There are seven continents on Earth. They are Africa, Asia, Australia/Oceania, North America, South America, and Antarctica. But this was not always the case. More than 225 million years ago, all the land on Earth was joined together. It was one supercontinent called Pangaea. A single massive ocean, called Panthalassa, surrounded this giant landmass. Over the course of millions of years, Pangaea gradually shifted and broke apart. The continents we know today eventually formed. We can still see vestiges of Pangaea when we look at a map. South America and Africa look like they fit together.

Clay paced around his bedposts. He checked his computer screen each time he walked past it. He didn't know what to do. He could start doing Jennifer's part of their project. But then he would be up all night doing what she was supposed to have already finished. He could e-mail her again, but she hadn't replied to his requests yet. He could call, but her mother had told him ten minutes ago that she wasn't home. He desperately wanted to finish the project and didn't want to have to wait on her any longer.

As she walked along the fence, she looked out over the fields. These were the fields where her grandfather had seen promise and hardship. These were the fields where crops had grown and died. Cattle had matured and starved amongst this grass. In these fields, horses had trotted and children had skipped. She wondered what would happen to these fields in the future. She assumed that they would be broken up and covered with new housing developments. But she knew the people who lived there would never know what the fields had seen.

Girl with a Pearl Earring is considered to be Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer's masterpiece. The painting showcases Vermeer's skillful use of light. Painted sometime between 1632 and 1675, little is known about the painting's origins or subject. It is a stunning portrait of a young woman. Her head is turned to the side as if she is just noticing someone. It is thought by some to be Vermeer's daughter, but the identity is uncertain. She has a facial expression of surprise or confusion. A pearl earring is the focal point of the painting. Because of the painting's mesmerizing qualities, some even refer to it as “the Dutch Mona Lisa.”

Pigeons are a familiar sight in many cities. They often gather in huge numbers on sidewalks and squares, and feed on scraps of food that people leave behind. In Liverpool, England, the pigeon population is so large that it has become a serious nuisance. To help tackle the problem, local officials have installed a flock of mechanical falcons on rooftops overlooking the city. These so-called robops—short for robotic birds of prey—flap their wings and squawk loudly. Officials hope the fake falcons will frighten the pigeons into seeking food elsewhere. But others aren't so sure. Pigeons are very intelligent birds. It might only be a matter of time before they figure out that the “robops” aren't any threat at all.

Directions: Read the passage about box turtles. Complete each numbered statement.

   When you think of a turtle, you probably imagine a green amphibian with a smooth shell and webbed feet. While this is true of many turtles, box turtles are different. Box turtles have a variety of ____6____. Box turtles live all over North America and in Southeast Asia. They live by ponds or rivers, in woodlands, marshes, and meadows.

Box turtles have a specific look. They are brown or dark green with orange or red markings on their shells. Some have yellow stripes on their heads. Male box turtles have red eyes and tend to be larger than females, with a longer, thicker tail. Females have yellowish-brown eyes. Males and females have different ____7____ . A box turtle's feet are not completely webbed. They have claws to help them navigate on land. Their beaks are hooked. Box turtles can grow to eight inches long. Their high and curved shells are important to their survival.

A box turtle is the only type of turtle that can enter its shell completely, with the shell clamping shut. This makes it difficult for their predators to eat them.

The shell ____8____ the turtle. It is said that you can tell the age of a box turtle by counting the rings on its shell. The shell is not completely hardened until the turtle is seven years old.

Box turtles love to bask in the sun. They are cold-blooded. That means they need the warmth of the sun to raise their body temperature. Turtles ____9____ the sun's warmth. They prefer climates that are between 84 and 100 degrees. When it is hotter than this, they crawl under logs or into mud to cool off. When it is too cold, box turtles hibernate.

Box turtles are omnivorous. This means they eat both plants and animals. They love eating snails and snakes, as well as berries and flowers. Box turtles don't like to travel far from home. They often spend most of their life within a 750-foot area. If they are removed from their home, they will attempt to travel back to it, no matter how many years they have been away. Turtles prefer their ____10____ . Most box turtles live to be 30 years old, but some have lived to be over 100.

Directions:Read the passage about Raj’s paper airplanes. Complete each numbered statement.

    Raj tried to remember how long he had been sick but he couldn't. For a week or so he had had a cold, but he kept going to school because he was building sets for the school play. He didn't want to let his construction team down. But then he missed the late bus one day and had to walk home in a November downpour. His cold turned into pneumonia, and Raj had been at home ever since. The play closed the previous night. Raj had missed the whole thing. Raj had been ____11____.

Glumly, he went to his bookshelf to get a book only to find a brightly wrapped package sitting there. His parents, who were both at work, had placed the present there while he was still asleep. Raj read the note on top of the box: “See if you can get one all the way across the yard by the time we get home tonight.” Puzzled, he shrugged and opened the box. Inside Raj found sheets of brightly colored paper and a book of paper airplane designs. His parents had ____12____ him.

