Reading Assessment Part B

1. Which statement best describes how Damocles views the life of Dionysius at the beginning of the story?

A) dangerous, because his subjects may kill him
B) easy and carefree, because he is so cruel
C) lonely, because his subjects don’t like him
D) wonderful, because he has riches and fine things

2. Which word best describes Damocles at the beginning of the story?

A) adventurous
B) jealous
C) happy
D) frightened

3. Why is Dionysius referred to as “the tyrant”?

A) to remind us that he is a good friend to Damocles
B) to remind us that he is very rich
C) to remind us that he doesn’t want to be king anymore
D) to remind us that he is a very cruel and unfair king

4. Dionysius rules his kingdom like a tyrant, so his subjects

A) would prefer Damocles be king.
B) refuse to eat and drink with him.
C) want to kill him.
D) are happy for him.

5. When Damocles chooses to live like the king, what does he learn?

A) He learns that being the king is hard work
B) He understands that the king’s life is not as easy as he thought.
C) He has an argument with Dionysius.
D) He realizes that having riches only brings problems.

6. What problem does Damocles have at the start of the story and how does he solve it?

A) He is very hungry, and he is able to have his fill of food and drink at the palace.
B) His life is in danger, but he is able to gain protection from the king by becoming his friend.
C) He envies the king’s riches, but he realizes that his own life is happier.
D) He is upset that the king is a tyrant, and he convinces the king to be kinder.

7. Which of the following statements might Damocles make at the end of the story?

A) “I don’t want to be rich and powerful because it might not make me happy
B) “I will do my best to protect the king from danger.”
C) “I will try to find a stronger rope to hold the sword.”
D) “I don’t want to be king, but I still want to be wealthy and strong.”

8. Which is an example of figurative language from the story?

A) He lacked nothing that could give him pleasure.
B) When Dionysius tells Damocles, “I have a sword over my head all the time.”
C) When Damocles tells Dionysius, “I should not want any greater happiness.”
D) He was so badly frightened that he dared not move.

9. Who was Regulus?

A) a general from Rome
B) a leader from Carthage
C) a prison guard
D) a man who made laws

10. Why did Regulus leave Rome?

A) He had to find a job so he could support his family.
B) The people of Carthage asked him to move to their country.
C) He believed that his first duty was to fight for his country.
D) He wanted to travel to see other countries

11. What happened to Regulus during the war?

A) He won the war.
B) He was injured in a battle.
C) He left his family in Carthage.
D) He was captured.

12. Why did the rulers of Carthage let Regulus return to Rome?

A) They knew he would keep his promise to them.
B) They knew that the Romans would make him return.
C) His wife was sick and he needed to go home.
D) His children begged them to send him home.

13. What consequence did Regulus face when he chose to tell the Romans to keep fighting?

A) He had to beg the Roman leaders to let him return to Carthage.
B) He had to face imprisonment in Rome.
C) He had to send his wife and sons to Carthage.
D) He had to go back to Carthage and return to prison.

14. Which one of the following words best describes Regulus when he returned to Carthage?

A) frightened
B) tired
C) dishonest
D) courageous

15. What might a soldier from Carthage say about Regulus?

A) “He is a man of honor.”
B) “He is a good peacemaker.”
C) “He is a weak man and a poor general.”
D) “He is a fine soldier whom we should ask to fight for us.”

16. What inference can you make about Regulus?

A) He is a very good father
B) He wants to die in Carthage.
C) He wants to help Rome succeed.
D) He has won many battles in his life.

17. Which of the following is a possible theme for the story?

A) An honest person keeps his word.
B) Never forget your family and friends.
C) It is important to encourage your country to win a war.
D) By no means should you ever be captured in war.

18. Which of the following choices would make a good title for this article?

A) How to Build a Strong Road
B) The Importance of Turnpikes Today
C) Improving Roads Throughout History
D) Famous Industrialists

19. How can you tell that this is a nonfiction passage?

A) because it does not have any dialogue
B) because it has a main character
C) because it gives facts and information
D) because it does not have a title

20. Where might you look for the definitions of the boldfaced words if you were reading this passage in a textbook?

A) index
B) title page
C) table of contents
D) glossary

21. Which of the following is a fact?

A) Tolls on turnpikes paid for construction and repairs to the roads.
B) People enjoy driving on macadam roads because they are not bumpy
C) Building roads is interesting and enjoyable work.
D) Most of the local volunteers who built roads in the 1700s were lazy.

22. Which sentence best states the main idea of paragraph 4 in the passage?

A) Crushed rock is an important component in making roads.
B) John McAdam was one of Scotland’s greatest inventors.
C) Roads built with McAdam’s methods had a great effect on both road development and the British economy
D) Heavy traffic caused roads to break apart into small bits of rock.

23. Why were merchants able to carry larger loads with fewer horses on macadam roads?

A) The price for using the new roads fell.
B) People who rode horses on the new roads did not suffer as much as before.
C) The horses were able to move faster on the new roads.
D) The new roads were able to withstand heavier traffic.

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