READTHEORY

TEACHING STUDENTS TO READ AND THINK CRITICALLY

®

Level 8 Samples
3 Reading Comprehension Assessments

[Link]

For exciting updates, offers, and other helpful information, follow us on Facebook at
[Link]/ReadTheory and Twitter at [Link]/ReadTheory.

Comprehension materials similar to those featured in this workbook are available online at
[Link] -- an interactive teaching tool where students can take reading comprehension
quizzes, earn achievements, enter contests, track their performance, and more. Supplementary materials
to this workbook are available in printable worksheet form at [Link].

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

Reproduction and or duplication on websites, creation of digital or online quizzes or tests, publication on
intranets, and or use of this publication for commercial gain is strictly prohibited.

Use of this publication is restricted to the workbook purchaser and his or her students. This publication
and its contents are non-transferrable between teachers.

All materials in our publications, such as graphics, text, and logos are the property of Read Theory LLC
and are protected by United States and international copyright laws.

© Copyright Read Theory LLC, 2012. All rights reserved.

READTHEORY
Name________________
Date________________
• Reading Comprehension Sample 8.1

Directions: Read the passage. Then answer the questions below.

Author’s Purpose

Have you ever wondered why authors write? Sometimes they are
inspired to create stories. Other times they write to provide information about
an interesting topic. Some authors write to convince us about something.
Whatever the circumstances, authors have reasons for writing; this is called,
the “author’s purpose.” The three most common types of author’s purpose
are: to entertain, to inform, and to persuade.

Think about the last time a story made you laugh, cry, or tremble with
fright. These types of stories are written with a particular purpose in mind: to
entertain the reader. Authors write many kinds of stories to entertain,
including humorous fiction, realistic fiction, fantasy, fairy tales, and fables.
While fiction entertains, non-fiction has a different purpose.

Many non-fiction writings or texts are written with the purpose of giving information about an
interesting topic. Authors who write to inform must research their subject to ensure that they convey
accurate information to the reader. Some examples of texts that inform are encyclopedia entries, news
articles, expository non-fiction books, and interviews. All of these types of writing give information about
certain topics.

Sometimes authors write because they want to convince their readers about something. This is
called argumentative, or persuasive, writing. Oftentimes, texts that are meant to persuade use specific
techniques to make the reader care about the subject, and to think about it in a certain way. These
techniques might be found in letters to the editor, argumentative essays, or persuasive speeches.

Next time you read a text, see if you can figure what the author is trying to tell you. It might be
easier than you think. Just ask yourself: what is the author’s purpose?

© Copyright Read Theory LLC, 2012. All rights reserved. 2

Questions

1) Which of the following is most likely the title of a passage in which the author’s purpose is to
entertain?

A. Why Dogs are Smarter than Cats

B. An Interview with J.K. Rowling
C. The Adventures of Waldo Wizard
D. An Argument for Shorter Classes

2) According to the passage, authors who write to inform want to

A. provide information about a certain topic

B. make the reader laugh, cry, or scream
C. convince the reader to do something
D. invite the reader to critique their work

3) The author’s purpose in writing this passage is

A. to persuade
B. to convince
C. to entertain
D. to inform

4) Based on its use in paragraph 3, it can be understood that the word convey belongs to which of the
following word groups?

A. document, chronicle, note

B. communicate, pass on, relay
C. hide, obscure, cover
D. detect, locate, discover

5) Imagine that Bill’s favorite thing to read is the “Letters to the Editor” section of his local newspaper, in
which readers submit letters to the editor that are intended to make the editor think about something
in a certain way. Using the information in the passage, it can be understood that Bill likes to read
passages whose authors' purpose is to

A. correct the other doctors’ mistakes

B. let everyone use the system she created
C. keep trying until she found something that worked
D. question the accepted way of doing things

6) According to the passage, texts that are meant to persuade often

A. do not get as much attention as texts that entertain or inform

B. are very entertaining because they convince readers to laugh
C. use specific techniques to make the reader care about the subject
D. require a lot of research in order to ensure accuracy of information

© Copyright Read Theory LLC, 2012. All rights reserved. 3

READTHEORY
Name________________
Date________________
• Reading Comprehension Sample 8.2

Directions: Read the passage. Then answer the questions below.

