SENTENCE SKILLS1
The baby was obviously getting too –hot, then Sam did– what he could to cool her.
A) hot, then Sam did
B) hot. Sam did
C) hot; Sam, therefore, did
D) hot; Sam trying to do
B
SENTENCE SKILLS2
She hoped to find a new –job. One that– would let her earn money during the school year.
A) job. One that
B) job. The kind that
C) job, one that
D) job, so that it
C
SENTENCE SKILLS3
–Knocked sideways, the statue looked– as if it would fall.
A) Knocked sideways, the statue looked
B) The statue was knocked sideways, looked
C) The statue looked knocked sideways
D) The statue, looking knocked sideways,
A
SENTENCE SKILLS4
–To walk, biking, and driving– are Pat’s favorite ways of getting around.
A) To walk, biking, and driving
B) Walking, biking, and driving
C) To walk, biking, and to drive
D) To walk, to bike, and also driving
B
SENTENCE SKILLS5
–When you cross the street in the midle of the block, this– is an example of jaywalking.
A) When you cross the street in the middle of the block, this
B) You cross the street in the middle of the block, this
C) Crossing the street in the middle of the block
D) The fact that you cross the street in the middle of the block
C
SENTENCE SKILLS6
Walking by the corner the other day, –a child, I noticed, was watching– for the light to change.
A) a child, I noticed, was
B) I noticed a child watching
C) a child was watching, I noticed,
D) there was, I noticed, a child watching
B
SENTENCE SKILLS7
In his songs, Gordon Lightfoot makes melody and lyrics intricately intertwine.
Rewrite, beginning with
–Melody and lyrics–
Your new sentence will include
A) Gordon Lightfoot has
B) make Gordon Lightfoot’s
C) in Gordon Lightfoot’s
D) does Gordon Lightfood
C
SENTENCE SKILLS8
It is easy to carry solid objects without spilling them, but the same cannot be said of liquids.
Rewrite beginning with
–Unlike liquids,–
The next words will be
A) it is easy to
B) we can easily
C) solid objects can easily be
D) solid objects are easy to be
C
SENTENCE SKILLS9
Excited children ran toward the loud music, and they told others about the ice cream truck outside.
Rewrite beginning with
–The excited children, who had run toward the loud…–
The next words will be
A) music, they told
B) music told
C) music, telling
D) music and had told
B
SENTENCE SKILLS10
If he had enough strength, Todd would move the boulder.
Rewrite, the beginning with
–Todd cannot move the boulder…–
The next words will be
A) when lacking
B) because he
C) although there
D) without enough
B
SENTENCE SKILLS11
The band began to play, and then the real party started.
Rewrite the beginning with
–The real party started…–
The next words will be
A) after the band began
B) and the band began
C) although the band began
D) the band beginning
A
SENTENCE SKILLS12
Chris heard no unusual noises when he listened in the park.
Rewrite beginning with
–Listening in the park…–
The next words will be
A) no unusual noises could be heard
B) then Chris heard no unusual noises
C) and hearing no unusual noises
D) Chris heard no unusual noises
D
READING COMP.1
In the words of Thomas DeQuincey, “It is notorious that the memory strengthens as you lay burdens upon it.” If, like most people, you have trouble recalling the names of those you have just met, try this: The next time you are introduced, plan to remember the names. Say to yourself, “I’ll listen carefully; I’ll repeat each person’s name to be sure I’ve got it, and I will remember.” You’ll discover how effective this technique is and probably recall those names for the rest of your life.
The main idea of the paragraph maintains that the memory
A) always operates at peak efficiency.
B) breaks down under great strain.
C) improves if it is used often.
D) becomes unreliable if it tires.
C
READING COMP.2
Unemployment was the overriding fact of life when Franklin D. Roosevelt became president of the United States on March 4, 1993. An anomaly of the time was that the government did not systematically collect statistics of joblessness; actually it did not start doing so until 1940. The Bureau of Labor Statistics later estimated that 12,830,000 persons were out of work in 1933, about 1/4 of a civilian labor force of more than 51 million.
Roosevelt signed the Federal Emergency Relief Act of May 12, 1933. The president selected Harry L. Hopkins, who headed the New York relief program, to run FERA. A gifted administrator, Hopkins quickly put the program into high gear. He gathered a small staff in Washington and brought the state relief organizations into the FERA system. While the agency tried to provide all the necessities, food came first. City dwellers usually got an allowance for fuel, and rent for one month was provided in case of eviction.
This passage is primarily about
A) unemployment in the 1930s.
B) the effect of unemployment on the United States families.
C) President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency.
D) President Roosevelt’s FERA program.
D
READING COMP.3
It is said that a smile is universally understood. And nothing triggers a smile more universally than a taste of sugar. Nearly everyone loves sugar. Infant studies indicate that humans are born with an innate love of sweets. Based on statistics, a lot of people in Great Britain must be smiling because on average, every man, woman, and child in that country consumes 95 pounds of sugar each year.
From this passage it seems safe to conclude that the English
A) do not know that too much sugar is unhealthy.
B) eat desserts at every meal.
C) are fonder of sweets than most people.
D) have more cavities than any other people.
C
READING COMP.4
With varying success, many women around the world today struggle for equal rights. Historically, women have achieved greater equality with men during periods of social adversity. Three of the following factors initiated the greater number of improvements for women: violent revolution, world war, and the rigors of pioneering in an undeveloped land. In all three cases, the essential element that improved the status of women was a shortage of men, which required women to perform many of society’s vital tasks.
We can conclude from the information in this passage that
A) women today are highly successful in winning equal rights.
B) only pioneer women have been considered equal to men.
C) historically, women have only achieved equality through force.
D) historically, the principle of equality alone has not been enough to secure women equal rights.
D
READING COMP.5
In 1848, Charles Burton of New York City made the first baby carriage, but people strongly objected to the vehicles because they said the carriage operators hit too many pedestrians. Still convinced that he had a good idea, Burton opened a factory in England. He obtained orders for the baby carriages from Queen Isabella II of Spain, Queen Victoria of England, and the Pasha of Egypt. The United States had to wait another 10 years before it got a carriage factory, and only 75 carriages were sold in the first year.
Even after success of baby carriages in England,
A) Charles Burton was a poor man.
B) Americans were still reluctant to buy baby carriages.
C) Americans purchased thousands of baby carriages.
D) the United States bought more carriages than any other country.
B
READING COMP.6
All the water molecules form six-sided structures as they freeze and become snow crystals. The shape of the crystal is determined by temperature, vapor, and wind conditions in the upper atmosphere. Snow crystals are always symmetrical because these conditions affect all six sides simultaneously.
The purpose of the passage is to present
A) a personal observation.
B) a solution to a problem.
C) actual information.
D) opposing scientific theories.
C
READING COMP.7
–The Midwest is experiencing its worst drought in 15 years.–
–Corn and soybean prices are expected to be very high this year.–
What does the second sentence do?
A) It restates the idea found in the first.
B) It states an effect.
C) It gives an example.
D) It analyzes the statement made in the first.
B
READING COMP.8
–Social studies classes focus on the complexity of our social environment.–
–The subject combines the study of history and the social sciences and promotes skills in citizenship.–
What does the second sentence do?
A) It gives an example.
B) It makes a contrast.
C) It proposes a solution.
D) it states an effect.
A
READING COMP.9
–Knowledge of another language fosters greater awareness of cultural diversity among the peoples of the world.–
–Individuals who have foreign language skills can appreciate more readily other peoples’ values and ways of life.–
How are the two sentences related?
A) They contradict each other.
B) They present problems and solutions.
C) They establish a contrast.
D) They repeat the same idea.
D
READING COMP.10
–Serving on a jury is an important obligation of citizenship.–
–Many companies allow their employees paid leaves of absence to serve on juries.–
What does the second sentence do?
A) It reinforces what it stated in the first.
B) It explains what it stated in the first.
C) The second expands on the first.
D) It draws a conclusion about what is stated in the first.
A
Television has been introduced to almost every country in the world, reaching a long number of viewers on every continent. About 600 million people saw the first person walk on the moon, and a billion people watched the Twentieth Olympic Games. Television has in many ways promoted understanding and cooperation among people. It does this by showing educational and cultural programs.
