EST I – Literacy Test I

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Duration: 35 minutes
44 Multiple Choice Questions

Instructions:
- Place your answer on the answer sheet. Mark only one answer for each of the
multiple choice questions.
- Avoid guessing. Your answers should reflect your overall understanding of the
subject matter.
1. As it is used in line 11 hinterlands most 4. Which of the following words best
nearly means describes the author's tone in lines 38-46?

(A) lands outside the continental United "The whisking and transporting of
States Japanesé and the construction of camps
with barbed wire and ominous towers
(B) a special area outside the border of the
supporting fully armed soldiers in places
United States
like Idaho and Wyoming and Arizona,
(C) camps within the United States for places which even Hollywood scorned for
housing people displaced by order of the background, had become skills which
United States government demanded the utmost of America's great
organizing ability."
(D) a region remote from urban areas
(A) jocular
2. As it is used in line 14 lights most nearly
means (B) sarcastic

(A) enemy soldiers (C) apologetic

(B) people (D) solemn

(C) leaders 5. We can infer that the "I am Chinese"

button that Matsusaburo Inabukuro wore
(D) inspiring speakers
helped him get a job because
3. The snowball mentioned in line 32 most
(A) people believed that he wasn't
likely refers to
Japanese
(A) the accumulating tears of Japanese
(B) people thought he was a Japanese
family members who have seen their
person trying to make people believe he
relatives moved to relocation camps
was a Chinese person
(B) the steadily increasing, accumulating
(C) people believed that a Chinese person
efforts of Americans to defeat the Japanese
in America was likely to be an American
(C) the steadily growing efforts of citizen
Americans to relocate Japanese aliens
(D) people thought that he was a Chinese
living in America
alien
(D) the steadily accumulating efforts of
6. The author would be most likely to
Japanese aliens living in America to return
describe the term "relocation center" (line
to Japan to fight for their country
92) as

(A) hyperbole

(B) an understatement

(C) a euphemism
(D) a cliché
7. As it is used in line 94 funny most 9. At the time of this account the narrator's
nearly means parents are

(A) strange (A) living on their farm in Wyoming

(B) exaggerated (B) living in Japan

(C) humorous (C) living in a relocation camp in

Wyoming
(D) not true
(D) deceased
8. The author uses all of the following
except 10. Which of the following provides
evidence for the answer to the previous
(A) irony
question?
(B) humor
(A) "By... problem." (lines 32-38)
(C) metaphor
(B) "The … ability." (lines 38-46)
(D) extrapolation
(C) "You … centers.'" (lines 76-92)

(D) "The …Japan." (lines 99-103)

11. According to the author, if the nuclear
forces in atoms had been slightly stronger
than they are

(A) there would be many more stars like

the Sun than there are

(B) the universe would be made up of over

99% hydrogen

(C) most of the hydrogen in the universe

would have burned up

(D) stars like the Sun would not exist

12. As it is used in line 46 extravagantly

most nearly means

(A) erroneously

(B) imprudently

(C) incomprehensibly
(D) in a way that exceeds a reasonable
amount

13. The author most likely refers to

astrology in line 51 to

(A) show that he is familiar with ways of

thinking outside of conventional science

(B) support his assertion that stars greatly

affect human beings

(C) emphasize how remarkable it is that

faraway stars affect life on Earth

(D) support his contention that faraway

stars can come near the Sun and disrupt the
Earth's orbit around it
14. As it is used in line 48 decisive most 17. The phrase "habits of thought" as it is
nearly used in lines 86-87 most nearly means

means (A) recurrent patterns of thinking

(A) resolute (B) scientific thinking

(B) important (C) unconscious thinking

(C) extreme (D) philosophical thinking

(D) conclusive
15. According to the author, which of the 18. The author's tone in the passage is
following does not contribute to making most accurately described as
the universe "an unexpectedly hospitable
(A) measured and reasonable
place for living creatures to make their
home" (lines 84-86)? (B) mildly amused
(A) the "exclusion principle" forbids two (C) deeply skeptical
electrons to occupy the same state
(D) indignant
(B) the strength of the attractive nuclear
force lies within a narrow range
19. Which of the following, if it occurred,
(C) hydrogen atoms cannot form breakable
would support the conclusion reached by
bridges between molecules
the author?
(D) the average distance between stars in
(A) the discovery of a diproton
galaxies like the Milky Way is about
twenty million million miles rather than (B) proof that no organic compounds exist
only two million million miles on planets in several nearby solar systems

