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Non-fiction: Cracking Up
Cracking Up
Splitting Up
A new ocean will one day separate Africa.
A group of nomads got a shock several years ago in a desert in Ethiopia. A
series of earthquakes rattled the ground one night, making a deafening
noise. The next morning, the nomads discovered that a 3-foot cliff had risen
from the ground behind them.
C. Ebinger/University of Rochester
A scientist inspects one of many
fissures, or narrow cracks, that opened
during a series of earthquakes in
Ethiopia several years ago.
The event wasn’t just any earthquake. It was one step in a geological
process that is slowly building a new ocean in eastern Africa.
Spreading Apart
Earth’s shell is made up of enormous pieces that fit together like those in a
jigsaw puzzle. Called tectonic plates, the pieces are moving very slowly.
Some plates are crashing together. Some are pulling apart. In the long
course of Earth’s history, the movements of plates have created mountains,
oceans, and continents.
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Non-fiction: Cracking Up
In eastern Africa, two large tectonic plates—the African Plate and the
Arabian Plate—are pulling away from each other. “There’s true plate
spreading going on there,” Cindy Ebinger, an earth scientist at the University
of Rochester in New York, told ScienceSpin.
That’s not all. As the two plates pull apart, the African Plate is splitting into
two pieces. One tectonic plate is becoming two plates.
Joe Lemonnier
An ocean will one day fill
the Great Rift Valley, where
Africa is pulling apart.
Recently, that tectonic activity has gotten dramatic. In 2005, the cracking of
the African Plate triggered a volcanic eruption in Ethiopia. That was followed
by a series of earthquakes—the same ones the nomads felt. The
earthquakes occurred as magma (liquid rock) rose from deep within Earth,
splitting the ground wide open. A series of crevices, some as wide as 10
feet, opened along a 35-mile stretch of desert in Ethiopia. Since then, the
cracks have continued to grow.
A Natural Lab
Africa’s tectonic activity has been going on for 30 million years. The
spreading and cracking is what formed the Red Sea, as well as a deep
depression known as the Great Rift Valley. The rift runs south from the
bottom of the Red Sea through eastern Africa.
As the two sides of the rift valley pull even farther apart, the entire area will
someday fall below sea level. Eventually, water from the Red Sea will rush in
to fill the rift, spawning a new body of water. A million years from now—
possibly sooner—the Great Rift Valley will lie at the bottom of an ocean that
divides Africa in two.
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Article: Copyright © 2010 Weekly Reader Corporation. All rights reserved.
Weekly Reader is a registered trademark of Weekly Reader Corporation.
Used by permission.
Questions: Cracking Up
Name:
__
Date: _______________________
1. Based on the passage, which of the following is NOT created by tectonic plate
movement?
A
B
C
D
countries
oceans
mountains
continents
2. Based on the sequence of the geological process described in the passage, when will
the Great Rift Valley fill with water?
A
B
C
D
never
after the area is flooded by rain
after the area falls below sea level
after 30 million years
3. Based on the passage, how often are new oceans created?
A
B
C
D
not often, because it takes millions of years
very often, because tectonic plates move fast
every year
whenever an earthquake happens
4. Read the following sentence: “A series of crevices, some as wide as 10 feet, opened
along a 35-mile stretch of desert in Ethiopia.”
As used in the sentence, what are crevices?
A
B
C
D
open spaces in the desert
large cracks in the ground
shaking during earthquakes
liquid magma from volcanic eruptions
5. This passage is mainly about
A
B
C
D
how tectonic plates move under the ocean
continents and how they are created
how nomads live in Ethiopia
tectonic plates creating a new African ocean
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© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Questions: Cracking Up
6. According to the passage, what are two ways tectonic plates move?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
7. Based on the passage, why don’t we usually feel it when tectonic plates are crashing
together and pulling apart?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes
the sentence.
One day the Great Rift Valley will become an ocean, ______________ it falls below sea
level.
