The seemingly simple question of “what defines a sport?

” has been the fodder for argument and

conversation for years, among professional and armchair athletes alike. There seems to be no doubt
that vigorous and highly competitive activities such as baseball, football, and soccer are truly “sports,”
but when the subject of other activities such as darts, chess, and shuffleboard is broached we find
ourselves at the heart of a controversy.

If say, billiards, is not a sport, then what exactly is it? Those who would dispute it to be a sport
would respond that it is a simple leisure activity. They would go on to claim a true sport first and
foremost requires some form of physical exertion. More to the point, if a player does not break a sweat,
what he or she plays is not a sport. Beyond that, more important criteria would be the need for decent
hand-eye coordination, and the ever-present possibility of sustaining injury. Billiards only fits one of
those specifications (hand-eye coordination), so according to the doubters, it is not a real sport. To help
resolve this dispute, the first text to consult would have to be the dictionary. According to one
dictionary, a sport is defined as “a diversion” or a “recreation.” Assuming one strictly adheres to the
simple guidelines laid out in that definition, it would seem that almost any activity that provides
enjoyment could be classified as a sport. And if, according to the dictionary, watching a sport on
television is a sport itself, I guess that would make a couch potato an athlete. Play ball! Annunziata, M.
A. & Team. (2004). 501 Critical Reading Questions. New York: LearningExpress.

1. The author’s attitude in this passage is…

A. Pessimistic
B. Lighthearted
C. Nostalgic
D. Dark
E. Pompous
2. The word broached in the first paragraph most nearly means…
A. Maintained
B. Appraised
C. Defined
D. Ceased
E. Brought up
3. According to the criteria given in paragraph 2, all of the following would be considered a “true”
sport, EXCEPT…
A. Cheerleading
B. Skiing
C. Race car driving
D. Horse shoes
E. Gymnastics

Traditional body signage seems largely to have disappeared. Well, many of the old symbols and
names are still around, of course, but they are part of the commercial range of options. Seeing someone
in a Harvard or Oxford sweatshirt or a kilt or a military tie now communicates nothing at all significant
about that person’s life other than the personal choice of a particular consumer. Religious signs are still
evocative, to be sure, but are far less common than they used to be. Why should this be? I suspect one
reason may be that we have lost a sense of significant connection to the various things indicated by such
signs. Proclaiming our high school or university or our athletic team or our community has a much lower
priority nowadays, in part because we live such rapidly changing lives in a society marked by constant
motion that the stability essential to confer significance on such signs has largely gone.

But we still must attach ourselves to something. Lacking the conviction that the traditional
things matter, we turn to the last resort of the modern world: the market. Here there is a vast array of
options, all equally meaningless in terms of traditional values, all equally important in identifying the
one thing left to us for declaring our identity publicly, our fashion sense and disposable income. The
market naturally manipulates the labels, making sure we keep purchasing what will most quickly declare
us excellent consumers. If this year a Chicago Bulls jacket or Air Jordan shoes are so popular that we are
prepared to spend our way into a trendy identity, then next year there will be something else.
Annunziata, M. A. & Team. (2004). 501 Critical Reading Questions. New York: LearningExpress.

4. What is most likely the author’s main purpose of writing this passage?
A. Discuss the impact of basketball in fashion nowadays
B. Relate the tribal history of tattoos
C. Tell the reader about the past
D. Advise the reader to have his or her own true identity
E. Discuss commercialism’s powerful influence upon personal identity
5. The author guesses that religious signs are used less commonly because…
A. The sense of significant connection to fashion is changing
B. The feeling of connection to religious signs has been gone
C. Internet has made things easier
D. The buyers are more aware
E. Technology’s impact upon the world
6. In paragraph 2, disposable income refers to…
A. recyclable goods
B. spending money
C. life savings
D. a donation to charity
E. garbage
7. The author would agree with all the following statements EXCEPT…
A. In today’s society, being trendy is more important than keeping tradition.
B. A person wearing a New York Yankees baseball hat is not necessarily a fan of the team or a
resident of New York.
C. Pride in our school or community is not as strong today as it was years ago.
D. You can tell a lot about somebody by what they are wearing.
E. The last resort of the modern world is the marketplace.
 8. Valentino Rossi stopped his motorcycle … the children could cross the road.
A. In order to
B. For
C. In case
D. So that
E. Because

