What is the main idea of the passage?

Sound waves can move a stretched film, and rice grains make that otherwise unseen vibration visible. (The passage traces pressure changes from a voice to the moving film and uses the rice to reveal that motion.)

Why are the rice grains useful in this experiment?

Their movement makes the film's vibration easier to observe. (The grains ride on the bending film, turning motion that is difficult to see into a noticeable quiver or jump.)

What does “quiver” mean in the description of the rice grains?

shake with a small, quick movement (The nearby voice moves the film under the grains, so “quiver” describes their small shaking motion.)

What does the bowl do in the experiment?

It holds the stretched film steady. (The penultimate sentence states that the bowl’s role is simply to hold the film steady.)

When Sound Makes Rice Jump: Level 1 Reading Comprehension Questions

A few dry rice grains rest on a thin film stretched tightly across a bowl. When someone speaks nearby, the grains may quiver even though no hand touches them. The voice makes pressure changes travel through the air. These sound waves push gently on the film.

The film bends and springs back, carrying the rice with it. A stronger nearby sound often makes a larger movement, while a very soft sound may cause no visible jump. The rice does not create the vibration; it makes the film's motion easier to see. Moving the sound farther away can also reduce the effect because less sound energy reaches the bowl. The bowl simply holds the film steady. This small experiment turns an invisible pattern in the air into visible motion.

Comprehension questions