More Reading Questions
d
1. The passage is written from the point of view of: A. an unidentified narrator observing the relationship over time between a boy and his grandfather. B. two members of the same family discovering their shared trait through joint activities. C. a grown man agonizing over the mixed messages he received as a child from older relatives. D. a boy and the man he becomes considering incidents that illustrate a family trait.
J
10. As it is used in line 43, what does the word "mad" most nearly mean? F. Angry G. Psychotic H. Annoyed J. Irrational
H
12. The tone of the passage can best be described as which of the following? F. formal and condescending G. serious and subjective H. objective and balanced J. ironic and pedantic
B
13. As it is used in line 36, the phrase weighing up most nearly means: A. pricing B. evaluating C. measuring out D. seeking
J
14. The reference to the catastrophe at Scilly (lines 45-47) is used to illustrate the point made in the passage that: F. charts and compasses were poorly made in the 1700s. G. England more than other countries stood to gain from a solution to the problem of determining longitude. H. captains were contributing to the problem of lost lives by resisting a solution to the problem of determining longitude. J. Harrison's accomplishments addressed shortcomings of navigation whose consequences were vast in scale.
A
15. Information in the second paragraph (lines 17-25) establishes that one degree of longitude translates into a distance of: A. sixty-eight miles at Earth's equator but less on either side of Earth's equator. B. sixty-eight miles at Earth's equator but more on either side of Earth's equator. C. one thousand miles the world over. D. virtually nothing at Earth's equator, increasing to a maximum of sixty-eight miles at the poles.
c
15. The word manipulated, as it is used in line 57, most nearly means which of the following? A. Deceived B. Maneuvered C. Altered D. Plotted
G
16. Which of the following statements best describes the metals used in Harrison's clock? F. The metals were identical so that they would respond consistently to changes in conditions at sea. G. The metals were different so that their changes in response to conditions at sea would counteract each other. H. The metals that remained stable in response to temperature changes were encased in metals that were impervious to rust. J. The metals expanded and contracted in ways that were counteracted by changes in the parts made of wood.
C
17. The author of the passage would most likely advocate an approach to history that was: A. Quantitative and focused B. Personal and interpretive C. Comprehensive and balanced D. Qualitative and contemporary
D
17. The passage suggests that Harrison's principal competitors in the race to develop a means of determining longitude were: A. the great captains in the Age of Exploration. B. members of the British Parliament. C. trained clockmakers with formal educations. D. individuals in the scientific community.
H
18. According to the passage, there was a delay between the time when Harrison arrived at a solution to the problem of longitude and when he received his reward because his: F. invention predated the Longitude Act of 1714. G. clock was only one of many successful solutions to emerge simultaneously. H. opponents obstructed his efforts to claim the prize money. J. supporters abandoned him in order to exploit his invention for their own financial gain
B
19. Based on information in the passage, what type of historical source would someone writing a microhistory most prefer? A. A small painting of a Noble B. A collection of correspondence C. A statistical summary of deaths from the Plague D. A summary of legal theories in the Renaissance
G
20. The passage indicates that instruments for determining longitude now include: F. modified pendulum clocks. G. satellites. H. a network of ships. J. barometers.
F
20. What is the main idea of the last paragraph (lines 74-90)? F. That statistical and case-study approaches should be comprehensively synthesized to make for the best possible historical analyses G. That both statistics and case-study approaches are fundamentally flawed, and a better understanding of social context should be attained H. That while Cohn's approach has its merits, the case study approach with its more balanced analysis is a more rigorous option J. Historians will be unable to improve upon the works of Cohn and his contemporaries due to the lack of reliable historical information
C
21. As it is described in the passage, sewing seems most closely associated in the narrator's mind with her mother's: A. low wages. B. compassion. C. self-worth. D. thriftiness.
F
22. In line 74, the word "fixed" most nearly means: F. established G. repaired H. supplied j. prearranged
J
24. According to the passage, the culture of which of these geographical regions made the most significant contributions to the creation of blues music? F. Texas G. Chicago H. Mississippi Delta J. West Africa
J
24. The narrator indicates that one reason she did not wake her sister Amy when "something" came into their room was because: F. Amy had previously asked the narrator to stop waking her up during the night. G. the narrator knew she could muster her own charmed innocence. H. Amy had already figured out what the thing was before going to sleep. J. the narrator was afraid of alerting the thing to her own presence.
G
24. The primary focus of lines 65-92 is: F. the relationship between the narrator and her mother. G. Okaa-chan's strength and integrity. H. Albany's move toward the twenty-first century. J. the narrator's father's stubbornness.
D
27. As it is used in line 87, the phrase "a show in light" most nearly refers to: A. a fictional story the narrator has read. B. a movie the narrator saw at a theater. C. the work of reason in linking a person to the outer world. D. a fantasy created by the mind.
D
27. Information in the passage suggests that the narrator's father disapproves of Okaa-chan's sewing business primarily because it: A. diminishes his role as a provider. B. means more to her than he does. C. does not generate enough income. D. threatens his sense of dignity.
G
28. According to the second paragraph (lines 21-33), what is the major difference between jazz and the blues? F. The longevity they have had in America G. The consistency of their styles over time H. Whether they had any foreign influence J. Their popularity in modern-day society
G
28. Based on the last two paragraphs (lines 78-92), which of the following statements indicates what the narrator's father and mother have in common? F. They both want control of the family finances. G. They are both fighting for their self-respect. H. They both want to teach a lesson to their children. J. They are both angry at the woman who came for the fitting.
