Topical Tuesday! You will need a sheet of paper numbered 1-8. You will be given a reading passage spread over several slides. Each reading slide will automatically change. The time ranges from 45 seconds to 1 minute. The time indicator is shown at the bottom. There are 8 multiple choice questions to answer at the end of the reading. You have 25 to 60seconds to answer each before it changes. This activity will be collected by your SOCIAL STUDIES teacher.

Road to the Past MEXICO CITY, Mexico (Achieve3000, October 22, 2012). Not long ago, workers were digging a new highway near Mexico City. As they worked, they discovered some very old and very unexpected objects in the ground. These objects included pots and foundations of homes. They were part of an ancient town. Upon hearing the news, local citizens set up a protest camp. They wanted to block the backhoes. They also called scientists. Scientists studied the site. They became as excited as the citizens were. And soon, they were just as upset. This is because local officials ordered everyone to leave the site.

They said the road work will continue They said the road work will continue. Now, citizens are refusing to move. They have promised not to give up their window into the past without a fight. The site in question is located in an area known as Amecameca. The site was examined by scientists with Mexico's NIAH. This is a group of history experts. The ruins found at the site, NIAH scientists say, do not appear to be particularly remarkable. They are just stone and clay foundations of houses. However, the scientists add, it's because they are ordinary that they are unusual—and important. The ruins appear to be from an ancient neighborhood.

The neighborhood was likely the home of average citizens The neighborhood was likely the home of average citizens. Homes such as these have largely disappeared over the years. The artifacts at Amecameca could possibly show what the day-to-day lives of regular families were like. "What makes this important is that it is a residential area," said Felipe Echenique. Echenique is an NIAH history expert. "In Mexico, we really have very little [information about] how the cities really were, or how people lived." Echenique believes the ancient residential area was built by a culture that lived hundreds of years ago. This was long before the Aztecs. The Aztecs appeared in the area in 1325.

They started the town that would become Mexico City They started the town that would become Mexico City. Scientists not only discovered foundations of homes at the site. They also found pots and bones. And these findings may be just the beginning. Only part of the site has been studied so far. Scientists say more important discoveries could possibly be found at the site. Which is why scientists and citizens are upset. They don't want the site to be reburied under a new road. The protesters wrote letters to leaders. They are demanding that the scientists' work continue. They are asking for the highway to be rerouted.

"The planned route wouldn't have to be changed that much," says protester Rebeca Lopez Reyes. Leaders have not yet commented on the demands. Meanwhile, protesters continue to camp out. One such protester is Maria de los Angeles Eusebio. She said the protesters have tents, coffee, "and lots of blankets." They remain day and night. They aim to make sure that the remains of their ancestors' town are not destroyed. "We don't want them to just bury this [site] and run the highway over the top of it," said Eusebio. "We want [the artifacts to be shown] in a museum.“ Both sides are talking about what to do next.

Which fits best in the empty box above? Workers digging a new road found very old and unexpected objects. The site in question is located in an area known as Amecameca. People don't want the site to be reburied with the building of a new road. The Aztecs started the town that would become Mexico City.

2. According to the article, why might the ruins found at the Amecameca site be important? Because they were found by scientists with Mexico's NIAH Because they may show what day-to-day lives of regular families were like Because they were found in the town that would become Mexico City Because they may show that the Aztecs appeared in the area in 1325

3. Based on the article, which is most likely to happen next? Leaders will decide whether or not to reroute the new highway. Felipe Echenique will decide that the finds do not belong it a museum. Scientists will say that the foundations of old houses are not important. Protesters will give up the fight to change the route of the new highway.

Expensive Exciting Ordinary Ancient The article states: The ruins found at the site, NIAH scientists say, do not appear to be particularly remarkable. They are just stone and clay foundations of houses. Which would be the closest antonym for the word remarkable? Expensive Exciting Ordinary Ancient

5. Which of the following is an opinion? Citizens are being unfair to the leaders who are building the highway. Citizens have promised to fight the building of the highway. Leaders have not yet commented on the demands. Leaders ordered everyone to leave the site.

Which would be the closest synonym for the word block? Claim Destroy The article states: 6. Upon hearing the news, local citizens set up a protest camp. They wanted to block the backhoes.   Which would be the closest synonym for the word block? Claim Destroy Fix Stop

7. The news article says all of the following except __________. The highway is being built by workers with the NIAH. The Aztecs started the town that would become Mexico City. The site was examined by scientists with the NIAH. The site in question is located in an area known as Amecameca.

8. Which of these is most important to include in a summary of this article? Citizens are protesting the building of a new highway where ancient ruins were found. The protesters have tents, coffee, and lots of blankets. Scientists say that more important discoveries could possibly be found at the site. Maria de los Angeles Eusebio wants the artifacts to be shown in a museum.