Naval architects never claim that a ship is unsinkable, but the sinking of the passenger-and-car ferry Estonia in the Baltic surely should have never have happened. It was well designed and carefully maintained. It carried the proper number of lifeboats. It had been thoroughly inspected the day of its fatal voyage. Yet hours later, the Estonia rolled over and sank in a cold, stormy night. It went down so quickly that most of those on board, caught in their dark, flooding cabins, had no chance to save themselves: Of those who managed to scramble overboard, only 139 survived. The rest died of hypothermia before the rescuers could pluck them from the cold sea. The final death toll amounted to 912 souls. However, there were an unpleasant number of questions about why the Estonia sank and why so many survivors were men in the prime of life, while most of the dead were women, children and the elderly. One can understand from the reading that ---

most victims were trapped inside the boat as they were in their cabins

the lifesaving equipment did not work well and lifeboats could not be lowered

design faults and incompetent crew contributed to the sinking of the Estonia ferry

naval architects claimed that the Estonia was unsinkable

Erosion of America's farmland by wind and water has been a problem since settlers first put the prairies and grasslands under the plow in the nineteenth century. By the 1930s, more than 282 million acres of farmland were damaged by erosion. After 40 years of conservation efforts, soil erosion has accelerated due to new demands placed on the land by heavy crop production. In the years ahead, soil erosion and the pollution problems it causes are likely to replace petroleum scarcity as the nation's most critical natural resource problem. As we understand from the reading, today, soil erosion in America ----.

is worse than it was in the nineteenth century

causes humans to place new demands on the land

happens so slowly that it is hardly noticed

is the most critical problem that the nation faces

(1) Despite the relative reluctance of Americans to adopt it, soccer is the most popular sport in the world and has been for several decades. (2) Soccer, which is called "football" in most places, has few rules compared with such sports as baseball. (3) Also, in contrast to baseball and American football, soccer games have few pauses in the action. (4) Soccer scores aren't as high as scores are in American sports, but many people consider that an exciting feature of the game, because the occasional goals are that much more thrilling. Which of the following is the main idea of the passage?

Soccer is a great sport, despite its unpopularity in America.

Soccer is more popular in Europe than American football is.

Baseball and basketball will need overhauls if they are to compete on the world stage with soccer.

Soccer is an all-around better sport than any other in the world.

(1) College tuitions are soaring, leaving many parents wondering if they will be able to afford higher education for their children. (2) Cutbacks in government aid combined with skyrocketing tuition are making it unfeasible even for families of moderate wealth to fully fund their children's educations. (3) In America, people say that you can be anything you want to be. (4) But getting an education is crucial if you hope to achieve the American dream. With which of the following statements would the author of this passage most likely agree?

The cost of a college education is unreasonable.

The government should help students pay for college.

Borrowing money for college may be the answer to rising education costs.

An education is not necessary to succeed in America.

(1) Becky wanted to supplement her income, so she decided to buy items at garage sales and then sell them in an online auction. (2) She woke up early on Saturday morning and traveled around the city, stopping at nearly two dozen garage sales. (3) She spent $250 at the sales. (4) After spending just a few hours setting up the auctions online, Becky sat back and watched. (5) When the auction concluded three days later, Becky had sold all of her items for a total of $1,565. Which of the following conclusions can be made based on the information in the passage?

Becky made back all the money she invested.

Becky was out of work before she started her online business.

Becky made more from her auctions than she did from her other job.

(1) On March 4, 1865, with the end of the Civil War in sight, Abraham Lincoln delivered his second inaugural address. (2) An excerpt from that speech: With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations. The term "inaugural address" in sentence 1 means

a speech given when being sworn in

a letter written to an inaugural committee

a debate with another candidate

a speech given while campaigning

(1) On March 4, 1865, with the end of the Civil War in sight, Abraham Lincoln delivered his second inaugural address. (2) An excerpt from that speech: With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations. In the first sentence of the inaugural address, the phrase "the work we are in" most likely refers to which of the following?

a campaign for the House of Representatives

(1) A year ago, the majority of the workers at BigMoneyCorp commuted to work every day. (2) A company study showed that the average worker spent one hour and twenty minutes traveling from the suburbs of Atlanta to the city. (3) In response, the CEO moved the headquarters to the suburbs. (4) In the year since the move, BigMoneyCorp's profit margins have improved. (5) Furthermore, company employees have requested fewer sick days and personal days in the one year since the move than they had in the five years prior to the move. Based on the passage above, what factors might be responsible for the increased popularity at BigMoneyCorp?

