Entrance Exam Prep 2019/2020

Although the brain compromises only 2 percent of the human body's average weight, the billions of neurons and trillions of synaptic connections that are the human brain constitute a truly impressive organ. In terms of what it can do, the human brain is in some ways unable to match the brain functioning of "lower" animals; in other ways, its capabilities are quite unrivaled. Salmon, caribou, and migrating birds, for example, have navigational abilities unparalleled in our own species, and even dogs and cats have senses of hearing and smell known, in human form, only to comic book superheroes. Yet, no other animal on the planet can communicate, solve problems, or think abstractly about itself and the future as we do. While these relative strengths and weaknesses can be attributed to the unique and complex structure of the human brain, neuroscientists also have traced these characteristics to the human brain's remarkable flexibility, what researchers call plasticity. Encased in a hard, protective skull that by the age of two is already 80 percent of its eventual adult size, the human brain has little room for six expansion even though the rest of the body, especially during adolescence, undergoes significant changes in physical form. Nevertheless, the human brain's plasticity allows for marked capacity changes of usage, practice, and experience throughout a person's entire life. The idea that the human brain continues to develop and, some might say, improve over the course of one's life is relatively new concept. Neuroscientists once believed that the basic structure and abilities of the adult brain were developed in early life and not subject to later change. Recent research, however, has debunked this myth; scientists have found that one's life experiences and environment not only mold the brain's particular architecture but also can continue to spark the expansion of its capacity to function. In context, the word TRACED (at the end of the first paragraph means): A) Connected B) Drawn C) Searched D) Copied

A) Connected; In a context question, don't worry too much about what you know any of the given words; instead, focus on only how this word fits within the sentence where it is used. In this case, notice that earlier in the sentence, the word ATTRIBUTED is used essentially the same way as the cited word- that is, connecting the characteristics and capabilities of the human brain with the concept of plasticity.

The rarely sighted three-toed sloth, long mistaken for a species of monkey, is one of the most unusual animals on earth. In fact, many characteristics of this tree-dwelling mammal seem to run counter to the instincts displayed by almost all wild animals. First, sloths are incredibly slow, tending to move no faster than six feet per minute, even when confronted by a predator. As a result, most sloths spend years in a single tree, making their way from branch to branch almost imperceptibly. Second, sloths spend almost their entire lives hanging upside down, even when eating, sleeping, mating, and - perhaps most remarkably- giving birth. The author's reference to sloths moving "almost imperceptibly" is meant to show that these animals: A) Move in ways that can be difficult to detect B) Intentionally hide their movements C) Are essentially impossible to observe D) Are physically unable to move with any speed

A) Move in ways that can be difficult to detect; The author states that sloths move "form branch to branch almost imperceptibly," implying that their movements are so slow or gradual that they are hard to detect

Diamond is the hardest known material and has long been used in various industrial-shaping processes, such as cutting, grinding, and polishing. Diamond, sapphire, ruby (which is a sapphire with chromium "impurities"), and garnet are increasingly important in various applications. For example, diamond is used in sensors, diaphragms for audio speakers, and coatings for optical materials. Sapphire is used in gallium nitride-based LEDs; ruby is used to check valves; and synthetic garnet is used in lasers intended in applications in medical products. It can be inferred from this passage that: A) Diamonds are more precious than sapphires B) Rubies come from the same type of stone as do sapphires C) Garnets are used in various industrial-shaping processes D) Precious stones are more costly than ever

B) Rubies come from the same type of stone as do sapphires; The passage notes parenthetically that a ruby is a sapphire with chromium "impurities", so one can logically infer that both gems come from the same kind of stone.

The rarely sighted three-toed sloth, long mistaken for a species of monkey, is one of the most unusual animals on earth. In fact, many characteristics of this tree-dwelling mammal seem to run counter to the instincts displayed by almost all wild animals. First, sloths are incredibly slow, tending to move no faster than six feet per minute, even when confronted by a predator. As a result, most sloths spend years in a single tree, making their way from branch to branch almost imperceptibly. Second, sloths spend almost their entire lives hanging upside down, even when eating, sleeping, mating, and - perhaps most remarkably- giving birth. According to the passage, the three-toed sloth's lack of speed and tendency to hang upside-down are: A) Entirely unique evolutionary traits B) Characteristics shared by some monkeys C) Apparently contrary to the usual behavior of most wild animals D) Detrimental to their eating, sleeping, and mating habits

C) Apparently contrary to the usual behavior of most wild animals; The question notes two characteristics of the three-toed sloth: lack of speed and a tendency to hang upside-down. In introducing these traits, the passage says that some of the sloth's characteristics "seem to run counter to the instincts displayed by almost all wild animals.

