Main Idea
When Lewis and Clark explored the western United States, a dog named Seaman protected them. One night, a large buffalo came near their tent. Seaman chased the buffalo away. Another night, a grizzly bear entered their camp. Seaman barked and barked at the bear. He barked until the bear ran away. Seaman also protected Lewis and Clark by making sure they had food. Every day, Seaman hunted squirrels for the men to eat.
What is the main idea of the paragraph?
A. Lewis and Clark's dog, Seaman, protected the explorers.
B. Every day, Seaman hunted squirrels for the men to eat.
C. Seaman chased the buffalo away.
D. Seaman barked and barked at the bear. He barked until the bear ran away.
A. Lewis and Clark's dog, Seaman, protected the explorers.
Exploring space is one of the most important things the United States can do. But why? For one reason, the work of getting people and machines into space leads to new technologies. Some of these new technologies then become available to everyone and improve their lives. But there is a second and more important reason for exploring space, and it has nothing to do with money. It's called the need to discover. Humans are naturally curious. Humans are also competitive-we want to be both the first and the best at what we do.
What does the author think? (The Point)
A. Humans are also competitive-we want to be both the first and the best at what we do.
B. Exploring space is one of the most important things the United States can do.
C. But there is a second and more important reason for exploring space, and it has nothing to do with money.
D. Some of these new technologies then become available to everyone and improve their lives.
B. Exploring space is one of the most important things the United States can do.
Coal may look like an ordinary black rock. But inside, it contains powerful energy that can be used for heat and electricity. Coal is made from plant matter that was buried far below Earth's surface for millions of year. Being buried so deeply and for so long put the plant matter under intense heat and pressure. The heat and pressure caused the chemical and physical characteristics of the plant matter to change. Eventually, the plant matter turned into coal.
What happened because the heat and pressure from being buried made the plant matter change and the chemical and physical characteristics changed, making coal?
A. Coal is used to produce energy that creates electricity.
B. Plant matter from millions of years ago is changed into coal.
C. Using coal harms the environment.
D. Coal is mined and burned to make steam, which makes energy.
B. Plant matter from millions of years ago is changed into coal.
As Rome grew, it became a great trading center, and salt was one of the main items traded there. Salt was so important in the daily lives of the Romans that soldiers were paid in blocks of salt. This pay was called salarium argentums or "salt money", giving us our word salary. In fact, the word soldier comes from the Latin sol dare, meaning "to give salt."
What inference can you make based on the information in paragraph 3?
A. The soldiers used blocks of salt as payment so they could travel along the Salt Road.
B. Salt was so valued by Roman that it was used as a form of pay.
C. The soldiers did not have a healthy diet, so they were paid in blocks of salt.
D. The Roman government ran out of gold, so it paid soldiers in blocks of salt.
B. Salt was so valued by Roman that it was used as a form of pay.
The earliest sound recordings were made on tin foil. Because the foil ripped easily and sounded bad, inventors looked for better materials. Later recordings were therefore put on harder metal or wax, which lasted longer and sounded better.
What happened because the foil recordings ripped easily and sounded bad?
A. Inventors looked for better materials and put later recordings on harder metal or wax.
B. The earliest sound recordings were made on tin foil.
C. Tin foil was the best to use.
D. Lasted longer and sounded better.
A. Inventors looked for better materials and put later recordings on harder metal or wax.
Hearing dogs listen for sounds that people with hearing loss cannot hear. These dogs alert their owners to sounds by touching them with their nose or paw. After giving the alert, hearing dogs lead their owners to the source of the sound. For example, hearing dogs can be trained to recognize many household sounds. These sounds include doorbells, telephones, oven timers, alarm clocks, and fire and smoke alarms. Hearing dogs keep their deaf or partly deaf partners both active and safe by alerting them to such important noises.
Which statement below BEST describes the main idea?
