Vocabulary and Comprehension Practice

When the school bell rings, it signals that school is starting and it is time to learn. Students sitting at their desks stay quiet as the teacher talks. They are practising good manners. Good manners are polite social behaviour that involves the use of appropriate actions and courteous words. In the classroom, students should (1) _______________ one another. When someone is talking, the others should listen and not to (2) _______________ or make loud noises. Remember to use kind words. Do not gossip or (3) _______________. Instead, think of others before you speak. Imagine how you would feel if someone made negative comments about you. When moving from one place to another, keep (4) _______________ with the rest of the class. Always walk instead of running. It is also important to talk softly considering that students in other classes are learning. By staying quiet, you and the rest of your classmates will not distract them.

• apologise

• interrupt

• tattle

• pace

Today, airports are designed for comfort and style. Designers make airports enjoyable for passengers to move through the airport. Moving sidewalks help people get around airports quickly. (1) ________________ carousels help passengers get their luggage. Conveyor belt can get luggage through a scanner promptly. Jet bridges, which are moveable walkway that (2) ________________ the terminal with the airplane, make movement from airplane to terminal smooth and sheltered from harsh weather conditions. Designing airport is handled by many people with many respective areas of different specialties. The goal is for an airport to be attractive, create an atmosphere that promotes (3) ________________ and easy to get through. Needless to say, not only is the designing of the airport (4) ________________ but so is its maintenance. However, cities and countries are willing to spend a lot as the airport industry can improve the economy. It is a way to bring in tourists, business and aid for their people.

• baggage

• connect

• calmness

• costly

Elsa, the mermaid, followed her friends into the People’s Museum. That was where Elsa’s grandfather worked. He was the expert on the evolution of mankind. Elsa loved discovering new things about human beings but her sister, Shelly, find them dull and silly. Shelly (1) ________________ at the fact that humans could not even breathe underwater. Elsa and her friends greeted her grandfather when they entered his office. “Elsa! I didn’t hear you coming in,” he said. Elsa handed her grandfather a (2) ________________ metal crown that was given by a mysterious sender during her birthday. Her grandfather looked at it intently and rubbed his chin. “I wondered when the truth would (3) ________________ come up. I had hope you could have a few more years of an ordinary everyday life,” her grandfather said. “You mean it’s true, Grandpa? Am I princess? Are you (4) ________________ too, Grandpa?” “Perhaps I should have told you. I was waiting until the time was right,” said Elsa’s grandfather.

• beamed

• finally

• royalty

• scoffed

Table manners help everyone feel comfortable while eating. For example, when people ask others to pass the food to them, they would use (1) _______________ words such as ‘please’ and ‘thank you’. It is a form of good table manners for people to stay seated during meals. They keep their hands to themselves and do not put their elbows on the table. All these actions help (2) _______________ unnecessary spills of drinks or meals. Try not to drop food onto your table or onto your clothes. You would not want your clothes to be stained or dirty the table cloth. Use napkin to wipe your mouth and fingers. Place the napkin on your lap when you are not using it. However, even when we are very careful, accidents do happen. If you make a (3) _______________, do offer to help clean up. If you have finished eating and want to leave, ask to be excused. Asking for permission (4) _______________ you leave shows that you respect others at the table. Remember to help clear and wash the dishes. Thanking the person who prepared the food shows that you are grateful for the meal.

Late one afternoon in May, the phone at Animal Control Centre rang. Francine was sitting at her desk. She answered the phone, “Animal Control Officer here. How may I help you?” asked Francine. “Yes, hello, this is Mrs Bing speaking,” said the voice at the other end. “I am being tormented by the most (1) _______________ raccoon that has chosen to reside on my roof. This is not your average raccoon. This raccoon... shimmers.” “He ... what?” said Francine. “He glows,” said Mrs Bing. “(2) _______________ disturbingly, this raccoon calls out my name. He screams ‘Tammy’ which is my first name.” Francine said, “There is a shimmery raccoon on your roof that calls out your name. How interesting! (3) _______________ I have your address, please?” “42 Flicker Street. Bring a ladder. The roof is very steep and very high. You are not afraid of (4) _______________, are you?” “I am not afraid of anything,” said Francine.

Dolphins and humans share many of the same emotions. Even though dolphins’ smiley faces make them look (1) _______________, they actually do get sad and experience grief. Scientists believe that dolphins understand the meaning of deaths. In one of their scientific observations, they witnessed a mother dolphin refusing to let the dead body of her calf go. Over a couple of days, the mother dolphin was (2) _______________ lifting the dead body of her calf to the ocean’s surface. The scientists think that she might so upset that she could not accept the death of her baby. Dolphins in mourning can be hard to spot. They do not express emotions the way (3) _______________ do. We have languages and facial expression to _______________ our emotions to others. Dolphins could not. The best way to study dolphins’ emotions is to study their behaviour.