Possible Exam Questions
1. The primary purpose of the first paragraph
(lines 1-26) is to
(A) inspire students to enter scientific professions
(B) argue that certain animal groups are
becoming extinct
(C) enc
...
Possible Exam Questions
1. The primary purpose of the first paragraph
(lines 1-26) is to
(A) inspire students to enter scientific professions
(B) argue that certain animal groups are
becoming extinct
(C) encourage people to follow the progress of
current scientific research
(D) call attention to the decline of a significant
field of study
(E) explain the relationship between different
scientific disciplines ANS: (D) call attention to the decline of a significant
field of study
2. The author mentions "glass-blowing and
harpsichord manufacture" (lines 7-8) to suggest
that taxonomy is
(A) a field characterized by antiquated practices
(B) an art that is extremely difficult to master
(C) a profession practiced by relatively few
people
(D) an area of expertise with various practical
applications
(E) a discipline that has limited usefulness ANS: (C) a profession practiced by relatively few
people
3. The series of phrases in lines 14-16
("Marvelously varied . . . acre of land") primarily
conveys the
(A) critical job that springtails and oribatid mites
perform in the natural environment
(B) ferocity with which springtails and oribatid
mites compete for survival
(C) array of tiny animals that coexist with
springtails and oribatid mites in the soil
(D) characteristics of springtails and oribatid
mites
(E) life span of springtails and oribatid mites
living in the soil ANS: (D) characteristics of springtails and oribatid
mites
4. In the context of lines 19-22, the words "one is
retired" are best described as
(A) a detail that makes a critical situation even
more precarious
(B) a fact that is puzzling to the author and other
biologists
(C) a claim that is of equal concern to scientists
and the general public
(D) an excuse for outdated designs for research
projects
(E) an aside that undermines the point about
taxonomy that is being made ANS: (A) a detail that makes a critical situation even
more precarious
5. Which of the following best describes the
relationship between
the first and second
paragraphs?
(A) The second paragraph illustrates the work of
the specialists mentioned in the first
paragraph.
(B) The second paragraph describes the effects of
an issue raised in the first paragraph.
(C) The second paragraph questions the logic of
an idea expressed in the first paragraph.
(D) The second paragraph considers factors that
could remedy the situation discussed in the
first paragraph.
(E) The second paragraph lists the practical
applications of a theory proposed in the
first paragraph. ANS: (B) The second paragraph describes the effects of
an issue raised in the first paragraph.
6. The author cites a Chinese saying (lines 44-46) to
emphasize the
(A) contrast between Eastern and Western
science
(B) intricacy of the relationships that unite living
beings
(C) necessity of using scientific knowledge in a
responsible manner
(D) importance of taxonomy as a field of study
(E) danger of postponing biological research ANS: (D) importance of taxonomy as a field of study 7. The author uses the word "obscure" in line 48 to
mean
(A) ambiguous
(B) incomprehensible
(C) not well known
(D) uncertain
(E) unusually small
7. The author uses the word "obscure" in line 48 to
mean
(A) ambiguous
(B) incomprehensible
(C) not well known
(D) uncertain
(E) unusually small ANS: (C) not well known
8. The third paragraph (lines 47-61) serves which of
the following functions?
(A) It explains the results of a controversial
study.
(B) It compares examples that illustrate a point.
(C) It explores social and historical contexts.
(D) It speculates about a potential improvement.
(E) It presents an opposing point of view. ANS: (D) It speculates about a potential improvement.
9. Which of the following is true of the position
presented in lines 72-77 ("The second . . .
progress
") ?
(A) It is based on information provided at the
beginning of the passage.
(B) It takes issue with the claims made in the
previous sentence.
(C) It acknowledges that the solution to the
problem will involve painful choices.
(D) It emphasizes that immediate action is
essential for success.
(E) It suggests that an assumption held by many
people may be incorrect. ANS: (E) It suggests that an assumption held by many
people may be incorrect.
