Editorial Development: Bonnie Brook Communications

SKILL PRACTICE
Read each question. Fill in the bubble next to the correct answer.
 1. How did Dana Dakin spend the first two-thirds of 
her life?
A 
giving back
B 
traveling to villages
C 
learning and earning
D 
providing small loans
 2. How does Dakin’s organization, WomensTrust, 
reflect the concept of living in thirds?
A 
Dakin’s loans give others a chance to earn.
B 
Traveling to Africa is Dakin’s reward for 
earning a good living.
C 
The organization has added even more money 
to Dakin’s career earnings.
D 
The organization’s funds are divided into thirds 
for loans, scholarships, and health care.
 3. Dakin’s work has helped other older people
learn 
.
A 
that retirement is a time for relaxation
B 
how to keep working hard indefinitely
C 
how to use their knowledge to help others
D 
that working in other countries is financially 
beneficial
 4. What is the theme of the passage?
A 
People can never have too much money.
B 
Helping others can be very rewarding.
C 
Women should start their own businesses.
D 
It is most important to help people in Africa.
STRATEGY PRACTICE
Visualize Dana Dakin in Ghana with the women she has helped. Describe your 
visualization.
 
 
Theme
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© Evan-Moor Corp. • EMC 3458 • Daily Reading Comprehension 
177
Name: 
WEEK 28
DAY 5
READ THE PASSAGE
As you read the passage, think about the theme of Austin Vella’s story.
An Amazing Kid
Kids Helping Kids is a group started by a 10-year-old who wanted to help one African child escape 
poverty. It is now a successful organization that is dedicated to encouraging positive community 
involvement through young people. Each month, Kids Helping Kids chooses one young person between 
the ages of 5 and 18 to be that month’s “Amazing Kid.” In May of 2009, the winner was Austin Vella. 
This 13-year-old boy from California might not seem that unusual at first glance. He is a Boy Scout 
patrol leader, runs on a cross-country team, swims, bikes, and has competed in a triathlon. Vella has even 
climbed Half Dome, a peak in Yosemite National Park that is nearly 9,000 feet high. There are probably 
many young people who participate in similar activities, but Austin is unusual. He participated in all of 
these events after surviving three open-heart surgeries.
Vella was born with a heart defect. He endured his many procedures and surgeries without 
complaining about the pain and restrictions his condition caused. His father believes that the years of 
forced inactivity made Vella look inward to discover reserves of strength and compassion that are unusual 
in a person his age. Vella’s recovery left him determined not only to ignore the word “can’t” when it comes 
to physical exertion but also to help others who are less fortunate than he is. He volunteers in his 
community, works with younger Boy Scouts, and collects boxes of food for the needy at Thanksgiving. 
Austin Vella certainly deserves the honor of being called an “Amazing Kid.”