Text Structure Carousel 1 Being a clown isnt

Text Structure Carousel

1 • Being a clown isn’t all fun and games. Rodeo clowns expose themselves to great danger every time they perform. When cowboys dismount or are bucked off of bulls at riding competitions, rodeo clowns jump in front of the bulls and motion wildly to get their attention. In this way rodeo clowns provide an alternate target, and in doing so protect the rider. So you see, sometimes clowning around can be serious business.

2 • The wolverine, a medium sized mammal weighing no more than 50 lbs. , has earned its reputation for ferocity with its documented ability to kill prey many times its size. The reason why wolverines have so many conflicts with other animals (including wolves, cougars, and even bears) is probably because of the wolverine’s preferred hunting style. Rather than chasing down or tricking its prey like most hunters, the wolverine prefers to take its meals directly from other hunters. So while a polar bear or a lone wolf might be enjoying a hard earned carcass, a hungry wolverine may try to take his lunch. This keeps the wolverine in plenty of fights. •

3 • Sometime in December of 1891, Dr. James Naismith, a gym teacher at the YMCA College in Springfield, Massachusetts was trying to keep his gym class active on a rainy day. He wanted a vigorous game that would keep his students moving. After rejecting a few other ideas because they were too rough or not suited for the walled-in gym, Naismith wrote out the rules for a game with peach baskets fixed to ten-foot elevated tracks. Naismith’s students played against one another, passing the ball around and shooting it into the peach baskets. Dribbling wasn’t a part of the original game, and it took a while to realize that the game would run more smoothly if the bottoms of the baskets were removed, but this game grew to be one of the most popular sports in America today. Can you guess which one?

4 • What’s that humming sound? Could it be hummingbird, the only bird capable of backward flight? Hummingbirds have many unique flight habits that distinguish them from other birds. Most birds flap their wings up and down to fly, but the hummingbird moves its wings forward and backward very rapidly in a figure eight pattern. This allows the hummingbird to hover in position, fly upside down, and move about very rapidly. And while other birds have to push off with their feet to begin flying, and work their ways up to their top speeds, the hummingbird can both start flying at maximum speed and stop flying instantaneously. After you’ve seen a hummingbird in flight, it’s unlikely that you’ll mistake them for another bird.

5 • Remember, if something is worth doing, it is worth doing correctly. That said, the key to making perfect cookies is merely a matter of preparation and precision. To begin with, read your cookie recipe thoroughly before baking. Make sure that you have all of the necessary ingredients before you continue. Next, use good tools and utensils. Sometimes, the craftsperson is only as good as his or her tools. By using good tools you can minimize mistakes and improve the quality of your product. Lastly, you should use top quality ingredients. Unlike in the fairytales, you can’t turn lead into gold. If you use poor quality materials, you’ll create an inferior product. So, to make perfect cookies you should use the highest quality materials available. Bon apatite! •

6 • The term “machine gun” is commonly applied to any gun that is designed to fire repeatedly and in rapid succession for as long as the trigger is held down. During the course of warfare, the trigger of some machine guns may be held down almost continuously for hours to create suppressant fire (rounds fired not necessarily to kill an enemy, but to prevent them from attacking). All of this firing can generate a lot of heat, which may cause the weapon to overheat and malfunction. But this situation has been addressed in a number of ways. For one, practically all machine guns fire from an open bolt, which allows air to cool the breach between bursts of fire. Additionally, some machine guns have removable barrels, which allow hot barrels to be replaced. And some advanced machine guns even have sophisticated barrel cooling systems, which maintain a functional heat level within the weapon. As you might have concluded, a lot of brain power has gone into keeping those guns firing.

7 • You may think it’s bad to forget your homework, but what if you forgot who you were? Amnesia is a condition where a person loses some of their memories, like details about their personal identity, but still may remember how to do things, like play a piano. One type of Amnesia is called post-traumatic amnesia. Posttraumatic amnesia is usually due to a head injury (like a serious fall or knock on the head). The degree of memory loss may be related to the force of the injury. A simple whiplash may cause a person to forget the moments before the accident, but a more severe injury may cause a greater loss. For example, the victim may not remember who certain people are or may forget details about their own identities.

