On the evening of April 14, 2010, in towns across the Midwestern United States, the night sky flashed white, houses rattled, and the ground began to shake. The cause of all this wild activity was an invader from space. It was not aliens; it was a meteor streaking through Earth's atmosphere. There were no reported injuries, but many people were startled by the event. Officials from National Weather Service offices across the Midwest fielded reports of the phenomenon and said that it was visible from southwestern Wisconsin to central Missouri.
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The meteor was _________ for residents.
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A enchanting
B costly
C unexpected
D painful
C unexpected
The Bonneville Dam is near Portland, Oregon. Every year, wild salmon meet at the base of the dam. The fish then swim up the Columbia River to lay eggs. However, a big problem developed: Sea lions started visiting the dam. It was easy for them to catch and eat the salmon. People in Washington and Oregon grew worried. They made a plan to protect the fish. The plan was to scare away the sea lions. They used loud noises and shot beanbags at them. This did not always work, however. Some sea lions were not scared off. They kept eating the salmon.
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Some sea lions were _________.
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A strong
B quick
C kind
D brave
D brave
According to experts, some dogs have linguistic capacities comparable to those of language-trained apes and dolphins, even approaching the abilities of three-year-old children. Rico, a border collie from Germany, provides an especially striking example. Researchers asked Rico to retrieve a specific object—one he had never before encountered—from a room with several other familiar items. Rico was able to fetch the new object seven out of ten times. This suggests that Rico was able to reason that the new name could not refer to any of the familiar objects and must therefore refer to the new object. Four weeks later, he still remembered about half of the new vocabulary.
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Rico _________ the new vocabulary.
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A dictated
B enriched
C comprehended
D portrayed
C comprehended
China has become a global financial power. For evidence, look no farther than the Shanghai Tower. When finished, it will stand 2,074 feet (632 meters) tall. The tower will be China's tallest building. Only the Burj Khalifa in Dubai will be taller. The Shanghai Tower points to a change in world economics. Fewer skyscrapers are constructed in America now—partly because the economy has weakened. China can also afford environmental innovations in its tallest skyscraper. Wind turbines on the roof will produce power. Rainwater will heat and cool the building. The outside glass will let in sunlight. This will help the building's nine sky gardens grow.
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Building skyscrapers is a sign of economic _________.
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A relief
B reaction
C protection
D strength
D strength
The world's strongest winds can be found in jet streams high in the sky. Jet streams carry winds that regularly exceed 100 miles (161 kilometers) per hour. They are found 4 to 10 miles (6.5 to 16 kilometers) off the ground. However, this does not mean that they are out of reach as a possible energy source. Scientists are developing kite-like turbines. These devices fly, swoop, and float miles above Earth. They will turn high-altitude winds into low-cost power. Harnessing this wind energy could be very useful. Scientists calculate that there is a great deal of energy in the jet streams. This energy is 100 times the amount of power used worldwide each year.
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Scientists want to use jet streams to make _________.
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A electricity
B chemicals
C forecasts
D connections
A electricity
For years, Ndongo Ndiaye lived the life of a professional international athlete, playing basketball in countries as diverse as Lebanon, Japan, and France. Although he left his home country Senegal during high school, he supported his family and his village throughout his career. In 2003, Ndiaye initiated a program called Sports for Education and Economic Development in Senegal (SEEDS). Programs like SEEDS—both a school and a basketball academy—did not exist when Ndiaye was young. If they had, he believes that he might have refined his skills enough to live his ultimate dream and play in the NBA himself.
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Ndiaye is continuing his _________ off the basketball court.
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A countdown
B testimonials
C exhibitions
D legacy