TABE Practice Test 2

The Tool Library

¹Mona Reyes needed a ladder. She wanted to paint her kitchen ceiling. A new ladder cost too much. So she walked to the tool library on Pine Street.

²A tool library works like a book library. People borrow tools instead of books. They show a library card. They take the tool home. Then they bring it back in one week.

³The Pine Street Tool Library opened four years ago. A group of neighbors started it. Their goal was simple: help neighbors share tools, save money, and learn new skills. Some of them gave old tools. Others gave money to buy new ones. Now the library has more than 600 tools.

⁴Many people borrow tools for their yards. Rakes, shovels, and hedge clippers go out most often. In spring, there is often a waiting list for garden tools.

⁵Power drills are popular too. People use them to hang shelves and fix doors. Ladders and painting kits go out less often. Still, those tools help with big jobs at home.

⁶The library saves people money. A good drill can cost more than $100. A tall ladder can cost even more. At the tool library, borrowing is free. Members pay only if a tool comes back broken.

⁷The library also helps people learn. Volunteers teach a class every Saturday. One week they show how to fix a dripping faucet. Another week they teach how to use a saw safely.

⁸Mona brought the ladder back on time. Her ceiling looked great. Next, she signed up for the Saturday class. "I want to learn to fix my own sink," she said.