English Reading Level I

English Reading Level I
Reading for Literature

1. Read the passage below and answer the question that follows.
Once upon a time there lived two little children whose parents were ill unto death. Before
they died, the father begged his brother to care for his two little ones as he would his own.
The uncle promised he would be a father to them, but he soon began to scheme to possess
the money the parents had left in his care for the children. He sent for two robbers and
bargained with them to take the two babes into the woods and kill them.
After going many miles into the woods, one of the robbers said, "Let us not kill the little
children, they never harmed us." The other robber would not consent, so they came to
blows. This frightened the children so much that they ran away and did not see the
robbers again.
What does the uncle promise the children’s parents?
A. to give the children to the robbers
B. to put the children in an orphanage
C. to treat the children well
D. to take the money and leave the children alone
E. to give the children the money and leave them alone
robbers again.
What is the theme of the story?
A. Greed makes people act in selfish ways.
B. Family members are always loyal to each other.
C. Jealousy leads to happiness.
D. Robbers’ success depends on their skills.
E. Hard work leads to success.
^
Sabine loved having lunch at school because her mom always packed the best food.
Usually, there was also a surprise snack in her lunch box like fruits, frosted cereals, and
sometimes even a piece of cake. Today, Sabine’s snack was a batch of chocolate chip
cookies that her mom had baked in the morning. When her friends saw her snacks, they
asked if they could each have one, too. Looking into her lunch box, Sabine noticed that
there were five cookies, and she had five friends. After thinking it through, Sabine decided
not to have a piece and divided the cookies among her friends instead. She wasn’t sad about
it, but then her friends did something that surprised her in the best way. They each took out
a piece of their cookie and gave it to Sabine.
Which of the following best summarizes the events of the passage?
A. Sabine is excited to eat her mom’s cookies, but she doesn’t have enough to share with
her friends.
B. Sabine doesn’t want to share her cookies with her friends so she pretends not to have
any.
C. When Sabine’s friends realize that she is left without any food because she has shared
her food with them, they each give her a portion of their cookies.
D. Sabine and her friends each enjoy one of her mom’s special chocolate chip cookies.
E. Sabine is surprised that her mom packed a batch of chocolate chip cookies for her lunch.
robbers again.
How are the two robbers different from one another?
A. One is foolish and wants to hide the children while the other wants to get rid of them.
B. One is kind-hearted and wants to let the children go while the other wants to kill them.
C. One is selfish and wants to take all the money while the other wants to help the children.
D. One is caring and wants to return the children to their parents while the other wants to
kill them.
E. One is generous and wants to give the children some money while the other one doesn’t.
^
There was once a little girl named Karen who was very pretty and delicate. Karen lived
with her sick mother in a village by the river. She worked all day long because she needed
to save enough money to buy medicine and food for her mother. Every day, she ran around
the town in the only pair of shoes that she owned: a very large wooden pair of clogs. The
shoes hurt her little feet and caused her to tumble and fall quiet often.
In the middle of the village lived old Dame Shoemaker who noticed how poor the young
girl was. She sat and sewed together, as well as she could, a little pair of shoes out of old
red strips of cloth for the poor little girl. Although the shoes appeared clumsy and did not
look as pretty as those in shoe shop windows, they were created with care and love.
On the very day her mother was buried, Karen received the red shoes and wore them for
the first time. They were certainly not intended for mourning, but she had no other. With
sockless feet, she followed the poor straw coffin in them.
Suddenly a large old carriage drove up, and a rich old lady looked out the carriage window.
As soon as she saw the girl, she felt sorry for her and wanted to take care of her.
The rich lady took Karen to her castle, fed her, and gave her warm and comfortable new
clothes. A rich shoemaker came to the castle and measured Karen’s little feet and made her
a new shiny pair of red shoes.
How does the setting change in the story?
A. The story is set in a poor village at the beginning and in a castle at the end.
B. The story is set in a castle in the beginning and in a poor house and village at the end.
C. The story is set in a shoemaker’s store in the beginning and a castle at the end.
D. The story is set in a castle in the beginning and an old carriage at the end.
E. The story is set in an old carriage in the beginning and a castle at the end.
^
How does the death of Karen’s mother affect the events of the story?
A. Karen lives on the streets as an orphan.
B. An old lady adopts Karen and takes care of her.
C. Karen lives alone in the house where she lived with her mother.
D. Dame Shoemaker adopts Karen and takes care of her.
E. Karen works for a rich shoemaker who takes care of her.
^
What does clumsy mean as it is used in the passage?
A. graceful
B. gorgeous
C. attracting
D. awkward
E. colorless
MISCHIEF
LET those who're fond of idle tricks,

