Reading Comprehension Exercises: Green Christmas, Crowdsourcing, and Hole in the Wall

1. A Green Christmas

Reading Comprehension Answers

• 1.1: B
• 1.2: B

Detailed Responses

• 2.1: Artificial trees are made of materials which aren't biodegradable, making them problematic when discarded.
• 2.2: The chichilaiks symbolize the beard of a saint and are used for decoration.
• 2.3: These trees are organic and are collected again afterwards.
• 3.1: One had to pay a modest fee to obtain a tree.
• 3.2: We prevented the purchase of artificial trees.

Vocabulary and Context

• 4.1: Repaired
• 4.2: Modest
• 4.3: Getting rid of
• 4.4: Out of fashion
• 5.1: People cutting down firs for traditional Christmas in Western countries.
• 5.2: The chichilaiks went out of fashion.

2. Crowdsourcing

Reading Comprehension Answers

• 1.1: C
• 1.2: C

True or False Statements

• 2.1: True. When a solution is reached, it is owned by the crowdsourcer.
• 2.2: True. There are now a number of businesses that offer to find a crowd.

Analysis

• 3.1: The Katrina PeopleFinder project used this method to locate missing people.
• 3.2: It is attributed to misunderstandings.
• 4.1: Because these expressions are according to crowdsourcing.
• 4.2: They find a “crowd” for any particular project and provide feedback.
• 4.3: Crowdsourcing produces quick results, is relatively cheap, reaches a larger base, and offers deeper insight into public sentiment. It also utilizes a ready-made base of potential consumers.

Vocabulary

• 5.1: Work out
• 5.2: Reveal
• 5.3: Misleading

3. The Hole in the Wall Project

Reading Comprehension Answers

• 1.1: B
• 1.2: B

True or False Statements

• 2.1: False; they were monitored via hidden cameras.
• 2.2: True; within a few days, they had worked out how to draw on the computer.
• 2.3: The project has spread to many other areas, both in India and abroad.

Project Findings

• 3.1: Children learned within a few days how to use the internet and draw on the computer. They even invented their own terms for computer parts and actions.
• 4.1: Children learn best with very little instruction.
• 4.2: Despite little formal education and almost no English, they excelled.
• 4.3: The terms that the children invented.

Vocabulary

• 5.1: Worked out
• 5.2: Lacked
• 5.3: Terms
• 5.4: Wants to see