how the maya lived · 9. the dragon boat festival takes place in china each year in june. people in...

How The Maya Lived

How The Maya LivedThis text is adapted from an original work of the Core Knowledge Foundation.

The Maya were an American Indian people who lived in Mesoamerica. Their civilization thrived between the years 200 and 900 CE.

Maya farmers raised food for the people of their large cities. In the lowland areas, farmers created

waterways to redirect and save water.

How did the Maya Live?

Most Maya people made their living as farmers. Their main crop was corn. One of their main foods was something you may have eaten-a flat bread called a tortilla (/tor*tee*uh/). Farmers also grew beans, squash, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and pumpkins.

Maya farmers lived in one-room huts made out of mud and grass. Families lived in walled areas that had several huts. Men and boys did the farming. Women and girls took care of the house, cooked, and made clothing and pottery.

Every culture has practices that seem odd to other people. The Maya did two things that may seem a little strange to you. They considered crossed eyes to be beautiful. So mothers would hang something in front of a baby's nose to help the baby develop crossed eyes. The Maya also viewed a flat head as

a symbol of beauty. They would strap a long board to the backs of newborn babies. As the babies' heads rested against the board, the board gradually flattened the back of the babies' soft skulls.

Coming of Age

Before age five, Maya children were cared for by parents and other relatives. At age five, they took on new responsibilities, such as helping with farming and household chores. A boy had a white bead braided to his hair. A girl had a string tied to her waist with a red shell attached.

ReadWorks.org · © 2017 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.This article is based on an original work of the Core Knowledge® Foundation made available through licensing under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. This does not in any way imply that the Core Knowledge Foundation endorses this work. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercialShareAlike 4.0 International License. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/

How The Maya Lived

The Maya believed that the gods controlled all aspects of life, and they consulted the stars for

guidance.

These symbols remained in place until the children reached the age of fourteen. At this point, an initiation ceremony was performed to mark their passage to adulthood. A priest would pick a day when the stars were favorable. Then the priest would cut the bead from the boy's hair. A girl's mother would cut the string from her daughter's waist. Then the parents would have a celebration with family members and neighbors.

After these ceremonies, boys moved into a house for unmarried men. There they would remain until they got married. Marriages were arranged. In the hard life of Maya farmers, marriages were not romantic affairs. They were more like business deals between families.

As with the initiation ceremonies, priests picked marriage dates. They checked with the stars and the gods to find a day that would bring good fortune. However, no Maya couple expected married life to bring only good fortune. The Maya believed that every aspect of life was controlled by the gods. Because some gods were good and some were bad, they expected life to include both joy and sorrow.


ReadWorks Vocabulary - ceremony

ceremony cer·e·mo·ny

Definition

noun

1. a set of actions that someone performs to mark a special occasion.

They invited only a few guests to the wedding ceremony.

Advanced Definition

noun

1. a set of formalities, customs, or rites performed in order to give honor or validation, or this set of acts taken as an event.

A Japanese tea ceremony may appear simple but is actually very complex.

A judge will perform the wedding ceremony.

Only a few family members attended her graduation ceremony.

2. a social custom or polite ritual.

Bowing is part of the traditional ceremony of greeting people in Japan.

3. extreme formality or politeness in the manner of carrying out some action, sometimes adopted artificially and containing little meaning.

He opened the door for us with such great ceremony that we nearly giggled.

4. thorough adherence to formality or custom.

The hero was decorated and praised with due ceremony.

Spanish cognate

ceremonia: The Spanish word ceremonia means ceremony.

These are some examples of how the word or forms of the word are used:

1. A six-day festival followed the opening ceremony.

2. They also displayed their countries' flags during a special ceremony.

3. A ceremony was held on November 13, [2006] to mark the start of construction.ReadWorks.org · © 2020 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.

Definitions and sample sentences within definitions are provided by Wordsmyth. © 2015 Wordsmyth. All rights reserved.

ReadWorks Vocabulary - ceremony

4. At a ceremony, the squire's knight would buckle on the armor of the squire.

5. Now, the sights and sounds of this ceremony are broadcast instantaneously to billions around the world.

6. I even got to go to her sister's bat mitzvah in the spring, which is a special ceremony for twelve-year-old girls.

7. In the fall of 1863, President Lincoln visited the battlefield at Gettysburg for a ceremony dedicating the field to all the soldiers who had died.

8. The Japanese tea ceremony engages all five senses: you can smell the woodsy scent of the surrounding garden, hear the wind in the trees outside, feel the teabowl and chakin (napkin) in your hands, see a beautiful painting or ceramic pot in the tokonoma (alcove), and taste the hot green tea and sweets.

ReadWorks.org · © 2020 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.Definitions and sample sentences within definitions are provided by Wordsmyth. © 2015 Wordsmyth. All rights reserved.

ReadWorks Vocabulary - fortune

fortune for·tune

Definition

noun

1. a large amount of money or wealth.

She made her fortune buying and selling land.

2. a person's luck, or the results of experiences during a person's life.

Some say it was her fortune to become a great leader.

Advanced Definition

noun

1. one's wealth, esp. extensive wealth.

She made her fortune in real estate.

2. luck, whether good or ill.

Success is often determined by fortune.

Games of fortune don't really interest me; I like games that require knowledge or

strategy.

3. (often pl.) one's destiny, or the outcome of one's life or experiences during a period of one's life.

His fortunes rose and fell throughout the period of the war and its aftermath.

4. prosperity or success, esp. as aided by luck.

They went to seek their fortune in the city.

Spanish cognate

fortuna: The Spanish word fortuna means fortune.


1. People came from all over Europe seeking freedom or fortune in the colonies.


ReadWorks Vocabulary - fortune

2. Five cents doesn't buy you much these days, but the 1913 Liberty Head nickel is worth a fortune.

3. And though a lot of people found riches in California, the gold rush of the mid-1800s also destroyed one man's fortune.

4. Claire carefully pulled the slip of paper from the cookie and read her fortune silently: "Sometimes in sorrow we find the greatest joy."

