Directions: Read and complete the nonfiction article by writing the letter and the correct answer on your OWN paper.
6th Grade Nonfiction Article
READTHEORY
•• Reading Comprehension 8 Level 8
The hammer may be the oldest tool we have record of. Stone hammers—some of the oldest human artifacts ever discovered—date back as early as 2,600,000 BCE. Not only is the hammer the oldest tool, but it is also the greatest. What makes the hammer so great is its simplicity, power, and usefulness.
The structure of the hammer is relatively simple—a fact largely responsible for its early invention and widespread distribution across cultures and geographic regions. The hammer is composed of two main parts: a handle and a head. The handle is used to swing the hammer. The head is used to hit other objects.
While the hammer is a very simple tool, it is still able to generate tremendous power. This power results from two factors: the weight of the head, and the speed at which the hammer is swung. Every hammer (though some more than others) has a large distribution of weight at the head. When a hammer is swung, this weight pivots about the hand, which acts as a fulcrum. The handle carries the weight at a distance, acting as a lever arm, so a longer handle means increased speed. The weight of the head together with the speed generated by the lever arm is what gives the hammer so much power. The heavier the head and the faster it is swung, the more power a hammer produces.
In addition to the hammer's great power, it also has an exceptionally wide range of useful applications. The purpose of the hammer-- to hit-- is a universal action that can accomplish many tasks. Let's start with the obvious: a hammer can be made to pound nails. But a hammer has many other uses as well. It can break apart hard objects such as brick or concrete. It can bend and shape metal or steel. It can gently tap objects to make small adjustments. It can be used to make sculpture or pottery. It can be used in the hot, harsh business of blacksmithing as well as in delicate operations like crafting jewelry. In times of desperation, it can even be used as a weapon.
The hammer truly is a great tool. It is simple, powerful, and useful. A quintessential symbol of labor, the hammer has come to represent hard work and embody the spirit of human industry.
Questions
1) The thesis statement is one sentence that clearly communicates what the author plans to discuss in the passage. Based on this information, which of the following sentences from the passage is its thesis statement?
A. "The hammer may be the oldest tool we have record of."
B. "Not only is the hammer the oldest tool, but it is also the greatest."
C. "A quintessential symbol of labor, the hammer has come to represent hard work and embody the spirit of human industry."
D. "What makes the hammer so great is its simplicity, power, and usefulness."
2) Which of the following best describes the organization of this passage?
A. introduction, supporting paragraphs, conclusion
B. introduction, examples, supporting paragraphs, conclusion
C. history, examples, conclusion
D. history, introduction, supporting paragraphs
3) Based on information in the passage, it can be inferred that which of the following hammers is capable of generating the most power?
A. a claw hammer, because it can be swung very fast
B. a ball-peen hammer, because it has a medium length handle and a small head
C. a sledge hammer, because it has a long handle and a heavy head
D. a bush hammer, because it has a long handle and a light head
4) Based on information in the passage, all of the following people might reasonably use a hammer at work except
A. a sculptor who works in different metals
B. an artist who makes earrings
C. the driver of a concrete mixer
D. a carpenter who frames wooden houses
5) As used in the final paragraph, which of the following describes something quintessential?
A. Jean-Michel finds a prize at the bottom of a cereal box. Once he digs it out, he sees that it is a cheap plastic toy car. After playing with it for a few minutes, he throws it in the trash.
B. Veterans agree that there are many songs that accurately depict the struggles faced by U.S. soldiers during the Vietnam War.
C. While the buildings that line the streets in downtown Manhattan are very impressive, what visitors tend to remember most about New York City are the signature yellow taxi cabs that appear nearly everywhere.
D. During the first three months of its life, our newborn baby cried at night. It was only after we implemented a strict routine of feeding, sleeping, and activity time that we were finally able to enjoy a soundless night.
© Copyright Read Theory LLC, 2012. All rights reserved.
8th Grade Nonfiction Article
READTHEORY
• Reading Comprehension 2 Level 10
However, despite the beliefs of these 17-21 million people, there is no evidence that accidents are more likely to happen on Friday the 13th. On the contrary, some studies have shown there are actually fewer accidents on Friday the 13th. A recent report completed by a Dutch insurance company showed that there were fewer incidents of fires and theft on Fridays that fell on the 13th than on any other Fridays in the same year. It is highly probable that this reduction in accidents owes itself to the fear of Friday the 13th itself. If people are more cautious on Friday the 13th, then there are likely to be fewer accidents.
If, then, there is no significant evidence that Friday the 13th is any more dangerous than any other day of the year, why do friggatriskaidekaphobics remain convinced of its unluckiness? While the historical or folk traditions discussed earlier may have something to do with this belief, people may also use associational links to justify their superstitions. If a friggatriskaidekaphobic loses his wallet on Tuesday the 21st, for example, he would probably not assign any meaning to the date on which this event occurred. If the same individual lost his wallet on Friday the 13th, however, he might be likely to conclude that the inauspicious nature of Friday the 13th was at fault.
Questions
1) This passage is most likely an excerpt from
A. the case study of a patient suffering from friggatriskaidekaphobia
B. the introduction to an article about friggatriskaidekaphobia
C. the introduction to a study about the likelihood of accidents occurring on Friday the 13th
D. a longer work proving that superstitions are justified by real-world events
E. the conclusion of a longer work that analyzes evidence about the superstition of Friday the 13th
2) Based on information in the passage, it can be inferred that an earlier section of this passage likely
I. featured a personal anecdote about why the author no longer believes that Friday the 13th is unlucky
II. provided some explanations about why people might fear Friday the 13th
III. introduced the term “friggatriskaidekaphobia”
A. l only
B. II only
C. I and II only
D. II and III only
E. I, II, and III
3) Which of the following pieces of evidence, if true, would best support the author’s argument in paragraph 1?
A. In ancient Egypt, the number 13 was actually considered lucky by the pharaohs.
B. Major airlines report that there is no significant drop in the number of passengers who fly on Friday the 13th.
C. Studies performed in the United Kingdom reveal that significantly fewer people choose to drive their cars to work on Friday the 13th.
D. More traffic accidents occur on Fridays than on any other day of the week.
E. 50% fewer marriages occur on Friday the 13th than on other Fridays occurring in the same year.
4) According to the example presented in paragraph 2, which of the following logical fallacies is committed by the man who loses his wallet and blames Friday the 13th?
A. Post hoc, characterized by the argument in which two sequential events are said to be causally related, but this is not actually the case; the arguer wrongly concludes that the earlier event cause the later. That is, correlation isn’t the same thing as causation.
B. Appeal to probability, characterized by the assumption that because an event could happen, it is inevitable that it will happen.
C. Appeal to ignorance, characterized by the supposition that, due to a lack of conclusive evidence, the conclusion of an argument should be accepted.
D. Hasty generalization, characterized by making assumptions about a whole group or range of cases based on a sample that is inadequate (usually because it is atypical or too small).
E. Weak analogy, characterized by an argument that relies on an analogy between two or more objects, ideas, or situations which aren’t really alike in the relevant respects.
5) As used in paragraph 2, which is the best antonym for inauspicious?
A. predictable
B. pleasant
C. fortunate
D. successful
E. honest
© Copyright Read Theory LLC, 2012. All rights reserved.
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