Free Printable Reading Comprehension

1.

Floods can cause tremendous damage. They can ruin houses, roads and buildings. Floods can take down trees and cause mudslides. It often leaves mud, sand and debris behind. It can take months to clean up after a flood.
What is the main idea?

a)

Floods can cause a lot of damage.

b)

Floods cause mudslides.

c)

Floods damage houses and roads.

2.

Soccer is known in some countries as football. It is a popular sport across the world, with over 200 countries playing the sport. It is estimated that over 250 million people, both men and women, play soccer. The sport has been part of the Olympic games from 1900 to 1928 and from 1936 to today.
What is the main idea?

a)

Soccer is important at the Olympics.

b)

Soccer is a worldwide sport.

c)

Soccer is also called football.

d)

Soccer is played by men and women.

3.

It was raining outside. Sue got out of bed and got dressed for school. Then, she ate breakfast and grabbed her backpack. Before Sue left the house, she probably ___________________.

a)

got her sunglasses

b)

made a sandwich

c)

picked up her umbrella

d)

put on sandals

4.

Sam woke up and saw the sun shining in the sky. He packed his swimming suit, a towel, a beach ball, and his sandals in his bag. Then, he went to the kitchen and made a sack lunch.
Sam is most likely going to ___________________.

a)

the beach

b)

school

c)

the mall

d)

the library

5.

Dolphins are very smart animals. They even have their own language. They talk to each other with clicks, whistles, and grunts. Scientists have been studying this dolphin language. They hope that in the future, people and dolphins will be able to talk to each other. This paragraph mainly tells:

a)

how dolphins talk to people

b)

how smart dolphins are

c)

how dolpins are different from fish

d)

which scientists are studying languages

6.

Maggie was getting ready to walk to school. She put on her coat and grabbed her backpack. As she was leaving, her mother said, “I love you. Be careful.” What can you infer about Maggie?

a)

Maggie is in kindergarten

b)

Maggie lives close to school

c)

Maggie is late for school

d)

Maggie is excited about school

7.

Brittany's mom walks into the kitchen wearing her sun hat and a pair of old shoes. “Those vegetable plants are growing by leaps and bounds!” she exclaims to Brittany, as she takes off a dirty glove and wipes a smudge of dirt off her face. Where was Brittany's mom?

a)

At the store

b)

At the doctor's office

c)

In the garden

d)

At the airport

8.

My dog Jack is very friendly, and he likes to be around people. Yesterday, our neighbors were having a party, and we all went over to cookout and swim at their house. We could hear Jack barking loudly from our backyard. After a little while, he got quiet, so we thought he had finally calmed down. But, several minutes later, all of the adults start laughing, and I see a black blur and hear a giant splash at the other end of the pool. Why was Jack barking?

a)

He wanted to be at the party

b)

The neighbors were making too much noise

c)

He was hungry

d)

He wanted to go outside

9.

Every day after work Paul took his muddy boots off on the steps of the front porch. Alice would have a fit if the boots made it so far as the welcome mat. He then took off his dusty overalls and threw them into a plastic garbage bag; Alice left a new garbage bag tied to the porch railing for him every morning. On his way in the house, he dropped the garbage bag off at the washing machine and went straight up the stairs to the shower as he was instructed. He would eat dinner with her after he was “presentable,” as Alice had often said. What type of job did Paul have?

a)

Doctor

b)

Lawyer

c)

Ditch digger

d)

Store cashier

10.

Weather reporters have to give out a lot of information. That's why they use pictures. The pictures help them tell us about the weather without using so many words. Weather reporters need to know where the cold air is. They need to know where the warm air is. They have to know where it is raining and what types of clouds are in the area. Their reports need to be correct, but they also need to be short. The pictures help weather reporters get the information out in a fast way.

Which sentence best describes the main idea of the paragraph?

a)

Weather reporters need to know where the cold air is

b)

Pictures help weather reporters get information out in a fast way

c)

Their reports need to be correct, but they also need to be short

d)

They have to know where it is raining and what types of clouds are in the area

11.