The Miniatures

As Emma hurried through the Art Institute of

Chicago’s entrance, she became giddy with excitement.
She simply could not wait to revisit her favorite gallery
from her childhood. Although there were other reasons
for her trip to Chicago (namely her best friend’s
wedding), Emma knew that visiting the Thorne Miniature
Rooms was what she looked forward to most.

This was her first visit to the Art Institute in

nearly two decades. It was her first visit as an adult and
the first time she was going to the museum with her
husband, Paolo.

When she had told Paolo about her favorite exhibit, he had mocked her. He asked why any
grown woman would possibly want to waste her time looking at toys.

“They aren’t ‘toys,’” she said. “The exhibit is a series of small rooms modeled after European and
American interiors from the past three centuries. Everything in the rooms is a scale model of furniture and
décor from their particular time period. They’re just like real rooms, but 1/12th the size!”

“That sounds like dollhouse furniture.” Paolo replied. “So how are they not toys?”

“Well, for one thing, there are no dolls in the rooms. And second, they are handcrafted, beautiful
pieces. And third, they’re behind glass. And finally,” Emma added with a smile, “you can’t play with them,
so they must not be toys.”

Upon entering the gallery room, Emma rushed to show Paolo her favorite room—the one
modeled after a lobby of a home in Tennessee from 1835. The walls were painted to depict a peaceful
garden. The spiral stairway in the back gave the illusion that the miniature world extended beyond what
Emma could see. Emma had spent hours of her youth imagining what went on in the nonexistent upstairs
of the house. But now, as an adult, she was not lost in the fantasy of what happened beyond the
miniature. Instead, she found herself moved by how real the tiny world in front of her looked. The artist’s
attention to detail was amazing; all of the furniture looked so real it was hard to believe that tiny people
did not actually live in the exhibit.

Paolo too was touched. Once he saw the rooms with his own eyes, he no longer needed an
explanation. The pieces were clearly not toys—they were a strange combination of art and history, all in
miniature.

© Copyright Read Theory LLC, 2012. All rights reserved. 4

Questions

1) According to the passage, before seeing the miniatures himself, Paolo thought

A. he and Emma should go to her friend’s wedding instead of the museum

B. Emma should stop trying to relive her childhood
C. Emma was foolish for wanting to see them
D. he and Emma had different tastes in art exhibits

2) The fourth paragraph mostly serves to

A. provide important information about the main topic of the passage

B. introduce Emma’s point of view on the main topic of the passage
C. argue that the miniatures in the museum do not belong on display
D. explain why Paolo is misguided in the belief he has held throughout the passage

3) According to the passage, Emma’s favorite miniature room

A. also contains models of tiny people alongside the furniture

B. contains a staircase
C. has plain-looking walls
D. is modeled after a modern house in Tennessee

4) Which of the following provides the best description of how Emma viewed the Thorne rooms?

A. As a child, she could only wonder what she couldn’t see in the rooms, but as an adult, she knows
that the rooms do not actually continue beyond the glass.
B. As a child, she was not impressed with how lifelike they appear, but as an adult, she is very
impressed by their lifelikeness.
C. As a child, she could stare at them for hours, but as an adult, she only wanted to glance at them
quickly.
D. As a child, she was impressed by what she could not see, but as an adult, she is more impressed
by what she can see.

5) As used in paragraph 7, the word illusion most nearly describes something that

A. seems to resemble real life but on a smaller scale

B. is considered to be art
C. appears different from how it actually is
D. is handcrafted and beautiful looking

© Copyright Read Theory LLC, 2012. All rights reserved. 5

READTHEORY
Name________________
Date________________
• Reading Comprehension Sample 8.3

Directions: Read the passage. Then answer the questions below.

Deborah Sampson
Today more than 200,000 women serve in the United States military. But
women were not always allowed to join the military. The first woman to serve in the
United States Army was Deborah Sampson. Even though Sampson served in the
1780s, well before women were allowed to join the army, no one was surprised to see
a woman on the battlefield. This is because no one knew that she was actually a
woman.

