kept to enter into contests. The contests show pigs. Judges decide which pigs are the best. Sometimes ribbons are given to the winners. The food that comes from pigs is called pork. Pork chops, ham, and bacon are some of the meat that people get from pigs

11 11 People from all over enjoy pork so much that it is one of the most well liked meats in the world

12 12 Pigs When people eat a lot they are said to be pigging out. If people are messy when they eat, others may say that they are eating like a pig. It is true that pigs are messy when they eat their food. Food can get all over their mouths and noses. But pigs do not eat too much. They eat just what they need and stop. Pigs have been around for thousands of years. People raise them on farms. They give us food. But many parts of a pig can provide other things that people use as well. The skin of pigs can be made into shoes, gloves, and clothes. The hair found on pigs can be used for brushes. Some pig parts are even used to help doctors take care of their patients. Even though there are different kinds of pigs, they all have much the same look. Pigs have a round nose called a snout. It is flat on the end and quite strong. Pigs can use their nose to dig food out of the ground. Four short legs hold up a somewhat round and often plump body. Each leg ends with four toes, but pigs only use the two toes in the middle for walking. The skin of a pig cannot get too much sun. Most pigs have short hair on their bodies. It does not keep them safe from the heat of the sun very well. To stay cool and to keep their skin safe, many pigs will spend time in a puddle of water. If there is no

13 13 water nearby, the pigs might look for wet mud. Rolling around in the mud keeps their skin covered and their bodies cool. Pigs come in many different colors. Some are white, pink, brown, red, or black. Other pigs can be a mix of colors. A few kinds of pigs have spots while others have stripes or bands of color across their bodies. A mother pig can give birth to a group of six to fifteen babies called piglets. At first, the piglets drink milk made by their mother. Soon, the babies start to eat food given to them by the farmer where they live. Piglets eat enough food to grow quickly. Baby pigs weigh about three pounds when they are born. At six weeks old, they weigh around 35 pounds. When the piglets reach six months of age, they can weigh 200 pounds. They grow fast. Most pigs are raised to become food for people. A few pigs are turned into pets. Others are kept to enter into contests. The contests show pigs. Judges decide which pigs are the best. Sometimes ribbons are given to the winners. 8 The food that comes from pigs is called pork. Pork chops, ham, and bacon are some of the meat that people get from pigs. People from all over enjoy pork so much that it is one of the most well liked meats in the world.

14 14 Name: Examiner: Date: Total Words Read: Errors: Words Read Correctly (WRC): Horses Kiara, will you listen to my paper on horses? asked Daniel. He plopped down into a chair in a far corner of the library. Kiara was already sitting in a chair near a window. Oh, I guess so, replied Kiara as she looked down at the floor. Do I have to read mine to you? No, you don t have to read yours to me, if you don t want to, said Daniel. But maybe I can help you get ready for your talk in front of our class. If you read it now then tomorrow you can pretend that you are saying it just to me. Well, maybe, said Kiara. I ve been here all morning working on my paper and I want to go home. It s been hard. Let me listen to you and we ll see. What is your paper about? My paper is about horses, said Daniel. What about yours? Mine is about sharks, said Kiara. She sat up in her chair and added, Please go ahead, Daniel. I m ready to listen to your paper. I think I m done with it, Daniel said. Here goes

15 15 Horses Horses are beautiful animals. Each horse has four long legs that are able to push them swiftly along. Horses have long tails that swish back and forth. These big animals have long necks and large heads. Along the back of their necks grows hair called the mane. Baby horses are called foals. When they are born, foals learn to walk right away. Soon they can run. They like to jump and play. These baby horses drink milk that they get from their mother. As they grow, the young horses learn to eat grass, oats, barley, and corn. Many horses live on farms with big green fields called pastures. They run, jump, play, and mix with other horses in pastures. Baby horses grow up and become adults. Male horses are called stallions or geldings. Female horses are known as mares. These grown up horses are strong. They can pull or carry heavy loads. People have used horses to work for them for many years. Horses live and work on farms and ranches

16 16 Some horses are lucky enough to be pets. Their owners ride them and play with them. They are taken care of like other pets. Horses can be good friends for many years. That s my paper, Kiara, said Daniel. What do you think? How was my speaking? Was it loud enough? Did I go too slow or too fast? Smiling, Kiara said, Daniel, I wouldn t change a thing. Then in a soft whisper, she added, Would you still be willing to help with my paper?

