Checkpoint #2 escape Room
start
Get all the candy!
Not so fast! What is your teachers last name?
Enter the password
Go house to house!
🔒
🔒
🔒
🔒
Candy obtained
Witch's house
Alert! Witches nearby! Dare to knock?
knock
1/3
toc
toc
2/3
3/3
Before you move on: what do we call a person, place, or thing?
Enter the password
Go to the next house!
🔒
🔒
🔒
✔️
Candy obtained
House of the Wolf
A wolf is on the loose! Got the guts to knock?
knock
1/3
toc
toc
2/3
3/3
Good try! Answer me this: what does the R in RACER stand for?
Enter the password
Go to the next house!
🔒
🔒
✔️
✔️
Candy obtained
Frankenstein's House
An electrifying house, are you up for it? ⚡
knock
Info
Info
1/3
Info
Info
Info
toc
toc
Info
2/3
Info
Info
Info
Info
3/3
Info
Info
Info
What do we call an educated guess?
Enter the password
Go to the next house!
🔒
✔️
✔️
✔️
Candy obtained
House of the Mummy
A mummy in the house! Shall we?
knock
Info
1/3
Info
Info
toc
toc
Info
2/3
Info
Info
Info
3/3
Info
Info
This year on STAAR I plan to ______!
Enter the password
There is only one house left!
✔️
✔️
✔️
✔️
Candy obtained
Dracula's house
Last stop, Dracula's House! Do we dare?
knock
Info
1/3
Info
Info
toc
toc
Info
2/3
Info
Info
Info
3/3
Info
Info
What do we want on Halloween?
Enter the password
You did it!
Your journey has been fang-tastically amazing, and your candy haul is out of this world!
Are you sure you want to go out?
If you exit you will return to the start of the game and you will lose your progress
back
exit
Oh! You have failed...
try again!
19 “Oh, Mayta!” said Natu, beaming with pride. “You are so cunning and brave. I, too, wish for such adventure!”
20 Natu arose early the next morning. He wanted to take the llamas to pasture at dawn so he wouldn’t miss Muru’s arrival. He listened to every sound that swept down through the mountain passes, expecting to hear the blow of a conch. What he heard instead made him tighten with fear. It was Mayta’s voice yelling for help!
21 Natu ran up the slope, where he found his brother Mayta lying on the ground, writhing and grabbing his ankle.
22 “Mayta!” yelled Natu. “Are you all right?”
23 “Oh, Natu,” grunted Mayta. “I fear I have lost a battle with a lowly stone.” 24 Mayta winced with pain as Natu helped him up. Slowly they made their way to the hut, where Mayta rested on the mat. They both looked down at his swollen ankle.
25 “Just wait until Muru sees this,” said Mayta. “The tale will reach Cuzco faster than any message ever sent to the Sapa Inca.”
26 Natu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. But he knew there was not time for either. In the distance he could hear the sound of the conch. Muru was coming!
27 “Natu,” cried Mayta. “You must take the quipu. I cannot run.”
28 “But, Mayta—”
29 “No buts. The chain must not be broken. Muru will be too tired to go on. You know the route. You can do it.”
30 Natu’s heart pounded. This was the chance he had always hoped for—the chance to prove he could be a Chasqui.
31 “I will do it, my brother. I won’t let you down.”
32 He grabbed Mayta’s headdress and pouch.
4 Natu heard the wail of the conch shell, signaling an approaching runner. He scurried up the hill to where his older brother Mayta stood ready. Mayta was the fastest Chasqui in the southeast quarter. Natu loved to see him run.
5 He watched with envy as Muru, the runner, told Mayta the message. Then, like a racing puma, Mayta sped off toward the next hut.
6 Muru stood, looking majestic in his white headdress, his club and sling carefully tucked in the pouch at his side. Natu smiled.
7 “Can you tell me today?” he asked Muru.
8 “Yes, Natu. Today we carry word to the Sapa Inca that the northwest quarter has had an earthquake and needs supplies and men. Tomorrow the governor will send a quipu2 detailing just what he requires.
1 Every boy, when he reached the age of fourteen, was expected to train for service in the Inca empire. To pay his mita, or tax requirement, each was assigned a particular service. Some were chosen to be builders or soldiers. Others were servants in the Sapa Inca’s household. The fastest and most dependable boys were chosen to be Chasquis. 2 Chasquis were stationed in small, one-room huts about every two miles along the rock-paved Inca road system.
3 Each boy carried a message or parcel as fast as he could to the next hut and passed it on to a waiting runner. In this manner, messages could traverse the entire Inca kingdom, from north to south, in just a matter of days. Chasquis had to be strong, loyal, and brave. If even one runner failed to make his delivery, the entire chain would be broken, and the message would never reach its destination.
Paragraph 1
The gymnast reaches her arms high and then takes off running. She cartwheels to the far end of the beam and springs into the air. She spins, lands squarely on her feet, and raises her arms in triumph. The stadium fills with cheers. A great performance followed by a great landing. It was just the thing to win the girl, an American gymnast named Shannon Miller, a gold medal in the 1996 Olympic Games.
(23) The House on the Rock may seem like a museum, but it is different in some important ways. (24) It is not well lit, and few exhibits are labeled. (25) Rooms are not logically connected to one another. (26) And although the items in some exhibits may look old and worthy, most are not. (27) During his lifetime Jordan freely admitted that he and his artist friends had constructed many of the “antiques,” including suits of armor and even cars.
(28) Although the House on the Rock is not an actual museum, it is still an enjoyable attraction. (29) People don’t seem to care whether or not the items are genuine.
6 But when the camels were called to carry supplies for a War Department expedition, the animals proved their worth. Edward Fitzgerald Beale, the expedition leader, praised them. “My admiration for the camels increases daily with my experience of them. They pack water for others four days under a hot sun and never get a drop; they pack heavy burdens of corn and oats for months and never get a grain; and on bitter greasewood and other worthless shrubs not only subsist but keep fat.” On Active Duty
7 Five years after the camels arrived in the United States, the Civil War divided the country. The Southern states decided to secede—or break away—from the Northern states and form the Confederate States of America. As Texas politicians argued whether their state should also secede, General Twiggs saw a way to finally rid his command of the camels. soldiers, who now found themselves in charge of weapons, supplies, and a total of 80 camels.
8 For the next four years, Confederate soldiers used some of the camels to haul cotton to Mexico and salt throughout Texas. They loaned other camels to the postal service to deliver mail around San Antonio, Texas. But for the most part, the camels had little to do.
9 The soldiers at Camp Verde paid little attention to them. Some camels wandered off; three traveled to the war-torn countryside of Arkansas. One Confederate general used a camel to carry his company’s baggage. Soldiers reported seeing this camel “swinging along, under a little mountain of carpet-sacks, cooking utensils, blankets, etc.”
from The Inca Chasqui
Every boy, when he reached the age of fourteen, was
expected to train for service in the Inca empire. To pay his mita,
or tax requirement, each was assigned a particular service.
Some were chosen to be builders or soldiers. Others were
servants in the Sapa Inca’s household. The fastest and most
dependable boys were chosen to be Chasquis.
16 “Today was quite exciting. I had only just started up the steep slope when our friend, the puma, decided it liked the smell of the guinea pig Mother had given me for lunch. It glared at me with a look so fierce that I wondered if maybe it wasn’t thinking how much more meat there would be on a Chasqui!”
17 Natu laughed. “What did you do?”
18 “For a few moments we both stood frozen, staring at each other like two llamas eyeing the same patch of grass. I carefully reached into my pouch and pulled out my sling and the meat. I slid the meat into the sling and pulled it back as slowly as I could. Then, with a shout that echoed over the mountain and back again, I shot that meat right past our friend’s nose and so deep into the brush that I’m sure it took the puma quite some time to find it.”
9 “Then I will see you tomorrow?” said Natu.
10 “I suppose you will,” replied Muru.
11 “Good.”
12 For three years Natu had watched Mayta and Muru with admiration. For three years he had longed for the day when it would be he who raced along this rugged stretch on the road to the Inca capital of Cuzco. * * *
13 “Tell me of today’s journey,” begged Natu the moment Mayta appeared in the doorway that evening.
14 “All right,” said Mayta. “Just give me a moment to catch my breath.”
15 Natu sat by him on the llama-skin mat that was his bed.
4 Natu heard the wail of the conch shell, signaling an approaching runner. He scurried up the hill to where his older brother Mayta stood ready. Mayta was the fastest Chasqui in the southeast quarter. Natu loved to see him run.
5 He watched with envy as Muru, the runner, told Mayta the message. Then, like a racing puma, Mayta sped off toward the next hut.
