Houston

Welcome to Houston

Houston is a very big city in Texas, USA. It is the biggest city in Texas and the fourth biggest city in all of America. More than 2 million people live here! The city got its name from Sam Houston, an important person in Texas history.

The Weather

Houston is very warm most of the time. In summer, it is hot and humid. The winters are short and mild - it almost never snows here! Sometimes it rains a lot, and the city can have big storms called hurricanes.

Where People Live

Houston is spread out over a large area. People live in many different kinds of homes:
- Big houses with yards
- Small apartments
- Town houses
- New buildings in the city center

Many people live in areas outside the city called suburbs. They drive to work in the city every day.

Jobs in Houston

Many people come to Houston to find work. The city has many different kinds of jobs:
- Oil and gas companies
- Hospitals and doctors
- NASA (space center)
- Schools and universities
- Stores and restaurants

The city is famous for its oil business. Many big oil companies have their main offices here.

Famous Places to Visit

Space Center Houston
This is where NASA works. You can learn about space here! You can:
- See real spaceships
- Learn about astronauts
- Touch a real moon rock
- Watch fun shows about space

Houston Zoo
The zoo has many animals from all over the world. You can see:
- Lions
- Elephants
- Monkeys
- Birds
- Fish

Museum District
Houston has 19 museums in one area. Some are free to visit! You can see:
- Art
- Science things
- History items
- Children's activities

Hermann Park
This is a big, pretty park in the city. People can:
- Have picnics
- Ride a small train
- See beautiful gardens
- Go to concerts
- Walk or run on paths

Food in Houston

Houston has very good food. You can find food from many different countries here. Some popular foods are:
- Mexican food
- BBQ (meat cooked over fire)
- Vietnamese food
- Tex-Mex (Texas and Mexican food mixed together)
- Seafood from the Gulf of Mexico

Many people say Houston is one of the best cities in America for food!

Getting Around

Houston is very big, so most people drive cars here. The city also has:
- Buses
- A train in the city center
- Bike paths
- Walking paths
- Taxis and ride-sharing cars

The roads are very big. Some have 10 or more lanes! The biggest road that goes around the city is called "Loop 610."

Sports

Houston loves sports! The city has many professional teams:
- Houston Astros (baseball)
- Houston Texans (football)
- Houston Rockets (basketball)

Many people wear their team's colors and go to games. The baseball team won the World Series in 2017 and 2022!

Education

Houston has many good schools:
- Public schools for children
- Private schools
- Many colleges
- Big universities

The biggest university is the University of Houston. Rice University is also here - it is one of the best schools in America.

Shopping

People can buy things at many places:
- Big shopping centers
- Small local stores
- The Galleria (a very big mall)
- Street markets
- Food markets

The Galleria is one of the biggest shopping places in America. It even has an ice skating rink inside!

Special Events

Houston has many fun events all year:
- Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (biggest rodeo in the world)
- Art festivals
- Food festivals
- Music concerts
- Holiday celebrations

The rodeo is very special. It happens every spring and has:
- Cowboys riding horses
- Animal shows
- Big music concerts
- Games and rides
- Lots of food

The People

Houston is one of the most diverse cities in America. This means:
- People come from many different countries
- They speak many different languages
- They have different cultures
- They cook different foods
- They celebrate different holidays

This makes Houston a very interesting place to live and visit!

Near the Ocean

Houston is close to the Gulf of Mexico. People can:
- Drive to the beach in one hour
- Go fishing
- Ride boats
- See big ships
- Visit the port

The Port of Houston is one of the busiest ports in America. Many ships bring things from all over the world.

Growing City

Houston keeps getting bigger:
- New buildings go up every year
- More people move here
- New roads are built
- New stores open
- New houses are built

Many people move to Houston because:
- There are many jobs
- Houses cost less than in other big cities
- The weather is warm
- There are good schools
- There are many fun things to do

Problems in the City

Like all big cities, Houston has some problems:
- Traffic (too many cars on the road)
- Flooding when it rains a lot
- Hot weather in summer
- Air pollution from cars and factories
- Hurricane danger

But the city works hard to fix these problems.

Fun Facts About Houston

Here are some interesting things about Houston:
- It was the first word said on the moon
- It has the biggest medical center in the world
- It has the first domed sports stadium (Astrodome)
- More than 145 different languages are spoken here
- It has many underground tunnels in the city center

Living in Houston

Life in Houston is different from other cities:
- People are friendly
- Food is good
- Houses are big
- There are many jobs
- The cost of living is not too high

Many people like living here because they can:
- Find good work
- Buy a nice house
- Meet different kinds of people
- Eat good food
- Do fun things

The Future of Houston

Houston keeps changing and growing:
- New buildings are going up
- More people move here every year
- New businesses open
- Roads get bigger
- Parks get better

The city plans to:
- Build more trains
- Make more parks
- Fix flooding problems
- Clean the air
- Make roads better

Come Visit Houston!

Houston is a good place to visit because:
- The people are nice
- There are many things to see
- The food is very good
- The weather is usually warm
- It is easy to get here by plane

You can have fun here all year long!

Glossary

1. **Humid** - Having a lot of moisture in the air, making the air feel heavy or sticky.
2. **Hurricane** - A very strong, destructive storm with heavy rain and powerful winds.
3. **Suburb** - An area near a city where many people live, but it is not part of the main city.
4. **Astronaut** - A person who travels into space in a spacecraft.
5. **Tex-Mex** - A style of cooking that combines traditional Texan and Mexican ingredients and recipes.
6. **Rodeo** - A sports event that features cowboys competing in activities like riding horses and bulls.
7. **Diverse** - Having people from many different cultures, backgrounds, and ethnicities.
8. **Port** - A place on the coast where ships load and unload cargo.
9. **Pollution** - Harmful substances in the air, water, or land that can damage the environment.
10. **Tunnel** - An underground passage or path that goes under a road, building, or other obstacle.

True or False Questions

1. Houston is the largest city in the United States.
2. Winters in Houston are often snowy.
3. The Houston Astros baseball team recently won the World Series.
4. The University of Houston is one of the best schools in the country.
5. Most people in Houston live in apartments or condos.
6. Houston has a very diverse population.
7. The main reason people move to Houston is the cold weather.
8. Houston has a big problem with air pollution.
9. Houston is located right on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.
10. Houston has an underground tunnel system in the city center.

Comprehension Questions

1. What is the population of Houston?
2. What are some common types of homes people live in around Houston?
3. Name two famous places to visit in Houston.
4. What are some popular foods that Houston is known for?
5. How do most people get around in Houston?
6. What are some of the professional sports teams based in Houston?
7. How is Houston described as being diverse?
8. Why do many people choose to move to Houston?
9. What are some problems or challenges that Houston faces?
10. What are some interesting facts about Houston mentioned in the article?