144 PRACTICE EXERCISES FOR READING

E XERCISE 64: Definition/Illustration-Social Sciences

In some questions in the Reading Section on the Internet-Based TOEFL, you will be asked to recall
and relate information and content from definition or illustration passages found in college textbooks.
Choose the best answer for multiple-choice questions. For computer-assisted questions, follow the direc-
tions on the screen.

The McDonaldization of Society

Sometimes the problems and peculiarities of bureaucracy can
have effects on the total society. Such has been the case with what
George Ritzer (1996) has called the McDonaldization of society, a
term coined from the well-known fast-food chain. Ritzer noticed that
the principles that characterize fast-food organizations are
increasingly coming to dominate more and more aspects of U.S.
society, indeed, of societies around the world. "McDonaldization"
refers to the increasing and ubiquitous presence of the fast-food
model in most of the organizations that shape daily life: work, travel,
leisure, shopping, health care, education, and politics have all
become subject to McDonaldization. Each of these industries is
based on a principle of high and efficient productivity, based on a
highly rational social organization, with workers employed at low
pay, but customers experiencing ease, convenience, and familiarity.
Ritzer argues that McDonald's has been such a successful model
of business organization that other industries have adopted the same
organizational characteristics, so much so that their nicknames
associate them with the McDonald's chain: McPaper for USA Today,
McChild for child-care chains like Kinder-Care, McDoctor for the
drive-in clinics that deal quickly and efficiently with minor health
and dental problems.
Ritzer identifies four dimensions of the McDonaldization
process: efficiency, calculability, predictability, and control.
1. Efficiency means that things move from start to completion in
a streamlined path. Steps in the production of a hamburger are
regulated so that each hamburger is made exactly the same way-
hardly characteristic of a home-cooked meal. Business can be even
more efficient if the customer does the work once done by an
employee. In fast-food restaurants, the claim that you can "have it
your way" really means that you assemble your own sandwich or
salad.
2. Calculability means that there is an emphasis on the
quantitative aspects of products sold-size, cost, and the time it takes
to get the product. At McDonald's, branch managers must account
for the number of cubic inches of ketchup used per day; likewise, ice
cream scoopers in chain stores measure out predetermined and exact
amounts of ice cream, unless machines do it for them. Workers are
carefully supervised to record how long it takes them to complete a
transaction; every bit of food and drink is closely monitored by
computer, and everything has to be accounted for.
 READING SECTION: EXERCISE 64 145

3. Predictability is the assurance that products will be

exactly the same, no matter when or where they are purchased. Eat
an Egg McMuffin in New York, and it will taste just the same as an
Egg McMuffin in Los Angeles or Paris!
4. Control is the primary organizational principle that lies
behind McDonaldization. People's behavior, both customers and
workers alike, is reduced to a series of machinelike actions.
Ultimately, efficient technologies replace much of the work that
humans once did. At one national credit card chain, managers
routinely listen in on telephone calls being handled by service
workers; in other settings, computers might monitor the speed with
which workers handle a particular function. Sensors on drink
machines can actually cut off the liquid flow to ensure that each
drink is exactly the same size.
McDonaldization clearly brings many benefits. There is a greater
availability of goods and services to a wide proportion of the
population, instantaneous service and convenience to a public with
less free time, predictability and familiarity in the goods bought and
sold, and standardization of pricing and uniform quality of goods
sold, to name a few. However, this increasingly rational system of
goods and services also spawns irrationalities. Ritzer argues that, as
we become more dependent on the familiar and taken for granted,
there is the danger of dehumanization. People lose their creativity,
and there is little concern with the quality of goods and services,
thereby disrupting something fundamentally human- the capacity for
error, surprise, and imagination. Even with increasing globalization
and the opportunities it provides to expose ourselves to diverse ways
of life, McDonaldization has come to characterize other societies,
too. The tourist can travel to the other side of the world and taste the
famiUar Chicken McNuggets or a Dunkin' Donut!
146 PRACTICE EXERCISES FOR READING

The McDonaldization of Society (Question References)