Of throwing stones, and hurling bricks,
And all that sort of fun,
Now hear a tale of idle Jim,
That warning they may take by him,
Nor do as he has done.
In harmless sport or healthful play

He did not pass his time away,
Nor took his pleasure in it;
For mischief was his only joy:
No book, or work, or even toy,
Could please him for a minute.
A neighbor's house he'd slyly pass,

And throw a stone to break the glass,
And then enjoy the joke!
Or, if a window open stood,
He'd throw in stones, or bits of wood,
To frighten all the folk.
At last the neighbors, in despair,

This mischief would no longer bear:
And so—to end the tale,
This lad, to cure him of his ways,
Was sent to spend some dismal days
Within the county jail.
The final stanza is from which part of the plot?
A. Exposition
B. rising action
C. climax
D. falling action
E. resolution
^
9. Read the poem below and answer the question that follows.
The Dove and the Ant
An Ant who in a river would drink
Fell off the bank. He tried
To swim, and felt his courage sink—
This ocean seemed so wide.
But for a dove who flew above
He would have drowned and died.
The friendly Dove within her beak
A bridge of grass-stem bore:
On this the Ant, though worn and weak.
Forced to reach the shore
Said he: "The thoughtfulness of this kind act
I'll treasure evermore."
Behold! A barefoot boy went by
With slingshot in his hand.
Said he: "You'll make a pigeon pie
That will be kind of grand."
He meant to kill the kind bird—
Who did not understand.
The Ant then stung him on the heel
(So quick to see the sling).
The boy turned his head, and missed a meal:
The pigeon pie took wing.
And so the Dove lived on to love—
Much-loved by everything.
What is the boy’s point of view of Dove?
A. He is helpful.
B. He is a useless bird.
C. He is greedy.
D. He would make a great meal.
E. He is too thin to be eaten.
10. Look at the illustration. Then, read the poem below and answer the question that follows.
T HE D OVE AND THE ANT IN THE JUNGLE POND , AKARAKINGDOMS / SHUTTERSTOCK .COM
The Dove and the Ant
An Ant who in a river would drink

Fell off the bank. He tried
To swim, and felt his courage sink—
This ocean seemed so wide.
But for a dove who flew above
He would have drowned and died.
The friendly Dove within her beak
A bridge of grass-stem bore:
On this the Ant, though worn and weak.
Forced to reach the shore
Said he: "The thoughtfulness of this kind act
I'll treasure evermore."
Behold! A barefoot boy went by
With slingshot in his hand.
Said he: "You'll make a pigeon pie
That will be kind of grand."
He meant to kill the kind bird—
Who did not understand.
The Ant then stung him on the heel
(So quick to see the sling).
The boy turned his head, and missed a meal:
The pigeon pie took wing.
And so the Dove lived on to love—
Much-loved by everything.
The mood in this picture can best be described as one of __________.