16. Which of the following provides the (C) the discovery of life on a planet in
evidence to answer the previous question? orbit around another star in our galaxy

(A) "If ... nuclei." (lines 12-16) (D) the discovery that stars like the Sun are
burning hydrogen at a rapidly increasing
(B) "On…. elements." (lines 20-23)
rate
(C) "If... difficulties." (lines 36-39)

(D) "Without … molecules." (lines 76-81)

20. The author would be most likely to
agree that the argument he makes in this
passage

(A) shows conclusively that the universe

was designed by some super-human
agency

(B) offers good but far from decisive

support for philosophers who argue that
the highly ordered structure of the universe
proves the existence of God

(C) demonstrates the futility of speculating

about how and why the universe was
created

(D) strongly suggests that life exists on

some planets in solar systems near to Earth

21. Which of the following does the author

make use of in his argument?

(A) paradox

(B) understatement

(C) inductive reasoning

(D) concession
22. As it is used in line 5 pharmacopoeia
most nearly means

(A) collection of drugs approved by the

government for medical use

(B) accepted medical practice

(C) stock of medical drugs

(D) knowledge of doctors

23. Why, according to the author, were

doctors astonished around the mid-1930s?

(A) They were amazed that drugs were

able to cure diseases.

(B) Cures were becoming available for

some illnesses, whereas before these
doctors had little capacity to cure illnesses.

(C) The practice of medicine was being

revolutionized by a bold young breed of
doctors.

(D) They were surprised that people still

had so much respect for doctors and
medicine.

24. Which of the following is part of the

"dogma" referred to in line 28?
(A) Every illness must be treated.

(B) Every illness ends in the patient's death

if it is not treated.

(C) Some diseases get better if left

untreated.
(D) Accurate diagnosis, not treatment, is
the most important purpose of medicine.
25. As it is used in lines 37-38 the phrase 27. As it is used in line 60 skeptic most
"the crudest sort of empiricism" most nearly
nearly
means
means
(A) person of very high intelligence
(A) acquisition of scientific knowledge by
(B) cynical person
careful experimentation
(C) person who analyzes things objectively
(B) extremely impolite experimentation on
patients (D) person who questions generally
accepted ideas
(C) very unsophisticated use of
observation and experimentation to gain 28. It can be inferred that the author
knowledge describes "several physicians" as
"courageous" (line 69) because
(D) the use of powerful drugs without a
scientific understanding of their (A) he believes that it took courage for
compositions physicians to risk injuring their own health
by administering new drugs to patients

(B) he believes that it took courage for

26. What is the most likely reason that the
physicians to suggest that the methods
author says, "It is astounding that the
used in their profession were almost
profession survived so long" (lines 56-57)?
completely wrong, since doing so would
(A) He believes that being a doctor in the make them unpopular with other members
time before the development of modern of the profession and possibly endanger
medicine was extremely demanding, and their standing in the medical profession
he's amazed that so few doctors left the
(C) he believes that it took courage for
medical profession.
physicians to suggest that the profession
(B) He believes it is very surprising that should try new methods of treating
the medical profession was not assimilated patients
into the larger field of biological science,
(D) he believes that it took courage for
as the latter field made huge advances in
such physicians to admit to their fellow
the early years of the twentieth century.
professionals that they had been wrong in
(C) He believes it is remarkable that a their criticism of accepted medical practice
profession that was so poor at doing its job
was so popular.
(D) He believes it is amazing that the
medical profession was not more
appreciated by the public before the mid-
1930s.
29. The author describes the "discovery" 30. Which of the following provides
mentioned in line 72 as "surprising" evidence for the answer to the previous
because question?

(A) Doctors at the time believed that (A) "Doctors…. themselves." (lines 13-15)
medical intervention in illness was
(B) "Virtually ... up." (lines 40-44)
generally unhelpful.
(C) "Simultaneously ... 'history." (lines
(B) Doctors at the time believed that there
were some diseases that could not be 71-74)
cured.
(D) "That ….. treated." (lines 77-82)
(C) Most people, including doctors,
believed that all illnesses had to be treated.