A
B
C
D
before
although
finally
after
9. Answer the questions based on the sentence below.
In 2005, a volcanic eruption triggered a series of earthquakes in Ethiopia.
What? a volcanic eruption
(did) What? ______________________________________________________________________
When? __________________________________________________________________________
Where? __________________________________________________________________________
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© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Questions: Cracking Up
10. Read the vocabulary word and definition below and complete questions 10a, 10b,
and 11.
Vocabulary Word: trigger (trig·ger): to cause something to begin or to happen.
10a. Read the five sentences below and underline the word trigger in each sentence.
The movement of the tectonic plates triggered an earthquake when they pulled
the ground apart.
1.
The stronger safety laws triggered a growth of the town’s economy as more
people felt confident enough to build new businesses.
2.
The other person’s mean words triggered Sue’s tears because they made her
feel sad.
3.
Knocking one book off of the shelf triggered a chain reaction that knocked down
all of the books.
4.
Being outside during the spring triggered her sneezing, because she was allergic
to flowers.
5.
10b. Which image shows an event triggered by some change?
11. What might trigger the fire department to hurry to an apartment building?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
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© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Teacher Guide & Answers: Cracking Up
Teacher Guide & Answers
Passage Reading Level: Lexile 980
Featured Text Structure: Sequence – the writer provides an order of events or steps in a process
Passage Summary: This passage discusses the sequence of events leading to the creation of a new
ocean that will one day divide Africa. The process involves the movement of tectonic plates.
1. Based on the passage, which of the following is NOT created by tectonic plate movement?
A
B
C
D
countries
oceans
mountains
continents
2. Based on the sequence of the geological process described in the passage, when will the Great Rift
Valley fill with water?
A
B
C
D
never
after the area is flooded by rain
after the area falls below sea level
after 30 million years
3. Based on the passage, how often are new oceans created?
A
B
C
D
not often, because it takes millions of years
very often, because tectonic plates move fast
every year
whenever an earthquake happens
4. Read the following sentence: “A series of crevices, some as wide as 10 feet, opened along a 35-mile
stretch of desert in Ethiopia.”
As used in the sentence, what are crevices?
A
B
C
D
open spaces in the desert
large cracks in the ground
shaking during earthquakes
liquid magma from volcanic eruptions
5. What is this passage mostly about?
A
B
C
D
how tectonic plates move under the ocean
continents and how they are created
how nomads live in Ethiopia
tectonic plates creating a new African ocean
6. According to the passage, what are two ways tectonic plates move?
Suggested answer: Some tectonic plates crash together, and others pull apart. [see paragraph 4]
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© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Teacher Guide & Answers: Cracking Up
7. Based on the passage, why don’t we usually feel it when tectonic plates are crashing together and
pulling apart?
Suggested answer: We are usually unable to feel tectonic plates moving because they are moving very
slowly. [see paragraph 3]
8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes the sentence.
One day the Great Rift Valley will become an ocean, ______________ it falls below sea level.
A
B
C
D
before
although
finally
after
9. Answer the following questions based on the sentence below.
In 2005, a volcanic eruption triggered a series of earthquakes in Ethiopia.
What? a volcanic eruption
(did) What? triggered a series of earthquakes
When? in 2005
Where? in Ethiopia
10. ReadWorks recommends that you teach this vocabulary word to the whole class out loud using the
four steps listed below.
Vocabulary Word: trigger
Step 1: Introduce the word
a. Teacher writes the word on the board and divides it into syllables: (trig · ger)
b. Teacher says: “This word is trigger. What is the word?” [All students reply together out loud:
“trigger.”]
Step 2: Provide a child-friendly definition
a. Teacher says: “Trigger means to cause something to begin or to happen.”
b. Teacher says: “The passage states that the cracking of the African plate triggered, or caused, a
volcanic eruption in Ethiopia. If you have asthma, dust can trigger, or cause, a coughing fit.”
c. Teacher says: “What is the word?” [All students reply together out loud: “trigger.”]
