1、MythPAIREDREADThors CounselorProgram:CR 14Component:LRG6 U5 W1 OPDFVendor:Learning MediaLevel:60ILLUSTRATED BY JARED OSTERHOLDCV_CR14_LR_G6_U5W1L60_O_118659.indd 3CV_CR14_LR_G6_U5W1L60_O_118659.indd 314/02/12 3:58 PM14/02/12 3:58 PMSTRATEGIES&SKILLSAComprehensionStrategy:Make PredictionsSkill:Proble
2、m and SolutionVocabulary StrategyWord OriginsVocabularyaudacity,deception,desolate,exploits,oblivious,somber,steadfast,valiant Word Count:2,632Program:CR 14Component:LRG6 U5 W1 OPDFVendor:Learning MediaLevel:60Copyright The McGraw-Hill Companies,Inc.All rights reserved.No part of this publication ma
3、y be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means,or stored in a database or retrieval system,without the prior written consent of The McGraw-Hill Companies,Inc.,including,but not limited to,network storage or transmission,or broadcast for distance learning.Send all inquiries to:McGraw-Hill
4、 EducationTwo Penn PlazaNew York,New York 10121ISBN:978-0-02-118659-4MHID:0-02-118659-6Printed in the United States.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 DOC 15 14 13 12 11 10IFCIBC_CR14_LR_G6_U5W1L60_O_118659.indd 2IFCIBC_CR14_LR_G6_U5W1L60_O_118659.indd 214/02/12 3:58 PM14/02/12 3:58 PMPAIREDREADChapter 1The Giant .2
5、Chapter 2Utgard.6Chapter 3More Challenges .10Chapter 4The Truth Is Revealed.13Respond to Reading.16Thor s Counselor .17Focus on Genre.20Essential QuestionWhy do people tell and retell myths?ILLUSTRATED BY JARED OSTERHOLDProgram:CR 14Component:LRG6 U5 W1 OPDFVendor:Learning MediaLevel:60001_009_CR14_
6、LR_G6_U5W1L60_O_118659.indd 1001_009_CR14_LR_G6_U5W1L60_O_118659.indd 114/02/12 3:39 PM14/02/12 3:39 PMCHAPTER 1THE GIANT Of all the gods living in the high city of Asgard,Thor was the greatest fighter.With his flaming beard and his fearsome temper,he was a terrifying sight when he fought with his m
7、agic hammer,Mjollnir.The mighty impact of its blows created thunder and lightning across the heavens.One day Thor set out in search of giants to battle.Kissing his family farewell,he took up his sturdy hammer,and he and his friend Loki,the trickster god,passed through the Asgard gates.When the cloud
8、s were well above them,they turned for Utgard,the hall of the giant king,Utgard-Loke.1A A A A A A A A A ANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNT T T T T T T T T TCT T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T THHHHHHHHHHHHHHHE E E E E E E E E2Program:CR 14Component:LRG6 U5 W1 OPDFVendor:Learning MediaLevel:60001_009_CR14_LR
9、_G6_U5W1L60_O_118659.indd 2001_009_CR14_LR_G6_U5W1L60_O_118659.indd 214/02/12 3:39 PM14/02/12 3:39 PMThor and Loki walked all day,and as night fell,they approached a forest where the trees were so tall that their tops disappeared into the clouds.They were in Giant Land.It was cold,and an eerie mist
10、had begun to wind its way through the trees.Looking for somewhere to pass the night,the two friends encountered a strangely shaped empty building.There was no door,but a large open entrance at one end led to four rooms and a side chamber.Thor and Loki were grateful for the shelter,and lying down in
11、the longest room,they soon fell asleep.In the middle of the night,they were woken by a violent earthquake.The building rattled,and there was a dreadful crashing,rumbling sound.A howling wind came in great gusts,bending the trees,making them groan and creak.Even Thor was frightened.He and Loki crept
12、over the shaking floor into the side chamber,where Thor braced himself against the wall at the entrance and stood guard with his hammer at the ready.3Program:CR 14Component:LRG6 U5 W1 OPDFVendor:Learning MediaLevel:60001_009_CR14_LR_G6_U5W1L60_O_118659.indd 3001_009_CR14_LR_G6_U5W1L60_O_118659.indd