According to the passage, which of the following is true?
A) Television is watched in nearly every country.
B) Not everybody who had a television set could watch the 1998 World Cup finals.
C) Watching television makes peoples dissatisfied with their own lives.
D) Television was invented in 1980.
A
Janet’s parents bought her a new sports car as a birthday present. It was blue. Janet sold her 7-year-old blue pickup truck to a high school student. The truck could not go very fast, but the student was happy with it.
According to the passage, which if these statements is true?
A) Janet bought a pickup truck and a sports car.
B) The pickup truck was faster than the sports car.
C) The high school student traded cars with Janet.
D) The pickup was older than the sports car.
D
Some of Edward Weston’s black-and-white photographs of American nature scenes are considered superb examples of visual art. Indeed, some of his photographs have commanded top prices at art galleries.
Which of the following best characterizes Weston’s photographs?
A) They belong to famous collectors.
B) They have been sold in art galleries for large sums of money.
C) They introduced many Americans to visual arts.
D) They contrast American cities with natural settings.
B
Speaking to a group of people can be a frightening experience. Some speakers cope by looking above the heads of the audience. Others try to imagine that they are talking to a friend. A few try picturing the audience in some non-threatening way, such as in their pajamas.
The author of the passage assumes that speakers should
A) feel comfortable when addressing an audience
B) scare the audience
C) encourage people to talk during the speech
D) speak only to familiar people
A
People have different ways of learning. Some are better at making mental pictures of new ideas. Others are more comfortable with writing lists of things to memorize. Certain people can learn best when listening to music, while others need silence to concentrate.
Which if the following is the main idea of the passage?
A) Mental pictures help many to learn.
B) Some people prefer lists to making mental pictures.
C) To learn well you need to be comfortable.
D) Different individuals have different ways of acquiring information.
D
Before giving first aid to an accident victim, you should obtain his or her consent. Asking for consent takes a simple question. Say to the victim, “I know first aid, and I can help you until an ambulance arrives. Is that okay?”
“Asking for consent” means asking for
A) permission to help the victim
B) thanks from the victim
C) help from onlookers
D) information about the victim’s injuries
A
Jane and Paul are busy for 15 hours a day, 5 days a week going to college and working in a restaurant. They go to sleep at 11 p.m. every day, but on Sunday they take part in dance lessons.
According to the passage, Jane and Paul spend most of their time
A) at home
B) going to college and working
C) taking parts in dance lessons
D) sleeping
B
If you hold a piece of copper wire over the flame of a match, heat will be conducted by the copper wire to your fingers, and you will be forced to drop the wire. You will, however, still be able to hold the match because the match is a poor conductor of heat. Anyone, child or adult, can try this simple experiment.
Which of the following is stated in the passage above?
A) Copper is a good conductor of heat.
B) A match and copper conduct heat equally.
C) A match is an excellent conductor of heat.
D) Matches should be kept out of the reach of small children.
A
Many people own different pets. Dogs, cats, birds, and fish are common household pets. Others pets are considered to be exotic animals. These include snakes, lizards, and hedgehogs.
Snakes are
A) uncommon pets
B) likely to be found in a household with dogs
C) found only in zoos
D) not allowed in people’s homes
A
Cesar Chavez was an influential leader for farm workers. He fought for their rights and better working conditions. Chavez led many strikes that angered farm owners. Eventually he succeeded in getting increased wages and improved living situations for farm workers.
Chavez changed lives because he
A) helped the farmers get more workers
B) worked for the farmers
C) helped work on the farms everyday
D) changed the conditions for the farm workers
D
Shikibu Murasaki, who wrote almost a thousand years ago, was one of the world’s _ novelists.
A) most nearly
B) too early
C) earlier
D) earliest
D
The Chang children helped _ their parents by making sandwiches for the whole family.
A) out
B) with
C) for
D) to
A
As demonstrated by his new album, Ibrahim Ferrer _ one of the most beautiful voices in Latin music.
A) has
B) have
C) had
D) having
A
After we saw the play, we had different opinions _ Jane’s performance.
A) about
B) at
C) for
D) towards
A
Elena found a tomato that was much bigger than all the others in the garden.
How did the tomato compare to the others in the garden?
A) It was the smallest
B) It was not very large
C) It was larger than some
D) It was the largest
D
When the popular entertainer cancelled her appearance, the Latin American festival was postponed.
When will the festival take place?
A) Never
B) Right away
C) Tomorrow
D) Later
D
Janet, who is usually on time, explained why she was a little late for dinner.
Which best describes Janet?
A) Hungry
B) Punctual
C) Talkative
D) Tardy
B
Bram Stoker is best known for his classic horror novel Dracula, which was published In 1897.
What did Bram Stoker do?
A) He was an actor.
B) He was a merchant.
C) He was a writer.
D) He was an engineer.
C
Exhausted from her transatlantic flight, Judy could not stay up past 9:00 p.m.
What did Judy do by 9:00 p.m.?
A) Leave work
B) Come home from the airport
C) Lose her enthusiasm
D) Go to bed
D
This semester many students flocked to the African dance class which had just been added to the curriculum of the university.
How long has the university offered the African dance class?
A) For a short time
B) Quite a long time
C) For an entire school year
D) On and off for a while
A
_ washing her sweater, Mary hung it up to dry.
A) After
B) Before
C) By
D) Until
A
Some day men and women _ to Mars.
A) will travel
B) will travels
C) will traveling
D) will traveled
A
Water _ at a temperature of zero degrees Celsius.
A) having frozen
B) freezing
C) freeze
D) freezes
D
_ get a new haircut?
A) Do you
B) Does you
C) Are you
D) Did you
D
Jacques Cousteau will be remembered for his inventions and for _ to marine science.
A) dedication
B) his dedication
C) being dedicated
D) his being dedicated
B
Since my parents always insist that I get a good night’s sleep, they were __ when I stayed out late last night past my curfew.
A) very happy
B) very relieved
C) very tired
D) very angry
D
Her puppy ran out into the street chasing a cat. The owner quickly went to retrieve it.
A) the owner quickly went to retrieve it after the cat was chased into the street by her puppy.
B) The owner quickly retrieved it after her puppy chased the cat into the street.
C) When her puppy ran into the street, the owner quickly went to retrieve it.
D) Quickly retrieving it, the owner went quickly after her puppy that ran out into the street after the cat.
C
Lisa plays the piano. Her sister Kelly plays the piano too.
A) Lisa and her sister Kelly plays the piano.
B) Lisa and her sister Kelly play the piano.
C) Lisa plays the piano and Kelly plays the piano.
D) Lisa and Kelly too play the piano.
B
The road was slippery. We put chains on the tires.
A) Although the road was slippery, we put chains on the tires.
B) The road became slippery when we put chains on the tires.
C) We put chains on the tires because the road was slippery.
D) Putting chains on the tires, the road we were on was slippery.
C
Kazuko took her dog for a walk. They went to the park.
A) Kazuko, going to the park, took her dog for a walk.
B) Kazuko and her dog went for a walk in the park.
C) Kazuko took her dog for a walk because they went to the park.
D) Kazuko and her dog went to the park, where they walked.
B
Select the best version of the bracketed part of the
sentence.
Stamp collecting [being a hobby that is] sometimes used in
the schools to teach economics and social studies.
A. being a hobby that is
B. is a hobby because it is
C. which is a hobby
D. is a hobby
D
Select the best version of the bracketed part of the
sentence.
[Knocked sideways, the statue looked] as if it would fall.
A. Knocked sideways, the statue looked
B. The statue was knocked sideways, looked
C. The statue looked knocked sideways
D. The statue, looking knocked sideways,
A
Select the best version of the bracketed part of the
sentence.
[To walk, biking, and driving] are Pat’s favorite ways of
getting around.
A. To walk, biking, and driving
B. Walking, biking, and driving
C. To walk, biking, and to drive
D. To walk, to bike, and also driving
B
Select the best version of the bracketed part of the
sentence.
[When you cross the street in the middle of the block, this] is
an example of jaywalking.
A. When you cross the street in the middle of the block,
this
B. You cross the street in the middle of the block, this
C. Crossing the street in the middle of the block
D. The fact that you cross the street in the middle of the
block
C
Select the best version of the bracketed part of the
sentence.
