1.

The first murder ever committed in the United States occurred in September 1630, shortly
after the Pilgrims arrived in Massachusetts. John Billington was the father of two sons, one of the
first to settle in the new Plymouth Colony near what is today Boston, and one of the people who
signed the Mayflower Compact—and he was also the colony’s first murderer. Billington, in fact,
was the first person to commit any crime in the colony, as far as we know today. He was also the
first to be executed by the state in the New World. Billington’s crime was to shoot a man named
John Newcomen, for reasons which are lost to history. But Billington’s problems had not begun
on the soil of North America. He and his sons had nearly caused a mutiny aboard the Mayflower
during the arduous trip across the ocean. One of his sons, in fact, fired his gun aboard the
Mayflower—near an open keg of gunpowder! The flash from the gun could easily have ignited
the powder, which would probably have sunk the ship. Once in Plymouth Colony, Billington’s
behavior did not improve. He refused to serve any form of military duty under the leadership of
Miles Standish, a duty that was seen by the colonists as part of every man’s responsibilities in the
New World. He was later implicated in a plot to overthrow the entire leadership of Plymouth
Colony, but a lack of evidence prompted the town’s leaders to let him go free. In the end,
Billington’s rebellious and angry nature caught up with him. He was found guilty of the murder
of John Newcomen, and died in disgrace on the gallows.
1. Based on the information in the passage, which of the following best describes John
Billington? (LITERAL)
a. quiet and shy
b. angry and rebellious
c. clever and amusing
d. bold and patriotic
2. Which of the following is NOT true of John Billington, according to the passage?
(LITERAL)
a. He had two sons.
b. He served in the military under Miles Standish.
c. He tried to lead a mutiny.
d. He attempted to overthrow the government.
3. The nearest meaning of the underlined word arduous, as used in the passage, is?
(INFERENTIAL)
a. difficult.
b. simple.
 c. long.
d. stormy.
4. Why didn’t the leaders of Plymouth Colony punish Billington for rebelling against their
authority? (LITERAL)
a. He was not guilty.
b. Billington was Miles Standish’s nephew.
c. He had two sons who needed him.
d. They didn’t have enough evidence.
5. A good title for this passage would be (CRITICAL)
a. A History of Plymouth Colony.
b. The Injustices of Miles Standish.
c. America’s First Murderer.
d. Early American Legal Battles.
2. Photosynthesis is the process that plants use to convert sunlight into the food that they need
to survive and grow. Most plants create some form of sugar from the sunlight, and this sugar is
used by the plant as its primary food source. (2) Plants actually need only three things to create
this sugar: sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water. The sunlight reacts with the plant’s chlorophyll, a
green chemical which is used to convert water and carbon dioxide into sugar. (3) As a general
rule, photosynthesis occurs in a plant’s leaves. The leaf contains chlorophyll, which reacts when
sunlight strikes the leaf. It is also the chlorophyll which gives the leaf its typical green color, since
photosynthesis absorbs most light rays except green, which are reflected outwards. (4) The
process of photosynthesis produces more than just sugar, however. One byproduct of the
process is oxygen, which is “exhaled” by the plant into the atmosphere. In fact, plant
photosynthesis is one of the primary sources of oxygen generation on our planet, making plant
life essential to almost all living things on earth.
6. According to paragraph 4, which of the following is a byproduct of photosynthesis?
(LITERAL)
a. green pigment
b. water
c. carbon dioxide
d. oxygen
7. The underlined word essential, as used in paragraph 4, most nearly means
(INFERENTIAL)
a. necessary.
b. optional.
c. fragrant.
d. growing.
8. The passage explains that photosynthesis is (LITERAL)
a. done in the plant stem.
b. what makes plants edible.
c. the way that plants feed themselves.
d. the source of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
9. According to the passage, why do plant leaves look green? (LITERAL)
a. Leaves are actually not green.
b. Photosynthesis absorbs all colors except green.
c. Sugar is green.
d. Photosynthesis requires green light to produce sugar.
10. What will happen if there is no Photosynthesis? (INFERENTIAL)
a. there will be no food.
b. all the plants will die.
c. the plants cannot grow and survive.
d. the living and non-living things cannot exist.
11. After reading the passage, what can you conclude about photosynthesis? (CRITICAL)
a. Chlorophyll is part of the ozone layer.
b. Photosynthesis is the process that feeds a plant.
c. Plants need oxygen to survive.
d. The roots of a plant provide water.
12. After reading the passage, what can you infer about photosynthesis? (INFERENTIAL)
 a. Human life would not survive without plants.
b. Chlorophyll tastes sweet.
c. Sunlight has both good and bad effects on plants.
d. Too much water can interfere with photosynthesis.
3. Abraham Lincoln served as the 16th President of the United States, yet he never went to
college. In fact, Lincoln had nearly no formal education whatsoever, attending schools for less
than a year throughout his childhood. Yet this should not be construed to mean that Lincoln was
ignorant or unlearned; on the contrary, he was one of the most well-read leaders of the time.
The fact is that Abraham Lincoln educated himself by studying books of religion, philosophy, and
literature, and he continued his voracious reading throughout his life. A lack of public school
education did not prevent Lincoln from becoming a great leader. He led the United States through
four years of civil war, which threatened to divide the nation into two separate countries. He was
a powerful opponent of slavery, and it was largely through his leadership that slavery was
abolished in this country. Lincoln’s determination to educate himself through diligent reading
also led to his reputation as a great orator—and even today his speeches are quoted and studied
worldwide. He serves as an example of a great leader—and a great reader. His love of books and
good literature enabled Abe Lincoln to rise to world renown.

13. What is the main idea of this passage? (CRITICAL)

14. Lincoln accomplished all of the following EXCEPT (LITERAL)

15. Which of the following is the most likely intended audience for the passage?
(INFERENTIAL)
a. a person planned to become scientist
b. only those who love to study science
c. people who are naturalistic
d. everyone
16. A voracious reader is (INFERENTIAL)
a. likely to become President.
b. a person who makes reading a regular habit.
c. someone who never went to school.
d. probably poor.

17. The underlined word construed, as used in paragraph 1, most nearly means
(INFERENTIAL)
a. tormented.
b. taken apart.
c. unscrewed.
d. interpreted.

18. According to the passage, what lesson can be learned from the life of Abraham
Lincoln? (CRITICAL)
a. Education is not important.
b. All books are worth reading.
c. Good reading habits can help a person do great things.
d. Politicians are always good role models.

19. After reading the passage, what can you conclude about being a reader? (CRITICAL)
a. it is difficult.
b. it can widen your understanding.
c. it is just for fun during your vacant time.
d. it will make you a great leader in the future.

20. How does Lincoln still affect students today? (CRITICAL)

ANSWER KEY
1. B
2. B
3. A
4. D
5. C
6. D
7. A
8. C
9. B
10. C
11. B
12. A
13. B
14. D
15. D
16. B
17. D
18. C
19. B
20. B