Reading Text
In the 1800s, a man named Martin Fugate settled in a remote area near Troublesome Creek in Kentucky, USA. Martin carried a rare recessive gene that affected his blood. He married a local woman who unexpectedly carried the exact same rare gene.
When two parents carry this recessive gene, their children can inherit a condition called methemoglobinemia. This condition reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood. Instead of bright red blood, the blood turns dark brown. As a result, the skin of the Fugate family appeared distinctly blue! Because the family lived in an isolated mountain community and married within the same small town for generations, the blue skin trait continued for over 100 years. In the 1960s, doctors treated the family with a simple dye that turned their blood red and restored normal skin tone.
1. Key Vocabulary
- remote (adjective): Far away from main towns or cities; isolated.
- recessive (adjective): A genetic trait that only appears if inherited from both parents.
- reduce (verb): To make something smaller in size, amount, or degree.
- isolated (adjective): Far away from others; separated from outside contact.
- restore (verb): To bring something back to its original state or condition.
2. Reading Comprehension Questions
- Where did the Fugate family live in the 1800s?
- What caused the blood of the Fugate family to turn dark brown?
- How did doctors help the family change their skin color back to normal in the 1960s?
3. Grammar & Tenses Focus: Past Continuous vs. Past Simple
Complete the sentences using the Past Simple or Past Continuous tense.
- Martin Fugate ________ (live) near Troublesome Creek when he married his wife.
- The family's skin looked blue because their blood ________ (carry) less oxygen.
- While doctors ________ (examine) the family in the 1960s, they created a simple treatment.
- The blue skin trait ________ (disappear) after people moved away from the isolated community.
Reading Comprehension Answers
Where did the Fugate family live in the 1800s?
In a remote area near Troublesome Creek in Kentucky, USA.
What caused the blood of the Fugate family to turn dark brown?
An inherited condition (methemoglobinemia) that reduced the amount of oxygen in their blood.
How did doctors help the family change their skin color back to normal in the 1960s?
They treated them with a simple dye that turned their blood red again.
3. Grammar & Tenses Focus Answers
Martin Fugate was living near Troublesome Creek when he married his wife.
The family's skin looked blue because their blood carried (or was carrying) less oxygen.
While doctors were examining the family in the 1960s, they created a simple treatment.
The blue skin trait disappeared after people moved away from the isolated community.
6. Natural Blonde Hair in the South Pacific: The Melanesian People
2. Reading Comprehension Answers
Where is Melanesia located?
In the South Pacific near Australia.
What did outsiders originally believe was the reason for the Melanesians' blonde hair?
They assumed it came from European traders who visited the islands in the past.
What did scientists discover about the gene mutation that causes blonde hair in Melanesia?
It is a unique mutation in the TYRP1 gene that developed naturally in the South Pacific and is completely separate from European blonde hair genes.
3. Grammar & Tenses Focus Answers
Passive: The islands were visited by European traders many years ago.
Active: Genetic scientists tested the DNA to find the truth.
Passive: Melanesian blonde hair is caused by a unique gene mutation.
Active: Many people in the South Pacific share the trait today.
