ICCT COLLEGES FOUNDATION INC.
Reading Comprehension Test
Name:________________________________ Age:__________________
Gender:_______________________________ Birth Date:_____________
Test I.
In June, 1946, a race against time was taking place in far-off China. The Hwang Ho or Yellow River, has
been called China’s Sorrow, for millions of Chinese have perished in its floods. The floods were stopped by dikes in
the reign of Emperor Yu, about 4000 years ago. Since in World War II, the Chinese, to halt Japanese, broke one of
the dikes, changed the course of the river, and flooded a rich area as large as the state of Iowa. In June, 1946, an
engineer from California was leading 200,000 Chinese, working day and night trying to repair the dike before the
flood came in July. Mississippi flood mats, Oregon fir, Chinese earth and even sorghum were being used. It was
then the middle of June. Unless a gap of 500 yards in the dike could be filled in by July, the many months of labor
would be lost. Could they succeed? They did.
Questions:
1. Who was the emperor of China about 4000 years ago?
(a) Hwang (b) Japan (c) Yu (d) Ho
2. What was new during this emperor’s reign?
(a) flood control (b) mighty floods (c) a race against time (d) China’s Sorrow
3. In 1946 what was taking place in China? A race
(a) by the Hwang Ho (b) by millions of Chinese(c) to mend a dike (d) to end World War II
4. An engineer from what country was helping China to win her race?
(a) Russia (b) Japan (c) the United States (d) South America
5. Who broke one of China’s dikes?
(a) China (b) Japan (c) the United States (d) Emperor Yu
6. How many Chinese were working to repair the damaged dike?
(a) 200 (b) 2,000 (c) 20,000 (d) 200,000
7. In Which month of the year do floods come in the Hwang Ho?
(a) May (b) June (c) July (d) August
8. How much land was flooded during World War II? An area about the size of
(a) Oregon (b) California (c) Iowa (d) the United States
9. The ground flooded was
(a) very poor (b) poor (c) fair (d) rich
10. The breaking of the dike was
(a) an accident (b) Intentional destruction (c) a mistake (d) an experiment
Test II.
The fear of growing old has been common to every race and every age and has led men on strange
quests. Florida, for instance, was explored by Ponce de Leon, a Spanish in laboratories and hospitals searching for
the magic that will arrest, if not banish, the specter of old age. Many deny the value of such a discovery,
maintaining that it would be wiser to teach the young how to grow old gracefully.
The goddess Eos asked Zeus to let her lover Tithonus live forever. Her wish was granted. To this vain and
foolish wish, however, she failed to add the request for eternal youth. Years passed; yet Tithonus lived on and on,
growing older and older, till at last he was so brown and dried up with old age that he is said to have become the
first of tiny insects we call grasshoppers.
While the modern scientist’s search may be as useless as Eos’ wish, it is wiser in that it seeks for enduring
youth rather than endless life.
Questions:
1. Ponce de Leon was a
(a) Modern Scientist (b) Greek God (c) Magician (d) Spanish Explorer
2. Scientists aim to (a) discover the Fountain of Youth (b) live forever
(c) delay the onset of senility (d) discover Florida
3. Tithonus (a) discovered Florida (b) grew old gracefully (c) had eternal youth
(d) lived forever
4. The modern scientist’s quest is wiser than Eos’ wish because it seeks for
(a) endless life (b) enduring youth (c) the Fountain of Youth (d) land in Florida
5. Ponce de Leon (a) worked in a modern hospital (b) turned into a grasshopper
(c) discovered Florida (d) granted Eos’ wish
6. Eos’ wish was
(a) wise (b) foolish (c) refused (d) the cause of the discovery of Florida
7. Tithonus
(a) Went to Florida (b) became a Greek god (c) shriveled (d) found the Fountain of Youth
8. Ponce de Leon was wiser than Eos because he (a) did not become a grasshopper
(b) wished for Eternal youth (c) became scientist (d) discovered Florida
9. Some people hold that the discovery of eternal youth would be valueless because they think it is better to
(a) become a Spanish adventurer (b) grow old grace fully (c) turn into a grasshopper (d) become a scientist
10. Zeus was (a) one believed to possess supernatural power (b) a planet on which Tithonus lived
(c) a witch (d) a magic cricket
Test II.
A young American teaching at Constantinople hurriedly gave a small coin to a beggar when crossing the
bridge into the business section of the city. That evening she discovered that the gift had been a tiny gold piece,
equivalent of five dollars, instead of the two-cent copper coin she had intended to bestow. She told a friend of the
mistake, saying,”I still have much to learn about Turkish currency.”
“And much to learn about beggars, too.” Was the reply. “Here beggars buy a license for a station on that
bridge and thus acquire an ample income. The man you described is an honest beggar of my acquaintance. He
would dislike keeping an unintended gift. May I, as interpreter, arrange an interview for the return of your coin?”
The appointment made, the teacher was conducted by servants through a beautiful entrance to the
presence of the master. Cloth in Oriental garments of rich material, the beggar waited. Hearing the story, he
commanded a man to bring his money chest. With deliberation he counted and returned to the teacher the
equivalent of $4.98, saying, “I understand you wished to give me two cents.”
Questions:
1. An error was made primarily because the teacher (a) did not know the coins (b) was absent-minded
(c) was poor (d) remembered to which beggar the was made
2. Begging in Turkey was (a) prohibited (b) illegal (c) licensed (d) encouraged
3. The beggar was (a) impoverished (b) affluent (c) unfortunate (d) generous
4. It is most probable that the teacher wished for the return on the coin because
(a) it was gold (b) the friend advised her to reclaim it
(c) she couldn’t afford to give so much (d) she no longer pitied the beggar
5. The amount returned to the teacher was chosen by the (a) teacher (b) servant
(c) interpreter (d) beggar
6. During the day the beggar probably dressed in (a) comfortable clothes
(b) rich Oriental garments (c) fine raiment (d) coarse attire
7. The conference was arranged by the (a) teacher (b) servant (c) friend (d) beggar
8. The amount returned to the teacher was chosen (a) impulsively (b) with condition
(c) by accident (d) thoughtlessly
9. We may infer that the richest person in the story was the (a) teacher (b) interpreter
(c) servant (d) beggar
10. The selection indicates that begging in Constantinople is (a) profitable (b) unprofitable
(c) Unusual (d) illegal
MICHAEL O. CHAN
Professor
