Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Beginners 1
Beginners 1
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Exercise 1
Using the Verb "To be"
Write the correct form of the verb "To be" in present tense.
Example:
You / We / They (be) are happy.
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Exercise 2
Using the Verb "To be"
Choose the correct form of "to be" in present tense.
Example: I (be) am excited.
Example: Jessica and Akbar (be) are happy.
Example: The new car (be) is nice.
1) The bag (be) ________ blue.
A. am
B. are
C. is
3) The children (be) ________ young.
A. am
B. are
C. is
5) The game (be) ________ difficult.
A. am
B. are
C. is
7) I (be) ________ thirty years old.
A. am
B. are
C. is
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Exercise 3
Using the Verb "To be"
Write the correct form of the verb "to be" in present tense.
Note: The verb can be positive (+) or negative (-). Use not to form the negative.
\
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Exercise 4
Using the Verb "To be"
Write the correct form of "to be" in present tense.
My name (be) ________(1) John. I (be) ________(2) fifteen years old. I live
on a farm. It (be) ________(3) in the country. It is quiet in the country. It (be, not)
____ ____(4) loud in the country.
I wake up early. Sometimes, I wake up before the sun rises. Sometimes, it
(be) ________(5) still dark when I wake up. But I dont mind. I like waking up that
early. I like the way the country looks in the morning.
The first thing I do after I wake up is milk the cow. After I (be) ________(6)
finished milking the cow, I bring the milk to my mom. I think she uses it to make
breakfast. She makes a delicious breakfast. My mom
(be) ________(7) a really good cook.
Next, I feed the pigs. One time, I asked my mom how come my little sister
doesnt feed them. She said it is because my sister (be, not) ____ ____(8) strong
enough. But I still dont understand. She is almost as strong as me! I guess my
mom doesnt want my sister to get hurt. After all, the pigs can (be) ________(9)
pretty rough, especially when they (be) ________(10) hungry.
The last thing I do (be) ________(11) feed the chickens. That (be)
________(12) easy. I just throw some food down on the ground and they run out
and eat it. While the chickens (be) ________(13) eating, I go into their house to
collect their eggs. Chicken eggs (be) ________(14) really good to eat. They (be)
________(15) easy to cook too. That is what I do in the mornings. I (be)
________(16) pretty busy.
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Exercise 5
Using the Verb "To be"
Write the correct form of "to be" in present tense.
Tess and Jen ________(1) best friends.
They do everything together. They spend every day together.
One day they meet on the bus to school. They start talking.
Hey Jen, says Tess. How ________(2) you?
Hey girl, says Jen. I ________(3) doing fine. What ________(4) going on? What
________(5) you doing today?
Oh, says Tess, I _____ _____ (6) doing anything special. I dont have any
plans.
That ________(7) cool.
Yeah, says Tess. But I have something to tell you.
Really! Can I try to guess?
Umm says Tess. Well
Okay, I get three guesses. Ready?
Umm, wellokay.
________(8) we eating dinner together?
No, that _____ _____ (9) it.
Okay. Are we going to the soccer game together?
No. It ____ ____(10) that either. Tess looks nervous. Her eyes look sad. A tear
starts to fall down her cheek.
Oh, says Jen, wiping a tear from her own eye. Now I know. You ________(11)
moving away.
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Exercise 6
Using the Verb "To be"
Choose the correct form of "to be" in past tense.
Example: You / We / They (be) were sick yesterday.
Example: I / He / She / It (be) was sick yesterday.
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Exercise 7
Using the Verb "To be"
Choose the correct form of "to be" in past tense.
Example: You / We / They (be) were sick last night.
Example: I / He / She / It (be) was sick last night.
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Exercise 8
Using the Verb "To be"
Choose the correct form of "to be" in past tense.
Example: My dog (be) was sick last night. (positive)
Example: Carlos (be, not) was not at work yesterday. (negative)
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Exercise 9
Using the Verb "To be"
Write the correct form of "to be" in past tense.
Example: My dog (be) was sick last night. (positive)
Example: Carlos (be, not) was not at work yesterday. (negative)
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Exercise 10
Using the Verb "To be"
Choose the correct form of "to be" in present tense or past tense.
Example: My dog (be) is sick today. (present tense)
Example: My dog (be) was sick last night. (past tense)
1) The clouds moved away, and the sun shone through. The sky was full of
pretty colors. It (be) ________ beautiful.
2) Arturo and Ryo (be) ________ at the party last night.
3) (be) ________ Taylor going to the pool later?
4) The old house (be) ________ built in 1967.
5) Christopher, where (be) ________ you last night? I (be) ________ looking all
over for you.
10) I (be) ________ driving to the office this morning when I noticed that I was
getting low on gas. So, I stopped to get more. A kind man filled the tank for
me. He (be) ________ very nice.
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Exercise 11
Using the Verb "To be"
Write the correct form of "to be" in present tense or past tense.
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Exercise 12
Using the Verb "To be"
Write the correct form of "to be" in present tense or past tense.
I ________(1) going outside, said Jerry.
Wait! said Jerrys mom.
Dont forget to wear your jacket.
It ________(2) cold out there.
But mom, said Jerry. I dont want to wear it.
I will be fine without it.
Besides, it _____ _____ (3) that cold today.
Jerry opened the door. The wind ________(4) blowing and the trees ________(5)
shaking. Leaves ________(6) falling to the ground. He shivered a little and stood
behind the door.
Jerry! shouted Jerrys mom. You close that door and get your coat young man.
But mom! said Jerry.
But what? said Jerrys mom. I dont understand why you dont want to wear
your new coat. ________(7) there something wrong with it?
Jerrys face turned red. No! he said. Nothings wrong with it! Then he covered
his mouth with his hand.
Well then said Jerrys mom. Why dont you want to wear it?
Well, mom, said Jerry. I kind ofwellgave it away.
You what? said Jerrys mom. You gave it away?
Yeah. But dont worry. It ________(8) okay. I gave it to Marvin. And he really
needs it.
Why?
Well, every time I see him, he looks cold. He ________(9) always cold, actually.
His parents cannot afford to buy him a jacket.
Well, that ________(10) a very nice thing for you to do, dear. But now
what________(11) you going to do without a jacket?
I dont know. Maybe Ill wear my old jacket for a little while.
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Exercise 1
Present Tense
Choose the correct form of the verb in simple present tense.
Example: I / You / We / They (cook) cook.
Example: He / She / It (cook) cooks.
1) I ( cook / cooks ) on Monday.
2) You ( cook / cooks ) on Tuesday.
3) We ( cook / cooks ) on Wednesday.
4) They ( cook / cooks ) on Thursday.
5) He ( cook / cooks ) on Friday.
6) She ( cook / cooks ) on Saturday.
7) It ( cook / cooks ) on Sunday.
Exercise 2
Present Tense
Choose the correct form of the verb in simple present tense.
Example: I / You / We / They (wash) wash the car on Monday.
Example: He / She / It (wash) washes the car on Tuesday.
1) I ( wash / washes ) the car on Monday.
2) You ( wash / washes ) the car on Tuesday.
3) We ( wash / washes ) the car on Wednesday.
4) They ( wash / washes ) the car on Thursday.
5) He ( wash / washes ) the car on Friday.
6) She ( wash / washes ) the car on Saturday.
7) It ( wash / washes ) the car on Sunday.
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Exercise 3
Present Tense
Choose the correct form of the verb in simple present tense.
Example: I / You / We / They (study) study English on Monday.
Example: He / She / It (study) studies English on Tuesday.
1) I (study / studies) English on Monday.
2) You (study / studies) English on Tuesday.
3) We (study / studies) English on Wednesday.
4) They (study / studies) English on Thursday.
5) He (study / studies) English on Friday.
6) She (study / studies) English on Saturday.
7) It (study / studies) English on Sunday.
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Exercise 4
Present Tense
Choose the correct form of the verb in simple present tense. Use what you have
learned in exercises 1, 2, and 3.
Example: I / You / We / They (cook) cook.
Example: He / She / It (cook) cooks.
Example: I / You / We / They (wash) wash the car on Monday.
Example: He / She / It (wash) washes the car on Tuesday.
Example: I / You / We / They (study) study English on Monday.
Example: He / She / It (study) studies English on Tuesday.
1) They (study / studies) English on Tuesday.
2) He (cook / cooks) on Tuesday.
3) I (wash / washes) the car on Wednesday.
4) We (cook / cooks) on Sunday.
5) You (wash / washes) the car on Friday.
6) She (wash / washes) the car on Saturday.
7) We (study / studies) English on Sunday.
8) It (cook / cooks) on Thursday.
9) He (study / studies) English on Friday.
10) You (wash / washes) the car on Thursday.
11) They (cook / cooks) on Wednesday.
12) She (study /studies) English on Thursday.
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Exercise 5
Present Tense
Choose the correct form of the verb in simple present tense.
Note: In this exercise, nouns (Tom, Amy, Daniel, etc.) are used in place of pronouns (I / You / We
/ They / He / She / It). So, it is a good idea to think about which pronoun you could use instead of
each noun. After you know what pronoun replaces the noun, use what you have learned in
exercises 1, 2, 3, and 4 to conjugate the verbs correctly.
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Exercise 6
Present Tense
Choose the correct form of the verb in simple present tense.
1) Monica (eat) _______ eggs.
2) Teddy and Monica (eat) _______ eggs.
3) Mickie (study) _______ English every day.
4) Arthur and Jason (study) _______ English on Monday and Tuesday.
5) Angie and I (drink) _______ coffee.
6) Eva (like) _______ chocolate.
7) Dustin (watch) _______ movies.
8) Yoko (play) _______ the piano.
9) The students (take) _______ tests.
10) It (rain) _______ here a lot.
Exercise 7
Present Tense
Choose the correct form of the verb in simple present tense.
1) Dennis (cook) _______ on Wednesday.
2) Mariella and I (cook) _______ on Tuesday.
3) Spencer (wash) _______ his car on Sunday.
4) Tammy and I (wash) _______ our car on Monday.
5) You (study) _______ science on Thursday.
6) Thomas (study) _______ math on Friday.
7) Rickie (play) _______ golf and tennis.
8) Justin and I (play) _______ basketball and soccer.
9) Kim (read) _______ fiction novels.
10) Richard and David (read) _______ the newspaper.
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Exercise 8
Present Tense
Choose the correct form of the verb in simple present tense.
Example: I / You / We / They (play) play the guitar.
Example: He / She / It (play) plays the guitar.
1) I ( bake / bakes ) cakes.
2) You ( work / works ) in an office.
3) We ( take / takes ) pictures of birds.
4) They ( talk / talks ) about cars.
5) He ( think / thinks ) about school.
6) She ( play / plays ) soccer.
7) It ( rain / rains ) here a lot.
8) I ( like / likes ) chocolate.
9) He ( like / likes ) chocolate.
10) You ( watch / watches ) movies.
11) She ( watch / watches ) movies.
12) The babies ( cry / cries ) every night.
13) The baby (cry / cries) every night.
14) I ( fly / flies ) to Belize every year.
15) My father ( fly / flies ) to Belize every year.
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Exercise 9
Present Tense
Fill in the spaces with the correct form of the verb in simple present tense.
Example: I (play) play the guitar.
Example: Jessica (play) plays the guitar.
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Exercise 10
Present Tense
Fill in the spaces with the correct form of the verb in simple present tense.
Example: I/You/We/They (play) play the guitar.
Example: He/She/It (play) plays the guitar.
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Exercise 11
Present Tense
Fill in the spaces with the correct form of the verb in simple present tense.
Affirmative (+):
Example: He (play) plays the guitar.
Negative (-):
He (not, play) does not play the guitar.
1) I rarely (eat) _______ chocolate. I (not, like) _______ ______ _______the way it
(taste) _______.
2) We (like) _______ to watch movies. My favorite movie (be) _______ Titanic.
3) The ocean (sound) _______ like an airplane.
4) The flag (blow) _______ in the wind every day. It is getting old. It (need)
_______ to be replaced soon.
5) The janitor at my school (empty) _______ the
trash on Sunday.
6) Angelica always (try) _______ to make new
friends.
7) James (run) _______ two miles every day.
8) Elizabeth often (march) _______ with the band.
9) John and I (open) _______ presents at Christmas.
10) When there is a fire, the firemen (rush) _______ to put it out. After the fire
(be)_______ out, they (go) _______ home.
11) I (be, not) _______ _______ tired. I (think) _______ I will read a book.
12) Shelley (not, think) _______ _______ _______ this quiz is hard. But I (do)
_______!
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Exercise 12
Present Tense
Fill in the spaces with the correct form of the verb in simple present tense.
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Exercise 13
Fill in the spaces with the correct form of the verb in simple present tense.
Note: These sentences use verbs and adverbs. An adverb says something more about the
action of a verb.
Example: Joseph (always, climb) always climbs trees in his yard.
Example: Ernestine (usually, pick) usually picks flowers on Mondays.
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Exercise 14
Simple Present Tense Review
Fill in the spaces with the correct form of the verb in simple present tense.
Hi. My name (be) _______ (1) Albert. My friends (call) _______ (2) me Al. You can
call
me Al if you (like) _______ (3) .
I (want) to tell you about a problem I (have) _______ (4) .It (be, not) ______ ______ (5)
a big problem, but it is not a small problem, either. I (guess) _______ (6) it's somewhere
between big and small.
I (have) _______ (7) a best friend. His name (be) _______ (8) Joe,
but everybody (call) _______ (9) him Joey. Joey and I have been friends for a long time.
That's the problem. Joey (like) _______ (10) to smoke. He (say) _______ (11)
he (do, not) _______ ______ (12) but I (know) _______ (13) he (do) _______ (14)
.He (try) _______ (15) to hide it from me, but I (see) _______ (16) him do it
sometimes. When I see him do it, he just (laugh) _______ (17) and (walk) _______ (18)
away.
Now, Joey (smoke) _______ (19) every day. When he (come) _______ (20) over to my
house, he (always, bring) _______ _______ (21) his cigarettes with him. He (keep)
_______ (22) them in his pocket. He (think) _______ (23) they are cool. He (not, think)
_______ _______ _______ (24) it's a bad idea to smoke. He (say) _______ (25) "(not,
worry) _______ _______ _______ (26) Al. I'm okay." He (tell) _______ (27) me that I (not,
understand) _______ _______ _______ (28) ,but I (think) _______ (29) I (do) _______ (30) .
I (feel) _______ (31) like it's his right to smoke. He can do what he (want) _______ (32)
to do, right? But I can (not, help) _______ _______ (33) worrying. He's my best friend.
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Exercise 15
Present Tense
Fill in the spaces with the correct form of the verb in present progressive tense.
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Exercise 16
Present Tense
Fill in the spaces with the correct form of the verb in present progressive tense.
Note: Sometimes you must double the last letter in the word before you add "ing". The rule for doubling
is: when a one-syllable verb ends with consonant-vowel-consonant, the final consonant is doubled. If the
verb is longer than one syllable, the final consonant is doubled only if the stress falls on the last syllable.
Exceptions: never double the letters h,w,x,y.
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Exercise 17
Present Tense
Fill in the spaces with the correct form of the verb in present progressive tense.
Note: In this exercise, nouns (Tom, Amy, Daniel, etc.) are used in place of pronouns (I /
You / We / They / He / She / It). So, it is a good idea to think about which pronoun you
could use instead of each noun. After you know what pronoun replaces the noun, use
what you have learned in exercises 15 and 16 to conjugate the verbs correctly.
Example: I (listen) am listening to music now.
Example: You / We /they (listen) are listening to music now.
Example: He / She / It (listen) is listening to music now.
1) Jason (listen) ________ ________ to music now.
2) I (talk) ________ ________ now.
3) Erin and Jessica (make) ________ ________ a cake right now.
4) Shhhbe quiet! The teacher (speak) ________ ________ now!
5) Marcos and I (study) ________ ________ English now.
6) Are Daniel and James playing football this year? No, they ________
________ soccer.
7) Emily (eat) _________ ________ breakfast now.
8) My car (make) ________ ________ strange noises. I need to get it checked
out.
9) Mr. Cooper: Hello. May I speak to Andrew?
Bob: No, he (sleep) _______ ________ right now. May I take a message?
10) Jennifer: Is Rosa coming to the park with us?
Yoko: No, she (work) ________ ________ today.
Jennifer: Oh, poor girl!
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Exercise 18
Present Tense
Fill in the spaces with the correct form of the verb in present progressive tense.
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Exercise 19
Present Tense
Fill in the spaces with the correct form of the verb in present progressive tense.
Example: I (listen) am listening to music now.
Example: You / We / They (study) are studying English now.
Example: He / She / It (take) is taking a shower now.
1) Amy and Alison (take) ________ ________ the dog for a walk. Gabriella (comb)
________ ________ her hair. I (brush) ________ ________ my teeth.
2) Tommy and Brian (listen) _______ ________ to music. It sounds like rock music.
3) Right now, Mr. Andrews (drive) ________
________ the bus. The bus (move) ________ ________
slowly. I don't mind, though. I am not in a hurry.
4) The band (play) ________ ________ a song.
5) Right now, my sister (compete) ________ ________ in a
tennis match. I think she (lose) ________ ________. She does not look very happy.
6) We (work) ________ ________ in the office until 5:00 today.
7) Be careful! Megan (cook) ________ ________, and the oven is hot.
8) Rachel and her friend (come) ________ ________ to dinner tonight. They (get)
________ ________ ready now. They should be here in twenty minutes.
9) Right now, the machines (make) ________ ________ car parts. They will be
finished in two hours.
10) The outdoorsmen (climb) ________ _______ Mt. Denali this year. I hope they
make it to the top!
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Exercise 20
Present Tense
Fill in the spaces with the correct form of the verb in present progressive tense.
Example: I (watch) am watching a movie now.
Example: You / We / They (play) are playing a game now.
Example: He / She / It (eating) is eating a hamburger now.
1) Amelia and Abjar (move) ________ ________ to California this week.
2) The bright lights (flash) ________ ________. They (hurt) ________ ________
my eyes.
3) Right now, you (type) ________ ________ on the computer.
4) The groundskeeper (mow) ________ ________ the grass.
5) The computer (process) ________ ________ a command.
6) Aunt Janet (paint) ________ ________ a picture. She is
almost finished.
7) My dog (jump) ________ ________ and wagging its tail. It must be excited.
8) The rain (fall) ________ ________ very fast now. I think a big storm (come)
_________ ________ this way. We had better get prepared.
9) The old man (smoke) ________ ________ his pipe. He (think) ________
_________ about his grandchildren.
10) Elijah (run) ________ ________ in a race. He (try) ________ ________ to win. I
think he can.
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Exercise 21
Present Tense
Fill in the spaces with the correct form of the verb in present progressive tense.
Affirmative (+):
Example: I (read) am reading a book now.
Example: You / We / They (speak) are speaking English now.
Example: He / She / It (run) is running in a race today.
Negative (-):
Example: I (not, drive) am not driving to work today. I am walking.
Example: Marlene and Joseph (not, come) are not coming with me to the movie.
Example: Pedro (not, cook) is not cooking dinner tonight.
1) Dennis (hike) ________ ________ up the mountain right now. He is almost at the
top. I bet he (get) ________ ________ pretty tired.
2) I (tell) ________ _________ a bedtime story to my children, but I don't think they
(listen) ________ ________. Their eyes are closed. I think they (sleep) ________
________.
3) The comedian (act) ________ ________ funny. The audience (laugh) ________
_________ at his jokes.
4) It (get) ________ _________ cold outside and my son (camp) ________
_________ high up in the mountains. I hope he (not, freeze)
________ ________ _________ up there!
5) Eddie (not, write) ________ ________ ________ a novel. He
(write) ________ ________ a poem.
6) Uncle Terry and his friend (fish) ________ ________ at the lake today. They
(not, fish) ________ ________ _________ at the beach.
7) Beto (sing) ________ ________ in the shower. He has a nice voice!
8) You (meet) ________ ________ the President tonight. He (expect) ________
_________ you to talk about the new proposal. Are you ready?
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Exercise 22
Fill in the spaces with the correct form of the verb in present progressive tense.
Note: These sentences use verbs and adverbs. An adverb says something more about the
action of a verb.
Example: Violet (gracefully, dance) is gracefully dancing a ballet.
Example: Raul (wisely, check) is wisely checking the oil in his car.
1) The breeze (softly, blow) _______ _______ _______ on our faces.
2) The dog is very hungry. He is (quickly, eat) ________ ________ ________ all
of his food.
3) The chestnut racehorse (already, cross) ________ ________ ________ the
finish line. Its owner is very happy.
4) Jonathan (rarely, exercise) ________ ________ ________, now that he is in
college.
5) Mrs. Stevens (angrily, yell) ________ ________ ________at the man who hit
her car.
6) Be careful! You (almost, spill) ________ ________ ________ the
paint.
7) The police (abruptly, stop) ________ ________ ________ traffic
at the intersection.
8) Chad (nervously, ask) ________ ________ ________ Tina for a
date.
9) Dr. Wong (calmly, explain) ________ ________ ________ the
operation to the patient's family.
10) The little girl (shyly, talk) ________ ________ ________ to Santa Claus. She
wants him to bring her a puppy!
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Exercise 23
Review of the Present Progressive Tense
Fill in the spaces with the correct form of the verb in present progressive tense.
Hey! Do you want to hear about what my family (do) ________ ________ (1) right
now? Well, I hope you do, because I am going to tell you!
Right now, my dad (work) ________ _________
(2)
________ _________(3) the grass. He loves my mother very much. He (always, talk)
_______ ________ ________(4) about her. He (always, do) _______ ________
_________(5) nice things for her. Right now, my dad (sing) _______ _________ (6) a
song. I bet it is a song about my mom.