Local legends say that Borneo’s few thousand wild elephants are descendants from those brought to an
Island from India or Malaysia as a gift to a sultan in the eighteenth century. Biologists from Columbia
University’s Centre for Environmental Research and Conservation compared DNA samples from Borneo
elephants with Asian elephants in Sumatra, India and elsewhere. Findings confirmed their (1)_______:
Borneo’s elephants are genetically different. In fact, the DNA (2)_______ are so great between them and
their closest relatives (elephants in Peninsular Malaysia) that the populations may have separated up to
300,000 years ago, say the scientists. The animals become isolated when the island became totally cut
off from the mainland due to a rise in sea level. Borneo’s elephants are, therefore, an important,
separate population.

9. Choose the word that best suits number (1)!

A. Suspects
B. Suspicious
C. Suspiciously
D. Suspecting
E. Suspicions
10. Choose the word that best suits number (2)!
A. Different
B. Differs
C. Differences
D. Differentiate
E. Differential
11. Judging from the information provided in the paragraph, which of the following statements is
accurate?
A. It was believed that people gave elephants from Borneo Island to a sultan in the 18th
century.
B. Borneo elephants are unique.
C. The DNA of Borneo's elephants is very similar with the elephants in Peninsular Malaysia.
D. The research by Biologists from Columbia University’s Centre was unproven.
E. Legends say that Borneo’s elephant came from Borneo Island itself.
12. A good title for this passage is ....
A. Genetical Difference Between Borneo Elephant and Other Asian Elephants
B. Borneo Elephants in The 18th Century
C. Borneo Elephant's Uniqueness Proven Scientifically
D. The Separation of Borneo Elephants
 E. The Impact of Sea Level on Borneo Elephants

Recently, vegetarian diets have experienced an increase in popularity. A vegetarian diet is

associated with many health benefits because of its higher content of fiber, folic acid, vitamins C and E,
potassium, magnesium, and many phytochemicals and a fat content that is more unsaturated.
Compared with other vegetarian diets, vegan diets tend to contain less saturated fat and cholesterol and
more dietary fiber. Vegans tend to be thinner, have lower serum cholesterol, and lower blood pressure,
reducing their risk of heart disease. However, eliminating all animal products from the diet increases the
risk of certain nutritional ______. Micronutrients of special concern for the vegan include vitamins B-12
and D, calcium, and log-chain n-3 (omega-3) fatty acids. Unless vegans regularly consume foods that are
fortified with these nutrients, appropriate supplements should be consumed. In some cases, iron and
zinc status of vegans may also be of concern because of the limited bioavailability of these minerals. The
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Volume 89, Issue 5, May 2009, Pages 1627S–1633S

13. According to the passage, vegan diets ....

A. contain a lot of iron and zinc
B. raise blood pressure
C. lack of folic acid
D. include vitamins B-12 and D
E. have more unsaturated fats
14. Which of the following words would best fit into the blank in the first sentence of the 2 nd
paragraph?
A. Deficiencies
B. Deficient
C. Efficiencies
D. Efficient
E. Eminency
15. The sentence “Unless vegans regularly consume foods that are fortified with these nutrients,
appropriate supplements should be consumed.” (paragraph 2) means ....
A. Vegans do not need to consume additional supplements if they have eaten nutritional
foods.
B. It is necessary for vegans to take appropriate supplements regardless of what they eat.
C. Vegans do not need to consume any supplements.
D. Vegans are not required to eat nutritional food as they take supplements.
E. Vegans should consume appropriate supplements. Thus, they do not have to consume
nutritional foods regularly
16. Continue the sentence below! In spite of the fact that learning to speak a foreign language
requires a lot of time and effort, it turns out that ....
A. many people give up after a short time.
B. many people manage it successfully.
C. only few people succeed.
 D. many people travel around the world.
E. learning a new language is difficult.

