Toiya Original ISEE Middle Level Practice Test 3 — Reading Comprehension.
Question 1
ISEE · Middle Level English · isee-middle-english-reading-comprehension
The Inch and the Ell I lived in Master Hugh's family about seven years. During this time, I succeeded in learning to read and write. In accomplishing this, I was compelled to resort to various stratagems. I had no regular teacher. My mistress, who had kindly commenced to instruct me, had, in compliance with the advice and direction of her husband, not only ceased to instruct, but had set her face against my being instructed by any one else. My mistress was, as I have said, a kind and tender-hearted woman; and in the simplicity of her soul she commenced, when I first went to live with her, to treat me as she supposed one human being ought to treat another. Slavery proved as injurious to her as it did to me. When I went there, she was a pious, warm, and tender-hearted woman. There was no sorrow or suffering for which she had not a tear. She had bread for the hungry, clothes for the naked, and comfort for every mourner that came within her reach. Slavery soon proved its ability to divest her of these heavenly qualities. Under its influence, the tender heart became stone, and the lamblike disposition gave way to one of tiger-like fierceness. The first step in her downward course was in her ceasing to instruct me. She now commenced to practise her husband's precepts. She finally became even more violent in her opposition than her husband himself. Nothing seemed to make her more angry than to see me with a newspaper. She seemed to think that here lay the danger. I have had her rush at me with a face made all up of fury, and snatch from me a newspaper, in a manner that fully revealed her apprehension. She was an apt woman; and a little experience soon demonstrated, to her satisfaction, that education and slavery were incompatible with each other. From this time I was most narrowly watched. If I was in a separate room any considerable length of time, I was sure to be suspected of having a book, and was at once called to give an account of myself. All this, however, was too late. The first step had been taken. Mistress, in teaching me the alphabet, had given me the inch, and no precaution could prevent me from taking the ell. Excerpt from Frederick Douglass, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave (1845), Chapter VII, public domain; lightly cut. The passage is mainly about A. how the narrator escaped from Master Hugh's household B. the narrator's methods for teaching other people to read C. how slavery changed the mistress and turned her against the narrator's education D. the narrator's friendship with Master Hugh
Question 2
ISEE · Middle Level English · isee-middle-english-reading-comprehension
The Inch and the Ell I lived in Master Hugh's family about seven years. During this time, I succeeded in learning to read and write. In accomplishing this, I was compelled to resort to various stratagems. I had no regular teacher. My mistress, who had kindly commenced to instruct me, had, in compliance with the advice and direction of her husband, not only ceased to instruct, but had set her face against my being instructed by any one else. My mistress was, as I have said, a kind and tender-hearted woman; and in the simplicity of her soul she commenced, when I first went to live with her, to treat me as she supposed one human being ought to treat another. Slavery proved as injurious to her as it did to me. When I went there, she was a pious, warm, and tender-hearted woman. There was no sorrow or suffering for which she had not a tear. She had bread for the hungry, clothes for the naked, and comfort for every mourner that came within her reach. Slavery soon proved its ability to divest her of these heavenly qualities. Under its influence, the tender heart became stone, and the lamblike disposition gave way to one of tiger-like fierceness. The first step in her downward course was in her ceasing to instruct me. She now commenced to practise her husband's precepts. She finally became even more violent in her opposition than her husband himself. Nothing seemed to make her more angry than to see me with a newspaper. She seemed to think that here lay the danger. I have had her rush at me with a face made all up of fury, and snatch from me a newspaper, in a manner that fully revealed her apprehension. She was an apt woman; and a little experience soon demonstrated, to her satisfaction, that education and slavery were incompatible with each other. From this time I was most narrowly watched. If I was in a separate room any considerable length of time, I was sure to be suspected of having a book, and was at once called to give an account of myself. All this, however, was too late. The first step had been taken. Mistress, in teaching me the alphabet, had given me the inch, and no precaution could prevent me from taking the ell. Excerpt from Frederick Douglass, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave (1845), Chapter VII, public domain; lightly cut. According to the passage, the mistress stopped teaching the narrator A. because the narrator refused to study B. after she caught him reading a newspaper C. when the family moved to a new house D. because her husband advised and directed her to stop
Question 3
ISEE · Middle Level English · isee-middle-english-reading-comprehension
The Inch and the Ell I lived in Master Hugh's family about seven years. During this time, I succeeded in learning to read and write. In accomplishing this, I was compelled to resort to various stratagems. I had no regular teacher. My mistress, who had kindly commenced to instruct me, had, in compliance with the advice and direction of her husband, not only ceased to instruct, but had set her face against my being instructed by any one else. My mistress was, as I have said, a kind and tender-hearted woman; and in the simplicity of her soul she commenced, when I first went to live with her, to treat me as she supposed one human being ought to treat another. Slavery proved as injurious to her as it did to me. When I went there, she was a pious, warm, and tender-hearted woman. There was no sorrow or suffering for which she had not a tear. She had bread for the hungry, clothes for the naked, and comfort for every mourner that came within her reach. Slavery soon proved its ability to divest her of these heavenly qualities. Under its influence, the tender heart became stone, and the lamblike disposition gave way to one of tiger-like fierceness. The first step in her downward course was in her ceasing to instruct me. She now commenced to practise her husband's precepts. She finally became even more violent in her opposition than her husband himself. Nothing seemed to make her more angry than to see me with a newspaper. She seemed to think that here lay the danger. I have had her rush at me with a face made all up of fury, and snatch from me a newspaper, in a manner that fully revealed her apprehension. She was an apt woman; and a little experience soon demonstrated, to her satisfaction, that education and slavery were incompatible with each other. From this time I was most narrowly watched. If I was in a separate room any considerable length of time, I was sure to be suspected of having a book, and was at once called to give an account of myself. All this, however, was too late. The first step had been taken. Mistress, in teaching me the alphabet, had given me the inch, and no precaution could prevent me from taking the ell. Excerpt from Frederick Douglass, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave (1845), Chapter VII, public domain; lightly cut. As it is used in the second paragraph, the word “divest” most nearly means A. reward B. strip C. remind D. praise
Question 4
ISEE · Middle Level English · isee-middle-english-reading-comprehension
The Inch and the Ell I lived in Master Hugh's family about seven years. During this time, I succeeded in learning to read and write. In accomplishing this, I was compelled to resort to various stratagems. I had no regular teacher. My mistress, who had kindly commenced to instruct me, had, in compliance with the advice and direction of her husband, not only ceased to instruct, but had set her face against my being instructed by any one else. My mistress was, as I have said, a kind and tender-hearted woman; and in the simplicity of her soul she commenced, when I first went to live with her, to treat me as she supposed one human being ought to treat another. Slavery proved as injurious to her as it did to me. When I went there, she was a pious, warm, and tender-hearted woman. There was no sorrow or suffering for which she had not a tear. She had bread for the hungry, clothes for the naked, and comfort for every mourner that came within her reach. Slavery soon proved its ability to divest her of these heavenly qualities. Under its influence, the tender heart became stone, and the lamblike disposition gave way to one of tiger-like fierceness. The first step in her downward course was in her ceasing to instruct me. She now commenced to practise her husband's precepts. She finally became even more violent in her opposition than her husband himself. Nothing seemed to make her more angry than to see me with a newspaper. She seemed to think that here lay the danger. I have had her rush at me with a face made all up of fury, and snatch from me a newspaper, in a manner that fully revealed her apprehension. She was an apt woman; and a little experience soon demonstrated, to her satisfaction, that education and slavery were incompatible with each other. From this time I was most narrowly watched. If I was in a separate room any considerable length of time, I was sure to be suspected of having a book, and was at once called to give an account of myself. All this, however, was too late. The first step had been taken. Mistress, in teaching me the alphabet, had given me the inch, and no precaution could prevent me from taking the ell. Excerpt from Frederick Douglass, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave (1845), Chapter VII, public domain; lightly cut. The phrase “the tender heart became stone” suggests that the mistress A. became physically ill B. grew braver and stronger C. became quiet and shy D. grew cold and unfeeling
