PRACTICE: Author’s Attitude

Text 1
School is not only for learning from books, it’s about learning about yourself. As you grow and change, throughout
your formative years, you learn so much about your own style and personality. But that freedom of expression is taken
away when uniforms are instilled in schools. According to a study by Pearson in Time magazine, school uniforms stunted
the personal growth of more than70% of youth. When freedom of expression is taken away, it’s hard for adolescents to
truly develop a sense of self.
1. What is the tone of the paragraph?
A. Modest C. Despair E. Unconcern
B. Admirig D. Critical

Text 2
On the other hand, the prices of renewable energy resources keep increasing and certain countries have to be
dependent upon major oil producing countries. Home users who consume alternative energy resources can cut down on
their electricity bills.
Each system has its pros and cons, but the best and wise thing to do is to consider the available options and choose
an energy source that offers long-term benefits.
When it comes to alternative energy solutions, setting up a solar power plant and building a windmill are hefty and
complex processes, but once set up, they offer endless benefits.
In terms of fossil fuels, oil companies need to find proven reserves, dig oil wells, extract the oil, and convert it into a
more usable form so that it can reach the end consumers.
2. The author’s attitude towards alternative energy may be best described as being…
A. Assertive C. Supportive E. Doubtful
B. Optimistic D. Pessimistic

Text 3
Perhaps because bats are nocturnal in habit, a wealth of thoroughly unreliable legend has grown up about them, and
men have made of the harmless, even beneficial little beasts a means of expressing their unreasonable fears. Bats were
the standard paraphernalia for witches, the females half of humanity stood in terror that bats would become entangled in
their hair. Phrases crept into the language expressing man’s revulsion or ignorance—“Bat’s in the Belfry,” “Batty,”
“Blind as a Bat.”
3. What word would you use to describe the tone of this passage?
A. Positive C. Critical E. Exciting
B. Informational D. Concerned

Text 4
Around 2.8 million Indian students sat university examinations from the end of August to September 13 as the
country approached the grim milestone of 5-million total COVID-19 cases. Despite pleas from civil society to defer
examinations, including by Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, a Supreme Court ruling on August 17 gave the
government the green light to keep the original schedule for the engineer and medical colleges entrance exams.
The JEE and the NEET, how university exams for those two careers are called, are India’s most competitive — they
sprawl industries of their own, with preparation courses generating millions of dollars annually. The court bench headed
by Justice Ashok Bhushan said that “the career of the students cannot be put on peril for long, and a full academic year
cannot be wasted.” The court will not hear any further petitions regarding postponing future exam dates.
According to the Ministry of Education, 74 percent of the students registered to the first of the JEE took the exam,
while an above 80-percent attendance was observed for the NEET exam. Students are now gearing up for the second
stage of the JEE (the JEE Advanced), which will take place on September 27. Protests against the exam date have
dwindled since the Supreme Court decision.
4. The author’s attitude towards the civils’ protest regarding the exam schedule is ….
A. critical C. objective E. informative
B. positive D. subjective

Text 5
Tony’s Place is crammed into a tiny building next to the Fine Arts Theater. The owners offer a menu of Italian food.
They’ve got the checkered table clothes, dim lights, and crusty bread. They also know how to make a hearty red sauce.
Too bad they use it to drown delicate fish. They also seem to lace everything with truckloads of garlic.
The service needs some work, too. Our waiter didn’t know what the specials were. Nor did he think to refill our
water glasses before we asked. With a combination of fake-friendly chatter and outright nagging, he made us order, finish
up, and clear out. He seemed to see us only as automatic tip machines. The food and low prices bring the customers in the
door. The service should not push them out.
5. The tone of the passage is….
A. Sad C. Plain and factual E. Worried
B. Boastful D. Critical, or finds fault

PRACTICE: Transition Paragraph Questions

Text 6
Earthquake is any sudden shaking of the ground caused by the passage of seismic waves through Earth’s rocks.
Seismic waves are produced when some form of energy stored in Earth’s crust is suddenly released, usually when masses
of rock straining against one another suddenly fracture and “slip.” Earthquakes occur most often along geologic faults,
narrow zones where rock masses move in relation to one another. The major fault lines of the world are located at the
fringes of the huge tectonic plates that make up Earth’s crust.
Little was understood about earthquakes until the emergence of seismology at the beginning of the 20th century.
Seismology, which involves the scientific study of all aspects of earthquakes, has yielded answers to such long-standing
questions as why and how earthquakes occur. About 50,000 earthquakes large enough to be noticed without the aid of
instruments occur annually over the entire Earth. Of these, approximately 100 are of sufficient size to produce substantial
damage if their centers are near areas of habitation. Very great earthquakes occur on average about once per year. Over
the centuries they have been responsible for millions of deaths and an incalculable amount of damage to property.
6. The paragraph following the passage most likely discusses ….
A. suggestions to emerge the seismology to detect the earthquake
B. examples of the substantial damage that caused by the earthquake
C. the development of seismology to identify the earthquake earlier
D. factors that cause the earthquake and seismic wave
E. the reason why we need the seismology

