Bird Garden

Olivia and Jaya sat at a table in the library with books spread out around
them. They each had a notebook and a pen for recording interesting information about
hummingbirds. Jaya’s mom had allotted a portion of her garden for the girls to use as a
hummingbird garden that summer. They couldn’t wait to start planting, but they wanted to
make sure they knew as much as possible about the tiny creatures before they began. “Have
you found anything yet that says how many species of hummingbirds there are?” asked Jaya.
Olivia nodded.

“There are more than 300 species,” she marveled. “The smallest one is the bee
hummingbird, which lives in Cuba. It’s just a little over two inches long and weighs only
about a tenth of an ounce!” “I’d love to see one,” replied Jaya, “but I don’t think there is much
chance of us attracting one here in Colorado. How big are the ones that we might see in this
area?” “They’re actually not too much bigger,” said Olivia, turning the page in her book.
“They only measure about four inches long. Their wings beat about 80 times per minute. The
beating of their wings makes a humming noise, which is how they got their name.

Their hearts beat more than 1,200 times per minute. Do you have any idea
how that compares to the human heartbeat?” asked Olivia. “Well, we took our heart rates in
gym a few weeks ago. I think mine was about 65 beats per minute,” said Jaya. “Unbelievable,”
said Olivia shaking her head. “Okay, have we figured out how to attract these little hummers
to our garden?” It took Jaya a moment to locate the book she was searching for. “This one
seems to have the most detailed information,” she said, picking up a colorful paperback book.
“It’s called Planting Your Hummingbird Garden.” “I think I saw somewhere that
hummingbirds are attracted to red flowers. Is that right?” asked Olivia. Jaya nodded. “That’s
why hummingbird feeders are usually red. We should be able to find a simple, inexpensive
one at a garden center.

We just fill it with a mixture of four parts water to one part sugar. The
book says that it’s easiest to dissolve the sugar in hot or boiling water.” “I’m going to start a
list of plants that hummingbirds like,” said Olivia. “We know that red flowers appeal to them,
and I remember reading that they like long, tube-shaped flowers too,” she added. “I wonder if
that’s because of how long and thin their beaks are.” “You’re right,” said Jaya. “Other birds
can’t reach the sweet nectar in long, thin flowers. Neither can bees. That means that
hummingbirds don’t have much competition for the meals they get from those flowers. That’s
pretty important because they need to eat about every ten minutes or so. They use up a lot of
energy hovering over flowers, so they need to replenish it often.” “Do you think we’re ready
to ask my dad to take us to the nursery?” asked Olivia, beginning to gather up the books on
the table. “I think we’re as ready as we’re going to be,” replied Jaya, her eyes dancing with
excitement. “We’ll just have to learn the rest from experience!”

1. Check the phrase that best describes the author’s purpose. (1 mark)
_____ to entertain _____ to instruct _____ to persuade

2. Number the events below to show the order in which they happened. (2.5 marks)
_____ Jaya says they’ll have to learn the rest from experience.
_____ Olivia began to gather up the books on the table.
_____ Jaya’s gym class took their heart rates.
_____ Olivia tells Jaya that there are more than 300 species of hummingbird.
_____ Olivia said she would start a list of plants that hummingbirds like.

3. How did hummingbirds get their name? (1 mark)

____________________________________________________________________________________

4. Why are hummingbird feeders usually red? (1 mark)

(a) they are attracted to red flowers
(b) they like long, tube-shaped flower
 (c) they have long beak

5. If you added one-quarter cup of sugar to a hummingbird feeder, how much water would
you need to add? (1.5 mark)
____________________________________________________________________________________

6. How often do hummingbirds need to eat? (1 mark)

(a) every second
(b) every ten minutes
(c) every hour

7. From whose point of view is this story told? (1 mark)

(a) Olivia and Jaya’s point of view
(b) Jaya’s mom’s point of view
(c) the narrator’s point of view

8. What kinds of birds would you most like to attract and observe? Why? (2 marks)
____________________________________________________________________________________

9. A hummingbird’s hearts beat is 1,200 times faster than human. (1 mark)

(a) True
(b) False

10. Where did this story take place? (1 mark)

(a) in the garden
(b) at home
(c) at the library
11. There are 300 species in hummingbird. (1 mark)
(a) True
(b) False

12. What does the word “allotted” mean in the passage? (1 mark)
(a) said
(b) assigned
(c) collected the information

1. to entertain
2. 5
4
1
2
3
3. The beating of their wings makes a humming noise.
4. because they are attracted to red flowers.
5. one cup.
6. every ten minutes
7. the narrator’s point of view
8. answer will vary
9. (a) True
10. (c) at the library
11. (b) False
12. (b) assigned
Describe the funniest person you know. What does he or she do to make you laugh? How do
you know that person? (Write at least 50 words.)

Describe a famous person that you like to meet in real life. (Write at least 50 words.)