Reading Comprehension Practice

Reading Comprehension Practice

Multiple Choice

1) According to the passage, why is the Rio Grande so important?

• A. It is a source of drinking water for most of the United States.

• B. It is the border of Texas and Mexico.

• C. It is the longest river system in the United States.

• D. It is known by two different names.

This is a Global comprehension question.

In the first paragraph, the author writes that “what makes the Rio Grande so important is its location.” The author adds that it is “the official border of Texas and Mexico.” This implies that its location as the border of Mexico and Texas is what makes the Rio Grande so important. Because of this, choice (B) is correct. The passage does suggest that the Rio Grande is the source of drinking water for people in Mexico and Texas, but the passage does not suggest it is a source of drinking water for most American

Multiple Choice

2) In paragraph 3, the author most likely writes that “downward is the best way of describing it too” to

• A. prove that the Rio Grande’s water levels have gone down recently

• B. argue that the Rio Grande has changed shape over the years

• C. highlight the fact that the Rio Grande flows south and from high elevations

• D. explain why the Rio Grande is known as the Rio Bravo down in Mexico

This is an Inferencing comprehension question.

In the third paragraph, the author states that “downward is the best way of describing” the flow of the Rio Grande. He or she then explains what he or she means by that, stating that the river extends south and also “starts in the mountains and gets lower and lower in elevation.” This means that the river moves downward on a map (from north to south) and also in elevation. Because of this, choice (C) is correct.

Multiple Choice

3) Based on its use in paragraph 4, the word furious most nearly means

• A. angry

• B. large

• C. twisted

• D. dry

This is a Vocabulary comprehension question.

In paragraph 4, the author states that “bravo” translates as “furious” in English and adds that the name “Rio Bravo” “makes sense.” We can use context clues—hints from known words or phrases around the unknown word or phrase—to figure out what the word furious most nearly means. He or she explains that it makes sense as a name because the river “does seem to be angrier.” This suggests that furious is closest in meaning to angry, so choice (A) is correct.

Multiple Choice

4) According to the passage, the Rio Grande has endpoints in

• A. Texas and the Gulf of Mexico

• B. New Mexico and Colorado

• C. Texas and Mexico

• D. Colorado and the Gulf of Mexico

This is a Detail comprehension question.

To answer this detail question, we need to find the part of the passage that describes the location of the Rio Grande. This occurs in the middle section, the one labeled “Rio Grande Geography.” There, in paragraph 3, the author states that “the river starts in Colorado and extends downward to the Gulf of Mexico.” This means the river’s endpoints are Colorado and the Gulf of Mexico. It also means choice (D) is correct.

Multiple Select

Which type of comprehension question do you feel like you are the best at? (You can select more than one)

• global

• inferencing

• vocabulary

• detail

Multiple Select

Which type of comprehension question would you like more practice with? (You can select more than one)

• global

• inferencing

• vocabulary

• detail