Free printable reading comprehension stories with a sports theme. Print the reading passage for offline use or test comprehension with the fun online quiz game. Recommended level: 3rd or 4th Grade and up
A Lucky Loonie
At the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, both the Canadian men's and women's hockey teams won gold medals. It was later revealed that both teams had a top-secret, Canadian good luck charm to help them out along the way.
So what exactly was this golden good luck charm? It was a Canadian one dollar coin, a loonie, hidden right at center ice in the Olympic arena! The loonie gets its name from the picture of a loon on the coin.
How did the loonie get there? The ice-maker hired to prepare the rink before the Games was Canadian. He buried the loonie at center ice before the games started. And there it stayed until both teams won their gold medals!
Where were the 2002 Winter Olympics? Vancouver Sochi Salt Lake City Salt Lake City
In which country is the loonie the $1 coin? Sweden Canada Monaco Canada
In which Olympics did the lucky loonie appear? 2002 Winter Olympics 2010 Winter Olympics 1988 Winter Olympics 2002 Winter Olympics
Why is it called the lucky loonie? Both Canadian hockey teams won gold medals when a loonie was hidden in the ice. Everyone who touches it has good luck. The person who put it in the ice won a lottery. Both Canadian hockey teams won gold medals when a loonie was hidden in the ice.
Who buried the coin in the ice? the captain of the Canadian men’s hockey team Wayne Gretzky the ice maker at the olympic rink the ice maker at the olympic rink
When was the lucky loonie discovered? before the first 2002 olympic hockey game after the men’s and women’s 2002 gold medal hockey games 1 year after the 2002 Winter Olympics after the men’s and women’s 2002 gold medal hockey games
Why is the Canadian $1 coin called a loonie? It was named after a war hero named Tom Looney. A picture of a loon is on the coin. People thought that having a $1 coin was loony. A picture of a loon is on the coin.
