Nonfiction · Level 1 · 120 words

How Street Numbers Find a Door

Original passage © Studio AM, written for Fluency.

Street numbers are more than labels. On many streets, numbers rise as a person moves in one direction. Odd numbers appear on one side, while even numbers appear on the other.

Suppose Mira is looking for 148 Cedar Street. She passes 121, 125, and 131 on her left. Those odd numbers are increasing, so she is moving the right way. Because 148 is even, she should watch the other side. When she sees 142 and then 146, she knows the door is near.

Systems differ between cities, and some roads contain gaps or unusual numbering. Still, the pattern gives a useful estimate. A number can tell a visitor which side to scan and whether to continue forward or turn back.

Comprehension questions

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4 questions
1. What is the main idea of the passage?

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D. Increasing numbers and odd-even sides can help a visitor estimate where a street address is located.
The example shows how sequence and odd-even placement guide Mira, while the conclusion notes exceptions.

2. Why should Mira look across the street after seeing 131?

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A. Her target is even, while the numbers beside her are odd.
The passage states that odd and even addresses commonly occupy opposite sides.

3. What does “scan” mean in the final sentence?

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B. look over an area to find something
The number tells a visitor which side to search visually, so “scan” means look over.

4. Which number does Mira see just before she expects her door?

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C. 146
The sequence on the target side ends with 142 and then 146, placing 148 nearby.

Source: Written for Fluency. Original passage © Studio AM, written for Fluency.