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Reading ComprehensionCritical Thinking

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Beginners Critical Reading Paper

Paper has many uses. People draw on
paper. People paint on paper. People write on
paper. People clean with paper. People make
boxes out of paper. People blow their noses
on paper. Books are made of paper.
Magazines are made of paper. Some money
is printed on paper. Sandpaper is made of
paper. Wallpaper is made of paper.

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Some paper is made from plants. Some paper

is made from cotton. Some paper is made from
bamboo. Some paper is made from wheat.
Most paper is made from trees. 95% of paper is
made from trees. Some paper is made from
pine trees. Some paper is made from oak trees.
Some paper is made from maple trees. Some
paper is recycled. When paper is recycled, new
paper is made from old paper.

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Some people say they work in paper-free

offices. Some people think computers will
take away the need for paper. But people will
always need to blow their noses. People will
want to sand surfaces with sandpaper.
People will want to paint or draw on paper.
People will want to put things in paper boxes.
So, people will probably need to use paper
for many more years.

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Questions
1. According to the passage, which of the following
statements is/are true?
I) Ninety-five percent of paper is made from pine
trees.
II) Computers will take away the need for paper.
III) There will probably always be uses for paper.
A) I only
B) II only
C) III only
D) I and II only
E) II and III only
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2. What is the main idea of the second

paragraph?
A) What is made of paper
B) What paper is made of
C) What people think of paper
D) The many uses of paper
E) The future of paper

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3.In line 12, sand most closely means

A) grainy mineral
B) paint or color
C) polish or smooth
D) use for storage
E) draw

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Intermediate Critical Reading Hybrid Vehicles

A hybrid vehicle is a vehicle which uses two or more
kinds of propulsion. Most hybrid vehicles use a
conventional gasoline engine as well as an electric
motor to provide power to the vehicle. These are
usually called hybrid-electric-vehicles, or HEVs.
Hybrids use two types of propulsion in order to use
gasoline more efficiently than conventional vehicles
do. Most hybrid vehicles use the gasoline engine as
a generator which sends power to the electric motor.
The electric motor then powers the car. In
conventional vehicles, the gasoline engine powers
the vehicle directly.

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Since the main purpose of using a hybrid system is to

efficiently use resources, most hybrid vehicles also
use other efficient systems. Most hybrid vehicles have
regenerative braking systems. In conventional
vehicles, the gasoline engine powers the brakes, and
the energy used in braking is lost. In regenerative
braking systems, the energy lost in braking is sent
back into the electrical battery for use in powering the
vehicle. Some hybrid vehicles use periodic engine
shutoff as a gassaving feature. When the vehicle is in
idle, the engine temporarily turns off. When the vehicle
is put back in gear, the engine comes back on. Some
hybrids use tires made of a stiff material which rolls
easily and prevents drag on the vehicle.
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Hybrid vehicles save up to 30% of the fuel used in

conventional vehicles. Since hybrid vehicles use less
gasoline, the cost of operating them is less than the
cost of operating conventional vehicles. Therefore,
hybrid vehicles are gaining in popularity. According to a
recent study, over the five years it typically takes for a
person to pay for a car, a typical hybrid car driver would
save over $6,000 in gasoline costs. Almost all the
worlds major automakers are planning and producing
safe and comfortable hybrid vehicles to meet the
demand for these increasingly popular vehicles.
Although hybrid vehicles do represent a marked
improvement in environmentally conscious engineering,
there still remains one significant potential drawback:
battery disposal.
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Batteries are difficult to dispose of in an

environmentally safe manner. To properly dispose of
the battery in a hybrid car requires substantial effort.
If the battery is not disposed of properly, the
environmental impact of a hybrid car can be equal, if
not greater than, that of a regular gas only car. Since
hybrid vehicles use less gasoline than conventional
vehicles, they put fewer emissions into the
atmosphere than conventional vehicles do. As
hybrids become more popular, conventional vehicles
are being used less, and the level of emissions being
put into the air is decreasing. Hybrid vehicles are an
example of an energy-efficient technology that is
good for both consumers and the environment.
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1. According to the passage, which of the following

statements is/are true?
I) Two braking systems are used in most hybrid
vehicles.
II) Approximately 30% of vehicles on the road are
hybrid vehicles.
III) Some HEVs have engines which turn off when the
vehicle is not moving.
A) I only
B) II only
C) III only
D) I and II only
E) II and III only
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2. According to the passage, HEVs use two types

of propulsion mainly in order to
A) go faster.
B) use gasoline efficiently.
C) provide a comfortable ride.
D) provide a safe driving experience.
E) put fewer emissions into the atmosphere.

