Nokea
A Bit About Bicycles: Children begin to taste freedom on bicycles. Historians believe that bicycles began around 3500 B.C. in the Middle East although it took 53 centuries before bicycles were fashioned in the way we know them today.
With over 1500 moving parts, bicycles are complex yet simple machines and amazingly the basic design has not changed since the 1880s. A few tweaks have been added, such as gears and hand-operated brakes, but bicycles remain a steady source of exercise and entertainment for both children and adults. Some forms of bicycling are mountain biking and BMX biking which is similar to cross-country motorcycle racing.
In many countries around the world, bicycles are a necessary part of daily existence. Bicycling in China is imperative if you want to go places, due to the vast population in a relatively small area. Bicycles are coming back in high demand all over the world.
About how long did it take for bicycles to look and feel like they do today?
- A. 100 years.
- B. 53 years.
- C. 5,300 years.
- D. 3,500 years.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: 100 years. The passage states that bicycles began around 3500 B.C. in the Middle East, but it took 53 centuries before bicycles were fashioned in the way we know them today. 53 centuries equal to 5300 years. However, the passage mentions that the basic design of bicycles has not changed since the 1880s, which is around 100 years ago from now. Therefore, it took about 100 years for bicycles to look and feel like they do today.
Explanation:
- Choice A is correct because it aligns with the information provided in the passage about the time it took for bicycles to evolve into their current design.
- Choice B is incorrect as it does not accurately reflect the timeline mentioned in the passage.
- Choice C is incorrect as it overestimates the time it took for bicycles to reach their modern design.
- Choice D is incorrect as it refers to the starting point of bicycles' invention rather than the time
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Blood Pressure
Lub-dub! Lub-dub! Lub-dub! This sound is made by the rapid contracting and extending of the chamber doors on the inside of the heart. This ventricular contracting injects roughly 70 mL of blood into a vascular system with a given volume at differing pressure. Blood pressure refers to the pressure in the arterial system; and it is typically taken in the brachial artery of the arm because the pressure at different places along the circulatory route is different. Blood pressure is simply the force that the blood exerts in all directions within any given area and is the basis for the movement of blood from the heart, through the body, and back to the heart. This pressure is commonly expressed as a ratio of the systolic pressure over the diastolic pressure. The systolic pressure or “high peak†pressure takes place within the arterial system as ventricles contract and force blood into the arteries. The diastolic pressure or “low peak†pressure takes place within this arterial system just before the next ventricular contraction. An increase in blood pressure can occur if the arterial walls lose some of their elasticity with age or disease.
Which of the following best summarizes the passage about blood pressure?
- A. The heart pumps roughly 70 mL of blood by rapidly contracting and extending the chamber doors of the heart. Disease and age affect the pressure of blood on arterial walls.
- B. The brachial artery of the arm is usually used to take blood pressure, although the pressure is different in different parts of the body.
- C. The measurement of the ratio of systolic pressure over the diastolic pressure is known as blood pressure.
- D. The force that blood exerts on arterial walls is known as blood pressure and is measured as a ratio of the systolic pressure or 'high peak' over the diastolic pressure or 'low peak.'
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The passage discusses blood pressure, explaining that it is the force blood exerts on arterial walls, measured as a ratio of systolic pressure (high peak) over diastolic pressure (low peak). It highlights how the heart pumps blood, the role of age and disease in affecting arterial pressure, and the importance of elasticity in arterial walls. Choice D best summarizes these key points, making it the correct answer.
A Bit About Bicycles: Children begin to taste freedom on bicycles. Historians believe that bicycles began around 3500 B.C. in the Middle East although it took 53 centuries before bicycles were fashioned in the way we know them today.
With over 1500 moving parts, bicycles are complex yet simple machines and amazingly the basic design has not changed since the 1880s. A few tweaks have been added, such as gears and hand-operated brakes, but bicycles remain a steady source of exercise and entertainment for both children and adults. Some forms of bicycling are mountain biking and BMX biking which is similar to cross-country motorcycle racing.
In many countries around the world, bicycles are a necessary part of daily existence. Bicycling in China is imperative if you want to go places, due to the vast population in a relatively small area. Bicycles are coming back in high demand all over the world.
The author intended the reader to
- A. move to China to ride bicycles.
- B. understand a bit about the history of bicycles.
- C. use a bicycle for mountain biking.
- D. believe that bicycles are the only way to exercise.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: understand a bit about the history of bicycles. In the given text, the author discusses the history of bicycles, mentioning their origins in the Middle East around 3500 B.C. and the evolution of bicycles over centuries. The text also highlights the complexity and simplicity of bicycles, their basic design remaining unchanged since the 1880s, and their significance in daily life worldwide. Therefore, the main intention of the author is to provide information about the history and importance of bicycles, making choice B the most appropriate. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect as they are not supported by the content of the text, which focuses on the history and significance of bicycles rather than promoting moving to China, engaging in mountain biking, or suggesting that bicycles are the only way to exercise.
