Reading Comprehension 1

Name_________________
Date_________________
Level 6

Directions; Read the passage. Then answer the questions below.

When we are young, we learn that tigers and sharks are dangerous animals. We might be scared of
them because they are big and powerful. As we get older, however, we learn that sometimes the most
dangerous animals are also the smallest animals. In fact, the animal that kills the most people every year is
one that you have probably killed yourself many times: the mosquito.
While it may seem that all mosquitoes are biters, this is not actually the case Male mosquitoes eat
plant nectar. On the other hand, female mosquitoes feed on animal blood. They need this blood to live and
produce eggs. When a female mosquito bites a human being, it transmits a small amount of saliva into the
blood. This saliva may or may not contain a deadly disease. The result of the bite can be as minor as an
itchy bump or as serious as death.
Because a mosquito can bite many people in the course of its life, it can carry diseases from one
person to another very easily. Two of the most deadly diseases carried by mosquitoes are malaria and
yellow fever. More than 700 million people become sick from these diseases every year. At least 2 million o'
these people will die from these diseases.
Many scientists are working on safer and better ways to kill mosquitoes, but so far, there is no sure
way to protect everyone in the world from their deadly bites. Mosquito nets can be placed over beds to
protect people against being bitten. These nets help people stay safe at night, but they do not kill any
mosquitoes. Mosquitoes have many natural enemies like bats, birds, dragonflies, and certain kinds of fish.
Bringing more of these animals into places where mosquitoes live might help to cut down the amount of
mosquitoes in that area. This is a natural solution, but it does not always work very well. Mosquitoes can
also be killed with poisons or sprays. Even though these sprays kill mosquitoes, they may also harm other
plants or animals.
Although mosquitoes may not seem as scary as larger, more powerful animals, they are far more
dangerous to human beings. But things are changing. It is highly likely that one day scientists will find a
way to keep everyone safe from mosquitoes and the diseases they carry.
Questions
1. According to the author, some people are more afraid of tigers and sharks than mosquitoes because
tigers and sharks
a. kill more people than mosquitoes
b. are big and powerful
c. are found all over the world
d. have no natural enemies
2. Based on the information in paragraph 2, we can understand that
I. male mosquitoes and female mosquitoes have different eating habits
II. male mosquitoes are harmless to humans
III. female mosquitoes are responsible for transmitting diseases to humans
a. I only
b. I and II only
c. II and III only
d. I, II, and III
3.

In paragraph 2 the author writes, "This saliva may or may not contain a deadly disease." The purpose of
this statement is to
a. oppose a previous argument
b. question an upcoming conclusion
c. confirm a hypothesis
d. support a later statement

4.

As
a.
b.
c.
d.

used in paragraph 2, minor most nearly means

insignificant
deadly
frustrating
dangerous

5.

Based on information in paragraph 3, it can be understood that if you get sick with malaria or yellow
fever, your chances of survival are
a. terrible
b. mediocre
c. good
d. excellent

6. It can be understood that the introduction of dragonflies might reduce the number of flies in a given
area because dragonflies
a. work together with mosquitoes
b. kill mosquitoes
c. cannot be killed by poisons or sprays
d. attract bats
7.

Which of the following best summarizes the information in paragraph 4?

a. Mosquito nets provide adequate protection from deadly mosquitoes.
b. Poisons and sprays provide adequate protection from deadly mosquitoes.
c. The introduction of the mosquito's natural enemies provides adequate protection from deadly
mosquitoes.
d. There is no perfect solution to the mosquito problem.

8.

Which of the following words best describes the author's overall attitude towards the prospect of
solving the mosquito problem?
a. despondent, meaning hopeless or dejected
b. exasperated, meaning extremely irritated or annoyed
c. equivocal, meaning doubtful or uncertain
d. optimistic, meaning hopeful or taking a favorable view

Name
Reading Comprehension 3 Level 6
Directions: Read the passage, Then answer the questions below.

