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RXENL08ARD6B28_BLR_CoverxHSKBPDy505959zv*:+:!:+:!ISBN-13:978-0-15-350595-9ISBN-10:0-15-350595-8by Meish Goldishillustrated by Jeremy Tugeau GRADE 6Lesson 28WORD COUNT945GENREScience FictionLEVELBelow LevelHarcourt LeveledReaders Online Database by Meish Goldishillustrated by Jeremy TugeauCopyright by Harcourt,Inc.All rights reserved.No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,electronic or mechanical,including photocopy,recording,or any information storage and retrieval system,without permission in writing from the publisher.Requests for permission to make copies of any part of the work should be addressed to School Permissions and Copyrights,Harcourt,Inc.,6277 Sea Harbor Drive,Orlando,Florida 32887-6777.Fax:407-345-2418.HARCOURT and the Harcourt Logo are trademarks of Harcourt,Inc.,registered in the United States of America and/or other jurisdictions.Printed in the United States of AmericaISBN 10:0-15-350595-8ISBN 13:978-0-15-350595-9Ordering OptionsISBN 10:0-15-350336-X(Grade 6 Below-Level Collection)ISBN 13:978-0-15-350336-8(Grade 6 Below-Level Collection)ISBN 10:0-15-357740-1(package of 5)ISBN 13:978-0-15-357740-6(package of 5)If you have received these materials as examination copies free of charge,Harcourt School Publishers retains title to the materials and they may not be resold.Resale of examination copies is strictly prohibited and is illegal.Possession of this publication in print format does not entitle users to convert this publication,or any portion of it,into electronic format.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 179 12 11 10 09 08 07 06RXENL08ARD6B28_BLR_P13 Brian couldnt have been happier.He received a new robot for his birthday.Aunt Pam and Uncle Sid gave it to him.They said the robot was special.“How is it different from all my other robots?”Brian asked.“This one wont just do work for you,”Uncle Sid explained.“It will think for you,too.Youll never need to think for yourself again.”“How is that possible?”Brian asked.RXENL08ARD6B28_BLR_P34 Aunt Pam smiled.“We fed the robot lots of information about you,”she said.“It knows your favorite colors and your favorite books and games.”“In addition to those things,it knows your favorite foods,”Uncle Sid added.Brian contemplated his new gift.He smiled widely.“Thank you,Aunt Pam and Uncle Sid!”he cried.“I like my gift.Now I just need to give it a name.No,wait!Ill let the robot think of one for me.”RXENL08ARD6B28_BLR_P45 Brian turned to the robot.“Robot,what should I call you?”he asked.The robots lights flashed.“TIR is a good name,”the robot said.“It stands for The Idea Robot.I am TIR,the robot.I will give you good ideas.”“Thats amazing!”Brian cried.“TIR really thinks for me!”That afternoon,Brian sat contentedly at home.Then he phoned his friend,Gail.“Come over,”he told her.“I want to show you something.”RXENL08ARD6B28_BLR_P56 Gail soon arrived.“Meet TIR,”Brian said to her.“Hes my new robot.Watch what he can do.”Brian turned to TIR.“TIR,Im thirsty,”he said.“What should I drink?”TIRs lights flashed.“Drink a glass of orange juice,”the robot replied.“Drink a glass of orange juice.”Gails eyes grew wide.“Wow!”she cried.“Ive seen a lot of boring robots,but Id have no qualms about owning this one!”RXENL08ARD6B28_BLR_P67 Brian said,“This Saturday is Tinas birthday party.I wonder what shirt I should wear.”Brian turned to his new robot.“TIR,what should I wear to Tinas birthday party?”TIRs lights flashed and blinked.“Wear your bright blue shirt.Wear your bright blue shirt,”TIR said.“I love that shirt!”Brian cried.“Blue is my favorite color.TIR,you sure know how to think!Thank you!”RXENL08ARD6B28_BLR_P78 All day,Brian asked TIR a torrent of questions.TIR answered each one.He gave Brian one idea after another.Brian and Gail were amazed.Brian said,“TIR,I want to play a game.What should I play?”TIRs lights blinked.“Play a game of checkers.Play a game of checkers,”TIR said.“I will play against you.”“Wow!”Gail cried.“TIR can play games,too.Will he tell you how to beat him?”RXENL08ARD6B28_BLR_P89“Lets find out,”Brian replied.He began to set up the checkers on the board.Then he decided to let TIR do it instead.TIR mechanically placed the checkers on the board,one at a time.He did it without error.When he finished,he beeped to let Brian know he was ready to play.“Which color should I be?”Brian asked.“You be red.Ill be black,”TIR replied.TIR and Brian started to play.“You move first,”TIR said.The robot pointed to one of Brians checkers.“Move this one to here,”TIR said in an officious voice.Brian did as he was told.RXENL08ARD6B28_BLR_P910 The game continued.TIR told Brian every move to make.The robot made its own moves,too.Soon TIR was winning.“See if TIR will let you win,”Gail said.Brian looked at the robot.“TIR,what should I do to win the game?”he asked.TIR pointed to one of Brians checkers.“Move this one to here.Then Ill move that one to there.Then you jump me three times.Then you win the game.”Brian and Gail both laughed.Gail said,“Surely if TIR knows what you will do,he will make a different move.He wont want to lose,right?”“I dont know,”Brian said.RXENL08ARD6B28_BLR_P1011 Brian did what TIR said.Sure enough,he won the checkers game.“That was easy,”Gail said.“Yes,”Brian agreed,“but it wasnt much fun.TIR was supposed to play against me.However,he wasnt contrary at all.In fact,he helped me.I won without even thinking.”“Brian,you can win every time without trying at all!”Gail said.“I know,”Brian sighed.“Thats the problem.”RXENL08ARD6B28_BLR_P1112 Brian got up from the table.“Lets do something else,Gail,”he said.TIRs lights flashed and blinked.“Read a mystery story,”the robot said.“Read a mystery story.”Brian frowned at TIR.“I didnt ask you for an idea,”he said.“I feel like going outside anyway.”“Ride your bike in the park,”TIR said.“Ride your bike in the park.”“Im finding this intolerable,”Brian said.RXENL08ARD6B28_BLR_P1213 Brian looked around the room.He saw a large towel.He placed it over the robots head.“Maybe this will keep TIR quiet,”he said.Suddenly,TIR began to make funny noises.He squeaked and clanked.He honked and clattered.Brian and Gail looked at each other.“Somethings wrong,”Brian said.“You dont think TIR would endanger us,do you?”Gail asked.RXENL08ARD6B28_BLR_P1314 Just then,TIR said,“Drink a bright blue shirt.Wear a glass of orange juice.Read a bike.Ride your book.I am TIR,the mystery checker in the park.The park,the park,the park.”“TIRs out of control!”Brian cried.“How do we turn him off?”“I have an idea,”Gail said.“Pull the battery from his back.”Brian did.The robot grew quiet.“I guess I learned a good lesson,”Brian laughed.“Sometimes its better to think for yourself!”RXENL08ARD6B28_BLR_P14Think Critically1.How is TIR different from Brians other robots?2.Why is Brian sad about winning the checker game?3.What does Brian learn about himself by the end of the story?4.Do you think Brian will keep TIR?Why or why not?5.Would you like a robot that does all your thinking for you?Explain.ScienceDesign a Robot Design a robot that does one or more special jobs.Explain in writing how the robot works.Draw a diagram to go with your explanation.School-Home Connection Tell your family about the story.Then discuss some things you would like to have a robot do around your home and some things that are better left for humans to do.Word Count:945RXENL08ARD6B28_BLR_P15