BALLET ,Reading Comprehension Worksheet

BALLET

Ballet is a type of dance that dates back to the 15th century (in the 1400s).

It is an art form that can be used to express a feeling, tell a story, or

interpret a song. Ballet dancers are strong, graceful, and flexible. Ballet dancers may be men and women - ballet is not just for girls!

Many movements in ballet are unusual for the human body.

Dancers turn their legs out, instead of having their knees and

feet straight forward. They also point their feet and may even

dance on the tips of their toes (but only when their teachers

believe they are ready)! Not only do dancers need to control

their bodies well to perform these types of movements, but

they need to have a good understanding of music to be able to

dance in time with it.

Dancers must go through a lot of training. Many take classes almost daily if they’d like to be professional ballet dancers. The movements are demanding on their bodies, so they need to practice often to keep up their strength. That also means that dancers need to take very good care of their bodies, though, so their bodies can keep up with the dancing! Dancers need to be well rested and eat healthy meals. They also should drink plenty of water and listen to their bodies by resting if that’s what their bodies need.

They should start slowly when learning new steps, so their bodies have time to get used to the steps and not get injured.

In ballet class, most teachers begin by having dancers warm up their musc les at the barre. Dancers do movements such as the plié, tendu, dégagé, rond de jambe, and grand battement at the barre. Do these words seem unfamiliar to you? That’s probably because they are in French.

 Many ballet dancers are required to learn what these words mean in English as well as the French terminology.

After the warm up, dancers come to the center to practice other

movements, as well as doing movements across the floor. Some of these movements are leaps and turns. Teachers and choreographers (people who create dance sequences) put these steps together to match the music and the story. 

 Dancers practice the dances many times in class or practice

before they appear onstage. Stretching is an important part of dance class, as well, so that dancers can bring their legs up high to make beautiful lines.

Many dancers stretch at both the beginning and end of class,

but are careful to not overstretch their muscles when their

muscles are not warmed up.

Ballet looks soft and graceful, but it really is an athletic activity. If you love to move your body and use it to tell stories, ballet might be a great activity for you to try!

Answer each question:

1. What are three ways dancers should take care of their bodies?

2. Go back to the second paragraph. Highlight two ways that dancers

move their bodies differently than most people.

3. What is a choreographer? How do you know?

4. Why do people create dances?

5. If the author were to insert a paragraph about how ballet has changed throughout the years, where would be the best spot for it in this passage? Why? 

see also :
FIREFIGHTERS , Comprehension Worksheet
HOW TO FIND THE THEME OF A TEXT

Materials , Reading Comprehension Assessment

Materials                 

A material is what something is made of. There are 5 basic

materials. Most things are made with these materials. Some things

are made of metal. Some things are made of glass. Some things are

made of wood. Some things are made of cloth. And some things are

made of plastic. There are some other materials. But they are not

used as much as these 5 materials.

Let’s talk about metal first. Metal is very heavy. And it is

very hard and strong. It usually feels cool if you touch it. We use

metal to make lots of things. We use it for forks and knives. We use

it for keys. We use it for cars. We use it for these things because it

is very strong.

Next, let’s talk about glass. Glass is very smooth. It feels cool to touch. It is not as heavy as metal. It is hard. But it is not strong. It breaks very easily! Then why do we use it? We use it because it is

clear! You can see through glass! That’s why we use it for windows. That’s also why we use it for glasses.

Now, let’s talk about wood. Wood is lighter than metal and glass. It is not as strong as metal. But it is much stronger than glass. We use wood to make lots of things. Things made from wood are usually

light and hard and strong. Chairs and tables are made from wood. Pencils are made from wood.

Now let’s talk about cloth. Cloth is very light. It is much lighter than wood. And it is very soft. We use cloth to make lots of things. For example, it is used to make clothing. And it is used to make blankets.

Last, let’s talk about plastic. Plastic is also very light. But it is different from cloth. Sometimes it is soft. And sometimes it is hard. Plastic can be used to make thin plastic bags. These are light, soft, and strong. But plastic can also be used to make bicycle helmets. These are light, hard, and strong. A helmet

and a bag seem different. But they are both made from plastic.

1) Which sentence from the passage best describes the main idea?

A. "We use cloth to make lots of things."

B. "Metal is very heavy."

C. "There are 5 basic materials."

D. "A helmet and a bag seem different."

2) According to the passage, which of these things is a material?

