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Readings with Questions

‫ دکتر مرادی مقدم‬:‫مدرس‬

Directions:

In this section you will read several passages. Each passage is followed
by several questions. For each question choose the ONE best answer
from (A), (B), (C), and (D). Then on your answer sheet fill in the space that
corresponds to the letter you have chosen. Your answers should be based
on what is stated or implied in the passage.

QUESTIONS 1-6

Hermit crabs occupy the empty shells of dead sea snails for protection
while still retaining their mobility. They are capable of discriminating
among a selection of shells of various sizes and species, and they choose
the one that fits the body most closely. Hermit crabs change shells as they
grow, although in some marine environments a large enough variety of
shells may not be available and the hermit crab may be forced to occupy a
smaller-than-ideal ‘house’. When a shell becomes too small for the hermit
crab to occupy, it will sometimes become aggressive and fight other
hermit crabs to gain a larger shell.
Hermit crabs may encounter empty shells in the course of their
daily activity, but the vacant shell is usually spotted by sight. The hermit
crab’s visual response increases with the size of an object and its contrast
against the background. The hermit crab then seizes the shell with its
walking legs and climbs on it, monitoring its size. If the size is right, the
crab investigates its shape and texture by rolling it over between its
walking legs and running its claws over the surface. Once the shell’s
opening has been located, the crab uses its claws to remove any foreign
material before preparing to enter. The crab rises above the opening,
flexes its abdomen, and enters the shell backward. The shell interior is
monitored by the abdomen as the crab repeatedly enters and withdraws.
When completely satisfied with its new mobile home, the hermit crab will
emerge one last time, turn the shell over and make a final entrance.

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1. Hermit crabs occupy vacant shells for

(A) mobility
(B) flexibility
(C) protection
(D) discrimination

2. A hermit crab changes shells when it

(A) outgrows the one it has
(B) hunts for food
(C) becomes aggressive
(D) locates any vacant shell

3. The way in which hermit crabs locate empty shells is through which of
the following senses?
(A) Hearing
(B) Touch
(C) Taste
(D) Sight

4. A crab investigates a vacant shell for all of the following EXCEPT

(A) size
(B) type
(C) shape
(D) texture

5. A hermit crab enters a new shell

(A) head first
(B) claws first back
(C) backward
(D) with its walking legs

6. A hermit crab settles into its new ‘mobile home’

(A) after entering and leaving several times
(B) without inspecting the interior first
(C) immediately after locating the shell opening
(D) after fighting other hermit crabs for a larger shell

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Readings with Questions
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QUESTIONS 7-17

Birds that feed in flocks commonly retire together into roosts. The reasons
for roosting communally are not always obvious, but there are some likely
benefits. In winter especially, it is important for birds to keep warm at night
and conserve precious food reserves. One way to do this is to find a
sheltered roost. Solitary roosters shelter in dense vegetation or enter a
cavity - horned larks dig holes in the ground and ptarmigan burrow into
snow banks - but the effect of sheltering is magnified by several birds
huddling together in the roosts, as wrens, swifts, brown creepers,
bluebirds, and anis do. Body contact reduces the surface area exposed to
the cold air, so the birds keep each other warm. Two kinglets huddling
together were found to reduce their heat losses by a quarter and three
together saved a third of their heat.
The second possible benefit of communal roosts is that they act as
information centers. During the day, parties of birds will have spread out to
forage over a very large area. When they return in the evening some will
have fed well, but others may have found little to eat. Some investigators
have observed that when the birds set out again next morning, those birds
that did not feed well on the previous day appear to follow those that did.
The behavior of common and lesser kestrels may illustrate different
feeding behaviors of similar birds with different roosting habits. The
common kestrel hunts vertebrate animals in a small, familiar hunting
ground, whereas the very similar lesser kestrel feeds on insects over a
large area. The common kestrel roosts and hunts alone, but the lesser
kestrel roosts and hunts in flocks, possibly so one bird can learn from
others where to find insect swarms.
Finally, there is safety in numbers at communal roosts since there
will always be a few birds awake at any given moment to give the alarm.
But this increased protection is partially counteracted by the fact that mass
roosts attract predators and are especially vulnerable if they are on the
ground. Even those in trees can be attacked by birds of prey. The birds on
the edge are at greatest risk since predators find it easier to catch small
birds perching at the margins of the roost.

7. What does the passage mainly discuss?

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(A) How birds find and store food

(B) How birds maintain body heat in the winter
(C) Why birds need to establish territory
(D) Why some species of birds nest together

8. The word ‘conserve’ in the first paragraph is closest in meaning to

(A) retain
(B) watch
(C) locate
(D) share

9. Ptarmigan keep warm in the winter by

(A) huddling together on the ground with other birds
(B) building nests in trees
(C) burrowing into dense patches of vegetation
(D) digging tunnels into the snow

10. The word ‘magnified’ in the first paragraph is closest in meaning to

(A) caused
(B) modified
(C) intensified
(D) combined

11. The author mentions ‘kinglets’ in the first paragraph as an example of

birds that
(A) protect themselves by nesting in holes
(B) nest with other species of birds
(C) nest together for warmth
(D) usually feed and nest in pairs

12. The word ‘forage’ in the second paragraph is closest in meaning to

(A) fly
(B) assemble
(C) feed
(D) rest

13. Which of the following statements about lesser and common kestrels
is true?
(A) The lesser kestrel and the common kestrel have similar diets.
(B) The lesser kestrel feeds sociably but the common kestrel does
not.