6 Muru stood, looking majestic in his white headdress, his club and sling carefully tucked in the pouch at his side. Natu smiled.
7 “Can you tell me today?” he asked Muru.
8 “Yes, Natu. Today we carry word to the Sapa Inca that the northwest quarter has had an earthquake and needs supplies and men. Tomorrow the governor will send a quipu2 detailing just what he requires.
1 Every boy, when he reached the age of fourteen, was expected to train for service in the Inca empire. To pay his mita, or tax requirement, each was assigned a particular service. Some were chosen to be builders or soldiers. Others were servants in the Sapa Inca’s household. The fastest and most dependable boys were chosen to be Chasquis. 2 Chasquis were stationed in small, one-room huts about every two miles along the rock-paved Inca road system.
3 Each boy carried a message or parcel as fast as he could to the next hut and passed it on to a waiting runner. In this manner, messages could traverse the entire Inca kingdom, from north to south, in just a matter of days. Chasquis had to be strong, loyal, and brave. If even one runner failed to make his delivery, the entire chain would be broken, and the message would never reach its destination.
Paragraph 9
The soldiers at Camp Verde paid little attention to them. Some camels wandered off; three traveled to the war-torn countryside of Arkansas. One Confederate general used a camel to carry his company’s baggage. Soldiers reported seeing this camel “swinging along, under a little mountain of carpet-sacks, cooking utensils, blankets, etc.”
31 “I will do it, my brother. I won’t let you down.”
32 He grabbed Mayta’s headdress and pouch.
33 “Mayta is hurt!” called Natu as Muru neared. “Pass me the quipu and go help him.”
34 Muru hesitated just a moment. He looked at Natu, then at the hut. “Here,” he said. “Be careful.”
4 Natu heard the wail of the conch shell, signaling an approaching runner. He scurried up the hill to where his older brother Mayta stood ready. Mayta was the fastest Chasqui in the southeast quarter. Natu loved to see him run.
5 He watched with envy as Muru, the runner, told Mayta the message. Then, like a racing puma, Mayta sped off toward the next hut.
6 Muru stood, looking majestic in his white headdress, his club and sling carefully tucked in the pouch at his side. Natu smiled.
7 “Can you tell me today?” he asked Muru.
8 “Yes, Natu. Today we carry word to the Sapa Inca that the northwest quarter has had an earthquake and needs supplies and men. Tomorrow the governor will send a quipu2 detailing just what he requires.
1 Every boy, when he reached the age of fourteen, was expected to train for service in the Inca empire. To pay his mita, or tax requirement, each was assigned a particular service. Some were chosen to be builders or soldiers. Others were servants in the Sapa Inca’s household. The fastest and most dependable boys were chosen to be Chasquis. 2 Chasquis were stationed in small, one-room huts about every two miles along the rock-paved Inca road system.
3 Each boy carried a message or parcel as fast as he could to the next hut and passed it on to a waiting runner. In this manner, messages could traverse the entire Inca kingdom, from north to south, in just a matter of days. Chasquis had to be strong, loyal, and brave. If even one runner failed to make his delivery, the entire chain would be broken, and the message would never reach its destination.
Ainsley learned about a unique house in Wisconsin. After doing some research, she wrote this paper to tell others about the house. Read Ainsley’s paper and look for revisions she needs to make. Then answer the questions that follow.
The House on the Rock
(1) In the 1940s a Wisconsin man, Alex Jordan, built a house near the small town of Spring Green. (2) Perched on a huge slab of rock, the house offered lovely views. (3) Over the years, however, it became famous for another reason. (4) Jordan, who loved to collect odd things, filled his house with unusual objects. (5) Today the home, which is known as the House on the Rock, has become a popular tourist attraction. (6) A life-sized elephant pyramid, a room with thousands of dolls, and the world’s largest carousel are just a few of the wonders that await visitors to the House on the Rock.
(7) Jordan’s one-of-a-kind house originally had 14 rooms. (8) The strangest room was probably the Infinity Room. (9) This long, narrow room jutted out from the rest of the house and stuck out. (10) It had thousands of windows that overlooked the forest floor, which was 15 stories below.
(11) People began to hear about Jordan’s unusual house. (12) Some drove by just to catch a glimpse of the odd structure. (13) A few asked if they could get a closer look. (14) In 1960 he formally opened his house to tours. (15) All the while, he kept adding to his collections and to the house itself.
19 “Oh, Mayta!” said Natu, beaming with pride. “You are so cunning and brave. I, too, wish for such adventure!”
20 Natu arose early the next morning. He wanted to take the llamas to pasture at dawn so he wouldn’t miss Muru’s arrival. He listened to every sound that swept down through the mountain passes, expecting to hear the blow of a conch. What he heard instead made him tighten with fear. It was Mayta’s voice yelling for help!
21 Natu ran up the slope, where he found his brother Mayta lying on the ground, writhing and grabbing his ankle.
22 “Mayta!” yelled Natu. “Are you all right?”
23 “Oh, Natu,” grunted Mayta. “I fear I have lost a battle with a lowly stone.” 24 Mayta winced with pain as Natu helped him up. Slowly they made their way to the hut, where Mayta rested on the mat. They both looked down at his swollen ankle.
25 “Just wait until Muru sees this,” said Mayta. “The tale will reach Cuzco faster than any message ever sent to the Sapa Inca.”
26 Natu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. But he knew there was not time for either. In the distance he could hear the sound of the conch. Muru was coming!
27 “Natu,” cried Mayta. “You must take the quipu. I cannot run.”
28 “But, Mayta—”
29 “No buts. The chain must not be broken. Muru will be too tired to go on. You know the route. You can do it.”
30 Natu’s heart pounded. This was the chance he had always hoped for—the chance to prove he could be a Chasqui.
31 “I will do it, my brother. I won’t let you down.”
32 He grabbed Mayta’s headdress and pouch.
19 “Oh, Mayta!” said Natu, beaming with pride. “You are so cunning and brave. I, too, wish for such adventure!”
20 Natu arose early the next morning. He wanted to take the llamas to pasture at dawn so he wouldn’t miss Muru’s arrival. He listened to every sound that swept down through the mountain passes, expecting to hear the blow of a conch. What he heard instead made him tighten with fear. It was Mayta’s voice yelling for help!
21 Natu ran up the slope, where he found his brother Mayta lying on the ground, writhing and grabbing his ankle.
22 “Mayta!” yelled Natu. “Are you all right?”
23 “Oh, Natu,” grunted Mayta. “I fear I have lost a battle with a lowly stone.” 24 Mayta winced with pain as Natu helped him up. Slowly they made their way to the hut, where Mayta rested on the mat. They both looked down at his swollen ankle.
25 “Just wait until Muru sees this,” said Mayta. “The tale will reach Cuzco faster than any message ever sent to the Sapa Inca.”
26 Natu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. But he knew there was not time for either. In the distance he could hear the sound of the conch. Muru was coming!
27 “Natu,” cried Mayta. “You must take the quipu. I cannot run.”
28 “But, Mayta—”
29 “No buts. The chain must not be broken. Muru will be too tired to go on. You know the route. You can do it.”
30 Natu’s heart pounded. This was the chance he had always hoped for—the chance to prove he could be a Chasqui.
31 “I will do it, my brother. I won’t let you down.”
32 He grabbed Mayta’s headdress and pouch.
6 But when the camels were called to carry supplies for a War Department expedition, the animals proved their worth. Edward Fitzgerald Beale, the expedition leader, praised them. “My admiration for the camels increases daily with my experience of them. They pack water for others four days under a hot sun and never get a drop; they pack heavy burdens of corn and oats for months and never get a grain; and on bitter greasewood and other worthless shrubs not only subsist but keep fat.” On Active Duty
7 Five years after the camels arrived in the United States, the Civil War divided the country. The Southern states decided to secede—or break away—from the Northern states and form the Confederate States of America. As Texas politicians argued whether their state should also secede, General Twiggs saw a way to finally rid his command of the camels. soldiers, who now found themselves in charge of weapons, supplies, and a total of 80 camels.
8 For the next four years, Confederate soldiers used some of the camels to haul cotton to Mexico and salt throughout Texas. They loaned other camels to the postal service to deliver mail around San Antonio, Texas. But for the most part, the camels had little to do.
9 The soldiers at Camp Verde paid little attention to them. Some camels wandered off; three traveled to the war-torn countryside of Arkansas. One Confederate general used a camel to carry his company’s baggage. Soldiers reported seeing this camel “swinging along, under a little mountain of carpet-sacks, cooking utensils, blankets, etc.”
