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TOEFL 2003
Section 1: Listening Comprehension
1. (A) She'll type the man's paper for him.
(B) The computer won't be available immediately.
(C) The man should be more patient.
(D) She doesn't want the man to use her computer.
2. (A) Read the woman's letter.
(B) Visit Jeff in Alaska.
(C) Write to Jeff.
(D) Mail a letter for the woman.
3. (A) He went to the library twice to look for the book.
(B) He already returned the book to a library out of town.
(C) He called the library to say the book would be overdue.
(D) He couldn't return the library book because he was away.
4. (A) Where the midterm exam was held.
(B) Where she can see the results of the midterm exam.
(C) Where she can buy a copy of the chemistry textbook,
(D) Where the chemistry study group meets.
5. (A) He'll ask the driver for help with the luggage.
(B) He doesn't mind driving by himself.
(C) He doesn't have much luggage.
(D) He'd like the woman to drive him.
6. (A) The suit is out of style.
(B) The suit is more appropriate for the occasion.
(C) The woman looks better in blue than in black.
(D) The suit doesn't fit the woman well.
7. (A) Writing her thesis was easier than she thought it
would be.
(B) She intends to work on her thesis during her vacation.
(C) She intentionally chose an easy topic to write about.
(D) She plans to spend some time relaxing.
8. (A) He hasn't had a chance to meet Kathy yet
(B) Kathy had already told him the news
(C) He didn't know that Kathy was being moved.
(D) His new office will be located in New York.
9. (A) She'd like the man to visit her.
(B) She can help the man clean up.
(C) She left her room on time this morning.
(D) She hasn't cleaned her room either.
10. (A) He doesn't know what's wrong with the computer,
(B) The woman misunderstood what he said.
(C) The problem is different from what he thought it was
(D) The computer cannot be repaired
11. (A) She didn't see it
(B) It had nothing to do with politics.
(C) Some people wouldn't find it interesting.
(D) The man ought to watch it again
12. (A) He doesn't feel well enough to exercise
(B) He prefers to exercise in the morning.
(C) He accepts the woman's invitation.
(D) He doesn't like to exercise in cold weather.
13. (A) Change the topic of her research project.
(B) Sign up for a different political science course.
(C) Ask Mary to help her choose a topic.
(D) Take a class together with Mary.
14. (A) Send the man to a store that sells cassettes.
(B) Borrow a blank cassette from her friends.
(C) Sell the man one of her cassettes
(D) Purchase some extra cassettes
15. (A) The books were sent out late.
(B) The books were sent to the wrong place.
(C) He didn't mind helping the woman move.
(D) He doesn't know the woman's new address.
16. (A) Let him borrow her heavy jacket.
(B) Stay in her car if the weather is too cold.
(c) Leave campus in a couple of hours.
(D) Be prepared for the possibility of cooler weather.
17. (A) The man was absent when she gave them to the glass.
(B) She'll give some of them to the class on Wednesday.
(C) She has no more of them to give to the man.
(D) The man must do many more of them to pass the test.
18 (A) She has never had a class with Professor Smith.
(B) She's surprised the man is taking a history class.
(C) The assignment must be finished by 3 o'clock.
(O) Professor Smith's classes are very demanding.
19. (A) She'll return the questionnaire soon.
(B) The first question is optional.
(C) The man doesn't need to answer all the questions.
(D) The man doesn't need to submit a questionnaire.
20. (A) She doesn't like the painting.
(B) She hasn't seen the man's office.
(C) She'll hang the painting on the wall.
(D) She doesn't know where to put the painting.
21. (A) He doesn't like to cook spaghetti sauce.
(B) He isn't careful when he's preparing food.
(C) He makes very good desserts.
(D) He cooks for the Spanish club quite often.
22. (A) She doesn't plan to continue studying next year.
(B) She recently visited a different university.
(C) She already told the man about her plans.
(D) She isn't planning to transfer to a different
university.
23. (A) Start cleaning sooner.
(B) Hire a cleaning service.
(C) Wait a while before giving another party.
(D) Have his party at a different
24. (A) She prefers to remain indoors.
(B) She has the same allergies that the man has.