(D) Medicine has advanced so much since

the early nineteenth century that it is
surprising that such a discovery was made
then.
31. The word that best describes the "the
major scientific accomplishment of
medicine in the preceding fifty years"
(lines 84-86) is
(A) ironic

(B) unsubstantiated

(C) humorous

(D) unethical

32. As it is used in line 95 aggressive most

nearly

means

(A) dangerous

(B) destructive
(C) very intensive

(D) hostile
33 35

The data gathered in the study conducted The word dangerous in line 6 most nearly
by Wade Henning and his colleague and means
described in the passage was obtained by
(A) likely to cause harm
(A) telescopic observation of planets in
(B) threatening
orbit around stars
(C) risky
(B) simulations run on computers
(D) likely to be destroyed
(C) a review of past studies
36
(D) all of the above
The author most likely refers to making a
34
campfire to
Which choice provides the best evidence
(A) help the reader visualize a
for the answer to the previous question?
phenomenon
(A) lines 3-6 ("Now... orbits.")
(B) show that terrestrial and astronomical
(B) lines 31-34 ("Another... away.") phenomena are fundamentally different

(C) lines 59-62 ("The... heat.") (C) create humor

(D) lines 98-102 (The... behavior.") (D) introduce a mystery that will be
explained later in the passage
37 39

Which of the following is the main Which word most accurately describes the
phenomenon discussed in the passage that phenomenon described in lines 86-94
may prevent a young planet from ("Surprisingly... heat.")?
developing into a habitable planet?
(A) paradoxical
(A) tidal stress
(B) inexplicable
(B) an eccentric orbit
(C) simple
(C) absorption by a star
(D) mysterious
(D) collision or near collision with other
40
bodies
Based on the information in the passage,
38
which of the following statements would
Based on the information in the passage,
the authors of the study described in the
which of the following conclusions would
passage be most likely to agree with?
the authors of the study discussed in the
passage probably believe to be most (A) The composition of Earth-size planets
likely? in other systems is important for scientists
to understand and should be investigated
(A) Nearly all of the Earth-size planets in a
further.
typical star system are in a circular orbit.
(B) Planets in eccentric orbits can never be
(B) Earth-size planets are rare.
habitable.
(C) All of the Earth-size planets that exist
(C) Once a planet melts it can never
in other star systems were once in elliptical
become habitable.
orbits around their host star.
(D) Tidal friction is the main process
(D) Some of the Earth-like planets in other
driving the formation of Earth-size
star systems have always been in a circular
habitable planets.
orbit, while others were previously in
elliptical orbits.
41 42

The most appropriate title for the passage The study discussed in this passage would
would be be most likely to appear

(A) How Earth-like Planets Are Created (A) in a science magazine for the general
public
(B) Evidence Found that Friction from
Tides Could Help Earth-like Planets (B) in a weekly news magazine
Survive
(C) in a professional astronomy journal
(C) The Possibility of Life on Earth-size
(D) in a NASA newsletter for high school
Planets
science students
(D) Proof Found that Habitable Earth-size
Planets Are Common
43

The passage can best be described as

(A) a discussion of the American values

historical origins of

(B) an endeavor to reconcile political and

religious ideals

(C) an effort to put America's place in the

world in historical perspective

(D) an attempt to rally readers around a

belief

44

The word suffered as it is used in line 56

most nearly means

(A) felt guilty

(B) endured pain

(C) objected to
(D) permitted

45

Which statement would the author be

most likely to agree with?

(A) Democracy is the best form of

government.

(B) War is never justified.

(C) Nothing can be learned from history.

(D) Religious ideals have no place in a

nation's politics.
46 49

Which choice provides the best evidence The meaning of the word objects as it is
for the answer to the previous question? used in line 67 most nearly means

(A) lines 1-10 ("The... crimes.") (A) focuses of attention

(B) lines 34-38 ("What... existed?") (B) things perceptible to the senses

(C) lines 28-33 ("Besides... government.") (C) goals

(D) lines 93-95 ("We... enfranchisement.") (D) gifts

47 50

The word philanthropist as it is used in Which of the following is the most

line 38 most nearly means accurate summary of the main argument of
the passage?
(A) kind person
(A) America is destined to be a perfect
(B) person who gives money to help others
Republic with freedom and equality for all,
(C) historian specializing in the study of something no other nation could achieve.
monarchies
(B) America's future greatness is assured.
(D) lover of humankind but no one can predict what form this
greatness will take.
48
(C) Because America is unique in being
Which of the following does the author
founded on the principles of freedom and
make use of to persuade the reader of his
equality it has a sacred duty to manifest
views?
them and spread them to other nations.
(A) rhetorical questions
(D) Although America is exceptional
(B) quotations from America's Founding among nation states in some ways, it
Fathers cannot escape the ultimate fate of all
nations- decline, and, finally, death.
(C) studies by political scientists

