Module 1 and Module 2

1. The Watergate scandal was a major political scandal that took place in the
United States during 1972 and 1974. It began with the burglary of Democratic
National Committee offices located at the Watergate office complex by five men
linked to President Richard Nixon’s reelection campaign. The ensuing
investigation uncovered evidence linking high ranking officials, including White
House Chief of Staff H.R. Haldeman and Attorney General John Mitchell, to an
extensive cover up operation involving bribery, obstruction of justice and illegal
wiretapping intended to prevent further inquiry into their activities. The revelation
led Congress to move for impeachment proceedings against President Nixon which
resulted in his resignation on August 9th 1974; making him one of only two
presidents ever forced from office through constitutional means.

What is the purpose of the third sentence?

A. To list the crimes that were committed in the scandal.
B. To emphasize the scale of the scandal.
C. To further identify the individuals involved in the scandal.
D. To provide evidence of illegal activities conducted by the president.

2. The PATCO Strike of 1981 was a pivotal moment in labor history. From August
3rd to the 11th, tens of thousands of air traffic controllers employed by the Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) went on strike over wages and working conditions.
The President at that time, Ronald Reagan, declared their actions illegal and
ultimately fired them all for refusing to return to work despite two federal courts
ruling otherwise. This decision had far-reaching consequences beyond just those
directly involved; it marked a major shift in how unions were dealt with going
forward as well as representing an overall decrease in power for organized labor
across America’s industrial landscape. It also set off a wave of anti-union
sentiment which is still felt today amongst certain factions within society who view
such organizations negatively or claim they are no longer needed - even though
collective bargaining surely remains one important way workers can fight
unfairness from employers large and small alike.
A. To explain how thanks to the PATCO strike, labor unions are no longer
necessary in today’s society
B. To criticize those who view organized labor unfavorably and argue that it
should be abolished entirely
C. It laments the result of the PATCO strike as a loss for American workers.
D. It outlines the complicated state of public sentiment regarding unions today.

3. The US Army-McCarthy hearings of 1954 were a series of investigations held

by the United States Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations into
allegations made against Senator Joseph McCarthy. At issue was whether or not
members of the communist party had infiltrated and taken control over certain
aspects within the military establishment. The investigation lasted for 36 days,
during which time both sides presented evidence to support their claims as well as
witnesses who testified either in favor or opposition to these accusations. In the
end, a report concluded that there was no infiltration but instead found fault with
McCarthy’s tactics used during his questioning and censured him for it. This
marked an important moment in American history where democracy triumphed
over fear mongering rhetoric from those in power; proving once again our strength
lies firmly rooted within freedom and justice rather than allowing any one person
too much influence over others through unfounded suspicion alone.
What is the purpose of the second sentence?
A. To reveal the outcome of the hearings and their affect on American society at
large.
B. To describe the methods the Communist Party used to infiltrate American
institutions.
C. To explain the fears that justified the hearings.
D. To define the scope of the hearings.
4. The sinking of the RMS Lusitania on May 7, 1915 was a tragic event in world
history that left 1,198 people dead. It began when a German U-boat torpedoed the
British passenger liner without warning while it sailed off the southern coast of
Ireland during World War I. The ship went down just 18 minutes after being struck
and survivors described horrifying scenes as men and women scrambled to get into
lifeboats before she sank beneath them. Most notably among those lost were 128
Americans travelling aboard who perished due to Germany’s disregard for
neutrality laws at sea regarding merchant ships not involved with war efforts or
military personnel transport. In response, then President Woodrow Wilson
denounced their actions as “a crime against humanity” which eventually led
America closer towards joining WWI by 1917 - an act that would ultimately bring
about its end three short years later in 1918 upon victory from allied forces over
Central Powers including Germany itself.
What is the purpose of the fourth sentence?
A. To establish that Germany’s actions were in violation of international law.
B. To explain why the sinking of the Lusitania contributed to America joining
WWI.
C. It outlines what happened after Germany torpedoed the British passenger liner
without warning
D. It emphasizes the immense loss of life that occurred when the Lusitania was
sunk.