4 The journey was not easy and many problems occurred. Army men were familiar with horses and mules but not camels. 5 Packing supplies around the hump in the middle of a camel’s saddle frustrated the men. Some of them were convinced that the camels held grudges and waited to get even by biting, kicking, or spitting at them. Above all else, the camels smelled. Their odor was so strong that one whiff of the approaching camels sent horses stampeding. The army ended up sending a horseback rider ahead of the camels, yelling, “Get out of the road; the camels are coming.” Camels on the Go
1 On a stormy day in April 1856, a ship carrying Egyptian cargo sailed along the Gulf Coast of Texas. The ship pitched sharply in the high seas. Days passed before the captain was able to transfer his freight to a small boat that could take it to shore. After three months at sea, 34 camels were about to set foot on U.S. soil!
2 The camels were bound for the newly formed U.S. Camel Corps that belonged to the U.S. War Department. The head of the corps was Secretary of War Jefferson Davis. Davis hoped that the camels could be used to explore the deserts of west Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. He believed the camels could carry supplies to remote army outposts and even carry soldiers to watch over pioneer settlements.
3 But once on land, the camels had to travel to their permanent home at Camp Verde, Texas. Biting, Kicking, Spitting, and Smelling
10 When the Civil War ended in 1865, the camels at Camp Verde became the property of the U.S. government. A year later, the 66 remaining camels were auctioned off. Edward Beale, who had been so taken with the camels, bought some of them. Beale’s camels retired to his California ranch, where they lived in comfort. Others were bought and used to carry supplies over land. When these camels were no longer needed, the owners turned the camels loose. Over the years, settlers and miners claimed to see wild camels roaming the American Southwest.
31 “I will do it, my brother. I won’t let you down.”
32 He grabbed Mayta’s headdress and pouch.
33 “Mayta is hurt!” called Natu as Muru neared. “Pass me the quipu and go help him.”
34 Muru hesitated just a moment. He looked at Natu, then at the hut. “Here,” he said. “Be careful.”
10 When the Civil War ended in 1865, the camels at Camp Verde became the property of the U.S. government. A year later, the 66 remaining camels were auctioned off. Edward Beale, who had been so taken with the camels, bought some of them. Beale’s camels retired to his California ranch, where they lived in comfort. Others were bought and used to carry supplies over land. When these camels were no longer needed, the owners turned the camels loose. Over the years, settlers and miners claimed to see wild camels roaming the American Southwest.
(16) Today the House on the Rock is a sprawling complex that takes hours to explore. (17) Rooms burst with collections that include crowns, cars, suits of armor, dollhouses, and self-playing musical instruments. (18) The Circus Room has everything from tiny models to a full-sized circus wagon. (19) A room called Streets of Yesterday looks like an old-fashioned Main Street and includes a barber shop and sheriff’s office. (20) The Heritage of the Sea room, a particular favorite of visitors, has an enormous model of a giant sea monster that is longer than the Statue of Liberty is tall. (21) The House on the Rock’s indoor carousel is another must-see attraction with its 20,000 lights and 182 chandeliers. (22) But unfortunately, even though there are 269 carved animals on this carousel, no one is allowed to ride it.
(16) Today the House on the Rock is a sprawling complex that takes hours to explore. (17) Rooms burst with collections that include crowns, cars, suits of armor, dollhouses, and self-playing musical instruments. (18) The Circus Room has everything from tiny models to a full-sized circus wagon. (19) A room called Streets of Yesterday looks like an old-fashioned Main Street and includes a barber shop and sheriff’s office. (20) The Heritage of the Sea room, a particular favorite of visitors, has an enormous model of a giant sea monster that is longer than the Statue of Liberty is tall. (21) The House on the Rock’s indoor carousel is another must-see attraction with its 20,000 lights and 182 chandeliers. (22) But unfortunately, even though there are 269 carved animals on this carousel, no one is allowed to ride it.
31 “I will do it, my brother. I won’t let you down.”
32 He grabbed Mayta’s headdress and pouch.
33 “Mayta is hurt!” called Natu as Muru neared. “Pass me the quipu and go help him.”
34 Muru hesitated just a moment. He looked at Natu, then at the hut. “Here,” he said. “Be careful.”
Ainsley learned about a unique house in Wisconsin. After doing some research, she wrote this paper to tell others about the house. Read Ainsley’s paper and look for revisions she needs to make. Then answer the questions that follow.
The House on the Rock
(1) In the 1940s a Wisconsin man, Alex Jordan, built a house near the small town of Spring Green. (2) Perched on a huge slab of rock, the house offered lovely views. (3) Over the years, however, it became famous for another reason. (4) Jordan, who loved to collect odd things, filled his house with unusual objects. (5) Today the home, which is known as the House on the Rock, has become a popular tourist attraction. (6) A life-sized elephant pyramid, a room with thousands of dolls, and the world’s largest carousel are just a few of the wonders that await visitors to the House on the Rock.
(7) Jordan’s one-of-a-kind house originally had 14 rooms. (8) The strangest room was probably the Infinity Room. (9) This long, narrow room jutted out from the rest of the house and stuck out. (10) It had thousands of windows that overlooked the forest floor, which was 15 stories below.
(11) People began to hear about Jordan’s unusual house. (12) Some drove by just to catch a glimpse of the odd structure. (13) A few asked if they could get a closer look. (14) In 1960 he formally opened his house to tours. (15) All the while, he kept adding to his collections and to the house itself.
4 Natu heard the wail of the conch shell, signaling an approaching runner. He scurried up the hill to where his older brother Mayta stood ready. Mayta was the fastest Chasqui in the southeast quarter. Natu loved to see him run.
5 He watched with envy as Muru, the runner, told Mayta the message. Then, like a racing puma, Mayta sped off toward the next hut.
6 Muru stood, looking majestic in his white headdress, his club and sling carefully tucked in the pouch at his side. Natu smiled.
7 “Can you tell me today?” he asked Muru.
8 “Yes, Natu. Today we carry word to the Sapa Inca that the northwest quarter has had an earthquake and needs supplies and men. Tomorrow the governor will send a quipu2 detailing just what he requires.
1 Every boy, when he reached the age of fourteen, was expected to train for service in the Inca empire. To pay his mita, or tax requirement, each was assigned a particular service. Some were chosen to be builders or soldiers. Others were servants in the Sapa Inca’s household. The fastest and most dependable boys were chosen to be Chasquis. 2 Chasquis were stationed in small, one-room huts about every two miles along the rock-paved Inca road system.
3 Each boy carried a message or parcel as fast as he could to the next hut and passed it on to a waiting runner. In this manner, messages could traverse the entire Inca kingdom, from north to south, in just a matter of days. Chasquis had to be strong, loyal, and brave. If even one runner failed to make his delivery, the entire chain would be broken, and the message would never reach its destination.
10 When the Civil War ended in 1865, the camels at Camp Verde became the property of the U.S. government. A year later, the 66 remaining camels were auctioned off. Edward Beale, who had been so taken with the camels, bought some of them. Beale’s camels retired to his California ranch, where they lived in comfort. Others were bought and used to carry supplies over land. When these camels were no longer needed, the owners turned the camels loose. Over the years, settlers and miners claimed to see wild camels roaming the American Southwest.
4 Natu heard the wail of the conch shell, signaling an approaching runner. He scurried up the hill to where his older brother Mayta stood ready. Mayta was the fastest Chasqui in the southeast quarter. Natu loved to see him run.
5 He watched with envy as Muru, the runner, told Mayta the message. Then, like a racing puma, Mayta sped off toward the next hut.
6 Muru stood, looking majestic in his white headdress, his club and sling carefully tucked in the pouch at his side. Natu smiled.
7 “Can you tell me today?” he asked Muru.
8 “Yes, Natu. Today we carry word to the Sapa Inca that the northwest quarter has had an earthquake and needs supplies and men. Tomorrow the governor will send a quipu2 detailing just what he requires.
1 Every boy, when he reached the age of fourteen, was expected to train for service in the Inca empire. To pay his mita, or tax requirement, each was assigned a particular service. Some were chosen to be builders or soldiers. Others were servants in the Sapa Inca’s household. The fastest and most dependable boys were chosen to be Chasquis. 2 Chasquis were stationed in small, one-room huts about every two miles along the rock-paved Inca road system.
3 Each boy carried a message or parcel as fast as he could to the next hut and passed it on to a waiting runner. In this manner, messages could traverse the entire Inca kingdom, from north to south, in just a matter of days. Chasquis had to be strong, loyal, and brave. If even one runner failed to make his delivery, the entire chain would be broken, and the message would never reach its destination.