A. happiness
B. calm
C. fear
D. anger
E. curiosity
Nobody said a word, but the faint ticking of the clock was enough to fill the silence. In turn,
I examined the solemn faces in the room, heads bowed anxiously. I felt the need to approach
them and offer a hand squeeze or a hug, but I had to stay invisible. The struggle to stay
where I was and remain a simple observer was hard. I wished I could say something
comforting to my parents or pat my older brother so his leg would stop shaking. I wanted
to be able to sit next to them and laugh together, but I wasn’t allowed to. If they saw me,
they would send me back to my room before I had a chance to hear the news. After an
endless wait, the phone finally rang, and my dad picked it up in a flash. As he listened to
the person on the other end, his expression quickly changed to relief, and I knew that
grandpa was going to survive.
What is the narrator’s family most likely waiting for?
A. the grandfather to visit them
B. news of the grandfather’s health
C. a doctor to come talk to them
D. news of the grandmother’s health
E. the father to call them
What is the central theme of the passage?
A. Telling the truth is always important.
B. Breaking the rules is never allowed.
C. Parents should not be overprotective.
D. Eavesdropping on people’s conversations is rude.
E. Supporting family members in times of need is a priority.
^
All the food was laid out in the front yard, and the festive music was playing in the
background. Kayla and her mom had spent hours setting everything up on the sunny grass
before the guests arrived. The celebration was supposed to have started five minutes earlier.
However, Kayla sat alone at the long table, fidgeting in her chair. It was her first birthday
since moving to town, and none of her new friends had arrived yet. What if they had
forgotten, or worse, what if they had decided that they didn’t want to come after all? She
would rather move again than face the embarrassment of going back to school. Kayla
needed something to cool down, so she went to the kitchen to grab a glass of water. When
she returned, a dozen figures jumped up from behind the table and shouted, “Happy
birthday!” Kayla was so startled that her glass shook and water splashed down her wrist.
As it turned out, her friends were waiting for her to leave the room so they could surprise
her.
Which of the following best conveys the theme of friendship in the passage?
A. “What if they had forgotten, or worse, what if they had decided that they didn’t want to
come after all?”
B. “It was her first birthday since moving to town, and none of her new friends had arrived
yet.”
C. “Kayla and her mom had spent hours setting everything up on the sunny grass before
the guests arrived.”
D. “As it turned out, her friends were waiting for her to leave the room so they could
surprise her.”
E. “Kayla was so startled that her glass shook and water splashed down her wrist.”
Which of the following best summarizes the events of the passage?
A. The narrator waits with the family for news about the grandfather.
B. The family wants the narrator to comfort them until they hear news about the
grandfather.
C. The narrator’s family is worried about the grandfather, and they finally get good news.
D. The narrator’s family sit in tense silence as they wait for news about the grandfather’s
condition.
E. The narrator’s parents receive a phone call reassuring them that the grandfather is going
to survive.
^
What happens at the end of the story?
A. The characters receive news that the grandfather’s conditioned has deteriorated.
B. The narrator doesn’t realize how unwell the grandfather is.
C. The characters remain by the phone, waiting for news about the grandfather.
D. The narrator’s family realize that he has been eavesdropping on their conversation.
E. The characters learn that the grandfather will make a recovery.
Doctor Dolittle was very fond of animals and kept many kinds of pets. His sister used to
grumble about all these animals and say they made the house untidy. One day, when an old
lady came to see the Doctor, she sat on the hedgehog who was sleeping on the sofa and
never came to see him anymore, but drove every Saturday all the way to another town ten
miles off to see a different doctor.
Then his sister, Sarah Dolittle, came to him and said, “John, how can you expect sick people
to come and see you when you keep all these animals in the house? That’s the fourth person
these animals have driven away. We are getting poorer every day. If you go on like this,
none of the best people will have you for a doctor.”
“But I like the animals better than the ‘best people’,” said the Doctor.
“You are ridiculous,” said his sister, and walked out of the room.
What does grumble most likely mean in the passage?
A. amuse
B. treat
C. clean up
D. frown
E. complain
^
THE SPIDER
"OH, look at that great ugly spider!" said Ann;

And screaming, she brush'd it away with her fan;
"'Tis a frightful black creature as ever can be,
I wish that it would not come crawling on me."
"Indeed," said her mother, "I'll venture to say,

The poor thing will try to keep out of your way;
For after the fright, and the fall, and the pain,
It has much more occasion than you to complain.
"But why should you dread the poor insect, my dear?

If it hurt you, there'd be some excuse for your fear;
But its little black legs, as it hurried away,
Did but tickle your arm, as they went, I dare say.
"For them to fear us we must grant to be just,

Who in less than a moment can tread them to dust;
But certainly we have no cause for alarm;
For, were they to try, they could do us no harm.
"Now look! it has got to its home; do you see

What a delicate web it has spun in the tree?
Why here, my dear Ann, is a lesson for you:
Come learn from this spider what patience can do!
"And when at your business you're tempted to play,

Recollect what you see in this insect to-day,
Or else, to your shame, it may seem to be true,
That a poor little spider is wiser than you."
How does stanza 4 fit into the overall structure of the poem?
A. It urges people to kill spiders when they see them.
B. It explains why spiders should fear us more than we fear them.
C. It explains why people should fear spiders more than spiders fear people.
D. It explains why neither spiders nor humans should fear each other.
E. It urges spiders to stay away from people and not cause them any harm.
^
THE SPIDER
"Oh, look at that great ugly spider!" said Ann;