5. The Dred Scott decision of 1857 is one of the most infamous rulings in U.S.
Supreme Court history, and continues to have a lingering impact on American
society today. The case involved an enslaved African-American man named Dred
Scott who sued for his freedom after being taken by his owner into free territory. In
its ruling, the court held that black Americans could not be citizens under federal
law and therefore had no standing to sue in federal courts; furthermore, it declared
that Congress was powerless to prohibit slavery from existing within territories
belonging to the United States at any time prior or subsequent thereto - effectively
overruling state laws banning slavery wherever they existed across America’s new
western frontiers. This egregious ruling helped create conditions leading up
directly towards civil war less than four years later as proslavery Southerners were
emboldened while abolitionists around the nation fumed with rage over this
damning judgement against basic human rights which still reverberates throughout
our culture today.

What is the purpose of the third sentence?

A. To provide background information that explains why the court made its
decision.
B. To emphasize the power of the Supreme Court compared to the power of states
and the Federal Congress.
C. To summarize the final decision in the case and its ramifications across the
country.
D. It provides reasons why the Civil War would begin four years after the Dred
Scott decision.

6. June and Betty are trying to sell their house, but they have been having problems
finding buyers because the house is infested with termites. They called the
company TermExterm to treat their house for termites, hoping that spraying would
fix their problem. Little did they know, however, that TermExterm covertly
released more bugs into the woodwork of their house. Betty discovered the new
bugs the next day and decided that TermExterm released the bugs in hopes that she
and June would rehire the company to exterminate again.
Which of the following, if true, would undermine the conclusion of the passage?
(A) TermExterm has been around for 42 years and has never before been cited for
a bad business practice.
(B) The woodwork in the houses of 97% of the customers of TermExterm is not
being slowly destroyed after the company leaves.
(C) June and Betty will be forced to spray for termites on their own if TermExterm
does not return to spray for them.
(D) The bugs that TermExterm released are natural predators of termites.

7. Packages that are shipped around December 10 should be wrapped extra

carefully because of the high volume of packages that are sent during that time of
the year. Hanukkah and Christmas gifts flood the mail during December, and
because of the excessive numbers of packages, handlers at the post office are more
careless in their treatment of the packages. Parcels are more likely than they
normally are to be thrown, stored underneath mounds of boxes, and even lost.
Bubble wrapping items inside packages will protect against many of these dangers,
which is why it is so important to buy large quantities of bubble wrap now, before
everyone rushes to purchase it during December.
Which of the following could be concluded from the passage?
(A) The same risks associated with shipping in December because of Hanukkah
and Christmas are present in November around Thanksgiving.
(B) It would be better to avoid shipping packages at all during December because
of the risks involved.
(C) Post offices are unable to protect most packages that are delivered to them
from being harmed by the shipping process.
(D) Bubble wrap cannot protect gifts from all dangers that threaten them when
they are shipped in December

8. Many fast-food chains have spread throughout the nation, creating veritable
monopolies on restaurant food production in our country. This would not be such a
large concern except for the fact that fast food is often not very healthy and these
large organized fast-food chains have a lot of vested interest in selling their
unhealthy food. To better sell their products, fast-food companies make
advertisements that strive to put a positive spin on the value of the food. These ads
and propaganda effectively brainwash the nation’s populace, creating a situation in
which the public spends billions of dollars that ultimately go toward encouraging
people to persist in their unhealthy eating habits. Congress should put a stop to this
horrible situation by breaking up the fast-food chain monopolies.
For the conclusion to be effective, which of the following must be a correct
assumption?
(A) Brainwashing the nation can never be healthy, even if advertising told of the
benefits of going to health-food restaurants rather than fast-food chains.
(B) The advertising efforts of more numerous but smaller fast-food companies
would not be as effective as the advertising campaigns launched today by the large
chains.
(C) Congress has the potential to correct most social problems it faces by taking
specific actions to change the existing state of affairs.
(D) Fast-food chains are unlikely to acknowledge the negative effects that they are
having on the population or to change their behavior voluntarily.

