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DIAGNOSTIC PRE-TEST
SECTION 3
READING COMPREHENSION
Time-55 minutes
(including the reading of the directions)
Norv set your clock for 55 minutes.

This section is designed to Dreasure vour abilitr, to read and unclerstand short passa-ses sin.rilar in topic
and stvle to those tlrat students are likelv to enc()Llnler in North American trniversities and colleges.
This section contains reading passages and questions about the passages.

Directions: In this section vou rvill reacl ser,er:rl passages. Each one is lollor,l'ed br, a nurnber o[
.t.rcstion-s atror-rt it. You are to choose the one be-t ansiler, (A), (B), (C), or (D), to each qr-re.stion. Then,
()n vour ilns\\'er sheet, find ll-re number of the c;uestion and fill in the space that corresponds to the
letter ol the ansrver vou har,e chosen.
Ansu'er all questions about the information in a passage or.r the biisis of rvhat is stated or implied
in that passage.

Re:rd the folkxling pass:ige:

John Quincv Ad:rms, u'ho sen,ed ris the sixth president of the United Stales from 1825 to
1829, is todav recognized for his n.rasterill statesmanship and diplomacl'. He dedicated his life to
public sen'ice, both in the presidencv and in the varicir-rs other political offices that hc held.
Line Throughout his political career he demonstrated his unsu'en,ing belief in freedom of speech, the
(5 ) antislavc'r1' cause, and the right of Americans to be free li'om European and Asian domination.

Example I Sample Answer

@
To u,hat did John Quincv Adams devote his life?
(A) Improving his personal lile
o
(B) Serving the pr-rblic @
(C) Increasing his tortune @l
(D) Working on his private business
According to the passage, John Ouincv Adanrs "cledicated his lite to public sen,ice." Therefore, vou
should choose ansu'er (B).

Example II Sample Answer

In line 4, the u,ord "unsu,en'ing" is clost'st in meaning tcr

@
@
(A) r.noveable
(B) insignificant o
(C) unchanging @
(D) diplomatic
The passage states that John Quincv Aciams clemonstrated his unsu'en'ing belief "thloughout his
career." This irr.rplies that the bcliel clid not change. Therefore, vou should choose ansrver'(C).

IOhFI- 1!'st dir (.t i('nr rnl lormnl ar L' r'epr int.rl L)\ l\.r Dr r\\ri jt
)

.rl ElS, thL L,rprright orvntr'. [{orterct.:rll erartrpl...rn.i tr.t

qrra\!iL)Di rr r Pr r,r i.i.rl br Pt et tort F-riurrlr,,n Itr. READING COMPREHENSION PRE-TEST 143
 3 a 3n 3 a 3 a 3 a 3 a 3 a 3
Questions l-9
'fhe largest dianror.rd ever fbtrnd is the Cr"rllinan Dian.rond. This diarrrond u'eighed 3,106 carats
in its uncrrl state rrh.,rr it u'as discc-rveleci in Sor"rth AIrica on Januan 25, 'l905.
The Cullir-r:rn l)iamond \\'as cLlt into 9 ma.jor stones and 96 smallel ones. The larqc-st of thc cut
llrre stones, and still the largest cr-rt dianrond in the rvolld, is the pear-shaped Cullinan I at 530 carats.
(5 ) Tlris cliamoncl, u'hich is also knou,n iis the Greater Stzrr- of Afric:r, is more than 2 inches (5.4 cm)
lorrgand I.75inches(4..1 cm)ri'ide. Itbecamepartof theBritishcrou'r.r.ien,elsin I907.

What is the best tille for this passare? 4. It can be inlcrrccl lrom the passage that the
Cullinan Diamond u'as cLlt into hour mzrnv
(A) DianronclCr-rtting
total stone's?
(B) The World's Biggest Diamond, Uncut
ancl Ctrt (A) e
(C) Measuring Diamonds in Carats (B) e6
(D) The British Crori n Jeu'els (c) l0s
(D) 3,106
2. The u'ord "ttncut" in line 2 is closest ir-r
meaning to u hich of the follot ing? 5. The rvord "nrajor" in line 3 cor.rld best be
replaced br
(A) Finished
(B) Unnalulal (A) r'u'ell-knort'n
(C) Pear' (B) militar-r
(D) \4/hole' (C) natural
(D) bie
The t'ord "discovered" in line 2 is closest
in meaning to
(A) created
(B) fbund
(C) buriecl
(D) u'eighecl

