Parapro Reading Practice Questions

Read the passage and answer the five questions that follow. Philosophers have explained space. They have not explained time. It is the inexplicable raw material of everything. With it, all is possible; without it, nothing. The supply of time is truly a daily miracle, an affair genuinely astonishing when one examines it. You wake up in the morning, and lo! your purse is magically filled with twenty-four hours of the unmanufactured tissue of the universe of your life! It is yours. It is the most precious of possessions. A highly singular commodity, showered upon you in a manner as singular as the commodity itself!

For remark! No one can take it from you. It is unstealable. And no one receives either more or less than you receive.

Talk about an ideal democracy! In the realm of time there is no aristocracy of wealth, and no aristocracy of intellect. Genius is never rewarded by even an extra hour a day. And there is no punishment. Waste your infinitely precious commodity as much as you will, and the supply will never be withheld from you. No mysterious power will say:--"This man is a fool, if not a knave. He does not deserve time; he shall be cut off at the meter." It is more certain than consols [Roman coins], and payment of income is not affected by Sundays. Moreover, you cannot draw on the future. Impossible to get into debt! You can only waste the passing moment. You cannot waste to- morrow; it is kept for you. You cannot waste the next hour; it is kept for you.

1. What is the 'unmanufactured tissue of the universe of your life'?
A: time
B: flesh
C: paper
D: blood

2. In the final sentence of the first paragraph, what does the author mean by the word 'singular'?
A: not plural
B: unmarried
C: perfect
D: unique

3. Why does the author consider the 'realm of time' to be an 'ideal democracy'?
A: Because every person gets one vote.
B: Because everyone gets exactly what they want.
C: Because you can borrow time as much as you want.
D: Because everyone gets the exact same amount every day.

4. What does the author mean by the phrase 'draw on the future'?
A: sketch
B: borrow
C: loan
D: pull in a cart

5. The main idea of this passage is:
A: every person gets the same amount of time
B: it is possible to borrow time
C: some people get more time than others
D: philosophers have explained space

The following passage is being read by students in your class. Answer the questions that follow. It was seven o'clock of a very warm evening in the Seeonee hills when Father Wolf woke up from his day's rest, scratched himself, yawned, and spread out his paws one after the other to get rid of the sleepy feeling in the tips. Mother Wolf lay with her big gray nose dropped across her four tumbling, squealing cubs, and the moon shone into the mouth of the cave where they all lived. ``Augrh!'' said Father Wolf, ``it is time to hunt again''; and he was going to spring downhill when a little shadow with a bushy tail crossed the threshold and whined: ``Good luck go with you, O Chief of the Wolves; and good luck and strong white teeth go with the noble children, that they may never forget the hungry in this world.''

6. If you want your students to picture the scene described in the passage, which of the following activities would be most appropriate?
A: Recording wolf sounds.
B: Reading a nonfiction article about wolves.
C: Dressing up in wolf costumes.
D: Drawing pictures of the wolves in their cave.

7. What is one thing that students can tell about the wolves' habits from this passage?
A: They are friendly to other animals.
B: They love to eat vegetables.
C: They sleep during the day.
D: They only hunt by a full moon.

8. If you want your students to describe Father Wolf's attitude towards hunting, which of the following activities would be most appropriate?
A: Write a short story with Father Wolf as the main character.
B: Make a list of all the things Father Wolf does and says.
C: Dress up like Father Wolf.
D: Ask the students to imagine how they would feel if they were a wolf.

9. If you ask your students to find the words that describe the cubs, which would be the correct answer?
A: scratched and yawned
B: strong and white
C: bushy and whined
D: tumbling and squealing

10. If you ask your students who the passing visitor might be, which would be the most accurate answer?
A: a donkey
B: a squirrel
C: a wolf
D: a lizard

Answer Key

1. A. The author asserts that every life is made up of time.

2. D. The author goes on to describe the ways in which time is unique.

3. D. The author elaborates on how no person can buy, earn, or borrow extra time.

4. B. This phrase means to borrow something before it is due.

5. A. The author marvels that every person, no matter their position, must have the same relationship with time.

6. D. The passage is filled with visual details that lend themselves to drawing.

7. C. The passage alludes to their 'day's rest.'

8. B. Students can get a better idea of a character's personality by isolating his or her words and deeds.

9. D. The words tumbling and squealing are used to describe the cubs.

10. B. The visitor's bushy tail indicates that he might be a squirrel.

For additional information, we recommend you check out these free ParaPro Assessment resources:

ParaPro Study Guide

ParaPro Writing Practice

ParaPro Math Practice

ParaPro Reading Practice

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ParaPro Practice Questions