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There are historical references to animal displays and athletic competitions from the earliest days of civilization.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 does 'cavorting' mean in the second paragraph?
- A. Making balloon animals
- B. Hitting each other
- C. Squirting water at the audience
- D. Running and jumping
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: In the context of the passage, 'cavorting' generally means to jump or leap around in a lively or playful way. It describes clowns moving about energetically in a fun and playful manner, aligning with the idea of running and jumping. The word 'cavorting' adds to the colorful and exciting imagery of the circus performance described in the text.
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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 Game of Bridge
The ebb and flow of laughter and silence fills the room as
four old friends gather to engage in a round of Bridge
playing. For the beginner, Bridge can be complicated, but
with time, effort, and a good teacher, even the novice can
become proficient.
Composed of two main parts, bidding and playing, Bridge
requires the player's undivided attention. The dealer deals
the entire deck of playing cards evenly between the for
players, with each person receiving thirteen cards. In the
bidding portion of the game, the four suits of cards in the
deck are ranked highest to lowest as follows:
spades, hearts, diamonds, and finally clubs. However,
during play all the suits of cards are considered equals,
and they go from highest to lowest from the ace being
high to the two cards being low. The highest number of
tricks wins. A trick is one card played by each player for a
total of four. After the lead player lays down his/her card,
the other players follow suit, if possible. The highest card
within the four "same suit" cards played wins the trick
and picks up all four cards. If a player cannot follow suit,
he/she plays any card, but to make the game more
interesting and challenging, one suit is named a trump suit
which means that if a player plays a card from the trump
suit, it always wins the trick. If two cards from the trump
suit are played, the highest card within the trump suit
wins the trick. Obviously, the team with the most tricks
wins the hand.
Throughout this passage, the word 'suit' means
- A. A set of clothing to be worn together
- B. Any of the four sets into which a deck of cards is divided
- C. To be convenient or right for
- D. To request or appeal persistently
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In the context of the passage describing the game of Bridge, the word 'suit' refers to any of the four sets into which a deck of cards is divided, namely spades, hearts, diamonds, and clubs. These suits are used in both the bidding and playing phases of the game to determine card ranking and gameplay. Therefore, option B is the correct choice as it aligns with the specific meaning of 'suit' as related to playing cards in the context provided.
Nurseries
If you thought nurseries were just for babies, well, think again! Being special kinds of farms, nurseries are used to raise plants in mass quantities. Plants, trees, and shrubs are typically grown in nurseries and then sold to farmers and gardeners to plant in homes, businesses and farms. Most nurseries are found in the more rural parts the country because much land is required to have a viable nursery. If a nursery sells plants to others, it must obtain a special permit from the local city or county, which keeps the competition fair and does not saturate the market with a large number of nurseries selling similar products.
Also on the grounds of nurseries are greenhouses which are made of glass or plastic panes that protect the plants from weather elements that may harm them and cause them not to grow and develop. The glass panels in greenhouses allow for sunlight to enter and moisture to be trapped inside. This creates a tropical environment which allows orchids and poinsettias to grow. It ensures that vegetables and fruits will grow large, which makes them valuable to farmers.
What are nurseries primarily known as?
- A. Special types of farms.
- B. Places where people go for medical treatment.
- C. Schools for young children.
- D. Stores that sell electronics.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Nurseries are primarily known as special types of farms where plants, trees, and shrubs are grown in mass quantities. These plants are then sold to farmers and gardeners for planting in various settings. The information provided in the extract clearly describes nurseries as agricultural establishments focused on plant cultivation, making choice A the correct answer.
Nurseries
If you thought nurseries were just for babies, well, think again! Being special kinds of farms, nurseries are used to raise plants in mass quantities. Plants, trees, and shrubs are typically grown in nurseries and then sold to farmers and gardeners to plant in homes, businesses and farms. Most nurseries are found in the more rural parts the country because much land is required to have a viable nursery. If a nursery sells plants to others, it must obtain a special permit from the local city or county, which keeps the competition fair and does not saturate the market with a large number of nurseries selling similar products.
Also on the grounds of nurseries are greenhouses which are made of glass or plastic panes that protect the plants from weather elements that may harm them and cause them not to grow and develop. The glass panels in greenhouses allow for sunlight to enter and moisture to be trapped inside. This creates a tropical environment which allows orchids and poinsettias to grow. It ensures that vegetables and fruits will grow large, which makes them valuable to farmers.
The author implied that:
- A. Nurseries are helpful for farmers.
- B. Nurseries are a waste of resources.
- C. Nurseries are only useful for large-scale commercial operations.
- D. Nurseries are unnecessary and rarely used.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: 'Nurseries are helpful for farmers.' The passage discusses nurseries being special farms used to raise plants in mass quantities, which are then sold to farmers and gardeners for planting in various settings. The author highlights the importance of nurseries in providing plants, trees, and shrubs to farmers, businesses, and individuals, indicating that nurseries play a crucial role in supporting agriculture and horticulture. This is further reinforced by the mention of greenhouses within nurseries that help protect plants and create optimal growing conditions, ensuring the success of various crops. Therefore, the implication is that nurseries are beneficial and essential for farmers and those involved in planting and cultivation.
Nurseries
If you thought nurseries were just for babies, well, think again! Being special kinds of farms, nurseries are used to raise plants in mass quantities. Plants, trees, and shrubs are typically grown in nurseries and then sold to farmers and gardeners to plant in homes, businesses and farms. Most nurseries are found in the more rural parts the country because much land is required to have a viable nursery. If a nursery sells plants to others, it must obtain a special permit from the local city or county, which keeps the competition fair and does not saturate the market with a large number of nurseries selling similar products.
Also on the grounds of nurseries are greenhouses which are made of glass or plastic panes that protect the plants from weather elements that may harm them and cause them not to grow and develop. The glass panels in greenhouses allow for sunlight to enter and moisture to be trapped inside. This creates a tropical environment which allows orchids and poinsettias to grow. It ensures that vegetables and fruits will grow large, which makes them valuable to farmers.
Why is a special permit needed for nurseries?
- A. To ensure nurseries comply with safety regulations.
- B. To prevent an oversaturation of the market with nurseries and ensure there are enough buyers for the plants.
- C. To regulate the quality of plants sold in nurseries.
- D. To offer financial assistance to new nursery owners.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A special permit is required for nurseries to prevent an oversaturation of the market with nurseries, ensuring that there are enough buyers for the plants being sold. This regulation helps maintain a balance in the market and prevents an imbalance where there are more suppliers than demand, which could lead to financial losses for nursery owners. By controlling the number of nurseries through permits, the market can remain stable, benefiting both the nurseries and the buyers.
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