Text Structure
Inference
Main Idea
Author's Point of View
Tricky Terms
100
The modern Olympics is very unlike the ancient Olympic games. Individual events are different. While there were no swimming races in the ancient games, for example, there were chariot races. There were no female contestants and all athletes competed in the nude. Of course, the ancient and modern Olympics are also alike in many ways. Some events, such as the javelin and discus throws, are the same. Some people say that cheating, professionalism, and nationalism in the modern games are a disgrace to the Olympic tradition. But according to the ancient Greek writers, there were many cases of cheating, nationalism, and professionalism in their Olympics, too.
What is compare and contrast text structure
100
The Chinese learned to make silk cloth almost 5,000 years ago. At that time, they were the only ones who knew how to make it. Soon traders from China found that people in the West would pay great prices for silk. So traders travled long distances on camels across harsh deserts and over high mountains to sell their silk. They also brought styles of art and Chinese inventions such as gunpowder to the West. They returned with gold, nuts, perfumes, and goods from the West. This trade route became known as the Silk Route. Many of the stopping places on the route became great cities. From this passage you can conclude that A. travel on the Silk Route was safe and easy. B. gunpowder was an unimportant Chinese invention. C. ideas were also exchanged along the Silk Route. prices charged in the West for silk were too high.
What is C. ideas were also exchanged along the Silk Route.
100
A roller brigade glides down a boulevard in Paris. This group of inline skaters is part of the city's police force. Their job is to keep bus lanes free of passenger cars on busy streets. They also pull over drivers who are chatting on mobile phones. The best part of their work is posing for pictures with tourists. The rolleurs wear helmets and knee pads as a part of their uniform. Even so, it can be tricky to navigate some streets in Paris, especially those paved with cobblestones. The main idea of this paragraph is A. Paris has a lot of automobile traffic. B. A rolleur wears a helmet and pads. C. Some police in Paris work on skates. D. Inline skates are not just for fun.
What is C. Some police in Paris work on skates.
100
Samuel Goldwyn was a powerful figure in Hollywood during the twenthieth century. He made many famous movies. One of these was Wuthering Heights, based on the book by Emily Bronte. However, Goldwyn often bungled his English an dusually referred to the movie as "Withering Heights." Other amusing things he said were "Include me out" and "I'll give you a definite maybe." Goldwyn also said, "I don't think anyone should write his autobiography until after he's dead." Well, he was in the entertainment business. Which phrase best relfects the writer's point of view? A. Annoyed by Goldwyn's statements B. Uncomfortable with Goldwyn's statements C. Entertained by Goldwyn's statements
What is C. Entertained by Goldwyn's statements
100
A word that means the opposite of the original word
What is an antonym
200
The Olympic symbol consists of five interlocking rings. The rings represent the five continents-Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America- from which athletes come to compete in the games. The rings are colored black, blue, green, red, and yellow. At least one of these colors is found in the flags of every country sending athletes to compete in the Olympic games.
What is description text structure
200
What does it mean when you toss the salad? Most people think that's when you mix lettuce and dressing together. However, sanitation workers would say that tossing the salad means to throw garbage into the truck. Like workes in many fields, they have their own lingo. A garbage truck is known as a white elephant. Garbage that has been salvaged or saved by someone is called mongo. If a worker's job is to pick up trash from street corner cans, it is called running the baskets. As for the workers, they call themselves trash hounds. From this paragraph you can conclude that A. people throw away a lot of salad. B. sanitation workers are fond of dogs. C. elephants are used for collecting garbage. D. lingo gives workers a sense of belonging.
What is D. lingo gives workers a sense of belonging.
200
Eyeglasses have an interesting history. Early Greek scientists observed that when filled with water, a glass ball magnified objects held beneath it. The Romans used certain rocks to magnify things and aid their vision. The emperor Nero wore an emerald ring for this purpose. By the twelfth century, the Chinese had invented eyeglasses made with rock crystal lenses. Later, in Europe, eyeglasses became a big fad. If a king wore them, so did everyone else. The main idea of this paragraph is A. The early history of eyeglasses B. The secret of Nero's emerald ring C. Wearing eyeglasses as fashion D. Vision aids have a rocky start
What is A. The early history of eyeglasses
200
Gerardus Mercator, born in 1512, is known for a kind of map. His map- called a Mercator Projection - has caused unfair distortions of the world. For example, the Northern Hemisphere on a Mercator map dominates the world. Greenland appears as big as Africa. Yet Greenland is much smaller than the African continent. North America appears much larger than South America. No doubt, the overblown proportions of places on the map have made people there think of themselves as more important, too. Which phrase best reflects the writer's point of view? A. Admires the mapmaker Gerardus Mercator B. Blames Mercator for distored worldviews C. Supports the domination of the Northern Hemisphere
What is B. Blames Mercator for distored worldviews
200
A word that means the same or almost the same as the original word
What is a synonym
300
The Olympic Games began as athletic festivals to honor the Greek gods. The most important festival was held in the valley of Olympia to honor Zeus, the kind of the gods. It was this festival that became the Olympic Games in 776 B.C. These games were ended in A.D. 394 by the Roman Emperor who ruled Greece. No Olympic games were held for more than 1,500 years. Then the modern Olympics began in 1896. Almost 300 male athletes competed in the first modern Olympics. In the games held in 1900, female athletes were allowed to compete. The games have continued every four years since 1896 except during World War II, and they will most likely continue for many years to come.
