Answer the questions at the end based on the text.

Essay is optional and no penalties for wrong answers. These changes will take place in SAT college exam. The changes include the use of some words more commonly used in school and on the job instead of the words such as "prevaricator" and "sagacious".

College Board officials said the change is needed to make the exam better representative of what students study in high school and the skills they need to succeed in college and afterward. The new exam will be rolled out in 2016, so this year's ninth graders will be the first to take it, in their junior year. The new SAT will continue to test reading, writing and math skills, with an emphasis on analysis. Scoring will return to a 1,600-point scale last used in 2004, with a separate score for the optional essay. For the first time, students will have the option of taking the test on computers.

They also said many students who are terrified they will be tested on lots of SAT words currently can ask for help: practicing with flashcards. They know flashcards are not the best way to build real word knowledge that lasts, but when the SAT rolls around they become the royal road. Students stop reading and start flipping.

The essay will be changed in other ways, too. It will measure students' ability to analyze and explain how an author builds an argument and it will also be up to colleges whether the essay will be required. Each exam will include a passage drawn from "founding documents": such as the Declaration of Independence or from discussions they've inspired. Instead of testing a wide range of math concepts, the new exam will focus on a few areas, like algebra, thought to be most needed for college and life afterward. A calculator will be allowed only on certain math questions, instead of on the entire math portion .

Jim Rawlins, the director of admissions at the University of Oregon, said the changes will potentially help the students but it will take a few years to know its influence, after the students go on to college. He said some colleges are still dealing with questions about the changes made in 2005, such as how to consider the essay portion. The criticism of the SAT is that students from wealthier families do better on the exam because they can afford expensive test preparation classes.

The SAT was taken last year by 1.7 million students. It has historically been more popular on the coasts, while the other main standardized college entrance exam, the ACT, dominated the central U.S. The ACT took over the SAT in total use in 2012, partly because it is taken by almost every junior in 13 states as part of those states' testing scheme .

ACT president Jon Erickson said when hearing of the SAT changes, his reaction was that they could've been talking about the ACT now. "I didn't hear anything new and different, so I was a little left wanting, at least at the end of this first announcement," Erickson said .

Bob Schaeffer, education director at the National Center for Fair & Open Testing, or FairTest, said it is laudable that the SAT will provide free test preparation, but it is unlikely to make a dent in the market for such preparation. He also said the new test is unlikely to be better than the current one. His organization has a database with institutions that don't require ACT or SAT scores to make admissions decisions.

1. What are they trying to improve?
2. What is that?
3. Is it an important one?
4. About how many people take it?
5. WHat is one of the updates to it?
6. When was that last used?
7. Does everyone have to take it on paper?
8. Is this a new development?
9. WHat is one of the ways to prepare for it?
10. WIll this have long term benefits?
11. Is there a written portion?
12. Is it mandatory?
13. Who decides whether it is necessary?
14. What other topics are covered?
15. Will this section be getting harder?
16. Is this test the only option?
17. What is the other(s)?
18. Where is it preferred?
19. Why?
20. WHat is a criticsm against the SAT?

Numbered answers:

A: 1. SAT
2. college exam
3. yes
4. 1.7 million students
5. Scoring will return to a 1,600-point scale
6. 2004
7. no
8. yes
9. flashcards
10. no
11. yes
12. no
13. students
14. a few areas, like algebra
15. unknown
16. no
17. ACT
18. central U.S.
19. it is taken by almost every junior in 13 states as part of those states' testing scheme .
20. students from wealthier families do better on the exam

Answer the questions at the end based on the text.

One hot afternoon in the summertime a family and their dog were getting ready to have a dinnertime picnic in the park. The dishes in the picnic included peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, watermelons, potato salad, and chocolate cookies. When they got to the park the father, George, was looking for a good place to have the picnic. While they were walking they bumped into their neighbors, Robert and Natalie, and their twins, Anson and Anne and their dog Emile. Robert explained that it was the twins' birthday and they were celebrating by going out for a walk. They said goodbye and kept looking for a picnic spot. He chose a nice spot under a tree that would keep the family cool. While setting up the picnic, the mother, Barbara, told the son, Ralph to go play with their dog, Scout, to pass some time until it was time for dinner. Ralph found a stick and began to play fetch with Scout down the hill. Some time passed and Ralph began to return to the picnic with Scout. Along the way back he picked a flower to give to his mom because it was Mother's day. When he arrived he gave the flower to his mom and she said, "Thank you so much, Ralph!" His mother poured him a cool and tasty glass of lemonade. It tasted extra good because it was so hot outside! Ralph sat down and enjoyed the picnic with his family under the large tree.

1. what did he give his mom?
2. Why?
3. What tasted good?
4. What was the temperature?
5. What did Ralph find?
6. What did he play with it?
7. Who with?
8. Who is the other dog?
9. Who is Ralph's dad?
10. And his mom?

Numbered answers:

A:
1. A flower.
2. Because it was Mother's day
3. A glass of lemonade.
4. It was hot.
5. A stick.
6. Fetch
7. Scout.
8. Emile.
9. George.
10. Barbara