Now, let's look at my mom. She (cook) _______ ________(7) something in the
kitchen. It smells so good! She (put) _______ ________
(8)
pot. The pot (sit) _______ ________(9) on the stove. The water (boil) _______)
________(10) inside it. Also, something (bake) _______ ________(11) in the oven. It
(start) _______ ________(12) to turn brown. I think it is a turkey.
I also have two younger brothers. Right now they (play) _______ ________ (13) with
their toys on the floor beside me. They (laugh) _______ ________ (14) with one another.
They (make) _______ ________(15) a house out of blocks. The house (get) _______
________(16) taller and taller. Oh no! The house is too tall. Watch out! It (crash)
_______ ________(17) to the floor!
We are a happy family. I feel lucky to be a part of my family. Hmmmlet me
guessyou (think) _______ ________(18) about your own family now, aren't you?
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Exercise 24
Present Tense
Fill in the spaces with the correct form of the verb in simple present tense or
present progressive tense.
Example:
Example:
Example:
Example:
Example:
Example:
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Exercise 25
Present Tense
Fill in the spaces with the correct form of the verb in simple present tense or
present progressive tense.
Example:
Example:
Example:
Example:
Example:
Example:
1) Jessie (ride) ________ his bike every day. In fact, he (ride) ________ ________ his
bike right now.
2) Arnold and Peter (take) ________ ________ a test now. They (take) ________ a lot
of tests.
3) I (want) ________ some new shoes. The pair I (have) ________ now (get)
________ ________ old.
4) Tony (be) ________ my friend. We (spend) ________ a lot of time together.
5) What (be) ________ your name? Where (be) ________ you from? Where (do)
_______ you live?
6) I (no, watch) _______ _______ _________ TV now. I (talk) _______ _________
on the phone. I (like) ________ to talk on the phone.
7) Andrea (like) ________ to cook. Right now, she (make) _______ _________
vegetable soup.
8) When (do) _______ the bus leave? I hope we (be) _______ not too late!
9) I (be) _______ so thirsty! (you, have) _______ _______ ________ anything to
drink?
10) Thomas (read) _______ ________ the newspaper and (drink) _________ coffee in
the living room. He (no, do) _______ ________ have to go to work today.
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Exercise 26
Review of the Simple Present and Present Progressive Tenses.
Fill in the spaces with the correct form of the verb in simple present tense or present
progressive tense.
Today (be) _______(1) the first day at my new school. Right now, it is lunch time, and
all of the students (eat) _______ _________(2) their lunches. They (sit) _______
_________(3) around the big table in the cafeteria, (talk) ________(4) in small groups. I
(sit) _______ ________(5) alone. I (be) _______(6) pretty nervous. I (hope) _______(7)
the other students (not, think) _______ _______ ________(8) I am weird. I (write)
_______ ________(9) in my diary right now to look like I (have) _______(10) something
important to do.
For lunch today, I (have) _______(11) an apple, pretzels, and a tuna fish sandwich. I
(hate) _______(12) tuna fish, but my mom (love) ________(13) it. She (say) _______(14) it is
good for me. She (pack) ________(15) it for me every day, so I (guess) ________(16) I
have to eat it. I (also, have) ________ ________ (17) some cookies. At least I (like)
________(18) to eat those.
Hey! The girls at the big table (look) _______ ________(19) at me! What (they, want)
_______ ________ ________(20)? They (laugh) _______ ________(21) at something.
What (they, laugh) _______ ________ _________(22) at? I hope they (not, laugh)
_______ _______ _________(23) at me. I (get) _______ ________(24) nervous again.
Oh my gosh! One of them (come) ______ _________(25) this way! Stay calm,
Rachel. She is not going to hurt you. She is just another girl like you, right?
Wait. Now she (hold) _______ _________(26) out her hand to me. Does she (want)
________(27) to be friends? What (she, do) _______ ________ _________(28)? Oh, I
know! She (invite) _______ _________(29) me to her table! Maybe I (be, not) _______
_______(30) that weird after all!
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Exercise 27
Present Tense
Fill in the spaces with the correct form of the verb in simple present perfect tense.
Note: To form the simple present perfect tense, has or have is used with a past participle (the word that comes
after "had") to describe an action that has happened in the past and may still be happening. The past
participle is often regular, and therefore retains its simple past tense spelling, as visited does here.
Exercise 28
Present Tense
Fill in the spaces with the correct form of the verb in simple present perfect tense.
Note: All of the past participles used will be regular.
Example: John (walk) has walked to school since first grade. He is in fifth grade now.
Example: The girls (finish) have finished cleaning their rooms. Now they can go shopping.
1) Our company (arrive) ______ ________. Please answer the door.
2) The ice on the sidewalk (melt) _______ ________. I think the sun is out today.
3) The McMillans (prepare) _______ _________ a lot of food for the party. It looks delicious.
4) Tonys flight from New Jersey (land) _______ ________. We should see him any minute.
5) The bank officers (suggest) _______ _________ that the meeting be scheduled for
Wednesday morning. I will try to locate a conference room.
6) Sparky (taste) _______ ________ his new dog food, and he seems to like it.
7) The police (arrest) _______ ________ two men for the robbery. It is time to question them.
8) The medicine (cure) _______ ________ Williams illness. It seems miraculous.
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Exercise 29
Present Tense
Fill in the spaces with the correct form of the verb in simple present perfect tense.
Note: In this exercise, all of the past participles are irregular. This means that they have
unexpected changes in spelling and pronunciation which are not the same as the simple past
forms. You may want to refer to a list of irregular verbs to find irregular past participles.
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Exercise 30
Present Tense
Fill in the spaces with the correct form of the verb in simple present perfect tense.
Then, indicate whether the past participle is regular or irregular.
Example: Ida (look) has looked all morning for her glasses. She still cant
find them. (regular / irregular)
Example: The wind (blow) has blown our patio furniture away. Lets go get
it. (regular / irregular)
1) Charity (break) _______ ________ her leg on the ski slope. Please dial 911.
(regular / irregular)
2) The city (allow) _______ ________ residents to shoot off fireworks each year on the
Fourth of July. (regular / irregular)
3) The lake (freeze) _______ ________ solid. Now we can go skating. (regular /
irregular)
4) The sun (rise) _______ ________. Its time to get up. (regular / irregular)
5) The army (battle) _______ ________ the enemy for two weeks. The soldiers are
exhausted. (regular / irregular )
6) The principal (introduce) _______ _________ the new teacher. She seems very
nice. (regular / irregular)
7) Using his telescope, Jeremy (see) _______ _______ other galaxies. He writes them
on his blog. (regular / irregular)
8) The judge (listen) _______ _________ to all of the evidence. Now he will make a
ruling. (regular / irregular)
9) The strawberries (spoil) _______ ________. They should have been kept in the
refrigerator. (regular / irregular)
10) The doctor (write) _______ ________ a book about disease prevention. It will be
published soon. (regular / irregular)
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Exercise 31
Present Tense
Fill in the spaces with the correct form of the verb in simple present perfect tense.
Example:
Example:
Example:
Example:
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Exercise 32
Fill in the spaces with the correct form of the verb in simple present perfect tense.
Note: These sentences use verbs and adverbs. An adverb says something more about
the action of a verb.
Example: Juliet (always, work) has always worked at the library.
Example: The six-year-olds (happily, play) have happily played outside for an
hour.
1) The babysitter (often, cook) _______ ________ _________ dinner for the children
lately because their parents have been working late.
2) Mr. and Mrs. Thompson (never, travel) ________ ________ _________ overseas.
They like staying closer to home.
3) Professor Alvarez (usually, test) _______ ________ ________ his biology class
twice each semester. Occasionally, though, he gives three tests.
4) Tim and Todd (sometimes, play) _______ _________ _______ banjos
at the festival. We hope they will be able to play there this year.
5) In the aftermath of last weeks hurricane, the volunteers (willingly, work)
______ _________ ________ long hours. Many are exhausted, but refuse to
quit.
6) The teacher (already, plan) _______ ________ _________ a party for her students
because she feels that they have worked very hard and deserve to celebrate.
7) The florist (quickly, arrange) _______ ________ _________ the flowers for the
wedding. Now that he is finished, the caterers are bringing in food for the reception.
8) Mr. and Mrs. Yang (frequently, travel) _______ _________ _________ home to
Shanghai since they moved to New York City. They like living near their daughters
family in New York, but miss their old friends back home.
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Exercise 33
Present Tense
Fill in the spaces with the correct form of the verb in simple present perfect tense.
Affirmative (+) :
Example: Charles (taste) has tasted Guacamole before.
Example: We (visit) have visited China six times.
Example: They (already, finish) have already finished their homework.
Negative (-) :
Example: We (not, eat) have not eaten dinner yet.
1) Mrs. Polanski (know) _______ ________ Peter since he was a little boy. She has lived next
door to his family for many years.
2) After eight hours, Angel and Roberto (arrive) _______ ________ in California. They drove
there today from New Mexico, and want to go to San Diego tomorrow.
3) Nastia (live) ______ ________ in Norway for twenty-two years. She enjoys living
there. She doesnt mind the cold winters, but she especially likes to spend summer vacations
at the North Sea.
4) Ariel (be) _______ ________ a gymnast for eight years. She (break) _______
________ six bones since she began practicing gymnastics. She likes to get her friends to
sign her casts.
5) (You, be) ________ _______ ________ to Africa before? I (hear) ________
_________ it is beautiful there. I would like to go on a safari in Kenya.
6) The President (speak) _______ _________. His decision is final. Many people dont agree
with him, but making hard decisions is part of his job. I would not want that job!
7) The letter you sent me (not, arrive) _______ _______ _________ yet. I (check)
_______ ________ my mailbox for it every day. I wonder where it could be.
8) I (wait) _______ ________ for thirty minutes and my friend (not, come) _______
_______ ________ to meet me. I am a little worried about her, because she is always on
time.
9) I (visit) ________ _________ Spain before. It is a beautiful country. I love the old, southern
city of Cdiz, which has wonderful plazas and beaches.
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Exercise 34
Present Tense
Fill in the spaces with the correct form of the verb in present perfect progressive tense.
Note: The present perfect progressive tense expresses the idea that something has
happened continuously since some time in the past, and is still happening now.
Example: I / You / We / They (work) have been working for two hours.
Example: He / She / It (work) has been working for two hours.
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Exercise 35
Present Tense
Fill in the spaces with the correct form of the verb in present perfect progressive tense.
Affirmative (+)
Example: He (wait) has been waiting on the train for two hours.
Negative (-)
Example: Don't worry. We (not, wait) have not been waiting for you for long.
1) The children (play) _______ _______ _________ outside all day. They must be getting
hungry by now. They need to come inside for dinner.
2) This week, we (read) _______ _______ _________ selections from the Romantic Period in
Literature class. My favorite Romantic authors are Poe and Hawthorne.
3) The criminal has not been caught yet. The police (chase) _______ _______ _________ him
since yesterday.
4) Lu Peng (make) _______ _______ _________ bread all day. It smells so good! His bakery is
next door to our shop. We are taking two loaves of his fresh bread home when we close the
shop tonight.
5) The construction workers (build) _______ _______ _________ that house all winter. They
(not, work) _______ _______ _______ _________ on it this week, though, because it (rain)
_______ _______ _________ every day since Monday.
6) The roses (not, bloom) _______ _______ _______ _________ much lately. We (not, water)
_______ _______ _______ _________ them enough. The soil is getting dry.
7) I (not, sleep) _______ _______ _______ _________ very well lately. I think I need to get
more exercise during the day. That would help me to feel tired at night.
8) Akira (learn) _______ _______ _________ about plants in her biology class. She is paying
close attention to the lectures. She wants to become a botanist some day.
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Exercise 36
Present Tense
Fill in the spaces with the correct form of the verb in simple present perfect tense
or present perfect progressive tense.
Simple Present Perfect Tense:
Example: Charles (taste) has tasted guacamole before.
Example: Edie (not, call) has not called her parents yet.
Example: We (already, finish) have already finished our homework.
Example: (He, eat) Has he eaten dinner yet?
Present Perfect Progressive Tense:
Example: He (wait) has been waiting on the bus for an hour.
Example: She (not, do) has not been doing very well in school lately.
Example: (They, swim) Have they been swimming in the lake?
1) We (already, bake) _______ ________ ________ the cake. Now, we just have to decorate it
with icing. Would you like to help?
2) Have you ever been to Italy? I (see) _______ _______ pictures of the town of Assisi. Some
day, I would like to travel there to see its beautiful churches.
3) The voters (elect) _______ ________ a new governor. She (make) _______ _______
_________ her acceptance speech for the past thirty minutes. I hope she will finish soon!
4) The package I sent to Pablo (not, arrive) _______ _______ _________ yet. He (call)
_______ _______ _________ the Post Office every day. I don't know what happened to it.
5) The fishermen (not, catch) _______ _______ _________ many fish today. A strong wind
(blow) _______ _______ _________ all day, and they are having trouble with their nets.
6) (Edward, receive) _______ ________ ________ the money yet? I sent it to him last week.
7) Mahmoud and Rickie are dirty. They (play) _______ _______ _________ outside all day. It
is time for them to come in and take a bath.
8) (You, hear) _______ _______ ________ the news? There was a terrible earthquake in Haiti!
The residents need a lot of help.
9) Igor (want) _______ ________ to visit Paris for years. He (save) _______ _______
_________ his money for a plane ticket. He (almost, save) _______ _______ ________
enough.
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Exercise 37
Review of the Present Perfect Tense
Fill in the spaces with the correct form of the verb in simple
present perfect tense or present perfect progressive tense.
Mrs. Rogers: Good afternoon, Mr. Tenny. Thank you for coming to the interview today. I
am so glad you could make time to meet.
Mr. Tenny: Hello, Mrs. Rogers. Its nice to meet you. I (hear) _______ ________(1) that
your company has grown and needs more space.
Mrs. Rogers: Yes, thats why were searching for an architect. May I ask you some
questions about your employment history and professional experience? That way, we can
both decide whether the job is a good fit for you.
Mr. Tenny: Sure.
Mrs. Rogers: Okay. On your resume, it says that you (work) _______ _______
_________(2) as an architect for the last eighteen years. Is that right?
Mr. Tenny: Yes, that's correct. I (have) _______ _______(3) a lot of experience in the field
during those years. It has been a great career for me. I (always, love) _______ ________
________(4) architecture, ever since I visited the pyramids in Egypt as a young boy.
Mrs. Rogers: The pyramids are fascinating. But, I would guess that you have not spent
your career designing pyramids.
Mr. Tenny (laughing): No! Not at all. I have designed many different types of buildings,
both for commercial and private use.
Mrs. Rogers: Well, we are looking for someone to design our next office building. We
have outgrown the space we have, and need to move ahead on a new building right away.
Were thinking about a building around twenty stories tall. (You, have) _______ ______
_______(5) any experience with buildings of that size?
Mr. Tenny: Yes. I (design) _______ ________(6) several tall buildings, including a twentytwo-story bank building in Atlanta and a twenty-five-story insurance building in Utah. I also
oversaw the construction of two thirty-five-story buildings in Texas. Those were built for an
oil refining company.
Mrs. Rogers: You certainly have worked with people from a wide range of professions.
Mr. Tenny: Thats true, and it is part of what makes my work interesting.
Mrs. Rogers: That's great. Now, can you please tell me a bit about the project you (work)
_______ _______ _________(7) on recently? I understand that you are using a lot of
technology in this one.
Mr. Tenny: Thats right. For the past two months, I (assemble) _______ _______
_________(8) a team to build an energy-efficient, environmentally-friendly building. It will use
solar energy. I (spend) _______ ________ _________(9) a lot of my time on this project
lately.
Mrs. Rogers: Yes, I (hear) _______ ________(10) a lot about your new project. I (read)
_______ _______ _________ (11) about it in the newspaper for the past few weeks. It
sounds exciting.
Mr. Tenny: Yes, it is. It will be different than any other building I (work) _______
________(12) on. Is your company interested in including green technology in your new
buildings?
Mrs. Rogers: Yes, we are--very much so. Our board of directors feels that our buildings
should have as little impact on the environment as possible. Also, we are concerned about
working conditions. We would like to include a nice outdoor park area with a walking track
and picnic tables for our employees.
Mr. Tenny: That is wonderful. That (become) _______ ________(13) a trend in new
construction for office buildings in the past few years. Employees need exercise. They
need to take at least one break from their computer screens every day and get outdoors.
Mrs. Rogers: I agree.
Mr. Tenny: Is there anything else you would like to know while I am here?
Mrs. Rogers: Not at the moment. I think I (get) _______ ________(14) all the information I
need for now. Thank you for coming. We will be holding a second series of interviews with
the top candidates. Our Vice President of Development, Mr. Ferguson, will be in charge of
those. I expect we will be contacting you shortly.
Mr. Tenny: Wonderful. I (enjoy) _______ ________(15) our talk. Have a nice day, Mrs.
Rogers.
Mrs. Rogers: You too, Mr. Tenny.
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Exercise 38
Hello.
Sure.
Justin: My motorcycle (be) _______ (5) broken. I (try) _______ ______ _________ (6) to
repair it for days. I (no, know) _______ _______ _______(7) what is wrong with
it. I (no, can, fix) ________ _______(8) it.
Justin: Have you tried to start it?
Beto:
Yes, I (try) _______ ________ (9) to start it many times, but it just wont work.
The motorcycle is pretty new. I just got it last November.
Beto:
Hmm. Well, what (happen) ________ (10) when you try to start it? What kind of
noise does it make?
Justin: It (make) ________ (11) a strange sound. Then the engine (die) _______ (12).
Beto:
Okay. (You, stand) _______ _______ _________ (13) beside it right now?
Justin: Yes.
Beto:
Okay. There are some things that you need to check. First, you need to
inspect the spark plugs.
Justin: Hold on. Okay, I (inspect) _______ _________ (14) them under a light now.
They look clean.
Beto:
Okay, that's good. Now, you need to check the oil. Its possible that you dont
have enough.
Justin: Hold on. Okay, I (check) _______ _________ (15) the oil right now. It (look)
_______ (16) clean, and the tank is full. I just filled it up last week, so I didnt think
that would be the problem.
Beto:
Okay, thats good. Now you need to test the battery. (You, have) _______
_______ _______ (17) a battery tester?
Hmm. That is strange. I (wonder) ________ (20) what the problem could be!
Justin: Yesvery strange. I (not, understand) _______ _______ _________ (21) it. My
brother thinks the motorcycle is trash. He (not, think) _______ _______
________ (22) it will ever start again. He (say) _______ (23) I need to take it to the
junkyard.
Beto:
Thats too bad. Well, there (be) _______ (24) one more thing you can check.
Justin: Really?
Beto:
Yes, but I am sure you (check) _______ ________ (25) it already. Its probably
the first thing you thought of.
(26)
Justin: It (look) _______ (29) empty! Wow, that (be) _______ (30) the problem. How
embarrassing. I am sorry that I bothered you about this!
Beto:
Thats okay. The same thing (happen) _______ ________ (31) to me before.
You had better go get some gas! Talk you to you later!
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A Christmas in March
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
Questions:
1) How did the narrator's mood shift
after Clifton's letter was read to the
family?
A.
B.
C.
D.
A.
B.
C.
D.
It was a miracle.
It was a debacle.
It was a discovery.
It was a collaboration.
Questions (continued):
6) "Each day, there were brand new sprinklings of pine needles all over the
wooden floor."
"My sister and I took turns sweeping them up."
What is the best way to combine the above sentences?
A. Each day, there were brand new sprinklings of pine needles all over the
wooden floor, therefore, my sister and I took turns sweeping them up.
B. Each day, there were brand new sprinklings of pine needles all over the
wooden floor, and so my sister and I took turns sweeping them up.
C. Each day, there were brand new sprinklings of pine needles all over the
wooden floor because my sister and I took turns sweeping them up.
D. Each day, there were brand new sprinklings of pine needles all over the
wooden floor until my sister and I took turns sweeping them up.
appreciative
disappointed
estranged
remorseful
"Flying Home"
A Christmas War
"Granting Clifton's Wish"
The Disappointing Letter
A.
bus
B.
having an umbrella when it
begins to rain
C.
reporting a robbery after you
see it happen
D.
doing well in a test you have
studied hard for
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A Cold Day
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
Questions:
1) What does it mean if the weather
is frigid ?
A.
B.
C.
D.
It is very cold.
It is very rainy.
It is very windy.
It is very slippery.
A.
B.
C.
D.
dresses warmly
calls the hospital
watches the weather
clears the snow from his car
badly
slowly
very fast
like they do not care
Florida
Miami
Pennsylvania
York
mittens
a scarf
another hat
an undershirt
It is a hot place.
It is a rainy place.
It is a windy place.
It is a place where people drive
slowly.
Questions (continued):
9) Why does Dr. James clear the snow 10) There is a lot of traffic on the
off his car quickly?
road. Choose another way to write
this sentence.
A. He is very cold.
B. He is late for work.
A. There is a lot of snow on the
C. He knows his patients are
road.
waiting.
B. There are a lot of cars on the
D. He knows he will have to drive
road.
slowly.
C. There are a lot of accidents on
the road.
D. There are a lot of people walking
on the road.
A.
B.
C.
D.
It is a windy day
It is very cold outside.
The roads are slippery.
There will be an accident.
He is very cold.
He wants to get to the hospital.
He is worried about his patients.
He wants to make sure the
people in the car are okay.
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Frank Wilcox has been chief of police in Lansett County for 25 years. He had just
turned 30 when he took the job.
