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Environmental pollution causes the poisoning of our immediate surroundings.

It hurts Mother Earth by disturbing nature’s balance, which is very important for the survival of all living beings. Today’s environmental problems arise from four distinct forms of pollution that affect the soil, water, air and sound levels. Dumping massive amounts of industrial wastes and household refuse causes land pollution. Pesticides and fertilizers used in agriculture also pollute the soil. Plastics are also major pollutants.

Overgrazing and deforestation lead to the formation of deserts and wastelands. Deserts already cover 40 percent of the Earth’s surface.

The presence of harmful wastes in water makes it unsafe for human and animal use. Even aquatic life suffers due to thousands of tons of oil that get spilled into the seas and oceans. The air that we breathe is contaminated by smoke and dust in the atmosphere. Lung diseases are common when the air is polluted. Noise pollution in cities has grown beyond human tolerance. Pollution is also responsible for global warming or heating up of the environment. Thus pollution is becoming a serious problem for the whole world.

Which detail from the passage supports the statement that deserts and wastelands are increasing?

• A. Pesticides and fertilizers used in agriculture also pollute the soil.

• B. The air that we breathe is contaminated by smoke and dust in the atmosphere.

• C. Pollution is also responsible for global warming or heating up of the environment.

• D. Overgrazing and deforestation lead to the formation of deserts and wastelands.

Environmental pollution causes the poisoning of our immediate surroundings.

It hurts Mother Earth by disturbing nature’s balance, which is very important for the survival of all living beings. Today’s environmental problems arise from four distinct forms of pollution that affect the soil, water, air and sound levels. Dumping massive amounts of industrial wastes and household refuse causes land pollution. Pesticides and fertilizers used in agriculture also pollute the soil. Plastics are also major pollutants.

Overgrazing and deforestation lead to the formation of deserts and wastelands. Deserts already cover 40 percent of the Earth’s surface.

The presence of harmful wastes in water makes it unsafe for human and animal use. Even aquatic life suffers due to thousands of tons of oil that get spilled into the seas and oceans. The air that we breathe is contaminated by smoke and dust in the atmosphere. Lung diseases are common when the air is polluted. Noise pollution in cities has grown beyond human tolerance. Pollution is also responsible for global warming or heating up of the environment. Thus pollution is becoming a serious problem for the whole world.

According to the above passage, why is aquatic life suffering?

• A. Because all the fish are dying

• B. Because the air is polluted

• C. Because the water is very clean

• D. Because of the oil spills in the oceans and seas

Read the passage and answer the question.

The blue whale is quite an extraordinary creature. To begin with, it is a mammal that lives its entire life in the ocean. The size of its body is amazing. This whale can grow up to 98 feet long and weigh as much as 200 tons, making it the largest known animal to have ever existed. Its body is long and elegantly tapered, unlike other whales which have a rounder, stockier build. Their build, along with their extreme size, gives them a unique appearance and the ability to move more gracefully and at greater speeds than one might imagine. They can reach speeds up to 31 mph for short periods of time. Their normal traveling speed is around 12 mph, but they slow to 3.1 mph when feeding. Although they are extremely large animals, they eat small shrimp-like creatures called krill. Since the krill are so small, the blue whale eats about four tons daily as they swim deep in the ocean.

Unlike other whales that live in small, close-knit groups called pods, blue whales live and travel alone or with one other whale. While traveling through the ocean, they surface to breathe air into their lungs through blowholes. They emerge from the ocean, spewing water out of their blowhole, roll, and reenter the water with a grand splash of their large tail. They make loud, deep, and rumbling low-frequency sounds that travel great distances, which allow them to communicate with other whales as far as 100 miles away. Their cries can be felt as much as heard. Their resonating call makes them the loudest animal on Earth. If you ever have the opportunity to see or hear a blue whale, it will be an experience you will not soon forget.

The author states that the blue whale is an extraordinary creature. Which statement supports this claim?

• A. They live in the ocean

• B. They are mammals.

• C. They are the largest animal to have ever lived.

