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Unseen Passage for Class 7 | Reading Comprehension PDF Class 7

Our ancestors had great difficulty in getting books. Now, our difficulty is what to read. There are books and books but our
hours of reading are very few. Therefore, choice becomes essential. We should be very careful about what we read. There
are books which poison our lives by suggesting evils. We should keep them at arm’s length.

We should read only those books which have stood the test of time. Such books are our great classics like the Ramayana
and the Gita. They contain the wisdom of our sages and saints. They have appealed mankind from generation to generation.
Reading of such books has ennobling influence on our mind and character. It gives us spiritual enjoyment. These books give
us instruction with entertainment. They represent our ancient culture. They set before us high ideals to follow. They are our
best friends, best guides and the best treasure.

Unseen Passage with questions and answers class 7 passage 1:

Q1. We should be selective because

(a) there is a great number of books available to us

(b) there is scarcity of books

(c) there are only bad books in the market

(d) none of the above.

Q2. We should avoid those books which

(a) cost high price

(b) come in paperback

(c) corrupt our lives by suggesting evils

(d) come in more than one volume.

Q3. The books which have stood the test of time are called….

(a) great books (b) rare books (c) biographies  (d) classics

Q4. What is /are special quality/qualities of classics?

(a) They affect our mind in a good way

(b) They teach us something great and also entertain us.

(c) They help us in our spiritual growth

(d) All the above.

Q5. An expression in the passage which means ‘good effect’ is

(a) Spiritual enjoyment (b) Ennobling influence (c)  high ideals (d) Very careful.

Answers:
1.—a  2.—c  3.—d 4.—d 5.—b

Unseen Passage for Class 7 | Passage – 2

Garbage is a great environment hazard. It comes from various sources—used paper, tiffin packing’s, plastic bags, ice-cream
wrappers, bottle caps, fallen leaves from trees and many more. Garbage makes the premises ugly, unkempt and breeds
diseases.

A lot of trash that is thrown away contain material that can be recycled and reused such as paper, metals and glass which
can be sent to the nearest recycling centre or disposed of to the junk dealer. It also contains organic matter such as leaves
which can enrich soil fertility. A compost pit can be made at a convenient location where the refuse can be placed with
layers of soil and an occasional sprinkling of water. This would help decomposition to make valuable fertilizer. This would
also prevent pollution that is usually caused by burning such organic waste

Unseen Passage with questions and answers class 7 passage 2:

Q1: Garbage originates from

(a) used paper, tiffin, packings, plastic bags and fallen leaves from trees

(b) leftovers of food

(c) fallen branches from trees

(d) building materials.

Q2: Garbage can create havoc to the mankind by

(a) spreading foul smell

(b) slowing our vehicles on the road

(c) spreading several diseases

(d) all the above.

Q3: What happens to the disposed material at the recycling centre?

(a) It is thrown away

(b) It is recycled for reuse

(c) It is sold to the rag pickers

(d) It is dumped into the ground.

Q4: Fallen leaves from trees are useful because they

(a) solve the problem of fuel wood in village households

(b) enrich water quality

(c) enrich soil fertility

(d) beautify landscape.

Q5: Which of these is correct with reference to a composite pit?

(a) The refuge is placed with layers of soil with an occasional sprinkling of water

(b) It contributes to the manufacture of useful fertilizer

(c) It prevents pollution

(d) All the above.

Answers

1. —a            2. —c               3. —b             4. —c                    5. —d

Unseen Passage for Class 7 | Passage – 3

Patriotism is an old concept, as old perhaps as the earliest of humans civilizations. But all through the history of mankind, it
has been narrowly understood. Today people have begun to realise that patriotism is an essential part of human instinct.

Patriotism has its negative sides particularly when it exceeds its proper bounds. People who think their own country to be
the best and are blind to its weaknesses are not patriots at all.

We are the members of a large human family and so cannot neglect our duties and responsibilities towards it. Our love for
the country should be conditioned by respect for the whole community. Narrow prejudice can do nothing except to bring
misfortune. In trying to overlook others’ interest in the modern world, we harm our own.

Patriotism should be tempered with reason so that it may not be an evil.

Unseen Passage with questions and answers class 7 passage 3:

Q1: Today what is the belief of people regarding patriotism?

(a) It is narrowly understood                     (b)  It is not needed

(c) It is a part of      human instinct             (d)  None of the above.

Q2: Which type of the people can be categorised as patriots?

(a) Those who think others’ country greater than their own

(b) Those who think their own country to be the best inspite of its weaknesses

(c) Those who keep a neutral attitude towards their country

(d) Those whose love for the country is conditioned by respect for the entire community.

Q3: Narrow prejudices always bring

(a) misfortune  (b)  good opportunity

(c) good luck    (d) huge amount of money.

Q4: Patriotism is an evil when it is

(a) tempered with reason     (b) not tempered with reason

(c) beyond narrow feelings   (d) None of the above.

Q5: The word in the passage means opposite to positive

(a) Proper  (b) Narrow (c) Negative (d) Reason.

Answers

1.— c    2. —d   3. —a   4. —b

Unseen Passage for Class 7 | Passage – 4

What causes the monsoon? The monsoon, which is essentially the seasonal reversal in wind direction, causes most of the
rainfall received in India and some other parts of the world. The primary cause of monsoons is the difference between
annual temperature trends over land and sea. The apparent position of the Sun with reference to the Earth oscillates from
the Tropic of Cancer to the Tropic of Capricorn. Thus the low pressure region created by solar heating also changes latitude.
The northeast and southeast trade winds converge in this low pressure zone, which is also known as the Inter tropical
Convergence Zone or ITCZ. This low pressure region sees continuous rise of moist wind from the sea surface to the upper
layers of the atmosphere, where the cooling means the air can no longer hold so much moisture resulting in precipitation.
The rainy seasons of East Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, Australia and the southern part of North America coincide with the shift
of ITCZ towards these regions.