Walking by the corner the other day, [a child, I noticed, was
watching] for the light to change.
A. a child, I noticed, was watching
B. I noticed a child watching
C. a child was watching, I noticed,
D. there was, I noticed, a child watching
B
Select the best version of the bracketed part of the
sentence.
[Going back to his old school,] everything there looked
smaller than Don remembered.
A. Going back to his old school,
B. When he went back to his old school,
C. To go back to his old school,
D. As he went back to his old school,
B
Select the best version of the bracketed part of the
sentence.
[Painting, drawing and to sculpt] are some of the techniques
artists such as Picasso used to express themselves.
A. Painting, drawing and to sculpt
B. To paint, to draw, and sculpting
C. Painting, drawing and sculpting
D. To paint, draw, and sculpting
C
Select the best version of the bracketed part of the
sentence.
Playing sports in school [which is an activity] meant to teach
teamwork and leadership skills students can use later in life.
A. which is an activity
B. is an activity because it is
C. being an activity which is
D. is an activity
D
Select the best version of the bracketed part of the
sentence.
[Glancing at his watch], Daniel picked up his speed.
A. Glancing at his watch
B. He glanced at his watch and
C. To glance at his watch
D. Since he glanced at his watch
A
Select the best version of the bracketed part of the
sentence.
[For a snake, shedding their skin] up to eight times a year is
part of a natural process.
A. For a snake, shedding their skin
B. A snake’s shedding its skin
C. When a snake sheds its skin
D. To shed its skin, for snakes
B
Select the best version of the bracketed part of the
sentence.
[To appear white or colorless,] light is actually composed of an
entire spectrum of colors.
A. To appear white or colorless,
B. In appearing white or colorless,
C. As it appears white or colorless,
D. While it appears white or colorless,
D
Select the best version of the bracketed part of the
sentence.
[I was surprised by the noise peering] through the window to
see who was at the door.
A. I was surprised by the noise peering
B. I was surprised by the noise, peered
C. The noise surprised me, peering
D. Surprised by the noise, I peered
D
It is easy to carry solid objects without spilling them, but the
same cannot be said of liquids.
Rewrite, beginning with
Unlike liquids,
The next words will be
A. it is easy to
B. we can easily
C. solid objects can easily be
D. solid objects are easy to be
C
Although the sandpiper is easily frightened by noise and
light, it will bravely resist any force that threatens its nest.
Rewrite, beginning with
The sandpiper is easily frightened by noise and light,
The next words will be
A. but it will bravely resist
B. nevertheless bravely resisting
C. and it will bravely resist
D. even if bravely resisting
A
If he had enough strength, Todd would move the boulder.
Rewrite, beginning with
Todd cannot move the boulder
The next words will be
A. when lacking
B. because he
C. although there
D. without enough
B
The band began to play, and then the real party started.
Rewrite, beginning with
The real party started
The next words will be
A. after the band began
B. and the band began
C. although the band began
D. the band beginning
A
Chris heard no unusual noises when he listened in the park.
Rewrite, beginning with
Listening in the park,
The next words will be
A. no unusual noises could be heard
B. then Chris heard no unusual noises
C. and hearing no unusual noises
D. Chris heard no unusual noises
D
It is unusual to see owls during the daytime, since they are
nocturnal animals.
Rewrite, beginning with
Being nocturnal animals,
The next words will be
A. it is unusual to see owls
B. owls are not usually seen
C. owls during the daytime are
D. it is during the daytime that
B
While bear attacks on humans are extremely rare, most
occur when a mother bear’s cubs are approached.
Rewrite, beginning with
Bear attacks on humans are extremely rare,
The next words will be
A. but approaching a mother bear’s cubs
B. and approaching a mother bear’s cubs
C. even though approaching a mother bear’s cubs
D. nevertheless approaching a mother bear’s cubs
A
If I want your opinion, I will ask for it.
Rewrite, beginning with
I won’t ask for your opinion
The next words will be
A. if I want it
B. when I want it
C. although I want it
D. unless I want it
D
It began to rain, and everyone at the picnic ran to the trees
to take shelter.
Rewrite, beginning with
Everyone at the picnic ran to take shelter
The next words will be
A. beginning to rain
B. when it began to rain
C. although it began to rain
D. and it began to rain
B
Lucy saw an amazing sight when she witnessed her first
sunrise.
Rewrite, beginning with
Witnessing her first sunrise,
The next words will be
A. an amazing sight was seen
B. when Lucy saw an amazing sight
C. Lucy saw an amazing sight
D. seeing an amazing sight
C
After three hours of walking the museum, the entire family
felt in need of a rest.
Rewrite, beginning with
The entire family felt in need of a rest
The next words will be
A. walking through the museum for three hours
B. having walked through the museum for three hours.
C. and they walked through the museum for three hours
D. despite having walked through the museum for three
hours.
B
Bats see extremely well in the dark; in fact, much better than
humans.
Rewrite, beginning with
Unlike bats,
The next words will be
A. humans can see
B. humans do not see
C. it is not easy to see
D. seeing is difficult
B
The big celebration meal was over, and everyone began to
feel sleepy.
Rewrite, beginning with
Everyone began to feel sleepy
The next words will be
A. and the big celebration meal
B. before the big celebration meal
C. after the big celebration meal
D. although the big celebration meal
C
In the words of Thomas DeQuincey, “It is notorious that
the memory strengthens as you lay burdens upon it.” If,
like most people, you have trouble recalling the names of
those you have just met, try this: The next time you are
introduced, plan to remember the names. Say to yourself,
“I’ll listen carefully; I’ll repeat each person’s name to be
sure I’ve got it, and I will remember.” You’ll discover how
effective this technique is and probably recall those names
for the rest of your life.
The main idea of the paragraph maintains that the memory
A. always operates at peak efficiency.
B. breaks down under great strain.
C. improves as it is used often.
D. becomes unreliable if it tires.
Unemployment was the overriding fact of life when
Franklin D. Roosevelt became president of the United
States on March 4, 1933. An anomaly of the time was that
the government did not systematically collect statistics of
joblessness; actually it did not start doing so until 1940. The
Bureau of Labor Statistics later estimated that 12,830,000
persons were out of work in 1933, about one-fourth of a
civilian labor force of more than 51 million.
Roosevelt signed the Federal Emergency Relief Act on May
12, 1933. The president selected Harry L. Hopkins, who
headed the New York relief program, to run FERA. A gifted
administrator, Hopkins quickly put the program into high
gear. He gathered a small staff in Washington and brought
the state relief organizations into the FERA system. While
the agency tried to provide all the necessities, food came
first. City dwellers usually got an allowance for fuel, and rent
for one month was provided in case of eviction.
This passage is primarily about
A. unemployment in the 1930s.
B. the effect of unemployment on United States families.
C. President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency.
D. President Roosevelt’s FERA program.
It is said that a smile is universally understood. And nothing
triggers a smile more universally than a taste of sugar.
Nearly everyone loves sugar. Infant studies indicate that
humans are born with an innate love of sweets. Based on
statistics, a lot of people in Great Britain must be smiling
because on average, every man, woman, and child in that
country consumes 95 pounds of sugar each year.
From this passage it seems safe to conclude that the English
A. do not know that too much sugar is unhealthy.
B. eat desserts at every meal.
C. are fonder of sweets than most people.
D. have more cavities than any other people.
With varying success, many women around the world
today struggle for equal rights. Historically, women have
achieved greater equality with men during periods of social
adversity. The following factors initiated the greatest number
of improvements for women: violent revolution, world war,
and the rigors of pioneering in an undeveloped land. In all
three cases, the essential element that improved the status
of women was a shortage of men, which required women to
perform many of society’s vital tasks.
We can conclude from the information in this passage that
A. women today are highly successful in winning equal
rights.
B. only pioneer women have been considered equal to
men.
C. historically, women have only achieved equality
through force.
D. historically, the principle of equality alone has not been
enough to secure women equal rights.
