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Suggested levels for Guided Reading, DRA,™ Lexile,® and Reading Recovery™ are provided in the Pearson Scott Foresman Leveling Guide.

byby MeishMeish GGoldisholdish

Comprehension Genre Text Features Skills and Strategy Expository • Generalize • Table of Contents nonfi ction • Author’s Purpose • Captions • Predict and Set • Glossary Purpose

Scott Foresman Reading Street 5.4.2

ISBN-13: 978-0-328-52527-0 ISBN-10: 0-328-52527-8 90000

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Chapter 2 The Will to Walk ...... 8

Chapter 3 Photographs New Opportunities...... 12 Every effort has been made to secure permission and provide appropriate credit for photographic material. The publisher deeply regrets any omission and pledges to correct errors called to its attention in subsequent editions. Chapter 4 Unless otherwise acknowledged, all photographs are the property of Pearson The 1960 Olympics ...... 16 Education, Inc. Photo locators denoted as follows: Top (T), Center (C), Bottom (B), Left (L), Right (R), Background (Bkgd) Chapter 5 Helping Others ...... 20 Opener Jerry Cooke/Corbis; 1 ©AP Images; 5 Hulton Archive/Getty Images; 6 Stan Wayman/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images; 7 Margaret Bourke-White/Time Life Pictures/ Getty Images; 8 ©AP Images; 9 Francis Miller/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images; 10 ©iStockphoto; 11 Mark Humphrey/©AP Images; 12 John J. Lent/©AP Images; 14 ©AP Images; 15 Jerry Cooke/Corbis; 16 ©AP Images; 17 ©AP Images; 18 Jupiter Images; 19 ©AP Images; 20 Bettmann/Corbis; 21 Bettmann/Corbis, Corbis; 22 Bettmann/Corbis; 23 Brent Moore.

ISBN 13: 978-0-328-52527-0 ISBN 10: 0-328-52527-8

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 V0G1 13 12 11 10 09 3 A Difficult Childhood From the day she was born in 1940, However, when she was five, Wilma faced the most faced obstacles that would have stopped someone less serious medical condition of her life. She became sick remarkable. In a large, poor family in the South, she was with polio, a disease that attacks and weakens muscles, born twentieth in a family of 22 children and, as a child, many times leaving victims permanently disabled. As a faced many medical problems. Yet, despite her humble result, Wilma’s left leg turned background and the illnesses she fought, she never inward and wouldn’t move. allowed these struggles to get in the way of her dreams. Doctors thought that she would Instead, she trusted her strength and determination to never walk again. help her succeed. Ultimately, they helped make her the Wilma’s mother was extraordinary woman she became—the first African determined to get her daughter American woman to win an Olympic gold medal and a the medical help that she role model for many. needed. But it wasn’t easy Wilma’s struggles began when she was born two because the family lived in months premature. She was very underweight. As a result, Clarksville, Tennessee, which she was so weak that doctors feared she might not live practiced segregation like most past her first year. southern towns at the time. Not Wilma just barely survived, and in her early years, she only did black people live apart battled numerous other illnesses. Early on, she contracted from white people, but they double pneumonia, a serious lung disease. She also weren’t allowed to use the same contracted whooping cough, measles, and chicken pox hospitals as whites either. and, later, a very dangerous and high fever called scarlet fever.

Today, there is an immunization that prevents people from getting polio. When Wilma was a child, however, the medicine had not yet been invented.

4 5 So, twice a week, Wilma and her mother made a long 50-mile trip by bus to a hospital in Nashville, Tennessee, that treated black patients with polio. At the hospital, doctors did what they could. They bathed Wilma’s bad leg in hot water and rubbed the muscles. They showed Wilma and her mother how to massage and exercise her leg to make it stronger. However, doctors there could not do very much for Wilma. There was still no cure for polio, and those who got the disease (most often children) generally died or were disabled for life.

Keeping the damaged muscles in water was a common treatment for polio victims in Wilma’s day.

At home, Wilma did leg exercises even though they hurt her leg a lot. Fortunately, she had a large support team to help. Wilma’s older brothers and sisters, many of whom were living at home, were eager to help their little sister in any way they could. They took turns rubbing Wilma’s leg muscles and offered words of hope. Yet even with their encouragement, Wilma often felt hopeless. She couldn’t even go to school because the only