A. Hearing dogs are trained to recognize the sounds of telephones and smoke alarms.
B. Hearing dogs alert their owners to sounds the owners cannot hear themselves.
C. Hearing dogs wear orange vests in public to tell people their owners have a hearing loss.
D. Hearing dogs are happy, constant companions.
B. Hearing dogs alert their owners to sounds the owners cannot hear themselves.
Exploring space is one of the most important things the United States can do. But why? For one reason, the work of getting people and machines into space leads to new technologies. Some of these new technologies then become available to everyone and improve their lives. But there is a second and more important reason for exploring space, and it has nothing to do with money. It's called the need to discover. Humans are naturally curious. Humans are also competitive-we want to be both the first and the best at what we do.
Why does the author think this way?
A. Humans are competitive, and have a need to discover.
B. Some of these new technologies then become available to everyone and improve their lives.
C. Humans are naturally curious.
D. The work needed to get people and machines into space leads to new technologies.
E. Exploring space is one of the most important things the United States can do.
F. But there is a second and more important reason for exploring space, and it has nothing to do with money.
A. Humans are competitive, and have a need to discover.
D. The work needed to get people and machines into space leads to new technologies.
Two centuries ago, bicycles did not look like the bikes you know today. Invented by a Frenchman around 1790, the first bicycle had two wheels and a wooden frame. It worked like a scooter. Then, in 1816, a German improved on this design. He connected a bar to the front wheel. This allowed the rider to steer the bicycle. Later, in 1839,a Scottish blacksmith made yet another improvement. He added foot pedals, which let riders put force on the wheels. Now bicycles could move faster.
Choose TWO statements that BEST tell why the bicycle was a better machine 1839.
A. A bar allowed the rider to steer.
B. A wooden frame meant that the bicycle was lighter.
C. Foot pedals meant that bicycles could move faster.
D. The first bicycles could move like a scooter.
E. The front wheel was larger than the rear wheel.
A. A bar allowed the rider to steer.
C. Foot pedals meant that bicycles could move faster.
As Rome grew, it became a great trading center, and salt was one of the main items traded there. Salt was so important in the daily lives of the Romans that soldiers were paid in blocks of salt. This pay was called salarium argentums or "salt money", giving us our word salary. In fact, the word soldier comes from the Latin sol dare, meaning "to give salt."
Which TWO sentences from the text provide the BEST support for your answer?
A. This pay was called salarium argentums or "salt money", giving us our word salary.
B. In fact, the word soldier comes from the Latin sol dare, meaning "to give salt."
C. As Rome grew, it became a great trading center, and salt was one of the main items traded there.
D. Salt was so important in the daily lives of the Romans that soldiers were paid in blocks of salt.
E. Humans beings can't live without salt.
F. The need for salt and the limited supply of it made salt very valuable.
A. This pay was called salarium argentums or "salt money", giving us our word salary.
B. In fact, the word soldier comes from the Latin sol dare, meaning "to give salt."
At first like the Lumieres, he shot travel scenes from daily life. Then, quite by accident, George Melies learned about special effects.
Which of the following BEST describes the text structure of these sentences?
A. Cause- Effect: The sentences tell how the Lumieres films showed Melies how to make special effects.
B. Comparison: The sentences tell how Melies films were similiar to and different from the Lumieres films.
C. Cause-Effect: The sentences tell how Melies films led the Lumieres to film scenes of daily life.
D. Comparison: The sentences tell how the Lumieres films and Melies films had nothing in common.
B. Comparison: The sentences tell how Melies films were similiar to and different from the Lumieres films.
Which TWO key details BEST support your answer to Part A?
