R.C

                                                                                                                                                Name: _____________________________

Nonfiction Reading Test

Carnivorous Plants

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow. Refer to the text to check your answers when appropriate.

Imagine that you're a fly. You're just zipping around the sky, looking for a place to rest, when you see nice pink leaf. That looks like a nice place to land. You think to yourself in your fly head. As you rest your feet on the leaf, you notice something strange. This leaf is hairy. You begin to make your move, but you trigger the plant's reflex. Snap! In one-tenth of a second, you are caught in the Venus flytrap. You will be digested in five to twelve days. Welcome to the world of carnivorous plants! There are over a quarter of a millions plant species. Only small number of plants are carnivorous. We call them this because they attract, trap, and eat bugs. Like other plants, they get energy from the sun. But unlike other plants, they get their nutrients from their prey. Carnivorous plants live in bogs and places where the soil lacks nutrients. Most plants get nutrients from the soil. Carnivorous plants have turned to other sources. The snap of the Venus flytrap is not the only way that plants eat bugs. Pitcher plants trick their prey into landing on them. They offer nectar bribes to the foolish insects that would take them. True to their name, pitcher plants have deep chambers. Their landing surface is slippery. They have inward pointing hairs, making it hard to escape. The fly lands on the pitcher plant to eat, but slips into a pit filled with digestive fluids and is eaten. Then there're sundews. We call them sundews because they sparkle in the sun as if covered in morning dew. Of course, that sparkle is from something much more treacherous. It is a sweet goo called mucilage that bugs can't resist. Sundews create mucilage to attract bugs. As they fly in to eat, bugs become trapped in the very object of their desire. They soon exhaust themselves by trying to escape the mucilage. Or the sundew's tentacles, which respond to prey by curling around them, smother them. Bugs usually die in about 15 minutes. Then the plant dissolves its prey in enzymes and absorbs the nutrients.

Have you ever walked into trouble and found that you couldn't get out? So has every insect that has ever wandered into a corkscrew plant. Bugs love to investigate plants for nectar and food. Corkscrew plants have inviting stems. Curved hairs line the inside of these stems. These hairs allow insects to go up the stems, but not back. Going forward leads a chamber filled with digestive fluid, the plant's stomach. Bugs who wander into the corkscrew plant find that they are unable to escape. They must march to their own demise. And then there are the bladderworts. They're about as nice as they sound. They live in water and float near the surface. Their traps are like small bladders hidden beneath the water. Only their flowers are visible from the surface. When bugs swim into the trigger hairs, the plant reacts. A trapdoor in the bladder opens up. The bladder sucks up the prey and the water surrounding it.  A tenth of a second later, the bladder shuts again. The plant has trapped the prey. It releases digestive fluids. The prey will be digested within hours. Carnivorous plants might sound tough, but they are difficult to keep at home. They are built to survive in places that other plants cannot. This specialization comes at a cost. They have a hard time adapting to other environments. Their strengths become weaknesses in rich soil. They depend on the harsh yet delicate environments in which they thrive. They are not so hardy after all. Still, there's something to be said about the power of life when one finds a plant that can survive in barren soil.

 

1. Which statement would the author most likely agree with?

a. There are too many species of carnivorous plants.

b. There are a lot of plant species in the world.

c. Only a small number of plants are carnivorous.

d. A majority of plants are carnivorous.

C

2. Which plant traps bugs in its stem and forces them to walk forward?

a. Corkscrew plants                                                     b. Sundews

c. Bladderworts                                                          d. Pitcher plants

A

3. Which of the following statements is false?

a. Carnivorous plants get their energy from eating bugs.

b. Carnivorous plants do not get nutrients from the soil.

c. Carnivorous plants get their energy from the sun.

d. Carnivorous plants get their nutrients from eating bugs.

A

4. Which event happens last when a sundew eats a meal?

a. The sundew creates mucilage.

b. The sundew's tentacles curl in response to the prey.

c. The bug is attracted to the mucilage.

d. The sundew releases enzymes.

D

5. Which best expresses the main idea of the third paragraph?

a. There are more types of carnivorous plants than the Venus fly trap.

b. The pitcher plant tricks bugs into falling into its stomach.

c. The Venus flytrap kills its prey in a various ways.

d. Some plants attract bugs by offering them nectar.

B

6. Which best defines the word treacherous as it is used in the fourth paragraph?

a. Something that provides nutrients.

b. Something that is very bright.

c. Something that tastes delicious.

d. Something that has a hidden danger.