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3. In line 9, regenerative most closely means

A) electric
B) gasoline
C) powerful
D) restorative
E) secondgeneration

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4. In the context of the passage, which of the

following best articulates how the author
regards the topic?
A) Conventional vehicles may be more powerful
than hybrid vehicles, but hybrid vehicles are
the more socially responsible vehicles to
operate.
B) Since hybrid vehicles use less gasoline and put
fewer emissions into the atmosphere than
conventional vehicles, they are better for drivers
and for the environment.

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C) Conventional vehicles are faster than hybrid

vehicles, but hybrid vehicles are better for the
environment than conventional vehicles.
D) Since hybrid vehicles are much less expensive to
purchase and operate than conventional vehicles,
they are a smarter buy than conventional vehicles.
E) Two sources of propulsion provide more power to
a hybrid vehicle, making it more powerful and faster
than a conventional vehicle, so it is more socially
responsible to buy a conventional vehicle.

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Advanced Critical Reading - Salt

Salt is a mineral that consists mostly of sodium
chloride (NACl). It is an essential nutrient for animals,
yet it is toxic to most plants. In her novel Tongue,
author Kyung Ran Jo recounts this legend about salt:
A long time ago, a princess told the king, I love you
as much as I love salt. Believing it to be an insult, the
king banished his daughter from his kingdom. But
after a long time, the king realized the value of salt
and the depth of his daughters love for him.
Saltiness is one of the basic tastes perceived by the
tongue, making it an esteemed and ubiquitous food
flavoring.

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It also retains vegetables vivid colors when parboiling,

removes astringency from salad greens, freezes ice
cream, quickly cools boiling water, maintains the
freshness of cut flowers, removes stains on clothing,
alleviates pain in your neck, is an ingredient in soap,
according to Jo. Darlene McFarlane in her article 15
Household Uses for Table Salt recommends testing an
eggs freshness by placing it in a cup of salt water. An
egg that floats is not fresh. Ants will not venture onto a
salt-covered surface, according to McFarlane, so she
suggests sprinkling it on windowsills and in doorways to
repel them from your residence. Salts historical
distinction lies not so much in its taste or any of its
aforementioned amazing talents, however, as in its
suitability as a preservative.
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Salt has been used as a food preservative for centuries.

One of the oldest documented salt works is the Xiechi
Lake near Yuncheng in Shanxi, China. Salt was
harvested from its surface as early as 6000 B.C. Salt,
along with salted birds and salt fish, was unearthed with
funereal offerings in ancient Egyptian tombs from the third
millennium B.C. Less than half a century later, Egypt
instituted exportation of salt fish to the Phoenicians, who
in turn traded Egyptian salt fish with their commercial
partners throughout North Africa, engendering the
establishment of wide-ranging trade associations
throughout the Mediterranean region. Similarly, in the first
millennium B.C., Celtic people exchanged salted meat for
wine and other luxury goods from ancient Greece and
Rome.

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The wide expanse of the Celtic salt trade is exemplified by

the shared Celtic, Greek, and Egyptian root word for salt,
hal, which is iterated in the names of saltworks throughout
the region: Halle and Schwbisch Hall in Germany, Halych
in Ukraine, and Galicia in Spain. Throughout history, salt
has been deemed a precious commodity. In fact, the
wordsalary is derived from the Middle English salaire, from
the Latin salarium, which means a payment made in salt
(sal) or for salt, from salarius which means pertaining to
salt. Many historians agree that the Latin word salarium is
related to salt and soldiers, but stress that the original
association is unclear. Some surmise that soldiers were
remunerated in salt. Some postulate that the word soldier
itself is derived from the word for salt. Even today, a
hardworking employee might be said to be worth his salt or
might be commended for soldiering on.
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1. The authors primary purpose is to

A) relate the history of salt.
B) describe the value of salt.
C) enumerate the myriad uses of salt.
D) discuss the areas where salt was traded.
E) explain the etymology of the word salt.

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2. In line 21, engendering most closely means

A) causing.
B) encountering.
C) requiring.
D) restricting.
E) stopping.

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3.The function of the passages final sentence is to

A) summarize the main uses of salt discussed in the
passage.
B) explain the etymological roots of several city
names.
C) repeat the fact that Roman soldiers were paid in
salt.
D) illustrate the modern uses of salt.
E) emphasize the value of salt.

