Acropolis Adventure PDF - Reading A-Z Level Z

LEVELED BOOK Z Acropolis Adventure Acropolis Adventure A Reading A–Z Level Z Leveled Book Word Count: 2,603 Z...

LEVELED BOOK Z Acropolis Adventure Acropolis Adventure A Reading A–Z Level Z Leveled Book Word Count: 2,603 Z P W Written by Troy Wolff Illustrated by Marcy Ramsey Visit www.readinga-z.com www.readinga-z.com for thousands of books and materials. Acropolis Adventure Acropolis Adventure Level Z Leveled Book Written by Troy Wolff © Learning A–Z Correlation Illustrated by Marcy Ramsey Written by Troy Wolff Illustrated by Marcy Ramsey LEVEL Z Fountas & Pinnell U–W All rights reserved. Reading Recovery N/A www.readinga-z.com www.readinga-z.com DRA 50  Dimitri the Greek “You must be Brady.” Surprised, Brady stopped and looked around; he felt jostled by large crowds of tourists streaming down narrow stone-paved streets like rivers of people. “Over here, young man,” the voice continued. Brady squinted in the bright morning sunshine, struggling to find the voice’s origin. He glanced toward a shady sidewalk cafe on the busy street, but the glaring sunlight kept Brady’s eyes from penetrating deep into shadows created by umbrellas. “Yes,” Brady answered timidly. “You’re Brady, son of my American friend, John Phillips?” the voice questioned. Table of Contents “Yeah,” Brady answered more surely. Dimitri the Greek........................... 4 “Please, my young friend, come and sit with me.” Winding Around the Acropolis............... 8 As Brady slowly moved into the shade, his Discovering the Theater.................... 13 eyes adjusted. He noticed this tall figure sitting Climbing to the Top........................ 17 alone at a table in the corner. The man’s head looked completely bald and tanned by years Glossary.................................. 24 Acropolis Adventure Level Z 3 4  “Yes, I am,” the man answered. “Actually, it’s Dimitrious Thanapopoulous, at your service,” he continued with a slight bow of his head, “but please call me Dimitri.” “So, you know my dad?” Brady wondered. “Yes, Brady. I met your father when he graduated college and felt eager to experience life outside the United States. We explored the European countries of Greece, Italy, France, and Spain together, and I owe your father a debt for saving my life.” Dimitri stopped speaking and closed his eyes. in the sun, yet his eyes beamed bright and A tiny smile crossed his face, and the wrinkles welcoming. Even though the man was sitting around his eyes deepened. “What a glorious time; down, Brady could tell he was tall and slender remember, all of us older folks were once young because his clothes hung loosely. and full of questions and energy like you,” Dimitri observed. “Are you Dimitri?” Brady inquired, rather cautiously. “Well, I don’t have many questions,” Brady answered with a shrug of his shoulders. “All this Brady was on vacation with his parents in ancient history and learning about other Greece, and they’d arranged for him to connect countries seems boring.” with Dimitri, an old family friend, while they spent precious time visiting the Athens National “Boring?” Dimitri boomed. “My friend, Museum. Brady wasn’t thrilled to hang out you’re in one of the most exciting cities; Athens with Dimitri, but his father assured him that is the birthplace of many ideas that are the it’d be a day he’d never forget, so Brady foundation of our modern world.” begrudgingly obliged. Acropolis Adventure Level Z 5 6  “Yeah, yeah, I’ve heard,” Brady said, “but in my world, in my little sixth-grade reality, a bunch of dates and names don’t mean anything to me.” “Well, that’s about to change,” Dimitri exclaimed, patting Brady on the shoulder. “I’m going to bring the secrets of Athens to life before your very eyes.” Winding Around the Acropolis “I’m more interested Dimitri and Brady left the cafe, working in how my father saved their way among groups of tourists sightseeing your life. He didn’t mention and shopping along the narrow streets of Old anything about that. As far Athens that wound through the city like a snake. as visiting places in Greece, The pair walked toward the steep-sided hill I don’t have much money,” called the Acropolis, which was Greece’s most Brady responded, hoping famous landmark. The Acropolis hill rose up this would excuse him and towered above the crowded streets of the city. from a day of historical Brady previously saw the buildings on the hilltop sightseeing. lit up at night, glowing high above the city as if “Money isn’t