Sometimes the problems and peculiarities of bureaucracy can
have effects on the total society. Such has been the case with what
George Ritzer ( 1996) has called the McDonaldization of society, a
term coined from the well-known fast-food chain. Ritzer noticed that
the principles that characterize fast-food organizations are
increasingly coming to dominate more and more aspects of U.S.
society, indeed, of societies around the world. "McDonaldization"
refers to the increasing and ubiquitous presence of the fast-food
model in most of the organizations that shape daily life: work, travel,
leisure, shopping, health care, education, and politics have all
become subject to McDonaldization. Each of these industries is
based on a principle of high and efficient productivity, based on a
highly rational social organization, with workers employed at low
pay, but customers experiencing ease, convenience, and familiarity.
Ritzer argues that McDonald's has been such a successful model
of business organization that other industries have adopted the same
organizational characteristics, so much so that their nicknames
associate them with the McDonald's chain: McPaper for USA Today,
McChild for child-care chains like Kinder-Care, McDoctor for the
drive-in clinics that deal quickly and efficiently with minor health
and dental problems.
Ritzer identifies four dimensions of the McDonaldization
process: efficiency, calcu lability, predictability, and control.
1. Efficiency means that things move from start to completion in
a streamlined path. Steps in the production of a hamburger are
regulated so that each hamburger is made exactly the same way-
hardly characteristic of a home-cooked meal. Business can be even
more efficient if the customer does the work once done by an
employee. In fast-food restaurants, the claim that you can "have it
your way" really means that you assemble your own sandwich or
salad.
2. Calculability means that there is an emphasis on the
quantitative aspects of products sold-size, cost, and the time it takes
to get the product. At McDonald 's, branch managers must account
for the number of cubic inches of ketchup used per day; likewise, ice
cream scoopers in chain stores measure out predetermined and exact
amounts of ice cream, unless machines do it for them. Workers are
carefully supervised to record how long it takes them to complete a
transaction; every bit of food and drink is closely monitored by
computer, and everything has to be accounted for.[E]
3. [[]Predictability is the assurance that products will be
exactly the same, no matter when or where they are purchased. Eat
an Egg McMuffin in New York, and it will taste just the same as an
Egg McMuffin in Los Angeles or Pari s!~
4. Control is the primary organizational principle that lies
behind McDonaldization.[Q] People's behavior, both customers and
workers alike , is reduced to a series of machinelike actions.
Ultimately, efficient technologies replace much of the work that
humans once did. At one national credit card chain, managers
routinely listen in on telephone calls being handled by service
workers; in other settings, computers might monitor the speed with
 READING SECTION: EXERCISE 64 147

which workers handle a particular function. Sensors on drink

machines can actually cut off the liquid flow to ensure that each
drink is exactly the same size.
McDonaldization clearly brings many benefits. There is a greater
availability of goods and services to a wide proportion of the
population, instantaneous service and convenience to a public with
less free time, predictability and familiarity in the goods bought and
sold, and standardization of pricing and uniform quality of goods
sold, to name a few. However, this increasingly rational system of
goods and services also spawns irrationalities. Ritzer argues that, as
we become more dependent on the familiar and taken for granted,
there is the danger of dehumanization. People lose their creativity,
and there is little concern with the quality of goods and services,
thereby disrupting something fundamentally human- the capacity for
error, surprise, and imagination. Even with increasing globalization
and the opportunities it provides to expose ourselves to diverse ways
of life, McDonaldization has come to characterize other societies,
too. The tourist can travel to the other side of the world and taste the
familiar Chicken McNuggets or a Dunkin' Donut!

l . Which of the following best expresses the 3. The phrase subject to in the passage is
main idea of the passage? closest in meaning to
© McDonald's has developed a very © influenced by
efficient business plan for global chains. ® studied by
® The McDonald's organization is being © eliminated by
copied in many aspects of society. ® purchased by
© George Ritzer has outlined the benefits
of the McDonald's process. 4. The word caR_acity in the passage is closest
® Many societies around the world in meaning to
now have McDonald's as well as local © patience
restaurants. ® potential
© pleasure
2. What is calculability? ® pattern
© Efficient steps in the production of
goods
® Similarity of all products at diverse
locations
© Replacement of people by new
technologies
® Precise inventories of and use of
supplies
148 PRACTICE EXERCISES FOR READING

5. The word em in the passage refers to 10. Four squares (D) indkate where the
© characteristics following sentence can be added to the
® nicknames passage.
<D industries
® chains It is virtually impossible to tell the
difference.
6. According to paragraph 3, which is the Where would the sentence best fit into the
most important dimension of passage?
McDonaldization? ~
© Control [fil
® Efficiency @]
<D Calculability @]
® Predictability
11 . Complete the table below by matching
7. Which of the sentences below best
each of the answer choices with one of the
expresses the information in the
four dimensions of the McDonaldization
highlighted statement in the passage? The
process. One of the answer choices will not
other choices change the meaning or leave
be used.
out important information.
© Machines measure exact quantities of
© Employees get the work done
each ingredient.
efficiently for customers.
® Customer service calls are monitored
<ID Customers work with employees in an
by supervisors.
efficient business.
<D Prices are determined by the value of
<D Customers are responsible for work
the local currency.
that employees used to do.
® All of the supplies must be carefully
CID Employees do the work once for
inventoried.
customers in an efficient business.
<D Every sandwich is the same in every
McDonald's.
8. The author mentions all of the following as
<D Customers prepare their own salads at
benefits of McDonaldization EXCEPT
the salad bar.
© wider access to goods and services
® more exposure to diverse products
<D greater convenience for the consumer
<ID highly standardized prices for products Efficiency .
Calculability .
9. It can be inferred from this passage that .
Ritzer
© does not support the McDonaldization Predictability .
of world societies Control .
® does not understand the term
McDonaldization as it is used here
<D has developed organizational principles
for the McDonald's chain
® has consulted with international
companies to help them use
McDonald's plan
 READING SECTION: EXERCISE 64 149