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6. Which of the lollou'irrg is NOT true about 8. According to the p:rssaee, u,hal happened
Cullinern l? to Cullinan I?
(r\) It \\'as cut from thc Cullinan (A) It rent:rined in Africa.
Diamond. (B) lt \\'as cut into smaller stclrles.
(B) [t iveighs 3,106 carats. (C) lt \\'as clrt ancl changecl into the
(C) It is the biggest cut diamond ir.r the Greater Star of Africa.
ri,orld. (D) It bet:ame the propertr of thc- British
(D) It is sometimes called tlre Greater Star Roval familr'.
ol Ah'ica.
9. Where ir-r the passage does the:ruthor
7. All ol'the lbllorving are tnte abor-rt the mention the Cullinan Diamond's ri'eisht
slr:rpe ol the Greater Star of Africa rvhen it rr'as mined?
F'XCEPT that (A) Li'es r-2
(A) it is in the shl;rc of a pear (B) Line 3
(B) it is -5.4 centinretels long (C) Lines .1 5
(C) it is lonr:er than it is ri'ide (D) Line 6
(D) it is 4.,1 inches u'idc

READINGCOMPREHENSIONPRE-TEST 145
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Questions 10-20

Coca-Cola n'as invented in 1886 by Atlanta pharmacist John S. Pemberton. The name for the
product rvas actuallv proposed bv Pemberton'.s assistant, Frank Robinson. The name rvas taken
from the two most unusual ingredients in the drink, the South American coca leaf and the Afr-ican
Line c<>la nut.
(5) The recipe for todavt Coca-Cola is r,'etl u'ell guarded. Manv o[ the ingredic-nts are knorvn; in
addition to coca leaves and cola nut, thev include lemon, orange, lime, cinnar.non, nutmeg, vanilla,
caramel, and sugar. The proportions oF the ingredients and the identitv of Coke'.s secret ingledients
are knou,n bv onlr, a ferv of the Coca-Cola Company's sc.nior corporate officers.

10. The passage mainlv disctrsses 14. A "recipe" in line -5 is

(A) the success of the Coca-Cola Companv (A) information about drrgs for a
(B) the unusual ingredients in Coca-Cola pharmacy
(C) John S. Perlberlon (B) a descripti<;n of horv 1o prepare
(D) Coca-Cola'-s recipe and rvho developed something
it (C) an accounting statement
(D) a corporate organizational plan
ll. According to the passage, u'ho created
Coca-Col:r? l5 The passage states thiit the recipe for
Coca-Cola is
(A) The Coca-Cola Company
(B) John S. Pemberton (A) u'ell knor.r,n
(C) Pemberlon'sassistant (B) knou,n by onlr a limitecl ntrmber of
(D) Frank Robinson people
(C) unknou,n
12. The rvord "unusual" in line 3 is closest in (D) ptrblishcd infbrmation
meaning to
t6. Which o[ the follou,ing is NOT mentioned
(A) uncommon as an ingredient of Coca-Cola?
(B) important
(C) unused (A) Orange leaves
(D) tastv (B) Nutmeg
(C) Citrus i'r-uits
I -1. Which of the tbllorvine is NOT trtre about (D) Strg:ir'
the name Coca-Cola?
tl The rvord "secret" in line 7 could best be
(A) The name "coca" comes from the coca
replaced bv
leaf.
(B) The name "cola" comes lrom the cola (A) unrevealecl
nut. (B) delicious
(C) Frank Robinson suggested the name. (C) business
(D) The inventor came Llp with the name. (D) speechless

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18. It can be inferred from the passage that 19. The.,vord "senior" in line 8 could best be
(A) leplaced b1.
the public knorvs all the ingredients in
Coca-Cola (A) tr'rstrvorthy
(B) the public is n()t sure that coca ieaves (B) high-levei
are used in Coca-Cola (C) more matlrre
(C) the public does not know hor.r'manv (D) reallv decisive
cola nuts are used in a batch of
Coca-Coia 20. Where in the passage does the author
(D) no one knorvs the exact proporlions of mention rvho gave Coca-Cola i1s name?
ingredients used in Coc:r-Cola
(A) Lines 1-2
(B) Lines 3-4
(C) Line 5
(D) Lines 7-8

READINGCOMPREHENSIONPRE.TEST 147
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Questions 2l-30

Most people u'c-ruld sav that the u'orldi tallest mountain is Mount Everest. This rnourrtain in the
Himaiavas is.just or.er 29,000 feet high.
Hou'ever, if nrountains are measured a little bit differentll then the tallest mountain on lrarth is
Llne Mauna Kea, in the Halvaiian Islands. Mauna Kea is onlv aboLrt 14,000 feet above sea level, so in
(5) comparison to Mount Erret'est it just does not look anlrr,here near as high as lVlount Everest to a
pel'son standing zrt sea ler,el.
Nlauna Kea, h<;u'ever, does not begin at seer level. It rises ft-om an ocean floor tl-rat is more than
16,000 f'eet belorv the surface of thc'r'n'ater'. This mottntain therefore measllres nrore than 30,000 feet
from its base to its top, making it :r higher mountain than Mount Everest.

