Treasures in the Field

Read the passage and answer the questions.

Treasure in the Field

by Marilyn Bolchunos

Once there was a man who lived with his two young sons on a farm in Vietnam. Since the man had to tend the field, the boys took care of the house. That is, they were supposed to take care of the house.

Often the father returned home to find that nothing had been done—he even had to cook dinner.

"What have you been doing all day, Ta?" he would ask his older son.

"Studying, Father, and thinking," Ta would reply.

"And what have you been doing, Hai, my young son?" the father would ask.

"Watching the house for you," Hai would answer.

A neighbor asked the old man, "Are your sons helping you?"

"Oh, they would," the father answered, "but they are young."

Some years later, the neighbor asked, "Aren'tyour sons helping you in the field?"

"Oh, they would," the father replied again, "but they are still young. I will let them enjoy life now. They will help me later on."

As the years went by, it became clear even to their father that the boys were lazy. Though they sometimes tended the field with him, they always made excuses to go home early.

Finally the father grew too old to work, and he took to his bed. The sons were sad, for they not only depended on their father, but they also loved him.

One day the old man called Ta and Hai to his side and said weakly, "I have a secret to tell you, my sons. Bend close."

Hai and Ta leaned over to hear the secret.

"A while ago," the old man said, "we learned that there is treasure buried in the field. It's still there, but you must dig for it."

The sons' eyes widened.

"Treasure in the field?" Ta said. "Where?" asked Hai.

"Dig for it, and you will find it," said their father. "But promise me that you will share it equally."

The sons promised and hurried out to begin. Day after day they dug. Their neighbor was astonished to see how long and hard the young men worked. As for Ta and Hai, they felt stronger and better than ever before.

At last, the entire field had been dug, but no treasure had been found. The brothers moped around with their heads down.

Finally an idea came to Ta. "The land is ready for planting," he said to his brother. "And our rice is almost gone. You take one half of the field, and I'll take the other. We'll tend it just as Father did."

The days passed and the seedlings grew. In due time, the field gave an abundant harvest. There was rice to eat and rice to sell.

When the sons took the rice to the marketplace, it brought a good price.

Excited, Ta and Hai ran back to the house and approached their father's bedside. They dropped coins into the old man's hands.

"Look, Father," said Hai. "We have sold rice and brought you gold!"

"Yes," said Ta. "Just as you said, the treasure was in the field."

The old man smiled. They had learned his secret.

"Treasure in the Field" by Marilyn Bolchunos, from Highlights for Children. Copyright © 2004by Highlights for Children, Inc.

1. Which detail from the passage best explains why the father must stop working in the field?

• a. The father needs to return home to cook dinner.

• b. The father asks the neighbor to do the work in the fields for him.

• c. The father’s sons depend on him to stay home and care for them.

• d. The father’s age makes it too difficult to do farm work any longer.

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.1

CCSS.RI.3.1

CCSS.RL.2.1

CCSS.RI.2.1

CCSS.RI.1.1

Treasure in the Field

by Marilyn Bolchunos

Once there was a man who lived with his two young sons on a farm in Vietnam. Since the man had to tend the field, the boys took care of the house. That is, they were supposed to take care of the house.

Often the father returned home to find that nothing had been done—he even had to cook dinner.

"What have you been doing all day, Ta?" he would ask his older son.

"Studying, Father, and thinking," Ta would reply.

"And what have you been doing, Hai, my young son?" the father would ask.

"Watching the house for you," Hai would answer.

A neighbor asked the old man, "Are your sons helping you?"

"Oh, they would," the father answered, "but they are young."

Some years later, the neighbor asked, "Aren'tyour sons helping you in the field?"

"Oh, they would," the father replied again, "but they are still young. I will let them enjoy life now. They will help me later on."

As the years went by, it became clear even to their father that the boys were lazy. Though they sometimes tended the field with him, they always made excuses to go home early.

Finally the father grew too old to work, and he took to his bed. The sons were sad, for they not only depended on their father, but they also loved him.

One day the old man called Ta and Hai to his side and said weakly, "I have a secret to tell you, my sons. Bend close."

Hai and Ta leaned over to hear the secret.

"A while ago," the old man said, "we learned that there is treasure buried in the field. It's still there, but you must dig for it."

The sons' eyes widened.

"Treasure in the field?" Ta said. "Where?" asked Hai.

"Dig for it, and you will find it," said their father. "But promise me that you will share it equally."

The sons promised and hurried out to begin. Day after day they dug. Their neighbor was astonished to see how long and hard the young men worked. As for Ta and Hai, they felt stronger and better than ever before.