Soccer is known in some countries as football. It is a popular sport across the world, with over 200 countries playing the sport. It is estimated that over 250 million people, both men and women, play soccer. The sport has been part of the Olympic games from 1900 to 1928 and from 1936 to today.
What is the main idea?

a)

Soccer is important at the Olympics.

b)

Soccer is a worldwide sport.

c)

Soccer is also called football.

d)

Soccer is played by men and women.

12.

The wind blew through his hair as the boy watched the clouds roll in. As the waves grew bigger and bigger, he decided it was time to ride home. What is the boy doing?

a)

eating breakfast

b)

sailing

c)

riding his bike

d)

playing with his friends

13.

It was raining outside. Sue got out of bed and got dressed for school. Then, she ate breakfast and grabbed her backpack. Before Sue left the house, she probably ___________________.

a)

got her sunglasses

b)

made a sandwich

c)

picked up her umbrella

d)

put on sandals

14.

Dolphins are very smart animals. They even have their own language. They talk to each other with clicks, whistles, and grunts. Scientists have been studying this dolphin language. They hope that in the future, people and dolphins will be able to talk to each other. This paragraph mainly tells:

a)

how dolphins talk to people

b)

how smart dolphins are

c)

how dolpins are different from fish

d)

which scientists are studying languages

15.

Read the text and answer the question.

Coronaviruses were discovered in the 1960s. They are a group of viruses that cause diseases in mammals and birds. In humans, coronaviruses cause respiratory tract infections that are typically mild, such as the common cold.

The name "coronavirus" is derived from the Latin corona, meaning crown or halo. The name refers to the characteristic appearance of the infective form of the virus, which is reminiscent of a crown or a solar corona.

Question :

What is coronavirus?

a)

Group of viruses that cause diseases in mammals and birds only.

b)

Group of viruses that cause respiratory and tract infections in humans.

c)

Group of viruses that cause common cold only in human.

d)

Group of viruses that name after a Latin scientist

16.

Read the text and answer the question.

At the end of 2019, a new type of coronavirus started spreading in China. This type of coronavirus is often called 2019-nCoV, novel coronavirus, or COVID-19. It is believed that the virus was transmitted from animals to humans. Some of the first cases were diagnosed in people who had visited a market selling live seafood and animals. Unfortunately, when viruses are transmitted from animals to people, it can take scientists a lot of time before they can develop a vaccine or medicines to cure it.

Question :

What is the source of the coronavirus?

a)

The source of the coronavirus is from the market.

b)

The source of the coronavirus is from human.

c)

The source of the coronavirus is from a science lab.

d)

The source of the coronavirus probably comes from animals.

17.

Read the text and answer the question

Some of the symptoms of the coronavirus are fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, headache, and trouble breathing. These symptoms are very much like those people have with a cold or the flu. The virus can be more serious in some people, especially if they are sick or have health problems.

Question :

Which one is not the symptoms of coronavirus

a)

fever and red spot on skin.

b)

sore throat and runny nose

c)

cough and runny nose

d)

headache and fever

18.

Read the text and answer the question

While it is early to have a definite picture of the disease because scientists are still collecting the data, some patterns have already emerged. Some early reports reveal that children seem to be getting coronavirus at much lower rates than adults. Even if they get infected, the symptoms are milder. However, most people who get severely infected are those with a weak immune system, like the elderly. Coronavirus may be life-threatening for these people. They may develop more serious respiratory tract illnesses that may be fatal.

Question :

Arrange the person from low to high risk that will infected badly by the coronavirus.

a)

elderly, adults with weak immune system and children

b)

children, adults,adults with weak immune system and elderly

c)

adults, children, adult with weak immune system and elderly

d)

children,adults with weak immune system and elderly

19.

Read the text below and answer

The virus appears to spread mainly from person to person. The transmission occurs when someone comes into contact with an infected person. For example, a cough, sneeze or handshake could cause transmission. The spread may also be caused by coming into contact with something an infected person has touched and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes.

