Homophones
English is a vibrant, changing, dynamic language. It allows people to express their thoughts in diverse ways, as there are many synonyms and antonyms to choose from. The hardest part for the English speaker - or those learning English as a second language - is learning about homonyms. These are words that sound alike but are spelled different ways, with different meanings.
One example is "One". This word, spelled "one" means the numeral 1, an amount. If spelled "won," it means to be victorious. No wonder spelling is a difficult skill to master! Other homonyms encountered by the beginning English speaker are "to, two, too," "four, for, fore," "there, their, they're" and "son, sun" to name just a few. This is one reason that "Spell check" programs on word processing computers cannot be completely accurate, because the way a word is spelled depends on the context of the sentence. Proofreaders will always be in demand.
How does the article define homonyms?
- A. Words that have the same spelling but different meanings
- B. Words that sound alike but have different meanings and spellings
- C. Words that have opposite meanings
- D. Words that are spelled the same but pronounced differently
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The article defines homonyms as words that sound alike but have different meanings and spellings. This definition is accurate because homonyms are words that are pronounced similarly but have different meanings and may also have different spellings. Examples provided in the text, such as 'one' and 'won,' demonstrate this concept. Therefore, the correct answer is B.
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The immune system is a network of cells, tissues, and organs that defends the body against attacks by foreign invaders. These invaders are primarily microbesâìtiny organisms such as bacteria, parasites, and fungiâì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 systemâìĄ¢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: In the second paragraph, 'enlist' is used in the context of immune cells responding to an infection by calling other immune cells into service to address the issue. Therefore, the correct meaning of 'enlist' in this context is 'call into service.' The immune system works by activating and directing different cells to combat threats, highlighting the importance of mobilizing immune cells into action to fight infections.
Food
Food and drink are necessary and desirable, but their abuse can cause serious physical and mental problems. Many physicians believe that overeating is one of the countryÄ€™s main health problems, since It places a great strain on the heart, can lead to diabetes, and often shortens the individual's life span. To fill an emotional void, people often turn to food when they are bored or lonely.
Another area of concern is alcohol consumption. The results of alcohol abuse are widely publicized. The social drinker who becomes alcoholic, the drunken drivers contribution to highway deaths, spousal and child abuse, are all concomitant problems associated with alcohol abuse.
As used in the last sentence of this paragraph, the term 'concomitant' means
- A. quiet
- B. unpredictable
- C. separate
- D. accompanying
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The term 'concomitant' refers to something that accompanies or occurs alongside something else. In the context of the sentence, it describes the problems associated with alcohol abuse that occur together with issues such as drunken driving and spousal or child abuse. Therefore, the correct answer is D, meaning 'accompanying.'
Exams
Subjective exams measure your ability in several areas. Besides recall information, you must be able to organize content logically and intelligently express yourself in a clearly understood manner. Subjective tests provide a greater opportunity for students to show their broad knowledge of a subject area. Answers may be in the form of paragraphs or lengthy essays.
When you review for an essay exam, concentrate on main ideas rather than details. Since essay tests are limited to a few questions, they are likely to deal with more important ideas of a subject. Prepare a list of questions that you think might be asked. Write an answer to each of your questions. Rather than writing complete sentences, jot down your thoughts in outline form. Doing so will help you organize the information so that you can express yourself clearly.
When you take the test, read through all the questions before you start to write. Allot time for each question, allowing more time for questions worth the most points. Read each question carefully to determine exactly what is being asked. Pay attention to words such as define, illustrate, explain, list, compare, and contrast. Each word requires a different type of response.
In answering subjective questions, the student should
- A. keep it brief and specific.
- B. capitalize the matching letters.
- C. include more than is asked.
- D. write out the words - true or false.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: When answering subjective questions, it is advised to keep responses brief and specific, as indicated in the passage. While subjective exams allow for detailed answers, focusing on main ideas and organizing thoughts clearly is crucial. This approach suggests that students should provide concise and to-the-point responses while still ensuring they cover the topic adequately. Therefore, option A aligns best with the recommended strategy for answering subjective questions.
The Water Cycle
Water is needed to sustain practically all life functions on planet Earth. A single drop of this compound is composed of an oxygen atom that shares its electrons with each of the two hydrogen atoms.
The cycle starts when precipitation, such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail, descends from the sky onto the ground. Water that is not absorbed immediately from the precipitation is known as runoff. The runoff flows across the land and collects in groundwater reservoirs, rivers, streams, and oceans.
Evaporation takes place when liquid water changes into water vapor, which is a gas. Water vapor returns to the air from surface water and plants.
Ultimately, condensation happens when this water vapor cools and changes back into droplets of liquid. In fact, the puffy, cotton clouds that we observe are formed by condensation. When the clouds become heavily laden with liquid droplets, precipitation ensues.
What was the author's primary purpose for writing this essay?
- A. To persuade the reader to conserve water
- B. To persuade the reader that runoff is not the best way to collect water
- C. To analyze different types of runoff
- D. To inform the reader about the stages of the water cycle
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D. The essay provides a detailed explanation of the stages of the water cycle, including precipitation, runoff, evaporation, and condensation. The author's primary purpose is to inform the reader about how water moves through the environment in a continuous cycle. This information helps readers understand the importance of water in sustaining life on Earth and how different processes contribute to the distribution and conservation of water resources.
Food
Food and drink are necessary and desirable, but their
abuse can cause serious physical and metal problem.
Many physicians believe that overeating is one of the
country's main health problems, since it places a great
strain on the heart, can lead to diabetes, and often shortens
the individual's life span. To fill an emotional void. People
often turn to food when they are bored or lonely.
Another area of concern is alcohol consumption. The
results of alcohol abuse are widely publicized. The social
drinker who becomes alcoholic, the drunken driver's
contribution to highway death, spousal and child abuse,
are all concomitant problems associated with alcohol
abuse.
The information presented in this article is?
- A. Against eating and drinking
- B. Against drinking alcohol
- C. Against eating rich foods
- D. Unbiased in its approach
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Unbiased in its approach. The article discusses the necessity and desirability of food and drink but also highlights the potential harms and issues associated with their abuse. It addresses concerns related to overeating, alcohol consumption, and the consequences of alcohol abuse. The article presents a balanced view by acknowledging the benefits of food and drink while also highlighting the negative impacts of their abuse, making it unbiased in its approach.
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