Horse Rider

Horse Rider

by Judy Rosenbaum

Horse Rider

• The bus ride had already lasted an hour. No wonder the people at the Community Center had asked Celia Rivera and her mother to travel with Mrs. Grant and her granddaughter, Daisy. The Grants were new in Williston. They never would have found the Sunflower Stables on their own. 

Multiple Choice

"They never would have found the Sunflower Stables on their own. " Which statement best describes stables?

• an office or work space

• a bathroom or restroom

• a place where horses are kept

Multiple Choice

"They never would have found the Sunflower Stables on their own." Where is the setting of the text taking place so far?

• Tolleson

• Williston

• San Francisco

• Sacramento

Multiple Choice

Where were the Grants going to on the bus?

• The Sunflower Stables

• an elementary school

• the ocean

• As Celia’s mom chatted with Mrs. Grant, Daisy just stared out the window. Daisy’s nervous expression made Celia wonder if that girl ever went outside at all. Mom had explained that Mrs. Grant was homeschooling Daisy for now. “Daisy is still feeling the effects of a very bad event,” Mom had told Celia.

Open Ended

There is something wrong with Daisy. What sentence from the story explains what happened?

Multiple Choice

Let's answer a cause and effect question. The cause is “Daisy is still feeling the effects of a very bad event,” what is the effect?

• Daisy is in the hospital

• Daisy is being homeschooled

• Daisy is injured

Multiple Choice

Why would Celia wonder if Daisy had ever gone outside?

• she was shocked by the sunlight

• she made a nervous expression when she looked out the window

• she had everything she needed in her room

• “We hope that the people at Sunflower Stables can help make her feel better.” Celia was glad that she and Mom could also help, even if it was just a little bit.

Open Ended

Let's make a prediction. “We hope that the people at Sunflower Stables can help make her feel better.” What do you think Sunflower Stables are?

The bus stopped at last. The Riveras and the Grants descended the steps. Mom checked her map to see where they had to walk. After ten minutes, they reached the stables. Inside the grounds were several fenced-in rings. In one, a woman was leading a horse with a boy riding it. A man walked alongside. He held onto the boy. Celia’s eyes widened. Wow, horses were huge! The boy looked happy. Outside the ring stood an empty wheelchair.

Multiple Choice

"Inside the grounds were several fenced-in rings." Which statement best describes rings as it is used in the text?

• a piece of jewelry worn on the hand

• a fenced in area for the horse

• a stain on a bath tub

Multiple Choice

"The Riveras and the Grants descended the steps." Which statement best describes descended?

• to lose

• to move down

• to come back

Multiple Choice

What was outside of the ring?

• a backpack

• a wheelchair

• a water bottle

• Mom had explained that spending time on horseback often helped people with some kinds of disabilities. But how could a large animal help a scared kid like Daisy?

Multiple Choice

How does the picture/illustration support the main idea of the text?

• the horse ride makes the kid happy

• the horse is big, mean, and scary

• the boy is scared and upset

Multiple Choice

What did spending time on horseback help with?

• horseback riding helped the horses only

• horseback riding helped people with disabilities

• horseback riding was only for enjoyment

• Daisy didn’t have a physical ( Inside her body) challenge. Mentally (inside her mind) , however, she had not yet recovered from a tornado in her old town. She had been trapped in the ruins of a shopping mall for hours. Daisy still had nightmares. Even now, she almost never spoke. The family had moved from their old town to Williston. But nothing had helped Daisy

Multiple Choice

What did the family try doing to help Daisy?

• take her to therapy

• moved to Williston

• bought her a therapy dog

Multiple Choice

Let's answer a cause and effect question. "Daisy didn’t have a physical challenge. Mentally, however..." is the effect, what is the cause?

• a tornado in her old town

• a car accident

• a tsunami

Multiple Choice

What was Daisy challenged with?

• she had a physical challenge and became handicapped

• she had mental trauma from a bad experience

• she lost a competition that was challenging

Open Ended

Daisy was traumatized. Choose 2 sentences that defend this claim.

• A woman came over to them. She said, “Hello, Daisy. I’m your side walker, Margie. When you’re riding on your horse, I’ll hold onto you.” Daisy didn’t say a word. A man led a horse out of the barn, and Daisy’s hand quivered as she reached for her grandmother. Even Celia backed up when the large, large horse got close.

Multiple Choice

Which statement best describes quivered?

• to shake and tremble

• to stand still

• to sleep

Multiple Choice

What does a side walker do?

• on the side of the horse while someone is riding they hold them

• a pole on the side of the track to guide

• it repairs broken bones in the leg

• “This is Rudy,” said Margie, introducing the man. “He’s one of our riding teachers.” The man smiled and shook hands with Mom and Mrs. Grant. “And this is Comet,” said the man, introducing the horse. “She’s an eight-year-old mare.”

Multiple Choice

Who is the new character in the story?

• Jack a cashier

• Rudy a riding teacher

• Sam a photographer

Multiple Choice

Who is comet?

• a star

• an instructor

• a mare

Multiple Choice

“She’s an eight-year-old mare.” Which statement best describes a mare?

