READING
COMPREHENSION
Exercise 14
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
Read the passage and answer the questions
Geographically, California's diversity is breathtaking, and the state's coastline from north to
south is no exception. Measuring 840 miles in length, the coast consists of the rugged cliffs of
the Coast Ranges in the north and wide sandy beaches in the south. Along the coastline
there are two major harbors, one in the north at San Francisco, the other in the south at San
Diego. Near Humboldt and Monterey are smaller natural harbors.
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
1) The Coast Ranges are
a. Flat, sandy areas on the coast of California
b. Found in southern California
c. A series of mountains
d. Hundreds of miles north of the cliffs
2) It is implied in the passage that northern California
a. Has more beaches than southern California
b. Is roughly the same as southern California
c. Has fewer major harbors than southern California
d. Has a substantially different coastline from southern California
3) According to the passage, where are the major harbors located in California?
a. In San Diego
b. Only in northern California
c. Near Humboldt and Monterey
d. In the north and in the south
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
1) The Coast Ranges are
a. Flat, sandy areas on the coast of California
b. Found in southern California
c. A series of mountains
d. Hundreds of miles north of the cliffs
2) It is implied in the passage that northern California
a. Has more beaches than southern California
b. Is roughly the same as southern California
c. Has fewer major harbors than southern California
d. Has a substantially different coastline from southern California
3) According to the passage, where are the major harbors located in California?
a. In San Diego
b. Only in northern California
c. Near Humboldt and Monterey
d. In the north and in the south
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
4) The topic of this passage is
a. How the state of California is divided into north and south
b. The variations in California's coastal geography
c. The breathtaking beauty of California
d. The exceptions in coastal geography
5) According to the passage, what measures 840 miles in length?
a. The California coastline
b. The Coast Ranges
c. The rugged cliffs
d. The exceptional part of northern California
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
4) The topic of this passage is
a. How the state of California is divided into north and south
b. The variations in California's coastal geography
c. The breathtaking beauty of California
d. The exceptions in coastal geography
5) According to the passage, what measures 840 miles in length?
a. The California coastline
b. The Coast Ranges
c. The rugged cliffs
d. The exceptional part of northern California
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
Read the passage and answer the questions
Louisa May Alcott, an American author best known for her children's books Little Women,
Little Men, and Jo's Boys, was profoundly influenced by her family, particularly her father.
She was the daughter of Bronson Alcott, a well-known teacher, intellectual, and free thinker
who advocated abolitionism, women's rights, and vegetarianism long before they were
popular. He was called a man of unparalleled intellect by his friend Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Bronson Alcott instilled in his daughter his lofty and spiritual values and in return was idolized
by his daughter. Louisa used her father as a model for the impractical yet serenely wise and
adored father in Little Women, and with the success of this novel she was able to provide for
her family, giving her father the financial security that until then he had never experienced.
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
1) This passage mainly discusses
a. Louisa May Alcott's famous books
b. How Bronson Alcott implemented his educational philosophies
c. The success of Little Women
d. Bronson Alcott's influence on his daughter
2) The passage implies that vegetarianism
a. Was more popular than abolitionism
b. Was the reason for Louisa's adoration for her father
c. Became popular in a later period
d. Was one of the reasons for Bronson Alcott's unparalleled intellect
3) In line 8, the word "lofty" is closest in meaning to
a. Commonplace
b. High-minded
c. Self-serving
d. Sympathetic
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
1) This passage mainly discusses
a. Louisa May Alcott's famous books
b. How Bronson Alcott implemented his educational philosophies
c. The success of Little Women
d. Bronson Alcott's influence on his daughter
2) The passage implies that vegetarianism
a. Was more popular than abolitionism
b. Was the reason for Louisa's adoration for her father
c. Became popular in a later period
d. Was one of the reasons for Bronson Alcott's unparalleled intellect
3) In line 8, the word "lofty" is closest in meaning to
a. Commonplace
b. High-minded
c. Self-serving
d. Sympathetic
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
4) It can be inferred from the passage that Louisa May Alcott used the success of Little
Women to
a. Buy herself anything she had ever wanted
b. Achieve personal financial security
c. Give her father tangible proof of her love
d. Detach herself from her family
5) The author's purpose in the passage is to
a. Explain how an author becomes famous
b. Describe the influence of family on a writer
c. Support Bronson Alcott's educational theories
d. Show the success that can be achieved by an author
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
4) It can be inferred from the passage that Louisa May Alcott used the success of Little
Women to
a. Buy herself anything she had ever wanted
b. Achieve personal financial security
c. Give her father tangible proof of her love
d. Detach herself from her family
5) The author's purpose in the passage is to
a. Explain how an author becomes famous
b. Describe the influence of family on a writer
c. Support Bronson Alcott's educational theories
d. Show the success that can be achieved by an author
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
Read the passage and answer the questions
The brain of the average human weighs approximately 14 kilograms and consists of three
main parts-the cerebrum, the cerebellum, and the brain stem. The cerebrum is by far the
largest of the three parts, taking up 85% of the brain by weight. The outside layer of the
cerebrum, the cerebral cortex, is a grooved and bumpy surface covering the nerve cells
beneath. The various sections of the cerebrum are the sensory cortex, which is responsible
for receiving and decoding sensory messages from throughout the body; the motor cortex,
which sends action instructions to the skeletal muscles; and the association cortex, which
receives, monitors, and processes information. It is in the association cortex that the
processes that allow humans to think take place. The cerebellum, located below the
cerebrum in the back part of the skull, is the section of the brain that controls balance and
posture. The brain stem connects the cerebrum and the spinal cord. It controls various body
processes such as breathing and heartbeat
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
1) What is the author's main purpose?
a. To describe the functions of the parts of the brain
b. To explain how the brain processes information
c. To demonstrate the physical composition of the brain
d. To give examples of human body functions
2) The passage states that the most massive part of the brain is the
a. Cerebrum
b. Cerebellum
c. Cerebral cortex
d. Brain stem
3) How does the passage describe the appearance of the cerebral cortex?
a. As smooth
b. As 85% of the brain by weight
c. As a layer of the cerebellum
d. As ridged
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
1) What is the author's main purpose?
a. To describe the functions of the parts of the brain
b. To explain how the brain processes information
c. To demonstrate the physical composition of the brain
d. To give examples of human body functions
2) The passage states that the most massive part of the brain is the
a. Cerebrum
b. Cerebellum
c. Cerebral cortex
d. Brain stem
3) How does the passage describe the appearance of the cerebral cortex?
a. As smooth
b. As 85% of the brain by weight
c. As a layer of the cerebellum
d. As ridged
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
4) According to the passage, which part of the brain analyzes information?
a. The sensory cortex
b. The association cortex
c. The cerebellum
d. The brain stem
5) Which of the following is true about the cerebellum?
a. It is located above the cerebrum
b. It controls breathing
c. It is responsible for balance
d. It is the outside layer of the cerebrum
6) What shape does the brain stem most likely have?
a. Small and round
b. Long and thin
c. Large and formless
d. Short and flat
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
4) According to the passage, which part of the brain analyzes information?
a. The sensory cortex
b. The association cortex
c. The cerebellum
d. The brain stem
5) Which of the following is true about the cerebellum?
a. It is located above the cerebrum
b. It controls breathing
c. It is responsible for balance
d. It is the outside layer of the cerebrum
6) What shape does the brain stem most likely have?
a. Small and round
b. Long and thin
c. Large and formless
d. Short and flat
© 2013 wheresjenny.com