A. chairs

B. clothing

C. windows

D. wood

 3) According to the passage, how does glass feel?

A. smooth and cool

B. warm and soft

C. light and hard

D. sharp and heavy

4) In paragraph 4, the passage says, “Wood is lighter than metal and glass.” What is the main purpose

of this sentence?

A. to explain something

B. to recommend something

C. to compare something

D. to demonstrate something

5) Which material would you use if you wanted to make something that was strong and very light?

A. plastic

B. wood

C. metal

D. glass

6) In this passage, the author talks about

A. hard things first, then soft things

B. heavy things first, then light things

C. strong things first, then weak things

D. cool things first, then warm things

7) In this passage, we learn about a 5 different materials. Which of these materials do you think is best?

Why?

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8) In this passage, we learn about a 5 different materials. Which of these materials do you think is worst? Why?

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Answers and Explanations

1) C

Question Type: Global

In order to answer this question correctly, we need first to figure out what the main idea of the passage is. Then we need to say

which sentence from the passage serves as the best description of that main idea. In this passage, we read about 5 materials. We

read about metal, glass, wood, cloth, and plastic. The passage tells us about each of these materials. It tells us what each material

feels like, and gives some examples of what each material is used for. Because the passage tells us equally about all 5 materials,

we can tell that the main idea of the passage does not have to do with any single material, but instead has to do with all 5 materials.

From this we can tell that the main idea of the passage is to tell about these 5 materials. The sentence, “There are 5 basic

materials,” tells us that the passage is going to tell us about 5 basic materials. This agrees with what we said the main idea of the

passage was, which was to tell about 5 materials. From this we can tell that the sentence, “There are 5 basic materials,” best

describes the main idea of this passage. Therefore (C) is correct. Using the above information, we can tell that the main idea of this

passage is to tell us about 5 basic materials. The sentence, “We use cloth to make lots of things,” only talks about one of the 5

materials discussed by the passage. From this we can tell that the sentence, “We use cloth to make lots of things,” does not

describe the main idea of this passage. This eliminates (A). Using the above information, we can tell that the main idea of this

passage is to tell us about 5 basic materials. The sentence, “Metal is very heavy,” only talks about one of the 5 materials discussed

by the passage. From this we can tell that the sentence, “Metal is very heavy,” does not describe the main idea of this passage. This

eliminates (B). Using the above information, we can tell that the main idea of this passage is to tell us about 5 basic materials. The

sentence, “A helmet and a bag seem different,” only talks about two of the 5 materials discussed by the passage. From this we can

tell that the sentence, “A helmet and a bag seem different,” does not describe the main idea of this passage. This eliminates (D).

2) D

Question Type: Detail

In order to answer this detail question correctly, we need to find where the passage says what a material is and which things are

materials. A good way to do this is to scan the topic sentence (the first sentence) of each paragraph, since this will likely tell us what

information can be found in the rest of that paragraph. The topic sentence of paragraph 1 reads: “A material is what something is

made of.” This lets us know that this paragraph is going to talk about what a material is, and may also tell us which things are

materials. From this we can understand that the details we are looking for will likely be in this paragraph. This first sentence also lets

us know that a material is what something is made of. In the next sentence, we read: “There are 5 basic materials.” This lets us

know that the passage is likely going to tell us what the 5 materials are. As we read through the rest of the paragraph, we are told

that the 5 basic materials are metal, glass, wood, cloth, and plastic. From this we can understand that wood is a material. Therefore

(D) is correct. According to this passage, a material is “what something is made of.” Although this passage does talk about chairs, it

does not say that chairs are something that another thing is made of. Instead, it says what wood is a material, and that we use wood

to make chairs. Also, the passage does not say that a chair is a material. This lets us know that, according to this passage, chairs

are not a material. This eliminates (A). According to this passage, a material is “what something is made of.” Although this passage

does talk about clothing, it does not say that clothing is something that another thing is made of. Instead, it says that cloth is a

material, and that we use cloth to make clothing. Also, the passage does not say that clothing is a material. This lets us know that,

according to this passage, clothing is not a material. This eliminates (B). According to this passage, a material is “what something is

made of.” Although this passage does talk about windows, it does not say that windows are something that another thing is made of.