Eventhough it is called Central Park, New York City’s great green space has no “center”— no
formal walkway down the middle of the park, no central monument or body of water, no single
orienting feature. The paths wind, the landscape constantly shifts and changes, the sections spill into
one another in a seemingly random manner. But this “decentering” was exactly the intent of the park’s
innovative design. Made to look as natural as possible, Frederick Law Olmsted’s 1858 plan for Central
Park had as its main goal the creation of a democratic playground— a place with many centers to reflect
the multiplicity of its uses and users. Olmsted designed the park to allow interaction among the various
members of society, without giving preference to one group or class. Thus, Olmsted’s ideal of a
“commonplace civilization” could be realized.

17. The main idea of the passage is ….

A. Central Park is democratic by design.
B. Olmsted was a talented designer.
C. New York City is a democratic city.
D. More parks should be designed without centers.
E. Central Park is commonly used by many people for various purposes.
18. The word commonplace in the last sentence of the passage most nearly means ….
A. Mediocre
B. Ordinary
C. Normal
D. Inclusive
E. Trite
19. In the passage, the author describes specific features of the park in order to ….
A. show how well the author know the park.
B. provide evidence that the park has no center.
C. suggest the organization of the rest of the passage.
D. present both sides of an argument.
E. demonstrate of how large the park is.
20. The passage suggests that Olmsted’s design ….
A. did not succeed in creating a democratic playground
B. was radically different from other park designs.
C. was like most other parks being designed at the time.
D. was inspired by similar parks in Europe.
E. was initially very unpopular with New Yorkers.

Planting a garden is a lot like having a family. A plant becomes dependent on the gardener and
begs for water on a hot summer day. Gardeners also have to clean up the space around their plants as
they shed spent petals, as they require pruning, and as they become choked with weeds. Gardeners also
provide for the health of their plants through insecticide and fertilizer applications. A gardener’s
responsibility for his or her plants lessens as they die at the end of the season or they go into winter
dormancy. Like gardeners, parents find their children dependent upon them for food and nourishment.
Like gardeners, parents are constantly picking up after their children, as toys and clothes are scattered
throughout the house. Like gardeners, parents provide for the nourishment and well-being of their
Accuplacer Reading Review children with vitamin supplements, food, and medicines. However, unlike
gardeners, parents will find that their responsibility lessens as the child grows, but it does not come to
an end.

21. According to the passage, the main difference between gardeners and parents is ….
A. Gardeners have to clean up spent petals, prune, and week unlike parents.
B. Plants become dependent on gardeners for water on hot summer days.
C. Gardeners have to apply insecticide and fertilizer unlike parents.
D. Unlike gardeners, parents have to provide children with vitamin supplements, food, and
medicines.
E. Gardeners’ responsibilities never lessens year after year unlike parents who will enjoy
decreasing responsibility with advancing years.
22. The sentence “Like gardeners, parents find their children dependent upon them for food and
nourishment.” can be restated as ….
A. Children rely on their parents for food as though a plant begs the gardener for water.
B. Just as parents to their children, gardeners are dependent for food and nourishment.
C. Plants depends on the gardeners for food and nourishment as parents to their children.
Gardeners are dependent for food and nourishment like parents to their children.
D. Children are dependent to parents just as gardeners to plants.
23. The organizational pattern of the passage is ….
A. cause and effect
B. chronological
C. problem and solution
D. order of importance
E. compare and contrast
24. The word ‘spent’ in the passage means ….
A. Finished
B. Turned off
C. Dried
D. Bloomed
E. Grown

From savoring a piece of cake to hugging a friend, many of life’s pleasures trigger a similar
reaction in the brain–a surge of dopamine, the “feel-good” chemical. Recent research suggests this
reward circuit may do much more than make us smile.

Researchers implanted skin and lung cancer cells in mice, then stimulated the dopamine-
releasing neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of their brains. The rush of dopamine disabled a
group of cells that promote tumor growth. That allowed the immune system to respond more effectively
to the tumors, which were 40 to 52 percent smaller and lower in weight in mice that received VTA
stimulation than in those that didn’t. “By artificially activating the VTA,” says the study’s co-author, Asya
Rolls of Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, “we can affect the nervous system and, in turn, the
immune system.”