Question :

How does the virus spread?

a)

The virus spread when we close with infected person when they are cough and sneeze.

b)

The virus spread when someone comes into contact with infected person.

c)

The virus can be spread when we handshake the infected person.

d)

All the answers above are correct.

20.

Read the text and answer the question

There is no specific vaccine or medication to cure the disease, but generally, symptoms will go away on their own. However, experts recommend seeking medical care early if symptoms feel worse than a standard cold. Doctors can relieve symptoms by prescribing pain or fever medication. As far as antibiotics are concerned, they are useless to treat coronavirus.

Question :

How can we cure the disease?

a)

Vaccine and medication to cure.

b)

Antibiotic to cure the disease and medication to relieve the pain.

c)

Medication to reduce the pain and gradually the symptoms will go away on their own.

d)

Vaccine and antibiotic to cure and medication to relieve the pain.

21.

Read the text and answer the question

People who think they may have been exposed to the virus should contact their healthcare provider immediately. A set of preventive measures are usually followed in case someone gets infected. This includes keeping infected people in quarantine for a certain period, generally fourteen days.

Question :

How long infected people must be in quarantine?

a)

A fort night

b)

One week

c)

A month

d)

12 days

22.

Read the text and answer the question

To protect yourself from the virus, here are six recommendations to follow:

Avoid contact with people who are already infected. \
Wash your hands well and regularly for at least 20 seconds with soap and water or use hand sanitizer.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth if you haven't washed your hands.
Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that people touch a lot.
Stay home when you are sick.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

Question :

What is the word that can best be replace with avoid?

a)

protect

b)

permit

c)

prevent

d)

allow

23.

I could see Neal and Jefron from a block away. They walked in my direction. As they approached, I could see from the looks on their faces that they were happy.

The word "approached" means:

a)

walked farther away

b)

skipped

c)

moved nearer

24.

The peacock is the bird with the beautiful, giant fan of bright colors. When the peacock is young, both male and female birds look alike. At about two years of age, the male grows the long beautiful tail feathers. Because of their beauty, peacocks were often pets. They live about 20 or 30 years.

The main idea of this paragraph is:

a)

The peacock makes a good pet.

b)

The peacock is known for its beauty.

c)

Male and female peacocks look the same.

25.

In 1901, oil was discovered in Texas. Oil was in demand because it was used to heat homes and run trains. Suddenly oil companies sprang up all over the Southwest, as everyone wanted a piece of the pie. Some companies failed. But others, like Standard Oil, are still going strong today.

What does "a piece of the pie" mean in the paragraph above?

a)

to heat their homes

b)

to start a new business

c)

to make money selling oil

26.

Kimberly, her parents, and her sister, Camille, were flying to visit Los Angeles. They were going to stay for a week with Kimberly and Camille's grandparents. Then they were going to drive down to San Diego to visit Stephanie, a girl Kimberly had met at summer camp in New Hampshire.

When would Kimberly's family go to San Diego?

a)

after three days in Los Angeles

b)

after six days in Los Angeles

c)

after a week in Los Angeles

27.

Linda's school held a contest to design a new mascot. The old mascot was a tiger that the school began using 20 years earlier. Forty-five kids submitted a design. Both Linda and Tanesha suggested a toucan, and Linda's design won. The school put the toucan on T-shirts and mugs and sold them in the school store.

Where were the mugs sold sold?

a)

the grocery store

b)

the school store

c)

the football stadium

28.

You were walking to a coconut tree to get your dinner, when suddenly a gust of wind came. A coconut fell off the tree you were walking under and hit you in the head. Now you have a headache, you feel dizzy, and all you want to do is take a nap.

It is likely that:

a)

You should stay awake and rest.

b)

You should take a walk.

c)

You should go to sleep.

29.

The old man was walking down the street slowly. Since he was a pedestrian, he stayed along the outer edges of the lanes and was careful to keep to the crosswalks as he crossed to other streets.