At last, the entire field had been dug, but no treasure had been found. The brothers moped around with their heads down.

Finally an idea came to Ta. "The land is ready for planting," he said to his brother. "And our rice is almost gone. You take one half of the field, and I'll take the other. We'll tend it just as Father did."

The days passed and the seedlings grew. In due time, the field gave an abundant harvest. There was rice to eat and rice to sell.

When the sons took the rice to the marketplace, it brought a good price.

Excited, Ta and Hai ran back to the house and approached their father's bedside. They dropped coins into the old man's hands.

"Look, Father," said Hai. "We have sold rice and brought you gold!"

"Yes," said Ta. "Just as you said, the treasure was in the field."

The old man smiled. They had learned his secret.

"Treasure in the Field" by Marilyn Bolchunos, from Highlights for Children. Copyright © 2004by Highlights for Children, Inc.

1. Read the sentences from the passage.

Day after day they dug. Their neighbor was astonished to see how long and hard the young men worked.

What does the word astonished most likely mean?

• a. Disappointed

• b. Discovered

• c. Satisfied

• d. Surprised

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.4

CCSS.RL.3.4

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RI.4.4

CCSS.RI.2.4

Treasure in the Field

by Marilyn Bolchunos

Once there was a man who lived with his two young sons on a farm in Vietnam. Since the man had to tend the field, the boys took care of the house. That is, they were supposed to take care of the house.

Often the father returned home to find that nothing had been done—he even had to cook dinner.

"What have you been doing all day, Ta?" he would ask his older son.

"Studying, Father, and thinking," Ta would reply.

"And what have you been doing, Hai, my young son?" the father would ask.

"Watching the house for you," Hai would answer.

A neighbor asked the old man, "Are your sons helping you?"

"Oh, they would," the father answered, "but they are young."

Some years later, the neighbor asked, "Aren'tyour sons helping you in the field?"

"Oh, they would," the father replied again, "but they are still young. I will let them enjoy life now. They will help me later on."

As the years went by, it became clear even to their father that the boys were lazy. Though they sometimes tended the field with him, they always made excuses to go home early.

Finally the father grew too old to work, and he took to his bed. The sons were sad, for they not only depended on their father, but they also loved him.

One day the old man called Ta and Hai to his side and said weakly, "I have a secret to tell you, my sons. Bend close."

Hai and Ta leaned over to hear the secret.

"A while ago," the old man said, "we learned that there is treasure buried in the field. It's still there, but you must dig for it."

The sons' eyes widened.

"Treasure in the field?" Ta said. "Where?" asked Hai.

"Dig for it, and you will find it," said their father. "But promise me that you will share it equally."

The sons promised and hurried out to begin. Day after day they dug. Their neighbor was astonished to see how long and hard the young men worked. As for Ta and Hai, they felt stronger and better than ever before.

At last, the entire field had been dug, but no treasure had been found. The brothers moped around with their heads down.

Finally an idea came to Ta. "The land is ready for planting," he said to his brother. "And our rice is almost gone. You take one half of the field, and I'll take the other. We'll tend it just as Father did."

The days passed and the seedlings grew. In due time, the field gave an abundant harvest. There was rice to eat and rice to sell.

When the sons took the rice to the marketplace, it brought a good price.

Excited, Ta and Hai ran back to the house and approached their father's bedside. They dropped coins into the old man's hands.

"Look, Father," said Hai. "We have sold rice and brought you gold!"

"Yes," said Ta. "Just as you said, the treasure was in the field."

The old man smiled. They had learned his secret.

"Treasure in the Field" by Marilyn Bolchunos, from Highlights for Children. Copyright © 2004by Highlights for Children, Inc.

1. This question has two parts. First, answer part A. Then, answer part B.

Which statement about the boys is supported by the passage?

• a. The boys did not share the work equally.

• b. The boys did not know how to plant a field of rice.

• c. The young boys wished to surprise their father with a special dinner.

• d. The young boys preferred to sit in the house instead of working outside.

Tags

CCSS.RF.3.4C

CCSS.RL.3.1

CCSS.RI.3.1

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RI.4.1

Treasure in the Field

by Marilyn Bolchunos

Once there was a man who lived with his two young sons on a farm in Vietnam. Since the man had to tend the field, the boys took care of the house. That is, they were supposed to take care of the house.

Often the father returned home to find that nothing had been done—he even had to cook dinner.

"What have you been doing all day, Ta?" he would ask his older son.

"Studying, Father, and thinking," Ta would reply.

"And what have you been doing, Hai, my young son?" the father would ask.

"Watching the house for you," Hai would answer.

