PRACTICE TEST 03

November 2018
Question 1-11
If food is allowed to stand for some time, it putrefies .When the putrefied material is
examined microscopically ,it is found to be teeming with bacteria. Where do these
bacteria come from , since they are not seen in fresh food? Even until the mid-nineteenth
Line century, many people believed that such microorganisms originated by spontaneous
(5) generation ,a hypothetical process by which living organisms develop from nonliving
matter.

The most powerful opponent of the theory of spontaneous generation was the French
chemist and microbiologist Louis Pasteur(1822-1895).Pasteur showed that structures
present in air closely resemble the microorganisms seen in putrefying materials .He did
(10) this by passing air through guncotton filters, the fibers of which stop solid particles. After
the guncotton was dissolved in a mixture of alcohol and ether, the particles that it had
trapped fell to the bottom of the liquid and were examined on a microscope slide .Pasteur
found that in ordinary air these exists a variety of solid structures ranging in size from
0.01 mm to more than 1. 0mm .Many of these bodies resembled the reproductive
(15) structures of common molds, single-celled animals, and various other microbial cells. As
many as 20 to 30 of them were found in fifteen liters of ordinary air ,and they could not be
distinguished from the organisms found in much larger numbers in putrefying materials
.Pasteur concluded that the organisms found in putrefying materials originated from the
organized bodies present in the air .He postulated that these bodies are constantly
(20) being deposited on all objects.

Pasteur showed that if a nutrient solution was sealed in a glass flask and heated to
boiling to destroy all the living organisms contaminating it, it never putrefied .The
proponents of spontaneous generation declared that fresh air was necessary for
spontaneous generation and that the air inside the sealed flask was affected in some way
(25) by heating so that it would no longer support spontaneous generation. Pasteur constructed
a swan-necked flask in which putrefying materials could he heated to boiling, but air could
reenter. The bends in the neck prevented microorganisms from getting in the flask. Material
sterilized in such a flask did not putrefy.

1. What does the passage mainly discuss?

(A) Pasteur’s influence on the development of the microscope.
(B) The origin of the theory of spontaneous generation .
(C) The effects of pasteurization on food.
(D) Pasteur’s argument against the theory of spontaneous generation .

2. The phrase “teeming with ”in line 2 is closest in meaning to

(A) full of (B) developing into (C) resistant to (D) hurt by

3. Which of the following questions did the theory of spontaneous generation attempt to answer?
(A) What is the origin of the living organisms are seen on some food?
(B) How many types of organisms can be found on food?
(C) What is the most effective way to prepare living organisms for microscopic examination?

(D) How long can food stand before it putrefies?

4. The word “resemble” in line 9 is closest in meaning to

(A) benefit from (B) appear similar to
(C) join together with (D) grow from

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5. The purpose of the “guncotton” mentioned in paragraph 2 was to
(A) trap particles for analysis
(B) slow the process of putrefaction
(C) increase the airflow to the microscopic slide
(D) aid the mixing of alcohol and ether

6. The author mention “1.0mm”in line 14 in describing the

(A) thickness of a layer of organisms that was deposited on an object
(B) diameter of the fibers that were in the guncotton filters
(C) thickness of the microscope slides that were used
(D) size of the particles that that were collected

7. The word “postulated” in line 19 is closest in meaning to

(A) analyzed (B) doubted (C) persuaded (D) suggested

8. The objects that Pasteur removed from the air in his experiment were remarkable because they
were (A) primarily single-celled organisms
(B) no different from objects found in putrefying materials
(C) fairly rare
(D) able to live in a mixture of alcohol and ether

9. The word “it” in line 22 refers to

(A) a nutrient solution (B) a glass flask
(C) boiling (D) spontaneous generation

10. According to paragraph 3,proponents of spontaneous generation believed that which of the following
was important for the process to succeed ?
(A) A sealed container (B) Fresh air
(C) Heat (D) The presence of nutrients

11. It can be inferred from paragraph 3 that Pasteur employed a swam-necked flask to
(A) store sterilized liquids for use in future experiments
(B) prevent heat from building up in a solution
(C) disprove a criticism of his conclusions
(D) estimate the number of organisms in a liter of air

Questions 12-20
In the early decades of the United States ,the agrarian movement promoted the farmer
as society’s hero. In the minds of agrarian thinkers and writers ,the farmer was a person on
whose well-being the health of the new country depended .The period between the
Line Revolution, which ended in 1783,and the Civil War ,which ended in 1865 ,was the age of (5
) the farmer in the United States .Agrarian philosophers ,represented most eloquently by
Thomas Jefferson, celebrated farmers extravagantly for their supposed centrality in a good
society, their political virtue ,and their Superior morality .And virtually all policy makers, whether
they subscribed to the tenets of the philosophy held by Jefferson or not, recognized agriculture as
the key component of the American economy .Consequently ,government at
(10) all levels worked to encourage farmers as a social group and agriculture as economic
enterprise.

