Questions 1 through 10 are based on the following passage.

Napoleon Bonaparte’s ambition to control all the area around the Mediterranean Sea
led him and his French soldiers to Egypt. After losing a naval battle, they were forced to
remain there for three years. In 1799, while constructing a fort, a soldier discovered a piece of
stele (a stone pillar bearing an inscription) known as the Rosetta stone, in commemoration of
the town near the fort. This famous stone, which would eventually lead to the deciphering of
ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics dating to 3100 B.C., was written in three languages:
hieroglyphics (picture writing), demotic (a shorthand version of Egyptian hieroglyphics), and
Greek. Scientists discovered that the characters, unlike those in English, could be written
from right to left and in other directions as well. The direction in which they ” ') were read
depended on how the characters were arranged. Living elements (animals, people, and body
parts) were often the first symbols, and the direction that they faced indicated the direction
for reading them.

Twenty-three years after the discovery of the Rosen stone, Jean François
Champollion, a French philology', fluent in several languages, was able to decipher the first,
word—Ptolemy—the name of an Egyptian ruler. This na®e was written inside an oval called
a “cartouche.” Further investigation revealed that cartouches contained names of important
people of that period. Champollion painstakingly continued his search and was able to
increase his growing list of known phonetic signs. He and an Englishman, Thomas Young,
worked independently of each other to unravel the deeply hidden mysteries of this strange
language. Young believed that sound values could be assigned to the symbols, while
Champollion insisted that the pictures represented words.

1. All of the following languages were written on the Rosetti stone EXCEPT

a. French c. Greek

b. demotic d. hieroglyphics

2. All of the following statements are true EXCEPT

a. cartouches contained names of c. one of Napoleon’s soldiers discovered

prominent people of the period the Rosetta stone

b. Champollion and Young worked d. Thomas Young believed that sound

together in an attempts decipher the values could be assigned to the symbols
hieroglyphics

3. The word “deciphering” in line 8 is closest in meaning to

a. decoding c. downfall

b. discovery d. probing

4. The first word deciphered from the Rosetta stone was

a. cartouche c. Ptolemy

b. demotic d. Champollion
5. Napoleon's soldiers were in Egypt in 1799 because they were

a. celebrating a naval victory c. waiting to continue their campaign

b. looking for the Rosetta stone d. trying to decipher the hieroglyphics

6. The person responsible for deciphering the first word was

a. Champollion c. Young

b. Ptolemy d. Napoleon

7. Why was the piece of newly discovered stele called the Rosetta stone?

a. It was shaped like a rosette. c. The town near the fort was called
Rosetta.
b. It was to honor Napoleon’s friend
Rosetta. d. The fort was called Rosetta.

8. In line 1, “ambition” is nearest in meaning to

a. aspiration c. indolence

b. indifference d. apathy

9. What is the best title for the passage?

a. Napoleon’s Great Discovery c. Thomas Young’s Great Contribution

b. Deciphering the Hieroglyphics of the d. The Importance of Cartouches

Rosetta Stone

10. In which lines of the reading passage is the direction for reading hieroglyphics discussed?

a. Lines 5-8 c. Lines 14-18

b. Lines 19-22 d. Lines 25-27

Questions 11 through 20 are based on the following passage.

Sequoyah was a young Cherokee Indian, son of a whjte trader and an Indian squaw.
At an early age, he became fascinated by “the talking leaf,” an expression that he used to
describe the white man’s written records. Although many believed this “talking le a f’ to be a
gift from the Great Spirit Sequoyah refused to accept that theory. Like other Indians of the
period, he was illiterate, but his determination to remedy the situation led to the invention of a
unique eighty-six-character alphabet based on the sound patterns that he heard. His family
and friends thought him mad, but while recuperating from a hunting accident, he diligently
and independently set out to create a form of communication for his own people as well as
for other Indians. In 1821, after twelve years of work, he had successfully developed a
written language that would enable thousands of Indians to read and write. Sequoyah’s desire
to preserve words and events for later generations has caused him to be remembered among
the important inventors. The giant redwood trees of California, called “sequoias” in his
honor, will further imprint his name in history.
11. What is the most important reason that Sequoyah will be remembered?

a. California redwoods were named in his c. He created a unique alphabet.

honor.
d. He recovered from his madness and
b. He was illiterate. helped humankind

12. The word “squaw” in line 2 is closest in meaning to

a. woman c. cook

b. teacher d. trader

13. How did Sequoyah’s family react to his idea of developing his own “talking leaf”?

a. They arranged for his hunting accident. c. They decided to help him.

b. They thought he was crazy. d. They asked him to teach them to read
and write.

14. What prompted Sequoyah to develop his alphabet?

a. People were writing things about him c. After his hunting accident, he needed
that he couldn’t read. something to keep him busy.

b. He wanted to become famous. d. He wanted the history of his people

preserved for future generations.

