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Lesson 21
Genre: Expository Nonfiction
Genre: Fable
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Focus Skill
Compare and Contrast
Nonfiction texts often contain information about related topics and ideas. Readers should
compare and contrast in order to understand the relationships between these topics and
ideas.
To compare is to tell how two or more things are similar. To contrast is to tell how they are
different. The topics and ideas that you compare and contrast may appear within one
paragraph or in different paragraphs. Use words and phrases like the ones below to help
you explain similarities and differences.
• Compare: similar, like, both, also, too, as well as
• Contrast: different, but, on the other hand, however, although, unlike, yet
Both
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Read the paragraph below. The graphic organizer under it shows that both the ancient and
modern Olympics have attracted great athletes. However, the ancient Olympics had only a
few events, while the modern Olympics have more than 400 events.
Ancient Olympics
a few events
Both
attract great athletes
Modern Olympics
more than 400 events
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Vocabulary
Build Robust Vocabulary
Athena and Arachne
logic
promote
pursuit
ethics
banned
influenced
modern
urges
The people of ancient Greece did not use logic to answer all their questions about the world.
Instead, they used stories about gods and goddesses to explain why things happen. The
goddess Athena is one well-known character in Greek mythology.
Athena was the goddess of arts and crafts, of wisdom, and of warfare. She was believed to
promote peaceful activities, such as weaving.
The Parthenon is on a hill known as the Acropolis. Some parts of the Parthenon’s original
structure still survive today.
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In one Greek myth, a mortal woman named Arachne was in pursuit of fame. She bragged
about her weaving skills and challenged Athena to a contest. According to the ethics of the
gods, it was wrong for mortals to brag. To punish the woman, Athena banned her from
human society by turning her into a spider and forcing her to spin threads forever.
The characters Athena and Arachne have influenced the modern age. The Greeks named the
city of Athens after the goddess Athena, and the Parthenon is a temple built to honor her.
Arachne’s name is the origin of the scientific term arachnid. The term names members of
the class of organisms that includes spiders.
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Many statues of Athena show her wearing body armor and a helmet. With these symbols,
Athena urges mortals to be fearless.
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Ancient Greece
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The Ancient Olympics
The scene on this vase from the 500s B.C. shows a chariot race, one of the ancient Olympic
events.
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Twenty runners get into position on the starting line. A trumpeter sounds the start of the race.
Sand flies up as the runners race down the 210-yard (192-meter) track. The crowd cheers
as the runners cross the finish line. The judges place a wreath of olive leaves on the
winner’s head.
Later, horse-drawn chariots line up on an oval track. At the sound of the trumpet, each driver
urges his horses forward. In the first turn, a driver cuts in front of another chariot. The two
chariots run into each other and tip over. The horses and drivers crash to the ground.
Several more chariots fall in the pileup. Many horses and drivers are hurt. The drivers who
missed the wreck bolt to the finish line. The owner of the winning chariot receives a
wreath of olive leaves.
Footraces and chariot races were part of the Olympic Games of ancient Greece. Wrestling,
boxing, and the pentathlon were other events. The pentathlon included javelin, discus, long
jump, running, and wrestling.
The first recorded Olympics were held in 776 B.C. The games took place in Olympia, a town in
western Greece. They honored the Greek god Zeus. In Greek mythology, Zeus was the
ruler of all the Olympian gods.
For 1,000 years, the Olympic Games were held every four years. Before each Olympics, the
Greeks stopped all warfare. No wars could be fought just before, during, or just after the
games. Wars were stopped so athletes and people coming to watch could travel to and from
the games safely.
The modern Olympics are one of many traditions developed in Greece. Ancient Greece is often
called the cradle of western civilization. It was the birthplace of many modern ideas. Greek
ideas are found in today’s governments, art, architecture, and literature. They are also seen
in science, drama, and athletics.
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Architecture 8 Art
The Greeks built many structures that still stand today. Temples are the most famous of their
buildings. Most of the temples have a similar design. The buildings are rectangular with
columns holding up the sloping roof. Modern architects base many of their designs on
Greek styles.
