COMPREHENSION PASSAGES

COLLECTED BY NAHLA TAJ & FATIMAH AL-GHAMDI

JEDDAH

1. HAMBURGERSOnce upon a time, a businessman named Ray Kroc discovered a restaurant owned by two brothers. The restaurant served just four things: hamburgers, French fries, milk shakes and coca cola. But it was clean and inexpensive, and the service was quick. Mr. Kroc liked it so much that he paid the brothers so that he could use their idea and their name: Mc Donald's.Beef, big business and fast service were the ingredients when Mr. Kroc opened his first Mc Donald's in 1955. Four years later, there were 100 of them. Kroc knew Americans liked success. So he put signs saying how many millions of Mc Donald's hamburgers people had bought. In just four years, the number was one hundred million. Now, there are more than 13,000 Mc Donald's restaurants from Dallas to Paris and from Moscow to Beijing. Anyone who wants to open a Mc Donald's must first work in one for a week. Then, they do a nine-month training programme, in the restaurants and at "Mc Donald's University" in Chicago. There they learn the Mc Donald's philosophy: quality control, service, cleanliness and cheap prices. Mc Donald's has strict rules, Hamburgers must be served before they are ten minutes old, and French fries, seven.Mc Donald's has never stopped looking for new methods to attract customers, from drive-in windows to birthday parties. Chicken, fish, salad and, in some places, pizza are now on the menu. Mc Donald's in Holland even sells a vegetarian burger.Their international popularity shows they have found the recipe for success.

2. MYSTERY QUEENChristie was probably the most successful writer in history. She wrote 78 crime novels, six other novels, 150 short stories, four non-fiction books and 19 plays. That represents two billion books sold: more than William Shakespeare!Christie became a writer by accident. She was bored when her husband was away in the First World War. Agatha was working in a hospital dispensary (which is where she learned all the information about poisons that she used in her books). She decided to write a novel to pass the time. She chose a detective novel because she loved reading them. Her first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, was an instant success. Each book had a new ingenious plot. Readers loved the books, particularly because Christie always gave the readers all the information they needed to find the solution.Christie loved travelling. When she became rich she could go all over the world. She used the travels in her writing. Agatha Christie died in 1976, but her stories are still immensely popular. Many have been adapted for film or television.

3. THE BERMUDA TRIANGLEAt 2 pm on 5 December 1945, five US bombers took off from Fort Lauderdale in the USA for a training flight in perfect weather. Shortly afterwards, the pilots radioed that their flight instruments were all malfunctioning. Two hours after take-off, all contact with the planes was lost. A reconnaissance plane was immediately dispatched to search for the missing planes. Within 20 minutes, radio contact with it had also been lost. No trace of any of the planes was ever found. In all, six planes and 27 men had vanished into the air.The disappearance of the six planes was far from being the first mysterious incident in the area: for years, navigational problems and strange magnetic forces had been reported. The disappearance was not even the greatest disaster within the triangle. The Cyclops, a 19,000-ton US ship was sailing from Barbados to Norfolk, Virginia. In March 1918, when it vanished with its crew of 309 from the surface of the ocean without making a distress call and without the slightest wreckage ever being found.The losses of boats and planes in that area defy explanation. The disasters are the origin of a new phrase in the English language – the Bermuda Triangle and this phrase has entered legend. The Bermuda Triangle has been called the Devils’ Triangle, the Triangle of Death, the Graveyard of the Atlantic. It has swallowed up 140 ships and planes and more than 1,000 people. Today many airmen and sailors are still afraid of that area of the Atlantic Ocean.

4. Thomas Edison

Thomas Edison in one of the most famous inventors in the 20th century. The most known inventions he has made were the phonograph and the prototype of the electric bulb. He built his own company for distributing electric power from central generating stations. Then his company merged with another one and became General Electric Co. By the time he died he had accumulated an impressive list of 1093 inventions (motion picture inventions; electricity applications; light bulb; electric typewriter development; Dictaphone; mimeograph; etc.), but Thomas Edison's most important contribution was that he organized a system of research of hundreds of people working together. Nowadays, all people have many things in their lives which use electricity. This is a big change from the past and will be even bigger in the future. Thomas Edison helped to make that possible.

5. Basil & His Onions Long ago and far away (in the Old Country), there lived a very successful onion merchant named Basil. Sad to say, there came a time when a Great Depression gripped the Land. No one bought anything they didn't absolutely have to buy. And no one was buying Basil's onions.Basil had a large stock of fresh onions. He realized that if he did not take some decisive action, he would soon have a large stock of rotten onions that could not be sold at any price. Basil had heard that in another Land far away, there were no onions. The people who lived there had never seen or tasted onions. So Basil made a decision that was destined to change his life. He decided to go to that far away Land with all of his onions. Basil loaded his entire stock of onions on his wagon and set out for that far away Land. He drove his horse and wagon for four days and four nights, day and night, night and day, until finally, on the fifth day, he arrived at the fabled land where no one had ever seen an onion. Scheduled for that very evening was the engagement of the Prince to marry a Princess from a nearby land. Basil obtained permission from the King's advisors to show the King's cooks how to prepare a meal using onions. And what a meal it was. Never before had the People tasted such fabulous cuisine.The next morning, the King and his Advisors sat around the Round Table and discussed how they should reward the man who brought them so many onions, taught them how to cook with onions, how to plant and harvest onions, how to enjoy onions. Finally they reached a decision. They emptied the remaining bags of onions and sent Basil home after filling all of his bags with ... gold. Basil arrived home a wealthy man, a man who never had to buy or sell another onion in his life.

6. Danger in the FieldsMines are perhaps the most terrible weapons of modern wars because they kill soldiers during wartime and because they can kill or injure innocent civilians in peacetime. When the war in Bosnia ended in 1996, people were happy but they knew that they were still in danger since there were about six million mines hidden in ex-Yugoslavia. A lot of these mines have now been found and removed; but doing this is very dangerous. A person may be walking along a path through the fields, and suddenly, the ground explodes under his feet. Sometimes mines are found by chance by young children, who start playing with them as if they were toys. The consequences can be fatal.Mine clearing is one of the jobs that the British soldiers of the U.N. are doing in Bosnia. The soldiers also visit schools to show mines to children and warn them about the dangers, which will continue for years. An international convention took place in autumn 1997, but some countries, like the U.S.A. and China refused to sign it… Every day, every minute, a person gets killed or injured by a mine in Europe, Africa or Asia.

7. Olympic SuccessOn television, the young gymnast comes down from the uneven bars with little effort. She smiles toward the enthusiastic crowd and walks away with high scores. Then, the silver or gold medalist appears on the cover of “Sports Illustrated” or on television. It all seems to be easy and glamorous. You don’t see it on television, but the road to Olympic success is a long one; and it is hard, physically, emotionally and financially. There is the stress of competition and the separation from loved ones. Stacey has spent the last 13 years preparing for the Olympics. Today, the young athlete feels the pressure. Four years from now, she’ll be 21 and too old for the gymnastic competition in the Olympics. Even when very young, a dedicated athlete must practise or attend meetings five or six nights a week. This exhausting routine includes doing one’s homework in the car on the way to practice and sleeping on the way back. Her life is hectic… Three times a week, her trainers start working with her as early as 5:30 in the morning. Then she goes through the routine of uneven bars, floor exercise, etc. After that, she goes off to class at the public school next to the gym. At 4, she is back in the gym till 7:30, working on optional or her own routine. “Olympic competition is a family decision for most competitors,” says her Dad. “Without the support of their families, the gymnasts couldn’t become the great achievers they are.”

8. Lion Scare

In the past week, four 600- to 800-pound African lions have been killed near this central Arkansas town. And residents say the terror may not be over because no one knows for sure whether more lions are on the loose. Lisa Vaughan lived in a peaceful log cabin in the woods. Now she's listening for lions."I had a terrible headache, and my blood pressure has been up," says Vaughan, whose husband, Johnny, killed two of the lions with his .30-06 rifle."Everybody is scared around here," neighbor Arvil Skinner says. "People have to carry a rifle just to let their kids play in the yard. They might still be out there. We just don't know."The Vaughans say they believe that the lions belong to animal farm operator Steve Henning, who brought

with him 11 African lions, 30 tigers, five mountain lions and a lynx.Henning says the lions killed in the woods were not his. The farm is not open to the public but the property is not fully fenced.His neighbors want local laws amended so that Henning can't keep lions and tigers in their neighborhood."We've got to try and pass something to protect the people... and the animals," Johnny Vaughan says. "It's sad to think that someone can have that many animals without a license.

