VOCABULARY

501
READING
COMPREHENSION
QUESTIONS
501
READING
COMPREHENSION
QUESTIONS

3rd Edition

NEW YORK
Copyright © 2006 Learning Express, LLC.

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions.

Published in the United States by LearningExpress, LLC, New York.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:

501 reading comprehension questions—3rd ed.
p. cm.
ISBN 1-57685-540-6
0 Reading comprehension—Problems, exercises, etc. I. LearningExpress (Organization).
II. Title: Five hundred one reading comprehension questions.
23 Title: Five hundred and one reading comprehension
questions. LB1050.45.A15 2006
372.47—dc22
2005035216

ISBN 1-57685-540-6

Printed in the United States of America

987654321

Third Edition

For information or to place an order, contact LearningExpress at:

23 Broadway
8th Floor
New York, NY 10006

Or visit us at:
www.learnatest.com
 Contents

INTRODUCTION vii
SECTION 1 Vocabulary 1

SECTION 2 Analogies 9

SECTION 3 Main Ideas, Themes 15

SECTION 4 Topic Sentences 19

SECTION 5 Short Passages 25

SECTION 6 Nonfiction and Information Passages 45

SECTION 7 Reading Charts and Graphs,

Understanding Directions 65
SECTION 8 Analyzing and Interpreting Poems 79

SECTION 9 Philosophy and Literature 85

SECTION 10 Longer Passages 91

ANSWERS 131

v
 Introduction

A re you having trouble with reading comprehension questions on tests? Do you want to know how to
improve your reading ability or pass placement tests in school or work? If so, then this book is for
you. Read on to find out why.
Maybe you already like to read and want to use this book to sharpen your skills for an important test. If
so, that’s fine. In fact, you can skip this part of the Introduction—or skip the Introduction entirely—and go
straight to the questions.
But maybe you’re one of the millions of people who have trouble with reading, especially with reading
care-fully while reading quickly. If so, this Introduction will give you some direction.
First, know that you’re not alone. It’s a fact that some people relate more easily to numbers or to
working with their hands. Still, no other general skill is used more regularly—in work, play, and just plain
living—than read-ing. The good news is that reading well is a skill that can be developed with practice. This
book will help, but some-thing else will help even more: If you’re serious about developing your reading
comprehension skills, go to the library or a bookstore and pick out books on subjects you find fascinating.
For instance, if your interests are in skydiving, biking, golf, scuba diving, race cars, camping,
woodworking, or even the stock market, use that as a starting point, and choose a book. The subject will
undoubtedly draw you in because you are already interested. Begin to read. You will find that as you focus on
the subject matter, you will already know some of the information. But chances are you will discover
something new as you read, and you can connect this with your prior knowledge. Eventually, your store of
information becomes quite admirable. Repeat the process over and over again. As you do, you will improve
your reading comprehension skills, and it won’t even seem like a chore.

vii
 –INTRODUCTION–

A Look at Our Book How to Use Our Book

The first five sections cover the basics—from vocabu- This book is best used to build your critical reading and
lary to topic sentences. 501 Reading Comprehension thinking skills, but you might want to support it with
Questions, 3rd Edition begins with vocabulary because some other LearningExpress Skill Builders Practice
that’s what you need to read—the essential building books. When it comes to perfecting your reading com-
blocks. You will find vocabulary questions, that test prehension, don’t ignore any of the other language
your ability to find definitions and context clues. Next, skills. You will find Writing Skills Success in 20
the analogy questions take you a step further. When Minutes a Day, Vocabulary and Spelling Success in 20
answering analogy questions, you will learn to develop Minutes a Day, 501 Logic and Reasoning Problems,
your ability to compare and contrast, find similarities and 1001 Vocab-ulary and Spelling Questions to be
and differences, and relate parts to whole pieces. Just in indispensable guides. In any case, the more you use the
case you’re wondering why this is important, you language and under-stand the building blocks, the
should know that the skills you develop from these easier and faster you will breeze through those reading
short exercises in word play will assist you when you comprehension passages that you find on most tests.
are reading longer passages.
As the book progresses, you will be asked to Working on Your Own
read short, interesting paragraphs to find main ideas If you are working alone to brush up on the basics and
and topic sentences. Once you are comfortable with prepare for a test in connection with a job or school,
these basic skills, proceed to the passages in the last you will want to develop a time schedule and know
five sec-tions. This is where you will use your skills your learning style. Since everyone reads differently,
to tackle longer passages. the number of words or pages you can cover in a given
The last five sections begin with one- to two- time period may be more or less than one section of
paragraph passages. Questions following these pas- this book. That’s OK. Just spend 20 minutes—more or
sages ask you to identify details and facts, choose less—reading the material and going through the exer-
the main idea, make inferences, or analyze and cises. Don’t worry about how much material you’re
interpret the text. The passages, both fiction and covering. It’s important that you’re practicing, and
nonfiction, get longer as you progress through the chances are that your speed will improve as you go
book, and they all have varied subjects. through the book. Your job is to find your pace.
Some are about computers, geology, or geogra- Then, know your learning style. Do you learn
phy, while others are about poems, philosophy, litera- best in a quiet room, or do you need music in the
ture, or art. You will even find some charts and graphs. back-ground? Whatever the case may be, find the
To make sure you pay close attention, you may want to location that best suits you. Do you need to take
take notes as you read. This technique of interacting notes to remember facts and details? Have a pen,
with the text is good to use anytime you read or when pencil, high-lighter, and notebook ready. Are you at
you take a test that includes reading comprehension. your best early in the morning or late at night? Pick
The answers to every question are at the back of the best time, get comfortable, and begin.
the book. Each answer is fully explained, so if you
have trouble with a particular question, you will be
able to figure out how to arrive at the correct answer.

viii
 – INTRODUCTION–

Tutoring Others Detective/Thriller

501 Reading Comprehension Questions, 3rd Edition will Agatha Christie’s murder mysteries
work well in combination with almost any basic read-ing The “A is for…” series by Sue
or English text. You will probably find it most help-ful to Grafton The Client by John Grisham
give your student(s) a brief lesson on the topic (main idea, Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan
fact/detail, inference, etc.), and then have them spend the
Doyle The Shining by Stephen King
remainder of the class or session read-ing the passages
Watcher by Dean R. Koontz
and answering the questions. When you finish, take some
time for a brief review session. Fantasy
Stress the importance of learning by doing.
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Carry a book into class and talk about what you’ve
On a Pale Horse by Piers Anthony
read so far. Let them know that reading is enjoyable,
Any Harry Potter book by J.K. Rowling
and they may just use you as a role model!

Historical/Social Issues

Suggested Reading List The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M.

Auel The Color Purple by Alice Walker
This section wouldn’t be complete without a list of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-
some great books to read. Reading about reading and Time by Mark Haddon
answering test questions is fine, but the best way to Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran
improve your reading ability is to read. This list is Foer To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
com-piled by category. Help yourself. Choose one The Lord of the Flies by William Golding
from the list, pick it up at a local bookstore or Of Mice and Men and The Grapes of Wrath
library, open the cover, and enjoy. by John Steinbeck
Schindler’s List by Thomas Keneally
Autobiography/Memoir
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk
Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt Kidd White Teeth by Zadie Smith
Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm
X Black Boy by Richard Wright Inspirational/Spiritual
The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank Care of the Soul by Thomas Moore
Having Our Say by Sarah L. and Elizabeth The Five People You Meet in Heaven
Delany The Heroic Slave by Frederick Douglass by Mitch Albom
I Know Why the Caged Birds Sing by Maya Angelou The Purpose-Driven Life: What on Earth
Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books Am I Here For by Rick Warren
by Azar Nafisi A Simple Path by Mother Theresa The
Tao of Pooh and The Te of Piglet
Coming of Age
by Benjamin Hoff
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying
The House on Mango Street by Sandra by Sogyal Rinpoche
Cisneros A Separate Peace by John Knowles

ix
 – INTRODUCTION–

Mythology Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores

Mythology by Edith Hamilton the Hidden Side of Everything by Steven D.
The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
American Indian Myths and Legends The Lives of a Cell by Lewis Thomas
by Richard Erdoes and Alfonso Ortiz Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who
Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of all
Poetry Time by Dava Sobel
The Norton Anthology of Modern Poetry: Second Mortal Lessons by Richard Selzer
Edition edited by Richard Ellmann and
Robert O’Clair Short Stories
Any short story by Ernest Hemingway or O.
Science Fiction Henry Girls at War by Chinua Achebe
1984 by George Orwell Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
Fahrenheit 451 or The Martian The Stories of Eva Luna by Isabel Allende
Chronicles by Ray Bradbury Ten Top Stories edited by David A. Sohn
Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula Le War
Guin This Perfect Day by Ira Levin All Quiet on the Western Front by
Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein Erich Maria Remarque
Hiroshima by John Hersey
Science/Medicine The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane
Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking
by Malcolm Gladwell

x
 S E C T I O N

23 Vocabulary

U nderstanding the words used to construct sentences is the best way to begin practicing for a read-ing
comprehension test. Using a dictionary is, of course, the best way to define a word. But if you’re in
a testing situation and you are not allowed to use one, rely on the context clues in the sentence.
The term context clues means that other words in the sentence “give away” or give clues to the definition. For
exam-ple, sometimes you will find synonyms (words that mean the same thing) or antonyms (words that mean the
opposite), or details that lead you to identify the vocabulary word in question. Once in a while, you will find a
group of words set off by commas (called an appositive), which gives you a very clear definition of the word.

1
 –VOCABULARY–

The answers to this section begin on page 131. His neighbor’s superficial remarks trivialized the
property line dispute and infuriated Malcolm.
Read the following sentences and try to choose the
enraged
best definition for the italicized word by searching
petty
for context clues in the sentence.
insulting
misleading
The designer window treatments in her house,
installed 17 years ago, were outmoded.
When Katya refused to lie to her parents about
unnecessary
where she was spending the night, she was
pointless
com-pletely ostracized by her usually loyal
out-of-date
friends, who had never shunned her before.
worthless
excluded
hurt
Although the professor’s lectures were regarded
cheered
by many as so wearisome that they regularly
helped
put students to sleep, he ignored all criticism
and refused to make any changes.
Her fashion sense was usually described as flam-
modest
boyant, but on the night of the party, Tanya’s
unpleasant
out-fit was uncharacteristically modest.
boring
impeccable
objectionable
showy
sloppy
The baseball player’s malice toward the referee was
unassuming
revealed in his spiteful remarks to the media,
which almost ruined the referee’s career.
Mr. Powers was so gullible that he believed even
vindictive
the most outlandish excuses of his insincere
crazy
employees.
rude
intelligent
unpleasant
naïve
dishonest
Although Zachary is much too inexperienced for
critical
the managerial position, he is a willful young
man and obdurately refuses to withdraw his
You cannot become a certified teacher without
application.
completing the prerequisite student teaching
foolishly
assignment.
reluctantly
required
constantly
optional
stubbornly
preferred
advisable

2
 –VOCABULARY–

10. Charles, aware of his susceptibility to gum dis- 15. After several small brushfires at the campground,
ease, is diligent about flossing. officials felt the need to augment the rules per-
a. uncomfortable taining to campfires.
b. excited a. criticize
c. thorough b. retract
d. ambivalent c. consider
d. expand
Even though she’d read her supervisor’s memo
four or five times, she still found his rambling 16. As soon as the details of the election were released
message ambiguous. to the media, the newspaper was inundated with
a. profound calls—far too many to be handled effectively.
b. inspiring a. provided
c. ridiculous b. bothered
d. unclear c. rewarded
d. flooded
Excited about winning the award, Marcia walked
up to the podium and delivered an animated 17. The Marion Police Department’s policy of
acceptance speech. aggressively recruiting women officers is
a. abbreviated unmatched, unique in every way.
b. courteous a. rigorous
c. reserved b. admirable
d. lively c. unparalleled
d. remarkable
The intermittent rain soaked the garden many
different times during the day. 18. When people heard that timid Bob had taken up
a. protracted skydiving, they were incredulous.
b. periodic a. fearful
c. incredulous b. outraged
d. light c. convinced
d. disbelieving
In order to get their votes in the next election, the
senator responded to all the complaints of her 19. The technical department enthusiastically hired
constituents in a diplomatic manner. Ms. Long because she was proficient in the use
a. tactful of computers.
b. dismissive a. sincere
c. delaying b. adequate
d. elaborate c. competent
d. skilled

3
 –VOCABULARY–

20. Even under tremendous public pressure, the plan- 25. The suspect gave a plausible explanation for his
ning committee would not commit itself whole- presence at the scene, so the police decided to
heartedly to the proposal and gave only tentative look elsewhere for the perpetrator of the crime.
approval to the waterfront development plan. a. unbelievable
a. provisional b. credible
b. ambiguous c. insufficient
c. unnecessary d. apologetic
d. total
26. He based his conclusion on what he inferred
21. Regarding the need for more free refreshments, from the evidence, not on what he actually
the group’s opinion was enthusiastic and observed.
unanimous. a. predicted
a. divided b. imagined
b. uniform c. surmised
c. adamant d. implied
d. spirited
27. The neighborhood-watch group presented its
22. Since the townspeople were so dissatisfied, ultimatum at the town board meeting: Repave
various methods to alleviate the situation the streets or prepare for protests.
were debated. a. earnest plea
a. ease b. formal petition
b. tolerate c. solemn promise
c. clarify d. non-negotiable demand
d. intensify
28. The editor of the newspaper needed to be sure
23. The assistant was fast becoming an indispensable the article presented the right information, so his
member of the department, so they had no review was meticulous.
choice but to offer him a higher salary to stay on. a. delicate
a. determined b. painstaking
b. experienced c. superficial
c. essential d. objective
d. creative
29. The general public didn’t care about the trial and
24. The attorney wanted to expedite the process, was apathetic about the verdict.
because her client was becoming impatient. a. enraged
a. accelerate b. indifferent
b. evaluate c. suspicious
c. reverse d. saddened
d. justify

4
 –VOCABULARY–

The doctors were pleased that their theory had The attorneys were now certain they could not win
been fortified by the new research. the case, because the ruling had proved to be so
reinforced detrimental to their argument.
altered decisive
disputed harmful
developed worthless
advantageous
The captain often delegated responsibility to his
subordinates, so as to have time to do the My brother drives us crazy by crooning in the
impor-tant tasks himself. shower.
analyzed hooting
respected bellowing
criticized crying
assigned shouting

The news about toxic waste dumping aroused the The emotional fallout from a natural disaster can
anger of the many listeners of a news broadcast. adversely affect the residents in a community
informed for years.
appeased conflict
provoked issues
deceived relationship
consequences
The spokesperson must articulate the philosophy of
an entire company so that outsiders can The air in the rainforest was humid, making the heat
understand it completely. seem even more smothering than before.
trust hot
refine damp
verify hazy
express volatile

The new shipping and receiving building is an The balloon, loose from its string, rose up into the
expansive facility, large enough to meet our sky, a shiny purple sphere.
growing needs. circle
obsolete globe
meager ovoid
spacious nodule
costly

5
 –VOCABULARY–

40. After the storm caused raw sewage to seep into 45. I wrote in my journal every day, hoping in the
the ground water, the Water Department had to future to author a book about my trip to Paris.
take measures to decontaminate the city’s water a. notebook
supply. b. chapbook
a. refine c. diary
b. revive d. ledger
c. freshen
d. purify 46. The thief jostled me in a crowd and was thus able
to pick my pocket.
41. The mayor tailored his speech to suit the crowd a. mugged
of homeless people gathered outside his office. b. bumped
a. intoned c. assailed
b. expanded d. hindered
c. altered
d. shortened 47. While we traveled in Italy, we stayed in an inex-
pensive hostel.
42. The volcano lays dormant now, but we feel sure it a. inn
will erupt again within the year. b. compound
a. inactive c. home
b. slack d. four-star hotel
c. elevated
d. inattentive 48. My friend asked me to lie for her, but that is
against my philosophy.
43. Because of his disregard for the king’s laws, the a. principles
prince was punished by being banished from the b. regulations
kingdom. c. personality
a. apart d. introspection
kidnapped
exiled
spirited

I relinquished my place in line to go back and talk

with my friend Diane.
defended
yielded
delayed
remanded

6
 –VOCABULARY–

Choose the best vocabulary word for questions 49–51. Questions 52 and 53 are based on the following
paragraph.
We had no idea who the special guest speaker
would be, because the organizers of the Rhesus monkeys use facial expressions to com-
event were so _____________________. municate with each other and to enforce social
animated order. For example, the “fear grimace,” although
secretive it looks ferocious, is actually given by a
talented __________ monkey who is intimidated by a
emotional __________ member of the group.

When Carson suddenly quit his job, he didn’t What is the meaning of the underlined word gri-
even __________ how difficult it might be mace as it is used in the passage?
to find a new one. wrinkle
endorse contortion
require shriek
consider simper
alter
Which pair of words, if inserted into the blanks in
Maggie was the most talented tennis player at her sequence, makes the most sense in the context
school, even though she’d never had the of the passage?
___________________ to take formal lessons. calm . . . aggressive
opportunity dominant . . . subordinate
compassion confident . . . fearless
arrogance subordinate . . . dominant
marketability

7
 –VOCABULARY–

Questions 54 and 55 are based on the following Questions 57, 58, and 59 are based on the following
paragraph. paragraph.

In prolonged space flight, besides the obvious The Sami are an indigenous people living in the
hazards of meteors, rocky debris, and radiation, northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and
astronauts will have to deal with muscle atrophy Russia’s Kola peninsula. Originally, the Sami
brought on by weightlessness; therefore, when reli-gion was animistic; that is, for them, nature
they return to Earth, they face a protracted period and natural objects had a conscious life, a spirit.
of weight-training to rebuild their strength. Therefore, one was expected to move quietly in
the wilderness and avoid making a disturbance
What is the most likely meaning of the under-lined out of courtesy to these spirits. Ghengis Khan is
word debris as it is used in this passage? said to have declared that the Sami were one peo-
fragments ple he would never try to fight again. Because the
decay Sami were not warriors and did not believe in
bacteria war, they simply disappeared in times of conflict.
alien life They were known as “peaceful retreaters.”

The underlined word atrophy, as used in the Based on the tone of the passage, which of the
paragraph, most nearly means following words best describes the author’s
pain. atti-tude toward the Sami people?
wasting. admiring
weakening. pitying
cramping. contemptuous
patronizing
Question 56 is based on the following paragraph.
The closest meaning of the underlined word ani-
Most of the women in the orchestra wore con- mistic, as it is used in the passage, is
ventional black skirts and white shirts during the irrational belief in supernatural beings.
concerts and had their hair neatly pulled back. the belief that animals and plants have souls.
Robin, with her brightly colored clothing and the belief that animals are gods.
unusual hairstyles, was considered quite eccentric. the primitive belief that people can be reincar-
nated as animals.
What is the meaning of the underlined word
eccentric as it is used in the sentence? What is the meaning of the underlined word
unconventional courtesy as it is used in the passage?
joyful timidity
unreliable caution
proud respect
fear

8
 S E C T I O N

Analogies

T he dictionary defines an analogy as a “similarity in some respects between things that are otherwise
dissimilar.” In each of the questions contained in this section, you will find a pair of related words. Look at
those words and try to figure out how they are connected to one another. For example, what
is the connection between the words fish and scales? Obviously, a fish is covered with scales; now think of two
other words that share a similar relationship. A good example of this would be bird and feathers. The similarity
between these two unrelated pairs of words is an analogy. The best way to approach an analogy question is to make
up a sentence that describes the relationship between the first two words and find another pair in the choices that
would fit into that same sentence. A fish is covered with scales, as a bird is covered with feathers.

9
 –ANALOGIES–

The answers to this section begin on page 133. 65. FOOT : SKATEBOARD
See how many of the following questions you can a. tire : automobile
b. lace : shoe
answer correctly.
c. ounce : scale
60. PETAL : FLOWER d. walk : jump
e. pedal : bicycle
a. recliner : chair
b. leaf : tree 66. STRETCH : EXTEND
c. basket : ball
a. tremble : roll
d. material : fabric
b. thirsty : drink
e. avocado : guacamole
c. shake : tremble
61. SHELF : BOOKCASE d. stroll : run
e. stitch : tear
a. arm : leg
b. stage : curtain 67. KANGAROO : MARSUPIAL
c. bench : chair
a. salmon : mollusk
d. key : piano
b. zebra : horse
e. lamp : bulb
c. rhinoceros : pachyderm
62. FISH : SCHOOL d. beagle : feline
e. grasshopper : rodent
a. wolf : pack
b. tiger : jungle 68. STARVING : HUNGRY
c. herd : peacock
a. neat : thoughtful
d. raven : school
b. towering : cringing
e. dog : collie
c. progressive : regressive
63. SCALE : WEIGHT d. happy : crying
e. depressed : sad
a. yardstick : length
b. width : depth 69. DERMATOLOGIST : ACNE
c. length : width
a. psychologist : neurosis
d. size : area
b. child : pediatrician
e. mileage : speed
c. ophthalmologist : fracture
64. WATERMELON : FRUIT d. oncologist : measles
e. allergies : orthopedist
a. collar : leash
b. dog : companion 70. FRAME : PICTURE
c. fish : bowl
a. display : museum
d. Dalmatian : canine
b. shelf : refrigerator
e. apple : orange
c. mechanic : electrician
d. nail : hammer
e. fence : backyard

10
 –ANALOGIES–

71. SEARCH : FIND 77. RUN: JOG

a. sleep : wake a. trot : race
b. explore : discover b. swim : dive
c. draw : paint c. dance : ballet
d. think : relate d. juggle : bounce
e. walk : run e. rain : drizzle

72. PHARMACY : DRUGS 78. SKEIN : YARN

a. mall : store a. squeeze : lemon
b. doctor : medicine b. fire : coal
c. bakery : bread c. ream : paper
d. supermarket : discount store d. tree : lumber
e. toys : games e. plow : acre

73. LAYER : TIER 79. TAILOR : SUIT

a. section : segment a. scheme : agent
b. dais : speaker b. edit : manuscript
c. curtain : stage c. revise : writer
d. chapter : verse d. mention : opinion
e. cotton : bale e. implode : building

74. METROPOLITAN : URBAN 80. CONDUCTOR : ORCHESTRA

a. bucolic : rural a. jockey : mount
b. sleepy : nocturnal b. thrasher : hay
c. agricultural : cow c. driver : tractor
d. autumn : harvest d. skipper : crew
e. agrarian : generous e. painter : house

75. TEACHER : SCHOOL 81. JAUNDICE : LIVER

a. actor : role a. rash : skin
b. mechanic : engine b. dialysis : kidney
c. jockey : horse c. smog : lung
d. judge : courthouse d. valentine : heart
e. author : book e. imagination : brain

76. PERSIAN : CAT 82. COBBLER : SHOE

a. alligator : crocodile a. jockey : horse
b. zebra : reptile b. contractor : building
c. parakeet : bird c. mason : stone
d. rat : marsupial d. cowboy : boot
e. fly : bee e. potter : paint

11
 –ANALOGIES–

83. PHOBIC : FEARFUL 89. CONVICTION : INCARCERATION

a. finicky : thoughtful a. reduction : diminution
b. cautious : emotional b. induction : amelioration
c. envious : desiring c. radicalization : estimation
d. shy : familiar d. marginalization : intimidation
e. ridiculous : silly e. proliferation : alliteration

84. INTEREST : OBSESSION 90. DELTOID : MUSCLE

a. mood : feeling a. radius : bone
b. weeping : sadness b. brain : nerve
c. dream : fantasy c. tissue : organ
d. plan : negation d. blood : vein
e. highlight : indication e. scalpel : incision

85. MONK : DEVOTION 91. UMBRAGE : OFFENSE

a. maniac : pacifism a. confusion : penance
b. explorer : contentment b. infinity : meaning
c. visionary : complacency c. decorum : decoration
d. rover : wanderlust d. elation : jubilance
e. philistine : culture e. outrage : consideration

86. SLAPSTICK : LAUGHTER 92. PROFESSOR : ERUDITE

a. fallacy : dismay a. aviator : licensed
b. genre : mystery b. inventor : imaginative
c. satire : anger c. procrastinator : conscientious
d. mimicry : tears d. overseer : wealthy
e. horror : fear e. moderator : vicious

87. VERVE : ENTHUSIASM 93. DEPENDABLE : CAPRICIOUS

a. loyalty : duplicity a. fallible : cantankerous
b. devotion : reverence b. erasable : obtuse
c. intensity : color c. malleable : limpid
d. eminence : anonymity d. capable : inept
e. generosity : elation e. incorrigible : guilty

88. SOUND : CACOPHONY 94. FROND : PALM

a. taste : style a. quill : porcupine
b. touch : massage b. blade : evergreen
c. smell : stench c. scale : wallaby
d. sight : panorama d. tusk : alligator
e. speech : oration e. blade : fern

12
 –ANALOGIES–

95. METAPHOR : SYMBOL 98. SPY : CLANDESTINE

a. pentameter : poem a. accountant : meticulous
b. rhythm : melody b. furrier : rambunctious
c. nuance : song c. lawyer : ironic
d. slang : usage d. shepherd : garrulous
e. analogy : comparison e. astronaut : opulent
96. DIRGE : FUNERAL 99. DOMINANCE : HEGEMONY

a. chain : letter a. romance : sympathy

b. bell : church b. furtherance : melancholy
c. telephone : call c. independence : autonomy
d. jingle : commercial d. tolerance : philanthropy
e. hymn : concerto e. recompense : hilarity
97. FERAL : TAME 100. AERIE : EAGLE

a. rancid : rational a. capital : government

b. repetitive : recurrent b. bridge : architect
c. nettlesome : annoying c. unit : apartment
d. repentant : honorable d. kennel : veterinarian
e. ephemeral : immortal e. house : person

13
 3
S E C T I O N

Main Ideas,
Themes

F inding the main idea or theme of a written piece is one of the most important aspects of good reading
comprehension. It is, however, easy to confuse the main idea or theme with the subject. Basically, the
subject of a piece of writing is what that piece is generally about, plain and simple—
the facts and information. However, when you look past the facts and information to the heart of what writ-
ers are trying to say, and why they are saying it, that’s the main idea or theme. For example, the subject of this
introduction is about distinguishing between a subject and a main idea or theme; the main idea or theme is
why it’s important to be able to recognize that difference.

15
 –MAIN IDEAS, THEMES–

The answers to this section begin on page 134. One New York publisher has estimated that
50,000 to 60,000 people in the United States
Read the following paragraphs and carefully determine want an anthology that includes the complete
what the main idea is for each. The best way to works of William Shakespeare. And what
approach these questions is to first read the paragraph accounts for this renewed interest in
and then, in your own words, restate what you think the Shakespeare? As scholars point out, the
author is trying to say. From the five choices, select the psychological insights he portrays in both male
one statement that best supports the author’s point. and female characters are amazing even today.

If you’re a fitness walker, there is no need for a This paragraph best supports the statement that
commute to a health club. Your neighborhood can Shakespeare’s characters are more interest-ing
be your health club. You don’t need a lot of fancy than fictional characters today.
equipment to get a good workout either. All you people today are interested in Shakespeare’s
need is a well-designed pair of athletic shoes. work because of the characters.
academic scholars are putting together an
This paragraph best supports the statement that anthology of Shakespeare’s work.
fitness walking is a better form of exercise New Yorkers have a renewed interested in
than weight lifting. the work of Shakespeare.
a membership in a health club is a poor Shakespeare was a psychiatrist as well as a
investment. playwright.
walking outdoors provides a better workout
than walking indoors. Critical reading is a demanding process. To read
fitness walking is a convenient and valuable critically, you must slow down your reading and,
form of exercise. with pencil in hand, perform specific operations
poorly designed athletic shoes can cause on the text. Mark up the text with your reactions,
major foot injuries. conclusions, and questions. When you read,
become an active participant.

This paragraph best supports the statement that

critical reading is a slow, dull, but essential
process.
the best critical reading happens at critical
times in a person’s life.
readers should get in the habit of question-
ing the truth of what they read.
critical reading requires thoughtful and
careful attention.
critical reading should take place at the
same time each day.

16
 –MAIN IDEAS, THEMES–

There are no effective boundaries when it comes Mathematics allows us to expand our conscious-
to pollutants. Studies have shown that toxic ness. Mathematics tells us about economic trends,
insec-ticides that have been banned in many patterns of disease, and the growth of populations.
countries are riding the wind from countries Math is good at exposing the truth, but it can also
where they remain legal. Compounds such as perpetuate misunderstandings and untruths. Fig-ures
DDT and toxaphene have been found in remote have the power to mislead people.
places like the Yukon and other Arctic regions.
This paragraph best supports the statement that
This paragraph best supports the statement that the study of mathematics is dangerous.
toxic insecticides such as DDT have not words are more truthful than figures.
been banned throughout the world. the study of mathematics is more impor-
more pollutants find their way into polar tant than other disciplines.
climates than they do into warmer areas. the power of numbers is that they cannot lie.
studies have proven that many countries have figures are sometimes used to deceive people.
ignored their own anti-pollution laws.
DDT and toxaphene are the two most toxic Human technology developed from the first stone
insecticides in the world. tools about two and a half million years ago. In
even a worldwide ban on toxic insecticides the beginning, the rate of development was slow.
would not stop the spread of DDT pollution. Hundreds of thousands of years passed without
much change. Today, new technologies are
The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution reported daily on television and in newspapers.
protects citizens against unreasonable searches
and seizures. No search of a person’s home or This paragraph best supports the statement that
personal effects may be conducted without a stone tools were not really technology.
written search warrant issued on probable stone tools were in use for two and a half
cause. This means that a neutral judge must million years.
approve the factual basis justifying a search there is no way to know when stone tools
before it can be conducted. first came into use.
In today’s world, new technologies are con-
This paragraph best supports the statement that the stantly being developed.
police cannot search a person’s home or none of the latest technologies are as signif-
private papers unless they have icant as the development of stone tools.
legal authorization.
direct evidence of a crime.
read the person his or her constitutional
rights.
a reasonable belief that a crime has
occurred.
requested that a judge be present.

17
 –MAIN IDEAS, THEMES–

Today’s postal service is more efficient than ever. When writing business letters or memos, it’s
Mail that once took months to move by horse and not practical to be personal. Though the first-
foot now moves around the country in days or person point of view may make the reader feel
hours by truck, train, and plane. If your letter or close to the writer, it also implies a certain
package is urgent, the U.S. Postal Service offers subjectivity. That is, the writer is expressing a
Priority Mail and Express Mail services. Priority personal view from a personal perspective.
Mail is guaranteed to go anywhere in the United
States in two days or less. Express Mail will get This paragraph best supports the statement that
your package there overnight. writing a first-person business correspon-
dence will prevent the writer from
This paragraph best supports the statement that getting promoted.
more people use the post office for urgent effective business writing is one of the
deliveries than any other delivery service. most important skills to have in an office
Express Mail is a good way to send urgent environment.
mail. using the first-person point of view in busi-ness
Priority Mail usually takes two days or less. correspondence is not a wise choice.
mail service today is more effective and the first-person point of view expresses a
dependable. personal view and a personal perspective.
mail was once delivered by horse and foot. the first-person point of view is appropriate
when writing a letter of thanks.
Reality TV shows will have an adverse effect on
traditional dramas and comedies. As Reality TV
increases in popularity, network executives will
begin canceling more traditional programs and
replacing them with the latest in Reality TV.

This paragraph best supports the statement that

Reality TV is low quality.
Reality TV shows get the highest ratings.
more and more people love to watch and
participate in Reality TV.
as Reality TV gets more popular, more
traditional television shows may be
threatened.
network executives make hasty and unwise
decisions.

18
 S E C T I O N

Topic Sentences

I n the last section, you learned what a main idea is. Often, writers express their main idea in a clearly defined
sentence known as a topic sentence. Topic sentences are usually found at the beginning of a para-graph in order to
immediately establish the main idea. But this is not always the case—topic sentences can be found anywhere in a
paragraph, and sometimes, the author chooses not to use one at all. Still, looking for the
topic sentence is a good skill to have when ferreting out the meaning of a reading passage.

19
 –TOPIC SENTENCES–

The answers to this section begin on page 135. 112. It weighs less than three pounds and is hardly
For the following three questions, choose the topic more interesting to look at than an overly ripe
cauliflower. ___________________________.
sentence that best fits the paragraph.
It has created poetry and music, planned and
111. The term spices is a pleasant one, whether it executed horrific wars, and devised intricate
scientific theories. It thinks and dreams, plots
connotes fine French cuisine or a down-home,
and schemes, and easily holds more informa-
cinnamon-flavored apple pie. ____________.
tion than all the libraries on Earth.
In the past, individuals traveled the world seek-
a. The human brain is made of gelatinous
ing exotic spices for profit and, in searching,
matter and contains no nerve endings.
have changed the course of history. Indeed, to
b. The science of neurology has found a way
gain control of lands harboring new spices,
to map the most important areas of the
nations have actually gone to war.
human brain.
a. The taste and aroma of spices are the main
c. Nevertheless, the human brain is the most
elements that make food such a source of
mysterious and complex object on Earth.
fascination and pleasure.
d. However, scientists say that each person
b. The term might equally bring to mind
uses only 10% of his or her brain over the
Indian curry made thousands of miles away
course of a lifetime!
and those delicious barbecued ribs sold on
the corner.
c. It is exciting to find a good cookbook
and experiment with spices from other
lands—indeed, it is one way to travel
around the globe!
d. The history of spices, however, is another
matter altogether, and at times, it can be
filled with danger and intrigue.

20
 –TOPIC SENTENCES–

Gary is a distinguished looking man with a touch of For the following questions, a topic sentence is given. Try
gray at the temples. Even in his early 50s, he choosing the sentence that best develops or supports it.
still turns heads. He enjoys spending most of
his time admiring his profile in the mirror. In Life on Earth is ancient and, even at its first
fact, he considers his good looks to be his appearance, unimaginably complex.
second-most important asset. The first, Scientists place its beginnings at some three
however, is money. He is lucky in this area, billion years ago, when they hypothe-size
too, having been born into a wealthy family. that the first molecule floated up out of
__________. He loves the power his wealth the ooze with the unique ability to
has given him. He could buy whatever he replicate itself.
desires, whether that be people, places, or The most complex life form is, of course,
things. Gary checks that mirror often and the mammal—and the most complex
feels great delight with what he sees. mammal is humankind.
Gary’s gray hair is his worst characteristic. It is unknown exactly where life started,
Conceit is the beginning and the end of where the first molecule was “born” that
Gary’s character; conceit of person had the ability to replicate itself.
and situation. Darwin’s theory of evolution was one
Gary feels blessed to be wealthy and the joy attempt to explain what essentially
consumes his every thought. remains a great mystery.
The only objects of Gary’s respect are
others who hold positions in society Cosmetic plastic surgery is one of the fastest-
above him. growing segments of U.S. medicine.
Cosmetic plastic surgery can have danger-ous
side effects, some of which can be fatal.
Americans are eager to make their bodies as
perfect as possible and to minimize the
visi-ble signs of aging.
The price of cosmetic plastic surgery is also
on the rise.
d. This increase in cosmetic plastic
surgery says something quite
disturbing about our culture.

21
 –TOPIC SENTENCES–

116. One scientific theory of the origin of the 118. The Greek ideal of the hero most closely
universe is the much misunderstood resembles today’s free-agent superstar.
big bang theory. a. A superstar is an athlete who commands a
a. Physicists now believe they can construct great salary based on his individual skills.
what happened in the universe during the b. The Greek warrior’s focus was on grasping
first three minutes of its beginning. at immortality, and he did this by ensuring
b. Many scientists believe that, during that his name would live on, long after
microwave experiments, we can actually he died.
“hear” echoes of the big bang. c. The Greek hero valued self-interest above
c. The popular notion is that the big bang was loyalty to a cause, his king, or to his army,
a huge explosion in space, but this is far too just as the free-agent superstar values his
simple a description. contract salary above any special team,
d. The big bang theory, if accepted, convinces coach, or the game.
us that the universe was not always as it d. The Greek hero was impressive in his per-
is now. formance on the battlefield as well as in the
sports arena.
117. Before we learn how to truly love someone
else, we must learn how to love the face in the 119. There is no instruction by the old bird in the
mirror. movements of flight; no conscious imitation
a. Don’t be shy about meeting members of the by the young.
opposite sex. a. The most obvious way in which birds differ
b. No one can really love you the way you can from humans in behavior is that they can
love yourself. do all that they have to do, without ever
c. Love is not something that lasts unless one being taught.
is very lucky. b. More extraordinary than the fact that a bird
d. Learning to accept ourselves for who we are is able to fly untaught, is that it is able to
will teach us how to accept another person. build a nest untaught.
c. Young birds frequently make their first
flights with their parents out of sight.
d. Young birds brought up in artificial envi-
ronments will build the proper kind of nest
for their species when the time comes.

22
 –TOPIC SENTENCES–

120. Parents play an important role in their chil- 123. More and more people are eating organically
dren’s academic success. grown fruits and vegetables.
a. Video games have a negative impact on a. Organic food is usually more expensive
children’s academic success. than non-organic food.
b. Studies show that children of parents who b. A wide variety of organic chocolate prod-
regularly assist with homework and show ucts are now available in stores.
an active interest in their child’s studies c. Raw foods are enjoying increasing popular-
bring home better grades. ity, now that people are discovering how a
c. Studies show that watching less television raw-foods diet leaves you feeling and
and spending less time playing video games looking great.
help children get better grades. d. Fresh organic produce contains more vita-
d. Children who are avid readers get much mins, minerals, and enzymes than non-
better grades than their peers. organic produce.

121. In special cases, needy people who have 124. In Oklahoma, a girl is forbidden to take a bite
nowhere else to go are permitted to enter the from her date’s hamburger.
United States as refugees. a. It’s illegal for teenagers to take a bath dur-
a. Other people, however, enter the United ing the winter in Clinton, Indiana.
States illegally. b. Youngsters may not spin Yo-Yos on Sunday
b. The total number of newcomers was over in Memphis, Tennessee.
one million. c. It may be hard to believe, but these types of
c. United States immigration laws put limits strange laws are still on the books!
on the number of people permitted to enter d. It is illegal to parade an elephant down
the United States. Main Street in Austin, Texas.
d. As many as 12 million people may be living
in the United States illegally. 125. The hairs themselves are very sensitive.
a. A cat’s whiskers are among the most perfect
122. The Puritans established a wide variety of organs of touch.
punishments to enforce their strict laws. b. The roots contain highly sensitive nerve
a. The Puritans believed that some lawbreak- endings.
ers should be shamed in public by the use c. Serving as feelers, they aid the cat’s ability
of stocks and the pillory. to move in the dark.
b. Disobedient children would feel the sting of d. This is most important for a cat that does
the whip. its prowling at night.
c. The Eighth Amendment of the Bill of Rights
prohibits cruel and unusual punishment.
d. Today, many of the punishments used by
the Puritans seem cruel and excessive.