What does the word "pedestrian" mean in the paragraph above?

a)

a person traveling on foot

b)

a person traveling in a car

c)

a person resting from traveling

30.

Molly was in a hurry to get to the playground. She pulled up the zipper on her coat so fast that her sweater got stuck in it. She struggled to unzip it but she couldn't do it. Luckily, her mom was able to extricate the sweater.

What does the word "extricate" mean in the paragraph above?

a)

mend

b)

remove

c)

notice

31.

Steel is a very important metal which is used for many things. In the United States, the automobile industry uses the most steel. Steel is used in putting up buildings, in making cans and containers, and in making farm and factory machines.

The main idea is:

a)

The auto industry is the most important.

b)

The United States produces the most steel in the world.

c)

Steel is used for many purposes.

32.

From 1815 through 1914, Europeans arrived in America like bees swarming to a hive. Most entered through Ellis Island in New York Bay. There, they were questioned by officials and examined by doctors. Some were sent back to Europe because they weren't healthy enough or because they weren't able to work.

What does "like bees swarming to a hive" mean in the paragraph above?

a)

Some Europeans brought honey bees with them to America.

b)

Most Europeans came to America by airplane.

c)

A great many Europeans arrived in America during this time period.

33.

Fish, nuts, and seeds have protein. Protein helps your body build muscle and build up immunity to illnesses. It is important to get enough protein in your diet to keep you strong so that you can get all of your work done.

It is likely that:

a)

You need to have protein once a month.

b)

You don't need to eat protein.

c)

You need to have protein every day.

34.

A house was burning down. The firefighters tried to put out the fire. They worked for hours. The heat was so intense that they had to move farther away from the house. Then they used a long hose to spray the water on the flames.

The word "intense" in the paragraph above means:

a)

bright

b)

strong

c)

frightening

35.

Ranita bought a used laptop computer from her neighbor, Becky. Becky had bought the computer two years earlier and did not need it anymore. Ranita's friend Ian helped her set up the computer. She stored the silver computer in a beige carrying case.

What did Ian help Ranita do?

a)

buy a computer

b)

set up a computer

c)

store a computer

36.

In 1947, a Washington pilot reported the first sighting of a disk-shaped spacecraft. A month later, a New Mexico rancher found pieces of a spaceship that had reportedly crashed on his land. Rumors were started that the Air Force was hiding the alien crash victims. UFO fever had infected the country!

What does "UFO fever had infected the country" mean in the paragraph above?

a)

The fear that aliens were visiting the earth was spreading.

b)

People were becoming sick for unknown reasons.

c)

The alien crash victims were being treated for a fever.

37.

In the United States, people make well over 200 million telephone calls a day. That should give you an idea just how important the telephone is in our daily life. The telephone was invented in 1874 by Alexander Graham Bell. It took several years before the use of the telephone was widespread.

The main idea is:

a)

Most people talk on the telephone too much.

b)

The telephone is important in our lives.

c)

Early telephones were no good.

38.

Dolphins are regarded as the friendliest creatures in the sea and stories of them helping drowning sailors have been common since Roman times. The more we learn about dolphins, the more we realize that their society is more complex than people previously imagined. They look after other dolphins when they are ill, care for pregnant mothers and protect the weakest in the community, as we do. Some scientists have suggested that dolphins have a language but it is much more probable that they communicate with each other without needing words. Could any of these mammals be more intelligent than man? Certainly the most common argument in favor of man's superiority over them that we can kill them more easily than they can kill us is the least satisfactory. On the contrary, the more we discover about these remarkable creatures, the less we appear superior when we destroy them.

It is clear from the passage that dolphins ----.

a)

don't want to be with us as much as we want to be with them

b)

are proven to be less intelligent than once thought

c)

have a reputation for being friendly to humans

d)

are the most powerful creatures that live in the oceans

e)

are capable of learning a language and communicating with humans

39.