Both the national and state governments developed transportation infrastructure,

building canals, roads, bridges, and railroads ,deepening harbors ,and removing obstructions
from navigable streams .The national government imported plant and animal
(15) varieties and launched exploring expeditions into prospective farmlands in the West .In addition,
government trade policies facilitated the exporting of agricultural products.

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For their part ,farmers seemed to meet the social expectations agrarian philosophers
had for them ,as their broader horizons and greater self-respect, both products of the
Revolution ,were reflected to some degree in their behavior .Farmers seemed to become
(20) more scientific ,joining agricultural societies and reading the farm newspapers that sprang
up throughout the country .They began using improved implements, tried new crops and
pure animal breeds , and became more receptive to modern theories of soil improvement .

They also responded to inducements by national and state governments .Farmers

streamed to the West ,filling frontier lands with stunning rapidity .But farmers responded
(25) less to the expectations of agrarians and government inducements than to growing market
opportunities .European demand for food from the United States seemed insatiable . War,
industrialization , and urbanization all kept demand high in Europe . United States cities
and industries grew as well; even industries not directly related to farming thrived because
of the market, money ,and labor that agriculture provided

12. What does the passage mainly discuss?

(A) The agrarian philosophy of Thomas Jefferson
(B) The role of the national government in the development of agriculture
(C) Improvements in farming techniques
(D) The impact of the increased importance of the farmer

13. The word “depended” in line 3 is closest in meaning to

(A) improved (B) relied (C) demanded (D) explained

14. The author mentions Thomas Jefferson in paragraph 1 as an example of

(A) a leader during the Revolution
(B) an inventor of new farming techniques
(C) a philosopher who believed farmers were essential to the creation of a good society
(D) a farmer who guided the agrarian movement toward an emphasis on economic development

15. The phrase “subscribed to” in line 8 is closest in meaning to

(A) contributed to (B) agreed with
(C) thought about (D) expanded on

16. Which of the following statements is supported by the information in paragraph 1?

(A) All government policy makers accepted Jefferson’s views of agriculture and farmers.
(B) Agricultural production declined between 1783 and 1861.
(C) The majority of farmers worked for the government.
(D) Agriculture was a vital part of the nation’s economy.

17. According to the passage , the national and state governments did all of the following EXCEPT
(A) build roads
(B) import new plant varieties
(C) give farmers money for their crops
(D) develop policies that helped farmers export their products

18. All of the following are mentioned as examples of farmers’ meeting the expectations of agrarian
philosophers EXCEPT
(A) obtaining information from farm newspapers
(B) accumulating personal wealth
(C) planting new crops
(D) becoming more scientific

19. The word “stunning” in line 24 is closest in meaning to

(A) predictable (B) impressive (C) famous (D) gradual
20. Which of the following statements is best supported by paragraph 4?

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(A) Agricultural development contributed to development in other parts of the economy.
(B) European agricultural products were of a higher quality than those produced in the United
States.
(C) The growing settlement of the West led to a decrease in agricultural production.
(D) Farmers were influenced more by government policies than by market opportunities.

Question 21-29

The wide variety of climates in North America has helped spawn a complex pattern of
soil regions. In general, the realm’s soils also reflect the broad environmental partitioning
into “humid America” and “arid America.” Where annual precipitation exceeds 20 inches
Line (50 centimeters),soils in humid areas tend to be acidic in chemical content, Since crops
(5) do best in soils that are neither acidic(higher in acid content) nor alkaline(higher in salt
content).fertilization is necessary to achieve the desired level of neutrality between the two.
Arid America’s soils are typically alkaline and must be fertilized back toward neutrality by
adding acidic compounds. Although many of these dryland soils, particularly in the Great
Plains, are quite fertile, European settlers learned over a century ago that (10) water is the
main missing ingredient in achieving their agricultural potential. In the 1970’s, certain irrigation
methods were perfected and finally provided a real opportunity to expand more intensive
farming west from the Central Lowland into the drier portions of the Great Plains. Glaciation
also enhanced the rich legacy of fertile soils in the central United States,both from the
deposition of mineral-rich glacial debris left by meltwater
(15) and from thick layers of fine wind-blown glacial material, called loess, in and around the
middle Mississippi Valley.

