Nokea
"Don't be afraid." Sounds simple, but for some people it's not. Having the normal maction of being scared or frightened helps you to survive threats of all kinds, both physical and verbal. Most mild fears are outgrown during childhood; however, severe fears, called phoblas, are extreme and unreasonable. Phobias cause out-of-control feelings such as sickness, headaches, ulcers, and high blood pressure. Specific phoblas center around things, activities, or situations while people with social phoblas feel anxiety over social settings where they fear embarrassing situations.
Another type of phobia called panic disorder causes people to sweat, tremble, or even faint due to overwhelming panic which may occur at any time. By talking, breathing deeply, and visualizing, a person can gain control over debilitating phobias
According to the passage, why is having a phobia not normal and good?
- A. Phobias are extreme and unreasonable
- B. Phobias are common and natural
- C. Phobias can lead to positive outcomes
- D. Phobias are beneficial in some situations
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: 'Phobias are extreme and unreasonable.' The passage distinguishes between normal fears that help with survival and phobias, which are described as extreme and unreasonable. Phobias cause out-of-control feelings and physical symptoms, leading to severe reactions that are not proportionate to the actual threat. Therefore, phobias are considered abnormal and detrimental, contrasting with the normal and beneficial function of fear.
You may also like to solve these questions
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.
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.
According to the passage, which of the following statements is true?
- A. A quota system was in place from 1908.
- B. A peak period of immigration was in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
- C. Slaves were not counted in the first census.
- D. Only those who paid taxes were included in the first census.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B. The passage mentions that over the next 100 years after 1815, the United States took in about 35 million immigrants, with the highest numbers arriving in the late 1800s and early 1900s. This period is described as a peak period of immigration in the passage. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect based on the information provided in the passage. A quota system was established in 1924, not 1908. Slaves were counted in the first census, and not only those who paid taxes were included in the count.
Lightning Strikes: The old wives' tale of "Lightning never strikes twice" has been proven untrue time and time again. Lightning forms from negative and positive charges within clouds and from the earth below. When these charges react with each other, the air between the cloud and the earth ionizes, which produces a lightning flash. Lightning is actually a series of multiple events consisting of a leader stroke of lightning, followed by as many as 40 smaller strokes of lightning. Being just split seconds apart, these strokes of lightning often reflect off the lining of the clouds.
Lightning rods that extend from above the roof to the ground protect buildings by forming a low resistance path for the lightning so that the lightning does not enter the building, but rather defuses as it penetrates the ground.
Some myths about lightning need to be explained. Lightning does strike tall buildings often, and during a particularly violent storm, a tall building may be hit by lightning several times. The safest place during a thunder and lightning storm is in a metal car or lying flat, face down, in the open, not under a tree as the myth suggests.
Many people believe that thunder and lightning are connected; however, this proves to be true only about 50% of the time, so if you're waiting for the clap of thunder, you're missing out on some exciting strokes of lightning!
Lightning causes injuries, deaths, and forest fires each year. However, some scientists reveal the positive aspects of lightning because it releases nitrogen into the atmosphere which the raindrops then deliver to earth to fertilize our soil.
From the passage, the reader can conclude that lightning
- A. is always detrimental to the earth.
- B. consists of a main stroke and several smaller strokes.
- C. and thunder are always connected.
- D. is a rare occurrence.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Lightning consists of a main stroke and several smaller strokes. From the passage, it is mentioned that lightning is actually a series of multiple events consisting of a leader stroke of lightning, followed by as many as 40 smaller strokes of lightning. This indicates that lightning is not just a single occurrence but a sequence of events involving the main stroke followed by smaller strokes.
Choice A is incorrect as the passage mentions that lightning has positive aspects such as releasing nitrogen into the atmosphere. Choice C is incorrect as the passage states that thunder and lightning are connected only about 50% of the time. Choice D is incorrect as the passage does not indicate that lightning is a rare occurrence, in fact, it mentions that lightning causes injuries, deaths, and forest fires each year.
Blood Pressure Regulators
The body is composed of systems that have evolved and diversified in order to maintain the natural functions and processes they regulate. One such system that has these regulators is the bodyÄ€™s cardiovascular system. The bodyÄ€™s pump, which regulates the flow of vitally needed oxygen to all cells of the body, as well as the discard of carbon dioxide and other waste products, is the heart.
Because blood pressure varies at different points within the body, differing components are needed to keep the bodyÄ€™s blood pressure regulated. Three of the basic components are baroreceptors, chemoreceptors, and the kidneys.
Baroreceptors are stretch receptors composed of fine branching nerve endings and are contained along the walls of the arteries near the heart and in other areas of the body as well. Impulses are related to this stretching along the arterial walls, which causes these baroreceptors to send out even more impulses to the heart, arteries, and veins, causing the blood pressure to go either up or down.
