KY K-PREP 3rd Grade Reading Part A

If you could see the ocean floor, you would see the same things you see above water. There are hills and valleys on the ocean floor. There are tall mountains too. As a matter of fact, the longest mountain ridge on Earth is almost all beneath the ocean. A mountain ridge is a group of mountains. The longest one is called the mid-ocean ridge. It is more than 40,000 miles long. There are also thousands of volcanoes in the ridge. Many of the volcanoes and mountains under the water are taller than any of the mountains that we see on land. Even though the mountains are very tall, you won’t see most of them from land. That’s because most of this mountain ridge is very deep under water. It crisscrosses Earth along the oceans’ floors. The ocean floor is a very beautiful place. Scientists need special equipment to see the ridge.

(1) Now you must know that once upon a time, the City Mouse, in his finest threads, went to visit his cousin who lived in the country. The Country Mouse, dressed in his hat and nicest, yet worn, suit, was excited to see his cousin, and he made him feel very welcome. Beans, bacon, cheese, and bread were all the Country Mouse had to offer, but he offered them freely.

(2) The City Mouse turned up his pink nose at this country food. He said, "I cannot understand, cousin, how you can put up with such poor food as this. Of course you cannot expect anything better in the country. You should come with me, and I will show you how to live. When you have been in town a week, you will wonder why you chose a country life."

(3) So the Country Mouse agreed to stay with his cousin in the city. "You will want some food after our long trip," said the polite City Mouse. He took his friend into the grand dining room. They sneaked in through a mouse hole near the front hall of the large home. There they found the remains of a fine feast. There were leftover scraps of roast, nibbles of cheese, and crusts of bread. It was a delicious meal. Then, they found the dessert table complete with bits of chocolate cake, oatmeal raisin cookies, and fruit tarts.

(4) Suddenly they heard growling and barking. "What is that?" said the Country Mouse. "It is only the dogs of the house," answered the City Mouse.

(5) "‘Only,’ you say?" said the Country Mouse. "I do not like that music at my dinner." Just at that moment the door flew open, and two huge guard dogs ran in. The two mice quickly scampered away. "Good-bye, cousin," said the Country Mouse.

(6) "What? Are you going so soon?" said the City Mouse.

(7) "Yes," replied the Country Mouse, "It is better to eat beans and bacon in peace than cakes and meat in fear."