7th Grade Reading ACT Aspire

Inferences in Literature

100

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question that follows Vision keen and talons strong, The mighty canary flies along. Struggling against the air conditioner’s flow, The streak of yellow feathers comes in low. It seeks only grub on which to feed, A crumb of bread, a bowl of seed. Its sweet song flutters like a rattling plane engine, As it rounds the corner into the kitchen. The smoky gray tomcat poses no threat, It has grown fat from cans like an ordinary pet. The bird stops, admires itself in a mirror, The hawk that looks back could not be clearer. Question: Based on the poem, which of these is true about the canary? A. It sings loudly as it flies through the house. B. It does not think of itself as a tamed canary. C. It has had many fights with the smoky gray tomcat. D. It acts tough, but it does not take itself seriously.

What is B. It does not think of itself as a tamed canary.

200

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question that follows Near collapse, Serena looked back at the smoldering remains of her craft. She could only speculate as to whether the weakness she felt was due to hunger to lack of oxygen in the planet’s atmosphere. She remembered very little about what had happened in her last visit to the Earth. She guessed that she may have spilled some tea on the warp drive. She knew that something caused the crash. Whatever it was, it stranded her in the middle of a galactic dead zone. She was the only human within 2.5 light years in any direction, and she was still breathing, so there was oxygen in the atmosphere. Serena was weak because she was hungry, which was bad news for any small mammals that called the planet home. She hoped that there were some around for her to eat. She hoped there were. warp drive: imagined or made up system that lets one travel faster than light dead zone: the center of the galaxy which has no life Question: Based on the story, Serena is A. an explorer who is looking for a home. B. a person who lives in the future. C. a person who gets lost on vacation. D. a girl who is looking for her family.

What is B. a person who lives in the future.

300

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question that follows Near collapse, Serena looked back at the smoldering remains of her craft. She could only speculate as to whether the weakness she felt was due to hunger to lack of oxygen in the planet’s atmosphere. She remembered very little about what had happened in her last visit to the Earth. She guessed that she may have spilled some tea on the warp drive. She knew that something caused the crash. Whatever it was, it stranded her in the middle of a galactic dead zone. She was the only human within 2.5 light years in any direction, and she was still breathing, so there was oxygen in the atmosphere. Serena was weak because she was hungry, which was bad news for any small mammals that called the planet home. She hoped that there were some around for her to eat. She hoped there were. warp drive: imagined or made up system that lets one travel faster than light dead zone: the center of the galaxy which has no life Question: Read this sentence from the passage. “Serena was weak because she was hungry, which was bad news for any small mammals that called the planet home.” What can the reader tell about Serena based on this detail? A. Serena wishes she were at home. B. Serena knows how to hunt. C. Serena does not have long to live. D. Serena is scared by the crash

What is B. Serena knows how to hunt.

400

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question that follows Shot up from the ground, With its arms spread wide. Exposed to the world, It had plenty to hide. It looked upon the decades passed, Watching grass become sand And sand become grass. Deep in its core, it held many things. The history of the world Is recorded in its rings. Its feet still stand, Unmoved by strength and blade. Body gone, its memory will not fade. Question: Which of these can the reader infer from the poem? A. The subject of the poem is a tree. B. The poem is about being the victim of a crime. C. The poem takes place far in the future. D. The subject of the poem is a fictional person.

What is A. The subject of the poem is a tree.

500

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question that follows Rickard the Proud sat near the end of the table, and, in between bites of chicken, talked about the people Snowden and how hostile they were towards outsiders. Mayrian sat a few seats down, rolling her eyes at his every word. “As if he knows anything about Snowden other than what he has read in books written by people who think Snowden to be a backwards, unimportant land,” she said to no one in particular. She came very close to falling from her chair when he spoke of the book he wrote about Snowden. Rickard the Proud, who had noticed her before, felt that he could not avoid asking her what she thought. Mayrian felt every eye on her. It was as if everything in the castle had stopped. She looked at her father, sitting at the head of the table, telling her with his eyes that he expected her to behave like the princess she was. She tried to, but the words came tumbling out. “How does one who has never been to Snowden,” she looked at Rickard the Proud, “come to write a book about it?” Question: Based on the story, which of these is true about Mayrian’s father? A. He is a king. B. He is easily angered. C. He is a friend of Rickard the Proud. D. He is bored.

What is A. He is a king.

