Getting the Main Idea 1

1. For many years people knew about gum. They knew that some trees had a gum inside. It could be chewed and chewed. It never got smaller. It was in the United States that gum was first produced to be sold. Gum was taken from Black Spruce trees. It was boiled and sugar was added. Other kinds of tree gums were tried. At last the gum of the Sapodilla tree was tried. It seemed to be better than any other. This tree grows in Central and South America. Its gum is called chicle. Many thousands of tons of chicle are made into chewing gum each year. People are spending millions of dollars a year on chewing gum. But the cost of chicle is going up. Scientists are looking for new ways to make chewing gum. When did people know about gum?

2. For many years people knew about gum. They knew that some trees had a gum inside. It could be chewed and chewed. It never got smaller. It was in the United States that gum was first produced to be sold. Gum was taken from Black Spruce trees. It was boiled and sugar was added. Other kinds of tree gums were tried. At last the gum of the Sapodilla tree was tried. It seemed to be better than any other. This tree grows in Central and South America. Its gum is called chicle. Many thousands of tons of chicle are made into chewing gum each year. People are spending millions of dollars a year on chewing gum. But the cost of chicle is going up. Scientists are looking for new ways to make chewing gum. Much gum is made from ______________.

3. 1. For many years people knew about gum. They knew that some trees had a gum inside. It could be chewed and chewed. It never got smaller. It was in the United States that gum was first produced to be sold. Gum was taken from Black Spruce trees. It was boiled and sugar was added. Other kinds of tree gums were tried. At last the gum of the Sapodilla tree was tried. It seemed to be better than any other. This tree grows in Central and South America. Its gum is called chicle. Many thousands of tons of chicle are made into chewing gum each year. People are spending millions of dollars a year on chewing gum. But the cost of chicle is going up. Scientists are looking for new ways to make chewing gum. Scientists are looking for ________________.

4. 1. For many years people knew about gum. They knew that some trees had a gum inside. It could be chewed and chewed. It never got smaller. It was in the United States that gum was first produced to be sold. Gum was taken from Black Spruce trees. It was boiled and sugar was added. Other kinds of tree gums were tried. At last the gum of the Sapodilla tree was tried. It seemed to be better than any other. This tree grows in Central and South America. Its gum is called chicle. Many thousands of tons of chicle are made into chewing gum each year. People are spending millions of dollars a year on chewing gum. But the cost of chicle is going up. Scientists are looking for new ways to make chewing gum. This story could also be called __________.

5. Some people believe that a fallen eyelash can bring good luck. Here is how it works. They eyelash is placed on the back of the left hand. A wish is made with the eyes closed. This is followed with a blow on the left hand palm with the back of the right hand. There are three chances. If by the third try the eyelash is still on the left hand, the wish will not come true. Then the eyelash should be burned or thrown away to avoid bad luck. If the eyelash has disappeared with the first, second or third blow, the eyelash has gone to bring the wish. Some people believe that an eyelash can bring ___________.

6. Some people believe that a fallen eyelash can bring good luck. Here is how it works. They eyelash is placed on the back of the left hand. A wish is made with the eyes closed. This is followed with a blow on the left hand palm with the back of the right hand. There are three chances. If by the third try the eyelash is still on the left hand, the wish will not come true. Then the eyelash should be burned or thrown away to avoid bad luck. If the eyelash has disappeared with the first, second or third blow, the eyelash has gone to bring the wish. After a wish is made, the fallen eyelash must _________________.

7. Some people believe that a fallen eyelash can bring good luck. Here is how it works. They eyelash is placed on the back of the left hand. A wish is made with the eyes closed. This is followed with a blow on the left hand palm with the back of the right hand. There are three chances. If by the third try the eyelash is still on the left hand, the wish will not come true. Then the eyelash should be burned or thrown away to avoid bad luck. If the eyelash has disappeared with the first, second or third blow, the eyelash has gone to bring the wish. When the wish will not come true, the eyelash must ____________.

8. Some people believe that a fallen eyelash can bring good luck. Here is how it works. They eyelash is placed on the back of the left hand. A wish is made with the eyes closed. This is followed with a blow on the left hand palm with the back of the right hand. There are three chances. If by the third try the eyelash is still on the left hand, the wish will not come true. Then the eyelash should be burned or thrown away to avoid bad luck. If the eyelash has disappeared with the first, second or third blow, the eyelash has gone to bring the wish. This story could also be called _____________.

