Lesson

26 Bu g
Fo od
TARGET VOCABULARY

assist
favor
intends
nourishing Spiders assist gardeners without knowing
peculiar it. Spiders eat up bugs that can harm
plants. That is a big help. Gardeners like
spiders!

How do you assist people at home?

Explain.

Bats eat the mosquitoes that bite us.

We can return this favor by leaving bats
alone. They are part of our outdoor
world.

What is the last favor you asked a friend

to do for you?

252
 A gardener often intends to attract bees
to his garden. Bees pollinate plants when
they flit from flower to flower.

Tell what a gardener intends to do when

he puts up a scarecrow.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Tiny ants don’t need much food to live on.

Even a crumb from your sandwich can be a
nourishing snack for the bug.

What is a nourishing snack for a bird?

The black swallowtail butterfly has a

peculiar meal plan. It only likes to eat
carrot plants.

What is another word that has the same

meaning as peculiar?

253
 C om i n g Ho m e by Carol Alexander

“Class,” said Mrs. Woods, “do me a favor.

Show Maria around.”
Maria was starting her school year a little late.
She had just moved to this town. She liked her
new classroom. Maria pointed to a glass tank.
“What are those?” she asked. “They look funny.”
“They’re monarch butterflies,” said Paul.

Com i n g Ho m e
“They don’t look like butterflies,” Maria
replied.

STORY STRUCTURE

Where does the story take place?

254
 Hector said, “Right now, they’re caterpillars.
But soon they will turn into butterflies.”
The caterpillars had bright stripes. They were
yellow, black, and white. Maria watched the bugs
eat leaves. “Do they eat grass, too?”
“No,” Carmen answered. “They only eat
milkweed leaves.”
“Well, they really are peculiar,” Maria said.
“They really like those
leaves,” Paul told her. “They
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

must taste good.”

“How do they turn into
butterflies?” asked Maria.
“Look,” said Hector. He
pointed to a poster
on the wall.

VOCABULARY

What does Maria find peculiar about the caterpillars?

255
 1 In late summer, the monarch
butterfly lays a tiny white egg
on a milkweed plant.

2 A small caterpillar comes from

the egg. Its stripes are pretty.

3 The caterpillar eats

the milkweed leaves.

INFER AND PREDICT

Why does the butterfly lay her eggs on milkweed plants?

256
 4 The caterpillar grows. Its old
skin falls off. This looks icky!

5 The big caterpillar hangs

itself upside down. It
wraps itself in a green and
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

gold case.

6 In about two weeks,

the case breaks open.
Out comes a monarch
butterfly! It is really
beautiful!

SEQUENCE OF EVENTS

What happens before the caterpillar’s skin falls off?

257
 “I see now,” Maria said. “The butterflies
find those leaves nourishing. Will we keep the
butterflies?”
“No,” Mrs. Woods said. “They fly to Mexico
for the winter. It’s nice and warm there.” Mrs.
Woods went on. “We have a problem. They
should have made the trip before. It is getting
cold. Now they won’t find enough food along
the way.”

“I’m afraid they will

die,” Pat said. “Could we
mail them?”
“We can’t put living
things in the mail,”
Hector said.

STORY STRUCTURE

Why is the class worried about the butterflies?

258
 Maria had an idea. She
said, “My father intends to go
to Mexico soon. He flies an
airplane. That’s his job.”
“Great!” said Mrs.
Woods. “Will you talk to
him about our problem?”
That night, Maria
asked her dad for help. He
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

said he could assist them.

Once the caterpillars turned into butterflies,
Maria’s dad came to pick them up. They were in
boxes with tiny holes.
“I’ll be very careful with them,” he said. “We
leave in three hours. Tonight, I will set them free
in Mexico.”

VOCABULARY

Explain how Maria’s father intends to help the butterflies.

259
 The next day, everyone was excited.
“Did the butterflies get there?” they all asked.
Maria smiled widely. “Yes!
Everything went well. Dad opened
the boxes, and away they flew.”
“I can’t believe they’re in
Mexico now!” said Sara.
“Yes! Maria, we are so happy
that our little friends are home,”
said Mrs. Woods as she pointed
to Mexico on the globe. “We are
very happy that you are part
of this class.”
Maria smiled. She felt right
at home.

STORY STRUCTURE

How is the problem solved?