A. Hearing dogs recognize many household sounds.
B. Hearing dogs alert their owners to sounds the owners cannot hear themselves.
C. Hearing dogs help their owners feel comfortable in public.
D. Hearing dogs lead their owners to the source of a sound.
E. Hearing dogs are always at their owners sides.
F. Hearing dogs' orange vests make them stand out to others.
B. Hearing dogs alert their owners to sounds the owners cannot hear themselves.
D. Hearing dogs lead their owners to the source of a sound.
Let's start with the Moon's surface, which is not an easy place for life to thrive. There is little atmosphere, so all air would have to be brought from Earth. The lack of atmosphere causes temperatures to vary greatly, from 232 degrees Fahrenheit during the day to 315 degrees Fahrenheit at night. And then there's the radiation. Without a thick, Earth-like atmosphere to filter the sun's rays, radiation would sicken any colonists.
Which statement below provides a reason the author uses in the paragraph above to support her main point about settling the Moon?
A. Regolith can destroy the lungs of humans living there.
B. The Moon's surface is a dangerous environment for life.
C. Temperatures vary because of the lack of atmosphere.
D. Radiation from the sun's rays is likely to make colonists ill.
B. The Moon's surface is a dangerous environment for life.
In the 1870's, the "high-wheel" bicycle appeared. It was called this because the front wheel was far larger than the rear wheel. The pedals turned the front wheel only, but the size of that wheel meant that each turn of the pedals took the rider a greater distance than before. On the high-wheel bicycle, the rider sat up high, over the front wheel. Consequently, when the large front wheel struck a rut or rock in the road, the rider could be pitched head-first over the front of the bicycle. The high-wheel bicycle wasn't very safe.
What conclusion can you draw about what happened to many riders of the bicycles?
A. They would be able to see over other bicycle riders.
B. They were likely to get hurt if they hit a rock.
C. They could not go as fast using the larger wheels.
D. They found ways to link the large and small wheels together.
B. They were likely to get hurt if they hit a rock.
Robert Goddard once called himself a "one-dream-man." His dream was to send a rocket into space. It began on October 19, 1899, when he was 17 years old. He climbed a ladder to trim branches from a cherry tree. As he looked up, he had a vision of traveling into space.
Which TWO sentences from the text explain why Goddard said Robert Goddard once called himself a "one-dream-man."?
A. Thirty-nine years after Goddard shot off his first rocket, United States astronaut Neil Armstrong took his first step on the moon.
B. It began on October 19,1899, when he was 17 years old.
C. Most of his experiments took place on his aunts Massachusetts farm.
D. As he looked up, he had a vision of traveling into space.
E. His dream was to send a rocket into space.
F. Throughout his career, Goddard worked mostly alone.
D. As he looked up, he had a vision of traveling into space.
E. His dream was to send a rocket into space.
Georges Melies....tried to buy a Cinematographe from the Lumieres in 1895. They would not sell it to him. So Melies designed his own camera.
Identify the text structure of the detail above.
A. Sequence
B. Problem & Solution
C. Description
D. Cause & Effect
D. Cause & Effect
Many companies began making computer video games. Stars and gravity were added to make the game more realistic. Spacewar! helped introduce computer games to the world. Pong was so successful, Bushnell started a company to make and sell it. Spacewar! showed what a computer could do and was fun to play. Pong was invented by electrical engineers.
What is the main idea of the paragraph?
A. Stars and gravity were added to make the game more realistic.
B. Pong was so successful, Bushnell started a company to make and sell it.
C. Pong was invented by electrical engineers.
D. Spacewar! helped introduce computer games to the world.
D. Spacewar! helped introduce computer games to the world.
Supporters of Mars exploration also point out that, as a vehicle, Curiosity can do much more than a science station that's fixed in one place. Curiosity moves-or roves-across the surface of Mars, collecting information as it goes. Its "eyes" are 17 cameras that can see and analyze the landscape. The rover's "feet" are its wheels. Those wheels roll over obstacles as high as 2.5 feet. The robot's "ears" hear commands relayed from NASA. Curiosity also has a laser that can analyze the chemicals in soil and rocks. With all that equipment, Curiosity can send NASA a steady stream of data about the surface of Mars. That makes scientists very happy.