9. There is simply no reason not to have telephone wires and electrical wires buried
underground instead of hanging over the streets. When these wires are buried, the
neighborhood is a lot more aesthetically pleasing to residents and visitors. Also,
there is a far lower likelihood that a storm will damage the lines and cause a power
outage. Our city has all of its power lines aboveground, so it is clear that there was
some very poor planning going on at city hall when the location of these wires was
decided.
Which of the following can be inferred from the argument?
(A) Electrical wires that are underground can put people who are digging in their
yards in danger of electrocution.
(B) Lower cost is not a reason that would encourage a city to build power lines
aboveground.
(C) Cities are always concerned about making the best decisions for their residents
and visitors.
(D) There are good reasons that city planners might choose not to build power
lines underground

10. The feeling of nostalgia is triggered by a portion of the brain that does not
trigger any other type of emotion. Most emotional responses result from the
activation of synapses in one particular cranial region, but nostalgia is activated by
synapses in an isolated subdorsal cranial region. Searching for a reason that
accounts for this discrepancy has led me to hypothesize that nostalgia is not a real
emotion, that it is an emotion that develops later in life than any other emotion, or
that it is the result of something unexplained in our evolutionary history. Since
nostalgia has to be a real emotion, it follows that it must develop later in people’s
lives than all other emotions.
A flaw in the passage is that it
(A) assumes that a temporal sequence in the evidence implies a causal relationship
(B) draws a conclusion without first eliminating all possible competing solutions
(C) misinterprets the key term emotion when formulating the conclusion of the
passage
(D) appeals completely to emotion when a scientific theory is evaluated

11. Wireless networking has changed the electronic format of college campuses.
Computers can access the Internet from more places, making it more reasonable
for students to have laptop computers. Students can log on to the Internet when
they are bored in class. Networks can be built that exchange files between
computers within a certain distance of each other. As wireless networking gains
ground, it will continue to mold our college campuses.
The argument makes use of which of the following argumentative methods?
(A) It makes a conclusion that is dramatically broader than is warranted.
(B) It offers contradictory evidence in support of a singular premise.
(C) It makes an assumption based on a nonrepresentative group of people.
(D) It delineates examples to support a specific claim

12. Scientists claim that dogs can hear high-pitched noises better than all other
mammals. This is certainly true in respect to cats. Yesterday I blew my highpitched
dog whistle right next to my cat, but she did not twitch a muscle. However, this
contention does not apply to bats. Last night, I blew the same whistle outside when
a group of bats was eating bugs near the streetlamp. The bats heard the whistle,
started shrieking, and flew away.
The argumentative technique Miriam employs to refute the opinion of the scientists
is to
(A) use the scientific method to determine whether dogs hear high-pitched noises
better than bats
(B) elucidate an implicit contradiction in the scientists’ logic
(C) supply clear evidence that would refute the scientists’ claim
(D) point out the existence of a group that scientists might not have examined
13. There has been a longstanding debate concerning the implications of nurture
versus nature in a person’s development. A person’s “nature” refers to the set of
genes inherited from the person’s parents, and a person’s “nurture” corresponds to
the environment in which a person lived while growing up. More than likely this
debate will never cease, because it is impossible to separate the effects of nature
from those of nurture on a person’s development. But someday this argument will
end, not because a solution has been found or a consensus reached, but solely
because people are without exception tired of arguing about it.
Which of the following, if true, most undermines the conclusion of the passage?
(A) Although the nature-versus-nurture debate has raged for years, the leaders of
each camp have never come to an agreement.
(B) Ten years after the psychologist wrote this passage, a solution to the debate
was found by a premier German biologist.
(C) The truth is that both nature and nurture influence development in a synergistic
rather than unilateral fashion.
(D) In 50 years, 75% of society will believe that nurture is the factor that is mostly
responsible for a person’s development.

14. In a study of centenarians, it was shown that there were several commonalities
among people in the group. First, each person exercised moderately, going on
walks of at least an hour five times a week. Second, none of them consistently used
any mind-altering substances like alcohol, tobacco, or any other more serious drug.
Lastly, many people gardened. Scientists are uncertain of the effect of gardening
on a person’s longevity, but apparently it is profound, because otherwise the
centenarians as a group would not have been doing it so consistently. To increase
my chances of living past 100, I will begin gardening today.
Which one of the following is an assumption on which the conclusion is based?
(A) Taking long walks and abstaining from harmful substances promote good
health, and gardening is an inspirational activity.
(B) Moderate exercise combined with gardening and abstinence from harmful
substances will cause a person to become a centenarian.
(C) Old age was not the sole reason so many in the centenarian group were
gardeners.
 (D) Scientists will not be able to develop a pill that can confer on people the
positive effects of gardening.

