Name__________________________________________Date______________________
Reading Comprehension
Volume 5, Number 17, January 24, 2000
www.rhlschool.com
“Why do
we even live in this part of the country?” Mr. Smitty asked.
He was standing on the school playground with Mr. El as they watched
their students playing in the snow.
“I
know what you mean,” Mr. El said. “It’s
48 degrees in January and everyone thinks it’s a heat
wave!”
“It’ll
probably be 20 below again before you know it!” Mr. Smitty
complained.
Suddenly
Mr. El noticed movement by the far corner of the building.
“Look who’s coming,” he announced loudly.
The
two men could see Miss Joan leading a procession of little people
marching toward the playground.
“I
don’t remember the last time I’ve had a chance to
chat with Miss Joan,” Mr. Smitty remarked.
“I
don’t remember the last time I’ve had a chance to
annoy Miss Joan,” said Mr. El.
Miss
Joan was smiling and obviously in a very good mood. “Run and
play, children,” she said in her usual quiet and pleasant
voice. It was instantly clear that her kindergartners had no trouble
hearing the command. “And how are you gentlemen?”
she asked.
“Almost
warm,” Mr. Smitty replied.
“Yes,
thank goodness for global warming,” Mr. El added, suppressing
a grin.
“I
beg your pardon!” Miss Joan responded, looking not at all
pleased.
“Hopefully,
today is part of a trend,” Mr. El went on. “If the
average temperature of our planet would shoot up, say fifteen or twenty
degrees, living around here in the winter would be tolerable.”
“What
about the summer?” Miss Joan demanded.
“I
like hot weather.”
“Oh,
you like hot weather!” Miss Joan shot back sarcastically,
doing her best not to shout.
Mr.
Smitty decided to join the fray. “We could buy nice summer
homes in northern Canada,” he suggested.
“I
know that you know better, Mr. Smitty. Your colleague is another
matter!” Miss Joan said in a less than pleasant tone. She
turned to Mr. El. “I suppose it’s fine if everyone
living near the oceans is washed away by the rising water when the
polar icecaps melt, just so that you can be warmer without moving
farther south.”
“Don’t
be silly,” Mr. El said in as sincere a voice as he could
manage. “It won’t be one giant tidal wave. People
will have time to gather up their belongings.”
It
was quite evident that Miss Joan was no longer in a very good mood. She
was no longer in any kind of good mood. “Come
children,” she called, “we are going in!”
Miss
Joan’s kindergartners were not happy about their surprisingly
short recess, but they lined up dutifully and followed their teacher
into the building.
“When
are you going to tell her that you were kidding?” asked Mr.
Smitty.
Mr.
El laughed. “I guess I’ll wait till both the
weather and Miss Joan cool down.”
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