Students need to gain lots of practice working with nonfiction passages. This prepares them for more advanced course work. Here are some nonfiction reading passages, worksheets, and online practice activities to give students practice. I recommend using the online versions of the activities if you have access to technology in your classroom. It will save you some grading and these activities include questions formatted as extended response in addition to multiple choice. Students can print, save, or email their results. I think it's pretty cool. Just make sure you tell students to save their scores and responses for their own records, if you are using email delivery. Then they will always have a backup for record keeping.
These activities are sorted by grade level. I welcome comments and suggestions.
Where would American culture be without TV? Television has impacted society in profound ways. Modern streaming options may be taking over living rooms today, but TV has played a significant role in culture since its creation. Learn about its history and answer multiple-choice and long response questions in this reading test. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 1-5.
Chess has been played for hundreds of years. This test covers some basics of the game of kings. This test is for earlier readers, but the multiple-choice and long response questions are rigorous and aligned with Common Core State Standards. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 1-5.
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Wearing your seat belt is such a simple thing, but it can save your life. Find out why in this short persuasive text, and then answer Common Core aligned multiple-choice and extended-response questions. This is more great practice for standardized tests. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 2-6.
There's a reason why Tetris is the most popular video game of all time. Learn about this classic game and then answer multiple-choice and long response questions in this fun and exciting reading practice test. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 2-6.
The Coliseum is one of the world's most recognizable images. Learn about its rich and interesting history and then answer multiple-choice and extended response questions. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 2-6.
The Pony Express was the fastest way to get mail from California to the rest of the nation in the early 1860s. The exciting nature of the enterprise has earned the Pony Express a place in American folklore. Learn about the Pony Express in this text and answer multiple-choice and extended response questions based on the passage. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 2-6.
Wintertime can be rough. Getting through the wintertime is harder on some species than on others. Learn about how different animals survive the winter and then answer multiple-choice and long response questions. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 2-6
Metal detectors aren't just for treasure hunters. Find out some of the ways that metal detectors are used in our society in this text. Then answer multiple choice and extended response questions. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 2-6.
Money is a great way to get students' attention. This passage summarizes the origins and evolution of money. Readers answer multiple-choice and long-response questions. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 3-7.
Redwoods are known for being the largest trees in the world. Why do they grow so tall? How does that affect their lives? How does that connect to human activity? Learn more by reading this interesting text. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 3-7.
The day after Thanksgiving is known as Black Friday. It is the most notorious shopping day of the year. Learn about this cultural phenomenon in this short text and then answer multiple-choice and long response questions. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 3-7.
Hummingbirds are some of nature's most interesting creatures. Students will learn about these remarkable creatures while answering multiple-choice and extended response questions in this activity. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 3-7.
This is a reading passage about reading. Isn't that meta? The passage questions why so many students work so hard to get out of reading assignments in this short persuasive piece. Of course, this activity includes multiple-choice and extended-response questions after the passage. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 3-7.
Computers control so many aspects of our lives. As a society, we depend on them in many regards. What if these systems went down? This passage explains the Y2K bug to readers. Students answer multiple-choice and extended response questions. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 3-7.
Our actions can have far reaching consequences. Sometimes these consequences can surprise us. Learn about a phenomenon known as the cobra effect and answer comprehension and inference questions. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8.
Paper money is a funny thing. The only value it really has is given to it by society. This value can change rapidly under certain conditions. Learn more about hyperinflation in the Weimar Republic (Germany) after World War I in this interesting short passage. Then answer Common Core aligned multiple-choice and extended-response questions. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8.
The dodo is probably the world's most popular and well known extinct animal. Learn more about these fascinating creatures and their disappearance in this short text. Answer multiple-choice and long response questions to sharpen skills. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8.
Hatters are people who make hats. Historically, hatters have been associated with madness. This nonfiction passage explores the maddening reasons why. Suggested reading level for this text: Grades 4-8.
Diamonds are not only beautiful, they are the hardest material on Earth. They also come in many colors. Find out why in this informative passage. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8.
You don't have to be big to make a big discovery. This short reading passage about child inventors will inspire your students. It will also give them practice with nonfiction reading skills. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8.
Did you know that honey badgers can sleep off cobra venom? It's true. Though small in size, the honey badger is renowned for its fighting spirit. Learn how they fight off much larger animals in this reading passage. Then answer Common Core aligned multiple-choice and extended response questions, so that you can run up on a standardized test like a honey badger! Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8.
Koko is one special gorilla. Not only can she communicate in sign language, but her Facebook page has more Likes than mine. Learn about this unique creature in this short nonfiction passage and then answer multiple-choice and extended-response questions. All questions are aligned with Common Core State Standards. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8.
Plants are known for sitting still, but some plants are devious killers. Learn more about the amazing world of carnivorous plants with this short text. Then answer CCSS aligned multiple-choice and extended-response questions. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8
Many mysterious disappearances have happened in the region known as the Bermuda Triangle. Boats, planes, and people have vanished. Some think paranormal or supernatural activity is at work. Skeptics think otherwise. Learn more about the Bermuda Triangle and its history in this article. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8.
How many company names grow to become commonly used verbs? It can't be that many. Anyway, learn about one or two of them in this short reading passage and test your comprehension with Common Core aligned multiple-choice and long-response questions. This is great practice for standardized tests. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8.
Mongooses are cute, furry, and known for killing deadly cobras. They are revered in India yet despised in Hawaii. Find out why in this nonfiction text. Improve your reading skills by answering multiple-choice and extended-response questions. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8.
Computer hackers are scary, but learning about their attacks can help to keep you safe. This text teaches readers about a common attack, and how to protect against it. It covers reading skills like main idea, author's purpose, and making inferences. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8.