Step 3: Practice the word
Teacher provides examples and additional opportunities to repeat the word. Read the first sentence out
loud to your students. Begin reading it again and when you come to the vocabulary word, prompt students
to say the vocabulary word out loud. Then, finish reading the sentence out loud to your students.
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Teacher Guide & Answers: Cracking Up
10a.
The movement of the tectonic plates triggered an earthquake when they pulled the ground
apart.
1.
The stronger safety laws triggered a growth of the town’s economy as more people felt confident
enough to build new businesses.
2.
3.
The other person’s mean words triggered Sue’s tears because they made her feel sad.
4.
Knocking one book off of the shelf triggered a chain reaction that knocked down all of the books.
5.
Being outside during the spring triggered her sneezing, because she was allergic to flowers.
Step 4: Check for student understanding
This step can be completed as a whole class activity or as an independent practice.
10b. Which image shows an event triggered by some change?
11. What might trigger the fire department to hurry to an apartment building?
Suggested answer: There could be a fire, smoke, an injury, or some type of emergency at the
apartment building.
Suggested Additional Vocabulary: deafening, crevices, rift, spawning, dramatic
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© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
A New Letter for the Alphabet
A New Letter for the Alphabet
In 2008, a man who lived in Detroit named Jerrold Foke, whom everyone called “Uncle
Jerrold,” came up with an unusual idea. Foke was an amateur linguist, a person who studies
words and language. Foke realized that for a long time, there had only been 26 letters in the
alphabet. Foke thought it might be time for a new letter to be added. So, he consulted another
alphabet, called the phonetic alphabet—which is like an alphabet for sounds—and found a
letter he liked. It looks like an upside-down lowercase “e” (“ə”) and is pronounced “uh,” like
the noise you make when you’re confused. It is called the “schwa.”
Jerrold had a good reason for wanting to add a new letter to the alphabet. He thought that if
English got a new letter, then people might be able to make new words. He reasoned that if
people made new words, they might be able to communicate better. If they were able to
communicate better, they might get along better. Plus, he thought, people might enjoy
making new words. There are lots of things in the English language for which there is no word.
Why not use the schwa to make words to describe these things?
Jerrold began telling everyone he knew about the schwa. He requested that friends help him
make new words using the schwa. People would use the schwa to make an “uh” sound in the
word. His friends thought this was a pretty good idea. Jerrold lived in a hotel in downtown
Detroit. Every day, when he went down to the lobby, someone he knew would tell him a new
word he’d made. One person gave him the word “fundzəlow” spelled with the schwa. The
definition of “fundzəlow” is to not have much money. If you were to use it in a sentence, you
might say, “Hey, I’m sorry I can’t pay you back—my fundzəlow.” Jerrold began working
“fundzəlow” into everyday conversations, hoping it would catch on.
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
A New Letter for the Alphabet
In an effort to spread the schwa still farther, Jerrold began to spend some of his days standing
in Campus Martius Plaza, in the center of town, with a sign that said “Have you heard about
the schwa?” People would approach him and he would explain his quest. He liked to share
some of the words he and his friends had made, and then invite these people to make their
own schwa-based words. Some people did so enthusiastically, while others were more
skeptical about the schwa’s potential. When people asked Jerrold where the schwa should go
in the alphabet, he’d always say, “In the front.” When people asked him why, he’d say,
“Because that’s where it belongs.”
At the same time, Uncle Jerrold was writing short stories. Many of the short stories included
words that were made from the schwa. Jerrold would self-publish these stories, printing them
out, and binding them with string into a small book. At the same time, he was trying to
convince publishing houses to publish a novel that he had written. He reasoned that if the
novel, which included schwa words, was published by a major publisher, the schwa would
then, by default, be added to the English language. Since there is no authoritative organization
that decides which letters are part of English and which aren’t, he figured that having a
publisher publish the word was as close to an official acceptance as he was likely to get.