12. Complete a summary of the passage by selecting THREE answer choices that express the most
important ideas. The other three sentences do not belong in the summary becau e they express
ideas that are not in the passage or they do not refer to the major ideas. This question is worth 2
points.
Bureaucracy can have widespread effects.
© Tourists who travel to Paris or Los Angeles can eat at the same chain restaurants and order
the same food.
® The principles developed for the fast-food industry are being used in many aspects of
society.
<D McDonald's model includes efficient production, accountability, uniform products, and
control.
CID McPaper is used as a nickname for the nation's newspaper, USA Today.
<D Ritzer has called the process described in the passage "McDonaldization."
CD The purpose of the McDonald's business model was to dominate many other organizations
in society.

Refer to pages 436-437 for the Explanatory Answers.

436 EXPLANATORY ANSWERS AND AUDIO SCRIPT FOR TOEFL PRACTICE EXERCISES
minister chooses the cabinet. Choice (C)
contradicts the fact that the members of the
House of Commons are elected directly by
voters in general elections. Choice (B) is not
mentioned and may not be concluded from
information in the passage.
EXERCISE 63: Definition/Illustration-
Natural Sciences
1. (A) The main idea is found in the topic sen-
tence, "It [hydrogen] is among the ten most
common elements on Earth as well and one
of the most useful for industrial purposes." It
is repeated in the first sentence in the second
paragraph "hydrogen . . . has several proper-
ties that make it valuable for many indus-
tries." Choices (B), (C), and (D) are major
" . .. points that support the main idea, "the
industrial uses of hydrogen."
2. (D) " . .. hydrogen is used with oxygen for
welding torches that produce temperatures as
high as 4,000 degrees F and can be used in
cutting steel." Choice (A) is not correct
because the hydrogen is heated, and the steel
is not cooled. Choice (B) is not correct
because the hydrogen is heated, not cooled.
Choice (C) is not correct because the hydro-
gen, not the temperature of the steel, is heated.
3. (D) In the context of this passage, readily
means "easily." Choices (A), (B), and (C)
are not accepted meanings of the word
readily.
4. (B) In the context of this passage, combining
means "adding." Choices (A), (C), and (D)
are not accepted meanings of the word
combining.
5. (B) "Hydrogen also serves to prevent metals
from tarnishing during heat treatments by
removing the oxygen from them [metals]."
6. (D) "Hydrogen is also one of the coolest
refrigerants. [because] It does not become a
liquid until it reaches temperatures of -425
degrees F." None of the other lines explains
why hydrogen is used as a refrigerant.
7. (D) Choice (D) is a paraphrase of the state-
ment. In both sentences, the oxygen and
hydrogen are combined, and then heated.
None of the other choices paraphrases what
the author means.
8. (B) "Pure hydrogen seldom occurs naturally,
but it exists in most organic compounds ....
Moreover, hydrgoen is found in inorganic
compounds." Choices (A) and (C) are not
correct because pure hydrogen seldom
occurs naturally. Choice (D) is not correct
because hydrogen is added, not released,
during hydrogenation.
9. (D) Choice (A) is mentioned in paragraph 2,
sentence 1. Choice (B) is mentioned in para-
graph 4, sentence 4. Choice (C) is mentioned
in paragraph 3, sentence 2. Choice (D) con-
tradicts the fact that liquids are changed to
semi-solids, not the reverse.
l 0. (B) Because several uses for hydrogen
in a number of industries are mentioned
in the passage, it may be concluded that
hydrogen has many purposes in a variety of
industries. Choices (A) and (D) contradict the
fact that several industrial purposes are men-
tioned in the passage. Choice (C) contradicts
the fact that hydrogen has several properties
that make it valuable for many industries.
EXERCISE 64: Definition/lllustration-
Social Sciences
1. (B) The main idea is found in the topic
sentence, "Ritzer noticed that the principles
that characterize fast-food organizations
are increasingly coming to dominate more and
more aspects of U.S. society, indeed,
of societies around the world." Choices
(A), (C}, and (D) are major points that support
the main topic, 'The McDonald's organization
is being copied in many aspects of society."
2. (D) "Calculability means that there is an
emphasis on the quantitative aspects ...
everything has to be accounted for." Choice
(A) is not correct because it refers to effi-
ciency, not calculability. Choice (B) refers to
predictability. Choice (C) is not mentioned
and may not be concluded from information
in the passage.
3. (A) In the context of this passage, subject to
means "influenced by." Choices (B), (C), and
(D) are not accepted meanings of the phrase
subject to.
4. (B) In the context of this passage, capacity
means "potential." Choices (A), (C}, and (D)
are not accepted meanings of the word
capacity.
5. (C) "Ritzer argues that McDonald's has been
such a successful model of business organi-