Instead, it says that glass is a material, and that we use glass to make windows. Also, the passage does not say that windows are a

material. This lets us know that, according to this passage, windows are not a material. This eliminates (C).

3) A

Question Type: Detail

In order to answer this detail question correctly, we need to find where the passage talks about glass. A good way to do this is to

scan the topic sentence (the first sentence) of each paragraph, since this will likely tell us what information can be found in the rest

of that paragraph. The topic sentence of paragraph 3 reads: “Next, let’s talk about glass.” This lets us know that paragraph 3 is

going to talk about glass, and that the details we are looking for can likely be found in this paragraph. The next two sentences read:

“Glass is very smooth. It feels cool to touch.” This lets us know that, according to this passage, glass feels smooth and cool.

Therefore (A) is correct. In paragraph 3, we read: “Glass is very smooth. It feels cool to the touch.” This lets us know that according to this passage, glass is cool, not warm. We also read, in the same paragraph: “[Glass] is hard.” This lets us know that glass is hard, and not soft. From this we can tell that, according to this passage, we cannot say that glass feels warm and soft. This eliminates (B).

In paragraph 3, we read: “[Glass] is not as heavy as metal.” This lets us know that glass does not feel as heavy as metal. But this

does not mean that it feels light. Also, the passage does not say that glass feels “light.” From this we can tell that, according to this

passage, we cannot say that glass feels light and hard. This eliminates (C). In paragraph 3, we read: “[Glass] is not as heavy as

metal” This lets us know that, compared to metal, glass is not heavy. Yet a large piece of glass may still be heavy. In addition,

although we know that glass is sometimes sharp, we also know that glass does not always feel sharp. More importantly, the

passage does not say that glass feels sharp. From this we can tell that, according to this passage, we cannot say that glass feels

sharp and heavy. This eliminates (D).

4) C

Question Type: Inference

The topic sentence (the first sentence) of paragraph 4 reads: “Now, let’s talk about wood.” This lets us know that paragraph 4 is

going to tell us about the material wood. The next sentence reads: “Wood is lighter than metal and glass.” This lets us know that

wood is not as heavy as metal or glass. From this we can understand that, when the passage says that wood is lighter than metal

and glass, it is telling us that wood is different from metal and glass. Because we know that when you compare something you are

saying that it is like something else or different from something else, we can now understand that, when the passage says, “Wood is

lighter than metal and glass,” it is comparing wood with metal and glass. From this we can tell that the main purpose of this

sentence is to compare something. Therefore (C) is correct. In paragraph 4, we read: “Wood is lighter than metal and glass.” Using the above information, we can tell that this sentence is comparing wood with metal and glass by saying that wood is different from metal and glass. But is this sentence also trying to explain something? When you explain something, you give reasons for why something is true. This sentence does not give any reasons for why wood is different from metal or glass. It only tells us that they are different. From this we can tell that the main purpose of this sentence cannot be to explain something. Therefore (A) is incorrect.

In paragraph 4, we read: “Wood is lighter than metal and glass.” Using the above information, we can tell that this sentence is

comparing wood with metal and glass by saying that wood is different from metal and glass. But is this sentence also recommending something? When you recommend something, you say that someone would like something. This sentence does not tell us that we would like wood. It only tells us that it is different from metal and glass. From this we can tell that the main purpose of this sentence cannot be to recommend something. Therefore (B) is incorrect. In paragraph 4, we read: “Wood is lighter than metal and glass.”

Using the above information, we can tell that this sentence is comparing wood with metal and glass by saying that wood is different from metal and glass. But is this sentence also demonstrating something? When you demonstrate something, you show that something is true by showing some evidence that it is true. But this sentence does not show any evidence that something is true. It only tells that wood is different from metal and glass. Therefore (D) is incorrect.