In 1848, Charles Burton of New York City made the first
baby carriage, but people strongly objected to the vehicles
because they said the carriage operators hit too many
pedestrians. Still convinced that he had a good idea, Burton
opened a factory in England. He obtained orders for the
baby carriages from Queen Isabella II of Spain, Queen
Victoria of England, and the Pasha of Egypt. The United
States had to wait another 10 years before it got a carriage
factory, and only 75 carriages were sold in the first year.
Even after the success of baby carriages in England,
A. Charles Burton was a poor man.
B. Americans were still reluctant to buy baby carriages.
C. Americans purchased thousands of baby carriages.
D. the United States bought more carriages than any other
country.
All water molecules form six-sided structures as they freeze
and become snow crystals. The shape of the crystal is
determined by temperature, vapor, and wind conditions in
the upper atmosphere. Snow crystals are always symmetrical
because these conditions affect all six sides simultaneously.
The purpose of the passage is to present
A. a personal observation.
B. a solution to a problem.
C. actual information.
D. opposing scientific theories.
In the words of Thomas DeQuincey, “It is notorious that
the memory strengthens as you lay burdens upon it.” If,
like most people, you have trouble recalling the names of
those you have just met, try this: The next time you are
introduced, plan to remember the names. Say to yourself,
“I’ll listen carefully; I’ll repeat each person’s name to be sure
I have it, and I will remember.” You’ll discover how effective
this technique is and probably recall those names for the rest
of your life.
The writer believes people remember names best when they
a. meet new people
b. are intelligent
c. decide to do so
d. are interested in people
“piggy banks,” coin banks shaped like pigs. A logical theory
about how this tradition started might be that because pigs
often symbolize greed, the object is to “fatten” one’s piggy
bank with as much money as possible.
However, while this idea makes sense, it is not the correct
origin of the term. The genesis of the piggy bank is the old
English word “pygg”, which was a common kind of clay
hundreds of years ago in England. People used pots and jars
made out of this red “pygg” clay for many different purposes
in their homes. Sometimes they kept their money in one of
the pots, and this was known as a pygg bank. Over the years,
because “pygg” and “pig” sounded the same, glaziers began
making novelty banks out of pottery in the shape of a pig as
a kind of joke. These banks were given as gifts and exported
to countries where people spoke other languages and where
no one had ever heard of pygg clay. The tradition caught on
all over the world, and today piggy banks come in all colors
and are made of all kinds of materials, including plastic.
This passage is mainly about
A. how people in different countries save their money
B. how people in England made pottery centuries ago
C. how a common expression began in a surprising way
D. how an unusual custom got started
It is said that a smile is universally understood. And nothing
triggers a smile more universally that the taste of sugar.
Nearly everyone loves sugar. Infant studies indicate that
humans are born with an innate love of sweets. Based on
statistics, a lot of people in Great Britain must be smiling
because on average, every man, woman and child in that
country consumes 95 pounds of sugar each year.
This passage implies that the writer thinks that 95 pounds of
sugar per person per year is
A. a surprisingly large amount
B. a surprisingly small amount
C. about what one would expect
D. an unhealthy amount
The wheel has been used by humans since nearly the
beginning of civilization and is considered one of the most
important mechanical inventions of all time. Most primitive
technologies since the invention of the wheel have been
based on its principles, and since the industrial revolution,
the wheel has been a basic element of nearly every machine
constructed by humankind. No one knows the exact time
and place of the invention of the wheel, but its beginnings
can be seen across many ancient civilizations.
According to this passage, the wheel is an important
invention because
a. it is one of the world’s oldest inventions
b. it forms the basis of so many later inventions
c. it is an invention that can be traced to many cultures
d. it is one the world’s most famous inventions
Samuel Morse, best known today as the inventor of
Morse Code and one of the inventors of the telegraph,
was originally a prominent painter. While he was always
interested in technology and studied electrical engineering
in college, Morse went to Paris to learn from famous artists
of his day and later painted many pictures that now hang
in museums, including a portrait of former President John
Adams. In 1825, Morse was in Washington, D.C., painting
a portrait of the Marquis de Lafayette when a messenger
arrived on horseback to tell him that his wife was gravely
ill back at his home in Connecticut. The message had taken
several days to reach him because of the distance. Morse
rushed to his home as fast as he could, but his wife had
already passed away by the time he arrived. Grief-stricken,
he gave up painting and devoted the rest of his life to finding
ways to transmit messages over long distances faster.
Morse left the art world and helped to invent the telegraph
A. because he was tired of painting
B. because he wanted to communicate with people far
away
C. because of a personal tragedy in his life
D. because he was fascinated by science
Leonardo DaVinci is not only one of the most famous artists
in history, he was also a botanist, a writer and an inventor.
Even though most of his inventions were not actually built
in his lifetime, many of today’s modern machines can be
traced back to some of his original designs. The parachute,
the military tank, the bicycle and even the airplane were
foretold in the imaginative drawings that can still be seen in
the fragments of Leonardo’s notebooks. Over 500 years ago,
this man conceived ideas that were far ahead of his time.
The author of this passage is praising Leonardo DaVinci for
his:
A. artistic talent
B. intelligence
C. vision
D. fame
The Midwest is experiencing its worst drought in 15 years.
Corn and soybean prices are expected to be very high this
year.
What does the second sentence do?
A. It restates the idea found in the first.
B. It states an effect.
C. It gives an example.
D. It analyzes the statement made in the first.
Social studies classes focus on the complexity of our social
environment.
The subject combines the study of history and the social
sciences and promotes skills in citizenship.
What does the second sentence do?
A. It expands on the first sentence.
B. It makes a contrast.
C. It proposes a solution.
D. It states an effect.
Knowledge of another language fosters greater awareness of
cultural diversity among the peoples of the world.
Individuals who have foreign language skills can appreciate
more readily other peoples’ values and ways of life
.
How are the two sentences related?
A. They contradict each other.
B. They present problems and solutions.
C. They establish a contrast.
D. They repeat the same idea.
Serving on a jury is an important obligation of citizenship.
Many companies allow their employees paid leaves of
absence to serve on juries.
What does the second sentence do?
A. It reinforces what is stated in the first.
B. It explains what is stated in the first.
C. It expands on the first.
D. It draws a conclusion about what is stated in the first.
While most people think of dogs as pets, some dogs are bred
and trained specifically for certain types of work.
The bloodhound’s acute sense of smell and willing
personality make it ideal for tracking people missing in the
woods.
What does the second sentence do?
A. It makes a contrast.
B. It restates an idea found in the first.
C. It states an effect.
D. It gives an example.
Paris, France, is a city that has always been known as a
center of artistic and cultural expression.
In the 1920s, Paris was home to many artists and writers
from around the world who became famous, such as Picasso
and Hemingway.
What does the second sentence do?
A. It reinforces the first.
B. It states an effect.
C. It draws a conclusion.
D. It provides a contrast.
Studies show that the prevalence of fast-food restaurants
corresponds with the rates of obesity in both children and
adults.
Obesity is now on the rise in countries outside the U.S.,
where fast food restaurants are becoming more common.
How do the two sentences relate?
A. They express roughly the same idea.
B. They contradict each other.
C. They present problems and solutions.
D. They establish a contrast.
Compared with the rest of the country, North Dakota has
a thriving economy, making it a place where more people
want to live.
Winters in North Dakota are inhospitable, with average
temperatures in January ranging from 2 degrees Fahrenheit
to 17 degrees.
What does the second sentence do?
A. It reinforces the first.
B. It explains what is stated in the first.
C. It contradicts the first.
D. It analyzes a statement made in the first.
Some stores are testing a new checkout system that allows
shoppers to use their mobile phones to scan items as they
walk through stores and pay at self-service kiosks, skipping
the cashiers’ lines.
The new mobile checkout system is intended to reduce long
lines and customer wait times in stores.
What does the second sentence do?
A. It expands on the first.
B. It states an effect.
C. It contrasts with the first.
D. It gives an example.
According to the American Sleep Disorders Association, the
average teenager needs around 9.5 hours of sleep per night,
possibly because critical growth hormones are released
during sleep.
The average adult requires between six and eight hours of
sleep per night for optimal health and productivity.
How do the two sentences relate?
A. They establish a contrast.
B. They contradict each other.
C. They reinforce each other.
D. They provide a problem and solution.
SENTENCE SKILLS1
The baby was obviously getting too –hot, then Sam did– what he could to cool her.