Unseen Passage with questions and answers class 7 passage 4:

Q1: Monsoon is

(a) A type of sea wave

(b) a seasonal reversal in wind direction

(c) very hot wind

(d) very cold wind

Q2: What is the full form of ITCZ?

(a) Intertrance Convergence Zone

(b) Intertropical Convergence Zone

(c) Intertropical Capricorn Zone

(d) Intertropical Conveyance Zone

Q3: The major cause of monsoon is the

(a) difference between annual temperature trends over land and sea

(b) difference between day and night temperature

(c) moisture in the atmosphere

(d) None of these.

Q4: Low Pressure region is created by

(a) solar heating (b) lunar cooling (c) moist wind (d) dry wind.

Q5: It rains when

(a) moist wind goes down

(b) dry wind meets moist wind

(c) the air can no longer hold moisture resulting in precipitation

(d) annual temperature goes down.

Unseen Passage for Class 7 | Passage – 5

Dry fruits are useful in various diseases of the brain, muscles and tissues. Particularly almond has got unique properties to
remove brain weakness and strengthen it.

Almond preserves the vitality of the brain, strengthens the muscles, destroys diseases originating from nervous and bilious
disorders.

Walnut is another dry fruit that possesses wonderful qualities of curing brain weakness. According to Dr. Johnson, almonds,
figs, grapes, dates, apples* and oranges are rich-in phosphoric element and should normally be used by brain workers.
Phosphorus nourishes the vital tissues of the body. It keeps the mind full of enthusiasm for more work.

Unseen Passage with questions and answers class 7 passage 5:

Q1: Dry fruits are useful because they

(a) strengthen our heart

(b) cure various diseases of the brain, muscles and tissues

(c) give confidence to us

(d) empower us to do challenging tasks.

Q2: Which one is not a property of almond?

(a) It preserves the vitality of the brain

(b) It strengthens the muscles

(c) It destroys diseases originating from nervous and bilious disorders

(d) It strengthens our digestive system.

Q3: Phosphoric element is profusely found in

(a) almonds, figs, grapes, dates, apples and oranges

(b) almonds, figs, papayas, guavas and pineapples

(c) all the green vegetables

(d) seasonal fruits.

Q4: Brain workers should take fruits rich in phosphoric elements because

(a) they remove brain weakness

(b) they nourish the vital tissues of the body

(c) they keep the mind full of enthusiasm

(d) all the above.

Q5: The word unique means the same as

(a) ordinary   (b) highly qualified   (c) unusual  (d) enlightened.

January the fifth

Peter Morton woke with a start to face the first light. Rain tapped against the glass. It was January the
fifth. He looked across a table on which a night-light had guttered into a pool of water, at the other bed.
Francis Morton was still asleep, and Peter lay down again with his eyes on his brother. It amused him to
imagine it was himself whom he watched, the same hair, the same eyes, the same lips and line of cheek.
But the thought palled, and the mind went back to the fact which lent the day importance. It was the
fifth of January. He could hardly believe a year had passed since Mrs Henne-Falcon had given her last
children’s party. Francis turned suddenly upon his back and threw an arm across his face, blocking his
mouth. Peter’s heart began to beat fast, not with pleasure now but with uneasiness. He sat up and
called across the table, ‘Wake up.’ Francis’s shoulders shook and he waved a clenched fist in the air, but
his eyes remained closed. To Peter Morton the whole room seemed to darken and he had the
impression of a great bird swooping. He cried again, ‘Wake up,’ and once more there was silver light and
the touch of rain on the windows. Francis rubbed his eyes. ‘Did you call out?’ he asked. ‘You are having a
bad dream,’ Peter said. Already experience had taught him how far their minds reflected each other. But
he was the elder, by a matter of minutes, and that brief extra interval of light, while his brother still
struggled in pain and darkness, had given him self-reliance and an instinct of protection towards the
other who was afraid of so many things. ‘I dreamed that I was dead,’ Francis said. ‘What was it like?’
Peter asked. ‘I can’t remember,’ Francis said. ‘You dreamed of a big bird.’ ‘Did I?’ The two lay silent in
bed facing each other, the same green eyes, the same nose tilting at the tip, the same firm lips, and the
same premature modelling of the chin. The fifth of January, Peter thought again, his mind drifting idly
from the image of cakes to the prizes which might be won. Egg-and-spoon races, spearing apples in
basins of water, blind man’s buff. ‘I don’t want to go,’ Francis said suddenly. ‘I suppose Joyce will be
there … Mabel Warren.’ Hateful to him, the thought of a party shared with those two. They were older
than he. Joyce was eleven and Mabel Warren thirteen. The long pigtails swung 3 © in this web service
Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Responding to reading 4 © Cambridge University Press
2014 Cambridge IGCSE First Language English Unit 1 Same difference Reading comprehension
superciliously to a masculine stride. Their sex humiliated him, as they watched him fumble with his egg,
from under lowered scornful lids. And last year … he turned his face away from Peter, his cheeks scarlet.
‘What’s the matter?’ Peter asked. ‘Oh, nothing. I don’t think I’m well. I’ve got a cold. I oughtn’t to go to
the party.’ Peter was puzzled. ‘But Francis, is it a bad cold?’ ‘It will be a bad cold if I go to the party.
Perhaps I shall die.’ ‘Then you mustn’t go,’ Peter said, prepared to solve all difficulties with one plain
sentence, and Francis let his nerves relax, ready to leave everything to Peter. But though he was grateful
he did not turn his face towards his brother. His cheeks still bore the badge of a shameful memory, of
the game of hide and seek last year in the darkened house, and of how he had screamed when Mabel
Warren put her hand suddenly upon his arm. He had not heard her coming. Girls were like that. Their
shoes never squeaked. No boards whined under the tread. They slunk like cats on padded claws. When
the nurse came in with hot water Francis lay tranquil leaving everything to Peter. Peter said, ‘Nurse,
Francis has got a cold.’ The tall starched woman laid the towels across the cans and said, without
turning, ‘The washing won’t be back till tomorrow. You must lend him some of your handkerchiefs.’ ‘But,
Nurse,’ Peter asked, ‘hadn’t he better stay in bed?’ ‘We’ll take him for a good walk this morning,’ the
nurse said. ‘Wind’ll blow away the germs. Get up now, both of you,’ and she closed the door behind her.
‘I’m sorry,’ Peter said. ‘Why don’t you just stay in bed? I’ll tell mother you felt too ill to get up.’ But
rebellion against destiny was not in Francis’s power. If he stayed in bed they would come up and tap his
chest and put a thermometer in his mouth and look at his tongue, and they would discover he was
malingering. It was true he felt ill, a sick empty sensation in his stomach and a rapidly beating heart, but
he knew the cause was only fear, fear of the party, fear of being made to hide by himself in the dark,
uncompanioned by Peter and with no night-light to make a blessed breach. From ‘The End of the Party’
by Graham Greene, (first published 1929).