• a baby

• a female horse

• a government worker

• Comet’s large, brown head seemed to loom over Celia. The horse’s eyes were huge. Her mouth was huge. Her teeth were probably huge, too. Her neck and chest seemed to be made of muscles. Celia was sure that at any moment, the horse would rear up on her back legs. Then she would be ten feet tall—at least! “Oh, why did I have to think of that?” Celia said to herself. 

Multiple Choice

How does the picture/illustration support the main idea of the text?

• the horse is pretty

• the horse is big and muscular

• the horse likes to be outside

Multiple Select

Which of the following details describes Comet? Check all that apply

• her eyes were huge

• her mouth was small

• her chest was made of muscles

• “Don’t worry, Comet is gentle,” said Rudy. “Look how velvety her nose is. Would you like to touch it, Daisy?” Rudy held Comet’s head steady and showed Daisy how to touch a horse’s nose. Daisy didn’t say anything, but to Celia’s surprise, Daisy did reach out cautiously and stroke the bridge of that big nose. Celia found herself reaching for Comet’s nose, too. It did feel like velvet. She felt her own fear diminishing.

Multiple Choice

"Daisy did reach out cautiously and stroke the bridge of that big nose." Which statement best describes cautiously?

• to be brave and courageous

• to be careful and avoid

• to be silly and goofy

Multiple Choice

"She felt her own fear diminishing." Which statement best describes diminishing?

• becoming bigger

• becoming less

• staying the same

Multiple Choice

How did Daisy change after meeting Comet?

• Daisy was more scared

• Daisy became mad

• Daisy's fear was going away

• Then Rudy showed how smoothly the horse walked. Comet’s hooves made a rhythmic sound on the hard earth. Margie turned to Celia and said, “How would you like to show Daisy how to sit on a horse?”

Multiple Choice

What did Comet's hooves do?

• they hurt the horse

• they made a rhythmic sound

• they were too heavy for horse

Multiple Choice

How does Rudy describe how a horse walks?

• Horses walk very fast

• Horses walk smooth

• Horses walk dangerously

• Celia’s mouth dropped open. “Me?” she squeaked. “I’ve never even seen a horse before.” “But you’ve made friends with Comet,” said Margie. “Come on. Here’s a helmet. I’ll help you climb on.” Celia looked up at the horse’s high, high back.

Multiple Choice

"Celia looked up at the horse’s high, high back." What does repeating the word "high" do in the text?

• it is for humor and to sound funny

• it puts attention on how tall the horse is

• it doesn't have a purpose for being repeated

Multiple Choice

Based off the text, what is Daisy's attitude towards getting on the horse?

• Daisy seems excited

• Daisy seems nervous

• Daisy seems mad

• Then she looked at Daisy. Daisy’s anxious eyes seemed almost as large as Comet’s. This kid deserved to feel better about life. Celia took a deep breath and said, “Okay. How do I climb up there?”

Multiple Choice

"Daisy’s anxious eyes seemed almost as large as Comet’s. " Which statement best describes anxious?

• worried

• pretty

• calm

Open Ended

Let's make an inference. Why do you think Celia decided to try to get on the horse?

• With a lot of help from Rudy, Celia still wasn’t exactly sure how she ended up on Comet’s back. To her surprise, the saddle was pretty comfortable. She looked down, marveling at how still the horse was. “Hey, Daisy, it’s fun up here!” she said. It was fun. 

Multiple Choice

Which statement best describes Celia's reaction to being on the horse?

• Celia didn't care for it

• Celia hated it

• Celia had fun

Multiple Choice

"She looked down, marveling at how still the horse was." Which statement best describes marveling?

• to be upset

• to be laughing

• to be filled with wonder

Multiple Choice

"To her surprise, the saddle was pretty comfortable." Which statement best describes saddle?

• seat on the horse's back

• a bed that you sleep on

• a cooking tool

• When Margie got Celia down again, Celia took Daisy’s hand. “Daisy,” Celia said, “Comet is going to be a great friend. She’ll take good care of you. I can tell because she took great care of me. Did you see how still she stood?” 

Multiple Choice

What is Celia trying to convince or persuade Daisy to think?

• to buy a horse to have at home

• that she should not trust Comet the horse

• that Comet is a good horse that will take care of her

Multiple Choice

Which statement best describes Comet when Celia was riding her?

• Comet was jumping around

• Comet was calm and still

• Comet was sleepy

Daisy nodded. Celia took off the helmet and put it on Daisy. “Go for it, girl!” she said. Rudy lifted Daisy onto the saddle. Daisy breathed quickly a few times while Margie held her. Rudy patted Comet’s neck, and the horse picked up one foot, and then another. In a second, the horse was walking. Daisy looked down from the saddle. “Cool!” she said. 

Multiple Choice

Which statement best describes Daisy's reaction after she decided to try riding Comet?

• amazed and happy

• scared and crying

• no emotions

Multiple Choice

What do you think the author thinks animals can do for people?

• animals can help people feel better

• animals can race against people

• animals can fight people

Multiple Choice

What is the author's purpose of the text?

• inform

• entertain

• persuade