Mrs Sutherland's English Classroom



Building Reading SkillsTask 1 - UnderstandingRead this description of two characters from outer space. You will need to read the passage carefully, because some of the information isn't relevant. Work out exactly what these two creatures look like. When you are sure you have found all the necessary details, draw each of the aliens.Scrumpledarts and Hyperdawgs both live on the planet Amblerdarn. Amblerdarn is a curious world, with rivers full of fizzy cola, and it is famous across the galaxy because of its cupcake farms and the flocks of sausage rolls that wander across its grasslands. The Scrumpledarts are mostly farmers, though some of them are bus drivers, and others spend their time practising their cake-throwing skills for the Ambledarnian Olympic games. Most of the Hyperdawgs spend their days digging in the syrup mines, though others work as shopkeepers and some knit kites for a living.Scrumpledarts are shaped like rugby balls, in all sizes from as small as a hen's egg to as big as a duvet. They move very slowly, as every Scrumpledart's legs are too short for its body. The oldest ones are the smallest, while the younger they are, the bigger they are. They only have one eye, which bounces out on a spring from the centre of their foreheads. They have long soft noses, like an elephant's trunk, and beneath this a mouth full of dozens of needle-sharp teeth.Because most Scrumpledarts spend their time outdoors on their farms, they have evolved a thick, waterproof skin. When they are born this skin is yellow, but the oldest Scrumpledarts have purple skin. Another thing that helps them farm is their long, pointy tails, which they use for digging little holes in the ground so they can plant seeds.Hyperdawgs are even more ugly. They are covered in a layer of oily slime, which makes the syrup slide off them as they work down the mines. Because they never have a bath or shower, their slime is lightly speckled with red Ambledarnian dust. They are roughly the shape of jellyfish, with six soft flippers as limbs. If they get fed up with walking, they hold their breath until they inflate like balloons and then float through the air, rippling their flippers as they drift along.Hyperdawgs have a row of four red eyes across the middle of their heads. They don't have teeth, but the whole front part of their head below the unzips open as a mouth when they are hungry. They are incredibly greedy, so most Hyperdawgs are very fat, and some will keep eating until they explode.Post your pictures on teams or email to Joanna.Sutherland@.uk Examine each other's drawings to check if got the right details in.Task 2 – Own WordsBelow is a passage. It comes from a magazine page that is all about surprising, and unlikely, but true stories.First, read the passage. The sections have been numbered to help you:1. 'Ancient' stone circle from the 1990sA stone circle thought to date from 3000BC has been found to be only about 25 years old. Researchers have now accepted that the monument, which is on a farm in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, is not ancient, after the former landowner contacted them to tell them it was a fake. The circle closely resembles others in the area, and had previously been verified as a 4500-year-old prehistoric site.2. A miraculous message in a bottleAfter 88 years, a message in a bottle has been discovered — but that's not the only amazing thing about this story. All those years ago Willi Brandt, an 18-year-old roofer, put a note in a bottle and hid it in a cathedral in Goslar, Germany. The message was hidden until a roofer carrying out repairs found it. He was 52-year-old Peter Brandt —Willi's grandson. Peter used to work with his grandfather, but had no idea about the message.3. A deadly challengeTo celebrate Halloween, one US theme park has decided to hold a deadly serious challenge — staying inside a coffin for 30 hours on 13—14 October. Six Flags in Missouri, USA, will let six visitors spend the night inside a coffin as part of its Fright Fest event. Participants get food, drinks and a loo break every hour, but face the grave prospect of spending the night alone. Anyone who makes it through the night will be in with a chance of winning a cash prize and two season passes to the park.4. First groundscraper opensAn 18-storey luxury hotel opened its doors this week in China, but it didn't reach new heights like a skyscraper. Instead, InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland plunges down into an old quarry, and has two floors entirely under water. The hotel, nicknamed the groundscraper', offers 336 rooms spread across 18 floors. The prices are sky-high though: rooms start at f380 per night, and a suite will set guests back almost E8000.Now