D

7. Which best describes the overall text structure of the second paragraph?

a. Chronological order                                    b. Compare and contrast

c. Sequential order                                                      d. Spatial

B

8. Which statement would the author most likely disagree with?

a. Carnivorous plants cannot thrive in rich soil.

b. Bladderworts react quickly when their trigger hairs are bumped.

c. Carnivorous plants are tough and can live in any environment.

d. Bladderworts hide their traps just below the surface of the water.

C

9. Which best expresses the main idea of the last paragraph?

a. Carnivorous plants are not hard to take care of because they feed themselves.

b. Carnivorous plants are delicate because they need certain conditions to survive.

c. Carnivorous plants are difficult to keep at home, but you should keep trying.

d. Carnivorous plants are inspirational and they are interesting to watch and own.

B

10. Which title best expresses the author's main purpose in writing this text?

a. Watch Out! How To Avoid Being Eaten by Carnivorous Plants

b. At Risk: How You Can Help to Preserve Carnivorous Plants

c. Venus Flytrap: Nature's Most Beautiful and Dangerous Plant

d. Fatal Flowers: Plants That Kill Insects

D

Reading comprehension

                                                                                                                                                Name: _____________________________

Nonfiction Reading Test

Asian Carp

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow. Refer to the text to check your answers when appropriate.

The United States has a lengthy history of going to war. It is a nation born from war. Pick any year since 1776, and the odds of America being involved in at least one war is over 90%.  Every US President has faced war. Still, it may surprise you to hear that the US government is at war with a fish. Asian carp were introduced to American waters during the 1970s. Southern fish farmers began importing them to help clean their ponds. Asian carp are phenomenal cleaners. Unfortunately, it didn't take too long for them to escape from these ponds, perhaps from flooding, and get into the Mississippi River. From there they have followed their natural tendency to swim upstream. This tendency may lead them into the Great Lakes and Canada, a nightmare scenario for fisherman. Asian carp are large fish. One species, the silver carp, can grow to be 100 pounds. But despite their size, they feed from the bottom of the food chain. That means that they eat plankton and algae. A one hundred pound fish can eat an awful lot of sea scum, and some of it is toxic. The carp are resistant to the toxins, but we aren't. Some Asian carp are hazardous to eat because they have so many algal toxins in their systems. They also have lots of tiny bones in their meat, which makes them difficult to prepare. Asian carp is not a popular delicacy. Introducing the Asian carp into waters that have not known them can be devastating. Beneath the surface of the water is a unique ecosystem. This system rests delicately on a balance that has evolved over millions of years. Then along come these big, hungry bottom feeders to mess up everything. They breed rapidly and densely populate the waters. Worse still, they compete with the native bottom feeders. The native bottom feeders are smaller. Larger, tastier fish like salmon eat them. The native bottom feeders are an important part of the ecosystem. When the Asian carp outperform them, the whole food chain suffers, all the way up to the people.

Not only do Asian carp mess up the food chain, they mess up people. Seriously. An Asian carp will bust you in head. Remember that silver carp can be 100 pounds. There is a reason why they are also known as "flying carp." This particular species of Asian carp has a tendency to jump when frightened. They can jump up to ten feet in the air, and the sound of boat motors frightens them. Watch out watersportists! In 2003 a woman jetskier collided with one and broke her nose and a vertebra. She almost drowned. In 2008 a teenager broke his jaw on one while tubing. Many others have been injured by these flying logs. Asian carp pose a serious threat to water skiers and boaters. In 2007 the U.S. Department of the Interior declared all silver carp to be an injurious species. In 2010, the State of Michigan passed the $30 million CARPACT. In 2012 Congress approved the "Stop Invasive Species" act, legislation written solely to protect the Great Lakes from Asian carp. The government has been on the offensive against these large-bellied invaders. But Asian carp are difficult to catch. Since they eat from the bottom, they do not go for lures or baits like most large fish. The best way to stop them is to keep them out. The Great Lakes are connected to the Mississippi River through the 28-mile Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. For Chicagoans, it is the final point of resistance. A series of multimillion-dollar electrical barriers have been built along the canal. The barriers are effective at keeping adult carp at bay, but some fear that baby carp may pass through. The United States Army Corps of Engineers has been deployed along with EPA. In 2009 they poisoned the entire canal with rotenone, a chemical that kills fish. The $3 million operation netted over 90 tons of dead fish, and a single carp. Some think that Great Lakes must be cut off from the Mississippi River. The Michigan Attorney General sued to have the canal closed. The Ontario government and some Great Lake states have also taken legal action. But the courts have been persuaded by the value of the canal as a shipping conduit thus far. In the meantime, the barriers continue to hold, but how long can they? The carp have the Great Lakes under siege. Is this a war that we are destined to lose?

