Instructions
Read the passage about manicures below. After you finish reading, answer the 10 questions that follow. Make sure to look back at the text to help you find the answers!
All About Manicures
Have you ever seen someone with beautifully painted fingernails? The process of taking care of hands and nails is called a manicure. It’s much more than just applying a pretty color! A good manicure helps keep your nails clean, healthy, and strong. People have been decorating their nails for thousands of years, going all the way back to ancient times.
Long ago, in places like ancient Babylon, warriors would paint their nails before going into battle. In ancient Egypt, the color of your nails often showed how important you were in society. Famous queens like Cleopatra used a reddish-brown color that came from a plant called henna to dye their nails. They didn't have the hundreds of sparkly polish bottles we have today, but they still loved to have fancy nails!
Getting a manicure today involves several steps. First, any old nail polish is gently removed. Then, the hands are often soaked in warm, soapy water to soften the skin and cuticles. The cuticles are the small strips of skin at the bottom of your nail. Next, the nails are clipped and filed into a neat shape, like square or round. After the nails are shaped, it's time for the fun part: painting! A clear base coat is usually applied first to protect the natural nail. Then, one or two coats of color are painted on. To finish, a shiny top coat is brushed over the color. This top coat protects the polish from chipping and helps the manicure last longer.
Beyond a single color, many people love nail art. This is when tiny, creative designs are painted onto the nails. An artist might paint flowers, stripes, polka dots, or even tiny pictures. Glitter, stickers, and small gems can also be added to make the nails extra special and unique. A manicure is a wonderful and creative way to express your personal style.
Questions
- According to the text, a manicure helps keep your nails clean, healthy, and __________.
- In ancient Egypt, what did the color of a person's nails often show?
a) Their favorite color
b) How important they were
c) If they were a warrior
d) If they were a queen - True or False: The first step in a modern manicure is to soak your hands in warm water.
- What is the name of the plant used by ancient Egyptians to color their nails?
- What is the purpose of applying a top coat at the end of a manicure?
- Which of these is applied right before the colored nail polish?
a) A top coat
b) Gems and glitter
c) A base coat
d) Soapy water - List two examples of nail art designs mentioned in the passage.
- What are cuticles?
- True or False: Warriors in ancient Babylon painted their nails.
- Why do you think a base coat is important? The text says it is used to ___________ the natural nail.
Answer Key
- strong
- b) How important they were
- False (The first step mentioned is removing any old nail polish.)
- Henna
- It protects the polish from chipping and helps the manicure last longer.
- c) A base coat
- Any two of the following: flowers, stripes, polka dots, tiny pictures.
- The small strips of skin at the bottom of your nail.
- True
- protect