Nokea
Laughter: One of the best ways to understand a group of people is to know what makes them laugh. Laughter encompasses the limits of the soul and serves social, psychological, and physiological functions. In humor, life is redefined and accepted. Irony and satire provide much deeper insights into a group's collective psyche and values than do years of research. It has always been a great disappointment to Native Americans that the humorous side of their life has not been mentioned by experts on Native American affairs. Rather, the image of the stern-faced redskin has been presented by the American Westerns.
The author seems to
- A. take an impartial view on the issue.
- B. favor the current image of the Native Americans.
- C. oppose spending money on Native American affairs.
- D. favor research into Native American humor.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because the author expresses disappointment that experts on Native American affairs have not mentioned the humorous side of their life. This indicates a favor towards research into Native American humor.
A is incorrect because the author shows a clear opinion on the issue by expressing disappointment. B is incorrect as the author criticizes the current image of Native Americans. C is incorrect as there is no mention of opposing spending money on Native American affairs.
In summary, the author favors research into Native American humor as it is highlighted as a neglected aspect that should be explored further.
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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.
What does the author refer to when he says 'rich and diverse land' at the beginning of paragraph 3?
- A. 400 types of insects in the Amazon rainforest
- B. 2,000 birds and mammals in the Amazon rainforest
- C. The many kinds of plants growing in the Amazon rainforest
- D. The large variety of Amazonian plants and animals
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: When the author mentions 'rich and diverse land' at the beginning of paragraph 3, they are referring to the incredible biodiversity of the Amazon rainforest, specifically highlighting the presence of 2,000 birds and mammals. This biodiversity includes a wide range of species that contribute to the richness and diversity of the ecosystem, making the Amazon rainforest a unique and vital habitat for numerous animals and plants. The reference to 2,000 birds and mammals emphasizes the vast array of wildlife that thrives in this environment, showcasing the richness and diversity of life forms present in the Amazon rainforest.
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.
How many immigrants were taken in over the 100 years leading up to 1915?
- A. Probably about 1 million
- B. About 35 million
- C. 8.4 million
- D. About 4 million
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: About 35 million. The text mentions that over the 100 years leading up to 1915, the United States took in approximately 35 million immigrants. This period saw a significant influx of immigrants, with the largest numbers coming in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The Immigration Act of 1924 later limited immigration, reducing the number of immigrants admitted per year. Answer choices A, C, and D do not align with the information provided in the text regarding the influx of immigrants during this period.
Let's Go to the Circus
Everyone loves a circus! The bright lights, fanciful costumes, and fierce wild animals delight and entertain folks of all ages. The circus calls to the child in each one of us. Ernest Hemingway wrote that it "is the only ageless delight that you can buy for money..."
"Circus" is a magic word inspiring all sorts of exciting, colorful images. It's a theater of mind-boggling feats, elephants thundering around the rings, horses dancing, clowns cavorting and the sequins glittering under the lights.
There are historical references to animal displays and athletic competitions from the earliest days of civilization. The Romans were famous for their extravaganzas in the Coliseum. The shows we see today cannot compare to those great spectacles, but all who go to a circus enjoy the experience. It allows us all to be a child again and watch in awe as the athletes perform on the high wire or control the savage beasts in the center ring.
What seems to be the author's motive for writing the paragraph?
- A. Provide historical facts that are interesting to know.
- B. Berate the reader for not going to the circus.
- C. Encourage people to attend a circus.
- D. Recover the child-like awe for the reader.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The passage emphasizes how the circus 'calls to the child in each one of us' and describes awe-inspiring performances like 'thundering elephants' and 'glittering sequins.' These vivid descriptions aim to evoke a sense of wonder, reminding readers of the magic and excitement associated with childhood. Thus, the author's motive is to rekindle this childlike awe, rather than providing historical facts, scolding the reader, or promoting attendance at a circus.
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.
What is the purpose of lightning rods according to the passage?
- A. Attract lightning to specific locations
- B. Protect buildings by drawing lightning away from them
- C. Increase the frequency of lightning strikes
- D. Store electrical energy from lightning strikes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The passage explains that lightning rods protect buildings by providing a low resistance path for lightning, diverting it away from the building and safely into the ground. This helps prevent lightning from directly striking and damaging the building, making choice B the correct answer. Lightning rods do not attract lightning to specific locations (choice A), increase the frequency of lightning strikes (choice C), or store electrical energy from lightning strikes (choice D), as their primary function is to protect structures by providing a path for lightning to follow.
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 bodyĆ¢Ä‚¬Ä„¢s cardiovascular system. The bodyĆ¢Ä‚¬Ä„¢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 bodyĆ¢Ä‚¬Ä„¢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.
Which statement is not a detail from the passage?
- A. 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.
- B. Chemoreceptors are located along the walls of the arteries and monitor changes in oxygen level, carbon dioxide, and pH.
- C. The kidneys play a role in regulating blood pressure by absorbing salts and water.
- D. The heart is the body's pump, which regulates the flow of vitally needed oxygen to all cells of the body.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because the statement incorrectly describes baroreceptors as 'rigid and static,' whereas the passage describes them as 'stretch receptors composed of fine branching nerve endings.' The passage details that baroreceptors are contained along the walls of the arteries near the heart and in other areas of the body, and they send out messages related to stretching along the arterial walls. Choices B, C, and D are all details directly supported by the passage, making them incorrect answers to the question.