Worksheet for Text 1B: January the fifth 1 Give synonyms to replace the five bolded words in the text.

2 Look at the direct speech in the text and give the rules for the punctuation and layout of dialogue.

3 Select words and phrases from the text which convey the difference in character between the twins.

4 What can you infer about the character of the nurse, and what is your evidence?

5 Explain the effect of each of these images from the text. Rain tapped against the glass. a night-light
had guttered into a pool of water a great bird swooping

6 a What are the recurring images in the text? b What is their combined effect?

7 Write a complex sentence to explain the situation so far in the short story.

8 a Say what you think is likely to happen in the story. b Give your reasons by referring to evidence in
the text.

Answers to Worksheet for Text 1B: January the fifth

1 palled – became uninteresting; superciliously – disdainfully; fumble – behave clumsily; malingering –

feigning illness, pretending to be ill; breach – gap, break, rupture
2 New and indented line for change of speaker; inverted commas around words spoken; final
punctuation within the closing inverted commas; small letter to follow unless new sentence started.

3 Peter: It amused him; self-reliance and an instinct of protection; his mind drifting idly; prepared to
solve all difficulties

Francis: afraid of so many things; I dreamed that I was dead; humiliated; Perhaps I shall die; nerves;
leaving everything to Peter; rebellion against destiny was not in Francis’s power; fear

4 The nurse is unyielding, unsympathetic and practical; she likes to follow a strict routine. We know this
because she is ‘starched’, she believes in the power of fresh air and her response to being told that
Francis is ill is to tell Peter to lend him handkerchiefs.

5 Rain tapped against the glass. Rain is a device of pathetic fallacy to give a miserable atmosphere to the
story from the start. It is personified as a person trying to get into the room. This begins a recurring
image of Francis’ fear of being touched by someone malignant, and of the power of water to snuff out
life. A night-light had guttered into a pool of water this is one of the images of light being drowned;
‘guttered’ is an unpleasant-sounding word with connotations of being brought low. Although it is dawn,
and it is party day, the imagery is dark and forebodes extinction. A great bird swooping Large dark birds
are associated in literature with predation, death and evil. Many people are afraid of birds and associate
their wings with the idea of smothering and blocking out the light. The touch of rain a repeat of the
image in the opening paragraph that rain has fingers and is capable of touching. This symbolizes the
sudden terror of the feel of Mabel Warren’s hand upon Francis’ arm last year. They slunk like cats on
padded claws. This is another predatory image, implying creeping up on a victim and causing injury with
just a touch of the claws.

6 a The recurring images are of darkness, birds, and water, all working against the light and symbol of
life. b These are all things which can touch and extinguish, an idea further reinforced by the words
‘palled’ and ‘blocking’. Francis stayed in the dark longer at birth, and again on the morning of this story,
being embroiled in a nightmare and waking up later than his brother. The effect of the imagery is to
suggest that the weak and passive Francis will be vanquished by the ‘masculine’ girls, just as cats prey
upon smaller creatures and as the hen is preyed upon by the falcon, in the name of the hostess of the
party Francis fears so much. Hide and seek is a game played in the dark, closed in and trapped like being
back in the womb.

7 When he wakes after a nightmare, Francis is frightened of having to go to the party that evening,
because of the girls who will be there and the games he will have to play, so he claims to be ill and
desperately hopes that his more confident twin will be able to get him out of going.

8 a Example answer: It is likely that Francis will be forced to go to the party and that the same thing may
happen again, this time with more serious consequences because Francis has such a morbid fear this
time. b A sombre mood is created by the weather, the nightmare and the recurring imagery. The date
may be ironic, as it is the eve of epiphany, which means the coming of the light. The refusal of the nurse
to be accommodating suggests that Francis will not find escape or rescue, since even his sympathetic
brother seems unable to help him. The references to death and increased heart beats are an indication
of impending disaster.

