S e c o n d e d I t I o n 1 Reading for the Real World 1

first-degree
murder
. In 
cases of mass murder, the percentage 
in favor of
capital punishment is even 
higher. More than 80 percent of Americans wanted the death penalty given to 
Timothy McVeigh, the man who killed hundreds in the Oklahoma City bombing.
Reading Time
_______ minutes _______ seconds
555 words
32
death-row --- the part of a prison where people sentenced to death are held
36
halt --- to stop
45
exhaust --- to use completely
48
first-degree murder --- killing on purpose or with a plan
49
in favor of --- for; supporting

---

R 
eading Comprehension
68
A
Mark each statement as either true (T) or false (F) according to the 
reading.
 1.
____ The death penalty is still used in the United States today.
 2.
____ In the past, people could receive the death penalty for stealing.
 3.
____ As the United States became wealthier, the use of the death penalty 
increased.
 4.
____ Most people said Timothy McVeigh should receive the death penalty.
B
 
Choose the best answer.
 1.
Which was a reason for the use of the death penalty during the early 1700s?
a. Executions were a kind of entertainment.
b. People were very religious.
c. American states were poor.
d. The states could not control the criminals.
 2.
Which states stopped using the death penalty?
a. 
Eastern 
states
b. 
Northern 
states
c. 
Southern 
states
d. 
Western 
states
 3.
Why did the governor of Illinois stop the execution of prisoners?
a. To give DNA tests to all death-row inmates
b. To keep innocent people from dying
c. To save money for the state
d. To win support for his re-election