17 17 Horses Kiara, will you listen to my paper on horses? asked Daniel. He plopped down into a chair in a far corner of the library. Kiara was already sitting in a chair near a window. Oh, I guess so, replied Kiara as she looked down at the floor. Do I have to read mine to you? No, you don t have to read yours to me, if you don t want to, said Daniel. But maybe I can help you get ready for your talk in front of our class. If you read it now then tomorrow you can pretend that you are saying it just to me. Well, maybe, said Kiara. I ve been here all morning working on my paper and I want to go home. It s been hard. Let me listen to you and we ll see. What is your paper about? My paper is about horses, said Daniel. What about yours? Mine is about sharks, said Kiara. She sat up in her chair and added, Please go ahead, Daniel. I m ready to listen to your paper. I think I m done with it, Daniel said. Here goes. Horses Horses are beautiful animals. Each horse has four long legs that are able to push them swiftly along. Horses have long tails

18 18 that swish back and forth. These big animals have long necks and large heads. Along the back of their necks grows hair called the mane. Baby horses are called foals. When they are born, foals learn to walk right away. Soon they can run. They like to jump and play. These baby horses drink milk that they get from their mother. As they grow, the young horses learn to eat grass, oats, barley, and corn. Many horses live on farms with big green fields called pastures. They run, jump, play, and mix with other horses in pastures. Baby horses grow up and become adults. Male horses are called stallions or geldings. Female horses are known as mares. These grown up horses are strong. They can pull or carry heavy loads. People have used horses to work for them for many years. Horses live and work on farms and ranches. Some horses are lucky enough to be pets. Their owners ride them and play with them. They are taken care of like other pets. Horses can be good friends for many years. That s my paper, Kiara, said Daniel. What do you think? How was my speaking? Was it loud enough? Did I go too slow or too fast?

19 19 Smiling, Kiara said, Daniel, I wouldn t change a thing. Then in a soft whisper, she added, Would you still be willing to help with my paper?

20 20 Name: Examiner: Date: Total Words Read: Errors: Words Read Correctly (WRC): Bad Luck Are we ever going to get this tent up? sighed Toby as he sat on the forest floor. Between the wind and my being clumsy, we can t seem to get anything right. At the way things are going, the campout will be over before we get our tent put up. Maybe we should give up and ask if we can go home. At least at home there is a nice, clean, and warm roof over our heads. Oh, it s not all that bad, chuckled Charlie grabbing his pack. This tent is hard to put up but we will get it up this time. I can tell because I just found page two of the directions here in my pack. Look around, Charlie, said Toby. Everyone else has their tents up. Not us. I think I am bad luck. Remember last year when we went to camp. We didn t have to put up any tents because there were cabins. Don t you remember what happened to our cabin? Charlie stopped reading page two of the directions and said, Oh, yeah. Our cabin burned down. But it wasn t your fault. There was bad wiring in the cabin. It caught fire because of the bad wires, not you, Toby

21 21 Okay, said Toby, but what about that time in the park down at the lake? I kept tipping our canoe over. We lost our fishing poles. Something was wrong with the canoe, said Charlie. That s what the man at the canoe hut told us. Again, it wasn t your fault. What about cooking? asked Toby with a frown. I burn everything I try to fix over the fire. I can t even cook at home. Well, you may have a point about the cooking, agreed Charlie. But that s not only you. I do the same thing. We can t cook. That s not bad luck, just bad cooking. Charlie smoothed out the page of directions. He continued reading the steps to follow to put up the tent. Toby rested his head in his hands. After several minutes, Charlie put the sheet to the side and grabbed Toby by the shoulders. Toby, I need your help, said Charlie, looking Toby straight in his eyes. I can t put this tent up by myself. I ve read the directions all the way through. Now I know what we were doing wrong. We can put this tent up in ten minutes but I have to have your help. What do you say? Toby stared back at Charlie. Then Toby took a deep breath, stood up, grabbed hold of one side of the tent, and said, Charlie,

