Unit 4: The Helpful Abbey

Word List

n. An abbey is a house, or group of houses, where monks or nuns live.

When the monk returned to the abbey, he went immediately to his bedroom.
adj. If something is abundant, then it is available in large quantities.

Cakes, cookies, and candy were so abundant that the child was very happy.
v. To adjoin something means to be next to or attached to something else.

She can listen to her brother's conversations because her room adjoins his.
adj. If something is ample, then it is enough or more than enough.

There was an ample supply of oats to feed the horses.
adj. If a place is arid, then it is hot and dry and gets very little or no rain.

Not many plants grow in the arid desert.
n. A cathedral is an important, and often large and beautifully-built, church.

The large cathedral is full of people on Sunday mornings.
n. A crisis is a difficult time when things are going to either get worse or better.

The crisis was over and things returned to normal.
v. To deprive someone of something means to not let them have it.

Because the child was bad, she was deprived of her dessert after dinner.
n. A drought is a long period of time in which little or no rain falls.

After three months of drought, the vegetation and trees started dying.
adj. If someone is eligible, then they are permitted to do or have something.

Only people who bought tickets were eligible to win a prize.
v. To fast means to go without food or drink for a period of time.

In her religion, they fast for five days and then have a big feast.
v. To grumble means to complain.

He grumbled about having to work late on Friday.
adv. If someone goes inland, they travel into the center of a country or land.

The river curved inland near the campground.
n. Moisture is small drops of water in the air or on a surface.

If you breathe on a window, moisture from your breath collects on the glass.
adv. If something happens nonetheless, then it occurs despite some other thing.

She tried to keep the dog out of the mud, but it got dirty nonetheless.
n. An oath is a formal, often public, promise.

Judges must take an oath to be fair to everyone in court.
n. A prairie is a large flat area of grassland.

The prairie was perfect for a farm because there were hills and trees.
adj. If an area of land is rugged, then it is rocky and difficult to travel through.

Their car couldn't make it far along the rugged roads.
adj. If something is scarce, then there is a very small amount of it.

When gasoline was scarce, we rode our bike to school instead of driving.
v. To speculate means to guess about something.

My sister looked at the sky and speculated that it would rain tomorrow.

Exercise

A ‣ Circle the answer that best fits the question.

What would probably happen if you deprived someone of food?
- a. They could die.
- b. They could feel relieved.
- c. They could feel happy.
- d. They could feel peace.
A rugged surface would feel
- a. very rough
- b. smooth
- c. cool and slippery
- d. warm and hard
If you were speculating about something, you would be doing what?
- a. Stating a fact
- b. Looking for truth
- c. Making a speech
- d. Making a guess
Where would someone take an oath?
- a. At the subway
- b. In court
- c. On vacation
- d. In their sleep
If something were covered with moisture, then it would feel _____.
- a. hard
- b. rough
- c. soft
- d. wet

B ‣ Write the word from the word bank that best fits each sentence.

WORD BANK

abundant
arid
moisture
eligible
cathedral
oath
scarce
rugged
fast
prairie

Traveling across the ¹_____ was more difficult than it seemed.

The ground was very ²_____, and the grass was high.

John had been in a place with a(n) ³_____ climate for a long time.

He forgot that in a humid place everything was covered with ⁴_____.

The people who attend that church ⁵_____ for two weeks in March.

Then they go to the ⁶_____ where they pray and eat a small meal of soup.

We didn't know what to do with such a(n) ⁷_____ supply of wood.

We had gotten used to making small fires when it was so ⁸_____.

In order for the students to attend the dance, they had to take a(n) ⁹_____.

Those that didn't promise to be on their best behavior were not ¹⁰_____.

C ‣ Circle the one that is similar in meaning to the given word.

nonetheless
- a. however
- b. whereas
- c. whenever
- d. therefore
prairie
- a. a meadow
- b. an island
- c. a desert
- d. a sports field
inland
- a. mountainside
- b. cavernous
- c. above
- d. interior
rugged
- a. covered
- b. tough
- c. scarce
- d. scared
eligible
- a. resistant to
- b. exceptional at
- c. qualify for
- d. deprived of

D ‣ Write a word that is similar in meaning to the underlined part.

That part of the country is so hot and dry that no one lives there. _____
After getting off the boat, they took a train toward the center of the country. _____
They survived through the time in which no rain fell by carrying water down from the hills. _____
This house for the monks was built well over 200 years ago. _____
He knew he'd get in trouble, but he stole the money despite the punishment. _____
He guessed that the visitor's team would win the game. _____
The number of people helping to clean the trash near the river was more than enough. _____
A small park was next to the yard surrounding the church. _____
During the financial emergency situation, many people lost their jobs. _____
The long lines did not allow her of a chance to buy a ticket for the concert. _____

The Helpful Abbey

It had not rained on the prairie for several months. Because of the drought, the climate had become very arid. There was no moisture left in the soil. No crops could grow in the dry ground. By wintertime, the people had nothing to eat.

The hungry families heard about an abbey near the mountains where food and water was still abundant. So they traveled inland, across the prairie, to the abbey.

At first, only a few families arrived, seeking food and shelter. Then there was ample food. The monks fed them and let them sleep in the small cathedral.

Soon, however, more families were arriving every day. These people had to travel farther, so they were in worse condition. The rugged journey had brought them to the edge of a crisis. They were cold and tired. The tiny cathedral was soon full.

Food became scarce. The monks began to grumble. They began to speculate that there would be no food. "If more families come, we won't make it through the winter," said a young monk. "We must ask some of them to leave."

The abbot heard this. “We cannot do that,” he said. "It would be wrong to deprive them of food and shelter. We took an oath to help those that need help. All here are in need, so all are eligible to receive our food and shelter."

"But we won't have enough," the monk said.

"That might be true, but we must help them nonetheless. We will fast," the abbot replied. "Also, we will give our rooms in the abbey to those sleeping outside, and we will sleep in the churchyard that adjoins the cathedral."

The monks were reluctant at first, but they did what the oldest monk said. By the end of winter, there was still enough food and shelter for everyone. They learned that sometimes helping others means you must give more help than you first expected.

Reading Comprehension

Part A: Mark each statement T for true or F for false. Rewrite the false statements to make them true.

_____ The moisture in the soil was gone because a drought made the prairie become arid.
__________
_____ The hungry families traveled inland to an abbey that still had abundant food.
__________
_____ Food was scarce, but the monks had to deprive the families nonetheless.
__________
_____ At first, there was ample food and enough room in the cathedral for everyone.
__________
_____ The rugged journey to the abbey had made life very difficult for them.
__________

Part B: Answer the questions.

What is the passage about?
- a. Helping the starving
- b. Becoming a monk
- c. Attending church
- d. Avoiding a drought
What did the young monk speculate would happen if more families arrived?
_____
What was the oath that the monks had taken?
_____

Answer Key

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