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SIXTH GRADE READING PASSAGES

The Parthenon of Ancient Greece (Level 1)

The Parthenon was called the most beautiful building in ancient Greece. It was built between 447 B.C. and 432 B.C. The Parthenon was built on the Acropolis in the city of Athens. The Acropolis was a flat-topped hill about 200 feet (61 m) above the rest of the city of Athens. The Parthenon was built as a temple of worship for the goddess Athena. Athena was the patron goddess of Athens. She was the goddess who protected the city.

Marble Temple
Most buildings during that time were made of wood. The Parthenon was made of white marble. It was 237 feet (72 m) long and 110 feet (34 m) wide. It stood about 60 feet (18 m) high. On the outside of the building, there were 46 tall marble columns. Another beautiful feature of the Parthenon was the frieze. It was a colorful band of sculpture that ran around the outside of the building. Out of 525 feet (160 m), only 325 feet (99 m) of the frieze still exists. The frieze showed a parade that the Greeks held every four years in honor of Athena.

The Goddess Athena
Inside the Parthenon, there was a huge 40-foot (12 –m) gold and ivory statue of Athena. She stood guard, dressed for warfare. She wore a gold cloak fringed with snakes and a high-crested helmet. On her right hand was a small winged figure of Nike, the goddess of victory.

Symbol of Greatness
The Parthenon remained a symbol of greatness. Then in 1687, Turkish invaders destroyed the inside of the Parthenon. They stored gunpowder in the temple. An explosion badly damaged the inside of the building. However, the sturdy construction of the exterior remained standing. The Parthenon can still be seen today as a ruin. Pollution has damaged the great temple. But, the Parthenon remains a symbol of the great skills of Greek builders.


The Famous Parthenon ( Level 2)

The Inspiration
Greeks in ancient times believed in many deities, or gods. One way they showed their devotion to gods was to build temples in their honor.  The Parthenon in Athens was built on the Acropolis. The Acropolis was a hill that stood about 200 feet (61 m) above the city of Athens. The ancient Greeks built the Parthenon in honor of the goddess Athena.

A Shaky Start
The Greeks were building the original Parthenon in about 480 B.C. when the Persians captured Athens. The Greeks swore an oath called “The Oath of Plateau.” They swore to fight to the death. They also vowed never to rebuild the city’s monuments. The Greeks survived the invasion. They used the remains of the monuments to build a defensive wall around the city.  After 30 years of peace, the Greeks broke their oath. Their ruler, Pericles, ordered the rebuilding of Athens. They started work on the Parthenon.

Fit for a Goddess
The Greeks used expensive white marble to build the Parthenon. The Parthenon was 60 feet (18 m) high and was surrounded by 46 tall Doric columns. The temple was adorned with many sculptures, statues, and engravings. A continuous sculpture formed a border around the outside of the building. This horizontal band is called a frieze. Only 325 feet (99 m) of the original 525 feet (160 m) of the frieze still exist. A huge 40-foot (12-m) gold and ivory statue of Athena was placed inside the temple.

Changes in Purpose
Over time, many different groups of people used the Parthenon. It was first a Greek temple. Then in the sixth century, Christians made it a church. Later, in the 1400s, Muslims used it as a mosque. At one point, it was nearly destroyed by war. Turkish invaders used it to store ammunition. An explosion destroyed the inside of the building.  The Parthenon stands as a ruin today. Pollution has harmed the exterior. Despite the changes over time, the Parthenon remains one of the most famous buildings in the world.


Timeless Wonder (Level 3)

What is tough enough to defy 2,400 years of weather, wars, and public use? What is beautiful enough to amaze art lovers everywhere? What has been a place of worship for three different religions and also a fortress in war? The answer is the Greek Parthenon in Athens.

Symbol of Greatness
The Parthenon was built as a beautiful temple of worship to the goddess Athena. No cost was spared in its construction. Before the Parthenon was built, most buildings were made of wood. The Parthenon was constructed of white marble. Around 22,000 tons (20,000 metrics tonnes) of marble was used in its construction.

Designed with a New Vision
Greek architects proved their superior skills in construction and design. They developed a technique to hold stones together without using mortar. They used clamps like staples. Then they hooked the stones together by embedding the clamps in the stones with molten lead.

Better Than the Eye Can See
The Parthenon had optical refinements that made it an artistic marvel. An optical refinement is an adjustment for the human eye. For example, vertical columns appeared to be narrower in the middle. The architects of the Parthenon realized this and made adjustments. The 46 columns were designed to bulge slightly in the middle to make them look straight.  The Doric-style columns were also built to lean toward the center so they would appear straight to the human eye. If the columns could be extended straight up into the sky for one mile, they would actually touch each other!

Colorful Accents
The columns of the Parthenon were left their original white color. Brightly painted sculptures adorned the triangular pediment of the temple. A horizontal band of brightly colored sculptures called a frieze surrounded the temple. The sculptures depicted scenes honoring Athena. Inside the Parthenon stood a huge gold and ivory statue of Athena.