The most famous example of Greek architecture is the Parthenon. Completed in 432 B.C., this
temple honored the goddess Athena. She was the goddess of war and wisdom.
The Greeks created their own forms of sculpture, pottery, and painting. They were the first to
sculpt human statues in a natural style. Greek statues usually showed perfect bodies.
Earlier statues had looked stiff and unnatural. Athenians made the most valued pottery of
the ancient Western world. They painted their pots with pictures of gods, heroes, and
ordinary people. Greek artists decorated buildings with beautiful paintings called frescoes.
These wall paintings on plaster showed scenes from Greek myths.
The Parthenon stands on the Acropolis in Athens.
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Sculptures of women support the roof on this porch of the Erechtheum, a temple on the
Acropolis in Athens.
Ancient Greek Pottery
Although pottery was made first to be useful, it also became an art form. Early pottery was
decorated with geometric designs. Painters later added patterns with repeated images such
as animals. Even later pots depicted a whole scene. Some of the scenes showed daily life in
ancient Greece. Some scenes illustrated stories or myths.
Amphora from 760 B.C. with mostly geometric designs
Greek water jug from 530 B.C., showing women filling vases at a fountain
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Science 8 Medicine
Ancient Greeks were among the first to use logic to explain the world around them. They
wanted to discover the reasons why things worked.
Anaxagoras (an·ak·SAG·uhr·uhs) was an early Greek astronomer. He learned that the moon
did not make its own light. Instead, Anaxagoras believed that the moon’s light was a
reflection from the sun.
Archimedes (ar·kuh·MEE·deez) was an inventor and mathematician. He discovered the
principle of a lever. Archimedes created a complicated set of levers and pulleys. He used
them to lift a large ship from water to land by himself.
Hippocrates (hih·PAH·kruh·teez) was a Greek doctor. He is often called the father of medicine.
He developed the Hippocratic oath, a promise to heal the sick. Today, many medical
students take this oath when they become doctors.
Bust of Hippocrates
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In the fable “The Fox and the Grapes,” the fox learns that he cannot always get what he wants.
Drama 8 Literature
The ancient Greeks created drama. The earliest Greek plays were religious ceremonies. A
chorus sang and acted out stories about the gods. Later, dramas told legends of Greek
heroes. Many plays were about gods. Other plays told about the Persian Wars.
The Greeks were the Western world’s first writers of history. Around 450 B.C., Herodotus
explored the Mediterranean region. He wrote long reports of wars, geography, customs,
and legends. Herodotus is often called the father of history.
Aesop is one of the most famous Greek writers. In the 500s B.C., Aesop wrote hundreds of
fables. These short stories about animals taught a lesson. Aesop’s fables include “The
Tortoise and the Hare” and “The Fox and the Grapes.” Many of Aesop’s fables are still
told today.
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Philosophy
Early Greek philosophers studied life, death, and other mysteries of the natural world. Socrates
was the most famous philosopher from Athens. He was one of the first to study ethics. He
taught students by asking questions, rather than giving them answers. This teaching
method is now known as the Socratic method.
Plato was a student of Socrates. In his book The Republic, Plato describes his ideas for an ideal
government. He also founded a school called the Academy.
Plato’s most famous student was Aristotle. Aristotle became a great philosopher and scientist.
He developed a scientific system to help understand the world. The ideas of Socrates,
Plato, and Aristotle are still discussed today.
In addition to being a philosopher and scientist, Aristotle (left) taught Alexander the Great.
Bust of Aristotle
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The U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., was influenced by Greek architecture.
Greek Influence Today
Greece has influenced many modern governments. Democracy is now a common form of
government. Ancient Greeks developed political speeches, debates, and voting. Trial by
jury is another system created by the Greeks. A jury is a group of people that listens to and
decides a court case.
The ancient Greeks believed in the rights of the male citizen. Aristotle wrote that the pursuit of
happiness was important. When the 13 Colonies in North America separated from Great
Britain, the colonists created the Declaration of Independence. This document borrowed
Aristotle’s idea. It states that people have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness.