13、314/02/12 3:39 PM14/02/12 3:39 PMAt first light,after enduring hours of wind,noise,and shaking,Thor decided he d had enough.He strode outside and into the forest of quivering trees,where he found the biggest giant he had ever seen fast asleep.It was the giant s snoring that was causing the ground to
14、 shake and the forest to tremble.Thor gripped the handle of his hammer tightly.He had never seen a giant even half as big before.He ran back into the rattling building and put on his magic belt,which doubled his strength,before returning to the snoring giant.Thor grasped his hammer with both hands a
15、nd struck a furious blow on the side of the giant s head.The giant opened one enormous eye,mumbling,“Hmm,a leaf must have landed on me.”His eye closed,and he went back to sleep.4Program:CR 14Component:LRG6 U5 W1 OPDFVendor:Learning MediaLevel:60001_009_CR14_LR_G6_U5W1L60_O_118659.indd 4001_009_CR14_
16、LR_G6_U5W1L60_O_118659.indd 414/02/12 3:39 PM14/02/12 3:39 PMBeside himself with rage,Thor struck again,this time with an even stronger blow.The giant opened both his eyes and said drowsily,“Hmm,an acorn must have fallen on me,”before falling back to sleep,resuming his terrible snoring.Thor was fill
17、ed with righteous fury.Never before had the blows of Mjollnir been so lightly dismissed.He gathered all his strength,took a running leap,and swung his mightiest blow.This time the giant grumbled and sat up.Rubbing his head,he looked up in the branches above and said to himself,“I think a bird must h
18、ave knocked a piece of moss down from the tree.”Then,looking down,he caught sight of Thor.Thor hurriedly greeted the giant.“Good morning!What a nice surprise it is to meet you here in this fine forest.May I ask your name?”5Program:CR 14Component:LRG6 U5 W1 OPDFVendor:Learning MediaLevel:60001_009_CR
19、14_LR_G6_U5W1L60_O_118659.indd 5001_009_CR14_LR_G6_U5W1L60_O_118659.indd 514/02/12 3:40 PM14/02/12 3:40 PMCHAPTER 2UTGARDThe giant stretched and yawned,exhaling a blast of warm air that withered the leaves on the surrounding trees.“My name is Skrymir,”he said,“and you,little fellow,must be Thor.I m
20、familiar with some of your exploits.”Looking around,he said,“I seem to have lost a glove.Have you seen it anywhere?Ah,there it is.”He reached for the funny-looking building that Thor and Loki had slept in.It was the giant s glove!The four rooms were for his fingers,and the side chamber for his thumb
21、.Thor called out,“Wait!”He raced into the glove to wake up Loki and retrieve their possessions.After Loki had introduced himself,they told Skrymir they were bound for Utgard.Skrymir stood up.Thor and Loki had to crane their heads back to look at him.“I can tell by your expressions that you think I m
22、 a big man,”said Skrymir,“but in Utgard,there are many men as tall as me.I suggest you keep quiet when you get there because they won t tolerate boasting from such little fellows as yourselves.”Then Skrymir said goodbye,striding away at a tremendous rate.2RDCUT6Program:CR 14Component:LRG6 U5 W1 OPDF
23、Vendor:Learning MediaLevel:60001_009_CR14_LR_G6_U5W1L60_O_118659.indd 6001_009_CR14_LR_G6_U5W1L60_O_118659.indd 614/02/12 3:40 PM14/02/12 3:40 PMWhen Thor and Loki arrived at the walls of Utgard,they had to tilt their heads back as far as they could to see the top of them.Fortunately,the gates were
24、open.The gods entered,making their way to the hall of the giant king,Utgard-Loke.The massive hall was a forbidding sight,and the rumbling voices and gales of laughter coming from within sounded fearsome.However,Thor and Loki were valiant gods,so they scarcely paused before entering.Inside the hall w
25、as a group of massive giants sitting at two long tables that met in a V at the end.At the sight of Thor and Loki,the giants fell silent.The two gods approached the king,Utgard-Loke.They saluted him with great respect and introduced themselves.Utgard-Loke smiled scornfully and spoke to the uninvited