A) hot, then Sam did
B) hot. Sam did
C) hot; Sam, therefore, did
D) hot; Sam trying to do
B
SENTENCE SKILLS2
She hoped to find a new –job. One that– would let her earn money during the school year.
A) job. One that
B) job. The kind that
C) job, one that
D) job, so that it
C
SENTENCE SKILLS3
–Knocked sideways, the statue looked– as if it would fall.
A) Knocked sideways, the statue looked
B) The statue was knocked sideways, looked
C) The statue looked knocked sideways
D) The statue, looking knocked sideways,
A
SENTENCE SKILLS4
–To walk, biking, and driving– are Pat’s favorite ways of getting around.
A) To walk, biking, and driving
B) Walking, biking, and driving
C) To walk, biking, and to drive
D) To walk, to bike, and also driving
B
SENTENCE SKILLS5
–When you cross the street in the midle of the block, this– is an example of jaywalking.
A) When you cross the street in the middle of the block, this
B) You cross the street in the middle of the block, this
C) Crossing the street in the middle of the block
D) The fact that you cross the street in the middle of the block
C
SENTENCE SKILLS6
Walking by the corner the other day, –a child, I noticed, was watching– for the light to change.
A) a child, I noticed, was
B) I noticed a child watching
C) a child was watching, I noticed,
D) there was, I noticed, a child watching
B
SENTENCE SKILLS7
In his songs, Gordon Lightfoot makes melody and lyrics intricately intertwine.
Rewrite, beginning with
–Melody and lyrics–
Your new sentence will include
A) Gordon Lightfoot has
B) make Gordon Lightfoot’s
C) in Gordon Lightfoot’s
D) does Gordon Lightfood
C
SENTENCE SKILLS8
It is easy to carry solid objects without spilling them, but the same cannot be said of liquids.
Rewrite beginning with
–Unlike liquids,–
The next words will be
A) it is easy to
B) we can easily
C) solid objects can easily be
D) solid objects are easy to be
C
SENTENCE SKILLS9
Excited children ran toward the loud music, and they told others about the ice cream truck outside.
Rewrite beginning with
–The excited children, who had run toward the loud…–
The next words will be
A) music, they told
B) music told
C) music, telling
D) music and had told
B
SENTENCE SKILLS10
If he had enough strength, Todd would move the boulder.
Rewrite, the beginning with
–Todd cannot move the boulder…–
The next words will be
A) when lacking
B) because he
C) although there
D) without enough
B
SENTENCE SKILLS11
The band began to play, and then the real party started.
Rewrite the beginning with
–The real party started…–
The next words will be
A) after the band began
B) and the band began
C) although the band began
D) the band beginning
A
SENTENCE SKILLS12
Chris heard no unusual noises when he listened in the park.
Rewrite beginning with
–Listening in the park…–
The next words will be
A) no unusual noises could be heard
B) then Chris heard no unusual noises
C) and hearing no unusual noises
D) Chris heard no unusual noises
D
READING COMP.1
In the words of Thomas DeQuincey, “It is notorious that the memory strengthens as you lay burdens upon it.” If, like most people, you have trouble recalling the names of those you have just met, try this: The next time you are introduced, plan to remember the names. Say to yourself, “I’ll listen carefully; I’ll repeat each person’s name to be sure I’ve got it, and I will remember.” You’ll discover how effective this technique is and probably recall those names for the rest of your life.
The main idea of the paragraph maintains that the memory
A) always operates at peak efficiency.
B) breaks down under great strain.
C) improves if it is used often.
D) becomes unreliable if it tires.
C
READING COMP.2
Unemployment was the overriding fact of life when Franklin D. Roosevelt became president of the United States on March 4, 1993. An anomaly of the time was that the government did not systematically collect statistics of joblessness; actually it did not start doing so until 1940. The Bureau of Labor Statistics later estimated that 12,830,000 persons were out of work in 1933, about 1/4 of a civilian labor force of more than 51 million.
Roosevelt signed the Federal Emergency Relief Act of May 12, 1933. The president selected Harry L. Hopkins, who headed the New York relief program, to run FERA. A gifted administrator, Hopkins quickly put the program into high gear. He gathered a small staff in Washington and brought the state relief organizations into the FERA system. While the agency tried to provide all the necessities, food came first. City dwellers usually got an allowance for fuel, and rent for one month was provided in case of eviction.
This passage is primarily about
A) unemployment in the 1930s.
B) the effect of unemployment on the United States families.
C) President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency.
D) President Roosevelt’s FERA program.
D
READING COMP.3
It is said that a smile is universally understood. And nothing triggers a smile more universally than a taste of sugar. Nearly everyone loves sugar. Infant studies indicate that humans are born with an innate love of sweets. Based on statistics, a lot of people in Great Britain must be smiling because on average, every man, woman, and child in that country consumes 95 pounds of sugar each year.
From this passage it seems safe to conclude that the English
A) do not know that too much sugar is unhealthy.
B) eat desserts at every meal.
C) are fonder of sweets than most people.
D) have more cavities than any other people.
C
READING COMP.4
With varying success, many women around the world today struggle for equal rights. Historically, women have achieved greater equality with men during periods of social adversity. Three of the following factors initiated the greater number of improvements for women: violent revolution, world war, and the rigors of pioneering in an undeveloped land. In all three cases, the essential element that improved the status of women was a shortage of men, which required women to perform many of society’s vital tasks.
We can conclude from the information in this passage that
A) women today are highly successful in winning equal rights.
B) only pioneer women have been considered equal to men.
C) historically, women have only achieved equality through force.
D) historically, the principle of equality alone has not been enough to secure women equal rights.
D
READING COMP.5
In 1848, Charles Burton of New York City made the first baby carriage, but people strongly objected to the vehicles because they said the carriage operators hit too many pedestrians. Still convinced that he had a good idea, Burton opened a factory in England. He obtained orders for the baby carriages from Queen Isabella II of Spain, Queen Victoria of England, and the Pasha of Egypt. The United States had to wait another 10 years before it got a carriage factory, and only 75 carriages were sold in the first year.
Even after success of baby carriages in England,
A) Charles Burton was a poor man.
B) Americans were still reluctant to buy baby carriages.
C) Americans purchased thousands of baby carriages.
D) the United States bought more carriages than any other country.
B
READING COMP.6
All the water molecules form six-sided structures as they freeze and become snow crystals. The shape of the crystal is determined by temperature, vapor, and wind conditions in the upper atmosphere. Snow crystals are always symmetrical because these conditions affect all six sides simultaneously.
The purpose of the passage is to present
A) a personal observation.
B) a solution to a problem.
C) actual information.
D) opposing scientific theories.
C
READING COMP.7
–The Midwest is experiencing its worst drought in 15 years.–
–Corn and soybean prices are expected to be very high this year.–
What does the second sentence do?
A) It restates the idea found in the first.
B) It states an effect.
C) It gives an example.
D) It analyzes the statement made in the first.
B
READING COMP.8
–Social studies classes focus on the complexity of our social environment.–
–The subject combines the study of history and the social sciences and promotes skills in citizenship.–
What does the second sentence do?
A) It gives an example.
B) It makes a contrast.
C) It proposes a solution.
D) it states an effect.
A
READING COMP.9
–Knowledge of another language fosters greater awareness of cultural diversity among the peoples of the world.–
–Individuals who have foreign language skills can appreciate more readily other peoples’ values and ways of life.–
How are the two sentences related?
A) They contradict each other.
B) They present problems and solutions.
C) They establish a contrast.
D) They repeat the same idea.
D
READING COMP.10
–Serving on a jury is an important obligation of citizenship.–
–Many companies allow their employees paid leaves of absence to serve on juries.–
What does the second sentence do?
A) It reinforces what it stated in the first.
B) It explains what it stated in the first.
C) The second expands on the first.
D) It draws a conclusion about what is stated in the first.
A
Television has been introduced to almost every country in the world, reaching a long number of viewers on every continent. About 600 million people saw the first person walk on the moon, and a billion people watched the Twentieth Olympic Games. Television has in many ways promoted understanding and cooperation among people. It does this by showing educational and cultural programs.
