Reading Comp. Review

Publishing Doctor Zhivago

Boris Pasternak's 1956 novel Doctor Zhivago tells the story of a Russian doctor living at the time of the 1917 Russian Revolution, which led to the establishment of the Soviet Union. Because the book dealt with hardships people faced after the revolution, publishers in the Soviet Union refused to release it, calling it anti-Soviet. Pasternak's solution was to have the book smuggled out of the Soviet Union and published in Europe. Though Soviet authorities tried to prevent it, the book was published in Italy in 1957 and was immediately well received. In 1958, it was translated into English and went on to become one of the most popular novels of the 1950s.

What is the main, or central, idea of the passage?

• A) Boris Pasternak couldn’t get his book Doctor Zhivago published in the Soviet Union, so he had the book smuggled out of the country.

• B) Doctor Zhivago showed the problems that Russians faced following the Russian Revolution, so it was considered anti-Soviet.

April Fools' Days Around the World

April Fools' Day is celebrated around the world, although it varies somewhat from country to country. In the United States, for example, it's a day to play practical jokes. In France, where the holiday is known as Poisson d'Avril, or April Fish, people secretly tape paper fish on their friends' backs. A common April Fools' prank in Portugal is to throw flour on someone; in Scotland, the most popular trick involves sending someone on a useless errand. Denmark celebrates April Fools' Day on April 1, but some people there celebrate again in May. Maj-kat, on May 1, is yet another day for jokes and pranks in the spring.

What is the main, or central, idea of the passage?

• On Poisson d'Avril, France’s version of what Americans call April Fools’ Day, prankers tape paper fish to people’s backs.

• Though there are variations in how different countries observe April Fools’ Day, the celebrations all involve playing pranks.

The Evolving Human Skeleton

Our early ancestors were hunter-gatherers who obtained food by hunting and by searching for edible wild plants. They needed strong bones, including large, strong jaws that enabled them to eat tough, uncooked foods. When our ancestors developed agriculture, however, their diet changed. They began growing plants, such as grains and beans, and raising animals for food; they also started cooking their foods, making them softer and easier to chew. Consequently, the human skeleton underwent radical changes. Over time, the human jaw became smaller and changed shape. Other bones also evolved, becoming lighter, especially in the joints, as a result of both dietary changes and a less active lifestyle.

What is the main, or central, idea of the passage?

• A) As early humans developed agriculture, their bones changed significantly.

• B) Early humans ate uncooked meats and vegetables, so they needed strong jaws for chewing.

The First "Newspaper" War

The Crimean War was fought in the 1850s between Russia on one side and Britain, France, and Turkey on the other. Although it was a major conflict, it is perhaps best remembered as the first war in which journalists were present on the battlefield. News dispatches from William Howard Russell, a reporter for the Times of London, exposed military blunders and revealed the filthy conditions that existed in military hospitals and camps. Photographers such as James Robertson and Roger Fenton made hundreds of photographs of soldiers on the battlefield. These news reports and photographs provided an uncensored look at life on the frontlines. The Crimean War marked the first time in history that people back home were exposed to the horrors of war.

What is the main, or central, idea of the passage?

• The Crimean War was the first war to be documented for civilians.

• The Crimean War was fought between the Russian and the British, French, and Turkish.

The Unhappy Princess

Once there was a king who had a daughter named Princess Araminta. He loved her greatly, and he wanted to make her happy more than anything in the world.

He bought her a fine steed, but she didn't like to ride. He bought her beautiful and expensive clothing, but Araminta said that the gold embroidery scratched at her neck. He bought a grand palace in the mountains to be their summer home, but Araminta thought the empty stone hallways felt drafty and lonely.

The king couldn't understand. He'd given his daughter everything that made him happy—a fine horse, nice clothes, and a beautiful palace.

"What else could you possibly want?" he asked her. Araminta didn't have an answer for him because she didn't know.

One day, she was wandering near a creek by herself, watching the little silver fish dart around in the water. She saw an abandoned fishing pole leaning against a tree. Impulsively, she hooked a worm to the hook and then cast the fishing rod into the water.

