LITERACY

Reading Comprehension Practice Questions

1. Questions 1-7.

In the sixteenth century, an age of great marine and terrestrial exploration,

Ferdinand Magellan led the first expedition to sail around the world. As a young
Portuguese noble, he served the king of Portugal, but he became involved in the
quagmire of political intrigue at court and lost the king's favor. After he was
dismissed from service to the king of Portugal, he offered to serve the future
Emperor Charles V of Spain.

A papal decree of 1493 had assigned all land in the New World west of 50 degrees
W longitude to Spain and all the land east of that line to Portugal. Magellan
offered to prove that the East Indies fell under Spanish authority. On September
20, 1519, Magellan set sail from Spain with five ships. More than a year later, one
of these ships was exploring the topography of South America in search of a water
route across the continent. This ship sank, but the remaining four ships searched
along the southern peninsula of South America. Finally they found the passage
they sought near a latitude of 50 degrees S. Magellan named this passage the
Strait of All Saints, but today we know it as the Strait of Magellan.

One ship deserted while in this passage and returned to Spain, so fewer sailors
were privileged to gaze at that first panorama of the Pacific Ocean. Those who
remained crossed the meridian we now call the International Date Line in the
early spring of 1521 after ninety-eight days on the Pacific Ocean. During those
long days at sea, many of Magellan's men died of starvation and disease.

Later Magellan became involved in an insular conflict in the Philippines and was
killed in a tribal battle. Only one ship and seventeen sailors under the command
of the Basque navigator Elcano survived to complete the westward journey to
Spain and thus prove once and for all that the world is round, with no precipice at
the edge.

The sixteenth century was an age of great ___exploration.

A. cosmic
B. land
C. mental
D. common man
E. none of the above

2. Magellan lost the favor of the king of Portugal when he became involved in a
political ___.

A. entanglement
B. discussion
C. negotiation
D. problems
E. none of the above

3. The Pope divided New World lands between Spain and Portugal according to
their location on one side or the other of an imaginary geographical line 50
degrees west of Greenwich that extends in a ___ direction.

A. north and south

B. crosswise
C. easterly
D. south east
E. north and west

4. One of Magellan's ships explored the ___ of South America for a passage across
the continent.

A. coastline
B. mountain range
C. physical features
D. islands
E. none of the above

5. Four of the ships sought a passage along a southern ___.

A. coast
B. inland
C. body of land with water on three sides
D. border
E. answer not available

6. The passage was found near 50 degrees S of ___.

A. Greenwich
B. The equator
C. Spain
D. Portugal
E. Madrid

7. In the spring of 1521, the ships crossed the ___ now called the International
Date Line.

A. imaginary circle passing through the poles

B. Imaginary line parallel to the equator
C. area
D. land mass
E. answer not found in article

8. Questions 8-14
Marie Curie was one of the most accomplished scientists in history. Together with
her husband, Pierre, she discovered radium, an element widely used for treating
cancer, and studied uranium and other radioactive substances. Pierre and Marie's
amicable collaboration later helped to unlock the secrets of the atom.

Marie was born in 1867 in Warsaw, Poland, where her father was a professor of
physics. At the early age, she displayed a brilliant mind and a blithe personality.
Her great exuberance for learning prompted her to continue with her studies
after high school. She became disgruntled, however, when she learned that the
university in Warsaw was closed to women. Determined to receive a higher
education, she defiantly left Poland and in 1891 entered the Sorbonne, a French
university, where she earned her master's degree and doctorate in physics.
Marie was fortunate to have studied at the Sorbonne with some of the greatest
scientists of her day, one of whom was Pierre Curie. Marie and Pierre were
married in 1895 and spent many productive years working together in the physics
laboratory. A short time after they discovered radium, Pierre was killed by a
horse-drawn wagon in 1906. Marie was stunned by this horrible misfortune and
endured heartbreaking anguish. Despondently she recalled their close
relationship and the joy that they had shared in scientific research. The fact that
she had two young daughters to raise by herself greatly increased her distress.

Curie's feeling of desolation finally began to fade when she was asked to succeed
her husband as a physics professor at the Sorbonne. She was the first woman to
be given a professorship at the world-famous university. In 1911 she received the
Nobel Prize in chemistry for isolating radium. Although Marie Curie eventually
suffered a fatal illness from her long exposure to radium, she never became
disillusioned about her work. Regardless of the consequences, she had dedicated
herself to science and to revealing the mysteries of the physical world.

The Curies' ____ collaboration helped to unlock the secrets of the atom.

