Reading/Vocabulary 3
TEST Chapter 2
Name: _______________
Reading 1
For many children fighting cancer, it can be extremely complicated to go to their chemotherapy
appointments. But Richard Nares started a program called “Ride with Elmo” that gives them
transportation and support. Nares believes that no child should miss their cancer treatment because they
don’t have transportation. Nares understands because his son died from leukemia, a type of cancer.
One example of a child who uses the program is two-year-old Sisi Johnson. She has cancer and must travel
six times a week to Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego. But her mother doesn't have a car, and the
circumstances of Sisi’s illness mean that public transportation is not possible. Richard Nares started the
program in order to help people who were struggling like Sisi. Nares’ mission was to provide
transportation for low-income families and their children battling cancer.
Sisi is now one of hundreds of patients who receive free rides to and from treatments. Silvia Johnson,
Sisi’s mother, says that “Ride with Elmo” helps take the pressure off her. She is a single mother with two
children and participates in the program by taking eight to ten rides a week with Sisi.
Nares knows exactly what these families are going through. In March 1998, his 3-year-old son, Emilio, was
diagnosed with cancer, putting his family into a world of constant treatments, hospital visits and tests.
Fortunately, he and his wife had a large support system, flexible jobs, and understanding employers. "We
had rides to bring Emilio to the hospital," he said. "We had our brothers and sisters and neighbors bring
us hot meals."
But Nares met many families who didn't have that kind of support. He met single moms who were forced
to take leave from jobs without pay, kids who had to ride the bus alone to their chemotherapy
appointments, and siblings who were left home alone. Nares said it broke his heart.
When Emilio died, his father decided he had watched too many people struggle. He went back to Rady
Children's Hospital, where Emilio had received most of his treatment, and asked how he could help. Many
parents said they needed transportation, so Nares started picking up families in his old car. “Ride with
Elmo” has helped Nares let go of his depression because he receives satisfaction knowing that he is
helping other parents adjust to their difficult circumstances.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/02/health/cnnheroes-nares-cancer-rides/index.html By Allie Torgan, CNN adapted
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Reading/Vocabulary 3
TEST Chapter 2
Name: _______________
1. Who is Emilio?
A. the man who started “Ride With Elmo”
B. one of the children who takes rides with Nares
C. Nares’ son
D. Sisi Johnson’s brother
2. In paragraph 2, what word is a synonym of the word struggling?
A. fighting
B. mission
C. giving
D. missing
3. Which is NOT a true statement?
A. A lot of parents need transportation to take their children for cancer treatments.
B. Nares’ son was diagnosed with cancer in March 1998.
C. Nares and his wife had flexible jobs and understanding bosses.
D. “Ride with Elmo” provides transportation for rich people who need a ride to the hospital.
4. Which sentence is an opinion of the author?
A. Fortunately, he and his wife had a large support system, flexible jobs and understanding
employers.
B. Sisi is now one of hundreds of patients who receive free rides to and from treatments.
C. But Nares met many families who didn't have that kind of support.
D. Nares said it broke his heart
5. What is the main purpose of paragraph 4?
A. to talk about Rady Hospital
B. to give an example of a person using “Ride With Elmo”
C. to compare Sisi and Emilio
D. to explain why Nares knows what families are experiencing
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Reading/Vocabulary 3
TEST Chapter 2
Name: _______________
6. What does the word satisfaction most closely mean in paragraph 6? Guess from context.
A. depressed
B. happiness
C. difficult
D. money
7. Which word from the reading is NOT a noun?
A. appointment
B. transportation
C. support
D. flexible
8. Why did Richard Nares start “Ride with Elmo?”
A. to help get a ride for his son to the hospital for cancer treatments
B. to help find a treatment for cancer
C. to provide transportation for low-income families for their child’s cancer treatments
D. to provide food to low-income children who had to have cancer treatments
9. Which word pairing is NOT a collocation?
A. public transportation
B. support system
C. home alone
D. mission was
10. Which word is NOT an adjective?
A. single
B. low-income
C. jobs
D. difficult
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Reading/Vocabulary 3
TEST Chapter 2
Name: _______________
Chapter 2 Reading 2
There will always be changes or transitional phases in a person’s life. Some of these circumstances are
positive: a marriage, the birth of a child, winning the lottery, or graduating from school. Some
circumstances are negative: going through a break-up, the death of a loved one, or living with a chronic
illness. One factor related to success is that effective people are skilled at adapting to this fast paced,
complicated world. This ability to adapt is beneficial, so it helps people to adjust to change and lead a
more successful life.