 

1. Which statement best expresses the main idea of the second paragraph?

a. Asian carp were brought to America during the 1970s to assist Southern fish farmers.

b. Asian carp are remarkable cleaners, which makes them highly desirable fish to have.

c. Asian carp were supposed to clean ponds but they escaped and are headed north.

d. Asian carp are excellent at swimming upstream and cleaning up plankton.

C

2. Which is not a reason why Asian carp is an unpopular menu item?

a. It is hard to prepare because of all the little bones.

b. They are a very fattening fish.

c. Some of them are toxic and unsafe to eat.

d. They are bottom feeders.

B

3. Which statement would the author most likely disagree with?

a. Asian carp outperform many native bottom feeders.

b. Asian carp could disrupt the ecosystem in Lake Michigan.

c. One species of Asian carp is the silver carp.

d. Asian carp are disliked because they eat salmon.

D

4. Which best describes the text structure of the fourth paragraph?

a. Chronological order                                                b. Cause and effect

c. Compare and contrast                                             d. Problem and solution

B

5. Which person would be most threatened by silver carp in a local water source?

a. A waterskier                                                            b. A chicken farmer

c. A bungee jumper                                                     d. A beachgoer

A

6. Which best describes the word resistant as it is used in the third paragraph?

a. To be allergic to something

b. To be unaware of something

c. To be unaffected by something

d. To be attracted or drawn to something

C

7. According to information in the article, which event happened last?

a. Asian carp escaped from southern fish farms.

b. The Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal was poisoned with rotenone.

c. A teenager broke his jaw on a silver carp while tubing.

d. Congress approved the "Stop Invasive Species" act.

D

8. Which of the following statements is false?

a. Silver carp have been declared an "injurious species" by the government.

b. Silver carp are also known as "flying carp."

c. Silver carp can grow to be 100 lbs.

d. Silver carp can jump up to twenty feet in the air.

D

9. Which statement would the author most likely agree with?

a. It would be best for the fishing industry if the canal were closed permanently.

b. The electric barriers will keep the Asian carp out of the Great Lakes forever.

c. The Great Lake states agree fully on a solution to the Asian carp problem.

d. Closing the Chicago Sanitary and Ship canal would have little economic impact.

A

10. Which title best represents the author's main purpose in writing this text?

a. America: A Nation at War

b. Asian Carp: Threatening the Great Lakes

c. Asian Carp: A Beautiful and Powerful Fish

d. Misunderstood: Protect and Defend the Asian Carp

B

R.C

                                                                                                                                                Name: _____________________________

Nonfiction Reading Test

Maginot Line

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow. Refer to the text to check your answers when appropriate.

The Maginot Line was one of the largest military structures ever built, second only to the Great Wall of China. It was a series of bunkers, forts, turrets, and obstacles that spanned more than 450 miles of France's border with Germany. Built between 1930 and 1940, it was one of the world's most impressive forts, yet it proved to be almost useless. The Maginot Line was named after the man who argued for its construction, French Minister of War Andr� Maginot.  Andr� Maginot had fought with the French against the Germans in the First World War. Much of this conflict took place along the Western Front, which was a line of trenches across which the two sides faced one another.  Both sides dug in deep and each lost many men over little ground. Conditions were horrid for all and there was a stalemate for many years as neither side was able to move the other. Maginot never forgot these awful conditions. He wanted to build a line of defenses that would give the French an advantage in a similar conflict. He feared, rightfully so, that the Germans would attack France again. Germany's population nearly doubled France's. The line of defenses that Maginot pictured would allow a smaller French army to hold off a larger German force. In 1929, Maginot convinced the French Parliament to fund his vision. Though calling it a line makes it seem thin, the Maginot Line was in fact quite deep. It was fifteen miles wide at some points and varied in structure. There were outposts disguised as houses. These were manned by troops and rigged with explosives. There were antitank rails and obstacles. These were planted in the ground to prevent tanks and trucks from passing. There were bunkers armed with mounted machine guns and anti-tank guns. These were for pushing back attackers. And there were many large and small fortresses along the line. Each had mess halls, lots of supplies, and air conditioning. The Maginot line would give the French a supreme edge in the case of a head-on invasion by the Germans.

