Name: WEEK 3
Visualization DAY 3
READ THE PASSAGE As you read, picture how the capital cities are alike and different.
Australia’s and America’s Great Capitals
Australia’s capital city is Canberra (KAN-bruh). Canberra is the location of Australia’s
Parliament House and High Court. The Parliament House is shaped like a boomerang,
while the High Court overlooks a nearby lake. These buildings are similar in purpose to
the U.S. Capitol and the Supreme Court building in our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C.
In these buildings, people make and settle laws for their country.
Canberra is also home to the National Library of Australia. It is very similar to the
Library of Congress. Both are huge libraries with millions of books. The National Library of
Australia has a copy of every book made in Australia. The Library of Congress has a copy
of every book made in the U.S. The two buildings even look similar with many columns
and windows, though the Library of Congress has a large domed tower and is much older.
Both cities also have many monuments for people to see. These monuments teach
about the history of the country. For example, Canberra has the Foundation Stone, which
represents Australia’s six original colonies. In Washington, the Lincoln Monument honors
our 16th president.
STRATEGY PRACTICE What words from the passage helped you picture what the different buildings
look like?
SKILL PRACTICE Read each question. Fill in the bubble next to the correct answer.
1. How are Canberra and Washington, D. C., 3. Why do people visit the monuments
alike? in each capital?
A Both are in Australia. A to learn about the nation’s laws
B Both are in the United States. B to read the nation’s greatest books
C Both are the largest cities in the world. C to learn about the nation’s history
D Both are national capitals. D to see the nation’s current leaders
2. What is similar about the National Library 4. What is the main idea of the passage?
of Australia and the Library of Congress? A Australia and the United States have
A Both are important libraries with a lot nothing in common.
of books. B Canberra and Washington, D. C., have
B Both make and settle laws for each country. many similarities.
C Both have copies of every American book. C Capitals everywhere are the same.
D Both have copies of every American and D The United States has a better capital
Australian book. than Australia does.
© Evan-Moor Corp. • EMC 3454 • Daily Reading Comprehension 25
3454.indb 25 10/19/10 8:01 AM
