Question 1
(Please note: The following questions are related to a specific reading passage, available solely before the first question. Remember, referring back to the reading text while answering the questions may be helpful to ensure accuracy.)
The author E. L. Doctorow is best known for mixing fiction with historical fact, placing his stories within the framework of public events. In fact, he integrates the front-page news of 20th-century America with the lives of his characters. Doctorow gives readers the “feel” of an era by combining the unusual and the commonplace.
His latest novel, ‘World’s Fair’, shows how the events of the turbulent 1930s helped mould the sensibilities of his young protagonist.
It is concluded in the passage that Doctorow's novel World's Fair _____.
The last sentence says World's Fair shows how the events of the 1930s helped mould the sensibilities of the young protagonist. This means the period shaped his thoughts and feelings. Not the first option: the passage never says the effects were damaging, only that they formed his character.
Question 2
From the passage, we infer that a blend of fiction and history _____.
The passage opens by saying Doctorow is best known for mixing fiction with historical fact. So this blend is a striking feature of his writing. Not the option about contemporary American writers: the passage talks only about Doctorow, not about other writers.
Question 3
We learn from the passage that Doctorow's purpose in bringing together in his novels the usual and the extraordinary _____.
The passage says Doctorow gives readers the "feel" of an era by combining the unusual and the commonplace. His aim is to build up a convincing picture of a period. The options about criticism or failure in World's Fair have no support in the text.
Question 4
Ever since Nobel prize-winner Linus Pauling first advocated vitamin C as a common cold war weapon more than 20 years ago, researchers have been busy trying to verify that claim. However, so far, they’ve found little proof that vitamin C prevents colds. In fact, there are more studies that say it doesn’t.
There is evidence, though, that it can keep coughing and sneezing to a minimum, and that low levels of vitamin C in the body may be related to bronchitis.
From the passage, we can learn that Dr Pauling's view as regards vitamin C _____.
Researchers have been trying to verify Pauling's claim, but they have found little proof, and more studies say it is wrong. So his view has not been verified scientifically. Not 'aroused very little interest': the passage says researchers have been busy studying it.
Question 5
In accordance with the passage, coughing and sneezing _____.
The second paragraph says there is evidence that vitamin C can keep coughing and sneezing to a minimum. In other words, they can be reduced with its help. The passage does not say coughing and sneezing are early symptoms of bronchitis; it only links bronchitis to low vitamin C levels.
Question 6
During the last two decades, there has been plenty of scientific effort made to _____.
Pauling made his claim more than 20 years ago, and since then researchers have been busy trying to verify that vitamin C prevents colds. To verify means to confirm. The other options, such as the dangers or adverse effects of vitamin C, are not mentioned.
Question 7
Since early times, it has been assumed that the actions of animals are unconscious. Behaviour, in this view, stems almost exclusively from instinct. If animals behave in ways that seem pretty clever, they do so without thinking about it. The argument goes that animals may know things, but they don’t know that they know.
Current research reports suggest a startling depth of intelligence among animals. Although no one can yet prove the existence of animal consciousness, the data offered make a compelling case for at least considering it.
It is emphasized in the passage that traditionally, animals are believed to _____.
The traditional view is that behaviour stems almost exclusively from instinct, so animals act on instinct. Not 'know exactly what they are doing': the passage says animals don't know that they know.
Question 8
It is stressed in the passage that modern research forces one to consider _____.
Current research suggests a startling depth of intelligence in animals and makes a compelling case for at least considering animal consciousness. It therefore forces us to consider the possibility of intelligence in animals. Not 'animals to be the equal of man': the passage makes no such comparison, and it admits that nothing has been proved yet.
Question 9
We can infer from the passage that, in the light of modern research, our traditional assumptions about animal behaviour _____.
No one can yet prove animal consciousness, but the data make a case for considering it. So the traditional assumptions have to be reconsidered. Not 'totally disproved': the passage is careful and says that nothing is proven.
Question 10
The first universities developed in Europe in the 12th century. By 1600, Western Europe boasted 108 institutions of higher learning, many of which had obtained special privileges from existing regimes because of their close association with the Church.
In most European countries, universities were designed mainly for the sons of the nobility and gentry. Scholarly standards were low, and scholarship was irrelevant for most professions. Education for earning a livelihood in, say, medicine or law, could be acquired after college by serving as an apprentice.
As said in the passage, in the early years of the universities, _____.
The second paragraph says universities were designed mainly for the sons of the nobility and gentry, so most students came from upper-class families. Not 'most students wanted to train for a profession': professional skills were learned after college as an apprentice.
Question 11
It is implied in the passage that since most of the early universities enjoyed the support of the Church, _____.
The first paragraph says many universities had obtained special privileges from existing regimes because of their close association with the Church. Regimes are the state authorities and privileges are rights, so the state granted them various rights. Low standards are mentioned in the passage, but they are not presented as a result of Church support.
Question 12
As emphasized in the passage, real professional skills _____.
The passage says education for a livelihood in medicine or law could be acquired after college by serving as an apprentice. So real professional skills came through apprenticeship, not through university teaching. The text also says scholarship was irrelevant for most professions.