23
 –TOPIC SENTENCES–

French explorers probably taught the Inuit For the final two questions, choose the sentence that
Eskimos how to play dominoes. does NOT support the given topic sentence.
It was known in 181 A.D. in China.
Also, it was played during the 1700s in Italy. In ancient Greece, honor was not just the
The game of dominoes has been popular domain of the warrior.
for centuries. A great orator [speaker], who could sway
From Italy, it was then introduced to the the public with his logic and wit, was
rest of the world. greatly respected.
A revered poet’s name lived on long after
People are now living longer than ever before for he died.
many different reasons. Great wealth was characteristic of the truly
Some people in the Soviet Union’s Caucasus great kings.
Mountains live to be over 100 years of age. A warrior’s quest for the esteem of his peers
No one seems to understand this would bring him great prizes, which would
phenomenon. secure a long-lasting reputation.
Advances in medical science have done
wonders for longevity. In Moby Dick, Herman Melville wrote that the
The people in this region do not seem to whale men were “enveloped in whale lines,”
gain anything from medical science. that each man relied on the others during
moments of danger.
For 16 years, he spread violence and death The small boats that pursued the whales left
throughout the west. the whaling ship far behind; each man in
Jesse was gunned down on April 3, 1882. a boat had to depend on the others to stay
He left a trail of train and bank robberies. alive.
His crimes were committed during the Once the whale was harpooned, the whale
late 1860s. line unraveled so fast that water had to be
Jesse Woodson James was the most leg- poured on it to keep it from smoking.
endary of all American outlaws. The whale line was the rope, dozens of
yards long, that attached to the harpoon;
it was raveled under the seats of all the
men metaphorically connecting each man
to the next.
One wrong move and the line would snap a
man right out of the boat; thus, his life
depended on whether the crew would cut
the whale loose to save him, or leave him
in the ocean during the heat of the hunt.

24
 S E C T I O N

Short Passages

I n this section, you will find short (one and two paragraph) passages, accompanied by questions that ask you to
identify explicit information, analyze, and interpret what is written. This is your first chance to use every-thing you’ve
learned so far. Pay special attention to the details and the facts, and make a habit of trying to identify the author’s main
idea; also, try to think of the author’s motive for writing the passage. As newspaper reporters do, ask the questions,
“Who? What? When? Where? How? and Why?” Is the author’s purpose to inform
you of facts, persuade you of something, or simply to entertain you?
As you read, try marking up the passages or taking notes. The more active a reader you are, the more
likely that you will understand and fully enjoy what you read.

25
 –SHORT PASSAGES–

The answers to this section begin on page 137. The use of desktop computer equipment and
software to create high-quality documents such
Some of the questions following the passages ask you
as newsletters, business cards, letterhead, and
to make inferences from the passages. To infer means
brochures is called Desktop Publishing, or
to arrive at a conclusion by reasoning from evidence.
DTP. The most important part of any DTP
Synonyms for infer are deduce, judge, or conclude. If
project is planning. Before you begin, you
you are told to infer something from a passage, you are
should know your intended audience, the
basically being asked what conclusions can be drawn
message you want to communicate, and what
from the content of the story. Tip: If you replace the
form your message will take.
word infer with conclude in a question, it may make
more sense to you.
The paragraph best supports the statement that
Desktop Publishing is one way to become
In cities throughout the country, there is a new
acquainted with a new business audience.
direction in local campaign coverage.
computer software is continually being
Frequently in local elections, journalists are not
refined to produce high-quality printing.
giving voters enough information to understand
the first stage of any proposed DTP project
the issues and evaluate the candidates. The
should be organization and design.
local news media devotes too much time to
the planning stage of any DTP project should
scandal and not enough time to policy.
include talking with the intended audience.

This paragraph best supports the statement that

The entire low-carbohydrate versus low-fat diet
the local news media
argument is so prevalent that one would think
is not doing an adequate job when it comes
that these are the only two options available for
to covering local campaigns.
losing weight and staying healthy. Some
does not understand either campaign issues or
experts even feel that the low-carb/low-fat
politics.
debate dis-tracts us from an even more
should learn how to cover politics by
important issue—our culture’s reliance on
watching the national news media.
processed and manufac-tured foods.
has no interest in covering stories about
local political events.
The paragraph best supports the statement that
experts state that not all fats are equal, so
we need not reduce our intake of all
fats; just those that contain partially
hydro-genated oils.
important health concerns get overlooked
when we focus exclusively on the low-
fat versus low-carb question.
low-carbohydrate diets lead to significant
and sustained weight loss.
processed foods can lead to many adverse
health problems including heart disease,
cancer, diabetes, and obesity.

26
 –SHORT PASSAGES–

Every year, Americans use over one billion One of the missions of the Peace Corps is to
sharp objects to administer healthcare in their help the people of interested countries meet
homes. These sharp objects include lancets, their need for trained men and women. People
needles, and syringes. If not disposed of in who work for the Peace Corps do so because
puncture-resistant containers, they can injure they want to, but to keep the agency dynamic
sanitation workers. Sharp objects should be with fresh ideas, no staff member can work for
disposed of in hard plastic or metal containers the agency for more than five years.
with secure lids. The containers should be
clearly marked and be puncture resistant. The paragraph best supports the statement that
Peace Corps employees
The paragraph best supports the idea that san- are highly intelligent people.
itation workers can be injured if they must train for about five years.
do not place sharp objects in puncture- are hired for a limited term of employment.
resistant containers. have both academic and work experience.
come in contact with sharp objects that have
not been placed in secure containers. More and more office workers telecommute from
are careless with sharp objects such as lancets, offices in their own homes. The upside of tele-com-
needles, and syringes in their homes. muting is both greater productivity and greater
do not mark the containers they pick up flexibility. Telecommuters produce, on average,
with a warning that those containers con- 20% more than if they were to work in an office,
tain sharp objects. and their flexible schedule allows them to balance
both their family and work responsibilities.
Litigation is not always the only or best way to
resolve conflicts. Mediation offers an alternative The paragraph best supports the statement that
approach and it is one that can be quite efficient telecommuters
and successful. Mediation can be faster, less get more work done in a given time period
expensive, and can lead to creative solutions not than workers who travel to the office.
always possible in a court of law. Additionally, produce a better quality work product than
mediation focuses on mutually acceptable solu- workers who travel to the office.
tions, rather than on winning or losing. are more flexible in their ideas than workers
who travel to the office.
This paragraph best supports the idea that would do 20% more work if they were to
there is too much reliance on litigation in work in an office.
our society.
litigation is expensive, slow, and limited by its
reliance on following the letter of the law.
mediation is the best way to resolve a crisis.
mediation can be an effective way to resolve
conflicts.

27
 –SHORT PASSAGES–

Sushi, the thousand-year-old Japanese delicacy, Daffodil bulbs require well-drained soil and a
started small in the United States, in a handful of sunny planting location. They should be
restaurants in big cities. Today, sushi consump- planted in holes that are 3–6 inches deep and
tion in America is 50% greater than it was ten there should be 2–4 inches between bulbs. The
years ago and not just in restaurants. Sushi is also bulb should be placed in the hole, pointed side
sold at concession stands in sports stadiums, uni- up, root side down. Once the bulb is planted,
versity dining halls, and in supermarkets through- water the area thoroughly.
out the country.
According to the above directions, when planting
This paragraph best supports the statement that daffodil bulbs, which of the following
sushi is now a fast food as popular as hot conditions is not necessary?
dogs, burgers, and fries. a sunny location
more sushi is sold in restaurants than in well-drained soil
supermarkets. proper placement of bulbs in soil
Americans are more adventurous eaters proper fertilization
than they were in the past.
sushi wasn’t always widely available in the According to the above directions, which of the
United States. following is true?
Daffodils do best in sandy soil.
Today’s shopping mall has as its antecedents his- Daffodil bulbs should be planted in
torical marketplaces, such as Greek agoras, Euro- autumn for spring blooming.
pean piazzas, and Asian bazaars. The purpose of It is possible to plant daffodil bulbs
these sites, as with the shopping mall, is both upside down.
eco-nomic and social. People not only go to buy Daffodil bulbs require daily watering.
and sell wares, but also to be seen, catch up on
news, and be part of the human drama. Many cities haves distributed standardized
recy-cling containers to all households with
The paragraph best supports the statement that directions that read:“We would prefer that you
modern Americans spend an average of 15 use this new container as your primary
hours a month in shopping malls. recycling container as this will expedite pick-
shopping malls serve an important purpose in up of recyclables. Addi-tional recycling
our culture. containers may be purchased from the City.”
shopping malls have a social as well as com-
mercial function. According to the directions, each household
there are historical antecedents for almost may only use one recycling container.
everything in contemporary society. must use the new recycling container.
should use the new recycling container.
must buy a new recycling container.

28
 –SHORT PASSAGES–

According to the directions, which of the fol- The competitive civil-service system is designed
lowing is true about the new containers? to give candidates fair and equal treatment and to
The new containers are far better than ensure that federal applicants are hired based on
other containers in every way. objective criteria. Hiring has to be based solely
The new containers will help increase the on a candidate’s knowledge, skills, and abilities
efficiency of the recycling program. (which you’ll sometimes see abbreviated as ksa),
The new containers hold more than the old and not on external factors such as race, religion,
containers did. sex, and so on. Whereas employers in the private
The new containers are less expensive than sector can hire employees for subjective reasons,
the old containers. federal employers must be able to justify their
decision with objective evidence that the candi-
Ratatouille is a dish that has grown in date is qualified.
popularity over the last few years. It features
eggplant, zuc-chini, tomatoes, peppers, and The paragraph best supports the statement that
garlic; chopped, mixed, sautéed, and finally, hiring in the private sector is inherently
cooked slowly over low heat. As the vegetables unfair.
cook slowly, they make their own broth, which ksa is not as important as test scores to
may be extended with a little tomato paste. The federal employers.
name ratatouille comes from the French word federal hiring practices are simpler than
touiller, meaning to stir or mix together. those employed by the private sector.
the civil service strives to hire on the basis
Which of the following is the correct order of of a candidate’s abilities.
steps for making ratatouille?
chop vegetables, add tomato paste, stir or The federal government’s practice of hiring on the
mix together basis of ksa frequently results in the hiring of
mix the vegetables together, sauté them, employees
and add tomato paste based on race, religion, sex, and so forth.
cook the vegetables slowly, mix them who are unqualified for the job.
together, add tomato paste who are qualified for the job.
add tomato paste to extend the broth and on the basis of subjective judgment.
cook slowly over low heat

Ratatouille can best be described as a

French pastry.
sauce to put over vegetables.
pasta dish extended with tomato paste.
vegetable stew.

29
 –SHORT PASSAGES–

It is well known that the world urgently needs Everyone is sensitive to extreme weather
adequate distribution of food, so that everyone condi-tions. But with age, the body may
gets enough. Adequate distribution of medicine become less able to respond to long exposure
is just as urgent. Medical expertise and medical to very hot or very cold temperatures. Some
supplies need to be redistributed throughout the older people might develop hypothermia when
world so that people in emerging nations will exposed to cold weather. Hypothermia is a
have proper medical care. drop in internal body temperature, which can
be fatal if not detected and treated.
This paragraph best supports the statement that
the majority of the people in the world have The paragraph best supports the statement that
no medical care. cold weather is more dangerous for older
medical resources in emerging nations have people than warm weather.
diminished in the past few years. hypothermia is a condition that only affects
not enough doctors give time and money to older people.
those in need of medical care. older people who live in warm climates are
many people who live in emerging nations are healthier than older people who live in
not receiving proper medical care. cold climates.
an older person is more susceptible to
Knitting has made a major comeback. People hypothermia than a younger person.
are knitting on college campuses, in coffee
shops, and in small knitting groups throughout Whether you can accomplish a specific goal or
the United States. New knitting stores, many meet a specific deadline depends first on how
with cafes, are popping up all over, and there much time you need to get the job done. What
are more knitting books and magazines being should you do when the demands of the job
published than ever before. And not all of these exceed the time you have available? The best
knitters are women: As knitting continues to approach is to divide the project into smaller
surge in popu-larity, men are picking up pieces. Different goals will have to be divided
knitting needles in record numbers. in different ways, but one seemingly unrealistic
goal can often be accomplished by working on
The paragraph best supports the statement that several smaller, more reasonable goals.
joining a knitting group is a great way to
make new friends. The main idea of the passage is that
some people knit because it helps them jobs often remain only partially completed
relax and release stress. because of lack of time.
today’s knitter is not the stereotypical the best way to complete projects is to make
grandmother in a rocking chair. sure your goals are achievable.
as is the case with all fads, this new obses- the best way to tackle a large project is to
sion with knitting will fade quickly. separate it into smaller parts.
the best approach to a demanding job is to
delegate responsibility.

30
 –SHORT PASSAGES–

Health clubs have undergone a major transfor- Before you begin to compose a business letter, sit
mation that can be described in three words: mind, down and think about your purpose in writing the
body, and spirit. Loud, fast, heart-thumping aerobics letter. Do you want to request information, order
has been replaced by the hushed tones of yoga and a product, register a complaint, or apply for
the controlled movements of Pilates. The clubs are something? Do some brainstorming and gather
responding to the needs of their customers who are information before you begin writing. Always
increasingly looking for a retreat from their hectic keep your objective in mind.
lifestyles and a way to find a healthy balance in
their lives by nurturing their whole selves. The main idea of the passage is that
planning is an important part of writing a
business letter.
The main idea of the paragraph is that business letters are frequently complaint
exercise is less important now than it letters.
once was. brainstorming and writing take approxi-
health clubs are much less popular now mately equal amounts of time.
than they were ten years ago. many people fail to plan ahead when they
many health clubs will go out of business are writing a business letter.
because of the decline in traditional exercise.
people’s desire to nurture all aspects of Keeping busy at important tasks is much more
themselves has contributed to big motivating than having too little to do. Today’s
changes for health clubs. employees are not afraid of responsibility.
Most people are willing to take on extra
For most judges, sentencing a person who has responsibility in order to have more variety in
been convicted of a crime is a difficult decision. their positions. In addition, along with that
In the majority of jurisdictions throughout the responsibility should come more authority to
country, judges have few sentencing options from independently carry out some important tasks.
which to choose. Generally, their options are con-
fined to a fine, probation, or incarceration. The main idea of the paragraph is that
Crimes, however, cover a wide spectrum of crim- variety and independence on the job
inal behavior and motivation, and a wide variety increase employee motivation.
of sanctions should be available. to avoid boredom, many people do more
work than their jobs require of them.
The main idea of the paragraph is that today’s employees are demanding more
there should be laws that dictate which independence than ever before.
sentence a judge should hand down. office jobs in the past have carried less
someone other than a judge should be responsibility.
allowed to sentence a criminal.
judges should be given more sentencing
options from which to choose.
more money should be spent on the
criminal justice system.

31
 –SHORT PASSAGES–

Managing job and family is not simple. Both Passages in this section can have one to six
commitments make strong demands on people and questions following. You must respond accordingly.
are sometimes in direct opposition to each other.
Saying yes to one means saying no to the other, and Use of electronic mail (e-mail) has been wide-
stress can often result. Being realistic and creating a spread for more than a decade. E-mail simplifies
balance in life can help set priorities. the flow of ideas, connects people from distant
offices, eliminates the need for meetings, and
The main idea of the paragraph is that often boosts productivity. However, e-mail
most family responsibilities cause stress at should be carefully managed to avoid unclear and
home and at work. inap-propriate communication. E-mail messages
because it pays the bills, a job must take pri- should be concise and limited to one topic. When
ority over other commitments. complex issues need to be addressed, phone calls
it is important to have a balance between are still best.
job and family responsibilities.
because they are so important, family The main idea of the paragraph is that e-mail
duties must take priority over the job. is not always the easiest way to connect
people from distant offices.
Women business owners are critically important has changed considerably since it first
to the American economy, yet women still face began a decade ago.
unique obstacles in the business world. The U.S. causes people to be unproductive when it is
Small Business Administration offers a vari-ety used incorrectly.
of programs and services to help women-owned is effective for certain kinds of messages but
businesses succeed and to advocate for women only if managed wisely.
entrepreneurs.
Which of the following would be the most
This paragraph best supports the statement that appropriate title for the passage?
women business owners Appropriate Use of E-Mail
have more success in the United States than E-Mail’s Popularity
in other countries. E-Mail: The Ideal Form of Communication
cannot succeed without outside help. Why Phone Calls Are Better Than E-Mail
may find the Small Business Administra-
tion a useful resource.
should not make any major decisions with-
out seeking the advice of the Small
Business Administration.

32
 –SHORT PASSAGES–

Native American art often incorporates a lan- In criminal cases, the availability of readable fin-
guage of abstract visual symbols. The artist gives gerprints is often critical in establishing evidence
a poetic message to the viewer, communicating of a major crime. It is necessary, therefore, to fol-
the beauty of an idea, either by using religious low proper procedures when taking fingerprints.
symbols or a design from nature such as rain on In major cases, prints should be obtained from all
leaves or sunshine on water. The idea communi- persons who may have touched areas associated
cated may even be purely whimsical, in which with a crime scene, for elimination purposes.
case the artist might start out with symbols devel-
oped from a bird’s tracks or a child’s toy. The main idea of the paragraph is that
because fingerprints are so important in
The main idea of the passage is that Native many cases, it is important to follow
American art the correct course in taking them.
is purely poetic and dreamlike. all fingerprints found at a crime scene should
is usually abstract, although it can also be be taken and thoroughly investigated.
poetic and beautiful. if the incorrect procedure is followed in
communicates the beauty of ideas through gathering fingerprints, the ones taken
the use of symbols. may be useless.
is sometimes purely whimsical. the first step in investigating fingerprints is
to eliminate those of non-suspects.

The paragraph best supports the statement that

no crimes can be solved without
readable fingerprints.
all persons who have touched an area
in a crime scene are suspects.
all fingerprints found at a crime scene
are used in court as evidence.
all persons who have touched a crime-
scene area should be fingerprinted.

33
 –SHORT PASSAGES–

An ecosystem is a group of animals and plants Which of the following best sums up activities
liv-ing in a specific region and interacting with within an ecosystem?
one another and with their physical environment. predator-prey relationships
Ecosystems include physical and chemical com- interactions among all members
ponents, such as soils, water, and nutrients that human-animal interactions
support the organisms living there. These organ- human relationship with the environment
isms may range from large animals to micro-
scopic bacteria. Ecosystems also can be thought An ecosystem can most accurately be defined as a
of as the interactions among all organisms in a geographical area.
given habitat; for instance, one species may serve community.
as food for another. People are part of the ecosys- habitat.
tems where they live and work. Human activities protected environment.
can harm or destroy local ecosystems unless
actions such as land development for housing or Once people wore garlic around their necks to
businesses are carefully planned to conserve and ward off disease. Today, most Americans would
sustain the ecology of the area. An important part scoff at the idea of wearing a necklace of garlic
of ecosystem management involves finding ways cloves to enhance their well-being. However, you
to protect and enhance economic and social well- might find a number of Americans willing to
being while protecting local ecosystems. ingest capsules of pulverized garlic or other
herbal supplements in the name of health.
What is the main idea of the passage? Complementary and alternative medicine,
An ecosystem is a community that includes which includes a range of practices outside of
animals, plants, and microscopic bacteria. conventional medicine such as herbs, homeopa-thy,
Human activities can do great damage to massage therapy, yoga, and acupuncture, hold
local ecosystems, so human communities increasing appeal for Americans. In fact, accord-ing
should be cautiously planned. to one estimate, 42% of Americans have used
In managing the ecology of an area, it is alternative therapies. In all age groups, the use of
important to protect both human interests unconventional healthcare practices has steadily
and the interests of other members of increased in the last 30 years, and the trend is likely
local ecosystems. to continue, although people born before 1945 are
People should remember that they are a the least likely to turn to these therapies.
part of the ecosystems where they live
and work.

34
 –SHORT PASSAGES–

Why have so many patients turned to alter- 167. According to the passage, which practice
native therapies? Many are frustrated by the time would not be defined as alternative medicine?
constraints of managed care and alienated by a. pain management
conventional medicine’s focus on technology. b. acupuncture
Others feel that a holistic approach to healthcare c. taking herbal garlic supplements
better reflects their beliefs and values. Others seek d. massage therapy
therapies that relieve symptoms associated with
chronic disease; symptoms that mainstream med- 168. Based on the information given, what kind of
icine cannot treat. person would be least likely to seek out alter-
Some alternative therapies have even native medical treatment?
crossed the line into mainstream medicine, as a. a senior citizen suffering from chemotherapy-
scientific investigation has confirmed their safety induced nausea
and efficacy. For example, physicians may cur- b. a young woman suffering from chronic
rently prescribe acupuncture for pain manage- fatigue syndrome
ment or to control the nausea associated with c. a 45-year-old man who believes that his
chemotherapy. Additionally, many U.S. medical body and mind must be treated together.
schools teach courses in alternative therapies, and d. a 25-year-old track star with chronic back
many health insurance companies offer some pain
alternative medicine benefits.
169. The passage indicates that alternative treat-
166. What is the main idea of this passage? ments are increasingly being used by main-
a. Alternative medicine is now a big business stream medical professionals because
in the United States with more Americans a. more and more Americans are demanding
seeking it out than ever before. alternative therapies.
b. Today, it is not unusual for mainstream b. healthcare insurance companies are now
doctors to incorporate alternative therapies providing some benefits for alternative
into their practice. medical treatments.
c. Over the last few decades, alternative medi- c. they are frustrated by the time constraints
cine has become more popular, accepted, of managed care.
and practiced in the United States. d. scientific studies are becoming available
d. People are tired of conventional medicine’s that prove their effectiveness and safety.
focus on technology.

35
 –SHORT PASSAGES–

On February 3, 1956, Autherine Lucy became the 171. Based on the information in the passage,
first African-American student to attend the Uni- which of the following best describes
versity of Alabama, although the dean of women Autherine Lucy?
refused to allow Autherine to live in a university a. quiet and shy
dormitory. White students rioted in protest of b. courageous and determined
her admission, and the federal government had to c. clever and amusing
assume command of the Alabama National d. overly dramatic
Guard in order to protect her. Nonetheless, on her
first day in class, Autherine bravely took a seat in 172. When she began classes at the university,
the front row. She remembers being surprised Autherine Lucy expected to
that the professor of the class appeared not to a. stand out from the other students.
notice she was even in class. Later, she would b. have the support of the university faculty.
appreciate his seeming indifference, as he was c. join an African-American organization
one of only a few professors to speak out in favor for protection.
of her right to attend the university. d. be ridiculed by the professors.
For protection, Autherine was taken in and
out of classroom buildings by the back door and 173. Autherine Lucy never graduated from the
driven from class to class by an assistant to the University of Alabama because she
university president. The students continued to a. moved to another state.
riot, and one day, the windshield of the car she b. transferred to another university.
was in was broken. University officials suspended c. dropped out because of pressure from
her, saying it was for her own safety. When her other students.
attorney issued a statement in her name protest- d. was expelled for insubordination.
ing her suspension, the university used it as
grounds for expelling her for insubordination. 174. According to the passage, which of the
Although she never finished her education at the following is true?
University of Alabama, Autherine Lucy’s courage a. The Alabama National Guard is normally
was an inspiration to African-American students under the command of the U.S. Army.
who followed her lead and desegregated univer- b. In 1956, the only segregated university in
sities all over the United States. the United States was in Alabama.
c. Autherine Lucy was escorted to and from
170. According to the passage, what did Autherine class by the university president’s assistant.
Lucy do on her first day at the University d. A few white students at the university
of Alabama? were pleased that Autherine Lucy was a
a. She moved into a dormitory. student there.
b. She sat in the front row of her class.
c. She became terrified of the white rioters.
d. She was befriended by an assistant to the
university president.

36
 –SHORT PASSAGES–

Kwanzaa is a holiday celebrated by many African 175. According to the passage, the holiday of Kwan-
Americans from December 26 to January 1. It zaa was created in order to
pays tribute to the rich cultural roots of Ameri- a. celebrate African Americans’ harvesting
cans of African ancestry, and celebrates family, skills.
community, and culture. Kwanzaa means the first b. honor Dr. Maulana Karenga.
or the first fruits of the harvest and is based on the c. encourage African Americans to think
ancient African first-fruit harvest celebrations. about their roots.
The modern holiday of Kwanzaa was founded in d. light the individual candles of the kinara.
1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, a professor at the
California State University in Long Beach, Cali- 176. Which of the seven principles does the black
fornia. The seven-day celebration encourages center candle of the kinara represent?
people to think about their African roots as well a. unity
as their life in present-day America. b. faith
The seven fundamental principles on which c. creativity
Kwanzaa is based are referred to as the Nguzo Saba. d. responsibility
These rules consist of unity, self-determination,
collective work and responsibility, cooperative 177. According to the passage, Kwanzaa is cele-
economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. Partici- brated by all of the following EXCEPT
pants celebrate by performing rituals such as light- a. drumming and rituals.
ing the kinara. The kinara is symbolic of the b. dancing and singing.
continental Africans. Each of its seven candles rep- c. dialogue.
resents a distinct principle beginning with unity, d. solitude and silence.
the black center candle. Talking with family,
drumming, singing, and dancing are all part of the 178. Which of the following is the best definition
celebration activities. of Kwanzaa?
a. the first song of the month
b. the first corn of the harvest
c. the first dance of the night
d. the first fruits of the harvest

37
 –SHORT PASSAGES–

In 1519, Hernando Cortez led his army of Span- According to the passage, what was Cortez’s
ish Conquistadors into Mexico. Equipped with major goal in his exploits?
horses, shining armor, and the most advanced to befriend the Aztecs
weapons of the sixteenth century, he fought his to get married
way from the flat coastal area into the mountain- to return to Spain
ous highlands. Cortez was looking for gold, and to gain wealth and power
he was sure that Indian groups in Mexico had
mined large amounts of the precious metal. First, Which of the following sayings should the
he conquered the groups and then seized their Aztecs have heeded?
precious gold. His methods were very organized. Seeing is believing.
Initially, Cortez defeated the Tlascalans, Beware of strangers.
and then formed an alliance with them to defeat There’s no place like home.
the Aztecs, their enemies. Because of an Aztec A friend in need is a friend indeed.
prophecy about the return of Quetzacoatl, a leg-
endary god-king who was light skinned and Theodore Roosevelt was born with asthma and
bearded, Cortez was believed to be a god and was poor eyesight, yet this sickly child later won fame
received by the Aztecs with honor. Later, this as a political leader, a Rough Rider, and a hero of
warm welcome turned to mistrust and hatred the common people. To conquer his handicaps,
when the Spaniards mistreated the Aztec people. Teddy trained in a gym and became a lightweight
Eventually, the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan, fell to boxer at Harvard. Out west, he hunted buffalo
the Spaniards. Cortez had Tenochtitlan razed and and ran a cattle ranch. Back east, he became a
built Mexico City on its ruins. civil service reformer and police commissioner.
He became President McKinley’s assistant Navy
According to the passage, which one of the fol- sec-retary during the Spanish-American War.
lowing did NOT cause the defeat of the Also, he led a charge of cavalry Rough Riders up
Aztecs? San Juan Hill in Cuba. After achieving fame, he
The Aztecs initially thought that Cortez was a became governor of New York and went on to
god. become the vice president.
Cortez knew how to form alliances with the When McKinley was assassinated, Theodore
Aztecs’ enemies. Roosevelt became the youngest president at age
The Conquistadors had advanced weapons. He is famous for his motto,“Speak softly and
The Spanish outnumbered the Aztecs. carry a big stick.” Roosevelt battled for meat
inspection and pure-food laws. Also, he wanted
The reader can infer from the passage that the to save the forests and break the grip that big
Aztecs thought Cortez was the god from business had on steel and oil. Roosevelt
their prophecy because persuaded the diplomats of warring Russia and
he was light skinned and had a beard. Japan to make peace.
he rode a magnificent horse.
he spoke a foreign language.
he offered friendship.

38
 –SHORT PASSAGES–

Which of the following states the main idea of the Charles Darwin was born in 1809 in Shrewsbury,
passage? England. He was a biologist whose famous
Theodore Roosevelt was a man of many theory of evolution is important to philosophy for
accomplishments. the effect it has had on ideas relating to the nature
Presidents should speak softly and carry of men. After many years of careful study,
big sticks. Darwin attempted to show that higher species
Presidents can help countries make peace. came into existence as a result of the gradual
A governor can become a president. transformation of lower species, and that the
process of trans-formation could be explained
What achievement illustrates Roosevelt’s abil-ity through the selec-tive effect of the natural
to overcome personal obstacles? environment upon organisms. He concluded that
He led a charge of cavalry Rough Riders the principles of natural selection and survival of
in Cuba. the fittest govern all life. Darwin’s explanation of
He is famous for his motto, “Speak softly these principles is that because of the food supply
and carry a big stick.” problem, the young of any species compete for
He overcame his asthma by training in a survival. Those young that survive to produce the
gym, and he became a boxer. next generation tend to embody favorable natural
He became governor of New York. changes that are passed on by heredity. His major
work that con-tained these theories is On the
According to the passage, how did Roosevelt Origin of the Species, written in 1859. Many
first become president? religious oppo-nents condemned this work.
He won the support of his party in a politi-cal
campaign. According to the passage, Charles Darwin was
As vice president, he took over the presi- which of the following?
dency when McKinley was assassinated. a priest
He won the nation’s popular vote. a biologist
He won the necessary Electoral College votes. an animal trainer
a politician
He first worked under President McKinley in
what capacity? Which of the following statements supports Darwin’s
assistant Navy secretary during the belief about the origin of all species?
Spanish-American War Man is descended from monkeys.
police commissioner All life forms developed slowly over time
governor of New York from lower life forms.
civil service reformer Natural forces do not affect life on Earth.
All species were individually created.

39
 –SHORT PASSAGES–

Darwin’s explanation that the young of any Maarten, in the 1300s, they were defeated and
species compete for food and survival, and forced to abandon the island by a hostile tribe of
those that survive are strong and pass their Indians originating in South America. This new
traits on to their young was called which tribe was called the Carib. The Caribbean Sea
of the following? was named after them. Unlike the Arawaks, they
belief in creationism had no permanent chiefs or leaders, except in
the catastrophic theory times of strife. And they were extremely warlike.
theory of natural selection and survival of Worse, they were cannibalistic, eating the enemy
the fittest warriors they captured. In fact, the very word
the study of anthropology cannibal comes from the Spanish name for the
Carib Indians. The Spanish arrived in the fif-
According to the passage, how was Darwin’s book, teenth century and, unfortunately, they carried
On the Origin of the Species, received? diseases to which the Indians had no immunity.
Scientists gave their immediate approval of Many Indians succumbed to common European
Darwin’s book. illnesses; others died from the hard labor forced
Religious opponents condemned Darwin’s upon them.
book.
The world ignored Darwin’s book. One can infer from the passage that the Stone Age
Darwin’s book became an immediate people lived on St. Maarten around the year
bestseller. 6000 B.C.
4000 B.C.
The crystal clear, blue water and the 800 A.D.
magnificent sun make the Caribbean island of 1300 A.D.
Saint Maarten a favorite vacation spot, one that
is popular with North Americans during their Which of the following is NOT true about the
winter holidays from December through Carib Indians?
March, as well as with South Americans and The sea was named after them.
Europeans from April through August. The They were peaceful fishermen, hunters, and
French and Dutch settled on the island in the farmers.
1600s, and to this day, the island is divided They ate human flesh.
between the two of them. The French capital is They settled after defeating the Arawak
Marigot; the Dutch capital is Philipsburg. Indians.
Tourists soon discover that St. Maarten has
an intriguing history. Ancient artifacts found on According to the passage, the Carib Indians
the island date back to the Stone Age, 6,000 years were finally defeated by
ago! Tourists also learn that 1,200 years ago the sickness and forced labor.
Arawak Indians inhabited all the islands of the the more aggressive Arawak tribe.
West Indies and were a peaceful people living the Dutch West India Company.
under the guidance of their chiefs. Three hundred the French explorers.
years after the Arawaks first arrived on St.

40
 –SHORT PASSAGES–

One can infer from the passage that the commonly known as the senses of sight, touch,
underlined word strife means and sound]. The rose’s appearance seems to bor-
cannibalism. der on perfection, each petal seemingly symmet-
war. rical in form. Isn’t this the way one’s love should
duty-free. be? A loved one should be a delight to one’s
chief. senses and seem perfect. However, there is
another dimension added to the comparison by
According to the article, present-day St. using a rose. Roses have thorns. This is the com-
Maarten prehensive image the poet wants to communi-
belongs to the Spanish. cate; otherwise, a daisy or a mum would have
is independent. been presented to the audience as the ultimate
is shared by the French and the Dutch. representation of love—but the poet didn’t,
is part of the U.S. Virgin Islands. instead conveying the idea that roses can be
treacherous. So can love, the metaphor tells us.
A metaphor is a poetic device that deals with When one reaches out with absolute trust to touch
comparison. It compares similar qualities of two
the object of his or her affection, ouch, a thorn
can cause great harm! “Be careful,” the metaphor
dissimilar objects. With a simple metaphor, one
admonishes: Love is a feast to the senses, but it
object becomes the other: Love is a rose. Although
can overwhelm us, and it can also hurt us. It can
this does not sound like a particularly rich image, a
prick us and cause acute suffering. This is the
metaphor can communicate so much about a
poet’s perception of love—an admo-nition. What
particular image that poets use them more than any
is the point? Just this: It took almost 14 sentences
other type of figurative language. The reason for
to clarify what a simple metaphor communicates
this is that poets compose their poetry to express
in only five words! That is the artistry and the joy
what they are experiencing emotionally at that
of the simple metaphor.
moment. Consequently, what the poet imagines love
to be may or may not be our per-ception of love.
The main idea of this passage is
Therefore, the poet’s job is to enable us to
poetic devices are necessary for poets.
experience it, to feel it the same way that the poet
poetry must never cater to the senses.
does. We should be able to nod in agreement and
say, “Yes, that’s it! I understand precisely where this always use words that create one
specific image.
person is coming from.”
the metaphor is a great poetic device.
Let’s analyze this remarkably unsophisti-
cated metaphor concerning love and the rose to
It can be inferred that a metaphor is
see what it offers. Because the poet uses a com-
a type of figurative language.
parison with a rose, first we must examine the
the only poetic device.
characteristics of that flower. A rose is spectacu-
not precise enough.
lar in its beauty, its petals are velvety soft, and its
a type of flower in a poem.
aroma is soothing and pleasing. It’s possible to
say that a rose is actually a veritable feast to the
senses: the visual, the tactile, and the aural [more

41
 –SHORT PASSAGES–

According to the passage, thorns the Salzburg Court, recognized his children’s
protect the rose from harm. unique gifts and soon devoted himself to their
reduce the ability to love another. musical education.
add a new element to the image of love. Born in Salzburg, Austria, on January 27,
are just more images to compare to a rose. 1756, Wolfgang had composed his first original
work by age five. Leopold planned to take Nan-
It can be inferred that the true meaning of the love nerl and Wolfgang on tour to play before the
is a rose metaphor is that European courts. Their first venture was to
love is a true joy. nearby Munich where the children played for
love comes only once in a lifetime. Maximillian III Joseph, elector of Bavaria.
love is never permanent. Leopold soon set his sights on the capital of the
love is a combination of good and bad Hapsburg Empire, Vienna. On their way to
experiences. Vienna, the family stopped in Linz, where Wolf-
gang gave his first public concert. By this time,
According to the passage, the poet’s Wolfgang was not only a virtuoso harpsichord
intention is player, but he had also mastered the violin. The
to release anger. audience at Linz was stunned by the six-year-old,
to announce heartache. and word of his genius soon traveled to Vienna.
to enable you to experience the poet’s point In a much anticipated concert, the Mozart chil-
of view. dren appeared at the Schonbrunn Palace on
to reward the senses. October 13, 1762. They utterly charmed the
emperor and empress.
The composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Following this success, Leopold was inun-
remarkable musical talent was apparent even dated with invitations for the children to play, for
before most children can sing a simple nursery a fee. Leopold seized the opportunity and booked
rhyme. Wolfgang’s older sister Maria Anna (who as many concerts as possible at courts throughout
the family called Nannerl) was learning the Europe. A concert could last three hours, and the
clavier, an early keyboard instrument, when her children played at least two per a day. Today,
three-year-old brother took an interest in playing. Leopold might be considered the worst kind of
As Nannerl later recalled, Wolfgang “often spent stage parent, but at the time, it was not
much time at the clavier picking out thirds, which uncommon for prodigies to make extensive
he was always striking, and his pleasure showed concert tours. Even so, it was an exhausting
that it sounded good.” Their father Leopold, an sched-ule for a child who was just past the age of
assistant concertmaster at need-ing an afternoon nap.

42
 –SHORT PASSAGES–

A good title for this passage would be Each of the following statements about Wolf-gang
Classical Music in the Eighteenth Century: Mozart is directly supported by the pas-sage
An Overview. EXCEPT
Stage Parents: A Historical Perspective. Mozart’s father, Leopold, was instrumental
Mozart: The Early Life of a Musical in shaping his career.
Prodigy. Maria Anna was a talented musician in her
Mozart: The Short Career of a own right.
Musical Genius. Wolfgang’s childhood was devoted to his
musical career.
According to the passage, Wolfgang became Wolfgang preferred the violin to other
interested in music because instruments.
his father thought it would be profitable.
he had a natural talent. According to the passage, during Wolfgang’s early
he saw his sister learning to play an years, child prodigies were
instrument. few and far between.
he came from a musical family. accustomed to extensive concert tours.
expected to spend at least six hours per a
What was the consequence of Wolfgang’s first day practicing their music.
public appearance? expected to play for courts throughout
He charmed the emperor and empress of Europe.
Hapsburg.
Word of Wolfgang’s genius spread to Based on information found in the passage,
the capital. Mozart can best be described as
Leopold set his sights on Vienna. a child prodigy.
Invitations for the miracle children to play a workaholic.
poured in. the greatest composer of the eighteenth
century.
a victim of his father’s ambition.