On their trips to Nashville, Wilma and her mother way she could get around was by hopping on one leg. had to sit in the back of a bus similar to this one, Stuck at home all day, Wilma was lonely and often found because buses in the South were segregated. herself crying. 6 7 TheTh WWillill tto WWalk When she turned six, Wilma finally received some As she sat on the sidelines watching her classmates encouraging news. Her left leg had grown strong enough play, Wilma became interested in basketball. She had to be fitted with a heavy metal brace, which helped Wilma plenty of time to learn the rules, study how her classmates walk—or at least limp—instead of hop. moved across the court, and examine how they scored Wilma was thrilled because it meant that she could go points. Increasingly, Wilma became determined to find to school. However, returning to school was not nearly as a way to play the game herself. But she knew it was pleasant as she had hoped. The majority of her classmates impossible to play with a brace on her leg; she needed to teased her about the large be able to walk on her own. metal brace on her leg. One Sunday, ten-year-old Wilma decided to try “I was so lonely, and I felt walking. Since she had worked hard on her leg exercises rejected,” Wilma recalled. “I for years, Wilma felt confident. The church service was would close my eyes and just already underway when she and her family arrived. In the drift off into a sinking feeling, back of the church, Wilma carefully took off the brace for going down, down, down.” the first time. With a great effort, she began to walk very To make matters worse, slowly down the church aisle. The sight stunned people on the playground, Wilma and, a hush fell on the crowd. Finally, Wilma arrived wasn’t allowed to participate at the front pews and took her seat. Some churchgoers in any physical activity. wondered if they had just Instead, she could only sit on witnessed a miracle! the sidelines and watch the other students play different games, one of which was basketball. The desire to play basketball inspired Wilma to overcome her difficult situation.

Six-year-old Wilma Rudolph, right, poses with her older sister Yvonne in an undated photo

8 9 In her sophomore year, Wilma’s team nearly won the state championship. But although the team ultimately lost their final game, that game offered Wilma a big break. , a coach from Tennessee State University, had watched Wilma play, and he was so impressed by Wilma’s speed that he wanted her to attend Tennessee State. However, he wasn’t looking for her to play basketball—he wanted her to run on the college track team! Wilma was thrilled by the offer, but first she had to complete high school. Little did she understand the exciting but difficult challenges she was about to face.

Wilma knew there was no substitute for dedication and hard work. For the next two years, she struggled to walk without her leg brace for longer periods of time. In fact, by the time Wilma was 12, her leg was so strong that she was able to keep the brace off for good. Her doctors declared her fully recovered. Wilma now felt like her life was beginning all over again. She had grown to be a tall girl who could move at lightning speed. Instead of just watching basketball games, she began to play in them! She moved well on the court, and she became the star player of her high school basketball team, driving them to win game after game. The campus of Tennessee State University, where Wilma attended university on a full scholarship

10 11 NewNew OOpportunitiespportu After tenth grade, Wilma spent the summer attending Encouraged by Robinson, Wilma pushed herself even the track training program at Tennessee State University. harder. Later that summer she received an unbelievable There, skilled athletes helped her improve her running invitation—to try out for the U.S. Olympic track team. ability. Wilma learned how to get off to a quick start, how Participating in the Olympics was an almost unimaginable to move her arms and legs on the track, and other new dream for a poor African American girl from Tennessee. skills. Wilma was only 16 years old but nearly six feet tall, and, Wilma’s efforts paid off when, at a national remarkably, she won a place on the team! She could track meet that summer, she won two races. hardly believe that she would have an opportunity to She was just as excited the following compete with some of the world’s greatest runners. summer when she met one of her heroes, Participating in the 1956 in Australia, Jackie Robinson, the first African American Wilma and her teammates ran the 400-meter relay race. to play Major League baseball. Robinson They came in third place, winning a bronze medal for the told Wilma that he felt confident that United States. Smiling proudly on the victory stand as she she could become a great accepted her medal, Wilma was already thinking ahead to runner. Wilma would the next Olympic games in 1960. have reason to When Wilma returned home after the Olympics, she remember that was greeted warmly. Even those who had long ago teased conversation her were now cheering. later on.

Wilma called Jackie Robinson “my first black hero.”

12 13 After graduating high school, Wilma finally entered But she soon faced a new problem as she found Tennessee State University. Given her family’s finances herself becoming slower and weaker. She was forced and her considerable accomplishments, they had offered to miss many races due to illness until, finally, the team her a full scholarship. She could attend college for free. doctor discovered that Wilma had a tonsil infection. Once This made Wilma as happy as a Dalmatian on a fire the tonsils were removed, engine! She was so proud to be the first person in her Wilma quickly regained her family ever to go to college. strength and speed. She Wilma joined the college track team, called the became the team’s fastest Tigerbelles. At first, with Ed Temple as her coach, runner again and won everything went well. Wilma was so fast that sometimes race after race. during practice she slowed down just so her teammates Throughout her sickness, could catch up with her. Wilma kept her thoughts focused on the 1960 Summer Olympics that would be held in Rome, Italy. She always felt she should have done better in the 1956 Olympic Games, and now Wilma was determined to make up for it.

Wilma always looked for Wilma, second from left, stands with her track ways to improve as a runner. teammates , , and , after they won bronze medals at the 1956 Olympics.

