“Maniacs on Bikes”
Name:______Period:______
Part 1: Finding the Main Idea
One statement below expresses the main idea of the article. One statement is too broad; it gives too much information. The other statement explains only part of the article; it is too narrow. Label the statements using the following key:
M – Main IdeaB – Too BroadN – Too Narrow
______1. City streets with heavy traffic present a challenge to travelers who need to get from Point A to Point B.
______2. Bike messengers enjoy the challenge and the danger involved in delivering mail around big cities.
______3. Because bike messengers often choose to ignore the rules of the road, they are not popular with taxi drivers or pedestrians.
Part 2: Recalling Facts
Choose the letter of the correct answer.
4. Bike messengers were most common during the
A. 1980sB. 1890sC. 1970s
5. Bike messengers are paid
A. a set salary, no matter how many packages they deliver.
B. about $4.00 per hour.
C. for every package they deliver.
6. The phrase shooting the tube means
A. “going the wrong way down a one-way street.”
B. “squeezing between two buses.”
C. “running a red light.”
7. The Cycle Messenger World Championship is held in
A. a different country each year.B. New York City.C. San Francisco
8. The Halloween race held in New York City each year takes place
A. at midnight.B. during rush hour.C. at sunrise
Part 3: Making Inferences
When you combine your own experience and information from a text to draw a conclusion that is not directly stated in that text, you are making an inference. Below are five statements that may or may not be inferences based on information in the article. Label the statements using the following key:
C – Correct InferenceF – Faulty Inference
______9. City police ignore traffic violations when they see that bike messengers are in a hurry.
______10. Most bike messengers dream of owning a fancy car someday.
______11. To stay safe, people walking in New York City should keep an eye out for bike messengers.
______12. Most bike messengers spend a great deal of money on their bikes.
______13. Bike messengers have quick reflexes and good coordination.
Part 4: Using Words Precisely
Each sentence below contains an underlined word or phrase from the article. Following the sentence are three definitions. One definition is closest to the meaning of the underlined word. One definition is opposite or nearly opposite. Label those two definitions using the following key. Do not label the remaining definition. Use a dictionary.
C – ClosestO – Opposite or Nearly Opposite
14. Drivers, especially taxi drivers, hate these freewheeling messengers.
______a. uptight______b. not bound by rules______c. fast-moving
15. Red lights only cost time and money, so bike messengers routinely ignore them.
______a. happily______b. seldom______c. regularly
16. Also, they crave the freedom the job provides.
______a. desire or need intensely______b. advertise______c. are indifferent about
17. Why would I want to forfeit my youth to go to medical school?
______a. gain______b. sacrifice______c. celebrate
Part 5: Author’s Approach
Circle the letter next to the correct answer.
18. The author uses the first sentence of the article to
A. inform the reader about the dangers of being a bike messenger.
B. explain the bike messenger’s job to the reader.
C. create a light, informal mood.
19. What does the author mean by the statement “Bike messengers love their work. They have to”?
A. Being a bike messenger has many drawbacks, therefore those who make it their career must do it just for fun.
B. Bike messengers must love their work because no one loves them.
C. The only place where bike messengers can be happy is on the job.
20. From the statements below, choose those that you believe the author would agree with. You may choose more than one.
A. Bike messengers are different in many ways from those whose lives are spent in traditional jobs.
B. Bike messengers should adopt a more traditional way of dressing so they can look more businesslike.
C. Bike messengers are proud of their physical ability and their riding skill.
Part 6: Summarizing and Paraphrasing
Read the statement below. Then read the paraphrase of that statement. Choose the reason that best tells why the paraphrase does not say the same thing as the statement.
21. Statement: Bike messengers are not paid well and they don’t get the benefits that most people expect from a job.
Paraphrase: Bike messengers don’t care that they will never earn much money or receive benefits.
A. Paraphrase says too much.
B. Paraphrase doesn’t say enough.
C. Paraphrase doesn’t agree with the statement about the article.
22. Choose the sentence that correctly restates the following sentence from the article.
“To deter thieves, they often paint their bikes some hideous color.”
A. To make their bikes less obvious to thieves, bike messengers often paint them dull colors.
B. Bike messengers sometimes paint their bikes ugly colors in order to discourage thieves from stealing tem.
C. Bike messengers know that thieves are looking only for bikes that are painted beautifully, so they paint theirs dark.
Part 7: Critical Thinking
Circle the letter next to the correct answer.
23. Which of the following statements from the article is an opinion rather than a fact?
A. “Bike messengers ride tough old bikes with fat tires.”
B. “At least five riders died in New York City in 1996 alone.”
C. “Anyone who rides a bike on the street of New York City probably is a bit wacky.”
24. Choose from the letters below to correctly complete the following statement. Write the letters on the lines.
On the positive side ______, but on the negative side ______.
A. bike messengers take unnecessary risks
B. bike messengers have a lot of fun.
C. bike messengers have created their own jargon.
25. Read paragraph 2. Then choose from the letters below to correctly complete the following statement. Write the letters on the lines.
According to paragraph 2, ______because ______.
A. the number of bike messengers has decreased
B. bike messengers have been around for many years
C. people are using more faxes and e-mails to send messages