Natural vegetation patterns could be displayed on a map of North America, but the
enormous human modification of the North American environment in modern times has
all but reduced this regionalization scheme to the level of the hypothetical. Nonetheless,
(20) the humid America-arid America dichotomy is still a valid generalization: the natural
vegetation of areas receiving more than 20 inches of water yearly is forest, whereas the
drier climates give rise to a grassland cover. The forests of North America tent to make
a broad transition by latitude. In the Canadian North, needle-leaf forests dominate, but
these coniferous trees become mixed with broadleaf deciduous trees as one crosses
the
(25) border into the Northeast United States. As one proceeds toward the Southeast, broadleaf
vegetation becomes dominant. Arid America mostly consists of short-grass prairies or
stepper. The only areas of true desert are in the Southwest.

21. What aspect of North America does the passage mainly discuss?
(A) The wide variety of climates

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(B) Soil types and vegetation patterns
(C) Improved irrigation methods and the expansion of agriculture
(D) The change in precipitation patterns
22. The word “spawn ” in line 1 is closest in meaning to
(A) distinguish (B) eliminate (C) protect (D) create

23. The word “partitioning” in line 2 is closest in meaning to

(A) division (B) modification (C) opening (D) circulating
24. According to the passage, acidic soils tent to be associated with
(A) a high salt content (B) an increase in farming
(C) large amounts of rain (D) glacial meltwater

25. The word “enhanced” in line 13 is closest in meaning to

(A) implied (B) increased (C) indicated (D) informed

26. How did glacial meltdown affect the soil in North America?
(A) It redistributed the soil types (B) It added salt to the soil
(C) It made the soil more neutral in content (D) It added minerals to the soil

27. The phrase “this regionalization scheme” in line 19 refers to the

(A) movements of glacial deposits
(B) patterns of natural vegetation
(C) human modification of the North American environment
(D) distinction between humid America and arid America

28. The word “transition” in line 23 is closest in meaning to

(A) elevation (B) change (C) advantage (D) condition

29. The passage supports which of the following statements?

(A) Arid America is not necessarily characterized by the presence of deserts
(B) Most of Canada and the northeastern United States consists of short-grass prairies
wherever natural vegetation has not been modified by humans
(C) The accumulation of loess is primarily the result of irrigation
(D) Glaciation removed the fertile layer of soil from much of the Mississippi Valley

Questions 30-40
Most sources of illumination generate light over an appreciable period, and indeed
if an object is lit for a very brief time(less that 1/25 second), the human eye will not react
in time to see the object. A photographic emulsion---that is, a light-sensitive coating on
photographic film, paper, or glass---will, however, record much shorter bursts of light. A
(5 ) photographic flash can therefore be used to capture high-speed movement on film as well
as to correct deficiencies of the normal surrounding lighting. Photoflash is now generated
electronically, but the earliest form, first used in 1864, was a paper bag containing
magnesium wire and some oxygen-rich substance, such as potassium chlorate. When the
bag was ignited, the metal burned with an intense flash. A contemporary observer reported
(10) that “this quite unsafe device seems to have done nothing worse that engulf the room in
dense smoke and lead to pictures of dubious quality and odd poses.”

The evolution of the photoflash was slow, flashbulbs, containing fine wire made of a
metal, such as magnesium or aluminum, capable of being ignited in an atmosphere of pure
oxygen at low pressure, were introduced only in the 1920’s. In the earliest type, the metal
(15) was separated from the oxygen by a thin glass bulb. The flash was fired by piercing the
bulb and allowing the oxygen to come into contact with the metal, which ignited
spontaneously. Later bulbs were fired by an electric battery, which heated the wire by

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passing a small current through it. Other combinations, such as the pairing of oxygen
difluoride with zirconium, have also been used. In each case enough energy is given out to
(20) heat the oxidizable metal momentarily to a white-hot emission of visible light. The smoke
particles are so small that they cool rapidly; but since they are white, they contribute to
the brilliance by reflecting the light from their still-glowing neighbors. A slightly bigger form
of the metal will burn for a longer time.

30. What does the passage mainly discuss?

(A) The history of the photoflash
(B) Theories about how the eye reacts to light
(C) The technology of modern photography
(D) The dangers of using the early photoflash

31. According to the passage,1/25 second is the minimum amount of time required for the
(A) recording of an image on film (B) generation of artificial light
(C) creation of a photographic emulsion (D) human eye to react to light

32. According to the passage, an advantage of using a photoflash is that it

(A) can produce repeated bursts of light
(B) intensities colors in photographs
(C) is short enough not to bother human eyes
(D) supplements existing lighting

33. The word “ignited” in line 9 is closest in meaning to

(A) set on fire (B) cut into (C) opened (D) shaken

34. Which of the following phrases is defined in paragraph 1?

(A) ”appreciable period” (line 1) (B) ”photographic emulsion” (line 3)
(C) ”high-speed movement” (line 5) (D) ”odd poses” (line 11)

35. The word “evolution” in line 12 is closest in meaning to

(A) publicity (B) adoption (C) development (D) manufacture

36. The function of the glass in the first flashbulbs was to

(A) produce the spark that initiated the flash
(B) magnify the light produced by the flash
(C) protect the photographer from the heat of the flash
(D) keep the metal and oxygen apart before the flash

