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Long Ago...
100
Ghost crabs are the color of white, sandy beaches. They like to walk the beaches when it is dark. Ghost crabs move quickly and stop suddenly. Their color blends in with the color of the sand. This paragraph tells mostly about...
what ghost crabs are like
100
Boston, Massachesetts is often called the city of baked beans, or "Beantown." In the early days, baked beans and brown bread were often served in homes on Saturday night. They were also served for breakfast on Sunday mornings. This custom still exists, though it is not as common as it once was. This paragraph tells mainly
how Boston got its nickname
100
Harriet Tubman was an African American who was born into slavery in Maryland in the early 1800s. In 1849, when she was about 30 years old, Mrs. Tubman escaped from slavery. She traveled by foot from Maryland to Philadelphia. During the 1850s, she led hundreds of other slaves to freedom on the underground railroad. This paragraph tells mainly
who Harriet Tubman was
100
The American hamburger got its name from the German city of Hamburg. Many years ago, the people of Hamburg used to eat these chopped meat patties. Now the hamburger has returned to Hamburg. Two famous American fast-food hamburger companies have opened eating places in Hamburg and other German cities. This paragraph tells mainly
how hamburgers have come "home"
100
Long ago, letters weren't put into envelopes when they were mailed. The sheets were just folded so that the writing could not be seen. The sheets were sealed with hot wax. A writer's seal or sign was pushed into the hot wax. This paragraph tells mainly
how letters were sent
200
To keep a herd of cattle quiet and together, some cowhands had to ride at night. Even the cowhands who were sleeping had their horses saddled in case of trouble. If the cattle got restless, the cowhands would sing or hum. This helped to quiet the cattle. This paragraph tells mostly about
how cowhands kept cattle quiet and together
200
Where is the longest straight line in the world? Australia has a railroad track that runs in a perfectly straight line for 297 miles. The track crosses a flat plain. Trains that use this track must have two engineers. One keeps the other from falling asleep on the long, boring run! This paragraph tells mainly
what the longest straight line is
200
People who live in Nova Scotia, Canada are called Bluenoses. This isn't the color of their noses, however. This part of Canada once sold large quantities of potatoes called bluenose potatoes. The potatoes got their name because each one had a blue end or "nose." This paragraph tells mainly
why some people are called Bluenoses
200
Potatoes are a healthful food, but potato chips are not. This is because potato chips contain too much fat and salt. Small amounts of fat and salt are necessary for good health. Eating too much fat or salt, however, can result in serious health problems. This paragraph tells mainly
why potato chips are not healthful food
200
Long ago, people had many superstitions about dreams. Some said that if people dreamed of the same thing three nights in a row, the dream would come true. Others believed that if a person told about the dream before breakfast, it would bring bad luck. This paragraph tells mainly
what people believed about dreams
300
Bluefish weigh as much as fifteen pounds and eat huge amounts of food. When bluefish chase schools of small fish, they snap their powerful jaws. If the chase comes close to a crowded beach, some swimmers might become frightened. They might even think sharks are attacking! This paragraph tells mostly about
why bluefish might be mistaken for sharks
300
Miami, Florida is known as the "Magic City." It was given this name in 1895 by a magazine editor who believed Miami had a future as a great city. Three other US cities - Billings, Montana, Birmingham, Alabama and Barberton, Ohio - also have the nickname "Magic City." This paragraph tells mainly
how Miami got its nickname
300
The Cahokian civilization of Native Americans lived near St. Louis on the Mississippi River. According to items found in their cities, they were widespread traders. Archaeologists have found arrowheads from Oklahoma, shells from the Gulf of Mexico, stone objects from Wyoming, and salt from Illinois among many other things. This paragraph tells mainly
how widely the Cahokians traded
300
That favorite American food, ice cream, was first made in the Far East. Centuries ago, an Italian explorer returned from the Far East and told Europeans how to make ice cream. The French kings and queens liked ice cream so much that they kept it a secret from the common people. It didn't stay a secret for long! This paragraph tells mainly
how ice cream has come to us
300
Long ago, people thought a sneeze cleared the mind. Four hundred years ago, people wanted to sneeze. It became the thing to do. The more people sneezed, the more important they were thought to be. People often bought snuff to help them sneeze. This paragraph tells mainly
what people once thought about sneezing
400
Birds have long played a central role in superstitions. However, the role birds have played varies greatly. While crows were thought to be in league with the devil, blue birds were usually considered signs of good fortune. Blue jays, in contrast, were seldom assigned a positive role in superstition and legend. Most of the time, they were considered companions to the devil. According to one ancient superstition, blue jays were never seen on Fridays. Friday was their day to meet with the devil and pass on any useful gossip about souls who might be ready to go astray. Owls, in contrast, have played a number of different roles, some good, some bad. In several superstitions they are portrayed as wise counselors; in others they are a sign that death is near. Main Idea: a. Despite having the same color, blue jays and blue birds have played very different roles in superstitions. b. Birds turn up frequently in superstitions as signs of both good and evil. c. Hardly a superstition exists that doesn’t have a bird in it.
What is Birds turn up frequently in superstitions as signs of both good and evil?
400
FoxNews.com reports that Dr. Richard B. Hoover, an astrobiologist at NASA, believes that he has found the fossils of bacteria in meteorites. In other words, he claims to have found traces of life from outer space. Not surprisingly, his claim is controversial; many scientists do not accept that Dr. Hoover has come to the correct conclusion from what he has observed. Therefore, he has invited over 5,000 scientists to review his work and to publish their comments. What is the Main Idea? a. Fox News does not believe Dr. Hoover's story b. Dr. Hoover believes he has found traces of life from outer space. c. 5,000 scientists have agreed that there are forms of life in outer space
What is Dr. Hoover believes he has found traces of life from outer space?
