Section Three: Reading Comprehension
Question 1-9
Often enough the craft worker’s place of employment in ancient Greece was set
in
rural isolation. Potter, for
instance, found it convenient to locate their workshops near
their source of clay, regardless
of its relation to the center of settlement, At Corinth and
line Athens,
however, two of the best-known potters’ quarters were situated on the cities’
(5)
outskirts, and potters and makers of
terra-cotta figurines were also established well within
the city of Athens itself. The
techniques of pottery manufacture had evolved well before
the Greek period, but
marked stylistic developments occurred in shape and in decoration,
for example, in the
interplay of black and other glazes with the red surface of the fired pot.
Athenian black-figure
and red-figure decoration, which emphasized human figures rather
(10)
than animal images, was adopted between 630
and 530 B.C.;its distinctive color and luster
were the result of the
skillful adjustments of the kiln’s temperature during an extended
three-stage period if
firing the clayware. Whether it was the potters or the vase-painters
who initiated changes
in firing is unclear; the functions of making and decorating were
usually divided
between them, but neither group can have been so specialized the they
(15)
did not share in the concerns of the other.
The broad utility of terra-cotta was such that workers in clay could
generally afford to
Confine
themselves to either decorated ware and housewares like cooking pots and
storage
Jars
or building materials like roof tiles and drainpipes. Some sixth-and
fifth-century B.C.
Athenian
pottery establishments are known to have concentrated on a limited range of
fine
(20)
ware, but a rural pottery establishment on the
island of Thasos produced many types of
pottery and roof tiles
too, presumably to meet local demand. Molds were used to create
particular effects for
some products, such as relief-decorated vessels and figurines; for
other products such as
roof tiles, which were needed in some quantity, they were used to
facilitate mass
production. There were also a number of poor-quality figurines and painted
(25) pots produced in quantity by easy,
inexpensive means- as numerous featureless statuettes and unattractive cases
testify.
1. The passage mainly discusses ancient Greek pottery and
its
(A) production techniques
(B) similarity to other crafts
(C) unusual materials
(D) resemblance to earlier pottery
2. The phrase “regardless of” in line 3 is closest in
meaning to
(A)
as a result of
(B)
no matter what
(C)
proud of
(D)
according to
3. It can be inferred from the passage that most pottery
establishments in ancient Greece
were situated
(A)
in city centers
(B)
on the outskirts of cities
(C)
where clay could be found
(D)
near other potters’ workshops
4. The word “marked” in line 7 is closest in meaning to
(A) original
(B) attractive
(C) noticeable
(D) patterned
5. The word “confine” in line 17 is closest in meaning to
(A) adapt
(B) train
(C) restrict
(D) organize
6. It can be inferred from the passage that terra-cotta had
which of the following advantages”
(A) It
did not break during the firing process.
(B) It was less expensive
than other available materials.
(C) Its
surface had a lasting shine.
(D) It
could be used for many purposes.
7. The word “presumably” in line 21 is closest in meaning to
(A) frequently
(B) practically
(C) preferably
(D) probably
8. The word “they” in line 23 refers to
(A) molds
(B) particular effects
(C) products
(D) vessels and figurines
9. According to the passage, all of the following are true
of ancient Greek potters and vase painters EXCEPT:
(A) Their functions were so specialized that they lacked
common concerns.
(B) They sometimes produced inferior ware.
(c) They produced pieces that had unusual color and shine.
(D) They decorated many of their works with human images.
Question 10-19
Geographers say that what defines a place are
four properties: soil, climate, altitude,
and
aspect, or attitude to the Sun. Florida’s ancient scrub demonstrates this
principle. Its
soil
is pure silica, so barren it supports only lichens as ground cover.( It does,
however,
sustain
a sand-swimming lizard that cannot live where there is moisture or plant matter
(5) the soil.) Its
climate, despite more than 50 inches of annual rainfall, is blistering desert
plant
life it can sustain is only the xerophytic, the quintessentially dry. Its
altitude is a
mere
couple of hundred feet, but it is high ground on a peninsula elsewhere close to
sea
level,
and its drainage is so critical that a difference of inches in elevation can
bring major
changes
in its plant communities. Its aspect is flat, direct, brutal—and subtropical.
(10)
Florida’s surrounding lushness cannot impinge on its desert
scrubbiness.
This does not
sound like an attractive place. It does not look much like one either;
Shrubby little oaks, clumps
of scraggly bushes, prickly pear, thorns, and tangles. “It appear
Said one early naturalist,”
to desire to display the result of the misery through which it has
Passed and is passing.” By
our narrow standards, scrub is not beautiful; neither does it meet
(15)
our selfish utilitarian
needs. Even the name is an epithet, a synonym for the stunted, the
scruffy, the insignificant,
what is beautiful about such a place?
