(9 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Thanksgiving is a busy day. The night before is busy, too, at least in New York City. Macy's workers pump up balloons, giant balloons! They are for the Macy’s Thanksgiving, Day Parade. In the morning, people will crowd the streets They will come for the parade. Millions will watch it on TV. TThere are 40 balloons. How big are they? Some of them are ten stories high! They are filled with ai. The air is mixed with a gas called helium. This gas makes them float the in the air. Volunteers walk down the street un CHOLASTICTF balloons. They hold the balloons down with ropes. Each balloon is different. That one is Superman! Look at Bugs Bunny! Peter Rabbit is over there. That's Spiderman! The big balloons look alive! They lean and sway. They look out with their big eyes. The people clap and cheer. They wave and smile at the balloons. It’s fun! Every year, there are new balloons. Kids help pick them. After Thankégiving, thousands of kids write letters to the directors of the parade. They ask for new balloons. The directors read the letters from kids. They try to use their ideas. If you have ideas, write to Macy’s. They will be happy to hear from you, —Pat Chandler Pla a oe coCar ed ae CLUS Write the letter of the best answer for each question. 1. Why do you think so many people watch the parade on TV! ‘A. Its the only thing on TV at that time. B. Its fun to watch the big balloons on parade, . It's something kids watch for homework D. There is a good movie right afer the parade. 2. What would happen if the workers dropped the ropes? A. The air and gas would go out of the balloons. B. The balloons would float away. C. The balloons would fll down, . Someone might steal the balloons. Find each vocabulary word in the selection. ‘The words and sentences around ic wil help you figure out its meaning. Write the letter of the best definition of the underlined word. 1, People crowd the streets for the parade. A. pack together on stand quietly on C. walk on the side of D. leave a mae on A. actors and reporcers B. cifferenc groups €.not too large D. large numbers lions of them, will watch the 3. Why is each balloon differene? A. 50 no one steals them all B. to make the parade cost more money C. so the parade is more interesting D. to make sure they al float at different heights 4, Who can help choose new balloons for the next parade? ‘A. people who sign up at Macy’s 'B. people who sign up at the parade C. people who write letters to the directors D. people who live in New York City ‘What makes the balloons stay up? A. ropes BB. wires from the top C. a special kind of spray D. air mixed with gas 3. The balloons are filed with air and a gas that ‘makes them float. A. people who lift balloons at a parade B. ropes that are used to pull something up C. substance that is neither a liquid nor a solid . heavy liquid that is similar to maple syrup Volunteers hold the balloons down ‘with ropes. A. workers who do a job for no pay BB. people who ike balloons ©. TV stars D, singers and dancers 5, The huge balloons lean and sway A. float toward the sky B. pop . move back and forth D. fall downEvonavk SS ‘Some words have more than one meaning ‘You can often figure out the meaning of a ‘word by looking at how the word is used in a sentence. For example, the word row has. ‘wo different meanings. 1. row (noun) a line We st in the row behind our parent. 2. row (verb) to paddle Lets row the boat to the island, Read the sentences below. Decide if each underlined word has the meaning A or B. Write the letter of the correct answer. 1. People crowd the streets for the parade. A. crowd noun.a group of people. B. crowd verb, to push or shove. 2. This is the largest crowd ever. A. crowd noun.a group of people. B, crowd verb. to push or shove. ‘A huge wave of people moved forward, ‘A. wave noun. a sudden change or increase, B. wave verb. to move your hand back and forth ‘The people smile and wave at the balloons. A. wave noun. sudden change or increase. B. wave verb. to move your hand back and forth. | 2 In the article “Here Comes the Parade,” 5. The balloons are filled with air A. filled verb, put as much as possible into. filled verb satisfied the hunger of. 6. The children were filled after eating a big lunch. A. filled verb. put as much as possible into. B. filled verb satisfied the hunger of. Read the sentences below. Decide if each underlined word has the meaning A or B. Write the letter of the correct answer. 7, What isthe date of the parade? A. a sweet-tastng fruit B. a day of che month or year 18. People can watch the parade on TV. ‘A. something to tell time with B. to look at 9. We stood in the second row at the parade. A. aline to paddle 10, Ieis tough to park a car on parade days. A. land set apart for people to enjoy BB. leave in a certain place for a time learned about the big balloons in the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade, What new balloon would you like to seen the Parade? «© Plan to write a letter to the people who direct the parade. Give them a clear description of a balloon you would like to see next year. First, complete a chart, lie the one shown, with ideas about your new balloon. © Write your letter. Tell them about your idea. Be sure to give clear details about the new balloon character. Bor A, Card