Reading Planet Midterm Exam(Units 1 - Score: / 100

3 5)

Student Name: Class: Date:

Vocabulary:
Part A: Choose the word that best matches the definition (1 point each).
Word Bank (only 5 answers are correct):

overall forward beehive

patrol hatch merge
protest critical excess

1. ______________: to break open, like an egg; to come out of an egg

2. ______________: too much of something

3. ______________: a total; including everything

4. ______________: to say or do something to show you disagree

5. ______________: a structure made for bees to live in; a home for bees

Part B: Choose the word that best completes the sentence (1 point each).
6. Exercising helps _______ unhealthy things from your body.
a. consume
b. transplant
c. resign
d. flush

7. Fire _____________ is very important for any building. This includes fire exits and
extinguishers.
a. durable
b. prevention
c. barrier
d. responsibility

8. Rocks in the ground _________ water and make it safer to use and drink.
a. illegal
b. affectionately
c. filter
d. cultivate

9. That new song on the radio is very _______. Everyone seems to really like it.
a. mainstream
b. diverse
c. complex
d. messy
10. Most of the class thought the English test was really difficult, but I thought __________.
a. dramatically
b. delicately
c. collectively
d. otherwise

11. If a company wants a lot of ____________, then the workers must be motivated to work
hard.
a. trusty
b. organization
c. eligible
d. productivity

12. Some students wish they could spend less time studying, so they could have a better
_________.
a. in contrast
b. social life
c. social structure
d. exhibit

13. The mother quickly ____________ her baby back to heath.

a. volume
b. nursed
c. soldiered
d. sneakers

14. The valuable baseball card was sold at the _________ for $5,000. It’s a very special
card.
a. profile
b. legendary
c. tax
d. auction

15. The weather channel in my town is very __________. They never predict the weather
correctly.
a. deliberately
b. unreliable
c. donor
d. forbidden

16. Susan wasn’t sure who broke her tennis racket, but she ____________ it was Lisa.
a. absorbed
b. maneuvered
c. suspected
d. swatted

17. The girl had an amazing comic book collection, but her ________ comic was the
Superman comic from 1950. It’s very rare and expensive.
a. skinny
b. tiring
c. prized
 d. governed

18. This morning Steve found spray paint on his garage. This type of _________ is very
common in his neighborhood.
a. vandalism
b. rust
c. manufacturing
d. stability

19. The ________ is very sharp. Please be careful when you are using it.
a. creator
b. efficiency
c. blade
d. mural

20. He wanted a ________ frame because the metal frame would always get rusty in the
winter.
a. pollen
b. topical
c. wooden
d. internal

Part C: Choose the SYNONYM ( = ) or ANTONYM ( <-->) for each word (1 point
each).
Word Bank (only 5 answers are correct):

mature rally humorous

toxin oppose fond
blossom indeed amusement

21. very funny = ___________

22. childish; not serious; young <-->____________

23. boredom <-->_____________

24. disagree = ______________

25. poison = _____________

Reading Comprehension & Skills:

Read the passage and answer the questions.
Whoa, what’s that? It’s a naked mole rat! The naked mole rat is certainly one of the
ugliest mammals on the planet. Naked mole rats have tiny eyes, no hair, skinny
legs, and huge teeth that stick out of their mouths. While their appearance alone is
enough to make them interesting, naked mole rats have something else that makes
them fascinating to scientists and students of animal behavior: their social lives.

Although they are mammals, naked mole rats have a social structure that is more
like that of an insect colony. Like bees or ants, there are different types of naked
mole rats and each type has a very specific job. There are mole rat workers, mole
rat drones, and a mole rat queen. Mole rats are the only mammal that live in this
type of group.