Inferences in Informational Text

100

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question that follows Hartford is one of the oldest cities in the United States. It was founded by English settlers in 1637. The name, Hartford was chosen to honor the city of Hertford in England. While the two cities spell their names differently, they are pronounced the same. Today, most people know Hartford as the capital city of Connecticut. While that is true, Hartford was not officially chosen for that role until 1875. It replaced the city of New Haven as the state’s capital. At one time, Hartford was known as an important city in the publishing industry. The famous authors, Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe made their homes in the city. Today, their houses exist as museums and are open to the public. Question: Which detail from the text shows that Hartford values its literary history? A. Today, the homes of Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe are public museums. B. Hartford became the capital city of Connecticut in 1875. C. Hartford is one of the oldest cities in the United States. D. Although Hartford and Hertford are spelled differently, they are pronounced the same.

What is A. Today, the homes of Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe are public museums.

200

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question that follows Hartford is one of the oldest cities in the United States. It was founded by English settlers in 1637. The name, Hartford was chosen to honor the city of Hertford in England. While the two cities spell their names differently, they are pronounced the same. Today, most people know Hartford as the capital city of Connecticut. While that is true, Hartford was not officially chosen for that role until 1875. It replaced the city of New Haven as the state’s capital. At one time, Hartford was known as an important city in the publishing industry. The famous authors, Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe made their homes in the city. Today, their houses exist as museums and are open to the public. Question: Which of these details supports the statement that Hartford was once important to the publishing industry? A. Hartford was named in honor of the city of Hertford in England. B. Famous authors, Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe lived there. C. Hartford replaced New Haven as the capital of Connecticut. D. Hartford is the capital city of the state of Connecticut.

What is B. Famous authors, Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe lived there.

300

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question that follows Hartford is one of the oldest cities in the United States. It was founded by English settlers in 1637. The name, Hartford was chosen to honor the city of Hertford in England. While the two cities spell their names differently, they are pronounced the same. Today, most people know Hartford as the capital city of Connecticut. While that is true, Hartford was not officially chosen for that role until 1875. It replaced the city of New Haven as the state’s capital. At one time, Hartford was known as an important city in the publishing industry. The famous authors, Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe made their homes in the city. Today, their houses exist as museums and are open to the public. Question: Based on this passage, what can the reader infer? A. Hartford is the oldest city in Connecticut. B. Mostly, people from England live in Connecticut. C. Hartford is the oldest city in the United States. D. Like in Connecticut, state capitals can be changed.

What is D. Like in Connecticut, state capitals can be changed.

400

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question that follows Hartford is one of the oldest cities in the United States. It was founded by English settlers in 1637. The name, Hartford was chosen to honor the city of Hertford in England. While the two cities spell their names differently, they are pronounced the same. Today, most people know Hartford as the capital city of Connecticut. While that is true, Hartford was not officially chosen for that role until 1875. It replaced the city of New Haven as the state’s capital. At one time, Hartford was known as an important city in the publishing industry. The famous authors, Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe made their homes in the city. Today, their houses exist as museums and are open to the public. Question: Which of these statements is true? A. New Haven was founded by English settlers. B. New Haven is less important than Hartford. C. Hartford is one of the largest cities in the United States. D. Hartford was once a place that drew people from Europe.

What is D. Hartford was once a place that drew people from Europe.

500

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question that follows Capuchins are a type of monkey native to Central and South America. These monkeys get their name from the hair on their heads, which look similar to the cowls worn by Capuchin monks. Capuchin monkeys vary in size. Their bodies are typically 12–22 inches in length with equally long tails. In the wild, capuchins live in groups called troops. A troop of capuchins makes its home along a range of jungle that can be more than 200 acres in size. Within its home range, a single capuchin monkey may travel almost two miles per day in search of fruit, vegetables, or small prey to eat. Capuchin monkeys are noted for their intelligence. This has made them popular as pets, but not everyone is allowed to keep capuchins as pets. Capuchins need more care than a dog or a cat. Many places require a person to have a special license before they can take a capuchin as a pet. Capuchins are sometimes trained as service animals. Often, they are taught to help people with physical disabilities by performing simple chores. Capuchin monks: members of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin; they wear brown robes with large hoods that cover their heads Question: Which of these statements is true based on this passage? A. Most capuchin monkeys can only live in the wild. B. Capuchin monkeys are gaining popularity as pets. C. Capuchin monkeys are losing their popularity as pets. D. Some capuchin monkeys do not live in the wild.

