CAASPP Success - Grade 3 Reading Comprehension - Expository #2
Read the passage and answer the questions.
How People Have Told Time Through History
[1] Have you ever wondered how people knew what time it was before clocks and watches were invented? The way people have told time has changed a lot over the years. Let’s take a look at the history of telling time and how it all began.
[2] A long time ago, people noticed that the sun moved across the sky every day. They realized they could use the position of the sun to tell what time it was. This led to the creation of sundials, one of the earliest timekeeping tools. Ancient Egyptians were among the first to use sundials around 3,500 B.C. They even built tall structures called obelisks, which also worked as giant sundials, casting shadows to mark different times of the day.
[3] But what about when the sun wasn’t shining, like on cloudy days or at night? People invented other ways to measure time. The ancient Greeks developed water clocks, known as clepsydras, around 325 B.C. These clocks used water dripping from one container to another to measure time. The Greeks even added an early version of an alarm to their water clocks, where the rising water level triggered a whistle to alert people when a certain time had passed. Around the same period, the Chinese used candle clocks, which burned at a steady rate, allowing people to measure time during the night.
[4] In the Middle Ages, mechanical clocks were invented in Europe. The first mechanical clocks, built around the 1300s, used gears and weights to keep track of time. These clocks were large and often found in church towers or town squares. They were not very accurate at first, sometimes losing or gaining several hours each day. However, in 1656, the Dutch scientist Christiaan Huygens invented the pendulum clock, which greatly improved accuracy. Pendulum clocks became the standard, and for the first time, people could measure time within a few seconds of accuracy each day.
[5] As timekeeping technology improved, clocks became smaller and more portable. The first pocket watches were created in the 1500s in Germany. These early watches were not very accurate and needed to be wound regularly. By the 1600s, however, watches had become more reliable, and people began wearing them on their wrists. This invention laid the foundation for the wristwatches we use today.
[6] The 20th century brought even more advancements. In 1927, the quartz clock was invented. Quartz clocks use a tiny piece of quartz crystal that vibrates at a very precise frequency when electricity passes through it. This technology made clocks even more accurate, leading to the development of modern digital watches. Today, atomic clocks, which measure time based on the vibrations of atoms, are the most accurate clocks in the world, keeping time to within billionths of a second.
[7] Over thousands of years, the way we tell time has evolved from using the sun and stars to relying on incredibly precise technology. Each invention has helped us keep track of time more accurately, making it easier to organize our day and connect with others. So, the next time you check the time, remember all the amazing inventions that have made it possible!
Class Companion
Question 1
According to the passage, what innovation did the ancient Greeks add to their water clocks?
A mechanical gear system
An early version of an alarm
A system of candles
A method to harness the sun's energy
Question 2
What is the main idea of the third paragraph in the passage?
Sundials were the primary way to tell time in ancient Egypt.
Water clocks and candle clocks were developed for timekeeping when sundials couldn't be used.
Mechanical clocks were first developed during the Middle Ages.
Obelisks were built to cast shadows and tell time.
Question 3
What does the term "pendulum" most likely mean, based on how it is used in the passage?
A modern digital device
A tool used by ancient Egyptians
A weight that swings back and forth to regulate time
A new method of casting shadows
Question 4
Why were mechanical clocks in the Middle Ages usually found in church towers or town squares?
They were large and needed a lot of space.
They were more accurate when placed high up.
They were used for worship services only.
They were built as symbols of faith.
Question 5
Which of these ways to tell time led to the development of modern digital watches?
The invention of the quartz clock
The use of sundials and water clocks
The building of obelisks and towers
The introduction of pocket watches
Question 6
Read the sentences from the passage.
Write the sentence that best describes where mechanical clocks were commonly located.
In the Middle Ages, mechanical clocks were invented in Europe. The first mechanical clocks, built around the 1300s, used gears and weights to keep track of time. These clocks were large and often found in church towers or town squares.
Question 7
Which two inventions from the passage helped increase the accuracy of timekeeping?
Sundials and Water Clocks
Obelisks and Candle Clocks
Pendulum Clocks and Quartz Clocks
Pocket Watches and Mechanical Clocks
Question 8
What does the passage say was a big problem with the earliest mechanical clocks?
They often broke down and needed repair.
They used a lot of energy to operate.
They were not very accurate, losing or gaining several hours each day.
They were too small to read from a distance.
Question 9
Which statement best explains why Christiaan Huygens’ invention was important?
It introduced the concept of using quartz crystals in timekeeping.
It made mechanical clocks smaller and more portable.
It greatly improved the accuracy of pendulum clocks.
It allowed clocks to be placed in people’s homes.
Question 10
Read the following piece of the passage.
Write the sentence that best describes the impact of the pendulum clock invention.
"In 1656, the Dutch scientist Christiaan Huygens invented the pendulum clock, which greatly improved accuracy. Pendulum clocks became the standard, and for the first time, people could measure time within a few seconds of accuracy each day."
Question 11
What is the most likely reason the author begins the passage with a question?
To make the passage seem more scientific
To engage the reader’s curiosity about the topic
To introduce a difficult concept
To summarize the main idea
Question 12
Pick the sentence that explains all of the advancements in timekeeping from the entire passage.
Early timekeeping involved using the sun and stars, and this method is still widespread today.
Water clocks were only used by the Greeks in the past, but now many different cultures use them.
Mechanical clocks were more accurate than previous methods, and they are still the most accurate.
Timekeeping has changed and developed over time to become more accurate and widely available.
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