Reading Comprehension

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A BIT ABOUT BICYCLES
Today, bicycles are so common that it's hard to believe they haven't always been around. But two hundred years ago, bicycles didn't even exist, and the first bicycle, invented in Germany in 1818, was nothing like our bicycles today. It was made of wood and didn't even have pedals. Since then, however, numerous innovations and improvements in design have made the bicycle one of the most popular means of recreation and transportation around the world. In 1839, Kirkpatrick Macmillan, a Scottish blacksmith, dramatically improved upon the original bicycle design. Macmillan's machine had tires with iron rims to keep them from getting worn down. He also used foot-operated cranks like pedals, so his bicycle could be ridden at a quick pace. It didn't look much like a modern bicycle, though, because its back wheel was substantially larger than its front wheel. In 1861, the French Michaux brothers took the evolution of the bicycle a step further by inventing an improved crank mechanism. Ten years later, James Starley, an English inventor, revolutionized bicycle design. He made the front wheel many times larger than the back wheel, put a gear on the pedals to make the bicycle more efficient, and lightened the wheels by using wire spokes. Although this bicycle was much lighter and less tiring to ride, it was still clumsy, extremely top heavy, and ridden mostly for entertainment. It wasn't until 1874 that the first truly modern bicycle appeared on the scene. (14) Invented by another Englishman, H.J. Lawson, the "safety bicycle" would look familiar to today's cyclists. This bicycle had equal-sized wheels, which made it less prone to toppling over. Lawson also attached a chain to the pedals to drive the rear wheel. With these improvements, the bicycle became extremely popular and useful for transportation. Today they are built, used, and enjoyed all over the world.

About how long did it take for bicycles to look and feel like they do today?

  • A. 500 years
  • B. 1,000 years
  • C. 53 centuries or 5,300 years
  • D. 2,000 years
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: It took approximately 53 centuries or 5,300 years for bicycles to evolve and resemble the bicycles we use today. The question refers to the timeline from the first primitive bicycle in 1818 to the appearance of the first truly modern bicycle in 1874. During this period, various inventors made significant improvements in bicycle design, leading to the development of features like equal-sized wheels, pedals, chains for driving the rear wheel, and enhanced stability. These advancements culminated in the creation of a 'safety bicycle' by H.J. Lawson in 1874, which closely resembles the bicycles we are familiar with today.

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Blood Pressure Regulators
The body comprises systems that have evolved and diversified to maintain essential functions and processes. One such system is the cardiovascular system, which includes critical regulators of blood pressure. The heart serves as the body’s pump, ensuring a steady flow of vital oxygen to all cells while facilitating the removal of carbon dioxide and other waste products. Given that blood pressure varies at different points throughout the body, various components are necessary to regulate it effectively.
Three primary components involved in blood pressure regulation are baroreceptors, chemoreceptors, and the kidneys. Baroreceptors, which are stretch receptors made up of fine branching nerve endings, are located along the walls of arteries near the heart and in other areas of the body. When these baroreceptors detect stretching in the arterial walls, they send impulses to the heart, arteries, and veins, leading to an increase or decrease in blood pressure.
Chemoreceptors, found along the walls of the arteries, monitor changes in oxygen levels, carbon dioxide, and pH. For instance, a drop in oxygen levels triggers these receptors to send impulses that raise blood pressure. The kidneys also play a crucial role in blood pressure regulation by absorbing salts and water while eliminating waste. Hormones secreted by the adrenal cortex influence the kidneys to retain or excrete salt and water, thereby affecting blood volume and, consequently, blood pressure.

What is a major difference in the way baroreceptors and chemoreceptors work from the way the kidneys work?