Worker mole rats do just what their name suggests—they work. Because mole rats
live in underground burrows, one of the things the worker mole rats are responsible
for is digging the tunnels. They use both their claws and their giant teeth to help
them move the soil. Luckily for mole rats they have special mouths. Their lips
actually seal behind their teeth so they don’t swallow dirt when they are digging.
Questions 26-29. Circle the correct answer (2.5 points each).
26. Which of the following is NOT a type of naked mole rat?(taken from Naked Mole
Rats)
a. mole rat diggers
b. mole rat workers
c. mole rat queen
d. mole rat drones

27. What two things do naked mole rats use to help them dig tunnels?
a. their lips and claws
b. their claws and teeth
c. their mouths and teeth
d. their claws and mouth

28. According to the passage, which statement is true?

a. Naked mole rats have large eyes, no hair, and huge teeth.
b. According to scientists, naked mole rats have boring social lives.
c. Naked mole rats have a similar social structure to insects.
d. Naked mole rat drones have to do all the digging.

29. In line 12, why does the author say “luckily” when talking about naked mole rats?
a. because they have interesting social lives
b. because they live in underground burrows
c. because they have giant teeth to help with digging
d. because they have special mouths

Question 30. Read the statement and check Fact or Opinion (5 points).
30. Read each statement and check fact or opinion.
Fact Opinio
n
1 Naked mole rats have interesting social lives.
2 Naked mole rats have specific jobs.
3 Naked mole rats are the only animals to live in a
colony.
4 Naked mole rats are very ugly animals.
5 Worker naked mole rats do work, like digging tunnels.

Read the passage and answer the questions.

One of the most significant technological developments in all of human history is a
tool used for digging into the dirt. That may sound strange, but it’s true! That tool is
the plow. A plow is a tool for farming and it has been used for a very long time. In
the course of human history, the invention of the plow has been very significant
because it has greatly increased the productivity of farmers.

A plow is a big blade that farmers use to prepare the ground for planting. The
earliest plows, probably developed around 8,000 years ago, were very simple. They
were made entirely of wood and had two parts, the frame and the blade. The frame,
which was hitched to an ox, held the blade at a ninety-degree angle to the soil. The
farmer walked behind the plow and the ox and pushed the blade down into the
ground.

Plows were a great invention because they were much easier to use than hoes. A
hoe is a blade attached to a long handle that is also used to prepare soil for
planting. If you’ve ever used a hoe, you know that it’s hard and tiring work. In
contrast, a plow is pulled through the earth by either an animal or a machine.
Questions 31-34. Circle the correct answer (2.5 points each).
31. According to the passage, what did most people use before the plow was invented?
a. ox
b. a hoe (taken from Plowing
c. a blade Ahead)
d. long handles

32. Why was the invention of the plow very significant?

a. It allowed farmers to get help from ox.
b. It forced people to stop using hoes.
c. It increased the productivity of farmers.
d. It made digging in dirt easier for farmers.

33. In line 15, what does “cultivate” mean?

a. to use land for growing plants
b. to use people to plant seeds
c. to sell food to other people
d. to make food using plants

34. Which statement about ox is true?

a. the ox invented the plow for farmers to use
b. the ox is attached to the blade of the plow
c. the ox is attached to the frame of the plow
d. the ox helps to push down the blade into the ground

Question 35. Write a short answer to the question/statement (5 points).

35. According to the passage, what are three ways a plow is different than a hoe for
farming?

Read the passage and answer the questions.

Banksy is one of the most acclaimed artists of the 21st century. Having found fame
for his humorous and topical graffiti art, he has branched out in to other art forms
too. However, unlike most artists who achieve his level of popularity, he is not a
celebrity. In fact, he works hard to ensure his identity remains a mystery to the
world.

Like most graffiti, much of Banksy’s work is done illegally. Therefore, he must hide
his identity to avoid police attention. We know very few facts about Banksy’s
background, but it is thought that he was born in 1974 in Bristol, England. Banksy is
very secretive indeed. In an interview with the British newspaper The Guardian, he
claimed that even his parents were not aware of his work, and that they thought he
was a painter and decorator*!

Banksy often uses his graffiti to express political ideas. One of Banksy’s most
infamous pieces can be seen on the Palestinian side of Israel’s West Bank barrier.
The West Bank barrier is a controversial wall that separates Israel from the West
Bank. Banksy painted a hole in the wall with a picture of an idyllic beach paradise
Questions 36-39. Circle the correct answer (2.5 points
(takeneach).
from A Mysterious
Artist)
36. Why does Banksy have to hide his identity?
a. because his parents would be very mad at him
b. because graffiti is illegal
c. because not everybody likes his graffiti
d. because he wants to sell his artwork

37. What is the West Bank barrier?

a. An area where Banksy enjoys doing graffiti.
b. A wall that helps to hide Banksy’s identity.
c. A wall in Palestine that has a bank near it.
d. A wall that separates Israel and the West Bank.

