Excerpt from
"Agriculture for Beginners"
Published in 1903
Teachers
sometimes shrink from teaching a simple textbook on agriculture because they are
not familiar with all the processes of farming. By the same reasoning they
might hesitate to teach basic arithmetic because they do not know calculus.
The art of
farming is based on the sciences dealing with the growth of plants and animals.
A simple book can explain these scientific truths and suggest some practices
drawn from them. Hence, even though many teachers may not have plowed or sowed
or harvested, such teachers need not be embarrassed in instructing a class in
nature's primary laws.
If teachers
realize how much happiness will be brought to their pupils when they are to
cooperate with nature and to take advantage of her wonderful laws, they will
eagerly begin this study. They will find also that their pupils will be
actively interested in these studies in their daily lives, and this interest
will be carried over to other subjects. Whenever you can, take the pupils into
the field, the garden, the orchard, and the dairy. Teach them to learn by the
use of their own eyes and brains. They will, if properly led, astonish you by
their efforts and growth.
You can easily
find suggestions as to experiments that you can conduct with your class. Do not
neglect this first-hand teaching. It will be a delight to your pupils. In many
cases it will be best to finish the experiments or observational work first,
and later turn to the text to amplify the
pupil's knowledge.
Reading
Comprehension Questions
1) The author of the above passage hopes the reader will do
which of the following?
a.
start a small farm
b.
write a book on farming
c.
teach agriculture
d.
teach arithmetic
2) In the 3rd and 4th paragraphs of the
above passage, it is clear that the author feels which way about first-hand
teaching?
a.
cynical
b.
impatient
c.
supportive
d.
pessimistic
3) In the above passage, the author suggests that students can
learn a great deal about agriculture with a visit to which of the following?
a.
a sawmill
b.
a dairy
c.
a nature trail
d.
a museum
4) The final words of the above passage suggest that the reader
"turn to the text to amplify
the pupil's knowledge."
In this context, what is
the meaning of the word "amplify"?
a.
display
b.
reduce
c.
increase
d.
apply
5) In the above passage, the author would agree with which of
the following statements?
a.
“Students should be
taught agriculture only by an expert farmer.”
b.
“Good farmers have to be
willing to break the laws of nature.”
c.
“With proper knowledge,
students will embrace farming.”
d.
“Hands-on teaching is too
dangerous for beginner students.”
6) The above passage was written for which of the following
audiences?
a.
pupils
b.
teachers
c.
housekeepers
d.
farm hands
Answer Key
1)
The author of
the above passage hopes the reader will do which of the following?
a.
start a small farm
b.
write a book on farming
c.
teach agriculture
d.
teach arithmetic
2)
In the 3rd
and 4th paragraphs of the above passage, it is clear that the author
feels which way about first-hand teaching?
a.
cynical
b.
impatient
c.
supportive
d.
pessimistic
3)
In the above
passage, the author suggests that students can learn a great deal about
agriculture with a visit to which of the following?
a.
a sawmill
b.
a dairy
c.
a nature trail
d.
a museum
4)
The final
words of the above passage suggest that the reader "turn to the text to amplify the pupil's knowledge."
In this
context, what is the meaning of the word "amplify"?
a.
display
b.
reduce
c.
increase
d.
apply
5)
In the above passage,
the author would agree with which of the following statements?
a. “Students should be taught agriculture only
by an expert farmer.”
b. “Good farmers have to be willing to break the
laws of nature.”
c.
“With proper knowledge, students will embrace
farming.”
d.
“Hands-on
teaching is too dangerous for beginner students.”
6)
The above
passage was written for which of the following audiences?
a.
pupils
b.
teachers
c.
housekeepers
d.
farm hands