Level 3 Reading Exam A (100 Points Total)

May 2013 – Bold Answer Key

Part 1: Read the following story; then choose the correct answer to the questions. (24
points – 1 point each)

Dick Conrad had always been a non-believer when it came to UFOs. Flying saucers in the
sky? Aliens from other planets here to conquer the world? Martians prepared to
assassinate the president? Those were ideas for crazy people. They were planted in
people’s minds by the foolish movies they were watching, or by crazy video games, or by
the Internet. Normal people like him believed in their family, a good life, hard work, and
nothing else.
Everything changed on May 14, 1976. That was the night Dick Conrad disappeared.
Dick, along with 13,909 other people, lived in the town of Romulus, Iowa. Romulus was a
typical small Midwestern town with one school, one library, one general store, one traffic
light, and lots of cows and sheep.
Children were raised properly in Romulus. Boys had to wear a tie to church on
Sunday—even on a hot summer day. The nearest church was in Lodi, a long 10-mile drive.
The girls all had to wear white, pink or yellow dresses. No red, green or blue. Reverend
Kelly didn’t like those colors, and wouldn’t have them in his church. The men couldn’t wear
hats, nor were they allowed to smoke on the church steps or in the yard.
On that fateful day in May, Dick and a couple of friends were sitting outside Lloyd’s
Barber Shop. They weren’t there for haircuts, they just liked to sit and chat. Dick had
recently retired from his job as the school bus driver. It had been a good job, but he didn’t
miss the noise of the children on the busy every day.
“So, Al, how’s Harriett doing?” Hank Jones asked.
“She’s better. Her headaches haven’t been as bad as they were,” Al Stevens answered.
“Maybe it’s because those aliens from Venus have left,” Dick Conrad said. “They moved to
Lodi.” Dick laughed loudly. Al had said that Harriett had seen space aliens on their farm.
She had told her friend, Elsie Simmons, and Elsie had told everyone. Every time someone
laughed at Harriet, she got a headache.
“I wouldn’t laugh too hard if I were you,” Hank said. “People have been seeing strange
lights up on Wilcox Hill at night. Near the old amusement park.”
“I saw them myself. Very strange things,” Al Stevens said. “White and blue lights in the sky
over the hill.”
“I think you’ve gotten into something that has made you unable to think straight,” Dick said.
“There’s no such thing as aliens.”
“I think there are,” Al said. “And they’re living on Wilcox Hill.”

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“With the Loch Ness Monster? And the Headless Horseman?” Dick scoffed. “I’ll tell you
guys something. Tonight, around 10:00, I’m going to take my truck up to the top of Wilcox
Hill...”
Dick must surely have gone to Wilcox Hill that night. The men from Lloyd’s are
reluctant to discuss what events may have occurred that night. However, discussion or not,
no one has seen Dick Conrad since that day in mid-May.

Directions: Circle the correct answers on the answer sheet.

1. Dick Conrad thought that _____ believed in UFOs.

A. all people B. no one

C. only crazy people D. aliens

2. According to Dick, the people who believed in UFOs _____ UFO movies on TV.

A. didn’t watch enough B. produced

C. never watched D. watched too many

3. After May 14, 1976, Dick Conrad _____.

A. was never seen again B. retired

C. sat outside the barber shop D. thought UFOs were foolish

4. The population of Romulus was _____.

A. 13,999 B. 14,000 C. 13,909 D. 13,990

5. Romulus was a(an) _____ small town in the Midwest.

A. overpopulated B. typical C. rich D. strange

6. There were many _____ in Romulus.

A. students B. traffic lights C. churches D. cows and sheep

7. Young boys _____ wear a tie to church, or Reverend Kelly would get angry.

A. had to B. could C. should D. didn’t have to

8. People from Romulus went to church in Lodi because _____.

A. it was close B. they liked the Reverend Kelly

C. there wasn’t a church in Romulus D. there weren’t any aliens

9. Girls wearing green dresses _____ in Reverend Kelly’s church.

A. were welcome B. weren’t welcome

C. could smoke D. had to change

10. Dick and his friends _____ outside Lloyd’s Barber Shop.

A. wanted to get a haircut B. looked for aliens

C. slept D. liked to talk

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11. Dick had once been _____.
A. married B. a school bus driver
C. an alien D. a barber

12. Harriet is Al Steven’s _____.

A. dog B. daughter C. grandmother D. wife

13. Aliens were seen by Harriet on their _____.

A. church B. amusement park C. barber shop D. farm

14. Elsie likes to _____.

A. give haircuts B. gossip C. look for aliens D. work at the church

15. There is an old amusement park _____.

A. on top of Wilcox Hill B. in Lodi

C. near the barber shop D. at the church

16. Strange lights had been seen _____.

A. between the hill B. next to the hill

C. behind the hill D. above the hill

17. Al Stevens thinks there are _____ living on Wilcox Hill.

A. UFOs B. wolves C. cows and sheep D. aliens

18. Dick Conrad decides to _____.

A. get a haircut B. go to Wilcox Hill that night

C. retire D. find a space alien

19. The best title for this story is _____.

A. “Chatting at the Barber Shop” B. “The Reverend Kelly”

C. “What Happened to Dick Conrad?” D. “Cows and Sheep in Romulus”

20. In the first sentence, the prefix non in the word nonbeliever means _____.

A. not B. two C. for D. too

21. In the third sentence, conquer means _____.

A. to destroy B. to take over C. to find D. to cook with

22. In the fourth sentence, assassinate means _____.

A. to kill B. to go to a film with C. to elect D. to meet

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23. In the sentence, Dick laughs loudly, loudly is a (an) _____.

