Text Leveling System

Tales From The Brink

RDQ:	1628	Max Word/Sent	39	Total Words	3114		Diff Words	806
Lex	840	Ave Word/.Sent	11	Hi Freq occurs	2302	73.9%	Hi freq	314	39%
AR	4.5	Long Sentences	4.6	Low Freq occurs	176	5.7%	Low freq	126	15.6%

The Heart Of The Forest
A Sumatran Orangutan Story
The Shining Hill
My name is Budi. I am a male Sumatran
orangutan, and I live among the trees in the
Great Forest. I am fourteen years old. Although]]
I am still young, my childhood is coming to an
end. Soon I will be fully grown: an adult.
It is not just me that is changing. I sense that
the forest is changing too. Other animals speak
of an unknown danger coming from beyond the
trees, and on some days I can see clouds of black
smoke on the horizon. Recently I've been having
strange dreams about a world without any trees
at all.
At this moment those fears are far from my
mind. I am perched high up in the rainforest
canopy, taking in the sights and sounds of the
Great Forest. It is early morning, and already I
can feel the sun's warmth on my skin. From the
trees around me I can hear the familiar grunts
and whoops of other orangutans.
There aren't many of us on the Shining Hill,
this part of the Great Forest. We Sumatran
orangutans are not a common species. My
mother lives close by, and I see her most days.
My father likes to wander through the forest,]]
and I see him several times a year. This is the
way of orangutans. Occasionally, other adults
pass through. Some stay a while before moving
on, thrilling the youngsters with stories of their
travels.
From further off in the forest I hear my friend
Dini laughing. She is the same age as me, and
although she thinks she is all grown up now, we
still play together whenever we can.
I have enjoyed a wonderful childhood here,
spoiled only by one thing. Or, I should say, by
one orangutan.
His name is Gilang. He is Dini's father and
the ruler of the Shining Hill. He is the biggest
orangutan in the area and a mighty warrior. I
shudder at the thought of him. His fearsome
face is widened by fleshy ridges that show he
is a dominant male. He has a flowing, orange
beard. He is powerfully built under his long fur
and is strong and fast. Legend has it that he once
fought a tiger, although nowadays all he seems to]]
do is roar at either Dini or me.
Gilang dislikes seeing Dini and me playing
together. Perhaps he thinks that the dreamer
Budi is a bad influence on his daughter. He and
Dini live in an area of the Shining Hill known as
the Green Rocks. Whenever he catches me there,
he threatens me and chases me away. I always
flee. Although I am almost fully grown, I am still
no match for Gilang.]]
I will go to the Green Rocks to see Dini this
evening. That is, if Gilang isn't there. For now, I
am content just to make my way slowly through
the trees in search of food. I have long, powerful
arms, and strong hands and feet. I love climbing
and swinging and jumping through the trees. I
rarely walk on the ground.
Orangutans are big creatures, and we have
nothing to fear from most of the other animals
in the forest. However, I must always keep an
eye out for leopards and the wild dogs known as
dholes. Tigers were once our main enemy, but
there aren't many of them left now. I have never
seen one, and I have wandered further than most
orangutans my age.
I look out over the valley. The forest stretches
to the horizon in every direction. The trees are
swaying in the breeze, and for a while I just
sit and watch the green, ever-moving world.
I have wandered across all of the Shining Hill
and one day will venture further into the forest.]]
Sometimes I feel that I am being called away. I
have heard talk of a great lake that stretches as
far as the eye can see. I hope that one day I will
see it for myself.
I spend the day roaming the hill in search of
fruit, my favourite food. Today I am lucky; I
find plenty and will not be going to bed hungry.
I make my way to the Green Rocks, looking
forward to seeing Dini.
Suddenly there is a loud whooping, and I
hear something large and powerful clambering
through the foliage towards me. A huge-and
very angry-orangutan bursts out from the trees.
It is Gilang! I have had too much to eat and was
complacent; I had forgotten to watch out for
him. I have never seen him this mad. He has a
terrible look on his face as he leaps forward and
tries to grab me. I jump wildly out of his reach,
praying that there is a branch or vine that I can
grab to stop myself falling.
Thankfully there is, and I propel myself away]]
from the huge orangutan as fast as I can. Gilang
gives chase, and we jump and swing through the
trees. The branches creak and groan as we pass.
Large clumps of foliage crash down onto the
distant forest floor.
In time I realise that Gilang has given up his
pursuit. I risk a look behind me and see the
ginger back of the older orangutan as he makes
his way back to the Green Rocks. I gasp for
breath, and my heart beats wildly. I am relieved
to have escaped Gilang, but sad that I will not
see Dini this evening.
At dusk the noise of the rainforest grows
steadily louder. All of the animals in the forest
seem to have found their voices. The primates
whoop and scream, and the birdsong is
deafening. I too let out a long, mournful whoop
to express my sorrow at not having seen Dini.
I climb high into the trees and start to build a
nest for the night. I was taught how to do this
by my mother. I twist branches together and add]]