9. What makes popcorn pop? If you have ever made popcorn you know that by putting hard, dry kernels of corn in a pan and heating them, the kernels will explode into popcorn. Have you ever looked at the inside of the lid? (You have to use some sort of cover or the corn will pop all over the room.) After cooking popcorn you will always find water inside the lid. Where does it come from? The water came from the corn. There is a little bit of water in each "dry" kernel. When the corn is heated the water turns to steam. As it turns to steam it expands, pushing at the sides of the kernel. At last the kernel pops and the steam escapes. Since there is a lid on the pan, the steam is stopped by the lid. There it cools, condenses, and becomes water again. Popcorn comes from __________.

10. What makes popcorn pop? If you have ever made popcorn you know that by putting hard, dry kernels of corn in a pan and heating them, the kernels will explode into popcorn. Have you ever looked at the inside of the lid? (You have to use some sort of cover or the corn will pop all over the room.) After cooking popcorn you will always find water inside the lid. Where does it come from? The water came from the corn. There is a little bit of water in each "dry" kernel. When the corn is heated the water turns to steam. As it turns to steam it expands, pushing at the sides of the kernel. At last the kernel pops and the steam escapes. Since there is a lid on the pan, the steam is stopped by the lid. There it cools, condenses, and becomes water again. You will find water inside the pot lid ______________.

11. What makes popcorn pop? If you have ever made popcorn you know that by putting hard, dry kernels of corn in a pan and heating them, the kernels will explode into popcorn. Have you ever looked at the inside of the lid? (You have to use some sort of cover or the corn will pop all over the room.) After cooking popcorn you will always find water inside the lid. Where does it come from? The water came from the corn. There is a little bit of water in each "dry" kernel. When the corn is heated the water turns to steam. As it turns to steam it expands, pushing at the sides of the kernel. At last the kernel pops and the steam escapes. Since there is a lid on the pan, the steam is stopped by the lid. There it cools, condenses, and becomes water again. There is water inside the corn kernel _________________.

12. What makes popcorn pop? If you have ever made popcorn you know that by putting hard, dry kernels of corn in a pan and heating them, the kernels will explode into popcorn. Have you ever looked at the inside of the lid? (You have to use some sort of cover or the corn will pop all over the room.) After cooking popcorn you will always find water inside the lid. Where does it come from? The water came from the corn. There is a little bit of water in each "dry" kernel. When the corn is heated the water turns to steam. As it turns to steam it expands, pushing at the sides of the kernel. At last the kernel pops and the steam escapes. Since there is a lid on the pan, the steam is stopped by the lid. There it cools, condenses, and becomes water again. This story could also be called _________________.

13. Have you ever looked at a bee? If you see a bee on a flower, take a close look. Do you see many little hairs? The hairs hold something that looks like bits of dust. This "dust" is called pollen. The pollen is food that the bee takes from the flowers. The bee flies from flower to flower and plant to plant. From some plants it carries away pollen. On other plants it drops off pollen. In this way, the bee carries pollen from one plant to another. The pollen helps new plants to grow. While the bee gets food, it is also starting new plants. The bee takes __________.

14. Have you ever looked at a bee? If you see a bee on a flower, take a close look. Do you see many little hairs? The hairs hold something that looks like bits of dust. This "dust" is called pollen. The pollen is food that the bee takes from the flowers. The bee flies from flower to flower and plant to plant. From some plants it carries away pollen. On other plants it drops off pollen. In this way, the bee carries pollen from one plant to another. The pollen helps new plants to grow. While the bee gets food, it is also starting new plants. The "dust" from the flowers is called ________________.

15. Have you ever looked at a bee? If you see a bee on a flower, take a close look. Do you see many little hairs? The hairs hold something that looks like bits of dust. This "dust" is called pollen. The pollen is food that the bee takes from the flowers. The bee flies from flower to flower and plant to plant. From some plants it carries away pollen. On other plants it drops off pollen. In this way, the bee carries pollen from one plant to another. The pollen helps new plants to grow. While the bee gets food, it is also starting new plants. The pollen _____________.