Chemoreceptors are located along the walls of the arteries and monitor changes in oxygen level, carbon dioxide, and pH. Just think! A fall in oxygen causes receptors to send impulses to raise the blood pressure.
The kidneys play a role in regulating blood pressure by absorbing salts and water and removing wastes. Hormones secreted by the adrenal cortex cause the kidney to keep or let go of any salt and water. This has an influence on blood volume and consequently on blood pressure.
What is the best summary of this passage?
- A. The bodyÄ€™s pump, the heart, regulates the flow of oxygen to all cells of the body and discards waste products like carbon dioxide. The kidneys assist by absorbing salts and water.
- B. There are several systems that maintain the body's natural functions. The cardiovascular system regulates blood pressure through baroreceptors, chemoreceptors, and the kidneys.
- C. Baroreceptors, located along the walls of arteries, help regulate blood pressure by sending impulses to the heart, arteries, and veins.
- D. Chemoreceptors monitor changes in oxygen levels that impact blood pressure.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because it provides a concise and accurate summary of the passage. It highlights the different components involved in regulating blood pressure, including baroreceptors, chemoreceptors, and the kidneys within the cardiovascular system. This choice effectively captures the main points discussed in the passage, emphasizing the systems responsible for maintaining the body's natural functions and regulating blood pressure.
About 6% of the earth is covered by rainforests. The largest rainforest in the world is the
Amazon Basin, which stretches over 2.3 million square miles in nine different South American countries. This area is double the length of all the other remaining rainforests in the world. Brazil contains 60%of the Amazonian rainforest, since it lies at the mouth of the river Amazon. This river is the second largest in the world and contains more than one-fifth oftheworldĆ¢Ä‚¬Ä„¢sfresh water. The Amazon rainforest is a type of wet broadleaf forest. The weather there is very humid and warm as it rains quite a bit. Because of the high rainfall, the forest is very rich and green. The
tree leaves are pointed and narrow so that the raindrops can easily drop off wet plants. This
tropical rainforest has more living species than the entire European continent. There are over 400 types of insects living in one single rain forest tree for a total of 2.5 million species. One square kilometer of rainforest may contain over 75,000 types of trees and approximately 438,000
different kinds of plants, which comes to a total of 90,000 tons of greenery overall. The Amazon rainforest is home to 2,000 birds and mammals, with one in every five birds in the world living there. Local farmers have lived off this rich and diverse land for thousands of years. They have been able to find food and water here without destroying the land. The Kayapo people of Brazil
farm in an environmentally-friendly way. Instead of chemicals, they use burned wood to enrich the soil, and plant banana trees, which attract wasps. These wasps then feed on leafcutter ants and get rid of these harmful insects. The rainforest also offers a lot of tropical fruits, such as bananas and coconuts, as food.
Cinnamon is made from the bark of a rainforest tree. Amazonian Indians use the fruit and stem
of the Buruti plant as a drink, to make bread and to build houses. Many other plants are used as medicine. But the Amazon rainforest is in very big danger of disappearing. 9,169 square miles of
forest have been cut down in 2003 in Brazil alone. An area of the size of a football field is burned down basically every minute, which means that the rain forest may be gone by the year 2030.The dangers related to this type of activity are obvious. Trees take in poisonous carbon
dioxide from the air and give off oxygen. There is more oxygen and less carbon dioxide around a
rainforest. When trees are cut down, however, the amount of carbon dioxide increases, and the
air gets warmer. This leads to global warming, which is extremely harmful to the environment. It
is estimated that the burning of Brazilian rainforests alone produces 200 million metric tons of carbon dioxide ayear. Another danger connected with destroying the rainforest is the disappearance of plants and animals. When trees are cut down, plants and animals have no more
food left and slowly die out. Killing wild animals is illegal in Brazil, but there is plenty of stealing going on. 38 million animals are stolen and sold illegally each year. The most hunted
animals are birds, especially parrots, followed by snakes and the jaguar.
How can you describe the Amazon rainforest?
- A. It rains all the time, making the forest consistently green.
- B. The weather is hot, which deters many tourists from visiting.
- C. The plants have pointed and narrow shapes to allow rainwater to easily pour off them.
- D. The Amazon River provides a significant amount of fresh water.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A. The description of the Amazon rainforest provided in the passage emphasizes the high levels of rainfall in the region, leading to a very humid and warm environment that supports lush greenery. The passage mentions that the tree leaves are shaped in a way that raindrops can easily drop off wet plants, contributing to the constant greenness of the forest. This information aligns with choice A, making it the most accurate description of the Amazon rainforest based on the provided passage.