And screaming, she brush'd it away with her fan;
"'Tis a frightful black creature as ever can be,
I wish that it would not come crawling on me."
"Indeed," said her mother, "I'll venture to say,

The poor thing will try to keep out of your way;
For after the fright, and the fall, and the pain,
It has much more occasion than you to complain.
Which of the following best describes the rhyme scheme?
A. ABAB CDCD
B. ABCB DBCB
C. ABCD ABCD
D. AABB CCDD
E. ABBA CDDC
How does the point of view in the passage affect the mood?
A. A first-person narration gives a detailed account of the tense mood.
B. A third-person narration gives a biased view of the narrator’s feelings.
C. A first-person narration gives an insight into every character’s mood.
D. A third-person narration gives an objective recount of the characters’ emotions.
E. A first-person narration gives an exaggerated description of the narrator’s feelings.
^
20. Look at the following picture. Then, read the passage below and answer the question that
follows.
C HILDREN RUNNING , SYDA P RODUCTIONS / SHUTTERSTOCK .COM
Every afternoon, as they were coming from school, the children used to go and play in the
Giant’s garden. The birds sat on the trees and sang so sweetly that the children used to stop
their games in order to listen to them.
One day the Giant came back, and he was aggravated that anyone was playing in his garden,
so he built a high wall around it, and put up a notice-board warning trespassers to stay
away.
Then the spring came, and all over the country there were little blossoms and little birds,
but in the garden of the Selfish Giant it was still winter. The birds did not care to sing in it
as there were no children, and the trees forgot to blossom. Once a beautiful flower put its
head out from the grass, but when it saw the notice-board it was so sorry for the children
that it slipped back into the ground again, and went off to sleep.
What does the picture reveal about the children?
A. They are running away from the giant.
B. They are happy in the garden.
C. They don’t mean to bother the giant.
D. They prefer to stay inside.
E. They wish to play with the giant.
Reading for Information^
Giraffes are magnificent animals that are found in Africa. They have rather large eyes, with
unusually long eyelashes. A giraffe’s color varies depending on where it is found in Africa
and on the type of food it eats. The colors range from a light tan to a dark brown. Giraffes
are the tallest animals because they have the longest necks among animals. A giraffe’s neck
can reach a length of 1.8 meters, while the legs can also reach 1.8 meters. Male giraffes can
reach a height of 5.5 meters and a weight of around 1300 kilograms.
According to the passage, a giraffe’s color varies depending on _____________.
A. its location and food type it eats
B. its height
C. its weight
D. how long its neck is
E. how hot the weather is
22. ^Read the passage below and answer the question that follows.
Every year on September 19, Mexico City runs an earthquake drill across the entire city.
Ever since a massive earthquake in 1985 took the lives of over 10,000 people, a drill has
been implemented as a precautionary measure to ensure that people are well-prepared for
earthquakes. During the drill, people evacuate all buildings and go into the streets until the
exercise is over. On September 19, 2017, about three hours after the drill, an earthquake
took the city once again. Although it wasn’t as powerful as the 1985 earthquake, it still
caused massive destruction across the city. More than 40 buildings collapsed, and many
were trapped under the rubble while people gathered in the hundreds to try and rescue
them. The earthquake took the city by surprise because the alarms failed to warn the city’s
citizens after the drill. The city still holds memorials every year on the same date to
remember those who died during the 1985 and the 2017 earthquakes.
What is the main idea in the passage?
A. The Mexico City earthquake of 2017 was the most destructive in history.
B. The destruction caused by earthquakes can be devastating in large cities only.
C. The lack of alarms in Mexico City is a serious problem that needs to be resolved.
D. Mexico City is an area where extremely destructive earthquakes frequently happen.
E. Although earthquake drills are carried out, earthquakes may strike without warning.
were trapped under the rubble while people gathered in the hundreds to try and rescue them.
The earthquake took the city by surprise because the alarms failed to warn the city’s citizens
after the drill. The city still holds memorials every year on the same date to remember those
who died during the 1985 and the 2017 earthquakes.
Which of the following best supports the main idea that the 2017 earthquake struck without
warning?
A. “…it wasn’t as powerful as the 1985 earthquake…”