37. The word “it” in line 18 refers to

(A) oxygen (B) battery (C) wire (D) current

38. The word “momentarily” in line 20 is closest in meaning to

(A) effortlessly (B) briefly (C) electronically (D) gradually

39. According to the passage, the white color of the smoke particles generated by a flashbulb
contributes to
(A) rapid cooling (B) bright illumination
(C) electrical conductivity (D) intense heat

40. According to the passage, a flashbulb can be made to burn longer by using
(A) thicker wire (B) more oxygen
(C) thinner glass (D) continuous electricity
Questions 41-50
The stylistic innovation in paining known as Impressionism began in the 1870’s. The
Impressionists wanted to depict what they saw in nature, but they were inspired to portray

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fragmentary moments by the increasingly fast pace of modern life. They concentrated on the play of
light over objects, people, and nature, breaking up seemingly solid surfaces,
(5) stressing vivid contrast between colors in sunlight and shade, and depiction reflected light
in all of its possibilities. Unlike earlier artists, they did not want to observe the world from
indoors. They abandoned the studio, painting in the open air and recording spontaneous
Impressions of their subjects instead of making outside sketches and then moving indoors
to complete the work form memory.

(10) Some of the Impressionists’ painting methods were affected by technological

advances. For example, the shift from the studio to the open air was made possible in
part by the advent of cheap rail travel, which permitted easy and quick access to the
countryside or seashore, as well as by newly developed chemical dyes and oils that led
to collapsible paint tubes, which enabled artists to finish their paintings on the spot.

(15) Impressionism acquired its name not from supporters but from angry art lovers who
felt threatened by the new painting. The term “Impressionism” was born in 1874,when a group of
artists who had been working together organized an exhibition of their paintings in order to draw
public attention to their work. Reaction from the public and press was immediate, and derisive.
Among the 165 paintings exhibited was one called (20) Impression: Sunrise, by Claude
Monet(1840-1926), Viewed through hostile eyes, Monet’s painting of a rising sun over a misty,
watery scene seemed messy, slapdash, and an affront to good taste. Borrowing Monet’s title, art
critics extended the term “Impressionism” to the entire exhibit. In response, Monet and his 29
fellow artists in the exhibit adopted the same name as a badge of their unity, despite individual
differences.
(25) From then until 1886 Impressionism had all the zeal of a “church”, as the painter Renoir
put it. Monet was faithful to the Impressionist creed until his death, although many of the
others moved on to new styles.

41. What aspect of painting in the nineteenth century does the passage mainly discuss?
(A) The impact of some artists’ resistance to the fast pace of life
(B) The differences between two major styles of art
(C) A technological advance in the materials used by artists
(D) A group of artists with a new technique and approach to art

42. The word “depict” in line 2 is closest in meaning to

(A) reorganize (B) deform (C) represent (D) justify

43. According to the passage, which of the following was one of the distinguishing characteristics of
Impressionist painting?
(A) The emphasis on people rather than nature scenes
(B) The way the subjects were presented from multiple angles
(C) The focus on small solid objects
(D) The depiction of the effects of light and color

44. Which of the following is a significant way in which Impressionists were different from the artists that
preceded them?
(A) They began by making sketches of their subjects
(B) They painted their subjects out-of-doors
(C) They preferred to paint from memory
(D) They used subjects drawn from modern life
45. The word “advent” in line 12 is closest in meaning to
(A) achievement (B) acceptance (C) arrival (D) advantage

46. The exhibition of paintings organized in 1874 resulted in all of the following EXCEPT
(A) attracting attention from the public
(B) a negative reaction from the press

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(C) an immediate demand for the paintings exhibited
(D) creating a name for a new style of painting

47. The word “affront” in line 22 is closest in meaning to

(A) insult (B) encouragement (C) return (D) credit

48. The rejection of the Impressionist exhibition by critics was caused by which of the following?
(A) The small number of paintings on display
(B) Lack of interest in exhibitions by young artists
(C) The similarity between all the paintings exhibited
(D) Anger about seemingly poorly painted art

49. The author mentions Renoir in line 25 to give an example of an artist who
(A) became as famous as Monet
(B) was consistently praised by art critics
(C) described the enthusiasm of the Impressionists for their work
(D) was in favor of a traditional style of painting

50. The word “others” in line 27 refers to

(A) art critics (B) fellow artists
(C) individual differences (D) new styles

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PRACTICE TEST 04
October 2018
Questions 1-9
Europa is the smallest of planet Jupiter’s four largest moons and the
second moon out from Jupiter. Until 1979, it was just another astronomy
textbook statistic. Then came the close-up images obtained by the exploratory
spacecraft Voyager 2, and within
Line days, Europa was transformed-in our perception, at least-into one of the solar system’s
(5) most intriguing worlds. The biggest initial surprise was the almost total lack of detail,
especially from far away. Even at close range, the only visible features are thin,
kinked brown lines resembling cracks in an eggshell. And this analogy is not far off
the mark.