22 22 I m going to beat this bad luck thing once and for all. Let s get going. I want to be done before the camp cook rings the dinner bell

23 23 Bad Luck Are we ever going to get this tent up? sighed Toby as he sat on the forest floor. Between the wind and my being clumsy, we can t seem to get anything right. At the way things are going, the campout will be over before we get our tent put up. Maybe we should give up and ask if we can go home. At least at home there is a nice, clean, and warm roof over our heads. Oh, it s not all that bad, chuckled Charlie grabbing his pack. This tent is hard to put up but we will get it up this time. I can tell because I just found page two of the directions here in my pack. Look around, Charlie, said Toby. Everyone else has their tents up. Not us. I think I am bad luck. Remember last year when we went to camp. We didn t have to put up any tents because there were cabins. Don t you remember what happened to our cabin? Charlie stopped reading page two of the directions and said, Oh, yeah. Our cabin burned down. But it wasn t your fault. There was bad wiring in the cabin. It caught fire because of the bad wires, not you, Toby.

24 24 Okay, said Toby, but what about that time in the park down at the lake? I kept tipping our canoe over. We lost our fishing poles. Something was wrong with the canoe, said Charlie. That s what the man at the canoe hut told us. Again, it wasn t your fault. What about cooking? asked Toby with a frown. I burn everything I try to fix over the fire. I can t even cook at home. Well, you may have a point about the cooking, agreed Charlie. But that s not only you. I do the same thing. We can t cook. That s not bad luck, just bad cooking. Charlie smoothed out the page of directions. He continued reading the steps to follow to put up the tent. Toby rested his head in his hands. After several minutes, Charlie put the sheet to the side and grabbed Toby by the shoulders. Toby, I need your help, said Charlie, looking Toby straight in his eyes. I can t put this tent up by myself. I ve read the directions all the way through. Now I know what we were doing wrong. We can put this tent up in ten minutes but I have to have your help. What do you say? Toby stared back at Charlie. Then Toby took a deep breath, stood up, grabbed hold of one side of the tent, and said, Charlie,

25 25 I m going to beat this bad luck thing once and for all. Let s get going. I want to be done before the camp cook rings the dinner bell.

26 26 Name: Examiner: Date: Total Words Read: Errors: Words Read Correctly (WRC): The King The king sat on his golden throne and looked out over the small group of wise men. Which one of you will help me? he asked. No one spoke. None of the men dared venture any words to the king. They knew that if they told him what he should do and then he failed, they would be tossed into jail for life. So, the wise men kept silent. My wise men have nothing to say? asked the king. What am I to do? Finally, one elderly wise man stepped forward with his walking stick and offered to speak. May I say something, your majesty? the man said is a voice just above a whisper. Certainly, Theodore, answered the king. I was wondering when I was going to hear from you. You have been with me the longest. In fact, you were here with my father and his father. Please tell me what is on your mind. Theodore stood in front of the king s royal throne. He said, King Paul, the Mighty, we are the wisest men in your kingdom. We have helped you decide many things and solve countless problems

27 27 There have been so many it has been hard to keep track. You have been able to come to us day or night to help you. We have worked together. Wise men from other countries all around have come to watch us help you. Most of them left here with new ideas and knowledge of how to help their own king. Theodore stopped and took a deep breath before continuing. Each time we have given you our words of wisdom, we have done so in great fear of what might happen to us. Five of our friends have been put in jail because of your anger. You have become angry when our ideas and help do not satisfy you. This did not happen with your father or his father. We were given great respect and honor during each of their times as king. Not so with you. I have wished to speak to you about this matter for a long time. I have been missing the courage to do so. But I can stay silent no longer. I know you may very well put me in jail for what I am saying to you, but I am tired. I have lived a long life. I am proud of my work with your father and grandfather. You must understand, King Paul, that even though you are the king, that is all you are. You could be a great and wonderful king if you used honor and respect to rule your kingdom. We, your wise men, would be able to and willing to help you with so much more if we too

