Inside Reading Mid-Term Test

Name: _____________________________________ Date: _________________________

Read this passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

Reading 1

Fastest-Growing Cities

The world’s population is at 7 billion and growing. It’s safe to assume that the fastest-growing
areas are cities. Young people have been moving to cities at such a fast rate that they are creating
record growth. But what locations are the fastest growing? In Foreign Policy magazine,
researchers identify five major cities that, if growth continues, will have the fastest-growing
populations. Two of these cities are port cities. Port cities are located on the water. Ports are
places where ships can stop and unload supplies and other goods. One example of a fast-growing
port city is Beihai, China. Its beautiful coastline—the land along the sea—gives ships a place to
stop and also makes it a nice place to visit. Another fast-growing port city is Surat, India.
Currently, 4.2 million people live there. The city expects to add 5 percent more people each year.

The other fastest-growing cities are adding people due to other factors. For example, several
cities are gaining people because the living conditions, or qualities that make life good, are better
than in other areas of the country. This is the case in Sanaa, Yemen. Other parts of the country
don’t have enough water. Ghariabad, India, is another example. This city has a growing business
center and offers more jobs than some of the surrounding areas. Kabul, Afghanistan, is also a
fast-growing city. Compared to other cities in the country, it is safer to live in. These are just
some of the reasons that cities are growing.

Reading Comprehension

Mark each statement as T (True) or F (False) according to the Reading.

1. ___ The fastest-growing locations are all in China.

2. ___ One factor affecting city growth is if it is located on the water.
3. ___ Beihai, China, expects to add 5 percent more people each year.
4. ___ Kabul, Afghanistan, has a growing business center and offers more jobs than some of
the surrounding areas.
5. ___ Another reason cities are growing is because the weather is better in these areas than
in other areas.

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Reading Skill: Identifying Definitions

Answer each question according to the Reading.

6. Which word (or words) has the definition “qualities that make life good”?

a. port
b. living conditions
c. gaining

7. Which phrase is NOT part of the definition of port?

a. places where ships can stop and unload supplies

b. located on the water
c. a beautiful place

Reading Skill: Identifying Examples

Answer each question according to the Reading.

8. Which city is NOT an example of a port?

a. Surat, India
b. Kabul, Afghanistan
c. Beihai, China

9. Which signal is NOT used to introduce an example in the Reading above?

a. Like
b. For example
c. Another is …

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Vocabulary: Fill in the Blank

Read the passage. Fill in each blank with a word from the Word Bank to complete the
passage.

harmful major effects prevent assume

created function behavior environments community

Social networks, such as Facebook, were (10) ___________ to help us communicate with others.
They (11) ___________ as a way for family members who live far away from one another to still
feel connected, despite their different (12) ___________. Social networks also often play a (13)
___________ role in people’s friendships. Now when a friend moves away, you can easily stay
in contact. Social networks have become an online (14) ___________, a place to post pictures
and share your lives. However, some people have started to question the (15) ___________ of
always being online. Can checking these social websites be (16) ___________?

Some psychologists say that if you are always posting updates and comparing your life to others,
it can (17) ___________ you from enjoying what you are doing. They recommend trying to
change how you use these sites. This change in (18) ___________ can be difficult. But don’t
(19) ___________ that just because you enjoy using these sites that using them is a bad thing.
It’s only if your use of these sites is affecting you negatively that a change is really needed.

Writing Prompt

20. What factors make a city grow fast? You may use ideas from the reading and your own ideas.
Write at least five sentences.

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Read this passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

Reading 2

Keeping Cool

It appears that the world is in the middle of a big change. More and more people are leaving the
countryside to live and work in the city. This shift is changing the way people live. Note, for
instance, that many growing cities are located in very hot environments. As a result, people
living in these locations want air conditioning. Studies show that people working in cool
environments actually work better. Cool air affects their behavior. Consequently, businesses
want air conditioning for their workers. In addition, studies also show that people feel better in
cooler environments; their actual health is better. Therefore, many people want air conditioning
in their homes.

However, adding air conditioning is not without effect. It takes a lot of energy to run air
conditioners. In fact, some researchers link the loss of power that different parts of the world
have experienced recently with the increase in air conditioning. Sales of air conditioners are
growing in many developing parts of the world. And it’s not just the energy use that is a
problem. The air conditioners themselves can harm the environment because of the chemicals
they use. This situation has many worried about the future. The question is how to keep cool and
balance energy use in a growing world. As a consequence, architects are trying to design
buildings with materials that absorb, or take in, less heat. In some places, building managers are
asking workers to wear light clothing. They are also saving energy by turning off lights in the
buildings. Some businesses are using air conditioning but are cooling offices to warmer
temperatures so not as much energy is used. Designing an air conditioner that uses less energy
and safe materials would be a real solution. So far, it hasn’t been done.

Reading Comprehension

Mark each statement as T (True) or F (False) according to the Reading.

21. ___ Many of the growing cities are located in cool environments.
22. ___ People working in cool environments work better.
23. ___ Loss of power in some parts of the world can be linked to the use of air conditioners.
24. ___ Sales of air conditioners are growing in developing parts of the world.
25. ___ Air conditioners use harmful chemicals.

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Reading Skill: Identifying Cause and Result

Select the best answer to each question below.

26. Which sentence from Reading 2 states the cause of this result?
As a result, people living in these locations want air conditioning.

a. Cool air affects their behavior.

b. Studies show that people working in cool environments actually work better.
c. Note, for instance, that many of the growing cities are located in very hot
environments.

27. Which sentence from Reading 2 states the cause of this result?
Therefore, many people want air conditioning in their homes.

a. Cool air affects their behavior.

b. In addition, studies also show that people feel better in cooler environments; their
actual health is better.
c. Note, for instance, that many of the growing cities are located in very hot
environments.

Reading Skill: Pronoun References

28. What does the pronoun they refer to in this sentence from Reading 2?
The air conditioners themselves can harm the environment because of the chemicals they
use.

a. people
b. air conditioners
c. chemicals

29. What does the pronoun it refer to in this sentence from Reading 2?
It takes a lot of energy to run air conditioners.

a. energy
b. air conditioners
c. no noun reference

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Vocabulary: Multiple Choice
Select the correct word to complete each sentence below.

30. The new building being constructed downtown will be the tallest ____________ in the
city.
a. vertical
b. structure
c. environment

31. The downtown business center has a limited _____________ to build in. It’s already full
of businesses and restaurants.
a. restricted
b. structure
c. area

32. One ___________ which should be considered before a new building is constructed is
how much land costs in the area.
a. factor
b. structure
c. area

33. This building is __________ by the amount of glass it uses. No other space in the city lets
so much light in.
a. defined
b. proceeded
c. infected

34. In the ____________ class I had with this professor, she assigned four research papers.
a. restricted
b. previous
c. consequent

35. That movie reminds me of the one we saw last year about those people who get lost at
sea. It’s a little too ____________ to it. It’s like they copied it.
a. similar
b. varied
c. accurate

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 36. The dinner consisted of ____________ cheeses and meats that were all quite good.
a. complex
b. varied
c. accurate

37. For Jenny’s final paper, she _____________ the effects of not getting enough sleep on
daily behavior.
a. defined
b. confused
c. analyzed

38. One ____________ between my brother and me is that he likes to stay up late. However,
I like to get to bed early so I feel good the next day.
a. vary
b. difference
c. function

39. I questioned how ____________ the speaker’s presentation was. I definitely heard some
facts that didn’t sound right.
a. accurate
b. sufficient
c. confused

Writing Prompt

40. What are some things that people can do to stay cool? Write at least five sentences.

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