READING COMPREHENSION ENHANCEMENT

Grade 10
Pre-Test
Name:_______________________________ Section:________________ Score:____________
I. Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow.
Do you know the difference between a destroyed by the British. Despite this failure,
submarine and a submersible? A submarine is the
a watercraft that is capable of independent
Turtle is still remembered as the first submarine
operation under the sea. Submarines do not
used offensively during war.
require support ships because submarines can
renew their air and power supplies Another notable submarine originally designed
independently. Submersibles also submerge for war was Julius H. Kroehl’s Sub Marine
and operate underwater, but they need the Explorer. Built between 1863 and 1866, this
support of a larger vessel. Submersibles cannot submarine was created for the North during the
renew their air and power supplies without American Civil War but the war ended before it
support. For this reason, submersibles are went into use. After the war it was used
usually smaller and cannot spend as much time commercially to harvest pearls in Panamanian
underwater as submarines. waters during the late 1860s. Unfortunately, the
dangers of decompression sickness (a
The first documented submersible was
condition that occurs when divers rise to the
constructed in 1620 by Cornelius Drebbel. It
water’s surface too quickly) were not
was powered by rowing oars underwater.
understood. While experimenting with the Sub
Though this craft was originally designed for
Marine Explorer in 1867, Kroehl himself
underwater exploration, it did not take long for
perished from decompression sickness. In
inventors and makers of war to recognize the
1869 a new engineer put the Sub Marine
military potential of the submersible. In 1648
Explorer back to the task of harvesting pearls.
Bishop John Wilkins wrote, “It may be of great
Tragically, use of the Sub Marine Explorer was
advantages against a Navy of enemies, who by
discontinued after the entire crew died from
this may be undermined in the water and blown
decompression sickness.
up.” Over one-hundred years later, the first
military submarine was ready to be deployed. Submarine use increased greatly during World
War I. Due to innovations in engineering, such
The Turtle was the world’s first submarine used
as a dual power system using both diesel and
in combat. Designed by David Bushnell in
electric sources, submarines had finally
1775, it was deployed by the Continental Army
developed into effective war machines. One
during the American Revolutionary War.
watercraft called the U-Boat was put to great
Though the Turtle did utilize a support ship in
effect by the Germans. Some argue that the U-
combat, it was fully capable of renewing its air
Boat was more of a submersible, since U-Boats
and power supplies independently; therefore,
operated primarily on the surface using diesel
the Turtle is considered to have been a
engines and submerged only occasionally to
submarine and not a submersible. The Turtle
attack using battery power, but the
was powered by hand-cranked propellers and
effectiveness of the U-Boat in combat is
was named as such because it resembled a
certain. During World War I more than 5,000
turtle. It held a single person, moved about
Allied ships were sunk by U-Boats, including
three miles per hour in calm water, and
the Lusitania, which is often cited as a reason
contained enough air to stay submerged for
why America entered the war.
about thirty minutes. General Washington
authorized an attack using the Turtle on a U-Boats were again utilized extensively by the
British flagship blockading New York Harbor. Germans during World War II. Though the U-
Sgt. Ezra Lee operated the Turtle and Boats were devastating to British fleets,
attempted to affix underwater explosives to the advances in technology such as radar and
British ship, but he failed. The Turtle was later sonar reduced their overall effectiveness.
Additionally, the U.S. had also developed and a tremendous amount of power and frees the
deployed a fleet of submarines to great effect. submarine from the need to occasionally
Though the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor surface. The large amount of power generated
destroyed or severely damaged many of the by these reactors allows submarines to operate
U.S. Navy’s front-line Pacific Fleet ships, U.S. at high speeds for long durations. Current
submarines survived the attack and went on to nuclear submarines never need to be refueled
cause great damage. Submarines, though only throughout their 25-year life-spans. The only
about 2 percent of the U.S. Navy, destroyed factor limiting the amount of time that an
over 30 percent of the Japanese Navy. This advanced submarine can remain submerged is
made U.S. submarines the most effective anti- the amount of food and water that the
ship and anti-submarine weapon in the entire submarine can carry. Even the Bishop John
American arsenal. Wilkins, when he imagined the military
capabilities of future submarines from 1648,
Modern submarines are now powered by a
could not have envisioned such an amazingly
nuclear reactor. The nuclear reactor generates
powerful watercraft.