5. Billionaire Warren E. Buffet has donated a large portion of his fortune - almost $31 billion - to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

6. In early 1849 the editor of the New York Tribune wrote: "Fortune lies upon the surface of the earth as plentiful as the mud in our streets." People had gold fever. Tens of thousands of men traveled to the West Coast to seek their fortune.


ReadWorks Vocabulary - symbol

symbol sym·bol

Definition

noun

1. an object or picture that represents something else.

The rose is a symbol of love.

Advanced Definition

noun

1. something that represents something else, esp. a material sign or object that stands for a complex or abstract concept.

The rose is a symbol of love.

2. a sign or figure conventionally used to represent a particular quantity, quality, process, or the like.

The plus sign is the mathematical symbol for addition.

Spanish cognate

símbolo: The Spanish word símbolo means symbol.


1. The Arabic alphabet has 28 symbols. It is written from right to left.

2. Most cathedrals are built in the shape of the cross, a symbol of Christianity.

3. The bald eagle is one success story. The bird became the symbol of the United States in 1782.

4. The Chinese writing system does not use an alphabet of letters. Characters, or symbols, represent words and ideas.

5. Till the 18th century, buttons were very expensive. Only the rich could wear them, and they were a status symbol.

6. The bald eagle is an American symbol. An American symbol is a living thing, an object, or a place that stands for the United States.

7. The bell, one of America's most enduring symbols of freedom, had to be moved from its second home at Liberty Hall Pavilion in Philadelphia to a new building down the street.

8. Different colors, types, and sizes of knots meant different things to the skilled reader. Yellow ReadWorks.org · © 2020 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.


ReadWorks Vocabulary - symbol

referred to gold, green told things about the land, and red, the color of blood, symbolized fighting or battles.

9. The Dragon Boat Festival takes place in China each year in June. People in this country take part in boat races. The boats are decorated to look like dragons, a Chinese symbol of luck. The festival celebrates good luck for the next year.

10. The dome of the Duomo was much more like the older structures on the Greek Acropolis than the cathedrals around Europe at the time. The shape of the dome itself symbolized the Renaissance's return to the ideals of the Greek and Roman empires.


How The Maya Lived - Comprehension Questions

Name: ___________________________________ Date: _______________

1. What did most Maya people do to make a living?

A. they traded

B. they farmed

C. they hunted

D. they stole

2. What does this text describe?

A. This text describes how the Maya lived and some of their important traditions and ceremonies.

B. This text describes what the Maya people thought was the most beautiful way to look and dress.

C. This text describes the way Maya marriages were arranged and how they were more like business deals between families.

D. This text describes the way the Maya people built their one-room huts using mud and grass.

3. At age five Maya children took on new responsibilities.

What evidence from the text supports this statement?

A. Maya children were cared for by parents and other relatives.

B. A girl had a string tied to her waist with a red shell attached.

C. Children started helping with farming and household chores.

D. The Maya believed that every aspect of life was controlled by the gods.

ReadWorks.org · © 2020 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.

How The Maya Lived - Comprehension Questions

4. Read these sentences from the text:

Priests picked marriage dates. They checked with the stars and the gods to find a day

that would bring good fortune. However, no Maya couple expected married life to bring

only good fortune. They Maya believed that every aspect of life was controlled by the

gods. Because some gods were good and some were bad, they expected life to include

both joy and sorrow.

Based on this information, what can you conclude about what Maya people thought

when they felt sorrow?

A. They believed the sorrow was their own fault.

B. They believed the sorrow was random.

C. They did not believe in sorrow.

D. They believed the sorrow was controlled by the gods.

5. What is the main idea of this text?

A. When Maya people got married, a priest would pick the marriage date to make sure that it would bring good fortune. They knew, however, that like would include both joy and sorrow, because some gods were good and some were bad.

B. The Maya people did very weird things to their infants. Mothers would hang something in front of a baby's nose to help the baby develop crossed eyes. They also would strap a long board to the backs of newborn babies.

C. Most Maya people were farmers who lived in one room huts. From birth to marriage, the Maya people had many unique traditions and ceremonies that symbolized things such as beauty, growth, and good fortune.

D. A priest would cut a bead from the boy's head at age 14 to mark their passage to adulthood. After this ceremony, boys moved into a house for unmarried men. There they would remain until they got married.


Mayan Astronomy

Mayan AstronomyThis text is adapted from an original work of the Core Knowledge Foundation.

Some priests were expert astronomers and charted the sky. They consulted the heavens to determine favorable days for planting and harvesting.

The Maya believed that their gods gave them an unclear view of the world that was "like breath on a mirror." But we also know that the Maya understood some things very well. Their knowledge of astronomy, for example, was impressive. The Maya, of course, did not have telescopes, computers, or satellites. They didn't even have the wheel. All they had were their own eyes. Yet they were able to make very precise observations of the stars.

Maya Calendars

We all know that there are 365 days in a year, plus an extra day every fourth year, or leap year. These numbers are the result of years of study of the sun and the seasons. The Maya, working without scientific tools, calculated that there were 365.2420 days in a year. Modern astronomers used modern technology to measure the year at 365.2422 days!

The Maya created a solar calendar, or calendar based on the movement of the sun. This calendar is similar to our calendar, but there are some differences. We divide our year into twelve months. The Maya divided their year into eighteen months with names like Pop and Zip. A special five-day "month" completed the 365-day year.

Besides their 365-day solar calendar, Maya astronomers created another calendar called the Sacred Round. This calendar was 260 days long and was used to keep track of religious ReadWorks.org · © 2017 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.This article is based on an original work of the Core Knowledge® Foundation made available through licensing under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. This does not in any way imply that the Core Knowledge Foundation endorses this work. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercialShareAlike 4.0 International License. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/

Mayan Astronomy

holidays and other important events.

Because the Maya had two calendars, each day had two names. One name came from the Sacred Round and the other from the solar calendar. This also meant that all Maya people had two birthdays.

Astronomy at Work

We can see the results of Maya astronomy in the placement of their temples and pyramids, the large structures they built in their cities. These structures were built so the sun would shine directly on key areas on certain days. In the Maya site Chichén Itzá, for example, the sun of the spring and fall equinoxes casts the shadow of a serpent statue onto the pyramid steps. As the sun rises, the shadow slithers down the stairs.


