You are about to read some short stories out loud. The computer will listen while you read, so that it can learn what your voice sounds like.<DIVIDE>
Students at Provo High School wrote these stories for you to read. Michael Rutter and Karl Barksdale edited them.<DIVIDE>
We hope you enjoy the stories!<DIVIDE>
The Howl of the Wolf by Linsey Duncan<DIVIDE>
Everyone knows what a wolf howl sounds like. It is deep, beautiful and eerie all at the same time.<DIVIDE>
But why does a wolf howl? Some people think that wolves howl at the moon, but they don't. The howl is a way that wolves talk to each other. Wolves feel no need to talk to the moon.<DIVIDE>
Wolves can say many things through a howl. If a wolf is by himself, he can howl to tell his pack where he is.<DIVIDE>
He might also howl if a bird or something startles him, but he is not scared enough to run away.<DIVIDE>
If he sees or smells a wolf of another pack or a human, he will howl to tell his friends that an intruder is coming. Howls are also used when a pack is hunting, or even after a really fun playtime.<DIVIDE>
Wolves like to sing together, even when they are not hunting. But they don't like to sing the same note. Instead, they sing in chords, like a choir. Not only does this sound like a wolf choir, it can fool people into thinking that there are more wolves than there really are.<DIVIDE>
After a long howling song, the pack will be quiet for a while, maybe to listen for other wolves.<DIVIDE>
Wolf howls can be heard 10 miles away in good weather. They can last up to 11 seconds each, or be as short as half a second. Wolves will respond to howls, even those made by humans, or tapes made of wolf howls.<DIVIDE>
The most likely wolf to answer a howl is the leader, or head, wolf. Like the coach of a sports team, the head wolf speaks for his pack and directs them with howls, barks or growls.<DIVIDE>
But some wolves do not howl much at all. Wolves in southern Asia howl very rarely. We don't know why they don't howl often. Some think it is because these wolves were hunted a lot by people.<DIVIDE>
These wolves learned to be quiet so they can hide.<DIVIDE>
Even when he is lying down, a wolf can howl. Wolves like to howl so much that they will run to sing with their pack. They will sing alone too, maybe to tell the world they are lonely.<DIVIDE>
In any case, no matter what the howl is for, or how many wolves are lifting their voices, the howl is a beautiful and thrilling thing to hear.<DIVIDE>
Owls, by Renée Underwood<DIVIDE>
Have you ever walked out on a summer night and seen a big bird flying by? Chances are that bird was an owl.<DIVIDE>
They are birds, but they are quite different from the little songbirds you see flying around during the day. These are fascinating animals that live in a world of night.<DIVIDE>
There are many types of owls. They can be as different from one another as people are.<DIVIDE>
Owls vary in size. The Great Grey owl is about as big as a fat cat.<DIVIDE>
The Elf owl, however, is about the size of a small guinea pig.<DIVIDE>
Owls are very different from each other because they have adapted to where they live.<DIVIDE>
The Snowy owl is white. This bird lives in Northern Canada where it is often snowy and always cold.<DIVIDE>
The Snowy owl can hide in the snow, making it easier for it to sneak up on the small rodents it eats.<DIVIDE>
The Spotted owl is brown and white spotted. Have you ever seen sunlight fall through the leaves of trees? It makes spots on the tree trunks.<DIVIDE>
Since these owls live in the forests of Oregon and Washington, their spots help them hide from the rodents and fish found in the forest.<DIVIDE>
Another owl that is uniquely colored is the Burrowing owl. It is dark brown. It does not live in trees like most owls do.<DIVIDE>
This interesting night bird digs holes in the dirt in open fields and lives there. This owl eats the rodents and small critters that make their homes on the prairie.<DIVIDE>
There are many different kinds of owls. Most have yellow eyes, sharp talons, and meat tearing beaks.<DIVIDE>
Owls are nocturnal, meaning they hunt and are awake at night, and sleep during the day.<DIVIDE>
Owls, like most other birds, fly to other places in the winter. This is called migration. They sometimes fly very long distances just so that they can be warm all year round.<DIVIDE>
Along the migration, they communicate with other owls by their calls.<DIVIDE>
Most people can recognize owl calls right off.<DIVIDE>