needed,” anchored in the ground like a huge cruise ship. Dimitri answered. “Simply Before Dimitri and Brady reached the foot of open your imagination and the steep slope leading up to the hilltop, Dimitri I’ll do the rest. What do steered Brady away from the crowd. you say?” Dimitri asked, extending a suntanned arm toward Brady for a Off the street, through a rusty, iron gate handshake. “And for a treat, at the end, I’ll tell stretched a flat, dusty plot of land dotted with you a story about your dad.” several marble columns and bits of old stone-paved roads. A modern iron fence separated this area from “Well, okay, I guess,” Brady replied. the rest of Athens like a private park or cemetery. Acropolis Adventure Level Z 7 8  “What are we doing here?” Brady protested. Brady shaded his eyes with his hand and Instead of answering, Dimitri led Brady toward focused. He noticed several small metal rods— a stone tower near a fenced area. The tower rusted with age—poking out from flat sides of the resembled a two-story-high marble octagon that tower at odd angles. Each rod rose out from one had turned gray and rough with weather and age. of the floating figures. “What are those rods for?” Atop each of the eight flat sides, a carved figure Brady asked. appeared as if floating on the wind. “Ah, so now you notice something unusual,” Dimitri answered. “We miss so much in life if we fail to notice the details—if we don’t really keep our eyes open.” “My dad says that, too,” Brady answered, “but what are these metal things for?” “Well, my suddenly inquisitive friend, this is the Tower of the Winds, built approximately 100 bc by an astronomer named Andronicus (an-draw-NY-kuhs).” As Dimitri spoke, he leaned back and focused his attention on the tower. “Brady, look more closely at the carvings and tell me if you see the straight lines cutting through the figures?” “Yes,” Brady answered, noticing lines “Brady, tell me what you see,” Dimitri stretching out like spokes on a wheel. demanded quietly. “Do you know what a sundial is?” Dimitri “Um, a tower,” Brady answered. asked, keeping his eyes on the tower. “That’s obvious,” Dimitri smiled, “look closer and tell me what you really see.” Acropolis Adventure Level Z 9 10  “Yeah,” Brady answered, “it tells time by the shadow created by the Sun, right?” “Exactly,” Dimitri responded. “Imagine this tower as one giant sundial, but a sundial also working all year long as a calendar.” “I don’t understand,” Brady said, looking more closely at the markings. “It’s quite brilliant, really,” Dimitri continued. “The Sun changes position in the sky throughout the year. Each of the lines, when hit by the shadow cast by the rod, told the citizens of Athens the exact time of day, but also the exact time of year.” Dimitri stepped back and spread his arms wide in the direction of the tower: “A giant marble calendar!” “Man, that’s really cool,” Brady answered enthusiastically. “Cool?” Dimitri asked. “What exactly do you mean by ‘cool’? Be more specific.” Acropolis Adventure Level Z 11 12  “Okay,” Brady replied, staring hard at the “Oh, I just meant it took me by surprise, tower. “I mean... it’s surprising that this that’s all—no big deal,” Brady answered, Andronicus guy who lived so long ago figured slightly embarrassed. “But what is this place?” out exactly how to measure time.” he continued. “Much better,” Dimitri smiled. “And speaking of time, we’d better quicken our pace if we’re going to meet your splendid parents for dinner tonight. We have much yet to see.” “Dimitri, will you now tell me how my father saved your life?” “Not yet, young man,” said Dimitri, “remember, patience is an important virtue.” Discovering the Theater Dimitri and Brady soon rejoined the walking crowds filling the narrow stone streets at the Acropolis’s base. Brady lagged behind, unable to keep up with Dimitri’s determined pace. Brady Stretching up the slope toward the Acropolis, began to notice local people working in the looming before Dimitri and Brady, stood row restaurants surrounding the Acropolis, along after row of stone benches in a gigantic semicircle. with tourists from all over the world with The benches brightly reflected the midday sun. cameras around their necks and maps in hand. After giving Brady some time, Dimitri spoke: Suddenly, Brady gasped, “Whoa! What’s that?” “So, Brady, do you like movies?” “Brady, such emotion from you? I’m “Of course,” Brady said, puzzled, but not surprised,” Dimitri grinned. taking his eyes off the sight before him. Acropolis