Editorial Development: Bonnie Brook Communications

SKILL PRACTICE
Read each question. Fill in the bubble next to the correct answer.
 1. Which element of the setting most affects
the plot?
A 
1940s
B 
Germany
C 
England
D 
World War II
 2. The description of the tail gunner’s turret shows 
the 
.
A 
way younger soldiers were treated in the war
B 
importance of B-17s in the war effort
C 
danger and difficulty of Julius’s job
D 
lack of technology in World War II bombers
 3. The fact that Julius became good at his job shows 
that he was 
.
A 
fearful
B 
committed
C 
careless
D 
lucky
 4. Why did Julius most likely feel guilty when his 
crew was shot down?
A 
He was angry at them at the time.
B 
He directed the plane into enemy territory.
C 
He liked his new crew better than the old crew.
D 
He could not help them during their terrible 
experience. 
STRATEGY PRACTICE
Visualize Julius’s location as the tail gunner on a World War II plane. On a separate 
sheet of paper, sketch what you visualized.
Character and Setting
3458.indb 102
10/31/12 7:35 AM

---

© Evan-Moor Corp. • EMC 3458 • Daily Reading Comprehension 
103
Name: 
WEEK 16
DAY 3
READ THE FOLK TALE
As you read, think about the moral, or lesson, of the passage.
The Midas Touch
King Midas ruled in Greece long, long ago. He was known for his fairness, and his people considered 
him a good ruler. However, he often spoke or acted without thinking, and this habit got him into terrible 
trouble. One afternoon, as he strolled through his beautiful rose garden, he saw an old satyr—a creature 
which was half goat and half man—sleeping in a flower bed. The king, unaware that the satyr was a friend of 
the god Dionysus, brought the creature inside and treated him kindly instead of punishing him for 
trespassing. When Dionysus heard of King Midas’s thoughtful behavior, he granted the king one wish. King 
Midas said, “I wish that everything I touched would turn to gold.”
At first, this fulfilled wish seemed wonderful, as everything King Midas touched in his garden turned to 
gold. His trees, his prized roses, even the pebbles he walked upon all turned to gold. In no time, he was 
rich beyond his wildest dreams, but he grew faint from hunger, as all his food also turned to inedible gold
the moment he touched it.
One evening, King Midas’s beloved daughter came into the throne room laughing and dancing, as was 
her habit. The king was mourning the fact that his lovely gold roses no longer had any fragrance, so she gave 
her father a sympathetic hug. She immediately became a statue of gold, and King Midas was devastated. He 
hurried to Dionysus and begged the god to undo his golden wish. Dionysus, seeing the king’s shame and 
despair, granted his request. King Midas ran back to his castle to find that his piles of gold were gone, but his 
daughter was returned to him, and he was happier than he had ever been.