276 Section 3 • Guide to Reading Comprehension
00 Sample Reading Comprehension Test
Time: 55 minutes
This section of the test measures your ability to understand the meaning of words and to
comprehend written materials.
Directions: The remainder of this section contains several passages, each followed by a number
of questions. Read the passages and, for each question, choose the one best answer-(A), (B),
(C), or (D)-based on what is stated in the passage or on what can be inferred from the passage.
Then fill in the space on your answer sheet that matches the letter of the answer that you have
selected.
Read the following passage:
Like mammals, birds claim their own territories. A
bird's territory may be small or large. Some birds
claim only their nest and the area right around it,
(line) while others claim far larger territories that include
(5) their feeding areas. Gulls, penguins, and other waterfowl
nest in huge colonies, but even in the biggest colonies,
each male and his mate have small territories of their
own immediately around their nests.
Male birds defend their territory chiefly against other
(10) males of the same species. In some cases, a warning call
or threatening pose may be all the defense needed, but in
other cases, intruders may refuse to leave peacefully.
Example! Sample Answer
What is the main topic of this passage?
(A) Birds that live in colonies
(B) Birds' mating habits
(C) The behavior of birds
CD) Territoriality in birds
Section 3 • Guide to Reading Comprehension 277
The passage mainly concerns the territories of birds. You should fill in (D) on your answer sheet.
Example!! Sample Answer
According to the passage, male birds defend
their territory primarily against
(A) female birds
(B) birds of other species
(C) males of their own species
(D) mammals
The passage states that "Male birds defend their territory chiefly against other males of the same
species." You should fill in (C) on your answer sheet.
As soon as you understand the directions, begin work on this part.
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278 Section 3 • Guide to Reading Comprehension
Questions 1-12
The technology of the North American colonies did not differ
strikingly from that of Europe, but in one respect, the colonists
enjoyed a great advantage. Especially by comparison with
(line) Britain, Americans had a wonderfully plentiful supply of wood.
(5) The first colonists did not, as many people imagine, find an
entire continent covered by a climax forest. Even along the
Atlantic seaboard, the forest was broken at many points.
Nevertheless, all sorts of fine trees abounded, and through the
early colonial period, those who pushed westward encountered new
(10) forests. By the end of the colonial era, the price of wood had
risen slightly in eastern cities, but wood was still extremely
abundant.
The availability of wood brought advantages that have seldom
been appreciated. Wood was a foundation of the economy. Houses
(15) and all manner of buildings were made of wood to a degree unknown
in Britain. Secondly, wood was used as a fuel for heating and
cooking. Thirdly, it was used as the source of important
industrial compounds, such as potash, an industrial alkali;
charcoal, a component of gunpowder; and tannic acid, used for
(20) tanning leather.
The supply of wood conferred advantages but had some negative
aspects as well. Iron at that time was produced by heating iron
ore with charcoal. Because Britain was so stripped of trees, she
was unable to exploit her rich iron mines. But the American
(25) colonies had both iron are and wood; iron production was
encouraged and became successful. However, when Britain developed
coke smelting, the colonies did not follow suit because they had
plenty of wood and besides, charcoal iron was stronger than coke
iron. Coke smelting led to technological innovations and was
(30) linked to the emergence of the Industrial Revolution. In the
early nineteenth century, the former colonies lagged behind
Britain in industrial development because their supply of wood
led them to cling to charcoal iron.
1. What does the passage mainly discuss?
(A) The advantages of using wood in the colonies
(B) The effects of an abundance of wood on the colonies
(C) The roots of the Industrial Revolution
(D) The difference between charcoal iron and coke iron
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Section 3 • Guide to Reading Comprehension 279
2. The word "strikingly" in line 2 is closest in meaning to
(A) realistically
(B) dramatically
(C) completely
(D) immediately
3. Which ofthe following is a common assumption about the forests of North America during the
colonial period?
(A) They contained only a few types of trees.
(B) They existed only along the Atlantic seaboard.
(C) They had little or no economic value.
(D) They covered the entire continent.
4. The use of the word "abounded" in line 8 indicates that the trees were
(A) present in large numbers
(B) restricted to certain areas
(C) cut down
(D) cultivated
5. According to the passage, by the end of the colonial period, the price of wood in eastern
cities
(A) rose quickly because wood was becoming so scarce
(B) was much higher than it was in Britain
(C) was slightly higher than in previous years
(D) decreased rapidly because of lower demand for wood
6. What can be inferred about houses in Britain during the period written about in the passage?
(A) They were more expensive than American houses.
(B) They were generally built with imported materials.
(C) They were typically smaller than homes in NorthAmerica.
(D) They were usually built from materials other than wood.