  • A. Baroreceptors and chemoreceptors both work within the walls of the arteries, sending out impulses to raise or lower blood pressure, whereas the kidneys help control blood volume.
  • B. Baroreceptors and chemoreceptors both work to help maintain blood volume, whereas the kidneys take care of salts, water, and waste removal.
  • C. Baroreceptors and chemoreceptors must work together to control blood pressure, whereas the kidneys work with the adrenal cortex.
  • D. Baroreceptors and chemoreceptors are both located near the adrenal cortex, whereas the kidneys are located near the heart.
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Baroreceptors and chemoreceptors function within the walls of the arteries, monitoring and sending impulses to regulate blood pressure based on stretch and oxygen levels. In contrast, the kidneys play a role in controlling blood volume by absorbing salts, water, and removing wastes. The major difference lies in the functions: baroreceptors and chemoreceptors focus on regulating blood pressure, while the kidneys primarily manage blood volume. Therefore, choice A is correct as it highlights this distinction clearly.

The White Elephant: Centuries ago, In Siam, now known as Thailand, it was the custom of the rulers to give a white elephant to those who displeased them. The recipient could not give the elephant to anyone else, as it was a gift from the ruler, who would be greatly displeased should the recipient not receive the gift graciously or care for the elephant in a grand style. This monetary burden could be a major liability to the recipient and in many cases the entire family became impoverished.
This is the origin of the term 'white elephant' as it is used today to denote an unwanted gift. The parlor game of gift exchange played during the holiday season is an offshoot of this. In this game, everyone brings a wrapped gift and the gifts are exchanged by drawing numbers and picking a gift in turn. The second person can choose a new gift or steal the first one. It is all in good fun, and people enjoy giving silly gifts and 'stealing' someone else's gift.

How did the people regard a white elephant?

  • A. If a village elder received a white elephant, the entire village shared in the supply of meat.
  • B. The people of Siam vied for the honor of receiving the king's gift of a white elephant.
  • C. People tried very hard not to offend the king so they would not receive a white elephant.
  • D. White elephants were highly prized as they were very hard workers in the cane fields.
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C because the passage states that receiving a white elephant was considered a burden, leading to potential impoverishment. This implies that people tried hard not to offend the ruler to avoid receiving such a gift. Option A is incorrect as it contradicts the negative consequences associated with receiving a white elephant. Option B is incorrect as the passage does not mention people actively seeking to receive a white elephant. Option D is incorrect as there is no mention of white elephants being valued for their work abilities in the passage.

Photosynthesis is a process used by plants, algae, and certain bacteria to convert light energy into chemical energy stored in sugar molecules. This process is fundamental to life on Earth as it provides the primary source of energy for nearly all organisms. The energy is captured from sunlight by a pigment in the plants called chlorophyll, which gives plants their green color.
During photosynthesis, carbon dioxide from the air and water from the soil react in the presence of light to form sugars and oxygen. The oxygen is released into the atmosphere, which is crucial for the survival of most life forms on Earth. The sugars produced are used by the plant for energy and growth, storing excess energy as starch.
The process occurs in two main stages: the light-dependent reactions and the Calvin cycle. In the light-dependent reactions, energy from sunlight is absorbed by chlorophyll and converted into stored chemical energy in the form of ATP and NADPH. The Calvin cycle uses the ATP and NADPH produced in the light-dependent reactions to convert carbon dioxide into glucose.
Photosynthesis not only sustains plant life but also maintains the atmospheric oxygen levels and is a key factor in the carbon cycle, helping to regulate Earth's climate.

Which of the following is NOT a product of photosynthesis?

  • A. Oxygen
  • B. Sugar
  • C. Nitrogen
  • D. ATP
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: 'Nitrogen.' During photosynthesis, oxygen, sugar, and ATP are all products of the process. Oxygen is released into the atmosphere, sugar is the main product used by the plant for energy and growth, and ATP is a form of stored chemical energy. However, nitrogen is not a direct product of photosynthesis. The process primarily involves the conversion of carbon dioxide and water into sugars and oxygen, with nitrogen not being part of the immediate products.

