Download Ancient Greece The Cyclops

Non-fiction: Ancient Greece – The Cyclops
Ancient Greece
The Cyclops
Do you know any stories from Greek mythology? Myths are the stories
that the ancient Greeks told about their gods.
The Cyclops are famous figures1 in Greek mythology. You may have
heard of them. The Cyclops were giants. They only had one huge eye, and it was
in the middle of their foreheads.
The rulers of the universe2 hated the Cyclops. They threw the one-eyed
giants into the underworld. A powerful god named Zeus decided that he needed
the Cyclops’ help. Zeus freed the Cyclops from the underworld.
Out of gratitude, the Cyclops gave Zeus gifts. Zeus received powerful
thunderbolts that he could use as weapons. Zeus used his new weapons to
overthrow3 the world’s rulers. Then Zeus became the ruler of the universe.
1
figures: people or characters
universe: all of space and time
3
overthrow: defeat, get rid of
2
1
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ReadWorks®,
Inc. All rights reserved.
Questions: Ancient Greece – The Cyclops
Name: ____________________________
Date:______________________
1. Which of these is a main characteristic of the Cyclops?
a.
b.
c.
d.
being tiny
being rulers of the universe
having only one eye
being enemies of Zeus
2. What is the author’s purpose in writing this passage?
a.
b.
c.
d.
to compare and contrast Cyclops with other Greek figures
to discuss ancient and modern versions of Cyclops stories
to persuade the reader that Cyclops are good rulers
to describe the Cyclops and tell a story about them
3. Zeus wanted to free the Cyclops because
a.
b.
c.
d.
they could help him become ruler of the universe.
Zeus wanted to please the rulers of the universe.
they had helped him become ruler of the universe.
Zeus was afraid of the Cyclops and wanted to please them.
4. Read the following sentences: “Zeus freed the Cyclops from the underworld.
Out of gratitude, the Cyclops gave Zeus gifts.”
The word gratitude most nearly means
a.
b.
c.
d.
sadness
anger
love
thankfulness
5. The passage “The Cyclops” is mostly about
a.
b.
c.
d.
the amount of eyes that Ancient Greeks had.
the way the universe was created.
important characters in Greek mythology.
the reasons the Ancient Greeks believed in teamwork.
2
© 2012
ReadWorks®,
Inc. All rights reserved.
Questions: Ancient Greece – The Cyclops
6. How did the Cyclops thank Zeus for freeing them?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
7. Why were the Cyclops willing to help Zeus and give him weapons?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the answer that best
completes the sentence.
The Cyclops were trapped underground but _________ were freed by Zeus.
a. before
b. therefore
c. finally
d. on the contrary
3
© 2012
ReadWorks®,
Inc. All rights reserved.
Questions: Ancient Greece – The Cyclops
9. Read the following sentence.
When he needed help, the Cyclops gave Zeus gifts because he had freed
them.
Answer the questions below based on the information provided in the sentence
you just read. One of the questions has already been answered for you.
1. Who? the Cyclops
2. What did the Cyclops do? _____________________________________
3. When? ____________________________________________________
4. Why? ______________________________________________________
10. Vocabulary Word: overthrow: defeat, get rid of.
Use the vocabulary word in a sentence: ________________________________
________________________________________________________________
4
© 2012
ReadWorks®,
Inc. All rights reserved.
Answers: Ancient Greece – The Cyclops
Teacher Guide and Answers
Passage Reading Level: Lexile 580
Featured Text Structure: Descriptive – the writer explains, defines or illustrates
a concept or topic
Passage Summary: The Cyclops are famous figures in Greek mythology. After
being freed by the god Zeus, they helped him become the ruler of the universe.
1. Which of these is a main characteristic of the Cyclops?
a.
b.
c.
d.
being tiny
being rulers of the universe
having only one eye
being enemies of Zeus
2. What is the author’s purpose in writing this passage?
a.
b.
c.
d.
to compare and contrast Cyclops with other Greek figures
to discuss ancient and modern versions of Cyclops stories
to persuade the reader that Cyclops are good rulers
to describe the Cyclops and tell a story about them
3. Zeus wanted to free the Cyclops because
a.
b.
c.
d.
they could help him become ruler of the universe.
Zeus wanted to please the rulers of the universe.
they had helped him become ruler of the universe.
Zeus was afraid of the Cyclops and wanted to please them.
4. Read the following sentences: “Zeus freed the Cyclops from the underworld.
Out of gratitude, the Cyclops gave Zeus gifts.”
The word gratitude most nearly means
a.
b.
c.
d.
sadness
anger
love
thankfulness
5
© 2012
ReadWorks®,
Inc. All rights reserved.
Answers: Ancient Greece – The Cyclops
5. The passage “The Cyclops” is mostly about
a.
b.
c.
d.
the amount of eyes that Ancient Greeks had.
the way the universe was created.
important characters in Greek mythology.
the reasons the Ancient Greeks believed in teamwork.
6. How did the Cyclops thank Zeus for freeing them?
Suggested answer: Answers may vary but should include that they gave
him thunderbolts or weapons, or that they helped him overthrow the rulers.
7. Why were the Cyclops willing to help Zeus and give him weapons?
Suggested answer: The Cyclops were willing to help Zeus and give him
weapons because he freed them from the underworld.
8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the answer that best
completes the sentence.
The Cyclops were trapped underground but _________ were freed by Zeus.
a. before
b. therefore
c. finally
d. on the contrary
9. Read the following sentence.
When he needed help, the Cyclops gave Zeus gifts because he had freed
them.
Answer the questions below based on the information provided in the sentence
you just read. One of the questions has already been answered for you.
1. Who? the Cyclops
2. What did the Cyclops do? gave Zeus gifts
3. When? when he needed help
4. Why? because he had freed them
10. Vocabulary Word: overthrow: defeat, get rid of.
Use the vocabulary word in a sentence: answers may vary.
6
© 2012
ReadWorks®,
Inc. All rights reserved.