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In Memory of Dr. King | A piece of the nation's capital honors an important leader—Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. A memorial for King was built on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. It was the first memorial on the Mall to honor an African American.
A ceremony was held on November 13, [2006] to mark the start of construction. President George ... | 950 | 3 | Social Studies: U.S. History | Which memorial in the National Mall was the first to honor an African American? | A. Mary McLeod Bethune’s memorial
B. Frederick Douglass’ memorial
C. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s memorial
D. Sojourner Truth’s memorial | C | How does the text describe King’s memorial in the National Mall? | A. There are stairs that lead into a large building with a 19-foot statue of King sitting on a marble chair inside.
B. There is a circular dome with a bronze statue of King inside and quotes from King surrounding the inside of the dome.
C. There is a statue of King sitting down next to his dog, flowing water, and anoth... | D | Read the following sentences from the text. “King (1929—1968) grew up in the U.S. South. At that time, the South was segregated , or separated by race. Under the law, Black people were not allowed to attend the same schools as white people. They were forced to sit in the backseats of buses. They also had to use separat... | A. King grew up in a time when laws were unfair for Black people.
B. King was the first Black student to go to school with white students.
C. King was a historian and wrote about old laws in the U.S. South.
D. King wanted to become a teacher but he became a lawyer instead. | A | Memorials are built to honor important people. According to the text, why was King important? | A. He built the first memorial in the National Mall to honor an African American.
B. He helped pass laws in the United States so people could be treated equally.
C. He was the first African American president to be elected in the United States.
D. He worked at the first school that did not separate Black and white stud... | B | What is the main idea of this text? | A. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was honored with a memorial in the United States National Mall because of the work he did for people to be treated equally.
B. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave a famous speech on August 28, 1963 in Washington D.C. to a crowd of more than 200,000 people.
C. The United States used to have law... | A | null | null | null | null | null | null |
A Closer Look at Thanksgiving | Many Americans today enjoy a feast for Thanksgiving. The most popular food is usually turkey. Other Thanksgiving dishes often include stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. The feast is inspired by a Pilgrim and Wampanoag event from long ago. But that celebration looked very different from today's... | 760 | 3 | Social Studies: U.S. History | What is Thanksgiving today inspired by? | A. a recent meeting between Europeans and Americans
B. a Pilgrim celebration in England many years ago
C. a Pilgrim and Wampanoag feast long ago
D. a Wampanoag harvest celebration many years ago | C | The Pilgrims arrived on Wampanoag land. What happened after this event? | A. After a few months, the Wampanoag decided to help the Pilgrims to keep their tribe safe.
B. Right away, the Wampanoag talked to the Pilgrims but decided not to help them.
C. Right away, the Wampanoag told the Pilgrims to leave and would not help them.
D. After a few months, the Pilgrims couldn’t find any Wampanoag p... | A | The inspiration for today’s Thanksgiving feast would not have happened without the Wampanoag’s skills as farmers and hunters. What evidence from the text supports this conclusion? | A. “The feast is inspired by a Pilgrim and Wampanoag event from long ago. But that celebration looked very different from today's traditional feast.”
B. “They arrived on Wampanoag land. Wampanoag people had been living in this area for thousands of years before the Pilgrims arrived. The Wampanoag had met other European... | C | What happened to the relationship between the Wampanoag and Pilgrims in the years after their shared harvest celebration? | A. The relationship turned violent and is remembered as one example of Native American suffering caused by European and American settlers.
B. The relationship stayed good and helpful and is remembered today as a good example of a positive relationship.
C. The relationship got better over time but later the two groups s... | A | What is the main idea of this text? | A. The Wampanoag decided to help the Pilgrims survive when they landed on Wampanoag land, and the celebration of their first harvest was the inspiration for today’s Thanksgiving feast.
B. The Wampanoag have lived in the northeastern part of the United States for 12,000 years and are good at farming and hunting in that ... | A | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Computers vs. Books | Mia Murphy was tired when she got home from school last Friday. It had been a long week. She was working on a computer project and had stayed late at school to finish her work. After stepping off the bus and trudging home, she plopped onto her chair in the kitchen.
“What’s up, Mia?” Mr. Murphy asked. He was making Mia... | 660 | 3 | null | Who is Mia? | A. a girl in elementary school
B. a girl in middle school
C. a teacher at an elementary school
D. a teacher at a middle school | B | What does Mia mainly learn about in the story? | A. how her parents met
B. how her mother’s life differed from hers
C. how to use computers to do homework
D. how to work in pairs | B | Read the following section from the story: “[Mia’s mother] explained that they didn’t have online search engines to help them with their work; they could only rely on books. They didn’t have cell phones to text each other when they needed help—they had to work together at each other’s houses. “‘But that sounds so hard!... | A. Mia thinks new technology makes homework easier.
B. Mia’s parents think that her homework is too easy.
C. Mia thinks it would be more fun to work with a partner.
D. Mia’s parents think she should have a cell phone. | A | Read the following sentences: “Mr. Murphy chuckled. ‘I know. But I have that project to thank for meeting your mom! All those countless hours in the library...we had to spend a lot of time together,’ he said.” Based on this evidence, what conclusion can be made? | A. Mr. and Mrs. Murphy grew annoyed with each other while working on their project.
B. Mr. and Mrs. Murphy began to fall in love during their long hours in the library.
C. Mr. and Mrs. Murphy were first introduced by a librarian.
D. Mr. and Mrs. Murphy think Mia would more easily find a boyfriend in the library. | B | What is this story mainly about? | A. a conversation about generational differences
B. a conversation about the evils of technology
C. a conversation about how Mia’s parents met
D. a conversation about devices that are popular with teens | A | Read the following sentences: “Mrs. Murphy started to list off things she didn’t have as a child, like an mp3 player and a flat-screen television. ‘Also, since I had many brothers and sisters, we had to pitch in more. I helped my mom cook dinner, and we repaired our clothes ourselves when they tore,’ she said, tapping ... | A. sacrifice
B. help
C. suffer
D. cook | B | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. Mia and her parents think that technology has made life easier for students today as they complete their homework. _________, thanks to the lack of modern technologies during their school days, Mia’s parents were able to spend time together and fall in love. | A. Obviously
B. On the other hand
C. Finally
D. As a result | B |
Escaping Mount Pinatubo | On June 15, 1991, Mount Pinatubo erupted on Luzon, an island in the Philippines. The volcano left behind a deadly blanket of lava and volcanic ash. Casey Kline interviewed her mother, Cora Kline, who lived on Luzon.
Casey Kline: What was it like to see a volcano erupt? Cora Kline: It was scary. At first, powerful ea... | 600 | 3 | Science: Earth & Space Science | Which of the following correctly describes the volcanic ashes after the eruption? | A. The ashes all fell into Subic Bay.
B. The ashes only blocked the streets.
C. The ashes were beautiful.
D. The ashes covered everything. | D | Which of the following is described first in the text? | A. how scary it is to be near a volcanic eruption
B. what it is like to see a volcano erupting
C. why Casey’s mother couldn’t see any lava
D. why it was hard to buy food after the eruption | B | Read these sentences from the text. As the volcano was erupting, it was spitting thick ashes into the air. Then volcanic ashes began falling on everything. Around noon, it was dark like midnight. We didn't see the sun until 6 a.m. the next day. Based on this information, what conclusion can you draw about the eruption ... | A. In order to experience a volcanic eruption you must be close to it, otherwise you may not know it's happening.
B. The ashes covered up the light from the sun, making it seem like it was the middle of the night.
C. Because the volcano erupted in the middle of the night, it was impossible to see the sky.
D. Volcanoes ... | B | What can be inferred from the text? | A. The volcano erupting was a big surprise to the people who lived on the island of Luzon.
B. Food was very expensive on the island of Luzon after the volcano.
C. The volcano did a great deal of damage to the island of Luzon.
D. The citizens on the island of Luzon helped each other after the volcano. | C | What is this text mostly about? | A. ways to escape a volcanic eruption
B. one person’s experiences during a volcanic eruption
C. buying food after a volcanic eruption
D. the excitement of seeing a volcanic eruption | B | Read these sentences from the text. Casey: Why didn't you evacuate ? CK: I believed I lived far enough away from the volcano that I wouldn't be affected that much. In these sentences, what does the word "evacuate" most nearly mean? | A. to talk very loudly
B. to feel seriously hurt
C. to travel a far distance
D. to leave a dangerous place | D | Choose the word that best completes the sentence. The ashes were knee deep ________ it was hard to walk and breathe. | A. so
B. however
C. although
D. but | A |
The Old Stone House | On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was signed, and the Revolutionary War was about to begin. Seven weeks later, on August 22, 1776, the British Army invaded New York. The British chose to attack Brooklyn, a village across the East River from Manhattan. General George Washington’s army was located in this ... | 770 | 3 | Social Studies: U.S. History | Where is the Old Stone House? | A. Maryland
B. Britain
C. New York
D. Washington | C | What does the author describe at the end of the passage? | A. what life was like in the 18th century
B. an exhibit about the Battle of Brooklyn
C. how George Washington escaped from the British
D. how the Old Stone House was destroyed and rebuilt | A | The Old Stone House played an important role in the American Revolution. What evidence from the passage supports this conclusion? | A. “The British surrounded the Americans, who fled across the Gowanus Creek.”
B. “Had it not been for the fighting at the Old Stone House, the war could have been lost that morning.”
C. “The British chose to attack Brooklyn, a village across the river from Manhattan, where General George Washington had his army.”
D. “T... | B | The passage states, “Because of the sacrifice of the Marylanders, the American Army was able to escape.” What was the sacrifice of the Marylanders? | A. They risked the Old Stone House to hold off 2,000 Redcoats.
B. They risked their lives fighting with the American Army.
C. They risked their lives to help the 2,000 Redcoats.
D. They risked their lives to hold off 2,000 Redcoats. | D | What is this passage mostly about? | A. the Old Stone House
B. the Revolutionary War
C. the Battle of Brooklyn
D. George Washington | A | Read the following sentences: “The Patriot forces were ready to fight, but they were badly outnumbered . The British had about 20,000 soldiers. The Americans had fewer than 13,000.” What does “they were badly outnumbered” mean? | A. There were far more British soldiers than American soldiers.
B. There was no way for the American soldiers to win.
C. The Americans couldn’t count the number of British soldiers.
D. The American soldiers were better than the British soldiers. | A | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. George Washington left a few hundred soldiers behind to hold off the British. _________, the American army was able to escape. | A. On the other hand
B. As a result
C. For example
D. In particular | B |
Famous African Americans - Martin Luther King, Jr. | Martin Luther King, Jr. was one of the most important figures in the United States Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. There is a national holiday in his honor that is celebrated every January. His famous “I Have a Dream” speech is still talked about today. He is a hero of civil rights in the U.S.
King was a ... | 850 | 3 | Social Studies: U.S. History | According to the text, when is the national holiday in Martin Luther King, Jr.'s honor? | A. in the 1950s and 1960s
B. every January
C. on the anniversary of his famous speech
D. in the year 1964 | B | How does the author describe King's leadership in the text? | A. King organized many holiday events for people to enjoy.
B. King organized and led many marches and protests for civil rights.
C. King wanted to be a governor but people did not vote for him.
D. King was a strict leader who made sure everyone followed the rules. | B | Read this paragraph from the text. "Martin Luther King, Jr. was one of the most important figures in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. There is a national holiday in his honor that is celebrated every January. His famous “I Have a Dream” speech is still talked about today. He is the hero of civil rights... | A. Martin Luther King, Jr. is celebrated every January only because of his famous “I Have a Dream” speech.
B. Martin Luther King, Jr. has been celebrated since the 1950’s because of this work in the Civil Rights Movement.
C. Martin Luther King, Jr. is celebrated every January for the contributions that he made to the C... | C | Based on the text, which of the following is most likely? | A. King believed that violence was the answer to civil rights.
B. Everyone loved Martin Luther King, Jr.
C. Many people believed in King's message and work.
D. Not very many people have heard King’s speeches. | C | What is the main idea of this text? | A. Some people reacted violently to Martin Luther King, Jr.'s work by throwing rocks at him, bombing his family's home in Alabama, and killing him at the age of 39.
B. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a civil rights leader who is celebrated every January because he was a powerful speaker and did important work in organizing... | B | Read these sentences from the text. He had an incredible ability to speak and be heard. He was expressive and powerful with his words. As used in the text, what does the word "expressive" mean? | A. shy and quiet
B. communicating feelings
C. calmly listening
D. causing sadness | B | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence. There were violent reactions to Martin Luther King, Jr.’s work, ___________ he talked about peace. | A. so
B. even though
C. before
D. because | B |
Sailing the Seas | In 1492, Christopher Columbus set sail to find a shorter way between Europe and Asia. He wanted to find a shorter trade route for Europeans to trade with people in Asia. He sailed on the Santa Maria.
Columbus and his crew traveled to many places that they had never been to before. Look at some of the different tools th... | 620 | 3 | Social Studies: World History | According to the text, what was the Santa Maria? | A. Columbus's astrolabe
B. Columbus's compass
C. Columbus's cabin
D. Columbus's ship | D | What is listed in the section titled “Columbus's Ship”? | A. the different parts of Columbus’s ship, the Santa Maria
B. the tools that were used by Columbus while sailing
C. all of Columbus’s favorite places on the Santa Maria
D. only the parts of the Santa Maria that were located on the outside | A | Read the section titled “Steering on the Sea.” What can you conclude about the tools that were used on the Santa Maria based on the information in the section? | A. The Santa Maria was the only ship that relied on a compass and an astrolabe because it was state of the art.
B. Astrolabes are still used by sailors today because they are more accurate than modern GPS devices.
C. There were at least two different tools that were used on the Santa Maria that helped the sailors deter... | C | Based on the text, what would it have been like to be a sailor on Columbus's ship? | A. Being a sailor on the ship would have been extremely easy.
B. Being a sailor on the ship would have been a well-paying job.
C. Being a sailor on the ship would have involved many physical challenges.
D. Being a sailor on the ship would have been very boring. | C | What would be another good title for this text? | A. The Famous Voyages of Christopher Columbus
B. Columbus and the Santa Maria
C. Tools to Steer on the Sea
D. A Small Ship | B | Read these sentences from the text. In 1492, Christopher Columbus set sail to find a shorter way between Europe and Asia. He wanted to find a shorter trade route for Europeans to trade with Asia. As used in this sentence, what does the word "trade" mean? | A. find new things
B. give things away
C. give one thing and get another back
D. send things to another person | C | Choose the word that best completes the sentence. Columbus wanted to find a shorter way to get from Europe to Asia, ________ he set sail on the Santa Maria. | A. after
B. however
C. but
D. so | D |
Snowy Town | Jonny took his dog, Scruffy, out for a walk on a cold day in December. He bundled up in his heavy winter coat and put on his thick wool cap and heavy mittens before he said goodbye to his mom. Outside the front door, the whole world was like a winter wonderland: there were icicles hanging from tree branches and snow ba... | 890 | 3 | null | What is Scruffy? | A. the snowman Jonny, Marcus, and Marie build
B. a snow-dog that Jonny wants to build
C. Jonny’s cat
D. Jonny’s dog | D | What is the climax of the action in this story? | A. Scruffy jumps up and knocks over the snowman.
B. Jonny sees Marcus and Marie building a snowman.
C. Marie finds two bruised green apples in her house.
D. Jonny takes his dog outside for a walk. | A | Marcus is not upset after Scruffy knocks over the snowman that he, Jonny, and Marie built. What evidence from the story supports this statement? | A. When Marcus first sees Jonny walk by, he invites Jonny to help him and Marie build a snowman.
B. Marcus, Marie, and Jonny make a long pointy nose for their snowman by putting small twigs together in a tent shape.
C. When Marcus sees the remains of the snowman, he says, “Oh well. We can build another one tomorrow.”
D... | C | Based on the events of the story, what can be concluded about Scruffy? | A. Scruffy is probably a black dog.
B. Scruffy is probably a brown dog.
C. Scruffy is probably a small dog.
D. Scruffy is probably a big dog. | D | What is a theme of this passage? | A. making friends after moving to a new place
B. having fun outdoors on a cold day
C. saying sorry after making a big mistake
D. saving money for going on vacation in the winter | B | Read the following sentence from the passage: “Outside the front door, the whole world was like a winter wonderland : there were icicles hanging from tree branches and snow banks that rose all the way up to Jonny’s knees.” What does the phrase “a winter wonderland” mean? | A. a place where temperatures were once very cold during the winter but are now slowly rising
B. a place where imaginary creatures like unicorns, witches, and elves live and get into fights with each other
C. a place that has been changed so much by snow and ice that it looks strange and magical
D. a place where snowme... | C | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. Marcus, Marie, and Jonny build a snowman; _______, Scruffy knocks it over. | A. initially
B. later on
C. for example
D. in summary | B |
Chicken Soup for Nicole | "Hello?" said Elizabeth. "Are you there?"
"Ahhhhhhh-choo!"
"Nicole?"
"Ahh-choo!"
"Gesundheit."
"Ahh-choo!"
"If you don't stop sneezing, how are we ever going to have a conversation?"
"I'm sorry," said Nicole, finally. Her voice sounded thick and tired. "I think I have a little cold."
"Oh no, you don't. Uh-uh. Not today... | 650 | 3 | null | What does Elizabeth decide to make for Nicole? | A. beeswax
B. avocado soup
C. chicken soup
D. chicken drumsticks | C | Who is the main character of this story? | A. David
B. Elizabeth
C. Elizabeth’s mom
D. the young man at the butcher counter | B | Elizabeth is upset at Nicole. What evidence from the passage supports this statement? | A. “In the poultry aisle, there were all sorts of pale bits of chicken, sealed tightly under plastic, shimmering in the harsh white light.”
B. “Elizabeth filled the pot with water, but it was too heavy to pick up and out of the sink.”
C. “Along with the chicken, Elizabeth added all the soup stuff she could think of: ca... | D | What might be a reason that Elizabeth does not bring Nicole the chicken soup she makes herself? | A. The chicken soup Elizabeth makes herself tastes terrible.
B. Elizabeth likes the chicken soup she made too much to share it.
C. Elizabeth wants to save the chicken soup she made for her mother.
D. The chicken soup Elizabeth makes will taste better in a couple days. | A | What is a theme of this story? | A. Going to the beach is never a good idea.
B. Making chicken soup is so easy that anyone can do it.
C. Things in life do not always work out as planned.
D. Brothers and sisters should always be nice to each other. | C | Read the following sentence: “He drove away, and Elizabeth wondered if there was anywhere on the Internet that explained how to melt older brothers with your mind.’ Why does the author describe Elizabeth wondering if there was anywhere on the Internet that explained how to melt older brothers with your mind? | A. to make the reader wonder why Elizabeth spends so much time on the Internet
B. to make the reader afraid of young people who like to use the Internet
C. to make the reader laugh and understand how Elizabeth feels
D. to make the reader cry and feel sorry for Elizabeth’s brother | C | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. At first the weather seems great for a trip to the beach; _________, it starts to rain. | A. later on
B. for example
C. in particular
D. previously | A |
Pakistani Nihari | Nihari, a stew of meat and spices, is the national dish of Pakistan. It is extremely heavy, so many people agree that it should only be eaten in the winter. The cooking time ranges between six and eight hours. This slow cook allows the meat to become tender and flavorful. Because it would not be realistic for a chef to... | 1,000 | 4 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture | What is the national dish of Pakistan? | A. nahaar
B. Awadh
C. nihari
D. Old Delhi | C | What is the effect of cooking nihari for six to eight hours? | A. The meat becomes extremely heavy.
B. The meat becomes ready for winter.
C. The meat becomes tender and flavorful.
D. The meat becomes fully cooked. | C | Read these sentences from the text. [Nihari] is extremely heavy, so many people agree that it should only be eaten in the winter. The cooking time ranges between six and eight hours. This slow cook allows the meat to become tender and flavorful. Because it would not be realistic for a chef to spend eight hours in the k... | A. mornings anytime of the year
B. overnight anytime of the year
C. mornings in winter
D. overnight in winter | C | Read these sentences from the text. Around 96% of the population in Pakistan is Muslim, so many practicing Muslims eat nihari after the morning prayer. Nihari's origin is a subject of debate. Some people believe that it was invented in the 18th century in Old Delhi, India. Others argue that it was originally concocted ... | A. Nihari is a very important dish to Muslim chefs.
B. Nihari is an important dish to Hindu chefs.
C. Nihari has a difficult recipe.
D. Nihari is a dish for rich people. | A | What is the main idea of the text? | A. Nihari's meat is tender and flavorful because it is slowly cooked for six to eight hours, usually by being left overnight on the stove so that it's ready in the morning.
B. Nihari is a very important dish in Pakistan that is often cooked overnight, making a heavy and flavorful stew especially good for an empty stoma... | B | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Aksum | In northern Ethiopia, there lie the ruins of an ancient city called Aksum. Dating back to the first century AD, these ruins were once grand monuments of the Aksumite Kingdom. This kingdom was in power for thousands of years, specifically between the 1st and 8th centuries AD. The longevity of its power can be tied to it... | 1,060 | 4 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture, World History | What is Aksum? | A. An ancient church
B. A modern city
C. An ancient city
D. An ancient trade route | C | What does this text describe? | A. This text describes the different religions present in Aksum during the Aksumite Kingdom.
B. This text describes the history of the Aksumite Kingdom and what remains of it today.
C. This text describes the story of the 33-meter long fallen obelisk.
D. This text describes the history of the Aksumite Kingdom between t... | B | The ancient inhabitants of Aksum were familiar with various ideologies. What evidence from the text supports this statement? | A. What remains of this former kingdom provides evidence of its wealth. One of the most impressive structures is a 23-meter tall obelisk, a stone column.
B. The Aksumite kingdom was in power for thousands of years, specifically between the 1st and 8th centuries AD.
C. In northern Ethiopia, there lies the ruins of an an... | D | Read these sentences from the text: The longevity of the Aksumite Kingdom's power can be tied to its location as the crossroads between Africa, Arabia, and the Greco-Roman World. During this time, trade was extremely important for the international economy and as a centrally-located city, Aksum benefited from the passa... | A. No one from Africa ever came to Aksum.
B. Aksum did not participate in any trade.
C. People from many different places came to Aksum.
D. Aksum did not benefit from trading. | C | What is the main idea of this text? | A. There are two very impressive obelisk structures that remain from the Aksumite Kingdom. One stands at 23-meters tall and the other lies fallen over on the ground at 33-meters tall.