The Bread Lesson

My dad has watermelon-size biceps, a neck like an inner tube, and enormous, muscular hands that make
him seem like he’s always wearing baseball mitts. He doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who would bake
great bread, but he is and he does. Every Saturday he puts on his chef’s apron, rolls up his sleeves,
breaks out a bag of flour, and produces two loaves of homemade bread. When he’s done, the whole
house smells delicious, and I can’t wait for a hot slice smothered with yellow, melting butter. The rest of
the week, Dad is a car mechanic, which involves lots of heavy lifting, tightening, unscrewing, shoving,
shaking, yanking, and banging. People tend to think of their cars as metallic members of the family, so
there’s lots of pressure on Dad to make sure pumps pump, steering steers, and brakes brake. The shop
where Dad works is understaffed, so he’s under a lot of stress. Sometimes I worry he’s going to overheat
and blow a gasket or something, like some old car. I think Dad began baking bread to help him relax. I
see him in the kitchen, working on a spongy hunk of dough—punching and pounding it into submission.
I’ve been feeling kind of stressed out myself since I found out I didn’t qualify for the swim team. Now I’ll
have to wait a whole year to try out again; that might as well be a million years. Plus, I’m taking some
tough classes this year, and my best friend moved away. I think Dad knew I was feeling pressure. He sat
next to me on the sofa last Saturday and asked me how things were going. I said OK, even though I
didn’t feel OK at all. He looked at me for a moment, then he said it was time for me to help. He got up
from the sofa and headed to the kitchen. 5 I couldn’t imagine what help I could offer. Still, I followed
right behind him. Once we were standing by the counter, Dad gave me one of his old aprons. He slipped
it on over my head and tied it in the back with such obvious pride that you’d think I was being knighted,
which felt kind of silly but also kind of nice. I was being initiated as a bread-baker. Next, Dad got out his
enormous stainless-steel mixing bowl, handed me a large wooden spoon, and told me to stir while he
added the ingredients. He threw in a large handful of flour from a sack. A haze of flour dust began to
hover in the air like fog. He then sprinkled salt into the bowl. Dad isn’t big on measuring. He instinctively
knows exactly how much of each ingredient to use, and the bread always turns out great. The entire
operation was accomplished as if we were part of a NASA space launch. Flour? Check. Yeast? Check.
Milk? Check. Sugar, shortening, and salt? Check, check, check. When I had stirred the flour and milk
mixture into a thick, gooey lump, Dad had me turn it over onto the countertop, which had been dusted
with flour. Then he showed me how to knead the dough—repeatedly pushing away at the rubbery glob,
stretching it out, pounding it, and folding it in on itself. As I kneaded it, I felt the dough come to life
beneath my hands. It took ten minutes and a surprising amount of energy to corral the unruly blob into
a neat, round mass. 8 Next came the most difficult and surprising part – doing nothing. We put the
dough back into the metal bowl. Then we waited for more than an hour for the dough to slowly swell up
and double in size. Next, we deflated the risen dough by punching it down. We divided it in two and
waited for it to rise again. Afterward, we put the dough into pans and waited another hour for the
dough to rise and double one last time. Dad said the waiting is always the hardest part because of the
sharp, sweet smell coming from the yeast. “It’s hard to resist putting the dough directly into the oven,
but if you do, the loaves will be small, and the bread will be tough. The most important lesson of all is
learning to be READING SP10R07XP01 4 3 Go on to the next page. patient,” Dad explained. While we
waited, we sat and talked. Silence is a blank space that begs to be filled. It’s like the dough—it swells up
and fills a room with emptiness unless you punch it down with words. It felt good to be still and listen to
each other. It felt good to open up and share our thoughts. As the flour dust in the kitchen quietly
settled, time seemed to slow down. The dough was going to rise at its own pace. We could do nothing to
make it rise faster. As I accepted that, I stopped watching the clock and drumming my fingers on the
tabletop. I started enjoying the quiet time with Dad. My father taught me how to bake bread, but I think
I learned something more. I learned to appreciate the slowly ticking rhythm of time. I learned to relax
and let the bread rise.

1. Why is the narrator feeling stressed?

A. The narrator does not want to move away.

B. The narrator dislikes baking bread with father.

C. The narrator does not make the swim team.

D. The narrator has never made bread.

2. What is the meaning of the phrase, “you’d think I was being knighted” in paragraph 5?

A. It was a chance to do something with Dad after work.

B. It was an opportunity to improve my bread-baking skills.

C. It was exciting to use the new stainless steel mixing bowl.

D. It was an honor to be included in my father’s baking activities.

3. The word deflated is used in paragraph 8. Which word is the antonym of deflated?

A. contracted

B. expanded

C. collapsed

D. swerved

4. What type of figurative language is found in the sentence, “Silence is a blank space that begs to be
filled”?

A. irony

B. simile

C. metaphor
D. hyperbole

5. What does the author suggest would fill the emptiness of blank space?

A. baking

B. talking

C. drumming

D. working

6. What is the theme of the story?

A. It is important to find ways to relax.

B. It is important to know how to bake bread.

C. It is difficult to relax in times of stress.

D. It is difficult to enjoy time with family.

7. What organizational pattern is used in the story?

A. spatial

B. sequential

C. compare/contrast

D. fact/opinion

Adventurous Storyteller
Jack London, one of America’s major writers of adventure tales, was born in California in 1876. During
his life, London worked at many jobs. His broad life experiences would become the background for his
writing. London loved to read. As a teenager, he spent many hours educating himself at the Oakland,
California, public library. He attended college at the University of California at Berkeley, but he stayed
for only six months. He thought Berkeley was “not lively enough” and wanted to do something more
exciting. London wrote stories about working people and the hard times they had making a living. He
knew their problems first hand. He worked as a sailor, rancher, factory employee, railroad hobo, and
gold prospector, to name just a few of his many jobs. London grew up near the waterfront in Oakland.
He loved the water. When he was fifteen years old, he bought a small sailboat called a sloop. Later he
sailed to Japan on a schooner, which is a much larger sailing boat. Like many people of the time, London
caught the Klondike Gold Rush Fever. In l897, he headed for Alaska. He didn’t find gold, but he
discovered something even more valuable. He discovered that people enjoyed listening to the stories he
made up with his vivid imagination. London entertained the miners with story after story. Later, using
his experiences during the Gold Rush, he created many more colorful stories. London resolved to live a
full, exciting life. He once said, “I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent
glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.” Each day, he pushed himself. Once London determined that
he was going to be a writer, nothing could stop him. His goal was to write at least one thousand words
every day. He refused to stop even when he was sick. In eighteen years, the writer published fifty-one
books and hundreds of articles. He was the best-selling and highest-paid author of his day. Many people
also considered him to be the best writer. White Fang and The Call of the Wild are his most famous
stories and are about surviving in the Alaskan wilderness. Readers can enjoy Jack London’s energy and
his talent for telling wonderful stories each time they open one of his novels.