6 But when the camels were called to carry supplies for a War Department expedition, the animals proved their worth. Edward Fitzgerald Beale, the expedition leader, praised them. “My admiration for the camels increases daily with my experience of them. They pack water for others four days under a hot sun and never get a drop; they pack heavy burdens of corn and oats for months and never get a grain; and on bitter greasewood and other worthless shrubs not only subsist but keep fat.” On Active Duty
7 Five years after the camels arrived in the United States, the Civil War divided the country. The Southern states decided to secede—or break away—from the Northern states and form the Confederate States of America. As Texas politicians argued whether their state should also secede, General Twiggs saw a way to finally rid his command of the camels. soldiers, who now found themselves in charge of weapons, supplies, and a total of 80 camels.
8 For the next four years, Confederate soldiers used some of the camels to haul cotton to Mexico and salt throughout Texas. They loaned other camels to the postal service to deliver mail around San Antonio, Texas. But for the most part, the camels had little to do.
9 The soldiers at Camp Verde paid little attention to them. Some camels wandered off; three traveled to the war-torn countryside of Arkansas. One Confederate general used a camel to carry his company’s baggage. Soldiers reported seeing this camel “swinging along, under a little mountain of carpet-sacks, cooking utensils, blankets, etc.”
Sentences 25-27
(25) Rooms are not logically connected to one
another. (26) And although the items in some exhibits may look old and worthy, most are not. (27) During his lifetime, Jordan freely admitted that he and his artist friends had constructed many of the “antiques,” including suits of armor and even cars.
(16) Today the House on the Rock is a sprawling complex that takes hours to explore. (17) Rooms burst with collections that include crowns, cars, suits of armor, dollhouses, and self-playing musical instruments. (18) The Circus Room has everything from tiny models to a full-sized circus wagon. (19) A room called Streets of Yesterday looks like an old-fashioned Main Street and includes a barber shop and sheriff’s office. (20) The Heritage of the Sea room, a particular favorite of visitors, has an enormous model of a giant sea monster that is longer than the Statue of Liberty is tall. (21) The House on the Rock’s indoor carousel is another must-see attraction with its 20,000 lights and 182 chandeliers. (22) But unfortunately, even though there are 269 carved animals on this carousel, no one is allowed to ride it.
(23) The House on the Rock may seem like a museum, but it is different in some important ways. (24) It is not well lit, and few exhibits are labeled. (25) Rooms are not logically connected to one another. (26) And although the items in some exhibits may look old and worthy, most are not. (27) During his lifetime Jordan freely admitted that he and his artist friends had constructed many of the “antiques,” including suits of armor and even cars.
(28) Although the House on the Rock is not an actual museum, it is still an enjoyable attraction. (29) People don’t seem to care whether or not the items are genuine.
4 The journey was not easy and many problems occurred. Army men were familiar with horses and mules but not camels. 5 Packing supplies around the hump in the middle of a camel’s saddle frustrated the men. Some of them were convinced that the camels held grudges and waited to get even by biting, kicking, or spitting at them. Above all else, the camels smelled. Their odor was so strong that one whiff of the approaching camels sent horses stampeding. The army ended up sending a horseback rider ahead of the camels, yelling, “Get out of the road; the camels are coming.” Camels on the Go
1 On a stormy day in April 1856, a ship carrying Egyptian cargo sailed along the Gulf Coast of Texas. The ship pitched sharply in the high seas. Days passed before the captain was able to transfer his freight to a small boat that could take it to shore. After three months at sea, 34 camels were about to set foot on U.S. soil!
2 The camels were bound for the newly formed U.S. Camel Corps that belonged to the U.S. War Department. The head of the corps was Secretary of War Jefferson Davis. Davis hoped that the camels could be used to explore the deserts of west Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. He believed the camels could carry supplies to remote army outposts and even carry soldiers to watch over pioneer settlements.
3 But once on land, the camels had to travel to their permanent home at Camp Verde, Texas. Biting, Kicking, Spitting, and Smelling
Paragraph 18
“For a few moments, we both stood frozen, staring at each other like two llamas eyeing the same patch of grass. I carefully reached into my pouch and pulled out my sling and the meat. I slid the meat into the sling and pulled it back as slowly as I could. Then, with a shout that echoed over the mountain and back again, I shot that meat right past our friend’s nose and so deep into the brush that I’m sure it took the puma quite some time to find it.”
(23) The House on the Rock may seem like a museum, but it is different in some important ways. (24) It is not well lit, and few exhibits are labeled. (25) Rooms are not logically connected to one another. (26) And although the items in some exhibits may look old and worthy, most are not. (27) During his lifetime Jordan freely admitted that he and his artist friends had constructed many of the “antiques,” including suits of armor and even cars.
(28) Although the House on the Rock is not an actual museum, it is still an enjoyable attraction. (29) People don’t seem to care whether or not the items are genuine.
4 Natu heard the wail of the conch shell, signaling an approaching runner. He scurried up the hill to where his older brother Mayta stood ready. Mayta was the fastest Chasqui in the southeast quarter. Natu loved to see him run.
5 He watched with envy as Muru, the runner, told Mayta the message. Then, like a racing puma, Mayta sped off toward the next hut.
6 Muru stood, looking majestic in his white headdress, his club and sling carefully tucked in the pouch at his side. Natu smiled.
7 “Can you tell me today?” he asked Muru.
8 “Yes, Natu. Today we carry word to the Sapa Inca that the northwest quarter has had an earthquake and needs supplies and men. Tomorrow the governor will send a quipu2 detailing just what he requires.
1 Every boy, when he reached the age of fourteen, was expected to train for service in the Inca empire. To pay his mita, or tax requirement, each was assigned a particular service. Some were chosen to be builders or soldiers. Others were servants in the Sapa Inca’s household. The fastest and most dependable boys were chosen to be Chasquis. 2 Chasquis were stationed in small, one-room huts about every two miles along the rock-paved Inca road system.
3 Each boy carried a message or parcel as fast as he could to the next hut and passed it on to a waiting runner. In this manner, messages could traverse the entire Inca kingdom, from north to south, in just a matter of days. Chasquis had to be strong, loyal, and brave. If even one runner failed to make his delivery, the entire chain would be broken, and the message would never reach its destination.
Adventure in the City
The playground’s deserted. He flips over swings,
bounds over buildings like his ankles have springs
He’s quick as a river. You’d swear he has wings
4 The journey was not easy and many problems occurred. Army men were familiar with horses and mules but not camels. 5 Packing supplies around the hump in the middle of a camel’s saddle frustrated the men. Some of them were convinced that the camels held grudges and waited to get even by biting, kicking, or spitting at them. Above all else, the camels smelled. Their odor was so strong that one whiff of the approaching camels sent horses stampeding. The army ended up sending a horseback rider ahead of the camels, yelling, “Get out of the road; the camels are coming.” Camels on the Go
1 On a stormy day in April 1856, a ship carrying Egyptian cargo sailed along the Gulf Coast of Texas. The ship pitched sharply in the high seas. Days passed before the captain was able to transfer his freight to a small boat that could take it to shore. After three months at sea, 34 camels were about to set foot on U.S. soil!
2 The camels were bound for the newly formed U.S. Camel Corps that belonged to the U.S. War Department. The head of the corps was Secretary of War Jefferson Davis. Davis hoped that the camels could be used to explore the deserts of west Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. He believed the camels could carry supplies to remote army outposts and even carry soldiers to watch over pioneer settlements.
3 But once on land, the camels had to travel to their permanent home at Camp Verde, Texas. Biting, Kicking, Spitting, and Smelling
Ainsley learned about a unique house in Wisconsin. After doing some research, she wrote this paper to tell others about the house. Read Ainsley’s paper and look for revisions she needs to make. Then answer the questions that follow.
The House on the Rock
(1) In the 1940s a Wisconsin man, Alex Jordan, built a house near the small town of Spring Green. (2) Perched on a huge slab of rock, the house offered lovely views. (3) Over the years, however, it became famous for another reason. (4) Jordan, who loved to collect odd things, filled his house with unusual objects. (5) Today the home, which is known as the House on the Rock, has become a popular tourist attraction. (6) A life-sized elephant pyramid, a room with thousands of dolls, and the world’s largest carousel are just a few of the wonders that await visitors to the House on the Rock.
(7) Jordan’s one-of-a-kind house originally had 14 rooms. (8) The strangest room was probably the Infinity Room. (9) This long, narrow room jutted out from the rest of the house and stuck out. (10) It had thousands of windows that overlooked the forest floor, which was 15 stories below.
(11) People began to hear about Jordan’s unusual house. (12) Some drove by just to catch a glimpse of the odd structure. (13) A few asked if they could get a closer look. (14) In 1960 he formally opened his house to tours. (15) All the while, he kept adding to his collections and to the house itself.
