Houdini - Milestones Test Prep

What is the structure of the text?

• sequential 

• description  

• cause and effect

• compare and contrast

Reorder the following sentences to create a summary paragraph.

• He began his career as a circus entertainer performing trapeze acts.

• Houdini had a great talent for picking locks, and that led to other feats—escapes from trunks, straightjackets, and even coffins.

• In the end, despite the accusations of deception, Houdini remained popular with the American public and used his talent, strength, and resourcefulness, without any trickery.

• Harry Houdini was born Erik Weisz in Budapest, Hungary, and immigrated to the United States.

Which paragraph best states the central idea of the text?

• Paragraph 1

• Paragraph 2

• Paragraph 5

• Paragraph 3

Read the sentences from “Houdini.” They accused him of deceit, stating that he cheated with trap doors or only appeared to be nailed in a box or locked in chains. 

Which word does NOT define the word “deceit”?

• to defraud

• to cheat  

• to lie 

• to be honest

Read the sentences from “Houdini.” He had a smattering of success in vaudeville, but eventually found his way into escape performances. It seemed that he had a great talent for picking locks, and that led to other feats—escapes from trunks, straightjackets, and even coffins. 

What does the word “smattering” mean?

• to have all of something 

• to have nothing

• a large amount of something

• a small amount of something.

Read the sentences from “Houdini.” He had a smattering of success in vaudeville, but eventually found his way into escape performances. It seemed that he had a great talent for picking locks, and that led to other feats—escapes from trunks, straightjackets, and even coffins. 

What does the word “feats” mean?

• an achievement that requires great courage, skill, or strength

• an act that requires minimal skill

• an act of bravery

• to be defeated or fail

Which detail from the passage indicates that Houdini is not a trickster?

• The phrase “They do it with mirrors” was applied to Houdini many times.

• They stated that he cheated with trap doors or only appeared to be nailed in a box or locked in chains.

• The unglamorous truth was that Houdini was a superb physical being with some enormous talents.

• No matter what people believed about him, he always escaped in the most straightforward way.

Read the sentence from Houdini.  However, the unglamorous truth was that Houdini was a superb physical being with some enormous talents.

In what way is the truth “unglamorous?”

• Houdini always escaped in the most straightforward way despite what people believed.

• Houdini was a trickster and flawed.

• People thought Houdini escaped with mirrors.

• Houdini would free himself, and he did it without mirrors or any other kind of magic.

Why did Houdini remain popular with the American public?

• He was an amazing circus entertainer performing trapeze acts.

• He made a 10,000 pound elephant disappear.

• He was a superb physical being.

• He kept dreaming up more dangerous stunts.

Which sentences from the story BEST supports: He kept dreaming up more dangerous stunts.

• He later became a circus entertainer performing trapeze acts. However, when the circus traveled to New York City, he knew it to be the right place for a performer.

•  As a spotlight beamed down upon them, the man raised his arm high in the air, a popping sound was heard, and in a flash, Jennie, the 10,000-pound elephant, suddenly disappeared. 

•  However, the unglamorous truth was that Houdini was a superb physical being with some enormous talents. For instance, he could hold his breath for an extraordinary amount of time.

• He continued to dream up more and more dangerous stunts, and people flocked to see them. No matter what people believed about him, he always escaped in the most straightforward way.