ReadWorks Vocabulary - astronomy

astronomy as·tron·o·my

Advanced Definition

noun

1. the branch of science concerned with the physical universe beyond the atmosphere of the earth.

The notion of black holes in space has fascinated people both inside and outside

the field of astronomy.

Spanish cognate

astronomía: The Spanish word astronomía means astronomy.


1. He is a professor of astronomy at Columbia University, where they have an observatory.

2. The science of astronomy has more to say about this riddle than any time travel theorist.

3. In college, she got hooked on astronomy and signed up to work in a lab, studying how planets form.

4. Even though they'd had an official astronomy unit in fifth grade, by high school, most of his peers couldn't even recall what a solar eclipse was.

5. We visited a comet, grabbed a piece of it, and [the capsule] landed here, Donald Brownlee, an astronomy professor and the mission's head investigator, told reporters.

6. Some scholars think it has something to do with astronomy, since the ground plan of the building aligns itself with the Draco constellation, which is named after its dragon-like shape.


ReadWorks Vocabulary - sacred

sacred sa·cred

Advanced Definition

adjective

1. set apart for or dedicated to religious worship.

2. entitled to or worthy of worship or reverence; holy.

3. revered or venerated.

4. made safe from or against violation.

sacred rights

5. especially or profoundly important.

His privacy is sacred to him.


1. They believed the death of the bird was a result of this curse because cobras were sacred to pharaohs.

2. The Maya also built tunnels and secret doors to trap people who might try to climb the sacred pyramids.

3. We keep a book of his sayings by a sacred altar in our house, with candles that burn day and night.

4. The other pyramids the Maya built were sacred structures. These pyramids were built to honor the gods and were not supposed to be used by anyone.

5. This art shows that drums have been used to make music and rhythm since about 6000 BCE. Many different societies have used drums for ceremonies and sacred occasions.


ReadWorks Vocabulary - structure

structure struc·ture

Definition

noun

1. a thing that is made up of different parts that are connected in a particular way.

A human cell is a complicated structure.

That new hotel is an interesting structure.

2. the way in which the parts of something connect with each other.

A carpenter knows about the structure of furniture.

Advanced Definition

noun

1. a thing consisting of a number of elements joined together in a certain way.


2. the way in which such a thing is joined together.

We're studying the structure of atoms in chemistry class.

3. anything, esp. a building, that has been constructed.

They've finished building the new structure for the playground.

4. the relationship between and among the parts of a relatively complex process or entity.

On our first day at the job, we learned about the structure of the organization.

5. a planned way of proceeding that imposes some degree of discipline and places limits on individual choice.

Some children can work independently, but others require more structure so that

they can concentrate on their task.

transitive verb

1. to give organization to; arrange.

You structured your essay very logically.



Spanish cognate

estructura: The Spanish word estructura means structure.


1. They also have structures called pavilions. People can meet or rest inside them.

2. The Shasta Dam is an extremely impressive structure, and is the result of hard work by many people.

3. Coral reefs may look like rocks, but they are actually living structures. They are made up of tiny sea animals.

4. Egyptian pyramids are stone structures with four triangular sides. At the time they were built, the pyramids were the tallest buildings in the world.

5. In some cases, communities can strengthen structures that already exist. These include dams, bridges, water systems, schools, hospitals, and lifelines (electrical, gas, and water lines).

6. Do you know how to change the properties, structure and state of matter of a substance? If you have made ice before, the answer is yes.

7. With those who are willing to join, let us cooperate to reduce the burden of arms, to strengthen the structure of peace, to lift up the poor and the hungry.

8. This tendency to stay connected to other liquid bits of water is what makes water pool together on a table, if you spill a glass. What could force it to abandon its rigid structure, though, is heat.

9. Truss bridges, however, feature loadbearing structures called trusses, which are connected elements forming triangles. These are one of the oldest types of modern bridges, and are one of the cheapest to make, since they often require less material than other bridges.

10. Sound waves enter through our outer ear and cause the eardrum to vibrate. The three bones in our middle ear pass these vibrations on to the cochlea. The cochlea is a snail-shaped structure in the inner ear that is filled with a special fluid.


Mayan Astronomy - Comprehension Questions

Name: ___________________________________ Date: _______________

1. What were Maya people very knowledgeable about?

A. bicycles

B. astronomy

C. computers

D. biology


A. This text describes how Maya people built pyramids.

B. This text describes the religious holidays listed on the Sacred Round.

C. This text describes how Maya people figured out how many days there are in a year.

D. This text describes the Maya people's use of astronomy.

3. The Maya people were able to make very precise observations of the stars.


A. Maya astronomers created another calendar called the Sacred Round. This calendar was 260 days long and was used to keep track of religious holidays and other important events.

B. The Maya, working without scientific tools, calculated that there were 365.2420 days in a year. Modern astronomers used modern technology to measure the year at 365.2422 days!

C. The Maya, of course, did not have telescopes, computers, or satellites. They didn't even have the wheel. All they had were their own eyes.

D. Because the Maya had two calendars, each day had two names. One name came from the Sacred Round and the other from the solar calendar. This also meant that all Maya people had two birthdays.


Mayan Astronomy - Comprehension Questions

4. Read these sentences from the text.

We can see the results of Maya astronomy in the placement of

their temples and pyramids, the large structures they built in

their cities. These structures were built so the sun would shine

directly on key areas on certain days. In the Maya site Chichén

Itzá , for example, the sun of the spring and fall equinoxes casts

the shadow of a serpent statue onto the pyramid steps. As the sun

rises, the shadow slithers down the stairs.

Based on this information, what can you conclude about the placement of temples and

pyramids?

A. the placement was always random

B. the placement was not important to the Maya

C. the placement was decided by moonlight

D. the placement was calculated and precise


A. One of the best examples of Maya astronomy is found in the Maya site Chichén Itzá. The sun of the spring and fall equinoxes casts the shadow of a serpent statue onto the pyramid steps. As the sun rises, the shadow slithers down the stairs.