The most
important remaining patches of scrub lie along the Lake Wales Ridge, a chain
of
paleoislands running for a hundred miles down the center of Florida, in most places less
than
ten miles wide. It is relict seashore, tossed up millions of years ago when
ocean levels
(20) were higher and
the rest of the peninsula was submerged. That ancient emergence is
precisely
what makes Lake Wales Ridge so precious: it has remained unsubmerged, its
ecosystems
essentially undisturbed, since the Miocene era. As a result, it has gathered to
itself one
of the largest collections of rare organisms in the world. Only about 75 plant
species
survive there, but at least 30 of these are found nowhere else on Earth.
10. What does the passage mainly discuss?
(A) How geographers define a place
(B) The characteristics of Florida’s ancient scrub
(C)
An early naturalist’s opinion of Florida
(D)The
history of the Lake Wales Ridge
11. The author mentions all of the following as factors that
define a place EXCEPT
(A)
aspect
(B)
altitude
(C)
soil
(D)
life-forms
12. It can be inferred from the passage that soil composed
of silica
(A)
does not hold moisture
(B)
is found only in Florida
(C)
nourishes many kinds of ground cover
(D)
provides food for many kinds of lizards
13. The word” sustain” in line 6 is closets in meaning to
(A)
select
(B)
strain
(C)
support
(D)
store
14. The author mentions the prickly pear (line 12)
as
an example of
(A) valuable fruit-bearing
plants of the scrub area
(B)
unattractive plant life of the scrub area
(C)
a pant discovered by an early naturalist
(D)
plant life that is extremely are
15. The author suggests that human standards of beauty are
(A)
tolerant
(B)
idealistic
(C) defensible
(D) limited
16. The word “insignificant” in line 16 is closest in
meaning to
(A) unimportant
(B) undisturbed
(C) immature
(D) inappropriate
17. According to the passage, why is
the Lake Wales Ridge valuable?
(A) It was originally
submerged in the ocean.
(B) It is less than ten miles wide.
(C) It is located near the
seashore.
(D) It has ecosystems that
have long remained unchanged
18. The word “it” in line 22 refer to
(A) Florida
(B)
the peninsula
(C)
the Lake Wales Ridge
(D)
the Miocene era
19. The passage probably continues with a discussion of
(A) ancient scrub found in
other areas of the country
(B)
geographers who study Florida’s
scrub
(C)
the climate of the Lake Wales Ridge
(D) the unique plants found
on the Lake Wales Ridge
Question 20-30
It is
estimated that over 99 percent of all species that ever existed have become
extinct.
What causes extinction? When a species is no longer adapted to a changed
environment,
it may perish. The exact causes of a species’ death vary from situation
Line to situation. Rapid ecological change may
render an environment hostile to a species.
(5)
For example, temperatures
may change and a species may not be able to adapt. Food
Resources may be affected by environmental changes, which
will then cause problems
For a species requiring these resources. Other species may
become better adapted to an
Environment, resulting in competition and, ultimately, in
the death of a species.
The fossil record
reveals that extinction has occurred throughout the history of Earth.
(10)
Recent analyses have also revealed that on some occasions many species became
extinct
at the same time—a mass extinction. One of
the best-known examples of mass extinction
occurred 65 million years ago with the
demise of dinosaurs and many other forms of life.
Perhaps the largest mass extinction was the
one that occurred 225 million years ago,
When approximately 95 percent of all
species died, Mass extinctions can be caused by
(15)
a relatively rapid change in the environment and can be worsened by the close
interrelationship of many species. If, for
example, something were to happen to destroy
much of the plankton in the oceans, then
the oxygen content of Earth would drop,
affection even organisms not living in the
oceans. Such a change would probably lead to a mass extinction.
(20)
One interesting, and
controversial, finding is that extinctions during the past 250
Million years have tended to be more
intense every 26 million years. This periodic
extinction
might be due to intersection of the Earth’s orbit with a cloud of comets, but
this
theory is purely speculative. Some researchers have also speculated tat
extinction
may
often be random. That is, certain species may be eliminated and others may
survive
(25)
for no particular reason. A species’ survival may have nothing to do with its
ability or
inability
to adapt. If so, some of evolutionary history may reflect a sequence of
essentially
random
events.
20. The word “it” in line 3 refers to
(A) environment
(B) species
(C) extinction
(D) 99 percent
21. The word “ultimately” in line 8 is closest in meaning to
(A) exceptionally
(B) dramatically
(C) eventually
(D) unfortunately
22. What does the author say in paragraph 1 regarding most
species in Earth’s history
(A) They have remained
basically unchanged from their original forms.