Moreover, the researchers explain, once the immune system is activated in this way, it appears
to create a “memory” of the foreign agents to which it has been exposed, allowing it to respond more
efficiently to them in the future.

Rolls doesn’t believe that positive thinking alone can cure cancer, but the study’s author hope
that cancer patients might someday receive brain stimulation as an add-on therapy that could, in turn,
reduce the need for traditional treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation.

Source: “Feeling Good Could Slow Tumor Growth”. Reader’s Digest. Aug. 2019: 34. Print.

25. In which paragraph does the author discuss about immune reaction to the tumors?
A. 4
B. 3
C. 2
D. 1
E. none of the paragraphs above
26. Paragraph 1 and 2 are related that paragraph 1 ….
A. argues for the dopamine’s effect to our body of which facts are put in paragraph 2argues
for the dopamine’s effect to our body of which facts are put in paragraph 2
B. explores the effect of life’s pleasures of which facts are then provided in paragraph 2
C. presents problems of skin and lung cancer which are exemplified in paragraph 2
D. states problems of the “feel-good” chemical of which answer is given in paragraph 2
E. provides detailed ideas for information described in paragraph 2
27. What is the writer trying to inform the readers?
A. The impact of tumors
B. The effect of feeling good to our health
C. The causes of dopamine stimulation
D. The issues of tumor responses
E. The research on mice
28. The word that in the passage refers to ….
A. the growth of tumor
B. the rush of cells
C. the response of immune system
D. the disability of cells that promote tumor growth
E. the response of the tumor
 Geothermal energy is natural heat from the interior of the Earth that is converted to heat
buildings and generate electricity. The idea of harnessing Earth’s internal heat is not new. As early as
1904, geothermal power was used in Italy. Today, Earth’s natural internal heat is being used to generate
electricity in 121 countries, including Russia, Japan, New Zaeland, Iceland, Mexico, Ethiopia, Guatemala,
El Savador, the Phillipines, and the United States. Total worldwide production is approaching 9,000 MW
(equivalent to nine large modern coal-burning or nuclear power plants)–double the amount in 1980.
Some 40 million people today receive their electricity from geothermal energy at a cost competitive
with that of other energy sources. In El Savador, geothermal energy is supplying 30% of the total energy
used. However, at the global level, geothermal energy supplies less than 0.15% of the total energy
supply

Geothermal energy may be considered a non-renewable energy source when rates of extraction
are greater than the rates of natural replenishment. However, geothermal energy has its origin in the
natural heat production within Earth, and only a small fraction of the vast total resource base is being
utilized today. Although most geothermal energy production involves the tapping of high heat
resources, people are also using the low-temperature geothermal energy of groundwater in some
applications.

29. In paragraph 1, the author introduces the concept of geothermal energy by ….

A. explaining the history of this energy source worldwide
B. providing informations about the large use of this energy
C. arguing that this energy source has been tried unsuccessfully
D. comparing the production with that of other energy sources
E. describing the alternatives for generating electric power
30. What is true about geothermal energy production worldwide?
A. Only countries in the Southern Hemisphere are using geothermal energy on a large scale.
B. As it is a new idea, very few countries are developing geothermal energy sources.
C. Geothermal energy is now used in a large scale in a global level.
D. Geothermal energy is already being used in a number of nations, but it is not yet a major
source of power.
E. Until the cost of geothermal energy becomes competitive, it will not be used globally.
31. Which of the statements below best expresses the information in the underlined sentence?
A. High heat is the source of most of the geothermal energy but low heat groundwater is also
used sometimes.
B. Even though low temperatures are possible, high heat is the best resource for energy
production for groundwater.
C. Both high heat and low heat sources are used for the production of geothermal energy
from groundwater.
D. Most high heat sources for geothermal energy are tapped from applications that involve
low heat in groundwater.
E. High heat geothermal energy is less used than low heat groundwater.
 32. In paragraph 2, the author states that geothermal energy is considered a non-renewable
resource because ….
A. the production of geothermal energy is a natural process
B. geothermal energy comes from the Earth
C. we are not using very much geothermal energy now
D. the production of geothermal energy is not on Earth
E. we could use more geothermal energy than is naturally replaced