zation that other industries have adopted the
same organizational characteristics, so much
so that their nicknames associate them [other
industries] with the McDonald's chain." The
pronoun them does not refer to Choices (A),
(B), or (D).
6. (A) "Control is the primary organizational
principle that lies behind McDonaldization."
Choices (B), (C), and (D) refer to other
dimensions, but they are not identified as the
most important.
7. (C) Choice (C) is a paraphrase of the state-
ment. Choices (A), (B), and (D) change the
meaning of the statement.
8. (B) Choices (A), (C), and (D) are mentioned
in paragraph 4, sentence 2.
9. (A) Because Ritzer points out the danger of
dehumanization in the McDonald 's model
and refers to its presence as "ubiquitous," it
must be concluded that he does not support
it. Choice (B) is not correct because Ritzer
coined the term. Choices (C) and (D) are not
mentioned and may not be concluded from
information in the passage.
JO. (C) Paraphrase is a transitional device that
connect the inserted sentence with a previ-
ous entence. The two sentences are related
by the restatement of "exactly the same" in
a previous sentence and " impossible to tell
the difference" in the inserted sentence. In
this case, the sentences are separated by an
example. Choices (A), (B), and (D) do not
include transitional devices that connect with
the sentences marked in the passage.
11. (F) refers to efficiency. (A) and (D) refer to
calculability. (E) refers to predictability. (B)
refers to control. Choice (C) is not mentioned
in the passage.
12. (B) (C) (E) summarize the passage. Choice
(A) is true, but it is a minor point that is men-
tioned as an example of McDonaldization on
a global scale. Choice (D) is true, but it is a
minor point that is mentioned as an example
of the association of an organization with the
McDonald's business model. Choice (F) is
not mentioned in the passage.
EXERCISE 65: Definition/Illustration-
Arts/Architecture
1. (B) The main topic is found in the title, "The
Audible Frequency Spectrum," and in the
READING: EXERCISE 65 437
topic sentence, " Every musical culture of
the world uses only a certain number of fre-
quencies from the audible spectrum." Choice
(C) is a major point that supports the main
topic, "a definition of the audible spectrum."
Choice (D) is a topic introduced at the end
of the passage in anticipation of the next
passage. Choice (A) is not mentioned in the
passage.
2. (B) "In European-based music, the octave
represents an eight-pitch structure, but if you
count the number of white and black piano
keys in an octave, you will count thirteen."
Choice (A) is not correct because seven
refer to the number of letters to label the
pitches, not to the number of pitches them-
selves. Choice (C) is not correct because
twelve refers to the number of half steps, not
to the number of pitches. Choice (D) is not
correct because thirteen refers to the number
of keys.
3. (B) In the context of this passage, particular
means "specific." Choices (A), (C), and (D)
are not accepted meanings of the word
particular.
4. (A) In the context of this passage, adjacent
means " beside each other." Choices (B), (C),
and (D) are not accepted meanings of the
word adjacent.
5. (D) "Some cultures, such as that [the culture
among some cultures] of Bali (Indonesia),
use fewer pitches with wider distances
between them; others use more pitches-
twenty-two in Indian music, twenty-four in
Arabic music." The pronoun that does not
refer to Choices (A), (B), and (C).
6. (A) "Half steps and whole steps are exam-
ples of what are caJled intervals-specifiable
distances between two pitches." Choice (B)
refers to the term register. Choice (C) refers
to the term octave. Choice (D) refers to the
term enharmonic.
7. (A) Choice (A) is a paraphrase of the state-
ment. At least two means "two or more."
Choices (B), (C), and (D) change the
meaning of the statement.
8. (D) Choice (A) is mentioned in paragraph 4,
sentence 6. Choice (B) is mentioned in para-
graph 5, sentence 4. Choice (C) is mentioned
in paragraph 5, sentences I and 2.
9. (C) Because the author state that this
discussion was "fundamental to understand-