PASSAGE THREE (Questions 14–21)

The American flag is the end product of a long evolution. Each of its component parts has its own
history.
The very first American flag was hoisted in the skies over Boston on January 1, 1776, by the American
forces there. This first flag consisted of thirteen red and white stripes representing the number of
American colonies. It also included the British Cross of St. George and Cross of St. Andrew. It could
be considered rather ironic that these symbols of British rule were included on the American flag in
that the American colonists were fighting for independence from the British.

The origin of the stars on the current flag is obscure; that is, the stars could possibly have been taken
from the flag of Rhode Island, or they could have been taken from the coat of arms of the Washington
family. According to legend, this first flag with stars was sewn by Betsy Ross, a Philadelphia
seamstress who was famous for her clever needlework. This version of the flag contained thirteen stars
and thirteen stripes, one for each of the thirteen colonies battling for independence.
The original idea was to add one star and one stripe for each state that joined the new, young country.
However, by 1818, the number of states had grown to twenty, and it did not work well to keep adding
stripes to the flag. As a result, Congress made the decision to revert to the original thirteen stripes
representing the thirteen original colonies and adding a star each time a new state was admitted. This
has been the policy ever since.
14. The word “product” in line 1 is closest in meaning to
(A) goods
(B) merchandise
(C) banner
(D) result
15. Look at the word hoisted in paragraph 2. Something that is hoisted is
(A) created
(B) found
(C) raised
(D) made
16. The word “ironic” in line 6 could most easily be replaced by
(A) steellike
(B) normal
(C) unexpected

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 (D) nationalistic
17. Look at the word obscure in paragraph 3. Click on another word in paragraph 3 that is opposite
in meaning to obscure.
18. In line 12, the word “seamstress” is used to describe someone who
(A) works at home
(B) sews
(C) is a part of high society
(D) practices medicine
19. Click on the word in paragraph 4 that could best be replaced by “function.”
20. Click on the word in paragraph 4 that could best be replaced by “continue.”
21. The expression “revert to” in line 17 means
(A) return to
(B) add to
(C) rejoice over
(D) forget about
TOEFL REVIEW EXERCISE (Skills 1–11): Study each of the passages and choose the best answers
to the questions that follow.

PASSAGE ONE (Questions 1–9)

Bigfoot is a humanlike creature reportedly living in the Pacific Northwest. Bigfoot sightings have been
noted most often in the mountainous areas of Northern California, Oregon, and Washington in the
United States. The creature has also been spotted numerous times in British Columbia in Canada,
where it is known as Sasquatch.
The creature described by witnesses is tall by human standards, measuring 7 to 10 feet (2 to 3 meters)
in height. It resembles an ape with its thick, powerful, fur-covered arms and short, strong neck;
however, its manner of walking erect is more like that of Homo sapiens.
Although there have been hundreds of reported sightings of Bigfoot, most experts have not seen
enough evidence to be convinced of its existence. The fact that some purported evidence has been
proven fake may have served to discredit other more credible information.
1. Which of the following best states the topic of the passage?
(A) Differences between Bigfoot and Sasquatch

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 (B) A description of Bigfoot
(C) Where Bigfoot, or Sasquatch, can be found
(D) The creature Bigfoot and its questionable existence
2. The word “noted” in line 2 is closest in meaning to which of the following?
(A) Reported
(B) Written in a letter
(C) Refuted
(D) Discussed
3. It is implied in the passage that Bigfoot would probably NOT like to live
(A) in Oregon
(B) in the Pacific Northwest
(C) on coastal plains
(D) in mountainous areas
4. Which of the following is NOT true about the appearance of Bigfoot?
(A) Its arms and neck look like those of an ape.
(B) Its arms are covered with fur.
(C) It is short-necked.
(D) It walks like an ape.
5. Click on the drawing that shows how Bigfoot compares in height to an average man.

6. Look at the word that in paragraph 2. Click on the word or phrase that that refers to.
7. The expression “Homo sapiens” in line 8 is closest in meaning to
(A) apes

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 (B) creatures
(C) humans
(D) furry animals
8. According to the passage, how do experts feel about the evidence concerning Bigfoot’s
existence?
(A) They feel certain as to its existence.
(B) They are not yet certain.
(C) They are sure that it does not exist.
(D) They feel that all the evidence is fake.
9. Click on the paragraph that explains how knowledgeable people feel about the existence of
Bigfoot.

