Vocabulary
The intergenerational Bulgarian female choir group Bistritsa Babi has been working to preserve customary songs and dances from the Shopluk region of the country since 1939. Through these _________ performances, members of Bistritsa Babi hope to keep this centuries-old ritual of expression alive. In 2005, the group was added to the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage for Eastern Europe.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
A.traditional
B.obscure
C.discreet
D.eccentric
A.traditional
Since the 1950s, scientists have known that rapid eye movement, or REM, occurs when someone is sleeping. Previous studies attempting to determine the meaning of these eye movements have been unsuccessful in part because these studies relied on human subjects recalling the content of their dreams. A recent study by physiologists Yuta Senzai and Massimo Scanziani has avoided this issue by studying dreaming mice instead. Their results suggest that REM is correlated to changes in direction during the dream.
Which choice best describes the function of the second sentence in the overall structure of the text?
A.It names a problem in the approach taken by Senzai and Scanziani.
B.It introduces the difficulty that the study by Senzai and Scanziani was designed to bypass.
C.It presents the findings of studies done prior to the study by Senzai and Scanziani.
D.It clarifies how others studying REM sleep interpret the study by Senzai and Scanziani.
B.It introduces the difficulty that the study by Senzai and Scanziani was designed to bypass.
The following text is Baron George Gordon Byron’s poem “Answer to ——’s Professions of Affection,” written around 1814. The poem is addressed to an unknown person.
In hearts like thine ne’er may I hold a place
Till I renounce all sense, all shame, all grace—
That seat,—like seats, the bane of Freedom’s realm,
But dear to those presiding at the helm—
Is basely purchased, not with gold alone;
Add Conscience, too, this bargain is your own—
‘T is thine to offer with corrupting art
The rotten borough of the human heart.
What is the main idea of the text?
A.The speaker is expressing disapproval towards the unknown person.
B.The speaker is unimportant to the unknown person.
C.The speaker is thinking of purchasing a seat.
D.The speaker holds a place in the heart of the unknown person.
A.The speaker is expressing disapproval towards the unknown person.
Compared to other Ukrainian scientists and mathematicians, __________ she has worked with differential equations, partial differential equations, and integrable systems in Dnipro, Cyprus, and Kyiv.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A.there is a wide range of fields and Ukrainian cities that Olena Vaneeva has worked in:
B.many Ukrainian cities and fields have been home to Olena Vaneeva:
C.the range of fields and Ukrainian cities that Olena Vaneeya has worked in is very wide:
D.Olena Vaneeva has worked in a wide range of fields and Ukrainian cities:
D.Olena Vaneeva has worked in a wide range of fields and Ukrainian cities:
In her 1850 collection of poems Sonnets from the Portuguese, Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote and arranged her works in a sonnet cycle. This method groups sonnets in such a way that they can be read either individually or as a single collection and are written around a common theme. Barrett Browning wrote the sonnets centered on the theme of love but was hesitant to publish them, fearing that they were too personal. To address this, Barrett Browning published her collection under a title that suggested the works were not hers but rather translations of foreign sonnets. Upon release, the collection received critical acclaim for its handling of the theme of love and for the multiple ways in which the work could be read. This response suggests that ________
Which choice most logically completes the text?
A.Browning influenced other poets to create collections utilizing a sonnet cycle.
B.most critics didn’t realize Browning’s goal for Sonnets from the Portuguese.
C.Browning’s use of a sonnet cycle contributed to the success of Sonnets from the Portuguese.
D.Sonnets from the Portuguese is one of Browning’s most famous works.
C.Browning’s use of a sonnet cycle contributed to the success of Sonnets from the Portuguese.
Juan Rojo, a physicist from the Netherlands, and his team have discovered that protons may be composed of a charm quark and its antimatter form, an anticharm. Originally, atoms were believed to _______ two up quarks and a down quark.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
A.avoid
B. destroy
C. create
D. contain
D. contain
Electroreception is the ability of an animal to sense the flow of electricity around it by using specialized organs known as electroreceptors. Most species known to use electroreception are fish, including many sharks, elephant fishes, and eels. However, electroreception is not limited to fish. Monotremes, a group of mammals that includes the platypus and some echidnas, have electroreceptors on or near their mouths to help locate prey. There is also some evidence that bees can detect static electricity on flowers.
Which choice best describes the function of the third sentence in the overall structure of the text?
A. It generalizes the phenomenon discussed beyond fishes.
B.It offers another explanation of electroreception that is different from the explanation of how electroreception is used by fishes.
C.It provides more examples of animals with electroreception.
D.It explains how electroreception evolved in monotremes and bees.