According to the passage, which of the following is true?
A) Television is watched in nearly every country.
B) Not everybody who had a television set could watch the 1998 World Cup finals.
C) Watching television makes peoples dissatisfied with their own lives.
D) Television was invented in 1980.
A
Janet’s parents bought her a new sports car as a birthday present. It was blue. Janet sold her 7-year-old blue pickup truck to a high school student. The truck could not go very fast, but the student was happy with it.
According to the passage, which if these statements is true?
A) Janet bought a pickup truck and a sports car.
B) The pickup truck was faster than the sports car.
C) The high school student traded cars with Janet.
D) The pickup was older than the sports car.
D
Some of Edward Weston’s black-and-white photographs of American nature scenes are considered superb examples of visual art. Indeed, some of his photographs have commanded top prices at art galleries.
Which of the following best characterizes Weston’s photographs?
A) They belong to famous collectors.
B) They have been sold in art galleries for large sums of money.
C) They introduced many Americans to visual arts.
D) They contrast American cities with natural settings.
B
Speaking to a group of people can be a frightening experience. Some speakers cope by looking above the heads of the audience. Others try to imagine that they are talking to a friend. A few try picturing the audience in some non-threatening way, such as in their pajamas.
The author of the passage assumes that speakers should
A) feel comfortable when addressing an audience
B) scare the audience
C) encourage people to talk during the speech
D) speak only to familiar people
A
People have different ways of learning. Some are better at making mental pictures of new ideas. Others are more comfortable with writing lists of things to memorize. Certain people can learn best when listening to music, while others need silence to concentrate.
Which if the following is the main idea of the passage?
A) Mental pictures help many to learn.
B) Some people prefer lists to making mental pictures.
C) To learn well you need to be comfortable.
D) Different individuals have different ways of acquiring information.
D
Before giving first aid to an accident victim, you should obtain his or her consent. Asking for consent takes a simple question. Say to the victim, “I know first aid, and I can help you until an ambulance arrives. Is that okay?”
“Asking for consent” means asking for
A) permission to help the victim
B) thanks from the victim
C) help from onlookers
D) information about the victim’s injuries
A
Jane and Paul are busy for 15 hours a day, 5 days a week going to college and working in a restaurant. They go to sleep at 11 p.m. every day, but on Sunday they take part in dance lessons.
According to the passage, Jane and Paul spend most of their time
A) at home
B) going to college and working
C) taking parts in dance lessons
D) sleeping
B
If you hold a piece of copper wire over the flame of a match, heat will be conducted by the copper wire to your fingers, and you will be forced to drop the wire. You will, however, still be able to hold the match because the match is a poor conductor of heat. Anyone, child or adult, can try this simple experiment.
Which of the following is stated in the passage above?
A) Copper is a good conductor of heat.
B) A match and copper conduct heat equally.
C) A match is an excellent conductor of heat.
D) Matches should be kept out of the reach of small children.
A
Many people own different pets. Dogs, cats, birds, and fish are common household pets. Others pets are considered to be exotic animals. These include snakes, lizards, and hedgehogs.
Snakes are
A) uncommon pets
B) likely to be found in a household with dogs
C) found only in zoos
D) not allowed in people’s homes
A
Cesar Chavez was an influential leader for farm workers. He fought for their rights and better working conditions. Chavez led many strikes that angered farm owners. Eventually he succeeded in getting increased wages and improved living situations for farm workers.
Chavez changed lives because he
A) helped the farmers get more workers
B) worked for the farmers
C) helped work on the farms everyday
D) changed the conditions for the farm workers
D
Shikibu Murasaki, who wrote almost a thousand years ago, was one of the world’s _ novelists.
A) most nearly
B) too early
C) earlier
D) earliest
D
The Chang children helped _ their parents by making sandwiches for the whole family.
A) out
B) with
C) for
D) to
A
As demonstrated by his new album, Ibrahim Ferrer _ one of the most beautiful voices in Latin music.
A) has
B) have
C) had
D) having
A
After we saw the play, we had different opinions _ Jane’s performance.
A) about
B) at
C) for
D) towards
A
Elena found a tomato that was much bigger than all the others in the garden.
How did the tomato compare to the others in the garden?
A) It was the smallest
B) It was not very large
C) It was larger than some
D) It was the largest
D
When the popular entertainer cancelled her appearance, the Latin American festival was postponed.
When will the festival take place?
A) Never
B) Right away
C) Tomorrow
D) Later
D
Janet, who is usually on time, explained why she was a little late for dinner.
Which best describes Janet?
A) Hungry
B) Punctual
C) Talkative
D) Tardy
B
Bram Stoker is best known for his classic horror novel Dracula, which was published In 1897.
What did Bram Stoker do?
A) He was an actor.
B) He was a merchant.
C) He was a writer.
D) He was an engineer.
C
Exhausted from her transatlantic flight, Judy could not stay up past 9:00 p.m.
What did Judy do by 9:00 p.m.?
A) Leave work
B) Come home from the airport
C) Lose her enthusiasm
D) Go to bed
D
This semester many students flocked to the African dance class which had just been added to the curriculum of the university.
How long has the university offered the African dance class?
A) For a short time
B) Quite a long time
C) For an entire school year
D) On and off for a while
A
_ washing her sweater, Mary hung it up to dry.
A) After
B) Before
C) By
D) Until
A
Some day men and women _ to Mars.
A) will travel
B) will travels
C) will traveling
D) will traveled
A
Water _ at a temperature of zero degrees Celsius.
A) having frozen
B) freezing
C) freeze
D) freezes
D
_ get a new haircut?
A) Do you
B) Does you
C) Are you
D) Did you
D
Jacques Cousteau will be remembered for his inventions and for _ to marine science.
A) dedication
B) his dedication
C) being dedicated
D) his being dedicated
B
Since my parents always insist that I get a good night’s sleep, they were __ when I stayed out late last night past my curfew.
A) very happy
B) very relieved
C) very tired
D) very angry
D
Her puppy ran out into the street chasing a cat. The owner quickly went to retrieve it.
A) the owner quickly went to retrieve it after the cat was chased into the street by her puppy.
B) The owner quickly retrieved it after her puppy chased the cat into the street.
C) When her puppy ran into the street, the owner quickly went to retrieve it.
D) Quickly retrieving it, the owner went quickly after her puppy that ran out into the street after the cat.
C
Lisa plays the piano. Her sister Kelly plays the piano too.
A) Lisa and her sister Kelly plays the piano.
B) Lisa and her sister Kelly play the piano.
C) Lisa plays the piano and Kelly plays the piano.
D) Lisa and Kelly too play the piano.
B
The road was slippery. We put chains on the tires.
A) Although the road was slippery, we put chains on the tires.
B) The road became slippery when we put chains on the tires.
C) We put chains on the tires because the road was slippery.
D) Putting chains on the tires, the road we were on was slippery.
C
Kazuko took her dog for a walk. They went to the park.
A) Kazuko, going to the park, took her dog for a walk.
B) Kazuko and her dog went for a walk in the park.
C) Kazuko took her dog for a walk because they went to the park.
D) Kazuko and her dog went to the park, where they walked.
B
Select the best version of the bracketed part of the
sentence.
Stamp collecting [being a hobby that is] sometimes used in
the schools to teach economics and social studies.
A. being a hobby that is
B. is a hobby because it is
C. which is a hobby
D. is a hobby
D
Select the best version of the bracketed part of the
sentence.
[Knocked sideways, the statue looked] as if it would fall.
A. Knocked sideways, the statue looked
B. The statue was knocked sideways, looked
C. The statue looked knocked sideways
D. The statue, looking knocked sideways,
A
Select the best version of the bracketed part of the
sentence.
[To walk, biking, and driving] are Pat’s favorite ways of
getting around.
A. To walk, biking, and driving
B. Walking, biking, and driving
C. To walk, biking, and to drive
D. To walk, to bike, and also driving
B
Select the best version of the bracketed part of the
sentence.
[When you cross the street in the middle of the block, this] is
an example of jaywalking.
A. When you cross the street in the middle of the block,
this
B. You cross the street in the middle of the block, this
C. Crossing the street in the middle of the block
D. The fact that you cross the street in the middle of the
block
C
Select the best version of the bracketed part of the
sentence.