260
 What do Maria’s words and actions tell Hint

you about her? Clues you can

use are on almost
every page!
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

What is the problem in the story? Hint

For a clue, see

page 258.

How does Maria help solve the problem? Hint

For a clue, see

page 259.

How does Maria feel after she has helped Hint

solve the problem? For a clue, see

page 260.

261
 Lesson
26
Return The Girl
to Who Loved
Spiders
Be a Reading Detective! I hate spiders. That’s the first
thing you should know about me.
My mom and I just moved
from New York to Florida. That’s
the second thing you should know
about me. We moved because my
Mom has told me it takes three
weeks to make a habit. It’s only
been a week since we moved, but
I’ve already made one.
First thing every morning, I
shake out my sneakers. Second
mom got a new teaching job at a thing, I put on my sneakers, though
university here. I’m still wearing pajamas. Third
Before we moved, my best thing, I always watch my step.
friend, Billy, told me all kinds of Hey! Not one, but three new
creepy stories about spiders that habits.
live in Florida. I blame them all on Billy.

How does moving to Florida affect Luis?

“My brother knows a guy from
there who got bitten by a brown
recluse spider,” Billy said. “This
guy was smart about spiders, too.
He shook out his shoes. He watched
his step. His bite healed, but it was
the worst.”

He misses his old school. Untitled-16 4

“The Girl Who

9/15/2009 9:07:02 PM

Loved Spiders”
He sees different creatures. Student Magazine pp. 4–11
He learns a flip on the trampoline.

Prove It! What evidence in the story supports your answer?

Check the boxes. Make notes.
Evidence Notes
what Luis says and thinks

what Billy has told him

what happens to Luis with Ashanti

STORY STRUCTURE

Answer question using evidence from the text.

261A
 What important lesson about life does the story teach?
You can learn a lot from your neighbors.
Learning about something can change what you think.
Most spiders are not dangerous.

Prove It! What evidence in the story supports your answer?

Check the boxes. Make notes.
Evidence Notes
what Luis thinks about spiders at
the beginning of the story

what he thinks about spiders at the

end of the story
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

THEME

Answer question using evidence from the text.

261B
 Lesson

27
TARGET VOCABULARY

alert
opportunities All of the living things in an area are
scarce part of the area’s ecosystem. The plants and
shortage animals depend on each other to survive.
species Some species are found in more than one
ecosystem. For example, many types of birds
nest in one place and feed in another.
In rainforests, water is plentiful. In deserts,
it is scarce. Different places support very
different kinds of life. A shortage of food or
other changes may cause problems for plants
and animals. If we don’t protect them, some
plants and animals may be lost forever.
Scientists are alert to changes in an
environment. They look for opportunities to
protect the plants and animals there.

262
 A of food or another
change to a place may cause some plants or
animals to be lost forever.

Some of birds nest in

one area and feed in another area.

In the desert, water is .

Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

What opportunities do you have to show

off your talents?

What can you do to stay alert in class?

263
 A pond is full of life. Look in and around
a pond. Millions of living things make their
homes there. The pond and what lives in it
make up an ecosystem. It is a community of
plants and animals in one place.
Each of the animals is busy trying to
stay alive. All seek food and shelter. They
are always alert to dangers. They hide from
animals that want to eat them, and
they try to keep their young safe.

MAIN IDEAS AND DETAILS

What is an ecosystem?

264
 The smallest forms of
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

life in a pond are bacteria. They

may be shaped like dots or small rods. Most
are too small to see without a microscope,
but they are exciting. Larger life forms called
protozoa feed on bacteria. Some can move,
and others simply float. The largest protozoa
are still very small. They are about the size of
two or three small letters in a newspaper!

MAIN IDEAS AND DETAILS

Which life forms eat bacteria?

265
 Other tiny plants and animals also live in
ponds. Some are tiny worms. Others look like
small flowers or plants. They eat bacteria, too.
They also feed on each other. In turn, larger
animals feed on them.
Have you ever seen green scum on ponds?
It is caused by algae. These are simple living
things that can take over a pond.
They use up the oxygen in
a pond. When oxygen
becomes scarce, other life
forms die out.

VOCABULARY

What might happen if food for animals becomes scarce?

266
 Arthropods live in ponds, too. Spiders,
shrimp, and insects belong in this group. They
use legs or tails to move. They hold onto prey
with their mouths and claws.
Many kinds of insects live in ponds. Some
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

always live under the water. Others, such as

dragonflies, live their lives in stages.
When young, they are in the water.
Then their bodies change, and they
take to the air.
Fish eat insects in a pond. The size and
number of fish depend on how big the pond is
and what else lives there.