A. It generalizes the phenomenon discussed beyond fishes.
In Māori culture, the Tohunga are revered figures who hold knowledge and wisdom about the history and traditions of their people. They act as healers, navigators, and spiritual leaders, and are responsible for passing on their knowledge to future generations. While modernization has impacted the role of the Tohunga in contemporary society, they remain a crucial source of guidance and guardians of cultural heritage.
What choice best states the main idea of the text?
A.Contemporary society has less need for the Tohunga.
B.Despite shifts to their societal function, the Tohunga remain vital to preserving their communities’ shared knowledge and traditions.
C.Although the Tohunga embrace many aspects of society, few welcome technological advancements.
D.Tohunga traditions are passed down from generation to generation.
B.Despite shifts to their societal function, the Tohunga remain vital to preserving their communities’ shared knowledge and traditions.
In analyzing the designs, career, and legacy of English fashion designer Charles Frederick Worth, ________ have declared him to be the first modern fashion designer.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A.the praise from many historians has been for Worth’s pioneering work in high-end dressmaking; they
B.many historians have praised Worth as a pioneer of high-end dressmaking and
C.Worth’s pioneering work in high-end dressmaking has been praised by many historians, who
D.there are many historians who have praised Worth as a pioneer of high-end dressmaking, and they
B.many historians have praised Worth as a pioneer of high-end dressmaking and
Scholars generally agree that amputations were dangerous and deadly prior to 10,000 years ago due to a lack of proper surgical tools and techniques. The earliest evidence of a successful limb-removal surgery was a 7,000-year-old skeleton found in France that had an amputation above the elbow. Recently, archeologists uncovered a 31,000-year-old skeleton with an amputated leg in Indonesia. Analysis of the early stone age skeleton shows that the amputation occurred when the man was just a child and lacked any evidence of infection. Thus, __________
Which choice most logically completes the text?
A.early stone age people must have had doctors who performed these successful amputations.
B.life as an amputee must have been difficult for early stone age people without access to postoperational care.
C.there is insufficient evidence to support that most amputations performed prior to 10,000 years ago were deadly.
D.early stone age people prior to 10,000 years ago may have been more advanced than was previously acknowledged.
D.early stone age people prior to 10,000 years ago may have been more advanced than was previously acknowledged.
Native American writer Gloria Bird focuses on educating readers about the Spokane tribe she belongs to while incorporating her favorite themes: birth, death, and rebirth. Her first poetry collection, Scattered Red Roots, described the Nez Perce Retreat, a _______ between Native American tribes and the United States military, and examined the harsh realities of battle and the processes by which a society can heal in the aftermath of war.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
A.treaty
B.compromise
C.summit
D.conflict
D.conflict
The following text is adapted from L. Frank Baum’s 1911 novel The Sea Fairies. Mayre Griffiths, nicknamed Trot, is a little girl. Cap’n Bill Weedles is a retired sailor with a wooden leg.
Trot liked Cap’n Bill and had a great deal of confidence in his wisdom, and a great admiration for his ability to make tops and whistles and toys with that marvelous jackknife of his. In the village were many boys and girls of her own age, but she never had as much fun playing with them as she had wandering by the sea accompanied by the old sailor and listening to his fascinating stories.
Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a whole?
A.It reiterates Trot’s fascination with Cap’n Bill’s impressive creative talents.
B.Its comparison conveys the depth of Trot’s regard and affection for Cap’n Bill.
C.It contrasts the carefree pleasures of youth with the weighty responsibilities of adulthood.
D. It reveals the subtle differences between Trot’s assessment of Cap’n Bill and his assessment of her.
B.Its comparison conveys the depth of Trot’s regard and affection for Cap’n Bill.
The following text is adapted from Arthur Conan Doyle’s 1891 story "A Case of Identity."
"My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes, "life is infinitely stranger than anything which the mind of man can invent. We would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere commonplaces of existence. If we could hover over this great city, gently remove the roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, it would make all fiction, with its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions, most stale and unprofitable."
Which choice best states the main idea of the text?
A.Sherlock Holmes compares real life to the capacity of human imagination.
B.Sherlock Holmes laments that fiction pales in comparison to real life.
C.Sherlock Holmes states that it would be hard to be an author if one couldn’t come up with new ideas.
D.Sherlock Holmes describes his desire to observe the people in the city.
A.Sherlock Holmes compares real life to the capacity of human imagination.
Part of the US Geological Survey, the Volcano Hazards Program sends notifications about any changes in volcanic activity at the 161 potentially active volcanoes in the US. By disseminating information about volcanic activity, ________
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A.public safety can be improved and negative effects of eruptions can be minimized by the program.