B. Even though the city of Aksum no longer exists, the impressive remains of the Aksumite Kingdom can give us some insight into the stru... | B | null | null | null | null | null | null |
The Diving Initiation | Have you ever wanted to go bungee jumping? In the South Pacific, there is an island country called Vanuatu where bungee jumping is a coming-of-age ritual. Their style of bungee jumping is very dangerous. While a typical bungee cord is used to ensure that the jumper does not hit the ground below, frayed vines are the on... | 990 | 4 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture | When jumping off a wooden tower, what do the people of Vanuatu use to protect themselves from falling to their deaths? | A. parachutes
B. frayed vines
C. bungee cords
D. nets | B | What does this text describe? | A. This text describes the joy one gets from bungee jumping.
B. This text describes the differences between Vanuatu and the United States.
C. This text describes the Vanuatu coming-of-age ritual.
D. This text describes the way one can become paralized. | C | Bungee jumping in Vanuatu is very dangerous. What evidence from the text supports this statement? | A. While a typical bungee cord is used to ensure that the jumper does not hit the ground below, frayed vines are the only source of protection the Vanuatu jumpers have from falling to their deaths.
B. Each time the boys complete a jump, their mothers will throw away an item associated with childhood. In this way, these... | A | Based on the information in the text, how would you describe the coming-of-age ritual in Vanuatu? | A. pathetic
B. risky
C. safe
D. relaxing | B | What is the main idea of this text? | A. In Vanuatu, people do not use bungee cords to bungee jump. They instead use frayed vines that can easily split if they cannot withhold the stretch.
B. When bungee jumping in Vanuatu, i f the vine length is too long, the jumper will make direct impact with the solid ground. If the vine length is too short and happens... | D | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Bar and Bat Mitzvahs | Bar and bat mitzvahs are important ceremonies that mark the transition from childhood to adolescence within Judaism. A bar mitzvah occurs when a boy turns thirteen, and a bat mitzvah occurs when a girl turns twelve or thirteen. Both of these ceremonies formally establish that the child is now expected to follow the Jew... | 1,080 | 4 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture | What are bar and bat mitzvahs? | A. dance parties
B. Jewish commandments
C. religious ceremonies
D. a speech | C | What does this text describe? | A. This text describes the weeks leading up to bar and bat mitzvah ceremonies.
B. This text describes what happens during and after bar and bat mitzvah ceremonies.
C. This text describes the dancing that occurs after the bar and bat mitzvah ceremonies.
D. This text describes the 613 Jewish commandments. | B | Not only are bar and bat mitzvah's happy times for the celebrants, they are also joyous times for the parents. What evidence from the text supports this statement? | A. The mitzvah marks the time when the celebrant's parents are no longer held responsible for the sinful acts of the child.
B. The ceremonies begin at the synagogue and the celebrants often recite portions of the Haftarah, which is a collection of books written by the prophets of Judaism.
C. Bar and bat mitzvahs are im... | A | Based on the information in this text, what word would you use to describe the atmosphere of a bar and bat mitzvah? | A. dull
B. hateful
C. funny
D. exciting | D | What is the main idea of this text? | A. After the bar or bat mitzvah, the celebrant is now expected to fulfill and adhere to the 613 Jewish commandments.
B. Parents are very happy after their child's bar or bat mitzvah, because this ceremony finally releases the parents from being held responsible for the sinful acts of their children.
C. Bar and bat mitz... | C | null | null | null | null | null | null |
The Shahnama | The Shahnama, or Book of Kings, is an epic poem written by the Persian poet Firdawsi more than one thousand years ago. This poetic masterpiece tells the story of Iran’s history, from its inception to its conquest by Arabs in the seventh century. The Shahnama is structured into fifty “chronicles,” which coincide with th... | 970 | 4 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture | What is the Shahnama? | A. a play
B. a history book
C. an epic poem
D. a shortstory | C | What does this text describe? | A. This text describes one of Shahnama's most popular characters, Rustam, and his loyal horse, Raksh.
B. This text describes the writing process for the Shahnama , which was written over one thousand years ago.
C. This text describes the many different epic poems that the Persian poet, Firdawsi, wrote.
D. This text des... | A | The Shahnama is not simply a detailed historical record. What evidence from the text supports this sentence? | A. This poetic masterpiece tells the story of Iran’s history.
B. The Shahnama is structured into fifty “chronicles,” which coincide with the reigns of fifty monarchs.
C. The Shahnama was written by the Persian poet Firdawsi more than one thousand years ago.
D. Dragons are among the many creatures that appear in this ep... | D | Read these sentences from the text: "If anyone attempts to hurt Rustam, Raksh will retaliate quickly and with a vengeance. For example, when Rakhsh falls asleep after a long and tiresome journey, a lion tries to attack him in his slumber. This attack, however, was blocked by Rakhsh, who breaks the lion’s neck in a swif... | A. Raksh is a lazy horse.
B. Raksh does not like Rustam.
C. Raksh is a loyal and strong horse.
D. Raksh is a weak horse. | C | What is the main idea of this text? | A. Rakhsh, Rustam's horse, broke a lion's neck in a swift and deliberate act of protection when Rakhsh accidentally falls asleep after a long and tiresome journey.
B. Shahnama , a poem that tells the story of Iran's history in fifty "chronicles," has a popular character named Rustam, who alongside his horse, are loyal ... | B | null | null | null | null | null | null |
The Initiation of Stinging Ants | Have you ever been stung by a bee? If so, you know that it is an unpleasant feeling. But can you imagine if the bee sting had been thirty times more painful? This kind of pain is experienced by the boys of the Satere-Mawe tribe during their coming-of-age ritual. The Satere-Mawe tribe, native to the Brazilian Amazon, ex... | 940 | 4 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture | What happens when a person's hand is stung by bullet ants? | A. The hand gets sweaty.
B. The hand becomes paralyzed.
C. The hand feels better.
D. The hand feels nothing. | B | What does this text describe? | A. This text describes the difference between a bee sting and a bullet ant sting.
B. This text describes the way that the tribe's medicine man tracks down and finds bullet ants for the Satere-Mawe coming-of-age ritual.
C. This text describes the dance that the 13 year old boys do with the medicine man after they are st... | D | The Satere-Mawe tribe coming of age ritual is a test of pain tolerance and determination. What evidence from the text supports this sentence? | A. "The boy must keep the bullet ant gloves on for at least ten minutes . . . Even when the ten minutes is up and the gloves can be taken off, the pain continues."
B. "The ants are drugged so that they will not sting peoples' hands as they prepare the gloves."
C. "There are multiple steps to preparing for this ritual. ... | A | Based on the evidence from the text, what word best describes the 13 year old boys in the Satere-Mawe tribe? | A. smart
B. brave
C. wealthy
D. stuck up | B | What is the main idea of this text? | A. The medicine man has a very dangerous job because he needs handle and sedate the bullet ants before they are given to the 13 year old boys for the ritual.
B. When Satere-Mawe tribe boys are wearing gloves with bullet ants in them, they dance with the medicine man to distract themsleves from the pain they are experie... | C | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Portuguese Bacalhau | The national dish of Portugal is bacalhau, which is salted cod that soaks in water for twelve hours. It is often prepared with tomatoes, onions, sweet peppers, and butter. As you can see in the picture, this dish is simple but colorful, especially with the red of the pepper contrasting the white of the fish meat.
Durin... | 1,020 | 4 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture, World History | What is bacalhau? | A. tomatoes
B. expensive spices
C. salted cod
D. onions | C | How does the text describe bacalhau? | A. salty and spicy
B. simple and popular
C. expensive and colorful
D. cheap and spicy | B | Read these sentences from the text. During the Middle Ages, bacalhau was a popular dish among the poor because it was cheap to make. Although Portugal was involved in the thriving spice trade, spices were expensive. Bacalhau was simple to make, so it was very popular for those people who couldn’t afford to add spices t... | A. It has a lot of spices.
B. It has cheap spices.
C. It has spices from Portugal.
D. It has no spice. | D | Read these sentences from the text. The national dish of Portugal is bacalhau, which is salted cod that soaks in water for twelve hours. It is often prepared with tomatoes, onions, sweet peppers, and butter. . . . During the Middle Ages, bacalhau was a popular dish among the poor because it was cheap to make. Although ... | A. The ingredients were expensive.
B. The ingredients were cheap.
C. The ingredients were old.
D. The ingredients were special. | B | What is the main idea of the text? | A. Bacalhau is a Portuguese dish made of a white fish called cod, which is salted and soaked in water for twelve hours.
B. In the Middle Ages, bacalhau was a popular dish for Portugal's poor people to make because it was cheap to make.
C. Bacalhau was unpopular with Portugal's wealthiest people because it was associate... | D | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Moroccan Couscous | Couscous is made from crushed semolina wheat and water. Because couscous has a mild taste, people like to flavor it with spices. Meat and vegetables are often paired with couscous, too!
It is, therefore, not surprising that couscous has been a kitchen staple for hundreds of years. For instance, a cookbook from the 13th... | 1,160 | 4 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture, World History | What is couscous made from? | A. meat and vegetables
B. wheat and water
C. spices and water
D. wheat and spices | B | What argument does the author present in the text? | A. the taste of couscous
B. the popularity of couscous
C. the translation of couscous
D. the origin of couscous | D | Read these sentences from the text. With its popularity across different countries, many people debate the origin of couscous. Most scholars believe that hard wheat couscous was invented in the 12th century by the Berbers. The Berbers are an ethnic group native to the Maghreb region in northern Africa. Some scholars di... | A. Couscous was popular only in northern Africa.
B. Couscous was popular only in western Africa and Spain.
C. Couscous was popular only in northern and western Africa.
D. Couscous was popular in northern Africa, western Africa, and Spain. | D | Read these sentences from the text. Because couscous has a mild taste, people like to flavor it with spices. Meat and vegetables are often paired with couscous, too! It is, therefore, not surprising that couscous has been a kitchen staple for hundreds of years. For instance, a cookbook from the 13th century describes c... | A. Couscous goes well with different foods.
B. Couscous has been around for a long time.
C. Couscous was described in a cookbook.
D. Couscous could be found in different places. | A | What is the main idea of the text? | A. Couscous is popular in different countries and goes well with different foods, but no one truly knows its origin.
B. Couscous has a mild taste, so it is often flavored with spices or paired with meat and vegetables.
C. By the end of the 13th century, couscous was already described in a cookbook as being internationa... | A | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Vietnamese Pho | Pho is one of the most popular dishes in Vietnam. It is a soup made of beef or chicken broth. Usually meat, noodles, and vegetables are added. Food carts dedicated to serving pho are everywhere on the streets of metropolitan areas in Vietnam. The love of pho is not exclusive to Vietnam, however. Pho is enjoyed by peopl... | 1,110 | 4 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture, World History | Where is believed to be the birthplace of pho? | A. metropolitan areas in Vietnam
B. metropolitan areas in France
C. the Vietnamese city of Hanoi
D. the pho shop named Pho Binh | C | What does the text mostly describe? | A. the history and importance of Vietnam in the world
B. the history and importance of pho in Vietnam
C. the geography and importance of Hanoi in Vietnam
D. the geography of Hanoi and the importance of pho | B | Pho is a very important dish for people in Vietnam. What evidence from the text best supports this conclusion? | A. "[Pho] is a soup made of beef or chicken broth. Usually meat, noodles, and vegetables are added."
B. "It is undeniable that pho has made its mark on the international food scene."
C. "People discovered that these [cow] bones could be boiled to make a delicious soup: pho."
D. "Over the course of the twentieth century... | D | Read these sentences from the text. Food carts dedicated to serving pho are everywhere on the streets of metropolitan areas in Vietnam. [. . .] Over the course of the twentieth century, pho also came to symbolize national pride in Vietnam. In fact, a pho shop named Pho Binh in southern Vietnam played a very important r... | A. only in the city of Hanoi
B. only on city streets
C. only in pho shops
D. on city streets and in pho shops | D | What is the main idea of the text? | A. Pho is a popular Vietnamese soup dish important to Vietnam and its history.
B. Pho is made of beef or chicken broth and usually with meat, noodles, and vegetables.
C. Pho first appeared in the early twentieth century during the French occupation.
D. Pho Binh is a pho shop with a lot of importance in the history of V... | A | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Wangari Muta Maathai | Wangari Muta Maathai was born on April 1, 1940, in Nyeri, Kenya. She was a student for many years and attended a total of four undergraduate and graduate schools. In fact, Wangari was the first woman to earn a doctorate in biology within the region of East and Central Africa. Her studies focused on biological sciences,... | 1,070 | 4 | Social Studies: World History | What did Wangari Muta Maathai develop? | A. a total of four undergraduate and graduate schools
B. an organization called the Green Belt Movement
C. many church compounds and school grounds
D. Kenya's agricultural industry and its workers | B | What was the cause of Maathai getting the Nobel Peace Prize? | A. She focused on Biological Sciences and started teaching veterinary anatomy.
B. She developed a successful organization called the Green Belt Movement.
C. She actively opposed Daniel arap Moi's regime and fought for democracy.
D. She made contributions to sustainable development, democracy, and peace. | D | Read these sentences from the text. In 1977, [Maathai] developed an organization called the Green Belt Movement, a movement in which organized groups of women would plant trees. This movement was very successful. Over 20 million trees were planted on church compounds and school grounds! The campaign's goal was to comba... | A. The movement hurt Kenya's agricultural industry and its workers more.
B. The movement created Kenya's agricultural industry and its workers.
C. The movement helped Kenya's agricultural industry and its workers.
D. The movement ended Kenya's agricultural industry and its workers. | C | Read these sentences from the text. In 1977, [Maathai] developed an organization called the Green Belt Movement, a movement in which organized groups of women would plant trees. This movement was very successful. Over 20 million trees were planted on church compounds and school grounds! The campaign's goal was to comba... | A. Maathai wanted to start many movements.
B. Maathai wanted to help Kenya and its people.
C. Maathai wanted to become Kenya's president.
D. Maathai wanted to fight Kenya's businesses. | B | What is the main idea of the text? | A. Maathai had many passions and acted on them, which greatly helped Kenya and its people.
B. Maathai studied biological sciences for many years and then taught veterinary anatomy.
C. Maathai started the Green Belt Movement through which over 20 million trees were planted.
D. Maathai was involved in the politics of Ken... | A | null | null | null | null | null | null |
The Mbira | Native to Africa, the mbira is a type of lamellophone, an instrument constructed of metal and bamboo. As you can see in the picture, the instrument can be played by pressing down on the protruding tongues, known as the lamellae. The lamellae vary in size and are connected to a soundboard. Similar to playing guitar stri... | 1,160 | 4 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture | What is the mbira? | A. a type of lamellae
B. a type of lamellophone
C. a type of guitar
D. a type of bamboo tongue | B | What does the text describe? | A. how the mbira is played and how it is important to the Shona people
B. how the mbira was created and how it is usually constructed
C. how the mbira sounds and how it is similar to other instruments
D. how the mbira is similar to other lamellophones and how it is used | A | Read these sentences from the text. The religion practiced by the Shona relies heavily on the mbira during religious rituals and ceremonies. Not only is the mbira used as a tool for communicating with the dead, this instrument is also used to drive away evil. . . . To this day, the mbira is played to welcome prosperity... | A. The Shona people believe the mbira has a supernatural power.
B. The Shona people believe the mbira has an evil power.
C. The Shona people believe the mbira has a funny power.
D. The Shona people believe the mbira has a weak power. | A | Read these sentences from the text. [The mbira] can be played by pressing down on the protruding tongues, known as the lamellae. The lamellae vary in size and are connected to a soundboard. Similar to playing guitar strings, the bamboo tongues must be plucked by the player. Every time a lamella is plucked, vibrations w... | A. They press and pluck a guitar's strings.
B. They press and pluck a mbira's soundboard.
C. They press and pluck a guitar's lamellae.
D. They press and pluck a mbira's lamellae. | D | What is the main idea of the text? | A. The mbira is played by pressing and plucking its lamellae, and it is very important for the rituals and ceremonies of Zimbabwe's Shona people.
B. The mbira, a type of instrument made of metal and bamboo, was created in Africa, and it is very important in the country of Zimbabwe.
C. The mbira can make a set of differ... | A | null | null | null | null | null | null |
The Bagpipe | The bagpipe is a popular wind instrument in European countries. Prior to the 15th century, bagpipes were used as folk instruments. They were later used in the court and on the battlefield. Although people debate the origin of the bagpipe, everyone agrees that the bagpipe is important to Scotland. In fact, the bagpipe i... | 1,260 | 4 | Arts: Music & Performing Arts | What is the national instrument of Scotland? | A. the bagpipe
B. the blowstick
C. the blow pipe
D. the chanter | A | According to the text, what is the effect of the bagpipe using stored air? | A. The bagpipe is important to Scotland.
B. The bagpipe immediately uses blown air.
C. The bagpipe stores air in a bag.
D. The bagpipe produces a constant sound. | D | The bagpipe needs stored air to play music. What evidence from the text best supports this conclusion? | A. "A bagpipe's structure is very unique. Rather than the instrument immediately using blown air to produce sound, the air is stored in a bag."
B. "As the bagpipe uses the stored air, the player needs to continue blowing into the blowstick to replace the air that has been used."
C. "After the bag has been filled with a... | C | Read these sentences from the text. Rather than the instrument immediately using blown air to produce sound, the air is stored in a bag. Because the bagpipe uses the stored air to produce sound, it is able to produce a constant sound. . . . A player uses the blowstick to blow air into the instrument's bag. As the bagpi... | A. It produces a much louder sound.
B. It produces a much softer sound.
C. It produces sound for a longer time.
D. It stops producing sound completely. | C | What is the main idea of the text? | A. The bagpipe was used in the court and on the battlefield after it was used as a folk instrument.
B. The bagpipe, an important instrument to Scotland, makes sound by using the bagpipe player's stored air.
C. One of the parts of the bagpipe is the chanter, which a player can use to make different notes.
D. The bagpipe... | B | null | null | null | null | null | null |
The 'Ohe Hano Ihu | The 'ohe hano ihu, or hano for short, is an ancient Hawaiian nose flute made of bamboo. Can you guess what a nose flute is? If you guessed that it is an instrument you play with your nose, you were right! As opposed to the traditional flute, which plays notes with each controlled breath from the mouth, the nose flute p... | 1,140 | 4 | Arts: Music & Performing Arts | According to the text, how do you play a nose flute like the 'ohe hano ihu? | A. with your eyes
B. with your nose
C. with your ears
D. with your mouth | B | What does the text describe? | A. who plays and makes the hano
B. where the hano is played and made
C. how the hano is played and made
D. why the hano is played and made | C | Read these sentences from the text. The hano’s length ranges from 10 to 20 inches. It depends on the personal preference of the player or the carver. There are three holes on the flute where the player should place his or her fingers. Each flute is handmade, and the holes are often drilled based on the player’s hand si... | A. One hano fits all carvers.
B. One hano fits all players.
C. One hano fits some players.
D. One hano best fits one player. | D | Read these sentences from the text. Blowing too hard into a nose flute produces an undesirable sound, while a gentler blow produces a beautiful, soft sound. . . . . . . While the hano only plays four notes, there are many different techniques for producing unique sounds. Some of these techniques include players rolling... | A. The hano's four notes have the same loudness.
B. The hano's four notes can sound different.
C. The hano's four notes sound beautiful and soft.
D. The hano's four notes have an undesirable sound. | B | What is the main idea of the text? | A. The hano is a handmade nose flute with three holes, which can make different sounds by the player's blowing strength and techniques.
B. Hano players use their noses to play the instrument, while traditional flute players use controlled mouth breaths.
C. The hano is 10 to 20 inches long with holes drilled into it bas... | A | null | null | null | null | null | null |
The Lyre | The lyre is a curved stringed instrument that is often played as accompaniment for a poetry recitation or to a solo singer. It was a very popular instrument in ancient Greece and was used in many contexts, ranging from grief-stricken funerals to wild festivals. The lyre was also used as a tool for educating the young. ... | 1,240 | 4 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture | What is a lyre? | A. a wild festival
B. a solo singer
C. a poetry recitation
D. a curved stringed instrument | D | What does the text describe? | A. how ancient Greeks used and made the lyre
B. how people today use and make the lyre
C. how ancient Greeks learned to play the lyre
D. how people today learn to play the lyre | A | Read these sentences from the text. [The lyre] was a very popular instrument in ancient Greece and was used in many contexts, ranging from grief-stricken funerals to wild festivals. The lyre was also used as a tool for educating the young. There are accounts of famous Greeks, like Plato, applauding the lyre as the best... | A. young people
B. students
C. old people
D. people of all ages | D | Read these sentences from the text. According to Greek mythology, the lyre was invented by Hermes, the god whose responsibilities included travel, luck, and commerce. The origin story of the lyre recounts when Hermes used the shell and gut of a tortoise, as well as tall reeds, to create this instrument. Rather than usi... | A. The ancient Greek lyre had the same parts as Hermes's lyre, and it was made of the same materials.
B. The ancient Greek lyre had the same parts as Hermes's lyre, but it was made of different materials.
C. The ancient Greek lyre had different parts from Hermes's lyre, but it was made of the same materials.
D. The anc... | B | What is the main idea of the text? | A. In ancient Greece, the lyre was a very popular instrument made of various materials.
B. The lyre is a U-shaped instrument with some strings running from top to bottom.
C. In ancient Greece, the lyre was very useful in educating young people.
D. There is a story about how the lyre was invented by Hermes, a god in Gre... | A | null | null | null | null | null | null |
The Taj Mahal | Located in Agra, India, The Taj Mahal was built in 1628 by Shah Jahan, the leader of the Mughal dynasty. Shah Jahan was inspired to build the Taj Mahal following the death of one of his wives, Mumtaz Mahal. She passed away after giving birth to his fourteenth child. Shah Jahan wanted to make a beautiful burial tomb for... | 1,200 | 4-5 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture, World History | What kind of building is the Taj Mahal? | A. It is a burial tomb.
B. It is a concert hall.
C. It is a large apartment building.
D. It is an ampitheater. | A | The text says that many people see the Taj Mahal as a symbol of enduring love. What caused the Taj Mahal to come to represent this idea? | A. Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal because of his love for his wife who passed away.
B. Shah Jahan wrote many love poems and had them inscribed into the walls of the building.
C. The architect of the Taj Mahal fell in love with the designer of the buidling.
D. The building is shaped like a heart and has many small heart... | A | It took a lot of energy and craftmanship to build the Taj Mahal. What evidence from the text supports this conclusion? | A. "In fact, it has been named one of the Seven Wonders of the World, along with sites like the Colosseum and the Great Wall of China.
B. "There are multiple reasons why the Taj Mahal is so famous and attracts an estimated 7 to 8 million people per year."
C. "Its exterior is made of white marble and is intricately deco... | C | How does the Taj Mahal use symmetry in its design? | A. Its exterior is made of white marble and it is intricately decorated with verses from the Quran.
B. Every structure is repeated inside and outside and it reflects the sunlight that shines on it.
C. Every structure is repeated on both sides and it is also reflected in the long strip of water in front of it.
D. There ... | C | What is the main idea of this text? | A. The Taj Mahal was built to be very symmetrical, so the left side of the building has structures that are repeated exactly on the right side of the building.