CAUSE AND EFFECT

Why might a small number of insects in a pond mean

fewer fish?

267
 Turtles and snakes live in ponds. Salamanders
also live in or near ponds. Often there is no
shortage of reptiles, but they move quickly. It is
rare to spot one.
Reptiles that live in ponds are not in the water
all the time. They lay their eggs on land. Animals
living near the pond have opportunities to feed
on young reptiles and reptile eggs.

CONCLUSIONS

What might be a rare sight in your neighborhood?

268
 Frogs are interesting animals. They lay their
eggs in the water. The eggs become tadpoles.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

A tadpole hatches with gills like

a fish. Then the gills close, and
the tadpole begins to breathe
air. It grows leg buds and loses
its tail. After a few weeks, it
becomes a frog.
Adult frogs eat small fish
and even mice. Snakes, turtles,
raccoons, and birds hunt frogs.

SEQUENCE OF EVENTS

What happens to tadpoles just before they become frogs?

269
 Animals depend on each other to survive. Big
animals eat small ones. Small animals eat still
smaller ones. This cycle is called a food chain.
Ponds have a life cycle, too. Over time, rain
washes things into the pond. It slowly fills up. As
time goes by, a pond may turn into a marsh. One
day it might disappear altogether.
A lack of life in a pond may be a sign of
trouble. Maybe weeds have taken over. Maybe one
species has wiped out all the others. Some people
work hard to keep ponds healthy. They know that
the pond is an important little world.

MAIN IDEA AND DETAILS

What is the main idea of this section?

270
 How can algae take over a pond? Hint

For a clue, see

page 266.

Write two details that explain how a Hint

Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

food chain works. For a clue, see

page 270.

Name two animals that live in ponds. On Hint

what does each animal feed? Clues are on

almost every
page!

What is this selection mainly about? Hint

Reread the title.

Think about what
most details in the
text are about.

271
 Return
to Salama
nder
Amphibians are found on all the
continents except Antarctica. They are
ancient animals that have been around
for about 360 million years. However
their lives are being seriously TREE FROG
threatened in today’s world. Most amphibian
species are frogs. This
is a common tree frog.

A MPHIBIAN ALERT!
AMPHIBIAN
Be a Reading Detective! F rogs, toads, salamanders, and newts
are amphibians. The word amphibian
means “double life” because these
animals live part of their lives in water
and part of their lives on land. An am-
phibian starts life in the water and then
lives on land as an adult.
Amphibians lay their eggs in the
water. These eggs do not have a hard
shell. They are more like jelly. Young
amphibians that hatch from the eggs
As young amphibians grow,
their bodies change. They grow legs.
Lungs develop and their gills disappear.
These changes allow amphibians to live
on land and breathe air with their lungs.
The skin of amphibians is not pro-
tected by hair, feathers, or scales like
other animals. Their skin is permeable,
which means they can absorb
air and water through
their skin.
Scientists know of approximately
6,000 different kinds of amphibians, but
this number could change quickly.
Scientists say that more than 120 amphib-
ian species have already disappeared from
the world. These kinds of amphibians are
extinct, meaning that all members of the
species have died.
Many different things are threatening
the lives of amphibians including habitat
loss, pollution, introduced species, and a
parasitic fungus. Scientists say that 2,000
NEWT
Most newts and salamanders
are found in the cool forests
of North America, Europe,
and northern Asia.

look very different from adult amphib- to 3,000 of the amphibian species in
ians. The young breathe with gills. They the world are now threatened with
have tails that help them swim. extinction. It is the biggest extinction
crisis in today’s world.

22 23

What is the main idea of the selection?

4_251561RNLASE_U6LA27 22 6/20/09 12:54:27 PM
4_251561RNLASE_U6LA27 2 6/20/09 12:54:49 PM

“Amphibian Alert!”
Student Magazine pp. 22–27
Frogs and newts are two kinds of amphibians.
Amphibians are endangered in several ways.
Scientists are doing their best to save amphibians.

Prove It! What evidence in the selection supports your answer?

Check the boxes. Make notes.
Evidence Notes
details about habitat and pollution

details about introduced species

details about fungus

MAIN IDEAS AND DETAILS

Answer question using evidence from the text.

