Disappearing Treasures

Pretest Name ___________________________________ Date ____________ Directions: Read the passage. Then use the information from the passage to answer questions 6–10. Disappearing Treasures April 10, 1912 It was a great day when the Titanic set sail from Southampton, England, and headed toward New York. The ship was like a floating hotel. It was the largest boat ever built, and more than 2,200 people were aboard. Everyone said this special ship could never sink. April 15, 1912 Five days passed. On a cool night, the ship glided smoothly through the black water. All was quiet. Then a sailor saw trouble and yelled, “Iceberg right ahead!” At 11:40 P.M., tragedy struck as the ship hit an iceberg. Three hours later, the Titanic sank and took about 1,500 people with her. The ship that couldn’t sink was lost. Robert Ballard’s Discovery The Titanic wasn’t lost forever. Many years later, in 1985, an explorer named Robert Ballard found it. He used a small submarine to look at the ship’s remains. He went down 12,500 feet. That’s over two miles deep! The ship was broken into pieces. As he looked closer, he saw three large combs and a pair of child’s shoes. He saw dishes, gold coins, and a bathtub. Ballard took pictures but left everything behind as it was. Soon other people wanted to see the shipwreck, too. The Titanic Today Time hasn’t been kind to the Titanic. Rust drips over the windows, and the metal is dissolving. The Titanic is melting away. Time isn’t the only thing hurting the ship. Now people are harming it, too. Trash litters the sea floor, and black holes cover the top of the ship where people have landed on the wreck. Worse still, thieves have looted the ship. Today Ballard works to save what’s left. One day it will disappear, but until then, Ballard wants to protect the wreck. He thinks it’s the largest museum on Earth. He says there are “many treasures yet to be found.” 16 Comprehension Strategy Assessment • Grade 4 © 2006 Benchmark Education Company, LLC Name ___________________________________ Date ____________ 6. What is the main idea of the first paragraph in this passage? oA The Titanic hit an iceberg and sank on April 10, 1912. oB A hotel called the Titanic was completed on April 10, 1912. oC The Titanic set sail from England on April 10, 1912. oD Tragedy struck at 11:40 P. M . on April 10, 1912 7. The passage says, “This special ship could never sink.” Which of these sentences uses the word sink in the same way? oA Wash your hands in the sink before lunch. oB If we don’t plug the hole, this rowboat will sink. oC We need to sink a post right here in the ground. oD As the silence continued, Maria’s confidence began to sink. 8. What would be another good title for this passage? oA “Saving the Titanic” oB “Robert Ballard’s Life” oC “The Sailing of the Titanic” oD “The Day Tragedy Struck” 9. From Robert Ballard’s view, what is probably the worst thing that has happened to the Titanic since 1985? oA Rust has dripped over the windows. oB People have left trash near the wreck. oC Small submarines have landed on the deck. oD Thieves have taken things from the ship. 10. The passage says, “The metal is dissolving.” What does dissolving mean? oA coming back again oB breaking apart and disappearing oC finding an answer oD slowly moving to another place © 2006 Benchmark Education Company, LLC Comprehension Strategy Assessment • Grade 4 17.

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