Although the brain compromises only 2 percent of the human body's average weight, the billions of neurons and trillions of synaptic connections that are the human brain constitute a truly impressive organ. In terms of what it can do, the human brain is in some ways unable to match the brain functioning of "lower" animals; in other ways, its capabilities are quite unrivaled. Salmon, caribou, and migrating birds, for example, have navigational abilities unparalleled in our own species, and even dogs and cats have senses of hearing and smell known, in human form, only to comic book superheroes. Yet, no other animal on the planet can communicate, solve problems, or think abstractly about itself and the future as we do. While these relative strengths and weaknesses can be attributed to the unique and complex structure of the human brain, neuroscientists also have traced these characteristics to the human brain's remarkable flexibility, what researchers call plasticity. Encased in a hard, protective skull that by the age of two is already 80 percent of its eventual adult size, the human brain has little room for six expansion even though the rest of the body, especially during adolescence, undergoes significant changes in physical form. Nevertheless, the human brain's plasticity allows for marked capacity changes of usage, practice, and experience throughout a person's entire life. The idea that the human brain continues to develop and, some might say, improve over the course of one's life is relatively new concept. Neuroscientists once believed that the basic structure and abilities of the adult brain were developed in early life and not subject to later change. Recent research, however, has debunked this myth; scientists have found that one's life experiences and environment not only mold the brain's particular architecture but also can continue to spark the expansion of its capacity to function. The reference to "comic book superheroes" at the end of the first paragraph serves to: A) Show that the sensory capabilities of cats and dogs are irrelevant when evaluating brain development B) Suggest that as humans we have always exaggerated our sensory capabilities C) Demonstrate that the human brain is not superior to but different from the brains of other animals D) Illustrate that, regardless of the remarkable sensory capabilities of cats and dogs, their brains have great weaknesses

C) Demonstrate that the human brain is not superior to but different from the brains of other animals; Before making your answer selection, make sure to consider the surrounding context. The reference is being used as an example that supports the preceding sentence: " In terms of what it can do, the human brain is in some ways unable to match the brain functioning of "lower" animals; in other ways, its capabilities are quite unrivaled." In other words, it supports the idea that the brain capabilities of different animals vary so dramatically that it is hard to compare one another.

Diamond is the hardest known material and has long been used in various industrial-shaping processes, such as cutting, grinding, and polishing. Diamond, sapphire, ruby (which is a sapphire with chromium "impurities"), and garnet are increasingly important in various applications. For example, diamond is used in sensors, diaphragms for audio speakers, and coatings for optical materials. Sapphire is used in gallium nitride-based LEDs; ruby is used to check valves; and synthetic garnet is used in lasers intended in applications in medical products. The main idea of this passage can best be summarized with which of these titles? A) The Timeless Allure of Precious Stones B) Nontraditional Uses of Diamonds C) Industrial Uses for Precious Stones D) Gem Hardness and Utility

C) Industrial Uses for Precious Stones; The passage discusses industrial uses for precious stones, so the correct answer choice should jump out at you.

The discovery of helium required the combined efforts of several scientists. Pierre-Jules Cesar Janssen first obtained evidence for the existence of helium during a solar eclipse in 1868 when he detected a new yellow line on his spectroscope while observing the sun. This experiment was repeated by Norman Lockyer who concluded that no known element produced such a line. However, other scientists were dubious, finding it unlikely that an element existed only on the sun. Then, in 1895, William Ramsey discovered helium on Earth after treating levite, a uranium mineral, with mineral acids. After isolating the resulting gas, Ramsay sent samples to William Crookes and Norman Lockyer who identified it conclusively as the missing element helium. The author of the passage suggests that the results of the work of Janssen and Lockyer were: A) Repeated incorrectly by other scientists B) Thought by others to be the result of flawed methodologies C) Met with skepticism by other scientists D) Only valid during solar eclipses

C) Met with skepticism by other scientists; The passage states that Janssen and Lockyer observed the sun using their spectroscopes and discovered a new yellow line that belonged to an unknown element. Reading the next sentence reveals that Janssen and Lockyer's work was doubted by many other scientists.

Ecologists apply the term BIOME to the major divisions of ecosystem types, largely based on the structure of their most prevalent vegetation. The tundra biome, for example, found in the Arctic and high in the mountains of all latitudes, is characterized by low-growing perennial plants that can survive in the soil that remains frozen for most of the year. The temperate grassland biome, on the other hand, is found in those areas of the world that remain relatively dry throughout the year and is distinguished by the structurally simple grasses and scrub brush that dominate the landscape. Judging from the passage, DOMINATE most probably means: A) Control B) Rule over C) Overwhelm D) Overshadow

C) Overwhelm; The author notes that biomes are distinguished primarily by the kinds of plants that are MOST PREVALENT and offers the temperate grassland as an example of a biome. As a result, you can infer that the "grasses and scrub brush" mentioned are the plants that occur most frequently in the temperate grassland.