In fall 1994, Ford introduced the Ford Contour and Mercury Mystique in the United States–the
same basic mid-size car it introduced in Europe in 1993 under the name of Mondeo. Intended to be
Ford’s world car, it took six years to develop at a cost of $6 billion–twice what Ford spent to develop its
vastly successful Taurus and four times more than Chrysler spent on its Dodge/Plymouth Neon. Ford
insisted that by developing and producing a single basic car for Europe and the United States, it saved
about 25 percent of developing and producing a separate car for each side of the Atlantic, as it had done
in the past. Consumer tastes had converged sufficiently, according to Ford, ...[15] a single car would find
lots of buyers everywhere, just as one menu is working around the world for McDonald’s. Building a
world car is a most ambitious undertaking; in the past, only Volkswagen’s classic Beetle and Toyota’s
Corolla have come close to succeeding.

For the exterior design, Ford commissioned clay models from its design studios in California,
Michigan, England, and Italy–from which it developed a consensus model. After showing the model to
consumer clinics in the United States, Ford chose to change the front and rear styling and put a larger
trunk and more chrome on the U.S. version of the car. Still, the European and American versions have 75
percent of their parts in common. This was a far cry from Ford’s previous unsuccessful attempt in 1981
to build a common car for Europe and the United States (the Escort), which resulted in one of the
grandest corporate foul-ups ever and led to European and American models that shared only two
insignificant parts. Indeed, many experts still feel that a common car for the world market violated the
basic marketing wisdom of the 1990s to get closer to customers. Ford, however, was confident that
consumer tastes had converged sufficiently during the previous decade as to ensure the success of its
world car.

33. The paragraph following the passage will most likely deal with….
A. the increasing price of Ford’s cars
B. the details about Ford’s design
C. the type of customers that would buy Ford’s cars
D. the outcome of Ford’s cars sales and consumer tastes
E. Ford’s competitor

34. The main idea of the first paragraph is….

A. Ford’s world car
B. Ford’s new type of cars in the United States and Europe
C. Ford’s most ambitious undertaking
D. Ford’s basic car
 E. Ford’s assumptions about consumer tastes
35. The best word that can fill in the blank is….
A. so that
B. because
C. thus
D. frankly
E. even though
36. Which of the following statements is true based on the passage?
A. Chrysler spent four times longer than Ford’s Contour and Mercury to develop the price of
its car.
B. Ford chose to change the front and rear styling and put a larger trunk and less chrome on
the U.S. version of the car.
C. The European and American versions of the car diverse by 25 percent.
D. Ford succeeded in building a common car for Europe and the United States in 1981.
E. Ford was not sure about consumer tastes.

The most popular festival in Japan takes place from 1st-3rd January, and is called Ganjitsu, which
means ‘the beginning of the year’. People believe that good or bad luck in the first few days of the year
represents the luck you will have for the rest of the year. Ganjitsu is celebrated by ceremonial house
cleaning, feasting, and by the exchanging of visits and presents. Most people put up special decorations
at the entrance to their houses to keep out evil spirits. The main decoration is a sacred rope decorated
with ferns, oranges, and lobster. All of these things are thought to bring good fortune, prosperity, and
long life. Finally, no celebration is complete without mochi cake and zoni soup. Both the cake and the
soup are made from traditional recipes.

37. What is the topic of the passage?

A. Popular Japanese celebrations
B. Ganjitsu Festival
C. Japanese celebrations
D. Keeping up evil spirits in Japan
E. Good and bad luck in Japan

38. People in Japan does NOT celebrate Ganjitsu Festival by….

A. exchanging presents
B. visiting others
C. eating mochi cake and zoni soup
D. throwing a feast
E. cooking international foods
39. People put up special decorations at their houses to…
A. feed some animals with ferns, orange, and lobster
B. bring prosperity
C. catch good fortune
 D. prevent evil spirits from coming
E. represent their luck of the year
40. From the text, we know that….
A. people in Japan believe in luck
B. Japanese people like to eat lobsters
C. the Ganjitsu Festival is held several times a year
D. putting up special decorations is not part of the festival
E. only the luck of the first day of the year will represent the luck you will have for the rest of
the year

In recent years, snails have gone from garden dweller and French appetizer to practically a
worldwide skin-care ingredient: Their mucin (the slime they trail in their wake) forms the foundation for
a recent wave of hyperpopular creams, masks, and serums.

