Pre-UAY English Worksheet 1

It is estimated that over twenty million pounds of candy corn are sold in the US each year. Brach’s, the top manufacturer, sells enough candy corn to circle the earth 4.25 times if each piece were laid end to end. That’s a lot of candy corn, but that’s nothing compared to Tootsie Roll production. Over 64 million Tootsie Rolls are produced every day! But even Tootsie Rolls have got nothing on the candy industry’s staple product, chocolate. Confectioners manufacture over twenty billion pounds of chocolate in the United States each year. Now that’s a mouthful!

What is the main idea of the passage?

• The United States only produces candy corn.

• The United States produces many types of candies in large amounts.

• It is estimated that over twenty million pounds of candy corn are sold in the US each year.

• But even Tootsie Rolls have got nothing on the candy industry’s staple product, chocolate.

Robots are being used in sumo wrestling contests. Sumo wrestling is a sport that started in Japan. It takes place in a ring. Two players try to score points by holding each other down or pushing each other out of the ring. Robot sumo uses robots instead of humans. The robot that scores the most points wins.

Which of the following is a supporting detail of this paragraph?

• Robots are being used in sumo wrestling contests

• Robots sumo contests are better than human sumo contests.

• Robot sumo uses robots instead of humans.

• Watching robot sumo is boring.

If you are feeling sad, you can make yourself feel better by doing a few simple things. You can take a walk (or get another form of exercise), you can talk to a friend, or you can write down your feelings. Writing down the good things in your life will help too. Doing something good for someone else will also help you feel better. If you still feel a little sad, act happy. It works like magic to make you feel better!

What is the main idea?

• Sometimes people feel sad.

• You should do good things for others.

• We're not always happy.

• There are many ways to make yourself feel better. 

Wildgrove High School's annual arts festival will take place June 1st at the Wildgrove Performing Arts Center. On display will be paintings, sculpture, collages, and drawings. In addition to these works of art, which will remain on display for one year, the festival will feature several music events. A special guest will perform a violin solo, and more than three hundred students will perform a variety of instrumental and vocal selections.

Which author's purpose is suggested by the text?

• to inform readers about the arts festival

• to explain how to get to the arts festival

• to persuade people to join the arts festival

• to ask people to disagree about the arts festival

Dribbling is a fundamental soccer skill. You can master it by first learning how to make gentle contact, or "touch," with the ball. When players use gentle touches, they contact the ball more often, which leads to greater control. Another key to controlling the ball is keeping it close to your feet, or "shielding." This makes it harder for other players to intercept the ball.

Now you're ready to dribble. Begin by gently passing the ball back and forth using the insides of your feet. Remember to keep your head up while dribbling so you know where you are on the field. With time and practice, you'll gain speed and control.

Which author's purpose is suggested by the text?

• to convince readers that dribbling takes practice

• to teach readers how to dribble a soccer ball

• to tell readers that dribbling isn't an important part of soccer ball

• to show readers the details about soccer ball rules

I am quite concerned about the harmful effects of coal mining in our community. Coal mining threatens the health and safety of everyone who lives in Hillsdale.

Every year, local coal mining operations emit mercury, lead, and other toxic substances that pollute our air and water. On top of that, the burning of coal puts tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, "Coal plants are the nation's top source of carbon dioxide emissions, the primary cause of global warming."

We can shift our community away from coal and toward clean, renewable sources of energy like wind and solar power. The time to act is now!

Which author's purpose is suggested by the text?

• to convince readers that coal mining is bad for their community

• to explain how coal mining contributes to global warming

• to persuade people to mine coal

• to inform about how beneficial coal mining is

(1) Dr. Patterson thinks that this shows meaningful and constructive use of language.

(2) For example, Koko didn't know the sign for ring, so she signed the words finger and bracelet.

(3) She says that Koko knows over 1,000 words, and that Koko makes up new words.

(4) Dr. Patterson says that Koko has mastered sign language.

Rearrange the jumbled sentences into a comprehensible paragraph:

• 4-3-2-1

• 1-2-3-4

• 4-2-3-1

• 4-2-1-3

(1) The songs of birds are learned, not inherited.

(2) By comparison, other birds, such as song thrushes and nightingales have several different songs in their repertoire.

(3) Within a couple of months, young birds develop a basic song which they then refine over the next year by listening to other more mature adults of their own species.

(4) Some birds, such as the house sparrow, have just one song.

Rearrange the jumbled sentences into a comprehensible paragraph:

• 1-4-2-3

• 1-3-4-2

• 1-3-2-4

• 4-2-1-3

(1) There was just enough room for one person on board.

(2) On May 5, 1961, Alan Shepard went into space for the first time, on a spaceship called Freedom 7.

(3) On this flight, Shepard did not circle the Earth.

(4) The flight lasted about 15 minutes; it was a great success!

(5) He flew 185 kilometers high and came back down.

Rearrange the jumbled sentences into a comprehensible paragraph:

• 2-5-3-1-4

• 2-1-3-5-4

• 2-1-5-4-3

• 2-5-3-1-4

It is estimated that over twenty million pounds of candy corn are sold in the US each year. Brach’s, the top manufacturer, sells enough candy corn to circle the earth 4.25 times if each piece were laid end to end. That’s a lot of candy corn, but that’s nothing compared to Tootsie Roll production. Over 64 million Tootsie Rolls are produced every day! But even Tootsie Rolls have got nothing on the candy industry’s staple product, chocolate. Confectioners manufacture over twenty billion pounds of chocolate in the United States each year. Now that’s a mouthful!

What is the most popular candy in the United States?

• Tootsie Rolls

• Chocolate

• Candy Corn

• Cotton Candy