43
 –SHORT PASSAGES–

The sentences are numbered in the following passage 207. Which of the following would be the most
to help you answer the questions. appropriate title for this passage?
a. Backstage at Woodstock
1) The Woodstock Music and Art Fair—better b. Woodstock: From The Band to The Who
known to its participants and to history simply as c. Remembering Woodstock
“Woodstock”—should have been a colossal fail- d. Woodstock: The Untold Story
ure. 2) Just a month prior to its August 15, 1969
opening, the fair’s organizers were informed by 208. Which of the following numbered sentences
the council of Wallkill, New York, that permission of the passage best represents an opinion
to hold the festival was withdrawn. 3) Amazingly, rather than a fact?
not only was a new site found, but word spread to a. sentence 1
the public of the fair’s new location. 4) At the b. sentence 2
new site, fences that were supposed to facilitate c. sentence 3
ticket collection never materialized, and all d. sentence 4
attempts at gathering tickets were abandoned. 5)
Crowd estimates of 30,000 kept rising; by the end 209. Why is the word amazingly used in sentence 3?
of the three days, some estimated the crowd at a. The time in which the site move was made
500,000. 6) Then, on opening night, it began to and the word sent out was so short.
rain. 7) Off and on, throughout all three days, b. The fair drew such an unexpectedly enor-
huge summer storms rolled over the gathering. 8) mous crowd.
In spite of these problems, most people think of c. There was such pressure by New York offi-
Woodstock not only as a fond memory but as cials against holding the fair.
the defining moment for an entire generation. d. The stormy weather was so unfavorable.

44
 S E C T I O N

Nonfiction and
6 Information
Passages

I n this section, you will be dealing with nonfiction and information passages, such as the type you might find
in a textbook. Mastering these types of passages and their questions is important, because they are increasingly
being found in standardized tests. These passages are not necessarily more difficult than the ones you’ve already
covered in the earlier chapters of this book. However, they do call more heavily for the spe-
cial skill of making inferences, of identifying implicit, as opposed to explicit, ideas stated in the text.
Remember what you’ve learned so far. Look at structure. Look for the main idea of the passage.
Consider the purpose for which the passage was written. What clues can you deduce from the writing style
about the author’s attitude toward the subject? Is the attitude positive? Negative? Objective? Try to pick out
individual words that further each writer’s intent and support each writer’s opinion. If it helps, underline or
make notes on important points. Active reading techniques like these will keep you focused on some very
detailed reading comprehension passages.

45
 –NONFICTION AND INFORMATION PASSAGES –

The answers to this section begin on page 141. 211. What is the main focus of this passage?
Firefighters are often asked to speak to school and a. how firefighters carry out their
responsibilities
community groups about the importance of fire
b. the proper installation of home
safety, particularly fire prevention and detection.
smoke detectors
Because smoke detectors reduce the risk of dying
c. the detection of dead-air space on
in a fire by half, firefighters often provide audi-
walls and ceilings
ences with information on how to install these
d. how smoke detectors prevent fires
protective devices in their homes.
in homes
Specifically, they tell them these things: A
smoke detector should be placed on each floor 212. The passage implies that dead-air space is
of a home. While sleeping, people are in partic-
most likely to be found
ular danger of an emergent fire, and there must
a. on a ceiling, between four and twelve
be a detector outside each sleeping area. A good
inches from a wall.
site for a detector would be a hallway that runs
b. close to where a wall meets a ceiling.
between living spaces and bedrooms.
c. near an open window.
Because of the dead-air space that might be
d. in kitchens and garages.
missed by turbulent hot air bouncing around
above a fire, smoke detectors should be installed 213. The passage states that, compared with people
either on the ceiling at least four inches from the
who do not have smoke detectors, persons
nearest wall, or high on a wall at least four, but no
who live in homes with smoke detectors have a
further than twelve, inches from the ceiling.
a. 50% better chance of surviving a fire.
Detectors should not be mounted near win-
b. 50% better chance of preventing a fire.
dows, exterior doors, or other places where drafts
c. 75% better chance of detecting a
might direct the smoke away from the unit. Nor
hidden fire.
should they be placed in kitchens and garages,
d. 100% better chance of not being injured
where cooking and gas fumes are likely to cause
in a fire.
false alarms.
210. Which organizational scheme does this list of 214. A smoke detector should NOT be installed
near a window because
instructions follow?
a. outside fumes may trigger a false alarm.
a. hierarchical order
b. a draft may create dead-air space.
b. comparison-contrast
c. a draft may pull smoke away from
c. cause-and-effect
the detector.
d. chronological order by topic
d. outside noises may muffle the sound
of the detector.

46
 –NONFICTION AND INFORMATION PASSAGES –

The passage indicates that one responsibility of a is to replace incandescent lights with
firefighter is to fluorescents. This can result in a savings of
install smoke detectors in the homes of res- more than 50% on your monthly lighting costs.
idents in the community. When it’s time to replace old appliances,
check homes to see if smoke detectors have it’s wise to spend a bit more for an energy-
been properly installed. efficient model, and be sure that you are taking
develop fire safety programs for commu-nity advantage of energy-saving settings already on
leaders and school teachers. your cur-rent refrigerator, dishwasher, washing
speak to school children about the impor- machine, or dryer.
tance of preventing fires. Windows provide another opportunity to
cut your energy costs. Caulk old windows that
A smoke detector must always be placed might be leaky to prevent drafts, and choose
outside at least one of the bedrooms on any double-paned windows if you’re building an
level of the home. addition or replacing old windows.
outside all bedrooms in a home. Most areas of your home or apartment
in all hallways of a home. offer opportunities to save energy and money.
in kitchens where fires are most likely to start. The results are significant and are well worth
the effort.
Saving energy means saving money.
Homeown-ers and renters know this basic fact, Which two main organizational schemes can be
but they often don’t know what kinds of identified in this passage?
adjustments they can make in their homes and hierarchical order and order by topic
apartments that will result in savings. order by topic and cause and effect
For those willing to spend some time and hierarchical order and chronological order
money to reap long-term energy savings, an energy chronological order and compare
audit is the way to go. An energy auditor will come and contrast
into your home and assess its energy efficiency. The
auditor will pinpoint areas of your home that use the Which of the following ideas is NOT included in
most energy and offer solutions to lower your this passage?
energy use and costs. Trained energy auditors know You can reduce your $130 monthly lighting
what to look for and can locate a variety of flaws costs to $65 by using fluorescent bulbs
that may be resulting in energy inefficiency, instead of incandescent.
including inadequate insulation, con-struction flaws, Double-paned windows can cut energy costs.
and uneven heat distribution. Your local energy company will send an
There are quicker and less costly measures energy auditor at your request.
that can be taken as well. One way to save money Some appliances have energy-saving settings.

47
 –NONFICTION AND INFORMATION PASSAGES –

Which of the following best expresses the people you want to participate and also what the
main idea of this passage? club’s focus will be. For example, some book clubs
There are many things a homeowner or focus exclusively on fiction, others read nonfic-tion.
renter can do to save energy and money. Some are even more specific, focusing only on a
Hiring an energy auditor will save energy particular genre such as mysteries, science fiction,
and money. or romance. Others have a more flexible and open
Homeowners and renters don’t know what focus. All of these possibilities can make for a great
they can do to save energy and money. club, but it is important to decide on a focus at the
Replacing windows and light bulbs are well outset so the guidelines will be clear to the group
worth the effort and cost. and prospective member.
After setting the basic parameters, recruit-
According to the passage, which of the follow-ing ment can begin. Notify friends and family, adver-
would an energy auditor NOT do? tise in the local newspaper, and hang flyers on
Check for construction flaws. bulletin boards in local stores, colleges, libraries,
Look for problems with heat distribution. and bookstores. When enough people express
Offer solutions to lower your energy costs. interest, schedule a kick-off meeting during which
Locate a variety of flaws that may result in decisions will be made about specific guidelines
energy inefficiency and fix them. that will ensure the club runs smoothly. This
meeting will need to establish where the group will
According the passage, double-paned windows meet (rotating homes or a public venue such as a
are energy efficient. library or coffee shop); how often the group will
should only be used as replacement windows. meet, and on what day of the week and at what
should only be used in new additions to time; how long the meetings will be; how books
homes. will be chosen and by whom; who will lead the
will lower your heating costs by 50%. group (if anyone); and whether refreshments will be
served and if so, who will supply them. By the end
Book clubs are a great way to meet new friends or of this meeting, these guidelines should be set and a
keep in touch with old ones, while keeping up on book selection and date for the first official meeting
your reading and participating in lively and intel- should be finalized.
lectually stimulating discussions. If you’re inter- Planning and running a book club is not
ested in starting a book club, you should consider without challenges, but when a book club is
the following options and recommendations. run effectively, the experience can be
The first thing you’ll need are members. extremely rewarding for everyone involved.
Before recruiting, think carefully about how many

48
 –NONFICTION AND INFORMATION PASSAGES–

222. Which of the following organizational pat- 225. A good title for this passage would be
terns is the main one used in the passage? a. Book Clubs: A Great Way to Make New
a. chronological Friends
b. hierarchical b. Starting a Successful Book Club: A Guide
c. comparison-contrast c. Five Easy Steps to Starting a Successful
d. cause and effect Book Club
d. Reading in Groups: Sharing Knowledge,
223. According to the passage, when starting a Nurturing Friendships
book club, the first thing a person should do is
a. hang flyers in local establishments. 226. Which of the following is NOT something
b. put an ad in a local newspaper. that successful book clubs should do?
c. decide on the focus and size of the club. a. focus exclusively on one genre
d. decide when and where the group b. have guidelines about where and when
will meet. to meet
c. have a focus
224. Which of the following would NOT be cov- d. decide how to choose and who will choose
ered during the book club’s kick-off meeting? book selections
a. deciding on whether refreshments will be
served. 227. Which of the following inferences can be
b. discussing and/or appointing a leader. drawn from the passage?
c. choosing the club’s first selection. a. Smaller groups are better for a variety of
d. identifying what kinds of books or genre reasons.
will be the club’s focus. b. The social aspect of book clubs is more
important than the intellectual.
c. Starting your own book club is better than
joining an existing one.
d. When starting and running a book club, a
casual approach is risky.

49
 –NONFICTION AND INFORMATION PASSAGES –

Last spring, employees of the Hartville Corpora- Hartville’s upper management is largely
tion organized a weeklong strike to protest poor unaware of the dissatisfaction of employees.
working conditions and unreasonable company There is evidence that middle management
policies. The strike resulted in huge financial withholds vital information leading to upper
losses for the company and the threat of a management’s underestimation of the sever-
national boycott on Hartville products. The situ- ity of employee discontent.
ation resulted in the formation of an employee
task force, supported by Hartville management,
Which of the following is the main organiza-
to review circumstances that led to the strike. The tional pattern used in the passage?
task-force findings follow: chronological order
Hartville’s overtime pay schedule is well hierarchical order
below the national level, and overtime is
order by topic
cause and effect
mandatory at least once a week.

Employees working in the manufacturing According to the passage, why do Hartville

department have an alarmingly high rate of employees have a high rate of repetitive
repetitive stress injury. The equipment they stress injury?
are working with is extremely old and The equipment they use is broken.
danger-ous and does not meet current health Their computer keyboards are outdated.
and safety standards. The task force Hartville’s equipment is below standard.
recommended that equipment be evaluated They are under a great deal of pressure
at work.
and brought up-to-date immediately.

Sick and personal day policies are unclear. According to the passage, which of the follow-ing
Employees report conflicting and/or confus- was a specific task-force recommendation?
ing policies relating to sick and personal days, Upper management at Hartville should be
which have resulted in numerous misunder- more involved in the day-to-day
standings about procedures and allowances as
operation of the company.
well as unfair disciplinary action. A new overtime pay policy should be
implemented immediately.
In the past four years, five pregnant women with The pregnant women who were fired
clean work records were terminated soon after should file lawsuits.
their pregnancies were public. In all five cases, The equipment in the manufacturing
the grounds for firing were not specifically department must be assessed.
cited, although one of the employ-ees was told
by her immediate supervisor that new mothers
make very unreliable employees.

50
 –NONFICTION AND INFORMATION PASSAGES –

According to the passage, one reason that the Because each patient is different and has different
Hartville upper management is unresponsive goals, the music therapist must be able to under-
is that stand the patient’s situation and choose the music
they are more concerned with saving and activities that will do the most toward help-
money than protecting employees. ing the patient achieve his or her goals. The refer-
they are unaware of the degree of dissatis- ring social worker can help this process by
faction among their employees. clearly communicating each client’s history.
the company is about to be sold, and they Although patients may develop their
are distracted. musi-cal skills, that is not the main goal of
they have not been trained in the latest music ther-apy. Any client who needs
management techniques. particular work on communication or on
academic, emotional, and social skills, and who
Which of the following is NOT in the passage? is not responding to tradi-tional therapy, is an
a finding about a problem within middle excellent candidate for music therapy.
management
a discussion of suspicious employee Which of the following best organizes the main
terminations topics addressed in this passage?
a comparison between overtime pay at a. I. The role of music therapy in social work
Hartville and the national average II. Locating a music therapist
an outline of the policy relating to sick Referring patients to music therapists
and personal days I. Using music in therapy
A typical music-therapy intervention
Mental and physical health professionals may When to prescribe music therapy for
consider referring clients and patients to a music sociopaths
therapist for a number of reasons. It seems a par- I. Music therapy and social work
ticularly good choice for the social worker who is Training for music therapists
coordinating a client’s case. Music therapists use Skills addressed by music therapy
music to establish a relationship with the patient I. How to choose a music therapist
and to improve the patient’s health, using highly When to refer to a music therapist
structured musical interactions. Patients and Who benefits the most from music
therapists may sing, play instruments, dance, therapy
compose, or simply listen to music.
The course of training for music therapists
is comprehensive. In addition to formal musical
and therapy training, music therapists are taught
to discern what kinds of interventions will be
most beneficial for each individual patient.

51
 –NONFICTION AND INFORMATION PASSAGES –

Which of the following would be the most According to the passage, when it is summer in the
appropriate title for this passage? Northern Hemisphere, it is ________ in the
How to Use Music to Combat Depression Southern Hemisphere.
What Social Workers Need to Know about spring
Music Therapy summer
Training for a Career in Music Therapy autumn
The Social Worker as Music Therapist winter

According to information presented in the It can be inferred from the passage that, in the
passage, music therapy can be prescribed Southern Hemisphere, June 21 is the
for social work clients who autumnal equinox.
need to develop coping skills. winter solstice.
were orphaned as children. vernal equinox.
need to resolve family issues. summer solstice.
need to improve social skills.
Jessie Street is sometimes called the Australian
Which of the following inferences can be Eleanor Roosevelt. Like Roosevelt, Street lived a
drawn from the passage? life of privilege, but she devoted her efforts to
Music therapy can succeed where tradi- working for the rights of the disenfranchised,
tional therapies have failed. including workers, women, refugees, and Abo-
Music therapy is a relatively new field. rigines. In addition, she gained international fame
Music therapy is particularly beneficial for when she was the only woman on the Australian
young children. delegation to the conference that founded the
Music therapy is only appropriate in a lim- United Nations, just as Eleanor Roosevelt was for
ited number of circumstances. the United States.

In the summer, the Northern Hemisphere is Which of the following inferences may be drawn
slanted toward the sun, making the days longer from the information presented in the
and warmer than in winter. The first day of passage?
sum-mer, June 21, is called summer solstice Eleanor Roosevelt and Jessie Street worked
and is also the longest day of the year. together to include women in the United
However, June 21 marks the beginning of Nations Charter.
winter in the Southern Hemisphere, when that Usually, people who live lives of privilege
hemisphere is tilted away from the sun. do not spend much time participating in
political activities.
Discrimination in Australia is much worse
than it ever was in the United States.
At the time of the formation of the United
Nations, few women were involved in
inter-national affairs.

52
 –NONFICTION AND INFORMATION PASSAGES –

Light pollution is a growing problem worldwide. Authentic Dhurrie rugs are hand woven in India.
Like other forms of pollution, light pollution Today, they are usually made of wool, but they are
degrades the quality of the environment. Where it descendants of cotton floor and bed coverings. In
was once possible to look up at the night sky and fact, the name Dhurrie comes from the Indian word
see thousands of twinkling stars in the inky dari, which means threads of cotton. The rugs are
blackness, one now sees little more than the yellow noted for their soft colors, their varieties of design,
glare of urban sky-glow. When we lose the ability to and they make a stunning focal point for any living
connect visually with the vastness of the uni-verse room or dining room.
by looking up at the night sky, we lose our
connection with something profoundly impor-tant Which of the following is the most likely
to the human spirit, our sense of wonder. intended audience for the passage?
people studying traditional Indian culture
The passage implies that the most serious people who are studying Indian domestic
damage done by light pollution is to our customs
artistic appreciation. people learning to operate a rug loom
sense of physical well-being. people who enjoy interior decorating
cultural advancement.
spiritual selves. Worldwide illiteracy rates have consistently
declined in the last few decades. One of the major
Moscow has a history of chaotic periods of war reasons for this decline is the sharp increase of lit-
that ended with the destruction of a once largely eracy rates among young women, which is a result
wooden city and the building of a new city on top of specific campaigns designed to increase edu-
of the rubble of the old. The result is a layered cational opportunities for girls. However, there are
city, with each tier holding information about a still an estimated 771 million illiterate adults in the
part of Russia’s past. In some areas of the city, world, about two-thirds of who are women.
archae-ologists have reached the layer from 1147,
the year of Moscow’s founding. Among the Based on the passage, the author would tend to agree
findings from the various periods of Moscow’s with which of the following statements?
history are carved bones, metal tools, pottery, Men and women should have equal access
glass, jewelry, and crosses. to education.
Males have a greater need for higher educa-
From the passage, the reader can infer that tion than women.
the people of Moscow are more interested in Worldwide, women need medical care
modernization than in preservation. more than the ability to read.
the Soviet government destroyed many of It has been proven that women with
the historic buildings in Russia. increased education have fewer children.
Moscow is the oldest large city in Russia,
founded in 1147.
Moscow has a history of invasions, with each
new conqueror razing past structures.

53
 –NONFICTION AND INFORMATION PASSAGES –

Emperor Charlemagne of the Franks was crowned Coral reefs are among the most diverse and pro-
in 800 A.D. The Frankish Empire at that time ductive ecosystems on Earth. Consisting of both
extended over what is now Germany, Italy, and living and non-living components, this type of
France. Charlemagne died in 814, but his brief reign ecosystem is found in the warm, clear, shallow
marked the dawn of a distinctly Euro-pean culture. waters of tropical oceans worldwide. The func-
The artists and thinkers that helped create this tionality of the reefs ranges from providing food
European civilization drew on the ancient texts of and shelter to fish and other forms of marine life
the Germanic, Celtic, Greek, Roman, Hebrew, and to protecting the shore from the ill effects of ero-
Christian worlds. _________________ sion and putrefaction. In fact, reefs actually cre-
_______________________. Consequently, they ate land in tropical areas by formulating islands
were the groundwork for the laws, customs, and and contributing mass to continental shorelines.
even attitudes of today’s Europeans. Although coral looks like a plant, it is mainly
comprised of the limestone skeleton of a tiny ani-
Which sentence, if inserted into the blank line in the mal called a coral polyp. While corals are the main
passage, would be most consistent with the components of reef structure, they are not the only
writer’s purpose and intended audience? living participants. Coralline algae cement the
Cultural traditions function to identify myriad corals, and other miniature organisms such
members of a culture to one another and, as tubeworms and mollusks con-tribute skeletons to
also, to allow the individual to self-identify. this dense and diverse struc-ture. Together, these
Many of the traditions of these cultures living creatures construct many different types of
remained active in Frankish society for tropical reefs.
centuries.
When tradition is lacking or is not honored Which of the following is the best meaning of the
by the younger generation in a society, underlined word putrefaction as it is used in
there is danger that the culture will be lost. the first paragraph of the passage?
It is unnecessary to discuss the origin of these purification
traditions; it will only muddy the water. decay
jettison
Which of the following is the best meaning of the farming
word culture as it is used in the passage?
the fashionable class Which of the following kinds of publications would
a community of interrelated individuals most likely contain this passage?
a partnership a history textbook
an organized group with a common goal an advanced marine biology textbook
a collection of personal essays
According to the passage, for how many years was a general circulation magazine about
Charlemagne Emperor of the Franks? science and nature
14 years
15 years
13 years
16 years

54
 –NONFICTION AND INFORMATION PASSAGES–

249. According to the passage, which of the follow- 250. Which words or phrases, if inserted in order
ing statements is NOT true? into the blanks in the passage, would help the
a. Coral reefs are beneficial for fish. reader understand the sequence of the
b. Coral reefs are good for shorelines in author’s ideas?
tropical areas. a. Therefore; In addition
c. Coral reefs are composed exclusively of coral. b. However; Now
d. Coral reefs contain living and non-living c. Furthermore; Yet
components. d. Even if; On the other hand
In 1899, Czar Nicholas II of Russia invited the 251. According to the passage, what was the impact

nations of the world to a conference at The of the U.S. Civil War on the development of
Hague. This conference—and a follow-up orga- international law?
nized by Theodore Roosevelt in 1907—ushered in a. It allowed armaments manufacturers to test
a period of vigorous growth in international law. new weapons.
This growth was in response to several factors, not b. It diminished the influence of the United
the least of which was modern warfare’s increas- States internationally.
ing potential for destruction. The recently con- c. It resulted in the suspension of agriculture
cluded Civil War in the United States made this exports from southern states.
potential clear. d. It highlighted the increasing destructive
During this growth, the subjects of inter- capabilities of modern warfare.
national law were almost exclusively restricted to
the relationships that countries had with one 252. Which of the following is the best meaning of
another. Issues of trade and warfare dominated the underlined phrase ushered in as it is used
both the disputes and the agreements of the in the passage?
period. ___________, the developments of this a. escorted
period paved the way for further expansion of b. progressed
international law, which has occurred in the last c. guarded
several years. ________, organizations such as d. heralded
the United Nations and the International Court
of Justice are greatly concerned not only with the
way countries deal with one another, but with
the ways in which they treat their own citizens.

55
 –NONFICTION AND INFORMATION PASSAGES –

A healthy diet with proper nutrition is essential With which of the following would the author most
for maintaining good overall health. Since the likely agree?
discovery of vitamins earlier in this century, The RDA approach should be replaced by a
people have routinely been taking vitamin sup- more realistic nutritional guide.
plements for this purpose. The Recommended The RDA approach should be supple-
Dietary Allowance (RDA) is a frequently used mented with more specific nutritional
nutritional standard for maintaining optimal guides.
health. The RDA specifies the recommended In spite of its flaws, the RDA approach is
amount of a number of nutrients for people in definitely the best guide to good nutrition.
different age and sex groups. The National The RDA approach is most suitable for a
Research Council’s Committee on Diet and large family.
Health has proposed a definition of the RDA to
be that amount of a nutrient which meets the Businesses today routinely keep track of large
needs of 98% of the population. amounts of both financial and non-financial
The RDA approach _________________ . information. Sales departments keep track of
First, it is based on the assumption that it is pos- current and potential customers; marketing
sible to accurately define nutritional require- departments keep track of product details and
ments for a given group. However, individual regional demographics; accounting depart-
nutritional requirements can vary widely within ments keep track of financial data and issue
each group. The efficiency with which a person reports. To be useful, all this data must be orga-
converts food intake into nutrients can also vary nized into a meaningful and useful system.
widely. Certain foods when eaten in combination Such a system is called a management
actually prevent the absorption of nutrients. For information system, abbreviated MIS. The
example, spinach combined with milk reduces financial hub of the MIS is accounting.
the amount of calcium available to the body from Accounting is the information system that
the milk. Also, the RDA approach specifies a dif- records, analyzes, and reports economic trans-
ferent dietary requirement for each age and sex; actions, enabling decision makers to make
however, it is clearly unrealistic to expect a informed choices when allocating scarce eco-
home-maker to prepare a different menu for each nomic resources. It is a tool that enables the user,
fam-ily member. Still, although we cannot rely whether a business entity or an individual, to
solely upon RDA to ensure our overall long-term make wiser, more informed economic choices. It
health, it can be a useful guide so long as its lim- is an aid to planning, controlling, and evaluating
itations are recognized. a broad range of activities. A financial accounting
system is intended for use by both the manage-
Which of the following would best fit in the blank ment of an organization and those outside the
in the first sentence of paragraph 2? organization. Because it is important that finan-
is based on studies by respected nutritionists cial accounting reports be interpreted correctly,
has a number of shortcomings financial accounting is subject to a set of
has been debunked in the last few years ___________ guidelines called “generally
is full of holes accepted accounting principles” (GAAP).

56
 –NONFICTION AND INFORMATION PASSAGES –

This passage is most likely taken from that all geniuses experience three intensely pro-
a newspaper column. ductive periods in their lives, one of which
a business textbook. always occurs shortly before their deaths; this
an essay about modern business. is true whether the genius lives to 19 or 90.
a government document.
Which word or phrase, if inserted into the blank
The word that would fit most correctly into the space of the passage, best defines the
blank in the final sentence is relationship of the last sentence in the
discretionary. passage to the one preceding it?
convenient. For example
austere. Despite this
stringent. However
In other words
According to the information in the passage,
which of the following is LEAST likely to According to the information presented in the
be a function of accounting? passage, what is the general populace’s opin-
helping business people make sound ion of genius?
judgments It is predictable and uncommon.
assisting with the marketing of products It is supercilious and abnormal.
producing reports of many different kinds of It is unpredictable and erratic.
transactions It is extraordinary and erratic.
assisting companies in important planning
activities Which of the following would be the best title for
this passage?
Typically, people think of genius, whether it man- Understanding Mozarts and Einsteins
ifests in Mozart’s composition of symphonies at age Predicting the Life of a Genius
five or Einstein’s discovery of relativity, as having a The Uncanny Patterns in the Lives of
quality not just of the supernatural, but also of the Geniuses
eccentric. People see genius as a good abnormality; Pattern and Disorder in the Lives of
moreover, they think of genius as a completely Geniuses
unpredictable abnormality. Until recently,
psychologists regarded the quirks of genius as too Given the information in the passage, which of the
erratic to describe intelligibly; how-ever, Anna following statements is true?
Findley’s ground-breaking study uncovers Anna Findley is a biographer.
predictable patterns in the biographies of geniuses. All geniuses are eccentric and unpredictable.
These patterns do not dispel the com-mon belief Geniuses have three prolific times in
that there is a kind of supernatural intervention in their lives.
the lives of unusually talented men and women, Mozart discovered relativity.
however, even though they occur with regularity.
__________, Findley shows

57
 –NONFICTION AND INFORMATION PASSAGES –

O’Connell Street is the main thoroughfare of 262. Which sentence, if inserted in the blank space
Dublin City. Although it is not a particularly long in the passage, would be the most correct and
street, Dubliners will proudly tell the visitor that contribute the most pertinent information to
it is the widest street in all of Europe. This claim that paragraph?
usually meets with protests, especially from a. His monument stands at the lower end of
French tourists, claiming the Champs Elysees of the road, that is, the end closest to the river
Paris as Europe’s widest street. But the witty Liffey that bisects Dublin.
Dubliner will not easily relinquish bragging rights b. Other monuments along the street include
and will trump the French visitor with a fine dis- statues to Charles Parnell, Anna Livia
tinction: The Champs Elysees is a boulevard; Plurabelle, and James Joyce.
O’Connell is a street. c. Dublin tourist buses leave from this site
Divided by several important monuments every 20 minutes.
running the length of its center, the street is d. Daniel O’Connell was an important Irish
named for Daniel O’Connell, an Irish patriot. nationalist, who died before the 1916
_____________________________. O’Connell rebellion.
stands high above the unhurried crowds of shop-
pers, business people, and students on a sturdy 263. Which of the following would be the best title
column, surrounded by four serene angels seated for this passage?
at each corner of the monument’s base. Further a. Dublin’s Famous Monuments
up the street is the famous General Post Office b. The Irish Take Pride in Their Capital City
that locals affectionately call the GPO. During c. The Widest Street in Europe
the 1916 rebellion, the GPO was taken over from d. Sights and History on Dublin’s O’Connell
British rule and occupied by Irish rebels, sparking Street
weeks of armed combat in the city’s center. To this
day, the angels of O’Connell’s monument bear the 264. What is the best definition for the underlined
marks of the fighting: One sits reading calmly, word trump as it is used in the first paragraph
apparently unaware of the bullet hole dimpling of the passage?
her upper arm; another, reaching out to stroke the a. to trumpet loudly, to blare or drown out
ears of a huge bronze Irish wolfhound has sur- b. to trample
vived what should be a mortal wound to her c. to get the better of by using a key or hidden
heart. resource
d. to devise a fraud, to employ trickery
265. With which of the following statements about

the people of Dublin would the author of the

passage most likely agree?
a. They are proud of their history but lack
industry.
b. They are playful and tricky.
c. They are rebellious and do not like tourists.
d. They are witty and relaxed.

58
 –NONFICTION AND INFORMATION PASSAGES –

The subject of the next two passages is the same, but working behind the counter yelled at me to clean
the way they are written is different. Read them up after myself. Throwing away that plate of food
carefully and answer the questions. was the most enjoyable part of dining at Dilly’s.

Excerpt from Chamber of Commerce If you go to lunch at Dilly’s Deli, you could
brochure expect to see
Dilly’s Deli provides a dining experience like no a long line of customers.
other! A rustic atmosphere, along with delicious the fire marshal.
food, provide an opportunity to soak up the local the restaurant critic from the newspaper.
flavor. Recently relocated to the old market area, homemade pie.
Dilly’s is especially popular for lunch. At the
counter, you can place your order for one of Both passages suggest that if you eat lunch at
Dilly’s three daily lunch specials or one of Dilly’s Deli, you should expect to
several sandwiches, all at reasonable prices. Once sit next to a truck driver.
you get your food, choose a seat at one of the place your order with the waiter who comes
four charming communal tables. By the time you to your table.
are ready to carry your paper plate to the trash dress warmly.
bin, you have experienced some of the best food carry your own food to your table.
and one of the most charming companies our city
has to offer. Which of the following illustrates the
restaurant critic’s opinion of the food at
Restaurant review
Dilly’s Deli?
Yesterday, I was exposed to what has been called
“At Dilly’s, you sit at one of four long tables.”
“a dining experience like no other.”At lunchtime,
“At lunchtime, Dilly’s Deli is so crowded, I
Dilly’s Deli is so crowded, I wondered when the
wondered when the fire marshal had last
fire marshal had last visited the establishment.
visited the establishment.”
The line snaked out the door to the corner, and by
“After I had tasted all of the food on my
the time I reached the counter, I was freezing. I
plate, I rose to leave, whereupon one of
decided on the hamburger steak special; the other
the people working behind the counter
specials being liver and onions or tuna casserole.
yelled at me to clean up after myself.”
Each special is offered with two side dishes, but
“Throwing away that plate of food was the
there was no potato salad left and the green beans
most enjoyable part of dining at Dilly’s.”
were cooked nearly beyond recognition. I chose
the gelatin of the day and what turned out to be
The main purpose of the restaurant review is to
the blandest coleslaw I have ever eaten.
tell people they probably don’t want to eat
At Dilly’s, you sit at one of four long tables.
at Dilly’s Deli.
The couple sitting across from me was having an
make fun of couples who argue in public.
argument. The truck driver next to me told me more
recommend the hamburger steak special.
than I wanted to know about highway taxes. After I
warn people that Dilly’s Deli tends to be
had tasted all of the food on my plate, I rose to
crowded.
leave, whereupon one of the people

59
 –NONFICTION AND INFORMATION PASSAGES –

The main purpose of the Chamber of Com-merce liant color and intricate designs, which
brochure is to scientists believe they use for communication
profile the owner of Dilly’s Deli. and for mat-ing displays. However, judging
describe in detail the food served at from the riot of ornaments and hues cuttlefish
Dilly’s Deli. produce, it is hard not to believe they paint
encourage people to eat at Dilly’s Deli. themselves so beautifully just for the sheer joy
explain the historical significance of the of it. At the very least, cut-tlefish conversation
Dilly’s Deli Building. must be the most sparkling in all the sea.

Cuttlefish are intriguing little animals. The cut- Which of the following sentences, if inserted into
tlefish resembles a rather large squid and is, like the the blank line, would best sum up the first
octopus, a member of the order of cephalopods. paragraph and lead into the next.
Although they are not considered the most highly The cuttlefish can be cooked and eaten like
evolved of the cephalopods, they are extremely its less tender relatives, the squid and
intelligent. While observing them, it is hard to tell octopus, but must still be tenderized
who is doing the observing, you or the cuttlefish, before cooking in order not to be
especially since the eye of the cuttlefish is similar in exceed-ingly chewy.
structure to the human eye. Cuttlefish are also On a scuba dive when you’re observing
highly mobile and fast creatures. They come cuttlefish, it is best to move slowly
equipped with a small jet located just below the because cuttlefish have excellent eyesight
tentacles that can expel water to help them move. and will probably see you first.
Ribbons of flexible fins on each side of the body Cuttlefish do not have an exoskeleton;
allow cuttlefish to hover, move, stop, and start. instead, their skin is covered with
_____________________________________. chromataphors.
The cuttlefish is sometimes referred to as the By far, their most intriguing characteristic is
“chameleon of the sea” because it can change its their ability to change their body color
skin color and pattern instantaneously. Masters of and pattern.
camouflage, they can blend into any environ-ment
for protection, but they are also capable of the most
imaginative displays of iridescent, bril-

60
 –NONFICTION AND INFORMATION PASSAGES–

Which of the following is correct according to274. Which of the following best describes the pur-
the information given in the passage? pose of the author in the passage?
a. Cuttlefish are a type of squid. a. to prove the intelligence of cuttlefish
b. Cuttlefish use jet propulsion as one form of b. to explain the communication habits of
locomotion. cuttlefish
c. The cuttlefish does not have an exoskeleton. c. to produce a fanciful description of the
d. Cuttlefish are the most intelligent “chameleon of the sea”
cephalopods. d. to describe the “chameleon of the sea”
informatively and entertainingly
273. Which of the following best outlines the main
topics addressed in the passage?
a. I. Explanation of why cuttlefish are
intriguing
II. Communication skills of cuttlefish
b. I. Classification and difficulties of
observing cuttlefish
II. Scientific explanation of modes of
cuttlefish communication
c. I. Explanation of the cuttlefish’s method
of locomotion
II. Description of color displays in mating
behavior
d. I. General classification and characteristics
of cuttlefish
II. Uses and beauty of the cuttlefish’s ability
to change color

61
 –NONFICTION AND INFORMATION PASSAGES –

During those barren winter months, with win- hours, their plants [palms] had removed almost
dows overlooking long-dead gardens, leafless all traces of formaldehyde in the room. Both
trees, and lawns that seem to have an ashy look species of plants are ancient, dating back more
about them, nothing soothes the jangled nerves than a hundred million years. Another trait they
more than the vibrant green of plants surround- share is that they both live long lives, 100 years
ing the living spaces of one’s home. People or more. This we expect from trees, but ferns
browse through garden stores just to get a whiff and palms are plants; plants that can grow to 65
of chloro-phyll and to choose a plant or two to feet in the proper setting! Even their individual
bring spring back into their winter-gray lives. leaves live for one to two years [ferns] and one
Now there is even more of a need for “the to nine years [palms]. Perhaps it is their primal
green,” in light of recent articles warning us of qualities that have contributed to their ability to
the hazards of chemicals that we, ourselves, purify their environment.
intro-duce into our homes. Each time we bring
clothes home from the cleaners, we release those What is the main idea of the passage?
chemi-cals into the closed-in air of our dwellings. Our homes are full of contaminants.
Every cleanser releases its own assortment of Our allergies are caused by chemicals found
fumes. Some of the chemicals are formaldehyde, in the home.
chlo-rine, benzene, styrene, etc. Read the labels All plants release moisture in the home.
on many home products, the ingredients aren’t Certain plants can purify the home of many
even listed! During the winter, when those same harmful chemicals.
win-dows are shut tight, we breathe in these
chemi-cals—causing symptoms much like According to the passage, when a few harmful
allergies. In fact, most people probably dismiss chemicals combine, they can
the effects of these chemicals simply as a flare up cause us to experience allergies.
of some allergy or other. The truth is that we are cause a monumental task for homeowners.
experi-encing a syndrome that is called Multiple contribute to a syndrome called Multiple
Chem-ical Sensitivity. Now, what has this got to Chemical Sensitivity.
do with green plants? Everything healthy! contribute to photosynthesis in plants.
Research has been conducted with two types of
plants that have actually removed much of these The passage indicates that research
harmful chemicals from the air. has only been conducted using specific
The two plants that seem to be the best bet plants.
for ridding one’s home of such chemicals are has only been conducted by NASA.
ferns and palms. These plants release moisture as has not identified the sources of these
part of photosynthesis and, as they do, pull chemical impurities.
chemicals from the air into their leaves. Even has only benefited long term space
NASA has conducted some greenhouse experi- exploration.
ments for long-term space exploration. Within

62
 –NONFICTION AND INFORMATION PASSAGES–

278. The passage infers a relationship between 280. The main idea of this passage is best summed
the antiquity of ferns and palms and their up in which statement?
ability to a. Pyramids in Egypt and Mesoamerica
a. live long. are similar.
b. purify the air. b. Egyptians assisted Mesoamerican
c. grow leaves that live long. pyramid builders.
d. react successfully in research experiments. c. Pyramids in Egypt and Mesoamerica
have distinct differences.
279. A good title for this passage is d. Scientists do not know who built
a. Research in the New Millennium. the pyramids.
b. Home Dangers.
c. Common Houseplants May Purify Your 281. This passage best supports the statement that
Home. a. the Egyptians used stone quarried many
d. NASA Experiment Finds the Cure. miles away from the pyramid site.
b. the pyramids of Mesoamerica were built to
Despite their similarities, the pyramids of Egypt last for eternity.
and Mesoamerica seem to be unrelated because of c. the Egyptian pyramids were public tombs.
distinct differences in the time of construction as d. the Egyptian and Mesoamerican pyramids
well as their design and function. Historians have were built during the same time period.
discovered that the construction of the pyramids
in Egypt and Mesoamerica are separated by over 282. The passage best supports the statement that
2,000 years. The Egyptians used only cut stone a. Egyptian and Mesoamerican pyramids
quarried many miles away from the pyramid shared the same design function.
sites—a construction method that enabled them b. both pyramids were used as temples of rit-
to construct sturdy buildings that could with- ual and celebration.
stand the test of time. c. Egyptian and Mesoamerican pyramids
On the other hand, the pyramids of Meso- shared the same construction methods.
america were not built to withstand the ravages d. Mesoamerican pyramids were used for rit-
of time. Rather, the step pyramids rose in tiers, ual and celebration.
on the top of which a small temple was erected.
Unlike the Egyptians, they used irregular stones. 283. The underlined word eternity in the passage
Also, they did not share the same basic most nearly means which of the following?
design function. While the Egyptian pyramids a. for a short time
were private tombs meant to seperate the b. temporary
pharaoh’s remains from the mainstream of soci- c. for all time
ety and protect him for eternity, the pyramids d. never
of Mesoamerica were primarily public temples
of ritual and celebration.

