Gasping for Air:
 A study says that kids living in areas with air pollution1 are more likely to develop asthma than kids who live in other areas. Asthma is an illness that makes breathing difficult. Over 5 million children in the United States suffer from asthma. More than 3,500 kids, ages 9 to 16, who lived in California took part in the study. About half of those kids lived in areas that had lots of air pollution. The other half lived in areas that had clean air. All the children played outdoor sports. After studying the kids for five years, doctors found that about 260 of them developed asthma. Most of the kids who developed asthma lived in towns that had lots of air pollution. Doctors say that breathing too much polluted air caused the asthma cases. A California health official said the study shows the need to do more to prevent air pollution. Doctors say that children should still play outside but only on days when air pollution isn't bad. 
Which detail best supports the main idea? 

Gasping for Air:
 A study says that kids living in areas with air pollution1 are more likely to develop asthma than kids who live in other areas. Asthma is an illness that makes breathing difficult. Over 5 million children in the United States suffer from asthma. More than 3,500 kids, ages 9 to 16, who lived in California took part in the study. About half of those kids lived in areas that had lots of air pollution. The other half lived in areas that had clean air. All the children played outdoor sports. After studying the kids for five years, doctors found that about 260 of them developed asthma. Most of the kids who developed asthma lived in towns that had lots of air pollution. Doctors say that breathing too much polluted air caused the asthma cases. A California health official said the study shows the need to do more to prevent air pollution. Doctors say that children should still play outside but only on days when air pollution isn't bad. 
What portion of the kids who took part in the study lived in areas that had lots of air pollution? 

Leading Lady:
 The past few months have been busy for Democrat Nancy Pelosi. In January [2007], she became the first female Speaker of the House of Representatives. The House and the Senate are the two chambers that make up the U.S. Congress. That branch of government makes the country's laws. "This is a historic moment for the Congress and for the women of this country," says Pelosi. Pelosi has said that she wants to be judged by her abilities, not by her gender. "Becoming the first woman Speaker will send a message to young girls and women across the country that anything is possible for them," she adds. Pelosi leads the 435 members of the House. She is third in line for the presidency, after the vice president. 
The main idea of this passage is...

Leading Lady:
 The past few months have been busy for Democrat Nancy Pelosi. In January [2007], she became the first female Speaker of the House of Representatives. The House and the Senate are the two chambers that make up the U.S. Congress. That branch of government makes the country's laws. "This is a historic moment for the Congress and for the women of this country," says Pelosi. Pelosi has said that she wants to be judged by her abilities, not by her gender. "Becoming the first woman Speaker will send a message to young girls and women across the country that anything is possible for them," she adds. Pelosi leads the 435 members of the House. She is third in line for the presidency, after the vice president. 
he following statement does not support the main idea:

Leading Lady:
 The past few months have been busy for Democrat Nancy Pelosi. In January [2007], she became the first female Speaker of the House of Representatives. The House and the Senate are the two chambers that make up the U.S. Congress. That branch of government makes the country's laws. "This is a historic moment for the Congress and for the women of this country," says Pelosi. Pelosi has said that she wants to be judged by her abilities, not by her gender. "Becoming the first woman Speaker will send a message to young girls and women across the country that anything is possible for them," she adds. Pelosi leads the 435 members of the House. She is third in line for the presidency, after the vice president. 
Pelosi leads the 

Now That's a Big Bird:
A teenager recently discovered the skull of a huge prehistoric1 bird in Argentina, a country in South America. Scientists say the 10-foot-tall bird had a sharp, hooked beak and thin legs. They think that the bird probably ate animals as large as sheep and ran fast. The big bird belonged to a group of birds called "terror birds" that once lived on Earth. "It is an unbelievable creature. This is the largest known bird, with a skull bigger than a horse’s head," says Luis Chiappe, director of the Dinosaur Institute, a part of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, California. 
The main idea of this passage is...

Now That's a Big Bird:
A teenager recently discovered the skull of a huge prehistoric1 bird in Argentina, a country in South America. Scientists say the 10-foot-tall bird had a sharp, hooked beak and thin legs. They think that the bird probably ate animals as large as sheep and ran fast. The big bird belonged to a group of birds called "terror birds" that once lived on Earth. "It is an unbelievable creature. This is the largest known bird, with a skull bigger than a horse’s head," says Luis Chiappe, director of the Dinosaur Institute, a part of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, California. 
Which of the following is not a detail from this passage?

