Reading Comprehension Practice

Fictional stories about people who have extraordinary abilities have always attracted people’s attention. One of them is the story of Vera Petrova, who is able to perceive things with different parts of her skin, and through solid walls. One day she comes into his father’s office and puts her hands on the door of a locked safe. Suddenly she asks her father why he keeps so many old newspapers locked away there. Vera’s curious talent is brought to the notice of a scientific research institute and she is given a series of tests by a special commission. During these tests she manages to read a newspaper through an opaque screen and then she describes the figures and colors of a picture hidden under a carpet. During all these tests Vera is blindfolded; and, indeed, except when blindfolded she lacks the ability to perceive things with her skin. It was also found that although she could perceive things with her fingers, this ability ceased the moment her hands were wet.

As we understand from the reading, Vera Petrova_________

• can only perceive things with her fingers.

• is a curious child.

• is not the only fictional character who has extraordinary abilities.

• fails most of the tests administered by a special commission.

• perceives the objects only when her fingers are wet.

Fictional stories about people who have extraordinary abilities have always attracted people’s attention. One of them is the story of Vera Petrova, who is able to perceive things with different parts of her skin, and through solid walls. One day she comes into his father’s office and puts her hands on the door of a locked safe. Suddenly she asks her father why he keeps so many old newspapers locked away there. Vera’s curious talent is brought to the notice of a scientific research institute and she is given a series of tests by a special commission. During these tests she manages to read a newspaper through an opaque screen and then she describes the figures and colors of a picture hidden under a carpet. During all these tests Vera is blindfolded; and, indeed, except when blindfolded she lacks the ability to perceive things with her skin. It was also found that although she could perceive things with her fingers, this ability ceased the moment her hands were wet.

8. It is pointed out in the reading that Vera Petrova loses the ability to perceive objects with her fingers_________

• when her father first notices this ability.

• when she is asked to read a newspaper through an opaque screen.

• after she is given a series of tests.

• as soon as her hands get wet.

• when the object is hidden under a carpet.

People With Extraordinary Abilities Fictional stories about people who have extraordinary abilities have always attracted people’s attention. One of them is the story of Vera Petrova, who is able to perceive things with different parts of her skin, and through solid walls. One day she comes into his father’s office and puts her hands on the door of a locked safe. Suddenly she asks her father why he keeps so many old newspapers locked away there. Vera’s curious talent is brought to the notice of a scientific research institute and she is given a series of tests by a special commission. During these tests she manages to read a newspaper through an opaque screen and then she describes the figures and colors of a picture hidden under a carpet. During all these tests Vera is blindfolded; and, indeed, except when blindfolded she lacks the ability to perceive things with her skin. It was also found that although she could perceive things with her fingers, this ability ceased the moment her hands were wet. According to the reading,_________

• Vera Petrova’s father asks her why she keeps the old newspapers in the locked safe.

• the scientific research institute is not interested in Vera Petrova’s talent.

• Vera can’t perceive objects with her skin unless she is blindfold.

• there are several scientific research institutes which examine people like Vera.

• the special commission is made up by people who can also perceive objects with their skin.

The Bermuda Triangle

The Bermuda Triangle occupies a disturbing and almost unbelievable place in the world’s catalog of unexplained mysteries. More than a hundred planes and ships have vanished in this area into the air since 1945, and more than a thousand lives have been lost, without a single body or even a piece wreckage from the vanishing planes or ships having been found. Many of the planes concerned have vanished while in normal radio contact with their base until the very moment of their disappearance, while others have radioed the most extraordinary messages, implying that they could not get their instruments to function, that their compasses were spinning, that the sky had turned yellow and hazy on a clear day, and the ocean, which was calm nearby, didn’t look right without further clarification of what was wrong.

10. One can infer from the reading that_________

• the wreckages of some ships and planes have been found in the Bermuda Triangle.

• the number of incidents involving lost ships is no larger than that of any other heavily traveled region of the world.

• the ships. and the planes couldn’t contact their base due to the lack of equipment.

• the weather in Bermuda Triangle is always stormy.

• the first mention of disappearances in the area was made in 1945.

The Bermuda Triangle occupies a disturbing and almost unbelievable place in the world’s catalog of unexplained mysteries. More than a hundred planes and ships have vanished in this area into the air since 1945, and more than a thousand lives have been lost, without a single body or even a piece wreckage from the vanishing planes or ships having been found. Many of the planes concerned have vanished while in normal radio contact with their base until the very moment of their disappearance, while others have radioed the most extraordinary messages, implying that they could not get their instruments to function, that their compasses were spinning, that the sky had turned yellow and hazy on a clear day, and the ocean, which was calm nearby, didn’t look right without further clarification of what was wrong. 11. It is pointed out in the passage that_________

• thousands of people lost their lives in the Bermuda Triangle in 1945.

• all of the disappearances happened during the daytime.

• the Bermuda Triangle mystery was solved in 1945.

• most of the missing planes could contact with their base by their own special means until the very moment of disappearing.

• the ocean floor near Bermuda, highly unexplored, is host to many strange phenomena.

The reading mainly deals with_________

• why so many ships and planes disappear in the Bermuda Triangle.

• the mysterious disappearances of ships and planes in the Bermuda Triangle.

• the location of the Bermuda Triangle.

• the frequency of the disappearances in the Bermuda Triangle.

• the unpredictable weather conditions in the Bermuda Triangle.

Opera

Opera refers to a dramatic art form, originating in Europe, in which the emotional content is conveyed to the audience as much through music, both vocal and instrumental, as it is through the lyrics. By contrast, in musical theater an actor’s dramatic performance is primary, and the music plays a lesser role. The drama in opera is presented using the primary elements of theater such as scenery, costumes, and acting. However, the words of the opera, or libretto, are sung rather than spoken. The singers are accompanied by a musical ensemble ranging from a small instrumental ensemble to a full symphonic orchestra.

13. It is pointed out in the reading that opera_________

• has developed under the influence of musical theater.

• is a drama sung with the accompaniment of an orchestra.

• is not a high-budget production.

• is often performed in Europe.

• is the most complex of all the performing arts.

Opera

Opera refers to a dramatic art form, originating in Europe, in which the emotional content is conveyed to the audience as much through music, both vocal and instrumental, as it is through the lyrics. By contrast, in musical theater an actor’s dramatic performance is primary, and the music plays a lesser role. The drama in opera is presented using the primary elements of theater such as scenery, costumes, and acting. However, the words of the opera, or libretto, are sung rather than spoken. The singers are accompanied by a musical ensemble ranging from a small instrumental ensemble to a full symphonic orchestra.

15. It is stated in the reading that_________

• acting and costumes are secondary to music in musical theater.

• many people find musical theater more captivating than opera.

• music in musical theater is not as important as it is in opera.

• an opera requires a huge orchestra as well as a large choir.

• opera doesn’t have any properties in common with musical theater.

We can understand from the reading that_________

• people are captivated more by opera than musical theater.

• drama in opera is more important than the music.

• orchestras in operas can vary considerably in size.

• musical theater relies above all on music.

• there is an argument over whether the music is important or the words in opera.

What is the main purpose of reading comprehension practice?

• To improve vocabulary

• To enhance understanding of texts

• To learn grammar rules

• To memorize facts