B. Today, everyone only has one birthday. During ancient times, however, Maya people had two birthdays. This is because they used two different calendars, one very similar to the calendar we use today, the solar calendar, and a calendar for important events, the Sacred Round.

C. Even though Maya people did not have modern technologies, they were very knowledgeable in astronomy and were almost able to perfectly calculate the number of days in a year. We can see evidence of this in the structures they built in their cities.

D. The Maya people were a very ancient civilization. Because they did not understand how a lot of things in the world worked, they believed that their gods gave them an unclear view of the world that was "like breath on a mirror."


The Mayan Game: Serious Play

The Mayan Game: Serious PlayThis text is adapted from an original work of the Core Knowledge Foundation.

The Maya were an American Indian people who lived in Mesoamerica long ago. While their impressive civilization disappeared many years ago, archaeologists have studied the ruins of their cities, including their hieroglyphs, to learn more about them.

For example, a specific kind of ball court can be found in many Maya cities. Archaeologists were puzzled about these courts, which varied in size. Some were the size of volleyball courts. Others were larger than football fields.

Archaeologists now think the Maya played a game called pok-tapok in these courts. They believe the goal of pok-ta-pok was to drive a solid rubber ball to a specific place on the opponents' side of the court. The balls were heavy. Also, players were not allowed to use their hands or feet! Experts think players may have had to use hips, elbows, knees, or other body parts to score a goal.

Nearly every Maya city had at least one ball court.

The court at the Maya site of Chichén Itzá (/chee*chen/eet*sah/) is still visible today. This court had stone rings, and a team could win the game by driving the hard rubber ball through the ring on the other team's side of the court. If you use your imagination, you can picture what a pok-ta-pok game might have looked like.

Imagine big, strong pok-ta-pok players stepping out onto the court. They wear leather helmets and pads to protect themselves. You can also see that they are worried. They know that the stakes are high. Pok-ta-pok is a game with religious meaning. The Maya think of it as a battle between good and evil. The only way to find out who's good and who's evil is to see who wins the game.

Hundreds of spectators have gathered. They see the game as meaningful for their world and as a way of honoring the gods.

When the game begins, the sound of the bouncing ball is added to the cheers. Pok, pok, pok! goes the hard rubber ball as it hits the ground and bounces off the walls of the court.ReadWorks.org · © 2017 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.This article is based on an original work of the Core Knowledge® Foundation made available through licensing under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. This does not in any way imply that the Core Knowledge Foundation endorses this work. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercialShareAlike 4.0 International License. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/

The Mayan Game: Serious Play

One player begins driving the ball up the court with his elbows, knees, and chest. Then, whack! Another player slams into him and knocks him to the ground. There is no whistle for a foul. In fact, there are very few rules in pok-ta-pok! The game continues until someone finally scores. The side that scores wins the game.

The winners of pok-ta-pok games were considered to be the "good" ones. Sometimes they were rewarded with clothing and jewelry.

But what do you think happened to the losers? Experts believe that at least in certain situations, some of them were offered as sacrifices to the gods. Human sacrifice was a part of the Maya religion. Maya priests sought to please the gods by offering sacrifices atop the pyramids. No wonder the pok-ta-pok players looked worried as they walked onto the court! Pok-ta-pok and human sacrifice are two parts of Maya life that we have learned about from Maya hieroglyphs.


ReadWorks Vocabulary - court

court court

Definition

noun

1. a place where legal matters are heard.

The judge kept order in the court.

2. a marked area in which people play certain games or sports.

We went to the tennis court to play tennis.

Advanced Definition

noun

1. an open space, usu. adjacent to a building, that is wholly or partially enclosed; courtyard.

2. an enclosed or marked off area for playing certain sports such as basketball or tennis.

3. a place where legal cases are heard.

4. the assembly charged with hearing such cases.

5. the residence or offices of a king or dignitary.

6. a short street, esp. one that is a dead end.

transitive verb

1. to seek the favor or affections of.

He's been courting the director for some time in hopes of a part in one of his

movies.

The prince courted her for two years before she agreed to marry him.

2. to act in a way that results in.

He is courting disaster trying to take down that tree himself.

intransitive verb

1. to seek the affections of someone.

Spanish cognate

corte: The Spanish word corte means court.


ReadWorks Vocabulary - court


1. The Supreme Court is made up of nine judges.

2. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the land.

3. She must pay a $10 fine, plus $4 in court costs.

4. People who disagree with any court decision may ask, or appeal to, a "higher" court.

5. A court is considered higher if it can change the decision that another court made.

6. The court also may decide if something the president did is allowed according to the Constitution.

7. And after the Supreme Court decides a case, all other American courts must follow the rules it sets.

8. The palace was the royal home for a king and his family, and it also had a court and an area that was used for ceremonies. The palace supports the idea that the site was the capital of an ancient society.


ReadWorks Vocabulary - opponent

opponent op·po·nent

Definition

noun

1. a person who fights, plays, or takes a position against another person.

Advanced Definition

noun

1. one who opposes; antagonist; foe.

The scientist's opponent was able to patent his invention first.

The Soviet Union proved to be a stronger opponent than the Nazis had

anticipated.

This boxer faces a tough opponent in the ring tonight.

Spanish cognate

oponente: The Spanish word oponente means opponent.


1. He shot an arrow at his opponent.

2. Her opponent isn't having much luck at the pool table.

3. He and his opponent, Stephen A. Douglas, had different opinions.

4. The man he was playing against groaned and reluctantly shook his opponent's hand.

5. Kelly's opponent, Roger, is running for class president of Wright High School because his brother was president last year.

6. Talking trash to an opponent is bad for the team. Talking trash might make the other team angry. That will only make the team work harder to win.

7. A computer directs a ball away from the player who is calmer. "You needed to relax in order to get the ball into the opponent's circle," says Michaela.


ReadWorks Vocabulary - sacrifice

sacrifice sac·ri·fice

Advanced Definition

noun

1. the surrender of something valuable or beloved as an act of devotion or in exchange for some perceived higher good.

Giving up her spare room was a sacrifice, but she wanted to help her nephew.

He made the ultimate sacrifice of giving up his life for what he believed.