answer the questions, using your own words as far as possible.Read section 1.Why did researchers think the stone circle was 4500 years old?How did they find out it was actually a fake?Read section 2.What was the first thing that made this story amazing?How did the bottle get found?Explain what made this discovery even more amazing.Read section 3.What help is given to participants in the coffin challenge?What will anyone who completes the challenge win?Read section 4.Explain why this hotel can be described as a 'groundscraper' rather than a 'skyscraper'.Explain how we know it is a 'luxury' hotel.Send you answers to Joanna.Sutherland@.uk or upload them to teams or SMHWTask 3 – Giving EvidenceNow read the passage below and answer the questions that follow.WORST YEAR IN HISTORY REVEALED1. Some periods of human history are famous for being dreadful. The First World War (1914-18), the spread of Spanish flu (1918-19) and the Black Death (1347—51), a terrible disease that wiped out nearly a third of the population of Europe, were all awful, but scientists have now identified the year of all time. According to Michael McCormick, an archaeologist at the Climate Change Institute of the University of Maine in the United States, no year was as bad as AD536.2. It started with a fog that blanketed Europe, the Middle East and parts of Asia, blocking the sun and plunging everyone into gloom for 18 months. Falling temperatures resulted in a cold summer and crops failed. Across Europe, people began to starve. To make matters worse, in AD541, an outbreak of the bubonic plague (a horrible illness that causes fever, headaches and vomiting) swept across the Mediterranean, killing up to 100 million people. McCormick describes the series of events as 'the beginning of one of the worst periods to be alive'.3. For a long time experts couldn't tell what caused the cloud of gloom to descend, but McCormick and his colleagues from Germany, the UK and USA believe they finally have the answer. A team led by McCormick and glaciologist Paul Mayewski studied ice from a glacier in Switzerland. The deeper they drilled into the ice, the longer ago the ice was formed. Eventually, they found ice from the spring of AD536. It contained microscopic particles of ash and volcanic glass. Very precise analysis matched the ash to a violent volcanic eruption in Iceland. They also discovered evidence of two other massive eruptions in the same region in AD540 and 547. This triple hit, which caused the mysterious fog, followed by the bubonic plague, made for a terrible time that lasted until AD640.4. Another team, led by Martin Sigl of the University of Bern in Switzerland, compared chemical traces found in the glacier ice to climate records taken from tree rings, and found that a volcanic interruption has happened before almost every unusually cold summer over the past 2500 years. The next step for the team is to collect more samples of ice to try and pinpoint the exact location of the volcano in Iceland to work out why it was so devastating.World-changing eruptions5. Mount Vesuvius (AD79) This dangerous volcano in the Bay of Naples, Italy, erupted in AD79. Ash flows devastated the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, and thousands of people died.6. Mount Tambora (1815) The 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora in Sumbawa, Indonesia, was the deadliest in history. Ash clouds blotted out the sun and 1816 became 'the year without a summer'.7. Krakatoa (1883) When Krakatoa, also in Indonesia, erupted in 1883, it made the loudest sound ever recorded. Tsunamis (giant waves) set off by earthquakes, killed more than 35,000 people.Questions Quote the words in paragraph 3 that show that the volcano caused darkness.Which word in paragraph 3 shows that it took the scientists a long time t reach ice from AD536?Which expression in paragraph 4 proves there were many scientists working on this research?What evidence is there in paragraph 4 that volcanoes can have a bad effect on the weather?Which three separate words in paragraphs 5 and 6 show that volcanoes can do great harm?Write down a phrase from paragraph 7 that shows Krakatoa was very unusual.Task 4 – Dealing with unfamiliar words This poem comes from the book Alice Through the Looking Glass, the sequel to Alice in Wonderland. The writer, Lewis Carroll, deliberately invented lots of new words to make his poem sound legendary and magical.Jabberwocky'Twas brillig, and the slithy tovesDid gyre and gimble in the wabe: All mimsy were the borogoves, And the mome raths outgrabe.'Beware the Jabberwock, my son!The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun The frumious Bandersnatch!'He took his vorpal sword in hand;Long time the manxome foe he sought— So rested he by the Tumtum