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

1. What is the subject of this passage?
2. According to the passage, which of the following
options would make healthy, low-fat additions to
a school cafeteria’s offerings? (Circle all correct
answers.)
a. tofu
b. veggie burgers
c. low-fat milk
d. fries
e. salad bar
f. grilled chicken sandwiches
g. stir-fried vegetables
3. The meaning of mimic is
a. reject.
b. copy.
c. ignore.
d. disregard.
4. Which of the following best summarizes the
main idea of the passage?
a. Teenagers love to eat fast food more than any-
thing else.
b. School cafeterias should serve veggie burgers.
c. School cafeterias should be providing healthy,
low-fat options for students.
5. True or False: “One of the most important steps
in the right direction would be for school cafete-
rias to provide healthy, low-fat options for stu-
dents” is a topic sentence.
6. True or False: “One of the most important steps
in the right direction would be for school
cafeterias to provide healthy, low-fat options for
students” is an opinion.
–
P U T T I N G I T A L L T O G E T H E R
–
4 7
Marking Practice Passage 1
Before you check the answers, look again at the paragraph. Did you mark it up? If so, it may look something like this:
It is clear that the United States is a nation that needs to eat healthier and slim
down. One of the most important steps in the right direction would be for school
cafeterias to provide healthy, low-fat options for students. In every town and city,
an abundance of fast-food restaurants lure teenage customers with fast, inex-
pensive, and tasty food, but these foods are typically unhealthy. Unfortunately,
school cafeterias—in an effort to provide food that is appetizing to young
people—mimic fast food menus, often serving items such as burgers and fries,
pizza, hot dogs, and fried chicken. While these foods do provide some nutritional
value, they are relatively high in fat. Many of the lunch selections school cafete-
rias currently offer could be made healthier with a few simple and inexpensive
substitutions. Veggie burgers, for example, offered alongside beef burgers, would
be a positive addition. A salad bar would also serve the purpose of providing a
healthy and satisfying meal. And tasty grilled chicken sandwiches would be a far
better option than fried chicken. Additionally, the beverage case should be
stocked with containers of low-fat milk.
main idea
possible healthy
low-fat lunch
options
high-fat
lunch 
offerings
to copy

---