B.the program’s improvement of public safety and minimization of negative effects of eruptions can be attained.
C.the program can improve public safety and minimize negative effects of eruptions.
D.the improvement of public safety and minimization of negative effects of eruptions can be attained by the program.
C.the program can improve public safety and minimize negative effects of eruptions.
Literary critics have argued that Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein was deeply influenced by her marriage to Percy Shelley, who was known for his radical and progressive views, including his ideas about the potential of science and technology, the nature of life and the social implications of scientific advancements. Indeed, Percy’s beliefs may have inspired Mary’s exploration of consequences and ethical dilemmas in Frankenstein, but Frankenstein stands on its own as a work of literary genius. Thus, those who ascribe Percy’s influence as the primary motivation for Frankenstein _______
What choice most logically completes the text?
A.tend to view the writings of Percy and Mary Shelley through too personal of a lens.
B.neglect the influence of many other individuals on Mary Shelley’s writings.
C.risk oversimplifying the motivating factors for Mary Shelley’s novel.
D.may make incorrect assumptions about Percy and Mary Shelley’s relationship.
C.risk oversimplifying the motivating factors for Mary Shelley’s novel.
As the first two people to build a functioning plane, Orville and Wilbur Wright had a ________ impact on the aviation field. With the first successful flight (1903), the Wright brothers’ determination and motivation took the aviation era from experimental to more advanced, eventually leading to commercialized flights.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
A. powerful
B. moderate
C. complicated
D. questionable
A. powerful
Responding to an increasing world population, the United Nations has focused on food security and the need for greater diversity in sustainable food sources. Traditional farming methods often add substantial amounts of greenhouse gases and negatively impact biodiversity. Among possible alternatives are “blue foods,” water-based foods such as seaweed, which have been farmed in countries such as China and Japan for centuries. Harvesting these foods on such a large scale, however, could change the ecosystems of coastlines, and further studies are needed to assess how transforming the diets of large populations would affect the planet.
Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?
A.It offers a viable plan to solve a potential global crisis and explains how the United Nations will lead the world towards greater food security.
B.It clarifies the difference between “blue foods” and foods sourced from traditional methods that may negatively affect biodiversity.
C.It discusses an emerging global food source problem and a potential solution, while noting one possible obstacle to that solution.
D.It describes how China and Japan have advanced diets, but other countries will need to adjust their farming methods to meet the demands of growing populations.
C.It discusses an emerging global food source problem and a potential solution, while noting one possible obstacle to that solution.
The following text is excerpted from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s 1891 novel The White Company. Alleyne is a young monk traveling north from his abbey in Beaulieu, England.
The youth had now journeyed considerably beyond the furthest domains of the Abbey. He was the more surprised therefore when, on coming round a turn in the path, he perceived a man clad in the familiar garb of the order, and seated in a clump of heather by the roadside. Alleyne had known every brother well, but this was a face which was new to him—a face which was very red and puffed, working this way and that, as though the man were sore perplexed in his mind.
Which choice best states the main idea of the text?
A.Alleyne is less familiar with the man than he is with other members of his order.
B.Alleyne has become more suspicious of others since his encounter with the man.
C.Alleyne only trusts men who wear the familiar garb of the order.
D.Alleyne is perplexed by the behavior of some members of the order.
A.Alleyne is less familiar with the man than he is with other members of his order.
Unlike those of the white-bodied peppered moth, ________ they allowed the moth to better camouflage in industrial environments with high levels of air pollution.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A.the black-bodied peppered moth’s colors provided an advantage during the Industrial Revolution:
B.an advantage during the Industrial Revolution was the black-bodied peppered moth’s colors:
C.the black-bodied peppered moth has colors that provided an advantage during the Industrial Revolution:
D.the black-bodied peppered moth had an advantage during the Industrial Revolution because of its colors:
A.the black-bodied peppered moth’s colors provided an advantage during the Industrial Revolution:
By developing a high resolution computer simulation to model the formation of the Moon, Jacob Kegerreis and colleagues show that the Moon likely formed in a matter of hours rather than months or years as was previously believed. The team suggests that an object called Theia struck proto-Earth with an extreme amount of force, breaking off enough material for moon formation. Due to the ferocity of the collision, this material would have been expelled violently into space, acting as a catalyst for the rapid formation of the satellite. In one of the simulations, the team delayed the formation of the Moon to months rather than hours and encountered the same issues as previous theories: such a delay did not produce a moon with the same mass, orbit, and composition as our current moon. The team therefore hypothesizes that ________
Which choice most logically completes the text?