One day, a reporter wrote a story about Jerrold and the schwa for a local newspaper. Shortly
after, several colleges in the area called Jerrold and asked him to come and talk about the
schwa to some of their linguistics students. Jerrold was very pleased. While not all of the
professors agreed the schwa should be part of the English alphabet—some thought there
were quite enough letters already, thank you—the idea of someone adding a word intrigued
them and they happily listened to Jerrold’s ideas. Jerrold was happy because the lectures gave
him a wider audience to spread the schwa to. To his delight, some of these students have
shared new schwa-based words with him.
As of 2013, Jerrold continues to push for the schwa’s inclusion. While a publisher has not yet
published his novel, the letter has been getting wider usage throughout the Detroit area, and
Jerrold is considered the leading regional authority on the schwa and its uses. While he
continues to work at his day job—he is a sailor—he has often thought of pursuing writing fulltime. He continues to encourage others to make their own words, whether using the schwa or
not. His goal of increasing communication between different people remains one that he
greatly values.
© 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Questions: A New Letter for the Alphabet
Name:
_____________ Date: _______________________
1. What is the schwa?
A
B
C
D
a
a
a
a
letter that Jerrold Foke wants to add to the English alphabet
book that Jerrold Foke is trying to get published
debate between two groups about language and the alphabet
new word that someone introduces to a language and tries to spread
2. What does the passage describe?
A The passage
B The passage
sounds are.
C The passage
Detroit.
D The passage
use.
describes a lecture that Jerrold gave to a college linguistics class.
describes all the letters in the phonetic alphabet and what their
describes many different hotels and plazas found in the city of
describes the schwa and what someone has done to increase its
3. Jerrold has written and self-published stories using words with the schwa. He has
spoken about the schwa in college classes. He has spent days standing in Campus
Martius Plaza with a sign reading, “Have you heard about the schwa?”
What can be concluded from this information?
A
B
C
D
Jerrold is more interested in being a sailor than in being a full-time writer.
Jerrold has done a lot to increase the use of the schwa.
Jerrold does not care about whether the schwa becomes widely used.
Some people do not think that the schwa should be added to the English
alphabet.
4. How can people’s attitudes toward making the schwa part of the English alphabet be
described?
A
B
C
D
completely supportive
completely negative
completely excited
mixed
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Questions: A New Letter for the Alphabet
5. What is this passage mostly about?
A how Jerrold Foke got the nickname “Uncle Jerrold”
B the short stories written by Jerrold Foke and the novel he is trying to get
published
C what a man in Detroit has done to spread the use of the schwa
D the importance of improving communication between people
6. Read the following sentences: “He reasoned that if people made new words, they might
be able to communicate better. If they were able to communicate better, they might
get along better.”
What does the word communicate mean above?
A
B
C
D
give and receive information
watch over and defend from danger
provide money to someone
lead a healthy life
7. Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below.
Jerrold wants to add a new letter to the English alphabet, _______ not everyone thinks
a new letter is necessary.
A
B
C
D
therefore
but
so
soon
8. What sound does the schwa make?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
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Questions: A New Letter for the Alphabet
9. What is the “good reason” Jerrold had for wanting to add a new letter to the
alphabet?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
10. Should the schwa become part of the English alphabet? Explain why or why not,
using evidence from the passage.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
3
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Teacher Guide & Answers: A New Letter for the Alphabet
Teacher Guide & Answers
Passage Reading Level: Lexile 1040
1. What is the schwa?
A
B
C
D
a letter that Jerrold Foke wants to add to the English alphabet
a book that Jerrold Foke is trying to get published
a debate between two groups about language and the alphabet
a new word that someone introduces to a language and tries to spread
2. What does the passage describe?
A
B
C
D
The passage describes a lecture that Jerrold gave to a college linguistics class.
The passage describes all the letters in the phonetic alphabet and what their sounds are.
The passage describes many different hotels and plazas found in the city of Detroit.
The passage describes the schwa and what someone has done to increase its use.