(D) careful analysis of the underlying

assumptions made in the course of his
argument
51 52

The author's tone can most accurately be The most appropriate title for this passage
described as would be

(A) ironic and understated (A) The Republican Form of Government

(B) derisive (B) America's Sacred Mission

(C) enthusiastic and serious (C) Democracy and Equality

(D) dispassionate (D) The Influence of Religious Ideas on

American Government and Politics
Questions 1-11 are based on the following
passage and supplementary material.

Toxoplasmosis 1. For the sake of clarity of meaning and

effectiveness of expression, the underlined
Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic protozoal portion of the sentence should be written as
disease of humans and animals caused by follows:
the coccidian parasite, Toxoplasma gondii
(T. gondi). Infection by T. gondii is widely (A) NO CHANGE
prevalent in (1) humans, in spite of nearly (B) humans, despite the fact that one-third of
one-third of humanity having been exposed humanity has been exposed
to this parasite. Although toxoplasmosis (C) humans, one-third of humanity exposed
usually does not cause clinical illness in (D) humans, and nearly one-third of
healthy people, it can cause debilitating humanity has been exposed
disease in congenitally infected infants.
[1] Since 1937 T. gondii has become 2
recognized as a significant cause of disease (A) NO CHANGE
in infants and children, as well as adults who (B) disclosed
may suffer from delayed conditions (C) recognized
originating from congenital infections. [2] (D) unveiled
Because about 90 percent of these infants
usually do not show any signs of the disease
at birth, the effects of the infection may not
be (2) foreseen until later in childhood or
adulthood. [3] Early identification of infants 3
at risk of infection or disease (3) is vital (A) NO CHANGE
except for limiting the financial and social (B) is vital to limiting
costs of people suffering the effects of the (C) vitally limited
infection. [4]In the United States 400-4,000 (D) vitally has a limit on
infants are born each year with congenital
toxoplasmosis. (4) 4.
For the sake of the cohesion of this
(5) The organism is transmitted during paragraph, sentence 4 should be placed:
gestation when the mother becomes infected (A) where it is now
for the first time while the mother rarely has (B) before sentence 1
symptoms of infection. She does have (C) before sentence 2
parasites in the blood temporarily. Focal (D) before sentence 3
lesions develop in the placenta and the fetus
may become infected. At first there is 5.
generalized infection in the fetus. For the sake of clarity of meaning and
Later, infection is cleared from the visceral effectiveness of expression, the underlined
tissues and may localize in the central sentences should be written as follows:
nervous system.
(A) NO CHANGE
(B) The organism, transmitted during
gestation when the mother becomes infected
for the first time, rarely has symptoms of
infection, but there are parasites in the blood
temporarily.
(C) The organism is transmitted during
gestation. Rarely having symptoms of
infection, the mother is infected for the first
time, but there are parasites in the blood
temporarily.
(D) The organism is transmitted during
gestation when the mother becomes infected
for the first time. While the mother rarely
has symptoms of infection, she does have
parasites in the blood temporarily.
The risk of congenital infection is lowest 6.
when maternal infection is during the first Which choice most accurately and
trimester and highest when infection is effectively represents the information in the
during the third trimester. (6)Also, the risk graph?
of developing clinical signs before age 3
years is lower when congenital infection (A) NO CHANGE
occurs during the first trimester than it is (B) However, the risk of developing clinical
when the infection occurs during the third signs before age 3 years is higher when
trimester (see graph above). congenital infection occurs during the first
A wide (7) spectrum of pregnancy outcomes trimester than it is when the infection occurs
and clinical diseases can occur as a result of during the third trimester.
congenital toxoplasmosis, including (C) However, the risk of developing clinical
spontaneous abortion and stillbirth, as well signs before age 3 years increases when
as birth defects in live born infants such as congenital infection occurs in the second or
hydrocephalus (accumulation of third trimesters instead of the first trimester.
cerebrospinal fluid in the brain), (D) The risk of developing clinical signs
microcephalus (abnormally small brain for before age 3 is the same whether congenital
age), intracerebral calcification, infection occurs during the first, second, or
third trimesters.

