Nokea
"Phobias — 'Don’t be afraid.' Sounds simple, but for some people it's not. Having the normal reaction 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 phobias, are extreme and unreasonable. Phobias cause out-of-control feelings such as sickness, headaches, ulcers, and high blood pressure. Specific phobias center around things, activities, or situations while people with social phobias 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 does the author want the reader to know about phobias?
- A. Phobias help people to survive threats.
- B. That phobias are debilitating.
- C. Phobias only happen in social settings.
- D. That people can gain control over phobias.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The passage emphasizes that phobias are severe and unreasonable fears that can lead to debilitating physical and emotional symptoms, such as sickness and high blood pressure. While the author also mentions that people can gain control over phobias, the primary focus of the passage is to highlight their debilitating nature. Therefore, the correct answer is B, as it accurately reflects the author's intent to inform readers about the debilitating effects of phobias.
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Linking San Francisco to Marin County in California, the Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most famous bridges in the world. The bridge crosses over a narrow strait which connects the Pacific Ocean to San Francisco Bay. Prior to the bridge, people traveled by ferry boat across the strait.
Although most people thought a bridge was necessary to expedite travel, some residents of the
bay area felt the risk of building the bridge was too great. Joseph Strauss believed that nothing was impossible, and dreams would never come to fruition if risks weren't taken. So, he decided to gather the best and brightest builders, architects, and workers to embark on the challenge of
building a bridge across the Golden Gate Strait. With safety nets in place, the construction began in 1937. Building the anchorages first, the
builders then move on to the towers on each end, and then to the three-foot thick cables to support the suspension bridge. Lastly, workers labored to complete the roadway which became
the most dangerous and treacherous part of the entire task. The builders had to keep the bridge
balance, so it wouldn't fall into the bay.
Today, over sixty-five years later, the bridge remains a life-line for the people of the San Francisco Bay Area.
What body of water does the Golden Gate Bridge cross?
- A. San Francisco Bay
- B. Pacific Ocean
- C. Marin Strait
- D. Golden Gate Strait
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The Golden Gate Bridge crosses over the Golden Gate Strait, linking San Francisco to Marin County in California. The strait connects the Pacific Ocean to San Francisco Bay. It is essential to understand the specific geography of the area to correctly identify the body of water crossed by the bridge. Therefore, the correct answer is D, Golden Gate Strait.
Glass
I wonder who first discovered glass. This commodity has been a part of civilization from the very beginning. Imagine a world without glass! How dark and dismal it would be. No windows, corrective lenses, telescopes, microscopes, cameras, sparkly drinking containers or mirrors. Life would not be the same without this wonderful discovery. Thank you, whoever found glass!
Glass is not an element, but a combination of several elements. It is a hard, brittle, transparent solid material composed mainly of silica, with additives to change the character of the glass. Common additives are soda, lime, lead, and boron. Each additive changes the properties of the final product. Soda and lime are the most common additives, accounting for about 90% of glass production. Adding lead increases reflectivity, causing the glass to "sparkle." The addition of boron changes the thermal and electrical properties of glass, allowing cookware that can be used in the oven without shattering.
What conclusion can be drawn from the article?
- A. Glass is an essential part of our lives.
- B. Glass is rarely utilized in everyday items.
- C. Glass production is harmful to the environment.
- D. Glass technology is outdated and ineffective.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: 'Glass is an essential part of our lives.' The passage highlights the significance of glass by mentioning its various uses in everyday items like windows, corrective lenses, telescopes, microscopes, cameras, drinking containers, and mirrors. It emphasizes how life would be different without glass, implying its essential role in modern civilization. The passage also discusses the composition and characteristics of glass, underlining its importance and versatility. Therefore, the statement that best reflects the implied message of the article is that glass is an essential part of our lives.
