TOEFL Primary Step 2 Test #24 - Reading

I did not mean to break my sister's phone but she is still very _____.

This is a picture, a short film or a song that tries to persuade people to buy a product and usually appears among scenes in the films or TV programs. What is this?

You like taking pictures for others as a hobby or do this as a main job. What do you do?

This is a kind of natural water from underground that is believed to be good for your health. What kind of water is this?

This is a food that is made from wheat and eaten with milk, especially in the morning. What kind of food is this?

This is a piece of electronic equipment used for listening to music or news. What is this?

This is a book used in school containing text and questions, and sometimes having spaces for a student to write answers in. What is this?

This is a special event or period when there are many activities or food, for example, Mid-Autumn. What is this?

When you do not need some documents on your laptop anymore, you will _____ them to free up space.

Read the letter. And answer the questions.

Dear Jane,

I have got your letter yesterday. Can you imagine how happy I am? I have come to know that you have enjoyed your New Year vacation very much. I also enjoyed my vacation as I went on a trip with my family. It was a 5-day trip to Kilimanjaro National Park in Tanzania. It is famous for conserving one-horned rhinoceros. The forest was dense. We stayed in a guest house which had many hut-like rooms. The forest was all around. We visited the park in the authorized jeep. We saw one-horned rhinos and many other animals from very close. I was so excited. It was a thrilling trip. I suggest you visit any of the sanctuaries. I shall be waiting for your reply. 

Your pal,

Fiona.

Why is Fiona writing to Jane?

What animal did Fiona mention the most through the text?

Read the letter. And answer the questions.

Dear Parents,

The exams of your children are to start soon. I know you are all really anxious for your child to do well.

But, please do remember, amongst the students who will be sitting for the exams there is an artist, who does not need to understand Math. There is an entrepreneur, who does not care about History or English literature. There is a musician, whose Chemistry marks will not matter. There is an athlete, whose physical fitness is more important than Physics. If your child does get top marks, that is great! But if he or she does not, please don’t take away their self-confidence and dignity from them. Tell them it’s OK, it’s just an exam! They are cut out for much bigger things in life. Tell them, no matter what they score, you love them and will not judge them.

One exam or a low mark will not take away their dreams and talent. 

With warm regards,

Principal.

What does the principal want to tell parents?

What can be learned from the letter of the principal?

Read the instructions. Then answer the questions.

Color Swirling Milk Experiment

What you will need:

1. Milk (about 2%)

2. Dish soap

3. Food coloring (use multiple colors!)

4. Cotton swab (such as a Q-tip)

5. Dish or bowl for milk (make sure sides are over an inch tall)

How to make:

Step 1: Pour a little of the milk into a dish or bowl.

Step 2: Drop food coloring into milk, making sure to spread the drops out and colors are not the same.

Step 3: Dip cotton swab into dish soap.

Step 4: Run a cotton swab along the top of the milk and food coloring, swirling it around the dish. Because dish soap and milk do not mix, the dish soap move along the top of the milk, mixing the food coloring like magic!

Which object is necessary for this experiment?

What do you need to do first?

Why does the dish soap move along the top of the milk?

Read the announcement. Then answer the questions.

Student Volunteers Needed!

On Saturday, July 9th, from 10 A.M until 3 P.M, Autumn School will be holding a music festival in the school gymnasium. The special event will feature a variety of professional musicians and singers.

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.

What time will the festival begin?

The word "feature" is closest in meaning to ______.

What will be done the day before the festival begins?

Who is told to talk to Ms. Braxton?

Read the story. And answer the questions.

Once upon a time, there lived a woodcutter, his wife and seven children. They were poor and lived cottage in the middle of the woods. One day, the woodcutter said to Victor, his eldest child: "My son, you are a big boy now. You have to stop studying to help me cut wood for I am getting old. I have no means to support your education any further."

Victor, the smartest and the most sensible child in the family said, "Father, you have raised me and given me what you could. I will surely do as you say."

Victor stopped going to school and helped his father to cut wood. However, even though he stopped schooling, he never stopped learning.

He continued to study on his own at home with the help of his kind teacher who taught him for free.

Victor grew up to be a great man. He became the best doctor and his family no longer had to worry about their livelihood.