7.
(A) NO CHANGE
(B) catalogue
(C) horizon
(D) panorama
convulsions, (8) diminishing of vision, and 8.
retinochoroiditis (inflammation of the inner (A) NO CHANGE
layers of the eye). (9) Listing these, (B) vision diminishing
hydrocephalus is the least common but most (C) diminished vision
dramatic lesion of toxoplasmosis. (D) vision that is diminished
The socioeconomic impact of toxoplasmosis
on human suffering and the cost of care of 9.
sick children, especially those with (A) NO CHANGE
intellectual disability and blindness, (10) are (B) For these,
enormous. In some European countries (C) In these,
compulsory screening programs ensure early (D) Of these,
diagnosis and treatment of women infected
during pregnancy to decrease transmission 10.
to their fetuses. Treatment of infected (A) NO CHANGE
neonates begins at birth to reduce the (B) is
potential complications of infection. (11) (C) were
(D) was

11.
Which choice most effectively establishes
the main topic of the paragraph?

(A) compulsory screening for toxoplasmosis

(B) early treatment of newborn children
infected with toxoplasmosis
(C) the high economic cost of toxoplasmosis
(D) strategies to reduce the economic and
social costs of toxoplasmosis
Questions 12-22 are based on the
following passage and supplementary
material.
12.
Aiming for a Ph.D.? For the sake of clarity of meaning and
clarity of expression, the underlined portion
(12) Desiring a doctorate for thousands of of the sentence should be written as follows:
students outweighs concern about the job
market that awaits after graduation. Most (A) NO CHANGE
Ph.D. candidates are willing to (13) direct (B) Thousands of students desire a
themselves to intensive research and study doctorate, outweighing
because they enjoy the subject matter. (C) For thousands of students, the desire for
Statistics also show other, more (14) a doctorate outweighs
tangible payoffs for Ph.D. recipients when (D) Thousands of students who desire a
they enter the labor force. Unemployment doctorate outweigh
rates are consistently lower and earnings are
significantly higher for people with a Ph.D. 13.
degree (15) than people with lower levels of (A) NO CHANGE
educational attainment. Doctoral degree (B) allocate
holders in 2001 had an unemployment rate (C) appropriate
of slightly more than 1 percent and median (D) dedicate
annual earnings of $66,000—considerably
better than the 3.7-percent unemployment 14.
rate and $30,300 median earnings of the (A) NO CHANGE
population aged 25 and older. Prior to (B) tactile
embarking on doctoral studies, many (C) tangential
students already (16) were completing (D) corporeal
several years of formal study in their chosen
field. The Survey of Earned Doctorates 15.
shows that in 2000, more than half of all (A) NO CHANGE
Ph.D. recipients held a bachelor's degree in (B) than people having
the same subject as that of their doctoral (C) than those people with
study—and nearly three-fourths held a (D) than they are for people with
master's.

According to the same survey, the total

number of new research doctorates awarded
each year (17) had grown about 10 percent
between
16.
(A) NO CHANGE
(B) have completed
(C) had completed
(D) complete

17. Which choice most accurately and

effectively represents the information in the
graph?