The surface of Europa is almost pure water ice, but a nearly complete absence
of craters indicates that Europa’s surface ice resembles Earth’s Antarctic ice cap. The
(10) eggshell analogy may be quite accurate since the ice could be as little as a few
kilometers thick –a true shell around what is likely a subsurface liquid ocean that ,
in turn, encases a rocky core. The interior of Europa has been kept warm over the
eons by tidal forces generated by the varying gravitational tugs of the other big
moons as they wheel around Jupiter. The tides on Europa pull and relax in an
endless cycle. The resulting internal heat
(15) keeps what would otherwise be ice melted almost to the surface. The cracklike marks on
Europa’s icy face appear to be fractures where water or slush oozes from below.

Soon after Voyager 2’s encounter with Jupiter in 1979, when the best images
of Europa were obtained, researchers advanced the startling idea that Europa’s
subsurface ocean might harbor life. Life processes could have begun when Jupiter
was releasing a
(20) vast store of internal heat. Jupiter’s early heat was produced by the compression of
the material forming the giant planet. Just as the Sun is far less radiant today than
the primal Sun, so the internal heat generated by Jupiter is minor compared to its
former intensity. During this warm phase, some 4.6 billion years ago, Europa’s ocean
may have been liquid right to the surface, making it a crucible for life.

1. What does the passage mainly discuss?

(A) The effect of the tides on Europa’s interior
(B) Temperature variations on Jupiter’s moons
(C) Discoveries leading to a theory about one of Jupiter’s moons

(D) (D) Techniques used by Voyager 2 to obtain close-up images.

2. The word “intriguing” in line 5 is closest in meaning to

(A) changing (B) perfect (C) visible (D) fascinating

3. In line 7, the another mentions “cracks in an eggshell” in order to help readers

(A) visualize Europa as scientists saw it in the Voyager 2 images
(B) appreciate the extensive and detailed information available by viewing Europa from
far away

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(C) understand the relationship of Europa to the solar system

(D) recognize the similarity of Europa to Jupiter’s other moons

4. It can be inferred from the passage that astronomy textbooks prior to 1979
(A) provided many contradictory statistics about Europa
(B) considered Europa the most important of Jupiter’s moons
(C) did not emphasize Europa because little information of interest was available
(D) did nor mention Europa because it had not yet been discovered
5. What does the author mean by stating in line 7 that “this analogy is not far off the mark”?
(A) The definition is not precise. (B) The discussion lacks necessary information. (C)
The differences are probably significant. (D) The comparison is quite appropriate.

6. IT can be inferred from the passage that Europa and Antarctica have in common which of
the following?
(A) Both appear to have a surface with many craters.
(B) Both may have water beneath a thin, hard surface.
(C) Both have an ice can that is melting rapidly.
(D) Both have areas encased by a rocky exterior.

7. The word “endless” in line 14 is closest in meaning to

(A) new (B) final (C) temporary (D) continuous

8. According to the passage, what is the effect of Jupiter’s other large moons on Europa?
(A) They prevent Europa’s subsurface waters from freezing.
(B) They prevent tides that could damage Europa’s surface.
(C) They produce the very hard layer of ice that characterizes Europa.
(D) They assure that the gravitational pull on Europa is maintained at a steady level.

9. According to the passage, what is believed to cause the thin lines seen on Europa’s
surface?
(A) A long period of extremely high tides
(B) Water breaking through from beneath the surface ice
(C) The continuous pressure of slush on top of the ice(D) Heat generated by the hot
rocky core

Question 10-19
Both in what is now the eastern and the southwestern United States, the
peoples of the Archaic era (8,000-1,000 B.C) were, in a way, already adapted to
beginnings of cultivation through their intensive gathering and processing of wild plant
foods. In both Line areas, there was a well-established ground stone tool technology, a
method of pounding (5) and grinding nuts and other plant foods, that could be
adapted to newly cultivated foods. By the end of the Archaic era, people in eastern North
America had domesticated certain native plants, including sunflowers; weeds called
goosefoot, sumpweed, or marsh elder; and squash or gourds of some kind. These
provided seeds that were important sources of carbohydrates and fat in the diet.

(10) The earliest cultivation seems to have taken place along the river valleys of
the Midwest and the Southeast, with experimentation beginning as early as 7,000
years ago and domestication beginning 4,000 to 2,000 years ago. Although the

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term “Neolithic” is not used in North American prehistory, these were the first
steps toward the same major subsistence changes that took place during the
Neolithic (8,000-2,000 B.C.) period
(15) elsewhere in the world.

