Reading Comprehension

What Is the Topic?The topic of a reading selection is, quite simply, what it's ALL about. What is the topic of each of the following short excerpts from the works of some great poets?

There is a pleasure in the pathless woods, There is a rapture on the lonely shore, There is society, where none intrudes, By the deep sea, and music in its roar: I love not man the less, but Nature more,by Lord Byron The topic is _________________________.WoodsSeaNaturemusic

THE mountain held the town as in a shadowI saw so much before I slept there once:I noticed that I missed stars in the west,Where its black body cut into the sky.Near me it seemed: I felt it like a wallBehind which I was sheltered from a wind.by Robert Frost The topic is the _________________________.MountainSkyTownwind

But the poor dog, in life the firmest friend,The first to welcome, foremost to defend,Whose honest heart is still his master's own,Who labours, fights, lives, breathes for him alone,Unhonour'd falls, unnoticed all his worthDenied in heaven the soul he held on earth:by Lord Byron The topic is _________________________.HonestyDogsMastersLife

Behold, we know not anything;I can but trust that good shall fallAt lastfar offat last, to all,And every winter change to spring.by Alfred, Lord Tennyson The topic is _________________________.SeasonsFactsFaithAnger

Reading Comprehension

Word Meanings from Context

Use the meaning of each selection to help determine the definition of the highlighted words.

1. Poor Farmer Chevez labors sixteen hours a day and never has time for a vacation. He deserves better! Everyone should have at least one day a week for rest and relaxation.A. playsB. eatsC. worksD. unions

Note: The word labor is spelled labour in some parts of the world such as the United Kingdom.

2. It's not that I'm unfriendly, but sometimes I want to leave society behind and be alone for awhile.A. people living as members of a groupB. homes with messy floorsC. the fastest runnersD. people who are afraid of Girl Scouts

3. Our new alarm system will wake up the entire neighborhood if an intruder gets in the house.An intruder is someone who intrudes. To intrude is to __________.A. paint or repair old buildingsB. wear ones shoes on the wrong feetC. go where one is not wanted or doesn't belongD. be very noisy

4. Those scientists want to hear what our professor thinks about their theory because he is the foremost expert in their field.A. The first or main oneB. craziestC. least informedD. loudest1 ______________ 2_______________ 3______________ 4______________