tree And stood awhile in thought.And, as in uffish thought he stood,The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame, Came whiffling through the tulgey wood, And burbled as it came!One, two! One, two! And through and throughThe vorpal blade went snicker-snack! He left it dead, and with its head He went galumphing back.'And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy.'Twas brillig, and the slithy tovesDid gyre and gimble in the wabe: All mimsy were the borogoves, And the mome raths outgrabe.Now answer the questionsMake a list in your jotter of all the words that you think Lewis Carroll made up for this poem.Look at the list you have made. Underline every word that you think is the name of a living creature.The bandersnatch is described as 'frumious .Write down all the words you can think of that begin with the letter F with which you might describe a monster.Write down all the words you can think of that end with '—ious'.Now write down an explanation of what you think 'frumious' means. Share your answers with me at Joanna.Sutherland@.uk and/or the class on teamsStrengthening your understandingNow, using any clues you can find in the context, and comparing the spelling of these new words to other words that you know already, work out what each of these words from the poem could mean.VorpalManxomeUffishWhifflingFrabjousTulgeyBurbledGalumphingBeamishShare your answers with Mrs Sutherland and the class.If you meet an unusual word in something you are reading in class or for pleasure, it won’t be as strange as the ones made up in the Jabberwocky. You can sue the skills you have building in this task though to help you work out what it could mean and build your vocabulary. Task 5 – SummarisingFirst, read the passage:The train journey from Edinburgh to London is a long one of four and a half hours, but there are many ways to pass the time.A good book will keep you occupied. This might be a real paperback, but you can also download books to read on your phone or tablet, or you can listen to books being read to you through apps such as Audible.You can stare and daydream for the first hundred miles. The view out the window is amazing, especially as the train whizzes down the coasts of East Lothian and Northumberland. Keep an eye out for Lindisfarne Island, attached to the mainland by a narrow causeway that floods at high tide.You'll need to eat something on such a long trip. A wander through the other carriages to the buffet car will break up any boredom and give you a chance to stretch your legs.If you're travelling with friends, book a group of four seats round a table. You can use up the hours just chatting. Or, if you are organised, bring along a board game — the more complicated the better.Finally, you could use the time to research your destination. Most trains have Wi-Fi, so you can surf the net and plan what you'll do when you get to London.Now answer this question:Q. Identify, using your own words as far as possible, six waysTask 6 – Bringing it all togetherIt is time to use all the skills, you have been working on, in one taskFirst, read the passage:Discover a world where art meets science: be an architect1. Take a look around any town or city; all the buildings you see were designed by architects. It's a challenging but fascinating job. 'You need a creative mind, excellent art and maths skills, and a meticulous understanding of how to put things together that can stand up,' says Cheryl Pilliner-Reeves of Archimake, an organisation that runs afterschool workshops on architecture.2. That might sound daunting, but there are elements of architecture in lots of games and activities, so you've probably already learnt some of the basics. Do you love building dens out of fallen branches in the woods? Is the box under your bed full of Lego? Hooked on Minecraft? If so, you have some experience of architecture.3. Whenever you go into a building that makes you feel good,' says Pilliner-Reeves, ‘think about why and how the building helps that feeling. It could be the light, the size of the room, the decoration,colours or materials.' 4. Learning what you like is important in architecture and design jobs. You can then start thinking about how you would make improvements.5. Why not have a go at designing buildings at home? Start by sketching out your ideas, then try re-drawing them with more accuracy. You could even build a 3D version with some old boxes.6. If you decide you want to be an architect, be prepared for seven years of training. Although it is hard work, the result is an opportunity to shape the environment around you and positively influence the way people live.Now you're going to answer a series of questions to show your understanding of this text. The way the questions are written will help you.Here are the questions:1. Read paragraph 1.In your own words, give three qualities a person should have to become an architect. 