Asian carp were imported to America to assist with a problem, but they escaped containment. Now they are threatening the Great Lakes' fishing industry. Learn more by reading this short text. Then sharpen your skills with Common Core aligned multiple-choice and long-response questions. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 5-9.
E.T. for the Atari has been widely condemned as the worst game ever. Learn why while answering reading comprehension questions in this awesome nonfiction reading test. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 5-9
Trash cans are amazing. You just fill them up with garbage and leave them in the corner, and then all of your trash disappears. Find out where it goes in this informative reading passage, and then answer multiple-choice and long response questions. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 5-9.
What would the ER be like without trampolines? It wouldn't be nearly as bouncing as it is now. Learn more about the zany allure of America's favorite backyard death traps in this short reading passage. It includes Common Core aligned multiple-choice and extended response questions, just to make sure that everyone is having a good time. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 5-9.
In 2003 star Barbara Streisand sued a couple for posting a photo of her home online. The case drew a lot more attention to Streisand's home than she and her legal team anticipated. Learn more about the phenomenon that bears this singer's name in this short nonfiction article. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 5-9.
If you've heard the story of the Maginot Line, you know that it teaches a powerful lesson. If you haven't, now's a great time to learn about it with this short reading passage. This activity includes Common Core aligned multiple-choice and extended-response questions. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 5-9.
Kevlar is an interesting synthetic fiber that has woven its way into our lives. Yes, it can stop bullets, but it can do so much more too. Learn about this fascinating material while practice reading comprehension skills with this worksheet. Read the passage and answer multiple choice comprehension questions. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 6-10.
The Library of Alexandria held the largest collection of knowledge in the ancient world. How did they acquire all those texts? Did Julius Caesar burn this great library? Learn more by reading this short piece of nonfiction. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 6-10.
North Korea and South Korea may have similar origins, but they have grown to become very different countries. Learn more about these interesting places by reading this short text, and then answer CCSS aligned multiple-choice and extended-response questions. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 6-10.
Which would win in a fight, a tiger or a lion? Learn the answer to that question and a whole bunch more while reading this awesome nonfiction passage. Then students answers questions covering many CCSS reading skills. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 7-11.
The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of freedom, America, and its historical alliance with France. Learn many interesting things about the construction of this iconic monument in this nonfiction reading passage. Then answer questions covering a variety of reading skills. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 8-12.
Castles are cool. Where did they come from? When did people start building them? Why did they stop? Learn the answers to these questions by reading this short nonfiction passage. Then answer multiple-choice questions. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 8-12.
Read an interesting passage about Johannes Gutenberg, the man who invented the printing press with movable type, and answer a variety of comprehension questions testing reading skills. Questions cover the following skills: identifying text structure, determining main idea, locating information, recalling sequence, and making inferences. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 8-12.
Submarines are probably older than you might think. Learn how old and other interesting tidbits in this exciting nonfiction reading passage. Then, answer CCSS aligned questions. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 9-12+.
Here's a fun activity to give students practice using functional texts. Students read and compare the nutritional information from four snack items. Then they answer fifteen questions testing their ability to comprehend these functional texts.
Here's another fun activity to give students practice using functional texts. Students compare the directions and warnings for two different pain relievers and answer fifteen questions. This will test their ability to comprehend complex functional texts.
RI.K.10 - Actively engage in group reading activities with purpose and understanding.
RI.1.10 - With prompting and support, read informational texts appropriately complex for grade 1.
RI.2.10 - By the end of year, read and comprehend informational texts, including history/social studies, science, and technical texts, in the grades 2–3 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range.
RI.3.10 - By the end of the year, read and comprehend informational texts, including history/social studies, science, and technical texts, at the high end of the grades 2–3 text complexity band independently and proficiently.
RI.4.10 - By the end of year, read and comprehend informational texts, including history/social studies, science, and technical texts, in the grades 4–5 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range.
RI.5.10 - By the end of the year, read and comprehend informational texts, including history/social studies, science, and technical texts, at the high end of the grades 4–5 text complexity band independently and proficiently.
RI.6.10 - By the end of the year, read and comprehend literary nonfiction in the grades 6–8 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range.
RI.7.10 - By the end of the year, read and comprehend literary nonfiction in the grades 6–8 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range.
RI.8.10 - By the end of the year, read and comprehend literary nonfiction at the high end of the grades 6–8 text complexity band independently and proficiently.
RI.9.10 - By the end of grade 9, read and comprehend literary nonfiction in the grades 9–10 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range.
RI.10.10 - By the end of grade 10, read and comprehend literary nonfiction at the high end of the grades 9–10 text complexity band independently and proficiently.
RI.11.10 - By the end of grade 11, read and comprehend literary nonfiction in the grades 11–CCR text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range.
RI.12.10 - By the end of grade 12, read and comprehend literary nonfiction at the high end of the grades 11–CCR text complexity band independently and proficiently.
I found this website when looking for short reading comprehension stories for my students this year, and I really like it at the most.
I can choose the reading according to the level of my students, they answer the comprehension questions of the reading, and also I can make other questions to make my students give their own answers and opinions based on the topic and content of the reading.
IT IS EXCELLENT.
Thank you so much. With shortage of teachers I am now teaching reading and your site has been sooooooo helpful
In order to protect academic integrity, I wish your sight was password protected or a more difficult process to access answer keys.
Yeah, accessibility and security are a trade off! I recommend changing the titles of the worksheets before distributing them if this is a concern. That makes them harder to find. Still not perfect though. Best wishes!
Love, love, love this site. A veritable collection of the best reading passages on the planet. Keep it up!
