TASK 2 : READING COMPREHENSION PART 2

READING COMPREHENSION

FOR 1-8

"Did you see that?" Joe said to his friend Bill.

"You're a great shooter!"

Bill caught the basketball and bounced it before

throwing it again. The ball flew into the net.

"Bill, you never miss!" Joe said admiringly.

"Unless I'm in a real game," Bill complained.

"Then I miss all the time."

Joe knew that Bill was right. Bill performed much

better when he was having fun with Joe in the school

yard than he did when he was playing for the school

team in front of a large crowd.

"Maybe you just need to practice more," Joe suggested.

"But I practice all the time with you!" Bill objected.

He shook his head. "I just can't play well when people are

watching me."

"You play well when I'm watching," Joe pointed out.

"That's because I've known you since we were five

years old," Bill said with a smile. "I'm just not

comfortable playing when other people are around."

Joe nodded and understood, but he also had an idea.

The next day Joe and Bill met in the school yard again

to practice. After a few minutes, Joe excused himself.

"Practice without me," Joe said to his friend. "I'll be

back in a minute."

Joe hurried through the school building, gathering

together whomever he could find—two students, a math

teacher, two secretaries, and a janitor. When Joe explained

why he needed them, everyone was happy to help.

Joe reminded the group to stay quiet as they all went

toward the school's basketball court. As Joe had hoped,

Bill was still practicing basketball. He made five

baskets in a row without noticing the silent people

standing behind him.

"Hey, Bill!" Joe called out finally.

Bill turned. A look of surprise came over his face.

"I just wanted to show you that you could play well

with people watching you," Joe said. "Now you'll have

nothing to worry about for the next game!"

1.     How many teacher joe hurred in building?

A.     3

B.     4

C.     5

D.    6

2.     What would be the best title for the story?

A.    Joe Joins the Team

B.    Practice Makes Perfect

C.    Bill Wins the Big Game

D.    Bill's Basketball Problem

3.     In line 8, the word performed is closest in meaning to _______.

A.    acted

2. played
3. moved
4. changed

4.     Why is Bill upset?

1. He plays better in practice than he does during games.
2. The school yard is not a good place to practice.
3. Joe watches him too closely when he plays.
4. His team loses too many games.

5.     Why does Bill play well when Joe is watching him?

1. He is comfortable with Joe.
2. Joe tells him how to play better.
3. He does not know that Joe is there.
4. He wants to prove to Joe that he is a good player.

6.     Why does Joe decide to gather a group of people?

1. Because he wants more players for his team
2. Because he wants to help Bill feel less nervous
3. Because he wants to show them his talent
4. Because he wants more people to see the next game

7.     At the end of the story, all of the following people watch Bill practice EXCEPT _______.

1. Joe
2. a janitor
3. a math teacher
4. the basketball coach

8.     Why does the group have to be quiet when they go to the basketball court?

1. Because Joe is telling Bill what to do
2. Because they do not want Bill to know they were there
3. Because Bill likes to practice alone
4. Because the group needs to listen to Joe’s instructions

FOR 9-18

When another old cave is discovered in the south of France, it is not usually news. Rather, it is an ordinary event. Such discoveries are so frequent these days that hardly anybody pays heed to them. However, when the Lascaux cave complex was discovered in 1940, the world was amazed. Painted directly on its walls were hundreds of scenes showing how people lived thousands of years ago. The scenes show people hunting animals, such as bison or wildcats. Other images depict birds and, most noticeably, horses, which appear in more than 300 wall images, by far outnumbering all other animals. Early artists drawing these animals accomplished a monumental and difficult task.

 They did not limit themselves to the easily accessible walls but carried their painting materials to spaces that required climbing steep walls or crawling into narrow passages in the Lascaux complex. Unfortunately, the paintings have been exposed to the destructive action of water and temperature changes, which easily wear the images away. Because the Lascaux caves have many entrances, air movement has also damaged the images inside. Although they are not out in the open air, where natural light would have destroyed them long ago, many of the images have deteriorated and are barely recognizable. To prevent further damage, the site was closed to tourists in 1963, years after it was discovered.