(C) She doesn't think the man is sincere.
(D) She doesn't understand what the man said.
25. (A) He has invited many people to
(B) He intentionally cooked a lot of soup.
(C) He doesn't like leftovers either.
(D) He used leftovers in the soup.
26. (A) She can't help the man make his decision
(B) A bicycle isn't a safe method of transportation.
(C) The man doesn't need a new bicycle,
(D) She doesn't know how to fix a bicycle,
27. (A) Ed is happy with his job.
(B) Ed isn't as good a worker as the boss thinks.
(C) The boss plans to give Ed a raise in salary.
(D) The boss hasn't treated
28. (A) She left work after the man.
(B) She was unable to follow the man's directions.
(C) It only rained in a small area.
(D) She doesn't mind driving in
29. (A) It isn't necessary to attend the lecture.
(B) There isn't enough time to eat dessert
(C) Eating in the lecture hall is prohibited.
(D) The lecture probably won't start on time.
30. (A) She doesn't think that Oakville is very far.
(B) She thinks the man misunderstood what he
(C) She didn't know that Matthew planned to move to
Oakville.
(D) She wants to buy a car from Matthew.
31. (A) They've lost their suitcases.
(B) They can't find their dormitory.
(C) Their dorm rooms have been given to other students.
(D) They've missed the bus to their dormitory.
32. (A) It has no bus service
(B) It is small
(C) It is located outside of town.
(D) It is very hilly.
33. (A) It's far from the academic buildings.
(B) No buses go to it.
(C) There are few first-year students living there.
(D) It's older than the other dormitories.
34. (A) They bring too many things with them.
(B) They waste their time.
(C) They don't familiarize themselves with the campus
(D) They don't make realistic career plans.
35 (A) Judging people's behavior.
(B) Common causes of anger.
(C) Changing people's attitudes.
(D) The effects of negative behavior.
36. (A) When they're unable to control the person's
behavior.
(B) When the causes of the behavior are obvious.
(C) When the consequences of the behavior are unpleasant.
(D) When the behavior is expected.
37. (A) It's not always clear why people behave in certain
ways.
(B) People usually blame others for their mistakes.
(C) Certain conditions cause drivers to behave strangely.
(D) The reason for some behavior is obvious.
38. (A) They usually accept responsibility.
(B) They blame factors beyond their control
(C) They complain about their personal problems.
(D) They compare their behavior to the behavior of others.
39. (A) Settlement patterns in desert.
(B) Causes of desertification.
(C) Plant adaptation to desert conditions.
(D) Regions most affected by desertification.
4O. (A) It receives more nutrients than it can absorb.
(B) It becomes oversaturated with water.
(C) It loses the ability to support insect life.
(D) It loses nutrients that aren't replaced.
41. (A) Too many animals eating the plants in one small
area.
(B) Planting too much vegetation in one small area.
(C) Too many people building houses in one small area.
(D) Bringing together the wrong kinds of animals and plants.
42. (A) The animals over fertilize the soil.
(B) Dead plant roots can't hold the soil together.
(C) The wrong types of plants are left standing.
(D) There is a buildup of plant and animal matter.
43. (A) It can cause flooding in an
(B) It can carry diseases that affect animals.
(C) It can introduce too much salt into the soil.
(D) It can divert water from important crops.
44. (A) A possible explanation for why green turtles nest in
certain locations.
(B) Physical differences among various groups of green
turtles.
(C) Several examples of mating behavior in green turtles.
(D) The impact of continental drift on the diet of green
turtles.
45. (A) Teach their young how to swim.
(B) Mate and lay eggs.
(C) Hide from predators.
(D) Eat different kinds of fish.
46. (A) Its geography is similar to Brazil's.
(B) Their instinct leads them to the place they were
hatched.
(c) There are other species of turtles located there.
(D) Its climate is milder than Brazil's.
47. (A) To discover how long their ancestors lived.
(B) To analyze how their appearance has evolved.
(C) To find out how a disease has spread
(D) To determine how closely groups of turtles are related.
48. (A) To demonstrate George Washington's survival skills.
(B) To show that some stories about famous people may be
historically inaccurate.
(C) To describe a historical event that was portrayed in a
painting.
