7 How to Improve Reading Comprehension

Key Point
Good reading means building frameworks for connecting words to
thoughts.

The Purpose of Reading.

The purpose of reading is to connect the ideas on the page to what you
already know. If you don't know anything about a subject, then pouring
words of text into your mind is like pouring water into your hand. You
don't retain much. For example, try reading these numbers:

7516324 This is hard to read and remember.

751-6324 This is easier because of chunking.
123-4567 This is easy to read because of prior knowledge and
structure.

Similarly, if you like sports, then reading the sports page is easy. You
have a framework in your mind for reading, understanding and storing
information.

Improving Comprehension.

Reading comprehension requires motivation, mental frameworks for

holding ideas, concentration and good study techniques. Here are
some suggestions.

Develop a broad background.

Broaden your background knowledge by reading newspapers,
magazines and books. Become interested in world events.

Know the structure of paragraphs.

Good writers construct paragraphs that have a beginning, middle and
end. Often, the first sentence will give an overview that helps provide a
framework for adding details. Also, look for transitional words, phrases
or paragraphs that change the topic.

Identify the type of reasoning.

Does the author use cause and effect reasoning, hypothesis, model
building, induction or deduction, systems thinking? See section 20 for
more examples on critical thinking skills.

Anticipate and predict.

Really smart readers try to anticipate the author and predict future
ideas and questions. If you're right, this reinforces your understanding.
If you're wrong, you make adjustments quicker.

Look for the method of organization.

Is the material organized chronologically, serially, logically,
functionally, spatially or hierarchical? See section 10 for more
examples on organization.

Create motivation and interest.

Preview material, ask questions, discuss ideas with classmates. The
stronger your interest, the greater your comprehension.

Pay attention to supporting cues.

Study pictures, graphs and headings. Read the first and last paragraph
in a chapter, or the first sentence in each section.

Highlight, summarize and review.

Just reading a book once is not enough. To develop a deeper
understanding, you have to highlight, summarize and review important
ideas.

Build a good vocabulary.

For most educated people, this is a lifetime project. The best way to
improve your vocabulary is to use a dictionary regularly. You might
carry around a pocket dictionary and use it to look up new words. Or,
you can keep a list of words to look up at the end of the day.
Concentrate on roots, prefixes and endings.

Use a systematic reading technique like SQR3.

Develop a systematic reading style, like the SQR3 method and make
adjustments to it, depending on priorities and purpose. The SQR3 steps
include Survey, Question, Read, Recite and Review. See Section 14 for
more details.

Monitor effectiveness.
Good readers monitor their attention, concentration and effectiveness.
They quickly recognize if they've missed an idea and backup to reread
it.

Should You Vocalize Words?

Yes, although it is faster to form words in your mind rather than on

your lips or throat. Eye motion is also important. Frequent backtracking
slows you down considerably.
Copyright 1991 Donald Martin, How to be a Successful Student
Can we see (1) ......... the earth is a globe? Yes, we can, when we watch
a ship that sails out to sea. If we watch closely, we see that the ship
begins (2) ........ . The bottom of the ship disappears first, and then the
ship seems to sink lower and lower, (3) ......... we can only see the top
of the ship, and then we see nothing at all. What is hiding the ship from
us? It is the earth. Stick a pin most of the way into an orange, and
(4) ......... turn the orange away from you. You will see the pin
disappear, (5) ......... a ship does on the earth.

1.

A. if
B. where
C. that
D. whether
E. when

2.

A. being disappeared
B. to be disappeared
C. to have disappeared
D. to disappear
E. having disappeared

3.

A. until
B. since
C. after
D. by the time
E. unless

4.

A. reluctantly
B. accidentally
C. slowly
D. passionately
E. carefully

5.
A. the same
B. alike
C. just as
D. by the way
E. similar to

Answers
1. C
2. D
3. A
4. C
5. C

After months of colder weather, the days get longer, the buds
(1) ............ in the trees, birds sing, and the world (2) ............ a green
dress. Spring passes (3) ............ summer. Everyone knows that
summer will not (4) ............ . The power of all the wisest men and
women in the world cannot keep it for us. The corn becomes ripe, the
leaves turn brown and then drop to the ground, (5) ............ the world
changes its green dress for a dress of autumn colors.

1.

A. fall off
B. take up
C. put off
D. come out
E. bring down

2.