He has seen murders. He has seen robberies. He has seen cats stuck in trees.
He has found missing children.
Today would be like no other.
It is 11:00 at night. Chief Wilcox begins putting together his things. He is tired. He
wants to go home.
Chief Wilcox, calls an officer walking quickly into his office. It is Officer
Simpson. He looks nervous. He looks like he would like to be anywhere else but
there.
What is it, Simpson? asks the Chief.
Holmans Grocery was just held up at gun point, Simpson says. His voice
is shaky. He coughs to clear his throat.
Was anyone hurt? asks Chief.
Lansett is a very small county. The Chief knows just about everyone who lives
there. If anyone was hurt, there is a good chance he knows who it was. Maybe
that's why Officer Simpson looks nervous.
No one was hurt, says Simpson. But we caught the suspect.
Ah, well, Simpson. You guys can take care of that. Im--, Chief Wilcox stops in
mid-sentence.
He understands what is wrong. From behind Officer Simpson, the Chief sees his
youngest daughter, Devon. She is in handcuffs.
Chief Wilcox gets a lump in his throat. He is in disbelief. How could it be? he
thinks.
Devon, will you please tell me what is going on? the Chief demands.
Devon does not look at him. The Chief can feel anger growing inside of him.
He refuses to let that anger show.
Take her back for questioning, the Chief says to Officer Simpson in a calm
voice.
Devon, whatever you do, tell the truth, the Chief says. Im your dad. I love you.
We will figure this out.
Questions:
1) What is the main problem in this
story?
A.
B.
C.
D.
_______________________
_______________________
He is hungry.
He is tired.
He does not want to see Devon.
He is worried about his family.
he is angry.
to be loud
to be hard to hear
to be unsure and unsteady
to be strong and uncontrollable
Questions (continued):
9) Why might Devon have not looked at 10) How do Chief's feelings change
her father?
during the story?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Devon is a girl.
Devon is his youngest child.
He is a police officer.
Devon may have had a gun.
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A Happy Visitor
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
Questions:
1) What is the name of the girl in the
story?
A. ____________________
a man
a cat
a dog
a snake
A.
B.
C.
D.
cute
strong
small
angry
Do you think Anna should keep the dog? Why or why not?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
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A Mystery
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
Questions:
1) Where does this story take place?
A.
B.
C.
D.
in a bakery
at the police station
in Ms. Gervis' house
in Ms. Gervis' apartment
A.
B.
C.
D.
eats them
sells them
hides them
gives them away
Questions (continued):
7) What does the detective seem to
think will happen if he solves the
mystery?
A. Ms. Gervis will start baking
cakes again.
B. Ms. Gervis will bake him extra
cakes.
C. Ms. Gervis will give him her
secret recipe.
D. Ms. Gervis will give him money
and jewels.
crystal
jewelry
money
nothing
8) What is a mystery?
A. something that is wrong
B. something that happens at night
C. something a robber leaves
behind
D. something that cannot be
explained
ReadTheory.Org 2010
Name________________
Date________________
EnglishForEveryone.Org 2008
Accused
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
Elizabeth was brooding in her room. She had sought asylum there
since spurious gossip began circulating about her at Seagrove
Academy last week.
Not that Elizabeth had ever been considered a social butterfly. She preferred to
live vicariously through the brazen stories of her friends: late night partying,
fraternizing with boys, childish pranks. Still, she has taken to being more by
herself than usual since the allegations surfaced.
Up for consideration for the highly coveted Blauvelt Award, a scholarship
recognizing academic integrity and promise, an anonymous student had given
headmaster Billings the tip that Elizabeth had cheated on several tests this
year.
The accusations were laughable. Elizabeth had long been a stellar student at
Seagrove. She lacked a natural intelligence - this was true. However, she more
than made up for this deficit through diligence and perseverance.
Still, the accusations had given the recommendation committee pause. Elizabeth
had been called to Mr. Billings grand office on Friday and asked copious
questions about her recent exams. The experience was quite traumatic.
Seagrove is an elite school. Most of its students come from privileged
backgrounds. This was not the case for Elizabeth. Her family had little money.
She attended Seagrove on a full scholarship. The Blauvelt Award would help her
family pay for college.
So, it was with the same diligence with which she applied herself to her studies
that Elizabeth planned to unmask her accuser. She opened the school directory
on her bed and began combing through the names.
Seagrove was such a small and insular community. Twenty-one kids would be in
her graduating class. Elizabeth knew it was inevitable that the person spreading
rumors about her would come to light. It was just a matter of time.
Questions:
1) What is another word for spurious?
A.
B.
C.
D.
shameful
ghastly
hurtful
untrue
She is diligent.
She is honest.
She is not wealthy.
She likes to be alone.
Questions (continued):
7) What does the reader learn about
the student who accused Elizabeth
of cheating?
Check all that are correct.
A.
impossible
unmistakable
probable
certain
Elizabeth
Mr. Billings
the anonymous student
the recommendation committee
ReadTheory.Org 2010
Name________________
Date________________
EnglishForEveryone.Org 2008
Alligators
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
Questions:
1) What kind of animal is an
alligator?
A. an amphibian
B. a mammal
C. a reptile
A.
B.
C.
A.
B.
C.
birds
cats
fish
5) Which is the
A. dull
B. gray
C. soft
A. It is far away.
B. It is a very big place.
C. It has rivers and swamps.
ReadTheory.Org 2010
Name________________
Date________________
EnglishForEveryone.Org 2008
An Adventure
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
Jaime is a boy.
Jaime lives in a house. Jaime lives in the country. Jaime lives
in a house in the country.
Jaime has a dog. The dog is named Go-Go. Jaime and Go-Go are friends.
Jaime and Go-Go are bored. They want to do something new. They want to do
something fun. They want to do something exciting.
Jaime and Go-Go walk out of the house. They walk across the yard.
They walk across the field. They jump over the fence.
Jaime sees a mountain. The mountain is very tall. The top of the
mountain is in the clouds. Jaime looks at the mountain.
We are going to the top of that mountain, Jaime says.
Go-Go looks nervous.
Don't be nervous, Jaime says.
Go-Go runs after Jaime. They walk toward the mountain. Jaime stops. He looks
back at the house.
I am a little tired, Jaime says to Go-Go.
Go-Go licks Jaimes face.
Jaime turns around.
Come on Go-Go. We will climb the mountain tomorrow, Jaime says.
Jaime starts to walk home.
Go-Go runs after Jaime.
Questions:
1) Where does Jaime live?
A. He lives in a house in the city.
B. He lives in an apartment in the
country.
C. He lives in a house in the
country.
D. He lives in an apartment in the
city.
3) What does across mean?
A.
B.
C.
D.
under
close to
far away from
from one side to the other side
go home
climb a mountain
go fishing in the river
play a game with Go-Go
go home
climb a mountain
go fishing in the river
play a game with Go-Go
He is hungry.
He wants to play catch.
He doesnt want to go home.
He doesnt want to climb the
mountain.
Would you like to live in the city, or would you like to live in the country? Why?
I would like to live in the ___________ because _________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
ReadTheory.Org 2010
EnglishForEveryone.Org 2008
Name________________
Date________________
Ana, her husband Mario, and their four-year-old son, Antonio, just moved to
North Carolina.
They need a temporary place to call home until they get settled into their new
surroundings.
Right now, they are staying in a hotel not far from Marios job.
Ana begins a search for an apartment for the family to live in.
First, Ana picks up an Apartment Book at the local newspaper stand. The
Apartment Book contains listings of all the major apartment complexes in her
area.
Ana starts by looking at the prices for apartments in the Apartment Book. Then,
she reads about the amenities that each apartment complex offers.
For example, some apartments have a clubhouse. Some have a gym, which is
also called a fitness center. Some have a pool. Some have all of these!
Ana notices that the more amenities an apartment complex has, the more it costs
each month. She wants the familys new apartment to be nice, but she does not
want to spend too much money on it. Ana and Mario are trying to save money to
buy a house.
After considering prices, amenities, and locations, Ana finds several apartment
complexes that she thinks the family will like.
Ana calls the apartment complexes. She sets up appointments with the
apartment managers to see the apartments she thinks are interesting.
Ana makes five phone calls in total.
When Mario gets back to the hotel from work, Ana shows him the list of
apartments. These look good, he says.
The next day, while Mario is at work and Antonio is at childcare, Ana visits the
apartment complexes.
She likes the fifth one the best. It is in a good school district. It has a pool, but no
fitness center or clubhouse. It is near Marios job. Ana hopes to find a job nearby,
as well.
When Ana gets back to the hotel, she discusses all that she has seen with
Mario. They decide to rent the last apartment Ana saw.
The next day, Ana calls the manager of the apartment complex with the news.
The manager asks Ana and Mario to sign a lease and pay a security deposit.
If the family damages the apartment in any way while they are living there, the
security deposit will help to pay for the cost of repairs.
Ana and Mario sign a lease and pay the money. The manager asks them when
they plan to move in and Ana looks up at Mario. He looks back at her for a
moment and then tells the manager, In a few days.
Finally, they have a place to stay.
Questions:
1) What kind of book does Ana get?
A.
B.
C.
D.
I only
I and II
II and II
I, II, and III
carpet
clubhouse
fitness center
pool
Questions (continued):
7) What makes Ana like the fifth
apartment best?
I. it has many amenities
II. it is near Marios job
III. it is in a good school district
A.
B.
C.
D.
I only
I and II
II and II
I, II, and III
to rent it
to think about it
to make it happen
to read a book about it
at daycare
at the hotel
at school
at work
in a day or two
in a couple days
in three or four days
in just under a week
ReadTheory.Org 2010
Name________________
Date________________
EnglishForEveryone.Org 2008
Bail
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
The phone rang at Pratt Taylors house at nearly three in the morning.
Pratt fumbled for the phone in the dark. He answered groggily after the fourth
ring.
Hello, Pratt mumbled into the receiver.
Mr. Taylor. Thank goodness. I need your help.
Pratt knew the voice, for sure. However, in his somnolent state, he could not
quite place it.
Mr. Taylor! the man said again in a raspy, loud whisper. I am in jail. I was
allowed one phone call. Im calling you.
Then, the fog cleared. Although nearly ten years had passed since their last
encounter, Pratt was able to discern something familiar in this voice. It belonged
to a boy named Martin Hall, easily one of the most brilliant math students he had
ever had. But while Pratt recalled that Martin possessed an enviable acumen for
math, he also had a knack for getting into trouble.
Still, they had forged a strong student-teacher bond, and when Martin graduated
from Linebrook High School, Pratt had told him, Call me if there is anything you
ever need.
So here it was the call in the middle of the night.
Yes, Martin. Is that you?
Yes, Mr. Taylor. Can you help?
What do you need?
Bail money.
What did you do?
Well talk about that later. Can you get me one thousand bucks?
Pratt knew he could, but he was hesitant. What had Martin done? What was
Pratt getting himself into? Pratts honor to his word helped make his decision.
Yes, I can. Where shall I bring it?
Questions:
1) "Pratt fumbled for the phone in the dark. He answered groggily after the fourth
ring."
A. Pratt fumbled for the phone in the dark, he answered groggily after the
fourth ring.
B. Pratt fumbled for the phone in the dark, and answered groggily on the
fourth ring.
C. While Pratt fumbled for the phone in the dark, he answered groggily after
the fourth ring.
D. Pratt answered the phone groggily after the fourth ring, fumbling for the
phone in the dark.
2) If someone is feeling somnolent,
which best describes how he or she
might act?
A.
B.
C.
D.
irritated
lethargic
maniacal
nimble
distaste
enlightenment
inability
uncertainty
comfortable
decisive
relaxed
trusting
Questions (continued):
6) Which best explains why Pratt
decided to get the money for
Martin?
A. Pratt had the money to give.
B. Pratt believed Martin was
innocent.
C. Pratt had promised help many
years ago.
D. Pratt feared Martin would hurt
him if he did not comply.
8) How does Pratt's mood change
from the beginning to end of
passage?
A. from sleepy, to forgetful, to
giving
B. from uncertain, to committed, to
angry
C. from groggy, to clearheaded, to
regretful
D. from proud, to reminiscent to
ambivalent
excite
heal
humble
please
If you were Mr. Taylor, would you have bailed Pratt out? Why or why not?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
ReadTheory.Org 2010
Name________________
Date________________
EnglishForEveryone.Org 2008
BB
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
Alma! he screamed. Get out here! You cracked Mr. Schlosbergs window with
my BB gun!
Oh, please, Jamesie, I begged. Dont let him tell Mother. She will whip my
bottom real good!
Jamesie sighed. He wiped my tears and went back across the street to Mr.
Schlosbergs.
I dont know what James said to that man, but there was never a mention of the
incident again. I didn't know how I got out of it, but I got out of it, and that was all
that mattered to me then. I was too self-absorbed to realize what a great brother I
had.
Years later, I found out Jamesie had used the money he got from his newspaper
route to pay for Mr. Schlosbergs cracked window. He only got one cent for every
paper he delivered. He managed to pay the debt off just before he went off to
fight in World War II.
Since that day, I have never touched a gun. A BB gun, a water gun, a real gun,
or any other type.
Questions:
1) Which is the best reason the author
may have included the detail of this
story taking place during the Great
Depression?
A. to let the reader know how old
the narrator is now
B. to let the reader know why guns
were taboo in the house
C. to let the reader know that World
War II had not occurred yet
D. to let the reader know how
economically strained things
were
3) What does being strictly
taboo suggest?
A.
B.
C.
D.
It is illegal.
It is forbidden.
It is incomprehensible.
Superstition surrounds it.
bored
generous
repulsed
scared
Questions (continued):
5) How did the incident seem to affect
Alma?
Check all that are correct.
A.
B.
C.
D.
a bullet hole
a deep crack
a path a projectile takes
a sound a gun makes when
firing
A.
B.
C.
D.
guilty.
nervous.
obedient.
dangerous.
her brother.
It made her sure her brother
would be a good soldier.
It made her trust her brother
more than her parents.
6) A culprit is always...
wealthy
irrational
protective
foolhardy
englishforeveryone.org
10
15
20
Name________________
Date________________
The flu is the common name for influenza. The flu is a respiratory sickness. The flu can
be mild. The flu can be bad. Sometimes the flu can even cause death. Each year in the U.S., 5% 20% of people get the flu. Each year in the U.S., up to 60 million people get the flu. Each year in
the U.S., about 200,000 people go to the hospital because of the flu. Each year in the U.S., about
36,000 people die from problems related to the flu.
The flu is caused by a virus. A virus is a germ. People can spread the virus. The virus can
live in tiny drops of liquid. If you have the virus, you can spread it by coughing. You can get the
virus by touching a something that has the virus on it and then touching your eyes, nose, or
mouth.
A flu shot can prevent the flu. The nasal flu mist can also prevent the flu. The shot and
the nose spray are vaccines. Talk to your doctor about getting a vaccine. You can get information
about the flu shot and nasal spray from your local health department.
If you get the flu, you might get a headache. You might have a fever. You might have a
cough and a runny nose. You might have a sore throat. You might feel very tired. Your body
might hurt all over. Some people have diarrhea and vomiting.
You can help stop the spread of the flu virus. The Centers for Disease Control remind
you to cover your cough. You should cough into a tissue and throw the tissue away. Or you can
cough into the inside of your elbow, into your own clothing. The Centers for Disease Control
also remind you to clean your hands. You can use hand sanitizer. You should use an alcoholbased hand sanitizer for the best results. You can use soap and water. You should wash your
hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds. Studies show that washing your hands
for 2 minutes with hot, soapy water is the best way to get the most germs off your hands. Be sure
to wash under your fingernails and between your fingers.
Questions
1. According to the passage, which of the following statements is/are true?
I)
At least 5% of the U.S. population gets the flu each year.
II) There are three types of flu vaccine.
III) Each year in the U.S., about 20% of people who have the flu die from it.
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
I only
II only
III only
I and II only
II and III only
nose
health
protection
shot
spray
Correct. Lines 2-3 state that Each year in the U.S., 5% -20% of people get the flu.
Therefore, the lowest percentage of people who gets the flu in the U.S. each year is
5%. That means that at least 5% of the U.S. population gets the flu each year.
II) Incorrect. Lines 10-11 state that The shot and the nose spray are vaccines. The flu
shot and the nose spray comprise two types of vaccine. While there may be three or
more types of vaccine, only two types of vaccine are mentioned in the passage.
III) Incorrect. Line 3 states that Each year in the U.S., up to 60 million people get the
flu. Lines 4-5 state that Each year in the U.S., about 36,000 people die from
problems related to the flu. Twelve million is 20% of 60 million. Since up to 60
million people in the U.S. have the flu each year, 12 million people in the U.S.
would be about 20% of the people in the U.S. who have the flu. Since about 36,000
people die from problems associated with the flu, the statement is not correct.
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
I only
II only
III only
I and II only
II and III only
englishforeveryone.org
10
15
Name________________
Date________________
There is a small difference between nuts and seeds. Many seeds often are called nuts. For
example, hazelnuts are nuts. Chestnuts are nuts. Beechnuts are nuts. Acorns are nuts. But, Brazil
Nuts are not nuts. Cashews are not nuts. Peanuts are not nuts. Pistachios are not nuts.
So what are nuts? A true nut is a fruit with one seed. True nuts have very hard shells.
True nuts do not open on their own. You must crack a true nut to open it.
Cooks often call seeds nuts. In addition, English speakers often call seeds, nuts. The
difference between nuts and seeds is small, so it is not necessarily wrong to call a seed a nut.
Nuts are good for your health. Seeds are also good for your health. Nuts and seeds
contain a lot of oil. They also contain a lot of energy for your body. Nuts are a good snack food.
Seeds are also a good snack food. Nuts are good for the heart. Seeds are also good for the heart.
Nuts help you grow. Seeds also help you grow. Nuts are good for the skin. Seeds are also good
for the skin.
Many animals eat nuts. Squirrels eat nuts. Mice eat nuts. Chipmunks eat nuts. Raccoons
eat nuts. Birds eat nuts. Even some dogs eat nuts.
Many animals eat seeds. Birds eat seeds. Mice eat seeds. Even some snakes eat seeds.
There are hundreds of nuts that people and animals can eat. There are hundreds of seeds
that people and animals can eat. But many nuts and seeds are inedible. Look in a book or check
on the internet before trying to eat unfamiliar seeds and nuts. Learn if new foods are safe and
healthful by reading about them before tasting them.
Questions
1. According to the passage, which of the following statements is/are true?
I)
Cashews are true nuts.
II) A nut is a fruit.
III) True nuts do not open naturally.
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
I only
II only
III only
I and II only
II and III only
familiar
not good for health
not able to be eaten
unbelievable
safe to eat
I only
II only
III only
I and II only
II and III only
englishforeveryone.org
10
Name________________
Date________________
Paper has many uses. People draw on paper. People paint on paper. People write on
paper. People clean with paper. People make boxes out of paper. People blow their noses on
paper. Books are made of paper. Magazines are made of paper. Some money is printed on paper.
Sandpaper is made of paper. Wallpaper is made of paper.
Some paper is made from plants. Some paper is made from cotton. Some paper is made
from bamboo. Some paper is made from wheat. Most paper is made from trees. 95% of paper is
made from trees. Some paper is made from pine trees. Some paper is made from oak trees. Some
paper is made from maple trees. Some paper is recycled. When paper is recycled, new paper is
made from old paper.
Some people say they work in paper-free offices. Some people think computers will take
away the need for paper. But people will always need to blow their noses. People will want to
sand surfaces with sandpaper. People will want to paint or draw on paper. People will want to
put things in paper boxes. So, people will probably need to use paper for many more years.
Questions
1. According to the passage, which of the following statements is/are true?
I)
Ninety-five percent of paper is made from pine trees.
II) Computers will take away the need for paper.
III) There will probably always be uses for paper.
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
I only
II only
III only
I and II only
II and III only
grainy mineral
paint or color
polish or smooth
use for storage
draw
I only
II only
III only
I and II only
II and III only
sand as it is used in this line, because the following sentence states that Some people
will want to paint or draw on paper.
C) Correct. The meaning of sand in this sentence is to smooth or polish. Since sandpaper
has a rainy surface, it smoothes or polishes other surfaces when it is rubbed against them.
D) Incorrect. Since the third paragraph contains a listing of possible future uses of paper,
storage does appear as one of the possible uses. However, it appears in line 13 Some
people will want to put things in paper boxes. Since putting things in boxes is storing
things, this is the sentence where storage is listed. So it is unlikely that sand means use
for storage.
E) Incorrect. Since the third paragraph is a listing of possible future uses of paper,
drawing on paper does appear as one of the possible future uses. However it is used in
lines 13-14, Some people will want to paint or draw on paper. So sand probably does
not refer to drawing.
englishforeveryone.org
10
15
Name________________
Date________________
Soaps and detergents are used for washing. Soaps and detergents are used for cleaning.
People usually use detergent to wash clothes. People usually use detergent to wash dishes.
People usually use soap to wash their bodies.
Soap has a long history. There was soap in Ancient Babylon. There was soap in Ancient
Egypt. Some people think there was soap before people wrote history.
Soap and detergent are similar, but soap and detergent are not exactly the same. Soaps are
made of natural products. Detergents are made of man-made products.
In some cases, soap is better than detergent. For example, soap is milder on the skin.
Soap is milder on the environment. Soap is biodegradable natures processes clean soap up.
Soap does not build up in rivers. Soap does not cause pollution in rivers. Soap does not build up
in streams. Soap does not cause pollution in streams.