A neighbor asked the old man, "Are your sons helping you?"

"Oh, they would," the father answered, "but they are young."

Some years later, the neighbor asked, "Aren'tyour sons helping you in the field?"

"Oh, they would," the father replied again, "but they are still young. I will let them enjoy life now. They will help me later on."

As the years went by, it became clear even to their father that the boys were lazy. Though they sometimes tended the field with him, they always made excuses to go home early.

Finally the father grew too old to work, and he took to his bed. The sons were sad, for they not only depended on their father, but they also loved him.

One day the old man called Ta and Hai to his side and said weakly, "I have a secret to tell you, my sons. Bend close."

Hai and Ta leaned over to hear the secret.

"A while ago," the old man said, "we learned that there is treasure buried in the field. It's still there, but you must dig for it."

The sons' eyes widened.

"Treasure in the field?" Ta said. "Where?" asked Hai.

"Dig for it, and you will find it," said their father. "But promise me that you will share it equally."

The sons promised and hurried out to begin. Day after day they dug. Their neighbor was astonished to see how long and hard the young men worked. As for Ta and Hai, they felt stronger and better than ever before.

At last, the entire field had been dug, but no treasure had been found. The brothers moped around with their heads down.

Finally an idea came to Ta. "The land is ready for planting," he said to his brother. "And our rice is almost gone. You take one half of the field, and I'll take the other. We'll tend it just as Father did."

The days passed and the seedlings grew. In due time, the field gave an abundant harvest. There was rice to eat and rice to sell.

When the sons took the rice to the marketplace, it brought a good price.

Excited, Ta and Hai ran back to the house and approached their father's bedside. They dropped coins into the old man's hands.

"Look, Father," said Hai. "We have sold rice and brought you gold!"

"Yes," said Ta. "Just as you said, the treasure was in the field."

The old man smiled. They had learned his secret.

"Treasure in the Field" by Marilyn Bolchunos, from Highlights for Children. Copyright © 2004by Highlights for Children, Inc.

Part B.

Which sentence from the passage best supports your answer in part A.

• a. The sons promised and hurried out to begin.

• b. As the years went by, it became clear even to their father that the boys were lazy.

• c. At last, the entire field had been dug, but no treasure had been found.

• d. The brothers moped around with their heads down.

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RF.3.4C

CCSS.RI.3.1

CCSS.RL.3.1

CCSS.RL.2.1

Treasure in the Field

by Marilyn Bolchunos

Once there was a man who lived with his two young sons on a farm in Vietnam. Since the man had to tend the field, the boys took care of the house. That is, they were supposed to take care of the house.

Often the father returned home to find that nothing had been done—he even had to cook dinner.

"What have you been doing all day, Ta?" he would ask his older son.

"Studying, Father, and thinking," Ta would reply.

"And what have you been doing, Hai, my young son?" the father would ask.

"Watching the house for you," Hai would answer.

A neighbor asked the old man, "Are your sons helping you?"

"Oh, they would," the father answered, "but they are young."

Some years later, the neighbor asked, "Aren'tyour sons helping you in the field?"

"Oh, they would," the father replied again, "but they are still young. I will let them enjoy life now. They will help me later on."

As the years went by, it became clear even to their father that the boys were lazy. Though they sometimes tended the field with him, they always made excuses to go home early.

Finally the father grew too old to work, and he took to his bed. The sons were sad, for they not only depended on their father, but they also loved him.

One day the old man called Ta and Hai to his side and said weakly, "I have a secret to tell you, my sons. Bend close."

Hai and Ta leaned over to hear the secret.

"A while ago," the old man said, "we learned that there is treasure buried in the field. It's still there, but you must dig for it."

The sons' eyes widened.

"Treasure in the field?" Ta said. "Where?" asked Hai.

"Dig for it, and you will find it," said their father. "But promise me that you will share it equally."

The sons promised and hurried out to begin. Day after day they dug. Their neighbor was astonished to see how long and hard the young men worked. As for Ta and Hai, they felt stronger and better than ever before.

At last, the entire field had been dug, but no treasure had been found. The brothers moped around with their heads down.

Finally an idea came to Ta. "The land is ready for planting," he said to his brother. "And our rice is almost gone. You take one half of the field, and I'll take the other. We'll tend it just as Father did."

The days passed and the seedlings grew. In due time, the field gave an abundant harvest. There was rice to eat and rice to sell.

When the sons took the rice to the marketplace, it brought a good price.

Excited, Ta and Hai ran back to the house and approached their father's bedside. They dropped coins into the old man's hands.

"Look, Father," said Hai. "We have sold rice and brought you gold!"

