1. Main idea related title for the passage:
The Evolution of the Circus Train
2. Summary of the passage in your own words:
The circus train, first used by W.C. Coup and P.T. Barnum in 1871, revolutionized how circuses traveled. Before trains, circuses relied on over 600 horses to haul animals, performers, and equipment, making travel slow and unprofitable as they had to stop in many small towns. The switch to locomotives allowed them to focus on larger cities, increasing profits and enabling the growth of bigger, better shows. Today, Ringling Bros., Barnum & Bailey Circus still use trains for transport, though now they operate two.
3. How do you say “Holy cow” in French? The fastest thing in France may just be the fastest ground transportation in the world. The TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse, French for very high speed) is France’s national high speed rail service. On April 3rd, 2007, a TGV test train set a record for the fastest wheeled train, reaching 357.2 miles per hour. In mid 2011, TGV trains operated at the highest speed in passenger train service in the world, regularly reaching 200 miles per hour. But what you may find most shocking is that TGV trains run on electric power not petrol. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a record to catch.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of main idea worksheet 5.