15. Running in hot weather is more dangerous than running in cooler weather and
requires large amounts of hydration. In hot weather the body produces more
perspiration in order to cool off. As a result, the body requires more hydration so
that it can continue to break down energy and make more perspiration. People who
run in the cold should also take certain precautions in order to prevent injury.
Stretching is necessary before exercising because it warms up muscles. If cold
muscles are not warmed up, they are subject to tearing or being pulled.
Which of the following is the main point of the passage?
(A) Stretching is necessary before running in order to prevent muscle pulls or tears.
(B) There are precautions that should be taken when running in hot or cold
weather.
(C) Hydration is not important in cool weather running because the body does not
perspire as much.
(D) Inclement weather can cause injury.

16. TEXT 1: Gorillas can understand human language. The famous gorilla Koko
could create art, interact with people, and communicate with them through the use
of sign language. By allowing gorillas to teach sign language to their young, we
can indirectly teach English to a whole species of gorillas.
TEXT 2: Gorillas will never be able to speak English audibly because of lingual
physical constraints. Additionally, the creation of art requires a part of the brain
that gorillas do not have. Finally, a gorilla cannot really interact with people in the
same way that humans can interact with each other. Nor will any gorilla ever be
able to do so.
Which of the following is a point at issue between the texts?
(A) Gorillas will never be able to speak English audibly.
(B) A whole species of gorillas will never be able to learn English.
(C) Gorillas are unable to create anything that is truly art.
(D) Even gorillas who cannot sign can understand human language.
17. Going out to bars at night is the only way to meet new friends. Previous
acquaintances are great, but after I have interacted with them for a while, they offer
no new surprises or exciting interchanges. By going with acquaintances into bars at
night, I am able to provide myself with a stable base from which to reach out to
new people. So, yes, acquaintances serve a purpose in the same way that new
friends do. However, acquaintances are only valuable insofar as they help to
procure new friends.
If all of the socialite’s words are true, which of the following can be concluded
from the passage?
(A) Old friends are not tired of the socialite in the same way that the socialite is
tired of them.
(B) The socialite is able to meet new friends by going out to bars at night with old
acquaintances.
(C) New friends will not eventually become valueless when they have been known
long enough to become old acquaintances.
(D) The stable base that acquaintances provide is worthless if it does not help gain
new friends.

18. Ornithologists heatedly debate whether birds evolved from a type of dinosaur
or whether they are direct descendants from a genus that predated dinosaurs on the
evolutionary tree. Dr. Spock notes that certain dinosaurs, called pterodactyls, had
wings and flew through the air using the same hollow bone structure that birds
employ today. However, Dr. Jones disagrees with Dr. Spock’s contentions
regarding the existence of a dinosaur-bird link and argues that birds and
pterodactyls evolved in a parallel fashion that was not directly related. Dr. Jones
believes that birds developed long before the dinosaur age from a small birdlike
creature that was indigenous to Antarctica and used feathers to keep warm.
Which of the following, if true, would disprove Dr. Jones’s theory?
(A) The birdlike creatures populating the Antarctic did not have any wings.
(B) Birds are not descended from pterodactyls, because pterodactyls were cold
blooded and had reptilian skin flaps.
(C) An ice age came and eradicated all of the small birdlike creatures that Dr.
Jones refers to.
(D) Immediately before the dinosaur age, all species that were not dinosaurs were
completely wiped out by an ice age.

19. Running a marathon takes an extraordinary level of dedication and preparation.

Most people do not easily travel 26.2 miles on foot, so it makes sense that many
people spend months preparing their bodies to travel such a great distance. What
does not make sense is that the winners of this sport make only about $15,000 to
$80,000 per race. In general, marathon runners face as many as 20,000 competitors
in each race, and yet, the compensation they receive for winning does not compare
even to that of professional tennis players.
Which of the following can be concluded from the passage?
(A) The average tennis player is paid more than the average runner.
(B) Professional runners have never won more than a million dollars for winning a
race.
(C) No one could run 26.2 miles without training for it.
(D) The best tennis player is paid more than the best marathon runner.