"Yes," said Ta. "Just as you said, the treasure was in the field."

The old man smiled. They had learned his secret.

"Treasure in the Field" by Marilyn Bolchunos, from Highlights for Children. Copyright © 2004by Highlights for Children, Inc.

Which detail from the passage best shows that the old man’s sons are lazy?

• a. Since the man had to tend the field, the boys took care of the house.

• b. “Oh, they would, “the father replied again, “but they are still young.”

• c. Though they sometimes tended the field with him, they always made excuses to go home early.

• d. The sons were sad, for they not only depended on their father, but they also loved him.

Tags

CCSS.RF.3.4C

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RL.3.1

CCSS.RI.3.1

CCSS.RL.2.2

Treasure in the Field

by Marilyn Bolchunos

Once there was a man who lived with his two young sons on a farm in Vietnam. Since the man had to tend the field, the boys took care of the house. That is, they were supposed to take care of the house.

Often the father returned home to find that nothing had been done—he even had to cook dinner.

"What have you been doing all day, Ta?" he would ask his older son.

"Studying, Father, and thinking," Ta would reply.

"And what have you been doing, Hai, my young son?" the father would ask.

"Watching the house for you," Hai would answer.

A neighbor asked the old man, "Are your sons helping you?"

"Oh, they would," the father answered, "but they are young."

Some years later, the neighbor asked, "Aren'tyour sons helping you in the field?"

"Oh, they would," the father replied again, "but they are still young. I will let them enjoy life now. They will help me later on."

As the years went by, it became clear even to their father that the boys were lazy. Though they sometimes tended the field with him, they always made excuses to go home early.

Finally the father grew too old to work, and he took to his bed. The sons were sad, for they not only depended on their father, but they also loved him.

One day the old man called Ta and Hai to his side and said weakly, "I have a secret to tell you, my sons. Bend close."

Hai and Ta leaned over to hear the secret.

"A while ago," the old man said, "we learned that there is treasure buried in the field. It's still there, but you must dig for it."

The sons' eyes widened.

"Treasure in the field?" Ta said. "Where?" asked Hai.

"Dig for it, and you will find it," said their father. "But promise me that you will share it equally."

The sons promised and hurried out to begin. Day after day they dug. Their neighbor was astonished to see how long and hard the young men worked. As for Ta and Hai, they felt stronger and better than ever before.

At last, the entire field had been dug, but no treasure had been found. The brothers moped around with their heads down.

Finally an idea came to Ta. "The land is ready for planting," he said to his brother. "And our rice is almost gone. You take one half of the field, and I'll take the other. We'll tend it just as Father did."

The days passed and the seedlings grew. In due time, the field gave an abundant harvest. There was rice to eat and rice to sell.

When the sons took the rice to the marketplace, it brought a good price.

Excited, Ta and Hai ran back to the house and approached their father's bedside. They dropped coins into the old man's hands.

"Look, Father," said Hai. "We have sold rice and brought you gold!"

"Yes," said Ta. "Just as you said, the treasure was in the field."

The old man smiled. They had learned his secret.

"Treasure in the Field" by Marilyn Bolchunos, from Highlights for Children. Copyright © 2004by Highlights for Children, Inc.

1. Which sentence is most likely true about both sons in the passage?

• a. Both wish that they will always live on the farm.

• b. Both wish to have more treasure than anyone else.

• c. Both learn that treasure can have more than one meaning.

• d. Both want to teach their father how to grow rice in the field.

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.9

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

Treasure in the Field

by Marilyn Bolchunos

Once there was a man who lived with his two young sons on a farm in Vietnam. Since the man had to tend the field, the boys took care of the house. That is, they were supposed to take care of the house.

Often the father returned home to find that nothing had been done—he even had to cook dinner.

"What have you been doing all day, Ta?" he would ask his older son.

"Studying, Father, and thinking," Ta would reply.

"And what have you been doing, Hai, my young son?" the father would ask.

"Watching the house for you," Hai would answer.

A neighbor asked the old man, "Are your sons helping you?"

"Oh, they would," the father answered, "but they are young."

Some years later, the neighbor asked, "Aren'tyour sons helping you in the field?"

"Oh, they would," the father replied again, "but they are still young. I will let them enjoy life now. They will help me later on."

As the years went by, it became clear even to their father that the boys were lazy. Though they sometimes tended the field with him, they always made excuses to go home early.

Finally the father grew too old to work, and he took to his bed. The sons were sad, for they not only depended on their father, but they also loved him.

One day the old man called Ta and Hai to his side and said weakly, "I have a secret to tell you, my sons. Bend close."