5) A

Question Type: Inference

In paragraph 6, we read about plastic. The passage tells us that plastic is “very light,” and that it can be “soft” or “hard.” It then gives

us an example of a soft plastic thing and an example of a hard plastic thing. It tells us that plastic can be used to make thin plastic

bags, which it describes as “light, soft, and strong.” This lets us know that plastic can be light, soft, and strong. It then tells us that

plastic can be used to make bicycle helmets, which it describes as “light, hard, and strong.” This lets us know that plastic can be

light, hard, and strong. Because both the plastic bag and the bicycle helmet are described as light and strong, we can understand

that plastic can be used to make something that is both very light and strong. This lets us know that, if you wanted to make

something that was strong and very light, you would use plastic. Therefore (A) is correct. In paragraph 4, we read about wood. The

passage tells us that it is “lighter than metal and glass.” But this does not mean that wood is light. It only means that it is not as

heavy as metal and glass. In fact, in paragraph 5, we read that cloth is “very light,” and is “much lighter than wood.” This lets us

know that we cannot describe wood as “very light,” because it is not nearly as light as cloth. All of this lets us know that, although

wood is strong, it cannot be described as very light. From this we can tell that if you wanted to make something that was strong and

very light, you would not use wood. Therefore (B) is incorrect. In paragraph 2, we read about metal. The passage tells us that it is

“very heavy” and “strong.” This lets us know that, although metal is strong, it cannot be described as very light. From this we can tell

that if you wanted to make something that was strong and very light, you would not use metal. Therefore (C) is incorrect. In

paragraph 3, we read about glass. The passage tells us that it is “not as heavy as metal.” From this we can tell that glass is not as

heavy as metal, but this does not mean that it is very light. In fact, later in the passage, we learn that other materials are much

lighter than glass. Paragraph 3 also lets us know that glass “is not strong,” and even that it “breaks very easily.” This lets us know

that we cannot describe glass as strong. From all of this we can understand that if you wanted to make something that was strong

and very light, you would not use glass. Therefore (D) is incorrect.

6) B

Question Type: Global

In this passage, the author first tells us what a material is, and then tells us what the 5 most basic materials are. In the next

paragraph, the author talks about metal, which is described as “very heavy.” In the 3rd paragraph, the author talks about glass,

which is described as “not as heavy as metal.” In the 4th paragraph, the author talks about wood, which is described as “lighter than

metal and glass.” In the 5th paragraph, the author talks about cloth, which is described as “very light,” and as “much lighter than

wood.” In the final paragraph, the author talks about plastic, which is also described as “very light.” From all of this we can tell that

the author talks first about metal, which is the heaviest, then about glass, which is less heavy, then about wood, which is even less

heavy, and then about cloth and plastic, which are the least heavy. This lets us know that the author talks first about heavy things

(metal, glass, wood) and then about light things (cloth and plastic). Therefore (B) is correct. In this passage, the author talks first

about metal, second about glass, third about wood, fourth about cloth, and last about plastic. Does the author talk first about hard

things and then about soft things? In paragraph 6, we are told that plastic is sometimes hard and sometimes soft. Because plastic is

sometimes hard, and because it is the last material discussed in the passage, we cannot say that the author talks about hard things

first and then soft things. Therefore (A) is incorrect. In this passage, the author talks first about metal, second about glass, third

about wood, fourth about cloth, and last about plastic. Does the author talk first about strong things and then about weak things?

The first material, metal, is described as strong. This lets us know that the author starts with a strong thing. The second material,

glass, is described as “not strong.” This lets us know that the author talks about a strong thing first and a weak thing second. The

third material, wood, is described as strong, again. This lets us know that the author talks first about a strong thing, then about a

weak thing, and then about another strong thing. The fourth material, cloth, is not described as either strong or weak. And the fifth material, plastic, is described as “strong.” This lets us know that the last thing the author discusses, plastic, is a strong thing. From all this we can tell that the author does not talk about strong things first and then weak things. Therefore (C) is incorrect. Although the author does describe some materials as “cool,” he or she does not describe any materials as “warm.” From this we can

understand that we cannot say that the author talks about cool things first and then warm things. Therefore (D) is incorrect.

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"Robots" , Reading Comprehension Assessment

"Robots" , Reading Comprehension Assessment

 Robots

A robot is a machine. But it is not just any machine. It is a

special kind of machine. It is a machine that moves. It follows

instructions. The instructions come from a computer. Because it is a

machine, it does not make mistakes. And it does not get tired. And it never complains. Unless you tell it to!

Robots are all around us. Some robots are used to make

things. For example, robots can help make cars. Some robots are

used to explore dangerous places. For example, robots can help

explore volcanoes. Some robots are used to clean things. These

robots can help vacuum your house. Some robots can even

recognize words. They can be used to help answer telephone calls.