271A
 Why did the author write the selection?
to encourage people to raise amphibians
to describe many kinds of amphibians
to encourage people to help amphibians

Prove It! What evidence in the selection supports your answer?

Check the boxes. Make notes.
Evidence Notes
details about amphibians

threats to amphibians

ways people can help amphibians

Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

AUTHOR’S PURPOSE

Answer question using evidence from the text.

271B
 Lesson

28
TARGET VOCABULARY

apologize
display The largest natural history museum in the
genuine world is in Washington, D.C. It was started in
obstacles 1910. The museum has more than 125 million
vast items. It has not always had that many. The
museum has been able to expand. Now it
has a vast collection. People give items and
money.
The museum’s collection is displayed in
six separate halls. One hall is for gems and
minerals. In that hall, the Hope Diamond is on
display. Another hall is for mammals. It is full
of genuine skeletons. Each exhibit is in a glass
case. That way, nobody has to apologize for
breaking anything.
Keeping everything in good condition
is one of the obstacles the museum has to
face. Bones must be dusted. Gems must be
polished. Making sure 125 million items look
good is a big job. It takes hundreds of workers
and scientists.

272
 When items are in glass cases, no one
has to for breaking
anything.

People have helped the museum build a

collection.

The Hope Diamond is on

Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

in the hall
for gems and minerals.

What obstacles might you face on your way

to school?

Explain the difference between a genuine

dinosaur skeleton and a dinosaur model.

273
 Carlos and Kim are visiting the museum with
their teacher, Mr. Diego. The museum has a new
dinosaur exhibit.
During their visit, Carlos and Kim are going to
talk to people who work at the museum. They’ll
learn a lot of facts about the exhibit. They are going
to report what they have learned to their class.

STORY STRUCTURE

What kind of exhibit will Carlos and Kim learn about

during their museum visit?

274
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

The students meet Mrs. Reed in the

lobby. She is the director of the museum.
She introduces her assistant, Mr. Fox.
Mr. Diego thinks his students might be
nervous. He asks the first question. “Why
did you decide to have a dinosaur exhibit?”
Mrs. Reed smiles. “Well, dinosaurs are
amazing! They became extinct long ago, but
people are still fascinated by them.”

FACT AND OPINION

What opinion does the director give about dinosaurs?

275
 Kim reads the first question on her
notepad. “Did you face any obstacles getting
the exhibit ready?”
Mr. Fox nods. “Our biggest one was
finding all the objects we wanted to show.”
“Where did you get them?” Carlos asks.
“Mostly from other museums,” Mr. Fox
explains. “I spent months writing e-mails
and letters to museums around the world.”
Mr. Fox leads the group to the main
display. It shows some genuine dinosaur
skeletons. It also has life-sized dinosaur
models.

STORY STRUCTURE

Where did the museum get most of the objects in the

dinosaur exhibit?

276
 “We spent a lot of time thinking about the
contents of this display,” Mr. Fox says. “At first
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

we just had the skeletons. Then we decided we

wanted to show something more.”
“We wanted to show what the world was
like when dinosaurs were alive. We decided to
expand the exhibit. We added models of other
dinosaurs. We also added plants to show more of
the dinosaurs’ vast habitat,” says Mrs. Reed.
“It looks great,” says Kim. “Everyone here
seems to think so.”

CITE TEXT EVIDENCE

How did Mrs. Reed and Mr. Fox expand the main exhibit?

277
 Mrs. Reed leads them into the next room.
This one has dinosaurs, too.
“Here are two of our guides,” says Mrs.
Reed. “They show people around the museum
and tell them about each exhibit. I’m going to
leave you in their care.”
“Will they know as much as you and Mr.
Fox?” asks Kim.
Mrs. Reed laughs. “We train all of our
guides. They know our dinosaurs inside out!
Don’t worry. They’ll be able to answer any
questions you have.”

MAIN IDEA AND DETAILS

What do the museum guides do?

278
 Carlos asks about the row of screens in the
room. “This part of the exhibit is interactive,”
the guide replies. “There are games that teach
you about dinosaurs. They get everyone really
involved.”
“Here’s a dinosaur that flew,” the guide
continues. “We’re showing a movie about it.
I have to apologize, though. The next movie
doesn’t start for another two hours.”
“We can’t stay that long,” says Kim. “I wish
we could.”
“That’s okay. We’ll be coming back next
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

week with the whole class,” says Mr. Diego.

