Speed Reading — Level 3 — 300 wpm 

Now do this put-the-text-back-together activity.

This is the text (if you need help).

We now have a good idea of what kind of clothes people wore over 5,000 years ago. Scientists studied the pieces of material that were on the body of a man who died in Europe 5,300 years ago. His body was frozen under ice in the Alps Mountains. Archaeologists discovered his body in a glacier in 1991. They called him Otzi the Iceman. They also found bits of clothing and Otzi's accessories and weapons. Scientists have analysed everything they found to get an idea of what early humans looked like, what they ate and what they wore. They even have an idea of what Otzi's voice sounded like. The scientists said Otzi provided "rare and valuable information" about how humans used animals five millennia ago.

The research team said Otzi's clothes were from several different animals. He had leggings that were made from goat leather. He wore a hat made from brown bear fur. Otzi's leather coat was stitched together from at least four different kinds of animals. His shoes were made from different kinds of grass. Otzi's body was also covered in 61 tattoos. Scientists say these were for pain relief for his aching joints and not for decoration. Otzi was 45 when he died, which was quite old for a man 5,000 years ago. He suffered from heart disease and had dental problems. Scientists say he did not die naturally. He was murdered. Someone killed him by firing an arrow at him, which hit him in the head.

Comprehension questions
  1. What things did scientists study pieces of from Otzi?
  2. When did archaeologists find Otzi?
  3. What nickname did scientists give to Otzi?
  4. What do scientists think they know the sound of?
  5. What "rare and valuable" thing did Otzi give the scientists?
  6. What was Otzi's leggings made from?
  7. What did Otzi make with the fur from a brown bear?
  8. How many tattoos covered Otzi's body?
  9. What were the tattoos on Otzi's body for?
  10. What hit and killed Otzi?

Back to the Iceman lesson.

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