Reading Comprehension: History of Fun& Playground for All

What was the significance of the first sand garden in America?

• It was the first public playground in the United States.

• It was a famous tourist attraction.

• It was a site for scientific research.

• It was a location for political gatherings.

By 1909, how many playgrounds were there in schoolyards and parks across the United States?

• 500

• 1,000

• 1,500

• 2,000

What improvements were made to playgrounds in the 1970s?

• Introduction of safety standards and equipment

• Reduction in playground sizes

• Removal of swings and slides

• Increased use of concrete surfaces

Which sentence best expresses the central idea of paragraph 1? Underline the sentence from the passage that supports your answer.

• Life in cities like Boston was filled with dangers and hardships for children.

• Kids had many places to play, including alleyways and construction sites.

• Playing in the city was exciting and fun in the late 1800s.

• The streets of Boston were filled with animals, garbage, and disease.

What problem were city leaders trying to solve in the late 1800s? Highlight your answer and underline the sentence from the passage that supports your choice.

• Children didn’t have enough friends to play with.

• There weren’t enough jobs for children.

• City streets were too dangerous for children to play on.

• Most families couldn’t afford to buy toys for their kids.

Read the sentence from paragraph 3. “A special space to play? Just for kids? Genius!” What does the author’s use of this sentence show?

• The narrator disapproves of how kids played in Germany.

• The narrator is surprised by how kids played in Germany.

• The narrator is excited about the idea of sand gardens.

• The narrator is confused by the new playground idea.

Which sentence from the article supports the idea that playgrounds help kids grow in more ways than one? Highlight your answer.

• You could head to an alleyway and play baseball with an old broom handle.

• There are tens of thousands of playgrounds across the country.

• Many of your favorite memories probably were formed on the playground.

• Standing in a long line for the slide teaches you social skills, like sharing and waiting.

In the Interview, How did one kid bring an amazing playground to his community?

• By organizing a community fundraiser

• By winning a grant

• By building it himself

• By convincing the local government

What is the meaning of the word "inclusive" as it is used in paragraph 1 of the interview article? Underline the sentence from the passage that supports your answer.

• Expensive and hard to build

• Only for kids with disabilities

• Meant for a small group of friends

• Designed so everyone can participate.

How does the author establish Lucas’s perspective about inclusive play throughout the article?

• By explaining the playground equipment in detail and how it benefits all children

• By using Lucas’s direct quotes to show his belief that all children should be able to play together

• By describing how Lucas designed the playground based on expert advice from teachers and doctors

• By comparing Lucas’s playground to others that were built in his town