**Directions:** Read the passage(s) and answer the multiple-choice questions that follow. Choose the best answer for each question.
Prehistoric Art
Many people today think that ancient people spent all their
time trying to survive. Yet prehistoric cave art proves that some of
these people took time to draw, just like modern artists of today.
Carvings from this time show that ancient people were not
unskilled. They were talented at creating many kinds of art.
Archeologists say this art might have been used in rituals.
Or maybe it was used to pass on messages. Maybe these early
people just enjoyed creating art. Scientists have many theories
about why early humans created art.
One discovery that left many people wondering was the
discovery of a group of numerous statues found in the Czech
Republic. The statues are about twenty-six thousand years old.
Most carvings done around this time were made of bone, soft
stone, or ivory. These were materials that were easily found. Some
heads made of ivory were found there too. But what surprised
everyone were the terra-cotta figures. These were made by people
who knew how to make pottery by heating soft clay. Scientists did not think that early humans knew how to use
fire to make pottery. They thought that pottery was invented much
later. These statues proved them wrong.
When scientists excavated buried objects at this site, they
dug up more than seven thousand pieces of fired clay. They even
found two kilns. Kilns are special ovens used for firing clay. They
also dug up more than two thousand balls of burnt clay. Many of
the other pieces they found are only small bits. But some pieces
looked like people or animals.
One expert who studied the pieces said the clay had lime
added to it. The people had to mix the lime into the clay first.
Then they could fire the clay at low temperatures. That way they
could harden it in a small open fire, such as a campfire. The heat
made the clay hard. This turned it into terra-cotta. Terra-cotta is a
shiny brown pottery. The fire also made the clay turn black in
some places.
These early humans may have discovered how to make
pottery by accident. But the statues they made took real talent.
The statues were detailed likenesses, not just general shapes. One
of the statues is a woman. She is only four and a half inches tall.
There are also animals, such as a bear, lion, fox, and rhino. The
artists who made them must have known what all these animals
looked like. They also knew how to fire the clay to make it hard.
Firing the clay saved the sculptures. It is amazing to think that
they have lasted all these years!
What evidence in the text shows that the purpose of
prehistoric art is not known?
Read this sentence from the article.
Yet prehistoric cave art proves that some of these
people took time to draw, just like modern artists
of today.
Which word in the sentence means the OPPOSITE of
prehistoric?
AFTER the discovery in the Czech Republic, scientists
learned that
Read the following sentences from the article.
Carvings from this time show that ancient people
were not unskilled. They were talented at creating
many kinds of art.
Which word means the OPPOSITE of talented in the
sentences above
BEFORE the clay could be fired at low temperatures,
what had to be done to it?
Read this sentence from the article.
When scientists excavated buried objects at this site,
they dug up more than seven thousand pieces of
fired clay.
What is the OPPOSITE of excavated as used in the
sentence above
AFTER the soft clay was fired
Read this sentence from the article.
The statues were detailed likenesses, not just
general shapes.
Which word has the OPPOSITE meaning of the
word detailed?
What caused the clay to turn black in some places?
Read the following sentences from the article.
Archeologists say this art might have been used in
rituals. Or maybe it was used to pass on messages.
The root of archeologist can mean “ancient.” Therefore,
archeology might be the study of
Many people enjoy looking at the sky on a clear night. Some people might want a closer look at the stars and planets. A telescope lets you view objects more closely than you can with just your eye. It takes preparation for a night of looking at the stars, but the results will make your viewing successful. Here are some tips for enjoying the stars.
Before using your telescope, you should do some planning. You need to wait for a night that is clear, without many clouds. Also, you need to choose a night when the moon is not very full. You might think that a full moon will help you see more stars. But the moon’s brilliance can make it difficult to see some stars. Wait for a night when there is more darkness.
Decide where to set up your telescope. A good location would be very dark and far from buildings. It is important to check this spot during the day too. You want to make sure the area you choose is safe. The tripod holding the telescope should stand on solid, level ground. A telescope is fragile and not very sturdy. It can break easily if it falls.
After finding a good spot and choosing a clear night, you are ready to set up your telescope. The first basic step is to open the tripod’s legs and to make sure they are planted firmly on the ground. This will keep the image in the telescope steady so it does not waver. Next, attach the long tube to the tripod mount. Then attach the low-power eyepiece. The low-power eyepiece is marked with the highest number. This eyepiece makes the telescopic images sharper. Then attach the finderscope. The finderscope is the little spotting scope on the top of the telescope. It helps center a star’s image. Now, look through the eyepiece. Move the lens until the image is focused and not blurry. Remember that all telescopes can be a bit different so first read the instructions that come with your scope!
Star maps will help you identify the objects you locate in the night sky. Monthly star maps tell which stars and planets can be seen from your area of Earth. A star map shows the entire night sky. The center of the map is the part of the sky that is directly overhead. Hold the star map so that the direction you are facing is the direction written at the bottom of the map. Then look up. See if you can find a star or group of stars that match the stars on the map. Star maps list stars that can be seen with or without a telescope.
If you take care of your telescope, it can last for many years. With practice, you can look for more challenging objects, such as galaxies. You can share your hobby with your friends and relatives. Looking at the stars can be fun for people of all ages.
BEFORE setting up your telescope, you should
Read this sentence from the article.
A telescope is fragile and not very sturdy. It can break easily if it falls.
Which word has the OPPOSITE meaning of fragile?
Read this sentence from the article.
This eyepiece makes the telescopic images sharper.
The origin of the word telescopic comes from the Greek words tele meaning “distant” and scope meaning “see.” Therefore, events that are televised are watched by people who
AFTER opening the tripod’s legs and planting them firmly on the ground, you should
Read these sentences from the article.
But the moon’s brilliance can make it difficult to see some stars. Wait for a night when there is more darkness.
Which word means the OPPOSITE of brilliance in the sentences above?
Read this sentence from the article.
This will keep the image in the telescope steady so it does not waver.
Which word means the OPPOSITE of waver in the sentence above?
What happens WHILE you are looking through the eyepiece?
When using a star map, what must you do BEFORE you look at the sky?
Why is preparation important before using a telescope to look at the stars?
Read this sentence from the article.
Move the lens until the image is focused and not blurry.
Which word has the OPPOSITE meaning of focused?