(A) NO CHANGE
(B) grew about 20 percent
(C) grew about 40 percent
(D) grew about 60 percent
1970 and 2000 (see graph above). Of these 18.
research doctorates, about 95 percent are (A) NO CHANGE
Ph.D.'s. After rising steadily from (18)the (B) from 1970 to
late 1970s into the 1990s, the total number (C) from 1980 to
of degrees awarded stabilized. (D) the late 1980s into
Between 1970 and 2000, there have been
changes by field of study in the numbers of 19.
Ph.D. degrees granted. Generally, fields with (A) NO CHANGE
the greatest increases in the numbers of (B) award
doctoral degrees (19)awarding also had the (C) awarded
most job growth. (D) awards
[1] In 1999, about 405,000 people held
doctorates in the natural sciences and 20.
engineering, according to the National (A) NO CHANGE
Science Foundation's Survey of Doctorate (B) In all
Recipients. [2] (20) Relating to the fields (C) Speaking of
that exhibited gains, biological sciences and (D) Of
health sciences experienced relatively steady
increases in the numbers of doctoral degrees 21
awarded. [3] (A) NO CHANGE
Computer science, first measured in 1978, (B) demonstrated
showed similar increases, (C) demonstrating
(21) and this demonstrated (D) a demonstration of
particularly strong growth from 1980 to 22. For the sake of the cohesion of this
1990. (4) Engineering had large decreases in paragraph, sentence 5 should be placed
the number of degrees awarded from 1970 to
1980 but experienced significant increases in (A) where it is now
the following decades. (5) Between 1970 (B) after sentence 1|
and 2000, some fields gained a relative share (C) after sentence 2
of doctorates awarded; others lost ground. (D) after sentence 6
(6) In physics and astronomy, chemistry, and
mathematics, the numbers of doctorates
awarded in 2000 were below 1970 levels in
those fields. (22)
Questions 23-33 are based on the
following passage.

Sargon the Great

23
[1] The first great Semitic empire in (A) NO CHANGE
Babylonia was that founded by the famous (B) As is the case with
Sargon of Akkad. [2] (23) As the case with (C) As the case of
many popular heroes and monarchs whose (D) The same as
deeds are remembered in song and story—
for example, Perseus, Oedipus, Cyrus, 24
Romulus—the early years of Sargon were (A) NO CHANGE
passed in (24) ambiguity. [3] Sargon is, in (B) camouflage
fact, one of the "fatal children." [4] He was, (C) suppression
legend stated, born in concealment and sent (D) obscurity
adrift, like Moses, in an ark of bulrushes on
the waters of the Euphrates. whence he was 25
rescued and brought up by one Akki, a For the sake of clarity of meaning and
husbandman. [5] But the time of his effectiveness of expression, the sentence
recognition at length arrived, and he should be rewritten as follows:
received the crown of Babylonia. [6] His
foreign conquests were extensive. [7] On (A) NO CHANGE
four successive occasions he invaded Syria (B) He erected upon its shores, pressing his
and Palestine, which he succeeded in victories to the margin of the Mediterranean,
welding into a single empire with Babylonia. statues of himself as a symbol of his
[8] (25) He, pressing his victories to the conquests.
margin of the Mediterranean, erected upon (C) He erected upon its shores statues of
its shores statues of himself as a symbol of himself where he pressed his victories, to the
his conquests. (26) margin of the Mediterranean, as a symbol of
Even at this comparatively early time (3800 his conquests.
B.C.) the resources of the country had been (D) Pressing his victories to the margin of
well exploited by its Semitic conquerors, the Mediterranean, he erected upon its
and their absorption of the Sumerian shores statues of himself as a symbol of his
civilization had permitted them to make very conquests.
considerable progress in the enlightened
arts. Some of their work in bas-relief, and
even in (27) the less if equally difficult craft
of gem-cutting, is among
26
For the sake of the cohesion of this
paragraph, sentence 3 should be placed

(A) where it is now

(B) after sentence 4
(C) after sentence 5
(D) after sentence 6

27
(A) NO CHANGE
(B) the lesser if
(C) the least if
(D) at least an
the finest efforts of Babylonian art. Nor 28
were they deficient in more (28) efficient (A) NO CHANGE
fields. They constructed roads through the (B) realistic
most important portions of the empire, (29) (C) utilitarian
along with a service of posts carried (D) productive
messages at stated intervals, the letters
conveyed by these being stamped or franked 29
by clay seals, bearing the name of Sargon. (A) NO CHANGE
Sargon is also famous as the first founder of (B) along this
a Babylonian library. This library appears to (C) along which
have contained works of a most surprising (D) along
nature, (30) considering the period at which
it was instituted. One of these was entitled 30
The Observations of Bel, and consisted of (A) NO CHANGE
no less than seventy-two books dealing with (B) without considering
astronomical matters of considerable (31) (C) in consideration of
complexity, it registered and described the (D) in considering
appearances of comets, conjunctions of the
sun and moon, and the phases of the planet 31
Venus, besides recording many eclipses. (A) NO CHANGE
This wonderful work (32) had been long (B) complexity; it registered
afterward translated into Greek by the (C) complexity, having been registered
Babylonian historian Berossus, and it (D) complexity, registered
demonstrates the great antiquity of
Babylonian astronomical science even at this 32
very early epoch. Another famous work (A) NO CHANGE
contained in the library of Sargon dealt with (B) has been
omens, the manner of casting them, and their (C) was
interpretation—a very important side-issue (D) being
of Babylonian magico-religious practice.
(33) 33
Which choice most effectively establishes
the main topic of the paragraph?

