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Na m e : ___ Date: _
Directions: Follow the three directions for each passage.Reading Comprehension • Saddleback Educational Publishing ©2002 3 Watson, Irvine, CA 92618•Phone (888)SDL-BACK•www.sdlback.com
The word sphinxrefers to an imaginary
creature that appears in ancient myths
of Egypt and other cultures of the region.
The features vary from story to stor, but
frequently describe the sphinx as having
the head of a human, the body of a
lion, the tail of a serpent, and the wings
of a bird. The most famous sphinx is the
Great Sphinx, which stands near the
Great Pyramids in Egypt. The pyramids
are very old. This sphinx has the head
of a human and the body, legs, and tail
of a lion. It does not have wings.- Underline the sentence that gives the main idea of the paragraph.
- Cross out the sentence that gives a detail that does not belong.
- Write true or false: The sphinx is a purely Egyptian concept.____
(B)The area with the lowest elevation in the Western Hemisphere is known as
Death Valley. The lowest spot lies 282 feet below sea level, but this region is
not underwater—it is a desolate desert located in east-central California near
the Nevada border. It gets only about 2 inches of rainfall a year, and in
summer, temperatures of 120°F are common. Not many people live there.
Death Valley seems like a harsh name for a place, but the pioneers who
named it in the 1840s felt itwas well deserved.- Underline the sentence that summarizes the main idea of the paragraph.
- Cross out the sentence that gives a detail that does not belong.
- What does the boldfacedword “it” refer to? Fill in the bubble below:
O Death Valley O name O place
(A)