9. William ShakespeareI was born at Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564. I was the son of a tradesman and Alderman of Stratford, John Shakespeare. I was the eldest son, and third child (of eight).At the age of eighteen, I married Anne Hathaway, eight years my senior. Five years later I left for London. I worked at the Globe Theatre and appeared in many small parts. I first appeared in public as a poet in 1593 with "Venus and Adonis" and the following year with "The Rape of Licorice". I became joint proprietor of The Globe and also had an interest in the Black friars Theatre.I began writing plays in 1595. "Love's Labour's Lost" and "The Comedy of Errors" were the first plays I wrote. They were followed by "Romeo and Juliet", "Richard III", "The Taming of the Shrew", "The Merchant of Venice", "A Midsummer Night's Dream", "All's Well that Ends Well", "Much Ado about Nothing", "As you like it", "Twelfth Night", "Hamlet", "Othello", "Macbeth", "King Lear", "A Winter's Tale", "The Tempest", and more...When I retired from writing in 1611, I returned to Stratford to live in a house which I had built for my family. My only son, Hamnet, had died when still a child. I also had a daughter Judith (twin to Hamnet) and another daughter (Susanna) who got married in 1607. In 1616 I was buried in the Church of the Holy Trinity. Tradition has it that I died after an evening's drinking with some of my theatre friends. Read the text above and fill in this table:

Date of Birth:

Place of Birth:

Family:

Wife:

Children:

The name of my theatre:

My two first plays:

Date of Death:

10. The Little FighterThe parents of a seven-month-old girl who had a liver transplant following a nationwide appeal for a donor, spoke yesterday of their relief that she was responding well to surgery.Hannah Perkins, whose own liver had been failing, had been given days to live before her six hour operation on Friday night at the Diana, Princess of Wales Children's Hospital in Birmingham.Thanking the donor family, Hannah's mother, Gillian Perkins, 30, from Hyde, Greater Manchester, said: "We're very, very grateful to them in what must be a very difficult and traumatic time. Hannah is looking well and is responding."The baby's father, Steven, 34, a medical technician, was cautiously optimistic, saying she still had a way to go. "She's a fighter," he said. She's only a little thing but she's very strong."We've been very fortunate. We've had all these people to help us. But it'll be couple of weeks before we can really relax."The Perkins were speaking at the start of National Transplant Awareness Week. Jean de Ville de Goyet, the Belgian surgeon who headed the transplant team, said: "There have been no major complications. It's working nicely. When it starts that way, there's lot of hope."

11. Patricia's Garden

A glistening droplet slowly traveled down Patricia’s cheekbone to the tip of her chin. The Georgia sun was hot, and the air was steamy. One more plant and I’ll call it a day,thought Patricia. She planted a final geranium in the antique pot in the corner of the red brick patio. Finished, thought Patricia, as she stood back and admired her handiwork.Gardening was Patricia’s great joy. She loved getting her hands into the soil and “painting” the landscape with hues of reds, pinks and blues.Although Patricia loved gardening, tears came to her eyes as she watered her plants. Last year at this time, her grandson Josh had been with her. He had been running around splashing water all over with the hose. Oh, how I wish he were here. I miss that little guy, she thought. At Patricia’s house, Josh would play outside for hours and water the garden. He could entertain himself, and it was also fun to do projects with him. He used to come every day in the summer to play and to help with the garden. Then his father got transferred and the family moved to Kentucky. They will be here next month, Patricia thought. The garden will be in full bloom by then. Josh will think it is so pretty. But I wish he had been here to garden with me. An ant crawled along her arm, tickling her out of her thoughts. No sense fussing about all that now. The sun is out and the garden is planted. Just then the phone rang. Patricia quicklywiped her hands and answered the phone. It was Josh. “Hi, I was just thinking about you!” said Patricia, and her smile was as bright and warm as the Georgia sun. It was a good day.

12. A BAD DAY AT MAGIC LAND

Many people like to go to amusement parks to have fun, but I don’t! Last year, a group of my friends decided to spend the whole day at Magic Land, an amusement park in my city. I thought I would have a very good time, but I was wrong. I had the worst time ever.We went on too many roller coasters. At first, they were all very exciting and I screamed until my lungs hurt on all of them. My friends wanted to ride more of them, and so for three hours we didn’t stop to rest. We went on the Head Knocker, the Crazy Coaster, and the Monster Masher before I started feeling reallysick. I finally threw up on the Tooth Rattler roller coaster. I was very embarrassed.That was when my friends decided that we needed a lunch break if they wanted me to survive the whole day. My stomach was still feeling awful, but they insisted that I needed to eat if I was going to have enough energy for the rest of the day. When I went to one of the food stands, however, I saw that the prices were outrageous. I spent six dollars on a large order of fries. I picked up the saltshaker, and to my surprise the top fell off, spilling a pile of salt on my food. My fries were ruined!By now I was really upset and my face was red, so my friends suggested we go on a water ride so I could cool down. I thought it was a good idea, but when we rode it, I forgot to take my glasses off. At one point, they fell off and into the water. I watched helplessly as they sank to the bottom while we kept rushing forward in our raft. I had to go through the rest of the day practically blind.I have decided that I will never go to Magic Land again, even if someone offered me a million dollars to do it!Answer the following questions about “A Bad Day at Magic Land”1. Which roller coaster did the narrator and her friends not go on?a) Head Knockerb) Monster Masherc) Tooth Rattlerd) Thunder Thrill

2. True or False: The narrator ordered many different foods.a) Trueb) False

3. The narrator and her friends rode roller coasters for ________ hours beforeshe started feeling sick.a) twob) fourc) threed) five

4. What happened to the narrator’s glasses?a) they broke into piecesb) they were stolen by bulliesc) they got lost in a stored) they fell into water

5. The narrator’s friends made her eat lunch becausea) they wanted her to have enough energy for the whole dayb) she said she was hungryc) she forgot to eat breakfastd) she was not going to eat dinner

13. HibernationHibernation is one of the main adaptations that allow certain northern animals to

survive long, cold winters. Hibernation is like a very deep sleep that allows animals to savetheir energy when there is little or no food available. The body functions of ‘true hibernators’go through several changes while they are hibernating. Body temperature drops, and the heartrate slows. For example, a hibernating woodchuck’s body temperature drops by more than 30degrees Celsius, and its heart rate slows from 80 to 4 beats per minute! Other true hibernatorsinclude the jumping mouse, little brown bat, eastern chipmunk, and several ground squirrels.Other animals, such as the skunk and raccoon, are not considered true hibernators, as theywake up in the winter to feed, and their body functions do not change as much. Since theyonly sleep for a little bit at a time, the term dormancy or ‘light sleeping’ is used to describetheir behavior. The largest animals to hibernate are bears. Their heart rate may slow downfrom a usual 40 –50 beats per minute to 8-12 beats per minute, but their body temperaturechanges very little, so they are able to wake up quickly.Hibernating animals have a special substance in the blood called hibernationinducement trigger, or HIT. This substance becomes active in the fall, when the days becomecooler and shorter. When HIT becomes active, the animals start preparing for winter. Someanimals store food so that they can eat when they wake up, and some animals eat a lot in latesummer and fall to add excess fat to their bodies. This fat keeps them warmer and acts as asource of energy while they are sleeping. Some animals also make changes to the placeswhere they will sleep (dens). They add leaves and grasses to keep them warm.

Answer the questions about hibernation:

1. Why do animals hibernate? ________________________________________

2. What changes occur in the functions of an animal’s body when it hibernates?

_______________________________________________________________

3. Why are raccoons and skunks not ‘true hibernators’? _______________________________________________________________

4. What is the term used to describe the behavior of raccoons and skunks?

_______________________________________________________________

5. What does HIT stand for? _________________________________________

6. When does HIT become active? ____________________________________

7. How do animals prepare for hibernation? ____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

14. The Monster Tsunami

The eruption of a volcano in the Canary Islands could trigger a ''mega-tsunami'' that would devastate Atlantic coastlines with waves as high as 330 feet, scientists said on Wednesday. They said an eruption of the Cumber Viejo volcano on La Palma, part of the Spanish island chain off West Africa, was likely to cause a massive chunk of rock to break off, crashing into the sea and kicking up huge walls of water higher than any other in recorded history.

The tsunami would be capable of traveling huge distances at up to 500 miles an hour, the scientists said in a research paper to be published in September's Geophysical Research Letters. But Cumber Viejo should be monitored closely for any signs of activity so that emergency services could plan an effective response, he said. ''Eruptions of Cumber Viejo occur at intervals of decades to a century or so and there may be a number of eruptions before its collapse,'' said Day

''Although the year-to-year probability of a collapse is therefore low, the resulting tsunami would be a major disaster with indirect effects around the world. ''The effects would spread north, west and south of the Canaries, with the west Sahara bearing the worst of the wave's energy.

As the landslide rubble moved deeper under water, a tsunami would develop. Within 10 minutes, the tsunami would have moved a distance of almost 155 miles.

On the west Sahara shore, waves would probably reach heights of 330 feet.

Florida and the Caribbean, the final north Atlantic destinations to be affected by the tsunami, would have to brace themselves for 165 foot waves some eight to nine hours after the landslide.

Wave heights toward Europe would be smaller, but substantial waves would hit the coasts of Britain, Spain, Portugal and France.

The research paper estimated water would penetrate several miles inland and that the devastation would cause trillions of dollars in damage.

Choose the correct answer:1.The "mega-tsunami" is (a) an island. (b) a volcano. (c) a high wave (d) canary.

2.What would be the result of a big rock falling into the sea? (a) waves would be very high. (b) the volcano would stop. (c) walls would kick up a storm. (d) it would fall into the sea.

3.How often does the volcano go off? (a) every year. (b) every 5 years to 9 years. (c) every 10 to 100 years. (d) every day.

4.The worst part of the disaster would be (a) in the Atlantic Ocean. (b) in the United States. (c) in the Caribbean. (d) in the Sahara Dessert.

5.How high would the water be? (a) 155 miles. (b) 93,000 feet. (c) 330 feet. (d) 165 feet.

