Reading
•someone asked you to name a symbol of~our country, what would your answer be? An eagle? The Statue of Liberty? Read the following passage about two other symbols, and then ans\ver multiple- choice questions 1 through 8 and open-response question A. Uncle Sam and Brother Jonathan: American Symbols
Uncle Sam and Brother Jonathan are not plant in New York. During the War of 1812, he really anyone's uncle or brother. In fact, they ' sent beef to the United States Army. Wilson are not real people at all. They are national stamped "U.S." on the side of each barrel symbols of the United States. It is likely, of meat. however, that they became symbols because of Of course, the initials stood for United two real American men. States. But some people began to say that the initials stood for "Uncle Sam" Wilson. The Uncle Sam idea that the meat came from Uncle Sam Uncle Sam has been a symbol of the became popular. Over time, the name "Uncle United States government for almost 200 years. Sam" came to refer to the United States ay, we still see drawings of his face in government. In 1961, the U.S. Congress political cartoons and on signs and posters. officially named Samuel Wilson as the You might even see a real person dressed as inspiration for the Uncle Sam symbol. Uncle Sam.
What does Uncle Sam look like? Many people think of Uncle Sam as a tall, thin man with white hair and a short beard. His clothes are the colors of the American flag. He wears a blue coat and a top hat with stars on the band. His pants have red and white stripes. Uncle Sam's tall frame and determined face make him a good symbol for a strong and serious government.
Where did Uncle Sam get his name? The name "Uncle Sam" is usually connected with a man named Samuel "Uncle Sam" Wilson. Mr. Wilson ran a meat-packing
1 6 Grade 5, Theme 2 Arkansas Curriculum Frameworks Aligned Assessments Reading
Brother Jonathan Jonathan Trumbull was a big help to the You may not have heard of Brother colonial army. He knew how to find supplies Jonathan. That's because the name was most the army needed. He sent food, clothing, and popular about 200 years before you were born. ammunition to the soldiers. In times of trouble, The name ''Brother Jonathan" was coined General Washington would say that it was time at the time of the American Revolution, in the to ask Brother Jonathan for help. late 1700s. The colonists were fighting a war to Today, Jonathan Trumbull and his nickname gain freedom from England. The name was a are still remembered. There is a statue in honor symbol for colonists who wanted independence. of Trumbull in Washington, D.C., and from time At first, only those who wanted to help in the • to time, people still refer to someone who is a war were called "Brother Jonathan." After the true patriot as "Brother Jonathan." war was over, though, the term took on a new meaning. It became a nickname for the whole country.
What does Brother Jonathan look like? Unlike Uncle Sam, Brother Jonathan has many different looks. In old cartoons and posters, Brother Jonathan was sometimes shown as a Revolutionary War soldier. Sometimes his picture was in a cartoon. Sometimes it even looked like Uncle Sam wearing a three-sided hat with a feather instead of a top hat. Although artists drew Brother Jonathan's face many different ways, they always showed him without a beard.
Where did Brother Jonathan get his name? 9 Some people speculate that the symbol of Brother Jonathan may have come from a real man. "Brother Jonathan" was George Washington's nickname for his friend Jonathan Trumbull. Trumbull served as the governor of the colony of Connecticut. He was the only governor who supported the Revolutionary War. He often gave Washington advice.
Arkansas Curriculum Frameworks Aligned Assessments Grade 5, Theme 2 17 Reading
1. Which question would best help you 4. When Jonathan Trumbull supported the establish a purpose for reading this article? Revolutionary War, A. What are other American symbols? A. Uncle Sam called on him for help. B. Why does the United States use B. George Washington called on him for symbols? help. C. Where did Uncle Sam and Brother C. he sent beef to the United States Army Jonathan live? in 1812. D. How did Brother Jonathan and Uncle D. artists added a beard to his face to Sam become American symbols? make him look like Uncle Sam.
2. "Some people speculate that the symbol of 5. Which of the following statements is a fact Brother Jonathan may have come from a supported by evidence in the article? real man." (paragraph 9) A. Brother Jonathan and Uncle Sam The root word spec in the word speculate became symbols during wartime. comes from a Latin word that means B. Uncle Sam is the best symbol for a A. to find. strong and serious government. B. to look. C. George Washington thought that C. to think. Brother Jonathan was very helpful. D. to study. D. Most people believe that Brother Jonathan and Uncle Sam were good people.
3. If you looked under the bold heading "Brother Jonathan" in this article, which of the following ideas would you find? A. "Brother Jonathan" had many different looks. B. People still refer to patriots as "Brother Jonathan." C. "Brother Jonathan" was a nickname for Jonathan Trumbull. D. People who wanted independence were called "Brother Jonathan."
1 8 Grade 5, Theme 2 Arkansas Curriculum Frameworks Aligned Assessments Reading ^Ifcadiy?
6. The author organizes the information in 7. The best place to get more information on the article according to American symbols would be A. main ideas. A. an atlas. B. important facts. B. an encyclopedia. C. the general topic. C. a book about U.S. wars. D. sequence of events. D. a dictionary of military terms.
Use the chart below to answer question 8.
Main Idea Uncle Sam is connected with Sam Wilson.
Detail Detail Detail Mr. Wilson stamped The name "Uncle "U.S." on Sain" came to refer beef barrels. to the United States government.
8. Which of the following best completes the chart? A. Mr. Wilson ran a meat-packing plant in New York. B. Uncle Sam's image appeared on signs and posters. C. People began saying that "U.S." stood for "Uncle Sam" Wilson. D. Congress officially named Sam Wilson as the inspiration for Uncle Sam.
READING OPEN-RESPONSE ITEM A
A. How are the- symbols of Brother Jonathan and Uncle Sam alike and different? Use examples from the passage to support your answer.
Arkansas Curriculum Frameworks Aligned Assessments Grade 5, Theme 2 19