A. looks after
B. puts on
C. carries on
D. comes round
E. deals with

3.

A. into
B. by
C. from
D. on
E. out of
4.

A. forego
B. evaluate
C. succumb
D. last
E. evolve

5.

A. yet
B. therefore
C. since
D. whereas
E. and

Answers
1. D
2. B
3. A
4. D
5. E

The postal service is the government agency (1) ----- handles the mail.
Its job is (2) ----- letters and packages to people and businesses all over
the world. Its goal is to see that your mail gets to its destination (3) -----
possible. People (4) ----- the postal service to deliver important letters
and even valuables, (5) ----- time and to the right person.

1.

A. the fact that

B. whether
C. of which
D. that
E. in that

2.

A. being delivered
B. to be delivered
C. to have delivered
D. having delivered
E. to deliver

3.

A. less quickly
B. too quickly
C. so quickly that
D. as quickly as
E. the most quickly

4.

A. back out
B. check out
C. come in
D. figure out
E. rely on

5.

A. to
B. for
C. at
D. on
E. over

Answers

1. D
2. E
3. D
4. E
5. D

Petroleum, or crude oil, is one of the world's (1) ----- natural resources.
Plastics, synthetic fibres, and (2) ----- chemicals are produced from
petroleum. It is also used to make lubricants and waxes. (3) ----- , its
most important use is as a fuel for heating, for (4) -- --- electricity, and
(5) ----- for powering vehicles.

1.
A. as important
B. most important
C. so importantly
D. less importantly
E. too important

2.

A. much
B. a lot
C. plenty
D. many
E. less

3.

A. Therefore
B. However
C. Moreover
D. Hence
E. Rather

4.

A. generated
B. to generate
C. being generated
D. generate
E. generating

5.

A. decisively
B. exclusively
C. especially
D. favourably
E. notably

Answers
1. B
2. D
3. B
4. E
5. C

When all the people had assembled, the king, surrounded by his court,
xx1xx a signal. Then a door beneath him opened, and the accused
man stepped out into the arena. Directly opposite him were two doors,
exactly xx2xx and side by side. It was the duty and the privilege of the
person on trial to walk directly to these xx3xx and open one of them.
He xx4xx open either door he pleased; he was subject to no guidance
or influence but that of impartial and incorruptible chance. If he
opened the one, there came out of it a hungry tiger, the fiercest and
most cruel that could be found, which xx5xx sprang upon him and tore
him to pieces as a punishment for his guilt. But, if the accused person
opened the other door, out of it came a xx6xx lady, and to this lady he
was immediately married, as a reward of his innocence. This was the
xx7xx method of administering justice. Its perfect fairness is obvious.
The criminal could xx8xx know out of which door would come the lady;
he opened either he pleased, without having the slightest xx9xx
whether, in the next instant, he was to be devoured or married. So the
accused person was instantly xx10xx if guilty, and, if innocent, he was
rewarded on the spot.

Adapted from The Lady or the Tiger by Frank Stockton

1. xx1xx
a) give
b) gives
c) gave
d) given
2. xx2xx
a) alike
b) different
c) big
d) closed
3. xx3xx
a) door
b) doors
c) people
d) signals
4. xx4xx
a) should
b) would
c) must
d) could
5. xx5xx
a) immediately
 b) usually
c) sometimes
d) frequently
6. xx6xx
a) suddenly
b) angry
c) beautiful
d) old
7. xx7xx
a) criminal's
b) king's
c) lady's
d) tiger's
8. xx8xx
a) even
b) also
c) especially
d) not
9. xx9xx
a) interest
b) belief
c) idea
d) reason
10. xx10xx
a) punish
b) punishing
c) punishes
d) punished
11. How many doors could the person choose from?
a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) 4
12. The main purpose of the custom discussed was
a) entertainment.
b) justice.
c) religious observation.
d) to get money.
13. Who decided which door was to be opened?
a) the criminal
b) the people in the arena
c) the king
d) the lady
14. The word assembled in the first sentence means
a) lifted
b) gathered
 c) expected
d) opened
15. The word innocent in the last sentence means
a) not happy
b) not angry
not usual
d) not guilty