Question 5
ISEE · Middle Level English · isee-middle-english-reading-comprehension
The Inch and the Ell I lived in Master Hugh's family about seven years. During this time, I succeeded in learning to read and write. In accomplishing this, I was compelled to resort to various stratagems. I had no regular teacher. My mistress, who had kindly commenced to instruct me, had, in compliance with the advice and direction of her husband, not only ceased to instruct, but had set her face against my being instructed by any one else. My mistress was, as I have said, a kind and tender-hearted woman; and in the simplicity of her soul she commenced, when I first went to live with her, to treat me as she supposed one human being ought to treat another. Slavery proved as injurious to her as it did to me. When I went there, she was a pious, warm, and tender-hearted woman. There was no sorrow or suffering for which she had not a tear. She had bread for the hungry, clothes for the naked, and comfort for every mourner that came within her reach. Slavery soon proved its ability to divest her of these heavenly qualities. Under its influence, the tender heart became stone, and the lamblike disposition gave way to one of tiger-like fierceness. The first step in her downward course was in her ceasing to instruct me. She now commenced to practise her husband's precepts. She finally became even more violent in her opposition than her husband himself. Nothing seemed to make her more angry than to see me with a newspaper. She seemed to think that here lay the danger. I have had her rush at me with a face made all up of fury, and snatch from me a newspaper, in a manner that fully revealed her apprehension. She was an apt woman; and a little experience soon demonstrated, to her satisfaction, that education and slavery were incompatible with each other. From this time I was most narrowly watched. If I was in a separate room any considerable length of time, I was sure to be suspected of having a book, and was at once called to give an account of myself. All this, however, was too late. The first step had been taken. Mistress, in teaching me the alphabet, had given me the inch, and no precaution could prevent me from taking the ell. Excerpt from Frederick Douglass, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave (1845), Chapter VII, public domain; lightly cut. The mistress concluded that education and slavery were “incompatible.” The passage suggests she believed that A. newspapers were too difficult for a child to understand B. the narrator had no desire to learn C. a person who could read would be harder to keep enslaved D. schooling cost more than the family could afford
Question 6
ISEE · Middle Level English · isee-middle-english-reading-comprehension
The Inch and the Ell I lived in Master Hugh's family about seven years. During this time, I succeeded in learning to read and write. In accomplishing this, I was compelled to resort to various stratagems. I had no regular teacher. My mistress, who had kindly commenced to instruct me, had, in compliance with the advice and direction of her husband, not only ceased to instruct, but had set her face against my being instructed by any one else. My mistress was, as I have said, a kind and tender-hearted woman; and in the simplicity of her soul she commenced, when I first went to live with her, to treat me as she supposed one human being ought to treat another. Slavery proved as injurious to her as it did to me. When I went there, she was a pious, warm, and tender-hearted woman. There was no sorrow or suffering for which she had not a tear. She had bread for the hungry, clothes for the naked, and comfort for every mourner that came within her reach. Slavery soon proved its ability to divest her of these heavenly qualities. Under its influence, the tender heart became stone, and the lamblike disposition gave way to one of tiger-like fierceness. The first step in her downward course was in her ceasing to instruct me. She now commenced to practise her husband's precepts. She finally became even more violent in her opposition than her husband himself. Nothing seemed to make her more angry than to see me with a newspaper. She seemed to think that here lay the danger. I have had her rush at me with a face made all up of fury, and snatch from me a newspaper, in a manner that fully revealed her apprehension. She was an apt woman; and a little experience soon demonstrated, to her satisfaction, that education and slavery were incompatible with each other. From this time I was most narrowly watched. If I was in a separate room any considerable length of time, I was sure to be suspected of having a book, and was at once called to give an account of myself. All this, however, was too late. The first step had been taken. Mistress, in teaching me the alphabet, had given me the inch, and no precaution could prevent me from taking the ell. Excerpt from Frederick Douglass, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave (1845), Chapter VII, public domain; lightly cut. In the last sentence, the narrator says that his mistress had given him “the inch” and he would take “the ell” (a much longer measure). He means that A. once he had learned the basics, nothing could stop him from learning far more B. his mistress had taught him how to measure cloth C. he planned to repay his mistress for her lessons D. his mistress's precautions finally stopped him from reading
Question 7
ISEE · Middle Level English · isee-middle-english-reading-comprehension
Christmas Without Presents “Christmas won’t be Christmas without any presents,” grumbled Jo, lying on the rug. “It’s so dreadful to be poor!” sighed Meg, looking down at her old dress. “I don’t think it’s fair for some girls to have plenty of pretty things, and other girls nothing at all,” added little Amy, with an injured sniff. “We’ve got Father and Mother, and each other,” said Beth contentedly from her corner. The four young faces on which the firelight shone brightened at the cheerful words, but darkened again as Jo said sadly, “We haven’t got Father, and shall not have him for a long time.” She didn’t say “perhaps never,” but each silently added it, thinking of Father far away, where the fighting was. Nobody spoke for a minute; then Meg said in an altered tone, “You know the reason Mother proposed not having any presents this Christmas was because it is going to be a hard winter for everyone; and she thinks we ought not to spend money for pleasure, when our men are suffering so in the army. We can’t do much, but we can make our little sacrifices, and ought to do it gladly. But I am afraid I don’t,” and Meg shook her head, as she thought regretfully of all the pretty things she wanted. “But I don’t think the little we should spend would do any good. We’ve each got a dollar, and the army wouldn’t be much helped by our giving that. I agree not to expect anything from Mother or you, but I do want to buy Undine and Sintran for myself. I’ve wanted it so long,” said Jo, who was a bookworm. “I planned to spend mine in new music,” said Beth, with a little sigh, which no one heard but the hearth brush and kettle-holder. “I shall get a nice box of Faber’s drawing pencils; I really need them,” said Amy decidedly. “Mother didn’t say anything about our money, and she won’t wish us to give up everything. Let’s each buy what we want, and have a little fun; I’m sure we work hard enough to earn it,” cried Jo, examining the heels of her shoes in a gentlemanly manner. “I know I do—teaching those tiresome children nearly all day, when I’m longing to enjoy myself at home,” began Meg, in the complaining tone again. “You don’t have half such a hard time as I do,” said Jo. “How would you like to be shut up for hours with a nervous, fussy old lady, who keeps you trotting, is never satisfied, and worries you till you’re ready to fly out the window or cry?” Excerpt from Louisa May Alcott, Little Women (1868), Chapter One, public domain. 7. The passage mainly A. describes a family's trip to buy gifts B. explains why the sisters' father went to war C. introduces four sisters as they talk about a Christmas without presents D. tells how the sisters earn money for the holiday
Question 8
ISEE · Middle Level English · isee-middle-english-reading-comprehension
