Name: ___________________________________________________ Date: __________________
Close Reading
NONFICTION: “The Pigeon Hero of World War I,” pages 4-9
March 2019
®
THE LANGUAGE ARTS MAGAZINE
©2019 BY SCHOLASTIC INC. TEACHERS MAY PROJECT OR MAKE COPIES OF THIS PAGE TO DISTRIBUTE TO STUDENTS.
Close-Reading Questions
“The Pigeon Hero of World War I”
1. What is the main purpose of the sections “Incredible Powers” and “Brutal Battles”?
(text structure)
2. In the section “Fear and Rats,” Tarshis explains how difficult conditions were for soldiers in
the trenches. Why is this information important to the story of Cher Ami?
(text structure)
3. What made carrier pigeons an important method of communication in battle? What were
some drawbacks to using pigeons?
(key ideas)
4. On page 9, Tarshis writes, “The sky was a storm of bullets.” What figurative language is she
using here? What does it help you understand?
(figurative language)
PAGE 1 OF 2
Close Reading
NONFICTION: “The Pigeon Hero of World War I,” pages 4-9
March 2019
®
THE LANGUAGE ARTS MAGAZINE
©2019 BY SCHOLASTIC INC. TEACHERS MAY PROJECT OR MAKE COPIES OF THIS PAGE TO DISTRIBUTE TO STUDENTS.
5. What does the sidebar “Animals in Wartime” add to the article? (text feature)
6. In the section “Under Attack,” the author writes, “The only way for the men to get a sip of
water was to risk crawling through the mud to a stream.” Why would crawling to a stream
be a risk?
(inference)
7. Consider how Tarshis describes Cher Ami’s flight from the forest. How does she draw the
reader in and create drama?
(author’s craft)
PAGE 2 OF 2
Name: ___________________________________________________ Date: __________________
Critical Thinking
NONFICTION: “The Pigeon Hero of World War I,” pages 4-9
March 2019
®
THE LANGUAGE ARTS MAGAZINE
©2019 BY SCHOLASTIC INC. TEACHERS MAY PROJECT OR MAKE COPIES OF THIS PAGE TO DISTRIBUTE TO STUDENTS.
Critical-Thinking Questions
“The Pigeon Hero of World War I”
1. Why is it important to remember stories from the past like this one?
2.
Do you think it’s OK to use animals for military efforts?