(D) To tell a story that George Washington told about
himself.
49. (A) She led her tribe to victory against the colonists
(B) She was considered to be extremely beautiful.
(C) She created popular American Indian art.
(D) She helped establish peace between her tribe and the
colonists
50. (A) They have only recently been discovered.
(B) They were painted by the colonists who knew her.
(C) Most of them portray her as a child.
(D) They might not reflect her true appearance.
Section 2: Structure & Written Expression
1. .........crumbles readily when exposed to a moist, acid
atmosphere, but the stone is durable in a
dry atmosphere.
(A) The surface of marble is
(B) The surface of marble, which
(C) Although the surface of marble
(D) The surface of marble
2. By using their trunks, elephants can tell the shape of an
object and ........ is rough or smooth, or hot or cold.
(A) it
(B) whether it
(C) how
(D) since it
3. In 1989 Carret Hongo was chosen as ........ for the
Pulitzer Prize in poetry.
(A) his being one of the finalists
(B) to be one of the finalists
(C) one of the finalists
(D) the one finalist who
4. The Moon is much closer to Earth ...... is the Sun, and
thus it had greater influence on the tides.
(A) unlike
(B) than
(C) but
(D) where
5. The brain of an average adult is one of the largest
organs of the body, ........about three pounds.
(A) weighs
(B) is weighed
(C) weighing
(D) to weigh it
6. Throughout history ........different representations for
numbers and for the basic process of counting.
(A) have been many
(B) there have been many
(C) many
(D) when many
7. Democratic governments constantly face the problem of
balancing …..... the individual with the needs of society.
(A) the rights of
(B) to the rights for
(C) for the rights to
(D) with the rights by
8. Connecticut was the fifth of the original thirteen states
…..... the Constitution of the United States.
(A) ratified
(B) ratify
(C) to ratify
(D) have ratified
9. The chemical composition of sandstone is the same as
….....
(A) that of sand
(B) that sand is
(C) sand is that
(D) what of sand
10. Hydrofoils can exceed 75 miles per hour, as compared
with conventional watercraft, whose maximum speeds
.......... approach 50 miles per hour.
(A) are rarely
(B) rarely
(C) of rarely
(D) they rarely
11. It was novelist and poet ….... in 1968 founded Jackson
State University's Institute for the Study of the History,
Life, and Culture of Black People.
(A) Margaret Walker did
(B) Margaret Walker
(C) Margaret Walker who
(D) Margaret Walker and
12. Before the Europeans arrived, American Indians were
using virgin copper …... into ornaments, knives, and other
artifacts.
(A) Which was hammering
(B) which hammered
(C) was hammered
(D) hammered
13. In western North America, …...... form the Great Divide,
which separates the areas from which waters flow either
eastward to the Atlantic or westward to the Pacific.
(A) the Rocky Mountains
(B) where the Rocky Mountains
(C) the Rocky Mountains in which
(D) there are the Rocky Mountains
14. Some ecologists believe ….... more than 50 percent of
existing species will be lost in the next 100 years.
(A) because
(B) that
(C) while there is
(D) that there are
15. Almost ….... substances expand in volume when heated and
contract when cooled.
(A) all
(B) they all
(C) all of
(D) all are
16. A children's librarian (often conducts) story hours and
other activities( to help )children enjoy( herself) while
developing an( interest) in reading and the library's
resources.
17. Titanium has the( strength )of steel but weighs (half
only)as much, hence its (advantage)for use (in aircraft.)
18. Protective behaviors of (amphibians) include hiding( in)
the presence of danger and
(having )coloration( such) closely matching the environment
that the animal is not obvious.
19. (As the) highest-paid star of the silent screen,(
earning) a (reputedly) income of $20, 000 a week, Gloria
Swanson epitomized( the glamour )of Hollywood in the 1920's.
20. Candles may be made by(repeatedly dipping )wicks in
tallow, by molding,( nor) by
pouring (melted wax )over the wicks and rolling them(into
)shape.
21. (While) models of automobiles date( back )as far as the
late 1600's, the 1880's
(seen) the first commercial( interest) in the vehicle.
