<Target Words>
1.acceptable, 2.confused, 3.further, 4.marvelous, 5.precise, 6.suitable, 7.worried, 8.extremely, 9.over, 10.widely, 11.affair, 12.base, 13.burn, 14.chimpanzee, 15.country, 16.dinosaur, 17.euro, 18.force, 19.harvest, 20.junk, 21.mall, 22.novel, 23.pilgrim, 24.rap, 25.sauce, 26.silver, 27.state, 28.tablespoon, 29.trick, 30.zone, 31.second, 32.climb, 33.exist, 34.matter, 35.relax, 36.throw
/1.acceptable, 2.confused, 3.further, 4.marvelous, 5.precise, 6.suitable, 7.worried, 8.extremely, 9.over, 10.widely, 11.affair, 12.base, 13.burn, 14.chimpanzee, 15.country, 16.dinosaur, 17.euro, 18.force, 19.harvest, 20.junk, 21.mall, 22.novel, 23.pilgrim, 24.rap, 25.sauce, 26.silver, 27.state, 28.tablespoon, 29.trick, 30.zone, 31.second, 32.climb, 33.exist, 34.matter, 35.relax, 36.throw
<Story>
Koto’s Musical Dream and the Rainbow Bird Orchestra
/Koto’s Musical Dream and the Rainbow Bird Orchestra
Koto, an 11-year-old girl who was extremely talented at painting and had a deep love for music, woke up early that Saturday morning with a huge smile on her face.
/Koto, an 11-year-old girl who was extremely talented at painting and had a deep love for music, woke up early that Saturday morning with a huge smile on her face.
“Today’s the day!” she exclaimed to Popo, her cute Pomeranian.
/”Today’s the day!” she exclaimed to Popo, her cute Pomeranian.
She had been looking forward to visiting the music store with her mom all week.
/She had been looking forward to visiting the music store with her mom all week.
As she brushed her hair and grabbed her favorite silver earrings, she thought about all the instruments she would see and hear.
/As she brushed her hair and grabbed her favorite silver earrings, she thought about all the instruments she would see and hear.
“Koto, are you ready?” her mother called from downstairs.
/“Koto, are you ready?” her mother called from downstairs.
“Coming, Mom!” Koto replied, petting Popo one last time before heading out.
/“Coming, Mom!” Koto replied, petting Popo one last time before heading out.
As they walked towards the mall, Koto couldn’t help but feel a little worried.
/As they walked towards the mall, Koto couldn’t help but feel a little worried.
“Mom, do you think I’ll find the right instrument for me?
/“Mom, do you think I’ll find the right instrument for me?
I love painting, but I want to do something with music, too.”
/I love painting, but I want to do something with music, too.”
Her mom smiled, “I’m sure whatever you choose will be suitable for your talents.
/Her mom smiled, “I’m sure whatever you choose will be suitable for your talents.
You’ve got such a creative mind, Koto.”
/You’ve got such a creative mind, Koto.”
When they arrived at the music store, they could hear the marvelous sound of instruments playing from inside.
/When they arrived at the music store, they could hear the marvelous sound of instruments playing from inside.
The store was hosting a mini concert performed by professional musicians.
/The store was hosting a mini concert performed by professional musicians.
Koto’s eyes sparkled.
/Koto’s eyes sparkled.
She saw people gathered near a small stage, waiting for the performance to begin.
/She saw people gathered near a small stage, waiting for the performance to begin.
“Let’s go in!” Koto said, pulling her mom by the hand.
/“Let’s go in!” Koto said, pulling her mom by the hand.
The first instrument to play was the trumpet, its sound bright and bold, filling the room with energy.
/The first instrument to play was the trumpet, its sound bright and bold, filling the room with energy.
Next was the euphonium, whose deep, rich tones seemed to relax everyone, including Koto.
/Next was the euphonium, whose deep, rich tones seemed to relax everyone, including Koto.
She found herself closing her eyes to absorb the warm notes.
/She found herself closing her eyes to absorb the warm notes.
“It’s like the euphonium is singing,” she whispered to herself.
/“It’s like the euphonium is singing,” she whispered to herself.
Then came the violin and viola, their strings creating a beautiful harmony together.
/Then came the violin and viola, their strings creating a beautiful harmony together.