What is D. Some capuchin monkeys do not live in the wild.

Theme

100

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question that follows Trini’s Surprise Party Characters: TRINI GINA OTHER PEOPLE TRINI’S PARENTS [Walking along the sidewalk on her way home, Trini brushes away a teardrop from her face. It’s her birthday, and her parents can’t make it into town to celebrate. Trini’s friend Gina walks up to her on the sidewalk.] GINA: Trini? Are you okay? You look like you’ve been crying. TRINI: Oh, Gina, I can’t believe this. Everyone forgot about my birthday. My parents are still at work, and no one has called to say “happy birthday.” GINA: I’m sure they haven’t forgotten your birthday. I didn’t forget! That’s why I’m here. Let me come up to your apartment and cook you a fantastic birthday dinner. TRINI: I don’t know about that, Gina, I’m so sad. I just wish my parents remembered my birthday. GINA: At least let me come up to your apartment and give you your birthday gift. TRINI: Gina, you didn’t have to get my anything. That’s so sweet. GINA: But, I wanted to! Now, let’s head upstairs. [The girls walk up the stairs to Trini’s apartment. Trini unlocks the door and switches on the lights. Inside the apartment, all of her friends jump up and shout, “Surprise!”] TRINI: Oh, my goodness! I can’t believe this, Gina, you’re so amazing! This is the best birthday ever. GINA: Don’t look so surprised! You can always count on me to be here for you, but this isn’t my birthday gift for you. TRINI: It’s not? [Gina opens the apartment door to Trini’s parents. They run inside the door and give Trini a huge hug.] [Curtain.] Question: Trini’s surprise party from Gina highlights the theme by showing that A. Trini is easily surprised by her friends on her birthday. B. Trini needs her parents in order for to have a good birthday. C. Trini can always count on her friends to be there for her. D. Trini’s birthday is more fun than she expected it to be.

What is C. Trini can always count on her friends to be there for her.

200

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question that follows Trini’s Surprise Party Characters: TRINI GINA OTHER PEOPLE TRINI’S PARENTS [Walking along the sidewalk on her way home, Trini brushes away a teardrop from her face. It’s her birthday, and her parents can’t make it into town to celebrate. Trini’s friend Gina walks up to her on the sidewalk.] GINA: Trini? Are you okay? You look like you’ve been crying. TRINI: Oh, Gina, I can’t believe this. Everyone forgot about my birthday. My parents are still at work, and no one has called to say “happy birthday.” GINA: I’m sure they haven’t forgotten your birthday. I didn’t forget! That’s why I’m here. Let me come up to your apartment and cook you a fantastic birthday dinner. TRINI: I don’t know about that, Gina, I’m so sad. I just wish my parents remembered my birthday. GINA: At least let me come up to your apartment and give you your birthday gift. TRINI: Gina, you didn’t have to get my anything. That’s so sweet. GINA: But, I wanted to! Now, let’s head upstairs. [The girls walk up the stairs to Trini’s apartment. Trini unlocks the door and switches on the lights. Inside the apartment, all of her friends jump up and shout, “Surprise!”] TRINI: Oh, my goodness! I can’t believe this, Gina, you’re so amazing! This is the best birthday ever. GINA: Don’t look so surprised! You can always count on me to be here for you, but this isn’t my birthday gift for you. TRINI: It’s not? [Gina opens the apartment door to Trini’s parents. They run inside the door and give Trini a huge hug.] [Curtain.] Question: The theme of this story is about A. the love of a parent. B. the loss of innocence. C. always being prepared. D. the value of friendship.

What is D. the value of friendship.

300

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question that follows Karina and Martha were in the same advanced math class, and last Friday, their teacher informed the class that they were going to have a test on the following Monday. Karina asked Martha if she wanted to study together on Saturday for the test. “Thanks, Karina, but my friend Jaffrey is having a party on Saturday, and I told him I’d help him set up for it, so I’m going to be too busy this weekend to study,” Martha said, zipped up her backpack, and headed out of the classroom. “I’ll be studying all weekend, in case you change your mind!” Karina yelled after her. On Monday, Martha and Karina took their test at the beginning of class. Martha turned in her test first and left the classroom before Karina had even turned hers in. Karina couldn’t believe it, and she wondered how Martha could have finished so quickly if she hadn’t studied all weekend. The next day after class, the girls had their grades back from their tests. “How did you do on your test, Martha?” “Not so good, I got a 50%,” Martha said. “What did you get?” “I got an A. I guess all that studying really paid off.” Question: The theme of this story is about A. taking other people’s advice. B. trying to cope with stress. C. the importance of studying. D. the importance of planning.