3. Jerrold has written and self-published stories using words with the schwa. He has spoken about the
schwa in college classes. He has spent days standing in Campus Martius Plaza with a sign reading, “Have
you heard about the schwa?”
What can be concluded from this information?
A
B
C
D
Jerrold is more interested in being a sailor than in being a full-time writer.
Jerrold has done a lot to increase the use of the schwa.
Jerrold does not care about whether the schwa becomes widely used.
Some people do not think that the schwa should be added to the English alphabet.
4. How can people’s attitudes toward making the schwa part of the English alphabet be described?
A
B
C
D
completely supportive
completely negative
completely excited
mixed
5. What is this passage mostly about?
A
B
C
D
how Jerrold Foke got the nickname “Uncle Jerrold”
the short stories written by Jerrold Foke and the novel he is trying to get published
what a man in Detroit has done to spread the use of the schwa
the importance of improving communication between people
1
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Teacher Guide & Answers: A New Letter for the Alphabet
6. Read the following sentences: “He reasoned that if people made new words, they might be able to
communicate better. If they were able to communicate better, they might get along better.”
What does the word communicate mean above?
A
B
C
D
give and receive information
watch over and defend from danger
provide money to someone
lead a healthy life
7. Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below.
Jerrold wants to add a new letter to the English alphabet, _______ not everyone thinks a new letter is
necessary.
A
B
C
D
therefore
but
so
soon
8. What sound does the schwa make?
Suggested answer: The schwa makes an “uh” sound.
9. What is the “good reason” Jerrold had for wanting to add a new letter to the alphabet?
Suggested answer: The “good reason” is that a new letter might allow people to communicate better.
10. Should the schwa become part of the English alphabet? Explain why or why not, using evidence from
the passage.
Suggested answer: Answers may vary, as long as they are supported by evidence from the passage.
Students may agree with Jerrold that the schwa should be added to the English alphabet because it would
allow for the creation of new words and better communication. On the other hand, students may argue
against adding the schwa to the English alphabet. They may side with the linguistics professors who
believe that the English alphabet already has enough letters, and point out that new words can be created
without new letters.
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Non-fiction: Buzz Off
Buzz Off
By Kirsten Weir
Can Bioengineering Mosquitoes Stop The Spread Of Tropical
Diseases?
It’s a bright, sunny day in the Caribbean. You roll out your beach towel and
settle down in the sand when—drat!—a mosquito interrupts the serenity.
You reach over and swat it.
If you happened to be on the island of Grand Cayman not long ago, you
needn’t have bothered. In a test on the island, scientists released millions of
lab-created mosquitoes. The insects were engineered to self-destruct. No
need for swatters.
AP Photos
A female Aedes aegypti
mosquito
Although a tropical vacation without biting bugs sounds like a true paradise,
there’s a bigger goal at stake. Mosquitoes transmit dengue fever, a
devastating and sometimes fatal disease. No vaccine or cure for it exists.
Could tailor-made mosquitoes be the answer?
No Fly Zone
Dengue fever strikes about 100 million people each year in tropical and
subtropical regions. It’s also called breakbone fever for the joint and muscle
aches and the intense headaches it causes. In some cases, the fever
worsens into dengue hemorrhagic fever, which leads to internal bleeding,
organ damage, and possible death.
1
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Used by permission.
Non-fiction: Buzz Off
AP Photos
Patients suffering from
dengue fever lie on cots
in a military hospital in
Bogor, Indonesia.
Dengue fever is caused by a virus, which the mosquito Aedes aegypti
spreads through its bite. Until now, the best way to control the disease has
been to prevent contact between mosquitoes and humans, says Anthony
James, a molecular biologist at the University of California, Irvine. One way
to do that is to put up window screens. Another is to douse people and
places with insecticides (chemicals that kill insects). Unfortunately,
insecticides can harm other organisms, including beneficial insects. And
mosquitoes can develop a resistance to them over time.
