Cobra Effect - Reading Comprehension

1.    Which best defines the word colonize as used in the FIRST paragraph?

• a)   To destroy or ruin a foreign land

• b)    To trade or do business with other people

• c)   To inhabit and rule a foreign land

• d)    To do battle or fight with another group of people

2. 2. Which conclusion can be supported with text from the passage?

• a)   India had more poisonous snakes than the UK.

• b)    India had fewer poisonous snakes than the UK.

• c) India had the same amount of poisonous snakes as the UK

• d)    India DID NOT have poisonous snakes.

3.    Which event happened LAST?

• a)   The number of snakes decreased.

• b)    The government began paying a bounty for dead snakes.

• c)   The snake breeders released their cobras into the wild.

• d)    People started breeding snakes.

4.    What was the overall effect of the bounty program on the cobra population in Delhi?

• a. The number of snakes decreased

• b. The number of snakes increased

• c. The number of snakes stayed about the same.

• d. The snakes were completely wiped out.

5.    Which best defines the term cobra effect as described in the text?

• a. A response to a problem that has no effect.

• b.  A response to a problem that makes it better.

• c.   A response to a problem that completely solves it.

• d.    A response to a problem that makes it worse.

6.    Which is NOT a reason why the City of Chicago put a tax on plastic bags?

• a)   The city wanted people to reuse bags.

• b)    Lightweight plastic bags pollute the water.

• c)   Lightweight plastic bags are toxic to children.

• d)    Lightweight plastic bags pollute the land.

7.    How did retailers respond to the tax on lightweight plastic bags?

• a)   They gave thick plastic bags to customers.

• b)    They gave paper bags to customers.

• c) They stopped giving bags to customers.

• d)    They passed the tax on to the customers.

8.    How did the tax affect the problem with plastic bags in the City of Chicago?

• a)   It helped reduce the problem a lot.

• b)    It made the problem worse.

• c)   It helped reduce the problem a little bit.

• d) It solved the problem completely

9.    With which statement would the author most likely AGREE?

• a)   There's no point in trying to fix anything.

• b)    There is no such thing as a bad idea.

• c)   The fastest solution to a problem is always the best solution.

• d)    Think through solutions carefully before trying them.

10.         What lesson can readers learn from this text?

• a)   Outcomes don't matter as long as you try your best.

• b)    Our actions can have unexpected consequences.

• c)   Things will always work out in the end.

• d) Intentions are more important than consequences