Reading Skills

Directions: Read each passage. Then read the questions and choose the best answer for each. PASSAGE ONE: “Summer vacation starts next week, Janie,” her mother said. “Have you done anything about getting a summer job?” “Sure, Mom,” Janie replied. “Well, I know there’s no point in calling any day camps. They’ll already have hired all their junior counselors. And Fred told me that none of the fast-food restaurants is hiring. I looked through the newspaper ads about a week ago, and I didn’t see anything.” “And that’s it?” her mother said. “Janie, I really think you should take today’s paper and go check a few places in person. You’re not going to get a job sitting at home.” “O.K., Mom,” Janie said as she went out the door. “I’ll be back in about half an hour.” 1. From this passage you can conclude that _. Janie has put a great deal of effort into finding a summer job Janie’s friends are helping her find a summer job Janie isn’t very interested in getting a summer job. Janie’s mother has some good ideas about a summer job for Janie 2. From this passage you might predict that _. Janie will return home with news of a job for the summer Janie will not seriously look for a summer job There will be many summer jobs advertised in the paper. Janie will go shopping instead of looking for a summer job PASSAGE TWO You might have a birdhouse in your backyard, but do you have a bat house? There is a good reason to encourage bats to roost in your backyard, especially if you live near a wetland. A single little brown bat, one of the more common species in the United States, may eat 600 mosquitoes in one night. At that rate, a colony of bats, even a small one, could take care of a serious mosquito problem. But before you buy or build a bat house, there are some important things to know about where and how to hang the house. 1. What information do you predict would come next? A list of stories that sell bat houses A description of different species of bats you could expect to attract Directions for where and how to hang a bat house Reasons for preserving wetlands 2. Based on this passage, what can you conclude about bats? They can control the mosquito population. Mosquitoes are the only thing that bats eat. Bats always live by wetlands. Bats are very dangerous mammals. PASSAGE THREE Al admired his older brother Mel and Mel’s friends, Les and Dave. He loved to watch them shoot baskets after school. Secretly he wanted to be in there, too, springing off the asphalt and reaching for the rim, but he was never invited. He was sure they didn’t know just how good he was. At first they would tell him to go play with “the other little kids.” After a while, though, they didn’t seem to notice him. But this afternoon, Les was in a playful mood and tossed the ball to Al. “Do your best, Swish Junior,” he said. 1. What can you conclude about Al? He’s in the same grade as his brother Mel and Mel’s friends. He’s not good at sports. He doesn’t like the way the little kids treat him. He’s confident that he can play well. 2. What prediction can you make from the passage? Al will surprise the older boys by easily making a basket. Al will be too shy to try. Mel will be angry with his younger brother. The older boys will never let Al try a basket again.