400
Benjamin Franklin loved to write. When he was twenty-two, he set up his own printing shop and started a newspaper. He also printed a book called Poor Richard’s Almanac. It had funny stories, information about the weather, and wise sayings. What is the main idea? a. Ben Franklin was once 22 years old b. Benjamin Franklin loved to write stories and books c. Poor Richards Almanac was important d. Ben Franklin is an important person
What is Benjamin Franklin loved to write stories and books?
400
French and American cookbooks obviously share the same subject: They both deal with the preparation of food. But that’s where the similarity ends. American recipes are very exact, while French recipes are open to personal variation. In American cookbooks, the teaspoon of sugar, for instance, is described as rounded or flat. French cookbooks are inclined to be less precise. The French cookbook writer thinks nothing of listing a "sprinkling of pepper" or a "pinch of salt." French cookbooks are also likely to tell the reader to "season according to taste." American cookbooks, in contrast, don’t seem to have as much faith in their readers’ ability to get the recipe right from taste. They tell readers exactly how much seasoning to use. The Main Idea of the passage: a. Despite a common topic, French and American cookbooks differ in the way they give directions. b. Because they are better cooks, the French write cookbooks that trust their readers’ judgment. c. American cookbooks don’t have much faith in the cook’s ability to determine the right taste.
What is Despite a common topic, French and American cookbooks differ in the way they give directions.
400
For the ancient Romans, taking a bath was a very special occasion. Because they considered bathing a social opportunity, they constructed huge public baths that put our modern-day indoor pools and spas to shame. Not only were the baths themselves lavishly decorated, they were also surrounded by shops, libraries, and lounges so that a person could shop, read or chat after bathing. The famed Baths of Caracalla, for example, offered Roman citizens massages and saunas in addition to a gymnasium and gardens for after-bath walks in lovely surroundings. Art lovers that they were, the Romans also frequently built art galleries into their bathing facilities. There were also kitchens, where food was prepared to serve hungry bathers. Although initially men and women bathed separately, mixed baths became the fashion until 500 A.D., when the coming of Christianity brought the public baths to an end. The Main Idea of the passage is: a. The ancient Romans were the first to lead a life of pure luxury. b. If the Romans had spent more time governing and less time bathing, the Roman Empire would still exist today. c. The ancient Romans made luxury and socializing a part of bathing.
What is The ancient Romans made luxury and socializing a part of bathing.
500
There are many different kinds of mice. Some are good swimmers; others like to swing from trees by their tails. And one kind, the white-footed mouse, is not only a good swimmer and tree climber, but it's also quite musical! What is the main idea of this selection? A) There are many different kinds of mice. B) The white-footed mouse taps its paws in a drumming sound. C) The woods of North America are full of mice. Scientists study the habits of mice.
What is There are many different kinds of mice?
500
The Industrial Revolution started in Great Britain and gave that country the strongest economy in the world in the 1700s. The Revolution began in the cotton textile industry and before long spread to the mining and transportation industries. Machines replaced work typically done by human labor. Factories and factory towns developed around the areas of needed coal, which had previously been occupied by small villages. The main idea of this paragraph is that a. the Industrial Revolution started in Great Britain b. the Industrial Revolution caused economic and social changes in Great Britain. c. Great Britain would have been a cool place to live in the 1700's
What is the Industrial Revolution caused economic and social changes in Great Britain?
500
Financial genius James "Big Jim" Fisk (1834-1872) died of gunshot wound when he was only thirty-seven years old. During his brief lifetime, Fisk earned and lost huge sums of money, much of it through bribery and theft. During the Civil War, he smuggled cotton from the South to the North. He also printed and sold phony bonds to gain control of the wildly profitable Erie Railroad. Then he bankrupted the railroad while gaining a personal fortune for himself. In 1869, Fisk’s attempts to take over the gold market led to financial panic and the collapse of the stock market. Oddly enough, Fisk seemed rather proud of his wicked ways, saying "Some people are born to be good; other people to be bad. I was born to be bad." A lover of the ladies, Fisk was killed in a fight with a rival over the affections of actress Josie Mansfield. The Main Idea of the passage is: a. Big Jim Fisk liked pretty women a little too much for his own good. b. In his pursuit of wealth, James Fisk never let law or morality stand in his way. c. James Fisk did not have a long life, but that did not stop him from making a great deal of money.
What is in his pursuit of wealth, James Fisk never let law or morality stand in his way?
500
Scientists have known for a long time that vitamin D is essential for humans. If children have a vitamin D or calcium deficiency, they can develop rickets, a softening of the bones. New studies are showing that people of all ages need vitamin D to help them fight off diseases by keeping their immune systems strong. 1. The main idea of this paragraph is that vitamin D _______. a. is found in milk b. has been studied by scientists c. is no secret d. is important for good health
What is is important for good health?
500
In 1860, it took more than three weeks for mail to travel from the Mississippi River to California by stagecoach or boat. This prompted Senator William M. Gwin and William H. Russell to establish an express mail service between St. Joseph, Missouri, and Sacramento, California. This service became known as the pony express. Young men would each ride about 75 miles a day. The riders exchanged horses at every station spaced about ten miles apart. Sending a letter by pony express from Missouri took ten days or less to reach California. The main idea of this paragraph is that a. communication across America has changed dramatically since the 19th century. b. In its time, the pony express was a new and much faster way to send mail. c. E mail is better than sending a letter. d. Mr. Starner's dad is a mailman
What is In its time, the pony express was a new and much faster way to send mail?