READING COMPREHENSION FOR 6

Everyday Clothes

I have two teenage children who love shopping for clothes. They go to the mall with their friends every Saturday.

On school days, my son, Stan, likes to wear blue jeans and T-shirts. He only wears a suit on formal occassions like weddings or funerals. He feels comfortable wearing a jacket but not a tie. My daughter, Lily, likes to wear tight pants. She wears a dress or a skirt and blouse for parties or dinners. She doesn't feel comfortable in high heeled shoes and loves wearing casual and sporty clothes. When Lily visited her aunt in Texas, she bought cowboy boots, tight blue jeans and a cowboy hat.

In Winter, my children wear coats, hats and gloves on cold days. When they go skiing, they put on toques and mittens. Mittens are warmer than gloves. My son doesn't like rainy days because he has to wear a raincoat and carry an umbrella. My daughter loves to wear the scarf that I bought for her Birthday.

In the summer, Lily and Stan usually wear shorts, tanktops and sandals to the beach. Sometimes on weekends, we go walking in the mountains so they wear hiking boots and thick woolen socks to protect their feet and toes.

Last Saturday, my children came home with a bag of clothes each. My son bought two sweaters, and a pair of leather shoes. My daughter bought a black belt to wear with her blue dress, a pair of grey pants and a matching jacket. She also bought a green blouse.

My children have no problem spending money. They think money grows on trees!

QUESTIONS

1.What does Stan like to wear to school?

A.  a suit

B. shorts

C. jeans and t-shirts

 2.What does Lily like to wear for parties or dinners?

A.  jeans

B.  a dress

C.  boots

 3.Who did Lily visit in Texas?

A.  her mother

B.  her brother

C.  her aunt

 

4.The children wear toques and mittens when they go ...

A.  fishing

B.  skiing

C.  dancing

 5.What did Lily's mother buy her on her Birthday?

A.  a scarf

B. sandals

C.  gloves

 6.What do Stan and Lily usually wear to the beach?

A.  skirt and blouse

B.  shirt and tie

C.  shorts, tanktops and sandals

 7.Why do the children wear hiking boots and woolen socks when they go walking in the mountains?

A.  to keep their feet dry

B.  to please their mother

C.  to protect their feet and toes

 8.What did Stan buy last Saturday?

A.  two sweaters

B.  a pair of running shoes

C.  all of the above

 9.Last Saturday, Lily bought grey pants and a ...

A.  matching jacket

B.  a red dress

C.  shoes

 10.How often do Stan and Lily go shopping?

A.  every day

B.  every Saturday

C.  every Sunday

 

READING COMPREHENSION FOR 6

READING COMPREHENSION

Read the texts and answer the questions

Spiders

Did you know that spiders are not insects? They are actually called Arachnids, a group of animals related to insects that have eight legs and that have venom. There are many different kinds of spiders. They live all over the world and can be found in just about every habitat. Most like dark places, which may include your home, closets, or basement!

Spiders are very interesting. Some spin silk webs to catch and eat prey, while others attack their prey. Some spiders, like tarantulas, are large enough to eat lizards and mice! Many people are afraid of spiders because they bite. Most spiders, however, will only bite if they think they are danger and most are harmless. Spiders are actually helpful to people because many eat insect pests like cockroaches and mosquitoes.

 

1.) Spiders have ____________ legs.

2.) Which is NOT true about spiders?

A. Some spiders attack their prey.

B. All spiders are dangerous.

C. Spiders like dark places.

D. Spiders are actually helpful to people.

 

3.) Spiders are….

A. related to insects

B. tarantulas

C. all harmful

D. insects

 

4.) Why are spiders helpful to people?

A. They live all over the world.

B. They eat insect pests.

C. Some eat lizards.

D. They have eight legs.

 

5.) What question is NOT answered in the passage?

A. Where would I find a spider?

B. How long do spiders live?

C. How many legs do spiders have?

D. What do spiders eat?

READING COMPREHENSION

Reading Practice

 

Read the texts and answer the questions about them.

READING 1

Jenny works for the City of Colorado Springs. She cleans up parks in the city. She works five days a week, Monday through Friday.

 

1.What is Jenny's job?

A. five days a week

B. City of Colorado Springs

C. cleans parks

D. parks

 

2.For whom does Jenny work?