14 15 TheTh 11960960 OOlympicsl In 1960 Wilma was excited to be on the U.S. Olympic Wilma’s amazing victory thrilled the crowd of 80,000 team once again. Yet an accident during practice almost people in the stadium. They cheered for Wilma as she kept her out of the Games in Rome. Wilma sprained her accepted her first-place gold medal. ankle while running on the Olympic field, and a doctor Wilma, however, was far from finished. She still had two advised her to stay off her foot for several days. However, more races to run, and the next one was a 200-meter run. Wilma’s first race was the very next day. Determined to Calm and focused, Wilma ran that race in 24 seconds—and run, she put ice on her ankle and wrapped it in tape. won another gold medal! Wilma’s first event was a 100-meter race. She pushed Then there was only one race left. Unlike the first two herself hard and won in just 11 seconds, setting a new races, this one would be a relay. She and three teammates world record. would each take turns running 100 meters and then passing a baton, or stick, to the next runner.

In Rome, Wilma won her first Wilma’s strength and speed helped her gold medal by setting a world win the 200-meter run. record in the 100-meter dash. 16 17 Wilma, the fourth and final runner on her team, waited Wilma was now in the race of her life. She pushed eagerly for her teammates to finish running their parts herself, pumping her legs as fast as she could. All she of the relay. She knew she could count on them to run could think about was passing the runners in front of her. quickly since they were all Tennessee State Tigerbelles. As they neared the finish line, Wilma shot forward in a Each sped around the track, keeping the U.S. team in first burst of speed. She won the race by less than one second! place. The crowd roared for Wilma as she and her teammates Perhaps Wilma was a little too eager but when the accepted their gold medals. She was the first American third runner passed her the baton, Wilma almost dropped woman ever to win three gold medals at a single it! Precious seconds were lost as she struggled to get hold Olympics. of the stick. In that short period of time, two runners on Wilma, who other teams zoomed past her on the track. had suffered with polio for years, was now the fastest-running woman on Earth! No wonder some called her the “Black Gazelle.”

Wilma strains forward to cross the finish line in first place. If one of the relay runners drops the baton, the team is disqualified.

18 19 HelpingHelping OOthersthe Wilma’s family couldn’t wait to welcome her home The parade in Wilma’s honor was a historic event. when she returned to Clarksville, Tennessee. They hadn’t Almost all of Clarksville’s citizens were promenading in been able to afford the travel to Rome to watch Wilma’s the streets. It was the first time that blacks and whites ever victories, but now they were eager to celebrate with her held a public event together in that town. back home. Wilma was proud of what she had accomplished. At In fact, nearly the whole town of Clarksville was eager just 20 years old, she was one of the world’s most famous to celebrate. Town officials planned a parade and a big women. But Wilma didn’t want to spend the rest of her dinner for their famous hometown star. However, the life simply wearing frilly dresses and going to parties. She parade was to be for white people only. was eager to impart to others the lessons she had learned Wilma was angry and told officials that she wouldn’t throughout her life. She knew her experience could help attend the celebration unless African Americans were poor and struggling people develop the confidence to allowed to take part. Wilma was granted her demand. persevere and triumph.

Wilma’s fame enabled her to meet many important people, including President John F. Kennedy (above) and, years later, President Jimmy After the 1960 Olympics, Wilma was the guest Carter (right). of honor at many parades, including this one in Nashville, Tennessee. 20 21 After graduating from college, Wilma retired from Eventually, Wilma became a schoolteacher and coach running and began to travel around the world. She as well as a mother of four. Yet her fame never escaped spoke to poor children in French West Africa about the her. Wilma received a long list of awards during her importance of sports. She told them about the hard work lifetime including being voted into the U.S. Olympic Hall it takes to overcome challenges—challenges like the ones of Fame in 1983 and the National Women’s Hall of Fame she overcame in her own life. Everywhere she went, her in 1994. grace and intelligence impressed and inspired people. Sadly, Wilma’s life was cut short when she died of Wilma also helped poor children and their families brain cancer in 1994 at the age of 54. However, her raise money. She remembered how her own family had remarkable achievements live on, inspiring many young been unable to travel to the Olympics in Rome. In 1988, people, especially African American girls, to work hard Wilma’s efforts made it possible for families of 560 U.S. and follow their dreams. After all, if one girl from a small Olympic team members to travel to Korea for the Games. town in Tennessee can triumph over poverty, prejudice, and illness, is there anything that can’t be done?

Wilma’s daughter This statue of Wilma Yolanda won a Rudolph in Clarksville, scholarship to Tennessee, serves as Tennessee State a permanent tribute University and ran with to the great sports the Tigerbelles, just as legend. her mother did.

22 23 Glossary Reader Response

Dalmatian n. a large promenading v. 1. Based on what you read about Wilma Rudolph, white dog with parading or walking for what generalizations can you make from her brown or black spots. pleasure to most runners? Copy the chart below on your Dalmatians are often paper, and use it to organize your generalizations. sprained v. twisted kept at fire stations for good luck. substitute n. something M_bcWHkZebf^ hkdd[hi that takes the place of frilly adj. having waves something else for decoration, as the material on a dress

2. How do you think Wilma Rudolph’s life would have been different if she hadn’t faced so many challenges? Why do you think that? How does this help you better understand Wilma? 3. Write a sentence for each of the following vocabulary words: promenading, dalmatian, substitute.

4. Think of a time when you had to overcome a challenge in order to accomplish something. Describe your challenge and how you overcame it.

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