Free Reading Fluency Analyzer

The Birthday Cake

These two passages describe the same event: baking a birthday cake for someone's birthday. Each author describes the same event differently.

First author's passage: Tomorrow is my mom's birthday. I am going to surprise her by baking a cake while she is at work. I opened her cookbook to the "Cakes" chapter and read the recipe for a yellow pound cake.

I found her measuring cup, mixing bowl, baking pan, and all the other ingredients and put them on the counter. To grease the baking pan I melted the butter and accidentally burned it, but I spooned it onto the pan anyway and sprinkled it with flour. Then I had to mix a bunch of ingredients together. I did not know how to use the mixing machine so I found a wire whisk and mixed them; it took a lot of work and my fingers really hurt when it was done. I cracked the eggs but some pieces of the shells fell into the mix but I figured no one would notice so I left them in there. I poured the mix into the baking pan, smoothed it out, and set the oven temperature.

After 50 minutes, I was supposed to take it out of the oven but my best friend called and brought over her new kitten and I forgot about the cake. Then she left and I went to the kitchen and smelled something burning. It was the cake. I took it out, but since only the bottom was burned, I figured no one would notice. I added whipped cream on top and put the finished cake into the refrigerator with a birthday card on top. When my mom came home, she was so surprised and happy and we ate it for dessert. It was pretty good and a little crunchy from the eggshells but my first cake was really a success.

Second author's passage: Did you ever think of how nice a present baking a cake for someone's birthday would be, instead of just buying it from a bakery? I can tell you exactly how to do it - just follow these steps.

Note: This recipe is fictitious; do not use it; it has not been tested.
1. You have to find a measuring cup, whisk, baking pan, mixing bowl and these ingredients: 3 cups flour, 1 cup milk, 1 tsp salt, 1 stick of butter, 3 cups sugar, 1 tbl vanilla flavoring, 1 tbl yellow food coloring, 1 tbl baking powder and 6 eggs.
2. Beat the eggs and sugar together. Add the other ingredients and mix them with the whisk. Grease the baking pan. Pour the mixture into the pan, and bake for 50 minutes at 350o.
3. Add a yellow frosting mix (follow the instructions on the box) and spread on top of the cake.
4. Add candles and be sure to sing Happy Birthday!