The cello followed with its deep, soulful sound, while the flute added a light, airy melody that danced through the air like a gentle breeze.
/The cello followed with its deep, soulful sound, while the flute added a light, airy melody that danced through the air like a gentle breeze.
“Mom, this is amazing,” Koto said.
/“Mom, this is amazing,” Koto said.
“I think the euphonium is my favorite.
/“I think the euphonium is my favorite.
The sound feels like home.”
/The sound feels like home.”
Her mom nodded.
/Her mom nodded.
“It’s a special instrument, and you’ve always liked deep, warm sounds, just like in your paintings.”
/“It’s a special instrument, and you’ve always liked deep, warm sounds, just like in your paintings.”
As the concert continued, the musicians played a popular orchestral piece—Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9.
/As the concert continued, the musicians played a popular orchestral piece—Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9.
The familiar tune swept over the audience, and Koto felt like she was in another world.
/The familiar tune swept over the audience, and Koto felt like she was in another world.
“The music… it makes everything else disappear,” she thought.
/“The music… it makes everything else disappear,” she thought.
After the concert, Koto was buzzing with excitement.
/After the concert, Koto was buzzing with excitement.
“I want to do something like that,” she told her mom as they left the store.
/“I want to do something like that,” she told her mom as they left the store.
Back at home, Koto ran straight to her older brother, Ayu.
/Back at home, Koto ran straight to her older brother, Ayu.
“Ayu, I want to do the Rainbow Bird Orchestra again!”
/“Ayu, I want to do the Rainbow Bird Orchestra again!”
Ayu smiled.
/Ayu smiled.
“That’s awesome, Koto!
/“That’s awesome, Koto!
But we need to think about the details.
/But we need to think about the details.
First, what’s your purpose?”
/First, what’s your purpose?”
Koto thought for a second.
/Koto thought for a second.
“I want to cheer up the people who listen to me.”
/“I want to cheer up the people who listen to me.”
Ayu nodded.
/Ayu nodded.
“Great!
/“Great!
If that’s the case, maybe you can visit local facilities, like hospitals or community centers.
/If that’s the case, maybe you can visit local facilities, like hospitals or community centers.
Or you could even rent a venue to hold a concert.
/Or you could even rent a venue to hold a concert.
I’ll help you plan it.”
/I’ll help you plan it.”
“Really?
/“Really?
You’d help?” Koto asked, her eyes wide with excitement.
/You’d help?” Koto asked, her eyes wide with excitement.
“Of course!
/“Of course!
But we’ll also need Mom and Dad’s help.
/But we’ll also need Mom and Dad’s help.
Planning a concert is no small affair.
/Planning a concert is no small affair.
You’ll need to decide on the base of your operations, like where you’ll practice and what time works best for everyone.”
/You’ll need to decide on the base of your operations, like where you’ll practice and what time works best for everyone.”
Koto grinned.
/Koto grinned.
“Okay, I’ll ask them tonight!”
/“Okay, I’ll ask them tonight!”
As the evening approached, Koto felt her mind racing with ideas.
/As the evening approached, Koto felt her mind racing with ideas.
Her family gathered in the living room, and she shared her plan.
/Her family gathered in the living room, and she shared her plan.
“I want to start the Rainbow Bird Orchestra again, and this time, I want to make it even better.
/“I want to start the Rainbow Bird Orchestra again, and this time, I want to make it even better.
I think we should perform at local facilities, and maybe one day, we can even perform in another country!”
/I think we should perform at local facilities, and maybe one day, we can even perform in another country!”
Her father smiled.
/Her father smiled.
“That’s a big dream, Koto.
/“That’s a big dream, Koto.
But you have the passion for it, and that’s what matters most.
/But you have the passion for it, and that’s what matters most.
I’m proud of you for thinking about how your music can help others.”
/I’m proud of you for thinking about how your music can help others.”
Her younger brother Miko added, “Maybe we can make it even cooler by adding a rap part!”
/Her younger brother Miko added, “Maybe we can make it even cooler by adding a rap part!”
Everyone laughed at Miko’s suggestion, but Koto thought it wasn’t such a bad idea.
/Everyone laughed at Miko’s suggestion, but Koto thought it wasn’t such a bad idea.