VOCABULARY

Why does the guide apologize?

279
 Mr. Diego and his students go to say goodbye
to Mrs. Reed. “We have to get back to school now,”
says Mr. Diego. “Thanks so much for your help.”
“Yes, thank you,” Carlos adds. “We have
plenty to report back to our class.”
Kim shakes Mrs. Reed’s hand. “Your exhibit is
awesome! I can’t wait to come next week!”
Everyone waves goodbye. Everyone, that is,
except the dinosaurs.

STORY STRUCTURE

What are Kim and Carlos going to do when they get back
to school?

280
 Why might people want to visit the new Hint

dinosaur exhibit at the museum? Clues you can

use are on almost
every page!
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Name one obstacle that Mrs. Reed and Hint

For clues, see

Mr. Fox faced as they got the exhibit
pages 276
ready.
and 277.

Write a fact from the story. Hint

A fact is a
statement that
can be proved.

Write an opinion from the story. Hint

An opinion is a
statement that
cannot be proved.

281
 Lesson

Return 28
M useums
to Worlds of Wonder

Be a Reading Detective!
Museums are wonderful places.
That doesn’t just mean “terrific places.” It means places
that fill you with wonder—that surprise and amaze you. It
also means places that make you wonder—about the world,
about nature, about history, about people.
How do museums do that? No two museums do it in the
same way. There are art museums, science museums, histori-
cal museums, and nature museums. There are museums that
focus on a single subject, like music boxes or postage stamps,
and there are museums that seem to go in dozens of different
directions at once.
Herea World
Museums is aofbrief
Wondertour of five museums that are very different
grade 4
from each other. But all of them are full of wonders.
Revise / Finish

Which facts support the author’s opinion that

Portland

Chicago
Washington, D.C.

St. Louis

museums are wonderful? Choose every

Houston

Museum locations

34
Sue Carlson
609 971 6828

correct answer. “Museums”

Untitled-17 4 9/15/2009 9:09:5 PM

Student Magazine pp. 34–39

They present interesting facts.
They show exciting exhibits.
They provide new experiences.

Prove It! What evidence in the selection supports your answer?

Check the boxes. Make notes.
Evidence Notes
what you can do at each museum

what you can see at each museum

FACT AND OPINION

Answer question using evidence from the text.

281A
 What is the main idea about the Field Museum on page 37?
Sue is one of the museum’s most interesting exhibits.
People can get close to Sue’s skull.
The museum has more than twenty million interesting items.

Prove It! What evidence in the selection supports your answer?

Check the boxes. Make notes.
Evidence Notes
details about Sue’s skeleton

details about Sue’s skull

details about other exhibits

Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

MAIN IDEAS AND DETAILS

Answer question using evidence from the text.

281B
 Lesson

29
TARGET VOCABULARY

brilliant
Desert weather is extreme. The
confidence
satisfied summer sun’s
symbol light can make temperatures reach
territory
130 degrees. Winter temperatures may
drop to freezing.
Hikers in the desert often wear long
sleeves. It may seem like a bad idea, but it
is not. The fabric can protect their skin. It
can also keep them from losing too much
water from their bodies.

282
 Desert animals are used to the heat
and cold. They rest in the shade by day
and hunt the
for food at night. People may not be
with leaving
home only at night. Desert animals, though,
have to do it to survive.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Joshua trees grow only in America’s

Mojave Desert. So if you see one, you can
have that you
are in the Mojave!
The old silver mines in the Mojave closed
down years ago. Everyone soon left the
towns. Today, we call these empty towns
ghost towns. They have become a

of the old West.

283
 “We’re in the Mojave Desert now,” Dad said.
“Jodi, keep your camera ready for great shots!”
We were on our way to visit my cousins in
California. Dad had chosen to drive through the
desert, which was unfamiliar territory to us.
I had seen pictures of the Mojave’s symbol,
the Joshua tree, in a guide book. Now, I could
take my own! I snapped shots of the tree through
the car window. “I love the desert,” I said.
“We knew you’d like it,” said Mom. “That’s
why we decided to go this way.”

STORY STRUCTURE

Why is the family driving through the desert?