(B) They have been
able to adapt to ecological changes.
(C) They have caused rapid
change in the environment.
(D)
They are no longer in existence.
23. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in paragraph 1
as resulting from rapid ecological change?
(A) Temperature changes
(B)
Availability of food
resources
(C)
Introduction of new
species
(D) Competition among species
24. The word “demise” in line 12 is closest in meaning to
(A) change
(B) recovery
(C) help
(D) death
25. Why is “ plankton” mentioned in line 17?
(A) To demonstrate the interdependence of
different species
(B) To emphasize the importance of food
resources in preventing mass extinction.
(C) To illustrate a comparison between
organisms that live on the land and those that live in the ocean
(D) To point out that certain species could
never become extinct.
26. According to paragraph 2, evidence from fossils suggests
that
(A) extinction of species has
occurred from time to time throughout Earth’s history.
(B) Extinctions on Earth have
generally been massive
(C) there has been only one
mass extinction in Earth’s history.
(D) dinosaurs became extinct
much earlier than scientists originally believed.
27. The word “finding” in line 20 is closest in meaning to
(A)
published information
(B)
research method
(C)
ongoing experiment
(D)
scientific discovery
28. Which of the following can be in
(A) Many scientists could be
expected to disagree with it
(B) evidence to support the
theory has recently been found.
(C) The theory is no longer
seriously considered.
(D) Most scientists believe
the theory to be accurate.
29. In paragraph 3, the author makes which of the following
statements about a species’ survival?
(A) It reflects the
interrelationship of may species.
(B)
It may depend on chance events.
(C) It does not vary greatly
from species to species
(D) It is associated with
astronomical conditions.
30. According to the passage, it is believed that the
largest extinction of a species occurred
(A) 26 million years
ago
(B) 65 million years
ago
(C) 225 million
years ago
(D) 250 million
years ago
Question 30-40
Because the low latitudes of the Earth, the
areas near the equator, receive more heat
Than the latitudes near the
poles, and because the nature of heat is to expand and move,
Heat is transported from
the tropics to the middle and high latitudes. Some of this heat is
Line
Moved by winds and some by ocean currents, and some gets stored in the
atmosphere in
(5) the form of latent heat. The term “latent
heat” refers to the energy that has to be used to
Convert liquid water to
water vapor. We know that if we warm a pan of water on a stove,
it will evaporate, or turn
into vapor, faster than if it is allowed to sit at room temperature.
We also know that if we
hang wet clothes outside in the summertime they will dry faster
than in winter, when
temperatures are colder. The energy used in both cases to change
(10) liquid water to water vapor is supplied by
heat—supplied by the stove in the first case
and by the Sun in the
latter case. This energy is not lost. It is stored in water vapor in the
atmosphere as latent heat.
Eventually, the water stored as vapor in the atmosphere will
condense to liquid again,
and the energy will be released to the atmosphere.
In the atmosphere, a large portion of
the Sun’s incoming energy is used to evaporate
(15) Water, primarily in the tropical oceans.
Scientists have tried to quantify this proportion
of the Sun’s energy. By
analyzing temperature, water vapor, and wind data around the
globe, they have estimated
the quantity to be about 90 watts per square meter, or nearly
30 percent of the Sun’s
energy. Once this latent heat is stored within the atmosphere, it
can be transported,
primarily to higher latitudes, by prevailing, large-scale winds. Or it
(20) can be transported vertically to higher
levels in the atmosphere, where it forms clouds
and subsequent storms,
which then release the energy back to the atmosphere.
31.
The passage mainly discusses how heat
(A) is transformed and transported in the Earth’s atmosphere
(B)
is transported by ocean
currents
(C)
can be measured and
analyzed by scientists
(D) moves about the Earth’s equator
32.
The passage mentions that the tropics differ from the Earth’s polar regions in
which of the following ways?
(A)
The height of cloud
formation in the atmosphere
(B)
The amount of heat they
receive from the Sun
(C)
The strength of their
largescale winds.
(D)
The strength of their
oceanic currents
33.
The word “convert” line 6 is closest in meaning to
(A) mix
(B)
change
(C)
adapt
(D) reduce
34.
Why does the author mention “the stove” in line 10?
(A) To describe the heat of the Sun
(B)
To illustrate how water
vapor is stored
(C)
To show how energy is
stored
(D) To give an example of a heat source
35.
According to the passage, most ocean water evaporation occurs especially
(A) around the higher latitudes
(B)
in the tropics
(C)
because of large-scale
winds
(D) because of strong ocean currents
36.