Some robots look like humans. But most robots do not. Most robots

just look like machines.

Long ago, people imagined robots. Over 2,000 years ago, a famous poet imagined robots. The

poet’s name was Homer. His robots were made of gold. They cleaned things and they made things. But they were not real. They were imaginary. Nobody was able to make a real robot. The first real robot was made in 1961. It was called Unimate. It was used to help make cars. It looked like a giant arm.

In the future, we will have even more robots. They will do things that we can’t do. Or they will do things that we don’t want to do. Or they will do things that are too dangerous for us. Robots will help us fight fires. They will help us fight wars. They will help us fight sickness. They will help us discover things.

They will help make life better.

1) As used in paragraph 1, we can understand that something special is NOT

A. normal

B. expensive

C. perfect

D. tired

2) According to the author, robots may be used to

I. make cars

II. explore volcanoes

III. answer telephone calls

A. I only

B. I and II only

C. II and III only

D. I, II, and III

 3) What is the main purpose of paragraph 2?

A. to show how easy it is to make a robot

B. to tell what a robot is

C. to describe the things a robot can do

D. to explain the difference between a robot and a machine

4) According to the passage, when was the first real robot made?

A. 1961

B. 1900

C. 2003

D. 2000 years ago

5) Using the information in the passage as a guide, which of these gives the best use of a robot?

A. to help make a sandwich

B. to help tie shoes

C. to help read a book

D. to help explore Mars

6) Which of these statements correctly summarizes how the author of this passage feels about robots?

A. Robots are old.

B. Robots are confusing.

C. Robots are helpful.

D. Robots are dangerous.

7) Near the end of the passage, the author says that "In the future, we will have even more robots." The

author concludes by telling us that robots "will help make life better." What do you think about this?

Do you think this is true? Will robots help make life better? Why or why not? Explain.

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1) A

Question Type: Vocabulary

special (adjective): being a particular one; particular, individual, or certain.

In order to answer this question correctly, we need to figure out what the word special means as it is used in paragraph 1. Then we

need to say which word means the opposite of this meaning. To do this, we can start by using context clues—hints from known

words or phrases around the unknown word or phrase—to help us figure out what the word special must mean, as it is used in

paragraph 1. In paragraph 1, we read: “It is a special kind of machine.” In the previous two sentences, we are told that a robot is “a machine,” but that it is “not just any machine.” From this, we can tell that a robot is a machine, but that it is not just any machine.

Because it is not just any machine, we can tell that it is not like other machines, or that it is different from normal machines. From

this, we can understand that, when the author says that a robot is “a special kind of machine,” he or she must mean that it is not a

normal or ordinary kind of machine. This lets us know that, as it is used in paragraph 1, the word special must mean “different from

normal.” We can now understand that the word special means the opposite of “normal.” Something special is not normal. Therefore

(A) is correct. Using the above information, we can tell that the word special, as it is used in paragraph 1, must mean “different from normal.” This lets us know that the meaning of the word special does not have anything to do with whether or not it is expensive. We can now understand that the word special does not mean “not expensive.” This eliminates (B). Using the above information, we can tell that the word special, as it is used in paragraph 1, must mean “different from normal.” This lets us know that the meaning of the word special does not have anything to do with whether or not it is perfect, since something that is different from normal might or might not be perfect. We can now understand that the word special does not mean “not perfect.” This eliminates (C). Using the

above information, we can tell that the word special, as it is used in paragraph 1, must mean “different from normal.” This lets us

know that the meaning of the word special does not have anything to do with being tired. We can now understand that the word

special does not mean “not tired.” This eliminates (D).

2) D

Question Type: Detail

In paragraph 2, we read: “robots can help make cars.” This lets us know that robots may be used to make cars. This

supports option (I). In paragraph 2, we also read: “robots can help explore volcanoes.” This lets us know that robots may be used

explore volcanoes. This supports option (II). In paragraph 2, we again also read that robots “can be used to help answer telephone

calls.” This lets us know that robots may be used to answer telephone calls. This supports option (III). Therefore (D) is correct.