A. Monday

B. parks

C. five days a week

D. City of Colorado Springs

 

3.How many days does she work?

A. Friday

B. Monday

C. two days

D. five days

 

READING 2

Ron Miller is starting his job as an exterminator for Bugs Be-Gone. Today he is going to a house on State Street to get rid of some cockroaches there. He has a problem when he starts to use the equipment and he is not sure how to operate it. He tries to read the directions but they are in English and too difficult.

He is not sure what to do but finally he calls for help at work and a fellow employee is able to come out and show him how to use the equipment. After they finish this job together, they go for lunch.

 

1.Who does he call for help?

A. his English school

B. his friend

C. someone at his work

D. Ron Miller

 

2.What problem does Ron have at his job?

A. He is alone on his first job.

B. He can’t read the directions.

C. Too many cockroaches.

D. He is hungry.

 

3.Where do they go after they finish the job?

A. they go to lunch

B. back to State St.

C. to his friends house

D. back to work

 

READING 3

Kim Yun Sung and Kim Annyong came to the United States five years ago. They lived in Los Angeles for two years and then moved to Albuquerque. Now they live in Colorado Springs.

Yun Sung and Annyong studied English at an adult education school. Yun Sung also took a class that prepared him to enter college. He works in a restaurant now, but he wants to get a better job. He plans to apply for the fire science program at Pikes Peak Community College.

Yun Sung was a fireman in his country and would like to become a fireman here. Annyong wants to work in electronic assembly.

 

1.Where does Yun Sung want to work?

A. He wants to work for the fire department.

B. He wants to work for Pikes Peak Community College.

C. He wants to work for the college.

D. He wants to work for an electronics company.

 

2.What did Yun Sung do in his country?

A. He went to adult school.

B. He assembled electronics.

C. He was a fireman.

D. He worked in a restaurant.

3.Before living in Colorado Springs, in how many American cities did Kim Yun Sung and Kim Annyong live?

A. 3

B. 1

C. 4

D. 2

 

4.Both Kim Yun Sung and Kim Annyong want . . .

A. low paying jobs.

B. better jobs.

C. easy jobs.

D. any job.

 

5.Before they moved to Colorado Springs, Kim Yun Sung and Kim Annyong lived in . . .

A. Albuquerque.

B. San Diego.

C. Pikes Peak.

D. Los Angeles.

 

READING COMPREHENSION FOR 6º

ACTIVITY
Read the texts and answer the questions

WHAT IS A BANK?

Banks are places where people can keep their money. Most people use banks to save money in their savings accounts and to pay money from their checking accounts. Today, when a person earns money from their job, their paycheck is often electronically deposited (put) into their savings or checking account. Then, he or she can pay their bills by writing checks from their checking accounts or pay online where their bills are electronically connected to their bank accounts.

Banks also give loans to people. Banks use the money that their customers deposit to lend to people to buy new houses, cars, or to start businesses among other reasons. The bank makes money from lending by charging interest. In other words, people have to pay back more than they borrowed. This amount depends on how risky the bank thinks the borrower is and how fast the loan is paid back among other things.

QUESTIONS

1. How does "interest" work?

a. Banks require people to pay back more money than they borrowed.

b. Banks pay people more money than they borrowed.

c. Banks require people to pay back money they borrowed very quickly.

d.  Banks require people to pay back the same amount they borrowed.

2. How do banks make money?

 a. By having a lot of accounts

b. Electronically

c. Saving their customers deposits

d.  Charging interest to those they lend to

3. What do banks NOT do?

a.  provide a place for people to save their money

b. lend money to people

c.  provide a place where people can pay their bills from

d. help people get jobs

4. What do banks NOT do?

a. Tax people

b. Give loans

c. Charge interest

d. Allow people to pay bills online from their accounts

5. How much "interest" do borrowers have to pay?

a. Most borrowers don't have to pay interest.

 b. It depends on a lot of things.

c. Everyone pays the same amount of interest.

d. The story doesn't say.

GREEN

Green is a beautiful color! In nature, the grass that you walk on is green and the leaves that you see on trees are usually green. Most of the plants that you see are green, too! Frogs are green and many grasshoppers are green, too. Turtles are different shades of green.

Did you know that you can make green paint by mixing blue and yellow? Because you can make green by mixing two primary colors, it is called a secondary color. Green is also the name used to describe the movement to make products that do not harm the Earth. Green products are often those made from recycled materials or those that are safe to throw out in the trash.