Last summer, we decided to spend our vacation at the beach because the weather was very hot in the mountains. The travel agent said that traveling by bus was the cheapest way, but we went by plane because it was faster. We wanted to have more time to spend at the beach. The weather was beautiful and we had a great time.

We decided to go to the beach because ----.

a)

it was cheaper than going to the mountains

b)

the travel agent said that it was the cheapest

c)

of the hot weather in the mountains

d)

we wanted to spend time at the beach

40.

Last summer, we decided to spend our vacation at the beach because the weather was very hot in the mountains. The travel agent said that traveling by bus was the cheapest way, but we went by plane because it was faster. We wanted to have more time to spend at the beach. The weather was beautiful and we had a great time.

The bus was the ---- way to travel

a)

best

b)

easiest

c)

cheapest

d)

slowest

41.

Last summer, we decided to spend our vacation at the beach because the weather was very hot in the mountains. The travel agent said that traveling by bus was the cheapest way, but we went by plane because it was faster. We wanted to have more time to spend at the beach. The weather was beautiful and we had a great time.

Traveling by plane was ---- than by bus.

a)

more fun

b)

cheaper

c)

expensive

d)

faster

42.

Last summer, we decided to spend our vacation at the beach because the weather was very hot in the mountains. The travel agent said that traveling by bus was the cheapest way, but we went by plane because it was faster. We wanted to have more time to spend at the beach. The weather was beautiful and we had a great time.

We ---- our vacation

a)

hated

b)

didn't like

c)

enjoyed

d)

regretted

43.

Last summer, we decided to spend our vacation at the beach because the weather was very hot in the mountains. The travel agent said that traveling by bus was the cheapest way, but we went by plane because it was faster. We wanted to have more time to spend at the beach. The weather was beautiful and we had a great time.

We had very ---- weather during our vacation.

a)

good

b)

freezing

c)

terrible

d)

cold

44.

People do not really use music to charm snakes. Snakes have no ears, so the snake can't hear a flute. The snake charmer startles the snake by waving a hand near it. The snake lifts its head to look around. The charmer then says back and forth or moves the flute. The snake moves its head to keep an eye on the movement. This paragraph mainly tells:

a)

why flute music charms snakes

b)

why snakes can't hear sounds

c)

how people really charm snakes

45.

Ted was anxious to try out for the basketball team. He had practiced and knew he was ready. Tryouts made him a little nervous, but when he found out he made the team he knew that all the work had paid off.

What is the author's purpose?

a)

to entertain you witha story about a boy who worked hard

b)

to teach how to play basketball

c)

to persuade you to try out for the basketball team

46.

Yesterday was my birthday. When I woke up, I noticed my brother Josh hung up a big sign that said,"Happy Birthday, Charles!" Mom made spaghetti for dinner.

It's my favorite food in the whole world. My friend Dave came over and handed me a wrapped gift. I wondered what it was. It was a new basketball! I had a great day.

What is the main idea of this paragraph?

a)

Josh got lots of gifts.

b)

Charles got a lot of gifts.

c)

Charles had a great birthday.

47.

I can't wait until this weekend! We’re going to my grandparents’ house and my entire family will be there. I will spend most of my time playing games with my cousins. We always have such a good time together! The day goes by so fast, and by the end we are all exhausted... but we still don’t want to leave!

What is the main idea?

a)

Weekends are times to travel.

b)

The author enjoys spending time with her family.

c)

The author's grandparents live far away.

48.

Do you enjoy kites? If you order right away, we will give you directions for making kites out of all kinds of materials-sticks, straws, socks, and more. All of this for only $10.95. Hurry! Time is limited.
What is this ad trying to get the reader to do?

a)

buy information about sticks and straws.

b)

Buy information about sock puppets.

c)

Buy information about kite making.

d)

Buy a read-to-fly kite.

49.

When's the best time to stop and reread a piece of text?

a)

When you come across something you don't understand

b)

When you are halfway through the text

c)

After you've already read it several times

d)

When you are finished with the entire text

Reading Comprehension

Total questions: 49

Worksheet time: 2hrs 15mins

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