22. The (conceptual) of (musical) harmony is( generally)
traced to the ninth century because it is first (mentioned
)in treatises of that period.
23. Paleontologists (have examined) fossil embryos and
hatchlings( from) three (type )of
duck-billed dinosaurs to( figure out) how they matured.
24. Lightning (tends to )strike the nearest (good
conductor), and hence often strikes( in same) place more
(than once).
25. When (study) different cultures and societies,
anthropologists often( focus on )marriage as (a )contractual
agreement between (different parties).
26. The (first) piloted balloon( flight )across the Atlantic
Ocean (took) place (at) 1978.
27. The Arts and Crafts Movement of the late nineteenth
century strove to (revitalizing)
handicrafts and applied arts (during )an (era of)
increasing( mass production).
28.( When canned )(using )proper methods, food suffers( no)
loss in vitamins or (another)
nutritive elements.
29. (Heat) exhaustion is (causing) by excessive( loss )of
body (fluids) and body salts.
30. Primitive humans probably did not (deliberately cook)
food until( long) after they had
learned (to use) fire for light and( warm).
31. The( poor) condition of (prisoners are) what( concerned
)Dorothea Dix, an American
social worker and (director )of a school in Boston.
32.( Found) in the( shells of) lobsters, shrimp, and crabs,
glucosamine( is also) present
in human cartilage, which (covering) the bones in joints.
33. Between 1871 (until )1891, the( population) of Toronto
(more than )tripled, increasing (from) 56,000 to 181,000.
34. In the nineteenth century, Montreal grew( into )an
important (transportation) and
industrial center, (aided )by its many natural resources and
an( abundant) of
hydroelectric power.
35. In the( initial planning) for theaters, auditoriums,(
but )any room( intended )primarily
for listening, acoustics is a (major consideration).
36. The pulse (that may) be felt (wherever )an artery
(passes over) a solid structure, such as( a bone) or
cartilage.
37. (Through) his essays, poems, and lectures, Ralph Waldo
Emerson
established( himself) as a major thinker of his time (and
as) a (figure leading)
of American literature.
38. The "method", (which is) both a style of (acting a
)system of training for the actor,
stresses (inner) motivation and psychological (truth.)
39. On September 6, 1996, civil rights( activist )Rosa Parks
(was awarded) the Presidential
Medal of Freedom,( the highest) honor the United States
government gives (to civilian).
40. Basalt,( which) composes (most) of the ocean (floor), is
a dark-grey rock (rich) in iron and magnesium than most
surface rocks.
Section 3: Reading Comprehension
Questions 1-10
By far the most important United States export product in
the eighteenth and
nineteenth centuries was cotton, favored by the European
textile industry over flax or
wool because it was easy to process and soft to tile touch.
Mechanization of spinning
Line and weaving allowed significant centralization and
expansion in the textile industry during 5 this period, and
at the same time the demand for cotton increased
dramatically. American producers were able to meet this
demand largely because of tile invention of the cotton gin
by Eli Whitney in 1793. Cotton could be grown throughout the
South, but separating the fiber---or lint--from the seed was
a laborious process. Sea island cotton was relatively easy
to process by hand, because its fibers were long and seeds
were concentrated at the 10 base of the flower, but it
demanded a long growing season, available only along the
nation's eastern seacoast. Short-staple cotton required a
much shorter growing season, but the shortness of the fibers
and their mixture with seeds meant that a worker could
hand-process only about one pound per day. Whitney's gin was
a hand-powered machine with revolving drums and metal teeth
to pull cotton fibers away from seeds. Using the gin, 15 a
worker could produce up to '50 pounds of lint a day. The
later development of larger gins, powered by horses, water,
or steam, multiplied productivity further. The interaction
of improved processing and high demand led to the rapid
spread of the cultivation of cotton and to a surge in
production. It became the main American export, dwarfing all
others. In 1802, cotton composed 14 percent of total
American 20 exports by value. Cotton had a 36 percent share
by 1810 and over a 50 percent share in 1830. In 1860, 61
percent of the value of American exports was represented by
cotton.