In some cases, detergent is better than soap. For example, soap builds up in clothes after
many washings. Detergent does not build up in clothes after many washings. Soap loses its
cleaning power in clothes over time. Detergent does not lose its cleaning power in clothes over
time.
Questions
1. According to the passage, which of the following statements is/are true?
I)
Soap is made of natural or man-made products.
II) Detergents are less mild than soaps.
III) Detergent washes out of clothing.
IV)
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
I only
II only
III only
I and II only
II and III only
man-made
dangerous
permanent
easy to clean up
hard to clean up
Incorrect. Line 7 states that Soaps are made of natural products. Detergents are
made of man-made products.
II) Correct. Lines 8-9 state that For example, soap is milder on the skin. Soap is
milder on the environment. Since soap is milder than detergent, detergent is less
mild than soap.
III) Correct. Line 14 states that Detergent does not build up in clothes after many
washings. Since detergent does not build up, or stay, in clothing, it must wash out.
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
I only
II only
III only
I and II only
II and III only
A) Incorrect. Since line 7 states that Soaps are made of natural products, and line 9 states
that Soap is biodegradable, the word biodegradable cannot mean man-made.
B) Incorrect. Since lines 8-9 state that soap is milder on the skin. Soap is milder on the
environment, and line 9 states that Soap is biodegradable, the word biodegradable
cannot mean dangerous.
C) Incorrect. Since lines 9-10 state that natures processes clean soap up, the word
biodegradable cannot mean permanent.
D) Correct. Since lines 9-10 state that natures processes clean soap up, the word
biodegradable probably means easy to clean up.
E) Incorrect. Since lines 9-10 state that natures processes clean soap up, the word
biodegradable probably doesnt mean hard to clean up.
englishforeveryone.org
10
15
Name________________
Date________________
The sun is a star. The sun is at the center of the solar system. The sun is the largest object
in the solar system. It is more than 99.8% of the mass of the solar system. More than one million
earths could fit inside the sun!
From earth, the sun looks like a yellow ball in the sky. A long time ago, people didnt
know what the sun was. Many people told stories about the sun. People in many countries told
stories about the sun. In some stories, people said the sun was a god. Some people gave names to
the sun. The Greeks named it Helios. The Romans named it Sol. The name Solar System comes
from the Roman name Sol.
The sun is very hot. On the surface, it is about 5,510 Celsius. Thats equal to about
11,000 Fahrenheit. The inside of the sun is even hotter. The core of the sun is 15,000,000 C!
Thats 27,000,000 F!
The light from the sun is very bright. People must not look directly at the sun. Looking
directly at the sun will hurt your eyes.
People need the suns heat and light to live. Animals need the suns heat and light to live.
Plants need the suns heat and light to live. Plants make food with sunlight. People and animals
eat the plants. Plants also use the sun to make oxygen. People and animals need to breathe
oxygen.
Today people do not tell stories about the sun. Today people do not think the sun is a god.
But, people know that the sun is necessary for life on earth.
20
Questions
1. According to the passage, which of the following statements is/are true?
I)
The sun is over a million times brighter than the earth.
II) Some people used to think the sun was a god.
III) The suns surface is cooler than its core.
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
I only
II only
III only
I and II only
II and III only
center
gas
oxygen
surface
temperature
Incorrect. While lines 2-3 state that more than a million earths could fit inside the
sun, there is no mention there that the sun is a million times brighter than the earth.
And while line 12 states that the light from the sun is very bright, it does not
compare the brightness of the sun to the brightness of the earth. So while the sun
may be a million times brighter than the earth, there is no such statement in the
passage.
II) Correct. Line 6 states that in some stories, people said the sun was a god.
III) Correct. Lines 9-11 state that the surface temperature is 5510 C or 11,000 F,
whereas the core, or inside of the sun is 15,000,000 C or 27,000,000 F. So the
surface of the sun is much cooler than its core.
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
I only
II only
III only
I and II only
II and III only
C) Incorrect. Lines 9 and 10 compare the surface temperature of the sun with the
temperature of its core. Lines 16-17 state that plants use sunlight to make oxygen, not
that the sun itself is made of oxygen.
D) Incorrect. Lines 9-10 compare the temperature of the surface of the sun with the
temperature of the core. Since the comparison is made between the surface and the core,
the word core could not mean surface.
E) Incorrect. Lines 9-10 compare the heat level (which is the temperature) of the surface of
the sun with the heat level of the core of the sun. Since the comparison is being made of
the temperature of the surface and the temperature of the core, the word core could not
mean temperature.
englishforeveryone.org
10
15
Name________________
Date________________
Water is the most common liquid in the world. Lakes contain water. Rivers contain
water. Ponds contain water. Canals contain water. Oceans contain water. The water in rivers,
ponds, and canals is fresh water. The water in oceans is salt water.
About 70% of the world is covered by water. About 97% of water in the world is salt
water. Only 3% of the worlds water is fresh water. Fresh water is not salty.
People usually think of water as a liquid. But water freezes to form a solid. The solid is
called ice. And water boils to form a gas. The gas is called steam or vapor.
Clouds are made of water. Water falls from clouds as rain. When it is cold, water falls as
snow. Sometimes water falls as sleet. Sleet is partly water and partly ice. Sometimes water falls
as hail. Hail is ice.
People need water to live. Animals need water to live. Insects need water to live. Plants
need water to live. All living things in the world need water to live.
People all over the world need to drink clean water to live. About one billion people in
the world do not have clean drinking water. The largest cause of preventable human death in the
world is drinking water that is unsanitary.
Questions
1. According to the passage, which of the following statements is/are true?
I)
Ninety-seven percent of snow is made of salt water.
II) The largest cause of preventable human death is drinking water that is unsanitary..
III) About 1,000,000,000 people in the world do not have clean water to drink.
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
I only
II only
III only
I and II only
II and III only
not available
not clean
not in liquid form
used for another purpose
salty
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
I only
II only
III only
I and II only
II and III only
englishforeveryone.org
Name________________
Date________________
Henry: Sometimes, but its worth it because I get to eat food the comes straight from the
farm.
Davie: Mmmm, food from the farm sounds good. I wonder if it is better than the food
you can eat at restaurants in the city!
Questions:
Vocabulary:
1) If something is gross, it is
A.
B.
C.
D.
Henry
Davie
Both Henry and Davie
Neither Henry nor Davie
Birds
Insects
Flowers
Trees
Buildings
Cars
Streets
Bright lights
He drives a tractor
He rides a horse
He drives a lawn mower
None of the above
A.
B.
C.
D.
tasty.
disgusting.
ready.
A and B.
2) If a light is bright, it is
A.
B.
C.
D.
dark.
low.
strong.
none of the above.
play.
think.
imagine.
B and C.
None of the above.
englishforeveryone.org
Name________________
Date________________
Questions:
Vocabulary:
Good
Bad
Sick
B and C
Exercise
Eat something
Drink something
Relax
A.
B.
C.
D.
exercise.
rest.
study.
none of the above.
2) Soon is __________________.
A.
B.
C.
D.
now.
a long time from now.
a short time from now.
never.
englishforeveryone.org
Name________________
Date________________
Questions:
Vocabulary:
A.
B.
C.
D.
Michael
Sister
Little Brother
Grandma
is full.
has nothing in it.
is heavy.
none of the above.
englishforeveryone.org
Name________________
Date________________
Questions:
Vocabulary:
A.
B.
C.
D.
10:30
11:00
Nobody knows
Noon
Two
Three
Four
Five
A.
B.
C.
D.
question someone.
answer someone.
A and B.
none of the above.
knows
used to know
does not know
B and C
englishforeveryone.org
Name________________
Date________________
Vocabulary:
Questions:
1) What is Ahmad doing?
A.
B.
C.
D.
2) Who is Mo?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Ahmads dad
Ahmads son
Ulis friend
Ulis dad
helped out.
cleaned up.
worked on.
looked over.
under.
above.
beside.
between.
englishforeveryone.org
Name________________
Date________________
Questions:
Vocabulary:
A.
B.
C.
D.
On her bed
On the couch
In her room
None of the above
A.
B.
C.
D.
no
please
yes
A and B.
Her pen
Her hat
Her purse
Her belt
Her keys
englishforeveryone.org
Name________________
Date________________
_______________________________________________________________________
englishforeveryone.org
Name________________
Date________________
_______________________________________________________________________
englishforeveryone.org
Name________________
Date________________
englishforeveryone.org
Name________________
Date________________
_______________________________________________________________________
englishforeveryone.org
Name________________
Date________________
_______________________________________________________________________
englishforeveryone.org
Name________________
Date________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
englishforeveryone.org
Name________________
Date________________
_______________________________________________________________________
englishforeveryone.org
Name________________
Date________________
_______________________________________________________________________
englishforeveryone.org
Name________________
Date________________
1)
A) bird
2)
B) fish
C) dog
3)
D) cat
4)
E) lion
5)
F) bear
6)
G) horse
H) elephant
7)
I) tiger
8)
9)
englishforeveryone.org
Name________________
Date________________
1)
A) butterfly
B) dolphin
2)
C) fox
3)
D) goose
4)
E) koala
5)
F) owl
6)
G) rabbit
7)
H) shark
I) wolf
8)
9)
englishforeveryone.org
Name________________
Date________________
1)
A) alligator
2)
B) camel
3)
C) giraffe
4)
D) kangaroo
E) lizard
5)
F) penguin
6)
G) whale
7)
H) zebra
8)
englishforeveryone.org
Name________________
Date________________
1)
A) shirt
2)
B) pants
3)
C) jacket
4)
D) tie
E) dress
5)
F) shoes
6)
G) belt
7)
H) suit
8)
englishforeveryone.org
Name________________
Date________________
A) fork
2)
B) spoon
3)
C) knife
4)
D) pot
E) pan
5)
F) refrigerator
6)
G) microwave
7)
H) plate
8)
englishforeveryone.org
Name________________
Date________________
A) bell pepper
1)
B) broccoli
2)
C) potatoes
3)
D) squash
4)
E) cucumbers
5)
F) cheese
6)
G) tomato
7)
H) eggs
8)
I) corn
9)
J) mushrooms
10)
K) strawberry
11)
englishforeveryone.org
Name________________
Date________________
1)
A) apple
2)
B) orange
C) grapes
3)
D) fish
4)
E) chicken
5)
F) beans
G) peppers
6)
H) bread
7)
8)
englishforeveryone.org
Name________________
Date________________
A) table
2)
B) chair
3)
C) bookcase
D) sofa
4)
E) dresser
5)
F) recliner
G) bed
H) desk
6)
7)
8)
englishforeveryone.org
Name________________
Date________________
A) shaver
1)
B) tweezers
2)
C) nail clipper
3)
D) compass
4)
E) can opener
5)
F) goggles
6)
G) utility knife
7)
H) level
8)
I) duct tape
9)
J) paintbrush
10)
englishforeveryone.org
Name________________
Date________________
A) pen
2)
B) pencil
3)
C) ruler
4)
D) highlighter
5)
E) calculator
6)
F) scissors
7)
G) glue
8)
H) tape
9)
I) books
10)
J) markers
englishforeveryone.org
Name________________
Date________________
A) tongue
1)
B) teeth
2)
C) heel
3)
D) toes
4)
E) finger
5)
F) elbow
6)
G) knee
7)
H) shoulders
8)
I) hair
9)
J) chin
10)
englishforeveryone.org
Name________________
Date________________
A) legs
2)
B) neck
C) arm
3)
D) ear
4)
E) eye
5)
F) foot
6)
G) hands
7)
H) lips
I) nose
8)
9)
englishforeveryone.org
Name________________
Date________________
1)
A) tape measure
B) nail
2)
C) hammer
3)
D) screwdriver
4)
E) wrench
F) drill
5)
6)
G) pliers
H) saw
I) circular saw
7)
8)
9)
englishforeveryone.org
Worksheet #1
1. D
2. C
3. E
4. B
5. A
6. E
7. D
8. E
9. C
10. A
11. E
12. C
Worksheet #6
1. D
2. B
3. C
4. E
5. D
6. A
7. C
8. A
9. E
10. D
11. E
12. A
Worksheet #11
1. B
2. C
3. E
4. B
5. E
6. B
7. E
8. D
9. A
10. C
11. C
12. E
Worksheet #16
1. C
2. E
3. D
4. B
5. C
6. D
7. A
8. B
9. C
10. E
11. E
12. C
Worksheet #2
1. D
2. C
3. E
4. A
5. B
6. A
7. C
8. A
9. D
10. C
11. A
12. D
Worksheet #7
1. C
2. A
3. D
4. C
5. E
6. A
7. B
8. A
9. E
10. E
11. D
12. C
Worksheet #12
1. D
2. C
3. D
4. C
5. A
6. C
7. D
8. B
9. B
10. A
11. B
12. D
Worksheet #3
1. C
2. A
3. D
4. B
5. E
6. C
7. B
8. C
9. A
10 . C
11 . D
12 . E
Worksheet #8
1. D
2. A
3. E
4. C
5. A
6. E
7. B
8. A
9. C
10 . A
11 . D
12 . B
Worksheet #13
1. B
2. C
3. C
4. E
5. E
6. D
7. D
8. A
9. A
10 . B
11 . B
12 . E
Worksheet #4
1. D
2. B
3. A
4. C
5. A
6. B
7. E
8. D
9. A
10. D
11. B
12. D
Worksheet #9
1. C
2. A
3. E
4. B
5. C
6. A
7. E
8. D
9. D
10. E
11. E
12. D
Worksheet #14
1. B
2. A
3. C
4. A
5. E
6. B
7. D
8. C
9. D
10. E
11. C
12. B
Worksheet #5
1. D
2. A
3. E
4. A
5. B
6. C
7. B
8. B
9. B
10. E
11. D
12. B
Worksheet #10
1. D
2. D
3. D
4. E
5. D
6. B
7. A
8. C
9. D
10. A
11. A
12. E
Worksheet #15
1. B
2. E
3. D
4. A
5. E
6. B
7. D
8. B
9. C
10. E
11. E
12. D
englishforeveryone.org
Name________________
Date________________
Basic Version
Hi, my name is Eric. I want to tell you about my family.
I have two sisters. They are very nice. Their names are Rachel and Norma. Rachel
is younger than me. She is twelve years old. Norma is older than me. She is eighteen.
My mother is very pretty. Her name is Adel. She has a very good memory. She
can remember all the names of the presidents of the United States.
My father knows about very many things. He is an engineer. He builds bridges.
We also have a dog in our family. His name is Paw. He is a German Shepard. He
is very faithful to us.
Advanced Version
Hi, my name is Eric. I want to tell you about my family.
I have two sisters. They are very nice. Their names are Rachel and Norma. Rachel
is younger than me. She is twelve years old. Norma is older than me. She is eighteen.
My mother is beautiful. Her name is Adel. She has a great memory. She can
remember all the names of the presidents of the United States.
My father is smart. He is an engineer. He builds bridges.
We also have a dog in our family. His name is Paw. He is a German Shepard. He
is very loyal.
Questions:
1. How old is Norma?
Vocabulary:
To find word definitions: First, find the word in the advanced version of the story. Then,
compare this part of the advanced version of the story to the same part of the basic
version of the story. This will give you a general definition of the word.
1. What does beautiful mean? (paragraph 3, sentence 1)
englishforeveryone.org
Name________________
Date________________
Basic Version
Jamie has a dog named Gogo.
Jamie and Gogo are bored. They want to do something new. They want to do something
fun. They want to do something exciting.
Jamie and Gogo walk out of the house. They walk across the yard. They walk across the
field. They jump over the fence.
Jaime sees a mountain. The mountain is very tall. The top of the mountain is in the
clouds. Jaime looks at the mountain.
We are going to the top of that mountain, Jaime says.
Gogo looks scared.
Do not be scared, Jamie says.
Gogo runs after Jaime. They walk toward the mountain. Jaime stops. He looks back at
their home.
I am a little tired, Jaime says to Gogo. Gogo puts his tongue across Jaimes face. Jaime
turns around and starts walking home.
Come on Gogo. We will climb the mountain tomorrow, Jaime says.
Advanced Version
Jamie has a dog named Gogo.
Jamie and Gogo are bored. They want go on an adventure.
Jamie and Gogo walk out of the house. They walk across the yard. They walk across the
field. They jump over the fence.
Jaime sees a mountain. The mountain is very tall. The top of the mountain is in the
clouds. Jaime looks at the mountain.
Were going to the top of that mountain, Jaime says.
Gogo looks scared.
Dont be scared, Jamie says.
Gogo follows Jaime. They walk toward the mountain. Jaime stops. He looks back at their
home.
I am kind of tired, Jaime says to Gogo. Gogo licks Jaimes face. Jaime turns around
and starts walking home.
Cmon Gogo. Well climb the mountain tomorrow, Jaime says.
Questions:
1. Where does Jaime want to go?
Vocabulary:
To find word definitions: First, find the word in the advanced version of the story. Then,
compare this part of the advanced version of the story to the same part of the basic
version of the story. This will give you a general definition of the word.
1. What does adventure mean? ( line 2)
englishforeveryone.org
Name________________
Date________________
Basic Version
Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Jose. Happy
birthday to you! the people at the party sang.
Jose smiled and blew out the candles.
How old are you Jose? Jessie asked.
I am 29 Jose answered.
Wait, are you telling the truth? Jessie asked.
Yes, I am telling the truth. I am 29 years old. Jose answered.
No he is not! He is 30! someone said in a loud voice.
How do you know? Jessie asked.
Because I am his mother! she answered.
Advanced Version
Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Jose. Happy
birthday to you! the people at the party sang.
Jose smiled and blew out the candles.
How old are you Jose? Jessie asked.
I am 29 Jose replied.
Wait, are you telling the truth? Jessie asked.
Questions:
1. How old is Jose?
Vocabulary:
To find word definitions: First, find the word in the advanced version of the story. Then,
compare this part of the advanced version of the story to the same part of the basic
version of the story. This will give you a general definition of the word.
1. What does replied mean? (paragraph 4, 6, and 9)
englishforeveryone.org
Name________________
Date________________
Basic Version
I woke up at 7:30. I was late. Oh no!
I got to work. I did not get to the meeting in time. Oh no!
I went to lunch. I did not know where my wallet was. Oh no!
I came back home. It was raining. Oh no!
I cooked dinner. I cooked the rice too much. Oh no!
I ate dinner with my friends and family. We had a very good time. We laughed
and talked together.
I felt happy. Oh yes!
Advanced Version
I woke up at 7:30. I was late. Oh no!
I got to work. I missed the meeting. Oh no!
I went to lunch. I lost my wallet. Oh no!
I returned home. It was raining. Oh no!
I cooked dinner. I burned the rice. Oh no!
I ate dinner with my friends and family. We had a great time. We laughed and
talked together.
I felt happy. Oh yes!
Questions:
1. What time did I wake up?
Vocabulary:
To find word definitions: First, find the word in the advanced version of the story. Then,
compare this part of the advanced version of the story to the same part of the basic
version of the story. This will give you a general definition of the word.
1. What does missed mean? ( line 2)
englishforeveryone.org
Name________________
Date________________
Basic Version
I want to eat some food.
Well, what do you want to eat?
I do not know. What do we have to eat?
Well, we have eggs, rice, beans, bread, ham, and cheese.
Do we have any steak?
No, we do not have any steak.
Noooo! I want steak.
Well, we do not have any steak. I told you what we have.
Okay. Can I have some eggs and ham please.
Sure.
But wait! I want something to drink also!
Advanced Version
I am hungry.
Well, what do you want to eat?
I do not know. What do we have to eat?
Well, we have eggs, rice, beans, bread, ham, and cheese.
Questions:
1. What do we have to eat?
Vocabulary:
To find word definitions: First, find the word in the advanced version of the story. Then,
compare this part of the advanced version of the story to the same part of the basic
version of the story. This will give you a general definition of the word.
englishforeveryone.org
Name________________
Date________________
Basic Version
Today it is very hot outside. How can I cool down? Maybe I can go swimming at
the pool. I need to find out what time it opens. I will make a call.
I pressed the numbers on the phone and waited.
Ring. Ring.
Hello, this is Andrea at the pool. How can I help you?
Hi, I want to know what time the pool opens.
Oh okay. The pool opens at 10:30 in the morning.
Okay, thank you!
You are welcome. Bye.
Good bye.
Great! It is 10:00 in the morning now. That means the pool will open in thirty
minutes!
Advanced Version
Today it is very hot outside. How can I cool down? Maybe I can go swimming at
the pool. I need to find out what time it opens. I will make a call.
I dialed the phone and waited.
Ring. Ring.
Hello, this is Andrea at the pool. How can I help you?
Questions:
1. Who answered the phone?
Vocabulary:
To find word definitions: First, find the word in the advanced version of the story. Then,
compare this part of the advanced version of the story to the same part of the basic
version of the story. This will give you a general definition of the word.
1. What does dialed mean? (paragraph 2, sentence 1)
3. What does half an hour mean? (the last line of the story)
englishforeveryone.org
Name________________
Date________________
Basic Version
Hi, nice to meet you. My name is Tetsuo.
Hi, nice to meet you as well. My name is James. How are you?
I am fine, thank you. How are you?
I am unhappy.
Why are you unhappy?
I am unhappy because it is dark and cloudy. I do not like this weather.
Do not worry! Tomorrow it will be sunny!
Advanced Version
Hi, nice to meet you. My name is Tetsuo.
Hi, nice to meet you as well. My name is James. How are you?
I am fine, thank you. How are you?
I am unhappy.
Why are you unhappy?
I am unhappy because it is overcast. I do not like this weather.
Do not worry! Tomorrow it will be sunny!