3) C

Question Type: Detail

In paragraph 2, we are told all about the things that robots can do. We are told that “some robots are used to make things.” We are

told that “some robots are used to explore dangerous places.” We are told that “some robots are used to clean things.” We are told

that “some robots can even recognize words,” and “answer telephone calls.” We are also told about some examples of things that

robots do. For example, we are told about robots that help build cars, that help explore volcanoes, and that vacuum houses. All of

this lets us know about things that robots can do. From this we can understand that the main purpose of paragraph 2 must be to

describe the things a robot can do. Therefore (C) is correct. In paragraph 2, we are told all about the things that robots can do. We

are not told anything about how to make a robot. From this we can understand that the main purpose of paragraph 2 cannot be to

show how easy it is to make a robot. Therefore (A) is incorrect. Although this passage does tell us what a robot is, it does not tell

this to us in paragraph 2. It tells us in paragraph 1, where we are told that a robot is a machine that can move and follow instructions

from a computer. In paragraph 2, we are told all about the things that robots can do, but we are not told what a robot is. From this

we can understand that the main purpose of paragraph 2 cannot be to tell what a robot is. Therefore (B) is incorrect. Although this

passage does explain to us the difference between a robot and an ordinary machine, it does not do so in paragraph 2. It does this in

paragraph 1, where we learn that a robot is a “special machine,” and we are told that a robot is a special machine because it can

move and follow instructions from a computer. In paragraph 2, we are told all about the things that robots can do, but we are not told

how to tell the difference between a robot and a machine. From this we can understand that the main purpose of paragraph 2

cannot be to explain the difference between a robot and a machine. Therefore (D) is incorrect.

4) A

Question Type: Detail

In paragraph 3, we read: “The first real robot was made in 1961.” This lets us know that, according to this passage, the first real

robot was made in 1961. Therefore (A) is correct. The passage does not provide information to support choices (B) or (C).

Therefore they are incorrect. Although the passage does tell us that a famous poet imagined robots over 2000 years ago, it also tells

us that these robots “were not real,” and that the “first real robot was made in 1961.” This lets us know that the first real robot was

not made 2000 years ago. Therefore (D) is incorrect.

5) D

Question Type: Inference

In paragraph 4, we read that, in the future, robots “will do things that we can’t.” We also read that they “will do things that we don’t

want to do.” Again, we also read that they “will do things that are too dangerous for us.” We are then given some examples of these

things that robots will do. For example, they will help us fight fires, wars, and sickness. And they will help us discover things. All of

this lets us know that the best uses for robots are for tasks that are very hard for humans to do, or very dangerous for humans to do,

or that help us discover things we couldn’t discover otherwise. Going to explore Mars would be both very hard and very dangerous

for humans to do, and would help us discover things we couldn’t discover otherwise. From this we can understand that helping to

explore Mars is a best use of a robot. Therefore (D) is correct. Using the above information, we can tell that the best uses for robots

are for tasks that are very hard for humans to do, or very dangerous for humans to do, or that help us discover things we couldn’t

discover otherwise. Helping to make a sandwich is not something that would be very hard or dangerous for humans to do, and

would not help us discover things we couldn’t discover otherwise. From this we can understand that helping to make a sandwich is

not a best use of a robot. Therefore (A) is incorrect. Using the above information, we can tell that the best uses for robots are for

tasks that are very hard for humans to do, or very dangerous for humans to do, or that help us discover things we couldn’t discover 

otherwise. Helping to tie shoes is not something that would be very hard or dangerous for humans to do, and would not help us

discover things we couldn’t discover otherwise. From this we can understand that helping to tie shoes is not a best use of a robot.

Therefore (B) is incorrect. Using the above information, we can tell that the best uses for robots are for tasks that are very hard for

humans to do, or very dangerous for humans to do, or that help us discover things we couldn’t discover otherwise. Helping to read a

book is not something that would be very hard or dangerous for humans to do, and would not help us discover things we couldn’t

discover otherwise. From this we can understand that helping to read a book is not a best use of a robot. Therefore (C) is incorrect.