They never complained about the sacrifices they made for their children.

2. the offering of some living thing or material possession to a deity as an act of worship, atonement for sin, or propitiation.

They worshiped their god with the sacrifice of animals.

3. something or someone offered or given up as a sacrifice.

He laid the sacrifice on the altar.

4. the loss incurred when something is sold below cost or value, or the thing so relinquished.

They sold the remaining merchandise at a sacrifice.

5. in baseball, a hit that allows someone already on base to advance, though the hitter is put out.

Thanks to Garcia's sacrifice, the runner on third was able to score.

transitive verb

1. to allow to be taken away, damaged, or destroyed for the sake of some perceived higher good.

He is sacrificing his time to help others.

She sacrificed her vacation to tend to her grandmother.

They sacrificed their lives for their country.

2. to make an offering of; give up out of devotion, as atonement or propitiation; surrender.

They sacrificed the lamb to their god.

3. to allow to be sold or destroyed regardless of losses that might be incurred.


ReadWorks Vocabulary - sacrifice

The store is sacrificing its inventory to make room for renovations.

4. in baseball, to enable (a base runner) to advance by hitting a sacrifice bunt or fly.

He bunted in an attempt to sacrifice the runner on second.

intransitive verb

1. to make an offering or suffer a loss out of devotion or desire for some higher good, or as atonement or propitiation.

We all sacrificed during the war.

2. in baseball, to make a hit that allows a teammate already on base to advance, though the hitter is put out.

He got a hit in the first inning and sacrificed in the third.

Spanish cognate

sacrificio: The Spanish word sacrificio means sacrifice.


1. Light one candle for the terrible sacrifice justice and freedom demand.

2. The nation would never forget the sacrifices of the Continental Army at Valley Forge.

3. "Now look here, You," he says, beginning to get a little upset. "It's not like I'm not trying to get a job. I am trying. But it's very difficult. Until then, we're all making sacrifices."

4. As part of their religion, Aztecs were fierce warriors. During battle they would capture natives from other tribes. Often, these captives would be sacrificed at temples. The Aztecs thought that the gods needed human sacrifices to remain happy.


The Mayan Game: Serious Play - Comprehension Questions

Name: ___________________________________ Date: _______________

1. The Maya game pok-ta-pok is a battle between two types of people. What are these

types?

A. rich and poor

B. good and evil

C. male and female

D. young and old


A. The ancient Maya game, pok-ta-pok.

B. The ancient Maya religious practices.

C. The ancient Maya hieroglyphs.

D. The ancient Maya site of Chichén Itzá.

3. Human sacrifice was a part of the Maya religion.


A. The winners of pok-ta-pok games were considered to be the "good" ones.

B. Pok-ta-pok is a game with religious meaning. The Maya think of it as a battle between good and evil.

C. Maya priests sought to please the gods by offering sacrifices atop the pyramids.

D. Spectators see the game as meaningful for their world and as a way of honoring the gods.


The Mayan Game: Serious Play - Comprehension Questions


The winners of pok-ta-pok games were considered to be the "good" ones. Sometimes

they were rewarded with clothing and jewelry. But what do you think happened to the

losers? Experts believe that at least in certain situations, some of them were offered as

sacrifices to the gods . . . no wonder the pok-ta-pok players looked worried as they

walked onto the court!

Based on this information, what can you conclude about the people who played pok-ta-

pok?

A. They were the strongest people in the city.

B. They liked to feel safe and secure.

C. They were willing to risk their lives for the game.

D. They were all prisoners and convicts.

5. What was the main idea of this text?

A. Pok-ta-pok was a very violent game. Players wore leather helmets and pads to protect themselves. They drove the ball up the court with their elbows, knees, and chest. Then, whack! Another player would slam into them and knock them to the ground.

B. The Maya think of pok-ta-pok as a battle between good and evil. The only way to find out who's good and who's evil is to see who wins the game. When playing Pok-ta-pok, people did not want to lose. Losing meant that they were evil and might be sacrificed to the gods for religious purposes.

C. The Maya were an ancient American Indian civilization who lived in Mesoamerica long ago. While their impressive civilization disappeared many years ago, archaeologists have studied the ruins of their cities, including their hieroglyphs, to learn more about them.

D. From studying Maya hieroglyphs and the ancient remains of a game called pok-ta-pok, we have been able to understand how the Maya civilization played this game. We have also been able to learn that people were rewarded for winning, and that people were sacrificed for losing.


Where Did the Maya Go?

Where Did the Maya Go?This text is excerpted from an original work of the Core Knowledge Foundation.

The Maya built great cities. No one knows for sure why they were abandoned.

The ancient Maya were amazing people who built a great civilization in Mesoamerica. That fact alone is a reason to find them interesting. But one of the most fascinating questions about ancient Maya civilization (200-900 CE) is what happened to cause it to end.

Archaeologists believe that the Maya left their cities sometime between 800 and 900. It's possible this event happened over just a few decades. Until the 900s, the Maya kept careful historical records. They used hieroglyphs to carve names and dates on pyramids and temples. Then in the 900s, the writing mysteriously stopped. The temples and pyramids began to fall into disrepair.

So what happened? Archaeologists have theories, but they can't find clear proof for any one of them.

One theory holds that farmers rose up against the priests and nobles. But this raises another question: what happened to the farmers? There is no evidence of a new group of people replacing the old ones in power.

Some have guessed that disease wiped out the Maya population. But no mass burial grounds have been found. Archaeologists have found signs that some people in this area did die from diseases. Almost all of these deaths, however, seemed to have occurred after 1500, when the Spanish brought new diseases to the Americas. The Maya had been gone for years before that.

Did disaster strike the Maya? Did drought or heavy rainfall bring famine? Was there an earthquake? Did shifting trade routes affect the lowland Maya rulers and their settlements? Could invaders have toppled the civilization?

No one knows for sure. We only know that the once-great Maya cities were abandoned and swallowed up by the rain forest. The Maya scattered. But the people themselves did not disappear. Today, millions still speak languages related to ancient Mayan. These ancestors of the pyramid-builders have lived in villages, towns, and cities in southern Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras for centuries. They have a rich heritage, one that we are learning more about with each passing year.