15. Waking UpThere goes the alarm again. I guess I should get up, but I am dreading this day. I always hate going back to school after a holiday break. I am not sure why. I am anxious to see my friends, I don’t have any overdue school assignments, but I still get that funny feeling in the pit of my stomach. Has something changed? Do all my friends still feel the same way? What clothes should I wear today? Everyone will wear something new, I am sure of that.My biggest conflict is in my head. Part of me says, “Be your own person!” Another part of me just wants to fit into the crowd. My mom says that high school is like this, but college will be the opposite. She says I'll meet many people with different interests, and find groups that I want to be with. I am looking forward to that freedom, but I have one more year of high school and this is my reality right now.As much as my friends and I like to think we are above all the peer pressures and social “rules” of our school, we all know we are very much controlled by it. We wear our hair the same way, wear the same brand clothes, and even have to use the same perfume. We

basically clone ourselves because we don’t want to be different. Yet, deep down we would like to shout, “Look at me! This is who I am!" Sigh, there goes the alarm again. What should I wear today? I think I will call Clara and see what she is wearing.

Answer the following questions.1. How does the author describe how her body is reacting to her uneasiness about returning to school?a. She has a horrible headache.b. Her eyes are burning.c. She has a funny feeling in the pit of her stomach.d. She has an awful earache.

2. Which of the following IS true?a. The author is dreading studying for finals.b. The author is anxious to see her friends.c. The author feels college and high school will be the same.d. None of these

3. Which of the following did the author state would be for sure when she returns to school?a. She will meet new and interesting people in high school.b. Everyone feels strange now.c. Everyone will be wearing something new.d. She wants to make sure she is different from everyone else.

4. Which of the following is NOT true?a. Most high school students want to be exactly like their peers.b. High school students have more freedom than college students do.c. The author has one more year of high school.d. Most high school students are controlled by peer pressure.

5. The narrator of this passage believes her greatest conflict is in her ______.a. closet b. friendsc. school d. head

6. The narrator feels that to be accepted by her peers she must_______.a. take a holiday break in Bermuda.b. be a clone of her classmates.c. make exceptional grades.d. none of these

7. Even though the narrator decides to call Clara to find out what she is wearing, she still desires toa. take an early admission to collegeb. be her own personc. make exceptional gradesd. none of these

16. LondonLondon, is the largest city in Europe. It has held this title for over four hundred years. Over seven million people call London, the capital of the United Kingdom, home. One in ten people, who live in the United Kingdom, live in London. Three hundred fifty thousand people travel each day into London to work.Due to London's location, it is a very dry all year. Although it is dry, London is often very cloudy. On average it rains mildly just about every other day.More than a hundred of the world's major companies have their headquarters in London, making the city a major world influence. Most people from London work in a job that involves printing or publishing. How long has London been the largest city in Europe?

a. 100 years b. 200 years c. 300 years d. 400 years

London is the capital city of what country?a. United States b. France c. United Kingdom d. Spain

What of the following is true about London?a. it's very wet b. it's very cold c. it's very dry d. it's very hot

Most of the people that work in London work in which industry?a. construction b. law enforcement c. professional soccer d. publishing

17. FirefightersFire is to blame for countless lives and billions of dollars each and every year. Firefighters help protect people and their property from injury and damage. Firefighters put their life on the line every time they respond to a call.While on duty, firefighters must be ready to respond in a matter of minutes to just about any disaster that may occur. At every fire scene, a superior fire officer takes command and dictates the jobs of all the personnel at the scene. Some personnel man hose lines to hydrants. Others manually operate the pumps to send water to the hoses. Teams of firefighters also operate ladders used to reach distances high in the air. How many dollars are spent each year to repair the damage of fire?a. thousands b. hundred-thousands c. millions d. billions

Which is not true about firefighters?a. they are brave b. they put their life danger often c. they never put their life danger d. they are highly trained

How long does a firefighter have to prepare for a fire?a. minutes b. hours c. days d. weeks

Which of the following is not operated by a firefighter at the scene of a fire?a. hoses b. cars

c. pumps d. ladders

Write three words that describe a Firefighter:

1. _______________________________

2. _______________________________

3. _______________________________

All in Good Time

My brother, Jimmy, is three years older than I am. I don’t think that’s a good enough reason for him to be the king of this house! Why does he get to do so much more than I do? He can stay out later, have sleepover parties, and he has the neatest games and CDs.“When can I do the things Jimmy can?” I ask my mom.“All in good time,” my mom always answers.Jimmy is going to a concert tomorrow night. It sounds so cool! I wantto go, too. But my parents say no, because I am too young. Too young! I am almost 10 years old! Can’t they see I am not a baby anymore? Jimmy is going with some friends and one parent. I asked him if I could go with him, and he just laughed as he patted me on the head. I hate it when he does that.Tonight we are going to have tacos for dinner. Jimmy loves tacos. Ihate them. But of course we are having what King Jimmy wants. He is Mom’s favorite. I just know it. Jimmy gets home from school earlier

than I do, because he is in middle school. If our mom is deciding whatto cook for dinner, he is there to tell her. I can’t help it if I get home awhole hour later. It isn’t fair! Someday I am going to be just like Jimmy. I am going to go to concerts, and have my friends sleep over. I am going to have better CDs to listen to, and more fun games to play. Someday I will be able to do all the things Jimmy can do. I just want that someday to be today!How do you think the character in this story feels?

ANA’S GREAT DAY

It was a Tuesday morning in April. Ana got up early. She was going to wear her lucky blue skirt to school that day. She really liked that skirt. She had a new shirt to match it, and new shoes, too. She went into the kitchen, where she could smell eggs. She loved eggs in the morning. Her dad was making eggs and toast that morning. Ana’s mom is a teacher at Ana’s school, and she was getting ready for work. Ana was excited about going to school today. Her class was taking a test to see how much they had learned in second grade. Ana couldn’t wait to get to school. Ana sharpened her new pencils for the test. She was going to do her very best on that test. Ana loved school, and she liked to makegood grades. Ana ate her breakfast, and then her mom drove her to school. Ana was so excited! She went straight to her classroom and found her teacher already there. It was fun to be in Ms. Browner’s class. She was a great teacher. Soon Ana’s classmates arrived. Ms. Brownercalled roll, and they started the test. Ana tried to remembered all the things her teacher had taught her that year, and tried very hard to do everything right on the test. After the test was over, the class played outside for a long time. Then they ate lunch. After lunch, they watched a funny movie, and then drew pictures until time to go home. It was a great day!

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

1. What grade was Ana in?a. first b. secondc. third d. fourth

2. What did Ana like to eat in the morning?a. eggs b. oatmealc. bacon d. cereal

3. Why was Ana excited about going to school?a. They were going on a trip.b. They were having a party.c. They were taking a test.d. They were going to paint.4. What did Ms. Browner do before they took the test?a. She went to the office.b. She called roll.c. She went home.d. She wrote a note to Ana’s parents.

5. What did the children do outside after the test?a. rode bikes b. drew picturesc. played d. watched a movie

RICHIE’S NEW BROTHER

Richie is getting a new baby brother. It is not much fun for Richie! The new baby is getting new clothes and toys. All Richie is getting is a new baby brother. Richie’s new brother’s name is Evan. He is at the hospital with Mom.Richie wants Mom to come home. Mom will becoming home with Evan soon. Evan can’t walk, talk or play. Evan will not be any fun. Richie and Dad went to the hospital and brought Mom and Evan home. Evan just cried. Mom and Dad were tired. Richie rocked Evan and he smiled and went to sleep. Baby brothers aren’t so bad after all.

1. Where was Mom ?a. at the store b. at the hospitalc. at the game d. at the school

2. What was Richie getting?a. new clothes b. new toysc. a new brother d. a new dog

3. Why did Richie rock Evan ?a. Mom and Dad went to the store.b. Mom and Dad were cooking.

c. Mom and Dad were tired.

4. Why did Richie think his new brother wouldn’t be any fun?a. He couldn’t read. b. He couldn’t walk, talk, or play.c. He was too old. d. He was too bad.

5. Why do you think Richie liked rocking Evan?a. He smiled and went to sleep. b. He wanted to play.c. He liked going to the hospital. d. He was ugly.

Write about a baby you like to help take care of.

The Cookies

A woman was waiting at an airport one night, With several long hours before her flight. She hunted for a book in the airport shops, Bought a bag of cookies and found a place to drop. She was engrossed in her book but happened to see,That the man sitting beside her, as bold as could be, Grabbed a cookie or two from the bag in between, Which she tried to ignore to avoid a scene.So she munched the cookies and watched the clock, As the gutsy cookie thief diminished her stock. She was getting more irritated as the minutes ticked by,Thinking, "If I wasn't so nice, I would blacken his eye." With each cookie she took, he took one too, When only one was left, she wondered what he would do. With a smile on his face, and a nervous laugh, He took the last cookie and broke it in half.He offered her half, as he ate the other, She snatched it from him and thought... oooh, brother. This guy has some nerve and he's also rude, Why he didn't even show any gratitude!She had never known when she had been so galled, And sighed with relief when her flight was called. She gathered her belongings and headed to the gate, Refusing to look back at the thieving ingrate.She boarded the plane, and sank in her seat, Then she sought her book, which was almost complete. As she reached in her baggage, she gasped with surprise, There was her bag of cookies, in front of her eyes. If mine are here, she moaned in despair,The others were his, and he tried to share. Too late to apologize, she realized with grief, That she was the rude one, the ingrate, the thief. How many times in our lives,have we absolutely known that something was a certain way, only to be wrong?

