Read Grade-Level Informational Texts Practice Test

Read the passage.

A simple machine helps people do work with less effort. One simple machine is a lever, which is a stiff bar that turns on a point called a fulcrum. When a person pushes down on one end, the other end can lift something heavy. A seesaw is a lever, and the middle support is the fulcrum. Where the fulcrum sits can change how easy the lifting feels. If the fulcrum is closer to the heavy load, the person may need less force. However, the person may have to push the lever a longer distance. This trade-off helps workers choose the best tool for a job. Levers are used in real life, such as in crowbars and bottle openers.

According to the text, how does moving the fulcrum help lift heavy loads?

Read the passage.

A seed is small, but it holds the start of a new plant. Inside the seed is an embryo, which is a tiny plant waiting to grow. The seed coat protects the embryo like a thin jacket. First, the seed needs water, and it soaks it up until it swells. Next, the embryo uses stored food inside the seed for energy. Then a root pushes down into the soil to find water and minerals. After that, a shoot grows upward and reaches for sunlight. When the first leaves open, the plant begins making its own food through photosynthesis. If the soil is too dry or too cold, the seed may not sprout. That is why many gardeners plant at the right season and keep the soil moist.

What does the word "embryo" mean in this passage?