B. The Taj Mahal is an impressive architectural structure in India built by Shah Jahan as a sign of his love for his wife, and is known for its intricate design... | B | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Saint Hildegard | Hildegard von Bingen was born in 1098 and died in 1179. She was famous for being a "sybil." A sybil is a prophetess. People called her a sybil because she had spiritual visions as a young girl. These visions prompted her parents to send her to a monastery at the age of seven. Hildegard lived in this monastery for thirt... | 900 | 4 | Arts: Visual Arts | According to the text, what was Hildegard famous for being? | A. a saint
B. a mandala
C. a sybil
D. a monastery head | C | What was the cause of Hildegard's parents sending her to a monastery? | A. Hildegard had spiritual visions.
B. Hildegard was promoted to head the monastery.
C. Hildegard recorded 26 visions.
D. Hildegard earned the title of 'Saint.' | A | Read these sentences from the text. [Hildegard] was famous for being a "sybil." A sybil is a prophetess. People called her a sybil because she had spiritual visions as a young girl. These visions prompted her parents to send her to a monastery at the age of seven. Hildegard lived in this monastery for thirty years and ... | A. Hildegard only
B. her parents only
C. the people in the monastery only
D. many, many people | D | Read these sentences from the text. People called [Hildegard] a sybil because she had spiritual visions as a young girl. These visions prompted her parents to send her to a monastery at the age of seven. Hildegard lived in this monastery for thirty years and was eventually promoted to head the monastery. When religious... | A. She had them at the age of seven, but then they stopped after a year.
B. She had them only when she was living in the monastery for thirty years.
C. She had them at a young age, and they continued until her death.
D. She had them until she was promoted to head the monastery she lived in. | C | What is the main idea of the text? | A. Hildegard was important in the Roman Catholic Church for her spiritual visions and life in the monastery.
B. Hildegard's visions focused on three themes, and she recorded most of her visions as mandalas.
C. Hildegard lived in a monastery for thirty years, where she also eventually became the head of it.
D. Hildegard... | A | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Cimabue | Bencivieni di Pepo, commonly known as Cimabue, was an Italian artist born sometime before 1251. Cimabue was one of the last artists who practiced the Byzantine style of painting. The subject of Byzantine art was almost always religious. This style of art could also be very formal and formulaic, but Cimabue made his art... | 1,010 | 4 | Arts: Visual Arts | What was Cimabue one of the last artists to practice? | A. the Italian style of painting
B. the Byzantine style of painting
C. the bullheaded style of painting
D. the European style of painting | B | What is listed in the text? | A. the ways Cimabue made his art unique
B. the styles of painting in Europe
C. the painters of the Byzantine style
D. the human subjects in Cimabue's art | A | Read these sentences from the text. Cimabue was one of the last artists who practiced the Byzantine style of painting. The subject of Byzantine art was almost always religious. This style of art could also be very formal and formulaic, but Cimabue made his art unique in a few ways. What can you conclude about Cimabue's... | A. They were older than many Byzantine style paintings.
B. They were similar to many Byzantine style paintings.
C. They were different from many Byzantine style paintings.
D. They were prettier than many Byzantine style paintings. | C | Read these sentences from the text. The subject of Byzantine art was almost always religious. This style of art could also be very formal and formulaic, but Cimabue made his art unique in a few ways. First, he painted his human subjects with emotion. Second, he used color and detail to make the architecture and people ... | A. when he felt the artwork was religious
B. when he felt the artwork was formulaic
C. when he felt the human subjects had emotion
D. when he felt the architecture seemed real | B | What is the main idea of the text? | A. Most Byzantine art is religious, with many paintings in the Byzantine style being very formal and formulaic.
B. The architecture and human subjects in Cimabue's paintings seemed real because of how he used color and detail.
C. Although Cimabue practiced the Byzantine style, his paintings were unique, inspiring many ... | C | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Fra Angelico | Guido di Pietro, also known as Fra Angelico (which translates to the “Angelic Brother”), was born around 1400 in Vicchio, Italy, and died on February 18, 1455, in Rome, Italy. Fra Angelico is praised for his innovative approach to perspective. Perspective is the artistic method used to make the art seem three-dimension... | 1,000 | 4 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture | What was Guido di Pietro also known as? | A. The Annunciation
B. the mother of Jesus
C. the angel Gabriel
D. Fra Angelico | D | How does the author describe Fra Angelico's approach to perspective? | A. Fra Angelico's paintings used light and shadow in new ways to create perspective.
B. Fra Angelico followed the ideas of other artists about how to paint with perspective.
C. Fra Angelico never quite figured out how to use perspective well in his paintings.
D. Fra Angelico is known for the beautiful colors in his pai... | A | Read these sentences from the text. [Fra Angelico's] religious background had a huge influence on his art. In fact, most of his paintings were of biblical figures. One of his most famous paintings is The Annunciation . . . . This painting shows an interaction between Mary and the angel Gabriel in a convent. In this pai... | A. They were friars like Fra Angelico.
B. They were in other paintings by Fra Angelico.
C. They are figures from the Bible.
D. They are figures created by Fra Angelico. | C | Read these sentences from the text. Fra Angelico is praised for his innovative approach to perspective. Perspective is the artistic method used to make the art seem three-dimensional. . . . His religious background had a huge influence on his art. In fact, most of his paintings were of biblical figures. One of his most... | A. It looks like other paintings by Fra Angelico.
B. It looks like it is three-dimensional.
C. It looks like other art from its time.
D. It looks like it is worn and very old. | B | What is the main idea of the text? | A. Fra Angelico was born around the year 1400 with the name Guido di Pietro.
B. Fra Angelico used perspective and biblical figures in a lot of his art.
C. Fra Angelico was a friar, which is a religious figure in the Catholic Church.
D. Fra Angelico painted The Annunciation , which shows an interaction in a convent. | B | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Giotto di Bondone | Giotto di Bondone was born sometime between 1266 and 1267 in the small town of Vespignano, Italy, and died in 1337 in the city of Florence. In his 70 years of life, Giotto had an enormous impact on the Italian art world. His revolutionary approach to painting paved the way for the future of Renaissance art. Giotto's ar... | 1,160 | 4 | Social Studies: World History | Where is fresco painting usually painted? | A. in the small town of Vespignano
B. on a freshly plastered wall
C. in a church called Scrovegni Chapel
D. in a church in Assisi, Italy | B | According to the text, what is an effect of fresco painting being resistant to wear and tear? | A. Human subjects are depicted full of life and emotion.
B. Paint is painted on a freshly plastered wall.
C. The paint dries with the plaster it's painted on.
D. Some of Giotto's work is still in good shape. | D | Giotto is an important figure in the history of art. What evidence from the text best supports this conclusion? | A. "Giotto di Bondone was born sometime between 1266 and 1267 in the small town of Vespignano, Italy . . . ."
B. "[Giotto's] revolutionary approach to painting paved the way for the future of Renaissance art."
C. "Because fresco painting is resistant to wear and tear, some of Giotto’s work is still in good shape."
D. "... | B | Read these sentences from the text. In his 70 years of life, Giotto had an enormous impact on the Italian art world. His revolutionary approach to painting paved the way for the future of Renaissance art. Giotto's art was revolutionary because it depicted human subjects as people full of life and emotion. [. . .] One o... | A. as someone with an enormous impact
B. as someone with a revolutionary approach
C. as someone full of life and emotion
D. as someone who goes to Scrovegni Chapel | C | What is the main idea of the text? | A. Giotto di Bondone was born in the 1260s in a small town in Italy called Vespignano, and after having lived for 70 years, he died in 1337 in Florence.
B. Giotto di Bondone was famous for his freso paintings, which are a type of painting resistant to wear and tear because of how it's painted on walls.
C. Giotto di Bon... | C | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Taoism and Taoist Art | Native to China, Taoism is an important part of Chinese culture. It is a religion that is practiced by around 20 million people in China. Initially, Taoism was secular. It was a way of thinking and approaching the world. It originated from a sixth-century BCE text called the Tao Te Ching. It was written by the famous ... | 980 | 4 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture | Where did Taoism originate from? | A. the Tao Te Ching
B. the path to happiness
C. landscape paintings
D. the Three Purities | A | What does the text describe? | A. the differences between Taoism and Taoist art
B. the people who practice Taoism and make Taoist art
C. the philosophy of Taoism and its connection to Taoist art
D. the importance of Taoism and Taoist art in the world | C | Read these sentences from the text. After [Taoism] became an organized religion, the people who practiced Taoism began to incorporate different styles of art into the religious services. Paintings of Lao-Tzu and the supreme gods of Taoism, the Three Purities, were the most popular types of Taoist art. The painting abov... | A. The paintings were incorporated into different styles of art.
B. The paintings were used to honor Lao-Tzu and the Three Purities.
C. The paintings were sold to many people who practiced Taoism.
D. The paintings showed people who were friends with Cao Guojiu. | B | Read these sentences from the text. Because there is such an emphasis on accepting the world as it is, Taoist philosophy is tied to nature and specifically, the human relationship to nature. In fact, Taoism helped in the birth of art forms that focused on nature like landscape paintings. Taoism became an organized reli... | A. Only art forms that focused on nature are connected to Taoism.
B. Only paintings in Taoist religious services are connected to Taoism.
C. Only paintings of Lao-Tzu and the three Purities are connected to Taoism.
D. There are various kinds of art that are connected to Taoism. | D | What is the main idea of the text? | A. An important part of Chinese culture is Taoism, which is a religion practiced by around 20 million people in China.
B. Ever since Taoism originated from Lao-Tzu's Tao Te Ching , it has become an organized religion connected to various kinds of art.
C. Taoism is tied to nature, so it has helped in the birth of art fo... | B | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Strangler Figs | If plants starred in movies, the strangler fig would be the main character in a horror film. The strangler fig is known in Spanish as matapalo, the “killer tree.” It can be found in rainforests and other humid environments all over the world. It has an unusual and interesting way of growing because it is an epiphyte. ... | 1,090 | 4 | Science: Life Science | What is an epiphyte? | A. any plant that kills other plants by sucking out their nutrients
B. a plant that can be found in rainforests all over the world
C. a plant that grows well in humid climates
D. an air plant that grows on the surface of other plants | D | This passage describes strangler figs and their role in the rainforest. What is one way strangler figs are good for the rainforest? | A. Strangler figs’ trunks are actually a tangled web of roots.
B. Strangler figs block their host tree from getting sunlight and nutrients.
C. Strangler figs provide food and shelter for many rainforest animals.
D. Strangler figs’ seeds germinate in the top of the rainforest canopy. | C | The text says, “The host tree now must compete with the strangler fig for sunlight and nutrients in the soil. Usually, this process kills the host and only the fig tree is left.” What conclusion can be drawn about strangler figs based on this evidence? | A. Strangler figs are very good at competing for sunlight and nutrients.
B. Strangler figs squeeze their host trees just like a python squeezes its prey.
C. Strangler figs’ host trees need a huge amount of water to survive.
D. Strangler figs choose weak host trees to grow on. | A | Strangler figs do not rely on nutrients directly from the surface they are growing on. What evidence from the text best supports this conclusion? | A. “Usually, this process kills the host and only the fig tree is left. The “trunk” of the fig tree is actually a giant web of roots.”
B. “According to historians, the strangler fig played a role in destroying Mayan cities in Central America. Seeds dropped by birds and bats germinated high on the walls of buildings.”
C... | B | What is the main idea of this passage? | A. Strangler figs played a role in destroying Mayan cities in Central America, by growing on and through the walls of buildings.
B. Strangler figs can be dangerous to other rainforest trees, but they provide food and shelter for rainforest animals.
C. Strangler figs are the most important food source for rainforest bir... | B | Please read the following sentences from the text. “The ‘trunk’ of the fig tree is actually a giant web of roots. These trees are immune from forest clearing by humans because loggers do not like their knotted and twisted wood.” As used in these sentences, what does the word immune mean? | A. a main cause of something
B. twisted around something
C. destroyed by something
D. protected from something | D | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. Strangler figs destroyed some buildings in ancient Mayan cities ________ their roots grew between the bricks in stone walls, eventually destroying the walls. | A. meanwhile
B. because
C. although
D. instead | B |
China's Terracotta Army | The Terracotta Army is a vast collection of terracotta sculptures that was constructed more than 2,000 years ago by the Chinese Emperor Qin Shi Huang. Beginning at the age of thirteen, Emperor Qin ordered the development of a guarded city in his future tomb. He wanted an army of warriors, along with their sturdy horses... | 1,150 | 4 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture, World History | When was the Terracotta Army constructed? | A. 38 years ago
B. the year 1974
C. more than 2,000 years ago
D. about 8,000 years ago | C | What does the text describe? | A. groups of figures and objects in Emperor Qin's tomb
B. the Chinese Emperor Qin Shi Huang
C. the farmers who discovered Emperor Qin's tomb
D. the plans for the rest of Emperor Qin's tomb | A | No one knows the size of Emperor Qin's tomb site. What evidence from the text best supports this conclusion? | A. "The Terracotta Army . . . was constructed more than 2,000 years ago by the Chinese Emperor Qin Shihuang."
B. "Beginning at the age of thirteen, Emperor Qin ordered the development of a guarded city in his future tomb."
C. "Immediately following this amazing discovery [of the tomb], archaeologists began excavating t... | D | Read these sentences from the text. Beginning at the age of thirteen, Emperor Qin ordered the development of a guarded city in his future tomb. He wanted an army of warriors, along with their sturdy horses and sharpened weapons, to protect him in death. In his underground fortress, there were even stables made for the ... | A. statues of warriors and their weapons only
B. statues of horses and their stables only
C. statues of court performers and acrobats only
D. statues of different groups of people and animals | D | What is the main idea of the text? | A. Emperor Qin wanted to be protected in death by an army of thousands of warriors, which include horses and sharpened weapons.
B. Emperor Qin's tomb contains thousands of various detailed terracotta figures, with archaeologists continuing to discover new things.
C. The face of each warrior statue of the Terracotta Arm... | B | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Jade in China | Jade is a green gemstone that is extremely difficult to carve. This did not stop the Chinese from creating beautiful objects and art pieces out of this material, however. In fact, the durability of jade actually added to the gemstone's value. Because it was so durable, some people believed that jade contained mystic po... | 1,010 | 4 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture | According to the text, what did jade produce when struck? | A. beautiful objects
B. mystic powers
C. a beautiful noise
D. a gust of wind | C | How does the text describe jade? | A. difficult to carve and weak
B. difficult to carve and durable
C. easy to carve and weak
D. easy to carve and durable | B | Read these sentences from the text. Jade is a green gemstone that is extremely difficult to carve. This did not stop the Chinese from creating beautiful objects and art pieces out of this material, however. In fact, the durability of jade actually added to the gemstone's value. Because it was so durable, some people be... | A. They were easy to break.
B. They were difficult to break.
C. They contained mystic powers.
D. They increased jade's value. | B | Read these sentences from the text. Jade is a green gemstone that is extremely difficult to carve. . . . In fact, the durability of jade actually added to the gemstone's value. Because it was so durable, some people believed that jade contained mystic powers. . . . For the wealthy members of the Han Dynasty, the dead w... | A. People believed that jade suits protected the dead because jade was so durable.
B. People believed that jade suits protected the dead because the suits took years to complete.
C. People believed that jade suits protected the dead because the gemstone's value was high.
D. People believed that jade suits protected the... | A | What is the main idea of the text? | A. Jade produces beautiful noise when struck, so some people believed that the gemstone contained mystic powers.
B. Chinese people in the past wore jade jewelry, used jade in ritual ceremonies, and placed jade objects in tombs.
C. Even though jade is difficult to carve, Chinese people have valued it for its durability ... | C | null | null | null | null | null | null |
The Sahara and the Sahel | The Sahara, in Africa, is the largest desert on Earth. It is larger than the United States! It stretches south from the Atlas Mountains to the Sahel region of Africa. It extends east from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea.
The Sahara experiences large changes in temperature. During the day, the temperature can reach 12... | 870 | 4 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture | What is the Sahara? | A. the largest planet in the galaxy
B. the largest city in Australia
C. the largest continent on Earth
D. the largest desert on Earth | D | How does the text describe the land in the Sahara? | A. The land in the Sahara is covered with water.
B. The land in the Sahara can be sand, rock, or gravel.
C. The land in the Sahara can be covered in snow all year.
D. The land in the Sahara is rich with nutrients for farming. | B | Read the following sentences from the text. “The Sahara is dotted with oases. The water at these oases allows people to grow fig, olive, and date trees. They also grow other fruits and vegetables. Even today, travelers across the Sahara stop at oases to refill their water containers and get food….Although life in the S... | A. People live or gather near oases in the Sahara because the oases have water, unlike much of the rest of the desert.
B. Oases are where people go to hunt for animals because most desert animals live there for the water.
C. Oases are the driest, hottest part of the Sahara and so there are almost no plants, animals, or... | A | Why does the author compare the Sahel to a shoreline? | A. The Sahel is like a border between two different types of land, and has its own characteristics.
B. The Sahel borders the Sahara Desert, which is like an ocean due to its watery land and rainy weather.
C. The Sahel is dry and sandy, like a beach, but borders a large body of water that is like an ocean.
D. The Sahel ... | A | What is the main idea of this text? | A. People are surprised to learn that some areas of the Sahara are covered with golden sand, but most of it is covered with rock and gravel.
B. Oases in the Sahara allow for people to grow fruit and vegetables trees like fig, olive, and date trees, and to refill their water containers as they travel.
C. The Sahara is a... | C | null | null | null | null | null | null |
African Rivers | Some of the world’s greatest rivers slice through the African continent. The Niger and Senegal rivers flow through the savanna of West Africa. Some of the great kingdoms and empires of medieval Africa developed along these rivers. Among these were Ghana, Mali, and Songhai.
The powerful Congo River flows through the hot... | 870 | 4 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture, World History | What is the Nile River considered to be? | A. the fastest river in the world
B. the oldest river in the world
C. the longest river in the world
D. The shortest river in the world. | C | What does this passage describe? | A. every single river in Africa and how each one has contributed to African society
B. an average day for an ancient Egyptian farmer living along the Nile river during flooding season
C. the way that the Aswan High Dam was built and how it supports the people who live near the Dam today
D. different African rivers that... | D | Read these sentences from the text: " In ancient times, the Nile flooded its banks once a year. The flood water deposited rich, black soil nearby. Egyptian farmers planted their crops in this soil. They were able to grow more food than they needed. Grain raised along the Nile was sent to many places, including Rome." W... | A. The Nile river was only important to Egyptians.
B. The Nile river was not important to anybody.
C. The Nile river was important to people in different parts of the world.
D. The Nile river was important to men only. | C | Based on the information in the passage, why was it important for Egyptians to grow a surplus of food? | A. It allowed Egyptians to eat a lot of food and become overweight.
B. It allowed Egyptians to become craftsmen, soldiers, officials, and other specialized workers.
C. It allowed Egyptians to become hunter-gatherers.
D. It allowed Egyptians to experiement growing different kinds of food brought in from other countries. | B | What is the main idea of this text? | A. Some of the world's greatest rivers, such as the Nile, run through the African continent and have played important roles in the development of great kingdoms and empires.
B. The Nile river, the greatest river in Africa and the longest river in the world, used to flood its banks once a year until a dam was built in 1... | A | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Inventing Paper | The Han dynasty in China, founded by Liu Bang, lasted from 206 BCE to 220 CE, roughly the same period as the mighty Roman Empire. But in many ways the Han culture was far more advanced than that of Rome. The Chinese themselves look upon this dynasty as a kind of golden time. They still call themselves the sons of Han.
... | 890 | 4 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture, World History | How do the Chinese today see the Han dynasty? | A. as a terrible time
B. as a time of struggle
C. as a peaceful time
D. as a golden time | D | What does the text list as the ingredients the Chinese used to make paper? | A. paraffin, beeswax, and carnauba wax
B. wood, graphite, rubber, and aluminum
C. cornstarch, baking soda, and water
D. tree bark, hemp, rags, and fish nets | D | Read the following sentences from the text. “One of the great achievements of the Han dynasty was the invention of paper….Can you imagine not having any paper? What would you write on? The invention of paper was a huge advance. It would be another one thousand years before paper would appear in Europe.” What conclusion... | A. The invention of paper did not make it anywhere outside of China and is still only used there.
B. The Han dynasty created things that people around the world had never seen before.
C. The invention of paper was only useful from 206 BCE to 220 CE and was not used after.
D. The invention of paper caused conflicts betw... | B | According to the text, how did the invention of paper change writing for the Chinese? | A. Before the invention of paper, the Chinese would write on animal bones, bamboo, and silk.
B. The Chinese liked paper but chose to type everything on computers and smartphones instead.
C. Every Chinese household had custom paper made with their family name for writing letters.
D. The invention of paper also allowed t... | A | What is the main idea of this text? | A. Paper was invented during the Han dynasty in China, which was a golden era in Chinese history.
B. The Han dynasty is seen by the Chinese as a golden time in China that lasted from 206 BCE to 220 CE.
C. The Han dynasty lasted roughly during the same period as the Roman Empire and was more advanced in many ways.
D. Af... | A | null | null | null | null | null | null |
The Constitution Tells the States Who Has the Right to Vote | The United States is a “Federal Republic.” This means that power, like the power to pass laws, is shared between the Federal Government in Washington, D.C., and the governments of each of the 50 states. The Federal Government has certain powers, and the states (and their local governments, like cities and towns) have ... | 1,010 | 4-5 | Social Studies: Civics & Government, U.S. History | According to the text, what does the federal government of the United States share with the 50 state governments? | A. power
B. money
C. voting rights
D. companies | A | What does the text list and describe? | A. powers the president has
B. what the Constitution say about voting rights
C. the Bill of Rights of the Constitution
D. facts about the creation of the Constitution | B | The rights of African American voters have been threatened in the United States. What evidence from the text best supports this statement? | A. The Constitution says that to be allowed to vote, a person must be a citizen of the United States.
B. The Constitution gives the states the power to conduct elections and to make their own rules about how they do it.
C. Some states required voters be able to read and write to prevent former African American slaves f... | C | Based on the text, to whom did the Constitutition give voting rights when it was first written? | A. white men and women who were at least 21 years old
B. black men who were at least 21 years old
C. Native American males who were at least 21 years old
D. white men who were at least 21 years old | D | What is the main idea of the text? | A. The federal government of the United States has certain powers, and the 50 states have certain powers.
