Reading Comprehension Exercises: Presidents, Fables, and Earth

1. Before They Were Presidents: Fact Check

Read and study the information from the reading “Before They Were Presidents”:

• A. Andrew Johnson: Andrew Johnson never went to school at all.
• B. Teddy Roosevelt: Teddy Roosevelt was born into a wealthy family.
• C. John Quincy Adams: At the age of 14, he acted as an interpreter for the U.S. diplomat negotiating with Russia’s Catherine the Great.
• D. Abraham Lincoln: Abraham spent most of his days working on his father’s farm.

2. The Fir Tree: Comprehension Questions

1. What was the only wish of the young fir tree? He wanted to be as tall as the fully-grown trees.
2. How did the young fir tree feel when the other trees left him? Unhappy.
3. Why was the young fir tree cut down? To become a Christmas tree.
4. What happened with the tree at the end of the story? The fir tree was taken out of the attic and chopped up into firewood.

3. We Could Start Right Now: True or False

Read the story “We Could Start Right Now” and determine if the following statements are TRUE or FALSE:

• Earth's population is about 1 billion inhabitants. (FALSE)
• Earth has limited resources, such as fossil fuels, water, and food. (TRUE)
• As countries become richer, the population grows faster. (FALSE)
• The average American uses over 300 liters of water. (TRUE)

4. Integrated Reading Review

Answer the following questions based on the stories: “La Quinceañera,” “We Could Start Right Now,” “The Fir Tree,” and “Before They Were Presidents.”

• What did La Quinceañera receive on her 15th birthday? Turquoise earrings, midnight-blue cowboy boots, lip gloss, and a recipe book.
• Which President had no years of education and became the President of the United States? Andrew Johnson.
• What did the fir tree learn at the end? He learned that he has to enjoy the good times at the moment they are given.
• What are the three resources that are limited on Earth? Fossil fuels, water, and food.