26、guests.“Little fellows,you have displayed much audacity coming here.You might be who you say you are,but I m not convinced.Prove that you are more than you appear.”Thor asked bravely,“How shall we do that?”The king replied,“Show me that you are good at something,and you will be allowed to remain her
27、e in my hall.”7Program:CR 14Component:LRG6 U5 W1 OPDFVendor:Learning MediaLevel:60001_009_CR14_LR_G6_U5W1L60_O_118659.indd 7001_009_CR14_LR_G6_U5W1L60_O_118659.indd 714/02/12 3:40 PM14/02/12 3:40 PMProgram:CR 14Component:LRG6 U5 W1 OPDFVendor:Learning MediaLevel:608001_009_CR14_LR_G6_U5W1L60_O_11865
28、9.indd 8001_009_CR14_LR_G6_U5W1L60_O_118659.indd 814/02/12 3:40 PM14/02/12 3:40 PMLoki stepped forward.“I can eat faster than anyone else,and I am willing to prove it if anyone here has the courage to compete against me.”Utgard-Loke laughed at the brave little god.“Very well,if you can beat our cham
29、pion eater,I will be very impressed!”A giant from the back of the hall stomped forward.A long wooden trough filled with meat was set on the floor.“You will start at opposite ends,”said Utgard-Loke to Loki and the giant.“The first one to eat their way to the middle will be the winner.Ready?Go!”Loki s
30、tarted at one end,with the giant at the other.There was a lot of bellowing and foot-stamping while the two ate and ate.Loki ate furiously,using both hands,but the giant was casual,rather delicately using only his thumb and forefinger.Within a few minutes,they met in the middle of the trough.But wher
31、eas Loki had eaten only the meat,the giant had eaten the bones and trough as well.“Who is the loser?”asked Utgard-Loke to the occupants of the great hall.With much cheering and table-thumping,the giants unanimously declared Loki the loser.9Program:CR 14Component:LRG6 U5 W1 OPDFVendor:Learning MediaL
32、evel:60001_009_CR14_LR_G6_U5W1L60_O_118659.indd 9001_009_CR14_LR_G6_U5W1L60_O_118659.indd 914/02/12 3:40 PM14/02/12 3:40 PMCHAPTER 3MORE CHALLENGESUtgard-Loke looked down at Thor and asked,“Well,little man,are you good at anything?”Thor knew that he had to impress the giants.He answered,“I m renowne
33、d for my mighty thirst.I can drink mountain streams dry.”Utgard-Loke handed Thor a drinking horn brimming with water.“A good drinker can empty this horn in one draft,”he said,“an average drinker in two,and a feeble drinker in three.”Thor drank long and deep,but when he set the horn down,it was still
34、 full.Thor took a huge breath and drank again.He drank until he could drink no more,but the water level hardly changed.The giants began to bang their fists on the tables.Thor took three deep breaths and drank once more.Finally,with his breath exploding from his lungs,he set the horn down.“Well,at le
35、ast the horn can now be carried without spilling anything,”laughed Utgard-Loke.The giants roared with laughter.3ENGCO E C10Program:CR 14Component:LRG6 U5 W1 OPDFVendor:Learning MediaLevel:60010_016_CR14_LR_G6_U5W1L60_O_118659.indd 10010_016_CR14_LR_G6_U5W1L60_O_118659.indd 1014/02/12 3:41 PM14/02/12
36、 3:41 PM“I suggest you try something easier,”said Utgard-Loke,gesturing to his black cat,which was curled up asleep at his feet.“Why don t you try lifting this cat?”Thor bent down and went to sweep the cat up with one hand,but it was surprisingly heavy.He used both hands,but the cat seemed cemented
37、to the ground.Thor crouched over the creature,locked his hands underneath it,braced himself against the ground,and applied all his strength,but the cat didn t budge.Thor let out his breath,stood up,and walked around,loosening his muscles.He knelt down over the sleeping cat and,with a tremendous heav