8. Why was Jack London able to write on many topics?

A. He had a variety of experiences and jobs.

B. He was drawn to the Klondike Gold Rush.

C. He pushed himself to reach goals.

D. He was the best-selling and highest-paid author.

9. Why did Jack London not complete college?

A. He traveled to Alaska in 1897.

B. He was hired to sail to Japan.

C. He spent much of his time writing.

D. He was not interested enough.

10. What do a sloop and schooner have in common?

A. They were both built in Japan.

B. They were both owned by Jack London.

C. They are both types of watercraft.

D. They were both made in the early 1900s.

11. When did Jack London discover he first had a talent for storytelling?

A. when he went to college

B. when he went to Alaska

C. when he was a teenager

D. when he worked as a sailor

12. Which word best describes Jack London?

A. cautious

B. unfocused

C. imaginative

D. compassionate

13. What is the author’s purpose in writing the passage?

A. identify books written by Jack London

B. provide information on Jack London’s life

C. support the statement that London was the “best writer”

D. describe life during the Klondike Gold

Grade 7 Practice Test Answers 1. C 2. D 3. B 4. C 5. B 6. A 7. B 8. A 9. D 10. C 11. B 12. C 13. B

The Incredible Machine

Everyone has a favorite attraction at an amusement park, and I am no different. However, unlike most
people who seem to prefer rollercoasters, my favorite ride is a little gentler. Every time I go to Coney
Island, Navy Pier, or the Santa Monica Pier, I absolutely have to ride the Ferris wheel. The Ferris wheel is
simple and yet also quite complex. That is, riding it is easy, but how it works is complicated. A series of
carts are attached to a wheel, which is attached to a rim. That rim rotates vertically around an axis, and
gravity keeps the carts upright. As simple as the ride seems, only advanced engineers can make safe and
fun Ferris wheels.

What It Lacks in Thrills…

While the Ferris wheel is not as thrilling as a rollercoaster, it is still very exciting. The fact of being high in
the air makes it so much more entertaining than a lot of rides. I mean, how often do you hang from that
high up in daily life? Nevertheless, I have to admit, I don’t seek Ferris wheels out because of their
excitement. Rather, I find them very relaxing. At the top of the Ferris wheel, you get beautiful sights of
the park. You also get a sense of calm that you don’t get in the hustle and bustle of the park below.
Additionally, Ferris wheels are also gorgeous to look at when they are lit up at night. In fact, the original
Ferris wheel was designed as much to be seen as to be ridden. It Happened at the World’s Fair The first
Ferris wheel was made by and named after George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr. He designed it for the
Chicago World’s Fair in 1893. It was the tallest attraction there, standing 264 feet high. However, visitors
to the fair were impressed by the size of the ride as well as the mechanics of it. In 1893, anything that
was not turned by hand was considered a sight to see. And the wheel, which was a machine, was truly
incredible to see. Further, as one visitor put it, the wheel was amazing because it seemed to be missing
support. That is, it did not look like it could stand on its own. And yet it did and even rotated!

They Keep Reaching Higher and Higher

Ferris wheel technology has only improved since then. Most of today’s Ferris wheels are much larger
than that first one. The largest in the world is the "Singapore Flyer," which stands slightly taller than
twice what Ferris’s did! Today, the Ferris wheel is the most common amusement park ride. But that
does not mean you should take them for granted. Instead, be thankful for Ferris’ invention. The next
time you’re at an amusement park, don’t just look up at the impressive wheel in the sky on your way to
a newer attraction. Take it for a spin!

1) As used in paragraph 1, the word attraction most nearly means

A. sense B. park C. ride D. vision

2) It can be understood that Coney Island, Navy Pier, and the Santa Monica Pier are all examples of

A. amusement parks B. Ferris wheels C. vacation spots D. boat docks

3) As used in paragraph 2, which is the best antonym for complex?

A. impressive B. beautiful C. exciting D. simple

4) What does the author like best about Ferris wheels?

A. the impressive engineering and beauty of them B. the excitement and thrills they guarantee C. the
beautiful sights and relaxation they allow D. the fact that most amusement parks have one

