Praxis reading

Passage 1 In January 2002, Judge Louis Pollak made headlines with a ruling on the admissibility of fingerprints. The opinion of the distinguished(5)judge and former academic was essentially that fingerprint identification was not a legitimate form of scientific evidence. Fingerprints not scientific? The conclusions of fingerprint examiners not admissible in court? Fingerprints(10)have been used as evidence in the U.S. courtroom for nearly 100 years. They have long been considered the gold standard of forensic science and are widely viewed as an especially powerful and indisputable form of(15)evidence. What could Judge Pollak have been thinking? About six weeks later, Judge Pollak changed his mind. And yet, Judge Pollak's first opinion was the better one. Passage 2 (20)Recently, the number of challenges to fingerprint evidence has been increasing.Given fingerprinting's long standing as the gold standard of human identification, this may seem surprising, but there are several reasons for this(25)development. Foremost is DNA identification,which has not only transformed forensic science but also created a new set of standards that have raised expectations for forensic science. Even given these new expectations, however, how can(30)fingerprint analysis, so long the paradigm for human identification, be subject to serious question? The answer lies in recognizing the distinction between a latent print (one taken from a crime scene), and a rolled or inked print (a print(35)taken under controlled conditions). Both authors do which of the following? A. Acknowledge historical precedents B. Provide a definition of a term C. Reference an authority figure D. Offer an explanation for a recent trend E. Present a personal experience

Correct Answer: A Option (A) is correct. Historical precedent for the use of fingerprints is given in the fifth sentence of Passage 1 and the second sentence of Passage 2.

While there is general agreement about the significance of the Harlem Renaissance, there is less accord on when the movement begins and Lineends, since it is not marked by a consistent set of(5)aesthetics or a unifying style. Literature from the period covered a wide range of forms, from classic sonnets to modernist verse to blues and jazz aesthetics to folklore. The movement is associated with the 1920s, the Jazz Age, but just(10)when it emerged and disappeared is a source of debate. Literary scholars Cheryl Wall and Gloria Hull have observed that narrow time and geographical parameters for the Harlem(15)Renaissance work against women, most of whom published in a scattered way across a continuum of time and from regions outside Harlem. Given that point of view, the movement's limits should be tied to two landmark events: the(20)production of Angelina Weld Grimké's play Rachel (1916) and the publication of Zora Neal Hurston's novel Their Eyes Were Watching God(1937). Neither of these works was written in Harlem or in the 1920s. But bracketing the(25)Renaissance with these two events pins the period to African American-authored creative literature rather than to political or economic events, which were dominated by White men.These limits also underscore the importance of(30)women to the movement, despite circumstances of gender that limited their ability to get into print. Which of the following best describes the organization of the passage? A. An unresolved question is pointed out, and then a possible answer to the question is put forth. B. A movement is defined, and then several new illustrations to enhance that definition are presented. C. A period in history is described, and then some pivotal events that occurred during the period are discussed. D. A creative movement is summarized, and then its major contributors are discussed in detail. E. An ongoing controversy is presented, and then the history of that controversy is examined.

Correct Answer: A Option (A) is correct. In the first paragraph, the passage points out a question about the beginning and ending dates of the Harlem Renaissance movement. The second paragraph suggests the publication dates of two particular works as landmark events bracketing the movement.

Questions 4-6 refer to the following passage. Grammatical language defines humanity. The complex vocalizations of mammals such as dolphins and primates have been the subject of many studies, but so far, no natural animal(5)communication appears to have a power of expression that is in any way close to human language. Animal communication can be based on a limited repertoire of calls (e.g., warning or territorial calls) or consist of variations(10)on a theme (such as birdsong) or be a continuous signal (e.g., the honeybee's dance,which transmits information on food sources).But the grammar inherent in human language enables us, in the words of(15)Wilhelm von Humboldt, to "make infinite use of finite means." Question: The author most probably uses the word "defines" in line 1 to mean A. distinguishes B. limits C. depicts D. illustrates E.

Correct Answer: A Option (A) is correct. The passage discusses what sets human language apart, or distinguishes it, from animal communication. According to the passage, the distinctiveness of human communication defines humanity.

