Chicago

Chicago is a big and beautiful city in the United States. It sits next to Lake Michigan, one of the biggest lakes in North America. Let's learn about this amazing city!

Where is Chicago?

Chicago is in the state of Illinois. It is in the middle part of the United States. More than 2.5 million people live in Chicago. This makes it the third-biggest city in America, after New York City and Los Angeles.

The Weather

People often call Chicago "The Windy City" because it can be very windy there. Chicago has four seasons:
- Summer is warm and nice
- Fall is cool with pretty colors
- Winter is very cold with lots of snow
- Spring is wet but pretty, with flowers growing

Famous Buildings

Chicago has many tall buildings. The Willis Tower (which some people still call the Sears Tower) was once the tallest building in the world! Now it is still one of the tallest buildings in America. People can go to the top and look out over the whole city.

Other famous buildings in Chicago are:
- The John Hancock Center
- The Water Tower
- Cloud Gate (people call it "The Bean" because it looks like a big, shiny bean)

Things to Do

There are many fun things to do in Chicago:

Visit Parks
Millennium Park is a big park in the middle of the city. It has "The Bean" and many other fun things to see. In summer, people can watch free movies and concerts here.

Grant Park is another big park. It is like the city's front yard. Many big events happen here, like music festivals and food festivals.

Go to Museums
Chicago has many good museums:
- The Field Museum (with dinosaurs and animals)
- The Shedd Aquarium (with fish and sea animals)
- The Art Institute (with many famous paintings)
- The Museum of Science and Industry (with trains and planes)

Watch Sports
Chicago loves sports! The city has many teams:
- The Chicago Bears (football)
- The Chicago Bulls (basketball)
- The Chicago Cubs (baseball)
- The Chicago White Sox (also baseball)

Many people in Chicago love these teams very much. The Cubs play at Wrigley Field, which is one of the oldest baseball parks in America.

Food

Chicago is famous for its food. Here are some special Chicago foods:

Deep Dish Pizza
This is not like normal pizza. It is very deep and has lots of cheese and sauce. It is like a pizza pie! Many people come to Chicago just to try this pizza.

Chicago Hot Dogs
A Chicago hot dog is special. It has:
- A beef hot dog
- A soft bun
- Yellow mustard
- Green relish
- Chopped onions
- Tomato slices
- A pickle
- Sport peppers
- Celery salt

But remember: never put ketchup on a Chicago hot dog! People in Chicago think this is wrong.

Italian Beef
This is a sandwich with thin slices of beef and special juice. People can get it "wet" (with extra juice) or "dry" (with less juice).

Getting Around

It is easy to move around in Chicago:
- The "L" trains run above the streets
- Buses go everywhere in the city
- Many people walk or ride bikes
- Taxis and ride-shares are easy to find

The "L" trains are special because they run on tracks above the street. That's why they are called the "L" - it means "elevated."

Neighborhoods

Chicago has many different neighborhoods. Each one is special:

Downtown (The Loop)
This is the main part of the city. It has:
- Tall buildings
- Big stores
- Many offices
- Theaters
- Parks

Navy Pier
This is a fun place by the lake. It has:
- A big Ferris wheel
- Boats
- Shops
- Restaurants
- Shows

Wrigleyville
This area is around Wrigley Field. It has:
- The Cubs baseball park
- Many bars and restaurants
- Fun places to watch sports
- Music places

Lake Michigan

Lake Michigan is very important to Chicago. It looks like an ocean because it is so big! People use the lake for:
- Swimming in summer
- Boat rides
- Fishing
- Walking on the beach
- Looking at the nice views

There is a long path by the lake called the Lakefront Trail. People can:
- Walk
- Run
- Ride bikes
- Rollerblade
- Sit and look at the lake

History

Chicago has an interesting history:

The Great Chicago Fire
In 1871, there was a big fire in Chicago. It burned for two days and destroyed much of the city. But the people of Chicago worked hard and built the city again. They made it bigger and better than before.