Which statement gives a reason that supports the author's point about Mars?
A. A science station has a lot of capabilities.
B. Vehicles like Curiosity are well-suited for exploring Mars.
C. Mars rovers must be able to collect data and send it to Earth.
D. Curiosity has human-like traits that will help people travel to Mars.
B. Vehicles like Curiosity are well-suited for exploring Mars.
After you find your pulse, use a watch to count the number of beats that occurs in 15 seconds. Then multiply this number by 4 to find the number of beats that occurs in one minute. Next, write the number on a piece of paper. The result is your pulse rate.
What text structure is the used in the paragraph above?
A. Description
B. Problem & Solution
C. Cause & Effect
D. Sequence
D. Sequence
5. WAIT. As the liquid soaks through the paper towel, the vinegar will react with the baking soda and produce carbon dioxide gas. As more and more gas forms, the pressure will build up inside the bottle. Eventually, the bottle will blow its cork. The streamers will help you trace its flight.
Which sentence BEST explains why the last step in making a rocket is to wait?
A. The cork has to fit tightly into the bottle cap.
B. It takes time for gas to build up in the bottle.
C. It is safer to take the bottle outside to launch.
D. You must wrap the baking soda in a paper towel.
B. It takes time for gas to build up in the bottle.
In 1902, Melies produced..A Trip to the Moon, which brought him worldwide fame.
Identify the text structure of the detail above.
A. Description
B. Sequence
C. Problem & Solution
D. Cause & Effect
D. Cause & Effect
The toothbrush has a history dating back thousands of years. Ancient Egyptians used toothbrushes made from the frayed ends of twigs. In the 1400's, the Chinese invented the first bristle toothbrush. The bristles were made from pig hairs attached to a bamboo handle. In 1938, the invention of nylon led to a modern toothbrush made of soft bristles. These improvements led to today's toothbrush, which comes in all shapes and sizes. But the basic job of the tool has not changed much. The toothbrush is still used to keep our teeth healthy and clean.
What is the main idea of the paragraph?
A. The toothbrush is still used to keep our teeth healthy and clean.
B. Ancient Egyptians used toothbrushes made from the frayed ends of twigs.
C. The materials used to make toothbrushes have changed over the years.
D. In the 1400's, the Chinese invented the first bristle toothbrush.
C. The materials used to make toothbrushes have changed over the years.
But I WANT a dog! WE NEED A DOG! It teaches me responsibility.
1. It must have food and water.
2. It must be walked daily.
Guards our home.
What point is the child trying to make?
A. He hates dogs.
B. It must have food and water.
C. It teaches me responsibility.
D. We need a dog.
D. We need a dog.
What text structure is the paragraph above?
A. Problem & Solution
B. Description
C. Cause & Effect
D. Sequence
C. Cause & Effect
From blastoff to touchdown, a rocket is an awesome sight. The Saturn 5 rocket that sent astronauts to the moon stood 363 feet high, about the height of a 30- story building. It weighed more than six million pounds. With rocket engines, it send a spacecraft weighing more than 100,000 pounds to a lunar landing.
Which sentence BEST summarizes the paragraph above?
A. Thanks to Robert Goddard, the Saturn 5 rocket was able to take human beings into space.
B. The Saturn 5 rocket, which was tall and heavy, sent a spacecraft and astronauts to the Moon.
C. With rocket engines, the Saturn 5 rocket sent a 100,000- pound spacecraft to make a lunar landing.
D. Seeing a rocket is awesome because it is 363 feet tall and weighs more than six million pounds.
B. The Saturn 5 rocket, which was tall and heavy, sent a spacecraft and astronauts to the Moon.
In 1896, Melies camera jammed while he was filming...It took him a few seconds to fix it and continue shooting.
Which phrase BEST describes the meaning of jammed?
A. squeezed tightly
B. stepped on the brakes
C. became stuck
D. moved the gears
C. became stuck