While there is general agreement about the significance of the Harlem Renaissance, there is less accord on when the movement begins and ends, since it is not marked by a consistent set of(5)aesthetics or a unifying style. Literature from the period covered a wide range of forms, from classic sonnets to modernist verse to blues and jazz aesthetics to folklore. The movement is associated with the 1920s, the Jazz Age, but just(10)when it emerged and disappeared is a source of debate. Literary scholars Cheryl Wall and Gloria Hull have observed that narrow time and geographical parameters for the Harlem(15)Renaissance work against women, most of whom published in a scattered way across a continuum of time and from regions outside Harlem. Given that point of view, the movement's limits should be tied to two landmark events: the(20)production of Angelina Weld Grimké's play Rachel (1916) and the publication of Zora Neal Hurston's novel Their Eyes Were Watching God(1937). Neither of these works was written in Harlem or in the 1920s. But bracketing the(25)Renaissance with these two events pins the period to African American-authored creative literature rather than to political or economic events, which were dominated by White men.These limits also underscore the importance of(30)women to the movement, despite circumstances of gender that limited their ability to get into print. The passage suggests that the "two landmark events" (line 19) are significant for which of the following reasons? A. The dates of the two events are far enough apart to allow more works to be included in the Harlem Renaissance. B. The works associated with the two events are better known than most works produced during the Harlem Renaissance. C. The works associated with the two events accurately represent the aesthetic range of the Harlem Renaissance. D. The works associated with the two events are closely associated with both Harlem and the 1920s. E. The two events more closely tie the Harlem Renaissance to key political and economic events of the 1920s.

Correct Answer: A Option (A) is correct. The previous sentence underlined two scholars' dissatisfaction with "narrow time ... parameters for the Harlem Renaissance." The 21 years between 1916 and 1937, the dates of the "two landmark events," afford greater scope for inclusion of works in the movement than does a strict association of the movement with the 1920s.

Not unaware of the increasing popularity of the pseudosciences, such as phrenology and mesmerism, in 1838 a group of scientists in Boston formed the Lazzaroni, an exclusive society whose membership was limited to the "best scientific minds of the country" and whose purpose was to keep the "progress of science" from being threatened by "charlatanism and quackery." The use of quotations in the passage suggests which of the following about the members of the Lazzaroni? A.They regretted their previous support of the pseudosciences. B.They feared that the pseudosciences were detrimental to the true sciences. C.They believed that their mission was to better understand the pseudosciences. D.They planned to use scientific methods to discredit the pseudosciences. E.They did not fully comprehend the degree of popularity of the pseudosciences.

Correct Answer: B Option (B) is correct. "Charlatanism and quackery" is a pejorative characterization of the pseudosciences, suggesting that the members of the Lazzaroni, who according to the passage saw themselves as among the "best scientific minds of the country," perceived the increasing popularity of the pseudosciences as threatening to "the progress of science."

The Swedish town of Jukkasjarvi, 125 miles north of the Arctic Circle, has one unique phenomenon — a 60-room building, a hotel, made completely of ice. This piece of "meltable architecture" was not built in the time-honored Inuit manner of cutting blocks of snow packed hard by Arctic winds. To form the hotel, a plywood frame was piled high with snow and sprayed with water. After a settling-in period, the frame was removed, leaving an egglike structure. Question: The author mentions the Inuit way of building with ice primarily in order to A.criticize the building techniques of the Swedish builders B.provide a contrast with the building method used for the hotel C.suggest the superiority of the traditional method D.point out that different types of snow and ice require different building techniques E.emphasize the historical perspective of the Swedish builders

Correct Answer: B Option (B) is correct. The "time-honored Inuit manner" of constructing buildings in the Arctic environment differs from the method employed in building the hotel in the Swedish town of Jukkasjarvi.

Even though no ancient writings survive from the thirteenth-century city of Cahokia — located in what is now Illinois — archaeologists hypothesize, given the artifacts found at Cahokian burial sites, that the residents of Cahokia engaged in trade. These artifacts include arrowheads made from the black chert of Oklahoma, worked shells from the Gulf of Mexico, and ornamental cutouts of mica from North Carolina. Question: Which of the following, if true, would suggest an alternative to the archaeologists' hypothesis? A.The residents of Cahokia used arrowheads for decorative as well as practical purposes. B.The residents of Cahokia often received gifts from travelers. C.The artifacts found at Cahokia date from the middle of the thirteenth century. D.The artifacts found at Cahokia are elaborately ornamented. E.The artifacts found at Cahokia are made from materials that cannot be found in the Cahokia area.