28 28 were given honor and respect. Thank you, sire. I can go to sleep well tonight. I am now ready to go to jail. The king sat silently on his throne. He stroked his beard with one hand while holding a long jeweled stick with the other. Slowly, a thin smile started to form on his lips. It grew bigger and then the king began to chuckle. Theodore, leave it to you to make the most sense I have heard in some time, said the king. You are right. My father and grandfather ruled well and with respect. I shall do the same from here on out. There will be no jail for you. Instead, go to the prison and tell the guard in charge to release the five wise men. Have the men go home, see their families, clean up, eat, and then rejoin us here. Together we will make this the best country around

29 29 The King The king sat on his golden throne and looked out over the small group of wise men. Which one of you will help me? he asked. No one spoke. None of the men dared venture any words to the king. They knew that if they told him what he should do and then he failed, they would be tossed into jail for life. So, the wise men kept silent. My wise men have nothing to say? asked the king. What am I to do? Finally, one elderly wise man stepped forward with his walking stick and offered to speak. May I say something, your majesty? the man said is a voice just above a whisper. Certainly, Theodore, answered the king. I was wondering when I was going to hear from you. You have been with me the longest. In fact, you were here with my father and his father. Please tell me what is on your mind. Theodore stood in front of the king s royal throne. He said, King Paul, the Mighty, we are the wisest men in your kingdom. We have helped you decide many things and solve countless problems. There have been so many it has been hard to keep track. You have been able to come to us day or night to help you. We have worked

30 30 together. Wise men from other countries all around have come to watch us help you. Most of them left here with new ideas and knowledge of how to help their own king. Theodore stopped and took a deep breath before continuing. Each time we have given you our words of wisdom, we have done so in great fear of what might happen to us. Five of our friends have been put in jail because of your anger. You have become angry when our ideas and help do not satisfy you. This did not happen with your father or his father. We were given great respect and honor during each of their times as king. Not so with you. I have wished to speak to you about this matter for a long time. I have been missing the courage to do so. But I can stay silent no longer. I know you may very well put me in jail for what I am saying to you, but I am tired. I have lived a long life. I am proud of my work with your father and grandfather. You must understand, King Paul, that even though you are the king, that is all you are. You could be a great and wonderful king if you used honor and respect to rule your kingdom. We, your wise men, would be able to and willing to help you with so much more if we too were given honor and respect. Thank you, sire. I can go to sleep well tonight. I am now ready to go to jail.

31 31 The king sat silently on his throne. He stroked his beard with one hand while holding a long jeweled stick with the other. Slowly, a thin smile started to form on his lips. It grew bigger and then the king began to chuckle. Theodore, leave it to you to make the most sense I have heard in some time, said the king. You are right. My father and grandfather ruled well and with respect. I shall do the same from here on out. There will be no jail for you. Instead, go to the prison and tell the guard in charge to release the five wise men. Have the men go home, see their families, clean up, eat, and then rejoin us here. Together we will make this the best country around.

32 32 Name: Examiner: Date: Total Words Read: Errors: Words Read Correctly (WRC): Ice Cream Four children stood looking up at a small cat. He sat high above their heads in the tallest tree on the block. They were waving their arms and calling his name. The cat just looked down at them. Muffy, please come down! whined John, clasping his hands together. You ll miss dinner! said Anna. We ve got special food you really like! said Stephanie. Muffy, get down out of this tree right now! yelled Isaac. I ve got to get home to help mom! The cat blinked, yawned, and then turned his head to look the other way. Why won t Muffy come down? moaned Isaac. Maybe he s trying to repay you for giving him the name Muffy, said Stephanie. It sounded good to me at the time, answered Isaac, glaring at Stephanie. Please stop, said John. We ve been friends for a long time. Let s not let this problem hurt how we act toward each

33 33 other. We need to work together to get Muffy down. Remember Mrs. White s dog? You are right, answered Stephanie. We need to do a good job with Muffy like we did with Mrs. White s dog. We came up with a way to keep him out of her garden. He has left it alone since. The four friends sat down next to the tree. Muffy, meanwhile, licked his paws and sniffed the air. If we think of things that Muffy really likes, maybe he will come down, Isaac blurted out. But we tried his favorite food, sighed Stephanie. It didn t work. Let s try something Muffy really likes but not food, suggested John. The group of kids got silent while they tried to think of something. Just then, an ice cream truck turned slowly onto their street. Music began to blare from a speaker on the truck. A little boy and his mother stopped the truck several houses away. The four friends were too busy thinking to notice. Muffy spied the truck as soon as it came into view. His ears perked up when the music started. As the ice cream truck