SunsetWhen the air is clear, the sunset will appear yellow, because the light from the sun has passed a long distance through air and the blue light has been scattered away. If the air is polluted with small particles, natural or otherwise, the sunset will be more red. Sunsets over the sea may also be orange, due to salt particles in the air. The sky around the sun is seen reddened, as well as the light coming directly from the sun. This is because all light is scattered relatively well through small angles, but blue light is then more likely to be scattered twice over the greater distances, leaving the yellow, red and orange colors.

Choose the correct answer :

1. As it is pointed out in the passage, the color of the sunset ----.

A) may be lighter than expected due to salt particles in the airB) is red if the sky is clearC) owes its blueness to the distance between the sun and the earthD) is a combination of all the colorsE) depends on the weather conditions and the location where it takes place

2. One can infer from the passage that the sunset looks yellow because ----.

A) scattering does not play an appreciable role in determining the color of the transmitted light

B) the blue light is scattered on the long way through the air at that timeC) the light coming directly from the sun is blueD) the air is polluted to such a degree that the Earth's climate is actually changingE) sunsets generally take place on the sea

3. As it is pointed out in the passage, ----.

A) our eyes are more sensitive to light with blue frequenciesB) the red light passes easily through the air without scattering at allC) when the sun sets, only the blue light is leftD) the sunset is likely to look orange when small particles, such as salt from sea spray, are

in the airE) by the time the light from a sunset gets to you, only red light remains

MoneyMoney is what you use to buy things. You may earn moneyfrom completing household chores, getting good grades, foryour allowance, or for losing a tooth! Money is very importantin our world and comes in many different forms.People have been using money for hundreds of years. Beforemoney gave specific values for things, people simply tradeditems. In the United States, we use the dollar as our currencyor money, but people in different parts of the world usedifferent currencies, though some countries also use or acceptour dollars.People earn money from the jobs they work and use thatmoney to save for the future, pay for their houses, cars, food,taxes, medical needs and household items among otherthings. Even things such as turning the lights on, using the airconditioning or heat, and connecting to the internet costmoney.

1.) How long have people used money?A.) They started recently.B.) Thousands of years.C. Since the beginning of timeD.) Hundreds of years.

2.) What did people do before there was money?A.) The story doesn’t tell.B.) They made everything themselves.C.) People traded to get what they needed.D.) They just never got what they needed.

3.) The dollar…A.) is used in every country in the world.B.) is never used in other countries.C.) is not used very much in the United States.D.) is used in the United States.

4.) According to the author of this story, money is….A.) only used in America.B.) not very important.C.) only earned by adults.D.) very important.

5.) Circle all of the things below that money could be used for.A.) To buy things.B.) To pay bills.C.) To pay you for doing your chores.D.) To save for the future.

Dolphins

Dolphins are marine mammals that are related to whales andporpoises. A marine mammal is one that lives in the water.Dolphins are found all over the world’s oceans as well as inrivers and marshes. Dolphins are carnivores (meat-eaters)and feed on fish, squid and other marine life They often swimtogether in groups called “pods.” They are thought to havepowerful eyesight and hearing, but do not have a sense ofsmell.Dolphins come in different sizes. Some are smaller than theaverage person, but others, such as the Orca, can be 30 feetlong, or more than five times as long as the average person.Dolphins are thought to be very intelligent and communicatewith each other using clicks and whistles. All dolphins arepowerful swimmers. Have you ever seen a dolphin? Groups ofdolphins can often be seen bobbing in and out of waves closeto the shoreline.1.) Marine Mammals live ______________.A.) in the forestB.) on landC. in the waterD.) in the desert2.) _________________ are most closely related to the dolphin.A.) WhalesB.) SharksC.) CatsD.) Squid3.) Dolphins do not ______________________.A.) have good hearingB.) have a sense of smellC.) have good eyesightD.) communicate4.) Which of the following would a dolphin probably not eat?A.) FishB.) PlantsC.) Marine LifeD.) Squid5.) An orca is ________________________.A.) smaller than an average humanB.) a little bit larger than an average personC.) much larger than an average personD.) about the same size as an average person

SpidersDid you know that spiders are not insects? They areactually called Arachnids, a group of animals

related to insects that have eight legs and that havevenom. There are many different kinds of spiders.They live all over the world and can be found in justabout every habitat. Most like dark places, whichmay include your home, closets, or basement!Spiders are very interesting. Some spin silk webs tocatch and eat prey, while others attack their prey.Some spiders, like tarantulas, are large enough toeat lizards and mice! Many people are afraid ofspiders because they bite. Most spiders, however,will only bite if they think they are danger and mostare harmless. Spiders are actually helpful to peoplebecause many eat insect pests like cockroachesand mosquitoes.1.) Spiders have____________ legs.2.) Which is NOT true aboutspiders?A. Some spiders attack their prey.B. All spiders are dangerous.C. Spiders like dark places.D. Spiders are actually helpful topeople.3.) Spiders are….A. related to insectsB. tarantulasC. all harmfulD. insects4.) Why are spiders helpful topeople?A. They live all over the world.B. They eat insect pests.C. Some eat lizards.D. They have eight legs.5.) What question is NOTanswered in the passage?A. Where would I find a spider?B. How long do spiders live?C. How many legs do spiders have?D. What do spiders eat?

Two sisters and the cat

Mrs. Wilson and Mrs. Smith are sisters. Mrs. Wilson lives in a house in Duncan and Mrs. Smith lives in a condominium in Victoria. One day Mrs. Wilson visited her sister. When her sister answered the door, Mrs. Wilson saw tears in her eyes. "What's the matter?" she asked. Mrs. Smith said "My cat Sammy died last night and I have no place to bury him".

She began to cry again. Mrs. Wilson was very sad because she knew her sister loved the cat very much. Suddenly Mrs. Wilson said "I can bury your cat in my garden in Duncan and you can come and visit him sometimes." Mrs. Smith stopped crying and the two sisters had tea together and a nice visit.

It was now five o'clock and Mrs. Wilson said it was time for her to go home. She put on her hat, coat and gloves and Mrs. Smith put the dead Sammy into a shopping bag. Mrs. Wilson took the shopping bag and walked to the bus stop. She waited a long time for the bus so she bought a newspaper. When the bus arrived, she got on the bus, sat down and put the shopping bag on the floor beside her feet. She then began to read the newspaper. When the bus arrived at her bus stop, she got off the bus and walked for about two minutes. Suddenly she remembered she had left the shopping bag on the bus.

[Story by Laurie Buchanan]

1.Why is Mrs. Smith upset?

A. ? because her sister came to see her catB. ? because her cat diedC. ? because Mrs. Wilson was sad

2.What did Mrs. Wilson do?A. ? take the cat with her on the busB. ? put her gloves in the shopping bagC. ? prepare dinner for her sister

3.Who did Sammy the cat live with?A. ? Mrs. WilsonB. ? Mrs. SmithC. ? Mrs. Wilson and Mrs. Smith

4.What time did Mrs. Wilson go home?

A. ? when the bus arrivedB. ? at 5 p.m.C. ? after she walked for two minutes

5.Where does Mrs. Smith live?A. ? in a condominium in DuncanB. ? in a condominium in VictoriaC. ? in a house in Duncan

6.How did Mrs. Wilson go home?A. ? walked for two minutes before she caught the busB. ? read a newspaper on the busC. ? took a bus

7.What did Mrs. Wilson forget?A. ? the newspaperB. ? her handbagC. ? the shopping bag

8.Where did Sammy die?A. ? in Mrs. Smith's house in DuncanB. ? in Mrs. Wilson's gardenC. ? in Victoria

FRUIT FLY BREAKIt is breakfast time. You have been looking forward to eating a nice ripe banana ever since you woke up. Just when you reach for the delicious piece of fruit on your counter, you see something that makes you much less hungry: a swarm of fruit flies! Fruit flies are tiny insects that are attracted to ripe or rotting fruits and vegetables. The flies not only eat the fruit, they also lay their eggs there. A single fruit fly can lay up to 500 eggs on the surface of a piece of fruit. Within eight days, the fruit flies that hatch from these eggs are full adults that can then lay their own eggs. As you can see, what might start out as a small fruit fly problem can become very large very quickly. Although there is a chance fruit flies can carry germs on to your food, this is not very likely. Fruit flies are annoying, but they probably will not hurt you. Because they are such a nuisance, however, most people want to get rid of these pesky bugs as quickly as possible. Some people use pesticide sprays on the fruit flies. Although this will kill the flies, it will also spread harmful poison all over your kitchen. Luckily, there is also a completely safe way for you to get rid of fruit flies in your house. The first step is for you to remove all fruits or vegetables from your counter. Store these items in the refrigerator or in sealed containers. Clean up any spilled juice or bits of food that might be on the floor. Take out the trash and empty the recycling bin. Wash any dirty dishes that are in your sink. Doing all of these things will stop new fruit flies from finding food or places to lay their eggs. Next, make a trap to catch all of the remaining fruit flies in your house. First, fill a small bowl with a few tablespoons of vinegar. Then, put a piece of very ripe or rotting fruit into the vinegar. Cover the bowl very tightly with a sheet of plastic wrap and poke a few very small holes in the wrap with a fork. If all goes according to plan, the flies will enter the trap through the holes but will be unable to fly back out. This trap will catch all of the remaining fruit flies. You can either kill these flies or release them outdoors. Fruit flies can be a pest, but they do not have to make you crazy. With a little effort, you can get existing flies out of your house and prevent new ones from taking over your kitchen. 1) In reading this passage, we learn that fruit flies

I. die immediately after they lay their eggs II. can grow into adults after only 8 days III. are mostly harmless

A. I only B. I and II only C. II and III only D. I, II, and III 3 2) As used in paragraph 3, a nuisance is something that

A. bothers you B. can be dangerous C. grows fast D. is very small

3) According to the passage, why should you not use pesticide spray to kill fruit flies?

