The Whispering Giant

The Whispering Giant

Pencil and paper
Overview
Using this Resource
Connecting to the Curriculum
Marking Student Responses
Further Resources
This task is about using information in a text to make inferences.
Read "The Whispering Giant", School Journal, Part 3, No 2, 1985, and answer the following questions.
 
a)  How tall is the organ? ______________________________
 
b)  What transport was used to bring the organ parts to Wellington?
 
 
 
c)  What drives the turbines that blow the air through the organ?
 
 
 
d)  The first Wellington city organist nick-named the organ 'Brontosaurus' because it was ...
 
 
 
e)  What happened to the organ just before it was played in its first concert?
 
 
 
f)  What is the writer's most likely opinion of the organ?
 
 
 
g)  What word(s) indicate that the audience enjoyed the first recital?
 
 
 
h)  What one word could be used instead of 'at the tops of their voices', without changing the meaning?
 
 
Task administration: 
This task can be completed with pencil and paper.
 
Copyright: 
The Whispering Giant - Text was first published by Learning Media Limited on behalf of the Ministry of Education, © Pat Quinn 1985. Illustration Copyright © Crown. Reprinted with permission.

Source: School Journal, Part 3, No 2, Learning Media, 1985. (Text updated).

Level:
4
Curriculum info: 
English, Making meaning, Reading
Key Competencies: 
Thinking
Keywords: 
comprehension, locate information, inference, School Journal, SJ-3-2-1985
Description of task: 
Students read an article on a town hall pipe organ and answer related questions. SJ-3-2-1985. Text provided.
Curriculum Links: 
Links to the Literacy Learning Progressions for Reading:
This resource helps to identify students’ ability to:
  • locate and summarise ideas
  • infer ideas and information that are not directly stated in the text
as described in the Literacy Learning Progressions for Reading at: http://www.literacyprogressions.tki.org.nz/The-Structure-of-the-Progressions.

 

Learning Progression Frameworks
This resource can provide evidence of learning associated with
Acquiring and using information and ideas in informational texts, set 4
within the Reading Learning Progressions Frameworks.
Read more about the Learning Progressions Frameworks.
Answers/responses: 
 

Y8 (09/1998)
a) As tall as a three-storey building. very easy
b) In/By (two) ships. very easy
c) Big electric motors. very easy
d) Very large/so big/large like a Brontosaurus/very tall. very easy
e) Any 1 of:

•   Part of its woodwork was burnt.
•   It was scorched.
•   Heat from the globe burned through the
     inner woodwork, setting fire to some
     packing.
[Do not accept "it caught fire".]

 moderate
f) Quote from text, or paraphrase – "it is a grand and glorious instrument (to listen to)".
or
Answer that shows an understanding that the organ is a valuable asset for Wellington.		 moderate
g) (huge) success moderate
h) loudly moderate