Now That's a Big Bird:
A teenager recently discovered the skull of a huge prehistoric1 bird in Argentina, a country in South America. Scientists say the 10-foot-tall bird had a sharp, hooked beak and thin legs. They think that the bird probably ate animals as large as sheep and ran fast. The big bird belonged to a group of birds called "terror birds" that once lived on Earth. "It is an unbelievable creature. This is the largest known bird, with a skull bigger than a horse’s head," says Luis Chiappe, director of the Dinosaur Institute, a part of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, California. 
It is an opinion that...

Birth of a Mighty River:
 The Amazon River is the longest river in South America. It flows for 4,000 miles across the continent. The location of the river's source, or beginning, was a mystery for centuries. A team of explorers and geography experts recently found the tiny stream where the mighty river begins. Birth of a Mighty River High on the Nevado Mismi, an 18,363-foot-high mountain in Peru, a stream trickles from the melting snow. A team of 22 explorers and geography experts recently announced that this small stream is the source of the mighty Amazon River. The stream flows into the Apurimac (Ah-poo-REE-mahk) River, which is one of the many rivers that combine to form the Amazon. Andrew Pietowski, a high school math teacher in New York, led the team in search of the river's source. The team searched the Andes, a range of mountains that stretches the whole western length of South America. "Since the Amazon River has an end, there must be a beginning. I wanted to know where it was," Pietowski said. The River of Life On its way across South America, the Amazon River flows through the largest rain forest in the world. A rain forest is a dense1 forest that has a lot of rainfall and warm temperatures all year round. The Amazon rain forest is almost as big as the continent of Australia. Scientists say about 80,000 different types of trees and plants can be found in the Amazon rain forest. More kinds of fish live in the Amazon River than in the Atlantic Ocean. The river flows through forests that are home to jaguars, armadillos, snakes, monkeys, crocodiles, and anteaters. Along the river live about 170 different groups of native people. 
The source of the river was a mystery for so long because...

Birth of a Mighty River:
 The Amazon River is the longest river in South America. It flows for 4,000 miles across the continent. The location of the river's source, or beginning, was a mystery for centuries. A team of explorers and geography experts recently found the tiny stream where the mighty river begins. Birth of a Mighty River High on the Nevado Mismi, an 18,363-foot-high mountain in Peru, a stream trickles from the melting snow. A team of 22 explorers and geography experts recently announced that this small stream is the source of the mighty Amazon River. The stream flows into the Apurimac (Ah-poo-REE-mahk) River, which is one of the many rivers that combine to form the Amazon. Andrew Pietowski, a high school math teacher in New York, led the team in search of the river's source. The team searched the Andes, a range of mountains that stretches the whole western length of South America. "Since the Amazon River has an end, there must be a beginning. I wanted to know where it was," Pietowski said. The River of Life On its way across South America, the Amazon River flows through the largest rain forest in the world. A rain forest is a dense1 forest that has a lot of rainfall and warm temperatures all year round. The Amazon rain forest is almost as big as the continent of Australia. Scientists say about 80,000 different types of trees and plants can be found in the Amazon rain forest. More kinds of fish live in the Amazon River than in the Atlantic Ocean. The river flows through forests that are home to jaguars, armadillos, snakes, monkeys, crocodiles, and anteaters. Along the river live about 170 different groups of native people. 
Scientists say that the stream that feeds the Amazon is made from melting snow. This means that...

Birth of a Mighty River:
 The Amazon River is the longest river in South America. It flows for 4,000 miles across the continent. The location of the river's source, or beginning, was a mystery for centuries. A team of explorers and geography experts recently found the tiny stream where the mighty river begins. Birth of a Mighty River High on the Nevado Mismi, an 18,363-foot-high mountain in Peru, a stream trickles from the melting snow. A team of 22 explorers and geography experts recently announced that this small stream is the source of the mighty Amazon River. The stream flows into the Apurimac (Ah-poo-REE-mahk) River, which is one of the many rivers that combine to form the Amazon. Andrew Pietowski, a high school math teacher in New York, led the team in search of the river's source. The team searched the Andes, a range of mountains that stretches the whole western length of South America. "Since the Amazon River has an end, there must be a beginning. I wanted to know where it was," Pietowski said. The River of Life On its way across South America, the Amazon River flows through the largest rain forest in the world. A rain forest is a dense1 forest that has a lot of rainfall and warm temperatures all year round. The Amazon rain forest is almost as big as the continent of Australia. Scientists say about 80,000 different types of trees and plants can be found in the Amazon rain forest. More kinds of fish live in the Amazon River than in the Atlantic Ocean. The river flows through forests that are home to jaguars, armadillos, snakes, monkeys, crocodiles, and anteaters. Along the river live about 170 different groups of native people. 
The author compared the Amazon rain forest to Australia because...