Using the name "Robert Shurtlieff," Deborah Sampson dressed as a man and
enlisted in the Continental Army, which was the name of the American forces fighting against the British
in the Revolutionary War. Sampson fought her first battle on July 3, 1782 in Tarrytown, New York. During
this battle, Sampson was wounded. She had two musket balls—which are similar to large bullets—in her
thigh and a large cut on her forehead. Although she begged her fellow soldiers to let her die on the
battlefield, they refused and took her to the hospital instead.

The doctors at the hospital treated her forehead, but Sampson left before they could tend to her
thigh wounds. Because Sampson was afraid that a doctor might discover her secret identity, she decided
to remove the musket balls herself. Using a penknife and sewing needles, Sampson cut one of the balls
out of her thigh and sewed up the wound. The other musket ball was too deep for her to reach. These
injuries prevented her from returning to the battlefield. Instead of fighting with other soldiers, Sampson
was given a position as an assistant to General John Patterson.

In the summer of 1783, Sampson got very sick with a fever. She was brought to a hospital and
was helped by a doctor named Barnabus Binney. As he treated Sampson for her fever, Dr. Binney
noticed that she was a woman. Sampson explained that she had dressed as a man so that she could
serve her country, and Dr. Binney promised to keep her secret. He brought Sampson home to his wife
and daughters, who nursed her back to health.

After the war ended in the fall of 1783, Sampson was sent home from the army with the rest of
the soldiers. When she returned home, she got married and became a mother of four children. Eight
years after the war was over, she asked the Massachusetts State Legislature to give her the money they
owed her for her military service. When they found out that there was no "Robert Shurtlieff," the
government refused to pay, stating that women could not serve in the military and therefore could not get
paid. After delivering a series of speeches and writing many petitions, Sampson convinced the
government that she deserved to be paid for her service, even though she was a woman. Sampson was
eventually successful, and she became the first woman to receive payment for service in the military.

Sampson died at the age of 66 and was buried in Sharon, Massachusetts. In honor of her bravery
and determination, the city of Sharon placed a statue of her in front of the public library. They also named
a street and a park after her. Although it took many years for women to be allowed to serve in the armed
forces legally, the courageous actions of Deborah Sampson paved the way for modern military women.

Sources:
American Women's History by Doris Weatherford, Prentice Hall General Reference, 1994.
The Book of Women's Firsts: Breakthrough Achievements of Almost 1,000 American Women by Phyllis J. Read and Bernard L. Witlieb, Random House, 1992
Herstory. Women Who Changed the World, edited by Ruth Ashby and Deborah Gore Ohrn, Viking, 1995. Sampson story by Deborah Gore Ohrn.
Image by The My Hero Project [Link]

© Copyright Read Theory LLC, 2012. All rights reserved. 6

Questions

1) This passage would most likely be found in 6) The author’s attitude towards Deborah
Sampson can best be described as
A. a scholarly journal entry about military
strategy A. admiring
B. a brochure designed to convince women B. critical
to join the army C. amused
C. an atlas commentary about Sharon, D. inquisitive
Massachusetts
D. an encyclopedia article about Deborah 7) As used in the final paragraph, what is the
Sampson best antonym for courageous?

2) As used in paragraph 2, which is the A. unknown

best synonym for refused? B. unlikeable
C. cowardly
A. declined D. frightening
B. disagreed
C. denied 8) If the author wanted to include information
D. disgraced about how Sampson met her husband, this
information should be inserted in
3) It can be understood that Sampson "begged
her fellow soldiers to let her die on the A. paragraph 3
battlefield" because she did not want B. paragraph 4
C. paragraph 5
A. any of her fellow soldiers to be injured D. paragraph 6
trying to save her
B. to reinforce the stereotype that women
are weak and should not be allowed to
fight
C. someone at the hospital to discover her
true identity
D. to be shamed with dishonor for failing to
die on the battlefield

4) Dr. Barnabus Binney can best be described

as

A. nervous
B. secretive
C. understanding
D. rebellious

5) According to the passage, how many

children did Sampson have?