63
 –NONFICTION AND INFORMATION PASSAGES –

Born in Joplin, Missouri, in 1902, Langston 285. In his poem, “Montage of a Dream Deferred,”
Hughes grew up to become a prominent writer of what influenced his writing?
the black American experience. During his high a. Renaissance music
school years in Illinois, he began writing poetry. b. his travel experience
In November 1924, he moved to Harlem, New c. his high school years
York, where his life and work contributed greatly d. the world of jazz
to the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s. In his
writing, Langston Hughes portrayed black life in 286. Langston Hughes was known for which of the
America from the 1920s through the 1960s. He following?
wrote novels, short stories, and plays, as well as a. writing poems and plays only
poetry. Also, he is known for his engagement with b. writing novels and short stories only
the world of jazz and the influence it had on his c. writing plays and short stories only
writing, as in “Montage of a Dream Deferred.” d. writing novels, short stories, plays,
Hughes did not personalize his stories because he and poems
wanted readers to draw their own conclusions
about the experiences of blacks in America. 287. His life and work contributed greatly to which
of the following?
284. Why didn’t Hughes personalize his stories? a. the Harlem Renaissance
a. He did not have enough personal b. the jazz world
experiences. c. Joplin, Missouri
b. He only wanted to write about the Harlem d. his high school in Illinois
jazz experience.
c. He wanted readers to draw their own con-
clusions about the black experience.
d. He wanted to keep his personal life a secret.

64
 S E C T I O N

Reading Charts

7 and Graphs,
DirectionsUnderstanding

T his is a section with questions that can be applied to situations you find in everyday life. On the job, in
your school, at the train station, in the grocery store, or in many other ordinary situations, you might
find yourself trying to access information from a graph, chart, or table. You may even find situations
where you have to listen to and act upon written or verbal directions.
Unlike other sections in this book, the questions you answer in this section are based on concrete informa-
tion, rather than hidden or implied material within the text. So, the most important thing is to pay attention to every
detail. Read every set of directions as many times as necessary. Also, read the title and footnotes carefully.
The ability to completely understand directions, graphs, charts, and tables is vital in today’s Information
Age, but as you may know, it is not always easy. With a little practice, these types of questions can be the
easiest. This section gives you ample opportunity to hone your skills.

65
 –READING CHARTS AND GRAPHS, UNDERSTANDING DIRECTIONS–

The answers to this section begin on page 146.

Below and on the following pages are tables that are typical of the type you might be asked to read in a text-
book or on the job. Note their simplicity and economy.

THE FUJITA–PEARSON
TORNADO INTENSITY SCALE

CLASSIFICATION WIND SPEED DAMAGE

F0 40–72 mph Mild

F1 73–112 mph Moderate

F2 113–157 mph Significant

F3 158–206 mph Severe

F4 207–260 mph Devastating

F5 260–319 mph Incredible

F6 319–379 mph Inconceivable

288. A tornado with a wind speed of 143 mph 289. The names of the categories in the third col-
would be assigned which classification? umn, labeled “Damage,” could best be
a. F0 described as
b. F1 a. scientific.
c. F2 b. descriptive.
d. F3 c. objective.
d. whimsical.

66
 –READING CHARTS AND GRAPHS, UNDERSTANDING DIRECTIONS–

FOREST FIRES, TRI-COUNTY AREA

JUNE 2005

NUMBER OF PROBABLE
DATE AREA ACRES BURNED CAUSE
June 2 Burgaw Grove 115 Lightning

June 3 Fenner Forest 200 Campfire

June 7 Voorhees Air Base Training Site 400 Equipment Use

June 12 Murphy County Nature Reserve 495 Children

June 13 Knoblock Mountain 200 Miscellaneous

June 14 Cougar Run Ski Center 160 Unknown

June 17 Fenner Forest 120 Campfire

June 19 Stone River State Park 526 Arson

June 21 Burgaw Grove 499 Smoking

June 25 Bramley Acres Resort 1,200 Arson

June 28 Hanesboro Crossing 320 Lightning

June 30 Stone River State Park 167 Campfire

290. One week before the Cougar Run Ski Center 292. Which of the following incidents at Hanes-
fire, where did a fire occur? boro Crossing would be considered an act of
a. Fenner Forest nature?
b. Voorhees Air Base Training Site a. A group of rowdy teenagers tossed a match
c. Murphy County Nature Reserve into a tent.
d. Burgaw Grove b. A deer hunter lighting a cigarette acciden-
tally tossed a match too close to a dry
291. According to the table, lightning fires shrub.
a. occurred at Burgaw Grove and Fenner Forest. c. An inexperienced camper filled a camp
b. consumed less than 500 acres. stove with gasoline and it exploded.
c. consumed more acres than suspected d. Lightning struck a tree in the forest.
arson fires.
d. occurred more frequently than fires caused
by campfires.

67
 –READING CHARTS AND GRAPHS, UNDERSTANDING DIRECTIONS–

HURST COUNTY TOWNS, NUMBER OF DAYS DISTRIBUTION OF OCCUPATIONS OF 200 ADULT

WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT PRECIPITATION* MALES IN THE BAIDYA CASTE, MADARIPUR

NUMBER OF VILLAGE, BENGAL, 1914

TOWN DAYS STATUS**
Riderville 38 level two OCCUPATION NUMBER
farmers 02
Adams 25 level one
government service, clerks 44
Parkston 74 level three
lawyers 06
Kings Hill 28 level two
newspapers and presses 05
West Granville 50 level three
no occupation 25
Braxton 23 level three
not recorded 08
Chase Crossing 53 level four
students 68
Livingston Center 45 level three
teachers 11
Less than half an inch in a 48-hour period.
trade and commerce 23
The higher the level, the greater potential for fire.
other 08

The status of the town with the most number of

days without significant precipitation is
level one. The largest number of men in the Baidya caste of
level two. Madaripur are involved in which field?
level three. education
level four. agriculture
government
Compared to Kings Hill, Chase Crossing publishing
is more likely to experience a fire.
is less likely to experience a fire. The smallest number of men in the Baidya
is just as likely to experience a fire. caste of Madaripur are involved in which
d. has gone a shorter period of time without field?
significant precipitation. education
agriculture
government
publishing

68
 –READING CHARTS AND GRAPHS, UNDERSTANDING DIRECTIONS–

MEN’S AND WOMEN’S TABLE TENNIS, SUMMER OLYMPICS 2004

COUNTRY GOLD SILVER BRONZE TOTAL

China 3 1 2 6

Korea 1 1 1 3

Denmark 0 0 1 1

WOMEN’S TABLE TENNIS, SUMMER OLYMPICS 2004

COUNTRY GOLD SILVER BRONZE TOTAL

China 2 0 1 3

Korea 0 1 1 2

Hong Kong 0 0 0 0

MEN’S TABLE TENNIS, SUMMER OLYMPICS 2004

COUNTRY GOLD SILVER BRONZE TOTAL

China 1 1 1 3

Demark 0 0 1 1

Hong Kong 0 1 0 1

297. According to the Men’s and Women’s Table 299. In which competition did Korea win an equal
Tennis chart, which country received the most number of gold, silver, and bronze medals?
medals for both men and women in table tennis? a. the Men’s competition
a. China b. the Women’s competition
b. Korea c. no equal amounts
c. Denmark d. the combined Men’s and Women’s
d. Hong Kong competition

298. In the Men’s Table Tennis competition, which 300. Which of the following countries won one
country only won a bronze medal? bronze medal and no other medals?
a. China a. Korea
b. Hong Kong b. Denmark
c. Denmark c. China
d. Korea d. Hong Kong

69
 –READING CHARTS AND GRAPHS, UNDERSTANDING DIRECTIONS–

MOUNT WASHINGTON, NEW HAMPSHIRE WEATHER DATA

ELEVATION: 6,288 FEET LATITUDE: 44 16N LONGITUDE: 071 18W

YEARLY JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL

Average Temperature

27° (Fahrenheit) 6° 6° 13° 23°

Average Precipitation

90.7 inches 7.1 inches 7.4 inches 7.9 inches 7.2 inches

Average Snowfall

41 inches 40 inches 40.8 inches 42.5 inches 31.3 inches

What is the average snowfall for the month of What is the average snowfall for the year?
February? 41 inches
7.4 inches 40 inches
13 inches 42.5 inches
40 inches 31.3 inches
40.8 inches
What is the average precipitation for the
What is the average temperature for the month of March?
month of April? 90.7 inches
6° 7.4 inches
13° 7.9 inches
23° 7.2 inches
31.3°

70
 –READING CHARTS AND GRAPHS, UNDERSTANDING DIRECTIONS–

Body Mass Index (BMI) relates a person’s weight to his or her height. Clinical researchers use the following
guide-lines regarding a person’s BMI and possible health risks.

HEALTH RISK RISK ADJUSTED FOR THE

BASED SOLELY PRESENCE OF OTHER HEALTH
BMI CATEGORY ON BMI CONDITIONS AND/OR RISK FACTORS

19–24 Minimal Low

25–26 Low Moderate

27–29 Moderate High

30–34 High Very high

35–39 Very high Extremely high

305. In the 35–39 BMI range, what is the risk based 307. All these are categories for the BMI chart
solely on BMI? except which one?
a. low a. BMI
b. moderate b. Health Risk l
c. high c. Risk Adjusted for Other Health Conditions
d. very high d. heart rate

306. What range BMI is considered a minimal 308. In the 27–29 BMI range, what is the risk based
health risk? solely on BMI?
a. 19–24 a. minimal
b. 25–26 b. low
c. 27–29 c. moderate
d. 30–34 d. high

71
 –READING CHARTS AND GRAPHS, UNDERSTANDING DIRECTIONS–

For many occupations, workers are asked to read Notice 2

pol-icy, work instructions, and rules. Following are a Beginning next month, the city will institute a
num-ber of job-related passages. Start with these program intended to remove graffiti from city-
relatively simple notices posted for workers. owned delivery trucks. Any truck that finishes its
assigned route before the end of the driver’s shift
Notice 1 will return to its lot where supervisors will pro-
All drivers are responsible for refueling their vide materials for that driver to use while clean-
vehicles at the end of each shift. All other routine ing the truck. Because the length of time it takes
mainte-nance should be performed by maintenance- to complete different tasks and routes vary, trucks
department personnel, who are also responsible for within the same department will no longer be
maintaining service records. If a driver believes a assigned to specific routes but will be rotated
vehicle is in need of mechanical repair, the driver among the routes. Therefore, drivers should no
should fill out the pink repair requisition form and longer leave personal items in the trucks, because
give it to the shift supervisor. The driver should also they will not necessarily be driving the same
notify the shift supervisor verbally whether, in the truck each day, as they did in the past.
driver’s opinion, the vehicle must be repaired
immediately or may be driven until the end of the According to the passage, the removal of graf-fiti
shift. from trucks will be done by
a small group of drivers specifically
If a vehicle is due to have the oil changed, assigned to the task.
whose responsibility is it? custodians who work for the city.
maintenance-department personnel any supervisor or driver who finishes a
the drivers at the end of their shifts route first.
shift supervisors each driver as that driver finishes the
outside service mechanics assigned route.

The passage implies that the vehicles According to the passage, routes within partic-ular
are refueled when they have less than half a departments
tank of gas. vary in the amount of time they take to
have the oil changed every 1,000 miles. complete.
are refueled at the end of every shift. vary in the amount of graffiti they are likely
are in frequent need of repair. to have on them.
are all approximately of equal length.
vary according to the truck’s driver.

According to the passage, prior to instituting the

graffiti clean-up program, city workers
were not responsible for cleaning the trucks.
had to repaint the trucks at intervals.
usually drove the same truck each workday.
were not allowed to leave personal belong-
ings in the trucks.

72
 –READING CHARTS AND GRAPHS, UNDERSTANDING DIRECTIONS–

Memo to Supervisory Personnel All Drivers Take Note

Members of your investigative team may have The City Transit supervisors have received
skills and abilities of which you are not aware. numerous complaints over the last several
As investigator in charge of a case, you should weeks about buses on several routes running
seek out and take advantage of potential talent hot. Dri-vers are reminded that each route has
in all the members of your team. Whenever a several checkpoints at which drivers should
new case is given to your team, it is usually a check the time. If the bus is ahead of schedule,
good idea to have all the members devise ideas drivers should delay at the checkpoint until it is
and sugges-tions about all aspects of the case, the proper time to leave. If traffic makes it
rather than insisting that each member stick unsafe for a driver to delay at a particular
rigidly to his or her narrow area of expertise. checkpoint, the driver should proceed at a
This way, you are likely to discover special reasonable speed to the next stop and hold
investigative skills you never suspected your there until the bus is back on schedule.
team members had. It’s worthwhile to take
extra time to explore all your team’s talents. According to the passage, when a bus is run-ning
hot, it means
The paragraph best supports the statement that a the bus is going too fast and the engine is
single member of an investigative team overheating.
may have abilities that the leader of the the bus is running ahead of schedule.
team doesn’t know. the bus is running behind schedule.
usually stands out as having more ideas passengers are complaining about the bus
than other members do. being off schedule.
should be assigned the task of discovering
the whole team’s talents. The main point of the passage is that drivers
can have more skills and abilities than all should
the rest. stop their buses when traffic is unsafe.
drive at a reasonable speed.
check the time at every stop.
see that their buses run on schedule.

73
 –READING CHARTS AND GRAPHS, UNDERSTANDING DIRECTIONS–

Important Warning Notice of Mandatory Refresher

Only certain people are qualified to handle haz- Training Course
ardous waste. Hazardous waste is defined as any During the next ten months, all bus operators
waste designated by the U.S. Environmental Pro- with two or more years of service will be
tection Agency as hazardous. If you are unclear required to have completed 20 hours of
whether a particular item is hazardous, you refresher training on one of the Vehicle
should not handle the item but should instead Maneuvering Training Buses.
notify a supervisor of the Sanitation Department. Instructors who have used this new tech-
nology report that trainees develop skills more
Hazardous waste is defined as quickly than with traditional training methods.
anything too dangerous to handle. In refresher training, this new system
waste picked up by special sanitation reinforces defensive driving skills and safe
trucks. driving habits. Drivers can also check their
anything so designated by the U.S. reaction times and hand-eye coordination.
Environmental Protection Agency. As an added benefit, the city expects to
waste not allowed to be placed alongside save money with the simulators, because the
regular residential garbage. new sys-tem reduces the amount of training
time in an actual bus—saving on parts, fuel,
Sanitation Worker Harris comes upon a con-tainer and other oper-ating expenses.
of cleaning solvent along with the regu-lar
garbage in front of a residence. The container All bus operators are required to do which of the
does not list the contents of the cleaner. following?
Therefore, according to the directions, Harris Receive training in defensive driving and
should operating a computer.
assume the solvent is safe and deposit it in Complete ten months of refresher driver
the sanitation truck. training.
leave a note for the residents, asking them Train new drivers on how to operate a
to list the contents of the solvent. simulator.
simply leave the container on the curb. Complete 20 hours of training on a
contact the supervisor for directions. simulator.

The main purpose of the refresher training

course on the simulator is to
make sure that all bus operators are main-
taining proper driving habits.
give experienced bus operators an opportu-
nity to learn new driving techniques.
help all bus operators to develop hand-eye
coordination.
reduce the city’s operating budget.

74
 –READING CHARTS AND GRAPHS, UNDERSTANDING DIRECTIONS–

Notice: Training to Begin for F.A.S.T. 321. Potential F.A.S.T. members can attend less
Membership than half of F.A.S.T. drills if they
A training calendar and schedule for Fire Agency a. complete technician-level training
Specialties Team (F.A.S.T.) membership is avail- requirements.
able in this office to all applicants for F.A.S.T. b. indicate prior real emergency experience.
membership. Training will take place the third c. receive permission from their fire chief.
week of each month. Classes will be taught on d. enroll in three weekly training sessions.
Monday afternoons, Wednesday evenings, and
Saturday afternoons. 322. Which of the following is the main subject of
So that the F.A.S.T. can maintain a high level the passage?
of efficiency and preparedness for emergency a. preparing for hazmat certification
response situations, its members must meet cer- b. the main goal of F.A.S.T.
tain requirements. c. completing F.A.S.T. membership
First, in order for you to be considered for requirements
membership on F.A.S.T., your department must d. learning about your department’s F.A.S.T.
be a member of the F.A.S.T. organization, and membership
you must have written permission from your fire
chief or your department’s highest ranking 323. Applicants must be available for training
administrator. a. three days each month.
Once active, you must meet further require- b. three days each week.
ments to maintain active status. These include c. every third month.
completion of technician-level training and cer- d. for 50% of classes.
tification in hazardous material (hazmat) opera-
tions. In addition, after becoming a member, you
must also attend a minimum of 50% of all drills
conducted by F.A.S.T. and go to at least one
F.A.S.T. conference. You may qualify for alterna-
tive credit for drills by proving previous experi-
ence in actual hazmat emergency response.
If you fail to meet minimum requirements,
you will be considered inactive, and the director
of your team will be notified. You will be placed
back on active status only after you complete
the training necessary to meet the minimum
requirements.

75
 –READING CHARTS AND GRAPHS, UNDERSTANDING DIRECTIONS–

One of the most common injuries teenagers and bruising) to a minimum, apply a cold pack.
adults experience is a sprained ankle. A sprain After 20 minutes, take the pack off, wait half
occurs when the ligaments of a joint are twisted and an hour, and then reapply. This can be done
possibly torn. Ligaments are bands of stringy fibers several times a day for a total of three days.
that hold the bones of a joint in position. A sprain Never leave a cold pack on for more than
can occur from a sudden wrenching at the joint, or a 20 minutes at a time. Reducing the temperature in
stretching or tearing of the fibers of the ligaments. that area for an extended period of time signals
The injured area usually swells and becomes black the body to increase blood flow to raise the body
and blue. Stepping off the sidewalk at the wrong temperature! Therefore, one inadvertently trig-
angle or having one foot land in a hole while gers more blood distribution to the affected area
jogging can leave you rolling on the ground in by leaving a cold pack on for too long! Finally,
agony with an ankle on fire! If you cannot walk bandage the ankle. Be careful not to wind it too
without experiencing intense pain, you must seek tightly; doing so can restrict blood flow and cause
medical help. If the pain is man-ageable, and you harm to the entire foot.
can walk, here are three words to help you
remember how to treat yourself: The main idea of the passage is to
describe sprains to the ligaments.
Elevate explain how to bandage injuries.
Cool explain how to treat your own sprained
Bandage ankle.
As soon as there is injury to that ligament, explain how the temperature of a wound is
important.
there will be a certain amount of bleeding under the
skin. Once the blood pools around the dam-aged
According to the passage, a sprain is caused by
blood vessels, inflammation and swelling occur.
enlarged blood vessels in the foot.
The pressure from the swelling results in additional
stress and tenderness to the region. In order to fluctuating temperature signaling the eleva-
tion of body temperature.
minimize the degree of swelling, lie down as soon
torn tissue in the ball of the foot.
as possible and keep the ankle elevated so that it is
actually higher than your heart. Next, to shrink the torn or twisted ligament fibers that hold the
joint in position.
blood vessels and keep bleeding (hence

76
 –READING CHARTS AND GRAPHS, UNDERSTANDING DIRECTIONS–

326. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as 328. It can be inferred that the black-and-blue
a warning? symptom of the sprain is due to
a. If there is intense pain, seek medical attention. a. torn fibers of ligaments.
b. Do not wind the bandage too tightly. b. too tight of a bandage.
c. Do not put your ankle near the fire. c. bleeding under the skin.
d. Do not keep the cold pack on for more than d. dirt ground into the wound from the fall.
20 minutes at a time.

327. According to the directions, once the initial

cold pack is removed, what is to be done?
a. Begin wrapping the bandage.
b. Begin wrapping by encircling the ball of the
foot twice.
c. Wait 20 minutes and then reapply the ice
pack for 30 minutes.
d. Wait 30 minutes and then reapply the ice
pack for 20 minutes.

77
 S E C T I O N

Analyzing and
8 Interpreting
Poems

P oetry scares some people, mainly because they believe that poems have hidden meanings. A good way
to approach poetry is by reading closely for the literal meaning. In reality, poetry compresses the
language into small sentences or phrases, so it just seems that the meanings are hidden. Ask
yourself, what is that poet’s view on the subject? If you add a few of your own thoughts and experiences, you
can uncover what has been left out. Think of it as frozen orange juice. Add water and you have the entire
amount. Also, remember that poets compare objects to other objects . . . just like the frozen orange-juice
metaphor. Think back to Section 2, Analogies, and remember the way you made comparisons there.
As you begin to read the poems in this section, it is important to understand who is speaking in the
poem. (The speaker may not be the poet.) Once you can identify the narrator, you should be able to get an
idea of the narrator’s attitude toward the subject, and this is easily discovered by the author’s word choice.
Through the images that the words make, you should be able to answer the questions correctly.

79
 –ANALYZING AND INTERPRETING POEMS–

The answers to this section begin page 147. This poem, by Emily Dickinson, is a sort of riddle.
Depending on your life experiences, the answer may
The following poem is by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. Con-
be immediately clear. Or it may very well not be.
sider the title of this poem as a guide to meaning.
Look closely for clues in the language.

The Eagle
A Narrow Fellow in the Grass
He clasps the crag with crooked hands;
A narrow Fellow in the grass
Close to the sun in lonely lands,
Occasionally rides—
Ringed with the azure world he stands.
You may have met him—did you not
His notice sudden is—
The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls;
The Grass divides as with a Comb—
He watches from his mountain walls,
A spotted shaft is seen—
And like a thunderbolt he falls.
And then it closes at your feet
And opens further on—
Given the tone of the poem, and noting espe-cially He likes a Boggy Acre—
the last line, what is the eagle most likely
A Floor too cool for Corn—
doing in the poem?
Yet when a Boy, and Barefoot—
dying of old age
I more than once at Noon
hunting prey
Have passed, I thought, a Whip-lash
learning joyfully to fly
Unbraiding in the Sun—
keeping watch over a nest of young eagles
When, stooping to secure it,
It wrinkled, and was gone—
To which of the following do the underlined words
azure world most likely refer?
Several of Nature’s People
a forest
I know, and they know me—
the sky
I feel for them a transport
the cliff
Of cordiality—
nature
But never met this Fellow,
Attended, or alone—
In the second stanza, first line, to which of the Without a tighter breathing
following does the verb crawls refer?
And zero at the bone—
waves
sunlight on the water
Who or what is the Fellow in this poem?
the eagle’s prey
a whip-lash
the eagle itself
a snake
a gust of wind
a boy

80
 –ANALYZING AND INTERPRETING POEMS–

The phrase Without a tighter breathing / AndIt’s true that poems often have two levels—one literal,
zero at the bone most nearly indicates one figurative. The next two poems, also by Emily
a. fright. Dickinson, are full of images from nature. In exploring
b. cold. the second level of meaning, consider the speaker’s
c. grief. attitude, revealed especially through surprising, and
d. awe. jarring, word choices.

334. The phrase Nature’s People means Apparently with No Surprise

a. nature-lovers. Apparently with no surprise
b. children. To any happy flower,
c. animals. The frost beheads it at its play
d. neighbors. In accidental power.

335. The speaker of this poem is most likely The blond assassin passes on,
a. an adult woman. The sun proceeds unmoved
b. an adult man. To measure off another day
c. Emily Dickinson, the poet. For an approving God.
d. a young boy.
336. Which of the following most nearly describes
the author’s attitude toward nature as
expressed in this poem?
a. delight
b. dismay
c. indifference
d. reverence

337. The poem implies that the attitude of the

flowers toward the frost is one of
a. fear.
b. horror.
c. acceptance.
d. reverence.

338. The tone of the poem implies that the speaker

probably regards God as
a. benevolent.
b. just.
c. cruel.
d. angry.

81
 –ANALYZING AND INTERPRETING POEMS–

Because I Could Not Stop for Death The main idea of the poem is that
Because I could not stop for Death— death kidnaps its victims and drives away
He kindly stopped for me— emotionlessly.
The carriage held but just Ourselves death is dull; its chief torment is boredom.
— And Immortality. death is a gentle timeless journey, simply
leaving life’s cares behind.
We slowly drove—He knew no haste, death is an eternity.
And I had put away
My labour, and my leisure too, In stanza 2, the word haste can be defined as
For His Civility— sorrow.
hurry.
We passed the School, where children guilt.
played At Recess—in the Ring— emotion.
We passed the fields of gazing grain
— We passed the Setting Sun. The image described in stanza 4 most closely
represents
We paused before a house that a blurring of life and death.
seemed A swelling of the ground— an inability of the dead to focus on the
The roof was scarcely visible— world of the living.
The cornice but a mound. a description of the grave.
a last image of security one sees before one
Since then—tis centuries; but each dies.
Feels shorter than the Day
I first surmised the Horses’ Heads One can infer from the tone of the poem that the
Were toward Eternity— speaker
views Death as a pleasant companion.
The image of death presented in stanza 1 is that views Death as an intruder.
of views Death as a figure of authority.
an indifferent driver. views Death as an intimate friend.
a kindly gentleman.
an immortal god disguised as a human.
none of the above.

82
 –ANALYZING AND INTERPRETING POEMS–

This next poem is by William Shakespeare. 346. What is the main idea of this poem?
a. Life is a misery that never gets any better at
The Seven Ages of Man any time.
All the world’s a stage, b. Life is what each of us makes of it during
And all the men and women merely players; our journey down the river of eternity.
They have their exits and their entrances; c. Life is a play and it follows a specific script,
And one man in his time plays many parts. none of which should cause anguish or
His acts being seven ages. At first the infant, sorrow.
Mewling . . . in the nurse’s arms. d. Life is a comedy, and we are all buffoons in
And then the whining schoolboy, with his satchel pantaloons no matter what we do.
And shining morning face . . . And then the lover,
Sighing like a furnace . . . Then a soldier 347. What is the theme of the poem?
Full of strange oaths . . . Jealous of honor, a. Death is to be feared.
Sudden and quick in quarrel . . . And then the b. Life is a circle that brings us back to the
justice . . . beginning.
Full of wise saws and modern instances; c. The male of the species is the only true
And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts measure of the stages of life.
Into the lean and slippered pantaloon. d. The stages of life are unrelated and can be
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side. altered by each individual’s free will.
. . . and his big manly voice, Turning again toward
Childish treble, pipes and whistles in his sound. 348. The poet uses the words merely (line 2) and
Last scene of all, mere (line 20)
That ends this strange eventful history, a. to soften the effect of the strong images he
Is second childishness, and mere oblivion, presents to us in those lines.
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything. b. to tie together his theme of the cycle of life.
c. convey his tone to the reader.
344. What attitude does the speaker reveal by using d. all of the above.
the word merely in the second line?
a. sorrow
b. anger
c. amusement
d. indifference

345. What characterizes the period of life repre-

sented by the soldier?
a. brash behavior
b. his sense of honor
c. his dedication to duty
d. his fear of cowardice

83
 9
S E C T I O N

Philosophy and
Literature

T he next passages are based on philosophy and literature. You don’t have to be an expert in either sub-ject
to answer the questions correctly. All the information you need is in the passage. Look for the main
idea, words in context, and the topic sentence to help you understand the basic information. Then
use your ability to make inferences based on the facts in the passage. Using all the available information in
the pas-sage will help you identify ideas not explicitly stated in the text.

85
 –PHILOSOPHY AND LITERATURE–

The answers to this section begin on page 149. Based on the description of the setting of the
novel Sula, which of the following
The fictional world of Nobel Prize winner Toni
adjectives would most likely describe the
Morrison’s novel Sula—the African-American
behavior of many of its residents?
section of Medallion, Ohio, a community called the
furtive
Bottom—is a place where people and natural things
suspicious
are apt to go awry, to break from their pre-scribed
unkempt
boundaries, a place where bizarre and unnatural
eccentric
happenings and strange reversals of the ordinary are
commonplace. The very naming of the setting of
Don’t forget to look for the author’s attitude in the
Sula is a turning upside-down of the expected; the
material you read. Is it positive, negative, or neutral?
Bottom is located high in the hills. The novel is
Ask yourself, how might the author have spoken if
filled with images of mutilation, both psychological
he or she had felt differently?
and physical. A great part of the lives of the
characters, therefore, is taken up with making sense
The English language premiere of Samuel Beckett’s
of the world, setting boundaries, and devising
play Waiting for Godot took place in London in
methods to control what is essentially
August 1955. Godot is an avant-garde play with
uncontrollable. One of the major devices used by
only five characters (not including Mr. Godot, who
the people of the Bottom is the seemingly univer-sal
never arrives) and a minimal set-ting: one rock and
one of creating a _______________; in this case,
one bare tree. The play has two acts; the second act
the title character Sula—upon which to pro-ject
repeats what little action occurs in the first with few
both the evil they perceive outside themselves and
changes: The tree, for instance, acquires one leaf. In
the evil in their own hearts.
a statement that was to become famous, the critic,
Vivian Mercer, has described Godot as “a play in
Which of the following words would best fit into the
which nothing hap-pens twice.” Opening night,
blank in the final sentence of the passage?
critics and playgoers greeted the play with
scapegoat bafflement and derision. The line, “Nothing
hero happens, nobody comes, nobody goes. It’s
leader awful,”was met by a loud rejoin-der of “Hear!
victim Hear!” from an audience member.
____________________________________.
However, Harold Hobson’s review in The
Sunday Times managed to recognize the play
for what history has proven it to be, a
revolutionary moment in theater.

86
 –PHILOSOPHY AND LITERATURE–

Which sentence, if inserted in the blank space 353. Which of the following provides the best defi-
on the previous page, would make the best nition of the term avant-garde as the author
sense in the context of the passage? intends it in the passage?
a. The director,Peter Hall,had to beg the theater a. innovative
management not to close the play immediately b. unintelligible
but to wait for the Sunday reviews. c. foreign
b. Despite the audience reaction, the cast and d. high-brow
director believed in the play.
c. It looked as if Waiting for Godot was begin- 354. Which of the following best describes the atti-
ning a long run as the most controversial tude of the author of the passage toward the
play of London’s 1955 season. play Waiting for Godot?
d. Waiting for Godot was in danger of closing a. It was a curiosity in theater history.
the first week of its run and of becoming b. It is the most important play of the
nothing more than a footnote in the annals twentieth century.
of the English stage. c. It is too repetitious.
d. It represents a turning point in stage
352. Judging from the information provided in the history.
paragraph, which of the following statements
is accurate?
a. The 1955 production of Waiting for Godot
was the play’s first performance.
b. Waiting for Godot was written by Peter Hall.
c. The sets and characters in Waiting for Godot
were typical of London stage productions
in the 1950s.
d. Waiting for Godot was not first performed
in English.

87
 –PHILOSOPHY AND LITERATURE–

In his famous study of myth, The Hero with a 356. The title of Campbell’s book, The Hero with a
Thousand Faces, Joseph Campbell writes about Thousand Faces, is meant to convey
the archetypal hero who has ventured outside the a. the many villagers whose lives are changed
boundaries of the village and, after many trials by the story the hero has to tell.
and adventures, has returned with the boon that b. the fact that the hero journeys into many
will save or enlighten his fellows. Like Carl Jung, different imaginary countries.
Campbell believes that the story of the hero is part c. the many languages into which the myth of
of the collective unconscious of all humankind. the hero has been translated.
He likens the returning hero to the sacred or d. the universality of the myth of the hero
tabooed personage described by James Frazier in who journeys into the wilderness.
The Golden Bough. Such an individual must, in
many instances of myth, be insulated from the 357. Based on the passage, which of the following
rest of society, “not merely for his own sake but best describes the story that will likely be told
for the sake of others; for since the virtue of holi- by Campbell’s returning hero and Frazier’s
ness is, so to say, a powerful explosive which the sacred or tabooed personage?
smallest touch can detonate, it is necessary in the a. a radically mind-altering story
interest of the general safety to keep it within b. a story that will terrify people to no
narrow bounds.” good end
There is __________ between the arche- c. a warning of catastrophe to come
typal hero who has journeyed into the wilderness d. a story based on a dangerous lie
and the poet who has journeyed into the realm of
imagination. Both places are dangerous and full 358. Which of the following is the most accurate
of wonders, and both, at their deepest levels, are definition of the underlined word boon as the
journeys that take place in the kingdom of the word is used in the passage?
unconscious mind, a place that, in Campbell’s a. gift
words, “goes down into unsuspected Aladdin b. blessing
caves. There are not only jewels but dangerous c. charm
jinn abide . . . ” d. prize
355. The phrase that would most accurately fit into 359. Based on the passage, which of the following

the blank in the first sentence of the second would best describe the hero’s journey?
paragraph is a. wonderful
a. much similarity. b. terrifying
b. a wide gulf. c. awesome
c. long-standing conflict. d. whimsical
d. an abiding devotion.
360. As depicted in the last sentence of the passage,
“Aladdin caves” are most likely to be found in
a. holy books.
b. fairy tales.
c. the fantasies of the hero.
d. the unconscious mind.

88
 –PHILOSOPHY AND LITERATURE–

This is an excerpt from Mark Twain’s short story to the ear—another instant a whoop and a hur-
“Roughing It.” Twain gives an eye-witness account rah from our upper deck, a wave of the rider’s
of the operation of The Pony Express, the West’s hand, but no reply, and a man and a horse burst
first mail system. past our excited faces, and go swinging away
like a belated fragment of a storm!
The little flat mail-pockets strapped under the
rider’s thighs would each hold about the bulk of a Based on the tone of the passage, which of the
child’s primer. They held many an important following words best describes the author’s
business chapter and newspaper letter, but these attitude toward The Pony Express rider?
were written on paper as airy and thin as gold- indifference
leaf, nearly, and thus bulk and weight were econ- fear
omized. The stagecoach traveled about a hundred bewilderment
to a hundred and twenty-five miles a day (twenty- excitement
four hours), the pony-rider about two hundred
and fifty. There were about eighty pony-riders in The sighting of the pony-rider is told from
the saddle all the time, night and day, stretching which viewpoint?
in a long, scattering procession from Missouri to a person sitting on a porch
California, 40 flying eastward, and 40 toward the a passenger inside a stagecoach
west, and among them making 400 gallant horses a passenger in a hot air balloon
earn a stirring livelihood and see a deal of a person picnicking
scenery every single day in the year.
We had a consuming desire, from the begin- The reader can infer that the stagecoach in the
ning, to see a pony-rider, but somehow or other all passage did NOT
that passed us and all that met us managed to streak carry mail.
by in the night, and so we heard only a whiz and a have windows.
hail, and the swift phantom of the desert was gone travel by night.
before we could get our heads out of the windows. travel a different route from that of The
But now we were expecting one along every Pony Express.
moment, and would see him in broad day-light.
Presently the driver exclaims: Which of the following is not supported by the
“HERE HE COMES!” passage?
Every neck is stretched further, and every eye The mail was strapped in a pouch under
strained wider. Away across the endless dead level the rider’s thighs.
of the prairie a black speck appears against the sky, The rider rode great distances to deliver the
and it is plain that it moves. Well, I should think so! mail.
In a second or two it becomes a horse and rider, People did not care about The Pony Express
rising and falling, rising and falling, rising and rider.
falling—sweeping toward us nearer and nearer— Usually eighty pony riders were in the sad-
growing more and more distinct, more and more dle at any given time.
sharply defined—nearer and still nearer, and the
flutter of the hoofs comes faintly

89
 S E C T I O N

10 Longer Passages

T he passages in this section are the final test of your reading comprehension skills. They test your abil-ity
to read large blocks of text, define words in context, and respond to questions about content.
You’ll find that the longer passages in this section are the most difficult of all the ones you have
read in this book so far, but at this point, you are more than ready for them. Some of the passages are about new
research, geology, history, and even Greek mythology. Some of the passages contain technical and scientific
information, much of it related to medicine. If the material looks daunting because of unfamiliar vocabulary, read
the passage in a relaxed manner to get a sense of its overall meaning and organizational pattern. After that, go back
and read the passage one paragraph at a time. The material will seem less overwhelming if you consider it in
smaller chunks. Notes or outlines may also help clarify the material for you.
Remember that the reading process is the same whether the text is long or short, complex or simple, and
the way to respond to the questions correctly is to read closely and carefully.

91
 –LONGER PASSAGES–

The answers to this section begin on page 150. For years, Mt. Desert Island, particularly its
major settlement, Bar Harbor, afforded summer
The coast of the state of Maine is one of the most
homes for the wealthy. Recently though, Bar
irregular in the world. A straight line running
Harbor has become a burgeoning arts commu-
from the southernmost coastal city to the north-
nity as well. But, the best part of the island is the
ernmost coastal city would measure about 225
unspoiled forest land known as Acadia National
miles. If you followed the coastline between
Park. Because the island sits on the boundary line
these points, you would travel more than ten
between the temperate and sub-Arctic zones, the
times as far. This irregularity is the result of what
island supports the flora and fauna of both zones
is called a drowned coastline. The term comes
as well as beach, inland, and alpine plants. It also
from the glacial activity of the ice age. At that
lies in a major bird migration lane and is a resting
time, the whole area that is now Maine was part
spot for many birds. The estab-lishment of
of a mountain range that towered above the sea.
Acadia National Park in 1916 means that this
As the glacier descended, however, it expended
natural reserve will be perpetually avail-able to
enormous force on those mountains, and they
all people, not just the wealthy. Visitors to Acadia
sank into the sea.
may receive nature instruction from the park
As the mountains sank, ocean water
naturalists as well as enjoy camping, hiking,
charged over the lowest parts of the remaining
cycling, and boating. Or they may choose to
land, form-ing a series of twisting inlets and
spend time at the archeological museum, learn-
lagoons of con-torted grottos and nooks. The
ing about the Stone Age inhabitants of the island.
highest parts of the former mountain range,
nearest the shore, remained as islands. Mt. Desert
The best view on Mt. Desert Island is from
Island is one of the most famous of all the islands
the top of Cadillac Mountain. This mountain rises
left behind by the glacier. Marine fossils found
1,532 feet, making it the highest mountain on the
here were 225 feet above sea level, indicating the
Atlantic seaboard. From the summit, you can
level of the shore-line prior to the glacier.
gaze back toward the mainland or out over the
The 2,500-mile-long rocky and jagged
Atlantic Ocean and contemplate the beauty
coastline of Maine keeps watch over nearly two
created by a retreating glacier.
thousand islands. Many of these islands are tiny
and uninhabited, but many are home to thriving
communities. Mt. Desert Island is one of the
largest, most beautiful of the Maine coast islands.
Measuring 16 miles by 12 miles, Mt. Desert was
essentially formed as two distinct islands. It is
split almost in half by Somes Sound, a deep and
narrow stretch of water, seven miles long.

