PDF handout of the 32 Powerpoints - Mark Fullmer

6/5/2012Developmental ReadingWhile reading the following story, titled “MyBrother’s Peculiar Chicken,” by Alejandro R.Roces, practice the following comprehensionstrategies.On the next slide, you will read the beginning ofthe story. Use your background knowledgeabout names and details to infer when andwhere this story takes place (the setting)?When and where does this story take place?My brother Kiko had a very peculiar chicken. It was verypeculiar because no one could teel whether it was a roosteror a hen. My brother claimed it was a rooster. I claimed itwas a hen. We almost got lynched trying to settle theargument.The whole question began early one morning, while Kikoand I were driving the chickens from the cornfield. The cornhad just been planted and the chickens were scratching theseed out for food. Suddenly we heard the rapid flapping ofwings. We turned in the direction of the sound and saw thetwo chickens fighting at the far end of the field. We couldnot see the birds clearly, as they were lunging at each otherin a whirlwind of feathers and dust."Look at the rooster fight!" my brother said, pointingexcitedly at one of the chickens. "Why, if I had a rooster likethat I could get rich.""Let's go and catch it!" I suggested.On the next slide, the main character is tryingto make a conclusion about the peculiarchicken. Can you identify what type ofreasoning they are using?Is it INDUCTIVE or DEDUCTIVE?When we got near them, my brother dived and caught one ofthem by the legs. It struggled and squawked. Kiko finally held itby both wings and it stood still. I ran over to where he was andtook a good look at the chicken."Aba, it is a hen!" I said."What is the matter with you?" my brother asked. "Is the heatmaking you sick?""No, look at its head. It has no comb or wattles.""Who cares? Didn't you see it fight?""Sure, I saw it fight. But I still say it is a hen.""Did you ever see a hen with spurs like this? Or a hen with a taillike this?"Kiko and I could not agree on what determines the sex of achicken. If the animal in question had been a carabao it wouldhave been simple. All we would have to do was look at the tail,hooves, or horns. Or if it had a brass on its nose it wouldundoubtedly be a bull. But chickens are not like carabaos. So theargument went on.All of a sudden, the chicken flapped its wings, and then crowed."There! Did you hear that?" my brother exclaimed triumphantly."I suppose you are going to tell me now that carabaos fly.""I don't care if it crows or not," I said. "That chicken is a hen."1