TEXT STRUCTURE
Everyone knows that sugar tastes good, and it can give you energy. But scientists say that if you eat too much sugar, then it can damage your body. Too much sugar can make you feel tired. It's bad for many of your organs, including blood vessels and the heart. It can cause weight gain. And, of course, sugar can lead to cavities, or holes in your teeth.
What text structure did the author use?
a. cause and effect
b. description
c. problem and solution
d. sequential order
a. cause and effect
In the northeastern United States, autumn is particularly colorful. Leaves change from green to red and orange, and many Americans take scenic fall foliage trips. In Japan, a similar phenomenon takes place in the spring. Cherry trees erupt in a shower of pink, and the entire country celebrates the arrival of sakura, or cherry blossoms. Though autumn leaves are admired in the United States, they are seen as just a pretty seasonal display. In Japan, on the other hand, cherry blossoms have much greater significance; the flowers are deeply rooted in Japan's culture and philosophy. Since as far back as the eighth century, sakura have symbolized change and beauty, new beginnings, and the circle of life. The blossoms have been celebrated in Japanese paintings, poems, and tea ceremonies for centuries.
What is the central idea of the passage?
a. Americans appreciate the colorful leaves of fall, but the Japanese view the cherry blossoms of spring as part of their culture.
b. Japan's spring cherry blossoms often serve as symbols of change or new beginnings in words of Japanese art or literature.
a. Americans appreciate the colorful leaves of fall, but the Japanese view the cherry blossoms of spring as part of their culture.
Since at least 4000 BCE, people have worn jewelry made of gold. These days, however, gold is used for reasons other than just decoration. Gold is malleable, so it can be molded into many forms. This makes gold ideal for use in many modern technologies. For example, a small amount of gold is used to carry electrical signals in devices like cell phones and computers. The face mask of an astronaut's helmet can be coated with gold to block the sun's rays. Thin pieces of gold can even be used as a lubricant to protect moving parts in space.
What is the meaning of malleable as used in the passage?
a. easily shaped
b. very valuable
c. extremely heavy
d. delicate or fragile
a. easily shaped
Edna wrinkled her nose and looked away.
Based on this sentence, how is Edna probably feeling?
disgusted
You've probably seen a rainbow in the sky after a summer storm, but have you ever seen a moonbow? Moonbows happen when moonlight passes through water droplets. The light bends and splits into colors.
A moonbow isn't a common event. This exciting phenomenon usually only occurs when the moon is full, bright, and low in the sky. There must also be rain or mist in the air.
What is the meaning of phenomenon as used in the passage?
something unusual or remarkable
The human brain weighs about three pounds (1.4 kg) and has three main parts. The largest part is the cerebrum. The cerebrum takes care of thinking, remembering, and moving other body parts. It lies toward the front and top of the head. The second part, the cerebellum, is behind and below the cerebrum. It helps with balance. The remaining section is the brain stem, which controls breathing and other automatic actions. You're usually not thinking about your heart beating or your lungs taking in air, but your brain stem makes all that happen.
How is this text organized?
a. sequential/chronological order
b. problem and solution
c. description
d. compare and contrast
c. description
Boris Pasternak's 1956 novel Doctor Zhivago tells the story of a Russian doctor living at the time of the 1917 Russian Revolution, which led to the establishment of the Soviet Union. Because the book dealt with hardships people faced after the revolution, publishers in the Soviet Union refused to release it, calling it anti-Soviet. Pasternak's solution was to have the book smuggled out of the Soviet Union and published in Europe. Though Soviet authorities tried to prevent it, the book was published in Italy in 1957 and was immediately well received. In 1958, it was translated into English and went on to become one of the most popular novels of the 1950s.
What is this passage mostly about?
a. Boris Pasternak couldn't get his book Doctor Zhivago published in the Soviet Union, so he had the book smuggled out of the country.
b. Doctor Zhivago showed the problems that Russians faced following the Russian REvolution, so it was considered anti-Soviet.
a. Boris Pasternak couldn't get his book Doctor Zhivago published in the Soviet Union, so he had the book smuggled out of the country.
