April Fools' Days Around the World

April Fools' Day is celebrated around the world, although it varies somewhat from country to country. In the United States, for example, it's a day to play practical jokes. In France, where the holiday is known as Poisson d'Avril, or April Fish, people secretly tape paper fish on their friends' backs. A common April Fools' prank in Portugal is to throw flour on someone; in Scotland, the most popular trick involves sending someone on a useless errand. Denmark celebrates April Fools' Day on April 1, but some people there celebrate again in May. Maj-kat, on May 1, is yet another day for jokes and pranks in the spring.

What is the main, or central, idea of the passage?

The Evolving Human Skeleton

Our early ancestors were hunter-gatherers who obtained food by hunting and by searching for edible wild plants. They needed strong bones, including large, strong jaws that enabled them to eat tough, uncooked foods. When our ancestors developed agriculture, however, their diet changed. They began growing plants, such as grains and beans, and raising animals for food; they also started cooking their foods, making them softer and easier to chew. Consequently, the human skeleton underwent radical changes. Over time, the human jaw became smaller and changed shape. Other bones also evolved, becoming lighter, especially in the joints, as a result of both dietary changes and a less active lifestyle.

What is the main, or central, idea of the passage?

The First "Newspaper" War

The Crimean War was fought in the 1850s between Russia on one side and Britain, France, and Turkey on the other. Although it was a major conflict, it is perhaps best remembered as the first war in which journalists were present on the battlefield. News dispatches from William Howard Russell, a reporter for the Times of London, exposed military blunders and revealed the filthy conditions that existed in military hospitals and camps. Photographers such as James Robertson and Roger Fenton made hundreds of photographs of soldiers on the battlefield. These news reports and photographs provided an uncensored look at life on the frontlines. The Crimean War marked the first time in history that people back home were exposed to the horrors of war.

What is the main, or central, idea of the passage?

The Unhappy Princess

Once there was a king who had a daughter named Princess Araminta. He loved her greatly, and he wanted to make her happy more than anything in the world.

He bought her a fine steed, but she didn't like to ride. He bought her beautiful and expensive clothing, but Araminta said that the gold embroidery scratched at her neck. He bought a grand palace in the mountains to be their summer home, but Araminta thought the empty stone hallways felt drafty and lonely.

The king couldn't understand. He'd given his daughter everything that made him happy—a fine horse, nice clothes, and a beautiful palace.

"What else could you possibly want?" he asked her. Araminta didn't have an answer for him because she didn't know.

One day, she was wandering near a creek by herself, watching the little silver fish dart around in the water. She saw an abandoned fishing pole leaning against a tree. Impulsively, she hooked a worm to the hook and then cast the fishing rod into the water.

She sat there on a rock by the creek for hours as she fished, enjoying the warm sunshine on her skin. When she caught a trout, she shouted with joy.

"Father, would you buy me a fishing pole?" Araminta asked her father later that day. 

"Well, that's easy enough. But I don't understand," the king said. "How could a fishing pole possibly make you happy?"

Araminta simply smiled. "You don't have to understand," she said.

Which of the following best describes the main theme or lesson of the story?

Select the quotation from the story that most strongly suggests that the theme is Different things make different people happy.

A Tale of Two Sisters

Liane was confident about the sand sculpture contest. She and her sister, Amanda, had been building sandcastles for years. People often stopped to admire the intricate details of their creations.

The two knelt in the damp sand by the foamy surf and tried to hatch a winning idea for the contest.

"We should make something really unusual for this contest. Like a giant octopus or something," said Liane.

"I thought we were making a sandcastle town, like we always do. Look, I collected all these shells for the walls," said Amanda. She pointed at a pile of smooth cowrie shells.

"Come on, let's do something different," Liane insisted. "Think big!"

"I don't know," Amanda said, dragging a finger in the sand. "No, I'm sticking to the original plan." She compressed a clump of sand between her palms, shaping it into a castle corner.

"I'll just make my own, then," Liane said. She marched to another spot a few yards away, plopped herself down, and began making her own sculpture.

At the end of the day, Liane gave up on her sculpture of a giant octopus attacking a castle. It looked like a lopsided shack with a blob on it. Liane hadn't had time to add any details.

Amanda had made a satisfactory castle, small but neatly ornamented with shells. Around it she had shaped the sand to look like rolling farmland. Amanda had spent most of her time on making a little herd of shell cows.

Looking around, Liane realized that neither of them would win the contest. Liane's sculpture was missing Amanda's skillful touch, and Amanda's castle was missing Liane's big ideas.

What was Liane confident about?

A Tale of Two Sisters

Liane was confident about the sand sculpture contest. She and her sister, Amanda, had been building sandcastles for years. People often stopped to admire the intricate details of their creations.

The two knelt in the damp sand by the foamy surf and tried to hatch a winning idea for the contest.

"We should make something really unusual for this contest. Like a giant octopus or something," said Liane.

"I thought we were making a sandcastle town, like we always do. Look, I collected all these shells for the walls," said Amanda. She pointed at a pile of smooth cowrie shells.

"Come on, let's do something different," Liane insisted. "Think big!"

"I don't know," Amanda said, dragging a finger in the sand. "No, I'm sticking to the original plan." She compressed a clump of sand between her palms, shaping it into a castle corner.

"I'll just make my own, then," Liane said. She marched to another spot a few yards away, plopped herself down, and began making her own sculpture.