Walking by the corner the other day, [a child, I noticed, was
watching] for the light to change.
A. a child, I noticed, was watching
B. I noticed a child watching
C. a child was watching, I noticed,
D. there was, I noticed, a child watching
B
Select the best version of the bracketed part of the
sentence.
[Going back to his old school,] everything there looked
smaller than Don remembered.
A. Going back to his old school,
B. When he went back to his old school,
C. To go back to his old school,
D. As he went back to his old school,
B
Select the best version of the bracketed part of the
sentence.
[Painting, drawing and to sculpt] are some of the techniques
artists such as Picasso used to express themselves.
A. Painting, drawing and to sculpt
B. To paint, to draw, and sculpting
C. Painting, drawing and sculpting
D. To paint, draw, and sculpting
C
Select the best version of the bracketed part of the
sentence.
Playing sports in school [which is an activity] meant to teach
teamwork and leadership skills students can use later in life.
A. which is an activity
B. is an activity because it is
C. being an activity which is
D. is an activity
D
Select the best version of the bracketed part of the
sentence.
[Glancing at his watch], Daniel picked up his speed.
A. Glancing at his watch
B. He glanced at his watch and
C. To glance at his watch
D. Since he glanced at his watch
A
Select the best version of the bracketed part of the
sentence.
[For a snake, shedding their skin] up to eight times a year is
part of a natural process.
A. For a snake, shedding their skin
B. A snake’s shedding its skin
C. When a snake sheds its skin
D. To shed its skin, for snakes
B
Select the best version of the bracketed part of the
sentence.
[To appear white or colorless,] light is actually composed of an
entire spectrum of colors.
A. To appear white or colorless,
B. In appearing white or colorless,
C. As it appears white or colorless,
D. While it appears white or colorless,
D
Select the best version of the bracketed part of the
sentence.
[I was surprised by the noise peering] through the window to
see who was at the door.
A. I was surprised by the noise peering
B. I was surprised by the noise, peered
C. The noise surprised me, peering
D. Surprised by the noise, I peered
D
It is easy to carry solid objects without spilling them, but the
same cannot be said of liquids.
Rewrite, beginning with
Unlike liquids,
The next words will be
A. it is easy to
B. we can easily
C. solid objects can easily be
D. solid objects are easy to be
C
Although the sandpiper is easily frightened by noise and
light, it will bravely resist any force that threatens its nest.
Rewrite, beginning with
The sandpiper is easily frightened by noise and light,
The next words will be
A. but it will bravely resist
B. nevertheless bravely resisting
C. and it will bravely resist
D. even if bravely resisting
A
If he had enough strength, Todd would move the boulder.
Rewrite, beginning with
Todd cannot move the boulder
The next words will be
A. when lacking
B. because he
C. although there
D. without enough
B
The band began to play, and then the real party started.
Rewrite, beginning with
The real party started
The next words will be
A. after the band began
B. and the band began
C. although the band began
D. the band beginning
A
Chris heard no unusual noises when he listened in the park.
Rewrite, beginning with
Listening in the park,
The next words will be
A. no unusual noises could be heard
B. then Chris heard no unusual noises
C. and hearing no unusual noises
D. Chris heard no unusual noises
D
It is unusual to see owls during the daytime, since they are
nocturnal animals.
Rewrite, beginning with
Being nocturnal animals,
The next words will be
A. it is unusual to see owls
B. owls are not usually seen
C. owls during the daytime are
D. it is during the daytime that
B
While bear attacks on humans are extremely rare, most
occur when a mother bear’s cubs are approached.
Rewrite, beginning with
Bear attacks on humans are extremely rare,
The next words will be
A. but approaching a mother bear’s cubs
B. and approaching a mother bear’s cubs
C. even though approaching a mother bear’s cubs
D. nevertheless approaching a mother bear’s cubs
A
If I want your opinion, I will ask for it.
Rewrite, beginning with
I won’t ask for your opinion
The next words will be
A. if I want it
B. when I want it
C. although I want it
D. unless I want it
D
It began to rain, and everyone at the picnic ran to the trees
to take shelter.
Rewrite, beginning with
Everyone at the picnic ran to take shelter
The next words will be
A. beginning to rain
B. when it began to rain
C. although it began to rain
D. and it began to rain
B
Lucy saw an amazing sight when she witnessed her first
sunrise.
Rewrite, beginning with
Witnessing her first sunrise,
The next words will be
A. an amazing sight was seen
B. when Lucy saw an amazing sight
C. Lucy saw an amazing sight
D. seeing an amazing sight
C
After three hours of walking the museum, the entire family
felt in need of a rest.
Rewrite, beginning with
The entire family felt in need of a rest
The next words will be
A. walking through the museum for three hours
B. having walked through the museum for three hours.
C. and they walked through the museum for three hours
D. despite having walked through the museum for three
hours.
B
Bats see extremely well in the dark; in fact, much better than
humans.
Rewrite, beginning with
Unlike bats,
The next words will be
A. humans can see
B. humans do not see
C. it is not easy to see
D. seeing is difficult
B
The big celebration meal was over, and everyone began to
feel sleepy.
Rewrite, beginning with
Everyone began to feel sleepy
The next words will be
A. and the big celebration meal
B. before the big celebration meal
C. after the big celebration meal
D. although the big celebration meal
C
In the words of Thomas DeQuincey, “It is notorious that
the memory strengthens as you lay burdens upon it.” If,
like most people, you have trouble recalling the names of
those you have just met, try this: The next time you are
introduced, plan to remember the names. Say to yourself,
“I’ll listen carefully; I’ll repeat each person’s name to be
sure I’ve got it, and I will remember.” You’ll discover how
effective this technique is and probably recall those names
for the rest of your life.
The main idea of the paragraph maintains that the memory
A. always operates at peak efficiency.
B. breaks down under great strain.
C. improves as it is used often.
D. becomes unreliable if it tires.
Unemployment was the overriding fact of life when
Franklin D. Roosevelt became president of the United
States on March 4, 1933. An anomaly of the time was that
the government did not systematically collect statistics of
joblessness; actually it did not start doing so until 1940. The
Bureau of Labor Statistics later estimated that 12,830,000
persons were out of work in 1933, about one-fourth of a
civilian labor force of more than 51 million.
Roosevelt signed the Federal Emergency Relief Act on May
12, 1933. The president selected Harry L. Hopkins, who
headed the New York relief program, to run FERA. A gifted
administrator, Hopkins quickly put the program into high
gear. He gathered a small staff in Washington and brought
the state relief organizations into the FERA system. While
the agency tried to provide all the necessities, food came
first. City dwellers usually got an allowance for fuel, and rent
for one month was provided in case of eviction.
This passage is primarily about
A. unemployment in the 1930s.
B. the effect of unemployment on United States families.
C. President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency.
D. President Roosevelt’s FERA program.
It is said that a smile is universally understood. And nothing
triggers a smile more universally than a taste of sugar.
Nearly everyone loves sugar. Infant studies indicate that
humans are born with an innate love of sweets. Based on
statistics, a lot of people in Great Britain must be smiling
because on average, every man, woman, and child in that
country consumes 95 pounds of sugar each year.
From this passage it seems safe to conclude that the English
A. do not know that too much sugar is unhealthy.
B. eat desserts at every meal.
C. are fonder of sweets than most people.
D. have more cavities than any other people.
With varying success, many women around the world
today struggle for equal rights. Historically, women have
achieved greater equality with men during periods of social
adversity. The following factors initiated the greatest number
of improvements for women: violent revolution, world war,
and the rigors of pioneering in an undeveloped land. In all
three cases, the essential element that improved the status
of women was a shortage of men, which required women to
perform many of society’s vital tasks.
We can conclude from the information in this passage that
A. women today are highly successful in winning equal
rights.
B. only pioneer women have been considered equal to
men.
C. historically, women have only achieved equality
through force.
D. historically, the principle of equality alone has not been
enough to secure women equal rights.