World's Fair
In 1893, Chicago had a big World's Fair. Many people came to see new things like:
- The first Ferris wheel
- New kinds of food
- Electric lights
- New buildings

Growing Big
Chicago grew very fast because:
- It was good for moving things by train
- Many people came to work in factories
- It was a good place to buy and sell things
- The lake made it easy to send things by boat

Today's Chicago

Today, Chicago is a modern city where:
- Many people work in tall office buildings
- Students come to study at good schools
- Artists make music, paintings, and shows
- People from all over the world live together

Important Things to Know

Here are some helpful things to know about Chicago:

Best Times to Visit
- Summer: Warm and fun, but busy
- Spring and Fall: Nice weather, fewer people
- Winter: Very cold, but beautiful snow

Money Tips
- Chicago can be expensive
- Museums are free on some days
- Parks and beaches are free
- Walking around is free and fun

Safety Tips
- Stay in areas with many people
- Keep your things close to you
- Ask for help if you need it
- Know where you are going

Fun Facts

Here are some fun things about Chicago:
- The first Ferris wheel was built in Chicago
- Chicago dyes its river green on Saint Patrick's Day
- The first McDonald's was near Chicago
- Chicago has the most bridges of any city in North America
- The name "Chicago" comes from a Native American word

Words to Learn

Here are some words people use in Chicago:
- The "L" = the train that runs above the streets
- The Loop = downtown Chicago
- The Mag Mile = a street with many shops
- The Bean = the big, shiny art piece in Millennium Park
- Deep dish = the thick Chicago pizza

Ending Thoughts

Chicago is a special city because:
- It has something for everyone
- The people are friendly
- There is always something to do
- It has a mix of old and new things
- It keeps growing and changing

Whether you want to:
- See tall buildings
- Eat good food
- Watch sports
- Learn new things
- Meet new people

Chicago is a good place to do it!

Reading Comprehension Questions: Chicago

True or False Questions
1. Chicago is the biggest city in the United States.
2. The Willis Tower was once the tallest building in the world.
3. Chicago has five seasons.
4. The Chicago River turns green every Saint Patrick's Day.
5. People in Chicago like when you put ketchup on hot dogs.

Multiple Choice Questions
1. Where is Chicago located?
a) Next to the ocean
b) Next to Lake Michigan
c) In New York
d) In California

2. What is "The Bean"?
a) A famous restaurant
b) A type of food
c) A shiny art piece
d) A tall building

3. Which sport is NOT played by a Chicago team?
a) Baseball
b) Basketball
c) Hockey
d) Tennis

4. What happened in Chicago in 1871?
a) The World's Fair
b) The Great Chicago Fire
c) The first McDonald's opened
d) The Willis Tower was built

5. What is special about Chicago pizza?
a) It is very small
b) It has no cheese
c) It is very deep with lots of cheese and sauce
d) It is always cold

Fill in the Blanks
Complete the sentences using words from the article:
1. Chicago is often called "The _______ City" because of its weather.
2. The _______ trains run above the streets in Chicago.
3. Chicago is the _______ biggest city in America.
4. In winter, Chicago is very cold with lots of _______.
5. The _______ Trail is a long path by Lake Michigan where people can walk and ride bikes.

Short Answer Questions
1. Name three museums you can visit in Chicago.
2. What are two things people can do at Millennium Park?
3. List three things that go on a Chicago hot dog.
4. Why is Lake Michigan important to Chicago?
5. What are two ways people can move around in Chicago?

Discussion Questions (for speaking practice)
1. Would you like to visit Chicago? Why or why not?
2. Which season do you think would be the best time to visit Chicago? Why?
3. Which Chicago food would you most like to try? Why?
4. What would be the first place you would visit in Chicago?
5. Do you think you would like living in a big city like Chicago? Why or why not?