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 2 . What does the word dismayed mean as it is used in the text?
a. upset
b. apprehensive
c. fearful
d. alarmed
 3 . Why does the queen want to punish Bruno?
a. He left her son in the flower garden.
b. He didn’t take care of Felicia’s carnations.
c. He brought rats into the house.
d. He treated Felicia cruelly.
 4 . Of these options, which happened third?
a. A nobleman kisses the queen’s hand.
b. The cabbage speaks to Felicia.
c. Felicia ventured into the forest.
d. Felicia’s pitcher was turned into gold.
 5 . How would this story be different if told from Bruno’s point of view?
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#3658 Daily Warm-Ups: Reading

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Daily 
Warm-Up
4
Fiction: Fairy Tales/Folklore
The Firebird
The tsar had a great treasure, a tree that bore delicious 
pears. Every night a pear was stolen from the tree, so 
one night he had his son, Ivan, guard the tree. That 
night, the magnificent firebird came. Although Ivan 
tried to snare it, he managed to catch only a feather.
The tsar scolded Ivan for letting the thief escape and 
sent Ivan away to catch the firebird.
Ivan met a wolf in the forest, who agreed to take him to 
the firebird. He told Ivan of a wizard who had as prisoner 
a princess of incomparable beauty. “Do not gaze on the 
princess,” warned the wolf, “for her heart has been turned 
to wood. You will fall hopelessly in love with her, but 
she will not return your feelings.” Venturing into the 
castle alone, Ivan forgot the wolf’s warnings.
Ivan soon learned that Baba Yaga had stolen the 
firebird. If Ivan rescued the firebird, the wizard would 
grant him the choice between the firebird and the 
princess. Transporting him to Baba Yaga’s cottage, the 
wolf warned him again, “The firebird is fastened to a 
raven by a golden cord. Bring the firebird, but leave
the cord.”
Paying no heed to the warning, Ivan departed with the 
firebird and the golden cord. Immediately, the raven 
woke up squawking, causing Ivan to be captured.
Meanwhile, the wolf fetched the princess. She 
disguised herself as a peddler and tricked Baba Yaga.
Then she rescued Ivan and the firebird.
Uncertain, Ivan debated whether to choose the firebird 
or the princess. The wizard attempted to turn Ivan’s 
heart to wood, but he was freed by the princess’s tears.
Ivan granted the firebird its freedom, and it chose to 
accompany him back to the tsar’s castle.
Ivan’s sister poisoned him and the princess. Owing 
Ivan a favor, the firebird flew to the Fountain of Life for 
magic water to revive them. The tsar banished Ivan’s 
sister, and Ivan and the princess lived happily ever after.
Text Questions
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 1 . Why did the firebird retrieve magic water from the Fountain of Life?
a. The firebird wanted to live forever.
b. The tsar asked the firebird to go to the fountain.
c. The wizard forced the firebird to go to the fountain.
d. The firebird was grateful to Ivan for rescuing it.
 2 . What does the word debated mean as it is used in the text?
a. discussing opposing reasons
b. considering in one’s own mind
c. disputing in a meeting
d. quarreling
 3 . What role does the firebird play in this story?
a. It brings good fortune to Ivan.
b. It is the tsar’s greatest treasure.
c. It tricks Ivan when he doesn’t heed the wolf’s warnings.
d. It captures the wizard and holds him prisoner.
 4 . How does the first paragraph contribute to the main idea?
a. It sets up the circumstances of the quest for the firebird.
b. It introduces Ivan and shows the reader his personality.
c. It explains why Ivan receives warnings.
d. It shows the reader the choice Ivan must make.
 5 . The firebird inspired the logo design for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. How might 
what you learn about the firebird in this story relate to an athletic event such as the Olympic Games?
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