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(C) The common kestrel nests in larger flocks than does the lesser
kestrel.
(D) The common kestrel nests in trees; the lesser kestrel nests on the
ground.

14. The word ‘counteracted’ in the last paragraph is closest in meaning to

(A) suggested
(B) negated
(C) measured
(D) shielded

15. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage as an

advantage derived by birds that huddle together while sleeping?

(A) Some members of the flock warn others of impending dangers.

(B) Staying together provides a greater amount of heat for the whole
flock
(C) Some birds in the flock function as information centers for others
who are looking for food.
(D) Several members of the flock care for the young.

16. Which of the following is a disadvantage of communal roosts that is

mentioned in the passage?
(A) Diseases easily spread among the birds.
(B) Groups are more attractive to predators than individual birds.
(C) Food supplies are quickly depleted.
(D) Some birds in the group will attack the others.

17. The underlined ‘they’ in the last paragraph refers to

(A) a few birds
(B) mass roosts
(C) predators
(D) trees

QUESTIONS 18-24

A snowflake originates from countless water molecules that initially come

together in small groups as a result of a weak attractive force between
oxygen and hydrogen atoms. The same forces subsequently organize the
groups into a frozen molecular crystal, a perfectly organized lattice of
molecules. Finally, several molecular crystals join to form a snowflake.

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Readings with Questions
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Scientists have realized for some time that the forces that assemble
molecules into natural crystals can be utilized to produce a variety of
important materials. They have determined the structure of more than
90,000 different molecular crystals, the most common examples of which
are aspirin and mothballs.
In recent years, researchers have studied how molecules organize
themselves to form crystals in the hope of better understanding what types
of molecules and what conditions will produce molecular crystals with
unusual and useful properties. Scientists are aware that the material
properties of a crystal depend in large part on the organization of the
molecules in the crystal, yet they know little about the factors controlling
the assembly of such crystals.
Synthesizing a molecular crystal is similar to designing a building.
Before construction can begin, the architect must specify the shapes and
sizes of the girders and the number and placement of the rivets. Similarly,
to produce new molecular crystals, chemists must choose molecules of
the appropriate sizes and shapes and select the molecular forces that will
hold the crystals together. A chemist can normally find many molecules of
various shapes and sizes, but the challenge is to find ones that assemble
in a predictable manner.

18. A snowflake is formed by

(A) the attractive force between oxygen and hydrogen
(B) molecular crystals with new and useful properties
(C) the synthesizing of molecular crystals
(D) the joining of several molecular crystals

19. Water molecules join together as a result of

(A) an attraction between oxygen and hydrogen atoms
(B) the organization of the molecules in a crystal
(C) a strong force that assembles crystal atoms
(D) the unusual and useful properties of molecular crystals

20. By making use of forces that assemble molecules into natural crystals,
scientists can
(A) find molecules of various shapes and sizes
(B) determine the structure of different molecular crystals

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(C) organize molecules into a perfect lattice

(D) create new and useful materials

21. What reason do researchers have for studying how molecules

organize themselves to form crystals?
(A) To assemble molecules into natural crystals
(B) To learn how to synthesize molecular crystals
(C) To make aspirin and mothballs
(D) To change the material properties of a crystal

22. What do scientists still need to learn about the organization of

molecules?
(A) What determines the material property of a crystal
(B) The molecular forces that hold molecules together
(C) The conditions that produce molecular crystals
(D) The factors controlling the way crystals are assembled

23. To produce new molecular crystals, chemists must choose all of the
following EXCEPT
(A) molecules of the right size
(B) molecules of the appropriate shape
(C) the right molecular organization
(D) the proper molecular forces

24. The task of synthesizing a molecular crystal can be compared to

(A) designing a building
(B) building a house
(C) making materials
(D) constructing a lattice

QUESTIONS 25-30

During the 1920s, African-American culture as embodied in music, art,

and literature flourished as never before. In their works, poets, dramatists,
and novelists sought to define their culture and engender pride in racial
heritage. The outpouring of African-American literature during the 1920s

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almost came to a standstill during the Great Depression of the 1930s but
reemerged with explosive force in the 1940 with Richard Wright’s Native
Son, Chester Himes’s Lovely Crusade, and Ann Petry’s The Street,
among other novels, as well as the plays and poetry of Langston Hughes.
In the 1950s important developments in drama took place with a
generation of black playwrights, including Alice Childress, Ted Shine,
William Branch, and Lorraine Hansberry, who wrote the prize winning
drama a Raisin in the Sun.
The 1960s gave rise to the Black Arts movement. Drama and fiction
flourished, often written in the rhythm and language of black working
classes. The 1970s and 1980s continued that tradition but also saw the
works of black women poets, essayists, dramatists, and fiction writers take
the spotlight, making a signifiant contribution to literature by exploring the
themes of black women’s experiences. Fiction writers Toni Morrison and
Alice Walker, both Pulitzer Prize winners, are two of the finest American
writers of this century. Other notable black women writers of other genres,
impressive in talent and number, have come into their own, making their
voices heard within a literary tradition from which they were excluded for
many generations and making African-American literature richer than ever
before.