9.     Which title best summarizes the main idea of the passage?

1. Wild Animals in Art
2. Hidden Prehistoric Paintings
3. Exploring Caves Respectfully
4. Determining the Age of French Caves

10.  In line 4, the words pays heed to are closest in meaning to _______.

1. discovers
2. watches
3. notices
4. buys

11.  Based on the passage, what is probably true about the south of France?

1. It is home to rare animals.
2. It has a large number of caves.

C.     It is known for horse-racing events.

4. It has attracted many famous artists.

12.  According to the passage, which animals appear most often on the cave walls?

1. Birds
2. Bison
3. Horses
4. Wild cats

13.  In line 10, the word depict is closest in meaning to _______.

1. show
2. hunt
3. count
4. draw

14.  Why was painting inside the Lascaux complex a difficult task?

1. It was completely dark inside.
2. The caves were full of wild animals.
3. Painting materials were hard to find.
4. Many painting spaces were difficult to reach.

15.  In line 14, the word They refers to _______.

1. walls
2. artists
3. animals
4. materials

16.  According to the passage, all of the following have caused damage to the paintings EXCEPT _______.

1. temperature changes
2. air movement
3. water
4. light

17.  What does the passage say happened at the Lascaux caves in 1963?

A.    Visitors were prohibited from entering.

2. A new lighting system was installed.
3. Another part was discovered.
4. A new entrance was created.

FOR 18-21

Student Volunteers Needed!

On Saturday, December 12th, from 10 A.M. until 4 P.M., Carverton Middle School will be holding a music festival in the school gymnasium. The special event will feature a variety of professional musicians and singers.

Task	Time	Date
Make posters	1 P.M.–4 P.M.	December 5th
Set up gym	11 A.M.–4 P.M.	December 11th
Help performers	9 A.M.–4 P.M.	December 12th
Welcome guests	10 A.M.–2 P.M.	December 12th
Clean up gym	4 P.M.–7 P.M.	December 12th

Interested students should speak with Ms. Braxton, the music teacher. Students who would like to help at the festival must have written permission from a parent or guardian.

18.  What time will the festival begin?

1. 10 A.M.
2. 11 A.M.
3. 1 P.M.
4. 2 P.M.

19.  In line 3, the word feature is closest in meaning to _______.

1. look
2. keep
3. include
4. entertain

20.  What job will be done the day before the festival begins?

1. Making posters
2. Setting up the gym
3. Cleaning up the gym
4. Helping the performers

21.  Who is told to talk to Ms. Braxton?

1. Parents
2. Students
3. Teachers
4. Performers

FOR 22-25

A new atomic clock being developed for navigation satellites will perform better than previous devices. The clock will use a new microwave cavity design to provide a compact and lightweight package and new electronic techniques to maintain long-term stability. The clock can provide precise navigation information because it is stable to one second in three million years. The differences in the time when signals from four satellites arrive at one location can be used to calculate that position to within a few yards.

22.  From the passage, it can be inferred that which of the following characteristics of the clock mentioned will be most impressive?

A.    Its compact size

B.    Its weight

C.    Its accuracy

D.    Its ability to measure distance

23.  It can be inferred from the passage that the new clock will be

1. long-lasting
2. harmful to humans
3. produced in great numbers
4. very attractive looking

24.  According to the passage, signals from how many satellites will be used to calculate a position?

1. 1
2. 2
3. 3
4. 4

25.  What is the primary purpose of the passage?

1. To teach a lesson
2. To sell a product
3. To support a theory
4. To provide information

REFERENCE

https://www.ets.org/toefl_junior/prepare/standard_sample_questions/reading_comprehension