5) According to the passage, the Ferris wheel was originally designed for

A. Coney Island B. the world’s fair C. Disneyworld D. Singapore

6) This passage was most likely written to

A. describe the author’s favorite amusement park rides

B. explain the original design of Ferris wheels and how they work today

C. describe the history of Ferris wheels and why they are so popular

D. explain the history of Ferris wheels and why the author likes them

7) Using information in the passage, the reader can understand that the tallest Ferris wheel in the world
is A. under 250 feet tall B. between 250 and 500 feet tall C. between 500 and 750 feet tall D. over 750
feet tall
8) In paragraph 2, the narrator says, "As simple as the ride seems, only advanced engineers can make
safe and fun Ferris wheels." Can you think of any other machines that seem simple but actually are not?
List at least two and explain why they are not actually simple.
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9) In paragraph 3, the narrator says, " While the Ferris wheel is not as thrilling as a rollercoaster, it is still
very exciting ." Can you think of any other machines that are not "thrilling" but still "exciting"?
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10) In the final section of the passage, we learn how Ferris wheels "keep reaching higher and higher."
This seems to be a common trend among the developers of modern technology. What makes us want to
continually strive to create something bigger and better? Is this good? Discuss.
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1) C Question Type: Vocabulary attraction (noun): a thing or place that draws visitors by providing
something fun. In the first paragraph, the author describes a person’s “favorite attraction at an
amusement park.” He or she says that some “prefer rollercoasters” but that his or her “favorite ride” is
the Ferris wheel. This suggests that an attraction is a type of ride, so choice (C) is correct. Though
attraction can involve senses, the passage does not suggest that an attraction is a type of sense. One
cannot really have a “favorite sense at an amusement park.” Choice (A) is not correct because of this.
The passage suggests that an amusement park has attractions. However, it does not suggest that an
attraction is actually a park. After all, one cannot really have a “favorite park at an amusement park.”
Choice (B) is not correct because of this. Though attraction often involves vision, the passage does not
suggest that an attraction is a form of vision. Choice (D) is not correct because of this.
2) A Question Type: Inference In the first paragraph, the author describes rides at amusement parks. He
or she writes that his or her “favorite ride is a little more gentle.” Then, the author says that he or she
has to ride the Ferris wheel whenever he or she goes to Coney Island, Navy Pier, or the Santa Monica
Pier. This suggests that each of these places is an amusement park that contains a Ferris wheel. Because
of this, choice (A) is correct. Coney Island is an amusement park in Brooklyn, NY; Navy Pier is located in
Chicago, IL; and the Santa Monica Pier is an amusement park near Los Angeles, CA. The author suggests
that he or she has to ride the Ferris wheel at Coney Island, Navy Pier, and the Santa Monica Pier. This
does not mean that those places are actually Ferris wheels. Instead, it means that they have Ferris
wheels. Because of this, choice (B) is not correct. The author suggests that Coney Island, Navy Pier, and
the Santa Monica Pier are places he or she visits. That does not mean they are places everyone goes on
vacation though. The passage does not suggest that they are vacation spots then. Instead, it only
suggests they are places that have Ferris wheels. Because of this, choice (C) is not correct. Though an
island and piers could possibly dock boats, the author does not suggest that any of the places mentioned
in the question actually do so. Instead, he or she suggests that they are places containing Ferris wheels.
Because of this, choice (D) is not correct.

3) D Question Type: Vocabulary complex (adjective): involving many different and confusing parts. An
antonym is a word that has the opposite meaning of another word. This question asks for the antonym
of complex. The author says Ferris wheels are both “simple and yet also quite complex.” The use of
“yet” suggests that the terms being used are opposites. Because of this, choice (D) is correct. Simple,
which means not complicated or complex, is the antonym for complex. The author describes Ferris
wheels as impressive, but he or she does not suggest that being impressive is the opposite of being
complex. In fact, the author describes Ferris wheels as impressive in a different part of the passage. The
opposite of impressive is actually ordinary. Because of this, choice (A) is not correct. The author
describes Ferris wheels as beautiful, but he or she does not suggest that being beautiful is the opposite
of being complex. In fact, the author describes Ferris wheels as beautiful in a different part of the
passage. The opposite of beautiful is actually ugly. Because of this, choice (B) is not correct. The author
describes Ferris wheels as not being that exciting, but he or she does not suggest that being exciting is
the opposite of being complex. The opposite of exciting is actually dull. Because of this, choice (C) is not
correct.

4) C Question Type: Detail The author explains what he or she likes best about Ferris wheels in the
fourth paragraph. He or she writes, “I find them very relaxing” because of the “beautiful sights of the
park” one gets at the top of the ride. The thing he or she likes best about Ferris wheels, then, is the
beautiful sights and relaxation they allow. Because of this, choice (C) is correct. The author does describe
the impressive engineering and beauty of Ferris wheels. However, he or she does not say those are his
favorite things about the rides. Instead, in paragraph 4, the author explains the reason he or she seeks
Ferris wheels out: because he or she finds them “very relaxing.” Because of this, choice (A) is not
correct. In fact, the author suggests that Ferris wheels are not that exciting. He or she writes that a Ferris
wheel is “not as thrilling as a roller coaster.” Instead, in paragraph 4, the author explains the reason he
or she seeks Ferris wheels out: because he or she finds them “very relaxing.” Because of this, choice (B)
is not correct. Though the author ends the passage by saying that most amusement parks have a Ferris
wheel, he or she does not say that he likes Ferris wheels because of this. Instead, in paragraph 4, the
author explains the reason he or she seeks Ferris wheels out: because he or she finds them “very
relaxing.” Because of this, choice (D) is not correct.

5) B Question Type: Detail In the sixth paragraph (below the caption It Happened at the World’s Fair),
the author writes about the first Ferris wheel. He or she states that George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr.
“designed it for the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893.” The correct answer is (B), then. Though the author
suggests that Coney Island has a Ferris wheel, he or she does not suggest that the first one was built
there. Because of this, choice (A) is not correct. The passage never mentions Disneyworld. It does,
however, mention the first Ferris wheel. Because of this, choice (C) is not correct. The author writes that
the largest Ferris wheel in the world is in Singapore. He or she does not suggest that that Ferris wheel
was the first one built, though. Because of this, choice (D) is not correct.

6) D Question Type: Global The passage describes the fact that the author’s favorite amusement park
ride is the Ferris wheel. From there, he or she describes what they are and why he or she likes them.
Toward the end of the passage, the author traces their history into the present. It follows that the
purpose of the passage was most likely to do all of these things. Because of this, choice (D) is correct.
The author wrote the passage to explain the history of Ferris wheels and why the author likes them. The
passage does describe the author’s favorite amusement park ride, the Ferris wheel, but it does not
describe any of his or her other favorite rides. This means that the passage was probably not written to
describe his or her favorite rides so much as his or her favorite ride overall. Because of this, choice (A) is
not correct. The author does partially explain how Ferris wheels work and the history of the ride.
However, he or she does not explain the original design in any detail. Additionally, he or she seems more
focused on explaining why he or she likes Ferris wheels so much. Because of this, choice (B) is not
correct. The author does describe the history of Ferris wheels. However, he or she only explains why he
or she likes Ferris wheels personally, not why others do or do not like them. Because of this, choice (C) is
not correct.