A. 4
B. 5
C. 6
D. 9

© Copyright Read Theory LLC, 2012. All rights reserved. 7

READTHEORY Answers and Explanations

Sample 8.1
1) C
Question Type: Global
In paragraph 2, the author writes, “Authors write many kinds of stories to entertain, including humorous fiction, realistic fiction,
fantasy, fairy tales, and fables.” We can tell that a passage titled The Adventures of Waldo Wizard is a fantasy story, fable, or a fairy
tale. The word adventure lets us know this is a story, and since wizards are not real, we can tell that this story could be classified as
a fantasy, fairy tale or fable. Since the author writes that these types of stories entertain, we can tell that The Adventures of Waldo
Wizard is most likely the title of a passage in which the author’s main purpose is to entertain. This means (C) is correct. We can tell
that the title Why Dogs are Smarter than Cats is making an argument. This is because the author seems to believe that dogs are
smarter than cats. The title indicates that the author will make this argument in the rest of the passage. This lets us know that this
would be the title of a passage in which the author’s main purpose is to persuade, not to entertain. Therefore (A) is incorrect. In
paragraph 3, the author writes, “Some examples of texts that inform are encyclopedia entries, news articles, expository non-fiction
books, and interviews.” Using this information, we can tell that a passage titled An Interview with J.K. Rowling is an interview, which
means that the author’s purpose is to inform. This means that An Interview with J.K. Rowling is not the title of a passage in which
the author’s main purpose is to entertain, so (B) is incorrect. We can tell that the title An Argument for Shorter Classes is meant to
argue, or persuade, because the phrase, an argument, in the title lets us know that this passage will make an argument. Using this
information, we can tell that An Argument for Shorter Classes is not the title of a passage in which the author’s main purpose is to
entertain. This means (D) is incorrect.

2) A
Question Type: Detail
To answer this detail question correctly, we need to find where the author discusses writing to inform in the passage. A good way to
do this is to scan the topic sentence of each paragraph, since this sentence will likely tell us what information can be found in the
rest of that paragraph. The topic sentence of paragraph 3 reads: "Many non-fiction writings or texts are written with the purpose of
giving information about an interesting topic." This lets us know that the details we are looking for can likely be found in paragraph 3.
In paragraph 3, the author writes, “All of these types of writing give information about certain topics.” Since the “types of writing” the
author is referring to here are meant to inform, we can tell that authors who write to inform want to provide information about a
certain topic. Therefore (A) is correct. In paragraph 2, the author writes, “Think about the last time a story made you laugh, cry, or
tremble with fright. These types of stories are written…to entertain the reader.” This lets us know that authors who write to inform do
not necessarily want to make the reader laugh, cry, or scream. This means (B) is incorrect. In paragraph 4, the author writes,
“Sometimes authors write because they want to convince their readers about something. This is called argumentative, or
persuasive, writing.” This lets us know that authors who write to inform do not necessarily want to convince the reader to do
something. Therefore (C) is incorrect. The passage does not provide any information to support choice (D). Therefore it is incorrect.

3) D
Question Type: Global
At the end of paragraph 1, the author writes, “Whatever the circumstances, authors have reasons for writing; this is called, the
‘author’s purpose.’ The three most common types of author’s purpose are: to entertain, to inform, and to persuade.” This lets us
know that the author will explain the concept of “author’s purpose” in this passage. In the next three paragraphs, the author informs
us about each of the three types of author’s purpose mentioned in the quotation above. In paragraph 3, the author writes, “Many
non-fiction writings or texts are written with the purpose of giving information [or to inform the reader] about an interesting topic.”
Since the author informs us about “author’s purpose” in this passage, we can tell that the author’s purpose in writing this passage is
to inform, so (D) is correct. If the author’s purpose in writing this passage was to persuade, we would be able to identify an argument
made in this passage. Since the author is not making an argument, or trying to convince us of anything—instead, he or she is
informing us—we can tell that the author’s purpose in writing this passage is not to persuade. This means (A) is incorrect. If the
author’s purpose in writing this passage was to convince, we should be able to identify something that the author is trying to
convince us of. Since the author never tries to convince us of anything—instead, he or she informs us—we can tell that the author’s
purpose in writing this passage is not to convince. Therefore (B) is incorrect. If the author’s purpose in writing this passage was to
entertain, this passage would most likely be a story, instead of nonfiction. It would have the purpose of making us “laugh, cry, or
tremble with fright.” Since this passage does not do this, we can tell that the author’s purpose in writing it is not to entertain. This
means (C) is incorrect.

