SS Reading - Early Level 3

Reading Level EL3 - Tons of Tomatoes Link (Reader available to print)

Day 1: Comprehension Questions

1. Explain in your own words what is a Horticulturalist?

2. What type of soil does Uncle Rupena use to grow his tomatoes? Why is this better than normal soil?

3. Why are minerals important for plants to grow?

4. Explain in your own words what is Hydroponics?

5. Why does Uncle Rupena tie string from the ceiling to the tomato plants?

6. Why are Uncle Rupena’s Flying workers so important?

7. Explain why do plants grow better inside a glasshouse?

8. What advice does Uncle Rupena give to anyone who wants to grow plants? Use page 25 to help you.

Day 2: Fact Finder Write down 4 facts that you learnt from reading the book.

From the facts you have just learnt. Which one is most important to you and why?

Day 3: Comprehension

• Remember to write in full sentences

• Remember to reread the text to help you find the answer

Day 4: Application

Use the diagram in the book to help you to label the different parts of the tomato plant. Give the definition and use for each part of the diagram. The first one has been done for you.

Day 5: Word Cloze

Use the list below to fill in the gaps.

In his garden at home, Johnny has seen how _________ sticks to the legs and bodies of_________ as a yellow dust. As they fly from flower to flower, the bees shift the pollen around. When the _________ have been pollinated, they _________ into fruit. “I used to do the pollination myself,” Uncle Reupena says. Johnny tries to imagine Uncle Reupena flying around the _______________ like a bee! “It was a big job,” Uncle Reupena continues. “There are over seventy flowers to pollinate on each plant. I had to walk around and _________ every flower with a feather. Imagine having to do that to 3800 plants!” These days, the bumblebees do the______________.