Checkpoint #2 Escape Room
Alexis Gibson
Created on October 8, 2025
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Transcript
Checkpoint #2 escape Room
start
Get all the candy!
Not so fast! What is your teachers last name?
Enter the password
Go house to house!
🔒
🔒
🔒
🔒
Candy obtained
Witch's house
Alert! Witches nearby! Dare to knock?
knock
1/3
toc
toc
2/3
3/3
Before you move on: what do we call a person, place, or thing?
Enter the password
Go to the next house!
🔒
🔒
🔒
✔️
Candy obtained
House of the Wolf
A wolf is on the loose! Got the guts to knock?
knock
1/3
toc
toc
2/3
3/3
Good try! Answer me this: what does the R in RACER stand for?
Enter the password
Go to the next house!
🔒
🔒
✔️
✔️
Candy obtained
Frankenstein's House
An electrifying house, are you up for it? ⚡
knock
Info
Info
1/3
Info
Info
Info
toc
toc
Info
2/3
Info
Info
Info
Info
3/3
Info
Info
Info
What do we call an educated guess?
Enter the password
Go to the next house!
🔒
✔️
✔️
✔️
Candy obtained
House of the Mummy
A mummy in the house! Shall we?
knock
Info
1/3
Info
Info
toc
toc
Info
2/3
Info
Info
Info
3/3
Info
Info
This year on STAAR I plan to ______!
Enter the password
There is only one house left!
✔️
✔️
✔️
✔️
Candy obtained
Dracula's house
Last stop, Dracula's House! Do we dare?
knock
Info
1/3
Info
Info
toc
toc
Info
2/3
Info
Info
Info
3/3
Info
Info
What do we want on Halloween?
Enter the password
You did it!
Your journey has been fang-tastically amazing, and your candy haul is out of this world!
Are you sure you want to go out?
If you exit you will return to the start of the game and you will lose your progress
back
exit
Oh! You have failed...
try again!
19 “Oh, Mayta!” said Natu, beaming with pride. “You are so cunning and brave. I, too, wish for such adventure!” 20 Natu arose early the next morning. He wanted to take the llamas to pasture at dawn so he wouldn’t miss Muru’s arrival. He listened to every sound that swept down through the mountain passes, expecting to hear the blow of a conch. What he heard instead made him tighten with fear. It was Mayta’s voice yelling for help! 21 Natu ran up the slope, where he found his brother Mayta lying on the ground, writhing and grabbing his ankle. 22 “Mayta!” yelled Natu. “Are you all right?” 23 “Oh, Natu,” grunted Mayta. “I fear I have lost a battle with a lowly stone.” 24 Mayta winced with pain as Natu helped him up. Slowly they made their way to the hut, where Mayta rested on the mat. They both looked down at his swollen ankle.
25 “Just wait until Muru sees this,” said Mayta. “The tale will reach Cuzco faster than any message ever sent to the Sapa Inca.” 26 Natu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. But he knew there was not time for either. In the distance he could hear the sound of the conch. Muru was coming! 27 “Natu,” cried Mayta. “You must take the quipu. I cannot run.” 28 “But, Mayta—” 29 “No buts. The chain must not be broken. Muru will be too tired to go on. You know the route. You can do it.” 30 Natu’s heart pounded. This was the chance he had always hoped for—the chance to prove he could be a Chasqui. 31 “I will do it, my brother. I won’t let you down.” 32 He grabbed Mayta’s headdress and pouch.
4 Natu heard the wail of the conch shell, signaling an approaching runner. He scurried up the hill to where his older brother Mayta stood ready. Mayta was the fastest Chasqui in the southeast quarter. Natu loved to see him run. 5 He watched with envy as Muru, the runner, told Mayta the message. Then, like a racing puma, Mayta sped off toward the next hut. 6 Muru stood, looking majestic in his white headdress, his club and sling carefully tucked in the pouch at his side. Natu smiled. 7 “Can you tell me today?” he asked Muru. 8 “Yes, Natu. Today we carry word to the Sapa Inca that the northwest quarter has had an earthquake and needs supplies and men. Tomorrow the governor will send a quipu2 detailing just what he requires.
1 Every boy, when he reached the age of fourteen, was expected to train for service in the Inca empire. To pay his mita, or tax requirement, each was assigned a particular service. Some were chosen to be builders or soldiers. Others were servants in the Sapa Inca’s household. The fastest and most dependable boys were chosen to be Chasquis. 2 Chasquis were stationed in small, one-room huts about every two miles along the rock-paved Inca road system. 3 Each boy carried a message or parcel as fast as he could to the next hut and passed it on to a waiting runner. In this manner, messages could traverse the entire Inca kingdom, from north to south, in just a matter of days. Chasquis had to be strong, loyal, and brave. If even one runner failed to make his delivery, the entire chain would be broken, and the message would never reach its destination.
Paragraph 1
The gymnast reaches her arms high and then takes off running. She cartwheels to the far end of the beam and springs into the air. She spins, lands squarely on her feet, and raises her arms in triumph. The stadium fills with cheers. A great performance followed by a great landing. It was just the thing to win the girl, an American gymnast named Shannon Miller, a gold medal in the 1996 Olympic Games.
(23) The House on the Rock may seem like a museum, but it is different in some important ways. (24) It is not well lit, and few exhibits are labeled. (25) Rooms are not logically connected to one another. (26) And although the items in some exhibits may look old and worthy, most are not. (27) During his lifetime Jordan freely admitted that he and his artist friends had constructed many of the “antiques,” including suits of armor and even cars. (28) Although the House on the Rock is not an actual museum, it is still an enjoyable attraction. (29) People don’t seem to care whether or not the items are genuine.
6 But when the camels were called to carry supplies for a War Department expedition, the animals proved their worth. Edward Fitzgerald Beale, the expedition leader, praised them. “My admiration for the camels increases daily with my experience of them. They pack water for others four days under a hot sun and never get a drop; they pack heavy burdens of corn and oats for months and never get a grain; and on bitter greasewood and other worthless shrubs not only subsist but keep fat.” On Active Duty 7 Five years after the camels arrived in the United States, the Civil War divided the country. The Southern states decided to secede—or break away—from the Northern states and form the Confederate States of America. As Texas politicians argued whether their state should also secede, General Twiggs saw a way to finally rid his command of the camels. soldiers, who now found themselves in charge of weapons, supplies, and a total of 80 camels.
8 For the next four years, Confederate soldiers used some of the camels to haul cotton to Mexico and salt throughout Texas. They loaned other camels to the postal service to deliver mail around San Antonio, Texas. But for the most part, the camels had little to do. 9 The soldiers at Camp Verde paid little attention to them. Some camels wandered off; three traveled to the war-torn countryside of Arkansas. One Confederate general used a camel to carry his company’s baggage. Soldiers reported seeing this camel “swinging along, under a little mountain of carpet-sacks, cooking utensils, blankets, etc.”
from The Inca Chasqui
Every boy, when he reached the age of fourteen, was expected to train for service in the Inca empire. To pay his mita, or tax requirement, each was assigned a particular service. Some were chosen to be builders or soldiers. Others were servants in the Sapa Inca’s household. The fastest and most dependable boys were chosen to be Chasquis.
16 “Today was quite exciting. I had only just started up the steep slope when our friend, the puma, decided it liked the smell of the guinea pig Mother had given me for lunch. It glared at me with a look so fierce that I wondered if maybe it wasn’t thinking how much more meat there would be on a Chasqui!” 17 Natu laughed. “What did you do?” 18 “For a few moments we both stood frozen, staring at each other like two llamas eyeing the same patch of grass. I carefully reached into my pouch and pulled out my sling and the meat. I slid the meat into the sling and pulled it back as slowly as I could. Then, with a shout that echoed over the mountain and back again, I shot that meat right past our friend’s nose and so deep into the brush that I’m sure it took the puma quite some time to find it.”
9 “Then I will see you tomorrow?” said Natu. 10 “I suppose you will,” replied Muru. 11 “Good.” 12 For three years Natu had watched Mayta and Muru with admiration. For three years he had longed for the day when it would be he who raced along this rugged stretch on the road to the Inca capital of Cuzco. * * * 13 “Tell me of today’s journey,” begged Natu the moment Mayta appeared in the doorway that evening. 14 “All right,” said Mayta. “Just give me a moment to catch my breath.” 15 Natu sat by him on the llama-skin mat that was his bed.
