The joshua tree

In the 1840s the Mormons, who are a religious group, traveled west searching for a new home. Many Mor­mons lived in the state of Illinois. But they had been badly treat­ed and finally were forced to leave. As the Mormons traveled through the desert they became discouraged. Then they saw a strange tree. The tree's branches stretched out like arms. The Mormons thought the tree looked like Joshua, a hero from the Bible. The Mor­mons thought the arms of the tree were telling them to continue on their way, so they did. They found a new home in the state of Utah. In Utah they saw trees like the one in the desert. They called them "Joshua trees." The Joshua tree was very useful. The Indians of the West used almost all its parts. They ate not only the fruit of the tree, but also its seeds and white blossoms. They used its leaves for shoes. From its roots they made baskets and colors for clothes. Settlers in the West used the Joshua tree for firewood and fenc­es. Unfortunately, they often needed to cut down the trees. Some of the trees were as tall as fifty feet. These trees were 700 or 800 years old. The Joshua tree grows very slowly. It grows only about one inch a year. By the be­ginning of the 1900s, most Joshua trees had been cut down. People were sad that this strange tree had almost disap­peared. In 1936 the Joshua Tree National Monument was established in California. It has many kinds of interesting desert plants, including, of course, many Joshua trees. None of these Joshua trees are fifty feet. But perhaps some-day they will be.

Vocabulary

Which sentences have the same meaning as the sentences from the reading? Circle the letter of the cor­rect answer.

1. The Mormons traveled west searching for a new home.

1. They were leaving their new home.

2. They were looking for a new home.

2. The Mormons had been badly treated in Illinois.

1. Other people in Illinois acted badly toward the Mormons.

2. Other people in Illinois gave the Mormons gifts.

3. The Mormons became discouraged as they traveled through the desert.

1. They felt very tired as they traveled through the desert.

2. They didn't have much hope that they would find a new home.

4. They saw a strange tree.

1. The tree they saw was unusual.

2. The tree they saw was useful.

5. Joshua was a hero from the Bible.

1. There are stories in the Bible about an old man named Joshua.

2. There are stories in the Bible about a great man named Joshua.

6. The Indians ate not only the fruit of the tree, but also its seeds and white blossoms.

1. The Indians ate the seeds and the flowers, but not the fruit.

2. The Indians ate the seeds, flowers, and fruit.

Comprehension

A. Looking for Main Ideas

Write the questions to these answers.

1. Where ________________________________ ?

The Mormons traveled west in search of a new home.

2. Who _________________________________?

They thought the tree looked like Joshua, a hero from the Bible.

3. What _________________________________?

The Indians used almost all parts of the tree.

B. Looking for Details

One word in each sentence is not correct. Cross out the word and write the correct answer above it.

1. The Indians of the West made shoe from the roots of the Joshua tree.

2. Some of the trees the settlers cut down were 700 feet tall.

3. In Illinois the Mormons saw trees like the one in the desert.

4. The Mormons were asked to leave Illi­nois.

5. The Joshua tree grows one foot a year.

6. In 1936 the Joshua Tree National Mon­ument in Utah was established.