Correct Answer: B Option (B) is correct. The passage suggests that trade is hypothesized to account for the presence of certain artifacts in Cahokia. Of the answer choices given, only the receiving of gifts would offer an alternate means of accounting for the presence of the artifacts.

The destruction of free-ranging herds of buffalo on the American Great Plains occurred in the 1870s, the result of businesses' being interested only in the animals' hides. But why(5)was urban America eager to pay good money for millions of buffalo hides when cattle hides were readily available close at hand? The answer is simple. Before the invention of rubberized belting for use in factories, industrial America required(10)leather belts to connect steam engines with all the new machines that were turning out manufactured goods in unprecedented quantity.Buffalo hides, being larger and thicker than cattle hides, could be made into stronger and more(15)durable drive belts Which of the following best describes the organization of the passage? A. It discusses a problem and then evaluates possible solutions to that problem. B. It mentions a phenomenon and then explains how it came about. C. It defines a technical term and then illustrates it with an example. D. It compares an outmoded manufacturing technique with a more modern method. E. It challenges a widely held belief about American industrialization.

Correct Answer: B Option (B) is correct. The phenomenon mentioned in the passage is the destruction of buffalo herds for hides in the 1870s. The explanation provided in the passage is the utility of buffalo hides for meeting the demand for industrial drive belts.

Michael Novacek, curator of paleontology at the American Museum of Natural History, is a world-class field scientist. He is also one of paleontology's most effective popularizers, an entertaining writer as good at bringing oviraptors and other fantastic creatures to life in print as at spotting their fragmented remains in a wall of rock. He writes without the sensationalism that has dogged the study of dinosaurs since the nineteenth century, when rival museums competed to claim the biggest skeletons. Question: Which of the following best describes Michael Novacek's work in paleontology? A.His primary concern is to criticize the work of paleontologists who have sensationalized the field. B.He excels at fieldwork as well as at popular writing about serious scientific issues. C.He does good fieldwork, but his pompous style weakens his writing about scientific themes. D.He aims to be an entertaining writer, and as a result he sensationalizes his subject. E.His writing, both popular and academic, overshadows his fieldwork.

Correct Answer: B Option (B) is correct. The second sentence of the paragraph directly addresses Novacek's work in paleontology

Jazz's prestige suffers from the fallacy that it is a product of emotion and not intellect. As a response to such misunderstandings, jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis invokes the intellectualism of jazz practice as a means of proving its status as art. The lack of a full array of written scores does not signify a shortcoming: "What is so amazing is that [jazz musicians] came up with as intellectual a system as was eventually developed, without the emphasis being on written music." Question: It can be inferred from the passage that Wynton Marsalis would agree with which of the following statements? A.Not all music that has a written score is intellectual. B.Music need not have a written score to be intellectual. C.Jazz is unique in that it is intellectual without the presence of written scores. D.The prestige of a musical genre should not be related to its intellectualism. E.Emotion and intellect are not mutually exclusive qualities of music.

Correct Answer: B Option (B) is correct. The statement in the second sentence of the passage that Marsalis "invokes the intellectualism of jazz practice" and the quotation of Marsalis in the final sentence concerning jazz's lack of emphasis on written music suggest that Marsalis would not regard a written score as essential to the intellectual quality of music.

Embarrassment is ubiquitous in human social life: it occurs all the time. But what triggers the experience of embarrassment? Two competing accounts have emerged in recent years. (5)According to the "social-evaluation" model, which seems closest to ordinary intuition, the root of embarrassment is the anticipation of negative evaluation by others. People become embarrassed when they perceive that the social(10)image they want to project has been undermined and that others are forming negative impressions of them, as, for example, when stumbling in a busy restaurant. While there are many situation sthat seem to fit this account quite well, it does not(15)provide a complete story. Why, for example, do most people feel embarrassed when their friends sing "Happy Birthday" to them in a restaurant?Here, others' attentions are entirely positive and do not reflect negatively on the self in any way.(20)According to the "awkward-interaction" model,embarrassment is likely to arise when a person anticipates a disruption of smooth social interaction and faces a situation without a clear sense of the social expectations governing(25)behavior. In other words, it is not that people are worried about making a bad impression perse that causes embarrassment, but rather that they do not know what to do next. For which of the following situations does the social-evaluation model, as it is described in the passage, provide the most likely explanation? A. A woman pretends to be surprised when her family hosts a surprise party for her, even though she already knew that the party was going to take place. B. A creative-writing class cheers when the professor announces the name of the best student author of the year. C. An employee blushes uncontrollably when he forgets the name of a colleague he is attempting to introduce to his friends. D. A young child begins to cry when his family starts singing "Happy Birthday" to the child's older brother. E. A high school senior bursts into tears of joy when informed that she has been awarded a scholarship to a major university.

