READING TEST

Name :

Number :

Class :

You have to choose the best answer for each question from the alternatives given!
Now begin work on the questions.
Questions 1-10
As Philadelphia grew from a small town into a city in the fi rst half of the eighteenth century, it
became an increasingly important marketing center for a vast and growing agricultural hinterland.
Market days saw the crowded city even more crowded, as fanners from within a radius of 24 or more
kilometers brought their sheep, cows, pigs, vegetables, cider, and other products for direct sale to the
townspeople. The High Street Market was continuously enlarged throughout the period until 1736,
when it reached from Front Street to Third. By 1745 New Market was opened on Second Street between
Pine and Cedar. The next year the Callowhill Market began operation. Along with market days, the
institution of twiceyearly fairs persisted in Philadelphia even after similar trading days had been
discontinued in other colonial cities. The fairs provided a means of bringing handmade goods from
outlying places to would-be buyers in the city. Linens and stockings from Germantown, for example,
were popular items.

Auctions were another popular form of occasional trade. Because of the competition, retail
merchants opposed these as well as the fairs. Although governmental attempts to eradicate fairs and
auctions were less than successful, the ordinary course of economic development was on the
merchants’ side, as increasing business specialization became the order of the day. Export merchants
became differentiated from their importing counterparts, and specialty shops began to appear in
addition to general stores selling a variety of goods.

One of the reasons Philadelphia’s merchants generally prospered was because the surrounding
area was undergoing tremendous economic and demographic growth. They did their business, after all,
in the capital city of the province. Not only did they cater to the governor and his circle, but citizens from
all over the colony came to the capital for legislative sessions of the assembly and council and the
meetings of the courts of justice.

1. What does the passage mainly discuss?

(A) Philadelphia’s agriculture importance

(B) Philadelphia’s development as a marketing center

(C) The sale of imported goods in Philadelphia

(D) The administration of the city of Philadelphia

2. It can be inferred from the passage that new markets opened in Philadelphia because…

(A) they provided more modem facilities than older markets

(C) existing markets were unable to serve the growing population

(D) farmers wanted markets that were closer to the farms.

3. The word “hinterland “ in line 3 is closest in meaning to…

(A) tradition

(B) association

(C) produce

(D) region

4. The word “it” in line 6 refers to…

(A) the crowded city

(B) a radius

(C) the High Street Market

(D) the period

5. The word “persisted” in line 9 is closest in meaning to…

(A) returned

(B) started

(C) declined

(D) continued

6. According to the passage, fairs in Philadelphia were held…

(A) on the same day as market says

(B) as often as possible

(C) a couple of times a year

(D) whenever the government allowed it

7. It can be inferred that the author mentions “Linens and stockings” in line 12 to show that they were
items that…

(A) retail merchants were not willing to sell

(B) were not available in the stores in Philadelphia

(C) were more popular in Germantown man in Philadelphia

(D) could easily be transported

(A) eliminate

(B) exploit

(C) organize

(D) operate

9. What does the author mean by stating in line 17 that “economic development was on the merchants’
side”?...

(A) Merchants had a strong impact on economic expansion.

(B) Economic forces allowed merchants to prosper.

(C) Merchants had to work together to achieve economic independence

(D) Specialty shops near large markets were more likely to be economically successful.

10. The word “undergoing” in line 22 is closest in meaning to…

(A) requesting

(B) experiencing

(C) repeating

(D) including

Questions 11-22

Aviculturists, people who raise birds for commercial sale, have not yet learned how to simulate
the natural incubation of parrot eggs in the wild. They continue to look for better ways to increase egg
production and to improve chick survival rates. When parrots incubate their eggs in the wild, the
temperature and humidity of the nest are controlled naturally. Heat is transferred from the bird’s skin to
the top portion of the eggshell, leaving the sides and bottom of the egg at a cooler temperature. This
temperature gradient may be vital to successful hatching. Nest construction can contribute to this
temperature gradient. Nests of loosely arranged sticks, rocks, or dirt are cooler in temperature at the
bottom where the egg contacts the nesting material. Such nests also act as humidity regulators by
allowing rain to drain into the bottom sections of the nest so that the eggs are not in direct contact with
the water. As the water that collects in the bottom of the nest evaporates, the water vapor rises and is
heated by the incubating bird, which adds signifi cant humidity to the incubation environment.

In artificial incubation programs, aviculturists remove eggs from the nests of parrots and
incubate them under laboratory conditions. Most commercial incubators heat the eggs fairly evenly
from top to bottom, thus ignoring the bird’s method of natural incubation, and perhaps reducing the
viability and survivability of the hatching chicks. When incubators are not used, aviculturists sometimes
suspend wooden boxes outdoors to use as nests in which to place eggs. In areas where weather can
become cold after eggs are laid, it is very important to maintain a deep foundation of nesting material to
act as insulator against the cold bottom of the box. If eggs rest against the wooden bottom in extremely
cold weather conditions, they can become chilled to a point where the embryo can no longer survive.
Similarly, these boxes should be protected from direct sunlight to avoid high temperatures that are also
fatal to the growing embryo. Nesting material should be added in suffi cient amounts to avoid both
extreme temperature situations mentioned above and assure that the eggs have a soft, secure place to
rest.