Raj took everything out to the backyard. He sat in a lawn chair and flipped through the book. The book was full of pictures of intricate paper airplanes. Then came step-by-step instructions showing how to make each plane. Selecting a long, narrow plane that looked like a dart, Raj began folding a green sheet of paper according to the directions. The book ____13____ Raj. He tossed the plane. It shot straight up into the air, stalled, and dove point-first into the grass. Then he made a birdlike plane with angled wings out of a red and blue sheet of paper. A breeze turned the plane around in mid-air, and it landed behind Raj. He chuckled and kept trying. He made more ____14___. .

When his father got home he looked out the window. Bright, folded planes were scattered in the grass and bushes. Raj was kneeling over the book, carefully folding a paper on the seat of the lawn chair. His father smiled and started cooking dinner. The plan to cheer Raj had been a ____15____ .

Directions: Read the passage about tsunamis. Complete each numbered statement.

    Tsunami is a Japanese word that means “harbor wave.” A tsunami is a series of waves that occur after a submarine disturbance. A submarine disturbance is something that happens underneath the ocean. Common disturbances are earthquakes or volcanic eruptions. After the submarine disturbance occurs, waves form on the surface of the water. These waves move outward, picking up speed and height until they hit land. By the time tsunami waves hit shore, they can be 100 feet tall. Tsunamis ____16____ from earthquakes.

Although tsunamis have been reported all around the world, they are most common in an area of the Pacific Ocean nicknamed the “ring of fire.” Hawaii, which is in this area, experiences a tsunami almost every year. Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and California and are hit by tsunamis occasionally. In 1964, an Alaskan earthquake caused tsunami waves 10 to 20 feet tall on the shores of Washington, Oregon, and California. The waves were ____17___ .

Tsunamis can be damaging. The waves can travel up to 500 miles per hour over the ocean. They can travel from one side of the Pacific Ocean to the other in one day. This doesn't give people much time to get away from the shores. Right before the first tall and powerful wave hits the shore, the water is sucked into the ocean. The water ____18____ . This leaves much of the ocean floor visible to onlookers. A few minutes later, the “wave train” will begin. This is a series of waves that can be minutes or hours apart. Many people make the mistake of returning to their homes before the wave train is over, thinking they are safe. Their ____19____ puts them in danger.

Not all tsunamis are damaging. Some are much more timid than others. Tsunami Warning Centers have been created to help people know of oncoming tsunamis. The centers monitor submarine earthquakes and send out tsunami watches and warnings when needed. The Warning Centers have helped people prepare for tsunamis with enough time to head for higher land. The centers provide ____20____.

Organic food is the fastest growing sector of the American food industry. The organic movement began in the United States in the late 1960s. It was created as an alternative to chemically treated food production. Organic farmers wanted to grow food differently. They wanted to do it without synthetic chemicals or fertilizers. And people wanted to eat healthier food. Today organic food accounts for $11 billion of food sales in the U.S. Some say that the organic industry is now so big that it resembles the mainstream food industry it tried to replace.

“Tonight is Georgette's surprise birthday party,” Zane whispered to Tiffany before school. “Make sure everyone except Georgette knows.” As Zane went through his classes that day, he didn't hear any more about the party. Lunch was perfectly normal, except when Jimmy gave him an odd look and wiggled his eyebrows. But, at 5:30, the guests started arriving, and he was shocked. He thought that since no one had approached him about it, no one would be there. However, Zane could barely get the door closed before someone else came up the sidewalk, making him wonder how the notice had spread so well.

Scientists call it a stunning discovery. In early 2007, researchers observed chimpanzees using tools to hunt small mammals. The chimps were seen breaking branches off trees and sharpening the ends with their teeth. The chimps then poked the spears inside small openings in tree trunks where prey might be hiding. Scientists say this finding will help them better understand early human development. It might also shed light on the evolutionary links between humans and primates.

Betsy and Bill looked at the ice cream containers on the kitchen table that were piled on top of the still-full pizza boxes. Their guests had gone home, having enjoyed the beautiful summer Saturday afternoon in their backyard. They had eaten plenty of food and let the kids play for hours. Bill and Betsy had wanted to be certain there would be enough food for everyone and now they knew they'd overbought. Betsy smiled at Bill and said, “Looks like we'll be eating pizza for a long time.”

On a bright spring day in 2007, residents of New York City received a rare visitor. A 15-foot minke whale was spotted swimming in New York Harbor, which is connected to the Atlantic Ocean. An official at the New York Aquarium theorized that the whale might have gotten lost while following a school of fish. According to marine biologists, whales usually enter unknown areas for two reasons: they are sick, or they are searching for food. Unfortunately, the whale in New York died shortly after swimming into the harbor.

Directions: Read the passage about Tiger Woods. Complete each numbered statement.