Often, government buildings also have Greek influence. Court buildings, capitols, and
presidential homes have all used Greek architecture.
Every day, people take part in activities invented by the ancient Greeks. They read novels,
attend plays, or exercise in a public gym. Athletes wrestle, box, and compete in track and
field events. Philosophers explore the meaning of life. Scientists search for logical answers
to problems. Ideas from ancient Greece continue to influence modern life
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The Modern Olympics
The ancient Greeks were the first civilization known to value sports. Greeks believed in
achieving a balance between work and play. They felt that a good education should
promote strong minds and bodies. The modern Olympics show Greece’s sporting influence
today.
In A.D. 393, the Roman Emperor Theodosius banned the Olympics. Theodosius was Christian,
and the Olympic Games honored the Greek gods.
The Olympic Sports Complex in Athens includes two stadiums, three fields, and several
buildings.
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The games did not start again until 1896. That year, Athens hosted the first modern Olympic
Games. Athletes from 14 nations competed in the 1896 Olympics.
The Olympics are now held every two years. The games alternate between summer and winter.
Many cities around the world have hosted the Olympics.
The Olympics returned to Athens in 2004. Workers upgraded stadiums and created new ones to
hold all the events. About 10,500 athletes from 200 countries competed. Tourists watched
the modern competitions and visited the ancient sites.
The logo of the 2004 Olympic Games features a wreath of olive branches.
The Olympic Stadium in Athens was the location for the opening and closing ceremonies of the
2004 Olympic Games.
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Think Critically
1 What were some characteristics of the ancient Olympic Games? NOTE DETAILS
2 Why does the author call ancient Greece “the birthplace of many modern ideas”?
SYNTHESIZE
3 Compare and contrast Anaxagoras with Archimedes. COMPARE AND CONTRAST
4 The Greeks felt that sports were an important part of a young person’s education. Do you
agree? Explain. PERSONAL RESPONSE
5 WRITE Based on the selection and the photographs, describe what is special about ancient
Greek architecture and art. Include the most important ideas from the text. SHORT
RESPONSE
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About the Author
Kim Covert
Kim Covert has a passion for traveling. While she was growing up, her family moved
frequently because her father was a pilot in the U.S. Air Force. The family lived in Japan,
Germany, England, and seven states in the United States. Kim Covert says that reading has
always been her favorite hobby. Writing must be a favorite pastime as well, because she
has written thirteen nonfiction books for young people. She lives in Minnesota with her
two teenagers.
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A Time to Dance
retold and illustrated by Helen Ward
Language Arts
Fable
THERE WAS ONCE A CRICKET, a very happy creature with not a care in the world and not
an idea in his head. He had never been burdened by great thoughts or bothered by the
smaller, more useful ones that slipped from his head like down from a thistle. As long as
the sun shone each day he was content to sit on a barley stalk and sing.
He ate when he was hungry, he slept when he was tired, and since the sun shone all summer, all
summer he sang.
In autumn the cold began to bite. Food became surprisingly scarce, so the cricket grew hollow
with hunger. He no longer felt inclined to sing, but shivered and rattled instead. It was well
known that the ants had plentiful supplies, but nobody had dared to try their generosity.
Nevertheless, the cricket left his barley stalk and set off for the ants’ fortress …
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The cricket begged one of the guards for a little something to eat.
“How can you be hungry”? demanded the ant. “Winter is only just starting. What have you
done with your stores of food”? “Stores”? said the cricket.
“Food put away to eat in the winter. Stores of food from the months when there was plenty.
What,” asked the ant (though no more kindly), “have you been doing all summer?!” “I was
busy … ,” whined the cricket (and he had to admit it sounded a little silly on a frosty
morning), “… singing.”
The ant of course was unimpressed. “Then MAYBE … ,” he said acidly, “… YOU SHOULD
DANCE ALL WINTER.” And with that, he turned his back on the cricket and marched
into the nest.
Do not put off until tomorrow what you should do today.
