Reading Comprehension and Skills Booklet -Grade 2

Name Reading about Social Studies

Railroads

People may not use railroads much today, but they play an important part in

history. For centuries, railroads have helped carry people and goods long distances.

In the United States, travel was much harder before a railroad tied together the

eastern and western parts of the country. Workers in the eastern United States built

a railroad heading west. A different crew in the west started building a railroad

heading east. In 1869, the two lines met in the state of Utah. The crews hammered

in a special golden nail to tie the two tracks together. After that, people could travel

from one coast of the United States to the other! The next time you have to stop at a

railroad crossing to let a train go by, think about how important railways have been

in history.

1. What is the main idea of this story?
   a. Railroads have an important history in the United States.
   b. No one uses railroads today.
   c. You have to stop to let trains go by.


2. Why was traveling harder before the railroads were built?


3. Where did the two railroads begin?


4. Where did the two lines meet?


5. Why did the crews use a golden nail?


6. Why do more people still not travel across the United States on a train?

Read the story. Then, answer the questions.