How many children are there in the woodcutter's family?

Victor was the _____ child in the family.

Why did Victor stop schooling?

What did Victor become when he grew up?

Read the story. And answer the questions.

May was in a supermarket. She had to buy some food as she had invited her friends to her house for dinner. May was busy choosing some snacks when she heard someone sobbing behind her. She turned around and saw a little girl crying.

"Hey there, what's wrong?" May asked the little girl, trying to sound as comforting as possible.

The little girl replied, "I lost my mommy. I want my mommy."

Comforting the girl, May said, "Don't worry. We'll find your mommy together. Do you know her phone number?"

The girl nodded, and May quickly dialed the number on her mobile phone. The little girl's mother answered, her voice filled with worry.

"Hi, I found your daughter at the supermarket. Don't worry, she's safe with me," May assured her.

Within minutes, the little girl's mother rushed to the scene, relieved to see her daughter safe. She hugged the girl tightly and thanked May for her kindness.

With a shy smile, May said, "It was no problem at all. I'm glad she's okay now."

As May continued her shopping, she felt a warm sense of happiness because she had helped a little girl reunite with her mother.

Why was May shopping at the supermarket?

Why was the little girl crying in the supermarket?

What did May do to help the little girl?

How did May feel after helping the little girl?

Read the story. And answer the questions.

Tim and his little sister, Sarah, were excited on the way to their grandparents' farm. It was a beautiful sunny day, perfect for a day in the countryside. When they arrived, Tim's grandparents warmly welcomed them.

"Welcome, my dear family! We're so happy to have you here," said Grandma with a big smile.

Tim and Sarah couldn't wait to explore the farm. They helped with various tasks. They fed the cows, pigs, and chickens, and picked fresh fruits and vegetables from the garden.

"Wow, look at all these delicious tomatoes!" Tim exclaimed, as he picked a ripe red one from the vine. "I can't wait to eat them in our salad tonight."

"That's the spirit, Tim!" Grandma said, smiling. "We work hard on the farm, but we also get to enjoy the fruits of our labor."

As the day went on, Tim and Sarah saw how the animals were cared for, and how the crops were grown. They even got to try their hand at milking a cow.

"This is so much fun!" Sarah said, as she tried to milk a cow for the first time. "I never knew it was so hard!"

"That's the truth," Grandpa said, chuckling. "Farming is hard work, but it's also incredibly rewarding. There's nothing quite like eating a meal that you grew and raised yourself."

As the day came to a close, along with their grandparents, Tim and Sarah sat down to a delicious meal. They talked and laughed, enjoying a great time. 

What was the weather like when Tim and Sarah arrived at the farm?

What did Tim and Sarah NOT do at their grandparents' farm?

What did Tim pick from the garden?

What did Tim and Sarah learn about farming?

Read the text. And answer the questions.

Madagascar – When to go

Madagascar has two seasons, a warm, wet season from November to April, and a cooler dry season between May and October. However, different parts of the country have very different weather.

The east coast is hotter and wetter, with up to 4000mm of rainfall per year. In the rainy season, there are strong winds, and these can cause a lot of damage. Avoid visiting eastern Madagascar between January and March because the weather can make road travel very difficult.  The dry season is cooler and more pleasant.

The high, central part of the country is much drier and cooler. About 1,400 mm of rain falls in the rainy season, with some thunderstorms, but the summer is usually sunny and dry, but it can be cold, especially in the mornings, with freezing showers, and it may snow in mountain areas above 2,400m, and even stay there for several days.

What are the two seasons in Madagascar?

When shouldn't people visit eastern Madagascar?

Read the text. Then answer the questions.

Mars, sometimes called the red planet, is the fourth planet from the sun. Its surface is made up of iron, which is why it looks red. Mars is only about half of the size of Earth and is too cold for humans to live on, although in some parts of Mars, it can be warm during the day. Like Earth, Mars has been found to have ice at its north and south poles. Unlike Earth, Mars has not one, but two moons! Its moons are named Phobos and Deimos. Mars is also the home of Olympus Mons, the highest mountain in the solar system. It is three times higher than the highest mountain on Earth. 

How are Earth and Mars alike?

What is true about Olympus Mons?