Most of the snail mucin used for skin care involves the Cryptomphalus aspersa species, a.k.a. the
common garden snail. If you’ve ever tried snail-slime products and noticed your skin looking extra
supple and glowy, you are not imagining it.

Dermatologists state that snail mucin seals in moisture and allows active ingredients to
penetrate the skin very well. The mucous is rich in hyaluronic acid, and has been shown to exhibit
antioxidant activities, stimulate collagen production, and enhance wound healing.

If the only thing holding you back from trying snail-slime beauty products (besides the ick factor)
is concern for snail welfare, don’t worry. Harvesting the slime involves having the nocturnal snails crawl
around a mesh net in a darkened room for 30 minutes at a time, then transferred back to their natural
habitat to rest. The snails are never harmed, and their moisturizing slime is then collected and
pasteurized for the bottle.

Source: Keong, Lori. “What Does Snail Slime Actually Do for Your Skin?” Aug. 21, 2018. New York
Magazine Web. Nov, 7. 2019

41. The main information of the text is about ….

A. why snail mucin is currently popular as a skincare ingredient
B. what kind of snail involved in skincare production
C. how to make a facial cream or mask from snail mucin
D. when to harvest snail slime
E. how snail-slime products react to our skin
42. Why are snails widely used as a skin-care ingredient over the last few years?
A. Their mucin creates a great foundation.
B. They can be easily found in the gardens.
C. Their mucin has the ability to inhibit the production of collagen.
D. Their mucin enables our skin to absorb active ingredients.
E. Harvesting their slime is not harmful for the snails.
 43. The word ‘welfare’ in Paragraph 4 has the similar meaning with ….
A. Habitat
B. Harm
C. Comfort
D. Exploitation
E. Price
44. The slime harvesting process does NOT include …
A. putting the snails into a darkened room
B. letting the snails crawl around for a couple hours
C. pasteurizing the slime
D. sending the snails back to their natural habitat
E. collecting the slime

Joker, a glimpse into the life of Batman’s psychotic arch-nemesis, has somehow become one of
the most-reviled and most-defended movies of the year, weeks before being released in theaters. (It
comes out on October 4.)

Starring Joaquin Phoenix and directed by Todd Phillips, the movie has already been deemed
dangerous by its vocal critics. To some of the movie’s fans, those critical reviews and negative reactions
are just another examples of social justice warrior overreach.

What’s most striking about this nascent debate is that the only people who have seen the movie
so far are select film critics and festivalgoers. But most of the conversation surrounding Joker is among
those who haven’t seen it.

It’s a testament to the iconic supervillain’s popularity that the movie’s two trailers have ignited a
full-blown fight about the movie. The character’s depravity and ghastliness are what make him Batman’s
greatest foe. Those same qualities instill fear and disgust among his most vocal critics, especially when
the evils of our reality have slowly shifted in that direction

But the fight over Joker is not just about the film but about how we watch movies today, how
we discuss their value, and our tendency to think about movies in a way that is at odds with the very
existence of the art itself. Source: Abad-Santos, Alex. “The fight over Joker and the new movie’s
‘dangerous’ message, explained.” Sep. 25, 2019. Vox Web. Oct. 21, 2019.

45. Which of the following best describes the Joker movie based on the passage?
A. It is well-appreciated.
B. Only selected film critics and festivalgoers have seen it.
C. It is not considered perilous.
D. The fight about the movie had already been started before the release of two of the
trailers.
E. The movie received numerous positive reactions.
46. The author’s attitude regarding the Joker movie is .…
A. Accusatory
 B. Apathetic
C. Assertive
D. Conciliatory
E. skeptical
47. In which paragraph does the author mention Joker’s trait?
A. 5
B. 4
C. 3
D. 2
E. 1
48. The word ‘nascent’ in paragraph 4 can be replaced with….
A. Growing
B. Biased
C. Escaping
D. Revised
E. Acquired