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Connections
Comparing Texts
1. Which person described in “Ancient Greece” would you like to meet? Explain your answer.
2. Why do you think Aesop used stories about animals to teach a lesson? Do you think the
message in “A Time to Dance” is important? Explain.
3. What contribution from ancient Greece do you think is most valuable in the modern world?
Give specific reasons for your answer.
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Reading-Writing Connection
Analyze Writer’s Craft: Expository Nonfiction
Expository nonfiction gives facts and information about a topic. It may include headings,
diagrams, photographs, and captions. When you write expository nonfiction, you can use
the works of authors such as Kim Covert as writing models. Read the passage below from
“Ancient Greece,” and notice how the author focuses her ideas.
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Research Report
A research report is a kind of expository nonfiction. It includes facts and information from a
variety of sources, such as books, magazines, encyclopedias, and the Internet. It also
includes a list of the sources from which the writer got the information. Read this research
report by a student named Lim, and notice how he chose strong ideas to explain his topic.
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Enduring Events
Many Olympic events survive from ancient times. Footraces, the long jump, discus throwing,
and wrestling have been Olympic events since the games were first held in ancient Greece.
Footracing is the oldest Olympic competition. The first Olympics, in 776 B.C., featured
just one event: the stade, or stadion race, a sprint that covered the length of a stadium.
Dropped Events
Many Olympic events have been dropped from the modern games. Chariot racing was
discontinued because it was so dangerous. Croquet, rope climbing, tug-of-war, and cricket
were introduced in modern times and then eliminated. In 2005, it was announced that
baseball and softball will be dropped from the summer games starting in 2012.
Softball joined the summer games in 1996. Female athletes will throw out the last pitch in
2012.
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The Newest Events
Fans are always trying to add their favorite sports to the Olympics. Beach volleyball, tae kwon
do, and mountain biking are recent additions. In 2003, the International Olympic
Committee announced that BMX racing would be added as a summer Olympic event.
BMX is an off-road bicycle race that takes place on a winding dirt track.
Some Olympic events are lasting, and some are only temporary. The newest events may be
eliminated before the next games begin. The spirit of the games, however, will last forever.
List of Sources
Gifford, Clive. Summer Olympics. Boston: Kingfisher, 2004.
VeloNews Interactive. “Olympic BMX? IOC Says Yes for 2008.”
1 March 2007. <http://www.velonews.com/news/fea/4282.0.html>
Wallechinsky, David. “Olympic Games.” World Book Encyclopedia. 1998 ed.
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Now look at what Lim did to prepare to write his research report.
Notes
Lim used note cards to write down information from a variety of sources. He made a new note
card for each important idea and included the source for the notes.
Beijing 2008 summer Olympics.
BMX — off-road bicycle race
VeloNews Interactive. “Olympic BMX? IOC Says Yes for 2008.” 1 March 2007.
<http:www.velonews.com/news/fea/4282.0.html>
Outline
Then Lim created an outline to show the order of ideas he would follow as he began to write
his report.
Title: The Modern Summer Olympics
I. Introduction
A. History and background
B. Main ideas
II. Enduring events
A. Track and field
B. Stadion races
III. Dropped events
A. Chariot racing, croquet, etc.
B. Softball
IV. Newest events
A. Volleyball, Tae kwon do, etc.
B. BMX
V. Conclusion
A. Summary of main ideas
B. Importance of topic
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Organization
Next Lim organized his note cards according to the order on his outline. He labeled the note
cards to keep track of where the information will appear in his research report.
Chariot Racing
In chariot racing, two-wheeled vehicles are pulled by horse teams. It was dropped as an
Olympic event because it was so dangerous.
Wallechinsky, David. “Olympic Games.” World Book Encyclopedia. 1998 ed.
Paragraph III, Point A
Beijing 2008 summer Olympics.
BMX — off-road bicycle race
VeloNews Interactive. “Olympic BMX? IOC Says Yes for 2008.” 1 March 2007.
<http: www.velonews.com/news/fea/4282.0.html>
Paragraph IV, Point B