Question 13
The effects of sleep loss are subject to a number of popular misconceptions. The belief that everyone must sleep 8 hours a night is a myth. According to the results of a recent survey on the subject, adults average about 7 to 7.5 hours of sleep per night, and many individuals function effectively with 5 to 6 hours of sleep.
In fact, 20 per cent of the population (slightly more in men) sleep less than 6 hours per night. Another important fact is that sleep time decreases with age.
In accordance with the passage, the popular assumption that eight hours of sleep per night is essential _____.
The passage calls the belief that everyone needs 8 hours a myth. A fallacy is a mistaken belief, so the two words mean the same here. Not 'only true for 20 per cent of the population': that figure refers to people who sleep less than 6 hours.
Question 14
The survey referred to in the passage signifies that as people get older and older _____.
The last sentence states that sleep time decreases with age, so as people get older they sleep less and less. 'They require more sleep' says the opposite.
Question 15
It is implied in the passage that a sleep time under 8 hours _____.
Adults average 7 to 7.5 hours, and many individuals function effectively with 5 to 6 hours. So sleeping under 8 hours does not necessarily reduce efficiency. Not the option about women: short sleep is slightly more common in men.
Question 16
Until recently, many archaeologists held the view that civilized communities first arose in Egypt, though only a very short time before a similar development in Mesopotamia. A more recent opinion suggests that the earliest advances may have taken place in Mesopotamia.
Whichever view is followed, it is necessary to bear in mind that geographical conditions in both regions were not identical. In fact, it can be stated that in Mesopotamia, environmental factors were not as wholly favourable as in the Valley of the Nile.
In accordance with a more recent view, the beginnings of the development of civilization _____.
Archaeologists used to think civilization arose first in Egypt, but a more recent opinion suggests that the earliest advances may have taken place in Mesopotamia. So, according to the newer view, it seems to have occurred in Mesopotamia rather than in Egypt. Not the Egypt option: the passage says the Nile Valley was the more favourable region.
Question 17
It is indicated in the passage that the Nile valley and Mesopotamia _____.
The passage says geographical conditions in both regions were not identical. This means the two regions do not share the same geographical conditions. Not 'equally suitable': Mesopotamia was not as wholly favourable as the Nile Valley.
Question 18
From the passage, we can learn that _____.
The passage shows an older view (Egypt first) being challenged by a more recent opinion (Mesopotamia first). So our ideas about early history may sometimes need to be revised. The other options are not supported, or are contradicted: archaeologists clearly did see these regions as the first civilizations.
Question 19
Dates and periods are necessary to the study and discussion of history, for all historical phenomena are conditioned by time and are produced by the sequence of events. Periods, especially, are retrospective conceptions that we form about past events. They are useful to focus discussion, but frequently they lead historical thought astray.
Thus, while it is certainly useful to speak of the Middle Ages and of the Victorian Age, those two abstract ideas have deluded many scholars and millions of newspaper readers. They suppose that during certain decades called the Middle Ages, and again during certain decades called the Age of Victoria, everyone thought or acted more or less in the same way until Victoria died or the Middle Ages came to an end. But in fact, there was no such sameness.
The writer argues that, contrary to common assumption, the behaviour of people _____.
People wrongly suppose that everyone thought or acted more or less in the same way during a period. The writer replies: in fact, there was no such sameness. So behaviour was not at all uniform in any period. 'In any given period is always the same' is the very assumption the writer rejects.
Question 20
The division of history into periods _____.
Periods are useful to focus discussion, but they frequently lead historical thought astray and have deluded many people. So dividing history into periods is both useful and deceptive. 'Serves no useful purpose' ignores the first half of this point.
Question 21
In accordance with the passage, the study of history _____.
The passage opens: Dates and periods are necessary to the study and discussion of history. So the study of history requires knowledge of dates and periods. The Middle Ages and the Victorian Age appear only as examples of periods, not as stages in the history of the subject.
Question 22
A number of books have been written on computers, computer programming, and computer programming languages, particularly FORTRAN. To produce another book on FORTRAN, even the newest FORTRAN IV, probably seems unreasonable to most. It is with mild trepidation that I, the author, embark on this project. However, several good reasons can be stated for doing just that.
Most computer professionals will agree that the field of computer and information science has quickly become a valid discipline for academia, and that rapid changes are occurring in computer programming languages. Both of these facts demand that a new direction be taken in presenting the subject.
From this passage, we learn that the writer is somewhat apprehensive in case _____.
The author writes that another book on FORTRAN probably seems unreasonable to most and that he starts with mild trepidation. He is worried that readers will think his book superfluous, meaning unnecessary because so many similar books already exist. The other options are about computer sales, costs or complexity, which the author never mentions as worries.
Question 23
In accordance with the passage, publications on computer technology _____.
The passage begins: A number of books have been written on computers…. The author adds that one more book seems unreasonable, which shows how many already exist. So these publications have already reached a very high number. Not 'only concerned with FORTRAN': FORTRAN is mentioned as particularly common, not as the only subject.
Question 24
The writer of this passage points out that his new book on FORTRAN is justified because _____.
The author says the new status of the discipline and the rapid changes in programming languages demand that a new direction be taken in presenting the subject. His book is justified because it offers a new approach. Not 'little relevant literature': the passage says many books have already been written.
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