92
 –LONGER PASSAGES–

365. Which of the following lists of topics best out- 367. According to the selection, the large number
lines the information in the selection? of small islands along the coast of Maine are
a. Ice-age glacial activity the result of
The Islands of Casco Bay a. glaciers forcing a mountain range into
Formation of Cadillac Mountain the sea.
Summer residents of Mt. Desert Island b. Maine’s location between the temperate
b. Formation of a drowned coastline and sub-Arctic zones.
The topography of Mt. Desert Island c. the irregularity of the Maine coast.
The environment of Mt. Desert Island d. the need for summer communities for
Tourist attractions on Mt. Desert Island wealthy tourists and artists.
c. Mapping the Maine coastline
The arts community at Bar Harbor 368. The content of the fourth paragraph indicates
History of the National Park System that the writer believes that
Climbing Cadillac Mountain a. the continued existence of national parks is
d. The effect of glaciers on small islands threatened by budget cuts.
Stone-age dwellers on Mt. Desert Island b. the best way to preserve the environment
The importance of biodiversity on Mt. Desert Island is to limit the number
Hiking in Acadia National Park of visitors.
c. national parks allow large numbers of peo-
366. Which of the following statements best ple to visit and learn about interesting
expresses the main idea of the fourth para- wilderness areas.
graph of the selection? d. Mt. Desert Island is the most interesting
a. The wealthy residents of Mt. Desert Island tourist attraction in Maine.
selfishly kept it to themselves.
b. Acadia National Park is one of the smallest 369. According to the selection, the coast of
of the national parks. Maine is
c. On Mt. Desert Island, there is great tension a. 2,500 miles long.
between the year-round residents and the b. 3,500 miles long.
summer tourists. c. 225 miles long.
d. Due to its location and environment, Mt. d. 235 miles long.
Desert Island supports an incredibly diverse
animal and plant life.

93
 –LONGER PASSAGES–

Today, bicycles are elegantly simple machines that Ten years later, James Starley, an English
are common around the world. Many people ride inventor, made several innovations that revolu-
bicycles for recreation, whereas others use them as tionized bicycle design. He made the front wheel
a means of transportation. The first bicycle, called a many times larger than the back wheel, put a gear
draisienne, was invented in Germany in 1818 by on the pedals to make the bicycle more efficient,
Baron Karl de Drais de Sauerbrun. Because it was and lightened the wheels by using wire spokes.
made of wood, the draisienne wasn’t very durable Although this bicycle was much lighter and less
nor did it have pedals. Riders moved it by pushing tiring to ride, it was still clumsy, extremely top-
their feet against the ground. heavy, and ridden mostly for entertainment.
In 1839, Kirkpatrick Macmillan, a Scottish It wasn’t until 1874 that the first truly mod-
blacksmith, invented a much better bicycle. ern bicycle appeared on the scene. Invented by
Macmillan’s machine had tires with iron rims to another Englishman, H.J. Lawson, the safety
keep them from getting worn down. He also used bicy-cle would look familiar to today’s cyclists.
foot-operated cranks, similar to pedals, so his The safety bicycle had equal-sized wheels, which
bicycle could be ridden at a quick pace. It didn’t made it much less prone to toppling over. Lawson
look much like the modern bicycle, though, also attached a chain to the pedals to drive the
because its back wheel was substantially larger rear wheel. By 1893, the safety bicycle had been
than its front wheel. Although Macmillan’s bicy- further improved with air-filled rubber tires, a
cles could be ridden easily, they were never pro- diamond-shaped frame, and easy braking. With
duced in large numbers. the improvements provided by Lawson, bicycles
In 1861, Frenchman Pierre Michaux and became extremely popular and useful for trans-
his brother Ernest invented a bicycle with an portation. Today, they are built, used, and enjoyed
improved crank mechanism. They called their all over the world.
bicycle a vélocipède, but most people called it
a “bone shaker” because of the jarring effect of There is enough information in this passage to
the wood and iron frame. Despite the unflatter- show that
ing nickname, the vélocipède was a hit. After a several people contributed to the develop-
few years, the Michaux family was making ment of the modern bicycle.
hundreds of the machines annually, mostly for only a few vélocipèdes built by the Michaux
fun-seeking young people. family are still in existence.
for most of the nineteenth century, few
people rode bicycles just for fun.
bicycles with wheels of different sizes can-
not be ridden easily.

94
 –LONGER PASSAGES–

The first person to use a gear system on bicy-cles Read the following sentence from the fourth
was paragraph:
H.J. Lawson.
Kirkpatrick Macmillan. Ten years later, James Starley, an English
Pierre Michaux. inventor, made several innovations that
James Starley. revolutionized bicycle design.

This passage was most likely written in As it is used in the sentence, the underlined
order to word revolutionized most nearly means
persuade readers to use bicycles for cancelled.
transportation. changed drastically.
describe the problems that bicycle became outdated.
manufacturers encounter. exercised control over.
compare bicycles used for fun with bicycles
used for transportation. Which of the following statements from the
tell readers a little about the history of the passage represents the writer’s opinion?
bicycle. The safety bicycle would look familiar to
today’s cyclists.
Macmillan added iron rims to the tires of his Two hundred years ago, bicycles didn’t
bicycle to even exist.
add weight to the bicycle. The Michaux brothers called their bicycle a
make the tires last longer. vélocipède.
make the ride less bumpy. Macmillan’s machine had tires with
make the ride less tiring. iron rims.

95
 –LONGER PASSAGES–

One of the most hazardous conditions a fire- 376. A backdraft is a dangerous condition for fire-
fighter will ever encounter is a backdraft (also fighters mainly because
known as a smoke explosion). A backdraft can a. there is not enough oxygen for breathing.
occur in the hot-smoldering phase of a fire when b. the heat is extremely intense.
burning is incomplete and there is not enough c. the smoke is dangerously thick.
oxygen to sustain the fire. Unburned carbon par- d. an explosion occurs.
ticles and other flammable products, combined
with the intense heat, may cause instantaneous 377. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as
combustion if more oxygen reaches the fire. a potential backdraft warning sign?
Firefighters should be aware of the condi- a. windows stained with smoke
tions that indicate the possibility for a backdraft b. flames shooting up from the building
to occur. When there is a lack of oxygen during a c. puffs of smoke leaving the building
fire, the smoke becomes filled with carbon diox- d. more intense heat than usual
ide or carbon monoxide and turns dense gray or
black. Other warning signs of a potential back- 378. To prevent the possibility of a backdraft, a fire-
draft are little or no visible flame, excessive heat, fighter should
smoke leaving the building in puffs, muffled a. carry an oxygen tank.
sounds, and smoke-stained windows. b. open a door to allow gases to escape.
Proper ventilation will make a backdraft c. make an opening at the top of the building.
less likely. Opening a room or building at the d. break a window to release carbon particles.
highest point allows heated gases and smoke to be
released gradually. However, suddenly breaking a 379. When compared with a hot, smoldering fire, a
window or opening a door is a mistake, because fire with visible, high-reaching flames
it allows oxygen to rush in, causing an explosion. a. has more oxygen available for combustion.
b. has more carbon dioxide available for
consumption.
c. produces more dense gray smoke.
d. is more likely to cause a backdraft.

96
 –LONGER PASSAGES–

The human body can tolerate only a small 380. The most immediate concern of a person
range of temperature, especially when the per- tending to a victim of heat stroke should be to
son is engaged in vigorous activity. Heat reac- a. get salt into the victim’s body.
tions usually occur when large amounts of b. raise the victim’s feet.
water and/or salt are lost through excessive c. lower the victim’s pulse.
sweating following strenuous exercise. When d. lower the victim’s temperature.
the body becomes overheated and cannot elim-
inate this excess heat, heat exhaustion and heat 381. Which of the following is a symptom of heat
stroke are possible. exhaustion?
Heat exhaustion is generally characterized a. unconsciousness
by clammy skin, fatigue, nausea, dizziness, profuse b. profuse sweating
perspiration, and sometimes fainting, resulting c. hot, dry skin
from an inadequate intake of water and the loss d. a weak pulse
of fluids. First aid treatment for this condition
includes having the victim lie down, raising the 382. Heat stroke is more serious than heat exhaus-
feet 8 to 12 inches, applying cool, wet cloths to the tion because heat stroke victims
skin, and giving the victim sips of salt water (1 a. do not sweat.
teaspoon per glass, half a glass every 15 minutes) b. have no salt in their bodies.
over a 1-hour period. c. cannot take in water.
Heat stroke is much more serious; it is an d. have frequent fainting spells.
immediate life-threatening situation. The char-
acteristics of heat stroke are a high body temper- 383. Symptoms such as nausea and dizziness in a
ature (which may reach 106° F or more); a rapid heat exhaustion victim indicate that the per-
pulse; hot, dry skin; and a blocked sweating son most likely needs to
mechanism. Victims of this condition may be a. be immediately taken to a hospital.
unconscious, and first-aid measures should be b. be given more salt water.
directed at quickly cooling the body. The victim c. be immersed in a tub of water.
should be placed in a tub of cold water or repeat- d. sweat more.
edly sponged with cool water until his or her
temperature is sufficiently lowered. Fans or air
conditioners will also help with the cooling
process. Care should be taken, however, not to
over-chill the victim once the temperature is
below 102° F.

97
 –LONGER PASSAGES–

Remember that much scientific and technical writing Although causes of the initial tendency
deals with cold, hard, explicit facts. This means that, toward inflammation in the airways of patients
with close reading, you stand a good chance of answer- with asthma are not yet certain, to date the
ing most, if not all, of the questions with confidence. strongest identified risk factor is atopy. This
inherited familial tendency to have allergic reac-
No longer is asthma considered a condition tions includes increased sensitivity to allergens
with isolated, acute episodes of bronchospasm. that are risk factors for developing asthma. Some
Rather, asthma is now understood to be a of these allergens include domestic dust mites,
chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways animals with fur, cockroaches, pollens, and
—that is, inflammation makes the airways molds. Additionally, asthma may be triggered by
chronically sen-sitive. When these viral respiratory infections, especially in children.
hyperresponsive airways are irritated, airflow By avoiding these allergens and triggers, a person
is limited, and attacks of cough-ing, wheezing, with asthma lowers his or her risk of irritating
chest tightness, and breathing difficulty occur. sensitive airways. A few avoidance techniques
Asthma involves complex interactions include: keeping the home clean and well venti-
among inflammatory cells, mediators, and the lated, using an air conditioner in the summer
cells and tissues in the airways. The interactions months when pollen and mold counts are high,
result in airflow limitation from acute bron- and getting an annual influenza vaccination. Of
choconstriction, swelling of the airway wall, course, asthma sufferers should avoid tobacco
increased mucus secretion, and airway remodel- smoke altogether. Cigar, cigarette, or pipe smoke
ing. The inflammation also causes an increase in is a trigger whether the patient smokes or inhales
airway responsiveness. During an asthma attack, the smoke from others. Smoke increases the risk
the patient attempts to compensate by breathing of allergic sensitization in children, increases the
at a higher lung volume in order to keep the air severity of symptoms, and may be fatal in chil-
flowing through the constricted airways, and the dren who already have asthma. Many of the risk
greater the airway limitation, the higher the lung factors for developing asthma may also provoke
volume must be to keep airways open. The mor- asthma attacks, and people with asthma may have
phologic changes that occur in asthma include one or more triggers, which vary from individual
bronchial infiltration by inflammatory cells. Key to individual. The risk can be further reduced by
effector cells in the inflammatory response are taking medications that decrease airway inflam-
the mast cells, T lymphocytes, and eosinophils. mation. Most exacerbations can be prevented by
Mast cells and eosinophils are also significant the combination of avoiding triggers and taking
partici-pants in allergic responses, hence the anti-inflammatory medications. An exception is
similarities between allergic reactions and asthma physical activity, which is a common trigger of
attacks. Other changes include mucus plugging of exacerbations in asthma patients. However,
the airways, interstitial edema, and microvascular asthma patients should not necessarily avoid all
leakage. Destruction of bronchial epithelium and physical exertion, because some types of activity
thickening of the subbasement membrane is also have been proven to reduce symptoms. Rather,
characteristic. In addition, there may be hyper- they should work in conjunction with a doctor to
trophy and hyperplasia of airway smooth muscle, design a proper training regimen, which includes
increase in goblet cell number, and enlargement the use of medication.
of submucous glands.

98
 –LONGER PASSAGES–

In order to diagnose asthma, a healthcare 387. Which of the following would be the best
professional must appreciate the underlying dis- replacement for the underlined word exacer-
order that leads to asthma symptoms and bations in this passage?
understand how to recognize the condition a. allergies
through information gathered from the patient’s b. attacks
history, physical examination, measurements of c. triggers
lung function, and allergic status. Because d. allergens
asthma symptoms vary throughout the day, the
respiratory system may appear normal during 388. The passage mentions all of the following
physical examination. Clinical signs are more bodily changes during an asthma attack
likely to be present when a patient is experienc- EXCEPT
ing symptoms; however, the absence of symp- a. severe cramping in the chest.
toms upon examination does not exclude the b. heavy breathing.
diagnosis of asthma. c. airways blocked by fluids.
d. constricted airways.
384. According to the passage, what is the name for
the familial inclination to have hypersensitiv- 389. Although it is surprising, which of the follow-
ity to certain allergens? ing triggers is mentioned in the passage as
a. interstitial edema possibly reducing the symptoms of asthma in
b. hyperplasia some patients?
c. hypertrophy a. using a fan instead of an air conditioner in
d. atopy summer months
b. exposure to second-hand cigarette smoke
385. Why does a person suffering from an asthma c. the love of a family pet
attack attempt to inhale more air? d. performing physical exercise
a. to prevent the loss of consciousness
b. to keep air flowing through shrunken 390. Why might a patient with asthma have an
air passageways apparently normal respiratory system during
c. to prevent hyperplasia an examination by a doctor?
d. to compensate for weakened mast cells, a. Asthma symptoms come and go through-
T lymphocytes, and eosinophils out the day.
b. Severe asthma occurs only after strenuous
386. The passage suggests that in the past, asthma physical exertion.
was regarded as which of the following? c. Doctor’s offices are smoke free and
a. a result of the overuse of tobacco products very clean.
b. a hysterical condition d. The pollen and mold count may be low
c. mysterious, unrelated attacks affecting that day.
the lungs
d. a chronic condition

99
 –LONGER PASSAGES–

Who might be the most logical audience for this ity to withstand cold. Mild anemia, swollen joints,
passage? reduced muscle mass, and light-headedness also
researchers studying the respiratory system commonly occur in anorexia nervosa.
healthcare professionals Anorexia nervosa sufferers can exhibit sud-
a mother whose child has been diagnosed den angry outbursts or become socially with-drawn.
with asthma One in ten cases of anorexia nervosa leads to death
an antismoking activist from starvation, cardiac arrest, other medical
complications, or suicide. Clinical depres-sion and
What is the reason given in this article for why anxiety place many individuals with eat-ing
passive smoke should be avoided by children? disorders at risk for suicidal behavior.
A smoke-filled room is a breeding ground People with bulimia nervosa consume large
for viral respiratory infections. amounts of food and then rid their bodies of the
Smoke can stunt an asthmatic child’s growth. excess calories by vomiting, abusing laxatives or
Smoke can heighten the intensity of diuretics, taking enemas, or exercising
asthma symptoms. obsessively. Some use a combination of all these
Breathing smoke can lead to a fatal forms of purging. Individuals with bulimia who
asthma attack. use drugs to stimulate vomiting, bowel
movements, or uri-nation may be in considerable
Millions of people in the United States are danger, as this practice increases the risk of heart
affected by eating disorders. More than 90% of failure. Dieting heavily between episodes of
those afflicted are adolescents or young adult binging and purging is common.
women. Although all eating disorders share Because many individuals with bulimia binge
some common manifestations, anorexia and purge in secret and maintain normal or above
nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating normal body weight, they can often suc-cessfully
each have dis-tinctive symptoms and risks. hide their problem for years. But bulimia nervosa
People who intentionally starve themselves patients—even those of normal weight— can
(even while experiencing severe hunger pains) severely damage their bodies by frequent binge
suffer from anorexia nervosa. The disorder, eating and purging. In rare instances, binge eating
which usually begins around the time of puberty, causes the stomach to rupture; purging may result in
involves extreme weight loss to at least 15% heart failure due to loss of vital minerals such as
below the individual’s normal body weight. potassium. Vomiting can cause the esophagus to
Many people with the disorder look emaciated become inflamed and glands near the cheeks to
but are convinced they are overweight. In patients become swollen. As in anorexia nervosa, bulimia
with anorexia nervosa, starvation can damage may lead to irregular menstrual periods. Psycho-
vital organs such as the heart and brain. To logical effects include compulsive stealing as well
protect itself, the body shifts into slow gear: as possible indications of obsessive-compulsive
Menstrual periods stop, blood pressure rates drop, disorder, an illness characterized by repetitive
and thyroid function slows. Excessive thirst and thoughts and behaviors. Obsessive-compulsive
frequent urination may occur. Dehydration disorder can also accompany anorexia nervosa. As
contributes to constipation, and reduced body fat with anorexia nervosa, bulimia typically begins
leads to lowered body temperature and the inabil- during adolescence. Eventually, half of those with

100
 –LONGER PASSAGES–

anorexia nervosa will develop bulimia. The con- 394. Which of the following consequences do all
dition occurs most often in women but is also the eating disorders mentioned in the passage
found in men. have in common?
Binge-eating disorder is found in about 2% a. heart ailments
of the general population. As many as one-third b. stomach rupture
of this group are men. It also affects older c. swollen joints
women, though with less frequency. Recent d. diabetes
research shows that binge-eating disorder occurs
in about 30% of people participating in med- 395. According to the passage, people with binge-
ically supervised weight-control programs. This eating disorder are prone to all of the follow-
disorder differs from bulimia because its suffer- ing EXCEPT
ers do not purge. Individuals with binge-eating a. loss of control.
disorder feel that they lose control of themselves b. depression.
when eating. They eat large quantities of food c. low blood pressure.
and do not stop until they are uncomfortably d. high cholesterol.
full. Most sufferers are overweight or obese and
have a history of weight fluctuations. As a result, 396. Which of the following is NOT a statement
they are prone to the serious medical problems about people with eating disorders?
associated with obesity, such as high cholesterol, a. People with anorexia nervosa commonly
high blood pressure, and diabetes. Obese indi- have a blood-related deficiency.
viduals also have a higher risk for gallbladder dis- b. People with anorexia nervosa perceive
ease, heart disease, and some types of cancer. themselves as overweight.
Usually they have more difficulty losing weight c. The female population is the primary
and keeping it off than do people with other group affected by eating disorders.
serious weight problems. Like anorexic and d. Fifty percent of people with bulimia have
bulimic sufferers who exhibit psychological had anorexia nervosa.
problems, individuals with binge-eating disorder
have high rates of simultaneously occurring psy- 397. People who have an eating disorder but never-
chiatric illnesses, especially depression. theless appear to be of normal weight are most
likely to have
393. Fatalities occur in what percent of people with a. obsessive-compulsive disorder.
anorexia nervosa? b. bulimia nervosa.
a. 2% c. binge-eating disorder.
b. 10% d. anorexia nervosa.
c. 15%
d. 30% 398. Glandular functions of eating-disorder
patients slow down as a result of
a. lowering body temperatures.
b. excessive thirst and urination.
c. protective measures taken by the body.
d. the loss of essential minerals.

101
 –LONGER PASSAGES–

The inability to eliminate body waste is Greyhound racing is the sixth most popular spec-
related to tator sport in the United States. Over the last
dehydration. decade, a growing number of racers have been
an inflamed esophagus. adopted to spend their retirement as household
the abuse of laxatives. pets, once their racing careers are over.
weight-control programs. Many people hesitate to adopt a retired rac-
ing greyhound because they think only very old
According to the passage, which of the dogs are available. Actually, even champion rac-
following is true of bulimia patients? ers only work until they are about three-and-a-
They may demonstrate unpredictable half years old. Because greyhounds usually live
social behavior. to be 12 to 15 years old, their retirement is much
They often engage in compulsive exercise. longer than their racing careers.
They are less susceptible to dehydration People worry that a greyhound will be
than are anorexia patients. more nervous and active than other breeds and
They frequently experience stomach will need a large space to run. These are false
ruptures. impres-sions. Greyhounds have naturally
sweet, mild dis-positions, and while they love
Which of the following represent up to two-thirds of to run, they are sprinters rather than distance
the binge-eating disorder population? runners and are sufficiently exercised with a
older males few daily laps around a fenced-in backyard.
older females Greyhounds do not make good watchdogs,
younger males but they are very good with children, get along
younger females well with other dogs (and usually cats as well),
and are affectionate and loyal. They are intelli-
gent, well-behaved dogs, usually housebroken in
only a few days. A retired racing greyhound is a
wonderful pet for almost anyone.

102
 –LONGER PASSAGES–

Based on the tone of the passage, the author’s405. One drawback of adopting a greyhound is that
main purpose is to a. greyhounds are not good with children.
a. teach prospective owners how to transform b. greyhounds are old when they retire from
their racing greyhound into a good pet. racing.
b. show how the greyhound’s nature makes it c. the greyhound’s sensitivity makes it
equally good as racer and pet. temperamental.
c. encourage people to adopt retired racing d. greyhounds are not good watch dogs.
greyhounds.
d. objectively present the pros and cons of 406. This passage is most like an advertisement
adopting a racing greyhound. because it
a. uses statistics to prove its point.
403. According to the passage, adopting a grey- b. does not present information to substanti-
hound is a good idea for people who ate its claims.
a. do not have children. c. says nothing negative about greyhounds.
b. live in apartments. d. encourages people to do something.
c. do not usually like dogs.
d. already have another dog or a cat. 407. According to the passage, a retired racing grey-
hound available for adoption will most likely be
404. Which of the following is implied by the passage? a. happy to be retiring.
a. The public is more aware of greyhounds b. easily housebroken.
than they used to be. c. a champion, or else it would have been
b. Greyhounds are more competitive than euthanized.
other dogs. d. less high-strung than those that are not
c. Greyhound racing should not be allowed. available for adoption.
d. People who own pet rabbits should not
adopt greyhounds.

103
 –LONGER PASSAGES–

The lives of the Ancient Greeks revolved around mixed marriages of Greek Mythology and the
eris, a concept by which they defined the uni- lesson learned from it still applies today. They do
verse. They believed that the world existed in a invite everyone . . . except Eris, the Goddess of
condition of opposites. If there was good, then Discord. In other words, instead of facing the
there was evil, if there was love, then there was problems brought on by a mixed marriage, they turn
hatred; joy, then sorrow; war then peace; and so their backs on them. They refused to deal directly
on. The Greeks believed that good eris occured with their problems and the result is tragic. In her
when one held a balanced outlook on life and fury, Eris arrives, ruins the wedding, causes a
coped with problems as they arose. It was a kind jealous feud between the three major goddesses
of ease of living that came from trying to bring over a golden apple, and sets in place the conditions
together the great opposing forces in nature. Bad that lead to the Trojan War. The war would take
eris was evident in the violent conditions that place 20 years in the future, but it would result in
ruled men’s lives. Although these things were the death of the only child of the bride and groom,
found in nature and sometimes could not be Achilles. Eris would destroy the parents’ hopes for
controlled, it was believed that bad eris occurred their future, leaving the couple with no legitimate
when one ignored a problem, letting it grow heirs to the throne.
larger until it destroyed not only that person, but Hence, when we are told, “If you don’t
his family as well. The Ancient Greeks saw eris invite trouble, trouble comes,” it means that if we
as a goddess: Eris, the Goddess of Discord, better don’t deal with our problems, our problems will
known as Trouble. deal with us . . . with a vengeance! It is easy to
One myth that expresses this concept of bad see why the Greeks considered many of their
eris deals with the marriage of King Peleus and myths learning myths, for this one teaches us the
the river goddess Thetis. Zeus, the supreme ruler, best way to defeat that which can destroy us.
learns that Thetis would bear a child strong
enough to destroy its father. Not wanting to father According to the passage, the ancient
his own ruin, Zeus convinces Thetis to marry a Greeks believed that the concept of
human, a mortal whose child could never eris defined the universe
challenge the gods. He promises her, among other as a hostile, violent place.
things, the greatest wedding in all of Heaven and as a condition of opposites.
Earth and allows the couple to invite whomever as a series of problems.
they please. This is one of the first as a mixture of gods and man.

104
 –LONGER PASSAGES–

Most specifically, bad eris is defined in the According to the passage, Achilles
passage as defeated Zeus during the Trojan War.
the violent conditions of life. dies during the Trojan War.
the problems man encounters. was born 20 years after the war because of the
the evil goddess who has a golden apple. disruption Eris caused at the wedding.
the murderer of generations. was the illegitimate son of Peleus.

It can be inferred that Zeus married Thetis off Which of the following statements is the mes-sage
because offered in the myth?
he needed to buy the loyalty of a great king Do not consider a mixed marriage.
of mankind. Do not anger the gods.
he feared the gods would create bad eris by Do not ignore the problems that arise in
competing over her. life.
he feared the Trojan War would be fought Do not take myths seriously.
over her.
he feared having an affair with her and,
subsequently, a child by her.

It can also be inferred that Zeus did not fear a

child sired by King Peleus because
he knew that the child could not climb
Mt. Olympus.
he knew that the child would be killed in
the Trojan War.
he knew that no matter how strong a mor-tal
child was, he couldn’t overthrow an
immortal god.
he knew that Thetis would always love him
above everyone else.

105
 –LONGER PASSAGES–

She was one of those pretty, charming women She sat down to dinner at her round table with
who are born, as if by an error of Fate, into a its three-day-old cloth, and watched her hus-band
1 lift the lid of the soup tureen and delightedly
petty official’s family. She had no dowry, no
hopes, nor the slightest chance of being loved exclaim:“Ah, a good homemade beef stew! There’s
and married by a rich man—so she slipped into nothing better!” She visualized elegant dinners with
marriage with a minor civil servant. gleaming silver and gorgeous china. She yearned
Unable to afford jewels, she dressed simply: for wall hangings peopled with knights and ladies
But she was wretched, for women have neither and exotic birds in a fairy forest. She dreamt of
caste nor breeding—in them beauty, grace, and eating the pink flesh of trout or the wings of grouse.
charm replace pride of birth. Innate refinement, She had no proper wardrobe, no jewels, nothing.
instinctive elegance, and wit give them their place And those were the only things that she loved—she
on the only scale that counts, and these make felt she was made for them. She would have so
humble girls the peers of the grandest ladies. loved to charm, to be envied, to be admired and
She suffered, feeling that every luxury should sought after.
rightly have been hers. The poverty of her rooms— dowry: property a woman brought to her husband in marriage.
the shabby walls, the worn furniture, the ugly
This passage was adapted from “The Necklace,” by Guy de
upholstery caused her pain. All these things that Maupassant.
another woman of her class would not even have
noticed, made her angry. The very sight of the lit-tle
Which word best describes the actual living
Breton girl who cleaned for her awoke rueful conditions of the couple in the selection?
thoughts and the wildest dreams in her mind. She destitute
dreamt of rooms with Oriental hangings,lighted by poor
tall, bronze torches, and with two huge footmen in comfortable
knee breeches made drowsy by the heat from the wealthy
stove, asleep in the wide armchairs. She dreamt of
great drawing rooms upholstered in old silks, with
fragile little tables holding priceless knickknacks,
and of enchanting little sitting rooms designed for
tea-time chats with famous, sought-after men whose
attentions all women longed for.

106
 –LONGER PASSAGES–

Which line best demonstrates the couple’s true417. What can be inferred about the values of both
economic standing? husband and wife?
a. She had no dowry, no hopes, not the a. They share the same values.
slightest chance of being married by a b. The husband values family and simple
rich man . . . comforts of home, whereas his wife views
b. The poverty of her rooms—the shabby these comforts as cause for her anguish.
walls, the worn furniture, the ugly uphol- c. The husband has ceased to enjoy the simple
stery caused her pain. things and only strives to quench his wife’s
c. She sat down to dinner at her round insatiable desire for luxury.
table with its three-day-old cloth, and d. The husband believes that a wholesome
watched her husband lift the lid of the meal can solve all problems, while his wife
soup tureen . . . believes it is the presentation of the meal
d. The very sight of the little Breton girl who that counts.
cleaned for her awoke rueful thoughts and
the wildest dreams in her mind. 418. The main idea of the passage is
a. to have the reader feel great sympathy for
416. According to the selection, what can be stated the wife.
about the marriage of this woman? b. to have the reader feel great sympathy for
a. She married but was ashamed of the the husband.
insignificant position her husband held. c. to show the class distinctions that were so
b. She married on the rebound after a wealthy obvious during the setting of the story.
suitor had abandoned her. d. to show the reader how selfish and self-
c. She married for love without realizing the centered the wife is.
consequences to her social standing.
d. She never loved her husband. 419. What part of speech does de Maupassant
employ to weave the rich images he presents
through the wife’s descriptions?
a. adjectives
b. adverbs
c. nouns
d. verbs

107
 –LONGER PASSAGES–

Arteries of the heart blocked by plaque can through the heart and into the plaque-filled
reduce the flow of blood to the heart possibly artery. He inflates the balloon, creating more
resulting in heart attack or death. Plaque is actu- space, deflates the balloon, and removes the
ally fat and cholesterol that accumulates on the tube. It is important to note that the plaque has
inside of the arteries. The arteries of the heart are not been removed; it has just been compressed
small and can be blocked by such accumulations. against the sides of the artery. Sometimes, a
There is a medical procedure that creates more stent may be implanted, a tiny tube of stainless
space in the blocked artery by inserting and steel that is expandable when necessary. Its
inflating a tiny balloon into the blood vessel. It is function is to keep the artery open.
called coronary balloon angioplasty. Angioplasty There is good news and there is bad news.
means “blood vessel repair.”When the balloon is The good news is that the statistics compiled are
inflated, it compresses the plaque against the wall superb. Ninety percent of all angioplasty proce-
of the artery, creating more space and improving dures are successful. The risk of dying during an
the flow of blood. operation of this type is less than 2%. The risk of
Many doctors choose this technique, because heart attack is also small: 3–5%. Yet heart sur-
it is less invasive than bypass surgery. Yes, both geons do not take any risk lightly; therefore, a
involve entering the body cavity, but in bypass team of surgeons stands ready to perform bypass
surgery, the chest must be opened, the ribs must be surgery if needed. The length of hospitalization is
cut, and the section of diseased artery must be only three days. The bad news is twofold. First,
removed and replaced. To replace it, the patient’s this procedure treats the condition but does not
body is opened, once again, to acquire a healthy eradicate the cause. In 20% of the cases, there is a
section of artery. Usually, this blood vessel is recurrence of plaque. Second, angioplasty is not
removed from an artery located in the calf of the recommended for all patients. The surgeons must
leg. This means the patient now has two painful consider the patient’s age, physical history, how
incisions that must heal at the same time. There is severe the blockage is, and, finally, the degree of
far more risk in such bypass surgery than in damage to the artery before they make their
angioplasty, which involves threading a thin tube, determination.
called a catheter, into the circulatory system and
working it to the damaged artery. When coronary arteries are blocked by plaque, one
Angioplasty may take between 30 minutes to of the results could be
3 hours to complete. It begins with a distinctive dye stroke.
that is injected into the bloodstream. A thin catheter heart attack.
is then inserted into the femoral artery of the leg, hospitalization.
near the groin. The doctor monitors the path of the femoral artery deterioration.
dye using x-rays. He moves the tube

108
 –LONGER PASSAGES–

According to the passage, angioplasty is It can be inferred from the passage that
defined as a healthy artery is removed and awaits pos-
a tiny balloon. sible bypass surgery.
a plaque-laden artery. patients have trouble accepting the idea that
blood vessel repair. a tiny balloon will cure the problem.
bypass surgery. 3–5% of the patients refuse to undergo
this procedure.
It can be inferred from the passage that invasive surgeons do not take even a 2% chance of
most closely means death lightly.
entering the body cavity.
causing infection. Which one of the following statements is true?
resulting in hospitalization. The plaque that has caused the problem is
requiring a specialist’s opinion. not removed during angioplasty.
The risk of dying during an angioplasty
The angioplasty procedure begins with procedure is 3–5%.
a thin catheter being inserted into the The coronary balloon angioplasty is a sepa-
femoral artery. rate procedure from inflating a balloon into
a balloon being inflated in the heart. a blocked artery.
a special dye being injected into the All of the above statements are true.
bloodstream.
a healthy artery being removed from the
calf.

109
 –LONGER PASSAGES–

The next passages are typical of those you might it obligatory to adjust the clocks. A bill was
find in textbooks. The paragraphs are numbered for drafted and introduced into Parliament several
convenience. times but met with great opposition, mostly
from farmers. Eventually, in 1925, it was
For centuries, time was measured by the posi-tion decided that summer time should begin on the
of the sun with the use of sundials. Noon was day following the third Saturday in April and
recognized when the sun was the highest in the close after the first Saturday in October.
sky, and cities would set their clock by this appar- The U.S. Congress passed the Standard Time
ent solar time, even though some cities would Act of 1918 to establish standard time and preserve
often be on a slightly different time. Daylight and set Daylight Saving Time across the continent.
Sav-ing Time (DST), sometimes called summer This act also devised five time zones throughout the
time, was instituted to make better use of United States: Eastern, Central, Mountain, Pacific,
daylight. Thus, clocks are set forward one hour in and Alaska. The first time zone was set on “the
the spring to move an hour of daylight from the mean astronomical time of the seventy-fifth degree
morning to the evening and then set back one of longitude west from Green-wich”(England). In
hour in the fall to return to normal daylight. 1919, this act was repealed.
Benjamin Franklin first conceived the idea President Roosevelt established year-round
of daylight saving during his tenure as an Daylight Saving Time (also called War Time)
American delegate in Paris in 1984 and wrote from 1942–1945. However, after this period, each
about it extensively in his essay, “An Economical state adopted its own DST, which proved to be
Project.” It is said that Franklin awoke early one disconcerting to television and radio broadcasting
morning and was surprised to see the sunlight at and transportation. In 1966, Presi-dent Lyndon
such an hour. Always the economist, Franklin Johnson created the Department of
believed the practice of moving the time could Transportation and signed the Uniform Time Act.
save on the use of candlelight, as candles were As a result, the Department of Transporta-tion
expensive at the time. was given the responsibility for the time laws.
In England, builder William Willett (1857– During the oil embargo and energy crisis of the
1915) became a strong supporter for Daylight 1970s, President Richard Nixon extended DST
Saving Time upon noticing blinds of many through the Daylight Saving Time Energy Act of
houses were closed on an early sunny morning. 1973 to conserve energy further. This law was
Willet believed everyone, including himself, modified in 1986, and Daylight Saving Time was
would appreciate longer hours of light in the reset to begin on the first Sunday in April (to
evenings. In 1909, Sir Robert Pearce intro-duced spring ahead) and end on the last Sunday in
a bill in the House of Commons to make October (to fall back).

110
 –LONGER PASSAGES–

426. As it is used in paragraph 3, the word 430. Which of the following would be the best title
obligatory most nearly means for this passage?
a. approved. a. The History and Rationale of Daylight Sav-
b. sparse. ing Time
c. aberrant. b. Lyndon Johnson and the Uniform Time Act
d. requisite. c. The U.S. Department of Transportation
and Daylight Saving Time
427. Who first established the idea of DST? d. Daylight Saving Time in the United States
a. President Richard Nixon
b. Benjamin Franklin 431. The Daylight Saving Time Energy Act of 1973
c. Sir Robert Pearce was responsible for
d. President Lyndon Johnson a. preserving and setting Daylight Saving
Time across the continent.
428. Who opposed the bill that was introduced in b. instituting five time zones in the
the House of Commons in the early 1900s? United States.
a. Sir Robert Pearce c. extending Daylight Saving Time in the
b. farmers interest of energy conservation.
c. television and radio broadcasting companies d. conserving energy by giving the
d. the U.S. Congress Department of Transportation authority
over time laws.
429. Which of the following statements is true of
the U.S. Department of Transportation?
a. It was created by President Richard Nixon.
b. It set standards for DST throughout
the world.
c. It constructed the Uniform Time Act.
d. It oversees all time laws in the United States.

111
 –LONGER PASSAGES–

Milton Hershey was born near the small vil-lage but retained the rights, and the equipment, to make
of Derry Church, Pennsylvania, in 1857. It was a chocolate. He believed that a large market of
__________ beginning that did not foretell his chocolate consumers was waiting for someone to
later popularity. Milton only attended school produce reasonably priced candy. He was right.
through the fourth grade; at that point, he was Milton Hershey returned to the village
apprenticed to a printer in a nearby town. Fortu- where he had been born, in the heart of dairy
nately for all chocolate lovers, Milton did not country, and opened his chocolate manufacturing
excel as a printer. After a while, he left the plant. With access to all the fresh milk he needed,
printing busi-ness and was apprenticed to a he began producing the finest milk chocolate.
Lancaster, Pennsyl-vania candy maker. It was The plant that opened in a small Pennsylvania
apparent he had found his calling in life, and at vil-lage in 1905 is today the largest chocolate
the age of eighteen, he opened his own candy factory in the world. The confections created at
store in Philadelphia. In spite of his talents as a this facil-ity are favorites around the world.
candy maker, the shop failed after six years. The area where the factory is located is now
It may come as a surprise to current Milton known as Hershey, Pennsylvania. Within the first
Hershey fans, but his first candy success came with decades of its existence, the town of Hershey
the manufacture of caramel. After the failure of his thrived, as did the chocolate business. A bank, a
Philadelphia store, Milton headed for Denver, school, churches, a department store, even a park
where he learned the art of making caramels. There and a trolley system all appeared in short order;
he took a job with a local man-ufacturer who the town soon even had a zoo. Today, a visit to
insisted on using fresh milk in making his caramels; the area reveals the Hershey Medical Center, Mil-
Milton saw that this made the caramels especially ton Hershey School, and Hershey’s Chocolate
tasty. After a time in Den-ver, Milton once again World—a theme park where visitors are greeted
attempted to open his own candy-making by a giant Reeses Peanut Butter Cup. All of these
businesses, in Chicago, New Orleans, and New things—and a huge number of happy chocolate
York City. Finally, in 1886, he went to Lancaster, lovers—were made possible because a caramel
Pennsylvania, where he raised the money necessary maker visited the Chicago Exposition of 1893!
to try again. This company— the Lancaster Caramel
Company—established Milton’s reputation as a According to information contained in the
master candy maker. passage, the reader can infer which of the
In 1893, Milton attended the Chicago following?
International Exposition, where he saw a display of Chocolate is popular in every country in
German chocolate-making implements. Cap-tivated the world.
by the equipment, he purchased it for his Lancaster Reeses Peanut Butter Cups are manufac-tured
candy factory and began producing chocolate, by the Hershey Chocolate Company.
which he used for coating his caramels. By the next Chocolate had never been manufactured in the
year, production had grown to include cocoa, sweet United States before Milton Hershey did it.
chocolate, and baking chocolate. The Hershey The Hershey Chocolate Company now
Chocolate company was born in 1894 as a makes more money from Hershey’s
subsidiary of the Lancaster Caramel Company. Six Choco-late World than from the
years later, Milton sold the caramel company, manufacture and sale of chocolate.

