Reading Challenge 2

Reading Challenge 2

Test Bank

How to Use These Files

The Reading Challenge Test Bank is designed for courses using the Reading Challenge series. Instructors may utilize parts of these files in their original forms, or instructors may adapt the material to suit the needs of their particular course.

The Reading Challenge Test Bank questions are divided into two broad categories: vocabulary and reading comprehension. The reading comprehension questions test skills ranging from main idea and detail recognition to making inferences to understanding vocabulary in context. Question forms include multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, and short answer. Instructors may copy and paste these materials together to create exams for their courses. Depending on the length of the exam required, instructors may use all of the Test Bank material for each unit covered in the course, or instructors may select only a few questions from various units.

For example, after covering units 1 through 5 in Reading Challenge 2, an instructor may wish to create a one-hour exam based on these units. In order to create this exam, the following materials from the Reading Challenge Test Bank are available:

25 multiple choice vocabulary test items (5 items per unit, from 1-5)

25 fill-in-the-blank vocabulary test items (5 items per unit, from 1-5)

15 multiple choice reading comprehension test items (3 items per unit, from 1-5)

10 short answer reading comprehension test items (2 items per unit, from 1-5)

All together, this would be too much material for a one-hour test. Therefore, the instructor needs to select from this material the items to include on the test. The following steps for exam construction are explained for the process of constructing a one-hour test based on units 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 of Reading Challenge 2.

Steps for exam construction:

1. Based on available material from the Test Bank, outline the test format.

Sample outline for a one-hour test:

10 multiple choice vocabulary questions

10 fill-in-the-blank vocabulary questions

6 multiple choice reading comprehension questions

2 short answer reading comprehension questions

2. Select 10 multiple choice vocabulary test items from among the 25 available in the Test Bank. Arrange the selected vocabulary test items in random order and number them 1 through 10. Cut and paste the instructions for this section of the exam above the numbered vocabulary test items.

3. Select 2 paragraphs with 5 blanks each (10 fill-in-the-blank vocabulary test items) from among the 5 available paragraphs in the Test Bank. Number the blanks in each paragraph consecutively 11 through 20. Cut and paste the instructions for this section of the exam above the eight word choices before the first paragraph.

4. Select 2 readings (including the 6 accompanying multiple choice reading comprehension test items and 2 accompanying short answer reading comprehension test items) from among the 5 available readings in the Test Bank. Since the test outline above includes only one short answer reading comprehension test item per reading, choose one of the short answer test items to accompany each reading. Delete the unwanted short answer test items. Number the reading comprehension test items and the short answer test item for the first passage 21 through 24. Number the reading comprehension and short answer test items for the second passage 25 through 28. Cut and paste the instructions for this section of the exam above the first reading.

5. Read through the complete test and adjust questions to suit the level of the course. Be sure to check that all questions with line number references in the multiple-choices following the reading passages still match the actual line numbers of the readings. Default format settings on different computers may sometimes change the number of lines in a passage.

6. At this point, all of the answers should still be marked as they appear in the Test Bank. Print the exam and use this copy as the answer key. Then delete all of the asterisks that mark correct answer choices. Also, delete the words in “all caps” beside the blanks in the fill-in-the-blank vocabulary questions. Delete the sample responses in square brackets after the short answer reading comprehension test items. Finally, print this file without answers as the course exam.

7. Assign point values for each question item on the exam.

EX: Vocabulary (1 point each) = 20 points

Reading Comprehension Multiple Choice (1 point each) = 6 points

Reading Comprehension Short Answer (2 points each) = 4 points

Total = 30 points

Note: For instructors planning to utilize the Test Bank to create multiple exams, including quizzes, midterms, and finals, it is useful to create a system to mark which test items were already utilized on earlier exams in the course. Test items that were not selected for the exam covering units 1 through 5 could then be included on the midterm or final.

Reading Challenge 2

Unit 1: In the Name of Beauty

Instructions: Choose the best answer to complete each sentence.

1. You should study hard, or you’ll ______failing mathematics.

(A) end up *

(B) maybe

(D) have to

2. I’m not ready to leave because I haven’t ______my makeup yet.

(A) worn

(B) painted

(D) designed

3. I hate the color of this shirt, so I’m going to use _____ to make it blue.

(A) color

(B) dye *

(D) iodine

4. ______, mountain climbing is quite safe.

(A) Tomorrow

(B) It should be

(D) In some cases *

5. In my ______, it is traditional to shake hands.

(A) culture *

(B) habit

(D) opinion

Instructions: Fill in the blanks with words from the list.

cosmeticspowderend upancient

improvespoisonin the name ofantique

______IN THE NAME OF appearance, people do strange things. In ______ANCIENT times, people used ______COSMETICS on their faces that we now know are like ______POISON. Even today, doctors put things in our bodies to make us look better. These things sometimes ______END UP hurting us.

Instructions: Read the passage and answer the questions.

