TOEFL Primary Step 2 Test #49 - Reading

This is the meat from the back or sides of a pig. It is often served in thin slices for us. 

What is this?

This is an apartment or sometimes a set of rooms that is very expensive and comfortable. It is located on the top floor of a hotel or tall building.

What is it?

This building stores important cultural, historical or scientific objects. People can visit this building and see these things.

What is this place?

A place such as an office, shop, restaurant, etc. starts operating or providing a service.

It _____.

You behave or do things in a kind and careful way so that you do not hurt or damage anyone or anything.

You are _____.

This is a child of your aunt or uncle. 

He/She is your _____.

Some kinds of food and drink have a taste similar to that of sugar. 

They are _____.

You are sorting and collecting rubbish in order to treat it and produce useful materials that can be used again.

What are you doing?

This is a long, thin piece of cloth. Men usually wear it with a knot at the front under the shirt collar. 

What is it?

Read the email. Then answer the questions.

Dear Jane,

I am having a terrible time here. First of all, my bed is so uncomfortable that I cannot sleep in it.

It is too hot to do any sightseeing. Moreover, the prices at the shops are shocking! It seems I'm not rich enough to buy anything! And the waves are very rough. I'm not brave enough to swim in the sea and the hotel swimming pool is full of young people. I don't think it is clean enough to go in. As for the hotel itself, it is very noisy in the evening because there is a disco every night! And the food doesn't look good. I'm sure it isn't safe enough to eat. I really can't understand your cousin Betty! She says that she is having a fantastic time!

I'm looking forward to returning to the comfort of my own home.

Love, 

Aunt Agatha

Why can't Aunt Agatha swim during the holiday?

What does Aunt Agatha want to do?

Read the email. Then answer the questions.

Hi Masha,

Sorry, I haven't emailed you for so long. I'm very busy with my studies at the moment.

I have exams next month and I'm worried that I might fail some of them, especially chemistry. I find science very difficult. I sit in for bedroom for hours, reading the textbook, but I don't really understand it.

I think English should be OK, if I don't make any silly mistakes in my writing. I'm hoping for good marks in history and geography.

Please write to me soon.

All the best,

Bella

Why has Bella been busy recently?

Which subject does Bella seem to have less trouble with?

Read the instructions. Then answer the questions.

FIREWORKS IN A JAR

Create your own spectacular miniature fireworks show.

What you will need:

• Large jar
• Small dish or bowl
• Water
• Vegetable oil
• Measuring spoons
• Food coloring
• Fork

How to do it:

• Fill your jar 3/4 of the way with warm water.
• In your small bowl, add 3 to 4 tablespoons of vegetable oil.
• Add a few drops of food coloring to the oil. If you want, you can take your fork and mix the food coloring and oil together. Observe how the oil and food coloring interact - what do you think will happen when you pour this mixture in the jar?
• Take your fireworks mixture and gently pour it into your jar.
• Observe what happens as the mixture settle! Since the oil is less dense than water, it will float on top. The food coloring will sink into the water and begin to dissolve. See if you can make and cool patterns or shapes and put on a cool fireworks show for your friends!

Which item is needed for the experiment?

What will be first put in the bowl?

What happens when you pour the fireworks mixture into the jar?

Read the poster. Then answer the questions.

Which class starts the earliest?

A 9-year-old student cannot attend _____.

Which of the following is TRUE?

Read the story about Megan and then choose the best answer to each question.

Megan could hardly stay in her seat as her dad pulled the car into the parking lot of Coaster Kingdom, the biggest roller coaster park in the state. Today was Megan’s 11th birthday and she was sure she was finally tall enough to ride the scariest coaster, the Dragon. The Dragon’s tracks were made from wood, not metal. Megan knew that wooden tracks were slower than metal ones, but wooden tracks also swayed and creaked, especially on windy days like today.

Megan’s father paid for their tickets, and she excitedly took his hand. She wanted to hurry to the coaster, but her dad was thirsty after the long car ride. They stopped at the food court and shared a frozen lemonade and a warm, sugary churro. After their snack, Megan led her dad to the entrance of the Dragon. A sign shaped like a friendly dragon stood in front of the gate. The dragon was holding one hand up, and the message read, “You must be at least this tall to ride this coaster.” Megan beamed and ran up to the sign. She stood on the tips of her toes and thought tall thoughts. Her father, however, was not smiling.

“I’m sorry, honey,” he said. “Let’s go check out the other rides. There are still plenty of fun things we can do today.” 