Withstood the Test of Time
Finally, the survival of the majority of the Parthenon throughout the ages shows the great vision of the Greeks. Although it is not completely intact, the Parthenon has withstood the test of time.


The Court System at Work (Level 1)

What happens after someone is arrested? What does it mean when someone says, “I’ll see you in court?” The court system in the United States follows steps and rules. Here is a look at how it works. 

The Laws
Laws govern the country and protect the rights of all citizens. There are state and federal laws. When a law is broken, the defendant may have to appear in court. Court trials judge the guilt or innocence of a person accused of breaking the law.

Civil Trials
There are two types of court trials. One is called civil trial. Civil courts settle disagreements between people. Civil courts handle cases such as family relationship problems and people who have been injured in accidents. For example, a person injured in an accident may sue the driver of the other car for being careless. It the driver is found guilty, the judge may order him to pay a sum of money, called damages, to the injured person.

Criminal Trials
The other type of court trial is criminal. Criminal cases involve a crime that threatens someone, such as murder or robbery.

In the trial, a lawyer defends the person who is blamed for the crime. The defense lawyer tries to prove that the person is not guilty. Another lawyer, the prosecutor, tries to prove that the person is guilty. The judge and sometimes a jury listen to witnesses and figure out the facts. Either a judge or a jury decides whether the person is guilty or innocent.

The judge makes a ruling. If the person is found guilty, a sentence is issued. If the crime was serious, the person may go to prison. If the crime was less serious, the person may be sentenced to pay a fine.

Court System
The court system of the United States must follow rules. The steps and rules that the courts follow are there to make sure everyone is treated fairly.


Understanding Our Court System (Level 2)

The court system is a government institution that helps decide legal disagreements and administers justice. The purpose of the court system in the United States is to maintain order in society. Courts must follow rules that help protect the people.

Trial Court
There are two main types or court trials: civil and criminal. Civil trials settle disputes between two parties. Civil cases involve legal problems such as divorce hearings, accident claims, and contract disputes.  In a criminal trial, the defendant is charged with committing a crime that threatens a person or society. Examples of serious crimes are robbery and murder.  A case is brought to a trial court. The defense lawyer represents the person accused of the crime. The prosecutor tries to prove that the person is guilty. The jury determines the facts in the case. The judge makes a decision or ruling – innocent or guilty. If either lawyer feels the judge made an error in a ruling during the trail, the ruling may be appealed, or challenged.

Appellate Court
The lawyer who is making the appeal attempts to convince a panel of judges that the rules of the lower court were broken. After hearing both sides, the panel has three options. They can decide the trial court judge was wrong and change the ruling. They can send the case back for the trial judge to change. Or the panel can agree with the ruling of the lower court. If either lawyer thinks a legal error was made in the appellate court, an appeal may then be made to the Supreme Court.

Supreme Court
The final step is an appeal to a state Supreme Court. Each state has its own Supreme Court. The nine judges of the Supreme Court choose which cases to hear. The judgment of the Supreme Court is final and no more appeals are usually granted.
The highest court in the country is the U.S. Supreme Court. There are nine justices who hear 100 to 125 of the 5,000 cases presented to them each year. The U. S. Supreme Court usually hears cases that require the laws of the U.S. Constitution to be interpreted.

 

Guardian of Civil Liberties (Level 3)

The United States court system is designed to guard the civil liberties of all Americans. Judges have to follow rules and limitations designed to protect all citizens.

Structure of the Court System
The court system in the United States consists of two levels: the state and federal. A case goes to either court depending on the type of law that was broken. State laws mostly concern daily life. Federal laws apply to offenses involving government workers, crimes committed across state lines, and fraud involving the national government.

Types of Trials
There are two types of trials. The first is a criminal trial. The government, or prosecutor, makes a case against a defendant for a crime that threatens a person or society. The second is a civil trial. This involves a dispute between two parties. Both types of trials can be appealed, or challenged.

Appeals
The appeal process for both state and federal cases is similar. Two lawyers argue their cases in front of judges. The judges must decide if the trial rules were followed. Only if a rule was broken can a ruling be overturned. Judges do not make the laws. They must rule according to the laws governing court procedures.

Supreme Court
The final step in the appeal process is the Supreme Court. Each state has its own Supreme Court. At both the state and federal levels, the Supreme Court justices choose which cases they will hear. The U.S. Supreme Court hears 100 to 125 of the 5,000 civil and criminal cases appealed to them each year. The U.S. Supreme Court rulings are final. The only court that can overturn a Supreme Court ruling is a future Supreme Court.

Guardian of Civil Liberties
The judicial system of the United States is often called the guardian of civil liberties in America. Under the judicial system, the phrase equal justice under law is promised to every citizen.


Smoking Is Not Cool! (Level 1)

Hey, I know something really cool to do. Let’s go make our hair and clothes smell. While we’re at it, let’s stain our teeth yellow. We can even make our breath smell like a dragon. If we do all this, we might even get lucky and develop sores and cancers in our mouths!