A.the collision with Theia actually affected the Earth’s composition, not just that of the Moon.
B.the Moon formed more slowly in the time following the collision than the team’s simulations suggested.
C.the speed at which the Moon formed played a critical role in its current position and physical features.
D.if the collision between Theia and the proto-Earth had been less violent, all of the material broken off in the collision would have remained closer to Earth.
C.the speed at which the Moon formed played a critical role in its current position and physical features.
In 1919, Rafael Palma delivered an address advocating for women’s suffrage, or right to vote, to the Philippine Senate. Because the debate in the nation around this issue was similar to past debates about women’s education, Palma reminded his audience that any concerns were ________: only positive results had arisen from women’s education, and the same results would come from women’s suffrage.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
A.required
B. ancient
C. unnecessary
D. curious
C. unnecessary
The following text is translated from “When Father Brought Home the Lamp,” an 1883 short story by Finnish author Juhani Aho. The narrator’s father has just decided he will set out on a journey the next morning to acquire a lamp, an item no other family in the village owns.
And that same evening father brought in from the storehouse the big travelling chest in which grandfather, in his time, had stowed his provisions when he came from Uleaborg, and bade mother fill it with hay and lay a little cotton-wool in the middle of it. We children asked why they put nothing in the box but hay and a little wool in the middle, but she bade us hold our tongues, the whole lot of us. Father was in a better humor, and explained that he was going to bring a lamp from the storekeeper, and that it was of glass, and might be broken to bits if he stumbled or if the sledge bumped too much.
Which choice best states the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a whole?
A.It describes a point of curiosity regarding an object that the children would like explained.
B.It demonstrates the conflicting emotions displayed by various members of the family.
C.It clarifies the loving relationship between the children and their mother.
D.It examines how the inquisitive nature of children can be encouraged by a parent.
A.It describes a point of curiosity regarding an object that the children would like explained.
In 1886, Carlos J. Finlay published experimental evidence positing that yellow fever was transmitted from infected mosquitoes to healthy humans. However, other researchers refused to acknowledge Finlay’s theory, until Finlay finally convinced Walter Reed, the head physician of the US Army Yellow Fever board, to investigate further. Reed isolated a group of healthy volunteers who allowed an infected mosquito to bite them and then have their blood drawn, capturing the virus in a test tube. By injecting the drawn blood into other participants, Reed was able to show a successful transmission of Yellow Fever—the first concrete demonstration that the disease originates from infected mosquitoes.
Which choice best states the main idea of the text?
A.It’s challenging to determine the exact origins of Yellow Fever due to the disease’s fatal nature.
B.Reed’s experiment provided firm evidence for a colleague’s theory about disease transmission.
C.Reed invented a novel approach for investigating the symptoms of exotic diseases.
D.Bloodwork is the most critical type of analysis needed for curing a patient with Yellow Fever.
B.Reed’s experiment provided firm evidence for a colleague’s theory about disease transmission.
In 2010, physicists Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were awarded a Nobel Prize for their discovery of graphene. Made up of a two-dimensional network of carbon atoms, _______ possible applications in emerging technologies in a variety of fields from sports equipment to electronics.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A.Geim and Novoselov found that their discovery possesses a range of unusual properties and has
B.graphene’s properties are unusual, and it has
C.graphene possesses a range of unusual properties and has
D.an unusual property of graphene is that it has
C.graphene possesses a range of unusual properties and has
A team at the University of Queensland researched clownfish and how they recognize other individuals through their ability to see UV coloring in orange, white, and black patterns. The team facilitated conflicts between clownfish of different sizes—the larger fish always won the battles while the smaller fish adopted a side-lying position. When artificial UV light was applied to cancel out the natural coloring pattern on the smaller fish, the larger fish no longer challenged the smaller fish. The scientists determined that smaller clownfish have more UV white and orange coloring than larger fish, which, according to the team, indicates their submissiveness to the larger clownfish.
Which finding, if true, would most strongly support the team’s conclusion?
A.Smaller fish with more natural UV white and orange coloring were more likely to adopt a side-lying position and more likely to challenge larger fish when no extra UV light was present.
B.When an artificial pattern was painted on larger fish to increase the percentage of their UV white and orange coloring, they were challenged by the smaller fish.
C.Smaller clownfish were more likely to mate with multiple partners in one mating season than larger clownfish are.
D.When similarly-sized clownfish were engaged in a conflict, the one with a larger amount of UV white and orange coloring in its pattern tended to win.
B.When an artificial pattern was painted on larger fish to increase the percentage of their UV white and orange coloring, they were challenged by the smaller fish.