Reading 1
Ezra Pound’s poetry can be hard to____ :it is
dense, experimental, and so full of references and
allusions that many readers have a difficult time
even identifying the poems’ subjects.
Which choice completes the text with the most
logical and precise word or phrase?
A) comprehend
B) dislike
C) interrupt
D) overlook
Choice A is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s
discussion of Ezra Pound’s poetry. In this context, “comprehend” would mean to
understand or grasp the meaning of something.
A cable provider wanted to know how many of its
30,000 customers would be interested in a new
service plan. The provider selected 300 customers at
random and asked each customer whether the
customer would be interested in the new plan. Of
those surveyed, 8 said they would be interested.
Which of the following is the best estimate of the
total number of customers who would be interested
in the new service plan?
A) 8
B) 80
C) 800
D) 8000
Choice C is correct. It’s given that 8 out of 300 customers in a random sample
said they would be interested in the new plan. This means the fraction of sampled
customers who said they would be interested is 8/300.
The tiny transistors that control the flow of
electricity in modern devices may one day be made
of wood. Researchers in Switzerland have found a
way to use heat and chemicals to widen the grooves
in dry pieces of balsa wood. ______ these grooves
become wide enough that electrical conductors can
be passed through them.
Which choice completes the text with the most
logical transition?
A) For example,
B) Previously,
C) In contrast,
D) As a result,
Choice D is the best answer. “As a result” logically signals that the information in
this sentence—that the widened grooves in balsa wood can accommodate
electrical conductors—is a direct consequence of the researchers’ method
described in the previous sentence (using heat and chemicals to widen the
grooves).
A right rectangular prism has a base area of
24t square centimeters cm. The length of the base of the rectangular prism is 8/3 cm, and the height of the rectangular prism is 15 cm. Which expression represents the surface area, in cm, of the right rectangular prism?
A) 48t+160
B) 318t+80
C) 1968t+80
D) 360t
Choice B is correct.
Ancient Inca inhabiting the Andes Mountains
used terraces, rows of flattened land with built-
in irrigation systems, to grow crops at different
altitudes. This method of farming proved to be
highly _____ , as evidenced by the great number
and variety of crops grown at that time.
Which choice completes the text with the most
logical and precise word or phrase?
A) chaotic
B) uniform
C) effective
D) burdensome
Choice C is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s
discussion of the ancient Inca farming method. In this context, “effective” means
successful in producing a desired result. The text describes how the Inca used
terraces with built-in irrigation systems to grow crops at different altitudes and
then indicates that this farming method produced positive results “as evidenced
by the great number and variety of crops grown at that time.” The context clearly
suggests that the terraced farming approach was highly productive, or effective.
The unique subak water management system used
to irrigate the rice paddy fields of the Indonesian
island of Bali has a rich cultural, philosophical, and
historical significance dating back to the ninth
century. The many elements of subak—terraces,
canals, and water temples—are _____ : they are
joined together into a single cohesive unit.
Which choice completes the text with the most
logical and precise word or phrase?
A) outmoded
B) informal
C) interconnected
D) optional
Choice C is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s
discussion of Bali’s subak water management system. In this context,
“interconnected” would mean joined or linked together. The text describes the
various components of the subak system—“terraces, canals, and water
temples”—and then states that they are “joined together into a single cohesive
unit.” This context indicates that these elements are connected with one another
in an integrated system.
Which expression is equivalent to 6x+5x+4y?
A) 15x
B) 15y
C) 11x+4y
D) 30x+4y
Choice C is correct. In the given expression, 6x and 5x are like terms. Combining
these like terms yields 11x .
Artist Yto Barrada’s exhibition Ways to Baffle the
Wind incorporates sculptures, textiles, and films.
Barrada’s pieces, utilizing elements as disparate as
plant-dyed fabrics, wire crab traps filled with stones,
and cotton balls dangling above a fan,______
the ways humans attempt to organize and regulate
nature.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms
to the conventions of Standard English?
A) explore
B) has explored
C) explores
D) exploring
Choice A is the best answer. The convention being tested is subject-verb
agreement. The plural verb “explore” agrees in number with the plural subject
“Barrada’s pieces.”
A rectangle has a length of 56 inches and a width of
28 inches. What is the area, in square inches, of the
rectangle?
A) 28
B) 84
C) 168
D) 1568
Choice D is correct.
A team of researchers discovered that Matabele ants
can identify an infected wound in a member of the
colony and then treat the infection by covering the
wound with antimicrobial secretions that the ants
produce. The team found that the mortality rate for
Matabele ants with infected injuries was reduced by
90% with this treatment, and they are hopeful that
this discovery could aid in the development of new
antibiotics for human use.
Which choice best describes the overall structure of
the text?
A) It summarizes research findings on Matabele ants
and then identifies an area for further research.