Correct Answer: C Option (C) is correct. Here, test takers are being asked to recognize a situation that is most similar to that of "stumbling in a restaurant." According to the social-evaluation model, such a situation would result in others forming negative opinions of the person who stumbles or, in this case, "forgets the name of a colleague" to be introduced.

Marginalia, notes written in the margins of a book, seem unworthy of attention almost by definition — they are slight, dispensable, often anonymous, and too often distracting. Of course, if they happen to be made by one literary celebrity in a book written by another — for example, the English poet John Keats on the ancient Greek historian Herodotus — some attention is deserved. Otherwise, such annotation is now taken as a kind of trespass, an inappropriate marring of a book's virgin terrain. Question: The function of the second sentence in the passage (Of course, if they . . . ) is to A.elaborate on the explanation given in the first sentence B.pose a rhetorical question C.provide an exception to a rule D.make an allusion to a relevant poem E.compare the same phenomenon in two historical periods

Correct Answer: C Option (C) is correct. The opening sentence claims that marginalia, by definition, seem almost unworthy of attention; however, an exception is noted, as in the case cited in the second sentence.

We know quite a lot about the universe, but there is much more we still do not know. About 80 percent of it, for instance, does not exist as visible matter, but as something invisible and mysterious — so-called dark matter. Scientists have not yet succeeded in detecting the sub-atomic particles thought to comprise this dark matter. Suppose they never succeed? That will mean that a substantial amount of the universe will continue to consist of material that we cannot perceive, even with our most advanced tools. Question: The author suggests which of the following about the fact that scientists have not yet succeeded in detecting dark matter? A.It has generated widespread criticism of the scientific establishment. B.It has stimulated the public's interest in the search for dark matter. C.It is testimony to how much we still have to learn about the structure of the universe. D.It only recently became a matter of concern for a select group of scientists. E.It has stimulated the development of new tools for searching for dark matter.

Correct Answer: C Option (C) is correct. The passage asserts that 80 percent of the universe consists of dark matter, which is "invisible and mysterious" and, therefore, poorly understood.

Grammatical language defines humanity. The complex vocalizations of mammals such as dolphins and primates have been the subject of many studies, but so far, no natural animal(5)communication appears to have a power of expression that is in any way close to human language. Animal communication can be based on a limited repertoire of calls (e.g., warning or territorial calls) or consist of variations(10)on a theme (such as birdsong) or be a continuous signal (e.g., the honeybee's dance,which transmits information on food sources).But the grammar inherent in human language enables us, in the words of(15)Wilhelm von Humboldt, to "make infinite use of finite means." The author mentions studies of dolphins and primates most likely in order to A. note an exception to a generalization about language B. suggest directions for future research on animal communication C. provide a contrast with honeybees and songbirds D. support an assertion about grammar and humanity E. indicate animals whose communication has not been adequately studied

Correct Answer: D Option (D) is correct. The assertion of the first sentence of the passage is that humans are set apart by grammatical language. According to the second sentence, studies of dolphin and (nonhuman) primate communication have not revealed a parallel to human language. This supports the assertion of the first sentence.

The drive to regulate sweatshop working conditions in the United States in the 1890s required the cooperation of many groups. The most prominent leader of that campaign was Florence Kelley of Chicago. She devised a strategy that eventually came to dominate legislative remedies for sweatshop labor. Since sweatshops depended on women's labor, Kelley reasoned, passage and enforcement of an eight‑hour day for women would drive sweatshops out of business because their inefficient methods could not produce profits except through longer hours. Question: The passage provides information for answering most fully which of the following questions? A.How did Kelley first become interested in regulating sweatshop labor? B.What percentage of Chicago's workforce was employed in sweatshops during the 1890s? C.How did sweatshop working conditions in Kelley's time differ from those today? D.Why did Kelley believe that her legislative strategy would be effective? E.What impact did Kelley's work have on the efforts of labor unions in Chicago?