B. The United States Constitution includes laws about who can vote but gives states the power to conduct elections.
C. Some of the 50 states have found ways to prevent some citizens from voting, even though they ha... | B | Read the following sentences from the text. " The Constitution gives the states the power to conduct elections and to make their own rules about how they do it, and it also tells them what they are not allowed to do in conducting elections. For example, states are not allowed to reject people who have the right to vote... | A. to lead or manage
B. to carry electricity
C. to stop or prevent
D. to make popular | A | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. The Constitution The United States Constitution tells the 50 states what they must do, and also what they are not permitted to do. _______, the Constitution gives the states the power to conduct elections and to make their own rules about how they do it | A. However
B. In conclusion
C. On the other hand
D. For example | D |
The Fight for Women's Suffrage | At the time the United States became a nation, women citizens did not share the same rights as men, including the right to vote. While some people had pushed for women's rights for many years, it was not until 1848 that women began to organize on a large scale. They worked to create a movement to give women rights they... | 1,120 | 4-5 | Social Studies: Civics & Government, U.S. History | Who were "suffragists"? | A. men who prevented women from voting
B. women who helped in American war efforts
C. women who organized and fought for the right to vote
D. women who ran for political office | C | What does the text describe? | A. the presidency and leadership of Woodrow Wilson
B. a sequence of events leading up to the passage of the 19th Amendment
C. the causes and effects of World War I
D. people who were against the women's suffrage movement | B | Read the following sentences from the text. " In 1913, on the day that President Woodrow Wilson became the president of the United States, women and men held a huge parade in front of his new home, the White House, to rally for women’s right to vote in the United States. Some women were arrested and went to jail. Some ... | A. The fight for suffrage was difficult.
B. The fight for suffrage was ineffective.
C. The fight for suffrage was easy.
D. The fight for suffrage did not get national attention. | A | Why did the suffragists go on hunger strikes and do other things to get public attention? | A. to discourage people from supporting women's right to vote
B. to get more people to support women's right to vote
C. to show that women are physically strong
D. to help more women realize they can be politically active | B | What is the main idea of the text? | A. In 1848, Stanton and Lucretia Mott created the Seneca Falls Convention, where 240 women and men met to make a plan of action to fight for new rights for women.
B. During World War I, American women did many of the jobs that men could not do because men were away from home, fighting in the war.
C. Suffragists fought ... | C | Read the following sentences from the text. " Many other women’s groups joined them, and eventually these groups established a new organization, 'The National Woman Suffrage Association.' These women fought hard to have Congress and the states pass an amendment to the United States Constitution that would give women ci... | A. destroy
B. form
C. make faster
D. grow | B | Choose the answer that best completes this sentence below. The National Women's Party took bold actions to get more support for women's right to vote. ________, they marched and gave out flyers to people on the streets. | A. Therefore
B. However
C. Furthermore
D. Specifically | D |
Iranian Food | Chelo-kebab is the national dish of Iran, which comes as no surprise. Not only is this dish extremely popular throughout Iran, but also its flavors are absolutely delicious. Chelo kabab is made up of tender meat, saffron rice, and juicy grilled tomatoes. There are many variations of this dish. One variation is called k... | 930 | 4 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture | What do Chelo-kebab, tahdig, and Ash e Reshteh all have in common? | A. They are all symbols.
B. They are all ingredients.
C. They are all Iranian dishes.
D. They are all types of kebabs. | C | What does this text describe? | A. This text describes three popular Iranian dishes, Chelo-kebab, tahdig, and Ash e Reshteh.
B. This text describes the step-by-step instructions of how to make Ash e Reshteh.
C. This text describes the healthiest and most unhealthy dishes you can order at restaurants in Iran.
D. This text describes the many different ... | A | Preparing tahdig is very time-consuming. What evidence from the text supports this sentence? | A. The rice should be crispy and golden at the bottom of the pot.
B. Separation is required for a good tahdig.
C. In addition to being delicious, some types of Iranian food serve as symbols.
D. Before cooking the rice, the chef needs to let it sit in water for one hour. | D | Based on the information in the text, what dish would be good to eat before someone traveled to a new country? | A. tahdig
B. Chelo-kebab
C. Ash e Reshteh
D. koobideh | C | What is the main idea of this text? | A. This text is about the different types of kebabs that are variations of Chelo-kebab, the national dish of Iran.
B. This text is about the taste and process of cooking some of the most popular and delicious Iranian dishes.
C. This text is about the many types of Iranian food that can serve as symbols, such as good lu... | B | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Rumspringa | The Amish are a traditional Christian group that lives in isolation from modern society. The Amish people live simply and do not use modern technology. As a result, their way of life is very unique. Instead of using cars as their central means of transportation, they use horse-drawn buggies. Amish communities do not re... | 1,040 | 4 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture | What is Rumspringa? | A. a traditional Christian group that lives in isolation from modern society
B. the process of getting shunned by your family if you decide to leave the Amish community
C. a time when Amish teenagers can experience life in modern society
D. the process of becoming stronger and more faithful members of church | C | What does this text describe? | A. This text describes the reason Amish people chose to live without modern conveniences.
B. This text describes the Amish lifestyle and the 10-year period after Amish teenagers turn sixteen, called Rumspringa.
C. This text describes the difficulty that 26-year-old people face when deciding whether to leave the Amish c... | B | The Amish people live simply and do not use modern technology. What evidence from the text supports this statement? | A. Instead of using cars as their central means of transportation, the Amish use horse-drawn buggies.
B. The Amish way of life is very unique.
C. The Amish believe that if people do decide to return home, they will be stronger and more faithful members of the church.
D. When someone decides to leave the Amish community... | A | Based on the information in the text, how would someone expect to feel if he or she were forced to live in an Amish community at age 16? | A. comfortable
B. challenged
C. normal
D. wealthy | B | What is the main idea of this text? | A. Amish people believe that if someone decides to return home to the Amish community, then he or she will be a stronger and more faithful member of the church.
B. The Amish way of life is very unique. Instead of using cars as their central means of transportation, they use horse-drawn buggies. Amish communities do not... | D | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Sadeq Hedayat | Sadeq Hedayat was born on February 17, 1903, in Tehran, Iran. He was born into a very wealthy family and had the opportunity to travel abroad. For his secondary education, Hedayat studied French and attended a French school. After graduating from this school, he went on to study dentistry and later engineering in Europ... | 1,050 | 4 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture, World History | What was Sadeq Hedayat's outlook on the world? | A. happy and positive
B. hesitant and fearful
C. annoyed and impatient
D. pessimistic and absurd | D | What does this text describe? | A. This text describes the transition Sadeg Hedayat made from being a student in France to studying dentistry and engineering in Europe.
B. This text describes the way Sadeg Hedayat was influenced by other authors and how he would use this influence in his writing.
C. This text describes the process Sadeg Hedayat went ... | B | Kafka, a novelist from Prague, was one of Sadeq Hedayat's favorite authors. What evidence from the text supports this statement? | A. Kafka’s works are known for creating nightmarish worlds with absurd characters.
B. Kafka was an author born in prague.
C. Hedayat enjoyed reading Kafka so much that he began translating some of his works into Persian.
D. Hedayat was also influenced by Rainer Maria Rilke, an intense poet who frequently wrote about de... | C | Read these sentences from the text: "Hedayat was plagued by the idea that he could not bring about positive change in Iran. Hedayat was upset with the political system in Iran and his stories often reflected his frustration with the lack of outrage in Iran." What can be concluded about how Hedayat felt living in Iran b... | A. okay
B. excited
C. scared
D. unhappy | D | What is the main idea of this text? | A. Sadeq Hedayat's writing was influenced by authors who wrote about nightmarish worlds and death. Hedayat mostly wrote stories rooted in loneliness and sadness that reflected his pessimistic outlook on the world.
B. Sadeq Hedayat became an author only after first traveling abroad, studying French while attending a Fre... | A | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Rock Art | Imagine a painting. What do you think of? You most likely thought of a canvas painting. Canvas is a cloth material, and it is stretched across wooden frames to make a surface to paint on. You probably did not think of a rock painting, but this type of painting is a very important form of art.
Most art historians believ... | 850 | 4 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture, World History | According to the text, what is one of the earliest known art forms? | A. canvas paintings
B. rock art
C. sculptures
D. pencil drawings | B | What does the text describe? | A. rock art paintings in Africa
B. rock art paintings in Australia
C. rock art paintings in Asia
D. rock art paintings in Europe | A | Read the following sentences from the text. " Some of these rock art paintings were painted around 10,000 years ago! Pictures of humans and animals decorate the walls of these caves. These rock art paintings often depict hunting scenes. This has helped historians understand what hunting may have been like for prehistor... | A. They bought food in stores.
B. They didn't make rock art.
C. They made canvas paintings.
D. They hunted. | D | The text contains a photograph of rock art at Twyfelfontein, Namibia. Based on the text and photograph, what does this photograph most likely show? | A. emotions felt by prehistoric people in that area
B. societies formed by prehistoric people in that area
C. animals hunted by prehistoric people in that area
D. the inspiration for the first canvas painting | C | What is the main idea of this text? | A. Hunting scenes are a common theme in rock art found around the world.
B. Rock art, one of the earliest forms of art, may have been a way for prehistoric people to communicate and record their ways of life.
C. Africa has rock art that may have been painted as early as 10,000 years ago.
D. There have been several majo... | B | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Russian Folklore: Baba Yaga | Baba Yaga is one of the most famous characters in Russian folklore. Her origin is debated, but many people believe that she comes from ancient Slavic storytelling. During this pre-Christian period, her character was thought to have symbolized a type of evil being that had godly power and the ability to control fate. In... | 1,060 | 4 | null | Who is Baba Yaga? | A. one of the most famous characters in Russian folklore
B. one of the most famous people in Russian history
C. one of the most famous characters in western European folklore
D. one of the most famous characters in Chinese folklore | A | What does the text describe? | A. how Baba Yaga compares to other characters in Russian folklore
B. different themes reflected in Russian folklore
C. how Baba Yaga compares to characters in American folklore
D. how Baba Yaga is portrayed in Russian folklore | D | Read the following sentences from the text. Her teeth are pointed, sharp, and often so long that they cover her lips. Despite her ferocious-looking teeth, Baba Yaga usually looks like she hasn’t eaten anything in years. She is often described as looking like skin and bones. Which statement about Baba Yaga's appearance ... | A. She looks kind and beautiful.
B. She looks normal and friendly.
C. She looks peaceful and wise.
D. She looks odd and scary. | D | Based on the text, how might Baba Yaga stories probably make kids feel? | A. happy
B. fearful
C. funny
D. bored | B | What is the main idea of this text? | A. Baba Yaga is a famous character in Russian folklore who is often portrayed as an odd, old woman with amazing power.
B. In ancient Slavic storytelling, Baba Yaga symbolized a type of evil being that had godly power and the ability to control fate.
C. In Russian folklore, the character Baba Yaga can control time and c... | A | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Jazz | Jazz is a famous and beloved style of music that rose with the Harlem Renaissance. It was a very innovative form of music. It was not quite like any music form that came before it. However, it did rely on earlier music styles. African American musicians mixed elements of European music and African music to create jazz.... | 780 | 4-5 | Social Studies: World History | According to the text, what is a famous style of music that rose with the Harlem Renaissance? | A. Rock
B. Jazz
C. Hip-hop
D. Salsa | B | What does the text describe? | A. improvisation in jazz music
B. different instruments used to make jazz music
C. the career of Billy Holiday
D. the history of the Harlem Renaissance | A | Read the following sentences from the text. " Improvisation is when musicians make up the music as they play it. Since improvisation is a characteristic of jazz music, jazz musicians often have the freedom to change up the music they are playing. In fact, jazz music is free to be changed in the middle of a performance!... | A. someone who has a deep, passionate voice
B. someone who is shy and loves writing music
C. someone who prefers to perform alone
D. someone who can think and create music quickly | D | Why does the author describe jazz as "innovative"? | A. because jazz music can be made by musicians playing instruments and singing
B. because it's not quite like any music form that came before it
C. because it was inspired by earlier music styles
D. because it can have slow and fast rhythms | B | What is the main idea of this text? | A. Jazz was an innovative music form that rose with the Harlem Renaissance and that features improvisation.
B. African American musicians mixed elements of European music and African music to create jazz.
C. Billy Holiday was a singer who could improvise with her voice and sing with emotion and passion.
D. Jazz musicia... | A | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Ivory Art | Do you know what material makes up elephant tusks? It is called ivory. Ivory is an extremely valuable material and is in high demand.
One of the reasons it is so valuable is that there are only so many elephants in the world. People who seize ivory from elephant tusks usually kill the elephant in the process, but recen... | 1,180 | 4 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture | What material makes up elephant tusks? | A. gold
B. silver
C. bronze
D. ivory | D | The text describes the effect of the piano's growing popularity in Europe on the demand for ivory. What was this effect? | A. The demand for ivory decreased.
B. The demand for ivory increased.
C. The demand for ivory stayed the same.
D. The demand for ivory decreased then increased. | B | Read the following sentences from the text. " People who seize ivory from elephant tusks usually kill the elephant in the process, but recent laws have made it illegal to murder elephants in some African countries. If too many people participated in this type of behavior, elephants would eventually go extinct. As the s... | A. They may increase the ivory supply.
B. They may decrease the ivory demand.
C. They may decrease the ivory supply.
D. They may increase both the ivory supply and demand. | C | Based on the text, what might threaten African elephants? | A. a decrease in popularity of objects made from ivory
B. an increase in popularity of objects made from ivory
C. an increase in popularity of objects made from wood
D. a decrease in popularity of objects made from metal | B | What is the main idea of this text? | A. Ivory is a very valuable material made from elephant tusks that is in very high demand.
B. Recent laws have made it illegal to murder elephants in some African countries
C. Between the seventeenth century and the twentieth century, ivory trade in Africa was legal.
D. Ivory art objects played a large role in the trad... | A | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Rainforests in Guatemala | Guatemala is famous for its amazing biodiversity. Many exotic species of animals and plants live in this biodiverse country.
The Peten region in Guatemala is known world-wide for its tropical rainforests. Its rainforests are so dense and thick that it is extremely difficult to move through. The Mayans, who lived in the... | 1,000 | 4 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture, World History | What is the Peten region in Guatemala known for? | A. coastal deserts
B. temperate forests
C. tropical rainforests
D. subtropical savannas | C | How did the natural resources in the Peten rainforests affect Mayans? | A. They made it hard for Mayans to survive there.
B. They helped Mayans survive and grow.
C. They inspired delicious and healthy recipes.
D. They helped Mayans become doctors. | B | Read the following sentences from the text. “Over the years, many people have tried to make money off of Guatemala's natural resources. In the 20th century, the slash-and-burn technique was used to clear out the forest. When the trees were burned down, the ash would be used as a fertilizer to help plants grow. This tec... | A. Although slash-and-burn created fertilizer for plants, it hurt Guatemala’s rainforests overall.
B. The slash-and-burn technique is good for Guatemala’s rainforests to grow even more biodiversity in the dense rainforests.
C. Guatemalans must have beautiful gardens in their neighborhoods because they have some of the ... | A | According to the text, why are Guatemala’s national parks important? | A. They help attract tourists to visit Guatemala and spend money there so businesses can grow and succeed.
B. They are open for field trips so Guatemalan children can learn all about Guatemala’s rainforests and biodiversity.
C. The Guatemalan government spent a lot of money to build the parks so that Mayans could live ... | D | What is the main idea of this text? | A. Guatemala is famous for its rainforests and its biodiversity, and the government is trying to protect these rainforests from slash-and-burn techniques by creating national parks.
B. People who wanted to make money from Guatemala’s natural resources used the slash-and-burn technique and used the ashes as fertilizer, ... | A | null | null | null | null | null | null |
From Tsardom to Communism | From 1547 to 1917, Russia was ruled by tsars. A tsar was the head monarch, a leader who possessed unparalleled power. The first official tsar of Russia was Ivan IV. He is referred to as ‘Ivan the Terrible’ because he ruled with violence and was ruthless to his opponents. Ivan’s goal was to create a central government, ... | 1,080 | 4 | Social Studies: Civics & Government, World History | Who ruled Russia from 1547 to 1917? | A. Ivan IV
B. Communists
C. tsars
D. Russian nobility | C | This text describes a sequence of events. Which of these events happened first? | A. Some citizens decided to overthrow the Russian tsar.
B. Ivan the Terrible centralized his power with a violent reign.
C. Mikhail the First was crowned as Tsar of Russia.
D. A communist group called the Bolsheviks took power in Russia. | B | The rules of different tsars of Russia had different impacts on the people who lived there. What evidence from the text supports this conclusion? | A. Ivan the IV’s goal as tsar was to centralize power, while Mikhail the First had different goals for his reign.
B. Ivan the IV’s reign led to a time of great trouble in Russia, while Tsar Mikhail’s reign led to an era of prosperity.
C. Ivan the IV was the very first tsar of Russia, while Mikhail the First was the fir... | B | Why might people in Russia have supported the communist Bolsheviks in trying to overthrow the Romanov dynasty? | A. They wanted to start their own dynasty of tsars in order to have as much power as possible.
B. They were unhappy with the violent and ruthless rule of their tsar and the period of starvation and civil war that it caused.
C. They were happy with the rule of the Romanovs, but thought it was time for another group of p... | D | What is the main idea of this text? | A. Ivan the IV and Mikhail the First were both important tsars in Russia who possessed unparalleled power in the country.
B. Russia was ruled by tsars for a long time until a communist group overthrew the last tsar and put a communist government in place.
C. Under the communist government in the USSR, every worker rece... | B | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Quinceañeras | Quinceañeras, large celebrations dedicated to girls’ 15th birthdays, are popular in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Mexico. Quinceañeras are more than just glorified birthday parties, however. These celebrations also have religious and familial significance. In fact, quinceañeras begin with a mass that the family att... | 990 | 4 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture | What is a quinceañera? | A. a dance
B. a party dress
C. a holiday
D. a birthday celebration | D | What does this text describe? | A. This text describes the birthday girl's damas and chambelanes.
B. This text describes a waltz-style dance .
C. This text describes what happens at a quinceañera.
D. This text describes the dress girls wear at their quinceañeras. | C | In addition to family members, there are many friends present at the reception. What evidence from the text supports this statement? | A. "There is a reception following the mass, where festive music, dancing, and food abound."
B. "The birthday girl is accompanied by her damas , or maids of honor, and chambelanes , or chamberlains."
C. "Quinceañeras begin with a mass that the family attends."
D. "Quinceañeras are more than just glorified birthday part... | B | Based on evidence from the text, what word would you use to describe the atmosphere of a quinceañeras? | A. exciting
B. slow
C. boring
D. simple | A | What is the main idea of this text? | A. The birthday girl at a quinceañera is accompanied by her damas , or maids of honor, and chambelanes , or chamberlains.
B. During quinceañeras, the birthday girl has to be the central focal point of most photos taken because she is the most important girl at the party.
C. A quinceañera is a large celebration for a gi... | C | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Geography of Southern Africa | Southern Africa has a variety of climates and land features. Much of the land is rolling savannas. Other areas have mountains. The southwestern tip of Africa has a climate similar to that of northwest Africa, with warm, rainy winters and hot, dry summers. Southern Africa is also home to Africa’s second major desert (wi... | 870 | 4 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture | What makes up much of the land in southern Africa? | A. savannas
B. glaciers
C. deserts
D. rainforests | A | How does the text describe the Kalahari Desert? | A. as home to Mount Kilimanjaro, the continent's tallest mountain
B. as covered with red soil and dry grasses, and with little water
C. as having many tall trees and a high amount of rain each year
D. as home to starfish, crabs, shrimp, lobster, and jellyfish | B | Read the following sentences from the text. “It is difficult to grow anything in the Kalahari because there is so little water. Still, wild animals such as meerkats, wildebeests, zebras, giraffes, and elephants live there. Some Khoikhoi and San peoples still survive in the Kalahari Desert by hunting, gathering, and her... | A. If you live in the Kalahari Desert, you must live in a village.
B. The San peoples had to leave the Kalahari Desert for food.
C. It is difficult for people to live in the Kalahari Desert.
D. Only animals, like zebras, can survive in the Kalahari Desert. | C | What kinds of land features could you find if you traveled east from the rainforests in central Africa? | A. Africa’s two major deserts, the Sahara and Kalahari Deserts
B. the countries of Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa
C. grassy plains, tropical forests, and alpine forests
D. savannas and Mount Kilimanjaro, the continent's tallest mountain | D | What is the main idea of this text? | A. The Sahara Desert is the first major desert and the Kalahari Desert is the second major desert in the continent of Africa.
B. Thousands of tourists visit southern Africa each year to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain on the African continent.
C. Southern Africa is mostly rolling savannas and has a climat... | D | null | null | null | null | null | null |
How Animals Survive on Mountains | An old tall tale says that mountain animals, such as goats, are born with the legs on one side of their bodies longer than the ones on the other side. The idea is that this would make it easier for them to walk along steep mountain slopes.
If you think about it, though, there would be one big drawback to such an arrang... | 940 | 4 | Science: Earth & Space Science, Life Science | What animals have hooves with sharp edges to help them grip steep mountainsides? | A. sheep and mountain goats
B. horses and cows
C. deer and mountain goats
D. sheep and gazelles | A | What does the author list in the section "Surviving the Cold?" | A. different places that animals live
B. different types of birds that hibernate
C. different styles of bird nests
D. different ways that animals stay warm | D | Read the following sentences from the text. "Most large mountain animals spend the winter lower down the mountain. In the Rockies, elk and bighorn sheep move farther down. There, they find shelter from the cold and wind among trees and bushes. Mountain goats, on the other hand, stay high up. They have two layers of fur... | A. All animals need to move down the mountain in the winter, whether they have one or two coats of fur.
B. Small are usually best at staying warm during mountain winters, so larger animals are always cold.
C. Animals that have two layers of fur in the winter don't need to move down the mountain to stay warm.
D. It's sa... | C | What is different about the ways that ground squirrels and voles survive the cold in the winter? | A. Ground squirrels have a winter fur layer, while voles do not.
B. Ground squirrels hibernate, while voles live in tunnels underground.
C. Ground squirrels live in tunnels underground, while voles hibernate.
D. Ground squirrels move farther down the mountain, while voles have a winter fur layer. | B | What is the main idea of this text? | A. Animals that live on mountains have special features that help them survive the cold and get around on steep mountainsides.
B. Ground squirrels are one animal that hibernates during the winter, meaning they sleep underground.
C. Some animals like mountain goats have two layers of fur, one of which is designed to kee... | A | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Polynesian Mythology | Polynesia, a region in the Pacific Islands, has a very interesting tradition of mythology. Although the Polynesian islands are geographically spread out, there are a few gods and goddesses who were once worshipped across these islands. The most important and most powerful of the Polynesian gods are Father Sky and Mothe... | 1,040 | 4 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture, World History | Where is the region of Polynesia located? | A. in the Mediterranean Sea
B. in the Caribbean Sea
C. in the North Pole
D. in the Pacific Islands | D | The text describes different gods in Polynesian mythology. How does the text describe the god named Maui? | A. He is an original creator who is a source of life.
B. He is a trickster known for his strength and wisdom.
C. He is wise and very kind to others.
D. He is strong yet cruel. | B | Father Sky and Mother Earth are important figures in Polynesian mythology. What information from the text best supports this statement? | A. It is believed that both gods were the original creators and sources of all life.
B. There are a few gods and goddesses who were once worshipped across the Polynesian islands.
C. Maui always carries around his magic hook, which he uses to slow down the sun's arc.
D. Polynesia, a region in the Pacific Islands, has a ... | A | What does the story of Maui reveal about Polynesian mythology? | A. It is very realistic.