112
 –LONGER PASSAGES–

Which of the following best defines the word By using tiny probes as neural prostheses, sci-
subsidiary as used in paragraph 3? entists may be able to restore nerve function in
a company owned entirely by one person quadriplegics and make the blind see or the deaf
a company founded to support another hear. Thanks to advanced techniques, a single,
company small, implanted probe can stimulate individual
a company that is not incorporated neurons electrically or chemically and then record
a company controlled by another company responses. Preliminary results suggest that the
microprobe telemetry systems can be permanently
The writer’s main purpose in this passage is to implanted and replace damaged or missing nerves.
recount the founding of the Hershey The tissue-compatible microprobes
Chocolate Company. represent an advance over the typical aluminum
describe the process of manufacturing wire electrodes used in studies of the cortex and
chocolate. other brain structures. Researchers accumulate
compare the popularity of chocolate to much data using traditional electrodes, but there
other candies. is a question of how much damage they cause to
explain how apprenticeships work. the nervous system. Microprobes, which are
about as thin as a human hair, cause minimal
According to the passage, Milton Hershey sold his damage and disruption of neurons when inserted
caramel company in into the brain.
1894. In addition to recording nervous-system
1900. impulses, the microprobes have minuscule chan-
1904. nels that open the way for delivery of drugs,cellular
1905. growth factors, neurotransmitters, and other neu-
roactive compounds to a single neuron or to groups
The mention of the Chicago International of neurons. Also, patients who lack certain
Exposition of 1893 in the passage biochemicals could receive doses via prostheses.
indicates that The probes can have up to four channels, each with
the exposition in Chicago is held once every its own recording/stimulating electrode.
three years.
the theme of the exposition of 1893 was One similar feature of microprobes and wire
“Food from Around the World.” electrodes is
the exposition contained displays from a a minimal disturbance of neurons.
variety of countries. the density of the material.
the site of the exposition is now a branch of the capacity for multiple leads.
the Hershey Chocolate Company. their ability to generate information.

Which of the following words best fits in the

blank in paragraph 1 of the passage?
dramatic
modest
undignified
rewarding

113
 –LONGER PASSAGES–

Which of the following best expresses the Medical waste has been a growing concern
main idea of the passage? because of recent incidents of public exposure
Microprobes require further techno- to discarded blood vials, needles (sharps),
logical advances before they can be empty prescription bottles, and syringes.
used in humans. Medical waste can typically include general
Wire electrodes are antiquated as a means refuse, human blood and blood products,
for delivering neuroactive compounds to cultures and stocks of infectious agents,
the brain. laboratory animal carcasses, contaminated
Microprobes have great potential to help bedding material, and pathologi-cal wastes.
counteract neural damage. Wastes are generally collected by gravity
Technology now exists that may enable chutes, carts, or pneumatic tubes, each of which has
repair of the nervous system. its own advantages and disadvantages. Chutes are
limited to vertical transport, and there is some risk
All of the following are mentioned in the pas-sage as of exhausting contaminants into hallways if a door
potential uses for prostheses EXCEPT is left open during use. Another disad-vantage of
transportation of medication. gravity chutes is that the waste con-tainer may get
induction of physical movement. jammed while dropping, or it may be broken upon
transportation of growth factor. hitting the bottom. Carts are pri-marily for
removal of biochemicals from the cortex. horizontal transport of bagged or con-tainerized
wastes. The main risk here is that bags may be
The initial function of microprobe channels is to broken or torn during transport, poten-tially
create pathways. exposing the worker to the wastes. Using automated
disrupt neurons. carts can reduce the potential for exposure.
replace ribbon cables. Pneumatic tubes offer the best perfor-mance for
study the brain. waste transport in a large facility. Advantages
include high-speed movement, movement in any
direction, and minimal inter-mediate storage of
untreated wastes. However, some objects cannot be
conveyed pneumatically.
Off-site disposal of regulated medical wastes
remains a viable option for smaller hospi-tals (those
with less than 150 beds). Some pre-liminary on-site
processing, such as compaction or hydropulping,
may be necessary prior to send-ing the waste off
site. Compaction reduces the total volume of solid
wastes, often reducing trans-

114
 –LONGER PASSAGES–

portation and disposal costs, but it does not sterilization is that it has been used for many years
change the hazardous characteristics of the in hospitals to sterilize instruments and containers
waste. Compaction may not be economical if and to treat small quantities of waste. However,
trans-portation and disposal costs are based on since sterilization does not change the appearance
weight rather than volume. of the waste, there could be a problem in gaining
Hydropulping involves grinding the waste acceptance of the waste for landfilling.
in the presence of an oxidizing fluid, such as A properly designed, maintained, and
hypochlorite solution. The liquid is separated operated incinerator achieves a relatively high
from the pulp and discharged directly into the level of organism destruction. Incineration
sewer unless local limits require additional pre- reduces the weight and volume of the waste as
treatment prior to discharge. The pulp can often much as 95% and is especially appropriate for
be disposed of at a landfill. One advantage is that pathological wastes and sharps. The most com-
waste can be rendered innocuous and reduced in mon incineration system for medical waste is the
size within the same system. Disadvantages are controlled-air type. The principal advantage of
the added operating burden, difficulty of con- this type of incinerator is low particulate emis-
trolling fugitive emissions, and the difficulty of sions. Rotary-kiln and grate-type units have been
conducting microbiological tests to determine used, but use of grate-type units has been dis-
whether all organic matters and infectious organ- continued because of high air emissions. The
isms have been destroyed from the waste. rotary kiln also puts out high emissions, and the
On-site disposal is a feasible alternative for costs have been prohibitive for smaller units.
hospitals generating two tons or more per day of
total solid waste. Common treatment tech-niques Which of the following organizational schemes
include steam sterilization and incinera-tion. is most prevalent in the passage?
Although other options are available, incineration chronological order
is currently the preferred method for on-site comparison-contrast
treatment of hospital waste. order by topic
Steam sterilization is limited in the types of hierarchical order
medical waste it can treat, but is appropriate for
laboratory cultures and/or substances contami-nated One disadvantage of the compaction method of
with infectious organisms. The waste is subjected to waste disposal is that it
steam in a sealed, pressurized cham-ber. The liquid cannot reduce transportation costs.
that may form is drained off to the sewer or sent for reduces the volume of solid waste material.
processing. The unit is then reopened after a vapor does not allow hospitals to confirm that
release to the atmosphere, and the solid waste is organic matter has been eliminated.
removed for further pro-cessing or disposal. One does not reduce the weight of solid
advantage of steam waste material.

115
 –LONGER PASSAGES–

444. For hospitals that dispose of waste on their 449. The process that transforms waste from haz-
own premises, the optimum treatment ardous to harmless and diminishes waste vol-
method is ume is
a. incineration. a. sterilization.
b. compaction. b. hydropulping.
c. sterilization. c. oxidizing.
d. hydropulping. d. compacting.

445. According to the passage, which of the follow- 450. The underlined word exhausting, as it is used
ing could be safely disposed of in a landfill but in the second paragraph of the passage, most
might not be accepted by landfill facilities? nearly means
a. hydropulped material a. debilitating.
b. sterilized waste b. disregarding.
c. incinerated waste c. detonating.
d. laboratory cultures d. discharging.

446. The two processes mentioned in the passage 451. Budgetary constraints have precluded some
that involve the formation of liquid are small hospitals from purchasing
a. compaction and hydropulping. a. pneumatic tubes.
b. incineration and compaction. b. rotary kilns.
c. hydropulping and sterilization. c. sterilization equipment.
d. sterilization and incineration. d. controlled-air kilns.

447. According to the passage, two effective 452. The underlined phrase fugitive emissions in the
methods for treating waste caused by infec- fourth paragraph most nearly means
tious matter are a. contaminants that are extremely toxic.
a. steam sterilization and incineration. b. contaminants that are illegally discharged.
b. hydropulping and steam sterilization. c. contaminants that escape the disposal
c. incineration and compaction. process.
d. hydropulping and incineration. d. contaminants that come from micro-
biological testing.
448. Hospitals can minimize employee contact
with dangerous waste by switching from
a. a manual cart to a gravity chute.
b. an automated cart to a hydropulping
machine.
c. a gravity chute to a manual cart.
d. a manual cart to an automated cart.

116
 –LONGER PASSAGES–

Isolate the unfamiliar words as you read, by And while the United States seemed to be
underlin-ing them or jotting them down. Then go enjoying a prosperous period in the 1920s, the
back and look at the sentences before and after them wealth was not evenly distributed. Businesses
—that is, in their immediate context. made gains in productivity, but only one seg-
ment of the population—the wealthy—reaped
The worst and longest economic crisis in the large profits. Workers received only a small share
modern industrial world, the Great Depression in of the wealth they helped produce. At the same
the United States had devastating consequences time, Americans spent more than they earned.
for American society. At its lowest depth (1932– Advertising encouraged Americans to buy cars,
33), more than 16 million people were radios, and household appliances instead of sav-
unemployed, more than 5,000 banks had closed, ing or purchasing only what they could afford.
and over 85,000 businesses had failed. Millions Easy credit policies allowed consumers to borrow
of Americans lost their jobs, their savings, and money and accumulate debt. Investors also
even their homes. The homeless built shacks for wildly speculated on the stock market, often
tem-porary shelter—these emerging shantytowns borrowing money on credit to buy shares of a
were nicknamed Hoovervilles; a bitter homage to company. Stocks increased beyond their worth,
President Herbert Hoover, who refused to give but investors were willing to pay inflated prices
government assistance to the jobless. The effects because they believed stocks would continue to
of the Depression—severe unemployment rates rise. This bubble burst in the fall of 1929, when
and a sharp drop in the production and sales of investors lost confidence that stock prices would
goods—could also be felt abroad, where many keep rising. As investors sold off stocks, the mar-
European nations still struggled to recover from ket spiraled downward. The stock market crash
World War I. affected the economy in the same way that a
Although the stock market crash of 1929 stressful event can affect the human body, lower-
marked the onset of the depression, it was not the ing its resistance to infection.
cause of it: Deep, underlying fissures already The ensuing depression led to the elec-tion
existed in the economy of the Roaring Twenties. For of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932.
example, the tariff and war-debt policies after World Roosevelt introduced relief measures that would
War I contributed to the instability of the banking revive the economy and bring needed relief to
system. American banks made loans to European Americans suffering the effects of the depres-
countries following World War I. How-ever, the sion. In his 100 days in office, Roosevelt and
United States kept high tariffs on goods imported Congress passed major legislation that saved
from other nations. These policies worked against banks from closing and regained public confi-
one another. If other countries could not sell goods dence. These measures, called the New Deal,
in the United States, they could not make enough included the Agricultural Adjustment Act, which
money to pay back their loans or to buy American paid farmers to slow their production in order to
goods. stabilize food prices; the Federal Deposit

117
 –LONGER PASSAGES–

Insurance Corporation, which insured bank 456. The term policies, as it is used in paragraph 2,
deposits if banks failed; and the Securities and most nearly means
Exchange Commission, which regulated the a. theories.
stock market. Although the New Deal offered b. practices.
relief, it did not end the Depression. The econ- c. laws.
omy sagged until the nation entered World War d. examples.
II. However, the New Deal changed the relation-
ship between government and American citi- 457. The passage suggests that the 1920s was a
zens, by expanding the role of the central decade that extolled the value of
government in regulating the economy and cre- a. thrift.
ating social assistance programs. b. prudence.
c. balance.
453. The author’s main point about the Great d. extravagance.
Depression is that
a. government policies had nothing to do 458. The example of the human body as a
with it. metaphor for the economy, which is found at
b. the government immediately stepped the end of paragraph 3, suggests that
in with assistance for the jobless and a. a stressful event like the stock market crash
homeless. of 1929 probably made a lot of people sick.
c. underlying problems in the economy pre- b. the crash weakened the economy’s ability to
ceded it. withstand other pressures.
d. the New Deal policies introduced by c. the crash was an untreatable disease.
Franklin D. Roosevelt ended it. d. a single event caused the collapse of the
economy.
454. This passage is best described as
a. an account of the causes and effects of a 459. The content in the last paragraph of the pas-
major event. sage would most likely support which of the
b. a statement supporting the value of federal following statements?
social policies. a. The New Deal policies were not radical
c. a condemnation of outdated beliefs. enough in challenging capitalism.
d. a polite response to controversial issues. b. The economic policies of the New Deal
brought about a complete business recovery.
455. The author cites the emergence of c. The Agricultural Adjustment Act paid
Hoovervilles in paragraph 1 as an example of farmers to produce surplus crops.
a. federally sponsored housing programs. d. The federal government became more
b. the resilience of Americans who lost their involved in caring for needy members
jobs, savings, and homes. of society.
c. the government’s unwillingness to assist
citizens in desperate circumstances.
d. the effectiveness of the Hoover administra-
tion in dealing with the crisis.

118
 –LONGER PASSAGES–

The atmosphere forms a gaseous, protective heat energy is redistributed poleward. When
envelope around Earth. It protects the planet from water evaporates into the air and becomes water
the cold of space, from harmful ultraviolet light, vapor, it absorbs energy. At the equator, air satu-
and from all but the largest meteors. After travel- rated with water vapor rises high into the atmos-
ing over 93 million miles, solar energy strikes the phere where winds aloft carry it poleward. As this
atmosphere and Earth’s surface, warming the moist air approaches the polar regions, it cools
planet and creating what is known as the bios- and sinks back to earth. At some point, the water
phere, the region of Earth capable of sustaining vapor condenses out of the air as rain or snow,
life. Solar radiation in combination with the releasing energy in the process. The now-dry
planet’s rotation causes the atmosphere to polar air flows back toward the equator to repeat
circulate. Atmos-pheric circulation is one the convection cycle. In this way, heat energy
important reason that life on Earth can exist at absorbed at the equator is deposited at the poles
higher latitudes because equa-torial heat is and the temperature gradient between these
transported poleward, moderating the climate. regions is reduced.
The equatorial region is the warmest part of The circulation of the atmosphere and the
the earth because it receives the most direct and, weather it generates is but one example of the many
therefore, strongest solar radiation. The plane in complex, interdependent events of nature. The web
which the earth revolves around the sun is called of life depends on the proper functioning of these
1
the ecliptic. Earth’s axis is inclined 23 degrees with
3 natural mechanisms for its continued existence.
respect to the ecliptic. This inclined axis is responsi- Global warming, the hole in the atmos-phere’s
ble for our changing seasons because, as seen from ozone layer, and increasing air and water pollution
the earth, the sun oscillates back and forth across pose serious, long-term threats to the biosphere.
the equator in an annual cycle. On or about June Given the high degree of nature’s
1
21 each year,the sun reaches the Tropic of Cancer,23
3 interconnectedness, it is quite possible that the most
degrees north latitude. This is the northernmost serious threats have yet to be recognized.
point where the sun can be directly overhead.
On or about December 21 of each year, the sun Which of the following best expresses the
1
reaches the Tropic of Capricorn,23 degrees south
3 main idea of the passage?
latitude. This is the southernmost point at which the The circulation of atmosphere, threatened by
sun can be directly overhead. The polar regions are global warming and pollution, protects the
the coldest parts of the earth because they receive biosphere and makes life on Earth possible.
the least direct and, therefore, the weakest solar If the protective atmosphere around the earth
radiation. Here solar radiation strikes at a very is too damaged by human activity, all life
oblique angle and thus spreads the same amount of on Earth will cease.
energy over a greater area than in the equatorial Life on Earth is the result of complex interde-
regions. A static envelope of air sur-rounding the pendent events of nature, and some of these
earth would produce an extremely hot, events are a result of human intervention.
uninhabitable equatorial region, while the polar The circulation of atmosphere is the single
regions would remain inhospitably cold. most important factor in keeping the bios-
The transport of water vapor in the phere alive, and it is constantly threatened
atmosphere is an important mechanism by which by harmful human activity.

119
 –LONGER PASSAGES–

461. Which of the following best represents the 462. Which of the following is the best definition of
organization of the passage? the underlined word biosphere as it is used in
a. I. Definition and description of the the passage?
circulation of the atmosphere a. the protective envelope formed by the
II. How the atmosphere affects heat and atmosphere around the living earth
water in the biosphere b. that part of the earth and its atmosphere in
III. How the circulation of the atmosphere which life can exist
works c. the living things on Earth whose existence
IV. What will happen if human activity is made possible by circulation of the
destroys the atmosphere and other atmosphere
life-sustaining mechanisms d. the circulation of the atmosphere’s contri-
b. I. Origin of the atmosphere and ways it bution to life on Earth
protects the biosphere
II. How the circulation of the atmosphere 463. Which of the following sentences from the
affects the equator and the poles passage best supports the author’s point that
III. How the circulation of the atmosphere circulation of the atmosphere is vital to life
interrelates with other events in nature on Earth?
to protect life on Earth a. The equatorial region is the warmest part of
IV. Threats to life in the biosphere the earth because it receives the most direct
c. I. Definition and description of the and, therefore, strongest solar radiation.
circulation of the atmosphere b. The circulation of the atmosphere and the
II. Protective functions of the circulation weather it generates is but one example of
of the atmosphere the many complex, interdependent events
III. Relationship of the circulation of the of nature.
atmosphere to other life-sustaining c. [The atmosphere] protects Earth from the
mechanisms cold of space, from harmful ultraviolet
IV. Threats to nature’s interconnectedness light, and from all but the largest meteors.
in the biosphere d. A static envelope of air surrounding the earth
d. I. The journey of the atmosphere 93 would produce an extremely hot, uninhabit-
million miles through space. able equatorial region, while the polar
II. How the atmosphere circulates and regions would remain inhospitably cold.
protects the biosphere
How the atmosphere interrelates with
weather in the biosphere
IV. How damage to the biosphere threatens
life on Earth

120
 –LONGER PASSAGES–

Based on the passage, which of the following is Most importantly, both types affect the
directly responsible for all temperature body’s ability to use digested food for energy.
changes on Earth? Diabetes does not interfere with digestion, but it
variations in the strength of solar radiation does prevent the body from using an important
variations in the amount of ultraviolet light product of digestion, glucose (commonly known
variation of biologic processes in the as sugar), for energy. After a meal, the normal
biosphere digestive system breaks some food down into
variation in global warming glucose. The blood carries the glucose or sugar
throughout the body, causing blood glucose lev-
The first paragraph of the passage deals mainly els to rise. In response to this rise, the hormone
with which of the following effects of the insulin is released into the bloodstream and sig-
atmosphere on the earth? nals the body tissues to metabolize or burn the
its sheltering effect glucose for fuel, which causes blood glucose lev-
its reviving effect els to return to normal. The glucose that the body
its invigorating effect does not use right away is stored in the liver,
its cleansing effect muscle, or fat.
In both types of diabetes, however, this
There are two types of diabetes, insulin- normal process malfunctions. A gland called the
dependent and non-insulin-dependent. Between pancreas, found just behind the stomach, makes
90–95% of the estimated 13–14 million people in insulin. In people with insulin-dependent dia-
the United States with diabetes have non-insulin- betes, the pancreas does not produce insulin at
dependent, or Type II, diabetes. Because this all. This condition usually begins in childhood
form of diabetes usually begins in adults over the and is known as Type I (formerly called juvenile-
age of 40 and is most common after the age of onset) diabetes. These patients must have daily
55, it used to be called adult-onset dia-betes. Its insulin injections to survive. People with non-
symptoms often develop gradually and are hard insulin-dependent diabetes usually produce some
to identify at first; therefore, nearly half of all insulin in their pancreas, but their bodies’ tissues
people with diabetes do not know they have it. do not respond well to the insulin signal and,
For instance, someone who has developed Type therefore, do not metabolize the glucose properly,
II diabetes may feel tired or ill without knowing a condi-tion known as insulin resistance.
why. This can be particularly dangerous because Insulin resistance is an important factor in
untreated diabetes can cause damage to the heart, non-insulin-dependent diabetes, and scien-tists
blood vessels, eyes, kid-neys, and nerves. While are searching for the causes of insulin resis-tance.
the causes, short-term effects, and treatments of They have identified two possibilities. The first is
the two types of dia-betes differ, both types can that there could be a defect in the insulin
cause the same long-term health problems. receptors on cells. Like an appliance that needs to
be plugged into an electrical outlet, insulin has to

121
 –LONGER PASSAGES–

bind to a receptor in order to function. Several 466. According to the passage, what may be the
things can go wrong with receptors. For example, most dangerous aspect of Type II diabetes?
there may not be enough receptors to which a. Insulin shots are needed daily for treatment
insulin may bind, or a defect in the receptors may of Type II diabetes.
prevent insulin from binding. The second possi- b. Type II diabetes may go undetected and,
ble cause of insulin resistance is that, although therefore, untreated.
insulin may bind to the receptors, the cells do c. In Type II diabetes, the pancreas does not
not read the signal to metabolize the glucose. Sci- produce insulin.
entists continue to study these cells to see why this d. Type II diabetes interferes with digestion.
might happen.
(5) There’s no cure for diabetes yet. How- 467. Which of the following are the same for Type I
ever, there are ways to alleviate its symptoms. In and Type II diabetes?
1986, a National Institute of Health panel of a. treatments
experts recommended that the best treatment b. long-term health risks
for non-insulin-dependent diabetes is a diet that c. short-term effects
helps one maintain a normal weight and pays d. causes
particular attention to a proper balance of the
different food groups. Many experts, including 468. According to the passage, one place in which
those in the American Diabetes Association, rec- excess glucose is stored is the
ommend that 50–60% of daily calories come a. stomach.
from carbohydrates, 12–20% from protein, and b. insulin receptors.
no more than 30% from fat. Foods that are rich c. pancreas.
in carbohydrates, like breads, cereals, fruits, and d. liver.
vegetables, break down into glucose during
digestion, causing blood glucose to rise. Addi- 469. A diet dominated by which of the following
tionally, studies have shown that cooked foods is recommended for non-insulin-dependent
raise blood glucose higher than raw, unpeeled diabetics?
foods. A doctor or nutritionist should always be a. protein
consulted for more of this kind of information b. fat
and for help in planning a diet to offset the effects c. carbohydrates
of this form of diabetes. d. raw foods

122
 –LONGER PASSAGES–

470. Which of the following is the main function 473. According to the passage, in normal individu-
of insulin? als, which of the following processes occur
a. It signals tissues to metabolize sugar. immediately after the digestive system con-
b. It breaks down food into glucose. verts some food into glucose?
c. It carries glucose throughout the body. a. The glucose is metabolized by body tissues.
d. It binds to receptors. b. Insulin is released into the bloodstream.
c. Blood sugar levels rise.
471. Which of the following statements best sum- d. The pancreas manufactures increased
marizes the main theme of the passage? amounts of insulin.
a. Type I and Type II diabetes are best treated
by maintaining a high-protein diet. 474. Based on the information in the passage,
b. Type II diabetes is a distinct condition which of the following best describes people
that can be managed by maintaining a with Type I diabetes?
healthy diet. a. They do not need to be treated with injec-
c. Type I diabetes is an insidious condition tions of insulin.
most harmful when the patient is not b. They comprise the majority of people with
taking daily insulin injections. diabetes.
d. Adults who suspect they may have Type II c. Their pancreases do not produce insulin.
diabetes should immediately adopt a high- d. They are usually diagnosed as adults.
carbohydrate diet.
475. What is the closest meaning of the underlined
472. Which of the following is mentioned in the word offset in the final sentence of the passage?
passage as a possible problem with insulin a. counteract
receptors in insulin-resistant individuals? b. cure
a. Overeating causes the receptors to function c. soothe
improperly. d. erase
There may be an overabundance of recep-
tors present.
A defect causes the receptors to bind with
glucose.
A defect hinders the receptors from binding
with insulin.

123
 –LONGER PASSAGES–

The immune system is equal in complexity to the are not to be confused with allergens, which are
combined intricacies of the brain and nervous most often harmless substances (such as ragweed
system. The success of the immune system in pollen or cat hair) that provoke the immune sys-
defending the body relies on a dynamic regulatory tem to set off the inappropriate and harmful
communications network consisting of millions and response known as allergy. An antigen can be a
millions of cells. Organized into sets and sub-sets, virus, a bacterium, a fungus, a parasite, or even a
these cells pass information back and forth like portion or product of one of these organisms.
clouds of bees swarming around a hive. The result Tissues or cells from another individual (except
is a sensitive system of checks and balances that an identical twin, whose cells carry identical self-
produces an immune response that is prompt, markers) also act as antigens; because the
appropriate, effective, and self-limiting. immune system recognizes transplanted tissues as
At the heart of the immune system is the foreign, it rejects them. The body will even reject
ability to distinguish between self and non-self. nourishing proteins unless they are first broken
When immune defenders encounter cells or down by the digestive system into their primary,
organisms carrying foreign or non-self mole- non-antigenic building blocks. An antigen
cules, the immune troops move quickly to elim- announces its foreignness by means of intricate
inate the intruders. Virtually every body cell and characteristic shapes called epitopes, which
carries distinctive molecules that identify it as protrude from its surface. Most antigens, even the
self. The body’s immune defenses do not nor- simplest microbes, carry several different kinds
mally attack tissues that carry a self-marker. of epitopes on their surface; some may even carry
Rather, immune cells and other body cells coex- several hundred. Some epitopes will be more
ist peaceably in a state known as self-tolerance. effective than others at stimulating an immune
When a normally functioning immune system response. Only in abnormal situations does the
attacks a non-self molecule, the system has the immune system wrongly identify self as non-self
ability to remember the specifics of the foreign and execute a misdirected immune attack. The
body. Upon subsequent encounters with the same result can be a so-called autoimmune disease
species of molecules, the immune system reacts such as rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus
accordingly. With the possible exception of anti- erythematosis. The painful side effects of these
bodies passed during lactation, this so-called diseases are caused by a person’s immune system
immune system memory is not inherited. Despite actually attacking itself.
the occurrence of a virus in your family, your
immune system must learn from experience with What is the analogy used to describe the com-
the many millions of distinctive non-self mole- munications network among the cells in the
cules in the sea of microbes in which we live. immune system?
Learning entails producing the appropriate mol- the immune system’s memory
ecules and cells to match up with and counteract immune troops eliminating intruders
each non-self invader. bees swarming around a hive
Any substance capable of triggering an a sea of microbes
immune response is called an antigen. Antigens

124
 –LONGER PASSAGES–

477. The immune cells and other cells in the body 481. Which of the following best expresses the
coexist peaceably in a state known as main idea of this passage?
a. equilibrium. a. An antigen is any substance that triggers an
b. self-tolerance. immune response.
c. harmony. b. The basic function of the immune system is
d. tolerance. to distinguish between self and non-self.
c. One of the immune system’s primary func-
478. What is the specific term for the substance tions is the allergic response.
capable of triggering an inappropriate or d. The human body presents an opportune
harmful immune response to a harmless sub- habitat for microbes.
stance such as ragweed pollen?
a. antigen 482. Why would tissue transplanted from father to
b. microbe daughter have a greater risk of being detected
c. allergen as foreign than a tissue transplanted between
d. autoimmune disease identical twins?
a. The age of the twins’ tissue would be the
479. How do the cells in the immune system recog- same and, therefore, less likely to be
nize an antigen as foreign or non-self? rejected.
a. through an allergic response b. The identical twin’s tissue would carry the
b. through blood type same self-markers and would, therefore, be
c. through fine hairs protruding from the less likely to be rejected.
antigen surface c. The difference in the sex of the father and
d. through characteristic shapes on the anti- daughter would cause the tissue to be
gen surface rejected by the daughter’s immune system.
d. The twins’ immune systems would remem-
480. After you have had the chicken pox, your ber the same encounters with childhood
immune system will be able to do all of the illnesses.
following EXCEPT
a. prevent your offspring from infection by 483. What is the meaning of the underlined word
the chicken pox virus. intricacies as it is used in the first sentence of
b. distinguish between your body cells and the passage?
that of the chicken pox virus. a. elaborate interconnections
c. remember previous experiences with the b. confusion of pathways
chicken pox virus. c. inherent perplexity
d. match up and counteract non-self mole- d. comprehensive coverage
cules in the form of the chicken pox virus.

125
 –LONGER PASSAGES–

An upsurge of new research suggests that ani-mals pulls the tool out without scraping off any ter-
have a much higher level of brainpower than mites. Finally, he uses his lips to skim the ter-
previously thought. If animals do have intelli-gence, mites into his mouth.
how do scientists measure it? Before defin-ing Many animals have learned to commu-nicate
animals’ intelligence, scientists defined what is not using human language. Some primates have learned
intelligence. Instinct is not intelligence. It is a skill hundreds of words in sign language. One chimp can
programmed into an animal’s brain by its genetic recognize and correctly use more than 250 abstract
heritage. Rote conditioning is also not intelligence. symbols on a keyboard. These symbols represent
Tricks can be learned by repetition, but no real human words. An amazing parrot can distinguish
thinking is involved. Cuing, in which animals learn five objects of two different types. He can
to do or not to do certain things by following understand the difference between the number,
outside signals, does not demonstrate intelligence. color, and kind of object. The ability to classify is a
Scientists believe that insight, the ability to use basic thinking skill. He seems to use language to
tools, and communication using human language express his needs and emotions. When ill and taken
are all effective measures of the mental ability of to the animal hospital for his first overnight stay,
animals. this parrot turned to go. “Come here!” he cried to a
When judging animal intelligence, sci- scientist who works with him. “I love you. I’m
entists look for insight, which they define as a sorry. Wanna go back?”
flash of sudden understanding. When a young The research on animal intelligence raises
gorilla could not reach fruit from a tree, she important questions. If animals are smarter
noticed crates scattered about the lawn near the than once thought, would that change the way
tree. She piled the crates into a pyramid, then humans interact with them? Would humans
climbed on them to reach her reward. The stop hunting them for sport or survival? Would
gorilla’s insight allowed her to solve a new animals still be used for food, clothing, or
prob-lem without trial and error. medical experimentation? Finding the answer
The ability to use tools is also an impor-tant to these tough questions makes a difficult
sign of intelligence. Crows use sticks to pry peanuts puzzle even for a large-brained, problem-
out of cracks. The crow exhibits intelli-gence by solving species like our own.
showing it has learned what a stick can do.
Likewise, otters use rocks to crack open crab shells Crows use sticks to pry peanuts out of cracks. Which
in order to get at the meat. In a series of complex of the following is the kind of intelli-gence or
moves, chimpanzees have been known to use sticks conditioning the situation describes?
and stalks in order to get at a favorite snack— rote learning
termites. To make and use a termite tool, a chimp tools
first selects just the right stalk or twig. He trims and communication
shapes the stick, then finds the entrance to a termite instinct
mound. While inserting the stick carefully into the
entrance, the chimpanzee turns it skillfully to fit the
inner tunnels. The chimp attracts the insects by
shaking the twig. Then it

126
 –LONGER PASSAGES–

The underlined word upsurge, as it is used in Which of the following is NOT a sign of ani-mal
the first paragraph of the passage, most intelligence?
nearly means shows insight
an increasingly large amount. cues
a decreasing amount. uses tools
a well-known amount. makes a plan
an immeasurable amount.
Glaciers consist of fallen snow that compresses over
The concluding paragraph of this passage many years into large, thickened ice masses. Most
infers which of the following? of the world’s glacial ice is found in Antarc-tica and
There is no definitive line between those Greenland, but glaciers are found on nearly every
animals with intelligence and those without. continent, even Africa. Presently, 10% of land area
Animals are being given opportunities to is covered with glaciers. Glacial ice often appears
display their intelligence. blue because ice absorbs all other colors but reflects
Research showing higher animal intelli-gence blue. Almost 90% of an iceberg is below water;
may fuel debate on ethics and cruelty. only about 10% shows above water. What makes
Animals are capable of untrained thought glaciers unique is their ability to move. Due to sheer
well beyond mere instinct. mass, glaciers flow like very slow rivers. Some
glaciers are as small as football fields, whereas
According to the passage, which of the follow-ing is others grow to be over 100 kilometers long.
true about animals communicating through the Within the past 750,000 years, scientists
use of human language? know that there have been eight Ice Age cycles,
Parrots can imitate or repeat a sound. separated by warmer periods called interglacial
Dolphins click and whistle. periods. Currently, the earth is nearing the end of
Crows screech warnings to other crows. an interglacial, meaning that another Ice Age is
Chimpanzees and gorillas have been due in a few thousand years. This is part of the
trained to use sign language or normal climate variation cycle. Greenhouse
geometric shapes that stand for words. warming may delay the onset of another glacial
era, but scientists still have many questions to
In paragraph 3, what conclusion can be answer about climate change. Although glaciers
reached about the chimpanzee’s ability change very slowly over long periods, they may
to use a tool? provide important global climate change signals.
It illustrates high intelligence because he The girth of the ice, combined with gravity’s
is able to get his food and eat it. influence, causes glaciers to flow very slowly. Once
It illustrates instinct because he faced a a mass of compressed ice reaches a critical
difficult task and accomplished it. thickness of about 18 meters thick, it becomes so
It illustrates high intelligence because he heavy that it begins to deform and move. Ice may
stored knowledge away and called it up flow down mountains and val-leys, fan across
at the right time. plains, or spread out to sea. Move-ment along the
It illustrates high intelligence because ter- underside of a glacier is slower
mites are protein-packed.

127
 –LONGER PASSAGES–

than movement at the top due to the friction cre- 491. The underlined word remote, as used in para-
ated as it slides along the ground’s surface. graph 4 of the passage, most nearly means
(4) Most glaciers are found in remote a. isolated.
mountainous areas. However, some found near b. nearby.
cities or towns present a danger to the people liv- c. slow traveling.
ing nearby. On land, lakes formed on top of a d. difficult to see.
glacier during the melt season may cause floods.
At the narrow part of a valley glacier, ice falling 492. The passage explains that glaciers can be
from the glacier presents a hazard to hikers below. found where?
When ice breaks off over the ocean, an iceberg is a. only on Antarctica
formed. b. only Greenland and Alaska
(5) Glaciers are a natural resource and con- c. on nearly every continent
tain 75% of the world’s freshwater. People world- d. only the north and south poles
wide are trying to harness the power of these
frozen streams. Some towns rely on glacial melt- 493. According to the passage, why does glacial ice
ing from a nearby ice cap to provide drinking often appear blue?
water. Some farmers spread soil or ashes over a. because it does not absorb the color blue
snow to promote melting, hoping that the melt- b. because it absorbs all other colors but
ing will provide water to irrigate crops in reflects blue
drought-stricken areas. Others have channeled c. because it does not absorb all other colors
meltwater from glaciers to their fields. Scientists including blue
and engineers have worked together to tap into d. because it is blue in color
glacial resources, using electricity that has been
generated in part by damming glacial meltwater. 494. After reading the passage, what can one con-
clude about glaciers?
490. According to paragraph 4, what is a negative a. There will not be another Ice Age coming.
effect of living too close to a glacier? b. Glaciers have both negative and positive
a. The mass of the glacier reaches a effects on human life.
critical thickness. c. Scientists have difficulty studying glaciers.
b. About 10% of a glacier shows above water. d. Scientists have minimal data on the forma-
c. Spreading dark material over snow tion of glaciers.
promotes melting.
d. Lakes formed on top of glaciers may
cause floods.

128
 –LONGER PASSAGES–

After reading the passage, what can one infer Anthony did not work alone. She col-
about glaciers? laborated with reformers of women’s rights such
Further exploration is needed to tap the as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Amelia Bloomer.
power of glacial ice in fueling electric Susan worked for the American Anti-Slavery
energy. Society with Frederick Douglass, a fugitive slave
With variations in climate, glaciers shrink and black abolitionist. On July 2, 1979, the U.S.
and expand. Mint honored her work by issuing the Susan B.
Glaciers form in cold regions where the rate Anthony dollar coin. Although Anthony did not
of snowfall is greater than the melting rate live to see the fruits of her efforts, the establish-
of snow. ment of the nineteenth amendment is indebted to
Glaciers are usually bordered at the sides by her efforts.
rock debris.
What is the main idea of the passage?
A pioneer leader for women’s rights, Susan B. Reformers do not always see the results of
Anthony became one of the leading women their efforts.
reformers of the nineteenth century. In Rochester, Susan B. Anthony never gave up her fight
New York, she began her first public crusade on for all people’s freedoms.
behalf of temperance. The temperance move- Slavery was one of Susan B. Anthony’s causes.
ment dealt with the abuses of women and chil- Anthony did not condone the use of alcohol.
dren who suffered from alcoholic husbands. Also,
she worked tirelessly against slavery and for Anthony advocated all of the following
women’s rights. Anthony helped write the his- EXCEPT
tory of woman suffrage. Slavery should be abolished.
At the time Anthony lived, women did Alcohol should be prohibited because of
not have the right to vote. Because she voted in the abuse it causes.
the 1872 election, a U.S. Marshall arrested Women are citizens and should have the
Anthony. She hoped to prove that women had right to vote.
the legal right to vote under the provisions of Employers should provide child care for
the fourteenth and fifteenth amendments to the female employees.
Con-stitution. At her trial, a hostile federal
judge found her guilty and fined her $100,
which she refused to pay.

129
 –LONGER PASSAGES–

498. An effective reformer is 500. What would historians say was Susan
a. a person who has the support of family Anthony’s greatest achievement?
and friends. a. She collaborated with abolitionists to rid
b. an activist who can enlist the help of others the country of slavery.
to promote a cause. b. She was an activist and raised a family at
c. a person who is knowledgeable about a the same time.
particular cause. c. Her tireless efforts to guarantee women
d. a person who ignores what others think. the right to vote led to the establishment
of the nineteenth amendment to the
499. The underlined word crusade in paragraph 1 Constitution.
most nearly means d. She was a leader in the temperance
a. a war against the infidels in the Middle Ages. movement.
b. a quest to fight evil.
c. a battle against authority. 501. In which of the following ways did the U.S.
d. a campaign to work tirelessly for one’s beliefs. Mint honor her life’s work?
a. The Susan B. Anthony stamp was issued.
b. The Susan B. Anthony dollar was created.
c. The Susan B. Anthony Memorial Park was
built in Rochester.
d. Susan B. Anthony dolls were created.

