★Compare and Contrast
Grade 3 Reading Worksheet - Challenge Me
Circle the answer.
Read this first
Two Texts About Traveling Libraries
Text 1: In the 1930s, many families in the mountains of Kentucky lived far from any town. There were few roads, and most homes had no books. To help, a program sent librarians out on horseback. These riders were called pack horse librarians. Most of them were women. Many were paid very little for their hard work. Each one rode up to 100 miles a week. They followed creek beds and rocky trails in rain and snow. Some homes were so high up the hills that riders had to walk and lead their horses. Their saddlebags held books, magazines, and newspapers. Families kept the books for two weeks. Then the rider came back to trade them for new ones. The books were often old and worn, but readers loved them. Families also shared recipes and quilt patterns. The librarians collected these into scrapbooks to pass along. Children were often the most excited readers. The program ended in 1943, but many people never forgot it.
Text 2: A bookmobile is a library on wheels. It is usually a large truck or bus with shelves inside. Bookmobiles visit places that are far from a library building. They stop at farms, small towns, parks, and schools. Many bookmobiles come once every week or two. Visitors climb aboard, choose books, and check them out with a library card. Some bookmobiles also lend movies, music, and games. Some modern bookmobiles carry laptops and offer free internet. Others hold story times for young children right inside the bus. Drivers are trained to handle the big vehicle on narrow roads. In bad weather, a bookmobile may have to skip a stop. Even so, many readers plan their week around its visit. Bookmobiles began in the early 1900s, and hundreds still roll through the United States today. Librarians who drive them say kids often run to meet the bus.
What do both texts describe?
- how buses and trucks were first made
- the history of farming in Kentucky
- ways to build a library in a small town
- ways to bring books to people far from a library
How did each traveling library get to its readers?
- Both by truck or bus on roads
- Both by horse on mountain trails
- Text 1 by horse; Text 2 by truck or bus
- Text 1 by truck or bus; Text 2 by horse
Which detail is in both texts?
- Riders followed creek beds and trails.
- The program ended in the year 1943.
- Readers got new books every week or two.
- Visitors used a library card for books.
Which detail is only in Text 1?
- Readers plan their week around each visit.
- Story times happen right inside the bus.
- Librarians collected recipes and quilt patterns.
- Some libraries offer free internet on laptops.
Which detail is only in Text 2?
- Some carry laptops and offer free internet.
- Families kept books for two weeks.
- Riders went up to 100 miles a week.
- Most of the librarians were women.
What do both texts say about children?
- They collected recipes for the scrapbooks.
- They helped drive the bookmobile bus.
- They were eager to see the books arrive.
- They led the horses up the hills.
How are the two programs different in time?
- Both programs are still going today.
- Both programs began in the 1930s.
- One program ended; the other is still going.
- Both programs ended many years ago.
What does "saddlebags" mean in "Their saddlebags held books, magazines, and newspapers"?
- bags hung on a horse's saddle
- shelves inside a large bus
- pockets sewn in a rider's coat
- boxes left at each family's home
How do the texts describe bad weather differently?
- Neither text says anything about rain, snow, or bad weather.
- In Text 1, a stop may be skipped; in Text 2, drivers go out anyway.
- Both texts say bad weather stopped every single trip.
- In Text 1, riders went out anyway; in Text 2, a stop may be skipped.
Which claim does NOT appear in either text?
- Bookmobiles stop at farms and parks.
- Readers paid a small fee for each book.
- Riders followed rocky mountain trails.
- Readers kept the books for two weeks.