34 34 stopped, Muffy streaked down the tree and raced over to the truck. Isaac looked up from his spot on the ground in time to see Muffy s tail disappear behind a row of bushes. Muffy! he shouted, chasing after his cat. Anna, John, and Stephanie scrambled to their feet and rushed after them. They saw the cat jump up onto the small open window on the side of the truck. The three arrived at the window seconds later. Hi, Mike, said Isaac to a young man petting Muffy s neck. We ve been trying to get Muffy out of a tree all morning. You show up and down he comes. Hi, guys, said Mike, smiling. Hey, I just got a raise. Today the ice cream is on me. Yes, Muffy is an old friend. He always comes to visit me when I drive down your street. He doesn t care for the ice cream but he really likes the music. Well, said Isaac. I guess we know who to call next time Muffy decides to get stuck in a tree

35 35 Ice Cream Four children stood looking up at a small cat. He sat high above their heads in the tallest tree on the block. They were waving their arms and calling his name. The cat just looked down at them. Muffy, please come down! whined John, clasping his hands together. You ll miss dinner! said Anna. We ve got special food you really like! said Stephanie. Muffy, get down out of this tree right now! yelled Isaac. I ve got to get home to help mom! The cat blinked, yawned, and then turned his head to look the other way. Why won t Muffy come down? moaned Isaac. Maybe he s trying to repay you for giving him the name Muffy, said Stephanie. It sounded good to me at the time, answered Isaac, glaring at Stephanie. Please stop, said John. We ve been friends for a long time. Let s not let this problem hurt how we act toward each other. We need to work together to get Muffy down. Remember Mrs. White s dog?

36 36 You are right, answered Stephanie. We need to do a good job with Muffy like we did with Mrs. White s dog. We came up with a way to keep him out of her garden. He has left it alone since. The four friends sat down next to the tree. Muffy, meanwhile, licked his paws and sniffed the air. If we think of things that Muffy really likes, maybe he will come down, Isaac blurted out. But we tried his favorite food, sighed Stephanie. It didn t work. Let s try something Muffy really likes but not food, suggested John. The group of kids got silent while they tried to think of something. Just then, an ice cream truck turned slowly onto their street. Music began to blare from a speaker on the truck. A little boy and his mother stopped the truck several houses away. The four friends were too busy thinking to notice. Muffy spied the truck as soon as it came into view. His ears perked up when the music started. As the ice cream truck stopped, Muffy streaked down the tree and raced over to the truck.

37 37 Isaac looked up from his spot on the ground in time to see Muffy s tail disappear behind a row of bushes. Muffy! he shouted, chasing after his cat. Anna, John, and Stephanie scrambled to their feet and rushed after them. They saw the cat jump up onto the small open window on the side of the truck. The three arrived at the window seconds later. Hi, Mike, said Isaac to a young man petting Muffy s neck. We ve been trying to get Muffy out of a tree all morning. You show up and down he comes. Hi, guys, said Mike, smiling. Hey, I just got a raise. Today the ice cream is on me. Yes, Muffy is an old friend. He always comes to visit me when I drive down your street. He doesn t care for the ice cream but he really likes the music. Well, said Isaac. I guess we know who to call next time Muffy decides to get stuck in a tree.