• D. They live alone or with one other whale.

Read the passage and answer the question.

The blue whale is quite an extraordinary creature. To begin with, it is a mammal that lives its entire life in the ocean. The size of its body is amazing. This whale can grow up to 98 feet long and weigh as much as 200 tons, making it the largest known animal to have ever existed. Its body is long and elegantly tapered, unlike other whales which have a rounder, stockier build. Their build, along with their extreme size, gives them a unique appearance and the ability to move more gracefully and at greater speeds than one might imagine. They can reach speeds up to 31 mph for short periods of time. Their normal traveling speed is around 12 mph, but they slow to 3.1 mph when feeding. Although they are extremely large animals, they eat small shrimp-like creatures called krill. Since the krill are so small, the blue whale eats about four tons daily as they swim deep in the ocean.

Unlike other whales that live in small, close-knit groups called pods, blue whales live and travel alone or with one other whale. While traveling through the ocean, they surface to breathe air into their lungs through blowholes. They emerge from the ocean, spewing water out of their blowhole, roll, and reenter the water with a grand splash of their large tail. They make loud, deep, and rumbling lo- frequency sounds that travel great distances, which allow them to communicate with other whales as far as 100 miles away. Their cries can be felt as much as heard. Their resonating call makes them the loudest animal on Earth. If you ever have the opportunity to see or hear a blue whale, it will be an experience you will not soon forget.

What fact does NOT support the author’s opinion that hearing a blue whale is an experience you will not soon forget?

• A. The blue whale is an extraordinary creature

• B. Their cries can be felt as much as heard.

• C. Their sounds travel up to 100 miles away.

• D. They are the loudest animal on Earth

Read the passage and answer the question.

The blue whale is quite an extraordinary creature. To begin with, it is a mammal that lives its entire life in the ocean. The size of its body is amazing. This whale can grow up to 98 feet long and weigh as much as 200 tons, making it the largest known animal to have ever existed. Its body is long and elegantly tapered, unlike other whales which have a rounder, stockier build. Their build, along with their extreme size, gives them a unique appearance and the ability to move more gracefully and at greater speeds than one might imagine. They can reach speeds up to 31 mph for short periods of time. Their normal traveling speed is around 12 mph, but they slow to 3.1 mph when feeding. Although they are extremely large animals, they eat small shrimp-like creatures called krill. Since the krill are so small, the blue whale eats about four tons daily as they swim deep in the ocean.

Unlike other whales that live in small, close-knit groups called pods, blue whales live and travel alone or with one other whale. While traveling through the ocean, they surface to breathe air into their lungs through blowholes. They emerge from the ocean, spewing water out of their blowhole, roll, and reenter the water with a grand splash of their large tail. They make loud, deep, and rumbling low frequency sounds that travel great distances, which allow them to communicate with other whales as far as 100 miles away. Their cries can be felt as much as heard. Their resonating call makes them the loudest animal on Earth. If you ever have the opportunity to see or hear a blue whale, it will be an experience you will not soon forget.

After reading this article, Jenny exclaimed that the blue whale is really big! What information from the article above supports her statement?

• A. The blue whale is quite an extraordinary creature.

• B. The blue whale is the loudest animal on Earth.

• C. The blue whale can weigh up to 200 tons and be 98 feet long

• D. The size of its body is amazing.

Read the passage and answer the question.

Sacagawea is a famous Native American from the Shoshone tribe. She became known because she helped two men, explorers named Lewis and Clark, find their way through the unexplored west. Before she was able to do that, however, she was kidnapped when she was 12 years old by an enemy Native American tribe called the Hidatsa. Then, legend has it, that the chief of the Hidatsa tribe sold Sacagawea into slavery.

In 1804, she became an interpreter and guide for a group of explorers led by Lewis and Clark, and she helped them find their way from the Dakotas to the Pacific Ocean. She became a famous Native American in our history for being brave and helping these men discover unknown territory.

Which Native American tribe kidnapped Sacagawea when she was 12 years old?

