Reading Comprehension (2) - late Primary

This is an article from a newspaper about archaeologists discovering new ruins in Peru. The reading is for late primary or early high school aged students. A list of sample comprehension questions is included in this lesson plan.

The Ruins of Sechin Bajo.
( SMH - February 26, 2008 )



A ceremonial plaza built 5500 years ago has been discovered in Peru, and archaeologists involved in the dig said carbon dating shows it is one of the oldest structures ever found in the Americas.


A team of Peruvian and German archaeologists uncovered the circular plaza, which was hidden beneath another piece of architecture at the ruins known as Sechin Bajo, in Casma, 370 kilometres north of Lima, the capital. Friezes depicting a warrior with a knife and trophies were found near the plaza.


"It's an impressive find; the scientific and archeology communities are very happy," Cesar Perez, the scientist at Peru's National Institute of Culture who supervised the project, said on Monday. "This could redesign the history of the country."


Prior to the discovery at Sechin Bajo, archaeologists considered the ancient Peruvian citadel of Caral to be one of the oldest in the Western Hemisphere, at about 5000 years.


Scientists say Caral, located a few hours drive from Sechin Bajo, was one of six places in the world - along with Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, India and Mesoamerica - where humans started living in cities about 5000 years ago.


"The dating done by the German archaeologists puts it at about 5500 years," Perez said of the plaza, which has a diameter of about 14 metres.


Earlier finds near Sechin Bajo had been dated at 3600 years, and there may be other pieces of the citadel older than the plaza.


"We've found other pieces of architecture underneath the plaza that could be even older," German Yenque, an archeologist at the dig site, said. "There are four or five plazas deeper down, which means the structure was rebuilt several times, perhaps every 100 to 300 years."


Hundreds of archeological sites dot the country, and many of the ruined structures were built by cultures that preceded the powerful Incan empire, which reached its peak in the 16th century, just before Spanish conquerors arrived in what is now Peru.


There are so many archeological treasures that tomb robbing is a widespread problem in the Andean country.


Yenque said the scientists are filling in the site with dirt to preserve it and plan to resume excavation of the deeper floors when they get more grants to fund the project.


"We are lucky it was never destroyed by tomb robbers; that is why we are covering it up now," Yenque said.

Sample Questions
Why are the ruins of Sechin Bajo important?
 
Who discovered them?
 
What are some of the major problems faced by the archaeologists?
How are they overcoming these issues?

A Glossary of terms for HSC syllabuses

Answering questions during the HSC is stressful enough without having to decide what the question is asking for. The list below is helpful for knowing what exactly you are asked to answer on your HSC papers. The key terms are used for most syllabuses and used throughout the final years of High School. By understanding these terms you are prepared for anything!

Account for: state reasons for, report on. Give an account of: narrate a series of events or transactions

Analyse: Identify components and the relationship between them; draw out and relate implications


Apply: Use, utilise, employ in a particular situation

Appreciate: Make a judgement about the value of

Assess: Make a judgement of value, quality, outcomes, results or size

Calculate: Ascertain/ determine from given facts, figures or information

Clarify: Make clear or plain

Classify: Arrange or include in classes/ categories

Compare: Show how things are similar or different

Construct: Make; build; put together item or arguments

Contrast: Show how things are different or opposite

Critically(analysis/evaluation): Add a degree or level of accuracy depth, knowledge and understanding, logic, questioning, reflection and quality to (analysis/evaluation)

Deduce: Draw conclusions

Define: State meaning and identify essential qualities

Demonstrate: Show by example

Describe: Provide characteristics and features

Discuss: Identify issues and provide points for and/ or against

Distinguish: Recognise or note/ indicate as being distinct or different from; to note differences between

Evaluate: Make a judgement based on criteria; determine the value of

Examine: Inquire into

Explain: Relate cause and effect; make the relationships between things evident; provide why and/or how

Extract: Choose relevant and/ or appropriate details

Extrapolate: Infer from what is known

Identify: Recognise and name

Interpret: Draw meaning from

Investigate: Plan, inquire into and draw conclusions about

Justify: Support an argument or conclusion

Outline: Sketch in general terms; indicate the main features of

Predict: Suggest what may happen based on available information

Propose: Put forward (for example a point of view, idea, argument, suggestion) for consideration or action

Recall: Present remembered ideas, facts or experiences

Recommend: Provide reasons in favour

Recount: Retell a series of events

Summarise: Express, concisely, the relevant details

Synthesise: Putting together various elements to make a whole

Reading Comprehension Exercise ( 1 ) - Primary

This is an extract from a local newspaper. The story is about dogs and shoes, a strange topic and interesting for your young students.

There are 5 questions related to the passage for students to answer.

Reading Comprehension Passage

Police dogs in the western German city of Düsseldorf will no longer get their feet dirty when on patrol: The entire dog unit will soon be equipped with blue plastic fibre shoes, officials said.
"All 20 of our police dogs - German and Belgian shepherds - are currently being trained to walk in these shoes," Andre Hartwich said. "I'm not sure they like it, but they'll have to get used to it."

The unusual footwear is not a fashion statement, Hartwich said, but rather a necessity due to the high rate of paw injuries on duty. In the city's historical old town in particular - famous for both its pubs and drunken revelers - the dogs often step into broken beer bottles, he said.
"Even the street cleaning doesn't manage to remove all the glass pieces from between the streets' cobblestones," Hartwich said, adding that the dogs frequently get injured by little pieces sticking deep in their paws.

The dogs will start wearing the shoes this spring - but only during operations that demand special foot protection. The shoes comes in sizes small, medium and large and were ordered in blue to match the officer’s uniforms, Hartwich said.
"Now we just have to teach the dogs how to tie their shoes," he joked.

( Sydney Morning Herald 26/02/08 )

Questions:

1. Where is this taking place?
2. Why are these dogs special?
3. Why are the dogs getting shoes?
4. Will they have to wear them all the time?
5. Describe the shoes the dogs will wear.