According to the passage, 30 percent of the Sun’s incoming energy
(A) is stored in clouds in the lower latitudes
(B)
is transported by ocean
currents
(C)
never leaves the upper atmosphere
(D) gets stored as latent heat
37.
The word “it” in line 18 refers to
(A) square meter
(B)
the Sun’s energy
(C)
latent heat
(D) the atmosphere
38.
The word “primarily” in line 19 is closest in meaning to
(A) chiefly
(B)
originally
(C)
basically
(D) clearly
39.
The word “prevailing” in line 19 is closest in meaning to
(A) essential
(B)
dominant
(C)
circular
(D) closest
40.
All of the following words are defined in the passage EXCEPT
(A) low latitudes (line1)
(B)
latent heat (line5)
(C)
evaporate (line7)
(D) atmosphere (line140)
Question 41-50
The Moon, which has undergone a distinct and
complex geological history, presents a
striking appearance. The
moon may be divided into two major terrains: the maria (dark
lowlands) and the terrace( bright highlands). The contrast
in the reflectivity (the capability
of reflecting light ) of these two terrains suggested to
many early observers that the two
(5) terrains might have different compositions,
and this supposition was confirmed by
missions to the Moon such as Surveyor and Apollo. One of the
most obvious differences
between the terrains is the smoothness of the maria in
contrast to the roughness of the
highlands. This roughness is mostly caused by the abundance
of craters; the highlands are
completely covered by large craters( greater than 40-50 km
in diameter), while the craters
(10)
of the maria tend to be much smaller. It is now known that the vast majority of
the Moon’s
craters were formed by the impact of solid bodies with the
lunar surface.
Most of the near
side of the Moon was thoroughly mapped and studied from telescopic
pictures years before the age of space exploration.
Earth-based telescopes can resolve
objects as small as a few hundred meters on the lunar
surface. Close observation of
(15)
craters, combined with the way the Moon diffusely reflects sunlight, led to the
understanding that the Moon is covered by a surface layer,
or regolith, that overlies the
solid rock of the Moon. Telescopic images permitted the
cataloging of a bewildering array
of land forms. Craters were studied for clues to their
origin; the large circular maria were
(20)
seen. Strange, sinuous features were observed in the maria. Although various
land forms
were catalogued, the majority of astronomers’ attention was
fixed on craters and their
origins.
Astronomers have
known for a fairly long time that the shape of craters changes as
they increase in size. Small craters with diameters of less
than 10-15 km have relatively
(25)
simple shapes. They have rim crests that are elevated above the surrounding
terrain,
smooth, bowl-shaped interiors, and depths that are about
one-fifth to one-sixth their diameters. The complexity of shape increases for
larger craters.
41.
What does the passage mainly discu ss?
(A) What astronomers learned from the Surveyor and Apollo space
missions
(B)
Characteristics of the
major terrains of the Moon
(C)
The origin of the Moon’s
craters
(D) Techniques used to catalogue the Moon’s land forms
42.
The word ”undergone” in line1 is closest in meaning to
(A) altered
(B)
substituted
(C)
experienced
(D) preserved
43.
According to the passage, the maria differ from the terrace mainly in terms of
(A) age
(B)
manner of creation
(C)
size
(D) composition
44.
The passage supports which of the following statements about the Surveyor and
Apollo missions?
(A)
They confirmed earlier
theories about the Moon’s surface.
(B)
They revealed that
previous ideas about the Moon’s craters were incorrect.
(C)
They were unable to
provide detailed information about the Moon’s surface.
(D)
They were unable to
identify how the Moon’s craters were made.
45.
The word ”vast” in line 10 is closest in meaning to
(A) special
(B) known
(C) varied
(D) great
46.
All of the following are true of the maria EXCEPT:
(A) They have small craters.
(B)
They have been analyzed
by astronomers.
(C)
They have a rough
texture.
(D) They tend to be darker than the terrace.
47.
All of the following terms are defined in the passage EXCEPT
(A) Moon (line1)
(B)
reflectivity(line3)
(C)
regolith(line16)
(D) rays(line19)
48.
The author mentions “wispy marks” in line 19 as an example of
(A)
an aspect of the lunar
surface discovered through lunar missions
(B)
a characteristic of
large craters
(C)
a discovery made
through the use of Earth-based telescopes
(D)
features that
astronomers observed to be common to Earth and the Moon
49.
According to the passage, lunar researchers have focused mostly on
(A) the possibility of finding water on the Moon
(B)
the lunar regolith
(C)
cataloging various land
formations
(D) craters and their origins
50.
The passage probably continues with a discussion of
(A) the reasons craters are difficult to study
(B)
the different shapes
small craters can have
(C)
some features of large
craters
(D) some difference in the ways small and large craters were
formed
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