What is C. the importance of studying.

400

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question that follows Karina and Martha were in the same advanced math class, and last Friday, their teacher informed the class that they were going to have a test on the following Monday. Karina asked Martha if she wanted to study together on Saturday for the test. “Thanks, Karina, but my friend Jaffrey is having a party on Saturday, and I told him I’d help him set up for it, so I’m going to be too busy this weekend to study,” Martha said, zipped up her backpack, and headed out of the classroom. “I’ll be studying all weekend, in case you change your mind!” Karina yelled after her. On Monday, Martha and Karina took their test at the beginning of class. Martha turned in her test first and left the classroom before Karina had even turned hers in. Karina couldn’t believe it, and she wondered how Martha could have finished so quickly if she hadn’t studied all weekend. The next day after class, the girls had their grades back from their tests. “How did you do on your test, Martha?” “Not so good, I got a 50%,” Martha said. “What did you get?” “I got an A. I guess all that studying really paid off.” Question: Which sentence from the story best supports the theme of this passage? A. Karina asks Martha if she wants to study together for the test. B. Martha turns in her test first and leaves the classroom early. C. “Thanks Karina, but my friend Jaffery is having a party on Saturday.” D. “I’ll be studying all weekend, in case you change your mind.”

What is D. “I’ll be studying all weekend, in case you change your mind.”

500

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question that follows In a majestic castle in a far off land, a beautiful princess brushed with her hair. Every morning, before breakfast, she brushed her hair 100 times in front of her enormous mirror. It was her favorite way to start her morning. After breakfast, the King and Queen told her that they all were on a long journey into the kingdom to visit their people, and they had to leave their castle behind. The princess was terribly upset by the news because she did not want to leave her beautiful home or the mirror in her bedroom. The King and Queen told the princess she had to join them, so she packed up her things and followed her family out of the castle. As they traveled together across the lands, the princess realized that she was not really leaving her home. As they carried their belongings into their temporary house, the princess knew that she may have left her castle, and her favorite mirror, but she still had her family. They may not have been in their castle, but they were at home. Question: The sentence “They may not have been in their castle, but they were at home,” supports the theme by A. suggesting that as long as they are together, life feels normal. B. suggesting that homes are easy to find because they are everywhere. C. explaining that the royal family was no longer living in their castle. D. explaining that a family’s belongings are what makes a house a home.

What is A. suggesting that as long as they are together, life feels normal.

Main Idea

100

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question that follows Sarah Breedlove was born into a family of freed slaves in 1867. She went on to become the owner of a business and the first woman to be a self-made millionaire. During her early adult life, Breedlove washed clothes to earn the $1.50 a day she needed to support herself and her daughter. One day, she came across Booker T. Washington’s book Up from Slavery. The book told the story of how Washington went from being a slave to being a well-known teacher. It inspired Breedlove to change her life. She began selling shampoos and other hair products in 1904. She then changed her name to Madam C. J. Walker and began making and selling her own products under that name. Walker grew her small business into a world-wide company that changed the way hair products were sold. She passed away from blood pressure problems 1919. Question: Which of these best shows the main idea of this article? A. Sarah Breedlove changed her name to Madam C. J. Walker after starting her own hair product business. B. Sarah Breedlove was inspired to change her life after reading Booker T. Washington’s Up from Slavery. C. Sarah Breedlove, who was born into a family of freed slaves, went on to become a successful business person. D. Sarah Breedlove, who is better known as Madam C.J. Walker, became rich because she worked really hard.

What is C. Sarah Breedlove, who was born into a family of freed slaves, went on to become a successful business person.

200

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question that follows Sarah Breedlove was born into a family of freed slaves in 1867. She went on to become the owner of a business and the first woman to be a self-made millionaire. During her early adult life, Breedlove washed clothes to earn the $1.50 a day she needed to support herself and her daughter. One day, she came across Booker T. Washington’s book Up from Slavery. The book told the story of how Washington went from being a slave to being a well-known teacher. It inspired Breedlove to change her life. She began selling shampoos and other hair products in 1904. She then changed her name to Madam C. J. Walker and began making and selling her own products under that name. Walker grew her small business into a world-wide company that changed the way hair products were sold. She passed away from blood pressure problems 1919. Question: Which key detail in the article supports the main idea? A. Booker T. Washington authored the book Up from Slavery. B. Sarah Breedlove first began selling her hair products in 1904. C. Sarah Breedlove washed people’s clothes for $1.50 a day. D. Madam C. J. Walker died of blood pressure problems in 1919.