4 Natu heard the wail of the conch shell, signaling an approaching runner. He scurried up the hill to where his older brother Mayta stood ready. Mayta was the fastest Chasqui in the southeast quarter. Natu loved to see him run. 5 He watched with envy as Muru, the runner, told Mayta the message. Then, like a racing puma, Mayta sped off toward the next hut. 6 Muru stood, looking majestic in his white headdress, his club and sling carefully tucked in the pouch at his side. Natu smiled. 7 “Can you tell me today?” he asked Muru. 8 “Yes, Natu. Today we carry word to the Sapa Inca that the northwest quarter has had an earthquake and needs supplies and men. Tomorrow the governor will send a quipu2 detailing just what he requires.
1 Every boy, when he reached the age of fourteen, was expected to train for service in the Inca empire. To pay his mita, or tax requirement, each was assigned a particular service. Some were chosen to be builders or soldiers. Others were servants in the Sapa Inca’s household. The fastest and most dependable boys were chosen to be Chasquis. 2 Chasquis were stationed in small, one-room huts about every two miles along the rock-paved Inca road system. 3 Each boy carried a message or parcel as fast as he could to the next hut and passed it on to a waiting runner. In this manner, messages could traverse the entire Inca kingdom, from north to south, in just a matter of days. Chasquis had to be strong, loyal, and brave. If even one runner failed to make his delivery, the entire chain would be broken, and the message would never reach its destination.
Paragraph 9
The soldiers at Camp Verde paid little attention to them. Some camels wandered off; three traveled to the war-torn countryside of Arkansas. One Confederate general used a camel to carry his company’s baggage. Soldiers reported seeing this camel “swinging along, under a little mountain of carpet-sacks, cooking utensils, blankets, etc.”
31 “I will do it, my brother. I won’t let you down.” 32 He grabbed Mayta’s headdress and pouch. 33 “Mayta is hurt!” called Natu as Muru neared. “Pass me the quipu and go help him.” 34 Muru hesitated just a moment. He looked at Natu, then at the hut. “Here,” he said. “Be careful.”
4 Natu heard the wail of the conch shell, signaling an approaching runner. He scurried up the hill to where his older brother Mayta stood ready. Mayta was the fastest Chasqui in the southeast quarter. Natu loved to see him run. 5 He watched with envy as Muru, the runner, told Mayta the message. Then, like a racing puma, Mayta sped off toward the next hut. 6 Muru stood, looking majestic in his white headdress, his club and sling carefully tucked in the pouch at his side. Natu smiled. 7 “Can you tell me today?” he asked Muru. 8 “Yes, Natu. Today we carry word to the Sapa Inca that the northwest quarter has had an earthquake and needs supplies and men. Tomorrow the governor will send a quipu2 detailing just what he requires.
1 Every boy, when he reached the age of fourteen, was expected to train for service in the Inca empire. To pay his mita, or tax requirement, each was assigned a particular service. Some were chosen to be builders or soldiers. Others were servants in the Sapa Inca’s household. The fastest and most dependable boys were chosen to be Chasquis. 2 Chasquis were stationed in small, one-room huts about every two miles along the rock-paved Inca road system. 3 Each boy carried a message or parcel as fast as he could to the next hut and passed it on to a waiting runner. In this manner, messages could traverse the entire Inca kingdom, from north to south, in just a matter of days. Chasquis had to be strong, loyal, and brave. If even one runner failed to make his delivery, the entire chain would be broken, and the message would never reach its destination.
Ainsley learned about a unique house in Wisconsin. After doing some research, she wrote this paper to tell others about the house. Read Ainsley’s paper and look for revisions she needs to make. Then answer the questions that follow. The House on the Rock (1) In the 1940s a Wisconsin man, Alex Jordan, built a house near the small town of Spring Green. (2) Perched on a huge slab of rock, the house offered lovely views. (3) Over the years, however, it became famous for another reason. (4) Jordan, who loved to collect odd things, filled his house with unusual objects. (5) Today the home, which is known as the House on the Rock, has become a popular tourist attraction. (6) A life-sized elephant pyramid, a room with thousands of dolls, and the world’s largest carousel are just a few of the wonders that await visitors to the House on the Rock.
(7) Jordan’s one-of-a-kind house originally had 14 rooms. (8) The strangest room was probably the Infinity Room. (9) This long, narrow room jutted out from the rest of the house and stuck out. (10) It had thousands of windows that overlooked the forest floor, which was 15 stories below. (11) People began to hear about Jordan’s unusual house. (12) Some drove by just to catch a glimpse of the odd structure. (13) A few asked if they could get a closer look. (14) In 1960 he formally opened his house to tours. (15) All the while, he kept adding to his collections and to the house itself.
19 “Oh, Mayta!” said Natu, beaming with pride. “You are so cunning and brave. I, too, wish for such adventure!” 20 Natu arose early the next morning. He wanted to take the llamas to pasture at dawn so he wouldn’t miss Muru’s arrival. He listened to every sound that swept down through the mountain passes, expecting to hear the blow of a conch. What he heard instead made him tighten with fear. It was Mayta’s voice yelling for help! 21 Natu ran up the slope, where he found his brother Mayta lying on the ground, writhing and grabbing his ankle. 22 “Mayta!” yelled Natu. “Are you all right?” 23 “Oh, Natu,” grunted Mayta. “I fear I have lost a battle with a lowly stone.” 24 Mayta winced with pain as Natu helped him up. Slowly they made their way to the hut, where Mayta rested on the mat. They both looked down at his swollen ankle.
25 “Just wait until Muru sees this,” said Mayta. “The tale will reach Cuzco faster than any message ever sent to the Sapa Inca.” 26 Natu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. But he knew there was not time for either. In the distance he could hear the sound of the conch. Muru was coming! 27 “Natu,” cried Mayta. “You must take the quipu. I cannot run.” 28 “But, Mayta—” 29 “No buts. The chain must not be broken. Muru will be too tired to go on. You know the route. You can do it.” 30 Natu’s heart pounded. This was the chance he had always hoped for—the chance to prove he could be a Chasqui. 31 “I will do it, my brother. I won’t let you down.” 32 He grabbed Mayta’s headdress and pouch.
19 “Oh, Mayta!” said Natu, beaming with pride. “You are so cunning and brave. I, too, wish for such adventure!” 20 Natu arose early the next morning. He wanted to take the llamas to pasture at dawn so he wouldn’t miss Muru’s arrival. He listened to every sound that swept down through the mountain passes, expecting to hear the blow of a conch. What he heard instead made him tighten with fear. It was Mayta’s voice yelling for help! 21 Natu ran up the slope, where he found his brother Mayta lying on the ground, writhing and grabbing his ankle. 22 “Mayta!” yelled Natu. “Are you all right?” 23 “Oh, Natu,” grunted Mayta. “I fear I have lost a battle with a lowly stone.” 24 Mayta winced with pain as Natu helped him up. Slowly they made their way to the hut, where Mayta rested on the mat. They both looked down at his swollen ankle.
25 “Just wait until Muru sees this,” said Mayta. “The tale will reach Cuzco faster than any message ever sent to the Sapa Inca.” 26 Natu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. But he knew there was not time for either. In the distance he could hear the sound of the conch. Muru was coming! 27 “Natu,” cried Mayta. “You must take the quipu. I cannot run.” 28 “But, Mayta—” 29 “No buts. The chain must not be broken. Muru will be too tired to go on. You know the route. You can do it.” 30 Natu’s heart pounded. This was the chance he had always hoped for—the chance to prove he could be a Chasqui. 31 “I will do it, my brother. I won’t let you down.” 32 He grabbed Mayta’s headdress and pouch.
6 But when the camels were called to carry supplies for a War Department expedition, the animals proved their worth. Edward Fitzgerald Beale, the expedition leader, praised them. “My admiration for the camels increases daily with my experience of them. They pack water for others four days under a hot sun and never get a drop; they pack heavy burdens of corn and oats for months and never get a grain; and on bitter greasewood and other worthless shrubs not only subsist but keep fat.” On Active Duty 7 Five years after the camels arrived in the United States, the Civil War divided the country. The Southern states decided to secede—or break away—from the Northern states and form the Confederate States of America. As Texas politicians argued whether their state should also secede, General Twiggs saw a way to finally rid his command of the camels. soldiers, who now found themselves in charge of weapons, supplies, and a total of 80 camels.
8 For the next four years, Confederate soldiers used some of the camels to haul cotton to Mexico and salt throughout Texas. They loaned other camels to the postal service to deliver mail around San Antonio, Texas. But for the most part, the camels had little to do. 9 The soldiers at Camp Verde paid little attention to them. Some camels wandered off; three traveled to the war-torn countryside of Arkansas. One Confederate general used a camel to carry his company’s baggage. Soldiers reported seeing this camel “swinging along, under a little mountain of carpet-sacks, cooking utensils, blankets, etc.”
