Comprehension

Read: 'The cheetah is the fastest land animal. It can reach speeds of 70 mph.' What can the cheetah do?

• AClimb a tall cliff
• BSwim across a river
• CRun very fast✓
• DFly high in the air

Answer: The passage states the cheetah can reach speeds of 70 mph, meaning it can run very fast.

Read: 'Most birds can fly, but penguins cannot. Their wings have become stiff flippers, which are shaped for swimming rather than flying.' According to the passage, why can penguins not fly?

• AThey are too heavy to lift off
• BTheir wings are made for swimming✓
• CThey choose to stay on the ground
• DThey live in very cold places

Answer: The passage says that penguins' wings have become flippers shaped for swimming rather than flying, and that is the only reason it gives.

Read: 'The Amazon rainforest is home to millions of kinds of plants and animals. Sadly, it is being destroyed for farmland.' What is a problem mentioned?

• AAnimals are leaving
• BThere is not enough oxygen for the animals
• CThe rainforest is too wet
• DIt is being destroyed for farmland✓

Answer: The passage explicitly states the rainforest is being destroyed for farmland as a problem.

Read: 'Vincent van Gogh was a famous artist who struggled with mental illness. He created beautiful paintings, but many people did not appreciate his work during his lifetime.' What is true about van Gogh?

• AHe did not struggle with any problems and sold every one of his paintings during his lifetime
• BHe was popular when alive
• CEveryone loved his paintings
• DHe created beautiful paintings but wasn't appreciated during his lifetime✓

Answer: The passage states he created beautiful paintings, but people did not appreciate his work during his lifetime.

Read: 'Honey bees are essential for pollinating flowers and crops. Without them, many plants would not produce fruit. However, bee populations are declining due to pesticides and habitat loss.' Why are bee populations declining?

• APesticides and habitat loss✓
• BThey are producing too much honey
• CFlowers don't need them anymore
• DPeople are keeping them indoors

Answer: The passage clearly states bee populations are declining due to pesticides and habitat loss.

Read: 'The Great Wall of China was built over centuries to protect against invasions from the north. It stretches over 13,000 miles. Today, it is one of the most visited monuments in the world.' What is the Great Wall's original purpose?

• ATo separate cities
• BTo look impressive
• CTo trade with other countries
• DTo protect against invasions✓

Answer: The passage states the wall was built to protect against invasions from the north.

Read: 'The sun is a star. It provides heat and light to Earth.' Is the sun a planet?

• AYes
• BNot mentioned
• CCannot tell
• DNo✓

Answer: The passage states the sun is a star, not a planet.

Read: 'Sarah enjoys reading books in her free time. Last week, she finished a mystery novel in two days.' What kind of book did Sarah read?

• AA mystery novel✓
• BNot mentioned
• CA romance novel
• DA fantasy novel

Answer: The passage explicitly states she finished a mystery novel.

Read: 'Penguins live in cold climates, mainly in Antarctica. They are excellent swimmers and catch fish underwater.' Why are penguins good swimmers?

• AThey live in Antarctica
• BThey evolved as excellent swimmers
• CNot mentioned✓
• DThey live in cold water

Answer: The passage states they are excellent swimmers and catch fish, but doesn't explain why.

Read: 'The Great Wall of China is over 13,000 miles long and was built over many centuries to protect against northern invasions.' When was the wall completed?

• AOver centuries
• BNot mentioned✓
• COver 13,000 years ago
• DMany centuries ago

Answer: The passage mentions it was built over centuries but doesn't specify completion date.

Read: 'Chocolate is made from cacao beans. Dark chocolate contains more cacao than milk chocolate. Milk chocolate has more sugar.' Which chocolate has more sugar?

• ANot mentioned
• BThey have equal sugar
• CDark chocolate
• DMilk chocolate✓

Answer: The passage states milk chocolate has more sugar.

Read: 'The rainforest is home to thousands of animal and plant species. It rains frequently, supporting lush vegetation. Many indigenous peoples live there.' Why is the rainforest lush?

• AIt's home to many species
• BIndigenous peoples live there
• CIt has many animals
• DIt rains frequently✓

Answer: The passage states frequent rain supports the lush vegetation.

Read: 'Music can improve mood and reduce stress. Studies show listening to music releases chemicals in the brain that make us happy.' What does music release?

• AMood
• BChemicals✓
• CStress
• DSounds

Answer: The passage states music releases chemicals that make us happy.

Read: 'Bees pollinate flowers and crops, helping plants reproduce. Without bees, we would lose many foods we eat.' What would happen without bees?

• AWe would lose many foods✓
• BWe would have more honey
• CFlowers would grow more
• DPlants would be healthier

Answer: The passage states without bees we would lose many foods we eat.

Read: 'A cheetah is the fastest land animal, reaching 70 mph. A peregrine falcon can dive at 240 mph. Both are skilled hunters.' Which animal is faster?

• AThey are equally fast
• BFalcon✓
• CCheetah
• DNot mentioned

Answer: The passage states the falcon dives at 240 mph vs cheetah's 70 mph.

Read: 'The human brain has about 86 billion neurons. These neurons communicate through electrical and chemical signals.' How do neurons communicate?

• AThrough electrical and chemical signals✓
• BThrough touch
• CThrough sound
• DThrough sight

Answer: The passage states neurons communicate through electrical and chemical signals.

Read: 'Carbon dioxide is a gas that plants use for photosynthesis. Humans and animals release carbon dioxide when they breathe.' What do plants use carbon dioxide for?

• AMovement
• BBreathing
• CEnergy
• DPhotosynthesis✓

Answer: The passage states plants use carbon dioxide for photosynthesis.

Read: 'The Olympic Games bring together athletes from around the world. Competition is fierce, and only the best athletes win medals.' According to the passage, what reason is given for why athletes compete?

• ANo reason is given✓
• BTo meet other athletes
• CTo win medals
• DTo travel

Answer: The passage says that the Games bring athletes together, that competition is fierce, and that only the best win medals. None of that states why the athletes take part: winning a medal is described as an outcome for the best, not as anyone's reason for competing. Because the passage supplies no reason at all, the correct answer is that none is given.