READING #2
The most extraordinary dream I ever xx1xx was one in which I fancied
that, as I was going into a theater, the cloak-room attendant stopped
me in the lobby and insisted on my xx2xx my legs behind. I was not
surprised; but I was considerably annoyed. I said I had never heard of
such a rule at any respectable theater xx3xx, and that I considered it a
most absurd regulation. The man replied that he was very xx4xx, but
that those were his instructions. People complained that they could not
get to and from their xx5xx comfortably, because other people's legs
were always in the way; and it had, therefore, been decided that xx6xx
should leave their legs outside. It seemed to me that the management,
in making this order, had gone xx7xx their legal right; and, under
ordinary circumstances, I should have disputed it. However, I didn't
want to xx8xx a disturbance; and so I sat down and meekly prepared
to comply with the demand. I had never before xx9xx that the human
leg could be unscrewed. I had always thought it was more securely
fixed. But the man showed me how to undo them, and I found that
they came off quite easily. The discovery did not surprise xx10xx any
more than the original request that I should take them off. Nothing
does surprise one in a dream.

Adapted from Dreams, by Jerome K. Jerome

1. xx1xx
a) was
b) saw
c) had
d) wanted
2. xx2xx
a) leave
b) leaves
c) leaving
d) left
3. xx3xx
a) before
b) after
 c) during
d) so
4. xx4xx
a) angry
b) sorry
c) friendly
d) helpful
5. xx5xx
a) homes
b) jobs
c) arms
d) seats
6. xx6xx
a) somebody
b) everybody
c) anybody
d) nobody
7. xx7xx
a) beyond
b) from
c) to
d) around
8. xx8xx
a) understand
b) know
c) make
d) learn
9. xx9xx
a) know
b) known
c) knowing
d) knows
10. xx10xx
a) him
b) them
c) me
d) us
11. The word extraordinary in the first sentence means
a) wonderful
b) unusual
c) terrible
d) funny
12. How did the writer feel about being asked to leave his legs hehind?
a) angry
b) scared
c) surprised
 d) happy
13. When the writer was asked to leave his legs behind, he
a) did not do it.
b) was not able to do it.
c) did it.
d) ran away.
14. True or False: The writer was the only person who had to remove
his legs.
a) True.
b) False.
15. True or False: The writer had never removed his legs before.
a) True.
b) False.

READING #3
There once lived a poor tailor who had a son called Aladdin, a
careless, idle boy xx1xx would do nothing but play all day long in the
streets with little idle boys like himself. This so grieved the father that
xx2xx died; yet, in spite of his mother's tears and prayers, Aladdin did
not mend his ways. One day, when he was playing in the streets as
usual, a stranger xx3xx him if he was not the son of Mustapha the
tailor. "I am, sir," replied Aladdin; "but he xx4xx a long while ago." On
this the stranger, who was a famous magician, fell on his neck and
kissed him saying: "I am your uncle, and xx5xx you from your likeness
to my brother. Go to your mother and tell her I am coming." Aladdin
ran home and told his mother of his newly found uncle. "Indeed, child,"
she said, "your father had a xx6xx, but I always thought he was dead."
However, she prepared supper, and told Aladdin to seek his uncle, who
came laden with wine and fruit. He fell down and kissed the place
where Mustapha used to sit, telling Aladdin's mother not to be xx7xx at
not having seen him before, as he had been out of the country for forty
years. He then turned to Aladdin, and asked him his trade, at which the
boy hung his head, while his mother burst into tears. On learning that
Aladdin was idle and had learned xx8xx trade, he offered to get a shop
for him and stock it with merchandise. The next xx9xx he bought
Aladdin a fine suit of clothes and took him all over the city, showing
him the sights, and brought him home at nightfall xx10xx his mother,
who was overjoyed to see her son dressed so fine.

Adapted from Aladdin and the Lamp.

1. xx1xx
a) he
b) who
c) which
 d) what
2. xx2xx
a) he
b) they
c) someone
d) nobody
3. xx3xx
a) asks
b) asked
c) was asking
d) had asked
4. xx4xx
a) dead
b) is dead
c) dies
d) died
5. xx5xx
a) saw
b) thought
c) understood
d) recognized
6. xx6xx
a) brother
b) father
c) friend
d) nephew
7. xx7xx
a) surpise
b) surprised
c) surprising
d) in surprise
8. xx8xx
a) a
b) some
c) any
d) no
9. xx9xx
a) day
b) time
c) one
d) thing
10. xx10xx
a) for
b) with
c) to
d) from
11. TRUE or FALSE: Aladdin's father died recently.
a) TRUE
b) FALSE
12. TRUE or FALSE: Aladdin had never seen his uncle before.
a) TRUE
b) FALSE
13. The word careless in the first sentence means something like
a) busy
b) lazy
c) friendly
d) hungry
14. TRUE or FALSE: Aladdin's mother did not trust the "uncle".
a) TRUE
b) FALSE
15. TRUE or FALSE: Adaddin's mother was angry about the new suit of
clothes that his uncle bought for him.
a) TRUE
b) FALSE

