5.3 Saving the Harvest (3.8D: Influence of Setting and Plot)

In paragraph 1, the setting mainly helps the reader understand that —

• hard labor is needed to farm the land

• the farm provides a feeling of peace

• Henry’s family grows a variety of crops

• Henry experiences boredom living on the farm

Which of these best retells the text?

• After working in the fields all day, Henry and Pa eat supper with Ma. Henry sees an ad for new farming equipment and convinces Pa they should go hear a presentation by the inventor. Henry thinks Cyrus McCormick’s new machine looks beautiful and tells Pa that they have to get one.

• An inventor named Cyrus McCormick invents a machine called a reaper, which helps farmers harvest grain. A boy named Henry and his father listen to his talk and want one of his machines. Mr. McCormick offers to let farmers pay for the machine over time.

• Henry and his father are harvesting the grain on their farm by hand, which is exhausting and takes a long time. They learn about a new machine by Cyrus McCormick that can do the work quickly and easily. Henry is filled with joy when his father decides they can buy the machine.

• Henry learns that a new machine has been invented that makes farm work much easier. He and Pa get the chance to meet inventor Cyrus McCormick and see the machine. They realize they would like to buy one of the machines to help with their farm’s grain harvest.

Based on events in the story, what will most likely happen in the future?

• Pa will change his mind about taking home a reaper.

• Henry will help Mr. McCormick sell reapers to farmers.

• Mr. McCormick will not have enough reapers to sell.

• Henry will learn everything he can about his family’s new reaper.

Which word is a synonym for paused in paragraph 10?

• Moved

• Stopped

• Worked

• Waited

What is the theme of this story?

• Work hard and you will be rewarded.

• Children should listen to their parents.

• It is important to handle money wisely.

• New ways may be better than old ones.

The details in paragraph 13 support the idea that Henry —

• understands how the reaper works

• has never seen anything like the reaper before

• believes he and Pa can afford the reaper

• thinks people could get hurt using the reaper