What is B. Sarah Breedlove first began selling her hair products in 1904.

300

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question that follows The pattern that is called “plaid” in the United States and Canada is called “tartan” most other places. When many people think of tartan, they think of Scotland and kilts, but the pattern goes back much further than that. The Hallstatt people of Central Europe made tartan-like fabrics 2,000 years ago. A 3,000 year old mummy that was found in China was wearing tartan-like fabric. The oldest tartan fabric that can be linked to Scotland is the Falkirk tartan. It was found in Stirlingshire, Scotland. It was inside a pot that also contained coins. The Falkirk tartan is made of wool and has a simple light and dark check design. It is thought to be 1,000 years old. Today’s striped and checked tartan was first created in Scotland around the 1500s. The first striped and checked tartan design went through a lot of changes before people settled on today’s common tartan patterns around 1700. Question: Which key detail in the article supports the main idea? A. The pot that held the Falkirk tartan also contained coins. B. The 1,000 year old Falkirk tartan fabric is made of wool. C. The Hallstatt people made their own tartan-like patterns. D. People in the U.S. and Canada call tartan patterns “plaid.”

What is C. The Hallstatt people made their own tartan-like patterns.

400

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question that follows The pattern that is called “plaid” in the United States and Canada is called “tartan” most other places. When many people think of tartan, they think of Scotland and kilts, but the pattern goes back much further than that. The Hallstatt people of Central Europe made tartan-like fabrics 2,000 years ago. A 3,000 year old mummy that was found in China was wearing tartan-like fabric. The oldest tartan fabric that can be linked to Scotland is the Falkirk tartan. It was found in Stirlingshire, Scotland. It was inside a pot that also contained coins. The Falkirk tartan is made of wool and has a simple light and dark check design. It is thought to be 1,000 years old. Today’s striped and checked tartan was first created in Scotland around the 1500s. The first striped and checked tartan design went through a lot of changes before people settled on today’s common tartan patterns around 1700. Question: How does the author convey the central idea of the passage? A. By discussing the early history of the tartan pattern B. By telling about how tartan changed during the 1700s C. By explaining what early tartan fabric was made from D. By describing the difference between tartan and plaid

What is A. By discussing the early history of the tartan pattern

500

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question that follows Are you looking for a way to exercise without having to do jumping jacks or go nowhere on a treadmill? If so, you should try dancing. It is a great way to stay in shape. When you are dipping, stepping, and twisting on the dance floor, you are bending and stretching muscles in your major muscle groups. This bending and stretching increases your body’s flexibility, just like yoga does. Dance is an excellent strength-building exercise. Many people can see how dances that require jumping, leaping, or lifting a partner can increase strength, but the simple act of dancing increases strength, too. When you are dancing, you are carrying your own weight around for long periods of time, which builds muscle. Dancing is way to have fun and make friends. Few people dance alone; rather, they dance in groups. When you dance in groups, you meet new people and make new friends, which turns dance into a social activity, making it more fun and exciting. Question: What key details support the main idea? A. Dancing is a good way to make new friends. B. Dancing bends and stretches many muscles. C. Few people choose to dance by themselves. D. Doing yoga increases the body’s flexibility.

What is B. Dancing bends and stretches many muscles.

Technical Meaning

100

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question that follows Most people may think about soft drink cans when they think about aluminum, but that is only one of the lightweight metal’s many uses. Today, aluminum is one of the most commonly used metals in the world. It is used to make many different products, including airplanes. Aluminum is often mixed with other metals like copper and zinc to make an alloy. These alloys are often stronger and more flexible than regular aluminum. This has made them popular with airplane builders. Planes need to be strong enough to stand up to hard landings and flexible enough that the long wings can bend without breaking. While useful, alloys aren’t perfect. These metals can be delicate and often come apart when they are heated. This means that welding pieces together is a problem. In order to be joined by being welded together, alloy pieces have to be heated to high temperatures. This can destroy them or reduce their strength. Because of this, plane builders now join alloy pieces together with metal fasteners or adhesives. Can you imagine glue that is strong enough to hold a plane together? Question: Choose the phrase that best defines the word aluminum. A. A part of an airplane’s wing B. A mixture of copper and zinc C. A popular, lightweight metal D. A container that holds liquid