In contrast, wheat and wheat flour composed only 6 percent
of the value of American
exports in that year. Clearly, cotton was king in the trade
of the young republic. The
growing market for cotton and other American agricultural
products led to an
25 unprecedented expansion of agricultural settlement,
mostly in the eastern half of the
United States---west of the Appalachian Mountains and east
of the Mississippi River.
1. The main point of the passage is that the eighteenth and
nineteenth centuries were a time when
(A) the European textile industry increased its demand for
American export products
(B) mechanization of spinning and weaving dramatically
changed the textile industry
(C) cotton became a profitable crop but was still
time-consuming to process
(D) cotton became the most important American export product
2. The word "favored" in line 2 is closest in meaning to
(A) preferred
(B) recommended
(C) imported
(D) included
3. All of the following are mentioned in the passage as
reasons for the increased demand for cotton EXCEPT
(A) cotton's softness
(B) cotton's ease of processing
(C) a shortage of flax and wool
(D) the growth that occurred in the textile industry.
4. The word "laborious" in line 8 is closest in meaning to
(A) unfamiliar
(B) primitive
(C) skilled
(D) difficult
5. According to the passage, one advantage of sea island
cotton was its
(A) abundance of seeds
(B) long fibers
(C) long growing season
(D) adaptability to different climates
6. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage
about cotton production in the United
States after the introduction of Whitney's cotton gin?
(A) More cotton came from sea island cotton plants than
before.
(B) More cotton came from short-staple cotton plants than
before.
(C) Most cotton produced was sold domestically.
(D) Most cotton produced was exported to England.
7. The word "surge" in line 18 is closest in meaning to
(A) sharp increase
(B) sudden stop
(C) important change
(D) excess amount
8. The author mentions "wheat and wheat flour" in line 22 in
order to
(A) show that Americans exported more agricultural products
than they imported.
(B) show the increase in the amount of wheat products
exported.
(C) demonstrate the importance of cotton among American
export products.
(D) demonstrate that wheat farming was becoming more
profitable.
9. The word "unprecedented" in line 25 is closest in meaning
to
(A) slow
(B) profitable
(C) not seen before
(D) never explained
10. According to the passage, the Mississippi River was
(A) one of the boundaries of a region where new agricultural
settlement took place
(B) a major source of water for agricultural crops
(C) the primary route by which agricultural crops were
transported
(D) a main source of power for most agricultural machinery
Questions 11-19
The origins of nest-building remain obscure, but current
observation of nest-building
activities provide evidence of their evolution. Clues to
this evolutionary process can be
found in the activities of play and in the behavior and
movements of birds during mating,
Line such as incessant pulling at strips of vegetation or
scraping of the soil. During the early 5 days of the
reproductive cycle, the birds seem only to play with the
building materials. In preparation for mating, they engage
in activities that resemble nest-building, and continue
these activities throughout and even after the mating cycle.
Effective attempts at construction occur only after mating.
Although nest-building is an instinctive ability, there is
considerable adaptability in
10 both site selection and use of materials, especially with
those species which build quite elaborate constructions.
Furthermore, some element of learning is often evident since
younger birds do not build as well as their practiced
elders. Young ravens, for example, first attempt to build
with sticks of quite unsuitable size, while a jackdaw's
first nest includes virtually any movable object. The
novelist John Steinbeck recorded the contents 15 of a young
osprey nest built in his garden, which included three
shirts, a bath towel, and one arrow.
Birds also display remarkable behavior in collecting
building materials. Crows have
been seen to tear off stout green twigs, and sparrowhawks
will dive purposefully onto a
branch until it snaps and then hang upside down to break it
off. Golden eagles, over
20 generations of work, construct enormous nests. One of
these, examined after it had been dislodged by high winds,
weighed almost two tons and included foundation branches
almost two meters long. The carrying capacity of the eagles,
however, is only relative to their size ant1 most birds are
able to carry an extra load of just over twenty percent of
their body weight.
11. The word "obscure" in line 1 is closest in meaning to
(A) interesting
(B) unclear
(C) imperfect
(D) complex
12. According to the passage, which of the following
activities is characteristic of the early part of the
reproductive cycle of birds?