Archaeologists debate the reasons for beginning cultivation in the eastern

part of the continent. Although population and sedentary living were increasing at
the time, there is little evidence that people lacked adequate wild food resources;
the newly domesticated foods supplemented a continuing mixed subsistence of
hunting, fishing, and gathering
(20) wild plants, Increasing predictability of food supplies may have been a motive. It has
been suggested that some early cultivation was for medicinal and ceremonial plants
rather than for food. One archaeologist has pointed out that the early domesticated
plants were all weedy species that do well in open, disturbed habitats, the kind that
would form around human settlements where people cut down trees, trample the
ground, deposit trash, and
(25) dig holes. It has been suggested that sunflower, sumpweed, and other plants almost
domesticated themselves, that is , they thrived in human –disturbed habitats, so
humans intensively collected them and began to control their distribution. Women in
the Archaic communities were probably the main experimenters with cultivation,
because ethnoarchaeological evidence tells us that women were the main
collectors of plant food and had detailed knowledge of plants.

10. The passage mainly discusses which of the following aspects of the life of Archaic peoples?
(A) The principal sources of food that made up their diet
(B) Their development of ground stone tool technology
(C) Their development of agriculture
(D) Their distribution of work between men and women
11. The word “these” in line 13 refers to
(A) seeds (B) river valleys
(C) the Midwest and the Southeast (D) experimentation and domestication
12. According to the passage, when did the domestication of plants begin in North America?
(A) 7,000 years ago (B) 4,000 to 2,000 years ago
(C) Long after the Neolithic period (D) Before the Archaic period

13. The word “adequate” in line 18 is closest in meaning to

(A) sufficient (B) healthful (C) varied (D) dependable

14. According to the passage, which of the following was a possible motive for the cultivation of
plants in eastern North America?
(A) Lack of enough wild food sources
(B) The need to keep trees from growing close to settlements
(C) Provision of work for an increasing population
(D) Desire for the consistent availability of food

15. The phrase “rather than” in line 21 is closest in meaning to

(A) in addition to (B) instead of (C) as a replacement (D) such as

16. The plant “sumpweed” is mentioned in line 25 in order to

(A) contrast a plant with high nutritional value with one with little nutritional value

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(B) explain the medicinal use of a plant

(C) clarify which plants grew better in places where trees were not cut down
(D) provide an example of a plant that was easy to domesticate

17. The word “thrived” in line 26 is closest in meaning to

(A) stayed (B) originated (C) grew well (D) died out

18. According to the passage, which of the following is true about all early domesticated plants?
(A) They were varieties of weeds.
(B) They were moved from disturbed areas.
(C) They succeeded in areas with many trees.
(D) They failed to grow in trampled or damaged areas.

19. According to the passage, it is thought that most of the people who began cultivating plants
were
(A) medical workers (B) leaders of ceremonies
(C) women (D) hunters

Questions 20-29
Many ants forage across the countryside in large numbers and undertake
mass migrations; these activities proceed because one ant lays a trail on the ground for
the others to follow. As a worker ant returns home after finding a source of food, it marks
the route Line by intermittently touching its stinger to the ground and depositing a tiny
amount of trail
(5 ) pheromone – a mixture of chemicals that delivers diverse messages as the context
changes. These trails incorporate no directional information and may be followed by
other ants in either direction.

Unlike some other messages, such as the one arising from a dead ant, a food trail
has to be kept secret from members of other species. It is not surprising then that ant
species use
(10) a wide variety of compounds as trail pheromones. Ants can be extremely sensitive to
these signals. Investigators working with the trail pheromone of the leafcutter ant Atta
texana calculated that one milligram of this substance would suffice to lead a column of
ants three times around Earth.

The vapor of the evaporating pheromone over the trail guides an ant along the way,
(15) and the ant detects this signal with receptors in its antennae. A trail pheromone will
evaporate to furnish the highest concentration of vapor right over the trail, in what is
called a vapor space. In following the trail, the ant moves to the right and left,
oscillating from side to side across the line of the trail itself, bringing first one and
then the other antenna into the vapor space. As the ant moves to the right, its left
antenna arrives in the vapor space.
(20) The signal it receives causes it to swing to the left, and the ant then pursues this new
course until its right antenna reaches the vapor space. It then swings back to the
right, and so weaves back and forth down the trail.