What was the Dragon like?

Why did Megan and her dad stop at the food court?

Why did Megan run to the sign in front of the Dragon? 

What did Megan's dad do when she couldn't ride the Dragon? 

Read the story and then choose the best answer to each question.

Marcia woke up early on Saturday. Her twin sister, Carolina, was still asleep in her bed. Marcia tiptoed into the kitchen. The sun was barely peeking over the hills as Marcia gazed out the window and ate her cereal.

After Marcia finished her breakfast, she found her crayons and paper. She drew a picture of Carolina sailing in a small wooden ship on a giant blue ocean. Just as Marcia finished coloring Carolina’s red hair, Marcia heard her sister cry out in surprise. Marcia raced up the stairs and opened the bedroom door to see Carolina sitting in the middle of a tiny boat. The floor and the rest of the room had disappeared. In their place was a wide, blue ocean, just like in the picture that Marcia drew.

“Get me out of here!” Carolina cried. “I’m getting seasick!” Marcia raced downstairs again and looked at her picture. The expression on Carolina’s face in the picture had changed. She was no longer smiling, and her skin was a little green.

Marcia quickly drew a yellow helicopter above Carolina’s bed. She drew a friendly firefighter helping Carolina aboard the helicopter. She even drew a large mug of hot chocolate for Carolina to sip. As soon as she finished drawing, Marcia heard a loud whirring sound upstairs. Marcia smiled and raced to her bedroom once again. 

What did Marcia do before she started to draw?

What did Marcia see when she opened her bedroom door? 

What color is Carolina's hair?

What can we infer about Marcia?

Read and answer the following questions.

For two different weeks each year, millions of TV and computer screens around the world are blank. They are off during Turnoff Week. More people participate every year since it began in 1994. Millions of people all over the world participate in Turnoff Week. The first Turnoff week of the year is in April and the second is in September.

Each year, U.S. kids spend less time in school than they do having "screen time," that is, watching TV and/or using the computer. In fact, the only thing they spend more time doing than viewing TV is sleeping! Studies show that kids who watch too much TV are more likely to have reading problems. The creators of Turnoff Week want us to reduce our screen time, giving us more time to "think, read, create, and do the things we never have time for."

Many kids are surprised at how much there is to do besides watch TV or play on the computer. They do puzzles, read books, and play games. They skate and ride bikes with friends. They play outdoors. Can you live without your favorite TV shows? Find out by joining this year's Turnoff Week.

Source: Daily Warm-ups Reading Grade 3

According to the writer, watching TV too much can lead to children's _____.

How do children feel when they realize they can do a lot of things besides watching TV?

Read and answer the following questions.

No Nest

Most birds make nests for their eggs. Most birds lay on their eggs to keep them warm. Emperor penguins don’t make nests. These penguins live in Antarctica. In Antarctica, the temperature often falls far below freezing. How can the penguins take care of their eggs? How can they keep them warm?

The female Emperor penguin lays one egg. She lays it in the coldest winter months. The male penguin keeps the egg warm. He balances it on his feet. He has a flap of skin that covers the egg. He keeps the egg warm. He never stops balancing it for six long weeks.

When the egg hatches, the mother and father take turns. They take turns carrying the baby penguin on their feet. The chick stays warm under their flaps of skin.

Source: Daily Warm-ups Non-fiction Reading Grade 2

How long does the male balance the egg on its feet?

When does the female Emperor penguin lay one egg?

Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage?

Read the text and answer the following questions.

Is That Stoplight Red or Green? 

Imagine how your life would be if the colors red and green looked the same to you. Some people have a common type of color blindness called red-green color blindness. People with this disorder can see most colors but cannot tell the difference between red and green.

Most people who have color blindness are born with it. It is caused by problems with special cells in the eye called cones. Cones send signals to the brain that help you see colors. People with red-green color blindness do not have enough of the kinds of cones that send red and green signals. Some people have enough cones, but the cones do not work properly and do not send any color signals.

People with red-green color blindness can have otherwise normal vision. Some wear tinted contact lenses that help them see reds and greens better. But people with severe red-green color blindness may not be able to perform certain jobs, such as being an airplane pilot, that require the ability to see all colors clearly.

Currently, there is no cure for color blindness, but new technology may eventually help colorblind people see the world in the same way that most people do. 

The cells in the eye that allow people to see color are called _____.

What job can't people with severe red-green colorblindness do?

Which of these is NOT a cause of colorblindness?