284
 All of a sudden, the car made a funny noise. It
rolled to a stop. “Oh, no!” Dad said. “Don’t worry.
I’ll check it out.”
He slowly lifted the car hood. There was a
cloud of steam! “You two go take pictures,” he
said. “I should have this up and running in no
time.”
I took a picture of a cactus. The brilliant
desert sun beat down on me. “It’s really hot,
Mom!” I said. “How do these plants survive?”
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

VOCABULARY

How does the brilliant desert sun make Jodi feel?

285
 “They adapt,” said Mom. “A desert doesn’t get
much rain. So, a cactus soaks up water when it
does rain. The cactus’s thick, waxy outside holds
the water in. Then the plant can use it later.”
“I hope Dad knows as much about cars as you
do about plants,” I laughed.
“Let’s see how he’s doing,” Mom said.
We walked back to the car. Dad seemed to
have lost his confidence. “I can’t get the car to
start,” he said. “We’d better call for help.”

CITE TEXT EVIDENCE

How does the waxy outside of a cactus help the plant?

286
 Mom tried her cell phone. There was no
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

signal. “What do we do now?” I asked.

“We just hope that someone comes along,”
Mom replied.
“What if no one comes?” I asked. “We’re
pretty far off the main road.”
Dad smiled, “Don’t worry, Jodi. We’ll be fine.”
“I’m so thirsty,” I said.
Mom got out a bottle of water, and we all
had a drink. Still the sun beat down, hotter and
hotter. “I have an idea,” Dad said.

UNDERSTANDING CHARACTERS

How does Jodi feel about being stuck in the desert?

Explain.

287
 Dad took blankets from the trunk. He hung
one between two cactus plants. “This will give
us some shade,” he said, satisfied with his work.
He put the other blanket on the ground. We sat
down.
Hours went by, but no cars came. “Can we eat
our sandwiches now?” I asked.
“Eating will only make you thirstier,” Mom
said. “It’s better to just sit in the shade and stay
still.”

VOCABULARY

Why is Dad satisfied with his work?

288
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Soon the sun vanished behind a hill. The

night air was colder. “I was hot before and now
I’m cold!” I said. “Is it always like this?”
“Yes,” Dad said. “Deserts are hot by day and
cold by night. We should get back in the car.”
Dad grabbed the blankets and we got into
the car. I curled up on the back seat. Just then, I
heard a howl. “What’s that?” I asked.
“Just a coyote,” Dad said. “Most desert animals
come out at night when it’s cooler.”

CONCLUSIONS AND GENERALIZATIONS

Why do most desert animals come out at night?

289
 I guess I fell asleep. The next thing I
remember, a police officer knocked on our car
window. “Are you okay?” he asked.
Dad explained what had happened. The officer
called for help. As we waited, I snapped shots of
jackrabbits, lizards, and kangaroo rats in the early
morning light. I knew they would disappear into
shady spots when the sun got too hot.
I was almost sad we would soon be leaving
the desert. I’d learned how to adapt to desert life
just like the plants and animals that live there!

UNDERSTANDING CHARACTERS

Does Jodi enjoy her night in the desert? Explain.

290
 How does Jodi feel when she first sees Hint

the Mojave Desert? For a clue, see

page 284.

How is a cactus adapted to survive with Hint

Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

very little rain? For clues, see

pages 285 and
286.

How would you describe Jodi’s mother? Hint

For clues, see

pages 284, 286,
and 288.

What does Jodi learn in the story? Hint

For a clue, see

page 290.

291
 Lesson
Save Timber
Return 29
to Woods!
Cast of Characters
Narrator • Lucas • Laura
Gina • Hector

Be a Reading Detective!
Scene I

Setting: The kitchen in Gina’s home on the edge of the woods

Narrator: Laura, Gina, Hector, and Lucas are researching a

current event for school. Gina is searching on a laptop.
The others are looking through newspapers.

Lucas: What if we do our report on gas prices?

Laura: Boring!

(Suddenly, Gina sees a deer outside in the yard.

She jumps up from her chair and dashes to the
kitchen door, shouting.)

Gina: Get out of there! Scram!

Which adjective best describes Gina at the start

of the play? Untitled-1
48

4 9/15/2009 9:1 :15 PM

“Save Timber Woods!”

selfish sensible Student Magazine pp. 48–55

enthusiastic friendly

Prove It! What evidence in the play supports your answer?

Check the boxes. Make notes.
Evidence Notes
what Gina says at first

what Gina does at first

how others react to Gina

UNDERSTANDING CHARACTERS

Answer question using evidence from the text.

