This best-seller helps middle schoolers boost their comprehension and critical thinking when reading nonfiction. 53 short passages have been selected for Critical Thinking: Readings in Nonfiction-Middle School, covering a wide range of topics, with provocative titles such as: Across the Atlantic in a Sailboat, Gifts from Outer Space, Clever but Deadly, and Misery Brings Success. Each passage is followed by a mix of standardized test-like multiple-choice and open-ended questions. Students are prompted to critique the writers' assumptions, while developing their own analytical skills. The 53 passages are grouped in units that target specific critical-thinking skills, such as: distinguishing among facts, assumptions, and values, recognizing cause-effect relationships, and identifying persuasive techniques. Questions will boost students' literal-level, inferential-level, and critical thinking-level skills. Questions cover: recognizing and remembering key ideas, identifying the main idea, citing evidence to support a position or point of view, differences among fact/probability/opinion, drawing conclusions, and more. Reproducible. 160 pages.