Not Cool
Sound like a good idea to you? Oddly enough, 3,000 kids every day choose to do this because they want to look cool! How cool is it to strain your heart, ruin your lungs, and gasp for breath? These are the effects of smoking that the media doesn’t usually show. Advertisers and movie stars often make smoking look cool or glamorous, but in reality, smoking kills. Many of the movie stars who smoke on the silver screen don’t light up in real life.

The Real Truth
What’s the real truth about smoking? Do all kids really try it at least once? The answer is no! In fact, 87 percent of kids never smoke at all. Most of the kids who do smoke wish that they could quit. So, why don’t they just stop? It’s not that easy. Smoking can be an addictive as cocaine and heroin. Most people try 2 or 3 times before they actually quit, but quitting isn’t impossible.

Tips to Quit
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has many tips for success. First, the smoker should be ready to quit. It’s not easy to quit, so the smoker really needs to want it. Also, quitting is easiest when a smoker has support. This means that friends and family provide encouragement. They should also agree not to smoke around the person trying to quit.  A smoker who wants to quit smoking needs to get rid of more than just the cigarettes. A clean environment, free of ashtrays or reminders of smoking, will help. Quitting smoking is a change is lifestyle. Quitting may also require medication.
However, the best way to beat tobacco addiction is not to start smoking at all!


The Truth About Smoking (Level 2)

True or false? Nicotine can be as addictive as cocaine and heroine. Everyone tries it, right? So, what’s the big deal? It can’t be that bad for you! The answer is false. Nicotine is a powerful drug that steals the lives of 1 out of every 5 Americans!

What is nicotine?
Nicotine is a highly addictive drug that grows naturally in the tobacco plant. Tobacco is used to make cigarettes, cigars, and chewing tobacco. People have smoked tobacco for thousands of years, but it has only been in the last century that tobacco-related deaths have skyrocketed.

Why is it more deadly today?
Nicotine has always been a powerful drug. However, the invention of a machine that rolls cigarettes made tobacco easier for people to smoke. Today, about 840 packs of cigarettes are sold every second in the United States. As the number of cigarette sales increase, so do the number of deaths caused by cigarettes.

Why do teens smoke?
Most people (even teens!) who smoke wish that they could quit. Most people who smoke begin long before they finish high school. In fact, the average new smoker is 13 years old. They may start smoking because they want to look cool or to fit in. They may also start smoking because a parent smokes. If a parent smokes, kids are 10 times more likely to become smokers.  Advertising has had a direct impact on teens. The media often portrays smoking as glamorous or cool, so young kids try to imitate the stars they see smoking. What they don’t know is that many of those stars don’t smoke in real life! Cigarette ads also associate smoking with independence, adventure, and physical beauty.

How can you avoid it?
It may seem like the odds are stacked against you. After all, around 3.000 kids start to smoke every day! Peer pressure can be very strong, but not everyone does it. In fact, 87 percent of adolescents don’t smoke at all. If you can make it past high school graduation without lighting up, you probably never will!


The Rotten Reality (Level 3)

Would you like to suffer from respiratory problems, asthma, chronic cough, and increased phlegm production? Would you like to face chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and lung cancer later in life? If you answered no, then don’t smoke!

The Big Stink
Besides the horrible conditions and diseases you can develop, you will also stink! Most people know that smoking stinks, floods the air around the smoker, and sinks into the clothing and hair of anyone nearby. Smoking is particularly nasty in its effects on the smoker. It stains the teeth yellow; dries out the hair, lips, and skin; and causes bad breath. It can even cause sores, white spots, and bleeding in the mouth. Not grossed out yet? Add oral cancer to that mental image.

Nicotine Destroys
Nicotine, the addictive drug found in tobacco, destroys the human body. Imagine your body rotting from the inside out. Tobacco-related deaths account for 1 in 5 deaths in America. That’s an alarming statistic.  Nicotine destroys the lungs and heart. It nourishes cancer growth. Besides lung cancer, cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, pancreas, uterus, cervix, kidney, and bladder are associated with smoking.

Not Me!
Even casual smokers are at risk. Some symptoms begin as early as the first puff of the first cigarette! Some of these are shortness of breath, coughing, nausea, and dizziness.  Smoking is extremely addictive, too. It traps many kids, even if they don’t plan to be real smokers. In fact, most kids who smoke are addicted. Most of them wish they could quit, but it’s not easy to do. According to a recent survey, 40 percent of kids who smoke said that they tried to quit but couldn’t.

Don’t Get Left in the Smoke
The next time you think someone looks cool smoking, think again. Kids who smoke usually have low self-esteem. They usually have lower grades in school than kids who don’t smoke. Believe it or not, kids who smoke usually start because they want to fit in. So, set your own trend. Instead of getting caught in an addiction, choose to be smoke-free! Don’t light up!