When we smell smoke，we think“fire”，and fire is a scary thing．Fire can harm things，but it can also help nature．
In 1988，Yellowstone Park had some very bad fires．They burned all summer．Firefighters worked hard to put them out，but the fires were too big．They moved too fast．The fires burned until fall，when snow finally put them out．
Because many trees and much grass burned，the fires changed the land．Soil washed away，and some animals were killed．
But now，good things are happening in Yellowstone．There are more things for the animals to eat．Flowers，berries and grass grow where the fires burned the trees．The deer and elk（麋）like the good grass．Bears like the berries．Dead trees make good homes for bugs（虫子）and birds．New trees are growing．
Yellowstone is not like it was in 1988．But it is still a good place for animals to live．
Exercises：
1．In 1988 Yellowstone had big _________．
a．floods b．rains c．flowers d．fires
2．The story says，“Fire can harm things，but it can also help nature．”The word it means _________．
3．Which of the following does the story lead you to believe？
a．The firefighters didn't know how to put out fires．
b．All the animals left and never came back．
c．Animals like Yellowstone Park now．
4．What put the fires out？
a．Firefighters put the fires out．
b．Rain put the fires out．
c．The fires burned until fall，when snow finally put them out．
5．The main idea of the whole story is that _________．
a．the fires changed Yellowstone Park
b．there are more bears in Yellowstone Park
c．the trees in Yellowstone Park are gone
（Keys：1．d 2．fire 3．c 4．c 5．a）
Dolly from Reading for Concepts