In 1848, Charles Burton of New York City made the first
baby carriage, but people strongly objected to the vehicles
because they said the carriage operators hit too many
pedestrians. Still convinced that he had a good idea, Burton
opened a factory in England. He obtained orders for the
baby carriages from Queen Isabella II of Spain, Queen
Victoria of England, and the Pasha of Egypt. The United
States had to wait another 10 years before it got a carriage
factory, and only 75 carriages were sold in the first year.
Even after the success of baby carriages in England,
A. Charles Burton was a poor man.
B. Americans were still reluctant to buy baby carriages.
C. Americans purchased thousands of baby carriages.
D. the United States bought more carriages than any other
country.
All water molecules form six-sided structures as they freeze
and become snow crystals. The shape of the crystal is
determined by temperature, vapor, and wind conditions in
the upper atmosphere. Snow crystals are always symmetrical
because these conditions affect all six sides simultaneously.
The purpose of the passage is to present
A. a personal observation.
B. a solution to a problem.
C. actual information.
D. opposing scientific theories.
In the words of Thomas DeQuincey, “It is notorious that
the memory strengthens as you lay burdens upon it.” If,
like most people, you have trouble recalling the names of
those you have just met, try this: The next time you are
introduced, plan to remember the names. Say to yourself,
“I’ll listen carefully; I’ll repeat each person’s name to be sure
I have it, and I will remember.” You’ll discover how effective
this technique is and probably recall those names for the rest
of your life.
The writer believes people remember names best when they
a. meet new people
b. are intelligent
c. decide to do so
d. are interested in people
“piggy banks,” coin banks shaped like pigs. A logical theory
about how this tradition started might be that because pigs
often symbolize greed, the object is to “fatten” one’s piggy
bank with as much money as possible.
However, while this idea makes sense, it is not the correct
origin of the term. The genesis of the piggy bank is the old
English word “pygg”, which was a common kind of clay
hundreds of years ago in England. People used pots and jars
made out of this red “pygg” clay for many different purposes
in their homes. Sometimes they kept their money in one of
the pots, and this was known as a pygg bank. Over the years,
because “pygg” and “pig” sounded the same, glaziers began
making novelty banks out of pottery in the shape of a pig as
a kind of joke. These banks were given as gifts and exported
to countries where people spoke other languages and where
no one had ever heard of pygg clay. The tradition caught on
all over the world, and today piggy banks come in all colors
and are made of all kinds of materials, including plastic.
This passage is mainly about
A. how people in different countries save their money
B. how people in England made pottery centuries ago
C. how a common expression began in a surprising way
D. how an unusual custom got started
It is said that a smile is universally understood. And nothing
triggers a smile more universally that the taste of sugar.
Nearly everyone loves sugar. Infant studies indicate that
humans are born with an innate love of sweets. Based on
statistics, a lot of people in Great Britain must be smiling
because on average, every man, woman and child in that
country consumes 95 pounds of sugar each year.
This passage implies that the writer thinks that 95 pounds of
sugar per person per year is
A. a surprisingly large amount
B. a surprisingly small amount
C. about what one would expect
D. an unhealthy amount
The wheel has been used by humans since nearly the
beginning of civilization and is considered one of the most
important mechanical inventions of all time. Most primitive
technologies since the invention of the wheel have been
based on its principles, and since the industrial revolution,
the wheel has been a basic element of nearly every machine
constructed by humankind. No one knows the exact time
and place of the invention of the wheel, but its beginnings
can be seen across many ancient civilizations.
According to this passage, the wheel is an important
invention because
a. it is one of the world’s oldest inventions
b. it forms the basis of so many later inventions
c. it is an invention that can be traced to many cultures
d. it is one the world’s most famous inventions
Samuel Morse, best known today as the inventor of
Morse Code and one of the inventors of the telegraph,
was originally a prominent painter. While he was always
interested in technology and studied electrical engineering
in college, Morse went to Paris to learn from famous artists
of his day and later painted many pictures that now hang
in museums, including a portrait of former President John
Adams. In 1825, Morse was in Washington, D.C., painting
a portrait of the Marquis de Lafayette when a messenger
arrived on horseback to tell him that his wife was gravely
ill back at his home in Connecticut. The message had taken
several days to reach him because of the distance. Morse
rushed to his home as fast as he could, but his wife had
already passed away by the time he arrived. Grief-stricken,
he gave up painting and devoted the rest of his life to finding
ways to transmit messages over long distances faster.
Morse left the art world and helped to invent the telegraph
A. because he was tired of painting
B. because he wanted to communicate with people far
away
C. because of a personal tragedy in his life
D. because he was fascinated by science
Leonardo DaVinci is not only one of the most famous artists
in history, he was also a botanist, a writer and an inventor.
Even though most of his inventions were not actually built
in his lifetime, many of today’s modern machines can be
traced back to some of his original designs. The parachute,
the military tank, the bicycle and even the airplane were
foretold in the imaginative drawings that can still be seen in
the fragments of Leonardo’s notebooks. Over 500 years ago,
this man conceived ideas that were far ahead of his time.
The author of this passage is praising Leonardo DaVinci for
his:
A. artistic talent
B. intelligence
C. vision
D. fame
The Midwest is experiencing its worst drought in 15 years.
Corn and soybean prices are expected to be very high this
year.
What does the second sentence do?
A. It restates the idea found in the first.
B. It states an effect.
C. It gives an example.
D. It analyzes the statement made in the first.
Social studies classes focus on the complexity of our social
environment.
The subject combines the study of history and the social
sciences and promotes skills in citizenship.
What does the second sentence do?
A. It expands on the first sentence.
B. It makes a contrast.
C. It proposes a solution.
D. It states an effect.
Knowledge of another language fosters greater awareness of
cultural diversity among the peoples of the world.
Individuals who have foreign language skills can appreciate
more readily other peoples’ values and ways of life
.
How are the two sentences related?
A. They contradict each other.
B. They present problems and solutions.
C. They establish a contrast.
D. They repeat the same idea.
Serving on a jury is an important obligation of citizenship.
Many companies allow their employees paid leaves of
absence to serve on juries.
What does the second sentence do?
A. It reinforces what is stated in the first.
B. It explains what is stated in the first.
C. It expands on the first.
D. It draws a conclusion about what is stated in the first.
While most people think of dogs as pets, some dogs are bred
and trained specifically for certain types of work.
The bloodhound’s acute sense of smell and willing
personality make it ideal for tracking people missing in the
woods.
What does the second sentence do?
A. It makes a contrast.
B. It restates an idea found in the first.
C. It states an effect.
D. It gives an example.
Paris, France, is a city that has always been known as a
center of artistic and cultural expression.
In the 1920s, Paris was home to many artists and writers
from around the world who became famous, such as Picasso
and Hemingway.
What does the second sentence do?
A. It reinforces the first.
B. It states an effect.
C. It draws a conclusion.
D. It provides a contrast.
Studies show that the prevalence of fast-food restaurants
corresponds with the rates of obesity in both children and
adults.
Obesity is now on the rise in countries outside the U.S.,
where fast food restaurants are becoming more common.
How do the two sentences relate?
A. They express roughly the same idea.
B. They contradict each other.
C. They present problems and solutions.
D. They establish a contrast.
Compared with the rest of the country, North Dakota has
a thriving economy, making it a place where more people
want to live.
Winters in North Dakota are inhospitable, with average
temperatures in January ranging from 2 degrees Fahrenheit
to 17 degrees.
What does the second sentence do?
A. It reinforces the first.
B. It explains what is stated in the first.
C. It contradicts the first.
D. It analyzes a statement made in the first.
Some stores are testing a new checkout system that allows
shoppers to use their mobile phones to scan items as they
walk through stores and pay at self-service kiosks, skipping
the cashiers’ lines.
The new mobile checkout system is intended to reduce long
lines and customer wait times in stores.
What does the second sentence do?
A. It expands on the first.
B. It states an effect.
C. It contrasts with the first.
D. It gives an example.
According to the American Sleep Disorders Association, the
average teenager needs around 9.5 hours of sleep per night,
possibly because critical growth hormones are released
during sleep.
The average adult requires between six and eight hours of
sleep per night for optimal health and productivity.
How do the two sentences relate?
A. They establish a contrast.
B. They contradict each other.
C. They reinforce each other.
D. They provide a problem and solution.