Possible Exam Questions

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author and other biologists (C) a claim that is of equal concern to scientists and the general public (D) an excuse for outdated designs for research projects (E) an aside that undermines the point about taxonomy that is being made ANS: (A) a detail that makes a critical situation even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