Reading Comprehension Jeopardy 3

Vocabulary

Detail Questions 1

Detail Questions 2

Inference

IBT Mix

100

The word “merge” in the passage is closest in meaning to (A) expand (B) separate (C) straighten out (D) combine

(D) combine

100

What does the discussion in paragraph 1 of runoff channels in the southern highlands suggest about Mars? (A) The atmosphere of Mars was once thinner than it is today. (B) Large amounts of rain once fell on parts of Mars. (C) The river systems of Mars were once more extensive than Earth’s. (D) The rivers of Mars began to dry up about 4 billion years ago.

(B) Large amounts of rain once fell on parts of Mars.

100

According to paragraph 1, all of the following are controls that held together the Roman world EXCEPT (A) administrative and legal systems (B) the presence of the military (C) a common language (D) transportation networks

100

In paragraph 2, why does the author include the information that 105 tons of water flow through the Amazon River per second? (A) To emphasize the great size of the volume of water that seems to have flowed through Mars’ (B) To indicate data used by scientists to estimate how long ago Mars’ outflow channels were formed (C) To argue that flash floods on Mars may have been powerful enough to cause tear-shaped (D) To argue that the force of flood waters on Mars was powerful enough to shape the northern outflow channels “islands” to form volcanic plains

(A) To emphasize the great size of the volume of water that seems to have flowed through Mars’

100

Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information. (A) But detractors argue that geological activity may be responsible for the water associated with the terraces. (B) But detractors argue that the terraces may have been formed by geological activity rather than by the presence of water. (C) But detractors argue that the terraces may be related to geological forces in the Northern Hemisphere of Mars, rather than to Martian water in the south. (D) But detractors argue that geological forces depressed the Northern Hemisphere so far below the level of the south that the terraces could not have been formed by water.

(B) But detractors argue that the terraces may have been formed by geological activity rather than by the presence of water.

200

The word “relics” in the passage is closest in meaning to (A) remains (B) sites (C) requirements (D) sources

(A) remains

200

6. According to paragraph 2, all of the following are true of the outflow channels on Mars EXCEPT: (A) They formed at around the same time that volcanic activity was occurring on the northern plains. (B) They are found only on certain parts of the Martian surface. (C) They sometimes empty onto what appear to have once been the wet sands of tidal beaches. (D) They are thought to have carried water northward from the equatorial regions.

200

According to paragraph 2, which of the following was NOT characteristic of Rome’s early development? (A) Expansion by sea invasion (B) Territorial expansion (C) Expansion from one original settlement (D) Expansion through invading armies

(A) Expansion by sea invasion

200

What can be inferred from paragraph 3 about liquid water on Mars? (A) If ancient oceans ever existed on Mars’ surface, it is likely that the water in them has evaporated by now. (B) If there is any liquid water at all on Mars’ surface today, its quantity is much smaller than the amount that likely existed there in the past. (C) Small-scale gullies on Mars provide convincing evidence that liquid water existed on Mars in the recent past. (D) The small amount of water vapor in the Martian atmosphere suggests that there has never been liquid water on Mars.

(B) If there is any liquid water at all on Mars’ surface today, its quantity is much smaller than the amount that likely existed there in the past.

200

In paragraph 2 of the passage, there is a missing sentence. The paragraph is repeated below and shows four letters (A, B, C, and D) that indicate where the following sentence could be added. *"These landscape features differ from runoff channels in a number of ways."* Where would the sentence best fit? Outflow channels are probably relics of catastrophic flooding on Mars long ago. (A) They appear only in equatorial regions and generally do not form extensive interconnected networks. (B) Instead, they are probably the paths taken by huge volumes of water draining from the southern highlands into the northern plains. (C) The onrushing water arising from these flash floods likely also formed the odd teardrop-shaped “islands” (resembling the miniature versions seen in the wet sand of our beaches at low tide) that have been found on the plains close to the ends of the outflow channels. (D) Judging from the width and depth of the channels, the flow rates must have been truly enormous—perhaps as much as a hundred times greater than the 105 tons per second carried by the great Amazon River. Flooding shaped the outflow channels approximately 3 billion years ago, about the same time as the northern volcanic plains formed. (A) Option A (B) Option B (C) Option C (D) Option D

(A) Option A

300

The word “miniature” in the passage is closest in meaning to (A) temporary (B) small (C) multiple (D) familiar

(B) small

300

All of the following questions about geological features on Mars are answered in paragraph 3 EXCEPT: (A) What are some regions of Mars that may have once been covered with an ocean? (B) Where do mission scientists believe that the river forming the delta emptied? (C) Approximately how many craters on Mars do mission scientists believe may once have been lakes filled with water? (D) During what period of Mars’ history do some scientists think it may have had large bodies of water?