B. “…it still caused massive destruction across the city.”
C. “More than 40 buildings collapsed…”
D. “The earthquake took the city by surprise…”
E. “…the alarms failed to warn the city’s citizens after the drill…”
Rainbows are among nature’s unique gifts that many people find fascinating or inspiring.
Children are particularly interested in the idea of touching the colored lights, but rainbows
are not objects. They are made up of light that is reflected against water, rain, fog, or mist,
like in a mirror. Usually, the seven colors of a rainbow are so close together that they appear
white to the human eye. However, when light reflects on a mirror-like surface, the seven
colors bend away from each other and become distinct from one another to the viewers.
People see rainbows differently depending on where they are standing, and how light is
reflected back to them. Furthermore, people usually see rainbows in the shape of an arc,
but they are actually circular. This means that even if we can’t see them, there are no ends
to rainbows.
Which of the following best summarizes the passage?
A. Rainbows are beautiful, and children are fascinated by them.
B. Rainbows are reflections of light and are seen differently by people.
C. People are interested in touching the colored lights of a rainbow.
D. Some people are incapable of seeing what rainbows look like.
E. Rainbows cannot be touched by anyone in real life.
^
My family and I were visiting relatives in Mexico when a massive earthquake hit the city
in September 2017. The first earthquake was weak so we didn’t take it very seriously.
However, a second earthquake soon followed. The ground felt as fragile as glass, and we
did not think it could hold us much longer. We rushed outside as sounds of crashing, car
sirens, and people yelling could be heard. My dad made sure we were all out before he
followed us, as he was worried the house would crumble on us. To make matters worse,
phone reception was down, and we were not able to get in touch with our loved ones. My
uncle was fortunate because his house survived the rage of the earthquake while other
houses collapsed. My dad makes donations each September to support the victims of the
earthquake.
Based on the passage, why was the narrator’s uncle fortunate?
A. The uncle’s house was not destroyed by the earthquake.
B. The uncle’s house was half destroyed by the earthquake.
C. The uncle received the help he needed after the earthquake.
D. The uncle was able to get his family out the house.
E. The uncle had his brother to support him during the earthquake.
were trapped under the rubble while people gathered in the hundreds to try and rescue them.
The earthquake took the city by surprise because the alarms failed to warn the city’s citizens
after the drill. The city still holds memorials every year on the same date to remember those
who died during the 1985 and the 2017 earthquakes.
Which of the following took place last?
A. More than 40 buildings in Mexico City collapsed.
B. Alarms do not warn Mexico City’s residents of the 2017 earthquake.
C. Mexico City executes an annual earthquake drill on September 19.
D. Many people were stuck under the rubble for hours while others tried to rescue them.
E. Mexico City holds a celebration every year in memory of those who died during the
earthquakes.
^
Normally, rainbows appear in the sky in the form of an arc of color, but that’s not the only
situation in which they form. Sometimes, you may notice them in water fountains or
waterfalls, and you can even make a rainbow yourself.
First, make sure that it’s a sunny day since rainbows are actually a reflection of the sunlight.
Then, bring a white paper and a glass of water about three quarters full. Choose a spot with
plenty of sunlight, such as outside or near a window. Finally, place the paper on a flat
surface and put the glass of water over it.
If you watch closely, you will notice that as the sunlight passes through the water in the
glass, it bends and forms a small rainbow on the paper. You can even move the glass up
and down to see if the rainbow changes.
Why does one need sunlight to make a rainbow using a paper and a glass of water?
A. because sunlight makes rainbow colors brighter
B. because artificial light is too expensive to use
C. because you can’t see a rainbow if it’s dark
D. because sunlight can’t pass through water
E. because rainbows are a reflection of sunlight
^
The Keller homestead, where the family lived, was a few steps from our little rose-bower.
Its old-fashioned garden was the paradise of my childhood. Even in the days before my
teacher came, I used to feel along the square stiff boxwood hedges, and, guided by the sense
of smell would find the first violets and lilies. There, I went to find comfort and to hide my
hot face in the cool leaves and grass. What joy it was to lose myself in that garden of
flowers. But the roses—they were loveliest of all. Never have I found in the greenhouses
of the North such heart-satisfying roses as the climbing roses of my southern home. They
used to hang in long festoons from our porch, filling the whole air with their fragrance,
untainted by any earthy smell. In the early morning, washed in the dew, they felt so soft,
so pure.
Based on the passage, what does fragrance most likely mean?
A. beautiful scent
B. polluted air
C. bouquet of flowers
D. stinky smell
E. comforting place
^
29. Read the two passages below and answer the question that follows.
Passage 1
