3rd grade nonfiction passage about how train wheels stay on the rails: 161 words, six questions, an answer key and vocabulary.
3rd gradenonfictionhow train wheels stay on the rails161 words
The Hidden Lip on Every Train Wheel
A train rolls along two steel rails. Nobody turns a steering wheel to keep it on the track. So how does a train stay put?
The secret is in the shape of the wheels. Each wheel has a wide, flat part that rests on top of a rail. On the inside edge, it also has a thin lip that sticks out below. This lip is called a flange. It hangs down on the inner side of the rail, like a small fence.
If the train starts to slide sideways, the flange pushes against the rail. The rail holds the wheel in place, and the train stays on the track.
The flat part of the wheel is also tilted a little, like the side of a very wide cone. When a train drifts to one side, this slope gently steers it back toward the middle.
Because of these two shapes, a train can roll for miles with no one steering at all.
Questions
What does a train roll along? in the text
What is the thin lip on a train wheel called? in the text
Where does the flange hang? in the text
What does the flange do if the train starts to slide sideways? in the text
What does the tilt of the flat part of the wheel do? in the text
Why does a train not need a steering wheel on straight track? think about it
Words to know
rails
long metal bars that a train rolls along
flange
the thin lip on a train wheel that keeps it on the rail
sideways
toward one side instead of forward
tilted
leaning a little to one side
drifts
moves slowly off course
Name ____________________________ Date ______________
The Hidden Lip on Every Train Wheel
3rd grade reading passage
A train rolls along two steel rails. Nobody turns a steering wheel to keep it on the track. So how does a train stay put?
The secret is in the shape of the wheels. Each wheel has a wide, flat part that rests on top of a rail. On the inside edge, it also has a thin lip that sticks out below. This lip is called a flange. It hangs down on the inner side of the rail, like a small fence.
If the train starts to slide sideways, the flange pushes against the rail. The rail holds the wheel in place, and the train stays on the track.
The flat part of the wheel is also tilted a little, like the side of a very wide cone. When a train drifts to one side, this slope gently steers it back toward the middle.
Because of these two shapes, a train can roll for miles with no one steering at all.
Questions
What does a train roll along?
What is the thin lip on a train wheel called?
Where does the flange hang?
What does the flange do if the train starts to slide sideways?
What does the tilt of the flat part of the wheel do?
Why does a train not need a steering wheel on straight track?
Words to know
rails: long metal bars that a train rolls along
flange: the thin lip on a train wheel that keeps it on the rail
sideways: toward one side instead of forward
tilted: leaning a little to one side
drifts: moves slowly off course
Free at teach.peabody.kids/passages/3/hidden-lip-on-train-wheel
Share
One passage, three levels
The same topic and facts written three ways, so a mixed class can read and talk about one text. Each group’s sheet shows only a shape; the key says which is which.
● Easier · 148 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 1.2
A train rolls on two steel rails. No one turns a wheel to keep it on the track. So how does it stay there?
The secret is the shape of the wheels. Each wheel has a wide, flat part. It rests on top of a rail. On the inside edge is a thin lip that sticks out below. The lip is called a flange. It hangs down on the inner side of the rail, like a small fence.
If the train starts to slide sideways, the flange hits the rail. The rail holds the wheel in place. The train stays on the track.
The flat part is also tilted a little, like the side of a wide cone. If a train drifts to one side, the slope gently steers it back to the middle.
Because of these shapes, a train can roll for miles with no one steering.
▲ This passage · 161 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 2.7
A train rolls along two steel rails. Nobody turns a steering wheel to keep it on the track. So how does a train stay put?
The secret is in the shape of the wheels. Each wheel has a wide, flat part that rests on top of a rail. On the inside edge, it also has a thin lip that sticks out below. This lip is called a flange. It hangs down on the inner side of the rail, like a small fence.
If the train starts to slide sideways, the flange pushes against the rail. The rail holds the wheel in place, and the train stays on the track.
The flat part of the wheel is also tilted a little, like the side of a very wide cone. When a train drifts to one side, this slope gently steers it back toward the middle.
Because of these two shapes, a train can roll for miles with no one steering at all.
■ Harder · 166 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 4.9
A train travels along two parallel steel rails, yet nobody turns a steering wheel to keep it on the track. How does a train manage to stay where it belongs?
The secret lies in the shape of its wheels. Each wheel has a wide, flat surface that rests on top of a rail. Along its inside edge, the wheel also has a thin lip that projects downward. This lip is called a flange, and it hangs on the inner side of the rail like a small fence.
If the train begins to slide sideways, the flange presses against the rail. The rail holds the wheel firmly in place, and the train remains on the track.
The flat surface of the wheel is also tilted slightly, much like the side of a very wide cone. Whenever a train drifts toward one side, this gentle slope steers it back toward the middle.
Thanks to these two shapes, a train can roll for miles without anyone steering at all.
A train rolls on two steel rails. No one turns a wheel to keep it on the track. So how does it stay there?
The secret is the shape of the wheels. Each wheel has a wide, flat part. It rests on top of a rail. On the inside edge is a thin lip that sticks out below. The lip is called a flange. It hangs down on the inner side of the rail, like a small fence.