• A. Shoshone

• B. Cherokee

• C. Hidatsa

• D. Chumash

Sacagawea is a famous Native American from the Shoshone tribe. She became known because she helped two men, explorers named Lewis and Clark, find their way through the unexplored west. Before she was able to do that, however, she was kidnapped when she was 12 years old by an enemy Native American tribe called the Hidatsa. Then, legend has it, that the chief of the Hidatsa tribe sold Sacagawea into slavery.

In 1804, she became an interpreter and guide for a group of explorers led by Lewis and Clark and she helped them find their way from the Dakotas to the Pacific Ocean. She became a famous Native American in our history for being brave and helping these men discover unknown territory.

What statement above shows why we remember Sacagawea today?

• A. She became known because she helped two men, explorers named Lewis and Clark, find their way through the unexplored west.

• B. Sacagawea was kidnapped from her home by the Hidatsa when she was 12.

• C. Then, legend has it, that the chief of the Hidatsa tribe sold Sacagawea into slavery.

• D. Sacagawea is a famous Native American from the Shoshone tribe.

"The Elephant Who Saw the World," Mary started speaking. It was Friday, and the students had to share their creative writing stories of the week.

Mary loved writing, and this part of the week, when they were able to make up stories for creative writing, was her favorite part. She enjoyed it so much that she became really good at it. When she was home on the weekends and she didn't have much homework, she would sit in her room for hours and create stories to share with her friends and family. Her parents always supported her and were her biggest fans.

However, there was one part about every Friday at school that Mary did not enjoy, and that was when she had to share her story in front of the class. The teacher made all of the children share on Friday afternoons, and this made Mary very nervous. She was shy, and although she knew her teacher was right, she didn't like it.

After sitting and listening to the other children share, Mary finally heard her name called. She knew it was her turn to share. She got out of her seat slowly, walked to the front of the room and began.

What is the title of Mary's story?

• A. The Elephant Who Liked Candy

• B. The Elephant Who Saw the World

• C. The Elephant Who Wanted to See the World

• D. The Girl Who Hated Writing

"The Elephant Who Saw the World," Mary started speaking. It was Friday, and the students had to share their creative writing stories of the week.

Mary loved writing, and this part of the week, when they were able to make up stories for creative writing, was her favorite part. She enjoyed it so much that she became really good at it. When she was home on the weekends and she didn't have much homework, she would sit in her room for hours and create stories to share with her friends and family. Her parents always supported her and were her biggest fans.

However, there was one part about every Friday at school that Mary did not enjoy, and that was when she had to share her story in front of the class. The teacher made all of the children share on Friday afternoons, and this made Mary very nervous. She was shy, and although she knew her teacher was right, she didn't like it.

After sitting and listening to the other children share, Mary finally heard her name called. She knew it was her turn to share. She got out of her seat slowly, walked to the front of the room and began.

What didn't Mary like doing?

• A. writing stories and having others read them

• B. having her stories corrected by the teacher

• C. reading her stories in front of the class

• D. going to school on creative writing days

Read the passage and answer the question.

"The Elephant Who Saw the World," Mary started speaking. It was Friday, and the students had to share their creative writing stories of the week.

Mary loved writing, and this part of the week, when they were able to make up stories for creative writing, was her favorite part. She enjoyed it so much that she became really good at it. When she was home on the weekends and she didn't have much homework, she would sit in her room for hours and create stories to share with her friends and family. Her parents always supported her and were her biggest fans.

However, there was one part about every Friday at school that Mary did not enjoy, and that was when she had to share her story in front of the class. The teacher made all of the children share on Friday afternoons, and this made Mary very nervous. She was shy, and although she knew her teacher was right, she didn't like it.

After sitting and listening to the other children share, Mary finally heard her name called. She knew it was her turn to share. She got out of her seat slowly, walked to the front of the room and began.

Why was Mary reading her story in front of the class?

• A. It was something she loved to do.

• B. Her classmates asked her to read her story.

• C. Every Friday the children had to share their creative writing stories.

• D. Her parents wanted her to practice.