various bits of foliage until I have an adequate
shelter. My temporary home is soon ready, and I
climb inside. As darkness falls the sounds of the
rainforest begin to die down. I turn over onto
my side and fall asleep.
In the night I have another strange dream. I
see things that I do not understand; images of
hairless, ape-like creatures that I have never seen
before. It is as if the forest is trying to tell me
something.
I wake in the darkness, feeling scared. I realise
that it is time for me to leave the Shining Hill. I
will return an adult and gain both the respect of
Gilang and the love of Dini.
I toss and turn for a while, then fall back into a
restless sleep.
The Journey
At dawn I am woken, as I am always woken, by
the sounds of the forest.]]
Slowly I stir. Already the dream is fading, its
power lost in the daylight. However, its message
is still clear. For all of my life I have gazed over
the valley that lies below the Shining Hill.
This morning I will finally leave my home and
venture further into the forest.
I call out to Dini. It is a long and sorrowful cry,
but one that ends with a promise. I hope that
she hears it. Then I leave.
The going is easy at the start. As usual I stay
in the trees, moving from branch to branch. I
move slowly but steadily; reaching, swinging and
gripping with my hands and feet. I see monkeys
and gibbons. Although, like me, they are
primates, they stay out of my way. I see snakes,
lizards and frogs, and birds of all shapes and
sizes.
I pass over a pack of dholes. The wild dogs
have smelled me before they see me, and their
barks and snarls are terrifying. One slip and I
will be among them. I do not slip. I am at home]]
in the trees. The dholes soon give up the chase
and slink back into the bushes.
At one point I realise that I have never been
this far from the Shining Hill before. I am now
deep down in the valley. The air is warmer here,
the atmosphere moist.]]
All day I am haunted by the last dream.
At night, as I sleep in a newly-constructed
nest, it returns. Again, I see the strange apelike
creatures that I do not recognise. Then I
see Gilang, charging through the forest. His
expression is not one of anger, but one of fear.
Seeing Gilang like that frightens me even more.
The next day I pass another, older orangutan.
He has a kindly face, and we talk in low voices.
He lives in this part of the forest. He too feels
that something bad is coming, but is too old for
adventures. We wish each other good luck and
go our separate ways.
I travel for weeks. I climb hills and traverse
valleys. At several points I have to clamber over
the ground, feeling vulnerable and slow as I do
so. I come across a large river. I am fascinated;
I have never seen this much water. Maybe the
legends of a lake without an end are true. I travel
alongside the river for several days.
I come across a small stream that flows into the]]
bigger river. I decide to wade over the stream;
something I have never had to do before. In my
inexperience I fail to notice the huge crocodile
sunning itself on the bank. It sees me, and begins
to scurry towards me. I have fled from Gilang
many times, and finally all of the practice comes
in useful. I leap into the trees just as the reptile
catches up with me. Its jaws snap shut where my
leg had been just a moment earlier.
As I travel, I become bigger and more
confident. The few orangutans that I meet treat
me differently. The other males are no longer as
friendly. Instead, they bare their teeth and are
aggressive. Many of the females seem fearful of
me, yet some seem the opposite. They follow me,
compliment me, tease me. I realise that I have
become an adult.
The Heart Of The Forest
Away from the river, I begin to move uphill
again. I climb until I am at the top of a hill]]
surrounded by forest. Once more I am able to
look down over a valley. I see another orangutan.
She is old and friendly. 'There is much fruit
here', she tells me. 'This is a good place. I ask
her what it is called. She says it is known as the
Heart Of The Forest.
I like it here. The fruit are large and abundant,
the trees tall and strong. Most of all, the Heart
Of The Forest feels safe. As darkness begins to
fall and the rainforest comes to life, I am happy.
I sleep a deep and dreamless sleep.
I spend several weeks in the Heart Of The
Forest. I rest after my journey, and become
strong on fruit and insects. The old female is the
only other orangutan here, and she doesn't seem
to mind my presence.
Then, one night, the dream comes again. This
time it is different; the images are clearer. I see
Dini, afraid and in danger. Again, I see the
strange, hairless apes. I realise that my journey is
not over. I must return to the orangutans on the]]
Shining Hill and tell them of this place.
I get little sleep during the rest of the night and
wake early. I leave the Heart Of The Forest as the
sun is rising.
I make my way back down the hill and retrace
my steps along the river, this time keeping an
eye out for crocodiles. Eventually I leave the
river and continue back through the rainforest.
The journey takes many weeks, and I see many
wonderful things along the way. I also have
several lucky escapes from dholes and leopards. I
learn to avoid other orangutans. To them I am a
large and threatening stranger. This saddens me,
and I long to return to my old home.
The Clearing
At one point, with the Shining Hill coming into