James believes there’s a better option: genetically engineering the A.
aegypti mosquito. Genetic engineering is the process of manipulating an
organism’s deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). James tweaked A. aegypti by
adding some extra genes to its DNA. Genes are short DNA segments that
are responsible for individual traits in an organism. The genes that James
added prevent flight muscles from forming in female mosquitoes. “Only the
adult females feed on blood and therefore are responsible for transmitting
diseases,” he says. Unable to fly, the engineered females can’t mate, bite, or
spread dengue fever.
2
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Non-fiction: Buzz Off
Umar Qayyum/Xinhua/Photoshot/Newscom
Fumigating a Pakistani city to kill
dengue-transmitting mosquitoes
In order to get flightless females, James actually engineered male skeeters
instead. The transgenic (genetically engineered) males mate with females
and pass on their extra genes to their offspring. Any female mosquitoes born
to those fathers are unable to fly and, therefore, unable to mate. As the
genes spread, the population dwindles. “The idea is to get a zero
population,” James says.
So far, James has tested his mosquitoes in the lab and in large outdoor
mesh cages in Mexico. He’s now working on securing approval to test the
engineered mosquitoes in the wild. Meanwhile, Oxitec, a British company
James has collaborated with, has marched ahead and released engineered
mosquitoes into nature.
Into The Wild
The Oxitec mosquitoes are engineered in a slightly different way from those
James designed. The males are unable to produce healthy offspring. In
2009, the company released a batch of those males into a small area of
Grand Cayman. Wild females mated with the engineered males, and their
offspring died before they reached adulthood. Within three months, the
mosquito population in the area fell by 80 percent.
3
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Used by permission.
Non-fiction: Buzz Off
Mohsin Raza/Reuters
A young man being treated for
dengue fever in a hospital in
Lahore, Pakistan
Despite the success of that first experiment, it may be awhile before
transgenic mosquitoes are released on a bigger scale. The next step, James
says, is to prove that the dip in a mosquito population actually reduces the
number of dengue fever cases.
An even bigger problem may be dealing with critics who are wary of
releasing transgenic organisms into the environment. Oxitec reportedly
chose Grand Cayman for the experiment because of weak regulations there.
Most other countries, including Mexico, where James works, have stricter
policies about releasing transgenic organisms.
Genetic engineering has been going on for years. In fact, much of today’s
packaged food contains genetically engineered corn or soy. Still, many
people are suspicious of genetic engineering. The environmental
organization Greenpeace, for instance, likens transgenic organisms to “a
giant genetic experiment” that could have unforeseen consequences for the
environment and for human health.
James is sensitive to the criticisms. But, he says, “we don’t think there are
risks.” For one thing, the engineered mosquitoes won’t persist in the
environment indefinitely. After all, they’re designed to die. And in most of
the world, A. aegypti is a nonnative species, he adds. Getting rid of the
buzzing pests would actually return those habitats to a more natural state.
If the experiment is a success, dengue fever may be just the start.
“Mosquitoes can transmit a number of diseases,” James says. The most
devastating is malaria, which kills close to 1 million people every year.
Unlike dengue fever, which is spread by just one mosquito species, more
than 30 species can transmit the malaria parasite. That makes it a trickier
target for genetic engineering, but James contends the goal is within reach.
4
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Used by permission.
Non-fiction: Buzz Off
“We develop vaccines and medications, but for some diseases we have no
tools,” he says. “It’s important that we look at all the science available to
find something that will actually work.”
AFP/Newscom; Source: WHO
5
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Weekly Reader is a registered trademark of Weekly Reader Corporation.
Used by permission.
Questions: Buzz Off
Name:
Date: _______________________
1. Which of the following is not a symptom of dengue fever?
A
B
C
D
joint and muscle aches
fever
internal bleeding
blindness
2. James and other molecular biologists are genetically engineering mosquitoes in order
to solve what problem?