    Golfer Tiger Woods is one of the most recognized athletes in the world. Woods was born on December 30, 1975. His parents, Earl and Kultida, were always supportive of his academic efforts. Additionally, his father was his first golf instructor. By the time Woods could walk, he was also swinging a golf club. He appeared on television at the age of two. He won a putting contest against legendary comedian Bob Hope. As a child, Woods had ____26____ to golf.

Woods won hundreds of junior events growing up. He won the Optimist International Junior Championship six times. He won this tournament when he was eight, nine, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, and fifteen years old. At the age of sixteen, Woods played in his first tournament against professional golfers in the Nissan Los Angeles Open. He played in several more tournaments against professionals before he even completed high school. Woods' early career was ____27____ promising.

After high school, Woods attended Stanford University on a golf scholarship. In two years, he won ten collegiate events, including an NCAA championship. During this time, Woods became the youngest person to win the U.S. Amateur Championship. He accomplished this feat when he was only eighteen years old. He went on to win two more U.S. Amateur Championships before he joined the Professional Golfers Association in 1996. He was ____28____ at an early age.

Woods has never looked back. He had won nearly eighty tournaments by the time he reached thirty-one years of age. Designers have even lengthened the holes on their golf courses to offer him more of a challenge. His success has made golf appealing to a new generation of fans. Woods, who is multiracial, has inspired players from many backgrounds to take up the sport. He has ____29____ other players.

Not since Jack Nicklaus has anyone dominated the golfing world like Tiger Woods. In 2006, Woods won both the British Open and the PGA Championship. With a surplus of natural talent, a disciplined practice schedule, and a burning desire to win, it is likely that Tiger Woods will sit atop the golfing world for years to come. His success is ____30____ .

Directions:Read the passage about Susan’s summer job. Complete each numbered statement.

    Susan rummaged around her congested backpack to retrieve her cell phone. She checked to make sure it was on. Its display screen glowed at her blankly, showing a picture she had taken of a wall spray-painted with tangled graffiti. She checked to see if she had missed any calls, but her voicemail was empty. She felt ____31____ to check her messages. Then she looked, fruitlessly, to see if she had any new text messages. “I thought they would have tried to reach me by now,” she sighed, disappointedly. She chucked the phone back in her bag. She was ____32___ .

It was just a week before the end of school and Susan still hadn't heard from the curator at the art museum downtown. She had thought that last month's interview for their summer assistant position had gone very well, and she had left feeling optimistic that she would spend the summer months hanging paintings in the galleries and organizing lectures by visiting artists. But now she feared that they had chosen someone else. She feared they'd chosen a(n) ____33___. She would have to help customers in her father's laundry again all summer. She would sweat to death in jets of steam from the shirt pressers.

Suddenly her phone jangled. Susan desperately dug around in her pack but couldn't put her hand on the phone until after the fourth ring. She was ____34___. She was too late and would have to wait to see if the caller would leave a message. After what seemed like an hour, the message tone beeped. It was the curator! She apologized to Susan for taking so long to get back to her, explaining that she had been in London visiting several painters to talk about showing their work at the museum. Susan was to come down to the museum as soon as possible to fill out her employment paperwork, if she still wanted the assistant position. The curator ____35____ that Susan had gotten the job. Susan did a little jump in the air and hurried home. As she briskly walked, she thought about what she would learn on her first day at the museum.

Directions: Read the passage about the phonograph. Complete each numbered statement.

    On November 21, 1877 the American inventor Thomas Edison made an announcement that paved the way for many subsequent technical advances that we take for granted today. On that day, Edison announced that he had invented a device capable of recording and playing back sound. He called his invention the phonograph. Edison ____36____ the recording field.

Edison had actually been working on an invention designed to record telephone conversations. Instead he ended up with a machine that didn't have anything to do with the telephone. His design for the phonograph was based on the use of a sound-sensitive stylus and a cylinder made of tinfoil. Edison's first recording using the phonograph was of his own voice reciting “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” The invention of the phonograph was ____37____.

Instead of the instant acceptance of his invention that Edison had hoped for, the phonograph was at first regarded with fear and suspicion. People had a hard time accepting the idea of listening to a recorded voice. Never before had any invention been capable of doing anything of the sort. People said that listening to the phonograph was like hearing the voice of a ghost. The phonograph seemed ____38____.

It was more than ten years before Edison's invention finally began enjoying popular acceptance. During that time, Edison continued to improve and refine his design for the phonograph. He eventually replaced the tinfoil cylinder with a cylinder made of wax. Edison worked to ____39____ it.

To help people accept the idea of listening to recordings, a distributor of Edison phonographs and cylinders—the Columbia Phonograph Company— hired John Philip Sousa's U.S. Marine Corps Band to record marching music. The recordings went on to become very popular and played a big part in helping listeners accept the sound playback technology. The recordings ____40____ the phonograph.

From that point on, the phonograph began to be widely used, and most people no longer considered it a “spooky” invention.