sight on the horizon, I reach a clearing. Being
so close to my destination, I decide to leave the
trees and take the short route across, rather than
going around.]]
I go as quickly as I can, but just as I am nearing
the trees at the other side, I realise that some of
the vegetation in front of me has transformed
itself into the shape of a cat.
Not just any cat. Before me stands something
that is far larger than the leopards I have
previously encountered. It is the most fearsome
looking creature I have ever seen.
It is bright orange, with black stripes that had
made it almost invisible in the grass. From deep
within its muscular body comes a terrible growl.
I have come so far, and I am so close to the
Shining Hill; I have no choice but to face the
creature. I spread out my arms to make myself
look big. I roar wildly and bare my teeth. I stare
straight into the emotionless eyes of the tiger.
The tiger stares back at me for a while, then
takes a step closer. I realise that all is lost.
Then the tiger speaks. 'You are brave, Man Of
the Forest.  He pauses, as if making up his mind
what to do with me... For that I will spare you.]]
However, if you continue in that direction, you
might wish that I hadn't.
He then walks past me, so close that I feel the
heat emanating from his body.
I climb once again into the safety of the trees.
As I do so I see the remains of a gibbon lying on
the ground at the side of the clearing. I am lucky
that the tiger had just eaten.
Once I am high enough to be out of danger,
I turn back and look at the clearing. I am still
shaking. The tiger has gone. Or maybe he is still
there, invisible in the long grass. It is strange; I
feel sorry for the tiger, despite the fact that he
could quite easily have eaten me. He seemed
lonely, even a bit scared. Was that why he
warned me against continuing? Like me, I think
he was searching for someone.
The Return
It takes me several days to get back to the
Shining Hill. When I arrive, much has changed.]]
the orangutans, including my mother, have
gone; I have no idea where to. I make my way up
Ill the Green Rocks, feeling that at any second
Gilang will leap out at me and chase me away.
but Gilang has gone too .
I sit on the rocks and look around. I whoop
a greeting. There is no reply. I begin to despair.
Without the orangutans, the Shining Hill
suddenly seems a lonely, desolate place.
Then I hear it. A weak voice, coming from the
treetops.
'Budi! Is that you?'
I look up and see a small, badly-made
orangutan nest. I climb the tree as fast as I can
and peer into the nest.
It is Dini. She's in a terrible state. She seems
to be having trouble moving, and there is
something strange sticking out of her shoulder.
I have never seen anything like it. I can see
through it, but it is hard to the touch. Inside
there is liquid. The end in Dini's shoulder]]
is sharp, like a thorn. The flesh around it is
infected. Without thinking, I pull the object
from Dini's shoulder and throw it out of the
nest. She howls in pain.
I apologise, but she doesn't notice. She is tired
and can hardly speak. What she does say doesn't
make any sense. She talks of hairless apes that
walk on two legs. Then, with horror, I realise
she is describing the creatures I have seen in my
dreams.
I tell her not to worry, that I will be back
shortly.
I leave the nest and fetch fruit from the trees
nearby. When I return, Dini seems to be a little
better. She eats some of the fruit and sleeps for a
while. Her breathing seems easier.
She wakes again just before sunset. She tells
me to climb up to the treetops and look at the
forest.
I do as she asks. At first, everything seems
normal. Then I notice that, at the other end of]]
the valley, the trees have gone. No longer does
the forest reach the horizon. Instead, there is a
dark band of bare earth that stretches for miles.
I hurry back down to Dini .
'What has happened to the valley?' I ask.
She tells me that hairless apes had come .
After cutting the trees down and burning what
remained, they had appeared at Shining Hill.
They had magic stings that came out of the
air. the same as the one I had taken from her
shoulder. Gilang had charged through the trees
at them, but he had been stung. Disorientated,
he had fallen, crashing through the foliage and
landing dead at their feet. The hairless apes
picked him up and took him away. She cries as
 he tells me.
I feel like crying too. As strange as it may seem,
I will miss the fearsome old warrior.
Dini had been stung herself, but had managed
to climb from the trees and hide in the rocks
before passing out. She had awoken alone and]]
sick. She had barely enough strength to make a
nest, and was unable to find food.
I tell Dini about The Heart Of The Forest, and
she agrees to come with me. We spend our last
night on the Shining Hill together, sleeping in
her dishevelled nest.
The next morning, we set off. Although Dini is
still tired, the sickness has passed. We travel for
several hours, making slow bur steady progress
through the trees.
Suddenly Dini stops. She looks back at me
with fear in her eyes. 'Look, Budi, is that what I
think it is?'
Far below us, padding silently across the forest
floor, are two tigers. One is an adult female, the
other a small male cub. They seem lost, and carry
with them the same sadness as the tiger I had
seen at the clearing.
Dini whispers, 'We must get our of here!'
I begin to climb down towards the tigers.]]