Adventure Level Z 13 14  “Well, they started right here,” Dimitri stated. Brady finally reached the top row, winded “All our ideas of drama, comedy, and tragedy from the climb. He turned toward the stage began with Greek theater. Twenty-four centuries where Dimitri, tiny from this distance, stood in ago, great plays were performed in this ancient the middle, waving his lanky arms. Then the arena, the Theater of Dionysus (dy-uh-NY-suhs),” kind guide cupped his hand around his ear, Dimitri continued. “Once a year, 17,000 people giving Brady the silent signal to listen. watched play after play—tragedies and Brady felt completely shocked to hear Dimitri’s comedies—many we still perform and study. voice come to him in a normal, everyday tone. It At the end of a three-day contest, citizens decided sounded as though Dimitri were standing right on the winning play.” next to him, Brady thought. Brady tried to picture the slightly overgrown “So, Brady,” Dimitri said from below, “can stone theater filled with people. The actors must you hear how they didn’t need microphones have struggled to have their lines heard by those back then?” seated in the very top rows. “Yes!” Brady yelled excitedly, his voice echoing “Dimitri,” Brady asked, “did the Greeks off nearby cliffs and stone. “This is amazing!” have microphones?” “Well, come down and I’ll explain how,” “Brady, it was 400 bc,” Dimitri said, laughing. Dimitri added. “There were no microphones.” observers “Then how could people watching from the top rows hear actors onstage?” Diagram of the Theater of Dionysus ves Instead of answering, Dimitri instructed d wa soun 34 rows Brady to climb to the last row of seats. As Brady scrambled up the steep marble steps worn 21 rows smooth by centuries of footsteps, his leg muscles actors 13 rows burned like wood over hot coals. He began stage lower middle upper sweating profusely. section section section section Acropolis Adventure Level Z 15 16  After climbing back down, Brady listened, buildings and pathways of a city park surrounding amazed by the simplicity of the Greeks’ plan for the entrance and a series of broken-down marble outdoor theaters. Based on mathematics, Dimitri buildings higher up on the hillside. explained, the theater was divided into three equal sections—lower, middle, and upper. Each Tower of the Winds The section of the semicircle tilted at a slightly higher Acropolis Hill Parthenon angle than the level below it. This created a bowl effect, trapping sounds from the stage. As long as each row of seats was placed in exact proportion to the stage, the audience members could hear the actors. As Dimitri and Brady turned to leave the theater, Brady shook his head, “I can’t believe Theater of Dionysus things like this could’ve been built so long ago; perhaps, I’ve misjudged history.” Brady now “Dimitri, I don’t understand the big deal,” loved his adventure, and no longer regretted Brady muttered, looking at the crowds of people sightseeing with Dimitri. swarming over steps leading up the hill. “We’ve “We still have the Acropolis to visit,” Dimitri walked so far to experience the Acropolis, yet said excitedly as they left the theater. all this place looks like is a bunch of broken, scattered rocks.” Climbing to the Top “Brady, my impatient friend, it’s a matter of Continuing along the stone walkway perspective,” Dimitri maintained. following the curve of the hillside, they noticed people above them, gathered around the entrance “Perspective?” Brady wondered. gate to the Acropolis like a flock of pigeons eating “Yes,” Dimitri responded, “what you see from breadcrumbs. From where Dimitri and Brady where you’re standing—this represents perspective. stood, all Brady could see were the modern What’s important to realize is that you often can’t Acropolis Adventure Level Z 17 18 see everything from your own viewpoint. It’s an Sure enough, after reaching the top, Brady’s important lesson to learn.” Dimitri paused for a jaw dropped open at the sight before him. On the moment, letting Brady think about what he’d highest point of the Acropolis hill stood a stone said. Then he continued. “Don’t you think there’s temple with evenly spaced, massive columns of a legitimate reason these people walked so far marble—the Parthenon. It looked as big as a and climbed such a multitude of steps?” modern football stadium but was decorated with carved figures and geometric patterns in stone. “Yeah, I guess,” Brady admitted. The entire building seemed to glow a honey- “Then