E n g L i s h jenni Currie Santamaria

Nature in the United States
YELLOWSTONE PARK RULES
I. PRE-READING
A.
Background information
Yellowstone Park is a U.S. national park located mainly in the state of Wyoming. 
It has mountains, rivers, lakes, hundreds of different kinds of animals, hot-water 
springs, and an active volcano. More than two million people a year visit 
Yellowstone Park. In this section, you will read some of the rules for visitors to 
Yellowstone.
B.
Words to know before you read
Match the words to their definitions.
____1.
prohibited 
a. throwing trash on the ground or in the 
water
____2.
allowed 
b. against the law
____3.
climbing 
c. wilderness; area with few people and no 
buildings
____4.
backcountry 
d. wild animals
____5.
littering 
e. not permitted
____6.
illegal 
f. using hands and feet to go up a 
mountain
____7.
wildlife 
g. permitted
C.
Reading strategy
Quickly read the heading for each topic in “Yellowstone Park Rules and 
Regulations.” Then answer the question.
How many topics are there? ________________

---

2
|
Better Reading English
Yellowstone Park Rules and Regulations
Bicycling
Permitted only on established public roads, parking areas and designated routes, 
so feel free to bring bikes on your vacation to Yellowstone National Park. However, 
keep in mind that bicycles are prohibited on boardwalks and backcountry trails.
Boating
This makes for a fun and exciting adventure during your Yellowstone vacation in 
the park. Be sure to obtain a boating permit before you take to the water. 
Boaters must have a Coast Guard–approved “wearable” lotation device for 
each person boating.
Yellowstone Park Boating Permit: A 10-day motorized boat permit costs 
$10; an annual permit is $20. Non-motorized boat permits cost $5 for 7 days or 
$10 for the season.
Climbing
A great adventure to include during your Yellowstone vacation. Climbing is 
allowed in only a few areas of Yellowstone National Park, however it is illegal in 
the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone Park area. Contact the backcountry ofice 
in Yellowstone for more information.
Disturbing Yellowstone Park features
Possessing, collecting, removing, defacing or destroying any natural or 
archaeological objects or plants, animals or minerals is prohibited.
Driving
Motorcycles, motor scooters and motorbikes are not allowed off-road or on 
trails. Operators must have a valid driver’s license and vehicles must display 
valid state license plates.
Seat belts must be worn by all people driving or riding in vehicles. Slow-
moving vehicles must pull over to let others pass. Never stop or pause in the 
middle of the road. Use pullouts! Speed limit is 45 m.p.h.
Feeding wildlife
Is against the law.
Fires
Permitted only in designated Yellowstone camping areas, in picnic areas with ire 
grates and in some backcountry campsites. Any dead-and-down material may be 
used as irewood, but chain saws are prohibited. Thoroughly extinguish all ires.
II. READ
Read the text. Mark the words you don’t know, but don’t stop reading to look 
them up.

---

Nature in the United States
|
3
Food
Your food must be attended to while not in storage, and must be stored 
properly. Never leave food outside your vehicle or in Yellowstone camping 
areas when you’re away or sleeping, as it may very well attract unwelcome 
visitors.
Littering
Illegal throughout the park and in Yellowstone camping areas.
Pets
Pets are allowed to come with the family on your vacation to Yellowstone 
National Park; however, certain restrictions (for their own safety) are in place. 
Whether in a Yellowstone camping area or just exploring the park, pets must be 
leashed and are prohibited from trails, in the backcountry and in thermal basins. 
Pets are not allowed more than 100 feet from a road or parking area. Leaving a 
pet unattended or tied to an object is prohibited.
Source: www.yellowstonepark.com
III. COMPREHENSION CHECK
Mark the sentences T (True) or F (False).
_____ 1.
You can bicycle anywhere in Yellowstone Park.
_____ 2.
You need a boating permit to use a boat in the park.
_____ 3.
Climbing is not permitted in Yellowstone.
_____ 4.
You are not allowed to remove plants from the park.
_____ 5.
You can drive in the park if you have a license.
_____ 6.
It is illegal to feed wildlife in the park.
_____ 7.
Fires are not allowed in the park.
_____ 8.
You must not leave food on tables while you’re away.
_____ 9.
Littering is prohibited.
_____ 10.
Pets are allowed in the backcountry.
IV. VOCABULARY BUILDING
A.
Understanding from context
Read the phrases. Before you look up words in the dictionary, use the context 
of the sentence to help you match the boldface words and idioms with the 
definitions below.
_____ 1.
Thoroughly
extinguish all ires.
_____ 2.
Be sure to 
obtain
a boating permit.

---

4
|
Better Reading English
_____ 3.
Possessing, collecting, removing, 
defacing
, or destroying any natural 
objects
_____ 4.
Fires are permitted only in 
designated
Yellowstone camping areas.
_____ 5.
Pets are allowed; however, certain 
restrictions
are in place.
_____ 6.
Leaving a pet 
unattended
or tied to an object is prohibited.
_____ 7.
Vehicles must 
display
valid state license plates.
_____ 8.
Vehicles must display 
valid
state license plates.
_____ 9.
Feel free
to bring bikes on your vacation.
_____ 10.
Keep in mind
that bicycles are prohibited in some places.
a.
get
b.
alone; with no supervision
c.
to ruin the way something looks, for example, by writing or 
drawing on it
d.
oficially chosen or marked
e.
remember
f.
show
g.
go ahead—there’s no problem
h.
limitations; things you can’t do
i.
completely
j.
legally acceptable
B.
Use the new words
Complete the sentences with the boldface words and idioms from Exercise A.
1.
Some kids were _________________________ the wall by drawing
on it.
2.
You need to _________________________ permission to camp here.
3.
There are _________________________ on how many ish you can catch. 
You can only catch ive.
4.
His ID card expired last month. It’s not _________________________ 
anymore.
5.
_________________________ to call me anytime. I’d love to talk to you.
6.
You cannot park in spaces _________________________ for handicapped 
people.
7.
You must _________________________ your parking permit in the
window.
8.
Clean your campsite _________________________. Any food left on the 
ground will attract animals.
9.
_________________________ that you should wear sunscreen when you go 
outside.
10.
Small children should never be left _________________________.

---

Nature in the United States
|
5
C.
Classify words
Find these words in the text and decide if they are adjectives or nouns. Write 
them in the correct place in the chart.
routes
boardwalks
trails
wearable
lotation device
archeological
slow-moving
pullouts
ire grates
chain saws
unwelcome
thermal