Subjective Criteria

Illustrations: No support

Dialog: Multiple speakers

Dialog: Unlabeled Speaker

Vocabulary: Some difficult words

Language: Many descriptive words

Sentences: Some Long/Complex

Text structure: Story/Poem

Inferences: Several Implications

Concepts: Abstract/Complex Environmental

Chapters

Headings

Features

Integral Setting

Mood/tone

Difficult names

Topic

Turtles

Monkeys

Food Chain

Danger

Endangerment

*Animals

Animals: Jungle

Predators/Prey

*Animal Life

Low Frequency Words

abundant	adequate	adventures	aggressive	alongside
apelike	apologise	atmosphere	awoken	bursts
charged	charging	clamber	clambering	complacent
compliment	confident	constructed	content	deafening
desolate	despair	despite	destination	dishevelled
dominant	dreamless	emanating	emotionless	encountered
escaped	eventually	familiar	fascinated	favourite
fearsome	foliage	fully	further	gazed
gibbon	gibbons	gilang	gripping	grunts
hairless	haunted	horizon	horror	inexperience
infected	influence	invisible	kindly	legend
legends	leopards	liquid	mournful	muscular
nearing	newly	nowadays	object	occasionally
opposite	orangutan	orangutans	pauses	peer
perched	powerfully	presence	previously	primates
progress	propel	pursuit	rainforest	realise
recently	recognise	relieved	respect	restless
retrace	ridges	roaming	route	scurry
separate	shortly	shudder	sickness	slink
sorrow	steadily	stung	sumatran	sunning
surrounded	temporary	terrifying	threatening	threatens
towards	transformed	traverse	unable	unknown
uphill	various	vegetation	venture	vulnerable
wander	wandered	warmth	warned	warrior
whispers	whooping	whoops	widened	woken
youngsters