The Rescue Helicopter Team

The Rescue Helicopter Team

by Laurie Rozakis

Ready For Rescue

• It seemed like a perfect day, so the rescue helicopter team didn’t expect to be very busy. The team did almost all of its work in bad weather. That was when people most needed help. Then the weather started to change. The sky turned dark, and the wind picked up. A storm was blowing in. A voice came over the radio. The team was told that it was critical to get ready. The storm was going to hit hard soon.

Multiple Choice

"The team was told that it was critical to get ready." Which statement best describes critical?

• important

• not necessary

• silly

Multiple Choice

Let's answer a cause and effect question. The effect is the rescue helicopter team didn’t expect to be very busy, what is the cause?

• it was a time of day where people sleep

• the weather made it seem like the perfect day

• the team was lazy and did not prepare

Multiple Choice

Why does the helicopter rescue team do most of its work in bad weather?

• they love storms and being scared

• it is when people most need help

• they wanted to look brave to the people

Trouble at Sea

• Out on the ocean, Manny and Elena had been enjoying a pleasant day of sailing. They hadn’t been prepared for the storm that rushed in. Suddenly clouds covered the sun. The air became clammy and cold. The wind howled, and waves pounded the little boat.

Multiple Select

What two characters have been introduced in the story?

• Manny

• Luke

• Elena

• Alex

Multiple Choice

What is the setting of the story?

• the forest

• the ocean

• the wild

Open Ended

Give at least two examples of vivid, descriptive words found on this page.

• Manny tried his best to control the boat, but the storm was too strong. The sails ripped and the mast was demolished. Elena rushed into the cabin and sent a distress call over the radio. 

Multiple Choice

Let's answer a cause and effect question. The cause is: "The sails ripped and the mast was demolished", what is the effect?

• Elena fixed the sail herself

• Elena sent a distress call

• Elena quickly fainted

Multiple Choice

Elena rushed into the cabin and sent a distress call over the radio. Which statement best describes distress?

• long distance

• calm and relaxed

• extreme anxiety or pain

Multiple Choice

"The sails ripped and the mast was demolished." Which statement best describes demolished?

• dirty

• destroyed

• fixed

Rescue at Sea

• Elena’s call reached the rescue center. The controller found out what the situation was. He quickly alerted the rescue helicopter team and gave them details of the emergency. The team raced to their helicopter. They started the engines. It was going to be a busy day after all. 

Multiple Choice

Based on the title, what was the main idea of this paragraph.

• how Elena and Manny were found

• how to fix a boat at sea

• how to save a dying animal

Multiple Choice

How does the picture support the text?

• it shows the team starting the engine

• it shows the controller after hearing Elena's call

• it shows Elena and Manny

• The helicopter arrived at the damaged boat in no time. Its crew lowered a basket to the deck. One of the crew went with it. He had to shout his instructions to be heard over all of the commotion. He helped Elena into the basket. The basket was quickly pulled back up. Elena was safe in the helicopter. Then the basket was lowered again to rescue Manny. 

Multiple Choice

How does the image support the main idea of the text?

• it shows the boat isolated

• it shows the helicopter team rescue Elena and Manny

• It shows the pilot leaving the boat

Multiple Choice

"He had to shout his instructions to be heard over all of the commotion." Which statement best describes commotion?

• state of being confused and noisy

• state of being dirty and messy

• state of being wrong and incorrect

• The wind continued to howl. The sea continued to crash. The pilot kept the helicopter still, above the little boat. The rescue crew stayed calm. Manny struggled into the basket and was carried up into the helicopter. It wouldn’t be long before a team member would bundle him up in a dry blanket. Soon after that, he and Elena would be safe back on land. 

Multiple Choice

How does the image support the main idea of the text?

• it shows the crash of the plane

• it shows Manny being pulled into the helicopter

• it shows the crash of the boat

Multiple Choice

Let's answer a cause and effect question. The cause is "Manny struggled into the basket and was carried up into the helicopter." What is the effect?

• The helicopter never left

• The basket didn't go up to the helicopter

• Elena would be safe back on land

Multiple Choice

Personification is when you give human qualities to animals or objects. Which of the following is an example of personification?

• The rescue crew stayed calm.

• The wind continued to howl.

• Elena would be safe back on land.

Another Emergency

• ^{The rescue team’s work was not over for the day. The controller had another emergency for the team to handle. The storm had hit hard on land. Up in the mountains, a car had skidded out of control. It had crashed into a tree, and the driver was badly hurt. An ambulance would take a while to reach the accident, but there was no time to waste. The rescue helicopter was up in the air again. There was a doctor on board.} 

Multiple Choice

Who rode in the helicopter with the controller?

• a teacher

• a doctor

• a therapist

Multiple Choice

What is the setting of this second emergency?

• in the ocean

• in the snow

• in the mountains

Multiple Choice

"Up in the mountains, a car had skidded out of control. " Which statement best describes skidded?

• slide on slippery ground

• walk slowly

• hop and jump

Rescue on Land

• Ten minutes later, the helicopter reached the scene. It landed at the side of the highway, and the team ran out to the injured driver. He was quickly lifted onto a stretcher and flown right to the hospital. The pilot landed on the helicopter pad on the hospital roof. It was all in a day’s work for the rescue helicopter team.

Multiple Choice

What tool helped the injured driver onto the helicopter?

• a rope

• crutches

• a stretcher

Multiple Choice

Over how many days did the helicopter rescue team save the man in the mountains and Elena and Manny over sea?

• 1 day

• 3 days

• 1 week

Multiple Choice

What is the author's purpose of the text?

• entertain

• persuade

• inform