Rainbows are among nature’s unique gifts that many people find fascinating or inspiring.
Children are particularly interested in the idea of touching the colored lights, but rainbows
are not objects. They are made up of light that is reflected against water, rain, fog, or mist,
like in a mirror. Usually, the seven colors of a rainbow are so close together that they appear
white to the human eye. However, when light reflects on a mirror-like surface, the seven
colors bend away from each other and become distinct from one another to the viewers.
People see rainbows differently depending on where they are standing, and how light is
reflected back to them. Furthermore, people usually see rainbows in the shape of an arc,
but they are actually circular. This means that even if we can’t see them, there are no ends
to rainbows.
Passage 2
Normally, rainbows appear in the sky in the form of an arc of color, but that’s not the only
situation in which they form. Sometimes, you may notice them in water fountains or
waterfalls, and you can even make a rainbow yourself.
First, make sure that it’s a sunny day since rainbows are actually a reflection of the sunlight.
Then, bring a white paper and a glass of water about three quarters full. Choose a spot with
plenty of sunlight, such as outside or near a window. Finally, place the paper on a flat
surface and put the glass of water over it.
If you watch closely, you will notice that as the sunlight passes through the water in the
glass, it bends and forms a small rainbow on the paper. You can even move the glass up
and down to see if the rainbow changes.
Both passages are about rainbows. How are their structures different?
A. Passage 1 is about cause and effect while passage 2 is descriptive.
B. Passage 1 is in chronological order while passage 2 compares and contrasts.
C. Passage 1 is descriptive while passage 2 is in chronological order.
D. Passage 1 is about problem and solution while passage 2 is in chronological order.
E. Passage 1 is descriptive while passage 2 is about cause and effect.
^
30. Read the two passages below and answer the question that follows.
Passage 1
At two years old, Laura Bridgman lost her sight, hearing, and sense of smell. When she
was seven, Samuel Gridley Howe, the director of the Perkins School for the Blind,
convinced her parents to let her join his school. Howe was eager to educate a deaf-blind
person because it had never been done before. He started by giving Laura objects that she
was familiar with, such as keys and forks, with labels attached to them. The labels had
raised letters that spelled out the name of each item. Once Laura had memorized which
label went with which item, Howe separated the two from each other and had Laura match
them together. Then, he separated the letters so she would put them together again in the
right order. That was when Laura understood the concept of language and that everything
had a name. Her knowledge rapidly grew after that, and she became the first deaf-blind
person to receive a proper education.
Passage 2
Helen Keller lost her sight and hearing at a young due to an illness. Her parents were
desperate to keep her from being institutionalized. At the advice of a friend, they hired a
teacher from the Perkins School for the Blind named Anne Sullivan. Sullivan tried teaching
Keller to spell with her fingers using the American Sign Language alphabet. She would
place an item in Keller’s hand, such as a doll, and finger spell the name of the item in the
child’s other hand. Keller was curious at first and would mimic Sullivan’s movements.
However, she couldn’t make the connection between the word and the object. She would
become frustrated with Sullivan and refuse to repeat the hand gestures. During one of their
struggles, Sullivan finally got through to Keller when she pumped water on her hands and
spelled the word for it at the same time. Once Keller finally understood, she became excited
and demanded to learn the name of everything she came across. After that, her education
progressed quickly, and Sullivan remained her companion for 49 years.
Which statement best describes the author’s point of view in both passages?
A. Both Laura Bridgman and Helen Keller made great progress in their education once
they understood how to communicate.
B. Being deaf and blind made Laura Bridgman and Helen Keller less intelligent than other
children.
C. Both Laura Bridgman and Helen Keller could communicate in their own way, but it
was very limited.
D. Being deaf and blind prevented Laura Bridgman and Helen Keller from getting a proper
education.
E. Both Laura Bridgman and Helen Keller learned how to communicate through finger
spelling in American Sign Language.
^
It is natural for people to scratch themselves at times. It’s what they do when they feel an
itch. But why do they feel itchy in the first place? The explanation is in the way their skin
defends itself against objects that touch their bodies. These objects could be insects,
chemicals they’ve touched, illnesses they’ve caught, or even food they’ve eaten. The nerves
send a message to the brain that a foreign object is touching the body. The main reason they
scratch is that it helps remove the irritation. However, scratching can sometimes be more
harmful than it is helpful. For example, a rash could become worse if scratched too much.
People should check the cause of the itch before scratching and possibly hurting
themselves.
Allergy symptoms problem infographic,