4) B
Question Type: Vocabulary
convey (verb): to make an idea, impression, or feeling known or understandable to someone.
In paragraph 3, the author writes, “Authors who write to inform must research their subject to ensure that they convey accurate
information to the reader.” We can use context clues—hints from known words or phrases around the unknown word or phrase—to
help us figure out what convey most nearly means. If authors who write to inform must research their subject so that they convey
accurate information to the reader, we can tell that convey must mean something like to pass on, or make something known,
because authors write so that readers get the story or information they are writing about. Using this information, we can tell that we
are looking for the word group that contains words that mean something like to make an idea, information, or story known to
someone else. Communicate, pass on, and relay all mean to make an idea, information, or story known to someone else. This lets
us know that convey belongs to the word group containing these words, and (B) is correct. Using the above information, we can tell
that convey means to make an idea, information, or a story known to someone else. Document, chronicle, and note mean to write
down or tell something for personal use. They do not necessarily mean to pass on to someone else. Because these words do not
have definitions that imply another person, but convey does, we can tell that convey does not belong to the word group containing
document, chronicle, and describe. Therefore (A) is incorrect. Using the above information, we can tell that convey means to make
an idea, information, or a story known to someone else. Hide, obscure, and cover all mean to keep from someone else, which is
almost the opposite of convey. This lets us know that convey does not belong to the word group containing these words, and (C) is
incorrect. Using the above information, we can tell that convey means to make an idea, information, or a story known to someone

© Copyright Read Theory LLC, 2012. All rights reserved. 8

READTHEORY Answers and Explanations

else. Detect, locate, and discover all have to do with finding something out, and they do not necessarily require another person like it
does to convey something. This lets us know that convey does not belong to the word group containing detect, locate, and discover.
Therefore (D) is incorrect.

5) C
Question Type: Inference
In paragraph 4, the author writes, “Oftentimes, texts that are meant to persuade use specific techniques…These techniques might
be found in letters to the editor, argumentative essays, or persuasive speeches.” Since the techniques used in letters to the editor
are mean to persuade, we can understand that if Bill likes to read the “Letters to the Editor” section of his local newspaper, this
means he likes to read passages that authors write in order to persuade. Therefore (C) is correct. The passage does not provide
information to support choices (A), (B), or (D). Therefore they are incorrect.

6) C
Question Type: Detail
To answer this detail question correctly, we need to find where the author discusses writing to persuade in the passage. A good way
to do this is to scan the topic sentence of each paragraph, since this sentence will likely tell us what information can be found in the
rest of that paragraph. The topic sentence of paragraph 4 reads: "Sometimes authors write because they want to convince their
readers about something." Since we know that convincing and persuading are similar, this lets us know that the details we are
looking for can likely be found in paragraph 4. In paragraph 4, the author writes, “Oftentimes, texts that are meant to persuade use
specific techniques to make the reader care about the subject, and to think about it in a certain way.” This lets us know that texts
that are meant to persuade often use specific techniques to make the reader care about the subject. Therefore (C) is correct. The
passage does not provide information to support choices (A), (B), or (D). Therefore they are incorrect.

Sample 8.2
1) C
Question Type: Global
In paragraph 3, Paolo mocks (makes fun of) Emma for wanting to see the Thorne Miniature Rooms. The author writes: “When she
had told Paolo about her favorite exhibit, he had mocked her. He asked why any grown woman would possibly want to waste her
time looking at toys.” When Emma tries to explain the exhibit in more detail, Paolo replies in paragraph 5 by saying: “That sounds
like dollhouse furniture .… So how are they not toys?” These two excerpts from the passage show that Paolo thinks of the
miniatures as silly toys—not something an adult should want to see. Therefore, he considers Emma foolish for wanting to visit them.
In the last paragraph, Paolo has changed his mind. Once he sees the miniatures with his own eyes, he realizes that they “were
clearly not toys—they were a strange combination of art and history, all in miniature.” Although he once thought of them as foolish,
he eventually came to appreciate their beauty. This supports choice (C). Although the first paragraph of the passage does mention
her friend’s wedding, the author never tells us that Emma is going to the museum instead of the wedding or that Paolo thinks they
should be at the wedding instead of the museum. This eliminates choice (A). The passage does describe the miniatures as
something Emma enjoyed as a child, but the author never tells us that Paolo wishes Emma would stop trying to relive her childhood.
This eliminates choice (B). The passage does not discuss Paolo’s taste in art exhibits. This eliminates choice (D).

