Answer the questions at the end based on the text.

Jessie felt her life so boring one summer day. She was tired of watching TV, she read all her books, and her friends were on vacation. She wanted something different to do. Suddenly, she saw the lawn mower sitting in the yard. "Mom," she shouted, ''I think I will mow the lawn." Her mom ran into the yard and said,"Oh no, you don't. You're too young to mow the lawn." "I'm fourteen years old and know how to do it," Jessie said. "Besides, it would help Dad out, and he won't have to worry about it over the weekend." Mom thought for a while and then decided to let Jessie give it a try. After all, she was home and would _ her. Jessie already knew how to start the lawn mower from watching her dad. Jessie checked the gas to make sure it was full, and put on her gardening gloves to protect her hands. Mom watched from the kitchen window. Jessie really does know how to mow the lawn. She was very careful around the flowers and trees. When she finished, she felt so good, but she was so hot. Mom brought her some ice tea and said, "You really did a great job. Dad will be very surprised." Later that day, Dad came home and said to Jessie's mom, "You didn't have to mow the lawn. I was going to do it on Saturday. It looks great. Thanks." "I didn't mow it. Jessie did." "Wow, our little girl is growing up!" Dad told Jessie what a great job she had done. "It was fun, and I will do it again next week," said Jessie. The neighbor next door came by and asked Jessie if she wanted to mow his lawn and make some money. "Sure!" said Jessie. Jessie began mowing his lawn. Two other neighbors asked so, then another three. Jessie was now mowing lawns for them all and making some money. She was no longer bored! "I won't have time to spend my money," she laughed to herself.

1. Who mowed the yard?
2. Who usually mows it?
3. Why did she want to mow it?
4. How did she learn to start it?
5. What did she do first?
6. Did she have any protective equipment?
7. what?
8. What kind?
9. What did she do when she got to trees and flowers?
10. What gave her the idea to mow
11. How did mom feel about it?
12. Why
13. How old was she?
14. Where was mom while she mowed?
15. What was she doing?
16. How did Jessie feel when she finished?
17. What did Dad think of it?
18. What did Jessie start doing for money?
19. How many yards?
20. Where were her friends?

Numbered answers:

A: 1. Jessie
2. Dad
3. she was bored
4. watching her dad
5. checked the gas
6. yes
7. gloves
8. gardening gloves
9. mowed careful
10. she saw the mower
11. worried
12. She thought she was too young?
13. fourteen
14. the kitchen
15. watching
16. good
17. it looked good
18. mowing
19. six
20. vacation

Answer the questions at the end based on the text.

Melissa Harris-Lacewell is associate professor of politics and African-American studies at Princeton University. She is the author of the award-winning book "Barbershops, Bibles, and BET: Everyday Talk and Black Political Thought" and writes a daily blog titled The Kitchen Table.

Melissa Harris-Lacewell says African-Americans remain skeptical about racial progress in the U.S.

PRINCETON, New Jersey (CNN) -- America was proud of itself for electing Barack Obama. The pride was not just partisan and ideological; it was also specifically and clearly racial.

The morning after Obama's win, The New York Times declared "Racial Barrier Falls in Decisive Victory." The Los Angeles Times asserted that "for the first time in human history, a largely white nation has elected a black man to be its paramount leader."

Some black commentators openly wept on election night, thrilled with witnessing the election of our first black president. Even Sen. John McCain, conceding defeat, pointed to the greatness of the American promise fulfilled in the election of his opponent. Obama's victory offered the possibility that the scars of America's racial legacy were healed or, at least, that they were less raw.

For many African-American citizens, the election of the first black U.S. president was cause for celebration and open-mouthed wonder about an outcome that seemed so unlikely just two years earlier, when Obama announced his bid.

Despite this joy, many black citizens were dubious that his victory represented the destruction of any particular racial barrier.

African-Americans were both proud of and excited about Obama, but in the 45 years since the passage of the Civil Rights Act, black Americans had seen doors to power, influence and wealth open just enough to admit just a few without fundamentally altering opportunities for the majority.

1. Who wept on election night?
2. Why?
3. Who was elected?
4. Who lost?
5. Why were some people skeptical?
6. How long had it been since the Civil Rights Act was passed?
7. What did the newspaper declare?
8. What did Obama's victory offer?
9. Who was dubious?
10. Why?
11. Who wrote the article?

Numbered answers:

A: 1. Some black commentators
2. thrilled with witnessing the election of our first black president
3. Obama
4. Sen. John McCain
5. racial progress
6. 45 years
7. "for the first time in human history, a largely white nation has elected a black man to be its paramount leader."
8. possibility that the scars of America's racial legacy were healed or, at least, that they were less raw
9. many black citizens
10. victory represented the destruction of any particular racial barrier.
11. unknown

Answer the questions at the end based on the text.

CHAPTER XI

TWO GIRLS AND A CALF

Having gone to the kitchen to fill the bottle with milk, which she had set to warm, Miriam accompanied her guest to the barn. As she walked by the side of Dora, with the bottle in one hand and the other holding up her voluminous silk robe, it was well for her peace of mind that no stately coachman sat upon a box and looked at her.

In a corner of the lower floor of the barn they found the calf, lying upon a bed of hay, and covered by a large piece of mosquito netting, which Miriam had fastened above and around him. Dora laughed as she saw this.

"It isn't every calf," she said, "that sleeps so luxuriously."

"The flies worried the poor thing dreadfully," said Miriam, "but I take it off when I feed it."

She proceeded to remove the netting, but she had scarcely done so, when she gave an exclamation that was almost a scream.

"Oh, dear, oh, dear!" she cried; "I believe it is dead," and down she sat upon the floor close to the calf, which lay motionless, with its head and neck extended. Down also sat Dora. She did not need to consider the hay-strewn floor and her clothes; for although she wore a very tasteful and becoming costume, it was one she had selected with reference to barn explorations, field strolls, and anything rural and dusty which any one else might be doing, or might propose. No one could tell what dusty and delightful occupation might turn up during an afternoon at Cobhurst.

1. Does every calf sleep luxuriously?
2. Who went to the kitchen?
3. Why did she go?
4. With what?
5. Was it warm or cold?
6. Who's side was she by?
7. What was she holding in one hand?
8. And in the other hand?
9. What was the calf doing?
10. On what?
11. What was covering it?
12. Was it large or small?
13. Why was the netting used?
14. Does the netting ever get taken off?
15. For what?
16. Was the calf dead?
17. What body parts were extended?
18. Who also sat down?
19. What was she wearing?

Numbered answers:

A:
1. no
2. Miriam
3. to fill the bottle
4. milk
5. she warmed it
6. Dora
7. the bottle
8. her robe
9. lying down
10. a bed of hay
11. mosquito netting
12. large
13. The flies worried it
14. yes
15. when it is fed
16. yes
17. its head and neck
18. Dora
19. a very tasteful and becoming costume