4 The journey was not easy and many problems occurred. Army men were familiar with horses and mules but not camels. 5 Packing supplies around the hump in the middle of a camel’s saddle frustrated the men. Some of them were convinced that the camels held grudges and waited to get even by biting, kicking, or spitting at them. Above all else, the camels smelled. Their odor was so strong that one whiff of the approaching camels sent horses stampeding. The army ended up sending a horseback rider ahead of the camels, yelling, “Get out of the road; the camels are coming.” Camels on the Go
1 On a stormy day in April 1856, a ship carrying Egyptian cargo sailed along the Gulf Coast of Texas. The ship pitched sharply in the high seas. Days passed before the captain was able to transfer his freight to a small boat that could take it to shore. After three months at sea, 34 camels were about to set foot on U.S. soil! 2 The camels were bound for the newly formed U.S. Camel Corps that belonged to the U.S. War Department. The head of the corps was Secretary of War Jefferson Davis. Davis hoped that the camels could be used to explore the deserts of west Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. He believed the camels could carry supplies to remote army outposts and even carry soldiers to watch over pioneer settlements. 3 But once on land, the camels had to travel to their permanent home at Camp Verde, Texas. Biting, Kicking, Spitting, and Smelling
10 When the Civil War ended in 1865, the camels at Camp Verde became the property of the U.S. government. A year later, the 66 remaining camels were auctioned off. Edward Beale, who had been so taken with the camels, bought some of them. Beale’s camels retired to his California ranch, where they lived in comfort. Others were bought and used to carry supplies over land. When these camels were no longer needed, the owners turned the camels loose. Over the years, settlers and miners claimed to see wild camels roaming the American Southwest.
31 “I will do it, my brother. I won’t let you down.” 32 He grabbed Mayta’s headdress and pouch. 33 “Mayta is hurt!” called Natu as Muru neared. “Pass me the quipu and go help him.” 34 Muru hesitated just a moment. He looked at Natu, then at the hut. “Here,” he said. “Be careful.”
10 When the Civil War ended in 1865, the camels at Camp Verde became the property of the U.S. government. A year later, the 66 remaining camels were auctioned off. Edward Beale, who had been so taken with the camels, bought some of them. Beale’s camels retired to his California ranch, where they lived in comfort. Others were bought and used to carry supplies over land. When these camels were no longer needed, the owners turned the camels loose. Over the years, settlers and miners claimed to see wild camels roaming the American Southwest.
(16) Today the House on the Rock is a sprawling complex that takes hours to explore. (17) Rooms burst with collections that include crowns, cars, suits of armor, dollhouses, and self-playing musical instruments. (18) The Circus Room has everything from tiny models to a full-sized circus wagon. (19) A room called Streets of Yesterday looks like an old-fashioned Main Street and includes a barber shop and sheriff’s office. (20) The Heritage of the Sea room, a particular favorite of visitors, has an enormous model of a giant sea monster that is longer than the Statue of Liberty is tall. (21) The House on the Rock’s indoor carousel is another must-see attraction with its 20,000 lights and 182 chandeliers. (22) But unfortunately, even though there are 269 carved animals on this carousel, no one is allowed to ride it.
(16) Today the House on the Rock is a sprawling complex that takes hours to explore. (17) Rooms burst with collections that include crowns, cars, suits of armor, dollhouses, and self-playing musical instruments. (18) The Circus Room has everything from tiny models to a full-sized circus wagon. (19) A room called Streets of Yesterday looks like an old-fashioned Main Street and includes a barber shop and sheriff’s office. (20) The Heritage of the Sea room, a particular favorite of visitors, has an enormous model of a giant sea monster that is longer than the Statue of Liberty is tall. (21) The House on the Rock’s indoor carousel is another must-see attraction with its 20,000 lights and 182 chandeliers. (22) But unfortunately, even though there are 269 carved animals on this carousel, no one is allowed to ride it.
31 “I will do it, my brother. I won’t let you down.” 32 He grabbed Mayta’s headdress and pouch. 33 “Mayta is hurt!” called Natu as Muru neared. “Pass me the quipu and go help him.” 34 Muru hesitated just a moment. He looked at Natu, then at the hut. “Here,” he said. “Be careful.”
Ainsley learned about a unique house in Wisconsin. After doing some research, she wrote this paper to tell others about the house. Read Ainsley’s paper and look for revisions she needs to make. Then answer the questions that follow. The House on the Rock (1) In the 1940s a Wisconsin man, Alex Jordan, built a house near the small town of Spring Green. (2) Perched on a huge slab of rock, the house offered lovely views. (3) Over the years, however, it became famous for another reason. (4) Jordan, who loved to collect odd things, filled his house with unusual objects. (5) Today the home, which is known as the House on the Rock, has become a popular tourist attraction. (6) A life-sized elephant pyramid, a room with thousands of dolls, and the world’s largest carousel are just a few of the wonders that await visitors to the House on the Rock.
(7) Jordan’s one-of-a-kind house originally had 14 rooms. (8) The strangest room was probably the Infinity Room. (9) This long, narrow room jutted out from the rest of the house and stuck out. (10) It had thousands of windows that overlooked the forest floor, which was 15 stories below. (11) People began to hear about Jordan’s unusual house. (12) Some drove by just to catch a glimpse of the odd structure. (13) A few asked if they could get a closer look. (14) In 1960 he formally opened his house to tours. (15) All the while, he kept adding to his collections and to the house itself.
4 Natu heard the wail of the conch shell, signaling an approaching runner. He scurried up the hill to where his older brother Mayta stood ready. Mayta was the fastest Chasqui in the southeast quarter. Natu loved to see him run. 5 He watched with envy as Muru, the runner, told Mayta the message. Then, like a racing puma, Mayta sped off toward the next hut. 6 Muru stood, looking majestic in his white headdress, his club and sling carefully tucked in the pouch at his side. Natu smiled. 7 “Can you tell me today?” he asked Muru. 8 “Yes, Natu. Today we carry word to the Sapa Inca that the northwest quarter has had an earthquake and needs supplies and men. Tomorrow the governor will send a quipu2 detailing just what he requires.
1 Every boy, when he reached the age of fourteen, was expected to train for service in the Inca empire. To pay his mita, or tax requirement, each was assigned a particular service. Some were chosen to be builders or soldiers. Others were servants in the Sapa Inca’s household. The fastest and most dependable boys were chosen to be Chasquis. 2 Chasquis were stationed in small, one-room huts about every two miles along the rock-paved Inca road system. 3 Each boy carried a message or parcel as fast as he could to the next hut and passed it on to a waiting runner. In this manner, messages could traverse the entire Inca kingdom, from north to south, in just a matter of days. Chasquis had to be strong, loyal, and brave. If even one runner failed to make his delivery, the entire chain would be broken, and the message would never reach its destination.
10 When the Civil War ended in 1865, the camels at Camp Verde became the property of the U.S. government. A year later, the 66 remaining camels were auctioned off. Edward Beale, who had been so taken with the camels, bought some of them. Beale’s camels retired to his California ranch, where they lived in comfort. Others were bought and used to carry supplies over land. When these camels were no longer needed, the owners turned the camels loose. Over the years, settlers and miners claimed to see wild camels roaming the American Southwest.
4 Natu heard the wail of the conch shell, signaling an approaching runner. He scurried up the hill to where his older brother Mayta stood ready. Mayta was the fastest Chasqui in the southeast quarter. Natu loved to see him run. 5 He watched with envy as Muru, the runner, told Mayta the message. Then, like a racing puma, Mayta sped off toward the next hut. 6 Muru stood, looking majestic in his white headdress, his club and sling carefully tucked in the pouch at his side. Natu smiled. 7 “Can you tell me today?” he asked Muru. 8 “Yes, Natu. Today we carry word to the Sapa Inca that the northwest quarter has had an earthquake and needs supplies and men. Tomorrow the governor will send a quipu2 detailing just what he requires.
1 Every boy, when he reached the age of fourteen, was expected to train for service in the Inca empire. To pay his mita, or tax requirement, each was assigned a particular service. Some were chosen to be builders or soldiers. Others were servants in the Sapa Inca’s household. The fastest and most dependable boys were chosen to be Chasquis. 2 Chasquis were stationed in small, one-room huts about every two miles along the rock-paved Inca road system. 3 Each boy carried a message or parcel as fast as he could to the next hut and passed it on to a waiting runner. In this manner, messages could traverse the entire Inca kingdom, from north to south, in just a matter of days. Chasquis had to be strong, loyal, and brave. If even one runner failed to make his delivery, the entire chain would be broken, and the message would never reach its destination.