(A) Selecting a mate
(B) Collecting nest-building materials
(C) Playing with nest-building materials
(D) Building a nest
13. The word "display" in line 17 is closest in meaning to
(A) communicate
(B) imitate
(C) initiate
(D) exhibit
14. The novelist John Steinbeck is mentioned in line 14
because he
(A) conducted a scientific study on the behavior of ospreys
(B) was the first to describe where ospreys built their
nests
(C) described the materials ospreys can use to build their
nests
(D) compared the size of osprey nests with the nests of
other species
15. Which of the following birds are mentioned as those that
build nests that include unusual objects?
(A) Ravens
(B) Ospreys
(C) Crows
(D) Sparrowhawks
16. According to the passage, when gathering materials to
build their nests, sparrowhawks do which of the following?
(A) Hang upside down
(B) Select only green twigs
(C) Use objects blowing in the wind
(D) Collect more branches than necessary
17. The word "these" in line 20 refers to
(A) golden eagles
(B) generations
(C) winds
(D) nests
18. The word "load" in line 23 is closest in meaning to
(A) weight
(B) number
(C) section
(D) level
19. The author mentions twenty percent in line 23 to
indicate that
(A) eagles are twenty percent bigger than most birds
(B) twenty percent of all nests include foundation branches
(C) the nests of eagles are twenty percent of larger than
those of other birds
(D) birds can carry twenty percent of their own weight
Questions 20-30
A survey is a study, generally in the form of an interview
or a questionnaire, that provides
information concerning how people think and act. In the
United States, the best-known
surveys are the Gallup poll and the Harris poll. As anyone
who watches the news during
Line presidential campaigns knows, these polls have become
an important part of political life in 5 the United States.
North Americans are familiar with the many "person on the
street? interviews on local
television news shows. While such interviews can be highly
entertaining, they are not
necessarily an accurate indication of public opinion. First,
they reflect the opinions of only those people who appear at
a certain location. Thus, such samples can be biased in
favor 10 of commuters, middle-class shoppers, or factory
workers, depending On which area the news people select.
Second, television interviews tend to attract outgoing
people who are willing to appear on the air, while they
frighten away others who may feel intimidated by a camera. A
survey must be based on a precise, representative sampling
if it is to genuinely reflect a broad range of the
population.
15 In preparing to conduct a survey, sociologists must
exercise great care in the wording
of questions. An effective survey question must be simple
and clear enough for people to
understand it. It must also be specific enough so that there
are no problems in interpreting
the results. Even questions that are less structured must be
carefully phrased in order to elicit the type of information
desired. Surveys can be indispensable sources of
information, but 20 only if the sampling is done properly
and the questions are worded accurately.
There are two main forms of surveys: the interview and the
questionnaire. Each of these
forms of survey research has its advantages. An interviewer
can obtain a high response rate because people find it more
difficult to turn down a personal request for an interview
than to throw away a written questionnaire. In addition, an
interviewer can go beyond written 25 questions and probe for
a subject's underlying feelings and reasons. However,
questionnaires have the advantage of being cheaper and more
consistent.
20. What does the passage mainly discuss?
(A) The history of surveys in North America
(B) The principles of conducting surveys
(C) Problems associated with interpreting surveys
(D) The importance of polls in American political life
21. The word "they" in line 8 refers to
(A) North Americans
(B) news shows
(C) interviews
(D) opinions
22. According to the passage, the main disadvantage of
person-on-the-street interviews is that they
(A) are not based on a representative sampling
(B) are used only on television
(C) are not carefully worded
(D) reflect political opinions
23. The word "precise" in line 13 is closest in meaning to
(A) planned
(B) rational
(C) required
(D) accurate
24. According to paragraph 3, which of the following is most
important for an effective survey?