ReadWorks Vocabulary - civilization

civilization civ·i·li·za·tion

Advanced Definition

noun

1. an advanced state of development of a society as judged by such things as having a complex system of government and laws, use of a written language, and the keeping of written records.

Fertile land and an abundant water supply were what made civilization possible

in the region.

2. the culture and achievements characteristic of a society that has reached such a level of development.

We studied the ancient civilizations of China.

3. any society and its culture at a particular time or over a span of time.

American civilization changed immensely as a result of these technological

innovations.

4. the process of civilizing or becoming civilized.

Civilization was a slow process in the colder climates.

5. a place offering human society and modern convenience, as opposed to the wilderness.

After spending months in the Arctic, they were ready to return to civilization.

6. refinement in intellectual and cultural matters.

She was now moving in high social circles and considered herself a woman of

civilization.

Spanish cognate

civilización: The Spanish word civilización means civilization.


1. At the heart of the Aztec civilization were nature and natural forces.

2. Archaeologists keep finding more clues that tell us more interesting facts about this lost civilization.


ReadWorks Vocabulary - civilization

3. Archaeologists (the folks who study the past by recovering fossil remains, monuments, etc.) have found buttons from many ancient civilizations.

4. One of the earliest forms of writing was created by the ancient Sumerian civilization around 3400 B.C.E. It is called cuneiform.

5. By the time Europeans arrived in the New World, the civilization had already crumbled. One idea is that the kings started fighting against each other until all of the peace and wealth ended.

6. When the colonists were trying to gain independence from Britain, they compared themselves to the citizens of Greek and Rome. They identified with the ideals of these old civilizations where men voted on many public issues.

7. Einstein realized that the scientific community can either help or hurt our civilization and believed that scientists are responsible for their actions. If you were a superstar celebrity, how would you use your fame to make the world a better place?

8. In the beginning of the Middle Ages, most people were very poor. However, between the 1000s and 1200s the economy began to get stronger. Things began to improve. Medieval civilization was at its peak during this time, which is often referred to as the High Middle Ages.

9. Rivers are known to be fundamental for civilizations. They provide a resource of utmost importance: water! The Penobscot Indians built their lives around the river and all that it supported. The river was a source of food, for example, as it provided fish for the Penobscot Indians to eat.

10. The lasting influence of ancient Rome is apparent in many areas of our contemporary society. Sophisticated elements of law, engineering, literature, philosophy, architecture, and art can all be traced back to the Roman Empire. But perhaps one of the most lasting contributions from Roman civilization is something we see nearly every day: the Roman arch.


ReadWorks Vocabulary - mysterious

mysterious mys·te·ri·ous

Definitionadjective

1. not known and not able to be explained.

A mysterious light appeared in the sky.

Advanced Definitionadjective

1. full of, pertaining to, or characterized by mystery.

Police are investigating the mysterious disappearance of a prominent lawyer in

town.

2. unknown and unexplainable; elusive; puzzling.

Astronomers became interested in the mysterious flashes of light in the sky.

Spanish cognate

misterioso: The Spanish word misterioso means mysterious.


1. Others painted their landscapes in a mysterious, otherworldly style.

2. Jeremy and Jeffrey had their own mysterious ways of communicating.

3. Black diamonds are a rare kind of diamond with mysterious origins.

4. Stonehenge is a mysterious monument that consists of a circle of stones.

5. Perhaps the answer is behind a mysterious door inside the Great Pyramid.

6. Hidden deep inside the Great Pyramid is a room with a mysterious door.

7. "The world may never know," Maria and her dad said in unison, using their deepest, most mysterious voices.

8. The Mayan civilization would surely remain mysterious, but Dulce would have the opportunity to spend her days among them, in a way, and she could not imagine better company.

9. They went to the library and did research on twins, to see if maybe other people had experienced a similar thing: apparently, throughout history, twins were seen as kind of magical, inhabited by otherworldly powers and able to communicate in mysterious ways, distinct from other people.


ReadWorks Vocabulary - theory

theory the·o·ry

Definition

noun

1. a statement that explains why something happens but has not been proven.

The police have a theory about who stole the jewels.

The scientists discussed theories about the beginning of life on Earth.

Advanced Definition

noun

1. a proposed explanation of something, usu. based on abstract reasoning.

He decided to test out his theory.

2. the body of principles underlying an area or field.

music theory

3. a speculative view or opinion.

I have a theory about his disappearance.

Spanish cognate

teoría: The Spanish word teoría means theory.


1. Wegener came up with a theory: Millions of years ago, all the continents fit together. Many people thought he was crazy.

2. Another theory is that a gradual change in climate occurred for thousands of years. Scientists believe that winters became too cold.

3. One theory is that dreams help make sense of the day's events. Some scientists think that dreams help the brain sort and store information.

4. He has built a network of hissing valves and pistons that can count a strandbeest's steps so, in theory, the beast knows how far it has walked.

5. One scientific theory states that Earth looked very different just millions of years ago. This theory states that continents used to make up a supercontinent called Pangaea.


ReadWorks Vocabulary - theory

6. Some experts think the boats were used to transport the body of the pharaoh Khufu, who built the Great Pyramid, after his death. Others don't think that theory holds water. They are not sure the boats ever got wet.

7. Mercury has an unexpectedly small mantle. The mantle is the layer of a rocky planet that exists between the crust and the core. "One theory is that a giant impact blew off most of the mantle," says scientist Sarah Stewart.

8. Everybody dreams-although scientists don't know exactly why. Scientists have different theories, or ideas, about why dreams are useful. One theory is that dreams help make sense of the day's events. Some scientists think that dreams help the brain sort and store information.

9. Apache is pronounced "uh-PAH-chee," and it isn't the only name for these remarkable people. In fact, it isn't even from the Apache language! There are different theories of where the term originated. According to some, it comes from a word meaning "enemy" in the language of the Zuni, a neighboring tribe.