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 TOEFL Reading Comprehension

20. What does the passage mainly discuss?

(A) The mass migration of ants (B) How ants mark and follow a chemical trail
(C) Different species of ants around the world (D) The information contained in pheromones

21. The word “forage” in line 1 is closest in meaning to

(A) look up (B) walk toward (C) revolve around (D) search for food

22. The word “intermittently” in live 4 is closest in meaning to

(A) periodically (B) incorrectly (C) rapidly (D) roughly

23. The phrase “the one” in line 8 refers to a single

(A) message (B) dead ant (C) food trail (D) species

24. According to the passage, why do ants use different compounds as trail pheromones?
(A) To reduce their sensitivity to some chemicals
(B) To attract different types of ants
(C) To protect their trail from other species
(D) To indicate how far away the food is

25. The author mentions the trail pheromone of the leafcutter ant in line 11 to point out
(A) how little pheromone is needed to mark a trail
(B) the different types of pheromones ants can produce
(C) a type of ant that is common in many parts of the world
(D) that certain ants can produce up to one milligram of pheromone

26. According to the passage, how are ants guided by trail pheromones?
(A) They concentrate on the smell of food.
(B) They follow an ant who is familiar with the trail
(C) They avoid the vapor spaces by moving in a straight line.
(D) They sense the vapor through their antennae.

27. The word “furnish” in line 16 is closest in meaning to

(A) include (B) provide (C) cover (D) select

28. The word “oscillating“ in line 17 is closest in meaning to

(A) falling (B) depositing (C) swinging (D) starting

29. According to the passage, the highest amount of pheromone vapor is found
(A) in the receptors of the ants (B) just above the trail
(C) in the source of food (D) under the soil along the trail

Questions 30-39
Native Americans probably arrived from Asia in successive waves over
several millennia, crossing a plain hundreds of miles wide that now lies inundated
by 160 feet of water released by melting glaciers. For several periods of time, the

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 TOEFL Reading Comprehension

first beginning around 60,000 B.C. and the last ending around 7,000 B.C., this
land bridge was open. The
(5 ) first people traveled in the dusty trails of the animals they hunted. They brought with
them not only their families, weapons, and tools but also a broad metaphysical
understanding, sprung from dreams and visions and articulated in myth and song,
which complemented their scientific and historical knowledge of the lives of animals
and of people. All this they shaped in a variety of languages, bringing into being oral
literatures of power and beauty.

(10) Contemporary readers, forgetting the origins of western epic, lyric, and
dramatic forms, are easily disposed to think of “literature” only as something
written. But on reflection it becomes clear that the more critically useful as well as
the more frequently employed sense of the term concerns the artfulness of the
verbal creation, not its mode of presentation. Ultimately, literature is aesthetically
valued, regardless of language, culture,
(15) or mode of presentation, because some significant verbal achievement results from the
struggle in words between tradition and talent. Verbal art has the ability to shape out a
compelling inner vision in some skillfully crafted public verbal form.

Of course, the differences between the written and oral modes of expression are
not without consequences for an understanding of Native American literature. The
essential
(20) difference is that a speech event is an evolving communication, an “emergent form,”
the shape, functions, and aesthetic values of which become more clearly realized
over the course of the performance. In performing verbal art , the performer
assumes responsibility for the manner as well as the content of the performance,
while the audience assumes the responsibility for evaluating the performer’s
competence in both areas. It is this intense
(25) mutual engagement that elicits the display of skill and shapes the emerging
performance. Where written literature provides us with a tradition of texts, oral
literature offers a tradition of performances.

30. According to the passage, why did the first people who came to North America leave their
homeland? (A) They were hoping to find a better climate.
(B) They were seeking freedom.
(C) They were following instructions given in a dream.(D) They
were looking for food.
31. The phrase “are easily disposed” in line 11 is closet in meaning to
(A) demonstrate reluctance (B) readily encourage others
(C) have a tendency (D) often fail
32. The word “Ultimately” in line 14 is closest in meaning to
(A) frequently (B) normally
(C) whenever possible (D) in the end
33. The word “compelling” in line 17 is closest in meaning to
(A) joyous (B) intricate (C) competing (D) forceful

34. What is the main point of the second paragraph?

(A) Public performance is essential to verbal art.
(B) Oral narratives are a valid form of literature.
(C) Native Americans have a strong oral tradition in art.

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 TOEFL Reading Comprehension

(D) The production of literature provides employment for many artists.

35. What can be inferred about the nature of the Native American literature discussed in the
passage? (A) It reflects historical and contemporary life in Asia.
(B) Its main focus is on daily activities.
(C) It is based primarily on scientific knowledge.(D) It is
reshaped each time it is experienced.

36. According to the passage, what responsibility does the audience of a verbal art
performance have ?
(A) They provide financial support for performances.
(B) They judge the quality of the content and presentation.
(C) They participate in the performance by chanting responses.
(D) They determine the length of the performance by requesting a continuation.

37. Which of the following is NOT true of the Native American literature discussed in the
passage?
(A) It involves acting. (B) It has ancient origins.
(C) It has a set form. (D) It expresses an inner vision.