Christmas Without Presents “Christmas won’t be Christmas without any presents,” grumbled Jo, lying on the rug. “It’s so dreadful to be poor!” sighed Meg, looking down at her old dress. “I don’t think it’s fair for some girls to have plenty of pretty things, and other girls nothing at all,” added little Amy, with an injured sniff. “We’ve got Father and Mother, and each other,” said Beth contentedly from her corner. The four young faces on which the firelight shone brightened at the cheerful words, but darkened again as Jo said sadly, “We haven’t got Father, and shall not have him for a long time.” She didn’t say “perhaps never,” but each silently added it, thinking of Father far away, where the fighting was. Nobody spoke for a minute; then Meg said in an altered tone, “You know the reason Mother proposed not having any presents this Christmas was because it is going to be a hard winter for everyone; and she thinks we ought not to spend money for pleasure, when our men are suffering so in the army. We can’t do much, but we can make our little sacrifices, and ought to do it gladly. But I am afraid I don’t,” and Meg shook her head, as she thought regretfully of all the pretty things she wanted. “But I don’t think the little we should spend would do any good. We’ve each got a dollar, and the army wouldn’t be much helped by our giving that. I agree not to expect anything from Mother or you, but I do want to buy Undine and Sintran for myself. I’ve wanted it so long,” said Jo, who was a bookworm. “I planned to spend mine in new music,” said Beth, with a little sigh, which no one heard but the hearth brush and kettle-holder. “I shall get a nice box of Faber’s drawing pencils; I really need them,” said Amy decidedly. “Mother didn’t say anything about our money, and she won’t wish us to give up everything. Let’s each buy what we want, and have a little fun; I’m sure we work hard enough to earn it,” cried Jo, examining the heels of her shoes in a gentlemanly manner. “I know I do—teaching those tiresome children nearly all day, when I’m longing to enjoy myself at home,” began Meg, in the complaining tone again. “You don’t have half such a hard time as I do,” said Jo. “How would you like to be shut up for hours with a nervous, fussy old lady, who keeps you trotting, is never satisfied, and worries you till you’re ready to fly out the window or cry?” Excerpt from Louisa May Alcott, Little Women (1868), Chapter One, public domain. 8. According to Meg, Mother suggested having no presents this Christmas because A. the sisters had been unkind to one another B. Father had asked them not to spend money C. the winter would be hard for everyone and the soldiers were suffering D. the family had already spent their savings
Question 9
ISEE · Middle Level English · isee-middle-english-reading-comprehension
Christmas Without Presents “Christmas won’t be Christmas without any presents,” grumbled Jo, lying on the rug. “It’s so dreadful to be poor!” sighed Meg, looking down at her old dress. “I don’t think it’s fair for some girls to have plenty of pretty things, and other girls nothing at all,” added little Amy, with an injured sniff. “We’ve got Father and Mother, and each other,” said Beth contentedly from her corner. The four young faces on which the firelight shone brightened at the cheerful words, but darkened again as Jo said sadly, “We haven’t got Father, and shall not have him for a long time.” She didn’t say “perhaps never,” but each silently added it, thinking of Father far away, where the fighting was. Nobody spoke for a minute; then Meg said in an altered tone, “You know the reason Mother proposed not having any presents this Christmas was because it is going to be a hard winter for everyone; and she thinks we ought not to spend money for pleasure, when our men are suffering so in the army. We can’t do much, but we can make our little sacrifices, and ought to do it gladly. But I am afraid I don’t,” and Meg shook her head, as she thought regretfully of all the pretty things she wanted. “But I don’t think the little we should spend would do any good. We’ve each got a dollar, and the army wouldn’t be much helped by our giving that. I agree not to expect anything from Mother or you, but I do want to buy Undine and Sintran for myself. I’ve wanted it so long,” said Jo, who was a bookworm. “I planned to spend mine in new music,” said Beth, with a little sigh, which no one heard but the hearth brush and kettle-holder. “I shall get a nice box of Faber’s drawing pencils; I really need them,” said Amy decidedly. “Mother didn’t say anything about our money, and she won’t wish us to give up everything. Let’s each buy what we want, and have a little fun; I’m sure we work hard enough to earn it,” cried Jo, examining the heels of her shoes in a gentlemanly manner. “I know I do—teaching those tiresome children nearly all day, when I’m longing to enjoy myself at home,” began Meg, in the complaining tone again. “You don’t have half such a hard time as I do,” said Jo. “How would you like to be shut up for hours with a nervous, fussy old lady, who keeps you trotting, is never satisfied, and worries you till you’re ready to fly out the window or cry?” Excerpt from Louisa May Alcott, Little Women (1868), Chapter One, public domain. 9. Which sister seems most content with what the family already has? A. Jo B. Meg C. Amy D. Beth
Question 10
ISEE · Middle Level English · isee-middle-english-reading-comprehension
Christmas Without Presents “Christmas won’t be Christmas without any presents,” grumbled Jo, lying on the rug. “It’s so dreadful to be poor!” sighed Meg, looking down at her old dress. “I don’t think it’s fair for some girls to have plenty of pretty things, and other girls nothing at all,” added little Amy, with an injured sniff. “We’ve got Father and Mother, and each other,” said Beth contentedly from her corner. The four young faces on which the firelight shone brightened at the cheerful words, but darkened again as Jo said sadly, “We haven’t got Father, and shall not have him for a long time.” She didn’t say “perhaps never,” but each silently added it, thinking of Father far away, where the fighting was. Nobody spoke for a minute; then Meg said in an altered tone, “You know the reason Mother proposed not having any presents this Christmas was because it is going to be a hard winter for everyone; and she thinks we ought not to spend money for pleasure, when our men are suffering so in the army. We can’t do much, but we can make our little sacrifices, and ought to do it gladly. But I am afraid I don’t,” and Meg shook her head, as she thought regretfully of all the pretty things she wanted. “But I don’t think the little we should spend would do any good. We’ve each got a dollar, and the army wouldn’t be much helped by our giving that. I agree not to expect anything from Mother or you, but I do want to buy Undine and Sintran for myself. I’ve wanted it so long,” said Jo, who was a bookworm. “I planned to spend mine in new music,” said Beth, with a little sigh, which no one heard but the hearth brush and kettle-holder. “I shall get a nice box of Faber’s drawing pencils; I really need them,” said Amy decidedly. “Mother didn’t say anything about our money, and she won’t wish us to give up everything. Let’s each buy what we want, and have a little fun; I’m sure we work hard enough to earn it,” cried Jo, examining the heels of her shoes in a gentlemanly manner. “I know I do—teaching those tiresome children nearly all day, when I’m longing to enjoy myself at home,” began Meg, in the complaining tone again. “You don’t have half such a hard time as I do,” said Jo. “How would you like to be shut up for hours with a nervous, fussy old lady, who keeps you trotting, is never satisfied, and worries you till you’re ready to fly out the window or cry?” Excerpt from Louisa May Alcott, Little Women (1868), Chapter One, public domain. 10. The sentence “She didn’t say ‘perhaps never,’ but each silently added it” suggests that the sisters A. do not want their father to come home B. have forgotten where their father is C. expect their father home very soon D. fear their father may not return from the war
Question 11
ISEE · Middle Level English · isee-middle-english-reading-comprehension
Christmas Without Presents “Christmas won’t be Christmas without any presents,” grumbled Jo, lying on the rug. “It’s so dreadful to be poor!” sighed Meg, looking down at her old dress. “I don’t think it’s fair for some girls to have plenty of pretty things, and other girls nothing at all,” added little Amy, with an injured sniff. “We’ve got Father and Mother, and each other,” said Beth contentedly from her corner. The four young faces on which the firelight shone brightened at the cheerful words, but darkened again as Jo said sadly, “We haven’t got Father, and shall not have him for a long time.” She didn’t say “perhaps never,” but each silently added it, thinking of Father far away, where the fighting was. Nobody spoke for a minute; then Meg said in an altered tone, “You know the reason Mother proposed not having any presents this Christmas was because it is going to be a hard winter for everyone; and she thinks we ought not to spend money for pleasure, when our men are suffering so in the army. We can’t do much, but we can make our little sacrifices, and ought to do it gladly. But I am afraid I don’t,” and Meg shook her head, as she thought regretfully of all the pretty things she wanted. “But I don’t think the little we should spend would do any good. We’ve each got a dollar, and the army wouldn’t be much helped by our giving that. I agree not to expect anything from Mother or you, but I do want to buy Undine and Sintran for myself. I’ve wanted it so long,” said Jo, who was a bookworm. “I planned to spend mine in new music,” said Beth, with a little sigh, which no one heard but the hearth brush and kettle-holder. “I shall get a nice box of Faber’s drawing pencils; I really need them,” said Amy decidedly. “Mother didn’t say anything about our money, and she won’t wish us to give up everything. Let’s each buy what we want, and have a little fun; I’m sure we work hard enough to earn it,” cried Jo, examining the heels of her shoes in a gentlemanly manner. “I know I do—teaching those tiresome children nearly all day, when I’m longing to enjoy myself at home,” began Meg, in the complaining tone again. “You don’t have half such a hard time as I do,” said Jo. “How would you like to be shut up for hours with a nervous, fussy old lady, who keeps you trotting, is never satisfied, and worries you till you’re ready to fly out the window or cry?” Excerpt from Louisa May Alcott, Little Women (1868), Chapter One, public domain. 11. As used in the passage, the word “injured” in “an injured sniff” most nearly means A. physically hurt B. offended C. cheerful D. loud
Question 12
ISEE · Middle Level English · isee-middle-english-reading-comprehension