38. In line 2, what does “branched out” mean?

a. to try something new
b. to keep doing the same thing
c. to help other people with your work
d. to put graffiti on tree branches

39. What is one way Banksy often uses his graffiti?

a. to get in trouble with police
b. to hide his identity
c. to express political ideas
d. to remind the world about Israel

Question 40. Complete the chart. Match the word with the description that
matches (5 points).
40.
Word(s) Descriptions
① Bristol, England • •ⓐ Banksy’s identity
② The Guardian • •ⓑ jobs Banksy’s parents thinks he has
③ Painter and • •ⓒ where Banksy painted a beach on a
Decorator • •wall
④ West Bank • •ⓓ a British newspaper that interviewed
⑤ a mystery Banksy
ⓔ where Banksy was born in 1974

Read the passage and answer the questions.

The liver is the largest internal organ in your body. It’s reddish in color and wedge-
shaped, and it plays a vital role in your body’s internal chemical processes. It is
located behind your lower ribs, and its functions are critical to keeping you healthy
and alive. Your liver is like a nonstop chemical processing factory, cleansing your
body of harmful chemicals and helping to process your food.

Among its many important roles, your liver has three main functions. Firstly, it is
the main organ for detoxifying any harmful material that enters your system.
Harmful materials, known as toxins, have many ways of entering your body. Some
toxins are produced when your digestive system breaks down certain foods. At
other times, we accidentally consume toxins by swallowing nonfood items, or
eating food that has gone bad. Many people even consume toxins deliberately in
the form of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs. Your liver processes these substances
and enables them to be removed from your body.

Secondly, the liver produces an important digestive liquid called bile. Bile breaks
down fats in the food you eat. It also allows your body to absorb fat and carries any
waste into the small intestine. Bile is a fluid that prevents the stomach from
becoming too acidic. The components of bile also kill any bacteria that may be
Questions 41-44. Circle the correct answer (2.5 points each).
41. In line 3, why does the author mention a nonstop chemical processing factory?
(taken
a. to describe the role and functions of the liver from You Can’t Live Without Your
Liver)
b. to describe how the liver works long hours
c. to describe why people need livers
d. to describe where the liver is made

42. Where is the liver located?

a. in your body’s internal chemical process
b. inside a processing factory
c. in a reddish wedge-shaped area
d. behind your lower ribs

43. According to the passage, which statement is NOT true about bile?
a. it allows your body to absorb fat
b. it can kill bacteria found in food
c. it allows the stomach to become acidic
d. it breaks down fats in food

44. Which is NOT a common way toxins enter our systems?

a. consuming alcohol or drugs
b. eating food that is fresh
c. accidentally consuming nonfood items
d. produced after food is broken down

Question 45. Complete the chart (5 points).

45. Read each statement. Fill in the missing parts with word(s) from the word bank.
digestive liquid any bacteria, present fluid, too acidic
absorb fat, any waste food you eat

The Role of Bile

The liver produces bile, which is a (1) _______________________. Bile breaks down fats
in the

(2) _____________________________. It is also a (3) __________________ that prevents the

stomach from becoming __________________. Bile allows your body to (4)

_______________

and carries ___________________________ to the small intestine. Finally, bile is able to

kill

(5) ____________________________ that may be _____________________________in food.

Read the passage and answer the questions.
When the dust settled after the Second World War, Germany was left occupied by four
conquering nations: France, Britain, the US, and the Soviet Union. Because of their
political differences, there was a lot of tension between the British, French, and the
Americans, who occupied the western half of Germany, and the Soviets, who occupied
the eastern half. In May 1949, the three western powers merged their sections to form
West Germany. In reaction to that, the Soviets created the German Democratic
Republic on October 7th, 1949.