7. Why does the author mention gunpowder in line 19?
(A) To illustrate the negative aspects of some industrial processes
(B) To give an example of a product made with wood
(C) To remind readers that the Colonial era ended in warfare
CD) To suggest that wood was not the only important product of the Colonies
8. The word "conferred" in line 21 is closest in meaning to
(A) consulted
(B) gathered
(C) provided
(D) restricted
9. The phrase "follow suit" in line 27 means
(A) do the same thing
(B) make an attempt
(C) have the opportunity
(D) take a risk
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280 Section 3 • Guide to Reading Comprehension
10. According to the passage, why was the use of coke smelting advantageous?
(A) It led to advances in technology.
(B) It was less expensive than wood smelting.
(C) It produced a stronger type of iron than wood smelting.
(D) It stimulated the demand for wood.
11. The phrase "cling to" in line 33 is closest in meaning to
(A) try to develop
(B) avoid
(C) continue to use
(D) reconsider
12. Where in the passage does the author begin to discuss in detail the disadvantages that an
abundant supply of wood brought to the colonies?
(A) Lines 1-3
(B) Lines 5-7
(C) Lines 13-14
(D) Lines 21-22
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Section 3 • Guide to Reading Comprehension 281
Questions 13-22
The Peales were a distinguished family of American artists.
Charles Willson Peale is best remembered for his portraits of
leading figures of the American Revolution. He painted portraits
(line) of Franklin and Jefferson, and over a dozen of George Washington.
(5) His life-size portrait of his sons Raphaelle and Titian was so
realistic that George Washington reportedly once tipped his hat
to the figures in the picture.
Charles Willson Peale gave up painting in his middle age and
devoted his life to the Peale Museum, which he founded in
(10) Philadelphia. The world's first popular museum of art and natural
science, it featured paintings by Peale and his family as well as
displays of animals in their natural settings. Peale found the
animals himself and devised a method of taxidermy to make the
exhibits more lifelike. The museum's most popular display was
(15) the skeleton of a mastodon-a huge, extinct elephant-which Peale
unearthed on a New York farm in 180l.
Three of Peale's seventeen children were also famous artists.
RaphaeUe Peale often painted stilllifes of flowers, fruit, and
cheese. His works show the same luminosity and attention to
(20) detail that the works of the Dutch masters show. In the late
eighteenth century, however, portraiture was the rage, and so
RaphaeUe Peale found few buyers for his stilllifes at the time.
His brother Rembrandt studied under his father and painted
portraits of many noted people, including one of George
(25) Washington. Another brother, Rubens Peale, painted mostly
landscapes and portraits.
James Peale, the brother of Charles Willson Peale, specialized
in miniatures. His daughter Sarah Miriam Peale was probably the
first professional female portrait painter in America.
13. What is the main topic of the passage?
(A) The life of Charles Willson Peale
(B) Portraiture in the 18th century
(C) The Peale Museum
(D) A family of artists
14. The author probably mentions that Washington "tipped his hat to the figures in the painting"
(lines 6- 7) to indicate that
(A) Charles Willson Peale's painting was very lifelike
(B) Washington respected Charles Willson Peale's work
(C) Washington was friendly with Raphaelle and Titian Peale
(D) the painting of the two brothers was extremely large
15. The word "settings" in line 12 is closest in meaning to which of the following?
(A) Environments
(B) Categories •
(C) Positions
(D) Requirements
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282 Section 3 • Guide to Reading Comprehension
,----- - - ~-- --- - - -- --------------------- - ---------
1() For which of the following terms does the author give a definition in the second paragraph?
(A) Natural SCi(,IlCl'
(B) Skeleton
(C) 'Llxidermy
(I) :vlastmlon
1"7_ Which of the following questions about the Peale ,\1useum does thc passage NOT supply
enough information to answer'
(A) Who found and prepared its animal exhibits?
on In what city \\-a~ It lucatedr
(e) \Vhcrc did it" m,)sf popular exhihit COlB, trmn?
(D) III \V\1;lt YC:ll \. ~\s Ii t<H1l1ded?
I K_ The word 1I1le.lfrhnl' in linc I () is closest ill mcanmg to
(:\) displa\nl
(B) dug up
(C) located
(D) jooked over
Il)_ -Which of the following words could best be substituted for the word "rage" in line 2l?
(A) Fashion
(B) Anger
(C) Conflict
(D) Desire
20. According to the p,(ssage, Rembrandt Peale and his father both painted
C-\) miniatures
(B) portraits of George \Vashington
(C) paintings of flowers. fruit, and cheese
(D) pictures of animals
21. \Vhich of the fo\lmving is NOT one of the children of Charles Willson Peale?
(A) Titian Peale
(B) Ruhens Peale
(C) Raphadle Peak
(1)) Sarah \1iriam Peale
22. The author's attitude toward the Peales is generally
(A) envious
(B) puzzled
(C) admiring
(D) disappointed
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