Wondering About Watermelons
Matthew Hardy
1Jamaal stared at the pink watermelon slice on his plate. "Where do watermelons come from?" he asked. His older brother Devon smiled, took a bite of his watermelon, and spit out a black seed. He held it up in the air. "They come from these."
2Jamaal's eyes opened wide. "A watermelon comes from that tiny thing?" he asked.
3"Yes. This is a watermelon seed," Devon explained. "You can plant it and grow a whole watermelon from it. It's just like all other fruits and vegetables that get planted in the ground." Jamaal stared in wonder as Devon explained that the watermelon they were eating came from a local farm. He said that the farmer planted the seed in the ground. A plant grew from the seed. The farmer watered and cared for the plant. Over a few months, the plant grew delicious watermelons.
4"Wow. I wish I could meet a farmer," Jamaal sighed.
5Devon smiled widely. "I know how you could," he said. He told Jamaal that he had visited a local farm during his last class trip. The farmer told the students they were welcome to come back at any time. "What do you think?" he asked Jamaal with a smile. Jamaal whooped loudly and raced up the steps. He changed into his oldest shoes and jeans. He and Devon got into the car.
6After driving past many dirt roads, they pulled into a long driveway. The farmer, Mr. Kirk, waved in greeting from his front porch. Devon and Jamaal got out of the car and started walking up the driveway. Jamaal stared in wonder. The land all around him was filled with plants, grass, and farm animals. A few chickens even walked by!
7Jamaal handed the farmer the black seed from Devon's watermelon. "My brother says you can turn this into a watermelon. Can you show me how?" he asked.
8The farmer chuckled at Jamaal. He told him that it would take him a couple of months to grow a watermelon. He said it takes time to grow fruit, but in the end it's worth it.
9Devon asked Mr. Kirk what he did with his crops after he picked them. "I sell them to local grocery stores and farmer's markets. I have probably sold food to the store where you shop. I also enjoy some of the food myself," said Mr. Kirk. He then asked Jamaal and Devon if they wanted to help him pick some of the ripe strawberries.
10Jamaal and Devon followed the farmer through his fields. They passed row after row of vegetables and fruits, including corn, potatoes, blueberries, and cucumbers. They finally came to the strawberry patch. Jamaal and Devon took their time to pick the largest, reddest berries. They each filled a basket. Jamaal looked at each berry carefully before picking it. He knew that he had to take his time to find the best ones. When he was finished, he had the best batch of strawberries he had ever seen.
Question
Which detail supports Devon's claim that he and his brother could go to the farm?
Responses
A The farmer watered and cared for the plant.The farmer watered and cared for the plant.
B He said that the farmer planted the seed in the ground.He said that the farmer planted the seed in the ground.
C Jamaal and Devon followed the farmer through his fields.Jamaal and Devon followed the farmer through his fields.
D The farmer told the students they were welcome to come back at any time.