B) It introduces a study of Matabele ants and then
explains the research methods used in the study.
C) It describes unique properties of Matabele ants
and then speculates on how those properties
evolved.
D) It identifies an issue concerning Matabele ants
and then proposes a solution to address the issue.
Choice A is the best answer because it most accurately describes the overall
structure of the text. The text first presents what researchers found from studying
Matabele ants: the ants can tell when colony members have infected wounds and
can largely successfully treat those infections with their antimicrobial secretions.
The text then indicates that the findings about the ants could help with the future
development of antibiotics for humans. Thus, the text summarizes research
findings and then identifies an area for further research.
Few animals are known to spit: among them are
humans, cobras, and camels. But in January 2022 at
a nature preserve in southern England, bird-watcher
Clare Jacobs observed a gray seal spitting a jet of
water at a white-tailed eagle flying overhead. Seals
had never been seen spitting before. Biologist Sean
Twiss, who studies gray seals, believes that the seal
may have been attempting to scare the eagle away
from a food source or that the seal may have just
been playing.
Which choice best states the main topic of the text?
A) Bird-watching in southern England
B) A previously unseen behavior of gray seals
C) How white-tailed eagles defend their territory
against other predators
D) Differences between gray seals and white-tailed
eagles
Choice B is the best answer because it most accurately states the main topic of
the text. The text begins by noting that few animals are known to spit, and then it
focuses on Clare Jacobs’s January 2022 observation of a gray seal spitting water
at a white-tailed eagle. The text explicitly notes that this behavior had never
before been observed in seals, highlighting that this was a previously unseen
behavior. The text concludes with biologist Sean Twiss’s hypotheses about why
the seal might have been spitting. Thus, the main topic is the observation of a
previously unseen behavior (spitting) of gray seals.
The function f is defined by f(x)=9(2x+3). For
what value of x does f(x)= 63?
A) 2
B) 5
C) 7
D) 30
Choice A is correct
According to the original text of the US Constitution,
written in 1787, the presidential candidate receiving
the second-most Electoral College votes becomes
vice president. The 12th amendment, ratified in
______ separated the elections for the two offices.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms
to the conventions of Standard English?
A) 1804—
B) 1804,
C) 1804:
D) 1804
Choice B is the best answer. The convention being tested is the use of
punctuation within a sentence. The comma after “1804” pairs with the comma
after “amendment” to separate the supplementary element “ratified in 1804” from
the rest of the sentence. This supplementary element functions to provide
additional information on the term “12th amendment,” and the pair of commas
indicates that this element could be removed without affecting the grammatical
coherence of the sentence.
A scientist measured the lengths of 240 gray seals
from Muskeget Island and 120 gray seals from Sable
Island. The scientist determined that the mean
length of the 240 gray seals from Muskeget Island
was 88 inches and the mean length of the 120 gray
seals from Sable Island was 94 inches. What was the
mean length of all 360 gray seals the scientist
measured for this study?
A) 89
B) 90
C) 91
D) 92
Choice B is correct. The mean of a data set is calculated by dividing the sum of the values in the data set by the number of values in the data set. It’s given that the mean length of the 240 gray seals from Muskeget Island was 88 inches.
Olms are salamanders that live in underwater caves.
Scientists once thought that olms stay in their caves
all their lives. However, Raoul Manenti and team
claim that olms regularly come to the surface to
perform important activities such as finding food.
Which finding, if true, would most strongly support
the italicized claim?
A) Researchers determine that olms don’t breed
often.
B) Researchers confirm that olms live in only a few
cave systems.
C) Researchers discover that earthworms from
surface soils are a major part of olms’ diet.
D) Researchers learn that olms’ brains differ from
other salamanders’ brains.
Choice C is the best answer because it presents a finding that, if true, would most
strongly support Manenti and team’s claim that olms regularly come to the
surface to find food. The text explains that scientists previously believed olms
remained in their underwater caves throughout their lives, but Manenti’s team
claims that olms actually surface regularly to perform important activities like
finding food. Since earthworms from surface soils would not be present in
underwater caves, the finding that such earthworms constitute a major part of
olms’ diet would provide compelling evidence that olms regularly leave their
underwater cave environment to obtain food from the surface, thus supporting
the underlined claim.
Researchers Eugeni Vidal-Tortosa and Robin
Lovelace looked at the relationship between street
lighting in a city and people’s willingness to ride a
bicycle. Their results suggest that poor street lighting
can deter new or inexperienced cyclists from riding
in a city but has little effect on experienced cyclists.
Therefore, increasing the number of streetlights in a
city could potentially ______
Which choice most logically completes the text?
A) decrease the number of new or inexperienced
cyclists riding in the city.
B) increase the number of experienced cyclists
riding in the city.
C) decrease the number of experienced cyclists
riding in the city.
