Nonfiction Text Structure

The bowling alley was crowded with people. The rumble of bowling balls down the polished wooden alleys—followed by the crash of pins—resulted in screams of delight or moans of disappointment throughout the large room. A group of teenagers gathered near one of the doorways, laughing loudly at their friends as they bowled. Near the far end of the area, a group of children gathered around a table belting out “Happy Birthday” to a friend. 

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China and India are two highly-populated, large nations in Asia. The total area of China is 9.60 million square km, while that of India is 3.29 square km. Their populations are similar; there are 1.3 billion people living in China and 1.1 billion in India. The life expectancy in China (74 years of age) is higher than that of India (64 years of age). People living in China tend to be better off financially as well. About 10% of Chinese citizens live in poverty, compared to 25% of Indians. 

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An iPodTM touch has a 4” screen, uses Wi-Fi, and is Bluetooth activated. It does not include phone service, nor does it have GPS capability. An iPhoneTM 5 also has a 4” screen and operates on Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. However, the iPhoneTM 5 also uses cellular networks, making it capable of making and receiving phone calls. 

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The Magnificent Seven is the name awarded to the 1996 US Womens Gymnastics Team. At the Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, they became the first US women's gymnastics team to win the gold medal in the team competition. The team members were Shannon Miller, Dominique Monceanu, Dominique Dawes, Kerri Strug, Amy Chow, Amanda Borden, and Jaycie Phelps. The team's shining moment came when Kerri Strug executed a perfect landing on a vault while nursing an ankle injury. 

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The skilled violin player’s long, slender fingers danced upon the strings as one hand slowly drew the bow across the instrument. The stage lights reflected off the highly polished, varnished surface of the violin, giving it a glow. The musician—a young woman dressed in a long, blue satin gown—played with her eyes closed. Her head was tilted slightly to support the violin beneath her chin, and her long, auburn hair flowed loosely to her shoulders. 

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Maria had never seen such a beautiful home! The front lawn was vibrant and seemed as thick as a dark green carpet. The red bricks of the home were interrupted by white window frames. The double front doors, which stood majestically at the top of a brick staircase, were deep green and had highly polished brass handles. 

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CCSS.RI.5.5

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According to the Global Hunger Index, people in southeast Asia (specifically India) are most susceptible to hunger. India is the second most populous nation in the world. About one third of people living in India live in poverty and are unable to afford food, even when it is available. In addition, farming in India is done primarily by small farmers whose crops can be devastated by a single weather event, which impacts the food available to thousands of people. Finally, there are few social services in place to help those who cannot afford or access food. So, if someone cannot afford food, there are very few charities or government services who can help them. 

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The International Space Station orbits about 220 miles above earth. The living area of the space station is about the size of a five-bedroom house and includes two bathrooms, a gym, and a large viewing window. The entire space station weighs about a million pounds and is as long as a football field. 

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Scientists and doctors have studied the relationship between people and dogs for many years and come to the conclusion that owning a dog is, overall, very good for a human’s health. First, taking care of a dog gives people a purpose. For older or depressed people who might not have jobs or classes to attend, having a reason to get up and get going every morning is very helpful. In addition, dogs are affectionate and attentive creatures, which can help diminish feelings of loneliness or isolation. 

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The Great Dane is a breed of dog that originated in Germany. Great Danes are among the world’s tallest dogs. The tallest dog on record, a Great Dane named Zeus, measured 44” from his paws to his shoulders. A fully grown adult Great Dane typically weighs between 100 and 120 pounds. The dogs have floppy ears and can be light brown, brindle, black, or a shade of grey that appears almost blue. They are friendly dogs, and they make good family pets as long as they are well-trained. 

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