A. friendly
B. competitive
C. courteous
D. industrious
E. chemistry

9. Marie had a bright mind and a __personality.

A. strong
B. lighthearted
C. humorous
D. strange
E. envious

10. When she learned that she could not attend the university in Warsaw, she
felt___.

A. hopeless
B. annoyed
C. depressed
D. worried
E. none of the above

11. Marie ___ by leaving Poland and traveling to France to enter the Sorbonne.

A. challenged authority
B. showed intelligence
C. behaved
D. was distressed
E. answer not available in article

12. _____she remembered their joy together.

A. Dejectedly
B. Worried
C. Tearfully
D. Happily
E. Sorrowfully

13. Her ____ began to fade when she returned to the Sorbonne to succeed her
husband.

A. misfortune
B. anger
C. wretchedness
D. disappointment
E. ambition

14. Even though she became fatally ill from working with radium, Marie Curie was
never ____.

A. troubled
B. worried
C. disappointed
D. sorrowful
E. disturbed

15. Questions 15-19.

Mount Vesuvius, a volcano located between the ancient Italian cities of Pompeii
and Herculaneum, has received much attention because of its frequent and
destructive eruptions. The most famous of these eruptions occurred in A. D. 79.

The volcano had been inactive for centuries. There was little warning of the
coming eruption, although one account unearthed by archaeologists says that a
hard rain and a strong wind had disturbed the celestial calm during the preceding
night. Early the next morning, the volcano poured a huge river of molten rock
down upon Herculaneum, completely burying the city and filling in the harbor
with coagulated lava.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the mountain, cinders, stone and ash rained
down on Pompeii. Sparks from the burning ash ignited the combustible rooftops
quickly. Large portions of the city were destroyed in the conflagration. Fire,
however, was not the only cause of destruction. Poisonous sulphuric gases
saturated the air. These heavy gases were not buoyant in the atmosphere and
therefore sank toward the earth and suffocated people.

Over the years, excavations of Pompeii and Herculaneum have revealed a great
deal about the behavior of the volcano. By analyzing data, much as a zoologist
dissects a specimen animal, scientist have concluded that the eruption changed
large portions of the area's geography. For instance, it turned the Sarno River
from its course and raised the level of the beach along the Bay of Naples.
Meteorologists studying these events have also concluded that Vesuvius caused a
huge tidal wave that affected the world's climate.
In addition to making these investigations, archaeologists have been able to study
the skeletons of victims by using distilled water to wash away the volcanic ash. By
strengthening the brittle bones with acrylic paint, scientists have been able to
examine the skeletons and draw conclusions about the diet and habits of the
residents. Finally, the excavations at both Pompeii and Herculaneum have yielded
many examples of classical art, such as jewelry made of bronze, which is an alloy
of copper and tin.
The eruption of Mount Vesuvius and its tragic consequences have provided us
with a wealth of data about the effects that volcanoes can have on the
surrounding area. Today volcanologists can locate and predict eruptions, saving
lives and preventing the destruction of cities and cultures.

15. Herculaneum and its harbor were buried under ___lava.

A. liquid
B. solid
C. flowing
D. gas
E. answer not available

16. The poisonous gases were not ___ in the air.

A. able to float
B. visible
C. able to evaporate
D. invisible
E. able to condense

17. Scientists analyzed data about Vesuvius in the same way that a zoologist ___ a
specimen.

A. describes in detail
B. studies by cutting apart
C. photographs
D. chart
E. answer not available

18. ____have concluded that the volcanic eruption caused a tidal wave.

A. Scientist who study oceans

B. Scientist who study atmospheric conditions
C. Scientist who study ash
D. Scientist who study animal behavior
E. Answer not available in article
19. Scientist have used ___water to wash away volcanic ash from the skeletons of
victims.

A. bottled
B. volcanic
C. purified
D. sea
E. fountain

GRAMMAR
What part of speech or word class is each of the underlined words in the
sentences below?
1. I am going to water those plants before they die.
a. verb b. noun c. adjective d. adverb
2. My grandmother’s neighbour is an unusually friendly person.
a. verb b. noun c. adjective d. adverb
3. Somto has always been a fast runner.
a. verb b. noun c. adjective d. adverb
4. Although the pastor speaks too fast, I always enjoy his sermon.
a. verb b. noun c. adjective d. adverb
5. I always work hard on my class report.
a. verb b. noun c. adjective d. adverb
6. Mr. Ali had a hard time reaching the doctor.
a. verb b. noun c. adjective d. adverb
 State whether each of the underlined group of words is a dependent clause
or independent clause
7. While Landee sat indoors watching MTV, Chantal made a herb garden.
a. dependent clause b. independent clause
8. My sister, who is health-conscious, swims regularly to keep fit.
9. a. dependent clause b. independent clause
10.Although I am old now, I’ve always enjoyed swimming.
a. dependent clause b. independent clause
11.Before the house was built, the site was just a field.
a. dependent clause b. independent clause
12.Do you know the man who won the first prize?
a. dependent clause b. independent clause
13. Mr Azubuike bought a car which was imported from Germany.
a. dependent clause b. independent clause

Identify each of the underlined subordinate clauses as adverbial or adjectival.