Ecologists apply the term BIOME to the major divisions of ecosystem types, largely based on the structure of their most prevalent vegetation. The tundra biome, for example, found in the Arctic and high in the mountains of all latitudes, is characterized by low-growing perennial plants that can survive in the soil that remains frozen for most of the year. The temperate grassland biome, on the other hand, is found in those areas of the world that remain relatively dry throughout the year and is distinguished by the structurally simple grasses and scrub brush that dominate the landscape. According to the last sentence, the grasses and scrub brush: A) Live only in the temperature grassland biome B) Can thrive only in dry climates C) Require relatively little water to survive D) Are, by definition, structurally simple

C) Require relatively little water to survive; Remember, valid inferences do not stray far from the text. The passage says that grasses and scrub brush dominate the landscape of temperate grassland biomes, and that these areas " remain relatively dry throughout the year." Look for a statement that follows directly from these facts.

The discovery of helium required the combined efforts of several scientists. Pierre-Jules Cesar Janssen first obtained evidence for the existence of helium during a solar eclipse in 1868 when he detected a new yellow line on his spectroscope while observing the sun. This experiment was repeated by Norman Lockyer who concluded that no known element produced such a line. However, other scientists were dubious, finding it unlikely that an element existed only on the sun. Then, in 1895, William Ramsey discovered helium on Earth after treating levite, a uranium mineral, with mineral acids. After isolating the resulting gas, Ramsay sent samples to William Crookes and Norman Lockyer who identified it conclusively as the missing element helium. The passage indicates that Ramsay's chief contribution to the discovery of helium was to: A) Prove the validity of Janssen's experiment B) Find helium in uranium minerals C) Identify the element discovered by Crookes as helium D) Discover that helium naturally occurs on Earth

D) Discover that helium naturally occurs on Earth; Ramsay appears toward the middle of the passage after the author mentions that scientists doubted helium exists only on the sun. Since Ramsay's experiment with naturally occurring Earth minerals occurs in the next sentence, the correct answer would be something that cites discovering helium on Earth.

Although the brain compromises only 2 percent of the human body's average weight, the billions of neurons and trillions of synaptic connections that are the human brain constitute a truly impressive organ. In terms of what it can do, the human brain is in some ways unable to match the brain functioning of "lower" animals; in other ways, its capabilities are quite unrivaled. Salmon, caribou, and migrating birds, for example, have navigational abilities unparalleled in our own species, and even dogs and cats have senses of hearing and smell known, in human form, only to comic book superheroes. Yet, no other animal on the planet can communicate, solve problems, or think abstractly about itself and the future as we do. While these relative strengths and weaknesses can be attributed to the unique and complex structure of the human brain, neuroscientists also have traced these characteristics to the human brain's remarkable flexibility, what researchers call plasticity. Encased in a hard, protective skull that by the age of two is already 80 percent of its eventual adult size, the human brain has little room for six expansion even though the rest of the body, especially during adolescence, undergoes significant changes in physical form. Nevertheless, the human brain's plasticity allows for marked capacity changes of usage, practice, and experience throughout a person's entire life. The idea that the human brain continues to develop and, some might say, improve over the course of one's life is relatively new concept. Neuroscientists once believed that the basic structure and abilities of the adult brain were developed in early life and not subject to later change. Recent research, however, has debunked this myth; scientists have found that one's life experiences and environment not only mold the brain's particular architecture but also can continue to spark the expansion of its capacity to function. The author's comparisons between the human brain and those of other animals are meant to: A) Suggest that despite the areas of weakness the human brain is the most sophisticated B) Emphasize the diversity of brain types found in the animal kingdom C) Reiterate that the human brain is not the only brain that displays remarkable plasticity D) Illustrate the unique characteristics and capabilities of the human brain

D) Illustrate the unique characteristics and capabilities of the human brain; It is important to keep in mind the general tone of a reading passage, because you can usually eliminate incorrect answer choices based on their mismatch with the author's tone or meaning. Here, although the author mentions some of the unrivaled strengths of the human brain, nowhere in the text is one animal's brain is described as superior to another's. The last sentence in the first paragraph, beginning "While these relative strengths and weaknesses...." clearly illustrates this nonjudgmental tone and indicates that the author is comparing the brain capabilities of various animals to describe how the human brain differs and can be distinguished.