6) C

Question Type: Global

In this passage, we learn many things about robots. We learn what a robot is, and that robots do not make mistakes or get tired. We

learn that robots can help make things, explore dangerous places, clean things, and recognize words. We learn that the first robot

was made to help build cars, and that before that imaginary robots were imagined as helping to clean and to make things. We learn

that in the future robots will help us to do the things we cannot do or do not want to do, and that they will “make life better.” All of this

lets us know that the most important thing about robots, according to the author of this passage, is that they help. The author does

not talk about any robots that do not help or that cause harm. All of the robots he or she talks about are helpful robots. From this we

can understand that the author of this passage most likely feels that robots are helpful. Therefore (C) is correct. Although the author

of this passage does tell us that people from long ago in history imagined robots, this does not mean that robots are old. In fact, we

are told that nobody was able to make a real robot until 1961. Also, the author of this passage talks mostly about the robots of today

or the robots of tomorrow. The only old robot that he or she talks about is the first real robot, the Unimate. From this we can

understand that the author of this passage most likely does not feel that robots are old. This eliminates (A). The author of this

passage does not say anything that might make us think that robots are confusing. From this we can understand that the author of

this passage most likely does not feel that robots are confusing. This eliminates (B). Although the author of this passage does talk

about dangerous things, he or she does not say that robots are dangerous. He or she says that robots can help to “explore

dangerous places” or “do things that are too dangerous for us.” This lets us know that the author of this passage most likely does

not feel that robots are dangerous. This eliminates (D)

First Airplane Trip , English , worksheet

First Airplane Trip

Jake is going on a trip. He and

Mom take a taxi to the airport.

“It’s my first plane trip,” he tells the

taxi driver.

“That’s great!” the taxi driver says.

Jake rolls his suitcase onto the

plane.

“It’s my first plane trip,” he tells the pilot.

“Welcome aboard,” the pilot says.

Jake finds his seat and buckles his seatbelt. The plane’s engines

rumble and roar. Jake opens his backpack and pulls out Panda.

“It’s my first plane trip,” he whispers. He holds Panda’s paw.

The plane moves faster and faster. Then—Whoosh! On the

ground, cars and houses look like toys.

Jake smiles. “Guess what, Panda?” he says. “Flying is fun!”

1. How do Jake and his mom travel to the airport?

 a. in a plane b. in their car

c. in a taxi d. in a bus

2. What does a pilot do?

___________________________________________________________________________

3. What does the pilot say to Jake?

___________________________________________________________________________

4. Who is Panda?

a. Jake's brother b. a large animal

c. Jake's pet d. a stuffed animal

5. What does Jake whisper to Panda?

___________________________________________________________________________

6. Read this sentence from the story:

On the ground, the cars and houses look like toys.

What does this mean?

a. The cars and houses looked very big.

b. The cars and houses looked very small.

c. The cars and houses did not move.

d. Jake could not see the cars and houses.

ANSWER KEY

 1. How do Jake and his mom travel to the airport? c

 a. in a plane b. in their car

c. in a taxi d. in a bus

2. What does a pilot do?

He or she flies a plane.

3. What does the pilot say to Jake?

“Welcome aboard.”

4. Who is Panda? d

a. Jake's brother b. a large animal

c. Jake's pet d. a stuffed animal

5. What does Jake whisper to Panda?

“It's my first plane trip.”

6. Read this sentence from the story:

On the ground, the cars and houses look like toys.

What does this mean? b

a. The cars and houses looked very big.

b. The cars and houses looked very small.

c. The cars and houses did not move.

d. Jake could not see the cars and houses.

Spider Webs , Reading Comprehension Assessment

Spider Webs

All spiders spin webs. That's because webs help spiders.

Webs help spiders do three things. Webs help spiders hold eggs.

Webs help spiders hide. And webs help spiders catch food.

Webs help spiders hold eggs. Many spiders like to lay their

eggs in their webs. The webs help keep the eggs together. Webs

help spiders keep their eggs safe.

Webs help spiders hide. Most spiders are dark. They are brown, grey, or black. But spider webs are light. They are white and cloudy. When spiders hide in their webs, they are harder to see.

Webs help spiders catch food. Spider webs are sticky. When a bug flies into the web, it gets stuck. It moves around. It tries to get out. But it can't. It is trapped! Spiders can tell that the bug is trapped.

That's because spiders feel the web move. And the spider is hungry. The spider goes to get the bug.

As you can see, webs help spiders hold eggs. Webs help spiders hide. And webs help spiders

catch food. Without webs, spiders would not be able to live like they do. Spiders need their webs to survive!

1) This passage is mostly about

A. spider colors

B. spider webs

C. spider eggs

2) Spider webs help spiders

I. hold eggs

II. catch food

III. find water

A. I only

B. I and II only

C. I, II, and III

3) As used in paragraph 4, the word trapped most nearly means

A. stuck

B. hidden

C. eaten

4) How can spiders tell when something is trapped in their web?