Questions:
1. How is Tetsuo?
Vocabulary:
To find word definitions: First, find the word in the advanced version of the story. Then,
compare this part of the advanced version of the story to the same part of the basic
version of the story. This will give you a general definition of the word.
1. What does overcast mean? ( sentence 6)
englishforeveryone.org
Name________________
Date________________
Basic Version
Lets play a game! My name starts with the letter J. Who knows my name?
Is it Jennifer? No.
Is it Janet? No.
Those are good tries to get the answer. But you do not know it yet! The last letter
in my name is A. Who knows my name?
Is it Jessica? No.
Is it Julia? Yes! That was a very good try. You win!
Advanced Version
Lets play a game! My name starts with the letter J. Who knows my name?
Is it Jennifer? No.
Is it Janet? No.
Those are good guesses. But you do not know it yet! My name ends with the
letter A. Who knows my name?
Is it Jessica? No.
Is it Julia? Yes! That was a great guess. You win!
Questions:
1. What was the first letter of her name?
Vocabulary:
To find word definitions: First, find the word in the advanced version of the story. Then,
compare this part of the advanced version of the story to the same part of the basic
version of the story. This will give you a general definition of the word.
ReadTheory.Org 2010
Name________________
Date________________
EnglishForEveryone.Org 2008
Bella Hides
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
Bella is hiding. She is behind the sofa with her pet puppy, Sir.
Bella is hiding from her mom. She does not want to go to the doctor.
Bella? calls Bellas mom in a sweet voice. Where are you?
Bellas mom looks in the closet. She looks in the kitchen. She looks next to the
bookcase. Bella always hides when she is scared.
Bella is very quiet. Sir begins to jump around behind the sofa.
Bellas mom hears the noise. She looks behind the sofa with a smile. She holds
out her hand.
Dont be scared, says Bellas mom. The doctor just wants to check your ears.
Will I have to get a shot? asks Bella.
No, says Mom.
That makes Bella feel better. Bella grabs her moms hand. They go to see the
doctor.
Questions:
1) Why is Bella hiding?
Check all that are correct.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Her mom
Her sister
Her pet puppy
Her friend
in the kitchen
in the closet
next to the bookcase
behind the sofa
Questions (continued):
5) How does Mom find Bella?
A.
B.
C.
D.
angry
better
smart
tired
Have you ever been nervous about going to the doctor? Explain.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
ReadTheory.Org 2010
Name________________
Date________________
EnglishForEveryone.Org 2008
My name is Olaf.
I live in a big city.
I live on a busy road.
At night and during the day, cars go by.
Buses go by.
Trucks go by.
People do not seem to hear the noise during the day.
But at night, the noise makes it hard to sleep.
My road has a lot of animals, too.
People keep their animals outside in their yards at night.
There are cats.
There are dogs.
The dogs make a lot of noise.
To me, the dogs are like the trucks.
The dogs are like the cars.
The dogs are like the buses.
All of them are loud!
One dog barks more than the others do. His name is Simba.
Simba is Mr. Cheeks dog.
That is a very bad dog. He keeps me up at night, says Mr. Lucas. Mr. Lucas
lives next door to Mr. Cheek. You should give him away, says Mr. Lucas.
This makes Mr. Cheek very mad. "You should not sleep with your windows
open," says Mr. Cheek.
"You should take your dog inside at night," yells Mr. Lucas.
The two men argue about Simbas barking almost every day.
I think this is funny.
To me, Simba is as bad as the cars.
He is as bad as the buses.
He is as bad as the trucks.
This is what living in a big city is like. There is a lot of noise.
Questions:
1) In what place does Olaf live?
A. ____________________
____________________
____________________
bikes
cats
dogs
trucks
A.
B.
C.
D.
It is dark.
It is busy.
It is dirty.
It is noisy.
A.
B.
C.
D.
airplanes
buses
dogs
horses
cats meowing
trucks going by
a dog barking
people talking
get a cat
not argue with him
not drive his car at night
take his dog inside at night
Questions (continued):
9) What could Mr. Lucas do to sleep
better?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Olaf
Mr. Lucas
Olaf and Mr. Lucas
no one
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
ReadTheory.Org 2010
Name________________
Date________________
EnglishForEveryone.Org 2008
Birds
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
Questions:
1) What is this passage about?
A. what birds are like
B. why some birds cant fly
C. where birds have feathers
ReadTheory.Org 2010
EnglishForEveryone.Org 2008
Name________________
Date________________
Blizzard in Birmingham
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
The Turner kids were not accustomed to snow. The most they
ever got in their southern city of Birmingham was an inch or so
each winter, and even that was quite infrequent.
What was funny was that even the slightest bit of snow was enough to cancel
school and close businesses. No one knew how to drive in the stuff. It was never
enough for young Lily Mae Turner, though, because the snow that came was
always too sparse to build a snowman or to go sledding.
But one night, in March of 1993, something magical happened.
An unexpected blast of cold air from Canada and moist air from the Caribbean
converged on the eastern part of the United States to create the Storm of the
Century.
All the Turner kids knew was that when they woke up Saturday morning, there
was 17 inches of unbelievable snow on their front lawn and as far as the eye
could see.
The Turner parents were in shock. Most folks in town were ill-prepared for such a
storm. They had no shovels to dig their way out and no salt to keep from slipping.
They had no idea what to do.
While the adults seemed paralyzed with disbelief, the Turner kids set about
having the time of their lives. Lily Mae discovered that a rope tied to a metal
trashcan lid made a perfect sled. John Henry figured out that if he put his feet in
plastic grocery bags before putting on his rain boots, his feet stayed warm for a
longer time. Rachel made snow angels in every part of the yard. Together, all the
kids made a huge snowman and dressed it in dads hat and jacket. (Mr. Turner
didnt own a scarf!)
For three straight days, the Turner kids had a splendid time. On Tuesday, the
temperature hit 70 degrees, and life for these southerners went back to normal.
Questions:
1) What does accustomed mean?
A.
B.
C.
D.
used to
aware of
scared of
interested in
1993
A Cold March
Magical Snow
No Scarf for a Snowman
common
long
rare
surprising
A.
B.
C.
D.
It is warm.
It is sunny.
It is windy.
It does not snow.
Questions (continued):
7) What can be said about the Turner
kids' ideas for playing in the snow
without the usual snow gear?
Check all that make sense.
A.
B.
C.
D.
8) "What was funny was that even the slightest bit of snow was enough to
cancel school and close businesses."
"No one knew how to drive in the stuff."
Which is the best way to combine the above sentences?
A. What was funny was that even the slightest bit of snow was enough to
cancel school and close businesses, no one knew how to drive in the
stuff.
B. What was funny was that even the slightest bit of snow was enough to
cancel school and close businesses; no one knew how to drive in the
stuff.
C. What was funny was that even the slightest bit of snow was enough to
cancel school and close businesses: no one knew how to drive in the
stuff.
D. What was funny was that even the slightest bit of snow was enough to
cancel school and close businesses - no one knew how to drive in the
stuff.
great
perfect
happy
terrible
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Bullied
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
Questions:
1) Why doesn't Bryan like going to
school anymore?
A. The work is hard.
B. The kids are mean.
C. His best friend does not go
there.
D. He wants to read books at
home.
A.
B.
C.
D.
A.
B.
C.
D.
angry
strong
smart
scared
his homework
plays video games
gets scared
reads books
Questions (continued):
10) Who tells Bryan that he should tell
someone?
A. ____________________
____________________
____________________
A.
B.
C.
D.
caring
shy
helpful
scared
Have you ever been bullied? Do you know someone who has? Explain.
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By the Water
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
Questions:
1) Where does Nestor live?
A.
B.
C.
D.
on a farm
on a mountain top
in a boat on the water
in a house by the water
A.
B.
C.
D.
boat
fish
laugh
play ball
A.
B.
C.
D.
calm
sad
loud
young
a newspaper
a blanket
food
his fishing pole
A.
B.
C.
D.
____________________
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eat
catch fish
read
sleep
Questions (continued):
9) Who fishes?
A. ____________________
____________________
A.
B.
C.
D.
____________________
A.
B.
C.
D.
A.
B.
C.
D.
that it is night
that it is raining
that the wind is blowing
that the sky is angry
the morning
when he is watching the children
the afternoon
the night
A.
B.
C.
D.
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Canopy of Nature
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
Questions:
1) Which other title fits this passage
best?
A.
B.
C.
D.
No Paddles
Never as Planned
"Hot Cocoa by the Fire"
"Van Camping for Beginners"
A.
B.
C.
D.
a deserted island
an amusement park
a hiking trail known only to a
few
a popular beach on the
California coast
evolution
exodus
expedition
hiatus
Questions (continued):
6) "Then we all jumped in with our life jackets on. We pushed the canoes back
to shore."
Which is the best way to combine the above sentences?
A. We all jumped in with our life jackets on as we pushed the canoes back to
shore.
B. Then we all jumped in with our life jackets on, pushing the canoes back to
shore.
C. We pushed the canoes back to shore while we all jumped in with our life
jackets on.
D. After we all jumped in with our life jackets on, we pushed the canoes back
to shore.
7) Which best describes the narrator's
tone?
A.
B.
C.
D.
condescending
sarcastic
jovial
annoyed
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City Girl
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
Questions:
1) What other title might fit this
passage best?
A.
B.
C.
D.
3) "I had to avert my eyes from the huge pig, skin and head on, insides chopped
and splayed open across an entire 12-foot long table."
Choose the best way to rewrite the above sentence.
A. I had to open my eyes to the huge pig, skin and head on, insides chopped
and splayed open across an entire 12-foot long table.
B. I had to direct my eyes towards the huge pig, skin and head on, insides
chopped and splayed open across an entire 12-foot long table.
C. I had to turn my eyes away from the huge pig, skin and head on, insides
chopped and splayed open across an entire 12-foot long table.
D. I had to cover my eyes from the huge pig, skin and head on, insides
chopped and splayed open across an entire 12-foot long table.
Questions (continued):
4) What does materialize mean?
A. to arrive
B. to increase in size
C. to become actual or real
D. to be concerned with consumer
goods.
Questions (continued):
10) Which best describes the use
of woolen curtain in this passage?
A. It is used an analogy, meaning
the comparison of two things.
B. It is used as comic relief,
meaning it offers humor in a
tense situation.
C. It is used as personification,
meaning something described
as if it were human.
D. It is used as satire, meaning it
ridicules the weakness of an
institution.
A.
house.
B.
The narrator may flee to
safety to Wayne's house.
C.
The narrator might get in her
car and drive to store for
sandbags.
D.
The narrator might ask to
borrow some of Wayne's
sandbags.
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What I really need is clean water. Thats all I need. Josiah turned and walked
away. He had been rude, he knew, but he was so frustrated by this problem.
When he arrived back at his hotel room that evening, the front desk clerk handed
Josiah an unmarked envelope. Inside was a check for $2,000. The memo line
read, For water.
Josiah was flabbergasted. Who was this man?
As he pondered his good fortune, the phone rang in his hotel room.
Will that get you some water? a voice said on the other end.
Why, yes, yes it will, Josiah said. Thank you so much for your generosity.
My wife and I would like to take you to dinner.
Josiah could not refuse! This man was his savior, and his curiosity had gotten the
best of him. Who was this benefactor?
At dinner, Etienne Fanchon and his wife, Adelaide, formally introduced
themselves. Mr. Fanchon never graduated from high school, but inherited 5
acres of land from his father upon his death. For years, Mr. Fanchon grew
cucumbers on the land, barely making a living. One day, a neighbor offered
Fanchon a bag of money if Mr. Fanchon would let him bury three old trucks at the
back of his property.
Mr. Fanchon took the bag and agreed. Later, he could not believe how much
money was in the bag. And just for letting him bury some trucks!
The next morning, Mr. Fanchon said, he woke up, picked all the cucumbers off
his land and converted the 5 acres into a waste management facility. He is now
one of New Orleans few multimillionaires.
So, I have all this money now and live to help others, said Mr. Fanchon. That is
why Ive helped you.
Questions:
1) Which best describes Josiah's
mood at the beginning of this
passage?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Questions (continued):
3) Which best serves as the climax of
this story?
A. when Josiah opens the
envelope
B. when Mr. Fanchon shows up at
the studio
C. when Mr. Fanchon describes
how he got so rich
D. when Josiah accepts Mr.
Fanchon's invitation to dinner
A.
B.
narrator immensely
C.
that he helps everyone he
comes in contact with
D.
that for the narrator, there is
something divine about Mr.
Fanchon
assistance
obstacle
profit
strength
acclimated
bashful
melancholy
mollified
Questions (continued):
9) Why does Josiah grudgingly talk to 10) In this passage, how are Josiah
Mr. Fanchon in the Cafe du Monde?
and Mr. Fanchon alike?
A. He is hungry.
B. He is irritated and does not feel
like being bothered.
C. He decided conversation might
make him feel better.
D. He wanted to spread the word
about his theater program.
A.
B.
C.
D.
ReadTheory.Org 2010
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Dreams
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
Questions:
1) Which is most likely to make a
relationship inimical?
A.
B.
C.
D.
great pathos
frequent maledictions
magnanimous gestures
ingenuous discussions
icons
decisions
paragons
accusations
matter-of-fact
mawkish
maudlin
mercurial
6) How does the relationship between the narrator, her mother and sister seem
to change from the beginning of passage to end?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
Questions (continued):
7) Which is the best antonym for pellucid ?
A.
B.
C.
D.
conspicuous
disquieting
enlightening
incomprehensible
A.
B.
C.
D.
A.
B.
C.
D.
A.
B.
C.
D.
alacrity
deprecated
dithered
pugnacious
Questions (continued):
11) If the professor in the narrator's dream represented someone in her life, who
might that person be, and why?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Breakthrough, no idea.
Was this a breakthrough? I have no idea.
If this was a breakthrough I have no idea.
I had no idea. This was a breakthrough.
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First Prize
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
Questions:
1) Where does Tess ride her horse?
Check all that are correct.
A.
B.
C.
D.
in the circus
at school
in parades
in the woods
dance
hold on
sing
stand up
He is mad.
He needs help.
He is surprised.
He is excited.
A.
B.
C.
D.
happy
mad
proud
sad
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Flower Power
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
Questions:
1) Which is the best antonym
for deteriorate?
A.
B.
C.
D.
improve
increase
adjust
accumulate
energized
fascinated
humbled
relaxed
monotonous
a ritual
a regret
torturous
A. vernacular, suggesting a
particular geographical area
B. alliteration, characterized by the
repetition of a letter or sound
C. foreshadowing, characterized by
the use of hints to suggest what
is to come
D. personification, characterized by
a thing being described as if it
were human
The Fall
"On the Road"
Wildflower Poetry
"Living for Tomorrow"
Questions (continued):
7) Why might the author have
described the flowers as poetic?
A. The author wanted to depict this
passage as a poem.
B. The author wanted to convey
that this type of flower had been
written about by poets.
C. The author wanted to contrast
the flowers with other flowers
considered less beautiful.
D. The author wanted to convey
that Mary felt the flowers were
as beautiful as verses on a
page.
A.
B.
C.
D.
She is impatient.
She is not the safest driver.
She is drawn to the beauty in
nature.
She has a deep love for her
grandmother.
9) Which is the best antonym for lucid? 10) What do the flowers seem to come
to signify for Mary?
A. false
B. realistic
A. how beautiful the highways can
C. obscure
be
D. determined
B. an opportunity to pull off on the
side of the road
C. a chance to converse with her
grandmother
D. a chance make the hospital
room smell better
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Fried
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
Questions:
1) Choose the best synonym for futile.
A.
B.
C.
D.
arduous
enervating
homicidal
ineffective
A.
B.
C.
D.
to give in
to speak kindly
to pay attention
to answer the phone
ambivalent
condescending
jubilant
nonchalant
A.
B.
C.
D.
There is no verb.
There is no subject.
It is a sentence fragment.
There are too many
descriptions.
Questions (continued):
7) Why might the author have chosen
to capitalize all the letters in the
word "and" when writing about the
donut hamburger?
A. to make sure the reader
understood it was a list
B. to show that a greasy egg was
the last ingredient
C. to highlight that the sentence
was written incorrectly
D. to emphasize just how many
ingredients were on the
hamburger
amicable
beneficial
fortuitous
pathetic
9) How is hang used in this passage? 10) What does the author's use of the
word umpteenth suggest?
A. as a hyperbole, meaning as an
exaggeration
A. that the fair has been around
B. as a slang expression, meaning
for a long time
informal language
B. that this is the last time Bobbie
C. as an analogy, meaning a
will agree to go to the fair
comparison between two things
C. that Bobbie goes to the State
D. as a denotation, meaning the
Fair with Val frequently
literal meaning of a word
D. that this is the first time Bobbie
has agreed to go with Val
Would you like to attend the State Fair as described in the story? Explain.
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Gas
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
Questions:
1) What needs gas to work?
A. animals
B. machines
C. plants
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Green Grass
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
Questions:
1) What is the main point of this
2) What is an experiment?
passage?
A. that buckets are bad
B. that plants need sunlight
C. that grass is not pretty when it
is dull
3) What happens after a few days?
for dull?
A. The grass turns brown.
B. The grass gets very dull
C. The grass is not as green
A. bright
B. brown
C. colorful
6) What might happen if the bucket
A. a month
B. a week
C. a few days
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Griffins Talents
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
Questions:
1) What does Griffin play?
A.
B.
C.
D.
board games
the piano
soccer
the violin
every day
most days
only on Tuesdays
when he wants to
A.
B.
C.
D.
every day
most days
never
only on Tuesdays
Questions (continued):
5) How does Griffin feel about the
violin?
A.
B.
C.
D.
He loves it.
He thinks it is hard.
He hates to practice.
He does not like the sound.
to play soccer
to fix old clocks
to play the violin
to build birdhouses
A.
B.
C.
D.
read books
fix old clocks
build birdhouses
play soccer with his friends
to want to do a lot
to be good at playing the violin
to be busy doing many things
to be good at doing a lot of
things
Do you have a talent? What is it? Would you like to have a talent?
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I Fly
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
Questions:
1) Who is telling this story?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Bristol.
A little boy.
A pilot.
A friend.
A giraffe.
Her dad.
A cloud.
A tree.
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Bears
Reading Comprehension Informational Passages
Directions: Read the passage. Then answer questions about the passage below.
American Black Bears live in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. An American Black
Bear can be up to seven feet tall if it stands on its hind legs. A mother Black Bear can have
2-4 baby bears. They have the bears in winter. The baby bears are called cubs. During the
winter, the cubs stay with their mother in the bear den. During the summer, the cubs like to
go outside. They like to run and play. The cubs drink milk provided by their mother. The
cubs eat nuts, berries, and insects. The cubs also love to eat honey. During the winter, the
cubs sleep in the den with their mothers. They rest all winter. The cubs will leave their
mother the next summer. They will move away to start their own family.
Brown Bears live in the North. They live in Wyoming, Montana, Idaho,
Washington, Alaska, Canada, and northern Eurasia. Brown Bears are very big. A Brown
Bear can be up to ten feet tall if it stands on its hind legs. Like Black Bear cubs, Brown
Bear cubs are born in winter. They drink milk until spring or summer. The mothers have 24 cubs. Brown Bear cubs stay with their mothers for 2-4 years. The adult females, called
sows, teach them to hunt. They like to hunt at night. They like to hunt in large, open
spaces. Brown Bears eat mostly fruits and vegetables, but they also hunt and eat other
animals.
Q u es t i o n s :
1) When are bear cubs born?
A. Winter
B. Spring
C. Summer
D. Fall
2) What do bears do all winter?
A. They learn to hunt.
B. They run and play.
C. They fish.
D. They rest.
3) How tall can a Brown Bear get?
A. Under 7 feet
B. Up to 8 feet
C. Under 9 feet
D. Up to 10 feet
4) Brown Bears leave their mothers
A. when they are 1-2 years old.
B. when they are 2-4 years old.
C. when they are 3-5 years old.
D. when they are 4-5 years old.
5) Where do black bears like to hunt?
A.
B.
C.
D.
In open spaces
In the woods
In open spaces and in the woods
In open spaces and near the water
Vocabulary:
1) Bear cubs are
A. mother bears.
B. baby bears.
C. where bears rest.
D. groups of bears.
2) What is the best synonym for during?
A. after
B. before
C. while
D. what
3) Outside is
A. a place where bears hunt.
B. a place that is in the woods.
C. a place that is not enclosed by walls.
D. a place that does not receive sunlight.
4) When you leave, you
D. go home
E. go to sleep
F. go away
D. go back
5) What are open spaces?
A
B.
C.
D.
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Beds
Reading Comprehension Informational Passages
Directions: Read the passage. Then answer questions about the passage below.
A long time ago, people didnt sleep in beds. Ten thousand years ago, people
probably slept on leaves and animal furs.
Long ago in Egypt, people ate, slept, and talked to friends in bed. Over 3,000
years ago, King Tut of Egypt had a beautiful bed made of wood and gold! But common
people in Egypt slept on beds of grass and leaves.
In the 16th century, in the 1500s, people piled bird feathers or straw on rope
webs. Later, people made mattresses by stuffing feathers inside large cotton bags.
Louis 14th, king of France from 1643 until 1715, had 413 beds. He liked to talk to
his friends and do his work in bed. He liked beautiful beds.
In 1865, people started to put springs under their mattress to make it more
flexible. This would make it bend and flex when the sleeper moved. By the 1930s, most
beds had springs. About 100 years after people started to put springs under their mattress,
the modern waterbed was invented.
Today there are different kinds of beds. Some people have waterbeds. Some sleep
on mats. Others sleep on foam mattresses or airbeds.
