Key into Evaluation

Key into Evaluation

Level One Set T6

Evaluation requires the skills or reorganisation and inference.  Answers must come from
the information in the story. Look for keywords. Consider the writer’s intent.

The Cycling Craze

Uni means one, bi means two and tri means three. A unicycle has one wheel, a seat and
two pedals. A bicycle has two wheels, a seat and two pedals. A tricycle has three
wheels, a seat and two pedals.

Two hundred years ago, when they were first made, the most common bicycles were
called ‘penny-farthings’. They had a large front wheel and a very small back wheel.
The pedals were in the centre of the front wheel and the seat was above it. The rider
was high up in the air. If a rider braked suddenly, the back wheel would rise right up
off the ground. This meant that they could easily be thrown off the seat. They would
have to hang on tight to the handle bars to keep themselves from coming off. It was a
long way to the ground.

To people watching, it was very funny. Some riders, who could manage to keep their
balance on the front wheel, did it just to entertain others.

This led to the making of unicycles. Riders tried to see how far they could travel
balanced on these one-wheeled cycles. They were able to be pedaled backwards as well
as forward. those who were skilled at riding on the front wheel of a penny-farthings
were usually able to ride a unicycle well.

The craze did not last very long. These days unicycles are most often seen in circuses
or shows.

a.  Why can’t we call a unicycle a one wheeled bicycle?

Because a Unicycle only has one wheel and a Bicycle has two wheels. ✓

b.  What made people think of making unicycles?

People thought of making Unicycles for entertainment. X

They got the idea by bullying wheels. ✓

c.  Is it easy to ride a unicycle? Why do you say that?

No because it takes a lot of skills to ried something with one wheel. ✓

d.  Why do you think unicycles were a short lived craze?

Because not that many people know how to ride a Unicycle ✓

Reaction question:

Would you like to ride a penny farthings bicycle? Why do you say that?

No because it is dangers and hard to do.

Create activity:

Find a video of someone doing tricks on a unicycle and put it on your blog.