Mountains and Oceans Mount Everest Illustration by Lynn M. Hanousek Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world. It sits in the Himalayan mountain range. It is located north of India on the border between Nepal and Tibet. Everest is over 5 miles above sea level. That is about 110 city blocks. The mountain is named after a man named Sir George Everest. He was a British surveyor general who lived in India in the 1800s. For over one hundred years, people tried again and again to climb the towering mountain. They always failed. Mount Everest has high winds and freezing temperatures. The air is thin and there is a risk of avalanches. In 1953, two men were able to reach the top of Mount Everest for the first time. It took them over two months. Jim Whittaker was the first American to reach the top of Mount Everest. He reached the summit in 1963. Since then several thousand people have been able to reach the top. Do you think you could do it? 1
Name: Date: 1. Which mountain range does Mount Everest sit in? a. the Appalachian mountain range b. the Rocky mountain range c. the Himalayan mountain range d. the Andes mountain range 2. What country was Sir George Everest from? a. India b. Nepal c. United States if America d. England 3. According to the passage, what does towering mean? a. Scary b. Huge c. Cold d. Windy 4. How would you best describe the first two men to reach the top of Mt. Everest? a. Insane b. Brave c. Weak d. Kind 5. Based on the passage, it is likely that a. the weather is very nice on Mount Everest b. it is easy to climb Mount Everest c. it is hard to breathe on Mount Everest d. many people have successfully climbed Mount Everest 2
6. When did the first successful climb to the summit of Mount Everest happen? 7. Based on the passage, why did so many people fail to climb Mount Everest? 8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes the sentence. People tried again and again to climb the towering mountain, they always failed. a. despite b. before c. but d. so 9. Answer the following questions based on the sentence below. In 1953, two people succeeded in climbing to the top of Mount Everest. Who? two people What? Where? When? 10. Vocabulary Word: towering: very tall. Use the vocabulary word in a sentence: 3
Passage Reading Level: Lexile 580 Teacher Guide and Answers Featured Text Structure: Descriptive the writer explains, defines or illustrates a concept or topic Passage Summary: This passage describes Mount Everest, including its characteristics and the people who have tried to climb it. 1. Which mountain range does Mount Everest sit in? a. the Appalachian mountain range b. the Rocky mountain range c. the Himalayan mountain range d. the Andes mountain range 2. What country was Sir George Everest from? a. India b. Nepal c. United States if America d. England 3. According to the passage, what does towering mean? a. Scary b. Huge c. Cold d. Windy 4. How would you best describe the first two men to reach the top of Mt. Everest? a. Insane b. Brave c. Weak d. Nice 5. Based on the passage, it is likely that a. the weather is very nice on Mount Everest b. it is easy to climb Mount Everest c. it is hard to breathe on Mount Everest d. many people have successfully climbed Mount Everest 4
6. When did the first successful climb to the summit of Mount Everest happen? Suggested answer: The first successful to the summit of Mount Everest happened in 1953. 7. Based on the passage, why did so many people fail to climb Mount Everest? Suggested answer: Many people failed to climb Mount Everest most likely because the weather was difficult and because there is not a lot of oxygen, making it challenging for people who are not in shape. 8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes the sentence. People tried again and again to climb the towering mountain, they always failed. a. despite b. before c. but d. so 9. Answer the following questions based on the sentence below. In 1953, two people succeeded in climbing to the top of Mount Everest. Who? two people What? succeeded in climbing Where? to the top of Mount Everest When? in 1953 10. Vocabulary Word: towering: very tall. Use the vocabulary word in a sentence: answers may vary. 5