(A) A high number of respondents
(B) Carefully worded questions
(C) An interviewer's ability to measure respondents'
feelings
(D) A sociologist who is able to interpret the results
25. The word "exercise" in line 15 is closest in meaning to
(A) utilize
(B) consider
(C) design
(D) defend
26. The word "elicit" in line 18 is closest in meaning to
(A) compose
(B) rule out
(C) predict
(D) bring out
27. It can be inferred from the passage that one reason that
sociologists may become frustrated with questionnaires is
that
(A) respondents often do not complete and return
questionnaires
(B) questionnaires are often difficult to read
(C) questionnaires are expensive and difficult to distribute
(D) respondents are too eager to supplement questions with
their own opinions
28. According to the passage, one advantage of live
interviews over questionnaires is that live interviews
(A) cost less
(B) can produce more information
(C) are easier to interpret
(D) minimize the influence of the researcher
29. The word "probe" in line 25 is closest in meaning to
(A) explore
(B) influence
(C) analyze
(D) apply
30. Which of the following terms is defined in the passage?
(A) Survey (line 1)
(B) Public opinion (line 8)
(C) Representative sampling (line 13)
(D) Response rate (line 22)
Questions 31-39
Perhaps one of the most dramatic and important changes that
took place in the
Mesozoic era occurred late in that era, among the small
organisms that populate the
uppermost, sunlit portion of the oceans--the plankton. The
term "plankton" is a broad
Line one, designating all of the small plants and animals
that float about or weakly propel
5 themselves through the sea. In the late stages of the
Mesozoic era. during the Cretaceous period, there was a
great expansion of plankton that precipitated skeletons or
shells composed of two types of mineral: silica and calcium
carbonate. This development
radically changed the types of sediments that accumulated on
the seafloor, because, while the organic parts of the
plankton decayed after the organisms died, their mineralized
10 skeletons often survived and sank to the bottom. For the
first time in the Earth's long
history, very large quantities of silica skeletons, which
would eventually harden into rock, began to pile up in parts
of the deep sea. Thick deposits of calcareous ooze made up
of
the tiny remains of the calcium carbonate-secreting plankton
also accumulated as never
before. The famous white chalk cliffs of Dover, in the
southeast of England, are just one
15 example of the huge quantities of such material that
amassed during the Cretaceous
period; there are many more. Just why the calcareous
plankton were so prolific during
the latter part of the Cretaceous period is not fully
understood. Such massive amounts
of chalky sediments have never since been deposited over a
comparable period of time.
The high biological productivity of the Cretaceous oceans
also led to ideal conditions
20 for oil accumulation. Oil is formed when organic material
trapped in sediments is slowly buried and subjected to
increased temperatures and pressures, transforming it into
petroleum. Sediments rich in organic material accumulated
along the margins of the
Tethys Seaway, the tropical east-west ocean that formed when
Earth's single landmass
(known as Pangaea) split apart during the Mesozoic era. Many
of today's important oil
25 fields are found in those sediments--in Russia, the
Middle East, the Gulf of Mexico, and in the states of Texas
and Louisiana in the United States.
31. What does the passage mainly discuss?
(A) How sediments were built up in oceans during the
Cretaceous period
(B) How petroleum was formed in the Mesozoic era
(C) The impact of changes in oceanic animal and plant life
in the Mesozoic era
(D) The differences between plankton found in the present
era and Cretaceous plankton
32. The passage indicates that the Creiaceous period
occurred
(A) in the early part of the Mesozoic era
(B) in the middle part of the Mesozoic era
(C) in the later part of the Mesozoic era
(D) after the Mesozoic era
33. The passage mentions all of the following aspects of
plankton EXCEPT
(A) the length of their lives
(B) the level of the ocean at which they are found
(C) their movement
(D) their size
34. The word "accumulated" in line 8 is closest in meaning
to
(A) depended
(B) matured
(C) dissolved
(D) collected
35. According to the passage, the most dramatic change to
the oceans caused by plankton during the Cretaceous period
concerned
(A) the depth of the water
(B) the makeup of the sediment on the ocean floor
(C) the decrease in petroleum-producing sediment
(D) a decline in the quantity of calcareous ooze on the
seafloor
36. The "white chalk cliffs of Dover" are mentioned in line
14 of the passage to
(A) show where the plankton sediment first began to build up
(B) provide an example of a plankton buildup that scientists
cannot explain
(C) provide an example of the buildup of plankton sediment
(D) indicate the largest single plankton buildup on Earth
37. The word "prolific" in line 16 is closest in meaning to
(A) fruitful
(B) distinct
(C) determined
(D) energetic
38. The word "ideal" in line 19 is closest in meaning to
(A) common
(B) clear
(C) perfect
(D) immediate
39. The word "it" in line 21 refers to
(A) biological productivity
(B) oil
(C) organic material
(D) petroleum
Questions 40-50
Of all modern instruments, the violin is apparently one of
the simplest. It consists in
essence of a hollow, varnished wooden sound box, or
resonator, and a long neck, covered
with a fingerboard, along which four strings are stretched
at high tension. The beauty of
Line design, shape, and decoration is no accident: the
proportions of the instrument are
5 determined almost entirely by acoustical considerations.