7) C Question Type: Inference The author writes in the second-to-last paragraph that the tallest Ferris
wheel in the world “is the 'Singapore Flyer,' which stands slightly taller than twice what Ferris’s did!.”
Ferris’s wheel stood 264 feet tall, according to the sixth paragraph. Twice 264 is 528 feet. (This could be
found by rounding too: 264 is just a little over 250, and twice 250 is 500.) Because of this, choice (C) is
correct: 500 (or slightly more) feet is between 500 and 750 feet tall. The tallest Ferris wheel is “just
under twice as tall as Ferris’s.” Since Ferris’s was 264 feet tall, the tallest one would have to be more
than 250 feet tall, as Ferris’s was too. Because of this, choice (A) is not correct. Ferris’s wheel was 264
feet tall, making it between 250 and 500 feet tall. However, the tallest Ferris wheel in the world
“actually stands just under twice as tall as Ferris’s did.” This means that the tallest one must be taller
than 500 feet. Because of this, choice (B) is not correct. To be over 750 feet tall, the tallest Ferris wheel
would have to be three times as high as Ferris’s wheel, not twice as tall. Because of this, choice (D) is not
correct.

Nonfiction Reading Test

Garbage
Directions: Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow. Refer to the text to check your
answers when appropriate.

Garbage cans are not magical portals. Trash does not As landfill space increases, interest in composting
disappear when you toss it in a can. Yet, the average grows. Compositing is when people pile up organic
American throws away an estimated 1,600 pounds of matter, such as food waste, and allow it to decompose.
waste each year. If there are no magic garbage fairies, The product of this decomposition is compost. Compost
where does all that trash go? There are four methods to can be added to the soil to make the soil richer and better
managing waste: recycling, landfilling, composting, and for growing crops. While composting is easy to do
incinerating. Each method has its strengths and onsite somewhere, like home or school, it's hard to do
weaknesses.  Let's take a quick look at each. after the garbage gets all mixed up. This is because
plastic and other inorganic materials must be removed
Recycling is the process of turning waste into new from the compost pile or they will pollute the soil.
materials. For example, used paper can be turned into There's a lot of plastic in garbage, which makes it hard
paperboard, which can be used to make book covers. to compost on a large scale.
Recycling can reduce pollution, save materials, and
lower energy use. Yet, some argue that recycling wastes One thing that is easier to do is burning garbage. There
energy. They believe that collecting, processing, and are two main ways to incinerate waste. The first is to
converting waste uses more energy than it saves. Still, create or harvest a fuel from the waste, such as methane
most people agree that recycling is better for the planet gas, and burn the fuel. The second is to burn the waste
than landfilling. directly. The heat from the incineration process can boil
water, which can power steam generators.
Landfilling is the oldest method of managing waste. In Unfortunately, burning garbage pollutes the air. Also,
its simplest form, landfilling is when people bury some critics worry that incinerators destroy valuable
garbage in a hole. Over time the practice of landfilling resources that could be recycled.
has advanced. Garbage is compacted before it is thrown
into the hole. In this way more garbage can fit in each Usually, the community in which you live manages
landfill. Large liners are placed in the bottom of landfills waste. Once you put your garbage in that can, what
so that toxic garbage juice doesn't get into the ground happens to it is beyond your control. But you can make
water. Sadly, these liners don't always work. Landfills choices while it is still in your possession. You can
may pollute the local water supply. Not to mention that choose to recycle, you can choose to compost, or you
all of that garbage stinks. Nobody wants to live next to a can choose to let someone else deal with it. The choice
landfill. This makes it hard to find new locations for is yours.
landfills.
1. Which best explains why the author begins the text by talking about magical garbage fairies?

a. He is putting a common misconception to rest.

b. He is trying to get the reader's attention.

c. He is addressing his concern in a serious way.

d. He is supporting his argument with evidence.

2. Which best defines the meaning of incineration as it is used in the text?

a. To bury waste materials in a large hole

b. To allow waste products to decompose and become fertilizer

c. To burn waste materials and harvest the energy

d. To turn waste materials into products like book covers

3. Which was not cited in the third paragraph as an issue with landfilling?

a. Landfills are smelly.

b. Usable materials are wasted in landfills.

c. Landfills may pollute the water supply.

d. It is difficult to find locations for landfills.

4. Which conclusion could best be supported with text from the passage?

a. Each method of waste management has its drawbacks.

b. Recycling is without a doubt the best way to handle waste.

c. Incineration is the best way to process waste.

d. All large cities should create massive compost piles.

5. Which best expresses the main idea of the fourth paragraph?

a. Landfills take up a lot of space.

b. Composting is good for the soil but it can be hard to do.

c. The process of composting is very complicated and scientific.

d. There is a lot of plastic garbage in landfills.

6. Which best expresses the meaning of the word compacted as it is used in the third paragraph?

a. Garbage is burned before it is thrown in a hole.

b. Garbage is put in trucks before it is thrown in a hole.

c. Garbage is crushed smaller before it is thrown in a hole.

d. Garbage is put in a can before it is thrown in a hole.

7. Which best expresses the author's main purpose in writing this?

a. To convince readers to recycle and compost

b. To persuade readers that recycling is a waste of resources

c. To compare and contrast recycling and landfilling

d. To inform readers of methods of waste management

8. Which is not included in this text?

a. A description of how trash is collected

b. A description of the uses of compost

c. A description of the two methods of incinerating trash

d. A description of how landfills have advanced over time

9. Which best explains why composting is not feasible on a large scale?

a. People wouldn't want to touch all of that gross rotting food.

b. It would smell too bad in densely populated cities.

c. It would attract rodents that would spread disease.

d. Plastic would get into the compost and turn it into a pollutant.

