Building Reading Practice

Excerpt from The Book: "The Magic Block"

Isabella has a brother. His name is Bob. Isabella loves his handwriting. He does it with a very special shiny ink pen.One day, when Bob wasn't at home, Isabella looked for his pen. She slid open his drawer.Out went his books! Out went a stapler! Out went a metal ruler!At the bottom of the drawer, Isabella found his special pen. But what’s that? A strange black block stuck to it.Isabella pulled the pen and the block apart. But then, suddenly, a bottle cap jumped and stuck to the block! Can things stick to this block like magic?Did the stapler stick to this block? Click! Yes, it stuck. Did the furry cat stick to it? No, it did not.Did the metal ruler stick to this block? Yes, it stuck.Did this hairy brown coconut stick to it? No, it did not.The hairy coconut tickled Isabella’s nose. The pen flew out of her hand and disappeared under the bed. Isabella was worried. Bob will be back soon!She stuck her hand under the bed. Oh no! She didn’t reach the pen.She tried to reach the pen with the ruler. Oh no! The pen slid further away. If only there was a way to bring the pen closer to her.Suddenly, Isabella had an idea. It was the best idea ever!Isabella brought the black block near the ruler. Click! It stuck! Then she held the ruler under the bed and stretched her hand.Guess what stuck to the block?Quick! Quick! Bob will be home soon. In went the pen and the black block. In went the books and stapler. In went the metal ruler. Isabella slid the drawer shut.Just in time! She heard the door slam, and Bob went into the room. “Isabella,” said Bob, “Why is there a coconut on the floor?"The magic block in the story is called a bar magnet. Magnets come in many shapes. A magnet cannot stick to all objects. It can only stick to particular objects with iron, nickel, steel, and cobalt.Which of these do you think will stick to a magnet?