A. most sprays do not actually kill all of the fruit flies B. buying sprays can get expensive if you need to use a lot of them C. the sprays take too much time to work D. it can be dangerous to use them in your kitchen

4) Based on the information in the penultimate (next-to-last) paragraph, we can understand that the author thinks that

A. some people do not mind having fruit flies in their house B. some people do not like killing insects C. fruit flies do not like vinegar D. making a fruit fly trap can be difficult

5) Imagine you had a fruit fly outbreak in your kitchen. What would you do to handle the situation? Would you take the advice offered in the passage? Why or why not?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 6) How would you react if you only saw one fruit fly in your house? Would you take the same action you described in question five, or would you behave differently? Why?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________7) Do you think the advice offered by the author of this passage can also help you protect your kitchen from other bugs, such as roaches? Why or why not? Explain your inference.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

MATERIALS

A material is what something is made of. There are 5 basic materials. Most things are made with these materials. Some things are made of metal. Some things are made of glass. Some

things are made of wood. Some things are made of cloth. And some things are made of plastic. There are some other materials. But they are not used as much as these 5 materials. Let’s talk about metal first. Metal is very heavy. And it is very hard and strong. It usually feels cool if you touch it. We use metal to make lots of things. We use it for forks and knives. We use it for keys. We use it for cars. We use it for these things because it is very strong. Next, let’s talk about glass. Glass is very smooth. It feels cool to touch. It is not as heavy as metal. It is hard. But it is not strong. It breaks very easily! Then why do we use it? We use it because it is clear! You can see through glass! That’s why we use it for windows. That’s also why we use it for glasses. Now, let’s talk about wood. Wood is lighter than metal and glass. It is not as strong as metal. But it is much stronger than glass. We use wood to make lots of things. Things made from wood are usually light and hard and strong. Chairs and tables are made from wood. Pencils are made from wood. Now let’s talk about cloth. Cloth is very light. It is much lighter than wood. And it is very soft. We use cloth to make lots of things. For example, it is used to make clothing. And it is used to make blankets. Last, let’s talk about plastic. Plastic is also very light. But it is different from cloth. Sometimes it is soft. And sometimes it is hard. Plastic can be used to make thin plastic bags. These are light, soft, and strong. But plastic can also be used to make bicycle helmets. These are light, hard, and strong. A helmet and a bag seem different. But they are both made from plastic. 1) Which sentence from the passage best describes the main idea?

A. "We use cloth to make lots of things." B. "Metal is very heavy." C. "There are 5 basic materials." D. "A helmet and a bag seem different."

2) According to the passage, which of these things is a material?

A. chairs B. clothing C. windows D. wood

3) According to the passage, how does glass feel?

A. smooth and cool B. warm and soft C. light and hard D. sharp and heavy

4) In paragraph 4, the passage says, “Wood is lighter than metal and glass.” What is the main purpose of this sentence?

A. to explain something B. to recommend something C. to compare something D. to demonstrate something

5) Which material would you use if you wanted to make something that was strong and very light?

A. plastic B. wood C. metal D. glass

6) In this passage, the author talks about

A. hard things first, then soft things

B. heavy things first, then light things C. strong things first, then weak things D. cool things first, then warm things

7) In this passage, we learn about a 5 different materials. Which of these materials do you think is best? Why?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 8) In this passage, we learn about a 5 different materials. Which of these materials do you think is worst? Why?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________

ROBOTSA robot is a machine. But it is not just any machine. It is a special kind of machine. It is a machine that moves. It follows instructions. The instructions come from a computer. Because it is a machine, it does not make mistakes. And it does not get tired. And it never complains. Unless you tell it to! Robots are all around us. Some robots are used to make things. For example, robots can help make cars. Some robots are used to explore dangerous places. For example, robots can help explore volcanoes. Some robots are used to clean things. These robots can help vacuum your house. Some robots can even recognize words. They can be used to help answer telephone

calls. Some robots look like humans. But most robots do not. Most robots just look like machines. Long ago, people imagined robots. Over 2,000 years ago, a famous poet imagined robots. The poet’s name was Homer. His robots were made of gold. They cleaned things and they made things. But they were not real. They were imaginary. Nobody was able to make a real robot. The first real robot was made in 1961. It was called Unimate. It was used to help make cars. It looked like a giant arm. In the future, we will have even more robots. They will do things that we can’t do. Or they will do things that we don’t want to do. Or they will do things that are too dangerous for us. Robots will help us fight fires. They will help us fight wars. They will help us fight sickness. They will help us discover things. They will help make life better.

1) As used in paragraph 1, we can understand that something special is NOT

A. normal B. expensive C. perfect D. tired

2) According to the author, robots may be used to

I. make cars II. explore volcanoes III. answer telephone calls

A. I only B. I and II only C. II and III only D. I, II, and III READTHEORY Questions © Copyright Read Theory LLC, 2012. All rights reserved. 3

3) What is the main purpose of paragraph 2?

A. to show how easy it is to make a robot B. to tell what a robot is C. to describe the things a robot can do D. to explain the difference between a robot and a machine

4) According to the passage, when was the first real robot made?

A. 1961 B. 1900 C. 2003 D. 2000 years ago

5) Using the information in the passage as a guide, which of these gives the best use of a robot?

A. to help make a sandwich B. to help tie shoes C. to help read a book D. to help explore Mars

6) Which of these statements correctly summarizes how the author of this passage feels about robots?

A. Robots are old.

B. Robots are confusing. C. Robots are helpful. D. Robots are dangerous.

7) Near the end of the passage, the author says that "In the future, we will have even more robots." The author concludes by telling us that robots "will help make life better." What do you think about this? Do you think this is true? Will robots help make life better? Why or why not? Explain.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

RIO GRANDEAlthough not the longest river in America, the Rio Grande is one of the most important. But, unlike other significant rivers, it is not used for shipping. In fact, oceangoing ships cannot navigate the waters. No, what makes the Rio Grande so important is its location. Since 1846, it has been the official border of Texas and Mexico. Rio Grande Geography The Rio Grande is either the fourth or fifth longest river system in North America. It all depends on how it is measured. Because the river twists so much, it occasionally changes course. And these course shifts can cause it to be longer or shorter. At its last official measure, the Rio Grande clocked in at 1,896 miles. The river starts in Colorado and extends downward to the Gulf of Mexico.

Downward is the best way of describing it too. Not only does the river extend south, but it also starts in the mountains and gets lower and lower in elevation as it extends to the Gulf. Its name is Spanish for the “Big River,” but the Rio Grande is actually known as Rio Bravo in Mexico. “Bravo” translates as “furious,” so the name makes sense. Because of its twists and turns, it certainly does seem to be angrier than most rivers! The Rio Grande Today The Rio Grande today is mostly used as a source of drinking water. Sadly, much of the water has been drained from the river. Parts of the river are almost dry! This is because people use more water from the river than the river can get back from rain and other sources. Experts are working to correct this, though, with hopes of restoring the river to its past strength. Today, the river is important as a source of water for Texans and Mexicans. More important, it is a symbol of cooperation between two nations. Though borders like the Rio Grande separate nations, they are also shared spaces. The Rio Grande is therefore a symbol of friendship and peace between two peoples. 1) According to the passage, why is the Rio Grande so important?

A. It is a source of drinking water for most of the United States. B. It is the border of Texas and Mexico. C. It is the longest river system in the United States. D. It is known by two different names.

2) In paragraph 3, the author most likely writes that “downward is the best way of describing it too” to

A. prove that the Rio Grande’s water levels have gone down recently B. argue that the Rio Grande has changed shape over the years C. highlight the fact that the Rio Grande flows south and from high elevations D. explain why the Rio Grande is known as the Rio Bravo down in Mexico READTHEORY Questions © Copyright Read Theory LLC, 2012. All rights reserved. 3

3) Based on its use in paragraph 4, the word furious most nearly means

A. angry B. large C. twisted D. dry

4) According to the passage, the Rio Grande has endpoints in

A. Texas and the Gulf of Mexico B. New Mexico and Colorado C. Texas and Mexico D. Colorado and the Gulf of Mexico

5) At the beginning of the passage, we learn that the Rio Grande is "one of the most important" rivers in America. Can you think of another important landform that exists where you live? What makes it so important?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6) In paragraph 5, the author explains that the Rio Grande is slowly going dry. What do you think would happen if the river ever went completely dry? Why? Explain your predictions below.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7) Based on the information in the passage, explain in your own words why the Rio Grande is “either the fourth or fifth longest river system in North America.” Why can’t we say with certainty that it is only the fourth longest and not the fifth longest, for example?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 8) In the final paragraph of the passage, the author says that the Rio Grande is “a symbol of cooperation” between Mexico and the United States, but also recognizes that the river divides the two countries. Based on the passage and your outside knowledge, do you think the river is more uniting or dividing? How do you think the river symbolizes cooperation? How do you think it symbolizes division? Explain.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

SPIDER WEBSAll spiders spin webs. That's because webs help spiders. Webs help spiders do three things. Webs help spiders hold eggs. Webs help spiders hide. And webs help spiders catch food. Webs help spiders hold eggs. Many spiders like to lay their eggs in their webs. The webs help keep the eggs together. Webs help spiders keep their eggs safe. Webs help spiders hide. Most spiders are dark. They are brown, grey, or black. But spider webs are light. They are white and cloudy. When spiders hide in their webs, they are harder to see. Webs help spiders catch food. Spider webs are sticky. When a bug flies into the web, it gets stuck. It moves around. It tries to get out. But it can't. It is trapped! Spiders can tell that the bug is trapped. That's because spiders feel the web move. And the spider is hungry. The spider goes to get the bug. As you can see, webs help spiders hold eggs. Webs help spiders hide. And webs help spiders catch food. Without webs, spiders would not be able to live like they do. Spiders need their webs to survive!