20. Onscreen Television Company introduced its new line of televisions to the
market this year. The quality of the new Onscreen television is undeniably worse
than that of all its competitors, but still Onscreen’s marketing director felt certain
that the new television line would be financially successful. Remarkably, his
predictions came true. This year’s recession that hurt most other television
companies actually boosted sales of Onscreen’s new television line.
Which of the following would explain why Onscreen’s new televisions sold well
during the recession compared to the competing products?
(A) Onscreen’s competitors did not point out the inferior quality of Onscreen’s
televisions even though most purchasers knew of this fact.
(B) Onscreen televisions were attractive to a particular segment of the population
because of the ethnicity of the company’s founder.
(C) Onscreen’s televisions were easier to carry than one competing brand, easier to
use than one competing brand, and had better screen quality than one competing
brand.
(D) The poor quality of Onscreen’s televisions allowed the company to sell them at
a low price, which was attractive to buyers during the recession.

21. A recent science experiment revealed that when a yellow dye is mixed with a
blue dye, the result is a dye with a green color. Preschool students repeat this
experiment in class on a daily basis and consistently deliver the same results—
yellow dyes mix with blue dyes to make one green dye. These consistent results
led a budding scientist named Tommy to exclaim, “If something blue mixes with
something yellow, then it will always make green!”
Which of the following, if true, would undermine Tommy’s analysis?
(A) Yesterday Tommy’s playmate Sarah mixed a purple dye and a red dye and
formed a green dye.
(B) Some preschool dye experiments offer results different from the results arrived
at in a science lab.
(C) One hundred years ago, when atmospheric conditions were different, adding a
blue dye to a yellow dye consistently made a red dye.
(D) Different-colored paints mixed at temperatures below freezing always form an
orange-colored paint.

22. Internet connections are quite adaptable these days. Computers have become so
intelligent that they respond immediately when an Internet connection is plugged
into them. Computers with wireless cards can be programmed to beep when they
sense a wireless network. More than likely in the next 10 years there will be no
more wired Internet connections: All Internet data transmissions will be
transmitted by satellite to the wireless card on your computer. Connection speeds
will increase until the speed at which data are displayed on your screen is equal to
the speed of the radio waves from the satellite—which travel at the speed of light.
Which of the following is an assumption that is made by the argument?
(A) The rate at which the computer displays the data on screen is not a limiting
constant.
(B) Satellites are unable to facilitate Internet connections by using radio waves.
(C) All wired connections will be immediately phased out after wireless
connections begin gaining speed.
(D) People want to have Internet connections that are as fast as the speed of light

23. Hummingbirds are the only birds that can fly while remaining completely
stationary in the air, motionless except for the high-speed fluttering of their wings.
Their ability to achieve this evolutionary marvel is largely due to a diet that
consists entirely of sugar. Hummingbirds acquire sugar in the same way that bees
do, by traveling from flower to flower in search of nectar. To carry out this pursuit,
hummingbirds have all of the essential flight-related attributes of the quintessential
harvesters of nectar—bees. Birds that eat low-energy foods like grain do not need
to fly in this way; they can eat while perched on branches. But hummingbirds must
hang in midair like bees while delicately collecting nectar.
The final sentence that notes that hummingbirds and bees acquire sugar in the same
way fulfills which of the following functions in the passage?
(A) It is an illustration of the conclusion.
(B) It sets up a comparison that is never referred to during the argument.
(C) It eliminates a well-known competing possibility.
(D) It reconciles the main conclusion with a series of ancillary conclusions

24. Guidance counselors for troubled children recommend that parents of such
children discuss drugs with their child early on, because troubled children have a
higher proclivity for drug use, on average, during their high school years. This is
because children who are maladjusted may look for any available way to make
themselves look cool or feel a little happier. Drugs can satisfy these urges for both
maladjusted and normal children, but maladjusted children feel a heightened
pressure to do something to change their environment because they are overtly
unsatisfied with it. This is why it is so important for parents of troubled children to
tell these children that drugs are not a good route to take.
Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument relies?
(A) Normal children do not feel pressure to experiment with drugs in their teenage
years.
(B) More maladjusted children use drugs than normal children do.
(C) Parents who talk to their drug-addicted child can dissuade the child from being
involved with drugs.
(D) Maladjusted children are more likely to turn to drugs than are normal children

25. Today, when so many people are looking to combat problems like obesity with
quick fixes like low-carbohydrate diets and diet pills, it is still clear that none of
these quick fixes is the answer. Exercise is the only way to keep in good shape and
lose weight. People can try all of the quick fixes they like, but without exercise, no
one will lose weight. Quick fixes are popular only because salespeople and
advertisements encourage people to believe that being lazy is okay so long as they
take a certain pill every day. Advertisers spend billions each year to promote quick
fixes, but the payoff is huge because people believe the advertisers’ claims.
Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?
(A) All salespeople want people to be obese.
(B) Exercise is required for a person to lose weight.
(C) Diet pills and exercise do not work together to promote weight loss.
(D) People who are lazy will never lose weight.