A. They hear it.

B. They smell it.

C. They feel it.

  5) As used in the last sentence of the passage, the word survive means to stay

A. alive

B. hidden

C. caught

6) The passage lists three reasons why spiders spin webs. Of these reasons, which do you think is the

most important? How come?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

7) Do you like spiders? Why or why not? Have you ever been scared by a spider? Have you ever been

hurt by one? Have you ever helped one? Explain.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

8) Are spiders good? Do we need them in our world? Why or why not?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________   

1) B

Question Type: Global

At the beginning of the passage, the author writes, “All spiders spin webs” After this, the author explains how spiders use their webs.

Paragraph 2 focuses on how spider webs hold eggs. Paragraph 3 focuses on how spider webs help spiders hide. Paragraph 4

focuses on how spider webs help spiders catch food. Spider webs are mentioned in every paragraph. Using this information, we can

tell that this passage is mostly about spider webs. Therefore (B) is correct. The passage mentions spider colors in paragraph 3, but

it focuses mostly on spider webs. A passage that is mostly about spider colors would mention the topic in more than one paragraph.

This means (A) is incorrect. The passage mentions spider eggs in paragraph 2, but it focuses mostly on spider webs. A passage

that is mostly about spider eggs would mention the topic in more than one paragraph. This means (C) is incorrect.

2) B

Question Type: Global

In paragraph 2, the author writes, “Webs help spiders hold eggs.” This lets us know that spider webs help spiders hold eggs. This

supports option (I). In paragraph 4, the author writes, “Webs help spiders catch food.” This lets us know that spider webs help

spiders catch food. This supports option (II). The author never mentions that spider webs help spiders find water. This means we

can eliminate option (III). Therefore (B) is correct.

3) A

Question Type: Vocabulary

trapped (adjective): caught; unable to move or escape.

In paragraph 4, the author writes, “It is trapped! We can use context clues—hints from known words or phrases around the unknown

word or phrase—to figure out what the word trapped most nearly means. Before this, the author writes, “When a bug flies into the

web, it gets stuck. It moves around. It tries to get out. But it can't.” From this, we can tell that something stuck cannot move around.

Since this comes right before the author says, “It is trapped!, we can tell that trapped means something like stuck. Using this

information, we can tell that the word trapped most nearly means stuck. Therefore (A) is correct. Using the above information, we

can tell that we are looking for the answer choice that means can’t move around or stuck. Hidden is not the same as not being able

to move around. For instance, someone can hide and move around in the dark. This means (B) is incorrect. Using the above

information, we can tell that we are looking for the answer choice that means can’t move around or stuck. Eaten is not the same as

not being able to move around. The author mentions that a hungry spider goes to get the bug after it is trapped. This means the

spider has not eaten it yet. This lets us know that the word trapped does not most nearly mean eaten. Therefore (C) is incorrect.

4) C

Question Type: Detail

In paragraph 4, the author writes, “Spiders can tell that the bug is trapped. That's because spiders feel the web move.” Using this

information, we can understand that spiders can tell when something is trapped in their web because they feel it. This means (C) is

correct. The passage does not provide information to support choices (A) or (B). Therefore they are incorrect.

5) A

Question Type: Vocabulary

survive (verb): to keep living; to stay alive.

In the last sentence, the author writes, “Spiders need their webs to survive!” We can use context clues—hints from known words or

phrases around the unknown word or phrase—to figure out what the word survive most nearly means. Before this sentence, the

author describes how spider webs help spiders hold eggs, hide, and eat. All of these things are necessary for spiders to stay alive.

Since the author says “As you can see…” at the beginning of this paragraph, we can tell he or she is referring to the previous

paragraphs. Using this information, we can tell that the word survive most nearly means to stay alive. Therefore (A) is correct. Using

the above information, we can tell that survive means to stay alive. Staying hidden is not the same as staying alive. This lets us

know that the word survive does not most nearly mean to stay hidden. This means (B) is incorrect. Using the above information, we

can tell that survive means to stay alive. Staying caught is not the same as staying alive. This lets us know that the word survive

does not most nearly mean to stay caught. Therefore (C) is incorrect