A Hole in the Planet!
 A hole in Earth has scientists baffled. On March 2 [2007], a team of 12 British scientists set sail aboard the RRS James Cook to find out why a large chunk of Earth's crust, or outer layer, is missing three miles below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean. In its place is a large, exposed stretch of mantle—the deep inner layer of Earth. The crew departed from the Canary Islands, which are located off the northwestern coast of Africa. The hole is situated about 2,300 miles southwest of the Canaries. Scientists suspect the hole is 30 miles long and 30 miles wide. Using a robotic device called Toby, the team will film the site and take samples to study. "It is like a window into the interior of Earth," says scientist Bramley Murton from aboard the research ship. A Peek Inside Earth Earth is made up of four layers, which get hotter and hotter from the surface to the center. Crust (5–250 miles thick) The crust is the surface of Earth. The thin layer is made of solid rock. Mantle (about 1,800 miles thick) The mantle is divided into two parts: the upper mantle and the lower mantle. Most of the mantle is solid rock, but the lower mantle rock is softer. Outer Core (about 1,400 miles thick) The hot outer core is made of liquid iron and nickel. Inner Core (about 750 miles thick) The inner core is the center of Earth. It is made up of scorching-hot iron and nickel, which stay solid due to intense pressure. 
The author wrote this passage in order to...

A Hole in the Planet!
 A hole in Earth has scientists baffled. On March 2 [2007], a team of 12 British scientists set sail aboard the RRS James Cook to find out why a large chunk of Earth's crust, or outer layer, is missing three miles below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean. In its place is a large, exposed stretch of mantle—the deep inner layer of Earth. The crew departed from the Canary Islands, which are located off the northwestern coast of Africa. The hole is situated about 2,300 miles southwest of the Canaries. Scientists suspect the hole is 30 miles long and 30 miles wide. Using a robotic device called Toby, the team will film the site and take samples to study. "It is like a window into the interior of Earth," says scientist Bramley Murton from aboard the research ship. A Peek Inside Earth Earth is made up of four layers, which get hotter and hotter from the surface to the center. Crust (5–250 miles thick) The crust is the surface of Earth. The thin layer is made of solid rock. Mantle (about 1,800 miles thick) The mantle is divided into two parts: the upper mantle and the lower mantle. Most of the mantle is solid rock, but the lower mantle rock is softer. Outer Core (about 1,400 miles thick) The hot outer core is made of liquid iron and nickel. Inner Core (about 750 miles thick) The inner core is the center of Earth. It is made up of scorching-hot iron and nickel, which stay solid due to intense pressure. 
The author writes that the scientists are baffled. This means...

A Hole in the Planet!
 A hole in Earth has scientists baffled. On March 2 [2007], a team of 12 British scientists set sail aboard the RRS James Cook to find out why a large chunk of Earth's crust, or outer layer, is missing three miles below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean. In its place is a large, exposed stretch of mantle—the deep inner layer of Earth. The crew departed from the Canary Islands, which are located off the northwestern coast of Africa. The hole is situated about 2,300 miles southwest of the Canaries. Scientists suspect the hole is 30 miles long and 30 miles wide. Using a robotic device called Toby, the team will film the site and take samples to study. "It is like a window into the interior of Earth," says scientist Bramley Murton from aboard the research ship. A Peek Inside Earth Earth is made up of four layers, which get hotter and hotter from the surface to the center. Crust (5–250 miles thick) The crust is the surface of Earth. The thin layer is made of solid rock. Mantle (about 1,800 miles thick) The mantle is divided into two parts: the upper mantle and the lower mantle. Most of the mantle is solid rock, but the lower mantle rock is softer. Outer Core (about 1,400 miles thick) The hot outer core is made of liquid iron and nickel. Inner Core (about 750 miles thick) The inner core is the center of Earth. It is made up of scorching-hot iron and nickel, which stay solid due to intense pressure. 
The author writes that the hole in the crust is situated near the Canary Islands. Situated means