2) A
Question Type: Inference
In paragraph 4, Emma explains: “The exhibit is a series of small rooms modeled after European and American interiors from the
past three centuries. Everything in the rooms is a scale model of furniture and décor from their particular time period. They’re just
like real rooms, but 1/12th the size!” These details provide important factual information about the miniatures themselves. Emma
explains how big the miniatures are and what time period they are from. This description allows readers who have not personally
seen the exhibit to picture it in their minds. Because the miniatures are the main topic of the passage, it is important for the author to
explain what they are to readers who might be unfamiliar with them. Therefore, choice (A) is correct. The description of the exhibit in
paragraph 4 is mostly objective, meaning that it is based on facts and includes very little opinion. Because the description is factual,
it is not considered Emma’s point of view. A character’s point of view is subjective, meaning that it depends on opinion, bias,
judgment, or emotion. We see Emma providing a subjective point of view in paragraph 6, where she describes the miniatures as
“handcrafted, beautiful pieces.” However, because paragraph 4 is objective fact, and not subjective point of view, we can eliminate
choice (B). Using the above information, we can see that Emma’s description of the miniatures is designed to provide readers (and
Paolo) with facts about the exhibit. It is not an argument that the miniatures should not be on display. This eliminates choice (C).
When Paolo calls the miniatures “toys,” Emma responds by explaining what they actually are. The description from paragraph 4
provides basic facts about the miniatures. In paragraph 5, we see that Paolo is still doubtful; he says: “That sounds like dollhouse
furniture …. So how are they not toys?” This response shows that Emma’s description did not clearly explain why Paolo’s opinion
about the miniatures (that they are toys, and therefore a waste of time) is misguided. This eliminates choice (D).

3) B
Question Type: Detail
Paragraph 7 describes Emma’s favorite room. The paragraph mentions a “stairway in the back” that gives “the illusion that the
miniature world extended beyond what Emma could see.” This specific mention of the staircase supports choice (B). In paragraph 7,
the author states that “all of the furniture looked so real it was hard to believe that tiny people did not actually live in the exhibit.” The
furniture is so realistic that it seems like tiny people might live there; however, there are not actually models of people in the exhibit.
Therefore, choice (A) is incorrect. In paragraph 7, the walls are described as: “painted to depict a peaceful garden.” The walls are
therefore not plain-looking. This eliminates choice (C). In paragraph 7, the author states that the house was modeled after “a home
in Tennessee from 1835. The model home is therefore not modern. This eliminates choice (D).

© Copyright Read Theory LLC, 2012. All rights reserved. 9

READTHEORY Answers and Explanations

4) D
Question Type: Global
In paragraph 7, the author states that Emma “had spent hours of her youth imagining what went on in the nonexistent upstairs of the
house. But now, as an adult, she was not lost in the fantasy of what happened beyond the miniature. Instead, she found herself
moved by how real the tiny world in front of her all looked. The artist’s attention to detail was amazing; all of the furniture looked so
real it was hard to believe that tiny people did not actually live in the exhibit.” This excerpt shows that Emma’s perception of the
exhibit has changed; when she was a child, she was more interested in parts of the house she could not see—she spent her time
imagining what was going on in the “nonexistent upstairs” instead of focusing on the parts of the house that she actually could see.
As an adult, she is much more impressed by the artistry of the tiny furniture itself. This supports choice (D). Although the passage
tells us that Emma was more interested in the imaginary upstairs as a child, the author never suggests that she actually believed
that more rooms existed beyond the glass. By describing the upstairs as “nonexistent,” the author suggests that child Emma was
perfectly aware that the rooms ended at the glass. Therefore, choice (A) is incorrect. Using the above information, we can see that
child Emma is more interested in the imaginary parts of the exhibit, whereas adult Emma is focused on the artistry of the exhibit.
The passage does not state that child Emma was unimpressed by the realistic details; rather, she was simply more interested in her
own imaginary additions to the exhibit. Therefore, choice (B) is incorrect. In paragraph 7, the author notes that Emma “had spent
hours of her youth” looking at the miniatures. Although the author never tells us how long Emma looks at the exhibit as an adult, we
do learn that “she found herself moved by how real the tiny world in front of her looked.” Because Emma is moved by the exhibit, it
is unlikely that she is merely glancing (looking quickly) at it. Therefore, choice (C) is incorrect.