READING #4
In Ancient Greece lived a young man called Narcissus, who was
greatly xx1xx, for he was very handsome. Narcissus was very proud of
his perfect face and graceful body, and never lost the chance to xx2xx
his reflection in any body of water he happened to pass. He would lie
for hours admiring his gleaming dark eyes, slender nose, slim hips and
the mop of curly xx3xx that crowned the perfect oval of his face. You
would think a sculptor had come down xx4xx heaven to carve such a
faultless body as a living image of mankind's love of beauty. One day,
Narcissus was walking close to a precipice where the clear waters of a
cold mountain pool mirrored his beautiful face. "You are handsome,
Narcissus!" he told xx5xx as he bent down to admire his reflection.
"There's nobody xx6xx handsome in the whole world! I'd love to kiss
you." Narcissus was suddenly seized by the desire to kiss his own
reflection and he bent down closer to the water. But he lost his balance
and toppled into the pool. Narcissus could not xx7xx and so he
drowned. But when the gods discovered that the xx8xx beautiful being
on earth had died, they decided that such beauty could not be xx9xx.
The gods turned Narcissus into a scented flower which, to this day,
blossoms in the mountains in spring, and which is xx10xx called
Narcissus.

Adapted from The Myth of Narcissus

1. xx1xx
a) admire
 b) admires
c) admiring
d) admired
2. xx2xx
a) look
b) look at
c) look out
d) look up
3. xx3xx
a) hat
b) hair
c) hill
d) ears
4. xx4xx
a) from
b) to
c) of
d) by
5. xx5xx
a) him
b) himself
c) them
d) myself
6. xx6xx
a) so
b) such
c) more
d) too
7. xx7xx
a) stay
b) help
c) swim
d) jump
8. xx8xx
a) best
b) first
c) greatest
d) most
9. xx9xx
a) forget
b) forgot
c) forgotten
d) forgetful
10. xx10xx
a) only
b) still
 c) just
d) finally
11. Which word describes the character of Narcissus?
a) modest
b) dishonest
c) careful
d) proud
12. The word admired in the first sentence means
a) hated and feared
b) ridiculed or made fun of
c) loved and respected
d) misunderstood and unappreciated
13. Which job would Narcissus probably have if he were alive today?
a) teacher
b) doctor
c) actor
d) gardener
14. TRUE or FALSE: Narcissus thought himself handsome but others did
not think he was.
a) TRUE
b) FALSE
15. The gods turned Narcissus into a flower
a) to memorialize him.
b) to punish him.
c) because that is what he wanted.
d) as a joke.

READING #5
Ichabod's hair rose upon xx1xx head with terror. What was to be
done? It was now too late to turn and run; and besides, what chance
was there of escaping a ghost or goblin, if such it was, which could ride
upon the wings of the wind? Summoning up all of his courage, he said
in a stammering voice, "Who are you?" He received xx2xx reply. He
repeated his demand in a still more agitated voice. Still there was no
answer. Once more he xx3xx the sides of his horse, and, shutting his
eyes, broke into a religious song. Just then the shadowy object put
itself in motion, and with a scramble and a bound stood at once in the
middle of the road. Though the xx4xx was dark and dismal, yet the
form of the unknown might now in some degree be ascertained. He
appeared to be a large horseman mounted on a powerful black horse.
He made no gesture of threat or greeting. Ichabod, who had no liking
for this strange midnight companion now quickened his horse in hopes
of xx5xx him behind. The stranger, xx6xx, quickened his horse to an
equal pace. Ichabod pulled up, and fell into a walk, thinking to lag
behind, but the other did the same. His heart began to sink within him;
he tried to resume his song, but his dry tongue stuck to the roof of his
mouth, and he could not utter a sound. There was something in the
silence of his xx7xx that was mysterious and disturbing. It was soon
fearfully accounted for. On mounting a rising ground, which brought
the figure of his fellow-traveler in relief against the sky, gigantic in
height, and muffled in a cloak, Ichabod was horror-struck on xx8xx that
he was headless! but his xx9xx increased on observing that the
xx10xx, which should have rested on his shoulders, was carried before
him on the pommel of his saddle!