130
 Answers

SECTION 1 Vocabulary b. Something that is flamboyant is flashy or

showy. The keys here are the words
c. To be outmoded is to be old-fashioned or out-of-date. usually described as flamboyant and but…
The designer window treatments may also be uncharac-teristically modest.
unnecessary, pointless, or even worthless. b. To be gullible means to be easy to fool or naïve.
However, the key to the meaning is the con- The keys here are the words outlandish
text—that is, the phrase installed 17 years ago. excuses and insincere employees.
c. Something that is wearisome is tiresome or a. A prerequisite is something that is necessary or
boring. The key to the meaning here is the required. The fact that you can’t become a
phrase they regularly put students to sleep. certified teacher without completing the
a. To be spiteful is to be vengeful or vindictive. The stu-dent teaching assignment means that it
keys here are the word malice and the is required. The other choices do not imply
phrase almost ruined the referee’s career. a hard and fast rule.
d. When something is done obdurately, it is done c. To be diligent is to be painstaking or thorough.
in an inflexible or intractable manner, or d. To be ambiguous is to be vague or unclear.
stubbornly. The key here are the words d. Something that is animated is energetic
willful young man. or lively.
b. A superficial remark is insignificant and b. When something is intermittent, it is periodic or
shallow, or petty. The key here is the word starts and stops at intervals.
trivialized. a. To be diplomatic is to be sensitive in dealing
a. To be ostracized is to be banished or excluded. The with others or tactful.
key here is the phrase usually loyal friends, d. To augment something is to add to or expand it.
who had never shunned her before. Although choice c, consider, is not out of

131
 –ANSWERS–

the question, since officials are responding to 34. c. If something is expansive, it is broad, open,
several fires that have already occurred, it is or spacious.
more likely that they will do something more 35. b. If a thing is detrimental, it is injurious
pronounced and definitive than just consid- or harmful.
ering the existing rules. 36. b. Crooning and bellowing both mean singing.
16. d. To be inundated is to be overwhelmed 37. d. Fallout is a side effect that occurs as a result
or flooded. of some incident, action, or happening—that
17. c. To be unique is to be one of a kind or is, it’s a consequence of something. It is the
unparalleled. most logical word to describe something that
18. d. When one is incredulous, one is skeptical affects a victim for years.
or disbelieving. 38. b. Humid and damp both mean the same thing
19. d. When one is proficient at something, one is in this context.
an expert or is skilled at it. 39. b. A sphere is a globular (globe) object.
20. a. When something is tentative, it is of an 40. d. To decontaminate and to purify both mean to
uncertain or provisional nature. remove impurities.
21. b. When a group’s opinion is unanimous, it is 41. c. To be tailored and to be altered both mean to
in accord or uniform. be made to fit.
22. a. To alleviate something is to make it more 42. a. Dormant and inactive both mean not active,
bearable or to ease it. as if asleep (the root meaning of dormant).
23. c. To be indispensable is to be necessary or 43. c. To be banished and to be exiled both mean to
essential. be forced to leave.
24. a. To expedite a process is to hurry it up or 44. b. Yielded and relinquished both mean given up.
accelerate it. 45. c. A journal and a diary are both records of
25. b. If something is plausible, it is believable daily happenings.
or credible. 46. b. To be jostled is to be bumped.
26. c. To infer something is to surmise it or deduce 47. a. A hostel and an inn are both lodging places
it from the evidence. for travelers.
27. d. An ultimatum is a final statement of terms or 48. a. Philosophy means a system of motivating
non-negotiable demand. principles.
28. b. To be meticulous is to be extremely careful 49. b. The key here is the phrase, We had no idea
or painstaking. who the special guest speaker would be. This
29. b. To be apathetic is to show little or no interest implies there is something hidden or secret.
or to be indifferent. The other choices are unrelated to not know-
30. a. To be fortified is to be strengthened or ing who the speaker would be.
reinforced. 50. c. To consider is to think about. The other
31. d. To delegate a task is to assign it or to appoint choices make no sense in the context of
another to do it. the sentence.
32. c. To arouse someone is to stir up or provoke 51. a. An opportunity is a chance. The other
that person. choices make no sense in the context of
33. d. To articulate something is to give words to it this sentence.
or express it.

132
 –ANSWERS–

b. A grimace is a contortion of the face. Neither a c. Throughout the passage, the author displays a
wrinkle nor a simper match the descriptive positive attitude toward the Sami and their
word ferocious. A shriek would be described beliefs. Although they are said to be
in terms of sound, rather than looks. peaceful, they are not said to be timid or
d. Answers a and c do not include the sense of fearful (they retreated from war because
hierarchy conveyed in the phrase to they did not believe in it). In the context of
enforce social order. Answer b does the passage, it’s most likely that the Sami
convey a sense of hierarchy, but in the avoid making a disturbance in the
wrong order. wilderness out of respect for the spirits.
a. This is the choice that makes the most sense
when imagining objects floating in space.
b. Although a muscle that atrophies may be SECTION 2 Analogies
weakened (choice c), the primary meaning
of the phrase to atrophy is to waste away. b. A petal is a part of a flower; a leaf is a part of a
a. The passage implies that the other women in the tree.
orchestra were conventional because of the d. A shelf is a part of a bookcase; a key is a part of
way they dressed and wore their hair. Because a piano.
Robin does things differently, she would be a. A group of fish is called a school; a group of
considered unconventional. The other choices, wolves is called a pack.
although she may be joyful, unreliable, and a. A scale measures weight; a yardstick
proud, have nothing to do with the context of measures length.
this sentence, which is directly addressing her d. Watermelon is a kind of fruit; Dalmatian is a
appearance as it com-pares to the other kind of canine.
women in the orchestra. e. A foot propels a skateboard; a pedal propels a
a. To depict the Sami, the author uses words that point bicycle.
to their gentleness, which is an admirable c. Stretch and extend are synonyms; shake and
quality: They move quietly, dis-play courtesy tremble are synonyms.
to the spirits of the wilderness, and were c. A kangaroo is a marsupial; a rhinoceros is
known as peaceful retreaters. There is pachyderm.
nothing pitying, contemptuous, or patronizing e. Starving is an intensification of hungry;
in the language, and nothing in the passage depressed is an intensification of sad.
indicates that the author is per-plexed—the a. A dermatologist treats acne; a psychologist
description of the Sami is clear and to the treats a neurosis.
point. e. A frame surrounds a picture; a fence surrounds
b. The immediate context of the word animistic backyard.
defines the word: for [the Sami], nature and b. One searches in order to find; one explores in
natural objects had a conscious life, a order to discover.
spirit. There is no indication in the passage c. A pharmacy sells drugs; a bakery sells bread.
that the author believes the Sami’s animistic a. Layer and tier are synonyms; section and
religion is irrational (choice a). The other segment are synonyms.
choices are not in the passage.

133
 –ANSWERS–

a. Metropolitan describes urban areas; bucolic d. A dirge is a song used at a funeral; a jingle is a
describes rural areas. song used in a commercial.
75. d. A teacher works in a school; a judge works in e. Feral and tame are antonyms; ephemeral and
courthouse. immortal are antonyms.
c. A Persian is a type of cat; a parakeet is a type of a. A spy acts in a clandestine manner; an accoun-
bird. tant acts in a meticulous manner.
e. To jog is to run slowly; to drizzle is to rain slowly. c. Hegemony means dominance; autonomy
c. A skein is a quantity of yarn; a ream is a quan- means independence.
tity of paper. e. An aerie is where an eagle lives; a house is where
b. To tailor a suit is to alter it; to edit a manuscript a person lives.
is to alter it.
d. A conductor leads an orchestra; a skipper leads
crew. SECTION 3 Main Ideas, Themes
a. Jaundice is an indication of a liver problem; rash
is an indication of a skin problem. d. The author stresses the convenience of fitness
b. A cobbler makes and repairs shoes; a contractor walking, by stating that it does not require a
builds and repairs buildings. commute to a health club. The paragraph also
e. To be phobic is to be extremely fearful; to be implies that fitness walking will result in a
ridiculous is to be extremely silly. good workout. Choice a is incorrect because no
c. Obsession is a greater degree of interest; fantasy com-parison to weight lifting is made. Choice
is a greater degree of dream. b may seem like a logical answer, but the
d. Devotion is characteristic of a monk; wanderlust paragraph only refers to people who are fitness
is characteristic of a rover. walkers, so for others, a health club might be a
e. Slapstick results in laughter; horror results in good investment. Choice c is not in the
fear. passage. Although choice e seems logical, the
b. Verve and enthusiasm are synonyms; devotion paragraph does not indicate that the wrong
and reverence are synonyms. shoes will pro-duce major injuries.
c. A cacophony is an unpleasant sound; a stench is b. The last sentence in the paragraph clearly sup-
an unpleasant smell. ports the idea that the renewed interest in
a. A conviction results in incarceration; a reduc-tion Shakespeare is due to the development of his
results in diminution. characters. Choice a is incorrect because the
a. The deltoid is a muscle; the radius is a bone. writer never makes this type of comparison.
d. Umbrage and offense are synonyms; elation and Choice c is wrong, because even though
jubilance are synonyms. schol-ars are mentioned in the paragraph,
b. Being erudite is a trait of a professor; being there is no indication that the scholars are
imaginative is a trait of an inventor. compiling the anthology. Choice d is wrong
d. Dependable and capricious are antonyms; capa- because there is no support to show that most
ble and inept are antonyms. New Yorkers are interested in this work.
a. A palm (tree) has fronds; a porcupine has quills. There is no support for choice e either.
e. A metaphor is a symbol; an analogy is a d. This answer is implied by the whole paragraph. The
comparison. author stresses the need to read critically by

134
 –ANSWERS–

performing operations on the text in a slow stone tools first came into use. Although
and specific manner. Choice a is incorrect some may agree that choice e is true, the
because the author never says that reading is author of the paragraph does not give support
dull. Choices b, c, and e are not supported by for this opinion.
the paragraph. d. Choices a and c are not supported by the
a. The support for this choice is in the second paragraph. Choices b and e only tell us about
sentence, which states that in some countries, particular parts of the paragraph and are too
toxic insecticides are still legal. Choice b is specific to be the main idea. Choice d,
incorrect because even though polar regions however, is general enough to encompass all
are mentioned in the paragraph, there is no the sentences and the paragraph as a whole.
support for the idea that warmer regions are Every sentence supports the idea asserted in
not just as affected. There is no support for choice d.
choice c. Choice d can be ruled out be-cause d. Both sentences in the paragraph support this
there is nothing to indicate that DDT and choice. Choices a and e are opinions and are
toxaphene are the most toxic. Choice e is not in the paragraph. Choices b and c may be
illogical. true, but they are also not supported by the
a. The second and third sentence combine to give paragraph.
support to choice a. The statement stresses that c. The first sentence points out that it is not prac-tical to
there must be a judge’s approval (i.e., legal use the first-person point of view in business
authorization) before a search can be con- correspondence. Choices a, b, and e are not in the
ducted. Choices b and d are wrong because it is paragraph. Choice d is in the paragraph and
not enough for the police to have direct evi- although it does tell us some-thing about the first-
dence or a reasonable belief—a judge must person point of view, it is too narrow to represent
authorize the search for it to be legal. Choices c the main idea, which has to do with the first-
and e are not mentioned in the passage. person point of view as it is related to writing in a
e. This answer is clearly stated in the last sen-tence business environment.
of the paragraph. Choice a can be ruled out
because there is no support to show that
studying math is dangerous. Words are not SECTION 4 Topic Sentences
mentioned in the passage, which rules out
choice b. There is no support for choice c. d. The mention that searching for spices has changed the
Choice d is a contradiction to the information course of history, and that for spices, nations
in the passage. have . . . gone to war, implies that the subject of
d. The last sentence states that new technologies are the paragraph is history. These phrases also
reported daily, and this implies that new connote danger and intrigue.
technologies are being constantly developed. c. The mention of all the amazing things the brain is
There is no support for choice a. With regard to capable of is directly relevant to its being
choice b, stone tools were first used two and a mysterious and complex. The other choices
half million years ago, but they were not neces- are less relevant.
sarily in use all that time. Choice c is clearly b. Choice b addresses both of Gary’s vanities: his
wrong because the paragraph states when person and his situation. Choice a deals only

135
 –ANSWERS–

with one of Gary’s physical characteristics. d. The topic sentence refers to punishment used in
Choice c deals only with his vanity of position. early America. Choice a gives a reason for the
Choice d is not supported in the passage. use of punishment in early America. Choices b
a. This choice refers both to age and complexity; b and c state why we don’t have such punish-
and c refer only to complexity. Answer d is ment today and compares historical punish-
less relevant to the topic sentence (which ment with today’s sensibility.
doesn’t mention Darwin or theories) than the d. Choice d gives us a reason why more people are
other choices. eating organic, so it supports the statement
b. This choice is the only one that supports and made in the topic sentence. Choices a and b
develops the topic sentence. The other are about organic products, but they don’t
choices all say something about cosmetic provide logical reasons for the increasing
plastic surgery, but they do not support the pop-ularity of organic foods. Choice c is
topic sen-tence, which states that cosmetic about another topic completely.
plastic surgery is one of the fastest-growing c. This choice introduces the idea that some laws are
segments of U.S. medicine. strange. Choices a, b, and d are examples of
c. The topic sentence speaks of the big-bang theory being strange laws.
much misunderstood, and c addresses this, a. This topic sentence states the importance of a
whereas the other choices do not. cat’s whiskers. Choices b, c, and d give other
d. Only this choice deals with learning how to details that do not directly support the topic
accept oneself and then relates it to another sentence.
person. Choices a and c are both irrelevant to c. This choice states the popularity of the game.
the topic sentence. Choice b states the exact Choices a and b state the game’s origin. Choice
opposite of the topic sentence. d explains how its popularity spread.
c. Choice c is the only entry that presents the sim- c. This sentence gives a reason for longevity that
ilar traits of both the hero and the superstar. was introduced in the topic sentence. Choices
Choice a only defines a superstar. Choice b a, b, and d are about longevity but do not
defines the hero. Choice d introduces irrele- give any reasons.
vant material—the sports arena, with no a. Choice a pronounces an end to 16 years of vio-
men-tion of the superstar. lence. Choice b, c and d are facts about
a. This choice is a comparison between man and James’s life.
bird. Neither one needs instruction to do c. Great wealth is not an indicator of honor. Each of
what is important to its life. Choices b, c, and the other choices describes the honor that is
d do not support this topic sentence. received. Choice a says, greatly respected,
b. This choice is the only one that talks about how choice b—a revered poet, and choice d—
parents make a difference in their children’s long-lasting reputation.
academic success. The other choices don’t b. The topic sentence presents the idea that all the men
men-tion parents at all. are connected by whale lines, each man relies
c. The main idea is that the United States limits on the others for his safety. Choice a states this
immigration numbers. Choices a, b, and d idea explicitly: Each man “had to depend on
show the effects and statistics that result from the others to stay alive.” Choice c presents the
this actio but do not support the topic sentence. idea as metaphorical, each man is

136
 –ANSWERS–

connected to the next. Choice d offers an exam- d. The first sentence indicates that sushi was once
ple of how a man can be thrown overboard and available only in a handful of eating
must rely on his crew to cut their whale loose and establishments.
come back and get him. Only choice b does not c. Choice b may seem attractive at first, but the
make any connection to the men. passage doesn’t offer the opinion that the
pur-pose of the shopping mall is important, it
sim-ply tells us what the purposes are.
SECTION 5 Short Passages d. The directions mention nothing about
fertilization.
a. Choice d may seem attractive at first, but the c. The third sentence specifically mentions that the
passage simply says that the local media does pointed side goes up and the root side faces
not adequately cover local politics—it down. This means that there is an up side and a
doesn’t discuss the reason for their neglect. down side and that it is possible for the bulb to
c. Sentence 3 indicates the importance of organi- be put into the soil upside down if someone
zation and design. The other choices, even if didn’t know better. The other choices may be
true, are not in the passage. true but are not mentioned in the passage.
b. Both sentences in this passage support the idea that c. The directions indicate that the city prefers, but does
the emphasis on the low-carb/low-fat debate is not require, use of its new container, and that
misleading and might distract us from other the customers may use more than one con-
important ideas.The other choices are not tainer if they purchase an additional one.
supported by or developed in this passage. b. The directions state use of the new containers will
b. The other choices are wrong because the pas-sage is expedite pick-up of recyclables. This indicates
not concerned with how sanitation workers that the new containers will make the recycling
should deal with sharp objects but with how program more efficient.
everyone should dispose of sharp objects in b. See the second and third sentences for the steps in
order to avoid hurting sanitation workers. making ratatouille. Only choice b reflects the
d. See the second sentence of the passage. Choices a correct order.
and b are not in the passage. Choice c might d. The main part of the passage describes how to
seem attractive, but the passage does not say cook vegetables. Only choice d indicates that
that mediation is the best way to resolve a con- vegetables are included in the dish. The other
flict, simply that it is an alternative way that choices are not reflected in the passage.
might prove effective. d. See the final sentence of the passage.
c. See the final sentence of the passage. The other choices c. See the second sentence, which defines ksa. The
might be true but are not in the passage. other choices are refuted in the passage.
a. The second sentence speaks of the greater pro- d. This answer is implied by the statement that
ductivity of telecommuters. The other choices redistribution is needed so that people in
may seem attractive on the surface because emerging nations can have proper medical
they contain words and phrases from the care. Choices a, b, and c are not mentioned
passage, but a closer look will show them to in the passage.
be incorrect or absent from the passage. c. This choice is the best answer because the para-
graph indicates that the new knitters are of

137
 –ANSWERS–

varying ages and are not just women. obstacles, but it does not say that they
Choices a and b may be true, but they are not absolutely require outside help to succeed,
supported by the paragraph. Choice d is a just that it is available.
prediction that is not made in the paragraph. d. This choice encompasses the main informa-tion in
d. The paragraph specifically states that age makes a the passage. Choices a, b, and c are not
person less able to respond to long exposure mentioned.
to very hot or very cold temperatures. This a. The title should express the main idea of the
would mean that older people are more sus- passage. The passage, as a whole, focuses on
ceptible to hypothermia. Choices a, b, and c appropriate and inappropriate uses of e-mail.
are not supported by the information given in The other choices address more specific
the paragraph. ideas expressed in the passage but are not its
c. The third sentence is the main idea. It is a general main idea.
idea that answers the only question posed in c. The first and second sentences reflect this idea. The
the passage. The other choices are not in the passage does not say that Native American art
passage. is dreamlike (choice a). Choices b and d are
d. The passage states that health clubs have under-gone too limited to be main ideas.
a major transformation due to people’s interest a. This idea is expressed in two of the three sen-
in taking care of their minds, bodies, and tences in the passage and sums up the overall
spirits. Choice a is incorrect because the meaning of the passage.
paragraph doesn’t say exercise is less impor- d. This is stated in the final paragraph. The other
tant. It simply says the focus and type of exer- choices are not reflected in the passage.
cise have changed. Choices b and c are not c. This choice most nearly encompasses the pas-sage
supported by the paragraph. and is reflected in the final sentence.
c. This choice is closely related to all three sentences b. The passage defines an ecosystem as a commu-
of the passage. Choice a is contra-dicted in nity within which all members interrelate.
the passage. Choices b and d are not in the (See the first three sentences of the
passage. paragraph.) Choice a is only one example of
a. The entire passage relates to this idea. The other an interaction. The other two choices are too
ideas are not reflected in the passage. limited to sum up ecosystem activities.
a. This is the main idea of the passage because all the b. This is the only choice that reflects the idea of
sentences relate to it. The other choices may be interaction among all members of the group
true but are not reflected in the passage. spoken of in the first sentence. The other
c. This idea is expressed in the final sentence and choices are only physical settings.
wraps up the passage, speaking of the impor- c. The entire passage supports this idea. Choice a is
tance of creating a balance. The other incorrect because the business aspect of alter-
choices are not in the passage. native medicine is not discussed in the
c. The support for choice c is given in the second passage. Choices b and d reflect accurate
sentence. No support is given for choices a and supporting statements that do appear in the
d. Choice b is incorrect because the paragraph passage, but they are not encompassing
states that women business owners face unique enough to reflect the main idea.

138
 –ANSWERS–

a. Pain management is a generic term and pain d. The passage explains that Cortez sought gold and
management treatment can be alternative or created Mexico City.
traditional, depending on the practitioner. b. This choice best captures the theme of the
Choices b, c, and d are not correct because they encounter.
are all mentioned in the passage as being par- a. The examples in this passage are mainly about
ticular alternative medicine practices. Roosevelt’s accomplishments.
a. The last sentence of the second paragraph clearly c. The second sentence of the first paragraph sup-
states that people born before 1945 are the least ports this choice.
likely to turn to alternative therapies. b. In the second paragraph, the first sentence sup-
d. The beginning of the last paragraph discusses this ports this answer.
scientific investigation and its role in mak- a. This is the only choice and is stated in para-graph
ing alternative treatments more accepted by 1.
mainstream medicine. b. This is the only correct choice.
b. See the first paragraph. Choice a is contradicted b. The important part of the question the reader
in the first paragraph. Choice c is perhaps should consider is “the origin of all species.”
true but is not in the passage. Choice d is This answer best supports Darwin’s theory.
incorrect because, although the president’s c. These are the only two principles mentioned in the
assistant escorted Autherine Lucy to class, passage.
the passage does not say that the assistant b. Religious opponents condemned his work.
befriended her. Accompanying her to class b. Six thousand years ago must account for over
may just have been his assigned job. 2,000 years after the birth of Christ, and that
b. The first paragraph says that Autherine Lucy leaves almost 4,000 years in the B.C. era. All
bravely took her seat, and the last paragraph other choices are incorrect math.
refers to her courage. b. The Carib were not in any way described as
a. According to the first paragraph, Autherine Lucy peaceful but rather, hostile people. Therefore,
was surprised when the professor appar-ently this answer is the exception. All other
did not notice her. choices are descriptive of the Caribs and are
d. See the fourth sentence of paragraph 2. explicit in the passage.
c. The other answers are all contrary to informa-tion a. The last two lines of the passage directly state what
in the passage. defeated the Caribs. Choice b is incorrect since
c. The passage clearly states this as the reason why the Arawaks were defeated by the Carib, and
Kwanzaa is celebrated. neither the Dutch nor the French were
a. This is the only correct choice. mentioned in the role of conquerors.
d. The passage does not mention this choice. b. Strife means war. Choice c refers to the prod-ucts
d. This is the definition of Kwanzaa. one can buy on the modern St. Maarten.
d. Nowhere in the passage is it mentioned that the Choice d makes no sense since the time of
Spanish outnumbered the Aztecs. strife is when the tribe allowed a chief to be
a. Each statement about Cortez is true, but only this chosen. Choice a is not mentioned in
answer matched the prophecy. conjunction with being warlike or with strife;
it is added as another characteristic.

139
 –ANSWERS–

c. Present-day St. Maarten belongs to the French and the piece. The other choices either are not men-
the Dutch. Choices b and d have no sup-port tioned or are secondary ideas in the passage.
in the passage. Choice a is incorrect. The c. The passage clearly states that Wolfgang took an
Spanish are only mentioned in the passage in interest in the clavier when his sister was
conjunction with the Indians. learn-ing to play the instrument.
d. The idea of the passage is to convince the reader b. In the second paragraph, the passage states that
that the metaphor is a wonderful poetic Wolfgang’s first public appearance was at
device. None of the other choices are Linz and that after this concert, word of his
approached in the passage. genius traveled to Vienna. This paragraph
a. The first paragraph clearly states that poets use also states that Vienna was the capital of the
metaphors more than any other type of figura- Hapsburg Empire.
tive language, thereby inferring that a metaphor d. The passage does not say anything about Wolf-gang
is a type of figurative language. Choice b is preferring one instrument to another.
incorrect since the phrase other type of b. The third paragraph states that at the time, it was
figurative language is clearly stated. Choice c not uncommon for child prodigies to have
is not sup-ported in the passage. Choice d is extensive concert tours. The other choices
incorrect; review the definition of a metaphor are not supported by the information given in
in the first and second lines of the passage. the passage.
c. This detail is presented in the second para-graph. a. The main point of the passage is to describe
This links thorns with the idea of adding Mozart’s experiences as a child prodigy, or a
another dimension to the image of love. highly talented child. Choices b, c, and d are
Choices a and b are not supported in the pas- not mentioned in the paragraph.
sage. Choice d is incorrect because thorns are c. The titles in choices a, b, and d all imply that the
not being compared to a rose. passage will provide information, which it
d. The explanation of the line details how love can does not. Choice c is the most accurate
be wonderful and yet, with the introduction choice because the passage deals mainly with
of the thorn imagery, it also presents the dan- remem-bering the fair.
ger of love. Choices b and c are not a. Sentence 1 (choice a) contains the phrase should
mentioned in the passage. Choice a only have been a colossal failure, which is an
deals with the idea of joy, disregarding the opinion of the author. The other choices are
thorn/danger aspect. sentences that provide factual information
c. This specific detail can be found in paragraph 1. “ . . . about Woodstock.
poets compose their best poetry to express what a. The sentence preceding and leading into sen-tence
they are experiencing emotionally at that 3 speaks of the very brief time—a month—
moment.” Choices a and b are incorrect because that the organizers of the fair had to find a
they each deal with only one reason for a poet to new site and get information out. Choices b
write. Choice d is incorrect since the only and d are incorrect because they could not
discussion of the senses dealt with the spe-cific have been known about at the time the fair
metaphor that was used as an example. was moved. Choice c is incorrect because
c. This title most nearly captures the main idea of the there is no indication in the passage that New
passage and the author’s purpose in writing York officials tried to stop the fair.

140
 –ANSWERS–

SECTION 6 Nonfiction and c. The passage does say that a homeowner can have an
Information Passages energy audit, but it says nothing about a local
energy company providing that service. Choice a
d. The passage details the proper locations for may seem attractive at first since those specific
smoke detectors and is ordered according to figures are not mentioned in the pas-sage, but the
topic. third paragraph does say that flu-orescent bulbs
b. Although the passage mentions firefighters’ can save 50% on lighting costs, and $65 is almost
responsibilities (choice a), the main focus of 50% less than $135. Choices b and d are clearly
the passage is the installation of smoke stated in the passage.
detectors. Choice c is only a detail. Choice d a. The passage is offering recommendations about the
is not mentioned. many things homeowners and renters can do to
b. The answer can be found in the first sentence of save money and energy. The other choices may
the third paragraph. Choice a may seem all be mentioned in the passage, but they are
attrac-tive because the passage contains the too specific to be the main idea.
words four inches and twelve inches, but d. The passage says nothing about an energy audi-tor
close reading will show it to be incorrect. actually fixing the flaws him- or herself, simply
a. The answer is found in the first paragraph (smoke that the auditor will locate the flaws and offer
detectors reduce the risk of dying in a fire by possible money-saving solutions.
half). a. The fifth paragraph states that double-paned
c. The answer can be found in the next to last windows can cut energy costs, so we can
sentence of the passage. infer that this means that they are energy
d. The answer is implied by the first sentence of the efficient. The other three choices are not
passage. There is no information in the pas- stated in the passage.
sage to indicate that the other choices are a a. The passage is organized chronologically. The
fire-fighter’s responsibility, even though they steps for starting a book club are listed in the
may be in certain real-life situations. order in which they should occur.
b. The second paragraph states that there should be a c. The second sentence of the second paragraph
smoke detector outside each sleeping area in states this clearly.
a home. The last sentence states that smoke d. Deciding on the club’s focus—the kinds of books
detectors should not be placed in kitchens or genre the club will read—should be done
(choice d). prior to this meeting and prior to recruiting
b. Ideas are listed by topic, but there is some cause and members, according to the second paragraph.
effect as well since the passage explains the b. This is the only appropriate title. Choice a is too
reasons for the various steps. The other choices specific, since the passage indicates that making
are incorrect because the passage does not list new friends is just one component of a book club.
the ideas in order of importance (hierarchical) Choice c is incorrect because this passage does
or in the order in which they have occurred or not contain numbered steps. Choice d is too
should occur (chronological). These steps can vague, and the tone is inappropriate.
occur in any order.

141
 –ANSWERS–

a. The passage states this is one possible focus but does the first sentence speaks of mental- and physical-
not say successful book clubs must focus health professionals referring their clients and
exclusively on one genre. The other choices are patients to music therapists; the second sentence
all in the passage. Choice c might seem attrac- indicates that it (meaning a referral) seems a par-
tive at first, but the passage clearly states that a ticularly good choice for the social worker.
focus should be chosen, even if that focus is Choice c is possible, but does not summarize the
defined as flexible and open. passage as well as choice b. Choice a refers to a
d. The tone and specificity of the passage infer that a topic not covered in the passage.
successful book club requires careful d. Although the other choices may be correct, they
planning. require knowledge beyond the passage.
d. This is a listing of reasons why Hartville Based on the information in the passage, d is
employees are unhappy and went on strike. the best choice.
c. The second sentence of the second task-force finding a. Based particularly on the last sentence of the
states that Hartville’s equipment does not meet passage, a is the best choice. The other
current health and safety standards. Choices a choices are beyond the scope of the passage.
and b may be attractive at first, but choice a is d. In the Northern Hemisphere, June 21 would be
incorrect because it doesn’t say the equipment summer; however, according to the passage,
is broken, just that it is old and dan-gerous. it is the beginning of winter in the Southern
Choice b is incorrect because computer Hemisphere.
keyboards are not mentioned, and there is no b. Logically, if June 21 is called the summer sol-
indication that computer keyboards are stice in the Northern Hemisphere, then that
included in the equipment being discussed. same day would be the winter solstice in the
d. The only specific recommendation in the task-force Southern Hemisphere.
findings appears in the second finding d. Because the author mentions that one of the two
regarding equipment in the manufacturing women gained international fame because she
department, in the final sentence. attended the international conference, the
b. The final finding of the task force states that due to the reader can surmise that for a woman to attend
withholding of information by middle was a rare occurrence; therefore, choice d is the
management, upper management is unaware of best answer. Choices b and c are beyond the
the severity of employee discontent. The other scope of the passage. Choice a might be true
choices are not stated in the passage. but would require information not contained in
d. The third task-force finding states that sick and the passage.
personal day policies are unclear, and no d. See the final sentence of the passage.
outline of an actual policy is provided. d. Answer d is the most accurate conclusion because
c. Choice c provides the best outline of the pas-sage. the first sentence speaks of periods of war.
The other choices all contain points that are The other choices, whether true or false, are
not covered by the passage. not addressed in the selection.
b. This passage provides information to social workers d. Although the people in the other choices might read
about music therapy, as the title in choice b this passage, it is not directed toward scholars
indicates. Choice d is incorrect because (choices a and b), nor is there

142
 –ANSWERS–

anything in it about operating a loom (choice c. The second sentence of the second paragraph
c). The light, informative tone, as well as the states that, while corals are the main compo-
subject matter of the final sentence, particu- nents of reef structure, they are not the only
larly indicate that the passage is directed liv-ing participants.
toward interior decorators. b. The context of the passage indicates that the
a. Choices c and d are beyond the scope of this passage sentences in question are pointing out an
and a reader would not be able to tell if the unforeseen consequence (however) and the cur-
author believed them, based on the infor- rent situation (now). The other choices would
mation provided. Choice c reflects a point of result in meanings that do not fit with the flow
view that would be unlikely for the author of information in the rest of the passage.
based on the content of this passage, which d. Choices a, b, and c are not supported by infor-mation
implies that the author believes that women and in the passage. Thus, the best choice is d.
men have an equal need for education. d. Choices a and c are possible definitions of ush-ered,
b. The missing sentence is in a portion of the pas-sage but do not fit in the context of the passage.
that discusses the long-term impacts of the Choice b is an incorrect definition. Heralded,
Franks; therefore, b is the best choice. Choices choice d, is the best definition in the context.
a and c are written in a style appropri-ate to the b. The blank is followed by a discussion of the
passage, but the information is not appropriate. shortcomings of the RDA approach. Choice a
Choice d is more informal in style than the rest is incorrect because it does not lead into a dis-
of the passage. cussion regarding the RDA approach’s short-
b. Although all of the choices are possible defini- comings. Choice c is incorrect because it is
tions of culture, the passage is speaking of a contradicted by the final sentence of the pas-
community of interrelated individuals, sage, which states that the RDA approach
namely, Europeans. remains a useful guide. Choice d is incorrect
a. The passage explicitly states that Charlemagne was because its casual style is inconsistent with the
crowned emperor in 800 and died in 814— a style used in the rest of the passage.
period of 14 years. Therefore, b, c, and d are b. Choice b is indicated by the final sentence, which
mathematically incorrect. indicates that the RDA approach is use-ful, but
b. The phrase ill effects of that precedes the words has limitations, implying that a sup-plemental
erosion and putrefaction means that putrefac- guide would be a good thing. Choice a is
tion is a negative consequence, as is erosion. contradicted by the final sentence of the
The other choices are either neutral or positive. passage. Choice c is incorrect because the pas-
d. This passage is written in a style directed to a sage says the RDA approach is a useful guide,
general audience; therefore, choice b is not but does not say it is the best guide to good
cor-rect, as an advanced marine biology nutri-tion. Choice d is contradicted by the next
textbook would contain a more specialized to last sentence of the passage.
style and level of writing. Choice a is b. The passage contains objective information about
incorrect because the subject of the passage accounting such as one might find in a
is not history. This pas-sage is not a personal textbook. There is nothing new or newsworthy
essay, so choice c is also incorrect. in it (choice a). The passage does not contain

143
 –ANSWERS–

the significant amount of personal opinion c. All the other statements are inaccurate.
one might find in an essay (choice c). It does a. This choice sticks to the subject, Daniel O’Con-nell. It
not deal with matters that might involve provides a transition to the sentence fol-lowing it
govern-ment (choice d). by giving information about the location of the
d. The final sentence emphasizes the importance of statue. Choices b and c swerve off topic, and
correct interpretation of financial account-ing. choice d essentially repeats infor-mation given
Choice a is wrong, because something so elsewhere in the paragraph.
important would not be discretionary d. The title Sights and History on Dublin’s O’Con-
(optional). Choice b may be true, but it is not nell Street touches on all the specific subjects
as important for guidelines to be convenient as of the passage: the sights to see on this
it is for them to be rigorous. Choice c is wrong particular street and the history connected to
because the word austere connotes sternness. them. Choice a is too general about the place
People may be stern, but inanimate entities, described, which is a particular street in
such as guide-lines, cannot be. Dublin, not the whole city. Choices b and c
b. Choices a, c, and d are all listed in the passage as are too spe-cific in that they cover only the
functions of accounting. On the other hand, material in the first paragraph.
the second sentence of the passage speaks of c. The hidden or key resource mentioned in the passage
a marketing department, separate from the is the fine distinction between the def-inition of
accounting department. street and boulevard, which is used to win the
a. The final sentence is an instance of a regular pattern argument with or get the better of tourists.
that still has an uncanny quality. Choices b and c Choices a and b do not make sense; answer d
would introduce a sentence with an idea is incorrect because there is no real fraud used
contradicting the preceding. Choice d would in the argument in the passage.
indicate that the final sentence is a restatement of d. The author offers an example of Dublin wit and
the preceding, which it is not. mentions the unhurried pace of Dublin
d. The passage says that people in general consider genius crowds. Choice a interprets the adjective
supernatural, but also . . . eccentric; the pairing unhur-ried in too negative a manner for the
of extraordinary and erratic in choice d includes tone of the passage. Answers b and c
both meanings given in the passage. Choices a similarly inter-pret the playful joke on
and c cover only one side of the pas-sage’s French tourists too disparagingly.
meaning. Choice b contains definitions that the a. This is implied in the first passage, which says that
passage does not ascribe to the com-mon view of Dilly’s is “popular,” and the same idea is
genius. explicitly stated in the second passage.
c. This title covers the main point of the passage that, d. This is the only one of the choices that is implied
although there are predictable patterns in the in both passages.
lives of geniuses, the pattern increases the d. This is the only quotation from the second pas-
sense of something supernatural touching their sage that reveals the critic’s opinion of the
lives. Choices a and b are too general. Choice qual-ity of the food.
d is inaccurate because the passage does not a. The fact that the overall tone of the passage is quite
talk about disorder in the life of a genius. negative indicates the writer’s purpose.

144
 –ANSWERS–

c. In contrast to the second passage,the first passage seems to c. This is explicitly stated in the passage. Choice a is an
be encouraging a visit to Dilly’s.Answers a, b, and d incorrect assumption, as the passage does not
are not mentioned in the passage. discuss allergies; it states that we dismiss the
d. Choice d sums up the first paragraph, which is symptoms, blaming allergies as the cause. Choice
essentially a list of the cuttlefish’s characteristics. b is tempting, but it is not a specific effect of the
It gives the most interesting characteristic, and chemicals combining; it merely states that rid-
the sentence introduces the subject of the sec-ond ding our homes of impurities seems a great task.
paragraph—the ability of the cuttlefish to change Choice d is incorrect because the combi-nation of
color. Choice a adds information not in keeping harmful chemicals does not trigger the process of
with the tone or focus of the passage. Choice b photosynthesis in any way.
repeats information in the first para-graph but a. It is clearly stated that research has been done
does not introduce the next one. Choice c uses but using certain houseplants. Choice b is
does not explain scientific language, which is out incorrect because the sentence that deals with
of keeping with the gen-eral informational style NASA sug-gests that even NASA is
of the passage. conducting experi-ments. Choice c reveals a
b. The passage describes the cuttlefish’s use of a water jet faulty reading of the passage in which three
to move. Choice a is incorrect because the of the chemicals are clearly named. Choice d
passage only describes cuttlefish as resem-bling is incorrect because the main idea of the
squid. Choice c is a true characteristic but is not passage is for the benefit of homeowners.
mentioned in the passage. Choice d is incorrect b. This answer is inferred in the last line of the passage:
because the passage never describes cuttlefish as primal qualities . . . ability to purify their
the most intelligent cephalopod. environment. Choices a and c are incorrect
d. Choice d covers the most important ideas in the because antiquity refers to how long the species
two paragraphs. All the other choices choose has been on the planet, which has no relation-ship
minor details from the paragraphs as the to how long a life span the individual plants or
main subjects. leaves have. Choice d is incorrect. One cannot
d. Choice d includes both the informational con-tent make a general statement on how suc-cessful the
and light tone of the passage. Choices a and b plants’ reactions are in research experiments
describe too scientific an aim for the content when the passage only presents us with one type
and tone. Choice c does not include the infor- of research experiment.
mational content of the passage. c. This title focuses on the main idea of the pas-sage:
d. This answer is broad enough to support all the purifying one’s home of chemical impu-rities
information discussed in the passage: chemicals by using common houseplants. Choice a is
in the home, research on certain houseplants, the incorrect because only one experiment is dis-
suggestion of the best plants for the job and why. cussed, and no mention of the millennium is
Choice a only deals with contami-nants. Choice b made at all. Choice b is also incorrect because
suggests our allergies are caused by chemicals in the passage only discusses one problem: impu-
the home, when the passage suggests that we rities caused by chemicals, which is not even
unknowingly blame our symp-toms on allergies. labeled as a danger. Choice d is supported by
Choice c suggests that the passage is only about two sentences in the passage, but it is not broad
plants in the home. enough to support all the information offered in
the passage.