state-of-the-art facilities at the new location

sense of community among commuters

(1) If sports build character, as conventional wisdom suggests, why do we always read about athletes getting arrested? (2) Some people cite the extravagant lifestyles of professional athletes; others suggest that years of special treatment make athletes believe that they are above the law. (3) Researchers at Baylor University's sport management department have another theory. (4) They have discovered that the percentage of professional athletes who get arrested is actually smaller than the percentage of doctors who get arrested. (5) Lawyers, teachers, and accountants also get arrested with greater frequency than do athletes. (6) This study suggests that the media frenzy that follows the arrest of an athlete causes the mistaken public perception that most athletes are criminals. The study discussed in the passage indicates that

the media is inconsistent in its treatment of people who get arrested

stories of professionals being arrested always lead the news

the media does nothing to enhance the image of professional athletes

sports do not enhance character or develop integrity

(1) Archaeologists are scientists who study ancient cultures. (2)Archaeologists have been studying the ancient life and cultures of North America for many years. (3) Despite the years and years of research they've done, experts are still unable to determine when humans began living in America. (4) They do know, however, that by about 1000 B.C.E. , farming villages have been established in eastern North America. Which of the following conclusions can be made based on the passage?

Without the work of archaeologists, we wouldn't kow as much as we do about ancient life in North America.

Without archaeologists, there would be no farming villages in North America.

Farmers have been in North America for longer than archaeologists know.

Humans have not always lived in North America.

(1) To answer the questions that have perplexed us through the ages - How was the world created? What causes weather? Why do seasons change? What happens after we die? - we have always turned to mythology. (2) Myths are stories that provide answers to otherwise unanswerable questions. (3) Thousands of years ago, stories we now study as literature were accepted as the truth about all the mysteries of nature and the universe. (4) Ancient man did not have the benefit of science and history, so ancient mythology should not strike us as unbelievable or far-fetched. (5) Moreover, many of our modern religious beliefs may be considered nothing more than mythology by future generations. Which of the following statements can be inferred based on the passage?

Myths that seem odd to us often make sense within the context of the culture that created them.

The strangest myths usually address the most puzzling existential questions.

Early myths are used to educate students in areas such as reading comprehension.

Mythology should never be confused with religion.

(1) Music videos have changed the way teenagers listen to music. (2) Thirty years ago, teens listened to music on the radio or on their eight-track tape players. (3) There were no visual images associated with the songs. (4) As a result, teens were free to interpret songs however they wanted. (5) Today, the music videos that accompany songs show interpretations of songs made by the artists and their producers. (6) When teens see the music videos, they have no choice but to associate songs with the images in videos. With which of the following statements would the author of this paragraph most likely agree?

Music videos have reduced the ability of today's teens to interpret songs for themselves.

Music videos have enhanced songs for teens.

Music videos have made today's songs more interesting for teens.

Music videos have made it possible for teens to see the meanings behind songs that were formerly hidden.

(1) Many children who love reading dream of writing books of their own one day. (2) For the most part, their dreams are dashed. (3) Publishers reject ninety-eight percent of all manuscript submissions. (4) For every book you see at your local bookstore, there are forty-nine other books out there that never got published. (5) The odds of becoming a published author are very slim. (6) Despite the discouraging statistics, aspiring writers should take heart. (7) Some of the most successful authors swear that their best-selling works were rejected ten, fifteen, and even twenty times before a publisher finally took a chance on the manuscript. (8) These authors say that if a manuscript is good, it will get noticed eventually. (9) For those who dream of publishing and think they have the chops, established authors who faced down rejection should serve as inspirations. Which of the following statements is true of the passage?

The first paragraph is pessimistic and the second paragraph is optimistic. The first paragraph is pessimistic and the second paragraph is optimistic.

The first paragraph is optimistic and the second paragraph is pessimistic.

The first paragraph is sarcastic.

(1) The city has made plans to close an area recreation center, pool, and playground. (2) They blame liability for the closure. (3) The Pleasant Valley Neighborhood Association opposes the closing and is planning a protest at City Hall. (4) The association has petitioned the city for an alternative recreation center of some kind, but the mayor's office has been unresponsive. (5) If the city continues with its plan to shut down the center, neighborhood parents would have to drive several miles to find a similar recreational facility. (6) However, many residents of the neighborhood are unable to do this for economic reasons. Which of the following conclusions can be made based on the passage?

The residents of Pleasant Valley are of a low socioeconomic status.

The residents of Pleasant Valley live in the countryside.

The residents of Pleasant Valley live in a very cold climate.

The residents of Pleasant Valley have only recently organized the neighborhood association.

(1) The city has made plans to close an area recreation center, pool, and playground. (2) They blame liability for the closure. (3) The Pleasant Valley Neighborhood Association opposes the closing and is planning a protest at City Hall. (4) The association has petitioned the city for an alternative recreation center of some kind, but the mayor's office has been unresponsive. (5) If the city continues with its plan to shut down the center, neighborhood parents would have to drive several miles to find a similar recreational facility. (6) However, many residents of the neighborhood are unable to do this for economic reasons. In sentence 4, the phrase "has been unresponsive" means

has responded in a confusing fashion

Reading Comprehension Practice A

Authored by Cicily Rights

English

4th - 7th Grade

CCSS covered

Used 144+ times

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30 questions

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MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

5 mins • 1 pt

Floods can cause tremendous damage. They can ruin houses, roads and buildings. Floods can take down trees and cause mudslides. It often leaves mud, sand and debris behind. It can take months to clean up after a flood.
What is the main idea?