She sat there on a rock by the creek for hours as she fished, enjoying the warm sunshine on her skin. When she caught a trout, she shouted with joy.

"Father, would you buy me a fishing pole?" Araminta asked her father later that day. 

"Well, that's easy enough. But I don't understand," the king said. "How could a fishing pole possibly make you happy?"

Araminta simply smiled. "You don't have to understand," she said.

Which of the following best describes the main theme or lesson of the story?

• A) Different things make different people happy.

• B) Fishing is more relaxing than horseback-riding.

Select the quotation from the story that most strongly suggests that the theme is Different things make different people happy.

• "What else could you possibly want?" he asked her. Araminta didn't have an answer for him because she didn't know.

• The king couldn’t understand. He’d given his daughter everything that made him happy– a fine horse, nice clothes, and a beautiful palace.

A Tale of Two Sisters

Liane was confident about the sand sculpture contest. She and her sister, Amanda, had been building sandcastles for years. People often stopped to admire the intricate details of their creations.

The two knelt in the damp sand by the foamy surf and tried to hatch a winning idea for the contest.

"We should make something really unusual for this contest. Like a giant octopus or something," said Liane.

"I thought we were making a sandcastle town, like we always do. Look, I collected all these shells for the walls," said Amanda. She pointed at a pile of smooth cowrie shells.

"Come on, let's do something different," Liane insisted. "Think big!"

"I don't know," Amanda said, dragging a finger in the sand. "No, I'm sticking to the original plan." She compressed a clump of sand between her palms, shaping it into a castle corner.

"I'll just make my own, then," Liane said. She marched to another spot a few yards away, plopped herself down, and began making her own sculpture.

At the end of the day, Liane gave up on her sculpture of a giant octopus attacking a castle. It looked like a lopsided shack with a blob on it. Liane hadn't had time to add any details.

Amanda had made a satisfactory castle, small but neatly ornamented with shells. Around it she had shaped the sand to look like rolling farmland. Amanda had spent most of her time on making a little herd of shell cows.

Looking around, Liane realized that neither of them would win the contest. Liane's sculpture was missing Amanda's skillful touch, and Amanda's castle was missing Liane's big ideas.

What was Liane confident about?

• Her ability to solve problems

• Her cooking skills

• Her public speaking

• Her artistic talent

A Tale of Two Sisters

Liane was confident about the sand sculpture contest. She and her sister, Amanda, had been building sandcastles for years. People often stopped to admire the intricate details of their creations.

The two knelt in the damp sand by the foamy surf and tried to hatch a winning idea for the contest.

"We should make something really unusual for this contest. Like a giant octopus or something," said Liane.

"I thought we were making a sandcastle town, like we always do. Look, I collected all these shells for the walls," said Amanda. She pointed at a pile of smooth cowrie shells.

"Come on, let's do something different," Liane insisted. "Think big!"

"I don't know," Amanda said, dragging a finger in the sand. "No, I'm sticking to the original plan." She compressed a clump of sand between her palms, shaping it into a castle corner.

"I'll just make my own, then," Liane said. She marched to another spot a few yards away, plopped herself down, and began making her own sculpture.

At the end of the day, Liane gave up on her sculpture of a giant octopus attacking a castle. It looked like a lopsided shack with a blob on it. Liane hadn't had time to add any details.

Amanda had made a satisfactory castle, small but neatly ornamented with shells. Around it she had shaped the sand to look like rolling farmland. Amanda had spent most of her time on making a little herd of shell cows.

Looking around, Liane realized that neither of them would win the contest. Liane's sculpture was missing Amanda's skillful touch, and Amanda's castle was missing Liane's big ideas.

Which of the following best describes the main theme or lesson of the story?

• You won't win if you don’t plan ahead.

• Sometimes it's better to compromise and work together.

Liane's sister is:

• Anna

• Beth

• Clara

• Diana

How did Amanda's castle look at the end of the day?

• It was majestic and glowing in the sunset.

• It was dark and covered in shadows.

• It was bustling with activity and lights.

• It was quiet and abandoned.