Reading Comprehension

What Is the Topic?

The topic of a reading selection is, quite simply, what it's ALL about. What is the
topic of each of the following short excerpts from the works of some great poets?
There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,
There is a rapture on the lonely shore,
There is society, where none intrudes,
By the deep sea, and music in its roar:
I love not man the less, but Nature more,
by Lord Byron
The topic is _________________________.
Woods
Sea
Nature
music
THE mountain held the town as in a shadow
I saw so much before I slept there once:
I noticed that I missed stars in the west,
Where its black body cut into the sky.
Near me it seemed: I felt it like a wall
Behind which I was sheltered from a wind.
by Robert Frost
The topic is the _________________________.
Mountain
Sky
Town
wind
But the poor dog, in life the firmest friend,
The first to welcome, foremost to defend,
Whose honest heart is still his master's own,
Who labours, fights, lives, breathes for him alone,
Unhonour'd falls, unnoticed all his worth
Denied in heaven the soul he held on earth:
by Lord Byron
The topic is _________________________.
Honesty
Dogs
Masters
Life
Behold, we know not anything;
I can but trust that good shall fall
At lastfar offat last, to all,
And every winter change to spring.
by Alfred, Lord Tennyson The topic is _________________________.
Seasons
Facts

Faith
Anger
Reading Comprehension
Word Meanings from Context
Use the meaning of each selection to help determine the definition of the
highlighted words.
1. Poor Farmer Chevez labors sixteen hours a day and never has time for a
vacation. He deserves better! Everyone should have at least one day a week for
rest and relaxation.
A. plays
B. eats
C. works
D. unions
Note: The word labor is spelled labour in some parts of the world such as the
United Kingdom.
2. It's not that I'm unfriendly, but sometimes I want to leave society behind and
be alone for awhile.
A. people living as members of a group
B. homes with messy floors
C. the fastest runners
D. people who are afraid of Girl Scouts
3. Our new alarm system will wake up the entire neighborhood if an intruder gets
in the house.
An intruder is someone who intrudes. To intrude is to __________.
A. paint or repair old buildings
B. wear ones shoes on the wrong feet
C. go where one is not wanted or doesn't belong
D. be very noisy
4. Those scientists want to hear what our professor thinks about their theory
because he is the foremost expert in their field.
A. The first or main one
B. craziest
C. least informed
D. loudest
1 ______________ 2_______________ 3______________ 4______________