The GDR, or East Germany as it was more commonly called, was modeled after the
Soviet Union. It was governed by one party, the Socialist Unity Party, from Berlin. The
country was made up of 6 states in the north-east part of the Soviet occupied zone. It
bordered Poland, Czechoslovakia, and West Germany.

The East German government tried to rally its people to the communist cause. Art and
architecture reflected the state’s policy to show strong, happy people working
together for the good of the nation. However, it soon became clear that the country
had not yet developed into what its leaders had intended. (taken from East and
Questions 46-49. Circle the correct answer (2.5 points each). West)
46. What happened to Germany after the end of World War 2?
a. was occupied by four countries
b. it became a part of the Soviet Union
c. many people left Germany to find a new home
d. it lost a lots of resources, such as food and land

47. In 1949, which three countries merged to form West Germany?

a. Germany, Soviet Union, and the USA
b. Britain, Germany, and France
c. West Germany, East Germany, and Soviet Union
d. France, the USA, and Britain

48. In line 8, which country is “the country” referring to?

a. Berlin
b. Soviet Union
c. East Germany
d. Poland

49. Why did the East German government try to rally its people?
a. to get them to believe in the communist cause
b. to get them excited about art and architecture
c. to get people happy to be working again
d. to explain to the people what communism is

Question 50. Write a short answer to the question/statement (5 points).

50. In your own words, describe what happened to Germany in May of 1949.
 Reading Planet 3 Midterm Exam
(Units 1 - 5)

Answer Sheet

Vocabulary:
Part A: Choose the word that best matches the definition (1 point each).
1 hatch 2 excess 3 overall 4 protest 5 beehive

B. Choose the word that best completes the sentence (1 point each).
6 d 7 b 8 c 9 a 1 d
0
1 d 1 b 1 b 14 d 1 b
1 2 3 5
1 c 1 c 1 a 19 c 2 c
6 7 8 0

C. Synonyms (=) and Antonyms (<-->)

2 humorous 2 childish; young;
very funny = <--> mature
1 2 not serious
2 amusemen 2
boredom <--> disagree = oppose
3 t 4
2 toxin
poison =
5

Reading Comprehension & Skills:

Questions 26-29. Circle the correct answer (2.5 points each):
2 a 2 b 2 c 2 d
6 7 8 9

Question 30. Check Fact or Opinion (5 points):

1 O 2 F 3 F 4 O 5 F

Questions 31-34. Circle the correct answer (2.5 points each):

3 b 3 c 3 a 3 c
1 2 3 4

Question 35. Short answer (5 points):

(Answers may vary)
- Plows have a blade and a frame. They also use animals, while a hoe is used only by a
person. Finally,
a lot more work can be done in a short amount of time with a plow.

Questions 36-39. Circle the correct answer (2.5 points each):

3 b 3 d 3 a 3 c
6 7 8 9

Question 40. Complete the chart (5 points):

1 – e
2 – d
3 – b
4 – c
5 – a

Questions 41-44. Circle the correct answer (2.5 points each):

4 a 4 d 4 c 4 b
1 2 3 4

Question 45. Complete the Chart (5 points):

Fill in the missing parts on the blanks.
(1) digest liquid
(2) food you eat
(3) fluid, too acidic
(4) absorb fat, any waste
(5) any bacteria, present

Questions 46-49. Circle the correct answer (2.5 points each):

4 a 4 d 4 c 4 a
6 7 8 9

Question 50. Short answer (5 points):

(Answers may vary)
-Germany was divided into two parts. France, Britain, and the USA took control of West
Germany. While, the Soviet Union took control of East Germany.

- Reading Planet Midterm and Final Test Grading Rubric -

Points available by test:
Vocabulary 25 points
Reading 75 points
Comprehension &
Skills
Total 100 points

Break down by question type:

Vocabulary
Question type Number of Point Value Total
Questions Points Available
Definition 5 1 5
Sentence completion 15 1 15
Synonym and antonym matching 5 1 5
25

Reading Comprehension and Skills

Question type Number of Point Value Total
Questions Points Available
Multiple Choice 20 2.5 50
Graphic Organizer or Short Answer 5 5 25
75