8 Reading-B1

Philadelphia is a city known for many things. It is where the Declaration of Independence was
signed in 1776, and it was also the first capital of the United States. But one fact about Philadelphia is not
so well-known: it is home to nearly 3,000 murals painted on the sides of homes and buildings around the
city. In fact, it is said that Philadelphia has more murals than any other city in the world, with the exception
of Rome. How did this come to be?

More than 20 years ago, a New Jersey artist named Jane Golden started a program pairing
troubled youth with artists to paint murals on a few buildings around the city. From this small project,
something magical happened. The young people involved helped to create magnificent pieces of art, but
there were other, perhaps more important benefits. The young people learned to collaborate and get
along with many different kinds of people during the various steps required to paint and design a mural.
They learned to be responsible, because they needed to follow a schedule to make sure the murals were
completed. They also learned to take pride in their community. It is hard for any resident to see the
spectacular designs and not feel proud to be a part of Philadelphia.

Take a walk around some of the poorest neighborhoods in Philadelphia, neighborhoods full of
broken windows and littered front steps, and you will find beautiful works of art on the sides and fronts of
buildings. Of course the murals are not just in poor neighborhoods, but more affluent ones as well.
Special buses take tourists to different parts of the city to see the various murals, which range from huge
portraits of historical heroes, to cityscapes, to scenes depicting the diverse ethnic groups that call
Philadelphia home.
As a result of its success, the mural program created by Jane Golden has now become the
nation’s largest public art program and a model for other cities throughout the country seeking to help
troubled youth.

Quiz: Check your reading proficiency level

 

QUIZ START

#1. As used in paragraph 1, the phrase “with the exception of Rome” means that

Philadelphia has fewer murals than Rome

Rome and Philadelphia are the only cities with murals

Rome has fewer murals than Philadelphia

Rome has the most beautiful murals of all

#2. As used in paragraph1, the phrase “it is said” suggests that the author is

referring to something that is widely believed, but may be untrue

knowingly misleading the reader

using a quote from someone else

referring to something that he or she does not personally believe

#3. As used in paragraph 3, which is the best definition of affluent?

well-known

Clean

wealthy

popular

#4. The main focus of the passage is

how Jane Golden came up with the idea to start a mural program

the reasons why Philadelphia is a unique city

the many tourists who come to Philadelphia to see murals

an art program designed to help troubled youth

#5. Based on information in the passage, the author most likely believes that

there are too many murals in Philadelphia

every city in the country should adopt the mural program

the mural program was an inspirational idea

All troubled youth should learn how to paint

#6. Based on information in the passage, it can be inferred that the author believes the two best reasons for other cities to adopt the mural program are to

draw tourists and surpass Philadelphia in terms of number of murals

help troubled youth and beautify their city

have as many murals as Philadelphia and help troubled youth

beautify their city and draw tourists

#7. In order to make this passage more engaging to readers, the author could have included

a brief history of Philadelphia

2&3

an interview with a program muralist

pictures of some of the murals

#8. According to the passage, the murals in Philadelphia

draw tourists who want to see them

re solely designed by the youth who paint them

1&2

Instill responsibility and pride in the people who paint them

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