Christmas Without Presents “Christmas won’t be Christmas without any presents,” grumbled Jo, lying on the rug. “It’s so dreadful to be poor!” sighed Meg, looking down at her old dress. “I don’t think it’s fair for some girls to have plenty of pretty things, and other girls nothing at all,” added little Amy, with an injured sniff. “We’ve got Father and Mother, and each other,” said Beth contentedly from her corner. The four young faces on which the firelight shone brightened at the cheerful words, but darkened again as Jo said sadly, “We haven’t got Father, and shall not have him for a long time.” She didn’t say “perhaps never,” but each silently added it, thinking of Father far away, where the fighting was. Nobody spoke for a minute; then Meg said in an altered tone, “You know the reason Mother proposed not having any presents this Christmas was because it is going to be a hard winter for everyone; and she thinks we ought not to spend money for pleasure, when our men are suffering so in the army. We can’t do much, but we can make our little sacrifices, and ought to do it gladly. But I am afraid I don’t,” and Meg shook her head, as she thought regretfully of all the pretty things she wanted. “But I don’t think the little we should spend would do any good. We’ve each got a dollar, and the army wouldn’t be much helped by our giving that. I agree not to expect anything from Mother or you, but I do want to buy Undine and Sintran for myself. I’ve wanted it so long,” said Jo, who was a bookworm. “I planned to spend mine in new music,” said Beth, with a little sigh, which no one heard but the hearth brush and kettle-holder. “I shall get a nice box of Faber’s drawing pencils; I really need them,” said Amy decidedly. “Mother didn’t say anything about our money, and she won’t wish us to give up everything. Let’s each buy what we want, and have a little fun; I’m sure we work hard enough to earn it,” cried Jo, examining the heels of her shoes in a gentlemanly manner. “I know I do—teaching those tiresome children nearly all day, when I’m longing to enjoy myself at home,” began Meg, in the complaining tone again. “You don’t have half such a hard time as I do,” said Jo. “How would you like to be shut up for hours with a nervous, fussy old lady, who keeps you trotting, is never satisfied, and worries you till you’re ready to fly out the window or cry?” Excerpt from Louisa May Alcott, Little Women (1868), Chapter One, public domain. 12. According to the passage, what does Jo want to buy with her dollar? A. new music B. a box of drawing pencils C. a present for Mother D. a book she has wanted for a long time
Question 13
ISEE · Middle Level English · isee-middle-english-reading-comprehension
The Flower That Smells Like Trouble Most flowers attract visitors with sweet scents. The titan arum does the opposite. When this giant plant from the rain forests of Sumatra, an island in Indonesia, finally blooms, it gives off a smell like rotting meat. That is why many people know it by another name: the corpse flower. The titan arum is enormous. Its flower structure can stand taller than a grown adult, with a central spike rising from a ruffled, cup-shaped leaf that is deep red on the inside. Beneath the soil lies a huge underground stem called a corm, which can weigh more than a hundred pounds. The corm stores the energy the plant needs for its rare and spectacular bloom. Rare is the right word. A titan arum may grow for seven to ten years before blooming for the first time, and afterward it may rest for several more years before it blooms again. When it does open, the bloom lasts only a day or two before it collapses. The terrible smell has a purpose. In the wild, the plant depends on beetles and flies that normally feed and lay eggs on dead animals. Fooled by the odor and by the flower's meat-red color, these insects crawl into the flower and carry pollen from one plant to another. The central spike even warms up as the flower opens, which helps spread the smell farther through the forest air. Because blooms are so rare and so brief, botanical gardens that grow titan arums often announce them in advance. Crowds line up for hours, holding their noses, for a chance to see one. Few plants are so unpleasant to be near, and few draw such eager visitors. 13. What is the primary purpose of the passage? A. to explain how to grow a titan arum at home B. to argue that botanical gardens should stop growing titan arums C. to describe the unusual features of the titan arum D. to compare the titan arum with other flowers of Sumatra
Question 14
ISEE · Middle Level English · isee-middle-english-reading-comprehension
The Flower That Smells Like Trouble Most flowers attract visitors with sweet scents. The titan arum does the opposite. When this giant plant from the rain forests of Sumatra, an island in Indonesia, finally blooms, it gives off a smell like rotting meat. That is why many people know it by another name: the corpse flower. The titan arum is enormous. Its flower structure can stand taller than a grown adult, with a central spike rising from a ruffled, cup-shaped leaf that is deep red on the inside. Beneath the soil lies a huge underground stem called a corm, which can weigh more than a hundred pounds. The corm stores the energy the plant needs for its rare and spectacular bloom. Rare is the right word. A titan arum may grow for seven to ten years before blooming for the first time, and afterward it may rest for several more years before it blooms again. When it does open, the bloom lasts only a day or two before it collapses. The terrible smell has a purpose. In the wild, the plant depends on beetles and flies that normally feed and lay eggs on dead animals. Fooled by the odor and by the flower's meat-red color, these insects crawl into the flower and carry pollen from one plant to another. The central spike even warms up as the flower opens, which helps spread the smell farther through the forest air. Because blooms are so rare and so brief, botanical gardens that grow titan arums often announce them in advance. Crowds line up for hours, holding their noses, for a chance to see one. Few plants are so unpleasant to be near, and few draw such eager visitors. 14. According to the passage, the titan arum's corm A. stores the energy the plant needs to bloom. B. produces the plant's strong smell. C. attracts beetles and flies. D. blooms every year.
Question 15
ISEE · Middle Level English · isee-middle-english-reading-comprehension
The Flower That Smells Like Trouble Most flowers attract visitors with sweet scents. The titan arum does the opposite. When this giant plant from the rain forests of Sumatra, an island in Indonesia, finally blooms, it gives off a smell like rotting meat. That is why many people know it by another name: the corpse flower. The titan arum is enormous. Its flower structure can stand taller than a grown adult, with a central spike rising from a ruffled, cup-shaped leaf that is deep red on the inside. Beneath the soil lies a huge underground stem called a corm, which can weigh more than a hundred pounds. The corm stores the energy the plant needs for its rare and spectacular bloom. Rare is the right word. A titan arum may grow for seven to ten years before blooming for the first time, and afterward it may rest for several more years before it blooms again. When it does open, the bloom lasts only a day or two before it collapses. The terrible smell has a purpose. In the wild, the plant depends on beetles and flies that normally feed and lay eggs on dead animals. Fooled by the odor and by the flower's meat-red color, these insects crawl into the flower and carry pollen from one plant to another. The central spike even warms up as the flower opens, which helps spread the smell farther through the forest air. Because blooms are so rare and so brief, botanical gardens that grow titan arums often announce them in advance. Crowds line up for hours, holding their noses, for a chance to see one. Few plants are so unpleasant to be near, and few draw such eager visitors. 15. The author calls the plant “the corpse flower” mainly to emphasize A. its smell of rotting meat. B. its deep red color. C. how quickly it dies after blooming. D. the danger it poses to people.
Question 16
ISEE · Middle Level English · isee-middle-english-reading-comprehension
The Flower That Smells Like Trouble Most flowers attract visitors with sweet scents. The titan arum does the opposite. When this giant plant from the rain forests of Sumatra, an island in Indonesia, finally blooms, it gives off a smell like rotting meat. That is why many people know it by another name: the corpse flower. The titan arum is enormous. Its flower structure can stand taller than a grown adult, with a central spike rising from a ruffled, cup-shaped leaf that is deep red on the inside. Beneath the soil lies a huge underground stem called a corm, which can weigh more than a hundred pounds. The corm stores the energy the plant needs for its rare and spectacular bloom. Rare is the right word. A titan arum may grow for seven to ten years before blooming for the first time, and afterward it may rest for several more years before it blooms again. When it does open, the bloom lasts only a day or two before it collapses. The terrible smell has a purpose. In the wild, the plant depends on beetles and flies that normally feed and lay eggs on dead animals. Fooled by the odor and by the flower's meat-red color, these insects crawl into the flower and carry pollen from one plant to another. The central spike even warms up as the flower opens, which helps spread the smell farther through the forest air. Because blooms are so rare and so brief, botanical gardens that grow titan arums often announce them in advance. Crowds line up for hours, holding their noses, for a chance to see one. Few plants are so unpleasant to be near, and few draw such eager visitors. 16. It can be inferred that the central spike warms up because A. the plant is sick. B. warmth helps carry the smell to more insects. C. the sun heats it during the day. D. warmth keeps insects away from the flower.