Correct Answer: D Option (D) is correct. The final sentence of the passage describes Kelley's reasoning regarding the effectiveness of her legislative strategy for regulating sweatshops.

The use of bitter manioc, a starchy root, by precontact populations in the Orinoco valley is inferred from archaeological grater flakes, griddle fragments, and topia, the ceramic stands that support a griddle over a fire. All of these artifacts are used by modern populations to process bitter manioc. Sweet manioc tends to be ignored as a possibility, perhaps because there are no modern artifacts associated with its processing. Question: According to the passage, why do archaeologists believe that bitter manioc was used by precontact populations? A.It is not necessary to cook sweet manioc over a fire before eating it. B.Bitter manioc is more popular than sweet manioc in the Orinoco valley today. C.Bitter manioc is used by modern populations living in the Orinoco valley. D.Items similar to those used today to process bitter manioc have been found at archaeological sites. E.Griddles that stand on topia are used today to process a number of different foods.

Correct Answer: D Option (D) is correct. The first sentence of the passage says that use of bitter manioc is inferred from artifacts found at archaeological sites. The second sentence says that modern populations use the same types of items to process bitter manioc.

The destruction of free-ranging herds of buffalo on the American Great Plains occurred in the 1870s, the result of businesses' being interested only in the animals' hides. But why(5)was urban America eager to pay good money for millions of buffalo hides when cattle hides were readily available close at hand? The answer is simple. Before the invention of rubberized belting for use in factories, industrial America required(10)leather belts to connect steam engines with all the new machines that were turning out manufactured goods in unprecedented quantity.Buffalo hides, being larger and thicker than cattle hides, could be made into stronger and more(15)durable drive belts The passage suggests that with the invention of rubberized belting, which of the following probably occurred? A. Factory productivity in the United States dramatically decreased. B. The price of buffalo hides rose sharply. C. Businesses came to prefer cattle hides to buffalo hides. D. Buffalo hides became less sought after for use in factories. E. Steam engines became less important in the manufacturing process.

Correct Answer: D Option (D) is correct. The next-to-last sentence of the passage asserts that leather drive belts were in demand "before the invention of rubberized belting," implying that leather drive belts were needed less, and therefore presumably "less sought after," following the invention of rubberized belting.

While there is general agreement about the significance of the Harlem Renaissance, there is less accord on when the movement begins and ends, since it is not marked by a consistent set of(5)aesthetics or a unifying style. Literature from the period covered a wide range of forms, from classic sonnets to modernist verse to blues and jazz aesthetics to folklore. The movement is associated with the 1920s, the Jazz Age, but just(10)when it emerged and disappeared is a source of debate. Literary scholars Cheryl Wall and Gloria Hull have observed that narrow time and geographical parameters for the Harlem(15)Renaissance work against women, most of whom published in a scattered way across a continuum of time and from regions outside Harlem. Given that point of view, the movement's limits should be tied to two landmark events: the(20)production of Angelina Weld Grimké's play Rachel (1916) and the publication of Zora Neal Hurston's novel Their Eyes Were Watching God(1937). Neither of these works was written in Harlem or in the 1920s. But bracketing the(25)Renaissance with these two events pins the period to African American-authored creative literature rather than to political or economic events, which were dominated by White men.These limits also underscore the importance of(30)women to the movement, despite circumstances of gender that limited their ability to get into print. It can be inferred that Cheryl Wall and Gloria Hull view the "narrow time and geographical parameters for the Harlem Renaissance" (lines 13-15) as A. acceptable, but less accurate than currently established parameters B. necessary, because these parameters support the traditional understanding of the Harlem Renaissance C. undesirable, but too widely accepted to change D. unfortunate, because important works might be excluded from the Harlem Renaissance E. suspicious, because critics, rather than writers, coined the term "Harlem Renaissance"

Correct Answer: D Option (D) is correct. The second sentence of the second paragraph of the passage mentions works whose dates would provide broader time parameters for the Harlem Renaissance, with the implication that less-narrow parameters would exclude fewer works by women, who in the point of view attributed to Wall and Hull, published "in a scattered way across a continuum of time."