10. Environmental determinism is the belief that physical environment determines culture. Complex societies capable of building cities and supporting a large population, the theory goes, need certain environmental conditions to develop. They need good soil to produce crops; protection from predators and disease-carrying insects; and leisure time to develop writing and other hallmarks of civilization.


Where Did the Maya Go? - Comprehension Questions

Name: ___________________________________ Date: _______________

1. What happened to Maya people after the once-great cities were abandoned and

swallowed up by the rain forest?

A. They disappeared.

B. They scattered.

C. They died.

D. They moved to Europe.


A. This text describes the horrible disease that struck the Mesoamerica area after 1500 CE.

B. This text describes the rich heritage that Maya ancestors have and where they currently live today.

C. This text describes the different theories archaeologists have for what caused the end of the great Maya civilization.

D. This text describes the careful process that the Maya went through to carve historical records on pyramids and temples.

3. The Maya kept careful historical records.


A. The Maya used hieroglyphs to carve names and dates on pyramids and temples.

B. Archaeologists have found signs that some people in this area did die from diseases.

C. Today, millions still speak languages related to ancient Mayan.

D. The ancient Maya were amazing people who built a great civilization in Mesoamerica.

4. Based on the information in the text, how much do we know about what happened to

the great Maya civilization?

A. We know that they all decided to move south.

B. We know that they all died of disease.

C. We are not sure if they ever existed.

D. We only have theories about what happened to them.


Where Did the Maya Go? - Comprehension Questions


A. Even though archaeologists have theories about why the once-great Maya cities suddenly disappeared in the 900s, no one knows for sure. The people, however, did not disappear. They are still scattered in southern Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras.

B. Some people believe that the Maya population was wiped out by disease, however, there is no evidence of any mass grave. Archaeologists have found signs that some people in this area did die from diseases, but all of these deaths seemed to have occurred after 1500.

C. The Maya were a group of people that were very careful about keeping track of their history. However, in the 900s, the writing on temple and pyramid walls mysteriously stopped. The temples and pyramids then began to fall into disrepair.

D. Some archaeologists believe that some sort of disaster struck the Maya people to end their civilization. Examples are a drought, heavy rainfall, famine, earthquakes, shifting trade routes, or even an invasion.


Ruins in the Rain Forest

Ruins in the Rain ForestThis text is adapted from an original work of the Core Knowledge Foundation.

In the centuries before Europeans came to the Americas, great civilizations thrived in present-day

Mexico, Central-America, and South America. These included the Maya, Aztec, and Inca.

The Vanishing Civilization

Do you like mysteries? Try this one: More than a thousand years ago, a great civilization of American Indian peoples built cities across Mesoamerica-an area today that is made up of parts of Mexico and Central America. They built stone temples and pyramids that rose far above the forest treetops. They were the Maya.

The Maya, one group of native peoples, discovered important mathematical ideas. They also studied the movements of the stars. Using this knowledge, the Maya made a calendar almost as accurate as the one we use today. Then, after hundreds of years of growth, many key elements of Maya civilization disappeared. The people abandoned their once-thriving cities. This great urban society and many of its traditions were mysteriously transformed, although Mayan-speaking people continue in this part of Mesoamerica to the present.

Finding the Ruins

In 1839, two American explorers heard stories of mysterious ruins in the rain forests of Central America. Curious, they set out to see for themselves. The two men first explored the remains of the city of Copán (/koh*pahn/) in the present-day country of Honduras. From the architecture, it was clear the ruins had been left by an ancient and advanced civilization. The two Americans continued their journey, exploring many other ruins. Then, they returned to the United States and wrote a best-selling book about their


Ruins in the Rain Forest

Archaeologists still study the remarkable Maya.findings. Their tales and drawings inspired worldwide interest in the history of the Maya.

Since the mid-1800s, archaeologists and other experts have continued to study these remarkable people. Recent breakthroughs in research have revealed just how much the Maya accomplished. Let's take a closer look at what we know about them and what still remains a mystery.

At its peak, the Maya civilization included a large group of city-states that were allied with, fought, and conquered each other. These cities were located on the Yucatán Peninsula in what is today southeastern Mexico and the countries of Guatemala, Honduras, and Belize. Archaeologists believe that Maya civilization reached its greatest extent between about 200 and 900 CE.

Maya pyramids were grand monuments that reached toward the sky.

The largest buildings in Maya cities were pyramids that also served as temples. These structures served religious purposes. From their size, it is clear that religion was a key part of Maya life. Maya pyramids rose high above the surrounding treetops. Maya pyramids were some of the tallest structures in the Americas until 1902. That year, the twenty-two-story Flatiron Building was constructed in New York City.


ReadWorks Vocabulary - breakthrough

breakthrough break·through

Advanced Definition

noun

1. an act of overcoming or moving through an obstacle or restriction.

2. an important discovery in a particular field that encourages an acceleration in knowledge or expertise.

The discovery of penicillin was a tremendous breakthrough in the treatment of

disease.


1. In 2006, some of Carroll's lab mates made a breakthrough.

2. It brings the breakthrough ideas of developers to life, but does not create them in and of itself.

3. Although many people hail the birth of Snuppy as a scientific breakthrough, others say scientists are barking up the wrong tree when they clone dogs.

4. If we increase the kind of basic research we're doing right now, he says, "I think in five to 10 years we'll reach a breakthrough and something great is going to happen."


ReadWorks Vocabulary - ruin

ruin ru·in

Definition

verb

1. to destroy or damage something.

A flood ruined the village.

Advanced Definition

noun

1. complete destruction or decay.

It's not clear what caused the ruin of this ancient civilization.

The earth's rain forests are facing ruin.

2. (usu. pl.) the product or condition of such destruction or decay.

The dress was torn to ruins.

The ruins of some of the buildings still remain.

They found their home in ruins after the hurricane.

3. a complete downfall, as in health, or financial or social standing.

These bad investments led to the company's ruin.

4. the cause of destruction or downfall.

The scandal was the ruin of his political ambitions.

transitive verb

1. to cause the destruction of; wreck or devastate.

The bad publicity ruined his career.

The disease ruined the crops.

The flood ruined their homes.

2. to cause the downfall or disgrace of.