6 But when the camels were called to carry supplies for a War Department expedition, the animals proved their worth. Edward Fitzgerald Beale, the expedition leader, praised them. “My admiration for the camels increases daily with my experience of them. They pack water for others four days under a hot sun and never get a drop; they pack heavy burdens of corn and oats for months and never get a grain; and on bitter greasewood and other worthless shrubs not only subsist but keep fat.” On Active Duty 7 Five years after the camels arrived in the United States, the Civil War divided the country. The Southern states decided to secede—or break away—from the Northern states and form the Confederate States of America. As Texas politicians argued whether their state should also secede, General Twiggs saw a way to finally rid his command of the camels. soldiers, who now found themselves in charge of weapons, supplies, and a total of 80 camels.
8 For the next four years, Confederate soldiers used some of the camels to haul cotton to Mexico and salt throughout Texas. They loaned other camels to the postal service to deliver mail around San Antonio, Texas. But for the most part, the camels had little to do. 9 The soldiers at Camp Verde paid little attention to them. Some camels wandered off; three traveled to the war-torn countryside of Arkansas. One Confederate general used a camel to carry his company’s baggage. Soldiers reported seeing this camel “swinging along, under a little mountain of carpet-sacks, cooking utensils, blankets, etc.”
Sentences 25-27
(25) Rooms are not logically connected to one another. (26) And although the items in some exhibits may look old and worthy, most are not. (27) During his lifetime, Jordan freely admitted that he and his artist friends had constructed many of the “antiques,” including suits of armor and even cars.
(16) Today the House on the Rock is a sprawling complex that takes hours to explore. (17) Rooms burst with collections that include crowns, cars, suits of armor, dollhouses, and self-playing musical instruments. (18) The Circus Room has everything from tiny models to a full-sized circus wagon. (19) A room called Streets of Yesterday looks like an old-fashioned Main Street and includes a barber shop and sheriff’s office. (20) The Heritage of the Sea room, a particular favorite of visitors, has an enormous model of a giant sea monster that is longer than the Statue of Liberty is tall. (21) The House on the Rock’s indoor carousel is another must-see attraction with its 20,000 lights and 182 chandeliers. (22) But unfortunately, even though there are 269 carved animals on this carousel, no one is allowed to ride it.
(23) The House on the Rock may seem like a museum, but it is different in some important ways. (24) It is not well lit, and few exhibits are labeled. (25) Rooms are not logically connected to one another. (26) And although the items in some exhibits may look old and worthy, most are not. (27) During his lifetime Jordan freely admitted that he and his artist friends had constructed many of the “antiques,” including suits of armor and even cars. (28) Although the House on the Rock is not an actual museum, it is still an enjoyable attraction. (29) People don’t seem to care whether or not the items are genuine.
4 The journey was not easy and many problems occurred. Army men were familiar with horses and mules but not camels. 5 Packing supplies around the hump in the middle of a camel’s saddle frustrated the men. Some of them were convinced that the camels held grudges and waited to get even by biting, kicking, or spitting at them. Above all else, the camels smelled. Their odor was so strong that one whiff of the approaching camels sent horses stampeding. The army ended up sending a horseback rider ahead of the camels, yelling, “Get out of the road; the camels are coming.” Camels on the Go
1 On a stormy day in April 1856, a ship carrying Egyptian cargo sailed along the Gulf Coast of Texas. The ship pitched sharply in the high seas. Days passed before the captain was able to transfer his freight to a small boat that could take it to shore. After three months at sea, 34 camels were about to set foot on U.S. soil! 2 The camels were bound for the newly formed U.S. Camel Corps that belonged to the U.S. War Department. The head of the corps was Secretary of War Jefferson Davis. Davis hoped that the camels could be used to explore the deserts of west Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. He believed the camels could carry supplies to remote army outposts and even carry soldiers to watch over pioneer settlements. 3 But once on land, the camels had to travel to their permanent home at Camp Verde, Texas. Biting, Kicking, Spitting, and Smelling
Paragraph 18
“For a few moments, we both stood frozen, staring at each other like two llamas eyeing the same patch of grass. I carefully reached into my pouch and pulled out my sling and the meat. I slid the meat into the sling and pulled it back as slowly as I could. Then, with a shout that echoed over the mountain and back again, I shot that meat right past our friend’s nose and so deep into the brush that I’m sure it took the puma quite some time to find it.”
(23) The House on the Rock may seem like a museum, but it is different in some important ways. (24) It is not well lit, and few exhibits are labeled. (25) Rooms are not logically connected to one another. (26) And although the items in some exhibits may look old and worthy, most are not. (27) During his lifetime Jordan freely admitted that he and his artist friends had constructed many of the “antiques,” including suits of armor and even cars. (28) Although the House on the Rock is not an actual museum, it is still an enjoyable attraction. (29) People don’t seem to care whether or not the items are genuine.
4 Natu heard the wail of the conch shell, signaling an approaching runner. He scurried up the hill to where his older brother Mayta stood ready. Mayta was the fastest Chasqui in the southeast quarter. Natu loved to see him run. 5 He watched with envy as Muru, the runner, told Mayta the message. Then, like a racing puma, Mayta sped off toward the next hut. 6 Muru stood, looking majestic in his white headdress, his club and sling carefully tucked in the pouch at his side. Natu smiled. 7 “Can you tell me today?” he asked Muru. 8 “Yes, Natu. Today we carry word to the Sapa Inca that the northwest quarter has had an earthquake and needs supplies and men. Tomorrow the governor will send a quipu2 detailing just what he requires.
1 Every boy, when he reached the age of fourteen, was expected to train for service in the Inca empire. To pay his mita, or tax requirement, each was assigned a particular service. Some were chosen to be builders or soldiers. Others were servants in the Sapa Inca’s household. The fastest and most dependable boys were chosen to be Chasquis. 2 Chasquis were stationed in small, one-room huts about every two miles along the rock-paved Inca road system. 3 Each boy carried a message or parcel as fast as he could to the next hut and passed it on to a waiting runner. In this manner, messages could traverse the entire Inca kingdom, from north to south, in just a matter of days. Chasquis had to be strong, loyal, and brave. If even one runner failed to make his delivery, the entire chain would be broken, and the message would never reach its destination.
Adventure in the City
The playground’s deserted. He flips over swings, bounds over buildings like his ankles have springs He’s quick as a river. You’d swear he has wings
4 The journey was not easy and many problems occurred. Army men were familiar with horses and mules but not camels. 5 Packing supplies around the hump in the middle of a camel’s saddle frustrated the men. Some of them were convinced that the camels held grudges and waited to get even by biting, kicking, or spitting at them. Above all else, the camels smelled. Their odor was so strong that one whiff of the approaching camels sent horses stampeding. The army ended up sending a horseback rider ahead of the camels, yelling, “Get out of the road; the camels are coming.” Camels on the Go
1 On a stormy day in April 1856, a ship carrying Egyptian cargo sailed along the Gulf Coast of Texas. The ship pitched sharply in the high seas. Days passed before the captain was able to transfer his freight to a small boat that could take it to shore. After three months at sea, 34 camels were about to set foot on U.S. soil! 2 The camels were bound for the newly formed U.S. Camel Corps that belonged to the U.S. War Department. The head of the corps was Secretary of War Jefferson Davis. Davis hoped that the camels could be used to explore the deserts of west Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. He believed the camels could carry supplies to remote army outposts and even carry soldiers to watch over pioneer settlements. 3 But once on land, the camels had to travel to their permanent home at Camp Verde, Texas. Biting, Kicking, Spitting, and Smelling
Ainsley learned about a unique house in Wisconsin. After doing some research, she wrote this paper to tell others about the house. Read Ainsley’s paper and look for revisions she needs to make. Then answer the questions that follow. The House on the Rock (1) In the 1940s a Wisconsin man, Alex Jordan, built a house near the small town of Spring Green. (2) Perched on a huge slab of rock, the house offered lovely views. (3) Over the years, however, it became famous for another reason. (4) Jordan, who loved to collect odd things, filled his house with unusual objects. (5) Today the home, which is known as the House on the Rock, has become a popular tourist attraction. (6) A life-sized elephant pyramid, a room with thousands of dolls, and the world’s largest carousel are just a few of the wonders that await visitors to the House on the Rock.
(7) Jordan’s one-of-a-kind house originally had 14 rooms. (8) The strangest room was probably the Infinity Room. (9) This long, narrow room jutted out from the rest of the house and stuck out. (10) It had thousands of windows that overlooked the forest floor, which was 15 stories below. (11) People began to hear about Jordan’s unusual house. (12) Some drove by just to catch a glimpse of the odd structure. (13) A few asked if they could get a closer look. (14) In 1960 he formally opened his house to tours. (15) All the while, he kept adding to his collections and to the house itself.