PASSAGE TWO (Questions 10–17)

The next hormone is epinephrine, or adrenaline. This hormone is a natural secretion of the adrenal
glands, which are located just above the kidneys in the human body. Its primary function in the human
body is to help the body to cope with sudden surges of stress. When a person unexpectedly finds
himself in a stressful situation filled with fear or anger, a large amount of epinephrine is released into
the blood and the body responds with an increased heartbeat, higher blood pressure, and conversion of
glycogen into glucose for energy to enable the body to deal with the stress.
It is possible to extract epinephrine from the adrenal glands of animals or to synthesize it chemically in
order to put it to further use. It is used in the treatment of severe asthma, where it relaxes the large
muscles of the bronchi; the large air passages leading into the lungs. It is also used in cases of severe
allergic reaction or cardiac arrest.
10. The paragraph preceding the passage most probably discusses
(A) further uses of epinephrine
(B) the treatment of cardiac arrest
(C) a different hormone
(D) the secretions of the adrenal glands
11. What is another name for epinephrine?
(A) Adrenal glands
(B) Stressful situation
(C) Bronchi

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 (D) Adrenaline

12. Look at the word cope in paragraph 1. Click on another word or phrase in paragraph 1 that is
close in meaning to cope.
13. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a result of the release of epinephrine in the blood?
(A) Severe asthma
(B) An increase in blood pressure
(C) Higher heartbeat
(D) Increased energy
14. It is implied in the passage that increased heartbeat
(A) harms the body
(B) causes the release of epinephrine into the body
(C) is helpful in combating the stressful situation
(D) is useful in treating asthma
15. The passage indicates that epinephrine is used in the treatment of all of the following EXCEPT
(A) asthma
(B) high blood pressure
(C) serious allergic reactions
(D) heart problems
16. Look at the word bronchi in paragraph 2. Bronchi are
(A) large muscles
(B) air passages
(C) part of the lungs
(D) part of the heart
17.Which of the following best expresses the organization of the information in the passage?
(A) Epinephrine and adrenaline
(B) Various effects of epinephrine on the body
(C) Causes of sudden stress
(D) Epinephrine’s natural functions and further applications

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PASSAGE THREE (Questions 18–25)
A massive banking crisis occurred in the United States in 1933. In the two preceding years, a large
number of banks had failed, and fear of lost savings had prompted many depositors to remove their
funds from banks. Problems became so serious in the state of Michigan that Governor William A.
Comstock was forced to declare a moratorium on all banking activities in the state on February 14,
1933. The panic in Michigan quickly spread to other states, and on March 6, President Franklin D.
Roosevelt declared a banking moratorium throughout the United States that left the entire country
without banking services.
Congress immediately met in a special session to solve the banking crisis, and on March 9 it passed the
Emergency Banking Act of 1933 to assist financially healthy banks to reopen. By March 15, banks
controlling 90 percent of the country’s financial reserves were again open for business.
18. The passage states that all the following occurred prior to 1933 EXCEPT that
(A) many banks went under
(B) many bank patrons were afraid of losing their deposits
(C) a lot of money was withdrawn from accounts
(D) Governor Comstock canceled all banking activities in Michigan
19. Look at the word failed in paragraph 1. This word could best be replaced by
(A) Not passed a test
(B) Forgotten something important
(C) Gone out of business
(D) Paid little interest
21. The word “moratorium” in line 4 is closest in meaning to which of the following?
(A) Death
(B) Temporary cessation
(C) Murder
(D) Slow decline
22. The passage indicates that the moratorium declared by Roosevelt affected
(A) the banks in Michigan
(B) the banks in most of the U.S.
(C) only the financially unhealthy banks

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 (D) all the banks in the U.S.
23. Look at the word it in paragraph 2. Click on the word or phrase that it refers to.
24. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?
(A) Congress did not give any special priority to the banking situation.
(B) The Emergency Banking Act helped all banks to reopen.
(C) Ten percent of the country’s money was in financially unhealthy banks.
(D) Ninety percent of the banks reopened by the middle of March.
25. Which of the following best describes the organization of the passage?
(A) A theme followed by an example
(B) A problem and a solution
(C) Opposing viewpoints of an issue
(D) A problem and its causes