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Reading Homework Week 3
Name ______________________________
# __________
Read the passage. Then answer the questions.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Mozart was born in 1756 in Germany. He would become
one of the best composers to ever live. He was famous for his
ability to write and play music before he was eight years old!
As a three-year-old, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart already
loved music. Nicknamed Wolfie for short, he would sit on the
floor and listen to his father teach his older sister. She was
learning to play the piano. When he heard notes or sounds that
he liked, the boy would laugh and clap. When he heard notes
and sounds that did not go together, he would cry. But he
loved music and he loved to be around sounds.
As soon as he could reach the keys, Wolfie started to play
sounds. His father understood that Mozart was a very talented,
young musician. He began to teach his son. Wolfie was a fast
learner and surprised everyone in his family and in his town.
Before he was even five years old, Mozart learned his first
complete composition. He learned this song in only 30 minutes!
Before long, Mozart was writing his own music. He knew
how to read and write music before he could read or write
words! His first piece was very short. But Mozart did not stop
there. He could not stop writing the songs that came to his
head.
Reading Homework Week 3
Soon, word of this child prodigy spread. No one dreamed
that anyone so young could play with so much skill! Mozart was
invited to play all over Europe. He played for ambassadors,
dukes, kings and an emperor. But he still acted like a little boy.
Once, he went to play for the Empress of Austria. When he saw
her, he ran and jumped into her lap and hugged her just like
she was his mother. The Empress liked Wolfie and was also
impressed with his music.
When he was eight years old, Mozart started writing music
for other instruments besides the piano. Before long, he had
written his first symphony. This work was only a small example of
the great pieces to come!
Mozart died when he was still very young on December 5,
1791. He was only 36 years old. More than 200 years later,
Mozart is still known as one of the best composers ever.
Reading Homework Week 3
Monday Night
1. In “Mozart”….
Part A – According to the passage, what type of person
did Mozart seem to be?
A. happy and extremely intelligent
B. spoiled and demanding
C. lazy and unproductive
D. ordinary, with a love of music
Part B – Write at least two details to support your answer
for Part A.
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2. In “Mozart”…
Part A - Which of the following events happened first?
A. Mozart wrote his first short composition.
B. Mozart played for the Empress of Austria.
C. Mozart wrote his first symphony.
D. Mozart listened to his father teach his sister.
Part B – Circle or highlight the evidence that supports your
answer.
Reading Homework Week 3
Tuesday Night
3. In “Mozart”…
Part A - Does the author seem to have a positive or a
negative opinion of Mozart?
A. The author seems to have a positive opinion
about Mozart.
B. The author seems to have a negative opinion
about Mozart.
Part B – Explain the answer to Part A using evidence from
the text.
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4. This passage would most likely be found in a
A. novel about Mozart.
B. book of poetry about classical music.
C. book of biographies of classical musicians.
D. newspaper article from 1791.
5. What makes Mozart unique? Support your answer with
details from the text.
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Reading Homework Week 3
Thursday Night
6. The author of the passage explains that when Mozart went
to play for the Empress of Austria, at age eight, she liked
Mozart. What information from the passage helps you
understand why the Empress might have liked Mozart?
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7. Part A - What does prodigy (paragraph 5) mean?
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Part B – Which detail best supports the answer to Part A?
A. “But he still acted like a little boy.” (paragraph 5)
B. “No one dreamed that anyone so young could
play with so much skill!” (paragraph 5)
C. “Soon, word of this child prodigy spread.”
(paragraph 5)
8. The fact that does not support the conclusion that Mozart
was a child prodigy is:
A. As soon as he could reach the piano keys, he
started to play sounds.
B. He learned a song in only 30 minutes.
C. He started to write music for other instruments
when he was eight years old.
D. He loved music and loved to be around sounds.