1) This passage is mostly about

A. spider colors B. spider webs C. spider eggs

2) Spider webs help spiders

I. hold eggs II. catch food III. find water

A. I only B. I and II only C. I, II, and III

3) As used in paragraph 4, the word trapped most nearly means

A. stuck B. hidden C. eaten

4) How can spiders tell when something is trapped in their web?

A. They hear it. B. They smell it. C. They feel it.

5) As used in the last sentence of the passage, the word survive means to stay

A. alive B. hidden C. caught

6) The passage lists three reasons why spiders spin webs. Of these reasons, which do you think is the most important? How come?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 7) Do you like spiders? Why or why not? Have you ever been scared by a spider? Have you ever been hurt by one? Have you ever helped one? Explain.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 8) Are spiders good? Do we need them in our world? Why or why not?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________

THE INCREDIBLE MACHINEEveryone has a favorite attraction at an amusement park, and I am no different. However, unlike most people who seem to prefer rollercoasters, my favorite ride is a little more gentle. Every time I go to Coney Island, Navy Pier, or the Santa Monica Pier, I absolutely have to ride the Ferris wheel. The Ferris wheel is simple and yet also quite complex. That is, riding it is easy, but how it works is complicated. A series of carts are attached to a wheel, which is attached to a rim. That rim rotates vertically around an axis, and gravity keeps the carts upright. As simple as the ride seems, only advanced engineers can make safe and fun Ferris wheels. What It Lacks in Thrills… While the Ferris wheel is not as thrilling as a rollercoaster, it is still very exciting. The fact of being high in the air makes it so much more entertaining than a lot of rides. I mean, how often do you hang from that high up in daily life? Nevertheless, I have to admit, I don’t seek Ferris wheels out because of their excitement. Rather, I find them very relaxing. At the top of the Ferris wheel, you get beautiful sights of the park. You also get a sense of calm that you don’t get in the hustle and bustle of the park below. Additionally, Ferris wheels are also gorgeous to look at when they are lit up at night. In fact, the original Ferris wheel was designed as much to be seen as to be ridden. It Happened at the World’s Fair

The first Ferris wheel was made by and named after George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr. He designed it for the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893. It was the tallest attraction there, standing 264 feet high. However, visitors to the fair were impressed by the size of the ride as well as the mechanics of it. In 1893, anything that was not turned by hand was considered a sight to see. And the wheel, which was a machine, was truly incredible to see. Further, as one visitor put it, the wheel was amazing because it seemed to be missing support. That is, it did not look like it could stand on its own. And yet it did and even rotated! They Keep Reaching Higher and Higher Ferris wheel technology has only improved since then. Most of today’s Ferris wheels are much larger than that first one. The largest in the world is the "Singapore Flyer," which stands slightly taller than twice what Ferris’s did! Today, the Ferris wheel is the most common amusement park ride. But that does not mean you should take them for granted. Instead, be thankful for Ferris’ invention. The next time you’re at an amusement park, don’t just look up at the impressive wheel in the sky on your way to a newer attraction. Take it for a spin! READTHEORY Questions © Copyright Read Theory LLC, 2012. All rights reserved. 3

1) As used in paragraph 1, the word attraction most nearly means

A. sense B. park C. ride D. vision

2) It can be understood that Coney Island, Navy Pier, and the Santa Monica Pier are all examples of

A. amusement parks B. Ferris wheels C. vacation spots D. boat docks

3) As used in paragraph 2, which is the best antonym for complex?

A. impressive B. beautiful C. exciting D. simple

4) What does the author like best about Ferris wheels?

A. the impressive engineering and beauty of them B. the excitement and thrills they guarantee C. the beautiful sights and relaxation they allow D. the fact that most amusement parks have one

5) According to the passage, the Ferris wheel was originally designed for

A. Coney Island B. the world’s fair C. Disneyworld D. Singapore

6) This passage was most likely written to

A. describe the author’s favorite amusement park rides B. explain the original design of Ferris wheels and how they work today C. describe the history of Ferris wheels and why they are so popular

D. explain the history of Ferris wheels and why the author likes them

7) Using information in the passage, the reader can understand that the tallest Ferris wheel in the world is

A. under 250 feet tall B. between 250 and 500 feet tall C. between 500 and 750 feet tall D. over 750 feet tall

8) In paragraph 2, the narrator says, "As simple as the ride seems, only advanced engineers can make safe and fun Ferris wheels." Can you think of any other machines that seem simple but actually are not? List at least two and explain why they are not actually simple.

____________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 9) In paragraph 3, the narrator says, " While the Ferris wheel is not as thrilling as a rollercoaster, it is still very exciting ." Can you think of any other machines that are not "thrilling" but still "exciting"?

____________________________________________________________________________________ 10) In the final section of the passage, we learn how Ferris wheels "keep reaching higher and higher." This seems to be a common trend among the developers of modern technology. What makes us want to continually strive to create something bigger and better? Is this good? Discuss.

____________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________

THE TOOLS OF PERSUASION

Persuasion is the art of convincing someone to agree with your point of view. According to the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle, there are three basic tools of persuasion: ethos, pathos, and logos. Ethos is a speaker’s way of convincing the audience that she is a credible source. An audience will consider a speaker credible if she seems trustworthy, reliable, and sincere. This can be done in many ways. For example, a speaker can develop ethos by explaining how much experience or education she has in the field. After all, you would be more likely to listen to advice about how to take care of your teeth from a dentist than a firefighter. A speaker can also create ethos by convincing the audience that she is a good person who has their best interests at heart. If an audience cannot trust you, you will not be able to persuade them. Pathos is a speaker’s way of connecting with an audience’s emotions. For example, a speaker who is trying to convince an audience to vote for him might say that he alone can save the country from a terrible war. These words are intended to fill the audience with fear, thus making them want to vote for him. Similarly, a charity organization that helps animals might show an audience pictures of injured dogs and cats. These images are intended to fill the viewers with pity. If the audience feels bad for the animals, they will be more likely to donate money. Logos is the use of facts, information, statistics, or other evidence to make your argument more convincing. An audience will be more likely to believe you if you have data to back up your claims. For example, a commercial for soap might tell you that laboratory tests have shown that their soap kills all 7,000,000 of the bacteria living on your hands right now. This piece of information might make you more likely to buy their brand of soap. Presenting this evidence is much more convincing than simply saying “our soap is the best!” Use of logos can also increase a speaker’s ethos; the more facts a speaker includes in his argument, the more likely you are to think that he is educated and trustworthy. Although ethos, pathos, and logos all have their strengths, they are often most effective when they are used together.

Indeed, most speakers use a combination of ethos, pathos, and logos to persuade their audiences. The next time you listen to a speech, watch a commercial, or listen to a friend try to convince you to lend him some money, be on the lookout for these ancient Greek tools of persuasion. 1) As used in paragraph 2, what is the best antonym for credible?

A. unintelligent B. boring C. dishonest D. amazing

2) Amy is trying to convince her mother to buy her a pair of $200 shoes. She says: “Mom, the shoes I have are really old and ugly. If I don’t get these new shoes, everyone at school is going to laugh at me. I will be so embarrassed that I will want to die.” What form of persuasion is Amy using here?

A. pathos B. ethos C. logos D. a combination of ethos, pathos, and logos

3) According to the passage, logos can build ethos because

A. an audience is more easily convinced by facts and information than simple appeals to emotions like pity or fear B. an audience is more likely to trust a speaker who uses evidence to support his argument C. a speaker who overuses pathos might make an audience too emotional; audiences who are too frightened or too sad are unlikely to be persuaded D. a speaker can use misleading or false information to make his argument seem more convincing

4) Gareth is running for mayor. He tells his audience: “Under our current mayor, there have been 15,000 new cases of unemployment. If he stays in office, who knows how many more people will lose their jobs? The number could go up even higher. When I was the CEO of Magnatech, I helped to create over 1,000 new jobs. I can do the same thing for this city if you vote for me.” Which form of persuasion is Gareth using here?