The fact that climate change could occur suddenly, perhaps with dire consequences, has gained currency in recent years as many general interest science magazines have run feature(5)articles on the subject of what is usually called"abrupt" climate change. Perhaps this has been a bit too much of a good thing, in that it has led to excessive treatments like the one in The Day After Tomorrow, the 2004 movie in which(10)Los Angeles is leveled by tornadoes and New York City, in a matter of days, is buried under mountains of ice. This emphasis on abruptness has been misleading since the question is no tjust how fast climate change might occur but also(15)whether the change would be drastic enough to threaten the foundations of civilizations. To judge from the behavior of the insurance industry, this message is only just beginning to sink in. The fortunes of insurance companies will(20)depend on whether the damage done by global warming is merely incrementally worse than damage done in the recent past, or whether the effects are drastically different in kind. But most insurance companies continue to rely mainly on(25)historical extrapolations from past patterns rather than on dynamic climate models to assess climate risks. If it turns out that they are greatly underestimating future damages, as will likely be the case, the consequences will be serious. In the second paragraph, the author suggests that the insurance industry's response to potential "climate risks" (line 27) has been A. largely appropriate B. disturbingly aggressive C. understandably skeptical D. unfairly implemented E. overly conservative

Correct Answer: E Option (E) is correct. In the final sentence of the passage the author indicates that insurance companies' current risk models, which rely heavily on past patterns, probably are "greatly underestimating" future damages from climate change and that insurers' response to risk is, therefore, too conservative in its approach.

Embarrassment is ubiquitous in human social life: it occurs all the time. But what triggers the experience of embarrassment? Two competing accounts have emerged in recent years. (5)According to the "social-evaluation" model, which seems closest to ordinary intuition, the root of embarrassment is the anticipation of negative evaluation by others. People become embarrassed when they perceive that the social(10)image they want to project has been undermined and that others are forming negative impressions of them, as, for example, when stumbling in a busy restaurant. While there are many situation sthat seem to fit this account quite well, it does not(15)provide a complete story. Why, for example, do most people feel embarrassed when their friends sing "Happy Birthday" to them in a restaurant?Here, others' attentions are entirely positive and do not reflect negatively on the self in any way.(20)According to the "awkward-interaction" model,embarrassment is likely to arise when a person anticipates a disruption of smooth social interaction and faces a situation without a clear sense of the social expectations governing(25)behavior. In other words, it is not that people are worried about making a bad impression perse that causes embarrassment, but rather that they do not know what to do next. The author finds fault with the social-evaluation model for its failure to answer which of the following questions? A. Why do we become embarrassed when we think others have formed a bad impression of us? B. Why does embarrassment most often tend to occur in public situations? C. Why are certain people more prone to embarrassment than others? D. What makes embarrassment an unpleasant sensation? E. Why are we embarrassed by positive attention?

Correct Answer: E Option (E) is correct. The author objects to the social-evaluation model because it does not account for a person's feelings of embarrassment in positive situations, as in the case of the "Happy Birthday" experience described in line 17.

Radio data obtained in 1996 indicated the wall of a south polar crater on the Moon to be more reflective than expected, and ice was the most likely explanation. Why should the Moon — a(5)world with no atmosphere and whose rocks contain almost no water — have ice? By a fortuitous coincidence, the Moon's rotation axis tilts in such a way as to put the floors of some polar craters eternally in shadow. These floors(10)become very cold and trap random molecules of water, which might come from the tails of passing comets, or even comet impacts. Impacts elsewhere on the Moon would redistribute rock and soil, so any ice would be mixed with lots of(15)dirt. The author most likely mentions "Impacts elsewhere on the Moon" (lines 12-13) in order to A. change the topic from water to impacts B. weaken the claim that the observed reflectivity is due to ice C. elaborate on the relevance of the Moon's rotation axis tilt D. provide a summary about the possibility of ice on the Moon E.

Correct Answer: E Option (E) is correct. The question encourages test takers to evaluate the significance of a rhetorical choice in the author's argument. In the context of the passage, the reference to "impacts elsewhere on the Moon" helps to substantiate the claim about how water molecules might be accounted for on the Moon.