3 marks 2. Read paragraph 2.In your own words, explain three ways a young person might learn some architecture skills. 3 marks3. Read paragraph 3.Which expression shows that architecture has a powerful effect on people? 1 mark4. Read paragraph 5.Using your own words as far as possible, explain the three steps to designing a building. 3 marks5. Read paragraph 6.Which two separate expressions show that it is not easy to be an architect? 2 marksWhich two separate expressions show that being an architect can be very rewarding? 2 marksTask 7 – Strengthening your skillsNow try this more challenging understanding task. The passage is longer, there are more questions, and you have to remember the helpful hints you were given before.First, read the passage:The big debate — should snow days be for study?1. When snow begins to fall, the excitement for many young people builds. Will there be enough for school to be cancelled tomorrow?2. Some people say there's nothing better than a snow day, but these holidays are becoming a thing of the past in some parts of the USA. No longer does the arrival of winter mean a day off. Instead, snow days are being scrapped in favour of e-learning days, where pupils are set assignments to work on from home. Teachers check in on them online, answering any questions they have, and making sure everyone is working just as hard as if they were at school. It's designed to keep the impact of bad weather on pupils' learning to a minimum. So, is it time for the UK to do the same and replace snow days with e-learning days?Yes — education is more important3. Snow can be great fun, but education should be fair across the country. In some places, bad winter weather is very common, which means that pupils get more days off than those who go to school in parts of the country where snow is rare.4. E-learning days are helpful because they make sure pupils are at the same stage in their education, and that teachers don't lose crucial time to deliver their lessons. If pupils get lots of time off, it makes it hard to cover the whole curriculum.5. It's a great improvement that new technology is now available to help with remote learning; there's no reason that snow should stop schools from teaching. Most people now have the technology to learn online at home. E-learning days wouldn't have worked 20 years ago, but they're a great option now.6. Besides, snow days can be boring, especially if the snow lasts for ages.No - don't ruin the fun for everyone 7. Snow is a rare delight for most people in the UK. It's the only time children get to go sledging, make snow angels, or have snowman building contests. Forcing pupils to stay indoors when they could be outside doing exercise and having fun is cruel. 8. E-learning days may not work anyway. Snow can sometimes cause power cuts and leave people stranded without electricity. How can you complete an online project if there's no way for you to charge a phone or laptop?9. If snow days are being scrapped to make things fairer, e-learning days aren't the solution. They're just as unfair - children whose families can't afford good computers and internet will be put at a disadvantage and may fall behind.Now answer the questions:1. Read paragraph 1.In your own words, explain why young people get excited when snow starts falling. 1 mark2. Read paragraph 2.Using your own words as far as possible, explain what is happening to snow days in the USA. 2 marksUsing your own words as far as possible, explain why this change is happening. 1 mark3. Read paragraph 3. Which expression shows an important reason why e-learning days are being introduced? 1 markUsing your own words as far as possible, explain what can happen to pupils who live in areas where bad weather is very common. 1 mark4. Read paragraph 4.Using your own words as far as possible, explain why e-learning days can be helpful. 1 mark5. Read paragraph 5.Which expression shows that e-learning days can be a very good thing? 1 mark6. Read paragraph 6.Using your own words as far as possible, explain one disadvantage of snow days. 2 marks7. Read paragraph 7.Which single word shows that:snow days are unusual in Britain ? 1 markchildren love snow days 1 markit is unkind to put an end to snow days? 1 mark8. Read paragraph 8.Using your own words as far as possible, explain why e-learning may not work on snow days. 2 marks9. Read paragraph 9.Using your own words as far as possible, explain why e-learning days can be unfair on some families. 2 marksSend you answers to Joanna.Sutherland@.uk or upload them to teams or SMHW ................
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