Date_________________

When you imagine the desert, you probably think of a very hot place covered with sand. Although
this is a good description for many deserts, Earth's largest desert is actually a very cold place covered
with ice: Antarctica.
In order for an area to be considered a desert, it must receive very little rainfall. More specifically,
it must receive an average of less than ten inches of precipitationwhich can be rain, sleet, hail, or snow
on the ground every year. Antarctica, the coldest place on earth, has an average temperature that
usually falls below the freezing point. And because cold air holds less moisture than warm air, the air in
Antarctica does not hold much moisture at all. This is evident in the low precipitation statistics recorded
for Antarctica. For example, the central part of Antarctica receives an average of less than 2 inches of
snow every year. The coastline of Antarctica receives a little bit morebetween seven and eight inches a
year. Because Antarctica gets so little precipitation every year, it is considered a desert.
When precipitation falls in hot deserts, it quickly evaporates back into the atmosphere. The air
over Antarctica is too cold to hold water vapor, so there is very little evaporation. Due to this low rate of
evaporation, most of the snow that falls to the ground remains there permanently, eventually building up
into thick ice sheets. Any snow that does not freeze into ice sheets becomes caught up in the strong
winds that constantly blow over Antarctica. These snow-filled winds can make it look as if it is snowing.
Even though snowfall is very rare there, blizzards are actually very common on Antarctica.

Questions
1. The main purpose of paragraph 1 is to
a. accept a conclusion
b. introduce an argument
c. provide a brief history
d. deny a common belief
2.

The best title for this passage would be

a. Earth's Many Deserts
b. Antarctica: The Coldest Place on Earth
c. A Desert of Ice
d. Unusual Blizzards

3.

Africa's Sahara Desert is the second-largest desert on earth. Based on the information in the
passage, what characteristic must the Sahara share with Antarctica?
a. low temperatures
b. high temperatures
c. frequent blizzards
d. low precipitation

4.

As
a.
b.
c.
d.

5.

In paragraph 2 the author writes, "And because cold air holds less moisture than warm air, the air in
Antarctica does not hold much moisture at all." Using this information, it can be understood that
a. air in Africa holds more moisture than the air in Antarctica
b. air surrounding a tropical island holds less moisture than the air in Antarctica
c. air in the second floor of a house is typically warmer than air on the first floor
d. air at the mountains is typically colder than the air at the beach

6.

According to the final paragraph, any snow that falls over Antarctica

used in paragraph 2, which is the best definition for precipitation?

moisture in the air that falls to the ground
any type of weather event
weather events that only happen in very cold areas
a blizzard that occurs in areas with limited snowfall

I. becomes part of the Antarctic ice sheet

II. is blown around by strong winds
III. evaporates back into the atmosphere
a.
b.
c.
d.
7.

I only
I and II only
II and III only
I, li, and III

Based on the information in the final paragraph, it can be understood that blizzards in Antarctica are
mainly the result of
a. freezing cold temperatures
b. large amounts of snowfall
c. low amounts of precipitation
d. strong winds

Choose the best answer a, b, c, d, or e !

Text I
Flowers are the parts of a seed plant that contain the organs concerned with sexual reproduction,
including ovary and stamens. These reproduction structures are usually associated with sterile outer
structures that protect them and attract insect or birds which help the process of fertilization. Some flowers
have special scents which can attract insects to come.
Flowers basically have four parts: petals, sepals, stamens and pistils. Most petals are in bright
colour, or sometimes green, as green as sepals. Stamens are the male reproductive organs, which arise
within the petals. They vary in number, from one to hundreds per flower. Pistils are female organs of
reproduction, they vary in structures.
1.

What is the function of sterile outer structures?

a. They have special scents
b. They attract insects or birds
c. They protect ovary and stamens
d. They contain sexual-reproduction
e. They help the process of fertilization

2.

What is the aim or the text above? To

a. Report how flowers attract insect or birds
b. Explain the process of fertilization
c. Describe the parts of seed plant
d. Give information about flowers and insects
e. Expose the reproduction structures of flowers

3.

Why do sterile outer structures attract insect or birds? To

a. Give their scent
b. Help the process of fertilization
c. Vary in structures
d. Provide some flowers with special
e. Protect them

4.

What are the male organs of reproduction...

a. Petals
d. stamens
b. Sepals
e. ovary
c. Pistils

5. Which one of these is the female reproductive organ?

a. Petals
d. stamens
b. Sepals
e. pistils
c. Seeds