Terra Nova Practice - READING

Read the paragraph.

Some people don’t like to use computers. They think that it is too hard and they break down too often. Don’t they realize that computers save us time and effort? Surely, these anti-computer people are confused.

What assumption is underlying this paragraph?

• Most computers don’t break down.

• Everyone should use and appreciate computers.

• People are breaking the computers.

• Computers can help educate students.

Read the paragraph.

Cells make up all living things. There are millions of different types of cells in the human body. Scientists believe that further study of the make-up of cells can lead to a cure for cancer. Scientists continue their research in laboratories everyday.

Which sentence best describes an assumption in this paragraph?

• Cells make up all living things.

• Scientists believe that further study of the make-up of cells can lead to a cure for cancer.

• Scientists continue their research in the laboratories everyday.

• There are millions of different types of cells in the human body.

Which sentence is not a fact, but an opinion?

• Adventure films are much better than love stories.

• There is no school next Monday.

• We’re going to see an adventure film.

• I’m going to a movie with my best friend.

Read the passage.

Golf is a great sport. The goal is to hit a ball into eighteen small holes in with least amount of shots as possible. Talented golfers can usually complete each hole with three to five hits, but amateurs like me take nine or ten shots per hole. It’s best to play on a warm, sunny day, but many golfers go out as soon as the snow melts in the spring. It’s unsafe to play golf during a rainstorm because there have been instances where lightning has struck a golfer’s club.

Which of the following is a provable fact based on the preceding paragraph?

• It’s safe to play in the rain if you don’t see lightning.

• There are eighteen holes in a game of golf.

• Good golfers never hit more than three shots per hole.

• Golfers get their best scores on warm, sunny days.

Read the passage.

Leaves often change color before they fall. As autumn approaches, chlorophyll, the green pigment used in photosynthesis, breaks down. As chlorophyll is lost from leaves, other yellow and orange pigments are revealed. These pigments were always present in the leaves but were hidden by the green chlorophyll. Some leaves also have red pigments, which also become visible when chlorophyll is broken down.

What causes green leaves to change color in the fall?

• the amount of yellow pigment stays the same

• chlorophyll breaks down

• chlorophyll changes into red pigment

• the amount of orange pigment increases

Read the passage.

A substance made up of one type of atom is called an element. When two or more atoms join together, they form what is called a molecule.

How do molecules and elements differ?

• Molecules contain two or more atoms, and elements contain one atom.

• They have the same number of atoms.

• Elements do not have atoms.

• Molecules are made up of elements.

Read the passage.



The difference between day length and night length is an important environmental stimulus for many plants. This stimulus can cause plants to begin reproducing. Some plants flower only in late summer or early autumn, when the night length is long. These plants are called short-day plants. Examples of short-day plants include poinsettias, ragweed, and chrysanthemums. Other plants flower in spring or early summer, when night length is short. These plants are called long-day plants. Clover, spinach, and lettuce are examples of long-day plants.

Short-day plants flower in the summer or early autumn. Long-day plants:

• flower in spring or early summer

• flower at night

• flower in winter

• flower all year round

Read the passage.

Wolves are carnivorous, predatory animals. They live together in packs with an alpha male who is the dominant leader. Wolves hunt mostly at dusk, and they prey on elk, deer, coyotes, rabbits, and other animals in their habitat. Sometimes, they even prey on moose.

What is the alpha male?

• the pack

• the leader

• the elk

• the prey

Read the passage.



Once the flower buds are formed, it doesn’t matter if the plant is kept indoors or in deep shade. Full sun tends to fade the flowers faster, while cool temperatures prolong their staying power. Although a light frost won’t harm most mums, play it safe and bring them indoors if a cold snap threatens.

In the passage, the phrase “full sun” means:

• cool temperatures

• deep shade

• light half of the day

• no shade

Read the non-fiction passage.

One difference between insects and all other animals is the number of legs they have. Only insects have six legs in the entire animal kingdom. Adult insects have four wings and two antennae on their heads.

If this is true, you can conclude that:

• A grasshopper is an insect.

• Insects are only found in North America

• All animals are insects.

• Spiders have wings; therefore, they are insects.