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Cystic fibrosis is a disease that is passed down through families. It is caused by a defective gene
that makes the body produce abnormally thick and sticky fluid, called mucus. This mucus builds
up in the breathing passages of the lungs and in the pancreas. The buildup of mucus results in
life-threatening lung infections and serious digestion problems. The disease may also affect the
sweat glands and a man's reproductive system. Millions of Americans carry a CF gene, but do
not have symptoms. This is because a person with CF must inherit two defective genes, one from
each parent. About 1 in 29 Caucasian Americans have the CF gene. It is more common among
those of northern or central European descent. Most children with CF are diagnosed by age 2.
For a small number, the disease is not detected until age 18 or older. These children often have a
milder form of the disease.
What is the main purpose of the passage?
- A. To describe the causes of cystic fibrosis
- B. To explain how cystic fibrosis is passed down through families
- C. To overview the causes of CF and how it is carried
- D. To review why some Americans have CF, but others do not
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The passage provides an overview of cystic fibrosis, explaining that it is a disease passed down through families due to a defective gene. It describes how the defective gene leads to the production of abnormally thick and sticky fluid, mucus, which affects the lungs, pancreas, sweat glands, and reproductive system. The passage also mentions the prevalence of the CF gene in certain populations and the age at which most children are diagnosed with the disease. Therefore, the main purpose of the passage is to give an overview of the causes of cystic fibrosis and how it is inherited, making choice C the correct answer.
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Searching for medical information can be confusing, especially for first-timers. However, if you are patient and stick to it, you can find a wealth of information. Your community library is a good place to start your search for medical information. Before going to the library, you may find it helpful to make a list of topics you want information about and questions you have. Your list of topics and questions will make it easier for the librarian to direct you to the best resources. Many community libraries have a collection of basic medical references. These references may include medical dictionaries or encyclopedias, drug information handbooks, basic medical and nursing textbooks, and directories of physicians and medical specialists (listings of doctors). You may also find magazine articles on a certain topic. Look in the Reader’s Guide to Periodical Literature for articles on health and medicine from consumer magazines. Infotrac, a CD-ROM computer database available at libraries or on the Web, indexes hundreds of popular magazines and newspapers, as well as medical journals such as the Journal of the American Medical Association and New England Journal of Medicine. Your library may also carry searchable computer databases of medical journal articles, including MEDLINE/PubMed or the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature. Many of the databases or indexes have abstracts that provide a summary of each journal article. Although most community libraries don’t have a large collection of medical and nursing journals, your librarian may be able to get copies of the articles you want. Interlibrary loans allow your librarian to request a copy of an article from a library that carries that particular medical journal. Your library may charge a fee for this service. Articles published in medical journals can be technical, but they may be the most current source of information on medical topics.
What is the meaning of the word 'popular' as it is used in the third paragraph?
- A. Complicated
- B. Old-fashioned
- C. Beloved
- D. For the general public
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: In the context of the third paragraph, the word 'popular' refers to information that is intended for the general public. The paragraph discusses how Infotrac, a CD-ROM computer database, indexes popular magazines and newspapers, as well as medical journals such as the Journal of the American Medical Association and New England Journal of Medicine. This indicates that the information indexed is aimed at a broad audience rather than being specialized or exclusive. Therefore, the correct answer is 'D: For the general public.'
Over the last few decades, medical experts have changed their thinking on the health effects of some common foods and beverages. Higher-fat foods and some alcoholic beverages like red wine and beer, once viewed as top threats to a healthy lifestyle, are now seen by many as less harmful and even as having some health benefits. But there is perhaps no topic that the medical community has reversed its
thinking on more often than coffee. Since long before the advent of modern medicine, public opinion regarding the health effects of coffee has been diverse and ever-changing. Opinion on coffee's health effects can be traced back several centuries. In the 1600s, doctors in England touted coffee as a cure for alcoholism, but some women complained that coffee was making their husbands impotent. They may have been correct, as caffeine is a
diuretic and can irritate the prostate (dehydration and prostatitis can both lead to erectile dysfunction). In the late 1700s, coffeehouses began opening all over colonial America, where coffee was seen as a healthy stimulant that helped the colonists work longer hours. But by the early 1900s, public concern grew as coffee consumption was blamed for a variety of common ailments, such as nervousness, indigestion, and insomnia. In the 1970s, medical journals published studies that linked coffee consumption with high blood pressure and an increased risk of heart attacks. In 2001, a meta-study indicated that coffee was responsible for a 20% increase in risk for urinary tract cancer. But starting in 2007, to the surprise of many, meta-studies began to show positive health effects of coffee consumption. A 2007 study showed that coffee was viewed by many as "practically a health food." However, CNN also warned that given the long history of flip-flops on the health effects of coffee, medical and public opinion on coffee could easily turn negative again.