When they set out to create what would become the Oxford English Dictionary, the Philological Society of London had an ambitious goal: provide the definition and etymology of every word in the English language. Published in 1928, the first ten-volume edition covered more than four hundred thousand words and phrases, making it the most thorough dictionary of its time. Not only did it tell readers what words meant, but it also traced their history. Because language evolves, the dictionary has been updated over the years to account for new words or changing meanings; in March 2014, for example, the words bestie and beat boxer were added.
What is the meaning of etymology as used in the passage?
a. the popularity of a word
b. the function of a word
c. the history of a word
d. the meaning of a word
c. history of a word
Nathan woke two hours earlier than everyone else on Saturday. He went for a ten-mile run and then made pancakes for the whole family.
Based on these sentences, what is Nathan probably like?
energetic
The new king seemed very shy. He stumbled through his speeches and stared at his shoes whenever he went out in public.
Blossom, the royal baker, decided to conduct an experiment. She gathered up the townspeople and explained what they needed to do. "Whenever we see the king, we should applaud and shout, 'Hurrah for King Beardsley!'"
So that's what they did. After three weeks of this, King Beardsley's words flowed smoothly and he smiled at his subjects. Blossom's experiment was a success!
What is the meaning of conduct as used in the passage?
to lead and carry out
All water on Earth is part of a cycle. Here's a simple way to think of it. Imagine a drop of water starting in the ocean. The sun heats the water. Then, the water evaporates, rising into the air as water vapor. Water vapor is the gas form of water. After that, water vapor collects together into clouds in the atmosphere. Next, the water falls from the clouds back to Earth as rain or snow. Finally, the water flows through streams and rivers back into the sea, and the cycle continues.
What is the text Structure?
a. compare and contrast
b. cause and effect
c. description
d. sequential/chronological order
d. sequential/chronological order
The Evolving Human Skeleton
Our early ancestors were hunter-gatherers who obtained food by hunting and by searching for edible wild plants. They needed strong bones, including large, strong jaws that enabled them to eat tough, uncooked foods. When our ancestors developed agriculture, however, their diet changed. They began growing plants, such as grains and beans, and raising animals for food; they also started cooking their foods, making them softer and easier to chew. Consequently, the human skeleton underwent radical changes. Over time, the human jaw became smaller and changed shape. Other bones also evolved, becoming lighter, especially in the joints, as a result of both dietary changes and a less active lifestyle.
What is the main, or central idea of the passage?
a. Early humans ate uncooked meats and vegetables, so they needed strong jaws for chewing.
b. As early humans developed agriculture, their bones changed significantly.
b. As early humans developed agriculture, their bones changed significantly.
The legend of Molly Pitcher dates from the Revolutionary War. An American gunner named John Hays was at the Battle of Monmouth. Hays's wife, Mary, also known as "Molly," was helping him and the other soldiers. The day was terribly hot, so Mary carried a pitcher of water from a nearby spring to the field of battle. The soldiers drank and cooled their cannons with the spring water. She kept bringing more fresh water to the soldiers, replenishing the pitcher again and again. For her help, Mary soon earned the nickname, "Molly Pitcher." Later, when her husband was unable to continue shooting, Molly took his place at the cannon. She is remembered today as a hero.
What is the meaning of replenishing as used in the passage?
a. refilling
b. spilling
c. breaking
d. shaking
a. refilling
Eduardo kept jiggling his foot under the desk and glancing at the clock.
Based on this sentence, how is Eduardo probably feeling?
impatient
More than a thousand years ago, a Native American city stood in the middle of North America. Today, this ancient city is known as
Cahokia.Around the year 1050, Cahokia was especially large and
prosperous. It was an important center of trade, and people came from far away to buy and sell goods. Many settled there, building colorful wooden homes. Cahokia's population may have been as large as thirty thousand, which made it one of the largest cities of that time.
What is the meaning of prosperous as used in the passage?
having wealth or success
The Williams sisters, Serena and Venus, are both great tennis players. Of the two, Venus is older by about fifteen months. However, Serena has won more matches than Venus. As of January 2020, they'd played thirty one official matches head-to-head. Of those, Venus won twelve, while Serena won nineteen. The sisters share interests besides tennis, too. For example, both of them run fashion businesses when they're off the tennis court.