26. Anna of Trebizond was a Byzantine princess and scholar, born in the mid-14th
century. She is most known for her book The Orations of Anna Komnene,
__________ she wrote while exiled to Trebizond following the death of her father
Emperor Andronikos III Palaiologos. It contains political arguments that were
considered radical for the time period, and it is still studied today. Anna was a
passionate advocate of women’s rights in education, as well as for their
participation in politics. Her work demonstrated her beliefs that all genders should
have equal access to knowledge so that they could make ethical decisions about
how to govern society responsibly. She remains an inspirational figure centuries
after her death due to these progressive views on gender equality and education
reform.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard
English?
A. which that
B. that which
C. that
D. which

27. The Ezra A. Huntington House is an important piece of history in Central

Maine, built by the prominent businessman and politician in 1824. It has been
restored over time to preserve its original Greek Revival architecture which makes
it stand out on the historic Mechanic Street corner today. The house serves as a
reminder of early 19th century domestic life; several rooms are lined with period
furniture from Huntington’s large family who lived there __________ 100 years
before passing it along via descendants until 1935 when Essex Institute acquired
ownership . This iconic structure continues to provide locals and tourists alike a
glimpse into colonial times that shaped our area even now 200 years later.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard
English?
A. greater than
B. for more than
C. for greater than
D. more than

28. The United States of America declared its independence from Great Britain in
1776. This was a monumental event that changed the course of history and
established this nation as a sovereign state. It took courage, tenacity, and strength
for our forefathers to stand up to tyranny and fight for their freedom. These same
qualities are still evident today; they demonstrate our commitment to preserving
the liberties we hold dear. We owe __________ an immense debt of gratitude for
having the vision and fortitude needed to create this country so many years ago
A. them
B. they
C. those ones
D. those people

29. The flight patterns of two different bird species can vary greatly. For example,
a hawk will soar high in the sky and swoop down to catch its prey __________ a
sparrow usually stays close to the ground and flits from tree branch to branch.
Hawks have large wings with long feathers that allow them to glide through the air
more easily than sparrows which have shorter, rounder wings that help them
maneuver quickly between obstacles. The differences in their physical features
contribute significantly to how they navigate their environment while flying.
A., whereas,
B. whereas
C.; whereas
D. whereas,

30. The Incan Empire was a powerful South American civilization that flourished
from the early 13th century until its fall in the 16th century. It was centered around
Cusco, an important religious and political center. At its peak, it stretched from
modern-day Colombia to Chile and included much of western Argentina and Peru.
The empire’s expansive road network facilitated communication between all parts
of this vast region while their sophisticated agricultural systems allowed them to
grow food even in harsh climates. Although they were eventually defeated by
European forces, remnants of their culture still exist today throughout Latin
America __________.

A. (illustrating the profound impact it had on history.)

B., illustrating the profound impact it had on history
C.; illustrating the profound impact it had on history
D.: illustrating the profound impact it had on history.

31. Fusion energy stands in stark contrast to traditional energy generation due to
three factors __________. Fusion reactions release massive amounts of energy and
can be triggered using only hydrogen isotopes, which are abundant in nature. The
technology for harnessing fusion power is still being developed but if successful, it
would generate large amounts of electricity without any emissions or waste
products.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard
English?
A., cleanliness, safety, and abundance.
B.; cleanliness, safety and abundance.
C.: cleanliness, safety, and abundance.
D. cleanliness, safety, and abundance.