svtdesign/shutterstock.com
What information does the illustration add to the passage?

A. Some rashes are very different from others.
B. Allergies help heal the symptoms of itching.
C. A rash is only painful when caused by allergies.
D. People never feel itchy because of an allergy.
E. Itching can sometimes be caused by allergies.
themselves.
How does the author support the idea that scratching too much is harmful?
A. by explaining why people start itching
B. by clarifying that scratching is due to an itchy feeling
C. by remarking that everyone feels the need to scratch
D. by mentioning that scratching makes rashes worse
E. by listing diseases one could get from scratching
33.Read the passage below and answer the question that follows.
themselves.
How does the author support the idea that scratching too much is harmful?
A. by explaining why people start itching
B. by clarifying that scratching is due to an itchy feeling
C. by remarking that everyone feels the need to scratch
D. by mentioning that scratching makes rashes worse
E. by listing diseases one could get from scratching
^
Pioneers are the first people to explore a new land that they wish to settle in. They spend
months and years traveling across vast distances in order to discover the territory, get used
to the land, and decide where they want to settle and start their new lives. In the 19th century,
pioneers traveling the new American land of what is now the state of Oregon faced many
dangers. Most of them perished on the way. The biggest threats to their life came from
accidents and diseases. First, the rivers in America were dangerous to cross because they
caused people and animals to slip, fall, and drown in the waters. Second, there were many
deadly and infectious diseases such as smallpox, cholera, and the flu which others could
easily catch if close to or living with someone carrying the disease. Today, the Oregon Trail
that these pioneers followed is historic and has become an educational tourist attraction.
According to the passage, what do pioneers do?
A. develop new educational tourist attractions
B. cause people and animals to slip, fall, and drown in waters
C. protect their families from dangerous threats
D. travel across new territories for settlement
E. spread diseases in unfamiliar territories
In the 19th century, pioneers traveling the new American land of what is now the state of
Oregon faced many dangers. Most of them perished on the way. The biggest threats to
their lives came from accidents and diseases. First, the rivers in America were dangerous
to cross because they caused people and animals to slip, fall, and drown in the waters.
Second, there were many deadly and infectious diseases such as smallpox, cholera, and
the flu which others could easily catch if close to or living with someone carrying the
disease. In addition, the pioneers were attacked multiple times by the natives who had
been living on the land. Many pioneer families, including innocent children, who were
brutally killed are memorialized today. Headstones are raised on the trail to honor their
memory. Because of the dangers they faced, pioneers were true heroes that made their
country what it is today.
What is the main idea of the passage?
A. Pioneers had conflicts with natives living on the land.
B. The Oregon Trail is an important historical landmark.
C. Pioneer families were forgotten after the 19th century.
D. The Oregon Trail contains many dangerous diseases.
E. Pioneers traveling across Oregon faced many dangers.
^
Which detail from the passage does not illustrate the dangers of pioneer life?
A. “…there were many deadly diseases such as smallpox, cholera, and the flu…”
B. “They spend months and years traveling across vast distances…”
C. “…they caused people and animals to slip, fall, and drown in the waters.”
D. “… the rivers in America were dangerous to cross…”
E. “The biggest threats to their life came from accidents and diseases.”
^
Oregon faced many dangers. Most of them perished on the way. The biggest threats to their
life came from accidents and diseases. First, the rivers in America were dangerous to cross
because they caused people and animals to slip, fall, and drown in the waters. Second, there
were many deadly and infectious diseases such as smallpox, cholera, and the flu which
others could easily catch if close to or living with someone carrying the disease. In addition,
the pioneers were attacked multiple times by the natives who had been living on the land.
Many pioneer families, including innocent children, who were brutally killed are
memorialized today. Headstones are raised on the trail to honor their memory. Because of
the dangers they faced, pioneers were true heroes that made their country what it is today.
Which of the following best summarizes the worst aspects of pioneer life?
A. Pioneers faced threats of accidents, diseases, and attacks.
B. Pioneers fought with the natives to conquer new lands.
C. Pioneers couldn’t find large new lands for them to settle in.
D. Pioneers died during their travels and were forgotten in history.
E. Pioneers lost many of their animals during their journey.
^
Which of the following is true about the natives?
A. They lost many of their children and families.
B. They didn’t know how to survive without help.
C. They welcomed the pioneers as great heroes.
D. They lived on the land before pioneers came.
E. They are remembered and honored until today.
^
The early years of my life, which were spent in the little cabin, were not very different from
those of thousands of other slaves. My mother, of course, had little time in which to give
attention to the training of her children during the day. She snatched a few moments for our
care in the early morning before her work began, and at night after the day's work was done.
One of my earliest recollections is that of my mother cooking a chicken late at night, and
awakening her children for the purpose of feeding them. How or where she got it I do not
know. I presume, however, it was procured from our owner's farm. Some people may call
this theft. If such a thing were to happen now, I should condemn it as theft myself. But
taking place at the time it did, and for the reason that it did, no one could ever make me
believe that my mother was guilty of thieving. She was simply a victim of the system of
slavery. I cannot remember having slept in a bed until after our family was declared free
by the Emancipation Proclamation. Three children—John, my older brother, Amanda, my
sister, and myself—had a pallet on the dirt floor, or, to be more correct, we slept in and on
a bundle of filthy rags laid upon the dirt floor.
What does procured most likely mean in the passage?
A. forgotten
B. researched
C. obtained
D. dismissed
E. invited
What role does the underlined sentence serve in the passage?
A. It summarizes the main idea.

