• Practice for every day of the school year • Help students prepare for standardized testing

Name: 
© Evan-Moor Corp. • EMC 3453 • Daily Reading Comprehension 
125
WEEK 20
DAY 1
READ THE PASSAGE
Look for causes and effects.
Useful Dead or Alive
A living tree is a wonderful gift of nature. Trees breathe out oxygen, refreshing 
the air. Trees give cool shade to plants, people, and animals. Many animals make 
their homes in trees, too. The fruits and nuts of some trees are tasty foods for both 
people and animals. 
A tree is important even after it dies. Insects and birds depend on the dead 
wood. Some birds nest in the holes of the tree. Bees and wasps might make 
homes there, too. Some insects lay their eggs in the bark. Birds swoop by and eat 
the plump larvae.
Fungi (FUHN-jye), or mushrooms, grow on the dead wood. They begin to 
decompose the tree. They cause the tree to rot. Soft green moss and various 
bacteria, or germs, grow there, too. They all help the tree to rot. The tree gets 
softer and more crumbly. The rotting is important. As the tree rots completely, 
it makes the soil rich. The soil will be just right for new plants to grow.
SKILL PRACTICE
Read the question. Fill in the bubble next to the correct answer.
 1. Because trees release oxygen, 
.
A 
the air is better to breathe
B 
fruits grow on trees
C 
trees make shade
D 
animals make homes
in trees
 2. Because a tree rots, 
.
A 
insects die, too
B 
the tree is no longer useful
C 
the soil becomes richer 
D 
bugs stay away from it
 3. Bacteria are useful because they 
.
A 
eat mushrooms
B 
help a tree to rot
C 
grow on moss
D 
make new plants grow
 4. Because the mushrooms rot the