you need to look past what your eyes orange color in the late afternoon light. Shafts tell you; ask your father, he knows. As far as the of sunlight shot down between the columns, Acropolis is concerned, trust me, beyond the top reaching toward the earth from the sky. of those marble steps lies one of the wonders of Brady tried to think of something back home the ancient world—the Parthenon and many that would compare to this, but nothing came to buildings of the Acropolis.” mind. His thoughts spun as he tried to picture this magnificent temple being built by ancient Greeks centuries before people even knew the Earth was round. “So, worth the climb?” Dimitri queried playfully. “Yes, it’s awesome,” Brady answered. Dimitri and Brady walked around the Parthenon, admiring the perfect lines in the building and its unbelievable height. At various places near the roof, Brady saw detailed scenes carved into the stone—perfect images of faces, clothing, animals, and ancient gods. Acropolis Adventure Level Z 19 20  “Dimitri,” he asked, after momentarily losing him and comparing it in his mind’s eye to the sight of his friend in the crowd around the churches and office buildings back home. temple, “this building’s so different from other After admiring the Parthenon and other great buildings I’ve seen. We don’t decorate our buildings, Brady found himself against a wall buildings, not like this. American buildings are all on the extreme edge of the hilltop. glass and steel.” Below him in every direction stretched the “That’s true,” Dimitri agreed, “but you’ve got crowded streets and rooftops of Athens. In the to remember, this wasn’t an ordinary building. distance, he could see the large oval of the This was a magnificent temple to the goddess Olympic stadium, and even farther away, the Athena, the protector of Athens. All buildings glistening sea. As the Sun turned orange and of the Acropolis celebrated the utter greatness began to drop below the horizon, Brady’s of Athens.” thoughts wandered back over all he’d seen. “You know, Dimitri,” Brady said, while focusing on the brilliant sunset spilling out before him, “you’re right, I need to pay more attention to the details of life. I would’ve missed so many of these amazing sights if I were here by myself. Thank you for opening my eyes about these places. Now will you please tell me how my father saved your life?” “You don’t need to thank me, my friend,” Dimitri answered, putting a hand on Brady’s shoulder and joining him in admiring the sunset. “Nothing in life pleases me more than seeing “Things sure are different today,” Brady friends truly appreciate the wonders of life.” answered, marveling at the monument before Dimitri stood silently for an extended moment before continuing: Acropolis Adventure Level Z 21 22  “Now I’ll explain how your father’s a hero.” Glossary “My father was a hero?” asked ancient (adj.) from a very long time ago (p. 6) Brady, shocked. Andronicus (n.) an astronomer, engineer, and architect from Syria who lived “Your father and I were traveling in Spain during the 1st century bc (p. 10) when we decided to take part in the Running Athens (n.) the capital of Greece (p. 5) of the Bulls, a Spanish tradition in which regular people carouse with hundreds of wild bulls. comedy (n.) a type of entertainment with funny characters and a happy What an exciting time! But while running, ending (p. 15) I took my eyes off the bulls and would have been stampeded to death except that your European (adj.) o  f or relating to the continent of Europe (p. 6) father pushed me out of the way at the last instant. That’s why I said it’s important to see geometric (adj.) r elating to the field of math that deals with angles, points, lines, things from a certain viewpoint, and that’s also surfaces, and solids (p. 20) why your father and I say it’s important to keep your eyes open.” Greek (adj.)  f or relating to the country of o Greece and its people (p. 15) “Wow, I never knew my father had that in landmark (n.) a n important historical building him,” Brady replied. In the fading light, Brady or site (p. 8) thought about how he’d leave Greece a different multitude (n.) a large number (p. 19) person than when he arrived. octagon (n.) a shape with eight angles and eight sides (p. 9) perspective (n.) a person’s mental outlook or point of view (p. 18) proportion (n.) p  ortions or parts in relation to the whole (p. 17) tragedy (n.) a serious play, movie, or book with a sad ending (p. 15) Acropolis Adventure Level Z 23 24