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📖 The Great Wall of China

4th Grade reading comprehension · History · Read the passage, then circle the best answer.

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The Great Wall of China is one of the most famous structures in the world. It is not one single wall, but many walls built over about 2,000 years.

Early walls were made of packed earth and wood. Later, during the Ming dynasty, builders used bricks and stone to make the strong, winding wall that many visitors see today.

The wall was built to protect China’s northern lands from raids. Soldiers kept watch from towers and sent signals with smoke by day and fire by night.

Today the Great Wall is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and millions of tourists walk along its ancient paths every year.

Words to know: dynasty: a family of rulers who govern a country for a long time · raid: a sudden attack

  1. Why was the Great Wall built?
    1. For tourists
    2. To protect land from raids
    3. To keep animals in
  2. What were the early walls made of?
    1. Packed earth and wood
    2. Glass
    3. Steel
  3. How did soldiers send messages?
    1. With smoke and fire signals
    2. By letter
    3. By telephone
  4. What is the main idea of the passage?
    1. Only soldiers can visit the wall.
    2. The wall was built over many years to protect China and is famous today.
    3. The wall is new.
✂ Answer key: fold or cut along the line

1. B (detail)   2. A (detail)   3. A (detail)   4. B (main idea)

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