B. It is fantastical.
C. It is very dark.
D. It is very scientific. | B | What is the main idea of this text? | A. Maui is a famous god in Polynesian mythology slows down the sun's arc with a magic hook.
B. Polynesian mythology features gods and goddesses people in the Pacific Islands once worshipped.
C. The most important and most powerful of the Polynesian gods are Father Sky and Mother Earth.
D. The Polynesian god Maui contin... | B | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Mosques in Iran | A mosque is the place where Muslims, people who practice the religion of Islam, go to worship. Like the Christian church or the Jewish synagogue, the Islamic mosque is the building that serves as the public gathering place where worshipers can come together and pray. Since it is estimated that 99.4% of Iran’s populatio... | 1,160 | 4 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture, World History | What is a mosque? | A. a school
B. the place christians go to worship
C. the place muslims go to worship
D. a museum | C | What does this text describe? | A. This text describes the city of Isfahan when the Sheikh Lotfallah Mosque was being constructed.
B. This text describes Islamic mosques and particularly focuses on the Sheikh Lotfa llah Mosque, the most famous mosque in Iran.
C. This text describes how the mosaics on the Sheikh Lotfa llah Mosque were properly placed ... | B | The Sheikh Lotfa llah Mosque held great importance. What evidence from the text supports this sentence? | A. The Sheikh Lotfa llah Mosque was constructed between the years 1590 and 1602.
B. In addition to its beauty, the Sheikh Lotfa llah Mosque was located in a central location.
C. The walls of the Sheikh Lotfa llah Mosque are decorated with detailed mosaics.
D. The Sheikh Lotfa llah Mosque was located in Isfahan. | B | Read these sentences from the text: "At the time of the mosque's construction, Isfahan was a major force in the country's economy and politics, so the fact that the mosque is located in the most visible and important location in the city, indicates that this building held great importance." Based on the information in ... | A. Isfahan was never an important city.
B. Isfahan is a future city still being constructed.
C. Isfahan used to be a large component of Iran's economy.
D. Isfahan is a mosque. | C | What is the main idea of this text? | A. Mosques are found all over Iran because 99.4% of the population is Muslim. The Sheikh Lotfa llah Mosque is particularly beautiful and significant because it was built in the middle of a once powerful city.
B. The walls of the Sheikh Lotfa llah Mosque are decorated with detailed mosaics, which is very awe-inspiring b... | A | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Mountain Animals | Many different animals live in the mountains. The mountain lion is the largest wild cat in North America. The mountain lion is also known as the puma, panther, cougar, or catamount. Once the mountain lion roamed all over North America. As more and more people moved into the lowlands and built towns and cities, the moun... | 770 | 4 | Science: Earth & Space Science, Life Science | What is the largest wild cat in North America? | A. the mountain lion
B. the tiger
C. the lion
D. the bobcat | A | What caused the mountain lion to mostly live in the mountains? | A. More plants were growing in the mountains.
B. More people were moving to the mountains.
C. There were more people living in the lowlands.
D. They got too warm in the lowlands. | C | Read the following sentences from the text. "As [guanacos] graze, one member of the herd stands guard on higher ground. If they are in danger, the guard gives a signal. The herd then runs away." What can you conclude about guanacos based on this information? | A. They are usually independent animals.
B. They survive by working together as a herd.
C. They survive by fighting predators.
D. They are not very happy animals. | B | How does this text describe the kinds of animals that live in the mountains? | A. as coming in all shapes and sizes
B. as all being a type of bird
C. as being very shy and hard to find
D. as being myths | A | What is the main idea of this text? | A. Many different types of animals live in the mountains, including ibexes, guanacos, ibexes, and more.
B. Ibexes have long horns that curl backwards from their heads.
C. The most powerful kind of mountain animal is the mountain lion, which lives in North America.
D. Guanacos are always in groups because that's how the... | A | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Oxcarts in Costa Rica | Can you guess what an oxcart is? It’s a cart carried by an ox! In Costa Rica, it’s also a rich source of artistic tradition. The oxcart was originally used to transport crops from central Costa Rica to its coast. In addition to serving as a vehicle for transporting crops, oxcarts were often the only means of transporta... | 1,060 | 4 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture, World History | What is one way the oxcart was used in Costa Rica? | A. People used it to transport crops from central Costa Rica to the coast.
B. Rich, upper-class families used it to get from one place to another.
C. People used it to transport farm animals from one place to another.
D. People used it to carry important works of art around. | A | What does the text describe? | A. how oxcarts were first invented
B. different artistic works created throughout Central America
C. the lives of lower-income families in Costa Rica
D. the artistic significance of oxcarts in Costa Rica | D | Read the following sentences from the text. " As a result, painted oxcarts became a source of pride for many families and communities. In fact, many regional communities in Costa Rica developed their own designs and patterns for their oxcarts. A specific design would often signify a specific region." What can be conclu... | A. They symbolized different historical events of Costa Rica.
B. Their artistic significance decreased.
C. They reflected the culture and regions of Costa Rica.
D. They caused deep divisions among different regions in Costa Rica. | C | The text includes two photographs of oxcarts. What do these photographs show? | A. Oxcarts of Costa Rica can have very beautiful and complex designs.
B. Oxcarts of Costa Rica can have very simple and dull designs.
C. Oxcarts of Costa Rica may show people from the region they were created.
D. Oxcarts of Costa Rica reflect the diversity of people around the world. | A | What is the main idea of this text? | A. The oxcart was originally used to transport crops from central Costa Rica to the coast and to transport lower-income families from one location to another.
B. Oxcarts in Costa Rica were once used to transport people and crops, but eventually were transformed into art pieces that symbolize the country and its culture... | B | null | null | null | null | null | null |
One Way to Find a Planet | We say that planets orbit stars, but that’s not the whole truth. Planets and stars actually orbit around their common center of mass. This common center of mass is called the barycenter. Barycenters also help astronomers search for planets beyond our solar system!
Every object has a center of mass. It is the exact cent... | 790 | 4 | Science: Earth & Space Science | What is a barycenter? | A. a common center of mass around which planets and stars orbit
B. a center of gravity for one object like a ruler or a sledgehammer
C. a black hole in space that pulls other objects into its orbit
D. the point on the sun where it has the most gravitational pull | A | What does the author compare the sun to, when describing the barycenter between Earth and the sun? | A. a ruler
B. a black hole
C. a boat
D. a sledgehammer head | D | Scientists can figure out which object has more mass by finding the barycenter of two objects. What evidence from the passage supports this conclusion? | A. “In space, two or more objects orbiting each other also have a center of mass.”
B. “Our entire solar system also has a barycenter.”
C. “The barycenter is usually closest to the object with the most mass.”
D. “Our solar system’s barycenter constantly changes position.” | C | Why does our solar system’s barycenter constantly move? | A. The planets in our solar system have different masses, so when they move it affects the barycenter.
B. The planets in our solar system sometimes migrate to other solar systems, so the barycenter follows them.
C. The sun moves once every few years, which affects the barycenter position.
D. The solar system’s barycent... | A | What is the main idea of this passage? | A. The barycenter between the Earth and the sun is very close to the sun’s center because the sun is so large.
B. Every object has a center of mass, which is the point at which the object can be perfectly balanced.
C. Objects in space orbit around their barycenter, and scientists use barycenters to learn more about the... | C | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Persepolis | One of the largest and most fascinating sites in Iran is the ancient ruins of Persepolis. Construction of Persepolis began in 518 BC, which means that the city is now over 2,500 years old. It is no surprise that this grand city, once famed for its enviable riches, has not remained grand. After all, such a significant a... | 990 | 4 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture, World History | What remains of Persepolis today? | A. golden palaces
B. nothing
C. forty columns
D. twenty columns | C | What does this text describe? | A. This text describes the many places Alexander the Great's army sacked.
B. This text describes why only forty columns remain in Persepolis.
C. This text describes the beautiful engravings that covered the golden palaces.
D. This text describes different fascinating tourist attractions in Iran. | B | A significant amount of time has passed between Persepolis's inception and its current state. What evidence from the text supports this statement? | A. Golden palaces covered in beautiful engravings had once graced these grounds.
B. Construction of Persepolis began in 518 BC, which means that the city is now over 2,500 years old.
C. One of the largest and most fascinating tourist attractions in Iran is the ancient ruins of Persepolis.
D. Persepolis is known as ‘the... | B | Read these sentences from the text: "Many scholars claim that Alexander was motivated by revenge, for around 150 years earlier, the Persians had sacked Athens, a city in Greece, the country where Alexander was born. Other scholars are not convinced by this theory. Regardless of his initial motive, Alexander is said to ... | A. Scholars do not care about Persepolis.
B. All scholars agree that Alexander was motivated by revenge.
C. Some scholars believe Persepolis never existed.
D. Scholars disagree on Alexander the Great's motive for destruction. | D | What is the main idea of this text? | A. Many people come to 'the place of the forty columns' every year to admire what was once was a grand and beautiful city.
B. In 330 BC Alexander the Great's army was extremely powerful. It was powerful enough to sack the entire city of Persepolis and leave it in ruins.
C. Persepolis was once a grand city with golden p... | C | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Oceans and Seas around Africa | Africa is surrounded by water. The Mediterranean Sea borders Africa on the north. It provides the continent with an important water route to Europe and western Asia. The ancient Greeks, Romans, and North Africans used the Mediterranean Sea for trade. In the Middle Ages, Muslims from North Africa traded with people in E... | 820 | 4 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture | What body of water borders Africa on the north? | A. the Atlantic Ocean
B. the Mediterranean Sea
C. the Indian Ocean
D. the Caspian Sea | B | West Africa is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean. How did that affect European visitors to Africa? | A. Since the Atlantic Ocean was difficult to cross, Europeans would stay in Africa for many months after they made it through on ships.
B. European visitors were able to travel back and forth between Africa and their homes frequently, often visiting for a few hours before returning.
C. The Atlantic Ocean kept Europeans... | C | Read the following sentences from the text. “The Indian Ocean linked people in Africa and Asia for centuries. Traders sailed between Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and India. In the 1400s, Chinese fleets even reached the east African coast. Madagascar is the world’s fourth largest island. It lies in the Indian Ocean ab... | A. The Indian Ocean caused a war between Africa and India that was fought on Madagascar.
B. Fleets from Asia would have to sail past Madagascar to reach the eastern coast of Africa.
C. Madagascar is the world’s fourth largest island because it is bigger than the African continent.
D. There must have been a lot of anima... | B | Why might Cape of Good Hope be a more peaceful name than Cape of Storms? | A. Cape of Good Hope is longer which seems more polite, while Cape of Storms is shorter and seems rushed.
B. Cape of Good Hope is understood in more languages than Cape of Storms, so it feels more welcoming to other cultures.
C. Cape of Good Hope was a peaceful African empire, therefore it reminds people of peace more ... | D | What is the main idea of this text? | A. Africa is surrounded by many different bodies of water that all had different impacts on Africa’s trade and relations with other continents.
B. Today, the Suez Canal connects the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea and is located on the northeastern coast of Africa.
C. Madagascar is an island near Africa that is the wo... | A | null | null | null | null | null | null |
What's the Big Idea about Water?: The Amazing Water Molecule | Water may not seem special. It's clear. It has no taste. It doesn't smell like anything. But if it couldn't do the things it does, life on Earth would not exist.
Water is a tiny molecule. It consists of three atoms: two of hydrogen and one of oxygen. Water molecules cling to each other because of a force called hydroge... | 720 | 4 | Science: Earth & Space Science | What three atoms are in a water molecule? | A. two nitrogen and one hydrogen
B. one carbon and two oxygen
C. two hydrogen and one oxygen
D. two helium and one hydrogen | C | What does the second half of the text describe? | A. how water molecules behave when they are warm or cold
B. how water molecules behave in different climates
C. how water molecules behave in solid, liquid, and gas form
D. how water molecules behave under different lights | C | Water is a special substance because it acts differently than other substances do. What information from the passage supports this conclusion? | A. “When water freezes into a solid, it does a strange thing: it floats! (Most other solids become denser and sink.)”
B. “When water molecules escape from liquid water and float into the air, they turn into an invisible gas called water vapor.”
C. “Water may not seem special. It's clear. It has no taste. It doesn't sme... | A | What might happen on Earth if the hydrogen bonds between water molecules were too weak for water to exist as a liquid, solid, and gas? | A. Life on Earth would be better.
B. Life on Earth would not exist.
C. Life on Earth would be harder.
D. Life on Earth would be easier. | B | What is the main idea of this passage? | A. Water molecules consist of three atoms, two hydrogen and one oxygen.
B. Water molecules work in special ways that are important to life on Earth.
C. The molecules in water vapor have huge spaces between them.
D. Water molecules in solid water are arranged in crystal patterns. | B | null | null | null | null | null | null |
The Middle Ages | If you know anything about knights, castles, or Robin Hood, then you already know something about the Middle Ages in Europe. The Middle Ages may seem to be an unusual name for a historical period—especially one that lasted for more than 1,000 years. People in the Middle Ages did not know they were in the middle of anyt... | 950 | 4 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture, World History | How long did the Middle Ages last? | A. 1,000 years
B. 1,000 days
C. 1,000 centuries
D. 1,000 hours | A | The text compares the life people live today with the life people lived during the Middle Ages. According to the text, what is one difference between life today and life during the Middle Ages? | A. Life likely had a faster pace during the Middle Ages than it does now.
B. Life likely was more fun during the Middle Ages than it is now.
C. Life likely had a slower, steadier pace during the Middle Ages than it does now.
D. Life likely was more peaceful during the Middle Ages than it is now. | C | Most people during the Middle Ages lived an isolated existence. What information from the text best supports this statement? | A. " The disease, called the Black Death or plague, certainly made its mark upon medieval Europe."
B. " They did not travel far from home. As a result, most people communicated using the language, or dialect, spoken in the place of their birth."
C. " Great castles and churches began to adorn the landscape. Kings, queen... | B | Examine the diagram in the text. Based on the information in the diagram and the text, what can be concluded about the lives of freemen and serfs? | A. Freeman and serfs most likely lived exciting lives. They most likely traveled to different places, learning different languages and meeting different people along the way.
B. Freeman and serfs most likely lived lives filled with luxury. They most likely owned churches and built buildings with impressive architecture... | D | What is the main idea of this text? | A. Because travel was so difficult, many people didn’t travel during the Middle Ages. Generally, only rich, educated people in Europe traveled.
B. Many people's lives during the Middle Ages were isolated and threatened by disease. However, this period was also a time when people built impressive architecture.
C. Althou... | B | null | null | null | null | null | null |
The Night Rider | By the year 1775, tensions were high between Britain and its American colonists. Some colonists had already begun preparing for war. In Massachusetts, special troops were created to be ready to fight at a moment’s notice. The men in these units were called minutemen.
The British government knew that these preparations ... | 900 | 4 | Social Studies: U.S. History | Where did the British soldiers try to march to in April 1775? | A. Lexington
B. Concord
C. Boston
D. New York | B | This text describes a sequence of events. What event happened right before Paul Revere got into a rowboat and rowed across the Charles River? | A. Paul Revere jumped onto a horse and set off down a road.
B. Paul Revere's friend hung two lanterns in the belfry of a church.
C. Paul Revere woke up all the sleeping colonists to warn them.
D. Hundreds of minutemen grabbed their guns and prepared to fight. | B | Please read these sentences from the text. " Revere got into a rowboat and rowed across the Charles River—right past a British warship! Once he made it across, he jumped onto a horse and set off along the same road the soldiers would be taking. Paul Revere and other riders... rode through the night to awaken the sleepi... | A. He felt that awakening the other colonists was important enough for him to put himself in danger.
B. He felt more loyalty toward the British soldiers than toward the other colonists.
C. He did not believe that the British soldiers would hurt anyone they met on the road to Concord.
D. Awakening the colonists did not ... | A | What might have happened if Paul Revere had not warned the colonists that the British were coming? | A. The colonists might have succeeded in defeating the British soldiers.
B. The British may not have traveled to Concord.
C. The colonists may have tried to march from Concord to Boston.
D. The British might have succeeded in taking the colonists' weapons. | D | What is the main idea of this text? | A. The Revolutionary War began when minutemen in Concord grabbed their guns to fight British soldiers who were marching towards them.
B. While people believe that Paul Revere yelled "The British are coming!" he more likely quietly warned colonists in a different way.
C. When Paul Revere learned how British soldiers wer... | C | null | null | null | null | null | null |
The Panama Canal | The Panama Canal is a man-made waterway that cuts through the Isthmus of Panama to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. An isthmus is a very narrow strip of land that is situated between two larger landmasses. The two land masses that Panama connects are North and South America.
Prior to the construction of the Pan... | 1,280 | 4 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture, World History | The Panama Canal is a man-made waterway. Which two oceans does it connect? | A. the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
B. the Pacific and Indian Oceans
C. the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans
D. the Southern and Pacific Oceans | A | The text describes some effects of the construction of the Panama Canal. What is one of these effects? | A. It increased the travel time of cargo ships moving between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
B. It increased the expenses involved with moving cargo ships between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
C. It cut down the travel time of cargo ships moving between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
D. It decreased the number o... | C | The Panama Canal is important to different countries. Which information from the text best supports this conclusion? | A. The Panama Canal was built during a time of limited technological capabilities.
B. An isthmus is a very narrow strip of land that is situated between two larger landmasses.
C. The Panama Canal's construction required 45,000 workers at its peak.
D. The Panama Canal remains crucial for international trade. | D | It is estimated that a cross continental trip from New York to northern California took 5 months longer prior to the Panama Canal. Why did it take so much longer? | A. because the boats had to be dragged over the Isthmus of Panama
B. because the boats were not well made
C. because the boats had to sail around the entire South American continent
D. because the boats had to sail around Africa first | C | What is the main idea of this text? | A. The Panama Canal is a waterway that was constructed to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, cutting travel time and expenses.
B. The construction of the Panama Canal required innovative engineering and involved dangers such as poisonous snakes and mudslides
C. It is estimated that a cross continental trip from N... | A | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Food Resources in the Pacific Islands | There are more than 20 countries located in the southern Pacific Ocean. These countries are known as the Pacific Island countries. These island nations have some important natural resources, with a lot of jobs based around these resources.
As island nations, these countries are surrounded by a major resource—fish. Many... | 900 | 4 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture | According to the text, what resource are the Pacific Island countries surrounded by? | A. jobs
B. fish
C. coconut
D. fossil fuels | B | What does the text describe about the Pacific Island countries? | A. exported and imported food resources
B. exported and imported jobs
C. exported and imported unhealthy products
D. exported and imported sugar, salt, and fat | A | Read these sentences from the text. As island nations, [the Pacific Island countries] are surrounded by a major resource—fish. Many of these countries have fishing industries. Fishers mostly catch tuna. They also catch other fish, shellfish, and crabs. Fishing is very important to a lot of these countries. What can you... | A. Island nations are likely to have major fishing industries.
B. The Pacific Island countries are mostly surrounded by shellfish.
C. The Pacific Island countries have stronger agriculture than fishing industries.
D. The Pacific Island countries are surrounded by water. | A | Read these sentences from the text. Imported food products have become popular in the Pacific Islands. Sometimes they are even cheaper than locally grown fruits and vegetables. A lot of the imported food products are less healthy, though. They are usually loaded with sugar, salt, and fat. These unhealthy imported produ... | A. Locally grown or sourced food probably does not have any sugar, salt, and fat.
B. Locally grown or sourced food and the unhealthy imported products probably have the same amount of sugar, salt, and fat.
C. Locally grown or sourced food probably has more sugar, salt, and fat than the unhealthy imported products.
D. L... | D | What is the main idea of the text? | A. Fishers in the Pacific Island countries often catch tuna, but they also catch other fish, shellfish, and crabs.
B. The Pacific Island countries have some important natural food resources like fish and certain crops, but the countries also import many goods, including different food products.
C. About 80% of Pacific ... | B | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Complaints, Grievances, and Preparations | In 1774, in response to rebellious acts in the American colony of Massachusetts, the British Parliament approved a series of new laws. These laws, called "the Intolerable Acts" by colonists, punished the people of Massachusetts. The colonists were very angry about these new laws. So in September, 1774, representatives ... | 930 | 4 | Social Studies: U.S. History | What did the 56 members of the First Continental Congress draft? | A. a list of ways to prepare for the war that they felt they couldn't avoid
B. a list of complaints and grievances against the king and his government
C. a list of reasons why the colonies should go to war with Britain
D. a list of reasons why the colonies should keep the peace with Britain | B | What was one effect of Britain's approval of the Intolerable Acts? | A. Colonists decided to stop exporting colonial goods to Britain unless the acts were repealed.
B. Colonists met to discuss ways to keep peace with Britain's king and government.
C. Britain sent a large army to the colonies to enforce the Intolerable Acts.
D. Colonists decided to only import British goods until the act... | A | Some people in the colonies felt that there was no way to avoid a war with Britain. What is one piece of evidence from the text that supports this statement? | A. Some people at the Continental Congress argued that Virginia should work to keep peace with Britain.
B. A militia formed in Massachusetts that was created to be ready to fight at a moment's notice.
C. British army generals came to Boston and were told to take away any weapons they found there.
D. The members of the ... | B | Some people at the Continental Congress believed that war could be avoided. What evidence from the text supports this statement? | A. Some colonists began to think a war was unavoidable and thought it was time to start stockpiling muskets and gunpowder.
B. Several representatives argued that Virginia should do whatever it could to keep the peace and restore good relations with the king.
C. The members of the Continental Congress wanted to stop imp... | B | What is the main idea of this text? | A. Many colonists were prepared to go to war, including the minutemen in Massachusetts, a special militia meant to be ready to fight at a moment's notice.
B. Representatives from twelve of the colonies went to a meeting called the First Continental Congress because they were angry about the Intolerable Acts.
C. War bet... | D | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Christian Art | Christianity was the dominant religion in Europe during the Middle Ages, and it was the main source of inspiration for European artists during that period. There are multiple reasons why European artists depicted religious scenes. First, the Church liked art that was religious. Second, patrons paid artists for their wo... | 1,030 | 4 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture, World History | What was the dominant religion in Europe during the Middle Ages? | A. Islam
B. Judaism
C. Buddhism
D. Christianity | D | What does the text describe? | A. reasons why Christianity was a main source of inspiration for European artists of the Middle Ages
B. the relationship between European governments and Christian churches in the Middle Ages
C. how patrons have impacted the development of art throughout history
D. how European art differed from Asian art during the Mi... | A | Read the following sentence from the text. " Since there was a great demand for Christian art, European artists had the chance to practice drawing, painting, and sculpting human forms." What conclusion does this information best support about Christian art? | A. It generally features animals.
