Excerpt from
"Handwork in Wood"
CUTTING TOOLS
The most
basic and simplest of all tools for cutting wood is the wedge. The wedge does
not even cut the wood, but only
crushes enough of it with its edge to split the wood apart. As soon as the
split has begun, the sides of the wedge bear against the split surfaces of the
wood. As the wedge goes deeper into the split wood, the piece is divided.
The wedge
made it possible for early people to get slabs of wood. The great change from primitive to civilized
methods came when "cutting" started to replace
"splitting." The wedge must follow the grain of the wood,
but the edge tool (such as a saw) can
follow a line desired by the worker. This allows the worker to be somewhat
independent of the natural grain of the wood.
Reading
Comprehension Questions
1) In the above passage, the definition of which word is most central
to the main idea of the passage?
a.
primitive
b.
grain
c.
wedge
d.
surface
2) In the above passage, which of the following would be the
best cutting tool to use if you wanted make a precise cut?
a.
splitter
b.
edge tool
c.
divider
d.
crusher
3) Based on the above passage, which of the following was a
major advancement in cutting tools?
a.
the method of “splitting” wood was replaced by “cutting”
wood
b.
workers started to “crush” wood instead of “cut” it
c.
the natural grains of wood were developed
d.
the wedge started to be used instead of edge tools
4) Based on the description in the 2nd paragraph of
the above passage, which of the following would be the best example of a “splitting”
tool?
a.
a power saw
b.
an axe
c.
a pair of scissors
d.
sandpaper
5) In the above passage, the author would agree with which of
the following statements?
a.
“A wedge is the most advanced
cutting tool.”
b.
“The largest saw made is a
twenty-five foot long saw.”
c.
“Unlike the wedge, a saw
can cut wood in any direction.”
d.
“No advances in cutting
tools have been made since ancient times.”
6) Which of the following individuals would most likely be knowledgeable
of the information in the above passage?
a.
a blacksmith
b.
a lumberjack
c.
a cotton farmer
d.
a mechanic
Answer Key
1)
In the above
passage, the definition of which word is most central to the main idea of
the passage?
a.
primitive
b.
grain
c.
wedge
d.
surface
2)
In the above
passage, which of the following would be the best cutting tool to use if you
wanted make a precise cut?
a.
splitter
b.
edge tool
c.
divider
d.
crusher
3)
Based on the
above passage, which of the following was a major advancement in cutting tools?
a.
the method of “splitting”
wood was replaced by “cutting” wood
b.
workers started to “crush” wood instead of “cut”
it
c.
the natural grains of wood were developed
d.
the wedge started to be used instead of edge
tools
4)
Based on the
description in the 2nd paragraph of the above passage, which of the
following would be the best example of a “splitting” tool?
a.
a power saw
b.
an axe
c.
a pair of scissors
d.
sandpaper
5)
In the above
passage, the author would agree with which of the following statements?
a. “A wedge is the most advanced cutting tool.”
b. “The largest saw made is a twenty-five foot
long saw.”
c.
“Unlike the wedge, a saw can cut wood in any
direction.”
d. “No advances in cutting tools have been made
since ancient times.”
6)
Which of the
following individuals would most likely be knowledgeable of the information in
the above passage?
a.
a blacksmith
b.
a lumberjack
c.
a cotton farmer
d.
a mechanic