Intonation is the rise and fall in the pitch or tone of your voice as you read aloud. Use this passage to practice reading with proper intonation. Print a copy of this passage from InsideNG.com to help you monitor your progress.
The Spaniards reached the Aztec capital on November 8, 1519. They found themselves facing thousands of curious eyes. The Aztec examined the Spanish explorers closely. To them, the explorers seemed very different.
For example, the strange visitors appeared to be made of glowing metal. That’s because sunlight reflected off their armor.
The Aztec stared especially hard at the visitors’ horses. These animals were new to the Aztec. Some even wondered if horse and rider were a single, giant monster.
Despite their confusion, the Aztec welcomed the Spanish. The Aztec king, Moctezuma, even swapped gifts with Cortés. To the Aztec that meant the two men were friends.
What Moctezuma didn’t know was that Cortés was a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He wanted more than gifts.