145
 –ANSWERS–

c. The passage best reflects this choice. a. The Men’s and Women’s table shows this as the
a. The passage supports this choice only. only correct response.
d. According to the passage, this is the only correct c. The Men’s table shows this as the only correct
choice. response.
c. The purpose of Egyptian pyramids was to house d. The Men’s and Women’s table shows this as the
the dead forever. only correct response.
c. This choice is the only answer supported in the b. This choice is reflected in both the Men’s table
passage. and the Men’s and Women’s table.
d. Hughes was influenced by jazz music. d. This is the only correct choice as stated in the
d. This choice is stated in the passage. chart.
a. All other choices are not stated in the passage. c. According to the chart, this is the correct choice.
a. This is the correct response for the yearly average.
c. The correct response for this month is 7.9 inches.
SECTION 7 Reading Charts and d. The risk, based solely on BMI, is very high.
Graphs, Understanding a. This range shows the only minimal health risk.
Directions d. Heart rate does not appear on the chart.
c. Moderate is the only choice in the second column
c. A wind speed of 143 miles per hour falls between for health risk based solely on BMI.
113 and 157, which is the range for an F2 a. The second sentence states that routine main-
tornado, choice c. tenance is performed by the maintenance
b. Applying words such as mild, moderate, signif- department.
icant, severe, devastating, incredible, and c. The first sentence states that workers are
incon-ceivable to the damage done by a responsible for refueling at the end of each
tornado is a means of describing the damage, shift; this implies that vehicles are refueled at
therefore, the words are descriptive, choice b. the end of every shift.
b. The Voorhees fire occurred on June 7. The Cougar d. The second sentence of the passage indicates that
Run fire occurred on June 14. each driver who finishes a route will clean a
b. 115 acres at Burgaw Grove and 320 acres at truck.
Hanesboro Crossing adds up to 435 acres. a. The third sentence of the passage indicates that
d. This is the only choice that is an act of nature. Choice a routes vary in the length of time they take to
is arson. Choices b and c are accidents. complete. The other choices are not included
c. Parkston, with 74 days, is at level three. in the passage.
a. Chase Crossing is at level four; Kings Hill is at c. According to the last sentence of the passage, in
level two. the past, city workers usually drove the same
a. The question asks in what field the most men are truck each day.
involved, not employed. The answer would a. See the first sentence of the passage.
include students, who are not necessarily b. The third sentence tells what drivers should do if
salaried workers. Therefore, combining the the bus is ahead of schedule. The passage
number of students and teachers gives the does not mention choice a or c, and the
largest number involved in education. passengers’ complaints have nothing to do
b. Only two of the 200 men in the Baidya caste are with how the bus “runs.”
farmers.

146
 –ANSWERS–

d. The whole passage deals with methods drivers d. The passage explicitly states that once the first cold
should use to keep their buses from running pack is removed, one should wait 30 min-utes
ahead of schedule. and then reapply for another 20 minutes.
c. According to the passage, hazardous waste is Choice a is incorrect because it is not the next
defined by the U.S. Environmental step, but the third. Both choices a and b bypass
Protection Agency (EPA). the reapplication of the cold pack. Choice c has
d. The directions imply that Harris should call the the timing of the packs reversed.
supervisor. c. This is implied in the sentence, bleeding, hence
d. See paragraph 1. (Paragraphs 2 and 3 make it bruising . . . , demonstrating a clear relationship
clear that the Vehicle Maneuvering Training between bleeding and the “black-and-blue” of the
Buses are simulators.) question. Choice a is not a direct cause of the
a. See the second sentence of paragraph 2. bruising; again, blood is. Choice b is incor-rect
b. See the last sentence of the fourth paragraph. because the passage states that wrapping the
c. Virtually, the whole passage deals with F.A.S.T. bandage too tightly will interfere with cir-culation
membership requirements. The other choices to the foot, which is the opposite of the condition
are too narrow to be main ideas. needed for bruising. Choice d is irrel-evant to the
a. See the first paragraph. passage.
c. The specific focus of this passage is stated in the first
sentence. It introduces the topic of the sprained
ankle. Choice a is only one detail of the passage; SECTION 8 Analyzing and
the entire passage does not describe sprains. Interpreting Poems
Choice b is incorrect because there are only two
sentences that deal with bandaging, and they only b. The eagle, who watches from his mountain walls and
mention ankle sprains. Choice d also focuses on falls like a thunderbolt, is depicted as too alert
only one detail of the passage. and dynamic to be dying (choice a). There is
d. This is explicitly stated in the fourth sentence of really no joy depicted in the poem nor any
paragraph 1. Choice a is not supported by the sense that this is a baby eagle (choice c), and
passage, because enlarged blood vessels are not there is no mention of baby birds the eagle
discussed. Choice b is not the cause of a sprain. might be watching over (choice d). Saying that
This was an explanation of the danger of keep- the eagle watches and then falls like a thunder-
ing an ice pack on the wound for too long. bolt implies alertness and then striking, respec-
Choice c confuses two details: The ball of the tively. The most logical choice is that the eagle
foot is used as the starting point for wrapping is hunting.
the bandage, tissue is not mentioned, and torn b. The word azure means blue and is often used to
describes damage to the ligament. describe the sky. Neither a forest nor cliffs are
c. Choices a, b, and d are all clearly stated in the azure (choices a and c), and nature is not men-
passage as warnings. Only c is not supported tioned as an entity in the poem (choice d).
by the passage. Ankle and fire appear in the a. It is the wrinkled sea that crawls in the first line of
same sentence, but only to describe the pain the second stanza of the poem.
of the injury. b. The fellow frightens the speaker—a, c, and d are
not frightening.

147
 –ANSWERS–

a. Tighter breathing indicates fear, as does zero at knew no haste. Also it includes the idea that the
the bone (one is sometimes said to be cold speaker put away . . . labour and leisure, too,
with fear). Also, the subject is a snake, which for his civility. This supports the image of
is gen-erally a feared animal. Death as gentle, timeless, and leaving of life’s
c. In context, the speaker is discussing animals, cares behind. Choice a is a violent image of
because he follows with his contrasting atti- Death that is not supported by the poem, that is,
tude toward this fellow, meaning the snake. the image of a kidnapper. Choice b is not an
The other choices are all human beings. idea presented by the poem, but rather one the
b. Stanza 3 contains the phrase when a boy imply- reader may hold of Death’s journey. Choice d
ing the speaker was a boy in the past and is is not broad enough to support all the ideas of
now, therefore, an adult man. Death that are presented in the poem; it just
b. The poem describes nature in terms of the murder refers to the last line.
of a happy flower, and includes the words b. The meaning of the word can be derived from the
beheads and assassin; therefore, the most context of the line. Because he is driving
logical description of the poet’s attitude slowly, Death knows no haste. This is a
would not be delight, indifference, or matter of opposites. None of the other
reverence, but rather dismay. choices are the opposite of slowly.
c. The flower in the poem is happy and feels no c. The swelling of the ground . . . the roof scarcely
surprise that it must die, which implies visible . . . [the cornice] but a mound. All of
accep-tance. If there is any hint of fear or these are descriptive of a grave with its
horror in the poem (choices a and b), it is on gravestone. Choice a presents the idea of
the part of the poet. Nothing in the poem is blurring the worlds of life and death. This is
described as feel-ing reverence (choice d). not supported, even with the line that says the
c. A God who would approve of a happy flower roof was scarcely visible. This does not mean it
being beheaded, while, apparently, the rest of was blurred. Choice b is incorrect for the same
the natural world (as exemplified by the sun) reason that a was. Choice d is incorrect
remains unmoved, is probably not to be because the speaker is already dead when she
regarded as benevolent or just (choices a and sees the mound as anyone would have to be
b). Approval does not connote anger (choice before he could view his grave.
d). The most logical choice is that, in this a. Death is a pleasant companion; the speaker only
poem, God is cruel (choice c). describes it in positive, gentle terms. Choice b
b. Line 2 of stanza 1 states that Death kindly stopped is incorrect because an intruder, someone to be
for the speaker. Therefore, Death is pre- feared, would come from out-side. Neither is
sented as a kindly gentleman. Choice a is the case in this poem. Choices c and d are not
incor-rect because indifferent would suggest supported in the poem.
that Death did not acknowledge the speaker. d. The poet uses merely to simply make a state-ment
Choice c is incorrect because the poem does with no emotion attached to it. Therefore, the
not relate that the character, Death, is an other answers are all incorrect as anger,
immortal god. Choice d (none of the above) amusement, and sorrow are emotions.
is incorrect because b is the correct answer. a. The soldier’s behavior is aggressive: cursing, jealous
c. This choice fits the kindness of Death, as stated by the of others who receive honor, quick to fight. The
speaker, as well as the fact that Death lines do not reveal a sense of honor,

148
 –ANSWERS–

but rather the soldier’s dishonorable the Bottom has such a personage. Sula may
behavior. There is no mention of dedication, be a victim (choice d), but a community does
nor any-thing to suggest a fear of cowardice. not necessarily project evil onto a victim or
c. The poem begins by stating the “world is a stage” an out-cast the way they do onto a scapegoat,
and that we are “merely players.” There is no so choice a is still the best answer.
emotion attached to the exits and entrances of d. The passage says that people who live in the Bottom
man in the poet’s tone, thus there is no need for are apt to go awry, to break from their
anguish or sorrow. Choice a is eliminated by prescribed boundaries. A person who is
the descriptions of the lover and the justice; eccentric is quirky or odd. Nowhere in the
there is no misery attached to them. Choice b passage is it implied that the people are furtive,
discusses a metaphor of life as a journey down suspicious, or unkempt (choices a, b, and c).
a river, and choice d states that life is a d. It is logical that a play would close after such a bad
comedy. Neither of these choices can be first-night reception, and the sentence in choice
supported by the passage. d also uses a metaphor about stage his-tory,
b. This is supported by the Last scene of all in which which is extended in the next sentence. Choices
Shakespeare suggests that old age is a second a, b, and c do not fit the sense or syn-tax of the
childhood that will lead to oblivion without paragraph, because the however in the next
control of the senses, like the infant in the first sentence contradicts them.
act. Man has come full circle back to his d. The first line of the passage describes the English
beginning. No fear of death is mentioned, nor language premiere of the play, indi-cating it
is free will, so choices a and d are incorrect. had previous performances in a different
Choice c is incorrect because man is used as language.
the subject of the entries, but never presented a. Although the other choices are sometimes
as a gender-specific measure. connotations of the term avant-garde, the
d. The poet accomplishes all three. It softens the author’s meaning of innovative is supported
effect of both suggestions that we are only by the final judgment of the passage on the
actors on the world’s stage, and that the sev- play as revolutionary.
enth age of man results in oblivion. It ties his d. Although the writer seems amused by the neg-ative
theme together by carrying us from the first criticisms of the play, she does give the opinion
stage to the last and then back again, and the that it was revolutionary (a word that literally
words convey his tone of indifference, as means “a turning point”). Choice a underplays
discussed above. and choice b overestimates the importance of
the work to the author of the passage. Choice c
is contradicted by the last sentence of the
SECTION 9 Philosophy passage.
and Literature a. The paragraph describes only the similarity between
the hero’s journey and the poet’s. The other
a. A scapegoat is one who is forced to bear the blame for choices are not reflected in the passage.
others or upon which the sins of a community are d. The first sentence of the passage describes
heaped. Choices b and c are wrong because Campbell’s hero as archetypal. An archetype
nowhere in the passage is it implied that Sula is a is a personage or pattern that occurs in litera-
hero or leader, or even that ture and human thought often enough to be

149
 –ANSWERS–

considered universal. Also, in the second SECTION 10 Longer Passages

sen-tence, the author of the passage mentions
the collective unconscious of all humankind. b. Choice b includes the main points of the selec-tion
The faces in the title belong to the hero, not and is not too broad. Choice a features minor
to vil-lagers, countries, or languages (choices points from the selection. Choice c also
a, b, and c). features minor points, with the addition of
a. The passage states that the hero’s tale will enlighten his “History of the National Park System,” which
fellows, but that it will also be dangerous. Such a is not included in the selection. Choice d lists
story would surely be radi-cally mind altering. points that are not discussed in the selection.
Choice b is directly con-tradicted in the passage. d. Choice d expresses the main idea of paragraph 4 of
If the hero’s tale would terrify people to no good the selection. The information in choices a, b,
end, it could not pos-sibly be enlightening. There and c is not expressed in paragraph 4.
is nothing in the passage to imply that the tale is a a. Choice a is correct, according to the second
warning of catastrophe or a dangerous lie sentence in paragraph 2. Choices b and c are
(choices c and d). mentioned in the selection, but not as causing
b. The definition of the word boon is blessing. What the islands. Choice d is not mentioned in the
the hero brings back may be a kind of gift, selection.
charm, or prize (choices a, c, and d), but c. Paragraph 4 discusses the visitors to Acadia
those words do not necessarily connote National Park, therefore, choice c is correct.
blessing or enlightenment. Choices a, b, and d are not mentioned in the
c. The word awe implies mingled reverence, dread, and selection.
wonder, so the adjective awesome is the best of a. The first sentence, paragraph 3 states that the
all the choices to describe a place that is length of the Maine coastline is 2,500 miles.
dangerous and full of wonders (second sen- Paragraph 1 states that a straight-line
tence of the second paragraph). Choices a and distance between the northernmost and
b both describe a part of the hero’s journey but southernmost coastal cities—not the length
neither describes the whole of it. Choice d is of the coastline— is 225 miles, so c is
incorrect because the hero’s journey is incorrect. Choices b and d are also incorrect.
described in very serious terms, not in whim- a. This is the best choice because each paragraph of
sical (playful or fanciful) terms at all. the passage describes an inventor whose
d. The last sentence in the passage says that the machine was a step toward the modern
kingdom of the unconscious mind goes down bicycle. There is no evidence to support
into unsuspected Aladdin caves. The story of choice b. Choices c and d are incorrect
Aladdin is a fairy tale (choice b), but neither because they both make statements that,
this nor the other choices are in the passage. according to the passage, are untrue.
d. The tone of the passage is one of anticipation and d. The fourth paragraph states that James Starley
excitement. added a gear to the pedals.
b. A stagecoach rider is narrating the story. d. The passage gives the history of the bicycle.
a. All the statements can be supported in the pas- Choice a is incorrect because few opinions
sage except this choice. are included in the passage. There is no
c. The passage reflects all of the choices except this support for choices b and c.
one.

150
 –ANSWERS–

b. This information is clearly stated in the sec-ond b. This is stated in the first sentence of the second
paragraph. The iron rims kept the tires from paragraph. Choices a and c are symptoms of
getting worn down, and, therefore, the tires heat stroke. Choice d is not mentioned.
lasted longer. Choice a is incorrect because a. Heat stroke victims have a blocked sweating
although the iron rims probably did make the mechanism, as stated in the third paragraph.
machine heavier, that was not Macmillan’s b. This information is given in the second para-graph: If
goal. Choice c is incorrect because no the victim still suffers from the symp-toms listed
information is given about whether iron- in the first sentence of the paragraph, the victim
rimmed or wooden tires moved more smoothly. needs more water and salt to help with the
There is no sup-port for choice d. inadequate intake of water and the loss of flu-ids
b. Based on the paragraph, this is the only possi-ble that caused those symptoms.
choice. Starley revolutionized the bicycle; d. Many asthma sufferers have an inherited ten-
that is, he made many innovative changes. dency to have allergies, referred to as atopy
Based on the context, the other choices make in the third paragraph.
no sense. b. The fourth sentence of the second paragraph
a. This is the only choice that states an opinion. The explains that during an attack the person
writer cannot be certain that the safety afflicted with asthma will compensate for
bicycle would look familiar to today’s con-stricted airways by breathing a greater
cyclists; it is his or her opinion that this is so. volume of air.
The other choices are presented as facts. c. The first sentence of the passage begins, No
d. The first two sentences of the passage indicate that a longer, indicating that in the past asthma was
backdraft is dangerous because it is an considered an anomalous inflammation of
explosion. The other choices are dangers, but the bronchi. Now asthma is considered a
they do not define a backdraft. chronic condition of the lungs.
b. The second paragraph indicates that there is lit-tle b. An exacerbation is usually defined as an aggra-vation
or no visible flame with a potential back- of symptoms or increase in the severity of a
draft. The other choices are listed at the end disease. However, in this passage, exacerba-tions
of the second paragraph as warning signs of is interchangeable with asthma attacks.
a potential backdraft. a. Although cramping may occur during asthma
c. This is stated in the last paragraph. Choice a is not attacks, it is not mentioned in the passage.
mentioned in the passage. The other choices See the bottom half of the second paragraph
would be useless or harmful. for a full explanation of the morphological
a. The passage indicates that hot, smoldering fires effects of an attack.
have little or no visible flame and insufficient d. The third paragraph discusses triggers in detail.
oxygen. It can reasonably be inferred, then, Although using a fan in the summer months
that more oxygen would produce more sounds good, an air conditioner is
visible flames. recommended when the pollen count is high.
d. This is stated in the last paragraph (. . . first aid Family pets and cigarette smoke are all dis-
measures should be directed at quickly tinctly inflammatory to asthma sufferers.
cooling the body). The other responses are Only physical activity is touted as a possible
first aid for heat exhaustion victims. symptom reducer.

151
 –ANSWERS–

a. Because asthma symptoms vary throughout the b. As stated in the opening sentence of the fourth
day, relying on the presence of an attack or paragraph, bulimia patients may exercise
even just on the presence of a respiratory ail- obsessively.
ment to diagnose asthma is flawed logic. d. See the second sentence of the sixth paragraph. If as
b. All the individuals listed would glean a certain many as one-third of the binge-eating dis-order
amount of knowledge from the passage; how- population are men, it stands to reason that up
ever, a healthcare professional would find the to two-thirds are younger women, given that
broad overview of the effects of asthma, com- we have learned that about 90% of all eat-ing
bined with the trigger avoidance and diagnosis disorder sufferers are adolescent and young
information, most relevant. A research scientist adult women.
would likely have all this information already. c. The tone of the passage is enthusiastic in its rec-
A mother with an asthmatic child would prob- ommendation of the greyhound as pet and,
ably not be interested in the diagnosis protocol. thereby, encourages people to adopt one. It
The antismoking activist probably would not does not give advice on transforming a grey-
find enough fodder in this article. hound (choice a). Except to say that they
d. According to the last part of the third para-graph, love to run, the passage does not spend equal
second-hand smoke can increase the risk of time on describing the greyhound as racer
allergic sensitization in children. (choice b). The author’s tone is not objective
b. See the third paragraph:“One in ten” (10% of) (choice d), but rather enthusiastic.
cases of anorexia end in death. d. See the last paragraph. The passage does not
a. See the second and third paragraphs for refer-ence mention b or c. Choice a is clearly wrong;
to heart problems with anorexia, the fourth the passage states the opposite.
and fifth paragraphs for discussion of heart a. See the first paragraph. Choices b, c, and d are not
problems with bulimia, and the last para- touched on in the passage.
graph, where heart disease is mentioned, as a d. See the last paragraph. Choices a, b, and c are
risk in obese people who suffer from binge- contradicted in the passage.
eating disorder. d. The enthusiastic tone of the passage seems meant
c. Near the end of the last paragraph, the passage to encourage people to adopt retired
indicates that binge-eating disorder patients greyhounds. Choice a is wrong because there
experience high blood pressure. is only one statistic in the passage (in the first
d. It is the other way around: 50% of people with sentence), and it is not used to prove the
anorexia develop bulimia, as stated near the point that greyhounds make good pets.
end of the fifth paragraph. Choice b is wrong because the author
b. The first sentence of the fifth paragraph tells us that substantiates every point with information.
bulimia sufferers are often able to keep their Choice c is wrong because the passage does
problem a secret, partly because they maintain make the negative point that greyhounds do
a normal or above-normal weight. not make good watchdogs.
c. In the second paragraph, the thyroid gland b. See the end of the next to last sentence in the
function is mentioned as slowing down—one passage. Choices a, c, and d are not to be
effort on the part of the body to protect itself. found in the passage.
a. According to the second paragraph, dehydra-tion b. This is stated explicitly in the second sentence of the
contributes to constipation. passage. Choice a is incorrect because

152
 –ANSWERS–

only bad eris was defined as violent. Choice rect because they obviously were not impover-
c deals with problems that belong in the ished. Choice b is incorrect because the wife
domain of mankind, not the universe. Choice had a maid. Choice d is incorrect because this
d has no support in the passage. was the life the wife wanted to have, but
a. Again, this is a definition explicitly stated in the instead had shabby walls, worn furniture etc.
sixth sentence. Choice b is incorrect because d. This question relates to the previous one. This
a choice dealing with mankind alone is too choice presents the fact that the wife had a
narrow for a definition of eris, which deals maid. Choice a does not deal with the couple’s
with the entire universe. Choice c is incorrect economic standing, but only the wife’s before
because it only deals with one action of the she was married. Choice b is tempting, but the
personified concept in goddess form. Choice poverty of her rooms is more in her eyes than a
d has no support. truthful economic indicator. How poverty
d. This is stated in the third sentence of paragraph stricken can she be if she has a maid? Choice c
Zeus did not want to sire [father] a child who deals with a tablecloth that has been used three
could eventually overthrow him. According to the days in a row. It has nothing to do with eco-
passage, he felt it was safer to arrange for the nomic standing because it could have been
child’s father to be a mortal. There is no support washed by the maid or the wife, and the situa-
in the passage for any of the other choices. tion would have been remedied.
c. This answer follows the logic of the previous a. It is obvious from the description of the wife’s
answer. A mortal child could never challenge thoughts in the first paragraph that she
the gods implies that Zeus feared that if the wished she had married a rich man. Instead,
child were immortal, it would overthrow him. she slipped into marriage with a minor civil
The other choices mention individual words ser-vant. The woman is ashamed of her
that appear in the passage but have no support. marriage and of her husband’s occupation to
b. The second to the last line in paragraph 2 tells us the point of making it sound like an accident,
that Achilles was the son of Thetis and Peleus, as one may slip on a wet floor. Choices b, c,
and that the war will result in his death. Choice and d are incorrect because the wife loving
a is incorrect because there is no other mention anything other than expensive things is never
of Zeus or events in the Trojan War other than mentioned in the passage.
Achilles’ death. Choice c is incorrect because b. The husband’s delight with the homemade stew only
Eris purposely created the conditions that seems to send his wife into another bout of
would lead to the war to kill the child of the daydreams to escape her middle-class prison.
bride and groom. Choice d is incorrect because Choice a is blatantly incorrect, because the
Achilles is the son of Thetis and Peleus, the hus-band obviously enjoys homemade beef
bride and groom of the myth. stew while the wife dreams of wings of grouse.
c. This lesson is discussed explicitly in paragraph Choice c is incorrect because the husband is
All other choices are irrelevant. either unaware of his wife’s anguish or doesn’t
c. The husband had a civil servant’s job and received a let it affect his delight in his dinner. Choice d is
steady salary; the wife had a servant who irrelevant to the passage.
cleaned for her. The couple lived in a dwelling d. This is reinforced by the last two sentences of the
that had several rooms. This implies that they passage. The wife admits she only loves rich
lived comfortably. Choice a is incor- things, believes she was made for them, and

153
 –ANSWERS–

focuses all her desires on being admired and d. This answer can be found in paragraph 4. A team
sought after, thinking only of herself at all of surgeons stands ready to perform bypass
times. Choice a is incorrect because the surgery even though the risk factor of death
author paints a negative picture of the wife. is only 2%. Choice a is not supported in the
Although choice b is tempting, the author passage. Choices c and d are incorrect
does not develop the husband enough for him because the passage does not discuss patient
to become the focus of the passage. Choice c reaction at all.
is incorrect because it is not developed in the a. This choice is supported in the last sentence of
pas-sage. The focus is on the wife, not on paragraph 3. Choice b is incorrect: The risk
class dis-tinctions in general. factor is 2%. Choice c is a complete
a. Adjectives are the words that describe nouns. These are misunder-standing of the text. Inflating a
the words that truly add dimension to the balloon into a blocked artery is coronary
descriptions of the home and the day-dreams of balloon angioplasty. Because two answers
the wife. Innate, instinctive, grandest, gorgeous, are incorrect, d is not a viable choice.
gleaming, and pink are some of the adjectives that d. Choices b and c, meaning scattered and erratic
enrich the nouns of the wife’s dreams. Shabby, respectively, are not supported in the
worn, ugly, and homemade are adjectives that add passage. Choice a may be considered a syn-
to the undesirable view she has of her present onym, but it is not the best choice. The best
situation. None of the other choices add such choice is d, requisite.
richness to the passage. b. Paragraph 2 of the passage clearly states that
b. This answer is explicitly stated in the first sen-tence Benjamin Franklin first considered the
of the selection. Choices a and d are not concept of DST.
mentioned as a result of plaque-laden arteries. b. Paragraph 3 states that the bill (which was
Choice c is too general to be the best answer. introduced by Sir Robert Pearce in 1909) met
c. This answer is explicitly stated in the sixth sen-tence with great opposition, mostly from farmers.
of paragraph 1. Choice a only names one d. This choice is directly supported by paragraph 5.
medical instrument used during the procedure. a. Choices b and c are incorrect because they each refer to
Choice b offers the reason for the angioplasty, specific points raised in the passage, but not
because it is done to compress the plaque in an throughout the passage. Choice d is too broad to
artery. Choice d offers a procedure that would represent the best title. Only choice a describes
be chosen as an alternative to angioplasty. the point of the entire passage.
a. The first and second sentences of paragraph 2 c. Paragraph 5 clearly states that during the oil
state how both procedures, angioplasty and embargo and energy crisis of the 1970s,
bypass surgery, are invasive because “both Presi-dent Richard Nixon extended DST
involve entering the body cavity.” None of through the Daylight Saving Time Energy
the other choices are supported or implied as Act of 1973 to conserve energy further.
a def-inition for invasive. b. This is an inference question. The writer indi-cates
c. The procedure is detailed in paragraph 3. It begins that visitors to Hershey’s Chocolate World are
with injecting a special dye. Choices a and b greeted by a giant Reeses Peanut Butter Cup,
follow later in the procedure, whereas choice so it is logical to assume that these are
d deals with bypass surgery rather than the manufactured by Hershey. Although the writer
angioplasty procedure. mentions the popularity of choco-

154
 –ANSWERS–

late internationally, you cannot assume that it early life described; it is also a word that pro-
is popular in every country (choice a), nor is vides a contrast to the mention of Milton’s
there any indication that Milton Hershey was later popularity.
the first person to manufacture chocolate in d. The second sentence of paragraph 1 states that
the United States (choice c). Choice d is not probes record responses. Paragraph 2 says
discussed in the passage at all. that electrodes accumulate much data.
d. This question tests your ability to use context clues c. The tone throughout the passage suggests the
to determine the intended meaning of a word. potential for microprobes. They can be perma-
In paragraph 3, the passage says, The Hershey nently implanted, they have advantages over
Chocolate company was born in 1894 as a electrodes, they are promising candidates for
subsidiary of the Lancaster Caramel Com- neural prostheses, they will have great accu-
pany. This indicates that a subsidiary is one racy, and they are flexible.
controlled by another company, choice d. d. According to the third paragraph, people who lack
Although it may be true that Milton Hershey biochemicals could receive doses via pros-
owned each company in its entirety (choice a), theses. However, there is no suggestion that
that is not clear from the material. There is also removing biochemicals would be viable.
no indication that the chocolate com-pany was a. The first sentence of the third paragraph says that
created to support the caramel company microprobes have channels that open the way
(choice b). Finally, the passage con-tains no for delivery of drugs. Studying the brain
discussion of whether or not any of Hershey’s (choice d) is not the initial function of chan-
companies were incorporated (choice c). nels, though it is one of the uses of the
probes themselves.
a. Choice a is the best choice because it is the most b. Throughout, the passage compares and con-trasts
complete statement of the material. Choices c and the various methods of medical waste
d focus on small details of the passage; choice b disposal.
is not discussed in the passage. d. See the last sentence of paragraph 3. Com-paction
b. Paragraph 3 states that Hershey sold the caramel may well reduce transportation costs (choice
company six years after the founding of the a) according to paragraph 3. That it reduces
chocolate company. The chocolate company was the volume of waste (choice b) is an
founded in 1894; the correct choice is b. advantage, not a disadvantage. Compaction
c. The Chicago International Exposition was where is not designed to eliminate organic matter,
Hershey saw a demonstration of German so confirming that it has been eliminated
chocolate-making techniques, which (choice c) is not an issue.
indicates, along with the word international a. See the last sentence of paragraph 5, which states
in its title, that the exposition contained that incineration is . . . the preferred method
displays from a variety of countries, choice c. for on-site treatment.
None of the other choices can be inferred b. See the last sentence of paragraph 6, which points
from the information in the passage. out that steam sterilization does not change
b. There is nothing inherently dramatic, undigni-fied, the appearance of the waste, thus per-haps
or rewarding discussed in paragraph 1. Modest raising questions at a landfill.
is the word that best fits being born in a small c. Paragraph 4 states that liquid is separated from pulp
village and having the unremarkable in the hydropulping process. Paragraph 6

155
 –ANSWERS–

says that liquid may form during the a. The passage is primarily an account that describes
steriliza-tion process. the causative factors (for example, tariff and
a. This response relies on an understanding of war-debt policies, disproportionate wealth,
pathological wastes, which are wastes gener- and the accumulation of debt) that led to the
ated by infectious materials. Paragraph 7 Depression and its effects (for example,
points out that incineration is especially business failures, bank closings,
appropriate for pathological wastes. homelessness, federal relief programs).
Previously, paragraph 6 had said that steam c. Paragraph 1 states that shantytowns were called
sterilization is appropriate for substances Hoovervilles because citizens blamed their
contaminated with infectious organisms. plight on the Hoover administration’s refusal
d. The second paragraph says that the main risk of to offer assistance.
pushing carts is potential exposure from torn b. Although policies can refer to regulations or laws
bags but that automated carts can reduce that (choice c) or guiding principles or theories
potential. (choice a), in this context, policies refers to
b. See the next to last sentence of paragraph 4. the courses of action that are taken, from
Sterilization does not change the appearance which a government or business intends to
of waste. Although compacting does change influence decisions or actions. Choice b is
the volume of the waste, it is not appropriate the only answer that implies action.
for eliminating hazardous materials. d. The passage describes the decade as one in which
450. d. See the second sentence of paragraph 2: spending dominated over prudent mea-sures
. . . there is some risk of exhausting contami- like saving (paragraph 3). The wild stock
nants into hallways, meaning waste might be market speculation, also described in that para-
discharged. graph, is another example of extravagance.
b. See the last sentence of the passage, which states b. The analogy depicts the stock market crash of
that the costs have been prohibitive for 1929 as a weakening agent to the economy
smaller units when using rotary kilns. (the way a stressful event may weaken the
c. Although the contaminants may sometimes be body’s resistance to illness).
extremely toxic (choice a), the word fugitive d. This paragraph clearly states that the New Deal
here is the key to the meaning. The words fugi- expanded the role of the central government
tive emissions are used in the context of the dis- in regulating the economy and creating social
posal process of hydropulping. To be a fugitive assistance programs. Choices b and c are
means to run away or to escape, so the logical incor-rect and choice a requires an opinion;
choice, given this context, is choice c. There is the author does not offer his or her viewpoint
nothing anywhere in the passage about crimi- about the New Deal measures.
nal activity, so choice b is not a likely answer. a. Choice b emphasizes only damage to the atmosphere;
Choice d is wrong because the microbiological the passage encompasses more than that. Choice
testing of which the passage speaks pertains to c does not mention the atmosphere, which is the
ensuring that all waste is disposed of. main focus of the passage. Choice d is too narrow
c. According to the paragraph 2, Deep, underlying —the final para-graph of the passage emphasizes
fissures that already existed in the economy that the cir-culation of the atmosphere is but one
led to the Great Depression. example of the complex events that keeps the
earth alive.

156
 –ANSWERS–

c. This question assesses the ability to see the be attributed to other causes. Left untreated,
organization of a reading passage and to orga- diabetes can cause damage to several major
nize material for study purposes. Choice a is organs in the body.
wrong because the passage does not explain b. According to the beginning of paragraph 2, only
exactly what will happen as a result of damage the long-term health problems are the same
to the atmosphere and other life-sustaining for these two different disorders.
mechanisms. Choice b is wrong because the d. Paragraph 2 mentions that when the body has
passage does not explain the origin of the more glucose than needed, it stores the
atmosphere. Choice d is wrong because it is overflow in muscle tissue, fat, or the liver.
solar energy that travels 93 million miles c. According to the last paragraph, non-insulin-
through space, not the atmosphere. dependent diabetics should stick to a diet
b. The biosphere, as defined in paragraph 1, is a consisting of 50–60% carbohydrates. The para-
region (or part) of the earth; it is not the graph also notes that raw foods do not cause as
enve-lope around the earth, the living things high a blood sugar level as cooked foods.
on Earth, or the circulation of the atmosphere a. Paragraph 4 mentions that, although insulin must
(choices a, c, and d). bind to a receptor in order to begin work-ing,
d. This question assesses the ability to recognize the main role of insulin is to signal the burning
supported and unsupported claims. Choice a of glucose/sugar for energy. Most hor-mones
deals with solar radiation, not with circulation function as stimuli for other processes.
of the atmosphere. Choice b is an assertion b. Type II, or non-insulin-dependent, diabetes is the
without specific supporting detail. Choice c main subject of the passage, which distin-
describes how the atmosphere protects Earth guishes Type II from Type I and goes on to
but does not speak of the circulation of the stress the importance of diet.
atmosphere. Only choice d explains that con- d. Paragraph 4 of the passage tells us that possible
ditions would be inhospitable at the equator problems with insulin receptors include a
and poles without the circulation of the atmos- paucity of receptors or a defect causing
phere; therefore, it is the best choice. improper binding of the insulin to the recep-
a. This question assesses the ability to see cause and tors. In addition, even though insulin may bind
effect. Paragraph 2 deals with how varia-tions to its receptors, cells may fail to read the signal
in the strength with which solar radiation to metabolize the glucose.
strikes the earth affects temperature. None of c. Paragraph 2 states that normally, after the diges-tive
the other choices is discussed in terms of all system breaks down food into smaller mol-ecules,
temperature changes on Earth. including glucose (otherwise known as sugar), the
a. There is no mention in the first paragraph of any blood-sugar level rises. Insulin is then released
reviving or cleansing effect the atmosphere may from the pancreas, thus signaling tissues to
have (choices b and d). In a sense, enabling the metabolize the glucose.
earth to sustain life is invigorating; however, c. Type I diabetes is the insulin-dependent form of
choice a is a better choice because the first two this condition. The minority of diabetics are
sentences talk about how the atmosphere pro- afflicted with this form. They are diagnosed
tects the earth from harmful forces. as children and must take daily injections of
b. Paragraph 1 mentions that the symptoms of Type II insulin to compensate for what their
diabetes may occur gradually and thus pancreases do not produce.

157
 –ANSWERS–

a. The final paragraph says that there is no cure for especially in light of the second sentence.
diabetes, so choices b and d are incorrect. There is no mention of confusion in the
Choice c is a possibility, but consider the passage (choice b). The word perplexity
sound of the word soothe. It does not fit with means bewil-derment and is unrelated to the
the objec-tive tone of the passage nearly as passage (choice c). Choice d is a newspaper
well as the word counteract. and TV term that is unrelated to the passage.
c. In the first paragraph, the communication network b. The crow is using the stick as a tool to assist it in
of the millions of cells in the immune system getting food.
is compared to bees swarming around a hive. a. In the first paragraph, upsurge (a swelling of the
b. All the answers indicate peaceful coexistence. ocean) is used as an analogy to illustrate the
However, according to the fifth sentence of large and increasing amount of research in
paragraph 2, in this instance, the state is ani-mal intelligence.
referred to as self-tolerance. c. The questions in this paragraph ask the reader to
c. See the last paragraph. The substances known as consider the use of animals in our world and
allergens are responsible for triggering an questions whether knowing that they have more
inappropriate immune response to ragweed intelligence than previously thought might make
pollen. a difference in human treatment of them.
d. The last paragraph of the passage mentions that d. This choice is the only one that shows animals
an antigen announces its foreignness with using human language.
intricate shapes called epitopes that protrude c. Although each conclusion is an example of some
from the surface. intelligence, the most accurate conclu-sion the
a. Every individual’s immune system must learn to reader should make is that this action shows
recognize and deal with non-self molecules high intelligence. The complexity of what the
through experience. However, the last section chimpanzee is doing to get his food and the
of paragraph 2 mentions that the immune sys- many thinking activities he must accomplish in
tem is capable of choices b, c, and d. order to realize his goal of get-
b. According to paragraph 2, the ability to distin-guish ting the termites—learning a new skill,
between self and non-self is the heart of the select-ing and shaping a tool, remembering
immune system. This topic is set up in the first stored knowledge, using the correct
paragraph and further elucidated through-out knowledge in order to take proper action for
the body of the passage. the situation— shows intelligence.
b. The last paragraph mentions that tissues or cells b. Cuing does not demonstrate animal intelli-gence
from another individual may act as anti-gens because the animal learns to do or not to do
except in the case of identical twins whose certain things by following outside signals.
cells carry identical self-markers. d. One of the hazards of living in a city near a glac-
a. The context leads to the meaning: The first sen-tence ier is the possibility that lakes forming on top
speaks of complexity, from which we can infer an of the glacier may flood the city. Although
elaborate system of interconnections, the other answers are all true statements,
none describe negative effects.

158
 –ANSWERS–

a. This passage states that although most glaciers are b. Although all choices are true statements, only b
in remote regions, some are nearby. The states the main idea.
reader needs to understand that the d. Statements a, b, and c appear in the passage; this
transitional word however indicates that the statement does not.
word remote means the opposite of near. b. The passage only gives evidence that supports this
c. The passage states that glaciers can be found on answer.
nearly every continent. d. This is the best definition that describes
b. This is the only choice reflected in the passage. Anthony’s efforts.
b. This choice is the only one that can be con-cluded c. Although each statement is true, her greatest and
from the passage. lasting achievement was that her efforts led
a. Many examples in the last paragraph suggest the to the establishment of the nineteenth
large potential of untapped electrical power amendment.
that may be harnessed from glacial water in b. This is the only choice that the passage supports.
the future with further research.

159