Task 1: Reading Comprehension part 1

Reading comprehension No. 1-10

While the bald eagle is one national symbol of the United States, it is not the only one. Uncle Sam, the bearded gentleman costumed in the red, white, and blue stars and stripes of the nation's flag, is another well-known national symbol. According to legend, this character is based on Samuel Wilson, the owner of a meat packing business in Troy, New York. During the War of 1812, Sam Wilson's company was granted a government contract to supply meat to the nation's soldiers; this meat was supplied to the army in barrels stamped with the initials U.S., which stood for United States. However, the country was at that time relatively young, and the initials U.S. were not commonly used. Many people questioned what the nitials represented, and the standard reply became "Uncle Sam", for the owner of the barrels. It is now generally accepted that the figure of Uncle Sam is based on Samuel Wilson, and the U.S. Congress has made it official by adopting a resolution naming Samuel Wilson as the inspiration for Uncle Sam.

1. Uncle Sam-Symbols of the Nation. The paragraph preceding this passage most probably discusses...

a. the war of 1812.

b. the bal eagle, which symbolizes mthe United States.

c. Sam Wilson's meat-packing company.

d. the costume worn by Uncle Sam.

2. Which of the following is the most appropriate title for this passage?

a. The Bald Eagle.

b. The symbols of the United States.

c. Samuel Wilson

d. Uncle Sam-Symbols of the Nation.                       

3. Which of the following is not mentioned about Uncle Sam's appearance?

a. He wears facial hair

b. The is some blue in his clothing

c.  He is bald.

d. His clothes have stripes in them.

4. The word "costumed" in line 2 could most easily be replaced by

a. dressed

b. nationalized

c. hidden

d. seen

5. Sam Wilson was the propriator of what type of business?

a. A costume company

b. A meat-packing company.

c. A military clothier.

d. A barrel-making company.

6. The word “granted', in line 5 means...

a. Refused.

b. Underbid for.

c. Told about

d. Given

7. According to the passage, what was in the barrels stamped U.S.?

a. Sam Wilson.

b. Food for the army.

c. Weapons to be used in the war.

d. Company contracts

8. The word "initials" in line 7 means...

a. Nicknames

b. Family names.

c. First letter of the words.

d. Company names.

9. The word "official" in line 11 is closest in meaning to...

a. Authorized.

b. Professional.

C. Dutiful.

d. Accidental.

10. In 1812, people most probably answered that the letters “U.S." " written on the barrels stood for "Uncle Sam" because...

a. congress required it.

b. Samuel Wilson was their favorite uncle.

c. Sam Wilson preffered it.

d. they were nat exactly sure what the letters meant.

Reading compherension No. 11-20

The Alaska pipeline starts at the frozen edge of the Arctic Ocean. It stretches southward across the largest and northernmost state in the United States, ending at a remote ice-free seaport village nearly complicated to operate. The steel pipe crosses windswept plains and endless miles of delicate tundra that tops the frozen ground. It weaves through crooked canyons, climbs sheer mountains, plunges over rocky crags makes its way through thick forests, and passes over or under hundreds of rivers and streams. The pipe is 4 feet in diameter, and up to 2 million barrels (or 84 million gallons) of crude oil can be pumped through it daily.

Resting on H-shaped steel racks called "bents," long sections of the pipeline. Follow a zigzag course high above the frozen earth. Other long sections drop out of sight beneath spongy or rocky ground and return to the surface later on. The of the pipeline's up-and-down route is determined by the often harsh demands of the arctic and subarctic climate, the tortuous lay of the land, and the varied compositions of soil, rock, or permafrost (permanently frozen ground), Atle more than half of the pipeline is elevated above the ground. The remainder is burried anywhere from 3 to 12 feet, depending largely upon the type of terrain and the properties of the soil.

One of the largest in the world, the pipeline cost approximately $8 billions and is by far the biggest and most expensive construction project ever undertaken by private industry. In fact, no single companies formed a consortium in order to share the costs. Each company controlled oil rights to particular shares of land in the oil fields and paid into the pipeline-construction fund according to the size of its holdings. Today, despite enormous problems of climate, supply shortages, equipment breakdowns, labor disagreements treacherous terrain, a certain amount of mismanagement, and even theft, the Alaska pipeline has been completed and is operating.