14.Whenever I visit a museum, I greatly enjoy the exhibits.

a. adverbial b. adjectival
15. One juror, who wishes to avoid publicity, changed everyone else’s mind.
a. adverbial b. adjectival
16. While you wait, the artist will complete your portrait.
a. adverbial b. adjectival
17. The Korean War, which dragged on for three long years, finally ended in
1953.

a. adverbial b. adjectival
18.Cracow, which is also spelt Kracow, is a city in Poland.
a. adverbial b. adjectival
19. Because he lied in court, his sentence was wrong.
a. adverbial b. adjectival

Read the following sentences, and indicate whether each is simple,

compound, or complex. pound c. complex
20. I worked all morning, and I relaxed in the afternoon. __________
a. simple b. compound c. complex
21. Beth likes all seasons of the year, but she likes fall best. __________
a. simple b. compound c. complex
22. On our trip we drove every afternoon until five o’clock. __________
a. simple b. compound c. complex
23. Dave began to feel better before the doctor arrived. __________
a. simple b. compound c. complex
24. Whistling loudly, Ken walked past the cemetery. __________
a. simple b. compound c. complex
25. How many states can you see from Lookout Mountain? __________
a. simple b. compound c. complex

26. If you want your car really clean, let George wash it. __________
a. simple b. compound c. complex
27. I must stay home until the man comes to repair the washing machine.
__________
a. simple b. compound c. complex
28. Our neighbors are going to Canada on their vacation, but we will take
our vacation at home. __________

a. simple b. compound c. complex

29.When the rain began, we were playing tennis. __________

a. simple b. compound c. complex
30.When Uncle Jack comes to town, we all have a good time. __________
a. simple b. compound complex

SPELLING

(ANSWER MUST BE IN CAPITAL LETTERS)

Solve the clues with “sure” or “ture” ending words. ANSWER MUST BE IN CAPITAL
LETTERS

1. Gothic ARC __________________

2. Comic, exaggerated drawing of a person: CARI_______________
3. Free time: LEI_______________

Solve these clues with silent letter words.

4. Prickly weed (silent t) _______________

 5. Public display of works of art (silent h) _____
6. Speak quietly (silent h) ___________
7. Lock securely (silent t) ___________

Solve the clues using au or aw words

8. A book of synonyms and antonyms: _____

9. Fine grain of wood: _______
10.Able to be heard: __________

Complete the following words with ie or ei

11.Rec____ _____pt
12.H______ ____ roglyphics
13.R___ ______ terate
14.Homogen_____ _____ ty
15.Med ____ _____ val

Rewrite the following wrongly spelt words correctly

16.Archeology
17.Apostrophy
18.Encyclopedia
19.Asthetic
20.Oftalmology

VERBAL REASONING
(ANSWER MUST BE IN CAPITAL LETTERS)

Three of these four words are given in code. The codes are not written in the
same order as the word and one code is missing. Find the codes for the words
below.

SELL SALE MATE TEAS

6354 1422 5431

1. SALE ______ (1324)

2. TEAS ______ (5431)
3. SAME ______ (1364)
4. Find the word that has the code 6432. _____ (MEAL)

Give the two missing groups of letters in the following sequences. You can write
out the letters of the alphabet to help you.

5. AH BI CJ DK _________(EL) __________(FM)
6. ZZA YBY XDW WFU _________(VHS) _________(UJQ)
7. GIH IKJ KML MON _________(OQP) __________(QSR)

Underline two words, one from each group, that go together to form a new word
the word in the first group always comes first.

1. (pick, slow, set) (end back forward) =

2. (Out, big, walk) (warm, side, temper) =
3. (ticket, fare, bus) (punch, gone, well) =
4. (there, which, when) (was, time, fore) =
5. (leg, hand, saw) (some, ankle, kick) =
Find the letters which will end the first word and start the second. E.G.
REA(CH)AIR

6. BRU(____ ______)OVE =
7. CAT(_____ ____ )EW =
8. MET(____ _____ ) MOST =
9. CHAN(_____ ____ ) ESE =
10.CHIS( _____ _____)DEST =