Question 17
ISEE · Middle Level English · isee-middle-english-reading-comprehension
The Flower That Smells Like Trouble Most flowers attract visitors with sweet scents. The titan arum does the opposite. When this giant plant from the rain forests of Sumatra, an island in Indonesia, finally blooms, it gives off a smell like rotting meat. That is why many people know it by another name: the corpse flower. The titan arum is enormous. Its flower structure can stand taller than a grown adult, with a central spike rising from a ruffled, cup-shaped leaf that is deep red on the inside. Beneath the soil lies a huge underground stem called a corm, which can weigh more than a hundred pounds. The corm stores the energy the plant needs for its rare and spectacular bloom. Rare is the right word. A titan arum may grow for seven to ten years before blooming for the first time, and afterward it may rest for several more years before it blooms again. When it does open, the bloom lasts only a day or two before it collapses. The terrible smell has a purpose. In the wild, the plant depends on beetles and flies that normally feed and lay eggs on dead animals. Fooled by the odor and by the flower's meat-red color, these insects crawl into the flower and carry pollen from one plant to another. The central spike even warms up as the flower opens, which helps spread the smell farther through the forest air. Because blooms are so rare and so brief, botanical gardens that grow titan arums often announce them in advance. Crowds line up for hours, holding their noses, for a chance to see one. Few plants are so unpleasant to be near, and few draw such eager visitors. 17. In the third paragraph, the word “brief” most nearly means A. bright. B. short. C. sudden. D. rare.
Question 18
ISEE · Middle Level English · isee-middle-english-reading-comprehension
The Flower That Smells Like Trouble Most flowers attract visitors with sweet scents. The titan arum does the opposite. When this giant plant from the rain forests of Sumatra, an island in Indonesia, finally blooms, it gives off a smell like rotting meat. That is why many people know it by another name: the corpse flower. The titan arum is enormous. Its flower structure can stand taller than a grown adult, with a central spike rising from a ruffled, cup-shaped leaf that is deep red on the inside. Beneath the soil lies a huge underground stem called a corm, which can weigh more than a hundred pounds. The corm stores the energy the plant needs for its rare and spectacular bloom. Rare is the right word. A titan arum may grow for seven to ten years before blooming for the first time, and afterward it may rest for several more years before it blooms again. When it does open, the bloom lasts only a day or two before it collapses. The terrible smell has a purpose. In the wild, the plant depends on beetles and flies that normally feed and lay eggs on dead animals. Fooled by the odor and by the flower's meat-red color, these insects crawl into the flower and carry pollen from one plant to another. The central spike even warms up as the flower opens, which helps spread the smell farther through the forest air. Because blooms are so rare and so brief, botanical gardens that grow titan arums often announce them in advance. Crowds line up for hours, holding their noses, for a chance to see one. Few plants are so unpleasant to be near, and few draw such eager visitors. 18. According to the passage, why do crowds line up to see a titan arum bloom? A. The flowers smell sweet. B. The plants are being sold that day. C. The blooms happen rarely and last only a short time. D. The blooms last for several weeks.
Question 19
ISEE · Middle Level English · isee-middle-english-reading-comprehension
Turning the Clocks Twice a year, most Americans change their clocks: forward an hour in spring and back an hour in fall. The custom is called daylight saving time, and it has a longer and more surprising history than many people realize. The idea is often traced to Benjamin Franklin. In 1784, while living in Paris, he wrote a joking letter suggesting that people could save candles by getting up earlier and using sunlight instead. He did not propose changing clocks, but his letter made the basic point: shifting daily routines could make better use of daylight. The first nationwide clock changes came during World War I. Germany adopted daylight saving time in 1916 to save fuel, and other nations, including the United States in 1918, soon followed. The rule proved unpopular with many Americans, and it was dropped after the war. During World War II, the country again moved its clocks forward, this time for the entire year, calling it “war time.” After the war, confusion followed. Some states and cities changed their clocks while neighboring ones did not, so a bus trip of a few dozen miles could pass through several time changes. In 1966, Congress passed the Uniform Time Act, which set common dates for the switch while still allowing states to opt out. Hawaii and most of Arizona do not change their clocks today. The debate has never fully ended. Supporters say that later sunsets encourage outdoor activity and help businesses. Critics point out that the spring change costs people an hour of sleep and may briefly affect health and safety. Some lawmakers have proposed keeping daylight saving time all year, while others prefer standard time all year. For now, the clocks keep turning. 19. The primary purpose of the passage is to A. describe the history of daylight saving time and the debate about it. B. prove that daylight saving time saves fuel. C. explain how clocks keep accurate time. D. persuade states to stop changing their clocks.
Question 20
ISEE · Middle Level English · isee-middle-english-reading-comprehension
Turning the Clocks Twice a year, most Americans change their clocks: forward an hour in spring and back an hour in fall. The custom is called daylight saving time, and it has a longer and more surprising history than many people realize. The idea is often traced to Benjamin Franklin. In 1784, while living in Paris, he wrote a joking letter suggesting that people could save candles by getting up earlier and using sunlight instead. He did not propose changing clocks, but his letter made the basic point: shifting daily routines could make better use of daylight. The first nationwide clock changes came during World War I. Germany adopted daylight saving time in 1916 to save fuel, and other nations, including the United States in 1918, soon followed. The rule proved unpopular with many Americans, and it was dropped after the war. During World War II, the country again moved its clocks forward, this time for the entire year, calling it “war time.” After the war, confusion followed. Some states and cities changed their clocks while neighboring ones did not, so a bus trip of a few dozen miles could pass through several time changes. In 1966, Congress passed the Uniform Time Act, which set common dates for the switch while still allowing states to opt out. Hawaii and most of Arizona do not change their clocks today. The debate has never fully ended. Supporters say that later sunsets encourage outdoor activity and help businesses. Critics point out that the spring change costs people an hour of sleep and may briefly affect health and safety. Some lawmakers have proposed keeping daylight saving time all year, while others prefer standard time all year. For now, the clocks keep turning. 20. In the fourth paragraph, the author A. argues that Hawaii should change its clocks. B. describes the war-time rules in Germany. C. explains why a national law about clock changes was passed. D. suggests that buses should stop crossing state lines.
Question 21
ISEE · Middle Level English · isee-middle-english-reading-comprehension
Turning the Clocks Twice a year, most Americans change their clocks: forward an hour in spring and back an hour in fall. The custom is called daylight saving time, and it has a longer and more surprising history than many people realize. The idea is often traced to Benjamin Franklin. In 1784, while living in Paris, he wrote a joking letter suggesting that people could save candles by getting up earlier and using sunlight instead. He did not propose changing clocks, but his letter made the basic point: shifting daily routines could make better use of daylight. The first nationwide clock changes came during World War I. Germany adopted daylight saving time in 1916 to save fuel, and other nations, including the United States in 1918, soon followed. The rule proved unpopular with many Americans, and it was dropped after the war. During World War II, the country again moved its clocks forward, this time for the entire year, calling it “war time.” After the war, confusion followed. Some states and cities changed their clocks while neighboring ones did not, so a bus trip of a few dozen miles could pass through several time changes. In 1966, Congress passed the Uniform Time Act, which set common dates for the switch while still allowing states to opt out. Hawaii and most of Arizona do not change their clocks today. The debate has never fully ended. Supporters say that later sunsets encourage outdoor activity and help businesses. Critics point out that the spring change costs people an hour of sleep and may briefly affect health and safety. Some lawmakers have proposed keeping daylight saving time all year, while others prefer standard time all year. For now, the clocks keep turning. 21. What conclusion can be drawn from the mention of Franklin's letter? A. Franklin designed the first daylight saving law. B. People in Paris changed their clocks in 1784. C. Franklin wanted people to stop using candles completely. D. The idea behind daylight saving time is older than the clock changes themselves.
