1. Tom was running late for his meeting. He decided to take a shortcut, but he got lost. “I should have followed the main road,” he thought. What does “shortcut” mean in this context?

2. Lisa was preparing a cake. She realized halfway through that she didn’t have enough sugar. “I need to ______ some sugar from the store,” she said.

3. During the festival, people gathered in the park to enjoy the music and food. It was a ______ event, bringing the whole community together.

4. Peter has been practicing the piano for years. Now he can play complex pieces effortlessly. “Practice makes perfect,” he said. What does “effortlessly” mean in this context?

5. Sarah wanted to buy a dress for the party. She looked at several options but couldn’t make a decision. “I’m so ______,” she said.

6. While cleaning her room, Emma found an old photo album. She smiled as she looked through it, remembering the good times. What does “album” most likely mean in this context?

7. The company decided to give all employees a bonus as a reward for their hard work. What does “bonus” mean in this sentence?

8. Jessica’s essay was well-written, but her teacher asked her to make it more concise. What does “concise” mean in this context?

9. Maria always finds creative solutions to problems. Her boss said, “Your ability to think outside the box is impressive.” What does “think outside the box” mean?

10. While walking in the forest, John came across a small stream. He stopped to take a drink of water. What does “stream” mean in this sentence?

11. The students were given a challenging task. Instead of giving up, they worked harder and succeeded. What does this situation demonstrate?

12. After winning the lottery, James said, “I’m on cloud nine!” What does “on cloud nine” mean?

Passage 1

“Renewable energy, such as solar and wind power, is a key solution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Countries worldwide are investing in sustainable technologies to combat climate change. However, challenges like high costs and infrastructure limits remain.”

13. What is the main idea of the passage?

14. What does “sustainable” most likely mean in the passage?

15. What is one challenge of using renewable energy?

16. Why are countries investing in renewable energy?

Passage 2

“The rise of remote work has changed how people balance their personal and professional lives. While some enjoy the flexibility, others miss the social interactions of the office. Companies are exploring hybrid models to meet diverse needs.”

17. What is the main idea of the passage?

18. What does “flexibility” most likely mean in the passage?

19. Why are companies exploring hybrid models?

20. What does “social interactions” most likely mean in the passage?