38、e,he tried again to pick it up.His muscles rippled,his face turned crimson,his veins stood out like ropes.Finally a paw lifted off the ground,but it was only a second before it dropped back to the ground and Thor collapsed.Furious at the giants derisive laughter,Thor yelled,“I m the finest wrestler
39、in Asgard and can wrestle anyone!”The giants shook their heads,muttering to each other,“Who would be weak enough to make a fair contest?”“My old nurse,Eli,would make a good match,”said Utgard-Loke.“Bring her to the hall!”11Program:CR 14Component:LRG6 U5 W1 OPDFVendor:Learning MediaLevel:60010_016_CR
40、14_LR_G6_U5W1L60_O_118659.indd 11010_016_CR14_LR_G6_U5W1L60_O_118659.indd 1114/02/12 3:41 PM14/02/12 3:41 PMThor was embarrassed at the sight of the skinny and hunched old crone who shuffled into the hall.He extended his hand in a friendly gesture and found himself on his back at the other side of t
41、he hall while the old woman cackled and the giants howled with laughter.Thor lunged for Eli.Locked together in a wrestlers clinch,they circled and strained,each trying to find a point of weakness.Thor tried everything he knew,but he couldn t get the upper hand,and the harder he tried,the more the ol
42、d woman resisted.An hour went by.Thor finally got her in a headlock,but she twisted out of it with explosive power.The giants jeered at Thor,egging Eli on.“Stop,it s getting late,”called Utgard-Loke,holding up his hand.“We need to eat dinner.But let me just say this,Thor.I don t think you should cha
43、llenge anyone else in this hall.”Thor and Loki were shown to their seats.They were very quiet and somber for the rest of the night,despite being given plenty to eat and drink.Program:CR 14Component:LRG6 U5 W1 OPDFVendor:Learning MediaLevel:6012010_016_CR14_LR_G6_U5W1L60_O_118659.indd 12010_016_CR14_
44、LR_G6_U5W1L60_O_118659.indd 1214/02/12 3:41 PM14/02/12 3:41 PMCHAPTER 4THE TRUTH IS REVEALEDEarly the next morning,Thor and Loki were preparing to leave when Utgard-Loke appeared in their chambers,insisting they eat breakfast with him.The two friends were eager to return home,but as they did not wis
45、h to offend their host,they reluctantly stayed for a final great feast in the giant s hall.After they had eaten their fill,Utgard-Loke led them out of the hall and through the city gates.The giant crouched down to speak with his guests,asking,“How did you enjoy your journey to Utgard?”“I have brough
46、t great shame upon myself,”Thor replied sadly.“I m worried that you think poorly of me.”“Well,if I d known you were so strong and steadfast,”Utgard-Loke said,“I would never have allowed you to enter Utgard in the first place.”“But Loki and I failed every challenge!”“Now that you are out of the city
47、gates,”said Utgard-Loke,“I will tell you the truth.”He cautioned,“But only on the condition that you promise never to return.”Thor frowned,but he nodded his head in agreement.4TH ICTHE T13Program:CR 14Component:LRG6 U5 W1 OPDFVendor:Learning MediaLevel:60010_016_CR14_LR_G6_U5W1L60_O_118659.indd 1301
48、0_016_CR14_LR_G6_U5W1L60_O_118659.indd 1314/02/12 3:41 PM14/02/12 3:41 PM“Thor,I must confess that I have practiced the art of deception upon you,”said Utgard-Loke.“Firstly,I disguised myself as the giant Skrymir.When you believed you were striking his head with your hammer,you were actually hitting
49、 the mountain.There are now three rectangular valleys there,one of them especially deep.If any one of your blows had touched me,it would have been the end of my days.”The giant continued.“In each of the contests,I used magic.You were both oblivious to what was really happening.The giant who beat Lok
50、i in the eating contest was actually Fire,who consumes everything before it.”Loki was astonished.14Program:CR 14Component:LRG6 U5 W1 OPDFVendor:Learning MediaLevel:60010_016_CR14_LR_G6_U5W1L60_O_118659.indd 14010_016_CR14_LR_G6_U5W1L60_O_118659.indd 1414/02/12 3:41 PM14/02/12 3:41 PMUtgard-Loke had