Some owls use high pitched squeals or clicks, while others use humming or chirping.<DIVIDE>
Owls all have exciting weapons to help them hunt better. As you know, most owls hunt at night, so seeing a tiny mouse from a high tree branch is quite hard. But owls can do it by using sounds.<DIVIDE>
They send sound down to the forest floor, and measure how far away a critter is by how quickly the sound bounces back.<DIVIDE>
This is how an owl can silently swoop down and pluck a rat from the ground with no effort at all.<DIVIDE>
Owls are amazing creatures. We have much to learn about them still. Scientists are only scratching the surface in what they know about owls.<DIVIDE>
But sadly, some species are disappearing from the earth. People who cut down trees destroy owl homes. Careless people who litter and pollute the earth are killing the homes and food for these birds.<DIVIDE>
It is up to us to save the owls. We must work hard to protect owls for years to come.<DIVIDE>
Molly's Dream by Linsey Duncan<DIVIDE>
Molly pet her dog quietly as she looked into the fire. She was bored, but warm and comfortable.<DIVIDE>
She didn't want to get up from the couch. It was soft and fluffy like a pillow right out of the dryer. She kept sinking down into it, and it got more warm and comfortable with each passing moment.<DIVIDE>
Eyelids drooping, her hand kept stroking the rough dog fur until she finally fell asleep.<DIVIDE>
OPEN QUOTE I'm hungry, CLOSE QUOTE her dog said in her dream, looking at her with large brown eyes. OPEN QUOTE I'm hungry. You forgot to feed me again. CLOSE QUOTE<DIVIDE>
OPEN QUOTE I'm sorry, Tessie. CLOSE QUOTE<DIVIDE>
Molly searched for the big bag of dog food, but she was in the middle of a green field. If the bag was there, the grass hid it.<DIVIDE>
OPEN QUOTE I'm sorry, Tessie. I don't have any food right now. CLOSE QUOTE<DIVIDE>
OPEN QUOTE But I'm hungry! Do you have any beef steak in your pockets? CLOSE QUOTE Tessie grinned, her tongue hanging out.<DIVIDE>
OPEN QUOTE No, I don't have any beef steak, funny dog. All I have is a couple of peanuts left over from my snack. CLOSE QUOTE<DIVIDE>
OPEN QUOTE Can I have them? CLOSE QUOTE<DIVIDE>
Tessie's tail wagged excitedly and she trotted right up to Molly, still grinning.<DIVIDE>
Molly dug the peanuts out of her pocket, cracked them, and gave them to Tessie. Tessie had to tilt her head to get the peanuts under her back teeth.<DIVIDE>
She crunched loudly, and then the peanuts were gone. The tail wagged again and Tessie winked up at Molly.<DIVIDE>
OPEN QUOTE I'm still hungry, but thanks anyway. I liked the peanuts. CLOSE QUOTE<DIVIDE>
OPEN QUOTE I'm glad you liked them. CLOSE QUOTE<DIVIDE>
Molly reached down and scratched behind Tessie's ear.<DIVIDE>
The dog panted happily and her leg started twitching. Soon her leg was twitching so hard that Molly had to stop.<DIVIDE>
She laughed and gave Tessie a little pat on the head. Then she looked around the field.<DIVIDE>
It was a very quiet field with waves of grass and some scattered white flowers. A black and bright blue butterfly fluttered a few feet away.<DIVIDE>
It landed, slowly opening and closing its colorful wings. Molly watched it silently, wanting to touch it, but she was afraid it would fly away if she came too close.<DIVIDE>
Then a beautiful song caught her attention. She turned toward the sound and saw a fallen log with a craggy branch sticking up out of it.<DIVIDE>
On the branch was a small bird with a yellow throat. Its mouth was wide open. It didn't mind that she was listening.<DIVIDE>
Tessie nudged her leg and Molly sat down to pet her. She wanted to keep watching the bird. Then Tessie started licking her hand and Molly had a hard time concentrating on the bird.<DIVIDE>
The whole field started to flicker out. OPEN QUOTE Stop it, Tessie, CLOSE QUOTE Molly murmured. Her voice sounded funny.<DIVIDE>
One more lick and the whole field disappeared. Instead Molly was back on the couch, the fire slowly dying. The dog was licking her hand as hard as she could, wanting Molly to wake up and pet her.<DIVIDE>
OPEN QUOTE I'm awake, CLOSE QUOTE Molly said, a little louder this time.<DIVIDE>
Then, remembering her dream, she sat up groggily.<DIVIDE>
OPEN QUOTE Are you hungry, Tessie? CLOSE QUOTE<DIVIDE>
Tessie opened her mouth in a grin and wagged her tail, backing up a couple of steps.<DIVIDE>
OPEN QUOTE Okay then, I'll get you something. CLOSE QUOTE<DIVIDE>
She got up and walked downstairs to get the dog food, Tessie trailing eagerly behind.