“Who Killed the Iceman” & “Skeletal Sculptures” Reading Comprehension Test

This 21-question multiple-choice reading comprehension and analysis test on the nonfiction selections “Who Killed the Iceman” from National Geographic (14 questions) & “Skeletal Sculptures” (7 questions) by an unknown author (from the textbook HOLT McDOUGAL LITERATURE, GRADE 9 ISBN-10: 0547115784) has questions from different levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy (revised). “Who Killed the Iceman” is 10 paragraphs (4 pages) in length and begins with the line: “He spent some 5,000 years frozen in a mountain glacier on the Austro-Italian border …” and concludes with the paragraph beginning with the line: ‘“I know it’s controversial,” he admits.’ “Skeletal Sculptures” is 10 paragraphs (4 pages), not counting the numbered steps in creating the facial sculpture and begins with the line: “Dr. Michael Charney is an expert in forensic anthropology” and concludes with the paragraph beginning with the line: “The model is now ready to be photographed and publicized in the media so that millions of amateur detectives …”.

It will test students’ literal and interpretive understanding of the selection including: point of view, making inferences, vocabulary (including words from SAT/ACT exams), cause and effect, figurative language, literary devices, author’s purpose, main idea, summarization, fact and opinion, analogies, and other elements of literature. Questions are modeled after standardized tests (SAT, ACT, and state tests) to familiarize students with the structure and vocabulary of standardized test questions. Questions are spaced 1.5 lines apart for comfortable reading. The questions also encourage students to go back and re-read key parts of the selection, a crucial skill for comprehension and improving reading stamina. Teachers are encouraged to remove/add questions as they see fit for their students. Answer key included. Editable MS Word Doc. You can use this product for years and years! Feedback is always welcomed and appreciated!

**PLEASE NOTE: Due to copyright restrictions, this product does not contain the reading selection(s).

**PLEASE NOTE: It is recommended that paragraphs be numbered as some questions refer to specific paragraphs in the selection.