28

Reader's Bank_Level 3_Unit 10                                    Reading Text

Some animals are very smart and brave. When danger comes, they work together to keep their babies safe. One special way they do this is called a circle defense. One day, a big earthquake hit California. At a zoo, the elephants felt the ground shake. The adult elephants ran to the babies. They made a big circle around them. The babies were safe inside.  African buffaloes do this, too. When lions come near, the adults make a circle. They stand strong and face out. Their horns are ready to fight. The baby buffaloes stay in the center. Both elephants and buffaloes love their babies. They show care and courage. These stories show something big—animal parents can love just like humans do.

29

A star is a lot like a person. It goes through a life cycle—birth, growth, and death. When people grow old, they get wrinkles. But stars don’t get wrinkles—they change color. A baby star is red because it’s still cool. As it grows and gets hotter, it turns yellow and then white. The hottest stars shine bright blue. When stars become old, they cool down again and turn red. Stars run on hydrogen gas. They burn this gas to shine. When the gas runs out, the star dies. What happens when a star dies? Some stars simply disappear. But very big stars become something powerful and scary — black holes!

30

Ghana is a country in West Africa. In that country, when someone dies, people say goodbye in a special and joyful way. One of the most unique parts is the coffin. Families choose a coffin that shows the person’s job. For example, a corn farmer might get a coffin that looks like corn. A bus driver might use one shaped like a bus. These coffins are big and colorful. On the day of the funeral, people come together. They sing and dance around the coffin. They don’t cry much. Instead, they share happy stories. They remember good times and smile. The funeral feels more like a party. It is not just a sad time. It is a way to show love and say goodbye with joy. This is how they remember someone with a warm heart.