Q u es t i o n s :
th
Vocabulary:
A. rich.
B. sleepy.
C. ordinary.
D. important.
2) A century is
A. 3,000
B. 1,715
C. 1,643
D. 413
3) Who liked to talk in bed?
A. 1 year.
B. 10 years.
C. 100 years.
D. 1000 years.
3) Mattresses are
A. Egyptian people
B. French people
C. The king of France
D. Both A and C are correct.
4) The modern waterbed was invented in
A. the 1830s.
B. the 1860s.
C. the 1930s.
D. the 1960s.
5) What do people sleep on now?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Foam mattresses
Waterbeds
Airbeds
All of the above
A.
B.
C.
D.
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Bees
Reading Comprehension Informational Passages
Directions: Read the passage. Then answer questions about the passage below.
Bees are insects. Bees are special insects because they can fly! They can move
through the air like an airplane! Bees can fly because they have wings. They use their
wings to fly. Bees can fly fast. Bees can also fly slow. They can fly up and they can fly
down. They need to fly to get to the flowers!
Bees can have three colors. They can be yellow, red, and orange. All bees are
black in some places.
Bees have three main parts. They have a head. They have a body. And, they have
a stinger. The stinger is used to defend against enemies. They also have six legs. They
use their legs to stand and climb. They also use their legs to eat and collect pollen.
Bees live in many places. They live in Africa, Australia, Asia, Europe, North
America, South America. The only continent that bees do not live on is Antarctica! I
understand why they dont live in Antarctica. Its too cold!
Most of the time, bees are nice to humans. If you do not bother them, they will
not bother you. Have fun watching the bees this summer!
Vocabulary:
Q u es t i o n s :
1) What are bees?
A. Mammals
B. Birds
C. Reptiles
D. Insects
2) How do bees fly?
A. Two
B. Four
C. Six
D. Eight
4) What is the stinger used for?
A. Run
B. Hide
C. Protect
D. Attack
4) What is a continent?
A. To eat food.
B. To defend against enemies.
C. Both A and B.
D. None of the above.
5) Where do bees live?
A.
B.
C.
D.
North America
Asia
Antarctica
Both A and B
A.
B.
C.
D.
make it angry.
make it get upset.
make it mad.
All of the above.
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Dogs
Reading Comprehension Informational Passages
Directions: Read the passage. Then answer questions about the passage below.
There are wild dogs and pet dogs. Pet dogs are helpers and friends to people. There were no pet dogs
15,000 years ago. Men and women learned how to work with dogs. Dogs helped humans travel from Asia to
North America 10,000 years ago by pulling sleds in the snow. People say dogs are mans best friend.
They help with farming. They help with hunting. They help with fishing. They can pull things for people.
They can help find things.
There are many colors of dogs. There are white dogs, gray dogs, black dogs, and brown dogs. A
dogs fur can be short or long. Dogs have curly hair or straight fur. There are very small dogs. They are
only 6-8 inches tall. There are very big dogs. They are about 3 feet tall.
Some dogs can see well. Some dogs do not see very well. All dogs can hear well. They can hear
sounds that people cannot hear. They can hear high sounds and low sounds. They can hear sound very far
away. All dogs can smell very well. They can smell 40 times better than humans!
Dogs live 5 to 13 years, but some dogs live much longer. One dog lived to be 24 years old!
Q u es t i o n s :
Vocabulary:
A. wild animal.
B. domestic animal.
C. large animal.
D. friendly animal.
2 ) Th e o p p o s i t e o f p u l l i s
A. 3 inches
B. 5 inches
C. 6 inches
D. 13 inches.
3) How tall are the biggest dogs?
A. receive.
B. carry.
C. push.
D. help.
3) A dogs fur is the dogs
A. 1 foot
B. 2 feet
C. 3 feet
D. 5 feet
4) What can all dogs do well?
A. nose
B. eyes
C. hair
D. ears
4) Straight hair is
A. see
B. hear
C. smell
D. Both B and C are correct
5) How old was the oldest dog?
A. curly.
B. long.
C. brown.
D. not curly.
5) Another word for human is
A.
B.
C.
D.
5 years old
10 years old
13 years old
24 years old
A.
B.
C.
D.
dog.
animal.
sound.
person.
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Fish
Directions: Read the passage. Then answer questions about the passage below.
There are many kinds of fish. There are big fish, small fish, long fish, and short fish. People know
about 25,000 different kinds of fish. There are probably 15,000 kinds of fish that people do not know about.
There are many colors of fish. There are red fish, blue fish, yellow fish, and white fish.
Fish do not all eat the same things. Some fish eat flies or other bugs. Some eat plants like seaweed.
Some eat worms. Some fish eat other fish.
The fastest fish can swim almost 70 miles per hour. Thats fast!
The heaviest fish weighs 15 tons. Thats very heavy!
The longest fish are sharks. Sharks can be 50 feet long. Thats very long!
The smallest fish is less than 1/3 inch long. Thats very small!
Fish can see, feel, and taste. Some fish can smell. Some can hear sounds in the water. Fish can feel
pain. When they get hurt, it feels bad.
Q u es t i o n s :
Vocabulary:
A. 10,000
B. 15,000
C. 25,000
D. 40,000
2) There are many
A. type.
B. color.
C. name.
D. number.
2) An example of a color is
A. kinds of fish
B. sizes of fish
C. colors of fish
D. All of the above
3) How fast can the fastest fish swim?
A. big.
B. red.
C. long.
D. kind.
3) Flies are
A. fish.
B. bugs.
C. plants.
D. worms.
4) Weight is a measure of how
A. 40 feet
B. 50 feet
C. 60 feet
D. 70 feet
5) How much does the heaviest fish weigh?
A.
B.
C.
D.
15 pounds
150 pounds
15 tons
150 tons
A.
B.
C.
D.
a bad feeling.
a big fish.
a sound.
a taste.
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Flags
Reading Comprehension Informational Passages
Directions: Read the passage. Then answer questions about the passage below.
The first flags were probably in China. People flew flags in China over 4,000 years ago. Each
part of the army had its own flag so the soldiers could see their leaders. Early flags were sticks of wood.
They had pictures cut into the wood.
Iran had metal flags about 3,000 years ago. Old Greek coins show pictures of flags. People in
Rome also used flags over 2,000 years ago. People first made flags of cloth about 2,000 years ago.
Those flags looked like todays flags.
Flags are important at sea. Most ships fly their own countrys flag and the flag of the country
they are visiting. When a ship flies only its own flag, it is ready to fight.
Every country now has a flag. Every U.S. state has a flag. Clubs, teams, and schools have flags.
The Olympics has a flag. The Olympics flag has five rings of five colors. Each ring stands for, or
represents, a continent. It means that people from five continents Africa, Asia, Europe, North
America, and South America come to play.
Railway lines also use flags. Railway flags tell the trains what to do. For example, a red flag tells
the train to stop, just like a stop sign. A blue, white, or green flag tells the train that it can go. A blue flag
on the side of a train means someone is working on the train. It means nobody can move the train.
Q u es t i o n s :
Vocabulary:
A. wood
B. cloth
C. rings
D. metal
2) How many flags do most ships fly?
A. color.
B. fabric.
C. metal.
D. wood.
2) Ships are
A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3
3) The Olympics flag has
A. boats.
B. coins.
C. flags.
D. teams.
3) Another way to say represents is
A. five rings
B. five colors
C. five countries
D. Both A and B are correct.
4) A white flag tells a train that
A. flies.
B. visits.
C. works on.
D. stands for.
4) Continents are
A. it can go.
B. it should stop.
C. it has to be careful.
D. nobody can move the train.
5) People flew the first flags
A. countries.
B. kinds of games.
C. large pieces of land.
D. pictures cut in wood.
5) If you tell someone information you
A.
B.
C.
D.
A.
B.
C.
D.
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Frogs
Reading Comprehension Informational Passages
Directions: Read the passage. Then answer questions about the passage below.
Frogs live on land and in water. Frogs have long back legs and short bodies. Their
eyes stick out. They do not have tails. Most of the time they move in the water, but they can
also move on land. Frogs have smooth, not bumpy, skin. They can breathe through their skin.
Their skin must stay wet so they can breathe through it. Young frogs must breathe through
their skin. Older frogs grow lungs. They breathe through their lungs when they are on land,
just like people do. Frogs lay their eggs in ponds and other bodies of water, like lakes.
Frogs must move fast to catch something to eat. They must also get away from bigger
animals. Some frogs have webs of skin between their toes. Webbed toes are good because it
helps them to swim very fast. Tree frogs have toe pads. The toe pads help them hang on
when they climb. When they climb, they move up trees or rocks. Some tree frogs live high in
very tall trees. Those tree frogs have webs between their toes. They can jump from tree to
tree. They cant fly, but they can stay in the air for a long jump.
Q u es t i o n s :
Vocabulary:
1) Smooth skin is
A. not bumpy.
B. not wet.
C. bumpy.
D. wet.
2) People and frogs both use lungs to
A. In water
B. On land
C. In trees
D. Under rocks
3) How are young and old frogs different?
A. climb.
B. move fast.
C. breathe.
D. get something to eat.
3) Ponds are
A. small frogs.
B. frog eggs.
C. large animals
D. bodies of water.
4) To hang on means to
A. climb.
B. swim.
C. jump.
D. fly.
5) What helps frogs swim and jump?
A. fall down.
B. hold on.
C. go on.
D. None of the above.
5) To climb means to
A.
B.
C.
D.
Toe pads
Their lungs
Their smooth skin
Webs of skin between their toes
A.
B.
C.
D.
move fast.
take in.
move up.
move in.
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Houses
Reading Comprehension Informational Passages
Directions: Read the passage. Then answer questions about the passage below.
There are houses all over the world. Some houses are large. Some are small. Some are made of wood.
Some are made of rock. Some are made of mud. Some are made of cloth. In cold places, some houses are made of
ice frozen water! People usually build their houses with something that is easy to find. For example, there are
many trees in a forest. So people who live there might build a house made of logs.
Some houses have one room. Some houses have many rooms. There is usually a bedroom for sleeping.
There is often a kitchen for cooking. There is usually a bathroom. There is often a living room for sitting and
talking. Some houses have basements. The basement is under the main part of the house. Some houses have attics.
The attic is above the main part of the house. Most houses have a door so people can enter and exit the house.
Most houses have windows so the people can look outside. Windows also let air into the house from outdoors.
Some houses are fancy. They are painted bright colors, and are very decorative. Some houses not fancy
they are plain and simple. Houses look very different in different parts of the world. But, people who live in a
house probably all agree that there is no place like home!
Q u es t i o n s :
1) Why are many forest houses made of
logs?
A. There are many logs in the forest.
B. Trees are easy to find in the forest.
C. There is a lot of wood in the forest.
D. All of the above
2) Why do houses have bedrooms?
A. For sleeping
B. For cooking
C. For relaxing
D. For building things
3) Where is the basement of a house?
A. Beside the house
B. Above the house
C. Under the house
D. None of the above
4) Houses have doors
A. so people can enter and exit.
B. so people can sleep.
C. so people can cook and eat.
D. Both A and B are correct.
5) Houses have windows to
A.
B.
C.
D.
Vocabulary:
1) What is ice?
A. Trees that are cut down
B. Water that is frozen
C. A kind of grass
D. A kind of cloth
2) A kitchen is a
A. room for sleeping.
B. room for cooking.
C. room which is under a house.
D. room which is above a house.
3) An attic is
A. a house made of ice.
B. a house in the forest.
C. a room under a house.
D. a room above a house.
4) If something is fancy, it is
A. bright and decorative.
B. plain and simple.
C. ugly.
D. old and tarnished.
5) If people agree, they
A.
B.
C.
D.
decide to do something.
feel the same way about something.
live in the same house.
do something together.
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Humans
Reading Comprehension Informational Passages
Directions: Read the passage. Then answer questions about the passage below.
The human body has many parts. People have two arms and two legs. We have
two hands and two feet. We have five fingers on each hand. We have five toes on each
foot.
We each have two eyes on our face. We see with our eyes. We each have two
ears. We hear with our ears. We each have one nose on our face. We smell with our nose.
We each have one tongue. We taste with our tongue. We each have one brain. We think
with our brain. We each have two lungs in our chest. We breathe with our lungs.
Humans can do many things. People can walk. We use our legs and feet to walk.
We can run. Running is faster than walking. We use our legs and feet to run. We can
climb. We use our arms, hands, legs and feet to climb. We can climb up trees or climb up
ladders. We can eat and drink. We use our mouth and teeth to eat. We eat meat, fruit,
vegetables, and other foods. We can drink lots of things, but we drink water the most. We
also use our mouth and teeth to talk.
Q u es t i o n s :
Vocabulary:
A. leg
B. foot
C. nose
D. hand
2) Your face has your
A. 1
B. 2
C. 5
D. 10
3) What do we smell with?
A. Our toes
B. Our nose
C. Our lungs
D. Our fingers
4) We use our legs to
A. ear.
B. nose.
C. chest.
D. mouth.
4) You use your lungs to
A. run.
B. walk.
C. climb.
D. All of the above
5) What do humans eat?
A. eat.
B. hear.
C. smell.
D. breathe.
5) To climb is to
A.
B.
C.
D.
Meat
Water
Ladders
Coffee
A.
B.
C.
D.
go in.
go up.
taste food.
drink water.
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Ice Fishing
Directions: Read the passage. Then answer questions about the passage below.
The first tip for a good day of ice fishing is to wear the right clothes. You should dress in layers. Wear 2 or 3
shirts, so you can take off a layer when you are warm. Wear a face mask, a warm hat with ear flaps over your ears,
and warm gloves and boots.
The second tip is to stay warm. Some people put up cloth tents when they go ice fishing. Some people own
small ice houses where they can stay warm. You can use a small heater inside the tent or outside on the ice. Be sure
to take a hot drink like hot chocolate. You should move around to stay warm. Some people take ice skates.
The third tip is to check the ice. Look at it carefully. The ice must be 4 or more inches thick. This is the ice
rule: Thick and blue, tried and true. Thin and crispy, way too risky. Thick ice is safe for ice fishing. Thin ice is
dangerous.
The fourth tip is to take the right tools. You need to drill a hole in the ice with an ice drill. Then make the
hole bigger with a chopping tool, like an ax. You need to carry your bait in a bait bucket. Use worms or small fish
for bait. You need a chair to sit on. Take a folding chair so you can carry it easily. Be sure to take your fish hooks
and fishing rod! Pull all your tools on a sled. Take your cell phone. You might need to call for help.
The fifth tip is to have a great time!
Q u es t i o n s :
Vocabulary:
1) Tents are
A. hats
B. boots
C. heaters
D. shelters
2) Another way to say check is
A. safe.
B. thick.
C. crispy.
D. dangerous.
4) What is bait?
A. Hot chocolate
B. Small fish
C. Worms
D. Both B and C are correct.
5) How thick must the ice be?
A.
B.
C.
D.
2 inches
3 inches
4 inches
5 inches
A.
B.
C.
D.
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Leonardo da Vinci
Directions: Read the passage. Then answer questions about the passage below.
Leonardo da Vinci was born in 1452 in the area of Florence, Italy. He did many things. He was a
scientist. He was an inventor - he made new things. He was a musician. He was a mathematician. He was an
architect he knew how to plan the construction of buildings. He knew about animals. He knew about plants.
He could do many things well. He was very talented.
He was famous for his painting. He painted the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. They are his most
famous paintings. Many people know about them. He started working on The Last Supper in 1495 in Milan. He
finished it in 1498. He started working on the Mona Lisa in 1503 in Italy. He finished it a short time before he
died. It is now in France.
Leonardos paintings were very good. He understood how bodies worked. He knew how happy or sad
people looked. He knew how emotion looked on peoples faces. He understood nature, light, and shadow. His
paintings looked real.
Leonardo had many ideas for inventions. He drew plans for a helicopter. He drew plans for a tank. He
had an idea for a calculator. He had an idea for making solar power, which is power that comes from the sun.
Leonardo lived at the same time as Michelangelo and Raphael. He was 27 years older than
Michelangelo. He was 31 years older than Raphael. Leonardo died in 1519.
Q u es t i o n s :
Vocabulary:
A. 1495
B. 1498
C. 1503
D. 1519
2) Where is the Mona Lisa now?
A. In Florence
B. In France
C. In Milan
D. None of the above
3) What was one of Leonardos talents?
A. He could dance.
B. He was a pilot.
C. He could cook.
D. He knew math.
4) What was one of Leonardos ideas?
A. health.
B. shadows.
C. feelings.
D. None of the above.
5) What is another way to say solar?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Raphael.
Aristotle.
Socrates.
Michelangelo.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Related to talent
Related to nature
Related to the sun
Related to painting
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Soda Pop
Reading Comprehension Informational Passages
Directions: Read the passage. Then answer questions about the passage below.
Soda pop has an interesting story. The story begins with mineral water. Mineral water comes from
springs. In many places, people take baths in mineral water. They say washing with mineral water is good for
their health. Some say drinking mineral water is also good for people.
Mineral water has bubbles in it. People learned to make bubbly water in the 1770s. They added CO2 to
water with a machine to make the water bubbly. The machine was the soda fountain. They called the new
bubbly water soda water or ccarbonated water.
American drug stores sold soda water. Druggists put good-tasting flavors in the soda water. People
drank soda water for their health. Many people liked it for its good flavor. Many people went to the soda
fountain every day. Most soda fountains were in drug stores or ice cream shops.
In the early 1900s, people bought soda water in bottles. Later in the 1900s, people started to buy
flavored soda water in cans. Now it is sold in many containers in grocery stores and other places where food is
sold. Some people call it pop. Some say soda. Other people call it cola, tonic, or soda pop.
Q u es t i o n s :
Vocabulary:
1) B at h i n g i s
A. drinking water.
B. washing with water.
C. selling bubbly water.
D. putting bubbles in water.
2) Bubbly water is
A. A drug store
B. A bath machine
C. A machine which made ice cream
D. A machine which made bubbly water
3) At first, Americans bought soda water
A. good tasting.
B. a drug.
C. fizzy.
D. cold.
3) Carbonated water is water with
A. CO2.
B. bubbles.
C. good-tasting things added.
D. Both A and B are correct.
4) A flavor is
A. Soda fountains
B. Ice machines
C. Machines
D. Springs
5) Soda and pop are
A. ice cream.
B. a drink.
C. a taste.
D. soda.
5) Grocery stores are
A.
B.
C.
D.
A.
B.
C.
D.
drug stores.
food stores.
soda fountains.
ice cream shops.
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Name________________
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Tea
Reading Comprehension Informational Passages
Directions: Read the passage. Then answer questions about the passage below.
People drink a lot of tea. There are many kinds of tea. There is black tea. There is
green tea. There is white tea. There is red tea. There is yellow tea.
People drink a lot of tea in China. Some people drink it because it is good for
them. It makes them healthy. Other people drink it because it tastes very good. It tastes
delicious. People drink a lot of green tea in Japan. People drink a lot of green tea in
Korea too. In Vietnam, some people drink coffee before they drink tea. People drink a lot
of tea in England. Every afternoon, English people drink tea. English people add milk to
their tea. Finally, many people drink tea in the U.S. In the South, people drink sweet
tea. Sweet tea is cold black tea with sugar.
Most tea comes from China. Some tea comes from India or Sri Lanka. Kenya,
Japan, and Indonesia also grow a lot of tea.
Q u es t i o n s :
Vocabulary:
1) Some tea is
A. purple.
B. green.
C. pink.
D. blue.
2) People drink coffee before tea in
A. tastes good.
B. is many colors.
C. is good for them.
D. comes from many places.
2) Things that are delicious
A. China.
B. Korea.
C. England.
D. Vietnam.
3) People add milk to their tea in
A. are green.
B. are yellow.
C. taste very good.
D. are good for you.
3) Before means
A. India.
B. England.
C. Vietnam.
D. Sri Lanka.
4) People drink sweet tea in
A. in front of.
B. during.
C. earlier or sooner than.
D. Both A and C are correct.
4) If you add milk to tea, you
A.
B.
C.
D.
Indonesia.
Kenya.
Japan.
China.
A.
B.
C.
D.
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Tennis
Directions: Read the passage. Then answer questions about the passage below.
Tennis is a sport played between two players (singles) or between two teams of
two players (doubles). Each player uses a tennis racket to strike a hollow rubber ball
covered with felt. To win, you must hit the ball into the opponents court without the
opponent being able to hit the ball back.
Tennis originated in the United Kingdom in the late 19th century. At first, people
played tennis on courts made of grass! These were called lawn courts. Now, tennis is
played by millions of people all over the world. The rules of tennis have changed very
little since it was created in the 1890s.
Most tennis players play tennis because it is fun. It also is a good way to get
exercise. While playing tennis, you do a lot of running. You move your arms and legs in
many ways that they do not normally move.
Q u es t i o n s :
Vocabulary:
A. A bat
B. A striker
C. A racket
D. None of the above
2) _____ people can play tennis at once.
A. hit it.
B. smash it.
C. hold it.
D. cross it out.
2) A tennis ball is hollow. This means
A. One
B. Two
C. Four
D. Both B and C
3) Where did tennis originate?
A. it is solid.
B. is filled with water.
C. it has air inside it.
D. None of the above.
3) What is the opposite of opponent?
A. Australia
B. Asia
C. The United States
D. The United Kingdom
4) When did people start playing tennis?
A. Enemy
B. Teammate
C. Ally
D. Both B and C
4) The passage talks about where tennis
originated. So, the passage talks about
Because it is fun.
Because they want to win.
Because they dont have a basketball.
Both A and B
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EnglishForEveryone.Org 2008
I am sitting in a chair next to Mommas bed. I am watching her get ready for a
party.