Electrocardiogram
The rhythmic sounds of "beep... beep... beep..." signify the measurement of the heart muscle's strength. This rhythmic signal varies from person to person and is recorded as an electrocardiogram (ECG). Within the body, a complex array of systemic neural responses generates electric currents that can be detected on the skin's surface. When a person is connected to an amplifier, these impulses are captured by an electrocardiograph. Most of the information gathered pertains to the heart, as it emits electric currents in waves. This "wave of excitation" propagates through the heart wall and is associated with electrical changes. The process occurs in three distinct phases. First, the "wave of excitation," accompanied by an electrical change, lasts for about 1 to 2 seconds following the contraction of the cardiac muscle. These electrical impulses are rhythmically discharged from the sinoatrial (SA) node, which acts as the heart's natural pacemaker, signaling the atrium to contract. The peak of the ECG reading is attributed to the atrioventricular (AV) node, which triggers the excitation of the ventricles. Finally, as the ventricles relax, any changes in the wave pattern can alert trained medical personnel to potential abnormalities within the heart.
What is the best summary of the passage?
- A. Electric currents within the body are due to electrostatic charges set off by the heart. Medical staff are trained to recognize any abnormalities within the heart.
- B. Every individual has unique electric currents on the surface of the body. The ECG measures and records these electric currents.
- C. The ECG systematically and rather quickly measures the stages at which the "wave of excitation" occurs within the heart and records them. This wave has three distinct steps that spread from the SA node to the AV node.
- D. The ECG measures the electric currents within the body. These currents are detected on the surface of the body when the body is connected to an amplifier.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C because it accurately summarizes the passage by highlighting that the ECG systematically measures the stages of the 'wave of excitation' within the heart. This wave has three distinct steps that spread from the SA node to the AV node. The other options either focus on general information about electric currents or do not capture the specific details provided in the passage about the ECG and the heart's electrical activity.
Glass
I wonder who first discovered glass. This commodity has been a part of civilization from the very beginning. Imagine a world without glass! How dark and dismal it would be. No windows, corrective lenses, telescopes, microscopes, cameras, sparkly drinking containers or mirrors. Life would not be the same without this wonderful discovery. Thank you, whoever found glass!
Glass is not an element, but a combination of several elements. It is a hard, brittle, transparent solid material composed mainly of silica, with additives to change the character of the glass. Common additives are soda, lime, lead, and boron. Each additive changes the properties of the final product. Soda and lime are the most common additives, accounting for about 90% of glass production. Adding lead increases reflectivity, causing the glass to "sparkle." The addition of boron changes the thermal and electrical properties of glass, allowing cookware that can be used in the oven without shattering.
What is the definition of 'brittle'?
- A. Flexible and resilient
- B. Easily broken
- C. Hard and fragile
- D. Tough and sturdy
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct definition of 'brittle' is being 'easily broken,' making choice B the correct answer. Brittle materials are prone to breaking, cracking, or shattering when subjected to stress or pressure. In the context of glass, being described as 'brittle' means that it can break easily without much deformation or flexibility, unlike materials that are tough or resilient. Therefore, understanding the properties of materials like glass, including its brittleness, is crucial in various applications and industries.
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 of 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.
By writing this piece the author implied that
- A. Nurseries are a nuisance to cities and counties.
- B. Greenhouses are not necessary to grow flowers.
- C. Nurseries are only for babies.
- D. Nurseries are helpful to farmers.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Nurseries are helpful to farmers. The author explicitly states that nurseries raise plants in mass quantities, which are then sold to farmers and gardeners. This implies that nurseries play a crucial role in providing plants for agricultural purposes, making them helpful to farmers. The passage also mentions that nurseries require special permits to sell plants, ensuring fair competition and preventing market saturation, further highlighting their importance to farmers.
Choice A is incorrect because the passage does not state that nurseries are a nuisance to cities and counties. Choice B is incorrect as greenhouses are portrayed as essential for protecting plants from harmful weather elements. Choice C is incorrect as the passage clearly states that nurseries are used to raise plants, trees, and shrubs, not just for babies.