A
B
C
D
flight muscle damage in female mosquitoes, which prevents them from flying
the irritating noise of buzzing mosquitoes and the itchiness of mosquito bites
the spread of dengue fever, an infectious disease spread by mosquitoes
the spread of insecticides, which are harmful to the environment
3. Which of the following conclusions about science is best supported by the passage?
A Science is a useful tool for understanding the world around us but can do
nothing to solve problems.
B If used responsibly, science can be used to help solve problems humans and
the environment face.
C Science can have unforeseen consequences for the environment and for human
health.
D It is interesting to study science so that we can better understand the problems
humans and the environment face.
4. Read the following sentences and answer the question below: “For one thing, the
engineered mosquitoes won’t persist in the environment indefinitely. After all, they’re
designed to die.”
In this context, what does the word indefinitely mean?
A
B
C
D
aggressively
forever
slowly
accidently
5. The primary purpose of this passage is to
A
B
C
D
advertise a vacation to the Grand Canyon
warn people about dengue fever
persuade the reader to oppose genetic engineering
explain a problem and identify possible solutions
1
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Questions: Buzz Off
6. What are two consequences of spraying insecticides to get rid of mosquitoes?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
7. How are the Oxitec mosquitoes different from the mosquitoes that Anthony James
engineered?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes
the sentence.
James understands the criticism of transgenic organisms, _________ he believes his
genetically engineered mosquitoes will not be harmful to the environment.
A before
B so
C but
D because
9. Answer the following questions based on the sentence below.
Some people oppose genetic engineering because it could have unintended negative
consequences now and in the future.
Who? _________________________________________________________________
(do) What? oppose genetic engineering
Why? _____________________________________________________________
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© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Questions: Buzz Off
10. Read the vocabulary word and definition below, and complete questions 10a, 10b,
and 11.
Vocabulary Word: serenity (se · ren · i · ty): a feeling of calm and peace, like how you
might feel sitting next to a mountain stream or listening to classical music.
10a. Read the sentences below and underline the word serenity.
1. Some people believe that practicing yoga is a good way of experiencing
serenity.
2. Martina is only thirteen years old, but as soon as she picks up a violin, she can
turn a chaotic room into an oasis of serenity.
3. Just as Max sat down alongside the creek to enjoy a picnic and a moment of
quiet reflection, a swarm of bees came buzzing past him, interrupting the serenity
and leaving him with two bee stings!
4. Floating on clouds high above the noise and bustle of city life would be perfect
serenity.
5. I was sitting quietly on the beach, enjoying the cool ocean breeze when my
brother rudely dumped a bucket of sand on my head, ruining the serenity of the
moment.
10b. Which image below better illustrates serenity?
11. Would a loud rock or rap concert be a good place to go if you are looking for
serenity?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
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© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Teacher Guide & Answers: Buzz Off
Teacher Guide & Answers
Passage Reading Level: Lexile 1010
Featured Text Structure: Problem/Solution – the writer poses a problem and suggests possible
solutions
Passage Summary: In “Buzz Off,” the author explains dengue fever, a disease transmitted by
mosquitoes, and describes a possible scientific solution that involves genetically engineering mosquitoes
without flight muscles.
1. Which of the following is not a symptom of dengue fever?
A
B
C
D
joint and muscle aches
fever
internal bleeding
blindness
2. James and other molecular biologists are genetically engineering mosquitoes in order to solve what
problem?
A
B
C
D
flight muscle damage in female mosquitoes, which prevents them from flying
the irritating noise of buzzing mosquitoes and the itchiness of mosquito bites
the spread of dengue fever, an infectious disease spread by mosquitoes
the spread of insecticides, which are harmful to the environment
3. Which of the following conclusions about science is best supported by the passage?
A
Science is a useful tool for understanding the world around us but can do nothing to solve
problems.
B If used responsibly, science can be used to help solve problems humans and the
environment face.
C Science can have unforeseen consequences for the environment and for human health.
D It is interesting to study science so that we can better understand the problems humans and
the environment face.