At the end of the day, Liane gave up on her sculpture of a giant octopus attacking a castle. It looked like a lopsided shack with a blob on it. Liane hadn't had time to add any details.

Amanda had made a satisfactory castle, small but neatly ornamented with shells. Around it she had shaped the sand to look like rolling farmland. Amanda had spent most of her time on making a little herd of shell cows.

Looking around, Liane realized that neither of them would win the contest. Liane's sculpture was missing Amanda's skillful touch, and Amanda's castle was missing Liane's big ideas.

Which of the following best describes the main theme or lesson of the story?

Liane's sister is:

How did Amanda's castle look at the end of the day?

Select the quotation from the story that most strongly suggests that the theme is Sometimes it's better to compromise and work together.

My friends and I love spending summer afternoons hanging out at Silver Seas WaterPark.This year the water park was closed for renovations, so we were extra excited to go back this year. After scanning our season passes, we headed straight to our favorite water feature: the Lazy River. We always enjoy kicking back in our inner tubes, peacefully floating along the pool's winding path along the lush grounds. The sparkling pool water looked so inviting! We hopped into our floats and settled in for a relaxing ride. How peaceful it was, slowly drifting along…until we rounded a bend and were suddenly blasted with ice-cold streams of water shooting from the sides of the pool. Before we could recover from that shock, we were guided under a drenching waterfall—not relaxing at all! Apparently, the park had updated our beloved river with some “refreshing” water features. Sadly, not all updates are improvements.

Which sentence best summarizes the author’s point of view about the renovated lazy river feature at Silver Seas Water Park?

Use the text to compare and contrast black tea and green tea.

Green tea is known for its bright green color and mild flavor. Black tea is dark brown, with a stronger, deeper flavor. It surprises many people to discover that both of these teas are made from leaves of the same plant. The leaves are simply processed in different ways. Green tea leaves are heated shortly after harvesting to preserve their fresh green color and flavor. Black tea leaves, on the other hand, are torn or rolled after harvesting and then exposed to oxygen before they are dried. This process changes the color and flavor of the leaves. 

Which is true about black tea? Select all that apply.

Use the text to compare and contrast black tea and green tea.

Green tea is known for its bright green color and mild flavor. Black tea is dark brown, with a stronger, deeper flavor. It surprises many people to discover that both of these teas are made from leaves of the same plant. The leaves are simply processed in different ways. Green tea leaves are heated shortly after harvesting to preserve their fresh green color and flavor. Black tea leaves, on the other hand, are torn or rolled after harvesting and then exposed to oxygen before they are dried. This process changes the color and flavor of the leaves. 

Which is true about green tea? Select all that apply.

UUse the text to compare and contrast the Technological Revolution and the Industrial Revolution.

The Industrial Revolution began in Britain in the late 1700s. It marked a shift from manual production to machine manufacturing as the iron and textile industry formed. People left their farms in the country to work in factories in cities. Just as this period began to slow down, the Technological Revolution, also called the Second Industrial Revolution, began. Like the Industrial Revolution, the Technological Revolution was a period of rapid change and development. It began in Germany around 1870 and continued into World War I. While the invention of the steam engine played a key role in the Industrial Revolution, the development of electrical power and telephones sparked the Technological Revolution.

Which is true about the Industrial Revolution? Select all that apply.

UUse the text to compare and contrast the Technological Revolution and the Industrial Revolution.

The Industrial Revolution began in Britain in the late 1700s. It marked a shift from manual production to machine manufacturing as the iron and textile industry formed. People left their farms in the country to work in factories in cities. Just as this period began to slow down, the Technological Revolution, also called the Second Industrial Revolution, began. Like the Industrial Revolution, the Technological Revolution was a period of rapid change and development. It began in Germany around 1870 and continued into World War I. While the invention of the steam engine played a key role in the Industrial Revolution, the development of electrical power and telephones sparked the Technological Revolution.

Which is true about the Technological Revolution? Select all that apply.

Use the text to compare and contrast smog and fog.

Fog and smog may look similar in the sky, but they are not the same thing. Smog is a type of air pollution. It forms when nitrogen oxide, a gas released by cars and coal power plants, combines with sunlight. On the other hand, fog is a type of low-lying cloud that forms when moist air cools and turns into tiny water droplets. Thus, fog occurs naturally, as opposed to smog, which is created by human actions.Fog itself isn't generally harmful, though it can cause dangerous driving conditions by limiting visibility. Smog, however, can be dangerous; it can hurt the eyes, make breathing difficult, and cause other health problems.

Which of the following is true about smog? Select all that apply,

Use the text to compare and contrast smog and fog.

Fog and smog may look similar in the sky, but they are not the same thing. Smog is a type of air pollution. It forms when nitrogen oxide, a gas released by cars and coal power plants, combines with sunlight. On the other hand, fog is a type of low-lying cloud that forms when moist air cools and turns into tiny water droplets. Thus, fog occurs naturally, as opposed to smog, which is created by human actions.Fog itself isn't generally harmful, though it can cause dangerous driving conditions by limiting visibility. Smog, however, can be dangerous; it can hurt the eyes, make breathing difficult, and cause other health problems.

Which of the following is true about smog? Select all that apply,

Which figure of speech is used in this text?

Becky's phone slipped out of her pocket, landing in the toilet with a plop.

Which figure of speech is used in this text?

On the sand banks the rabbits sat as quietly as little grey, sculptured stones.

—John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men