Number the sentences to show the correct order. Do this without looking at the passage. Then reread the passage to check your answers.
A group of pioneers took three months to cross Death Valley.
"Boomtowns" were created.
The Mesquite Flat people lived in Death Valley.
The Saratoga people inhabited Death Valley.
Some mines failed.
The prospectors came looking for gold.
"Ghost towns" were left scattered throughout the desert.
The Lake Mohave people hunted in the region.
MAKING INFERENCES AND CONCLUDING
Information is not always stated directly in a passage. Sometimes we make guesses—inferences or conclusions—from the information that is in the reading. The answers to these questions are not directly stated in the passage. Circle the letter of the best answer.
1. From the passage, we can conclude that
a. living things have an ability to adapt to the worst environments.
b. the plants and animals of Death Valley will soon disappear.
с mammals make up the smallest part of Death Valleys wildlife population.
2. We can infer from the passage that
a. people no longer live in Death Valley.
b. the native peoples didn't settle for very long in Death Valley.
с although some prospectors died, others were resourceful enough to live in Death Valley.
3
.
The writer seems to say that
a. it was impossible for even the native people to live in Death Valley.
b. there are no reasons for anyone to go to Death Valley today.
с without gold, the pioneers found little reason to live in Death Valley.
DISCUSSION Answer the questions
Why do you think people choose to live in places that have harsh conditions?
What type of climate does your country have? How have the people there adapted to the climate?
If you had to survive on your own in Death Valley, how would you do it?
Many scientists say that the worlds climate is getting warmer. What do you think the effect of this kind of climate change will be?
WRITING
W
rite
one or more paragraphs that describe what you think would be the
ideal
place to live. Be sure to give details about the climate and
landscape and specific reasons why you would like to live there.