38 38 Name: Examiner: Date: Total Words Read: Errors: Words Read Correctly (WRC): The Old Woman An old woman stepped slowly down the winding path. Deep shadows covered her. She made her way home from the little village. The sun set early at this time of year. The time had slipped by while she was searching the store s shelves for food. Sewing and repairing other people s clothes did not pay well. Money had to be saved anywhere possible. The sun had left some time ago. The old woman knew hungry animals came out after dark. Long ago, her father had spoken about the wild animals found in this forest. She shuddered as she imagined her father s voice. The woman stopped next to a large oak tree. She shook for a moment and walked on. The path wound deeper into the woods. Eager to sit next to her fire, the old woman had taken the short route home. A safer but longer road traveled around the forest. Her small hut was near the edge of the woods on the far side. She thought the shorter path would be the best way home this day. But the shadows grew more frightening. The woman wished that she had taken the long way

39 39 Suddenly, the old woman heard what she thought were leaves stirring in the wind. She looked over her shoulder. There was the biggest owl she had ever seen. He was perched on the lower limb of a giant oak. Oh! yelled the old woman. Hoot, replied the owl. Do not be afraid, Madam. How can I not be afraid, the woman managed to spit out. It is dark and I am alone with no one else around. There are wild and fierce animals in these woods. You are in these woods. Old woman, said the owl, it is I who have kept you safe all these years in the woods. What do you mean? asked the old woman. She had started shaking again when the owl first appeared, but now she stopped. Your father was kind to the animals of this forest, said the owl. He took care of those he could. It is because of him that you are able to travel these paths free from harm. But how? asked the old woman. With this question, the owl stopped a moment, blinked several times, and grinned as much as an owl can grin, and said, Let s just say I have certain powers. I say and they do. Thank you, said the old woman. Now, said the owl, let s get you safely home

40 40 The Old Woman An old woman stepped slowly down the winding path. Deep shadows covered her. She made her way home from the little village. The sun set early at this time of year. The time had slipped by while she was searching the store s shelves for food. Sewing and repairing other people s clothes did not pay well. Money had to be saved anywhere possible. The sun had left some time ago. The old woman knew hungry animals came out after dark. Long ago, her father had spoken about the wild animals found in this forest. She shuddered as she imagined her father s voice. The woman stopped next to a large oak tree. She shook for a moment and walked on. The path wound deeper into the woods. Eager to sit next to her fire, the old woman had taken the short route home. A safer but longer road traveled around the forest. Her small hut was near the edge of the woods on the far side. She thought the shorter path would be the best way home this day. But the shadows grew more frightening. The woman wished that she had taken the long way. Suddenly, the old woman heard what she thought were leaves stirring in the wind. She looked over her shoulder. There

41 41 was the biggest owl she had ever seen. He was perched on the lower limb of a giant oak. Oh! yelled the old woman. Hoot, replied the owl. Do not be afraid, Madam. How can I not be afraid, the woman managed to spit out. It is dark and I am alone with no one else around. There are wild and fierce animals in these woods. You are in these woods. Old woman, said the owl, it is I who have kept you safe all these years in the woods. What do you mean? asked the old woman. She had started shaking again when the owl first appeared, but now she stopped. Your father was kind to the animals of this forest, said the owl. He took care of those he could. It is because of him that you are able to travel these paths free from harm. But how? asked the old woman. With this question, the owl stopped a moment, blinked several times, and grinned as much as an owl can grin, and said, Let s just say I have certain powers. I say and they do. Thank you, said the old woman. Now, said the owl, let s get you safely home.

42 42 Name: Examiner: Date: Total Words Read: Errors: Words Read Correctly (WRC): The Game James, pass the ball to Paul! shouted Juan. He is in the clear! James turned his head and saw that Paul was open. He bounced the basketball on the floor between two tall players from the other team. One of the players reached a hand straight out and snagged the ball before it could get to James. With one quick flick of his wrist, the balled sailed to the other end of the court. The ball bounced once. Another player from the other team caught the ball and took a shot. The ball flew right through the net, never touching the rim. Juan and his teammates took a long look at the scoreboard. It said Tigers 48 and Bears 24. Paul and the other players on his team hung their heads as they shuffled off of the floor. They sank into their places on a long bench next to their coach. Each player sat in silence. After a moment the coach spoke to them in a soft voice. Okay Bears. Let s head for the locker room. We will talk about this while we get some rest before the second half of the game