D) increase the number of new or inexperienced
cyclists riding in the city.
Choice D is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s
discussion of the relationship between street lighting and people’s cycling
behavior. According to the text, Eugeni Vidal-Tortosa and Robin Lovelace found
that poor street lighting deters new or inexperienced cyclists from riding their
bikes in a city but has little effect on experienced cyclists. This finding establishes
a causal relationship between street lighting and the willingness of new or
inexperienced cyclists to ride a bicycle in the city: if poor lighting discourages new
or inexperienced cyclists from riding, then improving lighting conditions by
increasing the number of streetlights would logically remove this deterrent,
potentially leading to an increase in the number of new or inexperienced cyclists
willing to ride in the city.
What value of x is the solution to the given
equation?
The correct answer is 8.6. Dividing both sides of the given equation by 10 yields
x=8.6. Therefore, 8.6 is the solution to the given equation.
The rough frog is a species of amphibian native to
Australia. Currently, the frog’s range _____ parts
of northern New South Wales and southeastern
Queensland.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms
to the conventions of Standard English?
A) includes
B) included
C) will have included
D) had included
Choice A is the best answer. The convention being tested is the use of verbs to
express tense in a sentence. In this choice, the present tense verb “includes,”
used in conjunction with the word “currently,” correctly indicates that the frog’s
current range includes parts of northern New South Wales and southeastern
Queensland.
Which quadratic equation has exactly one distinct
real solution?
A) (x+ 15)^2=0
B) (x+ 15)^2=-45
C) (x+ 15)^2=45
D) (x+ 15)^2=135
Choice A is correct. Taking the square root of both sides of (x+ 15)^2=0 yields
x+15=0 . Subtracting 15 from both sides of this equation yields x=-15 .
Therefore, this equation has exactly one distinct real solution
The part of a compound that determines the
compound’s color is b l a n k the chromophore.
One example of a chromophore is hemoglobin,
which gives human blood its red color.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms
to the conventions of Standard English?
A) called,
B) called
C) called—
D) called;
Choice B is the best answer. The convention being tested is punctuation use between a verb and its complement. No punctuation is needed between the verb “is called” and its complement “the chromophore.” The complement helps complete the idea of the verb—in this case, it explains what the part of a compound that determines the compound’s color is called—and any punctuation between the two results in an ungrammatical sentence.
When using a search engine, many people click
just the first one or two results. Click restraint is
the practice of scanning a search results page and
evaluating what you see before deciding which link
_____
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms
to the conventions of Standard English?
A) should you choose.
B) you should choose?
C) should you choose?
D) you should choose.
Choice D is the best answer. The convention being tested is end-of-sentence
punctuation. This choice correctly uses a period to punctuate a declarative
sentence that ends with an indirect question.
Amara grows cherry tomatoes in her backyard. This
year, she harvested 750 cherry tomatoes and gave
10% of them to her neighbor. How many of the
harvested cherry tomatoes did Amara give to her
neighbor?
The correct answer is 75. It’s given that Amara harvested 750 cherry tomatoes
and gave 10% of them to her neighbor. 10% can be written as 10/100 , or .01.
Therefore, the number of cherry tomatoes that Amara gave to her neighbor can
be calculated by multiplying the total number of cherry tomatoes by .0 1, which
gives (.01) (750), or 75
Scholars long thought that the initial spread of
silk beyond China occurred in the second century
CE, but this view has been _____ by new
archaeological evidence from South Asia that reveals
that the people of the Indus Civilization made use of
silk at least 1,000 years earlier.
Which choice completes the text with the most
logical and precise word or phrase?
A) investigated
B) misinterpreted
C) anticipated
D) contradicted
Choice D is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s
discussion of the initial spread of silk beyond China. In this context, “contradicted”
means opposed or challenged. The text indicates that new archaeological
evidence about silk use in South Asia has done something to a long-held thought
about the initial spread of silk. According to the text, the new evidence reveals
that people used silk in South Asia 1,000 years before the second century CE,
which directly challenges the previous belief that silk first spread beyond China in
the second century CE.
The population of the town of Smithville doubled
every 75 years from 1659 to 1959. The population of
this town was 240,000 in 1959. What was the
population of this town in 1659?
The correct answer is 15,000.
A popular suite of mapping and spatial analysis
software, ArcGIS enables cartographers like Karachi
Cartography founder Namra Khalid _____ maps
by analyzing and arranging raw geospatial data.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms
to the conventions of Standard English?
A) create
B) to create
C) creating
D) created
Choice B is the best answer. The convention being tested is the use of verb forms
within a sentence. The nonfinite to-infinitive verb “to create” is correctly used to
form a subordinate clause that expresses how ArcGIS facilitates the creation of
maps (by analyzing and arranging certain data)