People of Hispanic origin were on the North American continent centuries before settlers arrived
from Europe in the early 1600s and the thirteen colonies joined together to form the United
States in the late 1700s. The first census of the new nation was conducted in 1790, and counted about four million people, most of whom were white. Of the white citizens, more than 80%
traced their ancestry back to England. There were close to 700,000 slaves and about 60,000 "free Negroes". Only a few Native American Indians who paid taxes were included in the census count, but the total Native American population was probably about one million. By 1815, the population of the United States was 8.4 million. Over the next 100 years, the
country took in about 35 million immigrants, with the greatest numbers coming in the late 1800s and early 1900s. In 1882, 40,000 Chinese arrived, and between 1900 and 1907, there were more
than 30,000 Japanese immigrants. But by far, the largest numbers of the new immigrants were
from central, eastern, and southern Europe. An enormous amount of racial and ethnic assimilation has taken place in the United States. In 1908, play-write Israel Zangwill first used the term "melting pot" to describe the concept of a place where many races melted in a crucible and re-formed to populate a new land. Some years during the first two decades of the 20th century, there were as many as one million new
immigrants per year, an astonishing 1 percent of the total population of the United States.
In 1921, however, the country began to limit immigration, and the Immigration Act of 1924
virtually closed the door. The total number of immigrants admitted per year dropped from as many as a million to only 150,000. A quota system was established that specified the number of
immigrants that could come from each country. It heavily favored immigrants from northern and western Europe and severely limited everyone else. This system remained in effect until 1965, although after World War II, several exceptions were made to the quota system to allow in
groups of refugees.

Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

  • A. Preserving a developing 'American' culture was a major factor leading to the introduction of the quota system.
  • B. Racial and ethnic assimilation did not occur as planned.
  • C. Racial and ethnic tensions would have increased if the quota system had not been introduced.
  • D. The quota system was introduced to limit population growth.
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A. The passage discusses the implementation of the quota system in 1924 which heavily favored immigrants from northern and western Europe. This preference for specific regions suggests that preserving a developing 'American' culture, which was predominantly influenced by these regions, was a major factor leading to the introduction of the quota system. The passage does not indicate that racial and ethnic assimilation did not occur as planned, nor does it directly mention an increase in tensions if the quota system had not been introduced. Additionally, the quota system was not introduced to limit population growth but rather to control and regulate the influx of immigrants from different regions.

Glass: I wonder who first discovered glass. This commodity has been a part of civilization from the very beginning. Imagine a world without glass! How dark and dismal it would be. No windows, corrective lenses, telescopes, microscopes, cameras, sparkly drinking containers or mirrors. Life would not be the same without this wonderful discovery. Thank you, whoever found glass!
Glass is not an element, but a combination of several elements. It is a hard, brittle, transparent solid material composed mainly of silica, with additives to change the character of the glass. Common additives are soda, lime, lead, and boron. Each additive changes the properties of the final product. Soda and lime are the most common additives, accounting for about 90% of glass production. Adding lead increases reflectivity, causing the glass to 'sparkle.' The addition of boron changes the thermal and electrical properties of glass, allowing cookware that can be used in the oven without shattering.

What statement is a fact stated in the article?

  • A. Glass is an element that can be mixed with other elements.
  • B. Glass is not an element, but a combination of several elements.
  • C. Glass with lead is the most common type produced today.
  • D. Glass is found in nature in the form of obsidian.
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Glass is not an element, but a combination of several elements. This statement is supported by the text, which clearly explains that glass is composed of several elements such as silica, soda, lime, lead, and boron. Glass is not a standalone element but a mixture of these components.

Rationale:
1. Glass is not an element: The text explicitly states that glass is not an element but a combination of several elements, emphasizing the composite nature of glass.
2. Mixture of elements: The text mentions silica, soda, lime, lead, and boron as components of glass, highlighting the varied composition of glass.
3. Clarification of glass composition: By mentioning the additives used to change the character of glass, the text reinforces the idea that glass is a combination of elements rather than a single element.

Summary of incorrect choices:
A: Incorrect because the text clearly states that glass is not an element, but a combination of several elements.
C:

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