5) C
Question Type: Vocabulary
illusion (noun): a deceptive or misleading appearance; a false idea or belief; a misapprehension or misunderstanding of reality.
We can use context clues—hints from known words or phrases around the unknown word or phrase—to help us figure out what the
word illusion most nearly means. In paragraph 7, the author writes: “The stairway in the back gave the illusion that the miniature
world extended beyond what Emma could see.” Later in the paragraph, we also learn that Emma had spent hours “imagining” what
happened in the world beyond the miniature, but as an adult, she was no longer “lost in the fantasy.” The words “imagining” and
“fantasy” help us to understand that what Emma saw was not reality—the way it looks is not the way it actually is. Therefore, (C) is
correct. Using the above information, we can tell that we are looking for a meaning that describes something with a misleading
appearance. The miniatures actually do resemble real-life things, but on a smaller scale. This explanation does not describe
something with a misleading appearance. Therefore, we can eliminate choice (A). Using the above information, we can tell that we
are looking for a meaning that describes something with a misleading appearance. The fact that the miniatures are considered to be
art does not relate to something with a misleading appearance. Therefore, we can eliminate choice (B). Using the above
information, we can tell that we are looking for a meaning that describes something with a misleading appearance. Describing the
miniatures as handcrafted and beautiful does not suggest that they have a misleading appearance. Therefore, we can eliminate
choice (D).

Sample 8.3
1) D
Question Type: Global
The passage provides a brief history of Deborah Sampson and her accomplishments using facts and historical information. In
paragraph 1 we learn that Sampson was the first woman to serve in the United States Army. Paragraphs 2-4 describe her time in
active duty. Paragraphs 5 and 6 describe her postwar efforts to be remunerated for her service and to change how society views
women in the armed forces. Using this information, we can understand that the purpose of the passage is to inform readers about
Deborah Sampson. Since an encyclopedia entry is factual and informative, (D) is the best choice. Although the passage contains
military history, it does not discuss military strategy. Also, it is written for a general audience. The information is not specialized
enough for a scholarly journal. This eliminates (A). The tone of the passage is not persuasive; the author does not attempt to
convince women to join army. This eliminates (B). An atlas commentary about Sharon, Massachusetts would probably not contain
such a large amount of information about Deborah Sampson. The focus of the passage is on Sampson, not on the town. This
makes (C) incorrect.

2) A
Question Type: Vocabulary
refuse (verb): to decline or not agree to do something; reject an idea or suggestion.
In paragraph 2, the author writes that although Sampson “begged her fellow soldiers to let her die on the battlefield, they refused
and took her to the hospital instead.” From this we can understand that Sampson did not want to go to the hospital, but the soldiers
declined her request to let her die on the battlefield. The fellow soldiers did the opposite of what Sampson asked them to do. This
lets us know that in this context, a good synonym for refused is declined. Therefore (A) is correct. Although disagreed has a similar
charge or quality as refused, it is not strong enough and does not embrace the way in which refused is used in the passage. If the
soldiers only disagreed, this would not necessarily mean that they failed to obey Sampson's request. This means (B) is incorrect.
Denied means “stated that something is not true.” This definition is not synonymous with refused, which means declined. This
eliminates (C). Disgraced means “lost respect or honor.” The passage does not suggest that the soldiers lost respect or honor for
carrying the wounded Sampson from the battlefield. If anything, the passage suggests this to be an honorable act. This means (D) is
incorrect.

