Grade 6 – Practice Comprehension - January

Universal Appeal

Universal Studios Hollywood — a place for fun, entertainment, and even history — is taking its first steps in a 25-year plan to expand the park. The new outline envisions an incredible growth of the amusement facilities as well as the development of a residential neighborhood in the area. This environmentally friendly living area is just another feather in the cap of this amazing park of wonder.

Originally known as Universal City, Universal Studios Hollywood was founded in 1915 by Carl Laemmle. It was the first studio to offer tours where audiences could watch films in production. Since then, Universal Studios has grown to include theme parks, restaurants, hotels, shopping malls, and much more. This park proved to be so popular that Universal Studios Florida opened in 1990, and last year, Universal Studios Japan (Osaka) celebrated its fifth birthday.

With so much past success from growth, it's no wonder that Universal is excited about its latest plans for expansion. Previous plans were scrapped due to complex zoning and environmental regulations. Now, they are ready to move ahead in full force.

While many new attractions are in the works for the new expansion, Universal will preserve some of its old attractions, such as the Bates Mansion from the film Psycho and the mechanical shark from Jaws. These attractions offer a historical perspective of the film industry. Preserving them illustrates the advance in film production techniques over the years. In addition to safeguarding the past, plenty of new high-tech soundstages, rides, and theaters are in the works. In May, Citywalk, a shopping, dining, and entertainment facility, began remodeling. Spring also saw the opening of SkyVenture Hollywood, an attraction where visitors can float 40 feet into the air on 125 mph winds. Not bad for a studio once called, "The strangest place on Earth."

Questions:

1)      What does the new outline hold in future for Universal Studios Hollywood?

2)      Which two other Studios were opened as a result of the popularity of Universal Studios Hollywood?

3)      In the third paragraph, "scrapped" is closest in meaning to _____.

a)      Blown up          b) refused         

 c) called off          d) prolonged

4)       According to the article, why will the older attractions remain?

5)      According to you, what will more than likely occur because of the expansion of the park?

6)      Make a sentence of your own using the idiom – 'Feather in the cap'.

Directed Writing:  As a reporter, write an article persuading people to visit Universal Studios Hollywood.  Write in six paragraphs.

·         Describe Universal Studios Hollywood (Begin with good opening and give three points of the place)

·         Why is it better than any other studios (Rebuttal/Conflict)

Why should people visit Universal Studio Hollywood? (Closing paragraph)