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Secondary: ELPAC Reading Practice #1

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Last updated over 4 years ago
26 questions
Note from the author:
ELPAC Reading practice to use with secondary students. Use as a group or individual activity. See trends in reading and help your students make slight adjustments with big returns in real-time! Also works well for extra practice at the upper elementary level.

***Best when assigned in chunks (work on one section at a time and review answers)
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Question 1
1.

Question 2
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Question 3
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Question 4
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Question 5
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Question 6
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Question 7
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Question 8
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Question 9
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Question 10
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Question 11
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Question 12
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Question 13
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Question 14
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Question 15
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Question 16
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Question 17
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Question 18
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Question 19
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Question 20
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Question 21
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Question 22
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Question 23
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Question 24
24.

Question 25
25.

Question 26
26.

What is the text mainly about?
A. the planets that orbit the Sun
B. why an object in the solar system is not a planet
C. what the features of the solar system are
D. the purpose of the International Astronomical Union
According to the text, what happened in 2006?
A. Astronomers defined the requirements for an object to be called a planet.
B. Astronomers discovered that Pluto had pushed nearby objects out of its path.
C. Pluto was struck by a dwarf planet.
D. Pluto's shape changed significantly.
Why does the author write "In other words"?
A. to point out a difference between two concepts
B. to introduce a new concept
C. to argue against a concept
D. to clarify a concept
First, read the definition of the word certain.

certain adj. v. 1. confident 2. guaranteed 3. particular 4. constant

Then read this sentence from paragraph 1.

Each loop of soft tissue within the semicircular canals gives a certain piece of information about the body's movement.

What definition best matches the meaning of certain as it is used in the sentence?
A. confident
B. guaranteed
C. particular
D. constant
What happens when the cilia move?
A. The head turns.
B. The inner ear changes shape.
C. A nerve signal is sent to the brain.
D. Air moves through the loops of the semicircular canals.
What would most likely signal a problem with a person's semicircular canals?
A. The person's outer ear is swollen.
B. The person feels unsteady when moving.
C. The person cannot turn his or her head.
D. The person yawns frequently.
What is the purpose of this essay?
A. to convince students to cook more at home
B. to convince students to eat healthier foods
C. to convince school leaders to change the breakfast and lunch menus
D. to convince school leaders to offer cooking classes
What does the student writer indicate about school meals?
A. Students do not like them.
B. They are not convenient.
C. Students do not have time to eat them.
D. They are not nutritious.
Why does the student writer mention an elementary school in paragraph 3?

In elementary school, our teachers taught us about the food pyramid and healthy food choices. We know that most students choose the foods they eat out of convenience. However, if they took a cooking class in school, they could learn how to eat healthy, even when buying soemthing on the go. Don't get me wrong, I am definietly a fan of hot dogs, with extra mustard, of course-but I know I can do better! So, if more students knew how to prepare nutritious meals, they would be more likely to make healthier choices.
A. to show how enjoyable health class was as a young child
B. to connect cooking classes to ideas previously learned
C. to descrive a favorite childhood meal
D. to explain why some students eat unhealthy foods
What idea from paragraph 3 contradicts a claim in paragraph 1?
A. Students will do better in school if they ear well.
B. Students often choose the foods they eat out of convenience.
C. Students can buy healthy foods on the go.
D. Students will make healthy food choices if they know how to cook.
Why does the student writer MOST LIKELY mention hot dogs in paragraph 3?

In elementary school, our teachers taught us about the food pyramid and healthy food choices. We know that most students choose the foods they eat out of convenience. However, if they took a cooking class in school, they could learn how to eat healthy, even when buying soemthing on the go. Don't get me wrong, I am definietly a fan of hot dogs, with extra mustard, of course-but I know I can do better! So, if more students knew how to prepare nutritious meals, they would be more likely to make healthier choices.
A. to entertain the reader with a humorous comment
B. to provide an example of a food that all readers enjoy
C. to identify a food that could be healthier if students cooked it themselves
D. to point out that people prepare their foods differently
According to the essay, why could a health class be replaced by a cooking class?
A. Health classes do not teach students about health-related issues that come from food.
B. A cooking class will require extra time for all the steps involved in preparing a meal.
C. Students already have to take too many health classes.
D. Students will study topics in cooking class that are usually taught in healther class.
Which sentence does NOT belong in paragraph 5?

Making cooking a part of the school day would encourage students to eat healthier. It would also provide them with more appealing options to the food that students are not eating at school. Sometimes I bring my own lunch from home, but sometimes I buy food from the cafeteria. Like my teahcers said, healthy food is fuel for the brain. So let's get cooking!
A. Making cooking a part of the school day would encourage students to eat healthier.
B. It wold also provide them with more appealing options to the food that students ar not eating at school.
C. Sometimes I bring my own lunch from home, but sometimes I buy food from the cafeteria.
D. Like my teahcers said, healthy food is fuel for the brain.
Why does the student writer MOST LIKELY write, "So let's get cooking!" in paragraph 5?