8 • Ansel Bourne was a preacher, carpenter, and most likely an inspiration for the name “Bourne” in the movie and novel series, “The Bourne Identity. ” Up until 1857, Bourne had been a carpenter, until he was called to religion. After 1858, he worked as a evangelical preacher, until 1887. He set up shop in Norristown, Pennsylvania, as a candy maker using the name A. J. Brown. Three months later, he woke up not knowing where he was, with no memory of the previous months. The case of Mr. Bourne has fascinated psychologists, and some film makers, for years. •

9 • The term “Amnesia” refers to complete or partial memory loss. Almost all of us will experience some form of Amnesia in our lives, even if it’s just a simple case of verbal amnesia, like forgetting someone’s name. Fortunately, there are things that you can do to prevent amnesia. Here is a list of foods that you can eat to improve your memory: almonds, walnuts, bananas, honey, apples, and black pepper. Though these foods may not reverse post-traumatic amnesia, they should improve your memory in daily life if you eat them regularly enough. •

10 • What do “Finding Nemo” and “Robocop” have in common? Not much, except that they both feature characters who suffer amnesia. Amnesia is a common plot device in movies and TV shows, but how accurate are these depictions? In television and movies, memory loss caused by a knock to the head (post-traumatic amnesia) is shown as fairly common, when it is actually quite rare. Unlike in movies and television shows that feature amnesia, most knocks to the head will not produce memory loss. In reality, memory loss or amnesia is much more likely to occur as the result of a stroke, brain infection, or brain surgery. So while amnesia causes people or characters to lose memories in both film and reality, characters are usually “fixed” by taking another knock to the head. In reality, people are not cured so simply. •

11 • What would you do if you awoke one day and discovered that you could not create new memories? You might remember everything that occurred in your life up to the point of an injury, but could not form new memories beyond that. This condition is called “anterograde amnesia, ” and it is difficult to treat, but doctors and therapists recommend these steps: first, use technology to help. A cell phone with a calendar reminder can do much to offset this condition. Second, use helpers. Having people to assist with daily tasks, like paying bills, will prove quite helpful. Lastly, seek therapy. While there is no cure for anterograde amnesia, memory training may help the afflicted live a more normal life. Currently, there are no chemical medications or drugs that will alleviate this condition. •

12 • The brain is the most complicated system in the human body. The brain is separated into two hemispheres or halves. From front to back, the brain is further divided into three parts: the forebrain, the midbrain, and the hindbrain. The forebrain is where most reasoning, thinking, and emotional activity occur. It is also where most memories are stored. The midbrain controls reflexes and process sensory information (sight, touch, taste, etc. ) The hind brain processes basic survival functions, like breathing and maintaining heart beat. The brain is truly the most amazing system in the human body.

Main Idea and Text Structure Worksheet 1 | Answers 1. This passage is about how rodeo clowns protect bull riders. It is organized as cause and effect. If you are creating multiple choice questions, do not include problem and solution as a distractor because it could be arguably organized as problem and solution as well as cause and effect. 2. This passage is about how wolverines rob other animals of their meals. It is organized as cause and effect. 3. This passage is about how the game of basketball was invented. It is organized chronologically. 4. This passage is about the unique flying abilities of the hummingbird. It is organized as compare and contrast. 5. This passage explains how to make good cookies. It is organized as sequence or process writing. 6. This passage explains how machine guns have been modifed to keep them from overheating. It is organized as problem and solution.

7. This paragraph describes post-traumatic amnesia. It is organized as cause and effect. 8. This paragraph describes the strange case of Ansel Bourne. It is organized chronologically. 9. This paragraph describes how you can improve your memory through diet. It is organized as problem and solution. 10. This paragraph compares and contrasts real life amnesia and amnesia as depicted on television and in movies. It is organized as compare and contrast. 11. This paragraph describes ways in which a person with anterograde amnesia could treat their condition. It is organized as sequence / process or problem and solution. 12. This paragraph describes the parts of the brain. It is organized spatially.