Unfortunately for the French, the Germans did not attack head-on. They positioned a decoy army in front of the line to distract the French. While the French waited, the Germans snuck a larger force through Belgium. Belgium is France's northeastern neighbor. The French did have some defenses along their border with Belgium, but this part of the Maginot line was weak. The Germans made quick work of these defenses. Within five days of their initial attack they were well into France. Once they were in France, the Germans attempted to seize the main forts along the Maginot Line. They were not successful. The forts had proved to be strong, but they failed to hold back the Germans. The Germans had taken Paris, France's capital city. Soon after the French commander ordered his men to stand down. He commanded the French defenders to leave their bases along the Maginot Line. These soldiers were then taken to POW camps. While the Maginot Line did not work in the way that the French had hoped, they did benefit by having built it. Belgium and England were strong allies. England had pledged to protect Belgium. Belgium declared itself a neutral country, one which wanted to stay out of wars. When Germany invaded Belgium to bypass the Maginot Line, they violated Belgium's neutrality. This led to England entering the war sooner. Though the Maginot Line is no longer used militarily, many of the buildings remain. Some of the forts are now wine cellars or mushroom farms. One was turned into a disco club. Today the Maginot Line is often used as a metaphor. People may refer to a failed project in which someone placed a lot of hope as a Maginot Line. Also, the Maginot Line lives on as the best-known symbol of the common saying that "generals always fight the last war."

 

1. Which of the following statements is true?

a. The Maginot Line provided absolutely no benefit to the French.

b. The Maginot Line is still used by the French army today.

c. Maginot's experiences during WWI led to his support for the line.

d. The French were betrayed by the Belgians during World War II.

C

2. Which best expresses the author's purpose in writing the fourth paragraph?

a. To persuade readers that the Maginot Line was not at all thin.

b. To inform readers of the types of defenses along the Maginot Line.

c. To describe what the inside of the Maginot Line looked like.

d. To compare and contrast defenses along the Maginot Line.

B

3. Which best describes the weakness of the Maginot Line?

a. It was built from cheap material and could not resist attack.

b. Poor screening let spies take control of the forts from within.

c. The line was not fortified along France's border with Belgium.

d. The French underestimated the power of newer German tanks.

C

4. Which of the following is a false statement?

a. Andr� Maginot fought against the French in the First World War.

b. Andr� Maginot served as the Minister of War for France.

c.  The Maginot Line is named after Andr� Maginot.

d.  After WWI, Andr� Maginot believed that Germany would attack France again.

A (he fought for France, not Germany)

5. Which best explains why Andr� Maginot wanted to build up France's defense rather than their offense?

a. After WWI, France and Germany became history's greatest allies.

b. France needed protection from the Germans and the hostile Belgians.

c. Maginot feared that French commanders might invade Germany if they had the power.

d. France had far fewer people than Germany and needed to save manpower.

D

6. Which best defines the meaning of the word stalemate as it is used in the second paragraph?

a. When troops lose morale because they miss their families

b. When two sides are locked in a draw

c. When breathing is made difficult by foul odors

d. When one side has a large advantage over the other

B

7. Which best expresses the main idea of the last paragraph of this text?

a. It describes how the Maginot Line is still used today.

b. It restates the main points of the text.

c. It discusses how the French used the Maginot Line during World War II.

d. It explains how the Maginot Line is used as a symbol.

A

8. How did the French lose control of the Maginot Line?

a. The Germans overtook the fortresses with military power.

b. The Germans tunneled into the fortresses using new technology.

c. The French were starved out of the fortresses by German siege.

d. The French surrendered the fortresses.

D

9. Which was not part of Germany's strategy to invade France in World War II?

a. Position a decoy force in front of the Maginot Line

b. Sneak troops into France by tunneling underneath the Maginot Line

c. Bring a large army through Belgium

d. Move very quickly

B

10. Which title best expresses the main idea of this text?

a. Undefeatable: How the Maginot Line Became the World's Strongest Fortress

b. Andr� Maginot: France's Greatest Patriot

c. Strong as the Weakest Link: The Mighty Maginot Wall and Its Shortcomings

d. Blood Feud: The History of War Between France and Germany

C