291A
 Which two effects would cutting down Timber Woods have?
The animals that live there would have no home.
The risk of flooding would increase.
The town would make a lot of money.

Prove It! What evidence in the play supports your answer?

Check the boxes. Make notes.
Evidence Notes
what the friends read

what the friends already know

Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

CAUSE AND EFFECT

Answer question using evidence from the text.

291B
 Lesson

30
TARGET VOCABULARY

effort
informed
progress
resources
shallow
Hiking in the wilderness is worth the
. You’ll be rewarded
for your hard work. Make sure you have
maps and supplies. It is best to be
about the kind of
land you will be crossing.

292
 If an area is hilly and rocky, wear sturdy
boots. You’ll be less likely to twist an ankle
if you have the right footgear. The best
way to make up a
mountain is to take breaks. That way, you
will not get too tired.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

When you hike, you might come across

a stream. It is safe to cross if the water is
. If not, you will
have to find a bridge to help you get to
the other side.

No matter where you go, make sure

to take plenty of water. In some places,
the natural do not
include water. Hikers should drink a lot of
liquids.

293
 I was excited. My mom, my brother, and I were
going on a trip to the Everglades. We would even
be sleeping on a houseboat!
The Everglades is a large swamp.
A swamp is an area of land that
always has shallow water covering
it. I looked at a book about the area.
The swamp has natural resources,
like fuel and minerals.
“The best way to explore a swamp is on a
houseboat,” Mom told us. “You’ll love it.”
Pedro was worried. “I get seasick.”
“A swamp isn’t rough,” Mom promised.

VOCABULARY

Do you think the family will see whales swimming in the

shallow swamp water? Explain.

294
 When we got to the Everglades, the owner of
the boat was waiting. His name was Joe.
“Welcome, Gomez family!” he called out.“This
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

will be your home for four days.”

I stared at the water. It looked like blue glass.
Joe said,“Come aboard! I’ll show you around.
This is the stern, the back of the boat. That’s the
bow, the front.”
“Where are the sails?” I asked.
Joe laughed.“This boat doesn’t have sails.
It has a gas engine. Still, it takes a lot of effort to
operate the boat.”

INFER AND PREDICT

What kinds of jobs might you have to do on a boat like

Joe’s?

295
 I looked around the cabin. It was like a little
house on top of the boat. There were chairs, a
table, and special beds called bunks. The lower
deck was outside. It went all around the boat. The
upper deck was on the cabin’s roof. You could see
for miles from there.
Joe explained how everything worked. He
showed us how to steer the boat. He also showed
us how to keep the boat from floating away. You
do that by dropping the anchor.

CONCLUSIONS AND GENERALIZATIONS

What do you think happens when the anchor is dropped

into the water?

296
 I asked, “Are there many animals in
the swamp?”
“Sure there are,” said Joe.
“Are there alligators?” I continued.
“Lots of them!” laughed Joe. Pedro
looked horrified. “Oh, I forgot you
don’t know so much about the swamp.
Don’t worry. Anyone who is informed knows that
alligators can’t get on a boat like this.”
Pretty soon, we were ready. Joe stepped back
on land, and we were on our own. Mom was the
captain. She steered the boat away from the dock.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

CONCLUSIONS AND GENERALIZATIONS

Why do you think the narrator’s mother is the captain?

297
 We passed through open water. We went
through narrow strips. Grassy land was all
around us. Birds were everywhere. They hopped
in and out of the water, looking for fish. Sure
enough, there were alligators, too! They didn’t
bother us, but their long teeth looked scary.
Everyone took turns cooking. We made
simple meals, like soup and grilled cheese.
Mom told me I was making progress in the
kitchen.

VOCABULARY

What does Mom mean when she says the narrator is

making progress in the kitchen?

298
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

I loved eating and sleeping on the boat. I

didn’t like the bugs, though! We stayed inside in
the early morning and early evening. That’s when
the bugs came around. They made a thick cloud.
It was the only part of the trip we didn’t like. That
was a small price to pay for so much fun.

CLARIFY

What does the narrator mean when he says the bugs

make “a thick cloud”?

299
 After four days, we were back where we had
started. Joe came to meet us at the dock.
“How did it go?” he asked us.
“The Everglades are beautiful,” I answered.
“I love boats!” said Pedro. “Can we come
back next year, Mom?”
“We’ll see,” said Mom. “Thanks, Joe. We all
had a great time.”