What is C. A popular, lightweight metal

200

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question that follows Most people may think about soft drink cans when they think about aluminum, but that is only one of the lightweight metal’s many uses. Today, aluminum is one of the most commonly used metals in the world. It is used to make many different products, including airplanes. Aluminum is often mixed with other metals like copper and zinc to make an alloy. These alloys are often stronger and more flexible than regular aluminum. This has made them popular with airplane builders. Planes need to be strong enough to stand up to hard landings and flexible enough that the long wings can bend without breaking. While useful, alloys aren’t perfect. These metals can be delicate and often come apart when they are heated. This means that welding pieces together is a problem. In order to be joined by being welded together, alloy pieces have to be heated to high temperatures. This can destroy them or reduce their strength. Because of this, plane builders now join alloy pieces together with metal fasteners or adhesives. Can you imagine glue that is strong enough to hold a plane together? Question: Based on the passage, an adhesive is a A. metal clip that holds something in its place. B. sticky substance that holds things together. C. strong and heat-resistant aluminum alloy. D. coating used in the production of airplanes.

What is B. sticky substance that holds things together.

300

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question that follows Most people may think about soft drink cans when they think about aluminum, but that is only one of the lightweight metal’s many uses. Today, aluminum is one of the most commonly used metals in the world. It is used to make many different products, including airplanes. Aluminum is often mixed with other metals like copper and zinc to make an alloy. These alloys are often stronger and more flexible than regular aluminum. This has made them popular with airplane builders. Planes need to be strong enough to stand up to hard landings and flexible enough that the long wings can bend without breaking. While useful, alloys aren’t perfect. These metals can be delicate and often come apart when they are heated. This means that welding pieces together is a problem. In order to be joined by being welded together, alloy pieces have to be heated to high temperatures. This can destroy them or reduce their strength. Because of this, plane builders now join alloy pieces together with metal fasteners or adhesives. Can you imagine glue that is strong enough to hold a plane together? Question: What is the best definition of weld based on the information in the passage? A. To produce airplane parts that are made out of aluminum alloys B. To fix metal pieces that have been damaged and weakened by heat C. To join pieces of metal by heating them and putting them together D. To heat pieces of metal in order to make them strong and flexible

What is C. To join pieces of metal by heating them and putting them together

400

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question that follows Most people may think about soft drink cans when they think about aluminum, but that is only one of the lightweight metal’s many uses. Today, aluminum is one of the most commonly used metals in the world. It is used to make many different products, including airplanes. Aluminum is often mixed with other metals like copper and zinc to make an alloy. These alloys are often stronger and more flexible than regular aluminum. This has made them popular with airplane builders. Planes need to be strong enough to stand up to hard landings and flexible enough that the long wings can bend without breaking. While useful, alloys aren’t perfect. These metals can be delicate and often come apart when they are heated. This means that welding pieces together is a problem. In order to be joined by being welded together, alloy pieces have to be heated to high temperatures. This can destroy them or reduce their strength. Because of this, plane builders now join alloy pieces together with metal fasteners or adhesives. Can you imagine glue that is strong enough to hold a plane together? Question: Which word is closest in meaning to flexible? A. Crooked B. Strong C. Bendable D. Foldable

What is C. Bendable

500

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question that follows Most people may think about soft drink cans when they think about aluminum, but that is only one of the lightweight metal’s many uses. Today, aluminum is one of the most commonly used metals in the world. It is used to make many different products, including airplanes. Aluminum is often mixed with other metals like copper and zinc to make an alloy. These alloys are often stronger and more flexible than regular aluminum. This has made them popular with airplane builders. Planes need to be strong enough to stand up to hard landings and flexible enough that the long wings can bend without breaking. While useful, alloys aren’t perfect. These metals can be delicate and often come apart when they are heated. This means that welding pieces together is a problem. In order to be joined by being welded together, alloy pieces have to be heated to high temperatures. This can destroy them or reduce their strength. Because of this, plane builders now join alloy pieces together with metal fasteners or adhesives. Can you imagine glue that is strong enough to hold a plane together? Question: The word alloy most likely means A. aluminum that falls apart very easily. B. a combination of two or more metals. C. metal that has been strengthened by heat. D. a mix of completely different things.

What is B. a combination of two or more metals.