How did the author organize the passage?
a. Sequence/chronological order
b. Compare and Contrast
c. Cause and Effect
d. Description
b. Compare and Contrast
Blooms in Death Valley
In March 2016, Death Valley National Park in California experienced a rare occurrence: thousands of yellow wildflowers covered the region in a "super bloom." Why was this unusual? Death Valley is the hottest and driest place in North America. The area's average yearly precipitation is just two inches, making it a challenging place for flowers to grow. However, in October 2015, the valley had received more than three inches of rain in some areas. As a result of the unusually wet season, wildflower seeds that had been lying dormant underground suddenly began to grow, producing an abundance of golden blooms.
What is the central idea of the passage?
Because of an unusual amount of rain, thousands of wildflowers grew in Death Valley in 2016.
In 1860, the Pony Express was started. It was created to meet the demand for faster mail service between California and the eastern states. Pony Express riders carried their bags of mail long miles over rugged western trails. During their routes, the riders faced many dangers. For example, many riders told stories about encounters with wild animals and robbers. Despite these dangers, Pony Express riders were known to be very fast. They were able to carry word of Abraham Lincoln's election as president from Nebraska to California in just five days. In less than two years, though, the Pony Express became obsolete. Once the telegraph was invented, there was no need for the Pony Express.
What is the meaning of obsolete as used in the passage?
a. strengthened by a new law
b. replaced by something newer
c. bankrupted from overspending
d. improved by editing or revising
b. replaced by something newer
The first thing Owen did in his new room was hang his clothes in the closet. He arranged them, painstakingly, by color.
Based on these sentences, what is Owen probably like?
organized
Latrell watched as a staff member at the aquarium held up a young sea turtle.
"This animal got hurt from swallowing trash," she said. "We helped him recover, and soon we'll return him to the water."
Latrell decided that he would work to protect sea turtles. Once a month, he and his family went to the beach to pick up trash. Then Latrell told his friends about the project and recruited them to help, too. Soon, there were twenty people at the monthly cleanup days!
What is the meaning of recruit as used in the passage?
get someone to join a group
Snowflakes are formed by water droplets freezing onto bits of dust in the atmosphere, but they come in many different shapes. The most well-known is the six-pointed, star-like snowflake, paper versions of which can be found in the windows of many classrooms. But some snowflakes are simple six-sided disks, and others are tiny six-sided columns. Two main factors determine the shape of an individual snowflake crystal: the temperature and level of moisture in the air. Colder temperatures, below -22°C (-7.6°F), produce simple disks and columns. The familiar star-shaped crystals form in warmer temperatures. And moister air gives rise to more complex shapes with more branches and details.
What text structure does the author use?
Cause and effect
Making Towers Bird-Friendly
The lights on tall communication towers warn pilots to avoid the towers when flying at night. Unfortunately, the steady red lights often used on towers have the opposite effect on birds: the bright beams attract and confuse them. Instead of avoiding the lights, the birds fly directly toward them, crashing into the towers or becoming entangled in power lines. Millions of birds have died this way. However, there is a solution. Unlike steady lights, flashing or blinking lights don't attract birds. In response to demands from conservation groups, the Federal Aviation Administration in 2016 began requiring communication towers in the U.S. to use blinking lights instead of steady ones.
What is the central/main idea of the passage?
To save birds, communication towers have begun using blinking lights.
The saxophone was invented in the 1840s by Adolphe Sax, a Belgian musician and instrument maker. Sax noticed that brass instruments often drowned out the woodwinds; this created an unevenness in sound and tone. Sax's solution was to create an instrument that would integrate parts of both woodwinds and brass instruments. Namely, his new instrument, the saxophone, joined a brass-like body with a woodwind-like mouthpiece. It was suitable for both orchestras and military bands, making it a good choice for musicians and composers. The saxophone has grown in popularity over time and is now played around the world.
What is the meaning of integrate as used in the passage?
a. replace
b. maintain
c. improve
d. combine
d. combine
Jake pressed his lips together until they turned white. He kicked his toe hard into the dirt.
Based on these sentences, how is Jake probably feeling?
upset
"Ten seconds until launch," said the voice on Nova's headset.
The spaceship countdown had started! Nova checked her helmet and shoulder belt with shaking hands. This was the most momentous event of her life! After eight years at the School for Future Astronauts, she was about to become the first child ever to fly to the moon.
What is the meaning of momentous as used in the passage?
highly important