2l The main idea ol'lhe pirssage is that 25 According to the passage, Mauna Kea is
horv far above tl.re level of the .,vater?
(A) Mount Er.er-est is the r,r'orld's tallest
rnorrn tairr (A) 14,000 feet
(B) Mor-rnt Everest and Mar.tna Kea are (B) 16,000 l'ect
ioczrted in different parts <tf the (C) 29,000 teet
u'orld (D) 30,000 feet
(C) Mauna Kea's base is belorv sea level
(D) Mauna Kea could be considerecl the 26. The erpression "in comparison to" in lines
tallest nrorrntain in the rvor-lcl ,1 and -5 could best be replaced bv
(A) close to
22 Which of the follo'"r'ing is NOT stated
(B) in reiation to
about Mount Er.'erest?
(C) as a result of
(A) Man1" people believe it is the u'orld's (D) becar-rse of
tallest mountairr.
(B) It is part of the Himalavas. 27. It is implied
ir.r the passage that Mauna
(C) It is over-29,000 Ieet high. Kea does not seent as tall as Mount Everest
(D) it lises from thc ocean floor: because
(A) people clo not want to look at it
23. The u,ord "jtrst" in line 2 coulcl best be
(B) part of Mauna Kea is under'\\:ater
replaced by
(C) Mount Everest has more snou,
(A) noticeablv (D) Mauna Kea is in a different part ol'the
(B) soon rvorld tl-ran Mount Er,'erest
(C) barelv
(D) recenth' 28 The u'ord "f'loor" in line 7 coulci best be
repiaced br'
24. The expression "a little bit" in line 3 is
(A) carpet
closest in meaning tcr
(B) bottom
(A) a smzrll size (C) roof
(B) quite (D) urarter
(C) -somervhat
(D) extremelv

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29. The passa-qe indicates that Mauna Kea 30. Where in the passage does the author
mention Mount Everest's total height?
(A) measures 16,000 feet from top to
bottom (A) Lines 1-2
(B) is completelv covered r,r'ith rvater (B) Lines 4-6
(C) is more than half covered b1' ri,'ater (C) Line 7
(D) is 1,000 feet shorter tl-ran Mount (D) Lines 8-9
Everest

READINGCOMPREHENSIONPRE-TEST 149
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Questions 31-40

When Columbus arrived in the Americas in 1492, there r.r'ere already an estimated thirtv to
rnillion people living in North and Sorrth Anrerica. It has there{bre' been quite easv for some to
tbrt-"-
refute the idea that Columbus "discovered" America. Hor.v and rvhen these inhabitants came to
Line America has been the source of much scientific research and discussion.
(s) Most archeologists agree that the first. Americans, the tr-r-re "discot,erers" of America, came from
northeastern Asia. There is also a considerable amount oI proof that inhabitants har.'e been in the
Americas for at least 15,000 vears.
To get to the Americas, these people had to cross over the -55-mile-rvide Bering Strait that
separates Asia and North America. According to one theon', these people crossed over during
( t0) periods rvhen a land bridge existed betu'een the tr.r'o continents. During Ice Ages, so much of the
Earth'.s \\'ater was frozen that the sea levels dropped, and it u,as possible to r,r'alk front Asia to Norlh
America.

31 . What is the authorrs main purpose? "t+ . It is impliecl in the passage that
(A) To explain hor^,' Columbus discovered (A) Columbus was reallv the first person
America in America
(B) To shou' ftsr,l' people came to America (B) scientists are sure about America'-s
before Coh-rmbus first inlrabitants
(C) To demonstrate the importance to (C) Columbus arrived at almost the same
archeologists of nor-theast.ern Asi;r time as America's first inhabitants
(D) To explain ho'uv to cross the Bering (D) all is not knorvn about Americat first
Strait inhabitants

JZ. In 1492, horv manv people u,ere probabir 3-5. There is general agreement that the first
in the Americas? people r.r,ho camc to North America came
(A) Fer.r'er than thirtv million lrom
(B) Eractlr thirtr nrillion (A) Europe
(C) Forty million or feu'er (B) South America
(D) At least fortv rnillion (C) northeastern Asia
(D) Afiica
JJ. The u'ord "refute" in line 3 is closest in
meaning to 36. The rvord "considerable" in line 6 could
best be replaced by which of the foilou'ing?
(A) theorize
(B) support (A) Large
(C) contradict (B) Weak
(D) de{'end (C) Well-knorvn
(D) Considerate