Making cooking a part of the school day would encourage students to eat healthier. It would also provide them with more appealing options to the food that students are not eating at school. Sometimes I bring my own lunch from home, but someimes I buy food from the cafeteria. Like my teahcers said, healthy food is fuel for the brain. So let's get cooking!
A. to point out that he or she enjoys making different foods
B. to emphasize how hungry he or she is
C. to encourage the reader to support his or her idea
D. to show the reader how hard he or she works in school
What is the main theme of the story?
A. Learning about ancestors can be interesting.
B. Working hard at something can be very rewarding.
C. Enjoying activities together can make relationsips stronger.
D. Technology can make it easier to keep in touch with friends.
Why does Ethan's mother sigh in paragraph 5?
A. She is frustrated that Ethan is not talking to her.
B. She is annoyed that Ethan brought his phone to school.
C. She is unhappy because she misses Ethan's grandmother.
D. She is tired and not looking forward to driving for a long time.
What can be inferred about Ethan during the car ride to the supermarket?
A. He was looking forward to baking with his mom.
B. He was expecting to go to a new supermarket.
C. He spent the whole time using his phone.
D. He was listening to music on his phone.
Why is paragraph 11 important to the story?
A. It serves to change the tone of the story.
B. It identifies a conflict between the characters.
C. It creates suspense by placing the characters in an unfamiliar environment.
D. It provides more information about an idea mentioned in the previous paragraph.
What does Ethan's grandmother MOST LIKELY mean when she says, "Well, look who's talking," to Ethan's mother?
A. She is informing Ethan's mother that Ethan is talking.
B. She is reminding Ethan's mother that she used to be like Ethan.
C. She is telling Ethan's mother not to interrupt when Ethan is speaking.
D. She is agreeing with Ethan's mother that Ethan does not talk very much.
Why does the writer mention Ethan's phone at the end of the story?
A. to illustrate that Ethan is easily distracted by his phone
B. to show that Ethan has continued to use his phone throughout the story
C. to contrast his thoughts about his phone at the beginning and the end of the story
D. to compare conversations with his friends and conversations with his grandmother
What is the text mainly about?
A. the reasons for Curie's success as a scientist
B. the ways that Curie and her husband worked together
C. the events that caused Curie to discover two elements
D. the difference between Curie and other Polish scientists
Why does the author mention the "Floating University" in paragraph 2?

From a young age, Curie believed very strongly in hard work. She was also very determined to overcome any obstacles that could prevent her from reaching her goals. Even though women were not supposed to study at universities in the 1880s in Poland, Curie found a way to attend a secret university known as the "Floating University" in Poland for several years. This eventually helped her to receive the qualificiations necessary to studey at a a larger university in Paris. However, when she moved toParis in 1891, she was extremely poor, which caused her to live in very difficult conditions. Her apartment was always cold, and she oftyern had very little food. Even after her graduation, she had to work extra hours as a teacher to pay for her research experiments on radioactivity. These experiments oftern left her feeling tired and sick. Nevertheless, Curie found success despite the challenges.
A. to compare Curie's life in Poland with her life in Paris
B. to explain the problems of the education system in Poland long ago
C. to give an example of how Curie found ways to achieve her goals
D. to illustrate the different opportunities for men and woment at this time.
Why was Ms. Curie's early life in Paris so difficult?
A. She did not have much money.
B. She had difficulty finding a job.
C. She did not understand her research.
D. She was not respected as a woman.
Read the following two sentences from paragraph 2.

Even after her graduation, she had to work extra hours as a teacher to pay for her research experiments on radioactivity. These experiments oftern left her feeling tired and sick.

What is the BEST expression that could be used at the beginning of the second sentence to link it to the first sentence?
A. For example
B. Instead
C. On the other hand
D. Consequently
What does the word "this" refer to in paragraph 3:

Another aspect of Curie's personality was her pride in her native country, Poland. She got this from her parents. Even though Curie spent the majority of her life in France and eventually married Pierre Curie, who was French, she never forgot her Polish identity. She taught her children Polish and encouraged them to love their Polish culture, too. Her love for Poland eventually led her to name one of the elements she discovered "polonium." It could be said that this love for her country may have also helped her succeed. As a Polish scientist, she wanted to achieve somehting that would help people to reconginze Poland. Also, she wanted the people of Poland to be proud of her achievemnets. Both of these thngs may have contributed to Curie working hard to reach her goals.
A. life
B. pride
C. country
D., personality
What is TRUE about polonium?
A. It was discovered in Poland.
B. It was named by a Polish scientist.
C. Research on it was funded by Poland.
D. Poland became famous for it.