38. What can be inferred from the passage about the difference between written and oral
literature? (A) Written literature reflects social values better than oral literature does.
(B) Written literature involves less interaction between audience and creator
during the creative progress than oral literature does.
(C) Written literature usually is not based on historical events, whereas oral
literature is.(D) Written literature is not as highly respected as oral literature is.

39. What is the author’s attitude toward Native American literature?

(A) Admiring of its form (B) Critical of the cost of its production (C) Amused by its
content (D) Skeptical about its origins

Questions 40-50
The cities in the United States have been the most visible sponsors and
beneficiaries of projects that place art in public places. They have shown exceptional
imagination in applying the diverse forms of contemporary art to a wide variety of
purposes. The
Line activities observed in a number of “pioneer” cities sponsoring art in public places – a

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 TOEFL Reading Comprehension

(5) broadening exploration of public sites, an increasing awareness among both

sponsors and the public of the varieties of contemporary artistic practice, and a
growing public enthusiasm – are increasingly characteristic of cities across the
country. With many cities now undergoing renewed development, opportunities
are continuously emerging for the inclusion or art in new or renewed public
environments, including buildings,
(10) plazas, parks, and transportation facilities. The result of these activities is a
group of artworks that reflect the diversity of contemporary art and the varying
character and goals of the sponsoring communities.

In sculpture, the projects range from a cartoonlike Mermaid in Miami Beach by

Roy Lichtenstein to a small forest planted in New York City by Alan Sonfist. The use
(15) of murals followed quickly upon the use of sculpture and has brought to public
sites the work of artists as different as the realist Thomas Hart Benton and the
Pop artist Robert Rauschenberg. The specialized requirements of particular
urban situations have further expanded the use of art in public places: in
Memphis, sculptor Richard Hunt has created a monument to Martin Luther King,
Jr., who was slain there; in New York, Dan Flavin
(20) and Bill Brand have contributed neon and animation works to the enhancement
of mass transit facilities. And in numerous cities, art is being raised as a symbol
of the commitment to revitalize urban areas.

By continuing to sponsor projects involving a growing body of art in public

places, cities will certainly enlarge the situations in which the public encounters and
grows
(25) familiar with the various forms of contemporary art. Indeed, cities are providing
artists with an opportunity to communicate with a new and broader audience.
Artists are recognizing the distinction between public and private spaces, and
taking that into account when executing their public commissions. They are
working in new, often more durable media, and on an unaccustomed scale.

40. What is the passage mainly about?

(A) The influence of art on urban architecture in United States cities
(B) The growth of public art in United States cities.
(C) The increase in public appreciation of art in the United States
(D) The differences between public art in Europe and the United States.

41. The word “exceptional” in line 2 is closest in meaning to

(A) remarkable (B) fearless (C) expert (D) visible

42. All of the following are mentioned in paragraph 1 as results of the trend toward installing
contemporary art in public places in the United States EXCEPT
(A) the transfer of artwork from private to public sites
(B) artworks that represent a city’s special character
(C) greater interest in art by the American public
(D) a broader understanding of the varieties of contemporary art

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 TOEFL Reading Comprehension

43. According to the passage, new settings for public art are appearing as a result of
(A) communities that are building more art museums
(B) artists who are moving to urban areas
(C) urban development and renewal
(D) an increase in the number of artists in the United States.
44. The author mentions Roy Lichtenstein and Alan Sonfist in line 14 in order to
(A) show that certain artist are famous mostly for their public art
(B) introduce the subject of unusual works of art
(C) demonstrate the diversity of artworks displayed in public
(D) contrast the cities of Miami Beach and New York

45. It can be inferred from the passage that the city of Memphis sponsored a work by Richard
Hunt because the city authorities believed that
(A) the sculpture would symbolize the urban renewal of Memphis
(B) Memphis was an appropriate place for a memorial to Martin Luther Ling, Jr.(C) the
artwork would promote Memphis as a center for the arts
(D) the sculpture would provide a positive example to other artists.

46. The word “enhancement” in line 20 is closest in meaning to

(A) replacement (B) design (C) improvement (D) decoration

47. The word “revitalize” in line 22 is closest in meaning to

(A) show the importance of (B) promise to enlarge
(C) bring new life to (D) provide artworks for

48. The word “that” in line 27 refers to

(A) contemporary art (B) opportunity
(C) audience (D) distinction
49. The word “executing” in line 28 is closest in meaning to
(A) judging (B) selling (C) explaining (D) producing

50. According to paragraph 3, artists who work on public art projects are doing all of the
following EXCEPT
(A) creating artworks that are unusual in size
raising funds to sponsor various public projects(C) exposing a large number of people to works of
art (D) using new materials that are

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