Text 7 is for number 7 and 8

When a strong earthquake occurs on the ocean floor rather than on land, a tremendous force is exerted on the
seawater and one or larger, destructive waves called tsunamis can be formed. Tsunamis are commonly called tidal waves
in the United States, but this is really an inappropriate name in the cause of the Tsunami is an underground earthquake
rather than the ocean’s tides.
Far from land, a tsunami can move through the wide open vastness of the ocean at a speed of 600 miles (900
kilometers) per hour and often can travel tremendous distances without losing height and strength. When a tsunami
reaches shallow coastal water, it can reach a height of 100 feet (30 meters) or more and can cause tremendous flooding
and damage to coastal areas.
7. The paragraph preceding the passage most probably discusses….
A. tsunamis in various parts of the world D. the effect of tides on tsunamis
B. the negative effects of tsunamis E. the damage caused by an earthquake
C. land-based earthquakes

8. Which of the following is most likely the topic of the paragraph following the passage?
A. The causes of tsunamis D. The distances covered by tsunamis
B. The destructive effects of tsunamis on the coast E. The definition of tsunami
C. The differences between tsunamis and tidal waves

Text 9 is for number 9 and 10

Another program instrumental in the popularization of science was Cosmos. This series, broadcast on public
television, dealt with topics and issues from varied fields of science. The principal writer and narrator of the program was
Carl Sagan, a noted astronomer and Pulitzer Prize-winning author.
9. The paragraph preceding the passage most probably discusses….
A. a different scientific television series D. public television
B. Carl Sagan’s scientific achievements E. Carl Sagan’s experience
C. The Pulitzer Prize won by Carl Sagan

10. The paragraph following this passage most likely contains information on what?
A. The popularity of science
B. The program Cosmos
C. The astronomer Carl Sagan
D. Topics and issues from various fields of science
E. a different scientific television series
PRACTICE: Stated & Unstated Detail Questions

Text 1
Carbon tetrachloride is a colorless and inflammable liquid that can be produced by combining carbon disulphide
and chlorine. This compound is widely used in industry today because of its effectiveness as a solvent as well as its use in
the production of propellants.
Despite its widespread use in industry, carbon tetrachloride has been banned for home use. In the past, carbon
tetrachloride was a common ingredient in cleaning compounds that were used throughout the home, but it was found to be
dangerous: when heated, it changes into a poisonous gas that can cause severe illness and even death if it is inhaled.
Because of this dangerous characteristic, the United States revoked permission for the home use of carbon tetrachloride
in1970. The United States has taken similar action with various other chemical compounds.

1. According to the passage, before 1970 carbon D. not allowed in home cleaning products
tetrachloride was…. E. barely used as a cleaning products in home using
A. used by itself as a cleanser
B. banned in industrial use 2. It is stated in the passage that when carbon tetrachloride
C. often used as a component of cleaning products is heated, it becomes….
A. harmful
B. colorless
C. a cleaning compound
D. inflammable
E. deathly
Text 2
What causes reading disabilities, or dyslexia? Studies have been conducted for generations in an attempt to find
answers to this difficult question. Rather than a single answer, however, several factors have emerged that seem to
contribute to the disability. One factor points to a genetic link from one generation to the next. In particular, males are
more likely to be affected if a father, grandfather, or uncle had dyslexia. Early difficulty in discriminating sounds appears
to be another factor. Children who cannot hear the subtle differences within and among words will also have difficulty in
reading those sounds. Finally, visual-perceptual problems, a difficulty in clearly seeing the written words, also contribute
to dyslexia. If the words do not appear clearly, seem to move, or create distortions, the reader will not be able to read
fluidly and comprehension will suffer.
3. According to the passage, what evidence has been found to support the idea that dyslexia could be genetic?
A. Males tend to read less than females in early childhood.
B. The gene for dyslexia is located on the Y chromosome.
C. Males with dyslexia often have a male relative with the same condition.
D. Poor vision is an inherited condition and a cause of dyslexia.
E. A parent with dyslexia will most likely have a child with dyslexia.