I. pathos II. logos III. ethos

A. I only B. I and II only C. II and III only D. I, II, and III

5) According to the passage, the most effective tool of persuasion is

A. ethos, because you cannot persuade an audience that does not trust you B. logos, because it can also be used to build ethos C. a combination of ethos, pathos, and logos D. pathos, because human beings are most easily persuaded by emotion

6) Imagine you wanted to convince an uninformed person to take a political position that is the same as yours. What issue would you try to talk to this person about? How would you include ethos, pathos, and logos in your persuasion? Make your case below.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________

7) Some persuasive programming involves only ethos, some involves only pathos, and some involves only logos. Which of these single-tactic persuasion types do you find most effective? Which one are least effective? Why?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 8) Sometimes ethos, pathos, and logos can be used to make people believe things that are not entirely true. Can you think of an example? How can people avoid being tricked by faulty persuasion tactics?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Great White SharkDescription: The Great White Shark is the largest predatory shark, and is probably the most well-known and feared shark. The Great White Shark is gray or bluish above and white below. The largest Great Whites can reach lengths of 22 feet and weigh up to 5,000 pounds. Most are between 13 and 16 feet and weigh 1,500-2,400 pounds. The Great White has massive teeth, which are positioned in rows and serrated. When the Great White attacks, it bites its prey and shakes it head back and forth. The serrated teeth act as a saw and literally tear the victim apart. The Great White Shark often swallows many of its own teeth in an attack. Diet: The Great White Shark normally feeds on fish, seals, dolphins, porpoises, otters, and turtles. It is thought to locate its prey by electrosense and by smell. Like all sharks, Great Whites have special pores called Ampullae of Lorenzini, which enable them to detect the electromagnetic fields radiated by moving organisms. Great Whites can detect voltage as small as one half billionth of a volt. Great Whites employ several hunting techniques depending on the prey. Most of the time, the

6.) You would have something in common with the Great White Shark if you…

A. located your food by soundB. had four brothers and four sisters

C. lived to be eighty years oldD. spent most of your time near shore

7.) In which of the following places would you have the best chance to see a Great

White Shark?A. coastal South Africa

B. AntarcticaC. Mississippi River

D. Mediterranean Sea8.) Sharks often mistake humans for

_________________.9.) Which of the following is NOT true?

A. Great White Sharks swallow their own teeth during attacks.

B. Great White Sharks employ different hunting techniques depending on the prey

they are stalking.C. Great White Sharks often target humans

as prey.

shark will remain still underwater before ambushing its prey from underneath. In the case of hunting some kinds of seals, the impact of the shark is so powerful that it knocks both the shark and the seal clear out of the water. With larger prey such as elephant seals, the shark will simply take a huge bite out of it and wait for it to bleed to death. When hunting dolphins, the shark will attack from above, presumably to avoid detection from the dolphin's echolocation. Range/Habitat: Great White Sharks are most commonly observed throughout the world's sub-arctic coastal waters, though they likely spend most of their time in the open ocean. Highest concentrations are found in the waters off the coast of South Africa, Australia, California, and Mexico. The Great White Shark is also found in the Adriatic and Mediterranean Seas. They generally prefer water between 54 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Reproduction: A Great White Shark has never been observed giving birth, however pregnant females have been caught. The Great White Shark is known to be ovoviviparous (young develop in eggs within the mother's body). Females give birth to eight or nine pups that are about five feet in length upon birth. Great Whites reach reproductive maturity when the male is about 12 feet long and the female about 13 feet long. It is thought that Great White Sharks live up to 40 years in the wild, but this estimate may be too low. Shark Attacks: Despite the fear of Great White Sharks, at least in part generated by Steven Spielberg's 1975 movie, Jaws, Great White Sharks do not target humans as prey. Most attacks are attributed to mistaken identity. Sharks can easily mistake humans for seals. Many human injuries caused by Great White Sharks are cases of test-biting. If a shark is unsure about a floating object, it often gives it a test bite to determine what kind of object it is. While such bites do little damage to buoys and other objects, they obviously can inflict serious damage on the human body. 1.) Which of the following is least likely?A. Finding a Great White Shark in 85 degree (Fahrenheit) water.B. Find a Great White Shark hunting a

D. Great White Sharks can detect prey by smell or by magnetic field.

10.) Which of the following may or may not be true?

A. Great White Sharks have serrated teeth that act like saws.

B. Newborn Great White Sharks are about five feet in length.

C. Great White Sharks have a life span of 40 years.

D. The Great White Shark is actually only white on its underparts.

porpoiseC. Finding a 15 foot long Great White Shark.D. Finding a Great White Shark that weighs 2,000 pounds2.) The maximum weight of MOST Great White Sharks is ____________ pounds.A. 2,400B. 24,000C. 5,000D. 4,2003.) Circle all of the following that are normal parts of the Great White Shark's diet.A. HumansB. SealsC. FishD. Dolphins4.) The ___________________________ are specialized pores that allow a shark to detect magnetic fields of moving organisms.A. ElectomagnetsB. EcholocationC. Ampullae of LorenziniD. Serrations5.) What does ovoviviparous mean?A. It refers to animals whose young develop outside the mother's body.B. It refers to animals that lay eggsC. It refers to animals that do not lay eggsD. It refers to animals whose young develop in eggs within the mother's body.

TornadoA tornado is born from a powerful storm called a supercell. Tornadoes have been reported in all states, but most tornadoes happen in the central parts of America called “Tornado Alley.” In some supercells, warm, moist air rises quickly into the atmosphere. Winds blowing at different speeds at different parts of the supercell produce wind shear and cause a horizontal, rotating column of air. A funnel cloud will form as the air column rotates faster and more tightly within the supercell. The rain and hail within the storm cause the funnel cloud to touch the ground resulting in a tornado. The strength of a tornado is measured by what’s called the Fujita scale. The weakest tornadoes (F0) feature winds of 40-78 miles per hour, while the strongest tornadoes (F5) have winds of up to 318 miles per hour. All tornadoes can be devastating, especially if they touch down in areas with lots of people. Tornado Outbreak A tornado outbreak occurs when one storm system produces multiple tornadoes. Some tornado outbreaks can result in the formation of dozens of tornadoes over several states. One particularly powerful tornado outbreak occurred between April 25 and April 28 of 2011, where a record 355 tornadoes in 21 states and Canada were recorded, an including an F5 tornado that completely destroyed parts of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Much of the destruction was caught on camera and broadcast across the country and internet. The same weather system produced hailstones that measured 4.5 inches across in southern Virginia. 328 people were killed as a result of the outbreak, which totaled over $11 billion in damages. 1.) Which is NOT true about tornadoes? A. They only occur in some states B. They are born from supercells C. Tornado strength is measured on the Fujita Scale

6.) What is the theme of the first paragraph? A. Birth and strength of a tornado B. The Fujita Scale C. Wind Speed D. Historic Tornadoes 7.) Why does the author refer to the hailstones that hit Virginia as part of the tornado outbreak of April 2011? A. To show how long the storm lasted B. To show that much of the damage was caught on camera C. To show that tornado outbreaks often happen in the Spring D. To show how powerful and destructive the storms were 8.) In a tornado outbreak…. (circle all that are true). A. Only F5 tornadoes occur B. Storms that contain damaging hail can occur too C. A single storm system can produce multiple tornadoes D. Dozens of tornadoes may form in distant locations 9.) What did paragraph two include that paragraph one did not include? A. Information about the Fujita Scale B. A specific instance C. Information about how tornadoes form D. Information on when tornadoes become destructive

D. Most tornadoes occur in North America in Tornado Alley 2.) What states have never had tornadoes? A. All states have had tornadoes B. States outside of Tornado Alley C. Alaska and Hawaii D. The passage doesn’t say 3.) What causes the supercell to tilt downward toward the ground? A. lightning B. rain and hail C. warm air D. wind 4.) When are tornadoes most devastating? A. When they hit areas with lots of people B. When wind shear occurs C. When they register on the Fujita Scale D. When they occur in Tornado Alley 5.) Which of the following would complete the analogy? Supercell : Tornado :: A. Hurricane: Ocean B. Cloud : Lightning C. Thunder: Rain D. Moon : Stars

Lightning and Thunder Lightning is a streak of electricity that occurs in every thunderstorm. You see lightning before you hear thunder because light travels faster than sound. Lightning is caused when the negative charge of electricity in the rain clouds meets the positive charge of electricity in the falling raindrops. Most lightning occurs from cloud-to-cloud, but some lightning occurs from cloud-to-ground, where it can start fires, melt metal, or be deadly to people. Although 90% of people survive lightning strikes, they can cause major internal injuries, burns, and hearing loss. 240,000 people are struck by lightning or are injured as a result of lightning every year.

Thunder is caused by the rapid expansion of air and temperature inside and around a lightning strike. Such an expansion of air is known as a sonic shock wave. Did you know you can calculate the distance of lightning from its thunder? Thunder occurs after lightning because the light travels much more quickly than sound. In normal circumstances, lightning is 0.2 miles distant from a given location for every second that passes between the lightning and its thunder. Thus, if you see lightning in the sky and hear thunder five seconds later, the lightning is about one mile from your location. 1.) Lightning occurs… A. in most thunderstorms B. in every thunderstorm C. in some thunderstorms D. in a few thunderstorms 2.) Why do you see lightning before you hear thunder? A. Because lightning comes before thunder B. Because lightning causes thunder C. Because light travels faster than sound D. Because thunder causes lightning 3.) Most lightning… A. occurs from ground to cloud B. occurs from cloud to ground C. occurs between clouds D. melts metal 4.) When can you infer from the following sentence? Although 90% of people survive lightning strikes, they can cause major internal injuries, burns, and hearing loss. A. Lightning is not that dangerous B. Lightning can cause major burns C. Although most people survive lightning strikes, some do not D. Few people survive lightning strikes 5.) Which of the following is NOT a possible outcome of lightning? A. burns B. electricity C. injury D. death

6.) Which of the following IS NOT true about thunder? A. Air expansion that results in thunder is called a sonic shock wave. B. If you see lightning and hear thunder five seconds later, the lightning is five miles away C. Thunder occurs because of the rapid expansion of air and temperature inside and around a lightning strike. D. You hear thunder after lightning because light travels faster than sound. 7.) What do the two paragraphs have in common? A. They describe specific instances of lightning and thunder B. They describe the discovery of lightning and thunder C. They describe why lightning and thunder occur D. They describe lightning and thunder in popular culture 8.) Which of the following sentences contains an approximation? A. You see lightning before you hear thunder because light travels faster than sound. B. Did you know you can calculate the distance of lightning from its thunder? C. Thus, if you see lightning in the sky and hear thunder five seconds later, the lightning is about one mile from your location. D. Such an expansion of air is known as a sonic shock wave.

