UNIT 6 READING 2 “Southbound on the Freeway” and “Cardinal Ideograms.”

“Southbound on the Freeway”

 and “Cardinal Ideograms.”  

 “Interview with an Astronaut: Dan Bursch”   

The poem “Southbound on the Freeway” tells about an alien that comes to look at life on Earth. Looking down on a freeway, the alien sees cars and thinks they are life-forms. The poem “From Cardinal Ideograms” describes the shapes of numbers 1 through 8 and suggests what these numbers look like. Dan Bursch is an American astronaut who has made three space flights. In “Interview with Dan Bursch,” students used the Internet to ask him questions about being an astronaut. Bursch tells about his job on the International Space Station and describes what it is like to fly into space.

Literary Words

• simile: a comparison of two things, using the
word as or like
• metaphor: a comparison of two unrelated
things, without using the word as or like
• stanzas: groups of lines in a poem

Academic Words

complex = complicated 

➡ A computer is a complex tool because it is made of many parts. A wrench is a simple tool.

interpretation = an explanation

 ➡ Everyone had a different interpretation of the poem. Each
of us had a different reaction to the poet’s metaphors.

published = printed and sold 

➡ A new book of poems was published. The poet was
happy to see her poems in print in the bookstore.

section = a part of something 

➡ I looked in the nonfiction section of the library for a book
about our space program.

Different Ways of Asking Questions

In English, there are different ways of asking questions. Knowing the different ways will help you get the information you need. In each case, use the method that best helps you get the facts, details, and opinions that you are looking for. You can ask questions using the 5Ws:

 Who?
Where? 

When? 

What? 

Why? 

You can also ask questions that start with How?