Question 22
ISEE · Middle Level English · isee-middle-english-reading-comprehension
Turning the Clocks Twice a year, most Americans change their clocks: forward an hour in spring and back an hour in fall. The custom is called daylight saving time, and it has a longer and more surprising history than many people realize. The idea is often traced to Benjamin Franklin. In 1784, while living in Paris, he wrote a joking letter suggesting that people could save candles by getting up earlier and using sunlight instead. He did not propose changing clocks, but his letter made the basic point: shifting daily routines could make better use of daylight. The first nationwide clock changes came during World War I. Germany adopted daylight saving time in 1916 to save fuel, and other nations, including the United States in 1918, soon followed. The rule proved unpopular with many Americans, and it was dropped after the war. During World War II, the country again moved its clocks forward, this time for the entire year, calling it “war time.” After the war, confusion followed. Some states and cities changed their clocks while neighboring ones did not, so a bus trip of a few dozen miles could pass through several time changes. In 1966, Congress passed the Uniform Time Act, which set common dates for the switch while still allowing states to opt out. Hawaii and most of Arizona do not change their clocks today. The debate has never fully ended. Supporters say that later sunsets encourage outdoor activity and help businesses. Critics point out that the spring change costs people an hour of sleep and may briefly affect health and safety. Some lawmakers have proposed keeping daylight saving time all year, while others prefer standard time all year. For now, the clocks keep turning. 22. In the third paragraph, the word “adopted” most nearly means A. cared for. B. voted against. C. invented. D. began using.
Question 23
ISEE · Middle Level English · isee-middle-english-reading-comprehension
Turning the Clocks Twice a year, most Americans change their clocks: forward an hour in spring and back an hour in fall. The custom is called daylight saving time, and it has a longer and more surprising history than many people realize. The idea is often traced to Benjamin Franklin. In 1784, while living in Paris, he wrote a joking letter suggesting that people could save candles by getting up earlier and using sunlight instead. He did not propose changing clocks, but his letter made the basic point: shifting daily routines could make better use of daylight. The first nationwide clock changes came during World War I. Germany adopted daylight saving time in 1916 to save fuel, and other nations, including the United States in 1918, soon followed. The rule proved unpopular with many Americans, and it was dropped after the war. During World War II, the country again moved its clocks forward, this time for the entire year, calling it “war time.” After the war, confusion followed. Some states and cities changed their clocks while neighboring ones did not, so a bus trip of a few dozen miles could pass through several time changes. In 1966, Congress passed the Uniform Time Act, which set common dates for the switch while still allowing states to opt out. Hawaii and most of Arizona do not change their clocks today. The debate has never fully ended. Supporters say that later sunsets encourage outdoor activity and help businesses. Critics point out that the spring change costs people an hour of sleep and may briefly affect health and safety. Some lawmakers have proposed keeping daylight saving time all year, while others prefer standard time all year. For now, the clocks keep turning. 23. In the second paragraph, calling Franklin's letter “joking” shows that the author A. does not want readers to think Franklin made a serious proposal. B. finds Franklin's letter confusing. C. believes Franklin disliked Paris. D. thinks the letter should be forgotten.
Question 24
ISEE · Middle Level English · isee-middle-english-reading-comprehension
Turning the Clocks Twice a year, most Americans change their clocks: forward an hour in spring and back an hour in fall. The custom is called daylight saving time, and it has a longer and more surprising history than many people realize. The idea is often traced to Benjamin Franklin. In 1784, while living in Paris, he wrote a joking letter suggesting that people could save candles by getting up earlier and using sunlight instead. He did not propose changing clocks, but his letter made the basic point: shifting daily routines could make better use of daylight. The first nationwide clock changes came during World War I. Germany adopted daylight saving time in 1916 to save fuel, and other nations, including the United States in 1918, soon followed. The rule proved unpopular with many Americans, and it was dropped after the war. During World War II, the country again moved its clocks forward, this time for the entire year, calling it “war time.” After the war, confusion followed. Some states and cities changed their clocks while neighboring ones did not, so a bus trip of a few dozen miles could pass through several time changes. In 1966, Congress passed the Uniform Time Act, which set common dates for the switch while still allowing states to opt out. Hawaii and most of Arizona do not change their clocks today. The debate has never fully ended. Supporters say that later sunsets encourage outdoor activity and help businesses. Critics point out that the spring change costs people an hour of sleep and may briefly affect health and safety. Some lawmakers have proposed keeping daylight saving time all year, while others prefer standard time all year. For now, the clocks keep turning. 24. The purpose of the last paragraph is to A. announce that the debate has been settled. B. list every state that changes its clocks. C. present arguments on both sides of a continuing debate. D. explain the role of fuel in World War I.
Question 25
ISEE · Middle Level English · isee-middle-english-reading-comprehension
Trapped in Tar In the middle of Los Angeles, between busy streets and office towers, pools of sticky black asphalt bubble up from the ground. These are the La Brea Tar Pits, and for tens of thousands of years they have been trapping animals. Today they hold one of the richest collections of Ice Age fossils anywhere in the world. The tar forms where crude oil seeps up through cracks in the earth. As the lighter parts of the oil evaporate, a thick, gooey asphalt is left behind. Leaves and dust often settled on top of the pools, hiding them. An animal that stepped into one could become stuck, unable to pull free. Scientists have recovered millions of fossils from the pits, including mammoths, giant ground sloths, camels, and huge bison. Most surprising, though, is how many predators they have found. Dire wolves are the most common large mammal in the collection, and remains of more than two thousand saber-toothed cats have been recovered. In most fossil sites, plant eaters far outnumber meat eaters. Scientists think they know why. A large animal stuck in the tar would struggle and cry out, attracting hungry predators. When the wolves and cats moved in to feed, they too became trapped. A single trapped bison might lure many meat eaters to the same fate, so over thousands of years the predators piled up. Because the asphalt seeps into bones and keeps out decay, many fossils are remarkably well preserved, along with insects, seeds, and pollen. Researchers use these tiny clues to rebuild what the climate and plants of ancient Los Angeles were like. Excavation continues today, and visitors can watch scientists at work beside the very pools that once caught giant beasts. 25. Which statement best expresses the main idea of the passage? A. Saber-toothed cats were the largest animals of the Ice Age. B. Crude oil is the most valuable resource in Los Angeles. C. Most fossil sites contain more predators than plant eaters. D. The La Brea Tar Pits trapped many Ice Age animals and now reveal much about the past.
Question 26
ISEE · Middle Level English · isee-middle-english-reading-comprehension
Trapped in Tar In the middle of Los Angeles, between busy streets and office towers, pools of sticky black asphalt bubble up from the ground. These are the La Brea Tar Pits, and for tens of thousands of years they have been trapping animals. Today they hold one of the richest collections of Ice Age fossils anywhere in the world. The tar forms where crude oil seeps up through cracks in the earth. As the lighter parts of the oil evaporate, a thick, gooey asphalt is left behind. Leaves and dust often settled on top of the pools, hiding them. An animal that stepped into one could become stuck, unable to pull free. Scientists have recovered millions of fossils from the pits, including mammoths, giant ground sloths, camels, and huge bison. Most surprising, though, is how many predators they have found. Dire wolves are the most common large mammal in the collection, and remains of more than two thousand saber-toothed cats have been recovered. In most fossil sites, plant eaters far outnumber meat eaters. Scientists think they know why. A large animal stuck in the tar would struggle and cry out, attracting hungry predators. When the wolves and cats moved in to feed, they too became trapped. A single trapped bison might lure many meat eaters to the same fate, so over thousands of years the predators piled up. Because the asphalt seeps into bones and keeps out decay, many fossils are remarkably well preserved, along with insects, seeds, and pollen. Researchers use these tiny clues to rebuild what the climate and plants of ancient Los Angeles were like. Excavation continues today, and visitors can watch scientists at work beside the very pools that once caught giant beasts. 26. According to the passage, why were the tar pits hard for animals to notice? A. The pools were too deep to see. B. Leaves and dust often covered the pools. C. Animals could not see well at night. D. The tar was the same color as the grass.