B. It generally features nature scenes.
C. It generally features people.
D. It generally features buildings. | C | The author of this text provides a photograph of a Christian piece of art. Why might the author of this text have decided to include this photograph? | A. to provide an example of Christian art from the Middle Ages
B. to show that Christian art was very easy to make
C. to provide an example of Christian art from today
D. to show that Christian art was very hard to understand | A | What is the main idea of this text? | A. During the Middle Ages, artists made the facial features and the physical proportions of the figures they depicted very realistic.
B. During the Middle Ages, patrons paid artists for their work and these patrons decided what the artist should depict.
C. One of the l argest patrons of Christian art during the Middle ... | D | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Clues About the Continents | As early as the 1400s, 1500s, and 1600s, people studying maps noticed something interesting. They saw that several continents looked as if they might fit together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.
Later, during the 1800s and early 1900s, geologists studied rock layers on the continents. They made additional intriguing di... | 1,020 | 4 | Science: Earth & Space Science | Long ago, when people studied maps, what did they notice? | A. The continents all looked as though they were the same shape and size.
B. Fossils of the same kind of lizard could be founde in India and Africa.
C. Rock layers from Eastern South America matched rock from Western Africa.
D. The continents looked as though they could fit together, like a puzzle. | D | This text lists and describes the evidence scientists used to conclude that the continents were once joined. What is one piece of evidence scientists used to prove this idea? | A. There was a gigantic volcanic eruption that caused the continents to split apart across the Atlantic Ocean.
B. Fossils of an ancient reptile called Lystrosaurus , were found in Southern Africa and India.
C. Parts of Earth’s land broke off to become the moon and the land that was left became the continents.
D. Scient... | B | The text says, “In South America and Africa, fossils of another ancient reptile, Cynognathus, turned up directly across the Atlantic Ocean from each other.” What conclusion can be drawn based on this evidence? | A. Long ago, the place where the fossils were found in South America was connected to the part of Africa where the fossils were found.
B. Long ago, the ancient lizard Cynognathus was able to swim across entire oceans and survive in vastly different lands.
C. Long ago, South America and Africa were connected, but they s... | A | Antarctica once had a climate warm enough for ferns to grow there. What evidence from the text best supports this conclusion? | A. “…ice-covered Antarctica might once have been joined to South America, Africa, India, and Australia.”
B. “Polar explorers had recently unearthed fossils of [the ancient fern] Glossopteris in Antarctica.”
C. “Similar fossils had previously been found in other parts of the world.”
D. “…Wegener read a scientific paper ... | B | What is the main idea of this text? | A. Alfred Wegener was obsessed with learning the truth about the continents, dinosaurs and ancient plants.
B. Scientists have been studying ancient plants and animals that can survive both tropical and Antarctic climates.
C. Alfred Wegener gathered evidence from many scientists’ discoveries to conclude that the contine... | C | Please read the following sentences from the passage. “All of these discoveries seemed to indicate that the continents had once been joined—but how? Furthermore, how had they become separated? Several scientists proposed explanations , but they were quite far-fetched. […] Few people paid much attention to these ideas. ... | A. an idea about why something is a certain way
B. an exploration of a new or unfamiliar land
C. a mystery that cannot be solved
D. evidence that supports a certain idea | A | Please choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. Alfred Wegener wanted to solve the mystery of the matching continents, ______ he gathered evidence. | A. however
B. until
C. so
D. but | C |
Ethiopian Food | Injera: Injera is a bread made from a type of grass called teff. For a few days, the teff is fermented with water before it is used to make the bread. After fermentation, the teff is baked into round, thin shapes like crepes. The injera has a slightly sour taste. It is extremely healthy, and is full of nutrients. It is... | 930 | 4 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture | What is Injera? | A. a bread made from berbere spice
B. a bread made from teff
C. a meatsauce
D. a wooden spoon | B | What does this text describe? | A. This text describes the types of meat that Berbere can best season.
B. This text describes two Ethiopian foods - Injera, a bread made from a grass called teff, and Berbere, a blend of spicy chiles and spices.
C. This text describes the many kinds of utensils that Ethiopians use when they eat their food.
D. This text... | B | Injera is great for people with gluten intolerance. What evidence from the text supports this statement? | A. Injera has a slightly sour taste.
B. Injera is a healthy bread.
C. Injera is gluten free.
D. Injera serves as a utensil for eating other foods. | C | Read this sentence from the text: Because it is both delicious and easy to make, injera is arguably the most important food staple in Ethiopian cooking. Based on the information in this text, what do you think "food staple" means? | A. a type of Ethiopian bread
B. a mixture of spices
C. an uncommon and rare type of food
D. a food eaten frequently in a person's diet | D | What is the main idea of this text? | A. Ethiopians like to make food with teff and berbere spice. The most important food staple in Ethiopian cooking is made from teff, while many meats are seasoned with berbere spice.
B. Even though Ethiopians like making food with both teff and berbere spice, most people prefer to eat food made with teff.
C. Dry berbere... | A | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Columbus and the Taíno in the Caribbean | The Caribbean is an area of ocean that contains more than 700 islands. All of these islands have unique and complicated histories. The impact of colonialism, however, was felt by people on almost every island in the Caribbean region. On October 12th 1492, Christopher Columbus landed upon the shores of the Bahamas by ac... | 1,180 | 4 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture, World History | Where did Christopher Columbus land accidentally when he was trying to find a passage to Asia? | A. Brazil
B. the Bahamas
C. China
D. Canada | B | How does the author describe Columbus' attitude toward the Taíno people? | A. as friendly and helpful
B. as shy and uncertain
C. as happy and excited
D. as cruel and violent | D | Read the following sentences from the text. "During Columbus’ settlement of the Caribbean, the Taíno population dropped dramatically. Many of them died in enslavement working under cruel conditions. The European settlers also brought over foreign diseases. Many of the Taíno had not been exposed to these diseases before... | A. Columbus tried to help the Taíno people, but the European settlers were cruel to them.
B. Both Columbus and the larger groups of European settlers hurt the Taíno people.
C. The Taíno moved to the mainland of the United States to escape Columbus.
D. Columbus decided to leave the Caribbean after a few years there. | B | What is one popular idea about Columbus that the author proves false? | A. the idea that Columbus was the first European to reach North America
B. the idea that Columbus was cruel to the Taíno people
C. the idea that Columbus was supposed to reach Asia
D. the idea that Columbus was a European explorer | A | What is the main idea of this text? | A. Christopher Columbus was a European navigator who landed in the Caribbean and had a negative impact on the Taíno people living there.
B. Christopher Columbus made his way to Asia later in his life and set up a trading route there.
C. Many European settlers brought over diseases that the Taíno people had not experien... | A | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Captain Cook Encounters Hawaii | James Cook was an English explorer. He was the first European to encounter the Hawaiian islands. Cook and his crew were looking for a passage from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean for traders. Cook spotted Hawaii while on this voyage. He and his crew landed on the shores of a Hawaiian island on January 20, 1778.
Cook ... | 860 | 4 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture, World History | Who was Captain James Cook? | A. an English explorer who went to the Pacific islands
B. an English explorer who went to the Caribbean islands
C. an English explorer who went to the Hawaiian islands
D. an English explorer who went to North America | C | What does the text describe in the second paragraph? | A. how James Cook communicated with the people of the Hawaiian islands
B. what James Cook's life was like before he became a captain and explorer
C. the effects of European exploration on the people of the Hawaiian islands
D. the relationship between James Cook and his Tahitian guide | A | Read the following sentences from the text. "At first, some islanders thought that James Cook and his crew were gods. Because of this, Cook's reception was very positive at first. However, there were also instances of fighting and conflict between native Hawaiians and the newcomers." What can be concluded about the rea... | A. The reaction was always positive.
B. The reaction changed over time.
C. The reaction was always negative.
D. The reaction was disappointed. | B | What is one way that Captain Cook and his crew negatively affected the native Hawaiians? | A. They spread diseases among the native people.
B. They beat the native people in a sports match.
C. They kidnapped many native people.
D. They decided to stay in Hawaii forever. | A | What is the main idea of this text? | A. James Cook was an English explorer who was able to communicate with the locals of the places he visited with the help of guides, but in Hawaii he could not find a guide who could help him communicate with the local people.
B. When James Cook, an English explorer, went to the Hawaiian islands, he learned the basics o... | B | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Easter Island Statues | Easter Island, an island in the South Pacific Ocean, provides a look into ancient Polynesian history. Eight hundred eighty-seven stone statues, built by the Rapa Nui people, stand tall and decorate the island. Most statues have a human head and a torso. It has been discovered that, at one time, these statues also had a... | 1,180 | 4 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture, World History | Where is Easter Island? | A. in the Atlantic Ocean
B. in the Indian Ocean
C. in the South Pacific Ocean
D. in the Arctic Ocean | C | What does the text describe? | A. statues built by the Rapa Nui people on Easter Island
B. the eruptions of Rano Raraku on Easter Island
C. different ceremonies in Polynesian culture
D. different groups of people from the South Pacific Ocean | A | Rapa Nui had to put in a lot of effort to build the statues discovered on Easter Island. What information from the text best supports this statement? | A. The statues have an average height of 13 feet and an average weight of 14 tons.
B. The statues were carved as a tribute to the ancestors of the Rapa Nui people.
C. The statues were constructed with volcanic rock from Rano Raraku.
D. These statues have a head and a torso. | A | Based on the text, why were the Easter Island statues built with tuff? | A. There was a lot of tuff available and it was very cheap.
B. It was very cheap and very strong.
C. It was very beautiful and very strong.
D. There was a lot of tuff available and it was easy to carve. | D | What is the main idea of this text? | A. The Easter Island statues have an average height of thirteen feet and an average weight of 14 tons.
B. The Rapa Nui built statues sometime between the years 1400 and 1650 without the help of machinery.
C. The Rapa Nui people of Easter Island built hundreds of statues made of tuff probably as a tribute to their ances... | C | null | null | null | null | null | null |
The Taj Mahal | Located in Agra, India, The Taj Mahal was built in 1628 by Shah Jahan, the leader of the Mughal dynasty. Shah Jahan was inspired to build the Taj Mahal following the death of one of his wives, Mumtaz Mahal. She passed away after giving birth to his fourteenth child. Shah Jahan wanted to make a beautiful burial tomb for... | 1,200 | 4-5 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture, World History | What kind of building is the Taj Mahal? | A. It is a burial tomb.
B. It is a concert hall.
C. It is a large apartment building.
D. It is an ampitheater. | A | The text says that many people see the Taj Mahal as a symbol of enduring love. What caused the Taj Mahal to come to represent this idea? | A. Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal because of his love for his wife who passed away.
B. Shah Jahan wrote many love poems and had them inscribed into the walls of the building.
C. The architect of the Taj Mahal fell in love with the designer of the buidling.
D. The building is shaped like a heart and has many small heart... | A | It took a lot of energy and craftmanship to build the Taj Mahal. What evidence from the text supports this conclusion? | A. "In fact, it has been named one of the Seven Wonders of the World, along with sites like the Colosseum and the Great Wall of China.
B. "There are multiple reasons why the Taj Mahal is so famous and attracts an estimated 7 to 8 million people per year."
C. "Its exterior is made of white marble and is intricately deco... | C | How does the Taj Mahal use symmetry in its design? | A. Its exterior is made of white marble and it is intricately decorated with verses from the Quran.
B. Every structure is repeated inside and outside and it reflects the sunlight that shines on it.
C. Every structure is repeated on both sides and it is also reflected in the long strip of water in front of it.
D. There ... | C | What is the main idea of this text? | A. The Taj Mahal was built to be very symmetrical, so the left side of the building has structures that are repeated exactly on the right side of the building.
B. The Taj Mahal is an impressive architectural structure in India built by Shah Jahan as a sign of his love for his wife, and is known for its intricate design... | B | null | null | null | null | null | null |
The Sitar | The sitar is very popular in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India, and it is used most frequently in the classical music of northern India. The sitar is a type of lute, a stringed instrument that usually has a long neck. The average length of a sitar neck is four feet long, and along its neck run strings for plucking and 20... | 1,110 | 5 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture | What is the sitar? | A. a type of scale
B. a type of fret
C. a type of string
D. a type of lute | D | What does the text list and describe? | A. the popular instruments in India
B. the types of strings on the sitar
C. the different types of sitar
D. the different musical scales | B | Read these sentences from the text. While there are only one or two drone strings on a sitar, the number of sympathetic strings can reach up to 13. These strings are located underneath the frets, which are thin metal strips that run horizontally across the neck. These frets can be tuned so that the sympathetic strings ... | A. They always play the same musical scale.
B. They can play different musical scales.
C. They can play only two musical scales.
D. They can play exactly 13 musical scales. | B | Read these sentences from the text. The melody string is, of course, in charge of the melody. Although there are variations among the types of sitar, there are typically four melody strings, and these strings can play between three and four octaves. . . . The second type of string, the drone string, essentially determi... | A. Melody strings are played more often than drone strings.
B. Melody strings are played when drone strings are not played.
C. Melody strings are not played when drone strings are played.
D. Melody strings and drone strings are played at the same time. | D | What is the main idea of the text? | A. The sitar is used mostly in the classical music of northern India, but it's also very popular in Bangladesh and Pakistan.
B. The sitar is made of the gourd, which is the instrument's base, and a long neck with an average lenth of four feet.
C. The sitar is a type of lute with three types of strings, which are melody... | C | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Gabriela Mistral | Gabriela Mistral was born on April 7, 1889, in Vicuña, Chile. At three years old, Gabriela’s father abandoned her family, leaving Gabriela’s mother to raise her despite health issues. Gabriela began teaching at the age of fifteen out of financial necessity. She developed into such an effective and respected teacher tha... | 1,050 | 5 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture | Who was awarded the "Teacher of the Nation" award from the government of Chile? | A. Gabriela Mistral
B. Gabriela's father
C. Gabriela's mother
D. Gabriela's first love | A | What was the cause of Gabriela composing and publishing Sonnets on Death? | A. Gabriela was awarded with a Nobel Prize.
B. Gabriela wrote Desolation and Tenderness .
C. Gabriela's first love died.
D. Gabriela began teaching. | C | Read these sentences from the text. Gabriela's deeply emotional poetry and her unique style of writing earned her many awards. In fact, at the age of 56, Gabriela Mistral was awarded with the Nobel Prize in Literature. It is considered the highest literary honor in the world. What conclusion can you make about Gabriela... | A. Gabriela is considered one of the oldest writers in the world.
B. Gabriela is considered one of the best writers in the world.
C. Gabriela is considered one of the youngest writers in the world.
D. Gabriela is considered one of the most emotional writers in the world. | B | Read these sentences from the text. Gabriela began teaching at the age of fifteen out of financial necessity. She developed into such an effective and respected teacher that she was awarded the “Teacher of the Nation” award from the government of Chile. Throughout her time as an educator, she was also writing poetry. F... | A. Gabriela was recognized as one of the best teachers and one of the best writers right after she started to teach and write.
B. Gabriela was recognized as one of the best teachers right after she started to teach and one of the best writers after developing her writing.
C. Gabriela was recognized as one of the best w... | D | What is the main idea of the text? | A. Gabriela Mistral started to teach at the age of fifteen years old, but she became an effective and respected teacher, even getting the "Teacher of the Nation" award from Chile's government.
B. Gabriela Mistral has been recognized as one of the best teachers in Chile and one of the best writers in the world, having w... | B | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Buddhism: The Open Mind | Imagine yourself standing before a Buddhist master. He asks you a question and tells you that by answering you will better understand the ways of the Buddha. The master says, “You have climbed to the top of a ten-foot pole. How can you climb the rest of the way?”
How would you answer that question? Would you think that... | 890 | 5 | Social Studies: World History | Who was Siddhartha Gautama? | A. a powerful politician
B. the founder of Buddhism
C. the founder of Islam
D. a famous scientist | B | The author says that the Buddha became enlightened from meditating. What happened after this? | A. He kept his knowledge a secret.
B. He only told one person what he learned.
C. He used this knowledge to become powerful.
D. He taught others what he had learned. | D | Read the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism. What can you conclude based on these four points? | A. Suffering and desire are connected in Buddhism.
B. Suffering can never be overcome in Buddhism.
C. The most important virtue is kindness in Buddhism.
D. The Buddha didn’t want to share the Four Noble Truths. | A | Read the author’s description of Zen Buddhism. What is one way that Zen Buddhism practices the eightfold path? | A. Zen Buddhists practice Right Thought by focusing on only thinking positive things.
B. Zen Buddhists practice Right Work by working as doctors.
C. Zen Buddhists practice Right Meditation by meditating often.
D. Zen Buddhists practice Right Action by being vegetarian or vegan. | C | What is the main idea of this text? | A. Zen Buddhism is one branch of Buddhism that focuses on meditation and discipline in everyday actions.
B. Right Understanding, or understanding Buddha’s teachings, is important to the eightfold path to enlightenment.
C. The Four Noble Truths have to do with suffering, desire, and enlightenment, and are central to the... | D | null | null | null | null | null | null |
The Roots of Russia | Imagine a giant standing with his left foot in one world and his right in another. The giant takes a little from one world and a little from the other world, and tries to get along with both.
That giant is the huge country of Russia, standing with one foot in Europe and the other in Asia. Russia is a big country. In fa... | 880 | 5-6 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture, World History | What two continents is Russia in? | A. Europe and Asia
B. North and South America
C. Europe and Africa
D. Antarctica and Australia | A | How does the text describe the beginnings of what we call Russia today? | A. Russia began as a blend of the Slavs and Vikings, who had lived together for a long time.
B. Russia used to be many small villages in Eastern Europe, each with different cultures and goals.
C. Russia began with the Vikings, who were great warriors and traders from Scandinavia.
D. Russia began when a group of people ... | B | Read the following sentences from the text. “By 800 CE, the Slavs had built a number of towns along the rivers in southern Russia, including along the Dnieper (/dne*pur/) River. The Slavs used the rivers as trading routes. They developed contacts with many different groups of people and sometimes went to war against th... | A. The Slavs built and used canoes out of wood from birch trees to travel along trading routes using the rivers in southern Russia.
B. The Dnieper River was named after a heroic Slavic leader who led the Slavs in a battle against the Vikings and won.
C. The Slavs arrived in Russia in 800 CE and developed relationships ... | D | According to the text, how would you describe the early relationship between the Slavs and Vikings? | A. as friendly, because the Vikings and Slavs lived together in the same towns and shared food, medicine, and traditions
B. as protective, because the Vikings and Slavs formed a strong bond and helped each other defend against other groups
C. as comfortable, because the Vikings and Slavs lived alongside one another wit... | D | What is the main idea of this text? | A. Russia, the biggest country in the world today, started as many small villages of different peoples and was later settled by Slavs and Vikings who eventually blended to become the Russian people we know today.
B. The country of Russia is the biggest country in the world today, part of both the European and Asian con... | A | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Labor and Enslavement in the Thirteen Colonies | During the 1500s and 1600s, Europeans were establishing colonies throughout the Americas. In the 1600s, the first English settlers arrived and established the Thirteen Colonies in North America. These colonies would later become the United States. As the settlers claimed more land in the Americas, they used much of the... | 990 | 5 | Social Studies: World History, U.S. History | Why did landowners in the Thirteen Colonies need to find labor? | A. to discover new crops
B. to help settlers find jobs
C. to grow cash crops
D. to meet Native Americans | C | One way plantation owners found labor was to pay for indentured servants from Europe. Over time, what caused a decrease in indentured servitude? | A. The workers in Europe heard about the poor conditions, people could pay for their own travel, and it was too costly for landowners.
B. Most of the laborers were able to escape because they knew the land very well and had the help of their communities nearby.
C. There were no laws establishing indentured servitude in... | A | Read the following sentences from the text. “Indentured servitude was also costly for landowners. Because of these and other factors, over time, the use of indentured servants for labor declined in the Thirteen Colonies. [...] European settlers, however, found that they could not rely on enslaving Native people for fre... | A. They had to sell their cash crops at higher prices because the labor was more expensive.
B. They were in search of labor that would be cheap and steady and bring them higher profits.
C. They realized that the most reliable labor would be other settlers who weren’t landowners.
D. They returned to indentured servants ... | B | Why did the enslavement of African people grow and last for many years in the Thirteen Colonies? | A. Travel to the Thirteen Colonies was expensive and many African people wanted help paying for it.
B. It was the only form of labor that was both fair to laborers and profitable to landowners.
C. African laborers died before they finished their contracts so they were profitable for landowners.
D. Landowners had tried ... | D | What is the main idea of this text? | A. Landowners in the Thirteen Colonies used indentured servants, enslaved Native Americans, and finally, enslaved African people, in order to keep their labor costs low and cash crops profitable.
B. Native Americans are peoples who lived in the Americas long before European settlers arrived and it was important for som... | A | Read the following sentences from the text. “Before long, buying an enslaved workforce from Africa became more profitable and efficient for plantation owners than hiring indentured servants or enslaving Native Americans. For settlers, enslaved African people were the cheapest and easiest form of labor. They did not hav... | A. long and difficult
B. unpredictable and unsure
C. smooth and easy
D. repeating over and over | C | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. In the Thirteen Colonies, it was easier for Native American people to escape enslavement than African people _________ Native Americans had lived on the land for many years and had the help of their communities nearby. | A. however
B. finally
C. because
D. currently | C |
The Aztec Religion | The Aztec were a civilization that thrived from 1325 to 1521 CE. Their capital was called Tenochtitlán, and was the center of an expanding empire in what is now central Mexico.
In Aztec society, religion was an important element of life. According to Aztec beliefs, life was uncertain. The one thing people could count o... | 790 | 5 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture, World History | What did the Aztec believe about the world they were living in? | A. They believed the world they lived in was controlled completely by the actions of gods, and that they could not impact the actions of the gods in any way.
B. They believed the world they lived in was not important in the grand scheme of the universe and its many worlds.
C. They believed that the world and sun had be... | D | What does this text describe? | A. the many ways the Aztecs could prove that their human sacrifices worked
B. the Aztec view on life and religion and the role of religious sacrifice in their belief system
C. what life was like on earth when giants roamed the land and the sun had never before been destroyed
D. the other religions that existed during t... | B | Read these sentences from the text: "[The Aztec] believed that each night, the sun god battled the forces of darkness. Each morning, the god had to find the strength to make the sun rise again. The Aztec believed they could help their god by offering human sacrifices in their temples." Based on this information, what c... | A. The Aztec believed if they didn't offer human sacrifices to their god, the sun may not rise.
B. The Aztec believed that they controlled the movement of the Earth through space.
C. The Aztec preferred to make animal sacrifices as offerings to their god when possible.
D. The Aztec believed human sacrifices did not hav... | A | Based on the evidence in the text, what did the Aztec believe about their role in how the world worked? | A. They believed the world worked based on physical laws, and that neither the Aztec nor the gods could affect that.
B. They believed the gods had complete control over the world, and that there was nothing the Aztec could do to change things.
C. They believed they had complete control over the way the world worked, in... | D | What is the main idea of this text? | A. According to Aztec beliefs, the world would one day come to a terrible, violent end. This is because they believed that the sun and the earth had been destroyed four times previously.