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SYNONYMS & ANTONYMS I

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Definition
SYNONYMS

Words that have the same (or nearly the same)

meanings
Example: large big
ANTONYMS
Words that have opposite meaning
Example: Hot Cold

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SYNONYMS- Beginning
Choose the best synonym for the following words

1) skill

2) courageous

3) honour

A. wish
B. work
C. ability
D. task

A. powerful
B. cowardly
C. quick
D. brave

A. determination
B. respect
C. courage
D. dignity

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Choose the best synonym for the following words

4) required

5) watch

6) Furious

A. terrible
B. wicked
C. doubtful
D. necessary

A. taste
B. see
C. smell
D. hear

A. very playful
B. very calm
C. very angry
D. very interested

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ANTONYMS- Beginning
Choose the best antonym for the following words

1) pathetic

2) create

3) cowardly

A. careful
B. concerned
C. excellent
D. mediocre

A. intend
B. make
C. destroy
D. incite

A. brave
B. exceptional
C. cautious
D. friendly

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Choose the best antonym for the following words

4) excel

5) reveal

6) cautious

A. achieve
B. fail
C. hinder
D. repeat

A. invite
B. obscure
C. correct
D. discover

A. careful
B. foolhardy
C. fitful
D. wasteful

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SYNONYMS & ANTONYMS II

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Choose the correct synonym of the following words

COMPLEMENT
a. disapproval b. praise c. complaint d. completion

CONCEPT
a. idea b. belief c. deception d. control

DUMB
a. clear b. rouge c. mute d. stupid

DUBIOUS
a. cunning b. pretending c. resolved d. doubtful

INDUCE
a. trap b. influence c. resolved d. inflict

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Choose the correct synonym of the following words

MUTTER
a. cry b. weep c. murmur d. blame
SUMMON
a. call b. weep c. punish d. order
COMPLIMENT
a. disapproval b. praise c. compliant d. completion
RECKON
a. withdraw b. calculate c. estimate d. exclude
INCULCATE
a. attract b. adapt c. cause d. exclude

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Choose the correct synonym of the following words

SEA-CHANGE
a. complete change
b. partial change
c. favourable change
d. unfavourable change
ANONYMOUS
a. Generous
b. well-known
c. reluctant
d. One whose name is not known.
ASSIDUITY
a. diligence b. bitterness c. peace
d. intelligence
CENSOR
a. Deceive
b. scold
c. delete
d. fabricate
NOTHING
a. something b. cipher
c. suffering d. everything

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Choose the correct synonym of the following words

ANGUISH
a. insult

b. anger

c. suffering

d. desire

COMPLACENCY
a.self-satisfaction
c. Carelessness

b. negligence
d. hesitation

FLAIR
a. talent

b. anger

c. jealousy

d. hatred

JEOPARDY
a. upset

b. confusion c. danger

d. demolition

POSTHUMOUS CHILD
a.Brilliant
c. Illegitimate

b. physically weak
d. born after the death of the father

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Choose the correct synonym of the following words

INEFFABLE
a. not erasable
b. inadequate
c. inexpressible
d. not effective
ORATOR
a. speaker b. singer c. debate d. critic
NOSTALGIC
a. indolent b. diseased c. homesick d. soothing
PROCURE
a. preserve b. acquire c. recover
d. harm
ATHEIST
a. Bachelor
b. disbeliever in God
c. heart doctor
d. priest

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Choose the correct Antonyms of the following words

DISTANT
a. remote b. far c. near d. yonder

INEVITABLE
a. certain b. unavoidable c. escapable d. absolute

INCREASE
a. augment b. decrease c. improve d. deceive

NARROW
a. broad b. thin c. slime d. slender

EXCLUSION
a. omission b. elimination c. inclusion d. exemption

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Choose the correct Antonyms of the following words

DETERIORATE
a. dwindle b. decrease c. increase d. diminish

PROGRESS
a. develop b. advance c. recede d. prolong

FAITH
a. trust b. doubt c. belief d. reliance

FLUCTUATE
a. vacillate b. change c. shift d. settle

BIAS
a. equity b. impartiality c. prejudice d. unfairness

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Choose the correct Antonyms of the following words

CELESTIAL
a. heavenly b. divine c. supernatural d. earthly

PROTEST
a. objection b. disapproval c. assent d.
contradiction

LANKY
a. lean b. thin c. sturdy d. bony

LAVISH
a. profuse b. miserly c. liberal d. bountiful

GREAT
a. advance b. big c. large d. little
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Choose the correct Antonyms of the following words

IMPERFECT
a. absolute b. complete c. profound d. consummate

SIGNIFICANT
a. important b. insignificant c. vital d. necessary

ISOLATION
a. separation b. loneliness c. intimacy d. solitude

UNIQUE
a. ordinary b. common c. singular d. unequalled

SURMOUNT
a. surpass b. fail c. master d. overcome

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Choose the correct Antonyms of the following words

JEALOUSY
a. tolerance b. aware c. jubilant d. rustic
AMBIGUITY
a. clarity b. certainty c. rationality d. perversity
FEASIBILITY
a.unsuitability
b. cheapness
c. impropriety
d. impracticability
CIRCUITIOUS
a. round about b. aware c. complete d. direct
GORGEOUS
a.fashionable
b. desperate
c. plain
d. sumptuous in appearance
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Idiomatic Expressions

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What are Idioms?

An Idiom is an expression or a phrase
that has a figurative meaning. There
are estimated to be at least 25,000
idiomatic expressions in the English
language.