32. Grandma’s favorite recipes called for raisins—from oatmeal cookies to her
famous cinnamon—raisin bread. Even when Grandma wasn’t feeling well, she’d
always make sure to have a handful of raisins. __________ me a sweet boost of
energy and remind me of the sunshine.” Grandma was right, no matter what time
of day, raisins always brought a little bit of sunshine.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of standard
English?
A. She’d say. “Raisins give
B. She’d say... “Raisins give
C. She’d say “Raisins give
D. She’d say, “Raisins give

33. __ of goods and services between buyers and sellers. It is a key component of
global economies, and it impacts all of us in everyday life. Businesses, both large
and small, rely on commerce to provide goods and services to customers.
Consumers benefit from the convenience and variety that commerce offers.
Financial transactions are a major part of commerce, and they require trust and
security to ensure that transactions are conducted safely and securely. The growth
of digital commerce has revolutionized the way we purchase goods and services,
and it has made it easier than ever for buyers and sellers to do business.

A. Commerce; the exchange

B. Commerce. The exchange
C. Commerce: the exchange
D. Commerce, the exchange

34. Candy is a treat enjoyed by people of all ages. Its sweet, sugary taste and
variety of textures make it a favorite of many. From chewy gummies to crunchy
chocolate __________ something for everyone to enjoy. Candy is often associated
with special occasions, like Halloween and birthdays. It’s also a popular treat to
bring to a party or share with friends. With so many flavors, colors, and shapes,
there’s no shortage of ways to enjoy candy. Whether you’re looking for a quick
snack or a special treat, candy is a popular choice.

A. bars: there’s
B. bars. There’s
C. bars, there’s
D. bars there’s

35. The sun blazed through the dense jungle, its rays cutting through the shadows.
As he ventured __________ heard a low rumble in the distance that grew louder
and louder. He soon came face-to-face with an ancient temple hidden amongst
thick vines and enormous foliage, his eyes wide at its beauty. A sense of awe filled
him as stepped inside to explore; twisting paths, crumbling walls and secrets
waiting to be discovered!
A. deeper — his heart pounding with anticipation — he
B. deeper, his heart pounding with anticipation he
C. deeper (his heart pounding with anticipation) he
D. deeper — his heart pounding with anticipation, he

36. Clouds are a fascinating feature of our __________ with wind and rain, help to
make up the Earth’s weather system. Clouds come in different sizes and shapes
depending on factors like temperature or moisture levels. Some form high in the
sky while others hover close to the ground. Depending on their position and
composition, clouds can mean anything from an imminent storm to clear skies
ahead!

A. atmosphere that along

B. atmosphere that, along
C. atmosphere, that along
D. atmosphere. That along

37. Dentistry is the branch of medicine concerned with prevention, diagnosis and
treatment of diseases related to oral __________ includes a variety of procedures
such as tooth filling, root canals, crowns and bridges. Dentists also provide
preventive care by cleaning teeth and instructing patients on how to maintain their
oral hygiene. They may perform cosmetic surgeries like whitening or reshaping
teeth for aesthetic purposes. Additionally, dentists diagnose various illnesses like
gum disease which could have significant impacts on overall health if left
untreated.
A. health it
B. health, it
C. health: it
D. health. It
38. Na-ne’s absence now is a vertiginous1 hollow in my being, a dark hole that is
my constant Line companion. I did not know the gravity of such holes, of the extra
weight on 5 every organ, of the soul becoming an old man. My son Semu runs
about oblivious, like a goat; he is not even two full years, and his happiness is
inaccessible to me. He calls “Papa, papa, look,” but I cannot look. He bats 10 at my
hand and he climbs on my leg. He is Na-ne as I remember him, and so he is a
shadow. My brother was this age when I was nearly ten. I may tell Semu “Na-ne,
mother wants us to get more thatch,” and he looks at me and smiles, and I do not
know if he is happy to be Na-ne, but he is happy.

The quotation in highlighted lines,

(A) uses figurative language
(B) conveys a request
(C) addresses an absent person
(D) describes a happy scene

39.. Despite having been ------- for several years, the vegetable garden had great
potential, and Mrs. Nelson was excited about ------- it.
(A) fertile . . planting
(B) fallow . . cultivating
(C) aquatic . . fertilizing
(D) praiseworthy . . culminating

40. Having never before been subjected to the rigors of a presidential campaign,
Senator Thomas found the ------- pace of the primaries overwhelming and as a
result he took his name off the ballot.
(A) reticent
(B) mundane
(C) pastoral
(D) frenetic

