About Skill Builders Reading Comprehension Grade 4 Welcome to the Skill Builders series. This series is designed to make learning both fun and rewarding. This workbook offers the right mix of humor, imagination, and instruction as students steadily improve their reading comprehension skills. The diverse assignments enhance basic reading skills while giving students something fun to think about from elephants to space exploration. Additionally, a critical thinking section includes exercises to help develop higher - order thinking skills. Learning is more effective when approached with enthusiasm. That s why the Skill Builders series combines academically sound exercises with engaging graphics and exciting themes to make reviewing basic skills at school or at home fun and effective, for both you and your budding scholars. Credits: Editor: Julie Kirsch Layout Design: Mark Conrad Illustrations: Janet Armbrust Cover Concept: Nick Greenwood www.summerbridgeactivities.com 2007 Rainbow Bridge Publishing, Greensboro, North Carolina, 27425. The purchase of this material entitles the buyer to reproduce activities for classroom use only not for commercial resale. Reproduction of these materials for an entire school or district is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced (except as noted above), stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (mechanically, electronically, recording, etc.) without the prior written consent of Rainbow Bridge Publishing. Printed in the USA All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-60418-416-7
Table of Contents Suggested Reading List............... 3 Independence Day.................. 4 One More Chapter?................. 5 Parasites............................ 6 What's the Question?................ 7 Nellie Bly........................... 8 Rock Hounds...................... 10 Recycling.......................... 12 A Bowl of Blueberries............... 14 Animal Diagram.................... 16 What Is the Problem?............... 17 Soccer Sign Ups!.................... 18 The Space Race.................... 20 Title, Please!........................ 22 Lemonade Stand................... 24 The Midnight Ride................. 26 Neighbors Need Neighbors.......... 28 Fact or Opinion?................... 30 Baking Powder Biscuits............. 32 Ellie and Polly...................... 34 Leif Erikson........................ 36 Compost Pile...................... 38 How Earthquakes Happen.......... 40 Tornado!........................... 42 Two Basketball Stars................ 44 Paul Bunyan....................... 46 Ancient Earthquakes............... 48 Shark!............................. 50 What s the Cause?.................. 52 The Brain.......................... 54 Limericks.......................... 56 The Giant Sequoia.................. 58 Periods in History.................. 60 Making Oatmeal................... 62 Elephants.......................... 64 Avalanche!......................... 66 Idioms............................. 68 Space Probes....................... 69 Mollusks........................... 70 Critical Thinking Skills........... 72-77 Quicker Clues.................. 72 Predicting Outcomes........... 73 Letter Sort..................... 74 Lose the Letters................ 75 Multiple-Meaning Words....... 76 Applying Analogies............. 77 Answer Key........................ 78 Rainbow Bridge Publishing Reading RB-904056
Independence Day The Fourth of July is an important holiday for the United States. It is Independence Day. On July 4, 1776, the United States declared, or stated, that it was a country. It would no longer be part of England. Independence means to take care of yourself without help from others. That is why July 4 is called Independence Day. Every Fourth of July, people in the United States celebrate the beginning of the nation. There are parades, speeches, and lots of fireworks. People fly U.S. flags to show they are proud of their country. 1. What is the main idea of this story? a. The beginning of the United States is celebrated on the Fourth of July. b. Parades are common on the Fourth of July. c. The Fourth of July is for fireworks. 2. Which of the following best defines the word declare? a. to state or say b. celebrate c. fireworks 3. What are some ways people celebrate Independence Day? 4. Which of the following best defines the word independence? a. to celebrate a holiday b. to state as a fact c. to be free and on your own
One More Chapter? Tristan took off his wet boots and sat on the couch. He looked out of the window and smiled at the rounded figure in the yard. Tristan rubbed his hands together and blew on them. Ileana was in the kitchen making hot chocolate. He could hear her stirring the milk in the pan. He looked at the icy patterns on the window. Ileana came in the room and handed Tristan his cup. Hey, nice job out there! she said. That carrot makes a great nose! I hope your dad doesn t mind that we borrowed his scarf. She smiled when Tristan yawned. Shall we read another chapter of your book before bed? Aww, Tristan moaned, do I have to go to bed so soon? Let s read two chapters. Your mom said you had to be in bed by 8:30 because you have school tomorrow, Ileana said. She found the book and began to read aloud. Tristan listened to the story while he drank his hot chocolate. Circle yes or no. 1. Ileana is Tristan s sister. yes no 2. It is winter. yes no 3. There is a person standing in the yard. yes no 4. Tristan has been playing outside. yes no 5. Tristan used the scarf to dress a snowman. yes no 6. Ileana is a babysitter. yes no 7. It is Saturday night. yes no 8. Tristan s parents are gone for the evening. yes no
Parasites Some animals get their food by living in or on other things. These animals, called parasites, do not kill the animals they live on, but they may harm or irritate them. A flea will live on a dog, cat, or other animal. The animal it lives on is called the host. The flea gets its food by sucking the host animal s blood. Its bite will make the host itch and feel uncomfortable. Some worms are also parasites. A tapeworm lives inside the body of an animal. It eats the food the host has eaten. The tapeworm can make the host very sick. Plants can be parasites too. Mistletoe and some types of ferns live on trees, taking food and water from them. 1. What is the main idea of this story? a. Parasites live on or in other living things. b. A flea is a parasite. c. Parasites can make their hosts sick. 2. What is a parasite? 3. Where does a tapeworm live? 4. How does a flea get food? 5. What kinds of plants can be parasites? 6
What's the Question? Read the answers below. Then, on the line before each answer, write an appropriate question. 1. Question: Answer: Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Snow White 2. Question: Answer: a tent, a sleeping bag, and a cooler full of food 3. Question: Answer: lettuce, broccoli, celery, and zucchini 4. Question: Answer: He was the first president of the United States. 5. Question: Answer: She was a black woman who refused to give up her seat on a bus. This action started the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. 6. Question: Answer: It is a continent at the South Pole where penguins live, but no people, except for a few scientists, call it home. 7. Question: Answer: Heat milk on the stove. Then, add chocolate syrup and marshmallows. 8. Question: Answer: It is an animal with six legs, three body parts, and two antennae. 7