300

In paragraph 4, the author develops a description of Roman civilization by (A) comparing the opinions of Roman intellectuals to Greek intellectuals (B) identifying which characteristics of Roman civilization were copied from Greece (C) explaining how the differences between Rome and Greece developed as time passed (D) contrasting characteristics of Roman civilization with characteristics of Greek civilization

(D) contrasting characteristics of Roman civilization with characteristics of Greek civilization

300

Why does the author mention “Alexander the Great” in the passage? (A) To acknowledge that Greek civilization also expanded by land conquest (B) To compare Greek leaders to Roman leaders (C) To give an example of a Greek leader whom Romans studied (D) To indicate the superior organization of the Greek military

(A) To acknowledge that Greek civilization also expanded by land conquest

300

Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. Some sentences do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage. Write your answer choices in the spaces where they belong. You can either write the letter of your answer choice or you can copy the sentence. *"There is much debate concerning whether Mars once had water."* • • • Answer Choices: (A) Various types of images have been used to demonstrate that most of the Martian surface contains evidence of flowing water. (B)The runoff and outflow channels of Mars apparently carried a higher volume of water and formed more extensive networks than do Earth’s river systems. (C)Mars’ runoff and outflow channels are large-scale, distinctive features that suggest that large quantities of liquid water once flowed on Mars. (D)Although some researchers claim that Mars may once have had oceans, others dispute this, pointing to an absence of evidence or offering alternative interpretations of evidence. (E) While numerous gullies have been discovered on Mars since 2000, many astronomers dismiss them as evidence that Mars once had liquid water. (F) There is very little evidence of liquid water on Mars today, and it is assumed that all the water that once existed on the planet is frozen beneath its surface.

C, D, F

400

The word “hints” in the passage is closest in meaning to (A) clues (B) features (C) arguments (D) effects

(A) clues

400

8. According to paragraph 3, images of Mars’ surface have been interpreted as support for the idea that (A) the polar regions of Mars were once more extensive than they are now (B) a large part of the northern lowlands may once have been under water (C) deltas were once a common feature of the Martian landscape (D) the shape of the Hellas Basin has changed considerably over time

(B) a large part of the northern lowlands may once have been under water

400

According to paragraph 4, intellectual Romans such as Horace held which of the following opinions about their civilization? (A) Ancient works of Greece held little value in the Roman world. (B) The Greek civilization had been surpassed by the Romans. (C) Roman civilization produced little that was original or memorable. (D) Romans valued certain types of innovations that had been ignored by ancient Greeks.

400

Paragraph 3 suggests which of the following about the people of Latium? (A) Their economy was based on trade relations with other settlements. (B) They held different values than the people of Rome. (C) Agriculture played a significant role in their society. (D) They possessed unusual knowledge of animal instincts.

400

Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? (A) The regularity and power of stone walls inspired Romans attempting to unify the parts of their realm. (B) Although the Romans used different types of designs when building their walls, they used regular controls to maintain their realm. (C) Several types of control united the Roman realm, just as design and cement held Roman walls together. (D) Romans built walls to unite the various parts of their realm into a single entity, which was controlled by powerful laws.

500

The phrase “obsession with” in the passage is closest in meaning to (A) thinking about (B) fixation on (C) interest in (D) attitude toward

(B) fixation on

500

According to paragraph 4, what do the 2003 Global Surveyor data suggest about Mars? (A) Ancient oceans on Mars contained only small amounts of carbon. (B) The climate of Mars may not have been suitable for the formation of large bodies of water. (C) Liquid water may have existed on some parts of Mars’ surface for long periods of time. (D) The ancient oceans that formed on Mars dried up during periods of cold, dry weather.

(B) The climate of Mars may not have been suitable for the formation of large bodies of water.

500

Which of the following statements about leading Roman soldiers is supported by paragraphs 5 and 6? (A) They could read and write the Greek language. (B) They frequently wrote poetry and plays. (C) They focused their writing on military matters. (D) They wrote according to the philosophical laws of the Greeks.

(A) They could read and write the Greek language.

500

Paragraph 4 indicates that some historians admire Roman civilization because of (A) the diversity of cultures within Roman society (B) its strength (C) its innovative nature (D) the large body of literature that it developed

(B) its strength

500

Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. *"The Roman world drew its strength from several important sources."* • • • Answer Choices:: (A) Numerous controls imposed by Roman rulers held its territory together. (B) The Roman military was organized differently from older military organizations. (C) Romans valued sea power as did the Latins, the original inhabitants of Rome. (D) Roman values were rooted in a strong attachment to the land and the stability of rural life. (E) Rome combined aspects of ancient Greek civilization with its own contributions in new areas. (F) Educated Romans modeled their own literature and philosophy on the ancient Greeks.

A, D, E