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Some of the examples of idioms are given

below:
Idiom: A Blessing In Disguise
Meaning: Something good that isn't recognized at
first.
Idiom: A Leopard Can't Change His Spots
Meaning: You cannot change who you are.
Idiom: Crack Someone Up
Meaning: To make someone laugh.
Idiom: Excuse my French
Meaning: Please forgive me for cussing
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Idioms of Time
Twenty-four seven adv. / adj.(informal) :
twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week
The self-service station facing the
supermarket is available twenty-four seven.
At nine o'clock sharp (adv) : precise time
The trial is adjourned
until Wednesday morning at ten o'clock
sharp.

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 For ages adv. : for a long time

That's wonderful; I hadn't seen a solar eclipse for
ages!
A month of Sundays: a long period of time ( literally
thirty Sundays or thirty weeks)
I met Sarah yesterday. I hadn't seen her in a month
of Sundays.
As long as a month of Sundays: a very boring
(endless) day.
Never in a month of Sundays: never
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 Just around the corner: that will happen very

soon
Now that your baby's birth is just around the corner,
I'll give you some advice on feeding him.
Shelf life: it's the length of time a product can be
kept before it becomes too old for use.
Bread, fruit, dairy products don't have a long shelf life.

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Idioms of Money
To be broke : to have no money.
My boyfriend often says he is broke. I think he is
a bit stingy.
Make a killing (informal): to make a lot of
money in a short time.
My friend John made a killing on the stock market.

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 Hand to mouth: a hand-to-mouth existence means

that you have just enough money to live.
In that situation you have a hard time making ends
meet.
Make ends meet
Penny-pinching: unwilling to spend money
Synonym: mean
The government is looking at every possible way to
pinch pennies.

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 Chicken feed : n. insignificant amount of

money (= peanuts)
The amount of money I could lend him was chicken
feed compared to what he needed.
Keep the wolf from the door: to have enough
money to be able to eat and live.
John and his wife didn't earn much, but it was enough
to keep the wolf from the door.

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Idioms using THROW

THROW/cast caution to the wind(s) : to stop
being careful and do something that you know
has risks
THROW someone in at the deep end = to
make someone deal with something difficult
without preparing them for it
Have/THROW a fit = to get very angry and
shout or become violent

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 THROW down the gauntlet = to make it clear that

you want to argue or fight with someone about
something
People who live in glass houses shouldnt
THROW stones = used for saying that people who
have faults should not criticize other people for
having the same faults
THROW/toss your hat into the ring = to
announce officially that you are going to compete in
an election, a competition, etc.

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Idioms using Chance

the chances are (that)... - it is likely that...
no chance - no possibility
a fighting chance - a slight chance of success
dependent on a struggle

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 a sporting chance - a reasonable chance of

success
by any chance - used especially in questions, to
ask whether something is true, possible, etc.
stand a chance - to be likely to achieve
something

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Idioms using wait

wait your turn = to wait in a patient way for the
opportunity to have or do something

an accident waiting to happen = a situation that is

likely to cause an accident

can hardly wait = used to say that you are excited

about something that will happen

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 keep somebody waiting = to make somebody

have to wait or be delayed, especially because you
arrive late
wait and see = used to tell somebody that they
must be patient and wait to find out about
something later
wait a minute/moment/second = to wait for a short
time OR used when you have just noticed or
remembered something, or had a sudden idea

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Idioms using wrong

Don't get me wrong = used when you want to be
sure that someone understands your comments
correctly, especially if you are criticizing something
Get on the wrong side of someone = to make
someone feels anger towards you
In the wrong place at the wrong time = used for
saying that the reason something bad happened is
because the person was unlucky not because of a
mistake

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 Correct me if I'm wrong = used as a polite way of

saying that you think what you are going to say is
correct
Get off on the wrong foot = when something like
a relationship, job, etc starts badly
Take something the wrong way = to be offended
by a remark because you have understood it
wrongly

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Exercise on "Expressions and idioms"

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1.It has been raining , I'm bored with

staying in the house. I'm going out for a walk.

2.My grandson Peter got a job for the holidays, but

the salary was. .

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3.My car is old so I'll have to save up money to buy a

new one. But at the moment, I'm .

4.Since Hannah lost her job, she has had to

live.. .

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5.When the days lengthen and the air warms,

spring is just.. .

6.My great-uncle Derek is very rich, but he never

gives presents to my children, he is a

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7.Having four children at home is a .

job.

8.Don't forget, the boss will be expecting you at

6 o clock .!

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9.Paranormal Activity 1, a supernatural horror film, was

made . : two actors, seven
days of shooting.
It earned $ 194 million worldwide and is the most
profitable film ever made.

10.Stuart shaves every morning, but he has a

by midday. So he has to shave
twice a day.
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