If the train starts to slide sideways, the flange hits the rail. The rail holds the wheel in place. The train stays on the track.
The flat part is also tilted a little, like the side of a wide cone. If a train drifts to one side, the slope gently steers it back to the middle.
Because of these shapes, a train can roll for miles with no one steering.
Questions
What does a train roll on?
What is the thin lip on a train wheel called?
Where does the flange hang?
What does the flange do if the train slides sideways?
What does the tilt of the flat part do?
Why does a train not need a steering wheel on straight track?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Name ____________________▲
The Hidden Lip on Every Train Wheel
A train rolls along two steel rails. Nobody turns a steering wheel to keep it on the track. So how does a train stay put?
The secret is in the shape of the wheels. Each wheel has a wide, flat part that rests on top of a rail. On the inside edge, it also has a thin lip that sticks out below. This lip is called a flange. It hangs down on the inner side of the rail, like a small fence.
If the train starts to slide sideways, the flange pushes against the rail. The rail holds the wheel in place, and the train stays on the track.
The flat part of the wheel is also tilted a little, like the side of a very wide cone. When a train drifts to one side, this slope gently steers it back toward the middle.
Because of these two shapes, a train can roll for miles with no one steering at all.
Questions
What does a train roll along?
What is the thin lip on a train wheel called?
Where does the flange hang?
What does the flange do if the train starts to slide sideways?
What does the tilt of the flat part of the wheel do?
Why does a train not need a steering wheel on straight track?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Name ____________________■
The Hidden Lip on Every Train Wheel
A train travels along two parallel steel rails, yet nobody turns a steering wheel to keep it on the track. How does a train manage to stay where it belongs?
The secret lies in the shape of its wheels. Each wheel has a wide, flat surface that rests on top of a rail. Along its inside edge, the wheel also has a thin lip that projects downward. This lip is called a flange, and it hangs on the inner side of the rail like a small fence.
If the train begins to slide sideways, the flange presses against the rail. The rail holds the wheel firmly in place, and the train remains on the track.
The flat surface of the wheel is also tilted slightly, much like the side of a very wide cone. Whenever a train drifts toward one side, this gentle slope steers it back toward the middle.
Thanks to these two shapes, a train can roll for miles without anyone steering at all.
Questions
What does a train travel along?
What is the thin lip on a train wheel called?
Where does the flange hang?
What does the flange do if the train begins to slide sideways?
What does the slight tilt of the flat surface do?
Why does a train not need a steering wheel on straight track?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Answer key: The Hidden Lip on Every Train Wheel
● Easier (Flesch-Kincaid grade 1.2)
Two steel rails.
A flange.
On the inner side of the rail.
It hits the rail, and the rail holds the wheel in place.
It gently steers the train back to the middle.
The shape of the wheels keeps it on the rails.
▲ This passage (Flesch-Kincaid grade 2.7)
Two steel rails.
A flange.
On the inner side of the rail.
It pushes against the rail, and the rail holds the wheel in place.
It gently steers the train back toward the middle.
The shape of the wheels keeps it on the rails.
■ Harder (Flesch-Kincaid grade 4.9)
Two parallel steel rails.
A flange.
On the inner side of the rail.
It presses against the rail, and the rail holds the wheel in place.
It steers the train back toward the middle.
The shape of its wheels keeps it on the rails.
Free at teach.peabody.kids
How to use it
Press Read it big (or B) to put the text on the projector, or Full screen (F) to fill the whole screen.
Ask the questions one at a time and use Show answer when the class has decided. A shows or hides every answer.
Print student copy for the class, or Print with answers for yourself.
Ideas for class
Before reading, put rails, flange, sideways, tilted and drifts on the board with their meanings from the Words to know section and have students predict what the text will be about.
Read it aloud once while students follow along, then have them reread it alone or with a partner. At a calm 100 words a minute it takes about 2 minutes to read aloud.
Use the Read it big button (or B) to put the text on the projector, and Show answer on one question at a time so the class commits to an answer first.
Question 6 asks the reader to infer. Ask students to point to the words in the passage that led them to their answer.
Ask students to write one question the passage did not answer, then look for the answer in a book or on a classroom screen.
Print the student copy for independent work and keep the answer-key copy for yourself.
What reading level is "The Hidden Lip on Every Train Wheel"?
It was written for 3rd grade. It has 161 words and works out to a Flesch-Kincaid grade level of about 2.7. That is a formula's estimate from sentence length and syllables, and it is not a Lexile or a guided reading level, so check it against your students.
What do the questions ask?
There are six. 5 ask for something the text says directly and 1 ask the reader to work something out from clues. Each has an answer in the key, and the answers are written as a teacher would accept them, not as the only possible wording.
How long does it take to read?
About 2 minutes read aloud at 100 words a minute. For a one-minute fluency check, paste it into the fluency timer and use the word count.
Can I print it?
Yes. Print student copy gives the passage, the questions with lines to write on, and the word meanings. Print with answers gives the same page with the answers filled in. Both are made in your browser.
Is this passage from a published book?
No. It was written for Peabody Teach, so there is no book to buy and no login to read it.
Nothing you do here is sent to us. No sign-in, no ads.