43 43 James was the first to speak in the locker room. I do not know if we can pull a win out of this game, Coach. Myers. The Tigers are good. We just can t seem to get going. Every time we try something, they steal the ball or something. Coach Myers stood for a bit in front of the team. He looked at each one of the players. Finally, he spoke, Bears, I have been your coach for two years. You have played as hard as any players I have ever seen. But I think you are trying too hard. The game of basketball is to be played for the fun of playing. A team of players can play together in a game that each player loves. They can run, pass, and shoot the basketball. The team can show their skills against other players on another team. The other team can do the same thing. Each player on the basketball court should be having fun. If not, the game has lots its meaning. The players sat as still as stone as they listened to their coach. No one moved or made a sound. I want you to go out on the floor for the second half of the game and remember why you started playing this game in the first place, said the coach. Have fun. Remember what makes the game go: running, passing, and shooting. But don t worry about winning the game. You need to have fun

44 44 The Bears looked at each other. Then James got up. He wiped his forehead with a towel. Coach is right, he said. I started playing this game because it was fun. I liked running with my friends and playing basketball. We would spend hours after school shooting, dribbling, and trying to stop each other from making baskets. We played long after the sun went down because we were having fun. Let s go back out there and play like that. Let s play like we are playing together at my house after dark. Let s have fun. We just might win this game

45 45 The Game James, pass the ball to Paul! shouted Juan. He is in the clear! James turned his head and saw that Paul was open. He bounced the basketball on the floor between two tall players from the other team. One of the players reached a hand straight out and snagged the ball before it could get to James. With one quick flick of his wrist, the balled sailed to the other end of the court. The ball bounced once. Another player from the other team caught the ball and took a shot. The ball flew right through the net, never touching the rim. Juan and his teammates took a long look at the scoreboard. It said Tigers 48 and Bears 24. Paul and the other players on his team hung their heads as they shuffled off of the floor. They sank into their places on a long bench next to their coach. Each player sat in silence. After a moment the coach spoke to them in a soft voice. Okay Bears. Let s head for the locker room. We will talk about this while we get some rest before the second half of the game. James was the first to speak in the locker room. I do not know if we can pull a win out of this game, Coach. Myers. The

46 46 Tigers are good. We just can t seem to get going. Every time we try something, they steal the ball or something. Coach Myers stood for a bit in front of the team. He looked at each one of the players. Finally, he spoke, Bears, I have been your coach for two years. You have played as hard as any players I have ever seen. But I think you are trying too hard. The game of basketball is to be played for the fun of playing. A team of players can play together in a game that each player loves. They can run, pass, and shoot the basketball. The team can show their skills against other players on another team. The other team can do the same thing. Each player on the basketball court should be having fun. If not, the game has lots its meaning. The players sat as still as stone as they listened to their coach. No one moved or made a sound. I want you to go out on the floor for the second half of the game and remember why you started playing this game in the first place, said the coach. Have fun. Remember what makes the game go: running, passing, and shooting. But don t worry about winning the game. You need to have fun. The Bears looked at each other. Then James got up. He wiped his forehead with a towel. Coach is right, he said. I started playing this game because it was fun. I liked running with

47 47 my friends and playing basketball. We would spend hours after school shooting, dribbling, and trying to stop each other from making baskets. We played long after the sun went down because we were having fun. Let s go back out there and play like that. Let s play like we are playing together at my house after dark. Let s have fun. We just might win this game.

48 48 Name: Examiner: Date: Total Words Read: Errors: Words Read Correctly (WRC): Is There Enough Time? Leah, will you please take this letter down to the mailbox and mail it for me? asked Mom. It needs to go out today to get to its destination by Wednesday. It is paying a bill. It has to go to Hill City. If it does not get there by Wednesday, there will be an extra charge added to the next bill. That would not be good for us. Money is tight around here as it is. Thank you. Sure, Mom, said Leah. The mailbox is right outside our house at the corner. Maybe Lois will be outside across the street and she will be able to come and play. Leah took the letter from her mother and headed out the door. As she walked across the front porch, Leah noticed a white cat sitting on the old wooden swing in the corner. She had never seen this cat before. Putting the letter on a small table next to the swing, Leah began to pet the cat. Hi, kitty, said Leah. Who do you belong to? Oh, here is a collar around your neck. Maybe it will tell where you live. Leah reached for a little metal tag attached to a leather collar. It had the name Fluffy and a telephone number stamped on it. Leah went back inside of her house and told her mother about the cat