Floods can cause a lot of damage.

Floods cause mudslides.

Floods damage houses and roads.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

2 mins • 1 pt

The peregrine falcon is a beautiful wild bird. It is also one of the fastest. In 1978, the peregrine falcon was placed on the endangered species list. The main reason the peregrine falcon was dying out was the use of pesticides.
Which of the following is NOT a supporting detail?

The peregrine falcon is one of the fastest wild birds

It was placed on the endangered species list

It was dying out because of pesticides

The peregrine falcon is an amazing bird

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.1

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

5 mins • 1 pt

Soccer is known in some countries as football. It is a popular sport across the world, with over 200 countries playing the sport. It is estimated that over 250 million people, both men and women, play soccer. The sport has been part of the Olympic games from 1900 to 1928 and from 1936 to today.
What is the main idea?

Soccer is important at the Olympics.

Soccer is a worldwide sport.

Soccer is also called football.

Soccer is played by men and women.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

5 mins • 1 pt

Which sentence suggests that Joanna rode her bike to school?

Joannaʼs hair was a little messy when she got to school.

Joanna crossed three streets on her way to school.

Joanna went four blocks on her way to school.

Joanna had to put her helmet inside the classroom closet.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RI.7.1

CCSS.RL.6.1

CCSS.RI.4.1

CCSS.RL.7.1

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

1 min • 1 pt

Weather reporters have to give out a lot of information. That's why they use pictures. The pictures help them tell us about the weather without using so many words. Weather reporters need to know where the cold air is. They need to know where the warm air is. They have to know where it is raining and what types of clouds are in the area. Their reports need to be correct, but they also need to be short. The pictures help weather reporters get the information out in a fast way.
Which sentence best describes the main idea of the paragraph?

Weather reporters need to know where the cold air is

Pictures help weather reporters get information out in a fast way

Their reports need to be correct, but they also need to be short

They have to know where it is raining and what types of clouds are in the area

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

5 mins • 1 pt

READING COMPREHENSION
Opera refers to a dramatic art form, originating in Europe, in which the emotional content is conveyed to the audience as much through music, both vocal and instrumental, as it is through the lyrics. By contrast, in musical theater an actor's dramatic performance is primary, and the music plays a lesser role. The drama in opera is presented using the primary elements of theater such as scenery, costumes, and acting. However, the words of the opera, or libretto, are sung rather than spoken. The singers are accompanied by a musical ensemble ranging from a small instrumental ensemble to a full symphonic orchestra.

It is pointed out in the reading that opera ----.

has developed under the influence of musical theater

is a drama sung with the accompaniment of an orchestra

is not a high-budget production

is often performed in Europe

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

5 mins • 1 pt

Dolphins are regarded as the friendliest creatures in the sea and stories of them helping drowning sailors have been common since Roman times. The more we learn about dolphins, the more we realize that their society is more complex than people previously imagined. They look after other dolphins when they are ill, care for pregnant mothers and protect the weakest in the community, as we do. Some scientists have suggested that dolphins have a language but it is much more probable that they communicate with each other without needing words. Could any of these mammals be more intelligent than man? Certainly the most common argument in favor of man's superiority over them that we can kill them more easily than they can kill us is the least satisfactory. On the contrary, the more we discover about these remarkable creatures, the less we appear superior
It is clear from the passage that dolphins ----.

don't want to be with us as much as we want to be with them

are proven to be less intelligent than once thought

have a reputation for being friendly to humans

are the most powerful creatures that live in the oceans

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

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Reading Comprehension Practice A

Floods can cause tremendous damage. They can ruin houses, roads and buildings. Floods can take down trees and cause mudslides. It often leaves mud, sand and debris behind. It can take months to clean up after a flood. What is the main idea?

The peregrine falcon is a beautiful wild bird. It is also one of the fastest. In 1978, the peregrine falcon was placed on the endangered species list. The main reason the peregrine falcon was dying out was the use of pesticides. Which of the following is NOT a supporting detail?

Which sentence suggests that Joanna rode her bike to school?

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Discover more resources for English

Floods can cause tremendous damage. They can ruin houses, roads and buildings. Floods can take down trees and cause mudslides. It often leaves mud, sand and debris behind. It can take months to clean up after a flood.
What is the main idea?

The peregrine falcon is a beautiful wild bird. It is also one of the fastest. In 1978, the peregrine falcon was placed on the endangered species list. The main reason the peregrine falcon was dying out was the use of pesticides.
Which of the following is NOT a supporting detail?