Many people are afraid of change. They prefer routine and stability, so any kind of transition threatens
their self-esteem. Fear stops these people from taking risks. When this fear relates to a positive change, it
usually is linked to a fear of not being able to achieve success. Some people are very worried about not
being capable “enough” or of being judged. They believe that dignity is only measured by the idea of
success or winning.
When something new happens in life, something else is lost. Accepting change to the fullest extent means
that we allow ourselves to make mistakes. People need to learn to adjust and let go of mistakes in order
to adapt well to life’s transitions. What is certain is that all of us are going to be forced to adapt to change
throughout life because transitions happen until the day we die. People are in charge of the way they
cope with life’s changes. They can learn to take the pressure off themselves and not become depressed.
adapted: Dr. Cheryl MacDonald, RN. http://healthpsychology.org
Reading 1 questions: Circle the letter of the best answer.
1. Which word is a synonym of adjust?
A. circumstance
B. adapt
C. anticipate
D. complicated
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Reading/Vocabulary 3
TEST Chapter 2
Name: _______________
2. What is the main idea of paragraph 2?
A. A lot of people are afraid of life’s transitions.
B. Fear stops all people from taking risks.
C. All people are very worried about being judged.
D. Dignity is measured by the idea of success or winning.
3. In paragraph 2, what does the word dignity most likely mean? Guess from context.
A. measurement
B. important person
C. self-esteem
D. winning
4. Which group of words could be considered a collocation?
A. chronic illness
B. because transitions
C. mistakes in
D. they believe
5. What stops some people from taking risks?
A. They need to be cheered up.
B. Something will be lost.
C. They are depressed.
D. They are fearful.
6. This text is mainly about…
A. being afraid
B. taking chances
C. adapting to change
D. being judged
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Reading/Vocabulary 3
TEST Chapter 2
7. In the last sentence, who are they?
A. people
B. transitions
C. mistakes
D. circumstances
8. Which statement is NOT true?
A. Marriage is a positive circumstance.
B. Some people think that dignity is measured by success or winning.
C. Effective people cannot adapt to this complicated world.
D. In life, when something new happens, something is lost.
9. Which one is NOT a negative experience in life?
A. breaking up with someone
B. having someone you love die
C. graduating from school
D. having a long-lasting illness
10. When will change happen in our life?
A. until the day we die
B. only when we grow up
C. only after we go to college
D. because we are afraid
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Name: _______________
Reading/Vocabulary 3
TEST Chapter 2
Name: _______________
Vocabulary: Pick the best answer. Circle the letter of that answer.
1. Coming to Seattle, I found it hard to _______ to the weather.
A. expect
B. decrease
C. adjust
D. savor
2. I am excited about my trip to Portland this weekend. I _____ that there will be great places to eat.
A. monitor
B. anticipate
C. decrease
D. adapt
3. My father is my ______ . He has always been a good person to ask for advice in my life.
A. mentor
B. mission
C. proof
D. survival
4. Many animals _____ to their environment by changing color.
A. anticipate
B. pursue
C. struggle
D. adapt
5. After you graduate from IEP, will you _____ a higher degree?
A. pursue
B. savor
C. monitor
D. decrease
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Reading/Vocabulary 3
TEST Chapter 2
Name: _______________
6. My parents want to ______ my grades, so they call me every week to see how I am doing.
A. decrease
B. stunned
C. complicated
D. monitor
7. Joe is very worried about his friend because she is _____ and wants to go back home.
A. inspiration
B. circumstance
C. mentor
D. depressed
8. Mary has a boyfriend, but they fight a lot. They have a ______ relationship.
A. mission
B. mentored
C. savored
D. complicated
9. When the teacher gave Petro his test back, he was ______ . He made a 100!
A. depressed
B. adapted
C. stunned
D. beneficial
10. My teacher said that there is never a/an _____ that allows you to plagiarize. Never do it!
A. circumstance
B. inspiration
C. mission
D. proof
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