Reading Comprehension Success in 20 Minutes a Day, 3rd Edition

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17. Why did the narrator enjoy it when his father
drank too many “horns,” or drafts of liquor?
a. The father spoke brilliantly at those times.
b. The boy was then allowed to do as he pleased.
c. These were the only times when the father was
not abusive.
d. The boy was allowed to sample the drink
himself.
18. Judging by the sentences surrounding it, the
word “surmise” in the third paragraph most
nearly means
a. to form a negative opinion.
b. to praise.
c. to desire.
d. to guess.

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19. The mention of the dress in the second
paragraph is most likely meant to
a. show the similarity between its owner and
other members of the community.
b. show how warm the climate was.
c. show the dissimilarity between its owner and
other members of the community.
d. give us insight into the way most of the
women of the region dressed.
20. It can be inferred from the passage that Alec
Trimble is
a. a traveler.
b. a neighbor.
c. the narrator’s father.
d. a poet.
21. What is the meaning of the lines of verse quoted
in the passage?
a. Men who pretend to be virtuous are actually
vicious.
b. Moderate amounts of virtuousness and
viciousness are present in all men.
c. Virtuous men cannot also be vicious.
d. Whether men are virtuous or vicious depends
on the difficulty of their circumstances.
22. Which of the following adjectives best describes
the region in which the cabin is located?
a. remote
b. urban
c. agricultural