1. © 2016 albert-learning.com

2. Read the passage and answer the questions Americans consume about 11 billion bananas each year. Most people think they are eating the fruit of a tree, but the banana plant has neither the woody trunk nor the boughs that a tree has. It is actually a giant stem at the top of which a large bud appears. The leaves of the bud roll back to reveal clusters of small flowers. These develop into bananas. The height of the plant, 8 to 30 feet, is what creates the confusion. In many tropical countries, the leaves of some kinds of banana plants are also useful. Because they contain fibers, the leaves can be used to make baskets, bags, mats, and even roofs for houses.

3. © 2016 albert-learning.com 1) Find the best replacement for the highlighted word. a. Bark b. Branches c. Curves d. Twigs 2) Find the best replacement for the highlighted word. a. Lack of clearness b. Definition c. Party d. Strange picture 3) Find the best replacement for the highlighted word. a. Include b. Hold c. Grow d. Look like

4. © 2016 albert-learning.com 4) What do you learn from this paragraph that is NOT actually stated? a. The banana is a fruit. b. Growing bananas is a big business. c. Banana plants grow as tall as many trees. d. Banana is good for health 5) Which sentence would best complete this paragraph? a. Bananas are especially rich in potassium and vitamin A. b. The banana plant is more unusual than most people might imagine. c. Bananas are picked and shipped before they are ripe. d. Banana plants are of no use 6) Choose the TWO best answers that describe what the paragraph is about. a. Fruit trees b. Bananas c. Banana plants d. Tropical fruits

5. © 2016 albert-learning.com Read the passage and answer the questions Charles Dickens is one of the titans of English literature. Unlike so many other writers, he was immensely popular in his own time. Dickens began his writing career as a newspaper reporter when he was quite young. His first book was made up of articles written for the London "Evening Chronicle." He was an astute observer of London life and later based some of his most memorable characters on his early experiences as a reporter. Fame came with "The Pickwick Papers," a humorous novel published in monthly segments during 1836-37. "A Christmas Carol" and "Oliver Twist" are among other popular Dickens stories still widely read.

6. © 2016 albert-learning.com 1) Find the best replacement for the highlighted word. a. Monsters b. Giants c. Writers d. Readers 2) Find the best replacement for the highlighted word. a. Being responsible b. Hard-working c. Multi-talented d. Having keen judgment 3) Find the best replacement for the highlighted word. a. Plots b. Parts c. Magazines d. Offices