Searching for Signs of Intelligent Life
by RV Staff Writer J.C.
An alien travels to Earth looking for a friendly species with which to communicate. When all he finds is trouble, he wonders if he should give up hope and leave. After reading the story, students will develop a solution to one of the problems presented and respond to questions on the theme and the plot.
Reading Comprehension Passage
Searching for Signs of Intelligent Life
by RV Staff Writer J.C.
Reading Comprehension Questions
Vocabulary List
Vocabulary List
Each of the vocabulary words below are used in the reading passage. As you read the passage, pay attention to context clues that suggest the word’s meaning.
1. Greeting
2. Disturbed
3. Chaos
4. Alien
5. Primitive
6. Intricate
7. Decimating
Context Clues
Context Clues
Using context clues from the sentences in the passage, underline the correct meaning of the word in boldface.
1. “I come in peace,” the little green fellow with the short antennae said, offering his three-fingered hand up in what he hoped would be understood as a greeting.”
a. message b. signal c. salutation d. song
2. “The horse did not like being disturbed.”
a. threatened b. bothered c. confused d. alone
3. “The noise and smoke caused chaos as several men on both sides fell down, screaming.”
a. confusion b. fire c. worry d. upset
4. “Well, that certainly seems stupid, thought the alien.”
a. stranger b. citizen c. brother d. criminal
5. “How very primitive. He flew past them without stopping.”
a. strange b. fancy c. naïve d. awesome
6. The spiders were fascinating and loved sharing the mathematical principles they used to create the most intricate web designs.
a. simple b. complex c. rough d. jagged
7. They remembered everything from their earliest days roaming free across the planet to the heartbreak of how deforestation was decimating their environment.
a. building up b. blocking c. fogging up d. wiping out