Preparation for Tests

Reading Skills: Understanding Negative Facts

Read the text “Emperor” and Strategies about understanding negative facts.

EMPEROR

It was a special day in Rome, a holiday. Fifty black-armored royal guards marched down the main street of Rome, followed by hundreds of men on horses. Behind them came the royal carriage. Commodus, the new Emperor, was coming home.

His sister Lucilla was sitting next to him. Another fifty guards marched behind them. Close to the royal carriage, on a beautiful black horse, rode Quintus, the new Commander of the Royal Guards.

Commodus had told the Senate that he was now the Commander of the Roman Army, and that the army was loyal to him. Many senators doubted it, but there was no one in Rome with enough power to take control. And so nothing could stop Commodus.

The people had been told that their new Emperor would arrive in Rome on this date, at this time. The city was cleaned up and purple flags were hung outside the most important buildings. The citizens of Rome lined the streets at the time he was expected.

The crowd was not very big and it was not very enthusiastic. They cheered, but not loudly. Commodus was young and had no experience, but the people could forgive that. They were more worried about the stories they had heard – that Commodus was selfish and cruel. He was not his father, and they had loved Marcus Aurelius. Commodus had much work to do to make himself popular and win the support of the people.

Story by David Franzoni based on a screenplay

Strategies for Reading Skills Test:

If your task is to find an answer that is not stated, or not mentioned, or not true, it means that three of the answers are stated, mentioned, or true in the text.

Reading Exercise: Understanding Negative Facts

Choose the correct item A-D according to the text above.

1. It is not stated in the text that Commodus...

A. was an Emperor.

B. had a sister.

C. killed his father Marcus Aurelius.

D. wanted to be popular.

2. According to the text it is not true that...

A. the crowd of people was very big.

B. the crowd cheered the Emperor.

C. Commodus needed the people’s support.

D. the people were worried about the stories of the new Emperor’s selfishness.

3. All of the following are stated about a special day in Rome except that there were...

A. hundreds of men on horses in Rome.

B. senators marching down the main street.

C. fifty guards behind the royal carriage.

D. flags hanging outside the most important buildings.

4. It is not true that...

A. the citizens of Rome expected Commodus.

B. Commodus was an inexperienced ruler.

C. the people could forgive the fact that Commodus was young.

D. Quintus was the new Commander of the Roman Army.

5. It is not mentioned in the text that the Romans...

A. had been told about the new Emperor’s arrival.

B. had heard some unpleasant stories about Commodus.

C. loved Marcus Aurelius.

D. were loyal to Commodus.

6. Which of the following is not described as the Senate’s behavior?

A. having doubts about the new Emperor’s ability to control the army

B. trying to stop Commodus and choose another Emperor

C. realizing that no one could control the army at that moment

D. accepting the fact that Commodus became the Commander of the Roman Army

7. It is not mentioned that...

A. Lucilla’s son was sitting next to her.

B. the black horse was beautiful.

C. Commodus and Lucilla arrived in Rome on a fixed date.

D. Rome was cleaned up.

Key:

1. C; 2. A; 3. B; 4. D; 5. D; 6. B; 7. A