Directions: Use your OWN paper to complete the cold read passage. Write the question and the correct answer on your paper.
The Goose Who Tried to Keep the Summer
There was once an old Wild Goose who had led the flock of other
wild geese every fall for years and years on their way south. He had a thick
coat of white feathers, he wore orange-colored boots, and his bill was like a
gold trumpet when he opened it to call,
Honk, honk, honk!
That was the signal for the others to rise from the meadows and
the marshes. He flew at their head, and the rest followed, one line on one side
and one line on the other. He thought himself most important.
Over the woods and the fields and the waters, every one looked
for the old Wild Goose in the fall.
Honk, honk, honk!
That was the Wild Goose telling them that it was time to get
ready for the winter in the woods, and in the fields, and over the waters. He
knew they waited for him, so he had grown to feel very proud of himself. He
lived in a marsh that was sheltered on both sides by trees and was comfortable,
even if there was a frost now and then. A robin had once stayed in those trees
all winter and he sang proudly about it.
"Why do I trouble to go south?" the old Wild Goose
thought to himself. "The weather here will not grow cold if I stay. Honk,
honk; I shall not trouble myself to migrate this fall and then we shall see
what will happen! Very likely I shall keep the summer!"
No one knew what the Goose had
decided, and they listened for him.
The
dandelion looked up from her home in the field and bobbed her little head as
she waited to hear the call of the Wild Goose. Every fall she had sent a flock
of winged seeds flying along with him as far as they could go. Then they would
drop in other fields and begin making more dandelions for next year. She knew
she must not wait too long. She listened, but she did not hear his honk, honk,
honk!
Puff, whirr; off she sent her tiny winged seed without the call
of the old Wild Goose.
The
farmer buttoned his coat tightly and looked up among the gray clouds to see the
Goose. Every fall he listened to hear the call of the Wild Goose as he gathered
his harvest. He knew, though, that he must not wait too long. He took his grain
to the mill and filled his barn with red apples, and orange pumpkins, and
yellow corn. He made warmer beds for the cows and horses, and cut logs to burn
in his fireplace. He was soon ready for winter without the help of the old Wild
Goose.
The
brook called and called for the Goose. Every fall she waited for him to fly
over and then she built her winter roof, for she knew then that no other wild
bird would need to drink from her waters. She must not wait long, though. There
were her fish, and the water spider, and the beaver to shelter all winter. So
the brook forgot, at last, about the old Wild Goose and built a smooth ice roof
to keep her children warm until spring.
Honk, honk, cried all the other wild
geese. "It is time to migrate! Come with us!"
Honk, honk, honk, cried the old Wild Goose, from the sheltered marsh where he did
not know what was going on. "I am not flying south this year. I am staying
north to keep the summer."
Honk,
honk,
"What a terrible time it will be!" cried all the other geese. They
talked among themselves, saying that no good could come of turning the seasons
about, and of how he would probably be eaten in the end. Then they selected a
wise young goose who had been end man the year before, and they made him their
leader. His boots were quite as orange and his bill as golden as those of the
old Goose, and he could honk very well indeed. They went south with the new
leader.
Soon Winter came. He wore a crown of snowflakes. His cloak was
embroidered with frost, and he carried a huge icicle as his sceptre. Every one
was ready for him. The dandelion bowed her bare head as Winter passed. The barn
doors were closed, and the cattle stood, safe and warm, in their stalls.
But the Wild Goose felt Winter coming. An icy wind blew through
his feathers. His throat was so stiff with cold that he could not blow his
trumpet. His orange boots froze stiff as the marsh turned to ice.
"It must be the winter coming in spite of me," he
thought to himself. "It seems that I have not kept him away after all. I
shall die, for he will freeze me. What shall I do?"
Then a sunbeam, that was still strong enough to help a little,
heard the faint cries of the old Wild Goose and was sorry for him. She melted
the ice so that the Goose could pull out his feet, first one, and then the
other. She stood for a moment in Winter's path as the Goose rose and stretched his
stiff wings, and then started south.
The chilly air was like a blast on his head. He was obliged to
fly slowly, but he managed to call as he went,
"Honk, honk, Here I am. I fly to tell you that
Winter is coming."
He looked down at the woods, and the fields, and the waters. How
strange! They had known it. They had not waited for the call of the old Wild Goose.
1.
What is the setting of the story?
a.
Summer
b.
Fall
c.
Winter
d.
Spring
2.
From which point of view is this story told?
a.
First person, limited to the Old Wild Goose
b.
Third person, limited to the Old Wild Goose
c.
Second person
d.
Third person omniscient
3.
The author expresses the theme that-
a.
Time waits for no one.
b.
Be strong and courageous.
c.
When life deals you lemons, make lemonade.
d.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto
you.
4.
Which clues help the reader predict that Winter
is coming anyway?
a.
The farmer buttoned his coat tightly.
b.
The brook built a smooth ice roof.
c.
The new leader called, “Honk, honk, honk!”
d.
The Old Wild Goose had a thick coat of white feathers.
5.
Which of the following contains and example of
imagery?
a.
That was the signal for the others to rise from the meadows and
the marshes.
b.
I am staying north to keep the summer."
c.
He had a thick coat of white feathers, he wore orange-colored
boots, and his bill was like a gold trumpet…
d.
She listened, but she did not hear his honk, honk, honk!