1. What is a green product?

a.  One that is made from grass

b. One that is safe for Earth

c. One that is fun

d. One that is mixed together

2. Turtles are...

a. green products

b. different shades of green

c.     not found in nature

d. not green

3. Which of the following might be an example of a green product?

a. a frog

b. a plastic bottle that can be recycled

c. a big truck

d. a plastic bottle that can not be recycled

4. According to the reading, which is green?

a. A frog

b. A mushroom

c.  A bat

d.  A primary color

5. Green is...

a. a kind of plant

b. a secondary color

c. a primary color

d. a type of kite

Reading comprehension for 8°

ACTIVITY
Read the text and answer the questions.

The magnificent Redwood trees are some of the largest trees in the world! They are found mostly in northern California where cool temperatures, misty rains, and dense fog allow them to grow.

Redwood Trees can live thousands of years. The oldest of these trees can grow to over 300 feet tall. Some rise higher than the Statue of Liberty! A few are so wide that roads can be built through them.

Redwoods trees are preserved in California's Redwood National Park. Every year, nearly a million visitors come to see the giant trees. Others just like to drive along the 33-mile long Avenue of the Giants, a road that winds through the park and surrounding areas.

 QUESTIONS

1.The author seems...

A.   ?    bored by the Redwood trees.
B.   ?    to not know that much about the trees.
C.   ?    impressed with the Redwood trees.
D.   ?    to think Redwoods can grow anywhere.

2.How many people come to Redwood National Park?

A.   ?    no one knows
B.   ?    almost a million
C.   ?    a couple of hundred
D.   ?    a few

3.Redwood trees can...

A.   ?    stop growing at 100 feet tall.
B.   ?    live without water.
C.   ?    live a very long time.
D.   ?    live about as long as a person.

4._________ Redwood Trees can grow to over 300 feet tall.

A.   ?    One or two
B.   ?    Old
C.   ?    No
D.   ?    All

5.Redwood trees grow...

A.   ?    everywhere in the United States.
B.   ?    where it is icy cold.
C.   ?    where it is cool and misty.
D.   ?    where it is hot and dry.

TIM'S DAY

Tim works for a company in Sacramento, California. He's a customer service representative. He gets up at six o'clock each workday. He drives to work and begins his job at eight o'clock. He speaks to people on the telephone to help them with their banking problems. People telephone the bank to ask questions about their accounts. He doesn't give information about accounts until people answer a few questions.

Tim asks callers their birth date, the last four digits of their social security number and their address. If a person gives incorrect information, Tim asks him to call back with the correct information. Tim is polite and friendly with everyone. He has lunch in a park next to his office. He returns home at five o'clock in the evening. After work, he goes to the gym to work out. He has dinner at seven o'clock. Tim likes watching TV after dinner. He goes to bed at eleven o'clock at night.

1. Where does Tim work?

a. In Europe
b. In the USA
c. In Asia
 

2. When does he get up?

a.  He gets up at seven o'clock in the morning.

 b. He gets up at six o'clock in the morning.

c.  He gets up at six o'clock in the afternoon.
 

3. How does he get to work?

 a.He walks to work.

 b.He drives to work.

c. He takes the bus to work.

4. What does he do during the day?

a. He helps customers in a bank.

 b.He helps customers on the telephone.

c. He helps customers outside
 

5. What does he do to check information?

 a. He asks people some questions.

b. He tells them to call later.

 c. He asks to see documents.

6. Which question does he NOT ask?

 a.What is your birth date?

 b. What is your job?

c. What is your address?

7. What does he do if the information is incorrect?

a. He gives banking account information.

b. He asks the callers to call back with correct information.

 c.He asks to speak to the parents.

8. What is Tim like on the job?

a. He is unfriendly and helpful.

b. He is funny and helpful.

 c.He is polite and friendly.

9. Where does he eat lunch?

a. At work

b. In a park near work

 c.At home

10. What does he do in the evening?

a. He works out at the gym and watches TV.

b. He works out at the gym and reads a book.

c. He watches TV and plays ping pong.

 

 

READING COMPREHENSION FOR 9º

ACTIVITY

Read the text and answer the questions.

