https://www.commonlit.org/en/texts/the-buddha-and-the-four-truths?search_id=8796365
THE BUDDHA AND THE FOUR TRUTHS
by Anne-Marie Reidy
2018
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Why does Siddhartha leave the palace?
He is bored inside the palace.
He wants to see what is outside the palace.
His family wants to leave the palace.
His father wants him to see outside the palace.
How does Siddhartha feel when he leaves the palace?
He is surprised by how dirty it is outside the palace.
He feels bad for the holy men he sees who don’t have a home.
He is upset by the pain he sees and wants to help people.
He is moved by the beauty of the outside world.
Why does Siddhartha leave behind his old life?
He feels guilty for living a life full of money and love.
He wants to learn more about the world and helping others.
He doesn’t want to be reminded of the pain outside the palace.
He no longer cares about his friends or family.
What does the Buddha do after he discovers the Four Truths?
He returns home to tell his family.
He continues to learn about pain and suffering.
He tries to force people to follow his beliefs.
He travels to share them with other people.
1.
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PART A: Which sentence describes the main idea of the text?
A.
In order to be a Buddhist, like Siddhartha, you must give up all the things you care about and focus on
ending human suffering.
B.
Siddhartha was able to learn about human pain and how to end it because he had experienced it
himself.
C.
The Four Truths that Siddhartha came up with became the foundation for Buddhism, a religion
practiced by many people.
D.
Buddhism was a popular religion when Siddhartha was alive, but it is not often practiced today.
PART B: Which detail from the text best supports the answer to Part A?
A.
“Siddhartha spent more time outside the palace and saw people who were sick and in pain. This upset
the prince.” (Paragraph 4)
B.
“When he was 29, Siddhartha left the palace. He gave up all his riches, his family, and his fine things.
He went searching for wisdom.” (Paragraph 7)
C.
"People change their thinking by acting right. This means being kind, speaking the truth, and taking
care of their bodies and minds.” (Paragraph 15)
D.
“The Buddha wanted to share his new idea with other people to help them. For 45 years, he traveled
through northern India, teaching people the Four Truths.” (Paragraph 16)
3.
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Which of the following describes how the information in the text is organized?
A.
The author compares how Buddhism was practiced during Siddhartha’s time with how it’s practiced
today.
B.
The author describes Siddhartha’s early life and how he became the Buddha and shared his beliefs.
C.
The author explains Buddhism as a religion, and then provides important background information
about the Buddha.
D.
The author discusses the benefits of practicing Buddhism, and then some of the challenges of the
religion.
4.
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What is the connection between Siddhartha and the Buddha?
A.
Siddhartha and the Buddha were both holy men who practiced Buddhism.
B.
Siddhartha became the Buddha after meditating and gaining knowledge.
C.
Siddhartha was taught about Buddhism and the Four Truths by the Buddha.
D.
Siddhartha was given the name “the Buddha” as a title of respect from his followers.
5.
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What happens between when Siddhartha sees the holy man and when he comes up with the Four
Truths?
THEY NEED FIRE!
by Buffy Silverman
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Why do jack pines need fire?
to make space in the forest for them
to release seeds from their cones
to kill animals that eat them
to keep them warm enough to grow
Black fire beetles…
often die in forest fires.
live in dead trees.
lay their eggs in burnt trees.
need the warmth of burnt trees.
How are some birds affected by forest fires?
They are forced to find new homes.
They eat bugs from the trees and build nests.
They are often trapped in burning forests.
They eat dead trees and hide in them.
1.
In the text, the author discusses how the environment benefits from forest fires. What are some of the
dangers of forest fires? How do you think we could get the positive effects of forest fires, without any
of the consequences?
2.
It’s some people’s job to fight forest fires. Based on the information in the text, do you think
firefighters should let forest fires burn? Why or why not?
https://www.commonlit.org/en/texts/they-need-fire/parent-guide
ROCK SECRETS
by Betsy James
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How can you learn more about a rock?
by how it looks and feels
by how big it is
by opening it up
by taking it to a scientist
How can rocks tell us which plants or animals were alive in the past?
Rocks can make copies and create fossils.
Certain rocks attract plants and animals.
Plants and animals live in places with fewer rocks.
Rocks keep plants and animals safe inside them.
The author claims that…
the smallest rocks have better stories.
the simplest rocks are the most valuable.
all rocks can tell a story.
some rocks can’t tell you anything.