What is chronological or sequence text structure
300
The phone at a zoo in Scotland kept ringing, but no one spoke when the employees answered. They only sound was a kind of snuffling noise. This went on for two nights. Everyone was mystified. Then an employee found the prankster. It was Chippy, an 11-year-old chimmp who had snatched a cell phone from one of his keepers. To make his calls, Chippy had been hitting the "redial" button. Thanks to Chippy's cellular monkey business, the zookeeper's phone bill was rather high that month! Since then, the keeper stores his cell phone in a deep pocket. From this paragraph you can conclude that A. Chippy was playing with the cell phone. B. Chippy wanted to scare the zoo employees. C. Chippy had to pay for all the calls he made. D. Chippy know the telephone number of the zoo.
What is A. Chippy was playing with the cell phone.
300
Do you eat breakfast every day? Researchers have found that people who eat a balanced breakfast are likely to be healthier than those who don't. One reason is that most people eat whole grains at breakfast, and these promote good health. Breakfast eaters also tend to have fewer weight problems than those who skip the meal. People who don't eat breakfast usually eat too much later in the day. Often, these foods are not healthy and cause weight gain and other problems. So, be sure to eat breakfast. It is the most important meal of the day. The main idea of this paragraph is A. Breakfast is the most important meal. B. Skpping breakfast makes you hungry. C. Breakfast is a delicious meal. D. Breakfast eaters have fewer weight problems.
What is A. Breakfast is the most important meal.
300
Tigers are the biggest members of the cat family. These magnificent cats are solitary animals and need a large territory in which to hunt. They mark their territory with urine so that other tigers are warned away. Tigers track their prey in silence and then pounce for the kill. A tiger can eat 40 pounds of meat in one meal. Unfortunately, tiger habitats have been destroyed in many parts of Asia, their homeland. Scientists think there may be only 3,000 to 6,000 tigers left in the wild. These mighty animals are close to extinction. Which phrase best reflects the writer's point of view? A. Regretful about the loss of tigers B. Joyful about the habitat of tigers C. Curious about the fate of tigers
A. Regretful about the loss of tigers
300
An answer based on evidence
What is an inference
400
There are several reasons why so many people attend the Olympic Games or watch them on television. One reason is tradition. The name Olympics and the torch and flame remind people of the ancient games. People can escape the ordinariness of daily life by attending or watching the Olympics. They like to identify with someone else's individual sacrifice and accomplishment. National pride is another reason, and an athlete's or a team's hard earned victory becomes a nation's victory. There are national medal counts and people keep track of how many medals their country's athletes have won.
What is cause and effect text structure.
400
Today, many hubcaps are made of plastic, but not so long ago, they were made from stamped metal. These earlier hubcaps featured all kinds of designs. Wreaths, emblems, crests, spokes, and geometric patterns were popular. Some hubcap designers became quite well known. Today, these hubcaps of the past are collectors' items. Some are exhibited in hubcap museums; others are part of private collections. A ranch displaying hubcaps in California has even become recognized as a state histroical landmark because of its "twenthieth century folk art environment." From this paragraph you can conclude that A. everyone wants to collect old hubcaps. B. today's cars lack interesting hubcaps. C. hubcap designers made a lot of money. D. hubcaps often fall off car wheels. A.
What is B. today's cars lack interesting hubcaps.
400
Once, shoes were made entirely by hand. The hardest step was connecting the upper part of a shoe to the innersole. A worker had to stretch the leather over a wooden form called a last. Jan Matzeliger changed all that in the 1880s. He invented a lasting machine to do this difficult work. Matzeliger's machine meant that many more shoes could be made in a day than before and for less money. The price of shoes came down,, and more people could afford them. The main idea of this paragraph is A. Once shoes were made by hand. B. Jan Matzeliger was an inventor. C. Matzeliger changed how shoes are made. D. More people could now afford shoes.
What is C. Matzeliger changed how shoes are made.
400
Watch out for wet dogs. They shake water all over and often smell funny. Many people attribute this smell to a dog's fur. However, a strong odor from a whet dog is more likely to be caused by a skin problem, not wet fur. Some dogs such as cocker spaniels and terriers get rashes and skin irritations that result in body odor. Water can make the odor more noticeable. According to dog experts, the best way to prevent smelly dogs is by grooming them regularly Which phrase best reflects the writer's point of view? A. Worried about wet dogs B. Interested in helping dog owners C. Delighted by dog smells
What is B. Interested in helping dog owners
400
Put in other words without leaving out anything important
What is paraphrase
M
e
n
u