Editorial Development: Bonnie Brook Communications

SKILL PRACTICE
Read each question. Fill in the bubble next to the correct answer.
 1. When the farmer loses his workhorse, he is 
.
 
angry
 
worried
 
calm
 
relieved
 2. If a neighbor had learned the lesson of this 
passage, what might he have said when the 
farmer’s son was left behind?
 
“I know how you must feel.”
 
“Too bad they didn’t want him.”
 
“Your son is missing an opportunity.”
 
“I wonder how this will affect his future.”
 3. One lesson of the passage is that 
.
 
everyone should work long hours
 
unlucky events can lead to good things 
 
people should not ride wild horses
 
neighbors should mind their own business
 4. Which saying best represents the theme of
the passage?
 
The early bird catches the worm.
 
Do not count your chickens before they hatch.
 
The walls have ears.
 
A rolling stone gathers no moss.
STRATEGY PRACTICE
How did your thoughts about the theme change as you kept reading?
 
 
Theme
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Daily Reading Comprehension • EMC 3458 • © Evan-Moor Corp.
Name: 
WEEK 28
DAY 4
READ THE PASSAGE
As you read, try to determine the theme of the passage.
A Life Lived in Thirds
Dana Dakin spent many years building a successful career in finance. Then she heard about the 
concept of living life in thirds. The first third was to be spent learning, the second third spent earning, and 
the final third spent giving back. In 2003, when Dakin reached the age of 60, she decided it was time to 
start giving back. Her plan was to travel to Ghana, Africa, and find a village to “adopt.” She would provide 
microfinance loans (small amounts of money) to women to help revitalize the economic life of the village 
and its inhabitants.
Dakin ended up in Pokuase, where she met, and began building relationships with, the local women. 
She developed a program to provide microfinance loans to help the women start their own businesses, 
usually selling things such as food, clothing, or household items. The businesses have helped the 
community, as well as the individuals who run them. Dakin brought together volunteers, both retired 
executives and college students, who traveled with her to Pokuase to help the villagers learn the 
ins and outs of running a small business. Together, everyone involved became successful.
Today, Dakin’s organization, WomensTrust, provides loans and scholarships to over 1,000 women in 
several villages in Ghana. It also brings medical supplies and care to health clinics in the area. The people 
of Ghana have benefited enormously from WomensTrust, and many of the volunteers have found 
meaningful work in the final third of their lives.