It’s interesting how many parts of beauty can be displayed through clothing styles. Clothing in many cultures is very colorful. In the name of fashion, dye is often applied to cloth. This improves its appearance. There has also been a change in how dyes are created. In modern times, most cloth dyes are chemicals that have been made by scientists. Many years ago, dyes were made from natural things like flower petals, tree bark, and shellfish. In ancient times, dye was bought at the town market. Even today, in some cases, you can see piles of brightly colored powder for sale in local markets. Don’t touch this cloth dye, though, or you’ll end up very colorful yourself! It’s also possible that some dyes for clothing are poisonous, so beware.

Instructions: Choose the best answer.

What is the best title for this reading?

(A) Clothing Is Colorful

(B) Clothing Dye – Past and Present *

(D) Dangerous Dye

When was all dye natural and NOT chemical?

(A) 10 years ago

(B) Today

(D) Long ago*

What is the best meaning for the word “beware” in the last line?

(A) Be careful. *

(B) Put it on.

(D) Pay attention.

Instructions: Write the answer based on information from the passage.

Why do we apply _____ DYE to ______CLOTH?

-to make more colorful clothes

-because it is fashionable

-to make it look better

In ancient times, what were dyes made from?

They were ______MADE from ______NATURAL ingredients.

Unit 2: Who Took That Tooth?

Instructions: Choose the best answer to complete each sentence.

I ______you to be my best friend.

(A) know

(B) custom

(D) consider*

There’s something strange happening. Nothing ______.

(A) goes up

(B) adds up *

(D) does up

I ______my dad so much because he is a good man.

(A) count

(B) consider

(D) inspect

I will be there on time for sure. You can ______me.

(A) count on *

(B) know

(D) responsible

I need to know details, so please be very ______.

(A) exchange

(B) general

(D) wee

Instructions: Fill in the blanks with words from the list.

the wee hourscount oncustomadd up

instead ofexchangemystery grow in

It is a ______CUSTOM in England to tell children to expect a visit from Santa on Christmas Eve. It is a ______MYSTERY to children how Santa Claus goes around the whole world in one night. It just doesn’t ______ADD UP! However, they ______COUNT ON their parents to tell the truth, so they believe it. Later, they are told that their parents bring the presents ______INSTEAD OF Santa Claus.

Instructions: Read the passage and answer the questions.

Another visitor to children in the wee hours is the Easter Bunny. This custom has been linked to Germany in the past. Each Easter, children count on the bunny to bring them colorful eggs and candy. The children never know the exact place to find the eggs, so they have to look for them in the morning. In Germany, tradition says that the bunny lays the eggs! It’s a mystery how a bunny can do that. If children are good and respect their parents, the bunny might bring them a lot of eggs and candy. Some children consider the Easter Bunny to be almost as important as Santa Claus.

Instructions: Choose the best answer.

What does the word “them” refer to in line 4?

(A) children

(B) eggs *

(D) bunnies

The writer believes:

(A) the Easter Bunny is real.

(B) the Easter Bunny lives in Germany.

(D) some bunnies can lay eggs.

What is implied by the phrase “almost as important as” in the last line?

(A) Children don’t like the Easter Bunny or Santa Claus.

(B) Children like the Easter Bunny a little more than Santa Claus.

(D) Children like the Easter Bunny a little less than Santa Claus. *

Instructions: Write the answer based on information from the passage.

In Germany, how do Easter eggs arrive?

The Easter ______BUNNY LAYS the eggs.

What must children do to get many eggs?

Children must be ______GOOD to people and ______RESPECT their ______PARENTS.

Get up ______IN THE MORNING and ______LOOK FOR them.

Unit 3: The Ring of Fire

Instructions: Choose the best answer to complete each sentence.

She made ______visits to the doctor when she was pregnant. She went at least twice a month for nine months.

(A) interested

(B) enormous

(D) every

The ______of the streets was very slippery because of the ice and snow.

(A) surface *

(B) up

(D) place

A molecule of water ______one part oxygen and two parts hydrogen.

(A) comes from

(B) consists of *

(D) is part of

A car accident on the busy street caused a(n) ______of other accidents.

(A) link

(B) connection

(D) chain *

In the future, I hope scientists ______easier ways to quit smoking.

(A) make up with

(B) run into

(D) go on a

Instructions: Fill in the blanks with words from the list.

flowstheorycontinuesconstantly

flowsvolcano slightlyon the mark

Japanese scientists have been ______CONSTANTLY studying Mount Fuji to check for any sudden increases in volcanic activity. This dormant______VOLCANO has not been active for centuries. Recently, however, volcanic activity has increased ______SLIGHTLY, about 3% over the past year. Some scientists have a ______THEORY that the volcano might erupt again in the near future. If they are ______ON THE MARK, 13 million people could be in danger.

Instructions: Read the passage and answer the questions.

There is a theory that 200 million years ago, all of the Earth’s continents used to be connected together into one huge continent. Scientists call this super continent Pangaea. What evidence do they have to support their theory? One important piece of evidence is that he continents of the world fit together like pieces of a puzzle. Their physical shapes and characteristics match. Also, different continents have identical rocks and minerals in the places that fit together. For example, the rocks and minerals in eastern South America are the same as those in western Africa. Scientists believe that these materials must have been produced at the same time and same place.