25. The author’s main purpose in writing this passage is to

(A) present a history of African-American literature
(B) argue the importance of the Black Arts Movement
(C) emphasize the achievements of African-American artists
(D) explain the difference between male and female African-American
authors

26. The author of this passage would most likely be

(A) a politician
(B) a scientist
(C) an educator
(D) a film writer

27. The author’s attitude toward African-American women writers is

(A) disappointed
(B) supportive
(C) neutral
(D) negative

28. The paragraph preceding this passage would most likely be about
(A) early African-American culture

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(B) life during the Great Depression

(C) the Black Arts movement of the 1960s
(D) the future of African-American literature

29. Which of the following conclusions could be drawn from this passage?
(A) there were no black playwrights before the 1950s.
(B) the Great Depression was a period that fostered creativity.
(C) the sixties were not good years for African-American writers.
(D) women have added a new dimension to African-American
literature.

30. Which of the following statements best describes the organization of

the first paragraph?
(A) various types of African-American culture are compared and
contrasted.
(B) historical facts about African-American culture are presented.
(C) persuasive opinions on African-American literature are given.
(D) a story about African Americans is narrated.

QUESTIONS 31-40

Before the mid-nineteenth century, people in the United States ate most
foods only in season. Drying, smoking, and salting could preserve meat
for a short time, but the availability of fresh meat, like that of fresh milk,
was very limited; there was no way to prevent spoilage. But in 1810 a
French inventor named Nicolas Appert developed the cooking-and-sealing
process of canning. And in the 1850’s an American named Gail Borden
developed a means of condensing and preserving milk. Canned goods
and condensed milk became more common during the 1860's, but
supplies remained low because cans had to be made by hand. By 1880,
however, inventors had fashioned stamping and soldering machines that
mass-produced cans from tinplate. Suddenly all kinds of food could be
preserved and bought at all times of the year.
Other trends and inventions had also helped make it possible for
Americans to vary their daily diets. Growing urban populations created
demand that encouraged fruit and vegetable farmers to raise more
produce. Railroad refrigerator cars enabled growers and meat packers to

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ship perishables great distances and to preserve them for longer periods.
Thus, by the 1890’s, northern city dwellers could enjoy southern and
western strawberries, grapes, and tomatoes, previously available for a
month at most, for up to six months of the year. In addition, increased use
of iceboxes enabled families to store perishables. An easy means of
producing ice commercially had been invented in the 1870’s, and by 1900
the nation had more than two thousand commercial ice plants, most of
which made home deliveries. The icebox became a fixture in most homes
and remained so until the mechanized refrigerator replaced it in the 1920’s
and 1930’s.
Almost everyone now had a more diversified diet. Some people
continued to eat mainly foods that were heavy in starches or
carbohydrates, and not everyone could afford meat. Nevertheless, many
families could take advantage of previously unavailable fruits, vegetables,
and dairy products to achieve more varied fare.

31. What does the passage mainly discuss?

(A) Causes of food spoilage

(B) Commercial production of ice
(C) Inventions that led to changes in the American diet
(D) Population movements in the nineteenth century

32. The phrase ‘in season’ in the first paragraph refers to

(A) a kind of weather
(B) a particular time of year
(C) an official schedule
(D) a method of flavoring food

33. The word ‘prevent’ in the first paragraph is closest in meaning to

(A) estimate
(B) avoid
(C) correct
(D) confine

34. During the 1860’s, canned food products were

(A) unavailable in rural areas
(B) shipped in refrigerator cars
(C) available in limited quantities
(D) a staple part of the American diet

35. It can be inferred that railroad refrigerator cars came into use

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(A) before 1860

(B) before 1890
(C) after 1900
(D) after 1920

36. The underlined ‘them’ in the second paragraph refers to

(A) refrigerator cars
(B) perishables
(C) growers
(D) distances

37. The word ‘fixture’ in the second paragraph is closest in meaning to

(A) luxury item
(B) substance
(C) commonplace object
(D) mechanical device

38. The author implies that in the 1920’s and 1930’s home deliveries of ice
(A) decreased in number
(B) were on an irregular schedule
(C) increased in cost
(D) occurred only in the summer

39. Which of the following types of food preservation was NOT mentioned
in the passage?
(A) Drying
(B) Canning
(C) Cold storage
(D) Chemical additives

40. Which of the following statements is supported by the passage?

(A) Tin cans and iceboxes helped to make many foods more widely
available.
(B) Commercial ice factories were developed by railroad owners.
(C) Most farmers in the United States raised only fruits and
vegetables.
(D) People who lived in cities demanded home delivery of foods.

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