Who Were the Spiders? The Cooper family was about to move because Dad had a new job in Colorado. He had been out of work for a year, and Natalie and Mason knew he had been unhappy, but now a new job was making things look better. As Dad said, “Every cloud has a silver lining.”

Dad was already in Colorado, but Mom stayed behind so that the twins Natalie and Mason could finish fifth grade at Oak School. Today, Natalie and Mason were helping to pack boxes, and they enjoyed looking at the old treasures, especially the photo albums.

Natalie picked up a photo of a baseball team. The men’s uniforms had CLEVELAND printed on them. Someone had written 1895 on the photo.

Mason asked Mom, “Is there a famous baseball player in our family?”

“I don’t know of anyone in my family, but maybe there was someone in your dad’s family,” she said, “so remember to ask about the photo when you talk to your dad tonight.”

That night, Dad called, and Mason was eager to talk to him. “Dad, we found a photo today of a baseball team that played in 1895. Did one of your relatives play on a team a long time ago?”

Dad said, “It’s familiar, but I don’t know the story. Some of the photos are my father’s, so why don’t you call him and see if he knows?”

Grandpa Ken recalled that a relative played for a Cleveland team, a cousin of his great-grandfather whose last name was Zimmer. So, Grandpa suggested they look up early Cleveland teams.

Mason and Natalie headed for the computer and found a baseball encyclopedia. They discovered three early Cleveland teams: Cleveland Blue, 1879–1884; Cleveland Infants, 1890–1890; and Cleveland Spiders, 1887–1899.

Mason shouted, “We found the answer! Our 1895 photo must show the Cleveland Spiders.”

They looked for Cleveland Spiders and found an article. A new Cleveland ballpark had opened on May 2, 1891. Cy Young was the starting pitcher, and Zimmer was listed as one of the players. “That’s the cousin of our great-great-grandfather!” said Natalie.

Mason wanted to know more, so they searched a baseball almanac. In 1895, the team came in second. But in 1899, the Spiders were baseball’s worst team. Zimmer was a player on both teams. “Oh, well, you can’t win them all,” Natalie said.

“Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise,” Mom suddenly called from downstairs. It was time for bed! They would have to find out more about the Cleveland Spiders tomorrow.
This question has two parts. First, answer part A. Then, answer part B.

Part A
What is the theme of the passage?

A.
Not everyone will agree with you all the time.

B.
There is more than one way to solve a problem.

C.
You can find the answers you seek if you look hard enough.

D.
People with different opinions can still find a way to get along.

Part B
Which sentence from the passage best helps to show the theme?

A.
“Dad was already in Colorado, but Mom stayed behind so that the twins Natalie and Mason could finish fifth grade at Oak School.”

B.
“Today, Natalie and Mason were helping to pack boxes, and they enjoyed looking at the old treasures, especially the photo albums.”

C.
“Mason wanted to know more, so they searched a baseball almanac.”

D.
“‘Oh, well, you can’t win them all,’ Natalie said.”