She opens the beautiful jewelry box on her nightstand.
It is the size of a shoebox. It is wooden. It has colorful stones on top. They are
red, green, yellow and blue. To me, the box looks magical. It looks like it has
special powers.
Now, you know you must never touch this box, right? Momma says. I feel like
she knows exactly what I am thinking.
I just want to touch it. I just want to open it.
I just want to try on all the jewelry inside and dance around
the room!
Yes, Momma, I say. I know.
What do I know?
I know Momma has always told me not to touch the box. She has said it since I
was a little girl.
You are not old enough to wear my jewelry, Momma says.
I am 11-years-old now! What is the big deal ?
I know that when Momma puts on the rings and bracelets from the box, she looks
different. She seems to glow.
There is one necklace with a yellow stone like a tigers eye. When Momma puts
this on, she seems to float instead of walk. Her feet do not seem to touch the
ground. She moves lightly and gracefully. She moves without effort.
Momma kisses me goodnight. She leaves for the party. I run to the window to
wave to her, but she is already gone.
Tonight I am very curious.
Just one touch
I sit on the edge of Mommas bed. I place my hand on the nightstand. I pause. I
think.
My hand moves up and rests on the jewelry box. The box quickly flips open by
itself! Jewels fly into the air. They dance around my head. I feel strange. I fall
down to the floor.
I wake up in a place I have never seen before.
Questions:
1) Where does most of this story take
place?
A.
B.
C.
D.
at a party
in a pretend place
outside a window
in Momma's bedroom
in a chair
on the bed
on the floor
next to the window
that it is magical
that she must never touch it
that the jewels are expensive
that she can touch it when she is
older
A.
B.
C.
D.
It is brown.
It is wooden.
It is the size of a shoebox.
It has colored stones on top.
Momma
a young girl
Momma's friend
a make-believe person
angry
curious
in love
scared
Questions (continued):
9) When does the girl say Momma
seems to glow?
A. when she puts on make-up
B. when she puts on a necklace
C. when she puts on the rings and
bracelets
D. when she puts on nice shoes
and a fancy dress
going to a party
how to open the box
dancing around the room
if she should touch the box
A. ____________________
_______________________
_______________________
It is a heavy thing.
It is very important.
It cannot be forgotten.
It can make a lot of money.
A.
B.
C.
D.
A.
B.
C.
D.
It is evil.
It can fly.
It is very heavy.
It has special powers.
ReadTheory.Org 2010
Name________________
Date________________
EnglishForEveryone.Org 2008
Late
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
Martin is in a hurry.
He is late to work again.
Martin's boss doesn't like it when he is late. Martin was late last week. His boss
told him not to be late again.
You cant be late anymore, said Martins boss. "I mean it."
Martin thinks he might lose his job if he is late again.
The time is now 7:15 am. Martin needs to be to work by 7:30. It takes him 22
minutes to drive to work.
Things dont look good, he says to himself.
Martin runs out of the house. He jumps in his car. He puts the car in reverse. He
backs up without looking.
BOOM!
There is a sound like someone hitting a drum. Martins car jerks to
a stop. He has hit the car parked behind him.
Oh no! Martin exclaims. He is angry now.
Martin looks at his watch. It is 7:18. He needs to get to work.
He looks around. There is no one on the street. There is no one nearby.
He looks in the parked car. It is empty.
Martin drives off quickly.
He gets to work 10 minutes late.
Martins boss is not around. Thank goodness, he says to himself.
He stops worrying. He sits at his desk to work.
During lunch, Martin goes out to the parking lot. He looks at his car. There is a
big dent in the back.
Then he thinks about the other car - the car he hit this morning. "I know that car
is damaged too," he thinks.
He feels guilty.
That was not right, Martin says to himself.
He will see if the car is still outside his house when he gets off work.
Questions:
1) Martin is in a hurry. What does this
mean?
A.
B.
C.
D.
He is running.
He is angry.
He is late.
He is moving fast.
He is serious.
He is angry.
He is emotional.
He is interested.
7:32
7:37
7:40
7:52
_______________________
7) What is the loud noise?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Martin yelling
police sirens sounding
Martin driving off the road
Martin hitting someones car
in
next to
close to
far (away) from
A.
B.
C.
D.
his boss
his friends
himself
the driver of the other car
Questions (continued):
11) How do Martin's feelings change
during the story?
A.
B.
C.
D.
He needed help.
He wanted a ride to work.
He needed to check the time.
He wanted to check if anyone
saw him.
A.
B.
C.
D.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
ReadTheory.Org 2010
Name________________
Date________________
EnglishForEveryone.Org 2008
Love Train
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
When I was a little girl, I loved for my mom to tell me stories about
herself. No matter how tired she was, she never adumbrated them. She would
fill the tales with the minutest details, and they were always fascinating.
Another thing she did was tell the stories with such grandiloquence! Then she
would stop and say, Now what do you think that word means? I would try to
piece together what was happening in the story and make my best guess.
To this day, when I want to bug my friends, I use the huge words I first learned
leaning on Mom's shoulder as she recounted a snippet of her life.
My favorite story was the one about how my mom met my dad:
I was 17-years-old, but I already knew the kind of man I would marry. Take
note:"
He would not be too garrulous. I tell you, Rosa, its important for a man to take
time to listen to what you have to say."
And never impertinent. Ill never forget when I was 16; a boy from my church
named Joe Turner came and knocked on our door. He didnt look my momma in
the eye, and didnt say, Hello. He just leaned against the door jam and said,
Rosa here?"
My momma raised her brow and said, She is, but not for boys such as
yourself."
But I digress. Im supposed to be telling you about the day I met your daddy,
right?"
Okay, so I was riding the Amtrak train between Providence and Philadelphia
during my freshman year at Brown, and the door at the end of my car rattled
open."
He was tall and swarthy. He wore a thick ivory cable knit sweater with a gray
wool scarf wrapped firmly around his neck. I couldnt tell what his heritage was
and that intrigued me. What was he -- Indian, Portuguese, Peruvian?
Mom would pause here and I would shout, Cape Verdean!
Shed continue.
Well, if I had been shy, I might have just looked out the train window. But then
where would I be now? You wouldnt even be here! So I let my eyes lock with his
as he wobbled down the moving train."
He smiled a slight smile, not a big one. His eyes raised just enough to let me
know he had spotted me too.
I always loved this line and would smile at the image of my dad stumbling down
the train and then noticing my radiant mom.
So Rosa, once we spotted each other, your dad found infinite reasons to walk
past me to go to the caf car."
"I was sitting by myself along the aisle. So finally, I just slid over to the window,
leaving the seat next to me empty."
Your dad came back with two cups of hot cocoa and sat down with a smile. And
we had the most delightful conversation!"
I could tell right then that this was no ephemeral crush this was the real deal. I
was going to end up loving this man forever.
Here comes the part I loved best about the story.
We pull into the train station in Philadelphia, and its time for me to get off. He
was heading on to Washington where he was going to school."
I prepared myself for some hackneyed expression as I got off the train. You
know, Great meeting you, or Youre the apple of my eye."
"I also worried he might try to sneak a smooch, which would have been a big turn
off. We'd just met!"
"Instead, he took my hand gently and gave it a little squeeze. He said, If its the
thought that counts, consider yourself kissed.
Mama said she just about died when he said that! Then she said to herself, That
man will be my husband.
And so he is.
Questions:
1) As used in this passage, which is
the best antonym for adumbrated?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
detailed
lengthened
invented
simplified
understated
technical jargon
archaic speech
pithy expression
pompous language
foreign word or phrase
Questions (continued):
3) What is ironic about the title of this passage?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
4) Why might the author have chosen Rosa as the narrator even though it is her
mother who is telling the main story?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
conceited
loquacious
narrow-minded
obsequious
patronizing
Questions (continued):
7) Which is the best antonym for digress?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
stop
stray
shorten
remember
stay on course
8) What may Rosa be meaning to convey to her child by telling this story?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
9) Judging from the passage, what does Rosa's mother find most important in a
husband?
Check three that are correct.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
humor
politeness
originality
respectfulness
heroism
Questions (continued):
11) As used in this passage, what is
the meaning of ephemeral?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
fleeting
permanent
ridiculous
serious
young
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
happy
humorous
original
over-used
turbulent
Do you like this story? What is your favorite part? What is your least favorite
part? What could you do to make it better?
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Music
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
Questions:
1) What does kinds mean in this
passage?
A. fun music
B. classical music
C. rock music
A. artists
B. types
C. instruments
is ________.
A. good
B. okay
C. bad
ReadTheory.Org 2010
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My Family
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
I have two sisters. Their names are Rachel and Carrie. Rachel is 18 years old.
Carrie is 10 years old. They are very nice.
My mother's name is Julia. She is 40 years old. My mother is also very nice.
I also have a dog. My dog's name is Paw. He is a big dog. He is a brown dog. He
is a big brown dog.
I love my family.
Questions:
1) How many sisters do I have?
A.
B.
C.
D.
one
two
three
four
3) My dad is
A.
B.
C.
D.
a doctor.
a lawyer.
an engineer.
a construction worker.
He is white.
He is black.
He is brown.
He is yellow.
twenty-five
thirty
thirty-five
forty
A. ________________
A. ________________
A. ________________
ReadTheory.Org 2010
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My Friend
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
I have a friend.
My friend lives in California.
My friend is a girl.
She is seventeen years old.
Her name is Jessica Roberts.
Jessica is cool. I like her a lot.
She likes to read. She is a good reader.
She is good at math too. It is her best subject.
Jessica is smart.
I like to eat lunch with her. We eat lunch on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
Jessica is my friend.
Questions:
1) Where does my friend live?
A. Colorado
B. Texas
C. California
Questions (continued):
5) What is my friend's last name?
A. Rowan
B. Randal
C. Roberts
Do you have a good friend? What is he or she like? What things do you like to do
together?
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My House
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
Questions:
1) What is the United States?
A. a city
B. a state
C. a country
7) What is a hill?
A. a forest
B. a large river
C. a small mountain
ReadTheory.Org 2010
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Maddy loves to jump rope, scooter and ride her skateboard. One day, Maddy
gets a hole in the shoes she likes best while riding her scooter. They are pink
with hearts and a Velcro tab. Now she needs new shoes.
Maddy's mom takes her to the shoe store Saturday morning. The store fills with
people looking for shirts, dresses, pants and toys. Maddy's mom takes her to the
shoe area.
The shoe area is crowded, and there is a long wait. Maddy does not mind.
Maddy sees a pair of purple sneakers with orange laces. She sees a pair of red
sandals with dots. She sees a pair of green flip-flops. She wants the purple
sneakers.
"But you do not know how to tie your laces," says Maddy's mom.
"I will learn," says Maddy.
Maddy's mother thinks. She does not want to tie Maddy's laces each morning
before school.
"If we buy the purple sneakers, you must learn to tie them before you can wear
them to school," says Maddy's mom.
"I will! I promise!" says Maddy. She is very happy.
Maddy practices tying her laces for the rest of the day. She practices more on
Sunday. Finally, she learns how to tie her laces.
She gets to wear her new shoes to school on Monday.
"I did it," she says with a big smile.
Questions:
1) Why does Maddy need new shoes?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Questions (continued):
3) Which shoes have a hole?
A.
B.
C.
D.
a lot of people
her older sister
her friends from school
one of her neighbors
9) What does Maddy's mom NOT want 10) How might Maddy feel after
to do?
learning to tie?
A.
B.
C.
D.
A.
B.
C.
D.
happy
proud
shy
sick
ReadTheory.Org 2010
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Paul Cooks
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
Questions:
1) What does Paul love to read?
A. __________________
A. _________________
become a chef
grow his own food
cook every recipe in a week
try a new recipe for three days in
a row
Questions (continued):
5) What does Paul get from the
farmer's market?
A. _________________
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Pigs
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
Questions:
1) What does a snout look like?
A.
B.
C.
D.
take a shower
drink warm water
move into the barn
lay in a puddle of mud
corn
meat
carrots
all of the above
ReadTheory.Org 2010
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Rainy Day
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
My name is Mimi.
Today is July 5th, 2010.
Today is a rainy day.
I am happy today.
Why am I happy?
I am happy because it is raining!
Is that strange?
Maybe.
But I like it when it rains. The rain makes me happy.
I like rainy days. I do not like sunny days.
I like the sound of the rain.
I like the clouds. The clouds are gray. The clouds are big.
I like the rain.
Questions:
1) What is my name?
A. __________________
3) Why am I happy?
A.
B.
C.
D.
red
blue
gray
green
A. Yes.
B. No.
A.
B.
C.
D.
the sound
the smell
the clouds
the temperature
ReadTheory.Org 2010
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Remains of a Marriage
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
Leave it.
Kelsey could not begin to fathom what she was hearing. In fact, a part
of her began to feel she was in some sort of dream, unable to emerge to
wakefulness.
Even the contractor appeared flabbergasted. His mouth stayed in a half-open
position, like a marionette waiting for its strings to be tugged.
Yes. Leave it, Robert said again. He was speaking to the notion that someone
in the room had asked him to clarify his words. No one had, but Robert had
understood the silence.
What were the chances that an Indian burial ground would be found on the
bucolic site where Robert and Kelsey had chosen to build their dream home?
Why in the world would Robert not want to have the remains carted away,
thought Kelsey. The last thing they needed were Indian poltergeists meandering
around their home while the two of them were trying to renovate their marriage.
Kelsey, usually deferential to her husband, knew that now was the time to make
her position heard.
She tried to cajole Robert from the direction he was heading. Sweetheart, she
whinnied. We dont want to build on a site with human remains. It would be
irreverent to the dead.
Immediately, she saw contempt in Roberts eyes; it was a subtle reminder of how
he often viewed her as superficial and self-absorbed.
What would be irreverent, said Robert, his voice dripping with condescension,
would be to desecrate these Native graves and move them from their final
resting place. Remember the culture.
No, Kelsey did not remember the culture. She could care less about the culture.
However, Robert, the history professor, was obviously enthralled by the
contractors findings. He had an innate way of understanding other cultures and
other people that amazed Kelsey. He did not have that gift with her.
But something inside Kelsey said this was too much. She believed
wholeheartedly in ghosts and could not imagine a life of them haunting her,
rattling her cupboards, and shaking her floorboards.
Kelsey had an unnerving sensation that big problems were ahead.
Questions:
1) Why can't Kelsey fathom what her
husband says at the beginning of
the passage?
A. She could not hear what Robert
said.
B. She could not believe what he
said.
C. She had not yet seen the
remains.
D. She could not think of a retort to
his comment.
dumbfounded
intuitive
querulous
tactful
It will be haunted.
B. It will be in the city.
C. Kelsey considers it their
dream house.
D. It will be in the country.
A.
Questions (continued):
7) If Kelsey had chosen to
be deferential to her husband,
what would she have most likely
said?
A.
B.
C.
D.
"Good idea."
"Don't be silly."
"I'll leave you."
"I love you."
honor
excavate
defile
criticize
It seems busy.
It seems blissful.
It seems strained.
It seems good-natured.
He is controlling.
He fears the Indians.
He cares about history.
He doesn't want to build a
house.
Do you think Robert and Kelsey should build on the burial ground? Explain.
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Running
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
Questions:
1) What does Dieter love to do?
A. __________________
A. He feels good.
B. He feels bad.
3) What does Dieter do while he is
running?
A.
B.
C.
D.
He dreams.
He sleeps.
He eats
He drinks.
ReadTheory.Org 2010
Name________________
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Scorpion
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
Soon after Navi got engaged to Roberto, she went to meet his family
in Mexico.
She had heard many a story of Robertos birth city of Guanajuato, and they had
all captivated her. At one time, this colonial city was the source of two-thirds of
the worlds silver.
Our family goes to a beautiful church in Guanajuato, Roberto had told her while
they courted in the United States. It is said that silver dust was mixed into the
cement building blocks and that is why the church sparkles.
Navi had been enthralled. Roberto always told such wonderful stories. She
could not wait to see the city and meet all of Robertos family. Navi was an artist
and knew that the trip would inspire her to create.
While Roberto had imparted Navi with all the wonders of his beautiful city, it had
not occurred to him to mention any dangers. They were young. They were in
love. They lived only in the moment.
Navi was speechless when she saw the Oratorio de San Felipe. It really does
sparkle! she exclaimed.
Navi kissed Roberto on the cheek. Ill meet you outside, she said, leaving the
church.
She pulled her sketchpad and pencils from her bag and went to sit against one of
the glorious palm trees outside the church. She began sketching
the colossal cupola which extended three stories above the nave.
Suddenly, a sharp pain took hold of her left shoulder. It felt like an electrical
shock. The pain began to pervade the rest of her body.
She had been stung by a pernicious scorpion!
The last thing Navi remembered was Roberto kneeling by her side. She woke up
a week later with him holding her hand and telling her a story. In Mexico,
scorpions are ubiquitous. There are more scorpion deaths here than in any
other place in the world. And they love palm trees, he said, rubbing her hand
with tears of relief in his eyes. I should have mentioned that before.
Questions:
1) Which is the best antonym
for captivated?
A.
B.
C.
D.
dishonored
enthralled
repelled
saddened
paralysis
B. nausea
C. pain
D. unconsciousness
A.
banal
microscopic
temporal
uninspiring
numb
paralyze
permeate
sicken
Questions (continued):
7) How does Roberto seem to feel
about not having told Navi about
scorpions?
A.
B.
C.
D.
aloof
perplexed
remorseful
validated
deadly
evil
sneaky
territorial
scarce
benevolent
harmless
adulterated
ReadTheory.Org 2010
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Seeing Clearly
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
Questions:
1) What proverb fits this story best?
A.
B.
C.
D.
overindulging
avoiding them
eating them in moderation
eating only the all-natural
versions
dangerous
difficult
juvenile
mature
honestly
obviously
slowly
sneakily
Questions (continued):
7) Which best describes the clerk's
attitude?
A.
B.
C.
D.
hostile
incoherent
patronizing
domineering
8) Which statements
suggest condescension?
Check all that are correct.
A.
at night.
B.
Take your dirty feet off my
designer sofa.
C.
If you had studied, you would
have done better on the test.
D.
If you had my fashion sense,
you wouldn't have chosen that
outfit to wear.
9) Which best describes the tone of this 10) What is ironic about the clerk
passage?
calling Donna "Ma'am"?
A.
B.
C.
D.
angry
dark
lighthearted
passionate
Do you feel younger than you actually are? Do you feel older? Explain.
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Seeing Stars
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
Yana is my mother.
Tony is my father.
My name is Sasha.
We live in a red house.
We have a blue car.
We sit in the yard at night.
We look at the stars.
Father tells me the stars make him happy.
Mother tells me the stars make her want to sing.
I like to guess how many stars are in the sky.
We hear a baby cry next door. My mother sings.
The baby stops crying. We think he heard my mothers pretty song.
We all smile.
Questions:
1) Who is Yana?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Sasha's father
Sashas mother
Tony's father
Tonys mother
Questions (continued):
3) Who is telling the story?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Father
Mother
Sasha
The baby
Funny.
Happy.
Like counting.
Like singing.
A. _________________
They cry.
They laugh.
They smile.
They talk.
ReadTheory.Org 2010
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Seeing Through
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
Jeffrey brushed quickly past an elderly woman waiting on the platform ahead of
him to get onto the subway. He wanted to be sure to get a seat to read
his Financial Times. As the train screeched out of the station, he lifted his head
from business news and stared at the man directly across from him.
A fierce wave a tsunami of antipathy came over him. Jeffrey knew this man,
knew him all too well.
Their eyes locked.
As the train reached full speed, the ruckus of speeding wheels against the
winding rails and a wildly gyrating subway car filled Jeffreys ears. To this frenetic
beat, Jeffrey effortlessly listed in his head all the reasons this man, whose eyes
he stared coldly into, was an anathema to him.
He had climbed the upper echelons of his Wall Street firm using
an imperious manner with his subordinates, always making sure everyone knew
he was the boss.
Despite his impoverished upbringing, he had become ostentatious. Flush with
cash from the lucrative deals he had made on Wall Street, he had purchased a
yacht and a home in Versailles. He used neither. But, oh, how he liked to say he
had them. Meanwhile, Jeffrey knew, this mans parents were on the verge of
being evicted from their run-down tenement apartment in the South Bronx.
What bothered Jeffrey most about this man was that he never even attempted to
make amends for his evil ways.
Could this man change? Jeffrey did not know. He could try though.
The train screeched to Jeffreys stop at Battery Park. He gave the man one last
hard look. See you around, he mumbled to himself. And he knew would,
because Jeffrey had been glaring at his own reflection in the subway window.
It would take years of hard work and therapy, but Jeffrey would one day notice
this man again on the train and marvel at what a kinder person he had become.
Questions:
1) Which best describes Jeffrey's attitude in this passage?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
feral
florid
hapless
impetuous
self-loathing
angled
drizzled
rained
swept
trampled
ambivalence
desperation
ardor
infatuation
plethora
5) "As the train reached full speed, the cacophony of speeding wheels against
the winding rails and a wildly gyrating train filled Jeffreys ears."
Which describes a literary technique used in this sentence?
Check two that are correct.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Questions (continued):
6) What is the main conflict in this
passage?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
to ignore them
to be stoic around them
to openly humiliate them
to not be affected by them
to be domineering toward them
assiduous
decadent
modest
miserly
pretentious
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
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Questions:
1) What is Talia doing for her special
day?
A. She is having a party.
B. She is going to her friend's
house.
C. She is making dinner.
D. She is going to a restaurant.
9) What is a salon ?