11. What is the main idea of the passage?

(A) Nesting material varies according to the parrots’ environment.

(B) Humidity is an important factor in incubating parrots’ eggs.

(C) Aviculturists have constructed the ideal nest box for parrots.

(D) Wild parrots’ nests provide information useful for artifi cial incubation.

12. The word “They” in line 2 refers to…

(A) aviculturists

(B) birds

(C) eggs

(D) rates

13. According to paragraph 2, when the temperature of the sides and bottom of the egg are cooler than
the top, then..

(A) there may be a good chance for successful incubation

(B) the embryo will not develop normally

(C) the incubating parent moves the egg to a new position.

(D) the incubation process is slowed down

14. According to paragraph 2, sticks, rocks, or dirt are used to

(A) soften the bottom of the nest for the newly hatched chick

(B) hold the nest together

(C) help lower the temperature at the bottom of the nest

(D) make the nest bigger

15. According to paragraph 2, the construction of the nest allows water to…

(A) provide a benefi cial source of humidity in the nest

(B) loosen the materials at the bottom of the nest

(C) keep the nest in a clean condition

16. All of the following are part of a parrot’s incubation method EXCEPT…

(A) heating the water vapor as it rises from the bottom of the nest

(B) arranging nesting material at the bottom of the nest

(C) transferring heat from the parent to the top of the eggshell

(D) maintaining a constant temperature on the eggshell

17. The word “suspend” in line 19 is closest in meaning to…

(A) build

(B) paint

(C) hang

(D) move

18. The word “fatal” in line 25 is closest in meaning to…

(A) close

(B) deadly

(C) natural

(D) hot

19. The word “secure” in line 27 is closest in meaning to…

(A) fresh

(B) dim

(C) safe

(D) warm

20. According to paragraph 2, a deep foundation of nesting material provides…

(A) a constant source of humidity

(B) a strong nest box

(C) more room for newly hatched chicks

(D) protection against cold weather

21. Which of the following is a problem with commercial incubators?

(A) They lack the natural temperature changes of the outdoors.

(B) They are unable to heat the eggs evenly

(D) They are expensive to operate.

22. Which of the following terms is defi ned in the passage?

(A) Aviculturists (line I)

(B) Gradient (line 8)

(C) Incubation (line 15)

(D) Embryo (line 24)

Questions 23-25

The mineral particles found in soil range in size from microscopic clay particles to large boulders.
The most abundant particles—sand, silt, and clay— are the focus of examination in studies of soil
texture. Texture is the term used to describe the composite sizes of particles in a soil sample, typically
several representative handrails. To measure soil texture, the sand, silt, and clay particles are sorted out
by size and weight. The weights of each size are then expressed as a percentage of the sample weight.

In the fi eld, soil texture can be estimated by extracting a handful of sod and squeezing the
damp soil into three basic shapes; (1) cast, a lump formed by squeezing a sample in a clenched fi st; (2)
thread, a pencil shape formed by rolling soil between the palms; and (3) ribbon, a fl attish shape formed
by squeezing a small sample between the thumb and index fi nger. The behavioral characteristics of the
soil when molded into each of these shapes if they can be formed at all, provides the basis for a general
textural classifi cation. The behavior of the soil in the hand test is determined by the amount of clay in
the sample. Clay particles are highly cohesive, and when dampened, behave as a plastic. Therefore the
higher the clay content in a sample, the more refi ned and durable the shapes into which it can be
molded.

Another method of determining soil texture involves the use of devices called sediment sieves,
screens built with a specifi ed mesh size. When the soil is fi ltered through a group of sieves, each with a
different mesh size, the particles become grouped in corresponding size categories. Each category can
be weighed to make a textural determination. Although sieves work well for silt, sand, and larger
particles, they are not appropriate for clay particles. Clay is far too small to sieve accurately; therefore,
in soils with a high proportion of clay, the fi ne particles are measured on the basis of their settling
velocity when suspended in water .Since clays settle so slowly, they are easily segregated from sand and
silt. The water can be drawn off and evaporated, leaving a residue of clay, which can be weighed.

23. What does the passage mainly discuss?

(A) Characteristics of high quality soil

(B) Particles typically found in most soils

(C) How a high clay content affects the texture of soil

(D) Ways to determine the texture of soil

(A) the range of soil samples

(B) the process by which soil is weighed

(C) the requirements for an adequate soil sample

(D) how small soil particles are

25. The phrase “sorted out” in line 5 is closest in meaning to…

(A) mixed

(B) replaced

(C) carried

(D) separated