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37. The word "separates" in line 9 is closest in 39. The u'ord "frozen" in line 11 could best be
meaning to replaced bv
(A) differentiates (A) cool
(B) divides (B) dirty
(C) joins (C) solid
(D) crosses (D) r,r,'et

38 Which of the follorving is NOT stated 40. Where in the passage does the author
about the Bering Strait? rrention hou'long people have probably
been in the Americas?
(A) lt is 55 miles u'ide.
(B) It separates North America and Asia. (A) Lines 1*2
(C) It r,vas probabll'a land bridge during (B) Lines 3-4
the Ice Ages. (C) Lines 6-7
(D) It is a land bridge todav. (D) Lines 8-9

READING COMPREHENSION PRE-TEST 151

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Questions 4l-50

Alpha Cerrtauri is zr triple-stal'svsten1. One ol the three stars in Alpha Ceutauri is Prorinra
Centauri, u,hich is the ne:rrest slilr to the Earrir, e\cept of course fol tl-re Sun. The nanre "Prorima"
comes {rom a Lalin uord r'r,hich means "close."
Lirte Even though Prorima Centauri is the closest star to the Earth outside of our solar svstem, it is
(5) not reallv ckrse. lnterstellar distances are so large that thev are almost impossible to im:rsine. A
person traveling in a modern spacecraft rvould nrit arrive at Pr-oxima Cer.rtauri u'ithin this lifetime ,
or the next, or even ten lifetimes because the clistance is so great. Light travels al a speed o1'186,000
mile's pcr seconcl, ancl it still takes light nrore than four'leals to travel fi'om Prorima Centartri to the
Earth.
(10) Alpha Centauri can be easih'seen in the night skv u'ithout a telescope from certain palts of the
Earth. lt is the thir-d brightest star in the skv, out of approximatelv 6,000 visible stars. It cannot be
secn from most parls of the United States because most of the United States is too far north;
hon,er.er-, it can be seen from the sorrthern parts of the southernmosl stares.

-lL is
The n-rain sr.rbjr-cl o[ this passage 44. "lntelsle]lar distances" in line 5 ale
(A) the closest stars to the Earth (A) distances betu,een stals
(B) n'roden.r space travel (B) distances betu'een the Earth:rnd
(C) the speed of light various sterrs
(D) interstell:rl distances (C) distances rneasured bv the speed of
rrgnt
42. The passage indicatcs that u'hich of the (D) distances from the Sun to each of the
l'ollou'ing is NOT true? planets, inclr-rdin.s the Earrh
(A) Alpha cerltatrri is c.mposetl o[ thrt'e 45. ltcan hc inrr'r.ed ll.om tlrc Dassrsc that il a
\lat'S.
person left in one of toda-v's spacecralts' he
(B) Proxin-ra Centauri is the closcst steu to or she u'ould at'rive at Alpha Ccnteuri
the Ear.th.
(C) Proxinra Centauri is one of the stars in (A) rrithin this liletime
Alpha Cc-ntauri. (B) u'ithin the next lifetinre
(D) It is possible to see Alpha Ccnt:ruri (C) u,ithin ten lifetimes
frorn the Ear-th. (D) alier more than ten lifetinres

43. The r,r'ord "comr-s" in line 3 coulcl best be -16. The u'ord "great" in line 7 coulcl best be
replaced br' replacecl bv u hich of the fc.rllorr ing*?
(A) travels (A) Fanrotrs
(B) is derir"cd (B) Well-knorrn
(C) is directed (C) Accomplishecl
(D) r'isits (D) Big

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47. Which o[ the follou'ing is tn-re according to 49. lt can be inferred from the passage that
thepassage? from Alaska Alpha Ce'lrtauri is
(A) Light travels at 186,000 miles per (A) alu'avs visible
hour. (B) frequentlv visible
(B) A person cotrld travel from Earth lo (C) occasionailv visible
Proxima Centauli in firul vears. (D) never visible
(C) Li-eht lrom Proxin-ra CL-ntalrri reaches
the Earth in more than four vears. 50. Where in the passage does the author
(D) It is 186,000 miles liom the Earth to explain hon'last light can travel?
Prorim:r Ccntau'i. (A) Lines l_2
(B) Line '5
48. Thr' ri'ord "brightest" in lirre 1 I could best (c) Lines 7-9
be replaced bv (D) Lines 10-1 I
(A) smar-tt: st
(B) palest
(C) sl'riniest
(D) l:rrgest

This is the end of the Reading Comprehension Pre-Test.

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When vou finish the test, vou mav do the follorving:
o Turn to the Diagnostic Chart on pages 357-363,
and circle the numbers of the questions that vou
n-rissed.
o Turn to the Progress Chart on page 353, and add
vour score to the chart.

READINGCOMPREHENSIONPRE-TEST 153