Page 21 - Reading Success B1

In 1492, Christopher Columbus arrived on San Salvador Island in Central
America. He was greeted by people who had brown skin, dark brown eyes,

straight and long noses, and straight black hair. He called them Indios or Indians
because he thought that he had reached India. Today, they are called the

American Indians. The American Indians arrived in the Americas about 20,000 to
30,000 years ago. They were the first people to live there.

The American Indians studied nature and its ways. They knew how animals
lived and hunted. They knew which plants were poisonous . They also knew if

plants were good to eat. They knew when it was going to rain. They also knew
when it was going to be sunny. They believed that the sun, rain, and other forces

were controlled by spirits. In religion, they paid respect to animals, plants, the
sun, the rain, and the wind. They prayed to them so that the gods will give them a

good harvest. The American Indians lived in villages. They used stone tools like
hammers and knives to build their stone or clay houses.They also used bows and

arrows for hunting. They hunted deer, buffalo, sheep and goats. The women
usually planted potatoes, tomatoes, corn, and beans. They harvested the crops

and cooked the food. They also made jewelry, rugs, and pots. They used the bark
of trees for their clothes. They usually gathered to play games, tell stories, sing,

and dance.

Main Idea

What is the main idea of this story?

a. Christopher Columbus discovering America

b. ancient hammers and knifes that the American Indians used
c. harvesting potatoes, tomatoes, corn, and beans

d. the history of the American Indians in the Americas

24_Reading Success B 1