Question 27
ISEE · Middle Level English · isee-middle-english-reading-comprehension
Trapped in Tar In the middle of Los Angeles, between busy streets and office towers, pools of sticky black asphalt bubble up from the ground. These are the La Brea Tar Pits, and for tens of thousands of years they have been trapping animals. Today they hold one of the richest collections of Ice Age fossils anywhere in the world. The tar forms where crude oil seeps up through cracks in the earth. As the lighter parts of the oil evaporate, a thick, gooey asphalt is left behind. Leaves and dust often settled on top of the pools, hiding them. An animal that stepped into one could become stuck, unable to pull free. Scientists have recovered millions of fossils from the pits, including mammoths, giant ground sloths, camels, and huge bison. Most surprising, though, is how many predators they have found. Dire wolves are the most common large mammal in the collection, and remains of more than two thousand saber-toothed cats have been recovered. In most fossil sites, plant eaters far outnumber meat eaters. Scientists think they know why. A large animal stuck in the tar would struggle and cry out, attracting hungry predators. When the wolves and cats moved in to feed, they too became trapped. A single trapped bison might lure many meat eaters to the same fate, so over thousands of years the predators piled up. Because the asphalt seeps into bones and keeps out decay, many fossils are remarkably well preserved, along with insects, seeds, and pollen. Researchers use these tiny clues to rebuild what the climate and plants of ancient Los Angeles were like. Excavation continues today, and visitors can watch scientists at work beside the very pools that once caught giant beasts. 27. According to the passage, which finding is most surprising to scientists? A. the presence of mammoths B. the large number of predators found in the pits C. the discovery of seeds and pollen D. the location of the pits in a city
Question 28
ISEE · Middle Level English · isee-middle-english-reading-comprehension
Trapped in Tar In the middle of Los Angeles, between busy streets and office towers, pools of sticky black asphalt bubble up from the ground. These are the La Brea Tar Pits, and for tens of thousands of years they have been trapping animals. Today they hold one of the richest collections of Ice Age fossils anywhere in the world. The tar forms where crude oil seeps up through cracks in the earth. As the lighter parts of the oil evaporate, a thick, gooey asphalt is left behind. Leaves and dust often settled on top of the pools, hiding them. An animal that stepped into one could become stuck, unable to pull free. Scientists have recovered millions of fossils from the pits, including mammoths, giant ground sloths, camels, and huge bison. Most surprising, though, is how many predators they have found. Dire wolves are the most common large mammal in the collection, and remains of more than two thousand saber-toothed cats have been recovered. In most fossil sites, plant eaters far outnumber meat eaters. Scientists think they know why. A large animal stuck in the tar would struggle and cry out, attracting hungry predators. When the wolves and cats moved in to feed, they too became trapped. A single trapped bison might lure many meat eaters to the same fate, so over thousands of years the predators piled up. Because the asphalt seeps into bones and keeps out decay, many fossils are remarkably well preserved, along with insects, seeds, and pollen. Researchers use these tiny clues to rebuild what the climate and plants of ancient Los Angeles were like. Excavation continues today, and visitors can watch scientists at work beside the very pools that once caught giant beasts. 28. Which best describes the organization of the passage? A. Several fossil sites are compared, and the oldest is identified. B. The excavation process is described step by step from start to finish. C. An argument is made that the tar pits should be closed to visitors. D. The tar pits are introduced, how they trap animals is explained, a puzzle about the fossils is described and explained, and their scientific value is noted.
Question 29
ISEE · Middle Level English · isee-middle-english-reading-comprehension
Trapped in Tar In the middle of Los Angeles, between busy streets and office towers, pools of sticky black asphalt bubble up from the ground. These are the La Brea Tar Pits, and for tens of thousands of years they have been trapping animals. Today they hold one of the richest collections of Ice Age fossils anywhere in the world. The tar forms where crude oil seeps up through cracks in the earth. As the lighter parts of the oil evaporate, a thick, gooey asphalt is left behind. Leaves and dust often settled on top of the pools, hiding them. An animal that stepped into one could become stuck, unable to pull free. Scientists have recovered millions of fossils from the pits, including mammoths, giant ground sloths, camels, and huge bison. Most surprising, though, is how many predators they have found. Dire wolves are the most common large mammal in the collection, and remains of more than two thousand saber-toothed cats have been recovered. In most fossil sites, plant eaters far outnumber meat eaters. Scientists think they know why. A large animal stuck in the tar would struggle and cry out, attracting hungry predators. When the wolves and cats moved in to feed, they too became trapped. A single trapped bison might lure many meat eaters to the same fate, so over thousands of years the predators piled up. Because the asphalt seeps into bones and keeps out decay, many fossils are remarkably well preserved, along with insects, seeds, and pollen. Researchers use these tiny clues to rebuild what the climate and plants of ancient Los Angeles were like. Excavation continues today, and visitors can watch scientists at work beside the very pools that once caught giant beasts. 29. Based on the passage, scientists would most likely agree that A. predators avoided the tar pits. B. most animals in the pits died from the cold. C. one trapped plant eater could lead to many trapped predators. D. wolves were hunted out of Los Angeles by saber-toothed cats.
Question 30
ISEE · Middle Level English · isee-middle-english-reading-comprehension
Trapped in Tar In the middle of Los Angeles, between busy streets and office towers, pools of sticky black asphalt bubble up from the ground. These are the La Brea Tar Pits, and for tens of thousands of years they have been trapping animals. Today they hold one of the richest collections of Ice Age fossils anywhere in the world. The tar forms where crude oil seeps up through cracks in the earth. As the lighter parts of the oil evaporate, a thick, gooey asphalt is left behind. Leaves and dust often settled on top of the pools, hiding them. An animal that stepped into one could become stuck, unable to pull free. Scientists have recovered millions of fossils from the pits, including mammoths, giant ground sloths, camels, and huge bison. Most surprising, though, is how many predators they have found. Dire wolves are the most common large mammal in the collection, and remains of more than two thousand saber-toothed cats have been recovered. In most fossil sites, plant eaters far outnumber meat eaters. Scientists think they know why. A large animal stuck in the tar would struggle and cry out, attracting hungry predators. When the wolves and cats moved in to feed, they too became trapped. A single trapped bison might lure many meat eaters to the same fate, so over thousands of years the predators piled up. Because the asphalt seeps into bones and keeps out decay, many fossils are remarkably well preserved, along with insects, seeds, and pollen. Researchers use these tiny clues to rebuild what the climate and plants of ancient Los Angeles were like. Excavation continues today, and visitors can watch scientists at work beside the very pools that once caught giant beasts. 30. In the second paragraph, the word “seeps” most nearly means A. suddenly explodes. B. slowly leaks. C. freezes solid. D. falls as rain.
Question 31
ISEE · Middle Level English · isee-middle-english-reading-comprehension
Dinner in Front of the Screen For much of the twentieth century, dinner in many American homes followed a familiar pattern. The family gathered at the kitchen or dining room table at a set hour, passed dishes around, and talked about the day. The meal was as much a time for conversation as for eating. In the 1950s, a new machine began to change that routine: the television. Within a few years, most households owned one, and families wanted to watch their favorite evening programs. In 1953, a food company introduced a complete frozen meal in a divided aluminum tray that could be heated in the oven. It was sold as a “TV dinner,” and the name said exactly where people were expected to eat it. Folding “TV trays” soon appeared in living rooms, letting family members eat in front of the screen. Busy parents appreciated meals that needed no chopping or washing up, and children enjoyed eating while watching shows. Advertisements pictured smiling families gathered around the television with their trays, presenting the new habit as modern and convenient. The change did not end family meals, but it reshaped them. Conversation now competed with the program on the screen, and on some evenings each person ate whatever and whenever was convenient. Dinner became less a shared event at a fixed time and more a flexible part of a busy evening. Many families welcomed the freedom. Yet some observers noticed a loss. The table had been a place where children practiced conversation and where families heard about one another's days. Researchers today still debate how much family meals matter, but many continue to recommend sitting down together—with the television off—at least some of the time. 31. Which best expresses the main idea of the passage? A. Frozen dinners were the first convenience foods ever sold. B. Television changed family dinners from shared conversations at the table into a more flexible, screen-centered routine. C. Families stopped eating together completely in the 1950s. D. Advertisements convinced families to buy more televisions.