Adapted from The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving

1. xx1xx
a) a
b) the
c) his
d) that
2. xx2xx
a) a
b) no
c) any
d) some
3. xx3xx
a) beat
b) beats
c) is beating
d) was beaten
4. xx4xx
a) time
b) night
c) song
d) voice
5. xx5xx
a) leave
b) leaves
c) leaving
d) left
6. xx6xx
a) although
b) however
c) moreover
d) futhermore
7. xx7xx
a) friend
b) enemy
c) horseman
 d) companion
8. xx8xx
a) hearing
b) seeing
c) feeling
d) saying
9. xx9xx
a) happiness
b) interest
c) enjoyment
d) horror
10. xx10xx
a) horse
b) saddle
c) companion
d) head
11. What was Ichabod afraid of?
a) ghosts
b) wild animals
c) robbers
d) his horse.
12. What does the word terror in the first sentence mean?
a) enjoyment
b) hope
c) fear
d) effort
13. When Ichabod spoke to the horseman, the horseman
a) greeted him
b) said nothing
c) threatened him
d) made a gesture
14. The horseman
a) was Ichabod's friend.
b) was trying to rob Ichabod.
c) had no head.
d) wanted Ichabod's help.
15. The word observing in the last sentence means
a) fearing
b) wondering
c) asking
d) seeing

READING #6
Tarzan had xx1xx scarce a dozen steps toward the jungle when a
great form rose up before him from the shadows of a low bush. At
xx2xx he thought it was one of his own people but in another instant
he realized that it was a huge gorilla. So close was he that there was
no xx3xx for flight and little Tarzan knew that he must stand and fight
for his life; for these great beasts were the deadly xx4xx of his tribe,
and neither one nor the other ever asked or gave quarter. Had Tarzan
been a full-grown bull ape of the species of his tribe he would have
xx5xx more than a match for the gorilla, but being only a little English
boy, though enormously muscular for such, he stood no chance against
his cruel antagonist. In his veins, though, flowed the xx6xx of the best
of a race of mighty fighters, and back of this was the training of his
short lifetime xx7xx the fierce brutes of the jungle. He knew no fear, as
we know it; his little heart beat the faster but from the excitement and
exhilaration of adventure. Had the opportunity presented itself he
would have escaped, but solely xx8xx his judgment told him he was no
match for the great thing which confronted him. And since reason
xx9xx him that successful flight was xx10xx, he met the gorilla
squarely and bravely without a tremor of a single muscle, or any sign
of panic.

Adapted from TARZAN of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs

1. xx1xx
a) been
b) found
c) been made
d) taken
2. xx2xx
a) first
b) last
c) least
d) most
3. xx3xx
a) reason
b) chance
c) business
d) help
4. xx4xx
a) people
b) animals
c) friends
d) enemies
5. xx5xx
a) had
b) seen
c) been
d) believed
6. xx6xx
a) water
b) blood
c) fame
d) anger
7. xx7xx
a) among
b) in
c) between
d) of
8. xx8xx
a) because
b) that
c) now
d) in
9. xx9xx
a) shows
b) showed
c) is showing
d) was showed
10. xx10xx
a) easy
b) dangerous
c) impossible
d) expected
11. Tarzan's tribe was made up of
a) people
b) gorillas
c) apes
d) indians
12. Tarzan was a
a) boy
b) man
c) gorilla
d) ape
13. TRUE or FALSE: Tarzan was afraid to fight with the gorilla.
a) TRUE
b) FALSE
14. The last word in the text, panic, means
a) enjoyment
b) hope
c) fear
d) thought
15. TRUE or FALSE: Tarzan will fight the gorilla.
a) TRUE
b) FALSE
READING #7
Death is not necessarily a failure of energy on the part of the Life
Force. People with no xx1xx try to make things which will last forever,
and even want to live forever themselves. But the xx2xx man knows
very well that it is a waste of labor to make a machine that will last ten
years, because it will probably be superseded in half that time by an
improved machine xx3xx the same purpose. He also knows that if
somebody were to convince us that our dream of personal immortality
is no dream but a hard xx4xx, such a shriek of despair would go up
xx5xx the human race as no other conceivable horror could provoke.
We xx6xx voluntarily, knowing that it is time for us to be scrapped, to
be remanufactured. We must all be born again, and yet again and
again. No man is willing to make a serious effort to keep alive. The
xx7xx he sees death approach, he gets into bed and sends for a
doctor. He knows very xx8xx at the back of his conscience that he is
rather a poor job and xx9xx be remanufactured. He knows that his
xx10xx will make room for a birth.