Its simplicity of appearance is
deceptive. About 70 parts are involved in the construction
of a violin, Its tone and its
outstanding range of expressiveness make it an ideal solo
instrument. No less important.
however, is its role as an orchestral and chamber
instrument. In combination with the
larger and deeper-sounding members of the same family, the
violins form the nucleus
10 of the modern symphony orchestra.
The violin has been in existence since about 1550. Its
importance as an instrument
in its own right dates from the early 1600's, when it first
became standard in Italian
opera orchestras. Its stature as an orchestral instrument
was raised further when in 1626
Louis XIII of France established at his court the orchestra
known as Les vingt-quatre
15 violons du Roy (The King's 24 Violins), which was to
become widely famous later in
the century.
In its early history, the violin had a dull and rather quiet
tone resulting from the fact
that the strings were thick and were attached to the body of
the instrument very loosely.
During the eighteenth and nineteenth century, exciting
technical changes were inspired
20 by such composer-violinists as Vivaldi and Tartini. Their
instrumental compositions
demanded a fuller, clearer, and more brilliant tone that was
produced by using thinner
strings and a far higher string tension. Small changes had
to be made to the violin's
internal structure and to the fingerboard so that they could
withstand the extra strain.
Accordingly, ,a higher standard of performance was achieved,
in terms of both facility
25 and interpretation. Left-hand technique was considerably
elaborated, and new fingering patterns on the fingerboard
were developed for very high notes.
40. The word "standard" in line 12 is closest in meaning to
(A) practical
(B) customary
(C) possible
(D) unusual
41. "The King’s 24 Violins" is mentioned in line 15 to
illustrate
(A) how the violin became a renowned instrument
(B) the competition in the 1600's between French and Italian
orchestras
(C) the superiority of French violins
(D) why the violin was considered the only instrument
suitable to be played by royalty
42. What is the main idea presented in paragraph 3?
(A) The violin has been modified to fit its evolving musical
functions.
(B) The violin is probably the best known and most widely
distributed musical instrument in the world.
(C) The violin had reached the height of its popularity by
the middle of the eighteenth century.
(D) The technique of playing the violin has remained
essentially the same since the 1600's.
43. The author mentions Vivaldi and Tartini in line 20 as
examples of composers whose music
(A) inspired more people to play the violin
(B) had to be adapted to the violin
(C) demanded more sophisticated violins
(D) could be played only by their students
44. The word "they" in line 23 refers to
(A) Civaldi and Tartini
(B) thinner strings and a higher string tension
(C) small changes
(D) internal structure and fingerboard
45. The word "strain" in line 23 is closest in meaning to
(A) struggle
(B) strength
(C) strategy
(D) stress
46. The word "Accordingly" in line 24 is closest in meaning
to
(A) However
(B) Consequently
(C) Nevertheless
(D) Ultimately
47. According to the passage, early violins were different
from modern violins in that early violins
(A) were heavier
(B) broke down more easily
(C) produced softer tones
(D) were easier to play
48. According to the passage, which of the following
contributes to a dull sound being produced
by a violin?
(A) A long fingerboard
(B) A small body
(C) High string tension
(D) Thick strings
49. Which of the following terms is defined in the passage?
(A) resonator (line 2)
(B) solo (line 7)
(C) left-hand technique (line 25)
(D) fingering patterns (lines 25-26)
50. All of the following are mentioned in the passage as
contributing to the ability to play modern violin music
EXCEPT
(A) more complicated techniques for the left hand
(B) different ways to use the fingers to play very high
notes
(C) use of rare wood for the fingerboard and neck
(D) minor alterations to the structure of the instrument
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