A. verb B. adverb C. preposition D. adjective

23. At what time did Dick go to Wilcox Hill

A. 11pm B. 10am C. 12 D. none

25. At the end of the story, Dick _____.

A. was probably in Lodi B. probably got married

C. was probably taken by space aliens D. probably bought a new tie

Part 2: Read the following story, and then answer the questions in complete sentences. (26
points – 2 points each)

“Come on, Rick, we’re all cutting physics class today,” Greg said. “Who wants to listen to
that boring teacher Mr. Francis talk about vacuums?”
“But there’s a quiz today!” Rick said.
“Who cares about a quiz?” Greg said. Greg Thomas was the coolest kid in class. He had
his own car, and the girls adored him. He was the only one who could afford to buy and
wear the most popular style of clothes. “What happens if we get caught?” Rick said,
knowing the answer. He knew that his parents would receive a note from the principal, and
he would be in trouble.

“So what? Come on, Rick. Missy and Janet are waiting in my car. We’ll drive to Marble Cliff
and go swimming.”
Rick paused for a second. It seemed to him that every day he was facing more and more
challenging decisions. Some of them had simple solutions, such as whether he should do
his homework before or after dinner. Others weren’t as easy. Earlier in the week, another
friend, Dan, had invited him to a party the following weekend. He knew that there would be
beer, and he knew that a lot of his friends drank it. He was 15. Maybe he should start.
His guidance counselor, Mr. Martin, had told him that when his friends tried to influence
him, it was called “peer pressure.” It was something that all teens had to deal with. Some
would give in to it, and start smoking or drinking. Others would be strong, and not listen to
it.

Mr. Martin also said that your peers influence you in good ways as well, and all the time—
even if you don’t realize it. You might see one of them reading a new novel, so you decide
to read it, too. Someone in gym class might show you how to dribble a basketball behind
your back.

Rick thought to himself. “Will my friends still like me if I don’t go with Greg? Do I really want
to miss the physics class?” The answer to the first question was yes. The second question
was a bit more difficult. Rick hadn’t studied much.
By now, Tim, George and Jeff had joined the group.
“Did you bring your swimming trunks, Rick?” George asked. “It’s a great day for swimming.”
“Every school day is a great day for swimming,” Jeff added.
“I don’t think I want to go. My parents would be really upset. What do you think Tim?” Tim
Phillips was a good athlete and student. Maybe he would side with Rick.
“I never said I was going,” Tim said. “I don’t want to miss baseball practice this afternoon.”

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“So we have two losers here today,” Greg said. “That’s okay. Probably not enough room in
my car anyway. Katie and Rachel can sit in front with me.”
“Come on, Rick,” Tim said. “Later, you’ll be glad you didn’t go. And tomorrow these fools
will be in detention!”

Directions: Answer the questions on the answer sheet in complete sentences. (26 points –
2 points each)

Example: Q: Who is the coolest kid in class?

A: Greg Thomas is the coolest kid in class.

1. What doesn’t Greg want to do?

Greg / He doesn’t want to go to physics class.

2. Who is boring?

Mr Francis / the physics teacher is boring.

3. Why does everyone think Greg is cool?

Everyone thinks he’s cool because he has his own car, and wears stylish clothes.
They think he was cool because... / They think Greg is cool because... / Everyone
thinks Greg is cool because...

4. What would happen to Rick if he were caught?

If he / Rick were caught, he would get in trouble.

5. Who is waiting in the car?

Missy and Janet are waiting in the car.

6. What was one of the easier problems Rick had to solve?

One of the easier problems Rick / he had to solve was when to do his homework.

7. Why might Rick want to start drinking beer?

Rick / He might want to start drinking beer because his friends drank beer.

8. What is peer pressure?

Peer pressure is / It is when friends / people / peers try to influence you.

9. Are people influenced by their peers all the time?

Yes, a person’s peers influence him/ her all the time. Yes, they influence him/ her all
the time.

10. What are two examples of good peer pressure?

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Two examples of good peer pressure are reading the same book a friend is reading,
and being taught by a friend how to dribble a basketball behind your back.

11. Where did Greg want to go, and what did he want to do?

Greg / He wanted to go to Marble Cliff and go swimming.

12. Which friend agreed with Rick?

Tim agreed with Rick.

13. What was Tim good at?

Tim was good at athlectis and he was a good student.

14. Who is going to sit up front with Greg?

Katie and Rachel are going to sit up front with Greg.

15. What is the main idea of the story?

The main idea of this story is not to give in to peer pressure. / The main idea of this
story is to not let friends influence you in the wrong ways.

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