SECTION 3: READING

12. The word savagely in paragraph 2 is closest 15. The word showy in paragraph 2 is closest
in meaning to in meaning to which of the following?
(A) fiercely. (A) Ornamental
(B) suddenly. (B) Graceful
(C) surprisingly. (C) Colorless
(D) genuinely. (D) Powerful

16. Look at the word slim in the bold text

Passage 3 below:
All birds have feathers, and feathers are unique
to birds. No other major group of animals is so Feathers form the soft down of geese
easy to categorize . All birds have wings, too, but and ducks, the long showy plumes of
wings are not peculiar to birds. ostriches and egrets, and the strong
Many adaptations are found in both feathers flight feathers of eagles and condors.
and wings. Feathers form the soft down of geese Wings vary from the short, broad ones
and ducks, the long showy plumes of ostriches of chickens, who seldom fly, to the
and egrets, and the strong flight feathers of long slim ones of albatrosses, who
eagles and condors. Wings vary from the short, spend almost all their lives soaring on
broad ones of chickens, who seldom fly, to the air currents.
long, slim ones of albatrosses, who spend almost Underline the word or phrase in the bold
all their lives soaring on air currents. In pen- text most nearly OPPOSITE in meaning to
guins, wings have been modified into flippers the word slim.
and feathers into a waterproof covering. In kiwis,
the wings are almost impossible to detect. 17. The word detect in paragraph 2 is closest
Yet diversity among birds is not so striking in meaning to
as it is among mammals. The difference between
(A) utilize.
a hummingbird and a penguin is immense, but
(B) extend.
hardly as startling as that between a bat and a
(C) observe.
whale. It is variations in details rather than in
(D) describe.
fundamental patterns that have been important
in the adaptation of birds to many kinds of 18. Which of the following is closest in
ecosystems. meaning to the word diversity in paragraph
3?
13. Look at the words peculiar to in the bold
text below: (A) Function
(B) Heredity
All birds have feathers, and feathers are (C) Specialty
unique to birds. No other major group (D) Variety
of animals is so easy to categorize. All
birds have wings, too, but wings are 19. Look at the word striking in the bold text
not peculiar to birds. below:
Underline the word or phrase in the bold Yet diversity among birds is not so
text closest in meaning to the words striking as it is among mammals. The
peculiar to . difference between a hummingbird and
a penguin is immense, but hardly as
14. The word categorize in paragraph 1 is startling as that between a bat and a
closest in meaning to whale.
(A) appreciate. Underline the word or phrase in the bold
(B) comprehend. text closest in meaning to the word
(C) classify. striking.
(D) visualize.

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 LESSON 36: VOCABULARY ITEMS

20. The word hardly in paragraph 3 is closest 24. Which of the following could best substi-
in meaning to tute for the word rugged in paragraph 1?
(A) definitely. (A) Streamlined
(B) not nearly. (B) Roomy
(C) possibly. (C) Sturdy
(D) not always. (D) Primitive

21. The word fundamental in paragraph 3 is 25. Which of the following is closest in
closest in meaning to meaning to the word jolts in paragraph 1?
(A) basic. (A) Signs
(B) shifting. (B) Shocks
(C) predictable. (C) Sights
(D) complicated. (D) Shots