As the conversation continued, they discussed how they would make the orchestra different from last time.
/As the conversation continued, they discussed how they would make the orchestra different from last time.
“We could add some fun elements, like tricks with the instruments,” Ayu suggested.
/“We could add some fun elements, like tricks with the instruments,” Ayu suggested.
“Or maybe we could use different zones of the stage to make it more interesting.
/“Or maybe we could use different zones of the stage to make it more interesting.
Each zone could have a different instrument.”
/Each zone could have a different instrument.”
“That sounds like a lot of fun!” Koto said.
/“That sounds like a lot of fun!” Koto said.
“It’s going to be marvelous!”
/“It’s going to be marvelous!”
Later, as Koto got ready for bed, she felt so excited that she could barely sleep.
/Later, as Koto got ready for bed, she felt so excited that she could barely sleep.
She thought about everything from the music store—the euro coins they had used to buy a new sheet of music, the silver trumpets, and the beautiful euphonium.
/She thought about everything from the music store—the euro coins they had used to buy a new sheet of music, the silver trumpets, and the beautiful euphonium.
She even imagined herself playing in front of a big audience, cheering them up with her music.
/She even imagined herself playing in front of a big audience, cheering them up with her music.
The next day, Koto woke up early, determined to start planning.
/The next day, Koto woke up early, determined to start planning.
She picked up a novel from her desk and opened it, but her mind was still on music.
/She picked up a novel from her desk and opened it, but her mind was still on music.
“Books can wait,” she muttered as she threw the book onto her bed and grabbed her sketchbook instead.
/“Books can wait,” she muttered as she threw the book onto her bed and grabbed her sketchbook instead.
She drew the instruments she had seen the day before, carefully adding precise details to each one.
/She drew the instruments she had seen the day before, carefully adding precise details to each one.
“Everything will come together,” she thought.
/“Everything will come together,” she thought.
“I just have to stay focused and not let any distractions, like the pile of junk in the corner of my room or the TV shows about dinosaurs and chimpanzees, pull me away.”
/“I just have to stay focused and not let any distractions, like the pile of junk in the corner of my room or the TV shows about dinosaurs and chimpanzees, pull me away.”
Koto had big dreams, and she wasn’t going to let anything stand in her way.
/Koto had big dreams, and she wasn’t going to let anything stand in her way.
She knew that if she kept working hard and planning with precision, her musical vision would come to life.
/She knew that if she kept working hard and planning with precision, her musical vision would come to life.
And one day, the Rainbow Bird Orchestra would be something widely celebrated—not just in her town, but all over the world.
/And one day, the Rainbow Bird Orchestra would be something widely celebrated—not just in her town, but all over the world.
* Review Questions
/* Review Questions
What was Koto’s main concern about finding a suitable instrument?
/What was Koto’s main concern about finding a suitable instrument?
A) She was confused about which instrument to choose.
/A) She was confused about which instrument to choose.
B) She was worried she wouldn’t find the right one.
/B) She was worried she wouldn’t find the right one.
C) She thought the instruments were not acceptable.
/C) She thought the instruments were not acceptable.
What did Koto’s brother Ayu suggest to make the orchestra more interesting?
/What did Koto’s brother Ayu suggest to make the orchestra more interesting?
A) Adding a rap part.
/A) Adding a rap part.
B) Using different zones of the stage.
/B) Using different zones of the stage.
C) Including a chimpanzee act.
/C) Including a chimpanzee act.
What did Koto imagine herself doing in the future with her music?
/What did Koto imagine herself doing in the future with her music?
A) Performing in another country.
/A) Performing in another country.
B) Writing a novel about music.
/B) Writing a novel about music.
C) Holding a harvest festival concert.
/C) Holding a harvest festival concert.
What did Koto do instead of reading a book?
/What did Koto do instead of reading a book?
A) She climbed a tree.
/A) She climbed a tree.
B) She drew instruments with precise details.
/B) She drew instruments with precise details.
C) She cooked a new sauce.
/C) She cooked a new sauce.
What did Koto think about the euphonium’s sound?
/What did Koto think about the euphonium’s sound?
A) It felt like home.
/A) It felt like home.
B) It made her feel confused.
/B) It made her feel confused.
C) It was burning her ears.
/C) It was burning her ears.
