The White House Begins
On October 13, 1792, a cornerstone was laid for a house that would become famous around the world. The cornerstone marked the start of the White House building project in the new capital, Washington. But one stone could not make a home for a president. That would take years of planning, materials, and labor from many people.
A plan for a president’s house
The United States was a young nation, and its leaders wanted a permanent capital. President George Washington helped choose the area along the Potomac River. Architect James Hoban designed the president’s house after his plan was selected in a competition.
Hoban’s design called for a large stone building with balanced rows of windows and a formal appearance. Architecture is more than drawing an attractive shape, though. Builders had to turn the design into a structure with strong walls, floors, rooms, and a roof. They also had to bring workers and heavy materials to a place where the new city was still taking shape.
Stone, tools, and teamwork
- cornerstone:
- A stone placed to mark the beginning of an important building.
- permanent:
- Meant to last rather than be temporary.
- exterior:
- The outside of a building or object.
- transported:
- Moved from one place to another.
- interior:
- The inside of a building or object.
- enslaved:
- Forced to work and controlled by another person.
- preserve:
- To keep something so it is not lost.
One passage, many ways to practice
Reading-skill questions, word work and writing prompts — all built from this text.
Main Idea
Identify the central idea and explain how important details develop it.
Context Clues
Use clues in the passage to work out what words mean. A separate printable Vocabulary worksheet is also available.
Summarize
Select, organize, and restate the most important information without adding opinion.
Purpose
Analyze what the author aims to do and how choices serve audience and purpose.
Structure
Analyze how sections and organizational choices build the text's ideas or effects.
Vocabulary
Practice words from the passage with a printable worksheet.
Writing Prompts
Use the passage as a springboard for short written responses, from personal reflection to evidence-based arguments.
Fix the Sentence
Practice editing sentences drawn from this passage with a printable worksheet.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1What is the main idea of the passage? Give two details that support it.
- 2Why was a design alone not enough to build the president’s house?
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About this explanatory article passage for Upper Elementary
“The White House Begins” is a explanatory article reading passage about Building the White House, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 4 minutes to read (531 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.