3) C
Question Type: Inference
In paragraph 2, the author writes that although Deborah “begged her fellow soldiers to let her die on the battlefield, they refused and
took her to the hospital instead.” From this we can understand that Deborah did not want to go to the hospital, but the soldiers took

© Copyright Read Theory LLC, 2012. All rights reserved. 10

READTHEORY Answers and Explanations

her anyway. In paragraph 3, we learn that "The doctors at the hospital treated her forehead, but Deborah left before they could tend
to her thigh wounds. Because Deborah was afraid that a doctor might discover her secret identity, she decided to remove the
musket balls herself." Using this information, we can understand that Sampson "begged her fellow soldiers to let her die on the
battlefield" because she did not want a doctor at the hospital to discover her true identity. Therefore (C) is correct. Although
choices (A), (B), and (D) all make logical sense, we cannot reach these conclusions based on information provided by the passage.
Therefore they are incorrect.

4) C
Question Type: Global
In paragraph 4, we learn that while fighting in the army, Sampson got very sick with a fever. She was brought to a hospital and was
helped by Dr. Barnabus Binney. When Binney discovered that Sampson was a woman, the author writes that “Deborah explained
that she had dressed as a man so that she could serve her country, and Dr. Binney promised to keep her secret.” Since Binney
promised to keep Sampson's secret, we can understand that he must have been understanding of her situation, and her desire to
fight for her country regardless of her gender. This means (C) is correct. The passage does not provide information to support
choice (A). Therefore it is incorrect. Although Dr. Binney promises to keep Sampson's secret, this does not necessarily mean that he
himself is a secretive person. This rules out choice (B). Even though Dr. Binney promises to keep Sampson's secret, this does not
necessarily mean that he was rebellious, or that he wanted to defy the established authority of the U.S. government. Most likely, he
sympathized with Sampson, and wanted to help her in her quest. This means (D) is incorrect.

5) A
Question Type: Detail
In paragraph 5, the author states that when Sampson returned home, "she got married and became a mother of four children." This
means (A) is the correct choice. The passage does not provide information to support choices (B), (C), and (D). Therefore they are
incorrect.

6) A
Question Type: Global
In the final paragraph, the author uses words like “bravery and determination” and “courageous actions” to describe Deborah’s
military service. The author also states in the final paragraph that Deborah paved the way for modern military women. We often
admire people for their bravery and accomplishments, so we can infer that the author admires what Deborah did for modern women
and for the United States. Therefore (A) is the best choice. Critical means expressing disapproval of. Since the author does not
show any disapproval of Deborah Sampson’s actions, (B) is incorrect. Amused means entertained. The author does not find
Deborah Sampson’s actions entertaining or funny. Rather, the author takes them seriously and admires them. This means (C) is
incorrect. Inquisitive means questioning. The author does not question Sampson's acts. Rather, the author admires them. This
makes (D) incorrect.

7) C
Question Type: Vocabulary
courageous (adjective): brave or full of courage.
In the final paragraph, the author writes: “Although it took many years for women to be allowed to serve in the armed forces legally,
the courageous actions of Deborah Sampson paved the way for modern military women.” In the same paragraph, Sampson is
described as having “bravery and determination.” Throughout the passage, the author describes Deborah’s brave acts, such as
removing a musket ball from her own thigh, and lying about her identity to serve her country. From this we can infer that
courageous means brave. The opposite of brave is cowardly. Therefore(C) is correct. Unknown means not famous or well known.
Although Sampson's actions became well known, that is not what made them courageous. Something can be courageous whether
people know about it or not. This means (A) is incorrect. Unlikable means difficult or impossible to like. Something can be
courageous whether people like it or not, so (B) is incorrect. The opposite of courageous is cowardly. Although this is related to the
word frightening, it is not the same. Someone who is cowardly is fearful, whereas someone who is frightening creates fear. This
eliminates (D).

8) C
Question Type: Global
In paragraph 5, the author describes Sampson's activities after the war. The author writes, "After the war ended in the fall of 1783,
Sampson was sent home from the army with the rest of the soldiers." The author continues to describe Sampson's family life: "When
she returned home, she got married and became a mother of four children." Since the author discusses Sampson's family life after
the war, this lets us know that if the author wanted to include information about how Sampson met her husband, this information
should be inserted in paragraph 5. Choice (C) is correct. The passage does not provide information to support choices (A), (B), and
(D). Therefore they are incorrect.

© Copyright Read Theory LLC, 2012. All rights reserved. 11