B. The Aztec believed that giants had once roamed the world. They also believed that the world ended in the past because a jaguar dev... | C | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Mayan Astronomy | The Maya believed that their gods gave them an unclear view of the world that was “like breath on a mirror.” But we also know that the Maya understood some things very well. Their knowledge of astronomy, for example, was impressive. The Maya, of course, did not have telescopes, computers, or satellites. They didn’t ev... | 880 | 5 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture, World History | What were Maya people very knowledgeable about? | A. bicycles
B. astronomy
C. computers
D. biology | B | What does this text describe? | A. This text describes how Maya people built pyramids.
B. This text describes the religious holidays listed on the Sacred Round.
C. This text describes how Maya people figured out how many days there are in a year.
D. This text describes the Maya people's use of astronomy. | D | The Maya people were able to make very precise observations of the stars. What evidence from the text supports this statement? | A. Maya astronomers created another calendar called the Sacred Round. This calendar was 260 days long and was used to keep track of religious holidays and other important events.
B. The Maya, working without scientific tools, calculated that there were 365.2420 days in a year. Modern astronomers used modern technology ... | B | Read these sentences from the text. We can see the results of Maya astronomy in the placement of their temples and pyramids, the large structures they built in their cities. These structures were built so the sun would shine directly on key areas on certain days. In the Maya site Chichén Itzá , for example, the sun of ... | A. the placement was always random
B. the placement was not important to the Maya
C. the placement was decided by moonlight
D. the placement was calculated and precise | D | What is the main idea of this text? | A. One of the best examples of Maya astronomy is found in the Maya site Chichén Itzá. The sun of the spring and fall equinoxes casts the shadow of a serpent statue onto the pyramid steps. As the sun rises, the shadow slithers down the stairs.
B. Today, everyone only has one birthday. During ancient times, however, Maya... | C | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Where Did the Maya Go? | The ancient Maya were amazing people who built a great civilization in Mesoamerica. That fact alone is a reason to find them interesting. But one of the most fascinating questions about ancient Maya civilization (200–900 CE) is what happened to cause it to end.
Archaeologists believe that the Maya left their cities som... | 750 | 5 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture, World History | What happened to Maya people after the once-great cities were abandoned and swallowed up by the rain forest? | A. They disappeared.
B. They scattered.
C. They died.
D. They moved to Europe. | B | What does this text describe? | A. This text describes the horrible disease that struck the Mesoamerica area after 1500 CE.
B. This text describes the rich heritage that Maya ancestors have and where they currently live today.
C. This text describes the different theories archaeologists have for what caused the end of the great Maya civilization.
D. ... | C | The Maya kept careful historical records. What evidence from the text supports this statement? | A. The Maya used hieroglyphs to carve names and dates on pyramids and temples.
B. Archaeologists have found signs that some people in this area did die from diseases.
C. Today, millions still speak languages related to ancient Mayan.
D. The ancient Maya were amazing people who built a great civilization in Mesoamerica. | A | Based on the information in the text, how much do we know about what happened to the great Maya civilization? | A. We know that they all decided to move south.
B. We know that they all died of disease.
C. We are not sure if they ever existed.
D. We only have theories about what happened to them. | D | What is the main idea of this text? | A. Even though archaeologists have theories about why the once-great Maya cities suddenly disappeared in the 900s, no one knows for sure. The people, however, did not disappear. They are still scattered in southern Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras.
B. Some people believe that the Maya population was wiped out by disease... | A | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Ruins in the Rain Forest | Do you like mysteries? Try this one: More than a thousand years ago, a great civilization of American Indian peoples built cities across Mesoamerica—an area today that is made up of parts of Mexico and Central America. They built stone temples and pyramids that rose far above the forest treetops. They were the Maya.
Th... | 920 | 5 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture, World History | Who were the Maya? | A. the New Yorkers who constructed the Flatiron Building
B. the people currently living in Mesoamerica
C. a great and ancient civilization of American Indians
D. a large group of archaeologists and experts | C | What does this text describe? | A. This text describes the Maya civilization, their accomplishments, what archaeologists and other experts have discovered about them, and the mysteries that remain about this civilization.
B. This text describes the many ways the Maya people have helped and influenced the society in which we live in today and what we ... | A | The Maya people were an advanced civilization. What evidence from the text supports this statement? | A. Ancient Maya cities were located on the Yucatán Peninsula. Today this is southeastern Mexico and the countries of Guatemala, Honduras, and Belize.
B. In 1839, two American explorers heard stories of mysterious ruins in the rain forests of Central America. Curious, they set out to see for themselves. The two men firs... | D | Read these sentences from the text: Archaeologists believe that Maya civilization reached its greatest extent between about 200 and 900 CE. The largest buildings in Maya cities were pyramids that also served as temples . . . Maya pyramids rose high above the surrounding treetops. Maya pyramids were some of the tallest ... | A. The Maya civilization had better architects than we have today.
B. They were an extremely advanced civilization for their time.
C. They only built tall buildings.
D. All of their buildings were shaped like pyramids. | B | What is the main idea of this text? | A. The Maya civilization reached its greatest extent between about 200 and 900 CE. Maya pyramids were some of the tallest structures in the Americas until 1902. That year, the twenty-two-story Flatiron Building was constructed in New York City.
B. When two American explorers returned from their trip exploring the Maya ... | C | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Aztec Warriors | The Aztec civilization arose in what is now known as central Mexico. The Aztec established Tenochtitlán, their capital, by the year 1325. By the 1400s, the Aztec civilization had begun to expand. The Aztec proved to be fearsome warriors. One by one they conquered neighboring city-states and added them to their empire. ... | 900 | 5-6 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture, World History | What were the Aztec people well-known for? | A. for being farmers
B. for being fishermen
C. for being sculptors
D. for being warriors | D | What does this text describe? | A. This text describes the difficulties Aztec people had when trying to leave the social class they were born into.
B. This text describes how fierce Aztec warriors expanded the Aztec empire and created a remarkable civilization.
C. This text describes the way the warriors forced conquered peoples to send their wealth ... | B | By conquering other people, the Aztec were able to gain wealth. What evidence from the text supports this statement? | A. Aztec warriors forced conquered peoples to send their gold, silver, jade, and turquoise to Tenochtitlán
B. Aztec people were born into a certain social class. Most people had relatively little chance to advance out of it.
C. The Aztec proved to be fearsome warriors. One by one they conquered neighboring city-states ... | A | Read these sentences from the text: The Aztec were well-known warriors. By conquering other people, they were able to gain wealth. Aztec warriors then forced conquered peoples to send their gold, silver, jade, and turquoise to Tenochtitlan. Those who had no valuables could send food, cloth, or other goods. Based on thi... | A. They were happy to give away their wealth and supplies.
B. They became best friends with the Aztec warriors.
C. They became wealthier after being conquered.
D. They unwillingly gave up their wealth and supplies. | D | What is the main idea of this text? | A. Aztec warriors forced conquered peoples to send their gold, silver, jade, and turquoise to Tenochtitlán. Those who had no valuables could send food, cloth, or other goods. People who lived by the ocean might also have to send seashells, fish, or turtles.
B. Until the 1800s, no city in the United States was as large ... | C | null | null | null | null | null | null |
How The Maya Lived | The Maya were an American Indian people who lived in Mesoamerica. Their civilization thrived between the years 200 and 900 CE.
Most Maya people made their living as farmers. Their main crop was corn. One of their main foods was something you may have eaten—a flat bread called a tortilla (/tor*tee*uh/). Farmers also gre... | 800 | 5-6 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture, World History | What did most Maya people do to make a living? | A. they traded
B. they farmed
C. they hunted
D. they stole | B | What does this text describe? | A. This text describes how the Maya lived and some of their important traditions and ceremonies.
B. This text describes what the Maya people thought was the most beautiful way to look and dress.
C. This text describes the way Maya marriages were arranged and how t hey were more like business deals between families.
D. ... | A | At age five Maya children took on new responsibilities. What evidence from the text supports this statement? | A. Maya children were cared for by parents and other relatives.
B. A girl had a string tied to her waist with a red shell attached.
C. Children started helping with farming and household chores.
D. The Maya believed that every aspect of life was controlled by the gods. | C | Read these sentences from the text: Priests picked marriage dates. They checked with the stars and the gods to find a day that would bring good fortune. However, no Maya couple expected married life to bring only good fortune. They Maya believed that every aspect of life was controlled by the gods. Because some gods we... | A. They believed the sorrow was their own fault.
B. They believed the sorrow was random.
C. They did not believe in sorrow.
D. They believed the sorrow was controlled by the gods. | D | What is the main idea of this text? | A. When Maya people got married, a priest would pick the marriage date to make sure that it would bring good fortune. They knew, however, that like would include both joy and sorrow, because some gods were good and some were bad.
B. The Maya people did very weird things to their infants. M others would hang something i... | C | null | null | null | null | null | null |
The Mayan Game: Serious Play | The Maya were an American Indian people who lived in Mesoamerica long ago. While their impressive civilization disappeared many years ago, archaeologists have studied the ruins of their cities, including their hieroglyphs, to learn more about them.
For example, a specific kind of ball court can be found in many Maya ci... | 810 | 5 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture, Sports, Health & Safety, World History | The Maya game pok-ta-pok is a battle between two types of people. What are these types? | A. rich and poor
B. good and evil
C. male and female
D. young and old | B | What does this text describe? | A. The ancient Maya game, pok-ta-pok.
B. The ancient Maya religious practices.
C. The ancient Maya hieroglyphs.
D. The ancient Maya site of Chichén Itzá. | A | Human sacrifice was a part of the Maya religion. What evidence from the text supports this statement? | A. The winners of pok-ta-pok games were considered to be the “good” ones.
B. Pok-ta-pok is a game with religious meaning. The Maya think of it as a battle between good and evil.
C. Maya priests sought to please the gods by offering sacrifices atop the pyramids.
D. Spectators see the game as meaningful for their world a... | C | Read these sentences from the text: The winners of pok-ta-pok games were considered to be the "good" ones. Sometimes they were rewarded with clothing and jewelry. But what do you think happened to the losers? Experts believe that at least in certain situations, some of them were offered as sacrifices to the gods . . . ... | A. They were the strongest people in the city.
B. They liked to feel safe and secure.
C. They were willing to risk their lives for the game.
D. They were all prisoners and convicts. | C | What was the main idea of this text? | A. Pok-ta-pok was a very violent game. Players wore leather helmets and pads to protect themselves. They drove the ball up the court with their elbows, knees, and chest. Then, whack! Another player would slam into them and knock them to the ground.
B. The Maya think of pok-ta-pok as a battle between good and evil. The ... | D | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Neurologists | The brain is a complex and important organ with many different jobs. The brain controls every other organ in the body. For example, the heart pumps and the lungs breathe because the brain tells them to. The brain also stores memories. The brain allows people to remember things that happened to them in their past, like ... | 760 | 5 | Social Studies: Sports, Health & Safety | Which organ controls every other organ in the body? | A. the heart
B. the brain
C. the lungs
D. the skin | B | What does this text list? | A. the jobs of different organs in the body
B. the different parts that make up the brain
C. different important jobs that the brain performs
D. different important jobs that doctors perform | C | Read these sentences from the text. "Neurologists can see which connections in the brain are working and when. If a patient is speaking, certain connections will be working. If a patient is moving his or her leg, different connections will be working." What conclusion can be drawn from this evidence? | A. Different connections in the brain are related to different skills or abilities.
B. The brain's connections do different things in different patients.
C. Neurologists cannot see which connections in the brain are not working.
D. Neurologists can help patients learn to speak or move their legs. | A | When might people go to see a neurologist? | A. when they want to get medicine for a cold or the flu
B. when they want to learn a new skill, like reading or writing
C. when they think that they have broken a bone in their leg
D. when they think that a connection in their brain may not be working properly | D | What is the main idea of this text? | A. Many skills, like reading, writing, and speaking, are possible because of connections between neurons in the nervous system.
B. The brain allows people to remember the past, as well as helping people to build muscle memory.
C. The brain and its connections are very important, and neurologists make sure they are work... | C | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Traveling through Tenochtitlán | In 1325, the Aztec people built their capital Tenochtitlán in what is now known as central Mexico. But Tenochtitlán was more than the heart of the great Aztec civilization. It was a feat of construction and a vibrant place filled with life.
The city was built on an island in the middle of a lake. Three wide causeways c... | 800 | 5 | Social Studies: Geography, Societies & Culture, World History | Where was Tenochtitlán built? | A. in the forest surrounded by trees
B. on a hill in the mountains
C. on an island in the middle of a lake
D. in the middle of a desert | C | What does this text describe? | A. This text describes the incredible engineering and detail that went into building the canals of the great city of Tenochtitlán in the early 1500s.
B. This text describes the kinds of pottery that women made and displayed at the market place in the great city of Tenochtitlán. It also describes the kind of people that... | D | The Great Temple is a very large pyramid. What evidence from the text supports this statement? | A. The top steps of the Great Temple are stained with the blood of human sacrifices.
B. This massive pyramid is almost one hundred yards wide at its base. That’s roughly 3/4 the length of a football field!
C. Not far from these religious buildings stands the palace of the Aztec emperor. You will have to admire the pala... | B | Read these sentences from the text: Tenochtitlán was more than the heart of the great Aztec civilization. It was a feat of construction and a vibrant place filled with life. The city was built on an island in the middle of a lake. Three wide causeways connected the city to the mainland. A network of canals linked diffe... | A. The Aztec people did not live in the city of Tenochtitlán.
B. The Aztec people were skilled architects.
C. The Aztec people lacked knowledge on how to build canals.
D. The Aztec people could only be found in Tenochtitlán. | B | What is the main idea of this text? | A. The city of Tenochtitlán was a feat of construction. It had a vibrant and busy marketplace and had a ceremonial center at the center of the city, where you could find the largest temple in the city.
B. The Tenochtitlán market was very vibrant and loud. Here, people trade cacao (chocolate) beans and cotton blankets f... | A | null | null | null | null | null | null |
The Shinto Religion | Shinto is Japan’s oldest religion. It is based on nature. Japan is a land of pine forests, oceans, and green rice fields. It is the place where snowcapped Fuji, the country’s tallest mountain, rises high into the clouds. From the earliest times, Japan’s people have celebrated their country’s nature in poetry and art. T... | 880 | 5 | Social Studies: World History | What is Shinto, Japan’s oldest religion, based on? | A. nature
B. music
C. books
D. food | A | How does the text describe kami? | A. as places surrounded by sacred trees and flowing water
B. as spirits found in nature that Shinto believers worship
C. as ceremonies where worshippers focus on cleanliness
D. as Japan’s highest mountain with snow covering the top | B | Read the following sentences from the text. “Shinto focuses both on the gentle, beautiful aspects of nature as well as on the fierce occurrences such as earthquakes, typhoons, and volcanoes. For example, one of the kami might be found in an oddly twisted tree, an unusual insect, or a wise old man. Have you ever felt a ... | A. Shinto gods are elderly family members who give advice.
B. Everybody experiences kami in the same places and ways.
C. Shinto is about respecting, appreciating, and fearing nature.
D. Kami are spirits you can see and have conversations with. | C | How do Shinto followers show respect for their gods when they visit shrines? | A. They participate in washing ceremonies to make sure they are clean in their presence.
B. They plant a sacred tree each time they visit so there will always be new trees growing.
C. They only visit the shrines once a year after they climb Japan's tallest mountain, Fuji.
D. They take turns reading paragraphs from thei... | A | What is the main idea of this text? | A. The people of Japan frequently visit the country’s beautiful nature, such as their pine forests, oceans, and green rice fields.
B. The Shinto religion did not have a name until the 500s and was named so that it could be distinguished from Buddhism.
C. In Shinto, the sun is known as the golden goddess Amaterasu and t... | D | Read the following sentences from the text. “They believe that heavenly bodies have life. The sun is the golden goddess Amaterasu, and the moon is her silvery brother Tsukiyomi (/soo*kee*yoh*mee/).” As used in this excerpt, what does the phrase “heavenly bodies” most closely mean? | A. a stream of flowing water
B. a tall, snowcapped mountain
C. sacred books or “bibles”
D. objects in the sky or space | D | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. Japan has long celebrated its beautiful nature, _______ its pine forests, oceans, green rice fields and Mt. Fuji. | A. moreover
B. including
C. however
D. therefore | B |
Mostly Only White Men Could Vote Before 1870 | Many different groups of Native Americans have lived on the land that is the United States today, beginning thousands of years before Europeans arrived. However, between the 1500s and 1800s, people from many parts of Europe traveled across the ocean to settle there. Over time, these European immigrant groups forced man... | 1,020 | 5 | Social Studies: Civics & Government, U.S. History | According to the text, what may be added to the Constitution to reflect a change in the American people's values and ideas? | A. colonies
B. amendments
C. property rights
D. elections | B | The text describes a sequence of important events in the United States' history. What happened on July 4, 1776? | A. The United States Constitution was written.
B. The colonists won the American Revolutionary War.
C. The Declaration of Independence was published.
D. The Thirteen Colonies were first created. | C | Read the following sentences from the text. "The Constitution gave each state the power to conduct elections and to make the rules about how voting is done in that state. Many states wanted to limit suffrage to groups they believed were capable of choosing wise leaders or making good laws. Their prejudice left out many... | A. They probably reflected the views of everyone in the state.
B. They were probably very just and fair.
C. They probably were elections where every person in the state voted.
D. They probably did not reflect the views of various groups of people. | D | Based on the text, how have voting rights changed over the course of United States' history? | A. They have become more restricted to exclude more groups of people.
B. They have become increasingly less fair to white men who own property.
C. They have expanded to include more groups of people.
D. They have become increasingly more fair to citizens of other countries. | C | What is the main idea of this text? | A. The United States Constitution became the law of the land a few years after the colonies gained their independence from England.
B. Voting rights in the United States have changed over time, and have expanded to include more groups of people through amendments to the Constitution.
C. Property and religious requireme... | B | Read the following sentences from the text. “ Since the early 1800s, no state has had a religious requirement for voting. Soon after that, property requirements were dropped in state after state, until all white men at least 21 years old had suffrage .” What does the word "suffrage" most nearly mean based on the text? | A. right to suffer
B. right to vote
C. right to pass laws
D. right to run in elections | B | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. The Constitution tells the states what they must do. _______, it also tells the states what they may not do, like discriminate against certain groups when it comes to voting. | A. However
B. In conclusion
C. Namely
D. For example | A |
The Constitution Tells the States Who Has the Right to Vote | The United States is a “Federal Republic.” This means that power, like the power to pass laws, is shared between the Federal Government in Washington, D.C., and the governments of each of the 50 states. The Federal Government has certain powers, and the states (and their local governments, like cities and towns) have ... | 1,010 | 4-5 | Social Studies: Civics & Government, U.S. History | According to the text, what does the federal government of the United States share with the 50 state governments? | A. power
B. money
C. voting rights
D. companies | A | What does the text list and describe? | A. powers the president has
B. what the Constitution say about voting rights
C. the Bill of Rights of the Constitution
D. facts about the creation of the Constitution | B | The rights of African American voters have been threatened in the United States. What evidence from the text best supports this statement? | A. The Constitution says that to be allowed to vote, a person must be a citizen of the United States.
B. The Constitution gives the states the power to conduct elections and to make their own rules about how they do it.
C. Some states required voters be able to read and write to prevent former African American slaves f... | C | Based on the text, to whom did the Constitutition give voting rights when it was first written? | A. white men and women who were at least 21 years old
B. black men who were at least 21 years old
C. Native American males who were at least 21 years old
D. white men who were at least 21 years old | D | What is the main idea of the text? | A. The federal government of the United States has certain powers, and the 50 states have certain powers.
B. The United States Constitution includes laws about who can vote but gives states the power to conduct elections.
C. Some of the 50 states have found ways to prevent some citizens from voting, even though they ha... | B | Read the following sentences from the text. " The Constitution gives the states the power to conduct elections and to make their own rules about how they do it, and it also tells them what they are not allowed to do in conducting elections. For example, states are not allowed to reject people who have the right to vote... | A. to lead or manage
B. to carry electricity
C. to stop or prevent
D. to make popular | A | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. The Constitution The United States Constitution tells the 50 states what they must do, and also what they are not permitted to do. _______, the Constitution gives the states the power to conduct elections and to make their own rules about how they do it | A. However
B. In conclusion
C. On the other hand
D. For example | D |
The Fight for Women's Suffrage | At the time the United States became a nation, women citizens did not share the same rights as men, including the right to vote. While some people had pushed for women's rights for many years, it was not until 1848 that women began to organize on a large scale. They worked to create a movement to give women rights they... | 1,120 | 4-5 | Social Studies: Civics & Government, U.S. History | Who were "suffragists"? | A. men who prevented women from voting
B. women who helped in American war efforts
C. women who organized and fought for the right to vote
D. women who ran for political office | C | What does the text describe? | A. the presidency and leadership of Woodrow Wilson
B. a sequence of events leading up to the passage of the 19th Amendment
C. the causes and effects of World War I
D. people who were against the women's suffrage movement | B | Read the following sentences from the text. " In 1913, on the day that President Woodrow Wilson became the president of the United States, women and men held a huge parade in front of his new home, the White House, to rally for women’s right to vote in the United States. Some women were arrested and went to jail. Some ... | A. The fight for suffrage was difficult.
B. The fight for suffrage was ineffective.
C. The fight for suffrage was easy.
D. The fight for suffrage did not get national attention. | A | Why did the suffragists go on hunger strikes and do other things to get public attention? | A. to discourage people from supporting women's right to vote
B. to get more people to support women's right to vote
C. to show that women are physically strong
D. to help more women realize they can be politically active | B | What is the main idea of the text? | A. In 1848, Stanton and Lucretia Mott created the Seneca Falls Convention, where 240 women and men met to make a plan of action to fight for new rights for women.
B. During World War I, American women did many of the jobs that men could not do because men were away from home, fighting in the war.
C. Suffragists fought ... | C | Read the following sentences from the text. " Many other women’s groups joined them, and eventually these groups established a new organization, 'The National Woman Suffrage Association.' These women fought hard to have Congress and the states pass an amendment to the United States Constitution that would give women ci... | A. destroy
B. form
C. make faster
D. grow | B | Choose the answer that best completes this sentence below. The National Women's Party took bold actions to get more support for women's right to vote. ________, they marched and gave out flyers to people on the streets. | A. Therefore
B. However
C. Furthermore
D. Specifically | D |
American Women Get the Vote in 1920 | The United States Constitution is the document that sets out the rules about how the federal government in Washington, D.C., and the 50 state governments in the nation may govern. It defines what powers the U.S. federal government has and what powers the states have. One of the powers it gives every state is the right ... | 1,140 | 5 | Social Studies: Civics & Government, U.S. History | What did the 19th amendment of the United States Constitution do? | A. give white men the right to vote
B. give African Americans the right to vote
C. give people ages 18-21 the right to vote
D. give many women the right to vote | D | The text describes a sequence of events leading to the passage of the 19th Amendment. What happened in 1919? | A. Congress proposed the 19th Amendment.