What is the definition of the term insomnia as mentioned in the third paragraph?
- A. Difficulty sleeping.
- B. Double vision.
- C. Dizziness.
- D. Drowsiness.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Insomnia, as mentioned in the passage, is described as one of the common ailments attributed to coffee consumption. The term refers to the difficulty or trouble in falling asleep or staying asleep, which aligns with choice A, 'Difficulty sleeping.' Insomnia is characterized by a persistent problem with sleep patterns, leading to inadequate or poor-quality sleep, rather than symptoms like double vision, dizziness, or drowsiness.
Eating
Consumption of food is a universal necessity. Different
cultures have developed different methods to accomplish
the task. It is interesting to discover these differences and
learn new ways to do things.
European cultures developed cutlery (knives, forks, and
spoons) to enable people to efficiently eat their food.
Correct use of this toolÄ€™s changes with the times-what was
polite in 1800 may not be considered proper manners
today.
China developed the chopstick as an efficient tool for
eating. Mastery of the use of chopsticks can be difficult
for the person not raised in the culture. The attempts of a
novice to use chopsticks can be very amusing to the
watcher, but frustrating for the hungry diner.
Space travel has created new challenges for consuming
food. Squeeze bottles and other unique packaging have
enabled space travelers to get their needed nutrition.
Chopsticks and forks do not work well in space.
What statement from this extract is correct?
- A. China developed chopsticks for eating utensils
- B. Space travel can be tiring
- C. European methods of eating are superior
- D. China developed chopsticks for eating utensils
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct statement from the extract is that China developed chopsticks for eating utensils. The text clearly states: 'China developed the chopstick as an efficient tool for eating.' This demonstrates that choice A is accurate. The passage does not discuss the tiring nature of space travel or compare the superiority of European eating methods, making choices B and C incorrect.
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.
A nanometer is a billionth of a meter. A DNA molecule is 2 nanometers in diameter. Protein
molecules are about 10 nanometers in diameter. A human hair is 100,000 nanometers in diameter.
But what is a nanometer and how does it relate to technology? Nanotechnology is defined as the
understanding and control of matter at dimensions of roughly 1 to 100 nanometers, a scale at
which unique properties of materials emerge that can be used to develop novel technologies and
products. At the nanoscale, the physical, chemical, and biological properties of materials differ
from the properties of matter either at smaller scales, such as atoms, or at larger scales that we
use in everyday life such as millimeters or inches. Nanotechnology involves imaging, measuring,
modeling, and manipulating matter only a few nanometers in size. Gold nanoparticles are made
of the same material as in jewelry. But when light interacts with particles of gold, different colors
are reflected. The different colors can be used in simple medical tests to indicate infection or
disease. Metals such as copper become extremely rigid at the nanoscale, rather than bendable as
in copper wires seen in everyday use.
What is the major difference between matter at the nanoscale and matter at larger scales such as millimeters or inches?
- A. At the nanoscale, metals are bendable, and at larger scales, they are rigid.
- B. Matter has different and special characteristics at the nanoscale.
- C. At the nanoscale, matter has the same properties as matter at the atomic level.
- D. There is no difference.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B. Matter at the nanoscale exhibits unique properties that differ from those at larger scales, such as millimeters or inches. At the nanoscale, materials show novel characteristics that emerge due to their size, leading to different behaviors compared to the same materials at larger scales. This difference in behavior is a key aspect of nanotechnology, where understanding and controlling matter at the nanoscale allow for the development of innovative technologies and products.