JupiterWhat does this planet look like?

Jupiter, the fifth planet from the sun, is the largest planet in the solar system. It is the first of the “gas giants”and has no surface, though it may have a rocky core. Although it is only 1/1000th as massive as the sun, it is more than twice as massive as all of the other planets in the solar system combined. Jupiterʼs atmosphere is separated into different bands and gives the planet the appearance of having whitish and reddish layers with various spots, swirls and bubbles. Jupiterʼs most notable feature, other than its size, is the great red spot, a football shaped area of intense storms. Three Earths could fit inside the great red spot. The spot, which is a high pressure, stable storm with winds that gust over 400 miles per hour, is said to be somewhat similar to a hurricane. Recent studies have shown that the spot has actually shrunk and that the storm may be weakening. Scientists still donʼt have an explanation for why the spot looks red. In addition, Jupiter also has a faint set ofrings (probably made of dust) that wrap around the planet horizontally.How big is this planet?Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system. It is nearly 318 times as massive as Earth, has the surface area of 122 Earths, and has 1,321 times the volume of Earth.What is its gravity like?Gravitational force on Jupiter is 254% the gravitational force on Earth. A 100 pound Earthling would weigh about 254 pounds on Jupiter.How far is it from the sun? From the Earth?Jupiter is located an average of 466,000,000 miles from the sun. At its closest point, Earth and Jupiter aremore than 390,000,000 miles apart. At their farthest, the two planets are more than 576,000,000 miles apart.What is its atmosphere like?The atmosphere of Jupiter is about 86 percent hydrogen and 14 percent helium. Methane, water vapor andammonia exist in trace amounts. The interior of Jupiter is denser, with about 71 percent hydrogen, 24 percenthelium and five percent other elements. Occasionally, flashes of lightning are detected in the atmosphere ofJupiter. These electrical discharges are said to be at least 1,000 times a s powerful as the typical lightningstrike on Earth.Whatʼs the temperature like?The average temperature in the cloud tops of planet Jupiter is -234 F, but if you were to descend from thecloud tops, closer to the interior of the planet (where the atmospheric pressure becomes about ten times whatit is on Earth) the temperatures would actually be around 55 degrees F. If you were to descend farther, thetemperatures would become incredibly hot.How many moons does it have?Jupiter has at least 63 moons, more than any other planet. The four Galilean moons of Jupiter are the mostmassive. Galileo discovered these moons in 1610. They were first moons discovered of any planet other than Earthʼs.

ButterfliesButterflies are some of the most interesting insects on the planet Earth. There are more than seventeen thousand different kinds of butterflies! Butterflies come in all shapes and sizes. Butterflies go through four main stages of life. The first stage is the

egg stage followed by the larva stage. As a larva, or caterpillar, the future butterfly eats as much as possible. As it grows, it sheds it outer skin, or exoskeleton. This may happen four or five times. After a few weeks, the caterpillar enters the next stage of its life, the chrysalis stage. In the chrysalis, the caterpillar will liquefy into a soup of living cells. Then, it will reorganize into a butterfly and the metamorphosis is complete. In later parts of the chrysalis stage, you can see the forming butterfly through the chrysalis. When the butterfly emerges from the chrysalis, it pumps its wings to send blood through them so that it can fly. Most butterflies only live a couple of weeks, just enough time to drink flower nectar and to mate. Some, like the Monarch Butterfly, however, may live many months.1.) How many stages of life does a butterfly go through? _________________________2.) Which of the following is NOT true?A. Butterflies must wait until blood drains into their wings before flying.B. The butterfly may shed its skin 8 or 9 timesC. Caterpillars turn into a liquid in the chrysalisD. Most butterflies live a short time3.) In what stage does the metamorphosis happen?A. ButterflyB. CaterpillarC. ChrysalisD. Egg4.) Which is true?A. There are about a thousand different kinds of butterflies in the world.B. There are more than a thousand different kinds of butterflies in the world.C. There are less than a thousand different kinds of butterflies in the world.D. There is only one kind of butterfly in the world.5.) Why does the butterfly shed its skin?A. It is hungryB. The butterfly is comingC. It is growingD. To defend itself against predators6.) What is the second stage of life for a butterfly?A. LarvaB. ChrysalisC. ButterflyD. Egg7.) What is the third stage of life for a butterfly?A. LarvaB. ChrysalisC. ButterflyD. Egg8.) Circle all of the things a butterfly does.A. goes through metamorphosisB. lays eggsC. matesD. drinks nectar from flowers

RaisinsRaisins are dried grapes that have been eaten for thousands ofyears. Nearly 3,500 years ago, the first raisins were discovered asgrapes that were drying in the sun on a vine. In medieval Europe,raisins were used as sweeteners, medicine, and even as a form ofmoney!

In America, raisins were first grown after an 1873 heat wave inCalifornia destroyed its valuable grape crop, leaving only dried,wrinkly, but tasty grapes on the vines. Soon, farmers begandeveloping seedless grapes in California that were thin-skinned andsweet. These grapes would be purposely dried in the sun andbecame the popular dark raisin we eat and enjoy today. Later, agolden variety of raisin was made by treating grapes with a chemicalcalled sulfur dioxide and using special methods to dry them.Today, central California remains the center of the world’s raisinindustry, producing nearly 95 percent of the world’s raisins. Its greenvalleys, sunny climate, and hot temperatures provide the perfectconditions for grapes that are dried into raisins.

1.) Which of the following were raisinsNOT used as?_________________.A. sweetenerB. medicineC. moneyD. weapons

2.) Raisins....A. were discovered recently.B. were discovered a long time ago.C. are made by dropping grapes in water.D. have never been grown in America.

3.) What would be the best title for thispassage?A.) A History of RaisinsB. The Many Different Kinds of RaisinsC. The Discovery of the Golden RaisinD. Healthy Snacks

4.) What question is answered in theINTRODUCTORY paragraph?A. What kinds of raisins do people eat?B. How are golden raisins made?C. What happened in 1873?D. What were raisins once used as?

5.) What is NOT true about raisins?A. They are dried in the sun.B. They are grown in California.C. There are dark and golden versionsof raisins.D. They are made from grapes withseeds.6.) Golden raisins were discovered______________________.A. before dark raisins.B. at the same time as dark raisins.Rainbows and Double RainbowsC. after dark raisins.

D. The passage doesn't say.7.) Which of the following has thesame meaning as the word "variety"in the sentence below?Later, a golden variety of raisin wasmade by treating grapes with achemical called sulfur dioxide andusing special methods to dry them.A. fruitB. type ofC. opposite ofD. sale8.) Which questions is not answeredin the passage?A. When did farmers start growingraisins in America?B. Why are grapes healthy for you?C. How are golden raisins produced?D. Why did American farmers startproducing raisins?

The Silk RoadIn 1274, Italian explorers Marco and Niccolo Polo set out on a 24 year journey in which they traveled the famous Silk Road from Italy, through brutal deserts and towering mountains to eastern China. They traveled over 4,000 miles in all. Marco and Niccolo were among the very first Europeans to explore the fabled empire of China. In China, Marco Polo even worked for ruler Kublai Khan. Polo detailed his experiences and findings in China by writing a book. Polo described materials and inventions never before seen in Europe. Paper money, a printing press, porcelain, gunpowder and coal were among the products he wrote about. He also described the vast wealth of Kublai Khan, as well as the geography of northern and southern China. European rulers were very interested in the products Polo described. However, trading for them along the Silk Road was dangerous, expensive and impractical. European rulers

began to wonder if there was a sea route to the east to get the products they wanted at a reasonable price.1.) How many years did Marco Polo's journey to China _____________________________2.) Marco Polo traveled over _____________________ miles in his travels to China.3.) In China, Marco polo worked for ______________ ______, the ruler of China.4.) Marco Polo came to China from what country?A. EnglandB. EuropeC. ItalyD. China5.) While traveling in China, Marco Polo observed many new discoveries. Which of the following is not one of the discoveries?A. cigarettesB. paper moneyC. gunpowderD. coal6.) Marco polo traveled to China with ______________ Polo.7.) What word below best captures the meaning of "impractical" in the sentence: However, trading for them along the Silk Road was dangerous, expensive and impractical.A. positiveB. ridiculousC. not funnyD. too difficult8.) Because of the difficulties in traveling the Silk Road, European rulers began wondering if there was a ______________ route to the east.