ENGLISH ENRICHMENT ACTIVITY
Junior High School Department
School Year 2024-2025
ENGLISH 9
NAM SCORE
E: :
DATE:
I. Reading Comprehension
Nonfiction Reading Comprehension Test 7
Directions: Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow. Refer to
the text to check your answers when appropriate.
Kevlar
Did you know that there is a fiber that is as flexible and lightweight as nylon yet five
times stronger than steel? Did you know that this fabric is resistant to temperatures
higher than 500 degrees Fahrenheit? Did you know that a woman invented this fiber?
This miraculous fabric is called Kevlar and it is used to make everything from body armor
to musical instruments.
The year was 1964. There were gasoline shortages due to conflict in the Middle East. A
Polish-American chemist named Stephanie Louise Kwolek was working for DuPont, an
American chemical company. She and her group were trying to make a lightweight, yet
durable fiber to be used in tires. Lighter tires would allow vehicles to get better gas
mileage, but the tires had to be strong enough to resist the wear and tear of the road.
They had been working on the problem for some time and had little success, until Kwolek
had a breakthrough.
Kwolek and her group were synthesizing or creating fibers to test. During one of the
steps in the process, Kwolek created a milky white solution by mixing two chemicals that
were often used in the process. This solution was usually thrown away, but Kwolek
convinced one of the technicians to help her test it. They were amazed to discover that
the fabric that Kwolek had created was not only more durable than nylon, it was more
durable than steel. Kwolek had invented Kevlar.
Kevlar is a remarkable fabric known for its strength and durability. Since its invention it
has found its way into a wide variety of products. Kevlar is used in sporting equipment
like bike tires, bowstrings, and tennis racquets. It is used in musical instruments like
drum heads, reeds, and speaker cones. And it is used in protective gear like motorcycle
safety jackets, gloves, and shoes. However, Kevlar is best known for its ability to stop
bullets.
Richard Armellino created the first Kevlar bulletproof vest in 1975. It contained 15 layers
of Kevlar, which could stop handgun and shotgun bullets. The vest also had a steel plate
over the heart, which made the vest strong enough to stop rifle rounds. Vests like
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Armellino's were quickly picked up by police forces and it is estimated that by 1990, half
of all police officers in America wore bulletproof vests daily. By 2006 there were over
2,000 documented police vest "saves," or instances where officers were protected from
deadly wounds by wearing bulletproof vests.
Kevlar is an amazing fabric not only for its hardness and durability, but also for its heat
resistance. Because of this it has been used to replace asbestos. Asbestos is a naturally
occurring material that is known for its ability to resist fire. Asbestos can resist
temperatures over 1000 degrees Fahrenheit. For this reason it was used in roofs,
electrical cables, and brake pads, until people discovered that it causes cancer and other
serious health problems. Kevlar poses no such risks. It is lightweight, flexible, and
resistant to fire. Therefore, it has proven to be a good replacement for asbestos in many
cases.
Since its invention in 1964, Kevlar has won its way into our lives. From musical
instruments and brake pads to protective equipment and sporting gear, Kevlar is
everywhere. Every day of your life you are exposed to something that was made better
by Kevlar. Who'd have known?
1. Which of the following is not a product that has been made with Kevlar?
a. Tennis racquets b. Bungee jumping cords
c. Brake pads d. Body armor
2. When was the first bulletproof vest invented?
a. 1964 b. 1975
c. 1990 d. 2006
3. For which of the following characteristics is Kevlar known?
a. Heat resistance b. Strength
c. Durability d. All of the above
4. Who is credited with inventing Kevlar?
a. Robert Kevlar b. Richard Armellino
c. Stephanie Kwolek d. None of the above
5. Which of the following caused the search for a fabric like Kevlar?
a. A shortage in the gasoline supply b. A desire to protect police officers
c. The need to replace asbestos d. The want of better musical
instruments
6. A vest made of 15 layers of Kevlar with no steel plates could stop all but which of
the following rounds?
a. Handgun rounds b. Shotgun pellets
c. Rifle rounds d. It could stop all of the above
7. Why did people begin using asbestos in buildings?
a. It was extremely durable b. It was very heavy
c. It was poisonous to insects d. It was resistant to fire
8. According to the article, how many American police officers are estimated to wear
bulletproof vests daily?
a. 1,000 b. 2,000
c. Over half d. Almost all of them
9. How much stronger is Kevlar than steel?
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a. Half as strong b. As strong
c. Five times as strong d. 200 times as strong
10. What product was Kwolek trying to improve when she invented Kevlar?
a. Tires b. Milk
c. Brake pads d. Armor
II. Genre and Subgenre
Directions: Choose the genre and subgenre in which the story most likely belongs. Then
explain how you got your answer.
Fiction: science fiction, historical fiction, and realistic fiction
Nonfiction: autobiographies, biographies, informational writing, and essays
Folklore: myth, fairytale, legend, tall tale, and fable
1. Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne
The story of a German professor who believes there are volcanic tubes going toward the
center of the Earth. He, his nephew Axel, and their guide Hans climb down a crater and
have many wild adventures, encountering dinosaurs and prehistoric man. They
eventually return to surface again in southern Italy.
Genre: ___________________________________ Subgenre:
_________________________________
Explain your Answer
2. Sleeping Beauty retold by Charles Perrault
A beautiful princess pricks her finger on a sewing needle, after being cursed by a wicked
fairy. The princess falls into a deep sleep. One hundred years later, a prince fights his
way through the enchanted forest and awakens the beautiful sleeping princess with a
kiss.
Genre: ___________________________________ Subgenre:
_________________________________
Explain your Answer
3. The Reign of Attila the Hun by Ed Reaves
Attila the Hun was the scourge of both the Eastern and Western Roman Empires in the
440s and 450s. . He invaded and conquered territory in what would now be considered
France and Italy, terrorizing the countryside along the way. This text tells the story of
Attila's life.
Genre: ___________________________________ Subgenre:
_________________________________
Explain your Answer
4. No Way In by Patty Slate
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High school student Darren Banks is sick of being a viewed as a nerd. Darren enlists the
help of his older cousin Tyrone to help him learn to dress, walk, and talk. With Tyrone's
help, Darren soon climbs to the peak of high school popularity, but in his quest to
become someone else, will Darren forget who he was? Find out in this exciting novel.
Genre: ___________________________________ Subgenre:
_________________________________
Explain your Answer
5. The Big Book of Science, Grades 5-6 by Mortini School Publishing
This science book for grades 5 and 6 puts the "fun" in "fundamental." Students complete
a variety of exercises to develop their science skills using materials that can be found at
home. This version contains over 62 practice activities.
Genre: ___________________________________ Subgenre:
_________________________________
Explain your Answer
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