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Na m e : ___ Date: _
Directions: Read the questions below. Keep them in mind as you read the story. Then go back
and answer them.Reading Comprehension • Saddleback Educational Publishing ©2002 3 Watson, Irvine, CA 92618•Phone (888)SDL-BACK•www.sdlback.com
- From where did the author emigrate to America? __
- How does the author feel about bonsai? __
- What main ideas does the author want you to know about bonsai? __
__________________________________________________________________________________- According to the author, what are the hallmarks of Japanese art and culture? __
__________________________________________________________________________________- Why do you think the author cannot have a bonsai garden here in America? __
__________________________________________________________________________________Bonsai Trees
My name is Meiko. When my family moved to the United
States, we brought many of our customs with us. Among
my favorites is the art of bonsai. Harmony, beauty,
simplicity, and balance are hallmarks of Japanese art
and culture. Among other things, the Japanese are
known for their simple but thoughtfully designed
gardens. Each rock, pool, temple, or gateway is
positioned where it can best be admired and where
it complements other elements of the garden
arrangement.
Bonsai, another form of garden, is the Japanese art of
producing miniature, but fully formed, trees. This is
done by precise clipping of branches and roots, and
carefully regulating the water supply. Bonsai tree
arrangements are so small that they can be placed
within a home instead of outside it.
The art of bonsai originated in China but became
popular in Japan around 1500. Some bonsai trees
are very old and have been passed from one
generation to another. For this reason bonsai trees
are considered a symbol of immortality in the
Japanese culture.
I brought with me to America a small bonsai tree. But,
alas, we cannot have a whole garden.