Text 3
What will man be like in the future – in 5000 or even 50,000 years from now? We can only make a guess, of course,
but we can be sure that he will be different from what he is today. From man is slowly changing all the time. Let us take
an obvious example. Man, even five hundred years ago, was shorter than he is today. Now, on average, men are about
three inches taller. Five hundred is a relatively short period of time, so we may assume that man will continue to grow
taller. Again, in the modern world, we use our brains a great deal. Even so, we still make use of only about 20% of the
brain capacity. As time goes on, however, we shall have to use our brains more and more – and eventually we shall need
larger ones! This is likely to bring about a physical change too; the head, in particular the forehead, will grow larger.
Nowadays our eyes are in constant use. In fact, we use them so much that very often they become weaker and we
have to wear glasses. But over a very long period of time, it is likely that man’s eyes will grow stronger. On the other
hand, we tend to make less use of our arms and legs. These, as a result, are likely to grow weaker. At the same time,
however, our fingers will grow more sensitive because they are used a great deal in modern life. But what about hair?
This will probably disappear from the body altogether in the course of time because it does not serve a useful purpose any
longer. In the future, then, both sexes are likely to be bald.
Perhaps all this gives the impression that future man will not a very attractive creature to look at! This may well be
true. All the same, in spite of these changes, future man will still have a lot of common with us. He will still be a human
being, with thoughts and emotions that resemble us.

4. According to the text, which of the following statements is TRUE about the man?
A. It takes a few decades for man to be taller.
B. The development of man’s brain does not affect his physical development.
C. Modern people are using the full capacity of their brains.
D. Within a decade, man has become three inches taller.
E. It can be expected that future man will be taller.

Text 4
The renowned Boston Symphony Orchestra gave its inaugural concert on October 22, 1881. It has continued to
uphold the vision of its founder, the philanthropist, Civil War veteran, and amateur musician Henry Lee Higginson, who
dreamed of founding a great and permanent orchestra in Boston for many years. The first concert was given under the
direction of conductor Georg Henschel, who remained music director until 1884.For nearly twenty years, concerts were
held in the Old Boston Music Hall, then in Symphony Hall from 1900,one of the world's most highly regarded concert
halls. Henschel was succeeded by a series of German born and trained conductors: Wilhelm Gericke, Arthur Nikisch,
Emil Paur, and Max Fiedler - culminating in the appointment of the legendary Karl Muck, who served two terms as music
director, 1906 - 08 and 1912 - 18.

5. Which of the following is not true about Henry Lee

Higginson?
A. founder of Boston Symphony Orchestra
B. the philanthropist
C. Civil War Veteran
D. conductor
6. All of the following are true, except_____
A. Henry Lee Higginson wanted to Boston to have a
great and permanent orchestra for many years.
B. Wilhelm Gericke, Arthur Nikisch, Emil Paur, and
Max Fiedler were born in German and were trained
conductors.
C. The legendary Karl Muck served as music director
for 8 years in a row.
D. Georg Henschel was the conductor for the concert
on October 22, 1881
Text 5
Blood plasma is clear, almost colorless liquid. It consists of blood from which the read and white cells have been
removed. It is often used in transfusions because a patient generally needs the plasma portion of the blood more than the
other components.
Plasma differs in several important ways from whole blood. First of all, plasma can be mixed for all donors and does
not have to be from the right blood group, as whole blood does. In addition, plasma can be dried and stored, while whole
blood cannot.
7. All of the following are true about blood plasma
EXCEPT that….
A. it is a deeply colored liquid
B. blood cells have been taken out of it
C. patents are often transfused with it
D. it is generally more important to the patient than
other parts of whole blood
8. Which of the following is NOT stated about whole
blood?
A. It is different from plasma.
B. It cannot be dried.
C. It is impossible to keep it in storage for a longtime.
D. It is a clear, colorless liquid.

Text 6
9. Which the following is NOT true about systolic blood
pressure?
A. It is taken during the contraction of the heart.
B. It is usually given first in a blood pressure reading.
C. A normal systolic measurement is 140.
D. Hypertension exists when the systolic pressure is
below 140.

10. Which of the following is NOT stated about diastolic

pressure?
A. It is one of the two components of blood pressure
measurement.
B. It is taken when the heart is resting
C. It is lower than systolic pressure.
D. A diastolic measurement of 140 is normal.