15. In line 7, the word “illiterate” means most nearly the same as ...

a. fierce c. abandoned

b. poor d. unable to read or write

16. It is implied that Sequoyah called the written records “the talking leaf” because

a. they played music c. he was going mad, and he thought the

leaves were talking to him
b. when he observed white people
reading, they seemed to understand d. it was the only way that the Great Spirit
what was written had of communicating with them

17. Sequoyah could best be described as

a. determined c. mad

b. backwards d. meek

18. W hat is the best title for the passage?

a. Sequoyah’s Determination to Preserve c. Sequoyah’s Madness Leads to a New
the Cherokee Ianguage Language

b. The Origin of the Cherokee Language d. The Origin of the “Sequoia” Trees in
California

19. In line 3, “fascinated” is closest in meaning to

a. absorbed c. exasperated

b. confused d. imaginative

20. All of the following are true EXCEPT

a. Sequoyah developed a form of writing c. Sequoyah spent twelve years developing

with the help of fa Cherokee tribe his alphabet

b. Sequoyah was a very observant young d. Sequoyah was honored by having some
man trees named after him

Questions 21 through 24 are based on the following passage.

If You Have Allergies, You’re Not AlonePeople who experience allergies might joke
that their immune systems have let them down or are seriously lacking. Truth-fully though,
people who experience allergic reactions or al-lergy symptoms during certain times of the
year have height-ened immune systems that are, “better” than those of people who have
perfectly healthy but less militant immune systems. Still, when a person has an allergic
reaction, they are having an adverse reaction to a substance that is considered normal to most
people. Mild allergic reactions usually have symptoms like itching, runny nose, red eyes, or
bumps or discoloration of the skin. More serious allergic reactions, such as those to animal
and insect poisons or certain foods, may result in the closing of the throat, swelling of the
eyes, low blood pressure, an inability to breathe, and can even be fatal. Different treatments
help different allergies, and which one a person uses depends on the nature and severity of
the al-lergy.

It is recommended to patients with severe allergies to take extra precautions, such as

carrying an EpiPen, which treats anaphylactic shock and may prevent death, always in order
for the remedy to be readily available and more effective. When an allergy is not so severe,
treatments may be used just relieve a person of uncomfortable symptoms. Over the counter
allergy medicines treat milder symptoms, and can be bought at any grocery store and used in
moderation to help people with allergies live normally.There are many tests available to
assess whether a person has allergies or what they may be allergic to, and advances in these
tests and the medicine used to treat patients contin-ues to improve. Despite this fact, allergies
still affect many people throughout the year or even every day. Medicines used to treat
allergies have side effects of their own, and it is dif-ficult to bring the body into balance with
the use of medicine. Regardless, many of those who live with allergies are grateful for what is
available and find it useful in maintaining their lifestyles.

21. According to this passage, it can be understood thatthe word “militant” belongs in a group
with the words:
a.sickly, ailing, faint c.active, fighting, warring

b.strength, power, vigor d.worn, tired, breaking down

22. The author says that “medicines used to treat allergieshave side effects of their own” to

a.point out that doctors aren’t very good c.explain that allergy medicines aren’t
at diagnosingand treating allergies cures and somecompromise must be made

b.argue that because of the large number of d.argue that more wholesome remedies
people withallergies, a cure will never be should be re-searched and medicines
found banned

23. It can be inferred that _______ recommend that somepeople with allergies carry medicine
with them.

a.the author c.the makers of EpiPen

b.doctors d.people with allergies

24. The author has written this passage to

a.inform readers on symptoms of c.inform readers on different remedies so

allergies so peoplewith allergies can get people withallergies receive the right help
help
d.describe different types of allergies, their
b.persuade readers to be proud of having symptoms,and their remedies
allergies

Questions 25 through 28 are based on the following passage.

Butterflies and moths have a three stage life cycle. Caterpillars are the first or laval
stage. Caterpillars can be either herbivores, feeding mostly on plants, or carnivores, feeding
on other insects. Caterpillars eat continuously. Once they are too big for their body, they shed
or molt their skin. Some caterpillars have symbiotic relationshipswith other insects. A
symbiotic relationship is where different species work together in a way that is either harmful
or helpful. Symbiotic relationships are critical to many species and ecosystems. Some
caterpillars and ants have a symbiotic or mutual relationship where both benefit. Ants give
some protection, and caterpillars provide the ants with honeydew nectar. Ants and caterpillars
communicate by vibrations through the soil as well as grunting and squeaking. Humans are
not able to hear these communications.

25. What do most larvae spend their time doing?

a.Eating c.Communicating with ants.

b.Sleeping d.None of the above

26. Are all caterpillars herbivores?

a.Yes b.No, some eat insects

27. What benefit do larvae get from association with ants?

a.They do not receive any benefit. c.Ants give them food.

b.Ants give them protection. d.Ants give them honeydew secretions.

28. Do ants or larvae benefit most from association?

a. Ants benefit most c. Both benefit about the same

b. Larvae benefit most d. Neither benefits

29. The word “harmful” in line is closest in meaning to...

a. Useful c. Thoughtful

b. Careful d. Dangerous

30. The word “provide” in line 8 is closest in meaning to...

a. Send c. Supply

b. Receive d. Maintain