Adapted from A Treatise on Parents and Children by George Bernard

Shaw

1. xx1xx
a) luck
b) time
c) imagination
d) hope
2. xx2xx
a) intelligent
b) lazy
c) friendly
d) ridiculous
3. xx3xx
a) answer
b) answers
c) answering
d) answered
4. xx4xx
a) choice
b) situation
c) memory
d) fact
5. xx5xx
a) to
b) from
 c) about
d) with
6. xx6xx
a) remain
b) try
c) die
d) become
7. xx7xx
a) moment
b) fear
c) reason
d) hope
8. xx8xx
a) much
b) well
c) few
d) special
9. xx9xx
a) can be
b) was
c) might have been
d) ought to be
10. xx10xx
a) health
b) death
c) decision
d) condition
11. True or False: The author says that people will be very happy if it
becomes possible to live forever.
a) True
b) False
12. True or False: The author says that people die willingly.
a) True
b) False
13. True or False: The author thinks that we should try to make
machines that will last forever.
a) True
b) False
14. The pronoun He in the last sentence refers to
a) God
b) the author
c) the doctor
d) a typical person
15. The main idea of this paragraph is that
a) people would like to live forever
b) machines do not have to last a long time
 c) death is necessary
d) people do not have enough imagination

READING #8
Most men and women pass xx1xx life without ever considering or
criticising xx2xx their own conditions or those of the world at large.
They find themselves born into a certain place in society, and they
accept what each day xx3xx, without any thought beyond what the
immediate present requires. They seek the satisfaction of the needs of
the moment, without much forethought, and without thinking that by
sufficient effort the conditions of their lives xx4xx be changed. A
certain percentage, guided by personal ambition, make the effort of
thought and will which is necessary to place themselves among the
more xx5xx members of the community; but very few among these are
seriously concerned to secure for all the advantages which they seek
for xx6xx. Only a few rare and exceptional men have that kind of love
toward mankind at large that makes them unable to endure patiently
the general mass of evil and suffering, xx7xx of any relation it may
have to their own lives. These few, driven by sympathetic pain, will
seek for some new system of society by which life may become richer,
more full of xx8xx and less full of preventable evils xx9xx it is at
present. But in the past such men have, as a rule, failed to interest the
very victims of the injustices xx10xx they wished to remedy.

Adapted from Proposed Roads To Freedom by Bertrand Russell

1. xx1xx
a) out
b) at
c) through
d) above
2. xx2xx
a) if
b) either
c) when
d) both
3. xx3xx
a) was
b) finishes
c) brings
d) is missing
4. xx4xx
a) could
b) must
 c) would
d) had better
5. xx5xx
a) numerous
b) innocent
c) honest
d) fortunate
6. xx6xx
a) him
b) them
c) themselves
d) anyone
7. xx7xx
a) despite
b) regardless
c) because
d) on account
8. xx8xx
a) problems
b) themselves
c) excuses
d) joy
9. xx9xx
a) than
b) which
c) although
d) when
10. xx10xx
a) who
b) which
c) where
d) whom
11. According to the text, most people
a) want to help others who are less fortunate.
b) envy the good fortune of others.
c) want to see society change.
d) accept things the way they are.
12. According to the text, people who try to improve the living
conditions of others are
a) dishonest.
b) not wise.
c) unusual.
d) politicians.
13. According to the text, when people try to improve the conditions of
less fortunate people, the less fortunate people are usually
a) not interested.
 b) thankful.
c) angry.
d) suspicious.
14. The expression at large in the first sentence means
a) especially
b) generally
c) actually
d) accidentally
15. The word very in the last sentence means
a) too many
b) a lot of
c) specific
d) every