3. to make unusable or unable to be enjoyed; spoil.ReadWorks.org · © 2020 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.


ReadWorks Vocabulary - ruin

The ink stain ruined the dress.

The rowdy guests ruined the party.

intransitive verb

1. to be wrecked; fall into ruins.

2. to suffer a downfall; come to ruin.

Spanish cognate

ruina: The Spanish word ruina means ruin.


1. Tornadoes ruin whatever is in their path. They can destroy houses and other buildings.

2. Do construction sounds ruin your day? Unpleasant human-made sounds are noise pollution, which comes from many sources.

3. It is dark so that light doesn't ruin the negatives. Photography makes our lives richer in many ways.

4. Emily didn't think it was possible for Rick to ruin her party if he wasn't allowed out of the basement. She hadn't counted on a remote control.

5. He knows the boys are trying to make him mad so that they'll have an excuse to ruin his car. "I'm sorry you feel that way," Tommy says.

6. I've read so many descriptions in newspapers of the ruin and desolation caused in this war.



structure struc·ture

Definition

noun

1. a thing that is made up of different parts that are connected in a particular way.


That new hotel is an interesting structure.

2. the way in which the parts of something connect with each other.

A carpenter knows about the structure of furniture.

Advanced Definition

noun

1. a thing consisting of a number of elements joined together in a certain way.


2. the way in which such a thing is joined together.

We're studying the structure of atoms in chemistry class.

3. anything, esp. a building, that has been constructed.

They've finished building the new structure for the playground.

4. the relationship between and among the parts of a relatively complex process or entity.

On our first day at the job, we learned about the structure of the organization.

5. a planned way of proceeding that imposes some degree of discipline and places limits on individual choice.

Some children can work independently, but others require more structure so that

they can concentrate on their task.

transitive verb

1. to give organization to; arrange.

You structured your essay very logically.



Spanish cognate

estructura: The Spanish word estructura means structure.


1. They also have structures called pavilions. People can meet or rest inside them.

2. The Shasta Dam is an extremely impressive structure, and is the result of hard work by many people.

3. Coral reefs may look like rocks, but they are actually living structures. They are made up of tiny sea animals.

4. Egyptian pyramids are stone structures with four triangular sides. At the time they were built, the pyramids were the tallest buildings in the world.

5. In some cases, communities can strengthen structures that already exist. These include dams, bridges, water systems, schools, hospitals, and lifelines (electrical, gas, and water lines).

6. Do you know how to change the properties, structure and state of matter of a substance? If you have made ice before, the answer is yes.

7. With those who are willing to join, let us cooperate to reduce the burden of arms, to strengthen the structure of peace, to lift up the poor and the hungry.

8. This tendency to stay connected to other liquid bits of water is what makes water pool together on a table, if you spill a glass. What could force it to abandon its rigid structure, though, is heat.

9. Truss bridges, however, feature loadbearing structures called trusses, which are connected elements forming triangles. These are one of the oldest types of modern bridges, and are one of the cheapest to make, since they often require less material than other bridges.

10. Sound waves enter through our outer ear and cause the eardrum to vibrate. The three bones in our middle ear pass these vibrations on to the cochlea. The cochlea is a snail-shaped structure in the inner ear that is filled with a special fluid.


Ruins in the Rain Forest - Comprehension Questions

Name: ___________________________________ Date: _______________

1. Who were the Maya?

A. the New Yorkers who constructed the Flatiron Building

B. the people currently living in Mesoamerica

C. a great and ancient civilization of American Indians

D. a large group of archaeologists and experts


A. This text describes the Maya civilization, their accomplishments, what archaeologists and other experts have discovered about them, and the mysteries that remain about this civilization.

B. This text describes the many ways the Maya people have helped and influenced the society in which we live in today and what we hope to learn from these people in the future.

C. This text describes the challenges that the two American explorers faced while exploring the remains of the city of Copán (/koh*pahn/) in the present-day country of Honduras.

D. This text describes what life was like for people who lived in the Maya civilization when it reached its greatest extent between about 200 and 900 CE.

3. The Maya people were an advanced civilization.


A. Ancient Maya cities were located on the Yucatán Peninsula. Today this is southeastern Mexico and the countries of Guatemala, Honduras, and Belize.

B. In 1839, two American explorers heard stories of mysterious ruins in the rain forests of Central America. Curious, they set out to see for themselves. The two men first explored the remains of the city of Copán.

C. When the two American explorers returned to the United States, they wrote a best-selling book about their findings. Their tales and drawings inspired worldwide interest in the history of the Maya.

D. The Maya discovered important mathematical ideas. They also studied the movements of the stars. Using this knowledge, the Maya made a calendar almost as accurate as the one we use today.


Ruins in the Rain Forest - Comprehension Questions


Archaeologists believe that Maya civilization reached its greatest

extent between about 200 and 900 CE. The largest buildings in

Maya cities were pyramids that also served as temples . . . Maya

pyramids rose high above the surrounding treetops. Maya

pyramids were some of the tallest structures in the Americas until

1902. That year, the twenty-two-story Flatiron Building was

constructed in New York City.

Based on this information, what can you conclude about the Maya Civilization?

A. The Maya civilization had better architects than we have today.

B. They were an extremely advanced civilization for their time.

C. They only built tall buildings.

D. All of their buildings were shaped like pyramids.


A. The Maya civilization reached its greatest extent between about 200 and 900 CE. Maya pyramids were some of the tallest structures in the Americas until 1902. That year, the twenty-two-story Flatiron Building was constructed in New York City.

B. When two American explorers returned from their trip exploring the Maya ruins, they wrote a best-selling book about their findings. Their tales and drawings inspired worldwide interest in the history of the Maya.

C. The Maya people were an ancient and very advanced civilization. Since the mid-1800s, experts have studied these remarkable people and have discovered some of the amazing things they accomplished; however, many mysteries still remain.

D. The Maya built stone temples and pyramids that rose far above the forest treetops. They discovered important mathematical ideas. They also studied the movements of the stars. Using this knowledge, the Maya made a calendar almost as accurate as the one we use today.


how the maya lived · 9. the dragon boat festival takes place in china each year in june. people in...

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