1. For what purpose were submersibles originally designed?

a. Transporting passengers underwater without the threat of storms
b. Exploring under the sea
c. Smuggling weapons and outlawed materials
d. Attacking ships on the surface of the water
2. Why was the Sub Marine Explorer originally created?
a. To assist the North in the Civil War
b. To harvest pearls
c. To explore undersea
d. To experiment with decompression sickness
3. Which is most likely to limit the how long a modern submarine can remain submerged?
a. The amount of fuel in the submarine
b. The air supply in the submarine
c. The amount of food and water aboard the submarine
d. There is no limit to the amount of time a modern submarine can remain submerged
4. How were U-Boats powered?
a. Hand crank b. Diesel
c. Battery d. Both B & C
e. None of these f. All of these
5. Which of the following statements best describes the Turtle according to the text?
a. The Turtle was the first submarine used during war to destroy another ship.
b. The Turtle was the first submersible used during war to attack another ship.
c. The Turtle was the first submersible used during war to destroy another ship.
d. The Turtle was the first submarine used during war to attack another ship.
e. The Turtle is the biggest and fastest watercraft in all of human history.
6. Which of the following best describes why the author most likely wrote this text?
a. To entertain his audience with stories about submarines
b. To educate his readers about how submarines work
c. To inform his readers about the evolution of submarines
d. To convince his audience to purchase a submarine
7. Which is the most likely reason why the author wrote the first paragraph?
a. To explain a concept that would be referenced throughout the text
b. To introduce the main idea of the text
c. To get the reader’s attention with startling information
d. To amuse the reader with an interesting historical anecdote
8. Which does not describe a way in which submersibles are different from submarines?
a. Submersibles are usually smaller than submarines.
b. Submersibles are not capable of independent operation.
c. Submersibles can usually spend more time underwater than submarines.
d. Submersibles cannot independently renew their air and power supplies.
9. Which of the following best describes how the text is structured in the first paragraph?
a. Compare and Contrast b. Chronological c. Problem and Solution
d. Sequence / Process e. Order of Importance
10. Which of these events happened first?
a. The Turtle was destroyed.
b. Bishop John Wilkins recognized the military potential of submersibles.
c. The Sub Marine Explorer was used to harvest pearls.
d. Radar and Sonar were invented.
11. Which most likely explains why U.S. submarines survived the attack on Pearl Harbor?
a. Because the Japanese did not value the submarines as worthy targets
b. Because the submarines were much smaller than all of the other boats in the U.S. Navy
c. Because the Japanese were targeting U.S. submersibles instead
d. Because the submarines were submerged and difficult to strike
12. Which of the following statements is entirely true?
a. Sgt. Ezra Lee invented the Turtle; Cornelius Drebbel invented the first submersible;
b. Bishop John Wilkins invented the first submersible; David Bushnell invented the Turtle;
c. David Bushnell invented the Turtle; Julius H. Kroehl invented the Sub Marine Explorer
d. Julius H. Kroehl invented the Sub Marine Explorer; John Wilkins invented the U-Boat
13. Which of these events happened last?
a. U.S. submarines survived the attack on Pearl Harbor.
b. Sgt. Ezra Lee attempted to blow up a British flagship using a submarine.
c. U-Boats sank the Lusitania.
d. Julius H. Kroehl’s developed the Sub Marine Explorer
14. Which of the following would be the best title for this reading passage?
a. How Submarines Work
b. A Short History of Submarines
c. Turtle: The First Combat Submarine
d. The Differences Between Submarines and Submersibles
15. The word “innovation” in the fifth paragraph means:
a. technology b. improvement c. challenges d. intervention

II. Items 16-20. Getting the Main Idea. Read each paragraph and identify the main idea from the
choices given.

16. People often refer to taxes in terms of their being much too high. In reality, they are probably even
higher than you think, because in addition to the federal income tax we are now studying, there are
many other Federal, State, and local taxes, including sales taxes, inheritance taxes, state income
taxes, personal property taxes, real estate taxes, and others. These are just some of the most obvious
ones.
a. Taxes are much too high. c. Inheritance taxes and real estate taxes are unfair.
b. We pay more taxes than we may realize. d. Some taxes are hidden.
17. The fact that electronic computers are now used for data processing has led the general public to
believe that it is a mysterious, complicated science and that the computers are giant brains. Both of
these ideas are false. A computer is basically just a high-speed adding machine that performs the
functions it is told to. If the input data are varied even a little, the computer is unable to operate until it
is programmed to accept the variations. The business operations it performs are impressive only
because of the extremely high speed of manipulation, but most of these operations have been used for
decades. Unlike man, the computer performs repetitive calculations without getting tired or bored.
a. A computer is a high-speed adding machine.
b. A computer is a mysterious giant brain.
c. A computer is impressive because of its high speed.
d. A computer is superior to man in many ways.
18. There is a common belief that while the dog is man’s best friend, the coyote is his worst enemy.
The bad reputation of the coyote traces back to his fondness for small animals; he hunts at night and is
particularly destructive to sheep, young pigs, and poultry. Yet it is sometimes wise to encourage
coyotes. Provided valuable farm animals are protected, the coyote will often free the property of other
animals, like rabbits, which are ruinous to crops and certain trees. He is especially beneficial in keeping
down the rodent population. Where coyotes have been allowed to do their work without molestation,
ranchers and fruit growers have found them so valuable that they would no more shoot them than they
would shoot their dogs.
a. Under certain conditions the coyote is helpful to man.
b. The coyote is feared because of his fondness for small animals
c. Modern ranchers would no sooner shoot coyotes than they would shoot dogs.
d. The coyote usually prefers rabbits and other rodents to sheep and poultry.

19. In earlier days those who had overseas business which they believed should be discussed
personally, took ship and set out across the briny deep. Once aboard they transacted their affairs,
engaging in commercial and social matters or conducting government business. Today ships and
passengers continue to sail the seven seas, and airplanes soar overhead. But above them all, words
speed through the sky – telephone conversations quickly bring together in the most personal fashion
people who are separated by thousands of miles.
a. Overseas telephone service today is ruling out all need for overseas travel.
b. Nothing can take the place of person-to-person conversation in settling business, social, and
government problems.
c. Many conversations which once required overseas travel can now be conducted by telephone.
d. Even with modern overseas telephone service people continue to travel abroad by ship or by plane.

20. The attitudes of Americans toward gambling are amazingly contradictory. You may find, for
example, that horse racing is legal in your state, but that you cannot legally play poker for money on
your front porch; bookies may be prosecuted by state law, but they are supposed to purchase a federal
license nonetheless; one church condemns gambling, while another raises money by sponsoring Bingo
games. Gambling laws are inconsistent from state to state or even from town to town and are very
difficult to enforce.
a. Americans have negative attitudes toward gambling.
b. Gambling laws are difficult to enforce
c. Gambling laws are inconsistent from community to community.
d. Churches do not have uniform ideas about gambling.

References:

https://www.mdc.edu/kendall/collegeprep/documents2/main%20ideasrevised815.pdf
https://www.ereadingworksheets.com/worksheets/reading/nonfiction-passages/submarines/