Question 32
ISEE · Middle Level English · isee-middle-english-reading-comprehension
Dinner in Front of the Screen For much of the twentieth century, dinner in many American homes followed a familiar pattern. The family gathered at the kitchen or dining room table at a set hour, passed dishes around, and talked about the day. The meal was as much a time for conversation as for eating. In the 1950s, a new machine began to change that routine: the television. Within a few years, most households owned one, and families wanted to watch their favorite evening programs. In 1953, a food company introduced a complete frozen meal in a divided aluminum tray that could be heated in the oven. It was sold as a “TV dinner,” and the name said exactly where people were expected to eat it. Folding “TV trays” soon appeared in living rooms, letting family members eat in front of the screen. Busy parents appreciated meals that needed no chopping or washing up, and children enjoyed eating while watching shows. Advertisements pictured smiling families gathered around the television with their trays, presenting the new habit as modern and convenient. The change did not end family meals, but it reshaped them. Conversation now competed with the program on the screen, and on some evenings each person ate whatever and whenever was convenient. Dinner became less a shared event at a fixed time and more a flexible part of a busy evening. Many families welcomed the freedom. Yet some observers noticed a loss. The table had been a place where children practiced conversation and where families heard about one another's days. Researchers today still debate how much family meals matter, but many continue to recommend sitting down together—with the television off—at least some of the time. 32. In the third paragraph, the word “appreciated” most nearly means A. increased in price. B. understood clearly. C. valued. D. complained about.
Question 33
ISEE · Middle Level English · isee-middle-english-reading-comprehension
Dinner in Front of the Screen For much of the twentieth century, dinner in many American homes followed a familiar pattern. The family gathered at the kitchen or dining room table at a set hour, passed dishes around, and talked about the day. The meal was as much a time for conversation as for eating. In the 1950s, a new machine began to change that routine: the television. Within a few years, most households owned one, and families wanted to watch their favorite evening programs. In 1953, a food company introduced a complete frozen meal in a divided aluminum tray that could be heated in the oven. It was sold as a “TV dinner,” and the name said exactly where people were expected to eat it. Folding “TV trays” soon appeared in living rooms, letting family members eat in front of the screen. Busy parents appreciated meals that needed no chopping or washing up, and children enjoyed eating while watching shows. Advertisements pictured smiling families gathered around the television with their trays, presenting the new habit as modern and convenient. The change did not end family meals, but it reshaped them. Conversation now competed with the program on the screen, and on some evenings each person ate whatever and whenever was convenient. Dinner became less a shared event at a fixed time and more a flexible part of a busy evening. Many families welcomed the freedom. Yet some observers noticed a loss. The table had been a place where children practiced conversation and where families heard about one another's days. Researchers today still debate how much family meals matter, but many continue to recommend sitting down together—with the television off—at least some of the time. 33. According to the passage, why was the 1953 frozen meal called a “TV dinner”? A. It was advertised only on television. B. It came in a tray shaped like a television. C. Television stars cooked it. D. It was meant to be eaten while watching television.
Question 34
ISEE · Middle Level English · isee-middle-english-reading-comprehension
Dinner in Front of the Screen For much of the twentieth century, dinner in many American homes followed a familiar pattern. The family gathered at the kitchen or dining room table at a set hour, passed dishes around, and talked about the day. The meal was as much a time for conversation as for eating. In the 1950s, a new machine began to change that routine: the television. Within a few years, most households owned one, and families wanted to watch their favorite evening programs. In 1953, a food company introduced a complete frozen meal in a divided aluminum tray that could be heated in the oven. It was sold as a “TV dinner,” and the name said exactly where people were expected to eat it. Folding “TV trays” soon appeared in living rooms, letting family members eat in front of the screen. Busy parents appreciated meals that needed no chopping or washing up, and children enjoyed eating while watching shows. Advertisements pictured smiling families gathered around the television with their trays, presenting the new habit as modern and convenient. The change did not end family meals, but it reshaped them. Conversation now competed with the program on the screen, and on some evenings each person ate whatever and whenever was convenient. Dinner became less a shared event at a fixed time and more a flexible part of a busy evening. Many families welcomed the freedom. Yet some observers noticed a loss. The table had been a place where children practiced conversation and where families heard about one another's days. Researchers today still debate how much family meals matter, but many continue to recommend sitting down together—with the television off—at least some of the time. 34. It can be inferred from the fourth paragraph that after TV dinners became common, A. families stopped talking to one another. B. families were less likely to eat together at one set time. C. people ate more vegetables than before. D. dining tables were no longer sold.
Question 35
ISEE · Middle Level English · isee-middle-english-reading-comprehension
Dinner in Front of the Screen For much of the twentieth century, dinner in many American homes followed a familiar pattern. The family gathered at the kitchen or dining room table at a set hour, passed dishes around, and talked about the day. The meal was as much a time for conversation as for eating. In the 1950s, a new machine began to change that routine: the television. Within a few years, most households owned one, and families wanted to watch their favorite evening programs. In 1953, a food company introduced a complete frozen meal in a divided aluminum tray that could be heated in the oven. It was sold as a “TV dinner,” and the name said exactly where people were expected to eat it. Folding “TV trays” soon appeared in living rooms, letting family members eat in front of the screen. Busy parents appreciated meals that needed no chopping or washing up, and children enjoyed eating while watching shows. Advertisements pictured smiling families gathered around the television with their trays, presenting the new habit as modern and convenient. The change did not end family meals, but it reshaped them. Conversation now competed with the program on the screen, and on some evenings each person ate whatever and whenever was convenient. Dinner became less a shared event at a fixed time and more a flexible part of a busy evening. Many families welcomed the freedom. Yet some observers noticed a loss. The table had been a place where children practiced conversation and where families heard about one another's days. Researchers today still debate how much family meals matter, but many continue to recommend sitting down together—with the television off—at least some of the time. 35. The last paragraph primarily serves to A. weigh the benefits of the change against what was lost. B. describe how frozen meals are made. C. prove that family meals have no effect on children. D. list the most popular television shows of the 1950s.
Question 36
ISEE · Middle Level English · isee-middle-english-reading-comprehension
Dinner in Front of the Screen For much of the twentieth century, dinner in many American homes followed a familiar pattern. The family gathered at the kitchen or dining room table at a set hour, passed dishes around, and talked about the day. The meal was as much a time for conversation as for eating. In the 1950s, a new machine began to change that routine: the television. Within a few years, most households owned one, and families wanted to watch their favorite evening programs. In 1953, a food company introduced a complete frozen meal in a divided aluminum tray that could be heated in the oven. It was sold as a “TV dinner,” and the name said exactly where people were expected to eat it. Folding “TV trays” soon appeared in living rooms, letting family members eat in front of the screen. Busy parents appreciated meals that needed no chopping or washing up, and children enjoyed eating while watching shows. Advertisements pictured smiling families gathered around the television with their trays, presenting the new habit as modern and convenient. The change did not end family meals, but it reshaped them. Conversation now competed with the program on the screen, and on some evenings each person ate whatever and whenever was convenient. Dinner became less a shared event at a fixed time and more a flexible part of a busy evening. Many families welcomed the freedom. Yet some observers noticed a loss. The table had been a place where children practiced conversation and where families heard about one another's days. Researchers today still debate how much family meals matter, but many continue to recommend sitting down together—with the television off—at least some of the time. 36. The author's attitude toward the change in family dinners is best described as A. understanding of its appeal but concerned about what was lost. B. entirely enthusiastic about the change. C. angry at families who watch television. D. uninterested in the topic.