INFER AND PREDICT

Why do you think Pedro wants to go back to the

Everglades next summer?

300
 How would you describe the narrator? Hint

Clues you can

use are on almost
every page!

Why doesn’t the Gomez family have to Hint

Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

worry about alligators? For a clue, see

page 297.

Why does the family stay inside the boat Hint

in the morning and evening? For a clue, see

page 299.

What advantages does a houseboat have Hint

over a normal boat? For clues, see

pages 296, 298,
and 299.

301
 Lesson
30
Return
to Once a week, Ms. Cabrera’s
science class spent an afternoon out-
had streaks of red near each eye.
“Brownie? Are you wearing
The girls hurried over. When the
turtle came up for another breath,
Nicole noticed the changes too.
They continued their pond patrol,
but Adrian had a strange feeling that
something wasn’t right. Sure enough,
side, working in teams to observe makeup?” From what Adrain could see, “That’s not Brownie. That’s a his hunch was correct.
different habitats. Adrian, Mara, and the turtle’s shell looked different, too. different kind of turtle,” she said. “Its “Look!” Mara shouted. She was
Nicole were assigned pond patrol. Today it was green with yellow stripes. name should be Red Dot.” pointing at a bird’s nest or what used
Adrian wondered if his team had gotten “Maybe Brownie’s somewhere to be a bird’s nest.

Be a Reading Detective!
the best assignment because of his else,” said Mara. Just last week they had
extra-sharp eyes. written about the nest in their
Reed’s Pond lay at the end of a logs. It was a carefully made
shady, sloping path. Pine trees towered cup of sticks nestled in a low-
overhead. Bushes and moss-covered hanging branch. There had been
rocks rimmed the shore. Adrian had been three brown eggs in it. Now the
the first one in class to spot the turtle at branch was broken. The bowl was
the pond—even though its brown shell squashed into a messy ball.
and wrinkled skin blended in perfectly “Where are the eggs?”
with its surroundings. asked Nicole.
“Here, Brownie . . . here, Brownie,” Adrian crouched under the
Adrian whispered as he approached the branch, which jutted out over some
water’s edge. But today, the turtle that rocks at the water’s edge. He saw
peeked from the water looked different. one egg smashed into a crevice
Instead of a little brown face, this one between two rocks. He couldn’t
see any sign of the other two eggs.

64 65

How many turtles did the boy on the bike leave

Untitled-19 64 9/15/2009 9:16:22 PM Untitled-19 65 9/15/2009 9:16:44 PM

“Mystery at Reed’s Pond”

at the pond? Student Magazine pp. 64–71

one three
two no way to know

Prove It! What evidence in the story supports your answer?

Check the boxes. Make notes.
Evidence Notes
what the pond patrol saw happen

how many turtles were caught

what the students did not see happen

CONCLUSIONS AND GENERALIZATIONS

Answer question using evidence from the text.

301A
 What does the author want readers to understand?
Animals that don’t belong can harm the environment.
Solving a mystery can result in a reward.
People grow tired of pets that get too big.

Prove It! What evidence in the story supports your answer?

Check the boxes. Make notes.
Evidence Notes
where the red-eared slider’s
natural habitat is

where Reed’s Pond is

Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

what Mr. Roberts tells the students

AUTHOR’S PURPOSE

Answer question using evidence from the text.

301B
 Analyze/Evaluate Strategy
You can analyze and evaluate a text. Study the
text carefully. Then form an opinion about it.

1. Analyze the text. Look at the ideas. Think about

what the author tells you.
• What are the important facts and details?

• How are the ideas organized?

• What does the author want you to know?

Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

2. Evaluate the text. Decide what is important. Then

form an opinion.
• How do you feel about what you read?

• Do you agree with the author’s ideas?

• Did the author succeed in reaching his or her

goals?

303
 Infer/Predict Strategy
You can make an inference. Figure out what
the author does not tell you.
• Think about the clues in the text.

• Think about what you already know.

You can make a prediction. Use text clues to

figure out what will happen next.

Monitor/Clarify Strategy
You can monitor what you read. Pay attention
to how well you understand the text.

If you read a part that doesn’t make sense,

find a way to clarify it. Clear up what you don’t
understand.
• Use what you already know.

• Reread or read ahead. Find clues in the text.

• Read more slowly.

• Ask questions about the text.

304
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