Instructions: Choose the best answer.

What is the best title for this reading?

(A) Rocks and Minerals

(B) Support for the Theory of Pangaea *

(D) Continents of the World

What is Pangaea?

(A) A very large continent that consisted of only South America and Africa

(B) A scientific theory that helps scientists identify rocks and minerals

(D) The physical shape of a continent

Why do some scientists believe that Pangaea existed?

(A) Different continents have matching shapes and materials. *

(B) Rocks and minerals in eastern South America and western Africa are not the same.

(D) Pangaea must have been 200 million years old.

Instructions: Write the answer based on information from the passage.

According to the Pangaea theory, how long ago were the world’s continents all one super continent?

They were connected together ______200 MILLION years ______AGO.

The eastern part and western part of which two continents have matching shapes and materials?

The eastern part of ______SOUTH AMERICA and the western part of ______AFRICA have matching shapes and materials.

Unit 4: Myths about Pimples

Instructions: Choose the best answer to complete each sentence.

He was ______his pimples near the mirror.

(A) washing

(B) popping *

(D) developing

Don’t ______your skin by washing with that soap.

(A) believe

(B) irritate *

(D) come

He likes to act, but he doesn’t ______want to act in the play this time.

(A) normally

(B) have to

(D) necessarily *

The old man wanted to ______his body by joining a gym.

(A) develop *

(B) encourage

(D) try

Swimming is my favorite ______of exercise.

(A) way

(B) level

(D) form *

Instructions: Fill in the blanks with words from the list.

get rid ofgrow upturn intoinfection

germspoppedencouragepicked

Having skin problems such as pimples are difficult to ______GET RID OF. Sometimes, it can ______TURN INTO a more serious ______INFECTION, if a person pops their pimples too much. Is there a safe way to cure pimples? People ______ENCOURAGEmany traditional ways to fight the common cold. The best advice is to see a specialist and be careful of popping your pimples. You don’t want push the______GERMS further into your skin .

Instructions: Read the passage and answer the questions.

These days many people want to lose weight. Overweight people are being encouraged to eat fewer fatty foods and follow popular diets. However, fatty foods aren’t necessarily the cause of their problems, and popular diets aren’t necessarily the solution. Some overweight people might just have a problem with their hormone levels. They may need special medicine from their doctors. Also, some types of popular diets can actually be unhealthy, and others may be irritating to the stomach. Kids that are reaching puberty must be very careful about what they eat. Their bodies need proper nutrition to grow, and not all popular diets provide this. It is a good idea to see your doctor before starting any diet.

Instructions: Choose the best answer.

What is the main idea of this reading?

(A) Be careful about starting a diet. *

(B) Diets are always bad for your health.

(D) Fatty-foods are sometimes healthy.

Why should a doctor check an overweight person’s hormone levels before starting a diet?

(A) To recommend the most popular diet

(B) To see if hormone levels are the reason that the person is overweight *

(D) To check if the person has reached puberty

According to the reading, what is true about some popular diets?

(A) They don’t provide enough nutrition for normal growth. *

(B) They are too popular and should not be used.

(D) They don’t have enough hormones.

Instructions: Write the answer based on information from the passage.

What is a recommended action for people before starting a diet?

It is recommended that people ______SEE a ______DOCTOR before beginning a diet.

When isit particularly important for children to eat healthy food?

It is particularly important for children to eat healthy food during ______PUBERTY.

Unit 5: I Cut the Cheese

Instructions: Choose the best answer to complete each sentence.

I like using this cloth to clean up because it ______so much water.

(A) has

(B) records

(D) uses

I’m so ______about acting in the play tonight.

(A) embarrassed

(B) released

(D) good

It is ______to eat a steady high-fat diet.

(A) harmful *

(B) useful

(D) healthy

Mostly, success in school ______studying hard.

(A) has to do with *

(B) is to do with

(D) has done with

All animals need food to eat, water to drink, and ______to breathe.

(A) things

(B) gas

(D) oxygen *

Instructions: Fill in the blanks with words from the list.

admitted releasingsooner or laterrealizing

sourcedelaypermitface up to

______RELEASING a fart is quite embarrassing sometimes. Once, when I was a kid, I farted loudly in church. People looked around for the ______SOURCE of the noise. Later, I ______ADMITTED to my mom that it was me. She said “______SOONER OR LATER that happens to everybody. It’s best to just ______FACE UP TO it.”

Instructions: Read the passage and answer the questions.

Joseph Pujol is the most famous farting man ever. He called himself “Le Petomane” on stage. He was from Paris. He performed there in the 1890s at the Moulin Rouge theater. He used to absorb air into his rear and then pass wind in many ways. Audiences were nervous, but sooner or later they all began to laugh very hard. His success had to do with his jokes. He would say, “This is a very small bunny,” and a small fart would come out. “This is an elephant,”and without delay he would release gas from his rear very loudly! People laughed so hard that they cried. Is it harmful to put air in your rear? It didn’t seem to hurt Joseph Pujol!