The Effects of Stress

There is a famous expression in English: "Stop the world, I want to get off!" This expression refers to a feeling of panic, or stress, that makes a person want to stop whatever they are doing, try to relax, and become calm again. 'Stress' means pressure or tension. It is one of the most common causes of health problems in modern life. Too much stress results in physical, emotional, and mental health problems.

There are numerous physical effects of stress. Stress can affect the heart. It can increase the pulse rate, make the heart miss beats, and can cause high blood pressure. Stress can affect the respiratory system. It can lead to asthma. It can cause a person to breathe too fast, resulting in a loss of important carbon dioxide. Stress can affect the stomach. It can cause stomach aches and problems digesting food. These are only a few examples of the wide range of illnesses and symptoms resulting from stress.

Emotions are also easily affected by stress. People suffering from stress often feel anxious. They may have panic attacks. They may feel tired all the time. When people are under stress, they often overreact to little problems. For example, a normally gentle parent under a lot of stress at work may yell at a child for dropping a glass of juice. Stress can make people angry, moody, or nervous.

Long-term stress can lead to a variety of serious mental illnesses. Depression, an extreme feeling of sadness and hopelessness, can be the result of continued and increasing stress. Alcoholism and other addictions often develop as a result of overuse of alcohol or drugs to try to relieve stress. Eating disorders, such as anorexia, are sometimes caused by stress and are often made worse by stress. If stress is allowed to continue, then one's mental health is put at risk.

It is obvious that stress is a serious problem. It attacks the body. It affects the emotions. Untreated, it may eventually result in mental illness. Stress has a great influence on the health and well-being of our bodies, our feelings, and our minds. So, reduce stress: stop the world and rest for a while.

1. Which of the following is not a common problem caused by stress?

a.  physical problems

b.  anecdotal problems

c. mental problems

 d. emotional problems

2. According to the essay, which of the following parts of the body does not have physical problems caused by stress.

a. the arms

 b. the stomach

c. the lungs

d. the heart

3. Which of the following show how stress can affect the emotions? 

a. it can make people feel nervous

b. it can cause panic attacks

c. it can make people feel elated

d. it can make people feel angry

4. Which of the following can result from long-term stress? 

a. bliss

b. depression

c. alcoholism

d. whimsy

5. Choose the best answer to explain how alcoholism is caused by stress.

a. alcohol is used to relieve stress

b. alcohol is popular

c. alcohol is a chemical

d. alcohol is similar to medicine

6. Which of the following is not caused by long-term stress?

a. bloating

b. addiction

c. anorexia

d. alcoholism

7. Choose all of the answers that can complete this sentence: Stress can affect the respiratory system by __________.

a. causing stomach problems

b. causing asthma

c. a loss of carbon dioxide

d. causing breathing problems

8. Symptoms of emotional stress include __________.

 a. feeling joyous

b. feeling hungry

c. feeling thirsty

d. feeling tired

READING COMPREHENSION for 8°

ACTIVITY

Read the text and answer the questions.

The Frog and the Ox

Many years ago there was a magnificent ox. One day, when he was taking an afternoon walk, a poorly dressed and unimportant looking frog saw him. The frog felt envy toward the beautiful, strong ox. But the frog yelled to his friends, "Look at this ox! But he is no better than I am, if I tried." The frog swelled up to twice his normal size. "Am I the size of this big ox now?" he asked his frog friends. "You will have to be much bigger to be his size," they said. The frog swelled up even bigger. "How about now?" he asked his friends. "No, but you better not swell up more or you will kill yourself," they warned.

But the frog wanted to be as big as the ox and puffed, and puffed. He never got as big as the ox because he burst first.

1. Magnificent means

a. great and good looking.

b.  proud.

c. poor.

2. The frog was

a.  poorly dressed.

b.  magnificent.

c.  green.

3. The ox was

a.  green.

b. poorly dressed.

c. magnificent.

4. What emotion did the frog feel toward the ox?

a.  fear

b. pride

c.  envy

5. The frog made himself bigger by

a.  eating a lot.

b. swelling up his body.

c. doing nothing.

6. The frog's friends told him,

a. "You look great."

b. "You need to be bigger."

c. "You look as big as the ox."

7. The frog finally

a. burst from puffing himself up

b. was as magnificent as the ox.

c.  got as big as the ox.

8. The lesson from this story is

a. try to be bigger than you are.

b.  be yourself - don't try to be like another.

c. don't try to be better.