Monday

When the helicopter failed to spot him, Prosperi was worried but still sanguine that he would be found. After a few more days alone in the desert, he finally came across a building. He was optimistic that he would find people there, but it was a Muslim shrine that was abandoned. He stayed there for a while and ate bats he found near the roof of the building. He eventually heard a plane and quickly ran out to try to flag it down, but yet again, he went unnoticed and was forced to watch the plane fly away. His hopes were beginning to fade but he continued his journey across the desert.

Many days after becoming lost in the desert, Prosperi came across an oasis. He slowly drank water to help his dehydration. The next day he was found by women who offered him goat’s milk and food. They called the police who quickly came to see who the strange man was. The police were dumbfounded to discover that he was the marathon runner that got lost in the sandstorm because he ended up over 180 miles away in the country of Algeria. He lost nearly 40 pounds over the nine days that he was lost in the desert. While he survived, it took him nearly two years to fully recover. Despite the hardships that he faced during the Marathon des Sables, he entered the race again in 1998 and then in 2012.

What is the meaning of sanguine as it is used in the passage?

• doubtful

• cautious

• hopeful

When the helicopter failed to spot him, Prosperi was worried but still sanguine that he would be found. After a few more days alone in the desert, he finally came across a building. He was optimistic that he would find people there, but it was a Muslim shrine that was abandoned. He stayed there for a while and ate bats he found near the roof of the building. He eventually heard a plane and quickly ran out to try to flag it down, but yet again, he went unnoticed and was forced to watch the plane fly away. His hopes were beginning to fade but he continued his journey across the desert.

Many days after becoming lost in the desert, Prosperi came across an oasis. He slowly drank water to help his dehydration. The next day he was found by women who offered him goat’s milk and food. They called the police who quickly came to see who the strange man was. The police were dumbfounded to discover that he was the marathon runner that got lost in the sandstorm because he ended up over 180 miles away in the country of Algeria. He lost nearly 40 pounds over the nine days that he was lost in the desert. While he survived, it took him nearly two years to fully recover. Despite the hardships that he faced during the Marathon des Sables, he entered the race again in 1998 and then in 2012.

What is the meaning of dumbfounded as it is used in the passage?

• astonished

• unsurprised

• expected

Prosperi was in high spirits at the start of the Marathon des Sables. The race started in Morocco and Prosperi was in awe of the incredible views. He had managed to maintain a great pace throughout the start of the race and was already in 4th place by the 4th day. Prosperi’s fortune changed when he encountered a sandstorm that made seeing and breathing difficult. The sand battered his exposed skin and he felt like he was being stuck with hundreds of pins. His vision was limited due to the amount of sand that was in the air. After the storm was over, Prosperi discovered the sand had changed his surroundings so much that he became disoriented about where he was.

What is another word for awe?

• careless

• terror

• amazement

Prosperi was in high spirits at the start of the Marathon des Sables. The race started in Morocco and Prosperi was in awe of the incredible views. He had managed to maintain a great pace throughout the start of the race and was already in 4th place by the 4th day. Prosperi’s fortune changed when he encountered a sandstorm that made seeing and breathing difficult. The sand battered his exposed skin and he felt like he was being stuck with hundreds of pins. His vision was limited due to the amount of sand that was in the air. After the storm was over, Prosperi discovered the sand had changed his surroundings so much that he became disoriented about where he was.

What is another word for disoriented?

• confused

• found

• exhausted

Prosperi was in high spirits at the start of the Marathon des Sables. The race started in Morocco and Prosperi was in awe of the incredible views. He had managed to maintain a great pace throughout the start of the race and was already in 4th place by the 4th day. Prosperi’s fortune changed when he encountered a sandstorm that made seeing and breathing difficult. The sand battered his exposed skin and he felt like he was being stuck with hundreds of pins. His vision was limited due to the amount of sand that was in the air. After the storm was over, Prosperi discovered the sand had changed his surroundings so much that he became disoriented about where he was.

What is the central idea of today’s passage?

• The race was going really well for Prosperi.

• An injury caused Prosperi to slow down and then get lost.

• A terrible sandstorm caused Prosperi to become lost.

When Mauro Prosperi entered the Marathon des Sables in 1994, he knew that he would return home with an exciting story to tell. The race itself was hard enough. It was 155 miles of running through the Sahara desert over the course of six days. If anyone was up to this challenge though, it was Prosperi. He was a former Olympic athlete for Italy. He competed in the pentathlon which involved the five different events of fencing, swimming, show jumping with horses, pistol shooting and cross country running. Prosperi was an experienced and dynamic athlete who continued to train and stay in shape long after his Olympic career was over. Little did he know that his experience during the Marathon des Sables would test the limits of his endurance in ways that he couldn’t conceive.

What is another word for dynamic?

• weak

• energetic

• average

When Mauro Prosperi entered the Marathon des Sables in 1994, he knew that he would return home with an exciting story to tell. The race itself was hard enough. It was 155 miles of running through the Sahara desert over the course of six days. If anyone was up to this challenge though, it was Prosperi. He was a former Olympic athlete for Italy. He competed in the pentathlon which involved the five different events of fencing, swimming, show jumping with horses, pistol shooting and cross country running. Prosperi was an experienced and dynamic athlete who continued to train and stay in shape long after his Olympic career was over. Little did he know that his experience during the Marathon des Sables would test the limits of his endurance in ways that he couldn’t conceive.

What is another word for conceive?

• imagine

• dream

• ignore

When Mauro Prosperi entered the Marathon des Sables in 1994, he knew that he would return home with an exciting story to tell. The race itself was hard enough. It was 155 miles of running through the Sahara desert over the course of six days. If anyone was up to this challenge though, it was Prosperi. He was a former Olympic athlete for Italy. He competed in the pentathlon which involved the five different events of fencing, swimming, show jumping with horses, pistol shooting and cross country running. Prosperi was an experienced and dynamic athlete who continued to train and stay in shape long after his Olympic career was over. Little did he know that his experience during the Marathon des Sables would test the limits of his endurance in ways that he couldn’t conceive.

What inference can be made about Mauro Prosperi?

• Prosperi did not enjoy physically challenging competitions.

• Prosperi enjoyed physically challenging competitions.

• Prosperi did not train enough for the marathon.

Mauro Prosperi was interested in the Marathon des Sables when he first found out about it. Running a grueling 155 miles through the desert sounded like a challenge he could overcome. He started his training by running more and began to prepare his body by limiting his water intake so that he would be able to run long distances through the heat. His family was not exactly thrilled that he had decided to participate in such a challenging and dangerous race, but Prosperi was determined to compete. He assured his family that he would be fine during the race. He was a strong athlete and he had spent months preparing. Additionally, it was organized by officials that kept the runners’ safety in mind. Prosperi felt certain that his family’s worries were unfounded.

What is another word for grueling?

• easy

• impossible

• difficult

Mauro Prosperi was interested in the Marathon des Sables when he first found out about it. Running a grueling 155 miles through the desert sounded like a challenge he could overcome. He started his training by running more and began to prepare his body by limiting his water intake so that he would be able to run long distances through the heat. His family was not exactly thrilled that he had decided to participate in such a challenging and dangerous race, but Prosperi was determined to compete. He assured his family that he would be fine during the race. He was a strong athlete and he had spent months preparing. Additionally, it was organized by officials that kept the runners’ safety in mind. Prosperi felt certain that his family’s worries were unfounded.

What is another word for unfounded?

• correct

• unsupported

• unsure