A. a restaurant
B. a place where people talk about
business
C. a gift shop
D. a place to get hair and nails
done
It is her birthday.
She is going on a trip.
She is going to church.
She is going to school.
She smiles.
She says hello.
She gives them a hug.
She gives them a kiss.
ReadTheory.Org 2010
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Taste
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
Questions:
1) What is the main point of this
passage?
different sides.
B. We taste sour things on the
sides of our tongue.
C. We taste different things on
different parts of our tongue.
3) According to the passage, which
A. the tip
B. the back
C. the sides
for bitter?
A. salty
B. sour
C. sweet
ReadTheory.Org 2010
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Tattoo
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
Justins mom had set down the house rules with aplomb. Only the
most obtuse person would have failed to understand: no tattoos, no
body piercings and no co-ed sleepovers while living in the house of Elaine
Tucker Brown.
Still, the day Justin turned 18, he lied to his mother about where he was going
and headed straight to the tattoo parlor, as if impervious to his mothers wrath.
He got a light blue heart the size of an orange permanently etched on
his arm. Above this work of art was the word, Blessed.
No, Justin was not stupid, but he was obstinate.
Elaine saw this as an act of sheer defiance. She was incensed, her anger
exacerbated by the fact that Justin had breezed into the house, found her in
the kitchen, taken off his shirt with a smile and said, Got it!
No, Justin. Let me tell you what youve got, Elaine said angrily. Youve got five
minutes to go upstairs and pack a bag. Im taking you to Pop-Pops.
The ride to Pop-Pops house was chilly, to say the least. Elaine berated Justin for
everything she could think of, which wasnt much because he was a straight A
senior with a full academic scholarship to his top college pick. He had a kind
heart and started a foundation in the ninth grade, which donated used sporting
equipment to underprivileged kids in South Africa.
Elaine pulled up to her fathers door and ordered Justin out. Not 10 minutes later,
her cell phone rang.
Elaine, have you lost it? You are kicking a boy as good as him out the house for
a tattoo that says Blessed, no less? her father asked, incredulous. You will
miss him so much. Dont cut off your nose to spite your face, Elaine. Come pick
this young man up.
Elaine, having grown up obeying most of her parents demands, turned her car
around and went back to pick up her son. Justin was surprisingly contrite. Sorry
for being so disrespectful, Mom, he said earnestly. I will try to follow house rules
from now on.
Questions:
1) What other title would best fit this
passage?
A.
B.
C.
D.
House Rules
Visiting Pop-Pop
"Straight A's"
Body Piercings
A.
B.
He is described as obstinate.
He is portrayed as kind-
hearted.
C.
He is described as a straight
A student.
D.
He is described as receiving
a full scholarship to college.
foolhardy
intelligent
passionate
stubborn
elated
impenetrable
invigorated
vulnerable
willfully defiant
cautiously jubilant
convincingly contrite
noticeably melodramatic
defend
relegate
mitigate
understate
Questions (continued):
9) "You are kicking a boy as good as
him out the house for a tattoo that
says Blessed, no less?"
The above sentence has a grammatical
error. What is it, and how should it be fixed?
A.
B.
C.
D.
ReadTheory.Org 2010
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The 20
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
It is Levis birthday.
He has a party at home with his family.
Everyone sings, Happy Birthday!
Levi has nine candles on his cake. He blows them out. He opens his presents.
Levis mother and father give him a bicycle.
Levis little sister gives him a game.
Levis uncle gives him a baseball jersey.
Levis grandma and grandpa give him 20 dollars!
"Thank you!" he yells to everyone.
Levi is excited. He likes all his presents.
He likes the 20 dollars best.
It means he can go to the store. He can buy anything he wants!
Can we go to the store now, Mom? asks Levi.
Mom frowns. Levi, your guests are still here. I will take you to the store
tomorrow.
That night, Levi dreams of all the things he might buy with his 20 dollars.
Maybe I will buy a video game!
Maybe I will buy a guitar!
Maybe I will buy a camera!
Maybe I will buy a tool kit!
In the morning, Mom takes Levi and his little sister to the store.
Will you buy me something, too? asks Levis little sister.
Maybe, Levi says. He runs to look around the store.
Ugh!
The guitar costs more than 20 dollars.
The video game costs more than 20 dollars.
The camera costs more than 20 dollars.
The tool kit costs 12 dollars.
Levi buys the tool kit.
He buys his little sister a key chain.
He buys his mom a pack of gum.
You are a sweet boy, Levis mom tells him.
Questions:
1) Who is at Levi's party?
Check all that are correct.
A.
B.
C.
D.
a baseball jersey
a bike
a game
money
A. ____________________
his friends
his parents
his teachers
his uncle
a bike
a camera
a key chain
a baseball jersey
____________________
____________________
A.
B.
C.
D.
Questions (continued):
9) Who goes with Levi to the store?
A.
B.
C.
D.
his grandma
his mom
his sister
his uncle
A. ____________________
____________________
____________________
If you had twenty dollars, what would you buy with it? Why?
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Questions:
1) What is this passage mainly
about?
A. how blow dryers work
B. why blow dryers are safe
C. why you should not towel dry
your hair
3) According to the passage, what
A. to push
B. to blow out
C. to draw in
ReadTheory.Org 2010
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The Brain
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
Questions:
1) Where is your brain?
A. in your legs
B. in your head
C. in your toes
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
arms
trees
legs
flowers
machines
ReadTheory.Org 2010
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The Brenners
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
The Brenner family has a mom, a dad, three boys, two dogs, a hamster and four
frogs.
They are very happy.
Their house is very small.
Mom and Dad share one bedroom.
The three boys share one bedroom. Their names are Billy, Bobby and Brad.
All the pets sleep in the living room.
Mr. and Mrs. Brenner came home today from the doctor with news. It is very big
news .
There are going to be two more of us, Mrs. Brenner says with a smile.
I am pregnant.
Billy, Bobby and Brad cheer. We will have a basketball team, Billy says.
And do you know what Dad and I have decided we need? asks Mrs. Brenner?
A coach? asks Bobby.
No, Mr. Brenner says with a laugh, A bigger house.
Over the next week, the Brenner family starts looking for a new house.
On Monday, they see a brick house with a big front porch. It has three bedrooms.
Mr. Brenner likes this one.
On Thursday, they see a wooden house with a big backyard. It has four
bedrooms. Mrs. Brenner thinks this house is great.
On Saturday, they see a house with four bedrooms and a pool. The boys like this
house a lot. They dream of having their friends over for a swim.
But its smaller than the house we live in now! Mrs. Brenner says.
All of the houses cost a lot of money.
I think we need to save more money before we buy a bigger house, says Mr.
Brenner. Mrs. Brenner agrees.
Soon, two new babies arrive in their very small house. Their names are Beth and
Brooke.
The two baby girls sleep in a crib by their parents bed.
Mr. Brenner buys a basketball hoop and puts it in the driveway.
Questions:
1) What is the Brenner house like?
Check all that are correct.
A.
B.
C.
D.
crowded
dirty
small
empty
A.
B.
C.
D.
three dogs
a hamster
four frogs
a cat
Questions (continued):
9) What house does Mrs. Brenner
like?
Check all that are correct.
A.
B.
C.
D.
How big is your family? Do you like this size? Why or why not?
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Questions:
1) Where does Dana drive the bus?
A.
B.
C.
D.
around Philadelphia
to the police station
to pick up guitar players
to pick up school children
15
23
38
39
to throw
to push easily
to carry on one's head
to move something that is hard
to move around
A.
B.
C.
D.
6 hours
8 hours
10 hours
12 hours
Questions:
11) Why might the young woman have
left her baby?
A.
B.
C.
D.
He was cold.
He was sleeping.
She forgot the baby.
She felt she could not take care
of him.
_______________________
_______________________
A.
B.
C.
D.
A.
B.
C.
D.
often
sometimes
never
almost always
bad.
ReadTheory.Org 2010
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The Butterfly
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
Questions:
1) How many wings does a butterfly
have?
A. 2
B. 4
C. 6
5) What is a butterfly?
A. an animal
B. an insect
C. a mammal
ReadTheory.Org 2010
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The Drive
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
Questions:
1) How does Gustavo get to work?
A.
B.
C.
D.
By bus
By car
By horse
By train
He sings.
He talks.
He thinks.
He works.
Questions (continued):
3) What does Gustavo think about?
Check all that are correct.
A.
B.
C.
D.
His car.
His little boy.
His wife.
His work.
Milk cows.
Play fireman.
Ride horses.
Water flowers.
A. ___________________
A. ___________________
A.
B.
C.
D.
Read a story.
Milk the cows.
Cut the grass.
Water the flowers.
It is too green.
It is too brown.
It is too long.
It is too short.
A.
B.
C.
D.
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Questions:
1) Why was Lily's anger described
as palpable?
A. It was misplaced.
B. It was irrational.
C. It was very difficult to
understand.
D. It was so intense it seemed like
it could be touched.
sane
phony
unjustified
conquerable
Questions (continued):
7) Which is the best antonym
for fervor?
A.
B.
C.
D.
gluttony
indifference
politeness
quiet
being stingy
B. not loving Lily
C. being insensitive
D. being gender biased
A.
cheered up
calmed down
spoke softly
breathed heavily
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Questions:
1) Why is Tracey sad and scared?
A. She is moving to a new house
today.
B. She is moving to a new town today.
C. She is starting a new school today.
D. She is walking to school alone
today.
A.
B.
C.
D.
____________________
to be happy
to be hungry
to be mad
to be scared
Questions (continued):
7) What does Dad tell Tracey to do
before school?
A.
B.
C.
D.
stop crying
get her bag
drink some juice
put on her shoes
math
reading
having friends
her teachers
big
dirty
loud
small
kind
pretty
funny
not very nice
Have you ever felt nervous about doing something new? Explain.
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ReadTheory.Org 2010
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The Ocean
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
Questions:
1) Is the ocean small or big?
A. The ocean is small.
B. The ocean is big.
small
very small
big
very big
Questions (continued):
5) What does huge mean?
small
very small
big
very big
waves
7) Which words can we use to
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
big
blue
happy
tiny
deep
Do you like the ocean? What do you like about it? What dont you like about it?
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ReadTheory.Org 2010
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The Park
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
Here you go! she says to her mom. She hands Mom a bag. Will you help me
pick up the trash?
I sure will, Mom says.
The children at the park run over to see what is going on.
Reem hands them bags. Lets clean this place up, she says.
The children pick up lots of trash. They talk and laugh as they work. Soon all the
bags are full.
We need to come back another day. There is still some trash on the ground,
Reem says. But the park looks much better.
It does, Mom says. I knew you would think of some way to help.
Questions:
1) Why is Reem sad?
A.
B.
C.
D.
A.
B.
C.
D.
old cans
old boxes
old food
old shoes
A. ____________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
A.
B.
C.
D.
her dad
her mom
no one
other children
Questions (continued):
7) What does Reem give the children?
A.
B.
C.
D.
brooms
gifts
mops
trash bags
funny
good
mad
sad
all clean
better
very dirty
more dirty
Can you think of other ways to fight pollution and preserve the environment?
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Questions:
1) Who is knocking at Amanda's door?
A.
B.
C.
D.
a book
a car
a job
money
A.
B.
C.
D.
She is sick.
She is not home.
She has no money.
She doesn't hear it.
A.
B.
C.
D.
a restaurant
another factory
a bookstore
a grocery store
_______________________
_______________________
none of them
the restaurant job
the bookstore job
the grocery store job
Questions (continued):
9) Where is Amanda?
A. ____________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
A.
B.
C.
D.
ReadTheory.Org 2010
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The Runaway
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
My name is Uma.
I was 17 when I ran away from home for good.
I stole $45 from my Dads drawer one morning.
He had already left for work.
I stuffed some clothes in my backpack.
I headed for the bus station.
I caught the first bus that came in.
It did not matter to me where I was going.
It just mattered that I was leaving.
I ended up in Springfield, Massachusetts.
I got here around sunset.
My first night here, I was scared.
I was alone.
I slept behind an old store so no one would see me.
It was December. I was so cold.
Today, I am still in Springfield. I am 28-years-old. I have a kid who is 11.
I wait tables at a restaurant. The food is not so good. The people who eat there
are not so nice.
I think about my dad sometimes.
Do I have a grandma? my kid asks.
No, I say.
Do I have a grandpa? he asks.
Not to speak of, I say. That is when I think of my dad.
I think about what he is doing.
I think about if he misses me or not.
I dont miss him much at all.
But its nice to feel like someone misses you.
Questions:
1) What does for good mean in this
story?
A.
B.
C.
D.
forever
for a little while
to have a good time
to make things better
11
16
17
28
she walked
she drove
she caught the bus
she caught the train
honest
funny
pretty
sad
A.
B.
C.
D.
at a school
at a restaurant
at a bakery
at a store
____________________
____________________
Questions (continued):
11) What does Uma say about herself
in the story?
Check all that are correct.
A.
B.
C.
D.
She is a runaway.
She is sad.
She lives in Springfield,
Massachusetts.
She wants a new job.
A.
B.
C.
D.
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The Storm
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
Questions:
1) Given what Nolan says in the passage, which best
describes onomatopoeia?
A.
B.
C.
D.
A.
B.
C.
D.
to be haughty
to be comical
to be gifted with words
to be young and smart
Questions (continued):
5) What might Nolan be referring to when he talks about Rowan's "moment of
reckoning"?
A.
B.
C.
D.
9) What might Mother mean when she tells Rowan, "This is but a mere
shower."?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Questions (continued):
10) If X is tantamount to Y, what is their relationship?
A.
B.
C.
D.
X is greater than Y.
X is less than Y.
X equals Y.
X and Y have no connection.
A.
B.
C.
D.
yelling at him
spanking him
threatening him
criticizing his actions
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The Sun
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
Questions:
1) What color is the sun?
A. green
B. white
C. yellow
ReadTheory.Org 2010
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Ben jumped from bed as soon as the first bit of sun peeped through
his window. He grabbed his backpack from his closet and opened it on the floor.
Ben put in some of his favorite things to take with him on his trip to visit Grandpa.
He put in a book on building forts, a book on making go-carts and a new book he
had gotten from the library about a kid detective who creates his own spy gear.
He also put in a model car kit and his stuffed bear. He was ready to go!
Going to visit his grandfather for a week by himself was always Bens favorite
part of summer vacation. Grandpa would take him fishing and to baseball games.
Grandpa also taught Ben how to fix things around the house.
Last year, when he was eight-years-old, Ben had learned how to replace a
broken doorknob and how to fix a leaky faucet. Grandpa was patient and did not
mind taking many hours to show Ben how to use his tools.
Bens mom stuck her head in his bedroom door. Grandpas here, she said with
a smile.
Ben grabbed his backpack and ran into the kitchen where Grandpa was waiting.
Ready, big guy? asked Grandpa. Or do you want to eat breakfast before we
leave?
Ready, said Ben. As he kissed his mother goodbye, he felt his stomach rumble.
We can eat later!
Questions:
1) What is the most likely reason Ben
jumps out of bed?
A.
B.
C.
D.
He is late.
He is scared.
He is excited.
He is worried.
____________________
____________________
Questions:
3) What time of year is it?
A. ____________________
____________________
____________________
very slow
sick in the hospital
good about sharing
taking time without complaint
A.
B.
C.
D.
fixing stuff
going fishing
visiting his grandfather
going to a baseball game
make things
ride go-carts
spy on people
read big books
use a drill
build a fort
fix a leaky faucet
build a model car
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Tracks
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
The girls slowly navigated tracks in the dark and talked excitedly about the
dance. Lida heard a whistle in the distance. Weve gotta get off the track. Trains
coming.
The girls quickly scurried off the side. In the dark, Lida heard a thud and a gasp.
Help! screamed Hattie. She had fallen in the ash pit, a 6 foot trench about 20
feet long between the rails where trains stopped to empty ashes from engines
fire box when they pulled through town.
Hattie screamed and tried frantically to climb out, but she was too short to grab
hold to the top of the pit. The train was getting closer, the whistle more piercing.
Not wanting to appear scared herself, Lida dissembled and refused to let her
voice show panic.
Just give me your hand, Hattie, and Ill pull ya right out.
They fumbled for each others hands in the dark. Lida lay down on the rails and
hooked her feet under the track to give herself some leverage. She pulled and
pulled while Mary and Florence screamed in the dark.
One final pull got Hattie out the pit. They ran off the edge of track to safety as the
train pulled to a stop and dropped its load of torrid ashes.
Questions:
1) Which idea can best be supported by what is said in this passage?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
2) What is the most likely reason the author included the following paragraph?
"Hattie gave a sigh, but did not bother to argue. She knew when Lida had
something to do, she didnt rest until it was done."
A.
B.
C.
D.
Questions (continued):
3) What is the best definiton
of assiduous?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
careful
efficient
energetic
hardworking
non complaining
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
continuation
directness
erect stance
morning break
afternoon nap
boring
innocent
innocuous
reserved
self-conscious
Questions (continued):
9) Which is the best antonym
for acrimony?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
agreement
bad judgment
happiness
positive attitude
timeliness
poisoned her
suffocated her
burned her badly
gotten her all dirty
weighed her down
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Trees
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
Questions:
1) What is this passage about?
A. what trees eat
B. how trees grow
C. the parts of a tree
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Ursula Pugh
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
Questions:
1) Which idea can be supported from
the first paragraph?
A. Ms. Pugh is a bitter woman.
B. Ms. Pugh is an old woman.
C. Ms. Pugh has been through a
lot.
D. Ms. Pugh was a world class
ballerina.
E. Ms. Pugh has become a dance
teacher.
a refuge
a theater program
a religious building
a healthy alternative
an inexpensive activity
awkward
impartial
concerned
attentive
determined
aware
forgetful
ignorant
mindful
resentful
ambivalence
calm
confusion
delight
ignorance
Questions (continued):
7) Which best describes the literary technique used in the following sentence.
"My wild, rough boys, who were often so rude they embarrassed me in public,
gradually became a different species."
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Would you enjoy being a part of Ms. Pughs theater class? Why or why not?
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Vet Emergency!
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
Questions:
1) Where does this story take place?
A.
B.
C.
D.
in a police station
in a waiting room
in a doctor's office
in an animal hospital
angry
joyful
relaxed
tense
Questions (continued):
3) When does Dr. Williams know just
how badly Lobo has been hurt?
A. when Cyrus asks for help
B. when she takes a closer look
C. when she sees Lobo is a lab
puppy
D. when the doors to the
emergency room fly open
calm
serious
hopeful
beautiful
10:00 at night
10:00 in the morning
noon
midnight
a pediatrician
a dentist
an internist
a veterinarian
A.
B.
C.
D.
He will survive.
He will walk fine.
He is a black lab.
He got hit by a car.
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Wanga
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
Questions:
1) What is the meaning of the
word sane ?
A.
B.
C.
D.
I am crazy.
I full of hope.
I am willing to try anything.
I am not sure about anything
anymore.
A.
B.
C.
D.
A.
B.
C.
D.
It happens.
It tells the truth.
It brings money.
It is a fairy tale.
A.
B.
C.
D.
It is black.
It is 6 inches tall.
It has bushy hair.
It has on a furry outfit.
_______________________
_______________________
Questions (continued):
9) According to the story, why would a
person buy the New Life Kit?
A.
B.
C.
D.
to have a baby
to become happy
to move to a new town
to be cured from sickness
It is full of money.
It has bushy black hair.
It is Nancys best friend.
It has been blessed by a witch
doctor.
many instructions
basic instructions
specific instructions
funny instructions
_______________________
with cash
with a check
with a credit card
with a money order
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What Number?
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
Questions:
1) Where did Becca and Kai play
today?
A.
B.
C.
D.
A.
B.
C.
D.
rode bikes
rode scooters
played outside
played hide and seek
Questions (continued):
3) Where did Becca and Kai eat
lunch?
A. ________________
five
twenty-two
sixty
one hundred
6
16
60
66
ten
fifteen
twenty-three
twenty-eight
ReadTheory.Org 2010
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Wild
Reading Comprehension Short Stories
Questions:
2) "I was 16 when my father
unequivocally decided that he would
send me to wilderness camp for several
months."
Danny goes to wilderness camp;
it is in a national forest.
Choose the best way to rewrite the above
Danny is out of control; he is
sentence.
sent into the wilderness.
Danny changes at wilderness
A. I was 16 when my father angrily
camp; his father loses a tight
decided that he would send me to
race for sheriff.
wilderness camp for several months.
Danny hikes in the rugged
B. I was 16 when, over the course of
wilderness; he becomes
several months, my father decided he
respectful of nature and others.
would send me to wilderness camp.
C. I was 16 when my father finally
decided that he would send me to
wilderness camp for several months.
D. I was 16 when my father decided
without question that he would send
me to wilderness camp for several
months.
D.
amusing
peaceful
restrained
understandable
Questions (continued):
5) What lesson did Danny seem to
learn in this passage?
A.
B.
C.
D.
A.
B.
C.
D.
6) What is a euphemism?
A.
B.
C.
D.
a code word
a nickname
a detailed description
a less offensive term
ReadTheory.Org 2010
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Questions:
1) Why does Paola want to see her
mom?
A.
B.
C.
D.
to have dinner
to get advice
to have a laugh
to see how she is doing
at Mom's house
at a restaurant
at Paola's house
at the chocolate store
Questions:
3) What good times have Paola and
Imran had?
Check all that are correct.
A.
B.
C.
D.
____________________
____________________
business.
sad
better
grim
stupid
A.
B.
C.
D.
Give up.
Talk to each other.
Work hard.
Tell the children.
A.
B.
C.
D.
open
tense
angry
loving