Hai and Ta leaned over to hear the secret.

"A while ago," the old man said, "we learned that there is treasure buried in the field. It's still there, but you must dig for it."

The sons' eyes widened.

"Treasure in the field?" Ta said. "Where?" asked Hai.

"Dig for it, and you will find it," said their father. "But promise me that you will share it equally."

The sons promised and hurried out to begin. Day after day they dug. Their neighbor was astonished to see how long and hard the young men worked. As for Ta and Hai, they felt stronger and better than ever before.

At last, the entire field had been dug, but no treasure had been found. The brothers moped around with their heads down.

Finally an idea came to Ta. "The land is ready for planting," he said to his brother. "And our rice is almost gone. You take one half of the field, and I'll take the other. We'll tend it just as Father did."

The days passed and the seedlings grew. In due time, the field gave an abundant harvest. There was rice to eat and rice to sell.

When the sons took the rice to the marketplace, it brought a good price.

Excited, Ta and Hai ran back to the house and approached their father's bedside. They dropped coins into the old man's hands.

"Look, Father," said Hai. "We have sold rice and brought you gold!"

"Yes," said Ta. "Just as you said, the treasure was in the field."

The old man smiled. They had learned his secret.

"Treasure in the Field" by Marilyn Bolchunos, from Highlights for Children. Copyright © 2004by Highlights for Children, Inc.

1. Which of these best describes why the author used dialogue in the passage?

• a. To describe how the sons and the old man work together.

• b. To describe how the old man shares his secret with his sons.

• c. To explain why the characters behave the way they do.

• d. To explain why the neighbor was interested in the father’s fields.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

Treasure in the Field

by Marilyn Bolchunos

Once there was a man who lived with his two young sons on a farm in Vietnam. Since the man had to tend the field, the boys took care of the house. That is, they were supposed to take care of the house.

Often the father returned home to find that nothing had been done—he even had to cook dinner.

"What have you been doing all day, Ta?" he would ask his older son.

"Studying, Father, and thinking," Ta would reply.

"And what have you been doing, Hai, my young son?" the father would ask.

"Watching the house for you," Hai would answer.

A neighbor asked the old man, "Are your sons helping you?"

"Oh, they would," the father answered, "but they are young."

Some years later, the neighbor asked, "Aren'tyour sons helping you in the field?"

"Oh, they would," the father replied again, "but they are still young. I will let them enjoy life now. They will help me later on."

As the years went by, it became clear even to their father that the boys were lazy. Though they sometimes tended the field with him, they always made excuses to go home early.

Finally the father grew too old to work, and he took to his bed. The sons were sad, for they not only depended on their father, but they also loved him.

One day the old man called Ta and Hai to his side and said weakly, "I have a secret to tell you, my sons. Bend close."

Hai and Ta leaned over to hear the secret.

"A while ago," the old man said, "we learned that there is treasure buried in the field. It's still there, but you must dig for it."

The sons' eyes widened.

"Treasure in the field?" Ta said. "Where?" asked Hai.

"Dig for it, and you will find it," said their father. "But promise me that you will share it equally."

The sons promised and hurried out to begin. Day after day they dug. Their neighbor was astonished to see how long and hard the young men worked. As for Ta and Hai, they felt stronger and better than ever before.

At last, the entire field had been dug, but no treasure had been found. The brothers moped around with their heads down.

Finally an idea came to Ta. "The land is ready for planting," he said to his brother. "And our rice is almost gone. You take one half of the field, and I'll take the other. We'll tend it just as Father did."

The days passed and the seedlings grew. In due time, the field gave an abundant harvest. There was rice to eat and rice to sell.

When the sons took the rice to the marketplace, it brought a good price.

Excited, Ta and Hai ran back to the house and approached their father's bedside. They dropped coins into the old man's hands.

"Look, Father," said Hai. "We have sold rice and brought you gold!"

"Yes," said Ta. "Just as you said, the treasure was in the field."

The old man smiled. They had learned his secret.

"Treasure in the Field" by Marilyn Bolchunos, from Highlights for Children. Copyright © 2004by Highlights for Children, Inc.

Read the sentence from the passage.

It became clear, even to their father, that the boys were lazy.

What does the phrase even to their father tell the reader about the story?

• a. It took the father a long time to teach the boys a new kind of work.

• b. It took the father longer than others to understand his sons were lazy.

• c. The father knew all along that his boys did not like to work on the family farm.

• d. The father knew many other people who could be trained to help him on the farm.

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.1

CCSS.RF.3.4C

CCSS.RI.3.1

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RF.2.4C