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• Reading Comprehension 2

Level 5

Directions: Read the passage. Then answer the questions below.

Have you ever heard someone use the phrase “once in a blue moon?” People use this
expression to describe something that they do not do very often. For example, someone might say that
he tries to avoid eating sweets because they areunhealthy, but will eat chocolate “once in a blue moon.”
Or someone who does not usually like to go to the beach might say “I visit the shore once in a blue
moon.” While many people use this phrase, not everyone knows the meaning behind it.
The first thing to know is that the moon itself is never actually blue. This is just an expression. The
phrase “blue moon” actually has to do with the shapeof the moon, not the color.
As the moon travels around the earth, it appears to change shape. We associate certain names
with certain shapes of the moon. For example, when we can see a small part of the moon, it is called a
crescent moon. A crescent is a shape that looks like the tip of a fingernail. When we cannot see the moon
at all, it is called a new moon. When we can see the entire moon, it is called a full moon. Usually, there is
only one full moon every month. Sometimes, however, there will be two full moons in one month. When
this happens, the second full moon is called a “blue moon.”
Over the next 20 years, there will only be 15 blue moons. As you can see, a blue moon is a very
rare event. This fact has led people to use the expression “once in a blue moon” to describeother very
rare events in their lives.

Questions
1) W hich of the following would be a good example of someone doing something “once in a blue
moon”?
A. Mary likes to go to the mountains every weekend. Mary goes to the mountains once in a blue
moon.
B. Tom rarely remembers to take out the trash. Tom takes out the trash once in a blue moon.
C. Cindy hates to wash the dishes. Nevertheless,she does it every day. Cindy washes the dishes
once in a blue moon.
D. Ming sometimes forgets to do his homework. Ming forgets to do his homework once in a blue
moon.
2) W hen does a blue moon happen in nature?
A.
B.
C.
D.

when there are two full moons in one month
when the moon has a blue color
when we cannot see the moon at all
when we can only see a small part of the moon

©Copyright Read Theory LLC, 2012. All rights reserved.

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3) Using the passage as a guide, it can be understood that which of the following sentences does not
contain an expression?
A.
B.
C.
D.

Thomas has lost his mind.
An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
I'll mow the grass after I finish my homework.
It's never a bad time to start something new.

4) As described in paragraph 3,what is another example of something that has a crescent shape?
A.
B.
C.
D.

your thumb
a distant star
the letter “C”
the letter "H"

5) In the final paragraph, the author states: “Over the next 20 years, there will only be 15 blue moons.”
This means that over the next 20 years, a blue moon will happen
A.
B.
C.
D.

once a year
less than once a year
more than once a year
notenough information is provided

6) As used in the final paragraph, which is the best antonym for rare?
A.
B.
C.
D.

common
strange
colorful
infrequent

7) In the final paragraph the author writes, "As you can see, a blue moon is a very rare event." The
purpose of this statement is to
A.
B.
C.
D.

answer an earlier question
provide an example
support an upcoming conclusionchallenge a previous statement

© Copyright Read Theory LLC, 2012. All rights reserved.

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Answers and Explanations
1) B
In the first and last paragraphs, we learn that the phrase “once in a blue moon” describes very rare events. If Tom rarely re members
to take out the trash, then it makes sense to say he takes out the trash “once in a blue moon.” Therefore (B) is correct. (A) is...