Mixed Set
Congratulations on reaching the final lesson! This mixed practice set includes all the question types you've learned. Read carefully, use your strategies, and show what you know!
Passage 1: The Invention of the Bicycle
The first bicycles looked very different from the ones we ride today. In 1817, a German inventor named Karl von Drais created a wooden "running machine." It had two wheels but no pedals! Riders pushed their feet against the ground to move forward. People called it the "hobby horse" because riding it looked like bouncing on a toy horse.
It took many more years before inventors added pedals and chains. By the 1890s, bicycles looked much like they do today. They became tremendously popular because they gave ordinary people a fast, affordable way to travel. Before bicycles, most people could only travel as fast as they could walk. The bicycle changed everything.
1. What is the main idea of this passage?
A) Karl von Drais was German.
B) The bicycle was invented and changed over time to become an important form of transportation.
C) Early bicycles had no pedals.
D) People used to call bicycles "hobby horses."
Answer
B) - The passage traces the history of the bicycle from its invention to how it became important for travel. This covers the whole passage.
2. According to the passage, how did riders move the first bicycles?
A) By pedaling with their feet
B) By pushing their feet against the ground
C) By using a motor
D) By going downhill
Answer
B) - The passage states that "Riders pushed their feet against the ground to move forward" because there were no pedals.
3. As used in the passage, the word "tremendously" most nearly means:
A) A little bit
B) Slowly
C) Extremely or very much
D) Suddenly
Answer
C) - "Tremendously popular" means they became extremely or very popular. The context shows bicycles were a big success.
4. Based on the passage, why were bicycles important to ordinary people?
A) They were fun toys.
B) They allowed faster and more affordable travel.
C) They were made of wood.
D) They looked like horses.
Answer
B) - The passage says bicycles "gave ordinary people a fast, affordable way to travel" when before they could only go as fast as walking.
Passage 2: Desert Survival
Deserts are some of the harshest places on Earth, yet many animals have found ways to survive there. The fennec fox, which lives in the Sahara Desert, has enormous ears that help release heat from its body. This keeps the fox cool in the blazing sun. At night, when the desert becomes frigid, those same big ears help the fox hear tiny prey moving in the dark.
Camels are famous for surviving in deserts. Their humps store fat, not water as many people think. When food is scarce, camels use this fat for energy. They can also go for days without drinking water because their bodies are excellent at conserving moisture. These amazing adaptations allow desert animals to thrive where most creatures could not survive.
5. What do camel humps actually store?
A) Water
B) Fat
C) Air
D) Food
Answer
B) - The passage explains that "Their humps store fat, not water as many people think." This corrects a common misconception.
6. As used in the passage, the word "frigid" most nearly means:
A) Dark and quiet
B) Extremely cold
C) Bright and sunny
D) Windy and dusty
Answer
B) - "Frigid" describes the desert at night, contrasting with the "blazing sun" during the day. This tells us it means very cold.
7. What can you infer about the fennec fox's ears?
A) They are only useful during the day.
B) They serve different purposes at different times.
C) They help the fox swim.
D) They are the same size as other fox ears.
Answer
B) - The passage explains that during the day the ears release heat to stay cool, and at night they help hear prey. The ears have multiple uses.
Passage 3: The School Play
Jasmine stood backstage, her heart pounding like a drum. In five minutes, she would walk onto the stage and perform her first speaking role. She had practiced her lines hundreds of times, but now they seemed to scatter from her mind like startled birds.
"You've got this," whispered her friend Malik, giving her a thumbs up. Jasmine took a deep breath and remembered what her drama teacher always said: "Nervous energy is just excitement in disguise." She transformed her fear into focus. When her cue came, Jasmine stepped into the bright lights. Her voice rang out clear and strong. By the end of the scene, she wasn't pretending to be confident anymore - she truly felt it.
8. At the beginning of the passage, what does Jasmine compare her heart to?
A) A bird
B) A drum
C) A bright light
D) A whisper
Answer
B) - The passage says "her heart pounding like a drum," comparing her heartbeat to the rhythm of a drum.
9. What can you conclude about how Jasmine felt by the end of her scene?
A) She was still very scared.
B) She forgot her lines.
C) She felt genuinely confident.
D) She wanted to quit acting.
Answer
C) - The passage ends by saying "she wasn't pretending to be confident anymore - she truly felt it." She overcame her fear.
10. What is the theme or message of this passage?
A) Drama teachers give bad advice.
B) Friends are not helpful when you're nervous.
C) You should never try new things.
D) Facing your fears can help you overcome them.
Answer
D) - Jasmine was very nervous but pushed through her fear, performed well, and gained real confidence. The story shows that facing fears helps us grow.
Great Job!
You learned how to:
- Read passages carefully to find main ideas and details
- Answer four types of questions: main idea, detail, vocabulary, and inference
- Avoid common mistakes like choosing too-narrow answers
- Always go back to the passage to find evidence
Keep practicing these skills with everything you read!