49 49 Then she called the number. The cat belonged to a new family one block over from Leah s house. The woman on the phone said that she would be right over to pick up Fluffy. Leah went back to wait outside with the cat. A few minutes later a car drove up to the house. A woman got out and rushed up the steps to the porch. She saw the cat and yelled, Fluffy! She grabbed the cat and hugged it. Then she turned to Leah and thanked her over and over. Leah smiled. The woman left with the cat. Leah took the letter from the table and started off to the mailbox. She made it down the steps and almost tripped over her bike and jump rope. Remembering her promise to exercise more, she put down the letter and picked up the rope. Leah spent the next minutes jumping rope all over her front yard. After her last jump, Leah went over to the side of her house to get a drink of water from the garden hose. Then she picked up the letter and walked toward the mailbox. A car pulled up to the curb and stopped. A woman in the front waved and said, Hi, Leah. Is your mother in the house? I would like to come by later this evening and talk with her about the neighborhood garage sale for next month. Could you please let her know?

50 50 Sure, Mrs. Jackson, said Leah. She will be home. I will let her know. The car drove off. Leah saw a blue and white mail truck parked at the curb next to the mailbox at the corner. A mail carrier was pulling mail out of the box and piling it into a large box. Oh, no! gasped Leah. I better hurry before the mail carrier leaves. Leah ran as fast as she could to the mailbox. Just as she got there, the mail carrier closed and locked the door at the back. Leah quickly handed the mail carrier her letter and said, Hi. There sure is a lot of mail today. Could you please add this to the rest of the mail? It needs to get to Hill City by Wednesday. Hello, replied the mail carrier, reaching for Leah s letter. Yes, there are a lot of letters going out today. I will add this to my box of mail to be mailed today. Looking at the front of the letter, the mail carrier added, If I take it now it will arrive on time. It will get to its destination on Wednesday. Thank you, said Leah. She turned to go back to her house and saw a dog sitting on her grass. Where did you come from? I wonder who you belong to, Leah wondered

51 51 Is There Enough Time? Leah, will you please take this letter down to the mailbox and mail it for me? asked Mom. It needs to go out today to get to its destination by Wednesday. It is paying a bill. It has to go to Hill City. If it does not get there by Wednesday, there will be an extra charge added to the next bill. That would not be good for us. Money is tight around here as it is. Thank you. Sure, Mom, said Leah. The mailbox is right outside our house at the corner. Maybe Lois will be outside across the street and she will be able to come and play. Leah took the letter from her mother and headed out the door. As she walked across the front porch, Leah noticed a white cat sitting on the old wooden swing in the corner. She had never seen this cat before. Putting the letter on a small table next to the swing, Leah began to pet the cat. Hi, kitty, said Leah. Who do you belong to? Oh, here is a collar around your neck. Maybe it will tell where you live. Leah reached for a little metal tag attached to a leather collar. It had the name Fluffy and a telephone number stamped on it. Leah went back inside of her house and told her mother about the cat. Then she called the number. The cat belonged to a new family one

52 52 block over from Leah s house. The woman on the phone said that she would be right over to pick up Fluffy. Leah went back to wait outside with the cat. A few minutes later a car drove up to the house. A woman got out and rushed up the steps to the porch. She saw the cat and yelled, Fluffy! She grabbed the cat and hugged it. Then she turned to Leah and thanked her over and over. Leah smiled. The woman left with the cat. Leah took the letter from the table and started off to the mailbox. She made it down the steps and almost tripped over her bike and jump rope. Remembering her promise to exercise more, she put down the letter and picked up the rope. Leah spent the next minutes jumping rope all over her front yard. After her last jump, Leah went over to the side of her house to get a drink of water from the garden hose. Then she picked up the letter and walked toward the mailbox. A car pulled up to the curb and stopped. A woman in the front waved and said, Hi, Leah. Is your mother in the house? I would like to come by later this evening and talk with her about the neighborhood garage sale for next month. Could you please let her know? Sure, Mrs. Jackson, said Leah. She will be home. I will let her know.