11. passage primarily discusses the pipeline's...

a. operating costs.

b. employees.

c. consumers.

d. construction.

12. The word "it" in line 4 refers to...

a. Pipeline.

b. Ocean.

c. State.

d. Village.

13. According to the passage, 84 million gallons of oil can travel through the pipeline

each...

a. day.

b. week.

c. month.

d. year.

14. The phrase "resting on" in line 9 is closest in meaning to...

a. Consisting of.

b. Supported by

c. Passing under

d. Protected with.

15. The author mentions all of the following as important in determine pipeline's route EXCEPT the...

a. climate.

b. lay of the land itself.

c. local vegetation.

d. kind of soil and rock.

16. The word "undertaken" in line 18 is closest in meaning to...

a. Removed.

b. Selected.

c. Transported.

d. Attempted.

17. How many companies shared the costs of constructing the pipeline?

a. 3

b. 4

c. 8

d. 12.

18. The word "particular" in line 20 is closest in meaning to...

a. Peculiar.

b. Specific.

c. Exceptional.

d. Equal.

19. Which of the following determined what percentage of the construction cost each member of the consortium would pay?

a. How much oil field land each company owned.

b. How long each company had owned land in the oil fields.

C.How many people worked for each company

D.How many oil wells were located on the company's land.

20. where in the passage does the author provide a term for an earth covering at always remains frozen?

a. Line 3

b. Line 10.

c. Line 15.

d. Line 22.

Reading compherension No. 21-25

The food we eat seems to have profound effect on our health. Although science has made enormous steps in making food more fit to eat, it has, the same time, made many foods unfit to eat. Some research has shouwn that perhaps eighty percents of human illnesses are related to diet and forty percent of cancer is related to the diet as well, especially cancer of the colon. People of different cultures are more prone to contract certain illnesses because of the characteristic foods they consume.

That food is related to illness is not a new discovery. In 1945, government researchers realized that nitrates and nitrites (commonly used to preserve color in meats) as well as other food additives caused cancer. Yet, these carcinogenic additives remain in our food, and it becomes more difficult all the time to know which ingredients on the packaging labels of processed food are helpful or harmfull.

The additives that we eat are not all so direct. Farmers often give peni- dillin to cattle and poultry, and because of this, penicillin has been found in the milk of treated cows. Sometimes similar drugs are administered to animals not or medicinal purposes, but for financial reasons. The farmers are simply trying to fatten the animals in order to obtain a higher price on the market. Although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has tried repeatedly to control these procedures, the practices continue.

A healthy diet is directly related to good health. Often we are un detrimental substances we ingest. Sometimes well-meaning farmer who do not realize the consequences add these substances to food with knowledge.

21. How has science done a disservice to people?

a. Because of science, disease caused by contaminated food has been virtually eradicated.

b. It has caused a lack of information concerning the value

c. As a result of scientific intervention, some potentilly harmful substances have been added to our food.

d. The scientists have preserved the color of meats, but not of vegetables.

22. The word "prone" in line 5 is nearest in meaning to...

a. Supine.

b. Unlikely.

c. Healthy.

d. Predisposed.

23. What are nitrates used for?

a. They preserve flavor in packaged food.

b. They preserve the color of meats

c. They are the objects of research.

d. They cause the animals to become fatter.

24. FDA means...

a. Food Direct Additives.

b. Final Difficult Analisys.

c. Food and Drug Administration.

d. Federal Dairy Additives.

25. The word "these" in line 9 refers to ...

a. Meats.

b. Colors.

c. Researchers.

d. Nitrates and nitrites.

Source:

Yeni Yuniawati S.S. dan Nur Fajriyah S.S. 2013. Mastering TOEFL (TOEFL Preparation). Yogyakarta : Quantum Ilmu.