Falkland Islands Battle Day
By Ekaterina Zhdanova-Redman
1
How often do you listen to the radio, watch television or surf the
Internet? Many people do all three every day. Are you someone who has to
watch television or get online every day? Of course, there was a time with no
Internet, no television, no telephone and many more years ago, no radio.
Think for a minute what that would mean to you. Would it limit your number
of friends? If the only way to communicate was to hand-write a letter that
could take weeks - or months - to get to your friend, would you have as
many conversations?
2
Of course, people lived like that for most of human history. It was an
accepted way of life. Now imagine you're a military leader who heard of this
new invention called the radio. No more writing letters to your soldiers
thousands of miles away: you could simply talk to them, and they'd hear you
right away. You can imagine how important this new invention was. There
was one military man who knew the importance of the radio, and he lost his
life and thousands of his soldiers' trying to get one.
3
Around the beginning of the 20th century, there was a German admiral busy trying to win World War I for his country. His name was
Graf von Spee. In 1914, he had just defeated British navy forces near Chile off the coast of South America. Pumped from his big win,
he moved on to other British possessions in the area. He and his five ships steamed around the southern tip of South America, heading
for the British-held Falkland Islands. It was there that he hoped to attack the capital city of Stanley and take over the radio station there.
But he got more than he expected.
4
When Spee arrived off the Falklands, he found that there was a squadron of British ships at Stanley. Where his force numbered five
ships, the British numbered eight. And the British ships had big guns and a big score to settle with Spee.
5
When Spee spotted the British squadron, he tried to turn and run. But the British chased him. Spee's slower ships couldn't outrun
the British, so Spee decided to turn and fight. Tired, outnumbered, and outgunned, Spee's ships and sailors were easily taken by the
British. Of Spee's ships, only one got away. The rest were attacked and sunk. 1,871 of Spee's men were killed (including Spee) and
215 were captured. Of the British, only 10 were killed, and no ships were lost. The day of this great battle was December 8, 1914.
6
Today, the British residents of the Falkland Islands celebrate December 8 every year. Celebrations and a parade through Stanley
can be found on this day, as the people of the Falkland Islands remember the day the Germans were chased out to sea, away from
their home, and destroyed. It's an important day in the history of the Falkland Islands, and an important day for the island's residents to
remember. All because of one man's desire to own a radio!
1. In what year did the Falkland Islands battle take place?
1941
1814
2001
1914
3. The battle took place on land.
False
True
2. Between what two countries did the battle take place?
Britain and France
Germany and Britain
Germany and Russia
France and Germany
4. The German forces were led by Admiral ________.
Chile
B. Falkland
Stanley
Spee
5. How many German ships survived the battle?
1
3
C None
2
7. The Falkland Islands were owned by the _______.
Germans
British
Americans
French
6. The British lost how many men?
10
None
100
1,000
8. The Falkland Islands are located near what continent?
South America
Australia
Asia
North America
Read the paragraph and then select the main idea for the paragraph.
1.
What is a mortgage? A mortgage is a particular kind of a loan. When someone takes out a mortgage, they get money to buy a house. They must
pay the money back, plus interest. Usually people make a mortgage payment once each month. The house is collateral on the loan. That means
that, if the payments aren't made, the bank can take the house. In fact, the bank holds the deed to the house until the mortgage is paid.
The main idea in this passage is:
a definition of the word mortgage
information about buying a house
pros and cons of buying a house
a definition of the word collateral
2.
The Panama Canal is a manmade waterway. It is in the country of Panama. It connects the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans. The Panama Canal
allows ships to cross from one ocean to the other. It was built by the United States. Now, it belongs to the country of Panama.
The main idea in this passage is:
Who built the Panama Canal?
What is the Panama Canal?
What kinds of ships use the canal?
Why was the Panama Canal built?
3.
We often hear about Baghdad, Iraq on the news. As everyone knows, Iraq is the site of the war that America is involved in. But, did you know
that it is also the site of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World? The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were located on the Euphrates
River near the present day Baghdad. They were beautiful, green, terraced gardens. They must have been a fantastic sight in this desert country.
The main idea in this passage is:
Baghdad
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon
The Iraq War
The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
Context Clues
1.
I watched as the eagle swooped down and grabbed his prey with his talon, or claw.
Using the synonym clue, the word talon in this sentence means
teeth
claw
beak
2.
feathers
Vickie engaged in scintillating conversation with our guests and delighted each one.
Using the explanation clue, the word scintillating in this sentence means
witty
boring
dull
3.
She talks about others malevolently, unlike her sister who would never say a mean thing about anyone.
Using the contrast clue, the word malevolently in this sentence means
A meanly or maliciously
quietly
4.
wrote
6.
C
warmly
kindly
Mrs. Shelton wanted to make sure that no one would misconstrue her instructions, so she wrote them down in a way that everyone could
understand.
Using the comparison clue, the word misconstrue in this sentence means
tore
5.
turbulent
influenced
misunderstand
Brandon gave no intimation of the surprise party he was planning. His sister had no idea that all her friends had gathered for her birthday.
Using the comparison clue, the word intimation in this sentence means
oppress
oppose
hint
dampen
When the sun set, the bright day turned into a caliginous rainy night.
Using the antonym clue, the word caliginous in this sentence means
clear
dark or gloomy
bright
happy