(A) Babylonian astronomy

(B) Sargon's library
(C) the history of libraries in Babylonia
(D) Babylonian magic
Questions 34-44 are based on the
following
passage.

The Art of Fiction 34. (A) NO CHANGE

(B) ago. Stories that surprised and delighted
[1] One is sometimes asked about the (C) ago, stories that surprised and delighted
"obstacles" that confront young writers who (D) ago, surprising and delightful stories
are trying to do good work. [2] I should say
the greatest obstacles that writers today have 35. (A) NO CHANGE
to get over, are the dazzling journalistic (B) had looked
successes of twenty years (34) ago, they (C) has looked
were stories that surprised and delighted by (D) looks
their sharp photographic detail and that were
really nothing more than lively pieces of
reporting. [3] The whole aim of that school 36. (A) NO CHANGE
of writing was novelty—never a very (B) consequential
important thing in art. [4] They gave us, (C) influential
altogether, poor standards—taught us to (D) pertinent
multiply our ideas instead of to condense
them. [5] They tried to make a story out of 37. For the sake of the cohesion of this
every theme that occurred to them and to get paragraph, sentence 6 should be placed
returns on every situation that suggested
itself. [6] They got returns. of a kind. [7] But (A) where it is now
their work, when one (35) was looking back (B) after sentence 2
on it, now that the novelty upon which they (C) after sentence 4
counted so much is gone, is journalistic and (D) after sentence 7
thin. [8] The especial merit of a good
reportorial story is that it shall be intensely
interesting and (36) apparent today and shall
have lost its point by tomorrow. (37)
(38) That, indeed. is very nearly the whole 38. At this point, the writer is considering
of the higher artistic process: finding what adding the following sentence.
conventions of form and what detail one can
do without and yet preserve the spirit of the Art, it seems to me, should simplify.
whole—so that all that one has suppressed
and cut away is there to the reader's Should the writer make this addition here?
consciousness as much as if it were (39) in
type on the page. Millet had done hundreds (A) Yes, because this sentence clearly and
of sketches of peasants sowing grain, some concisely presents a view of "the higher
of them very complicated and interesting, artistic process" that is at odds with the view
but when he (40) comes to paint the spirit of of the writer.
them all into one picture, "The Sower," the (B) Yes, because the sentence concisely and
composition is so simple that it seems effectively summarizes the focus of the
inevitable. (41) Previously, all the discarded second paragraph, which is the importance
sketches that went before made the picture of simplification in art.
what it finally became, and the process was (C) No, because this sentence is a summary
all the time one of simplifying, of sacrificing of the first paragraph, so it should be the
many conceptions good in themselves for last sentence of that paragraph.
one that was better and more universal. (D) No, because based on what the writer
Any first rate novel or story must have in it says in the rest of the passage, this sentence
the strength of a dozen fairly good stories overstates her argument about art.
that (42) have been a sacrifice to it. A good
workman can't be a cheap workman; he can't 39
be stingy about wasting material, and he (A) NO CHANGE
cannot compromise. Writing ought either to (B) a typing on the page.
be the manufacture of stories for which there (C) a type of page.
is a market demand—a business as safe and (D) a page of typing.
commendable as making soap or breakfast
foods—or it should be an art, which is 40
always a search for something for which (A) NO CHANGE
there is no market demand, something new (B) has come
and untried, where the values are (43) (C) came
introverted and have nothing to do with (D) is coming
standardized values. (44)
41
(A) NO CHANGE
(B) All the previous sketches, discarded,
(C) All the sketches, previously discarded,
(D) All the discarded sketches that went
before

42
(A) NO CHANGE
(B) sacrificing to it
(C) have been sacrificed to it
(D) were made a sacrifice to it
43
(A) NO CHANGE
(B) intrinsic
(C) congenital
(D) ingrained

44
Which choice most effectively establishes
the main topic of the paragraph?

(A) techniques of writing

(B) making money as a writer
(C) writing as an art
(D) the writer and her readers