4. Read the following sentences and answer the question below: “For one thing, the engineered
mosquitoes won’t persist in the environment indefinitely. After all, they’re designed to die.”
In this context, what does the word indefinitely mean?
A
B
C
D
aggressively
forever
slowly
accidently
5. The primary purpose of this passage is to
A
B
C
D
advertise a vacation to the Grand Canyon
warn people about dengue fever
persuade the reader to oppose genetic engineering
explain a problem and identify possible solutions
1
© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Teacher Guide & Answers: Buzz Off
6. What are two consequences of spraying insecticides to get rid of mosquitoes?
Suggested answer: Insecticides can harm other organisms, including beneficial insects, and mosquitoes
can develop a resistance to them over time. [paragraph 5]
7. How are the Oxitec mosquitoes different from the mosquitoes that Anthony James engineered?
Suggested answer: Oxitec’s mosquitoes are different from the mosquitoes James engineered in two
primary ways. James engineered female mosquitoes by adding extra genes to their DNA that prevented
them from forming flight muscles. Since the engineered females are unable to fly, they can’t mate, bite,
or spread dengue fever. On the other hand, Oxitec engineered male mosquitoes that are unable to
produce healthy baby mosquitoes, ensuring reduction in the mosquito population. [paragraphs 6 and 9]
8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes the sentence.
James understands the criticism of transgenic organisms, ____ he believes his genetically engineered
mosquitoes will not be harmful to the environment.
A before
B so
C but
D because
9. Answer the following questions based on the sentence below.
Some people oppose genetic engineering because it could have unintended negative consequences now
and in the future.
Who? some people
(do) What? oppose genetic engineering
Why? because it could have unintended negative consequences now and in the future
10. ReadWorks recommends that you teach this vocabulary word to the whole class out loud using the
four steps listed below.
Vocabulary Word: serenity
Step 1: Introduce the word
a. Teacher writes the word on the board and divides it into syllables: (se ⋅ ren ⋅ i ⋅ ty)
b. Teacher says: “This word is serenity. What is the word?” [All students reply together out loud:
“serenity.”]
Step 2: Provide a child-friendly definition
a. Teacher says: “Serenity is a feeling of calm and peace, like how you might feel sitting next to a
mountain stream or listening to classical music.”
b. Teacher says: “In this passage it’s a bright, sunny day in the Caribbean. You roll out your beach
towel and settle down in the sand when—drat!—a mosquito interrupts the serenity, or
peacefulness. You reach over and swat it.”
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© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Teacher Guide & Answers: Buzz Off
c. Teacher says: “What is the word?” [All students reply together out loud: “serenity.”]
Step 3: Practice the word
Teacher provides examples and additional opportunities to repeat the word. Read the first sentence out
loud to your students. Begin reading it again and when you come to the vocabulary word, prompt students
to say the vocabulary word out loud. Then, finish reading the sentence out loud to your students.
10a.
1. Some people believe that practicing yoga is a good way of experiencing serenity.
2. Martina is only thirteen years old, but as soon as she picks up a violin, she can turn a chaotic
room into an oasis of serenity.
3. Just as Max sat down alongside the creek to enjoy a picnic and a moment of quiet reflection, a
swarm of bees came buzzing past him, interrupting the serenity and leaving him with two bee
stings!
4. Floating on clouds high above the noise and bustle of city life would be perfect serenity.
5. I was sitting quietly on the beach, enjoying the cool ocean breeze when my brother rudely
dumped a bucket of sand on my head, ruining the serenity of the moment.
Step 4: Check for student understanding
This step can be completed as a whole class activity or as an independent practice.
10b. Which image below better illustrates serenity?
11. Would a loud rock or rap concert be a good place to go if you are looking for serenity?
Suggested answer: A loud rock or rap concert would not be a good place to go if you are looking for
serenity because the music and the crowd at such concerts are usually loud. This environment does not
allow for much peace.
Suggested Additional Vocabulary: fatal, persist, indefinitely
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© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.