B. It introduces the topic of the passage.
C. It argues against the main idea.
D. It comments on the main idea.
E. It develops the main idea.
^
What does the underlined sentence reveal about the author?
A. his bias towards the native pioneers
B. his bias against American heroes
C. his bias towards the state of Oregon
D. his bias against native Americans
E. his bias towards American pioneers
^
What is the author’s purpose in the underlined sentence?
A. to describe the natural landscapes visited by pioneers in America
B. to provide context about where pioneers came from and why they traveled
C. to explain why pioneers are considered heroes nowadays
D. to emphasize the hardships that pioneers faced as they discovered new settlements
E. to give an accurate account of the daily life of a pioneer
How does the author support the argument that pioneer life was dangerous?
A. by mentioning that the Oregon Trail is now a touristic attraction
B. by pointing out that pioneers traveled with their children
C. by providing written accounts from people who were pioneers
D. by giving reasons why pioneers died during their journey
E. by describing the attacks that pioneers endured at the hands of the natives
^
44. Look at the picture below and read the passage. Then, answer the question that follows.
P IONEERS TRAVELING ON A TRAIL , EVERETT C OLLECTION / SHUTTERSTOCK .COM
What new information is revealed in the picture?

A. American pioneers discovered new lands.
B. American pioneers traveled in wagons.
C. American pioneers did not travel together.
D. American pioneers traveled with animals.
E. American pioneers spent a lot of time traveling.
Which of the following supports the author’s argument that the Oregon Trail is historically
important?
A. “…it was easy for the pioneers, their children, or even their animals to slip and drown.”
B. “…the rivers in America were dangerous to cross…”
C. “…pioneers traveling the new American land of what is now the state of Oregon…”
D. “… has become an educational tourist attraction.”
E. “…the first people to explore a new land that they wished to settle in are called
pioneers…”

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English Reading Level I

Reading for Literature

LET those who're fond of idle tricks,

In harmless sport or healthful play

A neighbor's house he'd slyly pass,

At last the neighbors, in despair,

The Dove and the Ant

An Ant who in a river would drink

The mood in this picture can best be described as one of __________.

"OH, look at that great ugly spider!" said Ann;

"Indeed," said her mother, "I'll venture to say,

"But why should you dread the poor insect, my dear?

"For them to fear us we must grant to be just,

"Now look! it has got to its home; do you see

"And when at your business you're tempted to play,

"Oh, look at that great ugly spider!" said Ann;

"Indeed," said her mother, "I'll venture to say,

C HILDREN RUNNING , SYDA P RODUCTIONS / SHUTTERSTOCK .COM

What is the main idea in the passage?

A. “…it wasn’t as powerful as the 1985 earthquake…”

Allergy symptoms problem infographic,

What information does the illustration add to the passage?

What role does the underlined sentence serve in the passage?

A. It summarizes the main idea.

P IONEERS TRAVELING ON A TRAIL , EVERETT C OLLECTION / SHUTTERSTOCK .COM

What new information is revealed in the picture?

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