Rhoda the Rhino's Rhythmic Dream
Rhoda the Rhino's Rhythmic Dream
Rhoda was a rhinoceros, a big, gray, and usually grumpy rhinoceros. But Rhoda had a secret. She didn't dream of mud baths or munching on thorny bushes. Rhoda dreamt of ballet.
Every night, after the sun dipped low and the African savanna grew quiet, Rhoda would tiptoe into a hidden clearing. There, under the silvery moonlight, she practiced. Her large feet, usually stomping the ground, attempted graceful pliés. Her sturdy legs tried to leap and twirl, much to the amusement of the nearby fireflies. They blinked in time with her clumsy, but determined, movements.
Rhoda had a problem. Rhinos aren't exactly built for ballet. Her tutu, made of carefully collected cotton blossoms, never quite stayed put. Her horn kept getting in the way during her pirouettes, and her landings were, well, more like small earthquakes than feather-light touches.
One day, a wise old owl, perched high in an acacia tree, watched Rhoda's practice. He hooted softly, then swooped down. "Little rhino," he said, "why do you struggle so? Ballet isn't just about being light and graceful. It's about expressing yourself. Use what you have!"
- Savanna:
- A grassy plain in tropical and subtropical regions, with few trees.
- Pliés:
- A bending of the knees outward with the back held straight.
- Pirouettes:
- A whirling about on one foot or on the points of the toes.
- Tutu:
- A short, often stiff skirt worn by ballerinas.
- acacia:
- A type of tree or shrub with thorny branches that is commonly found in warm, dry regions like the African savanna.
- majestic:
- Grand, noble, and impressive in appearance or style.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1What was Rhoda's secret dream?
- 2Where did Rhoda practice her ballet?
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About this fiction passage for Upper Elementary
“Rhoda the Rhino's Rhythmic Dream” is a fiction reading passage about Ballet, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 2 minutes to read (291 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.