10. Which title best expresses the main idea of this text?

a. The Magic of Recycling: Bringing Back What Was Once Lost

b. Methods of Waste Management: Pros and Cons

c. Recycling, Landfilling, or Composting: Which is Best For You?

d. Do Your Part: How to Save the Earth by Recycling and Composting

1. Which two methods of waste management do you believe are best for society? Support your argument with
text.

2.  Which two methods of waste management do you believe are worst for society? Refer to the text in your
argument.

3. Summarize the article. Be sure to cover the pros and cons of the four methods of waste management.
Changing the Environment
1 Sara Hayden discovered her private perch on a large boulder about two weeks after her family moved
to Poplar Springs. It was the first Friday in April, and Sara’s school had early dismissal. She tossed her
jacket over the sofa, dumped her backpack on the floor, and put on her heavy hiking boots. She grabbed
a banana and a juice box and hustled out the back door. She still had not made a single friend at her new
school; arriving late in the term had been challenging. She felt isolated and alone. As Sara’s loneliness at
school continued, trekking through the tract of deep woods behind her house relieved the frustration
that had built up in her.

2 That day Sara chose a particularly mucky route adjacent to Willow Creek. Early spring mud squished
beneath her boots like clay and splattered brown specks on her jeans. Through the woods close to
Willow Creek, Sara heard the creek splashing down the falls. Pale green buds announced the late-
arriving spring.

3 About half a mile from the house, Sara noticed something rather peculiar—a whittled, pencil-shaped
stump where a tall poplar sapling had stood the previous week. She looked around and saw a narrow
path marked by broken branches and crushed leaves. Sara carefully picked her way through the
underbrush, snagging her jeans on prickly vines.

4 Sara reached Willow Creek and realized immediately what had happened to the poplar sapling. A pair
of industrious beavers was actively damming Willow Creek. Sara sat on a boulder about 20 yards from
the partially built lodge. As yet, the dam could not stop Willow Creek in full rush, but the beavers had
major construction in mind. Sara wondered how long it would take them to finish. One beaver, hauling a
heavy branch in its teeth, appeared on the creek bank. For the first time in weeks, Sara was interested in
something.
5 Over the next few weeks, Sara monitored the progress of the beavers’ timber-cutting endeavor. She
noticed that poplar, birch, and willow saplings had been gnawed into stumps. The newly clear-cut plots
allowed sunlight to reach the forest floor, where wildflowers painted the greenery and vines shimmied
up narrow tree trunks.

6 The dam increased in size and reduced Willow Creek to a mere trickle. The beavers followed a
remarkable work ethic. The dam was never sufficient, never big enough, never strong enough to suit the
active beavers. Sara wondered whether the husky adult beavers had newborn kits in their lodge. If so,
the offspring had not yet emerged into the open. She did not expect to see any for several weeks.

7 The stone perch gave Sara a front-row seat as the ecosystem engineers converted a rushing stream
into a still-pond habitat. Sara scanned the pond daily to see what had changed. It did not occur to her
that what had changed the most was her own attitude. She had exchanged loneliness for curiosity,
frustration for fascination

8 As the dam changed the pond’s environment, the population changed as well. A pair of wood ducks
became the first visitors to set up housekeeping. The “whoo-eek, whoo-eek” of the green-headed male
echoed through the woods. The female replied with a “crreck, crreck, crreck.” Duckweed sprouted
around the edges of the pond. Scrawny reeds popped up on the banks, and frogs, salamanders, and a
slender snake found their way to the pond. Dragonflies and mayflies buzzed in the warm spring air.

9 In school, Sara’s science class was studying ecosystems. “Pair up and do a report on habitats. Be
prepared to give a presentation two weeks from Friday,” said Mr. Hoffinger.

10 Seated alphabetically, Sara sat directly behind Kayla Hammond. Kayla turned around in her seat and
whispered, “Do you have a partner?” Sara shook her head. “Want to work together?” asked Kayla.

11 Sara smiled. “I have an inspiration. Come over to my house after school, and I’ll show you.”

12 The day of the presentation came; Sara and Kayla were ready. Kayla ran the slide show while Sara
narrated. “This spring, two ecosystem engineers moved to Willow Creek. These engineers have no
college degrees, yet they build elaborate habitats. They are Castor canadensis, American beavers.”

13 The slides were impressive and, along with the chart, very instructive. The other students had so
many questions and comments that both Kayla and Sara talked with almost everyone in class. The
beaver dam had changed both the environment of the pond and Sara herself.

1 What does the word adjacent mean in paragraph 2?

A nearby B far behind C smoothly paved D slightly curving

2 Which word best describes Sara after her presentation?

F Relaxed G Curious H Responsible J Confident

3 What may the reader best conclude about Sara and Kayla’s science presentation?
A The teacher is surprised by the detail of the project. B The other students have already seen the
beavers. C The other students are fascinated by the information. D The teacher will plan a field trip to
see the beavers in action.

4 Based on the last sentence in the story, the reader may best conclude that —

F Sara will begin to feel comfortable at her new school G the beaver dam will become a gathering spot
for students H the newborn kits will grow into ecosystem engineers J Mr. Hoffinger will plan a lesson on
beavers

Willow Creek is important to the plot because Sara — F likes to be alone G develops a new attitude
there H is new to the area J thinks of ideas for her assignment there

5 The beavers help Sara by —

A clearing the forest so she can see more easily B making her school appear more inviting C giving her an
activity to look forward to each day D creating a path so she can return home

7 In the story, Sara is best described as —

A excitable and anxious B restless and disappointed C stubborn and shy D intelligent and adventurous

8 Which sentence from the story shows why Sara is frustrated?

F She still had not made a single friend at her new school; arriving late in the term had been challenging.
G Sara carefully picked her way through the underbrush, snagging her jeans on prickly vines. H Sara
reached Willow Creek and realized immediately what had happened to the poplar sapling. J It did not
occur to her that what had changed the most was her own attitude.

9 Which of these is the best summary of the story?

A Sara enjoys hiking to her special spot in Willow Creek to observe nature.

B Sara is assigned a presentation in science class and takes her partner to Willow Creek to prepare.

C Sara makes a new friend after going to Willow Creek to watch nature at work.

D Sara teaches her class about what she has observed at Willow Creek and makes a friend in the
process.

10 Which phrase from the story is an example of onomatopoeia?

F dumped her backpack G pencil-shaped stump H broken branches J whoo-eek, whoo-eek