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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.
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"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
What physical ailments can phobias cause?
- A. Ulcers and hypertension
- B. Nausea and dizziness
- C. Asthma and diabetes
- D. Insomnia and fatigue
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Phobias can lead to physical ailments such as ulcers and hypertension. The text mentions that severe fears, known as phobias, can result in out-of-control feelings causing sickness, headaches, ulcers, and high blood pressure. Therefore, choice A, 'Ulcers and hypertension,' is the correct answer as these are specifically cited as physical ailments associated with phobias.
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 meaning of the word enlist as it is used in the second paragraph?
- A. call into service
- B. write down
- C. send away
- D. put across
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: 'call into service.' In the context of the paragraph, the word 'enlist' is used to describe the action of recruiting or bringing in other immune cells to trouble spots. This aligns with the meaning of 'call into service,' as it reflects the process of mobilizing additional immune cells to respond to an infection. The other choices, 'write down,' 'send away,' and 'put across,' do not accurately capture the intended meaning of 'enlist' in this context.
ELECTORAL COLLEGE
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. It's all very confusing, but the founding fathers know what they were doing. Downloaded by Abdul Hamid (a.ahamid2181@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|10672023 HESI A2 V2 Grammar, Vocab, Reading, & Math Questions with Answers). By having and using the Electoral College candidates' 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. Entertain the reader with anecdotes
- B. Persuade the reader to support a specific candidate
- C. Teach the reader
- D. Criticize the electoral process
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C. The passage aims to educate the reader about the Electoral College system and its functioning. It provides factual information about how the Electoral College operates, including the allocation of electoral votes based on a state's representation in Congress. There is no indication in the passage that the author's intention was to entertain, persuade, or criticize. By clarifying the purpose of the Electoral College and how it impacts presidential elections, the author is primarily focused on teaching the reader about this aspect of the political process.
The Rainforest: The Amazon River Basin is home to the largest rainforest on Earth. The basin—roughly the size of the forty-eight contiguous United States—covers some 40% of the South American continent, and portions of eight countries. The basin is drained by the Amazon River, the world’s largest river in terms of discharge, and the second longest river in the world after the Nile.
Since 1970, over 600,000 square kilometers (232,000 square miles) of Amazon rainforest have been destroyed. This deforestation is mainly due to land clearing for pastureland by commercial and speculative interests, misguided government policies, and commercial exploitation of forest resources.
Deforestation of the rainforest has long-term implications. The loss of habitat for many creatures ensures their extinction. The loss of vegetation depletes the oxygen in the atmosphere, which some say causes global warming.
What statement is implied by the paragraph?
- A. Much needed pasture and farmland can be obtained by clearing the land.
- B. People should leave the rainforest alone to evolve.
- C. Deforestation has long-term consequences we still do not know about.
- D. Deforestation of the Amazon rainforest is a consequence of progress.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Deforestation has long-term consequences we still do not know about.
Rationale:
1. The paragraph discusses the destruction of the Amazon rainforest and highlights the long-term implications of deforestation.
2. It mentions the loss of habitat for creatures leading to extinction and the depletion of oxygen causing global warming.
3. The statement implies that there are ongoing and potentially unknown consequences of deforestation.
4. Choice A is incorrect as it focuses on the immediate benefits of clearing land for pasture, ignoring the long-term consequences discussed.
5. Choice B is too simplistic and does not address the complexity of the issue as presented in the paragraph.
6. Choice D is also incorrect as it oversimplifies the issue by associating deforestation solely with progress without considering the negative impacts discussed.
Foodborne illnesses are contracted by eating food or drinking beverages contaminated with bacteria, parasites, or viruses. Harmful chemicals can also cause foodborne illnesses if they have contaminated food during harvesting or processing. Foodborne illnesses can cause symptoms ranging from upset stomach to diarrhea, fever, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and dehydration. Most foodborne infections are undiagnosed and unreported, though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that every year about 76 million people in the United States become ill from pathogens in food. About 5,000 of these people die. Harmful bacteria are the most common cause of foodborne illness. Some bacteria may be present at the point of purchase. Raw foods are the most common source of foodborne illnesses because they are not sterile; examples include raw meat and poultry contaminated during slaughter. Seafood may become contaminated during harvest or processing. One in 10,000 eggs may be contaminated with Salmonella inside the shell. Produce, such as spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, sprouts, and melons, can become contaminated with Salmonella, Shigella, or Escherichia coli (E. coli). Contamination can occur during growing, harvesting, processing, storing, shipping, or final preparation. Sources of produce contamination vary, as these foods are grown in soil and can become contaminated during growth, processing, or distribution. Contamination may also occur during food preparation in a restaurant or a home kitchen. The most common form of contamination from handled foods is the calicivirus, also called the Norwalk-like virus. When food is cooked and left out for more than two hours at room temperature, bacteria can multiply quickly. Most bacteria don’t produce an odor or change in color or texture, so they can be impossible to detect. Freezing food slows or stops bacteria’s growth but does not destroy the bacteria. The microbes can become reactivated when the food is thawed. Refrigeration also can slow the growth of some bacteria. Thorough cooking is required to destroy the bacteria.
What is the main subject of the passage?
- A. foodborne illnesses
- B. the dangers of uncooked food
- C. bacteria
- D. proper food preparation
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The main subject of the passage is foodborne illnesses, as it extensively covers how they are contracted, symptoms they can cause, common sources of contamination, and preventive measures like thorough cooking. While the text mentions bacteria and proper food preparation as related topics, the primary focus is on foodborne illnesses caused by various contaminants.