F
28. The narrator uses the images in lines 3-5 primarily to depict the interior life's tendency to engage in: F. deceptive self-absorption. G. vital self-examination. H. useful analysis of nature. J. fierce debates with itself
D
29. The author uses the term "architectural wonders" (line 12) to describe: A. nineteenth-century buildings. B. German baked goods. C. crowded city blocks with cobblestone streets. D. arranged layers of fruits, vegetables, and sausages.
C
29. The term "iambic pentameter" in lines 77-78 is used by the author to illustrate: A. The structure of blues music across history B. The incubation of blues music in West Africa C. The impact of Western culture on the blues D. An example of an amorphous work song
H
30. Which of the following words best describes the narrator's father's dancing as he practices for the dinnerdance with Okaa-chan? F. Skillful G. Graceful H. Clumsy J. Indifferent
F
30. Which the following best describes the tone of the passage as a whole? F. Reasoned persuasion G. Impassioned argument H. Scholarly detachment J. Impersonal indifference
A
31. What is the purpose of the passage? A. Explain a phenomenon B. Analyze an approach C. Discuss an argument D. Investigate a theory
B
31. Which of the following conclusions about new theories in science can reasonably be drawn from the passage? A. Important new theories will eventually be accepted, no matter how controversial they are or who proposes them. B. Important but unusual new theories have a better chance at acceptance when they are proposed by well-respected scientists. C. Research on new, nontraditional theories is widely respected within the scientific community. D. Scientists welcome the opportunity to overturn existing ideas in favor of useful new theories.
D
33. According to the passage, which of the following represents (an) environment(s) in which bioluminescent creatures have been located? A. Water only B. Air only C. Water and air only D. Land , sea and air
J
34. As it is used in line 41, the word compensation most nearly means: F. payment. G. differentiation. H. disposition. J. adaptation
A
35. According to the passage, the research that led to the development of the small-comet theory began with a project originally intended to study: A. the electrical activity accompanying sunspots. B. water entering Earth's upper atmosphere. C. static in satellite transmissions. D. specks in satellite images.
A
35. The author's main purpose in lines 54-69 is to show: A. how he has come to think differently about the brain. B. why sickness often causes a contraction of life. C. when he had made new discoveries about the brain. D. which of his subjects helped him redefine the term "norm."
F
36. We can infer from the passage that a situation in which human utilization of bioluminescent technology would be most useful would most likely be which of the following? F. To minimize oxygen use and minimize heat generation G. To maximize oxygen use and minimize heat generation H. To minimize oxygen use and maximize heat generation J. To maximize oxygen use and maximize heat generation
C
37. According to the fourth paragraph (lines 43-66), the shift in levels of which of the following substances is most responsible for the chemical reaction that creates light? A. Nitric Oxide Gas B. ATP C. Oxygen D. Arginine
J
38. Based on the information in the passage, which of the following is NOT a biological purpose of bioluminescence? F. Mating G. Catching food H. Protection J. Respiration
D
39. As it is used in line 15, the word ravages most nearly means: A. paradoxical features. B. creative adaptations. C. fatal nature. D. destructive actions.
A
39. Based on the information in the fourth paragraph (lines 43-66), the process by which nitric oxide goes through molecular decay is most important to the firefly mating process due to which of the following characteristics? A. Its speed B. Its frequency C. Its luminescence D. Its energy
G
4. The boy's approach to the task of converting the tennis court to a basketball court can best be described as: F. reluctant until his grandfather's plans inspire him. G. enthusiastic until his grandfather's error puts them both in an awkward position. H. apprehensive until he discovers his error is not a devastating one. J. thrilled until he remembers that his grandfather is a poor planner.
H
40. The word miracle in line 52 refers most specifically to the ways in which: F. brain function disorders are cured. G. unique handicaps are compensated for. H. different areas of the brain work together. J. the creative potential of disease is revealed.
A
5. As he is revealed in the incident of undertaking the construction of the basketball court, the grandfather can best be characterized as: A. confidently optimistic, then childishly defensive. B. charmingly patient, then increasingly accusatory. C. consistently encouraging in spite of setbacks. D. vocally defensive, then quietly apologetic.
J
6. According to the narrator, which of the following statements was true about Eugene at the moment when she first talked to him? F. Due to the size of the school, he had not even noticed the narrator until she started talking to him. G. He had searched unsuccessfully for the narrator's locker several different times and had been too shy to ask someone where it was. H. He had first noticed the narrator in study hall but had been uninterested in her until she introduced herself. J. He had apparently taken notice of the narrator at school and had come to like her but felt nervous about introducing himself.
B
7. In line 64, to what do the words "desolate zeroes" refer? A. Numbers in the night sky B. The glow of the rotating Ferris wheel C. The shapes of the incandescent bulbs D. The white-hot glow of furnaces
F
8. How might we infer that the "starlight" referred to in lines 75-76 most like the narrator's memory of Mercer? F. It can still be perceived although it is not there G. It is extremely far away in both time and distance H. The initial source of the light and memory is extremely beautiful J. Perception of both is easiest at night time
H
8. The narrator most nearly portrays her parents' dreams as: F. close to being realized because of her father's good job. G. somewhat uncommon among the other residents of the family's building. H. ones she has heard about many times but that seem far off and remote to her. J. ones she shares with her parents and longs to fulfill.
D
9. The narrator claims that she felt close to the old couple because she had: A. listened in on so many of their conversations over the years. B. helped take care of the old woman's flowers after the woman's husband had died. C. been able to watch them as they moved through their entire house. D. regularly observed them during their mealtimes.