B. The Civil War ended.
C. World War I started.
D. Women organized for the first time to change laws. | A | Read the following sentences from the text. " But in many states as soon as women got married a law called 'coverture' made them totally dependent on their husbands. Coverture stated that the husband owned everything, even the money and property the wife brought into the marriage and the money she herself earned by doi... | A. Marriage further restricted the rights of women.
B. Marraige increased the rights of women.
C. Marriage restricted the rights of men.
D. Marriage started to become less popular among men. | A | Why did women's work during the Civil War and World War I strengthen the argument that they should have the right to vote? | A. They showed they weren't able to successfully help during war so they should at least be given the chance to contribute in politics.
B. They showed they could do important and difficult jobs just like men, so they should be able to vote like men, too.
C. They showed they could lead battles just like men, so they sho... | B | What is the main idea of this text? | A. The United States Constitution is the document that sets out the rules about how the federal government and 50 state governments in the nation may govern.
B. As the United States' conditions and beliefs changed, new groups wanted rights that they did not have at the time the Constitution became “the law of the land.... | D | What is the purpose of the first paragraph in the text? | A. to distract the reader from the issue of suffrage
B. to establish the significance of the Constitution
C. to argue why women should have received the right to vote
D. to provide information the text later contradicts | B | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. _____ the 19th Amendment was added to the Constitution, some states did give women the right to vote. | A. After
B. Although
C. Before
D. Meanwhile | C |
18-, 19-, and 20-Year-Old Americans Get the Vote in 1971 | The United States Constitution became the “law of the land” a few years after the 13 British colonies gained their independence from England. In order to become a state of the United States of America, a colony had to agree to obey the Constitution.
The Constitution gave each state the right to decide who could vote in... | 1,140 | 5 | Social Studies: Civics & Government, U.S. History | What did the 26th Amendment do? | A. lower the voting age to 18 years old in all elections across the United States
B. lower the voting age to 21 years old in all elections across the United States
C. lower the voting age to 25 years old in all elections across the United States
D. lower the voting age to 18 years old in presidental elections only in t... | A | The text describes a sequence of events leading to the passage of the 26th Amendment. What did Congress pass in 1965? | A. the 26th Amendment
B. the Constitution
C. the Voting Rights Act
D. the Declaration of Independence | C | Some states have limited the ability of certain groups of people to vote. What information from the text best supports this statement? | A. President Eisenhower was in favor of adding an amendment to the Constitution that would lower the voting age from 21 to18.
B. During the 1960s, people fought to give black citizens the same rights and privileges of being an American citizen that white citizens had.
C. States prevented many blacks from voting by req... | C | What can be concluded about elections in the United States that took place before 1965? | A. Elections were always fair because all citizens that were 21 or older were allowed to vote.
B. Many elections were unfair because different groups of people were prevented from voting.
C. Many elections became more efficient as technology started to be used for voting.
D. Many elections were problematic because peop... | B | What is the main idea of this text? | A. The Constitution gave each state the right to decide who could vote in that state. For many years, only white Protestant men 21 years of age or older were given the right to vote.
B. During the 1960s, people fought to give black citizens the same rights and privileges of being an American citizen that white citizens... | D | Read the following sentences from the text. "One way some states did this was to require everyone to show a driver’s license or other government identification document in order to vote. Fewer black citizens than white citizens had such documents, so it was a way to prevent many black citizens from voting. Many protest... | A. something that limits
B. something that expands
C. something that grows
D. something that follows | A | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. In 1970, an extension to the Voting Rights Act led to the lowering of the voting age to 18 years old only in elections for the president and vice-president of the United States. ______, an amendment to the Constitution was needed to lower the voting age to 18 ye... | A. However
B. Thus
C. Although
D. Before | B |
Jazz | Jazz is a famous and beloved style of music that rose with the Harlem Renaissance. It was a very innovative form of music. It was not quite like any music form that came before it. However, it did rely on earlier music styles. African American musicians mixed elements of European music and African music to create jazz.... | 780 | 4-5 | Social Studies: World History | According to the text, what is a famous style of music that rose with the Harlem Renaissance? | A. Rock
B. Jazz
C. Hip-hop
D. Salsa | B | What does the text describe? | A. improvisation in jazz music
B. different instruments used to make jazz music
C. the career of Billy Holiday
D. the history of the Harlem Renaissance | A | Read the following sentences from the text. " Improvisation is when musicians make up the music as they play it. Since improvisation is a characteristic of jazz music, jazz musicians often have the freedom to change up the music they are playing. In fact, jazz music is free to be changed in the middle of a performance!... | A. someone who has a deep, passionate voice
B. someone who is shy and loves writing music
C. someone who prefers to perform alone
D. someone who can think and create music quickly | D | Why does the author describe jazz as "innovative"? | A. because jazz music can be made by musicians playing instruments and singing
B. because it's not quite like any music form that came before it
C. because it was inspired by earlier music styles
D. because it can have slow and fast rhythms | B | What is the main idea of this text? | A. Jazz was an innovative music form that rose with the Harlem Renaissance and that features improvisation.
B. African American musicians mixed elements of European music and African music to create jazz.
C. Billy Holiday was a singer who could improvise with her voice and sing with emotion and passion.
D. Jazz musicia... | A | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Helpful or Harmful? | Clean lakes and rivers are important for everybody, and everybody can help keep them pollution-free. Making better choices at home can help prevent water pollution.
Did you know that any water that flows across a yard or street can end up in nearby streams, rivers, and lakes? That’s because most street drains empty rig... | 1,090 | 5 | Science: Earth & Space Science, Life Science | What is water that flows across yards and streets into nearby streams, rivers, and lakes called? | A. underground water
B. fresh water
C. runoff
D. polluted water | C | What does the text describe? | A. how lakes, rivers, and streams form and change
B. animal species that have been affected by polluted lakes and rivers
C. how liquids like oil and solids like litter can end up in lakes, rivers, and streams
D. different ways people are keeping pollutants from entering street drains | C | Read the following sentences from the text. " This water, called runoff, can carry with it liquids such as oil and solids such as litter that people have spilled or dropped. We want to make sure all bodies of water are clean for people and for wildlife. That’s why it’s very important to keep chemicals, soap, oil, anima... | A. Runoff can be helpful.
B. Runoff helps wildlife survive.
C. Runoff is a source of fresh water.
D. Runoff can be harmful. | D | Which of the following actions or events may pollute runoff? | A. fuel from cars dripping onto streets
B. people recycling their trash
C. kids reading books in their backyards
D. people eating dinner inside their homes | A | What is the main idea of this text? | A. Runoff can carry with it liquids and solids that people have spilled or dropped, polluting the lakes, rivers, and streams it enters.
B. People are working to keep chemicals, soap, oil, animal waste, garbage, and other pollutants from going down street drains.
C. Different animal and plant species live in rivers, lak... | A | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Protect Watery Habitats | Wading birds live in a watery world, and clean water is essential for their survival. Rain that falls on streets, yards, parks, and farms flows through pipes and soil back into rivers, lakes, and other waterways where wading birds live, feed, and breed. You can help keep their habitats clean even if you don’t live near... | 920 | 5 | Social Studies: Sports, Health & Safety | According to the text, what is essential for the survival of wading birds? | A. dirty water
B. clean water
C. warm climates
D. cold climates | B | What does the text list? | A. ways wading bird species differ from one another
B. how to start a water ecology club in schools
C. ways people can keep the habitats of wading birds clean
D. kids that are working on protecting the habitats of wading birds | C | Rivers, lakes, and other waterways are important to the survival of wading birds. What information from the text best supports this statement? | A. Wading birds live, feed, and breed in rivers, lakes, and other waterways.
B. You can help keep the habitats of wading birds clean even if you don’t live near water.
C. You should a lways carry away trash and anything else you bring when visiting lakes, ponds, rivers, and seashore.
D. Rain that falls on streets, yard... | A | Based on the text, how might rain pollute the rivers, lakes, and other waterways where wading birds live? | A. Rain that flows into the wading birds' habitats may carry with it trash from the ocean.
B. Rain that flows into the wading birds' habitats may carry with it pollutants that are found in the atmosphere.
C. Rain that flows into the wading birds' habitats may carry with it trash people drop or spill on streets, yards, ... | C | What is the main idea of this text? | A. We can take steps to keep the rivers, lakes, and other waterways where wading birds live clean.
B. It's good to always carry away trash and anything else you bring when visiting lakes and rivers.
C. You can conserve water by t urning off the faucet while brushing your teeth.
D. Rain that falls on streets and farms f... | A | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Geometric Patterns in Islamic Art | Geometric patterns are decorative designs that usually consist of repeated shapes, specifically lines, squares, and circles. In Islamic art, these patterns are extremely popular, and are used to ornament many different objects and buildings. Their popularity, in part, can be tied to the fact that many sects of Islam fo... | 1,140 | 5 | Science: Physical Science | What are decorative designs that usually consist of repeated shapes called? | A. Islamic art
B. geometric patterns
C. symmetrical patterns
D. shapes | B | The text describes Islamic art. What does the text describe about Islamic art? | A. images used in Islamic art
B. artists who made Islamic art
C. famous paintings showing Islamic art
D. specific pieces of Islamic artwork | A | Read the following sentences from the text. " In developing this geometric style, artists relied heavily on the discoveries made by Islamic scientists and mathematicians. The typical patterns found in Islamic art reflect this relationship between visual art and the fields of science and math." Which statement about Isl... | A. Islamic art has been influenced by math and science.
B. Islamic art has been influenced by images of the natural world.
C. Islamic art shows the diversity and individuality of artists.
D. Islamic art is popular in mosques throughout the world. | A | The text shows a photograph of a mosaic in a mosque, which is a Muslim place of worship. What information does this photograph best support? | A. Islamic art can be found throughout the world.
B. Islamic art has been created throughout different centuries.
C. Artists can use different processes for creating Islamic art.
D. Islamic art's use of geometric patterns is characterized by repetition. | D | What is the main idea of this text? | A. Many sects of Islam forbid artists to depict the natural world in any of its living forms.
B. Geometric patterns, or decorative designs that usually consist of repeated shapes, are very popular in Islamic art.
C. Geometric patterns can show repeated lines, squares, and circles.
D. Islamic artists relied heavily on t... | B | null | null | null | null | null | null |
How Mountains Form | Mountains are formed in several different ways. To understand how mountains are formed, you need to remember that the Earth has a crusty shell made up of gigantic plates. These plates can shift, crack, and wrinkle.
Folded mountains are created when Earth’s crust shifts. As it shifts, one piece of rock folds on top of a... | 880 | 5 | Science: Earth & Space Science | How are folded mountains formed? | A. Huge pieces of rock break off the Earth’s crust when it moves, piling up to form mountains.
B. Magma from below the Earth’s crust pushes upwards, causing the crust to swell upwards.
C. Lava erupts through the Earth’s crust, forming a mountain of hardened lava.
D. When the Earth’s crust shifts, one piece of rock fold... | D | In this passage, the author describes how mountains can change over time. Over time, what effect does erosion have on mountains? | A. Erosion wears down mountains over time.
B. Erosion makes mountains sharp and pointy over time.
C. Erosion causes new mountains to form over time.
D. Erosion causes mountain tops to hold more snow over time. | A | The text states that fault block mountains are formed when, “pieces of rock are broken off and driven upward by the force of the shifting plates.” Based on this evidence, what conclusion can you draw about the force of Earth’s shifting plates? | A. The force of Earth’s shifting plates is somewhat gentle.
B. The force of Earth’s shifting plates is loud.
C. The force of Earth’s shifting plates is very powerful.
D. The force of Earth’s shifting plates is created quickly. | C | Based on the information in the text, what is one feature of a mountain that a person could look at to draw conclusions about how that mountain formed? | A. the color of the rock that makes up the mountainside
B. how cold and snowy it is around the mountain
C. how sharp and pointy or smooth and hilly the mountain is
D. how quickly the rocks of the mountain are shifting | C | What is the main idea of this text? | A. Mountains are all very cold, but they come in all shapes and sizes.
B. Mountains can form in different ways and look different based on how they formed.
C. Mountains can be made of rock, Earth plates, or lava.
D. Mountains can form on land or in the ocean when volcanoes erupt and lava hardens. | B | Please read the following sentences from the text. “…the Earth has a crusty shell made up of gigantic plates. These plates can shift , crack, and wrinkle. Folded mountains are created when Earth’s crust shifts . As it shifts , one piece of rock folds on top of another.” Based on these sentences, what does the word shi... | A. moves
B. explodes
C. shrinks
D. shivers | A | Please choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. Most mountains take thousand or millions of years to form, ___ volcanic mountains can be produced in just a few days. | A. also
B. before
C. therefore
D. but | D |
Radon Problems | Radon is an invisible and odorless gas. It comes from the soil, rock and water under homes and other buildings. It moves up through the ground to the air above and into a home through cracks and other holes in buildings. Radon can be found all over the U.S.
Radon gas decays into radioactive particles that can get trapp... | 940 | 5 | Science: Earth & Space Science, Life Science | What is radon? | A. an invisible and odorless liquid
B. an invisible and odorless home
C. an invisible and odorless gas
D. a lung with cancer | C | What does the text describe? | A. how lung cancer forms
B. how radon can enter homes and buildings
C. how homes with radon can be fixed
D. steps used to test homes for radon | B | Read the following sentences from the text. " Radon gas decays into radioactive particles that can get trapped in the lungs. This can damage the lungs. Breathing radon gas for a long time can cause lung cancer." What can be concluded about the effect of radon on human health? | A. Radon can help improve our health.
B. Radon has no impact on our health.
C. Radon can improve our health in some ways but harm it in others.
D. Radon can be damaging to our health. | D | Based on the text, what part of a home is radon most likely to first enter? | A. the attic
B. the top floors
C. the chimney
D. the basement | D | What is the main idea of this text? | A. Most homes don't have a radon problem, but there is a simple test to find out if there is a high radon levels in a home
B. Radon is a gas that comes from the soil, rock and water underground. It can enter homes and buildings and can also damage the lungs.
C. Homes with high levels of radon can easily be fixed.
D. Br... | B | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Environmental Justice | "Environmental Justice" is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
But what does that really mean? Let's break it down and see:
The... | 1,200 | 5 | Science: Earth & Space Science, Life Science | What term means being sure that everyone has a fair chance of finding housing, employment, and a good education, all in a safe and protected environment? | A. environmental injustice
B. environmental protection
C. environmental justice
D. environmental threats | C | What does the text list and describe? | A. examples of unhealthy environments
B. examples of research the NIEHS has done
C. laws the EPA has made
D. how people brought attention to the fact that some people were sharing an unequal portion of illness because of where they lived, worked and played | A | Read the following sentences from the text. " Both are involved with the 'environment', but they have very different missions—in general, it is the responsibility of the EPA to make and enforce laws that promote healthy environments. To do this properly, NIEHS and other similar research organizations must first identif... | A. The EPA and NIEHS are not very important organizations.
B. The EPA and NIEHS have a lot of conflict between each other.
C. The EPA and NIEHS are very important organizations.
D. The EPA and NIEHS don't support environmental justice. | C | Based on the text, how have laws affected the environmental justice movement? | A. Laws have blocked the efforts of the environmental justice movement.
B. Laws have supported the efforts of the environmental movement in some ways but have stopped these efforts in other ways.
C. Laws have supported the efforts of the environmental justice movement.
D. Laws have not really affected the efforts of th... | C | What is the main idea of this text? | A. Unhealthy environments can make people very sick and may include homes with dangerous levels of lead, playgrounds near chemical plants, and places with exposures to x-rays.
B. Organizations and people work to support environmental justice so that people don't have to work, live, and play in unhealthy environments.
C... | B | Read the following sentences from the text. " Employees of companies dealing with unhealthy materials are also at risk, since there are many things in the workplace that are hazardous to human health. For example, the people who work in chemical factories must be protected from exposures to the chemicals they produce o... | A. healthy
B. helpful
C. dangerous
D. mysterious | C | Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. Many racial and ethnic minorities and poor people have had to live, work and play in environments that cause them to be sick. ________, an environmental justice movement was started. | A. In addition
B. However
C. As a result
D. In conclusion | C |
What Are Electric and Magnetic Fields? | Electricity is an essential part of our lives.
Electricity powers all sorts of things around us, from computers to refrigerators. Use of electric power is something we take for granted.
Electric and magnetic fields (EMF) are invisible lines of force that surround any electrical device. Power lines, electrical wiring, a... | 1,090 | 5-6 | Science: Physical Science | What are electric and magnetic fields? | A. visible lines of force that surround any electrical device
B. invisible lines of force that surround any electrical device
C. energy the earth absorbs from the sun
D. places where people can play a variety of sports | B | The text compares alternating current with direct current. How are they different? | A. Alternating current reverses direction in the electrical wiring. Direct current flows in one direction only.
B. Direct current reverses direction in the electrical wiring. Alternating current flows in one direction only.
C. Direct current is powered by solar energy. Alternating current is powered by electrical energ... | A | Electricity is an essential part of our lives. What information from the text best supports this statement? | A. Electric and magnetic fields (EMF) are invisible lines of force that surround any electrical device.
B. In the United States, if something is plugged into a household wall socket, it is using alternating current.
C. Being exposed to some kinds of electric and magnetic fields may have some bad effects on humans, but ... | D | The text provides a diagram which compares the way a lamp works with the way a water hose works. In this comparison, what is the electrical outlet similar to? | A. the water hose
B. the hose's nozzle
C. the faucet
D. the lamp | C | What is the main idea of this text? | A. Alternating current reverses direction in electrical wiring, whereas direct current flows in one direction only.
B. Electric and magnetic fields are invisible lines of force that surround any electrical device, and may have some bad effects on humans.
C. We are exposed to electric and magnetic fields almost everywhe... | B | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Carbon Monoxide | Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that comes from burning things like kerosene, coal, or wood. It is a poison.
Breathing air containing only a very small amount of carbon monoxide can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide replaces oxygen in the blood.
If you breathe carbon monoxide you may experi... | 950 | 5 | Science: Earth & Space Science, Life Science | What is carbon monoxide? | A. a smelly, smoky gas
B. an odorless, colorless gas
C. an odorless, colorless liquid
D. an odorless, colorless plastic | B | The text lists things carbon monoxide can come from. What is one of these things? | A. old paint
B. carpets and rugs made from wool
C. broken gas water heaters and furnaces
D. detergent used to wash clothes | C | Breathing carbon monoxide can make you very sick. What information from the text best supports this statement? | A. Carbon monoxide detectors help prevent carbon monoxide poisoning in the home.
B. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that comes from burning things like kerosene, coal, or wood.
C. If you breathe carbon monoxide, you may experience blurred vision, stomach aches, and trouble breathing.
D. Carbon monoxide ca... | C | Based on the text, why might it be important to have carbon monoxide detectors in homes? | A. Carbon monoxide is a poison that can come from objects found inside homes.
B. Carbon monoxide is a poison that can come from objects found only outside of homes.
C. Carbon monoxide is a poison that can move from soil underground to the bottom of homes.
D. Carbon monoxide is a poison that can enter homes through rain... | A | What is the main idea of this text? | A. Carbon monoxide is a gas that can cause poisoning and that comes from burning things like kerosene, coal, or wood.
B. Carbon monoxide detectors help prevent carbon monoxide poisoning in the home.
C. If you breathe carbon monoxide, you may experience blurred vision, stomach aches, and trouble breathing.
D. Carbon mon... | A | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Mercury, the Poison | Mercury is a natural metal that is a poison. It is a heavy, odorless, shiny, silver-white liquid. Sometimes it’s called quicksilver. Liquid mercury can evaporate and end up in the air. Only a few drops of mercury is enough to poison the air in a room.
Volcanoes and the earth’s crust release some mercury into the air. C... | 610 | 5 | Science: Earth & Space Science, Life Science | What is mercury? | A. a natural metal that's a poison
B. a natural metal that's safe
C. a natural metal used to treat poisoning
D. a natural metal that can't evaporate | A | What does the text list? | A. steps that lead to a volcanic eruption
B. things that release mercury
C. steps to clean up mercury spills
D. ways mercury can make you sick | B | It's best to not play with mercury. What information from the text best supports this statement? | A. If liquid mercury touches your skin, it can get into your body and make you sick.
B. There is some mercury in fluorescent light bulbs and CFL bulbs.
C. Mercury gets into lakes and oceans and can end up in fish.
D. Mercury i s a heavy, odorless, shiny, silver-white liquid. | A | A broken bulb can release mercury into the room. Why is this so dangerous? | A. Only a few drops of mercury is enough to poison the air in a room.
B. Mercury can be very slippery, causing people to slip and fall.
C. Mercury has a very strong smell which can cause people to faint.
D. Mercury can heat up a room to very high temperatures that are unsafe. | A | What is the main idea of this text? | A. Volcanoes, the Earth's crust, coal-burning power plants and waste burning release mercury into the air.
B. Mercury is a natural metal and poison which can be found in our environment and in different objects.
C. Even though you can’t see the mercury, a broken bulb can release mercury into the room.
D. Mercury has be... | B | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Asthma and Allergies and their Environmental Triggers | Asthma and allergy attacks have increased in the United States despite the fact that our outdoor air quality has improved. Some researchers think these problems have increased because kids are spending too much time indoors.
When outdoors, we are exposed to pollens and dust, and other irritants. But when indoors, we ar... | 1,140 | 5 | Science: Life Science | According to the text, what has increased in the United States? | A. pollen, dust, and other irritants
B. proteins that originate from cockroaches, mold, pets, and dust mites
C. asthma and allergy attacks
D. the amount of time kids spend outdoors | C | What does the text describe? | A. ways people can help control their asthma
B. the proteins that originate in cockroaches and dust mites
C. how plants create pollen
D. reasons why kids are spending more time indoors | A | Read the following sentences from the text. " But when indoors, we are also exposed to 'allergens.' Allergens are proteins that originate from cockroaches, mold, pets, and dust mites (tiny bug-like creatures that live in dust). Allergens cause allergies.....and most people know that allergies can make you sniffle, snee... | A. Our homes can affect our health.
B. Irritants from outdoors are more dangerous than allergens in our homes.
C. The amount of allergens in the average home has decreased.
D. Spending more time indoors than outdoors is healthier for kids. | A | Why might have asthma and allergy attacks increased in the United States? | A. People are spending too much time indoors where they become exposed to allergens that trigger asthma and allergy attacks.
B. The amount of allergens that trigger asthma and allergy attacks has increased in homes over the years.
C. People are spending too much time outdoors where they become exposed to allergens that... | A | What is the main idea of this text? | A. Children whose parents or brothers and sisters have asthma are more likely to develop it themselves.
B. Allergens cause allergies that can make you sniffle, sneeze, have runny and itchy eyes, and other cold-like symptoms.
C. Allergy and asthma attacks are triggered by allergens in homes. People can reduce these alle... | C | null | null | null | null | null | null |
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