Salt and Pay

FACT: The adult human body contains about 250 grams of salt - about half a pound.

Listen and choose the correct answer to each of the following questions.

• What do you earn when you work?
• Long ago, what were sometimes paid to Roman soldiers?

What do you earn when you work?

Long ago, what were sometimes paid to Roman soldiers?

Read and answer the following questions.

When you work, you get paid. You earn a salary. Your salary is how much you are paid. What does your salary have to do with salt? Salt is a spice. Long ago, it was very important. It made food taste good. It was also used to keep food from rotting. Long ago, it was hard to keep food from rotting. For this reason, salt was an important trade good.

The Roman word for salt was sal. Long ago, Roman soldiers were sometimes paid in salt. Other times, they were given money to buy salt. When soldiers were given money to buy salt, it was called a salarium.

Look at the old word sal. Look at the old word salarium. Now, look at the word salary. Do you see how alike they are?

Source: Daily Warm-ups Reading Grade 2

What was called "salarium"?

From the story, you can tell that _____.

Put the right word in each blank. The sentences are from the text.

1. Your 6.1 is how much you are paid.
2. For this reason, salt was an important trade 6.2.
3. You 6.3 a salary.
4. Look at the old word sal. Look at the old word salarium. Now, look at the word salary. Do you see how 6.4 they are?
5. It was also used to keep food from 6.5.
6. Salt is a 6.6.
7. Long ago, Roman 6.7 were sometimes paid in salt.

Put the right word in each blank. These are new sentences for words in the text.

1. This shop has many kinds of 7.1.
2. My sister and I do not look 7.2.
3. 7.3 are often used in cooking.
4. The CEO received a 7.4 of $1 million.
5. Approximately 1,000 American 7.5 died in the battle.
6. He 7.6 about $40 000 a year.
7. The woodwork 7.7 because rain got in.