Centuries ago, in the country of Siam, now known as Thailand, it was the custom of the rulers
that displeased them by giving the offender a white elephant. Because the animal was could not
be made to work as other elephants did, but still had to be fed hundreds of pounds of fruit and cared for in the most lavish style. The recipient could not give the elephant to anyone else, as it was the ruler, who would be greatly displeased should the recipient not receive the gift graciously or care for in a grand style. This monetary burden could be a major liability to the
recipient and in many cases they became impoverished.
This is the origin of the term "white elephant" as it is used today to denote an unwanted gift. The way of gift exchange played during the holiday season is an offshoot of this. In this game, everyone brings, and the gifts are exchanged by drawing numbers and picking a gift in turn. The
second person can choose or steal the first one. It is all in good fun, and people enjoy giving silly
gifts and "stealing" someone else.
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. People tried very hard not to offend the king, so they would not receive a white elephant.
- C. White elephants were highly prized as they were very hard workers in the cane fields.
- D. The people of Siam vied for the honor of receiving the king's gift or a white elephant.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B. In ancient Siam, receiving a white elephant was considered a burden and a sign of displeasure from the rulers. The white elephant was not a useful animal for work like other elephants and was costly to maintain, leading to financial difficulties for the recipient. Therefore, people made efforts not to offend the king to avoid receiving such an unwanted and costly gift, which could lead to their impoverishment.
The immune system is a network of cells, tissues, and organs that defends the body against attacks by foreign invaders. These invaders are primarily microbes—tiny organisms such as bacteria, parasites, and fungi— that can cause infections. Viruses also cause infections, but are too primitive to be classified as living organisms. The human body provides an ideal environment for many microbes. It is the immune system’s job to keep the microbes out or destroy them. The immune system is amazingly complex. It can recognize and remember millions of different enemies, and it can secrete fluids and cells to wipe out nearly all of them. The secret to its success is an elaborate and dynamic communications network. Millions of cells, organized into sets and subsets, gather and transfer information in response to an infection. Once immune cells receive the alarm, they produce powerful chemicals that help to regulate their own growth and behavior, enlist other immune cells, and direct the new recruits to trouble spots. Although scientists have learned much about the immune system, they continue to puzzle over how the body destroys invading microbes, infected cells, and tumors without harming healthy tissues. New technologies for identifying individual immune cells are now allowing scientists to determine quickly which targets are triggering an immune response. Improvements in microscopy are permitting the first-ever observations of living B cells, T cells, and other cells as they interact within lymph nodes and other body tissues. In addition, scientists are rapidly unraveling the genetic blueprints that direct the human immune response, as well as those that dictate the biology of bacteria, viruses, and parasites. The combination of new technology with expanded genetic information will no doubt reveal even more about how the body protects itself from disease.
What is the author's primary purpose in writing the essay?
- A. to persuade
- B. to analyze
- C. to inform
- D. to entertain
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is 'C: to inform.' The essay provides detailed information about the immune system, its functions, complexities, and the ongoing research in the field. The author's main goal is to educate and increase the reader's understanding of how the immune system works and its significance in protecting the body from diseases. There is no attempt to persuade, analyze for evaluation, or entertain the audience; instead, the focus is on imparting knowledge and insights about the immune system.
The Electoral College has nothing to do with college and contains no students. The Electoral
College consists of votes that each state acquires based on the number of representatives it has in Congress. Each state has two electoral votes because each state has two senators. The remaining electoral votes are determined by the number of Congressmen, the number of which is based on the
population of the state established by the Census taken each decade.
During the presidential election, most states cast all their electoral votes for the candidate who
wins the popular vote in that state. ItĆ¢Ä‚¬Ä„¢s all very confusing, but the founding fathers know what they were doing. By having and using the Electoral College candidatesĆ¢Ä‚¬Ä„¢ campaign in every state, but just because they win the popular vote across the country doesn't mean they will always win the election. Case in point, in election 2000, Al Gore won the popular vote across the country,
but George W. Bush won more electoral votes. Therefore, he became our 43rd president.
The author's reason for writing this piece seems to be to
- A. Inform the reader
- B. Teach the reader
- C. Persuade the reader
- D. Entertain the reader
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: 'Inform the reader.' The author's main purpose in the passage is to provide information about the Electoral College and how it functions. The passage explains the concept, structure, and historical context of the Electoral College without attempting to persuade or entertain the reader. The information presented is factual and intended to educate the reader on the subject matter, making 'Inform the reader' the most appropriate choice.