26. The phrase bound for in paragraph 1 is

Passage 4 closest in meaning to
Manufactured in the tranquil New England town
of Concord, New Hampshire, the famous (A) belonged to.
Concord Coach came to symbolize the Wild (B) destined for.
West. Its rugged body and a suspension system (C) built by.
of leather straps could handle the hard jolts from (D) paid for.
rough roads. A journalist in 1868, describing a
27. Look at the word splendidly in the bold
railroad shipment of 30 coaches bound for
text below:
Wells, Fargo and Company, wrote, “They are
splendidly decorated . . . the bodies red and the “They are decorated splendidly . . . the
running parts yellow. Each door has a handsome bodies red and the running parts
picture, mostly landscapes, and no two coaches yellow. Each door is superbly painted,
are exactly alike.” mostly with landscapes, and no two
Wells, Fargo and Company was founded in coaches are exactly alike.”
1852 to provide mail and banking services for
Underline the word or phrase in the bold
the gold camps of California and later won a
text closest in meaning to the word
monopoly on express services west of the
splendidly.
Mississippi. A Wells, Fargo Concord Coach
carried nine to fourteen passengers plus baggage 28. Look at the word plush in the bold text
and mail. The accommodations were by no below:
means plush. However, while conditions may
have been primitive and service not always The accommodations were by no
prompt, the stagecoach was the swiftest method means plush. However, while condi-
of travel through much of the Far West. tions may have been primitive and
service not always prompt, the stage-
22. The word tranquil in paragraph 1 is closest coach was still the swiftest method of
in meaning to travel through much of the Far West.

(A) peaceful. Underline the word or phrase in the bold

(B) bustling. text most nearly OPPOSITE in meaning to
(C) industrial. the word plush.
(D) tiny.
29. Which of the following is closest in meaning
23. The word symbolize in paragraph 1 is to the word swiftest in paragraph 2?
closest in meaning to (A) Most comfortable
(A) recollect. (B) Cheapest
(B) fulfill. (C) Most direct
(C) deny. (D) Fastest
(D) represent.

237 www.petersons.com
 LESSON 37: REFERENCE ITEMS
EXERCISE 37.1
Focus: Identifying the referents for pronouns and other expressions in sentences and short passages
Directions: Read the items. Decide which word or phrase in the items is the correct referent for
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the12345678
highlighted word or phrase and underline it or (for Multiple-Choice items) mark the correct
12345678
answer. If there are two highlighted words or phrases, circle the first reference and underline the
second.
1. X rays allow art historians to examine
paintings internally without damaging
them.
2. The poisonous, plantlike anemone lives in a
coral reef. When a small fish ventures near
this creature , it is stung and eaten. For
some reason, the anemone makes an
exception of the clown fish. When the
clown fish is endangered by another fish, it
dashes among the anemone’s tentacles. It
even builds its nest where the anemone can
protect it .
3. Florists often refrigerate cut flowers to
protect their fresh appearance.
(A) Florists’
(B) Flowers’
4. Unlike a box kite, a flat kite needs a tail to
supply drag and to keep it pointed toward
the sky. A simple one consists of cloth
strips tied end to end.
5. Water is an exception to many of nature’s
rules because of its unusual properties.
6. Ropes are cords at least .15 inches in
diameter and are made of three or more
strands which are themselves formed of
twisted yarns.
(A) Yarns
(B) Ropes
(C) Strands
(D) Cords
7. Grocers slice sides, quarters, and what are
called primal cuts of beef into smaller
pieces. These pieces are then packaged and
sold.
239
8. Leaves are found on all deciduous trees, but
they differ greatly in size and shape.
9. Yasuo Kuniyashi was born in Japan in 1883
and studied art at the Los Angeles School of
Art and Design. He also studied art in New
York City, where he gave his first one-man
show. In 1925 he moved from there to
Paris where he was influenced by the
works of Chagall and other artists.
(A) Japan
(B) Paris
(C) Los Angeles
(D) New York City
10. In the past, biologists considered mush-
rooms and other fungi a type of nongreen
plant. Today, however, they are most
commonly regarded as a separate kingdom
of living things.
11. William Dean Howells, a contemporary and
friend of Mark Twain, wrote a number of
books that realistically portrayed life on
farms in Midwestern America. One of his
followers, Hamlin Garland, was even more
bitter in his criticism of rural America than
his mentor.
12. The Wisconsin Dells is a region where the
Wisconsin River cuts through soft sand-
stone. The strange formations that have
been carved out of the rocks there are a
delight to tourists. They have names such
as Devil’s Elbow, Grand Piano, and Fat
Man’s Misery.
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