10. One important purpose of the passage is to
(A) urge the public to contribute money to a
proposed taxonomy project
(B) argue that the public should focus on
identifying and saving a few key species
(C) suggest that ecological conservation is a
beneficial enterprise
(D) question why some species are better
protected than others
(E) promote specific organizations devoted to
improving global well-being ANS: (C) suggest that ecological conservation is a
beneficial enterprise
11. The primary rhetorical strategy in the passage
is the
(A) exemplification of key concepts and ideas
(B) narration of stories and use of personal
references
(C) description of research methodologies
(D) comparison and contrast of differing
viewpoints
(E) reevaluation of traditional notions of cause
and effect ANS: (A) exemplification of key concepts and ideas
12. In the passage, italics are used to highlight
(A) citations from different authorities
(B) ideas that scientists consider outdated
(C) the hypotheses that the author challenges
(D) trends that the author has encouraged
(E) the major points of the author's argument ANS: (E) the major points of the author's argument
13. The author's tone is best described as
(A) polite yet condescending
(B) concerned yet hopeful
(C) critical and indignant
(D) eager and amazed
(E) pessimistic and discouraged ANS: (B) concerned yet hopeful
14. The passage is most likely excerpted from
(A) an educational article promoting awareness of
a critical scientific issue
(B) a scholarly essay substantiating the veracity
of a recent scientific discovery
(C) a historical document describing public
funding for biodiversity studies
(D) a research report criticizing the behavior of
both sides in a current scientific debate
(E) an informational pamphlet discussing
exhibits in a natural history museum ANS: (A) an educational article promoting awareness of
a critical scientific issue
15. It can be inferred from the passage that the author
assumes the reader is
(A) an expert questioning every aspect of the
author's argument
(B) a generalist who needs an explanation of
specialized concepts
(C) a student seeking facts in order to develop a
testable thesis
(D) a colleague evaluating a proposal for a
research project
(E) an enthusiast aware of current discoveries
and debates ANS: (B) a generalist who needs an explanation of
specialized concepts
16. The organization of the passage can best be
described as
(A) personal narrative followed by analysis
(B) empirical data followed by conjecture
(C) nonjudgmental explanation of a current
phenomenon followed by a question
(D) descriptive analysis followed by a final
judgment
(E) condemnation of a practice followed by
partial acceptance ANS: (D) descriptive analysis followed by a final
judgment
17. In context, the author places the term "book club"
in quotation marks in lines 3 and 9 in order to
(A) show that these are humorous examples
(B) highlight how formal some of these clubs are
(C) reveal that the book clubs that appear online
or on television are unsatisfactory
(D) suggest that the term is being broadened
beyond its original meaning
(E) imply that many book club members do not
like the term ANS: (D) suggest that the term is being broadened
beyond its original meaning
18. The first paragraph (lines 1-15) serves to
(A) explain why the author enjoys one way of
reading
(B) describe the extension of a particular activity
into nontraditional areas
(C) make generalizations
that will be developed
later
(D) explore ways in which people can structure
free time
(E) detail the power of media and mass
marketing to censor ANS: (B) describe the extension of a particular activity
into nontraditional areas
19. According to lines 23-26, Stephanie Nolen's
primary criticism of book clubs is that they
(A) are too programmed
(B) do not offer enough variety
(C) cause readers to be anxious
(D) overlook many classics
(E) forego quality for quantity ANS: (A) are too programmed
20. The clubs referred to in line 39 are discussed in
(A) the online discussion group of a particular
book club
(B) a study sponsored by book club participants
(C) an editorial in a Canadian magazine
(D) a guide written by Elaine Daspin
(E) an article published in the Wall Street Journal ANS: (E) an article published in the Wall Street Journal
21. The "recent book-club guides" (lines 45-46) tend
to emphasize
(A) how book clubs need to be structured and
regular in order to succeed
(B) how difficult it is to start a book club in
New York
(C) how often even the best book clubs fail
(D) the variety of reasons that people have for
starting book clubs
(E) the challenges of selecting books for
discussion ANS: (A) how book clubs need to be structured and
regular in order to succeed
22. The last paragraph (lines 49-64) marks a
shift from
(A) popular to academic contexts
(B) supported to unsoun
d generalizations
(C) impersonal to personal examples
(D) subtle irony to explicit sarcasm
(E) neutral to negative characterization of
book clubs ANS: (A) popular to academic contexts
23. The function of lines 52-58 ("Yet despite . . .
abstractions") is to
(A) argue for the value of a particular literary
theory
(B) explain how important it is not to make
abstract judgments
(C) point out a discrepancy between teaching
practices and literary theory
(D) highlight the demand for a way to measure
emotional responses to texts
(E) explore the author's views about reading in
isolation ANS: (C) point out a discrepancy between teaching
practices and literary theory
24. The final sentence (lines 62-64) serves to
(A) conclude an argument begun in the first
paragraph
(B) suggest a probable cause for an ongoing
phenomenon
(C) argue that publishers need to pay more
attention to book clubs
(D) offer a final analysis of the phenomenon
described in the second paragraph
(E) explain why the author has chosen a
particular field of study ANS: (B) suggest a probable cause for an ongoing
phenomenon
25. One function of sentence 3 (lines 8-10) and
endnote 1 is to
(A) give an example of a group that earns money
by reading
(B) show that book clubs are not intended for
literary scholars
(C) note the connection between marketing and
book clubs
(D) cite one book club as a particular model of
excellence
(E) suggest the benefits of online discussion
groups ANS: (C) note the connection between marketing and
book clubs
26. It can be inferred from endnote 2 that " 'Out of the
Woods' " is
(A) an article about a type of retreat
(B) an exposé about fee-based book clubs
(C) an essay about book club protocol
(D) a meditation on favorite works by famous
authors
(E) an article about how to start a traditional
book club ANS: (A) an article about a type of retreat
27. The function of endnote 3 is to
(A) offer specific examples of one of the types of
resources mentioned
(B) convince the reader of the value of book
clubs
(C) test whether the reader is interested in
particular books
(D) evaluate tips on how to set up book clubs
(E) compare the strengths and weaknesses of
certain books ANS: (A) offer specific examples of one of the types of
resources mentioned
28. The information in endnote 2 is different from
that in endnote 3 in that endnote 2
(A) is critical while endnote 3 is neutral
(B) assumes that readers do not like research
while endnote 3 assumes that readers like
research
(C) is concerned with local book clubs while
endnote 3 relates to global issues
(D) primarily provides an illustration of a
phenomenon while endnote 3 primarily lists
resources
(E) relates mostly to marketing while endnote 3
relates mostly to cultural conflicts in book
clubs ANS: (D) primarily provides an illustration of a
phenomenon while endnote 3 primarily lists
resources
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