41. The literature of Gabriel García Márquez has defined the “magical realism”
genre of fiction; he writes of seemingly impossible and ------- events that are
woven flawlessly into the universal themes of love and war.
(A) plausible
(B) chimerical
(C) obsequious
(D) itinerant

42. Throughout her life, Mother Teresa, the winner of the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize,
was ------- with her time, devoting herself to providing medical care and nutrition
to the dying poor of the world.
(A) rhetorical
(B) munificent
(C) felicitous
(D) auster

43. The ------- odor was easily explained when Elmo found the bag of rotten
garbage that he had forgotten to throw out three weeks earlier.
(A) putrid
(B) delectable
(C) piquant
(D) divine

44. As hominid history has unfolded, social and cultural means of adaptation have
Line become increasingly important. In this process, humans have devised diverse
ways of coping with the range of environments and social systems they have
occupied in time and space. The rate of cultural change has accelerated,
particularly during the past 10,000 years. For millions of years, hunting and
gathering of nature’s bounty—foraging— was the sole basis of hominid
subsistence. However, it took only a few thousand years for food production
(cultivation of plants and domestication of animals), which originated in the
Middle East 10,000 to 12,000 years ago, to replace foraging in most areas. People
started producing their own food, planting crops and stockbreeding animals, rather
than simply taking what nature had to offer.
The passage indicates that, unlike the practice of food gathering, the practice of
food production among hominids
(A) was not widely available
(B) was introduced over one million years ago
(C) developed rapidly
(D) damaged the environment in which they lived

45. In Egypt in 450 B.C., religion was the function of the priesthood, a mystic
practice Line of elaborate ceremonial performed in the depths of temple
sanctuaries. In Greece generally, and in the Panathenaea particularly, however, the
temple served simply for the performance of the crucial rite of sacrifice. Various
preliminaries were engaged in by all the citizens outside the temple and in other
parts of the city, which were of the very fabric of their lives. They witnessed or
took part in games and activities that were familiar activities; the power of the
Athenian state was expressed in the presence of the tributaries, and her national
prominence was implied in the six-day spectacle as a whole for it had consciously
been elaborated to rival the time-honored Olympic games.
The passage indicates that Egyptian religious rites differed from Greek religious
rites primarily in terms of
(A) the clothing worn by the priests
(B) the degree to which the public participated
(C) the length of the ceremonies
(D) the willingness of the priests to participate
46. After the doctor administered the -------, Ingrid could no longer feel the left
side of her face, allowing the doctor to stitch the wound without causing any
further pain.
(A) emollient
(B) antibody
(C) antidote
(D) anesthetic

47. The newly released version of Shakespeare’s Othello was condemned by critics
for being just another ------- remake that fails to bring anything new to the movie
screen.
(A) innovative
(B) hackneyed
(C) novel
(D) quixotic

48. The decade following the Great Depression was one of -------, in which the
United States began the slow return to economic stability.
(A) inflammation
(B) acrimony
(C) mirth
(D) recovery

49. Before Dr. Shutkin’s experiments demonstrated that the new fuel was harmless
to the environment, ecologists regarded its benefits as merely ------- rather than
proven.
(A) speculative
(B) lucid
(C) dynamic
(D) fastidious

50.. The letter “h” at the end of Pittsburgh is ------- of American sentiments soon
after World War I; it was added as part of a movement during that time to make the
names of American cities sound less German.
(A) an inference
(B) an analogy
(C) a vestige
(D) an anomaly

51. Walter’s ------- was beginning to annoy his coworkers; although they
appreciated the thought he gave to his decisions, his inability to make up his mind
was growing tiresome.
(A) vacillation
(B) solicitation
(C) rejuvenation
(D) admonishment

52. The ease with which the army’s defenses were breached surprised the opposing
general, who expected resistance to be far more ------- than it was.
(A) ephemeral
(B) compatible
(C) egregious
(D) imposing

53. In most modern societies, athletes are ------- in the same way that successful
warriors were celebrated by civilizations in years past.
(A) invoked
(B) repudiated
(C) lionized
(D) vilified

54. Dobson’s overconfident and arrogant manner during press conferences was
beginning to irritate his associates; there was no need to be ------- about the success
of an endeavor that had yet to be launched.
(A) superficial
(B) capricious
(C) pious
(D) supercilious